Wild Soundscape

After the release of Mardi Gras in 1975, Dr. John (aka Mac Rebennack) left Atlantic Records. In late 1977, he signed with A&M's Horizon imprint – a label whose purpose was to showcase the jazz side of its parent company. City Lights is the better of two recordings he cut there. Produced by Tommy LiPuma and Hugh McCracken, City Lights was recorded at New York's Hit Factory Studios with a band of studio aces: drummer Steve Gadd, guitarists Cornell Dupree and John Tropea, bassist Will Lee, and Richard Tee as an additional keyboardist; Arthur Jenkins added percussive effects. The five-piece horn section included both David Sanborn and Ronnie Cuber. What's really startling, however, is the material. For most of the 1970s, Rebennack had been playing well-known tunes by other Crescent City luminaries and pop songwriters, contributing precious little of his material to his albums. On City Lights he wrote or co-wrote everything on the set. His songwriting partner for part of this date was none other than Doc Pomus. The best of both men is captured on the opener, "Dance the Night Away with You," a strolling New Orleans R&B number.

One word used to describe the new album from Chinese post rock band ZHAOZE would be intoxicating. According to the liner notes Intoxicatingly Lost is the first Western release for the band and includes songs both new and old. In the band are Hoyliang (gugin, xiao, keyboards), Littledream (guitar), Roy (bass) and Seasean (drums, glockenspiel)…

On the evening of April 1, 2015, a stellar lineup of musicians gathered in Downtown L.A. at the Ace Hotel’s sold out The Theatre for The Music of David Lynch, a sweeping tribute to the filmmaker in celebration of the David Lynch Foundation‘s 10th anniversary. It never happened before and it will probably never happen again, but 16 highlights* from that magical night have now been collected on a double vinyl album due for release on April 15, 2016.

This anthology is a no brainer for all IONA fans. There is something like 29 pages in this hard cover book that holds 2 cds in the front inside cover and 2 cds in the back inside cover. The pages are filled with fantastic pictures as well as detailed imformation about the albums and songs.This anthology contains their first three studio albums remastered, as well as a fourth disc called "Dunes" that contains some previously unreleased material and live versions of songs as well as an 8 song piece that was originally used on a BBC- TV Natural World Series Programme "Snowdonia-Realm of the Ravens"…

Brian Williams is a Welshman recording as Lustmord. The Place Where the Black Stars Hang is a huge, atmospheric effort with dark overtones and satanic dirges. This music is about as dark as it gets. The entire soundscape is electronic. Williams builds on the drone with atmospheric effects and wild synth washes. The soundscape is dense and foggy and the sound design is flawless. There are no holes or gaps in this layout. The disc is set up as one long (75 minutes) track with five distinct sections. Williams builds the atmospheres upon each other as they ebb and flow. This dark minimalism will appeal to fans of Jeff Greinke, Alio Die, Richard Bone, Max Corbacho, Pete Namlook, and Oöphoi. In dark ambient circles it is essential. For e-music fans it is important.