Chapeau

British picker supreme travels them lonely US highways again, as Michael Chapman's two volumes of Americana got the reissue treatment recently as a double disc digipack release. Nowhere near essential, but well worth it if instrumentals with lots of atmosphere are your thing. Would work great as a movie soundtrack, too.

Michael Chapman - Blues For The Mother Road

A Memory

"Now the tree has withered, only a memory remains..." Heading for the border country to enjoy the enchanting Tex-Mex of Trio San Antonio. If you dig this kinda stuff the way I do, you'd better pick up the album pictured above pronto if you can find it. Issued on the mighty Arhoolie label, a trademark of quality in itself.

Trio San Antonio - Un Recuerdo Quedo

Open Door

Found this one, its title waiting patiently on my wishlist for quite a while, in a funky record shop close to home recently. Warm sounds from the erstwhile Sea & Cake singer, expertly produced by Tortoise's John McEntire. Three and a half euritos well spent.

Sam Prekop - Density

Night Birds Call

While we're waiting patiently for the great miss Welch to overcome what must surely be yet another episode of the dreaded writer's block, let's enjoy a delightful Revival outtake.

Gillian Welch - Wichita

War Is Over

Just got the sad news that David Olney has passed away. The underrated singer/songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island died in the saddle at 71. Miss him.

David Olney - 1917

Things You Never Seen

If you're an aficionado of Americana and still haven't discovered Tom Russell, last year's October In The Railroad Earth (yup, that's a Kerouac reference right there) is as good a place to start as any.

Tom Russell - Hand-Raised Wolverines

Beautifully Insane

"She loves to ride in cars, loves to eat from jars..." I sure can understand why the 'Left Reverend McD' dug Susan Jane so much, barefoot in the muddy road and all.

Eugene McDaniels - Susan Jane

Blackness Always

Scored a new brown acid trip, and a very heavy one at that. All killer no filler, so what are you waiting for, you psychheads? Come on, take my hand and smoke that pipe...

Peacepipe - The Sun Won't Shine Forever

So Lonely

A furious start of the week. The best three minutes of existential punk rock angst ever?

Dwarves - Anybody Out There

Big Heads

Hong Kong, baby! Presenting a fragrant six pack going out to the brave protesters in the pearl of the orient. Keep on keeping on guys.

22-Pistepirkko - Hong Kong King
The Velvet Underground - Countess From Hong Kong
Cornershop - Hong Kong Book Of Kung Fu
The Ethiopians - Hong Kong Flu
The Tabbys - Hong Kong Baby
Clarence White - Hong Kong Hillbilly

Heard You Knockin'

Patti dreaming of Libba? I wouldn't put it beyond her.

Kevin Slick - The Night Patti Smith Dreamed Of Elizabeth Cotten
Patti Smith - Changing Of The Guards
Elizabeth Cotten - Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie

The Kingsmen

Thanks a mil to the Swede for turning me on to this wild bunch. Because ever since I started exploring the huge back catalogue of Swedish psych kings Kungens Män, I've been totally psyched out by Stockholms finest. And though these improvisational krauty jammers released two top notch albums in 2019, I just got word there's a new one on the way already. Better start saving up...

Kungens Män - Måttanpassad Minneslucka

Kungens Män - Starta Gruff
Kungens Män - Världsdamaväldet

Past Present

And is there a better way to ring in 2020 than with Shabaka Hutchings at his most cosmic? Space remains the place but this is the new jazz, with forceful beats that wouldn't have been out of place on DJ Shadow's Endtroducing. Trust in the lifeforce of the deep mystery? Why not, my amigos da musica, why not. Might even become my motto this year.

The Comet Is Coming - Blood Of The Past