Pedal Steel guitar innovator Susan Alcorn in a mostly solo release, beautifully performing 4 lush compositions by Astor Piazzolla, with bassist Michael Formanek joining for the Alcorn-penned "Suite for AHL".

Paolo Angeli presents an experimental album that explores the entire range of his modified, extended, and prepared Sardinian guitar with beautiful compositions that defy categorization.

The DVD movie and CD soundtrack of 10 years of Nanni Angeli's photo documentation of the strange story of Paolo Angelis exotic, extended giant Sardinian guitar.

Piano prodigy Ariel, performing complex jazz compositions at the age of 9 (!) with infuences from Matthew Shipp, John Hicks, Kirk Lightsey, Uri Caine, Aaron Goldberg, &c.

Legendary improvising vocalist Jaap Blonk in a solo work, a mesmerizing and hallucinating piece of electronic music presenting myriads of voices and melodies that never repeat themselves.

Making extensive use of sampling and computer electronics, composer and guitarist Tim Brady combines a major work for 20 guitars on his debut record for Ambiances Magnetiques.

UK saxophone phenomenon John Butcher in 10 live solo recordings using the unique sonic environments of Richmond Hall, a Houston art gallery that has been compared to a bowling alley, and Issue Project Room's high-ceilinged marble room in Brooklyn, NY.

Aural Terrains label leader and electronic composer Thanos Chrysakis in a work in three movements based on a blending of electronics and acoustic instruments.

Twenty-four engrossing improvisations by Nicola Cipani that were made on broken and untuned pianos, keyboards, and even a clavichord that the artist found, from recordings over a two-year period across New York City.

Italian composer Osvaldo Coluccino performed these minimal works using acoustic objects only: no musical instruments, no power tools, nor appliances, nor other electric machines, and no post electronic processing.

From an exploration of volcanoes in Japan to the ambience of a nap in France, composer Eric Cordier organizes field recordings made in his travels to create exotic and engaging audio environments that transport the listener.

Portuguese composer and pianist Simao Costa in an album of solo prepared piano in the style of John Cage, using transducers, speaker & objects, paced like a Morton Feldman composition, balancing tones and percussive sound in exquisite compositions.

Clarinetist Jeremiah Cymerman's solo work with clarinet, electronics and amplifier is a dark and aggressive work that mutates the potential of the single reed into a monstrous instrument of surprising properties.

Drummer and percussionist Chris Dadge plays a personal set that was recorded live and includes a variety of percussive stylings varying from minimal ideas to junk-oriented textural play.

Recorded live in an Australian National Park on a 15-day walk, saxophonist Jim Denley performs solo on the alto saxophone in response to and in conversation with the environment around him using the natural acoustics of this rugged and awe-inspiring region.

Recorded and performed without loops, overlays or other technological aid, Norwegian drummer and composer Ola Djupvik explores his limits in a mix of European free improvisation, minimalism and contemporary composers like John Cage and Morton Feldman.

A collection of solo pieces from forward-thinking French soprano saxophonist Michel Doneda, using extended techniques and utilizing every inch of the horn, creating unconventional and captivating sonic expressions from the instrument.

Influenced by Cecil Taylor, Kaja Draksler is a Slovene piano player living in Amsterdam, performing inside and out of the piano in a unique style that approaches performing as a vision of the piano as a miniature orchestra.

A solo poetic album by Andre Duchesne on acoustic guitar playing 14 beautiful songs.

Marc Ducret's Tower series continues, skipping a beat as we jump from Vol 2. to Vol. 4, in this live solo acoustic guitar release from his 2012 Baltic tour, where he reassembles and builds bridges to offer a new vision of the Tower's cycle.

UK Composer Michael Edwards wrote these quiet compositions using his "slippery chicken" software, originally written as a challenge to pianist Rei Nakamura, in contrast to his technical skills, instead requiring pensive accuracy over a steady line of quiet chords.

Bernard Falaise's debut solo album in 15 peieces for guitar ensembles played by one guitarist with the help of overdubbing and digital processing.

First-time CD releases of three Pierre Favre solo albums from 40 years ago: Drum Conversations [originally an LP from Calig-Verlag label]; Abanaba [LP on Futura]; Mountain Wind [LP on Gemini].

Six distinct "phases" of entrancing drones performed on an unprepared but slightly damaged harmonium by French improviser Monsieur Favriou, demonstrating the timbral range of the pedal-pumped reed organ.

Solo clarinetist Lori Freedman in 13 new pieces of improvisation for soprano and bass clarinets that are vibrant, captivating, and full of texture.

A remarkable solo guitar CD from Bill Frisell, filled with complex harmonies, bizarre voicings, rich orchestral sonorities, intense screams, delicate phrasing, wild noises and an incredible simultaneity.

A hauntingly beautiful set of solo piano works from Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii, subtle work that belies her incredible techincal skill through beautifully paced and meditative music.

Lithuanian sound and industrial artist Gintas K (Gintas Kraptavicius) in an album of abstract electronics composed on the computer, 11 tracks of burbling and glitching sound.

Saxophonist Alexandra Grimal recorded this double CD with pianist Giovanni Di Domenico a the Theatre Du Chatelet, in Paris, France, for adventurous dialog in a dynamic set of original Di Domenico compositions plus freely improvised work, both duo and solo.

Stepping away from the saxophone, composer/improviser Jean-Luc Guionnet presents two large compositions for the organ, each taking a single CD to explore the organ's border effects, resonances, natural saturations, all artefacts that sign the acoustic, analogic, digital, process.

Joane Hetu in her first solo album for alto saxophone and voice that is poetic and intimate.

A compendium of compositions and improvisations from 2009-13 by undersea acoustician and audio engineer A.F. Jones, who uses stringed instruments and analog devices, hand-crafted and found, in works that emphasize structural components such as timbre, tone, or attack over form.

Vancouver-based Jay Crocker, half of Bent Spoon with Chris Dadge, in an album of electronics using homebuilt instruments and treatments, rhythmically based music with effective melodies and a quirky, sometimes lo-fi, but always engaging approach.

Sound artist Jason Kahn performing in Zurich at the Kunstraum Walcheturm arts organization, recording fourteen short improvised sections, focusing on heavily effected drums and percussive elements augmented with synthetics, radio, plus work exclusively for voice.

Henry Kaiser in a solo album paying tribute to a handful of his heroes who have tragically died in the past few years, including Basho, Stockhausen, Randy California, Sun Ra, Morton Feldman, Masayuki Takayanagi, Toru Takemitsu, Pete Cosey, Sonny Sharrock, &c.

During his residency in Vienna as part of Johannes Heuer's "Vor Anker", Kuchen recorded these curious solo works using saxophone and preparations, 6 pieces of understated intent using unconventional approaches rewarding the active listener.

A journey in sound from composer Eric La Casa, who organized these recordings of water and wind captured over 12 years as a sonic journal of the various geographic locations he visited, transforming them into an absorbing story about the living world.

Pianist Marilyn Lerner in a compilation of improvisations created by setting up different microphones in various configurations to highlight different sound qualities of the piano.

Rene Lussier on solo electric guitar in fourteen improvisational pieces that were not overdubbed or processed post-recording.

The first solo electronics and percussion album by radical and legendary British improvisor Paul Lytton since 1979, recorded in the studio in Germany, and using a wealth of homemade instruments, laptop, percussive devices, objects, and electro-mechanical devices.

Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuydervelt) in an EP of a long sine save compositions that creates a minimally moving piece of consonance and dissonance using beautifully recorded tones.

Composer & pianist Marcin Masecki wrote this work, inspired by Frederic Rzewski and presenting variations on the Chilean song "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido" (The town united will never be defeated) and invited pianist Piotr Nowicki to perform it for this recording.

An emotional solo concert performed at Chicago's Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery, an ode to Mazurek's mother a few months after her passing, on cornet, flutes, bells, books, maracas, apples, and little electronics, in a touching and beautiful celebration of her life.

A distinctive solo album from legendary New York saxophonist and pocket trumpeter Joe McPhee, playing two extended solo improvisations, one dedicated to the late trumpeter Don Cherry, and one to innovative saxophonist Ornette Coleman.

A much-needed reissue of McPhee's 1979 Hat Hut LP documenting his 1977 concert at Salle Ste Croix des Pelletiers, performing 3 original compositions and Monk's "Round Midnight" with incredible skill and inventiveness.

Six works recorded in Amsterdam from electric guitarist Enrique Mendoza, performed by himself or saxophonist Boglarka Nagy, or flutist Jos Zwaanenburg, each track featuring live electronics.

Using an alto saxophone where the original mechanisms have been replaced with water, gas & compressed air taps, saxophonist Sergio Merce can microtonally move the tuning of any note and create multiphonics, allowing him to play several sonic layers while using circular breathing.

The 20th volume of the Book of Angels series is led by virtuoso guitarist Pet Metheny as he creatively plays John Zorn's compositions with a large assortment of instruments and electronics.

A member of the French ONJ (Orchestre National de Jazz), saxophonist Metzger also works with a variety of real-time transformation music software; this is an excellent review of his compositions and his unique voice in modern improvisation.

Flautist Nicole Mitchell's solo album of her own impromptu compositions and interpretations of other artists' works composed for her, reflecting her deep relationship with nature and her instrument.

A solo electric guitar soundtrack to James Nares' film "Street" performed by Thurston Moore, freely improvising in a dynamic and impressive performance recorded live at the Rubloff Auditorium at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

A beautifully paced and uniquely voiced album of electronic soundscapes from luminary New York performer Ikue Mori, 10 works including a realization of Izumi Kyoka's story "Koya Hijuri", 3 pieces for Mozu birds, the 2-part "Pomegranate Seeds", and one of Zorn's Masada compositions.

Live recordings from guitarist Joe Morris, performing solo at Bimhuis in Amsterdam in two Octobers from 2013 to 2014, showing remarkable technical and creative skills while captivating his audience with accessible progressions and story-telling; masterful!

A 2-CD release from Japanese percussionist Seijiro Murayama, performing solo on "objects" which combines clearly percussive objects and other electroacoustic items of obscure origin, creating active, rich and curious sonic environments that envelop the listener.

Percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani presents thirteen pieces that take the listener on an expedition in the modern use of percussion, beautifully paced with rich sound, unexpected harmonic properties, fascinating punctuation, a mesmerizing journey.

Jamie Newton works with sound using guitar, keyboards, field recordings, processing, and Kyoto croquet, here in a contemplative set of works merging drone and thick noise with indistinct rhythms and layers of concrete sounds.

Tonewheel organ meditations along with feedback and sound forms using processed guitar, keyboards and field recordings from sound artist Jamie Newton, 2 slowly evolving tonal works sandwiching three more turbulent pieces in a journey of drone, noise and reflection.

Ever-active bassist Pascal Niggenkemper in his first solo album of riveting and intriguing double bass work, from aggressive to contemplative and immersive improvisations using work using bass preparations to transform the instrument and make us rethink its potential.

Guitarist Joacim Nyberg, also performing on double bass, bell and recorder, in a live performance in Stockholm, Sweden at Fylkingen in 2014, using "Wood, steel, air. Hands, fingers, heart" in an open-ended and ardent exposition of his interpretation of jazz.

Composer Frank Perry presents some new and some old unreleased recordings of solos, duos and trios featuring world famous musicians such as Evan Parker, David Toop, Paul Lytton, Paul Lovens, Jin Hi Kim and Trevor Taylor.

A collection of materials for solo guitarist, written by Michael Pisaro-Liu and here performed by Christian Alvear, presenting the performer with up to 12 fragments which can be played in any order and which allow for various transformations, cuts, extensions and silences.

Pisaro's fascinating composition created with guitar, bass, percussion, radio, electronics, and field recordings, using long gaps of silence resolved through a dynamic set of rich audio sections.

Portugese harpist Eduardo Raon uses harp, daxophone, electronics, voice & percussion to create dramatic music that applies his classical training to improvisational methods, using real-time electronic processing to create encompassing yet intricate and unusual sonic environments.

Solo work recorded between 1992 & 2012 from Portugese electric guitarist Nuno Rebelo, using unusual techniques and approaches to render a wide and fascinating palette of sound and captivating playing styles.

Compositions by Lasse-Marc Riek of the Gruenrekorder label, created from field recordings of sounds in harbors, recorded between 1999 & 2007 in Finland's Bjorkoby and Ostero harbors, and in Germany in Wismar and Hamburg harbors, rich evocations of the sea.