Crucial Listening

Latest Episodes:

#130: Rachel Lyn Jun 03, 2023

Show notes

Oxfam treasures, panic-stricken falling, wordless stories. The multidisciplinary artist discusses three important albums.

Rachel's picks:

The Art Of Noise – In Visible Silence
Delia Derbyshire + Barry Bermange – Inventions For Radio No. 1: The Dreams
Jean-Michel Jarre – Equinoxe

Rachel's new album, Stories Came to Us, is out now via My Own Imaginary World. Check it out here. Rachel is also on Instagram as @rachellynmademedoit.

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#129: Mira Martin-Gray May 20, 2023

Show notes

Very inviting thumbs, vanilla apologists, Monk's comeback. The Toronto-based experimental musician discusses three important albums.

Mira's picks:

Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane – At Carnegie Hall
Owen Pallett (released as Final Fantasy) – Has A Good Home
Koboku Senjû – Selektiv Hogst

Mira's new album, Hen's Teeth, is out now on Rat-drifting. It's also on Mira's bandcamp. Her website is here.

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#128: Liturgy May 06, 2023

Show notes

In love with a vampire, psychedelic songform subversion, composer visitations. Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix discusses three important albums.

Haela's picks:

pageninetynine – Document #8
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom
Alice Coltrane – Lord Of Lords

Liturgy's new album, 93696, is out now on Thrill Jockey. Check it out on Bandcamp here. Liturgy is on Instagram and Twitter.

Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

#127: Ibukun Sunday Apr 22, 2023

Show notes

Sleepless Lagos, echoes of heaven, beastly synths. The sound artist and violist discusses three important albums.

Ibukun's picks:

Black Brunswicker – Wilder Paths
Ryan J Raffa – Ginkgo
KMRU – as it still is

Ibukun's new album Mantra is out via Phantom Limb's "Spirituals" imprint – check it out here. Head over to Ibukun's personal Bandcamp for more. He's also on Instagram and Twitter.

Donate to Crucial Listening on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening

#126: Fire-Toolz Apr 08, 2023

Show notes

Beauty in djent-adjacency, solo-Jeep-screamo-touring, "bad guy" music. The multi-genre multi-instrumentalist discusses three important albums.

Angel's picks:

The Contortionist – Language
Suis La Lune – Heir
Rush – Hold Your Fire

The new Fire-Toolz album, I am upset because I see something that is not there., is out now on Hausu Mountain. Check it out on Bandcamp. Fire-Toolz had a website and is also on Instagram and Twitter. Oh, and check this out – a video for "Above All Else I Want To See" by the guest of last episode, Babak Ahteshamipour.

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#125: Babak Ahteshamipour Mar 25, 2023

Show notes

Fishing the sound, math rock imposter syndrome, maximalist gratitude. The Athens-based sound and visual artist discusses three important albums.

Babak's picks:

Black Midi – Schlagenheim
Ryuichi Sakamoto – async
Machine Girl – U-Void Synthesizer

Babak's latest album, Mind Flaying Flavored Flails, is out now on Jollies. Check it out here. Go explore the accompanying virtual exhibition over on New Art City. Babak has a website and is on Instagram.

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#124: Kalia Vandever Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

Nostalgia rushes, unhurried solo guitar, Pharoah jumps in. The American trombonist and composer discusses three important albums.

Kalia's picks:

Grouper – Dragging A Dead Deer
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Contemporary Orchestra – Promises
Jeff Parker – Forfolks

Kalia Vandever's new album, We Fell In Turn, is out 31st March on AKP Recordings. Kalia has a website here and is on Instagram.

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#123: Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) Feb 25, 2023

Show notes

Uncomfortable DJ sets, sacred ratio songs, the "best band in the UK right now". The primary member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre discusses three important albums.

Anton's picks:

The 13th Floor Elevators – The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators
Alice Coltrane – Turiya Sings
The Soundcarriers – Entropicalia

The latest (and 20th!) BJM album, The Future Is Your Past, is out now. Their website is here. Follow Anton on Instagram and Twitter.

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#122: Sham-e-Ali Nayeem Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

Communal grief, tapes from the Halal Meat Shop, time-space departures. The Hyderabadi Muslim American poet, musician, interdisciplinary artist discusses three important albums.

Sham-e-Ali's picks:

Alice Coltrane – A Monastic Trio
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Live At The Royal Albert Hall
vhvl – myrrh

Sham-e-Ali's new album, Moti Ka Sheher, is out now. Check it out here. She's got a website and is on Instagram.

Donate to Crucial Listening on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/cruciallistening