Masabumi Kikuchi, Susto, (Sony 1981)

Mike Peden wrote this over at the Kozmigroov site: "A wash of electronic jazz sound with chattering guitars and a solid bottom end which hits a groove and stays on it. Heavily influenced by Miles Davis electric projects but with better dynamics and more focused recording/production. Features a cast of all stars including Airto, Grossman, James Mason, Liebman, Hino, Aiyb Dieng -list goes on and on. Bought a copy about 18 years ago and still play it now-highly recommended." I concur. Here's personnel and track information from the Poomaniac discography:
Sony SRCS9378
Recorded Nov/1980 at Sound Ideas Studios,NYC Dec～Jan/1981
at Sony Roppongi Studio,Tokyo
[personnel]
Masabumi Kikuchi(Fender Rhodes elp,Korg PS-3300,PS-3200, MS-20,DL-50, BX-3,synthe bass SB-100,Sansui P-1, parametric equalizer for the sound system), Terumasa Hino(cor,bolivian-fl), Steve Grossman(ss,ts), Dave Liebman(ss,ts,a-fl),Richie Morales(ds),Victor "Yahya" Jones(ds), Hassan Jenkins(b),James Mason(gt),Butch Campbell(gt),Marlon Graves(gt), Barry Finnerty(gt),Billy Paterson(gt),Alyrio Lima(perc),Aiyb Dieng(perc), Sam Morrison(wind driver,ss),Airto Moreira(perc),Ed Walsh(synth prog) Pruducer:Kiyoshi Itoh
[track list]
1.CIRCLE/LINE
2.CITY SNOW
3.GUMBO
4.NEW NATIVE
(All compositions by M.Kikuchi)

Terry Riley, You're No Good, (Organ of Corti 1967)

Continuing the theme of "prescient" from the previous post on Esperanto, this album is the pre-electronica bomb. The album cover sums it up nicely. Riley deconstructs a little known mid 60s soul tune, adding harsh electronics, echo, loops, phasing and jarring juxtapositions of various musical elements. It's remixing 30 years before it became fashionable. The second track is a nice live recording of Poppy Nogood. Awesome! My rip of the out of print cd that is currently selling for silly money.

Ryuichi Sakamoto Esperanto, (Midi Inc., MDCZ-1126, 1985)

An unusually prescient album, Esperanto from 1985 charts the direction of abstract electronic beats to come. I bought it because it features Arto Lindsay. I was in Tower Records near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, and that first track "A Wongga Dance Song" came over the speakers. I recognized Arto's guitar work (it's hard not to) and ran to the counter to ask what the heck it was. Well, it was insanely expensive then ($27 for a Japanese import CD back in 85) and sells for silly money now. Still sounds cool and modern.

La Monte Young, Just Stompin': Live at the Kitchen (Gramavision #79487, 1993)

The perfect album. I love the blues and the Dorian scale. La Monte Young stretches out with some bluesy jams, but always keeps the minimalistic piano drone. For me, and I'm no fan of just intonation, this one hits it on the head. This album deconstructs the blues better than any other. My rip of the out of print CD that sells for silly money now.
Credits:
Keyboards - La Monte Young
Bass - Brad Catler
Drums - Jonathan Kane
Engineer - Bob Bielecki
Guitar - Jon Catler
Mastered By - Chris Muth
(A 128 kps rip of the well tuned piano is over at
direct-waves)