Sonic explorations and research from the outer groove
Style: Free Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Triumphant, Energetic, Epic, Exploratory, Loose, Spiritual, Suspenseful, Angular, Chaotic
Musical Attributes: Polyphonic, Progressive, Complex, Dissonant, Dynamic, Technical, Acoustic, Improvisation (Collective, Thematic), Instrumental
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Spacey, Exploratory, Communal, Futuristic, Abstract, Chaotic, Complex, Eccentric, Eclectic, Cosmic, Improvisation
Style: Math Rock, Art Rock
Vibe: Angsty, Complex, Cryptic, Moody, Surreal,
Musical Attributes: Odd Time Signatures, Dissonant, Lyrical
An obscure release from the great creative label ESP-Disk, containing exploratory, mysterious and playful improvisations from The Sea Ensemble—the husband/wife duo of Zusaan Fasteau and Donald Rafael Garrett. While they are both trained musicians and multi-instrumentalists, an uninhibited childish spirit permeates this release, as can be seen in Donald’s crude but visionary cover drawing; Yet the recording also feels imbued with ancient wisdom, as heard in their primal and instinctive vocalizations throughout the album
The sludge oozing out of this record is so toxic that all traces of metal have nearly disintegrated, and the fumes cause nightmarish hallucinations to any who inhale.
Style: Free-Sludge, Avant-Metal, Free Improvisation
Vibe: Primal, Murky, Aggressive, Hallucinogenic, Cathartic, Complex
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Dissonant, Noisy, Progressive
Style: Free Improvisation, Post-Minimalism, Trance Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Suspenseful, Hypnotic, Epic, Anxious, Impressionistic
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Repetitive, Droney, Dissonant, Electro-Acoustic, Collective Improvisation, Minimalistic
Released in 1979 on Tomato Records Format: LP, Promo copy Style: Free Jazz Vibe: chaotic, complex, energetic, manic Musical Attributes: Polyphonic, Improvisation, … More
Style: Chamber Rock, Avant-Prog, Rock In Oppositon
Vibe: Anxious, Angular, Mysterious, Ominous, Dark, Dystopian
Musical Attributes: Instrumental, Complex, Dissonant
Instrumentation: Bassoon , Violin, Viola, Cello, Harmonium, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums
Style: Drone-Rock, Experimental Rock
Influences: Dark Ambient, Psych Rock, Kosmische, Noise, Drone-Metal
Vibe: Shadowy, Ominous, Brooding, Dark, Driving, Haunting, Hypnotic, Mysterious, Exploratory, Nocturnal, Hallucinogenic
Musical Attributes: Studio-as-an-instrument, Dissonant, Droney
Style: Drone-Rock, Dark Ambient. Experimental
Vibe: Suspenseful, Eerie, Atmospheric, Slow, Haunting, Dark, Psychedelic, Mysterious,
Musical Attributes: Dissonant, Repetitive, Sparse, Instrumental, Noisy
Musicians: Stephen O’Malley (Sun O)))), Atsuo (Boris), William Herzog, Michio Kurihara
Style: Free Improvisation
Influences: Spiritual Jazz, Noise, Free Jazz
Vibe: Spiritual, Ritualistic, Cathartic, Abstract
Recommended for fans of Albert Ayler, Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O’Malley
Style: Free Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Energetic, Passionate, Complex
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Dissonant, Poly-Free
Released in 1984 on Rift Records Format: LP
Originally released in 1981 on Rough Trade Modern Classics Reissue (2016) Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2
Album Information: Originally released in 1966 on Blue Note Records Recorded May 19, 1966 1973 Reissue Format: LP Personnel: Cecil … More
Originally released in 1965 on ESP Disk Recorded July 10, 1964 2000’s ESP pressing Format: LP
Released in 2017 on XL Recordings Format: LP Overview By introducing heartfelt vocals into her (often) harsh environments of contorted … More
There is a certain beauty just to being alive, and Ought make it their mission to find it through raw rock n’ roll that veers seamlessly between upbeat post-punk, meditative feedback drones, dramatic ballads, and cathartic guitar freak outs.
Recommended for fans of post-punk that blends the moodiness of Joy Division, Iceage, and Television with the experimentation and noisiness of This Heat and No Wave.
Released in 2016 on Don Giovanni Records Format: LP
Released in 1966 on Impulse Records Original Pressing Format: LP
Released in 1981 on Ralph records Format: LP
Style: Drone, Post-Rock, Experimental Rock, Tape Music Vibe/Moods: Murky, Exploratory, Hallucinogenic, Mysterious, Nature, Abstract Musical Attributes: Drones, Loops, Dissonant, Atonal, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Repetitive
Released in 1968 on JCOA Records Format: LPx2, includes 12″ booklet
Originally released in 2001 on Definitive Jux 2013 deluxe edition on iHipHop Distribution Format: LPx4, including instrumentals, white vinyl
This hypnotic, noisy, and improvisatory live album from Australian experimenter, collaborator, and improviser Oren Ambarchi features two separate performances of his epic composition “Knots”. (Click for full review)
Released in 2015 on Space Lung/Land Breathing Records Format: LP
Released in 1991 on Touch and Go Records 2000’s pressing Format: LP
Style: Avant-Folk, Free Folk, Psych Folk
Vibe: Forest, Witchy, Nocturnal, Ritualistic, Earthy, Raw, Nature
Musical Attributes: Dissonant, Droney, Lo-Fi
Originally released in 1980 on Piano Records 2016 Light in the Attic Repress Format: LP, 45rpm on side A, any … More
On their second LP, Henry Cow weaves together elements of eerie chamber music, free improvisation, and deconstructed prog to create something that seems like the missing link between the Canterbury jazz-rock of Soft Machine and Gong and the dissonant avant-rock of This Heat.
Released in 2007 on Eclipse Records Format: LP Includes 12″x24″ insert
Originally released in 1979 on Piano Records 2016 Modern Classics pressing on Light I’m the Attic Records Format: LP, includes … More
Released in 2017 on Black Truffle Records Recorded live on October 28, 2014 at SuperDeluxe Tokyo by Masahide Ando Format: … More
Released in 2018 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LPx2, Metallic Silver Vinyl
Released in 1999 on These Records Originally recorded for BBC in 1977
Anxious and dissonant proto-math rock composed and improvised by a trio of innovative, idiosyncratic, and influential musicians. Guitarist Fred Frith pulls new dimensions of sound out of his instrument, blending bizarrely textured riffs with dark, noisy atmospheres. Bassist Bill Laswell is one of the great musical collaborators in all of music, often bringing together innumerable amazing musicians from all genres to create unique sonic fusions. Here, Bill and drummer Fred Maher lay down some nasty, disjointed grooves that lock you in despite their angular, asymmetrical time signatures
Recorded live at Cafe Monmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 23, 1962 Released in 1976 on Arista Records
A couple of months before his death in 1967, John Coltrane went into the studio with drummer Rashied Ali to record some of the most free recordings he’s ever made, the freest of free jazz. Perhaps this freeness is due to the absence of other tonal instruments, leaving Coltrane untethered to harmony and 100% free to play whatever raw, unhindered creativity flows through him.
