Styles: Psychedelic Minimalism, Kosmische, New Age, Progressive Electronic
Moods: Cosmic, Meditative, Hypnotic, Colorful, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Focused
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Pulse, Polyrhythmic, Minimalistic, Instrumental
Style: Ritual-Psych, Free Rock, Krautrock
Vibe: Witchy, Ritualistic, Fiery, Tribal, Cathartic, Free, Hypnotic, Mysterious, Mystical, Primal, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Suite, Repetitive, Live, Collective Improvisation, Lo-fi, Percussive, Growling Vocals
Vibe: Visceral, Driving, Muscular, Hypnotic, Cathartic, Angular
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Rhythmic, Noisy, Dynamic
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: Psychedelic Rock, Post-Rock
Influences: Arabic Folk, Horror Soundtracks, Kosmisch, Library Music, Spaghetti Westerns, Prog, Stoner Rock, American Primitive Guitar, Raga
Vibe: Adventure, Driving, Cinematic, Exploratory, Epic, Ominous, Nocturnal
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Dynamic, Fuzzy, Riffs, Progressive, Atmospheric
Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Minimalism, Kosmische, Ambient, Progressive Electronic
Vibe: Cosmic, Hypnotic, Eclectic, Psychedelic, Focused
Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Shredding, Droney, Improvisation, Minimalistic, Repetitive, Riffs
Style: Post-Rock, Dance Score, Experimental Rock
Influences: Krautrock, IDM, Industrial, Drone
Vibe: Dystopian, Motorik, Mechanical, Ominous, Paranoid, Gloomy, Cold, Suspenseful
Musical Qualities: Driving, Repetitive, Rhythmic, Atmospheric, Droney
Style: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock, Tape Music, Drone
Vibe: Deconstructed, Hypnotic, Meandering, Stark, Motorik, Abstract, Urban
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Pulse, Loops, Minimalistic, Repetitive, Drone, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Field Recordings, Noise
Style: Kosmische Jazz, Analogue Electronic
Vibe: Exploratory, Hypnotic, Adventurous, Mystical, Focused, Spacey
Musical Qualities: Pulse, Improvisation, Instrumental, Headphone Album, Odd Time Signatures, Polyphonic, Progressive
Instrumentation: Flute, Cornet, Organ, Wurlitzer, Synthesizers, Woodwinds, Double Drummers
Style: Experimental Rock, Krautrock, French Pop, Punk-Funk, 80’s Glam
Vibe: Motorik, Surreal, Playful, Confident, Triumphant, Determined, Juxtapositions, Catchy, Hypnotic, Retro-Futuristic
Musical Attributes: Dense, Rhythmic, Melodic, Noisy, Repetitive
Style: Post-Rock, Space Rock, Electronic-Rock, Kosmische-Influenced
Vibe: Futuristic, Nocturnal, Mechanical, Focused, Cinematic, Restrained
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Dynamic, Pulse, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Style: Space Pop, Art Pop, Kosmische Lounge
Vibe: Retro-Futuristic, Spacey, Political (Communist), Breezy, Mellow, Elegant
Musical Qualities: Sleek, Groovy, Lush, Melodic, Catchy
Musical Qualities: Polished, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Percussive, Rhythmic, Catchy
Style: Kosmische-Influenced Experimental Rock, Space Rock
Vibe: Motorik, Ominous, Spacey, Futuristic, Cinematic
Musical Qualities: Progressive, Rhythmic, Atmospheric
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: 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
Style: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock
Influences: Dub, Kosmische Musik, Bossa Nova, Lounge, Minimalism, Jazz, Electronic
Vibe: Contemplative, Eclectic, Focused, Futuristic, Impressionistic, Lush, Meditative, Peaceful, Soothing
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Complex, Digital Production, Percussive, Polyphonic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Loops, Headphone Album, Rhythmic, Pulse, Instrumental, Progressive, Polished
Style: Post-Rock, Post-Minimalism, Progressive Folk
Influences: Kosmische Musik, American Primitive Guitar, Minimalism
Vibe: Airy, Nocturnal, Pastoral, Peaceful, Focused, Imaginative, Impressionistic, Contemplative, Warm
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Instrumental, Progressive, Pulse, Odd Time Signatures, Pulse, Dynamic, Headphone Album, Minimalistic
Style: Psych Rock, Kosmische-Influenced
Vibe: Introspective, Mystical, Spiritual, Confident, Conscious, Existential, Hypnotic, Motorik, Psychedelic, Uplifting
Style: Abstract Groove, Psychedelic Jazz, Kosmische
Vibe: Exploratory, Spacey, Psychedelic, Cosmic
Musical Attributes: Groovy, Instrumental, Improvisation, Rhythmic, Odd Time Signatures
Style: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock?Vibe: Exploratory, Hypnotic, Meandering, Murky, Mysterious, Nature, Abstract, Aquatic, Driving, Droney, Psychedelic?Musical Attributes: Instrumental, Repetitive, Atmospheric, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Loops, Innovative, Dynamic
Style: Progressive Pop, Space Age Pop
Influences: Kosmische Musik, Bossa Nova, French Pop, Lounge
Vibe: Spacey, Lush, Retro-Futuristic, Catchy, Groovy, Motorik, Nocturnal, Uplifting
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Headphone Album, Odd Time Signatures, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Progressive, Lyrical
Lyrics: Philosophical, Political, Communist, Bi-Lingual (English and French)
Instrumentation: Synthesizers, Vibraphone, Drums, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Brass, Strings, Keys (Organ, Clavinet, Harpsichord, Wurlitzer)
Style: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Noise Rock
Influences: Kosmische Musik, No Wave, Musique Concrète
Vibe: Noisy, Groovy, Spacey, Raw
Musical Attributes: Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Repetitive
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
Style: Post-Rock, Space Rock, Kosmische-Influenced
Vibe: Driving, Motorik, Nocturnal, Urban, Focused, Energetic, Futuristic
Released in 2004 on Constellation Records Format: LP Style: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Noise Rock Influences: Kosmische Musik, Shoegaze, Post-Punk Vibe: Chaotic, Noisy, Anxious, Messy, Spacey, Exploratory, Abstract Musical Attributes: Repetitive, Dense, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-instrument, Sound Collage
Style: Experimental Rock, Art Rock
Influences: Electronic, Kosmische Musik, Glitch, Afro-Beat
Vibe: Surreal, Psychedelic, Messy, Hypnotic, Warm, Mysterious, Cryptic
Musical Attributes: Sampling, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Studio-as-an-instrument, Dense, Looping
Themes: Nature
Originally released in 2009 on Invada Records Temporary Residence Reissue Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Originally released in 1997 on Thrill Jockey Records 2012 Reissue on translucent red vinyl Format: LP
Originally released in 1996 on Thrill Jockey Records 2017 Reissue on clear vinyl Format:: LP
LPx2, 45rpm, Relapse Records Style: Space Rock, Progressive Electronic Vibe: Sci-Fi, Driving, Futuristic, Spacey, Motorik, Focused, Muscular, Cinematic, Ominous Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Instrumental, Repetitive, Odd Time Signatures, Technical, Dynamic Instrumentation: Analogue Synthesizers, Drums, Electric Bass
Released in 2008 on Mercury Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Released in 1977 on RCA Records Format: LP
Released in 2000 on EMI Records Format: 10″x2
Released in 201 on Young Turks Format: LP, die cut cover Recommended Tracks A2 – Red Lights (Spacey, Funky, Energetic Grooves ) B1 – Sht Mtn (Spacey, Driving)
Style: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock
Influences: Kosmische Musik, Minimalism
Vibe: Minimalistic, Exploratory, Spacey, Raw, Noisy, Abstract
Musical Attributes: Instrumental, Repetitive, Analogue Recording
Released in 2013 on Bella Union UK Pressing Format: LPx2, Bonus 7″, Holographic Cover Studio album takes up sides A, B, & C. Side D contains “We Don’t Control the Controlled (mashed-the-fuck-up-remix, Dan Deacon and the Electric Worms’ Insight Violence)” 7″ includes “Sun Blows Up Today” b/w “All You Need Is Love (featuring Alex and …
Originally released in 1994 on Thrill Jockey Records 2016 reissue Recorded November 29 thru December 5, 1993
Released in 2000 on Matador Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2001 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Released in 2009 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Originally released in 1980 on Piano Records 2016 Light in the Attic Repress Format: LP, 45rpm on side A, any speed for side B
Released in 2012 on Invada Records Format: LPx2, orange vinyl Limited to 500 copies
Originally released in 1993 on Duophonic Records This pressing was released in 2012 on 1972 Records Format: LPx2
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.
