28 classic big band songs re-recorded by Billy May. (Jazz, Out Sound) CD

(Classical, Out Sound) CD

All 12 parts of Glass'suite of pulsating modal minimalist music. The ensemble here is a sextet, with three electric organs and three reeds, plus voice. Like his other work of this era, the tones overlap and slowly unfold to reveal underlying patterns over the course of the piece. Far more interesting (to our ears at least) than his later operas for the latte-sipping set. CD

Free jazz, and lots lots more – a lost nugget from an especially creative period in the Dutch scene, headed up by cellist Tristan Honsinger! At some level, the music echoes other improvised work by Honsinger – but at others, it also reflects the criss-crossing of genres and scenes that were taking place during these key years – a point after which free jazz had established itself, post-punk had opened up new waves of expression, too-prog tendencies had settled down, and the higher art world had opened their arms to embrace them all! The songs are both instrumental, and feature occasional vocals from Tiziana Simona Vigni – whose role with the sextet is not unlike some of Irene Aebi's performances with Steve Lacy, although maybe a bit more freewheeling and open-ended – more in a Recommended Records vein – a label that might have been a good home for this set, were it not issued by Data Records. In additional to Honsinger on cello and additional voice, the record also features Toshinori Kondo on trumpet, Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass, Sean Bergin on saxes, and Michael Vatcher on percussion – on titles that include "Quandro Era Estate", "Picnic", "Violets", "Teeth", "Orient Express", "Laly", "Romy", and "After The Rain". (Jazz, Out Sound) CD

Amazing! This is one of the coolest CDs we've seen in years – and everything about it is fantastic, from the package right down to the double-length set of music! The set features rare unreleased recordings from Raymond Scott's legendary Manhattan Research electronic music studios – originally set up in 1946, and home to some of Scott's landmark early work on non-acoustic music during the 50s and 60s. Far from being the sort of turgid, dark knob-twiddling that computer music later became in the academy, Scott's early experiments are filled with a sense of whimsy and joy – exported directly from his early cartoon-based work, and applied in a fantastic way to his evolving musical inventions! Plus, the whole thing's packaged in this super-cool hardcover book, with a whopping 140 pages of notes, photographs, old advertisements, and interviews – all done in a brilliant graphic style that complements the package even further! Don't forget the music, though – because it's totally fantastic – and kind of reminds us of bits of Jon Appleton's Syntonic Menagerie, Pierre Henry's early Musique Concrete, and later punk-era DIY electronics. That doesn't even come close to pinning it down, though – and with 2 CDs worth of material, the scope of the work is amazing! CD

An amazing compilation of early electronic dance music – not only featuring some of coolest, most out there and progressive experimental electronic soundscapes of the era – but strangely moving, too! It has work by some legendary avant garde composers, made for remarkably forward-thinking ballet companies and other modern dance groups – much of it from the late 50s to early 60s – with some pretty raw, eerie electronic experimentation, and some grander, almost operatic pieces, too! Compiled by Andy Votel, and featuring work by Pierre Henry, Remi Gassman, Jean-Claude Vannier and many more. Includes "Arioso" by Henk Badings, "Ballet Jeux D'Ombres" by Lazry-Baschet, "Scherzo" by Remi Gassman, "Tam Tam" by Pierre Henry, "Konflikt" by Henk Badings, "Danse Sacrale" by Igor Wakhevitch, "Aeolus" by Alwin Nikolais, "Le Ballet Des Accoucheueses" by Jean-Claude Vannier, "Transfiguration" by Pierre Henry and more. CD