The Monthly RecommNeds: September

As summer winds down, the monthly picks are back with your great-in-any-season new music picks. Whatever your taste, I think I’ve got something to perk your ears and maybe get your toes tappin’ a bit. Let me know what you’re digging!

Just in case you’ve missed any of this year’s columns, you can check ‘em out here:

As a reminder, the RecommNeds is a monthly rundown of maybe-not-on-your-radar new music, hopefully with something-for-everyone variety. I’m also putting together a special 25-track playlist each month: songs I’ve been digging, some from the monthly picks, some from albums that weren’t featured, some singles from upcoming releases, and maybe a random blast-from-the-past favorite or two. This month’s Spotify playlist is here. Dig it!

Without further ado, here are my latest finds, enjoy!

The Monthly 10:

Ten under-the-radar albums released last month that I think you might dig, presented in alphabetical order.

Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders: Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

Let’s get things rolling with the delightfully narcotic self-titled debut from Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders. Playing with a ridiculously talented band of guys-you-should-know, including some great special guests, Alexander finds a sweet stoner motherlode. Evoking a certain vibe from the Grateful Dead (and covering one Garcia/Hunter tune for good measure), this is, almost certainly, right in your wheelhouse and a perfect end-of-summer soundtrack. Dig it.

---

ATA Records: The Library Archive, Vol 2

ATA Records is a Leeds, UK-based label that has their own distinctive spook-funk sound from artists such as the previously-recommNed’d The Sorcerers. This release is a dump of deep funk from various studio jams and every track is a groover’s delight, perfect for your laid-back dance party or just headphone-head-bobbin’. This is some tasty, tasty shit in easily chewable morsels. Happy snacking!

---

Badge Epoch: Scroll

Earlier this year I rec’d an album by Badge Epoque Ensemble. That was a good one, if you missed it, please check it out. This one, by a slightly different formulation of the same sound by Toronto artist Max Turnbull is, uh, really freakin’ good. Really. Scroll is a masterpiece of instrumental music, dense with ideas and groovy as all heck. There’s quantity to go along with the quality, too, 20 tracks and almost 90 minutes worth of awesome. Put this on at your next party and anyone who isn’t moving by the end of the 11-plus-minute first track should be politely asked to leave.

---

Jesse Harris & Vinicius Cantuaria: Surpresa

On their own, songsmiths Jesse Harris and Vinicius Cantuária are some of the more versatile performers you’ll find, each fitting in perfectly with a range of different collaborators in just as many styles. It’s no surprise that they fit together so well here on Surpresa, blending their voices and sounds to create a seriously vibey record. They’ve enlisted some of those collaborators as well (Bill Frisell, Melody Gardo and more) which doesn’t hurt the cause. This is a perfect Sunday morning on the couch vibe, smart multilingual songwriting and luscious accompaniment. Enjoy!

---

Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge: JID 8

Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have been putting out release after confoundingly sweet release in their Jazz Is Dead series, hooking up with all sorts of hidden gem jazz and groove musicians. This one, featuring Brian Jackson, is probably my favorite one yet and fits right in with this decidedly boogie-ready set of RecommNeds. Flutes and Fender funk mix with irresistible rhythms will take you mind for a retrogroove ride. A must listen.

---

Liam Kazar: Due North

There’s a decent chance someone has already hipped you to this eye-opening release from Liam Kazar. It’s fun as heck, it feels equally fresh and familiar, and like every track is your new favorite song, one after the other. It’s just got that certain something that’s tough not to love, everyone I know that’s heard it wants to talk about it, share it, savor it. So, if it hasn’t happened yet, consider yourself officially hipped to, in my opinion, one of the year’s best releases. And when you’re done listening, go on and tell your friends so they can get in on the fun as well.

---

Toby Oler: Hillbilly Mind Eraser

I guess the idea behind the title of Toby Oler’s new album, Hillbilly Mind Eraser is the blend of the “hillbilly,” in this case Oler’s banjo, with the idea of mind erasing, here being the far-outer-space experimental sounds both acoustic and electric. I’m not sure the title quite captures it, but dang if this music isn’t a head-trip and a half. It’s kind of lovely and accessible and also deeply psychedelic, never boring and ultimately listenable. Oler is consistently creative in finding new complexities in the simplicity of his banjo and on this one he’s found a sweet spot. Give it a listen!

---

Ouzo Bazooka: Dalya

Ouzo Bazooka is a new-to-me band out of Tel Aviv, which means they’re not technically Eurojam, but they fit the bill pretty darn well, so we’ll let them fill that slot this month. Dalya is chock full of fuzzed-out rockers with a psychedelic dose of Middle Eastern themes. The sound is just heavy enough, layered just right and pulsing with hypnotic rhythm. I think you’re gonna like this one.

---

Charles Spearin: My City of Starlings

There’s a chance you are already familiar with Charles Spearin and just didn’t realize it, a founder of Do Make Say Think and a member of Broken Social Scene I’d venture to say that everything he’s involved with is excellent and that goes for his latest solo release. Over the pandemic, Spearin participated in a write-a-song-a-day exercise with a group of songwriters and the compositions led to this album, a rather stunning collection of ideas and musical journeys. The very best instrumental music conveys stories and emotion in its sounds and on that count, this record is among the very best in instrumental music. It gets my highest recommendation.

---

Trees Speak: PostHuman

Let’s finish with the mysterious Trees Speak out of Arizona. This one came out back in the spring, but I just happened upon it last month and can’t resist recommending it to you, my new-music-discovery friends. Thumping grooves of Krautrock, scattershot melodies of spacejazz, and the wild-eyed imagery of horror-film psychedelia, this one is overflowing with all sorts of ideas piled together in head-spinning fashion. Take your brain on a little voyage and let me know what you think when you get back.

---

Bonus Round

In addition to the Monthly 10, I’ll try to throw in a few other picks each month.

For my live pick this week, check out this recording of the Sami Moukaddem Quartet, which feels like jazz until it twists and turns and suddenly isn’t. Featuring the best-in-class drumming of Joey Baron, it’s full of cool surprises.

As far as EPs to recommend, I always dig the music put out by Paul and the Tall Trees and his latest pandemic-release is no different and if Angel Olsen isn’t someone you typically listen to, her covers EP is haunting and surprisingly moving.

And finally, five more recommendations that may not be on your radar but are well worth a listen, presented without comment: Marisa Anderson/William Tyler, Dave Harrington/Kenny Wolleson, Shinyribs, Emma-Jean Thackray, Brandee Younger … what other good ones did I miss this month?

I think that’ll do, more next month.

Please note: all of the music mentioned in this column can be found in this September compilation playlist on Spotify. I’ll also keep up this running Spotify playlist with all the recommendations from 2021 so they’re all in one place for easy new music discovery at any time.

Enjoy!