Arguably the most popular and most successful group in Latvia, Prāta vētra (known as Brainstorm internationally) have released their latest album – Vēl viena klusā daba.

Their first new studio album in four years (since Tur kaut kam ir jābūt, released in 2008), the songwriting lead on this album was taken by keyboardist Māris Mihelsons, and was recorded in Hudson, New York, Oxford, England, as well as Rīga. The album was produced by David Field, working in conjunction with the band. The English language song “Lantern” is the album’s first single.

In addition to Mihelsons, Prāta vētra is made up of vocalist Renārs Kaupers, guitarist Jānis Jubalts, drummer Kaspars Roga, and joined here by long time bassist Ingars Viļums. The band was founded in 1989, and has been performing for more than two decades.

An English language version of the album is also planned, though specific details as to release date have not yet been provided.

The band has a tour of Latvia planned this summer with the following dates and locations: July 28 – Jelgava, August 3 – Ventspils, August 5 – Saldus, August 10 – Valmiera, August 12 – Preiļi and the closing show on August 17 at the Skonto Stadium in Rīga.

For more information about Prāta vētra, visit www.pratavetra.lv.

Sestā Jūdze, one of Latvia’s best known country music bands, is set to release its latest compact disc on May 5. Titled Iebrien manā saulrietā, the album will include 13 tracks, according to spokesperson Baiba Celma.

The band will kick off the new album with a concert in Splendid Palace in Rīga.

Sestā Jūdze was formed in 2001, according to the band’s website. Members of the band include founder and lead singer Agris Gedrovičs, singer and bassist Modris Miķelsons, drummer Aldis Strazdiņš and guitarist Jānis Misiņš.

Also appearing on the album are guest artists Vīgants Murelis on steel guitar and Artis Orups on drums.

The band has previously released the albums Emigrants in 2004 and Kalendārs in 2008.

For more information about Sestā Jūdze, visit 6judze.lv.

A 16th century manor property in rural Latvia, plus its 95-room mansion, has been featured in the real estate section of The New York Times.

Kukšu Manor House (Kukšu muiža), which now serves as a hotel, is located near Tukums and is on the market for EUR 2.1 million (about USD 2.8 million), according to the newspaper.

“This 17-acre property in the Latvian countryside, known as Kukšu Manor, was first mentioned in historical documents in 1530,” reporter Alison Gregor wrote in a story posted April 4. “The current owner describes the 18,000-square-foot home as having had a long, rich history of ownership. It underwent an extensive renovation in 1856, and after World War II was used by collective farmers.”

The story continues by describing the property and the mansion, but also examines the slow recovery of the Latvian real estate market, which was beaten back when the country’s economic bubble burst as part of the global recession.

The Kukšu manor opened as a hotel in 2006, according to the property’s website, www.kuksumuiza.lv.

The property is listed by Rīga-based Baltic Sotheby’s International Realty. While buying the Kukšu manor would set its new owner back a couple of million euros, it is not the most expensive real estate listed by Sotheby’s in Latvia. That honor goes to the manor house at Krimulda, near Sigulda, priced at EUR 8.5 million (about USD 11.3 million).