Visual Rhythms

It's photography time.

This week’s newsletter is primarily composed of a set of four nighttime water reflection photographs I took with Ilford Delta 3200 film and a Nikon F60 camera a couple of weeks ago. I’m pretty happy with them, which is something in itself. Thanks to the team at Splendid for the development and scanning. The technique here is all about cropping and reframing the image in post. I’m considering turning these ones into a set of prints, but we’ll worry about that another time.

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:

My friends at Isle of Jura in Adelaide step up to the platter again with a reissue of a great album recorded in Barbados back in 1985, Exit by Fire Flight. In terms of wheelhouse, we’re talking about new wave, funk and early house drum programming set against a calypso backdrop. It’s a lot of fun.

Vivid and stylistically slanted electronic pop from the Ukrainian-born, Poland-bread and Austria-based multi-instrumentalist and singer Katarina Gryvul. Tysha is one of those albums where every song is hyper-detailed and every listen reveals something new. It’s headphone music. It’s solitude music. It’s lie on the grass bank music. But it’s also so so much more.

This one is still forthcoming, but if you like solo piano composition work, you’re gonna want to spend some time with Marianna by Wrocław’s Marek Pędziwiatr aka Latarnik. The last time I heard him, was through his playing on the remarkable 2021 Jaubi, which is really a miracle unto itself. Marianna, however, puts a whole different side on display. His piano playing flows like water and flickers like shadows in the sunlight. The keyword here is: blissful.

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:

10 Years After Hitting No. 1, 3BallMTY’s ‘Inténtalo’’s Legacy is Still Alive. Marcos Hassan looks at the golden age of tribal guarachero for Remezcla. Click here.

Dialogue isn’t always the best option. Over at E-Tangata, Professor Mohan Dutta. writes about how superficial attempts at listening and dialogue can have the effect of normalising the far right, giving it credibility and the opportunity to grow. Click here.

John Morrison talks to Suzi Analogue about how her label connects a global network of Black technologists and electronic musicians. Click here.

A list of ways you can support Ukraine. Mixmag on how People from across the world of dance music have been speaking out in support of Ukraine and against the Russian invasion. Click here.

The Search Continues: Reflecting On 20 Years Of N.E.R.D.’s Debut Album. Two decades after the release of the U.S. version of N.E.R.D.‘s classic ‘In Search Of...’ (aka the better-known second version of the album) Pigeons & Planes revisit its unique creation process and lasting legacy with Chad Hugo, former managers, and other players involved in the genre-dodging classic. Click here.

Felicity Martin talks to Nia Archives, the junglist bringing Black women to the front. Click here.

The Origins of Egyptian Music Legend Hamid Al Shaeri. Dean Van Nguyen digs into Hamid’s story for Bandcamp Daily. Click here.

BONUS:

The Wheke Fortress crowdfunding campaign ends in two days. You can still chip in if you want.

Mustafa is the current Dazed cover star.

Speaking of which, the amazing Aroha Bridge animated series is now available for streaming in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.

I’m digging this 2021 electronic RnB cut from 5chizo5lut (produced by SWAMII).

FIN.