Nickie’s Niches #38: February 2025

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1. 

   King Köln

   by Tenk Van Dool / Paul Sears
   Tenk Van Dool and Paul Sears worked up a different version of my favourite piece of theirs from their “Aperiodic Grok,” release, making it more upbeat, and giving it a royal title. It still falls firmly into my “niche-y” camp, and here it is, for your enjoyment, because why keep it all to myself? I announce the arrival of King Köln.

   1. 

      All That Matters – High Resolution (24 bit)

      by Grackle

      favorite track

      I Can Make This Right

      Steve Katsikis and friends return with another lovely collection of reflective and catchy tunes. The seven-piece band is adept, and the music is lush and dense with orchestration. Instruments are keyboards, bass, drums, violin, cello, saxophone, flute, and guitars. The lyrics really shine, going from the depths of existential crisis, to the lilting joys of love and love of life, and even a cover tune from Jesus Christ, Superstar.

      1. 

         Fasiya

         by Sona Jobarteh

         favorite track

         Saya

         World musician Sona Jobarteh specializes in the 21-stringed West African kora, which in itself is quite an accomplishment, as learning the instrument is normally passed from father to son. She is the first professional female kora player. She has a mellifluous voice, and is accompanied by acoustic guitar, flute, and drums on this outing. It is simply beautiful.

         1. 

            Stupid Says Run

            by Dorie Jackson

            favorite track

            The Daylight Gate

            Dorie Jackson is no stranger to progressive music, having worked as lead and backing vocalist for artists such as Francis Dunnery and Kaprekar’s Constant. Most of this second solo release is informed by Celtic music traditions, blending progressive and orchestral touches into the mix. The haunting song of insomnia, which incorporates the album title in the chorus is my favourite track.

            1. 

               Long Time Gone

               by Dirk Mont Campbell

               favorite track

               Gallows Bank

               Multi-instrumentalist Dirk Campbell brings all of his acquired skills on this collection. Known for his eclectic forays into world, progressive, psych, film music, and even some jazz elements, here he presents a bit of all of these styles. He plays about 40 instruments all told, and according to his note on this recording, he features all of them here.

               1. 

                  Silver Pulse

                  by BleakHeart

                  favorite track

                  Where I’m Disease

                  Falling somewhere along the lines of shoegaze, doomgaze, and post-rock, Denver, Colorado’s Bleakheart features the layered sounds typical of those genres, and the heaviness of orchestration, but toss in a curveball with their ethereal female vocalist.

                  1. 

                     Urban Vision

                     by Nicola Lori

                     favorite track

                     Urban Vision

                     This is a superb confluence of progressive, art rock, and jazz. Italian composer Nicola Lori has brought together a stellar crew of musicians to assist him in bringing these ruminations to life. This is contemplative and moody, like thoughts on a drive through a mostly sleeping city at 3AM. One of my favourite vocalists, Grice Peters, does the honours on my favourite track, which is the title track.

                     1. 

                        Cold Blows the Rain

                        by Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions

                        favorite track

                        She Moved Through The Fayre

                        Folk drone emerging from the mists of time, very slowly. Bridget has a melancholic sort of voice and everything about this recording is hushed and laid back. She is in no hurry to tell the tales, nor are her Apparitions. Harmonium, violin, and banjo, and Bridget’s quavering voice invite one to sit still and make your acquaintance with Time.

                        1. 

                           A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2

                           by Versa

                           favorite track

                           Lake of Luxury

                           Versa is an excellent progressive band that combines prog with post rock, folk, and orchestral music in a singular way. Instrumentation is the usual suspects, keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, as well as violin and horns, and features a few big name guests. Every player, every song, is superb.

                           

                           Not on Bandcamp: Wardruna “Birna” Wardruna bring rich and delicious dark Nordic folk, playing on both modern and traditional instruments and singing in Norwegian, Norse , and proto-Norse. They perform on tagleharpa, kravik-lyre, bukkehorn, lur, flute, mora-harp, and various forms of percussion. Steeped in nature and pagan traditions, this is the real deal. Favourite Track: 5 Jord til Ljos (5:41)