reviews of contemporary underground psych, drone, sound art, and electronic/experimental music from the fringes
Celestial Power (Feeding Tube/Cardinal Fuzz, 2026)
This absolutely ripping new trio is something of a Dead Sea Apes side project, as guitarist Brett Savage and drummer Chris Hardman teamed up with guitarist/Cardinal Fuzz label head Dave […]
Magic Tuber Stringband, “Heavy Water” (Thrill Jockey, 2026)
The latest album from this unconventional avant-folk project was inspired by fiddler Courtney Werner’s experiences working as an ecologist at the Savannah River Site in rural South Carolina. As Werner […]
“Aftermath and Transitions (Traces Of The Ukrainian Underground in Cologne (1994-1996))” (Stroom, 2026)
This unique and fascinating compilation celebrates the unique and lamentably short-lived scene that centered around Cologne-based producer Guido Erfen and engineer Michael Springer and their Rhenania recording studio (built in […]
Jake Muir, “Pareidolia” (Enmossed, 2026)
According to the press release, this latest ambitious feat of sonic sorcery from Berlin-based sound artist Jake Muir extracts “the headiest, most atmospheric sections from hundreds of death metal and […]
Mad Iris, “Mad Iris” (Ba Da Bing, 2026)
This is this Toronto quartet’s first album, but they’ve been playing shows and releasing singles since 2023. In fact, a chance encounter with one of those singles in a record […]
Mere of Light, “Heat of Ritual” (Lighten Up Sounds, 2026)
This is my first exposure to this solo project from New Orleans-based harpist/electronic producer Elise McArdle, but she self-released a couple of digital EPs before this physical debut on Minnesota’s […]
Dumama, “Towards an Expanse” (Soundway, 2026)
This is the solo debut from Berlin-based poet/composer Gugulethu Duma, but she previously released an acclaimed collaboration (Buffering Juju) with Algerian-German producer Kerim Melik Becker on Johannesburg’s pirate radio show-turned-record […]
“XKatedral Anthology Series III” (XKatedral, 2026)
Stockholm’s impeccably curated and darkly drone-centric XKatedral label celebrates their ten-year anniversary with this third volume in their “series of archival releases dedicated to presenting music by composers working within […]