Rex – C
Style: Country-Slowcore, Grunge-Influenced
Vibes: Autumnal, Moody, Intertwined, Reflective, Passionate, Twangy, Contemplative, Rural, Drifter
Musical Qualities: Riffs, Dynamic, Lush, Slow, Vocal Harmonies, Climactic
Chicago
Famoudou Don Moye – Sun Percussion
Style: Great Black Music, Free Improvisation, Solo Percussion
Vibes: Ritualistic, Sunny, Colorful, Hypnotic, Spiritual, Passionate, Tribal
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Acoustic, Improvisation, Polyrhythmic, Sparse, Atmospheric
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Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble – III
Style: American Primitivism, Post-Minimalism, Ambient Americana
Vibes: Contemplative, Nature, Pastoral, Sombre, Focused, Hypnotic, Rootsy, Aquatic, Meditative
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Bird Show Band
Ben Vida (Moog Voyager); Josh Abrams (Upright Bass); John Herndon (Drums); Dan Bitney (Drums); Jim Baker (Arp 2600)
Style: Future Jazz, Progressive Electronic, Electro-Jazz, Post-Rock
Moods: Spacey, Exploratory, Suspenseful, Abstract, Playful, Responsive, Knotty, Mysterious, Futuristic, Spontaneous, Hypnotic
ONO – Red Summer
Styles: Industrial-Gospel, Dub Poetry, No Wave, Experimental
Moods: Visceral, Dystopian, Disturbing, Haunting, Surreal, Aggressive, Mechanical, Heavy, Deconstructed, Vulgar, Cerebral, Conscious, Dark, Ominous, Shadow
Themes: Racism, History, Philosophy, Sex
Musical Qualities: Noisy, Spoken Word, Dub, Sampling, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Dissonant
Art Ensemble of Chicago – Nice Guys
Styles: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz
Moods: Communal, Colorful, Eclectic, Ritualistic, Uplifting, Playful, Suspenseful, Mysterious, Abstract, Noir, Open
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Acoustic, Dynamic, Sparse
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Brother Malachi Favors Magoustous – Natural & Spiritual
Style: Spiritual Jazz, Modern Creative
Moods: Ritualistic, Spiritual, Devotional, Passionate, Mysterious
Musical Qualities: Solo Improvisation, Percussive, Acoustic, Sparse, Live, Lo-Fi
Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Percussion, Spoken Word
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The Art Ensemble of Chicago – We Are On the Edge
Style: Modern Creative, Chamber Jazz, Experimental Big Band, Great Black Music, Avant-Garde Classical
Vibe: Communal, Triumphant, Suspenseful, History, Eclectic, Colorful, Intricate, Ritualistic, Patient, Open, Complex, Theatric
Musical Qualities: Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic, Collective, Progressive Structures, Technical, Orchestral, Percussive, Reductionism, Suite, Polyphonic
Instrumentation: Trumpets, Upright Bass, Spoken Word, Operatic Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Saxophone, Cello, Violin, Viola
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Chicago Underground Duo – Locus
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
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Sam Prekop – Sam Prekop
Featuring Jim O’Rourke, Josh Abrams, Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, John McEntire, Julie Pomerleau, & Archer Prewitt
Style: Chamber Pop, Jazz Pop, Lounge Music
Influences: Bossa Nova, Math Rock, Post-Rock
Vibe: Gentle, Breezy, Intricate, Summer, Intertwined, Mellow, Bright, Smooth
Musical Qualities: Lush, Soft, Polished, Melodic
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Curtis Mayfield – Sweet Exorcist
Style: Chicago Soul, Funk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Conscious, Groovy, Warm, Triumphant, Romantic
Musical Qualities: Lush, Rhythmic, Melodic
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Angel Bad Dawid – Transition East
Style: Organic Beat Music, Spiritual Jazz, Cosmic Folk
Vibe: Intertwined, Hypnotic, Earthy, Warm, Spiritual, Cosmic
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Acoustic, Improvisation, Electro-Acoustic, Beats
Instrumentation: Clarinet, Keyboards, Piano, Drum Machine, Percussion, Cornet, Upright Bass, Pocket Trumpet
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Ben Lamar Gay – Open Arms to Open Us
Style: Creative Music, Future Jazz, Organic Beat Music, Pan-Americana, Art Pop
Vibe: Romantic, Sci-Fi, Determined, Triumphant, Colorful, Eclectic, Communal, Futuristic, Groovy, Rootsy, Spiritual, Warm
Musical Qualities: Thematic, Polyphonic, Percussive, Polyrythmic, Percussive, Improvisation, Electro-Acoustic, Progressive
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Pullman – Turnstyles & Junkpiles
LP, Thrill Jockey, 1998 Reissue (2015) Style: Chamber Folk Vibe: Pastoral, Peaceful, Warm, Focused, Morning, Intertwined Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Melodic Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitars, Acoustic Bass, Classical Guitar, Irish Bazouki, and Dobro
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Wadada Leo Smith – Spirit Catcher
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Chamber Jazz, Modern Creative Music
Vibe: Intertwined, Open, Patient, Flowing, Noir, Suspenseful, Spiritual, Communal, Abstract
Musical Qualities: Poly-Free Improvisation, Polyphonic, Acoustic, Complex, Instrumental, Dynamic
Instrumentation: Trumpet (muted), Harp, Vibraphone, Upright Bass, Clarinet, Trombone, Wooden Flute, Drums, Saxophone, Flugelhorn
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Mind Maintenance – Mind Maintenance
Joshua Abrams – Guimbri
Chad Taylor – Mbira
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Repetitive, Sparse, Acoustic, Minimalist
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Muhal Richard Abrams – Colors in Thirty-Third
Style: Creative Music, Chamber Jazz, Free Jazz, Post-Bop
Vibe: Colorful, Sentimental, Impressionistic, Eclectic, Energetic, Introspective
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Dynamic, Poly-free Improvisation, Complex, Spacious
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Jason Molina – Eight Gates
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Slowcore
Vibe: Lament, Depressive, Intimate, Lonely, Rustic, Mournful, Dark
Musical Qualities: Sparse, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Voice, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Organ, Cello
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Revolutionary Ensemble
Style: Free Jazz, Creative Music
Vibe: Ritualistic, Loose, Cathartic, Complex
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Active Listening, Instrumental, Dynamic, Live
Instrumentation: Violin, Upright Bass, Drums
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Josh Abrams & Natural Information Society – Representing
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
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Luke Stewart – Exposure Quintet
with Ken Vandermark, Jim Baker, Avreeayl Ra & Edward L. Wilkerson, Jr.
Style: Free Jazz
Vibes: Powerful, Ritualistic, Abstract, Communal, Responsive, Mysterious, Spiritual, Suspenseful, Adventurous
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Complex, Collective Improvisation, Thematic, Live, Ostinato
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Damon Locks’ Black Monument Ensemble
Style: Creative Music, Black Liberation Music, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Communal, Triumphant, Conscious, Earthy, Futuristic, Passionate, Political, Rebellious, Theatric
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Spoken Word, Suite, Percussive, Progressive, Live, Group Vocals
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Chicago Underground Quartet – Good Days
Style: Creative Music, Electro-Jazz, Fusion
Vibe: Warm, Colorful, Eclectic, Uplifting
Musical Attributes: Improvisation (Thematic), Melodic, Instrumental, Technical, Percussive
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Art Ensemble of Chicago – Full Force
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Communal, Exploratory, Rootsy
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic
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Loose Fur – Loose Fur
Released in 2003 on Drag City Recorded in 2000 Format: LP
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Curtis Mayfield – Superfly (Original Soundtrack)
Released in 1972 on Curtom/Buddha Records Format: LP
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Curtis Mayfield – Roots
Released in 1971 on Curtom Records Format: LP
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Makaya McCraven – Universal Beings
Released in 2018 on International Anthem Recording Co. Format: LPx2
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Tortoise – Tortoise
Originally released in 1994 on Thrill Jockey Records 2016 reissue Recorded November 29 thru December 5, 1993
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Aerial M – Aerial M
Released in 1997 on Drag City Records Format: LP
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Helen Money – Arriving Angels
Released in 2013 on Corpse Flower Records Format: LP, Orange Vinyl Limited to 300 copies, 215/300
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Crown Larks – Blood Dancer
Released in 2015 on Space Lung/Land Breathing Records Format: LP
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Lester Bowie – Numbers 1&2
Released in 1968 on Nessa Records Recorded on August 11th & 25th, 1967 Format: LP
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Curtis Mayfield – Curtis
Released in 1970 on Curtom Records (distributed by Buddha Records) Format: LP
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Tortoise – The Catastrophist
Released in 2016 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
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Jim O’Rourke – Insignificance
After a prolific career as a noise/improvisational/experimental guitarist and a few forays into folk and chamber pop, Jim O’Rourke surprised his audience with an album closer to straightforward rock than his audience could have ever expected of him. Yet underneath it’s catchy, cheery, and polished exterior, his lyrics are full of humorously bitter resentment. Like his debut singer/songwriter album Eureka, Insignificance is full of the meticulous and lush arrangements that Jim would become known for.
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Crown Larks – Populations
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.
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Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Magnetoception
Meditative jazz explorations of space, rhythm and textures inspired by Miles Davis’ ambient jazz pieces, Gnawa ceremonial music of North Africa, the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and Don Cherry, and the mutating minimalism of Steve Reich.
Click for full review
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Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
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
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Jim O’Rourke – Bad Timing
An introspective, instrumental journey of pastoral fingerstyle guitar, occasionally joined by piano, synth and horn arrangements
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