Saigon Soul Revival has been on a quest to reawaken the raw, enchanting sounds of 1960s and 70s Vietnam; a time when passionate music resonated in Saigon's streets and clubs with messages of love, heartache, hope and freedom. Amongst the turmoil of war, there was a rich cultural climate that fused popular genres of the day like rock, soul and bolero with Vietnamese music and lyrics. This fusion of sounds that bridged east and west became forbidden after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and almost vanished. Four decades later Saigon Soul Revival was born with the initial purpose of bringing these dormant sounds back to the stage. After numerous live performances over the last 3 years, the band has developed their own sound and now, with the release of their debut album “Họa Âm Xưa”, they are ready to share it with the rest of the world.

In this recording entitled Enigma Fortuna, the ensemble La Fonte Musica, directed by Michele Pasotti, aims to shed light on the mysterious and eccentric personality of Antonio Zacara da Teramo (1355-1416). A contemporary of Boccaccio, Donatello and Brunelleschi, this composer from the Abruzzi region could almost be likened to a sort of musical Hieronymus Bosch, for the texts he set to music conjure up a ‘topsy-turvy universe’ where the obscene, the imaginary and the grotesque go hand in hand. In his ballata Amor ne tossa he writes ‘Let him understand me who can, for I understand myself’, foreshadowing the proud egotism of the Romantic artists who were to come 400 years after him. With this four-CD set presenting the world premiere of Zacara’s complete works, La Fonte Musica offers us an initial approach to understanding his music. And thereby, through the timeless character of art, to understanding a so-called ‘renascent’ era that seems as ‘topsy-turvy’ as our own.

Blues From The Inside Out is the most expressive project of Dave Specter’s 35-year career. Featuring his debut as a vocalist, the album is an exciting and timely celebration of blues, soul, jazz, funk and gospel. These are fine times to hear Specter, an evolving artist who embraces growth and discovery.

The legendary BORIS celebrate a 30 year career as one of experimental music's most forward-thinking, heavy, and innovative bands with the new album Heavy Rocks (2022). Continuing their series of Heavy Rocks records, BORIS once again channels the classic proto-metal sounds of the 70s into something all new.

For many recordings that fit thematically in the wintertime, it's all about Christmas. For the a cappella ensemble Schwersterhochfünf, this is going one step too far: The five sisters come from a family which placed special emphasis on singing during Advent. For their album German Advent Songs, the singers go back to their roots and pick up on this beautiful tradition. Here, old songs ranging from Johann Crüger’s Wie Soll ich dich empfangen to modern works such as Gottfried Wolter’s Ich brach drei dürre Reiselein evoke the contemplative mood of comfort and warm candles on the Advent wreath. Because there is little musical material for this unusual setting, a virtue was made out of necessity: Schwesterhochfünf invited befriended composers to write custom arrangements for the well and lesser known Advents songs anew. A additional tone color is given to several of these simple, beautiful songs when the brother of the five sisters accompanies the female voices with his rich bass.