Venera ~ Exinfinite
How in the world did composer/filmmaker Chris Hunt and Korn’s James “Munky” Shaffer wander into ACL territory? The answer is simple: they combined forces and honed their sound. Exinfinite has all the power of cinema, plus the energy of rock. Though
Venera ~ Exinfinite
How in the world did composer/filmmaker Chris Hunt and Korn’s James “Munky” Shaffer wander into ACL territory? The answer is simple: they combined forces and honed their sound. Exinfinite has all the power of cinema, plus the energy of rock. Though
Ogenblik ~ Dúlra
For those who love to watch, tally and record birds, Dúlra is a tiny gem, a hummingbird of a release. Last year, Ogenblik (Gregor Ruigrok) released the lovely ambient set, This Used to Be the Sound of the Future. This year the artist shifts
Ogenblik ~ Dúlra
For those who love to watch, tally and record birds, Dúlra is a tiny gem, a hummingbird of a release. Last year, Ogenblik (Gregor Ruigrok) released the lovely ambient set, This Used to Be the Sound of the Future. This year the artist shifts
Riccardo La Foresta ~ ZERO, 999…
The cover of Riccardo La Foresta’s ZERO, 999… depicts an impossibly tall spiral tower vanishing into the sky, an aptly disorienting visual metaphor for an album that dismantles traditional notions of drumming. Here, drums are not rhythmic anchors but vessels
Riccardo La Foresta ~ ZERO, 999…
The cover of Riccardo La Foresta’s ZERO, 999… depicts an impossibly tall spiral tower vanishing into the sky, an aptly disorienting visual metaphor for an album that dismantles traditional notions of drumming. Here, drums are not rhythmic anchors but vessels
Snorri Hallgrímsson ~ The Importance of Birds
Icelandic composer Snorri Hallgrímsson kicks off the fall in fine style with The Importance of Birds, an EP perfectly timed to score the upcoming migration. From quiet beginnings, the music blossoms into an extended meditation. At first there is only the sound
Snorri Hallgrímsson ~ The Importance of Birds
Icelandic composer Snorri Hallgrímsson kicks off the fall in fine style with The Importance of Birds, an EP perfectly timed to score the upcoming migration. From quiet beginnings, the music blossoms into an extended meditation. At first there is only the sound
ACL Weekly Newsletter
After years of inquiries, we started a newsletter for A CLOSER LISTEN at the start of 2022. Compiled by me, Joseph, it’s mostly been a digest of what’s been on the blog, as well as an archive for our constantly
ACL Weekly Newsletter
After years of inquiries, we started a newsletter for A CLOSER LISTEN at the start of 2022. Compiled by me, Joseph, it’s mostly been a digest of what’s been on the blog, as well as an archive for our constantly
Fall Music Preview ~ Rock, Post-Rock, Folk & Jazz
Our final installment of 2025’s Fall Music Preview travels around the world and realizes that everyone likes to rock, from placid beaches to war-torn streets. Music is a unifying force that reminds us of what we have in common and
Fall Music Preview ~ Rock, Post-Rock, Folk & Jazz
Our final installment of 2025’s Fall Music Preview travels around the world and realizes that everyone likes to rock, from placid beaches to war-torn streets. Music is a unifying force that reminds us of what we have in common and
Fall Music Preview ~ Modern Composition
From the intimacy of solo piano to the fullness of orchestra, our modern composition category offers sounds suited for falling leaves, even if at the time of writing they remain green. Autumn slowly descends from north to south, bringing new
Fall Music Preview ~ Modern Composition
From the intimacy of solo piano to the fullness of orchestra, our modern composition category offers sounds suited for falling leaves, even if at the time of writing they remain green. Autumn slowly descends from north to south, bringing new
Fall Music Preview ~ Experimental
The unusual, the odd, the exciting, the weird: outliers converge in our Experimental section, which gathers those with avant leanings under a single banner. From music that is creative yet accessible to that which tests even the hardiest listener, this
Fall Music Preview ~ Experimental
The unusual, the odd, the exciting, the weird: outliers converge in our Experimental section, which gathers those with avant leanings under a single banner. From music that is creative yet accessible to that which tests even the hardiest listener, this
a closer listen 