SABBATICAL

Worlds of Music is on study leave.

Back presently.

MOJO FEBRUARY 2014 REVIEWS – I BREAK HORSES CHIAROSCURO, THE STEPPES GREEN VELVET ELECTRIC

Sweden and all sorts of places from long ago.

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2013

1. Jonathan Wilson: Fanfare
2. John Grant: Pale Green Ghosts
3. Maarja Nuut: Soolo
4. Sumie: Sumie
5. Anna von Hausswolff: Ceremony (released in the UK in 2013)
6. Agnes Obel: Aventine
7. Melanie de Biasio: No Deal
8. The Sound Poets: Tavs Stāsts
9. Motorpsycho: Still Life With Eggplant
10. Jessica Sligter: The Fear And The Framing
11. Roy Harper: Man & Myth
12. Jenny Hval: Innocence Is Kinky
13. Grísalappalísa: Ali
14. Lanterns On The Lake: Until The Colours Run
15. Nóra: Himinbrim (from 2012, but I got it this year)
16. Susanna And Orchestra neoN: The Forester
17. Nils Frahm: Spaces
18. Nadine Shah: Love Your Dum And Mad
19. Juliette Gréco: Gréco Chante Brel
20. Hjaltalín: Enter 4 (released in the UK in 2013)
21. The Knife: Shaking The Habitual
22. Money: The Shadow Of Heaven
23. Midlake: Antiphon
24. Mona & Maria: My Sun
25. Mariam The Believer: Blood Donation  

MOJO JANUARY 2014 REVIEWS – SUMIE, SUSANNA AND ENSEMBLE NEON THE FORESTER

Sweden and Norway. More on Sumie here.

REVIEW – TRANS MUSICALES 2013, RENNES, FRANCE

Although sad to see the site of La Cité as an empty plot after its demolition, the lesser amount of shows and fewer venues did bring this year a greater focus than previous and, overall, raised standards of what was on.

Review here:  The Arts Desk Trans Musicales 2013

Some pictures.

MOJO DECEMBER 2013 REVIEWS – LEE RANALDO AND THE DUST LAST NIGHT ON EARTH

New York.

NORWAY’S FOLK MUSIC FROM THE OUTSIDE

A piece written to offer a perspective on Norway, its own music and the path taken to get to where it is now: Norway’s Folk Music From the Outside

A few of the things touched on.