Originally released in 1993 on Duophonic Records This pressing was released in 2012 on 1972 Records Format: LPx2
Tag: Hypnotic
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
Originally released in 2008 on Southern Lord 2014 Pressing Format: LPx2, Red Vinyl
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Bitchin Bajas – Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties
A far cry from the sparse folk usually recorded by Will Oldham, “Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties” finds his intimate voice and warbly acoustic guitar enveloped by the cosmic drones, blooming synths, airy flutes, and hypnotic tape loops of Chicago new age trio, Bitchin Bajas. The lyrics are essentially fortune cookie mantras and, while there’s a chance they’re tongue-in-cheek, it’s difficult not to smile and feel a brightening of the spirit when hearing uplifting phrases like “Your hard work is about to pay off, keep on keepin’ on” or “you and your whole family are well” get repeated over and over. This collaboration is a soothing, heartwarming listen and a refreshing change-of-pace from Oldham’s tendency towards melancholy and solemn lyrical content.
Earth – Angels is Darkness, Demons of Light II
“Recorded during the same session as last year’s sublime Angels of Darkness I, the followup sees Dylan Carlson’s Earth take their panoramic instrumentals, heavy on improvisation this time, into uncharted territories. As with so much of Carlson’s work, these five songs suggest a mournful last dance in the decrepit roadhouse of some faded midwest mining town. But its the little flourishes that make them truly majestic: the droning psyche-folk thrum of His Teeth Did Brightly Shine; the country twang and graceful melodies of A Multiplicity of Doors”…”
Fripp & Eno – Evening Star
Arve Henriksen – Towards Language
On Towards Language, Norweigan trumpeter Arve Henriksen creates a blend of meditative and suspenseful ambient-jazz, demonstrating a more soothing side to his playing than his noisier output with electro-acoustic improvisers Supersilent.
Miles Davis – In a Silent Way
Originally released in 1969 on Columbia Records 1977 Pressing
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Dynamic and uplifting house music characterized by filtered drums and enveloping synth textures. With its driving arpeggiations, danceable 4-on-the-floor grooves, hypnotic build-ups, and soothing ambient tracks, Singularity is extremely well-paced, and it’s most beautiful moments full of sublime wonder.
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Automaginary
On Automaginary, the Gnawa-inspired cosmic jazz of Natural Information Society is augmented by the flowing textures of Chicago new age trio Bitchin Bajas to create an album of enveloping drones and trance-inducing rhythms. (Follow link for full Review)
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Simultonality
Over the past decade, Josh Abrams has been using his guimbri to create music inspired by the ceremonial music of the Gnawa in North Africa, infusing it with a wide variety of influences from kosmische to minimalism to the avant-garde jazz of his local scene in Chicago. On this album, the focus is on “pure motion” driven by double drummers hypnotically interlocking with guimbri, guitar, keys and harmonium. Each individual plays unique rhythmic figures that push and pull against each other like polyrhythmic tectonic plates, creating constantly changing, yet circular grooves.
Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Originally released in 1996 on Thrill Jockey Records 2012 pressing
Dawn of MIDI – Dysnomia
An acoustic trio of piano, upright bass, and drums utilize creative extended techniques to play evolving minimalist compositions of mutating grooves, polyrhythms, and textures.
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians
A hypnotic, meditative minimalist classic whose influence can be traced throughout several threads of modern music.
Tonto’s Exploding Head Band – Zero Time
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.
Stereolab – Dots & Loops
Space Age Pop
Holger Czukay – On the Way to the Peak of Normal
Album Information Originally released in 1981 This pressing was released in 2013 on Grönland Records Format: LP Features parallel groove … More
Can – Future Days
Album Information: Originally released in 1973 on United Artist Recordings This pressing was released in 2014 on Mute Records
Föllakzoid – III
Sleep – Dopesmoker
Album Information: Originally released in 1999 as Jerusalem on London Records, and then in 2003 as Dopesmoker on Tee-Pee Records. … More
Pharoah Sanders – Karma
Album Information: Released in 1969 on Impulse Records 1972 pressing
Esmerine – Lost Voices
Album Information: Released in 2014 on Constellation Records
Oren Ambarchi – Saggitarian Domain
Album Information: Released in 2012 on Editions Mego Format: LP
Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – Never Were the Way She Was
Saxophonist Colin Stetson and violinist Sarah Neufeld employ innovative performance techniques, mutating ostinatos and an atmospheric sense of texture to compose minimalist compositions that are as brooding and haunting they are hypnotically beautiful.
Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Album Information: Originally released in 1996 on Duophonic Records This pressing was released in 2013 on 1972 Records Produced by … More
Tim Hecker – Harmony in Ultraviolet
A dense fog you can sink into and never want to leave…Glacial, enveloping waves of sound meticulously sculpted from processed organs, piano, and distorted guitar feedback.