A Christmas programme with a difference: Rory McCleery and his acclaimed consort echo the shepherds’ noels through a motet by Jean Mouton which, astonishingly, remained in the repertoire of the Sistine Chapel for over 100 years after its composition around 1515. So famous already by the middle of the century, when Cristóbal de Morales was engaged as a singer in the papal chapel, that Mouton’s motet would form the basis for a mass by Morales; and, later still, a new motet to the same text by Annibale Stabile. A world premiere recording of the latter work crowns this unique programme, drawn from new performing editions by McCleery himself.
Mega-awesome, brain-damaging fourth disc from Grooveyard Records bad-ass, heavy-duty, retro-70s heavy guitar "tribute" project from Sweden featuring Janne "Rock Machine" Stark and an amazing cast of excellent "special guest" vocalists & axerippers that truly deliver the goods on a solid mission to Keep the Rock alive. Includes 14 tracks (79 minutes) of classic, over-the-top, supreme, powerful, intense, killer, blues-based heavy guitar riffage/mojo that will kick your ass & rock your world. On this outstanding follow-up to the previous three Mountain of Power discs, Janne Stark & Co. dig in deep on an awesome collection of killer 70s hard & heavy rock that lands bad-ass with tons of outstanding riffage and "musical brotherhood" all in the name of serious Guitar Rock.
Erik Wøllo is an architect of ambience, a poet of electronic landscapes. The 2-CD Silent Currents showcases a different side of Erik Wøllo's sound. Here he explores fascinating electronic / ambient landscapes with slow-motion structures, surreal soundscapes and floating currents. Drawn from two separate live radio broadcasts, 104 minutes of music traverse a more ambient, atmospheric and textural side than experienced on his other albums. Recorded in the studio of the famous Star's End radio show in Philadelphia, these performances from 2002 and 2007 are each a disc-long continuous piece with several chapters. With more focus on the deep drones than on melody and rhythm, zones drift and morph, organically flowing into each other. Layers of electronics and processed sound combine with light touches of electric guitar melody floating on top…
The Trip were but one of many Italian bands combining rock, classical, jazz, pop and folk to produce what is now known as the Italian rock renaissance. They are another three man classical rock band in the realm of the Nice and Le Orme. All four of their albums are completely different and bear the stamp of another international group or movement. "Caronte" was considered their best album by psych collectors. On their third, "Atlantide", The Trip looks squarely at Emerson, Lake & Palmer for inspiration. The both are recommended to ELP or Le Orme fans.