Ivo Perelman and Nate Wooley Go Berserk on ‘Polarity 2’
Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and trumpeter Nate Wooley explore the limits of free jazz on this welcome sequel with its power of boundless musical interplay.
avant-garde
‘Chameleon Street’ Pushes the Limits of Independent Cinema
Chameleon Street has a finger on the throbbing pulse of shifting cultures that see youth through punk, new wave, and hip-hop.
Jessica Pavone Interprets Womens’ Work Through the Ages
Eclectic composer Jessica Pavone pays tribute to women-made inventions through powerful musical compositions and performances in her new string ensemble album.
Jessica Ackerley, Kevin Cheli, and Gahlord DeWald Create Experimental ‘Submerging Silently’
Jessica Ackerley and co. offer a fascinating, experimental one-off recording that sees three musicians playing off each other with wild, unpredictable results.
Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri Adapt ‘Oedipe’ for Modern Jazz
Though Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri’s Oedipe Redux is quite a technical achievement, it faces an uphill battle when it comes to stirring the soul.
No Sex Please, We’re British: Coil’s Subversively Overt Homosexuality
Homosexuality drove experimental band Coil’s creativity, yet they rejected the demand that they either embrace performative homosexuality or remain discreet and closeted.
Natural Information Society’s ‘Since Time Is Gravity’ Derives Energy From Communion
The music Joshua Abrams makes with his Natural Information Society is at once inviting, spell-inducing, and consciousness provoking.
15 Essential Scott Walker Songs
We celebrate the career of experimental pop pioneer Scott Walker through 15 of his essential songs.
Storm de Hirsch’s Utterly Unclassifiable Feature Film ‘Goodbye in the Mirror’
Thematically and stylistically, Storm de Hirsch’s Goodbye in the Mirror is a bizarre amalgam of films by Varda, Cassavetes, Akerman, Wishman, and a dozen other directors working across mainstream, independent, and avant-garde contexts.
Liturgy’s ‘93696’ Delivers Ecstasy, Physicality, and Intellectual Endeavor
Already noted for their determination to challenge themselves and their listeners, Liturgy’s 93696 shows them refusing to settle for less when more is possible.
Filling Hearts With Diamonds: An Interview with Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix of Liturgy
Exemplified by the new album 93696, Liturgy have moved ever further out into space all their own, tethered only by a slender cable to their sonic point of origin.
Stephanie Lamprea Creates a Fearless Interpretation of an Avant-Garde Song Cycle
Colombian-American soprano Stephanie Lamprea brings a spectacular amount of vocal technique to a challenging, unique, and weirdly playful piece of music.