Crucial Listening

The omnipresence of data, Bandcamp soul/sound-searching, goofy classical. The scientist, artist and community organiser discusses three important albums.Sarmistha's picks:Moor Mother – Analog Fluids Of Sonic Black HolesR. D. Burman – Padosan OSTMaria Chavez – PlaysPan Daijing – LackCheck out Tavishi's music on their Bandcamp or over on the CHINABOT label. Their film H O M E is on YouTube right here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Dub reggae masterclasses, cacophonous veganism, ambient treasure troves. The musician and producer discusses three important albums (and an honourable mention).Kush's picks:Skinny Puppy – Too Dark ParkVarious – Jah Warrior ShowcaseVolahn – Aq'Ab'AlHonourable mention:Pete Namlook + Jonah Sharp – Alien Community Part 1 + 2Find Only Now on Bandcamp, including the brand new EP Black Wind / Merciless Destiny. Kush is on Twitter and Facebook.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Waves of timelessness, electromagnetic chandelier recordings, Minilogue improvisations. The Nairobi-based sound artist discusses three (well, four) important albums. Joseph's picks:Ana Roxanne – ~​~​~Chris Watson – El Tren FantasmaRival Consoles – PersonaHonourable mention: Idrissa Soumaoro – DjitoumouThe new KMRU record Peel is out now on Editions Mego. KMRU is on Bandcamp and has a website over at kmru.info. Also be sure check out Black Bandcamp – a crowd-sourced database of black artists and producers on Bandcamp.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Fearless four-track improvisations, spiritual jazz recurrence, manipulations of passing time. Lorena Quintanilla discusses three important albums.Lorena's picks: Los Llamarada – Gone Gone ColdPhil Cohran & Legacy – African SkiesÉliane Radigue – Trilogie De La MortThe new J. Zunz record, Hibiscus, is out 21st August via Rocket Recordings. Check out her music on Bandcamp and follow her on Facebook. Lorena also put together a list of choice records from the Mexican underground:Black Forest – Kentu Brixtu (2001 – 2011)Penetración Cósmica – Penetración Cósmica Vol. 1XYX – Sistema de Terminación SexualWhite Ninja – Guácala los modernos y su electroMamá Burger – Pastillitas y LicorRatas del Vaticano – Tiempos de AusteridadSelma Oxor – Selma OxorDonate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Volcanic psychedelia, flanger sweep obsessions, monuments in the mountains. The musician, poet and teacher discusses three important albums.Steve's picks:Pink Floyd – Live At PompeiiAfrican Head Charge – Off The Beaten TrackJóhann Jóhannsson +  Yair Elazar Glotman + Tilda Swinton – Last And First MenHead over to Neurot Recordings to pre-order Steve's new solo record, No Wilderness Deep Enough, and Harvestman: 23 Untitled Poems And Collected Lyrics. His website is here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Listening to assholes, inner/outer presentations of  self, power chords over trap beats. The Texas-based artist discusses three important albums.Claire's picks:Lil Peep – Come Over When You're Sober Pt. 1Sun Kil Moon – Among The LeavesOIivia Block – KarrenHead over to Claire's website for information on her releases, including her incredible records on Already Dead and Anahuac Editions. She's on Twitter as @clairerousay.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Excursions into outer jazz, marbles against metal, empty Tokyo streets. The New York composer, performer and sound designer discusses three important albums.Lea's picks:Charles Mingus – The Black Saint And The Sinner LadyBernard Parmegiani – De Natura SonorumKeiji Haino – Black BluesLea's latest album Acoustic Shadows is out now on SA Recordings. Check out her website here and follow her on Instagram at @lilbertucci.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

The case for BTS, a complicated relationship to jazz, drunken birthday improvisations. The cellist, composer and improviser discusses three important albums.Okkyung's picks:Kim Hyun Chul – Vol. 1Duke Jordan Trio – Flight To DenmarkPieter Wispelwey –  Ligeti's Sonata For Violoncello SoloOkkyung's latest album Yeo-Neun is out now on Shelter Press. Her website is here and she's on Twitter as @okkyunglee.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Black Sabbath backseat boombox, clearing the room with Melvins, 100 miles of Neurosis. The author of Doomed To Fail: The Incredibly Loud History Of Doom, Sludge And Post-Metal discusses three important albums.J.J.'s picks:Black Sabbath – S/TMelvins – Gluey Porch TreatmentsNeurosis – Through Silver In BloodJ.J.'s website is over here, and you can follow him on Twitter @JJ_Anselmi. Doomed To Fail is out now on Rare Bird.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Lost and hopeless, Gaspar Noé colour palettes, ghosts in the city. The Paris-based musician discusses three important albums.Désiré's picks:Earl Sweatshirt – I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go OutsideRoly Porter – The Third LawBurial – UntrueStream/download Aho Ssan's Simulacrum over on Bandcamp. He's also on Facebook and Twitter.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening