Eve by Karda Estra free download

Here's the message from Richard Wileman:
" To mark the 10th anniversary of my Karda Estra album 'Eve', I've made it available as a free download "

Recommendation: Field Rotation - Acoustic Tales (2011)

Utter beauty...

Recommendation: North Sea Radio Orchestra - I A Moon (2011)

Continuing with the hanging mood set up by Citay, here's another group to brigthen and cheer up your day.

Review + Spotlight: Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung! - We Need New Animals (1998, Sony Classical)

I've had a "crush" on these belgians' music for some years now.

Their first album is still my favourite.

What follows is a short introduction to the band as well as a review of their second album, We Need New Animals.

Band in the Spotlight: Les Fragments De La Nuits

I mentioned this group in my 2010 year-end list. This is a French ensemble from Versailles, playing chamber music/neo-classical music.

Review: Pikapika Teart - Moonberry (2010, Atr0ck)

Do you know many bands from Siberia?

Whatever the case, here’s a group from Krasnoyarsk deserving your attention.

Pikapika Teart begain its life in 2004 with common love for the music of Aranis, King Crimson, Henry Cow, Fred Frith as well as Stravinsky, Schostakovich and Schnittke. The fact that there album is out on the Italian label Altr0ck is the result of Marcello Marinone (the band behind the label) discovering the band’s music on their Myspace in 2006. Thus began an online communication (using translators) about releasing their music on the label, followed by the hardship of finding a proper studio for them to record in. Eventually the obstacles were conquered and we have the opportunity to hear this band’s music.

Zoe Keating 2011 Live Shows

So this email from Zoe Keating came in a while back, but I only now found it in my gmail spam box (it's amazing how many legit email goes there; it's becoming a bit embarrassing when emails from friends and artists go right there and then I don't see and don't respond and they get mad or frustrated; which is why I am every week or so going over the spam box to salvage such emails).

Anyway... this email came a while back talking about her upcoming 2011 shows in the USA and one in Mexico.
To anyone who likes the cello, chamber music and just beautiful music, I encourage you to discover Zoe's music and perhaps go to one of these shows. My wife and I will be attending the NYC show on March 6th.

The email is after the jump

Recommendation: Cicada (Taiwan, chamber music)

I honestly don't remember I found out about this neo-classical/chamber outfit, but I'm glad I did.
If you like subtle chamber music and Yann Tiersen-like melodies, you may very well enjoy the EP offering by this group.
All info I've come across is in, surprise, Chinese, so I can't be of much help except provide links and a video and their English bio form their Facebook:

"Formed by cello, violin, acoustic guitar and piano at the end of 2009, Cicada is a chamber music band from Taiwan. The band was named after Cicada because people are aware of cicada's existence by their sound
but not their forms.

Over the Sea / Under the Water is the debut EP of Cicada. Recorded live in the living room, the EP was hand crafted by Jesy Chiang. Narrative is one of the subjects in Cicada's music and inspiration normally came from daily life. The opening is a tribute to the Morakot typhoon victims as well as an expression toward Taiwanese political standing. The last three songs tell a story from a couple's separation to reunion. Throughout the naming, orchestration, and the composition, Cicada's music creates delicate images for audiences."

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A tune to be charmed by...: Aranis - The Looking Glass

I've mentioned Aranis before. Here's one of my favourite tunes of theirs, called The Looking Glass performed at the RIO festival in Carmaux France in 2009.