As the founder of the fabled Japanese bands After Dinner and Hoahio, the composer and vocalist Haco drew from an array of traditional instrumentation while pushing the boundaries of post-rock and avant-pop. This week she is back with Nova Naturo, whose gauzy electronics show her penchant for collaboration, featuring improvisational guitarists, pianists, and double bassists from Kobe, Stabilo from the Hiroshima ambient scene, the renowned sound artist Keiichi Sugimoto, and Jára Tarnovski from the Czech quartet Gurun Gurun.
The Los Angeles collective Wild Up open their anthology on the minimalism of Julius Eastman, Arushi Jain summons ambient synth ragas, and Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion till the ground ahead of Let The Soil Play Its Simple Part. MIKE swaps the flashing lights for the sunshine of family on Disco!, Amythyst Kiah realises the caustic agency of Americana on the scabrous and soulful Wary + Strange, while Leon Bridges and Mariah the Scientist get wistful or long for one last touch.
From Kampala, Don Zilla warps deep bass and industrial dance rhythms, from Kingston the Equiknoxx singer Shanique Marie weaves offbeat and homespun blues ballads, while the Montreal producer d’Eon returns with a polygonal play on baroque trills and wind chimes. The latest score by Hania Rani tracks the wisdom and forbearance of a famous Polish priest. Mykki Blanco teams with Blood Orange, Jenevieve charms by moonlight, and music by Soccer Mommy, DaBaby, Esperanza Spalding, Vince Staples, Joon, and Yves Tumor rounds out the best of the week.
Playlists: Spotify · Apple Music · YouTube
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Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion – ‘Other Song’
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Leon Bridges – ‘Why Don’t You Touch Me’
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Vince Staples – ‘LAW OF AVERAGES’
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DaBaby – ‘Ball If I Want To’
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Soccer Mommy – ‘Kissing In The Rain’
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Shanique Marie – ‘Ballad’ (feat. MVW)
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Arushi Jain – ‘Richer Than Blood’
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Mykki Blanco – ‘It’s Not My Choice’ (feat. Blood Orange)
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Joon – ‘Orqod’
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Esperanza Spalding – ‘Formwela 5’ (feat. Corey King)
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Jenevieve – ‘Midnight Charm’
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Mariah the Scientist – ‘2 You’
