Hiromi - Voice

New release from Hiromi, the incredibly talented Japanese pianist.

This time around she has a new trio set-up, with Anthony Jackson (Chick Corea, Steely Dan) on bass, and Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Judas Priest[???]) on drums. It is quite a different feel to her sonicbloom group, and also her original trio; this new trio being much more rock oriented and all about finding interesting grooves.

Either way, its nice to have her playing with a group again, after I felt somewhat indifferent towards her solo album Place To Be. Check it out.


Voice

Molested - Blod Draum

Norwegian death metal wasn't exactly the biggest thing around '93 - '95, when the next wave of black metal was really taking off, but this album here shows that quality dm can come out of anywhere.

You could almost say this has a bit of the blackened vibe, as the vast majority of riffs are tremolo picked, chordal or otherwise, and there is a strong emphasis on atmosphere at some points. Some of it is fairly technical, and the drums are pretty damn solid, but what will stand out at first is the production. This kind of muffled-but-not-in-a-bad-way guitar sound is almost like a less noisy version of some of Portal's material, and musically it's not a farfetched comparison either.

Really solid, interesting album.


Blod Draum

Giacinto Scelsi - Natura Renovatur

Scelsi was a twentieth-century Italian composer, who went mostly unnoticed until a year or so before his death, and now his works are being recorded and performed with great enthusiasm. It's a sad world we live in.

Simply put, this is incredible. The actual piece "Natura Renovatur" is hauntingly beautiful, and definitely a favourite of mine. Also this is the 2006 ECM release.

Link is for FLAC, thanks to Chainsaw Fellatio.


Natura Renovatur

Sam Rivers - Contours

For one reason or another, Sam Rivers fails to be mentioned all that much when it comes to the 60's. Considering the amount of brilliant material and ground covered in the 60's, it's understandable that many would get lost in the shuffle, jostling for their place while the likes of Trane, Mingus, Coleman and Miles enjoyed rabid followings. Once you look a little deeper into that terrific period of jazz history though, a plethora of brilliant artists pop up everywhere, and naturally, Sam Rivers is one of them.

Contours, and I guess Sam Rivers in general, enjoys quite a bit of internet-love these days, but this album should be more than enough to change his status from just a foot-note in 60's jazz. This really is one of the best examples of 60's avant garde jazz I have come across. It's still quite indebted to the post-bop idiom, but has many free solos that wander into stranger territory, and the compositions are full of odd changes and quirks. The pairing of Rivers and Freddie Hubbard is brilliant, and they make full use during all of the melodies. Herbie Hancock puts in quite a great performance, having no trouble handling the style.

I could go on, but you should really just give it a listen, and enjoy. Then ramble on as I have, to somebody else.


Contours

Ornette Coleman - Change of the Century

A bit of Ornette Coleman never did anybody any harm.

Well, maybe the ears of stick-in-the-mud types, but lets not worry about them.

This release finds Coleman experimenting with the free style within a very bebop setting. Much of this is uptempo, and surprisingly easy going. If you were turned off by the monumental classic that is The Shape of Jazz To Come, then I would recommend you take a shot at this album instead. Most of the ideas are still there, but it seems much more approachable on this album.


link removed

Frank Lowe - Black Beings

Some great avant garde stuff right here, which also happens to be William Parker's first official recording.

This release was out in '73 on ESP Disk, and contains some great interplay between the musicians. There's a nice amount of contrast between sections to keep it entertaining. Listen to place yet another piece of the free jazz puzzle.


Black Beings

Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury

Cocaine rap from the south...? Yeah but this is actually great.

Having The Neptunes producing is a big help, as some of the beats here are fucking awesome (eg 'Trill' and 'Mama I'm So Sorry'), but both emcees are in fine form anyway and the whole thing just rules from start to finish.


Hall Hath No Fury

Sex Prisoner - Sex Prisoner

Absolutely filthy pv, full of hate and disgust and urghhhh that bass.

Great ep right here.


Sex Prisoner

New Ingurgitating Oblivion

New track from Ingurgitating Oblivion, from the demo Enigmatic Symmetries, which I unfortunately can't find anywhere on the net. A full length will be out late this year on Diabolical Conquest. Sounds pretty awesome, definitely looking forward to this.

Check out their previous album if you haven't already:

Voyage Towards Abhorrence

Orphans of Cush - White Noize

UK hip hop - just a joke right?

Nope. Jokes on you, because this fucking rules.

UK goes east coast circa '94.


White Noize