quête:21

The second album on Ilian Tape comes again out of Munich city. Skee Mask doesn't spend a day without making music and the dedication, attention to detail and architectural approach really make this album an absolute trip to listen to. It's the sound of a peaceful and energetic place. It's smoky and cosy. It's where Skee Mask spends most of his time. He lives for the music and we are really happy that this freak became a core member of the Ilian Tape family. This album is made for true lovers and hustlers. Turn it up loud!

Rising French producer and live act Akyki is out on Quinoa for the label's 5th instalment. Delivering a quacking slice of summer, the 'Egyptian Geese' EP offers a groovy and multifaceted narrative that will get your backsides giggling like uncle Waldo's. Techy-er than previous references on the label, the release doesn't leave out some essential hallmarks of the Quinoa sound: playful vocals, quirky breaks, signature enveloping basslines, and a breadth of sound that finds its cohesion in a warm, comfy place.

DISCLAIMER: This vitamin D-drenched mini-album has been found to induce a condition known as PSSS or "Prolonged Summertime Smiling Syndrome". Symptoms may include euphoria and a sudden urge to dance. They may appear when listening and are not affected by seasonality. The record is to be consumed at the dancers' discretion and should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet. If the symptoms persist please consult your local physician.

Nothing said new or modern or futuristic quite like a synthesiser in the 70s and 80s. If you were shooting an advert and you wanted your product or your company to appear forward-thinking and ahead of the game, then you would want something electronic, something out of the ordinary. When TV producers and advertising directors started searching for music that sounded like “Tubular Bells” – and then Tomita, and later Jean Michel Jarre – music libraries such De Wolfe, Bruton, Parry and Chappell had to have the tracks readily available.

Compiled by Bob Stanley, “Tomorrow’s Fashions” varies from advertising jingles and TV themes to space exploration and gorgeous, beatless ambience. Though it’s 40-to-50 years old there’s a real freshness to this music. Older jazz players Brian Bennett, John Cameron, Alan Hawkshaw and others seized the chance to operate a synth; younger pups including John Saunders and Monica Beale were simply intrigued by the new technology being wheeled into the studios. There’s a tangible sense of adventure.

“Tomorrow’s Fashions’” brand of electronica anticipated new age and ambient music. It also had both a direct and indirect influence on pop – the early Human League and the future sounds of Warp Records are all over this collection. Electronic library tracks have been sampled by everyone from MF Doom to Kendrick Lamar.

One person’s primitive and experimental is another person’s space-age lullaby. This was music made in the shadows – in Soho’s secretive music library studios – that has now become desirable and influential. The chances are chunks of it will be sampled and used on hit records that have yet to be written. If the musicians’ aim was to soundtrack tomorrow’s fashions, they couldn’t have got it more right.

The always excellent Minimal Wave presents a rare EP from Greek electronic pioneers In Trance 95 here. Alex Machairas and Nik Veliotis formed the duo in 1988 and very much helped define Greece's early electronic scene with their minimal synth and EBM-inspired sound, all of it usually marked by analogue warmth, hypnotic melodies and a futuristic sensibility. This release captures their innovative spirit and cult legacy across six unreleased tracks recorded between the late 80s and early 90s in Athens. It sounds magnificent and is a long-overdue glimpse into their visionary archive for new fans, or a fine reminder of their roots for those who have always been tuned in.

Under the radar release on the Muller offshoot Tanjobi! One of Ulrich Schnauss' most early works. We received some backstock from a bankrupt Japanese distributor who kept these records since the 90ies! For the open minded DJ, this can be played at various tempos and speeds. Handy and playful but classy tracks that suit multiple bags.

This 59 minute piece was conceived as part of a total environment for the exhibition Deus Ex Machina.



The project as a whole seeks to define and articulate the emotional, cultural and aesthetic manifestations of man’s uneasy relationship with technology. The music takes the form of a film score complete with stylized dialogue and actions.



During the 59 minutes four basic layers repeat in various configurations.The effect is to provide a template of narrative in which the pieces exhibited may become protagonists, situated in hypothetical scenarios which illustrate the contentions of Deus Ex Machina and the transmission of information.



Review:“Paul Schütze’s debut album from 1989 sets his stall out from the start; with a cyber update on Jon Hassell’s notion of ‘Fourth World Music”. Schütze’s music always sounds like it could be an alternative soundtrack to ‘Blade Runner’ (be aware fellow purists, I did state “alternative”), and this album is probably the perfect candidate if in some other dimension the Vangelis OST was no longer deemed satisfactory (such a dimension surely cannot exist). The listener feels like they’re walking through the rain soaked, neon-lit streets of a future LA with Deckard.” – Jay Harper

Long in the making, Compton's own AshtreJinkins debuts on L.I.E.S. with the seven track Left 2 Rot lp. The seasoned producer delivers an amalgamation of reimagined electronic styles going from stripped back

Terrance Dixon-esce minimal techno psychedelia to classic 2013 L.I.E.S. hybrid cuts sitting in the hazy grey area between gnarled house and techno. An ode to the City of Lost Angels from where he hails, this record is a perfect backdrop for the dystopian ruins the city has become over the last years. Stark, gut wrenching cuts that will leave you for dead as the title suggests.

Multi platinum-selling musician and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Cullum today announces The Pianoman At Christmas - The Complete Edition. Due for release on 19th November via Island Records. The deluxe album completes last year’s critically acclaimed hit album The Pianoman At Christmas Part 1, with its Second Part - featuring 11 covers of classic Christmas songs, as well as two original songs, including lead single ‘Christmas Don’t Let Me Down’, out now.

Drawing from the past and inspired by the present, The Pianoman At Christmas - The Complete Edition sees Jamie team up with London jazz innovators Kansas Smitty’s, as well as composer and producer The Vernon Spring and acclaimed LA-based jazz singer Lady Blackbird to complete a piece of work that is imbued with seasonal sophistication. Alongside his two original tracks, Jamie breathes new life into classics such as ‘Winter Wonderland’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Frosty The Snowman’, ranging from ‘Amazing Grace’ to ‘Man With The Bag’ and ‘Sleigh Ride’. The Complete Edition will be released on double CD and double black vinyl formats, alongside a limited run of 180G Heavyweight coloured vinyl in red and gold.

Speaking on the release, Jamie said -

“I had a huge amount of fun creating part two of TPAC. Recorded live, all in the room together - it’s the party after the big show, with friends, drinks and some of the finest musicians on planet earth.”

Released almost a year to the day before The Complete Edition is due out, The Pianoman At Christmas featured 11 original songs played by 57 of Britain’s best musicians, recorded in Abbey Road’s famous Studio 2 and produced by Greg Wells whose The Greatest Showman soundtrack spent 28 weeks at number 1. The album sold over 37,000 copies, spending 6 weeks in the album chart and peaking at number 11. In December Jamie broke the Guinness World Record for the largest music lesson ever, when he held a virtual piano lesson for 2,282 people, teaching them the carol ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ with special guests Robbie Williams, Sigrid and Dodie.
With 10 million album sales and over 890 million streams to date, Jamie is a celebrated musician the world over with loyal fans in every corner of the globe. With a career spanning over 20 years, his legendary live shows have seen him perform and work alongside artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar and IDLES - Jamie writing on the latter’s album Ultra Mono. The success of Jamie’s major label breakthrough, Twentysomething in 2003 and its follow up Catching Tales saw him nominated for a BRIT, Grammy and numerous other awards around the world. In 2020 he won an Ivor Novello Award for his track ‘Age of Anxiety’, taken from his acclaimed 9th studio album Taller. In addition to his enduringly successful recording career, Jamie has also established himself as a multi-award winning music broadcaster; his BBC Radio 2 show celebrated its 11th year on air this year.

With her debut album Black Acid Soul earning critical praise, Lady Blackbird is a revelatory new talent with music that transcends the jazz scene through which the LA-based artist is rooted. Reflecting influences as varied as Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner and Chaka Khan, with critics drawing comparisons to Adele, Amy and Celeste, Lady Blackbird’s distinct and beguiling voice is not one to be missed.

UK band Kansas Smitty’s have developed a musical voice wholly unique from what’s happening around them. They are led by band leader and producer Giacomo Smith who's cinematic compositions feature on their releases, most recently 2021's acclaimed Things Happened Here for Berlin based label !K7. In 2015 they launched their own east London venue and bar, of the same name, which became one of the conception points for the current UK jazz boom.

Londoner Sam Beste aka The Vernon Spring is a polymath in music who has production, writing and performance credits as eclectic as Amy Winehouse, Matthew Herbert, Kano, Joy Crookes, Beth Orton, Blood Orange, Gabriels and MF DOOM. Since 2019 he has been making waves with solo project The Vernon Spring, which foregrounds his rare capacity to hold sophistication and simplicity in the same hands through highly intimate muted-piano compositions and improvisations.

A sonic journey across Tweak's collection tracks that offering a unique blend of rhythm and atmosphere.
"Generations" stands out with its pulsating grooves and hypnotic melodies, fusing electronic precision with an old-school soul. The "Red Rover" (Rework) injects fresh energy, layering tight beats and atmospheric synths for a tension-filled club experience. "Fathorn" dives into darker, tribal territory, driven by deep bass and mesmerizing percussion that evoke a ritualistic intensity. Meanwhile, Raw Deal’s Freedom Time remix of "Fathorn" expands on this mysticism, infusing the track with a freer, more fluid groove that heightens its immersive power.
For this record, Back To Life made a 100% recycled vinyl that reduce waste, minimize environmental impact and support the planet.

DJ Support: Harvey, Artwork, Horse Meat DiscoLights, camera, Faris Pashion action!The elusive house and disco rework label is making a comeback for the first time since Autumn/Winter '21. This time presenting a new strut for the warmer seasons, 'Milano Edizione Spring-Summer ‘25,' is a two-track EP featuring fresh Italo disco and house tracks that are perfect for the catwalk, whether on the dancefloor or at Milan Fashion Week, darling.

Reissued here for the first time, "Cartão Postal" is one of the best and most sought-after Brazilian funk-soul albums from the early ’70s. It includes some outstanding uptempo gems like Marcos and Paulo Sergio Valle’s ‘Que bandeira’, and the stellar ‘Esperar Prá Ver’, co-written by Evinha’s brother Renato Corrêa who also happened to be a member of the Golden Boys. This is a classic Brazilian soul-funk title, right up there with all the greatest albums of the genre. Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl. This release is part of a new reissue series that will include many other outstanding Brazilian classics. "Cartão Postal" was originally released on Odeon Brazil in 1971, a few years after Evinha started her solo career. From 1961 to 1968 she was a member of Trio Esperança, alongside her brothers Mário and Regina. In 1969 Evinha won first prize at the Festival Internacional da Cançao Popular and her discography for Odeon took off. "Cartão Postal", her third solo album, comprises some outstanding gems. Songs like ‘Que bandeira’, by Marcos Valle, Paulo Sérgio Valle and Mariozinho Rocha, that moves between funk/soul and bossa/MPB grooves; the stellar ‘Esperar Prá Ver’, co-written by Evinha’s brother Renato Corrêa who also happened to be a member of the Golden Boys, is a mid-tempo funk soul number that features stunning arrangements and an epic bassline that is hard to be forgotten… ‘Só Quero’ emanates samba soul sounds while songs like ‘Por Mera Coincidência’ or ‘Rico Sem Dinheiro’ resemble what Trio Esperança was doing at the time: vocal-driven groovy jams spiced with celestial strings arrangements and heavy-duty drums and basslines, which is not surprising since they both worked with the same producers and arrangers, as they were all Odeon artists. Ridiculously rare and expensive now, and at the top of many collectors’ wants lists for decades, it’s finally reissued here after years unavailable.

We all remember with mixed feelings the past two years of domestic isolation: a temporary anomaly in which the world had to adjust to a new routine, a new rhythm. In these daunting yet precious circumstances, Italian producer Markeno has found his rhythm back, dusting off old records and re-approaching his past musical love affairs that he believed to be long forgotten. Here, in the fertile limbo that connects past and future, “Dock lown (exploring)” is born: a 3-tracker release with a chameleonic nature and an undeniable groove, in which Markeno is able to tactfully combine different genres such as indie, post-rock, African mu- sic, electro and funk.

In the contemporary music scene, overly saturated with catchy melodies and seductive lyrics, it is refreshing to encounter a composition like “Fase 01”, which starts from a purely percussive structure. Just when the ear is settled and well inserted into the tangle of drums, here comes the melodic twist, no less than at the fourth minute, injecting an unexpected groove and chalking out the contours of a track with multiple personalities: a little esoteric, a little synth-wave, quirky and badass. The temperature rises with “Zona Ros- sa”, in which the electro hint sketched in “Fase 01” becomes more pronounced, opening the doors to a dense psychedelic scenario. A shamanic loop accompanies the electric bass and escorts us through the smoke of the bonfire, veils swayed by the wind and colored lights that sparkle in the night. The ritualistic humming of ‘’Zona Rossa”’ is still hearable, floating in the rarefied atmosphere, while the last track “Limbo” makes its entrance and confirms once again the poliedric but congruous essence of this release, whose percussive attitude lures you in and whose hypnotic and groovy body makes you stay. At least for one more dance.

Sara Berton

First ever vinyl edition of the acclaimed British
Jazz artist’s debut album.
In January 2020 Downbeat Magazine named Yazz
as one of 25 artists set to shape the future of jazz
over the next decade.
Recipient of the highly prestigious Ivor Novello
Award for Innovation.
Jazz FM ‘Jazz Act of the Year’ 2020
Jazz FM ‘Jazz Album of the Year’ 2020, for her
2019 album, ‘Polyhymnia’.
Has won accolades from The Wire (Jazz Album
Of The Year), Bandcamp (Best albums of 2017,
Best Jazz Album), The Vinyl Factory, Stereogum,
The Guardian, All About Jazz, and many more
publications.
Yazz Ahmed receives regular airplay on Soho
Radio, Deutschlandfunk, Openlab, BBC Radio
2, BBC Radio 3, FBI Radio, FIP, Radio Raheem,
KCRW, Rai Radio 3, Radio 1 (BE), NTS, Worldwide
FM, and many more.
‘The Birth Of The Fool’ amongst Yazz Ahmed’s
most streamed tracks.
‘Conciliation’ features on the soundtrack of Steve
Buscemi’s 2022 film, ‘The Listener

Liner Notes by Martyn Pepperell

A collection of ten hypnotic guitar renditions that dive deeply into the traditional compositional musicality that underpins Harakami’s hallucinatory beatscapes before reconsidering them under a fresh, innovative and engaging new light. River: The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami signals a new level of awareness and understanding of both Rei Harakami’s significance and Ayane Shino’s undeniable talent.

VITAL SALES POINTS:

In 1996 Tokyo-based label Sublime Records received a cassette demo from Rei Harakami, a 26-year-old Japanese experimental filmmaker, and musician. Within one year Harakami’s debut LP ‘Unrest’ was released. As the 21st century dawned, Harakami was becoming a critically acclaimed figure, and there was a feeling in Japan that Harakami would be an inevitable successor to such luminaries as Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Sadly Harakami passed away at age 40 in 2011, leaving behind a musical legacy that seemed to deserve more recognition. A fitting tribute now comes from the incredibly gifted classical guitarist Ayane Shino. Continuing her album series ‘The Timbre of Guitar’ (the inaugural release of which was ‘Sakura’ - a cover album of Susumu Yokota's seminal album, released through the Swiss label, Mental Groove Records in 2021), she now presents ‘River ???? : The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami’. Ayane has reworked some of Harakami’s standout tracks into an album of tranquil yet complex compositions helping to build a new level of awareness and understanding of Rei Harakami’s significance. A collection of ten hypnotic guitar renditions that dive deeply into the traditional compositional musicality that underpins Harakami’s hallucinatory beatscapes before reconsidering them under a fresh, innovative and engaging new light.

In the years that followed Harakami’s untimely passing, Sublime Records continued to sign and support new artists emerging from Japan’s rich and fertile electronic music scene. This eventually led to a meeting with gifted classical guitarist Ayane Shino in 2020. Although a new name within electronica, Shino’s classical resume is impeccable. She has performed with a range of prestigious orchestras in concert halls and at music festivals across Japan, Europe, and South America while playing classical guitar for numerous animations, movies and television commercials and holding various educational roles. These days, she also hosts the Tokyo Harmonics radio show, which is syndicated through Hyogo prefecture’s Ashiya Radio and TJS Radio in Los Angeles.

During her time completing a masters at Tokyo’s University of the Arts, Shino became fascinated by Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Oneohtrix Point Never, Steve Reich, and, closer to home, Harakami and Susumu Yokota. ”I found myself in an environment where I was surrounded by fellow students who produced computer music, live electronics, and installations,” she explains. Following her meeting with Sublime, Hideoki Amano, the producer and owner of Musicmine, the parent company of the label, asked Shino if she would be open to transcribing and recording an album of covers of the late, great composer, producer and DJ Susumu Yokota’s music in incorporate into then-upcoming events commemorating the 5th anniversary of his death and reissues of his past works. “Yokota made music with the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer and samplers, not in a way like a conventional instrumentalist, so I was aware it might be more of a challenge for her,” Amano explains. Fittingly, Shino was up for his suggestion, leading to ‘Sakura: The Timbre Of Guitars #1 Susumu Yokota’. Song by song, Sakura highlighted Shino’s free-flowing playing and prowess at translating electronic music into classical guitar shapes.
After considering Harakami’s background as an instrumentalist, Amano felt revisiting his catalogue should be the next step for Shino. Well-versed in how often classical versions of electronic music tend to fall flat, he asked her to examine Harakami’s songs closely, select the musical phrases suitable for guitar and create arrangements that would sound interesting to music listeners with a deep engagement with ambient, techno and electronica. In Harakami’s discography, Shino discovered “a sense of simplicity, warmth, moisture and a floating sensation.” “I was gripped by his songs, which had an array of sounds that gave me a sense of mystery but also coexisted with a sense of familiarity,” she explained. Moving beyond his official releases, Shino began digging through YouTube to find live recordings, radio appearances and obscure outtakes. Within her mind’s eye, imagining playing his songs on guitar was effortless. On her approach to the album, Ayane explains: “For this album, I succeeded in spinning some exquisite, silk thread like delicate tones, interwoven with human warmth, gentleness and simplicity. And I was also able to rework Rei Harakami's distinctive sound with a floating feel to it and transform it into a very classical guitar sound. I hope many people will be able to receive this group of sounds that I created in this album that I played with all my heart.” A record of limitless innate beauty, ‘River ???? : The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami’ is a delicate and thoughtful body of work. A true masterclass in deconstruction and subsequent rebuilding, and an eternal lesson in how the art that we leave behind can outlive us all.

An official retrospective (1967 to 1985) of the legendary Beninese Composer, Gentleman & Salsero Gnonnas Pedro, who recorded dozen of albums & singles from the 1960s the 2000s with mythical bands such as Los Panchos, Les Dadjes & Africando !

21 tracks covering the extremely wide musical spectrum of this mythical artist in 40 years of career : Afrobeat, Salsa, Funk, Soul, Jerk & Folk frenzied grooves that will set any dancefloor on fire !

Available in a beautiful Limited Deluxe 2xLP gatefold edition (with a digital voucher including a Bonus track) & in HQ digital format with very detailed biography & liner notes in French & English, + Exclusive pictures, never seen before.

Bonus track : "À Ma Fille" (Digital only, includes with the download voucher of the album that comes with the release)

Housepainters pay tribute to Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers with their own disco-punk version of "I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms" from the quintessential 1976 proto-punk album. Find a secret remake of Fatima Yamaha's - What's A Girl To Do on the B-side. Limited to 200 copies.

The five-track ‘Touch The Vibe’ EP is the latest gem in the evergreen treasure trove of music from Australia’s CC:DISCO!. 'Feel It Peak' opens the release with two escapist minutes of slow-burning, gentle synth waves and Spanish guitar before 'Touch The Vibe' then takes off on warm analogue house drums with sugary chords and a classic bassline that bounces along at an infectious pace. Toronto-born DJ, producer and vocalist Jennifer Loveless also returns in fine form, providing heady spoken word vocals that wash over both cuts in an intoxicating fashion.

On the flip, 'Like This' is another absorbing and cinematic synth interlude while 'Me Gusta Is Dead (Period Pain Mix)' brings heavy late-night vibes with its punchy steel drums, fizzing pads and crunchy chords that make for a wild ride. Last but not least is the epic closer 'Yes Papi (Miami Daddy Theme)’, a glorious blend of prog, trance and techno with a 90s throwback feel featuring Loveless’ hushed vocals that showcases CC’s expert command of lower tempo, pumping grooves of the highest calibre.

Fresh off performances at Glastonbury and Love International, plus her debut Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1, it’s safe to say CC:DISCO!’s trajectory as an artist has risen to new heights in 2024. The Lisbon-based DJ, producer, radio host, and curator added a new string to her bow at the end of last year with the launch of her Miami Daddy imprint, which garnered critical acclaim from the likes of Resident Advisor, DJ Mag, and BBC Radio 1.

CC:DISCO! ‘Yes Papi (Miami Daddy Theme)’ and ‘Touch The Vibe’ drop via Miami Daddy on 21st September and 24th October, respectively, with the full EP releasing on 22nd November 2024.

Orion Records is all about freedom. Techno freedom. The Milan based label is an open space for club and non-club music.

The second release from label owner Orion explores the darker side of the project.

Arpeggios, reverberated pads and repetitive chords are the main elements of the deep and melancholia-infused EP.

Strictly Ragga is a track that me & Mr Sensi finished together in 2014, but at the time, there was no label interest in it and besides some DJ support from Bailey, Equinox, Double O & a few others at the time, we sort of forgot that it had existed. Recently though, whilst organising my projects folder, I rediscovered the tune and thought it was worth releasing myself now that I'm able to do that on Future Retro London.

FM Dial, I sort of can't really remember the exact process behind it being made. If I remember right, Kid Lib sent me the parts of a tune called Unauthorized around 2013 (I think?), it was quite fully formed but it had no bassline on it. I never made time to work on it, so I think he sent it to Mr Sensi, who did some work on it but also didn't finish it. Then last year, I found a folder that Mr Sensi had sent me years back, which had the parts for a tune that he never finished, which I then finished. I sent the tune to Kid Lib when it was done, having forgotten about Unauthorized and it turned out that I finished a version that Mr Sensi had worked on of Kid Lib's track, without knowing anything about Mr Sensi's involvement in Unauthorized. All a bit confusing I know, but anyway, all that matters was that the tune was finished.

Nice one to Mr Sensi & Kid Lib for their involvement in this release and to Bailey, Equinox, Double O and everyone else that gave Strictly Ragga some support in its initial existenc

After a long break since their first vinyl release, theBasement Discos returns to wax with “Dog With A Bone”, a diverse V/A compilation that channels vintage ‘90s house energy through a bold, 21st-century lens. Expect classic grooves, modern twists, and plenty of dancefloor heat as theBasement Discos reaffirms its vinyl legacy.

50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Heavyweight Vinyl 45 RPM Cut / Original glued prints on Thick Cardboard 700 gram / 2 Separated parts hand-glued / Glossy lamination / PVC outer / 30x30 cm insert with interview to Steve Kuhn by Tony Higgins printed on 250 gram Favini Lanilla Yellow / 20 Pages 21 x 30 cm "Real Book" with transcripts of the songs in the "Real Book" style, handwritten by The Maestro Carlo Spanò with main theme, chords and lyrics printed on 120 gram Shiro Eco paper, 100 gram Favini Crush Alghe. Carlo also edited an introduction with technical analysis of the session, which solves some of the little mysteries around this music gem.

Personnel:
Steve Kuhn - Vocals, Piano
Airto Moreira - Percussions
Billy Cobham - Drums
Ron Carter - Bass
Gary McFarland - Arranged by


Notes:
The album features the group playing Gary McFarland arrangements of Kuhn's compositions, accompanied by a string section on several tracks, with Kuhn delivering stream of consciousness lyrics in an unplanned and largely improvised fashion in the studio. However, that wasn't the only surprising aspect to the session. Airto Moreira's appearance was more by chance than design, he having just popped by the studio, again, unplanned. The 'Steve Kuhn' album is all the stronger for these extemporaneous and serendipitous elements and showcases a band at the top of their game; tight and funky yet relaxed and flowing like molten gold, with stabs and washes of keyboard from Kuhn. Splashes of free playing enter the session, but the band never stray too far from a melodic and harmonious centre of gravity. Kuhn's deft keyboard skills provide melodic embroidery to the impressive rhythmic textures and tonal colours of Carter, Cobham and Moreira. As if the music wasn't enough, the album is given extra significance by the fact that, within a few months of the recording, McFarland would die after being mysteriously poisoned by methadone in a New York bar. In a sense, it is a valedictory album from McFarland, channeled by Kuhn and the band.

It's among the hardest of Kuhn's albums to find so this reissue is most welcome. Luxuriate in the glow of Kuhn's Fender Rhodes and the pliant funky bass of Ron Carter; immerse yourself in the percussive interplay of Moreira and Cobham, a pairing that has rarely sounded so good. This is such an exquisite album; you will lose yourself in its delicate power and find yourself coming back to it again and again.

This group is led by Roland Nieto, a former trumpet player and composer for Or- questa La 33, who has 18 years of experience in international tours. Additionally, the lead vocalist and songwriter is the versatile musician Pío Molina. This album emerged from a desire to explore the origins of brass bands in various parts of the world, including Colombia, Mexico, the United States, Serbia, and Nigeria. In two of its tracks, it also delves into electronic sounds and Dub. While inviting listeners to celebrate with a powerful ensemble of winds and percussion, the album's lyrics address socially relevant issues.

Soulful hip hop instrumentals from Italy on Best Record-affiliated Quattro Bambole! "The "Moderna Sonorizzazioni" series by Quattro Bambole Music continues its investigation of the infinite expressive possibilities of instrumental hip-hop, recognizing it as the most contemporary form of library music. After the first two chapters - signed by Biga and JayBee Vibes - the third volume of the series, "Sport & Calcio", features the Roman producer Delphi for whom there was a lot of anticipation on the part of both Italian and scattered beatmakers everywhere in Europe and the United States. With the subtitle which is already a declaration of intent ''Tales of a boy from Rome....'' etc. etc., "Sport & Calcio" is an instrumental fresco in which football and sport become narrative pretexts to evoke images, memories and suggestions. The twelve tracks that make up the album are real cinematic sketches, in which Delphi (born Valerio Del Prete) combines raw beats, nostalgic loops, sample-delia and a narrative that evokes family Sundays, spent on the street as well as stadium, and the heat of the crowded stands. Therefore a work that is musically declined based on moments and emotions.. ''Sport & Calcio'' is therefore a deliberately introspective and not very ''danceable'' work. Sound photographs, short descriptions, themes, small fragments associated with television reports on sport... with which the artist touches chords that allow him to express a different compositional depth, a conceptual work, more descriptive and functional to the line of "Moderna Sonorizzazioni" series."

Kim Rapatti, aka Mono Junk, is a key figure in Finnish techno, known for his deep, hardware-driven sound. A firm believer in analogue synthesis, he has been shaping raw and hypnotic club tracks since the early '90s, drawing inspiration from Detroit pioneers like Derrick May and Juan Atkins. His releases have appeared on his own imprint, DUM Records, as well as Skudge, Forbidden Planet, and most recently, Cold Blow—earning him a dedicated following among DJs and collectors.

Recorded in Turku in 2002 using the Korg Minikorg 700s, Loving Your Mind showcases Mono Junk's signature stripped-down grooves and live hardware improvisation—an essential pick for anyone seeking an authentic slice of early-2000s machine funk. Alongside the title track is Gamma, a previously unheard production that was commissioned as an exclusive for a highly regarded mix series, further cementing Mono Junk's status as a trusted name in underground techno. Built around a percussive groove, a deep electro-funk bassline, and a four-to-the-floor pulse, the track unfolds in an atmospheric haze, balancing dancefloor functionality with hypnotic depth.

The B-side features remixes from Katerina and Sansibar, two of Finland's most notable international breakthroughs in recent years, known for their modern yet timeless club productions that nod to classic techno and house.

Katerina, a versatile DJ and producer with releases on Rekids, Running Back, and Cómeme, transforms Loving Your Mind into a high-energy techno duet, layering her own vocals over the original vocal track, with her infectious synth lead as the icing on the cake.

Sansibar, one of the fastest-rising names in the underground with releases on Kalahari Oyster Cult, WARNING, and Émotsiya, delivers a darker, four-to-the-floor rework—bringing a sinister edge while maintaining the raw energy of classic machine funk.

The album SATO was made by the Ukrainian Crimean Tatar pianist and composer Usein Bekirov.
SATO was created during the difficult wartime for Usein’s motherland Ukraine and for the author himself.
Despite circumstances, the compositions of SATO express the ideas of the beauty and revival of Ukrainian music, a part of which is Crimean Tatar folklore.
The uniqueness of the release is caused both by the concept of the album and by the performers' star crew.

The jazz sound of the compositions of SATO is directed to the stylistic course of ethno-jazz and world music.
Rhythms and melodies of colorful Crimean Tatar folk music became the main source of inspiration in the creation of the album.
We can find both Usein's original author's themes, skillfully stylized to the oriental sound,
and referenced to the classic jazz vocabulary in its juicy riffs and grooves with features of fusion and funk music.

The name of the album reflected the inheritance of generations through music.
Sato is not only a folk instrument but also the name of the first Crimean Tatar jazz band, which made the first jazz arrangements of Crimean Tatar songs.
The music of this band became the basic musical experience of Usein Bekirov, because one of the members of the group was his father Riza Bekirov, to whom the album is dedicated.

The author and producer of the album is Usein Bekirov - Ukrainian pianist, composer, arranger, sound producer, and author of music for a number of films and theater performances.
Usein Bekirov cooperates with both foreign and Ukrainian musicians of the highest rank.
This is evidenced by the participants of the album Sato: Dennis Chambers, Randy Brecker, James Genus, Mike Stern, Ada Rovatti (USA), Hadrien Feraud (France), and Cenk Erdogan (Turkey).
Each performer reinterprets the author's material of Usein Bekirov through the prism of his own experience, character, and manner of performance, which was expressed in the daring stylistic combinations within a jazz style.

A special role in the creation of the album was taken by the participants of the recordings, especially, legendary jazzmen Dennis Chambers, Randy Brecker, James Genus, Mike Stern.
Their ideological and creative support became an important part of the creativity process.
Musicians expressed their impressions in small addresses for the audience.
One of the reviews of the musicians:
"The process of recording compositions was really exciting! This music reflects Usein's national origin and sense of his native culture.
It is full of real emotions. Actually, this music is quite difficult, but it is very well written and produced!
I sincerely hope you will notice this album, which also took part in Dennis Chambers, James Genus, Mike Stern, Ada Rovatti, and others.
I think it's going to be a really special album, can't wait to hear the final version.
When you hear about the premiere, I highly recommend listening to this new album created by Usein Bekirov.
It will be great!" Randy Brecker

Cerrone has been a musical icon beyond Disco for 5 decades. He keeps inspiring the greatest names of electronic music and improving his way of playing & creating music. With “Disco Symphony” Cerrone revisits in a symphonic way 21 of his greatest hits performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Cannes (+50 musicians) directed by the legendary Randy Kerber , also featuring Cerrone himself on the drums & an additional bass-guitars-keyboards band playing with the orchestra. Merging the power of electronic music , the groove of Disco and the lyrism and unique touch of a symphony orchestra , in respect of the club Culture Cerrone was born in and with . This performance recorded live will be played in Paris at La Philharmonie de Paris on February 21st 2025, day of release.

Legendary French DJ and producer The Hacker debuts on Radio Slave’s Rekids with the ‘Laser & Smoke’ EP on 21st February 2025. The two-track ‘Laser & Smoke’ EP harkens back to The Hacker’s early 90s roots in Detroit-inspired Electro & Techno. First, he starts with ‘Turborave’, a tasteful, bleepy cut with an unignorable bassline and muted dub chords that wash over its snappy groove. ‘Turborave’ is the kind of heads-down, lose-yourself dancefloor moment for the later hours before ‘Harmonia’ sees The Hacker play with high-voltage cables on the B-side. Charged-up zaps and zippy acid call and respond while bodied drum hits keep the rhythm moving, whistles and pads occasionally joining in.

Pioneering DJ and producer The Hacker is renowned for being a leading proponent of Electroclash in the early 2000s, his Techno and EBM-infused sound, and iconic collaborations with Miss Kittin. With releases on labels like Dark Entries, Mannequin Records, and Turbo, as well as remixes for Air, Soft Cell, Dave Clarke, and Front 242, The Hacker remains a vital force in electronic music. He now adds Radio Slave’s Rekids to his extensive discography for the first time via the ‘Laser & Smoke EP.

Radio Slave’s Rekids was founded in 2006 and has since spawned successful offshoots with the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its newest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been crucial in developing early artist careers and has become a haven for established acts operating in House and adjacent genres, having recently featured the likes of Harry Romero, Hilit Kolet, William Kiss, Bushwacka, Mathias Kaden, Tiger Stripes, Tal Fussman, and many more.

Longcut Records thrives on the transformative power of music. Discover concept albums that tell stories of journeys, struggles and raw emotions. Find your next soundtrack to let your mind wander or join us in our social activism, amplifying the voices that deserve to be heard. Just like our emblem—a spirited dachshund in motion—we embody relentless energy and a rebellious spirit against mainstream music. Mind us, but our true heartbeat resonates most powerfully with modern composition, ambient, techno, jazz, and experimental sounds.

The multi-faceted and multi-talented Alberto Melloni returns once more to Bordello A Parigi to unveil his musical multi-verse. “Lago Lungo”, the title piece, sets the tone for the quartet of tracks. Steady kicks thud next fizzing hi-hats as a rich and full-bodied piano melody takes hold, Melloni’s instrumentation creating sheer peaks and creamy amber plains. “Promised Land” offers a different audio topography. Key stabs are bolstered by incising beats as a late-night italo infused romp undulates from speaker cones. Underscoring the EP are influences from both disco and house, sun-kissed chords countered by textured percussion. These twin inspirations combine in the groove laden “Paradise Pie”. Clean notes are refracted in neon, undercurrents of acid lurking just below the vibrating hardwood floor. The mirrorball takes the limelight for the finale. Breathy, smokey vocals orbit funk dipped lines of “Only You”, warbling vocoders dancing under the glittering beams to the close.

• Laser engraved, transparent red tinted single cassette.
• Full colour double-sided printed 4 panel J-Card.
• Super Ferro Normal-bias music grade tape.
• 43 minutes per side minutes (A- 42:55 / B- 42:52). (The mixtape totals 71 tracks at 1 hour and 15 minutes.)
• Not available since 2019 and reissued to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of its release in June 2019.
London-based producer and musician Vegyn unveils the reprint of his debut mixtape, "Text While Driving If You Want To Meet God!", a 71-track project originally launched in June 2019, now available again on cassette format. This time, featuring a transparent red tinted cassette chassis, this reissue offers fans a nostalgic journey through Vegyn's early experimental soundscapes. Crafted with Super Ferro Normal-bias music grade tape, each cassette boasts 43 minutes per side, meticulously duplicated in real-time for optimal sound quality. With clear front and back cassette cases, alongside laser engraving, and a double-sided full colour printed 4 panel J-Card. This reissue is set to captivate listeners once again. The cassette repress is scheduled to hit shelves in June 2024.

a A1 4 Year Break 126 Bpm
b A2 80's Nihtmare Setup [127.136 Bpm]
[c] A3 100 Leagues V2 [142 Bpm]
[d] A4 201886 002 _ [145 Bpm]
[e] A5 A Thousand 500 Apr V2 [149.287 Bpm]
[f] A6 All In Me All Of It - [124 Bpm]
[g] A7 Anothher Time Anothher Place [150 Bpm]
[h] A8 B... Arp Forever V3 [109.613 Bpm]
[i] A9 Bedtime Again V2 [130 Bpm]
[j] A10 Big Shoes Big Hands V3 [120 Bpm]
[k] A11 Buddy Lent Me The Pen Again V006 [218.814 Bpm]
[l] A12 Ch---- Pa------- V2 [169.706 Bpm]
[m] A13 Chords To Fix 002 [126 Bpm]
[n] A14 Country Song Without [187.089 Bpm]
[o] A15 Dean Told Me! [132 Bpm]
[p] A16 Deep Throwaway 003 [100 Bpm]
[q] A17 Desktop Speaker 003 [130 Bpm]
[r] A18 Dumb To Everythhing V2 [140 Bpm]
[s] A19 Evil Man Two V2 [120 Bpm]
[t] A20 Feet Too Tough 005 [128 Bpm]
[u] A21 Find Hihs Password 003 [96 Bpm]
[v] A22 First Of 2018 002 [140 Bpm]
[w] A23 Get This Thang Right Here 003 [170 Bpm]
[x] A24 Gnot Up! V2 [109 Bpm]
[y] A25 Go Tow Work [134 Bpm]
[z] A26 Gsc Cbd V1 [98.995 Bpm]
[xa] A27 27.Gsc Cbd V2 [98.995 Bpm]
[xb] A28 Happy Birthday Friendo! [154 Bpm]
[xc] A29 Here We Are - Chords Again [137 Bpm]
[xd] A30 I Only Play Games I Know [160 Bpm]
[xe] a31 If Not Someone Then Somewhere 004 [89.797 Bpm]
[xf] A32 Infinite Freeze Frame [96.532 Bpm]
[xg] A33 Iphone Speakerz [112 Bpm]
[xh] A34 Is It Rough Is It Tough [154 Bpm]
[xi] A35 It's All In The Eyes Of [124 Bpm]
[xj] A36 Its Okay Its Just Okay 002 [145 Bpm]
[xk] B1 Last Pieces Of The Year [120 Bpm]
[xl] B2 Less So More So [140 Bpm]
[xm] B3 Life Feels Good [91.71 Bpm]
[xn] B4 Malibu Hillside - [155 Bpm]
[xo] B5 Maybe Inspired [145 Bpm]
[xp] B6 Midday Sun [124 Bpm]
[xq] B7 Milk Dudz 006 [140 Bpm]
[xr] B8 Mistakes Were Made Risks Were Taken [155 Bpm]
[xs] B9 Monét Monét [135 Bpm]
[xt] B10 Nobody's Business [148 Bpm]
[xu] B11 Noise Making Problem [100 Bpm]
[xv] B12 Ns10 + Sub Combo Classic V2 [120 Bpm]
[xw] B13 Nuish [103.181 Bpm]
[xx] B14 Olbass All Bass 004 [140 Bpm]
[xy] B15 Once A Smoker - Always A Smoker [108.065 Bpm]
[xz] B16 52.One More For The Homies [115.203 Bpm]
[ya] B17 Picnic B_st_rd [112.380 Bpm]
[yb] B18 Picnic Trajegdy [142 Bpm]
[yc] B19 Positive Nightmare [134 Bpm]
[yd] B20 Post Thought Of Knowing Nothing [152 Bpm]
[ye] B21 Pull Shark [127 Bpm]
[yf] B22 Right Noww [150 Bpm]
[yg] B23Sadly Does It [123 Bpm]
[yh] B24 Safety At Night [99.226 Bpm]
[yi] B25 Save Yall Ready Know What It Is 003 [138 Bpm]
[yj] B26 Snslo Modem [135 Bpm]
[yk] B27 Thouhtless Thouhts [155 Bpm]
[yl] B28 To All The Photos Going Up Online Rn [118 Bpm]
[ym] B29 Try And Do A Cd After That [132 Bpm]
[yn] B30 Try Towards Overtime [140 Bpm]
[yo] B31 Veggie Burritotu [120 Bpm]
[yp] B32 Waitin On An Ambulance 002 [205.367 Bpm]
[yq] B33 What Goody In The Back [138.089 Bpm]
[yr] B34 Whhat The Fuck Did I Buy_ 002 [123 Bpm]
[ys] B35 Yo This Is The Next Tune Yah Get Me [124 Bpm]