★Porter Records
Cracked Refraction
Cracked Refraction ties its complex knots with infectious vigor and a predilection for playfulness. Wrack’s melodies are slithering and serpentine, and the music is built of smaller segments assembled in what can seem a slapdash manner, with all sorts of jutting ends and unexpected collisions. What Bruckmann’s done, though, is intentional, placing his players on different planes, with straight lines failing to meet, runs of notes ricocheting at impossible angles, and expected avenues folding in …
Home Is The Sun
Invisible Things is the duo of guitarist Mark Shippy (U.S. Maple) and drummer Jim Sykes (Parts & Labor). Well beyond the stereotypical thoughts of a guitar, drum improv/jam session, the drumming is based the study of Sri Lankan percussion and applied to the modern drum kit. This foundation of the drums allows for explorations by the guitar that is tight and sparse one moment and then seamlessly shifted into majestic swirls of reverberation. The album, comprised of 17 tracks, is presented as on…
Whispers From The Archive
CD edition: Outstanding work from bassist/percussionist Juma Sultan – a wealth of wonderful tracks from the loft jazz years of the 70s! Sultan's a player who doesn't always get his due on record – especially during this formative generation. Most of the tunes are quite spiritual, and feature a shifting lineup that really keeps things fresh – players who include Sultan on bass, percussion, and flute – plus Ali Abuwi on drums, flute, and oboe; Kasa Allah and Earl Cross on piano, Art Benne…
The Gowanus Session
“The Gowanus Session”, a new trio recording by Thollem McDonas (piano), William Parker (acoustic bass), Nels Cline (electric guitar), that explores the density and subtlety of tones with reverberating layers of sounds. Thollem McDonas approaches the piano brilliantly, leading the listener to image abstract and beautiful worlds within themselves. William Parker, with his mastery of the acoustic bass, brings warmth to the recording that is complex, soaring and joyful. Nels Cline’s innovative and s…
Thing
This powerful 1972 performance by Arni Cheatham's group provides a unique glimpse of the jazz scene in Boston. The group borrowed the most innovative characteristics of jazz and rock, but never sounded derivative. This is early seventies "jazz fusion" of the highest order, before the term evolved to mean a light, commercially acceptable genre. As with many innovative jazz forms, the recording was made at one of the many local universities, Harvard. The resulting album was pressed in scant…
Complete Rec. V2
Fantastic kosmigroov band from the 70s based out of Philadelphia. Catalyst made 4 albums (this second volume collects the last two "Unity" and "A Tear And A Smile"). Instrumentation consisted of keys, sax/flute/obe, bass, and drums. If you are a fan of electric Miles and Mwandishi era Hancock you need to check these discs out. Bassist Alphonso Johnson split from Catalyst to join Weather Report. Highly recommended.
Complete Rec. V1
Fantastic kosmigroov band from the 70s based out of Philadelphia. Catalyst made 4 albums (this volume collects the first two "Catalyst" and "Unity"). Instrumentation consisted of keys, sax/flute/obe, bass, and drums. If you are a fan of electric Miles and Mwandishi era Hancock you need to check these discs out. Highly recommended.
The Jewelled Antler Library
Ultra limited, 1 copy available left..."With 13 groups, 59 tracks and over 4 hours of music and sounds, the Jewelled Antler Library box-set brings together experimental music from the U.S., Finland and New Zealand that ranges from psychedelic, abstract drone, soft psych, noise, folk and field recordings, to the outright strange and bizarre. This set collects together the entire 12 volume set of the limited edition Jewelled Antler CD-R Library, plus the limited edition recording of The Ways of Go…
Collected Works
"Collected Works" is the first compilation of music belonging to the solo works of Valerio Cosi. It gathers the best recordings from the years between 2005 and 2008. Many of these recordings were originally released in limited (sometimes ultra limited) quantities through cdr labels and now come renewed and re-mastered in sound. Valerio started making solo experimental music back in the late 90's which was mostly recorded in his home. His first released recording called "Immortal Attitudes" …