Bruno Bavota is an Italian composer who carefully works in the shaded area between classical and neoclassical. He made three full albums of which Mediterraneo (2015) was reviewed on this site.
This spring he made a tour in Japan, but seeing him at work in the north of the Alps seemed an impossible wish. But miracles happen and so you can see him ‘live’ in Flanders this autumn.

October 20: CC Hasselt (2100 hours)
October 31: Urgent FM (Ghent, 1800 hours)
November 1: Room concert in Leuven (1500 hours)
Enthusiasts of classical and neoclassical have been warned
We will keep you informed!

www.ccha.be/1516

Black says of the song: “That was my attempt to write a song like The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy”, even though the song’s lyrics, “All I want to do is play you Northern Soul records, while you’re lying next to me until late in the night”, suggest a different inspiration.

“It’s a shame really, because we first played it live in 2013 and then the film Northern Soul came out so everyone will think I’m copying that, but I’m not”, says Black. “The truth is, I’m not even a massive Northern Soul fan. My special subject on Mastermind is the complete works of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. But one night, my wife and I listened to Blowing Up My Mind by The Exciters, and I decided to write a song about it. Any references in the song, like [legendary Northern Soul mecca] Wigan Casino, are a product of Wikipedia and Google”.

The song showcases the two main sentiments of The Boombox Ballads; the first been that this is Sweet Baboo’s naked attempt to emulate his heroes and secondly, that the resulting record reads as a love letter to a loved one.

 On The Boombox Ballads, Sweet Baboo wanted to explore more what it was to be a ‘Singer’ as opposed to a ‘Singer Songwriter’, a term - that to him at least - seems to have picked up some negative connotations in recent years. With that in mind, there was a tentative channeling of Harry Nilsson and latter day Scott Walker (‘You Got Me Time Keeping’) in both his songwriting and by working with an arranger (Paul Jones) for the first time who helped him paint the most vivid accompaniments possible.

A native of the North Wales countryside, The Boombox Ballads follows Black’s Motorhome Songs EP, his 2013’s acclaimed Ships and 2010’s I’m A Dancer / Songs About Sleeping – both nominated for the Welsh Music Prize.

Sweet Baboo’s dry wit and melodic flair have seen him become a firm favourite with BBC 6Music’s Marc Riley (who has had him in session more than any other artist), and deservedly recognised as one of the country’s finest performers.

Following his spectacular show in London last month – where Stephen was joined by a string quartet and an all new band, Black has announced a full tour of the UK for autumn including London’s Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.

"Stoneground Words” was the first album in the UK to be released on her own label (Neighborhood Records) in 1972. 

Regarded by many Melanie fans as her finest album. 

The booklet includes all the photos that were part of the original album release. 

Features two bonus tracks ‘Bitter Bad’ a 1973 single that was not featured on any album and ‘Seeds’ (Long Version) that includes her recitation of the ‘Gather Me’ Poem. 

All songs were written by Melanie with the exception of ‘My Rainbow Race’ which is a Pete Seeger song. 

Singles taken from the album were ‘Together Alone’ and ‘Do You Believe’. 

UK music publication Melody Maker hailed this album as "the most sophisticated she’s made”. 

Available for the first time on CD. 

Track Listing:

1. TOGETHER ALONE 

2. BETWEEN THE ROAD SIGNS 

3. SUMMER WEAVING 

4. MY RAINBOW RACE 

5. DO YOU BELIEVE 

6. I AM NOT A POET (NIGHT SONG) 

7. STONEGROUND WORDS 

8. SONG OF THE SOUTH 

9. MAYBE I WAS (A GOLF BALL) 

10. HERE I AM 

BONUS TRACKS 

11. BITTER BAD 

12. SEEDS (INCLUDES ‘GATHER ME’ POEM) 

"Madrugada” (Portuguese for Daybreak) was a 1974 release on Neighborhood Records. 

Melanie was already known as a great songwriter and this album highlighted the fact that she was also a brilliant interpreter of other people’s songs. So along with six originals by Melanie we also have ‘Lover’s Cross’ (Jim Croce),‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ (Woody Guthrie), ‘Wild Horses’ (Jagger/Richards), ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’ (Randy Newman) and ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ (Goffin/King). 

Includes the Bonus Track ‘I Am Being Guided’ which was not available on the UK release. 

Singles taken from the album were ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ a UK Top 40 Hit, ‘Love To Lose Again’ and ‘Lover’s Cross’. 

The critics raved: "Madrugada contains a flawless rendering of Jim Croce’s ‘Lover’s Cross’ and is easily her most acclaimed album to date”. 

"Melanie is at her best.. innovative and captivating”. 

"Melanie never sounded better”. 

"Superb…overwhelming powerful vocals… thoroughly enjoyable” 

Available for the first time on CD. 

Track Listing: 

1. LOVE TO LOSE AGAIN 

2. LOVER’S CROSS 

3. PRETTY BOY FLOYD 

4. WILD HORSES 

5. I THINK IT’S GOING TO RAIN TODAY 

6. WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW 

7. MAYBE NOT FOR A LIFETIME 

8. HOLDING OUT 

9. THE ACTRESS 

10. PINE AND FEATHER 

BONUS TRACK 

11. I AM BEING GUIDED 

 "As I See It Now” was a 1974 release on Neighborhood Records. 

Contains 9 Melanie originals plus songs by Bob Dylan, Jesse Winchester, Gus Kahn/Walter Donaldson and Ritchie Valens. 

The bonus track ‘La Bamba’ is a rarity that was only released in Italy as a single. 

The album features a host of great backing musicians including Mike Heron and Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band. 

‘Chart Song’ was recorded live at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London.

Singles taken from the album were ‘Sweet Misery’ and ‘You’re Not A Bad Ghost, Just An Old Song’. 

Available for the first time on CD. 

Track Listing:

1. YANKEE MAN 

2. YOU’RE NOT A BAD GHOST, JUST AN OLD 

SONG 

3. RECORD MACHINE 

4. EYES OF MAN 

5. STARS UP THERE 

6. DON’T THINK TWICE, IT’S ALL RIGHT 

7. SWEET MISERY 

8. MONONGAHELA RIVER 

9. YES SIR, THAT’S MY BABY 

10. AUTUMN LADY 

11. CHART SONG 

12. AS I SEE IT NOW 

BONUS TRACK 

13. LA BAMBA 

"Sunset And Other Beginnings” was a 1975 release on Neighborhood Records. 

Contains 8 Melanie originals plus great versions of Broadway and popular standards.

On her renditions of ‘Almost Like Being In Love’ and ‘Ol’ Man River’ rock critic Jack Kelly said "she lifts them bodily out of cliché corner with treatments so different and apt it makes you wonder why someone didn’t see the possibilities long before Melanie did”. 

The bonus track ‘Beautiful People’ was recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall, London on 6th October 1975. It was released originally as the B Side to the ‘Almost Like Being In Love’ single. 

Available for the first time on CD. 

Track Listing: 

1. PERCEIVE IT 

2. ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE 

3. LOVING MY CHILDREN 

4. YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE / MAMA SAID 

5. PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING READY 

6. OL’ MAN RIVER 

7. I’VE GOT MY MOJO WORKING 

8. WHERE’S THE BAND 

9. DREAM SELLER (MEET ME ON THE CORNER) 

10. WHAT DO I KEEP 

11. SANDMAN 

12. THE SUN AND THE MOON 

13. AFRAID OF THE DARK 

BONUS TRACK 

14. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (LIVE VERSION) 

Yuka & Chronoship was formed in 2009 by Yuka Funakoshi (one of the most distinguished female prog-rock artists in the world) and three experienced session musicians (Shun Taguchi, Takashi Miyazawa, and Ikko Tanaka). Via MUSEA (France), the band have released two albums in 31 countries. 

The setting of the band’s third album is the Earth or the third planet from the Sun. "The Third Planetary Chronicles” is a grandiose concept album themed with scientific/technological revolutions in the human history: stone-age, Copernican theory, industrial revolution, and theory of relativity. 

"Water Reincarnation”, the band’s first album released in 2011, is centred around the theme of perpetual and cyclic transmigration of water. 

Their second album in 2013, "Dino Rocket Oxygen”, is comprised of three suites, and the album cover was designed by Roger Dean. 

The band has been expanding their popularity with live performances overseas: Prog’ Sud 2013 (Marseille, France) and Festival Crescendo 2014 (Saint Palais sur Mer, France). In 2015, Yuka & Chronoship will appear at 2Dasy Prog+ 2015 and Veruno Prog Fes (Italy).

Track Listing:

1. BIRTH OF THE EARTH - COLLISION 

2. STONE AGE 

3. GALILEO I - AND YET IT MOVES ( E PUR SI MUOVE ) 

4. GALILEO II - COPERNICAN THEORY 

5. BIRTH OF THE EARTH - MERGER 

6. AGE OF STEAM 

I. PASTORAL GARDEN 

II. MACHINE CITY 

7. WRIGHT FLYER 1903 

8. ON THE RADIO 

9. BIRTH OF THE EARTH - MAGMA OCEAN 

10. E = C#M 

11. I AM THEE ( AWAKENING OF CLONEROID ) 

12. BIRTH OF THE EARTH - EMBRYONIC PLANET 

'COME & SEE ME is a double CD of 60’s female Beat, Mod, Northern Soul and Psych from the world’s greatest musical melting pot - Australia and New Zealand. 

This collection is based on the successful RPM Records 'Dream Babes' series which ran for 8 volumes, and is a must have addition for all collectors of that series. 

The accompanying 20 page booklet is bristling with colour and excitement to match the tone of the music. With rare photos and great stories, this is a detailed insight into a fascinating adjunct to the 60’s Femme Pop genre.

Whilst cutting their own sounds the ‘down under’ scene also naturally drew on musical influences from the US and UK. The cross pollination with the UK inevitable following the gigantic migration during the 50’s and 60’s, with two of the biggest names, Sandy Edmonds and Lynne Randell, born in Liverpool. Others went on to have further careers in the UK. 

The tracks on COME & SEE ME are taken from a wide range of labels ; from the Aus-NZ branches of the larger companies such as Philips, CBS, EPIC, HMV , Polydor to the successful indies Festival , Impact, Viking , Astor ,Sunshine, Zodiac , Allied International, GO , Clarion and more. Yet via this collection mostly released outside Aus-NZ for the first time. 

All tracks hard to find these days. 11 tracks also released on CD for the first time, with one more previously unreleased altogether. 

This is the second in RPM’s series of collaborations with Frenzy Productions in New Zealand following the Larry’s Rebels album. Created and Produced by Aus-NZ music expert Grant Gillanders. Grant’s ‘Quin-Tiki’s’ collection is currently no.1 in the NZ album charts. 

Track Listing: 

DISC ONE

1. When You Walk In The Room - SANDY EDMONDS 

2. The Rebel Kind - THE CHICKS 

3. Saturday Date -TONI McCANN 

4. He's Ready - THE CLEVEDONAIRES 

5. Someone Cares For Me - THE FIELD TWINS 

6. Be My Baby - JOY LEMMON 

7. Come And See Me - SANDY EDMONDS 

8. No - TONI McCANN 

9. Hard Loving Loser - GWYNN OWEN 

10. See You Sam - APRIL BYRON 

11. What Am I Doing Here With You - THE CHICKS 

12. Stranger In My Arms - LYNNE RANDELL 

13. Let's Take A Stroll With Allison Durbin Ad - 

ALLISON DURBIN 

14. Yo Yo - ALLISON DURBIN 

15. Soul Time - SANDY EDMONDS 

16. Ambush - MARIA DALLAS 

17. Bad Reputation - THE EXECUTIVES 

18. That's When Happiness Began - GWYNN 

OWEN 

19. You're Messin' Up My Mind - JUDY JACQUES 

20. That's A Hoe Down - LYNNE RANDELL 

21. Working On A Groovy Thing - ALLISON 

DURBIN 

22. Hey, Beach Boy - DONNA GAYE 

23. Do You Want To Dance - THE CHICKS with 

PETER POSA 

24. I Am A Ginger Group Girl ad - ROCHELLE 

VINSEN & THE PLEASERS 

25. I Wanna Swim With Him - ROCHELLE VINSEN 

26. He's My Boy - CATHY HOWE 

27. Little People - YVONNE BARRETT 

DISC TWO

1. You Were Born For Me - THE TUNESPINNERS 

2. Moving In A Circle - THE EXECUTIVES 

3. Sunshine River - GEMINI 

4. I Think I Just Lost Out - LYNNE PIKE 

5. You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies - FIA 

KARIN 

6. Society's Child - JUDY STONE 

7. You Won't Forget Me - THE CHICKS 

8. Heaven Is The Place - JUDY DONALDSON 

9. The Proud One - THE NEWFOLK 

10. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - JANICE 

SLATER 

11. There's A Scarlet River Running - THE 

VALARIA VENGERS 

12. Leave Me Alone - RONNIE AND DOUGAL 

13. You've Done Your Best - THE TUNESPINNERS 

14. High Flying Bird - MAGGIE HAMMOND 

15. Midnight Bus - BETTY McQUADE 

16. Go Laddie - MAGGIE HAMMOND 

17. A Lone Time Comin' - THE CHICKS 

18. I'll Forgive You, Then Forget You - DINAH LEE 

19. Jet Girl Ad - ALLISON DURBIN 

20. I Have Loved Me A Man (version 1) - ALLISON DURBIN 

21. I Can Hear The Picture - JUDY DONALDSON 

22. Given Time - LYNNE PIKE 

23. Beat The Clock - THE SHEVELLES 

24. Quiet - MARCIE JONES 

25. I Love How You Love Me - THE FAIR SECT PLUS ONE 

26. Come On Down - DINAH LEE 

27. Clings The Thing Ad - DINAH LEE 

28. She Would Not Fade - SCRA feat Sheryl Black