No Cheatin'

 

We're in the Motor City, the year is 1956 and the elusive One String Sam plays My Babe on a one-string 'diddley bow', with an empty baby food jar for a slide. Words fail me.

One String Sam - My Baby Oooh

Grab It

 

Feeling giddy yet? Let the Bingo's amaze you. For here are the lo-fi survivors from Amsterdam once more, with their umpteenth release since starting out in the year of 1995 with More Soul on the legendary Shrimper label. Older and wiser they may be, but their understated and warm pop gems sound just as good today as they did way back when. I mean, try not singing along with the charming earworm below... The vinyl edition (Europe here, US here) is quite limited, so don't sleep on it, you magpies you.

Bingo Trappers - Amazer Amazer

Secret Chord

 

Traveling back in time to seventies Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and its exciting form of afrorock called chimurenga. Eternal contenders in the coolest-bandname-ever title race, Rhodesia's hypnotic Hallelujah Chicken Run Band were the real deal alright. In gloriously remastered quality, their Take One was recently re-released by - who else? - the esteemed Analog Africa label.

Hallelujah Chicken Run Band - Tamba Zimba Navashe

Keep Me Straight

 

Smells like an indie supertrio? Muzz features guys from Interpol, Bonnie Light Horseman (yup, the great Josh Kaufman) and The Walkmen. And these three manage to sound promising indeed, in a dreamy, modern take on the seventies kinda way. Check 'em out if you haven't done so already.

Muzz - Patchouli

Don't Go Yet

 

Neil's Tonight's The Night-era backing band the Santa Monica Flyers, fronted by Joni Mitchell? It's only one out of many treasures on Neil's second Archives box... And talking abour archival releases, sweet Joni's own Early Years Archives set ain't too shabby either. If you were wondering what to put on your X-mas list, both are no-brainers of course.

Joni Mitchell & The Santa Monica Flyers - Raised On Robbery
Joni Mitchell - Little Green (live '67)

Stars Are Stars

 

Number one in Niger. If you dig that hypnotic Tuareg sound of Tinariwen, Bombino or the Filles De Illighadad, lend these guys your ear, too.

Etran De L'Aïr - Agrim Agadez

Would You?

 

Don't know about you, but I hardly follow HipHop anymore. Used to groove to the innovative sounds of Public Enemy, Gang Starr or Nas back in the days, but slowly but surely lost interest for some reason or other. Always kept following the path of New Yorker Kaseem Ryan, better knows as Ka, though. If you intend to check out at least one rap record this year, make it his new Descendants Of Cain. Clever raps, innovative beats, great flow.

Ka - Patron Saints

Side By Side

 

Say hi to a couple of fresh female folk voices from the US and Canaduh. We fondly recall Sally Anne Morgan from the lovely duo House and Land, and the droney psychfolk on her striking solo debut Thread is not to be missed either. Get it on Bandcamp right here. Meanwhile, Jennifer Castle plays all the instruments herself on what's already her third record, just released on the always outstanding Paradise of Bachelors imprint. File the beguiling Monarch Season somewhere between Joni and Sandy and take it from there.

Sally Anne Morgan - Wintersong
Jennifer Castle - NYC

To The Levee

 

A decidedly more acoustic take of Friend Of The Devil? I'm game of course. Classic song. Hey now, that landmark album called American Beauty is 50 years old, and you can find this demo and more on the fascinating new companion American Beauty - The Angel's Share.

Grateful Dead - Friend Of The Devil (demo)

Sometimes We May

 

New ensemble Silver Scrolls caught my eye because Polvo founder Dave Brylawski's involved, and I always had a weak spot for these so-called math rock pioneers from Chapell Hill. And although their sonic palette is quite different, the Scrolls don't disappoint. Their meandering compositions never really reach a catharsis somehow, but hey, that's cool. It's probably why the album's called Music For Walks. Try it on if you're allowed outdoors.

Silver Scrolls - Walk One (II - Q Scrolls)

Like some vintage Polvo, too? Thought so.

Polvo - Can I Ride
Polvo - Batradar

Destination Underworld

 

In these Covid times, my fave electro-freakfolkers fittingly take a trip down Hades way. Which means a dive into the dark stuff alright, but there's no reason to be afraid that things may get a little too morbid here. Tunng whistles past the graveyard, remaining faithful to its trademark sound. What's more: Dead Club is even wickedly funny at times. Just check out the catchy track below to hear what I mean.

Tunng - Death Is The New Sex