Crucial Listening

Raga of the spine, stretched like honey dripping, body-recalibration drones. The Mexico-born, Chicago-based visual and sound artist discusses three important albums.Rocio's picks:Weyes Bluhd – Strange Chalices Of SeeingCarl Stone – Mom'sDavid First – Privacy Issues (droneworks 1996 – 2009)Rocio's debut album, Invisible Miracles, is out now on Monastral. Check it out over here. Rocio has a website and is also on Instagram.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Haunting organs, sitting inside tape loops, endless questions. The Oslo-based multidisciplinary artist discusses three important albums.Jenny's picks:Henning Christiansen –  Op. 50 Requiem Of Art (Aus "Celtic") Fluxorum Organum II Robert Ashley – Private PartsLost Girls –  MenneskekollektivetJenny's new album, Here Is Always Somewhere Else, is out now via Breton Cassette. Check it out on Bandcamp. Jenny's website is here, and she's also on Instagram.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Feedback as praxis, weird fragments, the first true drone show. The Cree, Canadian, interdisciplinary artist and sound designer discusses three important albums.Chloe's picks: Les Rallizes Denudes – MizutaniCoil – Backwards (Demos)Phill Niblock – MusicChloe's new album, They Can Never Burn The Stars, is out now on SIGE. Follow her on Instagram here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Black metal vs Aphex Twin, sad tape loops, the best screamo of all time. The UK-based artist and multi-instrumentalist discusses three important albums.Zen's picks:The Appleseed Cast – Low Level Owl, Vol. 1Welcome The Plague Year – S/TEveryday Loneliness – AppropriationCremation Lily's new album, Dreams Drenched In Static, is out now on The Flenser. Check it out here. Follow Cremation Lily on Twitter and Instagram. Their Linktree is here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Earth-shifting philosophies, wordless shoegaze treasures, cinematic heartache. The MC and producer discusses three important albums.Will's picks:Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded / By All Means NecessaryAll Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors – Turning Into SmallTom Petty – WildflowersCheck out Dälek's new album, Precipice, over on Bandcamp (along with all their other incredible records). Follow Dälek on Facebook and Instagram.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Septic-tank-prog roadtrips, poop jokes written backwards, a literal anvil. The Oregon-based composer, multimedia artist, instructor and champion of friendship discusses three important albums.Vern's picks:Yes – FragilePamelia Kurstin – Thinking Out LoudHarvey Milk – My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment Of What My Love Could BeGo have your mind whirled by Vern's website. The Avola bandcamp is here, and the Instagram is here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

A weaving of voices, moments of pure connection, sibling influences. The Narrm/Melbourne-based drummer and composer discusses three important albums.Maria's picks:The Necks – OpenAlice Coltrane – Journey In SatchidanandaTyondai Braxton – HIVE1Maria's new album For Leolanda is out now on ROOM40. Check it out here, along with her other works. Maria's website is over here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Myspace discoveries, kaleidoscopic sonics, the beam shining through. The Yokohama-born, London-based producer discusses three important albums.Hinako's picks:The Knife – Silent ShoutLinda Perhacs – ParallelogramsBeverly Glenn-Copeland – Keyboard FantasiesHinako Omori's new album, a journey... is out now on Houndstooth. Check it out on Bandcamp. Hinako's website is here, and her Instagram is here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Reaching beyond our world, the thing in all its magnificence, the butterfly on your hand. The violinist, composer, improviser and interdisciplinary artist discusses three important albums.Biliana's picks:Sofia Gubaidulina – OffertoriumFrances-Marie Uitti – Utopian SpacesRhodri Davies, David Sylvian, Mark Wastell – There Is No LoveRead about Biliana’s DUOS series here, and check out the releases on her Bandcamp – including the most recent instalment with Leila Bordreuil. She's also on Instagram.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallisteningRelevant to this episode is this documentation of Uitti and Voutchkova performing at DARA String Festival in 2020.

Divine possession, accessing a communal psyche, opening quantum windows. The guitar player and electroacoustic composer discusses three important albums.Stefano's picks:Franco Battiato – La voce del PadroneLoren Connors – SailsBernard Parmegiani – De Natura SonorumStefano's new album is out now on Die Schachtel, complete with some seriously gorgeous artwork. Get the vinyl/CD here, or digital via Stefano's own Bandcamp.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening