Best of 2021
The Age of Electronicus
In astounding gatefold sleeve, tip! Dick Hyman’s 1969 opus, The Age of Electronicus - a visionary, funky excursion into the vast potential presented by the newly developed Moog synthesizer - stands as a shining example of the post-war avant-garde’s i…
Fusione
Carried by a blast of pure joy comes Black Sweat’s latest LP, the self-titled debut by the mysterious Milan based ensemble Fusione. Channeling free and spiritual jazz, funk, and a globally minded ear, all carried by heavy dose of druggy psychedelic e…
Piano and String Quartet
Piano and String Quartet is a luminous example of Morton Feldman’s ability to reshape the boundaries of chamber music, offering a listening experience rooted in patience, transparency, and quietly shifting texture. Rather than following standard mode…
Seeking a Vision
** Edition of 100 hand-numbered copies ** "February 2021. During a stay in an isolated house in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, I returned to four compositions Renaud Bajeux had sent me a few months prior. I had listened intently and enjoyed them very m…
Number Pieces
Number Pieces, the expansive four-disc set performed by Apartment House, presents a strikingly comprehensive exploration of John Cage’s celebrated late works. Composed in the twilight of Cage’s life, these pieces reflect a deep engagement with silenc…
The Great Wall / Chanta Khat
Michael Ranta has collaborated with Takehisa Kosugi, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Jean-Claude Eloy, Conny Plank, Mike Lewis, and Hartmut Geerken, just to name a few. He was also assistant to Harry Partch and performer in the Gate 5 Ensemble in the 1960s. Additi…