Australia has never been a promised land, as far as Progressive rock was concerned. Except for SEBASTIAN HARDIE, one could barely notice a strong name emerging from this other side of the planet. Things may change with the arrival of UNITOPIA, a young band steeming from Adelaide. Published in the year 2005, its first album "More Than A Dream" displays a fresh and sincere blend of Progressive rock, both catchy and sophisticated. It's hard to point out a specific influence on the band, since its musicians chose a path not unsimilar to SPOCK'S BEARD's, that is integrating all the elements needed to achieve a true symphonic masterpiece: lots of rock music, a good dose of sophisticated pop, some hooking melodies, a bit of folk, slices of heavy-metal, a drop of fusion jazz-rock… All mixed with a true personality, that should attract UNITOPIA a huge crowd of fans. Publisheed in the year 2012 on the Musea label, "Covered Mirror - Volume One: Smooth As Silk" pays tribute to UNITOPIA's masters: MARILLION, SUPERTRAMP, THE KORGIS, FLOWER KINGS, KLAATU, Alan PARSONS PROJECT, LED ZEPPELIN, Todd RUNDGREN… On top of this new masterpiece are two long medleys, devoted to GENESIS and YES. A gem!

Singer Kendra Shank, who has a beautiful voice, has grown a lot since her debut CD, but her maiden effort is still worth checking out. In general, this set emphasizes slow ballads, and her voice is quite haunting on the more atmospheric pieces. Shank, who plays a bit of basic Brazilian guitar, is joined by a trio that includes pianist Larry Willis, plus (on two songs) guest altoist Gary Bartz. Other than "Devil May Care," the material is generally pretty obscure; Jobim's "Photograph," Billie Holiday's "Left Alone" and Shank's "Paris Bossa" are among the highlights.

Thelonious Monk - At Newport 1963 & 1965 (2003) {2CD Set, Sony Mastersound Japan SICP 5069~70}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 516 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 204 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1963-65, 2003 Sony Music Japan / Columbia | SICP 5069~70 | Sony Mastersound
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

Thelonious Monk's 1963 Newport Jazz Festival set has been released in whole or part on several different Columbia releases, but this 2002 reissue is the best version yet. One finally gets to hear nothing but Monk on this edition, with the added bonus of a previously unreleased and undocumented appearance from the 1965 festival. The earlier material, with Charlie Rouse, Butch Warren, and Frankie Dunlop, is already very familiar to serious Monk devotees, particularly the inspired addition (due to the suggestion of festival producer George Wein) of clarinetist Pee Wee Russell on two songs.

Slavik…Kemmler was a German project by Andi Slavik and Susanne Kemmler. Their album debut called Close to Heaven (1995). Close to Heaven is an album with female vocals (by Susanne), Ethnic rythms, pop music and have that style of 90's. Show a similitude with other artist projects as: Enigma, Miriam Stockley, B-tribe and Sacred Spirit.