Recorded live at David's reSource studio in Heidelberg, Dave and Pete take a look at what might happen in the future of our society. As part of the “Civilization” Trilogy (first part was “Travelling the Silk Route”, second part was “There!”), “Sexoid” is a look into a futuristic scenario where “fully equipped” androids might not only help in the kitchen. “Sexoid” is a synonym for significant changes in social life of the future. The music between house, deep musical ambience and chill-out accompanied by occasional speech samples fits the overall theme like a glove.

The listener is treated to our images of the future while leavin room for the listener’s own reflections on the theme.
CD tracks: In the Mirror 24.32 min
Sexoid 15.43 min
Get Your Chillums Out 13.13
Retro Future 17.04

Kenwood announced a new AV-receiver, the KRF-V930H-S.

New model provides a maximum output power of 130W x7 (6Ω) with a THD of 0.09%, a frequency response of 10 Hz - 100 kHz (+0dB～-3dB), a signal noise ratio of 105dB, supports most audio formats such as DTS-HD™ Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX…. Two HDMI inputs and one output. It also features an HDMI/DSP Module jointly product by Victor and Kenwood, 32 Floating Point DSPs, Pure Audio Mode Technology, Auto Room EQ, and iPod Control Function.

Available at the beginning of November, it will cost around 800$.

Sherwood Newcastle Is this the most advanced A/V receiver on the planet? Thanks to its Trinnov Optimizer Room Correction system, the Sherwood Newcastle R-972 just may be.

This flagship receiver in the high-performance Sherwood Newcastle line-up, winner of the Innovations 2008 award at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, delivers 100 watts RMS per channel to 7 channels, provides lossless audio decoding for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs via dual Ti 32-bit DSP chips and is HDMI 1.3 enabled with 1080p video scaling via its Silicon Optix Reon processor.

Genesis fansite "World of Genesis" is reporting a 30th anniversary edition of Tony Banks' solo debut "A Curious Feeling" will be released on SACD in 2009. The news was confirmed by the band's engineer Nick Davis on its official website forum.

InsideOut Music set a November 4 release date for a special 5.1 edition of SYMPHONY X's critically acclaimed album "Paradise Lost". The double-disc package will include a DVD 5.1 mix by Jens Bogren of the entire album as well as two enhanced HD videos for "Set the World on Fire" and "Serpent's Kiss".

The masters of Symphonic Power Metal Return! Symphony X are recognized by-and-large as one the most important acts in the worldwide Metal scene. After the release of their hugely successful CD, The Odyssey , and after nearly five years, Michael Romeo and his band have Returned with what is already being praised as their best work to date. Paradise Lost has all the trademarks that have come to be associated with Symphony X: Incredibly intricate and powerful, yet-melodic compositions that showcase every member s unrivaled technical skill as instrumentalists. However, once again it must be said that the spotlight is squarely on the ferocious vocal force of singer Russell Allen and the almost inhuman pyrotechnics of guitarist Michael Romeo.

On 10th November Genesis will release the final instalment of their reissued albums in 5.1 as CD and vinyl boxed sets.

Including new stereo mixes of five of the band's earliest studio albums, rare and exclusive bonus features, DVD footage and new interviews with band members filmed exclusively for these reissues.

Ambient Jazz-Rock fusion the English way.

This CD had been recorded in Clapham (London) and Hödeshof. The jazz-rock feeling in the music became more intensified and received a more “UK” touch. This CD could be called "Return to the Future," as it is an advanced modern-day take on the jazz-rock fusions of the past. Typical Namlook pads and soli combined with more distorted sounds of his guitar shine through the compositions. Spyra, on the other hand delved deeper into environmental recordings (“Greenwich Meantime”), harmonics, tricky rhythms and tempo changes.

As is typical for FAX, this CD contains an intense emotional component, and takes you on a trip through London with a touch of Hödeshof courtesy of Pete Namlook.

CD tracks:
Clapham Ratrun 9.15
M-Maybe 5.55
Canterbirth 7.38
Greenwich Meantime 7.28
Snow White 10.54
Wandsworth Wine Tasting 5.33
Ain´t No Sunshine On the Tube 7.40

Insurgentes is the first Steven Wilson solo album, recorded all over the world between January-August, and due for release in November as a special deluxe multi disc mail order version.  The special multi disk edition will be available as a 2 CD/1 DVDA version (limited to 3,000 copies), and a 4 x 10 inch vinyl version (limited to 1,000 copies), both with hardback book.  Both editions will only be available to order from http://www.insurgentes.org/. A standard retail CD version will be issued early in 2009.

The VAIO JS1-Series all-in-one PC seems to offer buyers the impossible: it has a large, high-resolution screen, yet it takes up less desk space than most notebooks. It achieves this apparent contradiction by virtue of its sleek and stylish design. The compact keyboard can be slotted underneath the main unit when not in use, leaving only a modest footprint on the desk. Even when the keyboard is out, the JS1-Series takes up remarkably little room.

While the large screen is ideal for photo editing, the JS1 also scores well when it comes to the audio side of things. Movie soundtracks are enhanced by Dolby Home Theatre® technology which creates an impressive virtual surround sound effect, and audiophiles can take advantage of the special features offered by Sony’s Sound Reality signal processor chip built into the system.

This can handle Super Audio CD (SA-CD), allowing the JS1 to record, edit and play music at SA-CD quality, and even upgrade older recordings to the new standard.

Sound Reality can up-convert conventional CD-quality music into uncompressed Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format. Using the pre-installed SonicStage Mastering Studio software, the DSD signal can be re-mastered into 5.1 Super Audio CD, revitalising the original.