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Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders – New Earth Seed (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 44:26 minutes | 996 MB | Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Arrowhawk Records
Jeffrey Alexander and his associated groups reach back to that magical Terrastock era of the ’90s: booking fests and shows, sharing stages, studios and vans with the (should be) most venerated and celebrated of those more pure years: Tom Rapp, Ghost (Japan), Marissa Nadler, Bridget St. John, Flying Saucer Attack, and too many more to mention. Alexander has been a member of Jackie-O Motherfucker, The Iditarod, and Black Forest/Black Sea, among others.
His recent, mainly SF-based group Dire Wolves’ sail caught wind and drew his ship back into the higher waters, to the delight of heads, initiated and otherwise. 2020 scattered the DWLVS to varied lands, and Alexander’s move east to Philadelphia brings us to the Heavy Lidders Times.
This multi-headed combo features stalwarts such as Scott Verrastro (Kohoutek, Bardo Pond, Bitter Wish) on drums and the unbrothers Elkhorn: Jesse Sheppard on low-end groove, and Drew Gardner, cast as Alexander’s electric guitar foil.
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The In-Sect – Introducing The In-Sect Direct from England (1965/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 23:19 minutes | 538 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © RCA – Legacy
The Flies were an English psychedelic pop band formed in London, England, in 1965. They are released three singles during their recording career, but in 1965 the band recorded a British Invasion-exploitation album on RCA Records, “Introducing the In-Sect Direct from London”, under the name In-Sect, with all but one of the tracks on the piece being cover versions of contemporary pop hits.
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Jarabi Band – Duniama (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 39:40 minutes | 478 MB | Genre: World, Afrobeat, Funk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Music in Exile
‘Duniama’ is a word in the Susu language meaning ‘in this world’, and it seeks to encompass everything that Jarabi Band stand for. Lead vocalist, djembe, and kora player Mohamed Camara describes the album as “my personal journey of life, loss, and love. Each song tells a story.”
This idea of ‘Duniama – in this world’, has a strong meaning for the members of Jarabi Band. It can be taken to mean an individual’s relationship to their surrounding world and environment, marking their place in this complex and fast-moving world. Or it can mean connection, a relationship between an individual and our fellow human beings; our society and our community. Yet again, it can mean the relationship that exists between the players and their musical craft, a way for them to
In this way, music to the Jarabi Band becomes more than just a form of expression and a vehicle for storytelling, it becomes a way of saying ‘I am’. An expression of the self, an understanding of our place in the world, and a celebration of the act of living. Says Camara – “The term ‘Duniama’ signifies connection, relationships and the quality of life with music.”
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Janusz Wawrowski, Mischa Kozłowski – Chopin Inspirations (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 51:48 minutes | 580 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © WM Poland – WMI
Frédéric Chopin is a composer who constantly fascinates. Despite the passing of time and a changing world, his music is still relevant. Janusz Wawrowski and Mischa Kozlowski reach for the works of Grieg, Paderewski, Noskowski and Sarasate to go back in time and show how Chopin, beloved by all of us, inspired in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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The Incredible Jimmy Smith – Monster (1965/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/352,8 kHz | Time – 38:49 minutes | 2,24 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © High Definition Tape Transfers
Monster is an album by American jazz organist Jimmy Smith arranged by Oliver Nelson. On the Billboard albums chart, Monster peaked at number 35, and at 5 on the top R&B albums chart…
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The Klezmer Goys – Street Tunes (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 50:57 minutes | 541 MB | Genre: Klezmer
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © The Klezmer Goys
This is the debut CD of the busking Clarinet and Accordion duo, Kestrel Curro and Vito Sicurella. This CD features songs that the guys play busking at the Ithaca Commons and various events.
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Jan Alexander – Storm Before the Calm (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 55:14 minutes | 609 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BERTHOLD Records
Every situation has a silver lining. There can be comfort in knowing that all things come to an end. Anticipating the calm will make you cherish the storm. In his latest project, pianist and composer Jan Alexander contemplates his musical journey of the last decade. From Amsterdam to Essen to Stockholm, the music traverses peaks, valleys, structure, and chaos. The band consists of up-and-coming musicians from various European jazz scenes who Jan met en route to the creation of his adventurous compositions.
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Ivory Duo Piano Ensemble – Hugh Shrapnel: Piano Works (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:07:00 minutes | 2,35 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Convivium Records Ltd.
This collection vividly shows the poetic and wide-ranging expressive qualities of Hugh Shrapnel’s piano music over the last 20 years. Ranging from the formal, classical restraint of the Sonatina to the impassioned elaborate textures of For an Alternative, the light hearted witty Esquisse mécanique to the sombre and brooding Premonition.
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Ida Mae – Thunder Above You (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 51:30 minutes | 550 MB | Genre: Pop Rock, Indie Folk, Blues
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Vow Road Records
After exploding back on the scene with their stunning singles “Lost On Your Time”, “My Whispers Are Wildfire”, “Thunder Above You” and “Wild Flying Dove” in recent months, British duo Ida Mae now release their long-awaited new studio album Thunder Above You, alongside its swaggering, riff-laden focus track “American Cars”.
Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean of Ida Mae reflect on the collaborative process behind the album’s creation: “We convinced our closest musical collaborators (Ethan Johns; Drums, Nick Pini; Bass) to join us in Norfolk, explaining that we wanted to build a makeshift studio in the entrance hall of an Arts & Crafts era Mansion House and self-produce our new record in 7 days. Thankfully they agreed to sail with us into these uncharted waters…no one knowing what would happen.
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HUNNY – new planet heaven (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 33:58 minutes | 399 MB | Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Epitaph
The group’s second LP for Epitaph finds HUNNY playing in a brand-new musical sandbox, balancing the haze of hindsight with a sun-soaked SoCal summer.
From the meditative track “my own age” and breakbeat-backed, late ’90s-leaning “all my luck” to the lo-fi punk standout “ring in your ear” (featuring Motion City Soundtrack’s Justin Courtney Pierre) and made-for-dashboard-drumming “89cc” (complete with a searing sax solo) the album is a testament to the band’s musical fluency and dedication to their craft.
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Gene Ammons – Got My Own (1972/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 37:23 minutes | 1,42 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings
Recorded at the same sessions that resulted in the more commercial Big Bad Jug, this LP (whose contents have not yet been reissued on CD) is the better of the two thanks to the inclusion of four Billie Holiday-associated songs. Ammons (even with the electric rhythm section) is in strong form on “Lady Sings the Blues,” “God Bless the Child,” “Strange Fruit” and “Fine and Mellow.” The other three pieces (which include the theme from Ben and a Neal Diamond tune) are not as inspiring but Ammons’s huge sound makes the music worthwhile.
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The New England Irish Harp Orchestra – A Snowy Path (2011)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 30:04 minutes | 355 MB | Genre: Folk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © RDP Music
We’re coming to the end of 2020 and we are all grateful for that. As with so many other musicians, all of our concerts were cancelled for the year. We bravely moved forward with zoom rehearsals (a challenge for music groups) and that kept us going musically and socially. In the warmer weather, we met outdoors and rehearsed with as many members as were able. It was such a pleasure to play together again. With the colder weather, we were able to find a larger rehearsal space with good ventilation and all masked up, we continued to rehearse. Then November came and with it, the huge spikes in Covid cases so we opted to return to zoom. This meant canceling an opportunity to stream a live concert for the holiday season. We are hoping to be able to go forward with that in the new year. We hope you are all safe and as sane as you can be, given the circumstances.
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The Kinks – Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (2019 Deluxe) (1969/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:22:20 minutes | 1,89 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sanctuary Records
When The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society was released in November 1968, the Davies brothers unveiled an album that was out of time. It was a pop masterpiece that was steeped in nostalgia for an Olde England and some thought it was almost backward-looking, though today it is considered one of the most influential records of its time. What’s more, it proved that there’s more to life than just Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards! Following that spectacular record, their fans were wondering what could possibly come next. The idea didn’t come from either of the brother’s creative brains but in fact from the producers of Granada Television who commissioned them for… a rock opera! The plot takes place in post-war England and revolves around Arthur, a carpet-layer who emigrates with his family to Australia as he struggles to find his place in the world. The story was inspired by the Davies brothers’ older sister Rose who moved down under in 1964 with her husband Arthur. Her move left a mark on Ray, who later composed Rosie Won’t You Please Come Home in 1966 for the album Face to Face. In any case, it provided more than enough material for the English songwriter to produce these deliciously crazy and ironic songs. In the end, the film was never shot and so Arthur was released in October 1969 with no visual aid.
Almost as brilliant and nostalgic as , the record’s instrumental richness, skillful songwriting and intelligent compositions went to prove once again that The Kinks were just as creative as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. On Shangri-La, one of their most impressive compositions, the Davies brothers mix pop, rock and blues. Dave’s guitar playing is particularly impressive, revealing both thick riffs (Brainwashed) and intricate ballads (Young and Innocent Days). Unfortunately, the public didn’t exactly lap up the unusual, daring songs of this baroque farandole, instead opting for The Who’s Tommy. Though fortunately, time has been kind to Arthur and today the record is considered a genuine masterpiece. – Marc Zisman
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The Hi-Lo’s – Clap Yo’ Hands (1968/2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:15 minutes | 438 MB | Genre: Pop, Vocal Jazz, Oldies
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Life Series
The Hi-Lo’s were a vocal quartet formed in 1953, who achieved their greatest fame in the late 1950s and 1960s. The group’s name is reportedly a reference to their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Bob Strasen and Bob Morse were tall, Gene Puerling and Clark Burroughs were short). This compilation is in fact a reissue of two albums of The Hi-Lo’s, “I Presume” (1955) and “In Stereo” (1959). First one is in mono, second one in stereo. For obscure reasons, the tracklistings of both LP’s have been put in reverse order. Strangely too, the last track of “I Presume”, “Shoeless Joe” is not included on that reissue.
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The Hilliard Ensemble – Il Cor Tristo (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 53:08 minutes | 890 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ECM New Series
One of the world’s finest vocal chamber groups, the Hilliard Ensemble has a formidable reputation in the fields of both early and new music. The programme featured here exemplifies its distinctive style and highly developed musicianship in both repertoires. At its heart is a work commissioned by the ensemble from British contemporary composer Roger Marsh: Il Cor Tristo, a setting of cantos 32 and 33 from Dante’s Inferno, which deftly blends Renaissance techniques with a modern idiom. Marsh’s composition frames settings of Petrarch by 16th century composers Bernardo Pisano (1490-1548) and Jacques Arcadelt (c 1507-1568). As so often with the Hilliard singers, the transitions between “old” and “new” are seamless, and the album unfolds like a larger composition.
Here one must also credit composer Marsh, who notes that his “primary concern has been to keep Dante’s words clear at all times, and thus you will find in this contemporary music many devices more usually encountered in music of much earlier times.”
Marsh’s Il Cor Tristo was premiered by the Hilliard Ensemble in Perugia, Italy in September 2008. The version here was recorded, along with the Pisano and Arcadelt pieces, in November 2012, at the St Gerold monastery in Austria, location for outstanding Hilliard recordings including the collaborations with Jan Garbarek (Officium, Mnemosyne, Officium Novum) the Bach project with Christoph Poppen (Morimur), Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine, as well as motets of Guillaume de Machaut, 16th century English music (Audivi Vocem) and more.
Il Cor Tristo is released as the Hilliards both celebrate their 40th anniversary and embark on their final year together: at the end of 2014 the group will disband. The Hilliards’ last year will be a creative summing-up. David Jones explains: “As well as all the music that we have discovered and enjoyed performing over the years, we want to embrace the important relationships and people that have contributed to some of the remarkable landmarks and turning points in our career”.