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The Norwegian experimental musician HĂ„vard Volden has the CV of a lifer. For over a decade, he has played in the experimental rock band Moon Relay. For coming up on two decades, he has been a collaborator with the Norwegian singer and songwriter Jenny Hval. So itâs fitting that his new record is called Small Lives. Itâs full of jazzy, experimental guitar music that lives on the edges of multiple genres, which is also befitting of an artist whose seasoned approach to the guitar is accommodating of a variety of methodologies and traditions. As a whole, itâs a pleasant listen, its moderate dissonance taking on a vaguely ECM feel at times, its guitar playing nodding to folk and rock and drone, its tactile electronics dancing in the corners of the composition. What is the ideal listening environment for this record? Headphones and a couch wouldnât hurt.
- editorial
5d ago
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An absolutely unique album consisting of three pieces made for Trondheim Voices by Danish composer, artist, musician and more Aske Zidore. All very different in compositional structure and expression, this one stands out for me as a diverse and forward thinking approach to experimental vocal music.
Album came out via Anyines in January this year. I also had the privilege of working on the press material and PR back then.
Album came out via Anyines in January this year. I also had the privilege of working on the press material and PR back then.
Mar 10, 2025
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đčThis is a great intro to modern/neo-classical with an electronic twist. Try to find live recordings of his songs "Says" and "Said and Done" - the first one is basically a study in build-build-build-build and the second unfolds around the repetition of one single note. They both give me goosebumps every single time.
Recommend headphones (or big speakers) and giving it your full attention.
Recommend headphones (or big speakers) and giving it your full attention.
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đžwild guitar player, he has a lot of different types of projects - was also tom waitsâ guitarist on some of his best earlier records. but this record is itâs own special solo guitar record. equal parts experimental/jazz/intimate/soothing/dissonant
Jan 27, 2024
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HĂŒsker DĂŒ were in limbo in 1985. Their relationship with SST was starting to sour after the legendary Twin Cities bandâs release of New Day Rising, and by the end of the year they were in talks with major labels (Septemberâs Flip Your Wig stayed with Greg Ginnâs label, but Warner swept in soon after). Now, five live recordings from the top of 85, split between those aforementioned albums, were unearthed and freshened up by the archival titans at Numero Group, who also put out the groupâs 2017 box set Savage Young DĂŒ.
Donât expect a bootleg. The hometown show at Minneapolis venue First Avenue was recorded to 24-track tape for an intended release that never came to fruition. Jan. 30, First Ave Pt. 1 highlights the bandâs brash, pop-pushing punk, proving that good things come in threes. Their raw presence surely silenced a few naysayers who, at the time, thought their melodic inclinations and genre bleed pointed towards a âcommercialâ sound. Some people donât know what theyâve got until itâs gone ⊠and then recovered by the label that introduced Duster to Gen Z. - Madeline Frino
Donât expect a bootleg. The hometown show at Minneapolis venue First Avenue was recorded to 24-track tape for an intended release that never came to fruition. Jan. 30, First Ave Pt. 1 highlights the bandâs brash, pop-pushing punk, proving that good things come in threes. Their raw presence surely silenced a few naysayers who, at the time, thought their melodic inclinations and genre bleed pointed towards a âcommercialâ sound. Some people donât know what theyâve got until itâs gone ⊠and then recovered by the label that introduced Duster to Gen Z. - Madeline Frino
Jul 8, 2025
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What if the entire Splice library was launched into the ether, prompting a Pokemon-esque scavenger hunt to catch âem all? This is what ear pulls off. And yet, the duoâs voices are the best instruments in the mix. Chopped notes and cheeky whispers and sharp breaths abound in their latest singles, âFetishâ and âValley Serpent.â A cut-and-sew craft project of a song, âFetishâ shows impressive restraint for as long as possible before mutating multiple times. Itâs not just a glazed ambient track, or bass-boosted electronic, or .5 speed breakcore. The disjointed lyrics are hypnotically aphasic, as if having a stroke could be a beautiful experience. âValley Serpentâ has the same structureless setup, shrouding a poignant piano ballad in blown-out artificial noise. For all they add, they know when to get minimal. The gentle recitation âfeels like a burdenâ is scripted to haunt. The most Lynchian release of the year!
- Madeline Frino
Jul 17, 2025
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The name of the British artists Worldpeace DMT and Rowan Pleaseâs new release, The Velvet Underground and Rowan, harkens back to the iconic album that Brian Eno once claimed launched a million projects. Itâs a befitting reference for two artists in their own burgeoning gallerina-punk scene. Itâs experimental in a topical way, indebted to the internet, and filled with silly sounds, stuff like squeaks and boings and chiptune motifs. Worldpeace DMT plays perfectly with Please, who is one half of two-hit wonder The Femcels.
In spite of its off-kilter quirk, the record is chock full of cloying earworms and pop sensibilities. On âLove Yourself,â the Leonard Cohen-esque line âJesus was a sailor when he walked upon the sandâ is quickly followed by âsorry that I fucked your dude.â Thereâs seemingly an emo influence, which is also present on unfettered, shouty tracks like âNumbersâ and âHey Marshmallow.â The 60s come back full force on âMarina,â complete with handclaps and melodic familiarity. âThe Ledgeâ covers a Fleetwood Mac classic and briefly interpolates âBlitzkrieg Bop.â All the harmonica and strings and bitcrushed buzz canât distract from the fact that the bones of this music would be impressive on their own ⊠But a little fun never hurts. - Madeline Frino
In spite of its off-kilter quirk, the record is chock full of cloying earworms and pop sensibilities. On âLove Yourself,â the Leonard Cohen-esque line âJesus was a sailor when he walked upon the sandâ is quickly followed by âsorry that I fucked your dude.â Thereâs seemingly an emo influence, which is also present on unfettered, shouty tracks like âNumbersâ and âHey Marshmallow.â The 60s come back full force on âMarina,â complete with handclaps and melodic familiarity. âThe Ledgeâ covers a Fleetwood Mac classic and briefly interpolates âBlitzkrieg Bop.â All the harmonica and strings and bitcrushed buzz canât distract from the fact that the bones of this music would be impressive on their own ⊠But a little fun never hurts. - Madeline Frino
4d ago