Rada Neal Releases Solo Piano Album ’13th Threads’

May 16, 2025

Immerse yourself in the heartfelt world of 13th Threads, a collection of original solo piano pieces composed and performed by Rada Neal. This deeply expressive album offers a journey through the emotional landscapes of memory, love, and serenity—each note a gentle companion for quiet moments of reflection.

Through the universal language of instrumental music, Rada captures the highs and lows of the human experience, allowing listeners from all walks of life to connect with the soul of each melody.

The album concludes with a unique and meditative experience: A series of short musical themes, presented in six sets of six, each offering a few minutes of contemplative calm. These unnamed pieces are designed to center the mind and soothe the spirit, perfect for moments of introspection or mindfulness.

13th Threads is more than an album—it’s a sanctuary of sound, an emotional landscape painted in piano, and an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what matters most.

Rada Neal began her life in a refugee camp in Germany, the daughter of two Yugoslavian refugees. Her family survived and her parents realized their dream of moving their family to a safe and prosperous environment, moving to Indiana soon after World War II. Rada’s first piano was given to her family by their neighbors, who were moving and didn’t wish to take their heavy piano with them. Eight men were seen lowering the piano down the stairs into Rada’s family’s basement. Rada was curious about the instrument, and as soon as her mother noticed her interest, piano lessons began.

Fast forward and Rada has graduated from The School of Music @ Indiana University and performed in a concert @ Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry and the 1987 Super Bowl halftime show. Composing music came later in life. Rada has 13 cds of original compositions and 1 cd of her personal Christmas arrangements. She continues to write, practice and perform for private events. Her music can be heard on all the major streaming platforms.

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Peter Calandra Releases Album ‘Night Mist’

May 16, 2025

Drift into the stillness of twilight with Night Mist — a contemplative, ambient pianocentric album from acclaimed composer and pianist Peter Calandra. Known for his evocative and cinematic style, Calandra invites listeners into a world of gentle melodies, delicate textures, and atmospheric soundscapes.

Each track on Night Mist unfolds like a quiet conversation with the night — introspective, calm, and emotionally resonant. The piano takes center stage, evoking the hush of evening rain, the rustle of leaves, and the distant shimmer of stars.

“Peter Calandra, with an extensive background in Broadway, has an ability to create moments of tranquility and contemplation in today’s frenetic, fast paced world offering listeners a retreat through his music.” (MelodicMag.Com:)

Peter Calandra is a prolific composer and keyboard player. Three of his albums — First Light (2015), The Road Home (2017) and Carpe Noctem (2018) were nominated for ZMR Awards. His jazz funk track, Neptune Beach was a 2023 Hollywood Independent Music Awards Nominee while another jazz based track, Bleecker Street, was the 2023 Clouzine Magazine “Best Jazz Funk” winner. In 2024 his track Mixed Emotions was a Hollywood Independent Music Awards Nominee. In 2025 his track September In Rio was the 2025 Clouzine Magazine Best Brazilian song.

Calandra has scored over 100 films and written over 2000 compositions for television. He has composed the FIFA World Cup Theme for FOX Sports, the Special Olympics World Games and Invictus Games Theme for ESPN and the Kennedy Center Honors from 2015 thru 2020. As a keyboard player he performed in the Broadway productions of Miss Saigon, The Lion King, Les Miserables, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Little Shop Of Horrors. He also performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, NY Pops Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Don Cherry, Aretha Franklin, Allen Ginsberg, Annie Golden, Donna McKechnie, Lillianne Montevecchi, and spent 16 years as the keyboard player in the NYC-based Climax Band, the creative vehicle for artist and musician Larry Rivers.

Currently, Calandra is on the faculty at the Aaron Copland School Of Music at Queens College, CUNY teaching Audio/MIDI, Film Scoring and Music Composition to both graduate and undergraduate students. He is also a Yamaha Endorsed Artist.

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Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Album ‘Songs From Atlantis’

May 1, 2025

In their latest album, Songs from Atlantis, Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch re-imagine deities and figures from antiquity. Their album creates an esoteric impression of an ancient mythical kingdom, when Poseidon ruled the undersea and the Augur interpreted the will of the gods.

The music on Songs from Atlantis is in turn mystical, powerful and reflective. The textures range from glistening harmonics to diving liquid slides. Some of the music is almost aqueous, with resonator guitars producing a type of whale song while lyres evoke an idea of Ancient Greece.

Kilbey and Koch have created a highly contrasting collection of songs and moods, ranging from the haunting tenderness of Calliope’s Song to the grinding majesty of Hyperion’s Oar. Shimmering and water-like, the music and lyrics evoke the lives of ancient gods, servant girls and soothsayers.

Atlantis, an island mentioned in Plato’s works, is described as an empire that ruled all parts of the world. After falling out of favour with the deities the city is subsumed into the Atlantic Ocean.

What unites the musical spheres of an Australian rock icon and a Viennese-trained classical musician?

The answer lies in a shared aesthetic and approach to their craft. There is a wistful and haunting lilt to the Kilbey/Koch songs, as they float seamlessly through a narrative of fallen crowns and enchanted gardens. To compliment the poignant lyrics is a delicious instrumentation, weaving and waif-like, alternately brimming with rhythmic drive.

Steve Kilbey, also known as the frontman of veteran rock band The Church, has generated a lifetime of beautifully crafted songs. His subtly esoteric lyrics create an aura of mystery, posing questions and teasing the listener with riddle-like answers.

Gareth Koch is a European-born classical guitarist and composer who has recorded most of the major repertoire. His compositional style reflects a lifelong engagement with classical, folk, rock and flamenco music. Although not easy to define, Koch’s music is often characterised by medieval gestures, influenced by the unrequited longing style of the French Trouveres (singer-poets) of the 12th century.

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Stephen Wallack Releases Album ‘Open’

March 27, 2025

The last couple of years have been an intense period of reflection and gratitude. Reflecting on the chaotic world that we live in, it can be difficult to find the beauty in the lives we each live. My personal journey has been trying to “open” myself up to new ideas, new people, and challenging myself to see life through multiple lenses. We all have gifts to share with the world that make it a better place, but finding that confidence, patience and grace can be easier said than done.

OPEN is my journey to connect with a deeper self-awareness and a greater hope that we can all find that inner peace we so desperately need.

“When I write,” Wallack says, “I picture the music moving to film.”

At age fourteen, Wallack took a leap of faith: he stopped playing the music he was hearing and started playing the music he was imagining. Overflowing with ideas, emotions, and concepts, music became the natural manner Wallack expressed himself. Inspired by the grandiose feelings of George Winston’s music and the rich imagery within film scores, Wallack set out on his path as a writer – a path whose direction became clearer through the help of a friend named Mike McCready.

Mike McCready, better known as the guitarist for iconic ‘90s rock band Pearl Jam, became Wallack’s first guitar teacher, and gave him his first guitar. McCready’s influence led Wallack to expand his musical tastes, and as his sonic preferences widened to include artists like Soundgarden, Tom Petty, and Neil Young, his focus on his craftsmanship became more acute.

“I’m beyond fortunate to have the friendship with [Mike] that I have,” Wallack says. “He really has inspired me to continue pursuing my passion for music.”

During the past five years, Wallack released five full-length albums: “Chapters”, “Stories”, “Reflections”, “Colors”, and “Wondering”. All albums which capture and bring to life moments and memories that have defined and inspired Stephen.

“OPEN” is his sixth solo piano release.

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GRAMMY®-nominated band The Choir’s Latest Album ‘Translucent’

March 27, 2025

“(Translucent) by Nashville-based alt-rockers The Choir is replete with beautiful droning sounds that float into space. Find whoever’s making a new Blade Runner project and offer the Vangelis-y “Plastic Swords” for the film’s opening crawl.”

– The Big Takeover

Translucent is GRAMMY®-nominated band The Choir’s new ambient instrumental album, a shimmering tapestry of sound that captures the essence of mood and serenity. The material by Nashville-based The Choir is replete with beautiful hypnotic sounds that float into space. Across 10 atmospheric tracks, the band weaves effect-laden guitars, evocative saxophone, Lyricon and win synthesizers along with electronic rhythms, bells and percussion into a true legacy project – a career triumph for the band. For fans of Sigur Rós, Hammock, Explosions In The Sky, Brian Eno and therapeutic music for meditation, mindfulness and calm.

For over four decades, The Choir, originally from LA and now based in Nashville, has been a cornerstone of the indie, post-rock and ambient music scenes, crafting songs that blend atmospheric soundscapes and lyrics that emote a profound sense of longing and beauty. With a distinctive style marked by Derri Daugherty’s ethereal guitar work and hauntingly emotive voice, Steve Hindalong’s reflective lyrics, drums and percussion, and Dan Michaels’ evocative saxophone, Lyricon, and wind synthesizer playing, The Choir has cultivated a sound that is as innovative as it is timeless. Their music transcends genres, resonating deeply with fans who have remained fiercely loyal through the years.

Emerging in the 80s, The Choir quickly gained a reputation for their lush sounds, contemplative songwriting and captivating live shows. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, The Choir continued to evolve, releasing critically acclaimed albums like ‘Free Flying Soul’ and ‘Flap Your Wings’, a Grammy-nominated album celebrated for its soulful beauty and melodic richness.

In recent years, The Choir has embraced a DIY ethos, connecting directly with their audience through platforms like Patreon and crowdfunding. This approach has allowed the band to release new music consistently, including standout albums like ‘Bloodshot’ (2018) and ‘Deep Cuts’ (2021). In 2025, The Choir unveiled ‘Translucent’, an instrumental ambient album blending Daugherty’s shimmering guitars, Hindalong’s chimes and percussion, and Michaels’ atmospheric wind instrumentation. Many fans have hailed it as a moody and serene masterpiece, reflecting the band’s ability to innovate while staying grounded in their signature sound.

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Bob Yonker Releases Album ‘Reminiscence’

March 20, 2025

The songs on this album were entirely composed in the moment during the recording session. It is always my intent to just allow the musical tones and energy of the Universe to flow through to create an album that will “speak” to the listeners in whatever way is needed.

Bob Yonker creates solo piano music with the intent of calming the mind, soothing the soul, and healing the planet one note at a time.

At the age of 4, Yonker began piano lessons, but after a year, his teacher realized that Bob was playing by ear and not reading the notes. Bob had had his sister play the song for him and Bob would then learn it by listening, and was “found out” after playing his piece for a recital in the wrong key. He later did learn how to read, but has always been more comfortable playing his own style and his own compositions best.

Being told by colleges that his style of music was not what they were looking for without classical training, Bob decided to change career paths and received a degree in agricultural science from Penn state, and worked many years helping the environment, while working second jobs in group homes for the mentally challenged, which he enjoyed immensely, as well as being the organist for his hometown church.

In the 90’s, while still working full-time, Bob went back to school and received a triple degree in Special Education, Elementary Education, and Early Childhood Education, which allowed him to switch career paths once again to become a special needs teacher.

Now “re-passioned” from his teaching career, Bob has returned to his first love – music – and has composed 8 albums of contemplative, contemporary, and meditative solo piano music as well as one Christmas album. His 9th, and latest, album, Reminiscence, is an improvisational album completed on the spot at the recording studio. As with all of Bob’s music, it is played with the intent to bring calm, joy and maybe even emotional healing to the listener. Bob has performed for local fans in the town where he lives and has started collaborating with other musicians to perform at local care centers.

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The Mezcaltones Release Album ‘Big Hat No Cattle’

March 6, 2025

Big Hat, No Cattle is the fifth studio album from the Mezcaltones and it comes together for an early 2025 release.

The Mezcaltones’ songs are mined from the rich seam of Alt Country, Roots, Rockin’ Blues and Surf Guitar with a nod to two of their favourite artists; and it’s all wrapped up in their inimitable Mezcaltones Hillbilly Surf Music Style.

Big Hat, No Cattle was recorded at Damien Gerard studios in West Gosford with Andrew Beck at the engineering controls; mixed by Russell Pilling; mastered by William Bowden; produced by the Mezcaltones; and artwork by Stephen Awdry & Melinda Nassif.

The CD is available for purchase at gigs and The Mezcaltones website or can be streamed via your favourite online format.

Northern Beaches Band The Mezcaltones perform regularly at Sydney venues – The Orient (The Rocks), Marrickville Bowlo, Collaroy Beach Club, Brighton RSL to name a few. They have also performed at eight Tamworth Country Music Festivals; Groundwater CMF; Blues on Broadbeach; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; and Greazefest.

Their last album ‘Agave Soirée’ entered the Australian Blues and Roots airplay charts at #7 before spending five months embedded in the Top 20.

Their sound can be difficult to describe – mixing original songs with rare tracks you might find on Robert Rodriguez/Tarantino movies or B-Grade 60’s Sci-Fi Flicks the guitars are richly infused with surf tones and 60’s Twang served up with a healthy dose of Cowpunk brashness. One booker described them as “Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music”. One punter said “lf Johnny Cash surfed he’d have sounded like you guys”.

Their antics are captivating. The band is fronted by vocalist Col Padre (who engages in tongue in cheek choreography) and dancer/singer/percussionist Mimi. Mimi is renowned for her routines involving gymnastic ribbons used as whips, hula hoops, fans and whatever else she can lay her hands on. Big Daddy K from 2RRR’S Sydney Sounds show described the Mezcaltones as the best live band in Sydney.

The costumes make for an outstanding visual – four guys dressed as party hire Cowboys and two girls dressed as Spanish gunslingers with several minor costume changes throughout the show involving masks, veils and mirror shades. Sounds corny… sure is.

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Steve Kilbey & The Winged Heels Release Album ‘The Road To Tibooburra’

February 27, 2025

Steve Kilbey: During the early days of Covid 19, I met a guy called Julian who asked me to be in a short silent film he was making called ‘Space Junk’. ‘Space Junk’ was about a stranger (moi) who comes to a remote-ish Australian town during the pandemic and has a number of adventures including aliens and angry villagers and other various kinds of weirdness.

The film got kinda finished and had a couple of screenings in a room but then seemed to be abandoned and never properly completed. Julian then repurposed it for a musical about a washed-up and ageing rockstar called Lord Jim (moi again) who takes a strange crew off to Tibooburra searching for his comeback.

Julian asked me to write all of the songs for the musical, which I did and enjoyed doing too. I recorded them all with a wonderful band of players who also appear on my albums 11 Women and The Hall of Counterfeits, whom I dubbed the Winged Heels.

Well then after sitting in the can for ages I have decided to release this weird collection of tunes. They are in no particular order so you’ll just have to figure it all out for yourself. Or just make up your own plot and story and sit back and enjoy. I have also thrown into the mix some contemporaneous songs I was working on with the Heels at the time but I now look upon them as perhaps part of the musical and let you try to make some sense of all this.

Steve Kilbey, band singer, songwriter, bassist, painter, writer, poet, actor, sage, dispenser of
arcane wisdom is one of Australia’s most loved artists.

The popular song “Under the Milky Way” won the “Best Single of the Year” award at the
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards event in 1989. For his work with
The Church, Kilbey then accepted, together with his bandmates, an induction into the ARIA
Hall of Fame.

Steve got his first bass guitar at age 16, joined a band at 18 and went on to form a number of different groups before forming The Church in 1980. He has gone on to release many solo albums and collaborations with recording artists from around the globe.

“Kilbey’s solo recordings are challenging and evocative. . . joyous and dreamy to saturnine
and sardonic” – Ian McFarlane.

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The Bentley Project Releases Album ‘Kind As The Shade’

February 6, 2025

“Kind As The Shade” is an Ambient Tone Poem and expression of love for the Earth inspired by the epic American poet John Neihardt and his poem, “The Sound My Spirit Calls You”.

As you listen, notice the hints of early music combined with Impressionism and romanticism. These influences blend with world music, traditional New Age music and jazz chords to create a hauntingly beautiful ambient album.

“The Bentley Project music is magnificent! It is so hauntingly beautiful that it makes me unexplainably emotional. Their music gives me a soothing, ethereal backdrop to everything I am doing and makes me feel like everything is going to be ok. I love the group’s amazing talent and appreciate them sharing it with the world! “

– Linessa, The Frazier Collaborative, Founder

The Bentley Project is an innovative harp and guitar duo that seamlessly blends the sounds of new age, classical, and folk music. Formed in 2018 and based in Parkville, Missouri, the group features the combined talents of Theresa and Mark Bentley. Together, they compose, record, and perform throughout the Midwest, bringing a distinctive fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds to venues large and small.

A classically trained musician, Theresa Bentley performs on Celtic Lever Harp, Pedal Harp, Italian Baroque triple harp, synthesizers, piano, and voice. Holding a Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA in Finance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, her experience includes membership in The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and The St. Joseph Symphony, as well as engagements with The Kansas City Symphony, Roger Daltrey, Ray Charles, and John Tesh’s Olympic Orchestra. She currently serves as a driving force behind The Bentley Project’s creative output.

Mark Bentley, owner of Bentley Guitar Studios, is accomplished on classical and acoustic guitars, mandolin, Baroque guitar, and ukulele. With a Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, he has served as a Professor of Guitar at Missouri Western State College and Park University. His professional history includes roles as the Kansas City Hyatt Regency’s staff guitarist and as a touring artist for the Missouri Arts Council, performing throughout the United States and Europe.

Produced by Bentley Guitar Studios, The Bentley Project offers listeners a refined yet adventurous musical experience that spans centuries and continents. Their performances invite audiences to “listen with intent,” capturing the essence of an ambient, soulful journey in sound.

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Matthew Labarge Releases Album ‘Windy Starry Blue’

February 6, 2025

The sky is never bluer than on a crystal clear evening half an hour or so after the winter sun has gone below the horizon. The moon won’t be up for hours yet and the heavens express a sweet melancholy.

On my last visit to Montreal, I spent time in four fantastically beautiful cathedrals and recorded ambient sound in each of them. The music of Windy Starry Blue is built on these sounds.

Matthew Labarge has released seven albums of solo piano music, eight albums of mixed instruments as Larkenlyre, and an album of pirate-themed lounge music as Cane Bay Cabaret. He works tirelessly in a tiny studio in Blacksburg, Virginia to bring you albums that unfold like a novel, are worth listening to carefully, and still yield new insights after many listens.

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Tag: new album

Rada Neal Releases Solo Piano Album ’13th Threads’

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Peter Calandra Releases Album ‘Night Mist’

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Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Album ‘Songs From Atlantis’

Stephen Wallack Releases Album ‘Open’

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GRAMMY®-nominated band The Choir’s Latest Album ‘Translucent’

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Bob Yonker Releases Album ‘Reminiscence’

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The Mezcaltones Release Album ‘Big Hat No Cattle’

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Steve Kilbey & The Winged Heels Release Album ‘The Road To Tibooburra’

The Bentley Project Releases Album ‘Kind As The Shade’

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Matthew Labarge Releases Album ‘Windy Starry Blue’

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