Luc Ferrari - Cellule (Tzadik 1998)

Some older Tzadik release. 

I picked this out of Tzadik's back catalogue while browsing the other week cos the dude has a cool name and the French put out some pretty out there music. Luc doesn't disappoint. Two extended tracks with the first one having a strong Minimalist vibe and some cool percussion before developing into even more interesting sounds.The second track is even more experimental but is also very cool and I keep thinking back to Igor Wakhevitch as a reference point.Totally non commercial and very  far away from conventional "classical" music, Luc has composed some interestingly different music that works well and keeps me interested throughout. Rating 4/5. 

Queens Of The Stone Age - ..Like Clockwork (USA 2013)

Another new release.

Wasn't sure if I was gonna pick this one up at first. It had been 5 years since the last QOTSA and their last album, while Ok, didn't set the world alight, but I have immensely enjoyed several of their previous releases. This set won't upset their regular fan base, although is has a mellower vibe than their earlier music. It is still classic Queens... and an enjoyable and worthwhile addition to their catalogue of desert rock. I am growing to like this album quite a lot and QOTSA are still one of the premier contemporary Rock bands. Rating 4/5.

John Zorn - Elegy (USA 1991)

The John Zorn Discography.

This recent CD arrival is another one of Zorn's "File Card" Pieces, which means it consists of some  pretty avant-garde sounding collages with plenty of unusual sound effects. I like the atmospherics of this set and the feel of the music here has a classical feel in places and so could be considered one of his composer series recordings. I think this is the best of his file card recordings that I have heard so far and I rate is 4/5.