Me Project

The Black Noodle Project is a French band that has actually been around for some time, releasing their demo in 2003. There used to be more members, or maybe they just sort of come and go as the winds of life steer them. I’m not sure. Right now, there are two members: Sébastien Bourdeix on guitars, keyboards, bass, and vocals; and Tommy Rizzitelli on drums. For this record, vocalist Sab Elvenia of the band The Fundamental Wisdom of Chaos guests on three tracks. I should say that, if you haven’t already, you should check out Sab’s band—they are quite unique.

Scottish pop group, formed in Edinburgh in 1973 by two former members (David Paton & Billy Lyall) of the early Bay City Rollers. Their biggest hits were "Magic", "January", "Call Me Round" and "Just A Smile", all of them in 1974, and 1975. They worked closely with Alan Parsons, who produced much of their material. Three of them (David Paton, Ian Bairnson & Stuart Tosh) contributed also The Alan Parsons Project, and Paton & Bairnson played also on Kate Bush's two first albums 'The Kick Inside' (1978) and 'Lionheart' (1978). As we approach the 40th anniversary of Pilot's debut album, David Paton, Ian Bairnson, and Stuart Tosh have reunited as Pilot. As a first project out of the gate, it is only fitting that David and Ian would turn to The Alan Parsons Project.

DEACON STREET PROJECT was an AOR focused project led by Swedish musician, song-writer and producer Tommy Denander. The project has released 2 genre classics during the 00’s, i.e. „Deacon Street Project“ (AOR Heaven, 2004) and „Deacon Street II“ (MTM Music, 2006). Both albums today are sought after, hard to get releases which now are re-issued as double CD set via Pride & Joy Music under the name of „Deacon Street – One + Two“. Both albums were remastered by Tommy Denander, cover and artwork were newly created and both releases include 1 bonus track each! This re-issue is limited on 500 copies only and will be available exclusively via Pride & Joy Music! Deacon Street „One + Two“ is Vol.1 in the new Pride & Joy Music Classixx series.

Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Gil Rose present the world premiere recording of The Lord of Cries, a breathtaking opera by John Corigliano and Mark Adamo. Telling the story of Euripides’s The Bacchae with the characters of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the piece explores the power of sexual desire and humans’ need to blame and attack others for what they can neither resist nor accept in themselves. Corigliano returns to opera for the first time since his The Ghosts of Versailles, introduced by the Metropolitan Opera, made an international sensation in 1992. The brilliant cast—most of whom introduced their parts in the world premiere in 2021—is led by star countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo in the title role.

The Best of the Alan Parsons Project, Vol. 2 typically picks up where its predecessor left off. With 11 tracks covering seven albums, including Gaudi, Stereotomy, and Vulture Culture, the songs here are a tad weaker than those on the first collection, since some of the albums that these songs originate from were not of this band's finest caliber. The highlights here include both "Prime Time" and "Don't Answer Me" from Ammonia Avenue, and the provocative instrumental "I Robot," the only non-vocal track on the album. All of the selections on this package convey their purpose much better within their former albums, since each song is a link in the album's conceptual chain.

One of the most interesting aspects about the Alan Parsons Project is the band's ability to forge a main theme with each of its songs, while at the same time sounding extremely sharp and polished. Much of this formula is used in Ammonia Avenue, only this time the songs rise above Parsons' overall message due to the sheer beauty of the lyrics partnered with the luster of the instruments. The album touches upon how the lines of communication between people are diminishing, and how we as a society grow more spiritually isolated and antisocial…