Emotional Fire

In 1996, Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire, the Cleveland-based Baroque orchestra that she founded, made a very fine recording of Messiah, but this 2010 album surpasses it in every way. Sorrell's treatment of the slow opening of the Sinfonia tips her hand about what her approach will be to the oratorio as a whole. Rather than playing the rhythm dotted, as written (ponderous) or double dotted, as it's usually interpreted by early music specialists (rigid and severe), she splits the difference and plays it as a triplet, which gives it a lovely dancing lilt. It's indicative of the exceptionally light touch and punchy rhythmic vitality she employs throughout.

Recorded on their first concert tour, this is the first release by Dave Bainbridge's new band Celestial Fire. Featuring a mix of IONA music (some rarely played live, such as 'Brendan's Voyage/Return'), music from Dave's solo albums and even a Yes cover or two, this recording shows the astonishing breadth of talent and stunning musical sensitivity in this new line up…

PFM is a very eclectic and exuberant musical group with a distinctive style that impressively combines rock, progressive, and classical music into one mesmerizing sonic entity. Formed in 1970, the band quickly gained a prominent place on the international scene by making it to the Billboard charts (for 1973’s "Photos Of Ghosts"), and winning a gold record in Japan while constantly ruling the charts in their home country until today. PFM was honoured with position #50 in the "UK Classic Rock Hall of Fame" of the 100 most important artists in the world as well as being awarded two gold records in their home country in 1971 and 1997. "Emotional Tattoos" marks the return of the band's trademark sound after two rather experimental releases. 2017 studio album takes a melodic rock route while offering surprising musical twists and turns including moody synths, orchestral arrangements, straight-forward guitar-driven passages and wonderful ballads….