Born as a collective of bands previously known as Die Form (not the French project of Philippe Fichot) and Nulla Iperreale (previously known as Orgasmo Negato), Tasaday formed in early 80s and since then produced a wide amount of recordings. IMPLOSIONE TRA LE PIEGHE DELL'ANIMA was their fourth release and it was a tape released by Multiple Configuration, label run by Roberto Marinelli, known also for his project Laxative Souls (Trash Ritual just reissued their first two tapes on a double CD). Containing fifteen tracks recorded live during the 1983/84 period, when they still performed under the name of Die Form & Nulla Iperreale, the tape and now this CD reissue show really well the experimental approach to rock that the band had. Mixing jazz, funk and new wave with synthesizers experimentations and theatrical performance, Tasaday where able to create alien ambientations often nervous and tense (maybe for this reason they picked up as moniker the name of a tribe emerged from a rain forest in mountains of Mindanao in 1971). Tight bass lines helped by tribal drumming were the core of their sound where a suffering guitar cut the air like a razor and vocals now recitative and now cried helped into making of Tasaday's a cult band. Now you have the chance to check these historical recordings and taste a bit of "implosion between soul's folds".

O'o brings us closer to Zorn's lighter side of jazz, accompanied by Marc Ribot, Jamie Saft (piano), Kenny Wollesen (vibes), Trevor Dunn (bass), Joe Baron (drums) and Cyro Battista on percussion. That personnel aside, its pure Zorn in terms of harmonies and melodic material.

Those who caught this group's other outings such as The Gift and The Dreamers will rejoice, as this is a nice compliment to the other albums. O'o has each musicians tasteful backing but supported by overall flawless musicianship, production and bird sounds. Its just solid and must be heard to be described for the effect. My choice tunes include Magdalena and Kakawahie.

Also worthy of note is the amazing graphic design by Chippy. A booklet of what must be 60 pages is included featuring hand sketched birds, each one looking like it was done by hand right in the booklet. A world class release from head to toe.

TonArt Ensemble is a collective of free improvising musicians founded in Hamburg in 1989 and they have collaborated with Evan Parker, Braxton, Fred Frith just to name a few. Ernesto Rodriguez, I think you know him for his many works on Creative Sources, after having being invited in Hamburg for a workshop, the collaboration with this ensemble took to this interesting result. We're speaking about a release featuring two long suites. The first moves slow but really dynamic, for example it amazed me how after some object falls on the ground the intensity suddenly flows away to slowly return on the "crime scene". Considering the ensemble features many bowed instruments as well as many horns you can imagine now and then the compositions really sounds. Approaching to the nineteenth minute horns start growing but as for the "fallen object" episode what follows is a new silent-phase. In this continual and gentle up and down alternation they never go for a real explosion. Differently from the previous chapter, the second episode starts with high pitched notes and other loud sounds, always really balanced but even if they silence after a while, the second composition is so full of this high pitched notes and even if sometimes it really go beyond the listenable limit I think this one is the most interesting of the two compositions. Low notes alternated with high notes, solo voices and coral working together in the same track and loud cyclical parts conquering the scene.

This an all acoustic instruments cd based on a line up including an acoustic guitar, a cello, a viola and a double bass, being on Creative Sources and featuring both the Rodriguez guy it has "that" characteristic sound. Unsounded bowed and scratched instruments interacting softly, gently but also firmly as the concrete dogmas taught us all. Funny since even if there's no brushed drumming sometimes that's the effect you hear, above all during the first long track, that later develops into a played composition with more violent playing and soft quiet scary melodies. The second composition moves along the same lines but in a way has more interesting interactions, more instrumental dialogue and if you ask me the coral playing reaches more intensity. The last track is just five minutes long and brings in a more frontal guitar approach but at the same time reminds a lot the strong identity that's behind the other two compositions. Sometimes "fower" has some interesting solution but it's not so far from many other Creative Sources works really close to following a bit too blindly the "unwritten dogmas" of electro-acoustic improvising.

Coming from Trani, Italy, the Eels On Heels are a band that isn't afraid to beat their instruments. Inspired by no wave, post punk and new wave, the band just released their second EP titled LETTERS. Containing three upbeat noisy tracks trained by tribal drums ("Y", "N" and "G"), the EP shows well the band's will to experiment with sound: distant dreaming vocals are overwhelmed by electronic noises, stabbing guitar riffs where tiny melodies clash on walls of sounds just to start again. At the moment I can't think about a paragon and I think that this is good. Two out of three tracks are available to check at their myspace, so if you like them you can support Eels On Heels by purchasing this self produced release.