Jon Brooks Archives

Sonixcursions:016 Podcast

Forgive me listeners, as it’s been six weeks since my last podcast episode. I’ve had my head down finishing up the Masstransfer book for the past 2 months and realized it’s now halfway through March.

This episode catches up on some of the recent releases of the year so far. I’m trying to get a little more upbeat this season as we’re now going on a year of this pandemic (and my two kids haven’t been in school since then). Looking to shake off those winter blahs.

Track Listing

Night Glitter “Radio” (0:00) – the latest in late-night trip-hop from this eclectic Texas duo.

Flyying Colours “Boarding Pass” (4:57) – from the album Fantasy Country out now on the Club AC30 label.

All In the Golden Afternoon “Anymore Anyway” (9:58) – the husband and wife duo of Rachel Staggs and Carlos Jackson, from their 2008 self-titled debut EP on Mind Expansion records

Commentaires “Etrangers à l’intérieur” (13:47) – an array of “vivid analogue synth sequences and dusty, ticking rhythm boxes” from Jon Brooks’ Café Kaput label.

Personal Bandana “Still Sic” (17:58) – an American synth duo with a recent cassette release, This Time Its…, on the Woodford Halse label.

Matthew Shaw “Schlaf zu Fuß” (21:55) – from his latest release Nachtmusik, a dream-induced tribute to Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk.

Cheval Sombre “California Lament” (27:55) – downshifting into a quiet acoustic mood, this is the sound of walking alone on a beach with just your thoughts.

Thalassing “Three Arcs” (32:24) – the Clay Pipe Music label is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by reissuing their first 2 releases, one of which is Thalassing’s debut album.

As always thanks for listening, and sign up for the email newsletter to get updates on these and other bands featured in the podcasts.

Stay safe & sane out there…

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Sonixcursions:014 Podcast – My Favorite Songs of 2020

sonixcursions podcast 14

Welcome to the end of 2020 – a year that will change the course of our history into the foreseeable future. For various reasons, including being here at home full-time, I had a lot of time to spend listening to new music and following some bands I had lost touch with. For this episode, I’m going through my favorite albums, almost month-by-month, and playing my top song picks. You’ll see over the course of the year, things started off pretty strong with the guitargazing of Purple Heart Parade and Ringo Deathstarr, but gradually tended towards an ambient direction later in the year.

As always thank you for listening, it’s been quite an interesting year to say the very least. I look forward to 2021 at least not being 2020.

Track Listing

Purple Heart Parade “Petrichor” (0:00) – From the EP Desolation Angel on Club AC30.

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Sonixcursions:007 Podcast

I’m not here to tell you how messed up the world is right now on many fronts. It’s a difficult time in history to find any rays of light, but hopefully I can offer some solace from the real world if only for a short time. Put on your headphones, take a walk and let your mind float with the music.

Air Formation “You Have To Go Somewhere” – from 2007’s Daylight Storms

Jon Brooks “A Lesson On Attachment”

Epic45 “Among Ruins” – off their latest We Were Never Here

Magic Castles “Asuras” – a track from the forthcoming release Sun Reign

Halftribe “We Are Dust” – from 2020’s Archipelago on the Sound In Silence label

All In The Golden Afternoon “Say Goodbye”- pulled from a recently release collection of outtakes called Lucite Vision

Kosmischer Läufer “Der Leuchtturn am Ende der Zeit” – This journey ends at the lighthouse at the end of time…

As always thanks for listening, and sign up for the email newsletter to get monthly updates on these and other bands featured in the podcasts.

Stay safe out there…

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Random Orbitings – March 20, 2020

Wow – a lot has changed in the 4 weeks since my last Orbitings post. Bars and restaurants are closing, causing ripple effects in the music and arts business. We need to put our heads together and figure out ways that we can help these musicians get by during this time of uncertainty. I’ll be writing more about this in the coming days, but for today BandCamp.com is Supporting Artists During the Covid-19 Pandemic by encouraging fans to buy music today (Friday, March 20) and sending all the revenue to the artists.

From their statement: “To raise even more awareness around the pandemic’s impact on musicians everywhere, we’re waiving our revenue share on sales this Friday, March 20 (from midnight to midnight Pacific Time), and rallying the Bandcamp community to put much needed money directly into artists’ pockets.” Go forth and support these artists today (and over the coming weeks and months) because we will get through this, and we’re all gonna want to see a show when this is over.

Zelienople

It’s been a couple of years, but Chicago’s Zelienople are back with a sonic document of the times, Hold You Up – a testimony to driving ahead amidst looming uncertainty. The bleakness of some of the songs speaks to our current state of isolation, especially with the title track as well as “You Have It”. I had the chance to sit down (virtually) with singer and guitarist Matt Christensen the other day, and should have the interview up soon, but until then check out the new album as well as their deep back catalog that goes back to 2002’s Pajama Avenue. Matt himself is fairly prolific on BandCamp.com as well, with over 100 releases posted. Well worth the dive.

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