Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits   Page 2

Dorji, Tashi & Tyler Damon

Live At The Spot +1

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is unbelievably excited to present the debut release from the duo of Tashi Dorji & Tyler Damon! “Live at the Spot +1” presents 1 solo performance by each as well as 3 duo cuts all (but one) recorded live at The Spot Tavern in Lafayette, IN, toward the beginning of Tashi & Tyler’s time together as a duo. Since these recordings Dorji & Damon have recorded another full length album (the amazing “Both Will Escape” out in October on Family Vineyard Records!), done a handful of tours together (including a small tour as a trio with Mette Rasmussen!) AND tore the roof off the Hungry Brain at “Astral Spirits in Chicago” as a trio with Thom Nguyen of MANAS. A bit of background info…Tashi Dorji grew up in Bhutan and has lived in Asheville, NC since 2000. He has released a staggering number of amazing LP’s in recent years for labels such as Hermit Hut, Bathetic, Feeding Tube, VDSQ, Cabin Floor Esoterica and more. Tyler Damon is a Bloomington, IN based drummer who has played with numerous amazing folks including Thee Open Sex, Darin Gray (Damon/Gray’s duo tape “Oninbo” is a favorite AS office jam), Mars Williams, Ken Vandermark, Circuit Des Yeux, Dave Rempis, Little Howlin Wolf, and tons more. Damon really blew our minds at “Astral Spirits in Chicago” both in the trio with Dorji/Nguyen but especially his playing in the quartet of Rempis/Adasiewiscz/Haker Flaten/Damon! “Live at the Spot +1”...

Jackson / Baker / Kirshner

The Noisey Miner

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

The trio of Jackson/Baker/Kirshner also hails from the city of Chicago and played one of our personal favorite sets at “Astral Spirits in Chicago” in July! These three amazing individuals have all made their marks on the city’s improv scene, being regulars at Elastic, Constellation, The Hungry Brain and more (and don’t forget Jim Baker’s regular Monday evening shows at the Beat Kitchen if you ever find yourself in Chicago). Keefe Jackson, Jim Baker & Julian Kirshner have been playing as a trio now for a few years and “The Noisey Miner” is their proper & mesmerizing debut release. Recorded just under a year ago at Constellation.Side A hits straight out of the gate, Keefe Jackson’s guttural tenor against Julian Kirshner’s skittering drums while Jim Baker fills in the gaps with his intensely beautiful piano. There is a natural ebb and flow in the trio from ecstatic Coltrane/Tyner/Jones moments to more spacious and open sounds. Side B switches gears with Jim Baker moving over to the ARP synthesizer creating a web of other-worldly sounds that are met head on by Jackson’s incredible sopranino sax and Kirshner’s use of the drumkit as pure sound — at times reminding us of some of the more “out” Sun Ra LP’s. “The Noisey Miner” doesn’t necessarily come across as a jazz album in the classical sense yet there is an undeniable pulse and forward momentum in the group’s improv. Let’s hope to hear much more from Jackson/Baker/Kirshner in the near future, but for now...

Tim Stine Trio

S/t

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Tim Stine has become the guitarist of choice for many groups/improv settings in the Chicago area since 2008, including his incredible work with the Nick Mazzarella Quintet. So it’s with extreme pleasure that we present the first physical release for Stine as a leader/writer with this self-titled Tim Stine Trio tape! Stine fills out his trio with the go-to Chicago rhythm section of Anton Hatwich on bass and Frank Rosaly on drums. The first thing that grabs you is that Stine plays acoustic guitar throughout the entire album…a beautiful, conceptual twist on the jazz guitar trio sound — The acoustic guitar adds an earthy, in-your-face feel that brings Stine’s playing to the foreground while Hatwich & Rosaly provide a strong & spacious background for Stine’s gorgeous melodies. This is the kind of guitar trio record we at AS have been waiting to hear and Tim Stine has gone beyond our wildest expectations… “Stine plays acoustic guitar and writes knotty, slaloming lines that express melodies in sudden rushes of activity—tangles of tightly clustered notes are followed by measures of silence, as if Derek Bailey had decided he wanted to swing again. Hatwich and Rosaly do an excellent job at giving the music a brisk energy, and their playing eschews any kind of clutter, giving the leader a sophisticated, spacious platform on which to embroider heaving-and-retreating melodies.” — Peter Margasak

Konstrukt

Live At Islington Mill (feat. Graham Massey & David Mclean)

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

The one and only KONSTRUKT from Istanbul are back at it again, this time with guests GRAHAM MASSEY (of 808 State) & DAVID McLEAN (Tombed Visions Records).

R. Lee Dockery & Smokey Emery

Cathedrelic

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

R. Lee Dockery & Smokey Emery team up again for the follow up their amazing debut "Spare Me Forever Just This Once" on No Kings. More of the same amazing atmospheric sounds.

Rankin-parker / Pearce

Odd Hits

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

You may remember Teddy Rankin-Parker (cello/electronics) & Daniel Pearce (drums) as 1/2 of Broken Trap Ensemble (alongside Aram Shelton & Kristina Dutton).

Talibam! & Alan Wilkinson

It Is Dangerous To Lean Out (e Pericoloso Sporgesrsi)

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Talibam! strikes again featuring two side long live takes with the one and only ALAN WILKINSON!

Black Spirituals

Black Tape

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Black Spirituals have been on our radar for quite some time, back to when I picked up a copy of their excellent 2014 LP “Of Deconstruction” on Sige Records. Since then they have released two tapes (on The Tapeworm & Ratskin/Sixty Hurts) not to mention garnering some critical acclaim from Ben Ratliff of the NY Times, as well as a European tour opening for Earth. But our patience has paid off and Black Spirituals has delivered “Black Tape” a powerful document of what they do best.Black Spirituals is the duo of Zachary James Watkins (guitar, electronics) & Marshall Trammell (drums). They each have rather impressive and elaborate resumes that run the gamut from degrees in composition to social justice work and many things in between, including for both a love of improvisation. There is nothing about Black Spirituals sound that immediately makes one think of improv or free jazz…yet the way these two meld their varied influences and their own idiosyncratic styles with each other is larger than pinning it to a specific type of improv. To quote the title of their recent tape it is true “High Vibration Resonance”…or as Ben Ratliff puts it, “From beginning to end, you might have heard the influence of the polyrhythmic free-jazz drummer Milford Graves; the slow, distorted, guitar-riff repetitions in a band like Earth, with whom the duo recently toured; and improvising electronic musicians like Toshimaru Nakamura…That alone, the mixture of those different paradigms — even on paper — is fairly exciting”...

Chatoyant

Place Of Other Destination

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Incredibly thrilled to present a new group from Detroit, Chatoyant who have given us a real burner in their new tape Place of Other Destination. Two side long explorations that touch on Mwandishi era Herbie Hancock with a dose of Grateful Dead & a healthy dose of American Tapes influence. Landing somewhere on the jazz spectrum, but also somewhere completely out beyond. A truly beautiful thing.For a little background on Chatoyant, I’ll let Tristan Bath’s eloquent review for Spool’s Out sum it up nicely:“This improv group from Detroit includes several intensely interesting instrumentalists from the city. There’s “Crazy” James Baljo (aka the big bearded current guitarist from Wolf Eyes) playing drums. Then there’s Marko Novachcoff – a very in-demand player of many wind instruments – and double bassist Joel Peterson, here only playing Crazy Jim’s Fender Rhodes for some reason. Local Detroit legend Matt Smith, who’s played with everyone from Kim Fowley to Sixto Rodriguez (aka that guy from Searching For Sugarman), contributes his usual electric guitar….The group defy all logic, tinkering keys and scraping drum skins like those apes at the start of 2001, never expressing emotions as clear as anger, aggression, sadness, or joy.”This recording will haunt you, it’ll stick with you, it’s a slow burner that gets better with each listen. Is it free jazz? Or jazz at all? Sure? Who cares? Just listen to it. It’s beautiful.

Lotte Anker / Fred Lonberg-Holm & Dave Jackson / Dirk Serries

Two Duos

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is incredibly proud to present a new split tape Two Duos, featuring four amazing improvisers. This tape is set up as two different takes on a Reeds & Strings duo, with each side showing a unique take on the classic duo pairing.Fred Lonberg-Holm returns to Astral Spirits for his third release (following Ballister & Survival Unit III) here paired with the brilliant Danish saxophonist Lotte Anker. The duo was recorded in Chicago at Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery, a beautiful and intimate setting that captures some truly beautiful music. Anker & Lonberg-Holm have been playing as a duo (and as part of larger ensembles) together since 2011 — their initial show was following Link Wray!! They explore far reaches of their respective instruments — from harsh & jagged edged cello scrapes & electronics of Lonberg-Holm to growling flutters out of Anker’s sax — while also leaving plenty of space and breathing room for each other.Dave Jackson & Dirk Serries are also new to Astral Spirits, showing a different side to the strings/reeds dynamic…Dave Jackson has been playing alto sax in the UK for quite some time, focusing on lots of solo playing (please visit his bandcamp, lots of great stuff) as well as the Solar Fire Trio (also features fellow AS artist Ray Dickaty of Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra!). Dirk Serries has been making a splash in the music world for quite some time as well, from his recent work with YODOK III, Kodian Trio (w/Colin Webster) & his work...

Icepick

Amaranth

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Icepick is the new trio of Nate Wooley (trumpet), Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten (double bass) & Chris Corsano (drums). “Amaranth,” the group’s first studio recording, was tracked in a single day in Austin, TX by Ian Rundell (of Ghetto Ghouls), and finds the trio building upon their debut cassette, “Hexane” from 2014. Icepick sculpt pointed & succinct songs out of classic free jazz improvisations. Wooley, Haker-Flaten & Corsano are all at the top of their game here, sounding incredibly comfortable yet inspired in this trio setting. Many who found the debut release a promising start for this group will not be disappointed with the stronger fidelity and stronger connection between these three players.

McPhee, Joe

Zurich (1979)

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

We are incredibly honored to present Joe McPhee’s “Zurich (1979)” LP…this LP features a previously unreleased 19 minute solo tenor sax recording from 1979. Astral Spirits Records was named after the song “Astral Spirits” on Joe McPhee’s classic “Trinity” LP so this is a true honor for us. This recording also is quite fitting as it was made directly to cassette tape back in 1979 and now is pressed onto vinyl for the first time ever! The vinyl master/laquer was cut in Austin, TX by Adam Smith (Columbus Discount Records/Necropolis/Unholy Two) on an old 1940’s lathe that was quite a beautiful thing to see & hear. The music speaks for itself in true McPhee fashion, from softly blown themes to roars of fortissimo and all places in between. A true joy to listen to McPhee from the late 70’s again.

Bouchons D'oreilles / Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra

S/t

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Quite excited to present this split tape featuring two top groups out of Warsaw, Poland: Bouchons D’Oreilles & Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra.Bouchons D’Oreilles is a new duo of Łukasz Kacperczyk (synth) & Mateusz Wysocki (laptop) that focuses on improvisation through electronics. Kacperczyk is a member of the groups Cukier, Paper Cuts & Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra & Wysocki is better known as Fischerle & also runs the amazing Pawlacz Perski label. Both have released albums on such impressive labels as Wounded Knife, Monotype Records, Adventures in Dubbing & Chemical Tapes among others. Bouchons D’Oreilles side of this split tape features intense studies in sound that come across as composed but are the results of intense improvisational experiments.Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra is a large ensemble focused on the concept of instant composition. The group was established in 2013 by the saxophonist Ray Dickaty (known for his work with Spiritualized among many others). Dickaty has been a fixture on the Warsaw improv scene and brings together the Orchestra which on this recording is 30 members strong (including Piotr Melech, Lukasz Kacperczyk, Natan Kryszk, Michal Maota, Patryk Zakrocki and many others) for an incredible performance captured live at Laboratorium at Centre for the Contemporary Art (CSW Zamek Ujazdowski) to a sold out audience (as opposed to their regular monthly gigs that are more “workshops” for the group). The concert garnered rave reviews from the Polish press and we are beyond excited to present an immaculately recorded document of said evening.Although you may not currently be familiar...

Survival Unit III

Straylight (Live At Jazzhouse Copenhagen)

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

We are proud to present another chapter from the powerhouse known as Survival Unit III…Joe McPhee, Fred Lonberg-Holm & Michael Zerang have been playing together as SUIII for well over 2 decades now and continue to refine and expand their horizons.Straylight is light in an optical system, which was not intended in the design. The light may be from the intended source, but follow paths other than intended, or it may be from a source other than the intended source. This light will often set a working limit on the dynamic range of the system; it limits the signal-to-noise ratio or contrast ratio, by limiting how dark the system can be.This definition of Straylight applies here due to a slight mixup during production. You may find similarities with another SUIII release called “Straylight” on Zerang’s own Pink Palace Records, which was recorded 9 months after this tape. Turns out that with both releases in production at the same time there was an accidental mixup and the same titles were sent for both of these releases. However in the beautiful words of Joe McPhee himself:“It looks like in the fog of war, signals got crossed. I think honesty is the best policy here. In our fly by the seat of your pants world, sometimes our balls hang out. As Cecil Taylor’s solo Hat Hut recording proclaims, “IT IS IN THE BREWING LUMINOUS.” The music will tell the story, making the whole project all the more a collector’s item.”Indeed we certainly believe...

Gate, The

Chuck

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

The Gate is an unlikely trio featuring Dan Peck (tuba), Tom Blancarte (electric upright bass) & Brian Osborne (percussion) that has willed it’s way into existence over the past 5 years, with 4 previous releases that have beaten down all expectations of what they can or should sound like. The Gate’s new tape “Chuck” follows on the heels of last years stunning “Stench” LP…side A of “Chuck” finds the trio going full-bore into free jazz improv, but as expected this isn’t your average blowing session, The Gate delve into areas that bring to mind more out sounds of Wolf Eyes or No Neck Blues Band but still maintain a free jazz sensibility throughout. Just when you think you’ve figured out their game Side B comes along with the 26 minute through-composed piece “The Huldrefish” that features the trio with guests Nate Wooley (trumpet, amplifier) & Tim Dahl (electric bass). The sounds are still dark and foreboding but as much of their metal-tinged imagery would suggest, but there is an added sense of composure and purpose. Epic in every possible sense.

In The Sea

Henry Crabapple Dissappear

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

We at Astral Spirits are incredibly proud of this amazing release from the new group In The Sea and their debut tape release “Henry Crabapple Disappear”! Not only does In The Sea feature some of Montreal’s finest talents in Nicolas Caloia (double bass, leader of Ratchet Orchestra), Joshua Zubot (violin, has played with Matana Roberts, Land of Kush, Ratchet Orchestra, etc) & Isaiah Ceccarella (drums) but also features the legendary Tristan Honsinger (cello, voice, of ICP Orchestra)!!! The american born Honsigner started his illustrious improv career 40+ years ago in Montreal (after moving from Boston to avoid the draft and eventually settling in Europe), this release finds him returning to his Montreal roots with some of the best improv players on the current Montreal scene. In The Sea finds the quartet diving into 50+ minutes of world-altering improv that stretch the boundaries of free improvisation: fluttering strings, wrangled double bass bowing, clattering percussion and stream-of-consciousness meets gibberish spoken vocals intertwine to create a seamless album. There is an elegance & playful lyricism to their vibrant collective sounds but not without a sense of purpose and power in their execution that can only come from the years of experience represented in this group. This is free jazz that comes straight from the heart, and the gut! Powerful and enthralling.

Mazzarella / Haker-Flaten / Ra

Azimuth (Live At Constellation)

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

We are very excited to present a first time meeting of the incredible trio of Nick Mazzarella, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten & Avreeayl Ra! “Azimuth (Live at Constellation)” is exactly that…their first meeting recording live at Constellation in Chicago, IL one year ago in September 2014. 60+ minutes of pure free improv that finds each member of the trio venturing outside of their comfort zones.When Ingebrigt initially gave us the recordings of this show he made a specific point to mention that Avreeayl is on fire…and indeed Avreeayl is quite animated, stretching into many different zones (and beyond) where the Phil Cohran/Sun Ra influences are quite apparent. But this is a TRIO recording and both Haker-Flaten & Mazzarella turn in masterful performances. Haker-Flaten as always knows when to turn on the power and when to lay back into the groove, always with a masterful command that shapes and prods the improv. Nick Mazzarella may be a (slightly) lesser-known name in free jazz circles but I’m sure that will change very shortly. Mazzarella has been tearing up the Chicago scene (playing with his own trio as well as Ken Vandermark’s Audio One, Chicago Reed Quartet, and many many more) and is set to become one of the head honchos…Mazzarella’s playing on the opening 30 minute epic “Vega” goes from measured tones to almost Roscoe Mitchell-esque runs by the end and all levels in between. Most of what we’ve heard from Nick has been in more compositional settings so it’s extra exciting to hear...

Kid Millions & Jim Sauter

Bloom

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is proud to present the mind melting follow up to Kid Millions & Jim Sauter’s LP “Fountain” on Family Vineyard last year with their brand new tape “Bloom.” The tape finds presents studio material as well as live material (recorded over the last few years) that takes on an exhilarating & mind-melting journey. Each individual may be better known for past accomplishments…Kid Millions is a leading force behind Oneida, People of the North, Man Forever, Soldiers of Fortune, J. Spaceman & Kid Millions as well as drumming for Spiritualized among many others. While Jim Sauter is incredibly well known for his legendary group Borbetomagus as well as many collaborations with with Don Dietrich, Thurston Moore and others. Together the two take their well known talents and create a world that’s not quite free jazz, not quite noise, not quite rock, but a little of all of those together. It’s a true pleasure hearing Jim Sauter’s saxophone playing pushed to a different level with the non-stop insistency of Kid Millions drumming especially after making a name for himself with the drumless Borbetomagus. “Bloom” finds Millions & Sauter pushing their voices against each other to create a raucous fury for 42 minutes that plays out in all kinds of unique and surprising ways. Fans of these musicians will not be disappointed by the music on “Bloom” and hopefully listeners on all sides of the free jazz/noise and all parts in between spectrums will find something new and exciting...

Taco Bells With Pekka Airaksinen

S/t

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Do you know Taco Bells? You should. The trio of Sami Pekkola (tenor sax), Tero Kemppainen (double bass) & Jaakkoo Tolvi (drums) have been tearing up their homeland of Finland & the rest of Europe for some time now…pushing their Albert Ayler inspired sound upon suspecting and unsuspecting crowds. Their energy and ferocity is unparalleled, their telepathic communication is seamless & their sound is pure ecstatic joy.Taco Bells have released a handful of LPs as well as multiple tapes since 2007 that find them challenging free jazz & sound…all three musicians have also made names for themselves across Europe in other groups such as Mohel, Kemialliset Ystavat, Rauhan Orkesteri & Jooklo Finnish Quartet among others. and Taco Bells have also been known for adding guest musicians live & on recordings, from Dylan Nyoukis, Martin Kuchen, Mette Rasmussen & Stuart Arnot among others. For this unbelievably special release Taco Bells features an incredible guest in Pekka Airaksinen (Finnish avant music pioneer, “One Point Music,” THE SPERM, etc). An excerpt below from the liner notes included as a special insert with the tape written by Scott McDowell (The Long Rally/WFMU): “Ultimately this is a set of music full of revelations. Side A begins with Pekka dictating the flow with dancing Glockenspiel-like tones, in duo exchange with Jaakko, until the remaining members join in, the energy gradually surging. One can hear a period of discovery dissipating into fruitful communication. A surprising regular pulse emerges, almost Latin in flavor, before...

Wally Shoup Sax Trio + One

Copaesthetics

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is incredibly honored to present a new recording from the one and only Wally Shoup. Longtime stalwart of the Seattle creative music scene Wally has played with a who’s who of folks in the worlds of jazz, improv, rock, noise & more…from his time with Davey Williams & LaDonna Smith in Birmingham, to his group Project W touring with Sonic Youth, and subsequent recordings with Thurston Moore. Also that doesn’t even get us to collaborations with Nels Cline, Chris Corsano, Paul Flaherty, Jeph Jarman and more. Shoup has built an incredible history, and this tape finds himWally Shoup Sax Trio + One finds Shoup in a slightly unconventional configuration exploring uncharted territory. Throughout Shoup & company use the language of free improv to reference Rova Sax Quartet or Art Ensemble of Chicago zones but expand and build upon these influences into exciting new territories…a truly unique sound. Shoup enlists some amazing new players on the Seattle free improv scene: Neil Welch (tenor sax, also a member of Bad Luck & King Tears Bat Trip), Jacob Zimmerman (tenor sax) & Carmen Rothwell (double bass). The four pieces on “Copaesthetics” cover a wide stylistic range, from the opening Ayler-esque crys in “Isoptopic Vestiges” they move into full blown Ascension style fire music, eventually flowing into beautifully melodic passages and further into the dark sounds of “Dark Luminescence.” An enlightening experience where the group shows their collective experience fully and honestly.

Majkowski, Mike

Neighbouring Objects

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is proud to present Mike Majkowski’s solo follow-up to the brillant “Why Is There Something Instead of Nothing?” on Bocian Records in 2013. Majkowski is a double bassist residing in Berlin (via Australia) whose solo recordings as well as his work with Hailu Mergia, Lotto, Strike (with Will Guthrie), Roil (with Chris Abrahams of the Necks), Fabric Trio and more have made him a force to be reckoned with on the European improv scene.“Neighbouring Objects” continues Majkowski’s use of incredible bowing technique but also flushes it out with sounds from accordion, percussion, piano & field recordings all played by Majkowski himself. The compositions on “Neighbouring Objects” create dense & dark moods that ebb and flow just below the surface to create an impressively nuanced album. This is an extremely focused piece of work that sounds less like the work of a double bassist and more like a lost Terry Riley or Henry Flynt album. Majkowski just came to the US for the first time this April and wowed audiences across the south & midwest. Let’s hope it isn’t long before he comes back but until then thank god we have this beautiful album to tide us over.

SSBT

247 Main

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is excited to present the third tape release from Austin-based group SSBT. “247 Main” was recorded on tour in the pacific northwest in 2014. SSBT is a free improvisation trio of Chris Cogburn (percussion, No Idea Festival founder), Steve Jansen (guitar, saxophone, tape manipulation, worked with Frank Rosaly Christina Carter, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, James Fella and more) & Parham Daghighi (an Iranian-American artist who focues on electric guitar, alto saxophone & vocal/text work rooted in the Persian language).Each side of the tape presents different sides to SSBT’s personality, from the inital free jazz ecstasy of “Pockets” to the minimal, electro-acoustic explorations of “Cool Problems” and many other places in between. Throughout the 40 minutes of the tape sounds emanate from all corners that defy strict definitions. Instruments & sounds meld into one another without knowledge of their exact origins. A growing empathy has become quite apparent (especially on 247 Main) among these three improvisers…it has only grown stronger through touring & playing together over the past few years. SSBT has roots from noise to free jazz to electronic music and beyond but they are fast on their way to creating their own unique sound world that defies categorization.

Mazurek, Rob

Vortice Of The Faun

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is unbelievably stoked to unleash a brand new Rob Mazurek tape “Vortice of the Faun” into the world! This is Mazurek’s second tape release after the absolutely stunning “Alternate Moon Cycles” release on International Anthem last year. But more interestingly this is Mazurek’s first solo electronic outing since his equally stunning “Sweet and Vicious Like Frakenstein” way back in 2004 on Editions Mego. This tape holds 80 minutes of pure abstract beauty: at times harsh, at times soft, but always moving forward into new territories as Mazurek has done throughout his 25 year career.“Vortice of the Faun is Mazurek’s latest cassette release and was entirely constructed through electro-acoustic means, utilizing oscillators and modules designed by The Harvestman (Seattle) and MakeNoise (Asheville), some of which sample acoustic sources, though most of the cassette is created from purely electronic sounds. Hundreds of samples and audio colors were collected, and the portable rack that contains these devices – a recent addition to his quiver – has granted a tough additional dimension to Mazurek’s canvas. Furthermore, this set is not entirely solo – one piece, “Arc in Light of Faun Tiger Born” features four separately conducted rabeca tracks performed by Thomas Rohrer that have been woven into a landscape of glitches, fluffs, and flinty whirrs. Mazurek has never appeared to merely augment his brass with electronic resources; rather, his dedication to electronic music is an extension of the brass tradition. There’s physicality, often abrupt but always shaped, to this music – at...

Boxhead Ensemble

La Hora Magica

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Michael Krassner is a musician you’ve most likely heard but you probably haven’t realized it.  Krassner has been composing music under the Boxhead Ensemble (as well as many other outlets) since 1991 and although releases have been somewhat sparse – with releases in the late 90’s and early 00’s on Atavistic, and most recently their LP on Hired Hand last year – we at Astral Spirits couldn’t be more excited and proud to present yet another installment in the Boxhead Ensemble discography.  Boxhead Ensemble has featured an ever rotating line-up since it’s beginning, which has included such notables as Edith Frost, David Grubbs, Tim Rutili, Glenn Kotche, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Jim O’Rourke, Doug McCombs, Will Oldham, Scott Tuma, Mick Turner, Ken Vandermark & Jim White. Krassner has been the only consistent member. Boxhead Ensemble has generally been an outlet of music to accompany film and although there may not be an actual film for “La Hora Magica” (if someone wants to make said film please let me know) the music suggests more beyond what is present — this is music to get lost in, or forget that it’s even on, in the best possible way.  The track “Cats Cup” takes a simple guitar loop that sounds like it was recorded on a beach and then adds layers of guitar, bass, violin & keyboards.  Nothing ever overtakes the guitar loop, yet sometimes it’s hard to remember that the loop is there and sometimes it’s hard to hear anything beyond the...

Red Trio

Live In Munich

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

After several stunning releases from RED Trio on esteemed labels such as Clean Feed, NoBusiness & Bocian Records, Astral Spirits is incredibly honored to present the first release from RED Trio on a US based label. Not only that but this is also only their 3rd release solely as a trio sans guests. “Live in Munich” documents an incredible show from Munich recorded less than a year ago in April 2014. RED Trio continues their deconstructive assault on the piano trio concept to give it an entirely new meaning and language. Rodrigo Pinheiro (piano), Hernani Faustino (double bass) & Gabriel Ferrandini (drums) have asserted themselves as some of the most in demand improvisers in Lisbon and all of Europe…working with Nate Wooley, John Butcher, Matthias Stahl, Rob Mazurek, Rodrigo Amado, Raymond Strid, Chris Corsano, John Zorn just to name a few! “Live in Munich” features two side long tracks that once again document the mesmerizing interplay between these three…from breathtakingly melodic to intensely quiet to violent outbursts of energy. The piano never takes center stage, the rhythm section isn’t really a rhythm section, each player creates sounds weave together incredible emotional depth and sonic range from three simple acoustic instruments. “Live in Munich” is yet another daring and essential release from RED Trio, one of the most important working groups in free jazz at the moment.

Tredici Bacci / Enpse

Vai! Vai! Vai! (Musica Dal Filmato Originale) / Concetti

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is incredibly proud to present the second release from Tredici Bacci following their incredible debut “The Thirteen Kisses” on NNA Tapes in April 2014. Here we find Tredici Bacci’s leader Simon Hanes and his 14 piece ensemble delving deeper into incredible homages to the late 60’s and 70’s Italian soundtrack zone with his own film score to “Vai! Vai! Vai!” (a fake film that will probably never exist) as well as a new sister group ENPSE (Ensemble for the Exploration of New Perspectives in Collective Sound Exploration) which explores the group improv sounds similar to Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza on their side of the tape, “Concetti.”On Vai! Vai! Vai!, we find Simon with the same 14 piece ensemble deeper into a more nuanced and evocative sound world. The pieces flow together more cohesively and suggest an actual story-arc. Sure there are the theme songs like opening track “Papa Schizzare” and 70’s surf influenced “Sesso in Futuro” but on tracks like “L’amore e la tragedia sul treno” and “Coda” Tredici Bacci hit on more subtle notes. “Coda” in particular is one of the more beautiful and evocative interludes of film music that I’ve heard since the days of Henry Mancini, Michel Legrand or Georges Delerue.On Concetti we are confronted with a very different beast from the opening scream. ENPSE is a brilliant homage to Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, from more direct references like “con un colpo discotecha” but also streches some of Gruppo’s original ideas into new...

Shit And Shine

Chakin'

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Shit & Shine on a jazz label? Yes indeed. This is THE Shit & Shine with a brand new tape “Chakin” on Astral Spirits. We couldn’t be more excited about it. Craig Clouse has gained notoriety over the years for wide arrays of stylistic moves from long­form repetition & noise rock to his more recent dance/disco output on labels like Diagonal, Gangsigns, Rocket Recordings, Load, Rock is Hell, Riot Season and more. He’s worked throughout the years with many different collaborators but the list on “Chakin’” is stunning, here Clouse is joined by Ingebrigt Haker­Flaten (The Thing, Atomic, Icepick, etc), Pete Simonelli (The Enablers), King Coffey (Butthole Surfers) & Nate Cross (Marriage).The music on “Chakin’” is true to the spirit of Shit & Shine as we see repetitive loops but with a focus on improvisation overlayed onto the grooves…layers of Wurlizter and Rhodes electric pianos, assorted percussion, acoustic bass and more permeate throughout. Half the album was recorded live in the “Chak” and some may even recognize bits from the amazing Shit & Shine Tuesday Jazz Chat series on YouTube.“Denim Do’s and Don’ts” is the real masterpiece here though. A 17 minute free jazz meets krautrock and all zones in between journey complete with narration from Pete Simonelli & bass playing from Ingebrigt Haker­Flaten. A truly epic Shit & Shine track that builds off past accomplishments but also looks toward the future, as Clouse always tends to do.

Ballister

The Ballister Monologues

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is proud to present another chapter in the Ballister catalog — following 2 self-released CD’s, as well as acclaimed releases on Clean Feed and Bocian, AND an upcoming release on Rempis’ own Aerophonic imprint.  “The Ballister Monologues” (AS005/MF080) is their first TAPE release & captures Ballister live in Austin, TX in the spring of 2014 playing for a cozy crowd on what would be their last show of a US tour.  The playing is rugged and muscular, yet they aren’t one dimensional, the jagged edges are smoothed out by their turn-on-a-dime interplay.  This tape is indeed a monologue of the singular sound that Dave Rempis, Fred Lonberg-Holm & Paal Nilssen-Love have created over the course of the last 5 years.As fans of the music will recognize, this is inevitably a hard-hitting group. The unabashed energy of Rempis and Nilssen-Love, coupled with the electrified cello antics of Lonberg-Holm, make for a powerful listening experience that combines driving grooves with noisy textures and occasional melodic interjections. These sliding and overlapping rhythms often give the music a feeling as if a rug is slowly being pulled out from underneath the listener while the music still maintains a strong forward momentum. Reference points include the Julius Hemphill groups of the 70′s and 80′s featuring Abdul Wadud, Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time, and the early 70′s explorations of Miles Davis’ electric bands.

Broken Trap Ensemble

Upes

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits is extremely proud to present “Upés” the debut release from the Broken Trap Ensemble.Broken Trap Ensemble is a new group built from the extremely fertile Bay Area creative music scene of late. Aram Shelton, Teddy Rankin-Parker, Kristina Dutton & Daniel Pearce are all familiar names to the west coast improv scene (and Chicago as ¾ of them spent time there as well) and this release should help make them all more visible on a larger scale.The music on this tape borrows from a wide array of disciplines, from jazz, modern improv, classical, folk, drone and beyond conjuring an otherworldly atmosphere that can bring to mind disparate artists such as Sun Ra, Terry Riley, Bo-Anders Persson, Don Cherry, Henry Flynt and beyond.  The Broken Trap Ensemble explores the group dynamic through the use of strings, reeds, and percussion, employing traditional and experimental techniques. An aural latticework with slyly dissembled origins, each instrument reflecting the timbre and texture of the others as the group burrows into a singular sound.“While the four musicians on this recording may not be household names (even in the relatively small household of free improvisaiton), that should not dissuade — revelatory string improvisations that nevertheless hew towards classicism, sensitive and telepathic percussive color, and the subdued clarity of Shelton’s alto make the Broken Trap Ensemble an engaging and uncommon listen” –Clifford Allen (from the liner notes to “Upés”)

Guthrie, Will

Stepped Stoned

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Astral Spirits presents “Stepped Stoned” (AS004/MF079) from France-based drummer Will Guthrie.  “Stepped Stoned”  is a tour-de-force of solo percussion that can stand alongside heavyweights such as Han Bennink, Milford Graves, Tony Oxley, Chris Corsano and more.  “Stepped Stoned” is an uninterrupted 34 minute live recording from a show in Le Havre, France.  There is a fluidity to the piece that will leave you breathless….building from a near inaudible cymbal patter to a cascade of drums and buzzing percussion and back again, truly epic in scope and execution.

Dikeman, John

The Double Trio

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

John Dikeman has been a busy man making a name for himself as an American born saxophonist living abroad in Amsterdam since 2007 (with short stints in NYC, Philadelphia & Cairo, Egypt prior). He is a member of free-wheeling noise/improv group Cactus Truck and also plays in the trio Universal Indians who just did a tour with Joe McPhee! On top of that John has played with William Parker, Hamid Drake, Han Bennink, Andy Moor, Terrie Ex, Roy Campbell, Ab Baars, Wilbert De Joode, Fred Lonberg-Holm among many others! This particular tape “The Double Trio” finds Dikeman back on US soil in 2011 in Chicago, IL leading a group featuring some of Chicago’s top improvisers: Jeb Bishop, Joshua Abrams, Jason Roebke, Mike Reed & Frank Rosaly. This is the kind of recording that invites multiple listens, revealing new layers every time.

Icepick

Hexane

Monofonus Press / Astral Spirits

Icepick is a new trio featuring Nate Wooley, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten & Chris Corsano. “Hexane,” the debut release from Icepick was recorded live less than a year ago in Brooklyn. All three of these players have made names for themselves worldwide as musicians and with Icepick they will add to their exhaustive resumes. But this isn’t just a one-off venture…this is a band! The tape features two wide-ranging improvisations. To quote Clifford Allen from the liner notes for this release, “the three are able to merge painstaking detail, Milesian pathos and explosive, post-Albert Ayler energy music with one well-named experiential tool.”