A few quick notes from our release descriptions about two labels that keep on creating incredible releases...

psi is Evan Parker's sublabel within the European Free Improv scene's leading label, Emanem. Since the cessation of the Incus label with Derek Bailey's passing, Evan Parker has been reprinting his most important titles from that label on psi, which includes Hook, Drift & Shuffle (Topography of the Lungs was also recently reissued.) Parker's curated annual festival, Free Zone Appleby, is also represented in this set of releases with the 2006 edition, presenting a series of permutations on a large set of artists playing in duos, trios, &c. Forch, an expansion of the duo FURT, who have two prior releases on psi, have their first release as an octet.

Portugal's ever-interesting and understated label Creative Sources continues its prolific run with three new releases. This set presents players lesser-known internationally, but label owner Ernesto's Rodrigues' ears continue to be selective and unerring in his ability to find players with new sounds to say in unusual ways. My personal favorite of the set is the excellent percussive duo of Wolfgang Schliemann and Michael Vorveld, who find new ways to hit, strike, bow, scratch, plug and throw their instruments in fascinating ways.

Parker, Evan: Hook, Drift & Shuffle

Evan Parker's annual Appleby Jazz Festival continues to be documented on Parker's psi label with this release of Free Zone Appleby 2006. As always, Parker has assembled an experienced, creative and compatible lineup of incredible improvisers, who are presented in various permutations of duos, trios and one quartet.

fORCH: Spin Networks

Expanding Barrett and Obermayer's FURT duo into an octet using acoustic and electronic instruments with the unusual vocal approaches of Phil Minton and Ute Wasserman. This recording is from the SWR New Jazz Meeting in December 2005, which psi describes as "a unique collective sound, where vocals, instruments and electronics coalesce into a dense but transparent vortex." A good description for these unusual, rich and alien recordings.

Various Groupings: Free Zone Appleby 2006

This recording of a 1983 Brussels concert, part of a concert series directed by Godried-Willem Raes, was previously released under the same name on the Incus label. The album presents Evan Parker in an early electro-acoustic quartet, where George Lewis modifies his trombone with various accessories, most of which were amplified; Paul Lytton amplifies a part of his percussion set, along with cymbals, woodblocks and gongs; and Barry Guy uses amplification and effects processors with his double bass. This was a fertile period for these performers, experienced with the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra, examining improvisation and applying many methods and searching for sonic possibilities - a great record to have back in print!

Keune, Stefan / Schneider, Hans / Kr�mer, Achim: The Long and The Short Of It

Free improvisations that range from rapidly quirky, busy improvisations to somber and mysterious moods in acoustic lowercase. All three are strong players with great ideas using extensive and extreme language on their instruments. They present a diverse set of creative concepts over which they improvise, from lyrical work to frantic and skronky material. Captivating, energetic and unexpected.

Schliemann, Wolfgang / Vorveld, Michael: alle neune: rheinl�nder partie

Sonically rich continuous sound work in minimal acoustic improvisations using percussive elements that are hit, struck, bowed, scratched, plugged and thrown. The duo present encounters from minimal interactive improvisation to glowing stringed environments to clattering minimalism or resonantly ringing worlds; a surprisingly wide sonic palette in distinct percussive and improvisational concepts. The opening "Vorderkranz, grosser Keil" is an amazing sound environment, never grating, but not simply meditative, 9 minutes of motion and progression in an ecstatic state, where guessing the source of the sound is half the fun. The variety and permutations of music that these two create taken together make a fascinating and sometimes intensely encompassing listen.

M�ller, Matthias / Marien, Christian: Superimpose

Witty acoustic improv from this duo on trombone and percussion. M�ller is a suprisingly sly player with an extensive vocabulary, from weird breathy jumbling to long twisting and joyous runs. Marien plays in, around, under and on the drums, generally preferring the sound of toms, and deftly underplaying the moment while keeping the music active and unexpected. M�ller and Marien have worked together extensively through the 2000s, in bands Olaf Ton, Carnivals of Souls, Super 700, and Supernova.