Richard Gehr on January 23, 2019
Ethiopian singer, actor, dancer and instrumentalist Asnakech Worku did it all. On the relatively modest 1975 recording Asnakech (Awesome Tapes From Africa), however, Worku sings and plays the lute-like krar alongside keyboardist Hailu Mergia (currently enjoying a late-life artistic renaissance) and a drummer. Her krar weaves insistent patterns over Mergia’s pentatonic organ chords as Worku […]
Ryan Reed on January 22, 2019
The cover of Toro y Moi’s sixth LP shows mastermind Chaz Bear gazing into the blinding glow of his computer screen. The image feels symbolic: On Outer Peace, he emphasizes the digital over the organic, weaving European dance music, electrofunk and woozy modern rap-pop into his hazy aesthetic. Each Bear project arrives with a certain […]
Justin Jacobs on January 18, 2019
Guster grew up playing Wetlands in the mid’90s and emerged from the homegrown AWARE scene, but they’ve long downplayed their original hallmarks of acoustic guitar, campfire harmonies and hand drums in favor of robust indie and pop flavors. Yet, their eighth LP may be their greatest stylistic leap yet. The nine-song collection is drenched in […]
