Ambient Composer Rafael Anton Irisarri’s Dispersion of Belief
For a record conceived of following the 2016 US election and a global pandemic, ambient maestro Rafael Anton Irisarri is ready to soundtrack our downfall.
experimental electronic
Budokan Boys’ ‘Are You Sick?’ Is Darkly Comic Madness
The deeply strange but sonically seductive duo Budokan Boys unleash a typically bonkers new EP. ‘Are You Sick?’ Highlights their odd, dark world.
Colin Newman and Malka Spigel on Nanocluster, Collaboration, and Musical Independence
Colin Newman and Malka Spigel discuss their collaborative project Nanocluster and the importance of collaboration to maintain artistic independence.
Leaving Records Are Bigger and Weirder Than Ever Turning 15
Los Angeles experimental label Leaving Records embrace an “all genre” aesthetic. At 15 years old, their artists are moving the cultural needle in a big way.
Fire-Toolz’s ‘Breeze’ Dares to Imagine Joy Within Chaos
It’s a rare artist indeed who can turn tools for expressing existential dread toward a grateful appreciation of life, but Fire-Toolz accomplishes this on Breeze.
KOKOKO! Electrify on the Intensely Innovative ‘Butu’
KOKOKO!’s Butu is full of heat and movement, from the traffic sounds that start the opening track “Butu Ezo Ya” to the final claps of razor-sharp “Salaka Bien”.
Brian Eno, Holger Czukay, and J. Peter Schwalm Provide Food for Thought
After more than 25 years, Brian Eno’s Sushi! Roti! Reibekuchen!—a once-in-a-lifetime gig by three experimental giants—finally sees the light of day.
Erika Angell’s New LP Makes You Appreciate Her Excellence
Experimentalist Erika Angell has a deep track record of producing intriguing music, but here, under her own name, it feels like she’s created her masterwork.
Jlin’s Sonic Palette Defies Gravity and Genre on ‘Akoma’
On Jlin’s Akoma, composers long recognized for their innovations, such as Philip Glass, the Kronos Quartet, and Björk, are pulled into her orbit.
Joseph Branciforte and Theo Bleckmann Create a Stunning Experimental Soundscape
The sophomore collaboration from experimental musicians Joseph Branciforte and Theo Bleckmann comes four years after their debut, and builds on it.
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The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2023
The best experimental albums of the year highlight the breadth of human expression and take listeners to heretofore unknown realms in music, pushing boundaries.
Venera’s Debut Is a Compelling Suite of Industrial Electronica
On Venera’s self-titled debut, nu-metal royalty James ‘Munky’ Shaffer and renaissance man Chris Hunt make a compelling suite of industrial electronica.