1. Expansions
Lonnie Liston Smith's 1975 album cemented his unique brand of spiritual jazz-fusion. The ARP synthesizers and Fender Rhodes create an ethereal, almost cosmic atmosphere, yet the rhythm section lays down grooves with undeniable funk precision. It’s a masterclass in analog warmth and spacious arrangement, each instrument given room to breathe within a tightly woven, hypnotic tapestry. The production captures a live, organic feel, far removed from later digital sheen.
2. The Presidents of The United States of America: Ten Year Super Bonus Special Anniversary Edition
Frankly, this outfit is well beyond my purview. My musical timeline firmly concludes before the mid-90s, and the very concept of a "Super Bonus Special Anniversary Edition" smacks of an era more concerned with marketing than musical innovation. The original material, as I understand it, also falls outside the boundaries of the movements and aesthetics I’ve dedicated my focus to. I simply cannot assess this.
3. The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu's 1978 debut is a raw, angular declaration. David Thomas’s vocals are a force, juxtaposed against the mechanical churn of synthesizers and industrial clatter. It’s art-rock stripped bare, imbued with a nervous energy that feels genuinely unsettling, yet utterly compelling. The studio work here captures a brittle, live aggression, a deliberate rejection of polished fidelity for something more confrontational and real. This is essential pre-post-punk.
4. 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Remastered)
The original 1979 pressing of this Throbbing Gristle record was a deliberate sonic assault, a bleak landscape of industrial noise and unsettling ambience. The "jazz funk" title, of course, was pure, sardonic misdirection. While this remastered version may clean up some of the original's inherent grit, the core intent—a harrowing exploration of decay and transgression—remains undeniable. It's a foundational text for industrial music, crafted with chilling analog precision.
5. Melissa
In 1983, *Melissa* carved a distinct path for metal. King Diamond’s theatrical falsetto and the intricate, dual-guitar harmonies of Shermann and Denner created a sound both epic and menacing. The production, typical of early 80s metal, possesses a raw, almost claustrophobic intensity, allowing the intricate riffing and powerful drumming to cut through with primal force. It’s a landmark of early extreme metal, a dark art-rock offshoot.
6. Gag
Frank Tovey’s 1984 album, *Gag*, is a fascinating, discomforting listen. It pushes the industrial and darkwave envelopes with its stark electronics, found sounds, and Tovey's increasingly theatrical vocal performances. The production is sparse yet potent, each percussive clang and synth drone carrying significant weight. It’s a testament to the power of texture and tension, a bleakly danceable commentary on urban alienation and raw human instinct.
7. Absolute
"Absolute," from 1984, showcases Scritti Politti’s sophisticated blend of post-disco funk and intricate synth-pop. Green Gartside’s intellectual lyricism is wrapped in an impeccably layered arrangement of gleaming synthesizers, tight drum programming, and crisp basslines. This was music meticulously constructed in the studio, each element polished to a high sheen, yet retaining an undeniable groove and pop sensibility that defined the era's forward-thinking dance music.
8. World Of Echo
Arthur Russell’s 1986 *World Of Echo* is an anomaly, a stark, intimate collection where cello, voice, and generous reverb create an almost hallucinatory effect. It exists in its own peculiar ambient space, a minimalist, deeply personal exploration of sound and silence. The analog recording captures the natural resonance and fragile beauty of the instruments, making it feel less like a record and more like an overheard, private meditation.
9. Atomizer (Remastered)
Big Black’s 1986 *Atomizer* was a brutalist statement of intent. Steve Albini's production, even in its original form, was famously stark, highlighting the abrasive guitar textures and the relentless, almost industrial pulse of the Roland TR-606 drum machine. While this "remastered" version likely polishes the edges, the raw, aggressive energy and cynical lyrical worldview of the original remain its most potent, unforgiving attributes. It’s pure, unadulterated post-hardcore.
