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Back in the 70s, there were plenty of records that mixed together the Japanese shamisen with more contemporary sounds – but of them all, this set might well be one of the wildest – as it features two side-long tracks that mix the acoustic strings of the ancient instrument with a mix of moogy electronics and keyboards! Konae Imato handles the shamisen in a very classic style – with lots of raspy touches along the three strings – while Masashi Komatsubara delivers all these different sounds from the moog – sometimes very abstract, sometimes tuneful, sometimes very experimental – all of which makes for a wonderful sense of variety throughout the record! Hideki Matsutake (aka Logic System) was part of the album's creation too – and the record features the long tracks "Journey To Edo" and "The City Of Edo". LP, Vinyl record album

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A beautiful piece of music, and one that features Mats Gustafsson working as both an instrumentalist and conductor – contributing work on baritone, flute, and the unusual spilapipa throughout the course of the album's single extended performance! As with Mats' instrumentation, the rest of the ensemble brings in some unusual sounds as well – including work on organ, prepared piano, hardanger fiddle, and clavichord – used in these ways that build beautifully as the set moves on – clearly improvised, but held together with a sense of unity, and delivered in this spacious way that really allows resonance of the individual components of the music. Maniucha Bikont provides some unusual vocalizations at points – and the piece "EE Opus One" runs for 48 minutes in length. (Jazz, Out Sound) 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

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