Ali & Toumani documents the meeting of two supreme musicians, Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré and kora master Toumani Diabaté. After winning a Grammy for their previous collaboration In the Heart of the Moon, the two were eager to…
Aha! Treasure-hungers Soundway Records have unearthed another thirty-something forgotten gems- this time from 1970s Ghana. The two-disc compilation showcases the vibrant musical culture that emerged a decade after Ghana achieved independence. A new take on African and Caribbean styles challenged…
You may have seen our recent blogpost about Polka Dot Dot Dot's newest album, Syzygy. Just before Thanksgiving, DJ Lilly (of Flowerhours) and I had an epic experience seeing PDDD at Historical Monument 157, an old Victorian house next to…
Here is my list of favorite things: 1. Sleep 2. Food 3. My Birthday 4. The Teenage Shutdown compilations! Recently I discovered these in KSPC's music library and cried my eyes out in sheer wonder and happiness (I am only…
A lot of the time when a band releases a double album it's out of laziness, an unwillingness to refine their work and remove what's unnecessary. This is absolutely not the case with Businessmen & Ghosts. There are a staggering…
In his sophomore effort, Canadian rapper Shad mixes race-conscious rhymes with soulful samples, bass-charged techno beats and nods to jazz and classical music. His Common-esque delivery and rhymes can get sloppy, but it's overall a feel good and thought-provoking record.…
When I think "Norwegian composers," I immediately think of Grieg . . . and that's about it. It's amazing what Nazi sympthazing does to erode your historical legacy, as evidenced by Christian Sinding. In spite of that factoid, you have…
The Dutchess and The Duke are a great live act. I’m finding them to be folk with garage punk influences. Spaceland is a fun club to see someone like them because it’s small enough to mingle a little with the…
A fabulous up-and-coming alto saxophonist, Hailey Niswanger (pronounced “NICE–wonger”) has caught my ear's attention and has impressed the likes of many well-known jazz musicians across the country. This week, KSPC is proud to highlight her debut album, Confeddie as the…
I spent a lot of time this summer listening to Start A People. It's a summery album, but it's a sort of summer that's always reminding you that winter is on the horizon. The sound that Black Moth Super Rainbow has…
Thao breaks from her folkier roots and incorporates soul, strings, rock, shoegaze, and even more handclaps and wails into her newest, "Know Better Learn Faster." Despite the diverse sounds, this is definitely a break-up album. Thao deceives with upbeat melodies…
Vassily Primakov is under contract with Bridge for a series of recordings, many of which have already been released in the past year. In that time, he has shown a wide range and impressive technical maturity for a young artist.…
Just look at that adorable indie band. Don't they seem like oodles of fun? In fact, they are! Their debut EP, "Everywhere to Go," was released on Grape Juice Records this summer, and it is about what you'd expect from…
The newest album from Rhymesayers' Brother Ali, this is a true gem. In terms of content, it is truly inspirational: as the title suggests, his aim with this disc seems to be to encourage everyone to unite through a common…
In a rare interview Burial once said, "I love...old jungle and garage tunes, when you didn't know anything about them, and nothing was between you and the tunes." This philosophy certainly rings true in his artistic persona and his music. Burial was totally…