7. Erik Friedlander, Maldoror (Brassland)
Finally there's this. I feel like caveating everybody's emptor at the outset by saying "You wouldn't like it," but that wouldn't be sporting, and I hope it wouldn't be true, either. But look at the rap sheet: not only is the album named after the sole remaining testament of an important pre-Surrealist poet, it's actually based on the texts of that very book. Only it hasn't got any lyrics. It's a cello recital. Yes. That's right. It's a cello recital of in-the-moment improvisatory responses to Les Chants de Maldoror by Isidore Ducasse, better remembered by history as Comte de Lautreamont. And you know what? It's dynamite. If you're familiar with Lautreamont already, you'll be thrilled to have an excuse to revisit some of his texts in a new light; and if you're not familiar with Lautreamont, well, now you've got no excuse, because there's this great record to sort of ease you into the process. It is as high-minded as it sounds, yes, but there's nothing wrong with being high-minded when you've actually got the chops. Would it help if I told you that Lautreamont was originally from Uruguay? No, I didn't suppose it would. I tried, anyhow.