The 2004 remastered releases of all the ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN cds celebrate their 25th anniversary with bonus tracks of unreleased material and demos.

SPLENDID RETURN TO FORM FROM MAC&CO. LUSH STRING AND HORN ARRANGEMENTS THAT BRING TO MIND BACHARACH AND LEE HAZELWOOD ARE BALANCED WITH INTROSPECTIVE LYRICS ABOUT SECOND CHANCES. THEIR BEST SINCE OCEAN RAIN.

Legendary BEATLES producer GEORGE MARTIN revisits his favorite BEATLES songs with guests JIM CARREY, ROBIN WILLIAMS, GOLDIE HAWN, PHIL COLLINS, CELINE DION, JEFF BECK, SEAN CONNERY, and more.

This third album from French musician Melody Prochet continues to draw from the silky dream pop of COCTEAU TWINS and BEACH HOUSE as well as electro psych-funk in the mold of TAME IMPALA or later TORO Y MOI. Added is a newer sense of lyrical and sonic clarity, weaving ideas on growth and hardship through arrangements that have never sounded so simultaneously dense and airy. Another excellent record for Prochet. RECOMMENDED.

Chicago's own MINSK return with their third full- length of harrowing doom! Drone-y & melodic as well as harsh & punishing, these guys are able to take a genre with huge limitations & make something unique & amazing out of it. Fans of the mighty NEUROSIS should check this out, but not just because it's slow - MINSK use all sorts of bizarre sounds to mess with your brain while attacking you with the standard drums, bass, & guitar combo. GET THIS!!!

With spacious production provided by CHRIS TAYLOR of GRIZZLY BEAR fame, the MORNING BENDERS stretch their post-rock sound out on their sophomore album. Some of these songs have a straight rock thing going on, but for the most part, the MORNING BENDERS stick to an ambling pace, letting their songs arrive at the end seemingly whenever they want.

2007's "City of Echoes" brings PELICAN's third journey through the lyric-less world of epic instrumentation. The songs on this album are a bit more concentrated, and shorter. This is not to say that they are not "epic." Crashing symbol work, grinding bass lines, and, of course, guitar riffs that take the place of a singer. That is to say the guitars duel and compete for prominence, and then suddenly harmonize and interlock to form triumphant, instrumental soliloquies. Giving this a quick listen is not really doing this album justice. "City of Echoes" is a well-crafted, exercise in the genre of instrumental, spacious rock. You just may want to buy this, and listen to it LOUD!!!

includes WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE from the WALL but NOT on the Wall album

Indigo Sparke is a songwriter from Australia & her debut album was produced by Adrianne Lenker of BIG THIEF. Imagine Lenker's solo material but with a darker take & nods to Angel Olsen & Leonard Cohen.