My first day in China after two years away, I noticed a strange round object on the table - not only in appearance, but because it emitted musical notes, and my girlfriend literally doesn't listen to music. Ever. Further inquiry revealed it was a handmade version of a steel tongue drum, made by her uncle for her niece, in the hopes that she would not only learn about music, but learn to love it. Neither of those came to pass. But what remained was an object whose sounds I couldn't stop listening to. And couldn't stop speaking to me. That afternoon, I spent a half hour completely detached from the world while I randomly tapped its various notes, until reality called again. As it always does.
Earth is a very fresh, timeless work. It's difficult to believe that it was recorded in 1973. The music here is an early example of "New Age" and ambient music and I believe Vangelis to be an important pioneering composer of the genre. There is also a combination of some "World Music" or ethnic music on this album. He was at his most dynamic with this work and he dabbled in many different styles. I realised recently that as well as playing a variety of keyboards he played percussion too and performed with some ethnic instruments on the album, including the flute and tabla.
The overall sound of "Sleepwalk" is however way more up-to-date and modern than some of their previous attempts. The aggressive and slightly down-tuned guitar sound add a more edgy attitude and you definitely need to be open minded about the whole old vs. modern rock discussion. It's neither something you'll instantly embrace at first spin.
Frank sinatra The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings (1995 US limited edition 20-CD set containing a total of 452 songs [over 24 hours sequenced in chronological order] recorded between 1960 & 1988, with 70 songs previously unavailable on CD & a further 18 previously unreleased titles, presented in embossed deluxe leather and brass bound 'trunk' carry case with individually numbered brass plaque, complete with 96-page hard back book with extensive liner notes and insightful essays by respected Sinatra scholars like Will Friedwald, interviews and photographs.)
5CD set w/Breath Of Life (2002), Brand New Morning (2004), Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow (2007), Into The Valley Of The Moonking (2009), The Visitation (2011)…
Bag of Trix – Music From The Roxette Vaults – is a four-record collection of 46 previously unreleased or long since deleted Roxette recordings, including demos, alternative mixes, Spanish versions, bonus tracks, and other fun stuff from the Swedish band's long, illustrious, and extraordinarily successful career (1986 - 2016).