On this installment, I dig into the work of the Austin, Texas-based label, Astral Spirits. Started in 2014 as a tape label that focused on what they dubbed “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz”, Astral Spirits has gone on to issue upwards of 115 releases and counting in its five years of operations and has expanded into other formats and other areas of electronic and experimental music. I recently had a chance to chat with musician and label owner, Nate Cross, about the beginnings of Astral Spirits, about how the label has evolved and where it’s heading in the near future. In addition to hearing this interview, you’ll also hear several tracks from newer and forthcoming releases from the Astral Spirits catalog throughout the show. I hope you enjoy this new episode. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or comments. As always, thanks for looking and listening.

~Introductory Music: Hearts & Minds “Three For One”
Alcorn / McPhee / Vandermark “Every Season Has Its Reason” Invitation To A Dream (AS100)
Spires That In the Sunset Rise “X stat fourteen” House Ecstatic (Cover Your Blood) (AS087)
~Interview segment with Nate Cross from Astral Spirits~
Rob Mazurek “Encrypts II” Desert Encrypts Vol. 1 (AS115)
Rodrigo Amado & Chris Corsano “Announcement” No Place To Fall (AS103)
Obnox “America In A Blender” Templo del Sonido (AS046)
~Interview segment with Nate Cross from Astral Spirits~
Patrick Shiroishi “Your Freedom Is More Important …” Astral Ascending: 5 Years of Astral Spirits Records (compilation)
Bloor “Splice (for Arthur Blythe)” Astral Ascending: 5 Years of Astral Spirits Records (compilation)
Tredici Bacci “Coda” Astral Ascending: 5 Years of Astral Spirits Records (compilation)
Tilth “Turquoise Socks” Astral Ascending: 5 Years of Astral Spirits Records (compilation)
~Interview segment with Nate Cross from Astral Spirits~
KVL “North Branch” Volume 1 (*forthcoming on Astral Spirits)
Amirtha Kidambi & Lea Bertucci “Brood“ Phase Eclipse (*forthcoming on Astral Spirits)
Komeshi Trio “The Books of My Numberless Dreams” (excerpt) The Master Speaks Thrice (AS110)
Akiyama / Field / Vidic “Wandering” (excerpt) Interpersonal Subjectivities (AS117)
Charles Rumback “Hard Goodbye” June Holiday (*forthcoming on Astral Spirits)

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