Belgium had a small but strong metal scene back in the '80s, which continues today. Speed Queen has been around for over 10 years but are just getting their debut album out in 2025, and joins the fray begun by groups like Killer, Crossfire and Ostrogoth with that same mix of loose, fast playing and youthful energy and enthusiasm on …with a Bang! It is an album defined by simple, direct songs about sex, booze and the heavy metal lifestyle and, if not for the smooth, modern production values, could have been a "lost" release from the mid-80s!

Widely regarded as one of Canada's best jazz singers, Russian-born, Toronto-based vocalist Sophie Milman changes tact slightly for her fourth studio album, In the Moonlight. The twinkling piano chords, shuffling, brushed stroke rhythms, and gentle brass instrumentation which defined her previous output are still very much in evidence, but having traveled to New York to record with producer Matt Pierson (Jane Monheit, Michael Franks), the Juno Award winner has capitalized on the opportunity to expand her sound by inviting a string ensemble on board for the first time in her career. However, avoiding the temptation to smother the timeless, smoky, jazz bar arrangements in layers of bombastic layers of strings, the pair only use their newly recruited musicians sparingly and when needed, with only the Duke Ellington standards "Prelude to a Kiss" and "Day Dream," and the Umbrellas of Cherbourg number "Watch What Happens" offering anything more than the occasional orchestral flourish.

The Very Best of Marianne Faithfull' is a particularly strong collection of Marianne's earliest recordings made for Decca between 1964 to 1968. This album contains every one of her singles which made the charts both in Britain and America during those fruitful four years.

Japanese Jazz legend Tsuyoshi Yamamoto's new album, A Shade Of Blue, undoubtedly reflects his love of the piano trio, a group configuration that in jazz history began in the 1940s with Nat King Cole and then was developed in the 50s by innovators like Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, and Bill Evans. Yamamoto's highly experienced trio - which has a combined age of 215 years - features bassist Hiroshi Kagawa and drummer Toshio Osumi. A Shade Of Blue reveals the three musicians' incredible musical chemistry; listening to the ten tracks they've recorded together, it's as if they breathe, think, and feel as one person; such is the musical empathy between them.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2004, Kris Kristofferson’s place in music history is assured as the writer of such classics as “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, “For The Good Times”, “Me And Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, all included here. These songs have been huge hits for the likes of Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Al Green, Andy Williams, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and Johnny Cash. Kristofferson has also had hits with his songs in own right, including the duets “It Sure Was (Love”), “Lover Please” and “Give It Time To Be Tender” with his wife Rita Coolidge. And these recordings were made by Nashville’s top producers: Fred Foster, David Anderle, Dennis Linde, Chips Moman and Norbert Putnam.