In the realm of modern cinematic pastiche and retrospective groove culture, few releases manage to transcend the inherent pastiche of the genre. Enter A Day Of Unrest, the fourth studio album from Eleven76—the enigmatic production-housing project masterminded by documentarian and percussionist Paul Elliott. Released via Légère Recordings, this 12-track collection bypasses the traditional constraints of … Read more
Executive Overview In the sprawling pantheon of Brazilian popular music (MPB), few artists possess the chameleon-like capability of Marcos Valle. A pioneer who helped define the luminous, sun-kissed contours of the 1960s bossa nova explosion, Valle never allowed himself to be creatively boxed into a single genre. While his peers frequently adhered to established formulas, … Read more
In the heart of Paris, at the Théâtre Silvia Monfort and its surrounding parklands, an empty chair spoke volumes. It was September 28, 2024, and the independent French label No Format! was celebrating its twentieth anniversary with carte blanche given to virtuoso cellist Vincent Segal. The conceptual blueprint for the day was ambitious: a sprawling, … Read more
By the Editorial Desk Special Feature / Music Technology & Industry Analysis Executive Overview In an era dominated by rapid corporate consolidation, venture capital injections, and private equity buyouts, Ableton stands as an enduring anomaly. As it approaches a quarter-century of shaping electronic music production, the Berlin-based titan of digital audio workstations (DAWs) remains staunchly … Read more
Executive Overview In an era where contemporary music is increasingly driven by algorithmic optimization and hyper-fragmented digital releases, true collaborative artistry remains a rare and precious commodity. Enter Amaryllis 2, the latest triumphant full-length offering from the Brooklyn-based creative partnership of musician and producer Richard X Bennett and vocalist-percussionist Paula Jeanine Bennett. Released via the … Read more
Executive Overview For decades, the name McCraven occupied a curious footnote in the margins of international jazz discography. From the erroneous "Stephen McGraven" logged by Cash Box in August 1980 upon the arrival of Wooley the Newt, to the "Steve McRaven" credited on Archie Shepp’s 1992 masterpiece Black Ballads, and the "Mac Graven" listed in … Read more
Executive Overview In the upper echelons of contemporary improvised music, a compelling ensemble lineup can often telegraph its artistic ambitions long before a single note is struck. With Floating, acclaimed French soprano saxophonist Emile Parisien has assembled a veritable super-quartet of bandleaders and virtuosos, each bringing a distinct cultural, rhythmic, and harmonic lexicon to the … Read more
Executive Overview In a legal salvo that threatens to redraw the battle lines of the modern music economy, Universal Music Group (UMG) has launched a sweeping lawsuit against DistroKid, one of the world’s most dominant and rapidly expanding DIY music distribution platforms. Filed in federal court, the explosive complaint accuses the market-leading distributor of leveraging … Read more
Executive Overview For decades, the pantheon of mid-century American rhythm and blues has been dominated by a familiar constellation of names: Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Gladys Knight. Yet, a glaring oversight persists in the broader historical narrative of soul music—one that kept another of her generation’s most transcendent voices from achieving the same universal … Read more
Executive Overview In the shadowy corridors of modern world music preservation, few labels carry the uncompromising curatorial vision of Afro7. Founded by Norwegian vinyl collector Fredrik Lavik as a Finnish-based sister imprint to Jazzaggression, Afro7 carved its initial reputation out of unearthing and recirculating rare East African 45s—sparking archival projects like Soundway’s definitive Kenya Special. … Read more
