John Zorn: The Crucible (Tzadik)

The unstoppable Zorn returns with his Moonchild quartet, featuring the potent accompaniment of vocalist Mike Patton, bassist Trevor Dunn, and drummer Joey Baron. The lineup's last release, Six Litanies for Heliogabalus, centered on noisy anti-melodies and complex, thumping rhythms that laid a foundation for Patton's incoherent screams and shrieks as well as Zorn's squealing sax.

The Crucible adds melodic elements and some singing from Patton, and its sound draws parallels to the phenomenal songs of Carboniferous, the upcoming album from Zü, a long-running experimental free-jazz/metal group that now resides on Ipecac. Avant-garde guitarist and frequent Zorn collaborator Marc Ribot guests on a Led Zeppelin-influenced offering.

Last Step: 1961 (Planet Mu)

Aaron Funk doesn't needs a new pseudonym for this material; it's not horribly far from his frequent releases as Venetian Snares. But Last Step is supposed to be an anonymous moniker, and it does afford Funk the opportunity to get into dance material that remains as warped as his better-known songs. Most any fan of clubby IDM should enjoy 1961.

Last Step: "My Home Recordings"
Last Step: \"My Home Recordings\"

Impure Wilhelmina: Prayers and Arsons (Get a Life!)

Swiss metal quartet Impure Wilhelmina mixes elements of post-rock, hardcore, metal, and doom while also incorporating a pronounced pop sensibility. The seamless way that these contrasting sounds are pieced together gives songs like Prayers and Arsons' haunting opener "Continental Breed" and mood-shifting "The Rope" epic dimensions.

Charles Gorczynski: Oblivion and (sight) (self-released)

These two works by Chicago saxophonist and harmonium player Charles Gorczynski [Silences (Sumire), Colorlist] were posted on his website in November, and we wanted to honor them here because they had no official release. Currently, both are available to download for free at claritymusic.net.

Oblivion is a series of home recordings that weaves together electronics, acoustic instruments, and found sounds into a beautiful, lingering set of mini-collages. Its theme is inspired by David Foster Wallace, a noted author and professor that passed away in September. There is a similar theme to (sight), if only in its listed inspiration: "dreams and realities about loss." This second release is a synthesized experiment in long-form pieces, using looped ambient sounds to meditative effect.

Charles Gorczynski: "Oblivion"
Charles Gorczynski: \"Oblivion\"

North Sea Radio Orchestra: Birds (Oof!)

Led by composer, arranger, conductor, and guitarist Craig Fortnam, the North Sea Radio Orchestra is a gorgeous chamber-folk ensemble that expands to as many as 20 members. Fortnam's pieces range from wandering pieces for classical guitar and flute, accompanied by an angelic choir, to dense, sprawling near-masterpieces of harmonic beauty.

Dokkemand: Høns! (Other Electricities)

For Dokkemand's debut full-length for Other Electricities, synthesizers and electronics layer with organic instruments over glitch-hop beats and other cutups. Guest singers provide ambient and lead vocals, including the dreamy, childlike lines from Cranes vocalist Alison Shaw, that mesh well with Dokkemand's melodic and jarring collages.

Dokkemand: "Lapp"
Dokkemand: \"Lapp\"

The Evpatoria Report: Maar (Get a Life!)

Swiss five-piece The Evpatoria Report concocts dreamy, spacey, instrumental rock. Strings and keyboards layer with a conventional rock-band lineup, resulting in epic passages and ambient interludes.

The Longboards: Motorhythm (El Toro)

This Spanish three-piece isn't breaking the surf-rock mold, but if you're in an already wintry city like Chicago, odds are that you're already yearning for summer. Hold off your beach fever with reverb-soaked surf tunes from this aptly named group.

The Longboards: "Motorhythm" (excerpt)