An Exciting Week of Cosmic Hoopla from:


George Lewis! Jim O'Rourke! Julianna Barwick & Ikue Mori! Nicole Mitchell! Henry Kaiser! Otomo Yoshihide New Jazz Quartet! Umberto Petrin! Gratkowski/Lehn/Mandershied/Blume: Shift!

Andrew Bishop! Adam Kruz! Adam Kolker! David Binney! Artichaut Orchestra & Les Rhinoceros! Brian Ferneyhough! Gerard Grisey! Books by Michael Hurley & Byron Coley!

Plus Archival Discs from.. Legendary Pink Dots! Controlled Bleeding! Bootsy! Wild Magnolias! Howlin' Wolf! African Head Charge! Creation Rebel! New Age Steppers! Augustus Pablo! Lee "Scratch" Perry & Adrian Sherwood!

Martin Archer's Discus Label with Derek Bailey, Julie Tippetts, Chris Cutler, Simon H Fell, and Rhodri Davies!! More RARE Hikashu Japanese CD reissues..

And a horde of out-of-print Splasch CDs!




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DMG 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!


THIS SUNDAY, May 29th.. from 9pm 'til 1am at Bowery Poetry Club!


Featuring:
Louis Belogenis, Shanir Blumenkranz, Michael Wimberley!
Weasel Walter, Peter Evans, Sam Pluta!
Burnt Sugar & Special Guests!


The Bowery Poetry Club is located at 308 Bowery (Between Houston and Bleecker) Take F train to 2nd Ave or the 6 train to Bleecker
Admission: $15

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The DMG Free Weekly In-Store Performance Series Continues With:


June 5th Double-Hearder:
6pm: BEN STAPP & Friends!
7pm: JESSE DULMAN - Solo Tuba!


Sunday, June 12th - Check out the Vision Fest - No In-Store!


Sunday, June 19th - 6pm - MATANA ROBERTS - Rare Solo Set!
Come Celebrate the Birthday of MC BruceLee & Father's Day!


Sunday, June 26th ESP Label Release Celebration Featuring:
6pm: ELI KESZLER - Solo Percussion & Homemade Instruments!
7pm: ALAN SONDHEIM - Obscure String Instruments & Assorted Weirdness!


Saturday, July 2nd at 6pm: Rare Saturday Duo Set Featuring:
DANIEL LEVIN on cello & TORBJORN ZETTERBERG on bass!


Sunday, July 10th Double-Header -
6pm: CREPUSCULAR ACTIVITY Featuring: YUKARI- Flutes & CARLO COSTA - Drums!
7pm: KYOKO KITAMURA & JEN BAKER - Voice & Trombone!


Sunday, July 17th at 6pm:
SIMON JERMYN / CHRISTOF KNOCHE / JOE HERTENSTEIN !
Electric Bass / Alto & Soprano Sax / Drums - New Collective Trio!


Sunday, July 24th at 6pm: RAS MOSHE & THE MUSIC NOW ENSEMBLE!


Sunday, July 31st at 6pm: JAMES FALZONE - Solo Clarinet!



Sunday, August 28th at 6pm:
ANDREA PENSADO & ADRIANA DE LOS SANTOS - Argentinian Duo Performing:
Solos & Duos of Voice, Laptop, Amplified Ethnic Violin & Electronics!


Rare Monday Gig - Monday, August 29th:
6pm: MURAL with KIM MYHR / JIM DENLEY / INGAR ZACH!
Norwegian/Australian Tabletop Guitar/Extended Sax/Unusual Percussion Trio!


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New on Tzadik!

GEORGE E LEWIS - Les Excercices Spirituels (Tzadik 8081; USA) Composer, scholar, computer wizard and trombonist extraordinaire George Lewis is one of the world's most distinguished musicians, and Les Exercices Spirituels is one of his greatest and most ambitious CDs to date. Featuring three new chamber compositions (two from 2010) performed by three brilliant New Music ensembles the music blends composition, improvisation and electronic processing into a dynamic and compelling new aggregate. The title piece is one of Lewis' true masterpieces, a colorful and dynamic composition with a philosophical base that moves from moment to moment with elegance and endless fascination. It receives a definitive performance by the Ensemble Erik Satie. Coupled here with Hello Mary Lou for large ensemble and electronics and Ikons, an acoustic octet written for the Vancouver Olympiad, this is a CD that will be discussed and listened to for many years to come. Fascinating. TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
CD $14

ARTICHAUT ORCHESTRA - T For Teresa (Tzadik 8161; USA) Featuring four young musicians of diverse artistic backgrounds, the Artichaut Orkestra is a fabulous new ensemble out of Toulouse, France. Led by a colleague of the great modern klezmer David Krakauer, they brilliantly mix jazz, klezmer and classical music, blending the energy of rock with the unpredictable creativity of improvisation. Their debut recording presents eight original compositions of delicacy, strength and a touch of madness. Original new Jewish music from a new generation of 21st century klezmers. TZADIK RADICAL JEWISH CULTURE SERIES
CD $14

LES RHINOCEROS - Les Rhinoceros (Tzadik 7801; USA) Hailing from the Washington, DC area, the young band Les Rhinoceros delivers a crazy world in sound, blending aspects of rock, world music, noise, ambient and jazz. The trio of teenagers was formed in 2008 while the players were still in high school, and has developed since then into an intense and wildly imaginative group that takes music to its extremes. Emotional, minimalistic, intense and grooving, this is music that goes beyond imagination to the edges of sanity. The group continues their sonic experiments by adding unusual instruments into the traditional rock band setting.. First release in the TZADIK SPOTLIGHT SERIES
CD $14


JULIANNA BARWICK & IKUE MORI - FRKWYS Vol. 5 [Ltd Ed LP] (RVNG 05; USA) "Frkwys Vol. 6 features four pieces composed and performed by artists Julianna Barwick and Ikue Mori as part of a month long installation curated by RVNG Intl. at White Columns gallery, New York City, NY. For the installation, a particle board cubicle was custom constructed and placed at the center of the Project Space. The cubicle wall separated Julianna and Ikue to their respective seated work stations, while stationary web cams captured the musicians at work/play and became interactive projections auto-manipulated by video artist Erik Mika, illuminating this exercise in simulated engagement. Each of Julianna and Ikue's improvised performances on October 29th, 2010, were cut live to vinyl via portable lathe. Julianna and Ikue met a second time three weeks later at White Columns, November 16th 2010. This time the two musicians collaborated without an audience, cubicle, web cams, or lathe, but with past experience and spirit in place, an exercise in actual engagement. The four pieces of FRKWYS Vol. 6 include two performances from the first collaboration, and two performances from the latter collaboration. The LP is available in limited edition, packaged in thick black jackets with a two color adhesive wrap. All LPs come with a 24 page black & white zine featuring photography by Mayer and Rogac."
LP $22


JIM O'ROURKE - Old News #5 [2 LP set] (Old News 05; EEC) Introducing a nearly regular series of vinyl albums documenting analog synth and tape works (both studio and live) from the depths of Jim O'Rourke's archive, spanning a near quarter century of active duty in the field. Old News #5 kicks off with "Pedal And Pedal," a refined beauty of a live set at Tokyo's Super Deluxe, to only be followed by a massive blast from the past in the shape of the monstrous "Detain The Man To Whom," recorded in 1992. Record two delivers the genuine weirdness of studio session "Its Not His Room Anymore," backed by the ripping "Mother And Who," which is an alternate version of what would become O'Rourke's live set at the 2003 All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in the UK. Available only in this format.
LP $26


MARK McGUIRE - Solo Acoustic Vol 2 (VDSQ 02; USA) "Melodic ballads and new songs from Emeralds guitarist spark new innovations and memories thought to be lost. One third of the drone masters Emeralds."
LP $20


NICOLE MARAGARET MITCHELL With JEFF PARKER/HARRISON BANKHEAD/AVREEAYL RA - Awakening (Delmark DE 599; USA) Awakening features Nicole Mitchell's unique flute work in an intimate quartet setting, supported and stimulated by some of Chicago's finest improvisers: Jeff Parker, guitar; Harrison Bankhead, bass; Avreeayl Ra, drums. Named 2010 Flutist of the Year in the DownBeat Critic's Poll, Jazz Journalist Association and Jazz Italy magazine, Mitchell rides the wave into new compositions that explore many colors, moods and rhythmic grooves. Mitchell's earlier projects involved larger groups; Black Earth Ensemble, Black Unstoppable (Delmark 575 CD and 1575 DVD) and Black Earth Strings, Renegades (587). This smaller group setting opens the door for Mitchell to stretch out as a soloist more so than on any of her previous recordings
CD $15


New Kaiser solo recording!

HENRY KAISER - Everything Forever: 80 Minute Live Trance Guitar Solo (Kaiser; USA) Only guitarist extraordinare Henry Kaiser could pull off this 80 minute one piece solo electric guitar sonata (my word, not his) and make it work throughout its long duration. Mr. Kaiser has learned how to take his time and stretch beyond anyone's expectations. Many of us are impatient and want things (objects & ideas) right away. We have to learn to hold on and just let things occur at their own pace so we can truly absorb what is wonderful about certain experiences. So when you put this disc on, make sure you have no other pressing issues or commitments to deal with. Mr. Kaiser has basically two or three lines going on simultaneously: (a) a slow moving bass line that hums underneath the way a tamboura provides a drone below the action or story in a raga; (b) the line delicate line on top sounds semi-acoustic as Henry plucks or taps a soothing story above; and (c) the last line is the selective reverb which Henry uses as somber psychedelic spice to add that dreamy haze which is quietly mesmerizing. Some of the guitar sounds are rather harp-like which gives this an occasional transcendent vibe. Henry lists the type of guitar, equipment and processing information for those who need to know this. For me, what really matters is that I have spent some well-earned vacation time listening to this magic music, letting it unfold naturally and helping me to settle into a blissful state. Thanks Henry from all of us old hippies, music lovers and assorted fans of the electric guitar. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $10

also, last copies available of..

HENRY KAISER - Solo Acoustic On Beardsell Guitars: February 2011 (Kaiser; USA) Just when you might think the old guard ..is old, here comes an incredible new CD from our fave west coast guitar hero Henry Kaiser, to make us all smile and revive that hope of new worlds to explore. On the cover of the disc itself is a couple of pictures of these unique hybrid acoustic guitars made by a luthier named Allan Beardsell (check out: beardsellguitars.com ). The entire 62+ minute disc was on solo acoustic guitars live in the studio with no overdubs but some live processing on two tracks. Wow! This is superbly recorded so that it sounds as if Henry is right in front of us playing directing to us, his audience. Each piece here sounds like a short story or the setting of a scene in movie. Henry draws from a wealth of influences and genres - free, folk, blues, jazz, world, always balancing a variety of extremes - in & out, melodic and quietly atonal, delicate & bold, subtle & intense. There are a couple of pieces where he seems to be tapping on the sympathetic strings of the custom guitar and it sounds like thunder in the distance. I kept looking out my window to see if it was real or not. Henry also adds some live processing on a couple of tracks, which create an enchanting psychedelic shimmer. Sometime last year, an old DMG customer from France named Philippe paid his annual visit to our store. He said he was disenchanted with most of the Downtown releases he had heard over the past few years and had me play him a dozen or so newer discs, none of which knocked him out. Just as he was about to leave I put on Mr. Kaiser's previous solo electric disc to help me mellow a bit. Philippe looked at me & smiled & said "Now this is the sort of magic I was looking for." I would imagine that this disc will the same effect on you. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $10


OTOMO YOSHIHIDE NEW JAZZ QUARTET - Donaueschinger Musiktage 2005: Allurements Of The Ellipsoid [2 H-SACD] (Neos 41006/7; Germany) "The newly formed Otomo Yoshihide Quartet made its debut in Donaueschingen in 2005 where it attracted quite a bit of attention. Even the new music specialists were impressed by the strong formal consistency in the approach of the four improvisers. Having defined avantgarde noise rock as well as experimental reductionism with the band Ground Zero, the Tokyo-based musician of many talents Otomo Yoshihide teamed up with a group of like-minded performers for the Donaueshingen Festival. Along with Sachiko M, Otomo's Quartet also features two leading figures from the European improvising scene, trumpet player Axel Dornere and drummer Martin Brandlymayr. It is the versatility and open-mindedness that fused the four musicians into an extraordinary unit right from the start during the rehearsals before the Donauschingen performance. Hence the release, besides the performance program, also consists of the two most remarkable studio takes (SACD 1)." Performed by Otomo Yoshihide, Axel Dorner, Sachiko M, Martin Brandlmayr. Stereo/multichannel hybrid SACDs that can be played on any CD player.
2 CD set for $40


SHIFT [FRANK GRATKOWSKI/THOMAS LEHN/PHILIP ZOUBEK/DIETE MANDERSCHIED/MARTIN BLUME] - Songs From Aipotu (Leo 599; UK) The four heavyweights from the German scene were articulating their love for finer details with virtuosity, power and drive weaving sometimes gentle sometims dense sound carpet. Quintet's music is characterised by the effortless movements of the musicians from one idiom to another coupled with fluent maneuvering of musical textures. This is exactly this kind of music inspired the name of the group - SHIFT. Such music is possible only with the telepathic communication between musicians.
CD $17

UMBERTO PETRIN - A Dawn Will Come : Solo Piano (Leo 602; UK) Umberto Petrin's CD "Vaghissimo Ritratto" with Gianluigi Trovesi and Fulvio Maras released by ECM won many Italian and European critics. This time, however, he performs solo demonstrating his personal style which is a blend of T. Monk and the whole of XX century European music, particularly Hindemith, Webern, Prokofiev. His distinctive style of playing has also been influenced by his interest in poetry and contemporary art as well as by his work with the writer Stefano Benni and the actor Giuseppe Cederna.
CD $17

ARRIGO CAPPELLETTI/ANDRE MASSARIA/NICOLA STRANIERI/MAT MANERI - Metamorphosis (Leo 597; UK) Courageous and innovative, this quartet presents an unusually lyrical free jazz where the viola player Mat Maneri and the italian pianist Arrigo Cappelletti play a fundamental role. When pianist and composer Arrigo Cappelletti invited Mat Maneri to join his group his aim was to realize a project of collective improvisation experienced like a process of constant change and metamorphosis. The music presents many influences; from Mahler to Satie, from tango to electronic music, from blues to unconventional kinds such as Carla Bley's, Jimi Hendrix' and Thelonius Monk's.
CD $17
New CDs on Envoi - and all now at lower prices!

ANDREW BISHOP With GERALD CLEAVER/TIM FLOOD et al - Hank Williams Project (Envoi 602; USA) Andrew Bishop & Andy Kirshner on reeds & vocals, Ryan Mackstaller on guitar, Paul Elwood on banjo, Steve Trismen on violin, Katri Ervamaa on cello, Tim Flood on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. Over the past few years, a few jazz/rock musicians have done tributes to country musicians like Bryan Murray & the Haggards (tribute to Merle Haggard) and Carla Bozulich & Nels Cline (tribute to Willie Nelson). So, it is not that rare to hear Detroit-area saxist Andrew Bishop do his own tribute to Hank Williams. Unlike those other aforementioned tribs, this one sounds nothing like any country record I've ever heard.
Andrew's fine octet perform just four covers by or associated with Hank Williams and the rest are inspired by Hank's music. The opening, central and closing tracks are called "Hymn for Hank Williams" and they evoke the lonesome ghost-like vibe of the sad life of Mr. Williams who died at only 30 years. All three are lovely and mostly poignant. I am not so sure what "Again You Win" has to do with Hank, but it is a great jazz/roots rocker with quick banjo and tenor sax spinning tightly around one another. Hank's classic tearjerker, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is stripped down to a skeletal structure and sung with eerie grace by Mr. Kirshner (?). Banjoist Paul Ellwood has contributed three songs and each is one is different and unique in design. "Found a New Love" features some fast yet effortless banjo at the center of a tasty jazz/roots-rock/bluegrass sort of blend with fine fiddling from Mr. Trismen. I dig the harmony vocals on "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" in which the music is deconstructed yet the vocals are not. Another highlight is "Crazy Heart" which has plaintive vocals and superb clarinet & violin fronting the complex band arrangements. Word is that this disc was featured on NPR recently which means that Mr. Bishop might just sell a few copies more than those who just read about this in the DMG newsletter. Hooray for small miracles! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $12

BOTTOMED OUT [ANDREW BISHOP/JOHN WOJCIECHOWSKI/RYAN MACKSTALLER/ALEX TRAJANO] - Push (Envoi 601; USA) The debut release from the collaborative quartet originally formed in 2002 when its members all resided in the Metro Detroit area. While the influences remain diverse and nuanced, the unique sound of Bottomed Out is best described as "punk jazz"-- and emphasis on dynamic range and intensity and a collective "go for broke" improvisational mentality. Strong elements of composition and structure still remain as all four members are talented composers in the classical, jazz, and rock vernaculars. "Bottomed Out raises high hopes for smart composing and let-it-rip improvising." - Eve Doster Metrotimes, Detroit [April 5, 2006]; "This timbral variety is matched by a rhythmic diversity; the pulse keeps shifting, not just from track to track, but also within compositions; these musicians know how to slowly build tension, creating tremendous excitement." - Piotr Michalowski, SEMJA
CD $12

and, back in stock..

ANDREW BISHOP With GERALD CLEAVER/TIM FLOOD - Time & Imaginary Time (Envoi 501; USA) The debut release from composer, saxophonist, & clarinetist Andrew Bishop with collaboration from acclaimed drummer Gerald Cleaver & bassist Tim Flood draws its inspiration from physics principles & their conceptual association to the process of composition, improvisation, & rhythmic pulse time. The 13 originals (and a hidden track) range from the pulsed pointillism of Picking Up the Pieces and the rhythmic repetition of Cleaver's Loops to the ambient for whom the bell tolls & folksy lullaby Go to Sleep!, drawn from a tune that Bishop sang for his son. A melodic fragment serves as an agent of both structure and developing variation to bind the divergent works.
"This is strong, focused trio date from a couple of newcomers to the downtown scene, as well as one of downtown's most amazing drummers. I hope to see them live sometime soon." - BLG
CD $12


ADAM CRUZ With MIGUEL ZENON/STEVE WILSON/CHRIS POTTER/STEVE CARDENAS/EDWARD SIMON/BEN STREET - Milestone (Sunnyside 1278; USA) Adam Cruz - drums & compositions, Miguel Zenon - alto sax, Steve Wilson - soprano sax, Chris Potter - tenor sax, Steve Cardenas - guitar, Edward Simon - piano, Fender Rhodes & Ben Street - acoustic bass. Drummer/composer Adam Cruz has been a prominent member of the jazz world for some time through his association with the leading exponents of the music, including Chick Corea, Tom Harrell, and Patricia Barber. On Milestone, his debut recording as leader on Sunnyside Records, Cruz provides listeners with a strong and diverse program of original compositions that prove his range as a writer and performer. He has also gathered an ensemble of some of the most influential jazz musicians in support.
CD $16

ADAM KOLKER With JOHN HEBERT/BILLY MINTZ + JOHN ABERCROMBIE/RUSS LOSSING et al - Reflections (Sunnyside 1281; USA) Adam Kolker - tenor sax, alto flute, bass clarinet, flute, clarinet, John Abercrombie - guitar, Russ Lossing - piano, John Hebert - acoustic bass, Billy Mintz - drums plus Judi Silvano & Kay Matsukawa - vocals. "There is a lovely balance to the gifted saxophonist Adam Kolker's projects. He is able to put together ensembles and music that sound both natural and intriguing, simultaneously. Kolker's new Sunnyside release Reflections is a recording of fantastic performance and aesthetic choice. The leader presents a stellar lineup of musicians in his ensemble; including bassist John Hebert, drummer Billy Mintz, guitarist John Abercrombie, pianist Russ Lossing, and vocalists Judi Silvano and Kay Matsukawa. Kolker balances his own performance between saxophone, flute, and clarinets and accommodates original compositions written by the members of the group along with well-known standards. CD $16


DAVID BINNEY/ALAN FERBER With JOHN ESCREET/PETER SCHLAMB/THOMAS MORGAN/GERALD CLEAVER - In The Paint (Posi-tone 8047; USA) Alto Sax sensation David Binney joins forces with Trombonist Alan Ferber on "In The Paint". Turning each of their compositional talents toward the harmonious creation of a wide variety of entertaining ensemble performances the entire session is highlighted by a pleasant combination of melodicism and surprising improvisations. The program is delightfully engaging and prominently features the flowing rhythms of veteran drummer Gerald Cleaver, the inventive counterpoint of bassist Thomas Morgan, an interesting new discovery in Peter Schlamb on vibes, and the wide harmonic palette of the celebrated musical prodigy John Escreet on piano.
While all these players on the date have strong voices and are capable of delivering jump shots from the "out" side of jazz, this record ultimately scores points because of the productive and skillful team play of the entire ensemble as they interact with the melodies and harmonic structures of the compositions. Binney/Ferber's "In The Paint" is a musical slam dunk that is sure to please jazz fans everywhere, and a compositional tour de force for discerning listeners to enjoy time after time.
CD $14


TWIG HARPER - Twig Harper (Hanson 237; USA) First proper CD release from Nautical Almanac's Twig Harper."Twig Harper has figured out how to use a time machine to go back to the late 60's during the heyday of tape music to converse with electronic masters such as Ruth White and Bernard Parmegiani. They bestow upon him knowledge, that which becomes implanted in his DNA. melded unconsciously with his own self-taught language relevant to his surroundings, to be unraveled upon him in his later years within the artistic magnetic pull of Baltimore. Gone are the completely rusted soldered goodness of his earlier homemade electronic sonic attacks, further explored are the complex sensibilities that permeate within his use of reel-to-reel tape deck manipulation and perfectly layered effects to deconstruct "natural" instruments such as "bell's, homemade electronics, synth, piano, strings, junk, horns and voice treated with tape for full-on musique concrete/sound poetry/electronic trance inducing confusion" I've been listening to Twig's music via limited cdr's and LP's for well over a decade and to hear him evolve into this next step with a "proper release" while perhaps accidentally paying homage to the sound scientists born out of the moldy spores of academia brings a smile upon my face. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!" -Chuck Bettis/DMG
CD $10


ISABEL JUANPERA/FRANCOIS TUSQUES - Tango Libre (Improvising Beings 06; EEC) Recorded January 17, 2011 (Paris, France). Featuring Ms. Isabel Juanpera on vocals and Francois Tusques on piano. I can't say that I had heard of Ms. Juanpera before this disc, but French pianist Francois Tusques does have a legendary free/jazz record from around 1970 with Alan Silva, Sunny Murray, Alan Shorter & Steve Potts called 'Intercommunal Music'. Mr. Tusques has also worked with Byard Lancaster, Noel McGhie and Bernard Vitet, amongst others. There are seventeen songs on this disc, mostly by composers I am unfamiliar with except for Astor Piazzola. All of these songs are by Spanish composers from Buenos Aires and Spain. Mr. Tusques' playing is often exquisite yet expressive while never playing too many notes. Ms. Juanpera's voice has a strong, well-worn voice that reminds me of Edith Piaf if she sang in Spanish rather than French. Since I don't know what the words are that she is singing, I can concentrate on the sound of her voice and touching tone she employs. A number of these songs have that tango-like structure like Astor Piazzola so often employed. Both Tusques and Juanpera have a way of expressing their reflective feelings without pushing themselves too hard, never screaming or banging the piano very hard. This is a laid back yet quietly intense duo that still burns bright although the flame is turned down pretty low. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery - Francois Tusques will make a couple of rare appearances here in NYC at the Vision Fest on June 11th and at University of the Streets on June 8th. Could these be his first appearances here ever?
CD $17


FRED LONBERG-HOLM/NICK STEPHENS - Attic Antics (Loose Torque 23; UK) This sounds like a studio date and it features Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and Nick Stephens on acoustic bass. It is rare for Nick Stephens to play with another string player (exceptions were violinists Nigel Coombes & Rachel Maloney), so it is great to hear him with Chicago-based cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm. Both Fred & Nick are strong improvisers with solid bowing techniques. This disc contains three long pieces and both players explore varied terrain. It is hard to tell who is doing what when both players are bowing intensely. They both love to bend notes in odd ways yet there is a great deal of more restrained interaction as well. There is strong balance here between sympathetic plucked and bowed string vibrations. Considering that Fred Lonberg-Holm is one of most creative improvising cellists around, I wouldn't say that he has met his match but I would say that both of these men are kindred spirits of the strings. Equally fascinating cover art by Nick's wife, Fay Stephens, makes this an even more worthy gem. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15


CLAUDE DELANGLE & TAIPEI CHINESE ORCHESTRA - Harmonious Breath: Works For Saxophone And Chinese Orchestra (BIS 1790; EEC) French classical saxophonist Claude Delangle, having succesfully recorded virtuostic performances of Japanese and Russian avante-garde compositions, takes the next step in his road to creative growth with this mating of saxophone and Chinese orchestra
"Featuring traditional Chinese music and music by Yiu-Kwong Chung, Leilei Tian. This disc was yet another promo that one of distributors sent us and considering I know nothing about the featured artist or composers, I was still knocked out! Claude Delange switches between alto & soprano sax and the large Chinese Orchestra ranges in size (from 20 to 100 musicians) playing a wide variety of Chinese instruments like erhu, gehu, pipa, guzheng and sheng. Yiu-Kwong Chung is Taiwan's best known composer and his "Saxophone Concerto No. 1" is first. It begins with sublime, exotic melodies, the alto sax blending superbly with the different Chinese instruments. The composer draws from a few different folk songs, as the saxist works his way through different sections of the concerto. The music is a perfect blend of ancient melodies and modern orchestral harmonies with demanding sax parts handled expertly by Mr. Delangle. "River of Sorrow" is a traditional work arranged for soprano sax and Chinese Orchestra and it depicts the heavy sorrow of the common people and their determination to rise up to their oppressors. The music is sad and touching and tastefully handled by the sax and orchestra. Whether ancient or modern or somewhere in between, I found all of the music on this disc to be consistently engaging." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $19


FRANK FAIRFIELD - Out On The Open West (Tompkins Square 2278; USA) "A young Californian who sings and plays as someone who's crawled out of the Virginia mountains carrying familiar songs that in his hands sound forgotten: broken lines, a dissonant drone, the fiddle or the banjo all percussion, every rising moment louder than the one before it." -- Greil Marcus "Out on the Open West is Frank Fairfield's new album. It was produced by Michael Kieffer (Origin Jazz Library) and features guest accompaniment by Willie Watson (Old Crow Medicine Show), Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton, Tom Marion, Justin and Josh Petrojvic and Brandon Armstrong. The album is a departure for Frank, having written most of the tunes himself, and bringing in the other players to round out his songs. His music has made fans of people like Ry Cooder, Grammy-winning producer Chris King (Charley Patton, People Take Warning box sets) and Greil Marcus, to name a few."
CD $14


EDEN & JOHN'S EAST RIVER STRING BAND [EDEN BROWER/JOHN HENEGHAN] - Be Kind To A Man When He's Down (East River 1004; USA) "Drawing from the vast spectrum of traditional American country and blues music from the 1920s and early 30s Eden & Johns East River String Band (Eden Brower & John Heneghan) create some of the most authentic sounding renditions of these songs today. Their fourth release, Be Kind To A Man When He's Down, contains songs from Frank Stokes, Pink Anderson, Big Chief Henry's String Band and many more. It features special guests Robert Crumb (underground comic legend & Cheap Suit Serenaders group; he also did the cover) on mandolin, Dom Flemons (Carolina Chocolate Drops) on guitar and old-time music legend Pat Conte (Canebreak Rattlers, Otis Brothers) on fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica and vocals. It features an amazing cover by Crumb as did their last two records, Drunken Barrel House Blues and Some Cold Rainy Day. David Fricke of Rolling Stone says, 'Eden and John's East River String Band cover black country blues from the 78-rpm era with crisp fervor and a natural flair that suggests loving study and a respect for the hard lives and flight for joy on the original records.'"
CD $16


STEPHEN GAUCI QUARTET With NELS CLINE/KEN FILIANO/MIKE PRIDE - Red Feast (Cadence 1216; USA) [limited time sale; normally $16] Featuring Stephen Gauci on tenor sax, Nels Cline on guitar & electronics, Ken Filiano on bass & electronics and Mike Pride on drums. I was intrigued to see the line-up on this disc since some of the folks had never played together and had come from different backgrounds. It came together due to a friend of Steve's who on the crew for Wilco, the roots/rock band that Nels is currently playing with. Although Steve & Mike had played together on different occasions and Nels & Ken had worked together in LA, as well as with Vinny Golia in a quartet that I booked at The Stone, this is a first time meeting of all four members of this quartet and man, do they take off!
Escape From The Hell Realms opens with some cautious, mysterious and most effective freer realms. I dig the way things build with Steve's tenor and Nels guitar bending their notes around one another magically. The rhythm team is also a fine form creating turbulent rhythms propulsive the proceedings higher and higher. On "Charnel House" the quartet do a fine job of creating dark and spooky sounds, churning, hypnotic and molasses-like in density. I dig when Steve and Nels toss sounds back and forth like a heated dialogue, with the rhythm team swirling intricately around them. On the title track Steve and Nels play quick yet calm waves of notes around each other. While Steve shows off his gracious, warm jazz-like tenor tone, Nels plays swell chords underneath. Ken takes a strong bass solo with Mike playing exquisite brushes along with him. "Blue Tara" has an eerie, spacious sound with ominous bowed bass, atmospheric guitar sounds, haunting sax and skeletal drums. I dig the it evolves slowly giving each of the four players a chance to stretch and push the music in their own directions. Finally, "Like a Madman Beyond All Limits" erupts quickly with streams of notes from all four burning together. A most impressive endeavor from four strong spirits meeting in the studio for the first time. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $13



Corrected price for this previous listing..

JOE MORRIS/CHRIS RIGGS/BEN HALL - Glass Key [Ltd Ed LP] (You Are Your Only Machine 01; USA) 300 copies, numbered by hand. Featuring Joe Morris on electric guitar, Chris Riggs on electric guitar and Ben Hall on drums. We all know Joe Morris and now thanks to percussionist Ben Hall who runs the Broken Research LP/MP3 label, we now meet an experimental guitarist from Michigan named Chris Riggs. This is an odd but unique trio and ultimately fascinating. While Joe & Ben create a quick yet restrained guitar & drums dialogue, Chris plays soft noise counterpoint. This album was carefully recorded so that each sound and exchange is distinct, the dynamic range is warm and wide. On side two Mr. Morris and/or Mr. Riggs rubs his or their strings with a pick getting a most eerie sound while the skeletal drums evoke restless ghosts. The sliding and bending of the strings keep things off balance as if we are about to fall into an endless hole. Riggs sounds as if he is communicating with insects by tapping cautiously on his guitar. The overall sound is somewhat disorienting but most effective. Although each side of this record is relatively short (about 13 minutes), it seems like just the right length to contemplate its subtle wonders. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
LP $18


GYORGY KURTAG//ATHENA QUARTETT - Complete Works For String Quartet [H-SACD] (Neos 11033; Germany) "Any attempt to describe Gyorgy Kurtag or to praise him for his music is largely superfluous at this stage. Without doubt Kurtag is one of the most important composers of our time. The Athena Quartett of Berlin takes its name from Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of arts and sciences. Founded in Berlin in 1999, the ensemble studied with the Alban Berg Quartet and attended master classes headed by Ferenc Rados, Gabor Takacz and the Arditti Quartet. Thanks to its close collaboration with composers of the stature of Gyorgy Kurtag, Henri Dutilleux, Pascal Dusapin, Konstantinia Gourzi and Hans Zender, the young musicians developed a keen interest in contemporary music. Another focus in their broad repertoire is a deep study of the masterpieces of Viennese classicism with an eye to period performance practice. The Athena Quartet has won the Geneva Competition and the Joseph Joachim International Chamber Music Competition in Weimar. Performed by Athena Quartett." Stereo/multichannel hybrid SACD that can be played on any CD player.
CD $20

CLAUS-STEFFEN MAHNKOPF - Pynchon Cycle (Neos 11036; Germany) Performed by Peter Veale (oboe), Franklin Cox (cello, Ensemble SurPlus, James Avery (conductor). "Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, born in 1962 in Mannheim, studies in Composition, Music Theory, Piano, Musicology, Philosophy and Sociology with Brian Ferneyhough, Klaus Huber, Jurgen Habermas among others. Music degree and PhD. Since 1984 international prizes and awards, including the Gaudemas Prize, Stuttgart Composition Prize, Ernst von Siemens Music Grant, Villa Massimo, important commissions, numerous portrait concerts worldwide. Principal works: 'Rhizom,' 'Medusa,' 'Kammerzyklus.' Performed by Peter Veale, oboe, Franklin Cox, cello, Ensemble SurPlus, James Avery, Conductor."
CD $20

MANFRED TROJAHN//HENTSCHEL QUARTETT - String Quartets (Neos 11017; Germany) Performed by Henschel Quartett. "Manfred Trojahn was born in Cremlingen near Braunschweig in 1949. Today he is professor of composition at the Robert Schumann School of Music and Media in Dusseldorf and a member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, the Hamburg Free Academy of the Arts, the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Science and Art and the Berlin Academy of the Arts. Manfred Trojahn composes for orchestra (including five symphonies to date) and chorus as well as songs and chamber music for various combinations of instruments. Henschel Quartett: Their path to international prominence was paved by celebrated debus tin major music centers and a rouings acclaimed substitution for the Juilliard Quartet in London's Wigmore Hall, a performance broadcast live on the BBC. 'The Henschel Quartet is unquestionably one of the best ensembles in the world -- a magnificent quartet!' -- Los Angeles Times
CD $20

MANOS TSANGARIS - Donaueschinger Musiktage 2009 Vol. 3 (Neos 11053; Germany) Featured work: Batsheba. Eat The History! (Radioplay after an installation opera for actors, singers, chorus, orchestra and electronics [2008/2009]). "As always, during last year's the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2009 tickets were sold out completely. Some world premieres -- according to those people who could not get admission -- should have been repeated. Due to organizational circumstances this was not possible. On this disc NEOS offers a representative selection out of all the concerts, and again of highest quality surround technology. We hope that interested people will understand that we cannot present all of the performed compositions." Stereo/multichannel hybrid SACDs that can be played on any CD player.
CD $20


BRIAN FERNEYHOUGH - Terrain (Kairos 1307; Germany) Of all these pieces - none of which places anything less than cruel demands on the soloists - Terrain is the most wildly virtuosic. Here, Paganini has to rise from the grave, reincarnated (initially via Irvine Arditti) as a transcendental modernist. From the very first bar, the violin part is electrifying, both in its difficulty and its intensity. At the same time, it is set against an ensemble which, far from offering support, is its very antithesis. The latter consists of the eight instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone and double bass) of Edgard Varese's "Octandre", which Ferneyhough cites as ensuring that "composing became my definitive goal in life". - Richard Toop
CD $16

GERARD GRISEY - Les Chants De L'Amour (Kairos 1275; Germany) As the co-founder of spectral music Gerard Grisey moves within a cosmos of partial tones and harmonics, he discloses the secrets of the interior of sound. In a momentous way this is shown inside his music, which acts always in a world between modern technology and poetry. Sometimes Grisey analyses the different temporal structures of perception of humans, whales and insects or he generates his love songs out from the phonetical basic material. - Martina Seeber
CD $16

GERARD GRISEY - Solo Pour Deux (Kairos 1250; Germany) I - "That Sacred Time": Cut to pieces by the media, drowned in over-information, measured in this age of zapping and clips, this time, the time which Bataille called 'sacred', the time of Art, Love and Creativeness, the instant when something unprecedented happens, can only be preserved by the artist if he completely resists this late 20th century environment. Paradoxically, however, these are precisely the rhythms which feed and inspire him. This is the only world which calls forth his questions. And so, the response to this discontinued flood of information will be a music finding its unity and continuity. Its wintry slowness will be the reversed echo of a stress-ridden world rushing towards its end.
II - "Zwitschermaschine": Think of whales, men and birds. When you hear the songs of the whales, they are so spaced out that what sounds like a gigantic, drawn-out and endless moan is perhaps only one consonant to them. This means that it is impossible to perceive their speech with our constant of time. Similarly, when we hear a bird sing, our impression is that it sounds very high-pitched and agitated. for its constant of time is much shorter than ours. It is difficult for us to perceive its subtle variations of timbre, while it may perceive us, perhaps, as we perceive the whales. - Gerard Grisey
CD $16


BYRON COLEY - C'est La Guerre: Early Writings 1978-1983 (Loie De Cravan BC; Canada) Frontline writings from the music war by Byron Coley. C'est La Guerre is a perfect snapshot of a time of great changes in American music, one that saw the emergence of new kinds of untamed rock, punk, and noise that extended the explorations of free jazz and of rock innovators like Captain Beefheart. These early essays, articles, and letters crisscross the continent and cover a wide array of musical acts, including David Bowie, Robert Fripp, Fred Frith, Devo, Huusker Du, Suicide, The Germs, Lydia Lunch, Jim Morrison, the Meat Puppets, and the Minutemen, whose bass player, Mike Watt (now with the Stooges), contributed the introduction. Byron Coley was born in Manhattan in 1956. He has written extensively about underground culture since the mid-'70s. Among other things, he has been resident editor at NY Rocker, managing editor at Take It!, jazz editor at Forced Exposure, underground editor at Spin, ghost editor of the Ecstatic Peace Poetry Journal, etc. He has been a columnist for the L.A. Weekly, Arthur, Spin, Le Bathyscaphe, Harp, The Wire and so on. His books include Chuck Norris, Ass Candles For Joni, Beefheart and No Wave which he wrote with Thurston Moore. He has written liner notes for hundreds of records, spewed for more 'zines than anyone could ever remember, and contributed to various anthologies of prose, poetry, and pus. He currently writes for The Wire and runs Glass Eye Books and the Ecstatic Yod record label. Cover drawn & silkscreened by Simon Bosse. 142 pages. Bilingual, translated by Marie Frankland (John-Glassco Translation Prize, 2007). 6.5 x 6.5 inches.
BOOK $16

MICHAEL HURLEY - Paroles Des Chansons De Michael Hurley (Loie De Cravan MH; Canada) American folk legend Michael Hurley is considered a master of songcraft by fellow musicians, and it is easy to see why. His songs can be highly eccentric, populated by werewolves, sign-painters, tea and whiskey-drinkers, pork chops and hot dogs, wild geese, intoxicated lovers, and blue navigators, but above all, they always manage to be moving and funny. The perfection of his peculiar, personal, and utterly unique oeuvre is even more apparent on paper and in print. The Words To The Songs Of Michael Hurley presents lyrics to 19 of his songs and marks the first time Hurley's lyrics have been published in book form. It includes a foreword by the music critic Byron Coley and a French version by Marie Frankland, winner of the 2007 John-Glassco Prize for translation. All songs are calligraphed by the author. Michael Hurley (aka Doc Snock), is an American songwriter, reputedly born in 1941, whose songs have been seeping into the folk unconscious for almost 50 years now (including covers by Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Espers and others). Hurley's melodies and lyrics take flight into a world of plenty, inspiring wonder and humor, sin and slowness, laziness and longing. His music is often coined as "outsider folk." His hobo lifestyle indeed could be looked upon as eccentric, but it might be better to regard him as one of the last insiders keeping alive the traditions of the folk troubadour. Hobo-ing around the country, making music since the days Bob Dylan first set foot in NYC's Gaslight club, Hurley recorded his first album for the legendary Folkways label in 1964 and continued to release albums for Warner Brothers, Rounder or Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label. His mid-'70s Have Moicy album was among the top ten for the decade selected by Rolling Stone. While many of his contemporaries are long past their prime (or deceased), Hurley's muse is still very much alive. Cover drawing by Michael Hurley, cover typography by Kiva Tanya Stimac. Presented in a hand-sticthed, 48-page book; 5,75 x 7,75".
BOOK $16




More offerings from Martin Archer's Discus Records - and at lower prices!

Never offered by DMG before:

DEREK BAILEY/MICK BECK/PAUL HESSION - Meanwhile, Back In Sheffield (Discus 21; UK) A live recording of 'non idiomatic' Derek Bailey's first gig for several years in his home town. In August 2004 at the invitation of the formidable musical partners Mick Beck and Paul Hession, Derek Bailey returned to his geographical roots, Sheffield, for a couple of gigs there, and in Leeds. Bailey now lives most of the time in Barcelona, and sometimes likes to get away from the heat of its summer. His trip to Yorkshire met this criterion. Sheffield's meteorological response was dramatic - cold, and so much rain that it necessitated buckets under a few drips. Possible onomatopoeic resonances from the openings of tracks two and three can be detected. Fortunately, the Red Deer pub was just round the corner. Bailey's mainly reflective performance is complemented by Hession's rhythmically grounded but always creative manipulations of a more or less conventional drum kit, and Beck's energising explorations with the unusual mediaeval bassoon, along with authoritative tenor sax, and various inquisitive whistles. The three tracks, [apx 54 minutes] only slightly edited from an excellent recording by Chris Trent, present the majority of the concert, which was supported by Sheffield's Other Music and staged in the hall of Sheffield Royal Society of the Blind (a public venue used for a variety of musical occasions).
Despite the rain, and the stageing of the gig in the holiday season, there was a good audience, whose responses we wish to acknowledge but not to include on the disc.
CD $18

and back in stock..

JULIE TIPPETTS [DRISCOLL, TIPPETT] & MARTIN ARCHER - Ghosts Of Gold (Discus 37; UK) "Working with Martin always gives an inspiring kind of freedom within his extraordinary soundscapes. His structures on this album provide perfect settings for this selection of texts, drawn from an anthology of poetry written between 1994 - 2004, opening wide all doors with his particular flavour combinations, and yet indicating to me, almost instantly, the precise choice of poems for each piece. To use track 8 as an example, Martin brought this wonderful ingredient to the pot as an after-thought on our last day of recording. I went straight to the text, and within minutes was in front of the mic, and Rainsong was born. No rehearsal, no prior thought or decisions, and yet it gives the impression of being a structured composition. That's what I love about working in this way. The magic of the unexpected." - Julie Tippetts
"Most of the music for this collection was written and recorded by myself between mid 2007 - mid 2008. Julie matched texts to the music and recorded the vocal parts at my studio in the final part of 2008. I tried to write music for this CD which I believed would have some personal relevance for Julie rather than to write in the abstract and hope for the best. Looking back, I've been aware of Julie's music just as long as I've been aware of creative music. I distinctly remember borrowing a copy (on the original Neon label) of Septober Energy from someone's hip older brother while still at school, not registering that many of the players involved in this incredibly ambitious and joyful work were in reality not a whole lot older than I was. Then before very long I'd also heard the diametrically opposite Blueprint and Ovary Lodge albums, which helped me to learn that there was room for space and melody inside total improvisation, as well as jazz informed "chops" and extended technique playing. It was not until the 1980's that I first met Julie while I was promoting free improv concerts in Sheffield, and not until the 2000s did we make records together - Julie sang on both of my albums with Geraldine Monk, and also on my latest solo release In Stereo Gravity. One memorable aspect of this recording for me is that despite this being the first record of Julie's whose method is based substantially on software processing and editing (her previous Shadow Puppeteer was, amazingly, a virtuoso product of traditional tape editing!), she immediately "got" the possibilities of working in a virtual studio and seconds after completing each take behind the mic was seated next to me in front of the screen enthusiastically directing the editing and processing choices. Julie really is the best and most detailed editor of her own work I've ever worked with. I'm sure there will be more to come." - Martin Archer
CD $18

JULIE TIPPETTS [DRISCOLL, TIPPETT] & MARTIN ARCHER - Tales OF FiNiN [2 CD set] (Discus 39; UK) "Following on from the duo's widely acclaimed first full length collaboration Ghosts of Gold, which was essentially an album of poetry plus electronic soundscapes, FiNiN shifts toward extended jazz and electronic song forms and widens the sonic palette to include a larger group of musicians together with an emphasis on rhythm. The result is an adventurous and beautiful suite of 17 musically and thematically linked songs spread over 2 CDs. Although the duo is a studio rather than a live group, this is most definitely a not another "singer submits to studio producer" type album; Martin and Julie are equally hands on for both the performance and the production of this CD from first to last."
"Julie Tippetts is a unique singer with distant blues and jazz roots. She was briefly a pop star and fashion icon with the hit single This Wheel's On Fire in the 1960s [her group with Brian Auger, The Trinity], and has made remarkable original music with her pianist husband Keith Tippett for decades. This album is ambient experimental music of a different kind. Computer musician and multi-instrumentalist Martin Archer created soundscapes for Tippetts's mysterious poems and found texts on last year's Ghosts of Gold album, but this double CD adds strings, percussion, and guitar from Chris Sharkey of Acoustic Ladyland and trioVD fame. The words suggest a gothic world of clashing armies and windblown castles; the aural scenery slowly shuffles John Surmanesque overdubbed saxes, cymbal clashes, church-organ roars, squirty synth sounds, fidgeting strings and, at one point (on the funky, uptempo The Other Side), an exhilarating guitar outburst from Sharkey. Although Tippetts's rich tone and soulfulness suggest an exploratory Cassandra Wilson or Sarah Jane Morris, this is a one-off for listeners willing to hang up all preconceptions - about free-jazz, noise collages, meaning and language, ambient electronics or pretty much anything else."- John Fordham /Guardian
2 CD set for $22

MARTIN ARCHER With JULIE TIPPETTS [DRISCOLL, TIPPETT]/CHRIS CUTLER et al - In Stereo Gravity [2 CD set] (Discus 33; UK) A large scale project - double CD for the price of a single - bringing together Archer's unique mix of rock, improv and contemporary music sounds. Martin Archer - woodwind, organ, software instruments etc
with Julie Tippetts - voice, Chris Cutler - drum loops, Charlie Collins - drums and percussion, Dave Kane - double bass, Terry Todd - bass guitar, Karl D'Silva - guitar, James Archer - guitar, UTT - turntables
2 CD set for $22

MARTIN ARCHER/GERALDINE MONK With JULIE TIPPETTS [DRISCOLL, TIPPETT] - Fluvium (Discus 14; UK) Fluvium is the second CD collaboration by Archer and Monk. It was originally conceived as a live performance work for the duo, but this recorded version adds virtuoso vocal orchestrations by Julie Tippetts.
CD $18

MARTIN ARCHER With DEREK SAW/SIMON H FELL/GINO ROBAIR et al - Winter Pilgrim Arriving (Discus 12; UK) Taken alongside the later Heritage & Ringtones, this slice of fantastic melancholia is a definitive Archer solo release. Martin Archer - synthesizers, woodwind, violectronics; Benjamin Bartholomew - guitars; Tim Cole - guitars; Derek Saw - cornet; Simon H. Fell - double bass; Charlie Collins - flute, sampling, producer; Gino Robair - percussion; James Archer - amplified objects; Mick Beck - bassoon; Sedayne - crwth
CD $18

MARTIN ARCHER With INGAR ZACH/SIMON H FELL/RHODRI DAVIES et al - Heritage And Ringtones (Discus 18; UK) Martin Archer - violectronics, keyboards, processing, sopranino and alto saxophones, Bb and bass clarinets, with: Ingar Zach - percussion; Simon H. Fell - double bass; Rhodri Davies - harp; Tim Cole - acoustic guitar; Julie Cole - voice; Masayo Asahara - processing; Chris Meloche - processing; Herb Bayley - trombone
CD $18

MARTIN ARCHER/SIMON H FELL - Pure water construction (Discus 11; UK) A six part electroacoustic composition generated in the studio jointly by Archer and Fell. Martin Archer - electronics, woodwind; Simon H. Fell - electronics, double bass; with Robin Hayward - tuba; Chris Burn - piano; Rhodri Davies - harp; Jenni Molloy - cello; Stefan Jaworzyn - guitar
CD $18

Last copies found of this..

JULIE TIPPETTS [TIPPETT, DRISCOLL] - Shadow Puppeteer (La Cooka Ratcha 101 VPT; UK) 2000 release. Only the third album Julie has released under her own name in as many decades ('Sunset Glow' in 1976, and as Julie Driscoll - '1969', after leaving Brian Auger And The Trinity in '68), this was a true labor of love, three years in the making, with all voices and instruments (zithers, bells, chimes, allsorts) performed and recorded solely by herself in an 8 track studio. It would be interesting to compare experiences with those who read the booklet 'lyrics' first if you happened to instead listen first, or vice versa (if you didn't), as this long but always interesting voyage into primal chanting, geniatical chorusing, and odd textural beauty only touches infrequently upon the implied [english] language of the printed text for the various parts of this song cycle, yet still manipulates the listener through the moods and emotions expressed, much like the conscious puppet(s) who cannot fathom the forces that motivate them. (All the preceding = Highly Recommended!)
CD $17




More Hikashu!

HIKASHU [MAKIGAMI KOICHI et al] - Hikasu (Hikashu) (EMI/Bridge EGDS 41; Japan) For those who only know Makigami Koichi via his work as a free improv/experimental vocal albums on labels like Tzadik, Doubt, and Long Arms to name a few, his long-running band Hikashu may come as a bit of a surprise. Even compared to Tzadik's odds-n-sods "Hikashu History" compilation from a few years back, the sound of this self-titled 1979 debut album is a bit of a departure for Makigami-san. Koichi once described Hikashu's beginnings as "a play pretending to be a band", and while his roots in musical theatre are definately on display here, the sound of the album is most reminiscent of the tense, brainy, slightly spastic post-punk/new wave practiced by groups like Devo, Essential Logic, and Aksak Maboul/Honeymoon Killers with a touch of Yellow Magic Orchestra and Kraftwerk thrown in for good measure - they in fact include a great japanese-language cover of Kraftwerk's "The Model", as well as the original version of "End of the 20th Century", their catchy-as-hell first single which was a minor japanese hit. The bass/guitar/synth/sax/drum machine lineup works well here, with an equal balance of oddity and catchiness - even if they were only pretending to be a band, it was definitely a pop band whose seams they were trying to split, no matter how weird the group gets. Makigami can do no wrong in my universe, and while I love his experimental work very much, these early Hikashu albums are an important piece of the puzzle in understanding this extraordinarily talented performer, and some of my favorite music from any group of this period. Recommended! - Mikey IQ Jones.
CD $32

HIKASHU [MAKIGAMI KOICHI et al] - Natsu (EMI/Bridge EGDS 42; Japan) 2nd album 1980
CD $32

HIKASHU [MAKIGAMI KOICHI et al] - Super (EMI/Bridge EGDS 43; Japan) 1981. sorta 'best of' from 1st 3 albums, singles, and unreleased cuts. This new CD edition has 2 additional live tracks
CD $32

HIKASHU [MAKIGAMI KOICHI et al] - Watashi No Tanoshimi (My Favorite Things): Music For Fashion Show (EMI/Bridge EGDS 54; Japan) 5th album overall [if you count Super comp] from 1984
CD $32

HIKASHU [MAKIGAMI KOICHI et al] - Ningen No Kao (Human Faces) (EMI/Bridge EGDS 55; Japan) 10th album from 1988
CD $32

MAKIGAMI KOICHI With HIKASHU - Minzoku No Saiten (Festival Of The People) (EMI/Bridge EGDS 44; Japan) This is a 1982 Makigami solo album backed by Hikashu. Hajime Tachibana and Koji Ueno each play on a couple tracks. Jun Togawa duets on one. These are witty covers of standards along with a pair of original Makigami compositions. Cover art by Tachibana
CD $32



*********




LAST copies on the amazing Splasch titles below!


Over half of them are OUT-OF-PRINT, and most of those we have only one copy

..and for one week only, we are selling the $18 discs for $16 -while they last- so git going!


ANTHONY BRAXTON/DAVE DOUGLAS With MARK WHITECAGE/MARIO PAVONE/DENNIS SMITH - Six Standards (Quintet) 1996 (Splasch 863; Italy)
CD $20

DAVE BURRELL - Margy Pargy: Studio Recording In Italy (Splasch 874; Italy)
CD $20

MATTHEW SHIPP - Songs: Solo (Splasch 840; Italy)
CD $20

DAVID S WARE - Live In The Netherlands: Solo (Splasch 825; Italy)
CD $20

STEVE LACY With RICCARDO FASSI TRIO - Dummy (Splasch 843; Italy)
CD $20

ZLATKO KAUCIC With STEVE LACY/PAUL McCANDLESS et al - Zlati Coln [2 CD set] (Splasch 522; Italy)
2 CD set for $32

ANTHONY DiLORENZO With STEVE LACY et al - Saints Go Marching Out (Splasch 736; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

TIZIANA GHIGLIONI With STEVE LACY/ENRICO RAVA - Snob (Splasch 370; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

UMBERTO PETRIN//THELONOIUS MONK/CECIL TAYLOR/STEVE LACY - Plays Monk, Cecil, Lacy (Splasch 528; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

UMBERTO PETRIN With ASSIF TSAHAR et al - Voir Loin (Splasch 832; Italy)
CD $20

UMBERTO PETRIN & TIM BERNE With GIOVANNI MAIER/ROBERTO DANI - Ellissi (Splasch 806; Italy)
CD $20

ENTEN ELLER QUARTET & TIM BERNE - Auto Da Fe (Splasch 819; Italy) Tim Berne - alto sax ENTEN ELLER: Alberto Mandarini - trumpet, Maurizio Brunod - guitar, Giovanni Maier - double bass, Massimo Barbiero - drums
CD $20

ENTEN ELLER QUARTET + TIM BERNE - Melquiades (Splasch 805; Italy)
CD $20

HERB ROBERTSON SEPTET & QUINTET - The Legend Of The Missing Link (Splasch 827; Italy)
CD $20

RICCARDO FASSI STRANGE NOISE PROJECT With STEVE LACY/ANTONELLO SALIS - Belleville (Splasch 810; Italy)
CD $20

ZENO DE ROSSI With CHRIS SPEED/STEFANO SENNI/GIOVANNI MAIER - Sultry (Splasch 831; Italy)
CD $20

TIZIANI TONONI & SOCIETY OF FREELY SYNCOPATED ORGANIC PULSES With HERB ROBERTSON/DANIELE CAVALLANTI/UMBERTO PETRIN et al - Awake NU: A Tribute To Don Cherry [2 CD set] (Splasch 487/488; Italy)
2 CD set for $32

TIZIANI TONONI/DANIELE CAVALLANTI & NEXUS - We Still Have Visions [2 CD set] (Splasch 657/658; Italy)
2 CD set for $32

TIZIANI TONONI/DANIELE CAVALLANTI With WILLIAM PARKER/LUCA CALABRESE/EMANUELE PARRINI - Spirits Up Above (Splasch 877; Italy)
CD $20

NEXUS ORCHESTRA [DANIELLE CAVALLANTI/TIZIANO TONONI et al] With ENRICO RAVA/GLENN FERRIS - Urban Shout (Splasch 170; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

NEXUS ORCHESTRA [DANIELLE CAVALLANTI/TIZIANO TONONI et al] With HERB ROBERTSON - Free Spirits (Splasch 421; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

NEXUS ORCHESTRA [DANIELLE CAVALLANTI/TIZIANO TONONI et al] With MARK DRESSER - The Preacher & The Ghost (Splasch 349; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

NORMA WINSTONE/KENNY WHEELER/JOHN TAYLOR/TONY OXLEY/PAOLO FRESU/PAOLO DAMIANI - Live At Roccella Jonica (Splasch 508; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO MALTESE With EVAN PARKER/KEITH TIPPETT/ANTONIO MONCADA - Double Mirror (Splasch 469; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

PASQUALE INNARELLA With EVAN PARKER/MICHEL GODARD/MAURO ORSELLI et al - Pirotecnie Sonore: Live In Orsara Italy 1997 (Splasch 661; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MAURO ORSELLI/EVAN PARKER/ANTONELLO SALIS - True Live Walnuts: Live At Europa Jazz Festival Noci 1997 (Splasch 631; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO With EVAN PARKER/PAUL LOVENS/ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH/CO STREIFF/MAARTEN ALTENA/JOELLE LEANDRE/PAUL LYTTON et al - Unlike (Splasch 309; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO/PAUL LOVENS/PETER KOWALD/PAUL RUTHERFORD/ERNST REIJSEGER - Used To Be Friends (Splasch 452; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO With GIORGIO GASLINI/BARRY GUY/IRENE SCHWEIZER/PAUL LOVENS et al - Meetings (Splasch 418; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO/ERNST REIJSEGER/GUNTER 'BABY' SOMMER/PAUL RUTHERFORD/LEON FRANCOLI - And So On (Splasch 368; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO/FAMADOU DON MOYE/MARCELLO MELIS/GIANCARLO SCHIAFFINI - Uncaged (Splasch 357; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO/ALQUIMIA/PETER CUSACK - Fluxus: Instant Soundtrack For A Silent Movie (Splasch 651; Italy)
CD $13

MARIO SCHIANO QUARTET - De De (Splasch 510; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARIO SCHIANO With ANTONELLO VANNUCCHI/GIORGIO ROSCIGLIONE/GEGE MUNARI/CICCI SANTUCCI/MAURIZIO GIAMMARCO - My Funny Valentine (Splasch 697; Italy)
CD $13

MARIO SCHIANO With BRUNO TOMMASO/GIANCARLO SCHIAFFINI/MARCELLO MELIS et al - Original Sins: 1967/70 Unreleased (Splasch 502; Italy)
CD $13

MARIO SCHIANO With LUCA VENITUCCI/GIOVANNI MAIER/U T GANDHI - Supposing That.. (Ammesso E Non Concesso) (Splasch 838; Italy)
CD $13

PAOLO FRESU SEXTET With DAVE LIEBMAN et al - Inner Voices (Splasch 110; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

PAOLO FRESU QUINTET With TINO TRACANNA/ROBERTO CIPELLI/ATTILO ZANCHI/ETTORE FIORAVANTI - Ostinato (Splasch 106; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

PAOLO FRESU QUINTET Wth TINO TRACANNA/ROBERTO CIPELLI/ATTILIO ZANCHI/ETTORE/FIORAVANTI - Ballads (Splasch 366; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

PAOLO FRESU SEXTET With GIANLUIGI TROVESI/TINO TRACANNA/ROBERTO CIPELLI/ATTILO ZANCHI/ETTORE FIORAVANTI - Ensalada Mistica (Splasch 415; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

PAOLO FRESU SEXTET With TINO TRACANNA/ROBERTO CIPELLI/ATTILO ZANCHI/ETTORE FIORAVANTI/MIMMO CAFIERO - Mamut: Music For A Mime (Splasch 127; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

BEPPE ALIPRANDI With STEFANO BATTAGLIA/PAOLINI DALLA PORTA et al - Duke, I Love You Madly (Splasch 686; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

B. B. B. PLUS EIGHT [ROSARIO DE IULIO/EZIO ALLEVI et al] - El Sueno (Splasch 783; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MICHAEL GASSMAN/STEFANO BATTAGLIA/PIERRE FAVRE - When We Were (Splasch 690; Italy)
CD $13

STEFANO BATTAGLIA/PIERRE FAVRE - Omen (Splasch 691; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA/TONY OXLEY - Explore (Splasch 304; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA - Baptism (Splasch 417; Italy)
CD $13

STEFANO BATTAGLIA - Musica Centripeta (Splasch 688; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA THEATRUM - Rito Stagionale (Splasch 903; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA With PAOLINO DALLA PORTA/ALDO ROMANO//BILL EVANS - Bill Evans Compositions Vol 1 (Splasch 400; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA/PAOLINO DALLA PORTA/ROBERTO GATTO - Confession (Splasch 344; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

STEFANO BATTAGLIA/PAOLINO DALLA PORTA/ROBERTO GATTO - Unknown Flames: Live In Sienna [2 CD set] (Splasch 471; Italy)
2 CD set for $32

LUCA BONVINI With CAMERON BROWN/ROBERTO CECCHETTO et al - Walt Whitman's The Mysic Trumpeter (Splasch 537; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

CAPPELLETTI/STEVE SWALLOW/VISIBELLI - Little Poems (Splasch 836; Italy)
CD $20

DANIELE CAVALLANTI/GUIDO MAZZON'S GRUPPO CONTEMPORANEO - Our Prayer (Splasch 958; Italy)
CD $13

CHANGES [EMANUELE CISI/STEFANO BATTAGLIA/IERO LEVERATO/FABRIZIO SFERRA] - Small Changes (Splasch 733; Italy)
CD $13

ANTONIO CIACCA QUINTET With DON BRADEN - Autumn In New York (Splasch 849; Italy)
CD $20

GEOMETRIC(S) [ALBERTO TACCHINI/TIZIANI TONONI] - La magia della luce: Filmworks #1 (Splasch 741; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

RENATO GEREMIA/MICHEL GODARD/TIZIANO TONONI - Tre Cose [aka Multiphonics Tuba Three] (Splasch 635; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

JAZZ IN TRIO [GIOVANNI MAZZARINO/STEVE SWALLOW/ADAM NUSSBAUM] - Nostalgia (Splasch 837; Italy)
CD $20

JAZZERIE [MUARIZIO QUINTAVALLE/ROBERTO OTTAVIANO/NICO STUFANO/MIMMO CAMPANALE] - Future Memories (Splasch 199; Italy)
LP $14 (Out of print, but we have it!)

MAHANADA [GIANCARLO MAZZU/CARLO NICITA/CARMELO COGLITORE/LUCIANO TROJA] - Taranta's Circles (Splasch 954; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

ALBERTO MANDARINI PHOEBUS ENSEMBLE - Rome-Istanbul (Splasch 674; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

GUIDO MAZZON/ALBERTO MANDARINI - Trumpet Buzz Duo (Splasch 466; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MIKA POHJOLA/YUSUKE YAMAMOTO - Sound Of Village (Splasch 824; Italy)
CD $20

CHRISTIAN RAVAGLIOLI - Una Frase Un Rigo Appena (Splasch/Pushin 1003.2; Italy)
CD $16

MARCO TAMBURINI QUINTET - Feather Touch (Splasch 749; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16

MARCO TINDIGLIA QUARTET - Happy Jazz (Splasch 828; Italy)
CD $20

WIDE QUINTET [LUCA AQUINO/RAFFAELE MATTA/CHRISTIAN CLAESSENS/ALESSANDRO BIASI] - Meet Me In Sardinia (Splasch 949; Italy)
CD normally $18, but for one week only $16



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CONTROLLED BLEEDING - The Poisoner (Soleilmoon 33; USA) "Controlled Bleeding's finest work is presented in the form of The Poisoner, a deeply disturbing, richly dynamic aural nightmare that redefines one's vision of hell (just listen to part 2 and you'll understand!). Here, Lemos, with the assistance of San Diego experimental composer Guy Lohnes, has created a work truly actualizing the potential that was always indicated in the group's work.
CD $15

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS [EDWARD KA-SPEL et al] - The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse (Soleilmoon 175; USA) "The Legendary Pink Dots originally released The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse in 1990, sandwiched between the highly acclaimed albums The Golden Age and The Maria Dimension. Critics may differ, but fans generally consider this period to be the band's creative peak, an opinion that is backed up by solid and steady sales of the back catalog. The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse is an intoxicating blend of rock and psychedelia, seasoned with a touch whimsy, simultaneously engaging and memorable. Two decades on the music stands unblemished, timeless, enduring, and vital. For this reissue the music has been remastered by the Dots' soundman Raymond Steeg, and the CD booklet has been reworked and expanded."
CD $15


HEAD OVER HEELS - Head Over Heels (Aurora 5013; UK) One of the loudest acts of their time, this Detroit-based power trio made only one album, which stands as a lost proto-metal classic. A product of the same scene that spawned The Stooges and MC5, they play raw and dirty on a superb selection of self-penned material, as well as a molten cover of blues staple "Red Rooster." Unusually, the LP (originally released in June 1971) combines live and studio recordings, perfectly showcasing their inventive take on crunching hard rock and searing power ballads. Finally available on CD once again, with background notes.
CD $17


BOOTSY COLLINS SWEAT BAND - Sweat Band (Get On Down 51285; USA) Nothing fueled the 70s funk revolution quite like George Clinton's massive musical collective known as Parliament-Funkadelic. One of the main contributors to the P-Funk sound was Cincinnati native and former JB's member Bootsy Collins. Literally, there would be no Mothership without Bootsy, aka Bootzilla, a true monster on the bass. 1980s Sweat Band was originally envisioned to be the 5th release from Bootsy Collin's funktacular Rubber Band. But somehow Bootsy lost the rights to the Rubber Band name to, of all things, a folk act. But rest assured, though the name may be slightly different, all the funk is intact. For this outing Bootsy's background with James Brown and as a major contributor to the Parliament Funkadelic family are in full effect. Players on the project include Michael Hampton and Garry Shider on guitar, Bernie Worrell on the keys, as well as a horn line comprising Fred Wesley, Richard Griffith and Maceo Parker. And being that this is a full-fledged P-Funk outing, George Clinton himself is Executive Producer. Anchoring the entire project, the amazing bass work of the one and only Bootsy Collins."
CD $15

THE WILD MAGNOLIAS - The Wild Magnolias (Get On Down 54036; USA) "New Orleans is synonymous with music and Mardi Gras. The Wild Magnolias have both fronts covered. The roots of the Wild Magnolias go back to, at least, the 1950s as one of New Orleans' most popular and colorful Indian 'Krewes'. The Krewes fall under the guidance of a Chief, and Bo Dollis has been the Chief of the Wild Magnolias since the mid-60s. With a voice reminiscent of Sam Cooke and the flamboyance you'd expect at any given Mardi Gras, Bo and the Wild Magnolias rose to great heights in the 70s in a reign that continues to this day. The Wild Magnolias run as a recording act started in 1970 with the Handa Wanda 45 for the Crescent City imprint. In addition to a traditional Mardi Gras percussion lineup featuring everything from drums to beer bottles, Bo and the Wild Magnolias pulled in some prominent local talent as backup including Willie Tee and Snooks Eaglin. The cut became a Mardi Gras staple and lead to the French imprint Barclays (with distribution via Polygram) to sign the Krewe for this, the finest recording in the Wild Magnolias long and storied career. The album took Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias from a New Orleans phenomena to a global force with the lead single 'Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke it Right)' appearing on the Billboard charts. The Magnolias have even had a lasting effect on the world of hip hop with 'Corey Died On The Battlefield' and '(Somebody Got) Soul, Soul, Soul' being sampled by artists such as Schoolly D, 3rd Bass, Geto Boys and the Jungle Brothers. With this reissue culled from the original master, Get On Down turns every Tuesday into Fat Tuesday." Packaged in a paste-on mini-LP jacket with die cut obi strip and dust sleeve.
CD $15

HOWLIN' WOLF - This Is Howlin' Wolf's New Ablum. He Doesn't Like It. He Didn't Like His Electric Guitar At First Either (Get On Down 54038; USA) "It's not often that an album disavowed by its own author at the time of release goes on to become considered a modern classic. Yet that's exactly what happened with Chicago blues legend Howlin' Wolf's 1969 LP The Howlin' Wolf Album, a release that has since attained mythical status due to the controversy behind it. Released on Cadet Records, a subsidiary of legendary imprint Chess Records, The Howlin' Wolf Album was a radical experiment for a well-established artist: attempt to integrate electric instruments and psychedelic arrangements into his revered signature blues sound. The result was an album that Wolf himself initially disregarded on the now infamous cover, but one that has won a special place amongst dedicated music aficionados thanks to its unique mix of traditional blues and electric rock elements. Get On Down's reputation for high quality reissues continues with The Howlin' Wolf Album, which features audio remastered from the original analog tapes for optimum sound quality." Digipak release.
CD $15

HUGO MONTENEGRO - Moog Power (Get On Down 51286; USA) "Hugo Montenegro already had a solid and storied career under his belt before his revolutionary 1969 release Moog Power was envisioned or the first Moog synthesizer was even built. In the mid-50s he was musical director for the Dragon and Caprice imprints where he worked with Dion. He then moved on to a similar position at the legendary 'Hi Fi' imprint Time Records. Relocating to LA in the early 60s lead to a deal with RCA as well as a slew of work for film and TV including scoring two Matt Helm pics and penning the theme music to 'I Dream of Jeanie'. By the mid-60s his own work was on the vanguard of Space Age Pop. When the Moog synthesizer was first made available in the late 60s its sound was fresh and very cutting edge. The instrument itself lead to a run of Moog flavored albums that went well into the 70s, Montenegro's Moog Power being one of the first, and best, of the Moog movement. Moog Power set the standard, with synth flavored interpretations of the Doors 'Touch Me', 'Aquarius' 'Dizzy', and other hits of the day. In addition to these reinterpretations the Montenegro penned title track 'Moog Power' brought the (then) futuristic sound of the synthesizer directly into the homes of millions. Now, lovingly remastered from the original sessions, Get On Down is proud to connect Montenegro's work with a new generation of fans eager to hear analog synths or those who'd rather just mix up some cocktails and enjoy the power of the granddaddy of Moog records, Moog Power."
CD $15

AUGUSTUS PABLO - Ital Dub (Get On Down 50769; USA) "By the time he released Ital Dub in 1975, Augustus Pablo was already a household name in Jamaica. He was fresh off the success of his album Rebel Rock Reggae, and about to enter the most prolific period of his career with legendary dub engineer King Tubby, this being their first collaboration. Recorded and mixed by Tubby at his studio, Ital Dub, produced by Tommy Cowan and Warwick Lyn, features Pablo lending his signature melodica work to originals ('Eli's Move,' 'Shake Up') and covers from Bob Marley ('Rebel Music,' 'Natty Dread'), Peter Tosh ('Funeral') and Junior Byles ('Curly Locks,' 'Irie Feelings'). Overlooked at the time of its initial release, Ital Dub has since been recognized as a worthy entry in Pablo's stellar catalog and 'one of the most innovative albums of the decade' (AllMusic.com). After producing top quality reissues from Lee 'Scratch' Perry and King Tubby, Get On Down is proud to present another Jamaican dub classic, featuring a new digital audio transfer from the original analog tapes." Packaged in a paste-on mini-LP jacket with die cut obi strip and dust sleeve. CD $15


AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE - Off the Beaten Track (On-U 1018; UK) "When African Head Charge released their fourth album Off The Beaten Track in 1986, it was a newly remade ensemble. Lead by percussionist Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah, the band included live drums, melodica, keyboards and bass backed by samples and tape loops. In 1986, the sampler was a new toy; the use of it here is so fresh and progressive that the resulting album still sounds modern and innovative today. When it was released, it sounded like nothing else around at the time -- the combination of fat beats, dub, psychedelia and ethnic chants was to provide the template which many lesser lights attempted to emulate over the ensuing years. Off The Beaten Track is both a seminal recording in the use of sound-bite technology and an excellent example of the integration of live instrumentation and programmed music. Produced by Adrian Sherwood and featuring Bonjo Iyabingho Noah, Eskimo, A.V.Scott, Skip McDonald, Dr. Pablo, and Jah Wobble. Originally released as ON-U LP40 in 1986. This edition features previously unreleased bonus track 'Good Things.'"
CD $19

CREATION REBEL - Historic Moments Volume One (On-U 1017; UK) "Creation Rebel's Starship Africa is the greatest sci-fi dub soundtracks never put to film. Produced and arranged by Adrian Sherwood and created by some of the greats from the On-U Sound stable of musicians (including Doctor Pablo, Crucial Tony, Style Scott and Eskimo Fox), it is one of the finest moments of British Dub. Compared to acts as far afield as Tangerine Dream and the Grateful Dead, Starship Africa is a truly psychedelic dub experience, spread over just two tracks (albeit broken down into five and four movements apiece), that stands among the most intriguing of all Sherwood's earliest creations. This album is a criminally underrated masterpiece and essential headphone listening. Originally released as in 1980 and later re-issued on On-U Sound as ON-ULP8 in 1982, this new edition also includes four bonus tracks previously unreleased outside Japan."
CD $19

NEW AGE STEPPERS - The New Age Steppers (On-U 1016; UK) "This re-issue of the very first album released by On-U Sound marks a fitting start to the planned series of releases to celebrate the label's 30th Anniversary. 1981's eponymous debut by post-punk super group' The New Age Steppers provided a fertile breeding ground for the cross-pollination of punk experimentation and dub sensibilities, and mapped out the innovative and culturally exciting musical territory for which On-U Sound would become legendary. Over the course of four albums that featured members of The Slits, The Roots Radics, The Pop Group, Rip, Rig and Panic and Aswad, The New Age Steppers were not so much a band as a loosely knit collective of musicians from some of Britain's best avant garde post-punk/funk bands. Cut-and-paste dub mixing, heady psychedelic swirls, adventurous sound collages, robust reggae rhythms, and spiraling, off-center vocals all contributed to the unique music created by Adrian Sherwood and his Steppers. Their sound was among the most exhilarating and consistently challenging to come out of Britain during the early post-punk era. Originally released as ON-U LP1 in 1981, this new edition includes four bonus tracks previously unreleased outside Japan. Personnel includes Viv Albertine, Mark Stewart, Ari Up, Crucial Tony, John Waddington, Steve Beresford, and Style Scott."
CD $19

LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY & ADRIAN SHERWOOD - Dub Setter (On-U 1006; UK) "Born from the sessions that birthed Lee Perry's Mighty Upsetter album, but far more than just a straight dub version of that set, Dub Setter is a 10 track collection of heavy-weight dubs comprised of both radical reworkings of Mighty Upsetter tunes alongside brand new material. It is also the first full-on dub album with Adrian Sherwood at the controls since Never Trust A Hippy in 2003. As well as making an excellent companion piece to Mighty Upsetter, this album finds Sherwood operating at the peak of his rootical production powers, playing the studio to full soundbwoy effect as he draws on a vast range righteous musics from around the globe to create a conquering lion of earth-shaking psychedelic rhythm and sound that will delight any fan of the trademarked On-U style."
CD $17


VICTOR OLAIYA - All Stars Soul International (VampiSoul 107; EEC) Victor Olaiya is certainly one of the legendary foundation stones of modern Nigerian music, yet he has never received much acknowledgement or really had his albums released or promoted in any quantity outside of Nigeria. So this Vampisoul release is a step in the right direction. Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya, the evil genius of highlife, is still sockin' it to them after 60 years on stage. If you're lucky you can catch him blowing that trumpet and singing his heart out at his own celebrated "Stadium Hotel" in Lagos, Nigeria. This album from 1970 is from Olaiya's highlife/funk phase, and it's worth taking a trawl through his back pages to see how he became the Evil Genius, before you roll back the rug and get down with the highlife-funk. Our carefully produced reissue comes with extensive liner notes by specialist Max Reindhart.
CD $17

EL GRAN FELLOVE - Mango Mangue (VampiSoul 119; EEC) Vampisoul presents a compilation of the late '50s and early '60s recordings by this unique singer and showman from Cuba, a contemporary of Perez Prado, Cachao and Mongo Santamaria. Includes his famous ska/mambo crossover hit "El Jamaiquino." Francisco Fellove Valdes composed "Mango Mangue" when he was 16, in Nino Rivera's house. The first musician to record the song was the singer Miguelito Valdes. Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, the flautist Johnny Pacheco and Aldemaro Romero also recorded it. In 1955, Fellove travelled to Mexico City where he made his debut at Roberto Morales's Bar Latino with Jose Antonio Mendez before going to the El Burro club with the Orquesta America. He recorded a few 45s and six LPs for RCA Victor. The artistic director of RCA was the pianist and songwriter Mario Ruiz Armengol, who did a few arrangements for Fellove and lent him his orchestra for the recording sessions. So, beginning with his Havana scat, in which he expressed Cuba's musical soul, the chua-chua was born in Mexico City. Along with Hector Batamba he organized a sextet with Lalo Montaner on the flute, Raul Cerda on the piano, Hector Leal on the guiro, "El Lobo" on the drums and "El Raton" on bass. After recording for RCA Victor (from September 1956 to September 1957) the group broke up when Batamba went to Europe. Fellove formed a new band: "I had invented the chua-chua, a kind of scat. In my group, Lobo and Melon did the choruses." In this compilation we discover Fellove's guarachera facet along with the best examples of his career in chuachua, but also some very original versions of the classics of Mexican music ("Te Quiero Corazon," "Baile El Minuet") and of Puerto Rican music ("Cortaron a Elena"). Even more surprising is his interpretation of a Rio de la Plata classic, "Los ejes de mi carreta."
CD $17

SPITERI - Spiteri ..Plus! (VampiSoul 121; EEC) Reissue of this magical album that merges rock, soul and psychedelia with Venezuelan rhythms. Recorded in London in 1973, Spiteri gained the support of artists such as Noel Redding, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Bob Marley, Steve Winwood and many others. This is the only legacy from the most important Latin rock group from Venezuela. In love with the British band Traffic and full of Latin American feeling, brothers Charles and Jorge Spiteri decided to move from Caracas to London at the start of the '70s and try their luck as musicians. Jorge had started out in bands such as Los Nasty Pillows, Fantastic Guasacaca, Los Juniors and Los Memphis. In London he met up with his brother Charlie (ex-Los Memphis) and had the chance to know two of the great artists of the "British Invasion": Georgie Fame and Alan Price, keyboard player in The Animals. One thing led to another and Jorge also met Mervin "Muff" Winwood, brother of British super star Stevie Winwood, who fully introduced Jorge to London's music scene. It was during those years when the idea for a band mixing the Latin sound with rock was born. The rhythm section was completed by Bernardo Hall (ex- Los Impala) on drums, while Joseito Romero (ex-member of Tsee Mud and Bacro) was the lead guitarist. A fundamental piece in this line-up was Jose Manuel "Chema" Arria (ex-Los Claners and Sangre), the bass player, as he had a long professional experience. The last one to join them was Ruben "Micho" Correa (ex-Los Kings and Grupo Pan), who took on flute and vocals. It was in fact a Venezuelan super group established in London, so it wasn't long before London's music industry saw in Spiteri a British alternative to the popular "Santana sound." In 1973, the band was signed by record company GM. The record was released in Venezuela at the end of 1973. They were Venezuelans recording in Europe and making fusion rock that hadn't been heard before; it was Venezuelan music but in a completely contemporary format. Mixing English and Spanish, Jorge Spiteri's compositions and arrangements opened a new horizon, where Venezuelan folklore, Afro-Caribbean elements, hard rock and bolero-charged ballads converged. CD version includes 7 bonus tracks.
CD $17


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