In 2003, PeaceSong released The War Trilogy. The Trilogy is about the effects of the 'War on Terror' on civil liberties, our soldiers, and the people of Iraq. The MP3's of ‘Enemy Me’, ‘Baghdad Road’ and ‘Sudden Sound’ have been freely downloaded by thousands around the world, making www.peacesong.com a top ranked Internet site for peace music. The site was updated in 2005 with a new trilogy – Further On – consisting of ‘Not-So-Curious George’, ‘American Two-Step’ and ‘Shout!’. - (Read more)

To describe Robert Henke's influence on contemporary electronic music as incalculable might seem hyperbolic but, in fact, it's hardly an exaggeration. While his Monolake recordings alone have exerted a huge impact upon experimental electronic music's evolution over the past decade, the impact of Ableton Live, the music production software created by Henke and one-time Monolake member (and now Ableton CEO) Gerhard Behles, has been profound; not only has it become the software of choice for digital music-makers everywhere, it's also, by Henke's own reckoning, the most successful commercial music software today. Even so, any appreciation of Henke's contributions, whether it focuses on the body of work issued under his real name or Monolake, must contend with the encompassing scope of his output. Perhaps the best way to grapple with the largesse is to address separately Henke's still-growing discography and his multiple non-recording projects. The risk in doing so is that it misleadingly suggests that the two can be bifurcated when, in fact, the two strands continuously intertwine and, even more importantly, nourish each other: Henke's programming innovations and interactive installations naturally help catalyze the ever-evolving Monolake sound, while the group experiences bolster Henke's engagement with his non-recording endeavours (or, to use Henke's own words, Technology fuels inspiration. Art inspires technological development). Without question, Henke's involvement in the creation and design of Ableton Live has influenced dramatically Monolake's development. (It bears mentioning too that, while Henke is Monolake's guiding force, the group initially included Behles, and T++ [real name Torsten Proefrock] contributed to both Cinemascope and Polygon Cities). - (Read more)

For 30 years Santa Fe has been one of Las Vegas' Crown Jewels, never giving less than 100% to their audiences. This band has been a "farm club" for many big acts, shows, and bands, and many incredible musicians have honored it's ranks. The latest incarnation of this band features a 6 piece horn section, and an 8 piece rhythm section that includes 4 lead singers.This is no ordinary band. In the words of founder and leader Jerry Lopez: "This band is the culmination of the dreams of all of the individual musicians in the band. We all dreamed about what the “ideal” gig would be, and it went something like this:To play music that moved, challenged and inspired us without the usual external restrictions, influences, or boundaries that come with every other (paying)gig,… To make that music with people we love and respect both personally and musically,….. And to be able to share it with others. That is what Santa Fe & the Fat City horns is about. The band is a throw back to all the horn bands that influenced us all growing up, as well as a tribute to our musical heroes and friends mixed with our own music and arrangements. Old School and raw, but polished with pride and discipline. I wanted to have the enthusiasm and excitement I had when I was 17 years old about my music! The first band meeting I had went like this: “I want each of you to bring in a piece of music that you have always wanted to play but couldn’t get away with in a lounge, showroom, or any other commercial gig. It can be an original piece, a cover, whatever. And then we’re going to have some fun making it our own”. The band has never had publicity or marketing of any kind, and continues to fill the rooms it plays in by word of mouth alone. - (Read more)

Steve Hackett has earned the reputation of being one of Britain's finest composers and guitarists. Peter Gabriel invited him to join Genesis in 1970 and his involvement led to 8 albums. His complex and distinctive playing contributed heavily to their early success, developing an elegance and sophistication which have become his trademark and he has since achieved consistent solo success internationally. Over that time Steve has discovered an equal talent for composing for the classical guitar. This is an artist who has retained his integrity and yet has enjoyed sales in the millions worldwide through his various band and solo projects, who delivers not only as a brilliant rock guitarist and songwriter but as a sensitive composer in the classical vein. As a musician, it is his undertaking of the instrument as a whole, be it acoustic, electric or digital; as a craftsman, it is the attention to detail within his music that has inspired so many others; as an individual, it is music alone that is his motivation and always will be. Hackett's first solo album was recorded in 1975 and has been followed by a further fifteen releases including three collections of exquisite acoustic guitar work. 1983's "Bay Of Kings " was the first expression of his growing philosophy of 'music without props' and, accompanied by his brother, John, on flute he recorded an album of seamless simplicity which was for him a natural progression. Steve went on to enjoy a hugely successful 'acoustic' tour during which the Financial Times reported that the only two artistes who had sold out London's prestigous Barbican Concert Hall that year were the London Symphony Orchestra and Steve Hackett! Although not originally a classical player, Steve endeavours to enlarge the existing repertoire by writing timeless pieces for acoustic guitar and one of these was given the seal of approval by Yehudi Menuhin when he used it as the theme to his television documentary From Kew To The Findhorn Foundation. - (Read more)

Hailing from Toronto, The Silk Demise offer up sensual, stripped-down trip-hop on their self-titled debut. Combining the talents of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Bill Litshauer and lyricist/vocalist Olivia Zielinski, the band's sound falls somewhere between…say…Massive Attack and the moody trip-hop found on Akira Yamaoka's soundtracks to the later Silent Hill games. Blending sultry female vocals, occasional half-whispered male vocals a la Tricky, and music that emphasizes atmospheric sound with sometimes sparser melodic work, the album is an extremely competent and immaculately produced blend of dark, electronic-yet-organic trip-hop with a slightly experimental slant ... - (Read more)