A top 20 list from John Payne…

Reissues floated my boat most deeply, as I find most contemporary cultural life far too cold and cruel. This list is in no particular order:

1) Robert Wyatt, Comicopera (Domino)

2) Ryuichi Sakamoto and Christian Fennesz,Cendre (Touch Music)

3) Marissa Nadler, Songs III: Bird on the Water (Peacefrog/Kemado)

4) Ed Sanders, Sanders’ Truckstop and Beercans on the Moon re-releases (Collectors’ Choice)

5) Supersilent – Supersilent 8 (Rune Grammofon)

6) Devendra Banhart– Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (XL)

7) Tuxedo Moon – Vapour Trails (Crammed Discs)

8. Liars– Liars(Mute)

9) Amon Tobin– Foley Room (Ninja Tune) and at the “Pravda” event at Disney Hall on May 28

10) Christina Rosenvinge — Continental 62 (Smells Like)

11) SWR Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra —Valentin Silvestrov: Symphony No. 6 (ECM)

12) Stefano Battaglia– Re: Pasolini (ECM)

13) Oxbow– The Narcotic Story (Hydra Head)

14) J.D. Blackfoot– The Ultimate Prophecyreissue (Fallout)

15) Stephane Ginsburgh– Morton Feldman: For Bunita Marcus reissue (Sub Rosa)

16) Chris Watson + BJ Nilsen– Storm (Touch Music)

17) Sunburned Hand of the Man– Fire Escape (Smalltown Supersound)

18) Ghost – Overture: Live in Nippon Yusen Soko 2006cd + dvd (Drag City)

19) Pauline Oliveros – The Wanderer and Accordion & Voice reissues (Important)

20) Pentangle– The Time Has Come 1967-1973 box set (Castle Music)

John Payne has been writing about exciting music and culture for eons. He profiled Jon Hassell in Arthur No. 18 and discussed Magma and the Mars Volta at length in Arthur No. 16.