Ai Aso: The Faintest Hint Ai Aso’s The Faintest Hint is an album that spools out in twilight. Its nine tracks feature little more than the strings of Aso’s guitar, played simply and at slug’s pace, and the yearning gossamer of her voice. At times one wonders if these elements, like Tessa Thompson’s Josie in Annihilation, will softly disappear into the surroundings. On “Floating Rhythms,” … Read More
Monthly Mixtape: May 2014 1. Flatbush Zombies – “97.92” (Electric KoolAde Records) On Flatbush Zombies’ breakout single “Thug Waffle” MC Juice rapped “Hip-hop is dead, Zombies for prez!” and it’s looking like a full zombie takeover is in the cards. Juice lays down a hyper-positive verse and Meechy’s so-high-he’s-hoarse flow is always welcome. But the real star here is Erick The Architect, whose flow … Read More
Ai Aso: Lone [xrr rating=3.0/5]It’s a bold statement of purpose to begin your new album with a song called “Agenda.” But the musical statement that launches Ai Aso’s new album Lone is fragile, ethereal and ephemeral. Aso plays her own accompaniment, alternating spare acoustic guitar and minimal keyboards in support of whispering vocals. Her delicate pipes are those of an avant-garde Blossom Dearie … Read More
