New Arrivals
infrantumi
Much needed vinyl reissue of a legendary Italian album from the 90s, finally remastered and housed in truly deluxe edition. Starfuckers' "Infrantumi" was recorded in the summer of 1997 in Massa, in the cramped attic of the Bocci house, all the equipment we had was: a sampler, a small mixer, an analog synth, a digital multi-effect, an electric guitar, a cheap transistor amp, a low wattage monitor, a vintage drum kit and a turntable. For recording we decided to use a mini-disc four-track reco…
Moving Along
Matsuli Music continues its reissue program of rare indigenous afro-jazz sounds from South Africa with the release of Sowetan group Batsumi's self-titled debut from 1974. The reissue has been lovingly re-mastered from the original tapes and features material compiled on the recent Next Stop Soweto series from Strut. The album arrived amidst a period of intense political, intellectual and artistic ferment stimulated in large part by the teachings of Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement…
Classroom projects - Incredible music made by Children in school
LP version. Incredible music made by children in schools" says is it all really. Jonny Trunk has collected the best moments of that most niche of niche collectors' genres, the school album, spanning music by small primary school choirs singing folk songs to full-blown avant-garde experiments written and performed by children still at secondary or grammar school. As with practically all Trunk releases, it's a nostalgic gas for anyone over a certain age - we reckon anyone younger than 25 may be ba…
III-II
During an early DSR Lines show in 1998, at a group exhibition where snot artists were elbowing themselves a way to the tip of the Cathedral, hoping to catch some sun, or a glimpse of the painter they would all like to be, David Edren aka DSR Lines dragged along about 8 tv's he attached to various analog synthesizers, feedbacking up the psychedelic ambient boiling out of the speakers, smoking out the negative stench of rotting careerism, whether they dabbled their paws in oil or leftovers didn't …
Happiness is Overrated
"Originally from the land of throwing sausages, eggs, beans AND tomatoes on one plate for BREAKFAST, though residing in the land of the freaks, Dan Melchior travelled many roads, between wreckless R&R bands or duo's with Wild Billy Childish, to solo collages on Chocolate Monk or Kye records, to the beautiful collaborative works he created with Letha Diane Rodman Melchior, Dan's partner who sadly passed away in November 2014, and who this record is dedicated to. Knowing this makes it uneasy to wr…
Avantgardegasse
"It has often been said, and we gladly repeat it again, here at the UE office tower, "Folks drive faster without a drivers license", and that's not a lie, it might be because the popo's are right behind you! Boy or Girl, can those assholes make a real human nervous! Once one enters Avantgardegasse, somewhere In Germany (a country known for its brutality on the road) rules and laws concerning your ride all flush down the toilet like a recycled napkin! No popo's on Avantgardegasse! Forget about th…
Minor Differences
André Vida is a Berlin-based saxophonist, composer and lyricist. He has developed a series of practical approaches to improvisation using restrictive outfits, animated graphics-based score installations and self-made instruments. His solo saxophone pieces are a synthesis of these areas of improvisational research, combining body, instrument, song-forms, and voice. In this case the pieces are made in the moment and memory, with shifting time matrices. Over the course of a two-minute walk, some fo…
There
Engrossing debut album from Iranian sound artist, Pouya Ehsaei, sublimating samples of traditional Iranian music to "reveal the rage hidden beneath its melancholia." 'There' was produced in 2010, using fractured and brutally processed instrumentation indigenous to Iran to isolate a palpable feeling of tension articulated with a timbre unique to the artist's background. In the course of its six pieces we perceive a stark and grinding sadness from his aerated arrangements, gleaning elusive emotion…
Untitled
Sam Kidel a.k.a. El Kid presents an extended drone work for the excellent Entr’acte label inspired by Henri Michaux's 'Untitled (Movements)' drawing. Located much farther out than his work with Killing Sound or the Young Echo collective, or even his numerous soundtracks for film, TV and theatre, the piece is based on two layers of synthesiser - one outputting the wavering, natural heat fluctuations of analogue circuitry, and another undergoing a slow and subtle metamorphosis. Pocked with collage…
Delirious Elaborations
An outstanding and truly lavishly packaged 4CD-Box collecting 1987-1997 material by the legendary ULTRA (Christoph Heeman, Achim P. Li Khan, Jon Carlson) containg four CD’s each in individual picture sleeves, 16 page booklet, housed in foil-debossed slipcase. Very recommended humourous electroacoustic power electronics.The entire recorded output of the 'classic' Ultra lineup of St Degeneratus (Jon Carlson), Herr Mucke (Christoph Heemann) and Dr Tengelmann (Achim Flaam) along with lyrics, artwork…
Vanity Fair
Greetings, here we have Recital’s inaugural release, “Vanity Fair,” Sean McCann & Matthew Sullivan’s debut collaboration album. A fitting introduction to the ethos of Recital; the desire to turn a new page, to more accurately project what is significant and engaging in contemporary music.Matt and I had often talked about collaborating, as our musical understandings and interests align. Both drawn to minimalism and graceful ambience, we would trade tidbits and slivers of ideas casually over coff…
Music For Private Ensemble
“Music For Private Ensemble” is Sean McCann’s first new solo album since 2011′s “The Capital”. Demonstrating a more serious study of orchestration and timbre than his previous work; it is a big step forward. The four arrangements presented here shy away from the use of synthesizers and effects processing – instead relying on voicing and movement to actuate the album’s sentiments. Inspired by the grandiosity of John Adams, the concerned somberness of Gavin Bryars, and the guttural tape work of Fl…
The solar-myth approach (vol2)
The vision of Sun Ra is placed within an experimental framework, as ambient music is shaped through the use of a Mini-Moog synthesizer in the pair of releases that were recorded in 1970-1971. The Solar-Myth Arkestra capture the special textures through the oboe, flute and drums of James Jacson. The landscape has a wonderful symmetry of colors and Sun Ra brings a sonic harmony to some of his most challenging works within his vast discography.
Space Probe
Recorded mostly in the early'60s with Ra, Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, James Jacson, Nimrod Hunt and Thea Barbara, Space Probe explores stripped back forms and colour combinations that are far from jazz Ð or that attempt, very successfully, to take jazz into wholly new territories. Especially notable is the extraordinary Conversation Of J.P. for piano and percussion which, along with the opening track - an 18-minute Moog solo, probably recorded in 1970, just after Ra had newly acquired the…
Cosmo Sun Connection
A CD containing the limited edition Recommended LP release that has been out of print for the last 12 years - though much in demand, since it comprehensively covers the diversity of the Arkestra's work - via Africa, through Ellington and all the way on to Pure Electronics. Given to us by Ra over a decade ago, we intend to apply the royalties of this re-release directly to the Arkestra. A Classic
Wake Up Angels
Live recordings from Sun Ra Solar-Myth and Intergalactic Arkestras performing live at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival from 1972-74, well-recorded and great performances in this first issue of these great concerts. "Recorded live at the Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival 1972-73-74. The classic big band with a full complement of singers, Tracks 1 -10 (1972) feature the great "Space is the Place Suite". After the first few minutes the sound is surprisingly good with great drums throughout; cry…
The Sensational Guitars Of Dan & Dale: Batman And Robin
"This novelty album, released in 1966 during the height of the Batman & Robin craze, was initially credited to the 'The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale' and featured an album full of tracks based on the popular TV show like 'The Batman Theme Song', 'The Penguin Chase', and 'The Batcave'. The album is entirely instrumental, except for someone singing 'Batmaaaan!' in the theme song. But the interesting thing about this album, and what makes it an absolute cult gem, are the musicians who…
Cosmo Earth Fantasy: Sub Underground Series Vol. 1 and 2
A Saturn release from the 1960's featuring a wide-range of pieces from studio recordings, rehearsals, and live concerts that are all heart-felt and made in the traditional Sun Ra style, starting with eight delirious minutes of kora and piano frame -- almost certainly the Strange Strings instruments, whatever they were. And then Ra's signature clavinet of the period and an unidentifiable double-reed instrument, probably played by Marshall Allen. Enter the xylophone. I sense you're getting the …
Bad & Beautiful
2014 reissue. Of the Ra albums I've heard, this is by far the easiest to get into, and the only one I can recommend unreservedly. Attrition had brought the Arkestra down to a sextet, leaving more room for Ra's piano (the driving "Ankh") and the three remaining horns (all saxophones). When Marshall Allen isn't on sax, he's playing gorgeous piercing flute lines (in harmony with Gilmore on "The Bad And The Beautiful"). The one percussion showcase is rousing and joyful, with Ra adding Monk-like brit…
Slot Machine Music
Although I was not yet aware of the extent to which casinos tailor their environments for maximum comfort (and, correspondingly, profit), I did know as I crossed the threshold of my first casino floor earlier this year that it would not be my last visit. Hit by a cornucopia of slot machine tones, triggering aleatorically and coalescing into shimmering masses, I was struck by the need to return and record the sounds that so entranced me. It wouldn't prove to be easy--casino security is inte…