Autohaus From Nr.14 15, 2016

Unknown Italian sacred and instrumental music of the 18th century from Naples: The Abchordis Ensemble interprets the Lectio VIII Defunctorum (for soprano, two violins and basso continuo) by Gennaro Manna (1715-1779), and the symphony by Aniello Santangelo (18th century) in F (for two violins, viola and basso continuo) and the Stabat Mater (for four voices, with violins, violetta and basso continuo) by Giacomo Sellitto (1701-1763). An equally melodious and virtuoso music, sometimes attractively chromatically charged. Musical examples of the incredible cultural diversity in Naples in the 18th century. The Abchordis Ensemble was founded in 2011 by ten musicians of various nationalities, with the aim of rediscovering and bringing to light today unpublished or under-performed music. The vocal and instrumental ensemble dedicated themselves above all to church music in 17th and 18th century Italy.

Australia is not the first place you think of as a crate-digger's paradise. But these 20 slices from the country's early-Seventies season in commercial R&B and pop-jazz fusion are a lively lesson in the ingenious adaption of imported trends over an extreme distance. This is overwhelmingly white funk: "Back on the Street Again," an Etta James cover by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, and the ID's "Feel Awlright" are examples of hot shots from Australia's Sixties-beat and heavy-rock scenes finding their dance-floor feet; a track by the progressive-rock band Tamam Shud comes from the soundtrack to a 1971 surfing documentary. But it is all robust fun with intriguing sampling prospects.

Assembled from various shows from various tours from around the world, 2016's Live: Greatest Hits from Around the World is billed as ZZ Top's first "full-length live album" – a matter of dispute considering how Eagle Rock released three CD/DVD/Blu-ray combo sets between 2008 and 2014. There is no visual component to Live: Greatest Hits from Around the World, which may be how it skates around the first live album distinction – if there's no video, this is a pure album – but the record mines a similar musical vein, collecting highlights from latter-day ZZ Top tours. During the 2000s and 2010s, ZZ Top released an excellent studio album called La Futura, but that's ignored here in favor for all the songs that are classic rock staples.

Séga is the traditional music of Mauritius (a small island off the coast of Madagascar) and is known as the “blues” of the Indian Ocean. The music was born during the 17th to 19th centuries by African slaves seeking relief from harsh conditions in sugar cane fields and on colonial land by dancing to improvised music incorporating rhythms from their homelands in West Africa, Mozambique, Zanzibar or Madagascar. From these diverse African influences sprang a new, insular dance and music, the séga.

It’s big, it’s vast, it’s Judas Priest, here captured live in all their glory at last year’s Wacken Festival. And it’s arguable this is their finest live release since 1987’s Priest…Live.

It’s big, it’s vast, it’s Judas Priest, here captured live in all their glory at last year’s Wacken Festival. And it’s arguable this is their finest live release since 1987’s Priest…Live.

With guitarist Richie Faulkner now well worked into the line-up, there’s a power and focus about the band that perhaps wasn’t quite there towards the end of predecessor KK Downing’s tenure. Faulkner’s interchange with Glenn Tipton at the start of Victim Of Changes has drive, poise and attitude. And their twin guitar flashpoints are the fulcrum of the sound, allowing Rob Halford to shine through with his unmistakable vocal delivery.

The set spans the band’s extensive career. New songs like Dragonaut and Halls Of Valhalla nestle neatly up against the recognisable strains of Beyond The Realms Of Death, Breaking The Law and Turbo Lover.

Naturally, the Harley is ridden onstage by Halford before they kick into Hell Bent For Leather. And the pounding show ends with the iconic You’ve Got Another Thing Coming and the blazing Painkiller.

Priest are peerless throughout. The energy levels never drop, and the huge stage set gives them the backdrop from which to mount the sort of assault that marks them out as the reigning metal gods.

It’s big, it’s vast, it’s Judas Priest, here captured live in all their glory at last year’s Wacken Festival. And it’s arguable this is their finest live release since 1987’s Priest…Live.

With guitarist Richie Faulkner now well worked into the line-up, there’s a power and focus about the band that perhaps wasn’t quite there towards the end of predecessor KK Downing’s tenure. Faulkner’s interchange with Glenn Tipton at the start of Victim Of Changes has drive, poise and attitude. And their twin guitar flashpoints are the fulcrum of the sound, allowing Rob Halford to shine through with his unmistakable vocal delivery.

The set spans the band’s extensive career. New songs like Dragonaut and Halls Of Valhalla nestle neatly up against the recognisable strains of Beyond The Realms Of Death, Breaking The Law and Turbo Lover.

Naturally, the Harley is ridden onstage by Halford before they kick into Hell Bent For Leather. And the pounding show ends with the iconic You’ve Got Another Thing Coming and the blazing Painkiller.

Priest are peerless throughout. The energy levels never drop, and the huge stage set gives them the backdrop from which to mount the sort of assault that marks them out as the reigning metal gods.