A curated collection of 14 short improvisations from Evil Clown's modular ensembles, this fourth Shorties Volume distills the essence of expansive, long-form performances into concise yet potent expressions, featuring 31 musicians across 7 ensembles, these spontaneous works, recorded during warmups and soundchecks, offer a dynamic snapshot of the label's ever-evolving sonic landscape.

Allan Zane and Carl Kruger craft an album of "wet ambient music" inspired by Roland Kayn, featuring fluid textures and evolving soundscapes that pay homage to the German composer and electronic music pioneer innovative approach to ambient composition, here in an immersive auditory experience of deep-water, subtle transitory and aqueous sound.

Exploring the fluid boundaries between singing, recitation, and speech, bassist João Madeira and vocalist Margarida Mestre present an intricate dialogue of sound and expression, recorded in Lisbon, with Mestre's voice shifting between phonetic poetry, storytelling, and abstract improvisation, while Madeira's double bass, guitar, and field recordings weave around and underpin her vocalizations.

Recorded live at BOTA in Lisbon, the trio of pioneering violinist Carlos 'Zíngaro', bassist João Madeira, and drummer/percussionist Sofia Borges engage in a dynamic and expressive real-time composition, balancing intensity and restraint through intricate musical dialogues, evoking the raw energy of free jazz while embracing contemporary improvisational textures.

A meditative and immersive work of sonic abstraction, Alexander Cooper's first solo release in eight years unfolds as a lattice of minimalism-inspired harmonic diffusion, where shifting textures and fluid structures dissolve into ethereal, non-representational spaces, blurring the boundaries between form and perception in a dynamic interplay of sound and air.

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Subtle textures, hushed resonance, and environmental influences converge in a delicate yet immersive sonic space in this collaboration recorded at Wind Tide in Littlefield, Texas, bringing together Justin Houser, Anne-Françoise Jacques, Ernesto Montiel, Veronica Anne Salinas, and Andrew Weathers for an intimate exploration of electroacoustic improvisation.

Minneapolis trio Dustsceawung — Miri Karraker (viola), Noah Ophoven-Baldwin (cornet), and Mitch Stahlmann (flute) — explore lowercase improvisation and instrumental abstraction in two 20-minute pieces, "Firn" (2018) and "Fold" (2022), blending scraping textures, breathy timbres, and hushed dynamics, as they create an intimate, shifting soundscape of subtle tension and ephemeral beauty.

A striking exploration of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation, this 1992 session unites vocalist and pianist Ellen Christi with Steve Buchanan (electric guitar), Tomas Ulrich (cello), William Parker (bass), and Lefferts Brown (loops), weaving dynamic vocal phrasing, bold instrumental textures, and evolving electronic layers into an immersive and unpredictable sonic landscape.

A compelling collaboration featuring improvising vocalist Ellen Christi alongside pianist Yuko Fujiyama, trombonist Masahiko Kono, and drummer Mauro Orselli, recorded in the studio in 1993 and live at Roulette in 1996, weaving dynamic free improvisation and exploratory soundscapes that showcase ChristiÕs innovative vocal techniques and deep engagement with spontaneous composition.

Uniting members of the Shaking Ray Levis with luminaries including Bob Stagner (Palmer's SRL cohort), Jessica Lurie, Frank Pahl, and Col. Bruce Hampton, this final album from Dennis Palmer captures his fearless spirit in an eclectic fusion of free improvisation, surreal storytelling, and genre-bending instrumentation, traversing rock, jazz, sound collage, and absurdist experimentation.

Recorded live at the 2024 New York Forward Festival in NYC by guitarist Killick Hinds, Finnish guitarist Heikki Ruokangas presents an expressive solo acoustic performance that shifts fluidly between melody and noise, balancing introspective sensitivity with intense avant-garde bursts, weaving elements of contemporary jazz, Finnish musical heritage, and free improvisation into a raw and immediate sonic exploration.

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An engaging meeting recorded in the studio in New York in 1991, bringing together vocalist Ellen Christi, saxophonist & bass clarinetist Carlo Actis Dato, trombonist Masahiko Kono, bassist Enrico Fazio, drummer Fiorenzo Sordini, and text artist Michael Vecchio, blending adventurous contemporary jazz, spontaneous composition, and spoken word in a strikingly dynamic and generally lyrical session.

A refined and nuanced collaboration between vocalist Ellen Christi and guitarist Claudio Lodati, recorded in Ivrea, Italy in 1990, blending lyrical vocal improvisations with fluid electric and acoustic guitar work in an intimate, expressive dialogue — relaxed and unforced, yet deeply engaging, avoiding both histrionics and weightless ambience to create a grounded yet exploratory listening experience.

Bridging past and future, this 17th album from The Flying Luttenbachers is a punishing collection of modernist brutality, largely developed by Weasel Walter alone, yet culminating in a ferocious trio performance with Luke Polipnick and Charlie Werber captured in Chicago and NY; dense with asymmetrical riffs, death metal complexity, and avant-garde adaptations; savage!

Documenting The Flying Luttenbachers' transition from a New York-based lineup to a Chicago trio, this blistering live-in-the-studio session captures Weasel Walter (guitar), Luke Polipnick (bass), and Charlie Werber (drums) unleashing complex, high-energy compositions with no overdubs, solidifying their raw and relentless approach to genre-blurring improv, as the band continues its evolution.

A dynamic collective session from a quintet — led by multi-instrumentalist David Peck with Bonnie Kane (sax, flute, electronics), John Fugarino (brass, percussion), Albey onBass (bass, drums), and Jared Seabrook (drums, gongs) — featuring a richly textured three-horn interplay over an expansive rhythmic foundation, balancing harmonic shifts and spontaneous energy with a strong sense of structure.

A dynamic collective session from a quintet — led by multi-instrumentalist David Peck with Bonnie Kane (sax, flute, electronics), John Fugarino (brass, percussion), Albey onBass (bass, drums), and Jared Seabrook (drums, gongs) — featuring a richly textured three-horn interplay over an expansive rhythmic foundation, balancing harmonic shifts and spontaneous energy with a strong sense of structure.

Two extended performances from Los Angeles and Colorado Springs by the West Coast ensemble of Andrew Weathers (tenor saxophone, mixer), Angel Lin (percussion), Ethan Marks (trumpet), and Mar Perez (trombone), freely improvising with resonance and experimental techniques to craft immersive soundscapes that blur the line between instrumental performance and environmental noise.

A unique entry in Paul Dunmall's discography, this album presents a 9-piece Birmingham-based ensemble with dual keyboards and electronics, evoking Dunmall's compositions and orchestrations into vibrant, groove-driven improvisation that shifts between cinematic atmospheres, fiery free jazz, and unexpected nods to rock, balancing tightly composed sections with exhilarating exploration.

Guy Segers (Univers Zero) in his 5th expansive EMBand project, assembling an ensemble of progressive and avant-garde musicians in ever-shifting configurations, for an album that evolves from introspective and textural atmospheres to dynamic and complex sonic landscapes, incorporating voices, poetry, and intricate instrumental interplay; a compelling example of Europe's progressive music scene.

The long-running duo between Czech trumpeter and electronics artist Petr Vrba and French drummer Peter Orins, blends ritualistic reductionism with psychedelic grooves, extended trumpet techniques, analog synthesis, and prepared percussion to create a hypnotic and unpredictable soundscape, full of frenetic energy, atmospheric tension, and sudden dynamic shifts.

The first live recording from French trio TOC, for this live 2023 recording TOC joins Polish saxophonist Paulina Owczarek to improvise desynchronized layers of raw energy, blending free improv with elements of pop punk, post-rock, and jazz-core, resulting in a complex and mesmerizing performance where suggested rhythms and autonomous temporalities converge into an unpredictable kraut maelstrom.

Expanding beyond their post-industrial rock roots, guitarist Mike Graff and drummer Michael Jerome join forces with producer/keyboardist Van Eric Martin, bassist Mike Daane, and vocalist Blythe Gaissert for an ambient and cinematic work inspired by Metropolis, blending ethereal soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms into an immersive instrumental journey.

This edition of Leap of Faith brings core members David Peck and Glynis Lomon together with both longtime collaborators and first-time guests, including Vance Provey, Tor Snyder, Albey onBass, and Marc Edwards, for two improvisations that blend musical histories with fresh interactions in an exploratory journey of winds, strings, electronics, and an arsenal of percussive & resonant instruments.

Expanding the boundaries of real-time signal processing as an active improvisational voice, the trio of David Peck (PEK), Albey onBass, and engineer Joel Simches are heard in a dynamic session where Simches manipulates and transforms instrumental expressions into intricate sonic layers, merging winds, percussion, electronics, and bass with live perturbations.

The JACK Quartet presents definitive interpretations of John Zorn's eight string quartets, composed between 1988-2017, in a two-disc album presenting Zorn's evolution through avant-garde techniques and deep musical traditions, with virtuosic performances of intricate works like "Cat O'Nine Tails", "Memento Mori", or "Necronomicon"; includes a 36-page booklet of notes, scores, and insights.

A mesmerizing sonic counterpart to the acrobatic and dance performance Meander, Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek) crafts an immersive score that mirrors the movement of Marta & Kim, Knot on Hands, and Felix Zech, blending ambient textures and dynamic shifts to evoke fluidity, weight, and momentum, shaping an auditory journey that unfolds with the same grace and unpredictability as the performance itself.

Originally part of the Bagatelles 4-CD box set, this standalone release presents John Zorn's tightly constructed compositions interpreted by the Mary Halvorson Quartet, where Halvorson's microtonal guitar meets Miles Okazaki's rhythmic fluidity, propelled by bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tomas Fujiwara in an explosive and intricately woven set of high-energy, avant-garde jazz explorations.

An intimate exploration of John Zorn's Bagatelles, featuring the seemingly telepathic cello duo of Erik Friedlander and Michael Nicolas in deeply expressive and intricately woven performances that reveal the emotional depth, sensitivity, and Zorn's adventurous compositional spirit, bridging composed forms with spontaneous improvisation for a nuanced and exciting chamber setting.

Following their acclaimed 2024 album Samsara, Painkiller returns with Mick Harris (beats, electronics), Bill Laswell (bass), and John Zorn (alto saxophone) delivering six intense and genre-blurring tracks that fuse jazz, grindcore, metal, noise, and techno into an exhilarating, multilayered sonic journey inspired by the magickal practices of Aleister Crowley.

An intense performance led by bassist Brandon Lopez, recorded live at Roulette during the 2023 Vision Festival, blending deep listening and collective spirit in a dynamic, politically charged composition featuring Zeena Parkins (electric harp), Mat Maneri (viola), Cecilia Lopez (electronics), DoYeon Kim (gayageum), and drummers Gerald Cleaver &Tom Rainey, propelling intricate textures and ritualistic intensity.

Alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs and bassist Timo Shanko, co-founders of the Fully Celebrated Orchestra, present their first duo recording, nine improvisations recorded in the studio in Massachusetts, expressing their three-decade synergy through intimate, exploratory playing that blends passionate and deep-seated melodic interplay with free jazz elements and a strong sense of the blues.

A compelling collaboration between guitarist Fred Frith and innovative harpist Shelley Burgon — known for her work with Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn, and Okkyung Lee — in a series of concise and precise improvisations recorded in Oakland, CA, in 2002 and 2005, as Burgon blends seamlessly with Frith's acoustic guitar to create seemingly telepathic synchronicity and an expansive sonic palette.

"Exceptionally virtuosic and sensitive, South African harpist Jacqueline Kerrod is perfectly at home across multiple genres. This is her first recording with American guitar maverick Joe Morris. These are sublimely adventurous improvisa...

Inspired by a live performance with serpent player Berlinde Deman, Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek) recreated his live setup from that show to record this intricate sonic collage, blending hardware improvisations, field recordings, and an array of electronic and acoustic sources into an organic, layered work that merges performative immediacy with studio precision.

An immersive and atmospheric soundtrack from composer Rutger Zuydervelt, known for his work as Machinefabriek, scoring the video game Microtopia with intricate electronic textures and evocative soundscapes that enhance the game's robotic ant colony simulation, blending ambient, rhythmic, and experimental elements to create a rich sonic environment praised for its depth and integration with gameplay.

Captured live at Copenhagen's Jazzhouse in 2016, the explosive trio of Peter Brötzmann on saxophone & clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums & percussion delivers a high-intensity set, opening with the fiery 30-minute "Copenhagen Maneuvers" and continuing through shorter pieces that demonstrate their raw power, deep improvisational synergy, and relentless momentum.

A powerhouse trio of free jazz titans — Peter Brötzmann on saxophone and clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums — captured live at Krakow's Alchemia Club in 2015, delivering a high-energy set of unrelenting interplay, shifting dynamics, and deep improvisational synergy, from explosive full-throttle exchanges to nuanced explorations of timbre and structure.

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"The Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii and the Spanish drummer Ramon Lopez released an album titled Confluence as a duo in 2019. A year later, the married couple Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura enlisted the drummer for a tour across Japan. ...

A powerful 2019 live performance from Barcelona between legendary multi-reedist Mars Williams and boundary-pushing percussionist Vasco Trilla, unfolding from introspective explorations into bursts of intricate and energetic free jazz, as Williams' array of saxophones and toys meets Trilla's rich palette of percussion in an electrifying exchange.

"It's a miracle that some records ever get made. Right in the middle of Ceausescu's ultra-repressive dictatorship, composer Iancu Dumitrescu managed to arrange for his first LP, a compilation of radical new music by Dumitrescu and three...

David Peck leads an expansive sextet with Bob Moores, John Fugarino, Jiaxin Wan, Ziyi Gao, and Michael Knoblach, blending Western and Chinese instrumentation as clarinet, saxophones, & space trumpet intertwine with guzheng, pipa, electronics, & percussion, creating a richly textured, dynamic improvisation that reflects the ensemble's ongoing exploration of spontaneous composition.

An electrified vortex of shifting soundworlds from PEK's Simulacrum ensemble, recorded live at Evil Clown Headquarters, blending PEK's reeds and electro-acoustics with Bob Moores' space trumpet and synths, Eric Woods' analog synthesis, Robin Amos' hybrid synths, and Michael Caglianone's saxophones in an Arkestra-infused, kosmische exploration of entropy and sonic strangeness.