The opening act of Louis Wayne Moody’s mid-century spy caper trilogy, 1962’s Call Me Old Fashioned put a tail on Agent Cara Seaworth’s debut undercover operation, fresh out of the Eastern Star Spy Academy for Young Ladies. Her assignment: to pose as songbird and nest, one thrush-like performance at a time, deep under the skin of widower Jack “Frenchy” Hammerli, proprietor of Jack’s Riverside Inn supper club. Her quarry: both an unblemished 1822 American Half Eagle piece—gone AWOL since the Academy’s turbulent Reconstruction-era founding—and Jack’s own beating heart. When the mobbed-up Sauk City, Wisconsin, night spot proves a tough coin to flip, Seaworth’s estranged father and celebrated numismatist “The Man” gets called up to the Not-So-Big Leagues. Will Cara pinch the minted MacGuffin and cooly cash in on a couple dozen missed birthdays, or wind up feeding walleye at the bottom of Mud Lake?

THE HALO EFFECT may have begun as five old friends just making music for fun, but they’re now one of the most beloved new bands in heavy metal. Before the Swedish quintet even formed, their members were heroes of heaviness, key in establishing melodic death metal’s much-imitated ‘Gothenburg sound’ during the ’90s. Then, when the longtime scenemates finally united and released debut single 'Shadowminds' in 2021, they quickly racked up millions of streams. Their subsequent debut album, Days of the Lost, was nominated for a Swedish Grammy and promoted on tours with Machine Head, Amon Amarth and Meshuggah. It then won the Rising Star trophy at the 2024 Metal Hammer Awards. This collective’s ascent has been as rapid as it has been well-deserved.

The Maypole - Falling Angels (1974) is the only studio album by the American rock band The Maypole, which is notable for its blend of progressive rock and psychedelic rock elements. The album, released in 1974, is an obscure yet highly regarded gem among fans of classic rock, particularly for its lush arrangements, conceptual nature, and intricate songwriting.

Ivan Lins - 20 Anos Ao Vivo (1991) is a live album by the celebrated Brazilian composer, singer, and pianist Ivan Lins, marking the 20th anniversary of his career in the music industry. Released in 1991, this album features a selection of some of Lins' most iconic songs, performed live in concert. It captures his signature fusion of Brazilian popular music (MPB) with elements of jazz, samba, bossa nova, and other Brazilian genres.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the next release in their series of compilations celebrating the so-called “underground” rock music – “Taking Some Time On – Underground Sounds of 1970”, is a 4 CD clamshell boxed set which gathers together over five hours of music from 1970, the first year of a new decade that would see Progressive music in all its forms become a dominating force with the album-buying public. The innocence of psychedelia and the optimism expressed by such vast expressions of the Hippy ideal as the Woodstock Festival in New York State and the Hyde Park Free Festivals of 1969 in London were shattered by the violence of the Altamont Festival in California at the end of the year. As 1970 dawned, a more cynical tone began to appear in the counter-culture which was also reflected in some of the music by “Progressive” artists as some music got heavier or more anarchic. Jazz, blues, hard rock, folk and classical music influences melded together to form a diversity of music among so-called Underground artists, championed by “underground” figures of the day such as John Peel on his BBC Radio One show Top Gear.

Stoyan Yankoulov, Elitsa Todorova - Drumboy (2004) is an album by the renowned Bulgarian musical duo Stoyan Yankoulov and Elitsa Todorova, known for their fusion of traditional Bulgarian folk music with modern rhythms and instrumentation. The album "Drumboy" blends world music, ethno-jazz, and electronic beats, and it showcases the unique talents of both artists in bringing together traditional Bulgarian sounds and contemporary influences.

The Moody Blues - Keys of the Kingdom (1991) is the 13th studio album by the iconic British progressive rock band The Moody Blues, released in 1991. The album marks a return to their signature sound after a significant hiatus since their previous release, "Sur la Mer" (1988).

Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna - Arrival (2003) is a live jazz album featuring four jazz legends from different corners of the genre’s landscape. Released in 2003. This album represents a unique and special collaboration between some of the most revered musicians in the jazz world, each bringing their own wealth of experience to the table. The result is a performance filled with tight improvisation, swing, and intricate interplay.

Don Sebesky - I Remember Bill: A Tribute to Bill Evans (1998) is an album by the renowned American jazz arranger, conductor, and composer Don Sebesky, paying homage to the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans. Released in 1998, the album features Sebesky’s arrangements and orchestration of Bill Evans’ compositions, capturing the essence of Evans’ emotive, harmonic style while adding Sebesky's own signature orchestral touch.

OWKMJ - OWKMJ (2009) is an album by the jazz group OWKMJ, a project led by the talented and innovative French musician Jean-Jacques Avenel. The album, released in 2009, features an eclectic blend of jazz, funk, and experimental elements, highlighting the group's creative and genre-blending approach to music.

Daniel Mille - Après La Pluie (2005) is an album by the French accordionist and composer Daniel Mille, known for his ability to blend classical, jazz, and French chanson styles with a strong focus on melody and emotional expression. Released in 2005, "Après La Pluie" showcases Mille's distinctive sound, emphasizing both his technical mastery of the accordion and his deep sensitivity as a composer.

The Other World - 39 (2013) is an album by the French avant-garde jazz group The Other World, a project led by the multi-instrumentalist Jean-Marc Foussat. Released in 2013, "39" features an experimental and highly improvised mix of jazz, free jazz, and electronic music, reflecting a unique exploration of sound, texture, and atmosphere.

Richard Galliano - Spleen (1985) is an album by the French accordionist Richard Galliano, a highly acclaimed musician known for his fusion of jazz, classical music, and French chanson. Released in 1985, "Spleen" is an important work in Galliano's discography, capturing his exceptional skill as a composer and performer. The album blends the sounds of traditional French music with modern jazz, and Galliano's virtuosic accordion playing takes center stage throughout.

Janusz Muniak Quartet - Crazy Girl (1987) is an album by the renowned Polish jazz saxophonist Janusz Muniak. Released in 1987, this album showcases Muniak's unique approach to jazz, blending elements of hard bop, modal jazz, and contemporary jazz with his own distinctive sound. The album features a quartet format, with Muniak leading the ensemble through a set of original compositions and jazz improvisations.

Divine has become an enduring icon of global popular culture. People magazine described Divine as the “Drag Queen of the Century”.