I came across this crazy word “epistrophy” while listening to Frank Lowe’s Fresh. Botanically it means recovering of form of anomalies. Epistrophy was also a jazz standard composed by Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke in 1942 (wiki). This word at once reminded me of branches, roots, the mad way they creep – as if a crazy dance which intrigues to creep into your mind and grow inside you.

Then only yesterday, quite accidently and luckily I discovered Roots of Madness from a friend. The band was found in 1969 in CA by Geoff Alexander and Don Campau, and included Joe Morrow, Jim Kulczynski, and David “Dave Dolphin” Leskovsky. The moment I heard the first track “Realisation II” then I knew I’d fallen in love with this music. It’s not a perfect theory but sometimes a certain kind of music is so cool is probably because it covers certain ranges of genres and were combined cooly. They thrill and stimulate you.

So here comes this list, free-jazz, avant-garde, Finn folk and sounds and etc. Enjoy.

1. Black Ox Orkestar – Az Vey Dem Tatn
Nisht Azoy / 2006 / Constellation
2. Braspyreet – Kukkokana
Kissasirkus / 2003 / 267 Lattajjaa
3. Lauhkeat Lampaat – a6 untitled
Mystery of Hyyry / POK
4. Roots Of Madness – Realisation II
The Girl In The Chair / 1971 / reissued by DESTIJL in 2005
5. Albrecht D – Abstract Energy
Endless Music / 1974
6. Frank Lowe – Fresh
Fresh / 1974 / Black Lion
7. Prince Lasha & Sonny Simmons – Lost Generation
The Cry! / 1962 / Contemporary Records
8. Sunny Murray – Angels and Devils
Big Chief / 1969 / Pathé Marconi EMI
9. Sam Rivers – Ecstasy
Paragon / 1977 / Fluid

image: sarkali, Roots of Madness