The Kinks release the third and final part of their very special anthology series - The Journey – Part 3. Part 3 covers their transformative RCA/Arista period spanning 1977 to 1984, a period seeing the band finally break America, leaving behind their iconic pop and experimental phases, and returning to a fresh and concise style of classic songwriting that draws on their own distinct British sense of self. Disc 1 features classic tracks and hits from the era, personally chosen by the band and remastered from the original ½” and production tapes, including ‘Come Dancing’, ‘Destroyer’, and ‘Living On A Thin Line’.

Steve Hackett proudly presents ‘The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall’, a stunning audio/visual document of his show at the iconic London venue in October 2024. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Genesis concept album ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’, with several tracks from that album as well as other Genesis & solo classics.

Two guitars gently envelop the uniquely evocative bandoneon of Dino Saluzzi on El Viejo Caminante, (‘The Old Wanderer’). Here, the Argentinean father and son team of Dino and José María Saluzzi are joined by Norway’s Jacob Young, in an album of musical depth and great charm. “It fills me with joy”, says Dino Saluzzi, delighting in this recording’s sonic blend, with José on classical guitar and Jacob on Telecaster and acoustic steel-string guitar. “Jacob and José are very good together. They have different sounds, different visions, but when it comes to the artistic output there is something beautiful happening.”

One of the turning points in the career of John Coltrane came in 1965. The great saxophonist, whose playing was always very explorative and searching, crossed the line into atonality during that year, playing very free improvisations (after stating quick throwaway themes) that were full of passion and fury. This particular studio album has two standards (a stirring "Chim Chim Cheree" and "Nature Boy") along with two recent Coltrane originals ("Brazilia" and "Song of Praise"). Art Davis plays the second bass on "Nature Boy," but otherwise this set (a perfect introduction for listeners to Coltrane's last period) features the classic quartet comprised of the leader, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones.

After the re-issue of almost all of the legendary Pilz-label records, Ardo Dombec’s one and only LP is now available as well. The intricate rhythms and jazzy touches of this Hamburg band were at the time quite unusual for a label specialised in folk music. This CD features two tracks, which were then included in a compilation album, and another two songs from a never released Pilz single as bonus tracks. The 32-page colour booklet includes a lengthy band story in German and English language, lots of photographs and label repros, a complete discography and the detailed history of Rolf Ulrich Kaiser’s Pilz label with lots of new information. The original fold-out cover was reproduced accurately, as usual on Garden of Delights.

Mields is splendid. Her poise, luminous vocalism and animated dialogue with the band show why she’s an Early Music legend. Her command of the recording’s three languages allows her to relish words as well as music, whether goofing around – as in ‘Bacchus’ HWV228 – or lamenting. Her consistently intelligent musicianship is apparent above all when she improvises according to period and location.

Spore is the second disc in Vidna Obmana's (Dirk Serries) trilogy based on Dante's Inferno. This is also quite a departure for Serries. He uses quite an array of eclectic devices to create this experimental - almost avant-garde - album. The most interesting sounds are from the overtone flutes and fujaras. Serries has commented that this is not an ambient CD. That is correct. This CD is interesting enough to be the focus of deep listening. It is not innocuous enough to be ignored as background music. It demands attention. The rhythms and atmospheres complement each other smoothly. The experimental sounds are neither dominant nor dominated. This disc is certainly electronic, definitely experimental, and decidedly Vidna Obmana. It will appeal to fans of Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Jorge Reyes, and Ma Ja Le.

Be Here Now is the third release in the Oasis 'Chasing The Sun: 1993-1997’ series, released October 14th 2016 on Big Brother Recordings. One of the most anticipated album releases of all time, Be Here Now was recorded with producer Owen Morris at Abbey Road Studios, Ridge Farm Studios, and Air Studios between October 1996 and May 1997. Originally released on Thursday 21st August 1997, it has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

Previously unheard Ra culled from the archives and compiled based on their association to that children's film corporation with the cartoon rodent.

Having nearly upstaged Obama at his own inauguration not so much with her performance, but with her rather spectacular church lady crown, I was suddenly inspired to take a listen to Her Soulful Highness's much maligned 1979 'disco' album, "La Diva." After signing with Atlantic and subsequently going from strength to strength in the late 60's and early 70's; not unlike some of her contemporaries, the mid/late 70's and the onslaught of disco found Aretha in a commercial slump of sorts (the Sparkle soundtrack with Curtis Mayfield being a notable exception). Having the dubious distinction of being one of her most, if not the most ill-received album she's ever released, "La Diva" was the first of her Atlantic studio albums to miss the Billboard top 100 altogether, and to this day, with barely any critics out there having anything good to say about it, it has ultimately gone down as one of the undisputed low-points in her career.