Circle of Dust

After nearly 10 years as Argo, the name of Chess Records’ jazz imprint was supposed to be the only thing about it that changed. But as Cadet Records assumed its new identity in the mid-’60s, the influence of the dawning psychedelic era, a boom of recording technology advances and, crucially, the arrival of a cadre of eager artists and brilliant producers put the label on a new, bewildering course to greatness. Tragic circumstances would bring about the label’s unraveling almost as rapidly as its meteoric rise, but not before Cadet released some of most audacious, boundary-pushing jazz, soul, blues and rock albums of the ’60s and ’70s — music that’s inspired generations of superstars, DJs and cratediggers ever since.

This Friday, July 15, sees Irish post-rock maestros God Is An Astronaut release their 20th anniversary album. The four-piece comes full circle with their new live studio epos, “The Beginning Of The End”.

World-renowned archivist, author and blues educator Stefan Grossman learned from the greats during the folk and blues revival of the 1960s in the United States. He appeared on a few records in the mid-60s before releasing his debut album, How To Play Blues Guitar (Elektra, 1966).

On the occasion of their 50th anniversary as a band, Kansas celebrates their auspicious career with the release of “Another Fork In The Road - 50 Years Of Kansas”. Featuring carefully-selected songs from every single Kansas album over three discs, “Another Fork In The Road” also includes a new version of ‘Can I Tell You’. Originally recorded and released on their 1974 debut, the song is updated by the current line-up, providing a full-circle perspective on the band's long and continuing history. This 3-CD set also displays a variety of memorabilia spanning five decades, contributed by Kansas super-fans, plus an essay that includes recollections from all current band members, as well as long-time producer Jeff Glixman and onetime manager Budd Carr. “Another Fork In The Road” is a comprehensive summation of everything that is great about this treasured progressive rock band from America’s heartland. From their monolithic epics to their knack for symphonic grace and complex melodic passages, this overview underscores the band’s considerable artistic legacy. It is a celebration of passion and perseverance, carefully curated, lovingly presented and fully approved by the band and their current label, InsideOutMusic.