Cuneiform is definitely one of the more adventurous progressive labels around giving voice to some amazing talent that would otherwise never see the light of day. When I asked Steve Feigenbaum for a little history on Cuneiform he told me:
Essentially, Cuneiform exists to present what I think are the most interesting musics in the "avant/new music" categories, with an emphasis on rock bands playing intricate, rehearsal intensive music. You will find a wide range of music here - from 20th century classical music, to jazz/improvised, to fusions of various sorts. You'll also find a large number of rock bands who are rock bands only because of their instrumentation. - Steve Feigenbaum
You'll find their latest releases below.
Thinking Plague/Decline And Fall ....CD $15.99
Denver-based rock experimentalists Thinking Plague have released a small number of hugely praised, much loved albums in their nearly 30 years of existence. Despite the large number of years between albums, the personnel and signature sound of the ensemble remain and their releases are always easily identifiable. Working slowly and steadfastly, the group has released a handful of brilliant, art-rock classics. "Decline and Fall" is the 6th and latest of them. "Thinking Plague lays down some of the most rhythmically complex, texturally inventive, and melodically challenging popular music of the last 30 years, and somehow makes it all sound easy and natural." - All Music Guide
Forgas Band Phenomena/Acte V ....CD + DVD $22.99
French drummer and composer Patrick Forgas has been releasing jazz/rock gems that showcase his compostional and arranging skills for 35 years. "Acte V" is the fifth album by his current band, a 7 piece instrumental ensemble of skillful young musicians, performing on saxes, trumpet, violin, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. The group performs music that combines the most attractive aspects of jazz and rock compositions with inspired solos. The quality of the music and performances is obvious from the first note and we're not the only ones who have noticed; the press has been hugely enthusiastic towards their releases. "Acte V" is a double disc package featuring the group's brand new studio release as well as their first ever DVD release which includes their performance at NEARfest 2010 in front of over 1,000 people!
Ergo/If Not Inertia ....CD $15.99
"If Not Inertia" is the third album from the unique New York based electro-acoustic jazz ensemble, Ergo, again mining areas in sound that no one else in the jazz idiom approaches. After releasing his debut CD in 2002, Brett Sroka (trombone, computer) began exploring beyond his jazz background and became fascinated with electronic music, surrounding himself with computers and software. As he sought to reconcile the six hundred years of technology between trombone and computer, he found the like-minded musicians Sam Harris (piano, Fender Rhodes) and Shawn Baltazor (drums). "If Not Inertia" also features critically acclaimed guitarist Mary Halvorson as special guest on over half of the titles. The music is jazz, certainly, but jazz that owes as much to Autechre and Sigur Ros as to Ellington and Sun Ra. "If Not Inertia" also features a bonus enhanced film "The Making of If Not Inertia," which is viewable on your computer.
Joel Harrison & Lorenzo Feliciati with Cuong Vu; Roy Powell & Dan Weiss/Holy Abyss ....CD $15.99
"Holy Abyss" is a masterful electric Jazz outing from five great players. This group personifies the worldwide nature of Jazz today: progressive but accessible lyrical Jazz/Rock, modern, tasty, tuneful and occasionally haunting. Guitarist and co-leader Joel Harrison grew up in D.C., moved to the West Coast in the late '80s and to New York City in the mid '90s where he still resides. Bassist and co-leader Lorenzo Feliciati lives in Rome, Italy but travels the world and has collaborated with Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson), Bob Mitzer and Donovan. A.o. trumpeter Cuong Vu was born in Vietnam, lived for a number of years in New York City and made his name as a member of the Pat Metheny Group in the 2000s. He is currently a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. Pianist/Hammond B-3 player Roy Powell is from England and resides in Norway, where he works in a wide range of music, including mainstream, jazz piano, avant-garde and electric, funky jazz. Drummer and tabla player Dan Weiss lives in New York City where he has recorded with many of the brightest, upcoming names there.
Michael Gibbs & The NDR Bigband/Back In The Day ....CD $15.99
Michael Gibbs & The NDR Bigband's "Back In The Day" is a never before released audiophile recording of this great jazz composer and arranger in a program of original modern jazz plus three specially arranged classics recorded in separate sessions in 1995, 2002 and 2003. The legendary 'Britjazz' composer and arranger Michael Gibbs was born in 1937 in Zimbabwe and was originally a trombonist as well. Gibbs began to concentrate on writing and arranging because performing solos terrified him! Starting in the late '60s, he recorded a series of highly acclaimed and influential albums featuring many of the most prominent British-based jazz players who, like Michael, were beginning to flirt with jazz/rock. Since the '80s, he has mostly done arrangements and orchestrations for major names such as Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Whitney Houston, Peter Gabriel, and Sister Sledge among many others, while too infrequently recording his own music. "Back in the Days" is an all-too rare opportunity to hear Gibbs' music, arranged and conducted by the composer and in front of a well-rehearsed 18 piece band filled with great soloists (Including Gary Burton on vibes!) and ensemble players. The profile and interest in the 60s/70s wave of British Jazz talents has never been higher and Gibbs is one of the major names in the field.
The Claudia Quintet +1 featuring Kurt Elling and Theo Blackmann/What Is The Beautiful? ....CD $15.99
The Claudia Quintet is a brilliant New York band led by drummer and composer John Hollenbeck who recasts jazz in shimmering new shapes inflected by classical minimalism, new music, progressive rock and post-rock. The Claudia Quintet embraces the textural freedom of electronic sounds and improvisation, the structural ambition of contemporary classical music, and most importantly, the joy of bodacious grooves and unapologetically gorgeous melodies. The quintet's one-of-a-kind "jazz and beyond" sound, with massive emotional depth, comes organically from the uncanny interplay of its virtuosos members, all of whom are poll winners and band leaders in their own right: Drew Gress (bass), Matt Moran (vibes), Ted Reichman (accordion), Chris Speed (tenor sax and clarinet) and guest pianist Matt Mitchell. Claudia are always about doing something new and for their sixth album they have released something utterly unexpected: a vocal album featuring the talents of jazz's biggest male vocal star, Kurt Elling and the great Theo Bleckmann.
Laswell + Bjorkenheim + Agren/Blixt ....CD $15.99
Bassist Bill Laswell has been a major figure in creative music for 3 decades as a performer as well as a producer. The list of major names in jazz and rock he has worked with is voluminous. His stamp is on literally hundreds of albums; the majority of them characterized by a sound fusing the energy of punk with the bone-rattling rhythms of dub and funk. Guitarist Raoul Björkenheim emerged from Finland in the 1980s with Edward Vesala then recorded two albums for ECM. A major if under-appreciated guitar hero, he has kept an active profile most recently with Scorch Trio, with whom he has released 4 albums. Drummer Morgan Agren was voted the #1 best fusion drummer in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll of 2010! He has worked with keyboardist Mats Oberg as Mats/Morgan for over 30 years (since he was 14 and Mats was 10!) and they have released 8 albums. "Blixt" is the first release by this electric jazz power trio supergroup; think the Jimi Hendrix Experience mixed with outjazz/improvisation.
Sao Paulo Underground featuring Rob Mazurek/Tres Cabacas Loucuras ....CD $15.99
Formed around Rob Mazurek, a key player in the Chicago post rock/modern jazz scene, this is the third album by this outstanding jazz and electronics group with strong Brazilian/world music influences. Rob's cornet and electronics mingle with the 3 Brazilian musicians who provide the sounds of the cavaqquinho (the miniature guitar of Brazil), laptops, more electronics, loops, samplers, percussion, two drummers and vocals. "Tres Cabecas Loucuras" is the third album by Sao Paulo Underground and can be translated as either Three Crazy Heads or Three-Headed Craziness. The group have a huge, modern, catchy sound which launches Brazil's "Tropicalia' into a new, heavily electronic millennia.
Heldon/Allez Teia ....CD $15.99
Allez Teia, originally released in 1975 was Heldon's second album. It is considered an early, trance-inducing, electronic and acoustic masterpiece. It is the only album in the Heldon cannon to feature acoustic guitar. It features the trademark '70s Heldon/Pinhas instrumental sound: waves of fuzztone, post Frippian guitars, ARP and VCS3 synthesizers, tape loops and mellotron, all building towards a monstrously delirious denouement. Allez Teia is a classic of the progressive rock scene of the '70s, with its searing, instrumental spacemusic, bridging electronics and psychedelic guitar in a legendary fashion. Originally first released on CD in 1992 and out of print for several years, is finally reissued with newly upgraded packaging that closely approximates the original, collectable album release.
Dead Cat Bounce/Chance Episodes ....CD $15.99
With a band name presciently stripped from the headlines, the term "dead cat bounce" denotes a small and brief recovery in the price of a sinking stock (as in "even a dead cat bounces"). Featuring four saxophones plus upright bass and drums, the group has been in existence since 1997 and this is their fourth album. Truly a gem of an ensemble, their music is an original blend of many things from the jazz tradition and the present and ultimately they have the feel of the World Sax Quartet with a rhythm section that swings like Mingus!
Mats-Morgan Band/Live ....CD $15.99
Keyboardist/vocalist Mats Oberg and drummer Morgan Agren have been playing together for over 30 years, since Mats was 10 and Morgan was 14! They were 'discovered' at a very young age by Frank Zappa, who invited them to join his band (Zappa's ill health ultimately cancelled these tour plans) and they are musical legends in their native Sweden and beyond, known for their wild and funny musical performances. Since 2005, Cuneiform has been releasing the group's new recordings as well as bringing back to print their earlier, privately released albums. "Live" is their fifth album and the first by the amazing five-piece version of the group. Recorded live in June 1999, they dazzled the audience with their unbelievable chops and musical audacity. Now everyone can hear these performances! Recommended for fans of: Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Meshuggah, Naked City, Return To Forever and Frank Zappa.
Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown/Varmint ....CD $15.99
Led by vibraphonist and composer Jason Adasiewicz [a-dah-shev-its], Varmint is Rolldown's second release. The band, active for over 5 years, features stalwarts from Chicago's vibrant jazz/new music community: Jason Adasiewicz: vibraphone, Josh Berman: cornet, Aram Shelton: alto saxophone & clarinet, Jason Roebke: bass, Frank Rosaly: drums. Their sound combines Blue Note's classic, avant-leaning '60s albums with contemporary drive, swing, energy, and attack. Varmint features six new compositions by Adasiewicz and a tune written by Andrew Hill.
Afuche/Highly Publicized Digital Boxing Match ....CD $15.99
Afuche is a young band from Brooklyn who feature guitar, piano, baritone sax, bass, drums and vocals. Taking their cues from Can, The Dirty Projectors, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, James Brown, Tortoise, as well as African and Afro-Cuban music, they take these musical influences and apply and bend it all into a hybrid, original and progressive contemporary rock music that is most of all fun. Afuche are also a strong live outfit and that's reflected on "Highly Publicized Digital Boxing Match," which was recorded live in the studio with minimal textural overdubs to closely reflect their performance abilities. Since forming in 2008, Afuche have played a large number of shows at clubs as well as performing at the CMJ, SXSW and Next To Last festivals.
Ahleuchatistas/Even in the Midst... ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'The Bears of Cantabria Shall Sleep No More')
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Leaving audiences slack-jawed in amazement at South by Southwest, punk-rock dives across the USA and jazz festivals in Europe, the Ahleuchatistas and their unique, high-energy, instrumental, technical, undefinable trio music for guitar, bass and drums continue to reach new heights as a performing and a recording unit. If they come to your town, you must see them; there is no one - and I mean no one - who can match them at what they do. Even in the Midst... is their fourth album and the years together playing hundreds and hundreds of shows have created one of the most amazingly tight ensembles that you will ever hear or see. This album widens their sound a little bit; there's plenty of the insane, over-the-top playing that we've come to expect, but there's more room for improvisation here and also for more quiet moments as well. The CD contains an 8 page, full color booklet of Courtney Chappell's beautiful and disturbing artwork. With this album, both in terms of the sonics of the album and the performance itself, the band have made their best recorded statement yet.
Ahleuchatistas/What You Will ....CD $14.99
Third and best yet from this amazing instrumental, post-Beefheart, avant-technical, improv-core, math-metal, art-damage, punk-rock power trio from Asheville, NC. Using the simple and classic skeleton of guitar, bass and drums, these three make powerful music that is undeniably 'rock' but is also undeniably much wider in musical influences than what one would imagine in such rock-based work. For example, the opening song is Remember Rumsfeld at Abu Ghraib; of course we all know what that title is in reference to, but, huge Charles Mingus fan that I am, I also immediately caught the reference to Charles' great work, Remember Rockefeller at Attica, which is not a reference I would expect from a punk band. But then, these guys are the most technically adept 'punk' band you will ever hear; they have chops growing on their chops, so surprises are to be expected! The playing from everyone is beyond powerful and while the term "Beefheartian" gets bandied about way too much, the complexity and directness of the playing here really does bear some comparisons. Their music has been developed over playing tons of shows and the sound on the CD reflects this with a very well recorded, but not so "produced", live feeling sound. If they come to your town, go see them. Having said that, if you can't see them live, this CD comes with 3 short, nicely shot QuickTime movies which you can watch on your Mac or PC, so you can see just what you are missing.
Algernon/Ghost Surveillance ....CD $15.99
This is the third album by this instrumental post-rock/post-jazz/progressive instrumental quintet from Chicago who use dual guitars, vibes, bass and drums. Their sound is a alluring combination of indie rock, 'modern music' and beyond. "Algernon draws inspiration from the jazz-tinged post-rock machinations of Tortoise [but] veers into the louder and noisier elements of rock music. Led by composer/guitarist Dave Miller, Algernon uses two guitars, bass, drums and a vibraphone to combine gorgeous melodies with psychedelic effects and rock beats. " – Center Stage Chicago
Beat Circus/Boy From Black Mountain ....CD $15.99
Boy From Black Mountain is the third release from the determinedly eclectic Boston-based ensemble Beat Circus. Beat Circus is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Brian Carpenter. The music bridges a number of disparate genres including experimental music, Americana, cabaret, circus music, Appalachian string music, bluegrass music, old-time music, Southern Gospel, and funereal music. Beat Circus are a powerful live outfit as well and are gaining renown for their compelling shows, gathering great notices in high profile magazines (Time Out, The New Yorker and others) for their regular appearances up and down the northeast corridor. The current edition of the band features a unusual and versatile instrumentation. Brian brought in violinist Paran Amirinazari and violist Jordan Voelker (who also provide background vocals), trombonist Doug LaRosa, and the rockabilly-style rhythm section composed of upright bassist Paul Dilley, guitarist/banjoist Andrew Stern, and drummer Gavin McCarthy. The understatedly beautiful cover artwork and illustrations within the full color booklet are by Carson Ellis, known for her work on albums by The Decemberists. Boy From Black Mountain began shortly after Carpenter's son was diagnosed with autism in late 2006. He began writing songs inspired by the experience of living with his son during the time of diagnosis and treatment. Carpenter further dedicates the album to his father and grandparents, whose lives as watermelon farmers in the rural Bible Belt inspired some of the songs. This is a very artful-yet-accessible album with great lyrics, memorable songs and rich orchestrations. In addition to the songs are a handful of haunting instrumentals which help to frame the overall work of the songs to a larger canvas.
Beat Circus/Dreamland ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Gyp the Blood')
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Beat Circus was formed in 2002 by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Carpenter. Beat Circus delivers Weird American Gothic stories of children, dreams, fatherhood, revenge, redemption, and murder. Dreamland is their second album and is a uniquely fierce record of dark narrative songs and instrumental works, which is loosely based on historical events associated with turn-of-the-century New York and Coney Island. Brian leads a nine piece ensemble with a unique and exciting instrumentation: Brian Carprenter-vocals, pump organ, harmonica, trumpet, Kathe Hosletter-violin, viola, Julia Kent-cello, Alec K. Redfearn-accordion, jawharp, Ronn Caswell-tuba, Curtis Hasselbring-trombone, Brandon Seabrook-tenor banjo, mandolin, slide guitar, Briggan Krauss-saxophones, Matt McLaren-drums and percussion as well as other musical guests. You can hear echoes of Tom Waits, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Kurt Weill, Carla Bley, Hans Eisler, Bernard Herrman and much much more here, but what it all combines into could only come from Beat Circus! Included is a really nice 12 page, full color booklet with lots of historical (and creepy) imagery!
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/Dawn of the Cycads: The Complete Ace of Heart's Recordings (1983-1987) ....double CD $19.99
(excerpt from 'Rite of Spring')
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Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic began in 1980 as a side project by half of Boston's famed rock band, Mission Of Burma: Roger Miller and Martin Swope. Miller and Swope joined forces with Rick Scott and Erik Lindgren. Perhaps because of their tie to the ever-popular Burma or perhaps because of their sheer excellence Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic earned international recognition for their innovative sound. The New York Times called them "the world's hardest rocking chamber music quartet." Their unlikely mix of rock, punk, classical, minimalism, and free-form sound appealed to a broad range of musical tastes. As Roger remembers in the liner notes, "If I had to say what I thought was most unique about the band, it was that we actually played rock clubs and basically pulled off this rather unorthodox thing. Well sure, we pissed off some rockers ("Just look at 'em up there, shuffling their papers!"), but that wasn't really our concern. If this odd quartet wasn't about as different as you could get and still play those venues, well at least we put up a pretty good fight." Rick Scott comments, "We were always the square peg in a world of round holes. Our instruments weren't bass, guitar, and drums, but guitar, three keyboards, and drum machine (with turntable, water can, washboard, and clarinet thrown in for good measure!). We played in rock clubs, but read from sheet music. We shared the stage with three-chord rockers, but played music from Brian Eno and Igor Stravinsky, and covered the theme from 'Rocky and Bullwinkle'. It boggles the mind how we got away with it." For the first time ever, all of the band's 3 recordings for Ace of Hearts (Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Magnetic Flip and Beat of the Mesozoic) are reissued in their entirety and in the order in which they were originally heard when they were first issued. In the the words of Erik Lindgren, the remastering done here, "sonically makes the 'Sonic Geology' package irrelevant." The package comes with a 20 page booklet of notes and photos and there is a huge wealth of totally cool CDRom material - 175 photos, art files, set-lists, dioramas, letters, documents and more. Additionally, there are two studio tracks and seven live tracks, none of which have ever been heard before, for over 45' of bonus material.
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with Oral Moses/Extreme Spirituals ....CD $14.99
For their 13th album and in their 25th year together, post-punk, art-rock pioneers Birdsongs of the Mesozoic do a 180 degree musical swerve and link up with bass-baritone vocalists Oral Moses, one of the preeminent African-American performers of traditional spirituals. The band demolish all preconceptions about themselves by presenting a program of heavily rearranged, well known African-American spirituals and 19th century art songs. The blend of Birdsongs' cutting-edge instrumentation with the strength and majesty of Moses' voice creates a very unorthodox yet deeply moving sound, which The Noise called, "Totally sublime and deeply moving." This collaboration represents a new experiment from all parties - something of a meeting at the crossroads between two creative parties passing in very different directions. Together they bring these centuries-old songs kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Bill Brovold and Larval/Surviving Death; Alive Why? ....double CD $19.99
(excerpt from 'Scottish Blood')
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Larval is a avant/post-rock instrumental band consisting of an ever changing lineup of some of the best musicians in Detroit. Led by composer Bill Brovold, Larval's experimental rock often combines wall-of-sound guitars, bass and drums with saxes and violin, and is very direct and powerful. Founded in 1996, after Bill had spent five years performing with experimental /no wave legend Rhys Chatham, this is Larval's fifth album and the two disc set showcases two side of the band's work. Disc one is their new studio recording, which is an amalgamation of styles and approaches to music, from quiet and limpidly beautiful passages to an aggressive onslaught of screaming horns, guitars and strings, moving from very controlled passages to almost complete chaos and back, all the while following a master plan of intent. The second disc is compiled from 7 years of potent live recordings; here, as anyone who has experienced Larval live knows, the band eschew some of the more quieter moments that are on the studio albums, and just rock loud and hard! "These live recordings reflect the efforts of all 45+ members that have passed through the Larval camp. There were several shows recorded, some on better equipment than others, and some great shows with lousy recording gear. Alive Why? is the result of repeated listening while trying to come up with pieces that had the best energy and were also recorded well enough to make it onto CD." - Bill Brovold.
Brown vs. Brown/Odd And Unevens ....CD $15.99
Brown Vs Brown are an intense and stunningly tight 'rehearsal-intensive' avant-garde rock band from Amsterdam, Holland. Formed in 2004 by Dirk Bruinsma (saxes, vocals), Viljam Nybacka (bass), Gerri Jager (drums) and Jeroen Kimman (guitar, banjo), they have played everywhere from jazz clubs to punk dives, releasing their first album in 2007. Brown Vs Brown has developed a musical universe that denies stylistic description. Seemingly contrasting elements clash and recombine: meticulous composition vs. improvisation, complexity vs. raw energy and breakneck stumble rhythms vs. irresistible swing!
Cheer-Accident/Fear Draws Misfortune ....CD $14.99
For over 20 years, Cheer-Accident have been a creative, interesting force in rock music. They constantly strive to surprise their audience and themselves with constant reinvention. Fear Draws Misfortune is their 16th release and arguably their best release and their album which strives the furthest towards a powerful balance between personalized and unique studio techniques and the excitment of a visceral, live, well-honed rock band. Which is saying something. It is a strongly compelling and high-reaching album that uses a wide variety of ideas, styles and studio techniques, resulting in a cohesive and ambitious album of art-rock. The basic band is a trio who between them perform on vocals, keyboards, trumpets guitars, bass and drums, but they are augmented by 15 additional musicians who, each in their own way, bring their own musical gifts to the album. Fear Draws Misfortune reveals a fortuitous intersection between Cuneiform and Cheer-Accident, both of whom have long admired the other and both of whom finally decided to do something about it! This long overdue marriage, which neatly coincides with a timely (and quite lengthy) cover-feature article in December 2008's Signal To Noise magazine, promises to hurl Cheer-Accident into into wider recognition.
Cheer-Accident/No Ifs And Or Dogs ....CD $15.99
Founded in 1981, a touring/performing band since 1984, Cheer-Accident are a band that has always done its utmost to surprise their audience with constant reinvention, yet always doing so with a sharp focus. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, "No Ifs, Ands Or Dogs" is the group's 18th album. It is an album that crosses many stylistic boundaries, from straightforward pop songs to sound collage to art-rock. The album uses a huge variety of studio techniques and 'outside the box' imagination to put all of these disparate elements together in a compellingly cohesive way. The group has always toured heavily, and the band will continue to play regularly in its Chicago hometown (most recently they appeared opening for Tortoise), as well as twice yearly jaunts to the rest of the USA, and their second large-scale European tour will be happening in this spring.
The Claudia Quintet/For ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'August 25th, 2006')
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Since their founding in the late 1990s, The Claudia Quintet has walked a unique path in contemporary jazz. Unlike most jazz ensembles where the particular musicians may come and go, drummer, composer and leader John Hollenbeck always wanted Claudia to be a 'band' with a sound not only determined by the compositions and the instrumentation, but with the actual players who perform the music. This concept is why Claudia has had an immediately identifiable sound since its inception. The other musicians in the group are able to not only play the intricate compositions that John hands them, but to also improvise within and around these compositions and give them life. Drew Gress-acoustic bass, Matt Moran-vibes, Ted Reichman-accordion and Chris Speed-clarinet and tenor sax all make Claudia the fantastic band that it is. Since Cuneiform started working with Claudia on their second album in 2004, the band has met with tremendous and growing acclaim and success, both for their records and their live shows as they are pursuing a completely singular path in 'jazz' music and while they completely deserve to have an audience for their singular music, it was by no means assured. An astonishing band with a huge range of emotional depth and range and with appeal far beyond strictly 'jazz' listeners. For this, their fourth album, they've released an album of dedications.
The Claudia Quintent/Semi-Formal ....CD $14.99
The Claudia Quintet is proof positive that the pessimists were wrong: jazz is not dead, despite being embalmed by major labels and confined by some musicians to dead ends. In the works of this sensational NY-based, 'jazz and beyond' ensemble, jazz has broken through its rigid shell and been reborn in shimmering and beautifully alluring new form. It lives and breathes in music that melds influences from classical minimalism, new music composition, and progressive and post-rock with an astonishingly fresh jazz sensibility. Whatever one wants to call their music, it has very striking original, unique and attractive qualities. This is a slowly unfolding album; group leader/drummer/composer John Hollenbeck has specifically stated that this album is "...a 'listener's record' - a record that might not make perfect sense when individual tracks are listened to randomly on one's ipod shuffle or on a writer's deadline.... In the end, despite despite cultural pressure to create an instant "hit", I had to listen to my inner voice and go for this - whatever you want to call it - (is it a concept album?)...an album that I hope will cater at the very least to the deep, patient listener." In addition to Hollenbeck, the band has four other superb musicians: Drew Gress (double bass), Matt Moran (vibraphone), Ted Reichman (accordion) and Chris Speed (tenor sax and clarinet). Their previous release, "I, Claudia" was a huge critical and sales success, even reaching the top 15 jazz albums played in the US, according to CMJ, a major industry guide! The Claudia Quintet creates a fresh, distinctive sound while it obliterates barriers between jazz, classical and progressive rock.
Claudia Quintet with Gary Versace/Royal Toast ....CD $15.99
"Royal Toast" is the fifth release by this sensational 'jazz and beyond' ensemble, led by twice Grammy-nominated drummer/composer John Hollenbeck and featuring Drew Gress (bass), Matt Moran (vibes), Ted Reichman (accordion), Gary Versace (keyboards) and Chris Speed (tenor sax, clarinet). The Claudia Quintet's visibility could not be greater: The band perform at high profile venues, place very high on CMJ's listings of most played jazz albums with each release and gather huge press interest. This is the band's first album in four years and will be eagerly received by their many fans.
Graham Collier/Hoarded Dreams ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Part 3')
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Graham Collier is one of the best known and most important British jazz composers and over a 40 year career, his list of compositions and commissions has grown to encompass ensembles around the world. He is well-known as an author and educator, having written seven books on jazz. Hoarded Dreams is a previously unreleased long-form composition heard here in a powerful live performance from 1983 by an international all-star band that includes Tomasz Stanko, Conny Bauer, Malcolm Griffiths, Eje Thelin, Ed Speight, Roger Dean, Ted Curson, John Surman, Manfred Schoof, Kenny Wheeler, Art Themen and many others. " I came across the phrase "Hoarded Dreams" in a book...it seemed an ideal title for this commission, [which] is the realisation of the jazz composer's constant dream: to be able to hand-pick a group of star musicians to perform a long composition written with absolutely no outside restrictions. Overall the piece inhabits (as indeed does most of my writing) that area between the purely written and the purely improvised."-Graham Collier. The energy of the ensemble performing the piece in front of a large and enthusiastic audience is very obvious on the recording and there's some great soloing as well as ensemble passages.
Graham Collier/Workpoints ....double CD $19.99
Called "A pioneer...a true British jazz original." by The Times, "An inventive and underrated jazz figure" by Jazziz and "Britain's most original jazz talent." by The Financial Times, Graham Collier is one of the best known British jazz composers, and over a 40 year career, his list of compositions and comissions has grown to encompass ensembles around the world. He won a Downbeat scholarship to Berkless School of Music, Boston, studying with Herb Pomeroy and becoming its first British graduate in 1963. Returning to Britain, he formed the first of many line-ups known as Graham Collier Music, which over the years has featured almost every British jazz musician of note. Workpoints consists of two previously unreleased concerts from 'a golden age of British jazz': one from 1968 and one from 1975. The music is composed with lots of room for contributions from the individual players, and in that regard, might be comparable to the work of one of Graham's heroes, Charles Mingus. The album features a huge number of well known jazz musicians, such as: Harry Beckett, Mike Gibbs, Frank Ricotti, Henry Lowther, John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, John Surman, Art Themen, Kenny Wheeler and others. Included in the booklet are archival photos, notes and comments from Graham.
Cosmologic/Eyes in the Back of My Head ....CD $14.99
Cosmologic was founded as a collective quartet in 1999, and still consists of the original four musicians. The group initially incorporated interpretations of music by Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane and others into their performances, but quickly moved towards playing only original compositions. Central to the group's sound is a commitment to developing challenging and original compositions. With nearly a decade of experience together, Cosmologic continues to extend their repertoire of original music, in an ongoing search for new ideas. The result is a band that pushes the envelope while remaining accessible. This is the fourth album - but the first with wide distribution - by this amazingly assured and swinging 'free-bop' quartet, who have been developing their unique take on modern jazz for a decade and will strongly appeal to fans of: Anthony Braxton's '70s/'80s quartets, John Carter-Bobby Bradford, Ornette Coleman, Steve Lacy-Roswell Rudd Quartet, Vandermark 5. Jason Robinson - tenor saxophone, Michael Dessen - trombone, Scott Walton - bass, Nathan Hubbard - drums.
Curlew/A Beautiful Western Saddle + The Hardwood ....CD + DVD $17.99
Curlew's mid 80's/early 90's heyday featured their classic line-up of George Cartwright (saxes), Tom Cora (cello) (who also played with Holland's well known art-punk band, The Ex), Davey Williams (guitar), Ann Rupel (bass) and Pippin Barnett (drums). Curlew packed the clubs (CBGBs, The Knitting Factory, etc), toured hard, and thrilled audiences and critics alike with their unique, infectious blend of punk-jazz/downtown sound, roadhouse blues and a distinctly Southern esthetic. This re-issue adds never-before-on-DVD concert film The Hardwood, as well as nearly an hour of never-released footage.
Carlo de Rosa's Cross-Fade/Brain Dance ....CD $15.99
The four members of Cross-Fade are all rising or major names on their instruments in jazz. In addition to bandleader, bassist Carlo de Rosa, who recently appeared on The Colbert Report with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the band features pianist Vijay Iyer, who was awarded "the 2010 Musician of the Year" by the Jazz Journalists Association, saxist Mark Shim, who has recorded three albums for the legendary Blue Note label and the youthful drummer Justin Brown, who has performed with Esperanza Spalding and Gretchen Parlato, among others. Proficient, creative, clearly an in demand bassist, Carlo de Rosa is earning a reputation of very high standards. As a composer and band-leader of the quartet Cross-Fade, he also has very high standards. Cross-Fade is a band of top-drawer musicians, including jazz's major new piano star, Vijay Iyer. The music constantly moves between the modern, avant-garde and electric jazz worlds, never standing still, but taking the most interesting and attractive elements of these worlds and combining them into a new whole.
Deus Ex Machina/Imparis ....CD + DVD $19.99
(excerpt from 'Testament of the Wise Man')
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A sextet of violin, analog keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and vocals, Deus ex Machina's sound is a unique and unequaled blend of aggressive jazz-rock mixed with complex rhythms, 1970s-style hard-rock guitar and hints of Rock In Opposition-style avant-progressive rock, all topped by the incredible vocals of Alberto Piras, one of the most extraordinary vocalists working in rock today. For this album, the band wanted to do something different and came up with an idea that presented a fun challenge to themselves. They had never played in France and on the outskirts of Paris, there was a world-class nightclub - Le Triton - that also featured a full recording studio as well as the ability to do a professional video shoot during performances. The band rented Le Triton for 3 days and spent two days recording. They also played a concert which was filmed. The result is Imparis, a double set that comprises a studio album of new material by the band as well as the band's first-ever DVD. The studio CD contains 45' of new material while the DVD functions as a career overview of their last 10 years, featuring two songs each from their albums Equilibrismo Da Insofferenza, Cinque and Imparis. The concert program of the DVD is 60 minutes of professionally shot and edited live footage of the band performing completely live - there are no 'fixes or sweetening' of the performances and consequently, fans should find it more realistic and representative of a genuine live musical performance by a great, tight band than a typical 'live' DVD. Also included are extras: interviews (funny and enlightening) + Paris backstage + a short, fascinating, avant-garde, prepared piano performance by Fabrizio of a one of the album's works + excerpts from Chapel Hill [USA 1996] + a totally over the top Italian TV performance [1996] + an charmingly dated music video that the band did in 1993. Total time of DVD is about 2 hours. Since they probably won't be coming to your hometown this week/month/year, this one is a no-brainer for their many fans.
Djam Karet/Recollection Harvest ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'The Gypsy and the Hegemon')
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With Recollection Harvest, Djam Karet has again succeeded in making a powerful and beautiful album of progressive rock. Recollection Harvest is also a landmark in the band's restless sonic evolution. In the band's own words, "Never content to just sit on our ass, we worked diligently to explore a more melodic and orchestrated vision of high energy progressive rock. Deeply disturbing atmospheres and netherworlds await." Acoustic guitars, generous use of vintage analog synths and mellotrons, and the use of 2 bass players for compositional ideas, are paired along with familiar aspects of the Djam Karet sound: ripping dual lead guitars, a dynamic pounding rhythm section, and electronic treated field recordings and soundscapes. Recollection Harvest is the band's 16th studio recording, and is actually two albums combined on a single CD. The first half, 'Recollection Harvest,' is Djam Karet's most extensive foray into high energy melodic rock underpinned by vintage and modern keyboards. It also shows Djam Karet revisiting its "fusion" roots. The second half of Recollection Harvest, titled "Indian Summer," is a quieter, more introspective and evocative work in which Djam Karet explores a variety of electro/acoustic sounds and moods. The instrumentation ranges from acoustic guitars and bazouki, to hand percussion, modular analog synths, and field recordings from the Middle East.
Ergo/Multitude Solitude ....CD $15.99
In 2003, trombonist and composer Brett Sroka began exploring beyond his Jazz background and became fascinated with electronic music, surrounding himself with synthesizers and software. Ergo's music is fresh and different - jazz musicians exploring the boundaries of electronic music - and one of stark melodic beauty, enveloping electro-acoustic texture and empathic imagination. It has been compared to music as diverse as Duke Ellington, Autechre, Sigur Ros, Sun Ra, and King Crimson.
Far Corner/Endangered ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Not from Around Here')
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An instrumental chamber/classical rock quartet, Far Corner combine group improvisation with completely scored works, composed in a contemporary, post-Bartokian style in an extremely assured way. Far Corner's second release, Endangered, sees the group expanding their sonic palette with a variety of instruments outside of their core piano/organ, bass, cello, and drumset. This release features instruments such as violin, spring drum, melodica, trumpet, and a greater variety of keyboard sounds, as well as a handful of home-made instruments. Compositionally, the group continues in a predominantly contemporary classical style, augmented by jazz and heavy rock. A long group composition is included, as well as improvised works, and a greater variety of semi-improvisatory sections are included within composed works. Compared to their first release, these new works embody the individual playing styles of each member, creating more expressive and emotional music with enhanced moods and drama. Each composition stretches further in a variety of stylistic directions, from the heavy and aggressive metal-styled "Creature Council" to the jazz tune "Not From Around Here" to the dark and experimental works "Inhuman" and "Claws." Great care has been taken to make all tracks work together as a whole, taking the listener on one path, with many diverse stops along the way. The title Endangered comes from a variety of concepts. The obvious "endangered species" theme may serve as a symbol for the idea that many elements in today's society which were once held dear have become scarce in favor of money-making commercial endeavors. Adventurous music of all types is one of these elements that is threatened, and Far Corner more than does their part to keep it alive.
Fast 'n' Bulbous/Waxed OOP ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop')
Captain Beefheart's music is the quintessential 'outsider art music' of the second half of the 20th century. Despite the fact that he retired from music over 25 years ago, his music resonates more strongly than ever as an influence on contemporary music. Fast 'n' Bulbous offer a unique slant on the songbook of one of contemporary music's most idiosyncratic musical figures. The band features seven great, well-regarded musicians drawn from the rock and the jazz worlds: co-leaders guitarist Gary Lucas (who was in the final incarnation of Beefheart's Magic Band) and saxist/arranger Phillip Johnston (of the Microscopic Septet) as well as drummer Richard Dworkin, and baritone saxist Dave Sewelson (both also of the Micros), trombonist Joe Fieldler (Ed Palermo Big Band and Satoko Fujii's big band), bassist Jesse Krakow (of Time of Orchids and Doctor Nerve) and trumpeter Rob Heinke (also of Doctor Nerve). With a strong, creative line-up like this, you know that you will be getting something more than just a 'cover band' and you indeed are. Heartfelt, exciting and it both rocks and swings!
Forgas Band Phenomena/Axis of Madness (L'Axe du Fou) ....CD $14.99
Drummer and composer Patrick Forgas has been releasing jazz-rock gems that showcase his compositional and and arranging skills for over 30 years. Axis of Madness (L'Axe du Fou) is the fourth album by his current band; a 7-piece instrumental ensemble of skillful young musicians, performing on saxes/flute, trumpet/flugelhorn, violin, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. The group performs music that combines the most attractive aspects of jazz and rock composition with inspired solos. The quality of the music and performances is obvious from the first note. "...tight, urgent, almost suite-like arrangements, vaguely recallilng Frank Zappa and Carla Bley, which nonetheless give each player chances to strut their formidable stuff. There's restraint, ebb and flow at work here." – jazzreview.com "Its combination of singable themes and rock rhythms will appeal to Canterbury devotees specifically - and, indeed, all fans of improvisation within a richly composed context." – All About Jazz
Forgas Band Phenomena/Soleil 12 ....CD $14.99
The Forgas Band Phenomena is led by composer and drummer Patrick Forgas, who has been hailed as "the French answer to the Canterbury scene" since he first burst upon the scene in 1977 with his "Cocktail" album, which featured members of Magma and Zao. Due to bad luck and bad circumstances, he fell out of the music scene for a great number of years, re-emerging with the very wonderful Forgas Band Phenomena about a decade ago. For their third album, and their first for Cuneiform, Patrick leads an 8 piece instrumental ensemble (dual saxes, trumpet, violin, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums) through epic-length, complex and melodic compositions that mix ambitious progressive structures and inspired soloing. In addition to the many Canterbury comparisons, I also hear a lot in common with the band that Frank Zappa led with George Duke & Jean-Luc Ponty; great tunes and arrangements in a fusion style with excellent 'jazz' soloing. Interestingly, two of the pieces are greatly re-arranged versions of the two works that Patrick had originally planned for the never-recorded follow up to Cocktail!
Gosta Berlings Saga/Glue Works ....CD $15.99
Gosta Berlings Saga was formed in Stockholm in 2004. Glue Works is the group's third album, their debut release for Cuneiform, and their first release outside of Sweden. The instrumentation is Fender Rhodes and keyboards, guitar, bass and drums with guests on brass and strings. The group are a modern instrumental rock band and their style combines post-rock, progressive rock, minimalism, avant-rock, collage/sound and more, all recorded and combined with unusual and interesting studio techniques. The album was recorded at a studio in an industrial and forgotten part of Stockholm. The studio itself has leaking radiators and poor heating and always – a freshly urinated hallway from the petty thieves in the neighborhood. In other words: the perfect conditions for the recording of a breathtaking album. Engineered, mixed and produced by Mattias Olsson (Anglagard) the band has created a truly all embracing, yet focused and forward thinking album.
Gutbucket/Flock ....CD $15.99
What happens when you take four highly opinionated, strong-willed and creative composer/musicians and put them in a band together? You might have a volatile problem on your hand...or else you have Gutbucket. From the beginning Gutbucket has had no single bandleader; the result has been an expansive yet unified and recognizable group sound. With Flock, the group's fifth release, the twelve year-old Brooklyn-based quartet push their composer-driven, art-rock-tainted chamber jazz into new terrain. The group attacks their jazz with the ferocity usually reserved for punk. Their music is filled with layers of mature arrangements and a full-throttle blend of energy, chops, melody, intricacy and noise. From the beginning, Gutbucket's music challenged New York's downtown norm bringing a completely unique road-tested performance and a sound that tilted much further towards rock than many of its jazz contemporaries. Gutbucket's brand of jazz continues to have its signature biting edge, cunning sense of humor and appreciation for the loud and theatrical. Improvisations are woven seamlessly and sometimes unexpectedly into the band's growing repertoire, and each composer in the group has developed an individual voice that simultaneously supports the collective. Flock cements Gutbucket's sound – still wearing the indie rock influences on its sleeve, but delving deeply into all four members' work as individual composers, assimilating contemporary classical, free jazz, mathy art rock, and more. Audibly, Gutbucket learned from its decade of record-making and has produced its most ambitious disc yet. The band has produced a CD that is hard-hitting yet nuanced, with a new sonic and compositional breadth. Gutbucket's imagination is in full bloom on Flock; the band sounds exactly like itself: immediate, ferocious, ambitious and inviting. During their dozen year ride, Gutbucket has brought its "impressive balance of passionate lyricism and pummeling angularity" (Time Out New York) to festivals, clubs and concert halls in 33 US states and 19 countries. All of this work and energy and power has been harnessed on Flock, the latest in their series of impressive works!
Gutbucket/A Modest Proposal ....CD $14.99
Destroying walls between art-rock, avant-squonk, jazz-core and beyond, the decade-old New York quartet Gutbucket is not only equally comfortable playing in front of 900 sweatily pogo-ing teenage skate-punks, a crowd of cosmic indie-psych freaks, on an anarchist German art collective's house-boat or even teaching master classes in the music departments of schools around the country, but most importantly, their music fits right in. A Modest Proposal solidifies Gutbucket's place at the forefront of a revitalized avant-garde music scene in New York, where sparkling new venues pack in 20-somethings at Steve Reich gigs and Bang on a Can's all-night music marathons draw crowds for Stockhausen at Sunrise. The band has spent the past 10 years injecting a shot of exuberance into the minimalist cool of the New York downtown scene. The group attacks their music with the ferocity usually reserved for punk, and the humorous abstraction of art-rock, despite having earned their jazz bona fides. Founded by bassist Eric Rockwin, saxophonist Ken Thomson, guitarist Ty Citerman, and drummer Paul Chuffo, Gutbucket built their all-important live reputation in New York clubs before spreading across east coast college towns. Trips to Europe soon followed, with over a dozen tours in 19 countries taken to date. Joined in 2007 by longtime friend Adam D. Gold on drums following Chuffo's departure, Gold's musical voice was quickly deemed a necessity. A close friend, he's also good for van conversation. Which is good. Because there are miles to go before Gutbucket sleeps!
Hamster Theatre/The Public Execution of Mister Personality; Quasi Day Room ....double CD $19.99
(excerpt from 'Litost')
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Hamster Theatre straddle the edges of folk music, avant-garde, world music, early 20th century French composers, such as Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel, contemporary composition and many other musical forms, bringing together elements of all these styles while never sounding 'just like' any one of them. Using an instrumentation of accordion, keyboards, trombones, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, guitars, mandolin, bass, drums and percussion, their pieces are always filled with delightful melodies and surprising orchestrations. In addition to the new studio album included here, there is a second disc of the band's stupendous live performance from August, 2002 at The Moore Theatre in Seattle. This CD is a perfect compliment to the studio disc, as it shows the amazing performance that 'the Hamsters' can put on in a live environment; Hugh Hopper called this performance, "Some of the most interesting music and one of the best live shows I've seen for years." Both discs were mixed by noted producer/engineer Bob Drake.
Healing Force/Healing Force: The Music of Albert Ayler ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Oh! Love of Life')
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Henry Kaiser-guitar; Mike Keneally-piano, guitar and voice; Vinny Golia-reeds; Aurora Josephson-voice; Joe Morris-guitar and double bass; Damon Smith-double bass; Weasel Walter-drums. Seven major figures from the art-punk, free-jazz, brutal prog, improvisational and modern jazz world come together for a ROCKING tribute to the unfairly ignored, misunderstood and vilified late period works of Albert Ayler. These late period songs have always seemed to me like they may have been some of the most personally spritually resonant for Ayler, but the musicians and the culture of the late 1960s were possibly not able to successfully translate and perform his concept of spirituality, free jazz, boogaloo, nursery rhythms, marching bands, blues and r'n'b, and certainly the free-jazz following public was not ready to accept it. Now, 40 years and many stylistic mash-ups later, perhaps these works can be better enjoyed. "Albert Ayler's later works (Love Cry, New Grass and Music is the Healing Force of the Universe) seem to be generally reviled. Through meditations, dreams, and visions, the players on this project were given the message to once again attempt to send the people of earth a message of love, peace, and spiritual understanding. We selected a representative set of tunes for this material and essentially let it play itself through us. We hope you will be as surprised as we still are by the results of this invocational experiment. We hope you will like this record." - Henry Kaiser, producer and guitarist
Lars Hollmer/Viandra ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Overdago')
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Active in music for over 40 years, Lars Hollmer first got together with his friends to play music in late-'60s Sweden. This band eventually became the legendary "Rock In Opposition" band Samla Mammas Manna. Concurrently towards the end of Samla's original life-span (the band reformed in the '00s and is recording and playing shows again), Lars started a solo career where he emphasized his very personal compositions and his accordion playing, of which he is a master. Lars' solo albums have a great warmth, intimacy, and even innocence to them. Although he makes music that can be abrasive and even purposefully a bit demented, with rough textures, quirky instrumentation, and unusual rhythms and time signatures, Hollmer's compositions are mostly tuneful and easy going, sometimes catchy, and often disarmingly lovely. In addition to Lars' performance on accordions and keyboards, percussion and vocals, also appearing are Michel Berckmans (Univers Zero) on bassoon, English horn and oboe, Santiago Jimenez on violins and Andreas Tengberg on cello, among others. "The music on Viandra was recorded and mixed between 2001 and 2007, amidst all the other projects that sent Hollmer packing up his accordion and rushing to the airport for the next flight out of Stockholm. The music itself is as...strangely -- sometimes as magically -- wonderful as anything Hollmer has recorded in his solo career. Lars dominates on keyboards and accordion...while the strings and Berckmans' double reeds are secondarily the most dominant voices...more striking is the mood that he brings to the 16 compositions here; a sense of reflection sometimes touched with melancholy, a side of him sometimes lost in his collaborative projects with others." – David Lynch/All Music Guide
Hugh Hopper/Hopper Tunity Box ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Mobile Mobile')
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"Freshly remastered from the master tapes and issued on CD from the master tapes
for the first time, this was the second solo album by Soft Machine bassist and composer
Hugh Hopper. This was Hugh's second solo album and his first solo album after leaving Soft
Machine. In my fan-boy opinion, it is one of the best records Hugh's ever made and is a
fine and distinctively unusual progressive/fusion album that has all the compositional and
performance twists and oddities that make it distinctly Hugh's. Originally released in
1977 on the Compendium label, it highlights Hugh's quirky compositional sense and
trademarked fuzzbass/looping/lead bass stylings with stunningly great contributions from
Richard Brunton-guitar, Elton Dean-alto sax and saxello, Mark Charig-cornet, Nigel
Morris-drums, Frank Roberts-electric piano, Dave Stewart-organ, pianet, oscillators, Mike
Travis-drums and Gary Windo-bass clarinet and saxes. There were no outtakes or additions
to add to this reissue, but Hugh did contribute new notes that tell the story of the
making of this album and he gave us reproductions of some of the musical scores for the
booklet. An absolutely essential album that I've been pestering Hugh to allow us to
release for well over a decade! This is a lost jazz/rock classic that demands to be
rediscovered 30 years later! The original LP had a skip in the middle of one of Elton's
wonderful solos and the only previous CD version was recorded off of a vinyl record and
had the same skip! This is the first time this album has been released on CD with the care
that it deserves. Don't miss it!" ~ Steve Feigenbaum/Cuneiform Records
"An old Soft Machinist never lets you down. Somehow he's brought with him much of the
flavour of his old band.... [Hopper Tunity Box] belongs up there with Third and
Fourth...." - Melody Maker
Ideal Bread/Transmit: Vol 2 Of The Music of Steve Lacy ....CD $15.99
Formed in 2005 to perform the idiosyncratic (and underplayed) compositions of Steve Lacy, Josh Sinton (baritone saxophone), Kirk Knuffke (trumpet), Reuben Radding (bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums), rehearsed and refined a handful of Lacy's tunes for well over a year before playing their first show. Using these pieces as a starting point, the group has blossomed into a dynamic and charismatic band. Their eponymous debut was named "Best Debut of 2008" by the Village Voice Critics' Poll. Ideal Bread's music is an exciting demonstration of the possibilities of interpretation and improvisation.
Isotope/Golden Section ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Golden Section')
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Isotope were one of the major (and earliest) British jazz-rock bands of the 1970s, coming along chronologically only just behind Soft Machine and Nucleus, the two UK pioneer bands in the genre. Isotope was formed by guitarist Gary Boyle in 1972. After about a year, the band signed with a major U.K. management company who got the band signed to a independent label which was owned by a film company and things really took off. By the time of their second and best-known album, Illusion, the band consisted of Gary, ex-Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper keyboardist Laurence Scott and drummer Nigel Morris. This version of the band lasted nearly 2 years and played hundreds of shows. Golden Section is over 65' of all unreleased material, taken from 3 different dates, all from the period when Hugh was a part of the band and lent his strongly distinctive style to the group; from the opening notes of the album, it's readily apparent that Hugh is in the house! More than half the CD is a program recorded by Radio Bremen in Germany for broadcast. During this time, the band included a fifth member, percussionist Aureo de Souza, who played with the group for several months during spring/summer 1975 and added a definite Weather Report-inspired flair, but whose tenure with the group has never before been documented on record or heard! In addition to the music, Golden Section includes a 12 page booklet with exclusive interviews with the musicians, conducted by Aymeric Leroy, that gives an overview of the entire history of the band and tells the full story of the period covered by these recordings. Also included are never-before seen photographs of the group. "We played a lot of gigs with Isotope, touring all the time in the UK and Europe and once in the States. The band had good sponsorship and backing, and jazz-rock was almost desirable for a few months in 1974-75! We were playing at least four or five times a week, all the time. Isotope certainly was good for me from the point of view of doing a lot of music. Since we were gigging so much, I was probably playing with more technical facility than when I was in Soft Machine." – Hugh Hopper
Richard Leo Johnson/The Legend of Vernon McAlister ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'First Night Alone')
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This CD is very low key, very personal and very extraordinary. Best known for his blazing speed and unusual techniques on the acoustic guitar, "Richard Leo Johnson has emerged from the fringe of the Mississippi Delta to become one of the baddest axe slingers in the land."-Jazziz. On this album, Richard has traded in his trademark double-neck acoustic for a well-worn, 1930's National Duolian steel-bodied guitar which he stumbled across. "I pulled it out of the case and was immediately stunned by its playability and tone. Bells, horns, voices and other mysterious qualities emanated from its resonate chamber. Moments later I noticed something etched into the steel body. It was the name Vernon McAlister, apparently the one-time owner of this amazing instrument. Who was Vernon? I could find nothing about him. A myth of sorts emerged, using this wonderful instrument as the nucleus. Every sound on this recording comes directly from the Vernon guitar." Richard was inspired by this unique instrument and its sounds to try something different from any of his other albums. This is a CD of deep beauty and innovation, created with just this one old guitar and some simple electronic and tape effects. As Dean Blackwood (Revenant Records) said about it, it is located in some sort of nether place between the old and the modern.
Richard Leo Johnson & Gregg Bendian/Who Knew Charlie Shoe? ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Uncle Toby's Place')
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Richard Leo Johnson's style on the acoustic guitar is marked by emotional depth, complexity and hauntingly unfamiliar harmonies. Percussionist Gregg Bendian is the leader of The Mahavishnu Project and Interzone. They have toured together in the past, opening for King Crimson, among others, but this is their first recording together. This record is an extension of the music and story of Vernon McAlister and his music's influence on the people he encountered, which started on Richard's last record, The Legend of Vernon McAlister. As on that album, Richard has taken on a character's role in order to 'get inside' of the music. Charlie is a self-taught guitarist from Marked Tree, Arkansas who has developed his own way of playing the guitar, after a chance encounter with Vernon. "Junk Fish" was a successful drummer in the 1970s, but was eventually a casuality of the rock and roll lifestyle. He sold his drums, moved to Marked Tree and works in the salvage yard where he and Charlie met. Richard and Gregg work with "junk" percussion, cheap guitars purchased off eBay, field recordings and simple tape effects to make a kaleidoscopic, down-home, psychedelic experience. In a few spots, Gregg's non-standared percussion instruments are reminscent of the Harry Partch instruments, and the music that resembles the imaginary meeting of Harry Partch and John Fahey!
Steve Lacy - Roswell Rudd Quartet/Early and Late ....double CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'The Bath')
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Until his death in 2004, soprano saxist Steve Lacy worked with trombonist Roswell Rudd as often as circumstances would permit, from their start together in Dixieland-style bands in the 1950s to the more adventurous styles that both master players are known for. This album of all previously unreleased material with great sound presents work spanning a 40-year period. The majority of this album (nearly 2 hours) is taken from concerts from 1999 and 2002 and features the great 'free-bop' quartet they co-led that featured the rhythm section of Lacy's longtime sextet, Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass and John Betsch on drums. This band's repertoire here features a number of compositions by Lacy as well as one each by Roswell, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols. Additionally there is over 20' of studio recordings (so far, the only studio recordings ever released!!) by the famous 'School Days' quartet (Lacy, Rudd, Bob Cunningham-bass and Denis Charles-drums) from October, 1962! This album was compiled and produced for us by noted Lacy expert Jason Weiss, who contributes short liner notes and pulled together the best performances from the different shows. An essential, swinging, free-jazz release.
Led Bib/Bring Your Own ....CD $15.99
Rock? Jazz? The sound of plugged-in instruments falling down the stairs? UK skronk-jazz-rock-punk-whatever quintet, Led Bib release their fifth album, Bring Your Own, and bring all of these influences to the table. Their last album, Sensible Shoes, was a 2009 'Album of the Year' winner with the prestigious Mercury Prize. In the wake of the huge attention lavished on them due to the Mercury, performing to millions on the awards show, did they decide to tone it down? Turn it back a notch? Definitely not. If anything, Bring Your Own contains some of their hardest rocking material to date, mixing the full throated cry of the dual saxes over loudly amplified Fender Rhodes, bass and drums. Led Bib are a huge presence on the UK modern jazz scene, playing large international festivals and venues across Europe, such as London's Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Salfaalden Jazz Festival, Wiesen Jazz festival and others across Europe. The touring will re-commence with this new album's release.
Led Bib/Sensible Shoes ....CD $15.99
Sensible Shoes is the third album by this London quintet of dual saxes, keyboards, bass and drums. It is a cataclysmic offering of free-jazz, jazz-rock, avant-skronk, funk-rock, noise-metal and whatever else they can lay their hands on. As the Observer Music Monthly said, "Led Bib sound like they could have coped supporting '61 Sun Ra, '66 Beefheart, and even '69 Led Zep. Led Bib are jazz, though, through and through, crammed with horn and blast, and as much swing as sweat."
The Mahavishnu Project/Return to the Emerald Beyond ....double CD $19.99
(excerpt from 'Eternity's Breath')
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Founded in 2001 by drummer and composer Gregg Bendian, The Mahavishnu Project is dedicated to reviving and bringing to today's audiences the excitement and the transcendent experience of visceral intensity of the early days of jazz/rock in general and the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra specifically. The band was formed by Gregg to perpetuate the spirit of live performance in which this music was created by performing this great music live! Return to the Emerald Beyond features an 11 piece band interpreting The Mahavishnu Orchestra's Visions of the Emerald Beyond, one of the most explosive albums in the fusion genre. This is not a sound-alike project; Gregg and the band do not try to recreate the solos of the original players. What they do do is capture the amazing intensity and fire that the Mahavishnu Orchestra exuded, add their own selves to it and allow people to experience it first hand in concert and now on record. The band just slay the material and play it with conviction and belief.
Mats-Morgan/Trends and Other Diseases ....CD $14.99
"Trends and Other Diseases" is a reissue of their debut album, recorded from 1993 to 1995 and originally released only in Sweden. This release has been remastered and includes a 15 minute bonus track. "Trends is our debut CD, and was also the first one we released by ourselves on our own company! It was a great exciting period, cause we had just built our first own studio, (one adat machine and a 24 track Soundcraft board etc). When finally having all the equipment we needed to record, we spent quite some time making this CD. I like the album a lot, it not only reminds me of this exciting period, I like the songs too, and I was also happy with the way the sound came out, especially considering it was the first recording we did by ourselves. Nice guest acts as well, such as; Fredrik Sohngen and Gunnar Persson on oboe and bassoon, vocalists Dilba, Derek Huntsman, Meshuggah Guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, saxophonist Jonas Knutsson etc. And, of course the title of the album is great, and quite appropriate, don't you think?" - Morgan Agren
Mats-Morgan Band/The Music Or The Money? ....double CD $21.99
Keyboardist/vocalist Mats Oberg and drummer Morgan Agren have been playing together for nearly 30 years. They were 'discovered' at a very young age by Frank Zappa, who invited them to join his band (Zappa's ill health ultimately cancelled these tour plans) and they are musical legends in their native Sweden and beyond, known for their wild and funny musical performances. "The Music or the Money" is their second album and was originally released in 1997. This edition adds over 45 minutes of unreleased material. For fans of: Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Frank Zappa.
Mats-Morgan Band/Thanks For Flying With Us ....CD $14.99
Mats Oberg (keyboards) and Morgan Agren (drums) first began playing together 25 years ago (!!) when Mats was 11 and Morgan was 15. Originally very influenced by Frank Zappa, they actually played with Zappa in 1988, but while some of the Zappa influence remains, they have long since found their own voices. In the mid 90's, they began releasing CDs on Morgan's UAE label, eventually forming a stable band, which has been amazing audiences in Europe and the USA since 2001, and which consists of Mats and Robert Elovsson-keyboards, Jimmy Agren-guitar, Tommy Thordsson-bass and Morgan-drums. All players with superb playing ability, the quintet plays as a well-honed, cohesive unit, with more developed compositions than in earlier works, showing the band arriving at its own voice, with a modern-sounding blend of complexity, composition, chops and beats. Thanks For Flying With Us is their seventh album, their first release outside of Sweden and their first studio work since 1997. This is a great album by an absolutely monster band who await the world's discovery!
Mats-Morgan Band & Morgan Agren/Heat Beats Live & Tourbook 1991-2007 ....CD + DVD $21.99
(excerpt from 'Mats Jingle')
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Mats Oberg (keyboards) and Morgan Agren (drums) have been playing together for over 25 years. They released 6 previous album (as well as assorted side/solo projects) for their own UAE label for a decade before signing with Cuneiform and releasing their very popular "Thanks For Flying With Us" album. Heat Beats is an excellently recorded live album (except for the applause you would never know it was a live recording) which covers two years of work, featuring Mats and Morgan alone, together and with up to 3 additional musicians. The music is their modern blend of composition, improvisation, complexity and hypnotic beats, as well as their sense of humor. Also included in this package is a second disc, which is Morgan Agren's long worked upon and anticipated DVD release, both with Mats and with other musicians as well. "This DVD contains various recordings made during a 16 year span, including live and studio recordings featuring many of my favorite musicians, plus lots of solo drums. I am happy that all of this material is recorded at all. It would have been a waste to set my hair on fire without being able to see it after..." - Morgan Agren "Morgan is quite simply one of the most interesting and exciting drummers I've ever heard. Rhythmically advanced and musical too. A rare combination of modern and classic." - Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath/Eclipse at Dawn ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Nick Tete')
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Most folks reading this know the story of Chris and his magnificent, fun and wild big band comprised of fellow South African exiles as well as the cream of the early/mid 70s British jazz scene. During their heyday, they were only able to release two studio albums and all were out of print within a few years and despite the huge acclaim they received during from the period of about 1971-1975, Chris and the Brotherhood were basically forgotten by the time of Chris' death in 1990. Luckily, the band performed many, many concerts and a good number of these concerts were recorded. With the release of Cuneiform's two previous archival albums by Chris and the Brotherhood, starting in 2001, there was a huge acclaim for these releases. Much more importantly, retrospective notice for the band began to happen and Chris and the Brotherhood are now rightly recognized as one of the major bands annd figures of Brit-jazz in the 1970s. Eclipse at Dawn captures the band at an early peak, performing in front of a huge, rapturous crowd at the Berliner Jazztage on November 4, 1971. Recorded by German radio, this is probably the best live recording of the Brotherhood in existence! There is a version of Dollar Brand's composition "Eclipse at Dawn", which the Brotherhood never recorded anywhere else, as well as exciting, wild, & extended versions of many favorities from their first two albums. Included in the 16 page booklet are never-before published photos from the concert and liner notes.
The Microscopic Septet/Friday the 13th: The Micros Play Monk ....CD $15.99
Originally active from 1980-1992 and reformed with the original personnel since 2006, the "Micros" started with a basic reeds-and-rhythm texture that was sonically similar to the sound of the Swing Era, but used influences from the entire continuum of jazz. The result was a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration, ideas, compositions and inspired soloing. Their sound is the sound of jazz in America; ALL of it, from Ayler to Zorn, bebop to Basie, Ellington to Thelonious. The Microscopic Septet distill the essence of jazz into a sound that swings – a music that is intelligent, sometimes humorous, and always good fun. For the group's sixth release, they have recorded an album of their unique arrangements of the music of the great American composer Thelonious Monk. The Micros are widely known for their catchy, film-noir theme song to NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross program, broadcast daily across the USA and heard by millions!
The Microscopic Septet/Lobster Leaps In ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Lobster Leaps In')
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Originally active from 1980-1992, the "Micros" started with a basic reeds-and-rhythm texture that was sonically similar to the sound of the Swing Era, but used influences from the entire continuum of jazz. The result was a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration, ideas, compositions and inspired soloing. The Micros were one of the most celebrated of the many cutting-edge units associated with experimental music's best-known venue, the Knitting Factory, during the peak years of the "Downtown" music movement in the late '80s and early '90s. In 2006, Cuneiform reissued their four albums as two double CD sets, which gained stupendous praise, attention and sales and the Micros reunited to play a few shows to celebrate their release and had such a good fun that they decided to make it 'an occasional regular thing.' So, the Microscopic Septet are back with their first album in 20 years! Their sound is the sound of jazz in America; ALL of it, from Ayler to Zorn, bebop to Basie, Ellington to Thelonious. The Microscopic Septet distill the essence of jazz into a sound that swings – a music that is intelligent, sometimes humorous, and always good fun. They aren't afraid to have some fun with the great jazz tradition while also paying homage to it. Maybe jazz needs the inventiveness and good-humored, swinging fun of Micros more now than ever before...
The Microscopic Septet/Seven Men In Neckties: History of the Micros Vol 1 ....double CD $19.99
Active for a dozen years, the Microscopic Septet were widely recognized as "New York's Most Famous Unknown Band." The group started with a basic reeds-and-rhythm texture (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax, piano, bass and drums) that was sonically similar to the sound of the Swing Era. However, they employed these textures to address a widely eclectic range of styles, from free-form music to R&B, rhumbas and ragtime. The result was a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration and inspired soloing. Beloved in New York, where they generally drew capacity crowds, "The Micros" were one of the most celebrated of the many cutting-edge units associated with experimental music's best-known venue, the Knitting Factory, during the peak years of the "Downtown" music movement in the mid 1980s onward. This beautifully packaged and annotated set includes new cover artwork by Pulitzer-prize winning illustrator Art Spiegelman, new notes by leader Phillip Johnston, lots of great photographs and newly remastered versions of the first two albums by the band: "Take The Z Train" and "Let's Flip!", as well as quite a lot of never-before released material, including the well-known theme to the NPR show Fresh Air. The majority of this set has never appeared on CD and all of it has been unavailable for a number of years.
The Microscopic Septet/Surrealistic Swing: History of the Micros Vol 2 ....double CD $19.99
Active for a dozen years, the Microscopic Septet were widely recognized as "New York's Most Famous Unknown Band." The group started with a basic reeds-and-rhythm texture (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax, piano, bass and drums) that was sonically similar to the sound of the Swing Era. However, they employed these textures to address a widely eclectic range of styles, from free-form music to R&B, rhumbas and ragtime. The result was a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration and inspired soloing. Beloved in New York, where they generally drew capacity crowds, "The Micros" were one of the most celebrated of the many cutting-edge units associated with experimental music's best-known venue, the Knitting Factory, during the peak years of the "Downtown" music movement in the mid 1980s onward. This beautifully packaged and annotated set includes new cover artwork by Pulitzer-prize winning illustrator Art Spiegelman, new notes by leader Phillip Johnston, lots of great photographs and newly remastered versions of the last two albums by the band: "Off Beat Glory" and "Beauty Based on Science (The Visit)," as well as quite a lot of never-before released material, including two tracks with very early member John Zorn. The majority of this set has never appeared on CD and all of it has been unavailable for a number of years.
Harry Miller's Isipingo/Which Way Now ....CD $14.99
Bassist Harry Miller was born in South Africa, but he was the Brit-jazz bassist throughout the 1970s, playing with John Surman, Centipede, Mike Westbrook, Keith Tippett, Mike Osborne, King Crimson, Julie Tippetts, Alan Skidmore and Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, among many others, as well as co-founding the legendary Ogun label, which did so much to document the Brit-jazz scene in the 1970s. Harry's group, Isipingo, which he led for a number of years, could be compared to a smaller-scale, more "swinging" take on the wonderful kwela-influenced jazz of the Brotherhood. The band includes six of the greatest of Britain's jazzers of the mid 70's: Nick Evans-trombone, Mongezi Feza-trumpet, Harry Miller-double bass, Louis Moholo-drums, Mike Osborne-alto sax and Keith Tippett-piano. Which Way Now features over 70 minutes of music from a beautifully recorded radio concert from November 20, 1975; it sounds as if you are in the room right with the band! The package includes a 16 page booklet with a number of stunning, never-before seen photos, as well as extensive liner notes by Francesco Martinelli. Since Isipingo only released one album during their lifetime, this release dramatically extends their legacy and like Cuneiform's important and historical work with the Brotherhood of Breath, brings this important, hugely enjoyable, nearly-forgotten music to a new audience.
Phil Miller/Cutting Both Ways ....CD $15.99
Phil Miller started composing & playing guitar in 1968. His first group was Delivery, with whom he cut a record in 1971. In late 1971, Phil helped to found Matching Mole with drummer & vocalist Robert Wyatt, who had just left Soft Machine. They recorded 2 LPs. After the break-up of Matching Mole, Phil joined forces with Dave Stewart, Richard Sinclair & Pip Pyle to form Hatfield & The North, cutting two LPs for Virgin in the mid 70's. Hatfield & The North later evolved into National Health, with whom Phil recorded 3 albums. Starting in 1981, Phil began preparing material for a solo career that began with 1988's Cutting Both Ways. This is a Cuneiform classic now back in print!
Phil Miller/Digging In ....CD $14.99
Guitarist Phil Miller started his career as a member of Delivery. After Delivery's demise, he ended up with Robert Wyatt who had just left Soft Machine in Matching Mole. Matching Mole ended prematurely due to Robert's paralyzing accident, and Phil found himself playing with some other ex-Delivery people for a band that eventually metamorphosed into Hatfield and the North. After two critically acclaimed and large selling albums with Hatfield, Phil continued on after their break up with 3 of the 4 members in National Health. When National Health came to an end, Phil began assembling his own band, In Cahoots in the early 1980's. Since that time, Phil has released 9 albums under his or In Cahoot's name. Originally released in 1991, this was Phil's third solo album and features musicians who have played with Gong, Mike Oldfield, John Surman and many, many others. For fans of: Hatfield and the North, National Health, Picchio dal Pozzo, Soft Machine, Frank Zappa.
Phil Miller & In Cahoots/All That ....CD $15.99
Special reprinting of the album by the supergroup of English jazz and rock players, led by guitarist Phil Miller (Hatfield and the North, National Health, Matching Mole) with Elton Dean (Soft Machine, Carla Bley Band, Brotherhood of Breath), Pete Lemer (Mike Oldfield, Gong, Gilgamesh, Spontaneous Music Ensemble), Fred Baker (Brotherhood of Breath, John Stevens) and Mark Fletcher (Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Soft Machine Legacy). Phil's mature writing and the crack ensemble deliver a high-energy rocked-up jazz or jazzed-up rock, filled with intriguing twists and fantastic solos.
Steve Miller & Lol Coxhill/Coxhill Miller-Miller Coxhill & The Story So Far... ...Oh Really? ....double CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'One For You')
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Out-of print on vinyl for over 25 years, this is the first CD release of the two album collaborations (Coxhill/Miller Miller/Coxhill and "The Story So Far..." "Oh Really?") between saxist Lol Coxhill and pianist Steve Miller, who first worked together in Delivery and continued their partnership for several years afterwards. These albums are quite fondly remembered by those luckily enough to own them for their unique personality and low-key approach to improvisation and composition and feature guests such as Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair, Pip Pyle, Archie Legget, Laurie Allan and Robert Wyatt. Produced, remastered and with liner notes by Michael King, the material is presented in the absolute best possible sonics. Also included is the last known interview with Steve to help shed light on his career and some great, rare photos to include in the huge, 20 page booklet. In addition to the albums there is almost an hour of previously unreleased and unheard material. Of particular interest is 20' of material by the proto-Hatfield and the North lineup of Delivery: Steve Miller, Lol Coxhill, Phil Miller, Pip Pyle, Richard Sinclair and Roy Babbington, as well as four short, terrific solo tracks by Steve and a 25' live improvisation by Steve, Lol, Richard Sinclair and Laurie Allan from December, 1974!
Miriodor/Avanti! ....CD $15.99
Over a 30 year career, Miriodor have produced music that is intricate, tuneful , challenging and filled with both fire and humor. Their albums are enjoyable and captivating new-music gems. As Goldmine magazine said, "Occupying a realm somewhat between the chamber rock of Univers Zero and the spry fusion of vintage Jean-Luc Ponty...Miriodor mostly just sounds like Miriodor...unique and forward looking."
Miriodor/Parade + Live at NEARfest ....double CD $19.99
Miriodor have been making adventurous, memorable and truly entertaining instrumental rock music for 25 years, performing on guitars, keyboards, violin, saxophones, bass and drums. As Goldmine said, "Occupying a realm somewhat between the chamber rock of Univers Zero and the spry fusion of vintage Jean-Luc Ponty, with hints of Van Der Graaf Generator and Soft Machine along the way, Miriodor mostly just sounds like Miriodor...unique and forward looking." Featuring guest performances by accordionist/keyboardist Lars Hollmer (of Samla Mammas Manna), Parade is the band's sixth album and is their most impressive and inspired album yet! In addition to Miriodor's new studio work, this album includes a second disc which features the band's complete, now legendary performance at NEARFest 2002, which was seen by a sold-out audience of 1,850 and which caused Sea Of Tranquility to comment, "Miriodor proved that complex music can still have melody and finesse. Miriodor was without a doubt one of the highlights of the festival..." This CD is the band's first ever live release.
Mujician/The Journey ....CD $14.99
Mujician's 1st release, The Journey, is now back in print after being unavailable for several years. "The Journey is in the fine tradition of the Art Ensemble, Roland Kirk, or Mingus at his most out; solid intuitive, organic improvisation with all concerned leanding their ears. A-" – Montreal Mirror.
Mujician/There's No Going Back Now ....CD $14.99
For almost two decades, this British free-jazz quartet has been working and refining their dynamic take on improvised jazz with the same quartet of musicians, all of whom are long-time mainstays on the English and European free-jazz scene: Paul Dunmall-saxes, Tony Levin-drums, Paul Rogers-7 string A.L.L. double bass and Keith Tippett-piano. On this, their sixth album, they do what they have always done, which is to dig in and to investigate the music and where the music takes them, which in this case is a single, 45' long piece! "Working within the instrumental parameters of the standard post-bop combo - piano, bass, drums and saxophones - the band situates itself in a space midway between what could be called Brit-Improv and American energy music...their sound is, if anything, more exhilarating than it has ever been." - Jazz Weekly "...the band has been together for many years, producing tasty, adventurous music that pushes the barriers of convention, but never sacrifices high standards. Each of these four musicians is a significant soloist, yet the totality of their balanced, collective sound is due to a certain synergy among them as they create sculptures of an almost transcendent nature... Grandstanding is discarded in favor of a more nuanced approach. Sometimes it even rises to the level of magnificence. The quartet forges a distinct sound, radical yet accessible, unconventional but comforting." - All Music Guide
NDIO/Airback ....CD $14.99
NDIO was formed from the ashes of the Holland-based Hugh Hopper Band. Some time after the Hopper Band disbanded, saxophonist Frank van der Kooij, a key member from the start, asked Hopper to join a project under his leadership. Frank also invited two other Hopper Band alumni to join: British trombonist Robert Jarvis, and drummer Pieter Bast. Three other Dutch musicians rounded out the ensemble: guitarist Niels Brouwer, keyboardist Paul Maassen. Airback is NDIO's 1st CD release. The music is a fluid and 'airy' fusion of jazz with elements of rock, folk, ambient, classical music and sampling. While most of the compositions are by van der Kooij, one is by Jarvis and two are by Hopper. The Netherlands has recently been recognized as a seedbed for some of the best and most adventurous jazz in recent years. Airback shows that young Dutch jazz musicians are also producing some of the world's best jazz/rock fusion as well. Yet another musical development in which Hopper has played an integral role and the band's music, even though led by Frank, strongly bears Hugh's musical imprint.
NeBeLNeST/ZePTO ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Pillars of Birth')
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NeBeLNeST are one of the most adventurous and energetic young bands to emerge on the international post-rock / avant-progressive scene in recent years. The young French band is noted for its dark symphonic rock music influenced by King Crimson, Pulsar & Shylock, laced with psychedelia and improvisation, and played with a riveting level of energy and intensity that 70's bands never even considered! Nova Express, their second CD, is produced by Bob Drake of the 5uu's and Thinking Plague, and has recorded solo and other CDs for the ReR label. Drake's distinctive production techniques are a perfect match for NeBeLNeST, emphasizing and augmenting the wide dynamic range of the band's dark, mesmerizing sound.
New York Art Quartet/Old Stuff ....CD $15.99
Formed in the summer of 1964, the New York Art Quartet existed for barely a year and a half, yet great interest still remains in their work. Consisting of John Tchicai (alto sax), who participated in John Coltrane's groundbreaking Ascension album and Roswell Rudd (trombone), considered to be the first free-jazz trombonist and on this recording Finn von Eyben (bass) and South African drummer Louis Moholo (drums). This release features all previously unheard recordings from 1965 with very high-quality sonics. In the 8 page booklet are never before seen photos and a short, informative essay.
Ed Palermo Big Band/Eddy Loves Frank ....CD $15.99
Ed Palermo has led his big band for 30 years. Ed's interpretations of the music of Frank Zappa was heard by an audience in the millions, when he brought his band to the National Public Radio (NPR) studios in Washington, DC to record a segment that aired on NPR's Weekend Edition show in late 2006. "In arranging Zappa's tunes for big band, Ed Palermo has thrown new light on his legacy while retaining the composer's original melodic and harmonic designs. The arrangements also leave plenty of room for the band's gifted soloists...." – The Washington Post
The Ed Palermo Big Band/Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Sleep Dirt')
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Ed Palermo is an alto sax player and arranger; he has had a big band for twenty-five years, which is an impressive feat in itself, and has had his band performing the music of Frank Zappa for over a decade. Years and years of playing these pieces in front of enthusiastic crowds at a number of venues in New York City and beyond have honed the band's skills with this difficult material to where they can glide through these charts as if they were butter. There are a number of ensembles performing the music of this great 20th century American composer, but no one does it with this ease, skill and originality. Ed is not afraid to turn a piece into a salsa number or to take what was a one minute miniature and to develop it out into a six minute work. The band is a 15 piece ensemble of 6 woodwind players, two trumpeters, three trombonists, two keyboardists, bass and drums, plus a few guests. All of these musicians are NYC professionals, and they have been playing this music for years with Ed, because, like Ed, they recognize and appreciate the genius inherent in the huge body of Zappa's work, and they want to keep this great music alive and in front of the public. "[Palermo's] wisely chosen to emphasize Zappa's early and mid-career work, as that's the music which is more fluid and graceful--and more apt to swing....reveals the lighthearted playfulness and rhythmic intelligence at the core of Zappa's best work..." - Downbeat. "In arranging Zappa's tunes for big band, Ed Palermo has thrown new light on his legacy while retaining the composer's original melodic and harmonic designs. The arrangements also leave plenty of room for the band's gifted soloists..." - The Washington Post.
Richard Pinhas/L'Ethique ....CD $15.99
L'Ethique was Richard's fifth solo album, originally released in 1982. It was his final solo album before his musical retirement in the 1980s and it's one of his great 'classic period' works. This recording features a great cast of musicians who had all previously played in Magma: Clement Bailly (drums), Patrick Gauthier (synthesizer, also of Heldon and Weidorje), Bernard Paganotti (bass, also of Weidorje) and Richard on the big Moog and guitar. L'Ethique has been unavailable on CD for several years. There is huge interest in analog electronics and the early days of synthesis, Richard's career in general and the music of Magma.
Richard Pinhas/Metal-Crystal ....double CD $17.99
Richard Pinhas is a key figure in the international development of electronic rock music and remains today one of France's leading experimental musicians. He is recognized as the father of an entire musical movement in France (analogous to Tangerine Dream's role in Germany) for his pioneering work in the 1970s with his band Heldon, which fused electronics, "diabolical guitar work" and rock to create a pioneering, aggressive music that was a precursor to industrial music and techno. All of his early recordings have been reissued by Cuneiform. Pinhas' early work has been sampled by U.N.K.L.E., Pete Namlook/Bill Laswell, and other artists. Joining Richard on "Metal/Crystal" are two other well-known provocateurs of new music; Michigan's Wolf Eyes - electronics (Sub Pop recording artists) and Japan's Merzbow - electronics (the originator of Japanese noise music). Also appearing are members of Magma and Heldon. "Metal/Crystal" is two full length CDs of radical music!
Richard Pinhas/Metatron ....double CD $19.99
Metatron is over 2 hours of spacey and flowing music that isn't afraid to rock out completely as well, by French electronic rock pioneer Richard Pinhas (on guitar and electronics), with Jerome Schmidt on laptop, drummer Antoine Paganotti (Magma) and ex-Heldon members Didier Batard (bass), Patrick Gauthier (minimoog) and Alain Renaud (guitar), as well as Chuck Oken, Jr. (Djam Karet) on synths and Philipe Simon on violin on one track each. While a lot of this is definitely comparable to Tranzition, his great last album, there really is a lot more rock involved this time around, as there are drums on the great majority of tracks. In addition to all the great music, there is a QuickTime video with footage from Richard and Jerome's 2004 North American tour.
Richard Pinhas/Rhizosphere-Live Paris 1982 ....CD $15.99
Richard Pinhas is recognized as one of France's major experimental musicians. He is a key figure in the international development of electronic rock music. His band, Heldon, fused electronics and rock to create a pioneering, aggressive music that was a precursor to the industrial music and techno to come. Rhizosphere, originally released in 1977, was Pinhas' first solo album.
Richard Pinhas & Merzbow/Keio Line ....double CD $19.99
Richard and Merzbow are both among the best-known figures in electronic rock music today. Merzbow is probably the single best-known artist in noise music today. While Richard's work wouldn't be considered to be in the 'noise' arena, many of the artists in the field have expressed great interest in his pioneering use of synthesizers and electronics in rock and contemporary music from the 1970s until the present. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, they had long expressed admiration for each others work. Given all of this, it is probably not surprising that the most important electronic musicians of France and Japan should finally collaborate together! During Richard's second tour of Japan in the fall of 2007, he performed with Merzbow in what Richard called, "an incredible concert." A week later, at the end of this tour, they booked two days in the studio to work together again, this time on a recording. All material was recorded completely live by the two musicians, with extensive work done in the mix and re-mix stage. Keio Line (the name refers to the name of the train Richard and Masami would take from downtown Tokyo to the recording studio) is a two CD set that is violent, soothing, hypnotic, noisy and trance-inducing. All aboard the Keio Line!
Richard Pinhas & Merzbow/Rhizome ....CD $15.99
"Rhizome" is the second recorded collaboration by two of the best-known figures in contemporary experimental electronic music. Both active since the 1970s, Merzbow and Richard Pinhas are two of the most uncompromising artists on the international Rock scene, having remained true to their personal artistic visions and constantly innovative throughout their careers. Merzbow is widely recognized as "...the most important artist in noise music" [All Music Guide]. Richard Pinhas is one of France's major experimental musicians; he is a key figure in the international development of electronic Rock music. They met for the 1st time in a Tokyo studio in 2007 when they worked together to create "Keio Line." They both enjoyed the experience enough that they have continued to regularly collaborate, despite the 6,000 miles that separates them, appearing together most recently on Pinhas's 2010 release "Metal/Crystal," along with other collaborators. Richard and Merzbow will be appearing together at the 27th Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Canada, right at the time this album is being released, as well as performing additional dates in the USA. The initial pressing of "Rhizome" is a very special package. In addition to the new album, the first pressing also includes a bonus DVD of the duo's performance at the 10th annual Sonic Circuits Festival in 2010, and additionally includes a free download coupon for a live concert from Paris, France from 2008! These additional items will not be available after the initial pressings are gone!
Planeta Imaginario/Biomasa ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Optical Delusions of a BiPolar Bear')
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Planeta Imaginario are a terrific eight piece jazz/rock band who have been in existence since 1999. This is their second album and the first to be released outside of their native Spain. The band features keyboards (Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, piano and synthesizer), trombone, two saxists on alto and tenor, trumpet, guitar, fretless bass and drums. This is a band who know how to write a great tune and how to arrange that tune in a way to bring out all it has to offer and how to leave room for the individual musicians to contribute to it, both in terms of ensemble work and in their solos! They have a distinctive and attractive Mediterranean sound; you certainly can hear echoes of other jazz/rock bands in their work (Chick Corea's Spanish-tinged fusion works, Gilgamesh, Hatfield and the North and Musica Urbana come easiest to mind), but they really don't sound like anyone else and this is a very exciting release from a great band that we think will be receiving a lot of attention as soon as people hear this album! "Fine arrangements...of interesting and intelligent compositions, excellently played – these are fine musicians ... impressive..." - Chris Cutler
Planeta Imaginario/Optical Delusions ....CD $15.99
Planeta Imaginario (Imaginary Planet) are a creative and extraordinary 6 piece (+ guests) jazz-rock band that have emerged from the Catalan region of Spain. They touch on four decades of jazz and rock. Their music – jazz-rock fusion interlaced with psychedelia and progressive rock – blends disparate musical influences, many of which are taken from the English Canterbury school (Soft Machine, National Health, Gilgamesh, Hatfield and the North) with strong jazz elements as well as with a definite Mediterranean-influenced feel into a fantastically creative, imaginative, evocative and uplifting musical brew. Optical Delusions grafts a real jazz reed and brass section onto a progressive-rock based rhythm section of multi-keyboards (Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes piano, synths), bass & drums. Like a meeting of Hatfield and the North/Soft Machine with Steve Coleman/Charles Lloyd. For fans of: Steve Coleman, Chick Corea's Spanish-tinged fusion works, Gilgamesh, Hatfield and the North, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorious, Soft Machine, Weather Report and Frank Zappa.
Positive Catastrophe/Garabatos Volume One ....CD $15.99
Positive Catastrophe is the brainchild of Taylor Ho Bynum and Abraham Gomez-Delgado. Taylor is a rising star of the new jazz scene and Abraham is a young star of the Latin jazz/salsa scene. Together, with eight additional great musicians, they have come up with Positive Catastrophe: a ten-piece little big band that connects the dots between Sun Ra and Eddie Palmieri!
Radio Massacre International/Rain Falls in Grey ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Bettr'r Day-s')
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Radio Massacre International is a British trio of Steve Dinsdale (keyboards, electronics, drums), Duncan Goddard (keyboards, electronics, bass) and Gary Houghton (guitar, synthesizers). These three musicians have worked together in various configurations since they were 16 year old students in the 70's and formed R.M.I. in 1993. Their second Cuneiform release (and the band's 27th overall) is something quite different from the band's previous work. Best known for electronic space music for keyboards, electronics and guitars, here Radio Massacre have expanded greatly upon their usual sound and also use conventional rock instrumentation to create a sincere and moving tribute to Syd Barrett, and in doing so, manage to capture some of the psychedelic magic of 1967-1968. This album features a really striking cover by Daevid Allen, which is also a hommage to Syd. "This album is our way of saying goodbye and thanks to a genuine one-off. His passing had an unexpectedly profound effect, despite the fact that he hadn't been near a guitar in more than 30 years. It forced us to consider what an enormous influence he was, despite his space-age ascendancy and equally rapid burnout. He picked up a zippo lighter, invented glissando guitar and incorporated non-musical sounds into the context of the new psychedelic movement that had hardly had time to leave the conformity of Rhythm & Blues behind. His creation was a particularly English take on what we now call 'rock'...and for those of us engaged in experimental or space rock, the debt is enormous."-R.M.I
Radio Massacre International/Time & Motion ....double CD $17.99
Radio Massacre International is the British trio of Steve Dinsdale (electronics, percussion) Duncan Goddard (electronics, bass) and Gary Houghton (guitar, electronics). These three musicians formed R.M.I. in 1993. They have released a daunting number of CDs, all on tiny UK labels, as well as two previous, highly acclaimed albums for Cuneiform. They take their musical cues from the classic 1970s "Berlin electronic sound" of Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra and Tangerine Dream. This is over 2 1/2 hours of music for a single CD price.
Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores/The Blind Spot ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'The Radiator Hymn')
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This marvelous large ensemble from Providence, Rhode Island has been in existence for a decade now, bringing their very original music to audiences in the US and Europe. The Blind Spot is their 6th release and their second for Cuneiform and it's also surprisingly different from The Quiet Room. It includes a few shorter songs but the main focus of the album is a very ambitious work entitled "I am the Resurrection and the Light," which is a song cycle for a large ensemble featuring a number of different players: appearing are accordion, violin, viola, French horn, guitar, alto sax, bassoon, contrabass, drums, 'loops, processing and other eletronic mayhem' and layers and layers of vocals from up to 4 vocalists (Alec and 3 female voices). This song cycle is a eulogy and meditation about drug addiction and death from drug addiction and related causes. A compelling, powerful, demanding and ultimately beautiful and moving work.
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Forked Tongue ....CD $14.99
Formed in 1990, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble is an experimental brass band with influences ranging from free jazz to New Orleans second line to contemporary funk. They capture the fun of a street parade band while also expanding its stylistic range. This is their second album. Their first album received considerable public, radio, and press acclaim. This is the only CD ever released to include songs written by both Billy Idol & Ornette Coleman! The band performs 40-50 times per year. Notable appearances have included the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Krewe of Muses Mardi Gras Parade, the Cambridge River Festival, ArtBeat, the Central Square World's Fair, Tonic, First Nights Boston, Providence, & Fall River, the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Berklee Performance Center, and numerous other venues. The Snakes have traveled annually to New Orleans on the Amtrak Crescent train for the past four years, performing on the train along the way.
Jason/Robinson/The Two Faces of Janus ....CD $15.99
The personnel on this album is a contemporary jazz best-of: Jason Robinson: tenor and soprano saxes, flute Liberty Ellman: guitar Marty Ehrlich: alto sax, bass clarinet Drew Gress: bass Rudresh Mahanthappa: alto sax George Schuller: drums "The Two Faces of Janus" - one face looking at the past, one face looking towards the future. Borrowed from Greek mythology, Janus is an apt metaphor for the latest project by critically acclaimed reedist and composer Jason Robinson. The album features a stellar cast, all of whom are distinguished figures in jazz and improvised music as well as bandleaders in their own right. The music is angular, expressive, emotional and virtuosic and seamlessly moves from hard swinging grooves to beautiful abstraction. Robinson's playing and composing embodies the duality of the Janus metaphor - his music draws from the rich historical and modern traditions of jazz to forge a decidedly modern and unique musical vision. The Two Faces of Janus also positions Robinson, a West Coast transplant, within New York's most innovative community of creative and visionary jazz musicians. Robinson has arrived.
Ray Russell/Goodbye Svengali ....CD $14.99
"Like contemporaries Sonny Sharrock and Terje Rypdal, Russell makes it sound as if the guitar is not enough, as if he's reaching for something wilder, something that can't be contained within the 6 string cage"-Jim O'Rourke. Guitarist Ray Russell has been a professional musician since he was 15 and he joined the John Barry Seven (famous for their James Bond soundtracks). Not hugely known to the general public, for over four decades he has worked with artists as diverse as Nucleus, Gil Evans, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens, Bill Fay, Jack Bruce, Michael Gibbs, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry and many, many others. His wide-ranging solo career got into gear during the late 60s and can be viewed as a simultaneous and wilder variant of the same path towards electric jazz that Miles Davis and others took during this time, releasing a number of very collectable and ahead of their time albums, and becoming one of the earliest truly 'out' guitarists of the late 60s in the process. Goodbye Svengali is influenced by and dedicated to visionary jazz arranger Gil Evans, and includes one of Gil's final recordings. It is an album that mixes dark fusion, lyrical guitar pieces and icy soundscapes. Ray's playing style can be compared to such great players as Sonny and Terje, as Jim noted, but also to John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie and Jeff Beck! Includes performances by noted U.K. fusion/rock players such as Mo Foster, Gary Husband, Tony Hymas, Simon Phillips and others.
Wadada Leo Smith/Spiritual Dimensions ....double CD $21.99
Spiritual Dimensions is a double album that features two very special groups filled with truly great musicians! The first disc is by his Golden Quintet. This disc is a modern/avant jazz release that has some distinctive electric touches and features many of the hallmarks of Wadada's work; space, depth, melody and abstraction: Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet; Vijay Iyer – piano, synthesizer; John Lindberg – bass; Pheeroan AkLaff – drums; Don Moye – drums. The second disc is the first-ever release of Wadada's Organic group and is a completely different creature. It's a fully electric, four guitar, creative, bad-ass beast with slinky grooves, but the same hallmarks run through this set as well: Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet; Nels Cline – guitar; Michael Gregory – guitar; Brandon Ross – guitar; Lamar Smith – guitar; Okkyung Lee – cello; John Lindberg – double bass; Skuli Sverrisson – electric bass; Pheeroan AkLaff – drums.
Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet/Tabligh ....CD $14.99
This is the third album by Wadada's all-star Golden Quartet, which features: Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet, Vijay Iyer – piano, Fender Rhodes & synthesizer, John Lindberg – bass, Shannon Jackson – drums. Recorded live, the sound on Tabligh veers from a sound akin to early electric jazz ala "In A Silent Way" and especially 'the lost quintet' of Miles in late 1969/early 1970, to both more sparse and modern jazz fare, all of it informed by the distinctive personalities of these four players and their leader's musical concepts. Wadada Leo Smith is a well-respected trumpeter and composer working in avant-garde jazz and improvisation. He was an early member of Chicago's legendary AACM, joining in 1967 and co-founded the Creative Construction Company, a trio with Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton in the late 60s. In 1971 Smith formed his own label, Kabell, for whom he recorded a number of albums considered classics of their kind. He is currently a professor of Music at the California Institute of the Arts, and is the director of the MFA program in African American Improvisation. Smith has studied a variety of music cultures (African, Japanese, Indonesian, European and American) and has developed a music theory, and a notation system to fully express this music which he calls "Ankhrasmation." He has been a major force in contemporary jazz for over 40 years and performs frequently throughout the world. Cuneiform first worked with Wadada when they released the two "Yo Miles" albums, of which he was co-leader, and they both enjoyed working together so much that Cuneiform decided to work together again on one of his own works.
Wadada Leo Smith's Organic/Heart's Reflection ....double CD $21.99
Wadada's previous two albums on Cuneiform have been extremely strong sellers and have received huge critical acclaim and strong radio play. In 2010, Wadada Leo Smith was featured on the cover of the very widely read English magazine The Wire and the US publication Jazziz! The very beautiful artwork featured in the package is actually Wadada's musical scores that were used for the album!
Soft Machine/NDR Jazz Workshop- Hamburg Germany 1973 ....CD + DVD $21.99
('Stanley Stamp's Gibbon Album')
Soft Machine were one of the very first groups to fuse jazz with rock in the late 60s and were hugely appreciated in Europe for their unique sound. This previously unreleased show was recorded for Germany's famous NDR Jazz Workshop series featuring the line-up of Mike Ratledge, Karl Jenkins, Roy Babbington and John Marshall with Art Themen and Gary Boyle. This long sought-after performance has never been seen since its original broadcast in 1973 and is the highest quality video document that exists of the group, featuring clear and beautiful visuals and superb live stereo sound!
Soft Machine/Grides ....CD + DVD (NTSC All Region) $19.99
(excerpt from 'Facelift')
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Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt - Soft Machine were one of first and one of the greatest jazz/rock bands of all time. Their importance was especially great in Europe, where they influenced several generations of bands, and their influences can still be heard to this day in bands like Jaga Jazzist and beyond. Grides presents the band recorded live at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on October 25, 1970, in a high-quality, previously unreleased recording, just a few months after the release of Third and at the peak of their popularity. It showcases them in transition between releases, with the band performing 3 of the four works from Third, as well as some of the earliest recordings of material from the upcomming Fourth, including some very different arrangements to what would eventually end up on that release. In addition, it features the earliest recording of Elton's Neo-Caliban Grides, which has a fairly lengthy composed section that was never heard again. Also included in this set is the first-ever DVD release by Soft Machine! It was recorded at the TV studios of Radio Bremen on the same date (March 23, 1971) as the radio session that Cuneiform released as Virtually, but is a completely different performance. This was the band's final European tour with Robert Wyatt and is a 20 minute set, professionally recorded by a multicamera crew. The audio and video quality is excellent for the time period (over 35 years old now!), as we worked from the original videotape master in the archives of Radio Bremen.
Soft Machine/Live At Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 ....import double CD + CD-Rom $28.99
"Born of the Beat Generation & Beat music, sacrificed on the clichéd tracks of jazz-fusion, the music in between by the classic quartet of keyboardist Mike Ratledge, saxophonist Elton Dean, bass guitarist Hugh Hopper and drummer Robert Wyatt is mercurial genius manifest. That the recordings made of Britain's Soft Machine remain as rewarding and inspirational today as the moment of their making, qualifies the group's international stature as the most expressively intelligent of rock music's progressive epoch. Still and all, a creative apex where the music attained a "whole greater than its sum parts," occurred on the evening of February 28th, 1971 at the Henie Onstad Art Centre in Oslo, Norway. Here, the group was afforded a rare crucible for their collective creativity by virtue of an intimate concert space, accurate amplification, and an appreciative audience. Also in Henie Onstad for his own art exhibition was Soft Machine's friend Mark Boyle, who projected his sensory films during this concert. Thankfully, the performance was professionally recorded using classical ambient technique, and safely archived until the Henie Onstad Art Centre, and the musicians, granted Reel Recordings the honor and responsibility to present this magnificent recording for CD release. The results sound as demonstrably the finest stereo recording of Soft Machine ever captured on tape. To celebrate and contextualize this 2CD release, a CD-ROM including extensive notes and concert photographs is included, in addition to an extensive essay; The Soft Machine Sound: An Electronic Acoustic Experience Examined, chapters on Mark Boyle's light shows by Sebastian Boyle, a transcript of the Soft Machine's 1970 experimental BBC Radiophonic Workshop session, and numerous photographs of Mark Boyle's art exhibition and Soft Machine's concert at Henie Onstad Art Centre. Live At Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 is not simply another fascinating addition to a series of archival Soft Machine releases; it stands as nothing less than a gift." This is not actually a Cuneiform release, but is made available to us via our friends at Cuneiform.
Soft Machine/Middle Earth Masters ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Hope for Happiness')
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Soft Machine were one of England's original and best psychedelic bands, emerging out of the same "UFO Club" London scene at the same time as Pink Floyd. While the band would always undergo constant personnel and stylistic change, their best known lineup in their psychedelic days was the trio of Kevin Ayers-bass, guitar, vocals, Mike Ratledge-organ and Robert Wyatt-drums, vocals. They played many shows and built an audience in "swinging London" and beyond. A link with Jimi Hendrix's management culminated in the Softs touring the USA with the Jimi Hendrix Experience two different times in 1968, playing over 60 shows as their opening act and recording their first album while in the USA during their touring, after which the band collapsed and disbanded...temporarily. Middle Earth Masters captures the 1967-era Soft Machine trio in full concert glory, recorded live at London's legendary Middle Earth club. The performance is unbelievably freaky for 1967, with songs that feature unusual structures linked by wild solos and improvisations. Those of you who know and love the first Soft Machine album will be amazed at how much more insane and insanely loud the band actually were and also surprised to hear that Mike Ratledge was doing the crazy solo fuzz organ parts (ala the opening of Facelift) in 1967. Includes rare, previously unissued photographs and a short essay by Michael King about these tapes and his work to make them sound as good as possible. IMPORTANT: The source tapes for this CD were recorded using semi-pro equipment under difficult conditions, at extreme volume in a concrete basement. Considering their age, their rarity, and the techinical limitations of sound reinforcement of 40 years ago, we feel that the music presented is very enjoyable, but these recordings are not anywhere near present-day standards!
The Stick Men/Insatiable ....CD $14.99
During their heyday in the early 80's, Philadelphia's The Stick Men were one of the most popular and exciting live bands on the mid-Atlantic region. Using the high energy, herky-jerky rhythms and dissonant timbres of the no-wave underground, the Stick Men give it their own highly original slant. This CD includes both of the band's rare vinyl releases, "This is the Master Brew" and "Get On Board," as well as previously unreleased live tracks. As a special bonus, over 20 minutes of live performances - taken from the only video footage in existence - can be accessed using a Mac or PC computer.
John Surman/Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop-April '69 ....CD + DVD $21.99
For nearly 45 years, John Surman has been one of England's best known modern jazz musicians. His career began in the late '60s as both a sideman and a leader with such notable greats as John McLaughlin, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Terje Rypdal, Mike Westbrook, Barre Phillips, Albert Mangelsdorff, Chick Corea and many others. He began working with the ECM label in the late 1970s where he has released a string of fine work that continues to this day. Every period of his career is filled with highlights, which is why Cuneiform is exceedingly proud to release for the first time ever this amazing document of the late '60s 'Brit-jazz' scene. The NDR Jazz Workshop was a weekly show featuring all manner of jazzmen of the day. The taping of this NDR show was around the same time as Surman was recording his second album as a leader, How Many Clouds Can You See, so this is a unique chance to get an expanded view of his formative work as a leader and also at the early work of his musical compatriots who appear with him here. For this occasion, Surman led a ten-piece ensemble featuring the cream of modern British jazz players: John Surman - soprano and baritone sax, Kenny Wheeler - trumpet and flugelhorn, Alan Skidmore - tenor sax and flute, Ronnie Scott - tenor sax, Mike Osborne - alto sax, Malcolm Griffiths - trombone, Harry Miller - bass and Alan Jackson - drums, as well as two Austrian musicians, Fritz Pauer - piano and Erich Kleinschuster - trombone. Released on Flashpoint for the very first time are five great peformances, including two excellent Surman compositions that he never recorded elsewhere. High quality audio recordings from these musicians from this period are quite rare and video footage is basically non-existent. Captured in crisp, clear black and white footage and in excellent mono sound, this release is a rare and hugely important document that will blow the minds of Brit-jazz fans and will open the ears, eyes and minds of those who don't know the great and distinctive work of these fine musicians!
John Surman/Way Back When ....CD $14.99
A truly stupendous archival find, with broad appeal to both jazz and fusion fans. This never before released album was recorded on October 7th, 1969 by John Surman and British jazz superstars. It is a mix between the vibrancy of late 60's uk jazz and spacey early electric jazz/rock ala "In A Silent Way"; listening to this album, you can hear that the fusion explosion is on the cusp of happening. Soprano/baritone saxophonist John Surman is one of the UK's best known jazzmen, having released 8 albums under his own name between 1968 - 1974 for mainstream labels such as Deram and Island. He was a member of John McLaughlin's final UK-based group, recording John's famous first solo album, Extrapolation with him in 1969, six months before recording Way Back When. Since the late 1970's, he has mostly recorded for the ECM label, recording dozens of albums as either the leader or as a sideman. "In mid-October, 1969, I left the UK to meet up with bassist Barre Phillips and drummer Stu Martin to begin working with them as "The Trio". Before I left however, a few close friends and I held a sort of 'farewell' session in Tangerine Studios in London. On hand were drummer John Marshall, electric pianist John Taylor and Brian Odgers on bass guitar - later Mike Osborne appeared with his alto and joined us. Shortly after I left England, the studios closed down and, although a few test pressings were made, the original tapes got lost in the general confusion. Much to my surprise the masters had survived and were uncovered in 2003...what you are hearing accurately reflects the sound of the sixties...it offers genuine insight into some of the musical directions that were being explored at the end of that swinging decade in the UK." - John Surman
Time of Orchids/Namesake Caution ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Gem')
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Time of Orchids is an indefinable avant-rock band that formed in 1999 in New York City. After 3 self-released albums and a release on Tzadik that brought them to a much wider audience, Namesake Caution is their fifth release and their first on Cuneiform. They don't sound like anyone else, but you can definitely hear elements of film scores, Thinking Plague, new wave/no wave, The Beach Boys, Shudder to Think, Yes and The Magic Band, among many others. These disparate influences should give you an idea of just how different this band is from basically anyone else I can think of! They have a unique and jarring slant on music – a wedding of staggered angularity and a sweeping, seductive beauty. This is the band's most dramatic work yet – an album that sparkles with a deceptive pop linearity and ventures maniacally outward from that base. Nicely recorded by Colin Marston (Behold....The Arctopus), this album boasts layer upon layer of rich, orchestrated vocals, strange guitar figures and otherworldly keyboard textures, all draped atop a rhythm section who are rock solid and complex. Weird...stunning...and weird once again, this unlike anything else except Time of Orchids.
Univers Zero/Clivages ....CD $15.99
A founding member of the original "Rock In Opposition" [R.I.O.] movement, & the inventors of "chamber rock," Univers Zero are considered to be one of the greatest avant-garde rock bands of the last 30 years. Univers Zero are are rightly famous for their perfect balance between classical and rock influences. Clivages is their first new studio album in over five years. They have spent the last five years performing at prestigious rock and new music festivals throughout Europe and North America and ever-widening their audience.
Univers Zero/Heresie (Rmxs) ....CD $15.99
"Heresie" was the second album released by Belgium's legendary avant-garde rock band Univers Zero, co-founders of the highly influencial "Rock in Opposition" (R.I.O.) movement. Originally released in 1979, it has been considered a high water mark of new music composition, performance, and dark, sinister intensity for over 30 years and has never been out of print. Using a distinctive lineup of bassoon/oboe, violin/viola, harmonium/piano/guitar, bass and drums, the group mixed the complexity of rock's outermost experimenters with classical instrumentation and a deeply gothic and creepy vibe. This new issue of "Heresie" has been completely remixed and remastered from the original multi-track tapes. It features a brand new digi-pack cover, as well as a 16 page booklet with a history of the band during this period, as well as vintage photographs. Additionally there is a never-before heard track added. This eagerly awaited upgrade to one of their most appreciated works will find a ready audience with their fans.
Univers Zero/Live ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Xenantaya')
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Univers Zero occupy a special place in the new music pantheon. They practically invented the 'chamber-rock" style and their albums are classics of their kind, with an instantly recognizable sound. Group leader Daniel Denis had long insisted that he wasn't interested in having a performing band, so it was a thrill and a shock when he put together a stable band version of UZ for the 00's. This edition of the band is the most perfectly realized version of Univers Zero for live performance, which is something that Daniel obviously agrees with, as he had resisted a live album until now. Consisting of six tremendous players: Daniel Denis-drums, Michael Berckmans-bassoon, English horn and oboe, Martin Lauwers-violin, Peter Van Den Berghe-piano and keyboards, Kurt Bude-clarinet and saxophone and Eric Plantain-bass, the band has finally managed to fufill Daniel's vision of marrying a rock band with the majesty and power of classical instrumentation. This is an utterly fantastic sounding recording which includes some significant re-arrangements of a number of great works, which bring out new aspects of these pieces! "I must say the live UZ is freakin' great. Congrats. For me, it's their best album since Ceux. Truly an excellent recording too."-Dave Kerman
Univers Zero/Relaps: Archives 1984-1986 ....CD $14.99
(L'Etrange Mixture du Docteur Schwartz)
Founding members of the Rock In Opposition movement, Univers Zero have continued to change and grow and develop over their entire career, while still keeping a ensemble sound and spirit that is easily recognizable. Relaps presents something that Univers Zero's fans have been hoping for for decades; a peek into the recorded archives of one of the greatest avant-rock ensembles since mid 1970s! This CD documents the final 1980s line-ups of Univers Zero before the band's long sabbatical from recording and touring. The live sound is excellent throughout and the CD features a 16 page booklet with a informative history of the band during this time period as well as rare, never-seen photos. The line-ups featured on Relaps are the quintet who recorded UZED and the septet who recorded Heatwave. The material is drawn from those two albums, with the live setting providing some different arrangements and even greater fire to the pieces; the pieces taken from Heatwave are particularly inspiring and outrageous. There is also a short, otherwise unheard composition included here. While UZ continue to play truly awesome gigs and develop the material that will be found on their next studio album, Relaps provides a chance for the listener to catch up with some never-released and exciting recordings from a truly classic band!
Univers Zero/Univers Zero ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Ronde')
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Over 30 years ago, after 3 years of work and rehearsals, a group of seven unknown Belgian musicians gathered in a small basement studio to record their first album, which they released themselves in a tiny edition of 500 copies. The album was untitled, but the catalog number was "1313," which the album later became known by. The power and originality of their creation turned heads and all these years later, this album is rightly considered the beginning of the 'chamber-rock' movement as well as a classic of the genre. With the release of their first album, Univers Zero went on to co-found the hugely influential "Rock in Opposition" movement with four similarly-minded bands. Active until 1987 and then reactivated in the late 1990s, Univers Zero are considered to be one of the greatest avant-garde rock bands of all time. Working in a world-class studio, this album has been re-mixed from the original multi-track tapes and remastered. It has never sounded better. The front cover is restored to be a facsimile of the original issue, and included is a never-released live bonus track in surprisingly excellent sound, a 16 page booklet with many never-before seen photos, as well as a very complete history of the band up to the recording of this album. "It's stunning how well Univers Zero's 1977 debut holds, musically and sonically, compared to...anything else happening in so-called new music... like storm clouds rolling out of the horizon or mad shadows cast in the night, there's a dusky ecstasy present here.... On top of that, there are hints of Bartok, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane and King Crimson" – CD Review
Upsilon Acrux/Radian Futura ....CD $15.99
(Landscape with Gun and Chandelier)
Radian Futura is Upsilon Acrux's sixth album of explosive, intense, and surprisingly beautiful, intricate instrumental rock. "Upsilon Acrux is Amazzzzzzzzing" - Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)"...a stunning example of both virtuosity and clever composition...amazing, and amazingly consistent...." – All Music Guide RIYL: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, Don Caballero, Flying Luttenbachers, King Crimson, Koenjihyakkei, Magma, Orthrelm, Ruins.
Uz Jsme Doma/Caves ....CD $15.99
Czech band Uz Jsme Doma (pronounced "Oozh Smeh Dough-Ma"), name translates as "Now I Get It." Their mixture of musical complexity with punk rock's energy and forms marks them as one of the world's least categorizable bands. All of their albums are instantly recognizable with distinctive artwork by Martin Velisek and "Caves" features a full color, 12-page booklet filled with great art, as well as the English translations of the song's lyrics. They've won a strong following with their releases and their constant, high energy tours. "...this amazing Czech (group)...rattled like a combination of Hot Rats-aphonic Frank Zappa and John Zorn's hyperjazz SWAT team, Naked City..." – Rolling Stone
Zaar/Zaar ....CD $14.99
This is the debut album by a quartet of musicians who know exactly what they want to do and who already have a totally distinctive ensemble sound! Guitarist Yan Hazera and drummer Michael Hazera are alumni of the great band Sotos, who spent 8 years honing their sound. After Sotos disbanded, they wanted to persue a similar musical vein, utilizing elements of chamber rock, zeuhl, improvisation, Rock In Opposition structured complexity and even French folk traditions. They found an excellent bassist and then gave themselves the unique edge of adding a vielle a roue (hurdy gurdy) player. The vielle a roue dates back to medieval times and has several strings which vibrate by turning a crank attached to a resined wheel. You play a melody by pressing keys on the instrument, while the other strings drone. It's a marvelous instrument and it sounds like nothing else; in this context, it often sounds like a cross between a Mike Ratledge-style electric organ, a cellist and bagpipes! This album includes two lengthy pieces, with several shorter works as well, giving the album a nice balance. While you can certainly hear echoes of Sotos on this album, I think that Zaar have already moved further than Sotos and have the possibility to appeal to a greater number of listeners. Excellently recorded by Bob Drake, who captured the rich overtones of these four instruments - not an easy feat! A band with a unique voice who are in the great French tradition of excellence in 'left-field' rock.
Zevious/After The Air Raid ....CD $15.99
Zevious are a unique jazz band for the modern era. This instrumental guitar trio are equally influenced by the sound of early John McLaughlin/Tony Williams Lifetime, Meshuggah, the 'downtown punk-jazz-harmolodic' school, Magma, Vijay Iyer and Ben Monder among others. "The music of Zevious shrewdly juxtaposes order and its opposite: structural intensity pushed to its breaking point in the most appealing way. These boys are brilliant and fearless." – Vijay Iyer
Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown/Varmint ....CD $15.99
Afuche/Highly Publicized Digital Boxing Match ....CD $15.99
Ahleuchatistas/Even in the Midst... ....CD $14.99
Ahleuchatistas/What You Will ....CD $14.99
Ahvak/Ahvak ....CD $14.99
Algernon/Ghost Surveillance ....CD $15.99
Daevid Allen & University of Errors/Jet Propelled Photographs ....CD $14.99
Beat Circus/Boy From Black Mountain ....CD $15.99
Beat Circus/Dreamland ....CD $14.99
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/Dawn of the Cycads: The Complete Ace of Heart's Recordings
(1983-1987) ....double CD $19.99
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/Faultline ....CD $14.99
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/The Iridium Controversy ....CD $14.99
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/Petrophonics ....CD $14.99
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with Oral Moses/Extreme Spirituals ....CD $14.99
Raoul Bjorkenheim & Krakatau/Ritual ....CD $14.99
Blast/A Sophisticated Face ....CD $14.99
Blast/Stringy Rugs ....CD $14.99
Bone/Uses Wrist Grab ....CD $14.99
David Borden/The Continuing Story Of Counterpoint 1-4 ....CD $14.99
David Borden/The Continuing Story Of Counterpoint 9-12 ....CD $14.99
Brotherhood of Breath/Bremen to Bridgewater ....CD $19.99
Brown vs. Brown/Odd And Unevens ....CD $15.99
George Cartwright/The Memphis Years ....CD $14.99
Cheer-Accident/Fear Draws Misfortune ....CD $14.99
Cheer-Accident/No Ifs And Or Dogs ....CD $15.99
Guigou Chenevier/Rumours of the City ....CD $14.99
The Claudia Quintet/For ....CD $14.99
The Claudia Quintet/I Claudia ....CD $14.99
The Claudia Quintent/Semi-Formal ....CD $14.99
The Claudia Quintet +1 featuring Kurt Elling and Theo Blackmann/What Is The Beautiful?
....CD $15.99
Claudia Quintet with Gary Versace/Royal Toast ....CD $15.99
Graham Collier/Hoarded Dreams ....CD $14.99
Graham Collier/Workpoints ....double CD $19.99
Cosmologic/Eyes in the Back of My Head ....CD $14.99
Robert Creely, Chris Massey, Steve Swallow, David CasT, David Torn/Have We Told You All
You'd Thought To Know? ....CD $14.99
Curlew/A Beautiful Western Saddle + The Hardwood ....CD + DVD $17.99
Curlew/Fabulous Drop ....CD $14.99
Curlew/Meet the Curlews ....CD $14.99
Curlew/Mercury ....CD $14.99
Curlew/North America ....CD $14.99
Carlo de Rosa's Cross-Fade/Brain Dance ....CD $15.99
Dead Cat Bounce/Chance Episodes ....CD $15.99
Elton Dean/Just Us ....CD $14.99
Elton Dean/Silent Knowledge ....CD $14.99
Dean Dunmall Levin Rogers Rudd & Tippett/Bladik ....CD $14.99
Delivery/Fools Meeting ....CD $14.99
Deus Ex Machina/Cinque ....CD $14.99
Deus Ex Machina/Imparis ....CD + DVD $19.99
Djam Karet/Burning the Hard City ....CD $14.99
Djam Karet/The Devouring ....CD $14.99
Djam Karet/Live at Orion ....CD $14.99
Djam Karet/A Night For Baku ....CD $14.99
Djam Karet/Recollection Harvest ....CD $14.99
Djam Karet/Reflections From The Firepool ....CD $15.99
Doctor Nerve/Armed Observation-Out To Bomb ....CD $14.99
Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band/I Wish You Peace ....CD $14.99
Paul Dunmall Octet/Bebop Starburst ....CD $14.99
Paul Dunmall Octet/The Great Divide ....CD $14.99
Ergo/If Not Inertia ....CD $15.99
Ergo/Multitude Solitude ....CD $15.99
Far Corner/Endangered ....CD $14.99
Far Corner/Far Corner ....CD $14.99
Fast 'n' Bulbous/Pork Chop Blue Around the Rind ....CD $14.99
Fast 'n' Bulbous/Waxed OOP ....CD $14.99
Forever Einstein/Down with Gravity ....CD $14.99
Forever Einstein/Opportunity Crosses The Bridge ....CD $14.99
Forever Einstein/Racket Science ....CD $14.99
Forgas Band Phenomena/Acte V ....CD + DVD $22.99
Forgas Band Phenomena/Axis of Madness (L'Axe du Fou) ....CD $14.99
Forgas Band Phenomena/Soleil 12 ....CD $14.99
Fred Frith and Henry Kaiser/Friends & Enemies ....double CD $19.99
Peter Frohmader, Richard Pinhas/Fossil Culture ....CD $14.99
Michael Gibbs & The NDR Bigband/Back In The Day ....CD $15.99
Gilgamesh/Arriving Twice ....CD $14.99
Gosta Berlings Saga/Glue Works ....CD $15.99
Guapo/Five Suns ....CD $14.99
Gutbucket/Flock ....CD $15.99
Gutbucket/A Modest Proposal ....CD $14.99
Hamster Theatre/Carnival Detournement ....CD $15.99
Hamster Theatre/The Public Execution of Mister Personality; Quasi Day Room ....double CD
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Happy Family/Happy Family ....CD $14.99
Happy the Man/Beginnings ....CD $14.99
Happy the Man/Death's Crown ....CD $14.99
Happy the Man/Live ....CD $14.99
Happy the Man/3rd-Better Late ....CD $14.99
Joel Harrison & Lorenzo Feliciati with Cuong Vu; Roy Powell & Dan Weiss/Holy Abyss
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Healing Force/Healing Force: The Music of Albert Ayler ....CD $14.99
Heldon/Allez Teia ....CD $15.99
Heldon/Interface ....CD $14.99
Heldon/Stand By ....CD $14.99
Lars Hollmer/Viandra ....CD $14.99
Hugh Hopper/1984 ....CD $14.99
Hugh Hopper/Hopper Tunity Box ....CD $14.99
Hugh Hopper Band/Carousel ....CD $14.99
Hugh Hopper Band/Meccano Pelorus ....CD $14.99
Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowen/Two Rainbows Daily ....CD $14.99
The Hosemobile/What Can & Can't Go On ....CD $14.99
Hughscore (with Hugh Hopper)/Delta Flora ....CD $15.99
Ideal Bread/Transmit: Vol 2 Of The Music of Steve Lacy ....CD $15.99
Isotope/Golden Section ....CD $14.99
Richard Leo Johnson/The Legend of Vernon McAlister ....CD $14.99
Richard Leo Johnson & Gregg Bendian/Who Knew Charlie Shoe? ....CD $14.99
The Richard Leo Johnson Trio/Poetry of Appliance ....CD $14.99
Henry Kaiser/Lemon Fish Tweezer ....CD $14.99
Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith: Yo Miles!/Sky Gardens ....double SACD/CD $19.99
Kansas/Proto-Kaw - Early Recordings From Kansas 1971-73 ....CD $14.99
Dave Kerman & 5uu's/Abandonship ....CD $14.99
Kombinat M/Hybrid Beat ....CD $14.99
Steve Lacy - Roswell Rudd Quartet/Early and Late ....double CD $19.99
Larval/Obedience ....CD $14.99
Larval/Surviving Death + Alive Why? ....double CD $21.99
Laswell + Bjorkenheim + Agren/Blixt ....CD $15.99
Led Bib/Bring Your Own ....CD $15.99
Led Bib/Sensible Shoes ....CD $15.99
Machine and the Synergetic Nuts/Leap Second Neutral ....CD $14.99
The Mahavishnu Project/Return to the Emerald Beyond ....double CD $19.99
Matching Mole/March ....CD $14.99
Matching Mole/Smoke Signals ....CD $14.99
Mats-Morgan/Trends and Other Diseases ....CD $14.99
Mats-Morgan Band/Live ....CD $15.99
Mats-Morgan Band/The Music Or The Money? ....double CD $21.99
Mats-Morgan Band/Thanks For Flying With Us ....CD $14.99
Mats-Morgan Band & Morgan Agren/Heat Beats Live & Tourbook 1991-2007 ....CD + DVD
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Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath/Eclipse at Dawn ....CD $14.99
Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath/Travelling Somewhere ....CD $14.99
The Microscopic Septet/Friday the 13th: The Micros Play Monk ....CD $15.99
The Microscopic Septet/Lobster Leaps In ....CD $14.99
The Microscopic Septet/Seven Men In Neckties: History of the Micros Vol 1 ....double CD
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The Microscopic Septet/Surrealistic Swing: History of the Micros Vol 2 ....double CD
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Piero Milesi/Within Himself ....CD $14.99
Piero Milesi & Daniel Bacalov/Camera Astratta ....CD $14.99
Harry Miller's Isipingo/Which Way Now ....CD $14.99
Phil Miller/Cutting Both Ways ....CD $15.99
Phil Miller/Digging In ....CD $14.99
Phil Miller & In Cahoots/All That ....CD $15.99
Steve Miller & Lol Coxhill/Coxhill Miller-Miller Coxhill & The Story So Far...
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Miriodor/Avanti! ....CD $15.99
Miriodor/Mekano ....CD $14.99
Miriodor/Parade + Live at NEARfest ....double CD $19.99
Virgil Moorefield/Distractions... ....CD $14.99
Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co./1970-1973 ....CD $14.99
Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company/Like A Duck To Water ....CD $14.99
The Muffins/Bandwidth ....CD $14.99
The Muffins/Chronometers ....CD $14.99
The Muffins/Double Negative ....CD $14.99
The Muffins/ Manna/Mirage ....CD $14.99
Mujician/Birdman ....CD $14.99
Mujician/Colours ....CD $14.99
Mujician/Poem about the Hero ....CD $14.99
Mujician/Spacetime ....CD $14.99
Mujician/There's No Going Back Now ....CD $14.99
National Health/Playtime ....CD $14.99
NDIO/Airback ....CD $14.99
NeBeLNeST/Nova Express ....CD $14.99
NeBeLNeST/ZePTO ....CD $14.99
New York Art Quartet/Old Stuff ....CD $15.99
Nucleus/Live In Bremen ....double CD $19.99
Ed Palermo Big Band/Eddy Loves Frank ....CD $15.99
The Ed Palermo Big Band/Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance ....CD $14.99
Philharmonie/Les Elephants Carillonneurs ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas/Chronolyse ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas/Event and Repetitions ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas/Iceland ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas/L'Ethique ....CD $15.99
Richard Pinhas/Metal-Crystal ....double CD $17.99
Richard Pinhas/Metatron ....double CD $19.99
Richard Pinhas/Rhizosphere-Live Paris 1982 ....CD $15.99
Richard Pinhas/Tranzition ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas & Heldon/Agneta Nilsson ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas & Heldon/East West ....CD $14.99
Richard Pinhas & Heldon/Electronic Guerilla + It's Always Rock n Roll....double CD
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Richard Pinhas & Merzbow/Keio Line ....double CD $19.99
Richard Pinhas & Merzbow/Rhizome ....CD $15.99
Planeta Imaginario/Biomasa ....CD $14.99
Planeta Imaginario/Optical Delusions ....CD $15.99
Positive Catastrophe/Garabatos Volume One ....CD $15.99
Present/Certitudes ....CD $14.99
Present-Triskaidekaphobie/Le Poison... ....CD $14.99
Pip Pyle's Bash/Belle Illusion ....CD $14.99
Radio Massacre International/Rain Falls in Grey ....CD $14.99
Radio Massacre International/Time & Motion ....double CD $17.99
Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores/The Blind Spot ....CD $14.99
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Forked Tongue ....CD $14.99
Jason/Robinson/The Two Faces of Janus ....CD $15.99
Ray Russell/Goodbye Svengali ....CD $14.99
Sao Paulo Underground featuring Rob Mazurek/Tres Cabacas Loucuras ....CD $15.99
Schizotrope (Richard Pinhas & Maurice Dantec)/The Life and Death of Marie Zorn ....CD
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Wadada Leo Smith/Spiritual Dimensions ....double CD $21.99
Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet/Tabligh ....CD $14.99
Wadada Leo Smith's Organic/Heart's Reflection ....double CD $21.99
Soft Machine/Backwards ....CD $14.99
Soft Machine/Grides ....CD + DVD (NTSC All Region) $19.99
Soft Machine/Live At Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 ....import double CD + CD-Rom $28.99
Soft Machine/Live in Paris ....double CD $19.99
Soft Machine/Middle Earth Masters ....CD $14.99
Soft Machine/NDR Jazz Workshop- Hamburg Germany 1973 ....CD + DVD $21.99
Soft Machine/Noisette ....CD $14.99
Soft Machine/Spaced ....CD $14.99
Soft Machine/Virtually ....CD $14.99
The Stick Men/Insatiable ....CD $14.99
John Surman/Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop-April '69 ....CD + DVD $21.99
John Surman/Way Back When ....CD $14.99
Thinking Plague/Decline And Fall ....CD $15.99
Thinking Plague/Early Plague Years ....CD $14.99
Thinking Plague/A History of Madness ....CD $14.99
Thinking Plague/In Extremis ....CD $14.99
Steve Tibbetts/Steve Tibbetts ....CD $14.99
Time of Orchids/Namesake Caution ....CD $14.99
U Totem/Strange Attractors ....CD $15.99
U Totem/U Totem ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Ceux De Duhors ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Clivages ....CD $15.99
Univers Zero/Crawling Wind ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/The Hard Quest ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Heatwave ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Heresie (Rmxs) ....CD $15.99
Univers Zero/Implosion ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Live ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Relaps: Archives 1984-1986 ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Rhythmix ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/Univers Zero ....CD $14.99
Univers Zero/UZED ....CD $14.99
Upsilon Acrux/Radian Futura ....CD $15.99
Uz Jsme Doma/Caves ....CD $15.99
Various Artists/156 Strings ....CD $14.99
Various Artists/Transforms: The Nerve Events Project ....CD $14.99
Various Artists/Unsettled Scores ....double CD $21.99
Volapuk/Slang! ....CD $14.99
Von Zamla/1983 ....CD $14.99
C.W. Vrtacek/Silent Heaven ....CD $14.99
Gary Windo/Anglo America ....CD $14.99
Rich Woodson's Ellipsis/Control and Resistance ....CD $14.99
Robert Wyatt/Solar Flares Burn for You ....CD $14.99
Yang/A Complex Nature ....CD $14.99
Zevious/After The Air Raid ....CD $15.99
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