Weekly Roundup - Unreviewed Releases: March 1-31, 2023

 

Calliope Music Weekly Roundup

Unreviewed Releases

March 1-31, 2023

Rated Albums

Fever Ray - Radical Romantics 

5/10

                                                           

Eerie synth pop sets an uncanny tone, but slow developments drag along ghostly vocals. 

Shana Cleveland - Manzanita

5/10

Gentle acoustic contemporary folk plucks serenely, but empty movements become weary.

Periphery - Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre

6/10

Technical Progressive Metal excites, but inconsistent musical episodes result in a less congruent djent album. 

Dispirited Spirits - The Redshift Blues

6.5/10

                                                                                                                         

One man project, Dispirited Spirits provides profound space rock with the warmth of Midwest Emo. A luring album, but some jazz rock and progressive movements lack engagement in extended sequences.

funeral - remorse

5/10

                                                                                                                          

Appealing Digicore and Trap production facilitate somewhat mediocre emo rap.

 

Lonnie Holley - Oh Me Oh My

6.5/10

                                                                                                                    

Unorthodox Soul and ambient psychedelia create many powerful segments, but a complete lack of direction and continuity lessen experimental storytelling.

MSPAINT - Post-American

7/10

                                                                                                                        

Thrilling politically powered Synth Punk generates high-octane hooks on this simple, but effective post-hardcore debut.

The Necks - Travel

5/10

                                                                                                                      

Brooding Avante-Garde Jazz develops grand environments, but long form tracks with sluggish progressions hinder such creative force.

Aly & AJ - With Love From

5/10

                                                                                                                   

Glamorous Indie Pop glides over western tones, but unimaginative songwriting leaves this record feeling rather derivative.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V

4.5/10

                                                                                                                    

Clinking Psychedelic Pop resonates favorable spacious grooves, but tiresome hooks and repeated instrumentals deteriorate an already slow-moving LP.

BABYMETAL - The Other One

4.5/10

                                                                                                                         

Imposing Alternative Metal and soaring J-Pop mold large soundscapes in a mostly sterile mix of the two genres.

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul

7/10

                                                                                                                       

Thespian violin adds elegance to pristinely executed Progressive Metal epics.

Larry June & The Alchemist - The Great Escape

5.5/10

                                                                                                                            

The Alchemist provides solid Drumless production while Larry June and others spit braggadocios rhymes in this laid back, but occasionally monotonous West Coast Hip-Hop album.

 

Altin Gün - Așk

6/10

                                                                                                                           

Traditional Turkish melodies captivate on this solid psychedelic rock record.

B. Cool-Aid, Pink Siifu & Ahwlee - Leather Blvd.

5/10

                                                                                                                           

Vibe intensive Neo-soul. Intriguing soft soul and spoken word create a wholesome world, but overly repetitive and lengthy progressions dampen jazz rap experiments.  

James Holden - Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space Of All Possibilities

6/10

Wispy techno production and mystical electro-ambiance dance expertly for about half of this curious Progressive Electronic record.

Spirit Possession - Of the Sign...  

6/10

Radical Black Metal and grotesque vocals design formidable infernal rock, brought down by garage-level production.    

Other Notable Releases

Lil Ugly Mane - Singles

A compilation of new singles by Experimental Hip-Hop Savant, Lil Ugly Mane. Surreal, yet grimy lo-fi Slacker Rock continues LUM's dive into intricately crafted and emotional experimentation. 
 

Ichiko Aoba & 12 Ensemble - Ichiko Aoba with 12 Ensemble (Live at Milton Court)

Chamber mistress, Ichiko Aoba has her fairy-like folk ballads expanded with gallant orchestrations in this stunningly elegant live performance.

Alice Longyu Gao - Let's Hope Heteros Fail, Learn, and Retire 

Corrosive Hyperpop and Metal production animates LGBTQ+ sentiments, but some obnoxious vocal developments demoralize this 19 minute EP.

Tyler, the Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale

 The deluxe to Tyler, the Creator's acclaimed sixth studio album supplies a fresh set of 8 lavish tracks, including a mix of temperate feel-good Hip-Hop, hefty Synth Funk and melodious Neo-Soul.