Music Library

Califone – Villagers

Style: Weird Americana, Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Vibes: Cryptic, Autumnal, Warm, Rural, Sardonic, Observational, Apathetic, Mellow, Peaceful, Playful. Twangy

Musical Qualities: Lush, Loops, Electro-Acoustic, Percussive, Melodic, Lyrical, Studio-as-an-Instrument

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Anahita – Tourmaline

Fursaxa & Helena Espvall

Style: Free Folk, Drone

Vibe: Ritualistic, Medieval, Nocturnal, Forest, Exploratory, Mysterious, Mystical, Religious, Occult, Cosmic, Witchy

Musical Qualities: Droney, Improvisation, Acoustic, Loops, Slow, Choral

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Oregon – Music of Another Present Era

LP, Vanguard, 1972 featuring Colin Walcott, Ralph Towner, Glen Moore, and Paul McCandless Style: Ecstatic Chamber-Music, Raga-Jazz Vibe: Flowing, Ethereal, Searching, Bright, Airy, Intertwined, Soothing, Spiritual, Spring, Elegant Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Virtuosic, Raga, Lush, Thematic Improvisation, Progressive, Melodic Instrumentation: Classical Guitar, Tabla, Oboe, Sitar, Upright Bass, Piano, English Horn, Mridangam, Violin, Flute, Percussion, 12-String Guitar,

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Tim Berne – 7X

featuring Alex Cline, Nels Cline, Vinny Golia, Roberto Miranda, & John Rapson

Style: Post-Bop, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Busy, Urban, Knotty, Energetic, Driving, Bombastic, Complex, Powerful

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Shredding, Technical, Thematic, Rhythmic

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Jimmy Lyons – Other Afternoons

Jimmy Lyons – Alto Saxophone; Lester Bowie – Trumpet; Alan Silva – Upright Bass; Andrew Cyrille – Drums
Style: Free-Bop, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Warm, Spontaneous, Sunny, Driving, Playful, Intertwined, Autumnal, Passionate, Energetic, Kinetic, Responsive, Exploratory

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Swing, Polyphonic, Acoustic, Technical

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David Sylvian – Blemish

featuring Derek Bailey & Fennesz

Style: Experimental Songwriter, Electroacoustic, Reductionism

Vibe: Lonely, Winter, Reflective, Sombre, Cold, Breakup, Depressive, Surreal, Meditative, Desolate

Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Glitchy, Sparse, Soft, Dissonant

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Exhaust – Enregistreur

Style: Post-Rock, Avant-Dub, Experimental

Vibe: Mechanical Decay, Deconstructed, Urban, Cold, Dystopian, Desolate, Winter, Melancholy

Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Dub, Rhythmic, Instrumental, Sampling, Slow, Noisy, Repetitive, Analogue

Instrumentation: Drums, Tapes, Bass Clarinet, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar

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Exploding Star Orchestra – Lightning Dreamers

featuring Rob Mazurek, Jeff Parker, Nicole Mitchell, Damon Locks, Gerard Cleaver, Craig Taborn, Angelica Sanchez & Mauricio Takara

Style: Cyber-Jazz, Cosmic Big-Band, Jazz Fission

Vibes: Futuristic, Communal, Triumphant, Cosmic, Surreal, Exploratory, Anthemic, Colorful

Musical Qualities: Dense, Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Percussive, Progressive, Rhythmic, Spoken Word, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Suite

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Stephen Micus – Koan

Style: Mystical Folk, New Age, Fourth World

Vibe: Ethereal, Meditative, Introspective, Airy, Searching, Healing, Mysterious, Soothing

Musical Qualities: Soft, Acoustic, Reverb-Heavy, Minimalistic, Instrumental

Instrumentation: Shakuhachi, Zither, Gender, Sarangi, Rabab, Bodhran, Angklung, Kyeezee, Bells, Acoustic Guitar

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The Flaming Lips – 7 Skies H3

Abridged version of a 24-hour recording from 2011

Style: Post-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Progressive Electronic

Vibe: Cold, Apocalyptic, Desolate, Ominous, Mournful, Sombre, Mysterious, Existential, Rainy, Spacey, Melancholy, Nihilistic, Haunting, Hypnotic, Lonely, Dreamy, Cerebral, Meandering, Greyscale, Dystopian

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Steve Tibbetts – Yr

Style: Progressive Folk, Jazz Fusion, ECM Jazz

Vibes: Mystical, Pastoral, Ethereal, Ancient, Pagan, Earthy, Exploratory, Smooth, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Atmospheric, Complex, Instrumental, Uncommon Time Signatures, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Progressive, Shred, Technical

Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Congas, Drums, Kalimba, Synthesizer, Tabla, Electric Bass, Bongos

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Daniel Higgs – Say God

Style: Mystical Folk, Devotional Poetry, New Age

Moods: Poetic, Mystical, Devotional, Spiritual, Meditative, Surreal, Eccentric, Cosmic, Ecstatic, Utopian

Musical Qualities: Mantra, Spoken Word, Acoustic, Sparse, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Voice, Banjo, Sruti Box, Harmonium

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Nicholas Jaar – Sirens

Style: Ambient Pop, Progressive Electronic, Sound Sculpture, Downtempo

Moods: Urban, Surreal, Nocturnal, Cryptic, Mysterious, Retro-Futuristic, Hypnotic, Introspective, Motorik, Ethereal

Musical Qualities: Vocal Manipulation, Studio-as-an-Instrument. Rhythmic, Atmospheric, Lush, Sampling

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Joanna Newsom – Divers

“But stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time.
Stand brave: time moves both ways, in the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life.
The moment of your greatest joy sustains: not axe nor hammer, tumor, tremor, can take it away, and it remains.
And it pains me to say, I was wrong. Love is not a symptom of time. Time is just a symptom of love”

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Ornette Coleman – Of Human Feelings

tyle: Free-Funk, Jazz Fission, Mutant Disco, No Wave, Abstract Groove

Vibe: Surreal, Kinetic, Angular, Knotted, Playful, Manic, Groovy, Energetic

Musical Qualities: Harmolodic, Polyphonic, Rhythmic, Dissonant, Dense, Instrumental, Collective Improvisation, Technical

Prime Time Band: Jamaaladeen Tacuma (Electric Bass); Denardo Coleman (Drums); Bern Nix (Guitar); Charlie Ellerbee (Guitar); Calvin Weston (Drums)

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Matching Mole

Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Pop

Moods: Plaintive, Playful, Lonely, Longing, Melancholy, Dreamy, Eccentric, Tender, Sentimental

Instrumentation: Mellotron, Piano, Drums, Organ, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Electric Piano, Drums, Voice

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Michael O’Shea

Style: Avant-Folk, Post-Minimalism

Moods: Hypnotic, Mysterious, Meditative, Ritualistic, Nocturnal, Haunting, Ethereal

Musical Qualities: Pulse, Homemade Instrument, Minimalistic, Solo, Improvisation, Repetitive, Electro-Acoustic, Extended Technique, Sparse

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Duster – Duster

Style: Slowcore, Slacker Rock, Shoegaze

Moods: Introspective, Lethargic, Existential, Hypnotic, Melancholy, Nocturnal, Rainy, Spacey

Musical Qualities: Slow, Noisy, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Riffs, Repetitive

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Ravi Shankar – Chants of India

Produced by George Harrison

Style: Vedic Chants, Hindustani Classical Music

Vibe: Devotional, Meditative, Nocturnal, Spiritual, Peaceful, Ritualistic, Reflective, Soothing, Ecstatic, Hypnotic, Intricate, Psychedelic

Instrumentation: Group Vocals, Sitar, Autoharp, Strings (Viola, Violin, Cello), Flute, Tabla, Veena, Mridangam, Morsing, Tamboura, Harp, Santoor, Acoustic Guitar, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone

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Henry Cow – Unrest

On their second LP, Henry Cow weaves together elements of eerie chamber music, free improvisation, and deconstructed prog to create something that seems like the missing link between the Canterbury jazz-rock of Soft Machine and Gong and the dissonant avant-rock of This Heat.

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Träden

Style: Trance-Rock, Psych, Jam Band

Vibes: Pastoral, Cinematic, Communal, Rural, Driving, Earthy, Hypnotic, Open, Peaceful, Psychedelic, Contemplative

Musical Qualities: Slow, Dynamic, Instrumental, Repetitive, Jams, Riffs, Fuzzy, Atmospheric

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J.J. Cale – 5

Style: Roots Rock, Blues Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Confident, Laid Back, Sensual, Romantic, Mellow Swagger, Road Trip, Warm, Sunny, Bluesy, Sexual, Rootsy

Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Melodic, Sleek

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Derek Monypeny – Cibola

Style: “Desert Continuum”, Psychedelic Drone, Free Improvisation, Avant-Folk

Moods: Desert, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Meditative, Hallucinogenic, Nocturnal

Musical Qualities: Droney, Electro-acoustic, Solo Improvisation, Noisy, Instrumental

Instrumentation: Shahi Baaja, Electric Guitar, Autoharp

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Billy Hart – Enchance

featuring Buster Williams, Dewey Redman, Dave Holland, Oliver Lake, Eddie Henderson, Don Pullen & Thabo Michael Carvin

Style: Jazz-Fission, Spiritual Jazz, Post-Bop

Moods: Exploratory, Forest, Spiritual, Nocturnal, Triumphant, Communal, Energetic, Free, Knotty, Intertwined, Mysterious, Spontaneous

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Collective Improvisation, Ostinato, Acoustic, Complex, Dense, Progressive, Technical

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Espers

Style: Wyrd Folk, Progressive Folk, Acid Folk

Moods: Forest, Sombre, Enchanting, Gloomy, Mystical, Medieval, sombre, Melancholy, Mellow, Mysterious

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Bobby Brown: Live

Style: Mystical Folk, Outsider Songwriter, New Age

Moods: Spiritual, Uplifting, Warm, Beach, Mystical, Nature, Summer

Musical Qualities: Homemade Instruments, Acoustic, Lo-Fi, Live Recording

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Tom Rapp – Stardancer

Style: Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Acid Folk, Country-influenced

Moods: Autumnal, Moody, Sombre, Bittersweet, Conscious, Eclectic, Melancholy, Political, Mellow, Morning, Mournful, Retro, Psychedelic, Rebellious, Warm

Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Flute, Piano, Organ, Dumbek, Bongos, Drums, Congas, Cello, Vibraphone, Harmonica, Banjo, Mandolin, Wind Chimes, Vocal Harmonies, Bells

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Heart of the Ghost – Live at Rhizome

Jarrett Gilgore (alto saxophone); Luke Stewart (upright bass); Ian McColm (drums)
with Dave Ballou (trumpet)

Style: Free Jazz

Moods: Adventurous, Earthy, Driving, Exploratory, Free, Energetic, Abstract, Colorful, Communal, Complex, Determined

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Ostinato, Polyrhythmic, Dense, Acoustic, Uncommon Time Signatures, Instrumental, Dynamic, Live Recording

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Bird Show Band

Ben Vida (Moog Voyager); Josh Abrams (Upright Bass); John Herndon (Drums); Dan Bitney (Drums); Jim Baker (Arp 2600)

Style: Future Jazz, Progressive Electronic, Electro-Jazz, Post-Rock

Moods: Spacey, Exploratory, Suspenseful, Abstract, Playful, Responsive, Knotty, Mysterious, Futuristic, Spontaneous, Hypnotic

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Pelt – Ayahuasca

Style: Free Folk, Appalachian Dhrupad, Psychedelic Drone, American Primitive

Moods: Ritualistic, Meditative, Spiritual, Rural, Hallucinogenic, Eerie, Mysterious, Rootsy, Woods

Musical Qualities: Droney, Acoustic, Noisy, Dissonant, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Banjo, Hurdy Gurdy, Acoustic Guitar, Esraj, Tanpura, Bowls, Fiddle, Concertina, Chord Organ, Cymbals

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Spires that in the Sunset Rise – Four Winds the Walker

Style: Avant-Folk, Acid Folk, Free Folk

Moods: Cryptic, Thorny, Communal, Witchy, Anxious, Haunting, Ominous, Nocturnal, Eerie, Mystical, Psychedelic, Surreal, Shadow, Dark

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Cello, Vocal Harmonies, Mbira, Zither, Percussion, Slide Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar, Organ, Xylophone, Autoharp, Harmonium, Spike Fiddle, Thumb Piano, Lap Steel

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Sandy Bull: E pluribus unum

Style: Acid Folk, Folk-Rock Influences: Arabic Folk, Blues, Raga

Moods: Mysterious, Confident, Serpentine, Searching, Psychedelic, Desert, Determined, Earthy, Flowing, Impressionistic, Introspective, Meandering, Meditative, Ritualistic

Musical Qualities: Modal, Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Solo, Bluesy

Instrumentation: Oud, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Electric Bass

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Friends of the Road – Now You Know Something Right Here and I’ll Tell You For a Fact

This collective of experimental Seattle musicians perform back-porch seances on old-time jigs & folk tunes, half of which can be found in Alan Lomax’s Folk Songs of North America book. The ritualistic, droning dissonance of cello, banjo, harmonium, & fiddle recall Pelt, Henry Flynt, & Tongue Depressor. Despite an often haunting atmosphere, folksiness and camaraderie pervade the tape in the form of warm lo-fi sing-a-longs and friendly, candid banter between tracks. The original social function of the music lives eternally, a nonlinear communication with fellow travelers from the past, present, & future.

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Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile

Style: Jazz (Spiritual, Avant-Garde, Folk), Modern Creative, Spirituals

Moods: Spiritual, Storytelling, Passionate, Reflective, Intertwined, Rootsy, Warm, Uplifting, Poetic, Communal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Progressive, Acoustic, Collage, Complex, Dense, Conducted Improvisation, Thematic,

Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone, Group Vocals, Wordspeak, Operatic Vocals, Piano, Trumpet, Upright Bass, Drums

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Tortoise – Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters

Tracks from Tortoise’s debut LP remixed by Bundy K. Brown, John McEntire, Jim O’Rourke, Steve Albini, Mike Watt, Brad Wood, Rick Brown, Casey Rice

Styles: Ambient Dub, Electroacoustic, Electronic, Post-Rock

Moods: Deconstructed, Futuristic, Meditative, Mechanical, Cold, Open, Abstract, Airy, Eclectic, Mysterious, Peaceful, Spacey

Musical Qualities: Remix, Atmospheric, Sparse, Sampling, Loops, Instrumental, Electro-Acoustic

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Gilli Smyth – Mother

Style: Cosmic Folk, Psychedelic Rock, Jazz Poetry

Moods: Cosmic, Feminist, Conscious, Poetic, Eccentric, Witchy, Flowing, Eclectic, Mystical, Psychedelic, Storytelling, Messy

Musical Qualities: Spoken Word, Collage, Improvisation

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