Pop – EL MAHBOOB

1989+33 Premonition

“Premonition” (1989) is a dance pop song, incorporating aspects of hip hop and jazz funk. It was recorded late at night in demo fashion, and included on my DIY album Nerve. The lyrics consist mostly of cliched phrases, satirizing the end-times though giving way to an urgent chorus. The instrumental track was created entirely on a… Continue reading 1989+33 Premonition

1989+33 Void

“Void” (1989) is an art pop song from my student days. One of my weirder, nerdier numbers, in it I still sought to be groove-based. It was recorded quickly along with other songs in a late night session, and included on my DIY album Sleepdancing. “Void” posed an existential question that required a complex musical answer.… Continue reading 1989+33 Void

95/25: Uhuru

Uhuru is a self-released album which was completed during the winter of 1995 and released in the fall. I had originally hoped to release it on CD but was unable to secure sufficient funds, so it arrived in a run of 100 cassettes. The program was over 70 minutes long, comprising mainly songs and instrumentals… Continue reading 95/25: Uhuru

90/30: Eccentricities

Eccentricities is a six-song, self-released cassette EP which emerged in the fall of 1990. I recall having 100 copies made and being satisfied with that level of dispersion; it was all I could afford in any case. In honour of the 30th anniversary, I present two of the songs here (with a third linked below).… Continue reading 90/30: Eccentricities

Best of 2018

Brandon Coleman Resistance Tigran Hamasyan For Gyumri Zaki Ibrahim The Secret Life of Planets The Internet Hive Mind JACK Quartet Everything That Rises (John Luther Adams) Kuniko Drumming (Steve Reich) Kukuruz Quartet Julius Eastman Piano Interpretations Kendrick Lamar/Various Artists Black Panther: The Album Kelly Moran Ultraviolet Georgia Anne Muldrow Overload Steve Reich/International Contemporary Ensemble/Colin Currie Group Pulse/Quartet Esperanza Spalding… Continue reading Best of 2018

Otherwhere

British responses to Black diasporic music, and other sounds from formative walks in SSM and Toronto, via a recollection of refrains, harmonic worlds visited and the journeys between Omar | You’ve Got to Move Working Week | Inner City Blues The Brand New Heavies | Dream On Dreamer Colourbox | Philip Glass Young Disciples |… Continue reading Otherwhere

Best of 2016

Childish Gambino “Awaken, My Love!” (Glassnote) Vicky Chow A O R T A (New Amsterdam) King We Are King (King Creative) Laura Mvula The Dreaming Room (Sony · RCA) Holly Roadfeldt The Preludes Project (Ravello) Solange A Seat at the Table (Saint · Columbia) Esperanza Spalding Emily’s D+Evolution (Concord) reissues · remasters · restorations · box sets… Continue reading Best of 2016

Best of 2015

Some great new discoveries and otherwise the usual company in abundance. John Adams Absolute Jest · Grand Pianola Music San Francisco Symphony · Michael Tilson Thomas · John Adams (SFS Media) Bang on a Can All Stars Field Recordings (Cantaloupe) eighth blackbird Filament (Cedille) Mahan Esfahani Time Present and Time Past (Archiv) Morton Feldman ·… Continue reading Best of 2015

Boogie Dedication

Best of 2014

John Adams, The Gospel According to the Other Mary – Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Master Chorale, Gustavo Dudamel John Luther Adams, Become Ocean – Seattle Symphony, Ludovic Morlot D’Angelo and The Vanguard, Black Messiah Morton Feldman, String Quartet No. 1 – FLUX Quartet Flying Lotus, You’re Dead! Philip Glass, The Complete Piano Etudes – Maki… Continue reading Best of 2014