Oliver Arditi

Blog archive

  • Sons of Kemet – Burn (avant-jazz)

    Sons of Kemet – Burn (avant-jazz)

    I often start my reviews by talking in general terms about the schtick of the artist or release; creative practice, methodology, how I theorise the music, what my critical approach will be and so forth. However, there’s equally often not that much to say. A lot of good music comes my way that does things… Read more

  • Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    This music is the brainchild of Michael Woodman, guitarist and vocalist in Thumpermonkey, written using the immersion composition techniques described in The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook. The method seems to work. I have no idea what method he employs when writing for Thumpermonkey, but that seems to work too, and for several reasons Eat Your Robot… Read more

  • Robert Wyatt – ’68 (avant-rock)

    Robert Wyatt – ’68 (avant-rock)

    Robert Wyatt has very few rivals for the title of most influential percussionist in British underground music (among many other things), but he hasn’t played drum kit in over forty years, after losing the use of his legs in an accident. The release of an album on which he does just that (among many other… Read more

  • The Fierce And The Dead – Spooky Action (avant-rock)

    The Fierce And The Dead – Spooky Action (avant-rock)

    It used to make a certain amount of sense to refer to The Fierce And The Dead as a post-rock band, and they have indeed been known to make use of that term themselves; I feel they’ve moved on, however, into some kind of a post-post-rock phase. Leaving aside my irritation at contemporary culture’s tendency… Read more

  • Review Of The Year 2013: 12 Albums

    Review Of The Year 2013: 12 Albums

    This is the fourth consecutive time I’ve written a review of the year’s albums, which is slightly scary, as I’m under the impression that writing about music is something that I’ve only just started doing. Still, as senility begins to work its erosional magic on the brain, the years do slip past without leaving so… Read more

  • Various Artists – Album Roundup

    Various Artists – Album Roundup

    My first exposure to Olds Sleeper was startling, and he’s yet to disappoint me, across four albums of his own and one collaboration with the beguiling Heidi Harris (not to mention the cigar-box guitar stuff he puts out as Jellyspine Jenkins). Using lo-fi production as a device to emphasise the pure materiality of his music-making,… Read more