Crucial Listening

Wombic alien mechanics, circuit-bent FIFA, worldbuilding soundtrack serendipity. The Syrian-born, Sweden-based artist discusses three important albums.Obay's picks:Boards Of Canada – Music Has The Right To ChildrenC418 – Minecraft: Volume Alpha / Volume BetaCeler – Discourses Of The WitheredCheck out Obay's splendid record Sandbox right here. He's also on Instagram and Facebook.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Gargling fire, empty samplers, ruined picture discs. Crucial Listening host Jack Chuter shares his three important albums.Jack's picks:Meshuggah – Nothing (2002 version)Jesu – S/TSachiko M – Bar SachikoMany thanks for allowing me this bout of self-indulgent podcast host catharsis.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Totality in music, lyrical homicide, destroyed Barbie dolls. The experimental music performer and instrument-maker discusses three important albums.Ramsey Lewis – Mother Nature's SonT. Rex – Electric WarriorViolent Onsen Geisha – Excrete Musicevicshen tours the US with Machine Girl in February 2022 – check out the dates here. She'll also be playing to mark the end of here Audium residency in San Francisco – details here. Check out her Linktree and Bandcamp.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

VHS basslines, definitive ambient, record shopping in Woolworths. The London-based musician and anarchist discusses three important albums. Martin's picks:LFO – FrequenciesAphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92Pete Namlook – The Definitive Ambient Collection Vol. 1Head over to sm-ll.com and partner label Tapes For Mates. For mastering/support for the electronic music community, check out causeandcondition.com.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Everybody against everybody, the left hand of the Qin master, tin can Beatles. The Beijing-based musician and poet talks about three important albums.Yan Jun's picks:Ævangelist – Enthrall To The Void Of BlissVarious – Sound Spaces: 9 Sound InstallationsThe Qin Repertoire Of LIU Shao-ChunCheck out the websites for Yan Jun's own work and Sub Jam. Both are on Bandcamp too (Yan Jun, Sub Jam). We talked about the work twice, produced in collaboration with Zhu Wenbo, which you can check out here.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Liturgical lullaby, canine concrète, a chess game that never ends. The Chicago-based media artist and composer talks about three important albums.Olivia's picks:Alèmu Aga – Éthiopiques 11: The Harp Of King DavidBeatriz Ferreyra – Huellas EntreveradasMorton Feldman – For Samuel BeckettHonourable mention: Kim Jung Mi – NowOlivia also mentioned another record in the Éthiopiques series: Piano Solo by Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.Olivia's new album, Innocent Passage In The Territorial Sea, is out now on Room40. Check it out on Bandcamp here. Her website is here.PLUS: Head over to ATTN for a premiere of the video for "Laika", directed by Deborah Stratman.Crucial Listening is taking donations on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Spontaneous trips to Genoa, bloop speakers, big Tori energy. The LA-based musician and visual artist discusses three important albums.Emma's picks:Sibylle Baier – Colour GreenShape Of Despair – Monotony FieldsTori Amos – Boys For PeleEmma's new album Engine Of Hell is out now via Sargent House. Head over to her site for three beautiful music videos, merch and links to buy the record. It's on Bandcamp too.Crucial Listening is taking donations on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Perceptual geographies, Dylan's near misses, Coltrane's unresolved places. The LA-based artist and composer discusses three important albums.Byron's picks: Maryanne Amacher – Sound Characters (Making The Third Ear)Bob Dylan – Planet WavesJohn Coltrane – Sun ShipByron's fabulous new record, Mirror Views, is out now via Ash International. His website is here, and he's on Twitter as @byronwestbrook.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Weird industrial synths, rapping over alarm clocks, Kubrick with 2 bricks. The Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer discusses three important albums.Ashanti's picks:Janet Jackson – The Velvet RopeDeath Grips – The Money StoreDanny Brown – The Atrocity ExhibitionCheck out the BACKXWASH website here. She's also on Twitter and Bandcamp.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

Ever-heavier tape trades, music for twenty radio stations, new urgencies. The composer, artist and improviser discusses three important albums.Raven's picks:Mr Bungle – Disco VolanteJosé Maceda – UgnayanMoor Mother – Fetish BonesThe latest record by Endlings – Raven's band with John Dieterich – is out now on Whited Sepulchre. Head over to Raven's website for more on his current and past projects. Be sure to check out Radio Coyote too, which Raven initiated along with the CCA Wattis Institute.Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening