Here is another newsletter / newsflash / newsthunder to keep you in the loop on what's happening on the Rock and Folk end of the musical spectrum.

Thrilled to tell you that I have joined the Magnatune label.  Not all of you might have heard of it, but it's a prestigious and very large online label - they're simply fantastic and took me under their wing on the strength of the Architects of Time album.  The magnatune model is that for $15/month you can download as much as you want from their extensive (as at today, magnatune boast 328 artists, 743 albums and 10,079 songs) selection of music.  Much like an "All You Can Eat" option for people who love music.

 

Magnatune music has been played in more than 3,000 (!) TV shows, films and advertisements.  So even if the name itself does not ring a bell you will most certainly have heard music from their artists.

 

You can get previews of all Magnatune songs on their website so go have a look.

 

 

High up (probably occupying the number 1 spot) on the list of things that make the album special is Bimbi Urquhart's viola playing.  She has performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded a CD and been on tour with the virtuoso musicians of Tango Siempre (obviously).  If you're wondering how I managed to recruit her to record with me, then I should emphasise that the movie Bowfinger will not point you towards the correct answer.

 

You can read a review of the album by the Lipstik Indie magazine here and a review by the New Reviews team here.  If you are fortunate enough to be competent in Norwegian, you get the extra treat of a review by Ulf Backstrøm, jury member of the Prog Awards (or alternatively, with a translation kindly contributed by Katerina Cumberland Jackson in the Reviews section). 

 

How about a quick listen?

 

Kauf mich

Here is a 1-step manual of how to get the album: click on the link to your favourite online retailer from the list below:

   

 

If you are religiously unaffiliated in terms of online shopping, then I strongly recommend buying the album from the Vandala Concepts store here:

 

 

 

And a little present

http://vandalaconcepts.com/vandala_concepts_store_section_5.html

1) Check on the magnatune site.

2) Remember to point people to the New Groove Music web site.  They are constantly adding nice features to the site and making it easier for you to navigate and to download free music.  Simply copy this link http://www.newgroovemusic.com/ben-rusch and forward it to all your friends.

3) If you're on facebook, become a "fan", and if you already are one - in which case thank you, I love you too - invite your friends.

4) Get yourself a copy of the Architects of Time album.