This 2-CD album, produced in Australia by Anthony Asher Wright and a couple of guest performers, is well within the “traditional” spirit of Brian Eno’s original concept of ambient music. It is designed not to intrude, but to exist in the aural background of the listener’s consciousness, and enhance calm or meditative moods. The album cover says “Play at lower level; do not operate machinery or drive vehicles.” This sums it up pretty well. “Ashera’s” sounds feature, in different tracks, whispers of synthesizer chords, gently tinkling bells, Australian environmental sounds, and crooning female voices. It’s soft, really soft. Even if you turn the volume up, it’s still soft.
One of Ashera’s good points is that he picks good chords to float in. He likes modern jazz harmony, or perhaps a bit of French impressionism, all of it ever-so-drifting and ethereal, with that smooth shimmer that makes this kind of ambient so easy to listen to…

Taking his cues from the '70s output of Ry Cooder, there is nothing in the sound of the Dutch-born and raised Hans Theessink that would indicate he learned his craft from albums and not from being raised in the swamps of Mississippi. His dusky baritone, greasy slide licks, and soulful male backup singers (led by Cooder vet Terry Evans who turns in a stunning performance throughout) plant him firmly into the deep South. The gospel feel of the title track, along with its subtle shuffle beat and rousing yet mellifluous supporting vocalists, sounds as natural as if he spent his entire life soaking up the spirits of the bluesmen he obviously adores. When he and the elegant singers harmonize on "Set Me Free," with pedal steel crying and longtime cohort John Sass' tuba counterpointing the bass, you can almost feel the flies buzzing around your head as you sit beside the banks of the mighty Mississippi…

Released in 1997 through BMG Special Products, 36 All-Time Greatest Hits is a comprehensive 3-disc anthology celebrating "Gentleman Jim" Reeves, one of the most influential and velvety smooth voices in country music history. A pioneer of the polished late-1950s and 60s Nashville Sound engineered alongside legendary producer Chet Atkins, Reeves brought country crooning to a global audience. This 36-track collection gathers his defining #1 hits, beloved chart-toppers, and signature ballads, including "He'll Have To Go," "Four Walls," "Welcome To My World," "Distant Drums," "Is It Really Over," and "Blue Side Of Lonesome," alongside his warm interpretations of standards like "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Make The World Go Away." An essential treasury for fans of classic country, smooth crooners, and 20th-century American popular song.

Released in 1997 on Bigbang Records, Closer Than Close is the iconic UK Garage and House single release by celebrated American singer-songwriter Rosie Gaines, former vocalist and keyboardist for Prince & The New Power Generation. Driven by Gaines' powerful, gospel-infused vocal delivery, heavy basslines, and hypnotic organ hooks, the title track became an instant club anthem, crossing over to reach #4 on the UK Singles Chart and helping define the late-90s UK Garage sound. This comprehensive release compiles essential remixes, including the definitive Mentor Original Radio Edit, Frankie Knuckles' soulful "Frankie's Classic" mixes, and Tuff Jam's seminal "Even Closer" mix. A timeless masterclass in vocal garage and house music.

Released in 1997 on the US electronic imprint Hypnotic Records, The Seven Pointed Star is a seminal album from British psychedelic electronic outfit Astralasia. Formed as an offshoot of the neo-psychedelic band Magic Mushroom Band, Astralasia carved out a unique space in the 90s ambient and psy-trance scenes. The album presents an immersive sonic journey bridging pulsing Goa trance rhythms, hypnotic synthesizer sequences, ambient soundscapes, and mystical mysticism. Featuring sprawling electronic explorations like "Greyarea," "Whirlpool - Kaos," and the magnificent multi-part 14-minute epic "Astral Vision," this release remains a classic snapshot of late-90s psychedelic trance and chillout culture.

Released in 1997 on the UK reissue label Deepbeats, this prime 2-for-1 CD collection combines two legendary 80s soul-funk albums by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Leon Bryant onto a single disc. Featuring his 1984 De-Lite LP Finders Keepers alongside his 1981 debut Mighty Body (Hotsy Totsy), the collection captures Bryant's smooth vocals paired with infectious synth-basslines, punchy horns, and mid-tempo boogie grooves. Packed with extended 12" mixes and rare dancefloor cuts, highlights include "Finders Keepers," "Mighty Body (Hotsy Totsy)," "Your Kind Of Loving," and "Are You Ready (Until Tonight)." A must-have two-fer compilation for purists of classic 80s De-Lite Records, electro-funk, and modern soul.

Released in 1997 by Music Collection International, Badmutha's - 18 Original Black Movie Hits is an essential, hard-hitting compilation showcasing the gritty, groove-laden golden era of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema soundtracks. Spanning nearly 80 minutes of heavy brass, wah-wah guitar riffs, infectious basslines, and dramatic orchestral arrangements, this 18-track collection features iconic themes by true soul and funk heavyweights. Included are undisputed classics like Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft" and "Theme From Truck Turner," Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" and "Pusherman," Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man," James Brown's "Slaughter Theme," and Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street." A definitive anthology for fans of 70s cinematic soul, funk, and cult soundtrack history.

Originally recorded in May 1965 and reissued on CD in 1997 by Prestige / Original Jazz Classics, this self-titled release marks the remarkable debut leader session from acclaimed American jazz pianist and composer Roger Kellaway. Accompanied by bassist Russell George and drummer Dave Bailey, Kellaway displays the imaginative harmonic language, virtuosic stride-to-bop technique, and playful rhythmic drive that would define his legendary career. Across ten concise tracks, the trio delivers fresh original compositions alongside inventive, swinging interpretations of standards like "Sweet And Lovely," "Ballad Of The Sad Young Men," and an early jazz transformation of The Beatles' "I'll Follow The Sun." An essential classic for fans of 1960s piano trio jazz.

Released in 1997 by BMG, Wouldn't It Be Good is a captivating European retrospective compiling the greatest early-mid '80s hits and essential album tracks from English synth-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nik Kershaw. Named after his breakout international smash hit, the 14-track collection highlights Kershaw's signature blend of sophisticated synth-pop hooks, intricate arrangements, and clever lyrical songwriting. Alongside timeless radio staples like "Wouldn't It Be Good," "Human Racing," "Dancing Girls," and "Don Quixote," the compilation gathers fan favorites such as "When A Heart Beats" and "Cloak And Dagger," delivering an essential overview of one of the decade's premier pop craftsmen.

Fraten is a landmark studio album by the Finnish experimental rock group Circle, released in 1997 through Metamorphos. Capturing the band during an intensely creative period of their 1990s output, Fraten showcases Circle's unique evolution of hypnotic Krautrock, blending repetitive motorik drum rhythms, heavy basslines, avant-garde textures, and minimalist progressive rock structures. Over the course of ten tracks and nearly an hour of music, the album immerses listeners in rhythmic trance states built on subtle repetition, hypnotic guitar riffs, and otherworldly vocal stylings. Standout compositions like the pulsing Korko = Klague, the multi-faceted Hissi = Festum, the sprawling nine-minute Kenttä = Areend, and the atmospheric closer Isaak = Gilded highlight the band's uncanny ability to craft tense, hypnotic, and hypnotic soundscapes. Dense, atmospheric, and rhythmically captivating, Fraten remains an essential release for devotees of modern Krautrock, experimental rock, and Finnish progressive music.

Brincadeira de Criança is a landmark studio album by the hugely popular Brazilian pagode and samba group Molejo, released in 1997 through Continental EastWest. Renowned for their irresistible blend of upbeat pagode, infectious axé rhythms, and playful lyricism, Molejo reached the pinnacle of commercial success in Brazil with this fourteen-track release, which sold millions of copies nationwide. Combining vibrant percussion, catchy cavaquinho riffs, and celebratory vocal hooks, the album became an enduring cultural phenomenon of late-1990s Brazilian pop music. The record features several of the band's signature career-defining hits, including the massively popular title track Brincadeira de Criança, the infectious dance number Dança da Vassoura, and the energetic Tá Maluca?. Balancing humorous, radio-friendly anthems with smooth samba grooves and romantic pagode ballads like Amor Estou Sofrendo and Minha Fortaleza, Brincadeira de Criança remains a celebrated classic for fans of 90s pagode, samba, and festive Brazilian pop.

Originally released in 1976 and reissued on CD in 1997 by Korea's Si-Wan Records, Ekkedien Tanssi is the refined second and final studio album by Finnish progressive rock outfit Tabula Rasa. Building upon the pastoral symphonic sound of their debut, guitarist Heikki Silvennoinen and expressive vocalist Jukka Leppilampi are joined by keyboardist Jarno Sinisalo, whose rich textures on organ, electric piano, string synth, and harpsichord add majestic depth to the band's arrangements. Backed by Wigwam's Jukka Gustavson on backing vocals, the album features intricate melodic craftsmanship on standout tracks like "Uskollinen" and the Herman Hesse-inspired "Lasihelmipeli." This reissue also includes two rare bonus tracks sung by Jukka Salmela, completing the legacy of one of Finland's finest 1970s prog acts.

Released in 1997 on Isosceles Records, Blood Of The Berry is the captivating debut studio album by Atlanta-based progressive rock quartet Timothy Pure. Featuring vocalist/keyboardist Matthew Still, guitarist Zog, bassist Andre Neitzel, and drummer Chris Wallace, the band established their signature sound with a refined blend of atmospheric crossover prog, melodic art rock, and intricate song structures. Moving seamlessly between punchy, hook-driven tracks like "Thieves" and expansive, moody pieces such as "Without Words" and "Magdalena Hell," this debut earned the group critical praise within the late-90s American progressive rock revival.

Released in 1997 on the legendary Greensleeves Records, Ghetto Gramma' captures "The Warlord" Bounty Killer during one of the most explosive and creative eras of golden-age dancehall. Fresh off his international breakthrough, Rodney Price delivers 20 raw, hard-hitting tracks packed with his signature booming baritone, aggressive lyrical delivery, and sharp social commentary. Featuring iconic dancehall anthems like "Book Book Book," "Smoke The Herb," "No No No (World A Respect)," and "War Is Not A Nice Thing," the album showcases Bounty Killer navigating heavy '90s riddims produced by dancehall masterminds like King Jammy, Jeremy Harding, and Bobby Digital. A quintessential 90s dancehall classic.