CD/DVD Releases: Cuneiform Records Releases for January 2010
Cuneiform Records will release the following five titles in January 2010 for your listening pleasure, starting with Algernon - Ghost Surveillance. "Algernon are one of Chicago's fastest rising young bands. All instrumental, they feature a unique line-up of dual guitars, vibes, bass and drums. The band is led by guitarist and composer Dave Miller. The other members of Algernon are second guitarist Toby Summerfield (who also was a member of Larval for many years), vibes player Katie Wiegman, bassist Tom Perona, and drummer Cory Healey. Miller formed Agernon as a way to combine a large number of influences of various types of music he liked in a unique way, without any one of them being the dominant sound. These influences include experimental rock (60s psychedelic rock, Jimi Hendrix, 13th Floor Elevators), kraut-rock (Harmonia, Can and Neu!), post-rock (Tortoise, Isotope 217, Chicago Underground, Godspeed!, Talk Talk) the late 70s art-punk and no-wave scene (Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca) and avant-garde jazz.
"A very important point about Algernon's music is despite Dave having a strong jazz background, Algernon is not a improvising band. The music that Dave writes for the group is basically wholly scored; there is a very small amount of improvisation and what improvisation there is, is more about atmosphere(s) than about solos.
"Ghost Surveillance is Algernon's third album and is their first on a label able to reach a wider audience. Their music brings a lot of influences together in surprising and entertaining ways. A quick listen to the download sample will show you why we have such great enthusiasm for this band, as they manage to be quite accessible while pushing stylistic boundaries and exploring new paths."
Brown Vs Brown - Odds And Unevens: "Brown vs Brown are a intense and stunningly tight 'rehearsal-intensive' avant-garde rock band from Amsterdam, Holland. Brown vs Brown was formed in 2004 by Dirk Bruinsma (saxes, vocals), Viljam Nybacka (bass), Gerri J?ger (drums) and Jeroen Kimman (guitar, banjo). The band's electrifying chemistry quickly made itself apparent: A love/hate relationship with jazz, a quirky alt/punk-rock mindset and the genuine need to create a new music that is coherent and personal, became their common ground in the hard-working years that followed.
"After 5 years of joint creative exploits and playing hundreds of concerts throughout Europe, Brown vs Brown has developed a musical universe that categorically denies stylistic description. Seemingly contrasting elements clash and recombine: meticulous composition vs. improvisation, complexity vs. raw energy, and breakneck stumble rhythms vs. irresistible swing. Brown vs Brown takes great pride in its reputation as a powerhouse live act,and feels as confident playing the consecrated ground of jazz-temples as wellas the beer-soaked floors of ill-lit alt-rock clubs, leaving all of these audiences flabbergasted." [Read rest of bio, Listen to sample]
New York Art Quartet - Old Stuff. "This release is truly a remarkable archival find! Formed in the summer of 1964, although the New York Art Quartet existed for barely a year and a half, great interest remains in their work. They consisted of co-leaders John Tchicai (alto sax), who participated in John Coltrane?s ground-breaking Ascension album and Roswell Rudd (trombone), considered to be the first free-jazz trombonist, along with bassist Don Moore and drummer Milford Graves. The band participated in the legendary ?October Revolution in Jazz," which journalist Bill Shoemaker called, 'Arguably the most seminal jazz concert series ever held...it was a comprehensive four-day survey of jazz's cutting edge.... It marked the beginning of the Golden Era of do-it-yourself jazz culture in the U.S.' The New York Art Quartet recorded their self-titled first album for ESP and Tchicai went back to his homeland of Denmark to scout out work for the group. Only Rudd was able to join him, so the pair enlisted Copenhagen bassist Finn von Eyben and South African drummer Louis Moholo, who had very recently left South Africa with the Blue Notes; this is one of his earliest recordings. This lineup of the New York Art Quartet performed two concerts in Copenhagen in October, 1965, which is where these recordings were made.
"Released on the 45th anniversary of the October Revolution, this historic issue features all previously unheard and unreleased recordings of brilliant and fiery musical interplay that have really great, high quality, period live sound. In the 8 page booklet are never-before seen photos and a short, informative essay by writer Jason Weiss, who produced this album." [Listen to sample]
Radio Massacre International - Time & Motion. "Radio Massacre International is a British trio of Steve Dinsdale (keyboards, electronics, drums), Duncan Goddard (keyboards, electronics, bass) and Gary Houghton (guitar, synthesizers). These three musicians have worked together in various configurations since they were 16 year old students in the 70s and formed R.M.I. in 1993. After nearly 20 years together as R.M.I. and over 30 albums and hundreds of concerts, you might think that there might be no surprises left, but like their undulating, flowing music, the musicians are always finding new twists and turns to incorporate into their music. At its root, Time And Motion very much has their 'Berlin-school electronic music' sound intact, with music that gradually develops in the manner of the classic pioneers of this sound; the synthesizers and clouds of guitars take us all on a journey into the cosmos! But here they've added guest Martin Archer on reeds and electronics on about 40% of the album and he is fully integrated into the ensemble, adding a very unique solo and ensemble contribution to the spacey electronic music presented - a sound that I don't think has ever been used in this way in space music.
"This is two full CDs (at a single CD price) which features over 2 1/2 hours of great music! The 2 CDs are structured as the equivalent of four lps, to cater to listeners who appreciate the older playing times of a 35'-40' album or to any listener who might find 80' of music at a time a bit overwhelming. So, this album is programmed to have four different 'entry points,' each being a self-standing tranche of music that lasts aproximately 40'." [Listen to sample]
Univers Zero - Clivages. "Founding members of the original 'Rock In Opposition' [R.I.O.] movement and the inventors of 'chamber rock,' Univers Zero have continued to change and grow and develop over their entire career, while still keeping a ensemble sound and spirit that is easily recognizable. Clivages is their first studio album in over five years, but much more importantly, it is their first studio release since 1986's Heatwave to feature the energy and sound of a working, rehearsing, live ensemble performing in the studio! It features the current line-up of the group who have been playing concerts and working together for quite some time now: Michel Berkmans (bassoon, English horn, oboe), Kurt Bud? (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax), Pierre Chevalier (keyboards), Daniel Denis (drums, sampler), Dimitri Evers (bass), Martin Lauwers (violin) and guest Andy Kirk (guitar and percussion).
Univers Zero are rightly famous for finding the perfect balance between classical and rock influences and drawing on musicians from both worlds. In terms of this, Clivages is possibly their best-balanced release, featuring a couple of small chamber works for the trio of strings, reeds and double reeds of the group. The rock side has not been ignored in any way, however and in addition to contributions from band members Denis, Bud? and Berckmans, Clivages features Andy Kirk's 12' piece 'Warrior,' which harkens back to the sound of the band circa Heatwave!" [Listen to sample]
all quoted text ? Cuneiform Records[Source: Cuneiform Records]
