Over the course of the past decade, Bitchin’ Bajas have built their analog synth drone sound upon a foundation of archetypal experimental music. On their glowing sixth LP, Switched on Ra, the trio covers eight Sun Ra essentials, and reconfigures the jazz giant’s limitless free jazz into psychedelic ambient compositions.
Jazz saxophonist, Patrick Shiroishi, has created a career exploring the history of Asian-American oppression. On his latest album, Hidemi, Shiroishi delivers one of his most personal albums to date, with a focus on his grandparents and their time spent in a Japanese internment camp circa World War II. Hidemi incorporates the healing power of spiritual jazz as Shiroishi travels through his family’s resilient history.
Los Angeles-based Sarah Davachi has an academic background in musicology. On her latest album, the minimalist composer applies different periods of classical to her recording technique, specifically mirroring the acoustics of large spaces ] to maximize the depth of her sound. Even at it’s most understated moments, Antiphonals is layered with wondrous emotion.
Parlour Tapes co-owner, Zach Moore, has a background as a trained double bassist, and has frequented Chicago’s performance art circuit as a member of Mocrep. On his solo debut as ZM, Moore masterfully performs a wide variety of genres over the span of a spectacular 64 minute composition. Galloping Through a Wormhole unfolds gracefully while fluctuating between large instrumental arrangements and layers of tranquil minimalism.
On WEWEREFRIENDS, experimental noise mastermind RXM Reality shifts his sound from extreme abrasiveness and replaces it with drawn out layered vocals and cohesive song writing. It’s his second album of the year, and reveals an unexpected emotional and more human side of his unique compositions.
As fentanyl-based opiate use tears through middle America, overdoses and death have become everyday occurrences for certain cities and towns. On The Heart Pumps Kool-Aid, experimental composers More Eaze & Seth Graham join forces as —-___—___, and use elements of harsh noise and understated ambient soundscapes to work through the tragedy that accompanies the current drug epidemic.
Chicago producer, Composuresquad, has been a leader in the local DIY nightlife scene for years. He is one of the top sought-after DJ’s in city limits, and has hosted many of the most memorable events that have occurred in the past decade. On the latest edition of “The Junkyard,” Composure sets out to interview Leah and Blake Saint David, two members of a versatile rising collective of DIY artists that are on the verge of re-defining experimental music in the 312.
After years of one-off collaborations, vocalist Trenttruce & multi-instrumentalist Coto Loco team up for their darkwave debut as Black Magick Chocolate Tears. Black Magick Chocolate Tears showcases the intense vocal range of Truce & subtly complex production skills of Coto Loco. Across twelve tracks, the two artists balance out each other’s strengths to a forge a sound that crosses pop music with an ominous after hours disposition.
On her new record, Limitless Frame, experimental artist Ulla removes herself further from any drum-based song structure and embraces noises like a recurring tape hiss. Her compositions encompass various sides of ambient music, tying 50 years of niche music together around nine diverse tracks.
On her new album, a softer focus, experimentalist Claire Rousay hones in on the importance of subtle noise. Across six obscure compositions, the San Antonio-based artist weaves together ambient synth melodies with a diverse collection of field recordings. With her unique use of these niche elements of noise, Rousay has created a record that labels music as a connecting point between humanity and the underappreciated beauty in nature.
