In Strict Tempo, vol. 109: Beware The Friendly Stranger
Hello all, and apologies for the lack of In Strict Tempo Communications over the past couple of weeks. Things should be back to normal now.
The big news over the last week or so? Boards of Canada might be back. Mysterious posters, video tapes mailed out to people, thousands of posts on Reddit… all the ingredients are there. Is it time to reappraise Tomorrow’s Harvest? It’s up there with their best. Anyway, here’s a YouTube video which seems to be the first track from an upcoming album.
Record Store Day this Saturday. Your local shop will probably have some kind of event on, and a large queue of scalpers out the door. I haven’t noticed any gems in the list this year, but there’s probably a few okay titles in there (as well as a lot of dross).
Next week I’ll be at IMS. If you’re there too let me know. On Thursday I’m participating in a panel about life after an acquisition, wearing my label hat. Come say hi, I’m there Wednesday-Friday, and likely at Pikes one of the evenings…
New Music
Anyway, enough of that - there’s lots of cool stuff out, some of which I’ve missed since I last wrote, so here’s a chunky list of new music.
Appleblim - Liminal Tides [Quiet Details]
Appleblim goes ambient! Absolutely out-of-this-world soundscapes from the dubstep pioneer and Skull Disco co-founder. This is a bit more than just what you’d call ambient tbh, featuring the considered sound design you’d expect from someone who’s worked closely with the likes of Shackleton & co.
ex_libris - 003 [ex_libris]
Not streaming yet, but Bandcamp is your friend here. A third volume of cosmic techy leaning “house” from the one formerly known as A Made Up Sound. 10/10 as always.
Terrence Dixon - When Stars Remember [Tresor]
Proper hypnotic tackle from one of the best to ever do it. Take that first track and pitch it waaaay down and let him take u places you’ve never been before…
Cancer House - The Moth [Motion Ward]
Already being proclaimed by many as one of the albums of the year this one sold out pretty much as soon as it landed… there’s a repress en-route, but in the mean time make do with the digital. What do you call this? That’s up to you, but it sits somewhere around the slowcore/post-rock axis wistfully floating around the place with methodical precision and a DIY feel at the same time.
Iivana Mišukka & Arja Kastinen - Iivana Mišukka [Death Is Not The End]
Remember that Michael O’Shea reissue from a few years back? You know, the zither one. Yeah that. If you like that you’ll love this.
Shed - Everybody [Dekmantel]
Shed on Dekmantel? Didn’t see that one coming. It sounds lazy to say this sounds like typical Shed, but it does. If you’re this good at doing what you do then why change it?
Donato Dozzy - Hypno Trance [Spazio Disponible]
Again, just on Bandcamp for the time being… I was expecting more trance if I’m honest, but this is still pretty hypnotic so all good there.
Shinichi Atobe - Silent Way [Plastic & Sounds]
I’m told this is Atobe’s first self-released LP, after a run of records with DDS. On first thoughts it’s pretty decent, something that I think will reveal itself more with every new listen. Some tracks are deffo in the classic vein, others a little more pedestrian, but still better than 90% of what passes for house these days
Pan-American - Fly The Ocean In A Silver Plane [kranky]
When I was younger we used to go on holiday to this one place in the south of France where they would do this big sandwich called a Pain American. Essentially it was a baguette filled with French fries, frankfurter and Dijon mustard, and it was probably one of the best things my fifteen year old appetite could have imagined. Tried one again a couple of years ago and it was fucking horrible. Anyway… nice album this, post-rock summer round two?
Raime - Can You Repeat That Please? [DDS]
Blink-and-you’ve-probably-missed-it-already mixtape from Raime diving deep into their UK roots backgrounds, reggae, dub, street soul and all things in that orbit. Hunt down the files if you missed the tape. Don’t ask me.
Index for Working Music - Bunker Imitations II [Tough Love]
I previewed this one a few weeks ago, now the full thing is available on digital and vinyl via World of Echo affiliated Tough Love. I loved the last one, this one’s great too.
Francesco Leali - To Dance Is To Resist [Until Riots]
One of the most innovative composers working in music today, Milan’s Francesco Leali returns to his Until Riots imprint with the score to the film of the same name, tracking a couple dealing with identity, homophobia and the effects of war in modern-day Ukraine.
Speedy J - Ctrssalms 17 (Cold Render) [STOOR]
These past few weeks have been full of suprpsies haven’t they? Boards of Canada, Untold, Appleblim and now Speedy J back with some new music, his first solo album in 20 years, and the first thing I’ve listened to since that collab with Surgeon a couple of years back.
aloisius - vernacular [life is beautiful]
Meandering calmly through gentle valleys of melodic pianos into the reflecting pools of shoegaze-heavy guitars this album wears its influences on it’s sleeve, but still keeps a few tricks hidden to reveal themselves to the adventurous listener.
Tara Clerkin Trio - Silently [World of Echo]
A second new single from Tara Clerkin Trio on World of Echo - on second thoughts, who even needs new Boards of Canada?
RJD2 & Supastition - According To… [RJ’s Electrical Connections]
RJD2 was part of that absolutely peerless era of stuff on Def Jux that sounded like almost nothing else on earth, but better than 99% of hip-hop that was floating round at the time. He’s been steadily putting stuff out since, but nothing’s grabbed me in the way of Deadringer, June or The Horror did back then. This is alright though, I’ll probably dive into his catalogue again and see what I’ve been missing.
You can get all these records from any reputable record shop, a few I recommend include Boomkat, World of Echo, Rubadub and All Night Flight but remember to support your local indie record shop too!
