Gregg Kowalsky - "Tape Chants" CD

Oakland, California-based drone/tone composer Kowalsky here shows a tremendous shift from his previous Kranky release, moving fully from the digital domain to purely-analogue sources. 'Tape Chants' utilizes cassette players, tape loops, oscillators, and acoustic recordings, and the hazy, gauzy sounds here are prime ambient material -- overall fairly static and (to jaded ears like mine) really quite relaxing and meditational. 'VI-VII' almost approaches a rhythmic direction, as several pitched pulse-tones (or loops) are layered together to create a rudimentary structure. 'IX' uses effected piano alongside lo-fi noises to evoke a mood of solemn nostalgia -- like a musty old photograph. The closer, 'X-XI' is closer to the noise of a furnace, insistent and jaggedly abrasive. Overall, 'Tape Chants' proves to be a curious and challenging experiment for Kowalsky, of which I'd expect greater fruits in the future. (Kranky)

Gregg Kowalsky website

Kowalskyspace

Daddy - "For A Second Time" CD

Now, this is a refreshingly warm and familiar sound, as the Nashville duo of Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack (collectively Daddy) create some mighty fine classic folk/rock/Americana with country and blues accents. 'Nobody From Nowhere' is a rootsy rock track with a laid-back vibe and masterful pop hooks, and therefore is well-chosen as the album's lead-in. But Kimbrough and Womack deliver well throughout this solid and enjoyable album. They bring in some goofiness on the old-school country lament of 'I Want To Be Clean', while 'Redemption Is The Mother's Only Son' is a more serious, low-key, and reflective lament. 'Love In A Bottle' has a well-worn swagger that's fun, catchy, and just feels, well, real. But it's not all sincere and convincing -- 'I Went To Heaven In A Dream Last Night' reminds me of those awful credit report commercials. Meh. Nonetheless, that aside, fans of anyone from Dylan to Wilco will find plenty to like about Daddy. And score some local points -- Womack used to be in Government Cheese, who played Evansville many (many) years back! (Cedar Street Records)

Daddy website

Heavyweight Dub Champion - "Rise Of The Champion Nation" CD

The sticker affixed to the front of this beautifully-produced (screen-printed gatefold packaging, sticker/poster, card-stock inserts, etc.) deluxe-edition CD says it all - "71 minutes of massive dub hop". Formed by producers Resurrector and Patch, this 15-track set includes collaborations with wise wordsmiths like KRS-One, Killah Priest, Dr. Israel, A.P.O.S.T.L.E., Ganga Girl, and tons more. Lyrically, these artists touch on spirituality, politics, revolution, prophecy, and our apocalyptic world itself - eloquently and with a far more worldly outlook than their supposed peers. 'Destroy The Industry' breaks it down with some tough verbiage, attacking the corporate world and the mainstream hip-hop world with one fell swoop. These guys aren't here to mince words, that's for sure. Musically, 'Rise...' features big, hearty beats integrated with live instruments seamlessly (and plenty of variant samples used as texture). The melding of classic hip-hop with deep dub treatments is reminiscent of stuff like the awesome Ice (circa 'Bad Blood') or perhaps some of Bill Laswell's stunning dub-hybrids, complete with a deep experimentalist/cinematic sound streak. The message is right-on, the vehicle is a monolith of forward-thinking 21st century poetry set to sound. Immense, yes. Smart? Certainly. Recommended? Definitely. (Champion Nation)

Heavyweight Dub Champion website

Billie Holiday - "The Life And Artistry Of Lady Day" DVD

The inimitable 'Lady Day', as she was called, was unquestionably the first lady of jazz and blues in her time. Her tremendously troubled (and brief) life was rife with horror and tragedy, but Holiday channeled this into her music, which stands today as an inspiration and influence on even today's singers. This UK-produced documentary does an admirable job summing up her life and art. It's highlighted by several complete performances, including a breathtakingly solemn and intense 'Strange Fruit'. The limited outsider viewpoints, and the reliance on stock footage of Holiday makes for a wonderful primer, and there's a few minor bonuses (discography, some short performances from film, etc.) to beef it all up. A nice deal, and well-suited to Lady Day novices like myself. (Idem Home Video via MVD Visual)

Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers - "Songs In The Night" CD

Lovely and slightly freaky Americana folk vibes from Oklahoma, with Crain's unique vocals recalling kindred souls like Joanna Newsom or Bjork , but placed more within a straightforward songwriting foundation (and certainly not as 'flighty' as those comparisons might imply). Production by Danny Kadar (My Morning Jacket, Grizzly Bear) is sympathetic -- keeping a clear and honest vibe that allows all the instruments and Crain's almost-ghostly vocals to shine through. There are some strong songs here, to be certain. Take 'Scissor Tales', with it's almost Western shuffle and narrative construction. Crain is a skilled wordsmith, and her band never steals the limelight, adding color and subtlety in all the right places. 'Songs In The Night' is a perfectly fine album of mature tunes from a band who have a boatload of potential. I'm impressed. (Ramseur Records)

Samantha Crain's website

Samantha Crainspace

Akron / Family - "Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free" CD

Initially seen as a psychedelic 'freak folk' kinda act, and gaining numerous accolades through their previous alliance with M. Gira's esteemed Young God Records, Akron/Family return with a deep, warm, and altogether joyous celebration of sound, vision, and worldliness on the multi-leveled, diverse, and truly wonderful 'Set 'Em Wild'. The guys of AF are, without a doubt, immense fans and consumers of music in all of it's shapes and permutations. Just give a listen to the funky 'Everyone Is Guilty', which goes from James Brown to Hendrix and back, while adding a laid-back summery vibe near the end. It may sound schizophrenic, but somehow it works. Witness the island charms of the accessible 'River', which recalls a lazy, sunny porch scene down South, by way of Jamaica. 'Creatures' brings a dub rhythm to the table, though it's still in essence a classic rock track that screams of long hair and sandals. 'Gravelly Mountains Of The Moon' embraces both gospel and free jazz, while 'MBF' shows their affinity for screeching noise. 'Sun Will Shine (Warmth Of The Sun)' is a throwback to their earlier rural folk, while 'Last Year', which closes the album, is a simple, but effective sing-along for the working class. Basically, the band's 'everything-but-the-kitchen-sink' approach is their greatest trait, and there are enough catchy, lovely pop-songs submerged here that it's almost ridiculous. Sure to be a classic one day, Akron/Family flashes a multi-faceted brilliance consistently. A must-hear. (Dead Oceans)

Akron/Family website

Angelique Bosio - "Llik Your Idols" DVD

This documentary of the late 80's-early 90's New York movement now known as the 'Cinema Of Transgression' examines the reactionary/nihilist film/art/music scenes that intersected at this revolutionary time. Interviews with scenesters like Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, Lydia Lunch, Thurston Moore, Richard Hell, Jarboe, Joe Coleman, Russell Simmins, and others lend an air of credibility to the proceedings, as folks like Zedd, Kern, and Lunch were responsible for some of the most shocking and (some would say) tasteless films of our generation. The violence, gore, and sexual depravity of this period is examined and reflected upon by actors and film-makers alike, and although some can be arguably be assessed as little more than Z-grade trash cinema (or fetishistic titillation), there were some important inspirations and aspirations there. In fact, it can be noted that some of this underground cinema has infiltrated modern pop culture, with everything from fashion spreads, photography, and horror films taking cues from some of these still-hard-hitting films. Bosio does a fine job illustrating what made this "scene" tick, with plenty of excerpts and clips. The bonus bits include 2 of Zedd's films, 'Police State' (which is a horrifyingly extreme and pointed look at police brutality, starring himself as the victim), and 'War Is Menstrual Envy' (a weird and almost moving look at, eh, a burn victim, Annie Sprinkle, and Kembra Pfahler in various compromising positions). Well worth a look if this sounds like your cup of tea leaves. (MVD Visual)