Peaceful drone meditations and mantras for bass clarinet and sitar. The improvisatory melodies are beautifully expressive, exploratory, and blanketed in a soft, soothing reverb.
Tony Scott – Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys Read More »
Album Information: Originally released in 1999 as Jerusalem on London Records, and then in 2003 as Dopesmoker on Tee-Pee Records. This is the 2012 pressing on Southern Lord Format: LPx2, Blue vinyl, limited to 1000 copies
Sleep – Dopesmoker Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1969 on Impulse Records 1972 pressing
Pharoah Sanders – Karma Read More »
Compilation of 3 EPs released in 2013 on Temporary Residence Format: LPx2, etchings on each side
Grails – Black Tar Prophecies vol’s 4, 5, & 6 Read More »
Released in 2009 on Frenchkiss Records Format: LP
The Antlers – Hospice Read More »
Psychedelic post-punk from Chicago with noise rock dissonance, free jazz sax freak outs, Rhodes keyboards, proggy time signatures, and anxious vocals drenched in delays.
Crown Larks – Populations Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1972 on Reprise Records 2009 reissue, mastered from original analog tapes
Neil Young – Harvest Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1997 on Constellation Records Format: LP, includes inserts, a flyer, and a penny smashed by a train
Godspeed You Black Emperor! – F#A# Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2014 on Constellation Records
Esmerine – Lost Voices Read More »
Album Information: This album was self-released on CD in 1997 This pressing was released by Constellation Records in 2013 Format: 2xLP, 180g, Includes die-cut sleeve with 4 alternative cover inserts
Do Make Say Think – Do Make Say Think Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2007 on Constellation Records
Do Make Say Think – You, You’re a History in Rust Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2000 on Motown Records 2016 pressing on Motown Format: LPx2
Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2012 on XL Recordings Format: LPx2
Sigur Ros – Valtari Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2009 on Rodriguez Lopez Productions Artwork by Sonny Kay Recorded on the E-Clat Morgue Portable Disaster Unit by Lars Stalfors, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, and Jon Debaun Format: LP, Translucent Yellow, Limited to 750 copies
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – Solar Gambling Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2000 on Constellation Records Recorded November 1999 at the mighty Hôtel2Tango
Pastoral psychfolk from guitar master Ben Chasney. Here his serene acoustic fingerpicking is occasionally accompanied by harmonium drones and trippy guitar overdubs, but overall the album is extremely sparse and meditative.
Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplains Read More »
Released in 2012 on Editions Mego Format: LP
Oren Ambarchi – Saggitarian Domain Read More »
Saxophonist Colin Stetson and violinist Sarah Neufeld employ innovative performance techniques, mutating ostinatos and an atmospheric sense of texture to compose minimalist compositions that are as brooding and haunting they are hypnotically beautiful.
Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – Never Were the Way She Was Read More »
Album Information: Originally released in 1971 on Impulse Records This pressing was released in 1997 on Impulse/MCA Records Recorded November 8, 1970 Format: LP
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda Read More »
Kamasi Washington and his band The Next Step, pick up where their forefathers and mothers left off by making spiritual jazz that respects the jazz canon without getting stuck in the past. This album ranges from free to groovy to melodic without losing sight of its mission. The inclusion of such a large band, an orchestra, a choir, and even a turntablist allows an infinite, colorful array of tonal and dynamic possibilities.
Kamasi Washington – The Epic Read More »
Released in 2008 on Important Records Format: LP
Grails – Take Refuge in Clean Living Read More »
Released in 1973 on CBS/Columbia Format: LP
Herbie Hancock – Sextant Read More »
Abstract fusion grooves, driving hard bop, and spacious modal jazz with horn overdubs and spacey synthesizers.
Joe Henderson – Black is the Color Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1978 on ECM Records Recorded November 1977 at Talent Studio, Oslo Engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug Cover by Don Leavitt Produced by Manfred Eicher Format: LP, promo copy Recommended Track: B1 – Ghost Dance
John Abercrombie – Characters Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2010 on Drag City Records Produced by Joanna Newsom Arranged & Conducted by Ryan Francesconi Recorded by TJ Doherty, Noah Georgeson, Ryan Francesconi, Dana Gumbiner Mixed by Noah Georgeson & Jim O’Rourke Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios Format: 3xLP Box Set, includes 12″x12″ lyric booklet with full musician
Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2013 on Mexican Summer Hand numbered: 777/1000 Format: LP
Lilacs & Champagne – Danish & Blue Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2014 on Mexican Summer Hand numbered: 139/1000 Format: 12″ EP
Lilacs & Champagne – Midnight Features Vol. 1: Shower Scene Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2017 on Sub Pop Records Format: 2xLP on gold and silver vinyl, Deluxe Edition with 4 alternate covers, includes fold-out poster with lyrics/liner notes on back
Father John Misty – Pure Comedy Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1996 on Matador Records
Cat Power – What Would the Community Think Read More »
The first side features Dylan going electric for the first time, including classics such as She Belongs to Me and Maggie’s Farm. Side 2 features the acoustic storytelling and surrealist lyrics Dylan had been perfecting up to that point.
Bob Dylan – Bringing it All Back Home Read More »
Performed on acoustic guitar and an early delay pedal, Christopher Idylls is a soothing, reflective way to ease into the morning. It fits somewhere between ambient, new age, and American primitive guitar.
Gimmer Nicholson – Christopher Idylls Read More »
While each Grails album uses instrumental rock as a means to explore a vast record collection’s worth of influences, none have done so with the subtlety and focus put into each track of this latest offering, allowing us to see the intangible essence of their sound more clearly than ever.
Grails – Chalice Hymnal Read More »
Taking a detour from his usual loner-droner psych folk style, Ben Chasney enlists former Comets on Fire bandmates to jam some heavy rock burners with a a cosmic amount of electric guitar shredding, evoking Neil Young & Crazy Horse blasting off on a rocket. The new electric energy brought to this album is balanced out by an equal amount of the fingerpicking prog-folk and meditative acoustic ballads that have been developing in his music since the 90’s. While I will always love his more melancholy, nocturnal records that sound like he’s lost in a forest somewhere, I welcome the fiery energy of Ascent.
Six Organs of Admittance – Ascent Read More »
While living in London I had an apartment with a small garden. During he summer around 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, just as the day began, Birds would gather here one by one and sing together, each declaring its freedom in song. It is my wish to share the same spirit with other musicians and communicate it to the people. -Dave Holland
Dave Holland Quartet – Conference of the Birds Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2017 on Blue Chopsticks Records (Imprint of Drag City Records) Eli Keszler – Drums, Percussion (Tracks 1,2,4) Jan St. Werner – Electronics (1,4) Nate Woolley – Trumpet (1,2,4,6,7) Recorded by Mitch Rackin at the Seaside Lounge, Brooklyn, Jan-Mar 2017 Mastered by Douglas Henderson Cover Art: Albert Oehlen Back Photo: Tom Van
David Grubbs – Creep Mission Read More »
Brian Eno and German kosmiche duo Cluster collaborate on a spacey synthesizer album with diverse moods, including peaceful ambient swells, sinister sequencers, industrial drum machine grooves, and suspenseful piano motifs. The release is mostly instrumental but Eno songs sparingly on a couple tracks. The last track features Can’s Holger Czukay playing some pulsing, harmonic bass grooves
Eno, Roedelius, Moebius – After the Heat Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2011 on Partisan Records Produced by Emil Amos Jeff Stuart Saltzman recorded tracks B1, B3, B5 and mixed track A2. Ash Black Buffalo – Synths on A1, B1, B4 and B5 All other instruments by Emil Amos A3 written by The Troggs Recommended Tracks: Slow Days, Look of Pain!, Reckless Liberation
Holy Sons – Survivalist Tales Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Includes 15-page book of stories and song notes
John Fahey – Volume 6: Days Have Gone By Read More »
Country-tinged love songs that feel like a continuation of Harvest
Neil Young – Comes a Time Read More »
This double album set is recommended to anyone looking for extremely primal, complex punk rap with a wide range of influences, including industrial hip-hop, IDM, math rock, noise, and psychedelic rock. Fans of experimental, aggressive hip-hop like Dälek or Public Enemy will probably really dig this, as will fans of math rock for the extremely innovative musicianship and intricate interplay of Death Grips’/Hella’s Zack Hill and Tera Melos’ Nick Reinhart (who plays on 5 of the tracks).
Click further for full review
Death Grips – The Powers that B Read More »
Album Information: Released on Milestone Records in 1972
McCoy Tyner – Sahara Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2009 on Downtown Music Exposion originally released in 2008 and is included as a bonus LP Origin: Austin, TX Format: LPx2
White Denim – Fits/Exposion Read More »
Album Information: Released in 2002 on Nonesuch Records Produced by Wilco Mixed by Jim O’Rourke Recorded at the Loft, Chicago Format: 180g LPx2, includes CD
Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Read More »
Inner Gatefold (Left)Inner Gatefold (Right)Back Cover Vinyl Etching Album Information: Released in 2017 on Ipecac/Deadverse Format: LPx2 with D-side etching Overview After over two decades of challenging the system, questioning minds, and musical boundaries, New Jersey’s Dälek have distilled their diverse and experimental style of hip-hop into their most streamlined release yet. Endangered Philosophies features distorted
Dälek – Endangered Philosophies Read More »
Album Information: Originally released in 1993 on Creation Records This pressing was manufactured in 2011 by Music on Vinyl for Sony Music
Slowdive – Soulvaki Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records This album was originally released on 100 copies in 1959, but was re-recorded in 1967 for this issue This album is included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being considered culturally significant.
John Fahey – Volume 1: Blind Joe Death Read More »
Album Information: Originally released in 1996 on Duophonic Records This pressing was released in 2013 on 1972 Records Produced by John McEntire & the Groop Recorded in London and Chicago Format: LPx2
Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup Read More »
18 years after their last album, golden-era hip-hop legends A Tribe Called Quest return with a fresh, progressive take on their signature sound. Featuring André 3000, Talib Kweli, Anderson Paak, Kendrick Lamar, and Busta Rhymes
A Tribe Called Quest – “We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service” Read More »
Shakti means “Creative Intelligence, Beauty & Power” and trust me, these are all in abundance on these devotional jazz ragas. Featuring John McLaughlin joined by a quartet of Indian master musicians, this album is a blissfully uplifting and meditative release.
Shakti – Shakti with John McLaughlin Read More »
In this energizing exploration of Hindustani classical music from a jazz perspective, John McLaughlin joins a virtuosic trio of Indian musicians who inspire some of the most impassioned and impressive playing of his career. His acoustic guitar shredding veers close to the bendy sounds of the sitar and fits nicely with the dense web of percussion created by Vikku Vinayakram and Zakir Hussain. Violinist Lakshiminarayana Shankar’s emotive themes and fiery solos make him a perfect foil to McLaughlin.
Shakti – Natural Elements Read More »
“Recorded in an old wooden barn, this second album is swaddled in twilight autumnal ambiance. While the record is bookended by the band’s awesome psych-rock explosions, much of the material here shows increased referencing of jazz influences (modal horns, brushed percussion) and a more organic deployment of micro-electronics. Raw and polished, visceral and cerebral, the band combines rock and jazz traditions of space music with the ‘instrumental’ potentials of mixing room to present a true gem of a record.” (Press Release)
Do Make Say Think – Goodbye Enemy Airship, The Landlord is Dead Read More »
A psychedelic, transcendent fusion of hip-hop, jazz, prog, and IDM meant to simulate the cosmic experience of death. Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington, Snoop Dogg, and others..,
Flying Lotus – You’re Dead Read More »
Guitar-genius Mdou Moctar visits Portland, Oregon from his home country of Niger to record a hypnotic solo album of desert folk sung in Tamasheq. Most songs consist of intricate fingerstyle acoustic guitar with occasional electric guitar overdubs to accent the melodies.
Mdou Moctar – Sousoume Tamache Read More »
Album Information: Released on Palace Records in 1999
Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See a Darkness Read More »
Progressive alt-rock that prioritizes dynamics and atmosphere over flashy solos or superfluous complexity. Recommended for fans of Oceansize, Deftones, Mogwai, or the last two Isis albums.?
