Dear Parents

Eliza Carthy officially inherits the British folk crown from her parents with the willfully traditional Rough Music. Described in the liner notes as "a form of community punishment practiced all over England" (basically a public beating for a heinous social crime), Rough Music sounds like a lost pre-percussion Steeleye Span record filtered through A.L. Lloyd's whaling collection Leviathan! Carthy's strong fiddling and powerful vocals – she really is beginning to surpass Norma – are ably enhanced by the chiseled performance of her backing band, the Ratcatchers. Together they celebrate longstanding English traditions like public execution ("Turpin Hero"), syphilis ("The Unfortunate Lass"), and alcohol ("Tom Brown") with equal parts reverence, earnestness, and mischief. Primarily arranged for violin, viola, double bass, and melodeon, Rough Music also features lovely a cappella cuts like "Maid on the Shore" and enough fiery instrumentals to keep your feet on the cobblestones during the long walk home from the pub. In fact, there's not a moment on Rough Music that isn't essential listening. Highly recommended.

Limited Edition. Renowned for his soaring melodies and dramatic style, Tchaikovsky was a master of many genres. This wide-ranging edition comprises his complete symphonies, orchestral suites and ballets, two celebrated operas, his great concertos, with significant excursions into his chamber and solo piano works, songs and sacred music - all interpreted by leading artists on Deutsche Grammophon and Decca.

Matsuda Seiko (松田聖子) is a Japanese kayokyoku singer-songwriter. She was Japan's prime idol for 15 years before Amuro Namie and Hamasaki Ayumi conquered the Oricon charts. She's had huge influence among today's female artists and is still trying to conquer the stage she once owned with her daughter SAYAKA.

Beyond their professional relationship as bandmates, Oscar Peterson and Alvin Queen were also good friends. Thus, this tribute to the great pianist is a heartbeat for the drummer who played with bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen in Oscar Peterson's famous trio during the coda of Peterson's life. That Alvin Queen has chosen to record in collaboration with two Danish musicians speaks volumes about the musical level of pianist Zier Romme and bassist Ida Hvid.