Once in a long while, a musical synergy erupts that leaves a mark for generations. Asia’s initial incarnation pooled together the considerable talents of past members of such legendary groups as Yes, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and EL&P. After 7 studio albums, and 4 greatest hits compilations, Asia released Aura in February 2001. This album produced what a great number of fans have called the most creative Asia record ever, and garnered some of the finest reviews the band has ever received. Silent Nation, a deliberate return to the rock roots from which Asia was born, is the 2004 follow up to Aura. With solid rock tracks like Ghost In The Mirror and What About Love, Silent Nation is poised to bring Asia’s distinctive brand of music back to the masses. Silent Nation also heralds the first album released under Asia’s new record label, Inside Out Music.
The studio and live recording sessions that Thelonious Monk cut during his six-year stay at the Riverside label are compiled over the 15 discs in the Complete Riverside Recordings. This middle era – between his early sides for Prestige and the final ones for Columbia – is generally considered Monk's most ingenious and creative period. The sessions are presented in chronological order, accurately charting the progression and diversions of one of the most genuinely enigmatic figures in popular music. The Complete Riverside Recordings explores Monk's genius with a certain degree of real-time analysis that simply listening to each of the individual albums from this era lacks.
"Phantasmagoria" was the third album from the original Curved Air, first released in 1972. It was recorded during a period of change and upheaval, with at least one departure from the line up and internal debate about their musical direction. Nevertheless, the music remains of the highest order as befits a group that made such an enormous impact on the progressive rock scene. Vocalist supreme Sonja Kristina is heard on her compositions as ‘Marie Antoinette’ and ‘Melinda (More Or Less)’ and violinist Darryl Way cuts loose on electric violin and keyboards, notably on such interludes as ‘Ultra Vivaldi’. A host of guest musicians form a brass section to fill out the Curved Air sound.