A former student of Brian Ferneyhough, Mark Applebaum straddles the two worlds of modern classical complexity and improvisational insanity. As one would expect, this first CD devoted to his work is an eclectic compendium of homemade electro-percussion,...

"Appleton was an assistant professor of music at Dartmouth, and in 1967, became the Director of the Electronic Music Studio there. I first became aware of this artist via the single taken from this album, which contains both of my favorite cuts from it. The album can best be described as experimental electronic prog with strong psychedelic influences, and mostly strange and dischordant passages, featuring an array of wild electronic sound effects. This will appeal even more to fans of avant-garde prog...

This is Aquaserge's now quite hard to find 3rd release and a really fine one it is.
There's keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and really good vocal parts, even though they are more of a instrumental-leaning group. Also found here are lots of guest spots from musicians on trumpet, violin, flute and guitarist Kawabata Mokoto of Acid Mothers Tempel!
This album has that irresistible (to me, anyway) zany French character and in a little bit reminds of a more modern Etron Fou/Camembert-era Gong/Jack Dupon

This band released one of my very favorite progressive rock albums of 2014. Here's what I know. Aquaserge are a French band who I first heard of about 7 years ago.
They have released 2 EPs (collected onto one CD) and a third release, Ce Tres Cher Serge, all of which are now out of print and hard to find now.
THeir fourth, A L'Amitie, rocked my world in 2014 and this 2017 release is their sixth (they had a very limited EP in between).
They seem to be finding an audience with their unique...

The great Celtic guitarist with a huge ensemble!!

“Pictures in a Dream is the fourth album from Trondheim’s finest prog band Arabs in Aspic. Originally released by the Italian label Black Widow Records in 2013, the album received great immediate feedback internationally and resulted in a good amount of concerts on the continent. Their love for experimenting with sounds and recordings shines through on this album, with some rather unconventional solutions - Using lots of microphones to capture the sound of the room instead of the sources, 9 microphones...

“Syndenes magi” was the sixth Arabs in Aspic album, and a turning point in their long career. After “Pictures in a Dream” and “Victim of your Father’s agony” the structure of “the new Arabs” was set. They had lots of songs ready to go, but after attending a spectacular King Crimson gig in Oslo they decided that their new material wasn’t up to par, and they had to do better. The next day Jostein Smeby went back home to Trondheim, and wrote what turned into the 12-minute song «Syndenes Magi». He called up...

“A trio of adventurous Spanish improvisers, pianist Irene Aranda, bassist Johannes NÄstesjö and percussionist Nuria Andorra channel forces of exploration, energy and elemental mystery on Inner Core, six inventive tracks that plumb their astonishing creative depths with a fervid curiosity.
Fans of free improvisation may recognize these musicians through their mutual connections with pianist Agustφ Fernßndez, currently one of the most highly-regarded performers in this genre. And like Fernßndez...

This is sort of a confounding album. Despite the fact that this is basically a cover album of Nirvana tunes, it sounds just like Aranis. If you are familiar with Nirvana, you'll recognize the fact that these are (nearly) all Nirvana tunes. However, if you don't know Nirvana, it will just sound like a Aranis album. Is that what they intended? I hope so! Anyway, it's an excellent Aranis work, with a deeper meaning if you know Nirvana....

"The secret of Aranis lies in the compelling fact that, as a...

This disc features new music works scored for Bolivia's indigenous flutes, whistles, strings & percussion. Quite unusual to say the least! [New Albion]

"Among the most artistically successful alchemists of Indie Psychedelic Folk, Maine-based duo Arborea consists of Shanti Curran (vocals, banjo, "banjimer" [a banjo-dulcimer hybrid], harmonium, ukulele, sawing fiddle, and hammered dulcimer) and Buck...

"Arcado String Trio is made up of three of the very finest players in the jazz/improv community on their respective instruments. Bassist Mark Dresser is perhaps most widely known for his work in the classic Anthony Braxton quartet of the 1980s and '90s, though he has also established himself as a fine composer in his own right. Mark Feldman's violin virtuosity has had him in demand by everyone from Willie Nelson to John Zorn while cellist Ernst Reijseger has performed with all of Europe's world class...

An amazingly good listening experience of music that comes from a non-musical instrument; a box that produces feedback. But not feedback in terms of horrible squeaks and squeals.

"Breaking all the loose rules of experimental electronic music...

Craig Fortnam: voice, guitars, piano, Philicorda organ, monosynth, percussion
James Larcombe: melodeon, dulcitone, wind organ, Philicorda organ, monosynth, piano
special guest:
Pete Aves: pedal steel guitar on 'Open My Eye'

This is one of those albums that seems simple and acoustic-oriented and straightforward and when you really listen to it, you realize that it actually is anything BUT simple. Conditionally recommended.

“North Sea Radio Orchestra's Craig Fortnam and...

This is the first-ever reissue of this, Brit-jazz composer/arranger Neil Ardley's 1st full album under his own name. This 1971, Dennis Preston production features the all-star band I know you were expecting me to list! Included are: Dick Heckstall...

The 4th album from the band that I consider to be possibly the finest Italian progressive rock band of the 1970's, & certainly a band in the top tier of all early 1970's progressive bands worldwide! Area combined jazz/rock/stolen ethnic music (mostly from Eastern Europe and the Middle East)/the avant garde and more. Superb playing from all (vocals/organ, guitar, electric piano/synths, bass & drums). This includes a thick booklet with rare photos, notes, etc. While everyone shines, the vocalist, the late...

Patrizio Fariselli – piano, keyboards
Claudia Tellini – vocals
Marco Micheli – electric bass
Walter Paoli – drums

“Patrizio Fariselli, Claudia Tellini, Marco Micheli and Walter Paoli live in Tokyo in an amazing concert on May 18th 2019 at JAZZ ROCK LEGENDS!
In addition to the music taken from the recent "100 GHOSTS" by Patrizio Fariselli, the group presented the most famous pieces of the historical repertoire of AREA beautifully sung, after the death of Demetrio Stratos, by the

"2022 saw the English rock band Arena tour in 13 countries in Europe playing to sellout crowds.
This double cd live album was recorded on this 2022 tour in various venues.
A 24 page booklet is packed with photos from front and backstage of the band and crew
First live album with New Vocalist
Damian Wilson is an English musician, songwriter and vocalist who has appeared on over 70 separate album releases. Damian is mostly known in the progressive metal genre, as the lead singer of...

"All Together Now featured the band's biggest hit 'Hold Your Head Up' and saw Rod Argent (keyboards, vocals), Russ Ballard (guitar, piano, vocals), Jim Rodford (bass, guitar, vocals) and Robert Henrit (drums, percussion) enjoy global success. Includes one bonus track and features a booklet that fully restores all original album artwork with a new essay."

This is uproarious Bulgarian wedding band music, ala Ivo Papposav, performed by Yasko & his crack outfit of alto sax, accordion, keyboards & drums.
If you've never heard Bulgarian wedding music, at its best, it sounds like polkas in insane, always changing time signatures, performed at speed-core tempo. This stuff simply must be heard to be believed! Terrific fun and unconditionally recommended.


''Yasko Argirov, master of clarinet, is a living legend in Bulgaria, but his fame, because...

This is a tribute to the prolific Israeli composer Sasha Argov and it features both the usual Tzadik suspects, as well as some surprises. The contributors include Danny Zamir, Cyro Baptista, Charming Hostess, Pharoah's Daughter, Tin Hat Trio, Roberto ...

A great contemporary / jazz composerer and arranger gets a little love from a bigger label with deep pockets!

“Composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue and his Secret Society ensemble make their Nonesuch Records debut with Dynamic Maximum Tensionon. The album pays homage to some of Argue's key influences with original songs dedicated to R. Buckminster Fuller, Alan Turing, and Mae West.
Fellow Nonesuch artist Cécile McLorin Salvant, with whom Argue collaborated on her long-form musical...

Darcy and this magnificent modern large ensemble seemingly came out of nowhere with his band's 1st release in 2009 and simply amazed me (and seemingly everyone else who follows contemporary jazz and creative music, as the record got heavily reviewed...

Lots of great tunes here from Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mongezi Feza, etc!

"The album includes new arrangements of compositions by Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza and Johnny Dyani, and an atmospheric development...