The Italian guitarist and bandleader Nicola Conte has recorded his first album for the legendary, recently re-established MPS records. Conte has brought with him his cosmic-cosmopolitan ensemble of stars which includes trumpeter Theo Croker, saxophonists Logan Richardson and Magnus Lindgren, and singer Zara McFarlane. For the most part recorded in Bari, Italy and Johannesburg, South Africa, it is a sensitive work of art that crosses the border between soul and spiritual Afro-jazz.Nicola Conte has cast his vision of cosmic jazz into a seamless tonal design – without restricting his players' freedom, leaving them open to the influences of the diverse cultures.

Following the success of four highly praised albums with Iamthemorning, the lyricist, singer and co-songwriter Marjana Semkina's spellbinding debut solo album, Sleepwalking is out now through Kscope. The album will be released under an alternative spelling – Mariana Semkina.

Silent Circle is a German Eurodisco band that was formed in 1985. It has three members, vocalist Martin Tychsen (Jo Jo Tyson), keyboardist & composer Axel Breitung, and drummer Jürgen Behrens (CC Behrens). Silent Circle first performed in 1979 but soon parted ways. In the early '80s, the trio reformed and decided to form a more solid group. Hence, that marked the beginning of Silent Circle.

John Fahey - Rain Forests, Oceans, And Other Themes (1984) {Varrick Records CD019 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 125 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1984, 1995 Varrick / Rounder Records | CD VR 019
Finger-Picked Guitar / Contemporary Folk / Folk Jazz / Folk-Blues / Progressive Folk

John Fahey's newest work is slightly more subdued than last year's Let Go, but equally as radiant. A nimble-fingered master since his 1959 debut Blind Joe Death Fahey has continually created profound expressions on the acoustic guitar, in a mystical yet intimate setting using his intricate finger-picking style-one that often builds on a rolling, ragtime blues base. Here, Fahey offers five solo pieces ("Atlantic High" and "Intro To Ocean Waves/Ocean Waves" most preferred), and five with guitarist and part-time partner Terry Robb, who effectively compliments Fahey's style, shining most brightly when playing bottleneck guitar, as on "May This Be Love/Casey Jones." Other tandem efforts worth hearing more than once are "Juroscho Ascopi," "Samba De Orfeo" and "Theme And Variations" which features some percussion and bass for added depth.

Marcel Dupre - Organ Works, Volume 6 - Ben van Oosten (2004) {MDG 316 1288-2}
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© 2004 MDG | MDG 316 1288-2
Classical / 20th Century / Organ

As a retired organist, I love hearing this composers beautiful music played to perfection. Ben van Oosten (born 1955 in The Hague, Netherlands) is an organist, professor and author. Ben van Oosten gave his first organ recital in 1970 at the age of 15. He was accepted at the prestigious Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and studied the organ with Albert de Klerk and piano with Berthe Davelaar. He graduated cum laude in 1979 with a diploma in organ solo.

Diversified and relentlessly creative – giving space to new artistic and emotional expression – this second solo album from guitarist Adrian Belew expands upon his already remarkable solo debut, though more than a few will be confused and put off by the opener, the Beatles' classic "I'm Down." …

The Church - The Blurred Crusade (1982) {Parlophone-EMI Records CDP 790625 2}
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© 1982 Parlophone / EMI Records | CDP 790625 2
Rock / Neo-Psychedelia / Alternative / Indie

After such a fine debut as Of Skins and Heart, creating a follow-up might have been a burden for the Church – and maybe it was, but the end result was well worth it. Perhaps even better than their first, Blurred Crusade captures what for many remains the classic early Church sound, blending both the various strains of '60s inspiration and postpunk drive detected from the start with an even more elegant melancholy. Musically, both Willson-Piper and Koppes are just fantastic, their combination of guitar playing running the range from sparkling post-Byrds chime to sharp power. If the group doesn't fully explode here as much as later albums would demonstrate, especially on Heyday, that perhaps can be laid at producer Bob Clearmountain's feet.

These rehearsals have been a "public secret" among many die-hard Magma collectors in France for several years…

16 rare cuts selected by Miles Cleret and DJ Okapi - available for the first time on vinyl outside of their original release!

Eurovision songs from the first contest in 1959 upto the date of the CDs release in 1997.

Billy Kyle & Art Tatum - Havin' A Ball (1995) {2CD Set, History 20.1968-HI rec 1937-1941}
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© 1937-41, 1995 History | 20.1968-HI
Jazz / Swing / Piano

A fluent pianist with a light touch, Billy Kyle never achieved much fame, but he always worked steadily. A professional from the time he was 18, Kyle played in the big bands of Tiny Bradshaw and Lucky Millinder and then became an important part of the John Kirby Sextet (1938-1942), a perfect vehicle for his style. He was forced to leave the band when he was drafted and, after three years in the military (1942-1945), Kyle freelanced, working fairly often with Sy Oliver. He joined Louis Armstrong's All-Stars in 1953 and was there for nearly 13 years until his death.

Phantom Bride is a remix EP by Erasure. It was released by Mute Records 12 October 2009 to commemorate the release of the 21st anniversary edition of The Innocents. The EP includes a remastered version of the title track plus brand new remixes including Vince Clarke's Big Mix of Hallowed Ground, Almighty's 12 Essential Mix of the single Chains Of Love and FrankMusik's mix of the title track, Phantom Bride.

We are not in the times of 100 Club Oxford Street, The Nashville, Hope and Anchor … when a multitude of young people tried to escape from the musical prison that prevailed in England in the mid-70s, where rock stadium and virtuosity They made up the bars for a bunch of low-class misfits who just wanted to get out of the routine between paints.

Trentemoller returns with his fifth studio album Obverse. Anders Trentemøller is a well-known multi-instrumentalist, but perhaps the one he’s most adept at is the studio itself. Obverse is the result of him expanding that skill even further.

O.V. Wright's secular career started off in 1964 with "That's How Strong My Love Is." It was written by Roosevelt Jamison initially responsible for discovering gospel group the Harmony Echoes, which brought forth both Wright and James "Dark End of the Street" Carr. Originally a B-side, it's included on this album as the closing third of a searing medley. And again, Wright's delivery proves to be in the same league as the more famous version by Otis Redding. Nothing much was gained though by Wright's association with the song. Redding's success awakened Backbeat owner Don Robey, who claimed Wright as his "property." Credits to all the artists' later recordings invariably mention a certain "D. Malone." Since it's the same Robey under a false name, it stands as a painful reminder of just how "protective" the label owner was…