Fyrhtu is a duo from Oakland, California, formed of multi-instrumentalists Leila Abdul-Rauf (Vastum, Hammers of Misfortune, Ionophore) and Nathan A. Verrill (Cardinal Wyrm). On this debut album, they offer ambient music fusing folk and electro. It is a kind of mystical music with quasi-religious passages. Analog and digital synthesizers overlap to create music that is both organic and electronic, transporting us to a very special atmosphere. There are experimental improvisations that are not necessarily easy to access, but the creativity is always present while each of the seven songs differs from the previous one. The only thread running through the album is its very unique atmosphere, so if you want to discover a different band, Fyrhtu is for you.

The hard rock band from Los Angeles produced two albums in 1989 and 1991, before being released by their record company, Geffen, more interested in the new trend (grunge). Junkyard therefore had an album ready in 1992 that never saw the light of day. It is 27 years later that Old Habits Die Hard is finally offered to us. We obviously find the same recipe that had been appreciated on the previous records of the group, with an energetic rock ‘n’ roll sound including a blues tendency, somewhere between AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Note that the original band at the time included, in addition to David Roach at the microphone, a certain Brian Baker, ex-Dag Nasty/Minor Threat and future guitarist of Bad Religion. Even if the nostalgic ones will find some interesting moments reminding them of their teenage years, let's say that Geffen certainly took the right decision at the time by betting everything on Nirvana...

At the dawn of his 65 years of age and his 40 years of career, Paul Kelly offers us this very exhaustive collection of his best recordings between 1985 and 2019. The Australian offers nothing less than 43 tracks totaling almost 160 minutes, and everything is presented to us chronologically. You can rediscover some of his jewels of rock and alternative rock, as well as his folk incursions. Here is an excellent retrospective of the career of one of Australia's most underrated singer-songwriters.

In 1977, when Lynyrd Skynyrd were at the peak of their careers, they faced a tragedy. On October 20, their plane crashed, killing the band’s founder and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister) and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, in addition to the two pilots of the aircraft. This documentary basically recounts the last 72 hours before the crash and the aftermath by three survivors: security guard and Van Zant’s friend Gene Odom, lead backup singer Leslie Hawkins and guitar technician Craig Reed. The documentary is based on the novel by Gene Odom, I’ll Never Forget You. We can see different archive footage of the events preceding the crash, a simulation of the crash itself based on the expert report, as well as rare interviews with first responders filmed at the crash site in Gillsburg, Mississippi. It’s a documentary that only very briefly covers the band’s career, and music is totally absent. The film therefore focuses on the links between the survivors and the band, as well as on the events surrounding the crash of October 20, 1977. Interesting, but incomplete to really learn about Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Konradsen is a Norwegian duo formed of Jenny Marie Sabel and multi-instrumentalist Eirik Vildgren. They offer soft indie pop music, carried on by the seductive voice of Sabel. It is accompanied by a discreet piano and minimalist electro arrangements incorporating sounds of everyday life, like the second single, "Dice". With Saint and Sebastian Stories, Konradsen give a captivating debut album that simply makes you want to discover more. It will therefore be necessary to watch them closely in their new musical explorations in the coming years. (December 2019 Featured New Artist)

Music Video: « Television Land »

Three years after his death, here is a posthumous return for Leonard Cohen, his second, thanks to his son Adam. He put the last nine voice recordings of his father to music. Even though it was written and composed at the same time as You Want It Darker, this new record is much less dark. Like the title track, the luminous album happily complements the masterful work of Leonard Cohen. (December 2019)

The Texan country pop singer arrives with the seventh album of her career. She leaves aside the somewhat dark introspection of her previous album, The Weight of These Wings, to present a brighter album with Wildcard. More pop than ever, with elements of rock ("Mess with My Head", "Locomotive", "Track Record"), the album foreshadows the beginning of a new era for Miranda Lambert. The record is particularly varied and rich in various sounds. We still find some ballads ("Dark Bars"), but the whole will seem more energetic than anything she has done in the past. It is a complete and more than interesting album that is offered here by Miranda Lambert. (December 2019)

Music Video: « It All Comes Out in the Wash »

Chris Landry is a folk singer who completely indulges into deep personal stories. Accompanied by his group of musicians, the Seasick Mommas, he proposes roots music that is particularly poignant. After a debut album in 2017 called One Fifty Five, the Ottawa band is back with Two Ninety Three. Both titles represent the addresses where Landry was residing while he was writing it. On Two Ninety Three, Landry is again inspired by Neil Young, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Wilco and Blue Rodeo, with music that is still quite varied at the end of the day. (December 2019)

For more than 30 years, Montreal progressive rock band Mystery has been performing around the world and is particularly popular in Europe and the United Kingdom. The band presents today their third double album, recorded live at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in Poznan, Poland. The 160-minute album features all the songs from their latest record, Lies and Butterflies, released in 2018, as well as some of the band's favourites. The 16 tracks are played with all the precision that characterizes these out of the ordinary musicians. This is an exceptional album from Mystery to discover all their talent in concert. (December 2019)

Promo Clip

The Danish-American psychobilly band is celebrating 30 years of career this year. The trio presents a video recorded live at the Observatory Theater in Santa Ana, California and directed by Vicente Cordero (3Teeth, Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders). You can rediscover 19 of the best tracks of the group in career, played with a still overflowing energy. Kim Nekroman and his band fill up our ears with this blu-ray disc (accompanied by a standard DVD and audio CD). In addition to the concert, you can hear an interview with the band and see rare photos. (December 2019)