Quick Tips from The Slow Music Movement

Don't listen to me, listen to the music.

I mentioned a few newsletters ago that due to my new childcare responsibilities and now an unwelcome but essential increase in my part time hours, I’m desperately struggling for time at the moment and will have to resort to more quick tips. Well that starts today.

It’s a shame (discuss), as despite not being a confident writer, I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to waffle and express some personal opinions after years of social media reclusiveness, but as I haven’t posted a review in seven days and the autumnal release schedule is getting into full swing I need to get sharing. Don't listen to me, listen to the music.

El Khat / القات - mute (Glitterbeat)

Homemade instruments played by Arabic Jews who grew up in Jaffa but now reside in Berlin, a homage to the Yemeni music of their youth, songs about emigration, musings on identity and the Middle East, a raw, raucous and unexpectedly lush album by El Khat / القات . Keep an eye on what Glitterbeat release too if you have any interest in the world’s rich musical tapestry.

Civilistjävel! - Brödföda (FELT)

Quite the ambient odyssey from “a revered figure of the aural murk“. On his new LP Civilistjävel! explores the ambient shadows without forgetting a torch, buoying spirits with some dub techno flirtations, inter-galactic minimalism and choice collaborations. Thank me later, it’s a mesmerising listen.

Allysha Joy - The Making Of Silk (First Word)

It was fascinating watching the rise of Hiatus Kaiyote over ten years ago, as they transcended their Melbourne roots, helped by their city’s moment in the sun and its Wondercore Island Mixtape snapshots, to being one of the finest, futuristic soul jazz outfits about with an incendiary live show. Whilst not letting her bandmates down, main woman Allysha Joy soon developed her more focussed nu-soul solo project, and her new LP is yet another modern soul gem. That voice!

Correction: Thanks to

Sjors P

for correcting my misconception that Allysha Joy was the front woman of Hiatus Kaiyote, she is in fact the front woman of Melbourne’s 30/70 and Nai Palm is the Hiatus Kaiyote singer. Needless to say I have punished the offending writer and the editorial team.

Amelia Courthouse - broken things (SPINSTER)

I finally caught up with Amelia Courhouse last week, although in my defence she had previously only released one LP five years ago. Driven by a fondness for pressing keys on various instruments, she’s invested more in mastering and added some extra texture to the soundscape this time, with all sorts of whimsical field recordings, that bely her thoughtful inspirations, floating about. I’m particularly fond of her foray into Ambient Pop on, “Keep Your Arms”. Roll on 2029.

Obligatory Playlist Reminder.

One thousand tracks spread over twenty eclectic playlists that showcase great new music from alternative and independent artists, with 136 new tracks added in September alone. Available on Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, Youtube Music, Youtube, Deezer and Spotify (if you must).