1975

The Revolutionary Ensemble – The People’s Republic

Personnel:
Leroy Jenkins
Sirone
Jerome Cooper

Style: Creative Music, Free Jazz, Avant-Garde Chamber Jazz

Moods: Intertwined, Sombre, Ritualistic, Exploratory, Urban, Contemplative, Impressionistic, Colorful, Political, Open, Free, Abstract

Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Zuma

Style: Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter

Moods: Sentimental, Break-Up, Bittersweet, Rebellious, Introspective, Messy, Passionate, Ragged, Melancholy

Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Loose, Raw, Simple

Richard & Linda Thompson – Pour Down Like Silver

Style: British Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Autumnal, Bittersweet, Energetic, Sentimental, Heartfelt, Storytelling, Romantic, Warm

Musical Qualities: Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Melodic

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Accordion, Fiddle, Flute, Shakuhachi, Trumpet

Norman Blake – Old and New

Style: Progressive Bluegrass, Folk, Americana

Moods: Rural, Rootsy, Sunny, Bittersweet, Energetic, Joyful, Storytelling, Summer, Warm

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Cello, Banjo, Dobro

Robert Wyatt – Ruth is Stranger Than Richard

Style: Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock, Progressive Pop

Moods: Surreal, Playful, Warm, Cryptic, Bittersweet, Eccentric, Imaginative, Meandering, Bright

Musical Qualities: Suite, Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Progressive, Experimental Vocals

Instrumentation: Piano, Trumpet, Vocals, Electric Bass, Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Drums

Emmylou Harris – Pieces of the Sky

Style: Country, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Autumnal, Heartbreak, Longing, Sentimental, Tender, Rustic, Bittersweet, Introspective, Warm

Musical Qualities: Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Soft, Melodic

Klaus Schulze – Timewind

Style: Kosmische Musik, Berlin School, Space Ambient, Progressive Electronic

Moods: Spacey, Desolate, Meditative, Exploratory, Suspenseful, Cosmic, Hypnotic, Cinematic

Musical Qualities: Slow, Thematic, Atmospheric, Progressive, Instrumental

Collin Walcott – Cloud Dance

Featuring Collin Walcott – Sitar, Tabla; Jack DeJohnette – Drums; Dave Holland – Upright Bass; John Abercrombie – Guitars

Alan Braufman – Live in New York City, February 8, 1975

Style: Spiritual Jazz

Vibe: Communal, Ritualistic, Triumphant, Adventure, Searching, Devotional, Spiritual, Hypnotic, Epic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Acoustic Instrumentation, Progressive Structures, Thematic, Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Dense, Complex, Suite, Live Recording, Chant

Julius Hemphill – ‘Coon Bid’ness

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative

Vibe: Suspenseful, Mysterious, Hypnotic, Intertwined, Open, Abstract, Bluesy (Side B)

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Polyphonic, Thematic, Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Rhythmic, Acoustic, Instrumental

Frank Lowe – Fresh

2 Thelonious Monk compositions & 3 originals, featuring Joseph & Lester Bowie, Charles Bobo Shaw, & Abdul Wadud (Cello)

Style: Post-Bop, Free Jazz, Jazz Fusion (B2)

Vibe: Energetic, Spontaneous, Playful, Passionate, Groovy

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Dynamic, Rhythmic

Can – Live in Stuttgart 1975

Style: Free Rock, Inner Space Music, Krautrock, Kosmsiche

Vibe: Adventurous, Epic, Exploratory, Mysterious, Hypnotic, Groovy, Psychedelic, Nocturnal, Meditative

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Repetitive, Live, Rhythmic, Atmospheric

Steve Hillage – Fish Rising

Style: Prog-Pop, Canterbury Scene, Space Rock, Jazz-Rock

Vibe: Playful, Aquatic, Mystical, Adventure, Spacey, Hypnotic, Sunny, Energetic, Triumphant, Colorful, Conceptual

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Groovy, Technical, Polyphonic, Suite, Melodic, Riffs, Atmospheric, Jams

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson

Style: Jazz-Funk, Soul Jazz

Vibe: Conscious, Empathetic, Passionate, Groovy, Liberation, Political, Energetic, Warm, Bittersweet, Sunny

Musical Qualities: Percussive, Lush, Polished, Rhythmic, Lyrical, Improvised Sections

Sonny & Linda Sharrock – Paradise

Style: Avant Jazz-Funk, Abstract Groove

Vibe: Eccentric, Energetic, Groovy, Angular, Sunny, Triumphant

Musical Attributes: Dissonant, Experimental Vocals, Improvisation, Rhythmic, Polished Production

Harmonia – Deluxe

Style: Kosmische Musik, Progressive Electronic

Vibe: Spacey, Motorik, Warm, Dreamy, Ethereal, Focused, Futuristic, Pastoral

Musical Attributes: Melodic, Atmospheric, Repetitive, Polished

Mike Oldfield – Ommadawn

Style: Celtic New Age, Symphonic Prog

Vibe: Ethereal, Medieval, Spring, Mellow, Meditative, Rainy, Soothing, Cinematic, Eclectic, Epic, Pastoral

Musical Qualities: Suite, Orchestral, Lush, Atmospheric, Progressive, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: harp, electric guitar, acoustic bass, electric bass, bagpipe, uilleann pipes, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar, mandolin, bodhran, bouzouki, banjo, spinet, piano, Organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, choral vocals, brass, tympani, drums, percussion

Anthony Braxton – Five Pieces 1975

Released in 1975 on Arista Records Format: LP Syle:  Avant-Garde Jazz Vibe: Cerebral, Complex, Exploratory, Impressionistic Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Innovative, Melodic, Technical Personell: Anthony Braxton (Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute), Kenny Wheeler (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Dave Holland (Upright Bass), Barry Altschul (Drums)

John Fahey & His Orchestra – Old Fashioned Love

Another interesting one from Fahey, side A consists of some amazingly intricate guitar duets with Woodrow Mann, including my favorite Fahey song “Jaya Shiva Shankarah”. Side B takes a strange turn though…halfway through the title track a 10-piece dixieland band kicks for a few tracks of New Orleans-style jazz. The album closes in a more familiar place with a contemplative solo piece that most Fahey fans would dig.

Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti

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