Rene Stone

The sounds of bird song, singing bowls and water rippling invite us to Peradam, which takes as its entry point René Daumal’s early 1930s novel Mount Analogue: a Novel of Symbolically Authentic Non-Euclidean Adventures in Mountain Climbing, in which the French writer, critic and poet mapped a metaphysical journey to “the ultimate symbolic mountain” in search of meaning. In it, Daumal introduced the idea of the “peradam”, a rare, crystalline stone – harbouring profound truths – that is only visible to seekers on a true spiritual path.

On the eve of the New Year I offer you a small insight into the already so far away, but so cool twentieth century. And remember it will help you to Mario Lanza, Marilyn Monroe, Bill Haley & His Comets, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Louis Armstrong, Pat Boone, Jerry Lee Lewis, Perry Como, Paul Anka, Roy Orbison, Scorpions, Bob Dylan, The Mama's & Papa's, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Shocking Blue, Guess Who, Black Sabbath, Jefferson Airplane, Rod Stewart, The Byrds, The Kinks and many many others … The greatest hits of the past millennium. Need I say more? Download and enjoy the great past.

Ministry of Sound presents the ultimate collection of sweet, smooth sounds pitched perfectly for listening pleasure! CD1 gets into it with a smothering of legendary tracks from Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye before the satin sounds of Luther Vandross and Barry White. Next, disco classics from Chic, Sister Sledge and Cheryl Lynn will get you to your feet for the juiciest offerings of Evelyn Champagne King, Hall & Oates and Bill Withers. We’re just getting started as CD2 keeps you moving with a drizzle of Lionel Richie, Rufus & Chaka Khan and Kool & The Gang before a pure liquid groove from the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Finally, CD3 brings back the 90s sounds of Sade, Soul II Soul and Brand New Heavies before the likes of Jocelyn Brown, Shola Ama and Angie Stone will have you swaying to every note. This collection is smoother than silk, Scotch or melted Belgian chocolate … and it’s guaranteed to get you moving but remember, it ain’t Smooth if it ain’t got that Groove!

It is believed that the rush hour lounge music falls on the 50-60s. Then it executes unknown bands, but the rooms were great friends. While implementing lounge music could be called any musician who played in a cafe or restaurant to the public. In the 60s there were ensembles, records which are related to Lounge. Among them - the bands of James Last, Bert Kempferta, Paul Mauriat, Herb Alpert. Distinguished as a lounge music and musical design films, because this style of music can rightly be called the background.

Here's the question for Small Faces fans: Is it better to own the original Immediate albums or to invest in the splendid double-disc set, The Darlings of Wapping Wharf Launderette? The question is a tricky one, since Darlings contains all of their Immediate recordings, meaning all of Autumn Stone (or There Are But Four Small Faces, as it's known in its American incarnation), plus all of the landmark Ogden's Nut Gone Flake. Granted, Ogden's is divided cleanly in half, with the first side appearing on disc one and the second on disc two, which may irritate listeners who like to hear the concept album uninterrupted…