The song is spectacular, its history deep, the cause important. Written by foundational Armenian composer and musicologist Komitas, “Krunk” is a memory that takes flight, and this version by Zola Jesus rings with a longing understood, but just beyond reach. You can buy it from Bandcamp, and she will donate proceeds from it to The Armenia Fund, who in turn will provide humanitarian assistance to those in Artsakh who need it.
Weill echoes as the holler calls, and her presence swaggers and sways. “Coal”, patterned shadows on crimson velvet, is the commanding brand-new single from London’s Natalie Bouloudis. You can buy the track now from her Bandcamp page. The Devil Is Doubt EP from which it is taken will be released on January 29th, and you can pre-order an aqua-blue-vinyl edition of it there, too.
She has a beautiful voice and writes beautiful music. “Faith Healer”, a touching, towering tear-jerker, is Julien Baker’s latest wonder, and it’s on Little Oblivions, her next album. That arrives on February 26th of next year, but you can order it from Bandcamp today.
Breakneck noir, “Look At Me Now” is the the poised and punchy title track for the new, three-song EP from Lou Doillon. It will be released on December 11th, and you can order a vinyl edition of it right here. Via Les inRocks.
An insistent, naturally-rhythmic sibilance; a mystery with muscle that confronts instead of eludes — “Lucky 13” breathes in strange syncopations like Tricky with Martina Topley-Bird. But Tiece’s voice is hers alone, and it will be a thrill to hear more of it when she releases her Nowhere, Now Here LP, which will be released in the near future. In the meantime you can download this from Bandcamp, where you can find music and merch, too.
Listening to Elliott Smith suspends time, and his music is a salve soaked in sorrow that heals, and hurts, and haunts. Marika Hackman has chosen his “Between The Bars” along with nine other modern classics for her just-released album Covers, and you can hear her sing it like a hymn above. That album is available now from Bandcamp.
I’ve learned so much about music from les Inrockuptibles over the years. My French, notoriously terrible, has improved a little bit from flipping though its pages — and now clicking though them of course — as well. Today they’ve shared a gently-sweeping new one from Nancy’s Laura Cahen called “Cavale”, and you can find streaming links for it right here.
The Autumn Roses 