Luiz Bonfá -- Jacarandá

Brazilian jazz fusion from 1973 featuring Stanley Clarke and Idris Muhammad and some other jazzmen that you may have heard or heard of. Those of you who have heard Mike Patton's Lovage album will recognize a sample from the 2nd song. If you don't like this, then I don't like you.

320 kbps (fixed)

Force -- Force

Solid grind from Japan featuring members of Hellchild, From Hell, Swarrrm, Multiplex, etc. Released in 1999.

224 kbps

Toadliquor -- The Hortator's Lament

Released in 2003, The Hortator's Lament collects the bulk of Toadliquor's previous vinyl-only recordings. These guys pose a serious challenge to Khanate for the title of slowest band. Actually, that reminds me of a joke. A snail is walking down the street when a gang of turtles approaches him, beats him up, and takes his wallet. So the snail dusts himself off and heads over to the police station to report the crime. When he gets there, the police ask "what happened to you?" To which the snail replies, "I don't know...it all happened so fast."

What is a hortator anyway?

192 kbps

Kroko -- Furia

Instrumental trio fronted by Deep Turtle's guitarist Pentti Dassum, which makes it mandatory listening. Sounds a bit like The Nels Cline Trio or The Blue Humans in parts, but will remind you of Deep Turtle as well.

256 kbps

The Uphill Gardeners -- The Uphill Gardeners

Instrumental noodlery from L.A. musicians who have gone on to be in bands such as Goliath Bird Eater, The Polar Goldie Cats, Get Hustle, Young People, etc. Most of which are pretty boring, actually. Guess they peaked early. Yes, that's the cover.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Deep Turtle -- Riva!

Double-7'' from the masters, released in 1993. At this point I shouldn't have to describe this or tell you that you need it, should I?

192 kbps

Yusef Lateef -- Live at Pep's

Really, it's all the about the snake charming jazz of the first song, Sister Mamie. The rest of the album is a bit spotty, with some decent tracks and some forgettable ones, but Sister Mamie makes it all worthwhile.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Trumans Water -- Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox & Ass

This is probably my favorite "indie rock" album of all time, perhaps because that label doesn't really fit so well. It may also be my favorite album of the '90s, or at least in the top handful of albums, which is a much stronger statement. I guess these guys are still touring and playing songs from this album, although the lead singer has since become a Christian and started up Soul-Junk, a weird lo-fi hip-hop outfit whose lyrics pay tribute to a certain imaginary skygod. Anyway, you should really hear this if you haven't already. And you should re-hear it if it's been a while. This is their magnum opus -- 20 songs worth of unhinged lunacy. Spasm Smash is to '90s indie rock what Trout Mask Replica is to '60s/'70s folk/psych rock, what Double Nickels on the Dime or Zen Arcade is to '80s punk rock, and I could probably think of others if I tried. You owe it to yourself to know and love this album. Do it.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Zu -- Carboniferous

Italian freakout jazz/no-wave/metal trio. I'm not much in the mood for writing descriptions right now, so just download it already. You won't be sorry.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

The Dead -- The Dead

Australian DM. Thanks to Klontarth for this one.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Killdozer -- Burl

Released in 1986, this EP was dedicated to the memory of Burl Ives. Most people have to wait until their deaths for such tributes, but Mr. Ives got to enjoy his before passing in 1995. Rather thoughtful of the Killdozer gents, wouldn't you say?

192 kbps (fixed)

Wrench -- Planets Surface

1997 debut from Australia's Wrench. I know almost nothing about these guys other than the fact that they put out a great album in 1997, and they're Australian. Sounds a bit like so-called desert rock, and in fact it's nothing you haven't heard before, but it's really well executed. I couldn't find an image of the cover on the innertubes, so here's a photo of my dog getting a bath instead. I think I originally downloaded this from the Sludge Swamp, so credit where credit is due, etc.

192 kbps

The Pyramids -- Birth Speed Merging

Out jazz from 1976 that I only recently discovered when a retrospective of frontman Idris Ackamoor's career was released by EM Records a few years back. I always prefer the original albums to compilations, however, so here's one of 'em.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Various Artists -- Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq

The peripatetic genii at Sublime Frequencies have made a habit (and record label) out of digging up exotic sounds from faraway lands. This gem from 2005 is a collection of Iraqi folk and pop music, in some cases from artists whose identity is unknown. If you've ever found yourself tapping your foot while waiting in line at a falafel stand, you should probably check this out now. Then go buy this and everything else in the SF catalog.

192 kbps (broken link fixed)

Jamaaladeen Tacuma -- Show Stopper

Change of pace here. A quick look at the cover should tell you what's inside, at least in some rough sense. But don't worry, not all jazz fusion was bad. This one has its share of lows, such as tracks 3 and 5, but the highs, such as track 4, compensate. This dude did time with Ornette Coleman before busting out on his own, so you know he's good.

192 kbps