During the 90's, experimental music seemed to be in a Renaissance. There were so many great experimental artists and releases and the artists were constantly working with each other to create new side projects. Though I can see its after effects on related genres like Experimental Rock, Noise Rock and Experimental electronic, I haven't noticed that much focus on emerging experimental music. Am I just out of the loop or is it in a lull?
Some of my favorite experimental groups/performers are:
Gastr Del Sol
Oval
Jim O'Roarke
Microstoria
US Maple
John Cage
Terry Riley
negativland
Brise-Glace
Lake of Dracula
There's an Italian banned called Thee Maldoror Kollective that started off being very Industrial Metal, but their last 2 releases, Pilot - Man With The Meat Machine and Themes From Proxima can best be described as "Experimental Weird ****"
I think experimental music is in anything but a lull right now. There's just so much competition these days, both in mainstream and underground circles, that experimental music sometimes can't make a visible splash while competing with the constant stream of sophomore release hype that tends to dominate music journalism (check out who spin, RS, pitchfork are always ooo-ing over; established artists).
I'd like to highly recommend aquariusrecords.org for experimental and weird music recommendations and trends.
I love patton projects, but other experimental things that I dig:
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Estradasphere
Secret Chiefs 3
Some other dudes I dig that might be considered experimental, but of a more metal styling include
Dog Fashion Disco
Duct Tape Mustache
The Mod Flanders Conspiracy
Some others that are just rad:
Ideamen
The Alter Boys
The Caretaker - super, super washed out, creepy, druggy atmospheric music. This guys oeuvre is inspired by the hollow, washed out jazz and classical music playing in certain scenes of Kubrick's 'the Shining.' I play this stuff all the time when I do horror role playing.
Acid Mother's Temple (stupidly prolific, freak psychedelic) - I'm more into their dreamy stuff personally, so I'd recommend albums like Minstrel in the Galaxy, Crystal Rainbow Pyramid, and Pataphysical Freakout. Other folks, more invested in their more Sabbath-inspired stuff could probably recommend different places to start.
Practically Anything by the now-defunct SF Label, Jewelled Antler Collective (strange found-sound folk and experimental music; absolutely all over the place and awesome).
Balam Acab - actually good witch house; not that Salem crap.
There's plenty of experimental music out there right now from weird, jangly electronica like Dan Deacon to grim nightmarish jazz like Colin Stetson to guys building elaborate robot instruments like Author & Punisher. Over the course of the past decade, 70s songwriter Scott Walker started making some of the weirdest recordings I've ever heard - falsetto operas over noise installations. Whales & Cops (an off-shoot of Man Man) released an EP a couple years back that completely defies all genres.
I think the majority of experimental music has moved away from the record label form of distribution and congregated on Bandcamp, SoundCloud and similar sites.
It really depends on what you consider experimental too. Some people consider Death Grips' mix of industrial, punk, and hip-hop to be experimental, or the oppressive soundscapes of the last Swans album.
If you're looking for stuff strictly in the tradition of Cage and Stockhausen, try the John Zorn's Tzadik label, it's got a pretty extensive catalog.
Thanks! A lot of these suggestions were wonderful! I think when I made the thread I was thinking of things in the realm of Cage/Zorn/Stockhausen and those inspired by them. The three Sonic Youth experimental EPs with Jim O'Roarke are so good.
Hmm... try the Alva Noto/Blixa Bargeld collaboration anbb. The glitch/minimalist composer loops and feedbacks Blixa's vocals into a stew of sound.
Pharmakon is a one-woman power electronics band who released an album this year called Abandon that's made up of harsh synths, otherworldly screams, and smacking things with chains.
Onohetrixpointnever's new album might also strike your fancy.
You're right, pure experimental composition is hard to find these days. I'm sure if I wrack my brain, I'll think of some.
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Well why not? I like this new generation of music---
Mother of God, it's all toilet sounds!
If you're going to listen to Mr. Bungle and you're not experienced with Experimental music, you'd be best served to start with California and the self titled. Disco Volante is significantly more experimental than the others.
I recently picked up a (JPN) Ruins album and it's pretty rad. I'd recommend them for this thread. They're a experimental prog rock kind of drum & bass duo.
A couple years ago when I was a DJ, I started to get pretty deep into experimental stuff and came across this band called Storm and Stress. It has members from Battles and Son Caballero (also recommended). Also, one of their two albums was done by Steve Albini, one of my favorite dudes.
Another Albini project that's cool, but less traditionally experimental is Slint. Their album, Spiderland is a great 90's weird and angry listen.
A more electronic artist I like that's different enough is Burial. His stuff is kinda older but he came out with and EP not long ago.
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A friend of mine runs a record label called NNA Tapes, you might dig some of the stuff he's been putting out.
It's a bit hard for me to make suggestions, though, since I'm not entirely sure how you define "experimental" music. I personally would lump Gastir Del Sol with the inital wave of post-rock (Talk Talk, Tortoise, etc) whereas Terry Riley has been around since like mid-1960s and has covered a ton of ground stylistically. Are you mostly interested in drone/tape
Loop stuff? Or are you more of a post-rock fan?
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I like all of it! I just can't figure out how to keep abreast on it anymore. In the 90's, I was bombarded left and right by experimental and No-wave albums. Now I find it difficult to be on the cutitng edge of it. I love Terry Riley, I mostly consider Gastr Del Sol's Upgrade and Afterlife when referencing them as experimental, especially Our Exquisite Replica of Eternity. Camofleur doesn't really fit.
Some of my favorite experimental groups/performers are:
Gastr Del Sol
Oval
Jim O'Roarke
Microstoria
US Maple
John Cage
Terry Riley
negativland
Brise-Glace
Lake of Dracula
[Clan Flamingo]
Here's a couple of songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23X8sqx90ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-XRzreO_9A
Also; The Books. Thought for Food and The Lemon of Pink are two of my favorites.
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1v1
Talrand, the Sky Summoner
Multi
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
[Clan Flamingo]
Decks I play:
-Friedrich Nietzsche
I'd like to highly recommend aquariusrecords.org for experimental and weird music recommendations and trends.
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
Mr. Bungle
Tomahawk
Fantomas
Peeping Tom
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
[Clan Flamingo]
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Estradasphere
Secret Chiefs 3
Some other dudes I dig that might be considered experimental, but of a more metal styling include
Dog Fashion Disco
Duct Tape Mustache
The Mod Flanders Conspiracy
Some others that are just rad:
Ideamen
The Alter Boys
The Caretaker - super, super washed out, creepy, druggy atmospheric music. This guys oeuvre is inspired by the hollow, washed out jazz and classical music playing in certain scenes of Kubrick's 'the Shining.' I play this stuff all the time when I do horror role playing.
Acid Mother's Temple (stupidly prolific, freak psychedelic) - I'm more into their dreamy stuff personally, so I'd recommend albums like Minstrel in the Galaxy, Crystal Rainbow Pyramid, and Pataphysical Freakout. Other folks, more invested in their more Sabbath-inspired stuff could probably recommend different places to start.
Practically Anything by the now-defunct SF Label, Jewelled Antler Collective (strange found-sound folk and experimental music; absolutely all over the place and awesome).
Balam Acab - actually good witch house; not that Salem crap.
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
I think the majority of experimental music has moved away from the record label form of distribution and congregated on Bandcamp, SoundCloud and similar sites.
It really depends on what you consider experimental too. Some people consider Death Grips' mix of industrial, punk, and hip-hop to be experimental, or the oppressive soundscapes of the last Swans album.
If you're looking for stuff strictly in the tradition of Cage and Stockhausen, try the John Zorn's Tzadik label, it's got a pretty extensive catalog.
[Clan Flamingo]
Pharmakon is a one-woman power electronics band who released an album this year called Abandon that's made up of harsh synths, otherworldly screams, and smacking things with chains.
Onohetrixpointnever's new album might also strike your fancy.
You're right, pure experimental composition is hard to find these days. I'm sure if I wrack my brain, I'll think of some.
EDIT: Maybe Holly Herndon?
http://theneedledrop.com/2012/11/holly-herndon-dilato/
[Clan Flamingo]
Mother of God, it's all toilet sounds!
I was going to recommend any Mike Patton project but wanted to make sure no one else posted it first.
Dir en Grey has been pretty experimental through the years, whether you agree with that assessment or not.
Antimatter is always great, though their stuff is really hard to find - especially the good ones.
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2012: Best (False?) Role Claim - Worst Town Performance (Group) - Best Mafia Performance (Group) - Best SK Performance - Best Overall Player
2013: Best Non-SK Neutral Performance
2014: Best Town Performance (Individual) - Best Town Performance (Group) - Most Interesting Role - Best Game - Best Overall Player
2015: Worst Mafia Performance (Group) - Best Read
2016: Best Town Performance (Group) - Best Town Player - Best Overall Player
I might, I've only been here a year, but I make industrial music and I know some people in the scene up here.
I've been digging Far West, they're bretty gud.
If you're going to listen to Mr. Bungle and you're not experienced with Experimental music, you'd be best served to start with California and the self titled. Disco Volante is significantly more experimental than the others.
I recently picked up a (JPN) Ruins album and it's pretty rad. I'd recommend them for this thread. They're a experimental prog rock kind of drum & bass duo.
Another Albini project that's cool, but less traditionally experimental is Slint. Their album, Spiderland is a great 90's weird and angry listen.
A more electronic artist I like that's different enough is Burial. His stuff is kinda older but he came out with and EP not long ago.
Standard: Mono Red #GetSwol
Elsewhere: Random Brews All Day, Erreday
~
It's a bit hard for me to make suggestions, though, since I'm not entirely sure how you define "experimental" music. I personally would lump Gastir Del Sol with the inital wave of post-rock (Talk Talk, Tortoise, etc) whereas Terry Riley has been around since like mid-1960s and has covered a ton of ground stylistically. Are you mostly interested in drone/tape
Loop stuff? Or are you more of a post-rock fan?
I really miss No Wave and the SkinGraft label.
[Clan Flamingo]