Articles
Roger O'Donnell
Morgan Packard

Albums
The Ace of Clubs
akido
Cenotype
Cyrus
Mathias Delplanque
Entia Non
Michael Fakesch
False
Forrest
Kraig Grady
Kiln
Kingfisherg
Low in the Sky
Payton MacDonald
Manitou
Martin & Machinefabriek
Mt. Fuji Doom. Corporation
Need More Sources
Nobile
Odd Nosdam
Ontayso
Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells
RF & Lili De La Mora
Schmickler / Chisholm
The Sea
Seabear
Valgeir Sigurðsson
Silvania
Six Twilights
Aaron Spectre
Stamen & Pistils
Swayzak
Tijuana M. A. Broad. Inc.
Utom Alla
Pete Warren
Yaporigami

Compilations / Mixes
Box of Dub
Expanse at Low Levels
Ibiza – Renaissance Vol. 4
Jahtarian Dubbers Vol. 1
The Silence Was Warm

3"/ 7"/ 10"/ 12"/ EPs
Abiku / Kid Camaro
Audio Injection
B12
Bering & Simko
Bury the Sound
The Caribbean
DJ C feat. Zulu
Entia Non
Flavius E
Andre Gardeja
Lerosa
Magnum 38
Microthol
Ontayso
Troy Pierce
Ghislain Poirier
Rusuden
Skoozbot
Slap [unmodified]
Sonmi451
Joel Tammik
TG

RF & Lili De La Mora: Eleven Continents
Rowing At Sea / Time Release

Though the inclusion of Joanna Newsom's gleaming harp may be a key drawing card for trainspotters, Eleven Continents, a stunning debut collection of graceful ballads and swooning lullabies by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Francesconi (RF) and vocalist Lili De La Mora (The Year Zero), impresses very much on its own terms (Francesconi, incidentally, played tambura on Newsom's Ys tour). In a dozen elegiac and introspective settings, tastefully restrained acoustic arrangements wrap themselves around the breathy whisper of Lili De La Mora's entrancing voice. The songs are boosted by haunting melodies, cases in point the “Daring aerialist demanding wonders” and “Silver-hands severe lines” hooks that elevate “Hundreds of Threads” and “Steep Ravine.” Familiar Trees' vocalist Fabiola Sanchez takes the lead on the string-laden “Kings” though the similarities between the two singers' fragile voices are such that the casual listener will perhaps hardly notice; in other songs, they weave around one another (“Newt Crossing,” “11:11,” “Eleven Continents”) in mesmerizing manner. The album's pitch-perfect arrangements impress as much as the material. Flute and trumpet playing enhance the breezy bossa nova feel of the quietly jubilant “Fascinated” while trumpet and strings add subtle daubs of colour to the stately lilt of “Miles and Miles.” The radiant cascades of Newsom's harp playing lend the title song a gleam and sparkle, and the closing “Lifetime” a poetic grace. Wafting like the gentlest of breezes, this rather unassuming release is an absolute delight, a perfectly-realized collection that can't be recommended too highly.

August 2007