Happy New Year Music Lovers.
posted 07 Jan 2023 by Krister Axel
Here's a quick recap of the last few months.

Like this content? Dropp us a tip.

Well, that went by quickly.

I had a few weeks off between positions, which really didn't yield much free time, mainly because we had a blizzard in the end of December so for a week there around Christmas I really spent most of my time moving piles of snow around the farm.

As some of you may know, I started a new job in December, and of course that's been taking up a lot of my time to get up to speed. For example, installing Ruby 2.6.5 on a Macbook running Ventura and XCode 14.2 — honestly, that took me the better part of the week to get straight. But I just pulled an all nighter to figure it out, so here I am, ready to talk about music.

Lately it occurs to me that pretty much nothing ever turns out exactly as planned, but I have learned to embrace that. I think in a larger sense, I'm just really forced to come to terms with the fact that there's more that I want to do than there is time to do it. I have more or less come back up to speed in terms of writing music reviews, but editing for the CHILLFILTR Review has again been pushed back, and I have not had much time to attend to the newsletter in any meaningful way. I think my resolution for this year is really just to accept things as they are, and be satisfied with doing the best I can. So that means I probably won't be sending out as many newsletters as I had originally hoped, and instead will be sticking with the monthly recap.

For our paid subscribers, please, accept a thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means the world, and I just wish I had more exclusive content to share.

For now, I hope you will be satisfied with a huge list of songs that were added to our blog and playlists over the month of November and December. As I've said times before, independent music is alive and well, and I continue to be impressed with the music that I'm hearing.

Creating a little recap of recent reviews was really the original idea for the newsletter in the first place, because I've had many requests from people just wanting to get pinged every time I add a new review. So this is the closest I can get to that. If you sign up for this newsletter, and even stay on just the free tier, you'll be getting a monthly list of recent reviews. That's my promise. And scroll down to the bottom of this page for a list of new adds for CHILLFILTR Radio.


Chicago Folk Duo Set to Release New LP. - Frances Luke Accord: Saint Mary

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 11:58:00 -0500

The music of Frances Luke Accord offers a bridge between a classic era of folk-inspired pop and the current day.

Read More

Americana Storytelling from Edmonton. - Scot Free Sessions: Istanbul

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:11:00 -0500

When it comes to 'shaking the sadness from our bones,' we so seldom find what we are looking for.

Read More

Feel Good Funk from Germany. - Cuezy. x Mindsogone: Can't You See

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 14:40:00 -0500

Using sound and frequency to alter your dimension, embracing music played on vinyl, classic hip hop, and 70s-style funk.

Read More

Sumptuous Note to an Infant Son. - Zack Fletcher: Little Hollow

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 14:08:00 -0500

The care and attention to detail evident in this song is truly stunning, with a production aesthetic as powerful and meditative as the miracle of life and family.

Read More

A Powerful Mix of Folk and Pop. - Mary Middlefield: Two Thousand One

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 13:36:00 -0500

Mary Middlefield might call Switzerland home, but her music certainly would be comfortable on the coffeeshop circuit of the Pacific Northwest.

Read More

LA Pop Legend Delivers Wistful Retrospective. - Wingtip: Mr. 29

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:45:00 -0500

A track that feels both uplifting and slightly retro, matching a playful cynicism with the celebration of all things wistful.

Read More

An Inspired Mix of Modern Pop and Classic Soul. - Rowe: Daze

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:57:00 -0500

Mixing elements of chilled-out synth, layers of vocal harmony, and riffs on the electric piano into a personal testimony about losing yourself in the throes of confusing love.

Read More

Baltimore Polymath Prepares for Enticing Debut. - Lawrence Connor: Love Affair

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:54:00 -0500

Breathing fresh life and vibrancy into his genre-bending experimentations with melody, texture, and groove.

Read More

Bentonia Bluesman Returns with Fire. - Robert Connely Farr: Shake It

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:36:00 -0500

His lyrics tell of lost love and catfish in the swamp—of hard nights and howling guitars.

Read More

Baltimore Writer and Performer Makes Soul Magic. - Imani Wj Wright: So I Thought

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 19:01:00 -0500

We are left to wonder why the end always comes too soon.

Read More

Indie Folk Songwriter Pays Respect to Lesotho. - Luke Beling: My African Dream

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 19:15:00 -0500

A fittingly beautiful and deeply resonant love letter to a corner of the world that is as unique as it is unspoiled by the hand of modern consumerism.

Read More

Instant Classic from California's Latest Soul Sensation. - Khamari: Tell Me

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 14:15:00 -0500

Features a sticky, easygoing groove, a buttery bass line, and layers of Khamari's signature vocal presence: warm, intimate, and full of passion.

Read More

Nashville Rising Star Puts Spotlight on Juvenile Diabetes. - Drew Now: TYPE

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 16:09:00 -0500

This tribute to an amazing boyfriend will have you hugging your own sweet someone just a little bit tighter tonight.

Read More

Rapturous Latin Jazz Pop from Buenos Aires. - Galean: Goza ft Luiza Brina

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 22:25:00 -0500

At once hypnotic, suave, and dignified, this jazz-adjacent candombe was written as an open invitation to enjoy Galean's broad appreciation for a variety of different styles.

Read More

Progressive House from London. - Ross Quinn: Out Of Time

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:07:00 -0500

Early experience as a studio assistant for the now defunct Gin Factory has prepared him for a quick rise to fame.

Read More

Intimate Indie Folk from Munich. - Henny Herz: Constant Flow

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:55:00 -0500

Leaving listeners with a positive and buoyant feeling, this fun, mid-tempo groove is perfect for an introspective afternoon.

Read More

A Shining Light in the World of Folk Pop. - Hazlett: Tell Me What You Dream About

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 16:03:00 -0500

Hazlett writes consistently fantastic songs at the intersection of folk and pop, with a distinctive vocal aesthetic and an ever-present acoustic guitar.

Read More

Psychedelic Electronic Dance Pop from Melbourne. - Fonteray: Green Viridian

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:27:00 -0500

This dance friendly track is a no-brainer for any playlist that combines evocative soundscapes with a touch of the unexpected.

Read More

Glitchy Alternative Electronic Pop from Austin Texas. - Vivid Fever Dreams: Twenty Five

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 12:11:00 -0500

A worthy anthem to the unfortunate phenomenon of coming to terms with the slow collapse of society.

Read More

Cathartic Alt Rock with Support from Nettwerk. - DYLYN: Just A Boy

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:11:00 -0500

DYLYN's music is meant to empower her listeners, by underscoring the value of simplicity and the joy of personal liberation. Word has it she is only just getting started.

Read More

We added more than 100 songs to our radio playlist in the end of 2022. Typically, I pick one new artist to future, so for this wrap-up, I am giving a nod to Caamp. My wife put them on my radar, and I gotta say I'm pretty impressed. That being said, there are many different artists on this list that all deserve recognition—you really can't go wrong picking any of these bands for a deeper dive.

As always, visit us at CHILLFILTR Radio for great new music streaming 24/7, or just search for "CHILLFILTR Radio" wherever you stream your music. Via our new partnership with TuneIn, we are now available on Apple Music and lots of other fun places. :)

Acre Memos, Lomelda - A Collection of Bird Songs - 04 Birds Swim Away
Acre Memos, Lomelda - A Collection of Bird Songs - 07 Warning
Acre Memos, Lomelda - A Collection of Bird Songs - 10 Double Wide
Alberta Cross - Find a Home out There
Alberta Cross - Ghost of City Life
Alberta Cross - Magnolia
Alberta Cross - Money For The Weekend (Pocket Full Of Shame)
Bhi Bhiman - Bad Times
Bhi Bhiman - Burn Out
Bhi Bhiman - Haunts Me
Bhi Bhiman - Helpless
Bhi Bhiman - It_s Only Just Begun
Bhi Bhiman - Mercury
Bhi Bhiman - Up All Night
Bhi Bhiman - Who Knows
Caamp - Lavender Days - 02 Believe
Caamp - Lavender Days - 03 The Otter
Caamp - Lavender Days - 04 Apple Tree Blues
Caamp - Lavender Days - 06 Light
Caamp - Lavender Days - 07 Found (Forever)
Caamp - Lavender Days - 08 Lavender Girl
Daisy the Great _ AJR - Record Player
Devon Gilfillian - Let The Water Flow
Drew Now - Type 01
flipturn - Brooklyn Baby
flipturn - Halfway
Frances Luke Accord - Saint Mary
Galean - Goza
Hand Habits - Just to Hear You (feat. Perfume Genius)
Hand Habits - More Than Love
Hannah Ascher - The Room
Hans Williams - All Is Well
Hans Williams - Weekend
Hazlett - Tell Me What You Dream About
Henny Herz - Constant Flow
Imani Wj Wright - So I Thought
Jacob Lee - Sick _ Tired
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 01 Absence
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 02 The Trail Went Cold
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 03 Headfirst Dive
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 04 Satanic Panic Love Song
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 05 Heatwave
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 06 Cold Morning
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 07 Slow Motion
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 08 Halfway Down The Street
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 09 Drive You Home
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 10 Long Way Home
Jake Whiskin - Jake Whiskin - 11 Half Asleep
Jesper Hasnaoui - Solitude
Joe Henry _ The Gospel According to Water - Choir Boy
Joe Henry _ The Gospel According to Water - Orson Welles
Joe Henry _ The Gospel According to Water - The Fact of Love
Joel Ansett - Cluttered Soul
josh teskey _ ash grunwald - Hungry Heart
josh teskey _ ash grunwald - Push The Blues Away
josh teskey _ ash grunwald - Thinking _Bout Myself
KALEO - Hey Gringo
KALEO - Save Yourself
Khruangbin _ Leon Bridges - Texas Sun
Lawrence Connor - Love Affair
Lindsey Buckingham _ Christine Mcvie - Love Is Here to Stay
Lorkin O_Reilly x Melanie MacLaren - Tadpole Emporium (EP) - Clearance Aisle
Lorkin O_Reilly x Melanie MacLaren - Tadpole Emporium (EP) - Sleeping With Headphones
Luke Beling - My African Dream
Madison Cunningham - All I’ve Ever Known
Madison Cunningham - Anywhere
Madison Cunningham - Hold On
Madison Cunningham - Hospital
Madison Cunningham - In My Life
Madison Cunningham - Lover, You Should’ve Come Over
Madison Cunningham - No Surprises
Madison Cunningham - Poses
Madison Cunningham - The Age Of Worry
Mariel Buckley _ T. Buckley - Bobcaygeon
Mary Middlefield - Band Aid
Mary Middlefield - Two Thousand One
Meadowlark - Goodbye
Melanie MacLaren - Dissociating at a Tiki Bar in a Landlocked State
Melanie MacLaren - Summer in Sweden
Neal Francis - Sentimental Garbage - 04 Strawberry Letter 23
Neal Francis - Sentimental Garbage - 07 Can_t Stop The Rain (Parsonage Mix)
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 01 How It Works
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 02 Day by Day
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 03 Salt
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 04 Nothing Clever
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 06 Caroline
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 08 High Times
Old Sea Brigade - Motivational Speaking - 12 4th of July
Patto - The Man
Robert Connely Farr - Shake It
Ross Quinn - Out Of Time
Samia - Honey - 03 Pink Balloon
Samia - Honey - 04 Mad At Me
Scary Pockets - Jealous Mashup (ft. Jacob Luttrell)
Scot Free Sessions - Istanbul
Shakey Graves - Dearly Departed
Shakey Graves - Ready or Not (feat. Sierra Ferrell)
Shakey Graves - Tomorrow
Shovels _ Rope - Unknown Legend (with Shakey Graves)
Six Missing - Peaceful One
Sugarloaf - Don_t Call Us, We_ll Call You
Switchfoot - This Is Your Life
Vieux Farka Touré _ Khruangbin - Ali - 02 Lobbo
Vieux Farka Touré _ Khruangbin - Ali - 04 Tongo Barra
Vieux Farka Touré _ Khruangbin - Ali - 05 Tamalla
Vieux Farka Touré _ Khruangbin - Ali - 06 Mahine Me
Vulfpeck - Animal Spirits
Vulfpeck - In Heaven
WIDOWSPEAK - True Blue (Demo)
Wingtip - Mr 29
WMD - Nowhere
WMD - Yearn
Zack Fletcher - Little Hollow


Photo credit: Krister Axel via Midjourney

RSS formatted with CodeBeautify.org.

About the Author

content

Krister Bjornson Axel

Ogdensburg, New York

Paris, France. Madison, Wisconsin. Los Angeles. Ashland, Oregon. Ottawa. I write music, I write about music, and I write code. See also: photography, prose, podcasting. I have 1 gorgeous wife, 2 amazing kids, and many interests.


Recent Awards: 2020 ND (Photo) Honorable Mention, 2020 Accenti Writing Contest Finalist