ú hit2k . uki. amok . yard . tr . dps . sb . amrc . gf . drum . ser ú
ú bex . bcc . mbs . its . boss . upe ú

Welcome to Muzzik's biweekly non-mainstream music report! Much love to the
scene, no hate, and extra props for those taking the time to read here.

To start off: this is not a 'hater' magazine, and we aren't trying to insult
or bring anyone down with it.

Our aim is pure and simple: to bring the scene's attention back to the music!
All involved in this report are lovers of music, with no politics or dramatic
baggage, We just want to share the love!

That is why, every 2 weeks, we'll compile a list of the best non-mainstream
records released in the scene, and give you all the info you need to decide
whether or not you want to hear them. We do this because, each day, records slip
under the radar because people may not know the name on the album -but that
doesn't mean they wouldn't love the music inside.

We feel it's time for other music -- non-mainstream, underground, whatever you
want to call it -- to push forward and be heard by more ears around the world.

We hope this report can turn you on to things you may not have found otherwise,
and perhaps cause some people to expand their opinions of what they call
'music.'

The Non-Mainstream Music Report is now a joint venture, compiled by 17 groups,
but it is important we stress that we won't always be able to list all of the
scene's great releases.  Because of this, we ask other dedicated groups to start
their own reports, magazines, etc. And if you're a dedicated group who feels
your vision fits in with ours, please get in touch to join up!

There are hundreds of albums released each day, but so little information
provided! More information distributed means more knowledge, and more knowledge
means smarter, better-educated listeners.

And even though we don't get to say it enough in the nfo's: support the
artists!!

It goes without saying that these are not millionaire pop stars, and they need
to sell records in order to be able to create more of them.

With all that said, please, enjoy the report. :)

*Siteops! The Non-Mainstream Music Report script -- which is available in the
accompanying zip file -- is a quick and easy way to access all of our
suggestions. By creating symlinks to all of the records listed in the report we
hope to save you time and effort while seeking out this great music.

John Peel OBE (1939-2004)

Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65, while on holiday in
Peru.

Peel, whose radio career spanned 40 years, was on a working holiday in the city
of Cuzco with his wife Sheila when he suffered a heart attack.

John Peel was a broadcasting legend who championed the sound of the new and the
avant to the masses.

Basically he embodied everything that we strive to achieve with this report. His
death is a great loss to the world of non mainstream music.

We miss you John. -Muzzik

This one is for you  :)

>>> The_Undertones-Teenage_Kicks-The_Best_Of-RETAIL-2003-uF
Release Date: 2003-08-31

>>> Vibracathedral_Orchestra--Pontiac_Lady-3CD-2004-HiT2000
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: VHF 83

Artist/Album Info:

3 CDR's of live US action from VCO--as usual it's beautiful
ecstatic drone...
First vhf triple ever, celebrating the Fall 2003 tour by the UK
team. The group (Hayden, Davenport, Greenwood, Bradley, and
Flower) tore it up in various shady east coast venues and now
after much collating we're finally able to present the audio
post-mortem. The tracks range from the atmospheric
(Fredericksburg) to the raucous (Philadelphia), covering the
full range of VCO styles. Bower and Godbert pitch in on some
tracks. The CDR's are packed in a plastic case with exciting
live action photos (the one of Bower drinking a beer on stage
while the band plays on pretty much sums up the tour).
http://www.vhfrecords.com
http://www.vibracathedral.co.uk

>>> Paul_Dunmall_Moksha_Big_Band--I_Wish_You_Peace-2004-HiT2000
Release Date: 2004-10-21
Label Info and Catalog #: Cuneiform Records RUNE 203

Artist/Album Info:

I Wish You Peace is a land mark recording in the career of one
of modern jazzs emerging giants: British jazz musician Paul
Dunmall. A world-class reed player, Dunmall is described as "A
powerful player often cited as the cream of British
saxophonists" by the Guiness Who's Who In Jazz, and a
"Superlative saxophone and clarinet player?one of the best reed
players in Europe if not the world." by Venue. He is a member
of the UK improvising ensemble Mujician and leads the Paul
Dunmall Octet among many other credits. To celebrate the
British musicians 50th anniversary in 2003, the BBC enabled
Dunmall to fulfill his longstanding dream to compose and record
for a big band at Gateway Studios. This gave Dunmall an
unprecedented opportunity to assemble and write for the large
ensemble of his dreams, which he named the Moksha Big Band
after a Hindu word meaning ?the supreme liberation of the
soul.? Numbering 14 players plus a conductor, the Moksha Big
Band includes both established and new talent from the UK
free-jazz pool, including Keith Tippett, Tony Levin, Paul
Rogers, Chris Bridges, Howard Cottle, Hilary Jeffrey, Gethin
Liddington, Simon Picard, Paul Rutherford, John Adams, Mark
Sanders, Philip Gibbs, David Priseman and conductor Brian
Irvine. Like the best 'energy jazz', I Wish You Peace is an
intensely visceral yet spiritual work. The music goes from
intensely hot and focused jazz to rowdy 'blowing' from the
large ensemble.
Ensemble:
Paul Dunmall - tenor and soprano saxophones
John Adams - guitar
Chris Bridges - trombone
Howard Cottle - tenor saxophone
Philip Gibbs - guitar and autoharp
Brian Irvine - conductor
Hilary Jeffery - trombone
Tony Levin - drums
Gethin Liddington - trumpet
Simon Picard - renor saxophone
David Priseman - trumpet
Paul Rogers - bass
Paul Rutherford - trombone
Mark Sanders - drums
Keith Tippett - piano

>>> OST--Friday_Night_Lights-Original_Motion_Picture_Soundtrack-2004-HiT2000
Release Date: 2004-10-13
Label Info and Catalog #: Hip-O Records

Artist/Album Info:

A beautiful soundtrack to a well-shot film.  Explosions in the
Sky was contracted to do the soundtrack for this film, and they
have recorded several original tracks as well as re-recorded
some classics with added orchestration and movements.  Enjoy.
http://www.fridaynightlightsmovie.com

>>> Josephine_Foster_and_The_Supposed--All_The_Leaves_Are_Gone-2004-HiT2000
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: locust 62

Artist/Album Info:

Last Spring, you may have gotten a dose of opera school dropout
Josephine Foster's startling mixture of avant arrangements &
acoustic mountain folk as one half of the spare twisted up
Appalachian duo, Born Heller. To many, the effect of her voice
- on record and in concert - has been nothing short of chilling
since the duo's locust debut.
After a 180 degree shift in style only, Josephine Foster & the
Supposed offer up a 12 cut blow out that's exuberant and hard
hitting. On All the Leaves Are Gone, Josephine embraces her
rock and roll heart and intuitively summons up the mojo of
legendary songstress Patti Smith & the defiant beauty of early
period Jefferson Airplane as she rides the crest of a fluid and
angular rhythm section that's as triumphant as the sound of
classic Television and trebly west coast psychedelia from
decades gone by.
http://www.locustmusic.com
http://www.100songsising.com/
"...the album winds stairwells from snake-charmed guitars to
full-on howling hexes. Foster's voice calls fearsome and
unique, from a whole other time and forest." -Sam Sweet, Stop
Smiling
"As half of the duo Born Heller, Josephine Foster stitched
together operatic vocals with the stark, plaintive music of the
Appalachian hills - Dock Boggs going on a date with a less
confrontational Diamanda Galas. This album utilises a
traditional group format but the results are no less
disquieting. This is disturbing, inward-looking stuff,
reminiscent of west coast psych if Fly Agaric had been the drug
of choice. Patti Smith is a very loose starting point but
Foster also appears to be channelling the aforementioned Galas,
K.U.K.L period Bjork and hippy folk visionary Tom Rapp. Opener
Well Heeled Man could well be Shirley Collins picnicking with
the Manson family." - Peter Redmond, Mojo
"Leaves leaps wildly across the spectrum, strewing faint
semblances of punk to the right, psychedelia to the left and
folk somewhere in the middle. Mainly, though, the group works
the trippy '60s psych vibe, like a medieval orchestra meets
Jefferson Airplane." - Laura Barcella, Venus Magazine, Fall
2004
"Josephine Foster is a self-described "opera school dropout"
whose downbeat folk stylings build without effort or
affectation into shrieking, valve-blowing arias. Her new album
with the Supposed, "All the Leaves Are Gone," is explosively
electric. Foster fronts a full, amped-up, and extremely
inventive band, and her voice billows and soars through a 12-
song sequence that was originally conceived as a rock opera. A
neo-quirk-folk-rock opera? Foster -- although she is louder
than any of her contemporaries -- represents the quintessence
of the new folkies. Their wellsprings are in the ancient and
arcane, but they are breaking new ground. Their music can be
recondite, but it admits no limits. There is a word for this,
it fits perfectly, and it was coined by Gerard Manley Hopkins
in a poem about his favorite composer, Purcell: "arch-
especial." -James Parker, Boston Globe
"She's a Grace Slick for the 21st century -- and that's all
grace, no slick, an amazing combination of God-given ability
and formal skill. You can hear Jefferson Airplane in her music,
Quicksilver Messenger Service, Joan Baez. . . . She's also the
one, out of that whole scene, that has embraced the electric
guitar, while at the same time being the most classical of them
all." -Jay Babcock, Arthur

>>> Koch-Schutz-Studer--Life_Tied-2004-HiT2000
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: Intakt 094

Artist/Album Info:

Koch-Schutz-Studer live and pure. Eight expeditions in the land
of "hardcore chambermusic." The recordings for the new CD, LIFE
TIED, come from concerts at the Biennial in Venice, from the
Expo in Murten, the Theatre de Poche Biel--the home city of
Koch and Schutz--as well as from the New York club Tonic.
Carefully chosen, artistically assembled, the CD is a new
listening experience of advanced live music on the threshold of
improvisation, ambient, electronic music, rock and jazz.
Hardcore Chambermusic (Intakt CD 044), the classic CD, so-to-
speak, marked the starting point in 1995 and was, up to LIFE
TIED, the only pure trio album of the Swiss improvisers and
tonal researchers. Recordings followed: Heavy Cairo Traffic
with the Egyptian ensemble "El Nil Troop," and "Fidel," the
trio's foray into Cuba. Roots and Wires with the DJs M. Singe
and I-Sound was the next, logical step. With "Live in
Schiffbau," along with the writer Uetz, Koch-Schutz-Studer
ventured into the realm of the spoken word.
In the last ten years, Koch-Schutz-Studer have traveled around
the world and played at the great jazz festivals and in
numerous clubs. The recordings on LIFE TIED show how artistic
experience has become formative, how it impinges upon the
improvising process, and how all this mixes with the pleasure
of the experiment, of musical adventure.
http://www.intaktrec.ch
http://www.koch-schuetz-studer.ch

>>> Johann_Johannsson-Virthulegu_Forsetar-CD-2004-UKi
Release Date: 2004-10-25
Label Info and Catalog #: Touch TO:64

Artist/Album Info:

This is Johann's second album for Touch, after the
highly acclaimed 'Englabºrn'.  'Virthulegu forsetar'
contains one hour-long piece for 11 brass players,
percussion, electronics, organs and piano. It's
presented as an ordinary stereo CD and as a DVD-Audio
with a high resolution 5.1 surround mix. The piece had
its live debut in Hallgrimskirkja, a large church in
Reykjavik and the city's towering edifice, and was named
"the most memorable musical event of 2003" in Iceland's
leading newspaper. The piece has 'Englabºrn's' quiet,
elegiac beauty, but abandons the brevity of the first
album's exquisite miniatures in favor of an extended
form that reveals a long, slow process. A simple theme
played by the brass section is repeated throughout the
entire piece using different voicings and
instrumentation.

As the piece goes on, the tempo slows down, until it is
extremely slow. Around the middle of the piece, the
tempo starts to speed up again, until it reaches the
original tempo.

Space and the sense of place were very important in the
performance and recording of the piece. Players were
positioned both in front and at the back of the church
and two organs were used, again, one in front and one at
the back. This created a sense of immersion and a sound
that is powerful without ever being "loud". As the piece
is written for a specific location, it made sense to
record it live in this same space and attempt to
're-create' it for the listener with 5.1 surround
technology. This was like creating an audio 'mold' or
'cast' of the inner sonic architecture of the building.
In this way, the music engages in a dialogue with the
space it's performed in and the recording process
becomes as much a documentation of a place as a
documentation of music.

J?hann writes: "During the first live performance of the
piece, the church ceiling was filled with blue helium
balloons which were timed to fall extremely slowly to
the ground during the performance and scatter among the
audience. To our pleasant surprise, the balloons reacted
with the sound, falling with greater frequency as the
volume increased. During the performance the light
slowly changed through the church windows as the sun
went down. The concert was fairly late, ending at around
midnight and it being a bright, cloudless spring
evening, the combination of all these physical and
natural processes made for quite a memorable moment". "I
had a number of things going through my mind during the
writing of the piece, some of them being an obsession
with entropy, Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49",  postal
horns, cybernetics, small birds, heat, space, energy,
"singularities", Nietzsche's Eternal recurrence, Moebius
strips. I'm absolutely not interested in imposing any
one 'meaning' on the piece, but all these things were
flying around somewhere in my head.  A casual listener
might categorize the piece as ambient or meditative, but
I think this is really wrong - for me it's much more
about chaos and tension rather than harmony. I go
through many different emotions listening to the piece,
veering from intense joy to acute sadness. The central
point is perhaps how a very simple thing can change by
going through a very simple process - something about
change and transformation and the inevitability of
chaos."

'Virthulegu forsetar' is performed by the Caput
Ensemble, conducted by Gudni Franzson, with Skuli
Sverrison on bass and electronics, Matthias M.D.
Hemstock on bells, glockenspiel and electronics, Hordur
Bragason and Gudmundur Sigurdsson on organs and Johann
Johannsson on piano and electronics.

>>> State_River_Widening-Cottonhead-VFORM037CD-2004-UKi
Release Date: 2004-10-16
Label Info and Catalog #: Vertical Form VFORM037CD

Artist/Album Info:

Recorded, once again, at London's secretive Keep Calm
studios, Cottonhead is the next step in State River
Widening's steadily evolving voyage that began with
the acoustic guitar and drum vistas of their
eponymous 1999 debut album and which blossomed into
last year's melody-saturated "Early Music". All
who've heard it agree: Cottonhead is SRW's most
potent and accessible album to date. Fans of the
band's previous work will immediately warm to
Cottonead's rich blend of acoustic and electric
guitars, earthy strings, harpsichords, electric
pianos, organs and more - all of it in service of an
unstinting litany of melodic intrigues. Indeed, fans
of anything from Nick Drake to Cluster via Boards Of
Canada, Four Tet and Rachel's will find treasures
aplenty here. Completely free of rock cliche,
over-familiar digital gestures or dreary avant-garde
naval-gazing, whether it be the delicate violin and
guitar traceries of "Touched", "Cottonwood's"
spiraling chordal cascades, "Desertesque's" marimba
shimmers or the cinematic sweep of "Knifegrinder's
Song" (a track partly recorded in a street in
Valencia, Spain), this is an album which simply
refutes easy pigeonholing. And just to add to the
spectacle, slivers of vocals make themselves heard
more keenly than on any previous SRW album. That?s
reclusive `60s folk legend Anne Briggs lending her
dreamy, elegiac tones to the hypnotic Lowlands.
Oh,and if all of this didn't quite manage to give you
a clear idea of the band's inspired soundscaping, you
might like to know that you'll most likely have
already been made familiar with SRW's other-worldly
sound. "Desertesque" has been the soundtrack to those
"what to do in an emergency" adverts the government
has been feeding us over the last couple of months.
so there you have it, more proof that this is music
to take existential comfort from - and how many
records could you say that about

>>> Stafraenn_Hakon_and_Emery_Reel-AWKWARD18-Vinyl-2004-UKi
Release Date: 2004-10-20
Label Info and Catalog #:  Awkward Silence Recordings AWKWARD18

Artist/Album Info:

Bit Of A Resonant-Related Release Here From Awkward
Silence. A Typically Gorgeous, Perhaps Slightly More
Low Key Track From The Icelandic Wonder That Is
Stafraenn Hakon (Fresh From Their Instore Appearance
2 Wks Ago), Backed By The Equally Mournful Post Rock
Stylings Of The Emery Reel. Actually, I'd Say Emery
Reel (Who Have An Album Due On Resonant - The Hakon's
Usual Label - Very Soon) Have The Stronger Track - It
Certain Soundtracked This Slightly Bleak, Autumnal
Saturday Early-Evening Immaculately! Two Rather Fine
Exclusive Tracks - Get To It.

s-2000-BUTT
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: Allelopathy 2

Artist/Album Info:

Limited edition historic live recording from a Japanese gallery almost 20 years
ago featuring two long trios - Frith-Sabu-Onnyk and Zorn-Sabu-Onnyk plus two 8
minute solos from Frith and Zorn. Sabu plays drums and Onnyk plays saxes, guitar
& keyboard. Recorded on a cheap cassette deck obviously

>>> Jack_Or_Jive-Absurdity-2004-AMOK
Release Date: 2004-10-25
Label Info and Catalog #: Prikosnovenie PRIK084

Artist/Album Info:

Absurdity is a reaction to the actual worldwide context (especially
the crazy Bush war in Iraq). The japanese duet is back with an album
full of distress and sadness.The voice of Chako is full of
bitterness as if all suffering souls were blowing in her voice. This
album is a long going down in the inner self of Chako blending
sadness and anger, mixing light melodies and heavy loops of
saturated percussions (in track 7).The Cd is haunted by Chako's
voice and melancolic piano with ethereal sounds. A dark Beautiful
symphony and definitly the saddest JOJ album with Kenka.

>>> Red_Sparowes-At_the_Soundless_Dawn-Advance-2005-PMS
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info and Catalog #: Neurot Recordings

Artist/Album Info:

A band featuring several members of Isis, as well as other extremley talented
bands.
This is post rock the way it should be, beautifully crafted from every single
aspect.

>>> Kaki_King-Legs_To_Make_Us_Longer-2004-KSi
Release Date: 2004-09-29
Label Info and Catalog #: Sony ??? :)

Artist/Album Info:

Legs to Make Us Longer is extraordinary guitarist Kaki King's second album, and
her first for Epic's Red Ink imprint. As such, it reflects its major-label
status in higher production values from cover art to exquisite sound. Produced
by guitarist David Torn, the album also marks a step from King's solo guitar
debut. The stunning yet soulful technique King delivered on Everybody Loves You
is everywhere present, from her thumb-over-the-top basslines and tapping
harmonics to extended, two-handed melodies. But some other things are here as
well -- an upright bass here, a drum kit here, strings in various places --
adding more dimension and texture to King's trademark songwriting for solo
guitar. The employment of drums and upright bass on "Ingots" is startling at
first, but hardly distracting, as Torn's nuance and tasteful production are
never intrusive. The tune is one of the most lyrical in her repertoire and
literally sings with its midrange harmonics and colorful chording. On "Doing the
Wrong Thing," skittering snares shimmer across the backdrop before engaging in a
full-on counterpoint with King in a speedy yet wispy dance through motion and
space, before cellist Erik Friedlander and violinist/violist Joyce Hammann slip
into the mix at four minutes to take the tune out into the ether. King plays an
electric guitar on "Can the Gwot Save Us?," in a loping, pastoral country manner
that for all its slowness and elegance is more mysterious than anything else
here. The album's final track, "My Insect Life," also showcases her in the
company of bass, cello, and drums, and has her singing in a small, twee voice
that is all but covered by her overdubbed acoustic and electric guitar playing.
But it is very effective as an instrument, faltering its way through the
skeletal tune and sending the disc off in a near whisper to excellent effect
after a coda following an extended space. Ultimately, this is a step forward.
While Legs to Make Us Longer doesn't contain the raw, dynamic immediacy of
Everybody Loves You, it substitutes a wealth of diversity, warmth, and textural
dimension to more than compensate. King is a major talent, an iconoclastic
figure who is this era's only new voice on the acoustic guitar, even as she
explores other compelling sonic and musical avenues.

>>> Girija_Devi-Diva_(Live_at_the_Saptak_Festival)-2CD-IN-2003-JUST
Release Date: 2004-10-19
Label Info and Catalog #: SWMCD004

Artist/Album Info:

Varied and distinctive forms of vocal music have emerged over the centuries to
suit different tastes and environments, reflecting their sources of patronage as
well as a fruitful and intimate link to folk art forms.

This CD presents one of the most accomplished contemporary exponents of the
thumri style of vocal music, Girija Devi. Hailing from the city of Benares, the
home of spiritual music forms, Girija Devi now teaches at the Music Research
Academy. As a performer, she has won international acclaim for her contributions
to the development of classical music culture, awarded the Padma Bhushan, the
highest Indian government award for musical excellence.

Girija Devi is renowned for her ability to interpret with her voice the spectrum
of shades and colours of emotions inherent in the poetry which she sings. She is
one of the few living artists with an equally versatile command of all the major
styles of vocal music such as khyal, thumri, tappa, dadra, hori, chaiti, bhajan
and kajri. In her singing, she threads together different strands of the vocal
forms, highlighting the specialities of each form and emphasising their
devotional aspects.

The thumri style is characteristically sung in religious celebration. Its
emphasis on lyrics and playful improvisations can be interpreted as
crystallising the emotions of devotion, mystical love and the pain of
separation. Thumri is often scorned by purists of Hindustani classical music due
to its semi-classical mode and choice of light ragas, which do not necessarily
adhere to the rigid rules of melodic development. However, it was always hugely
popular among music aficionados. This gentle, melodious form of vocal music has
come a long way from its traditional renditions in the courts and salons of
kings and courtesans in Northern India.

Until the end of the 19th Century, Lucknow was the only recognised gharana or
school of thumri. Later forms of thumri were similarly named after their place
of origin, such as those created in Farukhabad, Itawa, Bareilly, Mathura,
Rampur, towns and kingdoms west of Lucknow.

It was in Delhi, where hundreds of musicians and dancers were patronised in its
royal courts, which the styles of thumri and khyal rapidly developed. Even as
Delhi's fortunes began declining after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal
emperors succeeding him continued to show interest in the lighter forms of music
like khyal and thumri, preferring these to the more sober and meditative Dhrupad
form. With the collapse of aristocratic patronage and the salon culture of
performance giving way to modern concert halls, not only the upholders of the
genre but also its basic goals and techniques underwent changes. The aesthetics
of the vocal style gradually moved from their mild and seductive allusions to a
more abstract and structurally defined art form. Nevertheless, these historical
nuances are still tangible in modern renditions of the thumri.

CD 1 contains a rendition of Raag Jog, a relatively recent raag that has grown
in popularity in the past fifty years. The khyal performance is set to Vilambit
Ektaal, a slow rhythmic cycle set to twelve beats, with tabla accompaniment by
the eminent tabla player, Sukhvinder Singh. The vocal nuances are precisely
echoed on the accompanying sarangi, played by Santosh Misra. The sarangi is a
traditional accompaniment for light classical vocal music. The interplay of
melodic patterns between the singer and the sarangi player form the basis for a
series of improvisations.

The second composition sung by Girija Devi is set to tintaal, a medium tempo
cycle of sixteen beats. The final piece on CD 1 is a light composition based on
Des Raag, traditionally sung in the rainy season, welcoming fresh showers after
the hot summer.

CD2 begins with a light composition called kajri based on Raag Maru Bihag, with
shades of Desh Raag. The second item is a traditional composition sung at the
time of Holi, the festival of colours that ushers in the spring season, based on
Raag Pilu.

The final composition on the CD is a thumri in Raag Bhairavi, which is
traditionally sung at the end of a performance, based on the theme of separation
and departure.

>>> Low-The_Great_Destroyer-(Advance)-2005-KzT
Release Date : 2004-10-31
Label Info and Catalog # : Sub Pop

Artist/Album Info:

Formed in 1993, Low is a trio from Duluth, Minnesota comprised of
guitarist/vocalist Alan Sparhawk, percussionist/vocalist Mimi Parker and bassist
Zak Sally. Throughout Low's history, the band has accumulated acclaim from
critics ("Low build big magic from so little" - Rolling Stone) and musicians
(Radiohead hand-picked Low to open a string of dates in 2003). Initially
garnering attention as leaders of the '90s slowcore movement, Low went on to
develop a sonic repertoire that incorporated pop, R&B and dissonant rock n'
roll. With this kind of storied history, most people thought they had Low
pegged. But then they turned in their Sub Pop debut, The Great Destroyer. The
band's seventh full-length album, The Great Destroyer is fascinating in that it
blends the band's austere melodies ("On the Edge Of," "Silver Rider") with an
aggressive guitar onslaught ("Monkey," "Everybody's Song") and even melds Low's
varied styles together into a single song ("When I Go Deaf"). Co-produced by Low
and David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev), The Great Destroyer is a welcome
surprise and, in the end, a rock n' roll revelation.

www.chairkickers.com

>>> Piana-Snow_Bird-CD-HAP001-2004-BPM
Release Date : 2004-10-15
Label Info and Catalog # : Happy HAP001

Artist/Album Info:

Japanese pop, fragile melodies, Cocteau Twins:esque beauty, laptopisms and
Satie-like piano chords

Happy is Taylor Deupree's imprint devoted to the exploration of unconventional
japanese pop music. This is Happy's first record, the beautiful "Snow Bird", an
album by Naoko Sasaki aka PIANA, with songs that have a touch of introspection,
melancholy, and play out as a girl’s monologue. The sounds are gentle, jarring
and, at times, funny. "Snow Bird" offers a unique blend of modern electronic
production techniques and pop sensibilities. Naoko’s vocals float dreamlike over
cropped percussion, and melodic, digital micro-structures - her voice perfectly
suited for telling her subtle stories, like she does on her guest appearance on
MOKIRA's "FFT Pop". Yuichiro Iwashita (Minamo) provides guitar and Yasuya plays
clarinet on track 11. This acoustic instrumentation is a beautiful contrast to
Naoko’s electronic compositions.

Born in 1976, Piana is Naoko Sasaki, living in Morioka, Japan. Her musical
activity began with Card
Skepper, a collaboration with guitarist Yuichiro Iwashita who is now one half of
the electro acoustic unit Minamo (cubic music, quakebasket, apestaartje, 360
records). Through participation on albums and live performances with World’s End
Girlfriend, she has been fascinating many people with her delicate, cute and
unique voice and musical talent as Piana.

>>> Efterklang-Tripper-2004-RNS
Release Date : 2004-10-12
Label Info and Catalog # : Leaf BAY40CD

Artist/Album Info:

Copenhagen ten-piece Efterklang reach far beyond the expectations of a debut
with this, their ambitious first album for The Leaf Label. Tripper whispers like
thunder, combining transcendent melodies with glacial strings and piano, febrile
electronics, hushed male-female vocals and a Greenlandic choir. A year in the
making, the album is intense and dramatic; intimate yet coolly detached.

Efterklang means ‘reverberation’ (literally, ‘after noise’), but is loosely
translated as ‘remembrance’, evoking the sense of yearning at the heart of their
work. Tripper breathes with sensations and subtleties and emotional depth,
bringing to mind the music of Múm, Rachel’s and My Bloody Valentine.

Formed in early 2001 by Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen and Rasmus Stolberg, the
core members soon augmented their line-up with Rune Mølgaard Fonseca’s piano and
Thomas Kirirath Husmer’s percussion work. This line-up recorded their debut EP
(and sole release to date), Springer, on their own Rumraket label. To accompany
the music, Efterklang recruited Karim Ghahwagi, an accomplished film-maker whose
video collages are integral to the band’s breathtaking live show (Ghahwagi’s
visual accompaniment for ‘Prey And Predator’ can be viewed at
www.efterklang.net). The current membership is completed by Kristina Schjelde
(trumpet), together with Hildur Ársælsdóttir and Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir from
Iceland’s Amina string quartet, known for their extraordinary work with Sigur
Rós.

>>> Ultradyne-Cities_in_Retro-(BL_XXX_1)-Vinyl-2004-DPS
Release Date : 2004-10-20
Label Info and Catalog # : Black Label BL_XXX_1

Artist/Album Info:

A lost Ultradyne release previously only available as promo copy (Craft rec. 26
from ’97) of the now defunct Sabotage/Craft label. Originally called 'Cities in
ruin & beings laid to waste', now re-released as 'Cities in Retro'.

U know Ultradyne, its dark serious detroit techno/electro business, this
conjures up images of the motor city at its darkest.

>>> Fax_Arcana-Unorthodox_Practices_For_Modern_Professionals-(EP)-2004-RNS
Release Date :  2004-10-20
Label Info and Catalog # : Magic Bullet Record Co. MBL071-2

Artist/Album Info:

Well im no 'hardcore' expert but this i like, sounding to me like a cross
between Mr 'Give it away now' vocalist from the Chilli Peppers, yea i dont know
his name, and Queens of the Stone Age stuff. Again a nice dark sound and an
artist im certainly going to be keeping an eye on.

Somewhere around the turn of the century, Indiana-native Travis Chance turned
hardcore music on its head through his well-publicized antics and musical
entropy in the highly influential band Usurp Synapse. Shortly after, 3 years
went by without having our feathers ruffled by this self-described "calculated
fucker." Then, in 2004, Travis re-emerged as frontman for a new outfit: Fax
Arcana. And this time around, the music itself is quite simply scandal-proof.
Much to the chagrin of targets and critics alike, the boy can sing (quite well,
in fact). Further, his band brings an infectious blend of straight-up rock
flawlessly. The end result is a very dark and theatrical brand of rock n' roll
that won't leave your head. This EP finds Fax Arcana hitting their stride, an
enormous tease that will have you salivating for the follow-up full length, also
on Magic Bullet in 2005.

>>> Ammoncontact--One_In_An_Infinity_Of_Ways-(Plug_Research)-2004-AES
Release Date :  2004-10-22
Label Info and Catalog # : Plug Research PLG56-1

Artist/Album Info:

Ahh here we go, any new release on Plug Research is worth checking out, and here
we have the new one from Carlos Nino and Fabian Ammon aka Ammoncontact.  They
continue to mix left-field Hip-Hop/Electronica/Deep Jazz to kick back to at
home, or when rocking it ipod style on your travels.

AES chose to release it as mp3/cue which i think is wise as it does flow. Also i
really like the cd cover for this album, so erm yea!

>>> Michael_J_Schumacher-Stories-CD-2004-UKi
Release Date :  2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog # : QUECKSILBER 8

Artist/Album Info:

Tasty bubbly ambience and noise to tickle the ears! Recommended headphone album

The new album by composer, performer and installation artist Michael J.
Schumacher from New York City after the critically acclaimed Room Pieces, on the
XI label, which was rated best of 2003 for 'modern composition' by The Wire
magazine. Feat. guest musicians Tim Barnes, Charles Curtis, Donald Miller, Peter
Zummo, George Bishop and many more. Stories refers to the idea of layering, the
process of building a structure by stacking things on top of each other. This
procedure is particularly evident in 'Room Pieces New York', in which as many as
23 parts play simultaneously. In general, Schumacher's interest is to develop a
contemporary form of counterpoint, where each voice maintains its integrity
while contributing to a total sound. Listeners are invited to create their own
melodies by letting their ears follow the sounds moment by moment, allowing
spontaneous pathways linking the various voices to emerge effortlessly.

>>> Johann_Johannsson-Virthulegu_Forsetar-CD-2004-UKi
Release Date :  2004-10-25
Label Info and Catalog # : Touch TO:64

Artist/Album Info:

Heres a lengthy review on this lovely piece of work from Johann Johannsson, Ive
included it all as its all worth reading!

This is Johann's second album for Touch, after the highly acclaimed 'Englabörn'.
'Virthulegu forsetar' contains one hour-long piece for 11 brass players,
percussion, electronics, organs and piano. It's presented as an ordinary stereo
CD and as a DVD-Audio with a high resolution 5.1 surround mix. The piece had its
live debut in Hallgrimskirkja, a large church in Reykjavik and the city's
towering edifice, and was named "the most memorable musical event of 2003" in
Iceland's leading newspaper. The piece has 'Englabörn's' quiet, elegiac beauty,
but abandons the brevity of the first album's exquisite miniatures in favor of
an extended form that reveals a long, slow process. A simple theme played by the
brass section is repeated throughout the entire piece using different voicings
and instrumentation.

As the piece goes on, the tempo slows down, until it is extremely slow. Around
the middle of the piece, the tempo starts to speed up again, until it reaches
the original tempo.

Space and the sense of place were very important in the performance and
recording of the piece. Players were positioned both in front and at the back of
the church and two organs were used, again, one in front and one at the back.
This created a sense of immersion and a sound that is powerful without ever
being "loud". As the piece is written for a specific location, it made sense to
record it live in this same space and attempt to 're-create' it for the listener
with 5.1 surround technology. This was like creating an audio 'mold' or 'cast'
of the inner sonic architecture of the building. In this way, the music engages
in a dialogue with the space it's performed in and the recording process becomes
as much a documentation of a place as a documentation of music.

Jóhann writes: "During the first live performance of the piece, the church
ceiling was filled with blue helium balloons which were timed to fall extremely
slowly to the ground during the performance and scatter among the audience. To
our pleasant surprise, the balloons reacted with the sound, falling with greater
frequency as the volume increased. During the performance the light slowly
changed through the church windows as the sun went down. The concert was fairly
late, ending at around midnight and it being a bright, cloudless spring evening,
the combination of all these physical and natural processes made for quite a
memorable moment". "I had a number of things going through my mind during the
writing of the piece, some of them being an obsession with entropy, Pynchon's
"The Crying of Lot 49",  postal horns, cybernetics, small birds, heat, space,
energy, "singularities", Nietzsche's Eternal recurrence, Moebius strips. I'm
absolutely not interested in imposing any one 'meaning' on the piece, but all
these things were flying around somewhere in my head.  A casual listener might
categorize the piece as ambient or meditative, but I think this is really wrong
- for me it's much more about chaos and tension rather than harmony. I go
through many different emotions listening to the piece, veering from intense joy
to acute sadness. The central point is perhaps how a very simple thing can
change by going through a very simple process - something about change and
transformation and the inevitability of chaos."

'Virthulegu forsetar' is performed by the Caput Ensemble, conducted by Gudni
Franzson, with Skuli Sverrison on bass and electronics, Matthias M.D. Hemstock
on bells, glockenspiel and electronics, Hordur Bragason and Gudmundur Sigurdsson
on organs and Johann Johannsson on piano and electronics.

Its also worth tracking down our INT version
'Johann_Johannsson-Virthulegu_Forsetar-5.1_AC3-DVDA-2004-UKi_INT' :)

>>> Kode_9_and_Daddi_Gee-Spit_(Vox_and_Dub)-HYP002-Vinyl-2004-UKi
Release Date :  2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog # : Hyperdub HYP002

Artist/Album Info:

Some tasty sci-fi dub action here, well worth a listen, as I mention in the nfo,
i prefer the dub, something about the vocal that puts me off a little!
This is the second release on Kode 9's Hyperdub imprint.  Following on from the
paranoid anthem of 'Sign of the dub', Kode 9 & Daddi G join forces again to
create more futuristic dub.  'Spit' comes with fine intricate broken step beats
backed up by smooth sub bass and the deep warm skunked out vocals of Daddi G.
One for all the dub heads.

>>> The_Sharks-Music_Answer-(Soul_Jazz_Records)-SJR9712-Vinyl-2004-UKi
Release Date :  2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog # : Soul Jazz Records SJR9712

Artist/Album Info:

I love this 12"!!! ok, just needed to get that out of my system, choice reissue
here from the sharks,studio one dub infused with 70s/80s american influenced
funk, sounding well ahead of its time, fresh, funky, what can i say, it simply
rocks, the more i delve into the Studio One and Trojan history the more amazing
gems I find.

Oh and boomkat dig it too:

Once in a very long while, amongst all the reissues which week in, week out fill
up release sheets, emerges a record salvaged from history, which instantly
sounds more futuristic than just about anything new coming out. This is one of
those, once in a decade moments - when the Studio one funk compilation landed a
couple weeks back, the office was enthralled by a dose of organ and drum machine
infused, bassline dub-funk by The Sharks. This is really amazing stuff, laced
with a late seventies early eighties electronic influence, a past and future
classic which has seemingly slipped through every collectors' net, until now. Of
course, we're delighted that soul jazz have done the right thing - pressing up
this fiercely limited, super loud 12" version. Imagine a dub version of the
unmatchable atmosphere created in Sly's Riot Goin on prime period, and we're
still nowhere near. Only the Jb's inflected 'Greedy G' comes close, and as any
self-respecting breaks' digga will tell you, its desperately hard, in fact nigh
impossible to find that on twelve. So be fully aware, this is no casual rare
groove, this is the real deal - we'd even dare to say buy two, as we're pretty
confident you're gonna wear this bad bwoy out. Highest grade recommendation -
get in early!

>>> Combichrist-Sex_Drogen_und_Industrial-CDM-2004-AMOK
2004-10-21
From the synaptic electrons of Icon of Coil's mastermind, Andy
LaPlegua, the mighty CombiChrist return with a totally new dimension
to their allready pummelling sound. Those allready familiar with
stunning debut release 'The Joy Of Guns' know that CombiChrist are
synonymous for electronic industrial sounds in their most brutal
incarnation. 'Sex, Drogen Und Industrial' continues on this
unstoppable path with incessant opener Blut Royale a classic club
anthem for the masses - all aggressive electro, energetic and
unstoppable. Track two Tractor tramples the senses with energetic
waves of techno laced EBM, while provocative samples and aggressive
sounds remain an integral part of the Combichrist universe. 'Sex,
Drogen und Industrial' is a musical inferno that will shake and rock
any club dancefloor and delivers groundbreaking electro of the
highest quality. Additionally this maxi includes remixes from Soman,
plus a live track recorded at the 2004 Infest festival!
http://www.combichrist.com/

>>> Neon_Lights-Not_Over_Yet-Promo_Vinyl-2004-USF
2004-10-05
The Neon Lights series continues, here we have a cover over "not over
yet" by Grace given some serious hard trance remix action by d 10,
aka mercurial virus.

>>> Within_Temptation_-_Stand_My_Ground-Ltd.Ed.-CDM-2004-MOD
2004-10-22
nice release while waiting for the new album "Silent Force" within a few
days
http://www.within-temptation.com/

>>> Monumentum_-_Metastasi-2004-BCC
2004-10-23
Cursed Land, the label that recently released the
popular Narr! Debut album, announces the
release of a Monumentum full-length CD featuring
a collection of rare and unreleased songs from the
Italian pioneers of obscure music. Metastasi will
feature cover songs of Dead Can Dance, Ain
Soph, Visage, and Death SS and a remake of
The Godfather movie soundtrack main theme.
This selection of songs is covering rather different
eras of Monumentum, from 1996 to 2004, and the
band is appearing with different line-ups, including
some special guests. This collection also features
a few unreleased songs and completely reworked
remakes from their first two albums on
Misanthrophy and Tatra. On Cursed Land.
http://www.cursedland.com/

MOViES

+++ Donnie.Darko.The.Directors.Cut.2004.PAL.DVDr-PTi
2004-10-19
http://imdb.com/title/tt0246578/
a few extras for this cult movie

+++ Casshern.2004.NTSC.DVDR-FAG
2004-10-23
http://imdb.com/title/tt0405821/
One of recent films that was produced almost entirely
on a "digital backlot" (i.e. shot with the actors in front of blue/
green-screens with all backgrounds added in post-production)
and unlike crappy Sky Captain, there's an interesting story, action
scenes, soundtrack and characters!!  stunning!

+++ House.Of.Flying.Daggers.2004.Subbed.NTSC.DVDR.Proper-HkM
2004-10-21
http://imdb.com/title/tt0385004/
the divx from TS source was reviewed 2 weeks ago.
now comes the real DVD edition. stunning movie too :)

>>> African_Head_Charge-Environmental_Studies-LP-1982-YARD

Release Date: 2004-10-21

Label: EFA
Cat#: EFA 18619-2

Style: Experimental Dub

Related URLs:
http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/725
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3190
http://rootsdub.free.fr/africanheadcharge-disco.htm

Album/Artist info:

Amazing dub experiments, really moody and weird at the same time and really
ahead of its era. Produced by Adrian Sherwood, who sadly doesn't do interesting
music like this since over ten years...

"Led by percussionist Bonjo I, African Head Charge formed in the early '80s and
has released seven albums with a shifting lineup that also includes Prisoner,
Crocodile, Junior Moses and Sunny Akpan. The band works in the same dub
psychedelia territory as Adrian Sherwood's work, which isn't surprising since
most of African Head Charge's albums have been released through -- and produced
by -- Sherwood and his On-U Sound label.
After debut album A Hole in the Ground was released in 1981, African Head Charge
released Environmental Studies, Drastic Season and Off the Beaten Track (these
first four albums have been released as two-fers on two volumes of On-U Sound's
Great Vintage series). African Head Charge soon became On-U Sound's most popular
act, and though they had not played a live date during the first four albums,
the group hit the road and began to do live shows. After a break of several
years, they returned in 1991 with Songs of Praise and then released In Pursuit
of Shashamane Land in 1994 and Akwaaba a year later."
- www.allmusic.com

>>> Earthquake-Armagideon_Dub-CD-1998-YARD
>>> Earthquake-Jah_Invincible_Dub-CD-1999-YARD

Release Date: 2004-10-21

Label: Earthquake
Cat#: EQCD002 / EQCD003

Style: Digital UK Dub

Related URLs:

Album/Artist info:

This is the true soundtrack for the Final Judgement. I've never heard UK Dub
building up such a specific athmosphere before. Heavy, distorted, techno-esque
stepping that wants you to put up your fist and march wherever the sound leads
you. Dense, terrifying percussion combined with organs, distorted flutes and
whatnot. The basslines make even Iration Steppers and Jah Warrior look like
recorder flute playing children. Truly amazing shit!

>>> Dennis_Brown_And_Nigger_Kojak-Aint_That_Loving_You_(12_Inch)-VLS-1978-YARD

Release Date: 2004-10-26

Label: Joe Gibbs
Cat#: DSR 7205

Style: Roots Rockers

Related URLs:
http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/89
http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/266

Album/Artist info:

Rocking twelve inch. The a-side track actually combines two tracks one after one
- first you have the great late Dennis Brown singing about high feelings of
love, and then Nigger Kojak and Liza come up with a sexed up explicit version of
a nursery rhyme... Nice combination! Produced by the legendary Joe Gibbs, this
is surely something you shouldn't miss.

>>> Jah_Free-The_Wicked_Cant_Run_(7_Inch_JF001)-VLS-199x-YARD

Release Date: 2004-10-26

Label: Jah Free Music
Cat#: JF001

Style: Instrumental UK Dub

Related URLs:
http://www.jahfree.co.uk

Album/Artist info:

One of Jah Free's first releases ever. Enjoy this rare UK Dub gem!

"Jah Free has been involved in reggae music for some 15 years. Storming sound
system successes include, 7" 'Wicked Can't Run', 12" 'Lightning Clap', 10"
'Rydim' and the 12" 'Vampire'. These, plus distinctive and powerful live
sessions brought Jah Free to the attention of Universal Egg where he has been
nurtured ever since.
Jah Free's CD 'Breaking Out' and the single 'Stringed Instruments' along with
compilation appearances on 'All the World in an Egg' and 'Lead with the Bass II'
have made him a firm favourite with Universal Egg fans and increased his stature
on the UK and European Dub scenes. His other musical credits include mixing The
Revolutionary Dub Warriors live and collaborations with founder of Jah Works and
Roots inspiration Rej Forte.
Jah Free has played live alongside Mad Professor, Iration Steppas, Conscious
Sounds and Zion Train. A strong bond with fellow Egg artist Vibronics resulted
in the 'Outernational Dub Convention Vol.1' LP and scores of live Dub
Conferences across Europe during the late 90's."
- http://www.wobblyweb.com/ue/3165.html

>>> VA-Zenah_Music_Meets_Black_Roots_Production-2CD-2004-vod

Release Date: 2004-10-27

Label: Discograph
Cat#: DGCD 81191

Style: Rockers meets Roots meets Steppers

Related URLs:
http://mapage.noos.fr/zenahmusic/

Album/Artist info:

"Beginning 2004, Sugar Minott stayed in France to work with ZENAH crew before
they tour Europe (LEAVE OUT A BABYLON TOUR Feb/March 2004) to spread their music
to the people. At that point, ZENAH MUSIC and SUGAR MINOTT decided to produce a
double CD that compiles various Black Roots Productions from the 70’s alongside
brand new ZENAH Productions tracks recorded in Jamaica on the "No War Riddim".
The First CD of this collector set offers 10 unreleased hits from SUGAR MINOTT’s
Black Roots Production catalog. These tunes are a great testimony of the crucial
times of reggae Music when legendary musicians were making reggae history. You
therefore find on these tracks musicians such as Sly Dunbar, Leroy "Horsemouth"
Wallace, Benbow, Robbie Shakespeare, Earl "chinna" Smith, Jackie Mittoo, Dean
Fraser, Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Skully, Bongo Herman, Count Ossie... The
CD compiles positive and highly inspired songs by singers and bands that worked
with SUGAR MINOTT for BLACK ROOTS PRODUCTION: DON ANGELO, THE GAYLADS, THE
AFRICAN BROTHERS, FRANKY PAUL, REGGAE GEORGE, LENKY ROY... Furthermore, ZENAH
MUSIC the young militant label gives a dynamic dimension to the project by
gathering some of Jamaica’s actual finest artists along with SUGAR MINOTT to
demonstrate against the worsening international conflict situation. As a result,
the second CD is a selection of heavy anti war tunes performed by YAMI BOLO,
LUCIANO, DETERMINE, RANKING JOE, ROD TAYLOR and many more. This double CD is a
complete Reggae opus that gives a fine image of Reggae Music from the
early 1970’s to the 21th century."
- http://www.soulseduction.com/common/item_detail.php?ItemID=141112

>>> Mad_Professor_and_Jah_Shaka-New_Decade_of_Dub-Retail_CD-1996-RAS

Release Date: 2004-10-29

Label: Ariwa
Cat#: ARICD 116

Style: Instrumental UK Dub

Related URLs:
http://www.ariwa.com

Album/Artist info:

"Two Giants clash: Jah Shaka meets the Mad Professor in a new decade of Dub. The
decade has past, the music remains. What happens when two GIANTS in Dub meet?
You'll get a collection of some rough and tough stuff as I would say! This is a
CD that should be in every serious Dub collector's home, because it contains
some of the hardest steppers riddims from the 1990's.
It doesn't happen so many times, that after I've finished playing an album, I
rewind and play it again. This is one of those very few exceptions. The drum and
the bass sound like thunder and lightning, and thunder and lightning it is: many
songs come with samples from Louis Farrakhan from the Nation Of Islam, dubbed in
and out in waterfalls of echo.
The music is hard! Most of the 11 tracks are steppers, in the traditional UK
Steppers style: super tight, and with a low, hard and monotone bassline to guide
you through the song. The mixes contain many atmospherical changes, vaguely
reminding me of the Conscious Sounds studio's. Beautiful percussion plays.
Guitar shots that cut like a razor.
I've read a review from this album saying it's kind of mediocre, but I
absolutely disagree and play this one every time. And everytime I play it, the
music screams to be played louder and louder, until the house start shaking and
the windows are breaking."
- www.amazon.com

>>> Philus-Ph_EP-(Sahko_005)-Limited_Edition_Vinyl-1993-DPS
Release Date   : 2004-10-24
Label/Catalog #: Sähkö
Info           : http://www.sahkorecordings.com/sahko-005.php

Sähkö became best known for its scarce, ultra-minimalist sound. The first
releases by Mika Vainio had almost as much silence on them as actual music; and
listening to them on a quiet volume, one could almost imagine the stylus of
record player had just stuck in the groove. It's quite hard to pinpoint any
kindred spirits to Sähkö's music; maybe Canada's Richie Hawtin (of Plastikman
fame) or Germany's Moritz (Maurizio/Basic Channel) Von Oswald at their most
minimalist mood could come close, but even then, there is hardly any resemblance
to the world of your ordinary dance techno in these tracks; maybe one should go
as far as to the Zen-like philosophy of American avantgarde composer John Cage
to find any possible similarities to Sähkö's output.
(taken from www.sci.fi/~phinnweb)

- its awesome, dont miss it if you like minimal techno!

>>> Vladimir_Horowitz-Horowitz_Plays_Chopin_Vol.1-1990-SiBV
Release Date   : 2004-10-29
Label/Catalog #: RCA Victor 078635775228
Info           : http://www.bmgclassics.com/albums/product.jsp?id=07863577522

Amazon.com
Best things first. Vladimir Horowitz' 1945 recording of the Andante Spianato and
Grande Polonaise scintillates with pinpoint fingerwork and galvanizing energy.
The remainder of the disc is culled from 1979-82 concerts. This was a mannered
period for the pianist. His individuality often lapses into caricature and
contrivance. Yet Horowitz could still spin magic cantabiles, evoking the spirits
of his beloved bel canto singers, as in the A Flat Waltz or the spacious C Sharp
Minor Etude from Op. 25. The larger-scaled works, however, are better served
elsewhere in his discography. --Dan Davis

But you know, even a mediocre Horowitz is usually better than first-rate anyone
else. :)

>>> Joris_Voorn-Future_History-(Sino_10)-CD-2004-MTC
Releasedate: 10-17-2004
Label/Catno: Sino Hongkong, SINO 10
Info: http://jorisvoorn.com

Following the huge success of Joris Voorn's "Lost Memories" 12" series and the
storming "Incident" track which was featured in Mixmag's Big Tunes and No.1
Techno Single this June.

The Dutch prodigy is set to return to the limelight with the release of his
first album "Future History" on Technasia's offshoot label, Sino.
Joris is a relatively new producer and DJ born and raised in Rotterdam, the
Netherlands.

In his early days he played the violin and later on changed to guitar, but when
he began to hear artists like Orbital, The Orb and Leftfield, his focus turned
towards electronic music.

His first release "Muted Trax pt 1" on Dutch label Keynote was well received and
picked up on by the likes of Laurent Garnier and Carl Craig.

He followed this success with his first release on Sino last December, "Lost
Memories Pt.1" which caused a stir amongst the dance community and made Joris a
recognised name.

If "Lost Memories Pt 1" suggested Joris was a true talent, then Pt 2 in the
series confirmed it.

The piano filled "Incident" charted in almost every dance magazine of worth,
made No. 1 in Mixmag's Techno singles, was playlisted by John Peel and was
championed by none other than Carl Cox.

Whilst the two 12"s that have preceded "Future History" do feature in part on
the album, do not fear.

This is not just another compilation of tunes built for the dance floor and then
stuck onto CD in the hope of making some extra cash.

This is an album in the true sense of the word.

"Future History" demonstrates Joris' talent as a musician and album crafter,
along side his already proven skills as a techno producer.

Trying to name standout tracks is not only made difficult by the sheer number of
them, but is also missing the point.
Joris Voorn has made an album that draws on over three years work and seamlessly
blends techno, breaks and electro into a 77minute soundscape that represents his
coming of age.

This young Dutchman has everything it takes to become huge and "Future History"
could well be the album that takes him there.
Maybe you were one of the luckiest guys who had been in 16th October at Fuse.
Joris Voorn blew up the party ! I hope to see him back at Fuse.
Before going to Fuse, he had been in Studio Brussel and he mixed an hour.

Released related:

Joris_Voorn-Future_History_(Incl_Dark_Science_Dub_Of_It_Aint_Mine)-Limited_Editi
on_3x12_Vinyl-2004-BF
Joris_Voorn_-_Lost_Memories_Part_2_(SINO10)-Promo_VLS-2004-TR
Joris_Voorn_-_Lost_Memories_Part_1-(Sino09)-Vinyl-2003-EMP
Joris_Voorn-Switch_(Studio_Brussel)_Live_16-10-2004-1REAL

>>> Dream_Theater-Live_At_Budokan_(Retail)-3CD-2004-MUSiQ
Release Date: 2004-10-02
Label Info: Rhino Records

Release Info:

Counting the EP Live at the Marquee, half of A Change of Seasons, two discs of
Once In a LIVEtime, and three discs of Live  Scenes from New York, Dream Theater
already has quite the live retrospective available for the fanatical listener.
Add to  this the DVD version of Live Scenes, a two-disc DVD version of this
release, and an independent release of "official" bootlegs  including the
entirety of Metallica's Master of Puppets played in Barcelona, Dream Theater
could easily be accused of  oversaturating the live material market. Even other
great live prog bands such as Rush only average one live release  every 3-4
albums. With eight albums and an EP of studio material and now approximately
nine discs worth of live, it doesn't  take much to start scratching one's head.

There is a special case with Dream Theater. Their fans are far from your average
music fans, the majority being male and  musicians themselves. While some are
more into the metal side and others more into the progressive rock area, it's
still  not a diverse crowd. As time passes, some fans get disgruntled with
changes in the band's direction and drift away; new  fans are reeled in by the
diehards in an attempt to infuse new blood into the fanbase. In general, it's a
group of people  who understand music and appreciate ability and skill -- and
it's folks like those who would have a three-disc live set  released after every
album if it were plausible.

Still, since the band's last official live release, there have only been two
studio releases: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, which  in itself was a double
album, and last year's Train of Thought. Dream Theater completed several legs of
a few tours during that time,  including touring with Queensryche and Yes, as
well as doing their own three-hour sets without anyone else on the bill, and
travelling  worldwide. Having been releasing albums for over 15 years now,
there's plenty of material to be found, but the question remains: what  makes
this album any different or better than anything before it? Live Scenes, at
least, featured the entire Metropolis II: Scenes  From A Memory played in its
entirety as well as "A Change of Seasons." What does Live at Budokan have to
offer other than a Japanese  audience?

For starters, the majority of Budokan's setlist is centered around the new
material of the last two albums; five of of the seven tracks  on Train of
Thought are present, as well has "Disappear" from disc one and half of the Six
Degrees of Inner Turbulence opus which  comprises disc two of that album. Of the
remaining tracks, only the Falling Into Infinity song "New Millennium" (in full)
and When  Dream And Day Unite track "Only A Matter Of Time haven't been
previously included on an official live release. A nice little medley  of
instrumental parts of many songs entitled "Instrumedley" substitutes for any one
particular instrumental stretch, of which there  are many in the DT back
catalog. But by far, it's the new songs that are showcased, even though three of
their older songs selected  have already appeared on another live album (and in
the case of "Pull Me Under," this is its third appearance). Also of note is the
absence of single contribution from their third album, Awake.

Setlist choices aside, the sound itself is beautiful as always coming from Dream
Theater. After reports of rampant overdubbing on  Once In a LIVEtime (backed up
when bootlegs of the show circulated the internet, complete with vocalist James
LaBrie's voice cracking  all over the place), the band cooled it off with their
last live set and seem to be continuing this trend. Seeing them live several
times over the last few years, LaBrie has beefed up his vocals and is much more
regularly on-key. Mistakes are left on Budokan, but  it takes a trained ear to
find them, apart from the occasional flat vocal; it may be possible that
something larger was changed, but  the world may never know. The production is
almost too slick at times, lending one to almost forget it's a live album.
Perhaps it's  the nature of the Japanese audience, but you simply never hear
them unless the music is completely faded out or the band directly  calls for
their cheers. It's almost surreal at times.

Still, one has to ask: what was the point of this live release? There's more
than enough material currently on the market for fans to  snatch up and enjoy
the live experience. Perhaps just a DVD version would have sufficed if the point
was to give a well-rounded feel  to an average Dream Theater show. Their
previous DVD's intent was to showcase all of the Scenes From a Memory disc in
its rock-opera  glory; this offering has no such flow or purpose aside from
playing a lot of new material. Even the selections of older material don't  seem
to have been chosen by any method other than paper from a hat. Everyone knows
that Dream Theater sounds great live, so there's never any worries as to the
performance aspect. So what makes this more than just a nice souvenir? What
makes it a need-to-own item, even for hardcore fans?

>>> Michael_Pinnella-Enter_by_the_Twelfth_Gate-2004-JUST
Release Date: 2004-10-16
Label Info: Inside Out

Release Info:

Stepping out of his usual role as keyboardist / composer for the hugely
successful progressive rock band, Symphony X, Michael  Pinella now has the
opportunity to showcase his considerable talent in a new and more intimate
fashion. Michael accomplishes  this via his new solo CD, "Enter Through The
Twelfth Gate." Unbridled by any formula, Michael rollicks through this CD with
reckless abandon. Soaring synthesizers leads, regal grand piano melodies and
complex orchestral passages make this CD a keyboard  enthusiasts
dream-come-true. A beautiful marriage of rock and classical music Michael's
virtuosity shines on this release which  will have direct appeal to the growing
Symphony X fan base and to fans of great instrumental music in general.

>>> Vader-The_Beast_Bonus_DVDA-2004-AMRC
Release Date: 2004-10-04
Label Info: Metal Blade

Release Info:

Polish-born, death metal purists Vader began their lengthy and uncompromising
career back in 1986, trading tapes on the European thrash circuit.  Needless to
say, the guys have come a far way since then; accumulating a legion of dedicated
fans, and touring with the likes of Bolt Thrower,  Deicide and Slayer.

Vader funded their first headlining tour back in 1999, a full thirteen years
after they formed. That has to indicate something of the character  of Vader...
driven, loyal and unrelenting, without a care for what their peers do. It is
this uncompromising individuality that has allowed Vader  to release quality
releases such as Litany, Blood/RFW and De Profundis.

In 2004, Vader have released their latest album "The Beast" to continue this
tradition. We jump straight from the minute long instrumental  introduction into
"Out Of The Deep", which kicks off with a good forty seconds of death/thrash
madness before going into an inevitable  Vader blast. "Dark Transmission" is
something of a more mid-paced track, with a slightly annoying, and continuously
repeated chorus, but not  without an array of interesting riffs and all the
droning power of a juggernaut.

"Firebringer" rekindles the Vader tradition of blistering thrashy riffs,
impressive solos and bursts of grinding, unabated power. "The Sea Came  In At
Last" opens with a generic Vader tremolo-death riff, which quickly jumps into an
uncharacteristic, catchy little thrash pattern. This track  is one of the
highpoints of the album, where Vader are actually able to (to use an exhausted
clich) break the mould by incorporating new elements  previously unexplored by
the band (namely plays at melody and atmosphere).

From there we move to the flat out thrash track "I Will Prevail", to the rather
predictable "The Zone" which features a tricky little breakdown  that saves the
song from monotony. "Insomnia" is another quality, straight up death metal
track, whereas the slow grinding verses of "Apopheniac"  give the effect of
controlled, Bolt Thrower-like power which builds to a great solo by guitarist
and vocalist Peter.

The final track "Choices" opens with a ninety second melodic, acoustic buildup
that suddenly combusts into a funkin' thrash groove complemented  by some
appropriately stylin' drum work, and finishes on a smooth solo. Peter ends the
album with these words: "Like freely river of perceptions,  consciousness,
private library, life, choice, death, despite the circumstances, there is always
your way."

Daray adequately fills the void the absence of the drumming beast Doc created,
though he is notably not quite up to Doc's standards.

There seems to be a suspiciously dearth supply of tricky fills and mind-blowing
blast beats, though this does not take away from the album itself.
Vader have once more delivered their patented style of death metal with a few
new twists; more carefully thought out solos (with a greater focus on
beauty and melody), an even cooler range of Slayer and Possessed derived riffs,
and a few experimental tracks that dare to lurk beyond the consistent
formula that has made Vader what it is today.

Oddly enough, it is these experimental tracks that make this album so powerful.
Vader have not tried to artificially inject new elements into their
music, but rather incorporated elements into their evolving sound. This album
manages to escape the monotony of a lot of Vader releases, which has
no doubt thrown off many prospective Vader fans in the past, however, the band
still sticks to what it knows, and proves once more that after all
these years Vader is still a brutal, uncompromising and relentless death metal
group.

>>> Fear_Factory-Soul_Of_A_New_Machine-(Remastered)-2CD-2004-RNS
Release Date: 2004-10-05
Label Info: Roadrunner Records

Release Info:
Industrial death metal, which, although this Roadrunner band is now very
mainstream, was quite innovative in 1992 when this album was released.  These
guys really had all the makings of a relatively good death metal band, albeit
with pretty simple songs. They get away with this though because  their songs
are quite short, and the album has 16 of them, plus a pointless instrumental
right in the middle. Their music has atmosphere, and all  their songs are
different. The album has some pretty weak, uncreative parts, but also has some
really nice riffs in other parts. It's very raw despite  its industrial
influence, and its lyrics are very thematic. My favorite tracks are "Martyr",
"Scapegoat", and the incredibly ferocious, evil sounding,  "Desecrate". All have
great feeling to them. I like the vocalist's ability to go from very
dry-throated roaring to atmospheric clean vocals. He does this  well at live
shows too. Unfortunately this band went downhill, but this album really is worth
checking out nonetheless, especially if you like this sort  of thing.

>>> Cynic-Focus-(Remastered)-2004-RNS
Release Date: 2004-10-09
Label Info: Roadrunner Records

Release Info:

This debut is not-just-death, and the musicians, veterans of the Florida death
world, interlace speedy unconventional riffs with mellow jazzy grooves,
the direction of several death bands recently. Even those with an appetite for
the eclectic and technical may find it a little overbearing at first
with its' relentless virtuosity, and if you don't like death vocals you may
never get past them to the music. Listen un-distracted; this is definitely
a record that requires a lot of familiarizing. Try the second side first
(starting with I'm But A Wave To... for you CD owners).

"Wave..." is representative of Cynic's multifaceted orchestral ensemble style.
After the refurbished and more traditional deathy Uroboric Forms, which
was on At Death's Door II, there's the relatively accessible Belew-Vai-Bruford
style instrumental, Textures, with Shawn Malone's Jaco-ish bass solo.

Lyrically, the record isn't very death; rather more philosophipunk, or
contemplatively instigative. Much of Paul Masvidal's vocals are growly, except
the frequently used robot voice, which is melodic. There are three guest
vocalists, including Sonia Otey on Veil Of Maya and elsewhere. However, the
vocals generally take a back seat to the music.

Many music sections have that distinct high energy death sound, but there is the
more complex harmonic structuring, nouveau jazz and persistent use of
non-4/4 time signatures of which bands like Watchtower and Atheist are
exemplary.  Toxic, Metheny, Eno and even Yes come to mind too; it's not exactly
mono-audiomorphic, though clearly arty.

Adding interest, Paul Masvidal and Jason Gobel use guitar synthesizers to good
effect, though producer Scott Burns isn't quite as adept with those
sounds as with the drums and guitars. In addition to his acoustic kit, Sean
Reinert uses electronic drums, though they don't stick out too much and
certainly don't destroy the album. Otherwise, while very busy, his drumming is
monstrous, as are the bass and two guitar performances. Listen to 70's
fusion records like Bruford's "One Of A Kind" for historical analysis, if you
haven't already.

>>> Chroma_Key_-_Graveyard_Mountain_Home-Promo-CD-2004-QTXMp3
Release Date: 2004-10-12
Label Info: Inside Out

Release Info:

Produced and Mixed by Kevin Moore. Keyboards, programming, vocals, guitar: Kevin
Moore. Bass and additional programming: Theron Patterson. Drums:
Utku Unal. Additional vocals: Bige Akdeniz. Music by Kevin Moore and Theron
Patterson.

Graveyard Mountain Home is a filmic, expansive musical exploration from Kevin
Moore AKA Chroma Key, founding member of progressive metal legends
Dream Theater. Recorded in Istanbul, Turkey, where he now lives, this third
release from Chroma Key is an entirely different musical beast than
Moore's previous musical work, and -- created as an alternate audio track to a
surreal educational film from the 50's -- the result of quite a
unique approach to album making.

All three Chroma Key releases to date have been self-produced recorded in
Moore's home studios, the location of which changes album to album.
After leaving Dream Theater in 1996, Moore relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico,
where much of the first album, 1998's Dead Air for Radios was written.
2000's You Go Now was written and recorded in Los Angeles, right before another
move to Costa Rica, where Moore lived for 3 years. In Costa Rica he
began writing and recording ideas for a new Chroma Key album, during the day
producing a bi-weekly, activist, musical radio program for Radio for
Peace International, a short wave station based in San Jose. Last year Moore
released a compilation of the program - a mix of original music and
politically volatile spoken word recordings - as a downloadable album on
chromakey.com as The Memory Hole 1.

Long distance Memory Hole collaborator (and fellow CalArts graduate) Theron
Patterson was teaching film and doing his own radio show in Istanbul
when he invited Moore to visit and collaborate on a show last year. Soon after,
Moore relocated to Istanbul and the pair began collaborating on
new material for the weekly radio show Music Lab. Moore was also commissioned to
score Turkey's first horror film, and the resulting soundtrack
Ghost Book was released by InsideOut earlier this year.

The experience of scoring a film inspired Moore to take a new approach to
composing the next Chroma Key album. "Instead of just developing song
ideas out of nowhere and trying to make them all relate somehow," he explains,
"I thought I could find an old film that already had a particular
mood and texture to it, and then let that film dictate the song's themes and
structures, and even the song lengths. I eventually found this gem
called 'Age 13' in an online archive of public domain films."

One of the many "social guidance" films produced in the 50's and early 60's for
schools and police departments, Age 13 proves the perfect subject
for Moore's musical ministrations. It is a strangely surreal moral tale of a boy
who loses his mother and is convinced that if he can repair the
radio she always listened to, he will somehow be able to bring her back. The
film is beautifully distressed, on fuzzy film stock, with all sorts
of chemical degradation and staticky imperfections caused by aging and exposure.
Like a grade school filmstrip or an unearthed home movie, Age 13
is a mysterious glimpse into another life and another time.

"The subject matter and the look of the film was really suited to the kind of
music I usually find myself writing," recalls Moore, "and I knew as
soon as I watched the opening scene - which is a burial scene - that I wanted to
get under the surface of those images and play against them."

Moore slowed the film down to half speed, stripped away the sound and crafted an
alternative audio track, which is Graveyard Mountain Home. The
film's original dialogue and score occasionally bubble up through the songs,
playing off and against them, and hinting at the unseen film's space
and conflicts.

The Chroma Key accompanied version of the film is included as a DVD in the
Special Edition of the CD release, and as a Quicktime file on the
standard edition CD. Watching the hybrid version of the film, the songs
alternately support, upset, and recast the accompanying scenes.
Occasionally, character's dialogues are replaced with unlikely sources - for
example deep south AM radio samples (in Give Up) and a darkly
comical Krishnamurti parody (in Human Love).

By design though, Graveyard Mountain Home is just as sonically compelling when
removed from its visual element, a slowly seeping, darkly
dramatic, series of epic musical vignettes: Sweet, sun-dappled vibraphone
melodies over fuzzy, glitchy throbs; a dreamy, Tortoise-y post rock
filtered through the Eastern rhythms of Muslimgauze and layered over a rumbling
drone; ambient street sounds and muted minor key melodies
obscure distant vocals, ethereal and indistinct; Sparklehorse-like melancholia,
with tinny shortwave vocals and arid desert twang; displaced,
lost and lonely voices, snatched from the ether, a warm jazzy shuffle,
revisiting earlier sonic themes - all a framework for Moore's world weary
vocals.

In addition to writing with the film in mind, the album was also written to be
played in front of an audience, and Chroma Key expect to
stage an European and American tour for the first time this winter.

>>> Derek_Sherinian_-_Mythology-Promo-CD-2004-QTXMp3
Release Date: 2004-10-13
Label Info: Inside Out

Release Info:

Derek Sherinian - Keyboards
Zakk Wylde - Guitar (Tracks 1,3,9)
Steve Stevens - Guitar (Tracks 2,4,8)
Allan Holdsworth - Guitar (Tracks 1,6)
John Sykes - Guitar (Track 3)
Steve Lukather - Guitar (Track 5)
Simon Phillips - Drums (Tracks 2,4,5,6,8,9)
Tony Franklin - Bass (Tracks 1,2,5,8)
Marco Mendoza - Bass (Tracks 3,4,7,9)
Rufus Philpot - Bass (Track 6)
Jerry Goodman - Violin (Tracks 1,6)
Brian Tichy - Drums (Tracks 1,3,7,9)
Brian Tichy - Additional Guitars (Tracks 1,3,7)

Derek's individual track comments about the new CD:

Day Of The Dead:
On all four solo albums, the first song that was written ended up by being the
opening track. To have Allan Holdsworth on one of my CD's is a
huge milestone for me personally - special thanks to Keith Ranch for making the
connection happen. It was very humbling to be around such a
brillant musician. Now that the door is open, you can count on me always making
room for Allan on my CD's. "Day of the Dead" may very well be
the heaviest musical backdrop that Holdsworth has recorded ever. The contrast
between Allan and Zakk epiomizes the metal fusion sound that I am
searching for.

Alpha Burst:
I have had the pleasure to work with Steve Stevens for three years now in Billy
Idol's band. When Steve played me the demos of "Alpha Burst"
and "A View From The Sky" I immediately wanted to include them on my next CD.
These two songs are clearly in the spirit of Jeff Beck, and
that is always a good thing! Simon sounds amazing as usual.

God of War:
I got the call from Marco Mendoza in April 2004 to do a one week tour of Japan
with Blue Murder featuring John Sykes, Tommy Aldridge and Marco.
I have been a fan of Tommy Aldridge and John Sykes since I was 16. John Sykes
rarely guests on other people's albums, so to have him guest on
"Mythology" is very cool!

El Flamingo Suave:
Steve Stevens does a live solo where he plays a Flamenco piece on a nylon string
guitar. I wanted to incorporate that sound somewhere on my CD.
Steve and I wrote this in late 2003. Marco Mendoza was the perfect choice for
this track.

Trojan Horse:
I love writing with Brian Tichy. He is also a huge fan of Edward Van Halen and
Randy Rhoads, which is very important! Brian is playing both guitar,
and drums on this track - which I think is pretty amazing. "Trojan Horse" is a
tribute to the Mighty Edward Van Halen - Thank you for your great
inspiration over the years.

A View From the Sky:
This song could have been an outtake off of "Blow by Blow" or "Wired".

The River Song:
With Zakk, I have learned after doing three records with him that to get the
best results out oh him, the best thing to do is just hit record and
just let him play. "The River Song" was created on the spot in the studio. Zakk
just started singing so my engineer hooked up a mic for him and
he just went off.  Zakk used his Jackson Randy Rhoads model on 90% of this CD -
it is rare to hear Zakk use a whammy bar. He also brought a
vest that was owned and worn by Randy Rhoads to the session, I immediately got
out my Eddie Van Halen/Randy Rhoads collage and hung it up on the
wall. Me, Zakk and Brian Tichy turn into 16 year-olds again during these
sessions. "The River Song" is the first vocal performance on one of
my recordings.

>>> A_Perfect_Circle-Emotive-2004-FNT
Release Date: 2004-10-21
Label Info: Virgin

Release Info:

Maynard James Keenan is known for venting his personal angst through the
abstract metal of his former band Tool and the poisoned art rock of his
current outfit A Perfect Circle. On the group's third full-length release,
however, the songwriter drops the high drama and gets blunt: War is
bad. Politicians are evil. The world is doomed. To support his case he delivers
a handful of politically charged originals and unusual
Eastern-influenced covers of crusty anti-war anthems like John Lennon's
"Imagine" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." You could never accuse
Keenan of being predictable.

>>> Marduk_-_Plague_Angel-Promo-CD-2004-QTXMp3
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info: Regain

Release Info:

"Plague Angel" is scheduled for release in Europe on November 22 via
Blooddawn/Regain. It will be released on the following formats: CD, LP
and Picture Disc, and possibly also as a limited-edition digipak with a video
for the track "Steel Inferno". The album will also be released
on license by Hellion in Brazil, CD Maximum in Russia and Soundholic in Japan.
No decision has been made on who will release it in the USA.
MARDUK will also release a special "Deathmarch" tour EP on both CD and vinyl
that will contain unreleased material and will only be sold on
the upcoming tour.

The CD, which was recorded at Endarker studio in Norrkoping, Sweden with
producer Devo Andersson, will be the band's first release with new
singer Mortuus (previously a member of FUNERAL MIST and TRIUMPHATOR under the
alias Arioch). A video for the track "Throne of Rats" is currently
being produced by director Roger Johansson (THE HAUNTED, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL)
and is being described as "a morbid masterpiece and a tribute to
death and war."

As previously reported, MARDUK will embark on a massive world tour beginning in
December. The European portion of the trek, dubbed "Deathmarch
2004/2005", will be divided into two parts, with the first taking place in
December and the second during spring 2005.

>>> Joop_Wolters-Speed_Traffic_and_Guitar-Accidents-Promo-2004-AMRC
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info: Lion Music

Release Info:
The lead guitarist of Arabesque, Shadrane, and Lalu returns with his second solo
release.Speed, Traffic & Guitar Accidents is home to
17 tracks that see Joop delve deep into his emotions to produce a stylistically
varied release.  Music fans that appreciate strong
focused guitar work will find Speed, Traffic & Guitar Accidents a true gem.

>>> VA-Give_Us_Moore-Gary_Moore_Tribute-Promo-2004-AMRC
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info: Lion Music

Release Info:

This is a tribute to the legendary rock/blues guitarist Gary Moore.  Lion Music
has put together a cd which features many of Moore's better known
tracks and also some rarities.  Features Lion Music artists such as Arabesque,
Joop Wolters, and Star Queen.

>>> Dark_Tranquillity_-_Lost_To_Apaty-EP-2004-QTXMp3
Release Date: 2004-10-24
Label Info: Century Media

Release Info:

New EP from Swedish melodic metallers Dark Tranquillity...  It is To be released
on November 15 via Century media. For the mere price of a regular
single, you get the following:

- Lost to apathy
- Derivation TNB
- The endless feed (chaos seed remix)
- Undo control (live)
- Lost to apathy (video clip)
- D.T. screensaver

This single serves to whet your appetites for the upcoming 7th full length
offering, set for worldwide release in the
near future.

>>> Within_Temptation-Stand_My_Ground-Special_Ltd.Fan_Ed._EP-2004-AMRC
Release Date: 2004-10-30
Label Info: Gun Records

Release Info:

"Stand My Ground" is the first single off WITHIN TEMPTATION's upcoming album,
"The Silent Force", due in November. The "Stand My Ground" clip was shot
on the roof of an old brewery in Berlin, Germany last month.

As previously reported, "The Silent Force" will be released in three formats: a
limited digibook version with a DVD bonus, a regular jewel case version,
and a version without the booklet, at a special price.

WITHIN TEMPTATION will introduce their new album with a special performace at Le
Batlaclan in Paris, France on November 8, 2004. This show will be filmed
and will be broadcast live in several theaters around Europe.

>>> 3-4hadbeeneliminated-3quarters_Hadbeeneliminated-2004-gF
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: Bowindo

Artist/Album Info:

The enigmatically named 3/4HadBeenEliminated are Stafano Pilia, Claudio
Rocchetti and Valerio Tricoli.
The three are already known on the experimental electronic scene for their
previous solo releases.
Pilia´s first solo "healing memories in present tension" out on the last visible
dog ,shows his ability in combining
psyco minimalist guitar drones with slow emotional riffs, while "the work called
Kitano" (barlamuerte)
-Rochetti´s debut album- reveals his personal collage style and wagnerian
turntablism.
The composer Valerio Tricoli released his first work on bowindo last year "Did
I? Did They?" unveling the paranoid
intimate poetic of his concrete electroacoustic composition.
Throughout this 7 track work - the listener could easily think of as a 45 minute
suite- the collaboration of the three seems
to be more fruitful in asking useless questions rather than giving useless
answers. Listening and attention move
without interruption through different levels of reality and fiction (is memory
real? is disneyland real? is this cd real?
and what about its content?).
Diverse and distant elements - alchemically woven from the livily editing- find
here the right collocation.
Fed from the purest field recording and layered drone and moving from
transhumane electronics to pop attitude,
the wonderful soundscape of 3/4 unveils intimacy and distance, entchantment and
disillusion.

>>> Collections_of_Colonies_of_Bees-Customer-2004-iTS
Release Date: 2004-10-19
Label Info and Catalog #: Pylyvinyl Records https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/

Artist/Album Info:
panning two continents, focusing on three
interpretations, and embodying multiple formats,
Customer is the new release from Collections of Colonies of
Bees. There are differences between
the CD and LP versions, for a complete
description, click on the "Customer" album mini
on the Polyvinyl website. Japanese versions of the
album will soon be made available through the
Polyvinyl E-Store as well. Featuring ex-Pele
members Chris Rosenau, Jon Mueller, and Jon
Minor, the musicianship and compositional
elements are exactly what one would expect. A
superb Polyvinyl debut.

>>> Red_Sparowes-At_the_Soundless_Dawn-Advance-2005-PMS
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info and Catalog #: Neurot Recordings

Artist/Album Info:

Red Sparowes are a truly monolithic instrumental group
featuring some of the fine talents of Isis and Neurosis
members. Fans of either/both bands as well as Godspeed
You Black Emperor, Mogwai and the ilk will be very pleased
with this project.

www.redsparowes.com

>>> State_River_Widening--Early_Music-(Rocketgirl)-2003-sb
Release Date: 2004-10-18
Label Info and Catalog #: Rocketgirl   www.rocketgirl.co.uk

Artist/Album Info:

All those fond of gentle, hopeful guitar albums could do a lot worse
than listening to the second album from State River Widening. A year
after David Sheppard collaborated with Pete Astor on the Ellis
Island Sound project and a mere 6 months after a joint effort with
Keiron Phelan comes 'Early Music' with Phelan still on board and
Jon Steele on percussion. The seven songs bear favourable comparisons
with post-rock giant Jim O'Rourke, particularly on the fluid guitar
work of 'New Title'. 'For Hessen' begins like 'Classical Gas' but
is siwftly steered into a glorious, rambling guitar passage that
unwinds in the most beguling way. Proving a willingness to experiment
the trio use flute to propel the title track to great heights whilst
the 'Highest Point On The Island' boasts fine glockenspiel playing.
As a British response to the largely American-based post-rock
phenomena, this boasts more melodic surprises than your average
tasteful instrumental release.

>>> State_River_Widening-Cottonhead-VFORM037CD-2004-UKi 1016 as well ;]

>>> Monsieur_Golan(Fab-Psichic)-Psyklicks-2004-gF
Release Date: 2004-10-21
Label Info and Catalog #: Psychotica  http://www.psychoticarecords.com/

Artist/Album Info:

Monsieur  Golàn was born in a collaboration between fAb aka Fabio Orsi,
manipulator of sounds, and psichic aka Michele, unreasonable Logan's
guitar. It's about a pure resonant manipulation got processing, with
a personal computer, samples, loops and guitar's feedeback.
The improvised psichic's guitars find an own new electric dimension,
scrapping between long drones, feedbeack and very-low frequencies.
The frame is deliberately improvised, even if some minutes bring to light
a joy of a pattern more rhythmical and dynamic.

>>> Husky_Rescue-Country_Falls-PROPER-2004-SER
Release Date: 2004-10-14
Label Info and Catalog #: Catskills

Artist/Album Info:

Just when you  feel you could  almost catch your  death in the  frozen
wastes of  the current  music scene,  a saviour  pads into view. Husky
Rescue are here, carrying the revivifying (and intoxicating) liquor of
musical invention  and pure,  untainted melodicism  in their capacious
sleigh. As clear as icewater,  as dazzling as the Aurora  Borealis, as
jolting as  a splash  in the  face from  a Finnish  lake; the music of
Husky Rescue is  more than capable  of refreshing even  the most jaded
palate and warming the cockles of those left cold by lesser talents.
Finnish multi-instrumentalist and all-round musical magus Marko Nyberg
leads the charge. His delicate, country-folksy yet contemporary  music
is surely the work of an  artist touched by the chilly majesty  of his
homeland, and much more besides. He speaks of his influences as  being
‘the magical moment’ and mood in movies. David Lynch, Lars von  Trier.
Wim Wenders, Lukas  Moodysson, Russ Meyer,  Scandinavian architecture,
Erik  Satie,  the airy  lushness  of French  impressionism  and Philip
Glass. The sound of Arvo Part, warm and honest country music and a lot
of  other  things  in  pop  culture  (such  as)  graphic  design   and
photography.

Unlike many artists who cite such wide-ranging influences, you  really
can detect them in Nyberg’s music. Each song is a self-contained  mini
-movie aiming for its own unique emotional impact. Take ‘New Light  Of
Tomorrow’, a slow burning Floyd-ian epic, a hushed meditation on  hope
and doubt. Both intimate and immense, this is the stuff of heartbreak,
a happy-sad reverie.

‘Sweet Little Kitten’ is well named. It’s warm, delicate and adorable.
Around the time of ‘Pet Sounds’ Brian Wilson declared his ambition  to
make music  which loves  the listener  back. This  is something  which
Husky Rescue are also clearly capable of - this song curls around  the
listener in a warm, comforting embrace. As Marko puts it, “I'll try to
create music  that gives  you feeling  that somebody’s  holding you in
their  arms.  And some  contrast  for that.  There  always has  to  be
contrast.”

And there  is plenty  of contrast  in the  Husky soundworld. ‘Gasoline
Girl’ begins as a laidback,  bluesy daydream before breaking out  into
an expansive psychedelic landscape while ‘Rainbow Flows’ begins with a
truly awesome cinematic flourish  before settling into an  understated
lo-fi groove, revealing a frivolous, dizzy dimension of Nyberg’s sound
- a Husky tongue lolling around weather-beaten chops, you might say.

When asked to  describe his own  work, Nyberg’s metaphors  are unusual
but entirely appropriate:  David Lynch meets  the night-less night  in
Lapland, he  suggests, or  perhaps Bambi  meets big  bad wolf and they
become friends.  If you can read that and not be intrigued, you are an
iceberg, my friend.

Following their  previous highly  acclaimed EPs,  2003’s ‘Sleep  Tight
Tiger’ and 2004’s  ‘New Light Of  Tomorrow’ and  ‘City  Lights’) Husky
Rescue release the single  ‘Summetime Cowboy’ on Catskills  Records on
1st November. As  if that were  not enough to  break the ice,  a debut
album will  emerge later  October 11th  on Catskills  CD and beautiful
gatefold sleeve Vinyl. We wait  with bated - not to  mention frosted -
breath.

http://www.husky-rescue.com

>>> Grateful_Dead-Beyond_Description_(1973-1989)-12CD-2004-MUSiQ
Release Date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog #: Rhino Records

Artist/Album Info:

Grateful Dead - Beyond Description Is The Long-Anticipated
Companion To The "Golden Road" Boxed Set!  10 Classic
Albums Spanning 1973 - 1989 Featuring Over 15 Hours Of
Newly Remastered Music On 12 Discs With 7 Hours (68 Tracks)
Of Previously Unreleased Material!

>>> Swedish_Family-Vintage_Prog-2004-PtSL
Release Date: 2004-10-20
Label Info and Catalog #: Helikon House

Artist/Album Info:

SWEDISH FAMILY is the all new Tomas Bodin project. At first it
was meant to be just another Tomas Bodin album called "Swedish
Family". However the project has changed a bit... Swedish Family
is not a title anymore, it's a "band", or should we say a fake
band! The truth is that Swedish Family have never existed! That's
a fact! But imagine if Tomas invented the "band" as a band from
the '70. They where very big, very important to other bands and
very non-sexy guys playing. You will hear the same vintage sound
as the old Swedish prog bands used to have. Instruments like
Minimoog, Accordion, Rhodes, Hammond, Guitar with fuzzbox and
phaser.

What about the songs? Well, like all Swedish bands during the
'70, Swedish Family also mixed the music between folk music, rock
and jazz. You can compare it with bands like Kebenekajse, Hansson
& Carlsson, Fläsket Brinner.

On "Vintage Prog" you'll find the same kind of roots. Also on
this CD there is no such thing as click track or computer
quantized music. Swedish Family is more about a "warm live
touch".

We can now offer you a digital remastered CD with the most
popular songs of the Swedish Family! After months of hard work,
restoring most of the original tapes, we can proudly present the
album "Vintage Prog". It is a collectors item including the
greatest hits from all 10 albums!

>>> Maciej_Staniecki_-_To_Co_Nieokreslone-CDR-2004-BCC
Release Date: 2004-30-10
Label Info and Catalog #: Reqiuem Records

Artist/Album Info:

The artist created an unique combination of trip-trop and rock sounds side by
side with warm and ambient electronics (B.Eno...). The first album isn't quite
as rhythmical as this one ("Journeys and films"). Many pieces includes classical
arrangements.

>>> Remote_Spaces_-_Silos-CDR-2004-BCC
Release Date: 2004-27-10
Label Info and Catalog #: Reqiuem Records

Artist/Album Info:

One of the most significant Polish electronic groups existing already for over a
decade. They pace up their own path since the very beginning, improving and
polishing the vibes of Berlin school (Tangerine Dream, K. Schulze). Their most
recent album, however, is full of surprises...

Siderartica-Shapes_And_Colours_From_The_Land_Of_God-2CD-Ltd.Ed._Digipak-2004-AMO
K
Release Date: 2004-22-10
Label Info and Catalog #: Trisol

Artist/Album Info:

The second album from Elena Alice Fossi's Siderartica project ( her
first in two years ) comes as an essential split release with
KIRLIAN CAMERA - with who Elena has been lead vocalist and
co-composer since 1999 ( being integral to such wonderful releases
as Kirlian Camera's "Still Air" and "Invisible Front. 2005" ).
Siderartica's new work elaborates on KC's trademark sound, imbuing
the work with an almost enchanted feel, offering warm and affecting
palpable electronics with strong rhythms and glacial elements.
Fossi's vocals add an almost sublime resonance - an atmosphere of
hypnotic lyricism, led by strong spiritual characteristics
reminiscent of Ian Curtis and Klaus Nomi transmuted into an
electronic techno-drama.

>>> Johann_Johannsson-Virthulegu_Forsetar-CD-2004-UKi
Release Date: 2004-25-10
Label Info and Catalog #: Touch

Artist/Album Info:

This is Johann's second album for Touch, after the highly acclaimed 'Englabörn'.
'Virthulegu forsetar' contains one hour-long piece for 11 brass players,
percussion, electronics, organs and piano. It's presented as an ordinary stereo
CD and as a DVD-Audio with a high resolution 5.1 surround mix. The piece had its
live debut in Hallgrimskirkja, a large church in Reykjavik and the city's
towering edifice, and was named "the most memorable musical event of 2003" in
Iceland's leading newspaper. The piece has 'Englabörn's' quiet, elegiac beauty,
but abandons the brevity of the first album's exquisite miniatures in favor of
an extended form that reveals a long, slow process. A simple theme played by the
brass section is repeated throughout the entire piece using different voicings
and instrumentation...
If you have 5.1 dolby digital system check also ac3 release :
Johann_Johannsson-Virthulegu_Forsetar-5.1_AC3-DVDA-2004-UKi_INT

>>> 3-4hadbeeneliminated-3quarters_Hadbeeneliminated-2004-gF
Release Date: 2004-26-10
Label Info and Catalog #: Bowindo

Artist/Album Info:

The enigmatically named 3/4HadBeenEliminated are Stafano Pilia, Claudio
Rocchetti and Valerio Tricoli.
The three are already known on the experimental electronic scene for their
previous solo releases.
Pilia´s first solo "healing memories in present tension" out on the last visible
dog ,shows his ability in combining
psyco minimalist guitar drones with slow emotional riffs, while "the work called
Kitano" (barlamuerte)
-Rochetti´s debut album- reveals his personal collage style and wagnerian
turntablism.
The composer Valerio Tricoli released his first work on bowindo last year "Did
I? Did They?" unveling the paranoid
intimate poetic of his concrete electroacoustic composition.
Throughout this 7 track work - the listener could easily think of as a 45 minute
suite- the collaboration of the three seems
to be more fruitful in asking useless questions rather than giving useless
answers. Listening and attention move
without interruption through different levels of reality and fiction (is memory
real? is disneyland real? is this cd real?
and what about its content?).
Diverse and distant elements - alchemically woven from the livily editing- find
here the right collocation.
Fed from the purest field recording and layered drone and moving from
transhumane electronics to pop attitude,
the wonderful soundscape of 3/4 unveils intimacy and distance, entchantment and
disillusion.

>>> Myrakaru--Klutic_Reso-(Expanding)-Vinyl-2004-mbs
Release Date : 10-16-2004
Label Info and Catalog # :  Expanding Records (evs4:04)

review  :

Estonian electronical sounds...cold, deep and dark.
Tracks taken from  their album called "Tammetiru"
http://www.discogs.com/release/313341/

>>> Kalm--Generalissimus-(Umblu)-CD-2004-mbs
Release Date : 10-25-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : Umblu (lucd7)

review :

Still an Artist from Estonia and that's certainly one of the most eclectic
album ive heard.
Very difficult to define a genre here...and that's what we like at mbs !!
Starting to produce music only about a year and a half ago, Kalm
issued his debut under Umblu Records together with fellow labelmate Tallinn 73
in spring 2002.
Their split-CD Autopiloot worked on various jazz themes from broken beat to 50s
cool jazz and 60s psychedelic pop, claiming significant critical acclaim.

http://www.discogs.com/release/339042

>>> Jan_Garbarek--In_Praise_Of_Dreams-(ECM)-CD-2004-mbs
Release Date : 10-19-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : ECM Records.

review :

Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek cut his teeth emulating John
Coltrane and blowing gales through the muscular compositions of
George Russell and open improvisations of Keith Jarrett. But since
the mid 1980s, the saxophonist has been making an increasingly
rarefied and composed music full of chords suspended in space,
harmonies echoing in gothic recesses, and always, wrenching
saxophone melodies. In Praise of Dreams is his latest foray into a
music that reaches for the mystical. With just Garbarek, some
keyboard pads, light percussion from Manu KatchÚ and haunting
viola by Kim Kashkashian, In Praise of Dreams is instrumentally
sparse, yet deep in emotion and atmosphere. Based mostly on rhythm
loops, there's a hypnotic trance quality to Garbarek's
compositions, but also a tinge of nostalgia with Kashkashian's
wistful violin.
This isn't a jazz album in the traditional sense, but a tone poem
of memory and dreams...

>>> Four_Tet-Castles_Made_of_Sand-7inch_Vinyl-2004-UKi
Release Date : 10-19-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : Azuli (ALN7012)

review :

Lifted off Four Tet's "Late Night Tales" compilation,
this limited 7" features the exclusive Four Tet cover
version of the Hendrix classic "Castles Made of Sand"

an intelligent comprehension of the music of Jimi Hendrix

the flip features "Don'ts", the first in a series of four
pieces taken from David Shrigley's "Bits and Bobs".
and also cause at mbs, we follow and we appreciate the -UKi work.

>>> Quantic-Mishaps_Happening-2004-WUS
Release Date : 10-20-2004

review :

Excellent brand new album from Quantic.
Jazz, Funk, Lofi, Acid Jazz, and what you want to call it
It's just a pleasure to listen the whole album.

>>> Ivo_Deutschmann--Deep_in_My_Soul_(Promo)-CD-2004-CMC
Release Date : 10-24-2004

review :

A journey in the deepest soul's area of Ivo Deitchmann.
No revolution here just good deep ambient music.

>>> GB_Feat_Steve_Spacek--Simply_So-(SIC12098)-Vinyl-2004-dh
Release Date : 10-10-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : Sound In Color Records (SIC12098)
http://www.soundincolor.com

review :

Taken from his forthcoming full-length release "Soundtrack For
Sunrise" GB's collaboration with Steve Spacek (vocals) results in a
brilliant future soul composition. Adding to the mix, their "Simply
So" track gets the remix treatment from Sa-Ra creative partners.
dont miss this one !!!

>>> Ladyman-Viagra_Opus-CD-2004-1REAL
Release Date : 10-25-2004

review :

A collection of hook-laden dancehall and dub excursions from
gifted producer RAZ MESINAI (aka BADAWI) under the guise of
the sleazy, sexually tactless LADYMAN. Viagra Opus brings
out Mesinai's playful side, blending horns, bass,
razor-sharp rhythms in a dance-ready, dubbed-out stew.

>>> laroye--b_the_one--(faces_1201)-VLS2004-miso
Release Date : 10-26-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : faces records (faces 1201)

review :

the label related to fluid ounce releases what is only its second
12". l'aroye produces the mellow broken soul song that is "b the
one" featuring some great vocals by humphrey and tremendous
keyboard skills in the last third. "shango" is a mental but short
banger, while "haraki" is similarly dark but has more subdued
episodes. the ditd / inverse cinematics remix takes things even
more underground.

a souful brokenbeat plate.

>>> Lee_Renacre--Phat_Girl_EP-(FORMAT04)-1997-mbs
Release Date : 10-26-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : Format Records ( FORMAT04 )

review :

FORMAT was started in the U.K. in 1996 as a new label of groovy
and up beat dance music.
The first release was number 03 'Sunshine State E.P.', FORMAT 01
and 02 were released on 'Disruptive Pattern'.
FORMAT was the follow-up for the small label 'Optimism', which was
the foundation for the first releases of Lee Renacre in 1989 and
1990.
This 4th release from the label, was one of the first 'Techouse'
release in the house scene, inspiring deejays like Sonic for
example. Still percussive nowadays.

>>> Kode_9_and_Daddi_Gee-Spit_(Vox_and_Dub)-HYP002-Vinyl-2004-UKi
Release Date : 10-26-2004
Label Info and Catalog # : HyperDub (HYP002)

review :

Dark dub with F.A.T  B.A.S.S line

http://www.hyperdub.net/

>>> Donald_Byrd--Fancy_Free-(Blue_Note)-CD-1993-mbs
Release Date : 10-22-2004
Label Info and Catalog # :Blue Note CDP077778979623

review  :

When you start digging in the blue note 60's albums
you fast gettin addicted to this Jazz. About this
Donal Byrd's re-edit, originally recorded in 1969
(just a few monthes earlier than the wellknown
"Kofi" album Blue Note B1 31875), you can feel
something special especially with the presence of
Duke Pearson at the electric piano. Indeed, this
album is a bridge between the classic be-bop of the
60's and the new experiments in Jazz that the 70's
will bring...
For some people, the 70's are considered as a
commercial turn for Donald Byrd with the formation
of The Blackbyrds. I wud prefer to say that it is
an immersion in a new style of Jazz, maybe more
funky, that you can also notice on Herbie Hancock's
and Headhunters productions at these times.

The Album starts quietly with high relaxing tracks,
thanks to Jerry Dodgion at the flute who deliver so
much peace on the "Fancy Free" track and to the
Giant Donald Byrd for his trumpet solo on the track
"I love the girl". "The uptowner" contains an
exceptional solo of Frank Foster at the tenor sax
(note that after this first experiment Byrd and
Foster will play again together on Kofi) check also
the following guitar solo of Jimmy Ponder, isn't it
High Jazz ? Then last but not least, with the
"Weasil" track, one of my favorite, here we are at
the prelude of the 70's groove !

>>> Boomclick_-_Halfway_Between_Tomorrow_And_Yesterday-Promo_CD-2004-tronik
Release Date: 2004-10-27
Label Info and Catalog #: Sunday Best  #SBESTCD5

Artist/Album Info:

After teasing us with their sublime single releases and tantalising us with
their live shows, the mighty, yet humble, Boomclick present their debut album.
Blending the organic and the electronic, the energetic and the laconic, Halfway
Between Tomorrow And Yesterday is an accomplished album that establishes
Boomclick as serious players in the beautifully blurry spaces between dance,
dub, folk and pop.

Boomclick are Sam Johnson, Rui Teimao and Paul Burnley, three musicians and DJs
who have spent the best part of their lives immersed in the myriad musics
spawned by acid house. Whilst dance music in all its forms has provided the
soundtrack to thousands of unslept nights, this has been tempered by a passion
for the traditional organic forms of dub, rock and folk. It is from this
contrast between the DJ and the musician, the raver and the stoner, the
synthetic and the human that Boomclick was born.

Sam, Rui and Paul met through the London underground party scene, in which all
three were involved. As early as 1988, a fresh faced 15 year old Rui was putting
on the Mayfair 88 parties with Sean Mclusky, and in the years since then the
trio have been involved in the Lab parties, 3Halves, Black Sheep and Dharma Bums
soundsystems.

Boomclick has always existed in the real world - this is a band, not a
collection of producers confined to the studio. Regular live shows in London
have earned them a loyal and passionate following, and their performances at
numerous Big Chill parties over the last few years spread the word even further,
and earned them a spot on the Big Chill Loves You Compilation.

It was perfectly natural that Boomclick should forge a relationship with Rob Da
Bank's Sunday Best imprint, the first fruit of which was 2002's  'Boomclick EP'.
Instantly grabbing the attention of switched on press, DJs and punters alike, it
was followed by the 'Homegrown' single in January 2003, after which Boomclick
set about the task of creating their debut album.

The creation of Halfway Between Tomorrow And Yesterday was a joyful process that
involved our three Boomclick heroes, a bevvy of keyboards, computers, guitars,
percussion, a very dark room in Brixton, a slightly lighter room in Old Street,
a melodica, microphone abuse and many delays. It also involved a host of
collaborators, chief of which was vocalist Rosa Fernandez whose sublime vocals
blessed recent single 'Follow Love'. Rosa also features on the magical 'High
Tide', album opener and forthcoming single, and the lovers anthem 'Simplicity'.

With the album in the bag, Boomclick are itching to get back out on the road.
The first place you can catch 'em live is at the rather stupendous three day
Bestival event on the Isle Of Wight, kicking off on the 10th September. There
are plans afoot for a national tour later this autumn - we'll keep you posted.
For now, make yourselves comfortable and take a deep breath of this delectable
debut album in the comfort of your own home. We can guarantee that Halfway
Between Tomorrow And Yesterday is a damn fine place to be.

>>> VA-Nuskoolbreaks.co.uk_presents_Full_Range_Breaks-CD-2004-tronik
Release Date: 2004-10-27
Label Info and Catalog #: Carioca #YOS006CD

Artist/Album Info:

Full Range Breaks brings you something new in the world of compilations - 8 DJ's
and 16 tracks together in the mix! Each DJ mixing their 2 selected tracks
together and then handing it over to the next DJ to do his mix - a real 'mash
up' capturing the essence of a breaks night.

Presented by nuskoolbreaks.co.uk, which has over 3,000 registered users, the
website has become an increasing hot-bed of breakbeat action over the last 3
years - even securing Best Website Award at the Breakspoll International
Breakbeat Awards 2004 (presented by Annie Nightingale an avid fan who will be
putting her weight behind the release of FULL RANGE BREAKS).

The DJ's and Producers featured on the album have all made their mark on the
breaks scene with their own individual following in the UK & Europe with tracks
being supported by the main players Adam Freeland, Rennie Pilgrim, Plump DJs,
and Tayo to name just a few.

>>> VA-Circus_And_Chibuku_Present_Yousef_And_Krafty_Kuts-2CD-2004-tronik
Release Date: 2004-10-29
Label Info and Catalog #: Rumour Records #CDRAID567

Artist/Album Info:

Circus, Yousef’s monthly outing at the Masque/Barfly, was formed in September
2002 as a place for him to play in his hometown of Liverpool. Originally
supposed to be based at Liverpool’s Cream, the club’s subsequent closure meant
that Yousef had to take his ‘circus’ elsewhere, this he did and found a new home
that couldn’t be more perfect for a circus: The Masque/Barfly, an old, disused
Theatre, formerly home to rock concerts and also home to Chibuku.

At the first party only 500 people walked through the doors - in less than three
months over 1000 people were at every event. Circus is a purely house affair
attracting the world’s finest DJs and it has more than achieved its simple aims:
fun atmosphere with serious house music. It’s also a club-night where the DJs
always want to come back and always have a story to tell… Laurent Garnier played
an impromptu back-2-mine-style set after the club had closed for Yousef and 30
of his closest friends on his first visit (legend!). Yousef bought Fatboy Slim a
special Hawaiian shirt on his visit, which he wore all night with pride. Josh
Wink was given a copy of 2-Unlimited’s ‘No Limits’ by a clubber as a joke - he
played it and it worked, Danny Howells had to get the cab to pull over on his
way to the airport after he drank too much tequila the night before… plus Tim
Deluxe, Onionz, Roger Sanchez, Erick Morillo, Justin Robertson and many more…

Yousef: “The concept is of Circus is simple: serious house music and fun times -
booking DJs and acts that have, and will, inspire me.”

Yousef’s 20-track Circus mix oozes sleaze. From the off with Harri and The
Revenge’s “Slack Jaw” he cuts in with his slick jackin’ beats and eases it
through – with cuts from Yousef’s own “Way of Life”, Freeform Five’s “Strangest
Things”, Tyra’s “Other Women” and Phil Week’s “Candella” - to the peak of Armand
Van Helden’s “My My My” and the finale from The Drum Bum’s (AKA Yousef and Steve
Mac) with their massive “Circus Parade”. For any true Yousef and Circus fan this
essential – coz that’s how he does it, Yousef will take you through all night
and hold off the peak till the very end. And that’s how we like it at the
Circus.

FOUR Liverpool students formed Chibuku (named after a vile yet potent African
beer) in March 2000, on a budget of £40. Charlene, Richard, Damo and Will were
disillusioned with Liverpool’s club scene and overrated DJs playing overrated
music - in over-priced clubs. They found the Lemon Lounge, a small ‘room above a
pub’ on Berry Street in Liverpool. Promoting themselves through word of mouth
and a few photocopied flyers and allowing cheap door tax, sensible security, no
dress code and more importantly good music with local students Wandy and Luke
Carr as residents, the unruly and riotous house-party-style-parties of Chibuku
were born.

"Chibuku Shake Shake - Expect a minor riot" - Guardian Guide

At the start Chibuku was a 4/4-house club, In 2001 it moved from The Lemon
Lounge to The Masque/Barfly and around the same time the music took a twist for
the more eclectic style - booking Gilles Peterson they proved there was a
different audience in Liverpool. From that point they booked as broadly as they
did obscure. Everyone from DJ Shadow and Kenny Dope Gonzales playing their
favourite funk 45s, Hype and London Elektricity scratching up a DnB storm in The
Loft, Ralph Lawson, Felix Da Housecat and Jacques Lu Cont providing the house
staple and the hip hop mastery of Cash Money and DJ Food pulling out both block
party hits and moody down-tempo beats.

Krafty Kuts, an acclaimed DJ and break-beat pioneer born and bred on the
Brighton seafront, first played for Chibuku at the club’s second birthday. He is
the only DJ to have played (and destroyed) every room at The Masque/Barfly and
is one of the night’s favourite players and undoubtedly the first choice to mix
the Chibuku CD:

“Chibuku is just this really crazy, eclectic, boomshaking night that captivates
the pure essence of DJing. The venue along with the amazing clubbers makes this
one of my favourite nights to play. I was really pleased they asked me to mix
the CD, I hope I’ve done them proud.” - Krafty Kuts

Krafty Kut’s Chibuku mix is a 21-track cut up of Hip-Hop, breaks, house, funk
and everything in between - from musical eras spanning the 70s to today…
Parliament’s George Clinton produced 1975 classic “Flashlight” mixes it up with
Krafty Kuts, A Skillz and Real Elements’ “Simple Things. Davy DMX’s 1985
electronic Hip-Hop staple “The DMX will rock” cuts into “Gary Numan’s “Me” into
Felix Da Housecat’s “Silver Screen”… as well as tracks from some of the break
scene’s biggest pioneers – The Freestylers, Plump DJs, Freq Nasty, Rennie
Pilgrim and much more. Krafty Kuts displays here what he and indeed Chibuku is
about. It’s not about one style, era or sound. As Chibuku says: “There is good
music and there is bad music. Chibuku only plays good music – the best of each
genre. And that is what this is, good music.”

Circus and Chibuku both hold monthly parties at The Masque/Barfly in Liverpool.
Other than their monthly parties they have held a one-off joint party at Nation
in Liverpool for over 3000 people, hosted two joint parties at Pacha in Ibiza
and both hosted a tent at Creamfields – Circus hosting an arena jointly with
Darren Emerson’s Underwater and Chibuku with their own little ravedome.

>>> Renegade_Hardware-Paranoia_Ep_Part_2-RH62-2004-LAME
Release Date: 2004-10-30
Label Info and Catalog #: Renegade Hardware, RH62

Artist/Album Info:
Renegade Hardware back with a massive EP. Featuring the killer Gridlok remix of
'Parranoia' along with
the Hive and Craze remix of 'Haters'. Heavy dirty beats, dont sleep on this one.

>>> VA-Metalheadz_Presents_MDZ04_the_Album-2CD-RETAIL_CD-2004-XTC
Release Date: 2004-10-20
Label Info and Catalog #: Metalheadz, MDZ04

Artist/Album Info:
New Album on Metalheadz, disc 2 features a mix from Goldie.

>>> Defcom-Leon_Switch_and_Kryptic_Minds-DCOM013-2004-sour
Release Date: 2004-10-28
Label Info and Catalog #: Defcom, DCOM013

Artist/Album Info:
Back again Leon Switch and Kryptic Minds drop 2 disgusting tunes on their own
label Defcom.

>>> Kenny_Ken-Live_at_Dreamland_03-06-TAPE-2004-kHz
Release Date: 2004-10-17
Label Info and Catalog #: Dreamland

Artist/Album Info:
Nice quality tape rip from kHz. The one like Kenny Ken in the mix, recorded Live
in Germany with MC.. Good shit

>>> DJ_Optical_and_MC_Flux-Live_at_Countdown_12-02-2000-TAPE-2001-kHz
Release Date: 2004-10-17
Label Info and Catalog #: Countdown

Artist/Album Info:
Optical with MC Flux droping the older sounds of Drum & Bass. Classic virus
sounds.

>>> Andy_C.-Live_at_Dreamland_06-05-TAPE-2004-kHz
Release Date: 2004-10-17
Label Info and Catalog #: Dreamland

Artist/Album Info:
Andy C smashin it like usual with some solid MCing.. Nice sound quality from a
tape. Recorded live in Germany

>>> Pendulum_-_Breezeblock_Mix-DAB-10-19-2004-BOSS
Release Date: 2004-10-19
Label Info and Catalog #: BBC Radio 1

Artist/Album Info:
Pendulum kills it on BBC Radio1 along with MC Verse. Nothing but the nuskool
upfront Drum & Bass

>>> Penetration-Technical_Itch-TIP013-2004-sour
Release Date: 2004-10-15
Label Info and Catalog #: Penetration, TIP013

Artist/Album Info:
Drum & Bass at its best, it dosnt get harder then this. The track 'Life Of Sin'
is my favorite on this release

>>> Klute-No_Ones_Listening_Anymore-SUICIDELP004-2004-RFL
Release Date: 2004-10-2004
Label Info and Catalog #: Commercial Suicide, SUICIDELP004

Artist/Album Info:
The long awaited Klute album is finally here. 'Time for change' is a stand out
track, solid album all around.

>>> Hecate-Seven_Veils_Of_Silence-Digipak-2004-SiRiON
Release Date: 2004-10-16
Label Info and Catalog #: Hymen Records  #739

Artist/Album Info:
A captivating electro release.  Definitely a must for anyone into
dark/experimental electro.
URL: http://www.zhark.org/

>>> Frogacult_-_All_Seasons_Remixes-CDM-2004-UPE
Release Date: 2004-10-21
Label Info and Catalog #: Iboga Records  #IBOGACD23

Artist/Album Info:
Frogacult, which already has a large amount of releases behind
them on Iboga Records as well as many other labels across the
globe, finally has completed their debut album.

The album is named 'Something for Sundays' and this title
reveals a lot when it comes to describing the style.

To give a special taster before the album we have selected some
of the finest artist of the moment to give their version of the
'All Seasons' track by Frogacult.

The result is absolutely stunning. All Seasons will no doubt be
a massive hit and the remixes are all of super quality.

>>> VA-Futurespective_Mixed_by_Aes_Dana-CD-2004-USF
Release Date: 2004-10-21
Label Info and Catalog #: Ultimae Records

Artist/Album Info:
Fantastic psyambient mix by the queen of the psychedelic ambient genre, Aes
Dana.

>>> Aural_Planet_-_Reworked-2004-BCC
Release Date: 2004-10-22
Label Info and Catalog #: Vivo  #vivo012CD

Artist/Album Info:
Reworked is the 6th album under the Aural Planet banned.  Their previous CD
called 5EX Engine (2002) was compared to the works of Boards of Canada,
Autechre, FSOL or Squarepusher.  Reworked continues this direction,
presenting more hard-hitting beats, more abstract backgrounds and a warm
analogue sound.  Rich and powerful sound of Aural Planet rocks!

>>> VA_-_Steve_Bug_Presents_Bugnology-(PFRCD013)-PROPER-READ_NFO-CD-2004-HEB
Release Date: 2004-10-25
Label Info and Catalog #: Poker Flat Recordings  #PFRCD13

Artist/Album Info:
Steve bug, Poker Flat Label Head and one of the world's leading minimal
house producers is back with a brilliant mix-compilation.  Bugnology is not
your regular mix-cd + all tracks have been partly reconstructed using special
software.  The result is an elegant and adventurous flight through today's
modern house music.

>>> Frogacult_-_All_Seasons_Remixes-CDM-2004-UPE
Release date: 2004-10-21
Label Info and Catalog: Iboga Records IBOGACD23
Genre: Psychedelic

Artist/Album info:

Frogacult, which already has a large amount of releases behind
them on Iboga Records as well as many other labels across the
globe, finally has completed their debut album.
The album is named 'Something for Sundays' and this title
reveals a lot when it comes to describing the style.
To give a special taster before the album we have selected some
of the finest artist of the moment to give their version of the
'All Seasons' track by Frogacult.

The result is absolutely stunning. All Seasons will no doubt be
a massive hit and the remixes are all of super quality.

www.frogacult.dk

>>> Minus_8--Eclectica-(SD130-2)-CD-2004-dh
Release date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog: Stereo Deluxe Records SD 130-2
Genre: House

Artist/Album info:

After two great albums on Munich's Compost Rec. ("Elysian Fields" in
2000, "Minuit" in 2002) and the Soundtrack for "Viktor Vogel -
Commercial Man" (2001, Columbia Pictures) Minus 8's brandnew (5th)
album "Eclectica" is ready to go!

Featuring guest-vocalists Sitta Foehr ("Daylight", "Soverato" &
"Montreux"), Sharon Harris ("Pussycat", "Acapulco 60" & "Capriccio"),
New York Rappers Dread Event ("Hard 2 Survive" & "Mistaken
Identity"), Ras Charmer ("So Fine", "Brave&Bold Dub"), Cali P. ("We
are One"), Ras Theo ("Quaylude Slumber") and Michael Morris
("Go:Disco"), the album shows the massive versatility of Zuerich
based producer, remixer and dj Robert Jan Meyer aka Minus 8.
Wheras "Minuit" was pretty much brasil influenced, "Eclectica" draws
a wider bow from Downbeat to Hip-Hop, to Disco, to Ragga and back
with setting a high value on the different vocals.
On top, it's Switzerlands jazz-legend Kurt Weil playing the vibraphon
on "Soverato"!

The most diversified Minus 8-album so far and definitely one of the
highlights of late 2004!
So now it's time to let the music play, or freely adapted from Sitta
Foehr in the opening track...come and take a ride with me...

remember to support artists.

www.stereodeluxe.com

>>> VA_-_Im_A_Program-2004-PsyCZ
Release date: 2004-10-26
Label Info and Catalog: Deja Vu Records DJVCD006
Genre: Psychedelic

Artist/Album info:

Here it comes, the new Deja Vu compilation...
...presenting as always another great fusion of powerful tracks with a special
Russian touch.
Mixed by DJ Morpho, mastered at Deja Vu Studio by X-Man, brand new unreleased
productions by Parasense, Seroxat, Osom, Suria, Freaking and many more.

http://www.dejavurecords.com

va-secret_love_(a_view_on_folk_compiled_by_jazzanova_and_resoul)-(sk042cd)-CD200
4-kW
Release date: 2004-10-23
Label Info and Catalog: sonar kollektiv sk042cd
Genre: lo-fi

Artist/Album info:

After the critical acclaim of the series of leftfield compilations 'Formation
60', 'Polish Jazz' and 'Forum West', the boys at Sonar Kollektiv felt it was
time to explore the delicious and diverse mix of sounds found under the folk
umbrella.

Jazzanova and Resoul (otherwise known as Rene from Jazzanova's favourite record
shop Soultrade, have put their heads together and spent many an hour dancing
around Rene's shop and digging deep into their record collections to come up
with this lovely album. They've taken a view on Folk at its present forms and
somehow managed to pare their selection of favourites down to a list of just 15
heavenly tracks. Each one is a perfect illustration of a different nuance within
the genre. Highlights include Nicola Kramer's sexy, southern states sounding
"Help Me", 4 Hero's re-working of sublime all-time classic "Les Fleurs" and
Jolly Music's prefuse 73 unplugged in Catalonia remix of "Talko Uno".

Sonar Kollektiv's new discovery called Thief gives us glimpse on his forthcoming
longplayer with the track "If There Was A Love". Thief is produced by Stefan
Leisering and Axel Reinemer, 2/6 of Jazzanova. Husky Rescue contribute an ultra
modern-day folk sound with their track "New Light of Tomorrow" lifted from their
just released 'County Falls ' album (on Catskills), in contrast to the classic
Crosby Stills and Nash influenced "Gone" by The Beta Band which contrasts in
turn with the epic, cinematic tone of Marden Hill's domineering tune, named,
aptly enough "Bardot". Household names nestle comfortably beside more obscure
treasures as if that's the way it's always been.

Secret Love is yet another example of Sonar Kollektiv's diverse output,
Jazzanova strive to keep us all guessing what will be next.

www.sonarkollektiv.de

>>> Silencer-Drown_in_Me-CDS-2004-tmnd
Release date: 2004-10-25
Label Info and Catalog: Critical Mass CRITICAL032
Genre: Trance

Artist/Album info:

Silencer's "Drown In Me Mixes" comes with a super solid remix package. This 12
inch is for the breaks and house heads. The Cicada's remix has beatiful warm
voices in it :) Track Listings: Silencer Beats Mix, Force Mass Motion's Stadium
JKT Mix, Cicada Remix, Radio Version.

http://shop.city16.com/index.cgi?task=showgrp&label=Critical%20Mass

>>> VA-Bonkers_13-4CD-Retail-2004-ARNMP3
Release Date: 2004-10-23
Label Info and Catalog: Resist Music RESISTCD9
Genre: Hardcore

Artist/Album info:

Bonkers is back and bigger & better than ever! 4CDs and 77 tracks
featuring all the latest upfront and exclusive hardcore anthems mixed by
Sharkey, Scott Brown and Dougal, plus a rare old skool killa kutz mix by
Hixxy. Ringtones also available. "For full release info, tracklistings,
ringtones
and a sneak preview of the TV ad check www.bonkers13.com"

http://www.resist-music.co.uk/

>>> VA_-_Ambient_Planet_Vol_1-2004-UPE
Release Date: 2004-10-28
Label Info and Catalog: Vagalume Records VGL-CD-001
Genre: Ambient

Artist/Album info:

Chilloutzone.org has collected 10 ambient tracks coming from landscapes such as
Bulgaria, Hungary, USA ,France, Sweden, UK and Portugal, to be released by
Vagalume Records ( www.vagalumerecords.com ).
All the musicians that take part of the compilation will play live at
ambientBOOM2004, the ambient zone at Boom Festival 2004..
This compilation will be available during the month of August 2004.
Exclusive Distribution by Ultimae.
Mastering by Huby Sea and Vincent Villuis.

http://www.ultimae.com/imports/frameset.html?skeud=115
http://www.vagalumerecords.com

Remember, It's all about the Muzzik!