A good week here at Squidco, as we happily filled the orders that came in during our Blue Squid / Black Friday sale, and then set about adding a stack of new albums that arrived over the last week. Thanks to our friendly customers and to the generous feedback we received during the sale — it really means a lot to us!

An OTOROKU note from the week. Some may have noticed the restocks of albums on the London OTOROKU label, along with new releases including albums by Capacitants and Ahmed. On the latter, we watched in awe as the albums we brought in flew off our shelves! As fans of the band, we'd brought in a good number of copies, but those proved to be only scratching the surface of interest and demand. We're currently waiting on the second pressing of that album, expected in January of the coming year. Anyone who pre-orders the album through our website will be notified as soon as they arrive.

Meanwhile, we have the following OTOROKU albums in stock, now with lower pricing than we've been able to offer previously — especially for their vinyl releases.

Thomas, Pat: The Solar Model of Ibn-Al Shatir [VINYL] (Otoroku)

The fourth solo piano album from British improviser Pat Thomas on Otoroku, recorded at London's Fish Factory and drawing from his Sufi faith and the legacy of Arabic scientific innovation, as Thomas explores cosmic motion and spiritual resonance through dynamic inside-piano techniques, harmonic clusters, and deeply personal, rhythmically charged improvisations.

Brotzmann, Peter / John Edwards / Steve Noble / Jason Adasiewicz: The Quartet [2 CDs] (Otoroku)

One of Peter Brötzmann's final recordings, captured live at Cafe OTO with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble, presenting two nights of emotionally charged and fiercely expressive performances that blend power, lyricism, and deep intergenerational connection in a fitting and resonant farewell to the legendary saxophonist.

Agnel, Sophie / John Edwards / Steve Noble: Three On A Match (Otoroku)

Recorded live at Cafe OTO, the formidable trio of pianist Sophie Agnel, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble delivers an explosive set of collective free improvisation, deconstructing their instruments into raw sound materials through playful intensity, percussive collisions, and a fearless, physical approach that dissolves the line between instrument and expression.

Connors, Loren / Alan Licht: The Blue Hour (Otoroku)

Celebrating three decades of collaboration, Loren Connors and Alan Licht performed at Café OTO in 2023, captured in their first set with Connors on piano before shifting to guitar, their improvisation unfolding with spacious warmth, melodic restraint, and shimmering textures that evoke Rothko-like hues, blending blues abstraction and lyrical fragments into a calm, luminous dialogue.

Mitchener, Elaine: Solo Throat [VINYL] (Otoroku)

Recorded at Hackney Road Studios in London, vocalist, composer, and movement artist Elaine Mitchener presents her first solo LP, drawing on the works of African-American and African-Caribbean poets Edward Kamau Brathwaite, Aimé Césaire, Una Marson, and N.H. Pritchard, creating twelve vocal compositions that disrupt semantic sense through phonetic freedom, silence, and multiphonics.

Agnel, Sophie: Learning [VINYL] (Otoroku)

Incapacitants: Chwalfa (Otoroku)

Capturing their first UK appearance since 2016, the duo of Toshiji Mikawa and Fumio Kosakai unleash two blistering sets of "hard noise" at Cafe Oto, forging scorched-earth tape loops, feedback vortices, and pedal-chain eruptions into a ferocious, fire-music-level onslaught that channels pure chaos into a gripping, cathartic sonic upheaval.

The other major effort this past week was work on our upcoming Squid Note Records releases, particularly the first album due in January: Remergence's Wave Benders. Remergence is the trio of Steve Hirsh on drums, Matt Hollenberg on guitar, and Dave Sewelson on baritone sax and harmonica. The album is a real blast of assertive, electric free jazz.

The pre-order for this release will be available before the end of the year, along with a chance to hear some of the playing on the album. Here's a bit of background the band shared with us:

"Steve, Dave, and Matt first crossed paths in New York City, weaving their sounds together in intimate trio settings and vibrant sessions with friends — including an unforgettable performance at MoMA PS1. Each carried their own musical lineage, and when their voices met, something singular emerged: a sound that felt both grounded and untethered, familiar yet entirely new.

Sensing that they were on to something they envisioned a future for the collaboration. That vision found its chance when Steve applied for support from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Encouraged by this support, Dave and Matt journeyed to Minnesota, where the trio brought their evolving sound to life in performances across Minneapolis and Duluth. It was there they had a chance to go into the studio and make these recordings creating a genre that hasn't got a name and making music in a collaboration only possible now."

Some Drops from Haker-Flaten:

I first became aware of Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Hĺker-Flaten through his work with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, particularly the Clean Feed release Townorchestrahouse with Evan Parker and Sten Sandell. In the company of such impressive improvisers he immediately caught my interest, and I've followed his work ever since. Hĺker-Flaten brings an assertive, muscular attack to his playing, but with a positive, open attitude that lends his music a sense of momentum and exuberance.

I was a little late to the game, as Hĺker-Flaten first emerged in the 1990s as one of the defining figures in the new wave of Scandinavian free jazz. Growing up in Oppdal, he studied jazz at the Trondheim Conservatory, where he formed early bonds with musicians who would become vital to his career - most notably Nilssen-Love, along with Mats Gustafsson. He was a member of groups including The Source, Close Erase, Scorch Trio, Atomic (a band I obsessed over in the early 2000s), and then one of my personal favourite improv groups, The Thing, with both Gustafsson and Nilssen-Love, inviting outstanding guests like Neneh Cherry and Joe McPhee.

By the mid-2000s he had migrated to Chicago to work with some of the finest musicians in that fertile improv scene, including Ken Vandermark, Dave Rempis, Tim Daisy, and dozens of other like-minded artists. Chicago sharpened his approach: more groove-forward impulses, more open-ended forms, and a deeper relationship with jazz history. He later moved to Austin, Texas, perhaps the most enlightened of the conservative state's cities. Exposed to rock, noise, and electronic textures, his collaborations expanded his writing into more eclectic territory - embracing bass guitar as fluidly as upright, incorporating effects, and tilting toward multi-genre collage.

Returning to Norway, this year Hĺker-Flaten released the album Drops with his ensemble Exit, who had released the album Breezy in 2024. Exit is an octet featuring drummer Olaf Osen and saxophonist Mette Rasmussen, in an orchestration that includes electronics and guitar. Based around compositions that allow significant freedom for the players in highly interactive interplay, the album is a revelation in the convergence of styles and approaches that Hĺker-Flaten has developed over the decades. Destined for my top albums of 2025, Drops is an embraceably exciting release that satisfies all my expectations from this great bassist and ever-expanding composer.

Here are some albums from or featuring Hĺker-Flaten, showing the breadth of styles and the remarkable associations with master improvisers that he works with.

Haker Flaten, Ingebrigt (Exit) Knarr: Drops (Sonic Transmissions Records)

For their third studio release, bassist and composer Ingebrigt Hĺker-Flaten leads his (Exit) Knarr septet through graphic scores that blend visual art, mythology, electronics, and free jazz into a vivid collective process, the ensemble — now including Amalie Dahl and Marta Warelis — shaping long and short forms alike into explosive, texturally rich works of improvisational energy and imagination.

Haker-Flaten, Ingebrigt (Exit) Knarr: Breezy (Sonic Transmissions Records)

Bringing together his Knarr ensemble for a second recording, bassist and composer Ingebrigt Hĺker Flaten leads Mette Rasmussen, Karl Hjalmar Nyberg, Erik Kimestad Pedersen, Oscar Grönberg, Jonathan F. Horne, Olaf Moses Olsen, Oddrun Lilja Jónsdóttir, and Joakim Rainer Petersen in an exuberant homage to Jaimie Branch, weaving spirited improvisation, textured arrangements, and collective joy into a vibrant and heartfelt statement.

Young Mothers, The (Haker-Flaten / Rosaly / Taylor / Jackson / Gonzalez / Horne): Better If You Let It [VINYL] (Sonic Transmissions Records)

After a six-year hiatus, The Young Mothers return with their third album as Ingebrigt Hĺker Flaten, Jawwaad Taylor, Jason Jackson, Stefan Gonzalez, Jonathan F. Horne, and Frank Rosaly merge jazz, hip-hop, experimental rock, electronics, and free improvisation into a restless and unpredictable collective statement, balancing cinematic flair with raw immediacy in their most dynamic release to date.

Thing, The (Gustafsson / McPhee / Haker Flaten / Nilssen-Love): She Knows... (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Named for a Don Cherry composition included on this album, the core trio of The Thing--Mats Gustafsson on reeds, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums--is joined by saxophonist and pocket trumpter Joe McPhee, recording classic free jazz and harmolodic pieces by Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, James Blood Ulmer, Frank Lowe, & Joe McPhee.

Starlite Motel (Alberts / Saft / Haker-Flaten / Nilssen): Awosting Falls [VINYL] (Clean Feed)

Scandinavian and American musicians join together to form this quartet, with Kristoffer Berre Alberts on saxes, Jamie Saft on organ and keys, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums & electronics, for an album of spacey and groove oriented jazz.

Rempis / Haker-Flaten / Daisy / Rosaly: Harvesters [2 CDs] (Aerophonic)

The Rempis Percussion Quartet in their French debut after 15 years of touring elsewhere through Europe, with Dave Rempis on sax, both Tim Daisy & Frank Rosaly on drums and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on bass, performing an exuberant concert recorded at Le Petit Faucheux in Tours, with trumpeter Jean-Luc Cappozzo joining for one extended improv, plus a live workshop for young immigrants and a rare studio session.

McPhee, Joe : Defiant Jazz: a Joe McPhee Taster [VINYL] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

A vinyl-only sampler spanning 1970-2007, showcasing Joe McPhee's fiercely inventive spirit through funk-driven grooves, spiritual jazz depth, fiery collaborations with Cato Salsa Experience and The Thing, and intimate duo interplay with Paal Nilssen-Love - a defiant, time-jumping portrait of one of improvised music's most dynamic voices.

Mazurek, Rob Exploding Star Orchestra / Small Unit: Spectral Fiction (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Compressing his Exploding Star Orchestra to a sextet, Chicago trumpeter Rob Mazurek presents two expansive works of ecstatic, exploratory electric and groove-oriented jazz, performed with Damon Locks (voice, electronics), Tomeka Reid (cello), Angelica Sanchez (Wurlitzer electric piano), Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten (double bass) and Chad Taylor (drums).

Mazurek, Rob & Exploding Star Orchestra: Live at Adler Planetarium [VINYL] (International Anthem)

Drawing from the 2023 studio album Lightning Dreamers, trumpeter and bandleader Rob Mazurek assembles a stellar lineup — including electric pianists Angelica Sanchez and Craig Taborn, cellist Tomeka Reid, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, drummers Chad Taylor and Gerald Cleaver, and vocalist Damon Locks — for a psychedelic improvisational journey recorded under the dome of Chicago's Adler Planetarium.

Emmeluth, Signe / Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten / Axel Filip: Hyperboreal Trio (Relative Pitch)

Drawing on deep collaborative history and shared risk-taking instincts, the trio of alto saxophonist Signe Emmeluth, bassist Ingebrigt Hĺker Flaten, and drummer Axel Filip deliver a debut of fierce, textural improvisation, recorded in Trondheim and shaped by dynamic interplay, shifting atmospheres, and a fearless drive to chart new sonic terrain.

Cambien, Jonas: Maca Conu (Clean Feed)

Commissioned by Norway's Motvind festival, Belgian-born, Oslo-based composer & keyboardist Jonas Cambien takes a sly approach to his compositions, incorporating contemporary & experimental forms with solid free jazz playing, performed with drummer Andreas Wildhagen, bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, saxophonist Signe Emmeluth and guest trombonist Guro Kvale (Scheen Jazzorkester).

Bridge, The (Amado / von Schlippenbach / Haker-Flaten / Hemingway): Beyond the Margins (Trost Records)

Assembled by Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, this stellar quartet bridges nations with German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, Norwegian double bass player Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, and American drummer Gerry Hemingway, presenting the extended, masterful collective title track, along with two shorter works, particularly revisiting Albert Ayler's "Ghosts".

Angles 3: Parede (Clean Feed)

Martin Kuchen's Angles band changes shape constantly, originally a trio and expanding as large as Angles 10, but this album, recorded live at SMUP, Parede, Portugal in 2016, returns the band to the original trio of Kuchen on sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on double bass, and Kjell Nordeson on drums & percussion, reworking Angles compositions to their essence.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

December 4, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Rempis/Adasiewicz/Corsano -Dial Up [CD] (Aerophonic)
Musicworks Magazine -#152 Fall 25 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)
Yong Yandsen -Mud [CD] (Armageddon Nova)
Naoko Saito -The Moon In Diffuse Reflection [CD] (Armageddon Nova)
Samuel Reinhard -For 10 Musicians [CD] (elsewhere)
Leap of Faith Orchestra -Nonlocality Becoming Manifest [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Expanse -The Striking Of Solid Objects [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Expanse -Hue Cycles [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Neurodivergent Orchestra -Monsters Gonna Monster [CDR] (Evil Clown)

December 4, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Eric La Casa / Marc Baron - Contrefaccons (Swarming) by Jeph Jerman.

December 4, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: CHANGES TO blind - Volume 9 - I Wave on a Fine Vile Mist (Squidco) by Dave Madden.

December 2, 2025: New @ Squidco:
[ahmed] (Thomas/Grip/Gerbal/Wright) -Sama'a (Audition) [2 LPs] (Otoroku)
Fred Frith & The Gravity Band -s/t [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Elliott Sharp -Mare Crisium [CD] (zOaR Records)
Anthony Coleman -Sounding Board [CD] (zOaR Records)
Nels Cline/Elliott Sharp -Open The Door [CD] (Public Eyesore)
Mike Osborne/Stan Tracey -Original [CD] (Cadillac Records)
Incapacitants -Chwalfa [CD] (Otoroku)
Sarah Hennies -SOVT [CD] (elsewhere)
What Is Music -Volume 1 Liquid Metal Dreaming [CD] (MusicNow)

December 2, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Katie Porter - Conversation No. 1 / Collecting Rocks from the Places We've Been (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

December 1, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Butcher / John Edwards - This Is Not Speculation (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by John Eyles.

Busy days in the world of squids as we gear up for our annual Black Friday (Weekend) Sale, make some much-needed improvements to our shopping cart, and continue production on the next three albums for our Squid Note Records label. It's one of those stretches where everything seems to happen at once — the behind-the-scenes tuning of the site, the planning that goes into a big sale, and the creative work of bringing new music into the world. All of it keeps the shop humming, and all of it reminds us how alive and wide-ranging this community can be.

For Wilmington-area music obsessives, we're also deep into preparations for our annual Hooked on Sonics "X-Mess" show at The Barzarre, where we'll be presenting six performances of pure, year-end chaos. If you're nearby, mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 25th — it's always one of our most gloriously ridiculous nights of the year.

Squid Note Records Teaser:

Our own digital label is preparing for three new releases in January of 2026. Here are the album covers, I will have much more to write about all three in the coming weeks!

---

---

Satoko Fujii Quartet:

For more than twenty years beginning in 2001 — with a long pause after 2007 — pianist Satoko Fujii has assembled a formidable quartet featuring bassist Hayakawa Takeharu, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura (her husband), and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. I was first drawn to this particular configuration among Fujii's many ensembles because of Yoshida, best known for his work with the fiercely inventive, instrumentally driven rock duo Ruins and his own Magaibutsu label. Yoshida injects a rock-fueled intensity into the group, matched by Hayakawa's deep experience across both jazz and rock. Together they bring out the most energetic and assertive sides of Fujii and Tamura, creating a powerfully expressive band that smashes through boundaries of jazz, rock, and experimental music — always with humor, spontaneity, and wonder.

Below are the quartet's albums featuring Yoshida that remain available. For me, Burning Wick stands as one of the year's highlights. Though the quartet lay dormant for eighteen years, Fujii's collaborations with Yoshida continued in other striking ensembles: Amanojaku, Kira Kira (with Alister Spence), and Toh-Kichi, her fiery duo with Yoshida. Each offers a brilliant example of their sometimes blistering improvisation — music that brims with excitement and fearless invention.

Satoko Fujii Quartet (Fujii / Tamura / Yoshida / Takeharu): Burning Wick (Libra)

Founded in 2001 and reunited after their last album in 2007, the quartet of Satoko Fujii (piano), Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Hayakawa Takeharu (bass), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) unleashes a high-energy blend of avant jazz-rock, shifting from atmospheric fragments to dense, electric-edged turbulence, driven by sharp contrasts, ferocious rhythms, and the group's volatile, genre-bending interaction.

Amanojaku (Yoshida / Fujii / Tamura): Bishamonten (Magaibutsu)

Emerging from an improv session during the pandemic, Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Satoko Fujii (piano), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) formed Amanojaku, named after the contrarian demon of Japanese folklore, embracing a balance of composition, improv and mischievous interplay with a uniquely Japanese sensibility through virtuosic spontaneity and irreverent humor, captured live at Koen-dori Classics.

Kira Kira (Fujii / Tamura / Spence / Yoshida): Kira Kira Live (Alister Spence Music)

Picking up from their 2018 album Bright Force, the quartet of Libra label leaders Satoko Fujii on piano and Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, with Australian improviser Alister Spence on Fender Rhodes electric piano, and now with Magaibutsu/Ruins legend Tatsuya Yoshida on drums, are heard in two wildly powerful 2024 concerts at Koendori Classics in Tokyo and at Jazz Inn Lovely, Nagoya, with compositions from each member.

Fujii, Satoko Quartet (w/ Tamura / Takeharu / Yoshida): Dog Days of Summer (Libra)

One of Satoko Fujii's wildest groups, the quartet of Fujii on piano, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Hayakawa Takeharu (HAYAKAWA, Dr. Umezu Band) on bass and Magaibutsu label leader & Ruins drummer Tatsuya Yoshida present their first album since 2007, expanding their assertive approach to improv in an adventurous set that merges rock and jazz forms with lyricism and power.

Toh-Kichi (Satoko Fujii / Tatsuya Yoshida): Baikamo (Libra)

The duo of Japanese improvisers, pianist Satoko Fujii and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, continue their collaborations which includes many albums with the Satoko Fujii Quartet, their duo "Erans" record on Tzadik, and the original "Toh-Kichi" album on Victo, here in a new studio album of intricate, energetic and ebullient improvised dialogs, named for the aquatic flower "Baikamo".

Fujii Quartet, Satoko: Minerva (Libra)

"The Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii sure took her followers by surprise with Vulcan, the first album by her quartet. Minerva pushes things a bit further down the rocky road without crossing over to the extremes of Toh-Kichi, her live duo set with Ruins drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. This second opus features the same lineup: Yoshida, bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura. If it moves further away from the avant-garde jazz of Fujii's trio than Vulcan did, it packs less of a punch, mostly because of a somewhat weaker sound. The drums remain too low in the mix, and when Hayakawa steps on the distortion pedal, the bass should roar instead of fizzing out like this. The album begins with "Tatsu Take," a quirky and light composition by Tamura (the other four are by Fujii). If you forget the fact that it fades in awkwardly, it works out very well. Then comes "Warp," menacing with its heavy bass riff, reminiscent of Frank Zappa's "Filthy Habits." Yoshida pitches in some of his trademark vocals, but more importantly drums the tune all the way to hell. In contrast, "Weft" includes a swinging piano solo. The closer, "Caught in a Web," consists of a free-form first half dominated by some of the drummer's most delicate work to date and Tamura's bubbling interventions, before moving into the metrically challenging theme and variations. More convincing in its fusion of avant jazz and avant-prog idioms but less riveting sonically, Minerva still has quite a ride to offer if you dare step inside."-François Couture, All Music

Fujii, Satoko Quartet: Angelona (Libra)

"Forming a progressive alliance of jazz and rock, Satoko Fujii unleashes Angelona with a flash-bang authority that grabs you hard and fast. It's her quartet's best performance to date. While Vulcan (2001) was named after the Roman god of fire, Minerva (2003) was named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, and Zephyros (2004) was named after the Greek god of the west wind, this one contains an allure that applies to all audiences. Angelona's program represents a collage of musical ideas that spans the entire world of contemporary music.

Angelona, a goddess of secrecy, represents the power that Fujii has injected into her compositions. Her piano surges with an intimidating percussive force that carries you away on golden rails. The impressionistic landscape turns in many directions, allowing the listener to interpret at will. Aside from her intriguing musical ideas and the freedom that her quartet exhibits, one thing sets the ensemble apart from the rest: its spirit. Fujii's piano pushes and pulls, cajoling her quartet with basic musical elements, all finely tuned through experience.

Electric bassist Takeharu Hayakawa lends an exciting presence that dominates the session with powerful throbs. Drummer Tatsuya Yoshida propels the unit with sparks of rhythmic anxiety. Trumpeter Natsuki Tamura provides a beautiful tone with creative strokes that feed the ensemble, while Fujii fashions her musical interpretations through an intricately woven web of silk. Together, the four artists combine fire and ice, balancing their effusive performance with lovely melodic statements and a rhythmic groove.

While Angelona represented secrecy applied to the body of mythological beliefs of an ancient society, Angelona comes to us with wide-open expression through Satoko Fujii's progressive ensemble."-Jim Santella, All About Jazz

Fujii, Satoko Quartet : Vulcan (Libra)

"In October 2001, Satoko Fujii released two albums simultaneously: a fourth CD of her trio with Mark Dresser and Jim Black (titled Junction) and this much more surprising CD with a new quartet. Vulcan showcases the pianist and her husband, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, paired with bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, regular collaborator Kazutoki Umezu, and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, the dynamo behind the avant-rock maelstrom that is the duo the Ruins. The promises this lineup holds beautifully come to fruition on Vulcan, a clash of avant-garde jazz and free rock. Yoshida is as powerful and inventive as ever, but fans of Satoko Fujii may feel worried when after pressing the play button "The Sun in a Moonlight Night" starts: The drummer's trademark vocal improvising is not the most reassuring greeting for the unsuspecting listener. But don't worry too much; after all, the project is led by the pianist, who composed most of the material (Tamura contributes two pieces). The aforementioned opening track is the best example of fusion on the CD. Afterwards, things drift more toward Fujii's usual grounds. "Ninepin" and "Junction" are also featured on this album's twin brother, but the former piece is much more satisfying here with an inspired bass introduction. The title track from the other CD turns into ferocious fusion and may very well be the most eloquent proof of Fujii's talent as an arranger. The rhythm section lets loose, almost breaking into an incarnation of the Ruins for a brief moment. Tamura sounds especially at ease in the more extreme passages. Vulcan is hotter than anything Satoko Fujii recorded before, closer to her recordings with her orchestra than her trio sessions. Strongly recommended for those who think they can handle it."-François Couture, All Music

Fujii, Satoko / Tatsuya Yoshida: Toh-Kichi (Les Disques Victo)

"Fujii, a great big band composer and eclectic post-Taylor pianist, and Yoshida, drummer for the Ruins, might have seemed an odd match. But Fujii has great ears and knew just how to steer the powerful Yoshida. There were some incredible stop-time passages, some locked-hands playing from Fujii, strange vocalising, and even a zipper solo from Yoshida. Altogether, the two seemed to be having a great deal of fun! Mike Chamberlain, Signal to Noise, Fall 2002.
Compatriots Satoko Fujii and Tatsuya Yoshida thrillingly demonstrated the virtues of Speed Metal Improv. The piano/drums duo threw itself headlong into a wild and bogglingly precise exchange of hammering percussion and jabbering voices - part battle, part hyperactive dance. A flawless composite of jumpcuts, the set spanned the musical map from hardcore and Metal to boogie-woogie and tango, ending with a hilarious impromptu rendition of "The Girl From Ipanama".-Christopher Cox, The Wire, July 2002

577 Colored Vinyl Issues:

Last week we added 16 colored vinyl albums on the 577 label previously only available from the label itself. These came from the earliest vinyl issues on the label, and contrasted with the black vinyl issues. For this week you can see them listed in our introductory sale, authorized by the label to be introduced at a special price before returning to their full $24.95 retail price.

Here are the top sellers in the set, a number of which will be out of print soon.

Carter, Daniel / Tobias Wilner / Djibril Toure / Federico Ughi: New York United Volume 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)

The second volume of this rich and exotic quartet in a sublime merging of jazz, electronics and compositional approaches yielding melodically dream-like music and environments, from reedist, flutist && trumpeter Daniel Carter, Tobias Wilner (Blue Foundation) on synth and keys, Wu-Tang Clan bassist Djibril Toure and Italian/NY drummer Federico Ughi.

Carter, Daniel / Matthew Shipp / William Parker / Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)

The 2nd of two studio albums from the quartet of Daniel Carter on saxophone & flute, Matthew Shipp on piano, William Parker on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, recordings from the same sessions as the 1st volume with five shorter works, as the long-time collaborators and friends show their nearly telepathic rapport in adventurous and masterful modern jazz.

Carter, Daniel / Evan Strauss / 5-Track / Sheridan Riley: The Uproar In Bursts Of Sound And Silence [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)

A collage of styles and experimentation developed over several years by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Evan Strauss, using long-form graphically notated conceptual compositions based on bird calls along with thematic material from Ursula K. Le Guin, expanded with narration and poetry from Daniel Carter and titled from an excerpt by Virginia Woolf.

Mela, Francisco feat. Matthew Shipp / William Parker: Music Frees Our Souls, Vol. 1 [BLUE VINYL] (577 Records)

A member of pianist McCoy Tyner's Trio and Joe Lavano's Quartet, New York drummer Francisco Mela's own career as a leader is heard in this energetic trio album with two of NY's finest--pianist Matthew Shipp and bassist William Parker--recording in the studio in Brooklyn in 2020 for two extended and powerful collective improvisations and a brief "Dark Light".

Ackerley, Jessica / Patrick Shiroishi / Chris Williams / Luke Stewart / Jason Nazary: SSWAN: Invisibility is an Unnatural Disaster [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)

Rugged, experimental and avant jazz in the debut album from the SSWAN group of Patrick Shiroishi on saxophones, Chris Williams on trumpet, Jessica Ackerley on electric guitar, Luke Stewart on bass and Jason Nazary on drums, the group focused first on sound and velocity rather than pitch and harmonic information as they carve out a unique space between free jazz and free improv.

Amba, Zoh / William Parker / Francisco Mela: O Life, O Light Vol. 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)

The second volume from the trio of Tennessee-to-NYC transplant Zoe Amba on tenor saxophone & flute, legendary double bassist William Parker and Francisco Mela on drums, performing three compositions by Amba recorded in the studio in NYC; emphatic free jazz with a powerful rhythm section elucidating Amba's spiritually fueled approach to compelling, lyrical improvisation.

Cleaver, Gerald / Brandon Lopez / Hprizm: In The Wilderness [COLOR VINYL] (Positive Elevation / 577 Records)

Drawn from an experimental improv performance by drummer Gerald Cleaver and bassist Brandon Lopez at 577 Records' 2019 Forward Festival, electronic artist and producer Hprizm of the Antipop Consortium took those recording to reconstruct twelve works of illusory and often surreal music, from active beat-based electronica to hazy dreamlike ambience.

Tucker, Dave / Pat Thomas / Thurston Moore / Mark Sanders: Educated Guess Vol. 1 [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)

The "guess" was guitarist and electronics artist Dave Tucker's educated guess that these four musicians--himself, pianist/keyboardist Pat Thomas, guitarist Thurston Moore and drummer/percussionist Mark Sanders--would create someting extraordinary if he brought them together for a concert at London's Cafe OTO, this boundary-pushing album the indisputably successful result.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

November 25, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Webb Crawford / Michael Foster / Joey Sullivan - Against Proper Objects (Relative Pitch) by Jeph Jerman.

November 20, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Ivo Perelman/Nate Wooley -Polarity 4 [CD] (Burning Ambulance Music)
Joe McPhee -Defiant Jazz: a Joe McPhee Taster [VINYL] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Eliane Radigue -Asymptote Versatile (1963-64) [CD] (Amgen Records)
Dan Banks/Trevor Taylor/Jose Canha -UpsideDown | InsideOut [CD] (FMR)
Daniel Levin -Living [CD] (Smeraldina-Rima)
Daniel Carter/Patrick Holmes/Matthew Putman/Hilliard Greene/Federico Ughi -Telepathic Mysteries, Vol. 2 [CDR] (577 Records)
Jacobo Vega-Albela -Un-Belonging [CDR] (577 Records)

November 20, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Lawrence Casserly / Emil Karlsen - Aspects Of Memory (Bead Records) by Jeph Jerman.

November 20, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Magda Mayas / Jim Denley - One Another (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

November 18, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear:
Steve Swell

November 17, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Fujii/Tamura/Yoshida/Takeharu -Burning Wick [CD] (Libra)
Armaroli/Piccolo/Sharp -Imaginary Songbook [2 CDs] (Dodicilune)
Ayako Kanda/Elliott Sharp -Hi-Gengo [CD] (Erototox Decodings)
Henry Threadgill -Listen Ship [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Henry Threadgill (Ross/Frisell/Besile-Che/Okazaki/Harris/Takeishi/Keren/Carlberg) -Listen Ship [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)
Fieldwork (Iyer/Lehman/Sorey) -Thereupon [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Fieldwork (Iyer/Lehman/Sorey) -Thereupon [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)
Dan Weiss (w/ Evans/Okazaki/Brennan) -Unclassified Affections [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Dan Weiss (w/ Evans/Okazaki/Brennan) -Unclassified Affections [VINYL 2 LPs] (Pi Recordings)
Eva Novoa Trio (w/ Daniel Carter/Francisco Mela) -The Freedom Suite, Vol. 2 [CDR] (577 Records)
Eva Novoa Trio (w/ Carter/Mela) -The Freedom Suite, Vol. 2 [VINYL] (577 Records)

November 17, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Irene Schweizer / Rudiger Carl / Johnny Dyani / Han Bennink - Irene's Hot Four (Intakt) by Massimo Ricci.

It's been a busy couple of weeks here as we've focused on upcoming releases for the late fall and winter seasons, while also continuing to navigate the shipping challenges caused by U.S. tariffs. The good news is that we've worked out several major purchases with EU and UK labels that we'll be announcing soon, including opportunities for significant price reductions on some important releases.

I've also spent a great deal of time preparing three upcoming Squid Note Records releases, which I'll share with you in my next blog entry. As a teaser, we'll be introducing a beautiful West Coast duo of acoustic guitar with reeds and accordion; a smoking psychedelic improv trio of sax, drums, and guitar; and a remarkable, wildly energetic solo cello album.

We're still finding our footing on the digital-album side of things — a shift from our long-standing stance of offering physical media only. Even so, our core identity remains rooted in the art objects themselves: beautifully crafted compact discs, vinyl LPs, and cassettes, along with the occasional USB edition or art object paired with download codes. These formats preserve the history and permanence of great music, and that commitment remains central to what we do.

Between Notes and Breath: The World of Sei Miguel:

A sad note this week as I learned of the passing of trumpeter Sei Miguel. We've carried his albums since our early days — back in 2006 we picked up his The Tone Gardens CD on the Creative Sources label, featuring Fala Mariam on alto trombone, Rafael Toral on electronics, and César Burago on percussion. A beautiful album rooted in a reductionist approach to improvisation, it drew me in much in the same way that the early minimal works of Jacob Wick, Axel Dörner, Birgit Uehler, or Nate Wooley did. Following his own aesthetic and singular approach to the trumpet, Miguel created a virtual sonic garden — tightly controlled, delicately shaped, and completely compelling.

Moving forward to the present era, one of the standout releases from the recently reborn ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd is Panorama, the trio of cellist Daniel Levin, trombonist Fala Mariam, and Sei Miguel on pocket trumpet. Miguel's long and meaningful collaboration with Fala Mariam connects these recordings, but his influence radiates far more widely across the Lisbon scene. His impact can be heard through his lasting relationships with Abdul Moimeme, André Gonçalves, Armando Pereira, Bruno Parrinha, Bruno Silva, Carlos Santos, César Burago, Ernesto Rodrigues, Guilherme Rodrigues, Hernâni Faustino, Luís Lopes, Miguel Mira, Nuno Torres, Paulo Curado, Pedro Gomes, Pedro Lourenço, Rafael Toral, Raphael Soares, Rodrigo Pinheiro, and Rodrigo Amado — a virtual who's who of Lisbon's experimental improvisers.

Miguel also collaborated with an impressive range of international artists, including the aforementioned Daniel Levin, as well as David Toop, Joe Giardullo, John Butcher, Harvey Sorgen, Evan Parker, and Luís Vicente, to name only a few.

A little history: Born in Paris in 1961 and raised between France, Brazil, and eventually Portugal, Sei Miguel developed a singular approach to the trumpet that would profoundly shape Lisbon's experimental and improvisational music landscape. Though he lived a peripatetic early life, it was in Portugal that his artistic identity took definitive form, becoming one of the country's most quietly influential musicians and thinkers.

Settling in Lisbon in the 1980s, Miguel crafted an aesthetic entirely his own — sparse, distilled, and intensely focused on micro-gesture and ensemble interaction. His sound placed enormous value on structure within improvisation, often reducing material to essential contours that balanced silence, resonance, and tightly controlled timbre. This approach became a cornerstone of the Lisbon scene long before its international visibility; for many musicians in Portugal, Miguel was both a mentor and a philosophical guide.

In the early 2000s his work found an ideal home on Creative Sources, the Lisbon label that documented much of the city's emerging improvisational language. Albums such as The Tone Gardens, No Circus, and Winter Garden revealed the precision and abstraction that defined his music — carefully shaped miniature structures, unexpected spaces, and a compositional sense rare in free improvisation. These recordings introduced a wider audience to the quiet radicalism at the heart of his work.

At the same time, Miguel cultivated a series of ensembles that embodied his evolving concepts: small groups exploring modular forms, larger formations working with timbral counterpoint, and duos that highlighted his uncanny sense of melodic compression. His long-term collaborators — including trombonist Fala Mariam and various members of what became known as the "Sei Miguel Unit" — helped realize a body of music that was at once rigorous and delicately poetic.

Throughout his career, Miguel remained dedicated to the idea that improvisation could be composed "from the inside," with each musician responsible for maintaining the architecture of the piece even as it unfolded. His influence on Portuguese music is impossible to overstate; generations of improvisers cite him as a foundational presence.

Miguel's final years brought renewed international attention, culminating in the ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd release that paired him with American cellist Daniel Levin — a dialogue that illuminated just how distinct, refined, and forward-looking his musical vision remained. The album stands as a fitting final document: two improvisers meeting across histories and aesthetics, with Miguel's voice still unmistakably nestled in the spaces between sound and silence.

Sei Miguel leaves behind an extraordinary body of work and a deep imprint on Portugal's creative music community — a legacy built not on volume or spectacle, but on carefully shaped sound, attentive listening, and an unwavering commitment to artistic clarity.

Levin, Daniel / Fala Mariam / Sei Miguel: Panorama (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Performing in the liminal space between free improv, jazz & chamber-oriented improvisation, the trio of American cellist Daniel Levin with long-time Portuguese collaborators Sei Miguel on pocket trumpet and Fala Mariam on alto trombone, come together for these authoritative recordings in Lisbon, captured in the studio and at a live performance of solos & duos at Galeria Ze dos Bois.

Miguel, Sei Unit Core: Road Music (Clean Feed)

Recordings from concerts throughout Portugal between 2016-2021 from pocket trumpeter Sei Miguel's quartet with Fala Mariam on alto trombone, Bruno Silva on electric guitar and Pedro Castello-Lopes on percussion & drums (Pandeiro & Kalengo), uniquely orchestrated works often simplifying larger orchestral concepts, clarifying these warmly embraceable original Miguel compositions.

Miguel, Sei: The Original Drum (Clean Feed)

Four unique compositions from Portuguese trumpeter Sei Miguel, whose work embraces jazz history while incorporating his own music systems, here each piece varying the size of each grouping with one constant, his frequent sideman, alto trombonist Fala Mariam; plus luminaries including Rodrigo Amado, Ernesto Rodridgues, Helena Espvall, Nuno Torres, Rafel Toral, Paulo Curado, &c.

O Carro de Fogo de Sei Miguel: Um Um Um, E Nao Ha Forma De Morrer (Shhpuma)

Trumpeter & composer Sei Miguel's second O Carro De Fogo De Sei Migue continues his merging of electric jazz with ea-overtones, in three live recordings with Fala Mariam on trombone & Rings, Nuno Torres on saxophone & Rings, Bruno Silva on electric guitar, Pedro Lourenco on electric bass, Andre Goncalves on organs & ATMOS and Luis Desirat & Raphael Soares on percussion.

Isotope Ensemble: Uranium (Creative Sources)

Continuing their exploration of isotopes, here focusing on the unstable element Uranium, the Portuguese Isotope Ensemble led by violist Ernesto Rodrigues presents two stunningly detailed concert performances from the 2021 CSFest XV at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon, with some of Europe's leading improvisers taking on U92 in both "Electroacoustic" and "Acoustic" properties.

Miguel, Sei: O Carro De Fogo De Sei Miguel [VINYL] (Clean Feed)

Recording live in the Namouche Studios in Lisbon in 2018, trumpeter Sei Miguel's octet performs a large work translating to "Fire Car", inspired by William Blake's "Jerusalem" (Chariot of Fire), reminding of early 70's Miles/fusion work as organist Andre Goncalves creates an atmospheric backbone over which the band introduces repetition and variation; mysterious and singular.

RED trio and Celebration Band: Suite 10 Years Anniversary [2 CDs] (NoBusiness)

The Red Trio of pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro, bassist Hernâni Faustino and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini mark their 10th anniversary as a trio on this 2-CD set of an outstanding concert in Lisboa, PT, joining forces with the 13-member Celebration Band, whose members include John Butcher, Ernesto Rodrigues, Luis Vicente, Sei Miguel, Rodrigo Amado, Mattias Stahl, Carlos Santos, &c.

Variable Geometry Orchestra: Lulu Auf Dem Berg (Creative Sources)

Miguel, Sei : (Five) Stories Untold (Clean Feed)

A collection of "stories untold" with varying line-ups, from a duo with Fala Mariam to a sextet with Mariam, Nuno Torres, Rodrigo Amado, Jose Bruno Parrinha & Paulo Curado, including the participation of other musicians like Carlos Santos, Hernani Faustino, Luis Desirat & Moz Carrapa.

Afterfall (Lopes / Giardullo / Miguel / Duboc / Sorgen): Afterfall (Clean Feed)

Luis Lopes put together this international group including Sei Miguel, Joe Giardullo & Benjamin Duboc for gigs in Portugal, which worked so well that they went to the studio for this impressive release.

Miguel, Sei: Esfingico - Suite for a Jazz Combo (Clean Feed)

A four part suite bridging compositional and improvisational music from Portugese pocket trumpeter Sei Miguel in a quintet including Rafael Toral on modulated electronics.

Variable Geometry Orchestra: Stills (Creative Sources)

Triple CD from Variable Geometry Orchestra, who create music by juxtaposing acoustic and electronic sound matter with subliminal and psycho-acoustic side effects.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

November 13, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Ken Vandermark -October Flowers for Joe McPhee [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Pat Thomas -Hikmah [CD] (Tao Forms)
Pat Thomas -Hikmah [VINYL w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tao Forms)
JEM3 (JT Lewis/Elliott Sharp/Marco Cappelli) -Apices [CD] (Klanggalerie)

November 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sylvain Kassap / Steve Swell / Benjamin Duboc / Chad Taylor - Edges (RogueArt) by Nick Ostrum.

November 12, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Natural Information Society (Abramss/Alvarado/Avery/Stein) -Perseverance Flow [CD] (AGUIRRE RECORDS)
Russ Lossing -Proximity Alert [CD] (Blaser Music)
Thollem -Worlds in a Life, Two [CD] (ESP-Disk)
Kesherul Neg Pineg -The Book Of Pig [VINYL] (Tour de Bras)
Expanse -Loud & Furious Tongues [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Metal Chaos Ensemble -Ephemerol [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Turbulence Orchestra -Density Fluctuation [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Sophie Agnel/Joke Lanz -Ella [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Sopa Boba -That Moment [CD] (Sub Rosa)

November 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Mats Gustafsson / Ken Vandermark / Tomeka Reid / Chad Taylor - Pivot (Silkheart) by Andrey Henkin.

November 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Elliott Sharp / Scott Fields - Réimsí Géara (Relative Pitch) by Massimo Ricci.

November 5, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Thanos Chrysakis - Psyche (Eternal Music Projects) by Massimo Ricci.

November 4, 2025: New @ Squidco:

Sylvie Courvoisier/Wadada Leo Smith -Angel Falls [CD] (Intakt)
Fred Frith/Maria Portugal -Matter [CD] (Intakt)
Evan Parker/Joelle Leandre -Long Bright Summer [CD] (RogueArt)
Insect Life -Insect Life [CDR] (577 Records)
Webber/Morris Big Band -Unseparate [VINYL 2 LPs] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Mary Halvorson Amaryllis -About Ghosts [CD] (Nonesuch)
Donny McCaslin -Lullaby For The Lost [VINYL] (Editions)
Don Ellis -The 1960s Albums [4 CD BOX SET] (Enlightenment)
Don Cherry/Krzysztof Penderecki -Actions [VINYL 180g] (Intuition)

November 3, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Fred Frith / Shelley Burgon - The Life and Behavior (Relative Pitch) by Paul Serralheiro.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

October 30, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Michel Doneda / Le Quan Ninh / Nuria Andorra - El Retorn De L'Escolata (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by Dave Madden.

October 30, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: CHANGES TO blind - Volume 9: I Wave on a Fine Vile Mist (Squidco) by Paul Serralheiro

October 30, 2025: New @ Squidco:
John Butcher/Ute Wassermann/Martin Blume -Leaflight: Close Calls [CD] (FMR)
Paul Dunmall -A Bad Day At The Office for Charles Ives [CD] (FMR)
Bucher - Countryman -Phra-se-ol-o-gy [CD] (FMR)
Udo Schindler/Katharina Weber -Sichtungen & Lichtungen [CD] (FMR)
Udo Schindler/Paul Rogers -Ephemeral Essences [CD] (FMR)
Oakland Reductionist Orchestra -West And East Baying [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Impro-Viziok 2.2. -Anna (The Music Of Szilard Mezei) [CD] (FMR)
Tim Richards Trio (w/ Alex Keen/Daniel Howard) -Four Aces [CD] (FMR)
Marcello Magliocchi/Adrian Northover/Domenico Saccente -Over The Edge [CD] (FMR)
Bryan Eubanks -Songbook [VINYL w/ DOWNLOAD] (Sacred Realism)
Patricia Brennan -Of The Near And Far [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)

October 29, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear:
Rutger Zuydervelt a.k.a. Machiefabriek

October 28, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Patricia Brennan -Of The Near And Far [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)
Bucher/Tan/Countryman -Nonlinear Expressions [CD] (FMR)
James McKain/Damon Smith/Weasel Walter -... Seeing the Way The Mole Tunnels... [CD] (Balance Point Acoustics/ International School of Evidence)
Simon Rose/Nicola Hein -Moon [CD] (Confront)
Anouck Genthon/Lionel Marchetti -Suite Blanche [2 CDs] (UnRec)
Bertrand Gauguet/Jean-Luc Petit -Radiesthesie [CD] (UnRec)
Bertrand Gauguet/Didier Lasserre -Mehr [CD] (Akousis Records)
Kasper Toeplitz T. -Erosions Programmees [CD + BOOKLET] (Akousis Records)
Le UN (Agnel/Battus/Chiesa/Doneda/Gauget/Marchetti/Petit) -Le Havre [VINYL + CD] (UnRec)

We took a few deep breaths over the last two weeks to catch up on new releases and plan for the next couple of months as we prepare for the holiday season and adjust to the cooler weather here in the Northern Hemisphere. That gave us time to make some updates to our websites and do a little housecleaning in our catalog. We also finalized agreements on three new digital albums on our own Squid Note Records, which I'll write more about soon.

Since my last entry, the biggest additions to our catalog came from Relative Pitch Records, with four excellent new albums. As a true fan of electric harpist Zeena Parkins, I was excited to hear her duo with Cecilia Lopez, a fellow explorer who merges electronics and live processing to create unique sonic environments. Their live concert at Roulette Intermedium is presented on Redshifts, giving us virtual access to an outstanding set of inventive and compelling sonic dialogs.

Continuing these ideas of sonic exploration, I was unfamiliar with the solo work of Berlinde Deman, though she has collaborated with Machinefabriek and appears on Dave Douglas' Secular Psalms. Here Deman develops a series of rich and introspective works using the serpent — a low-pitched aerophone and hybrid between brass and woodwind instruments. Her playing is beautifully paced and exotic, augmented with electronic effects that make for a mesmerizing album.

The collective trio of María Valencia (alto saxophone, Bb clarinet), Matt Moran (vibraphone), and Brandon Lopez (bass, percussion) is heard live at iBeam in Brooklyn. I know Valencia from her solo album on Relative Pitch, Compendio de Alofonias Abisales, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Here she is joined by two improvisers I follow closely — Lopez and Moran — and the concert is diverse and rich with creative impulse.

Parkins, Zeena / Cecilia Lopez: Redshifts (Relative Pitch)

Harnessing Zeena Parkins's electric and acoustic harps and ebow-piano alongside Cecilia Lopez's custom-built RED speaker-wire instrument and electronics, this live Brooklyn set fashions a singular sonic architecture where plucked strings, feedback networks and sustained fields fold into one expansive, sculptural conversation of improvisation and invention.

Deman, Berlinde: Plank 9 (Relative Pitch)

Exploring the resonant depths of the serpent, a low-pitched lip-reed aerophone, and her own voice through effects and extended techniques, Belgian musician Berlinde Deman crafts an intimate and deeply personal sound world where breath, tone, and distortion intertwine, her slow and deliberate process unfolding like a meditative journey toward balance, discovery, and quiet transformation.

Borges, Sofia / Ada Rave: The Unseen Pact (Relative Pitch)

Recorded in their first meeting, percussionist Sofia Borges and saxophonist Ada Rave forge a vivid, intuitive dialogue of fire and reflection, blending spontaneous storytelling with fierce lyricism and dynamic restraint; their improvisations unfold like ritual acts of empathy and resistance, where every strike, breath, and silence reveals an unspoken pact between sound and spirit.

Valencia, Maria / Matt Moran / Brandon Lopez : Tarabita Espiral (Relative Pitch)

Recorded live at IBeam in Brooklyn, the trio of María Valencia (alto saxophone, Bb clarinet), Matt Moran (vibraphone), and Brandon Lopez (bass, percussion) weave a richly textured improvisation of lyric tension and resonant space, where breath, metal, and wood converge in shifting layers of sound, balancing volatility with quiet reflection in an atmosphere of deep, intuitive dialogue.

Pyroclastic releases their third album with vibraphonist and composer Patricia Brennan, whose star continues to rise through collaborations with some of New York's finest, including Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Matt Mitchell, Dave Douglas, Dan Weiss, and Adam O'Farrill. For this album, Brennan composes for five stellar constellations — Antlia (The Air Pump), Aquarius (The Water Bearer), Andromeda (The Chained Woman), Lyra (The Lyre), and Aquila (The Eagle) — along with a piece for graphic score (Citlalli) and a work inspired by the essence of those constellation pieces. The results are lyrically rich, inspiring exceptional performances and destined to be among my top releases for 2025.

Brennan, Patricia: Of The Near And Far (Pyroclastic Records)

A stellar ensemble of strings, piano, guitar, drums and electronics performs Patricia Brennan's constellation-derived compositions, weaving data-mapped harmonies, celestial mythology and improvisation into vivid chamber-jazz textures that balance luminous exploration with introspective depth as each instrument expands its sonic role in the music's cosmic design.

Weiss, Dan (w/ Evans / Okazaki / Brennan): Unclassified Affections (Pi Recordings)

Drummer and composer Dan Weiss brings together Peter Evans (trumpet), Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), and Miles Okazaki (guitar) in a set of compositions written for their distinct voices, shifting from meditative calm to intense peaks, weaving intricate contrapuntal textures and improvisations into a mysterious and transcendent collective sound.

Fujiwara, Tomas: Dream Up (Out Of Your Head Records)

Recorded at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, drummer and composer Tomas Fujiwara introduces his Percussion Quartet with Patricia Brennan on vibraphone, Tim Keiper on African strings and percussion, and Kaoru Watanabe on Japanese drums and flute, blending global traditions into vivid, imaginative works that traverse groove, texture, and color with striking originality and depth.

Douglas, Dave (Douglas / Ridout / Adewumi / Brennan / Pass / Royston): Alloy (Greenleaf Music)

Created for the Festival of New Trumpet Music, Dave Douglas leads a sextet with a trio of trumpeters — Douglas, Alexandra Ridout & Dave Adewumi — plus Patricia Brennan on vibes, Kate Pass on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums, their collaboration unfolding from Douglas' lyrical compositions that highlight the breadth of brass voices, collective interplay, and vibrant ensemble synergy.

O'Farrill, Adam : For These Streets (Out Of Your Head Records)

Brooklyn trumpeter Adam O'Farrill leads a superb octet — Mary Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibes), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), and others — through dramatically inventive compositions inspired by the literature and arts of the 1930s, balancing angular rhythmic intensity, rich melodic lyricism, and expressive improvisational depth with adventurous sophistication.

Brennan, Patricia Septet (Irabagon / Shim / O'Farrill / Gilmore / Herrera / Cass): Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic Records)

For her third album as a leader, NY vibraphonist and composer Patricia Brennan expands her band to a septet with bassist Kim Cass, drummer Marcus Gilmore, percussionist Mauricio Herrera, saxophonists Jon Irabagon and Mark Shim and trumpeter Adam O'Farrill also on electronics, for an exciting, widely embracing and fully modern album of compelling modern jazz, bound to be a 2024 top 10!

Halvorson's, Mary Amaryllis: Cloudward (Nonesuch)

The second release from NY guitarist Mary Halvorson's Amaryllis band of Halvorson, Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), with Laurie Anderson on violin featured on one track, for eight exquisitely optimistic, diverse and genre-merging Halvorson compositions.

Fujiwara, Tomas (Fujiwara / Reid / Brennan): Pith (Out Of Your Head Records)

Drawing on the same trio heard on his RogueArt release, 7 Poets Trio, Boston-born Brooklyn-based composer and drummer Fujiwara presents a set of six sophisticated works along with one collective improvisation, utilizing the unique orchestration of vibraphonist Patricia Brennan and cellist Tomeka Reid to create a diverse set of highly rewarding recordings.

Brennan, Patrick S0nic 0penings: Tilting Curvaceous (Clean Feed)

Patrick Brennan's compositions propose a series of groove instances or cells, each laying out a contrasting polyrhythm in bass & treble so that at least two melodic lines can be played over them simultaneously and the series looped, cleverly accomplished with Brian Groder on trumpet, Rod Williams on piano, Hilliard Greene on bass, Michael TA Thompson on drums and Brenann on sax.

Brennan, Patricia (w/ Herrera / Cass / Gilmore): More Touch (Pyroclastic Records)

Three drummer/percussionists and bass make up vibraphonist, marimbist, improviser and composer Patricia Brennan's sophomore album, reimagining the percussion quartet through jazz, new music and latin influences including Mexican folkloric roots, working with deceptively relaxed, highly interactive grooves that turn angular melodies into warmly irresistible music.

Brennan, Patrick / Maria do Mar / Ernesto Rodrigues / Miguel Mira / Hernani Faustino / Abdul Moimeme: The Sudden Bird Of Waiting (Creative Sources)

A studio recording from the electroacoustic sextet of saxophonist & cornetist Patrick Brennan, Red Trio bassist Hernani Faustino, and Creative Sources collaborators Maria do Mar on violin, Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Miguel Mira on cello, and Abdul Moimeme on electric guitars & objects, in a spirited set of concise and open-minded free improvisations.

Brennan, Patrick / Abdul Moimeme: Terraphonia (Creative Sources)

Portuguese guitarist and experiementer Abdul Moimeme, once a student of US free jazz saxophonist Patrick Brennan, now joins him as Moimeme employs two electroacoustically altered guitars played simultaneously with objects, Brennan performing on sax and cornet, as they create unusual and assertive abstract sonic environments, intensely detailed and gripping.

Mitchell, Matt : Phalanx Ambassadors (Pi Recordings)

The sophisticated compositions of New York pianist Matt Mitchell on piano, also performing on synthesizer, are heard in this quintet with Miles Okazaki on electric & acoustic guitars, Patricia Brennan on vibraphone & marimba, Kim Cass on bass, and Kate Gentile on drums & percussion, a challenging album that rewards through intensity and incredible detail.

The Age of Zines:

When I first started collecting albums in the late '70s, and especially in the '80s, I would always spend time browsing the magazine and book sections of every record store. Being a reader at heart, I learned a great deal from magazines like DownBeat and JazzTimes, and even more from Option and The Wire, which focused on outside improvisation and experimentation. Even further out was the 'zine scene of the '80s, where truly underground music was covered, often with unusual artwork. For a few years I wrote for one of my favorites, Fact Sheet Five, which covered anything sent their way — a broad swath of music from punk and hardcore to conceptual sound work. The merging of art, language, and criticism reminds me of scenes in the Bay Area, London, or Downtown New York, where genres and styles are simply elements of something new, blending disparate approaches and disciplines (or gleefully ignoring them altogether!).

I was reminded of that spirit with the latest release from The Gate, known mostly for their Tubapede albums. The core trio — Dan Peck on tuba and effects, Tom Blancarte on bass, and Brian Osborne on percussion — has released what I believe is their second live album, archly titled Almost Live. The packaging took me back to those unusual 'zines of the '80s, featuring a viciously humorous riff on the Deutsche Grammophon label on the cover of an accompanying magazine filled with warped graphic imagery. It's a perfect fit for the dark composition on Side A of this cassette release, and the accompanying remix on Side B. Drawn from live performances, guests include fellow New York-based innovators Cecilia Lopez, Sam Pluta, Aki Onda, and Zach Rowden. My copy now sits with my 'zine collection, reminding me that the creative — and cracked — world of outside music is still alive and as twisted as ever.

Gate, The : Amost Live [CASSETTE + MAGAZINE] (Imploding Sounds)

A cryptic live document from The Gate's expanded lineup — Dan Peck, Tom Blancarte, Brian Osborne and guests — casting subharmonic dread, electroacoustic rupture, and dirge-like trance into two versions of the same ritual, where Almost Live blurs performance and fabrication and the Marston Mix sinks the remains into deeper, uncharted gloom, accompanied by a fractured visual zine of equal disquiet.

Gate, The: Scum [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tubapede)

A heavy and wild ride in the 9th album from New York's The Gate of composer and tuba player Dan Peck, bass player Tom Blancarte and percussionist Brian Osborne, concise pieces of heavy melodic elements, dark riffs and an ominous attitude, intersecting with plundered asides and anxious pauses, a strong addition to their discography and an engrossing collection of deep disturbance.

Erica Dicker / Dennis Sullivan: Blood Luxury [CASSETTE w/ DOWNOAD] (Tubapede)

Delicate abrasions and corruption of their instruments from the NY duo of Erica Dicker (Till by Turning) on violin and Dennis Sullivan (Radical 2), 9 works of improvised soundscape and avant-raw chamber music through prepared strings, tapes, looped feedback, resonant metals, modified snares and liberally bowed surfaces, richly constrained and luxuriously blood-curdling.

Gate, The (Peck / Blancarte / Osborne): Live! [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD CODE] (Tubapede)

The NY based, long-running trio The Gate led by Dan Peck on tuba and effects, with double bassist Tom Blancarte and drummer Brian Osborne, in a cassette culled from live concerts in Hannover and Brussels while on a European tour in November of 2015, "a brutally unfiltered representation of The Gate's special brand of spontaneous composition."

Gate, The (Peck / Blancarte / Osborne): Island Virus (Tubapede)

NY Tuba-driven trio The Gate led by Dan Peck on tuba & effects, with Tom Blancarte on upright electric bass and Brian Osborne on percussion, in a studio album of shorter pieces exploring the dark side of the huge brass instrument and the band's dark, enormous sound, with tongue-in-cheek titles like "Black Bird of Death Spewing Death Puke"; ominously impressive.

Peck, Dan: Solo [VINYL] (Tubapede)

Inspired by Nikola Tesla and Karlheinz Stockhausen's collection of text pieces, "From the Seven Days", tuba player Dan Peck's solo album is an intense collection of deep tones in bold minimalism, and in clatteringly frightful tuba interactions.

Searching The 'Ear:

Those who have been watching our sites (Squidco and The Squid's Ear) will have noticed the incremental changes to The 'Ear over the last few months. Whenever I've had a moment to spare — a rare commodity — I've focused on pages of the magazine that don't lay out well on mobile devices. Last week I had an epiphany about the Search page, which was one of the worst offenders in that regard. After an afternoon session, I was able to update the templates to respond properly to screen size, finally laying out in a useful manner on smaller devices.

The original search engine remains the same, and it's a piece of programming I've always been proud of: users can search for any or all words in a query, or for an exact phrase, and the fields searched include artist, title, label, and author. The results alternate background colors, making it easier to pick out the entry you're looking for. All of that functionality has been there all along — and now anyone visiting the site should find the feature actually useful.

To date, we've published almost 3,000 articles and reviews, with 12 million reads. Our writers are independent from Squidco, free to share their opinions on the albums they choose to review. We also started an interview series this year that highlights the perspectives of some of the most interesting artists in the Squidco catalog. All of this while the magazine remains free — and free of generic advertising and pop-up interruptions. If you have a moment, search through the magazine and discover a wealth of solidly descriptive and insightful writing that makes us proud to be the home of these independent viewpoints.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

October 27, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters - S/T (Corbett vs. Dempsey) by Nick Ostrum.

October 23, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Taborn/Cline/Gilmore -Trio of Bloom [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)
Eri Yamamoto/Matthew Shipp -Horizon [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Maria Valencia/Matt Moran/Brandon Lopez -Tarabita Espiral [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Zeena Parkins/Cecilia Lopez -Redshifts [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Berlinde Deman -Plank 9 [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Sofia Borges/Ada Rave -The Unseen Pact [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Jean-Luc Guionnet -L'Epaisseur de l'air Live [CD] (Potlatch)
Michael Pisaro-Liu -Within (2)/Appearance (2) [2 CDs] (Confront)
Jason Kahn -All Across The Universe [CD] (Editions)
Jason Kahn -When Your Way Gets Dark [CD] (Editions)

October 22, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halverson - Bone Bells (Pyroclastic Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

October 21, 20252: New @ Squidco:
Pierre Favre/Sergio Armaroli/Andrea Centazzo/Francesca Gemmo -The Art Of Sound(s) (first visit) [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Ben Stapp -Uzmic Ro'Samg (Live Solo Tuba) [CDR] (577 Records)
Jasper Stadhouders/Jaap Blonk -JaJaa! - Improvisers [CD] (Kontrans)
Daniel Levin -Solo [CD] (ears&eyes Records)
Laurent Estoppey/Daniel Levin -Sumac [CD] (ears&eyes Records)
The Gate -Amost Live [CASSETTE + MAGAZINE] (Imploding Sounds)
Laura Singh Ann Quintet (w/Clark/Hopkins/Lilley/Miller) -Mean Reds [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Halls Of the Machine -All Tribal Dignitaries [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Copy This!)

October 20, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Joe Henderson - Our Thing to In 'N Out Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.) by Paul Serralheiro.

One couldn't help but notice how quiet things were on Squidco and The Squid's Ear last week, at least until Thursday when we launched our Squidco Harvest Sale. The main reason for that lull was order manager Carl Kruger's vacation to the mountains of North Carolina, which shifted my usual blog time into managing the many tasks he normally handles so deftly. I also had yet another round of shipping complications, as global postal services have become increasingly strict about customs data in the age of US tariffs. The result was a change to our metering to take advantage of Global Advantage, promising faster delivery through USPS. All of that consumed much of the week and, combined with the sale, meant we didn't add any new releases.

Consequently, this week will be full of activity, with new albums appearing on the site by mid-week and a regular mailing list at week's end. We'll feature a new artist interview on The Squid's Ear and return to our regular review schedule. Look out for new releases from Relative Pitch, Confront, another ezz-thetics title from Hat Hut, Ltd., Copy This!, a monstrous outing from The Gate on Imploding Sounds, new titles from 577 Records, Laura Singh on Out Of Your Head Records, the duo of Jasper Stadhouders & Jaap Blonk on Kontrans, and two Daniel Levin albums on ears&eyes Records.

Lastly, by the end of the week we expect to confirm three new albums on our digital label, Squid Note Records.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

I haven't missed a week in this blog for quite some time, so apologies for last week's absence. We've been deeply involved with new releases and recent purchases, while still spending time dealing with international shipments and tariffs. None of that stopped some truly great music from arriving at our door, making for a wonderful two-week listening session here at the Squidco offices.

On top of that, we're working on three new albums for our digital Squid Note label, which we hope to announce soon. We're also on the verge of becoming the U.S. distributor and fulfillment partner for an important domestic label. If all goes well, we'll have some major news to share in the coming weeks.

But back to the music. From the last two weeks' mailing lists, there are some exceptional titles to highlight. Let's start with the most recent arrivals: four new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. titles from the newly reformed board that took over from Werner X. Uehlinger. From their press announcement earlier this year:

The iconic Swiss music label Hat Hut Records is reaffirming its legacy and forging ahead into the future. Just after celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Basel-based label has re-established its direction under new leadership. Musician Marco von Orelli and Melanie Imhof now helm the label as part of a newly formed Board of Directors, joined by founder Werner X. Uehlinger, Swiss saxophone pioneer Co Streiff, and long-time friend and companion of the label, Christian C. Dalucas.

The label's renewed focus begins with European improvisers and composers, starting with the quartet of Swiss musicians — trombonist Robert Morgenthaler, vibraphonist Christopher Dell, bassist Fridolin Blumer, and percussionist Heinz Geisse. This album, branded with the traditional orange Hatology colouring, is a fine example of modern collective free improvisation, guided into lyricism through years of shared experience.

Christoph Gallio of the Percaso label (Day & Taxi) interprets a lesser-known work by Gertrude Stein through sixty-nine concise vignettes, with only the final two lasting more than a minute. It's an engaging work of fascinating diversity and charming song-lettes, reminiscent to my ears of Steve Lacy's approach — but in miniature.

Two pianists, Francesca Gemmo and Magda Mayas, come together in First Visit, with Gemmo focusing on the outer parts of the piano and Mayas exploring the inner. It's a remarkable album that demonstrates the breadth of sound possible from the instrument, particularly in the hands of such inventive artists. Mayas is perhaps the better known of the two, but Gemmo will be familiar to many from her work with Andrea Centazzo and her collaborations with vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli.

On the contemporary side, Cat Hope presents a major work expressing outrage over the treatment of refugees. Performed live with an ensemble of bass instruments, a community choir, and four vocalists, the work is profoundly moving — an appeal for compassion and a portrayal of suffering expressed entirely through sound rather than words, hence the title Speechless.

Blumer / Dell / Geisser / Morgenthaler: Beyond Scope (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

A seasoned quartet of trombonist Robert Morgenthaler, vibraphonist Christopher Dell, bassist Fridolin Blumer, and percussionist Heinz Geisser recorded in Zurich, exploring the essence of free improvisation through deep listening and spontaneous structure, where interplay and attentiveness replace convention, revealing the magic that happens in the space between the rules.

Gallio's, Christoph Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone : Yet Dish (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Inspired by Gertrude Stein's experimental poem Yet Dish, Swiss saxophonist Christoph Gallio leads an ensemble with vocalist Sonia Loenne, bassist Vito Cadonau, and percussionist Flo Hufschmid in a nuanced exploration of language and sound, transforming Stein's rhythmic abstractions into vivid musical dialogues where wit, structure, and spontaneity intertwine with poetic precision.

Gemmo, Francesca / Magda Mayas: Tides In The Mirror (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Recorded in Verona, Italy, pianists Francesca Gemmo and Magda Mayas engage in an intricate dialogue between piano and prepared piano, blending Gemmo's contemplative lyricism and impressionist echoes with Mayas's inventive explorations of touch, timbre, and texture, creating a vivid and unpredictable sonic landscape of tension, nuance, and resonance.

Hope, Cat: Speechless (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Composed by Cat Hope and recorded live at the Tura and Perth Festival, this striking opera for four vocal soloists, bass orchestra, and community choir unites the visceral voices of Caitlin Cassidy, Judith Dodsworth, Sage Pbbbt, and Karina Utomo under conductor Aaron Wyatt in a profound, wordless protest against the inhumanity of refugee detention and a moving appeal to shared compassion.

The other exciting news — and a real challenge to importnews — are the four new releases on Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!). Each is a noteworthy addition to the label's extraordinary catalogue. I went straight to the trio of Peter Evans, Joe Morris, and Tyshawn Sorey, being a long-time admirer of all three and their many projects. This release feels more composed than improvised, thanks to the exceptional focus and interplay of these musicians.

In contrast, the Ray Anderson/Joe Hertenstein Quartet brings a set of compositions from its members, creating a lyrical and fascinating collection of live and studio recordings. Trombonist Ray Anderson appears again, in more concentrated form, alongside tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman in a remarkably elastic duo set — an exchange full of wit, technique, and deep musical chemistry.

The set concludes with another compelling trio — trumpeter Luís Vicente, bassist John Edwards, and percussionist Vasco Trilla. All three are well represented in Squidco's catalogue, and these studio recordings reaffirm why each is in such demand as an improviser in a wide range of settings.

Pereleman, Ivo / Ray Anderson: 12 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and trombonist Ray Anderson distill their proven chemistry heard in the quartet album Molten Gold (FSR 03|2023), here in twelve concise, alchemy-titled improvisations, Perelman's elastic lines and altissimo edge intertwining with Anderson's plunger color, slide glissandi, and buoyant phrasing to forge vividly conversational miniatures of texture, tension, and release.

Anderson, Ray / Joe Hertenstein Quartet feat. Michael Moore / Michael Formanek: 7th Dinner Live (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Drawn from three 2024 concerts in Berlin, St. Johann, and Cormons, drummer Joe Hertenstein's touring trio with Michael Moore (reeds) and Michael Formanek (bass) welcomes trombonist Ray Anderson, the quartet forging strong themes and free-form interplay where Anderson's ebullience, Moore's lyricism, Formanek's foundational lines, and Hertenstein's flexible drive spark constantly evolving momentum.

Evans, Peter / Joe Morris / Tyshawn Sorey: Comprehensive (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Recorded at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn in 2025, this first document of Peter Evans (trumpet), Joe Morris (bass), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) captures four expansive improvisations where Evans's quicksilver trumpet, Sorey's architecturally detailed drumming, and Morris's tensile bass cohere into a lucid, high-energy trio language that balances raw edge with striking clarity.

Edwards, John / Luis Vicente / Vasco Trilla: Choreography of Fractures (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

The first documented meeting of bassist John Edwards, trumpeter Luís Vicente, and percussionist Vasco Trilla channels the duo rapport of Vicente/Trilla into a volatile trio language, where tensile bass arcs, quicksilver trumpet figures, and textured percussion intertwine from hush to rupture across four expansive studio improvisations captured in Portugal — forcefully fractured.

Last week we also introduced three new albums on Pi Recordings, each on CD (LP versions are due at the end of the month). The standout is the latest from Henry Threadgill, a composer and saxophonist I've followed since the early 1980s. Here, he brings together a remarkable ensemble of six acoustic guitarists and two pianists for a unique album of pointillistic interaction, titled simply by the letters of the alphabet.

Speaking again of trumpeter Peter Evans, his contribution to drummer Dan Weiss's Unclassified Affections stands out within a modern quartet featuring vibraphonist Patricia Brennan and guitarist Miles Okazaki. And, at long last, Fieldwork returns! Seventeen years after their last recording, the trio of Steve Lehman (alto saxophone), Vijay Iyer (piano, Rhodes), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) are heard in a series of compositions that showcase the strong creative bond between these three extraordinary players.

Henry Threadgill: Listen Ship (Pi Recordings)

Composer Henry Threadgill conducts a suite for six acoustic guitars and two pianos, bringing together Bill Frisell, Miles Okazaki, Brandon Ross, Gregg Belisle-Chi, Jerome Harris, Stomu Takeishi, Maya Keren, and Rahul Carlberg in an intricately orchestrated work whose intervallic syntax and meticulous counterpoint entwine with unexpected timbres to reveal his singular and sublime vision.

Fieldwork (Iyer / Lehman / Sorey): Thereupon (Pi Recordings)

Seventeen years after their last recording, the New York trio of Steve Lehman (alto saxophone), Vijay Iyer (piano, Rhodes), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) reunite with dense, high-impact compositions and fearless interplay, blending complexity with groove as they reaffirm their status as one of the most vital ensembles in contemporary improvised music.

Weiss, Dan (w/ Evans / Okazaki / Brennan): Unclassified Affections (Pi Recordings)

Drummer and composer Dan Weiss brings together Peter Evans (trumpet), Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), and Miles Okazaki (guitar) in a set of compositions written for their distinct voices, shifting from meditative calm to intense peaks, weaving intricate contrapuntal textures and improvisations into a mysterious and transcendent collective sound.

Given the exceptional past two weeks, I should also mention Driff Records' return with two new albums — their first in quite a while — alongside three new releases from Evil Clown, including two Leap of Faith variants and one from my favourite of their configurations, Perturbations' Intractable Problems. Matthew Shipp's new solo album on Cantaloupe Music continues his evolution as a boundary-blurring improviser with a sound entirely his own. I keep returning to Donny McCaslin's Lullaby for the Lost; perhaps I'm drawn to his tone from David Bowie's Blackstar, but this album stands firmly on its own, with nine instrumental pieces that blur the line between jazz and rock.

Last but certainly not least, trombonist Samuel Blaser's solo album 18 Monologues Elastiques presents eighteen improvisations inspired by the Swiss-born author Blaise Cendrars. The album captures Blaser's remarkable technique and imagination, blending surprising timbres with beautifully melodic passages. With new Blaser projects on the horizon, this album offers a focused and personal portrait of his artistry.

Blink (Dijkstra / McBride / Rosenthal / Hofbauer / Boyarin): Blink (Driff Records)

Led by alto saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra, BLINK embraces collective improvisation over solo display, blending microtonal tuning, layered rhythmic cycles, and ensemble interplay inspired by insect swarms, African High Life, and minimalist rock, resulting in an inventive, off-balance sound that thrives on tension, texture, and spontaneous cohesion.

Karayorgis, Pandelis Trio (w/ Julia Werntz / Eric Moe): Climbing To Sleep (Driff Records)

Reuniting pianist Pandelis Karayorgis with bassist Nate McBride and drummer Randy Peterson, and featuring composer-pianist Eric Moe, this microtonal project bridges jazz and contemporary composition through Werntz's Capricious Nocturnal Variations, as Karayorgis' trio expands its themes with richly textured interplay and fluid explorations of the uniquely tuned Werntz Nocturne Scale.

Perturbations: Intractable Problems (Evil Clown)

The ninth set from Evil Clown's Perturbations project brings together reed players David Peck and Michael Caglianone with brass player John Fugarino, each expanding their roles through percussion, electronics, and objects, while Joel Simches provides real-time processing, creating a vivid and continuously transforming improvisation of shifting sonorities and electro-acoustic textures.

Shipp, Matthew: The Cosmic Piano (Cantaloupe)

In a fully improvised solo recording, pianist Matthew Shipp channels a lifetime of discipline and influence into an expansive and deeply personal work whose shifting architectures, sly dissonances, and luminous pacing unfold with the gravity of composed modern classical music while retaining the spontaneous intensity of free jazz, reframing his sound in a broader, genre-fluid context.

McCaslin, Donny: Lullaby For The Lost (Editions)

With longtime collaborators Jason Lindner, Ben Monder, Tim Lefebvre, Zach Danziger, Nate Wood, Ryan Dahle, and Jonathan Maron, visionary saxophonist Donny McCaslin channels the raw intensity of improvised jams into a cinematic, high-energy sound world, blending jazz with rock, electronica, and soulful urgency, a fierce and timeless statement.

Blaser, Samuel: 18 Monologues Elastiques (Blaser Music)

A solo journey of striking imagination, Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser channels the modernist spirit of Blaise Cendrars in eighteen original works recorded in Berlin, blending sculptural sound, melodic exploration, and poetic abstraction into a deeply personal meditation that bridges contemporary jazz, literature, and sonic art.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

October 9, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Peter Evans/Joe Morris/Tyshawn Sorey -Comprehensive [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
John Edwards/Luis Vicente/Vasco Trilla -Choreography of Fractures [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Ray Anderson/Joe Hertenstein Quartet feat. Michael Moore/Michael Formanek -7th Dinner Live [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Ivo Pereleman/Ray Anderson -12 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Blumer/Dell/Geisser/Morgenthaler -Beyond Scope [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Francesca Gemmo/Magda Mayas -Tides In The Mirror (first visit) [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Christoph Gallio's Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone -Yet Dish (first visit) [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Cat Hope -Speechless [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

October 9, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Jason Kao Hwang

October 7, 2025; New @ Squidco:
The Necks -Disquiet [3 CDs] (Northern Spy)
Flying Sutra with Ayumi Ishito -Out Beyond Orbit [CDR] (577 Records)
Samuel Blaser -18 Monologues Elastiques [CD] (Blaser Music)
Blink (Dijkstra/McBride/Rosenthal/Hofbauer/Boyarin) -Blink [CD] (Driff Records)
Pandelis Karayorgis Trio (w/ Julia Werntz/Eric Moe) -Climbing To Sleep [CD] (Driff Records)
Morton Feldman -Intermission 6 [CD] (Another Timbre)
Magnus Granberg /Skogen -The Willow Bends And So Do I [CD] (Another Timbre)
Marc Sabat -Bach Tunings [CD] (Another Timbre)
Julia Eckhardt -Blanca [CD] (Another Timbre)
James Opstad -Drift [CD] (Another Timbre)
James Saunders -With Paper [CDR] (Editions Glomar)
Reign of Ferns (Raffa/Weathers) -In The Same Room [CDR] (Editions Glomar)

October 6, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: AMM and Sachiko M - Testing (Matchless Recordings) by Nick Ostrum.

October 2, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Roscoe Mitchell/Michele Rabbia -In 2 [CD] (RogueArt)
Matthew Shipp -The Cosmic Piano [CD] (Cantaloupe)
Donny McCaslin -Lullaby For The Lost [CD] (Editions)
Jason Hwang Kao -Myths of Origin [CD] (True Sound Recordings)
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (Exit) Knarr -Drops [CD] (Sonic Transmissions Records)
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (Exit) Knarr -Drops [VINYL] (Sonic Transmissions Records)
Eva Novoa -Novoa/Gress/Gray Trio Vol. 2 [CD] (577 Records)
Senso di Voce -Through Itself [CD] (Sonic Transmissions Records)
Perturbations -Intractable Problems [CD] (Evil Clown)
Leap Of Faith Orchestra -Sentence Types And Tokens [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Leap Of Faith -Problems Of Time And Causality [CDR] (Evil Clown)

September 30, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Henry Threadgill -Listen Ship [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Fieldwork (Iyer/Lehman/Sorey) -Thereupon [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Dan Weiss (w/ Evans/Okazaki/Brennan) -Unclassified Affections [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Eva Novoa Trio (w/ Daniel Carter/Francisco Mela) -The Freedom Suite, Vol. 2 [CDR] (577 Records)
Believe (Farrar/Manojlovic/Thomas/Pike) -Spirits Of The Dead Are Watching [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Ada Rave/Marta Warelis -Peel Mondo [CD] (Relative Pitch)
The Young Mothers (Haker-Flaten/Rosaly/Taylor/Jackson/Gonzalez/Horne ) -Better If You Let It [CD] (Sonic Transmissions Records)
The Young Mothers (Haker-Flaten/Rosaly/Taylor/Jackson/Gonzalez/Horne) -Better If You Let It [VINYL] (Sonic Transmissions Records)
Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten (Exit) Knarr -Breezy [CD] (Sonic Transmissions Records)

September 30, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Mark Wastell

Much of this week was spent preparing for the concert we presented here in Wilmington with cellist Daniel Levin and drummer Mike Pride. It was an amazing show, and if you have an opportunity to see them live, it's absolutely worth it — the two set few boundaries in how they play and create sonic fiction, shifting from introspective to explosive moments with passages of striking lyricism.

The rest of the week was dedicated to processing new releases and updating our website. Particularly notable were three albums on Out of Your Head Records: Tomas Fujiwara's Dream Up, an exotic exploration of percussion with an array of unusual instruments; the Webber/Morris Big Band, a 19-piece ensemble performing two expansive suites; and the LP edition of Adam O'Farrill's For These Streets, featuring Patricia Brennan, David Leon, and Kevin Sun.

We also finished cataloging two of the four new Relative Pitch albums released today. The first is the duo of saxophonist Michel Doneda and pianist Frédéric Blondy, captured in a 2014 live performance at Eglise Saint-Merry in Paris, its natural resonance enhancing their extraordinary pacing and communication. The second is a trio session with guitarist Joe Morris, cellist Brad Barrett, and bassist Beth Ann Jones, celebrating Morris's 70th birthday with five collective improvisations marked by technical virtuosity and intense interaction.

A personal highlight, as an avid Dave Rempis fan, is the new Earscratcher album with Elisabeth Harnik (piano), Rempis (saxophones), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), and Tim Daisy (drums). Their first album was named Earscratcher, and the group has now adopted that as their band name for this second release — a wildly diverse and informed album. Rempis first collaborated with Harnik on the 2020 Not Two release Triple Tube, alongside Chicago drummer Michael Zerang, a trio that later recorded Astragaloi on Rempis's Aerophonic label. It's exciting to see this new quartet solidify into a working ensemble, with the album standing as a superb example of their range and chemistry.

Last but not least, Ned Rothenberg's new solo album on Pyroclastic, Looms & Legends, has been in steady rotation here all week. I first encountered Rothenberg's work in the 1980s at the Houston St. Knitting Factory, where he performed in a variety of groupings from the nascent Downtown NY scene. I was especially captivated by his 1993 solo album The Crux on Leo Records, which introduced me to circular breathing before I had much exposure to Evan Parker. Fast forward to 2025, and Rothenberg has not only expanded his concepts but made them increasingly accessible, balancing them with his shakuhachi work. The album closes with a remarkable rendition of "Round Midnight" on shakuhachi — a fitting and deeply rewarding conclusion to a stunning collection of improvisations.

Morris, Joe / Brad Barrett / Beth Ann Jones: Abstract Forest (Relative Pitch)

Celebrating guitarist Joe Morris's 70th, this trio with Brad Barrett on cello and Beth Ann Jones on bass unfolds with deliberate restraint and deep listening, Morris layering textures around Barrett's lyrical and percussive bowing while Jones anchors with sculptural, propulsive bass, the group seamlessly shifting between spacious intimacy and taut collective momentum in an immersive improv dialogue.

Doneda, Michel / Frederic Blondy: Points Of Convergences [2 CDs] (Relative Pitch)

Recorded in the extraordinary resonance of Paris's Saint-Merry Church, this double album captures soprano and sopranino saxophonist Michel Doneda in duo with pianist Frédéric Blondy, their improvisations unfolding in deep dialogue with the architecture itself, as tones and textures expand into the vast acoustics, creating immersive, luminous soundscapes of remarkable depth and presence.

Fujiwara, Tomas: Dream Up (Out Of Your Head Records)

Recorded at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, drummer and composer Tomas Fujiwara introduces his Percussion Quartet with Patricia Brennan on vibraphone, Tim Keiper on African strings and percussion, and Kaoru Watanabe on Japanese drums and flute, blending global traditions into vivid, imaginative works that traverse groove, texture, and color with striking originality and depth.

Webber/Morris Big Band: Unseparate (Out Of Your Head Records)

Five years after their debut, co-leaders Anna Webber and Angela Morris return with a 19-piece large ensemble recording that showcases their next-level compositional voices, unfolding through the "Just Intonation Etudes for Big Band" suite and a series of richly orchestrated works that balance drones, contrapuntal density, rhythmic blasts, and lyrical themes in an adventurous exploration of sound and structure.

O'Farrill, Adam: For These Streets [VINYL 2 LPs] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Brooklyn trumpeter Adam O'Farrill leads a superb octet — Mary Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibes), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), and others — through dramatically inventive compositions inspired by the literature and arts of the 1930s, balancing angular rhythmic intensity, rich melodic lyricism, and expressive improvisational depth with adventurous sophistication.

Earscratcher (Harnik / Rempis / Lonberg-Holm / Daisy): Otoliths (Aerophonic)

The transatlantic quartet of Elisabeth Harnik (piano), Dave Rempis (saxophones), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), and Tim Daisy (drums) in their second album, recorded live at the North St. Cabaret in Madison, WI, weaving surges of energy with passages of lyricism, deep timbral exploration, and spacious formal development, balancing ferocity and subtlety in a richly detailed and dynamic collective architecture.

Rempis / Harnik / Lonberg-Holm / Daisy: Earscratcher (Aerophonic)

Formed in 2019, the quartet of Dave Rempis on alto sax, Elisabeth Harnik on piano, Fred Lonberg Holm on cello and Tim Daisy on drums celebrate Elisabeth Harnik's 50th birthday in 2020, originally planned as part of a European tour that year but prevented by pandemic, instead recording this well-balanced and often unbridled 2022 concert at Alte Gerberei, St. Johan in Tirol, Austria.

Rempis / Harnik / Zerang: Astragaloi (Aerophonic)

The 3rd release for the trio of Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis, German pianist Elisabeth Harnik and Chicago percussionist Michael Zerang, performing live at the 2020 ArtActs Festival in St Johan Austria for five outstanding improvisations fueled by their previous trio & duo work and flavored with inside piano preparations, hand percussion and superb soloing from all three.

Rempis, Dave / Elisabeth Harnik / Michael Zerang: Triple Tube (Not Two)

Recording in Graz, Austria in 2019 at the club Tube's, Chicago alto saxophonist Dave Rempis and drummer Michael Zerang, frequent collaborators with Ken Vandermark and The Resonance Ensemble, joined with Austrian improvising and classical pianist Elisabeth Harnik to record three exuberant and incredibly informed improvisations: "Triple Tube" I through III.

Rothenberg, Ned: Looms & Legends (Pyroclastic Records)

A captivating solo recording from multi-reedist Ned Rothenberg on alto sax, clarinets, and shakuhachi, showcasing his extraordinary mastery of circular breathing, overtones, and multiphonics in works of rhythmic intensity, lyrical sensitivity, and soulful depth, culminating in a graceful rendering of Monk's "'Round Midnight" as an aural refuge of beauty and resolve.

Ordered & Upcoming:

We've been hard at work on our fall purchase plans, made more complicated with tariff concerns and shipping delays. This set of albums include some of our most important and anticipated labels, including the newly helmed ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd, a great set of contemporary albums from the UK label Another Timbre, and the fall releases from Listen! Foundation. Below are the album that have already been ordered and are on their way to us. If you're eager for any of these albums, you can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

Cat Hope: Speachless (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Pierre Favre, Sergio Armaroli, Andrea Centazzo & Francesca Gemmo: The Art Of Sound(s) (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Blumer / Dell / Geisser / Morgenthaler: Beyond Scope (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Francesca Gemmo & Magda Mayas: Tides In The Mirror (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Christoph Gallio's Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone: Yet Dish - Gertrude Stein (first visit) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)


Sightings: Udo Schindler / Katarina Weber: Sichtungen & Lichtungen (FMR)
Countryman / Bucher / Tan: Non Linear Expressions (FMR)
The Music Of Szilard Mezei: Anna (FMR)
Aly Berry: Hope This Reaches You in Time? (FMR)
Paul Dunmall: A Bad Day At The Office for Charles Ives (FMR)
Udo Schindler / Paul Rogers: Ephemeral Essences (FMR)
Rik Countryman / Christian Butcher: Phra-se-ol-o-gy (FMR)
Raymond MacDonald / Cliona Cassidy: Silk Threads (FMR)
Martin Blume / John Butcher / Ute Wassermann: Leaflight (FMR)
Adrian Northover / Magliocchi Saccente: Over the Top (FMR)
Tim Richards Trio (Tim Richards / Alex Keen / Daniel Howard): Four Aces (FMR)

Morton Feldman (Antti Tolvi): Intermission 6 (Another Timbre)
Apartment House & GBSR Duo: James Opstad 'Drift' (Another Timbre)
Marc Sabat & JS Bach (Sara Cubarsi & Xenia Gogu): Bach Tunings (Another Timbre)
Julia Eckhardt: Blanca (Another Timbre)
Magnus Granberg Skogen: The Willow Bends and so do I (Another Timbre)

Kahn, Jason: When Your Way Gets Dark (Editions)
Kahn, Jason: All Across The Universe Cut/Editions
Zorn, John (JACK Quartet w/Yura Lee and Michael Nicolas): PROLEGOMENA (Tzadik)
Necks, The: Disquiet [3 CDs] (Northern Spy)

Hwang, Jason Kao: Myths of Origin (True Sound Recordings)

Roscoe Mitchell & Michele Rabbia: In 2 (RogueArt)
Donny McCaslin: Lullaby For The Lost (Editions)

Edwards, John / Luis Vicente / Vasco Trilla: Choreography of Fractures (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Evans, Peter / Joe Morris / Tyshawn Sorey: Comprehensive (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Anderson, Ray / Joe Hertenstein Quartet feat. Michael Moore & Michael Formanek: 7th Dinner Live (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Pereleman, Ivo / Ray Anderson: 12 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Some Technical Updates:

When not cataloging or working on new release schedules, I took some time to improve our product listings. These pages were originally designed for desktop viewing, with inner scroll bars in the major sections — descriptions, artist biographies, and track listings — to contain varying amounts of information. The idea was to keep page lengths relatively uniform, but I always found the layout a bit awkward, especially on mobile devices where scrolling behaves differently.

The modern solution is the now-familiar "read more" button, which expands the text for those who want the full details. I've updated all of the sections mentioned above to use this approach, a technique we already applied to the homepage "recently" section and to individual biographies. Integrating the latter here posed an interesting challenge, but the result should make our site much easier to navigate.

Our goal remains to inform and connect related artists and albums, helping you discover music that deserves a place in your collection. As always, I welcome your feedback!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

September 25, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Tomas Fujiwara -Dream Up [CD] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Webber/Morris Big Band -Unseparate [CD] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Adam O'Farrill -For These Streets [VINYL 2 LPs] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Beth Schenck Quintet (w/ Mezzacappa/Wright/Glenn/Wrobel) -Dahlia [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Michel Doneda/Frederic Blondy -Points Of Convergences [2 CDs] (Relative Pitch)
Joe Morris/Brad Barrett/Beth Ann Jones -Abstract Forest [CD] (Relative Pitch)
John Zorn (JACK Quartet w/Yura Lee/Michael Nicolas) -Prolegomena [CD] (Tzadik)
Phillip Schulze (w/ Anthony Braxton/Christian Jendreiko/Andrew Raffo Dewar/Detlef Weinrich) -Ambassador Duos [DOUBLE VINYL + CD] (apparent extent)
Graham Lock -Forces In Motion - The Music And Thoughts Of Anthony Braxton [BOOK] (Da Capo Press)

September 25, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Frequency Disasters - Naize (Confront Recordings) by John Eyles.

September 23, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Earscratcher (Harnik/Rempis/Lonberg-Holm/Dais)y -Otoliths [CD] (Aerophonic)
Ned Rothenberg -Looms & Legends [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)
Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett/Louis Moholo-Moholo -Live In Foggia [CD] (Ogun)
Eric Normand -Dur Temps Pour les Rouges [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Peanote Records)
Eric Normand -Une Methode (Non Illustree) Pour Jouer La Basse Électrique [BOOK w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tour de Bras)
Pablo Jimenez -Objeto [CD] (Tour de Bras)
Yoshio Machida -Documentary Music [CD] (Amorfon)
Yoshio Machida -Utsusemi [CD] (Amorfon)

September 11, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Tatsuya Nakatani.

September 22, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sophie Agnel - Song (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

It feels like this is the first day in weeks that I've been able to relax for a moment and write a blog entry — the past few weeks have been busy! With clarity on international shipping, we were finally able to import some of our most important labels and move our purchase queue forward. You'll see some of that in our In-Stock section today, and you'll also find key additions on our Recently Restocked page, including the incredible Evan Parker book & CD set, Japan's Amorfon Records, Discus Records, Libra, and a large restock of Clean Feed records.

Rather than rush the albums that came in early this week, we let them accumulate in our Just In Stock Section while we focused on running sales. These sales are vital to us, especially after the slowdown caused by tariff fears and temporarily suspended international shipping. Running a physical record store like ours depends on a steady flow of new releases in a highly competitive market. That interruption in shipments was concerning, and we responded with a series of sales that helped keep us afloat while the world figured out what to make of the U.S.'s petulant approach to taxation.

The two sales we're running this week have helped us reduce inventory and make room for the next set of releases, either already here or on the way. I'll detail those next week, but they include an excellent set of new albums on FMR Records, Another Timbre, and Discus Records.

Our Autumn Hat Sale also precedes the first new releases under the new ownership of ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Ltd., and we're especially excited about those albums, which are exclusive in the U.S. to Squidco. The new releases focus on modern jazz and free improvisation, boldly advancing some of the most interesting hybrids of contemporary improvisation. The albums arriving in the next few weeks include:

Upcoming ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.

Cat Hope: Speachless (first visit)

Pierre Favre, Sergio Armaroli, Andrea Centazzo & Francesca Gemmo: The Art Of Sound(s) (first visit)

Blumer / Dell / Geisser / Morgenthaler: Beyond Scope

Francesca Gemmo & Magda Mayas: Tides In The Mirror (first visit)

Christoph Gallio's Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone: Yet Dish - Gertrude Stein (first visit)

The first day of fall is three days from when I'm publishing this. The world is in turmoil — more so than most years — but the music keeps on playing. And what amazing music we're finding for the season! Those of us on the sidelines of power politics — labels, artists, and stores like ours — will keep that music flowing, whether calming to escape or turbulent to reflect the state of the world. We'll do that with your help and your curiosity about the wonderful, creative, and innovative music that continues to emerge. Play on!

Queen Bee Records and Lisa Mezzacappa:

The West Coast and Bay Area

Since the late 1950s and early 1960s, the jazz avant-garde intersected with the countercultural currents of Beat poetry, free expression, and radical politics. Figures like Sonny Simmons and Bobby Few passed through, while local experimentalists began exploring freer forms of jazz. It's also the home of the psychedelic rock scene that included Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Service, blurring the lines of improvisation and rock.

Until recently Mills College in Oakland has been a central hub for experimental music. With teachers such as Terry Riley, Pauline Oliveros, and Robert Ashley, the Bay Area nurtured new forms of electronic music, deep listening practices, and open structures for improvisation. Pauline Oliveros' San Francisco Tape Music Center (later part of Mills) played a vital role in integrating electronics, performance art, and improvisation.

By the 1970s, the Bay Area's improvisers freely crossed stylistic borders. Rova Saxophone Quartet, and particularly Larry Ochs, emerged as one of the era's most important ensembles, combining free jazz, post-bop, and experimental composition.Groups like Henry Kaiser's bands bridged free improv and the experimental rock/avant-garde/fusion movement. Odd bands like the Residents, as well as labels like Ralph Records, pushed boundaries further.

By the 1980s collaborations with international figures like Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton became common in the Bay Area, and venues like New Langton Arts, Beanbenders, and Koncepts Cultural Gallery became important stages for experimental work. This led to a cross-pollinating network of jazz improvisers, noise musicians, and experimental rock performers, and labels including New World of Sound and Metalanguage Records. Collectives like Gino Robair's bands and improvisers associated with sfSound advanced electro-acoustic approaches.

By the late 1990s the collection of bands influenced by rock, experimental approaches and free improv swirling around Sleepytime Gorilla Museum coalesced, including Idiot Flesh, Faun Fables, Free Salamander Exhibit, Charming Hostess, Rabbit Rabbit Radio (bringing Carla Kihlstedt together with SGM members), Kihlstedt's 2 Foot Yard, Cosa Brava with Fred Frith, Tin Hat, Moe Staiano's Surplus 1980 and MOE!KESTRA, The Book of Knots. One can see that improvisation is threaded into the post-rock and experimental indie movements in the Bay Area, with groups blending chamber textures, electronics, and improvisational practices.

Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa

This leads us today to Lisa Mezzacappa, a double bassist, composer, and bandleader, who epitomizes the contemporary Bay Area improvisation scene: a musician rooted in jazz but fluent in avant-garde composition, rock experimentalism, and collaborative community-based projects. Her work connects directly to the Bay Area's tradition of fluid boundaries - from Rova to Oliveros to Kaiser - while fostering new connections across visual art, film, and storytelling. Current venues and organizations like Center for New Music, Meridian Gallery, and sfSound's concert series sustain this incredible ecosystem.

Bands and organizations associated with Mezzacappa include Bait & Switch - A quartet blending free jazz with structured, groove-oriented improvisation, and the first album, What is Known, that Squidco carried in 2010 from the Clean Feed Label. AvantNOIR - A project fusing crime noir literature, improvisation, and experimental composition. Glorious Ravage - A large-scale song cycle inspired by Victorian-era women explorers, mixing composition, improvisation, and visual art. Collaborations with groups like sfSound and many Bay Area improvisers, often blurring lines between jazz, noise, and chamber music.

Squidco has carried her albums and collaborations ever since, on labels including Edgetone, Kadima, Leo Records, Tzadik, NoBusiness, New World Records, Not Two, Astral Spirits, and 577. These are some of our core labels, and the last mentioned, 577 Records, includes a collaboration with another important artist in our catalog, guitarist, Karl Evangelista.

Queen Bee Records

Little wonder that she started her own label, Queen Bee Records, in 2013 to further document not only her own work but also some of the important bands she's been associated with.

The label has had an active year, releasing seven albums as I write this, including the long-running duo B. with drummer Jason Levis; the saxophone-bass-drum group Green Mitchell Trio led by multi-reedist and composer Cory Wright with Lisa Mezzacappa and drummer Jason Levis; Jordan Glenn's BEAK, a septet led by Jordan Glenn with guitarists Karl Evangelista and David James, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, vibraphonist Mark Clifford, percussionist Robert Lopez, drummer Jon Arkin, and Val Esway; the Threadgill-esque band Bristle with saxophonists Randy McKean and Cory Wright join violinist/oboist Murray Campbell and bassist Lisa Mezzacappa; the trio of multi-reedist Steve Adams, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and drummer Jason Levis; and Sifter, the quartet of Rob Ewing on trombone, Beth Schenck on alto saxophone, Lisa Mezzacappa on acoustic bass, and Jordan Glenn on drums; and this week the Beth Schenck Quintet led by composer and alto saxophonist Beth Schenck, with Cory Wright on tenor saxophone & bass clarinet, Matt Wrobel on guitar, Lisa Mezzacappa on acoustic bass, and Jordan Glenn on drums.

That's a lot of amazing music, both free and lyrical with a diversity of approaches that makes them one of the most interesting labels we've added to our catalog this year.

Schenck, Beth Quintet (w/ Mezzacappa / Wright / Glenn / Wrobel): Dahlia (Queen Bee Records)

Blending lush harmonies, rhythmic twists, and inspired interplay, alto saxophonist and composer Beth Schenck leads a Bay Area quintet of Cory Wright, Matt Wrobel, Lisa Mezzacappa, and Jordan Glenn in a set of fiercely original compositions that traverse ethereal soundscapes and propulsive forms, reflecting deep musical relationships, artistic nuance, and a richly personal voice.

Sifter (w/ Lisa Mezzacappa): Flake / Fracture (Queen Bee Records)

A chordless Bay Area quartet with Rob Ewing on trombone, Beth Schenck on alto saxophone, Lisa Mezzacappa on acoustic bass, and Jordan Glenn on drums, performing original compositions from each member in playful, lyrical, and texturally rich improvisations that balance groove, swing, and exploratory ensemble interplay with an eclectic yet cohesive sound.

Adams / Mezzacappa / Levis: Never But Dream The Days (Queen Bee Records)

A focused and highly collaborative session from multi-reedist Steve Adams, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and drummer Jason Levis, whose long-standing connections through the Bay Area's creative music scene — including Mezzacappa and Levis's duo B and their co-led Experimental Band — inform these concise and sensitive 2022 improvisations with a compositional approach to form and balance.

Bristle (McKean / Wright / Campbell / Mezzacappa): Archimera (Queen Bee Records)

Ten years after their last release, Northern California's Bristle returns with a richly inventive chamber jazz album blending virtuosic improvisation and playful composition, as saxophonists Randy McKean and Cory Wright join violinist/oboist Murray Campbell and bassist Lisa Mezzacappa in a dynamic, Threadgill-esque ensemble sound full of counterpoint, wit, and imaginative sonic twists.

Glenn's, Jordan BEAK : The Party (Queen Bee Records)

An electrifying fusion of diverse musical traditions, this evening-length composition showcases the dynamic interplay of guitarists Karl Evangelista and David James, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, vibraphonist Mark Clifford, percussionist Robert Lopez, drummer Jon Arkin, and Val Esway, seamlessly blending composed structures with spontaneous improvisation to capture the ensemble's innovative spirit.

Green Mitchell Trio (Wright / Mezzacappa / Levis): Nature Channel (Queen Bee Records)

Expanding the possibilities of the saxophone-bass-drums trio, multi-reedist and composer Cory Wright leads bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and drummer Jason Levis in his Green Mitchell Trio's long-awaited follow-up, recording in the studio in Oakland, California, weaving songful melodies, high-energy free improv, intricate dissonances, and kinetic interplay for five lyrically inclined conversations.

duo B. (Lisa Mezzacappa / Jason Levis): Luminous Axis (Queen Bee Records)

Longtime collaborators Lisa Mezzacappa and Jason Levis deepen their exploration of Wadada Leo Smith's Ankhrasmation language, interpreting his graphic score through an intuitive acoustic bass and drum dialogue shaped by years of study, live performance, and improvisational research, forging their own path through his modular notation in a dynamic and deeply immersive exchange.

Evangelista's, Karl Apura + Andrew Cyrille: Bukas (577 Records)

West Coast Bay Area guitarist Karl Evangelista leads his Apura ensemble — Lisa Mezzacappa (bass), Francis Wong (tenor sax), Rei Scampavia (keys, electronics), and Lewis Jordan (alto sax) — joined by drum legend Andrew Cyrille in a powerful statement of free improvisation, blending expressive intensity and forward-looking vision with deeply rooted passion and creative openness.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

September 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Rhodri Davies - Telyn Wrachiod (Amgen) by John Eyles.

September 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Luke Martin - To Be Worthy of Pessoa (Editions Verde) by Brian Olewnick.

September 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Rhodri Davies - Telyn Wrachiod (Amgen) by John Eyles.

September 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Luke Martin - To Be Worthy of Pessoa (Editions Verde) by Brian Olewnick.

Another busy week here as, finally, import packages made it through to the US, and we worked quickly to get those albums catalogued on our site. Alongside them came a number of restocks and several domestic releases that have us genuinely excited.

The highlight of the week is the beautiful new duo from husband-and-wife improvisers Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura. While they've collaborated as a duo many times before, this album feels especially elegant and refined. Fujii explaining how she adapted her playing to these conversations, eliciting a unique approach that, to my mind, makes this one of the most beautiful albums of the season.

Another gem comes from Confront: a live concert recording of Derek Bailey and John Stevens at The Duke of Wellington pub in London, 1989. Already seasoned improvisers at the time, the performance reveals decades of development, strategy, and camaraderie, captured in a fantastic document of their mature artistry.

We also have four new titles on the UK Discus label. Saxophonist and composer Paul Dunmall returns with his sixth Discus release, a large-ensemble project with intriguing orchestration. These lyrical, sophisticated compositions are performed by a mix of Northern England and London players, and the album reveals new facets with each listen.

Shifa-the long-standing trio of Rachel Musson (tenor saxophone), Pat Thomas (piano), and Mark Sanders (drums)-release a live set from Cafe Oto: a single improvisation that takes listeners on a far-reaching journey while maintaining cohesive conversation. A smaller yet equally compelling setting follows in the duo of saxophonist Larry Stabbins and drummer Mark Sanders, presenting an intimate, lyrical dialogue that also nods insightfully toward free jazz and UK improvisation. And on the more outré side, the group known as BleySchool-Pat Thomas, Dominic Lash, and Tony Orrell-rebrand themselves as Lifeline for an adventurous album of electroacoustic collective improvisation.

On vinyl LP we're thrilled to offer the wild duo recording of saxophonist Evan Parker and guitarist Bill Nace, another live performance from Cafe Oto. Their set spans from introspective explorations to moments of ecstatic energy, richly saturated throughout.

Finally, from Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation-of which Squidco is the repository and distributor for their New Braxton House label-we've received limited vault copies of six essential Braxton albums. Five are from the Hatology label, available in very limited numbers. We also received copies of a Mixtery label trio featuring Braxton, Peter Brötzmann, and Borah Bergman-three masterful players in a remarkable collaboration.

Tamura, Natsuki / Satoko Fujii: Ki (Libra)

The tenth duo recording from pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura presents eight compositions of slow, lyrical beauty-seven by Tamura and one by Fujii-crafted with exquisite restraint and intimacy, as the long-time collaborators sustain a dignified atmosphere of quiet intensity and emotional depth, shaping silence and subtle detail into music of profound elegance.

Bailey, Derek / John Stevens: The Duke of Wellington (Confront)

Seminal figures in the evolution of free or nonidiomatic improvisation, guitarist Derek Bailey and percussionist/pocket trumpeter John Stevens are heard in a 1989 London performance vividly captured by Michael Gerzon at The Duke of Wellington, their restless and enthusiastic interplay shifting from angular invention to lyrical reflection in a compelling document of their remarkable rapport.

Dunmall, Paul: Away With Troubles And Anxieties! (Discus)

Delivering his sixth Discus Music release in two years, saxophonist Paul Dunmall leads a dynamic nonet drawn largely from Birmingham's thriving scene, joined by guests Martin Archer, Corey Mwamba, and John Ball, their first-take performances balancing sharply honed compositions with spontaneous invention in a powerful suite that shifts between bluesy themes, lyrical reflection, and collective fire.

Shifa (Musson / Thomas / Sanders): Ecliptic (Discus)

The trio of Rachel Musson on tenor saxophone, Pat Thomas on piano, and Mark Sanders on drums perform as Shifa, their 46-minute improvisation moving through fiery intensity and spacious reflection in a cohesive journey shaped by deep trust, attentive listening, and fearless exploration, captured live at London's Café Oto in 2023.

Stabbins, Larry / Mark Sanders: Cup & Ring (Discus)

Bringing together two major figures of UK improvisation, saxophonist Larry Stabbins - long associated with innovators like Mike Westbrook, Keith Tippett, and Robert Wyatt - and percussionist Mark Sanders (Paul Dunmall, John Butcher, Veryan Weston, &c) in 2024 Bristol sessions captured with stunning clarity, their 1st-take performances unfolding as thoughtful, exploratory dialogs of texture, rhythm, and timbre.

Thomas / Lash / Orrell: Lifeline (Discus)

Breaking away from their acoustic trio Bleyschool, the long-standing partnership of Pat Thomas, Dominic Lash, and Tony Orrell reconfigure as Lifeline, trading piano, bass, and drums for keyboards, electroacoustic percussion, and electric guitar in a spontaneous studio performance that channels noise, dance, and rock energy into electrified free improv brimming with risk, tension, and surprise.

Parker, Evan / Bill Nace: Branches (Live at Cafe OTO)[VINYL] (Open Mouth)

Meeting for the first time at Café OTO in 2024, soprano saxophonist Evan Parker and guitarist Bill Nace on electric taishogoto create an extraordinary improvised duo, Parker's circular-breathed torrents entwining with Nace's drone-soaked dynamism, from raw intensity to transcendent stillness in a performance of unbounded spirit, deep resonance, and ecstatic liberation.

Bergman, Borah / Anthony Braxton / Peter Brotzmann: Eight By Three (Mixtery)

An extraordinary 1996 Mixtery Studio encounter between pianist Borah Bergman, Anthony Braxton on a wide range of reeds, and Peter Brötzmann on saxophones, clarinet, and tárogató, balancing ferocious torrents of free jazz interplay with moments of surprising lyricism and abstraction, as three titans of improvisation push their individual voices into a thrilling collective dialogue.

Braxton, Anthony : Quartet (Santa Cruz) 1993, 2nd Set (Hatology)

Remaster of the exhilarating second set from saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton's concert at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA, 1993, one of 7 nights performing with the quartet of Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Dresser on bass, and Gerry Hemingway on percussion.

Blake, Ran / Anthony Braxton: A Memory Of Vienna (Hatology)

In 1988, on the spur of the moment, Blake and Braxton met to record this set of 8 standards, including pieces by Monk, Parker, Gillespie, Miles Davis, Mal Waldron, &c.

Braxton, Anthony: Creative Orchestra (Koln) 1978 [2 CDs] (Hatology)

Double CD remaster of Braxton's incredible 1978 concert in Koln with a massive orchestra including Ned Rothenberg, Leo Smith, Marilyn Crispell, Bob Ostertag, Marty Ehrlich, JD Parran, &c. &c. &c.!

Braxton, Anthony: Seven Compositions (Trio) 1989 (Hatology)

Anthony Braxton's 1989 recording of seven compositions (glued together into three performances) in a trio with bassist Adelhard Roidinger and drummer Tony Oxley.

Braxton, Anthony: Performance (Quartet) 1979 (Hatology)

Anthony Braxton's and Ray Anderson's short-lived 1979 quartet interpreting seven of Braxton's compositions with amazing results.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

September 11, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Emil Karlsen

September 11, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Derek Bailey/John Stevens -The Duke of Wellington [CD] (Confront)
Natsuki Tamura/Satoko Fujii -Ki [CD] (Libra)
Paul Dunmall -Away With Troubles And Anxieties! [CD] (Discus)
Shifa (Musson/Thomas/Sanders) -Ecliptic [CD] (Discus)
Thomas/Lash/Orrell -Lifeline [CD] (Discus)
Larry Stabbins/Mark Sanders -Cup & Ring [CD] (Discus)
Borah Bergman/Anthony Braxton/Peter Brotzmann -Eight By Three [CD] (Mixtery)

September 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Ava Mendoza / Gabby Fluke-Mogul / Carolina Perez - Mama Killa (Burning Ambulance Music) by Andrey Henkin.

September 9, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Evan Parker/Bill Nace -Branches (Live at Cafe OTO)[VINYL] (Open Mouth)
Oren Ambarchi/Johan Berthling/Andreas Werliin -Ghosted III [VINYL] (Drag City)
Eiko Shibashi/Jim O' Rourke -Pareidolia [VINYL] (Drag City)
Loren Connors/Alan Licht -The Blue Hour [CD] (Otoroku)
Elaine Mitchener -Solo Throat [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Hedvig Mollestad Trio -Bees In The Bonnet [CD] (Rune Grammofon)
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO -Black Mountain Side [CD] (Rolling Heads)

September 9, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Jim Denley / Peter Farrar / Dale Gorfinkel - Vents (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

We started the week very busy processing our Labor Day Sale, with thanks to the many customers who took advantage of the discounts, and for the nice comments we received! The rest of the week was focused on tariffs and the import of records, which is a significant part of our work here at Squidco. I want to correct an error from last week's entry regarding the harmonized codes for LPs, cassettes, and CDs. The CD code originally came from Discogs, but we've since confirmed that the following codes provide the most accurate descriptions for tariff-free media shipments. I've also updated last week's entry to reflect the correct CD code and avoid any confusion.

Here is a guide on how to ship albums and other media to the United States, in particular the harmonized system codes that should be used to send recorded material to the US. USING THESE CODES ARE VERY IMPORTANT! They should prevent us from paying tariffs, and they should help keep packages flowing as easily as possible through the international postal systems.

Description: Materials: Pre-recorded audio CDs
HS CODE: 8523.49.3000

Description: Materials: phonograph (vinyl) records
HS CODE: 8523.80.1000

Description: Materials: phonograph (cassette) records
HS CODE: 8523.29.1000

Squidco Note Records Released:

Another major project this week has been preparing for the debut of Squid Note Records, with our first two album releases. Both titles are now available to order, and we're thrilled to bring this music to listeners' ears! Squid Note Records adds an unexpected new dimension to our work as a digital and streaming label. The inaugural releases feature pianist Joel Futterman: Absorb, two expansive improvisations, and Reflective, a collection of improvisational miniatures. While Squidco as a store and distributor has always centered on physical media (with the occasional download code), Squid Note Records will focus exclusively on digital releases. We hope our customers will support the label, paving the way for more albums drawn from Squidco's catalog and connections.

Joel Futterman is a pioneering pianist and improviser known for his intensely original style and innovative "three-hand" technique. With more than seventy recordings and appearances at major festivals in North America and Europe, he has collaborated with leading figures including Jimmy Lyons, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Joseph Jarman, William Parker, Alvin Fielder, Hal Russell, and his longtime associate Edward "Kidd" Jordan. Recognized as one of the foremost voices in creative music, Futterman continues to push the boundaries of the piano and the art of spontaneous improvisation.

Out 5 September 2025 Reflective Joel Futterman Solo Piano A collection of nineteen concise vignettes where sustain and staccato, motion and repose, converse across the keyboardminiatures that reward deep listening and reveal an ever-expanding palette of overtones and harmonic resonance. Listen / Buy Bandcamp Page → Tracklist Reflective 1 Reflective 2 Reflective 3 Reflective 4 Reflective 5 Reflective 6 Featured track: Reflective 13. Credits All compositions by Joel Futterman (BMI) Recorded: Virginia Beach March & April 2025 Engineer: James Jones Mix: Stephen Schmidt Photo: Michael Wilderman Each track is a complete unedited first take with no overdubs. 2025 JDF These miniatures summarize as much as they portendsustain and staccato as opposing forces, culminating in a final, breathtaking resolution. Marc Medwin Explore on Bandcamp Squid Note Records a division of Squidco LLC

Out 5 September 2025 Absorb Joel Futterman Solo Piano A solo-piano odyssey of rhythmic essence and luminous contrast that reaches for the hearts deeper places—a prophetic flow of sound fueled by blues motion and cosmic delight. Listen / Buy Bandcamp Page → Tracklist Absorb Part 1 Absorb Part 2 Absorb Part 3 Absorb Part 4 Featured track: Absorb Part 3. Credits All compositions by Joel Futterman (BMI) Recorded: Virginia Beach, May 2025 Engineer: James Jones Mix: Stephen Schmidt Photo: Michael Wilderman Each track is a complete unedited first take with no overdubs. © 2025 JDF All Rights Reserved Absorb connects to the sacred history of the unknownthe joy of music and the experience of living another day. William Parker Multidirectional absorption a lifetime of spontaneous creation imbues each gestural complex the music, all music, seems poised, encapsulated, embraced. Marc Medwin Explore on Bandcamp Squid Note Records a division of Squidco LLC

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

September 4, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Joseph Holbrooke (w/ Derek Bailey/Gavin Bryars/Tony Oxley) -Last Live 2001 - In Memoriam Derek Bailey And Tony Oxley [2 CDs] (Tzadik)
Zeena Parkins -Modesty Of The Magic Thing [CD] (Tzadik)
Alexander Hawkins/Taylor Ho Bynum -A Near Permanent State Of Wonder [CD] (RogueArt)
Dave Douglas (Douglas/Ridout/Adewumi/Brennan/Pass/Royston) -Alloy [CD] (Greenleaf Music)
Jaap Blonk/Damon Smith/Michael Zerang -Improvisers [CD] (Kontrans)
Matthew Putman/Hill Greene/Francisco Mela -Believe That Was Me [CDR] (577 Records)
Matthew Putman/Hill Greene/Francisco Mela -Believe That Was Me [VINYL] (577 Records)

September 4, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Cecil Taylor / Tony Oxley - Flashing Spirits (Burning Ambulance Music) by Ken Waxman.

September 2, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Pellegrini Quartet - Luigi Nono Fragmente - Stille, an Diotima; Ludwig van Beethoven Streichquartett a-moll op. 132, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd.) by John Eyles.

Despite unusual global shipping issues caused by our petulant president, this has been a stand-out week of new music. And a short list of new albums as we prepared for our annual Labor Day Holiday sale.

Highlights for me have been the quintet album from the collective group of Ivo Perelman, Nate Wooley, Mark Helias, Matt Moran and Tom Rainey, A Modicum of the Blues. With exceptional communication this 5-part album brings together some of my favorite New York players, and they don't disapppoint. Listen! Foundation also released a sophisticated solo album from double bassist Paul Rogers, a suite performed on a 7-string double bass - I've listened through this album several times for its depth of expression and masterful technique.

I was also delighted to see more Mars Williams material emerge from Corbett vs Dempsey, Williams joining the exceptional Extraordinary Popular Delusions band in 2023 playing almost literally for his life, having just been diagnosed with cancer; the power and creative skill he brought to a lifetime of music is on full display.

Angles 11 is the latest from Swedish saxophonist Martin Küchen's variably orchestrated band, this album being one of the largest groupings to date. Blending acoustic and electrified instruments over three drummers, the sound is tightly controlled in warm melodic themes and deeply infectious grooves. Little wonder this remains one of my favorite and most important modern ensembles, alongside Fire! Orchestra (or Gustafsson's Hidros series), Henry Threadgill Ensemble, or Satoko Fujii Orchestra(s)), Isotope Ensemble or Ensemble SuperMusique.

This comes after the disturbing news that most European and UK post offices are suspending shipments to the US until they have guidance on how the new tariff requirements will be handled. As with so many things from the current US administration, the roll-out has been chaotic and troublesome, shifting in a whiplash of uncertainty and demands. With luck this will be sorted out sooner than later, the UK expecting only a few days delay. We're fortunate that we jumped on the new Listen! Foundation albums quickly, but a few other expected shipments will likely be delayed. As we wait we're digging through our catalog for additional sale opportunites, and we hope you'll stick with us as we get through these troubling times. Meanwhile, this weekend we share discounts accross the board for all new albums as part of our annual sale for the US holiday of Labor Day.

Pereleman, Ivo / Nate Wooley / Matt Moran / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey: A Modicum Of the Blues (Fundacja Sluchaj!)

Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman joins Nate Wooley (trumpet), Matt Moran (vibes), Mark Helias (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums) in a tempered yet highly active quintet that nods to the blues, moving through free, melody-rich dialog; vibes replace piano to color the space as the group shifts from playful exchanges to surging peaks, their seemingly telepathic interplay balancing warmth and power.

Angles 11: Tell Them It's The Sound Of Freedom (Fundacja Sluchaj!)

Martin Küchen's Angles returns as an 11-piece — two trumpets, expanded reeds, vibraphone and amplified violin, Fender Rhodes/synth, and a three-drummer engine — lifting songful, anthemic themes into free, melody-rich interplay and propulsive grooves, the ensemble shifting from playful exchanges to surging peaks as its close-knit rapport balances warmth, bite, and momentum.

Rogers, Paul: Peace And Happiness (Fundacja Sluchaj!)

On a custom 7-string double bass, Paul Rogers delivers a powerful eight-part solo recital where deeply melodic lines and harmonically rich textures meet commanding technique — bowed chords, ringing harmonics and agile counterpoint — shaping fluid narratives that balance intensity and lyricism into a remarkable, satisfying journey.

Extraordinary Popular Delusions (Mars Williams / Jim Baker / Ed Wilkerson / Brian Sandstrom / Steve Hunt): The Last Quintet [2 CDs] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

An historic document of Chicago's Extraordinary Popular Delusions in their final quintet performance with the late Mars Williams, recorded live in August 2023 at Elastic Arts Foundation, capturing Williams' fiery, life-affirming playing alongside Edward Wilkerson Jr. (tenor sax0, Jim Baker (piano & kesy), Brian Sandstrom (bass), and Steve Hunt (drums) in a two-set suite of fearless improvisation.

HARMONIZED SYSTEM (HS) CODES:

Meanwhile, today Discogs.com published a guidance on how to ship albums and other media to the United States, in particular explaining the harmonized system codes that should be used to send recorded material to the US. I've summarized the descriptions and codes here, and copy the text from Discogs below.

USING THESE CODES ARE VERY IMPORTANT for anyone shipping media to the US! They should prevent anyone from paying tariffs, and they should help keep packages flowing as easily as possible through the international postal systems.

Description: Materials: phonograph (compact discs) records HS CODE: 8523.49.3000

Description: Materials: phonograph (vinyl) records HS CODE: 8523.80.1000

Description: Materials: phonograph (cassette) records HS CODE: 8523.29.1000

Quoting from Discogs.com:

"Vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and other recorded media should be exempt from any tariffs under US presidential executive order.

The executive order going into effect on August 29, 2025, removes a long-standing "de minimis" tariff exemption for most goods valued under USD $800. However, this change does not apply to "informational materials" like music media, which are still exempt from tariffs under US law 50 USC 1702(b)(3).

Simply put, music and informational media have always been exempt from tariffs and continue to be so at this time. This means neither sellers nor collectors on Discogs should be charged additional customs fees.

[...] we have a few recommendations that should help with the processing of your shipments into the US:

Provide clear descriptions. We strongly recommend including precise descriptions. For example, instead of "vinyl," use "Informational Materials: phonograph (vinyl) record" as this phrase is more in line with the legal terminology. Use the correct HS codes. Please use the appropriate Harmonized System (HS) codes, which can be found on the commercial receipt provided by Discogs. Here are the codes for the three most common media formats in Discogs' Marketplace:
Vinyl Records: 8523.80.1000
CDs: 8523.49.2020
Cassettes: 8523.29.1000

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

August 26, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Ivo Pereleman/Nate Wooley/Matt Moran/Mark Helias/Tom Rainey -A Modicum Of the Blues [CD] (Fundacja Sluchaj!)
Angles 11 -Tell Them It's The Sound Of Freedom [CD] (Fundacja Sluchaj!)
Paul Rogers -Peace And Happiness [CD] (Fundacja Sluchaj!)
Marcin Halat/Maciej Garbowski -The Dialogues [2 CDs] (Fundacja Sluchaj!)
Extraordinary Popular Delusions (Mars Williams/Jim Baker/Ed Wilkerson/Brian Sandstrom/Steve Hunt) -The Last Quintet [2 CDs] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Erez Dessel -PRO FAKE NO REJECT [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Martin Escalante -Playing Harsh Noise on the Saxophone since 2012 [CD] (Wash and Wear Records)
Martin Escalante/Charlie Mumma/Tete Leguia -This Molten Salt [CD] (Wash and Wear Records)

August 25, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Brandon Seabrook - Object Of Unknown Function (Pyroclastic Records) by Jeph Jerman.

You've probably noticed that we've been running a number of sales on our site over the past few weeks. Like many music vendors, we've felt the effects of slower sales this year — not only from the usual summer slump, but also from broader economic uncertainties. Global trade shifts and tariffs have made things more complicated, and we remain firmly opposed to any barriers placed on culture and art. Music is, after all, a universal language of peace and connection, and it thrives best when freely exchanged.

Our response to these challenges isn't to cut back or ask for help, but to keep the music moving by offering overstocked albums at reduced prices. Every purchase helps fuel the next round of releases we bring into the shop, sustaining a cycle where musicians, labels, listeners, and Squidco are all part of the same creative network. Together, we can keep this music alive, reaching the ears and hearts that need it most.

And what a time it is for music! We're living through one of the most excitingly creative eras, as artists around the globe continue to dissolve borders — musical, cultural, and political — through their work. While some try to build walls, musicians are building bridges, crafting new sounds that speak to our shared human experience.

So we invite you to take advantage of our current sales, discover something new, and support the musicians who make this vibrant moment possible. Your purchases help us keep the music flowing — and in turn, keep this extraordinary creative movement thriving.

Squid Note Records:

On September 5th, Squidco will introduce a new and unexpected dimension to our work: Squid Note Records, a digital and streaming label. Our first two releases feature pianist Joel Futterman — Absorb, two expansive improvisations, and Reflective, a collection of improvisational miniatures. While Squidco as a store and distributor has always centred on physical media (with the occasional download code), Squid Note Records will focus exclusively on digital releases.

Next week we'll share the 1-sheets, pre-order details for both albums, and samples for you to hear. In the meantime, here's what William Parker had to say about Absorb:

"This solo piano music by Joel Futterman called ABSORB is like no other music that was, or will be, created. Futterman has reached deep into his soul and captured a prophetic flow of sound full of rhythmic essences and beautiful contrasts, guiding listeners to the heart's deeper places. These places are rarely touched upon in schools of musical thought. This music goes beyond thought; it is about feelings and compassion - these sounds, songs, and poems. Swing, in the truest sense, is fueled by the movement of blues and cosmic delight. "Absorb" connects to the sacred history of the unknown - the joy of music and the experience of living another day. Joel touches the piano keys like there is no tomorrow, both robust and sensitive. In the meantime, through the corner of my eye, I can see Charlie Parker digging this music all the way. Each stanza of the music is about building mountains made from modal hymns for the rest of the world to follow. Play Joel Futterman, dance, sing, shout at the top of your lungs, and sketch, reaching the next level.

Continue, stop, and remember: the message is to love all human beings every day. This is the information in Joel Futterman's music: the more we listen, the more apparent it all becomes. The closer we come to the fundamental concept of love."-William Parker

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

August 21, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Sifter (w/ Lisa Mezzacappa) -Flake/Fracture [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Caspar Brotzmann Massaker -It's A Love Song [VINYL + CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Jean-Marc Foussat -Abbatage [CDR] (Fou Records)
Thrash the Flash (Dufourd/Foussat) -Viens ! [CD] (Fou Records)
Tatsuya Yoshida/Martín Escalante -The Sound of Raspberry [VINYL] (Wash and Wear Records)
Chester Hawkins -Apsis [CD] (Intangible Arts)
S*Glass -Benign Neglect [CD] (Public Eyesore)
A Magic Whistle -The Solar Cell [VINYL] (Public Eyesore)

August 21, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Jean-Jacques Birge - Pique-nique Au Labo 4 (GRRR) by Ken Waxman.

August 19, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Karl Evangelista's Apura + Andrew Cyrille -Bukas [CDR] (577 Records)
Jean-Jacques Avenel/Daunik Lazro -Duo [CD] (Fou Records)
Frode Gjerstad/Alexander von Schlippenbach/Dag Magnus Narvesen -Seven Tracks [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Magda Mayas/Jim Denley -One Another [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Foster/Crawford/Sullivan -Against Proper Objects [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Katie Porter -Conversation No. 1/Collecting Rocks from the Places We've Been [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Eugene Chadbourne/Jair-Rohm Parker Wells -Fed Up With Bass [2 CDs] (Public Eyesore)
Euphotic (Leonard/Djill/Day) -Clastic [CDR] (Confront)
Hal McGee -Columbus Expedition [Cassette w/ Download] (Copy This!)
Racing Pisshorses, The -It Only Takes One To Stop An Ice Cream Truck [7'' VINYL w/ DOWNLOAD] (self)

As summer draws to a close, I'm seeing kids waiting for school buses — earlier than I remember from my own youth — and people taking their last breaks before the US Labor Day holiday, a prelude to the bigger celebrations that end the year.

With just over a month to go, we're already planning our fall releases, which promise another exciting season of new music! So far this summer we've added 97 new albums from an impressive list of labels: 4DaRecord, 577 Records, Aerophonic, Artifact Recordings, Asian Improv, Aural Terrains, Aut, Balance Point Acoustics, Bathysphere Records, Bead, Black Truffle, Bu Lang Tribute Cake, Circum-Libra, Confront, Copy This!, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Creative Sources, Eternal Music Projects, Fou Records, Innovo Editions, Klanggalerie, Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!), Love Earth Music, Machinefabriek, Musicworks, Nakama Records, NASHAZPHONE, Public Eyesore, Random Acoustics, Relative Pitch, RogueArt, Sacred Realism, Self, Silkheart, Skin Graft, STRUT, Stunt, Swarming, Tao Forms, thanatosis produktion, Trost Records, Tzadik, We Jazz, Weird Cry Records, and West Hill Records. As I write this, new releases from Listen! Foundation, Corbett vs. Dempsey, and Relative Pitch are on their way to us, along with a new album from Queen Bee (Lisa Mezzacappa), Akousis Records (Bertrand Gauget), and the Jérôme Noetinger-curated label UnRec.

This week we extended our National Vinyl Day Sale at distribution prices, after several customers mentioned they were away on summer holidays and disappointed to have missed it. Next week we'll hold a Friends of Squid private cost sale for mailing list subscribers who have placed an order within the past year. Our mailing list goes out weekly, and — as someone who receives hundreds(!) of spam messages each week — I promise your email address will never be shared or sold. So consider joining our mailing list, and maybe even placing an order, to take part in this special cost sale.

The Windy and Wild KAZE:

I was thrilled to hear that Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura's Kaze would be collaborating with the wonderfully unorthodox free vocalist Koichi Makigami. Alongside artists like Jaap Blonk, Shelley Hirsch, and Ute Wassermann, Makigami is one of my favorite truly "outside" vocalists-perhaps the strangest of them all. Recorded live at La Malterie in Lille, France, this new album draws out fresh and unexpected responses from Kaze. At times, the group boasts three trumpeters-core members Tamura and Christian Pruvost joined by Makigami, who also plays shakuhachi. Peter Orins' drumming and percussion are by turns quirky and rock-solid, perfectly complementing Makigami's unconventional approach.

The name Kaze (風) is the Japanese word for "wind," chosen by Fujii and Tamura for its dual nature: gentle yet forceful, subtle yet unstoppable. It reflects both the breath-powered voices of the trumpets and the group's philosophy of sound moving and transforming as freely as the wind across shifting landscapes.

We currently have ten Kaze albums in stock, including Trouble Kaze with drummer Didier Lasserre and pianist Sophie Agnel, and one with Fujii's Orchestra Tokyo. Every release is inventive and unpredictable, with brilliant improvisation that gleefully colors outside the lines. Even the titles evoke the band's gusty energy, such as Sand Storm and Tornado. The new album, Shishiodoshi (鹿威し), translates to "deer scarer," a reference to the traditional bamboo water feature found in Japanese gardens. As water fills one end of the pivoting bamboo tube, it tips to spill the water, then swings back to strike a rock with a hollow clack. Historically designed to startle animals away from plants, today it is cherished for its rhythmic, meditative sound-an apt metaphor for Kaze's blend of surprise and serenity.

Kaze: Rafale (Circum-Libra)

Kaze brings together Japan's incredible improviser-composers, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and pianist Satoko Fujii, with trumpeter Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins from the French improvisers collective Muzzix.

Kaze: Tornado (Circum-Libra)

With two trumpets, drums and piano, Kaze's 2nd release with Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, and Muzzix members Christian Pruvost and Peter Orins, hits like the album title, but surprises with contrasts from torrential power to beautiful melodic interplay.

Kaze: Uminari (Circum-Libra)

Natsuki Tamura & Christian Pruvost on trumpets, Satoko Fuji on piano and Peter Orins on drums for a quartet where all members are active compositional contributors, creating a powerful ensemble sound with strong soloing using modern creative techniques; excellent!

Trouble Kaze (Fujii / Agnel / Tamura / Pruvost / Lasserre / Orins): June (Helix Circum-Disc)

Drummer Peter Orins expands the Kaze quartet of trumpeters Natsuki Tamura and Christian Pruvost and pianist Satoko Fujii, with a second drummmer--Didier Lasserre--and a second pianist--Sophie Agnel--for a live recording of a 5-part suite of magnificently epic collective improv.

Fujii, Satoko Orchestra Tokyo + KAZE: Peace (Tribute To Kelly Churko) (Libra)

Pianist Satoko Fujii's Orchestra Tokyo + the band Kaze, bringing guests trumpeter Cristian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins alongside trumpeter Natsuki Tamura into a spectacular big band of great power but also subtle meditation, in four works that include a tribute to the late guitarist and Fujii collaborator Kelly Churko.

Kaze (Fujii / Tamura / Pruvost / Orins): Atody Man (Libra)

The fifth album from the French and Japanese quartet Kaze, initiated by drummer Pter Orins, with two trumpeters--Christian Pruvost and Natsuki Tamura--and pianist Satoko Fujii, all using extended and unusual techniques as they perform innovative compositions from Fujii, Orins, and Tamura with a balance of serious and playful approaches; brilliant.

Kaze (Fujii / Tamura / Pruvost / Orins) w/ Ikue Mori: Sand Storm (Libra/ Circum-Disc)

The cooperative quartet Kaze of Satoko Fujii on piano, Peter Orins on drums, Christian Pruvost on trumpet, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, joins with elextroacoustic improviser Ikue Mori for seven exploratory pieces recorded in the studio after a one-week tour in Austria, France, and Russia, their enthusiasm for their extraordinarily unique group sound clearly evident.

Kaze with Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura / Christian Pruvost / Peter Orins & Ikue Mori: Crustal Movement (Circum-Libra)

The cooperative Japanese/French quartet Kaze of pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, trumpeter Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins are expanded for a second time with New York electronic artist Ikue Mori, embracing pandemic restrictions by creating this album through file exchange, adding complex layers of profound interaction to the virtual improvisations.

Kaze (Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura / Christian Pruvost / Peter Orins): Unwritten (Circum-Libra / Libra)

The Kaze quartet of trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeter & flugelhorn player Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins, continues its avant-embracing and uniquely voiced project with this live performance at Lille, France, an episodic and spontaneously diverse set of three collective improvisations of intuitive, adventurous interaction.

Kaze (Fujii / Tamura / Orins / Pruvost) with/ Koichi Makigami: Shishiodoshi (Circum-Libra)

A joyful and unpredictable meeting of Japanese quartet Kaze — pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeters Natsuki Tamura and Christian Pruvost, and drummer Peter Orins — with avant-rock icon Koichi Makigami, recorded live in Lille in a kaleidoscopic blend of free improv, surreal humor, textural exploration, and exuberant interplay that celebrates spontaneity and sonic invention.

August 14, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Georg Graewe/Brad Jones/Hamid Drake -More Than Anything [CD] (Random Acoustics)
Kaze (Fujii/Tamura/Orins/Pruvost) with/ Koichi Makigami -Shishiodoshi [CD] (Circum-Libra)
Daunik Lazro/Tristan Honsinger/Jean-Jacques Avenel -True & Whole Tones in Rhythms [CD] (Fou Records)
Koenjihyakkei -Live at Club Goodman [2 CDs] (Skin Graft)
Zingaro Carlos/Joao Madeira -Arcada Pendular [CD] (4DaRecord)
Flut (Kunz/Rossler/Hall) -Stones That I Have Chiseled [VINYL] (Aut)
Simon Rose/Nicola Hein -Moon [CD] (Confront)
Tony Orzano/Bryan Rohmer/Jeremy Wexler -Balloons On Grass [CDR] (577 Records)
Monica Agosti Nica/ShapeX -Ornettiana [VINYL] (Aut)
Sun Ra -Sleeping Beauty [VINYL] (STRUT)

August 14, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Josh Sinton.

August 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: GPS (Guillermo Gregorio / Jeff Pearring / Charley Sabatino) - Directions + Destinations (577 Records) by Ken Waxman.

August 12, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Nakatani Gong Orchestra -NGO, Live in Ojai, California [VINYL GOLD] (Weird Cry Records)
Joe McPhee & Strings (w/ Maneri/Lonberg-Holm/Bisio) -We Know Why The Caged Bird Sings [CD] (RogueArt)
Earle Brown/David Ryan/Christian Wolff/Morton Feldman/Thanos Chrysakis/Tim Hodgkinson -Music for Guitars, Bass Clarinets & Contrabasses [CD] (Aural Terrains)
light.box (Bonney/Tremblay) + Tom Challenger -Eyre [CD] (Bead)
Daunik Lazro/Paul Lovens/Annick Nozati/Fred Van Hove -Resume Of A Century [CD] (Fou Records)
John Zorn (Marsella/Roeder/Smith) -Impromptus [CD] (Tzadik)
Lemuel Marc -Replace The Population [CD] (Relative Pitch)
John Welsh -Remember Still [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Sam Rivers/Kresten Osgood/Ben Street/Bryan Carrott -Purple Violets [CD] (Stunt)
Sam Rivers/Kresten Osgood/Ben Street -Violet Violets [CD] (Stunt)

National Vinyl Record Day — founded by Gary Freiberg — takes place every August 12 in honor of Edison's phonograph invention. It's a celebration of music, memories, and the enduring magic of vinyl, even if it's not a formally recognized holiday. Like Record Store Day, it's a special occasion for squids like myself, as the vinyl format was what first pulled me into music. And unlike RSD, this day is dedicated entirely to vinyl albums, which have enjoyed a surprising resurgence over the last couple of decades.

My personal history with vinyl reaches back to my childhood in the '60s, starting with The Beatles — an album I proudly brought to my 3rd grade music class, where the teacher played it for the other students. My father, a classical musician, had a collection of symphonic works and opera box sets that fascinated me. My mother kept a handful of singer-songwriter albums, but also one that especially captured my young imagination: Oscar Peterson + 1: Clark Terry.

Those early records sparked a lifelong obsession with recorded music, from rock and pop to traditional jazz, experimental sound art, world music, and eventually avant-garde improvisation and contemporary composition. That collection grew exclusively through vinyl until the early '90s, when I reluctantly accepted the compact disc as a valid alternative. I missed the larger artwork and back cover liner notes, which either shrank or disappeared entirely on CDs.

Of course, that's not the whole story: the best compact disc releases often came with booklets and fold-out art, sometimes offering more information than a typical vinyl release. But they lacked the inner sleeves with discographic images of related albums, the 12"x12" cover and back cover art that helped define an album, the spinning labels, or the picture discs and coloured vinyl that added to the artistic statement. Most of all, vinyl demanded interaction — cleaning the record and needle, getting up to flip sides — keeping you in a tactile relationship with each album.

These days, I'm relatively format-indifferent, though I always prefer physical media. And of those, vinyl is still king in my mind. Today is a perfect day to celebrate that. I still prefer to own my most important albums on vinyl, and I cherish the collection I've built over the decades. I suspect many of you reading this feel the same.

This is a list of vinyl albums we've added this year that earned the status of Squidco Picks. (I've left out the Evan Parker/JM Foussat album Isolence as it's currently out of stock, though it should return soon.) Some are brand-new releases, showing the durability of the format and the appeal that makes vinyl such an obsessively loved medium; others are reissues of monumental albums from their era. What's most remarkable is that the majority are new works, lovingly produced, and it does my heart good to see that people are still drawn to vinyl's allure — from the tactile pleasure of sleeves and jackets to the beauty of its larger artwork.

Jaeger, Kassel: Fernweh [VINYL 2 LPs] (Black Truffle)

A major work in Kassel Jaeger's catalog, blending musique concrčte and electronic synthesis into a drifting, immersive soundscape across two LP sides, shifting through abstract environments rich with elusive textures and hidden detail, as subtle rhythms and concrete sounds evoke a sense of motion, memory, and a yearning that echoes the meaning behind the album's title: a deep longing to travel.

Wheelhouse (Rempis / Adasiewicz / McBride): House And Home [VINYL] (Aerophonic)

Reuniting after more than a decade, the Chicago-rooted trio of Dave Rempis (saxophones), Jason Adasiewicz (vibes), and Nate McBride (bass) rekindle their distinctive free-improvising chamber aesthetic in this live recording, blending texture-rich interplay and deep personal history into a resonant, nuanced return that reflects years of evolution, distance, and reconnection.

Das B (Mazen Kerbaj / Mike Majkowski / Magda Mayas / Tony Buck): Love [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion / Corbett Vs Dempsey)

Inspired by John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, the second album from the Berlin-based quartet Das B — Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Mike Majkowski (bass), Magda Mayas (piano), and Tony Buck (percussion) — subverts the tribute format with a radical re-imagining built on free improvisation, textural exploration, and structural homage, resulting in a deeply immersive and conceptually rich work.

Jones, Darius: Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) [VINYL + DOWNLOAD] (Aum Fidelity)

The seventh chapter in Darius Jones' visionary Man'ish Boy series, this powerful trio recording with Gerald Cleaver and Chris Lightcap presents five new compositions and a Lomax-arranged spiritual, confronting themes of Black mental health, trauma, and healing through richly expressive alto saxophone, deep rhythmic interplay, and emotional resonance.

Halvorson, Mary Septet: Illusionary Sea [VINYL 2 LPS] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Mary Halvorson leads her Septet with Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon (alto sax), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Jacob Garchik (trombone), John Hebert (bass) & Ches Smith (drums) through 6 original compositions and a Robert Wyatt cover!

Re-Ghoster Extended: The Zebra Paradox [VINYL] (Konnekt)

Expanding the Re-Ghoster trio of Nicolas Field on drums, Thomas Florin on piano, and Valerio Tricoli on revox and electronics with the addition of Nate Wooley on acoustic and amplified trumpet and Fritz Welch's visceral vocal work, the group explores surreal electroacoustic improvisation through dense, transdimensional soundscapes, fractured time, deranged textures, and ritualistic intensity; incredible!

Klinga, Erik: Elusive Shimmer [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)

Swedish composer Erik Klinga crafts radiant electroacoustic works from Buchla synth, pipe organ, drum machine, and field recordings, weaving melodic ambient vignettes that shimmer with warmth and light, moving through celestial textures, gliding rhythms, and bird-like flourishes in a richly detailed debut recorded at Stockholm's Royal College of Music, the first of a planned trilogy on Thanatosis.

Palestine, Charlemagne / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.

Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Alto saxophonist Steve Lehman leads his trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, in a vibrant live homage to Anthony Braxton's small ensemble works, blending intricate modern jazz interplay with searing emotional expression in a bold, high-energy celebration of Braxton's enduring influence.

Brotzmann, Peter / John Edwards / Steve Noble / Jason Adasiewicz: The Quartet [VINYL 2 LPs] (Otoroku)

One of Peter Brötzmann's final recordings, captured live at Cafe OTO with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble, presenting two nights of emotionally charged and fiercely expressive performances that blend power, lyricism, and deep intergenerational connection in a fitting and resonant farewell to the legendary saxophonist.

Wolf Eyes / Anthony Braxton: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 [VINYL] (ESP)

A monumental meeting between legendary saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton and noise pioneers Wolf Eyes (Nate Young & Johnny Olson), recorded live at Pioneer Works in Red Hook, NY, merging Braxton's expansive approach with the duo's visceral electronics, hypnotic textures, and raw energy in a collision of free improvisation, structured chaos, and uncompromising sonic exploration.

Shiroishi / Tiesenga: Empty Vessels [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)

A powerful duo of resonant harmonic interaction between Patrick Shiroishi & Marta Tiesenga, both on soprano sax, recorded in an underground tunnel below the Jazz Cat in Monterey Park, CA during the pandemic, the tunnel's natural reverb becoming a 'third performer' in shaping an evocative sonic dialogue that contrasts isolation and connection through long tones, fragmented utterances, and immersive resonance.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

Jaeger, Kassel: Fernweh [VINYL 2 LPs] (Black Truffle)

A major work in Kassel Jaeger's catalog, blending musique concrčte and electronic synthesis into a drifting, immersive soundscape across two LP sides, shifting through abstract environments rich with elusive textures and hidden detail, as subtle rhythms and concrete sounds evoke a sense of motion, memory, and a yearning that echoes the meaning behind the album's title: a deep longing to travel.

Wheelhouse (Rempis / Adasiewicz / McBride): House And Home [VINYL] (Aerophonic)

Reuniting after more than a decade, the Chicago-rooted trio of Dave Rempis (saxophones), Jason Adasiewicz (vibes), and Nate McBride (bass) rekindle their distinctive free-improvising chamber aesthetic in this live recording, blending texture-rich interplay and deep personal history into a resonant, nuanced return that reflects years of evolution, distance, and reconnection.

Das B (Mazen Kerbaj / Mike Majkowski / Magda Mayas / Tony Buck): Love [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion / Corbett Vs Dempsey)

Inspired by John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, the second album from the Berlin-based quartet Das B — Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Mike Majkowski (bass), Magda Mayas (piano), and Tony Buck (percussion) — subverts the tribute format with a radical re-imagining built on free improvisation, textural exploration, and structural homage, resulting in a deeply immersive and conceptually rich work.

Jones, Darius: Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) [VINYL + DOWNLOAD] (Aum Fidelity)

The seventh chapter in Darius Jones' visionary Man'ish Boy series, this powerful trio recording with Gerald Cleaver and Chris Lightcap presents five new compositions and a Lomax-arranged spiritual, confronting themes of Black mental health, trauma, and healing through richly expressive alto saxophone, deep rhythmic interplay, and emotional resonance.

Halvorson, Mary Septet: Illusionary Sea [VINYL 2 LPS] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Mary Halvorson leads her Septet with Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon (alto sax), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Jacob Garchik (trombone), John Hebert (bass) & Ches Smith (drums) through 6 original compositions and a Robert Wyatt cover!

Re-Ghoster Extended: The Zebra Paradox [VINYL] (Konnekt)

Expanding the Re-Ghoster trio of Nicolas Field on drums, Thomas Florin on piano, and Valerio Tricoli on revox and electronics with the addition of Nate Wooley on acoustic and amplified trumpet and Fritz Welch's visceral vocal work, the group explores surreal electroacoustic improvisation through dense, transdimensional soundscapes, fractured time, deranged textures, and ritualistic intensity; incredible!

Klinga, Erik: Elusive Shimmer [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)

Swedish composer Erik Klinga crafts radiant electroacoustic works from Buchla synth, pipe organ, drum machine, and field recordings, weaving melodic ambient vignettes that shimmer with warmth and light, moving through celestial textures, gliding rhythms, and bird-like flourishes in a richly detailed debut recorded at Stockholm's Royal College of Music, the first of a planned trilogy on Thanatosis.

Palestine, Charlemagne / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.

Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Alto saxophonist Steve Lehman leads his trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, in a vibrant live homage to Anthony Braxton's small ensemble works, blending intricate modern jazz interplay with searing emotional expression in a bold, high-energy celebration of Braxton's enduring influence.

Brotzmann, Peter / John Edwards / Steve Noble / Jason Adasiewicz: The Quartet [VINYL 2 LPs] (Otoroku)

One of Peter Brötzmann's final recordings, captured live at Cafe OTO with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble, presenting two nights of emotionally charged and fiercely expressive performances that blend power, lyricism, and deep intergenerational connection in a fitting and resonant farewell to the legendary saxophonist.

Wolf Eyes / Anthony Braxton: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 [VINYL] (ESP)

A monumental meeting between legendary saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton and noise pioneers Wolf Eyes (Nate Young & Johnny Olson), recorded live at Pioneer Works in Red Hook, NY, merging Braxton's expansive approach with the duo's visceral electronics, hypnotic textures, and raw energy in a collision of free improvisation, structured chaos, and uncompromising sonic exploration.

Shiroishi / Tiesenga: Empty Vessels [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)

A powerful duo of resonant harmonic interaction between Patrick Shiroishi & Marta Tiesenga, both on soprano sax, recorded in an underground tunnel below the Jazz Cat in Monterey Park, CA during the pandemic, the tunnel's natural reverb becoming a 'third performer' in shaping an evocative sonic dialogue that contrasts isolation and connection through long tones, fragmented utterances, and immersive resonance.

August 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Kory Reeder / Apartment House - Homestead (Another Timbre) by Jeph Jerman.

August 7, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Paul Flaherty - A Willing Passenger (Relative Pitch) by Andrey Henkin.

August 6, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Marteau Rouge (Foussat/Pauvros/Sato)/Evan Parker -Gift [CD] (Fou Records)
Mats Gustafsson/Ken Vandermark/Tomeka Reid/Chad Taylor -Pivot [CD] (Silkheart)
John Butcher/Phil Durrant/Mark Wastell -Poznan: Appropriate Density [CDR] (Confront)
Carlos Zingaro/Flo Stoffner/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Joao Madeira -Na Parede [CD] (4DaRecord)
Ed Jones/Emil Karlsen -Liminal Spaces [CD] (Confront)
Lance Olsen Austin -Death in the Urban Jungle [CDR] (Confront)
Kassel Jaeger -Fernweh [VINYL 2 LPs] (Black Truffle)
Sun Ra -Nuits de la Fondation Maeght [4 CD BOX SET] (STRUT)
Rutger Zuydervelt -The Wonder Of It All [CD] (Machinefabriek)
Musicworks Magazine -#151 Summer 25 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)

I imagined I'd return from vacation feeling refreshed and ready to work at double speed. That, of course, is the illusion that makes a vacation possible — only to pay the price upon return! So this blog entry comes a week later, after scrambling through 1,600 email messages and getting Squidco back to its usual operations. Kudos to Carl Kruger for taking the reins in my absence and keeping Squidco reliable and active. I have plenty to share, but less time to do so, as I'm currently part of a sound ensemble for the 8th Sarus Festival here in Wilmington.

In the meantime, a number of new albums have been added to our catalog since my return. Please check out Squidco's Recently Section and Just In Stock Section, as well as the many additions to our Previously Played section. Next week might be a bit calmer, and I'll have much more to say about the music then!

I took last week off from publishing a blog entry after a busy stretch that included a great response to our Freedom Sale, followed by strong interest in our previously owned sale. We also upgraded our battery backups and surge protection systems following the lightning strike we mentioned earlier that hit our building. During that time, I also focused heavily on this magazine, The Squid's Ear, working to make our reviews and blog more responsive and easier to read on mobile devices — more on that below.

Meanwhile, I'm preparing for a holiday starting later this week to celebrate getting older and my 20th anniversary, returning before the end of the month. Carl will be managing the store and staff while I'm away, so orders will continue to be processed as usual. However, there will be no store updates or new blog posts after July 17th until the first week of August. That said, a good number of purchases were made before my departure, and I'm leaving you with the latest titles from Relative Pitch and Confront — available now in our Just In Stock section — with full cataloging to come upon my return.

Easter Egg Alert: For readers of the blog, a special While I'm away, from July 17 to August 1, you can enter the code philzAway to reduce your order total by 10% !

The Squid's Ear Changes & Interviews:

The Squid's Ear was launched 21 years ago as an independent but closely linked music magazine to Squidco. The idea was straightforward: independent writers would receive review copies of albums sold at Squidco and contribute their perspectives. We've been fortunate — and humbled — to work with some exceptional writers who've brought insight into the music we're deeply passionate about.

But building the site 21 years ago also meant relying on early versions of web styling through cascading style sheets (CSS), a technology that was still maturing and prone to quirks. At the time, mobile browsing was rare, so both Squidco and The Squid's Ear were designed primarily for desktop use. As mobile devices became the norm, modernizing a site built on aging yet reliable layout methods proved challenging — and for too long, that challenge remained on the back burner.

Earlier this year, we began a new series of interviews with artists we've come to know through albums and concerts we've supported. This series has added an exciting dimension to the magazine — and it finally pushed me to bring the site into the mobile era. Updating the layout required a number of clever workarounds, and the process is ongoing. Still, I hope these changes make the site more accessible and enjoyable for our readers, wherever and however they visit. Below are all the interviews published thus far.

Eddie Prévost The Squid's Ear Interview

Lisa Mezzacappa The Squid's Ear Interview

Matt Mitchell The Squid's Ear Interview

Damon Smith The Squid's Ear Interview

Killick Hinds The Squid's Ear Interview

Isotope Ensemble: Caesium (Creative Sources)

Satoko Fujii The Squid's Ear Interview

Barry Chabala The Squid's Ear Interview

Henry Kaiser The Squid's Ear Interview

Dave Rempis The Squid's Ear Interview

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

July 16, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Eddie Prévost

July 15, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Stian Larsen / Colin Webster / Ruth Goller / Andrew Lisle - Temple of Muses (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.

July 10, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Wheelhouse (Rempis/Adasiewicz/McBride) -House And Home [CD] (Aerophonic)
Wheelhouse (Rempis/Adasiewicz/McBride) -House And Home [VINYL] (Aerophonic)
Chris Brown/Ben Davis -Jongleurs [CD] (Artifact Recordings)
BlueRing Improvisers -Materia [2 CDs] (Aut)
Massimo De Mattia Suonomadre (De Matia/Kaucic/Pacorig/Vitale) -Domicide [CD] (Aut)
Gianni Mimmo/Ove Volquartz -Say When [CD] (Aut)
Thee Checkered Shoed Dude -A 'Lil Test Of That [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
+DOG+ -Peace [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

July 7, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii / Ramon Lopez - Yama Kawa Umi (Not Two) by Marc Medwin.

July 8, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp -Armageddon Flower [CD] (Tao Forms)
Evan Parker/Jean-Marc Foussat -Insolence [VINYL] (NASHAZPHONE)
Alan Niblock/John Butcher/Mark Sanders -Tectonic Plates [CDR] (577 Records)
Herzog/Muche/Nillesen -Anasynthesi [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Nakama (Holm/Roysum/Tanaka/Wildhagen/ Svendsen) -New World [CD] (Nakama Records)
Solar Cells -Warm Spell [CD] (Eternal Music Projects)
Dream Weapon -New Blue Lagoon [CD] (Eternal Music Projects)
Juice Machine -Yachats [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
+DOG+ -The Light Of Our Lives [2 CDs] (Love Earth Music)
Abrasion Addict/Animal Machine -Split [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

July 8, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Lisa Mezzacappa

July 7, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Schick / Tuerlickx / Zoepf - Ensemble A (Confront) by Marc Medwin.

Apologies for the lack of an entry — between the shortened week for the U.S. Independence Day holiday, the sale we ran to mark the occasion, and the rough start to our week caused by a lightning strike at our building... well, there simply wasn't time. Here's what I posted to Facebook and Instagram about the event:

Yesterday we spent the day recovering from what must have been a close lightening strike near our office @ Squidco. Despite having a UPS and surge protected strips, we lost a switch, a wi-fi router, ethernet ports on two mac minis, and our internet provider had to replace their cable modem.

For those who don't believe that climate change is creating stronger storms, this is the 3rd time in the last year that I've lost gear to these ever-more-powerful storms here, at home, and in my studio. I'm spending time this week buying new, more powerful protection gear for Squidco's equipment, and suggest to everyone that it's worth beefing up your surge protection with outlets that protect up to 3940 Joules of power or more, and if you use ethernet, ethernet surge protection.

It's sad that the US is going backward on fighting climate change when the real expenses of doing nothing are happening right in front of us.

Despite all of that, Squidco is fully back to normal, and our website, which is located in a separate data center, was never affected.

https://www.squidco.com

After the network was re-established, we discovered that every unit in our office complex had suffered a similar fate, with one business losing two computers entirely. Four days after the lightning strike, one of my powered speakers — a Tannoy Reveal 802 — mysteriously died, which I suspect was also due to the surge that ran through the building. We escaped with just a few hundred dollars in damages, so it's safe to say we were lucky in our unluckiness to get hit. The building owner told us it was the first lightning strike in the 42 years since he built the place — further proof that climate change continues to supercharge storms, as most Americans (outside of our leadership) now understand.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

July 2, 2025: New @ Squidco:
John Butcher/John Edwards -This Is Not Speculation [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Jerome Deupree/Sylvie Courvoisier/Lester St. Louis/Joe Morris -Canyon [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Izumi Kimura/Lina Andonovska/Dominique Pifarely -Seven Dreams [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Lava Quartet feat. Almut Kuhne/Jordina Milla/Goncalo Almeida/ Wieland Moller -Ethereal Chant [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Joe McPhee/Susanna Gartmayer/John Edwards/Maria Portugal -Monster [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Kim Jae Jung -Shamanism [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Signe Emmeluth/Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten/Axel Filip -Hyperboreal Trio [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Amy Cimini -See You When I Get There [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Makoto Kawashima -arteria [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Marco Eneidi Quintet (w/Johnston/Finkbelner/Smith/Anderson) -Wheat Fields of Kleylehof [CD] (Balance Point Acoustics)

July 2, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Matt Mitchell

The oppressive heat dome that's settled over the U.S. East Coast this past week has kept many of us indoors, searching for relief from the unrelenting temperatures. While the sun scorches the world outside, we've found a bit of solace in sound — the exceptional albums we've added to Squidco this week have provided a much-needed escape. These recordings don't just fill the room — they cool the mind and soothe the spirit, offering a kind of auditory shade amidst the swelter. When the world feels like it's melting, it's music that brings us back into balance.

New Directions in ezz-thetics:

The biggest news this week at Squidco comes from the Swiss label Hat Hut, whose ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. series we've proudly carried for the past several years. Hat Hut is a core part of our catalog, thanks to founder Werner X. Uehlinger's visionary approach that has embraced free improvisation, contemporary composition, electroacoustic experimentation, and essential reissues of foundational free jazz and traditional jazz forms — genres that continue to inform and shape the music we support.

After decades at the helm, Uehlinger has passed the baton to a newly formed Board of Directors, which he will continue to guide in the near future.

We remain both the U.S. distributor and a dedicated supporter of the label and its extensive catalog. Below is the official announcement from Hat Hut regarding this new direction.

Hat Hut Records Looks to the Future
Basel, June 23, 2025

The iconic Swiss music label Hat Hut Records is reaffirming its legacy and forging ahead into the future. Just after celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Basel-based label has re-established its direction under new leadership. Musician Marco von Orelli and Melanie Imhof now helm the label as part of a newly formed Board of Directors, joined by founder Werner X. Uehlinger, Swiss saxophone pioneer Co Streiff, and long-time friend and companion of the label, Christian C. Dalucas.

Founded in 1975 by Uehlinger, Hat Hut Records began as a bold, independent initiative inspired by his meeting with pen pal Joe McPhee, a saxophonist and trumpeter, during a business trip to the U.S. The label's first releases featured elaborate three-part LP sleeves designed by artist Klaus Baumgärtner, with the now-iconic hat as a visual centerpiece. From that moment, Hat Hut was born.

Over the decades, Hat Hut evolved into an internationally respected label, moving from limited vinyl editions to a series of tastefully produced and ecologically sustainable CD releases. From the beginning, Hat Hut placed strong emphasis on graphic and cover design, creating a distinct visual identity with high recognition value. Releases were often accompanied by insightful packaging texts, offering a kind of philosophical extension to the listening experience. Each album stands as a unique work of art.

"Impressed by the innovative broadcast of the catalog, coupled with the great merits of WXU for the avant-garde scene since 1975, I was also quite quickly fascinated by the clear, almost strict visual language of the cover art. Each piece is a collector's item. It should stay that way,"
- Marco von Orelli

He continues, "The music market is changing a lot; the needs of how music is consumed are an exciting challenge."

As the label enters its sixth decade, the new board remains committed to Hat Hut's artistic core and visionary orientation, while embracing new strategies to ensure its relevance and strength in the evolving musical landscape. The history of Hat Hut continues — with purpose, clarity, and renewed energy.

Some Experimental Picks:

Unusually for our mailing list, this week's fully cataloged entries are split evenly, with half falling into our experimental and electronic categories. As a composer of electroacoustic music myself, I'm continually impressed by the artists represented in that catalog. Our local concert series — Hooked on Sonics — similarly focuses on sound art and experimental forms, making this a particularly engaging week.

Two albums stand out to me in this mailing. The first is a double CD of studio compositions by Francisco López, crafted from environmental sounds. The results are indescribably rich in nuance and sonic detail — López's compositional approach weaves these textures into fascinating narratives that are both reflective and deeply engaging.

The second is a collaboration between Marc Baron and Éric La Casa, whose work in field recordings and acousmatic composition I greatly admire. For this project, they visited the Hiventy laboratories in Joinville-le-Pont — formerly Pathé — to explore the film restoration process. Each artist created installation-like recordings based on their individual perspectives, then combined them into a compelling sonic statement about the act of restoration itself.

Following those two albums, I've highlighted seven additional Squidco Picks from our experimental and electronic categories. Each is a unique statement from artists pushing beyond conventional musical boundaries — all are well worth exploring.

Lopez, Francisco: Untitled (2021-2022) [2 CDs] (Bu Lang Tribute Cake)

A double CD of composed environmental sound works from Francisco López, assembling raw field recordings from locations including Tenerife, Eswatini, Israel, Georgia, Chile, and the southwestern USA, along with a film soundtrack and a collaboration with Felipe Otondo, creating immersive, abstract electroacoustic pieces with intentional silences and textural extremes.

Baron, Marc / Eric La Casa: Contrefacons (Swarming)

Exploring the fragility of recorded memory and the processes of cinematic restoration, Marc Baron and Eric La Casa capture, manipulate, and recontextualize sounds from the Hiventy film laboratories, transforming them through analogue treatments and dynamic re-recording into a compelling meditation on representation, decay, and the shifting nature of perception.

Brass Clouds: Escape Vessels (Bathysphere Records)

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Dustin Dybvig crafts a layered and melodic exploration of existence, time, and cosmic themes through his project Brass Clouds, blending psychedelic textures, shimmering beats, and introspective soundscapes into a mesmerizing sonic journey across dimensions and dying worlds.

Klinga, Erik: Elusive Shimmer (thanatosis produktion)

Swedish composer Erik Klinga crafts radiant electroacoustic works from Buchla synth, pipe organ, drum machine, and field recordings, weaving melodic ambient vignettes that shimmer with warmth and light, moving through celestial textures, gliding rhythms, and bird-like flourishes in a richly detailed debut recorded at Stockholm's Royal College of Music, the first of a planned trilogy on Thanatosis.

Biota: Measured Not Found (Recommended Records)

A deeply immersive and meticulously crafted work from the reclusive Biota collective, blending microtonal instruments, electroacoustic techniques, and a wide array of ancient and modern timbres into a richly layered and human sound-world of instrumental and delicate song forms, unfolding across shifting textures and suspended time-the result of more than seven years of collaborative studio experimentation.

Illusion Of Safety: Float (Full Spectrum)

An immersive electroacoustic meditation from Dan Burke's Illusion Of Safety project, exploring the sonic essence of water through field recordings, granular synthesis, and processed textures — an evolving narrative that honors water's beauty and power, while reflecting on our fragile relationship with the natural world through deep listening and multichannel design.

Mori, Ikue: Of Ghosts And Goblins (Tzadik)

Electronic innovator Ikue Mori presents a captivating 9-part work drawing inspiration from Lafcadio Hearn's chronicles of Japanese folklore, through intricate laptop electronics and synthesizer work, conjuring a series of instrumental miniatures that evoke the ethereal presence of fox spirits, phantoms, and other spectral entities, a mysteriously enchanting and seductive work.

La Casa, Eric: Zones Portuaires 2 (Swarming)

Working from recordings made at maritime ports between 2017 and 2023, sound artist Éric La Casa constructs a compelling suite of documentary compositions shaped by the industrial rhythms, constraints, and spatial tensions of global harbours, blending field recording and sonic observation into a tactile, immersive portrait of male-dominated coastal labor environments.

Modelbau: 1x33.3 (Love Earth Music)

Recorded in March 2024 using an 8-track borrowed from Peter Duimelinks, Frans de Waard's Modelbau project presents a dark drone piece that envelops listeners in rich, immersive textures, exemplifying his adept manipulation of lo-fi equipment to create profound ambient soundscapes.

Reger, Rick: Textures & Tonalities for Analogue Synthesizers & Percussion (Aural Terrains)

Blending vintage analogue synthesizers with resonant percussion, Chicago-based Rick Reger (The Margots) constructs an immersive electroacoustic soundscape that balances harmonic depth and atmospheric tension, sculpting evolving tonalities through Moog, Mellotron, Arp & VCS3 alongside gongs and singing bowls in a meditative and richly textured sonic exploration.

Myers, David Lee: Oculus [2CDs] (pulsewidth)

A double CD of rich ambient work from New York City-based sound artist David Lee Myers, presenting four expansive compositions that blend electronics, lamellophone, feedback matrices, and hardware and software processing, evoking the ocular opening of the eye and architectural forms through immersive soundscapes that explore the interplay between organic and electronic elements.

Birge, Jean-Jacques : Centenaire De Jean-Jacques Birge - The 100th Anniversary (1952​-​2052) (GRRR)

A retrospective spanning ten decades (1958-2018) celebrating Jean-Jacques Birgé's multifaceted career through compositions reflecting each era, blending archival recordings with new works through a remarkable ensemble of longtime collaborators, from brass and strings to electronics and voice; a sonic journey bridging past, present, and imagined futures with impressive orchestration and narrative.

El Strom : Long Time No Sea (GRRR)

Recorded across studios in France and Denmark and at the Festival Les Enchanteuses, the charming and experimental trio of Birgitte Lyregaard (vocals), Sacha Gattino (sampler, percussion, zither, &c.), and Jean-Jacques Birge (Theremin, keyboards, reeds, &c.) blend experimental, jazz, rock, and folk influences, in a genre-defying amalgam of songs, free improv, rare instruments, and cutting-edge technology.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

June 26, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sophie Agnel / John Butcher - Rare (Les Disques Victo) by Andrey Henkin.

June 26, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Eric Shorter -Shorter Bendian Shields [CDR] (577 Records)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Ana Albino/Hernani Faustino/Carlos Santos -A Glimpse To An End Of A Cycle [CD] (Creative Sources)
Paula Sanchez -Pressure Sensitive [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle -Exhaust [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Le Vice Anglais (Pires/Parrinha) -vas-y [CD] (4DaRecord)
Marc Baron/Eric La Casa -Contrefacons [CD] (Swarming)
Francisco Lopez -Untitled (2021-2022) [2 CDs] (Bu Lang Tribute Cake)
Eventless Plot | Haarvol -The Subliminal Paths [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)
Eternities -Rides Again [CASSETTE] (Sacred Realism)
Elka Bong (Margolis/Wright/Bouchard) -Without Walls [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

June 24, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Karl Evangelista Quintet feat. Bobby Bradford and William Roper -Solace Angles [CD] (Asian Improv)
Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters, The (Rasmussen/Mitelli/Rezaei/Koenig) -The Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Akmee -Sacrum Profanum [CD] (Nakama Records)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Guilherme Rodrigues/Maximilian Glass -Beyond The Mist And The Unforeseen Encounters [CD] (Creative Sources)
Sveio -Latent Imprints [CDR] (577 Records)
Kommun -Kalpa [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Various Artists -Archipelago [CD] (Bathysphere Records)
Mat Watson -Reflective Hits [CD] (Eternal Music Projects)
Unredeemable (Tracy Lisk/Andrea Pensado) -Preverbal [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
+DOG+ -Our Beloved..... [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

June 23, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Alexander von Schlippenbach / Dag Magnus Narvesen Duo - Kairos (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by Andrey Henkin.

The world is in turmoil—there's no doubt about that—as I keep hearing the words "World War III." Let's hope cooler heads prevail, but that doesn't ease the suffering so many have endured over the last few years. In fact, it seems to be worsening. I attended Wilmington's No Kings rally on the 14th and was impressed by the turnout and solidarity. Nationwide, it may have been the largest single protest ever. Whether or not our leaders are listening, The People are speaking.

Amid all the uncertainty, one place I hope we don't see loss is in the creative music community. The wealth of truly great new albums fills me with a strong desire to share them. From this week's email list, my favorites are listed below. One that especially excited me is a 1981 concert at the Internationales Jazzfestival Zurich, featuring Irene Schweizer, Rüdiger Carl, Johnny Dyani, and Han Bennink. It's something else to hear the energy and spirit of these young improvisers, each of whom went on to become master musicians.

The quartet das B (Mazen Kerbaj / Mike Majkowski / Magda Mayas / Tony Buck), in their sophomore album—a joint release between Sweden's Thanatosis Produktions and Corbett vs. Dempsey—has sparked a lot of conversation here. The international collaboration draws on the spirit of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme without directly quoting it, creating a fascinating four-part free improvisation that rewards repeated listening.

New York saxophonist Darius Jones continues his Man'ish Boy series in a trio with two superb improvisers—drummer Gerald Cleaver and bassist Chris Lightcap—on a highly expressive album that explores mental health and healing, paired with a spiritual arrangement by Alan Lomax.

Two remarkable solo piano albums bring deep introspection and masterful command of the keys, each showcasing confident and compelling improvisation. The first comes from New York pianist Matt Mitchell on the Obliquity label—a set of improvisations recorded during the same session as his Illimitable solo album, yet with an entirely different character. These freely improvised pieces unfold with an evolving and persuasive internal logic. Also based in New York is Swiss-born pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, whose solo album—only her second despite her long and prolific career—finds her playing both inside and outside the piano with drama and great expressive power.

I was fascinated by the unauthorized cassette release from Dan Brown & Dan Reynolds, a 1981 recording from Portland, OR, featuring an eight-piece ensemble. Borrowing from multiple genres and styles, it's difficult to pin down exactly what to call their music—each of the four tracks offers a unique blend of compositional, experimental and spontaneous approaches.

Schweizer, Irene / Rudiger Carl / Johnny Dyani / Han Bennink: Irenes Hot Four (Intakt)

A stunning 1981 live performance at Internationales Jazzfestival Zurich, from pianist Irene Schweizer's short-lived but explosive quartet with Rüdiger Carl, Johnny Dyani, and Han Bennink, blending theatrical flair, fierce intensity, bold humor, and spontaneous surprises in a powerhouse set that channels the spirit of Mingus, the wit of Waller, and the raw energy of punk jazz.

Das B (Mazen Kerbaj / Mike Majkowski / Magda Mayas / Tony Buck): Love (thanatosis produktion / Corbett Vs Dempsey)

Inspired by John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, the second album from the Berlin-based quartet Das B — Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Mike Majkowski (bass), Magda Mayas (piano), and Tony Buck (percussion) — subverts the tribute format with a radical re-imagining built on free improvisation, textural exploration, and structural homage, resulting in a deeply immersive and conceptually rich work.

Jones, Darius: Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) (Aum Fidelity)

The seventh chapter in Darius Jones' visionary Man'ish Boy series, this powerful trio recording with Gerald Cleaver and Chris Lightcap presents five new compositions and a Lomax-arranged spiritual, confronting themes of Black mental health, trauma, and healing through richly expressive alto saxophone, deep rhythmic interplay, and emotional resonance.

Matt Mitchell: Sacrosanctity (Obliquity)

Fully improvised and recorded in the same session as his previous solo album, Illimitable, pianist Matt Mitchell's solo performance explores shifting structures and emotional densities with a remarkable clarity of form and spontaneity, blending jazz intuition, classical modernism, and abstract rhythm into a deeply focused and personal sonic journey.

Courvoisier, Sylvie: To Be Other-Wise (Intakt)

Only the second solo album from Swiss-born pianist and composer Sylvie Courvoisier, now based in New York, presenting twelve studio recordings that explore the full range of the piano inside and out, recorded in Germany and showcasing the breadth of her expressive power and spontaneous creativity, shaped by decades of work in innovative transatlantic ensembles.

Brown, Dan / Dan Reynolds: Live At The Grange Hall [unauthorized][CASSETTE] (Sacred Realism)

A unique document of Don Brown and Dan Reynolds' unconventional compositional practice, recorded live to tape in 2008 with an 8-piece ensemble performing four decades-spanning works at Multnomah Grange #71, this unauthorized cassette release captures a pivotal moment in Portland's experimental scene, offering singular music with deep references and no clear precedent.

Squidco's Spring Top 15:

As I write this, today marks the first day of summer. It feels like the perfect moment to look back on spring, so below is a list of the top 15 albums sold at Squidco during the season. If you're looking for summer listening recommendations from fellow customers, look no further — these picks are, to my ears, right on the mark, and represent the diversity and depth of listening from our wonderful Squidco community!

Taylor, Cecil / Tony Oxley : Flashing Spirits (Burning Ambulance Music)

A previously unreleased 1988 live performance from the legendary partnership of pianist Cecil Taylor and drummer Tony Oxley, recorded at the Outside In Festival in the UK just months after their initial collaboration, presenting a fiercely dynamic and poetic duo of free improvisation, revealing the spark and spiritual force that would define their decades-long artistic relationship.

Novoa, Eva: Novoa / Kamaguchi / Cleaver Trio - Vol. 2 (577 Records)

Barcelona-born pianist Eva Novoa leads bassist Masa Kamaguchi and drummer Gerald Cleaver in their second trio release for 577 Records, recorded in 2020 and blending melodic density with contrapuntal dialogue through a boldly experimental set on piano, Fender Rhodes, Chinese gongs, and improvisation, deepening the trio's inventive, textural interplay.

Sonic Chambers Quartet: Kiss Of The Earth (577 Records)

The debut album from the Sonic Chambers Quartet — co-led by multi-reedists Byron Asher and Tomas Majcherski with bassist Matt Booth and drummer Doug Garrison — presents a deeply expressive and texturally rich orchestration merging American avant jazz tradition with European chamber influences, shaped through collaborative composition, adventurous improv, and a strikingly unified ensemble sound.

Henderson, Joe / Kenny Dorham / Andrew Hill / McCoy Tyner: Our Thing to In 'N Out Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Joe Henderson, alongside Kenny Dorham and Andrew Hill, revisits the essence of the 'New Thing' in jazz with the remasters and reissues of Our Thing to In 'N Out, showcasing mastery of both conservative and adventurous impulses through a sly blend of inside and outside tactics, marked by intricate solos and dynamic group interplay that highlight the evolving soundscape of early 60s Blue Note recordings.

Maneri, Joe / Tyson Rogers / Jacob Braverman: In The Shadow, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Capturing a multidimensional dialogue through breathy microtones, atonal piano fragments, and ambiguous percussion, Joe Maneri on sax and clarinet, Tyson Rogers on piano, and Jacob Braverman on drums craft abstract improvisations exploring the delicate interplay of shadow and light, revealing emotional nuances and identity in richly layered, spontaneous constructions of impressive expressive intensity.

Carter, Daniel / Ayumi Ishito / George Draguns / Ed Wilcox: Makeshift Spirituals (577 Records)

Uniting four visionary improvisers — Daniel Carter on trumpet, flute, and saxophones; Ayumi Ishito on saxophones and effects; George Draguns on guitar and bass; and Ed Wilcox on drums — this dynamic quartet merges free jazz, psychedelic textures, and experimental energy into a powerful collective session recorded at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Sound.

Fonda, Joe Quartet (w/ Wadada Leo Smith / Satoko Fujii / Tizano Tononi): Eyes On The Horizon (Long Song Records)

NY Bassist-composer Joe Fonda leads an exceptional quartet featuring trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, pianist Satoko Fujii, and drummer Tiziano Tononi in a profound tribute to his mentor Smith, skillfully blending compositional clarity with collective improvisation in a deeply resonant and lyrically intricate musical conversation that reflects inspiration, respect, and artistic integrity.

Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi Recordings)

Alto saxophonist Steve Lehman leads his trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, in a vibrant live homage to Anthony Braxton's small ensemble works, blending intricate modern jazz interplay with searing emotional expression in a bold, high-energy celebration of Braxton's enduring influence.

Von Schlippenbach, Alexander / Barry Altschul Quartet w/ Joe Fonda & Rudi Mahal: Free Flow [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A first-time meeting of four free jazz luminaries — pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, bassist Joe Fonda, drummer Barry Altschul, and bass clarinetist Rudi Mahall — captured live in Vienna, delivering a vibrant and exploratory double CD of spontaneous interplay, deep lyricism, and uncompromising freedom from a quartet of master improvisers united in real-time invention.

AMM with Sachiko M: Testing (Matchless)

A rare meeting between Japanese minimalist Sachiko M and AMM's Eddie Prévost and John Tilbury, recorded in 2004 at London's Museum of Garden History, where sine wave precision meets tactile percussion and spacious piano in an intricate electroacoustic improvisation that explores silence, texture, and the fragile tension of deep collective listening.

Brotzmann, Peter / John Edwards / Steve Noble / Jason Adasiewicz: The Quartet [2 CDs] (Otoroku)

One of Peter Brötzmann's final recordings, captured live at Cafe OTO with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble, presenting two nights of emotionally charged and fiercely expressive performances that blend power, lyricism, and deep intergenerational connection in a fitting and resonant farewell to the legendary saxophonist.

Perelman, Ivo / Tyshawn Sorey: Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A fearless and fluid exchange between saxophonist Ivo Perelman and drummer/pianist Tyshawn Sorey, this double album captures the duo's extraordinary chemistry, shifting between blistering intensity and spacious, exploratory passages as Sorey alternates between drums and piano, forging intricate dialogues with Perelman's masterful phrasing in a boundless and deeply expressive sonic journey.

Lyons, Jimmy: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 3 (NoBusiness)

Continuing NoBusiness' series of historic loft concerts at Sam Rivers' Studio Rivbea, alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons leads a quintet featuring bassoonist Karen Borca, bassist Hayes Burnett, and drummers Henry Letcher and Syd Smart in two electrifying 1970s performances, delivering fervent free jazz marked by intricate interplay and dynamic improvisation.

Monk, Thelonious with Sonny Rollins : 1953 To 1957 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Restoring and remastering three key sessions documenting the evolving creative relationship between Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, alongside artists including Julius Watkins, Ernie Henry, Oscar Pettiford, and Max Roach, in a vital revisitation of formative collaborations that highlight Monk's unique brilliance and Rollins' early improvisational voice within shifting post-bop ensembles.

Hemphill Stringtet, The : Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill (Out Of Your Head Records)

Celebrating the profound compositional legacy of Julius Hemphill through inventive string adaptations of his saxophone quartet and sextet works, violinists Curtis Stewart and Sam Bardfeld, violist Stephanie Griffin, and cellist Tomeka Reid channel Abdul Wadud's expressive spirit, transforming Hemphill's blues-inflected jazz into vividly textured chamber improvisations with lyrical intensity.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

June 20, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Killick Hinds

June 19, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Das B (Mazen Kerbaj/Mike Majkowski/Magda Mayas/Tony Buck) -Love [CD] (thanatosis produktion/Corbett Vs Dempsey)
Das B (Mazen Kerbaj/Mike Majkowski/Magda Mayas/Tony Buck) -Love [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion/Corbett Vs Dempsey)
Matt Mitchell -Sacrosanctity [CD] (Obliquity)
Dave Burrell/Sam Woodyard -The Lost Session, 1979 Paris [CD] (NoBusiness)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Miguel Mira/Flak/Tiago Varela/Manuel Guimaraes -Genius Loci [CD] (Creative Sources)
Carlos Zingaro/Bruno Parrinha/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Joao Madeira -Enleio [CD] (4DaRecord)
Ferdinand Schwarz -Listening Time [CD] (Another Timbre)
Timothy McCormack -Mine But For Its Sublimation [CD] (Another Timbre)
Eventless Plot | Francesco Covarino -Methexis [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)
Dan Brown/Dan Reynolds -Live At The Grange Hall [unauthorized][CASSETTE] (Sacred Realism)
The Touchables -Svart/Hvitt [CD] (Conrad Sound)

June 19, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Lotte Anker / Kamil Piotrowicz / Jacob Anderskov - Antiworld I (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by Ken Waxman.

June 17, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley -Flashing Spirits [CD] (Burning Ambulance Music)
Ava Mendoza/Gabby Fluke-Mogul/Carolina Perez -Mama Killa [CD] (Burning Ambulance Music)
Irene Schweizer/Rudiger Carl/Johnny Dyani/Han Bennink -Irenes Hot Four [CD] (Intakt)
Sylvie Courvoisier -To Be Other-Wise [CD] (Intakt)
Darius Jones -Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) [CD] (Aum Fidelity)
Darius Jones -Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) [VINYL + DOWNLOAD] (Aum Fidelity)
Hemphill Stringtet, The -Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Adams/Mezzacappa/Levis -Never But Dream The Days [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Lao Dan -To Hit a Pressure Point [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Andreas Wildhagen's Spiralis -Beauty No Beauty [CD] (Nakama Records)
Havard Skaset -8:15 [CD] (Conrad Sound)
Mary Halvorson Septet -Illusionary Sea [2 LPS] (Firehouse 12 Records)
Nil by Nose -Pictures On Trains Repainted [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

June 16, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Isotope Ensemble - Caesium (Creative Sources) by Ken Waxman.

As anyone can see we're still catching up on a backlog of new releases, which isn't any kind of issue as the albums we've picked up over the last few weeks have added some incredible music to our catalog! Amid that I've been working on programming for our new interview section and some bigger changes to The Squid's Ear, making for a very busy and satisfying week.

On the new interviews on The Squid's Ear, we published reviews from two guitarists — Henry Kaiser and Barry Chabala — and one from pianist Satoko Fujii. A number more are coming over the next weeks, either in-house already or in progress with the musicians, and the process has been well-received so far. If you haven't read Henry Kaiser's interview yet, it provides great advice and interesting perspectives for musicians young and old. Satoko Fujii's interview is very brief yet pointed; and Barry Chabala's interview is near to my heart in the breadth of his influences.

Moving on to albums, with the backlog that we're catching up on, we had a chance to pick some favorites and most anticipated for this week's mailing list. Given that, it's hard to express which are my favorites, as the diversity in this week's offerings is impressive. For my personal listening, I'm preparing for the summer and looking for new albums to accompany me. The mix of options runs from the lyrically beautiful to the darkly aggressive, alongside free albums expressing open approaches, and a free referencing jazz tradition. This week's offerings are a great example of all of those, with joy, wonder, a little fear, and some thought-provoking eclecticism.

I'll start with a personal favorite in Amy Denio's new soundtrack album, Varieté, an eclectic and lyrical album that uses a surprising number of styles and orchestrations. I've been a fan of Denio since the 80s when a friend played me her Birthing Chair Blues on Knitting Factory Works. I was hooked, and soon found connections into my RIO/Henry Cow interests. When I moved Squidco to Wilmington, NC, Amy Denio reached out to me, telling me that she had heard we were presenting shows here. We weren't, but she convinced me to put on our first concert for The Billy Tipton Quartet, a memorably wonderful experience! While researching the new album I ran across this 2023 Amy Denio interview on Canvas Rebel that I recommend reading, as it gives a great overview of her career and the fascinating life she's led.

The new album is superb, a sophisticated and lyrically rich merging of styles, exotic at times with surprising twists and charm. I list a couple of other albums with Denio that we have in stock as I write this entry.

Denio, Amy: Variete (Klanggalerie)

A sophisticated and delightful cinematic work from Seattle multi-instrumentalist Amy Denio, who composes and leads a 12-piece ensemble in a dynamic new soundtrack to the 1925 silent film Varieté, blending electric guitar, accordion, voice, and hammered dulcimer with a chamber orchestra of woodwinds, strings, and percussion in a rich, genre-defying studio recording.

Dark Blue World: The Perilous Beauty of Madness (Drip Audio)

DarkBlueWorld is Elizabeth Fischer's essential rock vehicle for collaborations with noted Canadian musicians, including Tony Wilson, Peggy Lee, Amy Denio, Jesse Zubot, &c &c.

Thollem's Astral Traveling Sessions: Compilation Cassette [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Astral Spirits)

Travelling through the US & Greece to join with performers for duos and trios, in six recordings between pianist Thollem McDonas in a trio with Amy Denio & Samantha Boshnack; a duo with Seetha Shivaswamy; a trio with Mat Weisman and Rick Kodramaz; a duo with Djallo Djakate; a hand percussion duo with Jason Finkelman; and a vocal duo with Maria Karamouza.

The next album that really struck me this week comes in from the opposite angle, a very free improvisation between AMM as drummer/percussionist Eddie Prévost and pianist John Tilbury with Japanese electronic improviser and experimenter Sachiko M. This album was very much anticipated here, and we weren't disappointed in the incredible use of tone, space and momentum. I list two other recent releases with Prévost and Tilbury — Aura as a duo and Last Calls with Keith Rowe.

AMM with Sachiko M: Testing (Matchless)

A rare meeting between Japanese minimalist Sachiko M and AMM's Eddie Prévost and John Tilbury, recorded in 2004 at London's Museum of Garden History, where sine wave precision meets tactile percussion and spacious piano in an intricate electroacoustic improvisation that explores silence, texture, and the fragile tension of deep collective listening.

AMM (Prevost / Tilbury): Aura (Matchless)

Recorded in Finland in 2016, this extended improvisation features a core duo from later AMM configurations — percussionist Eddie Prévost and pianist John Tilbury, who also performs on harpsichord — captured in the exceptional acoustics of The Sibelius Museum concert hall where the intimate setting elicits profound, beautifully recorded dialogue between these two masterful performers.

AMM (Rowe / Prevost + Tilbury): Last Calls (Matchless)

To celebrate drummer/percussionist Eddie Prévost's 80th birthday, Café Oto hosted four concerts once a week in June, 2022, each a differing configuration from Prévost's history; this final concert reconvened for an extended improvisation between Prévost & guitarist Keith Rowe, with a "Postscript" from pianist John Tilbury recorded at his home in January, 2023.

Two other albums that we finished cataloging this week are also in the very open, non-idiomatic improv field, both of which really impressed me. The first is on the Konnekt label, an expansion of the trio of Nicolas Field on drums, Thomas Florin on piano, and Valerio Tricoli on electronics, expanded with one of my favorite trumpeters — Nate Wooley — and Fritz Welch providing unique vocal additions. I was reminded of Evan Parker's electroacoustic ensemble, though with different instrumentation, but with the same sense of successful exploration.

This is an album to listen to repeatedly for the subtle interactions and unusual twists and turns. I also list the FDR Trio's new album Possibility And Prejudices From Within A Cup, more in the free jazz vein and with the extraordinary playing of saxophonist John Dikeman.

From Australia comes the trio of Jim Denley, Dale Gorfinkel & Peter Farrar using unusual instrumentation, including self-made instruments and sound sculptures, to make a really unique album of free improvisation. In the vein of unique, and returning to the Konnekt label, the duo of Charlemagne Palestine & Seppe Gebruers use four grand pianos tuned in unusual ways to create captivating microtonal interactions. It's also a beautiful pressing, and available in neon green vinyl.

Re-Ghoster Extended: The Zebra Paradox [VINYL] (Konnekt)

Expanding the Re-Ghoster trio of Nicolas Field on drums, Thomas Florin on piano, and Valerio Tricoli on revox and electronics with the addition of Nate Wooley on acoustic and amplified trumpet and Fritz Welch's visceral vocal work, the group explores surreal electroacoustic improvisation through dense, transdimensional soundscapes, fractured time, deranged textures, and ritualistic intensity; incredible!

FDF Trio: Possibility And Prejudices From Within A Cup [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A fiercely expressive trio of drummer Nicolas Field, saxophonist John Dikeman, and pianist Thomas Florin, delivering a raw and evolving session of free improvisation, recorded in Geneva with a spirit of spontaneity and shared energy, channeling aggression, nuance, and dynamic interplay into a collective sound that values connection and honest interaction.

Palestine, Charlemagne / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.

Denley, Jim / Dale Gorfinkel / Peter Farrar: Vents (Relative Pitch)

An unconventional Australian trio exploring breath, vibration, and material resonance, as flutist Jim Denley, airdrum inventor Dale Gorfinkel, and sonic sculptor Peter Farrar create a richly textured world of wind, water, and pressure in two improvised pieces of organic, immersive sound, recorded in Sydney and shaped by the physical vitality of their experimental instruments.

Queen Bee Records:

I'm always interested in the improvisatory world of the US West Coast, and one of our latest label additions to our catalog comes from bassist Lisa Mezzacappa's Queen Bee Records. We've added 5 albums from the launch of the label, all of them excellent with players that I'm actively following. Starting with an exploration of Wadada Leo Smith's work, each album has been sophisticated and diverse. I didn't have time to catalog the new trio album from Steve Adams, Lisa Mezzacappa and Jason Levis (Mezzacappa's partner on the excellent duo B. album), but the quartet album from Bristle really struck the right spot for me. Listening to the album I was at times reminded of Henry Threadgill's work, but the quartet has a unique sense of humor and wonder that makes this a great upbeat and sophisticated album. Without a drummer, Murray Campbell's role as violinist and oboist adds a chamber quality to the music, alongside Mezzacappa and two saxophonists — Randy McKean and Cory Wright — but it's not dry or reserved, it's really a fun and bristling album of joyful improvisation.

Bristle (McKean / Wright / Campbell / Mezzacappa): Archimera (Queen Bee Records)

Ten years after their last release, Northern California's Bristle returns with a richly inventive chamber jazz album blending virtuosic improvisation and playful composition, as saxophonists Randy McKean and Cory Wright join violinist/oboist Murray Campbell and bassist Lisa Mezzacappa in a dynamic, Threadgill-esque ensemble sound full of counterpoint, wit, and imaginative sonic twists.

Glenn's, Jordan BEAK: The Party (Queen Bee Records)

An electrifying fusion of diverse musical traditions, this evening-length composition showcases the dynamic interplay of guitarists Karl Evangelista and David James, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, vibraphonist Mark Clifford, percussionist Robert Lopez, drummer Jon Arkin, and Val Esway, seamlessly blending composed structures with spontaneous improvisation to capture the ensemble's innovative spirit.

Green Mitchell Trio (Wright / Mezzacappa / Levis): Nature Channel (Queen Bee Records)

Expanding the possibilities of the saxophone-bass-drums trio, multi-reedist and composer Cory Wright leads bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and drummer Jason Levis in his Green Mitchell Trio's long-awaited follow-up, recording in the studio in Oakland, California, weaving songful melodies, high-energy free improv, intricate dissonances, and kinetic interplay for five lyrically inclined conversations.

duo B. (Lisa Mezzacappa / Jason Levis): Luminous Axis (Queen Bee Records)

Longtime collaborators Lisa Mezzacappa and Jason Levis deepen their exploration of Wadada Leo Smith's Ankhrasmation language, interpreting his graphic score through an intuitive acoustic bass and drum dialogue shaped by years of study, live performance, and improvisational research, forging their own path through his modular notation in a dynamic and deeply immersive exchange.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

June 13, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley -Flashing Spirits [CD] (Burning Ambulance Music)
Ava Mendoza/Gabby Fluke-Mogul/Carlina Perez -Mama Killa [CD] (Burning Ambulance Music)

June 12, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Satoko Fujii

June 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Dennis Egberth - The Dennis Egberth Dynasty (577 Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

June 10, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Barry Chabala

June 10, 2025: New @ Squidco:
AMM with Sachiko M -Testing [CD] (Matchless)
Eddie Prevost -Material Consequences [CD] (Matchless)
Izumi Kimura/Gerry Hemingway -How The Dust Falls [CD] (Auricle)
Wallace/Vazquez/Von Schultz -Siesta [CDR] (577 Records)
Mira Trio (Furioso/Mira/Gibson) -Machinerie [CD] (4DaRecord)
Japp Blonk -Kurt Schwitters Ursonate [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Various Artists -Music is a Message From Space [VINYL] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Henry Kaiser/Kurt Newman -After [CD] (Fractal)
Eventless Plot | Yorgos Dimitriadis -Entanglements [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)
Evan Johnson (Marco Fusi) -Dust Book [CD] (Another Timbre)

June 9, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Luciana Bass - Desatornilladonos (Relative Pitch) by Paul Serralheiro.

June 6, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Henry Kaiser

This week had two main foci: adding new features to The Squid's Ear and fixing some long-standing problems, and celebrating Anthony Braxton's birthday.

The latter has been a joy — listening to some of Braxton's compositions while working and offering great prices to those interested in his box sets and DVD. As the US distribution point for New Braxton House, in conjunction with Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, we're uniquely positioned to offer these albums, and we're happy to share his music with new listeners and longtime fans alike. With the release of his 6th Trillium Opera, Trillium X, on the Prague PMP label, we celebrate the history of this landmark series.

Braxton's Trillium series — his vast and evolving opera cycle — is one of the most significant and ambitious undertakings in avant-garde music. Conceived as a multi-part system of "modular operas," Trillium fuses complex compositional structures, abstract narrative, and Braxton's unique language systems into works that challenge and expand the very idea of opera. Unlike traditional opera, Trillium is not driven by conventional storytelling, but instead explores philosophical, structural, and musical themes through rich vocal writing, intricate ensemble passages, and carefully staged concepts.

This series reflects Braxton's lifelong pursuit of trans-idiomatic composition — melding elements of classical music, jazz, theater, and experimental practice into a singular artistic vision. With the recent release of a new Trillium set, there's no better moment to dive into this groundbreaking series. We highly recommend starting with Trillium E and Trillium J, both available from Squidco during this birthday sale — essential works that offer a compelling entry point into Braxton's operatic universe.

Squid's Ear Interviews & Technical Updates:

This week we published the first two interviews in a new feature on The Squid's Ear! Conducted by email, the interviews follow a consistent structure for each artist, while allowing room for individual voices to shine through. I'm still refining the formatting and making a few tweaks to the questions, but now seems as good a time as any to begin publishing these conversations — with many more to come.

We started with a personal favorite performer, Chicago saxophonist and community organizer Dave Rempis, whose excellent Aerophonic label we proudly carry. Rempis has performed in North Carolina twice over the past year — once with Tashi Dorji, and then with Ballister. Both performances spanned from beautiful to blistering improvisation, a balance that reflects what draws me so strongly to his work.

The second interview features improvising guitar hero Henry Kaiser, an artist I've followed since the '80s. A versatile improviser who first impressed me with his album The Devil in the Drain, Kaiser offers thoughtful, generous insights and advice to aspiring musicians.

Working on these interviews — and on technical improvements to the site to support them — brought to light a few small but persistent problems that have been creeping into The Squid's Ear, our online magazine that you're reading right now. One of the most pressing issues was a security warning that only some browsers flagged. It stemmed from a site-wide SSL update on Squidco last year: many links to SquidsEar.com weren't using secure (https) protocols, causing browsers to flag the site as possibly unsafe, even though The Squid's Ear doesn't sell anything.

That issue was compounded by the fact that both domain names — squidco.com and squidsear.com — share a server in a "parked domain" configuration. To properly secure parked domains, you need a specific type of SSL certificate, and we'd been searching for a way to implement one without conflicts.

Our initial workaround was to avoid using squidsear.com links, favoring squidco.com/ear instead. But we've always liked the squidsear.com domain, so it was an unfortunate compromise. This past week, we finally implemented a lasting fix by working with our web host to install a proper secure certificate for squidsear.com that works in tandem with squidco.com — no more warnings!

I'm now moving ahead with improvements to the site that will make reading articles easier on mobile devices, alongside some long-overdue features I've been meaning to implement for years.

Ballister (Rempis / Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love): Smash And Grab (Aerophonic)

"Smash", "Even More Smashing" and "Grab" sums up the intense energy that the Ballister trio brought to their 2022 performance at Elastic Arts in Chicago as part of the Catalytic Sound Festival, impelled by Paul Nilssen-Love's powerful drumming and Fred Lonberg-Holm's demanding cello work, with Dave Rempis roaring on alto, tenor and baritone saxophones; wow!

Rempis / Karayorgis / Heinemann / Harris: Truss (Driff Records & Aerophonics)

Three label leaders come together for this extraordinary 2023 concert at Elastic Arts in Chicago--Aerophonic's Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; Driff Records' Pandelis Karayorgis on piano; Amalgam Records' Bill Harris on drums--along with bassist Jakob Heinmann, this exceptional free jazz performance cementing the bond between Boston and Chicago with a hope for more!

Rempis, Dave / Tashi Dorji Duo: Gnash (Aerophonic)

Beginning their tours as a duo in 2017 and expanded into the trio Kuzu, Bhutanese improvising guitarist Tashi Dorji and Chicago saxophone improviser Dave Rempis recorded these four exotically powerful dialogs after their 2023 tour, performing at The Sugar Maple, in Milwaukee, Rempis on multiple saxophones including the soprano sax that the late Mars Williams gifted to him.

Rempis / Adasiewicz / Abrams / Damon: Propulsion (Aerophonic)

The debut of the Chicago quartet of Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, Jason Adasiewicz on vibes, Joshua Abrams on bass and Tyler Damon on drums, recorded after a year of performances to develop their propulsive and expansive force, as heard in this concert at Elastic Arts, which was also the last of the weekly Thursday night series Rempis curated for 21 years.

Archer (Dave Rempis / Terrie Ex / Jon Rune Strom / Tollef Ostvang): Sudden Dusk (Aerophonic)

A fierce and unpredictable quartet of international improvisers — saxophonist Dave Rempis, guitarist Terrie Ex, bassist Jon Rune Strřm, and drummer Tollef Řstvang — recorded live in Chicago and Milwaukee, delivering a balance of explosive energy and nuanced restraint in a tightly coiled interplay of sonic provocation, rhythmic drive, and free-form invention.

Prevost, Eddie / NO Moore / Henry Kaiser / Binker Golding / Olie Brice: The Secret Handshake with Danger Volume Two (577 Records)

The 2nd volume of the UK/US West Coast quintet of legendary AMM drummer Eddie Prévost, guitarist Henry Kaiser, N.O. Moore on "guitarisism", Blinker Golding on saxophone and Olie Brice on double bass, merging free jazz and free improvisation in a rollicking album of electric jazz recorded in London, adding two more exhilarating "Doors" of quick shifting improv.

Amendola, Scott / Henry Kaiser / Michael Manring: Haunted by Eternity [2 CDs] + Trouble with the Treble (Agren / Colby / Kaiser) (Fractal)

The West Coast power trio of Scott Amendola on drums & live electronics, Henry Kaiser on guitar and Michael Manring on bass are heard in this double album of 15 assertive tracks that balance heavy electronics and effects with intense soloing amidst unusual "soundtracks for quite a number of films that do not exist in our homeworld version of the Earth's infinite timelines."

Kaiser, Henry: The Lost Chord (Metalanguage)

Focused around a poem by Adelaide Anne Procter titled "A Lost Chord", West Coast guitarist Henry Kaiser invokes the spirit of Procter's words through a stunningly beautiful album of both contemplative and technically excellent work, his first solo album performed on the lower tuned baritone guitar, in 10 tracks inspired by Frith, Xenakis, Evan Parker, Ligeti, &c.
Includes a free copy of Trouble with the Treble while quantities last!

Kaiser, Henry / Kurt Newman: After (Fractal)

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

June 5, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Joe Morris/Elliott Sharp -Realism [CD] (ESP)
AGogol/NaabtalDeath/Ernesto Rodrigues/Guilherme Rodrigues -Mistika Jpeg Oscillations [CD] (Creative Sources)
Stefan Keune/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith -Two Felt-Tip Pens: Live At Moers [CD] (Balance Point Acoustics)
Bloomers (Efternoler/Dybbroe/Goodwin) -Cyclism [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Jackie Myers -What About The Butterfly [VINYL] (577 Records)
Laura Steenberge -Piriforms [CD] (Sacred Realism)
Philip Gayle -Sunrise Crazy [CD] (Public Eyesore)
MNE (Mikawa/Numata/Escalante) -MNE Is Not NME [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

June 5, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: William Parker / Hugo Costa / Phillip Ernsting - Pulsar (NoBusiness) by Nick Ostrum.

June 3, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Eva Novoa -Novoa/Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio - Vol. 2 [VINYL] (577 Records)
GPS (Guillermo Gregorio/Jeff Pearring/Charley Sabatino) -Directions + Destinations [CDR] (577 Records)
Samir Boehringer's Sazzerac -Olympia [CDR] (577 Records)
Sylvain Kassap/Steve Swell/Benjmain Duboc/Chad Taylor -Edges [CD] (RogueArt)
Motoharu Yoshizawa/Kim Dae Hwan -Way Of The Breeze [CD] (NoBusiness)
Sophie Agnel -Song [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Ravenna Escaleira -Vagabondage [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Leap of Faith -Linguistic Deference [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Brass Clouds -Escape Vessels [CD] (Bathysphere Records)
E.O.C. (Engineering Of Consent) -Dreams [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

June 3, 2025: New Interview @ The Squid's Ear: Dave Rempis!

June 2, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: William Parker / Hugo Costa / Phillip Ernsting - Pulsar (NoBusiness) by Nick Ostrum.

Last weekend was a long one here in the US, though a bit shortened for us Squids as we stayed busy taking orders and working with our customers to make it a great opportunity to spread incredible music across the globe. With all the uncertainty and political insanity this year, the weekend was a much-needed chance to focus on our mission: bringing exciting new albums into our catalog, from the most popular to the most eccentric. We know many people are holding their breath, watching to see what happens next in the world, and we deeply appreciate those of you who help us carry this mission forward — this sale was a fantastic way to do just that.

While here in the US we think of this as the unofficial start of summer, the season officially begins in just a few weeks — making now a perfect time to pick up new music for the months ahead! For my ears, the CD edition of Fire! Orchestra's Echoes is an essential listen, having been long delayed after the LP release. I've also been giving a lot of play to the excellent new Rivbea Studios archive album from Jimmy Lyons on the NoBusiness label. This series never fails to excite me, highlighting some of the great names of the loft era, and this one's no exception; it's no wonder Lyons was a long-time Cecil Taylor sideman, given the strength of his playing and his drive to expand the boundaries of free jazz. For more insight into Lyons, I recommend Robert Levin's 2010 article and interview with Lyons on All About Jazz.

Another album getting heavy rotation here is the second Berlin Art Quartet release on Unisono Records, Live At MIM. Featuring the exemplary ensemble of Matthias Schubert on saxophone, Matthias Bauer on bass, Matthias Muller on trombone, and Reinhard Bruggemann on drums, the group channels the approach of the New York Art Quartet, delivering stunning collective improvisation marked by deep listening and expansive, masterful technique. We've also restocked their earlier album, Live At B-Flat, another absolutely impressive showcase of this band's extraordinary abilities.

My other strong recommendation from this week's mailing list, and another brilliant example of collective mastery, comes from the trio of Sophie Agnel, John Edwards, and Steve Noble. With players of this caliber, you'd naturally expect something remarkable, and this live set at Otoroku truly delivers! Building in intensity, the trio leads us through three sections of their title work, with the central part offering an absolutely riveting 33-minute exposition of wide-ranging improvisational conversation.

Fire! Orchestra: Echoes [VINYL 3 LPs] (Rune Grammofon)

A monumental release from Fire! Orchestra led by Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling & Andreas Werliin, in an expanded ensemble of 43 international musicians, with new members including Joe McPhee, for a massive work organized into seven parts, presented in a solid box set spread across 3 vinyl LPs of music with titles inspired by Swedish author & poet Erik Lindegren; magnificent!

Lyons, Jimmy: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 3 (NoBusiness)

Continuing NoBusiness' series of historic loft concerts at Sam Rivers' Studio Rivbea, alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons leads a quintet featuring bassoonist Karen Borca, bassist Hayes Burnett, and drummers Henry Letcher and Syd Smart in two electrifying 1970s performances, delivering fervent free jazz marked by intricate interplay and dynamic improvisation.

Berlin Art Quartet (Schubert / Bauer / Muller / Bruggemann): Live At MIM (Unisono Records)

Formed in 2013 by drummer Reinhard Brüggemann, the Berlin Art Quartet channels the spirit of the New York Art Quartet, with saxophonist Matthias Schubert, trombonist Matthias Müller, and bassist Matthias Bauer performing a powerful live set of free jazz, blending fiery interplay, dynamic shifts, extended techniques, and raw yet thoughtful improvisation.

Berlin Art Quartet (Schubert / Bauer / Muller / Bruggemann): Live At B-Flat (Unisono Records)

Inspired by and using the same instrumentation as John Tchicai's seminal 60's free jazz band New York Art Quartet, since 2013 the Berlin Art Quartet of Matthias Schubert on saxophone, Matthias Bauer on bass, Matthias Muller on trombone, and Reinhard Bruggemann on drums, has carried on the spirit of NY Free Jazz, here in a live concert at B-Flat, in Berlin in 2019.

Agnel, Sophie / John Edwards / Steve Noble: Three On A Match (Otoroku)

Recorded live at Cafe OTO, the formidable trio of pianist Sophie Agnel, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble delivers an explosive set of collective free improvisation, deconstructing their instruments into raw sound materials through playful intensity, percussive collisions, and a fearless, physical approach that dissolves the line between instrument and expression.

The week prior, I used the prelude to our sale to catch up on some albums in our "Just In" section. I'm not sure if we broke any records this week (no pun intended), but we currently have more than 60 albums we're working on cataloging — a bit of a spring flood! In particular, we're catching up with Evil Clown, the Boston collective led by David Peck, and the many ensembles that perform regularly. If you haven't listened to their work recently, it's worth checking out some of these albums, as Peck continues to hone his approach to far-ranging improv with an expanding set of players that attracts some of the area's finest.

We also finished work on a number of Love Earth Music albums, a mysterious label that does a better job releasing fascinating electroacoustic projects than it does documenting them. We're trying to complement that effort, and several of those albums are truly fascinating examples of electroacoustic improv, studio composition, performance art, and hybrids of the same.

Modelbau: 1x33.3 (Love Earth Music)

Recorded in March 2024 using an 8-track borrowed from Peter Duimelinks, Frans de Waard's Modelbau project presents a dark drone piece that envelops listeners in rich, immersive textures, exemplifying his adept manipulation of lo-fi equipment to create profound ambient soundscapes.

Chefkirk: Giant Size (Love Earth Music)

Eight distinctive works for electronics and sound from the alter ego of Roger H. Smith, using noise, percussive elements and unusual synthetics, layered around static and arpeggiated rhythms and punctuated with strange asides, the works run from 3:14 to 18:37 and were developed over a year and half; an excellent introduction to the sonic diversity Chefkirk revels in.

Extra: Spiral/Athletics (Love Earth Music)

The third album from the collaboration of sound artists Howard Seltzer, who typically works with consumer grade tape players, and Brian Grainger, head of the Milieu Music mailorder label, in an extended work of textural cassette sound, field recordings, drone music and modular synthesis, a journey through rich and well-controlled sound.

Chefkirk / Crank Sturgeon: Nice To Err With You (2 CDs) (Love Earth Music)

Bringing together two aberrant sound artist--Chefkirk, aka Roger Smith, based in Oregon; and Crank Sturgeon, aka Matt Anderson currently based in Massachusetts--for two CDs of rhythmic mayhem layered and punctuated with electronics and mutilated sounds from objects & voice, with beats that feign steadiness but derail in amusing and embraceable ways; weird fun! Mastered by Squidco's own Carl Kruger.

Speaking of electroacoustic composition, my own album under my long-standing CHANGES TO blind project is now officially released — Volume 9, I Wave on a Fine Vile Mist. I was humbled to receive a great review from Vital Weekly's leader Frans de Waard: "Heavily layered collages of found sounds, old vinyl, spoken word, some electronics here and there, and in his approach, he reminds me, as before, of some of Nurse With Wound's older records, even, perhaps, without some of the refinement. Zampino's primary instrument, however, is the computer, and it's here where all organisation takes place, in good old musique concrčte fashion. By meticulously editing and rearranging, Zampino strikes a balance between chaos and order, fun and seriousness, while maintaining a playful approach."

CHANGES TO blind (Phil Zampino): Volume 9 - I Wave on a Fine Vile Mist [CD + DOWNLOAD] (Squidco)

The ninth and first concept album from Phil Zampino's CHANGES TO blind project, composed from synthetics, samples, field recordings, plunders, and voice, draws on a childhood 10" circus record to explore life's strange loop through sonic experimentation, collage, and poetry-blurring memory, absurdity, and existential inquiry in a deeply personal, carousel-like narrative.

The album I would have liked to see on our site this weekend is the Cosmic Ear Traces, bringing together Christer Bothén, Mats Gustafsson, Goran Kajfeš, Kansan Zetterberg, and Juan Romero. We were only able to obtain a limited number of copies of this powerful and spiritual album in its first entry in the US, but we expect to have more copies soon; if you'd like us to notify you when it's back in stock please use our "Request Email Notification on Restock" feature for that album.

Cosmic Ear ( Bothen / Gustfsson / Kajfe / Zetterberg / Romero): Traces (We Jazz)

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

May 29, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sergio Armaroli Quintet (Sharp / Piccolo / Edwards / Sanders) - Introducing A Very Heavy Person, First Visit To The Audio Equivalent Of A Graphic Novel (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by John Eyles.

May 27, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Alex Zethson/Johan Jutterstrom -It Could/If I [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion/Astral Spirits)
Alex Zethson/Nikos Veliotis -Cryo [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)
Alex Zethson/Nikos Veliotis -Cryo [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Christer Bothen 3 -L'INVISIBLE [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Christer Bothen 3 -L'INVISIBLE [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)
Vilhelm Bromander Unfolding Orchestra -Jorden Vi Arvde [LP] (thanatosis produktion)
Vilhelm Bromander Unfolding Orchestra -Jorden Vi Arvde [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Erik Klinga -Elusive Shimmer [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)
Erik Klinga -Elusive Shimmer [CD] (thanatosis produktion)

In the US this weekend is the federal holiday Memorial Day, which was originally known as Decoration Day. Since 1868 this weekend, observed on the last Monday of May, has been intended to honor and mourn U.S. military who died while serving in the US Armed Forces. Over time it has also become a day where family and friends remember their loved one, visiting cemetaries and resting places to lay flowers, grieve, or find solace in the memories of those who have passed.

Each year at this time I think of the musicians we've lost, which increases as I myself get older and learn more about the many leaders and sidemen who have ifluenced me. This year we lost four artists that mean a lot to me, and the world is a little less brilliant for their loss.

Irčne Schweizer
A pioneering Swiss pianist and improviser, Schweizer was a central figure in European free jazz and a co-founder of the Intakt label. She passed away on July 16, 2024, at the age of 83.

Barre Phillips
An American bassist renowned for his solo improvisational work and collaborations with European avant-garde artists. Phillips died in December 2024 at the age of 90.

Wally Shoup
A key figure in Seattle's free improvisation scene, Shoup was known for his fiery alto saxophone performances and collaborations with artists like Thurston Moore. He passed away on March 5, 2024, at the age of 79.

Herb Robertson
An adventurous trumpeter and flugelhornist, Robertson was known for his work with Tim Berne and Bill Frisell. He died on December 10, 2024, at the age of 73.

This weekend is our annual Memorial Day Sale, so the regular email list is delayed by one week. We'll be back on the 30th with an incredible set of new albums to share!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

May 20, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Fire! Orchestra -Echoes [2 CDs] (Rune Grammofon)
Larry Ochs/Joe Morris/Charles Downs -Every Day --> All The Way [CD] (ESP)
Sophie Agnel/John Edwards/Steve Noble -Three On A Match [CD] (Otoroku)
Eva Novoa -Novoa/Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio - Vol. 2 [CDR] (577 Records)
Fred Moten/Brandon Lopez -Revision [CD] (Tao Forms)
Fred Moten/Brandon Lopez -Revision [VINYL] (Tao Forms)
CHANGES TO blind (Phil Zampino) -Volume 9 - I Wave on a Fine Vile Mist [CD] (Squidco)
Metal Chaos Ensemble -Barsoom [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Expanse -The Insistence Of Cacophony [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Turbulence -Objections To Realism [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Leap Of Faith -Crawling Into Consciousness [CDR] (Evil Clown)
subservientdominance -Publicdominance [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Wallmart/Rubbish -Asset Protection [split CD] (Love Earth Music)

May 19, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: William Parker/Hugo Costa/ Phillip Ernsting - Pulsar (NoBusiness) by Nick Ostrum.

An exceptional week of new releases — it seemed like each time our main door rang, a package of highly anticipated albums entered our catalog! Listen! Foundation, ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd, and Libra led the way with releases that have been spinning in our players all week. Exemplary artists featured on those albums — in no particular order — include Satoko Fujii, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Simon Nabatov, William Parker, Michel Doneda, Christian Meaas Svendsen, Joe Fonda, Christopher Fox, Josh Sinton, Ramon Lopez, Paal Nilssen-Love, Daniel Carter, and luminaries Thelonious Monk and John Cage!

Aside from the albums in this week's mailing list, check out our Just In Stock Section to browse a wealth of new arrivals from labels including thanatosis, Sacred Realms, Nakama Record, Conrad Sound, Balance Point Acoustics, Red Records, Love Earth Music, Creative Sources, Another Timbre, Relative Pitch, Public Eyesore, Evil Clown, and more.

Here's a closer look at the most recently cataloged albums — the ones that kept me excited all week:

ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. added two new albums this month — one from the Revisited series, and one by Christopher Fox from their avant contemporary series. The Monk album collects recordings performed with Sonny Rollins between 1953 and 1957. A confession: I've always admired Rollins and his contribution to early hard bop, but I haven't always been a fan — I lean more toward Coltrane or Dexter Gordon. This album, along with the liner notes, might change that, as Rollins plays familiar Monk tunes with extraordinary power. The remastering and restoration truly bring the music to life, and the sidemen include some of my favorite musicians from the era.

The Christopher Fox album is the second in a series of acoustic compositions that emulate the Cold War-era Subharchord synthesizer using bass drum, double bass, and bass flute. An unusual and intriguing approach to textural sound, Fox composes in ways that recreate the subharmonic tones the Subharchord excelled at — or, as Wikipedia puts it: "sounds produced by dividing the fundamental frequency, resulting in subharmonics, or 'undertones,' which only exist naturally in bells and steel plates, and differ from those produced conventionally by synthesizers and software." Fox and his performers evoke these tones through extended techniques and unconventional methods, offering a fascinating acoustic take on synthetic sound.

Monk, Thelonious with Sonny Rollins: 1953 To 1957 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Restoring and remastering three key sessions documenting the evolving creative relationship between Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, alongside artists including Julius Watkins, Ernie Henry, Oscar Pettiford, and Max Roach, in a vital revisitation of formative collaborations that highlight Monk's unique brilliance and Rollins' early improvisational voice within shifting post-bop ensembles.

Fox, Christopher: Dissenting Voices (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

The second set of compositions from Christopher Fox emulating the Subharchord's sonic architecture through acoustic means, performed by Dominic Lash on double bass, Elisabeth Flunger on bass drum, and Kathryn Williams on bass flute, drawing deep resonance from extended techniques and elemental gestures in a richly textural exploration of dissent, descent, and transformation.

The set of albums from Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) represents everything I love about that label — their embrace of collective and composed improvisation, and their extremely creative albums that blur the boundaries between genres. All five albums we added are exceptional. The clear standouts include the extraordinary quartet of Alexander von Schlippenbach, Barry Altschul, Joe Fonda, and Rudi Mahall; I'm particularly fascinated by the way they slide recognizable quotes from their shared histories into their extended improvisations, which — even at 50 minutes in length (as on Free Flow Set 2) — never feel heavy. While essentially a collective album, implicit lyricism runs throughout their sets, alongside tremendous technique and intense communication.

Joe Fonda also appears in the New Origin trio with Christophe Rocher and Harvey Sorgen, bringing his compositions to the foreground. A quick look through Squidco's catalog shows 58 albums with Fonda as a sideman or leader or, and those featuring his compositions reflect his remarkable growth in crafting structurally engaging and compelling modern jazz.

The same can be said for Simon Nabatov, who has released a steady stream of albums featuring his own compositions in recent years. On Agree to Disagree, the pianist presents eight distinctive works through varied ensemble configurations, which I would characterize as chamber jazz, though thoroughly rooted in the jazz tradition. Nabatov says the pieces aren't connected, but I find the album cohesive in both form and style — consistently interesting and enjoyable.

The most purely collective album of the group is a live recording in Barcelona featuring Michel Doneda, Lę Quan Ninh, and Núria Andorrŕ. The nuance and direction of their performance are immersive and masterful, showcasing their vast experience. I wasn't familiar with the late Swiss publisher Marianne Brull — a major patron of improvised music — which is my oversight given her influence on European free improvisation. For a sense of her broad interests, take a look at her personal Bandcamp collection.

Charlotte Hug's In Resonance With Elsewhere brings the set to a close and exemplifies Listen! Foundation's commitment to creative hybrids. Hug performs on viola and voice across nine works commissioned in 2022 by the Ruhr Triennale music festival. As a longtime fan of vocal improvisation, I find this album a profound interaction between voice and strings. Hug's vocal range and expressive control are astonishing — not a word is sung, but like Ute Wassermann, she crafts a captivating sound world that held my attention from beginning to end.

Hug, Charlotte: In Resonance With Elsewhere (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Composer, violist, and vocal innovator Charlotte Hug presents her fourth solo album in a stunning multidimensional performance blending voice, viola, and spatial resonance, emphasizing her expanded vocal range across a set of immersive, sonically rich works drawn from her 2022 Ruhrtriennale commission and captured in vivid spatial detail at La Prairie in Switzerland.

Doneda, Michel / Le Quan Ninh / Nuria Andorra: El Retorn De L'escolta (A La Memoria De Marianne Brull) (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A powerful live performance recorded at Barcelona's L'Auditori in tribute to the late patron of free improvisation, Marianne Brull, capturing the first meeting of soprano saxophonist Michel Doneda, percussionist Lę Quan Ninh, and Barcelona-based improviser Núria Andorrŕ in a set of radical listening and deep interaction exploring spontaneous collective expression.

New Origin (feat. Christoph Rocher / Joe Fonda / Harvey Sorge): The Poet Walks (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Formed from a transatlantic friendship and deep musical rapport, the trio of clarinetist Christophe Rocher, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Harvey Sorgen create an inspired and richly expressive set of improvisations, balancing melodic clarity and spontaneous invention in a lyrical program that reflects themes of presence, connection, and creative renewal.

Von Schlippenbach, Alexander / Barry Altschul Quartet w/ Joe Fonda & Rudi Mahal: Free Flow [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A first-time meeting of four free jazz luminaries — pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, bassist Joe Fonda, drummer Barry Altschul, and bass clarinetist Rudi Mahall — captured live in Vienna, delivering a vibrant and exploratory double CD of spontaneous interplay, deep lyricism, and uncompromising freedom from a quartet of master improvisers united in real-time invention.

Nabatov, Simon: Agree to Disagree (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Pianist Simon Nabatov leads three shifting ensembles through eight distinct compositions in this richly orchestrated and stylistically diverse studio recording, blending chamber elements and jazz improvisation with musicians including Angelika Niescier, Shannon Barnett, Pascal Klewer, and Roger Kintopf, as Nabatov explores contrasting textures, political undercurrents, and tonal interplay.

One final album from this week's mailing comes from Josh Sinton: the second volume in his series interpreting Steve Lacy's improvisation practice books. This 2-CD set, released on his own FiP Recordings label, features fifteen improvisations on Lacy's Couloir, and a second CD interpreting Book of Practitioners Vol. 2 "W". Honestly, the day I cataloged this album I intended to sample a few tracks and return later — I was on a tight schedule. Instead, I ended up listening to both CDs straight through, pushing aside my work and turning to Squidco's books and finances while I listened. I find all things Lacy-related compelling, and this release absolutely hit the mark.

Sinton, Josh: Couloir & Book Of Practitioners Vol. 2 Book "W" [2 CDs] (FiP recordings)

Baritone saxophonist Josh Sinton continues his deep engagement with Steve Lacy's saxophone etudes in this 2-CD release, presenting fifteen spontaneous solo improvisations on Couloir, alongside a meticulous yet personal interpretation of Lacy's Book of Practitioners Vol. 2 "W", a suite of six structured études that explore sonic character through repetition, variation, and improvisation.

From Tariffs to Obi Strips:

You can feel the pressure on the physical media community — it's been building for years. First came rising shipping costs, which now often exceed the price of the albums themselves, driven in part by the dominance of downloads that have kept physical prices artificially low. Then came VAT requirements in the UK and Europe that make sense for luxury items, but only complicate the sale of affordable cultural goods like CDs and LPs. Add to that the instability introduced by shifting tariff policies, and it's no surprise that international exchange has become harder — and more uncertain — than ever.

None of this encourages the free movement of culture, which can't easily be quantified in economic terms. Tariffs make little sense for art objects, which by nature originate in only one place. And ideas, innovations, and expressions of creativity benefit all of us, wherever we are. Yet here we are, in a moment where so many forces — economic, political, technological — seem to run counter to the music we love. It's a challenging current we're navigating, and finding ways to stay afloat is, at times, no small feat.

That's a real loss for those of us who treasure sound, expression, and the tangible presence of a collection. Physical media still offers so much: artwork, liner notes, booklets, box sets, inventive packaging, and all the small but meaningful touches that deepen our connection to the music. There's a sense of certainty in holding an album in your hands — knowing it won't vanish one day because a streaming license expired.

I continue to advocate for physical media because it's what drew me into music in the first place. The music itself is vital, but the physical presence — the textures, the objects, the act of discovery — is a powerful part of the experience. Browsing shelves of albums is a very different encounter than scrolling through a digital folder. For me, one remains far more rewarding and real.

Speaking of great packaging, the new Libra release from the Satoko Fujii This Is It! trio includes a fold-out six-page booklet with liner notes from drummer Takashi Itani in both Japanese and English, plus Libra's signature wraparound card with the title, UPC, and other details — all in Japanese. I've always liked these "obi strips," which I first noticed years ago on Tzadik releases.

This morning I found myself wondering why they're called obi strips. Here's what I learned: The word "obi" (帯) is Japanese and originally refers to the sash worn around a kimono. In the context of media packaging, it serves a similar purpose: wrapping around the product, typically with marketing information, titles, prices, or other promotional details. On Western releases (like Tzadik's), it's a stylistic nod to Japanese packaging, often used to give the product a collector's or boutique feel. I'll just say — in all my years, I've never gotten that kind of boutique feel from a download.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

May 15, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Satoko Fujii This is It! (w/ Natsuki Tamura/Takashi Itani) -Message [CD] (Libra)
Thelonious Monk with Sonny Rollins -1953 To 1957 Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Christopher Fox -Dissenting Voices [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Simon Nabatov -Agree to Disagree [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Von Schlippenbach, Alexander/Barry Altschul Quartet w/ Joe Fonda & Rudi Mahal -Free Flow [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
New Origin (feat. Christoph Rocher/Joe Fonda/Harvey Sorge) -The Poet Walks [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Michel Doneda/Le Quan Ninh /Nuria Andorra -El Retorn De L'escolta (A La Memoria De Marianne Brull) [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Charlotte Hug -In Resonance With Elsewhere [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Sorry For Laughing (G. Whitlow/M. Bates/Dave-Id/E. Ka-Spel) -Rain Flowers [2 CDS] (Klanggalerie)
Simulcrum -Automatons [CDR] (Evil Clown)

May 15, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Schindler, Udo / Werner Dafeldecker / Gunnar Geisse - Travelling Sound Images - Cognitive Transfers [Trio] (Creative Sources) by Nick Ostrum.<

May 13, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Daniel Carter/Ayumi Ishito/George Draguns/Ed Wilcox -Makeshift Spirituals [CDR] (577 Records)
Josh Sinton -Couloir & Book Of Practitioners Vol. 2 Book "W" [2 CDs] (FiP recordings)
Hungry Ghosts (Yandsen/Svendsen/Nilssen-Love) -Segaki [CD] (Nakama Records)
Steve Hirsh Trio w/ Eri Yamamoto & William Parker -Root Causes [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Ramon Lopez -40 Springs In Paris [CD] (RogueArt)
Rob Mazurek -Flitting Splits Reverb Adage [BOOK] (RogueArt)
John Cage -Chamber Works 1943-1951 [CD] (Another Timbre)
Kory Reeder -Homestead [CD] (Another Timbre)
Expanse -Panoramic Extent [CDR] (Evil Clown)
+Dog+ -The Family Music Book Vol. 5 [2 CDs] (Love Earth Music)

May 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Mars Williams / Vasco Trilla - Awakening Nature From Her Dream (Not Two) by Andrey Henkin.

May 12, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: The Flying Luttenbachers - Spectral Warrior Mythos 2 (ugExplode) by Jeph Jerman.

I took a week off from this blog to get some work done outside the office — mostly spring-related yard work. While my time in the office was irregular, I was both pleased and overwhelmed by the number of new releases that arrived, and by how many new albums we now have available! A quick look at our Just In Stock Section shows how busy we've been!

This week's mailing list features a diverse and exciting set of albums spanning improvisation, rock, and experimental forms. We start with the LP edition of Steve Lehman's The Music of Anthony Braxton (the CD was available a couple of weeks ago), an essential album for fans of both artists and composers. We then explore several striking duos: the raw energy of Japanese noise rock duo Viddekazz2; the European rock improvisations of Andy Moor (The Ex) and Tommaso Rolando; the powerful, Borbetomagus-inspired cello/sax duo Dietrichs; the intricate interplay of Elliott Sharp and Scott Fields blending free improv and experimental rock; and the microtonal keyboard explorations of Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers. On the jazz side, ezz-thetics presents two contrasting albums — one a previously unreleased organ trio session of standards from Ellery Eskelin, the other a forward-thinking free trio of Russ Johnson, Christian Weber, and Dieter Ulrich.

On the more unusual end of the spectrum, we've added two remarkable albums from the wonderfully eccentric world of Jean-Jacques Birgé and GRRR Records: one featuring the final recordings from Un Drame Musical Instantané in its original formation with co-founder Bernard Vitet, and another showcasing Birgé's electroacoustic compositions using field recordings and archival folk material sourced from Geneva's Museum of Ethnography. Coincidentally, two new albums on Tsss Tapes also build captivating sound worlds from field recordings — one by Tetsuya Nakayama, and another by Deli Kuvveti.

Finally, I'm pleased to highlight Biota's latest release, Measured Not Found, a stunning album of instrumental music and song that defies easy description, blending composed, experimental, and improvised approaches into a richly textured sonic experience. Biota has long been a favorite organization for my ears, and this new album fits nicely to previous releases.

Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi Recordings)

Alto saxophonist Steve Lehman leads his trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, in a vibrant live homage to Anthony Braxton's small ensemble works, blending intricate modern jazz interplay with searing emotional expression in a bold, high-energy celebration of Braxton's enduring influence.

Viddekazz2: Sounds Of Silence (Public Eyesore)

An assertive Japanese punk-noise duo from Tokyo, VIDDEKAZZ2 delivers a volatile fusion of syncopated drumming, abrasive guitar textures, and unexpectedly serene vocals, channeling the disjointed energy of early noise rock with subtle pop inflections and a raw, Load Records-era aesthetic.

Rolando, Tommaso / Andy Moor: Biscotti [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOADS] (Tsss Tapes)

Recorded live in Genoa in 2022, the energetic and exploratory, rock-oriented duo of bassist Tommaso Rolando (Torto Editions) and guitarist Andy Moor (The Ex) captures an improvisational dialog shaped by alternate tunings, intent listening, and kinetic spontaneity, as the two seasoned performers bridge punk-rooted experimentation with richly resonant acoustic interplay.

Dietrichs: No Bahdu (Relative Pitch)

An uncompromising and electrifying studio set from father-daughter duo Don and Camille Dietrich, whose ferocious blend of distorted tenor saxophone and overdriven cello pushes sonic boundaries through four intense improvisations, merging free jazz, noise, and amplified effects into a blistering, high-voltage assault of raw energy and experimental fire.

Sharp, Elliott / Scott Fields: Reimsi Geara (Relative Pitch)

A vital and inventive meeting between NY guitarist Elliott Sharp and Chicago guitarist Scott Fields, two visionary electric guitarists whose longstanding collaboration finds them weaving complex textures, sharp counterpoint, and dynamic interplay into a seamless blend of free improvisation, experimental composition, and nuanced sonic dialogue.

Palestine, Charlemagne / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [NEON GREEN VINYL] (Konnekt)

Palestine, Charlemagne / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.

Johnson, Russ / Christian Weber / Dieter Ulrich: To Walk On Eggshells (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

In a spontaneously assembled 2009 session at Zürich's DRS studio, trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Christian Weber, and drummer Dieter Ulrich sculpt a dynamic and intuitive trio performance, threading balladic lyricism with abstract tension in a deft interplay of trust, fragility, and risk that transforms improvisation into captivating and timeless art.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Tchak (Klanggalerie)

The final recordings of Un Drame Musical Instantané with co-founder Bernard Vitet, compiling sessions from 1998 to 2000 with the Machiavel Quartet and guests including Baco Mourchid and Nem, blending free jazz, electroacoustic experimentation, and multimedia spontaneity into cinematic improvisations that showcase the ensemble's enduring commitment to collective creation and sonic innovation.

Birge, Jean-Jacques: Perspectives Du Xxiie Siecle (Musee d'ethnographie de Geneve)

Commissioned by Geneva's Museum of Ethnography, Jean-Jacques Birgé crafts a richly imaginative sonic fiction using field recordings, archival folk material, and electroacoustic composition, with a remarkable ensemble including Nicolas Chedmail, Antonin-Tri Hoang, Jean-François Vrod, Sylvain Lemętre, and Else Birgé, evoking a post-human journey through reinvention and memory.

Nakayama, Tetsuya: Edo Wan [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)

Composing with assembled field recordings and environmental textures, Chiba, Japan-based composer Tetsuya Nakayama transforms mundane sounds into poetic events, as water, metal, and incidental noise intertwine in a quiet yet immersive narrative that re-enchants everyday spaces, revealing a new mode of listening shaped by nuance and fleeting detail.

Kuvveti, Deli: Kuslar Soyledi [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)

A limited-edition cassette release from Turkish-born, Seattle-based artist Deli Kuvveti, Kuşlar Söyledi presents four studio compositions blending creaking doors, bird and liquid sounds, and minimal drones into a meditative exploration of microsound and sound collage.

Biota: Measured Not Found (Recommended Records)

A deeply immersive and meticulously crafted work from the reclusive Biota collective, blending microtonal instruments, electroacoustic techniques, and a wide array of ancient and modern timbres into a richly layered and human sound-world of instrumental and delicate song forms, unfolding across shifting textures and suspended time-the result of more than seven years of collaborative studio experimentation.

Les Disques Victo Sale:

Since 1987, Les Disques Victo has documented the extraordinary performances of the Victoriaville Festival, releasing 138 albums to date. Now in its 38th year, the label has become an independent entity from the festival and will continue releasing new albums. This week, we've partnered with the label for a special sale, and I've had the pleasure of engaging in long conversations with label and festival founder Michel Levasseur.

In a previous blog entry, I shared a video interview with Levasseur — a fascinating look at the history of the festival and his evolving relationship with it. That video is now available on YouTube with subtitles in multiple languages, and I'm happy to share the updated link with you here.

ezz-thetics Repricing:

Since its relaunch in 2019, the ezz-thetics series by Hat Hut Records Ltd. has become a cornerstone for both archival and contemporary jazz recordings. Under the guidance of founder Werner X. Uehlinger, the label has continued its legacy of championing avant-garde and free jazz, offering meticulously remastered reissues of seminal works alongside new recordings from today's innovative artists.

In celebration of this ongoing commitment to jazz excellence, we've partnered with ezz-thetics to adjust the pricing on all albums released prior to 2024. Single CDs are now available at $15.95, and double CDs at $18.95. This pricing update encompasses 111 titles, providing an accessible opportunity to explore a rich catalog that bridges the past and present of jazz improvisation and composition.

Ordered & Upcoming:

We've been hard at work on our spring purchase plans, which includes some of our most important labels. Below are the album that have already been ordered and are on their way to us. If you're eager for any of these albums, you can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

Thelonious Monk With Sonny Rollins: 1953 To 1957 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Christopher Fox (Elisabeth Flunger / Dominic Lash / Kathryn Williams): Dissenting Voices (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)



Charlotte Hug: In Resonance With Elsewhere (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

New Origin feat. Christoph Rocher / Joe Fonda / Harvey Sorge: The Poet Walks (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Michel Doneda / Le Quan Ninh / Nuria Andorra: El retorn de l'escolta - A la memoria de Marianne Brull (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Simon Nabatov: Agree to Disagree (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Alexander von Schlippenbach & Barry Altschul Quartet with Joe Fonda and Rudi Mahal: Free Flow [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Steve Hirsh Trio w/ Eri Yamamoto & William Parker: Root Causes (Mahakala Music)



Fujii / Tamura / Itani: Message (Libra)



Berlin Art Quartet (Schubert / Bauer / Muller / Bruggemann): Live At MIM (Unisono Records)



Izumi Kimura & Gerry Hemingway: How the Dust Falls (Auricle)



Stefan Keune / Sandy Ewen / Damon Smith: Two Felt-Tip Pens: Live At Moers (Balance Point Acoustics)



Misha Mengelberg / Sabu Toyozumi: The Analects Of Confucius (NoBusiness)

Motoharu Yoshizawa: Way Of The Breeze (NoBusiness)

Dave Burrell / Sam Woodyard: The Lost Session, 1979 Paris (NoBusiness)

Jimmy Lyons Trio & Quartet: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 3 (NoBusiness)



John Cage: Chamber Works 1943-1951 (Another Timbre)

Timothy McCormack: mine but for its sublimation (Another Timbre)

Ferdinand Schwarz: Listening Time (Another Timbre)

Evan Johnson: dust book (Another Timbre)

Kory Reeder: Homestead (Another Timbre)



Eventless Plot | Yorgos Dimitriadis: Entanglements [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)

Eventless Plot | Francesco Covarino: Methexis [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)

Eventless Plot | Haarvol: The subliminal paths [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Innovo Editions)



Lopez, Ramon: 40 Springs In Paris (RogueArt)

Mazurek, Rob: Flitting Splits Reverb Adage [BOOK] (ROG-0142)

Sorry For Laughing (G. Whitlow / M. Bates / Dave-Id / E. Ka-Spel): Rain Flowers [2 CDS] (Klanggalerie)

Sam Rivers: The Quest (Red Records)

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

May 8, 2025: New @ Squidco:
KnCurrent (Brennan/Cooper-Moore/Davis/Hwang) -KnCurrent [CD] (Deep Dish)
Elliott Sharp/Scott Fields -Reimsi Geara [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Dietrichs -No Bahdu [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Biota -Measured Not Found [CD] (Recommended Records)
Charlemagne Palestine/Seppe Gebruers -Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)
Charlemagne Palestine/Seppe Gebruers -Beyondddddd The Notessssss [NEON GREEN VINYL] (Konnekt)
Deli Kuvveti -Kuslar Soyledi [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)
Viddekazz2 -Sounds Of Silence [CDR] (Public Eyesore)
Leap Of Faith -Spectral Radii [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner -The Music of Anthony Braxton [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner -The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

May 8, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Sound the Alarm (Clayton Thomas + Ensemble) - Sound the Alarm (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

May 6, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner -The Music of Anthony Braxton [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner -The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)
Ellery Eskelin Trio New York -About (or On), First Visit [2 CDs] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Russ Johnson/Christian Weber/Dieter Ulrich -To Walk On Eggshells [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Jean-Jacques Birge -Perspectives Du Xxiie Siecle [CD] (Musee d'ethnographie de Geneve)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Tchak [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Paul Flaherty -A Willing Passenger [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Tommaso Rolando/Andy Moor -Biscotti [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOADS] (Tsss Tapes)
Tetsuya Nakayama -Edo Wan [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)
Turbulence Orchestra and Sub-Units -Tempestuous Hubbub (2 CDs) [2 CDRs] (Evil Clown)
+Felladog+ -+Felladog+ [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

May 1, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Masayo Koketsu/Nava Dunkelman/Tim Berne -Poiesis [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Laura Cocks -FATHM [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Julia Uehla and Dalava -Understories [CD] (Pi Recordings)
John Zorn -The Bagatelles Vol. 4 Ikue Mori [CD] (Tzadik)
Poudingue -La Preuve [CD] (GRRR)
Denis Lavant/Jean-Jacques Birge/Lionel Martin -Les Dements (2 CDS) [2 CDs] (GRRR/Ouch!)
Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg/Nuno Torres/Ernesto Rodrigues/Joao Madeira/Carlos Santos -La Rambarde Des Songes, Les Congruences Des Soupirs [CD] (Creative Sources)
Erik Klinga -Elusive Shimmer [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Metal Chaos Ensemble -Room 2017 [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Unsub -Suffer Apathy [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

May 1, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Daniel Carter / Ayumi Ishito - Endless Season (577 Records) by Ken Waxman.

April 29, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Georg Graewe & Sonic Fiction Orchestra -In Concert, Bochum 2022 [CD] (Random Acoustics)
NOUT (w/ Mats Gustafsson) -Live Album [CD] (Trost Records)
Sven-Ake Johansson Quintet -Stumps: Second Version [CD] (Trost Records)
Franz Hautzinger/Ignaz Schick/Sven-Ake Johansson -Rotations + [CD] (Trost Records)
Jonathan Segel/Chaos Butterfly -Hall of Mirrors [2 CDs] (Demagnetized)
Sophie Agnel/Joke Lanz -Ella [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Udo Schindler/Max Arsava/Gunnar Geisse -Sightings And Stratifications - 2nd Investigation For Trio [CD] (Creative Sources)
Cecil Taylor Quintet (w/ John Coltrane/Kenny Dorham/Chuck Israels/Louis Hayes) -Stereo Drive + 2 Bonus Tracks (limited Edition) [VINYL] (SoundsGood)
Leap Of Faith -Prior Credences [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Magical -The Gift Of Today [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

April 29, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Albert Ayler Trio - Prophecy Live, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by John Eyles.

April 28, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Alexandra Grimal / Giovanni Di Domenico - Shakkei (Relative Pitch) by Massimo Ricci.

This week started with a flurry of activity as we processed orders from our tardy Record Store Day Weekend sale, along with 577 & Evil Clown sales. We also activated more than 20 new albums that had arrived during the sale, with titles from Tzadik, Pi Recording, Tsss Tapes, Musee d'ethnographie de Geneve (Jean-Jacques Birge), Demagnetized (Jonathan Segel), and Evil Clown.

That kept us busy to mid-week, when we turned to our latest concert in our Hooked on Sonics series, a rendering and re-imagining of David Tudor's Rainforest. That show took quite a bit of effort to set up, using Wilmington lighting specialist and DJ Peter Nielsen and a cast of performers including Authorless, Carl Kruger, Ryan L Lewis IV, Judson Hurd, CTb, and Paul Miller. The show was very well received in three 30-minute segments — "Dawn", "Daylight" and "Darkness" and we're already excited to reprise the performance next year around Earth Day.

The push for that show made for a compressed Squidco work week, but fortunately the music that we cataloged this week made that a joy. First up were several Tzadik albums also released for street date at the same time. Three of these came from John Zorn's various projects - one from the Bagatelles book of compositions, this 3rd volume brings together the Trigger trio ofAaron Edgcomb on drums, Will Greene on guitar, and Simon Hanes on bass; the 4th Bagatelle collection from Ikue Mori, perhaps the most unique thus far, will be in next week's mailing list.

Two other Tzadiks are from personal favorite groupings - Painkiller of John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris, where Zorn himself plays, and with a wonderfully controlled ferocity; and the incredible Chaos Magick quartet of Matt Hollenberg (guitar), Brian Marsella (piano), John Medeski (organ), and Kenny Grohowski (drums) with their 6th release of intricate and rapid-action melodic twists and turns.

The last comes from another artist I've admired for decades - Ikue Mori, in a work drawing in Japanese folklore. Presented as a series of nine short works of synthetics and electronics, each piece succinctly telling its story instrumentally with great percussive string work over unique atmospheric environments.

Zorn, John (Edgcomb / Greene / Hanes): The Bagatelles Vol. 3 Trigger (Tzadik)

The third volume in John Zorn's Bagatelles series features the explosive trio Trigger — Aaron Edgcomb on drums, Will Greene on guitar, and Simon Hanes on bass — tearing through Zorn's intricate compositions with fierce precision and raw energy, delivering a searing and radical interpretation of these works drawn from Zorn's expansive 2015 collection of 300 pieces.

Painkiller (Harris / Laswell / Zorn): The Great God Plan (Tzadik)

The legendary Painkiller trio of John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris reunites to deliver two expansive tracks that blend heavy metal intensity with ambient textures and brooding lyricism, a significant evolution in the trio's sonic journey as they create two haunting tapestries inspired by Arthur Machen's gothic novella The Great God Pan.​

Zorn, John (Medeski / Marsella / Hollenberg / Grohowski): Through The Looking Glass (Tzadik)

The sixth chapter in the Downtown NY quartet of Matt Hollenberg (guitar), Brian Marsella (piano), John Medeski (organ), and Kenny Grohowski (drums), performing John Zorn's compositions inspired by Chaos Magick — an individualistic practice that values personal experience over tradition — expressed through intricate, soulful, and powerfully imagined works.

Mori, Ikue: Of Ghosts And Goblins (Tzadik)

Electronic innovator Ikue Mori presents a captivating 9-part work drawing inspiration from Lafcadio Hearn's chronicles of Japanese folklore, through intricate laptop electronics and synthesizer work, conjuring a series of instrumental miniatures that evoke the ethereal presence of fox spirits, phantoms, and other spectral entities, a mysteriously enchanting and seductive work.

Smith, Ches: The Self (Tzadik)

A solo debut on Tzadik from Downtown NY percussionist Ches Smith, presenting eighteen concise works performed on drums, vibraphone, timpani, glockenspiel, and small percussion — an intimate and exploratory set of improvisations revealing Smith's deep command of rhythm, texture, and form across a dynamic and extended palette of percussive sound.

The Exotic Yangqin:

This week we finished cataloging an LP on the Full Spectrum label from Yiyuan Liang and Li Daiguo, Sonic Talismans. I couldn't recall much about the instrument that Liang performs on — the yangqin — so I did a bit of research. I also searched our own database and found that we've listed eight albums over the years featuring the instrument, mostly on Acid Mothers Temple releases, but also on Evil Clown in several of their collective configurations. The other instrument, the guzheng, I was more familiar with; we currently have 12 albums in stock featuring it, prominently through the work of improviser Xu Fengxia.

From my research, the yangqin is a traditional Chinese hammered dulcimer, originally derived from the Persian santur and introduced to China via the Silk Road. It features a trapezoidal wooden body strung with metal strings, which are struck with bamboo mallets to produce a shimmering, bell-like tone. Traditionally used in Chinese opera, regional folk ensembles, and court music, the yangqin has a versatile tonal range and is prized for its ability to provide both melodic and harmonic support. In modern improvisation, the instrument has found new life among experimental and avant-garde musicians who explore its percussive textures, extended techniques, and prepared string methods. These contemporary approaches emphasize its dynamic potential, integrating the yangqin into electroacoustic, free improvisation, and intercultural collaborations that stretch far beyond its historical roots.

Here are some of the albums currently in stock that feature one or the other of these instruments-exotic to Western ears.

Yiyuan, Liang / Li Daiguo: Sonic Talismans [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)

Bridging Chinese folklore and avant-garde exploration, yangqin innovator Liang YiYuan and multi-instrumentalist Li Daiguo conjure an entrancing tapestry of shadowy textures and melodic splinters on this long-form collaboration — recorded in Yunnan and blending traditional Eastern timbres with free improvisation and experimental form in a deeply narrative, otherworldly sonic journey.

PEK Solo: Schism (Evil Clown)

Approaching his solo work with new compositional strategies, multi-reedist and percussionist David Peck uses time and texture as the principal organizational elements in 9 pre-mixed recordings over which PEK was allowed more flexibility and freedom in instrumental choice during performance, using a vast collection of instruments in dramatic improvisations.

Expanse: Attenuations (Evil Clown)

David Peck leads an expansive sextet with Bob Moores, John Fugarino, Jiaxin Wan, Ziyi Gao, and Michael Knoblach, blending Western and Chinese instrumentation as clarinet, saxophones, & space trumpet intertwine with guzheng, pipa, electronics, & percussion, creating a richly textured, dynamic improvisation that reflects the ensemble's ongoing exploration of spontaneous composition.

Leap of Faith: Solving the Constrained Dynamics (Evil Clown)

Leap of Faith's core duo, David Peck on woodwinds and Glynis Lomon on cello, voice & aquasonic, leads this modular Boston sextet of strings and winds in a live improvisation guided by their Broad Palette Aesthetic to influence improv with varied sonorities, an array of classical, jazz, and global influences, featuring standout guzheng player Jiaxin Wan.

PEK Solo: Schism (Evil Clown)

Approaching his solo work with new compositional strategies, multi-reedist and percussionist David Peck uses time and texture as the principal organizational elements in 9 pre-mixed recordings over which PEK was allowed more flexibility and freedom in instrumental choice during performance, using a vast collection of instruments in dramatic improvisations.

Meirano, Gabriele / Xu Fengxia: New Vintage Sessions [CDr + DOWNLOAD] (577 Records)

A collaboration between the China based Italian pianist Gabriele Meirano and the Berlin based Chinese musician Xu Fengxia, a pioneer in combining Chinese music with improvisation; the two first played together when Peter Brotzmann invited them to join him in a trio concert at the Shanghai Art Center in 2011, here in a duo that fuses Far East sounds and the blues.

Metal Chaos Ensemble: Intermetallic Compounds (Evil Clown)

A massive and metallic improvisation from the Boston area trio of David Peck, Andria Nicodemou, and Yuri Zbitnoff, using metal, drums, bells, aquasonic, daxophone, guzheng, vibes, bells, sax, clarinet and reeds in an intense journey that absorbs the listener and then draws them into a turbulent world of active sound, receding again at journey's end; amazing.

Abrahams, Chris / Clare Cooper: Germ Studies For Guzheng & DX7 (Splitrec)

The Australian duo of pianist Chris Abrahams (Necks) & Berlin harpist Clare Cooper in a series of 198 short improvisations performed on Yamaha DX7 and the 14th century Guzheng harp, presented with 198 illustrations in an unusual and obsessively rewarding project.

Gottschalk, Gunda / Xu Fengxia: You Lan (Les Disques Victo)

A duo of contrasts and compatabilities from German violinst Gunda Gottschalk and guzheng virtuoso Xu Fengxia, exotic and beautifully textured improvisation live from Victoriaville, 2008.

April 24, 2025: New @ Squidco:
John Zorn (Medeski/Marsella/Hollenberg/Grohowski) -Through The Looking Glass [CD] (Tzadik)
John Zorn (Edgcomb/Greene/Hanes) -The Bagatelles Vol. 3 Trigger [CD] (Tzadik)
Ches Smith -The Self [CD] (Tzadik)
Sylvie Courvoiser/Mary Halvorson -Bone Bells [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)
Ingrid Laubrock -Purposing The Air [2 CDs] (Pyroclastic Records)
MouthWind (Van Schouwburg/Casserley) -Corps Et Biens - Hommage ŕ Robert Desnos [CD] (Creative Sources)
La Noed (w/ Carlos Mascolo) -De la liberte [CD] (FMR)
Liang Yiyuan/Li Daiguo -Sonic Talismans [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)
Various -Evil Clown Shorties Volume 5 (2024-2025) [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Illusion Of Safety -Float [CD] (Full Spectrum)

April 23, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Abdou / Gouband / Warelis - Hammer, Roll and Leaf (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.

April 22, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner -The Music of Anthony Braxton [CD] (Pi Recordings)
Painkiller (Harris/Laswell/Zorn) -The Great God Plan [CD] (Tzadik)
Ikue Mori -Of Ghosts And Goblins [CD] (Tzadik)
Jackie Myers -What About The Butterfly [CDR] (577 Records)
Vilhelm Bromander Unfolding Orchestra -Jorden Vi Arvde [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Christer Bothen 3 -L'INVISIBLE [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Jung-Jae Kim/Alvaro Rosso -Meari: Instant Waves [CD] (Creative Sources)
Tret Trio (Ron Hall/Tobias Weindorf/Phillipp Van Endert) -Crow Jam [CD] (FMR)
Turbulence Orchestra -Strum And Drang [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Unsub -Ambitious Victim [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

April 22, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Paul Bley Trio - Floater & Syndrome - The Upright Piano Sessions Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by John Eyles.

April 21, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Zeena Parkins / Chris Brown / William Winant / Ben Davis - Scree (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

I'm not sure if I should be embarassed or annoyed... but the ORIGINAL date for Record Store Day in April 2025 was April 19th. I verified this early in the year, and it's been on our calendar for ages. Apparently the RSD organization then moved the date to April 12th so that it wouldn't conflict with Easter and Bank Holidays in Europe. We didn't get the news, and April 19th stayed on our calendar. Since we're not carrying any RSD releases anyway we went forward with our Record Store Weekend sales!

When we have a large sale on new releases we take the week to prepare for the sale, to check inventory and plan our sale-related events. Therefore there's no real blog entry this week, and no updates to Squidco or The Squid's Ear. The new albums have piled up though, and we'll be back to normal next week, with a new entry here. In the meanwhile, happy Squidco-Only Record Store Weekend!

Much of this week was spent studying the news and speaking with our international partners about the future. The economic events of the past week have been deeply concerning to us, as our mission is to exchange music with labels and musicians around the globe. The rise in independent labels and self-released albums — fueled by technological innovations that make self-publishing and promotion more accessible-has led to some of the most fascinating releases in the history of recorded music. This exchange of ideas has sparked collaborations, birthed new concepts, and merged styles in remarkable ways-something we at Squidco consider essential to our work.

We also work hard to keep our prices reasonable, which has been a challenge over the past 21 years as the costs of selling and shipping albums have increasingly surpassed the cost of the albums themselves. But we're not going to stop doing what we do. We remain committed to helping you build libraries of music from around the world-libraries that expand your ears and deepen your appreciation for sonic creativity.

Before we get to this week's music, I want to mention that for next week's Record Store Day, we'll be hosting a number of sales throughout the weekend. While we don't have any new RSD titles this year, we will be offering discounts on many labels and albums across our catalog, and all vinyl will be on sale. We'll also be digging into the archives for special offers, and including some free items with your orders. Let's celebrate together the importance of recorded music in our lives!

As for this week's new releases, it was a strong showing. We continued listening to and cataloging the latest batch from the UK's FMR label, especially Hemispheres II, which brings together British and Australian musicians using a range of exotic instruments-including didgeridoo. This one particularly struck a chord with me, as it brought to mind Not Drowning, Waving, a longtime personal favorite.

Hemispheres: II (FMR)

A cross-cultural instrumental suite uniting British and Australian musicians, featuring the resonant didgeridoo and rhythmic sticks of Paul Rider-Boon, the rich woodwinds of Susie Hodder-Williams and Chris Caldwell, atmospheric electronics and guitar from Sam Hodder, and the expressive voice of Clifton Bieundurry, spiritually merging indigenous sound with contemporary improv and electronica.

Cimnari, Matteo: Mental Core Drilling (FMR)

Italian composer and multi-instrumentalist Matteo Ciminari leads an adventurous sextet through a labyrinth of polyrhythms, dissonant harmonies, and unexpected textures, with virtuosic contributions from Maurizio Moscatelli, Simone Maggio, Mattia Borraccetti, Michele Sperandio, and Luca Orselli, creating an unpredictable yet lyrical fusion of progressive structure, free jazz, and playful experimentation.

We also added several albums from Alex Zethson's Swedish label Thanatosis, three of which appear in this week's mailing list, notably Zethson's duo with Fire! Orchestra cellist Nikos Veliotis, and the latest from the microtonal tuba trio Microtub. We also brought in a reissue from France's Souffle Continu Records: a remastered 1984 United Dairies (Nurse With Wound) compilation that features artists from the GRRR label, along with two great new GRRR albums.

Zethson, Alex / Nikos Veliotis: Cryo (thanatosis produktion)

Pianist Alexander Zethson (Vathres, Fire! Orchestra, Angles) and cellist Nikos Veliotis (MMMD, In Trance 95) present two expansive, darkly immersive improvisations that drift through glacial landscapes of resonant, slowly shifting textures and austere tonal drones, sculpting elemental sound environments of profound stillness and contemplation through deep-listening and hypnotic intensity.

Microtub (Hayward / Simonsen / Taxt): Thin Peaks (Thanatosis Produktion)

The sixth album from the microtonal tuba trio of Robin Hayward, Peder Simonsen, and Martin Taxt, exploring the acoustic phenomena of half-valve combinations in two richly harmonic compositions developed during an artist residency in Andersabo, Sweden and recorded in Oslo, creating uniquely resonant and surprisingly consonant spectra shaped by each instrument's signature tuning.

Various Artists: In Fractured Silence (SOUFFLE CONTINU RECORDS)

Originally compiled for Steven Stapleton's United Dairies label and now remastered, this snapshot of late 20th-century experimental/industrial music brings together the surreal collage of Nurse With Wound's Stapleton, the brooding piano of Robert Haigh (Sema), the chamber-styled acoustics of Hélčne Sage, and the sonic provocations of Un Drame Musical Instantané.

Birge, Jean-Jacques + 16 musiciens: Pique-nique Au Labo 4 (GRRR)

In a vibrant fusion of spontaneous themes and collective improvisation, Jean-Jacques Birgé leads a 17-member ensemble through dynamic performances recorded at Studio GRRR and live during APÉRO LABO sessions, blending diverse instrumentation and real-time composition to create an album of unpredictable auditory journeys.

From the U.S., we added a compelling release from the Louisiana improvising group Sonic Chambers Quartet on the 577 label, led by composers and improvisers Byron Asher and Tomas Majcherski-an album that reminded me of both The Muffins and Henry Cow on first listen. We also nearly caught up with Boston's Evil Clown collective, added two fascinating cassette releases from New York's Notice Recordings

Sonic Chambers Quartet: Kiss Of The Earth (577 Records)

The debut album from the Sonic Chambers Quartet — co-led by multi-reedists Byron Asher and Tomas Majcherski with bassist Matt Booth and drummer Doug Garrison — presents a deeply expressive and texturally rich orchestration merging American avant jazz tradition with European chamber influences, shaped through collaborative composition, adventurous improv, and a strikingly unified ensemble sound.

del Pino, Francisco / Charlotte Mundy: The Sea [CASSETTE] (Notice Recordings)

Composer Francisco del Pino and vocalist Charlotte Mundy create a deeply nuanced and emotionally rich exchange, as Mundy's radiant voice navigates del Pino's intricate, polyphony-tinged compositions, layering syllabic repetition, resonant phrasing, and textural detail into a multitrack performance that evokes mantra, lament, and ecstatic meditation in equal measure.

111 (Michelle / Villamil): Live at Opus 40 [CASSETTE] (Notice Recordings)

The duo of Chantal Michelle and Grace Villamil transform the monumental land sculpture of Opus 40 into a resonant instrument, layering voice and electronics with field recordings and audience interactions to create an immersive, spatially dynamic performance of ambient tension and sonic obliteration, masterfully teetering between composed sound, environmental resonance, and blooming noise.

Leap Of Faith: Correlations (Evil Clown)

An expansive octet of seasoned improvisers from the Evil Clown collective — including PEK (David Peck), Glynis Lomon, Michael Caglianone, and Albey onBass — navigate pure improvisation through a sprawling live session of rich, shifting textures, contrasts, and unexpected sonic juxtapositions, ranging from subtle ea-improv to full-out ensemble peaks across a transforming soundscape.

Perturbations: Unhinged (Evil Clown)

The Perturbations ensemble — featuring PEK, Michael Caglianone, John Fugarino, and Joel Simches — delivers a dense, sometimes unhinged and exploratory session of free improv, where layered reeds, brass, electroacoustic textures, and a vast arsenal of unconventional instruments evolve through continuous transformation, shaped in real time by Simches' dynamic electronic processing.

Finally, and particularly resonant to my ears, is an extraordinary sonic composition from Éric La Casa, capturing the atmosphere of maritime ports through field recordings-an especially fitting release for the current political climate. La Casa's talent for capturing and repurposing sound is remarkable, and his compositional pacing is profound-an inspiration to my own work.

La Casa, Eric: Zones Portuaires 2 (Swarming)

Working from recordings made at maritime ports between 2017 and 2023, sound artist Éric La Casa constructs a compelling suite of documentary compositions shaped by the industrial rhythms, constraints, and spatial tensions of global harbours, blending field recording and sonic observation into a tactile, immersive portrait of male-dominated coastal labor environments.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

April 10, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Microtub (Hayward/Simonsen/Taxt) -Thin Peaks [CD] (Thanatosis Produktion)
Alex Zethson/Johan Jutterstrom -It Could/If I [CD] (Thanatosis Produktion/Astral Spirits)
Eric La Casa -Zones Portuaires 2 [CD] (Swarming)
Francisco del Pino/Charlotte Mundy -The Sea [CASSETTE] (Notice Recordings)
111 (Michelle/Villamil) -Live at Opus 40 [CASSETTE] (Notice Recordings)
Various Artists -In Fractured Silence [CD] (SOUFFLE CONTINU RECORDS)
Perturbations -Unhinged [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Leap Of Faith -Correlations [CDR] (Evil Clown)

April 10, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Arthur Blythe Quartet - Live from Studio Rivbea (NoBusiness Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

April 8, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Sabu Toyozumi/Richard Allan Bates/Rick Countryman -The Separation of Sound and Space [CD] (FMR)
Hemispheres -II [CD] (FMR)
Matteo Cimnari -Mental Core Drilling [CD] (FMR)
Sonic Chambers Quartet -Kiss Of The Earth [CDR] (577 Records)
Bruno Parrinha/Andrew Levine/Ernesto Rodrigues -Sensor Out Of Service [CD] (Creative Sources)
Jean-Jacques Birge + 16 musiciens -Pique-nique Au Labo 4 [CD] (GRRR)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Urgent Meeting 2: Operation Blow Up [CD] (GRRR)
Alex Zethson/Nikos Veliotis -Cryo [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
TJ Borden/Steve Flato -In the Garden of Eating [CD] (Full Spectrum)
Caleb Chase -Looking At Bugs Under A Log [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

April 7, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Hubbub (Blondy / Denzler / Guionnet / Mariage / Perraud) - abb abb abb (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.

This past week brought a lot of excitement — we produced our own Hooked on Sonics show here in Wilmington, and received a wealth of great new releases: three exceptional albums on the ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd label; the two most recent Ototoroku releases; a stunning new Aerophonic album; three albums on Out of Your Head; the latest from Queen Bee Records; and two fascinating titles on KARL Records.

We also watched the world recoil as the US launched a trade war through tariffs that will likely impact all of us. Please be assured that Squidco and I are firm advocates of free trade, freedom in all forms, and peaceful cooperation. The music we're so passionate about is literally defined by freedom — by crossing national borders, building collaborations, and exploring new artistic paths. I'm deeply troubled by the direction my country is heading, shutting doors and advancing through intimidation. It feels counterintuitive in our interconnected, communicative age. Rest assured, we're in close contact with our international partners to ensure music continues to flow without prejudice. The pendulum will swing again — I'm certain of it — but this nostalgic swing toward a fictional "golden age" is both tiresome and misdirected.

But onto the music...

I'll lead with the Aerophonic album, a fantastic new working quartet from Chicago saxophonist and Aerophonic label head Dave Rempis, joined by European improvisers Terrie Ex, Jon Rune Strom, and Tollef Ostvang. The album documents two live performances in Chicago and Milwaukee, capturing the energy and dynamics of a group thrilled to be performing together. There's a nice synchronicity here, as I'll be in Durham, NC this weekend to catch Ballister at the Duke Coffee House Brickside Festival.

Archer (Dave Rempis / Terrie Ex / Jon Rune Strom / Tollef Ostvang): Sudden Dusk (Aerophonic)

A fierce and unpredictable quartet of international improvisers-saxophonist Dave Rempis, guitarist Terrie Ex, bassist Jon Rune Strřm, and drummer Tollef Řstvang-recorded live in Chicago and Milwaukee, delivering a balance of explosive energy and nuanced restraint in a tightly coiled interplay of sonic provocation, rhythmic drive, and free-form invention.

Ballister (Rempis / Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love): Smash And Grab (Aerophonic)

"Smash", "Even More Smashing" and "Grab" sums up the intense energy that the Ballister trio brought to their 2022 performance at Elastic Arts in Chicago as part of the Catalytic Sound Festival, impelled by Paul Nilssen-Love's powerful drumming and Fred Lonberg-Holm's demanding cello work, with Dave Rempis roaring on alto, tenor and baritone saxophones; wow!

Ballister: Znachki Stilyag (Aerophonic)

The tenth year of the working and touring international Ballister trio of Dave Rempis on alto & tenor saxophones, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello & electronics, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums & percussion, here in an outrageously powerful yet explorative concert at Dom Cultural Center, in Moscow, Russia in 2019, a fierce example of what this band is capable of.

Ballister (Rempis / Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love): Worse For The Wear (Aerophonic)

The fifth release from the international power trio of Dave Rempis (sax), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello & electronics) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) in a rewarding release of heavy grooves, offset by introspective soundscapes and moments of quiet beauty.

Ballister (Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love / Rempis): Mi Casa Es En Fuego (Ballister Music)

A live show from Montreal's Casa Del Popolo in 2012 from the amazing transnational free jazz trio of saxophonist Dave Rempis, cellist/guitarist/electronic artist Fred Lonberg-Holm, and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love.

Among the latest ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd releases, all three cater to different corners of improvised music. First is a remastered reissue of Joe Henderson's early 60s Blue Note albums-brilliant examples of hard bop featuring Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, and Andrew Hill. Henderson's compositions here stand out for their clever, lyrical structures and a clear leaning toward freedom. I've long admired how he bridges hard bop, post-bop, and early free jazz without losing melodic integrity. I spent much of the 80s listening to players like Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, and Horace Silver-who helped launch Henderson's career. Revisiting these albums is always a joy.

At the other end of the timeline, we have the latest duo release from German saxophonist Christopher Kunz and drummer Florian Fischer, who formed their group Die Unwucht ("The Imbalance") in 2017. Their debut on ezz-thetics, Die Unwucht, appeared in 2021 and showed their knack for balancing jazz tradition with intentional unpredictability. On this new album, the duo literally perform in the German forest-a nod to Brötzmann and Bennink's Schwarzwaldfahrt-creating vivid, dynamic improvisation infused with environmental textures. Each listen reveals new levels of technical mastery and spontaneous interplay.

The third ezz-thetics release features the late saxophonist Joe Maneri, joined by pianist Tyson Rogers and drummer Jacob Braverman. I've admired Maneri's work for years, and this trio session is a unique studio event that brings out the players' sensitivity and precision in free improvisation, particularly in the microtonal and atonal realms. Over the years, we've only stocked nine Maneri albums, making this addition to our catalog especially meaningful. His son, violist Mat Maneri, continues the family's musical journey. I last saw him perform in NYC with bassist Brandon Lopez-a stellar concert. The two Maneris often played together

Henderson, Joe / Kenny Dorham / Andrew Hill / McCoy Tyner: Our Thing to In 'N Out Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Joe Henderson, alongside Kenny Dorham and Andrew Hill, revisits the essence of the 'New Thing' in jazz with the remasters and reissues of Our Thing to In 'N Out, showcasing mastery of both conservative and adventurous impulses through a sly blend of inside and outside tactics, marked by intricate solos and dynamic group interplay that highlight the evolving soundscape of early 60s Blue Note recordings.

Kunz, Christopher / Florian Fischer: Die Unwucht, Disperation And Focus First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

German saxophonist Christopher Kunz and drummer Florian Fischer capture the essence of German forests in their outdoor recording, titled to translate as 'The Unbalance, Desperation and Focus,' where sauntering saxophone and dynamic drums blend with environmental sounds to evoke a profound intimacy, growing with each listen and inviting deep engagement with nature's wild and humane aspects.

Kunz, Christopher / Florian Fischer: Die Unwucht (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

The Die Unwucht (The Imbalance) duo of saxophonist Christopher Kunz and drummer Florian Fischer was formed to explore jazz tradition while breaking down restrictive boundaries to create their own forms of expression, achieving a compelling balance and equality in Kunz's lyrical, Getz/Desmond-like phrasing alongside Fischer's responsive, energetic drumming.

Maneri, Joe / Tyson Rogers / Jacob Braverman: In The Shadow, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Capturing a multidimensional dialogue through breathy microtones, atonal piano fragments, and ambiguous percussion, Joe Maneri on sax and clarinet, Tyson Rogers on piano, and Jacob Braverman on drums craft abstract improvisations exploring the delicate interplay of shadow and light, revealing emotional nuance and identity in richly layered, spontaneous constructions of expressive intensity.

Perelman, Ivo / Nate Wooley / Mat Moran / Matt Maneri / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Joe Morris: Seven Skies Orchestra [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A rare setting for tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman in a larger ensemble: an exemplary sextet with trumpeter Nate Wooley and vibraphonist Matt Moran over a string section of Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Joe Morris on bass, and Mat Maneri on viola, recording a ten-part work sans drums or piano, allowing fascinating new orchestral possibilities performed with utmost creative mastery.

Taborn, Craig / Joelle Leandre / Mat Maneri: hEARoes (RogueArt)

The meeting of three masterful string and keyboard players-Craig Taborn on piano, Joëlle Léandre on double bass, and Mat Maneri on viola-forms a transatlantic chamber jazz trio recorded live at Théâtre Antoine Vitez in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, in 2022 for seven sublime conversations of innovative and imaginative exchanges; absolutely magnificent!

The Wilmington Sound Orchestra:

Our show at Barzarre last week was a rewarding experience, bringing together seven experimental improvisers for two conductions developed by myself, along with a work for interactive samples and improvisation by Carl Kruger. The pieces were designed to yield spontaneous results under a conductor's guidance, or to flow organically with the improvisers responding to a curated set of samples. My two works were titled "Driving to the Spaceport" and "The Argument" — the latter pitting pairs of performers against one another to build musical 'arguments.' Carl's piece, "Waiting Pools," used three sets of 15 samples for three performers (myself included), with each set running in a randomized sequence that changed samples every minute. The improvisers responded in real time to the shifting texture. The sets were well received and a joy to perform — an enriching evening all around.

This concert marked the first WSO performance (not to be confused with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra) since 2017. Our Hooked on Sonics series was shuttered by the pandemic, and the return has been slow, but we are now back with monthly performances on the last Thursday of each month — except for October and December, when we shift to accommodate our Halloween and X-Mess concerts. Next month's concert on April 24th will feature an immersive interpretation of David Tudor's Rainforest, with multiple performers generating bird, insect, and jungle sonics under atmospheric lighting designed by Peter Nielsen.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.

You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.

To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.

And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.

April 3, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Archer (Dave Rempis/Terrie Ex/Jon Rune Strom/Tollef Ostvang) -Sudden Dusk [CD] (Aerophonic)
Jeong/Bisio Duo w/ Joe Mcphee/Jay Rosen -Morning Bells Whistle Bright [CD] (ESP)
Jordan Glenn's BEAK -The Party [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Peter Brotzmann/John Edwards/Steve Noble/Jason Adasiewicz -The Quartet [2 CDs] (Otoroku)
Peter Brotzmann/John Edwards/Steve Noble/Jason Adasiewicz -The Quartet [VINYL 2 LPs] (Otoroku)
Pat Thomas -The Solar Model of Ibn-Al Shatir [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Pat Thomas -The Solar Model of Ibn-Al Shatir [CD] (Otoroku)
Ono Yoko/The Great Learning Orchestra -Selected Recordings From Grapefruit [2 CDs] (KARLRECORDS)
Phill Niblock/Anna Clementi/Thomas Stern -Zound Delta 2 [VINYL] (KARLRECORDS)
Expanse (Percussion Edition) -Clangorous Sounds Arise [CDR] (Evil Clown)

April 3, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Bob Mazurek Quartet - Color Systems (RogueArt) by Paul Serralheiro.

April 1, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Cecil Taylor Unit - Live at Fat Tuesday's February 10, 1980 First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by Andrey Henkin.

April 1, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Joe Maneri/Tyson Rogers/Jacob Braverman -In The Shadow, First Visit [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Christopher Kunz/Florian Fischer -Die Unwucht, Disperation And Focus First Visit [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Joe Henderson/Kenny Dorham/Andrew Hill/McCoy Tyner -Our Thing to In 'N Out Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Zero Point (Rick Countryman/German Bringas/Itzam Cano/Gabriel Lauber) -Determinism [CD] (FMR)
Udo Schindler/Erhard Hirt/Ove Volquartz -Shifting Types of Amazement [CD] (FMR)
Hemphill Stringtet, The -Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill [CD] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Adam O'Farrill -For These Streets [CD] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Laura Cocks -FATHM [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Nuno Torres/Guilherme Rodrigues -Whispers In The Moonlight - In Seven Movements [2CDs] (Creative Sources)
Simulacrum -Mecanique Analytique [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 31, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Elliott Sharp (w/ Coleman / Dulberger / Green II / Insell / Jiang / McKenzie / Salomon / Wooley) - Hudson River Compositions 1973-74 (zOaR Records) by Ken Waxman.

This week Squidco presented a show at our local alternative venue Barzarre, the 30th in our Hooked on Sonics series. The performance brought together eight performers from Wilmington, NC to perform two conductions that I led — "Driving to the Spaceport" and "The Argument" — and a reprise of Carl Kruger's "Waiting Pool". That took up most of the week, along with the arrival of a pile of new albums on FMR, two of which made it into this mailing list; Munich Sound Studies Vols. 4, 5 & 6 from the incredible trio of Udo Schindler, Sandy Ewen and Damon Smith; David Lee Meyer's book and download of plundered poems; and the return of Long Song Records to our catalog, with a tribute to Keith Tippett from Giovanni Maier and Alexander Hawkins, and Joe Fonda's Quartet with Wadada Leo Smith and Satoko Fujii.

With luck and a little more time I'll have more to write to next week, but in the meantime check out this list of Squidco Picks from this week. Happy listening and Happy Spring!

Myers, David Lee: Tin Drop Tear [BOOK w/ DOWNLOAD] (pulsewidth)

Experimental composer and feedback artist David Lee Myers (Arcane Device) ventures into literary territory with a limited-edition book of fifty "Plunder-Lit" poetic pieces, complemented by fifteen spoken-word audio readings set to experimental soundscapes, evoking Tristan Tzara's work, William S. Burroughs' cutups, and the sensibilities of Captain Beefheart.

Maier, Giovanni / Alexander Hawkins: Two For Keith (Long Song Records)

Recorded live in the studio in Trieste, Italy, bassist Giovanni Maier and pianist Alexander Hawkins deliver a deeply expressive and adventurous duo session dedicated to the late, great Keith Tippett, weaving spontaneous improvisations and dynamic interplay in a heartfelt homage that reflects Tippett's profound influence and creative spirit.

Fonda, Joe Quartet (w/ Wadada Leo Smith / Satoko Fujii / Tizano Tononi): Eyes On The Horizon (Long Song Records)

NY Bassist-composer Joe Fonda leads an exceptional quartet featuring trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, pianist Satoko Fujii, and drummer Tiziano Tononi in a profound tribute to his mentor Smith, skillfully blending compositional clarity with collective improvisation in a deeply resonant and lyrically intricate musical conversation that reflects inspiration, respect, and artistic integrity.

Fujii, Satoko Tokyo Trio: Dream A Dream (Libra)

Pianist Satoko Fujii's Tokyo Trio, featuring bassist Takashi Sugawa and drummer Ittetsu Takemura, expertly balances structured compositions with intuitive improvisation on their third album, recorded in Paris after touring the material across Japan and Europe, exploring shifting moods and intricate interplay through richly lyrical piano lines, subtle rhythmic dialogue, and inventive collective expression.

Transcendence (Bob Gluck / Christopher Dean Sullivan / Karl Latham): Music Of Pat Metheny (FMR)

Inspired by the compositions of Pat Metheny, the Transcendence trio of pianist Bob Gluck, bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan, and drummer Karl Latham blends intent listening and explorative improvisational mastery into an expressive and dynamic performance, recorded in parallel with Gluck's book Pat Metheny: Stories Beyond Words in a heart-felt and sincere tribute to the guitarist's work.

Dunmalll, Paul (Dunmall / Sanders / Bellatalla / Adams): Jazz Suite Outcome Of Choice (FMR)

Recorded at Birmingham's Custard Factory in 1999, tenor saxophonist Paul Dunmall leads drummer Mark Sanders, bassist Roberto Bellatalla, and guitarist John Adams through a set of Dunmall compositions, delivering lyrically expressive free jazz improvisations that blend dynamic interaction with inventive melodic exploration.

Gjerstad, Frode: Stavanger 9 9 2024 (FMR)

A live 2024 performance at Spor 5 in Stavanger, Norway, uniting saxophonist Frode Gjerstad with pianist Margaux Oswald and drummer Ivar Myrset Asheim in an engaging set of collective free improvisation marked by dynamic interplay, impressive dialog from reserved introspection to expansive kinetic energy across shifting textures and intensities.

Schindler, Udo / Sandy Ewen / Damon Smith: Munich Sound Studies Vols. 4, 5 & 6 [3 CDs] (Balance Point Acoustics)

An expansive 3-CD document recorded live across three Munich venues in May 2023, featuring Udo Schindler (clarinets, saxophones, brass), Sandy Ewen (electric guitar), and Damon Smith (double bass), each session enhanced by collaborators Karina Erhard, Jaap Blonk, and Sebastiano Tramontana, in an inventive series of improvisations of dynamic interplay and innovative sonic experiments.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 27, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio -Dream A Dream [CD] (Libra)
Paul Dunmalll (Dunmall/Sanders/Bellatalla/Adams) -Jazz Suite Outcome Of Choice [CD] (FMR)
Transcendence (Bob Gluck/Christopher Dean Sullivan/Karl Latham) -Music Of Pat Metheny [CD] (FMR)
Frode Gjerstad -Stavanger 9 9 2024 [CD] (FMR)
Ackerley/Prymek/Turner -All Hope With Sleeping Minds [CASSETTE] (Full Spectrum)
David Myers Lee -Tin Drop Tear [BOOK w/ DOWNLOAD] (pulsewidth)
Leap Of Faith -Decoding the Evolution of Meaning [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Zilmrah -Hallucinatory X-Ray Visions [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

March 25, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Peter Brotzmann/Heather Leigh -Ears Are Filled With Wonder [CD] (Not Two)
Joe Fonda Quartet (w/ Wadda Leo Smith/Satoko Fujii/Tizano Tononi) -Eyes On The Horizon [CD] (Long Song Records)
Giovanni Maier/Alexander Hawkins -Two For Keith [CD] (Long Song Records)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Carlos Santos/Miguel Mira -The Knowledge That Our Time Is Limited Can Inspire Us [CD] (Creative Sources)
Der Vierte Zustand -Layers [CD] (Creative Sources)
Udo Schindler/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith -Munich Sound Studies Vols. 4, 5 & 6 [3 CDs] (Balance Point Acoustics)
Thanos Chrysakis -Psyche [CD] (Eternal Music Projects)
Luke Martin -To Be Worthy of Pessoa [CD] (Editions Verde)
Turbulence Orchestra & Sub-Units -Smear Out the Difficulties (Double Live) [2 CDs] (Evil Clown)
God Pussy -Rudimentar Desejo De Liberdade [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

March 25, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Tadd Dameron - Fountainbleau & Magic Touch Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by Paul Serralheiro.

March 24, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Szilard Mezei Quartet - Jaguar-Flower (FMR Records) by Nick Ostrum.

I took a day to plant a garden and put up a fence. Sometimes, you just have to pause and prepare for beauty — like jazz composers crafting something marvelous and never before heard, creating wonder, light, and shadow from sound. As I worked, I played improvised music from my portable CD player and let jazz and free improv reverberate over my nascent plants as we all soaked in the sun and sound.

Of course, one day off in a busy Squidco schedule is enough to leave me well behind! That, combined with our very successful ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. sale, the arrival of a large and fascinating set of Creative Sources albums, and a powerful — at times even frightening — group of Love Earth Music experimental releases, all added up to an incredibly busy week!

So, another short entry here, but I want to point out four important releases from the Listen! Foundation label that are featured in this week's mailing list. Of those, the fourth, *SoundScapes #4*, produced by Harri Sjöström, has had plenty of airplay in the office — a great and diverse set of performances that span a wide range of styles and approaches to expanding improvisational form. The transatlantic trio of Simon Nabatov with New Yorkers Mark Helias and Tom Rainey has also spent a lot of time in my CD player. I'm still working my way to the duo of Ivo Perelman and Tyshawn Sorey, but first listens are impressive.

The fourth album in the set truly captivated me: the trio of Thomas Heberer, Joe Fonda, and Joe Hertenstein — aka Remedy — pay tribute to a "lost" bop pianist and composer from the 1950s: Yutta (Jutta) Hipp. I had never heard her name before this album, but a bit of research revealed she was born in Leipzig and began touring as a refugee after World War II, performing to survive. Blue Note's Leonard Feather heard her play in Germany and helped her emigrate, eventually to New York City, where she recorded several albums, including a notable session with Zoot Sims. In 1956, she stopped performing and spent the next 35 years working in the textile industry. Having heard so many stories of jazz musicians ending up as janitors or drivers, I found her story fascinating — and the Remedy trio's performance, heartfelt and beautiful.

Sjostrom, Harri: SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 [3 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A remarkable live document of Finnish saxophonist Harri Sjöström's SoundScapes #4 festival in Berlin, bringing together 19 extraordinary musicians from across Europe, Australia, and the U.S. for a series of improvised performances from intimate duos to expansive octets, highlighting spontaneous collaborations all driven by creative risk-taking, deep listening, and a profound sense of musical trust.

Nabatov, Simon / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey: Assamblage (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A far-ranging transatlantic trio session from pianist Simon Nabatov, bassist Mark Helias, and drummer Tom Rainey, capturing a dynamic fusion of composed and collective free jazz, as Nabatov's intricate compositions burst with frenetic energy, shifting between exuberant rhythmic interplay, explosive improvisation, and richly textured sonic landscapes in an electrifying set of performances.

Remedy (Thomas Heberer / Joe Fonda / Joe Hertenstein): Hipp Hooray - Celbrating Centenial of Yutta Hipp (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Trumpeter Thomas Heberer, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Joe Hertenstein celebrate the centennial of pioneering German pianist Jutta Hipp with Hipp Hooray, a set of nine compositions inspired by her life and legacy, not as a recreation of her sound but as a vibrant and personal tribute, capturing the resilience, innovation, and artistic spirit of a musician whose influence transcended generations and borders.

Perelman, Ivo / Tyshawn Sorey: Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A fearless and fluid exchange between saxophonist Ivo Perelman and drummer/pianist Tyshawn Sorey, this double album captures the duo's extraordinary chemistry, shifting between blistering intensity and spacious, exploratory passages as Sorey alternates between drums and piano, forging intricate dialogues with Perelman's masterful phrasing in a boundless and deeply expressive sonic journey.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 20, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Simon Nabatov/Mark Helias/Tom Rainey -Assamblage [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Harri Sjostrom -SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 [3 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Ivo Perelman/Tyshawn Sorey -Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Remedy (Thomas Heberer/Joe Fonda/Joe Hertenstein) -Hipp Hooray - Celbrating Centenial of Yutta Hipp [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Musicworks Magazine -#150 Winter 2024/25 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)

March 18, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Tristan Honsinger & The House Of Wasps -Noisy Sadness [CD] (Creative Sources)
Chris Jonas/David Forlano/Gregg Koyle -Trio [CD] (Creative Sources)
Fred Loisel/Philippe Lenglet/Christian Vasseur -Priced And Cheap (Two Graphic Scores) [CD] (Creative Sources)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Helena Espvall/Tracy Lisk -Illuminations [CD] (Creative Sources)
Heule/Leguía/Rivero/Escalante -An Inscrutable Bodily Discomforting Thing [CD] (Kettle Hole Records)
Howard Stelzer -The Flemish Giants (Suburban Observances Vol. 5) [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Turbulence -Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Streams [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Jordan Glenn -Flustered [CASSETTE] (Full Spectrum)
Metal Chaos Ensemble -A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: AMM - Aura (Matchless Recordings) by John Eyles.

March 17, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Don Ellis - How Time Passes To Essence, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by Ken Waxman.

Apologies for the lack of a new entry this week. We were caught off guard when our metering company unexpectedly raised the price of tracking stickers from free to $0.50 per sticker (!) To avoid passing that cost on to you, we spent the week evaluating a replacement metering system, which we will be implementing over the next few weeks. In addition, setting up for our highly anticipated ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. "Spring Hat Sale" kept us extremely busy!

A quick highlight from this week's mailing list: If you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend the Don Cherry / Krzysztof Penderecki Actions album. It has been reissued in various formats over the years and is an essential addition to any Don Cherry or Penderecki collection. Also notable is our addition of Cecil Taylor's Enja release, featuring a stunning live solo performance in Austria in 1976.

For new improvisation, the Isotope Ensemble's performance at CreativeFest #18 in Lisbon showcases their subtle and sophisticated approach to free improv and conduction. Likewise, the trio of Zingaro, Bechegas, and Rodrigues demonstrates the superb interplay that Creative Sources fosters, captured in their performance at the 2024 Reverso Festival. Another standout release is Rick Reger's new album on Aural Terrains, a fascinating blend of soundscape and meditative exploration. It pairs well with Another Timbre's release featuring Teodora Stepančić working with the ensemble Ordinary Affects, which includes two artists I've been particularly impressed by: J.P.A. Falzone and Jordan Dykstra.

Looking ahead, more Creative Sources albums will be activated next week, along with a range of experimental releases on Love Earth Music. The latest Listen! Foundation albums are set to arrive on Monday and will be featured in next week's mailing list. Also expected is the much-anticipated arrival of Bone Bells by Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson. Plenty of great listening coming to our Squid's Ear!

Cherry, Don / Krzysztof Penderecki: Actions (Intuition)

Recorded live at the Donaueschingen Music Festival in 1971, this extraordinary collaboration between Don Cherry, Krzysztof Penderecki, and The New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra merges free jazz with avant-garde composition, blending fiery improvisation, unconventional orchestrations and global influences into a powerful experience that challenges traditional genre boundaries.

Taylor, Cecil: Air Above Mountains (ENJA RECORDS)

Recorded live at Moosham Castle in Austria in 1976, Cecil Taylor's solo piano performance is an unyielding exploration of percussive intensity and harmonic abstraction, unfolding in torrents of kinetic energy, intricate melodic leaps, and structural invention, demanding deep engagement as he fuses free jazz and contemporary classical influences into a towering and uncompromising artistic statement.

Isotope Ensemble: Caesium (Creative Sources)

Recorded live at CreativeFest #18 in Lisbon, the Isotope Ensemble channels the volatile and fluid nature of caesium through spontaneous improvisation, blending strings, brass, woodwinds, piano, electric guitars, modular synthesizer, electronics, and objects into a dynamic sonic reaction that reflects the element's unique liquid properties that make the isotope pivotal role in atomic timekeeping.

Zingaro, Carlos / Carlos Bechegas / Ernesto Rodrigues: Spleen (Creative Sources)

A fascinating live performance from Lisbon's Reverso Festival in 2024, where luminaries Carlos Zíngaro (violin), Ernesto Rodrigues (viola, crackle box), and Carlos Bechegas (flute, piccolo) intertwine their distinct approaches into an intricate tapestry that blends classical sensibilities with free improv exploration in a compelling journey through texture and timbre.

Schindler, Udo / Rieko Okuda / Eric Zwang Eriksson: Disturbed Terrains [2 CDs] (Creative Sources)

Recorded over two days — first in the studio, then live at Freies Musikzentrum in Munich — Udo Schindler on clarinets, saxophones, & cornet joins pianist Rieko Okuda and drummer Eric Zwang Eriksson in a dynamic exploration of texture and interplay, beginning with clarinet-piano duos before expanding into a full-throttle trio improvisation, for an intricate and energetic free jazz performance.

Reger, Rick: Textures & Tonalities for Analogue Synthesizers & Percussion (Aural Terrains)

Blending vintage analogue synthesizers with resonant percussion, Chicago-based Rick Reger (The Margots) constructs an immersive electroacoustic soundscape that balances harmonic depth and atmospheric tension, sculpting evolving tonalities through Moog, Mellotron, Arp & VCS3 alongside gongs and singing bowls in a meditative and richly textured sonic exploration.

Stepancic, Teodora: A O | F G (Another Timbre)

Collaborating with the ensemble Ordinary Affects, Serbian-born composer and pianist Stepančić records two introspective and spacious works that explore sonic stillness, harmonic resonance, and gradual transformation, blending Wandelweiser aesthetics with personal influences from Orthodox choral traditions, New York experimentalism, and theatrical composition.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Rasmus Persson & Lee Noyes - Ratios (Idealstate Recordings) Jeph Jerman.

March 13, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Dennis Egberth -The Dennis Egberth Dynasty [CDR] (577 Records)
Dennis Egberth -The Dennis Egberth Dynasty [VINYL] (577 Records)
Udo Schindler/Werner Dafeldecker/Gunnar Geisse -Travelling Sound Images - Cognitive Transfers [Trio] (Creative Sources)
Udo Schindler/Rieko Okuda/Eric Zwang Eriksson -Disturbed Terrains [2 CDs] (Creative Sources)
Isotope Ensemble -Caesium [CD] (Creative Sources)
Riccardo Luppi/Simone Massaron/Daniel Studer -One [CD] (Creative Sources)
Modelbau -1x33.3 [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Lindorff-Ellery, Evan -Church Recordings from Monhegan [CASSETTE] (Full Spectrum)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Machiavel [CD] (GRRR)
Helene Sage -Echappee Belle [CD] (GRRR)

March 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Tony Oxley Quintet - Angular Apron (Corbett vs Dempsey) by John Eyles.

March 11, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Cecil Taylor -Air Above Mountains [CD] (ENJA RECORDS)
Don Cherry/Krzysztof Penderecki -Actions [CD] (Intuition)
Dennis Egberth -The Dennis Egberth Dynasty [CDR] (577 Records)
Carlos Zíngaro/Carlos Bechegas/Ernesto Rodrigues -Spleen [CD] (Creative Sources)
Robin Verheyen/Billy Hart/Drew Gress -Liftoff [CD] (Inner Voice Jazz)
Rick Reger -Textures & Tonalities for Analogue Synthesizers & Percussion [CD] (Aural Terrains)
Teodora Stepancic -A O | F G [CD] (Another Timbre)
Nicolas Gombert/James Weeks -G O M B E R T [CD] (Another Timbre)
Peter Woods J. -Sucking Stones [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Leap of Faith -Accelerated Expansion Closing [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 10, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: AALY Trio (Gustafsson / Nordeson / Janson) - Sustain (Silkheart) by Andrey Henkin.

As we move closer to spring, the winds whip around us, and temperatures fluctuate unpredictably. Fortunately, we've had another great week of releases, allowing me to watch the trees bend while enjoying some outstanding new albums! One of the most anticipated releases is the second collaboration between Anthony Braxton and Wolf Eyes, the boundary-pushing duo of Johnny Olson and Nate Young. Their previous Victo album, Black Vomit, recorded live at the Victo Festival, was an extraordinary meeting that placed Braxton in one of the unusual settings he thrives in. This new album furthers their discourse, presenting a compelling clash and complement of electronics and acoustic instrumentation.

In the experimental/electronic and acoustic realm, several records have captivated us this week. Composer Bryn Harrison's hypnotic and temporally disorienting work, Towards A Slowing Of The Past (Another Timbre), unfolds through acoustic piano and electronics performed by Mark Knoop and Roderick Chadwick. Similarly, Morgan Evans-Weiler and J.P.A. Falzone's Another Timbre release blurs the lines between piano, violin, celesta, and electronics in the aptly titled album, Penumbra.

Weston Olencki, known for his work on Notice Recordings, Creative Sources, and Tripticks Tapes, explores the banjo in two distinct and highly experimental ways on his Full Spectrum LP, Pearls Ground Down To Powder. Speaking of Full Spectrum, we've begun introducing more albums from the label, and you'll now find 11 new albums from Full Spectrum recently added to Squidco's catalog.

Also leading the way this week are three new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. releases introduced on Monday. Hat is celebrating 50 years since its first album release in 1978. Since taking back the label's reins in 2019, Werner X. Uehlinger has released more than 150 albums of jazz, free improvisation, and avant-garde contemporary music. This week sees the release of three new albums in the "First Visit" series, which features deluxe CD editions with postcards and extensive liner notes. Albert Ayler's Prophecy Live receives a much-needed remaster, reassembling material originally released on the ESP label. The Pellegrini Quartet album presents a remastered version of their 1995 Bvhaast release, drawing a fascinating 155-year connection between Beethoven's Streichquartett A-Moll and Luigi Nono's Fragmente - Stille, An Diotima. Finally, the Sergio Armaroli Quintet — featuring Elliott Sharp, Steve Piccolo, John Edwards, and Mark Sanders — delivers a remarkable radio-like improvisational work inspired by John Cage's 1942 radio piece for CBS Radio.

Complementing the Sergio Armaroli album is the new Sopa Boba release on Sub Rosa, a narratively rich work based on Moldovan writer Nicoleta Esinencu's That Moment, featuring the voice of G.W. Sok, the original singer from The Ex. It's a sophisticated and compelling blend of contemporary and electronic forms, perfectly suited to the present moment. In a similarly socially conscious vein, but more firmly rooted in jazz, the No Tears project from Christopher Parker and Kelley Hurt on the Mahakala label addresses themes of protest and justice in America, incorporating compositions by Oliver Lake, Donald Brown, and Bobby LaVell. It's a striking work I can't recommend enough — another album that resonates deeply with the times. For a change of pace, the other new Mahakala release this week, Michael Bisio's NuMBq, offers a refreshing Third Stream-oriented approach to jazz.

Wolf Eyes / Anthony Braxton: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 (ESP)

A monumental meeting between legendary saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton and noise pioneers Wolf Eyes (Nate Young & Johnny Olson), recorded live at Pioneer Works in Red Hook, NY, merging Braxton's expansive approach with the duo's visceral electronics, hypnotic textures, and raw energy in a collision of free improvisation, structured chaos, and uncompromising sonic exploration.

Harrison, Bryn (Mark Knoop / Roderick Chadwick): Towards A Slowing Of The Past (Another Timbre)

Exploring time, memory, and perception, composer Bryn Harrison crafts an intricate sonic landscape for two pianos and electronics, performed with great precision by Mark Knoop and Roderick Chadwick, where dense, swirling repetitions give way to moments of eerie stillness, gradually descending into a murky, destabilizing space while immersing the listener in a hypnotic and disorienting temporal experience.

Olencki, Weston: Pearls Ground Down To Powder [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)

Weston Olencki deconstructs and reimagines the banjo across two longform compositions, transforming it into a percussive, polyrhythmic engine and a harmonic resonator, navigating glitch-driven algorithmic textures and richly detuned sonorities, juxtaposing the kinetic, minimalist grooves of "The Rocks Are Different, Here" with the spectral, ring-modulated drones of "Brothers".

Evans-Weiler, Morgan / J.P.A. Falzone: Penumbra (Another Timbre)

A delicate and introspective collaboration for violin, prepared piano, celesta, and electronics, Morgan Evans-Weiler and J.P.A. Falzone explore melodic cells and harmonic resonances through an open-ended, improvisatory approach, creating a drifting, structureless environment where sounds intertwine, constellate, and dissolve, capturing fleeting moments of sonic possibility.

Sergio Armaroli Quintet (Armaroli / Sharp / Piccolo / Edwards / Sanders): Introducing A Very Heavy Person, First Visit To The Audio Equivalent Of A Graphic Novel. (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Blurring the boundaries between composition, improvisation, and spoken word, percussionist Sergio Armaroli leads a quintet of Elliott Sharp, Steve Piccolo, John Edwards, and Mark Sanders in an evocative, time-bending sonic narrative, drawing inspiration from John Cage, Kenneth Patchen, and free jazz traditions in a phantasmagorical soundscape and an immersive auditory experience.

Pellegrini Quartet: Luigi Nono Fragmente - Stille, an Diotima; Ludwig van Beethoven Streichquartett a-moll op. 132, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Reissuing their 1995 release on BVHAAST, the Pellegrini Quartet presents a striking juxtaposition of Beethoven's late string quartet, Op. 132, and Luigi Nono's Fragmente - Stille, an Diotima, revealing a profound dialogue between structural innovation and expressive depth, where Beethoven's introspective lyricism meets Nono's fragmented, textural modernism, spanning 155 years of musical evolution.

Albert Ayler Trio: Prophecy Live, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Recorded live at New York City's Cellar Café in June 1964, this essential document captures Albert Ayler, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Sunny Murray in a pivotal moment of spiritual free jazz, expressing motifs like 'Ghosts' and 'Spirits' into an ecstatic, ever-evolving language, with this remastered edition offering a refined perspective on a landmark session that shaped Ayler's uncompromising vision.

Sopa Boba: That Moment (Sub Rosa)

Blending spoken word, modern classical strings, and harsh modular synths, Belgian/Dutch ensemble Sopa Boba crafts a striking electronic-orchestral oratorio based on Moldavian writer Nicoleta Esinencu's That Moment, unraveling a dark, satirical narrative of capitalist excess through seven gripping movements that merge caustic irony with haunting sonic textures.

No Tears Project: Humantics (Mahakala Music)

A powerful and insightful fusion of jazz, spoken word, and improvisation, this evocative album led by Christopher Parker and Kelley Hurt explores themes of resilience, justice, and shared humanity through compositions by Oliver Lake, Donald Brown, and Bobby LaVell, with gripping performances by a stellar ensemble that includes Marc Franklin, Chad Fowler, Rodney Jordan, Darrian Douglas, Treasure Shields Redmond, &c.

Bisio, Michael: NuMBq (Mahakala Music)

Bassist and composer Michael Bisio leads an exceptional quartet with Melanie Dyer on viola, Marianne Osiel on English horn, and Jay Rosen on percussion, blending Third Stream nuance with the fire of free jazz in an ever-flowing, deeply expressive set of improvisations, channeling rich orchestral textures and spontaneous interplay into a powerful and fluid genre-blurring journey.

The Creative Voice of Ellen Christi:

I'm an enthusiast of vocal free improvisation, which places me in a niche subset of free improvisation fans. I've followed many vocal improvisers, with my favorites including Shelley Hirsch, Jaap Blonk, Ute Wasserman, Joane Hétu, Maggie Nicols, Isabelle Duthoit, Paul Dutton, Catherine Jauniaux, and Phil Minton. These artists exhibit fearless creativity, perhaps even more than many instrumentalists, due to the raw exposure and vulnerability of vocal expression, which connects directly to the human ear.

Given my deep interest in the voice as an instrument, I was surprised to realize how much I had overlooked in the early work of Downtown NY vocalist Ellen Christi. While I was familiar with her name from more recent collaborations with William Parker and Steve Swell, I had missed out on her albums from the '90s on labels like Splasc(H), Network, C.M.C., and Sargasso. Fortunately, Christi has helped correct that by stocking Squidco with six of her albums — records that have been in heavy rotation on my stereo over the past few weeks. Taking the time to explore these albums was rewarding, as they feature both New York musicians I deeply admire and European musicians whose work I knew less about but who have greatly impressed me.

Biographical Background

Ellen Christi, born on March 7, 1958, in Chicago, is a distinguished figure in the world of American improvised music and contemporary jazz. Her decades-long career showcases her versatility as a vocalist, composer, and advocate for innovative performing arts.

Christi's formal music education began in her hometown, where she studied piano under Jack Hubal from 1973 to 1975. She later refined her skills in New York City, studying piano technique, composition, and arranging with the esteemed pianist and composer Jaki Byard. To develop her vocal abilities, she trained in the bel canto technique under Metropolitan Opera coloratura singer Galli Campi and explored vocal technique and movement with avant-garde jazz vocalist Jeanne Lee.

In 1975, Christi co-founded the New York City Artists' Collective (NYCAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering creative independence for artists while promoting both visual and performing arts. The collective also managed N.Y.C.A.C. Records, playing a crucial role in documenting and producing innovative music of the era.

Throughout her career, Christi has collaborated with a vast array of notable musicians, including Tom Bruno, Ray Anderson, Mark Dresser, Reggie Workman, Rashied Ali, Tony Scott, Ed Blackwell, William Parker, Lisa Sokolov, Jeanne Lee, Kenny Wheeler, Steve McCall, Rahn Burton, Roy Campbell, and Hans Koch. Her performances have spanned diverse settings, from multimedia theatrical productions to solo vocal concerts, underscoring her adaptability and commitment to artistic exploration.

Christi, Ellen / Claudio Lodati: Dreamers (Splasc(H) )

A refined and nuanced collaboration between vocalist Ellen Christi and guitarist Claudio Lodati, recorded in Ivrea, Italy in 1990, blending lyrical vocal improvisations with fluid electric and acoustic guitar work in an intimate, expressive dialogue — relaxed and unforced, yet deeply engaging, avoiding both histrionics and weightless ambience to create a grounded yet exploratory listening experience.

Alienstalk (Ellen Christi / Claudio Lodati / Jan Schlegel / Luigi Archetti): Alienstalk (Sargasso)

A compelling collaboration of vocalist Ellen Christi with guitarists Claudio Lodati and Luigi Archetti, and bassist Jan Schlegel, recorded at Baby Monster Studio in NYC in 1996, blending free improvisation, jazz, and experimental forms with Christi's inventive vocal approach, yielding fifteen succinct yet dynamic, exploratory soundscapes.

Christi, Ellen / Claudio Lodati: Vocal Desires (C.M.C. Records)

A live 1994 performance uniting vocalist Ellen Christi and guitarist Claudio Lodati with Giovanni Maier (acoustic bass), U.T. Gandhi (drums), and Alex Rolle (percussion), blending jazz improvisation with experimental compositions, including a distinctive rendition of "Over the Rainbow," resulting in an evocative exploration of sound.

Christi, Ellen / Yuko Fujiyama / Masahiko Kono / Mauro Orselli: Reconstruction Of Sound (Network)

A compelling collaboration featuring improvising vocalist Ellen Christi alongside pianist Yuko Fujiyama, trombonist Masahiko Kono, and drummer Mauro Orselli, recorded in the studio in 1993 and live at Roulette in 1996, weaving dynamic free improvisation and exploratory soundscapes that showcase Christi's innovative vocal techniques and deep engagement with spontaneous composition.

Christi, Ellen / Fiorenzo Sordini Quintet: A Piece of the Rock (Splasc(h))

An engaging meeting recorded in the studio in New York in 1991, bringing together vocalist Ellen Christi, saxophonist & bass clarinetist Carlo Actis Dato, trombonist Masahiko Kono, bassist Enrico Fazio, drummer Fiorenzo Sordini, and text artist Michael Vecchio, blending adventurous contemporary jazz, spontaneous composition, and spoken word in a strikingly dynamic and generally lyrical session.

Christi, Ellen (Christi / Buchanan / Ulrich / Parker / Brown): Instant Reality (Network)

A striking exploration of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation, this 1992 session unites vocalist and pianist Ellen Christi with Steve Buchanan (electric guitar), Tomas Ulrich (cello), William Parker (bass), and Lefferts Brown (loops), weaving dynamic vocal phrasing, bold instrumental textures, and evolving electronic layers into an immersive and unpredictable sonic landscape.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 6, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Akira Sakata / Rie Nakajima - Roughly Random (Ftarri) by Brian Olewnick.

March 6, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Wolf Eyes/Anthony Braxton -Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 [CD] (ESP)
Wolf Eyes/Anthony Braxton -Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 [VINYL] (ESP)
No Tears Project -Humantics [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Green Mitchell Trio (Wright/Mezzacappa/Levis) -Nature Channel [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Sopa Boba -That Moment [CD] (Sub Rosa)
Morgan Evans-Weiler/J.P.A. Falzone -Penumbra [CD] (Another Timbre)
Jason Alder/Thanos Chrysakis/Charlotte Keeffe/James O' Sullivan -Inward Traces Outward Edges [CD] (Aural Terrains)
John Krausbauer/Kaori Suzuki -Suspension Blues [CD] (ANTS Records)
Electric Bird Noise/Derek Roddy -8-10-22 [CD EP] (Silber Media)
Ellen Christi/Claudio Lodati -Vocal Desires [CD] (C.M.C. Records)

March 4, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Albert Ayler Trio -Prophecy Live, First Visit [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Sergio Armaroli Quintet (Armaroli/Sharp/Piccolo/Edwards/Sanders) -Introducing A Very Heavy Person, First Visit To The Audio Equivalent Of A Graphic Novel. [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Pellegrini Quartet -Luigi Nono Fragmente - Stille, an Diotima; Ludwig van Beethoven Streichquartett a-moll op. 132, First Visit [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Marc Copland Quartet (Robin Verheyen Drew Gress/Mark Ferber) -Dreaming [CD] (Inner Voice Jazz)
Michael Bisio -NuMBq [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Jacob Wick Ensemble -Something in Your Eyes [CD] (Full Spectrum)
Bryn Harrison (Mark Knoop/Roderick Chadwick) -Towards A Slowing Of The Past [CD] (Another Timbre)
Jurg Frey -Longing Landscape [CD] (Another Timbre)
Weston Olencki -Pearls Ground Down To Powder [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)
Perturbations -Harmonic Oscillators [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 4, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Michael Foster / Ben Bennett / Jacob Wick - Carne Vale (Relative Pitch) by Jeph Jerman.

March 3, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Creiriau y Delyn Rawn (Various) - Relics of the Horsehair Harp (AMGEN) by John Eyles.

Aside from adding a number of great albums to Squidco's catalog this week, we also presented the 29th concert in our "Hooked on Sonics" series here in Wilmington, NC. This series focuses on regional sound artists and experimenters, along with artists passing through the region. The series restarted this year after a couple of years on hold post-pandemic, and this was only the second concert of the series as we rebuild our audience. The highlight of the show was a solo set from Electric Bird Noise, a remarkable electric guitarist who uses effects and concise loops alongside a visual display in a highly compelling presentation. His latest EP, a duo with drummer Derek Roddy, will appear in our upcoming list below and on our site next week.

On to the music: I finished cataloging and detailing the latest release from Not Two, featuring a great trio with trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, pianist Satoko Fujii, and drummer Ramon Lopez — a recurring trio from the many configurations that Tamura and Fujii support. You'll also see yet another Libra album from Fujii, Dream a Dream, in our upcoming list below. It's been a wealth of diverse albums from both Fujii and Tamura over the last few months! Also new this week is a fantastic studio duo album from Chicago's extraordinary drummer Tim Daisy and legendary saxophonist Ken Vandermark. These two long-time collaborators deliver a superb performance that showcases their deep musical connection. Squidco was fortunate to present the duo many years ago, and it's still one of the highlights of our concert series!

Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa has reignited the Queen Bee Records label with three new releases spread out over the next two months. The first is available now: a duo with long-time collaborator Jason Levis interpreting a graphic score using Wadada Leo Smith's Ankhrasmation language. The results are fascinating — rich in detail and engaging as they traverse Smith's imagery. Next month will bring Nature Channel, adding tenor saxophonist Cory Wright as part of the Green Mitchell Trio, followed in April by a large ensemble of acoustic and electronic instrumentation as Jordan Glenn's BEAK.

We've picked up two albums from one of my favorite lyrical pianists, Marc Copland. The first, which I cataloged this week, is a beautiful solo album recorded live at Studio 15, RTS in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2022. Here, Copland blends jazz standards to create new perspectives and realizations in a virtual duo with himself — it's stunningly beautiful. Next week, I'll complete cataloging the latest Marc Copland Quartet release, Dreaming, featuring Robin Verheyen, Drew Gress, and Mark Ferber.

It's been a while since I gushed over David Lee Myers, aka Arcane Device, and this week we caught up with him through two albums: Plays the Music of J.S. Bach and Oculus. The former takes Bach's music and applies a diverse set of treatments, transforming it in ways that sometimes sound like Bach and sometimes sound entirely otherworldly. The latter is a specially priced double album that explores the concept of ocular openings — whether in the eye or circular architectural forms — using a wide palette of sounds, including feedback matrices, electronics, lamellophones, and hardware and software processing. Myers' work has influenced me since the 80s when I first heard Engines of Myth on the Recommended Records label and read his article in the ReR Quarterlies on making a feedback machine (which I built, and which can be heard in some of my earliest work). I'm always happy to add his music to our catalog.

We added three albums from Mahakala Music, catching up with the label starting with last year's Eri Yamamoto Quadrophonic, a warm album of lyrical improv from her quartet featuring Chad Fowler on alto sax and flute, Kevin Thomas on bass, and Ikuo Takeuchi on drums. Yamamoto is both a pianist and vocalist, and this album, Fly With The Wings, focuses more on her instrumental work, with a few concise songs included. Bringing us current is the new Booker T & The Plasmic Bleeds album, featuring a larger ensemble that merges jazz, blues, and funk with a sassy attitude. For free jazz enthusiasts, the trio of saxophonist Rob Brown, drummer Juan Pablo Carletti, and bassist Brandon Lopez bring fury and beauty to their collective improvisation, captured in the studio over four superb conversations.

Finally, a surprising release from Chicago's Corbett vs. Dempsey label: a 1980 session from Iancu Dumitrescu, titled after his ensemble, Ansamblul Hyperion. Dumitrescu is a fascinating figure in the Romanian classical tradition, taking a unique approach to merging sonic force through spectral music forms. Here, he blends acousmatic approaches of acoustic and electronic instrumentation, tinted by traditional music forms. Before his collaborator Ana-Maria Avram's passing, we worked directly with the label Edition Modern, carrying many enlightening and fascinating albums from both musicians. It's a pleasure to see a new album from Dumitrescu in our catalog, and kudos to Corbett vs. Dempsey for making that possible.

Tamura / Fujii / Lopez: Yama Kawa Umi (Not Two)

Reuniting after their acclaimed Mantle album, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, pianist Satoko Fujii, and drummer Ramon Lopez return with Yama Kawa Umi (Mountain River Sea), a powerful exploration of musical landscapes where wild seas crash into cliffs, rivers flow with melodic clarity, and peaceful mountains rise in serene, introspective moments, reflecting the deep, dynamic interplay from years of collaboration.

Daisy, Tim / Ken Vandermark: Fourth Atlas (Not Two)

A solid duo recording from long-time Chicago collaborators Ken Vandermark (tenor & baritone saxophones, Bb & bass clarinets) and Tim Daisy (drums & percussion), captured in the studio in Chicago, blending focused free jazz with intricate free improv, as the two navigate dynamic contrasts, rich textures, and conversational interplay with seemingly telepathic precision.

duo B. (Lisa Mezzacappa / Jason Levis): Luminous Axis (Queen Bee Records)

Longtime collaborators Lisa Mezzacappa and Jason Levis deepen their exploration of Wadada Leo Smith's Ankhrasmation language, interpreting his graphic score through an intuitive acoustic bass and drum dialogue shaped by years of study, live performance, and improvisational research, forging their own path through his modular notation in a dynamic and deeply immersive exchange.

Copland, Marc: Alter Ego Lausanne 2022 (TCB Records)

A masterful solo piano performance from Marc Copland, recorded live in Lausanne as he duets with his own pre-recorded tracks, layering delicate yet harmonically rich improvisations in a deeply personal and intimate exploration of sound, blending standards by Monk, Coltrane, and Rodgers with originals, creating an introspective interplay that highlights his lyrical depth.

Arcane Device: Plays the Music of J.S. Bach (pulsewidth)

Under his Arcane Device moniker, David Lee Myers revisits an unrealized collaboration with Tod Dockstader, deconstructing well-known classical works — primarily those of Bach — through sampling, stretching, looping, and computer-based processing, transforming familiar motifs into playful, shimmering, and immersive soundscapes inspired by Lucas Foss's Baroque Variations.

Myers, David Lee: Oculus [2CDs] (pulsewidth)

A double CD of rich ambient work from New York City-based sound artist David Lee Myers, presenting four expansive compositions that blend electronics, lamellophone, feedback matrices, and hardware and software processing, evoking the ocular opening of the eye and architectural forms through immersive soundscapes that explore the interplay between organic and electronic elements.

Brown, Rob / Brandon Lopez / Juan P. Carletti: Walkabout (Mahakala Music)

An energetic trio session of collective free improvisation from NY alto saxophonist Rob Brown, bassist Brandon Lopez, and drummer Juan Pablo Carletti, recorded in the studio and driven by an intense energy that maintains a powerful swing, with Brown's incisive phrasing, Lopez's commanding bass, and Carletti's dynamic percussion merging into a spontaneous and deeply expressive musical force.

Booker T & The Plasmic Bleeds: Ode To BC/LY... And Eye Know BO.... da Prez (Mahakala Music)

Underground saxophone legends Booker T. Williams and Gary Hammon lead a powerhouse ensemble with Marc Franklin, Chad Fowler, Kelley Hurt, Christopher Parker, Luke Stewart, and Chad Anderson, blending post-Coltrane jazz, reggae inflections, and balladry in a vibrant session that revisits their decades-long musical journey while honoring resilience, friendship, and cultural legacy.

Yamamoto, Eri Quadraphonic: Fly With The Wings (Mahakala Music)

A warm and lyrical new quartet from pianist, vocalist, and melodica player Eri Yamamoto alongside Chad Fowler on alto sax & flute, Kevin Thomas on bass, and longtime collaborator Ikuo Takeuchi on drums, blending groove-driven jazz, free improvisation, and tender balladry with Yamamoto's distinctive touch, highlighted by playful interplay, beautiful melodies, and a soulful, unhurried charm.

Dumitrescu, Iancu: Ansamblul Hyperion (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Recorded in 1980 under Ceausescu's dictatorship, this groundbreaking document of Romanian avant-garde music features Iancu Dumitrescu conducting his Ansamblul Hyperion ensemble in radical works by Dumitrescu, Octavian Nemescu, Stefan Niculescu, and Corneliu Cezar, blending acousmatic philosophies, Balkan resonances, and electronic experimentation in an unprecedented exploration of sound and structure.

Ordered & Upcoming:

We've been hard at work on our spring purchase plans, which includes some of our most important labels. Below are the album that have already been ordered and are on their way to us. If you're eager for any of these albums, you can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

Laura Cocks: FATHM (Relative Pitch)



Rodrigues, Ernesto / Helena Espvall / Tracy Lisk: Illuminations (Creative Sources)

Luppi, Riccardo / Simone Massaron / Daniel Studer: One (Creative Sources)

Loisel, Fred / Philippe Lenglet / Christian Vasseur: Priced And Cheap (Two Graphic Scores) (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Carlos Santos / Miguel Mira: The Knowledge That Our Time Is Limited Can Inspire Us (Creative Sources)

Zíngaro, Carlos / Carlos Bechegas / Ernesto Rodrigues: Spleen (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Nuno Torres / Guilherme Rodrigues: Whispers In The Moonlight — In Seven Movements [2CDs] (Creative Sources)

Parrinha, Bruno / Andrew Levine / Ernesto Rodrigues: Sensor Out Of Service (Creative Sources)

Schindler, Udo / Werner Dafeldecker / Gunnar Geisse: Travelling Sound Images - Cognitive Transfers [Trio] (Creative Sources)

Der Vierte Zustand: Layers (Creative Sources)

MouthWind: Corps Et Biens (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Jung-Jae Kim / Alvaro Rosso: Meari: Instant Waves (Creative Sources)

Jonas, Chris / David Forlano / Gregg Koyle: Trio (Creative Sources)

Schindler, Udo / Max Arsava / Gunnar Geisse: Sightings And Stratifications - 2nd Investigation For Trio (Creative Sources)

Isotope Ensemble: Caesium (Creative Sources)

Van Schouwburg, Jean-Michel / Nuno Torres / Ernesto Rodrigues / Joao Madeira / Carlos Santos : La Rambarde Des Songes, Les Congruences Des Soupirs (Creative Sources)



Albert Ayler Trio: Prophecy Live, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Pellegrini Quartet: Luigi Nono Fragmente - Stille, an Diotima; Ludwig van Beethoven Streichquartett a-moll op. 132, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Sergio Armaroli Quintet (Armaroli / Sharp / Piccolo / Edwards / Sanders): Introducing A Very Heavy Person, First Visit To The Audio Equivalent Of A Graphic Novel. (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)



Morgan Evans-Weiler & J.P.A. Falzone: Penumbra (Another Timbre)

Jurg Frey: Longing Landscape (Another Timbre)

Teodora Stepancic: A O | F G (Another Timbre)

Nicolas Gombert & James Weeks: G O M B E R T (Another Timbre)

Bryn Harrison: Towards a slowing of time (Another Timbre)



John Krausbauer & Kaori Suzuki: Suspension Blues (ANTS Records)



Green Mitchell Trio: Nature Channel (Queen Bee Records)

Jordan Glenn's BEAK: The Party (Queen Bee Records)



David Lee Myers: Oculus (pulsewidth)

Arcane Device: Arcane Device Plays the Music of J.S. Bach (pulsewidth)



Don Cherry & Krzysztof Penderecki: Actions (Intuition)

Djabe & Steve Hackett: Arctic Jam [CD/Blu-ray] (Cherry Red)



Cimnari, Matteo: Mental Core Drilling (FMR)

Caldwell, Chris & Suzzie: Hemispheres II (FMR)

Mascolo, Carlos: La Noed. De la liberte (FMR)

Countryman, Rick: Zero Point Determinism (FMR)

Countryman, Rick: The Separation of Sound and Space (FMR)

Schindler, Udo: Shifting Types of Amazement (FMR)

Gjerstad, Frode: Stavanger 9 9 2024 (FMR)

Dunmalll, Paul: Outcome of Choice Jazz Suite (FMR)

Tret Trio: Crow Jam (FMR)

Gluck, Bob: Transcendence music of Pat Metheny (FMR)



Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio (Fujii / Takashi Sugawa / Ittetsu Takemura): Dream a Dream (Libra)



Fonda, Joe Quartet: Eyes On The Horizon (Long Song Records)

Giovanni Maier + Alexander Hawkins: Two For Keith (Long Song Records)



CURRAN, ALVIN: Archeology // Archeologia (Room40)

WOLF EYES & ANTHONY BRAXTON: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 (ESP)

WOLF EYES & ANTHONY BRAXTON: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 [VINYL] (ESP)

SOPA BOBA: That Moment (Sub Rosa)



Ivo Pereleman & Tyshawn Sorey: Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Remedy (Thomas Heberer/Joe Fonda/Joe Hertenstein): Hipp Hooray - Celbrating Centenial of Yutta Hipp (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Simon Nabatov / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey: Assamblage (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Harri Sjostrom: SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 [3 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Petit, Philippe: Emperor Tomato Ketchup (Sublime Retreat)

Electric Bird Noise / Derek Roddy: 8-10-22 (Silber Media)

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 27, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Tamura/Fujii/Lopez -Yama Kawa Umi [CD] (Not Two)
duo B. (Lisa Mezzacappa/Jason Levis) -Luminous Axis [CD] (Queen Bee Records)
Rob Brown/Brandon Lopez/Juan P. Carletti -Walkabout [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Booker T & The Plasmic Bleeds -Ode To BC/LY... And Eye Know BO.... da Prez [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Marc Copland -Alter Ego Lausanne 2022 [CD] (TCB Records)
Bruckmann/Heule/Nishi-Smith/Rivero -Negligiblism [CD] (Full Spectrum)
Shiroishi/Tiesenga -Empty Vessels [VINYL] (Full Spectrum)
Alientstalk (Ellen Christi/Claudio Lodati/Jan Schlegel/Luigi Archetti) -Alientstalk [CD] (Sargasso)

February 25, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Tim Daisy/Ken Vandermark -Fourth Atlas [CD] (Not Two)
Eri Yamamoto Quadraphonic -Fly With The Wings [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Daniel Carter/Ayumi Ishito -Endless Season [CDR] (577 Records)
Jacqueline Kerrod/Joe Morris -Morpeth Contemporary 2024 [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Iancu Dumitrescu -Ansamblul Hyperion [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
David Myers Lee -Oculus [2CDs] (pulsewidth)
Arcane Device -Plays the Music of J.S. Bach [CD] (pulsewidth)
Turbulence -Effects of Channeling [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Jean-Jacques Birge -Pique-nique Au Labo 3 [CD] (GRRR)
Michel Houellebecq/Jean-Jacques Birge -Etablissement D'Un Ciel D'Alternance [CD] (GRRR)

February 25, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Dominik Dolega - Everything Is True (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by Jeph Jerman.

February 24, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Ra Kalam Bob Moses and Jerome Bryerton - The Juggledrum (Balance Point Acoustics) by Nick Ostrum.

An extremely cold week swept across the US, bringing historic temperatures to our little town. That kept us indoors, listening to a lot of great music as new albums from Relative Pitch, Not Two, Machinefabriek, and Tzadik arrived at our doors. I also spent more time exploring the absolutely amazing GRRR label, led by Jean-Jacques Birgé, particularly the debut album from Un Drame Musical Instantané, Trop D'Adrenaline Nuit, which is downright startling in its sophistication and diversity.

Mining more wonderful legacy material, I finished cataloging two albums from New York improvising and experimental vocalist Ellen Christi: one on Splasc(h) with the Italian improvising group Fiorenzo Sordini Quintet, and another on Network featuring a global set of improvisers.

I was excited to pick up the reissue of two albums from the trio of Peter Brötzmann, Paal Nilssen-Love, and Steve Swell-a transatlantic trio that toured Europe in 2016, releasing Live in Copenhagen and Live in Krakow. It's great to see these powerful performances back in print. We also picked up another album from an improviser gone too soon, Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams, in a duo with his frequent collaborator, Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla. This is the third duo album from the pair (I've listed all three below, currently in stock), presenting a wide-ranging approach to improv, from introspective to dynamically charged. It's fitting to highlight this release alongside the trio albums, as Mars Williams was a member of Brötzmann's Tentet.

Relative Pitch released four new albums this week, and I keep returning to the excellent duo between guitarist Fred Frith and harpist Shelley Burgon, an album with great pacing and wonderfully inventive exchanges. Burgon, a former student of Frith at Mills College, displays clear improvisational chemistry with him here. She can also be heard on albums with Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn, and Okkyung Lee.

I've also spent a lot of time with the Brandon Lopez Septet album, an extended improvisation with political urgency featuring Lopez himself (bass), Zeena Parkins (more harps this week!), Mat Maneri (viola), and DoYeon Kim (gayageum), alongside two drummers — Gerald Cleaver and Tom Rainey — tinged with the electronics of Cecilia Lopez. From Boston comes the duo of Fully Celebrated Orchestra founders Jim Hobbs and Timo Shanko, delivering a free yet melodic affair with a strong blues passion. The fourth album is another string-driven confluence, this time featuring harpist Jacqueline Kerrod and guitarist Joe Morris, which will be fully cataloged by next week.

After all that excitement, you can drift away, as I have at the end of my workdays, with two albums from Rutger Zuydervelt, aka Machinefabriek: Microtopia, a beautifully rich and detailed score for a constructive video game; and Omval, recreating in the studio a live performance with serpent player Berlinde Deman.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Trop D'Adrenaline Nuit (GRRR)

The groundbreaking 1977 debut of Un Drame Musical Instantané is a fully improvised yet strikingly structured work blending synthesizer, trumpet, guitar, film dialogue, and radio broadcasts into a dynamic sonic collage, here reissued in 2004 with a new master and the bonus track "Sancta Papaverina", the album captures the trio's bold fusion of avant-garde improvisation and experimental composition.

Christi, Ellen / Yuko Fujiyama / Masahiko Kono / Mauro Orselli: Reconstruction Of Sound (Network)

A compelling collaboration featuring improvising vocalist Ellen Christi alongside pianist Yuko Fujiyama, trombonist Masahiko Kono, and drummer Mauro Orselli, recorded in the studio in 1993 and live at Roulette in 1996, weaving dynamic free improvisation and exploratory soundscapes that showcase Christi's innovative vocal techniques and deep engagement with spontaneous composition.

Christi, Ellen / Fiorenzo Sordini Quintet: A Piece of the Rock (Splasc(h))

An engaging meeting recorded in the studio in New York in 1991, bringing together vocalist Ellen Christi, saxophonist & bass clarinetist Carlo Actis Dato, trombonist Masahiko Kono, bassist Enrico Fazio, drummer Fiorenzo Sordini, and text artist Michael Vecchio, blending adventurous contemporary jazz, spontaneous composition, and spoken word in a strikingly dynamic and generally lyrical session.

Brotzmann, Peter / Steve Swell / Paal Nilssen-Love: Krakow Nights (Not Two)

A powerhouse trio of free jazz titans — Peter Brötzmann on saxophone and clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums — captured live at Krakow's Alchemia Club in 2015, delivering a high-energy set of unrelenting interplay, shifting dynamics, and deep improvisational synergy, from explosive full-throttle exchanges to nuanced explorations of timbre and structure.

Brotzmann / Swell / Nilssen-Love: Live in Copenhagen (Not Two)

Captured live at Copenhagen's Jazzhouse in 2016, the explosive trio of Peter Brötzmann on saxophone & clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums & percussion delivers a high-intensity set, opening with the fiery 30-minute "Copenhagen Maneuvers" and continuing through shorter pieces that demonstrate their raw power, deep improvisational synergy, and relentless momentum.

Williams, Mars / Vasco Trilla: Awakening Nature From Her Dream (Live In Barcelona) (Not Two)

A powerful 2019 live performance from Barcelona between legendary multi-reedist Mars Williams and boundary-pushing percussionist Vasco Trilla, unfolding from introspective explorations into bursts of intricate and energetic free jazz, as Williams' array of saxophones and toys meets Trilla's rich palette of percussion in an electrifying exchange.

Williams, Mars / Vasco Trilla: Critical Mass (Not Two)

The second release from the duo of Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla and Chicago reedist Mars Williams, the latter performing both on reeds and on toy instruments, each using extraordinary and extended technique to create exotically energetic conversations and beautifully meditative environments, in five creative, playful and impressively informed dialogs.

Williams, Mars / Vasco Trilla: Spiracle (Not Two)

A truly unique duo album of sax and drums from Chicago reedist Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla, using their immense technical skills to pivot reflective and meditative playing around exuberant free jazz spirit, maintaining a sense of journey and sonic introspection through unusual and extended technique; a beautifully balanced album.

Frith, Fred / Shelley Burgon: The Life and Behavior (Relative Pitch)

A compelling collaboration between guitarist Fred Frith and innovative harpist Shelley Burgon — known for her work with Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn, and Okkyung Lee — in a series of concise and precise improvisations recorded in Oakland, CA, in 2002 and 2005, as Burgon blends seamlessly with Frith's acoustic guitar to create seemingly telepathic synchronicity and an expansive sonic palette.

Lopez, Brandon Septet: nada sagrada (Relative Pitch)

An intense performance led by bassist Brandon Lopez, recorded live at Roulette during the 2023 Vision Festival, blending deep listening and collective spirit in a dynamic, politically charged composition featuring Zeena Parkins (electric harp), Mat Maneri (viola), Cecilia Lopez (electronics), DoYeon Kim (gayageum), and drummers Gerald Cleaver &Tom Rainey, propelling intricate textures and ritualistic intensity.

Hobbs and Shanko: The Depression Tapes (Relative Pitch)

Alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs and bassist Timo Shanko, co-founders of the Fully Celebrated Orchestra, present their first duo recording, nine improvisations recorded in the studio in Massachusetts, expressing their three-decade synergy through intimate, exploratory playing that blends passionate and deep-seated melodic interplay with free jazz elements and a strong sense of the blues.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 20, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Mars Williams/Vasco Trilla -Awakening Nature From Her Dream (Live In Barcelona) [CD] (Not Two)
Fred Frith/Shelley Burgon -The Life and Behavior [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Brandon Lopez Septet -nada sagrada [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Hobbs and Shanko -The Depression Tapes [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Painkiller -The Equinox [CD] (Tzadik)
dustsceawung -dustsceawung [CASSETTE w/ Download] (Eh?)
Rutger Zuydervelt -Microtopia (Original Game Score) [CD] (Machinefabriek)
Simulacrum -Shadows [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Expanse -Attenuations [CDR] (Evil Clown)

February 20, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Fujii, Satoko Quartet (w/ Tamura / Takeharu / Yoshida) - Dog Days of Summer (Libra) by Andrey Henkin.

February 18, 2025: New @ Squidco:
John Zorn/Mary Halvorson Quartet -The Bagatelles Vol. 1 [CD] (Tzadik)
John Zorn/Erik Friedlander/Michael Nicolas -The Bagatelles Vol. 2 [CD] (Tzadik)
Peter Brotzmann/Steve Swell/Paal Nilssen-Love -Krakow Nights [CD] (Not Two)
Brotzmann/Swell/Nilssen-Love -Live in Copenhagen [CD] (Not Two)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Trop D'Adrenaline Nuit [CD] (GRRR)
Helene Sage -Les Araignees [CD] (GRRR)
Ellen Christi/Fiorenzo Sordini Quintet -A Piece of the Rock [CD] (Splasc(h))
Ellen Christi/Yuko Fujiyama/Masahiko Kono/Mauro Orselli -Reconstruction Of Sound [CD] (Network)
Machinefabriek -Omval [CD] (Flag Day Recordings)

February 18, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Borca / R. Brown / W. Parker / Workman / Nicholson / Murphy / Ibarra / Taylor-Baker - Good News Blues (NoBusiness Records) by Nick Ostrum.

The week began with a rush of activity from our Distribution Price Sale, one of the fastest-moving sales we've had in a while. Many thanks to those who helped us right-size our catalog while picking up great music at extraordinary prices. As anyone following the state of record stores in the modern age knows, maintaining tight inventory control is essential, and your purchases enable us to continue bringing in compelling new albums.

In that spirit, we've partnered with the Victo label to offer a 20% discount on their latest 21 albums in a sale running through the next week. Les Disques Victo, the recording arm of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV), has documented some of the most fascinating live performances for nearly 40 years, beginning with a duo album from Anthony Braxton and Derek Bailey. That innovative collaboration set the foundation for a label that has embraced a wide range of styles, capturing some of the festival's most remarkable concerts over the decades.

We've enjoyed a strong relationship with the label throughout Squidco's own 21-year history, and my conversations with festival and label founder Michel Levasseur have always been insightful and engaging. In recent years, both the label and festival have faced significant challenges, and this sale helps support their continued efforts in presenting and releasing some of the most vital music in the creative and contemporary realms.

While I don't speak French, this documentary on Levasseur is a fitting tribute to his decades of work. Even if you don't understand the language, skimming through the video offers a great visual overview of his accomplishments. You can watch it at the link below:

"A bold and determined visionary: that aptly describes Michel Levasseur, the man behind the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV), which he co-founded and directed for 40 years.

It took audacity and vision to create in 1983 an "international festival of crazy music"-as Richard Desjardins once said-dedicated to "Martian music" (as music critic Alain Brunet once wrote). Beyond the joke, these expressions perfectly illustrate not only Michel Levasseur's desire to go toward the "never heard before" to introduce avant-garde music to the Quebec public, but also the talent it took to do so.

Another great merit of the event's general and artistic director was to last, despite the uncertainty of subsidies and political support, in a musical niche that was not very "mainstream", all in a city located far from major centers. Having left the direction of the festival in 2024, Michel has since received the Hommage du GalArt 2023 award (along with his partner, Joanne Vézina) as well as the Hommage award presented at the 28th Gala des Prix Opus of the Conseil québécois de la musique in 2025."-Tele-Quebec

This week also brought a great selection of new albums, including four Tzadik releases. The distributor for Tzadik experienced shipping issues with the two Bagatelles Volumes and the new Painkiller album, so we only received them yesterday-but they are now in stock and ready to ship. We did, however, receive the excellent collection of John Zorn's eight string quartets, as interpreted by JACK Quartet, in time for this week's mailing list.

Other exciting releases include a remarkable album from the late Dennis Palmer-half of Shaking Ray Levis-in an unusual and compelling work featuring luminaries Col. Bruce Hampton, Frank Pahl, and Jessica Lurie. From the UK Discus label, we have two outstanding albums: one from Guy Seger (Univers Zero) and his Eclectic Maybe Band, a genre-blurring exploration, and a uniquely orchestrated Paul Dunmall ensemble album.

Zorn, John / JACK Quartet: The Complete String Quartets [2 CDs] (Tzadik)

The JACK Quartet presents definitive interpretations of John Zorn's eight string quartets, composed between 1988-2017, in a two-disc album presenting Zorn's evolution through avant-garde techniques and deep musical traditions, with virtuosic performances of intricate works like "Cat O'Nine Tails", "Memento Mori", or "Necronomicon"; includes a 36-page booklet of notes, scores, and insights.

Palmer, Dennis (Palmer / Lurie / Pahl / Hampton / Stagner): White Wuff (Public Eyesore)

Uniting members of the Shaking Ray Levis with luminaries including Bob Stagner (Palmer's SRL cohort), Jessica Lurie, Frank Pahl, and Col. Bruce Hampton, this final album from Dennis Palmer captures his fearless spirit in an eclectic fusion of free improvisation, surreal storytelling, and genre-bending instrumentation, traversing rock, jazz, sound collage, and absurdist experimentation.

Eclectic Maybe Band: Cosmic Light Clusters (Discus)

Guy Segers (Univers Zero) in his 5th expansive EMBand project, assembling an ensemble of progressive and avant-garde musicians in ever-shifting configurations, for an album that evolves from introspective and textural atmospheres to dynamic and complex sonic landscapes, incorporating voices, poetry, and intricate instrumental interplay; a compelling example of Europe's progressive music scene.

Dunmall, Paul: Red Hot Ice (Discus)

A unique entry in Paul Dunmall's discography, this album presents a 9-piece Birmingham-based ensemble with dual keyboards and electronics, evoking Dunmall's compositions and orchestrations into vibrant, groove-driven improvisation that shifts between cinematic atmospheres, fiery free jazz, and unexpected nods to rock, balancing tightly composed sections with exhilarating exploration.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 13, 2025: New @ Squidco:
John Zorn/JACK Quartet -The Complete String Quartets [2 CDs] (Tzadik)
Dennis Palmer (Palmer/Lurie/Pahl/Hampton/Stagner) -White Wuff [CD] (Public Eyesore)
Carlos Zingaro/Joao Madeira/Sofia Borges -Trizmaris [CD] (4DaRecord)
Joao Madeira/Margarida Mestre -Voz Debaixo [CD] (4DaRecord)
Halls of the Machine -Atmospheres For Lovers And Sleepers [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Copy This!)
Rutger Zuydervelt -Meander [CDR] (Machinefabriek)
Birge & Vitet -Carton [CD] (GRRR)
Perturbations -Equilibrium Disturbed [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Leap Of Faith -Lexical and Syntactic Ambiguities [CDR] (Evil Clown)

February 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Leo Genovese - Forward (577 Records) by Andrey Henkin.

February 11, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Paul Dunmall -Red Hot Ice [CD] (Discus)
Eclectic Maybe Band -Cosmic Light Clusters [CD] (Discus)
Heikki Ruokangas -Live In New York [CD] (Right Brain Records)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Kind Lieder [CD] (GRRR)
Jean-Jacques Birge -Centenaire De Jean-Jacques Birge - The 100th Anniversary (1952​-​2052) [CD] (GRRR)
Houser/Jacques/Montiel/Salinas/Weathers -Light Flies Out of Us [CD] (Editions Glomar)
Andrew Weathers -Two Recordings [CD] (Editions Glomar)
TOC/Paulina Owczarek -Psychedelic Jelly [VINYL] (Tour de Bras)
Kesherul Neg Pineg -The Book Of Pig [VINYL] (Tour de Bras)

February 11, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Rhodri Davies / Pierre Gerard - la montagne change le paysage (Ftarri) by Brian Olewnick.

February 10, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Coltrane Quartet - Impressions From Graz 1962, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by John Eyles.

February 6, 2026: New @ Squidco:
Sophie Lussi/Sandra Weiss/Fridolin Blumer/Andreas Wettstein -Atlantic Puffin [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Steve Lacy Three -Live Lugano 1984 - First Visit [CD + 2 POSTCARDS] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Paul Bley Trio -Floater & Syndrome - The Upright Piano Sessions, Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Flying Luttenbachers, The -Losing the War Inside Our Heads [CD] (ugEXPLODE)
Flying Luttenbachers, The -Spectral Warrior Mythos 2 [CDR] (ugEXPLODE)
AHC (Alexander Cooper) -Lase [2 CDs] (Bu Lang Tribute Cake)
Ellen Christi (Christi/Buchanan/Ulrich/Parker/Brown) -Instant Reality [CD] (Network)
Ellen Christi/Claudio Lodati -Dreamers [CD] (Splasc(H) )
Turbulence -Wormholes [CDR] (Evil Clown)

February 6, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Brad Barrett / Taylor Ho Bynum / Joe Morris - Geologic Time (Fundacja Sluchaj Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

Since my last entry we watched the weather turn from freezing to temporate as we finished the orders from our Winter Sale. Thanks to our many customers for your enthusiastic response to the sale, we know that a lot of great music was spread around the globe for eager ears! It's been a brisk and busy start to the year proper, after the holidays, and we've been happily listening to and sending out some exceptional new releases.

Once the sale was done I did all the tasks I complete at the end of each month and quarter, sending our reports and payments for our consignment and fulfillment partners. I'm always happy about the great relationships we have with our partners, which reflects the commitment artists and labels have to the music they release.

At the end of last week we restarted our performance series here in Wilmington, focused on local experimental, electronic and improvising artists. With four performances and an audience interaction work loosely based on concepts borrowed from John Cage, the evening was a great success. I performed a live version of a piece you can hear on my Soundcloud Page, and our own Carl Kruger also performed. It's been two years since we last had a concert, having lost momentum during the lockdowns, so it felt good to perform.

The rest of the week was spent restocking from the sale and setting up some new albums that will arrive on our site in the next few weeks. A few have arrived already and in process - in particular, we have some new Flying Luttenbacher albums that will show up later this week, three new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. which are already available for order and will be included in this weekend's mailing list. Two Discus titles should arrive in the next week, a new Paul Dunmall album, and the lastest Eclectic Maybe Band release.

We also have a stack of new albums from vocalist Ellen Christi, and new albums on Andrew Weather's Glomar label; we will be adding a number of titles from the Full Spectrum label very soon as well. The John Zorn album with Jack Quartet on Tzadik is also coming our way, and on Mahakala the new Booker T & The Plasmic Bleeds. And certainly not least, Not Two has just released three new albums that are on their way to us: Tim Daisy & Ken Vandermark; Mars Williams & Vasco Trilla; and Natsuki Tamura, Satoko Fujii & Ramon Lopez.

As always, you can use our Upcoming Release page to ask us to email you when any of these are in stock and ready to ship.

As Libra and Magaibutsu Collide:

Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura, who run the Libra label, have been on a roll lately with new releases. The aforementioned Not Two album with Ramon Lopez will join three new release, each of a distinctive character.

First is trumpeter Natsuki Tamura's duo with Keiji Haino, a first meeting in a live concert. Both of these players have a long history, including some very unusual and exciting approaches to their instruments and to vocalization. This meeting was a wild affair that builds in passion and recedes in introspection, at times a burning fire of tightly controlled expression. At the end of the album I found myself at the end of an emotional journey with some of the strangest sign posts along the way!

Next is Satoko Fujii's GEN String Ensemble, her frist composition for strings. She wrote the suite for the musicians she was to perform with, inspired by the Nagano, Japan mountain views while on a trip with her family. Fujii explains that some of her interest in the compositions were drawn from the microtonal capabilities of string instruments, and the violin and viola work is wonderfully slippery and compelling. The suite embraces classic approaches to composition with an ear to the sonic environment the players evoke, punctuated by the deep percussion of Akira Horikashi, or accompanied by the rich electronics of experimental violinist Atsuko Hatano. Beautiful.

The third album comes from the increasingly frequent pairing of Magaibutsu leader, drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, in a trio with Libra leaders and husband & wife pair, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura. The trio is named for a mischievous demon from Japanse folklore, Amanojaku. The name is fitting, as all three are adept at adding capricious moments to their playing.

Haino, Keiji / Natsuki Tamura: What Happened There? (Libra)

An electrifying 1st-time meeting between guitarist Keiji Haino and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, captured live at Tokyo's Shinjuku Pit Inn, where the duo shape an unpredictable set that veers from reflective stillness to wildly passionate outbursts, their extended techniques and visceral vocals — sometimes urgent, sometimes outrageous — fueling an exhilarating and uncompromising sonic adventure.

Fujii, Satoko GEN String Ensemble: Altitude 1100 Meters (Libra)

Celebrating her 65th birthday with her first compositions for strings, pianist-composer Satoko Fujii writes for the specific musicians of GEN, a sextet of violin, viola, bass, piano, electronics, and drums, in a suite inspired by Nagano's mountain views, leveraging microtonal string techniques for an expressive and texturally rich sonic landscape.

Amanojaku (Yoshida / Fujii / Tamura): Bishamonten (Magaibutsu)

Emerging from an improv session during the pandemic, Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Satoko Fujii (piano), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) formed Amanojaku, named after the contrarian demon of Japanese folklore, embracing a balance of composition, improv and mischievous interplay with a uniquely Japanese sensibility through virtuosic spontaneity and irreverent humor, captured live at Koen-dori Classics.

In Defense of Physical Albums:

I've read several times a book by Michael Pollan titled In Defense of Food, which argues persuasively that we should eat "real" food, not heavily processed food. Lately, I've been thinking about physical media and the arguments "in defense of physical media."

Over the last couple of decades, pressing sizes for most physical albums have diminished to small numbers. The heyday of pressing hundreds of alternative jazz albums no longer makes sense, and the distribution channels, i.e., record stores, have diminished as well. People are fascinated with the digital realm, and music has followed through streaming and download services. Some of these streaming services have replaced radio, enabling companies to make money through a mix of advertising and subscription fees, while paying most artists very little for their contributions. I personally find that reprehensible, but it fits for those who prefer to have their listening decisions made for them with little effort.

Meanwhile, services like Bandcamp offer streaming, downloads, and a sales system for physical media. This is a happy medium, allowing more self-direction for people actively pursuing new music. And, of course, there are still physical record stores like ours that provide both information and an opportunity to hear samples from an album while appreciating the artwork. We also spend a great deal of time researching and providing biographies for the artists on each album, helping our customers connect and link to other albums featuring those same artists.

But what of physical media? In the digital age, is there a reason to collect physical releases instead of simply downloading them?

The parallel is, of course, physical traditional art — painting, sculpture, installation, etc. These are enduring examples of an artist's work, tangible items that represent their vision. While it's fine to look at a photo of a piece of artwork, there is no comparison to experiencing the physical, three-dimensional item in person. The same applies to albums. While digital files provide convenience, they cannot replicate the tactile and visual experience of holding an album in your hands, admiring its design, and feeling its weight as a physical object.

While some are willing to pay for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or crypto-art, serious collectors often view these as speculative assets with little intrinsic value. Physical media, on the other hand, offers a tangible manifestation of artistic effort — a true object of art that persists over time.

The result of digital deployment of albums is that each physically pressed album becomes more precious. It is a tangible result of the hard work and creative impulse of the artists involved. Each album you hold in your hand is a manifestation of this effort, with an impact on culture, and a physical appeal that remains as strong as ever. In fact, as pressing sizes shrink and physical releases become rarer, they are more valuable than ever as true objects of art!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 3, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Keiji Haino/Natsuki Tamura -What Happened There? [CD] (Libra)
Satoko Fujii GEN String Ensemble -Altitude 1100 Meters [CD] (Libra)
Amanojaku (Yoshida/Fujii/Tamura) -Bishamonten [CD] (Magaibutsu)
Stian Larsen/Colin Webster/Ruth Goller/Andrew Lisle -Temple of Muses [CD] (Relative Pitch)
MARANATA (Wesseltoft/Stiberg/Escalante) -Ugly Euphoria [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Allan Zane/Carl Kruger -Model Collapse [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Various Artists -Evil Clown Shorties Volume 4 (2024) [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Various Artists -Sarajevo (Suite) [CD] (L'Empreinte Digitale)
Un Drame Musical Instantane -Qui Vive? [CD] (GRRR)

February 4, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Colin Andrew Sheffield - Moments Lost (Sublime Retreat) by Brian Olewnick.

February 3, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Luc Houtkamp / Alex Maguire - At Khoen's (FMR) by John Eyles.

January 28, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Lotte Anker/Kamil Piotrowicz/Jacob Anderskov -Antiworld I [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Leandre/Lotte Anker/Kersten Osgood -Worlds [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Sophie Agnel/John Butcher -RARE [CD] (Les Disques Victo)
Alexandra Grimal /Giovanni Di Domenico -Shakkei [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Brandon Lopez/DoYeon Kim -Syzygy, Vol. 1 [CDR] (577 Records)
Francois Tusques/Sunny Murray 38 -Intercommunal Dialogue 1&2 [2LPS w/ DOWNLOAD] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Jason Kahn/Magda Mayas -Night [CD] (Editions)
Jean-Jacques Birge -Pique-nique Au Labo [2 CDs] (GRRR)
Metal Chaos Ensemble -A Great Python Spews Venomous Kerosene Upon the World [CDR] (Evil Clown)

January 28, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Butcher / Florian Stoffner / Chris Corsano - The Glass Changes Shape (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.

January 27, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Butcher / Thomas Lehn / John Tilbury - Lights (Fataka) by John Eyles.

What a strange week we've just experienced! Following an unprecedented and somewhat disquieting presidential return to power, we witnessed the U.S. West Coast engulfed in flames while the East Coast froze. It feels as if Mother Nature herself is commenting on the divisive nature of the world, balancing fire and ice to the concern of us all! Here in Wilmington, we endured an historic snowstorm that brought the city to a standstill. As a southern city unprepared for more than a rare flurry, several inches of snow were enough to shut down daily life, including Squidco, for two days due to unsafe driving conditions.

The weather disrupted our schedule considerably, halting deliveries and preventing us from reaching the office to prepare a proper mailing list. This setback also affects our budget. For those who follow the ups and downs of independent record stores, you know how challenging this business can be! To get back on track (unlike the icy tracks on the road I cautiously avoided this morning), we've decided to launch a Winter Sale for our customers.

This sale includes all new albums and items in our store, including the new albums we were working on for this week's mailing list. Highlights include:

• An extraordinary live duo album recorded at the Victoriaville Festival featuring John Butcher and Sophie Agnel.
• A trio album with John Butcher, Phil Durrant, and Mark Wastell on Confront.
• The latest from Relative Pitch, including an exquisite duo between Alexandra Grimal and Giovanni Di Domenico.
• John Dikeman's expressive composition, "Old Adam on Turtle Island," performed with Sun-Mi Hong, Aaron Lumley, and Marta Warelis.
• The second album from the studio sessions between Peter Brötzmann and Paal Nilssen-Love, Butterfly Mushroom.
• An incredible duo between long-time collaborators Alexander von Schlippenbach and Dag Magnus Narvesen, KAIROS.

We hope you'll take advantage of this sale to explore these remarkable releases and help support our store as we navigate these unusual times. Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

Agnel, Sophie / John Butcher: RARE (Les Disques Victo)

Extraordinary and masterful performers Sophie Agnel (piano) and John Butcher (soprano & tenor saxophones) present a live recording from the 40th International Festival of Current Music in Victoriaville, Canada, featuring five improvised pieces that highlight their exceptional interplay and collective discovery of new musical forms while exploring the boundaries of free improvisation.

Butcher / Durrant / Wastell: Around the Square, Above the Hill (Confront)

Two 2024 sessions from the free improvising trio of John Butcher (tenor and soprano saxophones), Phil Durrant (electric mandolin and electronics), and Mark Wastell (drums and percussion): the two-part dialog "Around", recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club, and the four-part collective improvisation "Above", captured at The Rose Hill in Brighton, UK.

Dikeman, John / Sun-Mi Hong / Aaron Lumley / Marta Warelis: Old Adam on Turtle Island (Relative Pitch)

Saxophonist John Dikeman composed this diverse and expressively lyrical song cycle reflecting on colonization, and the double edged sword of religion which can lead to transcendence or tyranny, recorded in Amsterdam in a quartet with Marta Warelis on piano, Aaron Lumley on bass and Sun on Mi Hong on drums, presented in two extended improvisations.

Grimal, Alexandra / Giovanni Di Domenico: Shakkei (Relative Pitch)

Five duets inspired by the Japanese concept of borrowed scenery (Shakkei (借景)) — integrating background landscapes into the design of a garden — are exquisitely realized in these spiritual and introspective performances, from the 20-year collaboration between French saxophonist Alexandra Grimal (tenor and soprano) and Italian pianist-organist Giovanni Di Domenico.

Brotzmann, Peter / Paal Nilssen-Love: Butterfly Mushroom (Trost Records)

The 2nd volume following Chicken Shit Bingo from a two-day 2015 studio session in Antwerp, capturing the deep rapport and evolving artistry of multi-reedist Peter Brötzmann and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love through eight powerful and explorative improvisations, reflecting their nearly two-decade collaboration as they experiment with new instruments and demonstrate profound musical expression.

Brotzmann, Peter / Paal Nilssen-Love: Butterfly Mushroom [VINYL] (Trost Records)

Vinyl Edition

Schlippenbach, Alexander von / Daag Magnus Narvesen Duo: KAIROS (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Marking their decade-long collaboration, pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and drummer Dag Magnus Narvesen present a dynamic dialogue of free jazz and structured improvisation, blending generational and cultural perspectives into deeply focused and evolving musical narratives, where melodies and rhythmic patterns unfold organically through collective discipline and creativity.

Next week we'll return with our usual mailing list. If you're in the Wilmington, NC area, come out on Thursday, January 30 to Barzarre where Squidco restarts our Hooked on Sonics experimental/improv sound series! Meanwhile, take advantage of the sale prices this weekend to pick up these new releases, and to dig through our catalog for other fascinating albums from our catalog of 6,000 in-stock new albums!

Squidco's local experimental sound series Hooked on Sonics is restarting with a vengeance this year, with twelve performances planned as monthly events at the local bar and hangout, BarZarre. For those in the region, you can read more about our first event at Facebook Event Listing.

I will be performing as my project CHANGES TO blind, as will Carl Kruger, bringing Squidco sound into the Wilmington night air. Please join us if you're in the area!

January 21, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Joke Lanz/Dieb13 -Musical Education [CD] (Klanggalerie)
John Dikeman/Sun-Mi Hong/Aaron Lumley/Marta Warelis -Old Adam on Turtle Island [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Alexander Schlippenbach von/Daag Magnus Narvesen Duo -KAIROS [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Joe Fonda/Bass of Operation -w/ Rabinovitz/Lederer/Sorgen [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Butcher/Durrant/Wastell -Around the Square, Above the Hill [CDR] (Confront)
Peter Brotzmann/Paal Nilssen-Love -Butterfly Mushroom [CD] (Trost Records)
Peter Brotzmann/Paal Nilssen-Love -Butterfly Mushroom [VINYL] (Trost Records)
ES Trio (Steyer/Kwan /Zerang) -The Foreign In Us [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Clifford Allen -Singularity Codex: Matthew Shipp On Rogueart [BOOK] (RogueArt)
El Strom -Long Time No Sea [CD] (GRRR)
Expanse Percussion Edition -Clang-A-Thon Fantastique [CDR] (Evil Clown)

January 21, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Jean-Marc Foussat / Daunik Lazro - Trente-Cinq Minutes & Vingt-Trois Secondes (Fou Records) by Massimo Ricci.

January 20, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Marta Warelis / Andy Moor - Escape (Relative Pitch Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

For my ears, this has been an incredible week of new music. With our mid-country city in the grip of cold weather, staying indoors and listening has been a joy. The highlight of the week is a trio of box sets released by the Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) label, celebrating three masterful and influential European improvisers.

First among these is the Agustí Fernández box set, marking his 70th birthday. I spent time reading interviews with Fernández, learning about his experiences living in various parts of Europe and the US as a young man and the diverse influences he encountered. His wide-ranging approach to performance, remarkable technical skill, and inventive use of the piano — both inside and out — are on full display. Known for his preference for small group collaborations, the set captures phenomenal concerts with luminaries like Barry Guy, John Butcher, Liudas Mockunas, and others.

The second release is a stunning 8-panel foldout package celebrating Zlatko Kaučič's 70th birthday. It features performances with Agustí Fernández, Barry Guy, Axel Dörner, Rodrigo Amado, and more. Kaučič is an innovative drummer and percussionist whose playing is endlessly fascinating, commanding intense and focused listening. These festival recordings are thrilling and utterly compelling, showcasing his persistent creativity.

Finally, the third box set comes from Ictus label founder and influential composer Andrea Centazzo, commemorating 50 years of performances. Recorded at Milan's Teatro Out Off, this 4-CD set brings together a large ensemble of European and American performers to interpret Centazzo's compositions. Standout members of the ensemble include Elliott Sharp, Vasco Trilla, Steve Hubback, Steve Swell, and Sergio Armaroli. Each of the four nights presents unique and expansive concerts, including a remarkable 28-minute reference to Soft Machine's "Moon in June."

Fernandez, Agusti feat. Barry Guy, Don Malfon, John Butcher, Jordina Milla, Liudas Mockunas, Lucia Martinez, Torben Snekkestad, Zlatko Kaucic: Agusti Fernandez @70 - Aesthetic Of Prisms. [7 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Honoring Agustí Fernández's 70th birthday, this 7-CD box set captures his innovative artistry through live and studio collaborations with performers including Barry Guy, John Butcher, Lucía Martínez, &c., recorded across global venues, showcasing his mastery of the piano, free improvisation, and profound creative dialogue with fellow improvisers.

Kaucic, Zlatko (Kaucic / Amado / Dorner / Grom / Guy / Fernandez / Snekkestad): INKLINGS [4 CD BOX SET] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Marking drummer/percussionist Zlatko Kaučič's 70th birthday, this 4-CD set presents his collaborations with luminaries including Torben Snekkestad, Axel Dörner, Rodrigo Amado, Barry Guy, and Agustí Fernández, blending intimate and transformative improvisations recorded across Slovenian festivals, showcasing Kaučič's mastery and the profound synergy of these exceptional ensembles.

Centazzo, Andrea: Ictus@45 - Out Off Nights [4 CD BOX SET] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Celebrating 50 years of Andrea Centazzo's career and 45 years of ICTUS Records, this 4-CD set documents concerts over four nights at Milan's Teatro Out Off, vibrant sets of improvisation uniting global luminaries like Elliott Sharp, Ellen Burr, and Steve Swell in a boundary-pushing exploration of ICTUS's legacy and Centazzo's innovative artistry.

Out of Your Head Records has released Yikes, a single LP, and Yikes Too, a double CD, presenting new work from Tim Berne's trio. The double CD features Berne on alto saxophone, drummer Tom Rainey, and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi, in both studio and live settings, while the LP focuses exclusively on the studio recordings. The compositions are primarily Berne's, with one by his mentor, Julius Hemphill.

What has always drawn me to Tim Berne's music is his masterful use of structure, no matter how abstract or unconventional it may be. Berne hails from an older school of free improvisation that embraces melody while often turning it on its side. His compositions are unmistakably his own, marked by their rhythmic playfulness and the dynamic interplay they foster among his collaborators. These compositions consistently yield unexpected improvisational outcomes while maintaining a sense of coherence for the listener.

I first discovered Berne through Fulton Street Maul, a release that earned significant attention for a then-unknown young talent. Decades later, the same core elements remain captivating in his music, now enriched by modern influences, his exceptional sidemen, and his own ever-evolving brilliance as a player.

Berne, Tim (w/ Tom Rainey / Gregg Belisle-Chi): Yikes Too [2 CDs] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Highlighting the profound skill and musical connection of alto saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Tom Rainey, and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi, in a captivating journey through meticulously composed pieces, dynamic improvisation, and structured arrangements of spontaneous creativity, across 2 CDs contrasting live and studio recordings that emphasize their exploratory artistry and evolution within creative jazz.

Berne, Tim (w/ Rainey / Belisle-Chi): Yikes [VINYL] (Screwgun/Out Of Your Head Records)

Vinyl release of the studio recordings from the Compact Disc listed above.

Postal Increases:

Just a note to let you know that the US Post Office is at it again, raising postal rates for the new year. We've been told that US Media Mail rates will remain the same, but US and International 1st Class rates have increased 5%, and we've raised our rates the same 5%. It's staggering to me that postal rates continue to increase while the cost of music CDs has stayed relatively static, making the cost of international shipping for a new CD often more expensive than the CD itself! We recommend all international customers use our International Economy shipping method to save on the expense, which provides tracking and reliable delivery using your own country's postal service.

YOu can read about our detailed shipping rates here.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 16, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Agusti Fernandez feat. Barry Guy, Don Malfon, John Butcher, Jordina Milla, Liudas Mockunas, Lucia Martinez, Torben Snekkestad, Zlatko Kaucic -Agusti Fernandez @70 - Aesthetic Of Prisms. [7 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Zlatko Kaucic (Kaucic/Amado/Dorner/Grom/Guy/Fernandez/Snekkestad) -INKLINGS [4 CD BOX SET] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Andrea Centazzo -Ictus@45 - Out Off Nights [4 CD BOX SET] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Painkiller (Harris/Laswell/Zorn) -Samsara [CD] (Tzadik)
Sun & Rain (Morgan/Laplante/Smiley/Nazary) -Waterfall [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Giacomo Merega/Joe Morris -Opus Dichotomous [CD] (Infrequent Seams Records)
Jason Kahn -Every Hand Is Lunatic That Travels on the Moon [CD] (Editions)
Sun Ra -Lanquidity (DELUXE EDITION) [VINYL] (STRUT)

January 16, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Ruben Turba / Minami Saeki - The Gift (Editions Wandelweiser) by Brian Olewnick.

January 14, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Tim Berne (w/ Tom Rainey/Gregg Belisle-Chi) -Yikes Too [2 CDs] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Tim Berne (w/ Rainey/Belisle-Chi) -Yikes [VINYL] (Screwgun/Out Of Your Head Records)
Michael Sarian/Matthew Putman/Ledian Mola/Federico Ughi -The Sea, The Space, and Egypt, Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)
Michael Sarian/Matthew Putman/Ledian Mola/Federico Ughi -The Sea, The Space, and Egypt, Vol. 1 [CDR] (577 Records)
Trance Map (Evan Parker/Matthew Wright) -Horizons Held Close [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Udo Schindler/Paul Rogers -Ephemeral Locations [CDR] (Confront)
Chuck Roth -Document 1 [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Jean-Jacques Birge -Animal Opera [CD] (GRRR)
Neurodivergent -Stigma [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Various artists -Evil Clown Shorties, Vol. 3 (2024) [CDR] (Evil Clown)

January 14, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Ingrid Laubrock - Monochromes (Intakt Records) by John Eyles.

January 13, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: BassDrumBone (Hemingway / Helias / Anderson) - Afternoon (Auricle) by Andrey Henkin.

As the year came to a close, we Squids experienced a flurry of activity before taking a breather during the holiday-packed final weeks, which made our publishing schedule a bit challenging. Last week, we eased back into a semi-normal routine with our mailing list, and this week marks our full return to the usual schedule. While the political and social landscape remains far from normal, we're energized by extraordinary new releases that are propelling us into the new year.

New releases that have been in rotation for my personal listening have come from Confront Records, particularly the wildly exotic Ensemble A release the trio of Schick, Tuerlinckx, Zoepf and the excellent Wunderkammer LP from Jan Bang, Michael Francis Duch, Erik Honore, David Toop and Mark Wastell; it's been a while since we had an album from Jan Bang in our catalog, the last being the 2022 Confront album Compound Full Of Bones, Translucent Thousands, and before that on David Sylvian's Samadhi label, so it's great to hear his contribution in such a sophisticated ensemble.

Bang / Duch / Honore / Toop / Wastell: Wunderkammer [VINYL] (Confront)

A collaborative tribute to Nordic poet Nils Christian Moe-Repstad (1972-2022), Wunderkammer blends live recordings from Punkt Festival 2023 with Moe-Repstad's 2014 voice recordings, as Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Michael Francis Duch, David Toop, and Mark Wastell weave a spectral and meditative ea-improv work of minimalism, poetic tension, and reverent sonic exploration.

Hubbard, Nathan / Kyle Motl: Obsidian (Confront)

Recording live in the studio in San Diego, percussionist Nathan Hubbard and double bassist Kyle Motl engage in four fascinating duets of improvised music, blending extended techniques and unconventional approaches to their instruments to evoke richly textured, unpredictable, and exploratory performances that push the boundaries of traditional bass-and-drum interplay.

Schick / Tuerlinckx / Zoepf: Ensemble A (Confront)

Recorded live in Kassel and Cologne, Germany, in May 2023, turntablist Ignaz Schick, prepared pianist Anaďs Tuerlinckx, and bass clarinetist/soprano saxophonist Joachim Zoepf deliver two wild and extended electroacoustic improvisations, blending tactile textures, dynamic interplay, and outside approaches to redefine the sonic possibilities of their respective instruments.

Bang, Jan / David Toop / Mark Wastell: Compound Full Of Bones, Translucent Thousands (Confront)

An extended improvisation interweaving acoustic and electronic instruments in a beautifully coherent evolution of mysterious and approachable sources, from the trio of Jan Bang, David Toop and Mark Wastell, combining tam tams, gongs, flutes, lapsteel, live sampling, gongs, brushes, elastic, paper and more to captivate the curious listener.

We also picked up a great set of LP from the Luxembourg NI-VU-NI-CONNU label, with two albums from Jon Butcher, a duo between Kai Fagaschinski and Yan Jun, and a 3-LP set of duos from Burkhard Beins with illustrious improvisers including Axel Dorner, Andrea Neumann, Anais Tuerlinckx, &c. If you're not familiar with NI-VU-NI-CONNU's pressing, they are of remarkable quality in their packaging, with care and attention to detail in every aspect of each release.

Beins, Burkhard (w/ Dorner / Elieh / Ermke / Neumann / Renkel / Tuerlinckx / Zapparoli): Eight Duos [3 LPs] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

Showcasing Burkhard Beins's versatile approach to collaboration, this 3-LP set recorded at Morphine Raum presents eight duo performances featuring partners such as Andrea Neumann, Axel Dörner, and Marta Zapparoli, blending acoustic and electronic instruments in conceptual explorations that range from the percussive "Expansion" to the dynamic "Transmission," reflecting Beins's broad artistic spectrum.

Butcher / Davies / Sanders / Thomas: Lower Marsh [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

Recorded across two sessions at London's now-closed Iklectik, named for its Lambeth Marsh location, saxophonist John Butcher performs in duos and small groups with Angharad Davies on violin, Mark Sanders on percussion, Pat Thomas on electronics, and John Edwards on double bass, crafting remarkable acoustic and electroacoustic improvisations that honor the venue's legacy.

Butcher / Davies / Sanders / Thomas: Unlockings [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

Recorded live at Iklectik in London, saxophonist John Butcher on soprano and tenor leads an ensemble of Angharad Davies on violin, Mark Sanders on percussion, and Pat Thomas on electronics, iPad, and samples in four open, exploratory electroacoustic improvisations that reflect a post-lockdown freedom and Butcher's ethos of spontaneity and personal expression in creative music-making.

We also caught up with Relative Pitch Records, with another set of albums that will be hot on the heels of this set. Highlights for me are the quartet of Zeena Parkins, Chris Brown, William Winant, Ben Davis, Scree, guitarist Luciana Bass' solo album of inventive improv, Desatornillandonos, and the duo of Sophie Agnel & Michael Zerang, Draw Bridge. Clayton Thomas released Sound the Alarm, an incredible ensemble of improvisers conducted by Thomas, in an album responding to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with all proceeds donated to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. New Relative Pitch albums, including the Trance Map release with Evan Parker and Matthew Wright, Horizons Held Close.

Sound the Alarm (Clayton Thomas + Ensemble): Sound the Alarm (Relative Pitch)

A powerful and socially driven project from a large ensemble founded by Clayton Thomas to musically and culturally respond to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, blending composed improvisation with collective human energy; recorded live on June 27, 2024, this performance stands as a sonic act of solidarity, reflection, and bearing witness, with all proceeds donated to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Agnel, Sophie / Michael Zerang: Draw Bridge (Relative Pitch)

French classically trained pianist Sophie Agnel and percussionist Michael Zerang explore unconventional techniques in nine captivating improvisations recorded at Chicago's Experimental Sound Studio, blending Agnel's prepared and extended piano methods with Zerang's nuanced percussion to create a strikingly compatible and dynamic sonic dialogue.

Bass, Luciana: Desatornillandonos (Relative Pitch)

With a title roughly translating to "Unscrewed", Argentinian guitarist Luciana Bass dismantles and loosens the bolts on conventional boundaries, blending blues and abstract improvisation in a journey marked by melodic passion and adventurous sonic exploration, crafting a vivid interplay between embraceable beauty and strikingly unexpected contrasts.

Parkins, Zeena / Chris Brown / William Winant / Ben Davis: Scree (Relative Pitch)

Recording in the Mills College Concert Hall in Oakland, the quartet of Zeena Parkins (harp), Chris Brown (piano and electronics), William Winant (percussion), and Ben Davis (cello) work in an ethereal mode of electro-acoustic improvisation, drawing unconventional sounds from their instruments as they weave a virtuosic and intricately creative sonic tapestry evoking the rugged unpredictability of the album's title.

We also started the cataloging process for the GRRR label from France, active since the early 1980s with genre-mashing albums from founder Jean-Jacques Birge, including Un Drame Musical Instantané, and impressive RIO-oriented bands like Pied De Poule or the work of Hélčne Sage. This is a new relationship for us, and we're just digging into the first set of albums we picked up, which have all been sophisticated, compelling and a twisted in all the right ways. We will be slowly cataloging these albums, 19 in all thus far, as we research the musicians involved and the background of each album.

Sage, Helene: Comme Une Image (GRRR)

A visionary 1989 release by French multi-instrumentalist and composer Hélčne Sage, this 14-track album blends electronic, modern classical, and experimental elements, featuring collaborations with Jean-Jacques Birgé and Bernard Vitet; surreal yet meticulously crafted, the album showcases Sage's eclectic style and innovative compositions in standout pieces like "L'invitation Au Voyage" and "Les Sept Merveilles Du Monde."

Pied De Poule: Indiscretion (GRRR)

Merging jazz, tango, waltz, blues, chanson, and contemporary vocal experimentation, Michčle Buirette (accordion), Genevičve Cabannes (double bass), and Dominique Fonfrčde (voice) craft an inventive and modern soundscape, combining traditional melodies with experimental techniques in an album that is melodic yet unpredictable, exploring themes with a blend of humor, depth, and originality.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Sous Les Mers (GRRR)

An adventurous and magical dive into the depths of sound by Un Drame Musical Instantané, blending the theatrical and the instrumental through the trio of Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé alongside an ensemble of performers, presenting a five-movement suite inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, ballet scenes, and cinematic miniatures.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: L'Hallali (GRRR)

Blending humor, drama, and inventive soundscapes, Un Drame Musical Instantané's n°1 showcases the trio of Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé alongside an eclectic ensemble, weaving synthesizers, samplers, sprechgesang, and orchestral elements into compelling, genre-defying compositions, which Jazz Magazine describes as mind-blowing with Zappa-esque creativity.

Evan Parker's 80th:

In the last two weeks we added one of the most impressive an important book and CD sets that we've carried in our years, from the UK label False Walls: The Heraclitean Two-Step, etc. released for UK saxophonist Evan Parker's 80th birtday. The box set is indeed a box, with a hard slipcase housing a gatefold holder for the 4 CDs, and a softbound 120 page 27cm x 17xm book. The book starts with a poem by Stephen C. Middleton, contains essays by Richard Leigh, John Corett, Filip Gomes and Evan Parker himself, color and b&w images, and two interviews, one with Hans Falb, founder and director of the Konfrontationen Festival, and one with the late Martin Davis, found of Emanem and psi Records. It's a great companion to the CDs, all solo Parker in various settings, with many improvisations dedicated to artists, writers, and enthusiasts.

The last year has had some excellent albums and reissues from Parker in various configurations, and this set to celebrate one of the legends of free improvisers 80th year is a wonderful addition to those albums.

Parker, Evan: The Heraclitean Two-Step, etc. [4 CDs + BOOK] (False Walls)

Celebrating Evan Parker's 80th birthday in 2024 in a 4-CD set of solo improvisations recorded from 1994-2024, paired with a 120-page book featuring essays, an extended interview with Martin Davis plus visual artwork by Parker, blending profound reflections on space, sound, and artistic evolution while showcasing pivotal recordings and contributions from the improv and art community.

Parker, Evan / George Lewis: From Saxophone & Trombone [VINYL] (Otoroku)

The first vinyl re-issue of the 1980 duo between UK saxophonist Evan Parker and US trombonist George Lewis, captured live at the Art Workers Guild in London, using the natural resonance of the space and phenomenal technique in an intense set of dialogs showing the mastery of each player and the forceful voice each of them brings to free improvisation.

Parker, Evan / Paul Lytton: Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones) [VINYL] (Otoroku)

A much-needed reissue of saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer/percussionist Paul Lytton's first duo album, recorded in London at the loft of The Standard Essenco in 1972 and originally released on the Incus label, the duo approaching their instruments in fantastic and unusual ways in a dialog far ahead of its time, augmented with recordings and eccentric assemblages.

Armaroli, Sergio / Evan Parker: Dialog (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Recording remotely in a call-and-response, vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli and saxophonist Evan Parker resolved an issue of recording in the same physical space by interleaving recordings of solo improvisations recorded in response to each other's sequential recordings, Armaroli with the 6-part "Two Rooms One Vibraphone" and Parker with the 5-part "Interludes".

Musicworks: #148 Summer 2024 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)

Summer 2024 issue of Canada's new music magazine, with composer & sound designer Stefana Fratila on the cover; plus articles on Evan Parker & Matthew Wright; Big Ears review; Filipino-Canadian composer Juro Kim Feliz; Brunswick composer & sound artist Charles Harding; the Canadian Afro-Cuban duo behind the ensemble Okan; plus album reviews, essays and a CD of tracks from artists in the magazine.

Parker's, Evan Transatlantic Trance Map: Marconi's Drift (False Walls)

Bringing together two groups of spectacular improvisers versed in free and electroacoustic improvisation for a live transatlantic performance, one group of seven musicians primarily from The UK & Europe performing from The Hot Tin venue in Faversham, Kent, UK, the other group of six musicians performing from Roulette, New York City, for this stunningly impressive group improvisation.

Cecil Taylor's Long Player

Cecil Taylor passed away in 2018, but his music hasn't ended by any means, and since his passing we've added 13 albums of previously unreleased material and reissues. This week we introduce the Englightenment box set, The Classic Albums - 8 Remastered LPs, which reissues eight albums from 1956 to 1963, remastered and presented across four CDs.

I started listening to Cecil Taylor with the Blue Note album Conquistador from 1968, and picked up albums from here and there over the years without really researching backwards into his discography. For me, this set was a bit of a revelation, as the groupings that he performed with included some of the most important players to my interests: Steve Lacy, Kenny Dorham, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Clark Terry, Roswell Rudd, Billy Higgins, Jimmy Lyons, Sunny Murray, etc. Listening to these albums in sequence is a fascinating journey through somewhat tilted bebop into the unique approaches to free jazz that Taylor helped pioneer.

This comes on the heels of the second volume of ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.'s Live At Fat Tuesday's set, releasing two nights of the Cecil Taylor Unit performing in New York City in 1980. This band brings together luminaries, Jimmy Lyons, Ramsey Ameen, Alan Silva, Jerome Cooper and Sunny Murray.

Add this to the 2023 ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. release from Albert Ayler, More Lost Performances, Revisited which includes recordings with Cecil Taylor, and you can see that Taylor's history of performance and recordings is far from complete.

Taylor, Cecil Unit (w/ Lyons / Silva / Cooper / Murray): Live At Fat Tuesday's February 9 - First Visit Archive [CD + POSTCARDS] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

A superb and extended live performance from 1980 at NYC's Fat Tuesday jazz club, from the outstanding sextet of forward-thinking free improvisers, Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Alan Silva on double bass & cello, Jerome Cooper on drums & African Balaphone and Sunny Murray on drums, led by Cecil Taylor on piano in an ecstatic concert never previously released.

Taylor, Cecil Unit (w/ Lyons / Silva / Cooper / Murray): Live At Fat Tuesday's February 10, 1980 First Visit [CD + POSTCARDS] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

The 2nd night of the superb, extended live performance from 1980 at NYC's Fat Tuesday jazz club, from the outstanding sextet of forward-thinking free improvisers, Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Alan Silva on double bass & cello, Jerome Cooper on drums & African Balaphone and Sunny Murray on drums, led by Cecil Taylor on piano in an ecstatic concert never previously released.

Taylor, Cecil: The Classic Albums - 8 Remastered LPs [4 CD BOX SET] (Enlightenment)

Reissuing and remastering eight landmark albums released between 1956 and 1962, this collection traces iconoclastic pianist Cecil Taylor's evolution from bop-influenced beginnings to the groundbreaking free jazz forms he helped pioneer, featuring collaborations with Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Kenny Dorham, Archie Shepp, Clark Terry, Roswell Rudd, and others, culminating in his trailblazing trio with Jimmy Lyons and Sunny Murray.

Ayler, Albert (incl. Milford Graves, Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, Sunny Murray, &c): More Lost Performances, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Remastering previously unavailable and vital performances from three configurations of saxophonist Albert Ayler's bands, including their 1967 Newport Festival concert with Milford Graves, their performance at John Coltrane's 1967 Funeral at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in NYC, and an incredible 1962 concert with Cecil Taylor's group with Jimmy Lyons and Sunny Murray in Copenhagen.

Hooked on Sonics:

Last, Squidco's local experimental sound series Hooked on Sonics is restarting with a vengeance this year, with twelve performances planned as monthly events at the local bar and hangout, BarZarre. For those in the region, you can read more about our first event at Facebook Event Listing.

I will be performing as my project CHANGES TO blind, as will Carl Kruger, bringing Squidco sound into the Wilmington night air. Please join us if you're in the area!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 9, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Butcher/Davies/Sanders/Thomas -Unlockings [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Butcher/Davies/Sanders/Thomas -Lower Marsh [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Burkhard Beins (w/ Dorner/Elieh/Ermke/Neumann/Renkel/Tuerlinckx/Zapparoli) -Eight Duos [3 LPs] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Kai Fagaschinski/Yan Jun -Graveyard Processions [VINYL w/ DOWNLOAD] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Schick/Tuerlinckx/Zoepf -Ensemble A [CD] (Confront)
Nathan Hubbard/Kyle Motl -Obsidian [CDR] (Confront)
Brulez les meubles (+ Ingrid Laubrock/Marianne Trudel/Jonathan Huard) -FOLIO #5 [CD] (Tour de Bras/Circum-Disc)
Brulez les meubles (+ Ingrid Laubrock/Marianne Trudel/Jonathan Huard) -FOLIO #5 [VINYL] (Tour de Bras/Circum-Disc)
Pied De Poule -Indiscretion [CD] (GRRR)
Turbulence Orchestra -Monsoon [CDR] (Evil Clown)

January 9, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Derek Bailey / Sabu Toyozumi - Breath Awareness (NoBusiness) by Ken Waxman.

January 7, 2025: New @ Squidco:
Sound the Alarm (Clayton Thomas + Ensemble) -Sound the Alarm [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Aspyrian (Porter/Gillen/Parkinson) -To Explore Vol 2 [CD] (Hidden Threads)
Luciana Bass -Desatornillandonos [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Tungu/Mia Zalbeka/Stefan Strasser -The Confidence Of One Swimming Against The Current [CD] (FMR)
Bang/Duch/Honore/Toop/Wastell -Wunderkammer [VINYL] (Confront)
Cecil Taylor -The Classic Albums - 8 Remastered LPs [4 CD BOX SET] (Enlightenment)
Koch-Schutz-Studer & El Nil Troop -Heavy Cairo Traffic [CD] (Intuition)
Lounge Lizards -Live In Berlin 1991 Vol. 1 [CD] (Intuition)
Paul Jarret/Karin Johansson/Donovan Von Martens -Hemisphere/Hemisfar [CD] (Havtorn Records)
Helene Sage -Comme Une Image [CD] (GRRR)

January 7, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Keefe Jackson / Raoul van der Weide / Frank Rosaly - Live at de Tanker (Kettle Hole Records) by Ken Waxman.

These are the updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 6, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Bobby Bradford / Frode Gjerstad / William Roper / Alex Cline - Frice (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by Ken Waxman.

January 2, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Stephen Flinn - Red Bell (Creative Sources Recordings) by Jeph Jerman.

January 2, 2025: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Albert Ayler with Don Cherry - 1964 Recordings First Visit Completed (Ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records, Ltd.) by Paul Serralheiro.