Parallels Desktop 18

Above all, Fournier's Bach playing is crowned with an eloquence, a lyricism and a grasp both of the formal and stylistic content of the music which will not easily be matched. Curiously, perhaps, it is the baroque cellist, Anner Bylsma on RCA who often provides close parallels with Fournier. Bylsma's tempos tend to be faster than those of Fournier—that, after all has been a trend in baroque music over the past 20 years or so—but his conception of the music shares ground with that of Fournier. All things considered, it is hardly surprising that these readings seem as fresh and as valid today as they did 25 or more years ago.

This budget-price U.K. compilation bypasses the problem of shoehorning 15-minute "hits" into a bite-sized package by increasing the size of the package (so to speak). Wonderous Stories: The Best of Yes spans two discs, which leaves room for the full versions of epic favorites like "And You and I: Cord of Life/Eclipse/The Preacher the Teacher/Apocalypse,…

With 1971's Fragile having left Yes poised quivering on the brink of what friend and foe acknowledged was the peak of the band's achievement, Close to the Edge was never going to be an easy album to make. Drummer Bill Bruford was already shifting restlessly against Jon Anderson's increasingly mystic/mystifying lyricism, while contemporary reports of the recording sessions depicted bandmate Rick Wakeman, too, as little more than an observer to the vast tapestry that Anderson, Steve Howe, and Chris Squire were creating…

"Do You Want Head? Blow Your Mind with the Head Shop Album!" screams a commercial add in New York's Screw magazine in 1969. The band had garagy roots and evolved from Household Sponge to The Head Shop. Based in NYC, this psychedelic underground project had a unique sound, charcterized by soulful vocals, flying Hammond organ, fuzzy bass, distorted lead guitars, lots of percussive and weird rhythm instruments, plus several unexpected stereo experiments. A highlight for sure is their haunted interpretation of Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny'! Conceptional, but also musically there are some parallels to Joe Meek. Another major influence is The Beatles' experimental period, not just because of the cover version of 'Revolution.' Larry Coryell features as "wailing" guest musician on the track, 'I Feel Love Comin' On'…

The UK rock band’s debut is a prime example of what happens when you grow up on Bikini Kill and the Slits.