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"Ekkehard Ehlers Plays Albert Ayler"
Ekkehard Ehlers
Ekkehard Ehlers Plays
STAUBGOLD. 2002
"More computer-made music. It's a record with two sides: there aren't any names of songs, just side one, side two. There's no direct relationship with [free-jazz sax man] Albert Ayler either, not even a sample. But Ehlers is inspired by and playing with those parts of your brain that become nostalgic about things. He's another one of the greats of abstract electronic music."

"Milk It"
Nirvana
In Utero
DGC. 1993
"More guitar playing that's beautifully random and all over the place. You can't imagine this song being any heavier than it is. For me, In Utero is by far the best Nirvana album."

"Forensic Scene" Fugazi
Red Medicine
DISCHORD. 1995
"When Fugazi tour, I'll travel to as many shows as I can. Red Medicine was the first time they really knew how to use the studio to their ultimate advantage. The drum sound is so incredible. I love the slowness of 'Forensic Scene' and the beauty of the melody. It was so powerful and shocking for them to do a song like this, since they have a reputation for being loud and fast."

"Drugs" Talking Heads
Fear of Music
SIRE. 1994
"What [producer] Brian Eno is doing on that song really takes me into a dream world. The sound of the backing vocals on the choruses is incredible. I love when people create such an unworldly atmosphere with a piece of music."

"Untitled Number 3" Pita
Get Out
MECO. 1999
"The first time I heard this, I felt like I was on a cloud. Supposedly, this is a section of a piece by [Italian film composer] Ennio Morricone - looped, played backward and treated with a computer in a really extreme way so that there's a lot of high feedback. I really love it when people embrace elements of sound that other peole run away from. Pita is actually Peter Raber, one of the giants of the abstract electronic world."

"Main Man" T. Rex
The Slider
REPRISE. 1972
"I'd be hard-pressed to think of any music in the world that makes me feel better than a T.Rex song. Marc Bolan is one of the great songwriters. I.Rex were inspired by Fifties music, only their music didn't have the lyrical limitations of the Fifties, when every song was about love. Bolan did interesting things to Fifties structures, like slowing them down intensely and then writing nonsensical lyrics."

"Lisa Says" Velvet Underground
VU
VERVE. 1985
"This version, which was actually recorded in 1969, has such an incredible vibe. Lou reed is tensing his voice in this really emotional way. I love it when vocals are not on pitch in a way that's just perfect. The Velvet Underground could create such a great atmosphere just by playing live in the studio. So many concepts and ideas, and they all just seem to be hapening in the air."

--Alan DiPerna

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