Thorens

Curlew were formed in 1979 by George Cartwright, who has served as the group's leader, saxophonist, and main composer for nearly three decades. Although Curlew have been viewed as pioneers of New York City's so-called "downtown scene," Cartwright was born in Mississippi and has consistently brought a roadhouse R&B swagger – not to mention the influence of early hero Ornette Coleman to the band's sound. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Curlew served as something of an incubator and showcase for NYC avant jazz and rock talent. …

During the mid-seventies, the Hamburg-based band Novalis established themselves as leaders in the field of German-language romantic rock. Starting with heavily organ-accentued art rock a-la King Crimson (and on their debut, "Banished Bridge", including English lyrics), Novalis later developped their own unique style, a mixture of progressive, classic, folk and rock.

Formed in Berlin, Germany in 1987, the Caspar Brötzmann Massaker was a vehicle for its nominal leader, an acclaimed guitar virtuoso (as well as the son of saxophonist Peter Brötzmann) whose intense work summoned the spirit and power of traditions ranging from heavy metal to free jazz. A trio also comprised of bassist Eduardo Delgado Lopez and drummer Danny Arnold Lommen, the Massaker debuted in 1987 with The Tribe, a showcase for Brötzmann's dive-bombing guitar work and ominous vocals.

An unusual meeting of minds: German jazz pianist Matthias Frey and Indian pioneering world music percussionist Trilok Gurtu. Surely this is going to be an ethno fusion album then? No, not at all! Seems like Herr Frey had been listening to a lot of John Cage prepared piano works, or maybe Peter Michael Hamel, and Trilok also tends to do as much noise and clatter as he does rhythms! As with "Ohrjazzter" this is Matthias Frey trying to be anything but a jazzer.

During the 1930s, Ruslanova became extremely popular. She became an artist of the state association of musical, variety and circus enterprises in 1933, and performed all over Russia throughout the rest of the decade. When World War II broke out, she ceaselessly toured from one front to another, helping to boost the soldiers' courage with her patriotic songs. Her signature songs were Valenki and Katyusha, written specially for her. After the Battle of Berlin, she performed on the doorsteps of the smouldering Reichstag.

In 1968 Eberhard Schoener raised a laboratory for electronic music at the Bavaria Studios, Munich, being the first German musician to own a Moog synthesizer. He brought electronic music from Germany into the world and also released the first German album with exclusively electronic meditation music. Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland worked with Eberhard Schoener for years before their international breakthrough as 'Police'.

… Musically a typical example of German seventies rock not unlike their stablemates 'Grobschnitt' and 'Jane' for the harder edge, with guitar and organ jams. … The band then went on tour as a support act for 'Barclay James Harvest'. This had a direct influence on their music and their third record 'As A Keepsake' was inspired by BJH, less rock and more symphonic influenced pop. Their consequent tour served for the double live 'Whalecome', which showed the good musicianship of the band, giving room to extended improvisations, especially on the 17-minute long 'Hava Nagila.' …