Mixtape: Fractured Air – July 2020

July’s mix features the majestic “Wondrous Love” by folk legend Shirley Collins who recently announced details of new album (and follow up to 2016’s “Lodestar”), “Heart’s Ease”, which is due for release via Domino on 24th July. It’s first single is the timeless gem “Wondrous Love”, as Domino state: “its tune comes from an 18th Century English ballad about the infamous sea captain William Kidd, who was hanged for piracy in 1701. Collins first heard the hymn at a Sacred Harp Convention in Alabama (Collins and Alan Lomax recorded it on their field recording trip in 1959). Shirley has decided to sing it now, she said , “because songs are stored in my memory for a great many years, and suddenly it seems the right time to bring them out again.””

Independent music treasure and visionary artist Julianna Barwick returns this month with the magnificent “Healing Is A Miracle”, her Ninja Tune debut after remarkable releases for numerous indie labels over the last decade including Asthmatic Kitty, Dead Oceans, RVNG Intl’s FRKWYS series and Gregory Euclide’s THESIS label. New York-based Barwick’s fourth full length once again finds the gifted composer meld her church choir singing background during her rural Louisiana upbringing with her deeply innate gift for building expansive, immersive and wholly transformative sound worlds. “Healing Is A Miracle” finds Barwick collaborate with special guests and  fellow music visionaries Mary Lattimore, Jónsi and Nosaj Thing.

Fresh from the release of  The Soft Pink Truth (Drew Daniel)’s fantastic “Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?”, M.C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel announced the hugely anticipated return of beloved electronic pioneers Matmos this month with the celebrated duo’s mightily ambitious and intriguing “The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises In Group Form” (Thrill Jockey). Featuring a dazzling array of contributions from 99 musicians (Daniel Lopatin, Marisa Anderson, Yo La Tengo, David Grubbs, Jennifer Walshe, So Percussion to name just a few), where the sole instruction was to “play anything that they wanted, but the tempo of any rhythmic material had to be set at 99 beats per minute”, the results are bound to yield some of the most rewarding music of 2020.

Back in June came one of this year’s true gems, “Arrow”, by Los Angeles-based artist Sarah Lipstate via her Noveller guise. Like fellow contemporary guitar luminaries such as William Tyler or Aidan Baker, Noveller’s electric guitar compositions constantly evolve, expand and inspire, creating an enthralling, near-symphonic, free-flowing body of work in the process. “Arrow” is released via Ba Da Bing Records and is yet another wholly unique and breathtakingly original opus from one of independent music’s most gifted artists.

Other new releases in July’s mix come from: the special Numero Group compilation on Dale Warren’s fascinating 24 Carat Black project; Yair Elazar Glotman & Mats Erlandsson’s breathtaking collaborative album “Emanate” on FatCat’s ever-dependable 130701 imprint; Ricardo Donoso’s glorious “Content” full-length for Denovali; the legendary Jon Hassell returns with the eagerly anticipated “Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two)” – out 24th July on Ndeya records – so far unveiled are the magnificent pair of tracks “Fearless” and “Unknown Wish”; the sublime post-punk-infused debut self-titled EP by Sydney-based Loose Fit heralds a hugely exciting and intriguing opening chapter for this special band (FatCat); Ceaselessly innovative indie greats Dirty Projectors continue their glorious ongoing series of 5 E.P. releases scheduled for 2020 with this month’s “Flight Tower” (Domino), this time with Felicia Douglass at the helm.

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Fractured Air – July 20 Mix

01. Flying Lotus – “Fire Is Coming” (feat. David Lynch) (Warp)
02. INVŌKER – “Batumi” (Azzur)
03. T. Gowdy – “Up CTRL” (Constellation)
04. Darkstar – “Wolf” (John Talabot’s Materia Dub) (Warp)
05. Ital Tek – “Open Heart” (Planet Mu)
06. Rival Consoles – “Vibrations on a String” (Erased Tapes)
07. Matmos – “No Concept” (Thrill Jockey)
08. Ricardo Donoso – “Forking Path” (Denovali)
09. Oneohtrix Point Never – “Good Time” (Good Time OST, Warp)
10. Spiritualized – “Spread Your Wings” (Fat Possum/Sony Music)
11. Noveller – “Pre-fabled” (Ba Da Bing)
12. Spectrum – “All Night Long” (Sony Music)
13. Television Personalities – “Diary Of A Young Man” (Fire Records)
14. Charlie Megira & The Modern Dance Club – “The Valley Of Tears” (Numero Group)
15. Loose Fit – “Pull the Lever” (FatCat)
16. Protomartyr – “Michigan Hammers” (Domino)
17. Girl Band – “Ereignis” (Rough Trade)
18. Dirty Projectors – “Self Design” (Domino)
19. Nightmares On Wax – “Me And You” (Warp)
20. 24 Carat Black & LaRhonda LeGette – “I Need A Change” (Numero Group)
21. Takashi Kokubo – “回廊の音楽” (Glossy Mistakes)
22. Jon Hassell – “Fearless” (Ndeya)
23. Ka Baird – “Imagination” (RVNG Intl)
24. Angel Bat Dawid – “Transition East” (International Anthem)
25. Becca Mancari – “I’m Sorry” (Captured Tracks)
26. The Beatles – “Yes It Is” (Apple)
27. Roy Harper – “One for All” (Science Friction)
28. Shirley Collins – “Wondrous Love” (Domino)
29. PJ Harvey – “Prayer” (The Virtues OST, Invada)
30. Yair Elazar Glotman & Mats Erlandsson – “Procession” (130701)
31. The Transcendence Orchestra – “Overview Effect” (Editions Mego)
32. Owen Pallett  – “Paragon Of Order” (w/ London Contemporary Orchestra) (Domino)
33. Max Richter – “All Human Beings (Voiceless Mix) Pt. 3” (Decca/Universal)
34. Julianna Barwick – “Healing Is A Miracle” (Ninja Tune)
35. Brigid Mae Power – “Head Above The Water” (Fire Records)
36. Rebecca Foon – “New World Reprise” (Constellation)
37. Arthur Russell – “In Love With You For The Last Time” (Audika)

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Fractured Air x Blogothèque – S02E06 | June mix

 

June’s mixtape features a first listen of “Golden Plover”, Glasgow’s finest Trembling Bells’ stunning cover of the Bert Jansch song taken from his 1979 avian-themed classic “Avocet”. The track is part of the special 4-track EP “Avocet Revisited”, commissioned and issued by Fire Records’ imprint Earth Recordings, featuring: Trembling Bells; Edwyn Collins and Carwyn Ellis; Modern Studies; Alasdair Roberts.
On “Golden Plover”, Trembling Bells are joined by Callum Calderwood (violin), Rory Haye (vocals), Andrew Pattie (vocals) and Belle & Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson (12 string guitar). “Avocet Revisited” will be released by Earth Recordings on the 11th of August 2017.

One of the UK’s finest indie bands The Clientele return with “Music for the Age of Miracles” (Merge Records) this Autumn, their first new album in seven years. Thus far the irresistible lead single “Lunar Days” has been unveiled, finding the beloved Alasdair MacLean-led band in typically impeccable form, effortlessly fusing a myriad of influences into miniature pop marvels like only they can.

June’s mixtape also features new releases from: Ariel Pink’s new single “Another Weekend”, from the hugely anticipated forthcoming Mexican Summer album “Dedicated to Bobby Jameson”; Grizzly Bear’s “Painted Ruins”, one of 2017’s most eagerly anticipated albums and follow-up to 2012’s sonic marvel “Shields”; Renowned Irish contemporary classical collective Crash Ensemble release their glorious “Ghosts” album – featuring compositions written by Nico Muhly, Donnacha Dennehy and Valgeir Sigurðsson – which is released via Icelandic independent Bedroom Community.

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Fractured Air x Blogothèque – S02E06 | June mix

 

To listen on La Blogothèque:

http://www.blogotheque.net/2017/06/29/fractured-air-x-blogotheque-s02e06-june-mix/

 

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01. Virginia Woolf – “I. Mrs. Dalloway: Words” (Deutsche Grammophon)
02. The Beacon Sound Choir – “Can’t Wrap My Head Around It” (First Terrace)
03. Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly & James McAlister – “Neptune” (4AD)
04. Crash Ensemble – “Past Tundra” (Bedroom Community)
05. Fleet Foxes – “I Should See Memphis” (Nonesuch)
06. Trembling Bells – “Golden Plover” (Earth Recordings)
07. The Clientele – “Lunar Days” (Merge)
08. Bill MacKay – “Aster” (Drag City)
09. Ariel Pink – “Another Weekend” (Mexican Summer)
10. Justin Walter – “Red Cabin” (Kranky)
11. Chromatics – “Shadow” (Italians Do It Better)
12. Tobias Bernstrup – “27” (12” Version) (Dark Entries)
13. John Talabot – “Destiny” (Rave Dub Version) (Permanent Vacation)
14. Daphni – “Face to Face” (fabric)
15. Blondes – “KDM” (R&S)
16. Laurel Halo – “Moontalk” (Hyperdub)
17. Alice Coltrane – “Rama Guru” (Luaka Bop)
18. Belbury Poly – “The Geography” (Ghost Box)
19. BADBADNOTGOOD – “Lavender” (feat. KAYTRANADA & Snoop Dogg) [Nightfall Remix] (Innovative Leisure)
20. Grizzly Bear – “Three Rings” (RCA)
21. The Focus Group – “The Leaving” (Ghost Box)
22. Gorillaz – “Let Me Out” (feat. Mavis Staples & Pusha T) (Parlophone)
23. Aretha Franklin – “This Little Light of Mine” (Remember)
24. Philippe Hallais – “Hero (Theme)” (Modern Love)
25. Oliver Coates – “Peace” (Foom)
26. Radiohead – “I Promise” (XL Recordings)
27. Murcof & Vanessa Wagner – “Spiegel Im Spiegel” (InFiné)

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Compiled by Fractured Air, June 2017. The copyright in these recordings is the property of the individual artists and/or record labels. If you like the music, please support the artist by buying their records.

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http://www.blogotheque.net/
https://fracturedair.com/

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Step Right Up: John Talabot

Words: Mark Carry, illustration: Craig Carry

The best electronic album of the year comes from Barcelona producer supreme, John Talabot. His debut album ‘Fin’, released early in the year on the Permanent Vacation label, will find itself on all the end of the year polls for the best albums of 2012.

As you listen to Talabot’s music, boundaries are magically blurred while genres and styles are seamlessly crossed-over. The record itself is at the intersection of deep house, ambient, disco and indie pop. One can hear shades of Caribou, Four tet, Booka Shade, M83, SBTRKT and Animal Collective amidst Talabot’s woozy ambient house creations. The album’s eleven tracks harness a very distinctive sound with remarkable texture and depth. The first track on the album is the stunning ‘Depak Ine’, the longest cut on the album at seven and a half minutes. Pulsing synths, eerie vocal samples and jungle-like field recordings creates an otherworldly sound of euphoria. On ‘Destiny’, Talabot’s Madrid colleague Pional co-produces with beautifully layered harmonies. ‘El Oeste’ is gorgeously blissed out electronica reminiscent of Boards of Canada and Four tet. ‘Oro Y Sangre’ is full of sublime dance floor-laden melodic hooks conjuring up the sounds of Caribou and Booka Shade. The album closer ‘So Will Be Now…’ is another Pional co production, which loops sampled vocals into a dreamy haze and sparse, deep house groove.

‘Fin’ works for both the dance floor and late night headphones. The record is a euphoric soundscape of blissed out ambient house that casts both dark and light, melancholy and joy. Talabot’s music takes you on an exhilarating and uplifting journey. Audiences from this year’s festivals at Primavera Sound, Sonar, Body & Soul know only all too well. ‘Fin’ is the first of many masterful sonic creations from this incredibly talented producer.

‘Fin’ by John Talabot is available now on Permanent Vacation.