ANGINE de POITRINE, Vol.II (Angine de Poitrine). Let’s put the gimmick of this duo’s appearance aside for a moment. Angine de Poitrine makes interesting music. It’s not for everybody, but musicians will no doubt enjoy taking this music apart and putting it back together. The band’s use of microtones and loops requiring precise timing probably wouldn’t have drawn much attention if not for the costumes. But now that they have your attention, take a minute to hear what’s going on. What flows through the ears is an interesting new(ish) direction in music. Just close your eyes while you do it for full effect.

KING CRIMSON, Hackney Empire (DGM). Before officially (for now) retiring King Crimson for good, founder Robert Fripp thought it would be a good idea to go back, rework, and re-arrange his band’s classic 1969-‘74 catalog, which hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. The result was a three-drummer driven assembly of precision and musicianship making that era’s music sound like it came more from a chamber orchestra than a rock band. But it works, and fans ate it up. Fripp sits off to the side (as usual) while Jakko Jakszyk offers up his best Greg Lake and John Wetton vocals, Mel Collins brought back the woodwinds, and Tony Levin held it all down with his bass. And then there are the drummers. Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto, and Bull Rieflin are astounding with their interwoven grooves and drum fills. What seemed like a gimmick quickly makes sense and takes things to the next level. It’s fairly surprising to realize this was one of Crimson’s earlier gigs with this lineup. And they only got better.

PINK FLOYD, 8 Tracks (Pink Floyd Music Limited). Ever try to make a completely cohesive playlist (or mixtape for people of a certain age) of your favorite Pink Floyd tracks? Challenging, isn’t it? The “Floyd Flow” can make it tough to run some tunes back to back, as the transitions can be pretty jarring. Well, Steven Wilson has done a good job of minimizing that issue on 8 Tracks, an album of eight classic tunes from Floyd’s 1971-79 era. Wilson has added ambient bits and musical extracts between the tunes, giving the musical narrative a much better sense of flow. Now, running “Money” into “Another Brick in the Walk” is sonically palatable. This collection also includes the full version of “Pigs on the Wing,” originally released exclusively on Floyd’s eight-track(!) tape release of Animals. This is an ideal snapshot collection for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, The Axis: Bold As Love Sessions (Experience Hendrix LLC). Of the three original albums from the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Axis: Bold As Love seems to get the least attention even though it’s a classic album. But it’s sandwiched in between one of the greatest debut albums of all time and a revolutionary stream of consciousness album paralleled by few since its release. (Somewhere, a middle child is nodding with understanding.) This box set helps to right that wrong. A deluxe set is only as good as its extras, and Bold As Love has some pretty good treats. The album is presented in both mono and stereo, which more than a few will be thrilled with. Then there are the extras, which include unreleased demos and instrumental run-throughs of some of the album’s greater tracks, and live versions of the material. It’s always interesting to hear the communication between Hendrix and producer Chas Chandler as they strive to bring the tunes to life. It’s also fun to listen to the band bounce one another onstage. When bringing a recording into the world, the pregnancy can be just as compelling as the birth. This is one of those times.

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (Epic Records). That which Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson touches turns to platinum. When he’s not being a human metronome behind the drum kit with The Roots, he’s churning out one fantastic side project after the next. Sly Lives is no exception. The genius of Sly Stone and his band cannot be overstated. Questlove’s documentary on Sly & The Family Stone is sublime, beautifully capturing the artist and his band from multiple angles. The same can be said for the soundtrack album that goes along with it. The tracks in this collection are beyond crystal clear, sounding very long way away from what came out of tiny AM radio speakers when they were originally released. No matter how much the songs were already appreciated, this collection all but assures that admiration is headed to another level. Play. Listen. Repeat.

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