Talisman - Talisman (1990) {2003 2CD European Remaster}

Genre: Hard Rock
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 1995
Label: Rock Treasures

DISC 1:

1. Break your chains

2. Standin' on fire

3. I'll be waiting

4. Dangerous

5. Just between us

6. Queen

7. Lightning strikes

8. Day by Day

9. Women, whiskey & songs

10. Great Sandwich

DISC 2:

1. Break Your Chains (Demo)

2. Under Fire (Demo)

3. If You Need Somebody (Demo)

4. Dangerous (Demo)

5. Oceans (Demo)

6. Lightning Strikes (Demo)

7. Day By Day (Demo)

8. NJBBWD (Demo)

9. Just Between Us (Live)

10. Eternal Flame (Live)

11. Scream Of Anger (Live)

12. NJBBWD (Live)

13. Let Me Love You (Live)

Jeff Scott Soto

-- lead vocals

Marcel Jacob

-- bass

Christopher Stehl

-- guitar

Mats Lindfors

-- guitar

Mats Olausson

-- keyboards

Peter Hermansson

-- drums

Yeah here is the first Talisman album in the orginal Airplay/Vinyl Mania edition, and this group have a fantastic heavy and melodic sound, and Jeff Scott Soto is a fantastic frontman indeed, and the songwriting of Marcel Jacob is really over the top, yeah you probely know everything about this group already, but here is a short story of the group.

Talisman was formed by bass player Marcel Jacob, who had previously played with among others Rising Force, John Norum Group and Power. While Jacob was playing with John Norum, he started working on tracks which he thought would end up on Norum's second solo album. The singer on those demos was Göran Edman, also in John Norum Group at that time. But Norum rejected the songs and, in the meantime, Göran was offered the opportunity to join Yngwie Malmsteen's band.

Jacob found himself with record label interest but no band when he was later contacted by the label which had originally showed some interest in the demos.

Auditions among Swedish vocalist were unsuccessful but Cary Sharaf ex Wasa Express guitar player suggested Jeff Scott Soto: he was called, he got the material and agreed to join the band. Both Soto and Jacob had played on Yngwie Malmsteen's Marching Out in 1985, touring in support of the album to some acclaim, particularly in Japan.

In February 1989 recordings for the first album took place in Stockholm with Christopher Ståhl (Power) and Mats Lindfors (Norum, Grand Slam) on guitars, Peter Hermansson (220 Volt, Norum) playing drums on some tracks and Mats Olausson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Glory) on keyboards. Jacob programmed the rest of drums and played all rhythm guitars with the help of the producer Mats Lindfors on Women, Whiskey and Songs

Unfortunately, Electra, the label Jacob was signed to, went bankrupt just when the mixing was finished and the album'release was delayed. Meanwhile, Soto's US-based project Eyes got signed. Jacob left for Los Angeles to help Eyes demo and record what would be their first release. During this time an employee of the label that had originally signed Talisman moved to a new label and the masters of the first album were bought from the bankrupt label. So Talisman was eventually released in February 1990 on the Airplay/Vinyl Mania label. The first single I'll Be Waiting reached number 2 in Sweden's singles chart and 33,000 copies of the album were sold in two months in Sweden.

Еpica - The Phantom Agony 2003

Genre: symphonic metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 2003
Label: The End Records

1. Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)

2. Sensorium

3. Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 4)

4. Feint

5. Illusive Consensus

6. Facade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 5)

7. Run for a Fall

8. Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 6)

9. Phantom Agony

Simone Simons

-- mezzo-soprano

Mark Jansen

-- guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements

Ad Sluijter

-- guitars

Coen Janssen

-- synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements

Yves Huts

-- bass guitar

Jeroen Simons

-- drums

Epica Orchestra:

Thomas Glöckner - violin

Andreas Pfaff - violin

Tobias Rempe - violin

Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola

David Schlage - viola

Jörn Kellermann - cello

Cordula Rhode - cello

Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass

Epica Choir:

Melvin Edmonsen - bass

Previn Moore - tenor

Bridget Fogle - alto

Cinzia Rizzo - alto

Annie Goeble - soprano

Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach

Additional musicians

Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer

Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"

Marcel, ProgPower Online, 7/03

"A new chapter in the successful book of Gothic Metal is written by guitarist and composer Mark Jansen (ex-After Forever), so forget everything you have heard so far and prepare yourself for the awesome beauty of Epica. Inspired by the Arab culture, Epica brings a unique blend of classical orchestra and choir, brutal grunts and screams and the exquisite mezzo soprano vocals of Simone Simons. (...) From the moment you hear the first notes of ‘Adyta’, you are captured by the beautiful and mysterious atmosphere of 'The Phantom Agony', where Arab and Latin influences are mixed with powerful drums and shredding guitars and garnished with grunts and screams by Mark Jansen. Vocalist Simone Simons is a true revelation, as she seemed to have walked right out of an opera, straight into Epica, and it is a pure delight to hear her sing. The use of a real choir as well as choir samples add to the atmosphere in the songs. (...) Of course, if you listen to The Phantom Agony, you hear a sound which is very similar to After Forever, no surprise as mark Jansen was one of the main songwriters in After Forever. However, do not make the mistake to view Epica as just a clone of After Forever! Epica is an entirely separate band with their own sound, that differs enough from After Forever, as it is less metal and more classical influences...."

Jon Lord - Windows (1974)

Genre: Jon Lord Music
Format: ape + cue + log
Released: 1974
Label: Purple Records

1. Continuo on B.A.C.H

2. Window - 1st Movement - Renga

3. Window - 2nd Movement - Gemini

4. Window - 3rd Movement - Alla Marcia Allegro

Glenn Hughes

-- Bass and vocals

JON LORD

-- Keyboards

Tony Ashton

-- Vocals

David Coverdale

-- Vocals

Pete York

-- Drums

Ray Fenwick

-- Guitar

Orchestra Opera conducted by Eberhard Schoener

Review by purple records

"Windows" was Jon's fourth experiment at merging elements of rock and classical music, and was recorded live during June 1974. Jon had been asked by German festival organisers to perform a special concert in Munich, and got together with conductor Eberhard Schoener to compose a new piece especially for the evening. In fact, two works were performed. WINDOW comprised three movements, including a reworked section from his earlier album GEMINI SUITE. The second piece, CONTINUO ON BACH, saw Jon and Eberhard having his stab at finishing a composition which had been left uncompleted upon Bach's death. The piece had been put together for a German show the previous year, but this was the first time it had been recorded.

The Munich Chamber Opera Orchestra performed alongside Jon Lord, fellow Deep Purple players David Coverdale (vocals) and Glenn Hughes (bass), and a host of rock luminaries including Ray Fenwick, Pete York, Tony Ashton, and others - with Eberhard Schoener on moog.

Windows is at times a demanding listen, but the ever-changing musical textures, and the sheer quality of the performances, have delighted and intrigued listeners for twenty five years now.

The original gatefold album was deleted back in the late seventies, and is now a very collectable artifact. This exclusive 25th anniversary reissue will be welcomed by fans everywhere, especially in the UK where it has never been issued on CD. The CD has been cut from the original quarter inch Abbey Road masters for the best possible sound quality while the 12 page colour booklet carries detailed notes, plus contemporary cuttings and memorabilia.