Newer Music:

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders, and the London Symphony Orchestra : Promises

The strong early contender for 2021 Album of the Year for many critics is this collaboration between
British indie electronic producer Sam Shepherd (aka Floating Points), jazz saxophone legend Pharoah
Sanders, and the London Symphony Orchestra. The story goes that Sanders appreciated Floating Points’
early work and reached out to express an interest in working together. I can only imagine that Shepherd
could not say ‘Yes’ fast enough.

The result is a subtle, gorgeous 46-minute, 9 movement composition that sounds like the background
music of a hazy dream. Sanders’ saxophone is delicate, deliberate, and always welcome. When the
London Symphony orchestra takes center stage in Movement 6, it is genuinely overwhelming and
moving. Beneath it all is the gentle, beautiful electronic framework expertly crafted by Shepherd.
Definitely a record to best consume in one sitting, it is a career highlight for Floating Points and a worthy
addition to the Sanders catalog. Although perhaps not an album likely to be revisited often, one can’t
help but sincerely respect and appreciate the accomplishment of this monumental, worthwhile project.

Standout Tracks: Movement 6, Movement 1, Movement 5, Movement 9, Movement 4

Theon Cross : FYAH

A lesser-known member of the massively productive and successful London modern jazz scene, Theon
Cross is the rare bandleader whose primary instrument is the tuba (!). FYAH is the debut LP for his trio
that includes fellow hyped jazz artists Moses Boyd on drums (who also produces) and Nubya Garcia on
tenor sax. His brother Nathaniel even makes an appearance on one of the tracks with his trombone! As
you might expect from a record featuring Cross and Boyd, the tuba and percussion work makes a lasting
impression. This record actually came out on digital services a couple of years ago to little fanfare, but
finally received a deserved, high-quality Japanese vinyl pressing that became available this month.

Standout Tracks: Activate; Panda Village; Radiation; Candace of Meroe

Anna B. Savage : A Common Turn

Savage is a London-based singer-songwriter with a wonderfully unique and mesmerizing voice. She put
out an EP in 2015 that garnered positive reviews and early attention to her career. Her full-length debut
LP, A Common Turn, was released just last month and was produced by William Doyle of East India
Youth fame. Album highlight Corncrakes showcases her affecting vocal performance and features a
perfectly satisfying crescendo finale.

Her bandcamp page describes the artist and her music as “deeply vulnerable, without being submissive.
She lays claim to her own fragility, and the stories she tells are of taking up space, finding connections,
and owning the power in not knowing all the answers.”

Standout Tracks: Corncrakes; BedStuy; Two; Dead Pursuits

Nilufer Yanya : Feeling Lucky? EP

Yanya is among the most promising and exciting young artists in indie music. She was born and raised in
London by her Turkish father and mother of Irish and Barbadian heritage. Her 2019 debut LP Miss
Universe was one of the best albums of that year. Late last year, she released a new EP featuring the
catchy single Crash. Hopefully, we can expect more new music from her later this year. Bonus points to
her for a great cover of Frank Ocean’s Super Rich Kids she did for an Australian music show (available to
stream on Spotify).

Standout Tracks: Crash, Same Damn Luck, Day 7.5093

Throwback Selection:

Spiritualized : Lazer Guided Melodies

Jason Pierce, aka The Spaceman, recently embarked on a project to reissue the entire Spiritualized
catalog starting with their 1992 debut record Lazer Guided Melodies. SPZ is the ultimate music to enjoy
in a dark room with headphones. They were an offshoot of Pierce’s initial band Spaceman 3, whose
motto (and the title of one of their records) was “Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To”. I can’t
speak to that from personal experience, but I can say that I often find the results of Spiritualized’s
accessible approach to melding psych-rock, shoegaze, jazz, classical, soul, and drone elements to be
entrancing, consuming, and ultimately comforting. My favorite track from this record Shine A Light is
one of the most soothing pieces of recorded music I can think of.

I’ve seen Spiritualized countless times, including the recent tour where they played their masterpiece
1997 record Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space in full. I am hoping they will take the same
approach to an upcoming tour for Lazer Guided Melodies.

Standout Tracks: Shine A Light; Take Your Time; If I Were With Her Now; Angel Sigh; 200 Bars

More Related Music You Should Also Check Out: Jonny Greenwood : Phantom Thread OST; Spaceman
3 : Recurring; Nilufer Yanya : Miss Universe; Moses Boyd : Dark Matter