Crucial Listening

The CEO in cellophane, what the hands choose to do, turning to bone. The experimental duo discuss their important albums. Able Noise's picks: This Heat – Deceit U.S. Maple – Talker Cindy Lee – What's Tonight To Eternity Palm – Nicks And Grazes Head over to the Able Noise Bandcamp to find their full-length record High Tide, released on World Of Echo . They're also on Instagram and Linktree. This is...

"Play more Beefheart", broken Elvis, a background to life. The composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist discusses three important albums. Maurice's picks: Captain Beefheart – Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Annette Peacock – I'm The One Umm Kulthum – Al Awela Fel Gharam Maurice's new solo album is titled Barĩy (Fera) برٌِي and is released on Simsara Records . Check it out on Bandcamp. The new...

Freaks are drawn to freaks, hauntological boombox, wobbly drum solos. Dean Lloyd Robinson discusses three important albums. Dean's picks: Cult Ritual – LP1 Oscillating Innards – Nadir Emergence Songs: Ohia – The Ghost The latest knifedoutofexistence EP is called Objects That Once Breathed. You can check that out on the knifed Bandcamp and buy it on BigCartel. Here's a Linktree with links to Dean's...

The brittle and the velvet, instrument elevation, motific deconstruction, exhibiting the romantic. Collaborators Zosha Warpeha + Mariel Terán discuss their important albums. Zosha's picks: Georg Buljo + Nils Økland – Neve Anne Hytta – Draumsyn Mariel's picks: Kaija Saariaho – Notes On Light, Orion, Mirage Pedestrian Deposit – Dyer's Hands Zosha and Mariel's new album, Orbweaver, is out now on Outs...

Scared-fish drones, a reckoning with low frequencies, damp cardboard noise wall, cinematic conjurings. The Taiwanese experimental artist discusses important noise/drone albums with host Jack Chuter. Lucia's picks: Emptyset – Medium Pedestrian Deposit – Dyer's Hands Jack's picks: Aleksandra Słyż – A Vibrant Touch unless – unless Lucia and Jack play together in the band Falling Cat Problem. Their de...

Bach in the club, big idea music, slow sensual states of being. The LA-based pianist and composer discusses three important albums. Qur'an's picks: Bach – Glenn Gould – The Goldberg Variations (both 1955 and 1981 ) Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution The Internet – Ego Death Qur'an's new album is called Pulse , and it's out now on Leaving Records. Check it out on Bandcamp. Qur'an is also on I...

Low every night, channelling relaxation, meeting musical geniuses. Takiaya Reed discusses three important albums. Takiaya's picks: Low – HEY WHAT Alina Baraz + Galimatias – Urban Flora Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex & Food The new Divide & Dissolve album is called Insatiable , and it's out now on Bella Union. Check it out here. The Divide And Dissolve website is here, and they're also on I...

Wine and cigarettes, heart and spirit, the cranky and the problematic. The sound artist and musician from Istanbul discusses three important albums. Hüma's picks: Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Piano Nights Huun-Huur-Tu – Ancestors Call Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile Hüma's latest album is titled Dracones, and it's out now on Editions Mego. Check it out here. Hüma's website is here. Donate to Cruc...

Shooting a shotgun at a water tower, textural amalgams on the Silk Road, kindness in music. The LA-based musician discusses three important albums. Dustin's picks: Motohiko Hamase – Reminiscence Steve Shehan – Arrows goo age – Open Zone Dustin's recent pleasures: Co La – Moody Coup Lucy Liyou – Every Video Without Your Face, Every Sound Without Your Name Dustin's new album, Gloria , is out now on...

The flesh and bone of synthesis, all the power in one drum, great songs with shit mixes. The Réunion island-based electronic maloya producer discusses three important albums. Jako's picks: Danyel Waro – Batarsité Patrick Manent – Kozmann ker EPROM – Halflife Jako's new album is called Mahavélouz and it's out on Nyege Nyege Tapes. Check it out here. Jako's website is here and he's also on Instagra...

One-take to tape, eternal red-lining, escaping the concert hall. The Tiohtià:ke/Montréal-based maker of concrète electronic tape music discusses three important albums. Jeremy's picks: Magnolia Electric Co. – Josephine Baby Huey – The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend Luc Ferrari – Presque Rien A record Jeremy's been recently enjoying: iPhupho L'ka Biko – Azania Jeremy has two new solo records: M...

Tascam masterpieces, deadly post-show oil slick, the cult of personality. The member of black metal/shoegaze band Pyramids discusses three important albums. Rich's picks: Lifelover – Pulver Elliott Smith – XO Ink & Dagger – The Fine Art Of Original Sin The new Pyramids album is called Pythagoras and it's out now on The Flenser. Check it out on Bandcamp. You can also find Pyramids on Instagram....

Methodical and playful, the Radigue over your shoulder, one riff played well. Sound artist and musician Robbie Judkins discusses three important albums. Robbie's picks: Black To Comm – Alphabet 1968 Èliane Radigue – Jetsun Mila Lungfish – Artificial Horizon Robbie's latest album, Every Movement , is out now on Brachliegen Tapes. Find Robbie on Cargo Collective , Bandcamp and Instagram. Donate to C...

Sound through helium, medieval flute on a hill, puncturing the tension. The Berlin-based producer and musician discusses three important albums. Tim's picks: Second Woman – S/W Kara-Lis Coverdale – A 480 The Hilliard Ensemble – Perotin Tim's new album, Trill Scan , is out now on Constellation. You can also check it out on Tim's bandcamp. His website is here. Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: h...

Pieces of life, countryside backpack diffusions, noisy-distorted-no-wave-crazy-guitar. The Paris-based guitarist discusses three important albums. Nina's picks: Gastr Del Sol – Upgrade & Afterlife Géométries – Nebuloasa Officine – S/T (2E) Nina's new album, Bye Bye Bird , is out now on Ideologic Organ. Check it out on Bandcamp. Nina is also on Instagram. Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: h...

Elegant and effusive, timeless eternities, bulky sounds. The Brussels-based sound artist and composer discusses three important albums. Liew's picks: Susan Alcorn – Soledad David Behrman – Leapday Night Portishead – Third Liew's latest album is titled In All Possible Places At Once , released on Chinabot. Check it out here. Liew's website is here. Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: https://ko-f...

Hunting for errors, the lesson in Queens, massive dub sound systems, peripheral vibes. Simon Grab and David Meier discuss four important albums. Simon's picks: Dhangsha – Broadcast Signal Intrusion DJ K – PANICO NO SUBMUNDO David's picks: Tyshawn Sorey – that / not Alice Coltrane – Journey In Satchidananda Simon and David's collaborative album is titled Porœs, and it's out now on -OUS. Check out o...

3am Vegas haze, inappropriate wedding songs, coffee shop intensity vortex. The host of Crucial Listening discusses three important albums. Jack's picks: R.E.M. – Automatic For The People Baby Dee – Love's Small Song JUNKO / SACHIKO – Vasilisa The Beautiful I'll be back with a guest next time. Thank you so much for all your support, I'm grateful! Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi....

Sound as living entity, eating your greens, divinity and dedication. The Berlin-based, Mexican multimedia artist and DJ discusses three important albums. Daniela's picks: Éliane Radigue – Trilogie de la Mort Coil – Musick To Play In The Dark Vol 1 / Vol 2 Alice Coltrane – Eternity Daniela Huerta's solo debut album, Soplo , is out now on Elevator Bath. Check it out here. Her website is here and she...

Rothko croissants, records like old trees, cave-age slowcore. The French musician and artist discusses three important albums. Félicia's picks: Morton Feldman – Rothko Chapel  | Why Patterns? Robert Ashley – Private Parts Low – I Could Live In Hope Félicia's latest album, Space As An Instrument, is out now on Shelter Press. Check it out here. Her website is here and she's also on Instagram. Donate...

Socialist pop music, the control of the clock, the beautiful digital. The Hailuoto, Finland-based artist and poemproducer discusses three important albums. Antye's picks: Silly – Mont Klamott BLACK QUANTUM FUTURISM – Waiting Time​/​Weighting​/​Wading Time: On Juneteenth, Watch Night, Freedom​’​s Eve, and Emancipation Day Helena Gough – With What Remains Here's a trove of links through which to exp...

Mad standards, worst planet ever, fire in a pet shop. The improvising pianist discusses three important albums. Pat's picks:  Ahmed Abdul-Malik – Nights On Saturn The Music Improvisation Company – S/T Sun Ra – The Magic City Pat has a new solo electronics record out now on 577 Records, titled This Is Trick Step . Check that out here. Pat is also on Instagram , and his page on 557 Records is here....

Clarity and self-indulgence, the end of history, awakening the ear. The philosopher and artist discusses three important albums. Miguel's picks: Nico  – Nico's Last Concert "Fata Morgana" Scott Walker – Tilt Maryanne Amacher – Sound Characters (Making The Third Ear) The new Nzʉmbe album, "Ardor or Entropy", is out now on Drowned By Locals. Check it out here. Miguel is on Instagram here. Donate to...

Nothing but blancmange, beautiful death-adjacency, laughing through the discomfort. The vocalist of Buñuel and the late Oxbow discusses three important albums. Eugene's picks: Johnny Hartman – The Voice That Is! Billie Holiday – Lady In Satin Arthur Prysock – Compact Jazz The new Buñuel album, Mansuetude , is out now on Overdrive / Skingraft . Check it out here. Eugene has a Substack , an Instagra...

Small music, the lazy way of listening, the motor of collaboration. The Tokyo-born, Düsseldorf-based musician discusses three important albums. Miki's picks: Rolf Julius – Music For A Distance Eliane Radigue – Vice Versa, etc. Jean-Yves Bosseur – Musique Vertes Miki's new album, As If , is out now on Hallow Ground. Check it out on Bandcamp . Miki's website is here and she's also on Instagram. Dona...