1.JOHN ZORN'S MASADA - Live in Jerusalem 1994 (Tzadik 7322) Finally!! The first installment of the Masada in concert odyssey is here and what a wonderful treasure it is! Recorded only 6 months after their first gigs in September of 1993, this double cd captures two outstanding sets from the Jewish homeland of Israel. Both the warm recording and delightful packaging by new Tzadik designer Heung - Heung Chin capture the special spirit that makes the live Masada such an uplifting experience. For those of us who have been lucky enough to have witnessed an amazing set of Masada live, it is the incredible interplay between Zorn, Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen & Joey Baron, that pushes these pieces past their written form studio versions and into a realm that is pure magic! The fun and challenge of playing these diverse and dynamic pieces translates to an energy that keeps both the players & listeners smiling, pushing each other and us to new heights of melodic beauty and frenzied ecstasy! There are too many moments of enchantment, too many cosmic pearls to mention here, but I will tell of a few. Within the mystical desert landscape of "Bith - Aneth," both John & Dave weave their horns in a constant q & a like response that is both elastic and connected like their dreamteam rhythm section. Zorn hits & holds these high pinched notes which sound like the cries of humans in pain or birds in flight, often reminding me of the long and varied history of the Jews - 5000 years of persecution and pride, sorrow and rejoice, confusion and communion. Them rambunctious, high falutin' stop and start tunes explode out of the speakers like crazed ghosts on speed. Dave's horn matches wits with the tireless, non - stop inventive prowess of Zorn's sax, no matter how high, fast or intense! Live, everyone always raves about the impossible feats that Joey constantly pulls off, here too, he is at the center of the whirlwind, swinging madly, providing sparks with his unique hands - on - drums naturalness. Greg's constant propulsion and throb is the glue that holds it all together. Utterly amazing on all counts! The heaven's will part for a measly $20.!!   

2.AHAVA RABA - Kete Kuf (Tzadik 7133) Ahava Raba are a marvelous German trad/modern klezmer quintet led by Simon Jakob Drees. Half of then tunes are originals by Simon, the other half are traditional tunes from Bulgaria, Armenia and Turkmenistan, often inspired from Simon's long journey into Asia and even the overtone vocalizing of the Tuvan throat singers can be heard. The instrumentation includes Simon on strings & lead vocals, clarinets, accordion, tuba (as bass) and percussion (but no drum set). Everyone sings, but not on every tune. The tunes are often medium tempo, with marimba and string led somber melodies, and suspense filled accordion & clarinet melodramas. Haunting songs with quirky layered vocals, Zappa - like with unexpected twists. The trad tunes might begin with Simon's droning vocals and strings, before jumping into quick Ivo Papasov - like wedding sections, but without Ivo's frenzied speed. Simon's arrangements of traditional tunes have a modern flavor, giving the entire cd an interesting flow. The originals have a nutty charm of their own as well, not unlike Pachora or the Paradox Trio. It ends with an avant accapella piece that rules! Another fine jewel from Zorn's radical Jewish culture series on Tzadik. As are all single cds on this great label - $14.   

3.MARK DE GLI ANTONI - Horse Tricks (Tzadik 7042) Mark Degliantoni, the talented sampler magician for the pop group Soul Coughing studied composition at the Manhattan School of Music and released his first recording in 1995 on the Avant label as part of the experimental composer collective Rough Assemblage. Horse Tricks is his first solo release and features many of his acclaimed musical colleagues in a variety of musical contexts showcasing the wide range of Mark's compositional interests. From instrumental trip - hop and rhythm tracks to ambient, minimalist and pieces of startling compositional complexity - Mark's astounding virtuosity, mastery of new media and instrumental inventiveness is sure to surprise and delight both diehard fans and newcomers alike. $14 (from KOCH solicitation sheet)   

4.CHRIS SPEED - Deviantics (Songlines 1524) After a half dozen excellent releases with Tim Berne'e Bloodcount, two fine Pachora cds, his work with Myra Melford and Dougie Bowne, this is Chris Speed's second recording as a leader. Chris's palette continues to expand, his tenor sax & clarinet playing, as well as his composing just get richer and stronger. His quartet feature the talents of up & coming trumpet great - Cuong Vu (from Saft/Vu), plus the Pachora rhythm team of Skuli Sverrisson (Mo Boma) on el. bass and Jim Black (Bloodcount also) on drums & melodica. The rhythm team is splendid throughout, shifting gears midstream, stopping on a dime and jumping into or providing the flow of ever - changing events. Considering how young Cuong Vu is, both he and Chris are perfect foils for the demanding compositions found here. Jim's eerie melodica drones and ultra - subtle small percussion flourishes also add a mysterious ambiance. That Pachora - esque middle eastern groove is only found here is small dosage, so this quartet can explore other pathways. One of the things I dig most about Chris Speed is the his endearing warm toned tenor, expansive and rich, out of the cool school, a sigh of relief from those who blow too hard from Traneland. His clarinet also is seems to be coming from a playful and pensive Jimmy Giuffre like sound. Cd release party for this fine work at the Knit Old Office on 16th & 17th. Bloodcount returns to the Knit Old Office on the following week - April 22nd through the 24th. Be there! $14.   

5.MYRA MELFORD/SAME RIVER, TWICE - Above Blue (Arabesque 142) This is the third release by Myra's all - star quintet featuring Dave Douglas, Chris Speed, Erik Friedlander & Michael Sarin. It captures their wonderful chemistry even better than their last Gramavision release. Myra wrote all of the pieces here and co - produced it to perfection with the ever amazing Dave Douglas. It is her composing and the balance of the strong talents involved, that makes this cd so wondrous. Erik has the difficult job of both being the bass pulse of the rhythm team, as well as bowing difficult lines that support and push the piano & horns to new heights, on his cello! Just last night, he knocked me out once more backing vocal improviser Makigami Koichi. On "Yet Can Spring," Myra provides a finger snapping 60's Blue Note like subdued funk groove, so both Chris & Dave can play simmering Jazz Messengers like solos, while Myra plays a great Don Pullen - like solo tribute. Pieces like "Be Melting Snow" can begin dense and dark before the light shines when Chris's clarinet breathes free, Dave starts to unleash a storm once again. Myra often composes tunes in an episodic way, with duos & trios well interspersed with full quintet sections, solos are often accompanied by rich interplay between all participants. Excellent drummer - Michael Sarin continues to show his prowess on all fronts, from nimble & delicate, to propulsive & swinging hard, fleshing out all the levels of rhythmic inventiveness needed. A mighty effort by all involved! $14.   

6.GARY LUCAS - @Paradiso (Oxygen Music Works 11) A live in Amsterdam 4 song 22 minute ep from one of our fave local guitar heroes, Gary Lucas does it again! A complete master of many styles, usually dealing with his trusty three guitars live - an electric, an acoustic & a national steel. All played through a myriad of electronic devices that he utilizes for infinite & overwhelming textures. He also has a knack for selecting unexpectedly cool covers, often turning trash into treasure. Here he opens with an original called "Rise Up to Be", before dazzling us with cosmic covers of Dollar Brand's "Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro", Kraftwork's "Autobahn" and southeast Asian work - "The Songstress on the Edge of Heaven" by San Min. On the opener, Gary's shimmering strumming shifts between various phasing flutters giving it a dreamlike haze, he lets fly numerous fuzzy spirits and sustained drones. The Dollar Brand piece sounds like a nifty soundtrack to a wind blown scene from a spaghetti western. Gary sets up a hypnotic repeating groove, before unleashing one of his breathtaking psychedelic mutant lead solos. Gary calls the Kraftwork tune "a German classic", but I always though it was hokey. His version is certainly more interesting, with his layers of fluctuating, electronic sounds. Gary concludes things with a Chinese pop tune from a soundtrack on his national steel. Once more he takes an oriental melody and plays it on an instrument usually made for the blues, and once again it works in a rather quaint way. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer, since Gary is known for playing two hour sets. Gary did contribute three pieces to the much anticipated upcoming Capt. Beefheart boxset of rarities, actually due out in May!! This ep costs $10.   

7.THURSTON MOORE..EVAN PARKER.WALTER PRATI - the promise (Materiali Sonori 90106) A surprisingly successful endeavor considering that many a avant/jazz snob would complain that Thurston shouldn't attempt to improvise with the grandfather of British free/jazz saxophone colossus - Evan Parker. No one forced Evan to do this, anywho. Thurston plays his usual six string el. guitar, Evan plays both soprano & tenor sax, while Walter Prati plays six string el. bass, live electronics plus doing most of the editing, mixing and production. There is a muted, subdued aura to much of this - occasional fractured notes rise slowly through a tentative stream. Walter coats the sax and guitar with a disorienting haze at times and lets his bass rumble thick and mysteriously. Events often move in slow motion before they erupt into a dark noise/stew. Evan and Thurston even wind up in a similar tonal environment when the guitar glows with somber feedback and the sax growls with an equally somber drone. Some of this reminds me of the ancient alien industrial landscape of early Music Improvisation Company from 30 years back when ECM began. A sacrilegious statement? I think not. I hear a lawnmower in the distance and it fits right in. The final selection is an interesting collage of all three voices of these musicians bombarded by Thurston's noisy guitar explosions. Also included at the end of the music is a multimedia track which can be manipulated by you, the listener, to create your own version of this unique trio. Sounds like a challenge! $14.   

8.ROSCOE MITCHELL & THE NOTE FACTORY - Nine to Get Ready (ECM 1651) A few weeks back there was a fascinating article on Roscoe Mitchell in the Sunday NY Times. It told of Roscoe's current life living and composing on his farm in Wisconsin. An original member of the AACM school, leader of the often brilliant Art Ensemble of Chicago for 30 years, as well as an incredible saxist, composer and conceptualist. It looks as though he is finally getting the recognition he has long deserved as a serious composer. This extraordinary release will certainly help... The Note Factory is an impressive double ensemble with two pianos, two basses & two drummers who include the ever amazing Matt Shipp & William Parker. The frontline features Roscoe on reeds, George Lewis on trombone & Hugh Ragin on trumpet. Their gig at the Knit a few years back was incredibly dense, almost too much so. This cd however is another thing entirely, thanks to the ever - meticulous Manfred Eicher - ECM's main producer and occasional pain in the tush (so say Matt). "Leola" is a beautiful, gentle, hushed dream - like prayer. Much of this has that ultra refined spacious quality of contemporary classical music. Roscoe shows a tender and bluesy side for his Art Ensemble cohort on "For Lester B" - delicate and touching. When the music finally breaks free, even then it never gets too dense, there is a constant sense of purpose. Never has Roscoe sounded so lyrical, rarely has his band sounded so jazzy and swung so fine, just like brief moments in the Art Ensemble. Hugh's horn and George's bone sound more jubilant than I can remember. It ends with luscious, touching gospel piece. Perfect! $15.   

9.SUNNY MURRAY & SABIR MATEEN - We Are Not at the Opera (Eremite 014) Yeah! This is the real thing. Where the muses connect and where two pioneers of sound exploration exchange dialogue. Sunny helped create the essence of free/jazz drums in the early 60's, when it all began. When Elvin Jones and Ed Blackwell were still dealing with the pulse/undertow, Sunny was sailing completely free with Cecil Taylor. Almost forty years later, he remains an enigma, the myth of freedom still within his grasp. He now lives in Paris where they treat our artists more seriously, instead of Philly where opportunity is lacking. He comes back to the US on rare occasion, so it is always a blast to see/hear what he is up to. This cd captures a live concert in June of '98 up in Amherst, Mass. - a powerful duo with saxist/flutist and former Philly cat from a generation or two younger - Sabir Mateen. There is nice ebb & flow, as Sabir spins his web of sax & flute sounds in and around Sunny's free but focused drums. It all builds to potent climaxes, before the energy turns to dust again. After all these years, Sunny has refined his playing as well, creating more drama, more storytelling, creating hills and valleys to give the proceedings more substance. Sabir also seems to be all over the place, putting himself into as many musical situations as humanly possible, he never seems to rest! There are moments of quiet resolve, which balance out the formidable storms just right. $14.   

10.DOPPELMOPPEL - Adventure Quebecoise (Victo 065) Each year at the Victoriaville Now Music Festival, there is always a couple concerts which stand out of the 25 or so sets, as the real mind blowers, the one gig no one of us attendees will ever forget. This release was one of those completely incredible sets. Doppelmoppel are an FMP all - star quartet with only one cd to their name. They consist of the unusual instrumentation of two trombones and two guitars - the legendary Bauer brothers, Konrad & Johannes on bones, plus Uwe Kropinski on acoustic guitar and Joe Sachse on electric guitar. Each of these four players has a distinctive and unique approach to their individual axe. Konrad often plays the long tones, while Johannes will spew forth choppy, twisted, quick - witted tromboning. Uwe's acoustic guitar seems to come from a classical background, often playing at a furious pace that rarely lets up and stuns all who witness his devilish approach. Joe's electric guitar uses little or no devices, comes from more of a jazz background and also dazzles us with flurries of activity and no distortion. Although the approaches on each of the same instruments are often so opposite in terms of their sound, they all balance each other perfectly and surprise us with the amazing results. A superb recording, this is that Victo magic at it's finest! $14.   

11.HANS TAMMEN - Endangered Guitar (Nur/Nicht/Nur 05245) A few years back, the current girlfriend - Debbie of my good pal brother Russell, convinced me into checking out this unknown German duo of Ms. Ursel Schlicht on piano and Mr. Hans Tammen on prepared guitar at the Knit. I was bowled over by their fine improv and have seen them a few other times, later taking copies of their cool cd to sell in at DMG. Hans played a fascinating solo el. guitar set at DMG last Sunday, exploring & manipulating the guitar in a variety of ways, taking off from where Fred Frith once started. It was great to watch how he made all these odd sounds, but here is his first solo release in a nifty tin container on a German label that specializes in experimental sound production, not necessarily music (instruments made from bathtubs, trees & bowed styrofoam...). Some of these sounds are rather extreme, tortured noise scrapings, an alien world of bizarre textures, hard - to - believe sounds escape from my stereo, the bowing of metal resting on top of vibrating guitar strings, a yanked out tape measure violently squished against the same strings, a journey through the land of unending sonic operations and an infinite index of metals. Hans also leads a guitar quartet with Roger Kleier & two other German fellows and he will be back at DMG in a duo with violinist Christoph Irmer on June 20th. In the meantime, you can purchase this challenging work of art for $14.   

12.ANDREW DRURY - Polish Theatre Posters (Red Toucan 9314) w/ Briggan Krause, Eyvind Kang and Timothy Young from Zony Mash. Andrew is a new drummer & composer in town, hailing from the Seattle area. This is his first release as a leader on the now defunct Red Toucan label, it is produced by Wayne Horvitz and it is pretty great! Andrew has composed all of these pieces and has done a fine job of writing demanding, intricate and ever - changing pieces to keep these seven players on there toes. The music is often busy, swirling tight sections, where the strings & saxes often must fly quickly together. The ubiquitous Briggan Krause continually stands out with his distinctive slashing alto sound, his duo with Andrew is amazing and tenor saxist Craig Flory is a new wonder (to me) as well. We even get a Mr. Bungle like power rocker that would push the patience of a jazz snob towards the end of this cd. Is that Eyvind I hear on wah - wah violin?!? Not too surprising. Let us welcome Andrew Drury to NYC. $14.   

13.PIP PYLE - 7 Year Itch (Voiceprint 198) Finally! It should be called "7 month itch,' since that's how long its been since Pip gave me a copy at the Brainville gig at the Knit last September and it has been impossible to get copies to sell because it is on the problematic label - Voiceprint. This is the first solo effort by Canterbury wonder drummer & that lovable lush - Pip Pyle from Gong, Hatfield, National Health, and Brainville (Shimmy cd in May?). It was recorded over 7 years, hence the title and features the likes of Dave Stewart, Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Greaves, Didier, Jakko and more likely players. It does include mucho insightful & painfully honest liner notes from Pip. Musically, it is not quite what one would expect from the ultimate progressive drummer/composer. It is quite diverse & interesting, an odd smart pop gem, with a number of surprises. On the poppy side, "Seven Sisters" is one of those wistful ballads sung so nicely by Richard Sinclair in that lovely Hatfield style, with majestic guitar & horn parts. The one cover here is a rather lush version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" featuring Barbara Gaskin & Dave Stewart, with a twisted tribal ending. On the title tune, a drunken John Greaves spews forth venomous vocals & fuzz bass to give us all nightmares. Guitarist Jakko Jakszyk plays a great nasty guitar solo on one tune & sings loverly on "Long On" with more fine, complex horns parts to ponder. Even on drum machine, Pip remains ever inventive. Nice to hear Phil Miller pull off a stunning guitar solo on "Shipwrecked!" "L'Etat Des Choses" features layers of Hugh Hopper's fuzz bass landscapes with loads of loops from Pip and is like floating in a vat of warm molasses, quite dark, fetal and cosmic! The closer is a nifty South African march with Elton Dean & Didier on saxes, a blast of total fun! Thanks Pip! $17.   

14.JAMES EMERY SEPTET - Spectral Domains (enja 9344) Emery carefully waits years between each great release, this one features his new downtown all - star septet with Marty Ehrlich & Chris Speed on reeds, Mark Feldman on violin, Michael Formanek on bass, Kevin Norton on percussion, Gerry Hemingway on drums and James Emery on acoustic guitar. Emery is a thoughtful and provocative composer, drawing on the control & dryness of contemporary classical music, the flash & swing of jazz and even the emotive warmth of the blues. He studied with Leroy Jenkins in the 70's, and still has that kaleidiscopic multi - genre swirl of ideas to draw from. He has chosen just the right musicians to give life and nuance to his unique music. This is an all acoustic date, giving this music a quaint freshness, rich in orchestral colors. Emery has arranged three covers here - Mingus' rare conquestador - like "Far Well, Mill Valley" which is given an odd stuttering, yet impassioned reading, led by Formanek's forceful bass. Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle" also gets a cool fractured treatment with James' guitar exploding ultra - quick lines, not unlike Dr. Chadbourne's craziness. On "Cosmology" for solo, guitar James completely goes for it, unleashing torrents of ideas in a flash. Emery even takes Ornette & Pat Metheny's "Kathelin Gray" and turns it into a delightful duo for guitar & Chris Speed's clarinet. Still, it is Emery's own composing which is the most challenging, tight pieces which jump in varied directions, putting everyone involved through hoops of fire. Although Ehrlich, Speed and especially Feldman take a number of amazing usually short solos, it the constantly shifting textures, ideas and furious lines that show off the brilliance of this cd. $14.   

15.FAUST - ravvivando (Klangbad 2160 Those legendary German avant/prog/noise mutants are at it again! Thirty years later, although they say they never disbanded, just crawled into a basement, their current gigs are still out to scare anyone willing to deal with their confrontational extreme noise making and live fire rituals. This is a studio effort and they appear to have six members and their sound is somewhat more refined. Cosmic, jamming, krautrock, throbbing, mesmerizing, noise, brain - melting coolness!! Even though many of the pieces are short, they are connected with a growling, primitive, tribal, flow. Spooky, whispered, haunting vocals float on top or are buried beneath the din. At points, it reminds me of mid - 70's Amon Duul II, when the sound effects and melting instrumentals mutate into this otherworldly force. Sometimes the fog clears and a bit of sunshine comes through, but not for very long. The churning primal rhythms always provide some bottoming glue and sometimes that's all there is. Slowly the thread becomes unraveled, the throb & growl mutate into a dense mass before fading into silence once again. Will they ever make it back to the US?!? One can certainly hope so. In the meantime, grab this for $17.   

16.GRAHAM HAYNES - Organik Mechanix (ION 2006) Graham remains an enigma. His old man is the legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, who has played with the likes of Bird, Eric Dolphy & Trane and continues today as an important jazz hero. Graham is a fine jazz trumpeter, who has paid his dues with that music, but has been making records for years employing various genres - world, ambient, space, dub, funk - never one to give in to purists. He seems to always take chances, ever experimenting with infinite textures, rarely soloing like most jazzfolk do. In the past few years, Bill Laswell has utilized his sounds on the Sacred System projects. OM sounds mostly like a solo project, rich in varied ambient textures, each sound selected one grain at a time. A hypnotic tambura - like drone glows while occasional trumpet notes flutter and echo through drifting resonance. Calming, somber, the subtle clanging of peaceful percussion, swirling samples of spinning electrons. The title cut is reminiscent of Lothar & the Hand People's "Space Hymn," I keep expecting to hear the refrain - "standing on the moon..." For someone like myself who does listen to too much ambient drivel, I find this cd to be rather engaging. It doesn't just sit there, it moves, the scenery slowly changes and things get interesting. Perhaps we'll ask our local expert - Emperor Mike what he thinks. It has taken the Ion label almost a year to get this out, so let us be glad it is here. $12.   

17.RAPHE MALIK - ConSequences (Eremite 013) w/ Sabir Mateen, William Parker & Denis Charles. Raphe Malik consistently blows me away. From the time I checked him out with Cecil Taylor some decade or so ago, to set with his current unit at the Knit last year, this cat can blow like no other trumpeter - he is always on fire, pushing his band mates to extremes!! Every recording is also a winner of fireworks and passion. This outstanding cd is a live set from the Fire in the Valley fest of July 1997, with an amazing quartet of NY's finest - Sabir Mateen on alto sax only, William Parker on contrabass & the late great Denis Charles on drums. Both William & Denis are perfect foils for each, both buzzing, humming, vibrating and giving strength to Raphe & Sabir's constant flight to the heavens. Both horn players roar in complete communion, outdoing each other at every turn, blastin' the rafters off the place. A constant joy from beginning to end. Yours for $14.   

18.JEAN DEROME - Strand, Under the Dark Cloth (Ambiances Magnetiques 064) This is Jean's elegant and haunting soundtrack for a film by John Walker which is a portrait of the fascinating American photographer & filmmaker - Paul Strand. Derome utilizes a 12 piece ensemble, which includes his usual collaborators Rene Lussier, Pierre Cartier and Pierre Tanguay. Strand led a long & interesting life (1890 - 1976), traveling, taking photographs and making films, from New York to Gaspe to New Mexico to Mexico itself, before moving to Europe, from France to Italy to Scotland to Egypt to Ghana and back to France. The film and soundtrack capture Strand's lifelong trek. The music here is rich, varied, like the life it portrays. There are four themes explored throughout, each one weaves strands which are often stark, pure, often minimal, graceful, delicate, provocative, contemporary classical moments, exquisite folk melodies, breathtaking, occasionally sad, yet always filled with the strength of an ever - changing journey of captivating images. Jean Derome has done an incredible job here, the music stands on its own as pure poetry in sound, an enriching experience is in store for all of us who listen closely. Bravo! $14.   

19. LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS - St. Vincent's Newsboy Home (Item Recordings 9901) Dedicated to the Irish orphan newsboys of the past, who often starved or froze to death on the streets in big cities across the land. The cover shows grainy b&w image of a child contemplating a flower, while the back shows a bleak gray photo of an anonymous city buildings. The music in between the two covers hovers between states of hopeful and hopelessness. Unlike many of Loren's recordings in recent years, this one covers short pieces taken over a four year period ('95 - '98), rather than from one live or studio date. Although the underlying theme is one of darkness, Loren has chosen some of his more uplifting moments to explore. Everything here is quite subdued, distant notes hang between deep pauses, angels with arms outstretched reaching for sinners searching for salvation. Loren & I recently checked out our fave porn star - Sunset Thomas doing her thing on stage, are we those sinners?!? Of course, there are a few moments of transcendence, where the notes swell to epic proportions and hope reappears. This music demands patience and often moves at a snails pace, yet if you give it a chance, you will be transported. $10.   

20.ANTHONY BRAXTON - News from the 70's (New Tone 21750) Saxophonist/composer/theorist Anthony Braxton is considered to be a god by those who recognize the vastness of his vision. His recorded output is immense, only Steve Lacy & David Murray come close, as far as other living avant heroes. This release is cause of joyous celebration since it contains rare live recordings from '71 - '76, an era when Braxton was only releasing studio lps, mostly on Arista/Freedom and still not available on cd. For many, this is our favorite period of Braxton. This exciting collection contains two solo alto sax pieces, a rare duo with Dave Holland for clarinet & cello, and three extraordinary quartet works. Solo sax piece "8C" from '71 shows a surprisingly lyrical side to our hero, perhaps indicative of his love of Paul Desmond's playing, while the "8g" solo shows the stutters, splats, extended sounds & gut - wrenching intensity that inspired John Zorn to pick up the sax and Phil Woods to puke in a blindfold test. The cello/clarinet duo "Comp.1" from Town Hall in '72 is superb - both Braxton & Holland are in top form sailing all over their instruments, non - stop inventive jaw - dropping ideas & execution. The first great Braxton quartet included Holland on bass and Barry Altschul on drums, with either Kenny Wheeler on flugel or George Lewis on trombone - you couldn't get any better than these groups! Here we get one of each, both are outstanding. Kenny Wheeler's recent recordings have bored many of us, but in this quartet he is pushed to the limits. "Comp. 23E" is a cosmic drone piece with buzzing bass & fluid mallads at the bottom and stratuspheric sopranino & flugel spinning on top. Kenny also appears on another rare quartet piece "Comp.2" with two lesser known, but equally impressive Euro players - Antoine Duhamel on piano & Francois Mechali on bass. It is Braxton's composing that really shines here, with hairpin turns & twisted harmonies to challenge them & us. His alto sax is also on fire, squealing & erupting. The final quartet with George Lewis - "Four Winds," opens with that delightful "Conference of the Birds" theme, before explosive solos by George & Anthony take over! Spirits rejoice, rare treasures from the world of Braxton, circa early to mid 70's are here! $17.   

21.MARTIN TETREAULT & OTOMO YOSHIDE - 21 situations (Ambiances Magnetiques 069) Both Martin from Montreal & Otomo from Japan are turntable innovators whose unique sounds collide and connect in all sorts of weird but focused ways. Martin often plays & takes apart his turntables, hence the sounds of technology breaking down, often without the use of records. Otomo also plays sampler & cds in addition to turntables usually with records. Each of these 21 pieces are short and seem to deal with a few areas of sound at a time. Still, each piece is fascinating as it explores different terrains one at a time. Obviously both of these wizards have developed their own worlds of sound, sometimes twisted and chaotic, sometimes recognizable sound bytes emerge - is that Eye or David Moss I hear in there? One day when the evil music industry has finally gotten rid of records for good, we will be nostalgic for the sounds of scratchy records, skipping pops & repeats and the warmth that only a good virgin vinyl lp can provide. Those days are not so far off. My young niece of about seven years recently asked her father what a record is/was!?! How sad. An enchanting art form that is slowly disappearing. Available only on cd. $14.   

22.ALAN LICHT - Rabbi Sky (Siltbreeze 76) Alan is a friend and someone who I admire more and more. He wears many hats - an innovative rock & experimental guitarist, a film curator (for Tonic) and an excellent writer on minimalist music (for Halana & the Wire). He has always injected a certain sorcery in his guitar playing with solo projects, duos with Loren Mazzacane & Dean Roberts, the under - recognized but great Run On (now gone) and currently with Will Oldham in Bonnie Prince Billy. He seems to spend a great deal of time & care with each of his solo guitar & feedback recordings, as well as the accompanying liner notes. 'Rabbi Sky' is his new solo project for guitar & chord organ, his inspiration comes from a diverse array of sources - Michael Snow (CCMC), Sun Ra, Sky Saxon, Samuel Beckett, LaMonte Young, Steve Reich and Terry Fox. Both pieces are long excursions of cosmic/bent/drone layered guitar & organ journeys. The title cut opens with buzzing streams of tortured notes with bugs or birds chirping ominously through the violent bowing(?) of electric guitar strings, this goes straight into a Terry Riley like wave of organ drone a bit more serene as it winds down and then back into a metallic string tapping mind - bending haze. Quite powerful & probing. The other piece here is "All Blues" and it is a dense fuzz drenched acid bath with mutant layers of distortion. Be brave and fall into this cauldron of mesmerizing sounds. $14.   

23.ROSCOE MITCHELL QUARTET - In Walked Buckner (Delmark 510) Along with Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell is the elder statesman of the AACM school of infinite variety and exploration, that goes beyond jazz and into other worlds or disciplines. He works in a variety of demanding situations, the Art Ensemble included. This is his so - called jazz quartet, at least instrumentation & personnel wise, with veteran players Jodie Christian on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and Tootie Heath on drums. To call this fine work a jazz recording, would be misleading, there is much more in store. The opener "Off Shore" gathers drifting delicate small sounds like flowers floating on a peaceful lake. This subtle vibe continues on the aptly titled "Squeaky" for soprano sax squeaks and the graceful flow of the rest of the qt. There is an odd balance at work here with the chug - a - lug mainstream tenor on the title tune and the goofy inside clarinet & mellow flute of "The Le Dreher Suite." Things start to heat up & go further out on the tenor sax led "Three Sides of a Story," with both Roscoe & Jodie pushing the qt. skywards. "Fly Over" also floats spacious sounds slowly around in an organic way, while "Opposite Sides" closes this disc with peaceful doubled bass recorders. This is an odd smorgasboard of styles, that usually works. $14.   

24.ZORN/CHADBOURNE/CORA/KONDO - USA Concerts East (Ictus 5044) Italian percussionist Andrea Centazzo came to the US in Nov/Dec of '78 and played with a host of improvisers in NYC, Alabama, Mississippi, Woodstock, San Diego & the Bay Area, long before any of these players were well known. Andrea recorded these gigs and released much of this material on his own Ictus record label. Along with Frank Lowe and early Zorn & Chadbourne lps, it was the first time that many of the early downtowners were documented. This cd collects live material from '78 - '80, has three unreleased tracks and it is the first time any of this rare/historic material is on cd. Zorn fanatics take note, he is only on the opening 4 minute track, still this is a fascinating collection of mostly duos & trios, plus the one sextet track with Zorn on mouthpieces, birdcalls & a cup of water, Polly Bradfield on violin (using a comb & toothbrush, mostly), Chadbourne on guitars, crazy trumpeter Toshinori Kondo, Tom Cora on cello & Centazzo's percussion. There is joyous, hilarious and demented innocence to all of this, unlike anything else at that time. Noteworthy are the duos & trio with guitarist Davey Williams & LaDonna Williams on strings & vocals, recorded in the deep south, also pretty early in their avant careers. When I first reckoned upon these players in '79/'80 at Studio Henry, I was confused and unsure of how to take these musicians. With Fred Frith's help and some patience, I realized how important, extraordinary and new this world was. This cd captures that early charm and challenge quite well. A blast for $17.   

25.SUN RA & HIS INTERGALACTIC ARKESTRA - Outer Space Employment Agency (Total Energy 3021) Whoa! This is live from the legendary Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival in 1973 and it is one amazing concert!! Sun Ra's 16 piece Arkestra include 4 saxes, 2 trumpets, 2 bassists, 6 drummers or percussionists, plus the vocals of June Tyson & space age keyboards of Sun Ra himself. From the very first note of "Discipline 99," all completely explodes onstage with torrents of focused noise, blasting horns, keyboard and percussion insanity, preparing us for take - off from the planet earth on up to Sun Ra's home world - Saturn! John Gilmore goes for the jugular, unleashing shrieks & screams from his tenor like stampede of mad elephants. Things calm down for the melancholy blues of "Love in Outer Space, " while the horns create odd counter melodies to keep things slightly off balance. The bizarre quilt of dense frenzied voodoo percussion is featured on "Watusa" - this was probably a feature for Sun Ra's dancers, I can see them now with the their cosmic costumes in my mind's eye. The final medley includes a number of favorite tunes, as well as Sun Ra's special call & response testimony on the limits of mankind's place in the universe. Sun Ra's philosophy explained how to put the idle workers of post - industrial America back to work outside of the planet Earth. Better Mr. Ra than all the scummy politicians with their empty promises & fat wallets. Amen. "Don't give me that jive jack, slip it in your pocket 'til we get back. I'm running out to space just as fast as I can & I ain't got time to shake your hand!" $14.   

26.CHICAGO UNDERGROUND TRIO - Possible Cube (Delmark 511) The new Chicago scene continues to expand beyond all expectations. Diverse groups of players interact, tear down the barriers between supposedly defined genres to make new music that defies simple categorization. This is the second cd by Chicago Underground, first a duo of Rob Mazurek on cornet, vibes & electronics and percussionist Chad Taylor, now a trio/qt. with Noel Kupersmith on bass and Jeff Parker on acoustic guitar. Each piece here creates a different mood, from a solid, smoking jazz cornet led trio to spacy electronic excursions to afropop like marimba grooves. The sorrowful dirge of "The Enormous Room" reaches up from the heart to touch us all. The diverse earthy quality of Don Cherry's around the world adventures seems an obvious influence. Freedom or discipline, flying or walking, bursting or holding back - it is all here! That Miles like spooky organ and lush horn seduces the senses on "Into Another You" with it's hypnotic groove bubbling from underneath. "Munir e Salete" is a precious lullaby for marimba & muted horn. This is an extremely well balanced trio, never held back by their size, making often grand gestures from minimal elements. $14.   

27.HIPPOPOTAMUS - 3 Sounds (Groovy Sounds 02) Nifty new instrumental post - rock guitar trio from NY. Well written tunes that often shift through a variety of changes/scenery, never too fast but moderately paced. Although instrumental, there seems to be little of surf's twang sound or the overdone constant time signature changes of much prog - rock. This music is more about the evoking different moods, the creation of different environments. Guitar notes sometimes ring out and hang in the air, giving well placed space to an often neurotically overstuffed cityscape. Angst is kept to a minimum, but does slowly appear when two guitar parts are piled up and altered somewhat, selectively making things more interesting. Things get even better and weirder on the tunes with their guests - Project 3 (on trumpet & keyboards). This music has an uplifting quality, since it doesn't seem to come from the heart of darkness. Nice to hear stimulating music that doesn't hit one in the face, but rather takes its own time to get there. Check them out the next time they play the Knit, it will be worth the trip. $11.   

28.MARTIN TETREAULT, SACHIKO M, YASUHIRO OTANI, OTOMO YOSHIHIDE - Four Focuses (Amoebic 02) A solo/duo project in which none of the participants play actual musical instruments is one way to look at this endeavor. Martin & Otomo play turntables, Sachiko is on sampler & Otani is on computer. Each gets one solo piece and Martin gets three duo pieces with each sound sculpter. It is interesting to hear how each of these sound wizards differ in their manipulation of material. Martin dissects his turntables and plays prepared records - unnerving, slightly mutated machinery & sandpaper rubbing the stylus. Otani creates subtle sonic soundscapes by manipulating samples with his computer - sped up tapes, telephone transmissions & delicate electronic snippets appear. Sachiko also deals in more restrained samples - minimal drum machine, slight electronic fragments & soft buzzers populate her piece. Otomo likes to push the envelope by utilizing turntable feedback - reminiscent of sound & scare of a dentist's drill in your own mouth, perhaps not as painful, but close. The duos do a good job of combining forces to show how these sonic technicians can find a common area of exploration. This is not really music making but more stimulating environmental studies to ponder. $16.   

29.ETHIOPIQUES - Vol. 4 - Ethio Jazz Instrumentals '69 - '74 (Buda Musique 82964) This five volume series of Ethiopian music has been garnering mucho praise everywhere - The Wire & The Voice in particular. This volume seems to be everyone's fave since it is instrumental and a total gift from the heavens. The extensive liner notes explain how difficult it was for this music to survive in the repressive environment of Ethiopea, how little outside influences were allowed. This music is a completely unique blend of brooding ethnic electric jazz with occasional psychedelic toned electric guitars. On the third track, incredible suave/smooth tenor sax & other horns cascade together in a warm and endearing way, that sort of Ben Webster like velvety tone, known to heat up even the coldest of hearts. Even Duke Ellington makes an appearance of the cd cover, with a lyre under his arm The keyboards found here of electric piano & organ are rather Sun Ra like in their slightly bent way. The electric guitars also have that cool 60's jazz/rock sound with occasional wah wah & fuzztone, an innocent approach way before there was the fusion bastardization. Each time I play this wonderful gem of cd in the store, someone always grabs a copy to purchase. Now it is your turn, a mesmerizing treasure hunt for $14.   

30.MICHAEL J. SCHUMACHER - Room Piece (Beekman) Michael is known by many as a member of the rogue superpower Donald Miller Trio but he's also the owner of Studio Five Beekman, a sound installation and multimedia gallery located near NYC's city hall. 'Room Piece' is one of those sound installations. Based on the prime numbers 13, 17, 23, 29, 37 and 43, the work is computer generated except for a bit of guitar by the composer and a cameo appearance by vocalist Elizabeth Lohninger. In its original form, Room Piece is a composed of a collection of related smaller sections played back by a computer program over a multi - channel sound system. Sections overlap and show up unexpectedly or occasionally. In the stereo version on this CD, the piece unfolds slowly, gradually morphing from one strange but beautiful place to another. A cool CD of mysterious electronic music from a composer deserving wider recognition. $10   

(review by David Beardsley, curator of http:/DownTownMusicGallery.com)   

Studio Five Beekman is on the net here:  
http://www.virtulink.com/immp/studio5/index.htm 

Some bands just "are". What I mean is that their signature sound seems to have no predecessors and the paths that they pave aren't easily followed either. With that said I can then only say "What a month"! Tasty new stuff from Neurosis and Emperor to sear your metallic tongues. While on the dance front we have new titles from Underworld and KMFDM. There must be some kind of cosmic convergence or something apocalyptic going on this April, read on...   
 

Neurosis - Times of Grace (Relapse)  [RIYL: as if any other band could compare!]  

Yep, the mighty NEUROSIS is back with another slab of dense, neo - tribal, apoca - mystic sludge - core. Boy, does this disc kick ass!!! Furthering the sound first found on Enemy Of The Sun and nearly perfected on Through Silver In Blood, Times Of Grace seems to offer little new and exciting by way of progression. Songs are little longer perhaps, the sampling that was sometimes intrusive and just seemed like filler is gone... blah, blah, blah. This is at first glance though because, like all Neurosis stuff, the subtleties and the genius show thru only after repeated torturi - eh... listenings. Suddenly you just GET IT and the talented songwriting shines forth and makes your pathetic little attempts at metal - crafting all the more so. Good thing you have this disc to fill the void between you and them. Another high water mark set, trust Mike on this one and go get it, money well spent.   
4 1/2 Crowns.   

V/A - (Steve) Reich Re - Mixed (Nonesuch) [RIYL: ...?]  

When heard in the context presented here (re - mixes by different electronica artists) Reich's work is easily seen as a progenitor of the genre's many styles. So smoothly does his work integrate in the hand's of these manipulators that one would think that it was the master himself working in a new style. Blissful.  
3 1/2 Crowns.   

KMFDM - Adios (Wax Trax/TVT) [RIYL: KMFDM]  

Well, here we have KMFDM's 10th (and supposedly, final) album. As good as any other that they've done and STILL miles ahead of the wannabe's this disc will be an apropos farewell. This from a band who are as consistently innovative now as they were 12 years ago. Add to their list of pluses how funny and diverse they were. To leave now, as good as they ever were, if just slightly under the height of their powers, is so... KMFDM. Tongues planted firmly in their collective cheeks, they ride into the sunset and the Industrial Dance world sadly loses another giant. Dim lights... cue applause. (An excellent album despite recent tragic events)  
4 Crowns.   

Pissing Razors - Cast Down The Plague (Noise)  [RIYL: Skinlab, Machine Head, Pantera, Sepultura]  

Gee, one more name to add to the list of bands that fall under the banner "Heavy - Without - Being - Death/Hardcore - Without - Being - Hardcore" or, as I've come to refer to it - Pitbull Metal. Competent follow - up from this Texas based group of malcontents, but nothing original or innovative to add to this soon - to - be - crowded genre. Much better than Pro - Pain, not nearly as good as Skinlab. Produced by Andy Sneap whom I hold personally responsible for the lack of differentiation between this style's acts. 3 Crowns   

Sacramentum - Thy Black Destiny (Century Media) [RIYL: Naglfar, Prophanity, Dissection]  

Vicious? You want vicious? Razor sharp guitars will shred your flesh, while the sheer aggression bludgeons your bowels into pulp. This is Swedish Black/Death at it's best with ultra - tight production and hate to spare. You want this!!!  
4 Crowns   

We - The Square Root Of Negative One (Asphodel)  [RIYL: Squarepusher, Goldie, Roni Size]  

Somewhat more listenable than their experimental Drum & Bass contemporaries, We have crafted another fine CD of dance - yo - ass - off beats, perplexing sound scapes, soothing chilled - out zones and whatever. Thoroughly enjoyable without a single letdown track. Buy...dance.  
3 3/4 Crowns   

Underworld - Beaucoup Fish (V2)  [RIYL: Aphex Twin, Autechre, Meat Beat Manifesto]  

More brilliance from Underworld. If you like what they do (utterly brilliant and innovative I.D.M.), this won't disappoint. I still wish they'd drop the rock star - ish vocals and just concentrate on the music, not that the music needs any more concentration. In truth, once again, they've proven just how much catching up the rest of the genre has to do.  
4 Crowns.   

Urchin - s/t (Waveform)  [RIYL: DJ Honda, DJ Shadow, et al]  

Beats. Mad beats. Phat beats. Hip - hop stylings without the vocals, add to this some deep atmospherics and lounge samples and you've got one of the hottest Trip - Hop pieces released in the last 2 years.   
3 1/2 Crowns.   

Emperor - IX Equilibrium (Century Media)  [RIYL: Satyricon, Setherial]  

FURY!!! What hath we done to deserve such punishment?!? Closer to the stylings of Sacramentum or Naglfar on this outing than say... Limbonic Art, Emperor still manage to keep things utterly Black. In fact this release doesn't so much leave behind old sounds and styles as expand the concept of Black Metal. They even flirt with Prog - rock!!! Gone are the overdone reverbs of past releases (which I liked and miss), gone are the over - the - top keys of Ihsahn (which I liked and miss), gone also is the bass player as they are a 3 piece again. The overall feel of this piece is more mid - tempo than previous outings, but this just adds to the greater density and when the blast beats kick in, your ears are carpet bombed into submission. However, despite all the changes, some things remain true, Ihsahn's amazing vocals, the brilliant songwriting, the balls - out viciousness all amplified by thicker production and a lighter layering of atmosphere than on past releases. This is and will be THE Black Metal release of '99.   
4 3/4 Crowns.   

Prophanity - Stronger Than Steel (Death)  [RIYL: see Sacramentum review]  

Once again we have a band that's as good as any other of their ilk, but who fail to offer anything new or heavier or sicker or faster or slower or louder or softer to another quickly burning out, overcrowded genre - Swedish Black/Death. It'll get you thru the night but fails to raise the bar one inch.  
3 1/4 Crowns.   

Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions (Nuclear Blast America)  [RIYL: Satyricon, Emperor]  

Ahh, finally a winner! For those of you who wish Cradle Of Filth would just get off their asses and get HEAVY, here's your answered prayer (answered by Hell that is). Imagine all the spectacle, talent, fury and just plain evil of COF, but produced at the ABYSS studio by the hand of the master - Peter Tagtgren. You'd get the wicked soul searing that COF promise but can't deliver with their Judas Priest/Journey style production. I guess that these comparisons put Dimmu Borgir in an unfavorable light as mere rip - offs, but trust me, if pushed correctly, these hellions will BLOW C.O.F. off the map with this one.  
4 Crowns.   

The Crown - Hell Is Here (Metal Blade)  [RIYL: Gehennah, Rocking Dildos]  

Imagine Discharge or The Exploited becoming Death Metal acts and then... you know what? That's enough.   
2 Crowns.   

V/A - This is Solid State (Solid State)  [RIYL: Earth Crisis, Integrity, Turmoil]  

Solid State is the Tooth and Nail sub - label that features heavy - as - reinforced - concrete style hardcore/metal bands who just happen to be born again Christians. Just imagine your typical (for today) hardcore and throw in the occasionally intelligible "Jesus/God/Salvation" and you'll get the picture. An excellent label sampler and a bargain to boot at only $5 for 16 trax.  
4 Crowns.   

VNV Nation - Praise The Fallen (Wax Trax/TVT)  [RIYL: Apoptygma Berzerk, Individual Totem]  

Industrial music with weak vocals... SUCKS!!! When the scene moved away from the shout/sing - thru - distortion - box - and - reverb style it once thrived on, it stopped thriving. What we have here is basically kick - ass techno/industrial dance beats that contain all the menace of F.L.A. or Leatherstrip with lame vocals that do the whole no justice. It's like a fresh bowl of Jell - o Pudding that got shpritzed with the whipped cream that you noticed too late had expired. Basically that sux.  
2 3/4 Crowns (4 if the vox was better) 

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