Udokotela Shange Namajaha
While not technically "weird," as this is perfectly normal music in South Africa, we highly recommend the classic 1985 compilation album, "The Indestructible Beat of Soweto." Any guesses on the time signature for the intro riff?
The Small Assassins
Just glancing at the song titles on The Small Assassins' Bandcamp page, you know you're in for a treat. Exactly the sort of freewheeling Zappa-inflected insanity we spend an inordinate amount of our time in search of.
The Grodeck Whipperjenny
While James Brown does not perform on this, his collaborator David Matthews and the James Brown Band are the musicians, and it sounds to us like a very R&B-informed prog-fusion record.
Mats Hedberg
Who knew you could sweep pick with an EBow? Mats Hedberg did, and he has you covered with that and more in his book "EBow Guitar" method book.
Jaga Jazzist
Nu Jazz from Norway, Jaga Jazzist are an institution in whatever genre you want to put them. The BBC gave them Jazz Album of the Year in 2002 but to our ears they sound more like a proggy Stereolab, or a less mellow Sigur Rós.
I Know I'm An Alien
Working mostly with old cassette machines, this art-synth-punk-socialist crew from North London use what sounds like circuit-bent toys to deliver an anti-consumerist message.
Gasper Nali
Gasper Nali from Malawi plays some funky grooves on his homemade 10-foot, 1-string bass guitar, which he plays using a beer bottle, along with a cowskin kickdrum.
Felix Martin
If you haven't yet experienced Felix Martin's masterful Star Wars medley for 8-string acoustic guitar, you're in for a treat.
Chris Opperman
Composer Chris Opperman’s new vibraphone duet “Derinkuyu, the Underground City” will have its live-streamed world premiere on Saturday, March 20th. Its initial time signature of 20/16 was inspired by Harry Partch’s Daphne of the Dunes!