We are extremely excited about the Experimental segment of our Fall Music Preview, as it contains all manner of treasures! This fall’s releases include an album that concentrates on the metallic aspects of percussion and other works inspired by biomes, nest building and Haruki Murakami’s IQ84. The youngest performers are in the single digits, while the oldest is an octogenarian. With such a wide variety here on display, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So set aside all expectations, put those earbuds in and prepare to be dazzled!
Our cover image is a lovely collage designed by Sonnenzimmer for Katherine Young‘s BIOMES, covered below.
Electroacoustic
Lea Bertucci and Michael Beharie may be vying for attention with Sarah Davachi come year’s end, as Bow and Arrow walks through similar glens. Their sound, billed as “electroacoustic spectral folk,” puts one in mind of autumn and its mysterious natural timbres (NNA Tapes, October 23). Weston Olenki and TAK ensemble‘s when the great fires were lit on the other side of the ocean is one of the season’s most distinct recordings, inspired by the writings of W.G. Sebald on electricity and including field recordings from Tesla’s first power plant. The limited edition includes both the score and a lecture packet (Sweet Wreath, September 30). Hallow Ground offers John McCowen‘s Pressure Chords feat. Lucy Railton, Weston Olencki, an album that could just as easily landed in our Drone department. With contrabass clarinet, cello and trombone, the trio stretches tones taffy-thin before rebuilding them layer by layer (September 18). After this comes Jordan Sand‘s Baby Ghost, whose tendrils of falsetto voice are mingled with passages of bowed double bass, producing an otherworldly effect (October 2).
Free improvisation meets metal and drone on Mats Erlandsson & Gus Loxbo‘s Minnets Långa Kedjor (XKatedral, September 18), a moody album with narration from Maria W Horn. At times, the work invokes Swans, which makes sense as Michael Gira offers guest narration on Horn’s own album, Melting Pillars of Snow, out October 2 on the same label. Buy them both to experience the depths of a dark autumn.
Misanthropic Agenda‘s first releases of the season are out today. Vincent Grimaldi‘s Amorcie De Champ is crinkly and dark, a collage of field recordings, turntables and tapes, while the troublingly named Perverts in White Shirts offers “cringe pop” on the 28-track CULTrully appropriate songs and revisited memories (September 4). The creaks, rustles and cracks of Liths (Sarah Hennies, Willie B. and Keir Neuringer) make Ascending the Depths a perfect album for fall, when the shadows creep across the forest floor and strange creatures come out to play (Dinzu Artefacts, September 25).
Mark Peter Wright offers pure North Yorkshire field recordings on Field Crafting, interacting with his environment in a way that honors his surroundings while bringing them to life (Flaming Pines, October 8). Icelandic field recordings decorate the background of Marja Ahti & John McCowen‘s Errands, which fills in the spaces with recorder and clarinet (Black Truffle, September 25). Mixing field recordings with electro-acoustic elements, Crys Cole presents Testing the Waters, a single-track album whose rivers run deep (Persistence of Sound, October 9).
Midway between minimalism and drone lies Roel Meelkop‘s Antithesis, a set sounds that relate to each other in interlocking ways (Crónica, September 8). CZN (copper, zinc and nickel) combines the work of percussionist-sculptor João Pais Filipe, composer-drummer Valentina Magaletti, and producer Leon Marks. The concentration on gongs, cymbals and other metal objects earns the trio its moniker, hearkening back to the work of mHz. Parallel Commutator is out October 16 on Oath.
Katherine Young‘s BIOMES is breathy and intense, initially inspired by lichen before expanding into wetlands, oyster reefs and more. Joining the artist: Olivia Block, Ben LaMar Gay, Brian Chase, Tim Daisy, and Yarn/Wire, who help to make the album a three-dimensional experience (Chaikin, September 18). We’re loving the sheets of rain in “Thunder Covered Brush,” the opening track of M. Sage‘s Brush Flier. The artist draws from multiple genres on this album, including ambient, folk and electronic, keeping the dynamic contrast high (RVNG Intl., September 25). ICMC: Best of the Listening Rooms is an electro-acoustic extravaganza, drawing from the 50th anniversary of the International Computer Music Conference. Featuring music from around the world, the compilation is as much a treat for the mind as it is the ears (Ravello, September 18).
Yanick Soland is Walking on Rubber Eggshells. The set is a potpourri of sounds: flute, violin, zither, bowed koto and voice. Originally part of a solo exhibition, it displays the “come hither” sound that in person must have drawn people into the room (Futura Resistenza, September 28). Kaoru Watanabe‘s The Arch draws the listener deep into Japanese musical heritage, as the composer plays multiple instruments, including shinobue, ryuteki, hichiriki, taiko, atarigane, suzu, ame uchiwa, and koto, along with some instruments associated with the West. The songs tell stories, teach lessons, and entertain (New Amsterdam, September 18). Using “rage as a creative process,” Marina Herlop presents Dja Dja, which contains multiple nooks and crannies, featuring gamelan, voice and unconventional rhythms, and ultimately comes across as positive. There’s even a t-shirt bundle (October 9).
Jazz and Improvisation
577 Records always has its act together when it comes to pre-orders, which is why they get the lead-off spot. But this season, their first release is a true outlier. Released through the Positive Elevation imprint, the self-titled MY FACE IS DANCING is a family affair ~ specifically, the family of Federico Ughi, who records with his three sons. There’s hip-hop here alongside the jazz, and even some slam poetry: a photo album in sonic form (September 4). Two weeks later, Rafael Zaldivar | McBride | Mela release the languid Meeting in New York, Volume One, which was just recorded this past April (September 18). Savant Fleur follows with the raucous Hocketus, which indulges in dissonance, atonalism and noise, mangling the strings of the cello and violin (September 25). Then the attention turns to the solo work of Cuban musician Francesco Mela, playing multiple instruments on Carnavale De Oriente (October 9). (Mela also has an album out this fall with Nicki Adams and Michael Eaton; Arrival is released on J-Man Records September 10, preceded by the title track.) AIRLFT‘s Spatial Recognition began as a monthly meeting, turned into a community and has now become an album (October 16). We’ll Let You Know When We Find Out, declare Sonelius Smith and Adam Kahan, mixing originals with standards by Monk, Beethoven and Gershwin (October 23). Gon Muruaga leads an international trio on Lines in the Sky, an extremely active recording overflowing with happy notes (October 28). On November 11 we’ll hear FRAGMENTS, from bassist and bandleader Bishu Chattopadhyay, followed a day later by Pat Thomas‘ playful Of all people…, preceded by the highly unusual and engaging “OOPS” (November 12).
Not to be outdone, Endectomorph Music has announced nine fall albums, taking us all the way through December. The fun begins with Christian Li‘s Broken Neon Sign, a mix of instrumental and vocal, improvised and composed (September 4). Then the attention turns to alto saxophonist Kevin Sun for I and II, which includes a cover of “Laura Palmer’s Theme” (September 25). Sunhyun Yoo‘s PLAiDE is filled with sax and decorated with synth and Moog (October 2). Next is the sextet Sundate on October 9, followed by pianist Dabin Ryu and friends on Discomfort. (November 6). Be sure to save room for Matei Predescu‘s Basmeon November 20, Joechen Rueckert’s New Quartet on How to Survive a Beheading (November 20) and Ocelot‘s II on December 4: a generous slate!
The Travel Agency Is On Fire is one of the wildest releases of the season. The four-disc box set is a tribute to William S. Burroughs, billed as Anne Waldman, Thurston Moore, James Ilgenfritz, Anagram Ensemble but involving many other guest stars, from Bill Laswell to Tortoise. Fans of spoken word poetry and improv should order on the spot (Infrequent Seams, September 25).
Viola artist Jessica Pavone plays solo on half of …Is In the Air and collaborates on the other half, the best of both worlds (Relative Pitch/Weird Cry, October 16). Given the rather bland title Four Pieces for Viola and Sampler, one might expect the album to be a staid affair; quite the contrary. AJ Nilles & Tom Schneider are often raucous and always wild; you can’t judge an album by the title! (Macro, October 9). Avant cellist Topo Lyo offers quiet scenes from tokyo, embracing bass-like notes with tape loops while constructing humble tributes to nature (Faitiche, November 6).
Out of Your Head Records launches autumn with The Realist, showcasing the work of cellist Janel Leppin (September 11). Then it will be time for Mali Obomsawin, the bassist and vocalist leading a nonet on the diverse Automatic (October 16). Next on the docket is acoustic bassist Stephan Crump, who leads a quartet on Passerine, inspired by the work of birds building their nests (October 23).
Ambiances Magnétiques has two releases slated for September 25. Érick d’Orion‘s Mes fantômes is thick in some places, thin in others, so that one can hear the phantom threads. Super Scintillat‘s Tarot is jazzier, reflecting the interplay between bass clarinet and modular synthesizer, thanks to Mélanie Bourassa and Nicolas Bernier. Earshift is prepping two releases for September. Awakening is a collection of Armenian music, brought to life by the ensemble Visions of Nar (September 18), while trumpeter Tom Avgenicos leads a quartet on I’ll Go Where You Go as Delay 45, with an emphasis on dynamic contrast (September 25).
A large part of Adam Rudolph‘s ensemble is from Türkiye, which results in some fascinating timbres of ney, cuika, waterphone and darbuka. Toys and found objects are also included. Invisible Threads is out on Northern Spy, September 18. Payton MacDonald leads marimba and percussion duos on Transients Vol. 1, 2, & 3, pairing with Susie Ibarra, Billy Martin and Nava Dunkelman (Infrequent Seams, September 4).
Baritone saxophonist Tamar Osborn is set to release Varier: Berlin, the first of two albums to be recorded with separate ensembles. (Varier: London will follow next year.) The album is a celebration of the sights and sounds of the city, suffused with an underlying grief and eventual healing as the artist mourns the death of her father (October 2). Duologues 7: Distillation is the latest release from the saxophone and piano duo of Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp. Squidco is promising to release a new collaboration every year “in perpetuum” (October 2).
Blair / Huber‘s ECLIPSE is a thoughtful work for saxophone and guitar, the first of an extensive fall slate for LEITER; the rest is under wraps for now (October 16). Liba Villavecchia and Vasco Trilla (sax and drums) make a joyful noise on Serrat, with two side-long jams and album art that reflects the angular sound (defkaz, September 1). Sax and drums duo Nicole McCabe and Savannah Harris offer the warm and friendly All Together Now, prefaced by the single Lonely People, which makes them seem anything but (Sudden Quarterly, September 18).
Likely the oldest performer in this article, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is still going strong at age 84. Constellations and Hemispheres finds the musician voyaging into inner and outer space with the help of four ensembles, a testament to his versatility (Burning Ambulance, September 25). Also released on Burning Ambulance, trumpeter Michael Sarian presents In This Desert, anchored by the three-part title track, redolent of heat shimmer and wide open spaces (September 25).
Images on loan is the first taste of Yuma Koda‘s enveloping Amid Kinos, which includes appearances from a variety of guest performers on instruments and spoken word. The tone is one of focused calm (Newhere Music, October 2). A similar feeling is created by pianist Kris Davis, leading the Kris Davis Trio on Lost in Geneva, which sounds like being pleasantly found (4166, September 25). Spoken word meets musique concrète on the ambitious Chinese Benefits, recorded on a failing iPhone 6 by A Large Sheet of Muscle (Drowned by Locals, October 16).
Pianist Kevin Hays is Live at the Stone. Each of the four pieces includes a guest appearance, which lends the set great tonal variety. One title is “Bob Dylan” (AHT, September 13). Jamie Safir‘s Momentism is playful and warm, a jazzy excursion from a quartet whose sound pairs well with the name of the label (Chill Tone, September 4).
A Mind in Motion is the first of Shifting Paradigm‘s fall releases, guitarist Zebu Zheng in charge of a quartet, sounding personal and upbeat (September 18). Following in its wake is Andrew Toombs‘ Alloy; we love the blue and purple cover, along with the laidback grooves (October 16). And we’re not sure how long it takes to make a cake look like a circuit board, but if that’s a photograph on the cover of Twin Talk‘s Delights, color us impressed (October 13).
Vibraphonist Jalen Baker leads a nonet on RePaved, a breezy collection of tunes that honors the history of Houston TX’s 3rd, 4th and 5th Wards (Cellar Music, September 4). Bassist Emma Dayhuff leads a septet on Mountains, which seeks to translate the wonder of Montanan vistas into jazz (Division 81, September 4). An eleven-piece ensemble performs A World That Bears a Question, a 28-part suite inspired by Haruki Murakami’s novel 1Q84. One need not read the novel to understand the music of Madre Vaca, but we recommend doing both at once (September 18).
Contemporary jazz sextet ONMO offers In Time and Spirit, which draws from myriad influences and “sits outside of jazz time” (Clonmell Jazz Social, October 16). The self-titled album from Oslo ensemble Power Chords is hythmic and percussive, as captured in lead single “Clumsy,” an ironic title as “serendipitous” might make a better description (Sonic Transmissions, October 30). Moon Inhabitants invite you to experience Canned Luna, an exuberant explosion of Norwegian jazz. A sense of fun permeates the record, which has an infectious energy (Sauajazz, September 4). Also hailing from Norway, Hans P. Kjorstad finds room for jazz, folk, rock, modern composition and more in the welcoming Inn. An intriguing quirk of the “miniature orchestra” ~ each of the track titles has three letters (Phantom Limb, September 18).
Hypergarden‘s self-titled debut is a series of freeform jams bordering on rock. Our favorite title is “Invasion of the Hydrangeas” (September 25). The improvising trio Lothar Ohlmeier / Isambard Khroustaliov / Rudi Fischerlehner unveils Landscapes on October 9, referencing both musique concrète and punk (Not Applicable). Mike Reed’s Separatist Party is rocking and rolling on Sing the Color Blue, another left turn from the always reliable Thrill Jockey (October 22).
Between avant jazz and noise lies the raucous Evangelium, from Frode Gjerstad / Karl Bjorå / Håvard Skaset. The music tumbles, intertwines and roars (Conradsound, October 1). Eyes of Moon is a loud, romping jam from Tomchess, a multi-instrumentalist joined by a cavalcade of stars (Amalgam, September 15). The iconoclastic Ka Baird teams with Chris Ryan Williams to present Enthalpy. Onomatopoeic vocals are laid atop diagonal instrumentation, sounding like curious creatures from another world (Outside Time, September 25).
Richard Allen
a closer listen 