Each week, Audio Taste Test serves up an obscure and independent playlist for your evening, tantalizing your musical palate with flavors from all different soundscapes. Listen on demand here and on 88Nine from 10-11 p.m. every Thursday.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, I’ve become accustomed to experiencing the magnificence of all four seasons. Andrew Gialanella shares my affinity.
Most of his discography is centered around creating soundtracks for what life feels like during each phase of the calendar, including new album Autumn Aura. The New Jersey instrumentalist has a beautiful acoustic arrangement titled “October Air” that’s reminiscent of watching the leaves fall off the trees on a lazy sunny afternoon.
Another wordless gem comes from Norwegian fiddler Benedicte Maurseth, who provides her take on what folk music means to her on the title track of new album Hárr. Growing up next to mountains inspired Maurseth to create an upbeat piece that fosters the connection between humanity and ecological systems.
Between traditional sounds and contemporary meanings lies Jim Ghedi’s “Old Stones.” It’s a reminiscence on the fragility of life featuring his smoky vocals belting a powerful ballad dedicated to a close friend that passed away.
Two other artists in this episode have me feeling reflective: Bullion and Yot Club. On “World Train,” the former teams up with Belgian artist Charlotte Adigery to create an electropop track akin to the landscape that passes by while you’re riding on a train, thinking about everything and nothing all at the same time.
In a more direct way, bedroom-pop artist Yot Club shares his thoughts on what it feels like to be in a situation with someone where they’re constantly “Projecting.” While listening to this track, it’s hard not to think of a particular someone, whether it’s a new love or one from the past.
But this whole episode starts on a lighter note, courtesy of K. Michelle. She makes you feel like you’re at an old-fashioned hootenanny with her song “Yodel” — and, yes, she does some incredible yodeling.
Happy tasting!
Episode playlist
- K. Michelle, “Yodel”
- Asteroid Lily, “You & I”
- Melike Sahin, “Uykumun Boynunu Bukme”
- Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet, “Human Hands”
- Andrew Gialanella, “October Air”
- Jim Ghedi, “Old Stones”
- Lowne, “Conversations Under The Turnpike”
- Pity Party Girls Club & Lucys, “I Hope That You Think Of Me”
- Ebbb, “Now You Know”
- Vicky Sometani, “Keep Coming Back To You”
- Benedicte Maurseth, “Harr”
- Bullion & Charlotte Adigery, “World_Train”
- Orlando Weeks, “Best Night”
- Isaiah Falls, “HONEYBUTTER (ft. Mahalia)”
- Yot Club, “Projecting”
- Elujay, “Bomo”
- Dope Lemon, “Stonecutters”
