Legendary British band Cymande return in 2025 with their first studio album in many years. A true return to form and jewel in the crown of their iconic discography, Renascence picks up where their 1974 album Promised Heights left off - a spiritual and sonic follow-up, bringing a fresh modern edge to their iconic sound, which remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk scenes in the US and UK.

Pierre Boulez‘ Vermächtnis als Dirigent umfasst eine Vielzahl außergewöhnlicher Aufnahmen, darunter sein Mahler Sinfonien Zyklus, Richard Wagners Ring der Nibelungen (in der Inszenierung Patrice Chéreaus als Jahrhundertring gefeiert) und seine Aufnahmen von Klassikern zeitgenössischer Komponisten des 20. Jahrhunderts von Bartók bis Stravinsky. Aufgrund seiner besonderen Persönlichkeit wurde Boulez lebenslang in Frankreich als „nationales Kulturorgan“ verehrt. Er feierte als Dirigent weltweite Erfolge durch seinen Fokus auf Transparenz und Klarheit des Klangs, analytisches Denken und durch absolute Präzision in der Umsetzung. Boulez gilt als zentrale musikalische Figur des 20. Jahrhunderts.

Combining classical discipline with the inventive spirit of electronic music, Max Richter speaks to – and frequently critiques – 21st century life with evocative elegance. On early masterworks such as 2002's Memoryhouse and 2003's The Blue Notebooks, the composer and producer united his childhood memories and commentary on war's devastating aftermath into gorgeous, aching music; with 2015's eight-hour Sleep, he challenged the increasing disposability of art and music as well as audiences' ever-decreasing attention spans. Richter's fascination with the growing role of technology in everyday life was a major theme of releases spanning 2008's collection of bespoke ringtones to the music for a particularly paranoid 2016 episode of the TV series Black Mirror. Despite the high-concept nature of much of his work, Richter always maintains a powerful emotional connection with his listeners. 2012's Recomposed: The Four Seasons, an experimental reimagining of Vivaldi's violin concertos, topped classical charts in over 20 countries. The emotive quality of his music translated perfectly to scoring and soundtrack work, which ranged from documentaries such as Waltz with Bashir (2008); feature films including Ad Astra (2019); television series like Invasion (2021); and stage productions including Infra (2008) and Woolf Works (2015), both projects with Richter's longtime collaborator, choreographer Wayne McGregor. Richter's mix of modern composition, electronic music, and field recordings – which he revisited on 2024's In a Landscape – was as influential as it was innovative, paving the way for artists such as Nico Muhly and Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic comprise the dream team for a rarely recorded concerto, the Khachaturian: Piano Concerto.

Jazz is Dead accounces another offering top-shelf recordings taking listeners on a journey through the funky sounds of Ghana all the way down to the psychedelic soul and samba of Brazil. Produced by label founders Adrian Younge and Ali Saheed Muhammad, Jazz Is Dead Series 3 features new analog recordings from living legends Ebo Taylor, Hydon, DOm Salvador, Antonio Carlos e Jocafi, Carlos Date Joyce Tutty Moreno as well as an unreleased LP from The Midnight Hour: Lost Tapes.

Together with a stunning array of collaborators, violinist Renaud Capuçon presents a compendium of works by Richard Strauss, a composer who has been central to his artistic trajectory since long before adulthood. Beginning with rather-neglected, recently-recorded gems (the Violin Concerto, Violin Sonata, Piano Quartet, and Daphne-Etude) the release continues by showcasing superb concerts from Capuçon’s past. String ensemble arrangements of Metamorphosen and the introduction to Cappricco – performed alongside decorated colleagues – are followed by a climactic rendition of Ein Heldenleben by Seiji Ozawa and the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester.

Ludovico Einaudi returns with his stunning new album, The Summer Portraits. A journey through the warmth and wonder of childhood summers, this album captures the essence of carefree days, filled with freedom, discovery, and unforgettable moments. Each note is a reflection of nostalgia, painted with Einaudi's signature emotive piano.

Even early in the year, it's safe to say Will Oldham has made what will surely be one of the best country records of 2025. Recorded in Nashville, The Purple Bird was produced by David "Ferg" Ferguson (press materials note it's only the second time in his career that Oldham has officially worked with another producer), who engineered Johnny Cash's 2000 cover of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's "I See a Darkness"—and who told Oldham this time around, "I don't wanna do a country record, just do your shit, Will." As it turns out, Oldham's latest shit is country. Co-written with Tommy Prine, "Tonight With the Dogs I'm Sleeping" would've been a hit in another era. Loaded with jug-band mischief—including comedic horns and woozy fiddle—it's as laidback as can be and full of fun wordplay, so it feels almost like a tribute to Tommy's dad, the late Americana icon John Prine: "Sitting at the bar with a drink or two/ Telephone rings and it's you know who/ You know who is gonna get his ass chewed tonight.

'Closer' is the follow-up to Kim Wilde's massively successful 1988 album 'Close'. While it captures the spirit and style of her earlier work, this new album introduces a modern perspective, blending nostalgic elements with contemporary sounds. Kim Wilde's signature mix of pop, new wave, and rock - known for its infectious hooks, powerful vocals, and anthemic choruses - remains at the heart of her music, ensuring 'Closer' will resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences.

During their 2018 USA tour, Richard Smith and Joscho Stephan came up with the idea to expand their duo by adding a new musical dimension. On Richard’s recommendation, the versatile multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman joined the project, marking the birth of the “Transatlantic Guitar Trio“. Since then, the three musicians have performed on numerous stages across the USA and Europe and released their self-titled debut album in 2019.

Catherine Laverne Starks (born Catherine Laverne Starks; July 21, 1922, Dougherty, Oklahoma — November 3, 2016, Beverly Hills, California), better known as Kay Starr, was an American singer.

"Cytropia" is the debut album of an artist who combines acoustic and electronic music. It combines innovative electroacoustics with classical elegance and offers a new interpretation of of Bach's cello suites. The album celebrates musical Evolution and appeals to both classical music lovers and listeners who enjoy experimenting.

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's latest project, Woven, is a fascinating album that fuses more traditional aspects of 21st-century jazz with the myriad possibilities of electronic synthesized sound. This collection of mostly original compositions showcases Pelt's instrumental artistry together with his commitment to composing works that explore new dimensions in jazz. Each track on Woven is meticulously crafted, perfectly balancing innovation with communicative emotional depth. The full range of contemporary jazz can be found here, from neo-bop, harddriving rhythms to touchingly intimate balladic utterances. But Pelt's trumpet can also weave through electronic textures, creating a sonic landscape where the group's kaleidoscopic tone colors become a fundamental part of the melodic content.

The seventh year of the successful series "Jazz thing Next Generation" is starting with an extraordinary piano trio. Tim Allhoff, born in Augsburg in 1980, already started playing piano – self-taught – as a child, had the benefit of classical piano lessons later and then studied jazz piano at the Richard-Strauss Conservatory in Munich. He graduated with "magna cum laude" in 2007. The fact that he is a sideman much in demand in southern Germany goes without saying.

In their latest album, Safe Place, German jazz duo Roman and Julian Wasserfuhr craft an intimate refuge through music. This is not about a physical destination—it’s a state of mind, a sanctuary for reflection and focus amidst the noise of modern life. Joined by cellist Jörg Brinkmann and saxophonist Paul Heller, the brothers craft an intimate, heartfelt soundscape that celebrates genuine connection and invite the listener on a musical journey away from distractions, offering clarity and tranquility. It’s a celebration of friendships, authenticity, and the power of music to ground us in what truly matters.