INDISPENSABLE NEW MUSIC PICKS
December 2021
Kristine England
December 31, 2021 at 5:00:00 AM
Jesse Cook
Libre
The award -winning producer, composer, and guitarist Jesse Cook released his 11th studio album this month, showcasing his Spanish guitar in partnership with Algerian musician Fethi Nadjem. Nadjem is known for his talents on guitar, mandolin, and violin.
FEATURED TRACK: "Number 5"
Marissa Paternoster
Peace Meter
The frontwoman of the New Jersey group Screaming Females made her solo recording debut, highlighting her voice with somber and beautiful ballads. "...beautiful vocal performances and relaxed pace. The emotional effect rings just as loud as her heavier work, and it proves that Paternoster is far more than her six strings." (Pitchfork)
FEATURED TRACK: "White Dove"
Mike Block
Planispheres
A member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, Block's solo cello compositions are haunting expressions of his "vital rich-hued solo playing" (New York Times). The record is an assemblage of performances recorded live in a Brooklyn warehouse. Nearly every track is named for a celestial object, thus the apt album title.
FEATURED TRACK: "Alpha Centauri"
Nils Frahm
Old Friends New Friends
German pianist and composer Frahm spent many pandemic days excavating his archives to compile some of his favorite solo pieces, released on his new label LEITER. "This is a subtle, introspective album that encourages us to listen to the minutiae as much as the whole picture." (Pitchfork)
FEATURED TRACK: "4:33 (A Tribute to John Cage)"
Fela Kuti
Vinyl Box Set #5
Settle in for this 25 minute plus version of "Original Sufferhead" with four minutes of lost material, showcasing Fela’s exceptional keyboard stylings. The tracks were chosen by Kuti's son Femi a well-known and respected Afrobeat musiciain in his own right, and Coldplay's Chris Martin, of all people. The covers have been painstakingly recreated from the original vinyl pressings.
FEATURED TRACK: "Original Sufferhead"