The genius of Nicola Conte gets the remix treatment – in this wonderful new album that steps off heavily from his massive Jet Sounds set of a few years ago! If you know Nicola, he's the wunderkind behind the Schema label – and, probably more than anyone in the world right now, one of the few producer/musicians who can really handle a retro-sounding groove. Conte's steeped in classic jazz, soundtracks, and bossa nova – all of which come into play in his music – and this set has him working with a host of able talents who help to take his unique creative vision even farther than before! US version features a slightly different track list than the European one – with titles that include "Arabesque (vocal version)" done by Micatone, "Forma 2000" reformed by Les Gammas, "Tema In Hi Fi" by Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella, "Jet Sounds" by Nuspirit Helsinki, "Bossa Per Due" by Thievery Corporation, "Fuoco Fatuo" by Koop, "New Standards" by Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella, "Love Me Till Sunday" by Nicola Conte, "Dossier Omega" redone by Espen Horne, "The In Samba" done by Kyoto Jazz Massive, "Missione A Bombay" by Eddy & Dus, and "Mambo De Los Dandies" by Gerardo Frisina. (New Grooves, Now Sound) CD

Music from Henry Mancini, Peggy Lee, Titan, Ursula 1000, Pizzicato Five, Fatboy Slim, Dimitri From Paris, Koop Featuring Yukimi Nagano, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Arling & Cameron, Ludovic Navarre, Kinky, Chris Mancini & Lennart, Nicola Conte, Les Hommes, and Mocean Worker. CD

Anita Kerr and her singers take on the baroque pop sound of the late 60s – working here in a way that mixes their smoother vocals with more complicated arrangements and some nice use of electric harpsichord! The approach isn't as over the top baroque as other albums like this – thanks to a key core of Kerr vocals from the quartet – but the harpsichord's used on nearly every track, and it really helps to bring a nice new flavor to the record – a sound that's quite different than the bag Kerr was hitting a few years before! Plus, there's some great jazzy moments from conductor Dick Marx – never too over the top, but nicely sunny at all the best points. Tracks are pretty hip too – and include "Love At Last You Found Me", "Love Lies", "It's Not Unusual", "One Note Samba", "How Insensitive", "Cast Your Fate To the Wind", and "My Love". (Vocalists, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Christmas album from French maestro Paul Mauriat – presented with a style that's maybe a bit more lush and scented with the season than some of his other albums of the time! The strings are a bit fuller, and the rhythms more laidback – so that the overall vibe is more in the best Christmas orchestral mode of the 60s – and a bit less like some of Mauriat's famous instrumental pop. Still, the approach is a nice one for those late hours after the party – when the fire's still going in the fireplace, and you're sitting around with the last few visitors enjoying a nightcap. Titles include "Rin Rin", "Among The Cattle & Grey Donkey", "Adeste Fideles", "Silent Night"," White Christmas", and "Little Father Christmas". CD also features 7 more Christmas tunes – including "Alle Jahre Wider", "Liese Riselt Der Schnee", "For Never & Always", and "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer". (Holiday Music, Now Sound) CD