Jennifer Lucy Allan returns with her latest trip to the world of Rum Music as she navigates through January’s releases while keeping the winter blues at bay. Despite the pressures of financial responsibilities, she reflects on her music choices and experiences, diving into poignant albums that energized her month.

Among her finds is Tori Kudo’s Studio Village Hototoguiss 2007-2022, a collection showcasing Kudo’s sentimental songs, which Allan found particularly captivating. The album’s final track, a charming cover of Beethoven’s seventh movement, epitomizes its warmth.

Next, she praises Liam Grant’s Prodigal Son, which features raw blues sounds and fluid guitar work, demonstrating the young artist’s prowess and love for the DIY culture found in authentic American roots music. Grant’s expressive tracks vary from gentle lyricism to lively, old-time rock.

Nina Garcia’s Bye Bye Bird is highlighted for its experimental approach, merging her guitar work with innovative techniques. The anticipation around this debut record under her own name bodes well as it receives positive attention from notable figures in the industry.

Oksana Linde’s album Travesías appeals to Allan’s nostalgia for the early synthesizer sounds and private press obscurities. She praises its ability to build imaginative soundscapes reminiscent of science fiction, while Judith Hamann’s Aune presents subtle, intricate layers, drawing connections between sound and sensory experiences.

Amidst these recommendations, Allan points listeners to Terry Reed’s On Way To Alpha, a mini LP offering a mix of potent tunes highlighted by powerful vocals, evoking a sense of discovering hidden musical treasures.

Allan concludes with a mention of Ignatz & Marcia Bassett’s collaboration, Dream Of Autumn Electrified Blues I & II, a welcomed revival of past underground sounds.

For a deep dive into January’s music scene and recommendations from the Rum genre, visit Rum Music.