| “ | While neither the band nor their label has an internet presence, other sources have revealed to me that the Finnish band INNER LIGHT ORCHESTRA is a constellation of musicians otherwise active in bands such as Hidria Spacefolk, Uzma and Wasami. "Pearl Moon" is their debut album, recorded from 2008 to 2010, and finally released in November 2012. Inner Light Orchestra has produced an intriguing debut album with "Pearl Moon". Their chosen stylistic expression is one hard to place within a specific, but as psychedelic oriented arrangements dominate a taste for material of that kind will be needed to be able to enjoy this instrumental production. As will a taste for 70's oriented hard rock and occasional flurries into fusion and folk oriented territories. As for who this album will appeal to, I'd guess that those who have albums by the Allman Brother Band side by side with classic Santana in their collection might be something of a key audience, especially those amongst that group who also tend to enjoy psychedelic rock. | ” |
| “ | Gary Brooker wrote music and lyrics for all the songs on his second album and acted as his own producer, resulting in perhaps his most personal statement as an artist. Unlike No More Fear Of Flying, on which he sometimes just seemed to be the singer on his own record, here Brooker delivered his songs with feeling, enabling him to overcome the star power of his backup musicians, who included Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Phil Collins. This was partly because Brooker no longer felt the need to separate himself from The Procol Harum sound that was so much a part of his natural musical identity. Brooker's lyrics weren't as philosophical as longtime writing partner Keith Reid's, but they could be just as intriguingly oblique. | ” |
| “ | Sometimes it seems like the Smithereens' entire career was mistimed. After the relative success of 11, Pat DiNizio and company returned with their most straightforward and mainstream-ready release yet in Blow Up. Produced by Ed Stasium, the mix is arena ready and clean, and DiNizio co-wrote two of the disc's most accessible songs with songwriters Diane Warren and Julian Lennon... | ” |
| “ | Styled as a conspicuous companion piece to Tug of War, Pipes of Peace mirrors its 1982 cousin in many ways: its title track holds up a mirror to its forefather -- and, if that weren't enough, Paul McCartney serves up the knowing "Tug of Peace," an almost-electro collage that twists the songs into McCartney II territory -- it serves up two showcases for duets with a former Motown star along with a cameo from fusion superstar Stanley Clarke and, most importantly, it is also produced by former Fab Four ringleader George Martin... | ” |
| “ | After several vain attempts in many bands, the brothers Rolf and Klaus Fichter finally found in 1973 their own musical identity. At this time the band original name Brontosaurus changes to Yatha Sidhra, a musical name which is really suitable for the new musical orientation taken by the two musicians. Particularly attentive to ethnic and meditative influences in popular music, they began to work on a long & epic piece called "A Meditation Mass" (under the influence of the famous Achim Reichel, the virtual member of the band who produces the album in 1974)... | ” |
| “ | The new Voodoo Hill album – the third release from the musical alliance between Italian axeman and producer Dario Mollo and legendary former Deep Purple singer/bassist Glenn Hughes – is the culmination of a 30+ year career for Mollo as a musician, songwriter and producer. “Waterfall” is a strong and straightforward hard and heavy rock album which is equally split between aggressive and heavy moments and beautiful melodies. A stunning release which all fans of hard rock and heavy metal truly won't want to miss! | ” |
| “ | ON is the Jane Getter Premonition's debut for the Madfish label. Recorded at Avatar Studios in New York, the album features a stellar line-up of Progressive, Jazz and Rock musicians including Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson), Bryan Beller (Joe Satriiani, The Aristocrats), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth), Corey Glover (Living Colour), Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, Ozzy Osbourne) and Theo Travis (Steven Wilson, Robert Fripp). Guitarist and composer Jane Getter has played with many Jazz and Rock greats, garnering increasing recognition as a bandleader, gifted writer and instrumentalist. Jane also received widespread exposure playing in the Saturday Night Live Band. CD in digipack with a 16 page colour booklet featuring stunning artwork from Lasse Hoile. | ” |
| “ | Add It Up is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, Debacle: The First Decade. There are several charming rarities to hook dedicated fans, who will likely find several favorites missing (perhaps another song or two could have been substituted for the between-song bits). The group's self-titled debut does a better job of encapsulating why they were important, and remains the first Femmes album to buy; besides, no compilation that includes live versions of "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up" in place of the original studio cuts can claim to be definitive. However, even casual fans who enjoyed Violent Femmes will find post-debut songs like "American Music" and "I Held Her in My Arms" to be essential, so even if Add It Up is a little too imperfect to be a necessary first purchase, it's definitely a necessary second purchase. Unless you're a die-hard fan, it will likely be the only other Violent Femmes disc you'll need. | ” |
| “ | Joel Hoekstra, best known to millions of rock fans as the currrent guitarist for Whitesnake, and also known for his work with Night Ranger and Trans Siberian Orchestra and the show Rock of Ages, debuts with the new melodic hard rock studio album “Dying To Live” from his electrifying new side project, Joel Hoekstra’s 13”. The record, which features an all-star cast of rock musicians at the top of their game including Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards) among others, sees Joel handling the bulk of the creative process, taking care of the production, song writing and arranging (music and lyrics). The end result could best be described as hard, melodic, classic rock that is Dio'ish at its heaviest and Foreigner'ish at its lightest... | ” |
| “ | Haircut 100's debut album, Pelican West is a widely uneven concoction of lite funk and jazzy new wave pop. Although the group's music was frequently so light it virtually disappeared, they did record a pair of classic new wave singles with the effervescent "Love Plus One" and "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)." Although much of the record lacks the hooks of those two tracks, there's a handful of enjoyably breezy pop songs on Pelican West, such as "Fantastic Day" and "Snow Girl," that makes it worth investigating for new wave fetishists. Still, there's no denying that Haircut 100's material was often inadequate -- a situation only emphasized on the American edition of the album, which places the singles at the front -- and that the record sounded like a period piece just a few years after its release. [This edition features three B-sides and two 12" mixes as bonus tracks.] | ” |
| “ | "It's no wonder that Leo Sayer is considered a music business legend. 43 years since his first album, he's had 5 worldwide No.1 hits, is a Grammy winning songwriter, and is considered one of the world's most thrilling and entertaining live performers. From his debut 1973 smash hit "The Show Must Go On" to his 2006 UK No 1 remix of "Thunder In My the infallible Leo Sayer has carved an incredible career including selling 80 million albums and garnering a Grammy award. And now he's back with 'Restless Years' his first studio album in 6 years, featuring 13 brand new songs ranging in a variety of styles from pop to country to rock. Now living in Australia, Leo hasn't stopped working since moving there, still paying frequent visits to the UK and Europe and wherever his audiences still demand his performance. To quote Leo's very first hit: 'The Show Must Go On!' | ” |
| “ | Their repertoire is based on traditional sephardic songs, arranged and played on a contemporary fusion style: some jazz and modern chamber music mixed with progressive and psychedelic rock, with african and oriental echoes. Ofir was born as a result of adding the singer Josefina Gómez to the Mundo Flotante project, with the idea of developing new arrangements for a centenarian legacy, the Sephardic songs. I started to work with this repertoire around 2005 for a trio project that was thwarted before its debut. The songs has been going round and round my head for years but I begun to think seriously about to create this band when I found Josefina's voice... | ” |
| “ | 'No Means Of Escape' combines a live set by Nazareth, filmed before a select audience at London's famous Metropolis Studios. The concert features hit tracks and album favorites from across the years. | ” |
