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abzulooks.bsky.social
Abzu Looks
@abzulooks.bsky.social
Yes it's a pseudonym.
Mainly here to chat music, music making and books
South Coast NSW, Australia
I'm trying to be disciplined on the socials so posts, likes and replies may be irregular
kotringo - Video Killed The Radio Star

Imagine if someone actually covered this song with a vaguely prog sensibility. Occasionally feels almost Canteburyesque.

youtu.be/HWjAFMhPYcU?...
Video Killed The Radio Star
YouTube video by kotringo - Topic
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 6:35 AM
#nowplaying

Material- Seven Souls (1989)

This got remixed and redone apparently but the original release is the one I know and love.

Sly Dunbar on drums. RIP.
January 27, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.

"Hadn't she heard him honking?"
January 21, 2026 at 10:52 PM
#jazzsky

Enji 16/1/2026 at Pier 2 for the Sydney Festival

Intimate, captivating show with River Adomeit on upright bass and regular collaborator Paul Brändle on guitar. This lineup really suited Enji's intonation and inflections, she even roused us into a Mongolian singalong. Enjoyed it a lot.
January 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM
#nowplaying #jpop

TOMOO - Sonare

strong mid 70's / early Billy Joel vibes on this one. The new album (which I liked) only came out in November and already a very fine entirely new song.

youtu.be/uYsWMFGHszg?...
Sonare
YouTube video by TOMOO - Topic
youtu.be
January 15, 2026 at 10:32 AM
#jazzsky 4 favourite live albums

Bill Evans Trio - Village Vanguard
Miles Davis Quintet - Blackhawk
Keith Jarrett Trio - Whisper Not
Dave Douglas Quintet - Brazen Heart At Jazz Standard

could change on a whim, ask again tomorrow.
January 14, 2026 at 9:14 AM
#jazzsky

It just goes to show how rich and deep the scene is that I've listened to about 30 of the top 64 and don't feel like in any way I have my finger on the pulse.

Also loads of albums I loved down in the triple figures.

So much great new music out there.
The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll: Onwards for an invaluable poll from a community of critics that gives us a map to an expansive world of jazz to explore — with hints at terra incognita.

artsfuse.org/322847/the-2...
January 13, 2026 at 2:26 PM
#nowplaying #jpop

Hitsujibungaku - Don't Laugh It Off (2025)

Wider instrument palette (piano! cello! loops!), and big hooky choruses as you'd expect, doesn't quite have the compositional depth of "Our Hope" which for me remains their masterwork.
January 9, 2026 at 6:19 AM
#jazzsky #nowplaying

Albert Vila Trio - Reality Is Nuance (2023)

Doug Weiss on bass and Rudy Royston on drums are top tier players and Vila doesn't waste the opportunity. Good original tunes and some great playing. He has his own thing but is clearly influenced by the modern greats (eg Sco, Pat).
January 7, 2026 at 6:17 AM
#jazzsky #nowplaying

Mendoza Hoff Revels - Echolocation (2023)

Ava Mendoza on guitar and Devin Hoff join with James Brandon Lewis (sax) and Ches Smith (drums) to make high quality bedlam.

If you remember those "X,Y & Z" supergroups from the late 90's this is like a really great one of those.
January 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM
#jazzsky

No "Ten Favourite Guitarists" from me, instead an incomplete list of guitarists who have released great albums in the last few years.

Tunico
Mary Halvorson
Julian Lage
Jacob Young
Nels Cline
Ant Law
Ava Mendoza
Albert Vila
January 7, 2026 at 2:13 AM
#NowPlaying

Prokofiev Symphony No 5 Bb op 100
SNO / Neeme Jarvi

Possibly my favourite symphony, though my obligatory New Year's resolution is to listen to more symphonies, so ask me again next year. Love the big climaxes in the 1st and 4th mvts. Hot take: clarinet is MVP.
January 1, 2026 at 8:32 AM
#NowPlaying

Tatsura Yamashita - Christmas Eve

Like any good Christmas song, dosed with a large dash of kitsch. Great chords, great vocal harmonies. For those who think Wham's "Last Christmas" is a bit too austere....

youtu.be/1-xwxyHOyVw?...
山下達郎「クリスマス・イブ (Christmas Eve)」 MV
YouTube video by Warner Music Japan
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
#NowPlaying

Boyzvoice - Let Me Be Your Father Christmas

Possibly in questionable taste.

youtu.be/UiZZRGmMH8I?...
Boyzvoice - Let Me Be Your Father X-Mas
YouTube video by BoyzvoiceVEVO
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM
#NowPlaying #MusicSky

Bielefelder Kinderchor - Das Weihnachtskonzert Des Bielefelder Kinderchores

I would guess many people have the "treasured Christmas album" they grew up with. This is mine. 16 carols (8 per side) with organ segues between the hymns.
December 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
#NowPlaying #jpop

AiScReam - AI♡SCREAM!

Earworm of the year. You might reasonably be concerned at possible corporate exploitaion and female infantilisation but on the flip side, the song (as they probably no longer say) slaps.

youtu.be/8Yy7Jzle338?...
AiScReam『愛♡スクリ~ム!』Music Video
YouTube video by (Love Live! series)ラブライブ!シリーズ公式チャンネル
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
#NowPlaying

I have the Supersonic Orchestra "Family" album, which is a blast. This is a somewhat different beast but shares that sense of "loose and tight at the same time."
Early morning dog 🐕 walk with Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, and ‘Great Intentions’ (2025, Bandcamp). Lively stuff all round, and a cover of ‘Waterfalls’ playing out like a drunken waltz … brave stuff indeed! Worth a listen as is most things from Norway these days 😎
December 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
#nowplaying #jpop

Furui Riho - Hello

Sometimes you just need to listen to something cheerful.

youtu.be/JxyACq69HgA?...
Furui Riho - Hello (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Furui Riho
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
#NowPlaying #jazzsky

Danish Radio Big Band & Symphony Orchestra / Miho Hazama - A Child is Born
Arranged Scott Ninmer from the Thad Jones composition.

Played this track a lot this year, very much a favourite, adore the "old school" string sound and arrangement

youtu.be/H5x5DbdBd98?...
A Child Is Born // The Danish Radio Big Band & The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
YouTube video by DR Koncerthuset
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 5:54 AM
#nowplaying #jazzsky

James Brandon Lewis - Abstraction Is Deliverance (2025)

sax/piano/bass/drums

Previous JBLQ albums have explored his "Molecular" conception of composition, and the CD liner notes gave insight into the process. This time, the "notes" are a short story by Teju Cole.....
December 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
#nowplaying #newmusic #jazzsky

Sinsuke Fujieda Group - Fukushima

Strong Coltrane vibes here, but enough of its own thing not to be derivative. Sax/violin frontline really works and there's a percussionist as well piano/bass/drums so the rhythm section sounds really full.
December 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
#NowPlaying

@ronnisalt.bsky.social posted Ben Fold's original as a small moment of counterpoint to today's appalling events.

It reminded me of this very fine accapella version.

youtu.be/XzmCVZx_Ws4?...
VOCES8 - The Luckiest
YouTube video by Voces8VEVO
youtu.be
December 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
#nowplaying #newmusic #jazzsky

Notionally released Feb '26 but my CD arrived in the post today. Reid/ Halvorson/ Roebke/ Fujiwara all in killer form, lively and vibrant. All the individuality and quirkiness you expect but, like "3+3," really coherent and easy to connect with.
December 12, 2025 at 7:42 AM
#nowplaying #jpop

Hitsujibungaku - Shaun the Sheep

Maybe not quite as preposterous a cover as you think, guitarist Moeka Shiotsuka plays a nifty riff on this. Coincidentally (?) roughly corresponds with the time drummer Hiroa Fukuda seemed to withdraw from the band.

youtu.be/iC1Z2aO4SdA?...
羊文学 - ひつじのショーン(Life's a Treat)[English Cover] (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by 羊文学
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Hi! It's the @theguardian.com here! We've just published a new article! You have ten seconds to post an opinion before we close off comments...
December 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM