15 Prominent Reissues of 2013

Every year emerging new technologies allow us to dig deeper and deeper into the vaults of the past. Retrospectivity (or retromania as Simon Reynolds puts it) has become an essential feature of the current and last decades as we have so many unexplored histories and perspectives, cultures and points of view (especially of non-Western background). 2013 was no different in this sense and provided us with some excellent additions to expanding archives. Not so much lost and found tape obscurities here as there were dozens of timeless classics that badly needed a proper modern treatment and some underrated gems unearthed and aged in a beautiful way. Thus relevance was our main guide through the centuries of sounds.

The first to mention are the excellent collections by the great 20th century musical masterminds. “GRM Works 1957-1962” by Iannis Xenakis serves as a mathematical journey at least through the part of his diverse universe so ahead of his time. These complex, even scientific sonic structures sound innovative after almost half a century and take you to entirely unknown worlds with their own gravities, laws, tendencies very little related to something manlike or familiar, acting not according to the rules we know. Another epic masterpiece – Phill Niblock’s “Nothin’ To Look At Just A Record” probably explains part of its concept in its title and minimalist cover art. This minimalist/jazz album is an undoubtable classic performed by Richard Lainhart and Richard Kelly.

The box set “Structures and Solitude” from underrated genius Tor Lundvall arrived from Dais Records. Tor is definitely the best in merging the subtle beauty of green fields and woodlands, grim romanticism of industrial cityscapes, introvert melancholy of seasons with sustained emotions ranging from pure joy to unhomely anxiety. The release consists of his four latest albums and the fifth CD called “Night Studies” full of nocturnal studio experiments/miniatures. “Structures and Solitude” perfectly represents several different faces of Tor in the bleak symphonies of “Empty city” and last years “The Shipyard”, hazy solemn beauty of “Sleeping and Hiding” and twilight contemplations in “Last Light”.

2013 was also full of more exotic discoveries from non-Western musical backgrounds pushing us away from Eurocentric boundaries to different perceptions. Awesome Tapes From Africa reissued Hailu Mergia’s “Hailu Mergia and his Classical Instrument”, the exercise in Ethiopian jazz and folk played with analog keyboards, which gives the album the futuristic space vibe. A great fusion indeed. Kesarbai Kerkar self-titled collection of classical Hindustani music includes 9 beautiful Indian ragas recorded between 1944 and 1953.

Although coming from the Western artistic background Craig Leon provided the great mixture of tribal beauty, ethereal new age/ambient voyages reminiscent of Eno’s or Robert Rich’s pieces and rough early electronics experimentation in his excellent “Nommos”. Rereleased by Superior Viaduct it proved to be another lost and found jewel from the underrated composer.

Several interesting experimental oddities breaking the boundaries of our musical perceptions were also rediscovered. Maja Ratkje’s “Voice” is the timeless classic of voice manipulation and architecture paving the way for Julianna Barwick or Holly Herndon vocal fortresses. Morphine Records brought us the trilogy of excellent Charles Cohen experimentation with Buchla Music Easel analog synthesizer made by Don Buchla. Having in mind Charles’s preference to live acts rather than recordings, the trilogy remains one of the rare documents of his futuristic and jazzy improvisations. Digging deeper to the underground U.S. Steel Cello Ensemble’s “Bitter Suites” exploded with heavy drones played by the large sheets of metal (which are actual instruments called “the bow chime” and “steel cell”). The physical properties of the sound, the alien character of known material overwhelms with their uneasy and haunting presence.

Jazz enthusiasts have also received their fair share. Cien Fuegos rereleased Manfred Schoof’s free jazz two part suite “European Echoes”, while Jazzwerkstatt put out “Touchin’ On Trane” by the powerful trio of Charles Gayle, William Parker and Rashied Ali.

Eduard Artemiev’s “Solaris” soundtrack (coming from Superior Viaduct and Mirumir labels) was the definite cherry on top among the many motion picture music reissues. Tarkovsky’s all-time masterpiece would not be so emotionally powerful without tense and beautiful sounds of Artemiev. Classical interludes here give way to spacious and floating ambient dramas, multilayered chamber structures perfectly capturing the existential unease, isolated alienation and purified feelings of the grand space encounter.

The introduction of this article quite accurately summarizes the final point. The reissue campaigns get more intense over the years and we might expect even more of them in 2014. Once again many great records were left out after much debate and arguing. So, your personal lists, suggestions and remarks are more than welcome as we might have left something beautiful behind only to rediscover it later.