The fan-geared Format follows in the footsteps of 1995's Alternative which collected the synth pop group's B-sides from the years 1985-1994. Here, it's 1996-2009, which means from Bilingual to Yes with a couple of musicals, ballets, and silent film soundtracks in between. Remixes are, for the most part, left for another set and while many fans keep up with PSB singles for the B-sides, this set, like Alternative, is appreciated by the faithful for its ease of use alone. Highlights include grand moments like "The Truck Driver and His Mate" and "How I Learned to Hate Rock 'N' Roll," along with some more whim-like numbers like "We're the Pet Shop Boys." If B-side collections spawned singles, the redo of "In Private" with Elton John as guest would be huge, and it's interesting how the demo of "Confidential" for Tina Turner recasts the song as one wistfully pining for a closeted lover…
Released in September 1996, ‘Bilingual’ was the sixth studio album to be released by Pet Shop Boys. It wasa UK top 5 record upon release and included 5 singles, all of which were UK top 20 singles. As is often thecase with PSB records, ‘Bilingual’ comprises many influences, including those of the music of Latin America,due partly to the Spanish and Latin music Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe had been listening to prior torecording the album. The album was recorded by PSB with Danny Tenaglia and Chris Porter, and has since gained platinum certification in Spain, and Gold in the UK.
As a title, Bilingual is a double-edged sword. Disregard its sexual connotations and concentrate on its musical implications - Bilingual is a rich, diverse album that delves deeply into Latin rhythms. It's not a crass, simplistic fusion, where the polyphonic rhythms are simply grafted over synthesizers and a disco pulse. Instead, Bilingual is an enormously subtle album, with shifting rhythms and graceful, understated melodies. The music isn't the only thing subtle about the album - Neil Tennant's voice and lyrics are nuanced, suggesting more than they actually say. Furthermore, Bilingual consists of the most optimistic, happy set of songs the Pet Shop Boys have ever recorded…
Esoteric Recordings announce a new release on their recently launched Cocteau Discs imprint, a limited edition reissue of Bill Nelson’s classic 4 disc ambient boxed set "Trial By Intimacy (The Book of Splendours)”. The set was originally released on Bill’s Cocteau Records label in October 1984 and comprised recordings made by Bill at his Echo Observatory home studio. Comprising some eighty pieces of music, the set was a fine example of Bill Nelson’s grasp of Ambient music and has subsequently been hailed as a ground-breaking work. Long deleted, the set is made available once more with this newly re-mastered Cocteau Discs edition. The new release fully restores the original elements of the "Trial By Intimacy” box and is an exact facsimile, reproducing a 32 page book and eight art postcards that featured in the original set.
Esoteric Recordings announce a new release on their recently launched Cocteau Discs imprint, a limited edition reissue of BILL NELSON’s classic 4 disc ambient boxed set "TRIAL BY INTIMACY (The Book of Splendours)”. The set was originally released on Bill’s Cocteau Records label in October 1984 and comprised recordings made by Bill at his Echo Observatory home studio. Comprising some eighty pieces of music, the set was a fine example of Bill Nelson’s grasp of Ambient music and has subsequently been hailed as a ground-breaking work. Long deleted, the set is made available once more with this newly re-mastered Cocteau Discs edition. The new release fully restores the original elements of the "TRIAL BY INTIMACY” box and is an exact facsimile, reproducing a 32 page book and eight art postcards that featured in the original set.
Esoteric Recordings announce a new release on their recently launched Cocteau Discs imprint, a limited edition reissue of Bill Nelson’s classic 4 disc ambient boxed set "Trial By Intimacy (The Book of Splendours)”. The set was originally released on Bill’s Cocteau Records label in October 1984 and comprised recordings made by Bill at his Echo Observatory home studio. Comprising some eighty pieces of music, the set was a fine example of Bill Nelson’s grasp of Ambient music and has subsequently been hailed as a ground-breaking work. Long deleted, the set is made available once more with this newly re-mastered Cocteau Discs edition. The new release fully restores the original elements of the "Trial By Intimacy” box and is an exact facsimile, reproducing a 32 page book and eight art postcards that featured in the original set.
The Great Adventure album ended up getting many mentions when the best albums of 2019 were being discussed. 2020 brings us the live representation of that album, filmed and recorded in Brno, in the Czech Republic…
Import 25 CD boxset containing 25 of the finest Jazz albums ever released. Each album is packaged in a card wallet, and the box set includes a 40 page booklet in both English and French. The collection contains the following albums: Duke Ellington - Ellington Uptown; Dave Brubeck - Jazz Goes To College; Louis Armstrong - Satch Plays Fats; Miles Davis - Round About Midnight; Various Artists - The Sound Of Jazz; Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um; Sonny Rollins - The Bridge; Paul Desmond - Desmond Blue; Thelonious Monk - Underground; Freddie Hubbard - Straight Life; Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire…