Midweek Beats + Pieces

Test Pressing, TVNZ, Laundry, Church & AP, Julius Eastman, FRKTL, etc

It’s Wednesday and I should probably really be doing something else right now, but you know, procrastination, right? Anyway, keep reading before for a summary of a few interesting things that have happened or some across my desk this week. Please enjoy.

WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING:

Last week, I interviewed the cult 1970s Lebanese singer-songwriter and guitarist Rogér Fakhr for Test Pressing. Rogér is a lovely man with a fascinating story and an even more fascinating set of transcendental folk-rock and West Coast AOR songs, many of which you can hear on Fine Anyway, a compilation album of his work that was recently released by Habibi Funk. The story is live on the site (here).

Yesterday, I got a phone call from TVNZ about Flynn Cranston. For those unfamiliar, Flynn is a 15-year-old guitarist and producer from Christchurch, New Zealand. Over last year’s first COVD lockdown, he used the internet to network with some producers and A&Rs in the American hip-hop scene and ended up landing a co-production credit on one of the songs on Rod Wave’s new album, Soulfly. TVNZ talked me into talking about it on the news last night. Here’s a variation of the photograph about eight people sent me last night.

It’s official, I’m a music journalist LOL.

WHAT I’VE GOT COMING UP:

On Thursday night, I’m DJing at Laundry Bar in Wellington. 8pm till close. Bits and pieces from all over the globe, mostly on a boogie/lounge tip. Here’s the flyer.

LOOSE ENDS:

Church & AP, AT THY FEET (YKK)

Auckland hip-hip duo Church & AP’s arthouse aspirations on display front and center with ‘AT THY FEET’, a six and a half minute short film that marries segments of songs from their record of the same name with visuals created the young director Oscar Keys. The cult, occult and beautifully abstract visual narrative that the music deserves. Exciting stuff.

Various Authors, We Have Delivered Ourselves from the Tonal — Of, Towards, On, For Julius Eastman (Savvy Contemporary)

This collection of essays, librettos, lyrics, memories, photos, personal anecdotes by musicians, visual artists, researchers and archivers pays homage to the work and life of African-American composer, musician, performer, activist Julius Eastman. Contributions from Julius Eastman and Antonia Alampi, Artiste (Malak Helmy & Janine Armin), Rocco di Pietro, Kodwo Eshun, David Garland, Sumanth Gopinath, Sean Griffin, Josh Kun, Mary Jane Leach, George E. Lewis, Jean-Christophe Marti, Elaine Mitchener, Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Berno Odo Polzer, Pungwe (Memory Biwa & Robert Machiri), Chris Rusiniak. Julius Eastman’s work is lifechanging. Get familiar (here)

FRKTL is the solo experimental project of Riga/London/Cairo based interdisciplinary artist Sarah Badr. A classically trained multi-instrumentalist utilizing live sampling and improv, vocal manipulation, field recordings and generative rhythms, she composes intensely emotive and immersive explorations of sound. Alongside her music work, Badr is also a visual artist who creates multi dimensional worlds, glimpses of which you can find adorning albums by some of our favourites. Last week, Badr put together a two hour FRKTL mix for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Friendly Potential Radio. It’s lovely, and you can listen to it above.

Photography is my passion. See above.

Milk, III (Flying Nun Records)

I’m not ready to talk about this record properly yet, but I’d love everyone to give it a listen. Reuben Samuel Winter was a special guy. He’ll be in our hearts forever. Rest In Love.

FIN.