Well there is now no chance of hearing the vast quantity of new releases I have yet to purchase. There was just too much that I wanted to hear this year that I was not able to buy. Just too much music, which I guess isn't a bad thing after all. Anyway of what I was able to pickup these were my favorites. note: I'm sending this in two mails: the first (this one) a simple list the second with short reviews so you can skip the long one if you have no interest in the album, or in case it gets held up cause it's too long. If you are on the electroAcoustic Improv list then I apologize for the duplication. Happy New Year, Robert Favorite Albums 2003, more or less in order (the first half for sure, then kind of a tie) *John Tilbury/Keith Rowe 'Duos for Doris' (Erstwhile Records) <http://www.erstwhilerecords.com> *V/A 'Amplify 2002 Balance' (Erstwhile Records) <http://www.erstwhilerecords.com> * Muller/Yoshihide 'Time Travel' (Erstwhile Records) <http://www.erstwhilerecords.com> * Kougezan Koukiji 'The Live [11th] Final Hyakusenmansyuuraku' (Horen) * John Coleclough and Tim Hill 'Beech for Miho and John' (Sea Pool) <http://www.minya98.freeserve.co.uk/index.html> * Saule 'Sentimental Journey' (Sub Rosa) <http://www.subrosa.net/> * Fourtet 'Rounds' (Domino) <http://www.dominorecordco.com> * No-Neck Blues Band ' Intonomancy' (Sound @1 #64) * Kaffe Matthews, Andrea Neumann and Sachiko M ' In Case of Fire Take Stairs (Improvised Music from Japan) <http://www.japanimprov.com/imjlabel/> * Brian Eno 'Bell Studies for the Clock of the Long Now' (Long Now Foundation) <http://www.longnow.org/store/BellsCD.htm> Special Mention: * The Residents 'Eskimo' DVD (Ralph) <http://ralphamerica.com/> Near Misses: * Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (Ropeadope) <http://www.ropeadope.com/> * Eyvand Kang 'Virginal Co-Ordinantes' * Mike Gordon 'Inside In' (Ropeadope) <http://www.ropeadope.com/> * Fred Frith 'Music for Rivers and Tides (Winter&Winter) CDs probably that would have made the list had I heard them in time: * Necks 'Driveby' (ReR Megacorp) http://www.thenecks.com/ * Jonathan Coleclough and Colin Potter 'Bass Communion' (IC Records) * Phil Niblock 'Touch Food' (Touch) <http://www.touchmusic.org.uk/ > * I.S.O. 'I.S.O.' (Sound Tectonics/YCAM) * Hoahio 'Peek-Ara-Boo' (Tzadik) <http://www.tzadik.com/> New Discoveries this Year: * The Necks * Johnanthan Coleclough * Keith Fullerton Whitman Concerts (by order of date): * Ellery Eskellin Trio ( 01.12.03, Sit N' Spin, Seattle WA) * Dave Douglas Septet (02.23.03, The Tractor Tavern, Seattle WA) * OtomoYoshihide (05.16.03, Polestar, Seattle WA) * Sunburned Hand of the Man (06.15.03, the Sunset Tavern, Seattle WA) * Kronos Quartet (06.19.03, Meany Hall, UW Campus, Seattle WA) * John Zorn's Game Pieces, curated by Wayne Horvitz - Hockey, Lacrosse (09.04.03 @ Polestar, Seattle WA) * John Zorn's Game Pieces, curated by Wayne Horvitz - Xu Feng, Rugby (09.05.03 @ Polestar, Seattle WA) * John Zorn's Game Pieces, curated by Wayne Horvitz - Cobra (09.06.03 @ Polestar, Seattle WA) * Träd, Gräs och Stenar /Kinski/ Sushirobo ( 10.17.03 @ the Crocodile, Seattle WA) * Otomo Yoshihide ( 10.24.03 @ Polestar Music Gallery , Seattle WA) * Fred Frith (11.14.03 @ Polestar Music Gallery, Seattle WA ) * Zony Mash (12.13.03, Rainbow Bar and Grill, Seattle WA) -- "All this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country's pride." - Bertrand Russell