Kuzu
All Your Ghosts in One Corner
Aerophonic Records
“"But their ability to construct musical tension in an almost agonizing way reaches a new peak on All Your Ghosts In One Corner. Drawing on these musicians’ love for a range of weighty musical expression from doom metal to the deeply-rooted spirituality of saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, this record perfectly captures the depth of the abyss into which we faced. And yet this record isn’t about fear. Redemption is found in the life-affirming energy of these performances, which reflect a will to survive in the band’s committed focus and tenacity. These are spontaneous rituals performed to brace an entire community for the upcoming storm." - Aerophonic Records”
Ken Vandermark
Snapshots: Volume 2/Austria
Kilogram
“PREORDER for official release 8/30/2021 The initial plan for Snapshots was to record a sequence of 7” singles that would document a collection of “micro-improvisations.” On every album I would perform with each of the four instruments I use, releasing a new 45 at quarterly increments over the course of a year. One of my favorite expressions regarding creative activity is Richard Serra’s statement, “work comes out of work,” and that idea came directly into play when I considered my approach to the second installment of Snapshots. Before starting the work on volume 2, I began a duo project with Nate Wooley for the Superpang label. Since that process took place during COVID, it was necessary to create the music by sharing music files. Nate and I quickly realized that, because the material had to be created by overdubbing one track on top of another, it was possible to bounce files back and forth, using more than two parts for each piece, and with different organizational principles. While involved in the exchange with Nate, I started to think about the second edition of Snapshots. And, for the first time, I decided to create duo improvisations by overdubbing myself. The strategy was simple- I recorded two pieces of about 90 seconds on each instrument (abandoning one of them because it was musically unsuccessful), then I selected an alternative horn, listened to a track and recorded an improvisation with/against it. From these seven “duos,” four were selected to produce the most successful narrative across two sides of a 7” single. In closing, I’d like to mention how much certain artists from Austria have impacted my work, particularly over the course of the last decade. I’m dedicating the music on this recording to four of them. -Ken Vandermark, Chicago, July 16, 2021 ”
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Alex Kreger / Kevin Bene / Susanna Mendlow / Ryan Ptasnik featuring Ainagul Abdikalikova
Moyindau
“This album documents music of the group Moyindau captured at various live performances and informal recording sessions in 2010 and 2011. It includes two of my settings of Kazakh poetry, framed by several other compositions of mine and arrangements of popular/folk tunes from Macedonia and Tajikistan. The group features saxophonist Kevin Bene, cellist Susanna Mendlow, drummer Ryan Ptasnik, and myself as pianist and composer, plus singer Ainagul Abdikalikova on the two central tracks”
Joe Morris & Joe McPhee
Era
Catalytic Artist Albums
“Catalytic Sound continues its Catalytic Artist Album fundraising program by releasing CAA-033 to the public: a duo recording created by Joe Morris and Joe McPhee, called ERA. Catalytic is releasing this extraordinary document on Bandcamp Day so that 100% of the donations received Friday will go to a social justice organization selected by Joe McPhee, The Innocence Project (innocenceproject.org) was "founded in 1992 by Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck at Cardozo School of Law, and exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice."”
The Ex
Tumult
F.A.I. Records
“Tumult remains a high-water point of early Ex, serving as both developmental guide and way-station. The next 18 months would see the departure of Bas and Witteman and the arrival of long-serving bassist Luc Klaasen and drummer Kat Bornefeld (whose supple rhythms propel the group to this day). The album stands as one of the most compelling and unique documents of early '80s DIY exploration. If Mark E. Smith had only one favorite Dutch punk band, then it would undoubtedly be The Ex.”
Elisabeth Harnik
Superstructure / Holding Up A Bridge
Trost Records
“Superstructure was written in 2006 and is the first composition in which Elisabeth Harnik, found a place for improvisatory activity in her work as a composer. It was recorded and produced live in concert by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF-Ö1. // Holding up a bridge was commissioned and performed by the up-and-coming Viennese ensemble STUDIO DAN in 2018.”
Joe Morris & Damon Smith
Gusts Against Particles
Open Systems
“This LP is the first release for Open Systems and is a limited, hand numbered edition of 200 copies. "Gusts Against Particles needs to be taken literally. Airborne particles move in random ways under the power of wind. When is alive, it sometimes swims against the tide." - Kenneth Blanchard”
