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 Jori Hulkkonen
Man From Earth (Turbo)
From this unsung Finnish virtuoso with nearly two decades of electronic production experience comes a gorgeous, dark, exhilarating 10th artist LP, replete with masterfully nuanced, soulful sounds coaxed from soulless vintage analog synths, thundering 808 beats, gripping vocal accompaniments from Jerry Valuri and Villa Nah, and a cameo by Tiga to boot. This is easily among the best electronic releases of the year. 10/10 Trial Track: “I Am Dead” (Jack Oatmon)
 Music Go Music
Expressions (Secretly Canadian/Sonic Unyon)
Shameless in their adulation of ABBA, L.A.’s MGM extend their precision pilferage to the span of ’70s ladyrock, echoing Heart, Kate Bush, Bonnie Tyler and Blondie (“Warm in the Shadows” bites “Atomic” outright). Can’t knock it, though, given the deliciousness of their disco pomp-rock, buffed to a high gloss and built with a backbone of steel. Singer Gala Bell’s fearless wail, backed by punchy piano, towering riffs and ping-pong cocaine basslines, convincingly carries the lyrics’ emotive overkill. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Reach Out” (Rupert Bottenberg)
Converge
Axe to Fall (Epitaph/FAB)
Even after genre-bending records like Jane Doe and You Fail Me, this could be Converge’s crustiest and most seething, blistering and brutal moment yet. They go for the throat relentlessly, stopping only to gain strength on the dirge-like stomp “Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast” and the crushing “Damages.” Easily one of the best bands currently touring, Converge now finally have a record that can measure up to their explosive live show. 9/10 Trial Track: “Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast” (Johnson Cummins)
 The Heavy
The House That Dirt Built (Counter/ Outside)
An even heftier sophomore album for Bath, England’s purveyors of fraught and ferocious sample-based soul-punk. Some tracks, like “Sixteen,” stagger under the weight of the world, while others, like “How You Like Me Now,” roar forward with the force of a freight train. “Short Change Hero,” meanwhile, illustrates the band’s adoration of Ennio Morricone. 8/10 Trial Track: “No Time” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Vic Chesnutt
At the Cut (Constellation)
There’s expert backing here from members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Witchies and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto, but these supportive players know their place. Chesnutt leads the way throughout these glorious 45 minutes. His loaded lyrics cut deep past the raw nerve and into the marrow—the stellar “Granny” and “When the Bottom Fell Out” resonate with the intimacy and brutal honesty of a suicide note or a whispered secret. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “When the Bottom Fell Out” (Johnson Cummins) With Clare and the Reasons at Ukrainian Federation, Sat., Oct. 24, 9 p.m., $15
Clare and the Reasons
Arrow (Frog Stand)
Having collaborated with Van Dyke Parks and Sufjan Stevens on 2007’s The Movie, these Brooklyn kids stacked their sophomore LP with members of the National, Beirut and My Brightest Diamond. But the quality isn’t in their guests (or their Genesis cover), it’s in their own orchestral pop M.O. Their most compelling songs come alive with charismatic vocals, nimble arrangements and fairy tale ambiance. 8/10 Trial Track: “Ooh You Hurt Me So” (Lorraine Carpenter) With Vic Chesnutt & guests at Ukrainian Federation, Sat., Oct. 24, 9 p.m., $15
Sin Fang Bous
Clangour (Morr Music)
A solo project by Reykjavik’s Sindri Már Sigfússon, leader of pop/folk band Seabear, sounds like children’s music cultivated in a hydroponic hothouse. The cast of this pop experiment includes an acoustic guitar, a piano, a xylophone, wee beats made by man and machine, vocal chords and assorted toys, joined together under bright lights to make sweet melodies, with melancholy around the edges. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “The Jubilee Choruses” (Lorraine Carpenter) With Múm, Hildur Gudnadóttir at le National, Mon., Oct. 26, 9 p.m., $25, all ages
 Ume
Sunshower EP (Ume/independent)
The energetic Austin, Texas power pop trio bears the strong musk of their rugged geography—a wrangling, snakeskin-tough interpretation of very direct pop rock. On this five-track EP, you get a hint of how boring they can be (the Metric-sounding “The Means”), but there are also some striking rock ’n’ roll quick-draws, like the post-punk closer “Pendulum.” 6/10 Trial Track: “Pendulum” (Erik Leijon) With Intensive Care at Casa del Popolo, Sat., Oct. 24, 9 p.m., $7
 Michael Jackson
The Remix Suite (Motown/Universal)
The flood of Jackson releases following his untimely death continue with this mixture of well- and lesser-known tracks, re-imagined by some of the best-known remixers in the business. Unfortunately, most of these treatments only prove how good the originals were. But occasionally, tracks like Frankie Knuckles’ glorious treatment of “Forever Came Today” make the set worthwhile. 7/10 Trial Track: “Dancing Machine (Steve Aoki Remix)” (Gerard Dee)
 Skyzoo
The Salvation (Jamla/ Duck Down)
Skyzoo’s first solo LP release after the slew of mixtapes that made his name in the past couple of years is a very solid 16-track album. Aside from a few duds to stay away from, the Bed-Stuy native MC follows in the tradition of strong, metaphor-driven lyricism that his Brooklyn neighbours are known for. A beat from Just Blaze, “Return of the Real” and a good half of the album produced by 9th Wonder keeps the level high. 7/10 Trial Track: “For What It’s Worth” (Morgan Steiker)
Roberto López Project
Soy Panamericano (Curura/Select)
Montrealer López sells himself short with the title of his follow-up to 2006’s Qué Pasa?. True, he touches on myriad Latin styles throughout—salsa, descarga, porro, mambo, retro boogaloo and what have you—always bringing buoyancy and bright colour to the equation. But with added African pep and sparkle, and an intriguing fusion of cumbia and Maghrebi raï in “Oriente,” two continents seem too little for López. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Ritmo Technicolor” (Rupert Bottenberg) CD launch at Savoy de Metropolis, Fri., Oct. 23, 7 p.m., $13.50
 Various
Si Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 2 (Waxing Deep)
Returning again to the vaults of EGREM, the Cuban government record label, Dan Zacks has unearthed a treasure trove of funky, jazzy, danceable, poppy, trippy tunes. Those impressed with the last selection will absolutely not be disappointed with Zacks’s latest, lovingly curated Si Para Usted—see the excellent liner notes for evidence of care. Mas para nosotros, please! 10/10 Trial Track: “Andalucia” Combo Los Caribe” (Erin MacLeod)
Keith Jarrett
Testament (Paris/London) (ECM)
Jarrett’s solo performances have changed in 40 years. Where they used to take us on a consuming journey, they now seem to invite listeners into the house for tea. Smaller, closer in touch, deeper, the pieces on these three discs are part of a long journey that continues for those who are willing to open their ears and more. 9/10 Trial Track: “London Part V” (Gordon Allen)
MINI CD REVIEWS
Holy Sons Criminal’s Return (Important) Om and Grails member Emil Amos absolutely dazzles on this bent pop/Laurel Canyon rock masterpiece. 8.5 (JC)
Schlachthofbronx self-titled (Disko B) A barrage of bastard bounce from Bavaria, blaring baile funk and kuduro beats, sleazy South African raps, Balkan brass and beerhall stomp. Hoist that stein! 8 (RB)
Frigid Remix Sessions (independent) Local beatsmiths tackle Frigid’s trademark tracks, with one new song added for good measure. 7 (LC) Album launch at Gymnase, Fri., Oct. 23, 9–11 p.m., $12 w/CD
Kings of Convenience Declaration of Dependence (Virgin/EMI) The sweet, summery and regret-tinged acoustic soundtrack to being a lazy fuck in your twenties. 7 (EL)
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown (Merge) This indie rock grandaddy teases us with a charged electric opener, though his highly rhythmic acoustic material improves on 2005’s Emoh. 7 (LC) |
