Tag Archives: improvisation

Backxwash, Adapar, Cydemind, and Horse Lords

by Dæv Tremblay

Backxwash – His Happiness Shall Come First Even though We Are Suffering


Backxwash—Montréal-based rapper Ashanti Mutinta—just released their new album: His Happiness Shall Come First Even though We Are Suffering, the final part of the trilogy that began with 2020’s God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It. So-called “horror rap”, this is some real heavy hip-hop on the more experimental side of things. I mean, it’s got features from Pupil Slicer (mathcore) and Ghais Guevara (another experimental hip-hop artist I like), so I’m already sold on it! As dmaestaz puts it so brilliantly… Read more

Margarida Guia & Random Record, Palm, Alta forma, and Nnamdï

by Dæv Tremblay

Margarida Guia & Random Record – Untitled (Do It Youssef!)

As a tribute to activist, actress, composer, and performer Margarida Guia, Do It Youssef! are releasing her performance with Random Record (David Bausseron & Nicolas Chichagnot), recorded in 2012 in Brussels. This fifty-minute psychedelic free rock improvisation is an absolute mind-altering experience, thanks to the wildly creative work of the three musicians involved, and the characteristic narration of Margarida Guia. Drown in the mad world of this improvisation, you won’t regret it!

Palm – Nicks and Grazes (Saddle Creek)


Palm is a band from the future, bringing us avant-garde nu…… Read more

Best of Tzadik Records 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Tzadik Records is a very special thing to me. John Zorn’s label showcases his own compositions, ranging mostly from jazz to classical, as well as other groups and albums who are spearheading their respective genres. It’s often pretty difficult to listen to these albums, since they are usually not streaming online, so I’ve gathered them all here and got the five best Tzadik releases of 2021. This way, you’ll know where to start looking to dive into the surreal world of Zorn.

Number Five: John Zorn – Heaven and Earth Magick


Heaven and Earth Magick is one of the truer … Read more

Best Synth Music 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Let’s dive into the electronic world of synth music!

Number Five: Oh Yung – Godless



Oh Yung released Godless in May, and 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪 𝓫𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 it still is! Every song is worthy of praise, but perhaps none so much as “What U Wanna Do” for its complete bonkersness! The only flaw is its shortness!

Number Four: Big Lad – Power Tools


I’ll always remember the time I saw some dude cover a Venetian Snares song on an actual drum kit. I was so impressed by that! Well, Big Lad have turned that energy into the physical world, and play breakcore … Read more

Best of Modern Jazz 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Here’s some of the best jazz albums of 2021!

Number Five: Wood River & Cantus domus – Sediments We Move


On Sediments We Move, Charlotte Greve takes us on quite the panoramic tour! Backed by the Cantus domus choir, this is jazz with choir, and it’s positively disconcerting. I love it so much!

Number Four: Skrim – The Crooked Path


The avant-garde jazz journey of Skrim’s Crooked Path release is one you can’t easily forget, as you’ll constantly be thrown this way or that, to the whim of the composers-improvisers leading the boat. An amazing album!

Number Three: Patrick

… Read more