Ari Abramowitz’s Top Ten — November 19

by Ari Abramowitz
19 November 2006

1. DANAVA – Danava (Kemado)

   Anxiously-awaited debut of prog, psych, Hawkind-inspired, yet highly distinctive, hard rock.

2. SOLAR ANUS – Skull Alcoholic (Tumult)

   Two-disc anthology of Japanese outsider space-psych-doom rock.

3. ZEBULON PIKE – The Deafening Twilight (Unfortunate Music)

   Epic, heavy, prog, metal instrumentals.

4. DONALD BYRD – Ethiopian Nights (Blue Note)

   Smoking, early 70s jazz funk that’s a bit influenced by Miles’ work of the time, but looser, more organic, more spliffed.

5. MAGMA – Live Bobino DVD (Seventh)

   Formerly bootleg footage from their lesser-documented, jazzier, soul-gospel-disco-influenced period.

6. HUNDRED SIGHTS OF KOENJI – Live At Doors (Magaibutsu)

   Quality live dvd of heavily Magma-influenced prog from Tatsuya Yoshida and company.

7. ROVO Flage (Warners Japan)

   Drop-dead dazzling, post-Ozric Tentacles neo-psych jams with lead violin and a spectacular double drum line-up.

8. www.archive.org

   Massive and growing collection of live recordings by underground (mostly jam-based) bands, for free download or streaming.

9. KOLLECTIV – SWF Sessions (Long Hair)

   Jazzy kraurock, anchored by a strong, organic pulse and capable flute and guitar leads.

10. JOE CARDUCCI – Rock And The Pop Narctic (Redoubt Press)

    Vital, passionate and sometimes maddeningly head-scratching opus of rock criticism trying to lay out a true aesthetics of rock.