James Lind Institute

When he died, Nicolaus Bruhns was just 31 years old, and only twelve of his vocal works and five organ compositions have survived. On the strength of these, he is nevertheless considered one of the most prominent North German composers of the generation between Buxtehude and Bach. Buxtehude was in fact Bruhns teacher, and thought so highly of him that recommended him for a position in Copenhagen. There he worked as a violin virtuoso and composer until 1689, when he returned to Northern Germany to become organist in the main church of Husum. It was here that most if not all of the extant works were performed.

Mikael Lind is a composer and musician originally from Sweden, currently based in Reykjavik, Iceland. He has released music through labels such as Morr Music, Archives and Polar Seas Recordings and has also collaborated with Tangerine Dream’s Hoshiko Yamane in an album for Time Released Sound. Mikael had played a concert with Hoshiko late last year and had planned a European tour for 2020 which has been cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic. He also contributed some of the groundwork and mixing expertise in S.hel’s ‘Disconnect’ which we released back in March this year.

Andy Lind (The Ancestry Program, Panzerballett, Schizofrantik) has once again changed and developed stylistically. The music is still very complex, but it's not that tough anymore, growls mostly disappeared. In addition to influences from Avant Prog, Fusion, Progressive Rock and Math Metal, even pop choruses can be heard. The music on the album does not set itself any limits, there are many facets across styles and there is no fear of experiments. Anyone who likes complex progressive rock in the style of Yugen, Gentle Giant, Meshuggah or Haken will be well served here.

When he died, Nicolaus Bruhns was just 31 years old, and only twelve of his vocal works and five organ compositions have survived. On the strength of these, he is nevertheless considered one of the most prominent North German composers of the generation between Buxtehude and Bach. Buxtehude was in fact Bruhns teacher, and thought so highly of him that recommended him for a position in Copenhagen. There he worked as a violin virtuoso and composer until 1689, when he returned to Northern Germany to become organist in the main church of Husum. It was here that most if not all of the extant works were performed.

Sibelius studied the violin in his youth, and actively entertained the prospect of a career as a professional violinist for much of his student life. After graduating from the Helsinki Music Institute, in 1890, he went to Vienna to continue his studies, and while there he even auditioned (unsuccessfully) for a place in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. So, it comes as no surprise that the instrument plays an important place in his compositional output. What might be surprising is that he wrote only one concerto – this might perhaps be due to the difficult conception of the work.

One of the dozens of undervalued R&B and jazz vocalists active during the '70s and '80s, Sylvia St. James developed a love for music and performance through her mother and grandparents. St. James began in the church and developed an appreciation for classical and jazz; she was offered a scholarship to attend the Chicago Conservatory and study opera, but a family move prevented her from following through. Instead, she performed in bands and an orchestra in the Midwest. A move to California led her to the Shiva Orchestra, as well as recording sessions for George Duke's The Aura Will Prevail, Wayne Henderson's Big Daddy's Place, and Gabor Szabo's Faces.

One of the dozens of undervalued R&B and jazz vocalists active during the '70s and '80s, Sylvia St. James developed a love for music and performance through her mother and grandparents. St. James began in the church and developed an appreciation for classical and jazz; she was offered a scholarship to attend the Chicago Conservatory and study opera, but a family move prevented her from following through. Instead, she performed in bands and an orchestra in the Midwest. A move to California led her to the Shiva Orchestra, as well as recording sessions for George Duke's The Aura Will Prevail, Wayne Henderson's Big Daddy's Place, and Gabor Szabo's Faces.