RareNoiseRecords presents a slew of new records:

Merzbow/Haino/Pandi An Untroublesome Defencelessness
Japanese electronic maestro Merzbow (aka Masami Akita) joins countryman, guitarist Keiji Haino, and Hungarian drummer Balazs Pandi for some extreme sonic experimentation that transmits its own rough beauty.

Eraldo Bernocchi/ Prakash Sontakke Invisible Strings
Label co-owner and guitarist, Bernocchi lays down chill programmed rhythm, as well as texture beds created with guitars for Hindustani lap steel virtuoso Sontakke’s lovely melodic excursions.

Gaudi The Rare Noise Catalog Resculpted
London-based producer/performer Gaudi and RareNoiseRecords have released this taster to the forthcoming full-length release, Magnetic, due in late Spring 2017. Gaudi plundered the RareNoise vaults to compose new music using the label’s catalog as his orchestra. Side A of this 10″ Vinyl EP, features Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree on bass, Killing Joke’s Ted Parsons on drums, guitars by Eraldo Bernocchi, and vocals by Japanese experimental vocalist Coppé. All are used as texture while Gaudi plays Minimoog, Korg MS20 and Fender Rhodes, and Brian Allen’s trombone provides melodic touches. Side B, “Electronic Impromptu in E-flat Minor,” features Bill Laswell and Lorenzo Feliciati on bass, electronic noises and textures by Merzbow, guitar by Eraldo Bernocchi, and drums by Steve Jansen (Japan). Artists on the final full-length release will also include Tony Levin (King Crimson Peter Gabriel), trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, Harold Budd, drummer Pat Mastelotto, Buckethead and more.

e’fessioux Jangala [self-released]
Ian Smit, who submitted a Reader’s Rig to Guitar Moderne a while back, has a new band with Steve Foreman on bass and effects, Clive Smith on keys, modular synth, computer, and effects Bill Weisbach on drums,& percussion, gongs, and electronics, and himself on guitar, effects, and loops. The band, called e’fessioux, has made a live in the studio recording that nudges up against the Nordic nü-jazz school. Smit says, “Aside from a brief discussion about a particular modulating bass line on one tune and the suggested modality on a couple of other excursions, the music was completely improvised.”

Daniel Lanois Goodbye To Language [Anti]
Constructed entirely from the sounds of Lanois on pedal steel guitar and Rocco Deluca on lap steel, this record moves beyond Roots Moderne into an ambient masterpiece fueled by the Lanois studio magic.

Tigran Hamasyan, Arve Henriksen, Eivind Aarset, Jan Bang Atmosphères [ECM]
Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan performed as a duo with sampler master Jan Bang at the Punkt Festival in Norway, leading Manfred Eicher to put him together with Bang, Aarset and Henriksen for this double CD set that lives up to its name.

Andrew Cyrille Quartet The Declaration of Musical Independence [ECM]
Avant-jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille (Cecil Taylor, Trio 3 with Oliver Lake and Reggie Workman) makes his ECM leader debut with a band featuring Bill Frisell, keyboardist Richard Teitelbaum, and bassist Ben Street. Frisell takes a break from exploring America’s roots and classic songbook to return to his more Avant sounds and techniques.

Roots Moderne

Sheriffs Of Schroedingham Going to the Sun [self-released]
Thanks to Andre LaFosse for tuning me on to these guys. John Schroeder on guitars and Ross Garren on harmonicas and keys serve up a roots instrumental record full of atmosphere, whimsy, and technical wizardry both on their instruments and in their use of the studio. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee for the new millennium.

Record Picks is a periodic offering from Guitar Moderne: a listing of recordings brought to my attention that I feel are momentous enough to bring to yours. These are not reviews. Feel free to submit recordings, but they must be purchasable worldwide, reflective of modern guitar (again subjective, but no blues, classic rock, be-bop, country, etc.) and on a par with the ones above to rate a mention. Many of these are available from DMG in NYC. If you have sent me a recording, feel free to remind me.