Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Farmer's Market - Surfin’ USSR
Farmer's MarketSurfin’ USSR
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Improbable permutations of traditional Bulgarian melodies along with jazz, folk, and rock that have been percolated to oblique perfection. The songs often lead with uptempo folk rhythms that are broken with soundtrack-ish ambiance and other delightful distractions.
• Farmer's Market Website • Farmer's Market WikiLost Dream - The Lost Dream
Lost DreamThe Lost Dream
Label: Craig Sound Productions
This ambitious self-taught multi-instrumentalist composed, arranged, recorded, mixed and produced this release. She also played the entire range of instruments. Attempting to reconcile rock’n’roll with ambient atmospheres around a concept of lost hope sounds good in theory, but unfortunately comes off a bit flaccid and overly subdued.
Putumayo Presents - African Party
Putumayo PresentsAfrican Party
Label: Putumayo World Music
Celebrating Putumayo’s 15th Anniversary with a great compilation that pays tribute to the spirit of the music that inspired the label’s inception. With 20 million CDs sold, Putumayo’s world music party has been a global hit and “African Party” is another to add their list of success.
• Putumayo Presents Website • Putumayo Presents WikiMusicians For Minneapolis - 57 Songs For the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort
Musicians For Minneapolis57 Songs For the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort
Label: Electrovoice
Produced by audio equipment giant, Electro-Voice, the only thing longer than the title of this 3-CD release is the list of amazing musicians contributing to this self-explanatory fund raising project. Dick Dale, George Clinton, DJ Spooky, Calexico, Les Claypool and MANY, many more.
• Musicians For Minneapolis WebsiteEivind Opsvik - Overseas III
Eivind OpsvikOverseas III
Label: Loyal Label
Classic straight jazz turned into an ambient field and then nudged with noise, progressive elements and a few electronica glitches. This Norwegian born and NYC based composer records and plays live with a 4-piece ensemble called Overseas.
• Eivind Opsvik WebsiteFeelin Band - The Sacred Play Of Life
Feelin BandThe Sacred Play Of Life
Label: Wake The World
Soulful crooning compliments the flowing piano and contemplative writing style with a folk, jazz and jam-infused bluesy backbone. This talented Twin Cities group rounds it out with some occasional Spanish influences.
• The Feelin Band WebsiteRosa Passos - Romance
Rosa PassosRomance
Label: Telarc
Sultry and intimate female vocals sparkle and shine, complimented by mellow smooth jazz and bossa nova ripples. This Brazilian native takes time to explore matters of the heart as she expands upon her three decade career. A little mellow for me, but she’s a great singer!
• Rosa Passos Website • Rosa Passos WikiScifi - Scifi
ScifiScifi
Label: Coma Gun Music
Spaced out, mostly non-vocal jam rock that finds footholds in the jazz, funk, soul and techno world. At times the floaty jazzy grooves have whisked me off to a distant planet of fuzz, love and murmur. Delightful!
• Scifi WebsiteTeddy Presberg - Blueprint of Soul
Teddy PresbergBlueprint of Soul
Label: Ropeadope Records
A flowing improvisational funk-jam experience created as a musical impression of Portland; all done in one take. Quite an impressive excursion into the instrumental psychedelic jam rock realm
• Teddy Presberg Website • Teddy Presberg WikiLotus - Hammerstrike
LotusHammerstrike
Label: SCI Records
Offering fresh, funky, technodellic indie jams that have to date been almost totally non vocal. This time there are several tracks with vocal flaunts to broaden their horizons and stellar trajectories. Upward and onward.
• Lotus Website • Lotus Wiki- Theories of Tension
Theories of Tension
Label: Self Released
A many faceted award winning Madison based metal outfit that throws down some prog rock, math rock and extreme jazz compositions in an aspiring manner. Somehow the recording is loose/rough/thin in a few areas which diminishes the exuberant talent contained here.
• WebsiteZU - Carboniferous
ZUCarboniferous
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Cantankerous jazzy punk and experi-metal rife with overtones, harmonics and indifferent dissonance. This non-vocal trio from Rome breathes new visions of inspired avante art rock with every song penned and every blurry bass note they fondle.
• ZU WebsiteView More
Viewing Page 1 - of 5