archived brainwashed reviews
KILN, “Tungsten” (Ghostly International, 2021)
I have been vaguely aware of this unusual and beloved midwestern IDM/post-rock trio for years, but figured they were probably too conventionally likable for my taste. As it turns out, […]
Sarah Davachi, “Antiphonals” (Late Music, 2021)
In my review of Cantus Figures Laurus last month, I half-jokingly noted that Sarah Davachi’s creative arc seems unavoidably headed towards composing a full-on Mellotron-driven prog rock opus. While she […]
HTRK, “Rhinestones” (N&J Blueberries/Heavy Machinery, 2021)
This latest release from the long-running duo of Jonnine Standish and Nigel Yang is quite a bombshell, as Rhinestones was “inspired by a recent infatuation with ‘eerie and gothic country […]
Tomasz Sroczynski, “Symphony n°2 / Highlander” (Ici d’ailleurs/Mind Travels, 2021)
This album was my first exposure to this Polish composer, but this appears to be his sixth album if I include his improv trio and his collaborations. Also, it is […]
The Volume Settings Folder, “Pastorage Sights” (Self-Released, 2021)
This prolific ambient project from Italian guitarist M. Beckmann has been a fascination of mine for a couple of years now and I have been patiently waiting for an appropriately […]
Rdeča Raketa, “…and cannot reach the silence” (Ventil, 2021)
I believe this is the third album from this Vienna-based duo, but it has been a while (eight years) since they last released anything and they are entirely new to […]
Hugo Randulv, “Radio Arktis (samlade ljud från den norra polcirkeln)” (Discreet, 2021)
Bandcamp recently published a feature on one of my favorite subjects (the Gothenburg Underground) and it turned me onto this solo release from an artist they dubbed “the closest you’ll […]
Lawrence English, “Observation of Breath” (Hallow Ground, 2021)
One of the many surprises of the last few years has been the current pipe organ renaissance unfolding in the experimental music world (your days are numbered, modular synths!). Thankfully, […]