The Quintet (LP)
Horace Tapscott
The Mr. Bongo label has unearthed 3 forgotten performances from the same sessions that produced Tapscott's ground-breaking Flying Dutchman classic, The Giant Is Awakened. If you know those original performances, you know what to expect. Tapscott is one of my top-5 pianists of all time and these sessions with the young Arthur Blythe are legendary.
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Roots (re-issue) (LP)
Ian Carr's Nucleus
Be With Records' reissue campaign for Ian Carr's 1970's output can't be lauded enough. Trumpeter, bandleader Carr is not well known outside the UK, but man oh man is he one of my very favorite musician/arrangers! His talent at collecting the players that can bring his vision of funky, slinky, groove jazz to light is unmatched. Find anything you can by him from the late 60's-on and you won't be disappointed, but if you see copies of Belladonna or Elastic Rock, grab them!
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Silk Road: Rock Joint Cither (LP)
Hiromasa Suzuki
1973 funk jazz session lead by pianist Suzuki (heavy on the electric piano), with Yoko Uehara on sitar, killer playing by saxophonist Takeru Muraoka and oboeist Hiroshi Yoshinaga, and flat-out groove from the drummer, Hideo Sekine. Alternately driving, smooth, groovy and gorgeous. I'm a sucker for the electric piano and this one delivers.
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Fuchsia Swing Song (reissue) (LP)
Sam Rivers
Like pianist Andrew Hill, Rivers finds ways to indicate and explore the outer edges of jazz without abandoning the tradition, the changes, the swing. So glad Blue Note found it worthy of reissue, as it never stops thrilling my ears. Jaki Byard is on fire, here. One of my very favorite Blue Note recordings.
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Green Caterpillar (LP)
Masaru Imada Trio +2
The Three Blind Mice label could be favorably compared to Germany's MPS label. From 1970 to today, they've had the pulse of where the tradition was and where it was headed. Green Caterpillar from 1975 is an electric-piano driven groove, featuring the very young Kazumi Watanabe going at it like CTI-era George Benson. Yep, its a killer.
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Ptah The El Daoud (LP)
Alice Coltrane
Within the slightly cartoonish jacket is a landmark, a level-read of modern, spirit-driven improvisation. Words don't approach. Overjoyed that Verve has included this, Journey In Satchidananda and Pharoah Sanders' Karma in their recent reissue campaigns. Essential documents.
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Praise A Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (LP)
Yves Tumor
Radical Romantics (LP)
Fever Ray
Express (Vinyl Reissue) (LP)
Love and Rockets
KNTXT Residency 015 (DJ Mix) (Other)
Charlotte De Witte
Love Lines (LP)
Nuovo Testemento
We Cater to Cowards (LP)
Oozing Wound
Oozing Wound's fifth full length is full of their signature noise metal but this time around they've streamlined a bit and embraced late 80's grunge. Bleach era Nirvana and Salt Lick-esque Tad rear their heads throughout, all seamlessly folded into their well-honed angst filled sludge.
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Evidence of Immortality (LP)
Conan
Just good old fashioned, knuckle dragging doom by the guys that have been doing it better than most for years. This time around, they up the tempo on a few tunes and end things with a fairly long, synth forward instrumental. But for the most part, they keep playing to their strengths and slog on. Whereas a band like Yob wants the (lack of) pace to help you ascend, Conan uses it to drag you down through the muck.
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Chimaera I (LP)
Colin Stetson
Odds are you've heard saxophonist Colin Stetson without knowing it. He's been on albums by Arcade Fire, BadBadNotGood, and Bon Iver (to name a few), in addition to scoring films from Hereditary to The Menu. This solo album (of which he also has many) is his first drone affair. Known mostly for his circular breathing technique, here Stetson lets notes linger and flood over each other, creating dark and hypnotic tones that hit you right in the gut.
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All Of This Is Chance
Lisa O'Neill
Beautiful dark Irish folk. A heartbreaking album that you will want to keep returning to.
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Gizmo
Tanukichan
Dreamy shoegaze pop from the bay area. I fell in love with this album instantly.
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Love Lines
Nuovo Testamento
Another great album from this 80s influenced synth pop band. Very addictive songs that will make you want to dance.
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S/T (LP)
Rites of Spring
This is what Guy Picciotto was doing pre-Fugazi. A Ric 370 and MXR Distortion + never sounded so sweet. This was the beginning of emo, some say. Not that emo, the other emo. Standout track: For Want Of.
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Raise (CD)
Swervedriver
90s shoegaze/noise/psychedelic album that you will want to hear over and over. Standout track: Rave Down.
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