Counterpoint Best Releases – Jan 19/Jan 27

Helado Negro – Island Universe Story Four (LP)

Helado Negro releases his fourth instalment of the Island Universe Story. Begun in 2012, Island Universe Story has acted as a way for Roberto Carlos Lange to distill the sounds of his numerous side projects onto a single LP, it’s like listening to his scrapbook. So don’t go into it hoping for a cohesive experience or one particularly interested in the listener, rather, you should just try and soak in as many of the sounds he presents as possible.

Nils Frahm – All Melody

Our favorite composer from the Peaceful Piano study playlist on Spotify is back, blessing us with 12 new tunes! In the album All Melody, it’s noticeable that Nils is trying to move away from the mainstream modern piano genre into vocal and instrumental experimentation. Still a solid study playlist, although it gets slightly weird after track eight, just an fyi.

Sting and Shaggy – Don’t Make Me Wait

Our English man and bombastic shagster are back in the game! This tune will be super popular at Hawaiian front desks in elderly circles. If you are elderly in spirit – give this a listen!

Other Notable Releases:

Django Django – Marble Skies

https://open.spotify.com/album/61rOk6XQluHCZmn5Htw8ET?si=OZJo0UI4SxyiSCTjTNWhqA

Lylo – Post Era

https://open.spotify.com/album/660tJapXK8mIYfkpXR64dg?si=sfQ_DJ1vSvGZUpT8QiQzgg

Jay Som – Pirouette (Single)

https://open.spotify.com/album/7cRW2j85WXSL9wLSTwnJ5b?si=dCVWyXD1TdOzKbFTpxamXw

James Black – If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead (Single)

https://open.spotify.com/album/6QE4jrzunLV7pKZVlk9ElV?si=kp8gKFkcRcCCwByL8wx79A

Khruangbin – Con Todo El Mundo

https://open.spotify.com/album/5u103bJ7EsNUAyL9eMACo5?si=6Fi-M5LwQKqw_tP18kFJRw

The Fall – Best of Live (A respectable release for the memory of the genius Mark E. Smith)

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/best-of-live/1340286117

Knucks, Not3s – Hooper

https://open.spotify.com/album/4tPG1rVrC5wE4cnqVQ1E4u?si=v1_DEIAYSd6CH1wxjP1KDg

Evidence – Weather or Not

https://open.spotify.com/album/4cUdOzWU7IL2c3ockX2BVj?si=fXK6Hk0XTyyUfQKgPOyPGw

Tom Misch – Water Baby

https://open.spotify.com/album/1eG8nI5TfqmhLPur9OxpVS?si=o9g3XyZoSvCCYcy1qDpgGg

Jan 19th

Yo La Tengo – There’s a Riot Going On (Singles) Wafia – VIII (Single)

Yesterday, Yo La Tengo released four tracks from their upcoming album. The first three songs are mellow, mostly instrumental and reminiscent of other Tengo releases. The last track, Out of the Pool, provides the most interesting listen with a decidedly melodramatic take on psychedelic 90s electronica. Despite the somewhat underwhelming nature of the singles, the tracks (based on their order) seem to be promising that the finished product will take the listener on a long, transitive journey. Keep your eyes peeled for this one in March.

Wafia – VIII (Single)

Last year Wafia teased us with singles leading up to the awaited EP that was released this Friday. Wafia’s music has the typical, but loved, modern Australian electronic sound. Her smooth vocals soaring over the beats creates a unique, but one designed to satisfy the common listener. The best track on the EP, Interlude, which is ironic because it’s the interlude, shows that she has the potential to make some really cool beats. Instead she’s making boring generic music. Sad.

Andrea Balency – Around and Back and Around (Single)

I’m not going to lie, of the experimental singles I’ve listened to this year, this is the best. Blending gorgeous strings with a singing style reminiscent of Visible Cloaks voice manipulation techniques, this nine minute release studies the effects of dynamics by limiting itself to (mostly) two instruments. Due to the extremely stripped back nature of the songs, oscillation is used out of necessity, causing the strings and vocals to not only harmonize with each other, but with themselves. There’s a desperation clearly apparent in both Balency’s voice and the strings. As the two rise successively they sound like climbers clambering overtop of each other, terrified of whatever lies below. The effect is a sound that blankets over you and refuses to let you out. It’s an impressive progression.