Ambitious Antiquities, Famous Forebears: Constructions of a Glorious Past in The Early Modern Netherlands And in Europe

Eric Random is a key figure in the early Eighties music scene in Manchester that evolved around the Buzzcock’s New Hormones label and later around Cabaret Voltaire’s Doublevision. This is the last album by Eric ecorded with his original group, The Bedlamites. It was originally released by FON Records in 1986 and came with a stunning sleeve design by The Designers Republic. After Time-Splice which was heavy electronics and produced by Cabaret Voltaire, Eric took the Bedlamites into a new direction. Ishmael is heavily influenced by world music, mostly Arabian sounds, and was produced by Robert Gordon and The Bedlamites themselves.

Count Basie was among the most important bandleaders of the swing era. With the exception of a brief period in the early '50s, he led a big band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later, and the band continued to perform after he died. Basie's orchestra was characterized by a light, swinging rhythm section that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing. Basie was not a composer like Duke Ellington or an important soloist like Benny Goodman. His instrument was his band, which was considered the epitome of swing and became broadly influential on jazz.