The world continues to terrify us, but music and record buying is still on the ascent. Those things might be related. In any case, it’s one of life’s simple and deep pleasures…let us indulge.

Francis Plagne – Rural Objects (Horn of Plenty)

Francis is from Australia and already has an impressive stack of art rock and experimental records in his catalog. He’s definitely coming from the Eno/Wyatt/Woo school, contempo Avant Teatime at its finest. His 2016 effort Funeral Mutes is full-on Ayers/Cale style pop, while this reissue of a 2019 cassette is a suite of perfect moody miniatures. It’s got gentle electronics and simple cascades of guitar and keys. This is an artist I would be collecting if not for shipping prices.

Monokultur – Ormens Vag (Ever/Never / Mammas Mysteriska Jukebox)

Oh, yes, more of that special Swedish flavor… Monokultur is back with more mysterioso pop music made from watery guitars and simple keyboard riffs. I have to mention classic 4AD and Factory (Crawling Chaos especially springs to mind) but this also has a touch of 90s Siltbreeze in between the notes. Two singers trade off, singing in Swedish, and sometimes they use found vocals in the same way Cabaret Voltaire used to. These are solid songs, but this is all about atmosphere. The feeling is not quite soothing and not quite abrasive either, but it’s always intriguing.

Little Skull – Lower Hope Reach (Horn of Plenty)

Horn of Plenty seems to be the new label to watch for post-Editions EG records stuff. Penguin Cafe Orchestra must be a touchstone for this 10” full of naive chamber jams. It’s got duets of electric piano and violin or slide guitar and sometimes slow moody floor tom and organ drones. Gastr Del Sol touched on some of these modes. Cindytalk also had a fantastic album of improv piano and violin duets which also springs to mind. Now I am really curious about Little Skull and need to hear more, awesome Lino-cut hand printed packaging is a bonus.

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