Playlist Week of 12-22-12

* Mozart: Violin Sonatas 1781 (Manze/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi CD)

* Mozart: 3 Violin Concertos (English Concert/Manze) (Harmonia Mundi SACD)

* Sun Ra: WKCR Studios 7-08-77 (FM CDR)

* Don Pullen: Evidence Of Things Unseen (Black Saint CD)

* Don Pullen Quintet: The Sixth Sense (Black Saint CD)

* Bill Dixon Orchestra: Intents And Purposes (RCA-Victor/International Phonograph CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House: Anti-House (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House: Strong Place (Intakt CD)

* Bill Laswell: Invisible Design (Tzadik CD)

* Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030 (75 Ark CD)†

* Frank Ocean: Nostalgia Ultra (Frank Ocean MP3)†/‡

* Frank Ocean: Channel Orange (Island/Def Jam CD)(†)

* Elvis Presley: If Every Day Was Like Christmas (RCA-Victor CD)

* John Fahey: Blind Joe Death (Takoma/4MWB LP)

* John Fahey: Death Chants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes (Takoma/4MWB LP)

* Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol.7 (London, September 1974) (selections) (GDP 3CD)

* Neil Young: Archives Vol.1 (selections) (Reprise 10BD)

* The Velvet Underground: Scepter Studios Sessions 4-25-66 (Polydor/Universal LP)

* The Velvet Underground & Nico: The Velvet Underground & Nico (mono) (Verve/Sundazed LP)

* The Velvet Underground: White Light, White Heat (mono) (Verve/Sundazed LP)

* The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground (mono) (Verve/Sundazed LP)

* The Velvet Underground: 1969 (Verve/Sundazed LP)

* Nico: Chelsea Girl (mono) (Verve/Sundazed LP)
* Deep Purple: Machine Head (Warner Bros./Rhino LP)

* King Crimson: Larks’ Tongues In Aspic (40^th Anniversary Edition) (Inner Knot CD/DVD)

* Van Der Graaf Generator: The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other (Virgin/4MWB LP)

* Van Der Graaf Generator: H To He Who Am The Only One (Virgin/4MWB LP)

* Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra/Rhino LP)

* R.E.M.: Life’s Rich Pageant (I.R.S./Mobile Fidelity LP)

* R.E.M.: Document (I.R.S./Mobile Fidelity LP)

* U2: Achtung Baby (Deluxe Edition) (Island/Universal 2CD)†/‡

* Porcupine Tree: Stars Die: The Delerium Years 1991-1997 (KScope 2CD)†

* Opeth: Blackwater Park (Music For Nations/Sony CD+DVD)†

* Opeth: Deliverance (Music For Nations/KOCH CD)†

* Opeth: Damnation (Music For Nations/KOCH CD)†

* Anathema: Weather Systems (The End CD)†

* Baroness: Yellow & Green (Relapse 2LP)

* Lambchop: Damaged (Merge CD)

* Lambchop: OH(ohio) (Merge CD)†

* Lambchop: Mr. M (Merge CD)(†)

* Jack White: Blunderbuss (Third Man LP)

* Deerhoof: Breakup Song (Polyvinyl CD)

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary:

Although the new Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House CD, Strong Place, is not officially available from Intakt until later next month, you can get it right now by ordering directly from Ingrid Laubrock.com. It is, of course, just mind-blowingly great. Laubrock is a force to be reckoned with—not only is she an inventive and expressive saxophonist but she continues to develop as a composer of challenging yet movingly beautiful chamber music.

Anti-House is a killer band, featuring her husband, Tom Rainey, on drums; Mary Halvorson on guitar; John Hebert on bass; and Kris Davis on piano. Strong Place is a very different record from the eponymous CD with Davis taking on a much more prominent role. Laubrock accommodates her with eight longish compositions of varying moods and densities, also quite different than what came before, more nuanced and sophisticated. I have only had a chance to listen to it a couple of times since it arrived last week; it will take many more to unlock its mysteries.

While you’re checking out her website, you should also pick up the new Paradoxical Frog CD, Union, which features Laubrock and Davis with drummer Tyshawn Sorey. Good stuff! Your money goes directly to the artist and she’ll personally mail the CDs to you. How cool is that? Very cool.