Nobukazu Takemura "knot of meanings"
Nobukazu Takemura’s music is singular in its ability to create a musical sense of childlike wonder and curiosity with gracefully executed yet complex compositions. His pieces embody an innocence and the intricacies of self-discovery that every human is faced with as their worlds become more complex. An acclaimed artist and composer, Takemura is known for his idiosyncratic music and video artistry as well as his prolific collaborations including those with Tortoise, Yo La Tengo, DJ Spooky and Steve Reich. knot of meanings, Takemura’s first proper album in a decade, finds the Japanese artist wrestling with the rise of technological influence on art and culture in the modern era, in tandem with his own relationship to religion, and where those struggles meet. Like the colorful, irregularly shaped glasses on the cover, the album is a mosaic of technicolor elements that come together to form a complete picture, a dense portrait of interconnected struggles and triumphs.
For Takemura, the knot of meanings explores a universal and yet deeply personal and complicated knot, a metaphor for defining spirituality’s role in life. “Personally, I see this knot as an opportunity to rebuild my relationship with God,” says Takemura. “I feel that the meaning of life is to find and rediscover this connection every day.” The knot acts as a further metaphor for the barriers between people, their connectivity tangled by developments in technology that drive division rather than create community. “Much of technology has unfortunately developed in a way that pursues convenience and promotes egoism,” Takemura continues. “The world has lost its center, people have become scattered, and culture has stagnated by repeating the same things.” Takemura’s search for meaning across the record is less in search of some preconceived idea of piety or heavenly ascension, but instead focuses on an optimism of originality.
Animal, Surrender! "A Boot For Every Bane"
Back in 2023, bassist Peter Kerlin (Sunwatchers, Chris Forsyth Solar Motel Band, Bent Arcana, Everloving) and drummer Rob Smith (Gray/Smith, Rhyton, Pigeons) ritualistically burnt their passports, ate the ashes, and began conspiring together under the guise of Animal, Surrender!
Kerlin’s spidery and melodious 8-string electric bass pushes the expected language of that instrument into terrain more often inhabited by lutes or pianos, and begs to interweave with a drummer like Smith who slyly punctuates, hisses, and propels against the grain. The duo’s often wordless music is spun from threads of lost folksongs and polyrhythms into hypnotic, latticework compositions whose melodies and beats shift like cat’s-cradles strung between their constantly moving hands.
Their eponymous debut on Ernest Jennings Record Co. in 2024 found haunting covers of Nick Drake and Mike Wexler lurking amongst a tangle of lean, progressive originals, all crafted with the terse economy of post-rock, but reflecting a kaleidoscopic, pastoral vision in its eyes.
Their forthcoming album, A Boot for Every Bane (2025 EJRC), builds upon the incantatory language of the first while inviting the talents and mercurial instincts of pipe organist Curt Sydnor (Greg Saunier, Yonatan Gat, Peni Candra Rini) into the magick circle.
Muito Kaballa "Tomorrow A Flower"
Muito Kaballa return in style with a refined modern sound on ‘Tomorrow A Flower’ for the London-based imprint Batov Records, blending indie pop, soul, hip hop, jazz, Brazilian rhythms, and West African grooves.
Initially the solo project of tenor saxophonist and composer Niklas Mündemann, Muito Kaballa has grown into a full blown ensemble, based between Cologne and Berlin, championed across BBC 6 Radio Music, by the likes of Deb Grant, Tom Ravenscroft, and Nubya Garcia, The Radio 2 Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum, Seattle indie institution KEXP, Music Is My Sanctuary, and loved for their energetic live shows.
‘Tomorrow A Flower’ builds on the success of the ensemble’s acclaimed ‘Like a River’ album, whilst moving away from the previous album’s strong jazz leanings, towards a more direct, contemporary yet sophisticated pop feel. Still oozing with soul, and nods to not only African funk and hip hop but strong modern references, including electronic pop favourites Jungle By Night and cosmic groove merchants Khruangbin.
‘Tomorrow A Flower’ is a modern classic – interlacing multiple genres of sound into new perspectives that complement each and leave room for the enchanting and original songs and sounds of Niklas Mündeman and Muito Kaballa.
Danny Ayala "Only Fools Love Again"
What’s bold is new again and what’s original never truly goes out of style. That is the thesis behind ‘Only Fools Love Again,’ setting it and its author, Danny Ayala, up for long-term success and a tenure-track rotation on any discerning pop fan’s turntable. The touring bassist and keyboardist with glam and power pop wunderkinds, THE LEMON TWIGS, strikes again! ‘Only Fools Love Again’ ranks near the top of an extremely short list of pop revival offerings that transcend sonic posturing and mere tribute-act dress-up pastiche. For the more seasoned listeners and denizens of the discount cut-out bins, the moves and styles on display will be instantly recognizable, however, for those newer explorers, the lack of fluency in the RAK and Bell label catalogues will not impede any enjoyment or dissuade repeat listens. A forward-facing throwback, showing off a range of influences both new and old, digital and analog, ‘Only Fools Love Again’ is THE NEW Long Island Sound and it comes highly recommended. Get ‘Only Fools Love Again’ today and baby you can go all the way.