One of Braxton's first recordings of his work for larger ensembles, and a masterpiece that gives a good example of the kind of early ideas that have informed some of his recent work in the same style. The orchestras vary from track to track, but they all include excellent players like Roscoe Mitchell, George Lewis, Seldon Powell, and Cecil Bridgewater – players who are more than capable of meeting the demands of Braxton's writing, and who can bring a lot of their own to the session. Great stuff, and with a good set of notes. CD

Spacey soul from Soia – a European singer who works closely here with producer Mez – who served up some great beats on their previous record together! The vibe here is very similar – kind of a mellow take on broken modes from a decade before – with a slowed-down pace that allows for plenty of vocal and keyboard inflections, and a spacey production style that makes all the elements float together in a really beautiful way! At some level, the record's one that might sound best in the smaller hours past midnight – but some tracks also have a more urgent feel that demands rapt attention. Titles include "Habibi", "Hidden In Obvious Places", "Ignite Despite", "Tropical Jinx", "See Me Hollow", "1000 Layers", and "Roaming Deer". CD

Saul Williams is one of those hip hoppers who's not really a just a rapper – one who comes to the genre from a background that's already very multi-faceted – one that shows up instantly in the record's blend of sounds and styles, modes and moods! There's a definite political agenda to the set – sometimes delivered in spoken passages, sometimes sung – and the instrumentation includes heavy guitars, noisy beats, and very layered samples and other sonic elements – all given further intensity through Saul's presentation of the lyrics! As with Childish Gambino, Williams is in a space that's all his own within the world of soul and hip hop – even though Saul's spirit is very different and much darker overall – on tunes that include "Talk To Strangers", "Grippo", "Telegram", "Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)", "List Of Demands (Preparations)", "African Student Movement", "Control Freak", "Seaweed", and "Notice Of Eviction". CD

Fantastic work from Colosseum – a record that really stands out as one of those completely unique hybrids from the British jazz rock years! Although Colosseum are probably best known as a progressive band, they certainly had plenty of jazz touches – and this album spawned the great groover "Elegy", which has become something of a jazzy dancefloor classic over the years. Overall, the record's got some very tight drumming, plenty of wailing organ work, and a basic groove that takes off where the beat groups of the 60s left off. Chris Farlowe's vocals can be good or bad, depending on the moment – but on the funkier cuts, like "Elegy" and "The Machine Demands a Sacrifice", they have a sort of madness that makes sense! The album also includes the freer jazzy "Valentyne Suite", which is pretty nice. CD

Spiritual genius from trumpeter Roy Campbell – a player who was too often trapped in the underground during this point in his career – even though he plays with a majesty that demands to be heard! There's a power here that's undeniable – as Campbell works in beautifully triangulated formation with bassist William Parker, and drummer Zen Matsuura – who also handles a range of percussion with a care for sound that takes us back to early experiments from the AACM. Each number offers up a different sort of statement of righteousness – and titles include "Brother Yusef", "Camel Caravan", "Song For Alan", "Ancestral Homeland", and "The Positive Path". CD