Various Artists - Popular Songs from Paraguay - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Paraguayan harp music is unique, and stands out as a favorite for harpists the world over? not least for it's driving rhythms, compelling melodies and rich ornamentation. InchGreetings, AmericaInch Maitei America, in the Guarani Indian language, boasts three generations of Paraguay's best harpists spinning out classic compositions steeped in over four centuries of history. The preeminent, tradition-hewn polca paraguaya musical form is infused with intensely fresh, mind-opening improvisations by master musicians Nicolas Caballero, Martin Portillo, Marcelo Rojas, Miguel Angel Valdez, and Kike Pedersen. 20 tracks, 65 minutes, 20+ page booklet.

The organ duo Marion Krall and Lars Schwarze take us to enchanted lands with their new GENUIN album, playing their own transcriptions of great orchestral works for organ with four hands and four feet. Since the Baroque era, orchestral works have been transcribed for the organ. Even today, the instrument's various colors make it possible to discover new, unexpected, but equally rich sounds in seemingly familiar works. The internationally awarded duo has now recorded works by Paul Dukas, Edward Elgar, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky. The contemporary contribution is the radiant tone poem Kalliope by the Austrian composer Franz Danksagmüller, which is positively overflowing with imagination. A surprising album featuring the sound of the organ in all it's grandeur and moments of true intimacy.

Jesus Jones (Mike Edwards - guitar, vocals; Tony de Borg - guitars; Al Doughty - bass; Gen - drums; and Iain Baker - keyboards, samples) arrived on the scene in 1989 with three charting singles and debut album InchLiquidizerInch. The band followed this with many more hit singles and the very successful albums InchDoubtInch (1991), InchPerverseInch (1993) and InchAlreadyInch (1997). After the fifth album InchLondonInch (2001) and the InchCulture VultureInch EP (2004), the band took a lengthy break. • Keyboard player Iain Baker took over the band's management at the end of 2010. It took a few years to get the band into the studio, but preceded by the singles InchHow's This Even Going DownInch and InchSuck It UpInch in 2016, the independently-released InchPassagesInch arrived in April 2018. • Here's what Iain Baker has to say about this album Mike did what he wanted to do write songs, and not be bothered by external distractions. InchPassagesInch was perhaps Mike's most personal record since InchPerverseInch, yet it had also become hugely personal to me. A parallel identity, documenting everything I'd done. I look back on InchPassagesInch with a huge amount of pride. • The album is pressed on 140g translucent yellow vinyl.