Life Elsewhere Norman B

This volume was not intended to be a non-stop mix, even though a series of misadventures and unfortunate events dictated there wouldn’t be enough time to record a full commentary. Then, as we put the playlist together it became obvious that the music we had selected worked so well segueing from one cut to another. In fact, it was almost as if the music we curated would only work as a nonstop, continuous mix. Listen, and follow along with details here.

⁠Toby - Aint It (ft. Chelsea Warner)⁠⁠

We begin with a delightful (familiar?) sounding uplifting electro-house cut from Toby Nolan from Australia’s Gold Coast, featuring superb vocals from Sydney singer/songwriter Chelsea Warner. “I initially started writing this song in mid-2020 during the height of the Covid lockdown. A few months later I decided to share it with Chelsea to see if she’d be interested in doing some vocals for it. I’ve always thought she had an incredible voice and I thought she would be the perfect fit,” says, Toby.  We agree and top marks for those busy bees at Mammal Sounds for sharing Ain’t It with us.

Faunix - 2Soleils

Mr Ashtree and Phoenix de Pandore are Faunix out of France who enjoy delving into ​​a hybrid crossover of styles. Clarinets, piano, strings, basses, drums, polyphonic voices are all included on their self-titled album. On 2Soleils they conjure up a tasty dub, they describe as “Sun, energy, vibrations, between shadow and light”. Make sure you check out all the cuts.

⁠Vudufa - Lo Que Soño El Margay

Staying in France we head to Radio Chigurio Records out of Paris to hear from Francisco de Los Heros who explores his Afro-Peruvian musical heritage by fusing it with ambient, hip-hop and electronic music. Vudufa creates a magical collision between machines and Peruvian folklore, also paying homage to the Amerindian tribes of Amazonia, mystical ceremonies and subgenres of Afro-Peruvian music such as marinera, festejo, landó, tondero, zamacueca or toromata. Vudufa is inspired by the rhythms inherited from the Peruvian natives and the African slaves of the colonial era. Essential listening.

⁠Perpetual Void - Tree House⁠⁠

The vocals are in there somewhere, “Go to a place. Where no one can hear me scream. They can't see me cry. In my hiding tree” This Glasgow outfit describe their sound as an ambient band creating ethereal, emotive soundscapes. No reason to argue with that, but I do wish that the afore mentioned vocals were w wee bit more pronounced.

⁠Voice Actor - SLUSH 77

This one is on the intriguing Stroom label out of Belgium, who have the byline, “The Girl That Won't Return Your Love But Is Totally Worth It” Here we have music by Noa Kurzweil  (Supertalented) & Levi Lanser (Ludittes) presenting as Voice Actor. The album Fake Sleep is certainly worth your time investigating. There is a lot going with each track, SLUSH 77 being a fine example. Once upon a time this may have been classified as weirdly odd - and that’s a good thing. Interesting sleeve artwork by Luca van Grinsven. Yes, Fake Sleep has been on repeat play at Life Elsewhere Tower once the power came back on.

⁠Exit Rituals - A Fluid Portrait⁠ 

Written by Alan Myson & Anneka Warburton Blinding Void is the first EP by Exit Rituals; a new collaborative project from producer and composer Ital Tek and vocalist/songwriter Anneka. This six track EP is a first glimpse into the married pair's ongoing musical experiments, drawing from a much larger body of material as they work towards their debut album. The question is she actually singing “Pink fat, meat bone”? No matter, I like what this Brighton-based couple are doing. Cool sleeve artwork by Anneka

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Augustine Sedgewick - Coffeeland: One Man’s Dark Empire and the Making of Our Favorite Drug

What do you know about coffee? A wonderful new book will change how you look at - or taste coffee again. Augustine Sedgewick takes us on an extraordinary adventure of discovery, revealing details and history, even the most ardent coffee lover will be surprised by. In Coffeeland - One Man’s Dark Empire and the Making of Our Favorite Drug the learned Augustine Sedgewick has brilliantly chronicled the most consequential revolution by telling the global history of one family. His book is both innovative and factual as he effortlessly untangles the routes that carried coffee from the slopes of El Salvador to the shelves of US supermarkets. Augustine exposes a realm of ruthless entrepreneurs, hardworking laborers, laboratory chemists, and guerrilla fighters. Plus, he is a wonderful and enthusiastic guest. 

All spring, Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn watched as her family fruit farm of many years became increasingly diminished, suffering from a lack of bees. The plentiful wildlife, so abundant just weeks before, was gone. Everything was still, silent. As an environmental scientist trained to investigate disease outbreaks, she rose to the challenge. Step by step, day by day, despite facing headwinds from skeptical neighbors, environmental experts, and agricultural consultants, she’d assembled information. Her observations provided a framework, a timeline to explain the evidence she’d collected.The chemicals found in her water samples showed beyond any doubt that not only her farm, but her greater farming community, was at risk from toxic chemicals that travelled with rain water over the land, into water, and deep within the soil. Hilborn was given a front row seat to the insect apocalypse. Even as a scientist, she’d been unaware of the risks to life from some common agricultural chemicals. Her goal was to protect her farm and the animals who lived there. But first she had to convince her rural neighbors of the risk to their way of life, too. Elizabeth Hiborn is a delightful and informative guest, we’re sure like us, you will be moved by her story.

Elizabeth Hilborn - Restoring Eden: Unearthing the Agribusiness Secret That Poisoned My Farming Community

Carnations - I Die

I like everything about this cut from Sydney band, Carnations. I Die is from their debut self-titled five-track cassette on the Urge imprint. Everything works here, the relentless bouncy beat, along with the gloomy title repeated over and over. Not an easy task to accomplish, yet this bunch of talented folk deliver with an almost naive charm. Make sure you check out all the cuts. Nice quirky video, too.

⁠Bedchamber - Patterns⁠

As this one begins, I’m prompted to blurt out, “I know this!” Then the vocals kick in and I realize I almost spoke too soon. Yes, there is that little hook that does sound familiar, but this four-piece from Jakarta, Indonesia are clearly doing their own thing. Patterns comes from Bedchamber’s LP, Capa City, with nine cool tracks to investigate.

⁠Joyful Forfeit - Please Don’t Change⁠⁠

Here is a challenge, listen to Please Don’t Change right up until the bridge before the vocals come in. See if you can describe how you think the vocals will sound. Joyful Forfeit surprised me. This cut is so well accomplished as is the album, Everything Came To Light. Hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kody Stieve presents as Joyful Forfeit who says “Over the past several years he has developed migraines, where I have difficulty with my field of vision, thought processing, and overall discomfort for periods of time.  Much of that discomfort is in my eyes, where they feel extremely heavy, or painful and that they’ll just fall out of my face”. This goes a long way to explain the emotional and autobiographical mood of Kody’s work. Excellent.

⁠Lemonade Baby - Tints (ft. Kevin Collett)⁠⁠

At this point we are we are satisfyingly familiar with the releases from Australian producer, Lemonade Baby. So, it will come as no surprise we give a big thumbs up to this collaboration with fellow Brisbane based artist Kevin Collett. About the single Tints, LB says, “I actually had the vibe and lyrics but just needed a title for the song. I met up with Kevin in the studio and showed him the idea and then laid down a verse in 3 takes. The title Tints sorta works, you can’t see people’s eyes thru tinted glasses, or there is even saying, rose-tinted-glasses which is in theme with the concept.” We don’t recommend dancing while you drive, but you will want to wriggle your bum around to this one.

⁠Varsity - Head In The Clouds⁠⁠

Stephanie Smith, Dylan Weschler, Patrick Stanton, Jake Stolz and Paul Stolz are Varsity, they are out of Chicago and they make splendid music. I listened to Head In The Clouds a number of times on headphones to make sure I was correct in noting how good the production is. Not complicated or tricky, simply well executed. Interesting artwork for their series of sleeves, too.

⁠Holly Powers - Make Me Feel Light⁠

Aww, Make Me Feel Light captured me immediately. Holly Powers confidently uses delicate vocals and harmonies alongside her accessible yet intriguing melodies. This Edinburgh-based songwriter clearly has a lot of talent. I want to hear more from Holly, much more.

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Liran Einav & Amy Finkelstein - We’ve Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care

Few of us need convincing that the American health insurance system needs reform. But many of the existing proposals focus on expanding one relatively successful piece of the system or building in piecemeal additions. These proposals miss the point. As the Stanford health economist Liran Einav and the MIT economist and MacArthur Genius Amy Finkelstein argue, our health care system was never deliberately designed, but rather pieced together to deal with issues as they became politically relevant. The result is a sprawling yet arbitrary and inadequate mess. It has left 30 million Americans without formal insurance. Many of the rest live in constant danger of losing their coverage if they lose their job, give birth, get older, get healthier, get richer, or move. Einav and Finkelstein suggest it's time to tear it all down and rebuild, sensibly and deliberately. Marshaling original research, striking insights from American history, and comparative analysis of what works and what doesn’t from systems around the world, The authors argue for automatic, basic, and free universal coverage for everyone, along with the option to buy additional, supplemental coverage. Their wholly original argument and comprehensive blueprint for an American universal health insurance system will surprise and provoke. Amy Finkelstein is an engaging guest who manages to explain not only complex but often daunting facts with an effortless charm and grace.

⁠Maureen Callahan - American Predator

Most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history. The FBI considered his behavior unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as “a force of pure evil,” Keyes was a predator who struck all over the United States. He buried “kill kits”–cash, weapons, and body-disposal tools–in remote locations across the country. Over the course of fourteen years, Keyes would fly to a city, rent a car, and drive thousands of miles in order to use his kits. He would break into a stranger’s house, abduct his victims in broad daylight, and kill and dispose of them in mere hours. And then he would return home to Alaska, resuming life as a quiet, reliable construction worker devoted to his only daughter. When journalist Maureen Callahanfirst heard about Israel Keyes in 2012, she was captivated by how a killer of this magnitude could go undetected by law enforcement for over a decade. And so began a project that consumed her for the next several years–uncovering the true story behind how the FBI ultimately caught Israel Keyes and trying to understand what it means for a killer like Keyes to exist. A killer who left a path of monstrous randomly committed crimes in his wake–many of which remain unsolved to this day. Norman B talks with Maureen about American Predator - The Hunt For The Most Meticulous Serial Killer Of The 21st Century. “The most horrific book I have ever read!” He tells Ms. Callahan, adding, “But, I loved every page!”

⁠Andrew Bird - Epilogue⁠

“Most of these were made without any intention of making an album, just improvisations on simple themes. I mostly write lyrics with a guitar in my hand on the couch late at night but to find the real musical language of an album, I go outside with my amp and looping pedal and spin out hours and hours of improvisation”. Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, whistler and songwriter, Andrew Bird talking about his latest album, Outside Problems. The Chicago- based artist picked up his first violin at the age of four and spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. As a teen Bird became interested in a variety of styles including early jazz, country blues and folk music, synthesizing them into his unique brand of pop. Outside Problems shows that  the subtle economy of Bird’s composition

Blue Honey - Sick & Tired

We begin with Sick & Tired a cut from a well-crafted album by Perth-based, Blue Honey. Five members here if you don’t count the two teddy bears I spied in their PR photo. Sick & Tired is an LP I certainly recommend, plus top marks for the impressive drumming.

⁠Mary Jane Dunphe - Stage Of Love⁠⁠

Stage Of Love is from the album of the same name by poet, songwriter, vocalist, performer and video artist, Mary Jane Dunphe. Based in New York, Mary Jane has collaborated in diverse projects and says her work is an idiosyncratic assemblage of crooning and danceable avant-pop songs, full of longing, a love letter to no one in particular. I just discovered Mary Jane's video for Stage Of Love, oh my, please don't break the spell.

⁠Marumaru - Phantom Falling⁠⁠

Avery Hutley presents as Marumaru with Phantom Falling from a double-sided single. Originally from Sydney, Averyis now living in Tokyo, translating manga and recording music at home. Phantom Falling is deceptively alluring, it sounds familiar yet completely new. This is hardly surprising as Marumaru says, “My music is for those ghostly moments when reality falls so far short of fiction, full to bursting with the fear that you feel nothing at all”. Excellent artwork by Emily Husmann.

⁠R. Missing - My Time As A Ghostly Someone Else

New York based vocalist Sharon Shy, who along with musician Toppy present as R. Missing. As you listen to Sharon Shy’s almost deadpan vocals you’ll know there is a story going here with My Time As A Ghostly Someone Else. The smart electro music-bed carries the song along perfectly. For some reason, the song and production conjurs up a futuristic-city vista for me. What do you see?

Current Affairs - No Fuss⁠

OK, I’ll be clear about this one - it’s fantastic! Joan Sweeney, Andrew Milk, Gemma Fleet and Sebastian Ymai, queer activists involved with visual art, festivals, club nights and live art have created an exceptional album with Off The Tongue. These lovely folks out of Glasgow have an energy, a vibrancy I’m always on the look-out for. It was difficult to select just one cut to play, even though No Fuss is truly amazing. Now here is a band I would love to see live and had a sneak peek in the studio when this record was being made. Top marks and Current Affairs are on the brilliant Tough Love imprint, so there.

⁠Tetra Hydro K - Alone Inside (part 1)

Now here is a cut you can dance your socks off to. Tasty production from a French duo who shared this info, “Tetra Hydro K is the name of a laboratory based in a secret location, run by Doctors Kanay and Krilong. Their research concentrates on experimenting with organic elements (live musical instruments) in a computer-generated environment. When testing these musical concoctions, specialists have been left scratching their heads with unanswered questions: Is it electronic? Acoustic? Dub? Dubstep? Drum and Bass? Why can’t I stop dancing?” Now, if you believe any of that, I have a bridge to sell you, although, some of that does sound sort of reasonable. Love it!

⁠Witch Prophet - I’m Scared⁠ 

Ah, knock me down with a feather. This is so good. I’m Scared is a beautiful song from an exceptional album. Ayo Leilani is Witch Prophet, a Toronto based, singer-songwriter who uses a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner, Sun Sun. Gateway Experience is a stunning album, focused on the connection with the human brain, dreams, seizures, god and otherworldly abilities. The title of the album is an ode to the released CIA report where they studied the use of sound tapes to manipulate brainwaves with a goal of creating altered states. Examples include out of body experiences, remote viewing, psychic abilities and the ability to heal ones body. Plus, you must take note of the

Chuck Collins - Alter To An Erupting Sun

Altar to an Erupting Sun is a near-future story of one community facing climate disruption in the critical decade ahead. Rae Kelliher is a veteran environmental activist and pioneer in the death-with-dignity movement. Facing a diagnosis of terminal illness, she engages in a shocking suicide murder, taking the life of an oil company CEO for his role in delaying responses to climate disruption. Seven years later, Rae’s friends and family gather at her Vermont farm community to try to understand her violent exit and the rapid social transformations around them. Altar to an Erupting Sun focuses attention on the decades-long culpability of the fossil fuel industry in funding denial movements, blocking change. and locking us on course to an uninhabitable earth. Altar lifts up the history of several important movements over the last forty years including the grassroots anti-nuclear power, Central America solidarity, and effort to shut down the School of Americas.  Rae Kelliher, the lead character in the story, is also part of anti-eviction movements in Boston and efforts to stop construction of a fracked gas pipeline. Collins also depicts real time tactical debates among climate change activists about direct action, destruction of property, and how to focus attention on the leaders of the fossil fuel industry.

⁠Jennifer Ackerman -⁠ ⁠The Bird Way: A New Look At How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent and Think

“There is the mammal way and there is the bird way.” But the bird way is much more than a unique pattern of brain wiring, and lately, scientists have taken a new look at bird behaviors they have, for years, dismissed as anomalies or mysteries –– What they are finding is upending the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives, how they communicate, forage, court, breed, survive. They are also revealing the remarkable intelligence underlying these activities, abilities we once considered uniquely our own: deception, manipulation, cheating, kidnapping, infanticide, but also ingenious communication between species, cooperation, collaboration, altruism, culture, and play. Drawing on personal observations, the latest science, and her bird-related travel around the world, from the tropical rainforests of eastern Australia and the remote woodlands of northern Japan to the rolling hills of Lower Austria and the islands of Alaska’s Kachemak Bay, Jennifer Ackerman shows there is clearly no single bird way of being. In every respect, in plumage, form, song, flight, lifestyle, niche, and behavior, birds vary.

TLK - A Signal To The Living⁠

Bristol-based producer and vocalist TLK’s says her Primed For Loss EP explores the nuance of maternal loss in early childhood. Her music stretches the thin fabric of selfhood, leaning deeply into the ethereal realm. Fluid in genre and form, and emphasising improvisation as a core tenet for psychological processing, the enchanting sound of TLK is permeating the Bristol scene.