Kenny Rogers Me & Bobby Mcghee: The Early Years CD - Import

Simple, clean songs that don't work too hard to bring out the emotional and occasionally transcendental nature of a gifted songwriter. A time-tested recipe that always goes down well. -- Heidi Drockelman, Indie-Music ---It is the time of Sputnik. Sci-fi author Robert A. Heinlein slides behind the wheel of his '57 Chevy, turns on the radio, and tunes in a station far left of the dial, a distant signal carrying music from the future. Today the DJ is playing a postmodern instrumental rave-up called "Run to Daylight."The drums pound and the acoustic guitar jangles, a pair of sticks and a vintage Harmony staking a rhythm around the campfire. Heinlein drops his car into drive and hits the gas. The future is far away, but it's all right here. And there is nothing but space in which to get lost.

So begins Kowtow Drops the Pop Off, the new EP from Rockville, Maryland-based singer-songwriter Kowtow Popof. Part instrumental, part lyric-based song, the eight-song disc bristles with imagination and energy, a sonic signature refined over three previous CDs. Popof blends his most audible influences -- Peter Gabriel, Graham Parker, Bill Nelson -- to unique effect, shuttling the listener to a locale that calls to mind nothing so much as Walt Disney's Tomorrowland.

Amália was known as the "Queen of Fado", setting the precedence for all Fadistas to follow. During the time of her rein, she beautifully sang in French, Spanish, English and Portuguese, performing all over the world from Europe to Asia to the Americas. As a tribute to Amália, Ramana performs classics such as "Barco Negro", "Triste Sina", and "Estranha Forma De Vida" for you to enjoy on the "Despi A Alma" album.

The originally composed track, "Sophia", pays tribute to a friend's daughter. Ramana's lyrics are based on verses written by a talented Portuguese poet and friend, José Raposo.