The Shape of The New

This is the story of two men, and the two decisions, that transformed world history in a single tumultuous year, 1917: Wilson’s entry into World War One and Lenin’s Bolshevik Revolution.

Envy - "The Green-Eyed Monster of Sound Design" - is all about envelopes, stealing characteristics of one sound and applying them to another.

With classical pianist Kevin Savigar established as his songwriting partner, Rod Stewart marched into the mid-'80s in finer shape than he'd been in for a few years. Every Beat of My Heart was his 15th solo album and, after the disappointments of the preceding Body Wishes and Camouflage, the wistful romance of the title track alone suggested that he was back on track. Unfortunately, it was not to be. One could compile a genuinely excellent collection from across Stewart's entire '80s output. But Every Beat of My Heart, like the LPs on either side of it, found him floundering directionless in a sea of, on the one hand, syrupy schmaltz; and, on the other, clichéd rockers, with just the occasional flash of style sneaking in, to remind us why we even cared any longer.

An in-depth guide to attaining the enlightenment of the Philosopher's Stone