Finding your way around music releases is increasingly complicated. The abundance of proposals does not mean immediate access to what really deserves attention, especially with a mainstream market distant from the most interesting realities. This is why we continue with this initiative: a periodic update to explore the musical present through our Spotify playlists curated by the OndaRock editorial staff. With the recording year now in full swing, the selections become even richer: from pop without borders to evolving rock, from electronica to songwriting, up to jazz, experiments and Italian scenes, without forgetting the “dark” sounds that we have always followed carefully. A journey in constant movement, to discover and be surprised.
Rock and surroundings
An excerpt each from the new albums just released by Momma, Postcards and Deafheaven open our selection from the world of rock, followed by the track that inaugurates Alan Sparhawk's new project, and other interesting new releases from Tropical Fuck Storm, Hard Quartet. (Claudio Lancia)
Pop Music
This month's pop playlist opens with a small masterpiece by Destroyer, “Cataract Time”. But Little Simz and billy woods, These New Puritans and CMAT are also very promising. In the second part of the monthly selection you will find a couple of names perhaps less well-known, but certainly worth keeping an eye on. (Daniel Moore)
Dark corner
Many new features in the playlist. From the valid blues-based gothic-rock of the Bambara to the eagerly awaited new single from VNV Nationnow the last standard-bearers of the current futurepop. More electronic sounds with the violent industrial of Youth Code and with the return of an Italian band with an illustrious past, i Dish-Is-Nein (formerly Discipinatha). In the extreme metal field and surroundings, the increasingly evocative Hexvessel and the surprising This Gift Is A Curse enter the lineup, returning with a truly intense work halfway between black metal and sludge turns. (Paolo Chemnitz)
Electronics
Those by DJ Koze, Sandwell District (Record of the Month for April on OndaRock) and Kassian are the three albums of the moment on the international electro circuit: these are the projects that inaugurate our monthly selection, followed by a sequence of excellent female productions: Marie Davidson, Yaeji, Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Aya, FKA Twigs, Ela Minus, Rose Gray and Oklou. For dancing, but not only. . . (Claudio Lancia)
Songwriter
The boygenius Julien Baker (together with her friend Torres) and Lucy Dacus return with new music, but also Hannah Cohen, Dean Wareham and Matt Berninger. But during this month of April I'm sure I'll have Chantal Acda and Jenny Hval's excellent new singles on constant loop, awaiting the release of the LPs. (Daniel Moore)
Other sounds
The month of March offered the release of the new interesting collaboration between More Eaze and Claire Rousay and a track by Sarah Davachi in homage to Steve Reich contained in the new chapter Portraits GRM shared with François J. Bonnet. Worth noting is the distant comparison between the not very successful soundtrack of “Nosferatu” by Robin Carolan and the valuable one – our section crest – created by Frederikke Hoffmeier aka Puce Mary for “The Girl With The Needle”. Among the listens we also have a first preview of Lucy Railton's new album arriving in April on Ideologic Organ. (Peppe Trotta)
Italy
Excerpts from the recently published albums of Messa, I Cani, Gaia Banfi, Baustelle and Lucio Corsi open our Italia Playlist, followed by new tracks released by Gazebo Penguins, Populous, Giorgio Poi and Calibro 35. The group is large, made up of interesting female voices, from Giungla to Joan Thiele, from Laura Agnusdei to Giulia Impache and Angela Baraldi. Happy listening. . . (Claudio Lancia)
Jazz
OndaRock's jazz year starts without haste: it is an area in which time is necessary to intercept the most stimulating releases. Especially if, as for us, the paths develop beyond the boundaries of Orthodoxy and its own gatekeeperbetween electronic, soul/r&b, progressive and singer-songwriter contaminations, often far from the most popular routes. Without losing sight of some names in the spotlight, here is our first look at little-known but increasingly decisive trajectories. A taste of what you will find on our pages in the coming weeks. (Marco Sgrignoli)
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
