This column will now be a monthly feature where I point the Heavy crowd to some more obscure releases that deserve to be heard. If you want more obscure and weird music recommendations, visit my website!
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Current Banger: Haolin Munk – Planestasia Suite
I recently found out and praised extensively the new album from Ontario jazz-hop band Haolin Munk. Indeed, Planestasia Suite is a marvelous work of jazz fusion and hip-hop, with certain more experimental moments, all under a big and rather silly story arc. This album is certainly one of the highlights of the month, so be sure to check it out!
A Look to the Past: Malcolm Braff – Inside
This month I became aware of a recent trend in jazz experimentation known as microtime, thanks to Brandon Coleman. Although, since the term is ambiguous and subject to more than one practice, I prefer to call it “microrhythm”. The pioneer of this concept in Western music is Malcolm Braff, and it is best exemplified in this song called “Crimson Waves”, from his 2011 album Inside. Much like how microtonal music represents the “notes between the notes” on a vertical, harmonic-melodic axis, microrhythmic music refers to the notes between the notes on a horizontal, time-based axis. It is apparently one of the popular innovations in contemporary jazz, and more people need to know about it!
A Look to the Future: uSSSy – Voyage
Russian experimental rock duo uSSSy will release their new album very soon! I’ve been a fan of the band for years now and their Middle East-influenced hardcore math rock sound just got even better! Voyage is set to release on May 4th, and I’ve had the immense pleasure of premiering a song from it on my own website. Please listen to it below, I assure you, you won’t regret it!