Tony Holiday has been at the center of a Memphis soul blues revival anchored by a contingent of young, savvy, well-schooled musicians who have a "family-like" attitude and a strong belief in one another. Over the past couple of years, Holiday and his talented young band have been touring hard, taking spells in between to write and record with Producer Eric Corne in Memphis and Los Angeles. The result is Keep Your Head Up, an album that covers a tremendous amount of territory over eight pithy tracks. It features a nice array of special guests including Eddie 9V, Kevin Burt, Albert Castiglia and Laura Chavez, last year's Blues Music Award winner for 'Guitarist of the Year'. Throughout the record Holiday demonstrates an impressive command of styles, moving fluidly through Texas, Chicago and hill country Blues with plenty of Memphis soul and even a touch of Afrobeat.

Ancient and modern come together on "I Am Here," as veteran musician/composer Paul Ellis creates an electronic music portrait inspired by the mysterious rock carvings of the Chinook Tribe of Native Americans who lived in the Columbia River Gorge 15,000 years ago. Just as they left their mark etched in stone, so Paul Ellis paints in sound from a palette that includes synthesizers, sequencers, guitar, bass, and voice.
The three long form compositions on the album, two in the 20 minute range, and one almost 30 minutes in length, have a spellbinding quality that is constantly evolving, and draws favorable comparison to the electronic music artistry of Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra, Craig Padilla, Patrick O’Hearn, and Jean Michel Jarre…

Following the 2024 Bolan Boogie definitive hits package, Demon Records present a companion piece in the form of Bolan B-Sides, a brand- new collection of B-sides and bonus tracks from T. Rex’s hit-packed 1972-1977 period.

North Carolina has no better ambassador than Rhiannon Giddens, who has made it her life's mission to spread the gospel of her home state's oldest music—through the banjo, which was adapted from African gourd instruments; and the songs of the mountains, carried there by both enslaved people and Scots-Irish immigrants. It's transmitted through her solo work, as well as her group the Carolina Chocolate Drops; through her new Biscuits and Banjos festival and via her latest album, a collaboration with fellow former Chocolate Drop Justin Robinson. What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow is a collection of traditionals, although that word is elastic—as these songs got passed down with personal preferences, it became sort of a game of telephone leading to different interpretations. You may not recognize the exact melodies or lyrics of this "Little Brown Jug" or "John Henry," but that makes them even more interesting.

Donna Summer’s twelfth studio album, Cats Without Claws, is set for reissue in April next year, to mark the album’s 40th anniversary.

Chonguri is the name of the traditional long neck lute from Georgia which inspired Georgian composer and cellist Sulkhan Tsinzadze to write an atmospheric all-pizzicato piece. Its exotic plucked sound marks the eastern starting point of a journey that alights on many European places before finishing off with an equally evocative scene from New York composed by Demenga himself. The Swiss cellist revitalizes the 19th century practice of arranging diverse music for one's own instrument, thus adopting two Chopin Nocturnes and four Bach Chorales (in Demenga's own transcriptions) for this CD recital. Demenga's panorama of poetic miniatures, with Webern's two sets of Kleine Stücke at its centre, features a mix of popular and more abstract musical idioms, blending humour and nostalgia in an entertaining programme.

Henri Salvador is an 89-year-old with an extraordinary history. Born in French Guyana, he moved to France as a child, joined a dance orchestra as guitarist, and ended up working in Brazil, where his songs would later influence the work of the great Tom Jobim - the greatest composer of the bossa nova era of the late 1950s. Salvador also became a celebrity, and a TV personality back in France, and he now seems poised for unlikely international success. This new set was recorded in Paris, New York and (of course) Rio, where his producer was the great Jacques Morelenbaum, who has worked with everyone from Jobim to Mariza; they were joined by Brazilian stars Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. It's remarkable for Salvador's effortlessly clear, perfect vocals and equally unexpected range. Many of the songs are gently charming laid-back ballads, but there's also a swinging French-language treatment of Ray Charles, with Alleluia! Je l'Ai Dans la Peau. Alleluia, indeed.

Guilty! is a concept album: it’s about getting released from prison, dealing with the survivor’s guilt of being out, and the very real fear of getting hauled in front of an unmerciful judge for something as minor as a traffic violation. Burdon and Witherspoon share the vulnerabilities of victimhood: cops are prejudiced against both the hippies and the blacks. Every track is intense, honest, and gripping. The sometimes-graphic lyrics pull no punches.
The horns are out of tune. The mix is iffy. But damn, when the guitars come in already smoking on “Have Mercy Judge,” you can hear the sweat and anguish. The music doesn’t rock so much as it lurches with a kind of slow-drag funk. Burdon and John Sterling (extraordinary guitarist on the session) wrote “Soledad,” a searing portrait of the ironic suffering that comes with freedom…

Scaramouche introduces German musicians faithful to the kind of Progressive rock started by Yes, and especially Genesis, during the Seventies. The reissue of their eponymous album is from 1981, and shows an ambitious music that tastefully blends the most important rock influences with even some fusion and blues sometimes. The melodic and slightly medieval side present in their music can also remind of Machiavel. Anyway, the result is technically perfect with some beautiful instrumental solos.

Terry Smith's rare late-'60s LP was an accomplished set that showcased his fluid, modern bop-influenced jazz guitar in both big band and small combo settings. Smith plays much in the style of American guitarists working in similar territory during the period, such as Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. The arrangements and playing by the backing musicians on this album, recorded in London, are a little stiffer than what you'll hear on most U.S. sessions, but they get the job done tastefully enough. The vibe gets a little more uninhibited on the two tracks featuring just Smith, organist Bob Stuckley, and drummer Chris Karen. As those two tracks ("Fall Out" and "Early Morning Groove") are the only two Smith originals, one suspects that this is the kind of material that was closest to his heart at the time…

"The Amateur" is a 2025 American vigilante action spy film directed by James Hawes and written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel. The soundtrack is released by Hollywood Records and 20th Century Studios, featuring original music by Volker Bertelmann (aka Hauschka), an Academy Award-nominated composer known for his experimental style and work as a pianist.

Maria João Pires Acclaimed as one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart, Portuguese pianist Maria-João Pires is an artist who combines exquisite stylistic refinement with a serious effort to plumb the intellectual complexities and spiritual depths of music. Refusing to conform to the traditional image of a concert virtuoso, Pires emphasizes the spiritual dimensions of music, always searching for hidden meanings which may elude the analytical performer. This remarkable reverence toward works of music, clearly manifested in her performances of Mozart, was made explicit by her remark that, as a performer, she acts as a channel for the composer's ideas. Interestingly, Pires views both the composer and the performer as conduits for a transcendent force. However, while approaching the work of music with immense awe, Pires is acutely aware of its formal structure, finding a certain transparency in the most intricate formal constructions.

Costello was 23 years old when he wrote and recorded the music for the album. After the previous Ryko and Rhino reissues, we now have the complete Armed Forces.This super deluxe edition was personally curated by Elvis Costello. The box fully embraces Barney Bubbles’ epic package art and features 9 pieces of vinyl, 7 custom notebooks containing updated liner notes from Costello (nearly 10,000 words total) and his handwritten lyrics from the era. The album receives a brand-new remaster from the original production master tapes with the sonic fidelity matching the original 1979 UK pressing. Along with selections from the Hollywood High show, there are 3 more concerts, 23 never released live songs including the full PinkPop 1979 set and highlights from the notorious Riot at The Regent concert and the December 24, 1978 Dominion Theatre. The set includes the vintage grenade and gun poster and the 4 original postcards of each band member. Costello commissioned acclaimed artist Todd Alcott to recreate pulp novel covers of to represent songs from Armed Forces featuring Costello as the star of the cover in precarious situations.

History of RnB Records Compilation label based in London, Middlesex, England. Also known as History of RnB.
Affiliated with History Of Soul label.

Jazz like lightning! As quick as lightning (until you almost go blind), dublon conquered the hearts of many jazz lovers by finding the perfect harmony between jazzy sounds and groovy house.