Louis de Mieulle - Defense Mechanisms (2011)

Super tasty debut solo record from French jazz bassist Louis de Mieulle. Nocturnal, woozy, groove-y jazz-rock/fusion featuring a lot of work with out-of-sync time signatures -- I'm guessing there's a more concise, nerdier way term for that but I don't know it -- and the casually virtuosic drumming of Animals as Leaders' Matt Garstka. If you're a regular reader of this blog, this should be way up your alley.

Track listing:

1. Scapegoat 1

2. Scapegoat 2

3. Electric Cell Mutations

4. Skuld

5. Soundfrieze

6. The Ladybug and the Cockchafer

7. The Taste of Filth

8. Portrait de Famille

9. Solitude

Birth of an idiot

Similar sounds:

Hermann Szobel - Szobel (1976)

Percy Jones - Cape Catastrophe (1990)

Steve Tibbetts - Exploded View (1986)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Steve Tibbetts - Steve Tibbetts (1977) + Yr (1980)

Steve Tibbetts - The Fall of Us All (1994)

Steve Tibbetts & Knut Hamre - Å (1999)

If you've noticed that I've been even less active than usual on here, it's because I'm putting the finishing touches on my degree, and have been buried alive in a digital grave of spreadsheets, financial reports, essays, and zoom meetings. And as I mentioned on last month's post about new shit I've been listening to, I listen pretty much exclusively to Steve Tibbetts while doing school work -- for real, I have a playlist titled "SCHOOL" that's just Tibbetts' discography in chronological order.

However, what's truly extraordinary about this man's music is that not only does it hold up extremely well to both casual and close listening, but I never seem to tire of it, regardless of the countless hours I've spent with it. So here's one of my favorites of his. It's second only to The Fall of Us All in his discography in terms of sheer volume levels and intensity of performance, which means you're in for propulsive tribal percussion, dramatic vocals, and Tibbett's inimitable guitar stylings/feedback manipulation.

(Pro-tip: For even more, check the comments section on the The Fall of Us All post.)

Track listing:

1. Name Everything

2. Another Year

3. A Clear Day and No Memories

4. Your Cat

5. Forget

6. Drawing Down the Moon

7. The X Festival

8. Metal Summer

9. Assembly Field

Mind dust

Somewhat similar listening:

Michael Shrieve & Steve Roach - The Leaving Time (1988)

David Torn - What Means Solid, Traveler? (1996)

Vic Stevens' Mistaken Identities - No Curb Ahead (1997)

Dark-tinted jazz-rock/fusion led by drummer Vic Stevens. Discordant guitars, fretless bass courtesy of Percy Jones -- for about half the album, anyway -- some saxophone here and there, surprisingly (given that the groups's formed around a drummer) restrained drumming, and a whole lotta tasty, dated keyboard voices.

Track listing:

1. Useless Humans

2. The Sun Rises in the East

3. No Curb Ahead

4. Do the Do That You Do

5. I Travel Alone

6. Would You Like to Dance

7. Answers

8. A Party of Five

9. Buy the Weigh

Peaceful anxiety

If you like this, try:

Nicky Skopelitis - Ekstasis (1993)

Scott McGill - The Hand Farm (1997)

Scott McGill - The Hand Farm (1997)

Dissonant, noodle-y fusion/jazz-rock by American guitarist Scott McGill. The Hand Farm is all knotty, herky-jerky time signatures and manic, fluid fretwork, but there's something woozy and atmospheric at work that helps to elevate it above your standard fusion wank-fest.

Track listing:

1. The Great Unwashed

2. The Secret Linen Service

3. Pools

4. Death by D.M.V.

5. 2000 Allen Called

6. Uncle Zippy

7. Luggage

8. Ignoramus Rex

9. Calvinist Pancakes

10. Labyrinth

11. Alaskan Brick

Don't just do something, stand there

If you like this, listen to:

Percy Jones - Cape Catastrophe (1990)

Bruford Levin Upper Extremities - Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (1998)

Last Exit - Last Exit (1986)

Related:

Sonny Sharrock - Black Woman (1969)

Divination - Ambient Dub Vol. II - Dead Slow (1993)

Arcana - The Last Wave (1995)

Arcana - Arc of the Testimony (1997)

The Blood of Heroes - The Waking Nightmare (2012)

Discordant free jazz-rock madness from an incredible lineup of musicians. Sometimes feels more like no-wave than jazz. Also, just gonna disclose that I've struggled with attention/focus issues for my entire life, and the past week or so has been particularly rough in that regard. And around here, this has taken the form of things getting extra sloppy -- my last two posts were published with spelling errors in their goddamn titles (check the URLs) -- so sorry 'bout that. Onwards and upwards.

Track listing:

1. Discharge

2. Backwater

3. Catch as Catch Can

4. Red Light

5. Enemy Within

6. Crackin

7. Pig Freedom

8. Voice of a Skin Hanger

9. Zulu Butter

The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream

You might also wanna hear:

Musica Transonic - Musica Transonic (1995)

Slobber Pup - Black Aces (2013)

Steve Grossman - Terra Firma (1977)

Related:

Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer - Like Children (1974)

Jan Hammer - The First Seven Days (1975)

Stone Alliance - Stone Alliance (1976)

Sweaty, hard-driving fusion led by saxophonist Steve Grossman. Everyone’s firing on all cylinders, particularly the great Don Alias, whose percussion gives every song a major ass lift.

Track listing:

1. Katonah

2. In It

3. 37 Willoughby Place

4. Enya

5. Inmate Man

6. Relentless Lady

7. This Way Out

Pressure point

Also listen to:

John Lee & Gerry Brown - Infinite Jones (1974)

Michel Herr, Bill Frisell, Vinton Johnson, Kermit Driscoll - Good Buddies (1978)

Ragnarök - Ragnarök (1976)

Laid-back Swedish prog. Folk- and jazz-infused, subtly expansive instrumentals for gazing at the stars, or -- if you, like me, live in an area where there's too much light/actual pollution to really see anything up there aside from a gray haze -- pretending that you're gazing at the stars.

Track listing:

1. Farväl Köpenhamn

2. Promenader

3. Nybakat Bröd

4. Dagarnas Skum

5. Polska Från Kalmar

6. Fabriksfunky

7. Tatanga Mani

8. Fjottot

9. Stiltje-Uppbrott

10. Vattenpussar

Reflection from the star world above

You'd probably also enjoy:

Sergius Golowin - Lord Krishna Von Goloka (1973)

Franco Leprino - Integrati... Disintegrati (1977)

Lumen Drones - Lumen Drones (2014)

Droning, atmospheric sounds from a trio of Norwegian musicians -- guitar, violin, and drums. Slow-burning and often melancholic, with a sound that touches on jazz, post-rock, and psych. Fans of Dirty Three will find a lot to love here.

Track listing:

1. Dark Sea

2. Ira Furore

3. Anemone

4. Echo Plexus

5. Lux

6. Husky

7. Keelwater

8. Svartaskjaer

I remember a time when once you used to love me

You should also hear:

Pelt - Ayahuasca (2001)

Clear Horizon - Clear Horizon (2003)

Michel Herr, Bill Frisell, Vinton Johnson, Kermit Driscoll - Good Buddies (1978)

Related:
Bill Frisell - Rambler (1984)

How 'bout a little fusion to liven up your otherwise oppressively hopeless existence? And how did I only just find out earlier today that Bill Frisell plays on a bunch of The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull? Crazy. Discovering that made me want to hear maybe some more obscure Frisell stuff, which led me to Good Buddies. Features, among others, Frisell on guitar, and gratuitous nudity on the album cover.

Track listing:
1. Acapulco Bells
2. Frog Legs Vampin' in the Moonlight
3. I Think I Know What You Mean
4. Sans Blues Thank You
5. What Do You Mean, What Do You Mean?
6. Good Buddies

Smile on you

You should also listen to:

Paul Horn -
Dream Machine (1978)

Cam Newton -
Welcome Aliens (1980)

Percy Jones with Tunnels - Percy Jones with Tunnels (1993)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Percy Jones - Cape Catastrophe (1990)
Tunnels - Painted Rock (1999)

More excellent, dark-hued fusion/jazz-rock from bassist Percy Jones and company. A forceful, fretless-bass-driven rhythm section, jagged guitars, warped synth, and evocative, textural atmospheres.

Track listing:
1. Inseminator
2. Prisoner of the Knitting Factory Hallway
3. Tunnels
4. Maxwell's Demon
5. Bad American Dream, Pt. 24
6. Free Bander
7. Area
8. Barrio
9. Slick
10. Improvisation

I awoke in a sweat from the American Dream
They were loading the bomb bay of the iron bird
Giving their blood to the doomsday machine
I screamed into the wind my goodbye to the world

More like this:

Bruford Levin Upper Extremities -
Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (1998)

Metallic Taste of Blood -
Metallic Taste of Blood (2012)

Deodato - Love Island (1978)

Funky, punchy fusion from Brazilian keyboardist/composer Eumir Deodato. A colorful, lush instrumental palette that includes keys, strings, guitars, horns, woodwinds, and more.

Track listing:
1. Area Code 808
2. Whistle Bump
3. Tahiti Hut
4. San Juan Sunset
5. Love Island
6. Chariot of the God
7. Piña Colada
8. Take the 'A' Train

Very together

More like this:

Eddie Henderson -
Mahal (1978)

Lonnie Liston Smith -
Exotic Mysteries + Loveland (1978)

Pekka Pohjola - Keesojen Lehto (1977)

Related:
Sally Oldfield - Water Bearer (1978)

Excellent, epic prog/jazz-rock from Finnish composer Pekka Pohjola. I first heard this record in the form of a 1981 reissue, found in a bargain bin, that gives top billing to Mike and Sally Oldfield -- both of whom are featured throughout the album -- and, to my eyes, made Pohjola's name look like the name of the album. Thus, for years, I thought that this was Pekka Pohjola by Mike and Sally Oldfield. Whoopsy-doozle.

Track listing:
1. Oivallettu Matkalyhty
2. Kädet Suoristavat Veden
3. Matemaatikon Lentonäytös
4. Pääntaivuttelun Seuraukset, Osa 1: Sulamaan Jätetty Kipu
5. Pääntaivuttelun Seuraukset, Osa 2: Nykivä Keskustelu Tuntemattoman Kanssa
6. Varjojen Varaslähtö

Come go with me

Also listen to:

Maneige -
Les Porches (1975)

Picchio dal Pozzo -
Picchio dal Pozzo (1976)

Cam Newton - Welcome Aliens (1980)

Energetic, playful jazz-rock/fusion helmed by guitarist Cam Newton. Herky-jerky time signatures and intricate, busy playing help to create a sense of constant forward propulsion, even during more laid-back moments.

Track listing:
1. Heroic Proportions
2. Water Baby's Chant
3. In the Temple of the Falling Leaf
4. Cumulus Waltz
5. Welcome Aliens
6. Recent Developments
7. The Theme
8. Up the River

Whirlpool

If you like this, listen to:

Out of Focus -
Four Letter Monday Afternoon (1972)

Passport -
Looking Thru (1974)

Yasutaka Tsutsui / Kohsuke Ichihara / Masahiko Satoh - デマ Rumour (1973)

Hella tight, far-out psych/fusion. I don't really understand the deal with author (and noted non-musician) Yasutaka Tsutsui being credited with writing the "script" for the album, as it's all instrumental. Maybe it's the score for one of his plays? But I do know that it makes me feel like I'm floating around in outer space doing blow with aliens and dodging meteors.

Track listing:
1. Prologue
2. Information1 - Information21
3. Information22 - Information49
4. Epilogue

In the mirror land

Keep on floating:

George Russell - Electronic Sonata
for Souls Loved by Nature (1969)

Annette Peacock & Paul Bley -
Dual Unity (1972)

Jarosław Śmietana - Talking Guitar (1984)

Debut LP from Polish guitarist Jarosław Śmietana. Extremely laid-back, kinda disco-y at times, and super-smooth. In fact, this might just be full-on smooth jazz, but I'm vibing way too hard to care. How hard am I supposed to fight my pleasure center in the name of good taste?

Track listing:
1. Bieganie Po Manhattanie - Manhattan Jogging
2. Alisia
3. Tabasco Song
4. Podróżując We Śnie - Travellin' in Dream
5. Trzech Panów W Łódce - Three Men in a Boat
6. Samba Carrera
7. Papierek Lakmusowy - Litmus
8. Od Siedmiu Wzwyż - From Seven Up
9. Polowanie Na Robaczka - Hunting a Bug
10. Samochody W Pokrowcach - Cased Up Cars

Girl drink drunk

More along these lines:

Paul Horn -
Dream Machine (1978)

Seaside Lovers -
Memories in Beach House (1983)

Clivage - Mixtus Orbis (1979)

Stellar prog from a band led by French composer André Fertier. Epic, jazz-infused prog rock with some elements of Indian classical and the aid of the Philharmonic for good measure. Somehow, neither this nor the other two Clivage LPs have ever received an official re-release; meanwhile, a distributor tries to get my store to order $25 reissues of Marcy fucking Playground's "seminal debut."

Track listing:
1. Mixtus Orbis - Movements 1 Through 6
2. Eudjal
3. Fatoum Astris - Intro, Part 2, Part 3
4. Youssoufia

In spite of these times

Also listen to:

Quella Vecchia Locanda -
Il Tempo Della Gioia (1974)

Maneige -
Les Porches (1975)

Maneige - Les Porches (1975)

Elegant, 99% instrumental Québecois symphonic prog. Sprawling, thoughtfully composed, multi-suite epics performed by what amounts to a small orchestra, encompassing violin, piano, flute, clarinet, xylophone, saxophone, guitar, standup bass, and more. Sounds like a 70s Italian horror movie soundtrack.

Track listing:
1. Les Porches de Notre-Dame
2. La Grosse Torche
3. Les Adventures de Saxinette et Clarophone
4. Chromo

Crystal plumage

If you like this, listen to:

Le Orme -
Felona e Sorona (1973)

Streetmark -
Eileen (1977)

Annette Peacock & Paul Bley - Dual Unity (1972)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Paul Bley - Fragments (1986)

Blissed-out, psychedelic, jam-heavy jazz-rock helmed by bassist-vocalist Annette Peacock and keyboardist Paul Bley. The monolithic "MJ" maintains a mostly mellow, stone-y vibe throughout, while the rest of the album explores more frantic, free-jazz territory.

Track listing:
1. MJ
2. Gargantuan Encounter
3. Richter Scale
4. Dual Unity

It's a dream

Also listen to:

Alice Coltrane & Carlos Santana -
Illuminations (1974)

Picchio dal Pozzo -
Picchio dal Pozzo (1976)

Affinity - Affinity (1970)

Totally sweet, ornate old-school prog/psych with a breezy, at times jazzy feel, fueled by the powerful, melancholy-tinged voice of singer Linda Hoyle.

Track listing:
1. I Am & So Are You
2. Night Flight
3. I Wonder If I Care as Much
4. Mr. Joy
5. Three Sisters
6. Coconut Grove
7. All Along the Watchtower

You can wind him up
He'll do anything you want him to

You should also listen to:

Earth and Fire -
Atlantis (1973)

Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes - Le Rat
Débile et l'Homme des Champs (1974)

Kraan - Wintrup (1973)

German krautrock/jazz-rock. Jerky rhythms with their own sense of off-kilter groove, and some gleefully bizarre, almost Mike Patton-esque vocals.

Track listing:
1. Silver Wings
2. Mind Quake
3. Backs
4. Gut und Richtig
5. Wintrup
6. Jack Steam

Son of the sun

Also listen to:

Supersister -
Present from Nancy (1970)

Grobschnitt -
Solar Music - Live (1978)