Record Library

Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians

Style: Appalachian Folk, Piedmont Blues

Vibe: Pastoral, Rootsy, Morning, Rustic, Bright, Spiritual, Warm, Passionate, Contemplative

Musical Qualities: Solo Instrumentals, Acoustic, Melodic, Sparse, Fingerstyle

Instruments: Fiddle, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Dulcimer, Harmonica

Kevin Ayers – Whatevershesbringswesing

Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Vibe: Playful, Uplifting, Eclectic, Joyful, Eccentric, Stoned, Warm, Eccentric, Romantic

Musical Qualities: Catchy, Lush, Melodic, Lyrical, Orchestral

Bardo Pond | Yo La Tengo – Parallelograms

Style: Free Psych, Shoegaze, Space Rock, Noise Rock, Jam Band

Moods: Mysterious, Desert, Nocturnal, Cathartic, Cryptic, Primordial, Murky, Ethereal, Lethargic, Meandering, Melancholy, Hypnotic

Musical Qualities: Washy, Collective Improvisation, Fuzzy, Repetitive, Jams, Slow, Droney, Noisy, Climactic, Riffs

Richard Youngs – Amplifying Host

Style: Loner Folk, Ambient Folk, Experimental Songwriter, Slowcore

Moods: Introspective, Dreamy, Melancholy, Intimate, Hypnotic, Autumnal, Flowing, Airy, Contemplative, Mysterious, Nocturnal, Reflective, Tender, Depressive, Eerie, Ominous (A2)

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Repetitive, Lyrical, Slow, Soft

David Grubbs – The Plain Where the Palace Stood

Style: Avant-Rock, Experimental Songwriter

Moods: Cryptic, Knotty, Philosophical, Deconstructed, Angular, Enigmatic, Mysterious, Moody, Contemplative, Suspenseful, Surreal, Reflective

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Complex, Progressive, Improvisation, Resonant

Bitchin Bajas – Bajas Fresh

Features Masaki Batoh, Ben Lamar Gay, Jim Becker,

Style: Space Ambient, Progressive Electronic, Kosmische, New Age

Moods: Meditative, Cosmic, Peaceful, Warm, Intertwined, Hypnotic, Psychedelic

Musical Qualities: Pulse, Instrumental, Progressive, Atmospheric, Washy, Droney

Instrumentation: Analogue Synthesizers, Organ, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Cornet

Bardo Pond – On the Ellipse

Style: Free Psych, Space Rock Revival, Acid Folk, Shoegaze

Moods: Melancholy Nocturnal,, Searching, Lethargic, Stoned, Sombre, Lonely, Cathartic, Suspenseful

Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Riffs, Fuzzy, Climactic, Washy, Improvisation, Loose, Noisy

The Antlers – Familiars

Style: Chamber Pop, Ambient Pop

Moods: Sentimental, Bittersweet, Mellow, Reflective, Ethereal, Flowing, Dreamy, Passionate, Sad

Musical Qualities: Soft, Slow, Lush, Lyrical, Polished, Dynamic

Instrumentation: Synthesizers, Electric Guitar, Drums, Trumpet, Upright Bass, Fender Rhodes, Organ, Cello, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone

Sunburned Hand of the Man – Wedlock

Style: Free Psych, Free Folk, Sound Collage, Experimental, Jam Band

Moods: Celebratory, Communal, Joyful, Earthy, Exploratory, Ritualistic, Playful, Meandering, Uplifting, Sunny, Whimsical, Psychedelic, Spontaneous, Tribal

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Lo-Fi, Collage, Field Recordings, Spoken Word, Jams, Acoustic, Raw

Bert Jansch – A Rare Conundrum

Style: British Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk, Celtic Folk

Moods: Morning, Tender, Bright, Reflective, Mellow, Romantic, Breezy, Spring

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Drums, Electric Bass, Mandolin, Drums, Percussion, Banjo, Harmonica

Jack Rose – Raag Manifestos

Style: Free Folk, Appalachian Raga, Piedmont Blues

Feelings: Searching, Tangled, Spiritual, Sombre, Intense, Thorny, Introspective, Cathartic, Meditative, Nature, Ominous, Mysterious, Focused, Complex, Hallucinogenic, Forest, Epic, Visceral, Jagged

Musical Qualities: Raga, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Modal, Droney, Technical, Dissonance

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Flags of the Sacred Harp

Style: Free-Folk, Weird Americana

Moods: Weary, Melancholy, Pastoral, Communal, Tender, Meandering, Bittersweet, Hopeful, Rustic, Haunting, Murky, Rainy, Sombre, Rootsy

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Vocal Harmonies, Droney, Thematic, Loose

Samara Lubelski – The Fleeting Skies

Styles: Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Folk, Math-Pop

Moods: Breezy, Flowing, Intertwined, Morning, Warm, Dreamy, Sunny, Spring, Bright, Colorful, Forest, Soothing

Musical Qualities: Soft, Lush, Melodic, Catchy, Loose, Fingerstyle

Instrumentation: Electric Guitar, Violin, Flute, Drums, Bass, Piano, Recorder

Amon Düül – Paradieswärts Düül

Style: Free Folk, Acid Folk, Kosmische Folk

Moods: Communal, Earthy, Hypnotic, Ritualistic, Intertwined, Brooding, Conscious, Mellow, Psychedelic, Raw, Stoned, Utopian, Warm

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Jams, Repetitive, Loose, Percussive, Progressive, Improvisation

John Prine – John Prine

Style: Singer-Songwriter, Country, Americana

Moods: Playful, Sunny, Humorous, Political, Rustic, Storytelling, Rebellious, Conscious, Loner, Twangy

Angel Bat David – The Oracle

Style: Organic Beat Music, Bedroom Gospel, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Heartfelt, Raw, Sombre, Spiritual, Flowing, Passionate, Mournful, Mysterious, Haunting, Cathartic, Eclectic

Musical Qualities: Home Recording, Collage, Beats, Improvisation, Solo, Loose, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Lo-fi

Instrumentation: Clarinet, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Drums

Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Synth Pop, Trip-Hop

Moods: Bittersweet, Sentimental, Warm, Romantic

Musical Qualities: Catchy, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Polished Production

John Prine – Sweet Revenge

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Country-Rock

Moods: Bittersweet, Humorous, Storytelling, Twangy, Sunny, Road Trip, Playful, Poetic, Warm, Sentimental, Twangy

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lyrical, Background Gospel Singers, Vocal Harmonies, Melodic

Big Thief – UFOF

Style: Folk Pop, Dream-Folk, Progressive Pop, Slowcore

Vibe: Spring, Warm, Intertwined, Ethereal, Introspective, Cryptic, Poetic, Misty, Gentle, Soothing, Bittersweet

Musical Qualities: Lush, Polished, Melodic, Progressive

Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio – Love is the Answer

Produced by Carlos Niño & Dexter Story; featuring production from Ras G, Sa-ra, Madlib, J Dilla, Daedelus, Georgia Anne Muldrow, etc…

Styles: Acid Jazz, Organic Beat Music, Jazz-Funk, Spiritual Jazz, Trip-Hop, Vocal Jazz

Moods: Devotional, Uplifting, Spiritual, Communal, Sunny, Warm, Passionate, Groovy, Triumphant, Conscious

Musical Qualities: Beats, Collage, Rhythmic, Eclectic

P.G. Six – Starry Mind

Style: Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Acid Folk, Americana

Moods: Reflective, Spring, Tender, Sunny, Warm, Breezy, Romantic, Intimate, Rustic, Bright, Contemplative, Fantasy, Introspective, Poetic, Retro, Uplifting, Mellow

Daevid Allen – Banana Moon

Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Soul-Influenced

Moods: Playful, Eclectic, Eccentric, Whimsical, Mystical, Surreal, Cosmic, Theatric, Psychedelic, Energetic, Joyful, Hippie

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Catchy, Background Singers, Riffs

The Futuristic Folk of The Tower Recordings [Vol. 1 & 2]

These ceremonial meanderings are the interrupted transmissions of campfire songs picked up by intergalactic satellites. Past and future collapse as old-timey banjo melodies fade into squiggly synthesizers and lo-fi electronics. Distant harmonicas sink behind thick fogs of ghostly whirring, while warped slide guitar, drone fiddle and echo percussion bubble through the folky primordial soup

Isotope 217° – Utonian_Automatic

Rob Mazurek, Dan Bitney, Jeff Parker, John Herndon & Matt Lux

Style: Cyber-Jazz, Future Dub, Jazz Fission, Abstract Groove, Post-Rock

Moods: Futuristic, Playful, Spacey, Driving, Mechanical, Abstract, Groovy, Surreal, Suspenseful

Instrumentation: Cornet, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Electric Bass

Pearls Before Swine – One Nation Underground

Style: Acid Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Chamber-Folk

Moods: Surreal, Philosophical, Pacifist, Eclectic, Medieval, Cryptic, Melancholy, Spring, Morning, Conscious, Moody, Whimsical, Protest, Political, Psychedelic, Acerbic

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Harpsichord, Organ, Autoharp, Banjo, Mandolin, Vibraphone, Audio Oscillator, Electric Bass, English Horn, Clavioline, Sarangi, Finger Cymbals, Swinehorn

Bill Callahan – YTILAER

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Moods: Contemplative, Existential, Nature, Poetic Lush, Pastoral, Warm, Peaceful, Romantic

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Drums, Electric Bass, Contra Alto Clarinet, Trumpet, Synthesizers

Seven Rivers of Fire – Way of the Pilgrim

“Way of the Pilgrim” unfolds as a 4-movement suite of dark acoustic summoning rituals, spiritually connected to a mystical lineage of wyrd-folk practitioners through the ages. That strangely familiar feeling of being lost in the woods, of venturing into the archetypal unknown, pervades the atmosphere right from the opening… [Click for full review]

Recommended if you dig Six Organs of Admittance, Fursaxa, Robbie Basho, Third Ear Band

Scalpy Gonzales – Razzle Dazzlism

Style: Noise Folk, Free Pop, Experimental

Moods: Eccentric, Playful, Expressive, Primal, Somatic, Jittery, Ecstatic, Joyful, Erotic, Spontaneous, Raw

Musical Qualities: Dissonant, Catchy, Electro-acoustic, Fuzzy, Noisy, Home Recording, Loose

Instrumentation: Banjo, Drums, Vocals, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar

Bert Jansch – Jack Orion

Style: Folk Baroque, English & Scottish Folk Music

Moods: Medieval, Romantic, Storytelling, Rural, Intimate, Morning, Rootsy, Melancholy, Passionate, Mellow

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Fingerstyle, Technical

Horse Lords – Comradely Objects

Style: Experimental Rock, Totalism, Math Rock

Influences: Tishoumaren, Krautrock, Free Jazz

Moods: Triumphant, De-Hypnotizing, Propulsive, Knotty, Angular, Kinetic, Energetic, Dancey, Embodied, Tangled, Communist, Chaotic

Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Complex, Dense, Just Intonation, Instrumental, Uncommon Time Signatures, Microtonal, Dissonant, Polyphonic, Technical, Repetitive, Drones

Feu Thérèse

LP, Constellation Records, 2006 Style: Experimental Rock, Noise Rock, Post-Rock Moods: Motorik, Visceral, Sureal, Playful, Energetic, Driving, Angular Musical Qualities:…

J.J. Cale – Troubadour

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Roots Rock, Americana

Moods: Confident, Sunny, Smooth, Warm, Carefree, Romantic, Sexual, Relaxed, Bluesy, Rootsy

Musical Qualities: Melodic, Groovy, Polished, Tight

John Abercrombie – Timeless

Personnel: John Abercrombie – Electric & Acoustic Guitars; Jack DeJohnette – Drums; Jan Hammer – Organ, Synthesizer, Piano

Style: Jazz Fusion

Vibe: Epic, Triumphant, Spacey, Bombastic, Pastoral (A2, B2, B3), Energetic

Musical Qualities: Shred, Rhythmic, Instrumental, Groovy, Progressive, Technical, Improvisation, Complex, Dynamic

Rob Mazurek – Alternate Moon Cycles

Style: Ambient Jazz, Minimalism, Drone

Moods: Peaceful, Meditative, Elegant, Patient, Soothing, Nocturnal, Focused, Ritualistic

Musical Qualities: Slow, Sparse, Minimalistic, Lo-fi, Thematic, Improvisation, Live

Harold Land – A New Shade of Blue

Personnel & Instrumentation:
Harold Land, Tenor Saxophone; Bobby Hutcherson, Vibes; Buster Williams, Upright Bass; Bill Henderson, Piano & Electric Piano; Billy Hart, Drums; Mtume, Conga

Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On

Style: Smooth Soul

Moods: Sexual, Passionate, Nocturnal, Sensual, Mellow, Smooth, Romantic, Warm, Sentimental

Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Vocal Harmonies, Polished Production

Om – Live

Style: Spiritual Metal, Stoner Rock, Mantra Drone, Heavy Psych

Moods: Meditative, Epic, Spiritual, Sombre, Stoned

Musical Qualities: Live, Slow, Heavy, Riffs, Chants, Repetitive, Dynamic

Holy Sons – Criminal’s Return

Style: Lo-fi Songwriter, Loner Folk, Bedroom-Psych

Vibe: Brooding, Alienated, Shadowy, Philosophical, Outsider, Misanthropic, Nocturnal, Hallucinogenic, Existential, Seeking

Musical Qualities: Studio-as-an-Instrument, Lo-Fi, Lyric-Driven, Atmospheric

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.