Posts Tagged: thrill jockey
ACL 2025 ~ Music for Stained Glass
As the holy season approaches, we begin to long for music that makes our souls sing, while avoiding any saccharine sweetness. This year’s albums are united not by institutional frames, but by their spiritual tone. Listeners may feel their hearts
ACL 2025 ~ Music for Stained Glass
As the holy season approaches, we begin to long for music that makes our souls sing, while avoiding any saccharine sweetness. This year’s albums are united not by institutional frames, but by their spiritual tone. Listeners may feel their hearts
Nobukazu Takemura ~ knot of meanings
It’s probably a very selective memory at work, but I associate the first time I heard Nobukazu Takemura’s music with the first time I heard computers singing. Other musicians had used MacInTalk, as it was called then, to provide a
Nobukazu Takemura ~ knot of meanings
It’s probably a very selective memory at work, but I associate the first time I heard Nobukazu Takemura’s music with the first time I heard computers singing. Other musicians had used MacInTalk, as it was called then, to provide a
emptyset ~ Dissever
Before the Tate Modern was a gallery, it was the Bankside power station, generating electricity for London between 1891 and 1981. While much of the building was converted into gallery space, it was decided that the imposing space of the
emptyset ~ Dissever
Before the Tate Modern was a gallery, it was the Bankside power station, generating electricity for London between 1891 and 1981. While much of the building was converted into gallery space, it was decided that the imposing space of the
Matmos ~ Metallic Life Review
Those of us who are musically inclined find it hard to resist tapping on an empty pipe or an exposed bell, just to hear the sound. Matmos (Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt) have been doing such things for years and recording
Matmos ~ Metallic Life Review
Those of us who are musically inclined find it hard to resist tapping on an empty pipe or an exposed bell, just to hear the sound. Matmos (Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt) have been doing such things for years and recording
ACL 2024 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
This year, A Closer Listen received thousands of submissions and reviewed hundreds; today our international staff chooses twenty. Three former chart-toppers appear on this year’s list, while one artist appears for the fifth time, but half are new, while our
ACL 2024 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
This year, A Closer Listen received thousands of submissions and reviewed hundreds; today our international staff chooses twenty. Three former chart-toppers appear on this year’s list, while one artist appears for the fifth time, but half are new, while our
ACL 2024 ~ Top Ten Ambient
Approximately 4000 instrumental albums were submitted for review this year, nearly half of them ambient. To reach the summit is like climbing up the hill on the cover of Hollie Kenniff’s For Forever. The competition has never been so fierce
ACL 2024 ~ Top Ten Ambient
Approximately 4000 instrumental albums were submitted for review this year, nearly half of them ambient. To reach the summit is like climbing up the hill on the cover of Hollie Kenniff’s For Forever. The competition has never been so fierce
Magic Tuber Stringband ~ Needlefall
The phrase “North Carolina Appalachian folk” brings to mind a certain set of assumptions, some of which hold true for Magic Tuber Stringband and others of which are shattered here. In like manner, the duo’s expressive sound may remind some of
Magic Tuber Stringband ~ Needlefall
The phrase “North Carolina Appalachian folk” brings to mind a certain set of assumptions, some of which hold true for Magic Tuber Stringband and others of which are shattered here. In like manner, the duo’s expressive sound may remind some of
Maya Shenfeld ~ Under the Sun
Under the Sun is a study in contrasts: the way things are and the way things could be. Even the internal dynamics shift beneath the ears, from seismic drone to effervescent electronics, from oboe and recorders to organ and choir. While
Maya Shenfeld ~ Under the Sun
Under the Sun is a study in contrasts: the way things are and the way things could be. Even the internal dynamics shift beneath the ears, from seismic drone to effervescent electronics, from oboe and recorders to organ and choir. While
a closer listen 