The Bones of J.R. Jones – Slow Lightning (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 40:00 minutes | 416 MB | Genre: Blues Rock, Americana, Alt. Country
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Tone Tree Music – The Bones of J.R. Jones
The New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones announced Slow Lighting, his first full length album release in more than 5 years, will be released on October 13 via Tone Tree Music. The announcement arrives with the release of the album’s propulsive debut single “Heaven Help Me.”
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Two Bird Stone – Hands and Knees (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 35:46 minutes | 395 MB | Genre: Folk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Wondermore Records
Two Bird Stone is boldly Americana. They present fresh, accessible song material as performed on instruments including the banjo, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, along with a stellar rhythm section. Paying tribute to the many swirling cultures that make up the American identity, Two Bird Stone also carefully incorporates traditional melodies and musical tendencies of cultures abroad to reflect the dimensions of this land’s powerful diversity.
In lieu of the preservation of traditional material in any strict sense, Two Bird Stone likes to function as a lens through which an audience gets a fresh look at the culture of traditional tune sharing and the instruments upon which we would generally hear them played. Their first album, Hands and Knees, will be released in May 2020.
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Twink – Think Pink (50th Anniversary Edition) (1970/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 37:25 minutes | 789 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Akarma
Twink’s legendary solo debut LP THINK PINK is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! The original Stereo mix has been lovingly remastered by M. Geddes Gengras (who has worked with Akron/Family, Sun Araw, The Congos, Real Estate etc).
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Tuva Semmingsen – Medea/Lysistrata (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 55:09 minutes | 1,85 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Dacapo
The classical figures of Medea and Lysistrata have captivated creative artists for centuries. The latest of them is Steingrímur Rohloff, an Icelandic-German composer who found his sensual, crystal-clear musical voice while studying with Gerard Griséy in Paris. The specially configured music recorded here benefits from Tuva Semmingsens ravishing voice and Rohloffs decade of collaboration with Esbjerg Ensemble to beautiful, resonant and dramatic effect. The Icelandic-German composer Steingrimur Rohloff is one of the most prominent young Scandinavian composers, and his works have been performed in more than 25 countries worldwide. He studied in Cologne and in Paris at the Conservatoire Superieur and the IRCAM with Gérard Grisey and Marc-André Dalbavie among others; this French school of crystalline orchestral music has influenced Rohloff profoundly. Among Rohloff’s many awards is the prestigious B.A. Zimmermann Award, which he won whilst living in Germany. The jury described his music as: “”of an original fantasy … exciting melodic creativity… colorful harmonies
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Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam – Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:01:38 minutes | 984 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alba
The ten symphonies of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) have sometimes been likened to a great autobiographical novel, each symphony constituting a chapter in itself while at the same time being an integral part of an unfolding narrative. Within this narrative flow, the fourth symphony (1899-1900) represents a magical pool of tranquility. Mahler drew on various sources in his symphony, one of them being Das himmlische Leben (1892). He originally intended this to be an independent song, but then had ideas of making it the finale of his giant third symphony before ultimately transferring it to his fourth. The song is a naïve vision of the joys of heaven seen through the eyes of a child; the symphony is, as a result, Mahlers most optimistic and relaxed. True, it does have some more shadowy moments, but they do not make the heart bleed or seriously disturb the overall mood.
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Turku Philharmonic Orchestra & Leif Segerstam – Beethoven: König Stephan & Other Choral Works (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:13:56 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Naxos
Aside from his only opera Fidelio, Beethoven’s general link with the theatre in Vienna came about largely with incidental music or songs to be inserted into the works of other composers – insertion arias. König Stephan was written to celebrate the politically significant opening of a new theatre in Pest, its triumphant mood honouring the ruling Austrian Emperor. Standard-bearer of female heroism Leonore Prohaska is commemorated with a Soldier’s Chorus and a Romance with harp accompaniment. In Friedrich von Matthisson’s poem Opferlied (‘Sacrificial Song’), a young man prays to Zeus to bestow upon him beauty and goodness in youth and old age. Two of Beethoven’s four settings are heard on this wide-ranging programme.
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Squirrel Flower – Tomorrow’s Fire (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 34:17 minutes | 608 MB | Genre: Indie Rock, Female Vocal
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Polyvinyl Records
After the spacious meditation of “I Don’t Use a Trash Can,” Ella Williams kicks her ennui into full gear on “Full Time Hobby,” its slow, chugging groove underpinning the “can’t win” hopelessness of the lyrics. These two songs introduce Tomorrow’s Fire, Williams’ third label release under the name Squirrel Flower. Produced by Alex Farrar and featuring members of Bon Iver, Wednesday, and the War on Drugs, the album’s feeling of overcast turbulence dovetails neatly with the sweet, yawning melodies that are one of Williams’ trademarks. Boston-bred, but with an appreciation for the Midwest, her early releases recalled the winter plains of Iowa where she went to college. Tomorrow’s Fire also turns to the Midwest for inspiration, namely the Indiana Dunes, a majestic stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline east of Chicago, abutted on either side by the steel mills of Gary and the Nipsco Power Plant of Michigan City. Fans of Squirrel Flower’s woeful-yet-winsome songwriting won’t be surprised by her rustbelt fascination. Her music is full of such juxtapositions. Like her two prior albums, Tomorrow’s Fire is at once radiant and grungy, introspective and cathartic, hot and cold. Standout “Alley Light” is a daydreaming paean to escape while “Stick” refuses change at great cost. Simmering desire makes itself known in the hushed “Almost Pulled Away” and the mighty “Canyon,” a common theme strung between two sonic poles. All of it is cloaked in a fug of fuzzed-out guitars and echo, yet no amount of rugged texture can dim the purity of Williams’ dulcet voice. Tomorrow’s Fire may be the most melancholic of Squirrel Flower’s albums, but its sense of drama is captivating. – Timothy Monger
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Société Lunaire – Eugène Godecharle: Sei quartetti per harpa, violino, viola e basso, Op. IV (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:13:24 minutes | 2,50 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Ramée
Eugène Godecharle was director of music at the church of Saint-Géry in Brussels before his appointment as first violinist in the court orchestra. He was not only an outstanding violinist and violist, but seems also to have mastered the pedal harp; he subsequently made brilliant use of the tonal and technical possibilities that the newly invented pedal mechanism had enabled. His Sei Quartetti Op. IV are notable for their musical and tonal diversity as well as for the particular textures that Godecharle employed in their composition. In these harp quartets, recorded here for the first time, Société Lunaire explores a particularly fascinating sound world; their energetic allegros as well as melancholy and galant movements enrich the chamber music repertoire of the second half of the 18th century in a most elegant and charming manner.
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Snatam Kaur – Nirankaar (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:02:38 minutes | 697 MB | Genre: World, New Age, Female Vocal
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Be Why
Nirankaar is Snatam Kaur’s latest album release. It features Snatam’s luminous interpretations of sacred mantras and verses from the Sikh tradition plus a Mantra and Meditation Series created from four of the tracks to facilitate the powerful practice of chanting mantras. Everyone is encouraged to use the tracks daily to bring joy and light into their hearts and homes, especially in these difficult times. Nirankaar was recorded just before the pandemic as a collaboration with producer Ram Dass on piano and vocals, Grecco Buratto, guitar and vocals, and Sukhmani, percussion and vocals. In addition to singing, Snatam also plays harmonium on various tracks.
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Sonja Kandels – Express your life (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 53:12 minutes | 584 MB | Genre: Vocal Jazz, Pop, Afrobeat
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © JazzSick Records
The German jazz singer Sonja Kandels, who grew up in Cameroon and Niger, experiments with wide variety of African styles, a dynamic fusion of jazz and world music. She uses her charismatic and multi-faceted singing voice like an instrument that spans the entire colorful ethnic spectrum, so emotionally and expressively that she captivates every audience.
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Sangit – Ooroo (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 36:33 minutes | 400 MB | Genre: World
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Riverboat Records
This latest chapter in the musical explorations of composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Sangit features some remarkable guest female singers including Ladino superstar Yasmin Levy, Brazilian diva Mariene de Castro and Grammy Award winner Dobet Gnahore.
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Sam Yeboah – Meba Fie – I’ll Be Back Home (1988/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 30:56 minutes | 355 MB | Genre: Disco, Boogie, Highlife, Afrobeat
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BBE Africa
A couple of years back, UK-based House and Soul DJ Jerry Frempong’s wife Kate was doing a Spring -clean at the family home. At the bottom of the garden, in among a pile of rusty garden tools and so on, she discovered a couple of mysterious bin-bags. She was about to assign them to the skip with everything else, but a sixth sense persuaded her to check the contents. It was a huge pile of rare soul, funk, disco, boogie and- yes – Ghana Highlife records. Kate brought this to the attention of Jerry, who immediately understood the significance of the treasure trove.
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Rachel Roberts – Schubert & Britten & Shostakovich (2015/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:09:39 minutes | 623 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
The only important work ever composed for the instrument is probably Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata D 821.
Since my first encounter with this piece over thirty years ago, my approach to it has changed considerably. As a child, I liked the beautiful themes – the joyful, exuberant, dance-like nature of the piece. Over time, I got to know Schubert’s musical language, his writing code, his character and his life events much better.
Now I no longer see any playful simplicity in this sonata. Instead, the frequent pianissimo and piano passages point to something intense, something intimate, which makes the content of this music very nuanced and personal. It is as if Schubert wanted to reveal a deep secret to us, beyond the seemingly cheerful gesture of the main theme…….. (Excerpts from the booklet text by Rachel Roberts)
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TuneWood – Natural Wood (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 55:17 minutes | 260 MB | Genre: Folk, Instrumental
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Liekedeler Musikproduktionen
TuneWood – two charming musicians sharing their deep love of Irish and Scottish traditional folk music. With vivid jigs and reels, happy polkas and gloomy ballads they present the wide range of traditional tunes. With harp (Milena) and Flute (Steffi) they entertain the audience with their own arrangements of the beautiful melodies – influenced by their personal musical backgrounds. A special and touching band who likes to enchant its audience time and again.
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Tuija Komi – Midnight Sun (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:08:54 minutes | 736 MB | Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chaos
As empathic as strong-voiced she gives this catchy song that connects several generations a musically new, brilliant robe. With the vocal sequences sung by her in Finnish, she sets a statement to her Finnish origin – a wonderful variety of the classic scat singing. And totally Tuija Komi.
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