10.14.2012

Iko - '83 (1982)



Minimal synth masterwork in my book.  Why hasn't this been reissued officially?  seriously. good.

9.19.2012

Reflexe · Stationen Europäischer Musik, Vol. 1 - Studio der Frühen Musik, Thomas Binkley et al








The "Reflexe" series, released by EMI subsidiary EMI Electrola focused on early European music, mostly from the medieval and renaissance period.  It's well known not only for its incredible artwork 

by Roberto Patelli, but also the quality of these recordings, played on period instruments by the Studio der Frühen Musik, directed by Thomas Binkley, and a host of other performers.  These records have become collectors items, and are increasingly hard to find, even after being reissued on CD in Germany by EMI Classics.  John Zorn is reported to have purchased a complete set of the ten box sets (this being the first) on LP.  Fancy that.  The Machaut disc has been lauded by many, and I am currently obsessed with the French compositions on the Johannes Ciconia disc.



1 Studio der Frühen Musik - Oswald von Wolkenstein: Monophone & Polyphone Lieder
2 Studio der Frühen Musik - Johannes Ciconia
3 Studio der Frühen Musik - Roman de Fauvel
4 Ricercare-Ensemble für Alte Musik, Zürich - Ludwig Senfl: Deutsche Lieder
5 Linde Consort - Thomas Morley: Altenglische Consortmusik
6 Studio der Frühen Musik - Machaut: Chansons, Vol 1

6.18.2012

5.13.2012

John Fahey - Death Chants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes (1963)



My favorite Fahey.  This is the original 1963 version, not the 1967 re-recorded version, so it's got that haunting lo-fi production and back room reverb.

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Gelo - Havin' It My Way (1993)



The only thing more surprising than the hilarious cover on this one is how good the music actually is.  As the story goes, Gelo was just another Cali gangsta who decided to record an album, and somehow got two sides of killer P-Funk beats to do his thing over.  Released on the collectible SMG Solar Music Group label.  Great stuff.

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Clifford Jordan - Glass Bead Games (1973)



One of the best from the Strata-East label, this is a deep soul jazz experience that many call the lesser-known companion album to Coltrane's A Love Supreme.

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4.19.2012

Graeme Jefferies - Messages For The Cakekitchen (1987)



I don't usually do this, but after just one listen I was so enchanted by this album that I felt the need to post it immediately.  Graeme Jefferies is a musician from New Zealand who recorded this album for Flying Nun in 1987, and boy is it good.  Check it.

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4.15.2012

Igor Wakhévitch - Logos, Docteur Faust, Hathor, Les Fous D'Or, Nagual, Let's Start (1970-79)







First six studio albums by this underground French Avant-Garde music legend.  If you haven't heard Docteur Faust before, you won't believe your ears.

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The Bulletproof Tiger - You Wanna Kiss About It? (2011)



Great melodic math rock from Toronto.  Definitely makes my ever expanding best of 2011 list.

Check out their bandcamp: http://thebulletprooftiger.bandcamp.com/

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3.26.2012

Edward Artemyev - Zerkalo & Stalker


As requested, here is Edward Artemyev's awesome soundtrack to Andrei Tarkovsky's "Stalker," along with his soundtrack for "Mirror" (Possibly my favorite Tarkovsky film). From the Toei Music bootleg series.

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3.20.2012

Dominique Guiot - L'Univers De La Mer (1978)


Library music? Proto-synthpop? Who knows. (it's awesome though)

The Funkees - Point of No Return


Spectacular funk rock album from Nigeria. Readily available on the blogosphere but I'm just posting it in anticipation of the new Funkees comp that will be released by Soundway on April 10 called "Dancing Time: The Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro-Rock Exponents 1973-1977." Definitely grab a copy if you like this, considering how rare (and therefore expensive) this album is.

Slow - Against the Glass (1985)


Amazing ragged rock from Canada.

J Rock - Streetwize (1991)



Wow I don't know what to say except that I've been pretty obsessed with this for the last few weeks. It's early 90s New York hip hop with extremely funky beats and a drolly amateurish delivery which never fails to bring a smile to my face. Here's his entire bio from his last.fm page:

"As good friend of DJ Premier he made one album in the year 1991. After the album he went to jail and DJ Premier never heard of him again."

All humor aside, I am amazed that this album isn't more popular (It certainly fetches a hefty price on the collectors market though)