San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Valerie June reaches for ‘The Moon & Stars’
NEW ALBUMS
Valerie June, “The Moon & Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers” (Fantasy): The fifth album from the Memphis singersongwriter is more than just a roots music release. Blending the gospel and Appalachian folk sounds June has come to be known for, her latest release brings in imaginative producer Jack Splash (who has worked with Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar and St. Paul & the Broken Bones) for a richer treatment of these often psychedelic soul songs. Standout track “Call Me a Fool” features Stax Records legend Carla Thomas on backing vocals and is a perfect example of the dreamy pictures June paints throughout the album’s 14 tracks. She summed up her creative ethos for the project in a statement: “When we allow ourselves to dream like we did when we were kids, it ignites the light that we all have within us and helps us to have a sort of magic about the way we live.” Nubiyan Twist, “Freedom Fables” (Strut): The third release from the London Afrojazz orchestra is a colorful celebration of liberation music. Led by producer/guitarist/ percussionist Tom Excell, “Freedom Fables” is an exciting collection of vivacious and technically masterful songs. The album’s guests include Ghanaian highlife stalwart vocalist Pat Thomas on “Ma Wonka,” British saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch on “Buckle Up,” and Cherise Adams Burnett, Jazz FM’s 2019 jazz vocalist of the year, on “Flow.” This is one of the year’s most pleasant surprises thus far and is tailormade for lifting your spirits.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, “Notes With Attachments” (New Deal/Impulse): One of the world’s most accomplished bassists, Palladino has played on albums and tours with the Who, Don Henley, Nine Inch Nails and D’Angelo, just to name a few. Multiinstrumentalist Blake Mills is of a younger generation, but he has an equally impressive track record as a solo artist and twotime Grammy producer of the year nominee while working on albums from Alabama Shakes, John Legend and Perfume Genius. The pair have now teamed for a nuanced experimental jazz endeavor on “Notes With Attachments,” yielding a unique and globally minded journey through sound.
Recorded in a series of sessions over 2½ years, the album brings together the duo’s shared passion for West African and Cuban music, funk, jazz and English folk — and they all seem to come together on the sparkling Yorubainspired single, “Ekuté.” Also featured on the album are saxophonist Sam Gendel and drummer Chris Dave, among others, making this a collective effort that pushes the envelope on contemporary music.
SONG OF THE MOMENT
Japanese Breakfast, “Be Sweet” (Dead Oceans): Emerging from a grieffilled period following the death of her mother, Michelle Zauner has set out to explore joy in the latest single from her indie group Japanese Breakfast. The cathartic number’s lively synths burst with a Madonnaera pop sensibility and will appear on her upcoming album, “Jubilee,” set for release June 6.
The dynamic Zauner will also be releasing a book titled “Crying in H Mart,” a memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother and trying to move forward with her life (out April 20).
And while there’s a stark contrast of moods from her writing to her music, the way she manages to find beauty in her future on “Be Sweet” is inspiring.
LOCAL PICKS
Cool Ghouls, “At George’s Zoo” (Empty Cellar Records): Since forming 10 years ago when its members were still in their early 20s, Cool Ghouls have been a goto psychrock band at Bay Area venues and DIY garage parties. The quartet returns after a twoyear hiatus with “At George’s Zoo,” a breezy ode to the prevalent sounds of rock ’n’ roll, new and old, with a feel reminiscent of their Outer Sunset roots — in fact, it was recorded in the roughandready Sunset garage studio of engineer Robby Joseph.
Surf rock guitar jangles are teeming on excellent lead single “Helpless Circumstance,” and “Smoke & Fire” has an electrically charged Crosby, Stills & Nash feel. But this might be the most ambitiously arranged album from the group yet, with a scintillating sax on “To You I’m Bound” and cinematic strings clutching Pat McDonald’s vocals on “Land Song.”
Black London, “Devil’s Pie” featuring Viveca Hawkins (selfreleased): A new group, led by the Bay Area’s foremost hiphop instrumentalists Kev Choice, Mike Blankenship and Howard Wiley, Black London has put out the first taste of “Black Magic,” its upcoming release of reinterpretations of R&B demigod D’Angelo’s “Voodoo,” and it’s a sublime rendering. Featuring vocalist Viveca Hawkins, the “Devil’s Pie” cover comes at a time when collective hype for D’Angelo is justifiably spiking, following the enigmatic artist’s Feb. 27 “Verzuz” live stream performance.
The driving forces behind Black London bonded as part of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s touring band in 2007, where Choice served as Hill’s musical director. Wiley’s saxophone especially shines on the vibrant jazzified number, and we’ll be looking forward to “Black Magic,” due out this spring.
CAN’T MISS REMIX — GRAMMYS EDITION
Fred again.. and Joy Anonymous, “Stay High” by Brittany Howard (ATO): When the 63rd annual Grammy Awards are televised Sunday, March 14, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes is up for five nominations including best rock song and best rock performance for her smash hit “Stay Single.” While it’s surprising that the song didn’t also get any general nominations for best song or record of the year, its versatility is unwavering and it now even has a dance music remix that’s pretty delightful.
British dance pop artists Fred again.. and Joy Anonymous’ treatment of the song is full of life and will give you that “dance like nobody’s watching” feel (in fact, the remixers did this very thing on the song’s music video). It’s a testament to the exuberance and positivity that Howard exudes in her music and why she is prominently on the Recording Academy radar.
The 63rd Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, airs at 5 p.m. Sunday on CBS.