Hpm_2005 02

There are countless Bob Marley compilations on the market, but what will generate some interest in this one, which is essentially a collection of his Island singles with a handful of his Lee "Scratch" Perry-era tracks added in, is the inclusion of a "new" Marley song, "Slogans," derived from a demo tape Marley made in a Miami hotel room in 1979…

It’s a very special kind of meeting, a leap across the generation divide: Melancholia documents the creative collaboration between one of the most important influences on post-war jazz and one of the greatest talents of the new breed of jazzers in Germany: Heinz Sauer and Michael Wollny.
Sauer has always been a master of the terse miniature, but not in the way that it is shown in this CD. The music can be contrasted with his compositions for the Jazz Ensemble of Jazz Ensemble of the Frankfurt Radio where he brings together strange themes in amazing elaborate arrangements…

"The Great German Songbook" Is there really one? Yes there is although most people are not aware of it, especially the Germans themselves, who seem to find it hard recognising their own heritage of great popular music - not only the obvious classical greats. Most people do not even realise that "Strangers in the Night" is a German song written by the late Gert Kaempfert in the 60’s.
Six of Germany’s most exciting young jazz musicians have grabbed at the treasury of German songs and have made themselves a bold selection - from the Middle Ages, through the Golden Twenties up to the present day. From the Comedian Harmonists, Zarah Leander, Hildgard Knef all the way up to Bert Kaempfert and recent hits by new superstars Herbert Grönemeyer and Xavier Naidoo…

Thirteen examples of pleasant, mid-tempo, mildly amplified psychedelic pop, most of them owing some considerable debt to the influence of the Beatles' Rubber Soul and Revolver (though not their production), with some of the nutsy brand of humor that Giles, Giles, & Fripp later traded in. This is basically Paul McCartney-influenced psychedelia, not only in the tone and texture of the lead vocals, but the retro style of songs like "I'm So Happy," with some vaguely progressive touches that make one think of the more ornate tracks off of Bee Gees' 1st. "Montgolfier" is a folky/trippy, deliberately antiquated cut that intersects somewhere midway between the early psychedelic Bee Gees and the early work of Amazing Blondel.

Pete Namlook was one of the most influential protagonists of ambient music during the 1990s. Inspired by Oskar Sala, one of the pioneers of electronic music, Namlook focused on the untapped potential of analogue synthesizers, often developed or extended in his laboratory. After a nine-year break, the Koolfang series has been resurrected with its trademark "Deep Jazzy Chill-Out" sound, invented long before the current trend of "lounge compilations". This time Pete’s vocals are featured and his voice will go right under your skin and sonically transport you to the beach, the wind, and the salt of Fuerteventura.

Inspired by classic prog giants like Pink Floyd, Genesis and King Crimson, Finnish band Overhead formed in the late nineties to record, and eventually release their first full version album "Zumanthum". Their music is refined and elegant with well-built melodies, clear and powerful vocals quiet and contrasted parts, sophisticated arrangements and great instrumental parts. After having published a first album and guested on the Kalevala project, these young Finnish musicians join the Musea label at the occasion of the release of their second opus. "Metaepitome" (2005) is composed by six long and complex pieces, two of them being suites about 15 and 20 minutes long. The music still includes a few influences from ink Floyd, Rush, Marillion, Dream Theater or King Crimson…