Not many people can create music that strongly evokes the sounds of a century ago but remains experimental. That comes naturally to Ross Hammond.

With Trevor Dunn and Danny Piechocki now backing him, Shane Parish returns to his Ahleuchatistas re-invigorated and ‘Expansion’ more than justifies the return of this creatively nonconformist band.

Ross Hammond’s ‘Roll Forward’ is a mixture of jazz, folk, blues and jamming that sounds unique without even really trying to be.

For anyone who’s had their fill of the sea shanty craze, don’t quit it until you’ve had a chance to hear Shane Parish’s evocative take on these nautical songs. You don’t even have to like sea shanties to really enjoy ‘Liverpool.’

‘Confabulations’ wasn’t made with the public in mind, and that might be why this makes such a great entry point for the avant-garde side of Duck Baker.

There’s so much ingenuity and telepathy on Tatsuya Nakatani and Shane Parish’s ‘Interactivity,’ it’s easy to forget this is merely an acoustic guitar and some percussion.

Whatever obscure music forms Alabaster DePlume encounters, he is able to take something old and make it sound fresh on ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1.’

‘Our Place On the Wheel’ is Ross Hammond still in full-on rural mode, only this time with some really good help.