The songs that were taking shape during 2013 / 2014 show an exciting progression of Pocket Size's concept. The recording sessions started out after an initial meeting with producer Tom Van Heesch at Big Island Sound studios. When he had heard the demos there was no turning back. He came up with the ideas how these tunes were going to be recorded and did a blueprint for the recording sessions. The primary idea was to highlight the retro elements of the music without going all the way into nostalgia. Exposed Undercurrents differs a bit from the last record (The Hornplayer…). There are two tunes with lyrics in Swedish, while the rest of the tunes are in English. There is also a stronger coherence within the album since the songs pour from the same well. But it is still not a concept album, all songs are individual entities.

The band who unexpectedly turned old-fashioned rockabilly into a sensation during the height of synthesized new wave.
Sporting bodacious pompadours, tattoos, and leather jackets, the Stray Cats looked like a rockabilly band straight out of central casting. That was by the design of Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jam Phantom, a trio of Long Island renegades who were attempting to keep the fire of old-time rock & roll burning during the height of punk and new wave. It took some time - and a trip across the Atlantic - for them to succeed, but when they did, it was beyond all expectations…

Music from one of the most specific science-fiction films in the history of Czechoslovak cinematography, and a unique chapter in the rich artistic output of Martin Kratochvíl. On the 35th anniversary of the recording of the material, "Temné Slunce" has finally been released. "Temné Slunce" (Dark Sun) is an adaptation of "Krakatit", a novel by Karel Čapek published in the interwar period. It tells a story of the inventor of an ultra-dangerous explosive that is trying as hard as possible to hide the formula from the great of this world, to prevent it from total destruction. The film adaptation of Otakar Vávra transposes the story to the Cold War reality, full electronics and secret agents. The film was received as a cheap propaganda trick, but also… as an unusually impressive action movie…

One of the most admired guitarists of the early 21st century, Jack White helped restore the popularity of punk-blues as the frontman of the White Stripes. Meanwhile, he widened his reach by participating in a range of other projects, including the Raconteurs, the Cold Mountain soundtrack, Loretta Lynn's comeback vehicle Van Lear Rose, the Dead Weather, and a solo career. Although White's nasal voice and loose, fiery guitar delivery were mainstays of the White Stripes' early work, the group branched out as its reputation grew, building upon an initially minimalist sound with elements of metal, backwoods country, pop, and early rock & roll. White followed a similar evolution in his own career, and by the time the White Stripes celebrated the tenth anniversary of their debut album, the frontman had already issued two pop-oriented records with the Raconteurs, starred in several films, collaborated with Electric Six, duetted with Alicia Keys, and produced records for a number of artists.

Adventure are a Norwegian project from Trondheim started by Terje Flessen and Odd Roar Bakken in the mid nineties. They both liked the same 70s' style progressive/classic rock and wanted to take their music to a higher level. In the beginning a studio project only which resulted in their self titled debut album in 2004. This was followed in 2009 by Beacon of Light. In 2014 they're back after a break and some changes in the line-up with a brand new album entitled 'Caught In the Web". Stylistically, the music on the album contains influences of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Camel, Pink Floyd and a whiff of Kansas. The result is an album containing music from classic rock to symphonic prog with a folk flair…

Blasters founders Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin have had a famously combative relationship over the years, but as Dave once said, "We argue sometimes, but we never argue about Big Bill Broonzy." So it's fitting that their love of Big Bill brings them together in the recording studio for their first album together since the Blasters' Hard Line in 1985. Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play & Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy features the Alvin Brothers performing a dozen songs from the Broonzy songbook, and while listening to this is a potent reminder of how good Broonzy's songs still sound in the 21st century, it also demonstrates the complementary talents of Dave and Phil Alvin.

Clearlight’s "Impressionist Symphony" focuses on the artistic style of impressionism, painting and music as well with a Ravel, Satie and Debussy influence merged with Cyrille Verdeaux’s progressive music experience and linked with the French impressionist school of painting. The release celebrates the 40th anniversary of "Clearlight Symphony," an early classic Virgin Records release, which featured Cyrille’s compositional skills and virtuoso keyboard playing, with performances by Gong family members Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, and Didier Malherbe, and others. For the new symphony, Cyrille is once again joined by Tim, Steve, and Didier, as well other friends, new and old, on eight extended compositions.

Seven Impale. One of the best new bands of 2014. They start off in fusion and then travel wheresoever they please, and do so with style and ease. Their whole album is wonderful listening from start to finish, showing off a range of genres and instrumentations. They come across as a proghead's dream, being heavily indebted to several past masters, notably King Crimson and the Gentle Giant, but with their own modern and unique take on it that leaves one floored and then begging for more.