Avant-Garde / Experimental / Euroclassical

John Adams (1947– )

• Light Over Water [1985, New Albion], B+
• The Chairman Dances [1987, Elektra], B+
• Nixon in China [1988, Elektra/Nonesuch, 3LP], C+
• w/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra: Doctor Atomic Symphony [2009, Nonesuch], B+(***)
• I Am Love: A Film by Luca Guadagnino [2010, Nonesuch], B+(**)
• w/San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas: Absolute Jest / Grand Pianola Music [2013, SFS], B+(**)

Oren Ambarchi (1969– )

• Audience of One [2012, Touch], B+(***)
• Sagittarian Domain [2012, Editions Mego], B+(***)
• w/Robin Fox: Connected [2012, Kranky], B+(*)
• Quixotism [2014, Editions Mego], B+(**)
• Hubris [2016, Editions Mego], A–
• w/Johan Berthling, Andreas Werliin: Ghosted [2018, Drag City], A–
• Shebang [2022, Drag City], B+(***)
• w/Johan Berthling, Andreas Werlin: Ghosted II [2024, Drag City], B+(***)

Ruth Anderson (1929–2019)

• w/Annea Lockwood: Tête-À-Tête [1974–2020, Ergot], B+(*)

Robert Ashley (1930–2014)

• Private Parts [1977, Lovely Music], A–
• Private Parts (The Record) [1977, Lovely Music], A–
• Perfect Lives (Private Parts) / The Bar [1980, Lovely Music], A
• Yellow Man with Heart with Wings [1990, Lovely Music], B
• Improvement [1993, Elektra/Nonesuch, 2CD], B–

Milton Babbitt (1916–2011)

• Sextets / The Joy of More Sextets [1988, New World], B+

Bang on a Can [1995– ]

• Brian Eno: Music for Airports [1998, Point Music], B
• Renegade Heaven [2001, Cantaloupe], B
• Terry Riley: In C [2001, Cantaloupe], A–
• Bang on a Can Meets Kyaw Kyaw Naing [2005, Cantaloupe], A–
• w/Don Byron: A Ballad for Many [2004–2006, Cantaloupe], B

William Basinski (1958– )

• 92982 [1982, 2062], B+(**)
• September 23rd [1982, Temporary Residence], B+(*)
• A Shadow in Time [2017, Temporary Residence], B
• Lamentations [2020, Temporary Residence], B+(*)

Beaver and Krause [1969–1975]

• In a Wild Sanctuary / Gandharva [1970–71, Warner Archives], B+

David Behrman (1937– )

• On the Other Ocean / Figure in a Clearing [1977, Lovely Music], B+
• Leapday Night [1987, Lovely Music], B+

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)

• Sinfonia [1969, Columbia], B+

David Borden (1938– )

• Music for Amplified Keyboard Instruments [1981, Spectrum Spools], B+(***)

Gavin Bryars (1943– )

• The Sinking of the Titanic / Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet [1976, Obscure], A–
• Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet [1993, Point Music], B+

John Cage (1912–92)

• Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano / A Book of Music for Two Prepared Pianos [1975–76, Tomato], B+
• Etudes Australes for Piano [1978, Tomato], B

Laura Cannell

• Simultaneous Flight Movement [2016, Brawl], B+(*)

Raven Chacon (1977– )

• w/Tatsuya Nakatani, Carlos Santistevan: Inhale / Exhale [2020, Other Minds], B+(*)

Rhys Chatham (1952– )

• A Rhys Chatham Compendium [1971–89, Table of the Elements], A–
• Pythagorean Dream [2016, Foom], B+(***)

Composers in Red Sneakers

• Composers in Red Sneakers [1984, Northeastern], B+

Loren Connors (1949– )

• w/Jim O'Rourke: Are You Going to Stop . . . in Bern? [1997, Hatology], B+(*)

Tony Conrad (1940–2016)

• Early Minimalism: Volume One [1964–65, Table of the Elements, 4CD], B+(**)
• w/Faust: Outside the Dream Syndicate [30th Anniversary Edition] [1972, Table of the Elements, 2CD], A–
• Thunderboy!: Thunderboy! [1971–73, Table of the Elements], B–

Sylvie Courvoisier (1968– )

• w/Mark Feldman: Oblivia [2009, Tzadik], B+(*)
• w/Mark Feldman: Birdies for Lulu [2013, Intakt], B+(**)
• w/Mark Feldman, Ikue Mori, Evan Parker: Miller's Tale [2015, Intakt], B+(***)
• w/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles [2016, Relative Pitch], B+(***)
• w/Drew Gress, Kenny Wolleson: D'Agala [2017, Intakt], B+(***)
• w/Mark Feldman: Time Gone Out [2018, Intakt], B+(*)
• Sylvie Courvoisier Trio: Free Hoops [2019, Intakt], B+(**)
• w/Ned Rothenberg, Julian Sartorius: Lockdown [2020, Clean Feed], B+(***)
• w/Mary Halvorson: Searching for the Disappeared Hour [2021, Pyroclastic], B+(***)
• w/Cory Smythe: The Rite of Spring / Spectre D'Un Songe [2023, Pyroclastic], B+(**)
• Chimaera [2022, Intakt, 2CD], A–
• To Be Other-Wise [2024, Intakt], B+(***)

Ian William Craig (1980– )

• A Turn of Breath [2014, Retical], B+(*)
• Centres [2016, 130701], B

George Crumb (1929–2021)

• Ancient Voices of Children [1971, Nonesuch], B+
• Makrokosmos, Vol. 1 [1974, Nonesuch], B+
• Voice of the Whale / Night of the Four Moons [1974, Columbia Masterworks], B+(***)
• Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III) [1975, Nonesuch], B+
• w/Robert Miller: Makrokosmos, Vol. II: Twelve Fantasy Pieces After the Zociac for Amplified Piano [1976, Columbia Odyssey], B+

Sarah Davachi (1987– )

• Two Sisters [2022, Late Music], B+(*)

Tod Dockstader (1932–2015)

• Eight Electronic Pieces [1961, Folkways], B+(*)

Arnold Dreyblatt (1953– )

• The Sound of One String [1979–91, Table of the Elements], B+(***)

Max Eastley

• w/David Toop: Doll Creature [2000, Bip-Hop], B–

Ensemble Klang

• Tom Johnson: Cows, Chords and Combinations [2009, Ensemble Klang], B+(***)

Michael Jon Fink

• A Temperament for Angels [2004, Cold Blue Music, EP], B+(*)

Jim Fox

• The City the Wind Swept Away [2004, Cold Blue Music, EP], B+(*)

Nils Frahm (1982– )

• Solo [2015, Erased Tapes], B+(**)
• All Melody [2018, Erased Tapes], B+(**)

Mabe Fratti

• Se Ve Desde Aquí [2022, Unheard Of Hope], B+(**)
• Titanic: Vidrio [2023, Unheard of Hope], B+(**)

David Friend

• w/Jerome Begin: Post- [2022, New Amsterdam], B+(*)

Fred Frith (1949– )

• Guitar Solos [1974, Caroline], B
• Clearing [1996–2000, Tzadik], B+
• Eleventh Hour [1990–2002, Winter & Winter, 2 CD], B+
• w/Carla Kihlstedt, Stevie Wishart: The Compass, Log, and Lead [2003, Intakt], B+(**)
• Maybe Monday: Unsquare [2006, Intakt], B+(***)
• w/John Butcher: The Natural Order [2009, Northern Spy], B+(**)
• w/Darren Johnston: Everybody Is Somebody Is Nobody [2013–2014, Clean Feed], B+(**)
• w/Jason Hoopes, Jordan Glenn: Another Day in Fucking Paradise [2015, Intakt], B+(***)
• w/Hans Koch: You Are Here [2016, Intakt], B+(**)
• All Is Always Now: Fred Frith Live at the Stone [2007–2016, Intakt, 3CD], B+(***)
• Closer to the Ground [2018, Intakt], A–
• Fred Frith Trio: w/Lotte Anker, Susana Santos Silva: Road [2021, Intakt, 2CD], B+(***)
• w/Susana Santos Silva: Laying Demons to Rest [2021, RogueArt], B+(***)

Mort Garson (1924–2008)

• Didn't You Hear? [1970, Sacred Bones], B
• Music From Patch Cord Productions [1968–74, Sacred Bones], B+(*)

Brad Garton

• w/Dave Soldier: The Brainwave Music Project [2017, Mulatta], B+(***)

Philip Glass (1937– )

• Music in Twelve Parts, Parts 1 and 2 [1974, Cardine], B+
• North Star [1977, Virgin], B+
• Einstein on the Beach [1979, Tomato], B
• Koyaanisqatsi [1983, Antilles], B
• The Photographer [1983, Epic], A–

Keiji Haino (1952– )

• w/Merzbow, Balasz Pandi: Become the Discovered, Not the Discoverer [2019, RareNoise], B+(*)
• My Lord Music, I Most Humbly Beg Your Indulgence in the Hope That You Will Do Me the Honour of Permitting This Seed Called Keiji Haino to Be Planted Within You [2019, Purple Tap/Black Editions], B+(*)

Frode Haltli

• Passing Images [2004, ECM], B

Hauschka

• Foreign Landscapes [2010, Fat Cat], B+(**)

Pierre Henry (1927–2017)

• Messe Pour le Temps Présent [1967, Philips, 2CD], B+(***)

Christopher Hobbs (1950– )

• w/John Adams, Gavin Bryars: Ensemble Pieces [1975, Obscure], B

Anna Homler (1948– )

• Breadwoman and Other Tales [1985–93, RVNG Intl], B+(**)

Maurice Horsthuis (1948– )

• Elastic Jargon [2007, Data], B+(***)

Ryoji Ikeda (1966– )

• Ultratronics [2022, Noton], B+(*)

Tom Johnson (1939– )

• An Hour for Piano [1979, Lovely Music], A
• Nine Bells [1982, India Navigation], B
• w/Eberhard Blum: Rational Melodies [1993, Hat Art], B+(***)
• Rational Melodies [2008, New World], B+(**)

Eyvind Kang

• w/Tucker Martine: Orchestra Dim Bridges [2004, Conduit], B+

Zbigniew Karkowski

• One and Many [2005, Sub Rosa], C–

Simon Keep

• Interview With the Eggs [2005, Sub Rosa], D–

Keith Kirchoff

• w/Dominic Lash, Steve Noble: Christian Wolff: Exercises and Explorations [2013, Spoonhunt], B+(***)

Guy Klucevsek (1947– )

• w/Alan Bern: Notefalls [2006, Winter & Winter], B+(*)
• Dancing on the Volcano [2009, Tzadik], B+(**)
• The Multiple Personality Reunion Tour [2011, Innova], B+(**)

Glenn Kotche

• Adventureland [2014, Cantaloupe], B+(***)

Kreepa

• Inside-A-Sekt [2006, Monium], B+(*)

Kukuruz Quartet

• Julius Eastman: Piano Interpretations [2017, Intakt], B+(*)

Bill Laswell (1955– )

• Baselines [1983, Rough Trade], B
• Deconstruction: The Celluloid Recordings [1979–87, Restless, 2 CD], A–
• Hear No Evil [1988, Venture], B+
• Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969–1974 [1998, Columbia], A–
• Carlos Santana: Divine Light: Reconstruction & Mix Translation [2001, Columbia/Legacy], B–
• w/Morgan Agren, Raoul Björkenheim: Blixt [2011, Cuneiform], B+(***)
• Means of Deliverance [2012, Innerhythmic], B+(**)

Anne LeBaron (1953– )

• 1, 2, 4, 3 [2010, Innova, 2 CD], B

Craig Leon

• Early Electronic Works: Nommos Visiting [1981–82, Aparté], A–

Mark Lyken

• w/Emma Dove: Mirror Lands [2015, Time Released Sound], B

Lasse Marhaug (1974– )

• All Music at Once [2007–2008, Smalltown Superjazz], B+(*)
• w/Ken Vandermark: Close Up (For Abbas Kiarostami) [2016, Audiographic], B

Master Musicians of Bukkake

• Totem Two [2009, Important], B
• Totem Three [2009, Important], B

Merzbow (1956– )

• Dharma [2000–2001, 2XHNI], D+
• w/Balász Pándi, Mats Gustafsson: Cuts [2013, Rare Noise], B
• w/Balasz Pandi, Mats Gustafsson, Thurston Moore: Cuts of Guilt / Cuts Deeper [2014, Rare Noise, 2CD], B+(***)
• w/Keiji Haino, Balasz Pandi: An Untroublesome Defencelessness [2016, RareNoise], B+(**)
• w/Mats Gustafsson, Balázs Pándi: Cuts Open [2020, RareNoise], B+(*)

Microtub

• Chronic Shift [2018, Bohemian Drips], B

Ilhan Mimaroglu (1926–2012)

• Face the Windmills, Turn Left [1976, Finnadar], A–

Meredith Monk (1942– )

• On Behalf of Nature [2015, ECM], B+(*)

Moondog (1916–99)

• Sax Pax for a Sax [1997, Atlantic], B

Ikue Mori (1953– )

• Painted Desert [1994, Avant], A–
• w/Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura: Prickly Pear Cactus [2020, Libra], B+(**)

Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company

• Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company [1973, Earthquack], B
• Like a Duck to Water [1976, Earthquack], B+

My Cat Is an Alien

• w/Enore Zaffiri: Through the Magnifying Glass of Tomorrow [2009, Atavistic, CD+DVD], B+(*)

Conlon Nancarrow (1912–97)

• Studies for Player Piano [1969, Columbia Masterworks], A–

The Negative Band [1975– ]

• Karlheinz Stockhausen: Short Wave [1975, Finnadar], B+

Margaret Noble

• Frakture [2010, Amnesty International], B+(**)

Pauline Oliveros (1932– )

• Four Electronic Pieces, 1959–1966 [1959–66, Sub Rosa], B+(**)
• Crone Music [1989, Lovely Music], B

Pärson Sound

• Pärson Sound [1966–68, Anthology, 2 CD], A–

Harry Partch (1901–74)

• The Music of Harry Partch [1950–67, CRI], B+
• The Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 1 [1950–58, CRI], B+
• The World of Harry Partch [1969, Columbia], A
• The Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 2 [1958–82, CRI], B
• The Harry Partch Collection, Vol. 3 [1958–72, CRI], B–

Zeena Parkins (1956– )

• The Adorables [2013, Cryptogramophone], B+(**)
• w/Mette Rasmussen, Ryan Sawyer: Glass Triangle [2021, Relative Pitch], B+(*)

Perrey-Kingsley

• The In Sound From Way Out! [1966, Vanguard], B+(**)

Shawn Persinger

• Prester John: w/David Miller: Desire for a Straight Line [2010, Innova], B

Henri Pousseur (1929–2009)

• Musique Mixte 1966–1970 [1966–70, Sub Rosa], B

The PrimeTime Sublime Community Orchestra

• A Life in a Day of a Microorganism [2004, Corporate Blob], B+

Eliane Radigue (1932– )

• Adnos I-III [1973–80, Table of the Elements, 3CD], B+(**)

Steve Reich (1936– )

• Four Organs / Phase Patterns [1970, New Rose], D+
• Drumming / Six Pianos / Music for Mallet Instruments [1974, Deutsche Grammophon], B+
• Music for 18 Musicians [1978, ECM], B+
• Early Works [1965–87, Elektra/Nonesuch], B–
• Double Sextet / 2x5 [2009–2010, Nonesuch], A–
• w/Kronos Quartet, So Percussion: WTC 9/11 [2011, Nonesuch], B+(**)
• Radio Rewrite [2014, Nonesuch], B+(***)
• Pulse / Quartet [2018, Nonesuch], B+(*)

Terry Riley (1935– )

• A Rainbow in Curved Air [1967, Columbia Masterworks], A–
• Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band / All Night Flight: SUNY Buffalo, New York, 22 March 1968 [1968, Elision Fields], B+(*)
• In C [1968, Columbia], B+
• Persian Surgery Dervishes [1971–72, Newtone, 2 LP], B+
• Shri Camel [1990, Columbia], B
• Autodreamographical Tales [2010, Tzadik], B+(*)

Frederic Rzewski (1938–2021)

• Coming Together / Attica / Les Moutons de Panurge [1973, Opus One], A–
• The People United Will Never Be Defeated [1978, Vanguard], B+
• North American Ballads and Squares [1991, Hat Art], B+(***)
• De Profundis [1993, Hat Art], B+(**)

Elliott Sharp (1951– )

• Plays the Music of Thelonious Monk [2004, Clean Feed], B+(*)
• Secret Life [2005, Intuition], B+(*)
• Octal Book One [2008, Clean Feed], B+(*)
• w/Scott Fields: Scharfefelder [2007, Clean Feed], B–
• Octal Book Two [2009, Clean Feed], B+(**)
• Elliott Sharp Carbon: w/Zeena Parkins, Bobby Previte: Transmigration at the Solar Max [2009, Intakt], B+(***)
• Binibon [2010, Henceforth], B+(*)
• Aggregat [2011, Clean Feed], A–
• Elliott Sharp's Terraplane: Sky Road Songs [2012, Enja], B+(*)
• Elliot Sharp Aggregat: Quintet [2013, Clean Feed], B+(**)
• Octal: Book Three [2013, Clean Feed], B+(***)
• Elliot Sharp Aggregat: w/Barry Altschul: Dialectrical [2016, Clean Feed], B+(***)
• w/Mary Halvorson, Marc Ribot: Err Guitar [2016, Intakt], B+(**)
• w/Eric Mingus: Songs From a Rogue State [2022, Zoar], B+(*)

Jack Smith (1932–89)

• Les Evening Gowns Damnées: 56 Ludlow Street 1962–1964 Volume I [1962–64, Table of the Elements], B+(*)
• Silent Shadows on Cinemaroc Island: 56 Ludlow Street 1962–1964 Volume II [1962–64, Table of the Elements], B

Michael Snow (1929– )

• w/Thollem McDonnas: Two Piano Concert at the Philadelphia Museum of Art [2014, Edgetone], B+(**)

So Percussion

• Amid the Noise [2002–2006, Cantaloupe], B+(*)
• w/Matmos: Treasure State [2010, Cantaloupe], B+(**)

Dave Soldier (1956– )

• w/Richard Lair: Thai Elephant Orchestra [2000, Mulatta], B
• The Eighth Hour of Amduat [2016, Mulatta], B+(*)
• Zajal [2019, Mulatta], B+(*)

Kate Soper (1981– )

• w/Sam Pluta: The Understanding of All Things [2022, New Focus], B–

Soundwalk Collective [2012– ]

• w/Patti Smith: The Peyote Dance [2019, Bella Union], B+(*)
• w/Patti Smith: Mummer Love [2019, Bella Union], B+(**)

Laurie Spiegel (1945– )

• The Expanding Universe [1980, Unseen Worlds, 2CD], A–
• Unseen Worlds [1991, Unseen Worlds], A–

Moe Staiano (1973– )

• 2 Rooms of Uranium in 83 Markers: Conducted Improvisations, Vol. II [2007, Edgetone], B+(*)

Starship Beer [1976–1988]

• Nut Music: As Free as the Squirrels [1976–88, Atavistic], B–

Jan Steele (1950– )

• Voices and Instruments [1976, Obscure], B+

Carl Stone (1953– )

• Wat Dong Moon Lek [2022, Unseen Worlds], B

Pauline Anna Strom (1946–2020)

• Trans-Millenia Consort [1982, Ether Ship], B+(***)
• Plot Zero [1982–83, Trans-Millenia Consort], B+(***)
• Spectre [1982–83, Trans-Millenia Consort], B+(**)
• Trans-Millenia Music [1982–88, RVNG Intl.], B+(***)
• Angel Tears in Sunlight [2020, RVNG Intl.], B+(***)

Ned Sublette (1951– )

• Kiss You Down South [2010, Postmambo], A–

Morton Subotnick (1933– )

• Silver Apples of the Moon / The Wild Bull [1968, Wergo], A–

Tine Surel Lange

• Works for Listening 1–10 [2021, Sofa Music], B+(**)

Leo Svirsky

• River Without Banks [2019, Unseen Worlds], B+(**)

Toca Loca [2009– ]

• Shed [2010, Henceforth], B+(*)

Ushio Torikai (1952– )

• Rest [2009, Innova], B

Blue Gene Tyranny (1945– )

• Free Delivery [1990, Lovely Music], B
• Detours [2012, Unseen Worlds], B+(***)

Weasel Walter (1972– )

• w/Mary Halvorson, Peter Evans: Electric Fruit [2010, Thirsty Ear], B+(**)
• w/Mary Halvorson, Peter Evans: Mechanical Malfunction [2012, Thirsty Ear], A–

Daniel Wohl

• Corps Exquis [2013, New Amsterdam], A–

Charles Wuorinen (1938–2020)

• Time's Encomium [1968–69, Nonesuch], A–

Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001)

• Electro-Acoustic Music [1972, Nonesuch], B+

Otomo Yoshihide (1959– )

• ONJQ Live in Lisbon [2004, Clean Feed], B

Various Artists

• Antologia de Música Electónica Portuguesa [1972–97, Tomlab/Plancton], B+
• The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music [1988–2010, Inova, 5 CD], B+(**)
• OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music [1937–82, Ellipsis Arts, 3CD], A–
• Panthalassa: The Remixes [1999, Columbia], B+
• Precocious Noise and Early Electronica Pt. 1: Incantations for Tape [1920, Sound Miracle], B+(*)
• Precocious Noise and Early Electronica Pt. 2: Wire Recorded Pieces [1921–62, Sound Miracle)], B+(**)
• Space, Energy and Light: Experimental Electronic and Acoustic Soundscapes 1961–88 [1961–88, Soul Jazz], B+(**)