Other Music New Release Update
June 12, 2002




In This Week's Update:

Alan Silva
Sonny Sharrock
Inkblot
Dabrye
Merzbow
William Parker
Caural
Kevin Drumm
Hem
Radioactive Man vs. Transparent Sound
Interpol
Reaching Quiet
Remote Viewer

Just Arrived:

Atmosphere
?uestlove


Featured New Releases:

ALAN SILVA "And the Celestial Communication Orchestra" (Sunspots)
CD $19.99
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Alongside Peter Brotzmann's devastating "Machine Gun" album, Alan
Silva's Celestial Communication Orchestra album on BYG is one of
the fiercest to ever appear. Originally released as a triple LP,
this relentless masterpiece has been a crown jewel amongst free
jazz record collectors for years. Finally released as a double CD
(it is also available from Get Back on vinyl), this recording is a
vital piece in the history of avant-garde music. Silva assembles a
band of Arkestra-like proportions on this recording, an all star
cast that included Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Steve Lacy, Roscoe
Mitchell, Dave Burrell, Don Moye, Bernard Vitet, Alan Shorter,
Ronnie Beer, Robin Kenyatta, Michel Portal, Dieter Gewissler, Jouk
Minor, Kent Carter, Irene Aebi, Joachim Kuhn, Jerome Cooper and
Oliver Johnson. Easily one of the most difficult jazz recordings
to stomach in a single sitting, this album is a challenge to even
the most adventurous jazz listener. This reissue is limited to
1500 copies. [PW]
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SONNY SHARROCK "Monkey-Pockie-Boo" (Sunspots) CD $15.99
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Sonny Sharrock's album "Black Woman" is often recognized as his
finest achievement, featuring an all star band that included his
wife Linda, as well as Milford Graves, Teddy Daniel, David Burrell
and Sirone. From the same time period (1969) comes "Monkey-Pockie-
Boo" which was originally released on the BYG label. Here Sharrock
is once again joined by Linda, as well as Ben Guerin (bass) and
Jacques Thollot (drums). This horn-free line-up allows Sharrock's
guitar and Linda's vocals to jump even more to the forefront,
screeching with a soulful electricity that is unparalleled.
Linda's vocal shriek puts Yoko Ono to shame and Sharrock's guitar
work redefines the instrument in a way that should be mentioned in
the same breath as Hendrix, Haino and Sonic Youth. Any fan of
Sharrock's "Black Woman" should not miss this issue of "Monkey-
Pockie-Boo" as it is also limited to 1500 copies. [PW]
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INKBLOT "Love Your Mother" (Audio Dreg) CD $13.99
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Inkblot's second release, "Love Your Mother," is a wonderful
continuation in Jeremy Ballard's world of lo-fi electronics. Armed
with a Powerbook, the Texas native's post-rock stylings gurgle
around analog synths, organs, vibes and guitar. At times
reminiscent of Mouse on Mars, only replace the funk with
atmosphere, rhythmic repetitions loop around sounds. Drum samples
are used sparingly with a large portion of tracks propelled by
pulses as opposed to snare and hi-hat. Like 2000's "Language
Game," Inkblot's new release is full of the same gentle, melodic
minimalism that will linger in your head long after the CD stops
spinning. Recommended for late night headphone listening! [GH]
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DABRYE "Instrmntl" (Eastern Developments) CD/LP $13.99/$9.99
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The second album from relative newcomer Dabrye, on Prefuse 73's
record label, showcases his trademark neo-hip hop style with
futuristic melodies woven through. Unlike the first album that was
rather stripped down with a focus on the shifting quality of the
beat, this one focuses more on a jazzy hip-hop feel. "Instrmntl" can
either be described as hip hop that's friendlier (melodic), or IDM that
has more of a true, hip hop feel. [SM]
CD //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=60840108022&refer_url=email
LP //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=60840108021&refer_url=email


MERZBOW "A Taste Of" (Mego) CD $15.99
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The signature oversize Mego releases (one of which this now is)
over the years have piqued many a record store geek's burgeoning
interest, including mine -- from Fennesz' 1997 classic "Hotel
Parallel" on. I can also recall a Merzbow release from around the
late '90s era, "Aqua Necromancer," which came out with
comparatively little fanfare (ha ha) on the Canadian label,
alien8. It blew my mind just as much if not more. Masami Akita's
utilizing of such seemingly unrelated semi-obscurities as Van Der
Graaf Generator, Le Orme, and Patto(!) to weave an only marginally
difficult aural spell heartened me just as much at the time as
Royal Trux's then returning to greatness (not to mention Jordan
Knight's). I believe Merzbow is now not just him, there is at
least one other member named Reiko Azuma, and together they seem
to be moving inexorably towards more and more palatable spheres.
Coming off of the strong recent release "Amlux," here are some
more pinpoint digital incursions… hinged thematically
on "Recipes," the title, of course, "Taste of Merzbow." Merzbow
may be the most nuanced and dexterous at this sort of Powerbook
microshifting of forceful tonalities, producing the type of work
which would more readily qualify as art than it might as 'art-
brute.' This is way post-Pulse Demon, post-Merzbox, and right on
time. [DHo]
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WILLIAM PARKER QUARTET "Raining on the Moon" (Thirsty Ear)
CD $15.99

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William Parker's latest album for Matthew Shipp's Blue Series
continues in the rich tradition of lyrical jazz. "Raining on the
Moon" features vocalist Leena Conquest along with percussionist
extraordinaire Hamid Drake, Rob Brown on alto and flue, and Louis
Barnes on trumpet. I hear Max Roach's work with Abbey Lincoln, the
Art Ensemble with Fontella Bass, or even the two 4 Hero albums.
The music is linear but edgy and provides the perfect platform for
Conquest to propel forward in a strong, positive fashion. She
tells tales of sinners and saints, redemption and salvation, the
way things are and how they should be. This is one of those rare
albums where the sum of all parts comes together to balance and
compliment each other in perfect harmony. This is the jazz record
for those who don't necessarily listen to jazz very much. Highly
recommended! [GA]
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CAURAL "Stars on My Ceiling" (Chocolate Industries)
CD/LP $13.99/$13.99
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Chicago native Zachary Mastoon (a.k.a. Caural) has a fantastic
knack for crafting incredibly organic instrumental electronic
music by way of post-rock styling over hip hop production. For his
sophomore release, "Stars on My Ceiling," Mastoon samples acoustic
instruments and sounds, from the human voice to piano to
handclaps, placing them over dirty breaks and jazzy compositions.
Similar in concept to Amon Tobin (sans Tobin's darker textures)
and certainly more accessible many of his Chocolate Industries
labelmates, the arrangements throughout are mysterious yet sweetly
melodic. "All These Todays Just Melt Into Tomorrows" is propelled
by sampled breaks and layers of cowbells augmented by the melodic
repetition of a thumb piano. The theme is carried into the second
track and becomes more haunting with the backward manipulation of
a human voice. Throughout the album, Mastoon chooses the piano as
his favorite source for sampling but he frequently utilizes distinct sounds
like reversed tape loops or percussive noises to accent changes. Quite
often, these also exist as the main melodies. In "Sipping Snake Blood
Wine," a wind chime glides along a slippery bass line until the song
deconstructs into the hyper refrain of jazz drumming and a collage of
saxophones that buzzes like flies. Once again, Mastoon has expertly
crafted an album that in spite of technology remains distinctly human
and melodic. Recommended! [GH]
CD //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=67751400252&refer_url=email
LP //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=67751400251&refer_url=email


KEVIN DRUMM "Sheer Hellish Miasma" Mego CD $15.99
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"Sheer (undiluted; pure) Hellish (of, like, or worthy of hell)
Miasma (a noxious atmosphere or influence)"... don't think that
the title is just some sort of cute joke, this is possibly the
most aptly titled release I have come across. These four tracks
firmly place Kevin in league with the likes of Whitehouse (and
label mates Merzbow, Pita, and Russell Haswell). Two 20 minute
long tracks are book-ended by two shorter pieces -- all carefully
constructed via power electronics, guitar, analog synth, and
computer. The spewed rumblings and damaged spasms of the first
track, "Turning Point," are a perfect introduction. Followed
by "Hitting the Pavement," a slowly evolving (unrelenting) drone
of subtle changes and shifts in structure that you must float
within to enjoy. On the third track, "The Inferno," Kevin pulls
out all the stops with everything at once leaving the listener
caught inside a torrent of sound. For the last track, "Cloudy,"
you receive the mercy of the creator with what will undoubtedly be
perceived as the lilting sounds from beyond heaven's gate, gently
allowing your ears to recover. A fun ride, maybe not for everyone,
it is a recording that demands submission from the listener and I
am certain that there are many that will enjoy this one. Fans of
the extreme will not be disappointed. [AG]
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HEM "Rabbit Songs" (Bar None CD $13.99
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According to the members of Brooklyn's Hem, "Rabbit Songs"
initially started out as a low-budget recording project between
three friends. Crafting a contemporary take on traditional
American music, vocalist Sally Ellyson was soon recruited from an
ad the trio placed in the Village Voice. The addition of her
simple yet haunting voice became the muse that drove Hem towards
bankruptcy, the band hawking and trading anything of value to
afford the luxuries of 18 piece orchestra accompaniment and more
studio time to perfect their recording. Hem were avid in avoiding
21st century trappings of samplers and other modern studio
techniques and as a result, "Rabbit Songs" sounds as if it comes
from a different time and place. Produced by band member Gary
Maurer (noted for his production work with Luna, Jon Spencer and
Fountains of Wayne to name a few), mandolin, pedal steel,
harmonium, and lush string arrangements support gentle guitar and
piano driven songs. But Ellyson's voice is the real icing
possessing the same lullaby quality as Joni Mitchell or more
recently, Beth Orton. Originally released in the UK two years ago,
fans of Cowboy Junkies and Gillian Welch will adore Hem's delicate
Americana styling. [GH]
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RADIOACTIVE MAN VS. TRANSPARENT SOUND
"Beatz Clash Volume 1" (Longhaul) CD $17.99
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Two CDs worth of solidly mixed neo-electro/techno breaks, this is
more for baggy-pants wearin' breakers than fashioned-out hipsters.
Definitely more "80s looking toward the future" style than "2002
looking toward the '80s" style. Great tracks and slamming mixes
from Radioactive Man (Two Lone Swordsmen) and his pal Transparent
Sound along with cuts by Dexter, Carl A. Finlow, Tipper, Selway,
Silicon Scally, Wee DJs, and more. Edgy, powerful and fun. [SM]
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INTERPOL "Interpol" (Matador) CD $3.99
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Interpol have distinguished themselves in a sea of post-punk
regurgitations with an uncommon exhibition of class and
refinement. Vocal similarities to Ian Curtis aside, their songs
are too polite to be accurately compared to Joy Division. Lighter
in tone and simpler in design, their sound is a ghostly aberration
of the past, built from vintage keyboard washes and delay driven
guitars. To my ears the Chameleons UK are an influence that they
have worn well. The prior appearances on Chemikal Underground,
Fierce Panda, and a John Peel session have bought them a well
deserved home with Matador. This is a beautifully packaged 3 song
teaser to their forthcoming full-length, recorded and mixed by
Peter Katis (Mercury Rev, Clem Snide) and Gareth Jones (Depeche
Mode, Clinic). Now with a confident swagger and authority, the
sounds chime together brilliantly, making the release of the album
in late August something to look forward to. [AG]
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REACHING QUIET "In the Shadow of the Living Room" (Mush)
CD $14.99

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Anticon's why? and odd nosdam (two-thirds of  hip hop eccentrics
cLOUDDEAD) have assembled together to offer a lo-fi collection of
surreal sound collage, sewn together by erraticbeats and odd-ball
samples. Once again defying traditional hip hop methods, "In the
Shadow of the Living Room" is composed of 30 tracks that together
flow into a psychedelic stew of rhymes, deconstructed nursery
songs, commercial jingles and Wurlitzer organ manipulations. Like
cLOUDDEAD, Reaching Quiet hold no regard for musical boundaries,
pulling from influences as disparate as Negativland and Brian Wilson.
The result is a 50-minute flow of music that drifts from
stream-of-consciousness ambience to art rock with the occasional MC
appearing to deliver some pretty bizarre rhymes on top. Sinister and
equally playful, this could be the kind of music that accompanies
Daniel Johnston's hip hop dreams. [GH]
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THE REMOTE VIEWER "Here I Go Again on My Own"
(City Centre Offices) CD/LP $14.99/$13.99

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From the label that brought us the "Cashier Escape Route"
compilation as well as a fine series of limited 7" singles from
artists like Arovane, Christian Kleine and SND, comes a brand new
full-length from Remote Viewer. The general feel of the album is
comparable to recent releases on the Morr Music label --
bittersweet, nostalgic and modern melodic el-ectronic music. This
album separates itself from the pack in that it disintegrates in a
way that both lends an abstract quality, and underscores its sense
of melancholy. Soundtracky yet personal, and a refreshing change
of pace. [SM]
CD //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=09999177732&refer_url=email
LP //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=09999177881&refer_url=email



JUST ARRIVED:

ATMOSPHERE "God Loves Ugly" (Fat Beats) CD $15.99
Full review next week.
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?UESTLOVE "Babies Makin' Babies/Various" (BBE) CD $18.99
Full review next week.
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This week's contributors: Geoff Albores [GA], Andy Giles [AG],
Gerald Hammill [GH], Dan Hougland [DHo], Scott Mou [SM] and Phil
Waldorg [PW].


The Big Picture:

To see a complete list of Other Music new releases for the
week ending June 11, 2002, use this link as a shortcut:
//11june2002.html

To see a list of new releases from previous weeks:
//newreleases.html

To see new release updates from previous weeks:
//updates.html

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Other Music NYC
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