Pullman Climb Out of Retirement with the Exquisite ‘III’
The post-rock ambient instrumental quintet Pullman’s first album in 25 years is a mysterious, rough-hewn delight.
experimental
Laura Fisher’s ‘Celestina’ Is a Spellbinding Improv Performance
Laura Fisher has added another unique entry to her compelling discography, creating a piece that is impressive on a technical level and a captivating listen.
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The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2025
This year has been particularly exciting for experimental music, ranging from free-form guitar freak-outs to lush, ambient, always pushing boundaries.
Ro(b)//ert Lundberg Mixes Composition and Improvisation
Bassist and composer Ro(b)//ert Lundberg creates unique sounds and atmospheres centered around “a watery fascination” on by-passing-upon.
Claire Rousay Uses Dusk as Disquieting Relief
In A Little Death, Claire Rousay demonstrates through a fog of enveloping drones how disquieting a relief the night can be.
Laura Ann Singh Creates a Unique, Unclassifiable Gem
Laura Ann Singh steers her reckless way through traditional jazz, torch song elegance, avant-garde experiments, and an anarchic sense of punk rebellion.
Tom Waits’ Perfect Performance 50 Years Later
Nighthawks at the Diner has received a 50th anniversary reissue. It remains a jazzy, captivating portrait of a young Tom Waits deep in character.
The Howling Harmonies of the Avett Brothers and Mike Patton
For all of AVTT/PTTN‘s shadows and splinters, it features some of the most heart-on-sleeve tunes that the Avett Brothers and Mike Patton have made.
The Necks Experiment with Long-Form Minimalism
Disquiet is a genuinely absorbing series of luxuriously paced improvisations from the Necks, who have been doing this kind of thing for decades.
Syd dePalma Leads Us to an Uncanny ‘Paris’
Syd dePalma’s Paris is dreamlike. Echoes abound, sculpting recognizable rock, folk, and pop stylings into imaginative new shapes.
Jamie Lidell and Luke Schneider Explore Music’s Healing Power
The experimental duo of Jamie Lidell and Luke Schneider have delivered an otherworldly soundtrack to dreams—and the spaces between them.
David Garland Eloquently Navigates Loss on ‘The Spark’
David Garland’s The Spark may be an expression of loss, but it also overflows with kindness, positivity, and the endless curiosity of a truly original artist.