Keyboard wizard Hansi Enzensperger and his colleagues Ludwig Kloeckner (bass) and Manfred Mildenberger (drums) locked themselves in a studio for three months with a Hammond organ, electric bass, and a Ludwig drum set with Rhodes, Clavinet, Space Echo, and Wurlitzer. In other words: with all the vintage treasures they could lay their hands on! A rousing debut album that blasts the 70s sound aesthetic into today musical landscape. Melodies for millions, with the sex of funk, the dirt of the blues, a punk attitude, and the freedom of jazz.

Two of the most distinctive talents of this new generation get together in the recording studio to give life to what will no doubt be considered one of the best productions of the year. A very fascinating combination intuitively born from CAMJazz and its producer, Ermanno Basso, who had already worked with both musicians with great result, and therefore knew them well. Recorded in the prestigious Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg (Germany), “Through The Journey” is an album that is atypical, lyrical and enchanting. A meeting of two musicians who seem to have known each other forever: their instruments speak and listen to one another, completely improvising and giving life to moments that don’t seem created impromptu, but instead note after note they are structured and take on shapes that are defined and flowing.

Kalinnikov - Symphony No.1 | Brahms - Symphonie Nr.1 (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Vienna State Opera Orchestra - Scherchen)
Classical | EAC | FLAC, IMG+CUE, LOG | Covers | 1CD, 387 MB
Label: Archipel | Catalog Number: ARPCD 0211 | TT: 79'50''

EMI brought out the Brahms Symphony in its Great Conductors of the Twentieth Century series where it joined some other famous Scherchen discs – notably Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony, Haydn’s No. 100 in G and Stravinsky’s Firebird review. Scherchen’s live recording of the Kalinnikov with the Czech Philharmonic has formed part of Tahra’s Scherchen sets. So neither of these performances constitutes terra incognita for admirers of this conductor, who will know, only too well, that when Archipel claim that these 24 bit 96 kHz (whatever that is) restorations derive "from the original sources" the truth is nothing of the kind.

Angels of the Apocalypse is the second and upcoming full-length album by Timo Tolkki's metal opera project Avalon, to be released on May 16, 2014 in Europe and four days later in North America.It is the second part of the trilogy created by Tolkki, with the previous album The Land of New Hope being the third part of the story. As with the previous effort, several heavy metal singers were invited to play the characters of the story of the album, with female vocalist Elize Ryd of Amaranthe reprising her role and Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ReVamp) playing the main character. The rest of the cast includes Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra), David DeFeis (Virgin Steele), Simone Simons (Epica), Caterina Nix (solo Chilean singer who is having her debut album produced by Tiko Tolkki) and Zachary Stevens (ex-Savatage, Circle II Circle).