Latest Reviews

Keigo Oyamada returns after a six-year hiatus, and last year, under his artist name Cornelius, he dropped a new album “Dream in Dream”. Recently, three days ago, he added to the previous surprise by giving us a new single, “Too Much Love for Sauna.”

In our recent coverage, we recently spotlighted artists like BadBadNotGood and Hiatus Kaiyote, whose unique sounds resonate deeply with audiences. Today, we turn our attention to Crumb, a group often compared to these esteemed artists for their innovative sound and undeniable influence.

David Grubbs and Jim O’Rourke were two of the most influential figures in Chicago’s vibrant end-of-the-century music scene. More importantly, they are pivotal figures who shaped the foundations and essence of contemporary experimental music so profoundly that one might argue that current experimental musicians, like those under the Tzadik label and the so-called “laptop composers,” can no longer be defined as “experimental music” but rather as a genre that happens to be called experimental. This statement does not diminish the efforts of these musicians, but it is interesting how many of these experimental musicians sound too similar to the experiments and proposals of David Grubbs, Jim O’Rourke, John Zorn, Otomo Yoshihide, and other geniuses of experimental music born in the '60s and '70s.

Mong Tong is a music duo formed in Taiwan by the musicians and brothers Hom Yu and Jiun Chi. The breadth of musical influences this group embraces is overwhelmingly vast: South Asian folk music, 80s Nintendo soundtracks, psychedelic rock, German electronic music—the list goes on. Perhaps because of this eclecticism, the group felt tempted to create a musical “Epigraphy.”

Piper Spray and Lena Tsibizoba, members of the acclaimed “Air Krew,” spent three years meticulously planning and producing the delightful album “Debtor of Presence.” Many reviewers have described it as an “unpredictable” musical experience, but i think this album has much more to offer than that, let’s go deeper into the value of this album.

Hiatus Kaiyote has released another “blue single” titled “Telescope,” offering a tantalizing glimpse of their upcoming album, “Love Heart Cheat Code,” set to drop in less than a month. Previous tracks from this album have been reviewed here on MusicTalkers.

Charlie Puth has released a new track titled “Hero.” If you go to YouTube and watch Charlie break down his super famous song “Attention,” he explains how he made that track. One curious detail from that interview is that Charlie explains how he was hesitant to feature acoustic guitar as a main instrument in the song, even though he recognizes it can be really useful for filling out rhythmic spaces in a song. In his latest release, “Hero,” he does feature the acoustic guitar as almost the prominent instrument. In that interview for “Attention,” Charlie said something akin to, “If you use the acoustic guitar, you instantly become THAT guy, or the song instantly becomes THAT song.” Meaning, Charlie was thinking about the fact that the persona of an “acoustic guitar guy” takes up so much space, and it seems, in his opinion, that persona overshadows some part of the song itself.

Alex Kate has just released a new track titled "Animal," brimming with vibrant energy and unique sound elements you won't want to miss. Known for her ethereal vocals and compelling orchestral arrangements, Alex Kate's music draws comparisons to artists like Kate Bush, Bjork, Florence + The Machine, and Birdy. To create her distinctive sound, Alex Kate collaborates regularly with her long-standing writing partner Heather Crawford and has worked with esteemed producers and engineers. For the final touch, Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Andy Walter lent his expertise to the track.

Still Woozy has released a new track titled "All Your Life." This song aligns perfectly with their signature dreamy, hazy, and warm indie-pop sound. Still Woozy is one of those artists whose music is reflected in their album covers, especially the ones that are paintings. In fact, Still Woozy is a solo project led by Sven Eric Gamsky. The album cover paintings are created by his long-term girlfriend, Amiya Kahn-Tietz. In an industry where it's increasingly rare to find solo acts that stand out globally, Still Woozy (or Sven) is a prime example of a highly skilled musician and producer who has carved out a unique niche for himself.

BADBADNOTGOOD has recently released a new six-song EP titled "Mid Spiral: Chaos." While the album retains elements of BBNG's signature sound, it also incorporates more pop and rock influences. Fans of their earlier work may need to adjust their expectations slightly. The tracks are exceptionally well-crafted, feeling organic and cohesive. The songs often linger on a single musical idea for extended periods, which can be either highly effective or detrimental depending on the band. In BBNG's case, their strong musical chemistry allows them to sustain these grooves compellingly.