Locus Solus cover

Locus Solus

John Zorn · 1983

68 min · 38 tracks · avant-garde jazz

A frenetic collage of avant-garde jazz that dances between chaos and structure in short, intense bursts.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • fragmented bursts of intensity
  • short tracks demand quick attention
  • chaotic yet structured exploration
  • playful experimentation with sound
  • headphone detail hunting required

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer longer, cohesive pieces
  • seek traditional song structures

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1983, 'Locus Solus' was John Zorn's debut album, introducing his innovative approach to avant-garde jazz. At this point in his career, Zorn had been actively involved in New York's experimental music scene but had not yet achieved widespread recognition. This album marked the beginning of his prolific output and set the stage for his future explorations in various musical forms.
Stylistic neighbors
Mike Patton· The Thing· Merzbow

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Bass and the Treble 2:57
  • 2 The Acquisition & Control of Fire 1:33
  • 3 Honey-Cab 2:33
  • 4 Switch 2:15
  • 5 Juan Talks It Out of His System 2:11
  • 6 The Wish 2:02
  • 7 A Case Arose 1:59
  • 8 The Elf 1:41
  • 9 Getting Curly 1:51
  • 10 Don’t Switch 1:50
  • 11 Smooth Cheeks of a Big Ego 1:51
  • 12 Add Water 2:15
  • 13 Cold 1:31
  • 14 Friar T. 0:58
  • 15 Too Me 2:16
  • 16 You Rang? 1:17
  • 17 Self-Satisfied 1:22
  • 18 Agora 1:10
  • 19 Dot Dot, Dot 1:14
  • 20 Moi non plus 1:43
  • 21 Liver 1:49
  • 22 “The Footman’s Eyes Get Crossed” 1:04
  • 23 Heike Cipher Mystery 1:47
  • 24 Jedi Mind Trick 1:06
  • 25 Mysterious Island 2:11
  • 26 You Only Live Twice, Mr. Bond 1:59
  • 27 When Arrows Meet 1:38
  • 28 Never Say Never Again 1:45
  • 29 Sign of the Four 2:13
  • 30 Locus Solus, Parts 1 & 2 2:11
  • 31 Where Are My Victims? 2:06
  • 32 Disco Volante 2:06
  • 33 Kaiser in Borneo 1:48
  • 34 The Saint 1:40
  • 35 The Violent Death of Dutch Schultz 1:23
  • 36 Thunderball 1:43
  • 37 White Zombie 1:30
  • 38 The Slaves of Vesuvius 2:06

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata