Van Morrison IRISH HEARTBEAT (1988)

just discovered that Leap Day is officially part of Van Morrison season.  sláinte!

New Gaga Full Stop

also some new Phoebe Bridgers, 2020 let's get it

Takao Naoi VIBRATION PULSAR (1998)

michael hedges on quaaludes.  youtuber Should Be Asleep is my internet hero

Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, Panaiotis DEEP LISTENING (1989)

I tried to get into Oliveros via her earlier work and didn't make much progress but I think this might be the skeleton key. It is more brutally assertive, deep listening hardly a choice.

NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry (2019)

A disgustingly talented writer. If Denis Johnson had been raised in Ireland, the most literarily-dense land on Earth, like Kenya for authors, high altitude training, thin fucking air for heartbreak.

Selena Gomez RARE (2020)

Man, this would be a helluvan album if she trashed some of the album cuts and include the last few years of singles, which only appear on the "Target Exclusive."  Ideal tracklisting:

1. Bad Liar
2. Dance Again
3. It Ain't Me
4. Back To You
5. Look At Her Now
6. Fun
7. Crowded Room
8. Rare
9. Lose You To Love Me
10. Vulnerable

ann annie CORDILLERA (2018)

portlander with a deft touch on the synths and a cool, understated use of field recording, making genial, inquisitive, affirmative tunes à la Mark McGuire's euphoric explorations. whole discography is on sale and proceeds support the Audubon Society, so you could get several albums, save some birds and y'know, and make a ßernie pledge for under $8.  the internet ain't all bad.



Iconic Portland moment!

Eluvium VIRGA I (2019)

missed this in December of last year b/c the press doesn't follow Bandcamp-only releases, but our Portlander's fanbase is big enough to already sell ~300 copies based on BC followers --> at least $3000, undoubtedly more based on the clear vinyl sales (not sold out yet, cop one)....I guess I'm biased to think we should tout the stuff that actually gets the man paid for being one of the great living ambient composers

speaking of direct support... ßernie 2020 dude you will not believe how good it is for your mental health to make a small daily contrib to the campaign, it feels like the first day of summer vacation every day, just do it for the neurotransmitter release.

Georgia SEEKING THRILLS (2020)

Pop album to beat for the young year. Lusty full-bodied Robyn-lineage visions of a club that doesn't have to suck, a place to celebrate & recharge. hope it catches on, the people need it.

Harold Budd, Ruben Garcia & Daniel Lentz MUSIC FOR 3 PIANOS (1991)

released in the "Desert Shield" buildup to Desert Storm. how art not be immediately superior to religion, when it ceaselessly and often wordlessly undermines and protests war, while in the pulpits of an empire we hear no condemnation, just cowards in robes worn badly.

Harold Budd ABANDONED CITIES (1984)

wake up, donate something to tío bernie, have an espresso and hey praying can't hurt

Beirut GALLIPOLI (2019)

listened to this a lot this year. zach just sounds like expatriates itself, the music feels like very old streets, vermouth bars, small fish on small plates, living lightly in grand tragedy.

Max Richter SLEEP (2015)

sure, I don't think I've made it all the way to the end while awake, but that's the point, and it is a beautiful ride to get there, almost like travel in His Dark Materials, borne by witches, or thin tears in the air.