The 39 Steps (2008)

Like Ten Rapid but with a more awkward name, Mogwai [EP+6] collects some of the experimental rock titans' singles and EPs with such a natural feel that it almost seems like it was designed as an album. In this case, 1997's 4 Satin EP is joined with 1999's self-titled EP and "Xmas Steps," the single version of Come on Die Young's track. The 13-and-a-half-minute "Stereodee" is just as compelling an epic as any of the tracks that wound up on either of those albums, showcasing the band's masterful way with ebbing, flowing, letting a song explode, and pulling it back together again. "Xmas Steps" – which is a minute longer than the album version of the song – also shows how expertly Mogwai can play with time and dynamics as they scale a mountain of sound that turns out to be a volcano when they get to the top.

Annelie de Man - Ladder of Escape 10: Contemporary Music for Harpsichord (2008) {Attacca 28120}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 391 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 189 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 51 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008 Attacca | 28120
Classical / Contemporary Classical / Avant-Garde / Modern Composition / Harpsichord

Let's have a little musical bipolarity. Elegant music by Couperin and Royer followed by this disc of modern works for harpsichord and various instruments. Voormolen's "Suite de Clavecin" is the most accessible work here, and my other favorite is Louis Andriessen's "Dubblespoor" for vibraphone, glockenspiel, celesta, vibraphone and harpsichord, also quite approachable. Then, we have a piece such as JacobTV's "Doggie Steps" for violin, cello, harpsichord and tape - the tape portion includes barking dogs, a few cats (which I like, it recalls the music of P. Bimmstein) and a female voice (I assume the harpsichordist) speaking about "taking doggy steps".

2008 eight CD box set. Cherry Red Records marks it's 30th Anniversary in style with this lavish 185 track boxset. I'll Give You My Heart chronologically plots 61 single/EP a and B-sides from 1978 to 1983. Features 24 tracks from the U.K. Top 50 Indie chart including 12 Top 20 and two #1 hits. Includes cuts from Dead Kennedys, the Monochrome Set, Eyeless in Gaza, the Runaways, Marc Bolan, Everything But the Girl, Robert Wyatt and many more. A comprehensive 78 page booklet plots the story of Cherry Red Records and details many rare 7" and 12" picture sleeves. Features extensive interviews conducted by Alex Ogg with 'fly-on-the-wall' accounts from label founders and band members. Cherry Red.

Various Artists - We Can Fly: A 5 CD Set of Psychedelic Obscurities (2008) {Psychic Circle PSYCHBOX1 rec '60s & '70s}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.39 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 864 Mb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 34 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008 Psychic Circle | PSYCHBOX1
Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Garage Rock / Freakbeat

This set contains all five volumes of the legendary We Can Fly series in an individually numbered limited edition of 1000. There are over 130 tracks here, which have been remastered for this release, sounding better than ever. Although a few pops and clicks remain, showing up the vinyl source of the material, the overall sound quality is very good.

Veteran Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes pays tribute to many of his mentors and peers on Chucho's Steps. The first hint of his intention comes with the instrumentation of a sextet also featuring Juan Carlos de Castro Rojo Blanco on drums, Lazaro Rivero Alarcуn on bass, Yaroldy Abreu on percussion, Carlos Miyares Hernandez on tenor saxophone, and Reynaldo Melian Alvarez on trumpet.