Will Samson - "Ochre Alps"

English ambient/folk musician Will Samson is set to release his album Paralanguage on Wichita Recordings December 6th and the whole album is quite lovely, but "Ochre Alps" with its slow build, delicate vocals and string flourishes is the standout track.

If you're having a stressful day, put this on and feel your muscles loosen and your thoughts lighten.

Basia Bulat - "Your Girl"

YESSSSSS!

Basia Bulat has a new album due out next year - produced by Jim James (!) - and she'll be hitting the road in support of it with a lengthy list of tour dates that includes my very own Winnipeg (the West End Cultural Centre on May 5th). I've posted the full dates below the first single / video. Are You In Love? comes out on Secret City March 27th.

Dec. 13-14                  Ottawa, ON                 National Arts Centre

Dec. 28 - Jan. 1          Woodford, Qld             Woodford Festival

Jan. 2-3, 2020             Sydney, NSW             LOW 302

Jan. 4, 2020                Melbourne, Vic            Welsley Anne

Jan. 5, 2020                Melbourne, Vic            Esplanade Hotel

March 18-22                Austin, TX                   SXSW

April 1, 2020                Madison, WI                High Noon Salon

April 2, 2020                Minneapolis, MN         Cedar Cultural Center

April 3, 2020                Milwaukee, WI            The Back Room at Collectivo

April 4, 2020                Chicago, IL                  Lincoln Hall

April 6, 2020                Louisville, KY              Zanzabar

April 7, 2020                Nashville, TN              The High Watt  

April 9, 2020                Washington, DC        Union Stage

April 10, 2020              Brooklyn, NY                Music Hall of Williamsburg

April 11, 2020              Philadelphia, PA        Johnny Brenda's

April 13, 2020              Cambridge, MA           The Sinclair

April 16, 2020              Moncton, NB               Central United Church

April 17, 2020              Charlottetown, NS     Confederation Centre of the Arts

April 18, 2020              Halifax, NS                  St Matthews Church

April 19, 2020              Fredericton, NB         Wilmot United Church
April 23, 2020              Quebec City, QC        Palais Montcalm

April 24, 2020              Montreal, QC              Theatre Fairmount

April 26, 2020              Burnstown, ON          Neat Coffee Shop         

April 28, 2020              Peterborough, ON     Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

April 29, 2020              London, ON                Aeolian Hall

April 30, 2020              Toronto, ON                Danforth Music Hall

May 1, 2020                Guelph, ON                 Royal City Mission

May 2, 2020                Waterford, ON           Waterford Old Town Hall

May 5, 2020                Winnipeg, MB             West End Cultural Centre

May 6, 2020                Saskatoon, SK            Broadway Theatre

May 7, 2020                Edmonton, AB           Station on Jasper

May 8, 2020                Calgary, AB                 Knox United Church     

May 10, 2020              Kamloops, BC             Sagebrush Theatre

May 11, 2020              Vancouver, BC          Commodore Ballroom

May 12, 2020              Victoria, BC                 Capital Ballroom           

May 14, 2020              Seattle                         Sunset Tavern

May 15, 2020              Portland                      Doug Fir Lounge

May 17, 2020              San Francisco             The Chapel

May 18, 2020              LA                                Largo at the Coronet

Bill Fay - "Filled With Wonder Once Again"

By the time of its release on January 17, 2020, it will have been five years since Dead Oceans last released a record from English folk artist Bill Fay (that was Who Is The Sender?). Known for being a bit enigmatic and letting his music speak for itself, I can't say for certain what Fay's been up to, but after five decades of releasing music (his self-titled album came out in 1970) it's promising to hear a hopeful track such as this first taste of Countless Branches. A beautiful way to ease into the new year and new decade and such a simple sentiment expressed directly.

Teebs - "Mirror Memory"

So apparently this was initially an Adult Swim single last year? Either I missed it or forgot, but it's one of the standout tracks on Teebs new full-length, Anicca, which came out on Brainfeeder October 25th. I was just wrapping up UMFM's Pledge-O-Rama so am still playing catch-up on a glut of music I backburnered but I am a little stuck on this particular album. Special shout-out to Sudan Archives who makes an appearance on a track and whose Athena is another fantastic release.

Jazzanova - "Little Bird (Feiertag Remix)"

While my favourite track on 2008's Of All The Things is "Let Me Show Ya" featuring wonderful vocals by guest Paul Randolph, but with the 10th Anniversary reissue of the album on vinyl, Jazzanova let pal Feiertag remix one of the cuts from the album and he made "Little Bird" a really dark version of the original, with haunting, echoed vocals from the great Jose James.