HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VOLUME III
Our latest update to the “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” Spotify playlist series returns with a slightly linear array of deep listening cuts straight from the Total Trash Instagram page. This volume includes cuts across reggae, jazz, and punk, as well as some outlier curveballs that come with the guarantee of heavy replay value.
Switched on Ra (2021)
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.
Hidemi (2021)
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.
Galloping Through a Wormhole (2021)
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.
Live & Contagious (2021)
For fifteen years, Nat Brower has gradually created an eclectic catalog of solo tunes, ranging from lo-fi garage rock to his more recent glam rock revival ballads. On Live & Contagious, Brower takes his recent years to a “live” setting, and delivers a career-spanning forty minute set.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VOLUME II
We have updated our HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Spotify playlist with next 20 “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” shares from our official Instagram page. Volume II includes deep cuts from Outkast’s catalog, spiritual jazz and a few of our current favorites in DIY punk. Tap in to hear the update. Special thanks to one of our current favorite artists, Portland’s MJ aka @myartdad for taking the time to create the cover art for this round.
New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)(2010)
Erykah Badu’s stature in contemporary R&B has been overwhelmingly powerful for over twenty years. In that time, her creativity has evolved in numerous ways, with her second opus arriving through the futuristic magnificence of New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) (2010). Her fifth record is a glorious homage to her soulful hip-hop roots, and effortlessly ties together all of the most rewarding elements of her iconic legacy.
Stepping into Tomorrow: A Profile on DIY Experimentalists Leah & Blake Saint David
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.
Junkyard Cuts: Blue Dawn
“Junkyard Cuts: Blue Dawn” is the first linear playlist curation from your trusted auditory guides at Total Trash HQ. Spanning across several years, countries, and fifty total songs, this Spotify Playlist ties ‘70s soul, rock n’ roll, freak folk, and library music together through a common bond of psychedelia. Kick back and give it a listen, and be sure to follow our Spotify account for future related content.
Limitless Frame (2021)
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.