Playlist Week of 2016-07-02

* Marais: Sonnerie de Saint-Genieve du Mont (Harnoncourt) (Harmonia Mundi CD)

* Lachenmann: NUN/Notturno (Musik für Julia) (WDR, et al.) (KAIROS CD)

* John Cage Meets Sun Ra: The Complete Concert (Meltdown/Modern Harmonic 2LP)

* John Coltrane: Kulu Sé Mama (Impulse! CD)

* John Coltrane: Live In Seattle (Impulse/GRP 2CD)

* Open Sky: Open Sky (P.M. LP)

* Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey: Buoyancy (Relative Pitch CD)

* Mazur/Neuringer: Diachronic Paths (Relative Pitch CD)

* Weather Report: Black Market (Columbia LP)

* Willie Nelson: Teatro (Island/Modern Classics 2LP)

* Van Morrison: No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (Mercury LP)

* John Renbourne: The Attic Tapes (Riverboat 2LP)

* John Martyn: Glorious Fool (WEA LP)

* Forest: Forest (Harvest/Radioactive LP)

* Strawbs: Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios (A&M LP)

* Amon Duul II: Phallus Dei (UA/Revisited CD)

* Rodriguez: Searching For Sugarman OST (Light In The Attic 2LP)

* Genesis: Seconds Out (Charisma 2LP)

* Genesis: Three Sides Live (Atlantic 2LP)

* Opeth: Deliverance (Music For Nations/KOCH 2LP)

* Acid Mothers Temple: Recurring Dream And Apocalypse Of Darkness (Important 2LP)

* Acid Mothers Temple: Lord Of The Underground: Vishnu & The Magic Elixir (Alien8 LP)

* Grails: Burning Off Impurities (Temporary Residence 2LP)

* Wolves In The Throne Room: BBC Session 2011 Anno Domini (Southern Lord EP)

* Kylesa: Static Tensions (20 Buck Spin LP)

* Kylesa: Exhausting Fire (Season of Mist LP)

* Pelican: The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (Hydra Head/Viva Hate 2LP)

* Pelican: City of Echoes (Hydra Head LP)

* Wild Nothing: Life of Pause (Captured Tracks LP)†/‡

* Ecstatic Vision: Sonic Praise (Relapse LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Happy 4th of July!

Well, this blows me away: Perihelion, my last download-only album with Sam Byrd, got an honorable mention in the "Best of 2016 (So Far)" list over at avantmusicnews.com. This site is no mere blog, but an essential resource for new music fans. We are in some pretty heady company over there (and I can think of several recent albums by musicians WAY more famous and deserving than me which did not make the list) so I am, indeed, completely honored.

Incidentally, I'm putting the final touches on a solo album featuring lots of Moog. Stay tuned.

+++

RIP Bernie Worrell.

Playlist Week of 2015-11-21 & 28

* Dowland: Lachrimæ or Seven Teares (Hesperion XX/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2SACD)

* Messiaen: Catalogue d’oiseux (Ugorski) (d.1) (DG Trio 3CD)

* Cage: Music of Changes (Schleirermacher) (MDG CD)

* Boulez: Rituel, Eclat, Multiples (BBC Symph./Ens. Intercontemporain/Boulez) (Sony CD)

* Takemitsu, Hindemith, et al.: Five Pieces (Duo Gazzana) (ECM CD)

* Lieberson: Raising The Gaze (Asko Ens./Cleveland/Knussen) (DG CD)

* Tod Dockstader: Apocalypse (Starkland CD)

* Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (Columbia/Legacy SACD)

* Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (Columbia/Mobile Fidelity 2LP)

* Miles Davis: Bootleg Series Vol.3: At The Fillmore 1970 (d.1) (Columbia/Legacy 4CD)

* Cannonball Adderley: Somethin’ Else (Blue Note CD)

* Bill Evans: Everybody Digs Bills Evans (Fantasy/JVC XRCD)

* Abdullah Ibrahim: African Suite (Enja CD)

* Herbie Hancock: My Point of View (Blue Note CD)

* Herbie Hancock: Speak Like a Child (Blue Note CD)

* Jack DeJohnette: Made In Chicago (ECM CD)

* Elvin Jones: Time Capsule (Vanguard LP)

* Joe Zawinul: Zawinul (Atlantic LP)

* Miroslav Vitous: Mountain In The Clouds (Atlantic LP)

* Terje Rypdal: Odyssey: In Studio & In Concert (d.1-2) (ECM 3CD)

* Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia LP)

* Jean-Luc Ponty: Cosmic Messenger (Atlantic LP)

* David Torn: Only Sky (ECM CD)

* Jon Hassell: Power Spot (ECM CD)

* William Parker & Hamid Drake: Vol.1: Piercing The Veil (AUM Fidelity CD)

* William Parker & Hamid Drake: Vol.2: Summer Snow (AUM Fidelity CD)

* Christian Wallumrod Ensemble: Sofienberg Suite (ECM CD)

* Rob Mazurek & Black Cube SP: Return The Tides (Cuneiform 2LP)

* Steve Noble & Stephen O’Malley: St. Francis Duo (Bo’Weavil 2LP)

* Rasa: Everything You See Is Me (Govinda LP)

* D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Black Messiah (RCA 2LP)

* Native North America: Aboriginal Folk, Rock & Country 1966-1985 (Light in the Attic 3LP)

* Van Morrison: Days Like This (Polydor CD)

* The Incredible String Band: The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (Elektra LP)

* The Incredible String Band: Wee Tam (Elektra LP)

* The Incredible String Band: The Big Huge (Elektra LP)

* Strawbs: Just a Collection of Curios and Antiques (A&M LP)

* John Martyn: Well Kept Secret (WEA International LP)

* Flower Travellin’ Band: Satori (Phoenix LP)

* Edgar Froese: Macula Transfer (Brain LP)

* Heldon: Stand By (Cuneiform CD)

* Camel: Music Inspired by The Snow Goose (Passport LP)

* Barclay James Harvest: Time Honoured Ghosts (Polydor LP)

* FM Surveillance (Arista LP)

* Nova: Vimana (Arista/Passport LP)

* Mick Karn: Titles (Virgin LP)

* Cocteau Twins: Lullabies To Violane (d.1-2) (4AD 4CD)

* Yo La Tengo: Stuff Like That There (Matador LP)

* Circus Devils: Stomping Grounds (Happy Jack Rock Records LP)

* Palace Music: Viva Last Blues (Drag City LP)

* Buckethead: Colma (CyberOctave CD)

* BORIS: Smile (Southern Lord 2LP)

* Intronaut: The Direction Of Last Things (Century Media 2LP)

* Cynic: Kindly Bent To Free Us (Season of Mist 2-45RPM LP)

* Verma: Coltan (Trouble In Mind LP)

* Verma: Sunrunner (Trouble In Mind LP)

* Verma: Mul.Apin (Trouble In Mind LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Sorry for the absence -- I decided to take the week off from blogging for Thanksgiving. Hope you all had a great holiday!

When not listening to records, I've been spending a lot of time in my basement studio, which is more than just a "man-cave" -- it's my sandbox, a playpen, a place where I can commune with the muse and make as much noise as I want. It is heaven on earth.

If you're curious about my music, please check it out over on Bandcamp. New stuff is in the works for the New Year!

Now, please excuse me, I'm going back down in the studio. See you next week!

Playlist Week of 2013-12-21

* Hesperion XXI (Savall): Orient-Occident 1200-1700 (Alia Vox SACD)

* Hesperion XXI (Savall): Istanbul: Dimitrie Cantemir 1673-1723 (Alia Vox SACD)

* Purcell: Fantasias For The Viols 1680 (Hesperion XX) (Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* Duke Ellington: An Explosion Of Genius 1938-1940 (d.1-3) (Smithsonian 6LP)

* Duke Ellington: Ellington Uptown (Columbia LP)

* Duke Ellington: Duke Plays Ellington (Capitol LP)

* Duke Ellington: Jazz Party In Stereo (Columbia/Classic LP)

* Duke Ellington: Blues In Orbit (Columbia/Classic LP)

* Duke Ellington: The Pianist (Fantasy LP)

* Sun Ra & His Arkestra: The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, Ontario 1978-03-13 (AUD 3CDR)

* Miles Davis: In A Silent Way (Columbia/Mobile Fidelity LP)

* Miles Davis: The Complete In A Silent Way Sessions (d.1) (Columbia/Legacy 3CD)

* Miles Davis: Amandla (Warner Bros. LP)

* Wayne Shorter Quartet: Beyond The Sound Barrier (Verve CD)

* Wayne Shorter Quartet: Without A Net (Blue Note CD)

* Weather Report: Mysterious Traveler (Columbia LP)

* Weather Report: Tale Spinnin’ (Columbia LP)

* Pharoah Sanders: Message From Home (Verve CD)

* Derek Bailey: Carpal Tunnel (Tzadik CD)

* Tim Berne: The Shell Game (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Funkadelic: Maggot Brain (Westbound CD)

* Parliament: Mothership Connection (Casablanca CD)

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

* Shelby Lynne: Just A Little Lovin’ (Lost Highway CD)

* Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol.1 No.4: From Egypt With Love (GDP/Rhino 3+1HDCD)

* Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic/Audio Fidelity SACD)

* Tony Levin/David Torn/Alan White: Levin/Torn/White (Lazy Bones CD)†/‡

* Genesis: Live (Charisma LP)

* Genesis: Selling England By The Pound (Charisma LP)

* Camel: Rain Dances (GAMA LP)

* Camel: A Live Record (Decca 2LP)

* Camel: Breathless (Arista LP)

* The Doobie Brothers: Best Of The Doobies (Warner Bros. LP)

* Automatic Man: Automatic Man (Island LP)

* Automatic Man: Visitors (Island LP)

* Supertramp: Crime Of The Century (A&M/Mobile Fidelity CD)

* Los Lobos: This Time (Hollywood/Mobile Fidelity SACD)

* Prefab Sprout: Two Wheels Good (Epic LP)

* Robert Pollard: Blazing Gentlemen (GBV, Inc. LP)

* Boards Of Canada: Music Has A Right To Children (Warp 2LP/MP3)†

* Boards Of Canada: The Campfire Headphase (Warp 2LP/MP3)†

* Kyuss: Blues For The Red Sun (Elektra LP)

* Kylesa: Ultraviolet (Season Of Mist CD)

* Red Fang: Murder The Mountains (Relapse LP)

* Red Fang: Whales And Leeches (Relapse LP+12”)

* Zombi: Escape Velocity (Relapse LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Happy Winter Solstice!