"50" is the 2024 album by singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh, released on 4th October 2024 by Rockware.
Chris celebrates a remarkable and rare career milestone during 2024; half a century as a recording artist.
Yet when he signed his first recording contract in 1974 and his debut album, ‘Far beyond These Castle Walls’, was released by A&M Records that same year, Chris did not look beyond the immediate future. “As I held a copy of that record in my hands, I had absolutely no idea that this would even go any further,” he recalls. “I was incredibly naïve about the music business but I was full of hope and dreams and, spectacularly, my dreams not only came true, they came truer than true. I had no concept that I was going to last as long as this. Fifty years? Wow!” A song from that first album offered a very early glimpse of what might lie ahead for Chris; the single ‘Flying’ spent 17 straight weeks at No.1 in Brazil. “I thought ‘Right, I’m off! A world star, overnight!’,” Chris remembers. “Not a chance. From then on, it was a real, real slog and a hard, hard time, but the grounding that I’d had in my parents’ hotel, Bargy Castle, performing for the guests there made me believe that I did have something that I could give to people.”

The third volume in Virgin's Ambient series doesn't change the game much; there are a few newer acts sprinkled amongst the two-disc set (FSOL, William Orbit, Bark Psychosis) but the main focus here is on classic ambient masters (Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Harold Budd) and quieter selections from Virgin artists who wouldn't normally be classified this way (Prince Far I, Holger Czukay, Shu-De, Bill Laswell, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan). The result is another fine collection, a must have album for any eclectic music lover.

In his first album with Mirare, the pianist Lukas Geniušas offers us a recital featuring two early masterpieces of Prokofiev coupled with the only sonata the composer penned in Western Europe.
Even though the earlier works are four decades distant from the latter, a steady feature remains: Prokofiev’s feelings for his beloved Russia.

The cellist János Starker and the pianist György Sebök, both born in Hungary in the early 1920s, made a musical team for some 60 years. These recordings were made in 1959 in Paris, where they both found themselves after the Soviet crackdown on Hungary. “Starker [is] at the peak of his form,” wrote Gramophone. “The cello's timbre is refined and subtly coloured … and the pianist is completely in harmony with his partner.”

Originally released in 2001 but unavailable for almost two years, Glossa has designed gorgeous new packaging for this most important of Paolo Pandolfo’s projects, possibly a milestone in the recording history of Bach’s music. Everybody seems to know these discs – despite almost no marketing effort, they are perceived with such benchmarks as Glenn Gould’s or Gustav Leonhardt’s renderings of the GoldbergVariations or Anner Bylsma’s performances of the original cello suites.

J.J. Cale's guitar work manages to be both understated and intense here. The same is true of his seemingly offhand singing, which finds him drawling lines like "You get your gun, I'll get mine" with disarming casualness. But he has trouble coming up with original material as strong as that on his debut, and for some, his approach will be too casual; there are many times, when the band is percolating along and Cale is muttering into the microphone, that the music seems to be all background and no foreground. You may find yourself waiting for a payoff that never comes.

"Ambient Amazon" (1995) is a compilation album that brings together various artists within the ambient and ethereal music genres, exploring the intersection of electronic soundscapes and the mysticism of the Amazon. The album is an immersive blend of ambient, tribal, and world music, with influences drawn from the rich cultural and natural environment of the Amazon rainforest. The music on this compilation reflects a sense of spirituality, nature, and tranquility, with lush soundscapes designed to transport the listener to a faraway, more peaceful place.

"Outer Mania" (1994) is the debut album by Outer Limits, a project known for its unique blend of electronic music, techno, and trance. The album is considered a part of the early 90s wave of experimental electronic music, which blended the rising techno and ambient genres with deeper, atmospheric elements.

"Imagine Me" (1996) is the debut album by Diana Jones, a talented American singer-songwriter who has been recognized for her contributions to folk and Americana music. The album, released independently, showcases her distinctive voice and poignant songwriting, blending elements of traditional folk and country with emotional storytelling. While Imagine Me didn't initially gain widespread mainstream attention, it laid the foundation for Diana Jones' later success, highlighting her unique blend of folk, Americana, and country influences.

"My Remembrance of You" (2006) is the debut album by Diana Jones, an American singer-songwriter known for her folk and traditional country music. The album marks Jones' introduction to the broader folk and Americana scene, blending her heartfelt storytelling with a deep sense of emotional resonance. It showcases her unique voice, strong songwriting, and her ability to bring traditional folk and country influences into a modern context.

Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the United Kingdom. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s. Other major acts included Marillion, IQ, Twelfth Night, Pendragon, Quasar and Solstice. The Sentinel is the debut album by British Progressive rock band Pallas. It is a concept album with lyrics based upon Cold War themes, using a futuristic version of the tale of Atlantis as a metaphor for a technologically advanced society brought to the brink of destruction.

"3 Originals" (1998) is a compilation album by Flairck, a Dutch progressive rock band known for their eclectic fusion of folk, classical, and jazz elements, blended with rock influences. The album showcases three of the band's earlier works, offering a comprehensive look at their distinctive musical style, which includes intricate instrumentation, progressive song structures, and an emphasis on melody and harmony.

"The White Room" (2001) is the debut album by Moulin Noir, an electronic music project that blends darkwave, ambient, and trip-hop elements. The album is atmospheric and cinematic, characterized by its moody, ethereal soundscapes and introspective themes. Moulin Noir is known for creating music that evokes a sense of mystery, melancholy, and introspection, with a style that draws on influences from industrial, electronic, and gothic genres.

"One Shot - Black '80" (2004) is part of the "One Shot" compilation series, which was released by Universal Music. This particular compilation focuses on the 1980s and celebrates the genre of black music during that era, showcasing the diverse and influential artists and styles that shaped R&B, soul, funk, and dance music in the 1980s. The collection includes a mix of classic hits, dance anthems, and influential tracks from the period, capturing the essence of the sound and style of 80s black music.

"Half Way Home" (2008) is the debut album by DeeExpus Project, a British progressive rock band that blends elements of prog rock, symphonic rock, and art rock. The album features a mix of melodic, intricate compositions with deep emotional undertones and the signature complexity of progressive rock. It’s a journey through both musical and lyrical landscapes, focusing on themes of personal introspection, emotional conflicts, and the complexity of human experiences.