So you think you know Arjen Lucassen, huh? Towering Dutch prog rock polymath? The man behind the super successful prog rock conceptualists Ayreon? Not to mention his prog metal offshoots Star One and Guilt Machine? Enormous overarching concept albums about space and time, packed to the hilt with special guests that read like a who’s who of modern day progressive rock? Records that take as long to conceive as they do to record? That Arjen Lucassen? Well, think again…
"Golden Age Of Music", the latest album to feature Lucassen’s not inconsiderable talents, may also feature stellar musicianship and killer tunes, but there is no storyline that takes place far into the future in the far flung depths of space. Nor do the album’s 11 tracks come courtesy of an unending list of guest artists…

The King's Noyse are a terrific ensemble who have made a lot of very good discs indeed over the years. This is among them. It is billed as a disc from 1995 of dance music and song from Italy between about 1580 and 1650, which though strictly accurate, may be a little misleading. Lively dance rhythms are certainly there, but a good deal of the disc is contemplative and sometimes rather melancholy in feel. There are single works by both Monteverdi and Gesualdo but the other works are largely by much more obscure composers, and although I know a little of some like Rovetta and Castello, most were completely new to me. I always like to be introduced to new composers, and the music is very fine throughout the disc.

Somehow the grandfather of British blues still had the fire in his belly to record a strong album almost 40 years after he began his storied career. Buddy Whittington acquits himself well as the latest in a long line of hotshot guitarists for this multi-instrumentalist, who still does his best work on harmonica. He still admires long-dead bluesman J.B. Lenoir, including "Voodoo Music" here. A lot of credit for this strong outing goes to R.S. Field, lyricist and sometime producer for Webb Wilder. "Long Story Short" would pass for a Wilder tune were it not for Mayall's distinctive voice.

Thirteen songs (plus bonus track for Japan) produced by Phil Ramone and Jean-Jacques Goldman. This album feature a duet with James Taylor ('Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight') & has been one of the best selling French albums worldwide.

Super Deluxe 7-CD and Blu-ray box featuring 97 tracks, including 63 previously unreleased audio and video tracks. CD1 and CD2 contain remastered versions of the band's 1991 albums 'Use Your Illusion I' and 'Use Your Illusion II'. CD3 and CD4 feature a live concert at the Ritz Theatre in New York, recorded on May 16, 1991, while CD5, CD6 and CD7 comprise a live performance from the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas on January 25, 1992. The Blu-ray includes the full New York concert film in HD with surround and stereo audio. The box set also contains a 100-page hardcover book with unreleased photos and images, a replica Conspiracy Inc fan club kit, 10 double-design lithos, 4 backstage passes, and more.