The evolution of ELVENKING is quite impressive. With constant quality, the Italians have become one of Europe’s leading folk band. At the same time, the band managed to refine their unique sound. Regarding their brand new release “The Pagan Manifesto“, it’s obvious that ELVENKING - again – have exceeded themselves and deliver the most rich and mature album of their career so far. While 2012’s “Era” album marked something like a new beginning for the band, ELVENKING continue right there but also extend the folk part, revisiting releases like the debut “Heathenreel”, the follow-up “Wyrd” and 2006’s “The Winter Wake”.

The blasphemous Italian death metal quartet HOUR OF PENANCE continues to pull no punches on its sixth album, "Regicide." The title for the follow-up to 2012's acclaimed "Sedition" is defined as the act of killing a monarch, and its venomous, anti-authoritarian blasts of brutality — recorded at Rome's famous 16th Cellar Studio (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Eyeconoclast)

Symphonica is the sixth album and first live album by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 14 March 2014 through Aegean and Virgin EMI Records. Symphonica is Michael's first album of new recordings since Patience (2004). The album contains mostly live versions of songs from his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour, including six of his own compositions (the rest being covers). The album was the final work by American producer Phil Ramone, who died in March 2013.

Released in 1985, Astra is Asia's third studio album and first without guitarist Steve Howe. While somewhat unfairly regarded in comparison to Asia's first two albums, Astra is nonetheless a solid prog rock …

Gustav Mahler - Symphonie Nr.1 (NDR-Sinfonieorchester - Kirill Kondrashin)
Classical | EAC | FLAC, IMG+CUE, LOG | Covers | 1CD, 263 MB
Label: EMI | Catalog Number: NDR 10062 | TT: 48'18''

The last recording of Kirill Kondrashin. It was made in the very day of his death. He was invited to replace Klauss Tennstedt, who had refused to conduct in Amsterdam. After only a half-hour rehersal Kondrashin managed to pass his own specific view of the score to the orchestra and the concert had a great success.

Simone has worked with jazz giants such as George Mraz, Houston Person, Dick Oatts, John di Martino, Victor Lewis, James Genus,… and has played at well known Jazz Festival all over the world…

The Manhattan Jazz Quintet have been an on-again, off-again collective of New York City-based musicians who primarily record for the Japanese market. Co-founding members David Matthews (piano and arranger) and trumpeter Lew Soloff are still on hand, though the remainder of the group on this occasion consists of tenor saxophonist Andy Snitzer, bassist Charnett Moffett, and drummer Victor Lewis.

Possessor of the happiest sound in jazz, flügelhornist Clark Terry always plays music that is exuberant, swinging, and fun. A brilliant (and very distinctive) soloist, C.T. gained fame for his "Mumbles" vocals (which started as a satire of the less intelligible ancient blues singers) and is also an enthusiastic educator.

Here’s a strange and interesting CD if I’ve ever heard one. It begins with Peter Eötvös’s contemporary piece Levitation, written for two clarinets, accordion, and strings. But don’t break out your polka records for a comparison; this music is more of the style normally described as “contemporary ambient,” with brief shards of musical motifs drifting, interacting, and creating a mood rather than a work with a form that one can grasp. Ironically, I find it much more palatable than some of the contemporary music I’ve reviewed recently, such as Maxwell Davies’s Symphony No. 1 or the piano music of Judith Lang Zaimont. The first section depicts a hurricane scene in which phone boxes and traffic signs float on the violent winds, yet the music is not as violent as the description suggests. Its fragmentary nature, and reliance on a small group of instruments, results in an atonal yet somehow fascinating musical environment.