Nickie’s Niches 25: January 2024

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1. 

   Momentum

   by Agitation Free
   favorite track

   Levant

   Pioneers of German experimental music, they first formed in 1967. Here they continue their traditional blend of progressive, jazz, and trance, and toss a generous amount of ethnic music for good measure. The four original members play electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, keyboards and synthesizers, drums and other percussion, and bass, plus guests appearing on santoor and lead guitar. Being a fool for the santoor, my favourite track is Levant.

1. 

   The Rainbow Tree

   by Melanie Mau & Martin Schnella
   favorite track

   14. Siúil A Rúin (Traditional/Clannad)

   These cover songs are acoustic arrangements, and are intricate and engaging, with plenty of edge and forcefulness where it suits. Here the duo remain true to their distinctive sound and expert intertwining of their voices (along with other guest vocals). Instrumentation is all kinds of guitars and basses, Uilleann pipes,

   1. 

      Air (by Theo Travis & Garry Judd)

      by Theo Travis
      favorite track

      Prairie Elders

      Theo Travis has worked with many stellar progressive and jazz musicians, and here he teams up with Garry Judd. They cryptically list Theo on “wind instruments,” and Garry on “all other instruments.” These are “library music” compositions, and thus, they are all short pieces, intended for placement on TV, film, and video.They draw on Celtic, Middle Eastern, Native American, and jazz for inspiration.

      1. 

         Furling

         by Meg Baird
         favorite track

         Star Hill Song

         Multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Meg Baird brings her many talents to this solo recording. Known for her previous work with Espers and more recently, Heron Oblivion, she continues in that tradition with her atmospheric and ethereal vocals. The music is dreamlike and lysergic, with breathy vocals and hushed piano accompanying her understated guitar prowess. She is joined by Mary Lattimore on harp, and she utilizes vibes as well, adding to the overall shimmering wateriness of the tracks.

         1. 

            Through The Hourglass

            by Mondo Drag
            favorite track

            Death In Spring

            Psychedelic space rockers Mondo Drag are ot a new band, they are returning from an 8-year hiatus. The music here is very retro-psych, albeit more refined than the original species, and quite enjoyably so. The music is heavily laden, dense, and acidic, tastefully done, with dark, contemplative lyrics. No unnecessary pyrotechnics here, which is not to say that they aren’t complex and adept musically. Can you have sophisticated psych? Yes, you can.

            1. 

               Disaster Movie

               by The Id
               favorite track

               Tailspin

               Survivor’s guilt, with a supremely ironic twist, is the inspiration for this release. The story is of a sailor, who causes an incident on-board that leads to the loss of the entire crew, except for him. He is shipwrecked for some time, plenty of time to take a deep dive into his psyche, as he sinks into depths of despair, but ultimately comes to terms with his fate. He’s finally rescued and returns home, vowing to keep the memories alive of those who perished.

            1. 

               Amaranth Coral Fountain

               by k.burwash
               favorite track

               Cosmos Cupcake

               An improvised field recording, performed in a greenhouse (hence the floral track titles), in Edmonton, Canada, these tracks are redolent with ambience. K burwash employs a modular synth and Nadir Bellahmer adds viola, to which

               1. 

                  La Scienza delle Stagioni

                  by Andrea Orlando
                  favorite track

                  Stagione Lontana

                  Drummer Andrea Orlando is no stranger to the Italian progressive rock scene. This release proves Orlando’s skill as a composer, with stellar passages utilizing drums of course, electric and acoustic guitar and keyboards of all kinds. Here we are introduced to the melliflous vocals of Meghi Moschino; sparingly, but to great effect. The vocals are much less strident than is typical of Italian rock, and it’s a pleasure whenever she appears.

                  1. 

                     Building a New Town

                     by Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan
                     favorite track

                     The Cornerstone

                     Here we have a bit of instrumental folktronica, the brainchild of Gordon Chapman-Fox. Various keyboards mix with crisp acoustic guitar, creating a semblance of wistful nostalgia. The music is delicate and languid, sometimes bordering on supernatural. My only complaint is that it’s an EP, I could stand a lot more of this in one sitting.

                     1. 

                        Albion

                        by Harp
                        favorite track

                        Seven Long Suns

                        Former MIdlake singer, Tim Smith, has released this gorgeous debut. The music is haunting and layered, with an underwater and dreamlike feel to all of the pieces, as if Smith is perpetually drowning in the depths of his interior reflections. The prominent use of 12-string increases this effect, along with the hushed, achingly beautiful vocals. It would seem as if he lived and was reincarnated during the journey of this recording, judging by the lyrics of the first song to the last.