OUR FAVORITE YEAR: Motion Sickness of Time Travel, one of the multiple fruitful projects of experimental composer and musician Rachel Evans, has worked for a year on the upcoming album Zodiac. The recording began a year ago, when Evans began composing a new piece each astrological season (i.e. one per month). These pieces, totaling about 38 minutes, are intended to be heard sequentially but with no breaks, and that’s exactly how they’re presented digitally; the vinyl version must be flipped between Virgo and Libra. That said, there are some substantial differences in these groupings. The first is generally much harsher, but not violently so, and very heads-down in a workman’s type of way. The second is sprightly, bright, peaceful and shimmering. It’s a fantastic set of work to close out the year, in any case. This is released on Dec. 21 and preorders for tapes, CDs and vinyl LPs are happening now at hookervision.bandcamp.com.
THAT’S BOSSMAN TO YOU: Saxophonist Dwan Bosman is the special guest performer at the upcoming instance of The Segar Jazz Affair at Hotel Indigo’s Rialto Club Sunday, Dec. 15. An in-demand performer, Bosman has three decades of experience under his belt, and this should be a spectacular time for those in attendance. This evening will feature two sets of music (6:30–7:30 p.m. and 7:45–8:45 p.m.), and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $15, and they’re $20 at the door. This show is presented by Segar Jazz and Aubrey Entertainment. For tickets, please see bit.ly/SegarJazzDec15, and for more information, please see facebook.com/AubreyEntertainmentAthensGA.
ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT: It’s been more than nine years since I mentioned Halem Albright in this column and, even then, I never spoke about his actual music. Since that time, Albright and his Halem Albright Band have made some solid inroads in the Atlanta area. The band released its latest full-length, Blue Moon Confessions, back in late September. It would be a little reductive to peg this offhandedly in the jam band category even though that wouldn’t be entirely incorrect. More specifically, though, this song-oriented album stretches into jazz (“Neighbor Take Flight”), yacht rock (“Lost In The Breeze”), spaghetti western (“Cheyenne”), gospel (“Burgundy and Gold”) and clever indie (“Werewolf On Strike”). This breakdown reads like the album is just a pastiche of styles, but that’s not really the case, as these all gel together in a reasonable way that sees the band stretching its arms, not seeking an identity. Find this on all major streaming services, and for more information, please see halemalbright.com.
STEAL MY SUNSHINE: Continuing the run they started a year ago in September, punk aesthetes Sunshine Crooks have cranked out another two songs under the release title Cured In Rum. The first, “Obey,” is every bit the 1980s-style punk criticism of consumer/Baby Boomer culture. “Dead” follows in similar execution and sentiment (“I don’t wanna be dead/ But I wanna be dead to you”). This is raw, like four-track-demo raw, and is as mixtape ready as anything in recent memory. Find this and so much more over at sunshinecrooks.bandcamp.com.
ABANDON HOPE: Musician James Owen, known primarily in this column for his project Doom Ribbons, just released a remastered version of his 2003 Doom Ribbons album Funeral Palace. If you’re undecided as to where he’s coming from aesthetically, please note that among the items listed as having been played by him are “bottles, breaking, smashing, screaming.” That said, the most crucial instrument here is his piano. It enters and leaves with little regard other than a sense of necessity and, indeed, drives much of the mood here. It can shift on a dime, too, as evidenced about halfway through “HOPE for hopelessness.” It’s at its most percussive and, perhaps, operatic on “schick sal.” None of which is to say this is a mellow piano record. Far from it. It’s dark and disturbing and uncomfortable. It is its own long winter’s nap replete with its own nightmares. And it rules, too, so find it at doomribbons.bandcamp.com.
PLUGGED IN: I don’t have the first clue who electronic artist uriel (stylized in lowercase) is, but that hasn’t stopped me from diving head-first into the newly released 11-track album erebidae. It starts off with the semi-digital hardcore and glitchy instrumental “.txt // intro” before sliding headlong into the smooth, electro R&B of “Sedated.” Underneath all its digital-electro dressing, this is largely a hip-hop and pop album full of hooky songs with a solid beat like “rusted” and “campfire song.” Find this at urielprod.bandcamp.com.
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