Ethiopian roots music from Abyssinia Infinite, Clarinetist Aker Bilk and Van Morrison, A singing cat from The Weakerthans, San Francisco chanteuse Noe Venable, Stephin Merritt's Magnetic Fields, The Neil Young-inspired Sun Kil Moon. Featured Artist: The Youngblood Brass Band.
Download this show in the All Songs Considered podcast.
Sign up for the All Songs Considered newsletter and we'll tell you when new music features are available on the site.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Youngblood Brass Band, Van Morrison, The Magnetic Fields
Diaspora
Not your average brass band, this Wisconsin-based group mixes brash acoustic horns with rap, dj effects and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
Embe Ashafergne
Abyssinia Infinite make experimental Ethiopian music, with the mellifluous voice of Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, one of Africa's most accomplished young artists.
Somerset
On his debut release for the Blue Note label, Van Morrison mixes classic pop with jazz, Celtic swing and Rhythm and Blues.
Plea from a Cat Named Virtue
This is a song sung from the point of view of a cat trying to cheer up his owner.
Juniper
Noe Venable is part Tori Amos, part lounge singer with a touch of Kate Bush and sampled, polyphonic rhythms.
Dreams Anymore
Stephin Merrit is involved in several music projects, including the Future Bible Heroes, the Gothic Archies, and this group, the Magnetic Fields, which provided most of the soundtrack for the film "Pieces of April."
Salvador Sanchez
If you're a fan of Neil Young's work with Crazy Horse, you'll probably like this debut album from Sun Kil Moon - a collection of often melancholy, elegant dirges.