Handelsblatt Nr.111 Vom 12.06.2012

Germany's Die Singphoniker, here a vocal sextet, were partly inspired by the King's Singers from Britain, and they have explored a similarly wide-ranging repertoire, from Renaissance a cappella vocal music to contemporary classical and pop. The King's Singers, however, have rarely released albums of truly unusual repertory, except in the contemporary field; this kind of small-group singing usually relies either on some audience familiarity with what's being sung, or on the composition of music expressly for this medium. In this case, Die Singphoniker tackles a rarely represented repertory and emerges with decent results. The vast choral output of Orlando di Lasso (aka, Orlande de Lassus) remains largely unexplored, and this little album gives a clue as to the interesting things to be found. Lasso's hymns were mostly composed around 1580, when the composer was employed as kapellmeister by Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria.

The title Paris Days, Berlin Nights is a little misleading. One might expect French songs about morning-after regrets and German ones about living cynically hedonistically, but this collection goes way beyond that. It includes songs about war, abandonment, the indifference of time to human suffering, and gritty street life, with music by Piazzolla and Polish-Jewish composer Chava Alberstein in addition to the expected Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler, and Jacques Brel.

Nikolai Lugansky has established an extraordinary reputation playing Chopin and Rachmaninov, actively performing works of both composers all over the world. This outstanding 9-CD boxed set includes many of Lugansky's most celebrated recordings, having garnered the Diapason d'Or for the complete Chopin Etudes in 2000, Rachmaninoff Preludes and Moments Musicaux in 2001 and Chopin Preludes in 2002, as well as his acclaimed first disc of Beethoven Sonatas that includes the "Moonlight" and "Appassionata".

Swedish band Änglagård is part of a whole breed of young progressive rockers who have cut their teeth on King Crimson's Red. Like the other Crimson Swedes, Anekdoten, Änglagård crams angular hooks and start/stop tempos into every moment they can spare. Writing lengthy symphonic pieces, the band sound like many big '70s acts but always play with a very tough sound. Meaty bass and scorched guitar tones duel it out with organ, mellotron, and hyperactive drumming, while folky Swedish singing and flute occasionally break the tension.

Alive (2010). Alive is a creation by finger style guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Todd Boston, featuring a collection of live looping compositions performed on acoustic guitar, flute and percussion. This musical offering is intended to take the listener on a journey of heart and soul, to uplift, inspire and transform…
Touched By The Sun (2012). Produced by Grammy winner Will Ackerman (Windham Hill Records) with an ensemble of heartfelt world class musicans. "Touched by the Sun", featuring award winning guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Todd Boston creates an uplifting and inspiring instrumental acoustic world fusion sound that paints a tapestry of organic textures from guitar, percussion, tabla, flute, sarod, slide, violin, cello and female vocals.

Giant Steps… The First Five Years: Compilation album featuring tracks from 'Gentle Giant', 'Acquiring the Taste', 'Three Friends', 'Octopus', 'In a Glass House' and 'Power and the Glory'.