Moyo Workin'

 

The Kikagaku Moyo touring machine has temporarily been forced to a halt, which makes two new live documents especially welcome. The first one, Live At Levitation, was recorded in Austin in 2014 and 2019. Hypnotic riffs and motorik beats galore, showing off just how well these Tokyo boys have gotten their routine down through their relentless gigging. The second one, appropriately named Deep Fried Grandeur, is even more spectacular. From a special festival collaboration with Ryley Walker in Utrecht in 2018, it's an intergalactic, sitar-heavy monster jam between two dark stars, yours for a cool name-your-price at Bandcamp.

Kikagaku Moyo - Gatherings (live 2019)

Here It Comes

Looking for something different? Some exquisite instrumental miniatures maybe? Then check out versatile guitarist Ryley Walker's latest project, on which he teams up with jazz drummer Charles Rumback. Subdued tension never sounded so good.

Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker - Self Blind Sun

Om Indeed

Volume 9 of the always interesting Imaginary Anthem series dedicated to American Primitive solo guitar was curated by none other than folk maverick Ryley Walker. Says he: 'Music biz is a shit biz but guitar players are pretty intuitive at making it work...' Right on the ball. To illustrate, here's a lovely guitar mantra by Ryan Jewell and pals under the Mosses moniker.

Mosses - Om Ah Hung

Funny On Me

Seems like he's always in the van going from gig to gig as jamming on stage is what he really likes, but our man Riley still found the time somehow to record a new album, his fifth already and the least folky thus far. Jazzy with a prominent flute, and sometimes even guilty of venturing into prog rock territory, Deafman Glance definitely has its moments, but I've heard him in better form to be honest. Still stoked to go see Chicago's finest again when he's playing my fair city on an extensive European tour this fall though, as the last time was quite a treat.

Ryley Walker - Opposite Middle

Walk This Way

Instrumental freakfolk bliss from the Windy City courtesy of Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker, with a little help from a cellist from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra no less. I'm off to spiderland, folks. Care to join me?

Bill MacKay & Ryley Walker - I Heard Them Singing

Tower Of Song

The golden sings of 2016? Look no further, my amigos da musica. You want it darker? Shine on.

1. Heron Oblivion - Heron Oblivion
Heron Oblivion - The Desert
2. David Bowie - Blackstar
3. Hiss Golden Messenger - Heart Like A Levee/Vestapol
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
5. Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
6. Brent Cobb - Shine On Rainy Day
Brent Cobb - Black Crow
7. Cian Nugent - Night Fiction
8. William Tyler - Modern Country
9. Ryley Walker - Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
10. Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass
Kikagaku Moyo - Trad

Feelin' Alright

Caught Ryley Walker yesterday night at the intimate Sidecar club here in Barcelona and very good it was, too. Hypnotizing tunes galore, upright bass a special treat. Young Mr. Walker isn't done touring Europe just yet, so I'd strongly suggest to go see him if he's somewhere in your area. Well worth it.

Ryley Walker - Summer Dress

Dream Job

A true talent, young Mr. Walker both ups the ante and changes his sound every time he releases a new record, and we gladly grow with him. Cue the remarkably organic-sounding Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, the fourth offering from the singer/songwriter and picker from Rockford, Illinois. Simply hypnotizing.

Ryley Walker - The Great And Undecided

Seventually

And here's that inevitable list again, mi amigos da musica. Presenting the toppermost of the poppermost of 2015: seven heavenly albums one shouldn't be without.

1. Phil Cook - Southland Mission
Phil Cook - Sitting On A Fence
2. Ryley Walker - Primrose Green
Ryley Walker - Love Can Be Cruel
3. Meg Baird - Don't Weigh Down The Light
Meg Baird - Mosquito Hawks
4. Giant Sand - Heartbreak Pass
Giant Sand - Heaventually
5. Calexico - Edge Of The Sun
Calexico - Tapping On The Line
6. Simon Joyner - Grass, Branch & Bone
Simon Joyner - In My Drinking Dream
7. Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete
Dave Rawlings Machine - The Last Pharaoh

Motor Running

A delightful guitar miniature from the Fahey school. The late John Hulburt played in Chicago garage combo the Knaves, and released his solo album Opus III as a private pressing back in '72. Recently re-discovered by Ryley Walker, it will soon get a proper release on the Tompkins Square label.

John Hulburt - The Freak On The Black Harley

Way Out

Time for that inevitable list, mi amigos da musica. These metamodern beauties were in heavy rotation at the FTSOTS headquarters anno domini 2014. Accept no substitutes.
1. Sun Kil Moon - Benji
2. Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness Of Dancers
3. Bob Dylan & The Band - The Basement Tapes Complete
4. Bonnie Prince Billy - Singer's Grave A Sea Of Tongues
5. Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather
6. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
7. Ryley Walker - All Kinds Of You
8. Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band - Intensity Ghost
9. Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
10. Chasing Rainbows - With Henk Jonkers

Sturgill Simpson - Turtles All The Way Down
Ryley Walker - Clear The Sky
Chasing Rainbows - Without You Around

Hey Hey Dude

High time for some recent stuff, amigos. Let's start off with the New Bums, who bring us understated neo-psychedelica that sounds remarkably close to the Kramer productions from the days of old. Which is another way of saying it's way cool of course.

New Bums - Black Bough

Next up, the esteemed mr. Tyler surprisingly covers krautrock great Michael Rother (of Neu! fame) on his brand new Lost Colony ep, and that sure is an excellent choice. Motorik beat for now people? You've got it.

William Tyler - Karussell

And we're signing off with Ryley Walker, a young cat from the Windy City who's got that pentangling early seventies folkrock sound down pat. The jazzy Clear The Sky could even be a long lost Tim Buckley outtake. Chapeau, dude.

Ryley Walker - Clear The Sky