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.
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.
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.
Danny Brown protégé, ZelooperZ, has spent the past five years progressively stepping further from the massive shadow of his mentor. His most recent release, Van Gogh’s Left Ear, combines his status as a member of Brown’s Bruiser Brigade with a remarkable sense of skilled lyricism. The Detroit native has finally found his comfort zone, delivering a cohesive 19 track LP packed full of witty punchlines to soundtrack the wildest of house parties.
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.
