The Janitor From Mars

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This page is dedicated to recent and new releases that caught my ear in the year 2002. I suppose I could keep updating it with great 2002 releases as I keep stumbling upon them, but revisionism has to stop somewhere, doesn't it?

If you love rankings and so forth, check out my Top Twenty-Something for this (and past) years.

All releases are available in the CD format unless otherwise stated (some may be available in analog formats as well). Recent additions are marked with an asterisk.

2002 Releases

Oren Ambarchi, "Der Kleine Koenig" 7" (Tonschacht, Germany)

After mastering the art of amniotic guitar wash, Ambarchi turns his attention to sinus-clearing electro-acoustics on the b-side.
*Biosphere, Shenzhou (Touch, UK)
Charalambides, "Spring Leaves Fall" 7" (Time-Lag, US)

Not unlike LaMonte Young's Shandar album and probably more psychedelic (not to mention cheaper).
Clinic, Walking With Thee (Domino, UK)
*Damon & Naomi with Kurihara, Song to the Siren CD+DVD (Sub Pop, US)

Includes a great video tour diary.
John Ehlis Ensemble, San Carlos (Sivac, US)
Thomas Fehlmann, Visions of Blah (Kompakt, Germany)
*Gate, The Lavender Head, v. 3 (Precious Metal, NZ)

More gritty guitar and trance-inducing loops
*Glass Cage, Glass Cage (Paratactile, US)

The latest version of Shoji Hano and Gary Smith's collaboration, this time with low-end rumble courtesy of Hugh Hopper.
Ron House, Obsessed (Moses Carryout, US)
Hrvatski, Swarm & Dither (Planet µ, UK)
The Inner Mind Music Series of CDs (Alchemy, JP)

Four separate releases of cosmic music from Aube, Space Machine, Tangerine Dream Syndicate and Jojo Hiroshige with Yoshiko Sai
*LCD Soundsystem, "Give It Up" 7" (DFA, US)
LCD Soundsystem, "Losing My Edge" 12" (DFA, US)
LSD March, LSD March Second Album (White Elephant, JP)
*Mainpal Inv., "Inverted Brand" series of 7"es (Mainpal Inv, DK)

The Goodiepal returns with six picture disc singles!
*Major Stars, Distant Effects (Squealer, US)
Matmos with J Lesser, High, Live and Dirty (Vague Terrain, US)

Lest anyone forget about their substantial talents for the more abstract...
*Metro Area, Dance Reaction b/w Orange Alert (DFA Remix) 12" (Source, UK)
Miminokoto, Miminokoto (Gyuune Cassette, JP)
Minamo, .kgs (360 Degrees, JP)
Tujiko Noriko, Make Me Hard (Mego, AT)
Oasis, Heathen Chemistry (Epic, US)
Outhud, S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D. (Kranky, US)
*Bernard Parmegiani, La Memoire des Sons (INA GRM, FR)
Primal Scream, Evil Heat (Columbia, EU)
Pure, Noonbugs (Mego, AT)
Radian, rec.extern (Thrill Jockey, US)
The Rapture, "House of Jealous Lovers" 12" (DFA)
The Rapture, "Olio" DFA remix 12" (Output, UK)

Probably the most fortuitous producer/rock band pairing since Primal Scream and Boys Own. Possibly the top two singles of the year (unless Kranky can be convinced into doing one from the new Out Hud album. [nb- this will apparently come to pass, though perhaps not on Kranky]).
*Ride, "Coming Up For Air" (Ignition, UK)

One-off reunion improvisations recorded for a BBC Sonic Youth documentary.
Jack Rose, Red Horse, White Mule LP (Eclipse, US)
Marcus Schmickler, Param (A-Musik, Germany)

An album comprised solely of the processing and recomposition of contemporary classical works. His fine ear and attention to detail make this one of his finest recordings. This actually snuck by me in 2001, but I thought it worth mentioning.
DJ Shadow, The Private Press (MCA, US)
Sun City Girls, Flute and Mask (Abduction, US)
*Super Furry Animals, Rings Around Saturn (XL, US)
*Toshiya Tsunoda, Extract From Field Recording Archive #3:Solid Vibration (Intransitive / Fringes)
Keith Fullerton Whitman, Playthroughs (Kranky, US)

Further explorations into digitally-manipulated guitar drones. Miss the closing "modena" at your own peril.
*Yura Yura Teikoku, [Whatever their new single is called] 2x3" CD (Midi, JP)

This two song teaser for their forthcoming two albums features some of the noisiest stomp this side of the Monks reunion. Another candidate for single of the year...
Various Artists, 5 Sleepers Baku (360 Degrees, JP)
Various Artists, Colour and Sound (Apestaartje, US)
Various Artists, Improvised Music From Japan 10CD box set (Improvised Music From Japan, JP)
*Various Artists, Flag Flown High (Maximum Pressure, UK)

Very nice collection of Bobby Digital productions
*Various Artists, WrK (V2_Archief, NL)

Reissues/Archival

*Augustus Pablo, East of the River Nile (Shanachie, US)
*Aunt Sally, Aunt Sally (Undo, JP)
*Berrocal / Coster / Ferlet, Musiq Musik (Fractal, FR)
Blame, "Music Takes You" 2x12" (Moving Shadow, UK)

Reissue of the mindboggling 2 Bad Mice remix from 1992, the contemporaneous Kaotic Chemistry remix, as well as two new ones.
Dando Shaft, Anthology 2CD (BGO, UK)
*Vincent Gallo, Recordings of Music For Film (Warp, UK)

The loud-mouth auteur speaks softly and carries a big stick... until he writes the liner notes.
The Golden Cups, Super Live Session (P-Vine, JP)
The Golden Cups, Return of The Golden Cups Vol 8: Fifth Generation LP (P-Vine, JP)
J.A. Caesar, Kokkyou Junreika LP (P-Vine, JP)
Hiroshi Kamayatsu, Monsieur- The World of Hiroshi Kamayatsu LP (P-Vine, JP)
Maru Sankaku Shikaku, untitled 3CD (Captain Trip, JP)
*Miaow, When It All Comes Down CD (LTM, UK)
*Mike Rep and the Quotas", "Momma Was a Schizo, Daddy Was a Vegetable Man" 7" (Old Age Sverige, Age, SE)

Unearthed recordings from 1975, in all of their primordial glory.
*Royal Trux, Hand of Glory (Drag City, US)
*Various Artists, Studio One Story (Soul Jazz, UK)
Super Milk, Live Elecdance 1979-1980 CD (Inundow, JP)
Taj Mahal Travellers, July 15, 1972 (Showboat, JP)
Masayuki Takayanagi, Theme for Qaddafi (Jinya Disc, JP)

Table-top guitar at its most sublime
Yuya Uchida and the Flowers, Challenge (P-Vine, JP)
Xhol Caravan, Motherfuckers Live 2CD/2LP (Durtro, UK / Streamline, Germany)
Michael Yonkers Band, Microminiature Love LP (De Stijl, US)
*Various Artists, Revue Ou 4CD box set (Alga Marghen, IT)
Various Artists, Rock 'N Roll Jam 2CD (P-Vine, JP)

Reissue of 2LP featuring near-peak Golden Cups, as well as a great set from the Flowers. Decent showings by the Mops and Happenings Four round out this comp.

New Discoveries and Continued Pleasures

Morita Doji, Good-Bye LP (Atlantic, JP)
The Flying Lizards, The Flying Lizards LP (Virgin, US)
Barrington Levy, Englishman / Robin Hood CD (Greensleeves, UK)
*Paul Panhuysen, Partitas For Long Strings CD (XI, US)
*Rosa Luxemburg, Live August 3LP (Midi, JP)
The Stars, Today CDEP (PSF, JP)
Edward Artemyev, Mirror/Stalker Soundtrack CD (Toei, JP)