Pink Elephant

The LA-based quartet, made up of Eduardo Arenas, Carlos Arévalo, Bardo Martinez and Gabriel Villa, follow-up the critically-acclaimed breakthrough Freedom Is Free (2017) with their most sonically-varied and most cohesive album to date. Mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett (Beck, Alabama Shakes) the 12-song set accentuates the group's high spirited synthesis of tropicália, west coast psychedelia and late-'60s/early-'70s soul.

Formed in 1967 by former Motions guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen, Shocking Blue was joined by Cor van der Beek (drums), Klaasje van der Wal (bass) and Mariska Veres as lead vocalist. In 1969 and 1970, the group set the airwaves crackling and enjoyed a worldwide chart success with 'Venus' (which incorporated the help of studio musician Cees Schrama of Casey & The Pressure Group (also on vinyl), followed by several other hit singles. In 1972, they released their 6th album 'Attila', a solid pop album written entirely by Van Leeuwen, anchored by Marika's powerful vocals. Her incredible range and control is at times compared with Jefferson Airplane's singer Grace Slick. Noteworthy tracks on 'Attila' are 'Rock In The Sea', album opener 'Rattler' and the moody 'Wait'.

There have been a number of Syd Barrett compilations but, remarkably, 2010’s An Introduction to Syd Barrett is the first to combine Pink Floyd material with his solo recordings, so it truly provides an introduction in a way no previous collection has. It’s possible to quibble that there are a few Floyd songs that should have made it here - mostly selections from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, including “Astronomy Domine” and “Lucifer Sam,” but this favors the non-LP early singles “Arnold Layne,” “See Emily Play,” and “Apples and Oranges,” which do point the way toward such solo cuts as “Octopus,” “Baby Lemonade,” “Terrapin,” “Gigolo Aunt,” and “Effervescing Elephant,” all present and accounted for here. Some may also quibble about inclusions of new mixes for “Here I Go," “Octopus,” “She Took a Long Cool Look,” “Dominoes,” and “Matilda Mother,” preferring the original mixes…

Henry Mancini Centennial is a celebration of the legendary Film Composer’s music on his 100th Anniversary. Featuring José María Moreno conducting Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga on the IBS Classical label.