Style: Art Rock, Progressive Pop, Post-Punk
Influences: Krautrock, No Wave, Afrobeat, Funk
Vibe: Driving, Muscular, Motorik, Mechanical, Hypnotic, Cathartic, Primal, Epic, Messy
Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Repetitive, Noisy, Progressive
Sonic research and explorations from the outer groove
Style: Art Rock, Progressive Pop, Post-Punk
Influences: Krautrock, No Wave, Afrobeat, Funk
Vibe: Driving, Muscular, Motorik, Mechanical, Hypnotic, Cathartic, Primal, Epic, Messy
Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Repetitive, Noisy, Progressive
Style: Cyber-Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Future Jazz
Influences: IDM, Afrobeat, Free Jazz
Vibe: Futuristic, Mechanical, Driving, Energetic, Suspenseful, Cinematic, Eclectic, Abstract, Spacey
Musical Methods: Thematic Improvisation, Electro-Acoustic, Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Instrumental, Studio-as-an-Instrument,
Instrumentation: Cornet, Drums, Mbira, Synthesizers, Game Boy, Guitar, Balaphone, Electronics, Bamboo Flute
Style: Psych-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Spiritual Jazz, Afrobeat
Vibe: Sunny, Mysterious, Triumphant, Groovy, Serpentine, Psychedelic, Warm, Spiritual, Ancient, Cosmic, Eclectic, Energetic, Mystical, Retro-Futuristic
Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Percussive, Thematic, Polyphonic, Suite
Style: Afro-Jazz, Post-Bop
Vibe: Warm, Communal, Groovy, Spiritual, Sunny, Dance
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Improvisation, Melodic
Style: Chanson, Chamber Jazz, Avant-Folk
Vibe: Serpentine, Nocturnal, Mysterious, Ominous, Storytelling, Suspenseful, Open, Beguiling
Musical Qualities: Spoken Word, Collective Improvisation, Thematic, Percussive
Instrumentation: Duet Vocals, Muted Trumpet, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Shenai, Oboe, Flute, Percussion, Drums, Upright Bass, Lute
Style: World Fusion, Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Folk
Influences: Raga, Brazilian Folk, Minimalism, Turkish Folk, African Music
Vibe: Utopian, Communal, Spiritual, Warm, Hindu, Hypnotic, Colorful, Meditative, Sunny, Uplifting, Peaceful
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Percussive, Acoustic, Polyrhythmic
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Afro-Jazz, Experimental Big Band
Influences: Ghanaian Music & other West African Music, Hindustani & Carnatic Music, Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Ritualistic, Communal, Hypnotic, Intertwined, Spiritual
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Improvisation, Repetitive, Percussive, Polyphonic, Acoustic
Joshua Abrams – Guimbri
Chad Taylor – Mbira
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Repetitive, Sparse, Acoustic, Minimalist
Style: Experimental Rock, Totalism, Math Rock, Tishoumaren-Influenced
Vibe: Anxious, Complex, Energetic, Exploratory, Hypnotic, Disorienting
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Microtonal, Odd Time Signatures, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Repetitive, Minimalistic, Technical, Drones, Glitchy, Dissonant
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
Style: Organic Beat Music, Spiritual Jazz, Cybernetic Jazz, Progressive Jazz
Vibe: Ritualistic, Triumphant, Poetic, Tribal, Afro-Futurism, Epic, Moody, Earthy
Musical Qualities: Beats, Structured Improvisation, Polyrhythmic, Progressive, Percussive
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Ecstatic Post-Minimalism, Psychedelic Trance Music, Gnawa-Influenced
Vibe: Hypnotic, Meditative, Psychedelic, Ecstatic, Spiritual, Cathartic, Mosaic,
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Live, Minimalistic, Acoustic, Instrumental, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Repetitive
Instrumentation: Guimbri, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Harmonium, Drums
Style: Psychedelic Jazz, Jam Band, Post-Minimalism, Free Rock
Influences: Tishoumaren, Free Jazz, Kosmische Musik, Minimalism
Vibe: Hypnotic, Communal, Psychedelic, Earthy
Musical Attributes: Collective Thematic Improvisation, Live, Loose, Microtonal, Odd Time Signatures, Repetitive, Percussive
Style: Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Joyful, Passionate, Spiritual, Uplifting, Warm, Love, Colorful, Communal, Cosmic, Earthy, Energetic, Groovy
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Chants, Africa-Influenced, India-Influenced, Improvisation, Polyrhythmic, Percussive
Style: Psychedelic Trance Music, Avant-Jazz, Creative Music, Post-Minimalism
Influences: Gnawa, Spiritual Jazz, Raga, Kosmische Musik
Vibe: Earthy, Hypnotic, Meditative, Cosmic, Psychedelic, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Tribal
Musical Attributes: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Minimalistic, Improvisation, Percussive, Instrumental
Style: Psychedelic Jazz, Creative Music, Post-Minimalism
Influences: Gnawa, Kosmische Music, Spiritual Jazz, Minimalism
Vibe: Earthy, Hypnotic, Exploratory, Mysterious, Ritualistic, Psychedelic
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Minimalistic, Percussive, Polyrhythmic
The Common Task is an incessant barrage of jolting polyrhythms that simultaneously hypnotize and disorient.
Style: Experimental Rock, Math Rock, Post-Rock, Totalism
Vibe: Hypnotic, Surreal, Triumphant, Complex, Political
Musical Attributes: Microtonal, Polyrhythmic, Repetitive, Odd Time Signatures, Saharan Africa-Influenced, Technical, Instrumental
Style: Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Communal, Earthy, Energetic, Hypnotic, Intense, Loose, Mystical, Passionate, Spiritual, Tribal, Uplifting, Warm, Dance
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Complex, Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Dense, Thematic, Suite
These communal sound rituals express a digital-era longing to reconnect to the Earth. The grooves here are circular and ceremonial, not rooted to any specific musical traditions but borrowing from many, including cosmic jazz, kosmische musik and undoubtedly inspired by Holden’s collaboration with legendary Gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania. Drums and percussion ground the proceedings while muscular sequencer and fiery saxophone arpeggiations hypnotically intertwine. The sounds of fluttering recorder and modular synthesizer swirl through the air like offerings to the cosmos.
Recommended for fans of The Comet is Coming, Tonto’s Exploding Head Band, Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sander’s Trance of Seven Colors, Natural Information Society, Colin Stetson
Released in 1961 on Impulse! Records Red Ring 70s Reissue Format: LP Style: Modal Jazz, Post-Bop Musical Attributes: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Melodic, … More