Listen Up
Atmospheric soundscapes, folk-inflected tunes and more in our musical wrap-up this week
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah feat. Saul Williams: Ancestral Recall
One listen to jazz artist Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s “Ancestral Recall,” which features poet and songwriter Saul Williams, reveals a mission beyond music. The track, and forthcoming album of the same name, were “built as a map to decolonize sound; to challenge previously held misconceptions about some cultures of music; to codify a new folkloric tradition and begin the work of creating a national set of rhythms,” Adjuah explains. For this, he’s tapped into West African, First Nation, and African Diaspora/Caribbean rhythms—weaving them succinctly. It’s powerful, and powerfully expressive.
Circe: Barely Breathing
Premiering on the 405, London newcomer Circe’s “Barely Breathing” rains down emotion from clouds drawn in dreamscapes. There’s a heartbeat to the track, propelled by more than guitar and electronics; it’s chemical. Circe has two live performances scheduled for London, one in February and another in March.
https://soundcloud.com/circeband/sets/barely-breathing-405/s-zSxPI
Bibio: Curls
British producer Bibio (aka Stephen Wilkinson) has just released yet another ethereal, folk-inflected song, “Curls.” With gentle lyrics and a decidedly lo-fi sensibility, this tune is atmospheric and—despite it being less sonic than some of his previous releases—still carries a familiar Bibio vibe in its exquisite delicateness.
Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel.
