Independent Music Podcast

We keep reading about the new Blawan release “shedding the ‘techno’ box he has so often been put in” but his new, exceptional record on XL shows us a consistently innovative artist continuing a journey we’ve enjoyed since ‘Getting Me Down’ back in 2011. It’s a must-listen and a probably must-buy for those who like your electronics a little off-kilter. But that’s a common reason for listening to this pod, as is the consistently extraordinary dark music from across the genres. This week we have the latest in a rapid-fire release schedule of dark ambient music being put out by Leeds’ Hawthonn, we have tasty experimental metal from EXSUL, a remarkable traditional dance/distinctly non-traditional record from Indonesian duo Raja Kirik to fall in love with. The best psych rock of the year (as far as we’ve heard) from The Oscillation, jungle-cum-ragga from Seekersinternational, synth pop from The Organizing Committee, and an afro-caribbean-fused club banger from newcomer Obeka are just some of the delights to get stuck into this week. Tracklisting The Organizing Committee – The Day Computers Became Obsolete (No Type, Canada) Blawan – Under Belly (XL Recordings, UK) Hawthonn – Cat’s Cradle (Ba Da Bing Records, USA) Raja Kirik – Tarian Maut Dari Gunung (Nyege Nyege Tapes, Uganda) Fine Place – It’s Your House (Night School, UK) Obeka – Duppy Drum (Basy Tropikalne, Poland) EXSUL – How in the Land of Satin We Saw Hearsay, Who Kept a School of Vouching (Caligari Records, USA) Ostrowski – Moro (Brutality Garden, Poland) The Oscillation – Forever Knowing (All Time Low, UK) Seekersinternational – Kill-a-Milli (feat. Papa Roger Robinson) (Diskotopia, Japan) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston. This week’s episode is sponsored by The state51 Conspiracy, a creative hub for music. Head to state51.com to find releases by JK Flesh vs Gnod, Steve Jansen, MrUnderwood, Wire, Ghost Box, Lo Recordings, Subtext Records and many more.

There’s nothing that’ll kickstart your body quite like a funky slice of Algerian-born Amazigh music. The lead track from Habibi Funk’s Majid Soula compilation is a real hip-shaker, and just the tonic for whatever ales you this week. There’s a lot more than that to get stuck into as well – from clattering percussive electronics from the new Jerusalem in My Heart LP, to exceptional experimental folk from Maria Elena Silva, via boogielicious reggae thanks to Kalita Records raiding the expensive section of your long-lost music store. Elsewhere, we never tire of celebrating the new Aya record on Hyperdub – a truly forward-looking masterpiece – nor the extent of sounds that Mario Batkovic can squeeze out of an accordion. On this track he’s collaborating with James Holden, and the results are fantastic. And that’s not all: jazz, Indian classical fused with industrial sounds, the latest wonderful record from Shackleton, and the ambient atmospheric sounds of Christina Vantzou make this week’s show a pleasure from start to finish. Tracklisting Majid Soula – Netseweth Sifassan Nagh (Habibi Funk, Germany) Jerusalem In My Heart – Abyad Barraq (w/Greg Fox) (Constellation Records, Canada) AYA – OoB Prosthesis (Hyperdub, UK) Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber – * inna-Lisala-Over-Oakanda (Avant Groidd Musica, USA) Only Now – Slit Ties (feat. Robin Sukhadia) (Bokeh Versions, UK) Maria Elena Silva – December (Big Ego Records, USA) Desmond Chambers – Haly Gully (Version) (Kalita Records, UK) Mario Batkovic – Chorea Duplex (feat. James Holden) (Invada, UK) Christina Vantzou – A Soundtrack for Growth (Slow Moves, France) Shackleton – Something Tells Me / Pour Out Like Water (Woe To The Septic Heart!, Germany) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston. This week’s episode is sponsored by The state51 Conspiracy, a creative hub for music. Head to state51.com to find releases by JK Flesh vs Gnod, Steve Jansen, MrUnderwood, Wire, Ghost Box, Lo Recordings, Subtext Records and many more.

Two sublime reissues bookend this week’s Independent Music Podcast. We open with the gospel soul from Pastor T.L. Barrett and close with the gorgeous avant-folk from Japan courtesy of Reiko and Tori Kudo. Between those, we go on a wild journey, including the mutant techno of Jlin, detective jazz of Aging alongside Land Trance, South American psychedelic electronics from Argentina’s Balam and lots more. Tracklisting Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir – Nobody Knows (Numero Group, USA) Jlin – Embryo (Planet Mu, UK) Aging & Land Trance – Shattered Rooms (Tombed Visions, UK) Simo Cell – YES.DJ (TEMƎT Music, France) Helm – Moskito (Dais Records, UK) Balam – Yagé (Hard Fist, France) Elori Saxl – Moss II (touchtheplants, USA) OCD – Nature Abhors A Vacuum (Gegen Records, Germany) Rival Consoles – Monster (Erased Tapes, UK) Reiko and Tori Kudo – We May Be (A Colourful Storm, Australia) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston.

After our week away last week, we have a truly sublime selection this week. There’s a real record of the year contender out of left field from Chinese artist Yikii, who blends classical music with post-industrial haunted Chinese nursery rhymes, there’s the last recording from Finnish experimental pioneer Pekka Airaksinen, and the latest ace new record on Wrong Speed from Nape Neck drummer Mia La Metta. Elsewhere we have trip hop jazz fusion from Tara Clerkin Trio, the first taste of Warmduscher on Bella Union, percussive experimentation from podcast favourite Ilia Gorovitz and lots more. Tracklisting Ka Baird & Pekka Airaksinen – Syzygy (For Pekka) (RVNG Intl., USA) Ilia Gorovitz – Endless Spiral (Hinterland Recordings, Germany) Deemas J – Drive Faster! (Interrupt & Sagete remix) (Sagete Records, Italy) Marta Del Grandi – Shy Heart (Fire Records, UK) Yikii – Afterimage in Ruin 廢墟残像 (Danse Noir, Switzerland) Mia La Metta – Squashed Oranges (Wrong Speed Records, UK) G36 – Sulfer (Pressure, Belgium) Tara Clerkin Trio – Night Steps (World of Echo, UK) Warmduscher – Wild Flowers (Bella Union, UK) Proc Fiscal – Humancargoe Estt (Hyperdub, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

We are off this week so we decided to revisit this extraordinary selection of tracks from 2018. Including some people with new records on the horizon including 700 Bliss, Ko Shin Moon, and Colin Stetson... back next week. Even though we sit here having played music from 390 releases this year, we feel a bit uneasy producing a ‘best of’ 2018 when there’s still so much great music we haven’t heard. But from what we have heard there are so many highlights to cram into three shows of favourites. This first one gets us going with the blistering track from Sophie’s phenomenal Oil of Every Pearl’s Uninsides LP on Transgressive. Across the first ten tracks we take in a third play from the 700 Bliss cassette, Anna von Hausswolff’s sublime LP, middle eastern techno, Kenya glitches, a track from a ballet and a lot more. Tracklisting Sophie – Ponyboy (Transgressive Records, UK) 700 Bliss – Cosmic Slop (Halcyon Veil, USA / Don Giovanni Records, USA) Colin Stetson – Fallout (Anacapamusic, USA) Jlin – The Abyss of Doubt (Planet Mu, UK) Anna von Hausswolff – The Mysterious Vanishing of Electra (City Slang, Germany) Ko Shin Moon & Simple Symmetry – Halay (Cornelius Doctor Lonley Mix) (Hard Fist, France) Lucrecia Dalt – Tar (RVNG Intl, USA) Slikback – Bantu Zen (Hakuna Kulala, Uganda) Gazelle Twin – Better in My Day (Anti-Ghost Moon Ray, UK) WaqWaq Kingdom – Ceremony of Vision (Jahtari, Germany)

A mellow but extraordinarily varied podcast this week, as we explore some of the latest releases across the musical spectrum. From Japanese folk to ferocious noise rock, stopping off at hip hop, Indonesian avant garde experimentation, roots reggae, and library music. There’s a lot to enjoy on this relatively short – but packed full of goodness – episode of the Independent Music Podcast. Tracklisting Stealing Sheep and the Radiophonic Workshop – Council of Draags pt.I (Fire Records, UK) Disrupt – Setting Out (Zonedog, Germany) Ben LaMar Gay – Sometimes I Forget How Summer Looks On You. (feat. Ohmme) (International Anthem, USA) Tamami Pearl – 竹田の子守唄 (Kashual Plastik, Germany) X’ed Out – Bathe In It (Human Worth, UK) Mike G feat. Lil B – Champion (All City Records, Ireland) Lotic – Emergency (Houndstooth, UK) Aryo Adhianto – Mikr (Divisi62, Indonesia) Grouper – Unclean Mind (Kranky, USA) Danny Red & Jah Disciple – Tell Jah Sorry (Blackboard Jungle, France) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston.

It's a return for some popular names on this week's Independent Music Podcast. We got ourselves very excited when we heard of Richard Dawson collaborating with Finnish underground dominators Circle and the first results - appearing on the show - are worthy of the anticipation. We also have the new one from perennial pod favourites GNOD, a track we both deem to be Low's absolute best, and another cut from the mesmerising Jana Rush record we played a couple of months back. Also appearing this week, we have ambient experiments from Nigerian violinist Ibukun Sunday, a repetitive drone stunner from Hyacinth, a ferocious Brazilian punk re-issue from Ratos de Porão, and much more. Tracklisting Ratos de Porão - Morrer (Nada Nada Discos, Brazil) Hyacinth - Are Secrets a Tunnel to a Dreamworld Where You Control Events? (Hard Return, UK) Blue Lick - II (American Dreams, USA) GNOD - Pink Champagne Blues (Rocket Recordings, UK) Ibukun Sunday - Burn it all Down (Phantom Limb, UK) Tirzah - Hive Mind (feat. Coby Sey) (Domino Recording Co., UK) Jana Rush - Just a Taste (ft. DJ Paypal) (Planet Mu, UK) Low - White Horses (Sub Pop, USA) Richard Dawson & Circle - Lily (Weird World Records, UK) Vanishing - 55°N, 5°E (Outer Reaches, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Heavy hitters abound on this week’s Independent Music Podcast, gathering highlights including the dark drum and bass of Kesa Getame on ANA, the Krikor remix of Cairo’s Dijit, and an absolutely sublime new one from Mira Calix on Warp. Tracklisting The Umlauts – Um Politik (PRAH Recordings, UK) Kesa Getame – B2 (ANA, UK) Kulk – Shuck (Hominid Sounds, UK) Sababa 5 – Rosenzweig (Batov Records, UK) Mira Calix – There is Always a Girl With a Secret (Warp Records, UK) Sputnik One – Microbead (Wisdom Teeth, UK) Mujician – 10 10 10 (Cuneiform Records, USA) Dijit & Krikor – Krikor Remix (diy records, UK/Egypt) Mr.Underwood – Nder (The state51 Conspiracy, UK) 5AM – Loosing My Mind (Thinner Groove, Japan) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

We go in hard this week, with the consistently dancefloor filling Otim Alpha terrorising us with his high BPM electro Acholi sounds. There are let-ups sprinkled across the pod, with the exquisite new Elena Setien record on Thrill Jockey, and spiritual jazz from Irreversible Entanglements. Mostly though, we’re going uptempo, with a cracker from Rose Bonica, Gorge sounds from Adam Ondo Martenot, and Niger hip hop from Mamaki Boys, proving massive highlights on the pod. Tracklisting Otim Alpha – Lobo Olanya (Nyege Nyege Tapes, Uganda) Elena Setien – Situation (Thrill Jockey Records, USA) Rose Bonica – Heart in my Throat (Roses Are Red, South Africa) Irreversible Entanglements – Open the Gates (International Anthem, USA) Galen Tipton – Kick and Scream and Fight Like Hell (self-release, USA) Main Dice – Family Planning (Marfa Lights, Australia) Adam Ondo Martenot – The Eye of Ondo (Gorge.In, Japan) Mamaki Boys – Takkai (Sahel Sounds, USA) Dai San – Nite Sprite (GAMM, UK) Mildred Maude – Trevena (Sonic Cathedral, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

From punk black metal to fingerpicking folk, via the "mind-spanking workouts" of the fabulous Ábris Gryllus and bouncy electronics of Lia Mice, there's pretty much something for everyone on this week's podcast. Tracklisting Betamax vs Clive Bell - Visions (Byrd Out, UK) KUUNATIC - Tītián (Glitterbeat Records, Germany) HTRK - Kiss Kiss and Rhinestones (N&J Blueberries, Australia) Ábris Gryllus - OBJECT 09 (The Death of Rave, UK) Lia Mice - We Dance Back to Back Arcanist - Drinking Blood (Moonworshipper Records, USA) Ben Chasny - Water Dragon (Drag City, USA) Amazondotcom - LA Fiction (SUBREAL, USA) Anastasia Kristensen - Volshebno (Stretched) (Houndstooth, UK) The Parrots - You Work All Day and Then You Die (Heavenly Recordings, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Percussive music from Nairobi kicks us off this week on a usually eclectic Independent Music Podcast. We have avant-folk from Newcastle, the latest extraordinary hiphop experiments from Pink Siifu, a new electronic label from Shanghai, a collaboration between Jamaica!! and pod favourites Sly & the Family Drone, and lots more. Tracklisting Leon Duncan – Rucio (Hakuna Kulala, Uganda) Me Lost Me – Acrobat on the Roof (self-release, UK) Pink Siifu – BACK’! (Field-Left, USA) Still – Half Hands Won’t Hold (Trepanation Recordings, UK) Leo – Latex Skies (Youth, UK) Smote – Hauberk (Rocket Recordings, UK) 700 Bliss – Passionfruit (self-release, USA) Jamaica ! ! Meets Sly & the Family Drone – Celebrating The End Together In The Good Time Swamp (self-release, UK) Radiax & Pakin – NAMIDAME (Gully Riddim, China) Rapid Ear Damage – Channels (self-release, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Phenomenal experimental music spanning from Vietnamese electronics to Mexican disco to lots in-between. Stopping off for a cut from the Solemn Brigham LP on Mello Music Group, downtempo hiphop from Germany, polyrhythmic electronics from Poland, Instagram found sounds, Cameroonian house and a whole lot more. Tracklisting Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective – Infinite (Subtext Recordings, Germany) Solemn Brigham – Keep the Hope (Mello Music Group, USA) Body Image CEO – Six Ways the Telegraph Key Will Optimize Your Earning Potential (Discrepant, UK) Operation Egodeath – I Luv U But I’ve Chose Dankness (Ceramics Label, UK) For Breakfast – Nardis (Glasshouse Records, UK) Clinamen – Wizytanci (Brutality Garden, Poland) Nkom Bivoué – Zeun Ya You (self-release, Cameroon) Maugli – Trouble feat. Flolento (Shika Shika, Germany) Awkward Corners & Kitty Whitelaw – Marshland Lullaby (Shapes of Rhythm, UK) Hotmood – Roots (self-release, Mexico) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Dub abounds in many of its forms on the Independent Music Podcast this week, from the heavy pounding of Kevin Martin’s The Bug, to funk-infused dub experiments from Tim Vanhamel’s Comité Hypnotisé moniker, via dub steppers from the master Alpha Steppas. We also have Japanese punk from the ace O’ Summer Vacation, sludge metal from Brazil’s Papangu, ambient, hiphop, a brilliant collaboration between JK Flesh and Gnod and more. Listen to the podcast through the link in our bio or get the show from Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Tracklisting O’Summer Vacation – 扁桃腺のモニーク (Damnably, UK) The Bug – Pressure (feat. Flowdan) (Ninja Tune, UK) Comité Hypnotisé – F O (Cortizona, Belgium) QNDFK – Purloin Theme (Fallen Moon Recordings, USA) Roughneck Jihad & Senz Beats – Catastrophe (Boot Records, UK) Papangu – São Francisco (self-release, Brazil) Klotang – Hyperthruster (Love Love Records, UK) Haiku Salut – We Need These Beams (Secret Name, UK) Alpha Steppa – Valhalla (Tripedal Crow Records, Germany) JK Flesh – Not Listening (Gnod Version) (The State51 Conspiracy, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Abstract music from across the globe on this week’s show. We have twisted footwork, stripped back drum and bass (or perhaps not, you decide), and metronomic tunes. We have library-infused experimental electronics, two beautiful tracks from Israel and lots more. Tracklisting Slugabed – The Tiny Man is Here (Activia Benz, UK) Kutiman – Guruji (self-release, Israel) Ignatz & De Stervende Honden – Saturday’s Den (Tokuroku, UK) Markey Funk – Roy & Avner Speaking (SOM Recordings, Israel) Jana Rush – Mynd Fuc (Planet Mu, UK) Omar Joesoef – Morning World (Hard Fist, France) Hawthonn – Diamond of the Day (Larkfall, UK) DYL & DB1 – Basement Track 1 (One.Seventy, UK) Claire Rousay + More Eaze – Smaller Pools (Ecstatic, UK) Ourman – Namárië (White Peach, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston

Phenomenal new music abounds on this week’s Independent Music Podcast. Kicking off with bumper car/dodgem experimental from the always forward-thinking Anna Meredith, we shift through dub, hiphop, techno, and goth folk on this week’s journey. Other highlights this week include the sublime collaboration between Deafbrick, Kenyan duo Duma, and Swiss producer Simon Grab, an Argentinian edit of a classic b-side, the new one from Vanishing Twin and much more. Tracklisting Anna Meredith – BPM 131 (Moshi Moshi Music, UK) Ruth Goller – The Shine of Gold Was Too Strong (Vula Viel Records, UK) Run Logan Run – Screaming With the Lights On (Worm Discs, UK) Algernon Cornelius – Midnight Sauce (Human Worth Records, UK) Atmosphere – Woes (Rhymesayers Entertainment, USA) Deafbrick x Duma x Simon Grab – The Frenzy (Novas Frequencias, Brazil) Mungo’s Hi Fi – Time Traveller (ft. Pupajim) (Scotch Bonnet Records, UK) Lingua Ignota – Perpetual Flame of Centralia (Sargent House, UK) BALAM – The Inner Light (self-release, Argentina) Vanishing Twin – Big Moonlight (Ookii Gekkou) (Fire Records, UK) Produced and edited by Nick McCorriston