Star 2020

Their just appeared debut CD “Light From A Dying Star” was written and recorded over 3 years but never formally released until now, you’ll find here elaborated pieces of classic melodic hard rockers in the British mould, delivered with amazing musicianship and prog leanings but never forgetting catchiness…

Constantly creative, Marc Almond releases his brand new album Chaos and a Dancing Star. The album was made in collaboration with producer, songwriter and pianist Chris Braide, who also worked on The Velvet Trail. An Ivor Novello winner and a Grammy nominee, Braide’s many high profile credits include work with artists such as Sia, Lana Del Rey and Halsey. The duo started writing for the album three years ago, their initial plan for a prog rock album evolving into something leaning more towards strident pop melodies. The title informs many of the album’s themes, and impermanence is also a recurring topic. It emerges in various forms: mortality in Black Sunrise and Dust, as well as saying farewell and leaving a legacy in Cherry Tree and When The Stars Are Gone. The jaunty Slow Burn Love provides light amongst the darkness, with its hope of finding an ever-lasting love rather than one that’s “over before you blink your eyes” - a counterpoint to Marc’s common premise that love inevitably proves to be a disappointment.

Foundation singer Owen Gray, also known as Owen Grey, is credited as Jamaica’s first home-grown singing star as he was the first singer on the island to sing in a style that wasn’t mento, calypso or jazz. His work spans the R&B, ska, rocksteady, and reggae eras of Jamaican music, but although he had a notable amount of hits under his belt and a lot of his recordings were of astonishing quality, the man was never highly regarded and didn’t receive the recognition he truly deserved. Perhaps the reason for this might have been his choice of material and direction that hasn’t always felt sincere.

Cat Stevens‘ Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman albums will both be reissued as extensive super deluxe edition box sets in December.

The Rolling Stones‘ 1973 album Goats Head Soup will be reissued as a super deluxe edition box set in August. The 3CD+blu-ray package will offer a brand new stereo mix, a 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mix, a disc of rarities and alternate mixes and the much desired ‘Brussels Affair’ concert, recorded live at the Forest National Arena in October 1973 is reissued on CD for the first time outside Japan.