Popey Face North

Renowned Norwegian ambient / electronic artist Erik Wøllo's «NORTH STAR» evolved from layers of sustained guitars inspiring infinite space and a minimal essence, creating a spell of slow, melodic soundscapes.

Emerging from the Canterbury, England musical community that also launched Gong and Kevin Ayers' the Whole World, the whimsical progressive rock unit Hatfield and the North formed in 1972. Named in honor of a motorway sign outside of London, the group's founding membership brought together a who's who of the Canterbury art rock scene - vocalist/bassist Richard Sinclair was a former member of Caravan, guitarist Phil Miller had tenured with Robert Wyatt in Matching Mole, and drummer Pip Pyle had served with both Gong and Delivery. After a series of lineup shuffles, keyboardist Dave Stewart (an alumnus of Egg) was brought in to complete the roster, and in tandem with the Northettes - a trio of backing vocalists consisting of Barbara Gaskin, Amanda Parsons, and Ann Rosenthal - the group began gigging regularly…

Composed between 1963 and 2005 these four works form a spectrum that demonstrates a tendency among composers of American concert music to draw from a wide range of musical streams – classical, popular, folk and jazz. This colourful programme is performed by the North Carolina Symphony on their first BIS recording, conducted by Grant Llewellyn and with solo appearances by the celebrated jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his quartet.

On TRUE NORTH, Lawson Rollins offers 12 new original compositions that showcase the guitarist at the peak of his compositional skills with his melodic and daring improvisational flair on full display. From the Electronic-infused intensity of “With the Wind” to the plaintive bossa nova sway of “Bluewave Bossanova” to the delicate pulse of “Yearning to Know," the album explores the wide range of genres, emotions, and moods that have come to characterize the dynamic and adventurous musical journey Lawson has offered fans throughout the 20 years and 14 albums of his career.

The midnight hour crept unto thee with hasty caution, revealing 'A Little Night Music: Aural Apparitions from the Geographic North', our third putrid prowl into Halloween-inspired sounds to torment and tantalize throughout the season. For this bout of distinguished dementia, we culled 31 brand new tracks of haunted hysteria conjured by some of the most alluring ambientists and outer auteurs from around the world.