Nickie’s Niches #29: May 2024

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1. 

   12 Moons of Averak

   by Meat Cafe Vol. 3

   favorite track

   The Glistening Spear

   Avarak is a planet which Is near death, and most of it’s inhabitants have gone to live on it’s 12 moons. The civilizations of each have developed different aspects, depending on the planet’s natural qualities. Ron Marquiss composed the story, music and lyrics. Ron plays all instruments, joined by Bill Ray (drums) throughout, and Troll Hart (vocals), Suzi James (lead guitar) and Tim Wenzel (piano) on the title track The music moves deftly from progressive instrumentals into very quirky territory.

   1. 

      TAROT part I

      by Magick Brother & Mystic Sister

      favorite track

      THE HIGH PRIESTESS

      Here, the phantastic psych/dream/folk/space duo from Barcelona returns with a partial deck of Major Arcana Tarot cards for their inspiration.They follow the spiritual journey represented in the divination cards from 0 (The Fool) through 10 (The Wheel of Fortune). Effected vocals, piano, synths, organ, mellotron, guitars, bass, flute and drums sound like a typical lineup, but how they lay the cards on the table musically is what sets them apart from similar artists.

      1. 

         Colours & Light

         by Project Gemini

         favorite track

         Colours & Light

         Spacey, soundtracky (is that a word?) lysergia from London’s Paul Osborne, that veers off into acid folk, and even gets funky at times. He is joined by a myriad of collaborators, the usual suspects (guitars, bass, percussion), with keyboards, synths, flute, and some female vocals. Lost in the Woods is so good, they did two versions of it, but the title track is more representative of the varied foray you’ll have to trip out on here

         

         Midas Fall “Cold Waves Divide Us” Scottish duo expertly blends atmospheric post-rock, with dark electronica. All three band members play synthesizers and drums on this, Elizabeth Heaton brings vocals, guitars, strings, and piano; Rowan Burn plays guitars, and piano; with Michael Hamilton suppling bass. The result is surreal and haunting, with reverb aplenty, and lyrically pensive enough to satisfy the most mournful amongst us. Favourite Track: Cold Waves Divide Us (5:53)

         1. 

            Semi-acoustic at Kuryokhin Center

            by Roz Vitalis

            favorite track

            Passing Winter (Piano Solo)

            Live recording of this fine stalwart of the Moscow progressive scene, this time appearing as a quintet. Instrumentation is founder and creative force Ivan Rozmainsky on upright piano & synths, accompanied by acoustic guitar, bass, clarinet, and percussion. I am particularly in love with the piano solos here.

            1. 

               The Raven

               by Caroline Lavelle
               Alumna of Loreena McKennitt’s band, and member of Secret Sky, Caroline Lavelle released this beautiful solo album last year.This is a bit more “modern” than either of those projects, yet retains the depth and artistry of them. Caoline’s sultry vocals and cello are here, of course, and she also plays other strings and keyboards. Other instrumentation is drums, bass, guitar, piano, and saxophone.

               1. 

                  Mahal

                  by Glass Beams

                  favorite track

                  Black Sand

                  We don’t seem to hear a lot of world-based psych/electronica out of Australia, but here’s some for you. Inspired by watching “The Concert for George,” repeatedly, with his Indian father, Ranjan Silva’s interest in the crossroads of Eastern meeting Western music led him to create his own blend, fusing them together. There is a hypnotic mix of electric and acoustic instruments, drums, synths, and some tasty female vocals here.

                  1. 

                     Never Going to Touch the Ground b/w Free Ride

                     by Michael Trew

                     favorite track

                     Never Going to Touch the Ground

                     This is presented in old-fashioned single format, two cuts, and boy, am I hoping it’s a precursor to a full-length release. Free Ride is a cover of a Nick Drake song, and is a bit more forceful than the original, with some very angular electric guitar. I love Nick Drake, but I have to say that “Never Going To Touch The Ground,” is just sublime. It is so emotive and gorgeous, has a retro feel, and is just beautifully arranged with lush, full orchestration.

                     1. 

                        Buile

                        by Roehind

                        favorite track

                        Amhrán Na Farraige

                        This is just the kind of thing I always hope I’ll find in my searches for great music. Alys Hoy, under the moniker Roehind, has created an incandescent sound, using her crystalline vocals and combining electronica with Celtic traditions. She also plays mandolele, and is joined by a supporting vocalist, and others on bodhrán, flute, mandolin, bouzouki, and guitars.This song was originally written by Bruno Coulais as part of the soundtrack for the acclaimed animation movie, Song of the Sea.

                        1. 

                           David Ian Roberts

                           by David Ian Roberts

                           favorite track

                           Kaleidoscope Rising in 3D

                           Fifth release for this artist, who is new to me, making me wonder, where was I, that I missed the earlier ones? David performs all of the vocals, and plays most of the instruments (guitars, piano, synths, drums, electric bass, & dulcimer). Additional instrumentation is clarinet, flute, cello, double bass, violin, and viola. Lyrically introspective and visionary, the overall feel is dreamlike and muted, best described as Impressionism in musical form.

                           1. 

                              Jenny of Oldstones

                              by Ekaterina Shelehova
                              I really don’t like singles as a rule, but that is the only way to get these works, so I went for the discography. Ekaterina Shelehova is a critically acclaimed opera singer, who just stopped me in my tracks. The BC recordings available are mostly neofolk, neoclassical, and touch on world and opera music. The majority of the singles are solo, but she also duets on some of them, and all of the arrangements are spare, to showcase her chillingly lovely voice.