Last month Reserve Matinee released a collection of ambient drone creations from the duo of Sara Zalek and Norman W. Long called Steelworkers’ Drone. For several years these artists have been conducting soundwalks, with the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology, where they take groups to explore areas around the city through sound.

The four tracks on the album were captured in 2018 and 2019 at two of these spaces, Big Marsh and Steelworkers Park, both of which are defunct steel mills on the South Side. These tracks are meditative explorations of the space between environment and melody, each listen is a unique journey.

Super Trio Spam Risk has released their self-titled debut album. This is the new project from Josh Rodin (of Jollys), who recently released his solo debut as Dry Dreams, along with Pamela Buschbacher (of Blizzard Babies and Pledge Drive) and Peter Reale (of Yeesh).

This is fun, playful, addictive Post Punk and one of the more surprising releases of the year so far.

Hardcore Rock group The Ableist has released a new single called "Sucked Back Into The Sun". The track features Alice Kraynak, formerly of Thee Casual Hex, on vocals and violin, and the group has vowed to donate all proceeds to Chicago’s Rogers Park Food Not Bombs to aid in the coronavirus response effort.

The Ableist is Stephan Piven (Guitar), Barry Cabrera (Guitar), Johnny Chacon (Drums), Jairus Paulus (Bass), and Paul Scanty (Lead vocals).

This Friday, March 27th, Jared Rabin is releasing his latest album, No Direction. He had scheduled several shows this month including two sets at SXSW to promote the album. However, all of those plans were cancelled and Rabin will be taking to the internet to live stream a record release show from his basement. Tune in, throw him some hearts and likes, and perhaps request your favorite Jared Rabin tune.

Slow Dakota (aka Paul Sauerteig) has released a second single, "Coming To The Nuisance", from his forthcoming album Tornado Mass for Voice & Synthesizer which is due out May 1 on his own label Massif Records. This follows "Obelisk (The Tornado Speaks in Pan Flute)" which was released last month.

This is new single is oddly, but perfectly timed as it is about preparing for a mass disaster. When it was written Sauerteig had global warming in mind, but it seems all to fitting these days.

Saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi (of Twin Talk) has released a new album called "Seasonal". This is a collection of home recordings the he made over the last few years using clarinet, drums, guitar, OP-1, and saxophone.

This is the Laurenzi’s follow-up to last year’s highly acclaimed tribute to the legendary Moondog, "Snaketime". Laurenzi is scheduled to perform at Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park on July 17th.

Photo: Maren Celest

Improvisational Pianist Matt Piet has released a new album called Tobacco Monogamy. This collection was recorded live back in 2017 at Elastic Arts and is completely improvised. Piet will be donating all sales of the album to one of three charities and is giving the listener the choice between National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or The Trevor Project.

This album is the follow-up to 2018’s well-received album City In A Garden.

Photo by Matthew Schwerin

Coldwave trio French Police recently released their sophomore album called "Haunted Castle". Their sound is steeped in the ’80’s New Wave sounds of Depeche Mode and New Order, but with a modern and very melodic take.

The album’s lead single is called "Dance With Me" and we promise it will transport you from the isolation you find yourself in these days.

Spooky Boo recently released the second teaser single, "Wise Man or Fool" b/w "The Aftermath", from their forthcoming full-length debut album Cult Classic. This is an epic Prog Rock, story-telling, concept album about the occurrences of an ambitious cult reaching for influence.

This is the work of Chucky Bowen (Drums), Will Dannen (Lead Vocals), Jerome Wade (Guitar/Keyboard/Vocals), Kesia Hollins (Vocals/Synth), Rob Mayfield (Guitar/Keyboard/Vocals), and Don Pudlowski (Bass)