reviews of contemporary underground psych, drone, sound art, and electronic/experimental music from the fringes
Al Chem, “Weird Fiction” (Art Yard/All City 2017/2026)
This fascinating dub outlier is a collection of pieces recorded between 2000 and 2005 by Berlin’s Alexander Christou. Newly reissued, Weird Fiction was first released back in 2017 on Art […]
Civilistjävel!, “Älvgång” (Six of Swords, 2026)
I’ve accumulated a number of releases from Swedish “cult ambient enigma” and “somnambulant drift “ enthusiast Tomas Bodén over the years, as I am a fan of both his shadowy […]
Pete Swanson & Ilyas Ahmed, “Things Left Unseen” (Geographic North, 2026)
This is apparently the first time that these two Pacific Northwest underground luminaries have ever recorded together, but the pair actually have quite a long shared history, as Swanson was […]
Holy Tongue, “Basilikum” (AD93, 2026)
This third full-length from the UK dub trio of Valentina Magaletti, Susumu Mukai, and Al Wootton feels like yet another creative leap forward for the project, which is quite impressive […]
Maria W. Horn, “Melting Pillars of Snow” (XKatedral, 2026)
This latest opus from Swedish composer and XKatedral co-founder Maria W. Horn is billed as her most ambitious work to date, as she enlisted a full chamber ensemble for a […]
Shit and Shine, “0 aa RIOT” (Riot Season, 2026)
This latest statement from the long-running, inscrutable, and gleefully self-indulgent solo project of Craig Clouse is billed as Shit and Shine’s “krautrock album.” Longtime fans will no doubt be familiar […]
Curbside Lambsear, “Put Rings On All My Fingers To Weigh Down My Hands” (Scenic Route, 2026)
This bombshell debut EP felt like it came out of nowhere, but these two Austrian expats (Annabelle Mödlinger (synth) and Magdalena McLean (viola)) have both been pretty active members of […]
Huerta Ensamble, “S∞S” (Elevator Bath, 2026)
This new “collaborative research project” by Mexican artists Concepción and Daniela Huerta is their first recorded collaboration, but the two artists have been working together ever since they first met […]