Review: Die With A Smile: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Unite for a Soulful Masterpiece

by Peter Källman
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Die With A Smile is the latest banger released by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Bruno is following his own footsteps and carrying on towards a more soulful path. I am personally very pleased to see Lady Gaga hop on the same path and walk with Bruno, if only for a little while. There is a lot to say about Bruno Mars. How incredibly soulful his songwriting is, the raw power emanating from his voice and much more. I think this track shows that whatever you are going to compliment Bruno Mars for, you can just as well do the same for Lady Gaga.

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Review - Moses Sumney - Sophcore (Album)

by Martín Cacho
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Whenever Moses Sumney comes to mind, it’s hard not to imagine him parting seas or enchanting creatures—biblical allusions that might seem cliché at first. Yet, in many ways, they’re not far off the mark. Sumney’s music, particularly in his previous album Græ, felt like a vast, living ocean—a place where all manner of sonic beings thrived, with silence acting as a powerful, sea-dividing force. In a genre that often fears quiet, Sumney embraced it, making every pause as meaningful as the sound it framed.

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Review: The Orchids Blossom Again in Kali Uchis's Latest Release

by Martín Cacho
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Earlier this year, we explored the lush, international success of Orquídeas, Kali Uchis’s first foray into a fully Spanish-language album. The record, a beautiful fusion of dreamy atmospheres and Latin influences, quickly became a landmark in her discography. Now, Uchis returns to this fertile ground with a second installment, offering three new tracks and a remaster that extend the delicate, intoxicating allure of the original release.

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Review - ScHoolboyQ - Blue Lips (Album)

by Martín Cacho
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Schoolboy Q has long been a fascinating figure in the rap scene, deftly straddling the line between high-concept rap and infectious musical escapades. He's an artist who can effortlessly transition from raucous raves and parties to the realm of intimate music, where complexity and contemplation are well treasured.

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Review - The Return of Julia Holter and Her New Collaboration with Emma Anderson

by Martín Cacho
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After a necessary abstinence from songwriting, Julia Holter finally returns strong with a new album and intriguing collaborations. The pandemic, new motherhood, and the recent deaths of relatives have profoundly affected the composer in recent years, and it seems that these experiences have nurtured her latest release, “Something in the Room She Moves”.

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Review: Toe's Latest Album Elegant Complexity in an Easy Listening Package

by Martín Cacho
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If you are a music enthusiast with and weird enough, you might someday find documenting yourself about minimalism as a musical style. What could be more intriguing than examining a genre defined by the mantra “Less is more”? In my own research, one of the most beguiling aspects of minimalism is its pursuit of a trance-like, mystical experience through stasis. Yet, I personally find it challenging to achieve such a state with simplistic music. My most profound musical epiphanies have emerged from the organic yet intricate compositions of Toru Takemitsu, the meticulously constructed works of Dai Fujikura, or the symmetric complexity of Messiaen’s rhythms and harmonies. However, today's focus, Toe with his newest release “Now i see the light”, stands as a notable exception to this perception on minimalism..

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Review: Exploring the Concept of “Symbiosis” with Shugo Tokumaru

by Martín Cacho
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“Symbiosis” is a refreshing and hopeful term, especially considering its origins in biology. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the science that studies living organisms, some interpretations of key biological theories have given rise to harmful and modernist ideologies. Social Darwinism, perhaps the most destructive, posits that societies evolve in the same manner as living organisms. This notion of "progress" deeply influenced the 20th century, affecting economics, philosophy, and the arts, including music. We also see the misinterpretation of terms like “survival of the fittest,” used to justify individualism and competition, based on the idea that since biology studies the natural state of living organisms, “selfishness” must be the natural state of human beings.

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Review: A delicious mixture of Jazz, Flamenco, and the best of Latin America with Rita Payés's new album

by Martín Cacho
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Rita Payés is a trombonist and singer who began her pop career as a cover artist. However, the mix of musicians and composers she has covered throughout her career is curious and varied, ranging from the brilliant Brazilian classical composer Heitor Villalobos to popular Argentinian classics written by Ariel Ramirez, as well as contemporary and old masters like Bola de Nieve and Chico Buarque.

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Review: "Hiding" Ben Böhmer and the collaboration that shook the internet

by Martín Cacho
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On July 9th, the German composer and producer Ben Böhmer released “Hiding” a three track single with exciting collaborators, including the renowned singer Lykke Li and emerging talents JONAH and Felix Raphael. The songs feature shimmering pads that flood the stereo signal with wavering soundscapes. Beneath these, there are joyous rhythms with interesting sound design. Everything is crafted in a way that is attractive, shiny, and detailed while emphasizing the guests' vocals. Many of the tracks have a UK pop happiness feel, which I believe would be an interesting experience for optimistic listeners. It also showcases production decisions more akin to the techno and hip-hop scenes. The vocals make interesting but moderated counterpoints with the synths throughout, giving it a vintage electronica feel.

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Exploring the Ambient and Classical Fusion in Anthony Phillips' Latest Releases: “Golden Hour” and “Cinematic Guitars”

by Martín Cacho
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Due to his past as a former Genesis member, Anthony Phillips is a name that may not need much introduction within prog rock circles. However, I wanted to write this entry because his latest two releases are worth discussing beyond the borders of taste niches, thanks to their unique exploration of ambient music infused with classical sensitivity and subtle hints of his prog rock background.

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