Thelonious Monk will need no introduction from my readers. He is the quintessential jazz pianist, and this unreleased album comes from a 1963 Danish recording session. It is Monk playing at his peak. From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Hot on the heels of Impulse’s recently unearthed Coltrane number one hit Continue Reading
Brion Gysin – Junk
Never, ever did I expect this artifact of Beat weirdness, cut-ups and free improv to get reissued, but then again, how many record labels are as brave in their choices as Wewantsounds is? From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue Brion Gysin’s cult avant funk album produced Continue Reading
Shūko No Omit – 秘密の回顧録 (Secret Memoir)
Ramble Records out of Australia have published a unique album here – one that should be seen as a modern psychedelic rock masterpiece. From their Bandcamp site: “Shūko No Omit, the name of the band, featuring Yonju Miyaoka on guitar and Vocals, his older brother Taiju Sugimori on bass and Continue Reading
Jewel Ackah – Electric Hi-Life
Barely Breaking Even (BBE) Records continue showcasing some crucial releases which came out in the 1970s and 1980s in West Africa. This one, by singer Jewel Ackah, combines Ghana’s highlife sound with disco and funk with a wildly danceable groove. Incredible, but no surprise coming from BBE.
Fabiano Do Nascimento – Mundo Solo
The indubitable Far Out Records have produced what might be my favorite record of 2023, a guitar album by Brazilian guitarist and fellow Los Angeleno Fabiano do Nascimiento. I’ll let the label’s crack promo team describe this absolute beauty of a record below: “Adopting Hermeto Pascoal’s concept of Universal Music, Continue Reading
Pyroclastic – Life is an Illusion
Pyroclastic is the brainchild of former member of the Los Angeles Das Bunker Collective Ryant Takai, who was one of the few musicians promoting genres like Industrial Dance, Electronic Body Music and Power Noise. From main member Ryant Takai’s Bandcamp site: “The second coming album focuses on the continuing of Continue Reading