"Augen Zu Und Durch" heißt es auf dem neuen Album von Mister Jones und Tito Tentaculo. Illustre Geschichten, voll vernebelter Erinnerungen und episodischer Straßenträume. Wenn die Würfel fallen drehen die beiden dann doch erstmal eine Runde um den Block und suchen gemeinsam mit Escape ihre Goldene Mitte. Bevor es schließlich in die Zeitmaschine zu Sekt Oder Selters geht, heißt es am Ende dann zwar doch wieder Back To The Streets. Aber das war bei den beiden ja zu erwarten.
Auf den souligen bis roughen Produktionen von Tito Tentaculo findet Jones den perfekten Nährboden für sein verschachteltes Storytelling genau wie für seine Alltagsbetrachtungen aus der Eingeborenenperspektive auf die Großstadt.
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Gegensätze ziehen sich im Leben ja bekanntlich an und sorgen für reichlich Abwechslung und Spannung genau so ist es auch hier. Auf der einen Seite die alten Haudegen ''The Warriors'' die in altbewährter Manier klassischen englischen 80`s Oi! abliefern.
Musikalisch geht es hier, geprägt durch Saxby´s rauhem Gesang auch ernster und genretypisch hauptsächlich im Mid-Tempo zur Sache. Als krassen Gegensatz dazu knallen dann auf der B-Seite ''The Pogos'' aus Philadelphia (U.S.A.) mit erfrischendem Punkrock & Punk`n`Roll Einlagen aus den Boxen. Hier geht es deutlich melodiöser und lebensfreudiger zu, Songs wie ''Fuck The Shit Up'', ''10 Beers In", ''We came to drink'' verbreiten gleich Party Feeling und laden zum mitsingen ein. Die Jungs brauchen sich hier auf keinen Fall verstecken und sind der eigentliche Geheimtipp auf dieser Split-LP. Wer sowohl auf klassischen Oi! und auf Punkrock steht kommt hier voll auf seine Kosten.
"Insieme" ("Zusammen") heißt das erste Duett-Album von Jonas Kaufmann und seinem Freund, dem französischen Star-Bariton Ludovic Tézier. Die berühmten Duette aus Opern von Verdi, Puccini und Ponchielli wurden mit dem Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia unter der exzellenten Leitung von Antonio Pappano aufgenommen. "Insieme" erscheint als Doppel-Vinyl (180g) am 11. November bei Sony Classical.Auf der Bühne sind sie oft Rivalen, im wahren Leben verbindet Jonas Kaufmann und Ludovic Tézier eine enge Freundschaft. Nach zahlreichen gemeinsamen umjubelten Live-Auftritten erscheint das erste Duett-Album der beiden Ausnahmesänger: "Insieme", Italienisch für "Zusammen" ist der Titel. Mit dem hervorragenden Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia unter Antonio Pappano präsentieren sie Duette, die sie zusammen auf der Bühne gesungen haben, und Stücke, die sie extra für dieses Album einstudiert haben.Seit ihrem gemeinsamen "Werther", 2010 in Paris, sind sie immer wieder Bühnenpartner in verschiedenen Produktionen; und wie bei ihrem Duett-Album spielen die Werke Verdis dabei eine zentrale Rolle. Als sie 2013 an der Bayerischen Staatsoper zum ersten Mal die Rivalen in "La forza del destino" verkörperten, war sofort zu spüren: da haben sich zwei gefunden, die sich gegenseitig anfeuern. 2017 standen sie in Paris in der französischen Urfassung von Verdis "Don Carlos" auf der Bühne; da ist es nur logisch, dass das berühmte Duett von Carlos und Rodrigue auf ihrem Duett-Album in dieser Fassung erklingt. Hier sind sie einmal nicht die ewigen Widersacher, sondern echte Verbündete, in einer der schönsten Männerfreundschaften der Oper. Außerdem sind die beiden hier zum ersten Mal zusammen in "Otello" zu hören. Bei Kaufmanns Debüt als Otello, 2017 am Royal Opera House in London, sollte eigentlich Tézier an seiner Seite als Iago debütieren, doch leider musste er absagen. Und so kam es, dass die Aufnahmesitzungen während des Lockdowns 2021 zum ersten gemeinsamen "Otello" der beiden wurden, noch bevor Tézier seinen ersten Bühnen-Iago an der Wiener Staatsoper "nachholte". Dass mit Antonio Pappano am Pult seines Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia einer der profiliertesten Operndirigenten unserer Zeit mit seinem exzellenten Orchester an Bord ist, ist ein weiterer Glücksfall für diese Einspielung.Beide Sänger sind hier erstmals in den großen Duetten aus Verdis "Les vêpres siciliennes" zu erleben, in der selten gespielten französischen Fassung. Auch das Duett aus Ponchiellis Verismo-Meisterwerk "La Gioconda" ist ein echtes Doppel-Debüt, dem bald auch eine gemeinsame Aufführung der kompletten Oper folgen soll. Puccinis "La bohème" hingegen haben beide bereits auf der Bühne gesungen, jedoch noch nicht gemeinsam; hier sind sie zum ersten Mal gemeinsam mit dem Duett aus dem 4. Bild zu hören.
Mit einer gigantischen Show inklusive ihrer erfolgreichsten Hits und herausragenden Titeln aus dem #1-
Album „Rausch“ kehrt Deutschlands erfolgreichste Entertainerin Helene Fischer endlich wieder auf die
Bühne zurück.
Am 20. August 2022 wird für Fans auf dem Open-Air Gelände der Messe München ein lang ersehnter
Traum wahr: nach einer künstlerischen Pause Helene Fischer erstmals wieder live erleben – mit herausragenden neuen Songs, ihren erfolgreichsten Hits und einer gigantischen Show der Extraklasse! Es ist der
einzige Live-Auftritt der vielfach ausgezeichneten Künstlerin im Jahr 2022 in Deutschland, daher wird ihre
riesige Fangemeinde kein Halten kennen, um dieses einmalige Ereignis mitzuerleben.
Helene Fischers erstes und einziges Konzert in Deutschland wird ein absolutes Highlight des Konzertsommers 2022 mit gänzlich neuen Dimensionen: Die Powerfrau mit der unverwechselbaren Stimme performt
mit Band und Tanz-Crew auf einer imposanten 150 Meter breiten und eigens für dieses Konzert designten
Bühne, eine spektakuläre Show voller musikalischer und visueller Höhepunkte. Zusätzliche Laufstege lassen
die Grenzen zwischen Bühne und Publikum verschwimmen und bringen die bildhübsche Chartstürmerin ihren
Fans besonders nahe. Ein Feuerwerk der Emotionen unter freiem Himmel ist garantiert -die Top-Location
der Messe München wird zum Epizentrum der Livekultur.
Das größte Open-Air-Konzert ihrer bisherigen Karriere gibt es nun auch auf verschiedenen Produktkonfiguratione
Pur, roh und ungefiltert, so präsentieren sich Disharmonic Orchestra live. Vier Songs aus den Kult-Alben
”Expositionsprophylaxe”, ”Not to be undimensional conscious” und ”Ahead” gibt es nun in brachialen
Liveversionen auf dieser streng limitierten und farbigen 12inch Schallplatte. Aufgenommen ”Live in Austria”.
Die Musik ist es, die bei den Avantgarde Metallernaus Österreich im Vordergrund steht. Direkt und
schnörkellos bringt das Trio-Infernale ihre Songs auf den Punkt. Die Spielfreude sieht und hört man ihnen
an.
Es sah aus wie beim ersten Mal und doch war nichts wie damals: 10 Jahre ist es bereits her, seit sich Die Fantastischen
Vier mit ihrem MTV Unpluƽed 2 (der Unpluƽed-Erstling ist
sage und schreibe 22 Jahre alt) mühelos selbst getoppt und
in der Balver Höhle einen Rebound hingelegt haben, der sich
gewaschen hatte. Die Fortsetzung, die ohne Umwege auf die
#1 der Album-Charts schoss, beeindruckte Kritiker, Fans und
Presse mit enormer musikalischer Bandbreite und erstaunlicher Instrumentenvielfalt. 24 Musiker ergänzten die ohnehin
schon gut eingespielte Kern-Band der Fantastischen Vier.
Der Jump-Around-Smasher „Populär“ zum Beispiel wird zur
kubanischen Salsa, die Bandhymne „Was wollen wir noch
mehr“ eröffnet mit furiosem Flamenco-Solo und das gitarrenlastige „Ernten was wir säen“ ersteht als Classic-RockKammermusik-Fusion wieder auf. Beim 140bpm-Rap „Smudo
in Zukunft“ wird der bandeigene Gospelchor vom gesamten
Höhlenpublikum in Robe unterstützt und das bei den Fantas
ohnehin schon extensive Unterhaltungsspektrum auch wieder humorvoll und kompetent ausgebaut. Das Meisterwerk
feiert im Oktober diesen Jahres sein 10-jähriges Jubiläum. Zu
diesem Anlass wird das MTV Unpluƽed 2 in einer neuen,
spektakulären 3D Dolby Atmos Sound-Mischung exklusiv bei
Apple Music und auf Blu-ray erscheinen. Vinyl-Liebhaber
kommen mit dem Jubiläums-Box-Set auf maximalen Hörgenuss, denn außer der Deluxe Doppel-CD mit 28-seitigem
Booklet und Blu-ray mit Dolby Atmos enthält die Box auch
eine ganz besondere, unveröffentlichte, analoge AAA-Aufnahme: eben der Digital-Produktion wurde das MTV Unpluƽed 2 damals separat live auf zwei Studer 2-Zoll AnalogBandmaschinen komplett analog aufgenommen. Dieser analoge Schatz wurde nun knapp 10 Jahre später aus den Archiven gehoben und schließlich analog gemischt und analog
gemastert. So wurde die analoge Kette nicht unterbrochen
und die aufwändigen Orchester-Arrangements in wunderbar
analoger Aufnahmequalität auf Platte gepresst. Die Jubilä-
ums-Neuaufl age übererfüllt also digital wie analog was die
legendäre MTV Unpluƽed-Reihe verspricht: Ein Sound-Erlebnis in allen Dimensionen.
After an extended hiatus punctuated by rare live performances, The Shaolin Afronauts returned on September 16th this year with The Fundamental Nature of Being, an epic five LP box-set release that expands the sonic vision of the ensemble to towering new heights of burning afro-funk alongside esoteric and ethereal new sonic excursions.
The Fundamental Nature of Being's expanded musical journey further explores the wide spectrum of the band's musical identity – with each of the five parts designed as both standalone records, while also offering a singular listening journey across the band's expansive musical world. This fourth part in the collection continues to explore the ensemble's influences in the world of free jazz & spirtual jazz, and also more esoteric incidental music territory.
After an extended hiatus punctuated by rare live performances, The Shaolin Afronauts returned on September 16th this year with The Fundamental Nature of Being, an epic five LP box-set release that expands the sonic vision of the ensemble to towering new heights of burning afro-funk alongside esoteric and ethereal new sonic excursions.
The Fundamental Nature of Being's expanded musical journey further explores the wide spectrum of the band's musical identity – with each of the five parts designed as both standalone records, while also offering a singular listening journey across the band's expansive musical world. This fourth part in the collection continues to explore the ensemble's influences in the world of free jazz & spirtual jazz, and also more esoteric incidental music territory.
Mastered from the original analogue tape transfers by
Kevin Gray.
Expanded double LP edition featuring four rare bonus
tracks.
Printed and pressed at Pallas on 180 gram vinyl and
housed in a deluxe gatefold reverse-board jacket.
Features rare photographs and words from original pianist
Bob Hammer.
Officially licensed from Bethlehem / BMG and blessed by
the Charles Mingus estate.
1957 was a mammoth year for Mingus. He was on fire,
recording several seminal titles including ‘The Clown’,
‘Mingus Three’, ‘Tijuana Moods’, ‘East Coasting’ and ‘A
Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music And Poetry’.
Now, with the support of the Charles Mingus Estate, New
Land are proud to present, for the first time, the most
expansive LP edition of ‘A Modern Jazz Symposium Of
Music And Poetry’ to date. A wonderful set featuring an allstar band alternating throughout of Jimmy Knepper
(trombone), Shafi Hadi (tenor and alto sax), Bill Hardman
and Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Dannie Richmond (drums),
Horace Parlan and Bob Hammer (piano), with narration by
the fabulous Mel Stewart.
This is the ultimate edition, including all available outtakes
and material related to the session, the recordings have
been remastered from the original tape transfers and
lacquers cut by Kevin Gray, housed in a gatefold sleeve on
reverse-board finish and printed by Pallas.
A stunning album which is sometimes overlooked from the
vast Mingus catalogue, however it emanates from one of
his most creative periods and today stands out as a
sublime conceptual recording.
Daniel Barenboim will turn 80 on November 15th. Warner Classics are celebrating the great musician, who has had tremendous success since the ‘60s both at the piano or conducting, with an album made in the mid-90s that is close to his heart and Argentinian origins, though aside of the classical repertoire. Tangos Among Friends - Mi Buenos Aires Querido (named after a tango by Carlos Gardel) proves again all the talent and swing Daniel Barenboim has, and has been a huge success since released by Teldec on CD in 1996.
“I spent the first nine years of my life in Argentina and only in Argentina. The rest of the world was far away. Everything Argentinian was close to my heart. The concepts of cosmopolitan existence or international thinking were not yet awakened. The air that I breathed was Buenos Aires, the language that I spoke was Spanish porteño and the rhythm to which I danced (figuratively speaking…) was the tango! My idol was Carlos Gardel. Nearly half a century later I came back not only to Argentina, not only to my childhood but especially to my Buenos Aires querido and many other wonderful melodies that make up this sentimental record.”
Daniel Barenboim – from album booklet
In an interview made in the 90s, Daniel Barenboim added: “In Argentina during the late 1940s there was no chasm between classical music and the tango, in the way there was a chasm between classical music and jazz. The tango is a basic part of Argentine popular culture; when you went to a restaurant or a party, that was the music you would hear. (…) Already as a child I was crazy about the tango. I still am.”
“The young Daniel found himself drawn to the bittersweet tales of passion, tragedy and nostalgia sung by Gardel, the tango singer and songwriter who exerted a major influence in popularizing the tango throughout the Western hemisphere and Europe. (…) Over the following decades Barenboim would regale friends at home or at parties with piano arrangements of tangos he heard in his youth. (…) Barenboim never thought of sharing his passion for tangos with the public until last year when he had returned to Buenos Aires for concerts with his Berlin Staatskapelle orchestra. At a reception he found himself talking tangos with a young Argentine. Learning of Barenboim’s interest in performing them, he offered to drum up a few local musicians with whom Barenboim could play tangos at home. That’s how he met Mederos and Console. “The first day we just played for fun,” Barenboim says. “Then we decided to make a recording. So we rehearsed for two days and made the record in one afternoon.” (…) Once he, Mederos and Console set out to record their tango program, Barenboim was surprised at how much of the characteristic tango rubato – a subtle alteration of rhythmic weight and accent – he still had at his fingertips, more than four decades after leaving Buenos Aires. That said, he insists on sharing credit for the success of the disc with his Argentine colleagues. “What they gave me was a pure sense of the tango, especially in the melodic freedom over a very strict rhythmic foundation. Performing tangos, you are constantly anticipating the downbeat or coming after it; this is part of the tradition. What I gave them was the necessity to rethink certain aspects – say, the volume and transparency of sound – so that playing tangos didn’t sound routine.”
– The Chicago Tribune, Oct. 1996
THERION have always been a band that have challenged themselves to explore new paths, while remaining true to their musical core values. For their 17th studio album, mastermind Christofer Johnsson and his collaborator Thomas Vikström have created something that has been previously unthinkable to the guitarist and the singer. "We have done the only thing that was left of all the different angles to explore", explains Christofer. "We have decided to give the people what they kept asking for. 'Leviathan' is the first album that we have deliberately packed with THERION hit songs."
True to the Swede's words, the album opens with the catchy and swift tune 'The Leaf Of The Oak Of Far' featuring female and male antiphonal singing as well as a choir that seems to have evolved straight out of THERION's breakthrough full-length "Theli" (1996). This is immediately followed by the obvious highlight 'Tuonela', in which Christofer cleverly underscores this hit-track's Finnish vibe by employing NIGHTWISH’s "metal voice" Marko Hietala. Next up in this parade of future fan-favourites is the title track 'Leviathan' that offers classic THERION material with operatic female vocals and a massive choir.
Christofer Johnsson's passion for classic voices, choirs, and orchestral elements as well as his penchant for epic melodies in combination with rock and metal shines clearly through the following sing-along ballad 'Die Wellen Der Zeit', which indicates another nod to German romantic composer Richard Wagner. "Ever since 'Theli', Wagner has been and will always be at the core of THERION", emphasises Christofer. "When we started to combine metal and opera, it was something new and original. Today, symphonic metal has long been a firmly established genre." When THERION came into being in 1988 by changing name from the already existing band BLITZKRIEG, which was founded a year earlier, Christofer had rather taken inspiration from SLAYER's "Reign In Blood" among other classic metal albums.
At the beginning, the Swedes were firmly rooted in death metal, a genre which they helped to define, as witnessed by their debut album "Of Darkness...." (1991). Yet even back then, there were hints of "something else" lurking beneath the rough surface. The use of female vocals is another core ingredient of THERION today, which developed gradually. CELTIC FROST had basically introduced the female element to extreme metal on "To Mega Therion" in 1985. THERION began with both a female and male vocalist emulating a church like choir already in their sophomore full-length 'Beyond Sanctorum' (1992). With Symphony "Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas" (1993) and "Lepaca Kliffoth" (1995), Christofer continued to developed his trademark sound by gradually drifting towards cleaner vocals and more keyboards.
With "Theli", the Swedes had firmly established a reputation of pushing the boundaries of metal in the 90s –among such acts as their compatriots TIAMAT, THE GATHERING, and MOONSPELL that were often referred to as "gothic metal" at the time. THERION continued to break new ground leaving inspiration for others to follow in their wake: On "A'arab Zaraq -Lucid Dreaming" (1997), Christofer further explored the use of Near Eastern music in metal which he had already begun in 1992, while "Secret Of The Runes" (2001) dared to have Swedish lyrics in some songs.
While critics were left confused and fans challenged, THERION were often ahead of their times and vindicated in hindsight. Even the band's 25th anniversary excursion "Les Fleurs Du Mal" has by now overcome the initial shock the album caused and is only beaten in terms of streaming by the classic "Vovin" (1998). When Christofer faced the question of where to go next after the dramatic "Beloved Antichrist" (2018) had finally fulfilled his musical mission, his answer is "Leviathan" named after a giant sea monster from Judeo-Christian myth that has roots in Babylonic lore: THERION have created a giant hit album –and for the first time in the history of the Swedes, their fans are not asked to explore something new, but simply to lean back and enjoy the best from their band!
NOTHING MORE kehren mit ihrem langerwarteten siebten Studioalbum SPIRITS zurück, das am 14. Oktober erscheinen wird. SPIRITS enthält 13 Songs, die musikalisch zu den bis dato fokussiertesten, abenteuerlichsten und intensivsten Werken der Band zählen, wobei introspektive, philosophische Texte mit ungeschminkten, wuchtigen Hymnen vereint werden. Hierzu zählen die bereits erschienenen Auskopplungen "TURN IT UP LIKE", sowie die neue Single "TIRED OF WINNING", die sich aktuell in den Top 10 der Billboard Active Rock Charts befindet. Seit ihrem Debüt im Jahr 2003 haben NOTHING MORE mit den beiden #1-Singles "This is the Time (Ballast)" und "Go To War" Rock-Radio-Chartgeschichte geschrieben und haben mittlerweile bereits sieben Active Rock Radio Top-10-Singles in ihrem Repertoire. "SPIRITS" ist ein weiterer Beweis für ihre Kompetenz im Rock-Genre und darüber hinaus. Es dokumentiert die stürmische Zeit, die die Welt in den letzten zwei Jahren erlebt hat und fängt Themen wie Verzweiflung durch Isolation, die Spirale von Drogenmissbrauch, den Schmerz zerbrochener Beziehungen und das Überleben in der Selbstständigkeit ein, während es die Mission von NOTHING MORE zusammenfasst: Reflektieren, Provozieren, Inspirieren.
Seit der Gründung im Jahr 2015 und dem sofortigen Senkrechtstart haben dArtagnan 5 Alben aufgenommen und Hunderte Konzerte und Festivals gespielt. Schon das Debütalbum heimste Gold ein und erreichte wie alle Nachfolger die Top-10 der Album-Charts. Auf ihrem fünften Album "Felsenfest" meldet sich die Band "rockig, wild und weltgewandt" zurück, denn dArtagnan sind nicht nur angekommen, sondern mit ihren geradlinigen Melodien, ihrer Spielfreude und dem unverwechselbaren Sound, Schrittmacher der Folkrockszene. So überrascht es wenig, dass oft genug mehr als die Hälfte der Single-Streams aus dem Ausland kommt. Das Doppel-Album enthält konsequenterweise neben 12 deutschsprachigen Songs 8 weitere Songs mit Folk-Klassikern und prominenten Duettpartnern wie Candice Night (Blackmores Night/USA), Luc Arbogast (France), Blackbriar (Netherlands) und den O'Reillys and the Paddyhats (Deutschland)."Felsenfest" erscheint erstmals in 5 verschiedenen Ausführungen: Neben der Doppel-CD und dem Digitalalbum gibt es die Vinyl-Edition (180gramm black vinyl), die "Holzbox-Edition" (mit Fahne, Lilien-Kette, Autogrammkarte und Instrumental-CD) sowie das limitierte 3CD-Earbook, ein etwa 30 x 30 cm großer, gebundener Bildband mit dem Doppel-Album, den Instrumentalversionen sowie einer von allen Bandmitgliedern handsignierten, großen Autogrammkarte.Das neue Album von dArtagnan: Felsenfest, verwegen und frei!
We are proud to present a set of edits of this long-lost classic from the golden age of African music, from a figure who is still beginning to get his props internationally, Eji Oyewole.
Born to a royal lineage in Ibadan, Prince Eji Oyewole has had a career as a flautist, saxophonist and sometime bandleader spanning well over half a century. He trained both in Nigeria and then at Trinity the prestigious music school in London, and his life as an itinerant musician also saw him living for extensive periods in Geneva, Hamburg and in Lyon.
While for many years Fela Kuti (with whom Eji played) and King Sunny Adé commanded international attention to the exclusion of most other Nigerian musicians, as if there was only room for one Nigerian superstar at a time on the world stage, on the domestic scene things were very different. Eji was part of the huge craze for ‘highlife’, a generic term that in fact subsumed many different styles, united in their fusion of traditional west African forms with jazz influences and electric instruments, and in the bands’ working practices as entertainers at the nation’s numerous hotel / nightclubs. As this cracking album, recorded for EMI Nigeria at the tail end of the ‘70s and now remastered, reveals, Eji’s version of highlife was even more distinctive than most, eschewing the usual emphasis on guitars for a brasher, horn- laden sound, seemingly influenced as much by American funk as it was jazz, and of course with the heavy percussive undertow central to most African music.
This gave Eji a chance to shine, and there are some scorching solos as well as tight ensemble playing across the four lengthy (to ears accustomed to the three-minute pop song) songs. Eji also played piano on the session. The material has an element of social commentary (Oil Boom and Unity In Africa) and should help feed the seemingly insatiable appetites of the many who have been turned onto African music by the enterprising efforts of devoted collectors, labels and fellow fans.
Surely one of the few musicians who has played with Fela, Miles Davis and Bob Marley, Eji Oyewole still plays regularly in Lagos, recently had an album of new material out with his current band The Afrobars, and has been a member of Faaji Agba, a super-group that has toured internationally and been dubbed ‘the Nigerian Buena-Vista Social Club’.
Far over on the west coast of the USA we find a room full of drum
machines, samplers and keyboards. Hard at work is Israel ‘Iz’ Gravning aka Tone Scientist, who’s been using this Seattle studio to produce genre-defying future music for more than 25 years.
An avid student of jazz fusion, hip hop, house, techno and others, he
was galvanised to build his own studio after hearing jungle and drum & bass on a trip to London in 1995. His musical course thus intersected with the collectives then pushing new dancefloor sonics rooted in the rich tradition of Black music – like Nuyorican Soul over on the east coast, and the new broken beats of IG Culture, Dego and Bugz In The Attic in London. Then, in the early 2000s, Iz put out a handful of EPs under different aliases, including ‘Lion Dub’ on the Guidance sublabel Subtitled, but soon stepped back from the public stage. That’s not to say he stopped making or playing music, though. Far from it. Fast forward two decades and our very own Walrus, chilly but happy in the depths of a Toronto winter, happened across ‘Lion Dub’ in the legendary Play The Record store. Intrigued, he tracked Iz down and discovered he had been active all this time. A short email exchange later and this 2xLP of archive material was born.
These six tracks explain fully why Iz calls his studio the ‘Time Machine’: vintage equipment and instruments converse with up-to-date software; classic sounds and textures twist into fresh configurations; and Iz’s own creativity and musicality sings to us from a location beyond the trappings of time or genre.
All music written, produced and mixed by Israel Gravning aka Tone
Scientist in Seattle/Washington between 2005 - 2008 except for “Things
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OBISIOUS sind mit ihrem Debütalbum "Iconic" führend in der modernen Evolution des progressiven und technischen Metals. Die Band, bestehend aus Linus Klausenitzer (Bass), Rafael Trujillo (Gitarre), Sebastian Lanser (Schlagzeug) und Sänger Javi Perera (Gesang), hat ihre Wurzeln in Obscura, Alkaloid, Eternity's End und Juggernaut. Obsidious sind jedoch eine ganz andere Kreatur. Iconic ist technisch, aber nicht aufdringlich. Das Album atmet Intensität, baut sie aber mit sanftem Geschick weiter aus. Bei Obsidious gibt es immer eine Hook. Iconic baut auf einem prestigeträchtigen Fundament auf, aber seine Vision ist nicht auf seine Grundsätze beschränkt.
RIYLs: OBSCURA, ALKALOID, OPHIDIAN I, ORIGIN
OBISIOUS sind mit ihrem Debütalbum "Iconic" führend in der modernen Evolution des progressiven und technischen Metals. Die Band, bestehend aus Linus Klausenitzer (Bass), Rafael Trujillo (Gitarre), Sebastian Lanser (Schlagzeug) und Sänger Javi Perera (Gesang), hat ihre Wurzeln in Obscura, Alkaloid, Eternity's End und Juggernaut. Obsidious sind jedoch eine ganz andere Kreatur. Iconic ist technisch, aber nicht aufdringlich. Das Album atmet Intensität, baut sie aber mit sanftem Geschick weiter aus. Bei Obsidious gibt es immer eine Hook. Iconic baut auf einem prestigeträchtigen Fundament auf, aber seine Vision ist nicht auf seine Grundsätze beschränkt.
RIYLs: OBSCURA, ALKALOID, OPHIDIAN I, ORIGIN
Club Glow powerhouse and all-round Bristol bass-bin baiting badman Borai returns to his Higher Level label with three new drops of elevated breakbeat science. As well as his work alongside Denham Audio, L Major and Mani Festo in Club Glow, Borai has been busy landing uptempo slammers on Hardcore Energy, Vivid, E-Beamz and Infiltrate in the past couple of years, and he returns to home turf in peak shape.
The A side lights up with the dizzying break-juggling ruffness of 'Lights On', a surefire call to squeeze the last juice from the party, while 'Bobbi' opens the B side treading an artful line between deep and depraved as immersive tones face off against taut, driving rhythms. 'Sargasso Sea' smooths the proceedings out good and proper in true B2 style with a pitched-down slice of soul-charged broken beat that smacks where it counts, Borai's established instinct for forward-facing melody shining through in the interplay between 90s keys, diva vocal samples and illustrious pads.
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Gondwana Records announces Horizons the debut album from Jasmine Myra, produced by Matthew Halsall, it's an elevating debut record of understated beauty
Jasmine Myra is a Leeds-based saxophonist, composer and band leader Her original instrumental music has a euphoric and uplifting sound, influenced by artists as diverse as Kenny Wheeler, Bonobo and Olafur Arnalds and like Mammal Hands and Hania Rani her music has a special, emotive quality that draws the listener into her world. Matthew Halsall first heard Myra's music in 2019 shortly before the pandemic hit, signing her to Gondwana Records and producing her beautiful debut album, Horizons.
"I was immediately drawn to Jasmine's music. I could hear jazz, electronica in her music but with a deep, honest, emotional quality. I was really impressed with her skills as a composer and bandleader, that she is open and intelligent enough to bring all those influences together, to make something fresh and original. We were also delighted to work with a young artist from the North of England. London is often seen as the place to be, but cities like Manchester and Leeds are full of creative musicians too, and that sense of local community is at the heart of our values as a label."
Myra came-up through the bustling, creative Leeds music scene and her music draws on the sense of community that permeates life in the city and which is notable for a strong DIY ethos in its musical community. She attended Leeds Conservatoire and played with the Leeds based Abstract Orchestra, a jazz big-band, led by tutor Rob Mitchell that explores the synergy between jazz and hip-hop found in the recordings of Madlib, MF Doom of J Dilla. Indeed, Myra cites MF Doom and Soweto Kinch as early influences on her own music. It was in her last year at the conservatoire that Myra started to consider leading her own group and started to really think about what her own music might sound like and her first band featured guitarist Ben Haskins and drummer George Hall who both feature on Horizons and her band draws heavily on the Leeds community featuring rising stars such as pianist Jasper Green and harpist Alice Roberts.
Myra also mentions local legend, Dave Walker, who owns an instrument repair shop called 'All Brass and Woodwind' which is right next to the music college. She worked there while studying and he introduced her to a lot of local musicians. Walker also has his own line of saxophones (played by Shabaka Hutchins, Pete Wareham and Nubya Garcia), and gifted Myra the saxophone she plays on Horizons. It was Walker who encouraged Myra to apply for Jazz North Introduces, a scheme that supports emerging jazz artists in the North of England and Myra credits her winning a place, in 2018,with helping her grow in confidence.
" It gave me the opportunity to start gigging outside of Leeds, which I was very keen to do. I was quite surprised by people's reaction to the project and the support I was being shown, which helped me gain a lot of confidence. It became clear to me very quickly that being a solo artist was what I wanted to do and it was also apparent to me that mine was one of the only female-led instrumental bands on the Leeds scene, which encouraged me even more, as I wanted my project to inspire younger female musicians".
Horizons was produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Portico Quartet collaborator Greg Freeman, and much of the music was written during lockdown. It was a hard time for a lot of people, and initially Myra struggled mentally, deprived of shows and the connections of making music with her band and friends, but she also realised what she wanted as an artist and the result is heard on Horizons.
"I realised that my aim was to start writing music that made people feel happy and uplifted. Writing is one of my biggest passions, but I also love performing. Playing live and seeing the audience connect with my music and have a positive experience brings me so much joy".
This sense of elevation is at the heart of Horizons, together with the feeling of a journey, of reaching new ground. Prologue and Horizons were originally composed as one piece as they encapsulate Myra's own personal development as she worked on the album - taking the listener on a journey, especially Prologue; and then Horizons is that moment of release when you've reached the end goal. 1000 Miles takes inspiration from the music of Shabaka and the Ancestors. Whereas Words Left Unspoken was written after Myra's grandmother unexpectedly passed away in June, and due to Covid restrictions she was unable to visit her before she passed and say how much she loved her. Morningtide is a nod to Kenny Wheeler, particularly the track Opening from Sweet Time Suite on Music for Large and Small Ensembles but Myra also puts her own spin on it as she also does with Promise, another track influenced by Wheeler. Awakening has a calm and euphoric quality and represents that sense of problems lifting, or of reaching the other side, and New Beginnings finishes the album with a positive vibe and a sense of moving forward from darkness
This then is Horizons. A soulful, emotional and up-lifting debut from a major new voice. A snapshot of a young artist at the beginning of her journey - drawing on jazz and electronica influences to create something fresh and new. But also a celebration of her home town Leeds, and a record built on a sense of support and community before looking out to wider Horizons.
Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2 "...That's Jasmine Myra and 'New Beginnings', wonderful to hear new music from a new artists i've not heard before, a great new artist!"
Tom Ravenscroft on BBC 6 Music "Leeds-based saxophonist, composer and band leader Jasmine Myra. 'New Beginnings' on Gondwana Records. Compositions drawing influence by Kenny Wheeler, Bonobo, Ólafur Arnalds. Produced by Matthew Halsall"
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The renowned trio of Keiji Haino, Jim O’Rourke and Oren Ambarchi return to Black Truffle with their 11th release, “Caught in the dilemma of being made to choose” This makes the modesty which should never been closed off itself Continue to ask itself: “Ready or not?” Demonstrating once again their commitment to continual experimentation in instrumentation and approach, the record begins with a long-distance collaboration made in response to a commission from New York’s Issue Project Room in 2021 during widespread lockdowns and travel limitations. A unique piece in the trio’s extensive body of work, this side-long epic finds Haino performing on metal percussion, O’Rourke on electronics and Ambarchi on gongs and bells. Initially dominated by rapid patterns on resonant, high-pitched tuned percussion, the piece sets Haino’s dynamic and dramatic performance against a calm backdrop of cycling electronics, thrumming gong strikes and hanging bell tones. The performance develops a heightened, intensely concentrated atmosphere reminiscent of Haino’s classic Tenshi No Ginjinka or his Nijiumu project; when Haino moves to clashing hand cymbals in its second half, the piece’s ritualistic energy suggests aspects of the music of Tibetan Buddhism.
The remainder of the double LP documents the trio live at Tokyo’s SuperDeluxe (the location of all but their very first recording) in a wide-ranging set recorded in December 2017. The concert opens, in another first for the trio, with Haino on drums, O’Rourke on Hammond organ and Ambarchi on his signature Leslie cabinet guitar tones. Haino’s explosively untutored approach to the drumkit will be familiar to some listeners from the radical duo iteration of Fushitsusha heard on Origin’s Hesitation. Setting flurries of rapid activity against moments of silence, his drumming here at times suggests Milford Graves in its tumbling toms and thudding kick-drum propulsion. Accompanied by O’Rourke’s organ and Ambarchi’s guitar, which in their shared use of long tones and shifting modulation speeds almost blend into a single voice, the opening sections of this performance are some of the most magical music the trio has committed to tape thus far.
After an interlude of spoken vocals in both Japanese and English, Haino makes a dramatic entrance on guitar. Against O’Rourke and Ambarchi’s increasingly intense electronic backdrop, Haino unleashes a stunning passage of slowly moving chromatic melodies and sudden shrieking explosions bathed in distortion and reverb. By the time we reach the third side, the guitar/bass/drums power trio is established and lurches into a passage of massive, lumbering rock that threatens to fall apart at every beat, O’Rourke’s strummed chordal work on six string bass creating a harmonic density equivalent to a second guitar. An abrupt edit throws the listener in media res into a frantic locked groove grounded by fuzzed out bass patterns and caveman drums. As Haino moves through a variety of approaches, from massive edifices of stuttering fuzz to ominous swarms of feedback, the trio eventually stumble into a kind of Harmolodic military tattoo, Haino’s guitar weaving and slashing across the rhythm section’s irregular accents. Moving through an epic opening duet for O’Rourke on Hammond and Haino’s wailing guitar, the fourth side eventually ramps up into a frenetic finale of mad bass riffing, crackling snare hits and guitar squall.“Caught in the dilemma of being made to choose” This makes the modesty which should never been closed off itself Continue to ask itself: “Ready or not?” is a testament to the continuing power and invention of this trio, who continue to seek out new terrain after over a decade working together. 2LP set presented in a lavish gatefold sleeve on heavy stock along with inner sleeves containing live pics by Tsuyoshi Kamaike. Photography by Jim O’Rourke, design by Lasse Marhaug and translation by Alan Cummings.
Sasu Ripatti, now sporting the new "Ripatti Deluxe" moniker, presents his very own abstract take on early rave and happy hardcore. "Speed Demon" marks the first release on Ripatti's newly launched label "Rajaton".
The Finnish word ”raja” has multiple meanings. It could refer to a ”border”, ”limit”, ”boundary”, or even ”capacity” if understood broadly. It feels that ”border” is the first interpretation that comes to mind when the word is met in isolation of additional context. It often includes political energy of some sort. Or perhaps it’s just this particular point in time that leads the mind into such field of thought.
As the Dutch author Rutger Bregman notes in his book Human Kind – A Hopeful History, the real trouble with people began when the first person had the idea of drawing a line on sand and claiming ownership of the area on their side. The concept of physical borders was born.
Naturally, there are mental borders, as well. Think about all the things you shut out because they’re ”not for you”. They are numerous and we do it all the time. The issue is not to stop that, but to recognize when to let new things in, even if they’re not commonplace. Mental borders might often be easier to rewrite than physical ones, but the challenge remains a real one.
That’s where the derivative form ”rajaton” comes to play. By simply adding the ”-ton”, all borders, limits, boundaries and capacities are lifted in an instant. We have something ”borderless” instead, and are thus free to expand our thinking.
One could argue that the word ”rajaton” implies not the removal of borders but instead their very non-existence at large. How will our mind work when the concept of borders doesn’t even enter the conscious thought?
Mental borderlessness is a truly fascinating concept. A maximalist array of opportunities and potential ideas enters the picture – one which is also limitless, unlimited, sans boundaries, and also without a danger of being depleted. It’s an all-existence of multitudes where hierarchy also starts to deteriorate, giving way to a new form of full understanding without judgement.
Music is one fine place for such thinking, especially when thinking about the role of the listener. Occupying a much more active position than is generally recognized, the listener can greatly benefit from borderless thinking, and thus help to enhance the collective perceived significance of any given body of work. When there are no boundaries, the interpretation remains unchained and honest.
Basically it was all already said by the late revolutionary jazz pianist Burton Greene: ”Borders are boring!”
Sasu Ripatti, now sporting the new "Ripatti Deluxe" moniker, presents his very own abstract take on early rave and happy hardcore. "Speed Demon" marks the first release on Ripatti's newly launched label "Rajaton".
The Finnish word ”raja” has multiple meanings. It could refer to a ”border”, ”limit”, ”boundary”, or even ”capacity” if understood broadly. It feels that ”border” is the first interpretation that comes to mind when the word is met in isolation of additional context. It often includes political energy of some sort. Or perhaps it’s just this particular point in time that leads the mind into such field of thought.
As the Dutch author Rutger Bregman notes in his book Human Kind – A Hopeful History, the real trouble with people began when the first person had the idea of drawing a line on sand and claiming ownership of the area on their side. The concept of physical borders was born.
Naturally, there are mental borders, as well. Think about all the things you shut out because they’re ”not for you”. They are numerous and we do it all the time. The issue is not to stop that, but to recognize when to let new things in, even if they’re not commonplace. Mental borders might often be easier to rewrite than physical ones, but the challenge remains a real one.
That’s where the derivative form ”rajaton” comes to play. By simply adding the ”-ton”, all borders, limits, boundaries and capacities are lifted in an instant. We have something ”borderless” instead, and are thus free to expand our thinking.
One could argue that the word ”rajaton” implies not the removal of borders but instead their very non-existence at large. How will our mind work when the concept of borders doesn’t even enter the conscious thought?
Mental borderlessness is a truly fascinating concept. A maximalist array of opportunities and potential ideas enters the picture – one which is also limitless, unlimited, sans boundaries, and also without a danger of being depleted. It’s an all-existence of multitudes where hierarchy also starts to deteriorate, giving way to a new form of full understanding without judgement.
Music is one fine place for such thinking, especially when thinking about the role of the listener. Occupying a much more active position than is generally recognized, the listener can greatly benefit from borderless thinking, and thus help to enhance the collective perceived significance of any given body of work. When there are no boundaries, the interpretation remains unchained and honest.
Basically it was all already said by the late revolutionary jazz pianist Burton Greene: ”Borders are boring!”
Nuron makes a spectacular return on De:tuned with a compilation of hidden treasures! Nurmad Jusat aka Nuron / Fugue, one of the originators of the UK emotive techno sound, went on a quest for archived material and unearthed a handful of DAT tapes with previously unreleased music from the early to mid 90s. The tracks offer a deeply melodic and unique masterclass. Nuron combines a pulsing four-on-the-floor signature beat of the traditional techno sound with his characteristic rhythm and harmony elements. Classic Likemind-esque material that comes with an exclusive Stasis remix of 'Contrapoint'. Essential purchase!
Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. Al White created all the graphic work. Stay tuned!
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Die legendäre belgische Band Vaya con Dios, mit über 10 Millionen verkauften Alben weltweit, kehrt mit einer Sammlung von Neuaufnahmen ihrer größten Songs, inklusive ihres Hits 'What’s A Woman', zurück. Die Songs werden nur von der Klavierbegleitung und der der Stimme der Sängerin Dani Klein getragen und zeichnen sich so durch eine ganz besondere Intimität aus.
"Ich muss sagen, dass ich dies für den großen vergessenen Zyklus der Klaviermusik des 19. Jahrhunderts halte. Vielleicht sind das große Worte, aber ich empfinde das so", sagt der Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes über seine neueste Veröffentlichung bei Sony Classical. Auf diesem Album präsentiert er die umfangreichste Klaviersammlung des großen romantischen Komponisten Antonín Dvorák - die zu Unrecht vernachlässigten Poetischen Tonbilder. Dem norwegischen Pianisten zufolge zeigen diese unentdeckten Perlen eine ganz andere Seite des für seine Sinfonien und Streichquartette bekannten Komponisten. Ich liebe diese Musik und niemand scheint sie zu spielen", sagt Andsnes, der sich 2017 mit der Veröffentlichung "Sibelius" auch für die selten gespielten Klavierwerke von Jean Sibelius einsetzte. Die 13 Postkarten für Klavier, aus denen sich Dvoráks poetische Tonbilder zusammensetzen, wurden im Frühjahr 1889 geschrieben und signalisieren eine Stilverschiebung von einem Komponisten, der sich von formalen Konstruktionen weg zu einer freieren, inspirierten Ästhetik bewegt. Zu diesen bezaubernden Stücken gehören Beschwörungen von Magie und Geheimnissen ("Das alte Schloss"), ländliche Tänze ("Furiant" und "Bauernballade"), nostalgische Stimmungsstücke ("Dämmerungsweg") und tragische Reminiszenzen ("Am Grab eines Helden"). Die Werke reichen von tiefgründig bis verspielt, von heiter bis wütend - "ich spüre in ihnen eine sehr starke, wunderbare Erzählung", sagt Leif Ove Andsnes, der fest daran glaubt, dass Dvorák die Stücke dieses "außergewöhnlichen" Sets als einen Zyklus konzipiert hat, der zusammen gespielt werden soll.Sur son nouvel album, Leif Ove Andsnes présente la plus importante collection pour piano du grand compositeur romantique Antonín Dvorák - les Poetic Tone Pictures, injustement négligés. Selon le pianiste norvégien, ces joyaux méconnus montrent une toute autre facette du compositeur connu pour ses symphonies et ses quatuors à cordes. « J'adore cette musique et personne ne semble la jouer », déclare Andsnes. Les 13 cartes postales pour piano qui composent l'oeuvre Poetic Tone Pictures de Dvorák ont été composées au printemps 1889, et signalent le changement de style d'un compositeur s'éloignant des constructions formelles vers une esthétique plus libre et inspirée. Parmi ces charmantes pièces, on trouve des évocations de magie et de mystère (In the Old Castle), des danses rustiques (Furiant et Peasants' Ballad), des pièces d'ambiance nostalgiques (Twillight Way) et des réminiscences tragiques (At the Hero's Grave). Les oeuvres vont de la profondeur à l'espièglerie, de la légèreté à la fureur - « Je sens en elles un récit très fort et merveilleux », dit Leif Ove Andsnes, qui croit fermement que Dvorák a conçu les pièces de cet ensemble « exceptionnel » comme un seul cycle à jouer d'un coup. L'un des pianistes les plus éminents du monde, Andsnes a eu l'idée de jouer de la musique tchèque lorsqu'un nouveau professeur est arrivé de Prague à son conservatoire de Bergen, en Norvège. Alors âgé de 12 ans, son énorme fascination pour les Tableaux de tons poétiques l'a conduit à présenter une partie du répertoire lors d'un concours pour jeunes pianistes. Des années plus tard, alors que la pandémie de Covid-19 frappait le monde, Andsnes a profité de ce temps d'arrêt pour se plonger plus profondément dans les tableaux de tons poétiques et communier avec leurs histoires. Il a trouvé des oeuvres d'un charme infaillible et de nombreux exemples de Dvorák déployant une largeur de couleur orchestrale à partir du piano - en plus de son utilisation excitante de rythmes croisés et de syncopes, à la manière des danses folkloriques tchèques.
Ltd Deluxe 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray B Nach einem außergewöhnlich langen Jahr voller persönlicher Veränderungen und nahezu manischer kreativer Aktivitäten veröffentlicht der kanadische Musiker Devin Townsend 2019 den Nachfolger seines hochgelobten Albums "Empath". Zusammengestellt aus einer Flut von Material, das während der Pandemie geschrieben wurde, stellt "Lightwork" eine neue Ebene dar und wurde zu einer der zugänglichsten, aber dennoch ehrgeizigsten Veröffentlichungen seiner geschichtsträchtigen Karriere. Ein Projekt, das Devin schon seit seiner Teenagerzeit im Kopf hatte (und mit dem er während seiner gesamten Karriere geliebäugelt hat), ist ein melodischeres und direkteres Album mit einem großartigen Produzenten, der ihn bei der Arbeit unterstützt. Hier kommt Garth Richardson ins Spiel: Ein in Vancouver ansässiger Produzent mit einem langen Lebenslauf und ein langjähriger Freund von Devin. Und das Ziel? Etwas schönes, kathartisches, kraftvolles und klares zu schaffen. Ein Gefühl von Optimismus und Kraft in einer Zeit, die man gemeinhin als "deprimierend" bezeichnen kann. Es geht um Stärke, Liebe, Akzeptanz, Angst und gemeinsame Überwindung. Zu den Gästen auf dem Album gehören Freunde und Weggefährten aus seiner Vergangenheit (Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval, Morgan Agren, Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, Elektra Women's Choir) sowie einige neuere Freunde und Gesichter (Darby Todd, Diego Tejeida, Nathan Navarro, Federico Paulovich, Jonas Hellborg). Erhältlich als Ltd Deluxe Orange 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray, Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook & Ltd 2CD Digipak - alle mit dem Begleitalbum 'Nightwork'. Auch erhältlich als eigenständige Gatefold 2LP+CD, Standard CD Jewelcase & Digitales Album.
Nach einem außergewöhnlich langen Jahr voller persönlicher Veränderungen und nahezu manischer kreativer Aktivitäten veröffentlicht der kanadische Musiker Devin Townsend 2019 den Nachfolger seines hochgelobten Albums "Empath". Zusammengestellt aus einer Flut von Material, das während der Pandemie geschrieben wurde, stellt "Lightwork" eine neue Ebene dar und wurde zu einer der zugänglichsten, aber dennoch ehrgeizigsten Veröffentlichungen seiner geschichtsträchtigen Karriere. Ein Projekt, das Devin schon seit seiner Teenagerzeit im Kopf hatte (und mit dem er während seiner gesamten Karriere geliebäugelt hat), ist ein melodischeres und direkteres Album mit einem großartigen Produzenten, der ihn bei der Arbeit unterstützt. Hier kommt Garth Richardson ins Spiel: Ein in Vancouver ansässiger Produzent mit einem langen Lebenslauf und ein langjähriger Freund von Devin. Und das Ziel? Etwas schönes, kathartisches, kraftvolles und klares zu schaffen. Ein Gefühl von Optimismus und Kraft in einer Zeit, die man gemeinhin als "deprimierend" bezeichnen kann. Es geht um Stärke, Liebe, Akzeptanz, Angst und gemeinsame Überwindung. Zu den Gästen auf dem Album gehören Freunde und Weggefährten aus seiner Vergangenheit (Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval, Morgan Agren, Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, Elektra Women's Choir) sowie einige neuere Freunde und Gesichter (Darby Todd, Diego Tejeida, Nathan Navarro, Federico Paulovich, Jonas Hellborg). Erhältlich als Ltd Deluxe Orange 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray, Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook & Ltd 2CD Digipak - alle mit dem Begleitalbum 'Nightwork'. Auch erhältlich als eigenständige Gatefold 2LP+CD, Standard CD Jewelcase & Digitales Album.
Nach einem außergewöhnlich langen Jahr voller persönlicher Veränderungen und nahezu manischer kreativer Aktivitäten veröffentlicht der kanadische Musiker Devin Townsend 2019 den Nachfolger seines hochgelobten Albums "Empath". Zusammengestellt aus einer Flut von Material, das während der Pandemie geschrieben wurde, stellt "Lightwork" eine neue Ebene dar und wurde zu einer der zugänglichsten, aber dennoch ehrgeizigsten Veröffentlichungen seiner geschichtsträchtigen Karriere. Ein Projekt, das Devin schon seit seiner Teenagerzeit im Kopf hatte (und mit dem er während seiner gesamten Karriere geliebäugelt hat), ist ein melodischeres und direkteres Album mit einem großartigen Produzenten, der ihn bei der Arbeit unterstützt. Hier kommt Garth Richardson ins Spiel: Ein in Vancouver ansässiger Produzent mit einem langen Lebenslauf und ein langjähriger Freund von Devin. Und das Ziel? Etwas schönes, kathartisches, kraftvolles und klares zu schaffen. Ein Gefühl von Optimismus und Kraft in einer Zeit, die man gemeinhin als "deprimierend" bezeichnen kann. Es geht um Stärke, Liebe, Akzeptanz, Angst und gemeinsame Überwindung. Zu den Gästen auf dem Album gehören Freunde und Weggefährten aus seiner Vergangenheit (Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval, Morgan Agren, Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, Elektra Women's Choir) sowie einige neuere Freunde und Gesichter (Darby Todd, Diego Tejeida, Nathan Navarro, Federico Paulovich, Jonas Hellborg). Erhältlich als Ltd Deluxe Orange 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray, Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook & Ltd 2CD Digipak - alle mit dem Begleitalbum 'Nightwork'. Auch erhältlich als eigenständige Gatefold 2LP+CD, Standard CD Jewelcase & Digitales Album.
"Wir betraten die Arena durch dasselbe Tor, wie damals die Gladiatoren", Keyboarder Don Airey erinnert sich lebhaft an das Konzert in Verona (Juli 2011). "Es war einer der besten Gigs, die wir je gespielt haben. Ich bin froh, dass nun jeder miterleben kann, was in dieser Nacht passiert ist." Die Show in dem historischen Amphitheater sticht auch durch das Zusammenspiel mit der Neuen Philharmonie Frankfurt hervor, die den klassischen Deep Purple Hits eine völlig neue Ebene öffnet. "Live in Verona" ist zum ersten Mal weltweit auf Vinyl verfügbar!
Diese exklusive Vinyl-Farbe ist absichtlich gewählt, geht der Sound des neuen Albums doch weit mehr in Richtung komplexeren Hard Rock und 70’er Heavy Blues. Über die neuen Songs sagt ihr Sänger/Komponist und Bandgründer Barry Mills: “Es sind einige sehr wütende, leidenschaftliche Songs dabei. Ich denke, wir haben wirklich unser bisher bestes Album gemacht. Ich weiß, das ist ein Klischee, aber ich glaube, dass dieses Album für sich alleine steht, als ein einzigartig klingendes Wagons-Album.”
Wally ist schon ne coole Sau…macht Musik, die an Zeiten erinnert wo Rio Reiser, Westernhagen, Reichel, Extrabreit und co noch als deutscher Rock definiert wurden und liegt damit trotzdem im Hier und Jetzt genau richtig! Man könnte auch bitternötig sagen, denn Wally schafft es mit großer, ungehobelter Klappe, alltäglichen Stories und verdammt viel Rhythm, Rock, Folk Country und Blues ein Stückchen Musik einzufangen, dass auf Gepflogenheiten, Klischees und alles bevormundende "Helikopter-Vorsicht" scheisst. Für den Ausnahmemusiker, der auch bei Bonsai Kitten neue Impulse setzte und sich eigentlich in fast jedem "handmade"-Genre wohlfühlt ist das "Alles halb so wild"! Wally lässt einfach alles raus was ihm auf der Seele liegt. Ganz unskandalös oder auf irgendwelche Märkte schielend! Dabei hat er gerade erst mit seinee Vorab-Single Auskoppelung "Der böse Wolf" auf dem "Artists for Peace"-Charity Sampler für die Ukraine (Platz 3&6 der Charts) ein Riesenpublikum erreicht.Aber Nachplappern war eh nie sein Ding! Man kann auch anecken ohne groß zu Trommeln! Das ist mehr Punk (auch wenn er keinen spielt) als so mancher Iro darstellen möchte…erinnert mehr an the "The Boss" oder Brian Fallon/ Gaslight Anthem, als an die ganzen heutigen Deutschrock-Bands die an die Erfolge einer Frankfurter Band anklonen möchten und "pseudorebellisch" sind. Wally rockt einfach mit Texten aus dem Leben und kleinen Alltagsgeschichten, die durch seine Musik und Leidenschaft zu etwas ganz Großem werden!
Etwas authentischeres im deutschen Rockbereich kannst du aktuell lange suchen!
Produced by Laurel Halo and released via Norway's respected Smalltown Supersound label, Anja Lauvdal's first solo release, From a Story Now Lost, is a gorgeous musical essay reflecting on time, its perception, and lost histories rediscovered. Finally exploring her own voice after more than a decade of collaborative improvisational playing - starting at her time in jazz conservatory in Trondheim - the album is a jewel of subtle beauty and innovative detail. A freeform musician on piano, synthesizers, and electronics, Lauvdal's discography stretches back to 2013 and includes her participation in a myriad of ensembles and collaborations exploring the limits of sound and music in many forms, including noise, jazz, and more. Following her move to Oslo after graduation, she became deeply embedded in the music community there, touring with Jenny Hval as well as playing on her records. When pandemic hit and isolation was the norm, Lauvdal began working on her own, recording her improvisations in an attempt to capture something new for herself. Connecting to Laurel Halo via Smalltown's founder Joakim Haugland, the acclaimed American artist agreed to work with Lauvdal in shaping her solo record, becoming integral to its creation through all of its stages. Lauvdal credits Halo as a deep listener and gentle "thought-provoker", who contributed ideas as well as helping to shape the finished versions (Halo also worked alongside Rashad Becker on the final mix of the album). Together, they found a method of recording Lauvdal's improvisations, making small loops from those, feeding them back into the synthesizers, and making synthesizers out of the improvisations, which Lauvdal would then re-improvise with. She describes the end result, "like seeing different pieces of time around in the universe." While the record is based on Lauvdal's improvisations, some tracks were inspired Agathe Backer Grondahl, a Norwegian classical pianist and composer from the latter half of the 19th century. Lauvdal notes that Grondahl is not widely known, although her best friend Edvard Grieg is still considered Norway's most famous composer. Yet now, partly through Lauvdal, her story resurfaces and persists. "From a Story Now Lost means the story is still there," Lauvdal explains. "It hasn't gone anywhere even though nobody heard it, or maybe you're hearing it for the first time. And actually it was told a long time ago - maybe you weren't ready to hear that story at the time." This hints at the limitless nature of her music, as well as its new emotional texture. Direct in its vulnerability, immediate in its tenderness, From a Story Now Lost is a sophisticated evocation over restrained artistry spilling over with meaning.
Since 2014, Wand have made five albums (and an EP) in the studio and a living playing on the road. Business/pleasure: the two sides of their (multiverticed, decagon) coin, flipping in the strobe light of ongoing self actualization. And yet, by doing both at the same time-making a record of them playing live-they"ve now made their best one yet. How do you get Spiders In the Rain? Start by going all the way back to January 2020. Do you remember? Wand do. They"d been touring Laughing Matter for ten months. They"d done the coast, spanned the country, crossed the water twice, came back home and kept on going...driving, flying, occasionally floating (or maybe just thinking they were?), always on to the next town. They did all kinds of shows-clubs, ballrooms, festival gigs with no roof overhead-the songs expanding and contracting according to the dimensions of each day. Seventy-nine shows, and everything that was involved-the miles that ran beneath them, the different places and people everywhere, the music as it reathed, making everyone change every night-alchemized the band, and they drove deeper into their far horizon than they"d ever previously gone. The essential truth of the live vibe-that it"s always better when everybody"s here-was clear, so they booked a few shows more in Cali, from L.A. up to Marin. They brought along light and projections from The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show and Mike Kreibel and Zac Hernandez too, to tape everything-to get the big-deck energy out of performances in S.F. and L.A., but also to draw it out of the margins in Sacramento, Novato and Big Sur. It all happened, too. Everyone brought their experience. Packaged sumptuously with artwork from Sam Klickner, Spiders In the Rain is an arc of natural beauty and man-made abstraction inside and out, on an epic scale. Wand are orchestra and machine on Spiders In the Rain, one with the audience, able to get inside any dimension of their sound, whether its songs from their second album or their last one.
Vickie Chérie and Leo Bear Creek, aka The Pirouettes, need no introduction: after two albums (Carrément Carrément, 2016, and Monopolis, 2018), incessant tours in France and abroad (culminating in triumphant concerts at the Cigale and the Olympia), and numerous collaborations, the duo has become one of the most striking and endearing figures in French pop today.
But after the announcement of their separation in love, one could fear the end of the musical adventure. Not at all, the Pirouettes are back with a new album whose title, Equilibre, is not insignificant.
"Equilibre tu es un rêve inatteignable" says the eponymous song. And yet, balance is the goal that Vickie and Leo have set for themselves in order to continue working together: an ideal of wisdom to which to turn, in the midst of the turmoil, and which has guided the Pirouettes, both as artists and as human beings, during the writing and composition of this new album. They had to relearn how to work together, put aside conflicts and mood swings, and find resources of calm and empathy. But their common will to write a new chapter, to continue to tell their story, for themselves as well as for the fans, resulted in a result as generous as it was touching.
This new album, balance obliges, takes more into consideration the desires of each one and gives more voice to personal expression. No more unison, everyone can now take turns expressing their point of view and asserting their personality. From this point of view, the idea of the double album is quite symbolic: to produce two equal sets and put 9 songs on each side of the scale.
The legendary Brownsville duo of Lil Fame and Billy Danze followed up their first group single "How About Some Hardcore" with their first full-length studio album, To The Death, in the Spring of 1994, and they haven’t let up the pressure since. While some solo offerings came earlier - most notably Fame’s appearance on The Hill That’s Real compilation- the classic aggressive energy the two emcees exhibit while trading rhymes back and forth is what street-rap fans have come to know and love from the group. If you are not into the that smash-ya-face-in style, then simply put, the Mash Out Posse is not for you. The album was produced entirely by DR Period, except for track "Guns N' Roses" (produced by Silver D), and it solidified what has become a successful 30 year career for M.O.P. Fame and Danze haven’t waivered from their grimy, crimey, high-energy boom bap style to this day, and the songs on this album established that fact early on. Tracks like "Rugged Neva Smoove", “Blue Steel”, “Guns N’ Roses”, and the robbery-story driven "Heistmasters" are early indicators of the ruckus they would later bring on anthems like “Stick To Ya Gunz” and “Ante Up”.
