Nickie’s Niches #36: December 2024

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1. 

   The Old Peace

   by Mariusz Duda & Steven Wilson
   What a lovely blending of voices these two have interwoven on this remix single. A bit of melancholy and dreamy wistfulness permeates the piece, leaving one wishing there were more to be heard in this vein from these two.

   1. 

      Only Lovers Left Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

      by Sqürl and Jozef Van Wissem
      favorite track

      Sola Gratia (Pt. 1)

      Original motion picture soundtrack for this utterly dark and captivating film. Thick, washy, reverb-y heavy electric guitar, some punk-ish garage, and lute combine to give just the right sense of depths of time and long, complex relationships. Toss in some Middle Eastern vibes and you’ve got a potent mix

      1. 

         Spells From The Drunken Sirens. WAV 24 Bit 48 KhZ

         by Orange Blossom
         favorite track

         Meu Amor Se Foi.

         A splendid mix of world music from Nantes, France. They magpie deftly about from Middle Eastern to Spanish flavours, and throw in electric instrumentation as well as the traditional, such as violin and kanun. The female vocals are sometimes eerily hair-raising. Just beautiful.

         1. 

            Elysium

            by Rolf Zero
            favorite track

            Elysium (part II)

            Aussies Rolf Zero return with a “single,” two parts of a related piece of music, which serve as an intro to their upcoming release “Poseidon.” All is accomplished with the usual suspects, guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, and some other percussion, but they manage to create a singular sound, both retro and au courant. The particularly inspired guitar solo in Elysium (part II) keeps me listening over and over.

            1. 

               Broken Spells

               by Jo Beth Young
               favorite track

               Burning

               Moody atmospheres permeate this folktronica/etherica offering (yes, I think I just made up “etherica,” as a folk genre). Besides Jo’s distinctive vocals, instruments are guitars, keyboards, synths, pianos, E-bow, bass, cello, and even a steel guitar. The result is mesmerizing, the lyrical subject matter complex, and keeps growing on me.

               1. 

                  Діти

                  by Obiymy Doschu
                  Single track from Ukranian progressive / post-rock / contemporary classical outfit follows up their gorgeous full-length release of 2017, “Son.” Fronted by the effortless and evocative vocals of Volodymyr Agafonkin, with acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards, viola, and drums, this teaser track brings everything and more to make me look forward to their promised upcoming release.

                  1. 

                     The Visitor

                     by Colin Masson
                     favorite track

                     Spered Hollvedel

                     Wonderful combination of 70s style progressive and Celtic pieces of music on this lovely release. Guitar is the star here, but it’s backed up by plenty of synths, bass, and drums. I love the epic (21 min) opening track, just a complete trip to somewhere else. The more Celtic piece, a traditional Breton piece, translated to “Universal Spirit,” that I first heard via Alan Stivell will stand as my favourite track.

                     1. 

                        Stand Still

                        by Ekaterina Shelehova & Thom’Art Raidho
                        Ekaterina’s latest collaboration is with Thom’Art Readho, who states that he composes “healing music.” I can attest that this piece, at least, is certainly uplifting in a magickal way. Ekaterina’s heavenly voice is the perfect pairing with this style of music, and I hope we’ll get to hear more from these two in the future.

                        1. 

                           Ritual

                           by Armchair Gods
                           favorite track

                           Samhain

                           UK duo inspired by an ancient stone circle, and a chance sighting of a woman leaving a garland there. The four pieces are named for Celtic rituals of equinoxes and solstices, and the lush music reflects their significance in denoting the passage of the seasons in ritual.

                           1. 

                              Unbound EP

                              by CHELSEA WOLFE
                              favorite track

                              Dusk (Unbound)

                              These are stripped down versions of material released elsewhere, with the exception of the final track, which is a cover. With her intimate introspections, this tack really suits her. You truly feel as if you are inside of her ruminations here, with mostly just voice, guitar, and piano. This was my favourite track on her “She Reaches Out To She,” release, and it’s my favourite here, too. It’s just devastating when it’s presented so starkly.

                              1. 

                                 Afterlife

                                 by Jonathan Hultén
                                 Teaser single for Hultén’s anticipated January 2025 release,”Eyes Of The Living Night.” I just could not resist it’s lure and wait for the whole shebang. Otherworldly indeed, showcasing Hultén’s gorgeously lush vocals with a shimmering backdrop that draws back the veils. Eagerly awaiting the full release.