Reissues
Catch-Wave
Limited Edition LP Reissue of 300 copies only by ISKRA label, and now long deleted. *** Recorded Sept 1974, CBS/SONY Studio 1 Tokyo. *** TAKEHISA KOSUGI creates mixed-media sound performances and installations, making use of daily materials and electronic technology, realizing the multiplicity of sounds in space. *** Born in Tokyo in 1938, he studied musicology at the Tokyo University of Arts, graduating in 1962. During this period he began multi-instrumental improvisation. In 1960 he co-founded…
Lion's Eye / Lion's Tale
An astonishing album, Lion's Eye for Gamelan was commissioned in 1985 by Barbara Benary for Gamelan Son of Lion. Lion's Eye for Synthesizer was commissioned concurrently by Neil Rolnick for iEAR Presents at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Both versions were performed in 1985. The intention to combine both pieces in order to expand the tempo range of the Gamelan was first realized in May of 1989 in performances by the Berkeley Gamelan in Oakland and San Francisco, California under the direction…
Primordial Lift
Originally released on the Table of the Elements label and long out of print, this Pauline Oliveros's version of the recording contains an additional 30 minutes of material not included on the original release. Recorded live on March 20, 1998 at Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY. Primordial/Lift is based on information concerning the shift in the resonant frequency of the earth from 7.8hz to 13hz given in Awakening to the Zero Point by Gregg Braden, Radio Bookstore Press (1997). According to Braden, the re…
Tara's room
Both pieces are intended to aid the listener in times of spiritual change, but are just fine for 'everyday' use as well. Highly recommended." Charles S. Russell, Ear Magazine The two works on this cd - Tara's Room and The Beauty of Sorrow were composed and performed by Pauline Oliveros and recorded in May 1987. Previously only available as a cassette and long out of print." (Deep Listening) "The beauty of sorrow" was played by the composer on a small accordion tuned in just intonation and using …
Janus
This compilation of rare material from the Sun Ra Arkestra draws from tapes recorded between 1963 and 1970, and the space-age jazz shaman conjures up a variety of styles and moods along the way. A balmy tropical vibe greets the ears with the opener ("Island in the Sun"), but it doesn't take long for Ra to set his controls for the stratosphere, and soon, distorted gongs, haunted house organ, and homemade instruments are exploring African mysticism on the title track. "Velvet" is a more traditiona…
Etudes Australes
With a score derived from star maps - the "Atlas Australis", a book of maps of stars as they can be seen from Australia - and the "I Ching" (64-choice Old-Chinese chance manual) "Etudes Australes" is a quintessentially Cageian work. Grete Sultan is an active recitalist who has performed music both classic and contemporary around the world. "When I wrote the 'Sonatas and Interludes', it was with Maro Amian in mind", Cage said. "David Tudor was in my mind when I wrote the 'Music of Changes'. Witho…
Sowiesoso
Moebius and Roedelius, aka Cluster, released this album in 1976. While some tracks have early electronic percussion and others are beatless, the album is overall melodic and atmospheric. The blend of electronic rhythms and quirky bubbly sounds combined with piano and a few bits of guitar here and there is pure bliss. Original artwork and new detailed liner notes.
Roots Of The Moment
For more than 50 years, Pauline Oliveros has been on a continuing mission: “... to explore new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.” If those words bring to mind the voyages of the Starship Enterprise from the television series Star Trek, the parallels are more than coincidental. In fact Pauline would be as able a captain of any Starship in the fleet of the United Federation of Planets. A bit of a difference here though, for Pauline Olive…
Impressionen \'71
The world of Krautrock was forever changed in late 1987 when the master tapes for the mythical never-released album by the early 70's trio Damenbart were discovered in Spain by a former associate of the band. The incredible find was whispered about in elite collector circles for months and when the tapes were finally played back publicly for the first time, it quickly became apparent that all of the legend and hype that surrounded these mysterious 1971 recordings had been completely justified. T…
Blends
Two extended works by Richard Teitelbaum for shakuhachi and synthesizer with percussion and bass accompaniment. Teitelbaum was one of the founders of the revolutionary MEV group in Rome, which explored live electroacoustic and collective improvisation in the 60's and 70's. Subsequent to that era he began work with the renowned shakuhachi master, teacher and composer, Yokoyama and began on a course of intercultural music. These works express his unique language and nuances of sound color which ha…
Aum
The second Deuter album from 1972; this was his last record before moving to India and falling under the guru-ship of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The rock-related moves of D are eradicated, but beautiful atmosphere, echo guitar & experimental form are laid out with ease. Late night pleasure abounds. His first attempt at merging sitars, tablas and flutes to the sounds of birds, wind and water (reflecting Deuter's deep relationship with nature), resulted in an addictive, aesthetic music.
7 2 Berlz
A MEV "theater piece", performed by Alan Bryant (or "Al B" as shown on the cover in "fnetc speling"). Alan Byrant was a founding member of MEV, but this is newly recorded & full of mystery. Not sure of the content, it's supposed to be some kind of conceptual work dedicated to (or inspired by) Samuel Beckett's classic 1957 play "Endgame". The sound is based around solo string ambiance, in a style akin to Alan's classic solo work Space Guitars. Abstract and thrilling.
Marsupilami
Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of Marsupilami's debut album from 1970. This unique masterpiece is a much sought-after collector's item originally released on the Transatlantic label. Initially a folk-based group, the band evolved into one of the most adventurous, if unsung, progressive bands of the early 1970s, producing two stunningly original albums. Featuring a line-up of brothers Fred and Leary Hasson (lead vocals and harmonica and keyboards respectively), Dave Laver…
Nowhere: Short Pieces 1983 to 2003
20-year collection from the pioneer of absolute concrète music. Nowhere: Short Pieces 1983 to 2003, is the centerpiece to this prolific artist's catalog. Housed in a stunning black on black embossed box. Released as a cooperative operation from Blossoming Noise and Gender-less Kibbutz.
box is stupid
LAST COPIES remastered from the original dat master-tapes by tommi keränen under the supervision of t.mikawa. 40 page colour booklet with extensive liner-notes by fumio kosakai, t.mikawa, otomo yoshihide and jim sauter. each disc packaged in an individual wallet cover with original cassette artwork. booklet and discs housed in a solid box. limited editon of 500 copies"i love incapacitants more than anything. my love for them is reaffirmed as i listen again to their many cassette releases. they’r…
The Great Learning
The Great Learning plays on the title of the influential score of the same name by the radical 60's composer and musician Cornelius Cardew, who brought music and visual art closely together in this work. The Great Learning [1969–1970] owe their visual eloquence to his practice as a graphic artist, and his improvisational and group work was made with an awareness and connection to Flux art. Facsimile of manuscript, size 420x263mm, 23 pages
We Only Want The Earth
RESTOCKED, Long out of print, the tracks from this CD come from a rare collection of live recordings and studio sessions made between 1973-78. Plans to issue them on vinyl LP in the 70s never came to fruition (although small numbers of cassettes circulated). The original songs and arrangements are of the 70s and so reflect that time. Some people find it difficult to accept that revolutionary words can be set to beautiful melodies! Nearly 30 years later these unique tracks stand as a record of ac…
Treatise (Prague Version, 1967)
Featured work: "Treatise (Live Recording, Prague 1967)." Performed by: QUaX Ensemble (Petr Kotik, Director). "This performance of Cardew's monumental 193-page graphic score 'Treatise' was recorded live in Prague in 1967 by the Czech QUaX Ensemble, directed by composer/flutist/conductor Petr Kotik. This historical recording offers a unique perspective to hear 'Treatise' as interpreted by Cardew's contemporaries. Kotik met Cardew in Warsaw in 1962, and they began exchanging scores by mail, includi…
A.M.A.R.Y.L.L.I.S.
Valerio Tricoli - Amaryllis is the second (I think) release of altered field recordings done at the birthday party of Maria-Amaryllis, this one her third. The previous was a favorite of mine a couple years back. This one sounds far more processed, with party activities only creeping in here and there through a dense organ-y drone. Still, rather nice and dreamy and, appropriately, childlike. Limited to 222 handnumbered copies
Spaced
1996's SPACED sees the release of long-forgotten tapes that Soft Machine had made in 1969 to accompany a staged "happening" in London. The seven pieces are improvisations of varying length, centered on the electric piano and organ of Mike Ratledge, ... Full Descriptionthe electric bass of Hugh Hopper, and the drumming of Robert Wyatt. The recordings also feature appearances by saxophonist Brian Hopper. Ratledge and Hugh Hopper pioneered innovations that added depth and breadth to the sounds o…