This imaginative staging of Berlioz's dramatic symphony for chorus, soloists and orchestra relies heavily on the moving of massed choirs across a large stage. It has vivid lighting effects–rather too many of them using strobes–and monolithic multi-purpose sets, in particular a revolving glass drum which functions both as cinema screen and rostrum for singers, so that the final ride to Hell, for example, is sung by Mephistopheles and Faust above a cavalcade of projected horses, like the inside of a zoetrope. The three main soloists have voices on a scale that can compete with these flashy production values–White and Kasarova, in particular, sing at a level of intensity that would swamp anything less; the climactic seduction trio has rarely been sung so well or with such an overpoweringly polymorphous eroticism. Cambreling marshals his forces effectively, giving full rein to the work's showstoppers like the "Hungarian March" but not neglecting the subtler less kinetic Gluckian side of Berlioz's vocal writing. (Roz Kaveney)

This is a recording of the live concert held at Burg Herzberg Krautrock/Hippie festival from 7/15/99. A kind of Woodstock in Germany with a lot of bands. Sounding from psychedelic rock to Berlin school electronic. Release features one track each from seven different artists that played at the festival. A couple of really good cuts here include Ashra's (aka Ash Ra Temple) eighteen-minute "Twelve Samples" and the Hypnotix eleven-minute piece "Roots". Top of the line what many might refer to as new age/world music. The Dissidenten tune "Instinctive Traveler" hit sort of like a Gong wanna be. Tunes here from Sunya Beat, Edgar Broughton, Caravan and Might As Well are so-so.

Mamma Non Piangere was a relatively unknown RIO band heading from Italy in the late 70's, and released two albums during their short-lived career. They formed in Milan around 1978 by guitarist/violinist Lorenzo Leddi, who also was the only member to be featured on both of their albums. They disbanded shortly after the release of their second album, which was recorded live shortly after the release of their debut album and had a completely different line-up other than Leddi's presence. The reason why they disbanded are temporarly unknown. Musically, they are heavily reminiscent of bands such as Henry Cow, Gruppo D'alternativa, Stormy Six and other bands notable from the RIO genre, spiced with their own unique twist which implies their sense of unique, unusal and eclectic instrumentation, songwriting and arrangements.

There is something eerie and prescient in the release of City Burials, Katatonia's first full-length in four years. Appearing during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the complex emotions at the heart of these songs reflect loss, grief, fear, and tension back at humanity itself. Over three decades, Katatonia's name has become synonymous with a melancholic alt-prog defined by a gloomy, atmospheric, melodic, dark, dreamy musical aesthetic. City Burials (even its title is serendipitous) was largely composed by frontman Jonas Renkse during their 2018 hiatus as a solo album, but he changed his mind and wanted the band involved.

It seems like yesterday that "Our First Record" changed the course of events, arriving in a flash at this latest release "In Stride", with the same energy, the same desire to explore and keep in the game, consistently, and once again. «In Stride» envelopes the entire history of this band; it enhances the compositional talent of these four musicians, magnifies their voices as soloists and, above all, recalls in case you need reminding that strange and magical alchemy which transformed this quartet into Oregon.

A 1992 CD reissue of their 1979 album, among their only releases ever issued by a major label. It was characteristically free-wheeling and eclectic, with long stretches of classical, Asian, African, and jazz coming together, and the group mixing structured ensemble work with surging free solos.

As of this recording, three out of four members of Oregon have been playing together in the group for 42 years. Drummer and percussionist Mark Walker has been on board since 1996, making them among the longest-running small groups in jazz history. Given their long-established sound and collective sense of pan-global adventure, Oregon have remained vital, restless, and disciplined. Family Tree features five new Ralph Towner compositions plus two utterly reworked – and superior – versions of others recorded on his solo offerings, two new Paul McCandless numbers, a new one by Glen Moore, and two collective compositions from the band. Family Tree is the first recording since 1989's 45th Parallel that does not feature any group improvisation.

Maretimo Records presents Island Sun - The Sounds Of A Secret Island. Come with Island Sun to the sounds of a secret island and enjoy wonderful selected sounds of lounge music. 18 music pearls to dream and relax.