Sofia Rei took off on a solo trek through the rugged terrain of eastern Chile with two backpacks filled with recording gear to gather her thoughts and the sounds of this awe-inspiring landscape. An ardent student of South American folkloric traditions and a Professor at NYU, Rei’s “Un Mismo Cielo” or “The Same Sky” pays tribute to the past aided by digital technology.

Sofia Rei: ‘Un Mismo Cielo’

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LA tongue-in-cheek rockers EELS gear up for their forthcoming fifteenth(!) studio album, EELS TIME!, early this summer. One thing you can count on is whimsical lyrics and an unmistakable sound. “Goldy” starts with a nod to The 5th Dimension’s Marilyn McCoo.

Eels: ‘Goldy’

A signature of Beth Gibbons' voice is that you recognize the artist immediately, ingrained in our hearts and minds as the sound of Portishead. Deep, lush, and profoundly engaging, Gibbons releases her debut album Lives Outgrown mid-May. Recorded over a period of ten years, this album may be her most personal output to date, digging into sustained reflection and change, as echoed on “Floating On A Moment.”

Beth Gibbons: ‘Floating On A Moment’

For the last 20 years, The Avett Brothers anchored their status in the Americana/folk-rock arena with sophisticated sibling harmonies, ardent lyrics, and their own blend of country influences, to the delight of fans. After five years, they’re ready to release a new album, which is self-titled and produced by the esteemed Rick Rubin.

The Avett Brothers: ‘Love Of A Girl’

Let’s check out the jazz-leaning, organic sound structures and beautiful arrangements of Apifera.. The quartet’s new work, “Theodor Marmalade,” takes a new approach to delve into and meld psychedelic rock with alternative jazz, and is their first attempt at incorporating lyrics into their sound.

Apifera: ‘Theodor Marmalade’

The Past Is Still Alive, is the next phase in Hurray for the Riff Raff ’s progression as a raconteur. 
 Born in the Bronx and of Puerto Rican descent, Alynda Segarra molds their lyrics into snapshots that hold memories, process their trauma, and makes sense of loss. The country-tinged “Alibi” comes in the form of a plea, one last effort to get through to someone you know you’re going to lose.

Sofia Rei: ‘Un Mismo Cielo’

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