Ustad Saami - God Is Not A Terrorist

8.0

The much respected khyal singer Naseeruddin Saami presents a record that mesmerises with its microtonalities, profound drones and sensational vocals. It's raga, ambient, hypnotic music that transports you to another era.

Highlights

- Saami's magnificent voice, prolifically trained and utterly touching.

- The production is loud and piercing, itching monotones and long passages with bravura and gut.

- The record doesn't abuse from time or over-repetition.

Lowlights

- At this point, it might be absurd to ask for more variety in the album, right?

Standouts

- Twilight

- God Is

- War Song

Country: Pakistan

Released: January 18, 2019

Length: 46:50

Xiu Xiu - Girl With Basket Of Fruit

8.6

Eleven albums in, Xiu Xiu once again gives proof that's one of the (if not the) most consistently inventive and stretching pop bands in the world. The songs here are as eerily weird as mumblingly touching, razor-blading Jamie Stewart's one-of-a-kind voice with Angela Seo's perplexing production.

Highlights

- All tracks contain schizophrenic instrumentation that nonetheless make perfect sense.

- As previously said: Jamie's voice is cryptic, hauntingly beautiful and disgusting, and Angela's mixing is phenomenal in shape and in space.

- There's violence, nonsensical reverie and debauchery and profound messages in every corner here.

Lowlights

- It would have been great if some tracks contained a bit more of four-on-the-floor rhythms.

- As engrossing as they are, the lyrics are frustratingly difficult to understand.

Standouts

- Pumpkin Attack On Mommy And Daddy

- Normal Love

- Scisssssssors

Country: USA

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 36:36