Comet presents the first release from its new Disco Highlife series, featuring remastered originals by Ghanaian legends Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas and disco reedits by LeonxLeon and Leo Nanjo.
Founder of Comet Records, Eric Trosset, started working with those great heroes of West African music, back in 2010. Taking on the role of manager/publisher, Comet teamed up with Strut Records
and musician/producer Ben Abarbanel Wolff to revive Ebo Taylor‘s international career with a string of album releases: Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge and Life Stories. In 2014, he collaborated with
Pat Thomas & The Kwashibu Area Band on a new album, gathering together the old ‘pals’ (Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Tony Allen) in producer Kwame Yeboah’s studio in Accra.
It is with great pleasure that Comet launches this new series. Let's make this beautiful and timeless music the soundtrack to an unforgettable summer!
On side A, comes “Enye Woa” by Pat Thomas, originally released in 1988 on Nakase Records and taken from the album Me Do Wiase. It’s killer disco cut, and as innovative a piece of highlife as it
was 30 years ago. Paris-based producer LeonxLeon has been cooking up songs in his Parisian home-studio since 2013. He did a remarkable remix of Cerrone's "Funk Makossa" and more recently released his new Rokanbo EP on Cracki Records. His remix of “Enye Woa” is a classy modern disco cut with funky bass and spacey synths.
On side B is “Atwer Abroba” by Ebo Taylor, a stand out up-tempo track from the album Twer Nyame, originally released in 1978 on Philips West African Records. Tokyo-based multi
instrumentalist/producer/arranger Leo Nanjo formed the first Japanese afrobeat group, Kingdom
Afrorocks. Since the band broke up in 2014, Leo has been producing and arranging music with various collaborations, such as DJ Muro, Pushim and Misia. This is a trippy afro-futurist, broken
beat reedit with highlife grooves flying to deep space
Cerca:3 pi
Infinity is the new release by Melbourne-based Leo James, and the second Patience production. Leo scratches a longstanding itch and delivers two sidelong excursions that inhabit a similar sonic space but spin off in opposite directions on the continuum.
Desert Nightflower hums with vitality in a seemingly lifeless landscape. Impressionistically tracing the lifecycle of a flower’s bloom in the desert night – from the searing afternoon sun through dusk’s chill, the midnight blossoming and symbiotic relationship with travelling bats, through the blue hour comedown to first light – Leo employs vibrant, buzzing electronics, plaintive strings and levitating clarinet to illustrate beauty’s brief conquest of nature’s harshest environment, with vividly evocative and deftly moving results.
After Desert Nighflower floats completely off the grid, an ever-present kickdrum drives Infinity’s near 20-minute trip into timelessness. Sharing Side A’s subliminal synthesised hum and free-form clarinet, Infinity moves fast and firm down a dub techno dirt road towards the end of time. As elements drop in and out of the mix, Infinity builds momentum to a pulsing, cathartic peak of poignant piano, ethereal keys and lucid clarinet expressions.
As an avid nature enthusiast, spatial awareness looms large in Leo’s work. His solo releases on Berceuse Heroique, Neubau and his own label Body Language have been inspired incarnations of techno, EBM, industrial and wave.
Patience is a new outlet for exploring further beyond the break than usual. Inspired by the music perpetually on rotation at HQ – with E2-E4 representing the format’s high tide mark – each release will be one artist’s deep dive down one inspirational wormhole spread across two sides of vinyl, or two side-long sojourns making full use of a round 12” piece of plastic. Set and forget, zone out to tune in.
DJ Deep's Deeply Rooted label once again spotlights rising French talent Marina Trench for the second instalment of 'Signature featuring remixes from the boss and Hugo LX. Arriving on Deeply Rooted in March with the slick sounding 'Signature EP1', since then Trench has debuted at Rex Club where she played alongside Kerri Chandler, further bolstering her rising reputation as one of the Parisian scene's most exciting names. She now returns to Deeply Rooted bringing another instalment of classy House music - perfectly suited to the respected label's aesthetic. She shows off her knack for jazzy keys on the lively, raw-edged 'Thema Urbain' which oozes late night soul and effortlessly intimate house vibes. The equally excellent 'Ahead' is a surging house cut with well-crafted synth stabs fleshing out an off balance groove while a twanging bass riffs props things up from below. It's perfectly propulsive but has a real sense of heart. The third sublime original is 'Navigo', a bottomless track with splashy hi hats and suggestive string stabs up top. A rasping bassline brings texture to the smooth grooves as they keep rushing over you to make this another fresh and original offering from Trench. Remixing 'Ahead' is Hugo LX, who cruises from downtempo beats to soulful electronic sounds on the likes of Balance and NDATL Muzik. His classy version is a dubbed out classic with a musical bassline tumbling down the scales as you're sunk ever deeper into his pillowy pads. Deep himself then steps up to flip 'Navigo' into a driving deep techno number that surges on soaring synth smears and prickly percussion. This EP is set to take Trench to the next level and confirms she is one of 2019's brightest new stars.
Veerus makes his Drumcode debut, after an impressive contribution to Truesoul's VA EP in 2017.
The Italian has built up an impressive discography over the last decade, dropping records on labels including Terminal M, Octopus, Filth on Acid and his own Le Club imprint. His collaborative with Maxie Devine 'My Train' was a highlight of Solomun's classic Boiler Room in Tulum, which has clocked 37 million views. In late 2017 he linked up with Brits OC & Verde for the fantastic 'Naaki' that featured on Truesoul's first Various Artists EP, ensuring he was an artist well and truly in Adam Beyer's sights.
His maiden outing for Drumcode mines 20 years of history, taking inspiration from classic trance and acid from the '90s, which he distils to create powerful modern techno works. 'Hypnosis' was a huge highlight of Beyer's Awakenings show at Gashouder during ADE. It's characterised by an engrossing call-and-response dynamic Veerus builds between the 303 acid warbles and the melodic stabs that run throughout. A track custom made for big moments. 'Apocalypse', like its name, is more menacing. Veerus constructs the work to mimic the dramatic theatre of a gladiatorial scene in a film, as heart-fluttering chord progressions, a piercing synth line and dystopian melody mark this memorable track.
Since 2019 the collective of Parisian partygoers, Pardonnez-Nous, have decided to launch their own label. Just like their parties, their goal is to shine a light on dancing music.
Constantly looking for new tracks to enlighten the dancefloors, their outings are in line with the vision of deejaying defended by its founders. Finding forgotten pieces that are the geneses of dance music and mixing them with more contemporary sounds. Re-editions, edits, remixes or original productions the label doesn’t just stick to one style but aspires to represent all the music of partying!
Mexico, Peru, Surinam, and of course Sweden: in 1986, musicians from around the world responded to the Swedish composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Torbjörn Langborn’s invitation. His idea was to bring together the two groups he played with: a jazz quintet, and his salsa ensemble.
The cocktail was explosive: after several days recording at the Humlan studio in Stockholm, Torbjörn Langborn & the Feel Life Orchestra produced an eponymous album, combining, in Langborn’s words, “disco and funk with congas and Batá percussions.” The B side was a three-part gem nearly seven minutes long titled “Feel Life”, where he gives free rein to his talent as a jazz pianist. Thirty years later, we asked the famous remixer Dimitri from Paris to express is talent to produce a new version of this classic music track. "Pardonnez-nous", here it is.
Three incredible reimaginations of Nina Simone classics from Francois K, Tony Humphries and Coldcut each with their own unique touch and trademark style weaved within.
Francois K kicks off with a sublime deep house rework of 'Here Comes The Sun'. Reminiscent of Larry Heard's output, Francois nods to Mr Fingers with a bassline that harks back to those early Chicago classics, coupled with deft mbira touches that create an other-worldy feel to the remix. Celestial waves and singing rides mix with a buzzing top line melody that lay the foundations for Simone's spiritual voice to hang in the air with a perpetual elegance and grace. A timeless slice of house music that earned Francois' version a spot on one of Innervisions acclaimed 'Secret Weapons' compilations.
Next up, Zanzibar royalty Tony Humphries lays out a bumping remix of 'Turn Me On' turning the bluesy soul leanings of the original on their head and flipping it into an uplifting summertime groover. Simone's words take on a different tone with this revitalising rework backed by staccato guitars and chopped up vocal melodies that give a playful yet soulful character to this slab of sunshine.
Rounding off the EP in classic Coldcut style, the duo meld 'Save Me' into a chopped, screwed and crunched remix. Lo-fi percussive elements and distorted textures blend with glitching samples and stuttering sequences that turn Simone into a tripped-out goddess. An atmospheric piece of electronica but with a harden edge purpose made for the dancefloor.
From the mists of 1989 comes The Landlord with this monolithic slab of rave history - 'I Like It'. Instantly recognisable, those widely sampled piano stabs, that bassline.... it's all there. Produced by Canadian super-producer and Big Shot Records label owner Nick Fiorucci this much sought after rave anthem was highly prized and coveted by those in the know back in the day, no-one had any idea as to how huge the record would become as it soundtracked every dancefloor, warehouse, field and loft from '89 onwards, this is it, the real deal! Enter: The Maghreban. One of R&S Records contemporary artists and an unashamed Hardcore / Jungle / Breakbeat enthusiast, he seemed like the perfect remixer. Maghreban's mix is respective of the roots and the legacy of 'I Like It', referencing some of it's later sampled incarnations in a clever and knowing way, a true DJ tool that has been road-tested and checked in clubs across Europe and beyond, his epic 'Revenge Remix' shows a deep understanding of the history of these particular records and how they work on the dancefloor. This one will have people crying for more! Also featured on this special RSD 2019 release is the OG 'Blow-Out Dub', the one that started it all. Classic material from end to end right here. Essential business from Above Board distribution and Nick Fiorucci / Big Shot Records.
To Celebrate The 6th Anniversary Of The Agency, Rotate Prepared A Hefty 4xlp Compilation Featuring Its Key Artists. 'rotations Ii' Is The Seven-chapter Follow-up To rotations I' Out In 2016 And Features Tracks From Most Of The Current Music Crafters In The Rotate Family: A Collection Of Personal Musical Excursions And Peculiar Studies Of Rhythm And Sound, From Artists Full Of Wit, And Grit. 'phase Five' (a1) Is Yuzo Iwata's Debut On Rotate And, Without Surprise, Is A Showcase Of Sonic Wizardry That Sets The Tone To The Entire Compilation With Its Dreamy (and Almost Delirious) Atmosphere And Marching Organic Groove. 'aphasia' (a2) Has Anestie Gomez Shifting The Gears To A More Minimalistic Sonic Palette Of Razor-sharp Drum Programming, Sophisticated Swing, And Deep Acidic Low-ends. The Flipside 'hypnosis' (b1) Is Leiris's Debut Solo On Rotate And A True Study On Reduced Raw Grooves And Abstract Sound-design, Wrapped In Amidst Of Hypnotic Mystery. 'partenaire Particulier' (b2) Brings Back Leiris Together With Ben Vedren As "monkey Nenufar": A Spellbinding, Steady-beat Ride Full Of Joyful Chords And Filtered Echoes For Certified Euphoria. Levi Verspeek Kicks The Flip-side With 'paying 420' (c1), A Focused 4 By 4 Excursion Focused On Groove And On-point Sampling Of Minuscule Percussive Loops Teeming Around A Central Pulsating Bassline. Funky, Vibrant And Full Of Emotion, Pit Spector's 'back From Cdv' (c2) Is A Love Letter To The Esteemed Club Der Visionaere, And An Ode To The Micro-house Aficionados, Especially Those With A Soft Spot For Latin Rhythms. Denis Kaznacheev's 'poromechanics' (d) Is A 15-minute Sonic Delirium Through Startling Soundscapes, Sweltering Rhythms And Barely-sane Micro-sampling, Ultimately Setting A Hypnotic, Enigmatic Tone To The Closing Of This Compilation. "rotations Ii" Is A Versatile Comeback To This V.a. Series Where Rotate Artists Can Be Themselves, Loyal To Their Own Sound And Their Very Distinct Personalities.
Having rounded 2018 off gracefully with his musclebound album, UVB reports back to his Body Theory label with his new EP - The Power of Saying No. The new release comes packed with all the vigour of previous releases from the label boss, spread across four tracks of headstrong club tracks.
The opening cut, Us Against Them, is a tough, marching workout that pits crispy percussion against galloping low ends. The title track is a menacing number, helmed by powerful, rolling kicks drums, and is glued tastefully together by mangled guitar samples and vocals to boot.
On the flip Crushing Your Dreams takes us on an introspective journey. The trademark bellowing kicks are seasoned with swinging percussion, guided harrowingly with a drone - in the best way possible. The EP brings itself to a close with No God. A masochistic, drum-heavy, power-outing paved on top of atheistic undertones.
Supply Records marks the end of a two-year hiatus With a strong techno EP from the label's own Mechaniker. Pike builds the energy slowly with tight 909 programming and gritty synth work. Tongue puts a twist on big-room techno with its tripping layered vocals and apocalyptic atmosphere..
The wondrous rarity that is Hipnotic 'Are You Lonely' gets the rework treatment form four masters of the re-edit, each with their own trademark sound.
First up to the operating table, Opolopo increases the tempo edging up to the 118-mark adding a characteristic juiced up bass synth that oozes smoothness and swapping the flute melodies with cosmic synth lines that sparkle in the darkness.
Greg Wilson & Che Wilson tackle edit duties next in classic Wilson style. Again, opting to move into peak-time tempo territory, they begin with a stripped back, spacey intro that sees elements added one by one from a bumping bass and panning pads to rough snares and crisp claps. It wouldn't be a Wilson edit without a double dose of tape delay, the duo dropping the vocals and synth lines expertly in and out for maximum dancefloor flavour.
Back down to the original pace on the B side, The Revenge offers up a slick, late-night redub treat. Only a handful of components are involved as he chops and changes the bass and synth lines to provide a mesmerizingly chuggy groove whilst dropping in choice vocal echoes that makes Hipnotic, even more hypnotic. Last up, Yam Who brings those strutting guitars further forward in the mix whilst adding some delicate piano touches that offer an elegant enhancement to the original.
Four new interpretations of a much loved and sought-after funk fuelled, boogie gem.
Classic jazz/funk/disco cut that became an instant anthem on all discerning dance floorswhen it was originally released, and for decades to follow. Includes the previously commercially unreleased Sax Mix of 'Journey', cut loud at 45rpm.
Championed by DJs including Francois Kevorkian, David Mancuso, Larry Levan and more, it's a record that, alongside tracks like Atmosfear's 'Dancing In Outer Space', become synonymous with the UK influence on US club music at the time.A sound that many forward thinking DJs in New York, Chicago etc. embraced to stand out from the crowd and bring depth to the dance floor.
Driving jazz/funk, legato bass, grooving beats, subtle keys, dubbed out percussion and guitar licks that bring you to a simple but infectious piano melody.
A collaboration between Andy Sodjka and Jerry Pike, mastered by Herb Powers.
From playing chaotic house parties in their home city of Oxford to becoming major festival headliners across Europe, Foals' trajectory has been remarkable. They've earned critical acclaim (NME and Q Award wins, plus Mercury Prize, Ivor Novello and BRIT Award nominations) and fan devotion (1.7 million sales of their four Gold-certified albums) in equal measure. And while the majority of contemporaries have fallen by the wayside, Foals continue to hit new peaks.
After more than a decade in the game, Foals again embrace that love for the unconventional with the bravest and most ambitious project of their career: not one, but two astonishing new albums: 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost'. A pair of releases, separate but related, they share a title, themes and artwork. 'Part 1' will be released on March 8th, with 'Part 2' following later in the year.
'They're two halves of the same locket,' frontman Yannis Philippakis explains. 'They can be listened to and appreciated individually, but fundamentally, they are companion pieces.
Fundamentally tethered but possessing their own personalities, the two bodies capture the most compelling, ambitious and cohesive creations they've ever produced. Eager to break the traditional pop song structure which they felt they were becoming increasingly tapered to, the 20 tracks defy expectation. There are exploratory, progressive-tinged tracks alongside atmospheric segues which make the music an experience rather than a mere collection of songs. Yet the band's renowned ability to wield relentless grooves with striking power and skyscraper hooks also reaches new heights.
The album's lead single 'Exits' is a case in point, featuring Philippakis conjuring the image of a disorienting world via a contagious vocal melody. It's a fresh anthem for Foals' formidable arsenal, but also an ominous forecast.
'There's a definite idea about the world being no longer habitable in the way that it was,' says Yannis. 'A kind of perilousness lack of predictability and a feeling of being overwhelmed by the magnitudes of the problems we face. What's the response And what's the purpose of any response that one individual can have'
'Exits' signposts what to expect thematically from both instalments of 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost'. The title is a warning that anything - from the tiniest fleeting moment of inspiration through to the planet's own biological diversity - can be under threat of being irrevocably erased.
It's a theme that permeates throughout the album's material, as Foal mirror the public neuroses that have been provoked by our current cultural climate. Paranoia of state surveillance Fear of environmental collapse Anxiety over Trump's next potentially cataclysmic move It's all there in these apocalyptic songs.
'Lyrically, there are resonances with what's going on in the world at the moment,' summarises Yannis. 'I just feel like, what's the utility of being a musician these days, if you can't engage with at least some of this stuff These songs are white flags, or they're SOSs, or they're cries for help... each in a different way.'
The new albums' journeys began as the 'What Went Down' era ended. Founding bassist Walter Gervers departed on amicable terms after playing the Festival Paredes de Coura in Portugal in August 2017. Foals felt that he couldn't be replaced - a decision that ushered in a period of recalibration, reorganisation and, ultimately, rejuvenation.
After taking a little time out, Foals - completed by Jimmy Smith (guitar), Jack Bevan (drums) and Edwin Congreave (keys) reconvened - with Yannis on production duties, who, together with Edwin, also covered the bass parts. They began by writing in a rehearsal space before exporting those sketches into the recording phase at 123 Studios, Peckham, with the assistance of engineer Brett Shaw. They'd repeat the cycle between the two spaces, effectively creating an ongoing feedback loop as they sought to push every new idea to the finish line.
1 x 12" black vinyl 180gsm
- label 4/c
- discobag on reverse board with matt varnish
- gatefold on reverse board with matt varnish
- shrinkwrap
The music of Hubur is full of details and small elements that trigger the big picture profoundly. You can call his music electronic. You can say he writes tracks. But then there are some song-ish moments in them - even if there is no singing at all. Not at least because his melodies are tempting. You can also find traces of hip hop. Traces of leftfield electronics. Traces of jazz without jazz. A gentle ride with a story arc that absorbs profoundly and that does not require a commercial value to exist and be meaningful.
Kastil and I-Real have been releasing joint efforts since 2014. The occasional duo have perfected the boisterous techno they hold dear, and showcase their new approach on the gloomy 'Black Birds All Over' and the audacious sounding 'Skandha'.
'Black Birds All Over' is a lurid sounding effort that revolves around a monotonous roar and skillfully places drums and fx sounds that cut across the spectrum like daggers. Canadian duo Orphx delivers an enigmatic version of 'Black Birds All Over' that uses far-away pads to generate a more uncanny mood.
'Skandha' is a piece of nonconformist techno that uses broken drum patterns and eerie fx screams throughout. Order & Devotion owner Kwartz reworks 'Skandha' to a recognizable and powerful dark dancefloor version.
'World' is the debut album dreamt up by Barcelona based DJ / Production duo Memorial Home. Comprising of Paul Roux (France) and Jeremy Pinchasi (Belgium), 'World' is the exciting result of their shared desire to push the limits of their own brilliant musical foresight. It's an ambitious 20 track longplayer which effortlessly showcases the incomparable sonic space shared between both musical masterminds.
Sitting somewhere just to the left of Nicolas Jaar, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Mike Dehnert and Ostgut Ton, Memorial Home has managed to craft an album absolutely unique to their sound, impossible to categorise and sure to catch the attention of music lovers of all shapes and sizes. Techno without a dancefloor, experimental electronica fit for the warehouse raves. It's an exciting, perfectly confusing album which simply works wonderfully.
Heavily textured in incredible atmospherics, dub effects and crisp, clear percussion, 'World' spreads over an excellent array of individual tracks full of groundbreaking musical magic. Incorporating a stunning fusion of live instrumentation and electronic craftsmanship, 'World' is an audio adventure into emotive soundscapes, with a clear focus on the subtle saturation of melancholy. It's a soundtrack for a dystopian film yet to be written. A sonic painting for the coming winter months where the trees are all but dead and frozen; and the ground a thick layer of glowing white snow.
Memorial Home are the founders of the independent label Rapid Eye Movement, which has seen a breadth of incredible EPs riding the balance between experimental Techno and introspective electronica. They first met by random chance in their newly adopted home of Barcelona, Spain. This unexpected encounter quickly developed into a full-fledged musical kinship through their shared interest in crafting cinematic, experimental techno music. Each release from the label and duo showcase their clear passion to unearthing sounds beyond the expected. With their debut LP about to drop, the future is looking certain for the duo, the label, and the changing face of modern day electronic music.
- A1: Speak To Me/Breathe (In The Air) (Feat. Sluggy Ranks)
- A2: On The Run
- A3: Time (Feat. Corey Harris & Ranking Joe)
- A4: The Great Gig In The Sky (Feat. Kirsty Rock)
- A5: Money (Feat. Gary "Nesta" Pine & Dollarman)
- A6: Us And Them (Feat. Frankie Paul)
- A7: Any Colour You Like
- A8: Brain Damage (Feat. Dr. Israel)
- B1: Eclipse (Feat. The Meditations)
- B2: Time Version
- B3: Great Dub In The Sky
- B4: Step It Pon The Rastaman Scene (Feat. Ranking Joe)
- B5: Any Dub You Like
- B6: Breathe 2014 (Feat. Sluggy Ranks, Metric Man, Eric Rachmany Of Rebelution & Ruff Scott)
- B7: Brain Dubbage
As the liner notes in this special Anniversary Edition of DUB SIDE OF THE MOON begin: This is the reggae record that changed it all. Some day music histortians may look back and divide a time in reggae before Dub Side and after. Celebrate a decade plus of this timeless and ingenious musical experiment with this release, which includes two new bonus tracks (including a new version of 'Breathe' that features Rebelution's Eric Rachmany along with Metric Man, Ruff Scott and Sluggy Ranks), new artwork, and a 12 page booklet that tells the history of the project and catches fans up on what the people involved have been up to in the years since.
Afrobot cuts up four wavy 80's tracks for darker times! A1 is a sleazy minimal wave banger of Ensemble Pittoresque, recorded in The Hague in '84, now tripled in duration! After that we continue our trip from France to New York ending in the UK on the B-side. First track is a mix of a 7' b-side and a wrong speeder and a slowly pounding track with a twist is the one to finish with. Comes with an insert and a stamp both drawn by Frank Koedood.




















