Nickies Niches 16: April 2023

Artist Song Time Album Year Echo Us Echo Us Inland Empire 7:39 Inland Empire 2023 Luke Plumb Luke Plumb Music All That Can Be Done 4:15 Turn & ReTurn 2018 The Stargazer’s Assistant The Stargazer’s Assistant Shango 4:44 Fire Worshipper 2023 Rick Miller Rick Miller Borrowed Time 8:44 Altered States 2023 Yossi Sassi Yossi Sassi & The Oriental Rock Orchestra On Shoulders of Nephilim 2:14 Prediluvian 2023 Yossi Sassi & The Oriental Rock Orchestra Uriel Machine 2:20 Prediluvian 2023 The Hack Poets Guild Hack-Poets Guild Laying The Ghost 3:25 Blackletter Garland 2023 Fractal Sextet Fractal Sextet Slow over Fast 10:53 Fractal Sextet 2022 Ryan Shirlow Ryan Shirlow Enter the Archive, Praise #1 5:28 WF 68 – Ullstair University Vol. 1 2023 Residuos Mentales Residuos Mentales Narrative 4:41 Introspection 2018 What Strange Beasts What Strange Beasts Ocean Glass 7:07 Starlight’s Castaways 2023 Inland Empire by Echo Us favorite track Inland Empire This is a sort of revisitation and addition to a previously released trilogy by Portland, OR composer and multi-instrumentalist, Ethan J. Matthews. The tracks are in his signature style of dreaminess and surrealism, comprised of layers of acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards, deep percussion elements, and effected vocals. There is a watery, impressionistic feel to this, and it grows upon one with each immersion Turn & ReTurn by Luke Plumb Music favorite track All That Can Be Done Luke Plumb brings together what would be a startling combination of mandolin and trumpet, except that it works. And to great effect. The lyrics are sharp observations of humanity from someone whose traveled just a little bit. Luke’s voice is deep and rich and perfectly suits the subject matter. Due to the horns (also fluegelhorn) in their quavery softness, winnowing along with the mandolin, double bass, guitars and percussion, overall this is a singular sound and well worth delving into. Fire Worshipper by The Stargazer’s Assistant favorite track