Georgia Anne Muldrow: Ocotea (ePistrophik Peach Sound)
The daughter of progressive-jazz parents, Georgia Anne Muldrow has attained acclaim — from critics, musicians, and listeners alike — for her loose, soulful vocals atop her own funky, jazzy creations.
In just four short years since her debut EP, she has made great strides as a musician, and her latest effort is another step forward. Ocotea, the first release under her Jyoti alter-ego, marks her first foray into instrumental jazz.
Drawing as much on spacey synths and hip-hop beats as jazz melodies, Ocotea keeps a steady pulse and groove as Muldrow utilizes a diverse sonic palette. It's a far-out journey that has shown the young songstress in a new and compelling light.
Georgia Anne Muldrow: "The Black Mother"
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People Like Us & Wobbly: Music for the Fire (Illegal Art)
A pair of serial collaborators, Vicki Bennett (People Like Us) and Jon Leidecker (Wobbly) have joined forces over the past decade to offer bizarre and improvised audio collages.
Their latest pairing, Music for the Fire, is pulled from live recordings that have been tweaked and re-tweaked to capture oddball mishmashes of famous songs, obscure instrumental cuts, and vocal samples from decades-old pop culture.
To those with less exposure to the genre, Music for the Fire may feel like an album by Kid Koala or End (of Ipecac, Tigerbeat6, and Hymen) — often sleepy, clashing with itself, and dedicated to music that spans the 20th Century. There is, however, a greater focus on the weird and absurd vocal samples, which often are rearranged or pieced together to humorous effect.
The album also is built around a concept, one that tells the story of a relationship, from birth ("Naked Little Girl") to trial ("Female Convict") to resolution ("Pain"). It's a quirky, fun mess that isn't recommended for disapprovers of dissonance.
People Like Us & Wobbly: "Giant Love Ball"
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Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & The Helix: Ragged and Right EP (Thrill Jockey)
Just months after passing away last December, Americana guitarist Jack Rose was remembered with a posthumous full-length album, the third of his acoustic homages to early blues, ragtime, country/folk, Appalachian music, and modern Hindustani classical.
Recorded in the summer of 2008, Ragged and Right sprung from a tour between Rose and D. Charles Speer & The Helix earlier in the year. While traveling, the musicians found themselves inspired by the sessions of Link Wray for his famous Mordicai Jones album, and Rose picked up the lap steel and Telecaster that appeared on earlier albums.
Together, the band laid down a forgotten number by Vernon Wray (Link's eldest brother), a Merle Haggard crooner, a take on the traditional tune "In the Pines," and an original. In all, the EP is unique, reverent, and beautiful — a fitting reflection of Rose's career.
Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & The Helix: "Linden Avenue Stomp"
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Honorable Mentions
Ketil Bjørnstad: Remembrance (ECM)
The Delta Mirror: Machines that Listen (Lefse)
Foals: Total Life Forever (Sub Pop)
Grupo Fantasma: El Existential (Nat Geo)
Matthew Herbert: Mahler Sympony X Recomposed by Matthew Herbert (Deutsche Grammophon)
Oval: Oh (Thrill Jockey)
Rasputina: Sister Kinderhook (Filthy Bonnet)
Gabor Szabo: Jazz Raga (Light in the Attic / Impulse!)
