Cypher Seer Origins (2011)

The Flight of Sleipnir sound has always been quite distinct, the first amongst it’s central tenets is a mid-fi approach. It’s not lo-fi and it’s not polished, it retains that little bit of scratch-and-pop, moderate-levels-of-production edge. This is still the case with “EoN”, and with the first distorted guitar tone that is not that distorted or fuzzed but still so, you know you’re treading familiar waters (if you’ve listened to “Lore”, that is.) That is a definite plus for The Flight of Sleipnir in general, that they have their identity grounded. One more thing: The Flight of Sleipnir has gone softer. Not soft, period, but noticeably softer: there are more acoustic songs, more clean vocals, more atmospheric/acoustic/soft passages.

Big Country may never have reached the commercial highs of similarly structured outfits like the Waterboys and U2, but the Scottish rockers had all the ingredients needed for stadium domination. This two-disc U.K. collection from Spectrum dutifully chronicles the underrated Dunfermline, Fife-based outfit’s nearly 20-year career, from the band's classic 1983 debut, The Crossing, to 1999’s Driving to Damascus. Listeners who only know the group’s two big international hits (“In a Big Country” and "Fields of Fire”) will find in Fields of Fire: The Ultimate Collection a veritable treasure trove (as in 35 excellent remastered tracks) of anthemic modern rock with a rural twist, propelled in large part by the late Stuart Adamson’s soaring, bagpipe-inspired guitar leads.

Total Meditation (2011). This CD brings you nearly over an hour some of the most soothing and restful music. Melodies to release any stress and to soothe the body and mind. Glowing health is a reflection of wellness from within and listening to relaxation music has proven to help achieve a sense of harmony and balance that will let you unwind after a stressful day. In this album a delicate tapestry of enchanted melodies and heart-warmingsounds is woven. Perfect for anyone seeking calm and quiet reflection…