From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #2599 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, August 15 2019 Volume 16 : Number 2599 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: New & not-so-new releases [JoAnn Whetsell ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 01:44:04 +0000 From: JoAnn Whetsell Subject: Re: New & not-so-new releases I was actually thinking of starting a similar conversation based on all the ectophilic albums I've been running into recently, some brand new, some not so much. Here are some preliminary thoughts. Bat for Lashes - The Hunger (August) So good to have her back. I eventually liked much of her last album The Bride, but it took a while. This 3 song EP hooks me immediately and mostly just makes me want more. Keren Ann - Bleue (March) More like her earlier, more melancholy work than her later pop work. Dreamy and lovely. Karine Polwart's Scottish Songbook (August) Covers of Scottish artists and bands, including The Blue Nile and CHVRCHES. I often find covers albums uneven, but this is high quality throughout. Lamb - The Secret of Letting Go (April) The first Lamb album I've bought since their greatest hits Best Kept Secrets. Because it's that good. And in some ways reminds me of their early work, like on Fear of Fours. Rodrigo y Gabriela - Mettavolution (April) This metal/flamenco guitar duo is back in great form with this album. Love it. Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi - There Is No Other (May) She's folk, he's jazz, and together they've made a gorgeous album exploring African, Arabic, and African-American traditions. I wish I could describe it as it deserves, but I highly, highly recommend checking it out. **Promising albums that need more listening Heather Nova - Pearl (June) Patty Griffin - Patty Griffin (April) Glen Hansard - This Wild Willing (April) **Some things I just discovered and have only listened to once or not at all yet. Just listing them in case other people don't know about them. Jorane - Hemenetset Pt. 1 EP (May) Ani DiFranco - No Walls Mixtape (May) Over the Rhine - Love & Revelation Oh, and I agree that Thea Gilmore's latest Small World Turning is solid, but typical of her more recent releases. So probably not going to convert anyone who doesn't like that direction. JoAnn ________________________________ From: owner-ecto@smoe.org on behalf of Sherlyn Koo Sent: Monday, August 12, 2019 12:29 AM To: ecto@smoe.org Subject: New & not-so-new releases Hi everyone, Haven't seen much traffic here lately, so I thought I'd post some of the stuff I've been listening to lately. Mansionair, "Shadowboxer" Perfect, moody electro-pop with hooks that just won't get out of my brain. Love it. Nina Nesbitt, "The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change" A random find from Spotify's New Releases list. It's a mixed bag of styles, fun and pretty poppy in places but surprisingly introspective in others. Sara Bareilles, "Amidst the Chaos" It's a little more low-key and acoustic than I was expecting and maybe nothing too groundbreaking. I love Sara though, so it makes me happy, and "Fire" and "Armor" are pretty darn catchy. Some very nice songs here although it did take a few listens to be able to differentiate them. I do wish she'd let that amazing voice rip a bit more sometimes though (check out her cover of Sia's "Chandelier" on YouTube, wow). Ingrid Michaelson, "Stranger Songs" An entire album of 80s throwback pop/rock inspired by "Stranger Things". I was a bit cautious at first, as I'm not familiar with the show and Ingrid's sound seems to get more and more produced with each new album. But the songs are lots of fun and she still sounds great. I like it a lot. Thea Gilmore, "Small World Turning" A pretty typical Gilmore-esque mix of outrage, folk and uplifting songs. Trending more acoustic than her last releases, but material-wise not too different. Highly enjoyable though - Thea's voice sounds better than ever and the songwriting is as strong as always. Meg&Dia, "Happysad" Surprise new album from this sister-led band from Utah. I've only listened a couple of times so far but it's much more poppy than their previous stuff I think. Enjoying it so far. Susan Werner, "Nola" A short but sweet New Orleans-themed album. Highly enjoyable. Is there anything this woman can't do? Also highly recommended is last year's "An American in Havana" EP. SONiA disappear fear, "By My Silence" Another multi-lingual release (English and Hebrew) by one of my favourites. Includes "A Song for Nudem Durak", in support of singer Nudem Durak who is imprisoned in Turkey for singing in Kurdish. Highlights include the title track, "Who I Am" (previously seen on Blood Bones & Baltimore) and "Ahavnu". What's everyone else listening to? - -sherlyn - -- Sherlyn Koo - sherlyn@pixelopolis.com - Sydney, Australia ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #2599 ****************************