KRVX

Here's what our illustrious librarian Colin (host of Radio Free Verse) has resurrected this week:

Electronic - FUSE, Dimension Intrusion (Wax Trax 1993)
UK-born Detroit techno honcho Richie Hawtin's early-nineties singles are models of restraint, with bumping, airtight grooves.

Jazz - Archie Shepp, The New York Contemporary Five (Delmark 1963, reissued 2010)
Calling tenor saxman Shepp and company's (Don Cherry is among the personnel) live date in Copenhagen "avant-garde for the time" makes it sound obsolete, but these daring performances from the first wave of free jazz don't go stale.

Rock - Trumans Water, The Singles 1992-1997 (No Sides 2002)
Wish you could enjoy a more spastic, improvisatory Pavement without the distraction of discernible melodies and choruses? Probably not. Whatever, as Trumans Water would say.

Blues - Various Artists, Men Are Like Street Cars: Women Blues Singers 1928-1969 (MCA 1999)
Though it necessarily sacrifices some depth for breadth (no Bessie Smith?!), this two-disc set surveys some of the strongest female voices in the blues, many of them obscure (virtual unknown Mattie Delaney's "Tallahatchie River Blues" is a stunner), and ranges from country blues to swing to the electrified Chicago sound. Highly recommended.

TX World/Folk (?) - Texas Czech, Bohemian, & Moravian Bands: Historic Recordings, 1929-1959 (Arhoolie 1993)
Call your grandpa back in West! "The Prune Waltz," "The Bartered Bride March," "Circling Pigeons Waltz"--all your favorites are here! This stuff is hotter than a Czech Stop kolache. My Prague-nosis: you'll love it.