Okonski return with Entrance Music, revealing the flipside of the perpetual afterhours reverie of Magnolia. For their sophomore outing, the trio gently open the curtains to find themselves in the light of a new day, unimpeded by anything that isn’t melody or mood. Entrance Music drifts along like a perfect daydream, homey and lived-in, but maintaining a sense of spontaneity that leaves no doubt pianist Steve Okonski, bassist Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery, and drummer Aaron Frazer are attuned to the same ephemeral frequency. The post Okonski :: Entrance Music appeared first on Aquarium Drunka ..read more

Not quite an original score, though not quite a rehashing of trad-folk mythos, Seán Ó Riada’s The Playboy of the Western World is not your typical soundtrack. Much like the scores of Morricone, Greenwood or even Jack Nitzsche’s for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ó Riada’s work moves beyond the film for which it is meant to complement. Though steeped in tradition, the application of modern composition techniques and a healthy dose of heady experimentation takes The Playboy of the Western World well beyond the humble origins of the songs that constitute it. Erin go brách, or at least through t ..read more

Kris Kristofferson wasn’t a natural fit to become a Hollywood leading man. But in the misfit era of the 1970s, his rough and edgy all-American charm made him the perfect choice for a number of iconoclastic directors. His star may have fallen in the 1980s but there are a number of cult movies throughout his five-decade career that take advantage of his one-of-a-kind charisma. The post The Cult of Kristofferson appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard ..read more

From the ballads to the effortless melodic hooks, Silver Synthetic's formula is one permeated with a clear sky buoyancy; an aural antidote of glowing laid-back comfort. Described by label Curation as "the album we have been waiting for", Rosalie is best served with the windows open. The perfect companion to the budding springtime breeze. The post Silver Synthetic :: Rosalie appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard ..read more

With his fourth album for Blue Note Records, guitarist Nels Cline introduces the Consentrik Quartet: Cline on guitar with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Tom Rainey on drums. Gathering noir-ish soundscapes, agile jams, and what Cline dubs "abstract and floaty ballads," Consentrik Quartet bristles with energetic currents. He joins us to discuss forming Concentrick Quartet, the influence of Jimmy Giuffre and Paul Bley, the unpredictability of Wilco, and the contents of his old CD wallet. The post The Telepathy Is Evident :: Nels Cline on Consentrik ..read more

The RVNG Intl label comes through yet again with an absolutely uncategorizable, absolutely essential archival collection. The Invisible Road gathers a host of valuable tracks from the duo of Sussan Deyhim and Richard Horowitz, whose adventurous sound blends caffeinated downtown minimalism, traditional Middle Eastern modes, almost Kate Bush-y avant-garde synth pop and more. The post Sussan Deyhim & Richard Horowitz :: The Invisible Road: Original Recordings, 1985-1990 appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard ..read more

An absolute one-off of the purest grade.  Erik Heller dropped in with Look Where I Am in 1967 and immediately vanished. The Vanguard LP came out of nowhere. A fleeting artifact that has outlived its creator, Heller can’t be found in another band, has no prior recordings, and nothing would surface down the road. There isn’t a clear picture of Heller’s background, how the record came about, or even a list of the studio musicians that prop up much of the LP. The post Erik :: Look Where I Am appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard ..read more

Tobacco City stomps and swaggers through “Mr. Wine,” the band’s haunting atmospheres wrapped around a roadhouse anthem. The song, about the longing to escape small town life, has its own confining circumstances to slip loose from. Its reassuring cadences of country blues light out for mystery in flights of pedal steel. Its steady pulse of rocking bass pushes on but is overlaid with disorienting slow drips of trebly guitar. The chorus sways and sashays with quavering certainty, but when it’s over, textures turn soft and indefinite and full of ambiguity. This second album from the Chicago cosmic ..read more

“I’m trying to convince people that I’m a wizard and she always helps,” Richard Dawson chuckles, over Zoom, acknowledging the presence of his adorable and aptly named cat Trouble, who has cozily curled herself around the crook of the songwriter’s neck, perfectly poised like a luxurious scarf. She mostly remains in that position while Dawson speaks about the various themes and influences that provided a strong foundation for his excellent eighth studio album, The End of The Middle. A far more self-contained offering–not difficult compared to its larger than life predecessor The Ruby Cord, which ..read more

Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays. 34.1090° N, 118.2334° W The post The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PDT, Channel 35) appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard ..read more