Manô (2005)

When you want music filled to the brim with despair and death, Carlo Gesualdo is the composer you want. Consider opening lines like those of the first four of his third collection of madrigals: "You want me to die," "Whether I die or not," "Alas, life of despair," and "I languish and die": even Dowland and Shostakovich are cheerier than Gesualdo. But, however dark his texts, it cannot be denied that Gesualdo set them with absolute fidelity and utmost sincerity. His lines are twisted, his harmonies are tortured, and his counterpoint is agonizing, but they suit his morbid and morose texts like George Gershwin's music fit his brother Ira.

One of Italy's most prolific and creative composers, Turin-born Piero Piccioni released dozens of scores for many different types of films during his lifetime, and wrote hundred of songs, the most alluring and provocative of which are collected here on The Seduction of Piero Piccioni. Culling tracks from C'Era Una Volta, Fumo di Londra, Mr. Dante Fontana, and I Giovani Tigri, among others, Piccioni's music captures the warmth and innovation of Italian pop music of the time combined with the power to truly propel and define a particular scene. There are a lot of great, fun tracks here – "Easy Dreamer," "Una Colt in Mano al Diavolo," "Capriccio," "Mr. Dante Fontana," and "Richmond Bridge" to name a few – so for anyone interested either in Italian film or Italian music, or just film and music in general, The Seduction of Piero Piccioni is a must-have.

Released to coincide with their 25th anniversary, Grandes Exitos is a two-CD collection with accompanying DVD from the influential Spanish synth pop trio Mecano. Its 30 tracks include early singles "Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar" and "Barco a Venus"; material from their critically acclaimed final two studio albums, Descanso Dominical and Aidalai; and several unreleased songs.

Partenope is mature Handel, and belongs in the top flight of his stage works. A comedy from 1730, which was first rejected as too frivolous by the Royal Academy of Music in London, the text had been set 20 years earlier by Caldara for an opera that had been a major influence on the young Handel. The tone is light and the action - all disguises and cross-dressing, with everyone ending up with the right partner - is swift moving; there are relatively few extended arias but a number of ensembles, as well as the obligatory sinfonia and march for the battle scene at the beginning of the second act. This performance under Christian Curnyn hits the right spot from the very start.

Madredeus - Movimento (2001) {EMI 7 243 5 31590 2 3}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 445 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 184 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 297 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2001 EMI / Valentim de Carvalho | 7 243 5 31590 2 3
World Music / Fado / Western European Traditions / European Folk

On their ninth CD, this Portugese group's sound is pretty much the same as it has been since their 1992 debut: pan-cultural world music with a decided Brazilian influence. With the emotional resonance of the best Portugese fado, but an ear for melody that's downright universal, guitarist Pedro Ayres Magalhaes crafts gentle, ethereal compositions perfectly suited to Teresa Salguiero's heavenly voice, which floats above the airy tunes like a melancholy angel. With no drums to hold down the rhythm, the songs on Movimento all have a decidedly ambient sense of spaciousness, flowing smoothly along without so much as a ripple to disturb the peaceful waters. And with 16 tracks, the near-constant mood and tempo can get a bit monotonous at times. But the sad, serene beauty of songs like the opening "Anseio" and the lilting "Afinal - A Minha Cançáo" show that while Madredeus may do only one thing, they do it very, very well.

Famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is an iconic figure in music, as one of the most successful classical solo artists ever, and one of the best-selling performers in any genre, having sold more than 80 million albums worldwide of both his classical and pop albums. His worldwide hit albums such as Romanza, Amore, Passione and Love in Portofino have made him synonymous with love and romance. On July 10th, 13 titles from his incredible Pop catalog and 3 bonus discs of memorable Bocelli performances will be released in a special edition box set.