Music by Kevin “Mr. Groove” McCord “for all who like M-M-M (Mellow Mood Music).” Heralded by Dâm-Funk as one of his favorite producers, Kevin “Mr. Groove” McCord might […]
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In light of her recent passing, here is a short musical introduction to the funk pioneer, fashion icon, and bonafide Nasty Gal. Wholly unique, a force to be […]
Today we take a look at the mighty eighty-plus pound broadcast turntable – Elektromesstechnik’s 927 and its compact kid brother, the EMT 930. Massive, industrial, monochromatic, and most […]
In celebration of his 82nd birthday today, here is a retrospective on Eberhard Weber, the eminent bass innovator, ECM mainstay, and ISC favorite. It’s hard to define the […]
Remembering the inimitable Jacqueline du Pré, widely considered as one of the greatest classical cellists of the 20th century. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Jacqueline du […]
Another installment of deep cuts, this time we take a look at an ISC patron saint, the enigmatic and genre-defying ~ John Martyn. Before what some consider […]
Part 3 of our series highlighting hidden gems from your local record store’s bargain bin. In the record collecting community, there’s an idea that to build a great […]
Downtempo and abstract electronica selections from one of the principal architects of modern Japanese pop music. It’s virtually impossible to find an individual as prolific and influential as […]
From Yoshio Suzuki, Seigen Ono, to Ichiko Hashimoto, here are our essential releases from the cult minimalist imprint. Inspired by Erik Satie’s belief that music, just as beautiful […]
Smiling C shares an intimate documentary on Mexican experimental jazz artist Germán Bringas. For the past few years, the Santa Cruz-based archival project (and one of our absolute […]
The newly formed Fresh Hold imprint teams up with fellow Melbourne-based label Efficient Space to present a long-lost jazz grail. Michael Kucyk’s always reliable Efficient Space has teamed […]
A new “electronic travelogue” full-length from Toronto-based C.R. Gillespie arrives today via Séance Centre. We’ve been closely following the introspective, highly conceptual sonic works of Colin Roy Gillespie […]
Charlotte Renaud’s incredible essay on the celebrated Swedish auteur’s devotion to classical music. ‘If I was forced to choose between losing my hearing or losing my sight, I […]
Today we revisit the innovative vocalist’s haunting allegorical film – 1988’s Book of Days. Those familiar with the work of vocalist Meredith Monk likely know her as the […]
A deep dive on our favorite dollar bin jazz man, aka the professor of cool, and a selection of essential songs from his decades-spanning career. When you’re in […]
A recent doc showcases unsung female electronic pioneers including Delia Derbyshire, Pauline Oliveros, Laurie Spiegel, Suzanne Cianni + a few of our favorites from these legends. In case […]
A list of kid-friendly holy grails, including two of the most sought-after LPs of all time: Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael’s Music Shop and The Langley Schools Music […]
Footage of Durutti Column performing in Kaivopuisto Park in their early Factory Records days and a few other rare appearances. Vini Reilly of Durutti Column was the first […]
How “Scratch” inspired John Martyn’s 1977 classic proto trip-hop recording ‘One World.’ Truly a “worlds collide” pairing, in 1976 UK folk musician and ISC patron saint John Martyn […]
ISC sits down with Condesa Electronics founder Mehdi El-Aquil to talk mixers, how Condesa came to be, and the future of rotaries. Based in Adelaide, Australia, Condesa Electronics in […]
An ISC deep dive into the leftfield, intimate, and dreamy pop sounds of one of Belgium’s finest labels and our personal highlights from their diverse catalog. Translated as […]
Part 2 of our series highlighting low budget music videos with that perfectly endearing DIY 80’s aesthetic. At the beginning of the 1980s, music began to pursue and […]
An intro to the surreal and funky world of “library records,” the assembly-line-produced albums designed to soundtrack film and television. It’s hard to sum up the “library record.” […]
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Harry Nilsson’s beloved 1971 animation, The Point. February marked the 50th anniversary of the beloved Harry Nilsson animation The Point. The […]
Whether pitched up, down or at the wrong rpm entirely, sometimes the wrong speed on a turntable can completely transform a song — for the better. You’re well […]
Extensive interviews and performances with the new age icon explaining the origins of his inter-dimensional music. Here is Iasos, the legendary and peculiar new age figure from the […]
Take a look inside Chokuritsu Enjin, a small, strictly jazz bar named after Mingus’s Pithecanthropus Erectus. Via Chasing the Sun Moments, a documentary travel series telling stories from […]
Another installment of deep cuts, this time we take a look at the dearly beloved ~ Prince. His Royal Badness. The High Priest of Pop. The Artist Formerly […]
A monumental documentary series by Lovely Music’s Robert Ashley featuring Terry Riley, David Behrman, Pauline Oliveros, Philip Glass, Alvin Lucier and others. In 1975 Robert Ashley embarked on […]
A brief history of compilation albums, the trajectory of this multi-artist concept, and of course, a list of some ISC favorites. The Compilation. Some purists may cringe at […]
William Farley’s 1986 documentary portrait of the Indian classical figure, who considered by many to be the godfather of drone. Featuring interviews with Terry Riley, Mariam Zazeela and […]
Our favorite rarities from the queen of smooth soul jazz and one of the most iconic singers from the 1980s and 1990s, Sade. Born in Ibadan, Nigeria to […]
A new series highlighting low budget music videos with that perfectly endearing DIY 80’s aesthetic. At the start of the 1980s, music began to pursue a new form: […]
A brief primer on Ikutaro Kakehashi, the revolutionary engineer who built the world’s most widely used electronic equipment. At 28, a young engineer named Ikutaro Kakehashi began a […]
A look into the most prolific years from the genre-defining dream pop label. The great British label 4AD was co-founded by Peter Kent and Ivo Watts-Russell, the latter […]
After 21 years, Beats in Space will be “taking a break.” Though it may not be the end, here’s a tribute to one of our favorite radio shows. […]
A look into the genius singer-songwriter who explored northern soul, “new folk sounds” and jazz, while always flying just below the radar. Terry Callier seemed destined to play […]
A look into the producer/engineer behind classics like Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Judee Sill’s Heart Food. We’ve touched on Henry Lewy’s work in the past, but even then […]
A list of our favorite Paul McCartney rarities and a closer look at the broad scope of one of pop music’s best. There’s no real need for any […]
A look into New York’s longest-running sound installation created by influential minimalist La Monte Young and multi-disciplinary artist Marian Zazeela. “The daddy of us all” is a direct […]
The Lounge Lizards, Fishing with John, Stranger Than Paradise, Painting with John: ISC celebrates a singular artist. To continue the celebration of John Lurie’s new introspective HBO series, […]
Buchla, Fairlight CMI, and homemade electronic instruments featured on classic children’s television. Suzanne Cianni, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Haack: We don’t know the circumstances surrounding how these synthesists came […]
A rare look into the music and life of the Lovely Music Ltd. composer, musician, and teacher. Just For the Record: Conversations with and about “Blue” Gene Tyranny […]
From Popol Vuh to Wagner to cellist Ernst Reijseger, an overview of a great director’s use of music in film. Viral videos of Werner Herzog’s skewed, oft archaic […]
Early electronics and computer music, new opera, experimental vocal albums: A guide to the influential Bay Area label dedicated to the American avant-garde. Since its founding in 1978, […]
HBO releases a meditative new show with NY underground figurehead and Lounge Lizards saxophonist John Lurie. Thirty years after the subversive cult classic Fishing with John first aired, […]
In typical BBC4 fashion, here is Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany: A full panoramic breakdown of the rise of one of the most influential sounds from Europe. “From […]
Although some of its artists also used electronics, the American label Windham Hill pioneered new acoustic music to such an extent that during its peak years the label […]
Making Waves is a 2019 documentary examining how visionary directors work with sound designers to create the most exciting cinematic experiences. The film follows discoveries and advances in […]
Essential productions from one of the major architects of modern Japanese pop music. To find an individual as prolific and influential as Haruomi Hosono is almost impossible in […]
Prolific Swedish electronic producer Tom Wolgers is a heavy favorite around ISC. The under-the-radar artist, who moonlighted as a fashion model, issued a series of records starting in […]
Introducing Soundsystems, an in-focus feature series on the Hi-Fi equipment of the past, and the notorious clubs and DJ’s that used them. An absurd amount of precision, fine-tuning […]
Part live concert, part political commentary, all poetry. Black Wax is a portrait of the great Gil Scott-Heron in 1982, at the peak of his powers. With Robert […]
