Nudo – La última de las burocracias

Nudo is a duo from Buenos Aires playing some really impressive, rhythmically challenging jazz. La última de las burocracias is their debut album and consists of seven tracks exploring the piano and drums duo, but also the use of tuned and un-tuned percussions. It’s a highly energetic and rewarding avant-garde jazz album to listen to, not too far off from another great piano-drums duo called Dialectical Imagination.

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Lost Crowns – Every Night Something Happens (Bad Elephant Music)

Lost Crowns is a retro prog band that seemingly aims to recapture the more psychedelic … Read more

New Thread Quartet – Plastic Facts (New Focus Recordings)

Contemporary classical music doesn’t get enough spotlight here (and I vow to change that). Let’s start with New York-based New Thread Quartet, a saxophone tetraphony playing pieces that are, at times, utterly terrifying and powerful; at other times contemplative, meandering, or intriguing. Each track is from a different composer, but they all shine equally on this record.

Review.

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Richmond Avant-Improv Collective – Multiplicity (Thirsty Leaves Music)

Known more succinctly as RAIC, the Richmond Avant-Improv Collective is an ensemble made of a great number of musicians. Correspondingly, they also create music from

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Rogue Parade – Stomping Off from Greenwood (Greenleaf Music)

Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade put out a new album, and it’s quite amazing. Stomping Off from Greenwood is a delicate fusion of modern, cinematic, and upbeat jazz. The quintet plays perfectly the compositions that are, in my opinion, no less amazing and rewarding to go through. There’s an energy flowing through the album that feels quite empowering.

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New Thread Quartet – Plastic Facts (New Focus Recordings)

Contemporary classical music doesn’t get enough spotlight here (and I vow to change that). Let’s start with New York-based New Thread Quartet, a saxophone … Read more

Burning Ghosts – American Circus (Orenda Records)

Burning Ghosts are no newcomers to extreme improvisation music. However, their release of a surprise full-length on January first is a welcome addition to the beginning of the year! With an unabashed reference to the state of the United States’ politics, American Circus takes you through three long-form—the longest being the 33-minute “Drowning on the High Ground”, an homage to Ornette Coleman—improvisations mixing free jazz and heavy progressive metal music. The result is wild and liberating, cathartic above everything. It’s a fantastic album to start the year with!

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Yvette Young – Piano

Yvette … Read more

Jacob Collier – Djesse, Volume 1

Jacob crafted a set of nine enjoyable songs that cover a wide range of genres and styles, branching out of the world fusion hub. Funk, soul, dance, folk, electro, and classical are only a short list of the styles you might encounter on this record. If you’re into it, you should definitely hop in this wonderful album!

Read our review.

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Lady Fitness – Charlotte

At forty minutes in length, Charlotte is complex and insanely fast. Riff after riff and theme after theme, often hopping between genres on a whim, Lady Fitness have what sounds

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