Dance Orchid

Orchid-Star's debut, “Birth”, released on Liquid Sound in 2008 along with ‘reBirth’ - remixes by Youth, Tripswitch, Kuba, Subsonar and band leader Pete Ardron is regarded by many as a psychedelic chill classic. Its follow-up “Faster” retains all the trademarks of the first but is a significant progression. It still takes the listener to exotic, mysterious places but this time the live element, both instrumentally and vocally, and the personalities of those involved, are altogether more obvious. Living up to its name it is as much a treat to dance to as to listen - a joyful and passionate celebration of life and spirit. Psychedelic world-fusion - Indian, Irish, African, Latin, Middle Eastern, Balkan Gypsy - driven by a mix of DnB, trance, progressive, funk, dub, ska with just the occasional downtempo groove, wrapped in a rich and vibrant orchestral-like production…

Phil Sheeran proclaims himself a "fingerstyle guitarist" in the liner notes to Orchid, and he gives those agile digits quite a workout even on the more low-key tunes which reflect his intention to create a mood recording. With Sheeran, there is always more than meets the eye - just as he eases our expectations into complacency with gentle declarations like "In My Heart" (on which he and flutist Brandon Fields tease each other back and forth over a swaying percussion groove), he heads for the tropics or does the B.B. King thing ("She Likes the Blues"), all to explosive effect. "Sacred Ground" combines the island panning of Andy Narell, the Native American bamboo flute musings of Richard Warner and Sheeran's own darker acoustic guitar tones - all over Harvey Mason's slick rhythmic pockets. Then "Jungle" finds Sheeran at a unique crossroads - his guitar is gentle but Eric Marienthal's alto fires up over a mix of live Mason and spunky hip-hop machinery.

A celebration of Mussorgsky’s greatest orchestral masterworks, performed with panache by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and their permanent Associate Conductor Grzegorz Nowak. Included is a rare recording of Gorchakov’s orchestration of the ever-popular Pictures At An Exhibition - arguably darker and more Russian sounding in tone than the often-performed Ravel interpretation. Grzegorz Nowak has led the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on tours to Switzerland, Turkey and Armenia, as well as giving numerous concerts throughout the UK.

The Hunter is the sixth studio album by American band Blondie, released in May 1982. It was Blondie's last album of new material until 1999's No Exit. It was recorded in December 1981. The Hunter, as stated in the press release, is loosely a concept album based on the theme of "searching, hunting. or pursuing one's own Mt. Everest." Tracks on the album include Jimmy Destri's Motown pastiche "Danceway", while "Dragonfly" has a science-fiction theme to its lyrics about a race in space. "The Beast" deals with Deborah Harry's experiences of becoming a public figure: "I am the centre of attraction, by staying off the streets".

The Hunter is the sixth studio album by American band Blondie, released in May 1982. It was Blondie's last album of new material until 1999's No Exit. It was recorded in December 1981. The Hunter, as stated in the press release, is loosely a concept album based on the theme of "searching, hunting. or pursuing one's own Mt. Everest." Tracks on the album include Jimmy Destri's Motown pastiche "Danceway", while "Dragonfly" has a science-fiction theme to its lyrics about a race in space. "The Beast" deals with Deborah Harry's experiences of becoming a public figure: "I am the centre of attraction, by staying off the streets".

Best known for his worldwide instrumental hit "Children," Italian dance producer Robert Miles was responsible for kick-starting the subgenre of dream-trance, a blissfully chilled-out fusion of Vangelis-style neo-classical music and progressive house beats, which helped him to bag a Brit Award and several Top Ten singles in the mid-'90s. Since his last commercial success, the Kathy Sledge-featuring "Freedom," 14 years ago, he's abandoned his celestial piano-based roots in favor of experimental trip-hop on 2001's Organik and ethnic jazz on 2004's Miles_Gurtu, a collaboration with Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu. Seven years on, he returns from the musical wilderness with his fifth studio album, Th1Rt3En, and another new sound that further distances himself from his Euro-dance beginnings.