Jazz /
Respiritus
Test the ears and patience of yr so called 'friends' -- the trained (operatic) vocalizings of ms. mackness dance and squeak around the flutter-scronk of mr. butcher (he of long-standing brit-free improv fame). Pure frontal-excursion, quiet and slippery.
Fixations (14)
Though saxophonist John Butcher is not short on instrumental prowess, his primary assets lie in the realm of ideas. On Fixations, Butcher has rejected conventional jazz thinking (swing, melodicism, harmonic cycles) in favor of creating his own personal language of improvisation. As Butcher puts it in the liner notes, "...improvisation can only make sense when it is somehow connected to the hope of finding, spontaneously, some music you don't really know about beforehand."
So the pursuit of a…
Chapter Two 1981-83
PAUL RUTHERFORD (trombone, euphonium & electronics), PHILIPP WACHSMANN (violin & electronics), and BARRY GUY (double bass & electronics). The first time some early recordings of this trio have been issued. The bulk of the music in this set comes from a late 1983 tour of England - 4 concerts in 6 days - during which this trio used more electronics than before or since. The music in each concert moved in a different direction, so it all had to be included. There are also two slightly earlier perfo…
Frankfurt 1991
Outside of Peter Brotzmann and Derek Bailey, I am not certain there are many players, European or otherwise, that maintain such sustained reverence from their peers as Paul Rutherford. And deservedly so, since I know of very few musicians as uncompromising as the British trombonist.While the trombone has languished in mediocrity over the past three decades, with the exception of a select number, on American shores, the European improvisers who call the trombone their home have continued its forw…
Ieirll
Sold out, last copies: 'Beautiful duo set from these two European improvisors which is a deal more removed from any established notions of intuitive post-SME thought than you might initially suspect. Davies plays harp throughout, but right from the first track he steers away from both the scrabbly string attack favoured by most post-Derek Bailey strategists and the Heavy Metal assault of instrumental pioneers like Zeena Parkins, opting instead for a slow blur of droning notes that flare like fiz…
Aérea
a beautiful duo album, Alfredo Costa Monteiro: accordion. Ruth Barberán: trumpet. Recorded in 2004, Barcelona
Improvised Vancouver
Henry Kaiser, electric guitar; John Oswald, alto saxophone. Pre-vou (01.21), Vancouver (17.00), Vancouverification (38.00), Acouverstic (02.17), Vancouverymuch (56.00). Recorded at the Western Front, Vancouver; tracks 2 and 3 recorded on 7 February 1978; other tracks recorded on 6 May 1996.
Forlorn green
The press release is disingenuous in describing "Forlorn Green" as "lo-fi": even if Jason Lescalleet's work involves tapeloops using cheap recording gear and "trashed" speakers, his digital reworking and mastering is painstakingly perfectionist and perfect. Recorded in four different locations in the Boston area (a church, a gallery, an art school and the local Twisted Village record store) and crafted in Lescalleet's studio with what can only be described as loving care, the sonic alchemy of …
Night life
Korm Plastics is proud to present the eigth release in the brombron series. Originally a co-production between Staalplaat and Extrapool, it is now hosted by co-curator Frans de Waard. In the year 2000 Frans de Waard and Extrapool started the brombron project. Two or more musicians become artists in residence in Extrapool, an arts initiative in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, with a fully equipped sound recording studio. These artists can work in a certain amount of time on a collaborative project; a …
Origin’s hesitation
Expectations exploded, intentions fleetingly revealed, faith justified. A new album from Keiji Haino's Fushitsusha is always going to be a major event. And to make the release of Origin's Hesitation even more significant, it is the first new album from the group in almost two years, the first studio recordings by the new duo line-up, and the first Fushitsusha album on PSF since 1994's stunning Pathetique. The popular perception of Fushitsusha has usually been as a rock band, albeit one that push…
Live
Keiji Haino's rock trio debuted to the world of recordings with a double live LP set (PSF 3/4 -- long deleted) and then followed it up with this one -- another double live set (completely different material). Mind boggling guitar/bass/drums extensions from the heaviest rock band on planet earth. This 150 minute double-CD (wrapped in stunning all-black cover) is one of the quintessential documents of the modern era.
Omnivm
Recorded 2005-6. 'FURT's new CD combines live sets from Durham and Belfast into a vertiginous journey lasting almost 78 minutes. Richard Barrett and Paul Obermayer once more redefine the outer limits of intensity, virtuosity and improvisational rapport in electronic music in OMNIVM, named after the essential inherent interior essence which is hidden in the root of the kernel of everything in Flann O'Brien's novel The Third Policeman
Freedom Of The City 2001 - Small Groups
Highlights from small group recordings from the 2001 Freedom of the City festival featuring artists such as Steve Beresford (electronics), John Butcher (saxes), Lol Coxhill (sax), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Phil Minton, and more in various arrangements.
s/t
Solo, duo, trio, quartet & octet improvisations by John Edwards (double bass), Sylvia Hallett (violin, voice, sarangi), Marcio Mattos (cello), Neil Metcalfe (flute), Evan Parker (soprano saxophone), John Rangecroft (clarinet), Mark Sanders (percussion), Philipp Wachsmann (violin, electronics). 152 minutes - previously unissued.
The ins and outs
This is a studio recording, and thus somewhat different in approach and tone to the group's continuous live sets; an example can be heard on a compilation from the 2003 Freedom of the City festival. Here the emphasis is more on developing specific ideas with a consistent logic than on modulating between passages of tension and climax. On the longest track, the 13-minute Absolute Xero, the logic is sure and compelling; Skzypce is more playful, with Wilkinson vocalising through his reed and Noble,…
Prints - Snapshots, Postcards, Messages And Miniatures 1987-2001
The short story: Prints is Fred Frith's first album of songs in 20 years. The long story: it is actually a collection of compilation tracks and unreleased studio sessions recorded between 1987 and 2001. No matter if you already own a few of these, a pop album by this man is a rarity -- and that is truly a shame. Of course, as a respected improviser, serious composer, and educator, anything lighter from this pillar of modern music will meet with severe criticism from people who take themse…
Abu Tarek
Franz Hautzinger: trumpet. Mazen Kerbaj: trumpet. All music improvised, no cuts no overdubbing. Recorded on august 26 2003 at Khalifesh studio lebanon by Raymond Khalifeh. Mix by Mazen Kerbaj and Raymond Khalifeh.