Susan Alcorn & Phillip Greenlief, "Prism Mirror Lens" (VG+). The pedal-steel guitarist and the reedman explore the edges of consciousness through subtle string strokes and circular breathing. Peace and ether. Check it here.
Compassion & Evidence (Creative Sources). Greenlief and pals Dominic Cramp (lyra), Mike Khoury (viola) and Gino Robair (electronics) form a sympathetic unit for industrial-ambient improvisation with philosophical titles such as "Nothing, by Definition, Does Not Exist." Check it here.
Ben Goldberg, "Plague Diary" Goldberg has been exploiting his clarinets and the random synthesizer he's immured with to log daily instant compositions, querulous and beautiful. A recent entry: "How To Do Things With Tears." Check it Check it here.
G.E. Stinson Ghost Aggregate. Having missed out on this a year ago, I'm catching up with guitarist Stinson's splatter release featuring familiar Cali friends such as Vinny Golia, Steuart Liebig and Phillip Greenlief, plus an extended crew of mysterious spirits. Lurch and jolt though they may, the group usually come around to rhythm, whether subliminally or thanks to the stomping drums of "Goodfellow Gunkman." Check it here.
Chris Poland, "Resistance" The early-Megadeth axman can rip, and here he tries on everything from fusion to traditional jazz to hip-hop, but his best gifts are feel and expression, as with his soak-toned Beckian legato on "Flame Runner" (his tribute to fallen drummer Nick Menza) and on the Modern Jazz Quartet's "Django," a nod to another guitarist who triumphed over messed-up fingers. Now let's see him write a tune called "Iommi." Check it here.
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PHOTO BY FUZZY BUG.