The UK’s finest interpreter of song, Barb Jungr returns to the songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen with the release of Hard Rain. Oft referred to as “the politicised chansonnier” and cited as one of the world’s best performers of Dylan’s material, Barb turns to six of his most politically hard-hitting songs along with five of Leonard Cohen’s most impassioned songs of conscience. Barb’s selection for Hard Rain reflects her despair with the political times that we live in and she has deliberately chosen songs that resonate as strongly today as they did when they were originally written: “Blowin’ In The Wind” is now 51 years old and its sentiments are as relevant today as they ever were. The album comes complete with insightful liner notes by writer Liz Thomson, who as Elizabeth Thomson prepared “the director’s cut” of No Direction Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan (2014). She was also the co-editor of The Dylan Companion. As a young journalist, her first ever interview was with Leonard Cohen. All of the arrangements on the album are by Barb and her long-standing collaborator and accompanist, the pianist Simon Wallace, who also produced the album. In addition to Simon (piano, Hammond organ and synthesizers), Barb is also joined by Neville Malcom on bass (with Steve Watts providing bass on tracks 1,3,8 and 10); Gary Hammond (percussion); Clive Bell (Shakahachi) and Richard Olatunde Baker on talking drum and additional percussion. Together with Barb, they inject new life and energy into each song.

Influential Brazilian producer Gui Boratto has returned with his fourth album Abaporu that will be released this September on tastemaking Cologne-based dance label Kompakt. Since his 2007 debut LP Chromophobia, Boratto’s always delivered his own distinct flavor to Kompakt’s signature pop-techno sound. For its part, Abaporu explores the space “where European and indigenous influences would collide in the most exciting manner.” The album’s double-vinyl release features eight tracks, while the digital version serves up 13, including standout singles “Take Control” and “Too Late.” Catch the full tracklist below. Abaporu comes out on September 29th via Kompakt.

話題のアニメ『四畳半神話大系』のオリジナル・サウンドトラック!
森見登美彦(小説『夜は短し歩けよ乙女』)×湯浅政明(アニメ『マインド・ゲーム』)×上田誠(ヨーロッパ企画)×中村佑介(人気イラストレーター)×マッドハウス(アニメ『サマーウォーズ』) と、各分野で活躍する気鋭のクリエイター達が集結し話題のフジテレビアニメ『四畳半神話大系』のオリジナル・サウンドトラック!アニメ『鋼の錬金術師』をはじめ数多くの人気作品を手掛ける大島ミチルによる劇中音楽に加え、エンディングテーマのいしわたり淳治&砂原良徳 + やくしまるえつこ「神様のいうとおり(TV Version)」も収録。
◆『四畳半神話大系』…毎週木曜日24:45から、フジテレビ・関西テレビ・東海テレビ・BSフジでO.A(4/22~7/1まで全11話)