Experimental / All styles

Tzadik is proud to introduce you to three exciting new artists. This special CD release is a passport to their unique worlds of sound. Danny Cohen and Mike Boner both hail from California, Horse Cock Kids are based in Cologne but they all share an intense passion for their own self-indulgent fantasies. Songs about sex, degeneracy, puberty, loss of identity, truth, love and boredom from three of the most howlingly original songwriters you have ever heard. This is what Tzadik's Lunatic Fringe seri…

Mark DeGliAntoni, the talented sampler magician for the pop group Soul Coughing studied composition at the Manhattan School of Music and released his first recording in 1995 on the Avant label as part of the experimental composer collective Rough Assemblage. Horse Tricks is his first solo release and features many of his acclaimed musical colleagues in a variety of musical contexts showcasing the wide range of Mark's compositional interests. From instrumental trip-hop and rhythm tracks to ambien…

Composer, theoretician, inventor and instrument builder Frank Denyer is a legendary figure in the Harry Partch/Scelsi tradition. His music is utterly unique and intensely personal, often requiring specialized new instruments of his own design and radical playing techniques. Fired City presents six of his most dynamic compositions in definitive performances supervised by the composer himself. Having worked closely with Denyer for many years, The Barton Workshop is unsurpassed in this repertoire a…

Fima Ephron, the dynamic bassist for the psycho-semitic-avant-klez-band Hasidic New Wave steps out on his own for yet another new approach bringing Jewish music into the 21st Century. Soul Machine blends Jewish scales and sensibilities with jazz/rock fusion via Weather Report and late Miles. Boasting an incredible lineup of downtown’s newest jazz stars, Fima’s colorful program also features a moody remix collage by the talented composer/performer David Torn.

Active for over a decade, New York cellist Erik Friedlander is finally receiving due recognition, not just as a musician, but as a composer of note. These works display his unique take on Radical Jewish Culture - sweeping melodic lines (reminiscent of cantorial singing) in instrumental arrangements that are both adventurous and traditional. Friedlander's first album, Chimera, was released on Avant in 1995. He has performed and recorded with Framework, Joe Lovano, Myra Melford, Dave Douglas, Fred…

Norman Yamada is a brilliant young composer who has worked with Anthony Coleman, Marc Ribot, the Crosstown Ensemble, the Agon Orchestra and was previously heard on the Avant CD by Rough Assemblage. Being And Time, the first CD dedicated to his compositions for small ensembles is an atavistic exploration of rock gestures, ambient noise and today's post-modern malaise. A unique compositional statement from a new generation of genre-busting musical thinkers.

Whether singing in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino or French, Zahava Seewald is one of the most accomplished and soulful vocalists in the modern Jewish music scene. Following up on her very successful Tzadik debut Abi Gezint!, her latest recording takes a traditional klezmer repertory into a dynamic world mixing gypsy violins and Kurt Weill cabaret. Dedicated to the creative arranger/performer Martin Weinberg, whose premature death robbed Jewish music of one of its guiding lights, KOVED is a passionate …

Naná Vasconcelos' Fragments - Modern Tradition presents a stunning collection of film scores by the world's foremost Brazilian percussionist, whose virtuosity is matched only by the originality of his compositional vision. Released on Tzadik in 1997, the album ranges from his trademark solo music to ensemble pieces featuring some of his favorite collaborators, weaving together award-winning film music that bridges traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary experimental approaches. Juvenal d…

Gisburg's newest Tzadik recording couples two masterful compositions onto one disc. Her heartfelt opera for solo voice about the ups and downs of doomed and obsessive love is one of her most personal and striking compositional statements to date, a powerful combination of stark emotional content, minimalist melody and narrative charm. "Anna" shows Gisburg's profound command of classic instrumental writing - a lush and dramatic string quartet performed by the brilliant Cassatt Quartet.

Daniel Goode (1936), composer and clarinetist, was born in New York, studied philosophy, and then music with Henry Cowell, Otto Luening, Pauline Oliveros and Kenneth Gaburo. He is director of the Electronic Music Studio of Rutgers University, and co-director of the DownTown Ensemble, which he co-founded in New York in 1983. Tunnel-Funnel, composed in 1985 is one of his most ambitious and exhilarating works. It was premiered in 1988 by the DownTown Ensemble conducted by David Gilbert, repeated at…

Annie Gosfield's second amazing CD for Tzadik takes acoustic and electric music into dynamic new realms. Factory sounds…improvisation…lush sonorities…junk percussion…twangy guitars…classic minimalism…delicate harmonics…odd drones…rock…sirens…string quartets…driving rhythms…ambients…noise…complex structures…jack hammers and more from one of downtown's most interesting composers.

Shelley Hirsch is a marvelous performer with remarkable vocal talents, charm and a wicked sense of humor. She is one of the best-knownimprovisers of the Downtown New York City scene, performing with virtually every major experimental artist in New York and Europe, but has thus far released only two albums of her own music (both released only in Europe). An award-winning radio play and Hirsch's most ambitious work, O Little Town Of East New York is a semi-autobiographical musical suite about grow…

A beautiful CD of quirky instrumentals from the hip mind of Yuka Honda, co-founder of the pop band Cibo Matto. Combining a wry sense of humor with wit, elegance and impeccable taste, Yuka’s charming instrumental miniatures cross all musical borders hypnotizing you with funky breakbeats, heartfelt melodies and nostalgic soundscapes. Recorded at her home studio and featuring longtime associates Duma Love, Timo Ellis, Bill Ware and Dougie Bowne, this is a breakthrough project for Yuka Honda, who is…

It is truly an honor for Tzadik to release on its Composer Series a CD of music by Lee Hyla, one of America's most important composers of concert music. Concentrating on his dynamic music for piano, this exciting CD presents a fascinating sextet for hammered dulcimer, clarinet, piano and strings, and three solo piano compositions performed by Stephen Drury, Mia Chung and Judith Gordon, three of today's most acclaimed virtuosos. An exciting adventure into a new world of sound, space and texture f…

Born in California, raised in Texas and a New York resident since 1989, Susie Ibarra has become one of the most distinctive drummers in the world. Her latest project is a supergroup that crosses all borders. Driving rhythms and moody atmospheres are shaded with romance, lyricism and mystery. Featuring Susie’s exotic percussion, the classical violin of virtuoso Jennifer Choi, Craig Taborn’s angular pianistic fireworks and laptop electronics pioneer Ikue Mori, Songbird Suite is a delicate and comp…

Makigami Koichi is the leader of one of Japan's longest running underground bands, Hikashu, which has evolved from an electronic pop band to embrace world music, improvisation, noise and other styles. Makigami has recorded two previous albums on his own, including the star-studded, Zorn-produced Koroshi No Blues, a much sought-after import on Toshiba-EMI Japan. He has performed with Derek Bailey and Yamatsuka Eye, and is also the organizer of the monthly Tokyo performance of John Zorn's improvis…

A unique fusion of traditional Yiddish song with country blues, rock and reggae by Kerouac-inspired cult hero Wolf Krakowski. Recorded in 1995 and originally available in a limited edition on his own label, Transmigrations: Gilgul is a soulful contemporary reading of Jewish folk and theater songs mixing the Old World with the New. Yiddish world-beat soul that will delight both young and old.

In his dramatic follow-up to Transmigrations: Gilgul, Wolf Krakowski weaves unique and heartfelt world-beat soul stylings with Yiddish folk, theatre and pop songs to create a compelling international downtown sound rooted in the blues, country-rock, tango, reggae and native mameloshn. Produced by Frank London, this contemporary classic is the very embodiment of Old World meets the New.

One of the world's leading composer/performers presents a dynamic collection of his most important recent works. Professor, musical scholar, author, composer, virtuoso trombonist and computer music genius George Lewis has been a major name in new music since the mid '70s, having worked with just about everyone you can imagine, but his recorded output has been all too rare. This first release for Tzadik highlights the wide variety of his compositional approaches, with music for creative music orc…

Another eclectic rock/pop band out of the infamous Kansai scene that produced the Boredoms, Omoide Hatoba and more. This exciting young three piece unit based in Kyoto presents their debut recording after years of playing in just about every small club from Tokyo to Fukuoka. Visceral power pieces offset with charming female vocals, pointillism and dub effects. Striking originality and a childlike curiosity point this band towards a new Kyoto rock sound.

Trumpeter Frank London (Klezmatics, Hasidic New Wave) presents his most intimate and personal work to date, evoking the passionate, imploring voices of the great cantorial virtuosos Rosenblatt, Sirota and Kamiol. Recorded live in the Community Synagogue in the heart of the Lower East Side, Invocations is a soulful collection of classic hazonos, scored for trumpet solo, harmoniums, glass harmonica and bass. A lush and beautiful contemporary reading of an ancient yet under-appreciated Jewish tradi…

Another brilliant collection of scintillating originals and Jewish classics from the unique and twisted mind of guitar madman Gary Lucas. Gary’s first release for Tzadik was a delightful and uproarious collection for children. With Street of Lost Brothers, Gary has turned to the dark side. Dances, dirges and doinas for Gary’s versatile touring band, with special guest appearances by insane vocalists Kenny and Larry, sax squealer John Zorn and Walter Horn.

Their first, orginal album, released in 1980, with one-of-a-kind handmade covers. It’s noisy, electronic, folksy, naive, and the TV set is always on. All these years later, it’s still a lot of fun. The CD version came in a special box. Every cover was different! Every copy of NEGATIVLAND, whether LP or CD, features a completely original hand-made cut-and-paste front cover, mostly out of advertising images cut out of old magazines.The CD issue comes in a 5X5" reel-to-reel tape box decorated with …

 This is Negativland’s second album, originally released in 1981. These are more early suburban noise/music/text/loop pieces from the formative years of the 4 (or 5) Floptops. Re-mastered for CD and sounding better than ever! Like their first album, "Points" is an ever-changing excursion through swimming poll and barbecue land. They are working from within; subversives trying to shape a new suburban consciousness that is a mutation of the status quo. Formal structure is general lacking, except f…

Rare first edition that includes film-litho insert in addition to the folded two-page front cover insert, with 'Babel #1' the late Australian based composer John Watermann created an engaging world of sonic and natural sounds processed and used in dramatic variations.

A veteran of New York's downtown scene, founding member of the infamous Lounge Lizards and a gifted composer, arranger and pianist, Evan Lurie has been the composer of choice for dozens of directors over the past ten years, adding a new dimension to dozens of film classics from Roberto Benini's Il Diccolo Diavolo and Il Mostro to Cindy Sherman's Office Killer. For his first Tzadik release he has assembled an eclectic collection of some of his favorite film scores, all of which appear on CD here …

Four startling studio compositions by an extraordinary young French composer. Born in 1980, Pierre Yves-Macé began as an improviser, played in jazz-rock prog bands, studied classically, accompanied dance classes and has composed electronic music for theater, dance and the martial arts. Faux-Jumeaux, his first CD release, brings the aesthetics of French romanticism into a head-on collision with sampling technology, electro-acoustics and minimalism. A lyrical, adventurous mix of styles and sounds,…

Melt Banana is the defining band of New Japanese Hardcore and it is taking America by storm. Their songs combine compositional complexity and improvisational noise with the power of a locomotive going full blast through a brick wall. Recorded during their tour of the States in 1998, MxBx 1998 / 13,000 Miles At Light Velocity captures this band in a blazing fury that will leave you breathless. An astonishing performance by one of Japan’s most innovative, personal and influential independent bands…

Otomo Yoshihide (turntables) and Tenko (vocals) are two of the most internationally acclaimed performers to emerge from the Tokyo underground, and have worked with some of the best musicians from around the world. Collaborating together in bands, improvisational groupings and special projects for over ten years, this is their first duo release and is the result of over two years of recording. A fascinating meeting of two of Japan's most original musical masters.

A drummer of unparalleled power and creativity, Milford Graves is a living legend. This second volume in a continuing series documenting the solo music of one of the world's most incredible musicians was performed on a special percussion setup allowing unprecedented simultaneity. Playing with his hands, feet, elbows and head Professor Milford Graves takes us to another world with his driving rhythms, intense energy, impassioned vocals. Absolutely riveting.

An entire CD of compositions and improvisations on jaw harps! Creative and versatile, Makigami's first CD of solo voice improvisations was a favorite of vocalists from Mike Patton to Pavarotti. On Electric Eel he takes an unexpected turn. While studying Mongolian throat singing with masters in Tuva, Makigami became acquainted with the simple folk instrument the jaw harp. Fascination turning to obsession, he has now developed an incredible array of extended techniques on this ancient instrument, …

Mono is a young instrumental band from Tokyo combining elements of minimalism, psychedelia and trance rock to create a distinctive and powerful new sound via John Fahey, Sonic Youth and the Grateful Dead. Austere and intense; their music is simple, beautiful and incredibly direct. Sheets of sound, lyricism, wailing guitars and pounding rhythms evolve slowly, morphing into a ritual of noise and ecstasy. A remarkable debut from this exciting new Japanese band.

Composer Virgil Moorefield was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1956 and grew up primarily in Europe. Living in NY since 1975, Moorefield recorded and toured as a drummer with numerous rock bands and avant garde ensembles, including the Swans, Glenn Branca, Bill Laswell, Elliott Sharp and Damage. The music on this disc is a reflection of his recent interest in microtonality and in creating a music which is looser in structure than his previous works. Alternating between strict notation and…

An absolutely raging new instrumental trio from the Kansai area of Japan, home to the Boredoms, Omoide Hatoba, Haco and more. Combining hardcore punk, improvisation, metal, funk and fusion in a seamless and dynamic new music, Motor Humming is at the forefront of instrumental experimental rock and one of the most original bands in Japan. Musical Aluminum (a light metal) is their first CD, and it features an incredible range of pieces in a program you will find exciting, challenging and fun. Along…

From the inventive minds of John Zorn and Yamantaka Eye comes an intimate and highly original duo project inspired by historical recordings of ancient Judaica. The Mystic Fugu Orchestra masquerades as "newly discovered" recordings from the Mystical tradition of Kabbalah - paralleling 14th century author Moses de Leon's original presentation of of his Kabbalistic classic "The Zohar" or "book of Splendors" as having been discovered by him and actually written by Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai centuries be…

Following the remarkable success of his solo debut, Adult Themes (Tzadik 7015), Mike Patton, best known as the vocalist of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, steps out as a composer. Patton's extended composition, Pranzo Oltranzista: Musica da Ravola per Cinque (Banquet Piece for Five Players) is inspired by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Cookbook (1932). Performed by an all-star ensemble, Pranzo Oltranzista magically transports the listener to a surreal ambient world of the unexpected. In addi…

A regular drummer with John Scofield, Dave Douglas, Steven Bernstein and many others, Ben Perowsky is a familiar name to jazz fans the world over. Joined here by keyboard sensation Uri Caine, one of the most acclaimed young pianists on the scene, Ben’s first recording under his own name on Tzadik is an eclectic take on the songs he used to sing during his formative years at Jewish summer camp. Exotic percussion, twisted arrangements and several brilliant original compositions make Camp Songs a s…

Jon Madof, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, Mathias Kunzli. This dynamic NY guitar trio covers a range from Jim Hall ballads to Blood Ulmer funk harmolodics. Complex compositional originals alternate with gorgeous renditions of classic Jewish melodies making this an extraordinary program from start to finish. Beautifully recorded, with mix translations by Bill Laswell.

Dion McGregor dreams out loud, and his dreams are not very pretty. Tzadik invites you to eavesdrop on the horror in Dion McGregor's mind. In 1964 ten of Dion's tape-recorded dreams were released on album and quickly dropped out of print. This CD is it's sequel, drawn from the same source material -- the spoke-aloud dreams of Dion McGregor as taped by his room mate Michael Barr between 1961 and 1967. Documented with extensive photos and a long essay by Dion scholar Phil Milstein, this is the ulti…