On Repeat: Loraine James, Aphex on Guitar

On Sundays I try to at least quickly note some of my favorite listening from the week prior — things I would later regret having not written about in more depth, so better to share here briefly than not at all.

▰ I was mistakenly under the impression that the great Loraine James wouldn’t have a new record out until 2026, but she does, and it’s due out mid-March, and the first song is already here under her Whatever the Weather moniker, “12°C.” Very interesting amalgam of field recordings and low-key glitch, and all the more interesting for mixing it up as it proceeds, never sticking to one idea for long before moving on.

▰ Simon Farintosh has a new transcription of an Aphex Twin song out, part of his third volume of Richard D. James adaptations. This is “IZ-US,” originally the closing track on the Come to Daddy album from 1997. I interviewed Farintosh back in early 2021 about his work.

▰ Marcus Fischer has posted a fascinating document of his sound installation Carry the Water from last year. The installation consists of 55 gallon water barrel, powder-coated jerry cans, concrete, transducers, and digital audio. As Fischer explains: “The installation is made up of a series of metal vessels, all of which could hold water but are in fact empty and only act as resonators for the amplified sound of water.”

▰ Gorgeous self-titled album of ambient chamber jazz from the Nighttime Ensemble. The group consists of Daniel Wyche (guitar), Brian J. Sulpizio (piano), Ro Lundberg (upright bass), Lia Kohl (cello, radio, objects), and Sam Scranton (drums, percussion). It’s one single track, almost an hour in length.