While some of their earlier music explored the empty vastness of space, the music on Phaedra seem to discover a swampy alien planet, Pulsing sequencers, dramatic mellotrons, airy flutes, and sweeping synthesizers are drenched in strange echoes and reverbs to create suspenseful alien soundscapes.
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra Read More »
The German upright bassist and composer is joined by a jazz quartet, cello ensemble, and choir for a colorfully complex album of atmospheric improvisation, progressive structures, and sweeping orchestral arrangements, with occasional segments of groovy fusion or synthesizer spaciness, all draped in the warm, reverbed production ECM albums are known for.
Eberhard Weber – The Colours of Chloë Read More »
No Other is a masterpiece of Cosmic Americana from Gene Clark (Ex-Byrds). Here his amazing songwriting is complemented by lush instrumentation, psychedelic production, and grandiose choir arrangements.
Gene Clark – No Other Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Folk Baroque, Country-Influenced
Vibes: Laid Back, Morning, Sunny, Peaceful, Pastoral, Loner
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Pedal Steel, Fiddle, Mandolin, Piano, Electric Bass, Drums
Bert Jansch – L.A. Turnaround Read More »
Released in 1973 on Blue Thumb Records Format: LP, Quadrophonic Pressing
Sun Ra – Space is the Place Read More »
Released in 1999 on These Records Originally recorded for BBC in 1977
This Heat – Made Available: John Peel Sessions Read More »
Spacious, Raga-inflected improvisations from Collin Walcott, Don Cherry, and Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Walcott has studied sitar directly under Ravi Shankar, and tabla under Alla Rakha, while trumpeter and flutist Don Cherry, after playing regularly with Ornette Coleman, has proceeded to travel around the world to study various musical traditions. Their wide influences come together organically to create meditative and exploratory music. A melodic and atmospheric fusion of airy flutes, watery sitar, hypnotic hammered dulcimer arpeggiations, driving webs of percussion, and bassy throat singing.
Collin Walcott/Don Cherry/Nana Vasconcelos – Codona Read More »
Released in 1975 on Casablanca Records Format: LP
Parliament – Mothership Connection Read More »
Released in 1974 on Virgin Records Original U.S. Pressing, Promo Copy
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom [Promo] Read More »
Released in 2012 by Numero Group Recorded in 1976 Format: LP Overview Originally recorded in 1976, this psychedelic latin-jazz masterpiece never got a proper release due to both a lack of interest from record labels and Lovo’s family having to flee from Nicaragua in fear of the mass executions committed by the Sandinista government. Thanks
Alfonso Lovo – La Gigantona Read More »
Originally released in 1974 on Reprise Records 1978 Israel Pressing Format: LP
Neil Young – On the Beach Read More »
Information: Released in 1974 on Milestone Recorded on July 7, 1973
McCoy Tyner – Enlightenment Read More »
This fantastic compilation album consists of 2 hours of unreleased recording sessions ranging from 1970 to 1974. Despite some incohesiveness, this release contains some of the most exciting, creative and uncategorizable music of Miles’ career.
Miles Davis – Get Up With It Read More »
I highly recommend this album to fans of the innovative and exploratory period of jazz fusion of the early 70’s, where electric instrumentation, funk rhythms, experimental production techniques, and spacey synthesizers met the improvisation, freedom, and uplifting soul of the spiritual jazz of the 60’s. Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi trilogy, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, Weather Report’s first LP are good touchstones, but this album truly offers something unique.
Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto – Love, Love Read More »
A hypnotic, meditative minimalist classic whose influence can be traced throughout several threads of modern music.
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians Read More »
Information: Originally released in 1971 This deluxe pressing was released in 2013 on Klimt Records Format: LPx2 (second LP contains bonus tracks)
Caravan – In the Land of Grey and Pink [Deluxe Edition] Read More »
Information: Released in 1978 on PVC Records Format: LP
Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports Read More »
A psychedelic synth odyssey created with only an expanded Series III Moog by Robert Margouleff and synth-guru Malcolm Cecil (who programmer synths on legendary albums by Stevie Wonder and Gil-Scott Heron in addition to his ambient solo work). The intricately layered results here feel like a synthetic wilderness, with a wide variety of colors and textures that sound warm, organic, and natural despite their electronic origins.
Tonto’s Expanding Head Band – Zero Time [Alternate Cover] Read More »
“What I’m asking you to do is take some risks. Stop paying war taxes, refuse the armed forces, organize against the air war, support the strikes and boycotts of farmers, workers and poor people, analyze the flag salute, give up the nation state, share your money, refuse to hate, be willing to work…in short, sisters and brothers, arm up with love and come from the shadows”
Joan Baez – Come From the Shadows Read More »
Five intuitive and melodic duets performed by two longtime musical soulmates. Charlie Haden plays upright bass and Ornette plays tenor saxophone and trumpet on the last track.
Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden – Soapsuds, Soapsuds Read More »
British singer-songwriter John Martyn fuses folk, jazz, and psychedelic experimentation to create an album that is both eclectic and cohesive, tied together by his flowing voice and virtuosic acoustic guitar fingerpicking.
FFO Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Ryley Walker
John Martyn – Solid Air Read More »
Fuzzy riffs, driving rhythms, and spacey synths tear through the speakers like a blistering comet through the solar system.
For fans of Black Sabbath, Neu!, Jethro Tull
Hawkwind – Doremi Fasil Latido Read More »
This is what I imagine a black hole might sound like. “Zeit” translates to “Time”, yet time feels completely suspended here, filled instead with vast negative space in which burbling VCS 3 synthesizers, suspenseful organs, and a droning quartet of cellos float in and out. These four sidelong pieces erase all traces of rock or any kind of beat from Tangerine Dream’s sound, leaving ominous space-ambient music in its purest form.
Tangerine Dream – Zeit Read More »
Album Information: Originally released in 1970 on Atlantic Records 1974 Repress
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1972 on Reprise Records 2009 reissue, mastered from original analog tapes
Neil Young – Harvest Read More »
Style: Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Folk Rock
Moods: Confident, Mystical, Epic, Hedonistic, Passionate, Masculine, Triumphant, Eclectic
Musical Qualities: Riffs, Rhythmic, Progressive, Dense, Heavy, Dynamic
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti 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 »
Abstract fusion grooves, driving hard bop, and spacious modal jazz with horn overdubs and spacey synthesizers.
Joe Henderson – Black is the Color Read More »
Style: ECM-Jazz, Solo Guitar
Vibes: Ethereal, Mysterious, Airy, Mellow, Soothing, Contemplative, Suspenseful
John Abercrombie – Characters 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 »
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 »
Country-tinged love songs that feel like a continuation of Harvest
Neil Young – Comes a Time Read More »
Czech bassist Miroslav crafts some flashy jazz funk with Herbie Hancock, percussionist Airto Moreira, vocalists Cheryl Grainger & Onike, and rotating drummers James Gadson and Jack DeJohnette (Gadson for the funkier/disco oriented tracks and DeJohnette on the fewer more psychedelic cuts). Thanks to generous synth overdubbing by Miroslav and Herbie, each track is incredibly spacey and great for a headphone listen.
Miroslav Vitous – Magical Shepherd Read More »
Album Information: Released on Milestone Records in 1972
McCoy Tyner – Sahara 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 »
Jazz Fusion-inflected Folk Rock with poetic lyricism, ethereal atmospheres, spacey synths, and a lot of fretless bass.
Joni Mitchell – The Hissing of Summer Lawns Read More »
Style: Art Rock, Ambient (Side B)
Moods: Manic, Cryptic, Surreal, Alienation, Anxious, Abstract, Lonely, Futuristic
Musical Qualities: Studio-as-an-Instrument, Groovy, Atmospheric
Style: Soul, Singer/Songwriter
Moods: Conscious, Spiritual, Passionate, Uplifting, Bittersweet, Christian, Peaceful, Political, Sentimental, Warm
Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Lyrical, Suite, Melodic
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On Read More »
The debut LP from this unpretentious songwriters’ songwriter offers a quality collection of warm & uplifting songwriting with economic guitar genius and top-notch rootsy arrangements, featuring the heavenly, dreamy reflections of “Magnolia”.
J.J. Cale – Naturally Read More »
