Where the Strands of Culture Entwine
In February of 1800 the great Prussian explorer Alexander von Humboldt headed inland from the coast of present day Venezuela with his travelling companion, the French botanist Aimé Bonpland. Their quest was to explore the course of the Orinoco River and its tributaries and to solve the long-rumoured question of a connection between the Orinoco [ ] The post Hourloupe Last Lost Word appeared first…
'It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends'. Taking her title from the essay by Joan Didion which closed the author's debut collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem, this week Jess Williamson introduces her new album A Mile South of Heaven by way of the single and record opener 'Goodbye to All That'. The singer duly notes: Didion's essay is about leaving New York after…
★★★★ (4 out of 4 stars) - Art and Gil return to the frontier town of Bridger's Wells. Known only so far as to be disdained, the young cowpokes cause quarrels thanks to Gil's combative temperament. When he learns that former flame Rose Mapen left for San Francisco at the start of spring, he begins downing whiskey in Darby's Saloon and bridles at the suggestion that he and Art might be implicated in…
A couple of weeks ago Downbeat published their August issue and with it their 74th annual critics poll of the best in jazz. The list is a lengthy undertaking in so far as it contains 62 categories, which invite critics to vote for a mix of established figures and rising stars. The headlines for this [ ] The post Seven of the Best: Jazz Albums Not in Downbeat s 74th Critics Poll appeared first on…
Following the enchanting release Gwethilu: Songs for the Dark Lake by Timoteo Carbone Hansson a beguiling admixture of Nordic folk traditions, new age and fourth world ambiances plus swelling or cascading polyphonies drawn from the instruments and notations of early music here comes another standout from the Gothenburg label Discreet Music over two [ ] The post Gustaf Dicksson, Post-Tragic, Sonja…
At the start of this year, the bass clarinetist Jeff Anderle perhaps best known as a member of the ensembles Splinter Reeds and Sqwonk founded Clairvoyant Records in a bid to boost the accessibility of contemporary and experimental classical music, particularly that which involves reed instruments. It s a noble goal from an artist [ ] The post Wonkak Kim & Eunhye Grace Choi Parang Saeya appeared…
Kris Davis Trio The Subtext The title of the upcoming album Lost In Geneva by the Kris Davis Trio apparently relates to the pitfalls and pratfalls of life on tour, in this case one of those mishaps a missing piece of luggage or a cartographical abnormality or a simple journey gone awry [ ] The post Seven of the Best: Songs of June 2026 appeared first on Culturedarm .
If this is your first time listening to Mac Cornish, hearing her tell of the serendipitous circumstances by which she wrote the song Wayfaring Woman which she performs here for the roving documentary channel Western AF would not stir you in the least to expect the sheer power of her voice, a captivating [ ] The post In Performance: Wayfaring Woman by Mac Cornish appeared first on Culturedarm .
Over a couple of sides for the Gothenburg label Discreet Music the Italian-Swedish composer Timoteo Carbone Hansson blends winds and percussion to limpid and spellbinding effect, winding a course or cleaving a verdant landscape as he cuts between aspects of folk, new age and early music. Gwethilu: Songs for the Dark Lake comprises two sides [ ] The post Timoteo Carbone Hansson Gwethilu: Songs for…
The first image wrought by Alex Zhang Hungtai s new double album Orion/Mother is of somebody blaring away on their horn from the shrunken corner of a forge or foundry. You can almost feel the heat and see the contrast of those glowing billets or molten liquids in their brilliant whites or burning oranges and [ ] The post Alex Zhang Hungtai Orion/Mother appeared first on Culturedarm .