The Orb virtually invented the electronic genre known as ambient house, resurrecting slower, more soulful rhythms and providing a soundtrack for early-morning ravers once the clubs closed their doors. Frontman Dr. Alex Paterson's formula was quite simple: he slowed down the rhythms of classic Chicago house and added synth work and effects inspired by '70s ambient pioneers Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream. To make the whole a bit more listenable - as opposed to danceable - obscure vocal samples were looped, usually providing a theme for tracks that lacked singing. The group popularized the genre by appearing on the British chart show Top of the Pops and hitting number one in the U.K. with the 1992 album U.F.Orb. The Orb managed to remain signed to Island Records throughout the '90s, even as they were releasing some of their most challenging work (Pomme Fritz, Orbus Terrarum)…

The opera Šárka could be termed a joint work of deep love and feeling. Zdenek Fibich composed it at the end of the 19th century to the libretto of Anežka Schulzová, his pupil and love of his life. The story of Šárka loosely links up to the action of the festive opera Libuše, created by Bedrich Smetana. It depicts the outbreak of the so-called Maidens’ War following the death of the mythical Princess, when women wanted to regain the privileges they had once enjoyed under Libuše’s reign.

The Wild Life box set is three CDs and includes a remarkably generous selection of audio - 25 bonus tracks including rough mixes of the album, original single edits, B-sides, home recordings and other previously unreleased material. The packaging looks consistent with the last few, so what you have is a slipcase into which slot a few books. The "main" book is a 128-page tome written by David Fricke which tells the story of the album etc., but there is also a 48-page scrapbook of tour diaries (from the 1972 tour), lyrics, setlists, unpublished polaroids and the like.
The irony of the first Wings album is that it seems more domesticated than Ram, feeling more like a Paul McCartney 'n' Linda effort than that record. Perhaps it's because this album is filled with music that's defiantly lightweight - not just the cloying cover of "Love Is Strange" but two versions apiece of songs called "Mumbo" and "Bip Bop"…

Bob Margolin continues to pay homage to Muddy Waters with each record he cuts and this debut for Blind Pig is no exception. His slide playing is Waters to a tee while his songwriting chops stay firmly in the mold of what Waters himself would come up with, albeit less inspired. Margolin's band is a three-piece knockoff of the old Waters band with Tad Waleters blowing harp in the Little Walter tradition while drummer Wes Johnson supplies a solid Chicago beat, no frills or overplaying out of any of them. If you like your Chicago blues served up '50s style without a lot of technical niceties, this album's right up your alley.

The tunes are instantly recognizable: well-known standards such as "All The Things You Are", "Over The Rainbow" or "Autumn Leaves". And yet the listener always has the impression of hearing something completely new. On "Painting Music", Danish pianist Carsten Dahl gives his own take on some of the great classics of the jazz repertoire in a way that is highly personal, resolutely individual and completely revelatory.

Live in New York is a six-disc box set of four complete concerts performed American rock band the Doors on January 17 and 18, 1970 at the Felt Forum in New York City. Two shows were played each night, with 8:00pm and 11:00pm scheduled start times on January 17, and 7:30pm and 10:00pm scheduled start times on January 18. The final show featured an extended encore with guests John Sebastian (harmonica and vocals) and Dallas Taylor (percussion) that concluded around 2:30am. Select tracks were previously released on the Doors' live album In Concert and as part of The Doors: Box Set. About a third of the material was previously unreleased.

A truly sensational find, Atlantis Lullaby presents a never-before-heard performance recorded in Avignon, France. Featuring Yusef Lateef in a quartet set with fellow stars Kenny Barron, Bob Cunningham and Albert “Tootie” Heath. Among the highlights are a fantastic flute/piano duet by Lateef and Barron playing the pianist’s beautiful ballad, “A Flower,” as well as extended readings of the classic, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” Lateef’s “Yusef’s Mood,” and Barron’s “The Untitled.” This project was produced by the renowned Zev Feldman and released in collaboration with the Yusef Lateef Estate. The audio has been transferred and newly remastered from the original concert tapes licensed from the archives of the Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (INA).

Live In Koln 1979. In The Shadow Of The Dom is already the third release in the series presenting unique SBB concerts from the 1970s. This time we propose one of the series of three appearances in Cologne that they had venue in September 1979. It is a concert full of spontaneity and improvisation - a unique opportunity to hear the band at their peak, giving up playing their most famous pieces for an hour and a half of musical story - composed hot. Live In Koln 1979. In The Shadow Of The Dom will surprise all progressive rock fans - it is rare to find such lightness in creating the mood and playing with colors and sounds.

On "Your Requests" Canadian singer and pianist Laila Biali fulfills the musical wishes of her fans. Fresh versions of classics from the Great American Songbook with a prominent line-up featuring Kurt Elling, Larnell Lewis, Grégoire Maret, Anat Cohen, Emilie-Claire Barlow and many more.

Sam Shepherd aka Floating Points has announced his new album Cascade will be released on 13 September via Ninja Tune. Along with the announcement Shepherd has shared lead single 'Key103' which comes with visuals continuing his ongoing collaboration with Tokyo based artist Akiko Nakayama.