Free Albums Galore Posting

The latest from Free Albums Galore:

Lee Rosevere – two albums
Genre: Electronica

I do not know why I haven’t wrote about Lee Rosevere and his music until now. I have enjoyed his two albums on WM Recordings for awhile. So it’s time to correct my little error of omission.

Play is three tracks of ambient sounds that could be called avant garde but are very listenable and should be accessible to most listeners. “Red Smoke” opens the album and is my favorite. Soft and slowly pulsing tones envelopes you and keeps your interest with its constant but subtle changes. “One Fan Spinning the Wrong Way” and “The Final Jump” are almost post-classical in their execution.

Play 2 is downright cinematic. Some of it reminds me of the sounds you would hear on those strange radio plays from NPR. Most of it is oddly beautiful. Heavily sampled and very electronic, it can run around in your brain quite nicely. No one track stands out over the others but overall this is a pleasantly weird way to spend your listening time.

Petr Drkula – several albums
Genre: Modern Composition, Avant-Garde

Czech composer Petr Drkula is clearly influenced by the minimalist compositions of Glass, Reich, and Riley. Like the three leading minimalists, Drkula is interested in the use of repeating motifs as they phase in and out of each other. However, Drkula manages to be fresh and interesting. Drkula’s repetitive phrases aren’t really repetition . Each one shows slight variations in its execution. Shifting parameters keep your attention while you are entranced by the changing soundscape. There are a number of free online albums by this artist, each one with its own charms.

Metrospective is my personal favorite. The first track sets up three note piano lines that play on for an exhilarating five minutes then abruptly ends. “Slight Change” is a similar feat on organ. But the gem of the album is “Dim Outlines”, a quiet gem of beautiful sounds. Metrospective is an enjoyable three tracks and perfect for those who would like an introduction to minimalist music.

The next three albums have their own joys. The album simply titled 2 has two gamelan influenced tracks that mirror Steven Reich’s own excursion into rhythm and melody. Surfaces is a single 80 minutes track that is reminiscent of Riley’s epic organ pieces. Finally, Shaping is Drkula at his most characteristic with slightly changing phrases building on each other.

Eugene Lee – Srivbanacore
Genre: Avant-Garde, Jazz

Alto Saxophonist Eugene Lee’s online album Srivbanacore is a worthy addition for those who enjoy free jazz and the avant garde. Lee’s style is reminiscent of the AACM school and shows the clear influence of artsts like Anthony Braxton and Julius Hemphill. However he often sounds like he is in slow motion eschewing the rapid doodling of most free jazz reed players. The first two tracks are solo efforts and benefit from the artist’s long droneful lines. When he does take off into a fast succession of notes as on “Voices”, it is thoughtful and structured. The title track is an extended duo with drummer Dan Nadeau. It’s a nicely developed 12 minutes of sound right up to the Aylerian climax. Pianist Ben Stepner and trumpeter Phil Grenadier help out on some of the tracks. The overall effect is like an avant garde chamber jazz, gentle in parts but with a bite in others. All the tracks are excellent but I am quite partial to the final duo with Nadeau. “There Will Be Never be Another Pluto” is a light hearted take-off on a similarly titled song that most jazz lovers will recognize. It is a great upbeat ending to a generally introvert jazz outing.

The album is available as separate tracks in VBR M3 (about 192kbps).