Jet Plane: Falls Feather

Russian post-rockers Jet Plane sound a lot darker on their new album Falls Feather, building their tracks on monolithic riffs and loops. Their signature use of glockenspiel, violin and bagpipes has been pushed back into the background and while that is understandable for for their new guitar heavy prog course it also make them less special. When of those instruments gets the chance to be heard in a track like Wildflower the music gains depth. They have another ace up their sleeve however, when they unleash the neo-classical prog grandeur of Moreno.

The band is going through some soul searching in their quest for a new course. Dead ends are unavoidable, but they keep busy cutting their way through the genres to carve a new niche for their music.

The Grand East: What A Man

What A Man, the new album by Dutch Bluesy rock quintet The Grand East is a throwback to the soulful guitar and organ music of the late Sixties and early Seventies has quite a bit of soul. They paint with broad strokes, stretching the notes. Melancholy and bravado are playing catch throughout the record. It's all about getting up after been beaten down.

Hammond player Joris van den Berg deserves to be singled for his on point fills and textural contributions. If this is what retro sounds like, it has a bright future.

Mike Gordon: Spring tour dates

Mike Gordon and his band (Scott Murawski, Robert Walter, John Kimock, Craig Myers) have announced their Spring tour dates. They kick off in Atlanta on March 8 and there is something special in store for the 6-night stand @ The Sinclair, Cambridge (March 21-24).

Moonchy & Tobias: Moonchy & Tobias

over the last couple of years Todd Tobias released a bunch of atmospheric soundscapes, telling stories without words. His new album is a collaborative effort with Italian avant-garde singer Pat Moonchy, whose voice is not a vessel for lyrics per se, but more of a solo instrument. her almost childlike operatic delivery is a contrast for Tobias music that can be harsh at times, but also be gently flowing like a brook in Spring.

Moonchy & Tobias is an intense listening experience and untrained ears will have trouble withe the dissonance and dark mood that lays like a heavy blanket on top of the tracks. The music buzzes and crackles (not to mention that it can be a bit frightening as well). The duo might have invented a whole new genre with this album: operatic post-psychedelic avant-garde that needs be explored more often in the near future.

Johnny Marr: in-studio performance @ KEXP radio

A video of the September 21st in-studio performance by Johnny Marr on The Afternoon Show @ KEXP radio, Seattle, USA can be watched on the station's Youtube channel. Radio presenter: Cheryl Waters.