The release of ANA marked the return of Ralph Towner the solo artist. Following the 17-year gap since his Solo Concert, the Washington-born guitarist/pianist/composer had certainly left behind some immense shoes to fill on that earlier masterpiece. Yet once the strains of “The Reluctant Bride” ladle their waters over our ears, we know that comparison is a dirty word. The depth of nocturnal energy bespeaks an artist of even deeper resolve, one who approaches his guitar pluralistically. The tenderness therein introduces us to a colorful mosaic of programming. Lobbing bright yellows over muted blues in “Tale of Saverio,” Towner looks skyward while never forgetting the earth that bore him. As in the music of Dino Saluzzi, we sense children and laughter mixed into a nostalgic cocktail…

Expanded 50th anniversary edition of King Crimson’s first non-album single from 1970, featuring artwork derived from Peter Sinfield’s original 7” cover.
Featuring Cat Food (single version), Groon (original single B-side), a live version of Cat Food performed by the current KC line-up in Toronto in September 2019, and an alternate mix of the album version of Cat Food prepared by David Singleton as part of the KC50 digital series.

Two electronic artists from the western US, Craig Padilla and Paul Ellis, join forces to create 72 minutes of enjoyable electronic music. Echo System is clearly inspired by the classic 70's electronic synth masters (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, etc.) However, rather than simply imitating the pioneers, Padilla and Ellis draw inspitration from them, infusing their own distinct styles, and adding depth and interest to an all too often two-dimensional musical form. Craig and Paul spent two years fine-tuning Echo System, and it is sure to appeal to long time fans of electronic music. Definitely a must for fans of Padilla or Ellis' previous works, and a great introduction to those discovering either of them for the first time.