Who was Antoine Dougb�? Even the most dedicated crate-digger might go their whole life without stumbling across any of the three LPs he released in the late 1970s and early '80s. Yet all the musicians who happened to cross paths with him remember with a mixture of admiration and fear; for Antoine Dougb� was not merely one of the most inventive songwriters to emerge from the fertile music scene of Cotonou, but also a powerful Vod�n initiate whose close connection to the spirit world allowed him to refer to himself as "the Devil's prime minister." In Cotonou, a city that had established itself as one of the centres of the West African music scene, the young man found himself drawn to Cuban son and rumba. But his fascination with the traditional rhythms of Benin-especially those associated with Vod�n ceremonies-allowed Dougb� to take his music in directions far removed from anything happening in the Congo. Dougb� neither sang nor performed any of the main instrumental parts of his songs. It has been suggested that his involvement with Vod�n-in which singing plays a crucial role in important rituals-effectively prohibited him from using his voice for anything as frivolous as a popular song. Whether driven by the thrill of the music or by fear of crossing the Devil's prime minister, Dougb�'s records all feature Orchestre Poly-Rythmo playing at the absolute height of their considerable powers. Dougb� released three LPs and a handful of singles under his own name, but never quite found the audience he deserved. By the early eighties he had vanished from the music scene. Analog Africa now brings his small but extraordinary body of work to a wider audience with a double LP compilation featuring 12 songs, a whirlwind of circular guitars, synths, mesmerising layers of Afro-Cuban and Cavacha madness.

In April, the United Kingdom celebrated the birthday of the longest serving monarch in British history. This release is the perfect soundtrack to the celebrations. Some of Britain’s most popular artists and ensembles have gathered together for this two-disc set, which includes patriotic anthems and popular tunes. Musicians include Russell Watson, Jonathan and Charlotte, The Band of H.M. Royal Marines, The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Thibaut Garcia is one of the most acclaimed classical guitarists of his generation, praised for a playing style that combines virtuosity and poetic sensitivity. Born from a deep artistic friendship with guitarist Antoine Morin�re, this album offers a fresh take on Bach's masterpiece Goldberg Variations, now reimagined for two guitars. The arrangement, from Garcia and Morini�re themselves, is the result of a full year of work during which, quoting the artists, they focused on "how to adapt the keyboard work for two guitars, while preserving the illusion of a single performer". Twin guitars helped in their artistic endeavour: the album is recorded on two guitars cut from the same tree, and realized especially for the project by French luthier Hugo Cuvillier.

Thibaut Garcia is one of the most acclaimed classical guitarists of his generation, praised for a playing style that combines virtuosity and poetic sensitivity. Born from a deep artistic friendship with guitarist Antoine Morin�re, this album offers a fresh take on Bach's masterpiece Goldberg Variations, now reimagined for two guitars. The arrangement, from Garcia and Morini�re themselves, is the result of a full year of work during which, quoting the artists, they focused on "how to adapt the keyboard work for two guitars, while preserving the illusion of a single performer". Twin guitars helped in their artistic endeavour: the album is recorded on two guitars cut from the same tree, and realized especially for the project by French luthier Hugo Cuvillier.

Classical Music

Berlioz's L'Enfance Du Christ is probably known primarily due to it's famous "Shepherd's Chorus" but it is a piece that once listeners discover it, they realize a true golden gem has been found. It is primarily a choral work which tells the story of what are called the Infancy Narratives in the New Testament. Scenes of the work are taken from both the scriptures and legends and include Herod visiting a soothsayer which predicts the birth of the Messiah, the Annunciation (Mary learning of the birth of Jesus), the birth itself, and the flight into Egypt. This recording by the Orchestre National du Lille under the direction of Jean-Claude Casadesus captures both the beauty and scope of the work.

Includes work(s) for organ by Johann Pachelbel. Soloist: Antoine Bouchard.

Includes fugue(s) for org by Johann Pachelbel. Soloist: Antoine Bouchard.