IMPORTANT CONCERT INFORMATION - This coming Sunday March 28th, Downtown Music Gallery will present our last gig of March 1999 with a rare solo performance by our fave percussionist CHRIS CUTLER once of Henry Cow, the Art Bears, News from Babel & Cassiber. It will take place at Context Studios at 28 Ave. A (bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts.) at about 9pm. Also on the bill will be a solo & duo performance by CHARLES K. NOYES - another legendary percussionist from the early days of the downtown scene who rarely performs. Chris Cutler is in the middle of a short east coast tour of duos & solos, a first for him in the US. His percussion & electronics playing are in a world of their own, he has blown me away with his duos with Fred Frith & Zeena Parkins (tonite!), as well as playing for David Thomas, Pere Ubu & Peter Blegvad. There is little advertising for this gig, a few flyers & word of mouth, so help spread the word... 

DAEVID ALLEN & KRAMER will play a duo set at the Knit Friday April 9th at 8pm. Their previous sets at the Knit were quite magical, Canterbury fans take note. The long awaited BRAINVILLE cd is tentatively scheduled for May, DMG will keep you posted on this. The Knit will be sponsoring their prog fest on May 26th - 29th!! So far the ORIGINAL GONG with Pierre Moerlin & Mark Hewens are scheduled for May 27th, PORCUPINE TREE on May 28th and BERNIE WORRELL on the 29th. MAGMA are also scheduled to play at Wetlands on June 8th. BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS are playing the Knit on May 13th & 14th. There is much to look forward to! 

NEWS FROM ZORNLAND NEWS FROM ZORNLAND NEWS FROM ZORNLAND: 

On Friday April 23rd John Zorn will give two performances of Cobra for a benefit for & at Anthology Film Archives - 32 Second Ave. (at 2nd St.) at 9 & 11:30 pm. Before each performance Zorn has selected his personal favorite films to view - Harry Smith's 'Heaven and Earth Magic' will start the first set and Joseph Cornell's 'Rose Hobart' and Jack Smith's 'Flaming Creatures' will begin the second set. Tickets cost $21. for cash and $21.50 for credit card sales and are available here at Downtown Music Gallery. 

As part of the Bell Atlantic Knitting Factory Jazz Fest on June 6th there will be a historic set by FRED FRITH - JOHN ZORN - BILL LASWELL - DAVE LOMBARDO (drummer from Slayer & Fantomas) at the South St. Seaport. This should be pretty fucking scary, sort of Painkiller meets Massacre!!! 

NEW RELEASES FOR MARCH 1999: 
 

• 1.PURPLE TRAP - HAINO KEIJI/BILL LASWELL/RASHID ALI - Decided...(Tzadik 7221) This brutal offering was recorded during Haino's week long stay around Halloween of last year. John Zorn, who produced this two cd set, told me this was the sickest, scariest, most vicious sounding session ever. This was not idle boasting! Haino's electric guitar and voice scream like wild animals being set free, mountains of thick, primal, distortion erupt like volcanos spewing forth all consuming spirits...Zorn has chosen a well balanced trio, each member pushes & pulls the force in their direction, yet it remains as one molten beast. On cd 1 track 3, Haino settles into to a long stretch of vacuum cleaner/meat grinder like guitar - distortion - drone, while Laswell takes over - sending cascading waves of electric bass frenzy, unheard since the glory days of the now defunct Painkiller - Rashid also swirls, spins & sails free/jazz drums, navigating a current around and through the hurricane the trio has whipped up. Like Bill's Arcana projects, his powerful bass is often at the center of much of these excursions, pumping, swinging, el. jazz/rock rhythms and flow, keeping Rashid on his toes throughout and even giving Haino a solid cushion to sting & soar. When Bill heaps on the distortion, the fog gets even thicker, there is no turning back, so give in or give up! This music is completely challenging, a shock to the system. A two cd set for $20.!!! 

 
• 2.MICROCOSMOS - TENKO & OTOMO - Pilgrimage (Tzadik 7222) This is Japanese vocal extremist Tenko's third release for a Zorn label, all within the past year. First, there was Dragon Blue on Avant where she was backed by the original Ground Zero unit (w/ Otomo on turntables), then there was Death Praxis on Tzadik, where she was coupled with Ikue Mori for a second time. In Microcosmos, Tenko collaborates with Otomo Yoshihide on guitar, sampler, turntable & drum machine. Once again, Tenko gets to sing, wail, scream, chant and push her unique vocals all over. Otomo sets up a rather hypnotic drum n' bass beat, not unlike E. Sharp's Techtonics, on "Ashura" and then assaults us with some fine post - punk shredding guitar, while Tenko spits fire on top. Otomo layers mutant samples on "Kaenko," as Tenko howls like a possessed spirit, the drum machine sounds like it is about to disintegrate. Otomo gets a few eerie solo electronic soundscapes to explore as well. When Otomo piles up the noise/distortion/samples extra thick, it can be both breathtaking and overwhelming simultaneously, an alien landscape majestic and disturbing. More fun from the fine folks at Tzadik for $14. 

 
• 3.STEPHEN DRURY - Faith, the Loss of Faith and the Return of Faith (Avant 022) Drury is an amazing pianist of modern classical music, a champion & friend of John Zorn and a professor at New England Conservatory. After numerous releases of Zorn's classical compositions, this is Drury's first solo cd for Avant. He has carefully chosen works by Stockhausen, Ives, Liszt & Beethoven, a restless spirit and certain noted themes bind these pieces together on varied levels. Liszt's "from the Transcendental Etudes" seems to go in opposite directions at once, the central theme a romantic melodrama worth of a silent movie of yesteryear. There are waves of notes that often get more dense at both the low and high end of the piano keyboard as the piece unfolds. Stockhausen's ever popular "Klavierstuck IX" is said to be re - imagined electronic music and is quite a different extreme - the essense of modern abstraction, long stretches of suspended silence, punctuated by flurries of activity. "The Celestial Railroad" by Ives has unexpected surprises, twists & turns, occasional quotes, playful & serious, a puzzle to ponder. The final selection is the oldest - Beethoven's "Sonata in A - flat" and is quite sad & beautiful, elegant, romantic and uplifting, a nice way to end this entire excursion. Avants are always $18. 

 
• 4.DAVE DOUGLAS STRING GROUP - Convergence (Soul Note 121 316) Downtown hero & trumpeter of the year once again, Dave Douglas brings us yet another treasure to savor. This is his third release with his consistently successful string group which features a frontline of Masada String Trio giants - Mark Feldman on violin & Erik Friedlander on cello, with Drew Gress on bass & Michael Sarin on drums. With no theme or dedication to another composer, Dave saves his most challenging composing for this wonderful quintet. This long release (72 plus minutes) covers many areas of exploration, it's four cover quite revealing and extremely diverse. The brilliant opening piece is a traditional Burmese song, a short shocking quickly paced & ultra tight gem, that I recall from a Shanachie cd of recent vintage. Messaien 's "Dessein's Eternals" has Dave's trumpet hovering mysteriously over shimmering strings & cymbals, while Kurt Weill's "Bilboa Song" has that playful Broadway show tune mixed with Euro melodies softly pushed the edge by the frontline players. Dave's "Tzotzil Maya" was written for a group of indigenous Mexicans murdered in Dec of '97, it is both a sad & beautiful work, with Dave's haunting & lyrical trumpet lusciously cushioned by the strings. There are two especially long, epic like pieces that really show off Dave's ever evolving composing and the group's ability to shine throughout. "Meeting at Infinity" unfolds slowly with austere, contemplative contemporary classical playing/writing, eventually each soloist brings off an inspired and unique version of the blues, with Dave's concluding solo an amazing one. "Goodbye Tony" honors the late Tony Williams and has that powerful sense of adventure that Tony always brought to his playing and composing. An incredible work, throughout!! $14. 

 
• 5.FRED FRITH GUITAR QUARTET - Upbeat (Ambiances Magnetiques 063) This is the third release from Fred's outstanding el. guitar quartet, live from various dates on their previous European tour. This is an all - star unit, each member a leader & guitar great in their own right, each one gets a chance to compose a piece, as well as solo on one piece each. What is interesting is that it is often difficult to tell who is doing what, since each of these players employ so many unorthodox techniques to their guitars - e bows, numerous objects rubbed or struck against the strings, various distortion devices, too many ideas to mention here. Nick Didkovsky (from Dr. Nerve) recently played a marvelous solo set at the Knit, he had just gotten off tour with this quartet and he sounded like he had absorbed many ideas from Fred's long history of influence and extended guitar weirdness. Listening to four e - bows drone together on Fred's "Antaeus" is like a somber cello intro, parts soon expand, chatter jazzy grooves, lines intersect, the ghost of Les Paul appears as the pace quickens although there is no studio trickery here. It was Mark Stewart (of the Bang on a Can All Stars) that inspired that last bit. Rene Lussier's "Tout de Suite" rums the gamut from subtle & quirky to short episodes of controlled chaos, always well balanced , textures slowly shifting thin to thick...Fred Frith will tentatively be organizing a three to five day 50th birthday celebration at the Knit in May or June, doing a retrospective of his entire career in music, here's hoping that his outstanding Guitar Quartet will be a part of this special Frith festival, as they were thee highlight of Victo '96. All yours for $14. 

 
• 6.EUGENE CHADBOURNE/HENRY KAISER - The Guitar Lesson (Victo 064) It was 1977 when these two godfathers of free/jazz guitar last recorded together for Chadbourne's 'Guitar Trios - Volume 3' and two tracks on the Chadbourne/Zorn 'School' lp. They've each recorded on over a hundred releases since and have experienced genres and styles too vast to mention. This release sums up their journey rather nicely, as it shows off the infinitely diverse wide/wild world of improvisation. All but two tracks, only six out of 78 minutes, are acoustic and even these two pieces show a more restrained (mature?) side. Eugene & Henry seem perfect foils for each other's explorations, the often frenetic and freer sections are always balanced with a melodic undercurrent - when Dr. Chad lets those strings buzz like bugs on acid, Henry glides ultra melodic fragments within to soothe the cosmic flow. Much of this music is often quiet & reflective, a calming quality that only occasionally freaks out, quite surprising considering both of these pickers often like to go overboard!?! Perhaps it is only my own expectations that makes me feel this way. Except for the last long track, this is an all instrumental offering, so free/jazz snobs take note. The final track is "Letter to Derek" and was inspired by both of their mentors - Derek Bailey. Both Henry & Eugene tell a hilarious & revealing story about how much they love & respect Derek and the essence of Euro/free/improv - talking and playing continuously throughout the piece, often illustrating their points with appropriate flurries of notes. Hopefully we won't have to wait 20 plus years for these two giants to record again! $14. 

 
• 7.BURTON GREENE/ALAN SILVA - The Free Form Improvisation Ensemble (Cadence 1094) This is a long lost recording of free jazz from two dates in April & December 1964, the early days of this scene in NYC. Both pianist Burton Greene & string bassist Alan Silva went on to become both leaders and influential players of this music, with recordings on the legendary ESP label. Both eventually ended up in Europe, Burton in Belgium & Alan in France. On this release, they are part of a free - wheeling quintet that includes Gary William Friedman on alto sax, Jon Winter on flutes & Clarence Walker on percussion. Although I am totally unfamiliar with these three, the entire quintet is quite magical, each musician listens ever so closely, responding in a natural selection of slowly evolving sounds, patterns in a free yet focused way. There is a delicate beauty, a hushed, contemporary classical like control, at times breathtaking and sonically surreal. The second half of this release was recorded live at Judson Hall, the sight of numerous ESP live dates. The energy really takes off here, when spirits finally erupt, the craziness of the free thing begins to push things to a new level. Burton begins playing piano harp, as Alan bows his bass is his unique way, which he would soon be recognized as thee innovator in this extended technique. A completely cosmic offering for us free jazz aficionados! The cost of one admission is your mind or $14. 

 
• 8.DEREK BAILEY - Playbacks (Bingo 004) Considering Derek Bailey is the true grandfather of Euro/free/ improv guitar for over 30 years, he continually challenges himself and us as well by putting himself in new situations. In recent years he has recorded & performed live with Jap. punk/noise/prog/power duo The Ruins and also recorded over wacky drum n' bass rhythms for Avant. He has recorded and/or played the odd duo with guitarists Henry Kaiser & Eugene Chadbourne, pipa player Min Xiao - Fen & drummer Susie Ibarra. On this release he matches wits with rhythm tracks provided by 12 different players, six known and six unknown (to me). The knowns include Henry Kaiser, John French, John Oswald, Jim O'Rourke & Loren Mazzacane, as well as Sasha Frere - Jones who also compiled & released this bizarre cd. Everyone included seems to have come up with a wide variety rhythm tracks to stimulate Derek's response. Henry Kaiser's part takes its time to build, showing a less frenetic side to these proceedings. John "Drumbo" French plays acoustic drums in his distinctive Beefheartian way - Derek plays acoustic in a rather majestic spread, notes ring out like birds singing their lovely songs. Often, the more extreme rhythms push Derek even harder into dense, fractured, angular quick strum insanity. John "Plunderphonics" Oswald seems to have taken Derek's samples and stretched them out into a somber alien mist. Jim O'Rourke & Loren Mazzacane Connors provide quaint, peaceful, background noodling while Derek tells a story of all the Georges in his life, a ridiculous story to crack all the previous seriousness. Snicker, snicker. Only $10! 

 
• 9.MARC DUCRET TRIO - l'ombra di verdi (Screwgun 70010) After three cds on Label Bleu of Marc's French associates playing excellent jazz/fusion, last year saw Marc getting freer with two solo releases - one acoustic & one electric guitar cd, as well as the amazing free/improv Big Satan trio with Tim Berne & Tom Rainey. Marc now returns with his superb French trio of Bruno Chevillon on double bass & Eric Echampard on drums. This trio combines the best of Marc's nasty fusion toned electric guitar with the freer elements of last year's evolution. Most of the tunes here are quite long, mini epics that develop in sections. "Dialectes" begins with a tentative, somber intro, before the hyper, funky drums usher in dense, siren - like guitar howling double tracked over quick, finger - snapping lines. Ducret unleashes ultra - heavy episodes of distorto guitar crunch - the trio is ever so tight, fleshing out a wide variety of always sympathetic grooves. There are sections of spinning solo flights, duos of calming bass & guitar, before the trio launches off to 'Agartha' era Miles - like power trio heaviness. Occasionally schizophrenic, but always exciting! The creme de la creme for $14.!! 

 
• 10.TUNNELS [PERCY JONES QT.] - painted rock (buckyball 005) This is the second release by the Tunnels unit, after more than a few years. It is always nice to hear the return of ultra distinctive fretless bassist supreme - Percy Jones, once a member of the wacky Liverpool Scene, fusion all - stars Brand X, as well as Elliott Sharp's Scanners power trio. The quartet includes the tasty guitar work of Van Manakas, the adventurous midi - vibes of early Dr. Nerve member Marc Wagnon and the precise drumming of Brand X reunion member Frank Katz. This cd starts on the smoother side of fusion, with Marc's vibes providing radio - friendly synth lines, but things get more interesting rather quickly. Percy's slinky, rubbery tone and delightful harmonics continually ring out, as Van's geetar also rings true with strong solos that rarely go over the edge, but do come close. The other thing that makes this unit special is the Zappa - like quick dexterity & composing of/for the vibes & drums, super tight & rather ridiculous. One of the highlights is when Van starts playing mystical melodies on ud, accompanied by midi tablas and Percy's cosmic drone bass. Who says intelligent fusion music doesn't exist anymore?!? Here's proof very positive. Only $10.!! 

 
• 11.BILL LASWELL - Invisible Design (Tzadik 7044) Considering how many releases Bill Laswell has done in the past 20 years, this is his first release of just electric solo basses and it is a complete tour de force. It covers the infinite variety of sounds and styles, that his diverse journey has taken him and us through - funk & free, smooth tones & noise, jazz & avant soundscapes. "Black Aether" has suspenseful gliding clouds that are splattered with occasional noise fragments. The incomplete (?) liner notes includes references (inspiration) for certain cuts, This Heat for the first piece. An aura of beautiful mystery surrounds on "Commander Guevara," with Bill's fretless bass droning a wondrous lyrical mist with Pharoah's bells, reference to Charlie Haden's somber & haunting "Song for Che." Bill turns up the funk on "Oceans of Borrowed Money," with its happening plucked groove, and it's weird alligator clip on strings chorus; the clips were utilized first when Bill was in Massacre with Fred Frith. More precious fretless & lovely drifting harmonics are found on "Aisha," with a hypnotic tamboura drone as the back - up. Ultra thick dub erupts thoughout "Night Air & Low Frequency," the cosmic drone bottom end rattling my speakers. "White Arc Spiral" has more astounding alligator clip avant funk interspersed slide bass sections, fuzz bass punctuation and drifting ambient hum. The finale - "Aghora" has a fat, melodic wah wah lead bass line that reverberates through mesmerizing layers of percussion & other bass samples. A complete delight! $14. 

 
• 12.ROMERO LUBAMBO - Lubambo (Avant 023) Romero is considered one the finest acoustic guitarists on this planet, this cd his one and only solo effort shows his talents on a grand scale. Born in Brazil, he came to NY in 1985 and has worked with Astrud Gilberto, Dianne Reeves, Flora Purim & Airto and Cyro Baptista. When Zorn asked him to do a solo work, his first response was "impossible," since his music was written for a group of musicians and through time and practice, he has created this gem. Romero has studied classical and jazz, as well as playing Brazilian pop music and has composed all the tunes on this cd, combining all of these styles. What I find most extraordinary is that Romero has taken the various roles of his ensemble and rolled them into one demanding multi - layered guitar experience. Certain fingers will pluck incredibly quick lines, while other fingers (often the thumb) will accompany the swirling lines with a bass under - current. Lovely Brazilian melodies float on top, while a web of complex lines sail in and around. One must listen closely to hear all that is going on. There is also a strong passion/force that pushes these pieces into emotional overdrive, a force that pulls one into its powerful current. Elegant, provocative and over - flowing with ideas. $18. 

 
• 13.CECIL TAYLOR/DEWEY REDMAN/ELVIN JONES - momentum space (Verve 314 559 944) This release seems to have taken many of us by surprise. It is the very first time that these three giants of avant/jazz have played together, considering they are all pushing 70! Dewey and Elvin played together for Ornette some 30 years ago, but that's about their only previous connection. Although Cecil and Elvin continue to lead their own astounding energy units, the last few times I have heard/seen Dewey, his playing was pretty sad/silly, if he didn't have a drinking problem, he certainly acted as if he did. So, I was prepared for some disappointment. But no, this trio has a unique balance that succeeds. Dewey's broad tenor tone is often a perfect foil, riding the stormy excursions that Cecil & Elvin unleash. Dewey adds his human quality, his sound is focused and never overwhelming, the other two push him, but never overboard. Former Artist House producer John Snyder has done a fine job of producing this momentous work, he adds a nice warmth to the sound. Both Elvin and Cecil get solo pieces, both are great, showing off their individual prowess, Cecil often plays with majestic restraint and has never sounded better! There are duo pieces as well, they too work well - while Dewey & Elvin start out calmly, they build in sections to an almost frenzy with Dewey screaming through his sax. The overly percussive Cecil seems a perfect match for Elvin in their duo, waves of notes flowing together into a solid mass. A powerful triangle! $15. 

 
• 14.PHAROAH SANDERS - Save Our Children (Verve 314 557297) Pharoah loves to confound us all, he is impossibly inconsistent both live and on record. In his 35 plus years on the scene he started screaming and honking with Coltrane & Sun Ra in the mid 60's, released about a dozen spiritually uplifting records for Impulse in the late 60's/early 70's, went even further out in the mid 70's on Strata East, eventually doing standards after that and occasionally singing. While his own releases in the 80's & 90's lacked fire, he can still blow the mighty spirits to the heavens on other leader's dates - Sonny Sharrock, Franklin Kiermyer & Tzisji Munoz! Two years back he put out his first major label date on Verve produced by Bill Laswell, once again pissing off the jazz snobs, due to its vocal tunes & pop elements. It probably sold better than anything Pharoah has done, I felt it was a strong date, although lacking in intensity. Which brings us to - 

 
• "Save Our Children" is Pharoah's second Laswell production and of course features a number of Bill's buddies - Bernie Worrell, Tony Cedras (Make a Move), Jeff Bova (Cypher 7), Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu and Abiodun Oyewole (Last Poets). Once more it is more pop & world music than jazz, too much cd - 101 & too little edge. The title tune is quite catchy, but one would expect it from Earth, Wind & Fire, not Pharoah. "Jewels of Love" starts with tranquil tablas & talking drums, but continues with Pharoah's too mellow soprano sax, excuse while I yawn. Tony Cedras adds his special spice on harmonium to "Kazuko" and "The Ancient Sounds" and they are actually quite beautiful, like something precious from 'Thembi.' Alex Blake's acoustic bass finally gets the groove pumping on "The Ancient Sounds," while Bernie & Pharoah start to soar. By this point, it is too little, too late. "Far - Off Sand" brings our mellow journey to its close, once again lovely, but a bit too new age. A snooze fest, if that's what one desires. $15. 15.JOHN LURIE - African Swim and Manny & Lo (SBM 17) I must admit that I love this & play it a couple of times every day. A total groove fest, that must make one smile. It doesn't matter that much that the personnel includes Marc Ribot, MMW, Sirius String Quartet and various Lounge Lizards past & present. It doesn't even matter that it consists of 25 short pieces from two film soundtracks that might not ever be seen. What does make this cd so wonderful is the abundance of fun, groove - oriented tunes, that will stay with you long after the cd ends. Parts are Ry Cooder like evocative spacious desert groove themes, with Ribot pulling off a number of short slinky solos. "Big Trouble" had my pal Kat & me giggling like fools with its all too real story told by Lurie about driving naked in his car - "oh no!" says the chorus. Many of the delicious and haunting themes are played by the clarinets of Doug Weiselman and Michael Blake and the bassoon of Janet Grice. Besides playing his usually nifty soprano sax, both Lurie & Ribot play guitars & banjos. And just when you think you have John Lurie pegged as some sort of jazzer, he includes and screams a short hardcore punk tune to surprise us all! Most of these pieces have a delightful, quiet, nutty charm all of their own, the only regret would be that they could be longer and develop more. Other than that, it is a totally groovy thing!! $14. 

 
• 16.LINDSAY COOPER - A View from the Bridge (Impetus 29831) Lindsay was/is the wonderful bassoon/soprano/sopranino saxist for our fave progressive 70's unit Henry Cow. She always adds her refined classical whimsy to each project and has released over a half dozen recordings under her own name; her composing has also been a constant source of inspiration to all who hear her. This grand two cd set collects both hard - to - find and unreleased works of Lindsay's from 1987 to 1998 and is perhaps her finest offering so far. Performers include Lindsay (also on piano & synth), vocalists Sally Potter, Maggie Nicols & Phil Minton, Alfred 23 Harth and Annemarie Roelofs, plus numerous classical musicians from England and Europe. In the past, we have heard much of Lindsay's work as a great improviser, playing the music of her old Cow cohorts or even backing David Thomas. "A View from the Bridge" is more about Lindsay the serious and diverse composer. "Concerto for Sopranino Sax & Strings" features Lindsay as the primary soloist with an orchestra of strings only from Bologna, Italy. Both the sopranino and the strings weave several strands into a refined tapestry of somber reflections. "Ophelia" is a duo piece for Lindsay on synthesizer and Sally Potter's voice near the end. Based on 'Hamlet,' it has a mid - evil feeling and ghost - like resonance with a few harpsichordian parts. Always nice to hear Sally Potter's warm voice. The amazing "Songs for Bassoon & Orchestra" is a rare treat where Lindsay gets to push the limits of her bassoon playing - dismantling it, adding wah - wah effects, playing like a didjeridu, all to fine orchestral backing. The second contains somewhat shorter but no less adventurous pieces. Brilliant through and through, to be cherished by the thoughtful listener. Two cd set for $25. 

 
• 17.EUGENE CHADBOURNE'S INSECT& WESTERN - The Intellectual & Emotional World of the Cockaroach (HoCP 008) Doesn't Eugene ever sleep? Five cds in two months? Jeez!?! Once more Dr. Chad edits a swirling mass of solo/duo/trio & groups into a seamless symphony of cockroach inspired insanity. The cast this time includes Leslie Ross, Carrie Shull, Charles Waters (of Gold Sparkle), Ted Reichman, Barry Mitterhof, Evan Gallagher, Brian Richie & Gino Robair (Splatter Trio). This work is a never - ending journey through the web of insect heaven & hell. Like humanity, cockroaches also have their own world, based on systems of survival, a thread unifies their world to ours, this music/journey also seems held together by a similar thread or flow of events. Eugene throws in a few moments of comic relief, but an aura of hushed desperation pervades, an avant glue jigsaw puzzle is what it appears as. It is said that the cockroach is the only creature that will survive nuclear annihilation, the only survivors. I once had a vision that takes place just after WWIII - the remnants of mankind are floating on a raft out in the ocean, on the shore all that is left are myriads of mutated cockroaches waving goodbye to what's left of humanity. This could be the soundtrack of that future movie. $14. 

 
• 18.MARC WAGNON - an afterthought (buckyball 004) Marc played (midi) vibes in Dr. Nerve in their early years and is currently a member of Tunnels with Percy Jones. This is his second release in about a decade and features Dave Douglas (also from Dr. Nerve), Ray Anderson and both Van Manakas & Frank Katz (also from Tunnels), plus a few other fine players I am unfamiliar with. It seems obvious to me that Marc is influenced by the godfather of all progressive musics - early period Frank Zappa, especially the era when Ruth Underwood played vibes & marimbas. The one tune that comes to my mind most is Zappa's "Inca Roads." Most of these tunes feature the cool operatic vocals & hilarious & well informed lyrics of Sarah Pillow, also Zappa - esque. Marc has composed some intricate and difficult charts for these players to navigate through. The playing is ultra tight and spirited, the solos by the horn players consistently strong. Only $10. 

 
• 19.JIM O'ROURKE - eureka (Drag City 162) Jim O'Rourke is becoming the renaissance man of the ever evolving Chicago scene. In less than a decade, he has gone from being a young hot shot guitar improviser and sound manipulator, collaborating with the likes of Henry Kaiser, Eddie Prevost, Gunter Mueller, Loren Mazzacane and Sonic Youth, as well as being the other half of Gastr Del Sol. He is also becoming a much in demand producer for Smog, Edith Frost, the Hoffman Estates thing...His last two solo cds, as well as the later Gastr releases, show him moving into a completely new direction - often acoustic, yet eclectic and possibly inspired by his idols - Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson, John Fahey & Burt Bacharach. "Eureka" is another ray of sunshine, elegant and uplifting, quaint and rich in delightful textures, quite the pure pop masterpiece. Jim even does most of the singing on "eurika" in a rather precious Robert Wyatt like style, and does most of the composing, too. The two covers are Ivor Cutler's "Women of the World" and Burt Bacharach's "Something Big." Interesting choices. The overall vibe of this fine work is that it sounds as if it were recorded in the innocent days of the mid 60's, a lovely hopeful day in spring. The only question that remains is the strange cover drawing of the pudgy mostly bald baby with a rabbit doll held to its crotch, hmmm. Superb! $14. 

 
• 20.ELTON DEAN TRIO - Into the Nierika (Blueprint 292) With Brit drummer Mark Sanders and Italian acoustic bassist Roberto Bellatalla. While Mark has played with Elton before on in a co - led quartet with Howard Riley, he has also recorded with Derek Bailey, but I don't recall Roberto's name before. A nierika is visionary tunnel between realities, a barrier between worlds. This is an extraordinary free - flowing trio playing three long cuts in about sixty minutes. It has that busy, tale spinning spirit of Euro free jazz at its finest! Elton concentrates on the often under - utilized saxello, a rare sax whose range is between the soprano & alto, a sax which he has been using since his early days with Soft Machine and the Keith Tippett Group in the 70's on "Following Through." When Elton picks up his alto sax, things even get more explosive. This is a strong, solid trio that anticipates each other's frenzied excursions, blazing, burning, over - flowing, dense, probing, pushing and on the edge of the abyss. Whoa! $17. 

 
• 21.JOEBOY IN MEXICO - s/t (Opcion Sonica 48) Featuring Steven Brown and Peter Principle formerly of Tuxedomoon. Tuxedomoon were an odd band that started in the Bay Area, recording on the Resident's label and later moved to Belgium. Original members Brown, Principle and Blaine Reninger went on to record a host of interesting solo releases, often found on the Crammed label. While Peter Principle has moved to NY a few years back, he often comes to our store to chat, Steven Brown has moved to Mexico where this cd was recorded with a number of Mexican musicians. This music has a dark glow, an ambient hum at center with mutant guitars, violin and sax. It is all textural soundscapes with occasional somber soloing, mostly selective samples and a throbbing thick undertow. This music is somewhat alien, like a less difficult Residents and almost progressive without the ego baggage of flexing one's instrumental prowess. It has a quirky charm of a world of it's own making. Is that one of those cheesy but cool electric toy saxes we so rarely see/hear? Seems so odd to hear saxes with no jazz in their sound, never pushing too hard, but often playing enchantingly. There is gloomy, yet melodic center to all of this, catchy in a twisted sort of way. Even the drum machine is used in a non obtrusive way, mostly just to advance the flow a bit. This is one continuous somber reptile, that quietly grooves in its own unique way. Mostly interesting. $14. 

 
• 22.FRIENDS OF DEAN MARTINEZ - atardecer (KFW 234) Some sort of Giant Sand offshoot, I believe this is their third release. Very cool instrumental, double electric guitars, psych - drone desert stark landscape dreams. Nice shimmering Ribotesque post surf twang with cute harmonica. Some sunny vibes later turn into sinister fuzzed steel guitar themes. Spaghetti western soundtrack sections mix pure acoustic guitars with lonely tremolo shivers. Slow paced evocations that unfold with soft hypnotic electro geetar sorcery. Ghosts quietly drift by, cactus shadows in the distance, restrained feedback softly howls and everything is caught in flux. Similar to the cosmic electric guitar environments that Tom Verlaine has been exploring in recent years. Well maybe not that great, but I'm still a sucker for this grooviness. $13. 

 
• 23.MARC SLOAN - While Playing Chess with the Former Artist (Offshore Records) Solo compilation from electric bass great (and sound manipulator) from Carbon & Gawk, recorded 1985 - '96. His recent duo gig with koto master Michiyo Yagi at DMG was marvelous! This cd is a slowly evolving world of animal samples, subtle electronic sounds, shifting textures, TV gunfire, distant heavy fuzz bass growls, select sound effects, swirling layers of noise, an ever - changing soundscape that moves at a snail's pace, ancient and modern phantoms, minimal information exchanges, a tea kettle whistles - sorry that was from my own kitchen, but who can tell - it all fits together like life itself. Very subtle & real. $12. 

 
• 24.ROBERT DRAKE - What day is it? (Creosore 011) Robert is the bassist for Thinking Plaque and the Pale Nudes. This is his first solo release from 1993 and has been hard to find for a while. He plays all of the instruments on it except for the drums on half the cuts by Dave Kerman from U Totem, Present...This is a fine release that never stays in one place/genre/style for very long. Although Robert's vocals often sound like Jon Anderson's from those bloated dinosaurs of prog/rock yesteryear - Yes, but he never overdoes it with pretentious lyrics or posing. He never sits still for very long, his songs constantly change into something different from where they began. Endlessly inventive, but not only progressive or even predictable. Simple tunes often switch, mid - shifting into electric bluegrass sections, sort of. Schizophrenia can be too much for us supposedly sane folks, but here it usually works. It reminds me of R. Stevie Moore at times, another tortured genius who doesn't know when to quit. In some ways it is like life in NYC, often exciting but occasionally a blur of activity. I really like this, but it will take a while to absorb it all. Actually, it is a lot of fun. A worthy, inexpensive reissue for $10. 

 
• 25.BIRDHOUSE (Freenote)They're the hardest working microtonal band in New York City. Compositions based on birdsong with an art song/rock/jazzy/world music vibe. Just intonation - fretless guitarist Jon Catler (La Monte Young's Forever Bad Blues Band) and vocalist Meredeth Borden map out the territory with percussionist/bassist Brad Catler (tablas, dumbek, percussion & bells - on - toes - no kidding!). Cameos by flautist Andrew Bolotowsky and drummer Jonathan Kane (also AFMM & FBBB). Everyone here is an alumni of the American Festival of Microtonal Music in NYC. I've heard this band quite a few times over the past two years and it's real nice to have a perfect document of this period in the bands history - I love it! Guitarist Catler shows the influence of mentor La Monte Young in microtonal clouds creating sum and difference tones that sound like choirs and Borden's birdsongs are a pleasure to ear. I'm always impressed with her range. 

 
Guest review by our web designer - David Beardsley 

Microtonal composer David Beardsley performs. David will perform live at DMG on Sun April 18th! Sonic Bloom with guitar synthesizer and echos. Mysterious drones that mesmerize the ears. 

• 26.RAPHE MALIK - ConSequences (Eremite 013) w/ William Parker, Denis Charles & S. Mateen - $13.
• 27.ROSCOE MITCHELL NOTE FACTORY - Nine to Get Ready (ECM 1651) w/ George Lewis, Matt Shipp, William Parker & Hugh Ragin!! Amazing playing & production!! $15.
• 28.PETER BROTZMANN/JOHANNES BAUER QT. - Wild Mans Band (9th World 013) Out/jazz!! $17.
• 29.BARRY GUY & MAYA HOMBURGER - Ceremony (ECM1643) Import - $15
• 30.PHILIPP WACHSMAN & PAUL LYTTON - Some Other Season (ECM 1662) Import - $15 
• 31.GARY LUCAS - @ the Paradiso (Oxygen 11) burnin' live 4 song ep!!! Reviewed next issue. $10.
• 32.GRAHAM HAYNES - Organik Mechanix (Ion 2006) Laswell collaborator, space - dub/ambient/jazz with DJ Spacecraft, Acustyk and Sonic Professa.$12. 

REISSUES & HISTORIC RECORDINGS REISSUES & HISTORIC RECORDINGS:

• 33.ROBERT WYATT - The End of an Ear (Columbia UK 493342) Incredible hard to find first solo effort from our fave Canterbury giant - weird spinning freeflowing Brit freejazz w/ Soft Machiners - - $12.
• 34.PERCY JONES QT./TUNNELS - s/t (Buckyball 002) mostly great fusion effort w/ Van Manakas on guitars, Marc Wagnon on midi vibes (from Dr. Nerve) & Frank Katz on drums (Brand X reunion) - - $10. 
• 35.MUTANTES - s/t, Os Mutantes & Divina Comedia (Omplatten) legendary pop/psych/bossa nova groop from late 60's Brazil finally released in the US by Jeff from Other Music & Johan Kugelberg. Perhaps we'll get a promo to review, as Johan promised. Stay tuned. All three are $13. 
• 36.TERRY RILEY - Olson III & Poppy Nogood (Cortical 3 & 4) Two long awaited & much anticipated treasures from the grandpappy of minimalism!! A major influence on early Soft Machine. Both are $14.

Due to illness (stultifying head cold), I'm just gonna keep it short this go around. So - 

If you're looking for some good, dark, Drum - n - Bass Source Direct's Exorcise the Demons (Astralwerks) and the Various Artist comp. Drum - n - Bass Conspiracy (Shadow/Instinct) come highly recommended to you. Menacing atmospheres meet aggressive cut and paste DnB rhythm trax, topped off with sinister bleeps, bloops, samples and sizzle letting you know that the Dark Day Of The 'Droid has finally come. 4 Crowns each. 

My Dying Bride have gone the way of other great Doom/Death bands like Paradise Lost and Mindrot and have abandoned their groundbreaking signature styles in favor of... mediocrity?. Into the void comes Em Sinfonia's debut MCD - In Mournings Symphony" (MMG Music). Featuring members of Broken Hope (an Emperor fave) and some sweet female vocals this CD delivers what it set out to - solid, heavy, doom metal. Nothing too original here and certainly nothing that wasn't already done better by MDB, but a good fix for the times when you just need to satiate the grey winter spirit with some crunch. 3 1/2 Crowns. 

Pro - Pain's Act Of God (Nuclear Blast) will certainly cement their reputation as the Bruce Springsteen of heavy/groove/bash rock. Same old same old here as Mr. Meskil and the boys put forth a fifth album of solid, competent... hmmm, not metal... not hardcore... Y'know what? Let's just start this review over. Imagine if AC/DC was a lot heavier but were still AC/DC, pounding out album after album of the same thing for years. There you have Pro - Pain, workhorse heaviness that will always please the fans and piss off guys like me who wish they would progress a little and become the explosive force that they could be. 

3 Crowns. 

Tribute albums tend to be a sorry lot and Straight To Hell: A Tribute To Slayer (Deadline) doesn't do much to dispel that theory. Let's face it, how many of us REALLY find ourselves saying "I'd really love to hear ___________ cover *********'s music". So why do labels think we need these things? There are a coupla highlights on this one like Dissection's cover of Anti Christ and Hypocrisy doing Black Magic, but the majority of this is filler by unknown bands covering the late 80's output of this legendary speed/thrash unit. 2 1/2 Crowns. 

Spamming The Globe, 

Downtown Music Gallery
342 Bowery 
New York, NY
10012-2408

212 473 0043
212 533 5059 fax

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