Mate 2016

This fabulous 3CD set is packed with music from a time when artists, writers and producers made records which displayed the sort of raw originality and invention that many think is missing from music today. These women would go on to enjoy variable degrees of success, but it is fascinating to hear these examples of their earlier work. Enjoy this superb compilation including Barbara Lynn, Baby Washington and Ramona King.

South London based producer/songwriter John Dunk aka Junk Son has announced details of his debut LP Beginning, Ending, Pretending and shared new track "Picture."
Following a couple of EPs released over the last year or so, including a great self-titled effort on his label home of 37 Adventures, Beginning, Ending, Pretending will see his first full-length collection of late-night atmospheric electronic soul tracks released. His music follows in the same vein as label mate Deptford Goth (now Daniel Woolhouse), combining stirring layered synth sounds with subdued vocals and pulsating rhythms.

First under the guise of Midnight Rags and then as a solo artist, Paul Roland has carved an elegant, mysterious niche as the quintessential cult English songwriter. His music hints at psychedelia while his lyrics frequently offer a sense of the macabre, drawing on Victoriana and classic horror fiction. Paul has been called "The male Kate Bush" by one-time label mate Robyn Hitchcock and "the Edgar Allen Poe of psychpop" by several European rock magazines/critics.

Leah and Keisha grew up together on the run-down Caldwell estate. Years later Keisha has reinvented herself as Natasha, married to the handsome and wealthy Frank with two perfect children, a beautiful house and a career in law. Leah

Music Icon Robert Earl Keen is set to release the highly-anticipated new double disc album inspired by his acclaimed No. 2 Live Dinner originally recorded live and once again captured at America's legendary dancehall, John T. Floore's Country Store, in the beautiful hill country of Helotes, Texas. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of No. 2 Live Dinner, Dualtone will release Live Dinner Reunion, a collection of Keen's biggest hits and buddy collaborations. Joining Keen on stage for the historic event were Joe Ely, Cory Morrow, Cody Canada, Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly, Bruce Robison and former college room-mate and touring compadre, Lyle Lovett.

On his second leader album for ECM - following on from the prizewinning Gefion - Danish guitarist Jakob Bro continues to refine his trio project, with its emphases on melody, sound, space, layered textures and interaction. The rapport between Bro and Thomas Morgan (Bro calls him "my musical soul mate") has become something extraordinary, and often guitarist and bassist develop improvisational ideas in parallel.

Singapore's first Giant Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia are in the mood for love, and their keepers are pulling out all the stops to get them ready for the big day. From Kai Kai's leg strengthening exercises to the spraying of the den with each other's scents, the keepers are leaving nothing to chance. But will the young lovebirds be able to hit it off on their first big date? The giant pandas are not the only creatures keeping the team at Wildlife Reserves Singapore busy. West Indian manatee baby Canola has been abandoned by her mother and may drown if the keepers do not intervene in time to hand raise her.

With high speed camerawork and breakthrough new science, we enter the fast-paced world of hummingbirds as never before. Speed is their middle name. Their lives are moving faster than the eye can see. They possess natural born super powers that enable them to fly backwards, upside-down, and float in mid-air. And for the first time, we see them mate, lay eggs, fight, and raise families in intimate detail. They are great athletes, tender mothers, brave in combat, and up for any challenge. They are Super Hummingbirds, the smallest, most brilliant birds on earth.