Joyful Noise: Gray Area Cassette Series 2021

Indianapolis based speciality label Joyful Noise is doing something special: ten bands from their roster will be part of the Gray Area Cassette Series 2021 box set. Each month buyers will receive a new tape (plus a digital download). A wooden box to keep them in is part of the deal. 175 copies will be made.

These bands are in the box:

1. Arguing With Hurricanes (feat. Kristian from El Ten Eleven)
2. Berry (from White Label Series)
3. Daniel Paquette (from Abner Trio)
4. Love of Everything (feat. Bobby from Joan of Arc)
5. Missing Sons (feat. Kristian from El Ten Eleven)
6. MoogStar (from Swamp Dogg)
7. Salsa Chest (feat. William from Reptar)
8. Semicircle (feat. Andrew from Reptar)
9. Sudden Hex (feat. Jason from Helvetia)
10. Typical Sisters (feat. Matt from Ohmme)

» joyfulnoiserecordings.com

HCTF's best of 2019 (20-16)

• 20-16
• |
• 15-11
• |
• 10-6
• |
• 5-1

» Best of playlist

» Listen here

HCTF's annual list of the 20 albums that will be in regular rotation for many years to come. As per usual many genres are represented. This blog covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.

Today: countdown from number 20 to 16.

Please shop at your local record store, buy directly from the artist, attend live shows. Don't block anyone's view with with your phone (better still, switch it off altogether). Shut the fuck up while the band is playing. Educate your friends. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.

Typical Sisters: Hungry Ghost

photo: Alexa Viscius

Chicago based progressive improv jazz trio Typical Sisters (formerly known as Greg Uhlmann's Typical Sisters) are back with a new album. Hungry Ghost aims to serve as an escape from a busy world where fact-free politics and technology are clamouring for attention. They do this by weaving intricate textures, musical filigrees wherein themes and choruses are linked together to create a delicate piece of jazz art.

They use the middle ground between composed section and free-flowing spontaneity. Hungry Ghost pushes all the right buttons, without using force, but with determination to create something worthwhile and memorable: quiet intensity at it finest.

Typical Sisters: stream "To The Landing" from new album "Hungry Ghost"

photo: Alexa Viscius

Chicago based progressive improv jazz trio Typical Sisters (formerly known as Greg Uhlmann's Typical Sisters) are releasing their long awaited new album Hungry Ghost on March 22nd via Outside In Music. Lead single To The Landing is a subdued, tinkling track, with delicate interplay between all three members as the key ingredient. They want their music to serve as a means of escape and contemplation. stepping out of a busy environment in which technology, especially smart phones, and fact free opinions are clamouring for attention.