| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label | My Gnosis Rating |
| 1 | Birdsongs of the Mesozoic | Readymen | Dancing on a'a | 1995 | Cuneiform | 12 |
|
Birdsongs play an instrumental progressive dominated by winds, keys,
synthesized sounds, and flavored with guitar. The music is often
close to chamber music in it's gravity and dense compositional
structure. In the darker moments of the album, such as the song
featured here, you may be reminded of Univers Zero or Present,
while the rest of the album is perhaps closer to Miriodor.
Thankfully some of us will get the chance to see them at
Nearfest 2001 :-)
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic | ||||||
| 2 | Muffins | She Wears Her Dead Mother's Hat | Unsettled Scores (Various Artist) | 1994 | Cuneiform | 11 |
|
Unsettled Scores is an album of various Cuneiform artists playing the
music of other Cuneiform artists. On this song we hear the classic
American avant-rock/Canterbury-styled band The Muffins playing a
cover of a Forever Einstein composition. The Unsettled Scores
collection is a great way to get a taste for many of the artist on
the Cuneiform label, and especially since all performance are unique to
this set.
Unofficial Muffins homepage Cuneiform Records | Wayside Music | ||||||
| 3 | Spastic Ink | The Mad Data Race | Ink Complete | 1997 | Dream Circle Records | 10 |
|
Instrumental progressive-metal that could probably also be described
as "technical". Guitarist Ron Jarzombek started out in bands Slayer
and Watchtower. Without much of a metal bakground, there is not
many comparisons I can think of that are very relavent, though, some
of the guitar techniques and songs structures vaguely remind me of
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. It is nice to hear some hard-edged
metal-ish rock without cookie monster vocals. Also look for Ron
Jarzombek on the great Gordian Knot album.
Spastic Ink | ||||||
| 4 | Doctor Nerve | NerveWare No. 2 | Beta 14 ok | 1991 | Cuneiform | 10 |
|
Very complex and jarring avant-progressive music. Reminds me of things
like X-Legged Sally and (the one) Motem Totemist Guild album that I have.
The band is led by Nick Didkovsky who gathers a large ensemble of musicians
to execute his strange musical visions. As indicated from the liner-notes,
some of the compositions on this album result from Nick's experiments
with algorithmic compositions with the aid of a computer. Very interesting
music that is a favorite of the avant-prog crowd.
Doctor Nerve Home Page | ||||||
| 5 | A Triggering Myth | Il Voce | Between Cages | 1995 | Laser's Edge | 10 |
|
ATM are primarily a duo studio project, with some guest musicians, releasing
4 instrumental albums since 1990 on the Laser's Edge label. This song
is a tribute to Demetrio Stratos of Area and was recorded live in the
studio. The music on their albums is replete with modern synths and
guitars while expressing new and old progressive music ideals. Their
latest "Sins of Our Saviours" is considered their best, though I have
not heard it yet.
A Triggering Myth | ||||||
| 6 | Michael Shrieve | Jig Saw | Fascination | 1994 | CMP Records | 12 |
|
Michael Shrieve is perhaps best known as the original drummer for
Santana and especially for his performace at Woodstock at the age
of 17. But since the 1980's, Michael Shrieve has worked mostly in
the jazz scene making some excellent solo albums and collaborations
with such great musicians as Jonas Hellborg, David Torn, Bill Frisell,
Mark Isham, Shawn Lane, et al. On this album, Shrieve plays in a
trio format with Bill Frisell on guitar and Wayne Hortitz on organ
(both alums of John Zorn's bands). This is an excellent fusion that
is also one of my favorite showcases of Bill Frisell's playing.
Maitreya - Drums of Compassion | ||||||