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CQ Wrestling are today announcing their sophomore album Resistance for release on 29th May.
There’s a saying that simmers beneath the sonic assault of Resistance, the new album from CQ Wrestling. “Nothing changes if nothing changes,” recites Jake Mac, who knew of this idiom before 2024; before the loss that turned his and bandmate Charlie Woods’ worlds upside down; before the “year of complete mayhem, mess and chaos” that followed. From the outside looking in, the Brighton-based duo may have seemed on the top of the world. Then known as Chappaqua Wrestling, the exhilarating energy of their debut album Plus Ultra had seen the band lauded as future British music scene conquerors. The pair had a major label record deal to their name. Sweat dripped from the walls at headline show after headline show, in front of rapturous fans – and yet something felt amiss.
“We were selling out tours and people were loving the music, but honestly, we just felt f****** lost,” says Woods. Then tragedy struck. “It completely derailed us,” says Mac, recalling how the sudden death of his father – “a big part of the project” since its inception – sank them both into a period of grief and introspection. Amid the mourning emerged a desire to transform.
RESISTANCE is an album forged in the embers of personal tragedy and hammered into shape by desire, resilience and resolve. Detailing a metamorphosis, new single ‘Pacifico’ draws a line in the sand for the band as they recover from a time of tremendous upheaval to find themselves following their own creative compass, with renewed vitality.
"This album is a collection of songs above all about trying to find joy and hope in dark times”.

"Montreal", Album Nummer 3 der Band Montreal aus 2009, in einer neuen Vinylauflage (blau/weiß Corona Effekt Edition).

"Sonic Ballroom", Album Nummer 5 der Band Montreal aus 2014, in einer neuen Vinylauflage (schwarz/weiß Corona Effekt Edition).

Full colour sleeve with rare use of the Italian only movie artwork.

A few years ago I issued the soundtrack to Virgin Witch, the score to an underground 1971
kinky British London / posh stately home horror that seemed more like an excuse to show as
many racy cars and devilish nude scenes as possible. This fleapit film was written by Hazel
Adair - the writer of legendary long-running TV series Crossroads, and her business partner at
the time Ken Walton (yes, the wrestling commentator). Virgin Witch was cheap and successful
enough to allow the whole team another go at the sexploitation game through their newly
formed production company Pyramid Films. Sex Clinic was the quick follow up; I say Sex Clinic,
the initial cinematic title was Clinic Xclusive, which was also called With These Hands, which
was also called La Masseuse Perverse. This film also came out in 1971 and they used the
musical services of Ted Dicks once again. Dicks had originally met Adair in 1960 through a cast
member performing in his first musical, Look Who’s Here.

If you are not aware of the great Ted Dicks, his quick bio reads as follows: born London 1928,
was educated through both grammar and art school and after National Service flirted with both
art and music. He worked with a series of very talented song writers - including Barry Cryer -
finally sparking properly with writer Myles Rudge. Together “Dicks and Rudge” had a hit with
their musical And Another Thing which starred Lionel Blair and Bernard Cribbins. Their talents
were spotted by producer George Martin and they followed this show success up with a series
of truly classic novelty pop chart hits, again with Cribbins - “Hole In The Ground” and “Right Said
Fred”. If you are not aware of the classic A Combination Of Cribbins LP they wrote, go and find
it. It includes “Gossip Calypso”, a triumph of novelty song writing that somehow manages to
squeeze in the lyric “Oxy-aceteline welder”, and is possibly the only song ever to do so. They
wrote further hits (winning an Ivor Novello for “A Windmill In Old Amsterdam”) and were in
constant demand throughout the 1960s and 1970s, working with artists such as Petula Clark,
Matt Munro, Bruce Forsyth, Topol and Kenneth Williams.

By the late 1960s Ted had also penned a handful of instrumental library cues including the
classic “Busy Boy” for the Standard Library company that got picked up as the theme for the
brilliant TV kids fantasy show Catweazle in 1970. It’s a light, kooky, hummable tune that lodged
its way deep in the mind of any child under 12 over the following decade.

When I first got the reels for Sex Clinic I’m not sure what I was sonically expecting - much of
Dicks’ music blends musical hall with jazz and some brilliant novelty - and maybe I was also
imagining a different kind of film to the one that was actually made. Turns out Sex Clinic is more
like a sleazy drama than an erotic adventure - I’ve read reviews that call it “nothing more than a
naked Crossroads”. Even knowing this I had no idea what the music was going to sound like. So
I was thrilled when it was almost the musical opposite of what I imagined. We have here a great,
easy jazz score. Not a proggy, wild or free jazz score, this is lightish, vibes-led, bluesy and really
charming, which gets slightly more lively when the naked pool party sequence kicks off, and
drifts effortlessly into more seductive midnight moods as and when required. And having now
seen the film, musically it’s unusually at odds with the on screen nudity, blackmail and revenge.

But like most of Ted’s work, the music sticks in your mind. Unlike the film. Which I suggest you
try and avoid unless you like watching plump randy middle aged men with terrible hair pursue
women half their age.

TRACKLISTING: There were no notes or titles to any of the cues on the reels. So I have just simply labeled the sides as per the reels that came in:

Despite the thousands of kilometers between them, Monterrey and Medellín have always seemed to move in parallel. Both cities rise around guardian hills that watch over their people, and if you look closer, even the concrete that forms the backbone of each city traces back to these rugged metropolises.

The list of coincidences could go on—small, almost conspiratorial links that chance has woven between the two places. Adding another chapter to this unlikely connection is Regal86, who had already crossed the bridge once before to dive into the depths of Colombia’s “city of eternal spring.”

Doble Filo, his first full-length cut to vinyl, now becomes his latest calling card. The eighth release on Discos Nutabe’s catalog arrives with six tracks—six sharp-edged pieces that lay bare Regal86’s sonic marginality.

It’s a form of exclusion that isn’t imposed but chosen, a deliberate stance to sidestep the demand for exotica that still shapes much of Latin America’s electronic landscape. This is spicy, rough-edged techno—ruleless and unruly—driven by dense, clipped progressions that plunge you into a vortex masquerading as a rayado ritual.

There’s no overload of concept here, nor any caricature of the extravagant. This album simply delivers music built to tear through any club or dive, without false promises or unnecessary labels. If there’s one thing worth highlighting about Doble Filo as a whole, it’s the way it consistently—and almost implicitly—reasserts its core premise from start to finish: these techno tracks are meant to be played wherever the hell you want.

In a moment when oddities tend to be rewarded more than usual, Doble Filo doubles down on fundamentals, reclaiming the spirit of early electronic music and carrying it into an era where immediacy seems intent on blurring the honesty of those who shape the sound.

For Regal86, sonic hustle is the only thing that keeps his spirit steady.

Neues, viertes, Solo-Album vom dänischen Psych-Rock-Zauberer Uffe Lorenzen aka Lorenzo Woodrose aka... Seit zehn Jahren interpretiert Uffe Lorenzen (bekannt von u.a Baby Woodrose und Spids Nogenhat) auf allen seinen Alben ein altes dänisches Lied. Das gilt für seine drei Soloalben und die beiden Alben seiner aktuellen Rockband Lydsyn. Auf seinem neuen Soloalbum Glemte Spor ("Vergessene Spuren") hat er ein komplettes Album mit 10 Interpretationen von Liedern aus den Jahren 1967 bis 1999 aufgenommen. Einige davon sind dänische Klassiker, andere sind eher unbekannte Lieder, die er sich zu eigen gemacht hat. Viele davon können als Protestsongs betrachtet werden oder haben einen anti-war Charakter. ,Ich habe festgestellt, dass ich die Herausforderung, Songs anderer Leute zu interpretieren und sie zu meinen eigenen zu machen, wirklich mag. Sie zu verändern, zu interpretieren und vielleicht sogar zu verbessern. Viele der Songs werden den meisten Menschen unbekannt sein, während andere dänische Klassiker sind. Was sie gemeinsam haben, ist, dass sie mich irgendwie zu dem gemacht haben, der ich bin", sagt Uffe Lorenzen. Das Album wurde zusammen mit Morten Hart Grabowski in einem kleinen Studio in Kopenhagen aufgenommen. In mehr als 20 Sessions haben sie zusammen eine Liste von 50 Songs auf die zehn reduziert, die schließlich auf dem Album gelandet sind. Laut Lorenzen fanden die Aufnahmen in einer sehr entspannten Atmosphäre statt: ,Wir haben etwas Gras geraucht und Rotwein getrunken, was den Prozess sehr entspannt gemacht hat, und ich glaube, das hört man dem Endergebnis auch an." Später übernahm Flemming Rasmussen den Mix und das Mastering in seinem berühmten Sweet Silence Studio. Glemte Spor erscheint am 24. April bei Bad Afro Records und die erste Auflage ist auf 1000 Exemplare auf schwarzem Vinyl limitiert.

There are two versions of the record - classic black vinyl and transparent green limited edition (100 numbered copies) - both 180g with printed inner sleeve.

"PORTRETY" (Portraits) is a one-of-a-kind series – it focuses on artists known for their strong connection to the drums. Each person invited to the project is given freedom in their work. Ultimately, the track created for the album must be signed with the real names of our protagonists – that's our sole criterion.

This is how a kaleidoscope of sounds and eight original perspectives on music emerges.

LINER NOTES by Bartek Chaciński:"For part III of the compilation series focusing on Polish drummers, I’d like to start, as per usual, with a one liner…

There are three types of drummers: Those that can count, and those that… can’t.

Ok, but looking past the punchline, it turns out that there is, in fact, a third type: Drummers who can count, and pretty well too, but still struggle with triple rhythms. Amongst those who have ascended the heights of triple rhythm perfection you will certainly find, Piotr Gwader. One of the leaders of the movement, we could call an “Oberek Revival. He even proposed a new form: Footberk - splicing of Polish Folk dance and Chicago Footwork. He performed live with the OG of Footwork - RP Boo (Arpebu), but equally, he could successfully form a footberk duo with Jacek Prościnski, another protagonist from “Portraits 3”. Prościnski has been deeply immersed in the world of electronic dance music for years and offers us yet more proof of those interests here.

Triplets are also no stranger to Ola Rzepca (synonymous with the Drekoty Trio), in whose music there is no shortage of rhythmical complications and tempo changes. The same can be said of the improv-friendly contemporary jazz presented by Patrycja Wybrańczyk. These two Polish drummers show how versatile this discipline is on the Polish jazz scene. These qualities have already been well documented by Marcin „Groh” Grośkiewicz, but never so strongly as here.

Szymon „Pimpon” Gąsiorek is a musician who has made unconventionality the foundation of his individual style. Yet even in the piece by Jan Pieniążek (a dynamic and equally versatile drummer), we find an element of surprise in its melancholic atmosphere and construction, which introduces a triple rhythm while pushing the drum parts into the background. Portraits, on the other hand, does the complete opposite with its protagonists - it positions them in the foreground as the creators of specially commissioned original works. From this perspective, perhaps the most familiar names here may be Emade and Albert Karch, who are known as outstanding music producers and among the most interesting in Poland. “Portraits III” has presumably given them a momentary break from producing other artists, while for the music industry, it’s also a pleasant break in the rhythm and a shift of emphasis."

There are two versions of the record - classic black vinyl and transparent green limited edition (100 numbered copies) - both 180g with printed inner sleeve.

"PORTRETY" (Portraits) is a one-of-a-kind series – it focuses on artists known for their strong connection to the drums. Each person invited to the project is given freedom in their work. Ultimately, the track created for the album must be signed with the real names of our protagonists – that's our sole criterion.

This is how a kaleidoscope of sounds and eight original perspectives on music emerges.

LINER NOTES by Bartek Chaciński:"For part III of the compilation series focusing on Polish drummers, I’d like to start, as per usual, with a one liner…

There are three types of drummers: Those that can count, and those that… can’t.

Ok, but looking past the punchline, it turns out that there is, in fact, a third type: Drummers who can count, and pretty well too, but still struggle with triple rhythms. Amongst those who have ascended the heights of triple rhythm perfection you will certainly find, Piotr Gwader. One of the leaders of the movement, we could call an “Oberek Revival. He even proposed a new form: Footberk - splicing of Polish Folk dance and Chicago Footwork. He performed live with the OG of Footwork - RP Boo (Arpebu), but equally, he could successfully form a footberk duo with Jacek Prościnski, another protagonist from “Portraits 3”. Prościnski has been deeply immersed in the world of electronic dance music for years and offers us yet more proof of those interests here.

Triplets are also no stranger to Ola Rzepca (synonymous with the Drekoty Trio), in whose music there is no shortage of rhythmical complications and tempo changes. The same can be said of the improv-friendly contemporary jazz presented by Patrycja Wybrańczyk. These two Polish drummers show how versatile this discipline is on the Polish jazz scene. These qualities have already been well documented by Marcin „Groh” Grośkiewicz, but never so strongly as here.

Szymon „Pimpon” Gąsiorek is a musician who has made unconventionality the foundation of his individual style. Yet even in the piece by Jan Pieniążek (a dynamic and equally versatile drummer), we find an element of surprise in its melancholic atmosphere and construction, which introduces a triple rhythm while pushing the drum parts into the background. Portraits, on the other hand, does the complete opposite with its protagonists - it positions them in the foreground as the creators of specially commissioned original works. From this perspective, perhaps the most familiar names here may be Emade and Albert Karch, who are known as outstanding music producers and among the most interesting in Poland. “Portraits III” has presumably given them a momentary break from producing other artists, while for the music industry, it’s also a pleasant break in the rhythm and a shift of emphasis."

The final album recorded by the late double-Grammy-winning Chuck Mangione, Everything for Love, was the flugelhorn maestro's second outing for Chesky Records, a New York label renowned for its audiophile-quality recordings and for cutting its artists live in what producer David Chesky described as "reverberant spaces" using a single microphone

Having already toured the UK/EU supporting the likes of Gregory Porter, Jools Holland and The Teskey Brothers, alongside selling out multiple headline shows in the UK and EU (Ronnie Scotts in London, Unterfhart Jazz Club in Munich and Jassmine in Warsaw among others), she's also co-written with the likes of Caro Emerald, Ruby Turner and Roberta Campos, and broken through to new territories via national radio play-listing in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy, as well as having strong radio support from BBC Radio 2, 6 and Jazz FM. Kat's third album 'What Happens Now' is a collection of timeless yet contemporary beautifully crafted songs with lyrics that cut to the core. Inspired by artists such as Emily King, Lake Street Dive and Raye, alongside legends Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Carole King that Kat grew up listening to, 'What Happens Now' is an amalgamation of her influences underpinned by her inimitable tone.

Long overlooked and pressed in modest quantities, the album quietly built a reputation among collectors as one of those rare low- budget releases where the artistry far outweighed the resources behind it. Fronted by the charismatic Herbie Hunte, whose warm and expressive vocals drive the record throughout, the Royalists blend blue-eyed soul, post-beat pop, light psychedelia and baroque flourishes into a sound both sincere and distinctive. From the infectious opener "Baby I Love You" to the ambitious "Royal Suite" and the atmospheric instrumental standout "Lost Voyage," the album showcases a band making inspired music with heart, energy and imagination. Despite its humble origins, The Soul of The Matter stands today as a rediscovered gem--passed between collectors and crate-diggers for decades. Now lovingly reissued by Morgan Blue Town, this edition finally gives the album the attention and presentation it deserves.

A kickstart without brakes – straight into the heart of the German-speaking rock scene with performances at Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, Lollapalooza, and more. And all of this completely independently – without a label, without a booking agency, without a producer. Because wasting time was never on the agenda for the punk & alternative trio from Frankfurt since their very first performance in May 2023 at the Warsteiner Band Contest, which they won right away. If we ended the band description at this point, everything would sound perfect. But if you take a closer look at the dozen singles that Friends Don't Lie have released in just 18 months, you'll discover a second layer: vulnerable lyrics about self-doubt, fears, and big emotions. At the same time, it becomes clear that the band also takes a political stance. It's about discontent – against racism, resentment, selfishness – against all forms of hatred. Friends Don't Lie are thus becoming the voice of a generation, as we last saw with acts like Kraftklub and Casper. In May 2026, Uncle M Music will release their long-awaited debut album, Zenit der Dramaturgie. Ten German-language rock/punk songs that set the bar extremely high and bridge the gap between Donots and Kraftklub.

Get Over it, Underdog is an 11 song collection about the duality of the American underdog. The characters within these tunes are exotic dancers, cringe white guys, historic world explorers, ultra wealthy people playing God, baby Jesus, eccentric women who have done life their own way, and dreamers. The album is a rich tapestry that weaves together all of these tales into one enchanting piece. Through the lyrics in these songs we learn how the underdog character can embody any of the best and/or worst characteristics of humanity. The underdog may be a noble hero or an evil villain either of whom is able to pull off surprising or unexpected victories which good or bad in nature can often times lead to an underdog's ultimate downfall. Each song takes an honest look at what it means to be some kind of underdog all coming from a songwriter who has been called an underdog by others and who has at times identified himself in this way only to realize that in the end, every human being contains multitudes beyond the limited capacity we have to observe and truly know ourselves and each other.

Syrian-Armenian-American singer and producer KÁRYYN returns with her highly anticipated second album, PHYSICS UNIVERSAL LOVE LANGUAGE (PULL), out via Mute.

KÁRYYN creates music at the intersection of sound, spirit, and physics – sonic worlds that don’t just describe emotion, they conduct it. PHYSICS UNIVERSAL LOVE LANGUAGE exemplifies this with a title that encapsulates her lifelong endeavour to translate love into systems of energy and truth. At its heart, PULL is about courage: the courage to collapse, to love, to surrender, and to emerge.

Sonically, PULL is crafted from KÁRYYN’s voice, strings, modular synths, and gravitational beats, tuned to 432Hz – a frequency believed to support vibrational healing. Co-produced by KÁRYYN alongside Hudson Mohawke and James Ford, the record was further enriched by Marta Salogni’s sensitive and immersive mix, Jacques Greene’s melodic touch on ‘FWD’, and Joker’s detailed mastering. The result is a meticulously crafted work that is both deeply personal and expansively communal.

PULL is a bold, transcendent journey through KÁRYYN's own human revolution. It is about gravity. About the collapse and coherence that define human experience. It is, in every way, a gravitational pull toward the truth: a sonic architecture of love, rupture, and rebirth.

David Bazan was, for many years, the songwriter and driving force behind the acclaimed indie band Pedro the Lion, building a dedicated following and selling a couple hundred-thousand albums based in large part on his extraordinary melodic sense and erudite, theologically-themed songs. After a decade helming the project,he found himself embroiled in a major personal philosophical and spiritual cataclysm, wrapped in a growing drinking problem. Bazan got to work exorcizing both his demons and angels, ditching the Pedro moniker in favor of his given name and producing two incredible pieces of work in the Fewer Moving Parts EP and the 2009 full-length Curse Your Branches (Barsuk). Branches is considered by many to be a legitimate masterpiece. Charting Bazan's increasingly skeptical struggle with the precepts of the evangelical Christian world in which he was raised, the album covers some pretty serious ground. NPR called it "an album of great music and great humanity." Strange Negotiations focuses Bazan's energies toward the external, centering on his disappointment in the current state of accelerating American and global social fragmentation. Musically, most of Strange Negotiations sounds like a great rock band playing songs theyre beyond intimate with. Its the first full-length he's recorded with a band, the same band with which he toured relentlessly in support of Curse Your Branches.

Synopsis: Kagome, a modern-day schoolgirl, is transported to feudal Japan and frees Inuyasha, a half-demon. Together, they seek the shattered shards of the Shikon Jewel, desired by demons. Along their journey, they face fierce enemies, forge deep friendships, and discover a growing love amidst their perilous quest. This album features the best openings and endings from Inuyasha. Performed by iconic J-pop artists, these songs blend emotion, nostalgia, and energy. A must-have compilation for fans of the anime.

LIMITED EDITION OF 300 COPIES WORLDWIDE, ALL PRESSED ON BURNT OUT ORANGE VINYL. HOUSED IN A GLOSS FINISHED SLEEVE WITH POLYLINED INNER BAG & DOWNLOAD CODE.
Artifacts and Uranium's 'Lagoons' is the latest collaboration between Mike Vest (Blown Out, Bong, Drunk In Hell, Modoki etc) and Fred Laird (Earthling Society, Taras Bulba, Empty House) and the 5th installment of sonic experimentation since their self titled debut in 2021.
The project sees Vest and Laird working again as a duo. The ambient acoustic elements of Laird's Empty House and the electrical static of Vest's guitar explorations form a sonic, psychedelic Yin Yang, pulling and pushing yet forever merging amongst the kosmische currents.
Spiritual and chaotic, formless and expanding, an album that is undefinable and ever changing.

Sept returns to OPUS with a versatile five-track EP built for both peak-time impact and deeper moments. Featuring four dynamic techno tracks, the release combines driving energy with detailed sound design, making it equally effective on large stages and in intimate club spaces. The EP closes with an ambient track designed as a perfect DJ set opener, adding depth and flexibility for selectors.

This is it ! GetAFix Records is 23 years!! Owner and wellknown artist: "Bad Boy Pete" (UK) wants to celebrate this with his fans & followers and has put together this amazing 2x12" vinyl with friends and fellow artists from the Acid Techno scene. The biggest names appear on this release! To make this complete: 1 vinyl has been added for FREE. So you pay for 1 vinyl instead of both! This is to thank you all!! Without you, we are nothing! Together with the support of Stay Up Forever & the Flatlife Records Labelgroup we are strong !

After thirteen years of silence from the compound, during which anticipation has grown day by day, Boards of Canada finally return. Inferno retains their signature melodies and atmospheres, drawing on the esoteric influences explored in Societas X Tape (their 2019 NTS mix for Warp Records’ 30th anniversary) and the darker ambience introduced on Tomorrow’s Harvest, further deepened by an expanded role for speech soundbites.


Spanning seventy minutes, the new album is available on special edition limited red translucent 2LP vinyl in triple gatefold sleeve with a 16-page booklet, black 2LP vinyl and CD with 20-page booklet.

The wait is finally over…With their new longplayer “Unseen Horror Scenes”, Mexican electro- industrial icons Hocico return with a new descent into the abyss… On this new studio assault, Erk Aicrag and Racso Agroyam dissect the digital age’s paranoia, addiction, betrayal and spiritual decay with surgical aggression. No escape, pure confrontation. Track by track, “Unseen Horror Scenes” drags listeners through algorithmic madness (“Brainrot”), online cowardice (“The Screen”), scorched-earth rage (“Hey Tú!” feat. Rafael Reyes of Prayers) and the smoldering ruins of a “Fallen Paradise.” From the opening attack “Dark Paradigm” to the apocalyptic closer “Echoes of the End,” the album pulses with hyperkinetic drum & bass injections, punishing industrial beats, razor-edged EBM sequences and Erk’s unmistakable, venom-drenched vocals. It’s raw, furious and thematically disturbingly accurate for our times. Hocico openly critique modern decay - yet they also amplify it, distort it, and make you dance inside it.

Disco figurehead Purple Disco Machine celebrates his return to the White Isle and forthcoming Pure Ibiza residency with the release of the appropriately titled ‘Disco Cherry’. Drawing on the elegant, unmistakable energy of the legendary Ibiza nightclub, the Grammy Award winner delivers a historic first - a release dedicated to a Pacha residency.

Sampling the 80s Italo-disco classic ‘Walkman’ from Kasso, the track embodies Pure Pacha’s feel-good mantra and instantly captures that effervescent feeling of confidently strolling through the streets of Ibiza. Layered with irresistible energy and punctuated with a subtle but effective call to ‘party’ weaved throughout the mix, Purple Disco Machine effortlessly carries listeners onto the dancefloor. Through driving rolling drums and that signature funk flair, the multi-Platinum award winner melds production precision with timeless emotion in a way that only Purple Disco Machine can. The Dresden-born producer has once again assertively stepped into his role as disco’s modern-day ambassador, with this release serving as the cherry on top of a stunning 13-night residency that is set to bring disco back to t

Nach den jazzigen Library-Klängen der 2023 erschienenen gemeinsamen LP ,Dolphin" mit Greg Foat und Moses Boyd kehrt der venezianische Maestro Gigi Masin zu dem Ambient-Sound zurück, für den er bekannt ist - mit ,Movement", seinem ersten Solo- Album seit ,Calypso" aus dem Jahr 2020 und seinem Debüt bei Sacred Bones Records. Angetrieben von kreativer Neuerfindung und rhythmischer Bewegung bewegt er sich nahtlos zwischen melancholischen MIDI-Klängen, technoider Robotik, groovigen, liminalen Wolkenlandschaften und meeres tiefem Ambient. Seit seinen frühen Anfängen in der Anonymität baute sein Debütalbum ,Wind" aus dem Jahr 1986 langsam eine organische Anhängerschaft im Late-Night-Radio auf, die später noch verstärkt wurde, als ,Clouds" von Künstlern wie Björk, Post Malone und anderen gesampelt wurde. Zu seinen Fans zählen heute Oneohtrix Point Never, Devendra Banhart, Caroline Polachek und der verstorbene Kenny Wheeler. Das neue Album ,Movement" reflektiert Masins Stellung im Pantheon der Ambient-Meister, seine anhaltenden künstlerischen Ambitionen und seine Bestrebungen für eine Szene, deren exponentielles Wachstum er seit ihren bescheidenen Anfängen miterlebt hat. Die LP ist zudem eine Ode an die wörtliche Bewegung, sowohl in der Natur als auch in den körperlichen Ausdrucksformen des Menschen gegenüber dem Klang. Masin strebte danach, Ambient-Musik für Bewegung zu schaffen, nicht im üblichen Sinne von Tanzmusik, sondern ,dynamische Musik, mit einem schlagenden Herzen voller Liebe". Indem er die Assoziation von Ambient mit einsamen Hörerlebnissen und kühler Akademik auflöste, wandte sich Gigi nach außen und kanalisierte etwas Somatisches, das sich mit dem Körper verbindet, nicht nur mit dem Geist. ,Bed on Mars" gibt den titelgebenden Ton für Masins neu entfachte Neugier an, mit kosmischen Atmosphären, die das Gefühl hervorrufen, auf einem neuen Planeten ohne Furcht zu erwachen, während die ergreifende synthetische Trompete und der schwebende liminale Schwebezustand von ,Lost" sich anfühlen, als würde man in einem unbekannten Meer treiben. Noch tiefer in die exzentrischen Beats taucht der himmlische Techno-Funk von ,Deception Dance" ein, der klingt, als würden Sun Electric mit Carl Craig und Kraftwerk jammen. Das strahlende Licht von ,Golden" strahlt Wärme aus und klingt wie der Bossa-Nova-Bruder von Göttschings Balearic- Klassiker E2 E4. Trotz des Todes seiner Frau nach langer Krankheit und des Verlusts seines musikalischen Archivs durch eine Überschwemmung bleibt Gigi im Herzen rein und positiv und legt seine ganze Seele in das Streben nach Schönheit. Als jüngstes Werk einer langsam beginnenden, aber stetig wachsenden Karriere festigt Masin mit ,Movement" weiterhin seinen Platz unter den wahren Ambient-Größen.

Nach den jazzigen Library-Klängen der 2023 erschienenen gemeinsamen LP ,Dolphin" mit Greg Foat und Moses Boyd kehrt der venezianische Maestro Gigi Masin zu dem Ambient-Sound zurück, für den er bekannt ist - mit ,Movement", seinem ersten Solo- Album seit ,Calypso" aus dem Jahr 2020 und seinem Debüt bei Sacred Bones Records. Angetrieben von kreativer Neuerfindung und rhythmischer Bewegung bewegt er sich nahtlos zwischen melancholischen MIDI-Klängen, technoider Robotik, groovigen, liminalen Wolkenlandschaften und meeres tiefem Ambient. Seit seinen frühen Anfängen in der Anonymität baute sein Debütalbum ,Wind" aus dem Jahr 1986 langsam eine organische Anhängerschaft im Late-Night-Radio auf, die später noch verstärkt wurde, als ,Clouds" von Künstlern wie Björk, Post Malone und anderen gesampelt wurde. Zu seinen Fans zählen heute Oneohtrix Point Never, Devendra Banhart, Caroline Polachek und der verstorbene Kenny Wheeler. Das neue Album ,Movement" reflektiert Masins Stellung im Pantheon der Ambient-Meister, seine anhaltenden künstlerischen Ambitionen und seine Bestrebungen für eine Szene, deren exponentielles Wachstum er seit ihren bescheidenen Anfängen miterlebt hat. Die LP ist zudem eine Ode an die wörtliche Bewegung, sowohl in der Natur als auch in den körperlichen Ausdrucksformen des Menschen gegenüber dem Klang. Masin strebte danach, Ambient-Musik für Bewegung zu schaffen, nicht im üblichen Sinne von Tanzmusik, sondern ,dynamische Musik, mit einem schlagenden Herzen voller Liebe". Indem er die Assoziation von Ambient mit einsamen Hörerlebnissen und kühler Akademik auflöste, wandte sich Gigi nach außen und kanalisierte etwas Somatisches, das sich mit dem Körper verbindet, nicht nur mit dem Geist. ,Bed on Mars" gibt den titelgebenden Ton für Masins neu entfachte Neugier an, mit kosmischen Atmosphären, die das Gefühl hervorrufen, auf einem neuen Planeten ohne Furcht zu erwachen, während die ergreifende synthetische Trompete und der schwebende liminale Schwebezustand von ,Lost" sich anfühlen, als würde man in einem unbekannten Meer treiben. Noch tiefer in die exzentrischen Beats taucht der himmlische Techno-Funk von ,Deception Dance" ein, der klingt, als würden Sun Electric mit Carl Craig und Kraftwerk jammen. Das strahlende Licht von ,Golden" strahlt Wärme aus und klingt wie der Bossa-Nova-Bruder von Göttschings Balearic- Klassiker E2 E4. Trotz des Todes seiner Frau nach langer Krankheit und des Verlusts seines musikalischen Archivs durch eine Überschwemmung bleibt Gigi im Herzen rein und positiv und legt seine ganze Seele in das Streben nach Schönheit. Als jüngstes Werk einer langsam beginnenden, aber stetig wachsenden Karriere festigt Masin mit ,Movement" weiterhin seinen Platz unter den wahren Ambient-Größen.

The title track, Let It Be, is a true dancefloor weapon. Driven by a dynamic pulse and rich melodic layers, it unfolds as a breathtaking journey where evolving chord progressions create moments of pure magic. Each transition feels alive, pulling the listener deeper into an immersive and uplifting experience.

On the flip side, Aurora offers a more introspective yet equally powerful voyage. Slowly building with elegance and grace, the track rises with a majestic progression, blending subtle textures and emotive harmonies into a captivating sonic landscape.

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AMAND – Let It Be – Diki Records

Après avoir marqué l’histoire avec le mythique The Age Of Love et son remix acclamé par Charlotte de Witte & Enrico Sangiuliano, Diki Records a signé un retour remarqué l’an dernier avec Mentalis de Kayinda et son puissant remix par Pig&Dan.

Le label poursuit aujourd’hui sur sa lancée avec une nouvelle sortie marquante signée AMAND.

Reconnu pour sa signature melodic house raffinée et ses sorties acclamées sur All Day I Dream, ainsi que pour ses collaborations avec Lost Desert et Capoon, AMAND livre ici un EP deux titres qui capture parfaitement son univers : profondeur émotionnelle, grooves hypnotiques et progression cinématographique.

Le titre principal, Let It Be, est une véritable arme pour le dancefloor. Porté par une énergie dynamique et des nappes mélodiques riches, il se déploie comme un voyage saisissant où les évolutions d’accords créent des instants de pure magie. Chaque transition semble vivante, entraînant l’auditeur dans une expérience immersive et exaltante.

Ten years ago, Anderson .Paak didn't just release an album; he staged a full-scale takeover of the soul and hip-hop landscape. Released on January 15, 2016, Malibu served as the definitive arrival of an artist who had spent years grinding in the underground before a star-making turn on Dr. Dre’s Compton. While his previous work hinted at his potential, Malibu was the moment the world met the "Cheeky Andy" persona in full—a virtuosic drummer, a raspy-voiced crooner, and a sharp-witted rapper all rolled into one. The album is a sprawling, sun-drenched journey through the Southern California coast, blending 1970s funk, church-reared gospel, and gritty boom-bap into something that feels both nostalgic and entirely futuristic. With a heavyweight production lineup including 9th Wonder, Madlib, Kaytranada, and Hi-Tek, the record maintains a warm, analog texture that was a breath of fresh air in an increasingly digital era. It’s an album that breathes, full of intentional imperfections and the kind of "in-the-pocket" groove that can only come from a seasoned live performer. Beyond the infectious, dance-floor-ready energy of tracks like "Am I Wrong" and "Come Down," the album is a deeply autobiographical masterwork. .Paak uses the 65-minute runtime to unpack his life story with startling clarity, touching on his mother’s gambling addiction, his father’s incarceration, and his own brushes with homelessness with a sense of resilience that never feels heavy-handed. He weaves these heavy themes through a lens of triumph, grounded by vintage surfing documentary samples that give the project its cinematic, coastal atmosphere. It’s a celebratory record born out of struggle, anchored by his impeccable technicality on the drums and a guest list—featuring ScHoolboy Q, Rapsody, and The Game—that feels hand-picked to complement his specific brand of West Coast swagger. A decade later, Malibu stands as a modern classic and the blueprint for the soulful revivalism that would eventually lead .Paak to global superstardom and Grammy-winning heights. It remains a testament to the idea that the most profound music often comes from the most personal places, proving ten years on that the best way to move forward is to stay rooted in the groove.

Repress on red vinyl. One of Rio de Janeiro's most exciting singer-songwriters of the last fifteen years is now living in Los Angeles, where he stands on the verge of an overdue American breakthrough. Rogê - born Roger José Cury - gained an avid following for his swinging samba-funk, tinged with Brazilian Soul. His acclaim rose when he cowrote the theme song for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Seu Zé is the first new music from the Brazilian artist since the release of his debut American-made album, Curyman, in March of 2023. Lavishly produced by the Budos Band's Thomas Brenneck, a top session guitarist and collaborator with the stars (Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse), Seu Zé is meant to capture the spirit of the people on the streets. It's a "Partido Alto" kind of samba that has its origins in the religious parties in rural communities where jongo (a style of music deeply rooted in Africa) was played. Brazilian energy has a universal ability to inspire and Rogê continues to accomplish this through his music and performance masterfully.

2026 Repress

It’s rare that a certain sound is entirely an artist’s own. Although undeniably a stew of impeccable influences – from blues to folk to Latin to dusty funk, soul and hip-hop – one cannot hear a Tommy Guerrero song without immediately recognising it as his - and his only.
The cult skater from San Francisco is globally renowned as one of the original members of the legendary “Bones Brigade” team. And as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, his laid-back soul is beloved by all who’ve basked in its blissful glow.
There’s something elemental about this music that really stirs the soul. Strikingly beautiful and instantly addictive, it’s a kind of funk-fuelled, melody-driven, groove-based magic. There’s a serenity and heart in the playing that radiates warmth and splendour, as if crafted for endless sunsets. His albums that surfaced on Mo Wax at the turn of the century have been treasured since their release and it’s two of his most vital LPs that we’re honoured to reintroduce.
The originals were quietly pressed on to a single piece of vinyl so we’ve worked closely with Tommy this year to bring you these fresh, limited editions. They have been lovingly remastered, cut nice and loud on to heavyweight double vinyl and presented in deluxe gatefold jackets.
Soul Food Taqueria continued Guerrero’s guitar soul but represented a step forward with its polished production and greater complexity of instrumentation. Denied the promotion it deserved upon release, it flew under the radar. It is now the most wanted record of his wondrous back catalogue.
Guerrero’s atmospheric touch and subtle guitar provide lush, glimmering pieces of musical texture. Within his spacious compositions, uniquely arranged instruments flourish alongside each other to create a languid soundtrack for halcyon days.
As ever, the diversity on display is beguiling. From bossa nova, samba and cumbia rhythms to understated folk, funk and soul grooves, this is another exotic set of mellow gold; perfectly represented by ESPO’s memorable artwork. Furthermore, the title’s hybridity reflects the intoxicating sweep of stylistic flavours served up, reminding us that, however tricky it is to categorise Guerrero’s special blend, it’s always a pleasure to indulge in something so creative and adventurous.
Dubby, bass-heavy instrumentals give way to moody folk-soul – witness “It Gets Heavy”, featuring melancholic vocals from Gresham Taylor – whilst “Thank You MK” is a gentle ode to the tropics, featuring ethereal instrumentation, bright bass and warm, jazzy guitars. The second half in particular contains a number of stunning ambient tracks – check “Lost Unfound”, “Another Brother Gone” and “Broken Blood” - built around minimalist, laid-back grooves and detailed guitar orchestrations which wouldn’t be out of place on the latest Jonny Nash release.
Guerrero closes this flawless set with a moment of true beauty. Restrained and graceful, “Falling Awake” is a pared back piece containing meditative guitar melodies set against melancholic piano arrangements. It brings proceedings to the most peaceful close. Seductively good, it reminds you just how great simplicity can sound.

Ambient-Post-Rock aus San Diego, dem Rückzugsort der Millennials für Post-Hardcore. Aufgenommen zwischen den Tourneen zu "Tristeza", verwebt das zweite Album von The Album Leaf zarte Gitarrenklänge, klimperndes Klavier, nachdenkliche Synthesizer, unheimliche Feldaufnahmen und treibende Percussion zu einer Meditation über das Vergehen der Zeit. Diese remasterte 25-jährige Jubiläumsausgabe entspricht dem Original, mit neuen Anmerkungen des Autors Adam Gnade und bisher unveröffentlichten Fotos. Eine beeindruckende Stunde akustischer Photosynthese.

Tauche ein in die zeitlose Magie des legendären Gitarristen Roy Buchanan! 1969 wurde Buchanan der Job als Nachfolger von Brian Jones bei den Stones angeboten. Er lehnte dankend ab und überließ Mick Taylor und später Ron Wood den Platz. In den 1970er Jahren erschien eine Reihe von Alben, die teilweise recht erfolgreich waren, und er seinen Status als "the best unknown Guitarist in the World" einbüßte. Das Meisterwerk "You"re Not Alone" veröffentlichte Buchanan 1978 und bietet eine einzigartige Mischung aus Blues, Rock und Soul, die vom ersten Ton an fesselt. Die Mitwirkung herausragender Musiker wie Ray Gomez (Gitarre), der mit seiner technischen Finesse und Vielseitigkeit Buchanans Stil perfekt ergänzt, sowie Willie Weeks (Bass, u.a. Doobie Brothers und Gregg Allman Band)), der für seinen Beitrag zur Fusion von Rock, Jazz und Funk bekannt ist, und Sly & The Family Stone - Drummer Andy Newmark bereichert das Album und fügt ihm verschiedene musikalische Nuancen hinzu. Roy Buchanan hat mit diesem Album eine zeitlose Sammlung von Songs geschaffen, die sowohl alte Fans als auch neue Hörer begeistern wird. Seine unverwechselbare Spielweise und sein einzigartiger Sound machen dieses Album zu einem Muss für jeden Musikliebhaber. Am 14. August 1988 beging Roy Buchanan im Alter von 49 Jahren Selbstmord. Er war nach einem Streit mit seiner Frau vorläufig festgenommen worden, Vollzugsbeamte fanden den Musiker leblos in seiner Zelle. Seine Musik lebt weiter.

Focus Track: Bear Hill Album Description: Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes is a sharp return to form, showcasing the Wu-Tang veteran’s lyrical precision and timeless street wisdom. The album is powerful with equal parts - high-quality bars and carefully sculpted production. Raekwon recruits a stacked lineup of guests, including Nas, Griselda, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Ghostface Killah, injecting the project with gritty energy and legacy chemistry. Marsha Ambrosius and Stacy Barthe provide smooth, soulful hooks, adding emotional layers to the hard-edged verses. Production comes courtesy of Nottz, Swizz Beatz J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and more. The LP is a reminder of Raekwon’s enduring power as a lyricist and curator. A veteran artist showing that mastery doesn’t need excess. The Emperor’s New Clothes is regal, streetwise, and sharply tailored for those who value craft.

Freiheit, Rebellion und Trotz – die Rock-/Psychedelic-Rock-Revolution, die Anfang der 1970er-Jahre durch Japan fegte!

"Diese Compilation wurde vor allem zusammengestellt, um Ihnen die freien, innovativen und zutiefst experimentellen Klänge japanischer Musiker näherzubringen, deren Leidenschaft der ihrer britischen und amerikanischen Kollegen in nichts nachstand. Auch über fünfzig Jahre später wirkt die Musik dieses Albums erstaunlich frisch und überrascht und beeindruckt noch immer wie bei ihrer Erstveröffentlichung!" – Sally Kubota

– Vollständig lizenzierte Nippon Columbia Masterbänder.
– Inklusive Track-by-Track-Liner-Notes von Sally Kubota.
– 180g Heavyweight Vinyl-Pressung, Reverse-Board-Cover.

One of electronic music’s most sought-after names, producer and DJ KETTAMA today announces the release of his long-awaited debut album, Archangel, out 3rd of October. The announcement arrives in tandem with new single “Sort It Out” featuring Clouds, and a landmark moment in his career: his biggest ever London headline show, taking over Brixton Academy on Saturday, October 4th, followed by an expansive tour across Europe, North America, and Australia.



A decade in the making, Archangel is the definitive statement from KETTAMA (Evan Cambell), the Galway-born, London-based artist. The 15-track project is a powerful blend of hard-house energy, trance-inflected euphoria, hip-hop sample-based attitude, and unmistakable emotional depth—sonic signatures that have placed KETTAMA at the cutting edge of contemporary dance music.



The album showcases a curated roster of collaborators who reflect KETTAMA’s reach and relevance across today’s underground and mainstream scenes, including Interplanetary Criminal, Fred again.., Clouds, Prospa, DJ HEARTSTRING, Shady Nasty, SØLV and seantommy. Their contributions amplify the project's scope, offering a multi-sided view into KETTAMA’s musical universe.



Among its early singles, the Interplanetary Criminal collaboration “Yosemite” is a high-velocity anthem marrying speed-garage grit with ecstatic rave melodies, while his track “Air Maxes” with Fred again.. And Shady Nasty blends introspective vocal sampling with wide-eyed club emotion. On “If U Want My Heart” with DJ HEARTSTRING featuring KLP, the ensemble channels high-energy trance, breakbeats, and vocal euphoria into a soaring anthem that fuses emotional intensity with peak-time club energy. Meanwhile, his collaboration with Clouds, released today, “Sort It Out” dives headfirst into industrial-techno territory, conjuring a dark, cathartic energy destined for warehouse euphoria. And reigning as one of the undeniable anthems of the summer so far, “It Get’s Better (Forever Mix)” delivers euphoric waves of uplifting synths and relentless rhythm, bringing an irresistible surge of energy that’s become synonymous with this summer’s club moments.



Archangel has already found a home on the world’s biggest stages and radio airwaves, with early support from key tastemakers including Jack Saunders, Danny Howard, Sarah Story, and Tim Sweeney. Simultaneously, a grassroots groundswell continues to bloom across social platforms—where viral snippets and show footage capture the visceral reaction of a fast-growing, global fanbase.



This year, KETTAMA has elevated his status to a full-blown festival phenomenon, performing at major stages including Coachella, Glastonbury, Creamfields, Portola, Seismic, and ARC Festival, to name a few. In June, he played to 20,000 people in Belfast for a b2b with Chris Stussy—one of the UK’s largest DJ events in recent memory—and is currently mid-way through a 16-week Ibiza residency at Amnesia, playing every Monday night throughout summer. Full list of upcoming live dates can be found below.



Perhaps the clearest signal of his surging popularity is the jaw-dropping response to his upcoming Boiler Room live set, with over 15,000 fans signing up to attend— the set’s release is now highly anticipated as a time capsule moment in a breakout year for the artist.



KETTAMA’s rise to prominence has been anything but conventional. Eschewing the traditional gatekeepers of the industry, KETTAMA cultivated an underground following through the likes of SoundCloud and TikTok, where raw uploads, bootlegs, and viral edits generated a tidal wave of grassroots momentum. Over the years, these platforms became launching pads for a fiercely loyal global community, drawn to his unfiltered energy and boundary-pushing sound. This subversive path to recognition has made him not just a fixture of the scene but a symbol of how new-generation artists can forge success on their own terms.



From his humble roots in the Irish underground to the world stage KETTAMA is now pushing the limits of what a next-gen DJ-producer can achieve. With Archangel, he fuses the sound of his native ‘G-Town’ with a futuristic vision that’s unapologetically global—marking a creative milestone that cements his place among electronic music’s most compelling voices.

‘Black Butterfly’ is Brooklyn Funk Essentials eighth studio album and includes the bands recent hits ‘Never Give Up’, ‘Bust The Bus Stop’ and ‘Life During Wartime’. Playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and Jazz FM and supported by Craig Charles and Cerys Matthews at 6 Music as well as many stations across Europe and the Americas. The album was produced and co-written by bassist Lati Kronlund and features Alison Limerick, Ebba Åsman and Desmond Foster on vocals.

Kronlund and Limerick have been enjoying the recent renewed interest in ‘Where Love Lives’. Kronlund wrote and produced it for Limerick in 1990, it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales and became a club classic and was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV Ad. Arthur Baker heard the original in a club in 1991 that he contacted Kronlund about working together and they then formed Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

Since then, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have built a devoted international following and notched up over 100 million streams. Fusing Soul, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Jazz, Latin, and, of course,
Funk, the band’s journey began experimenting with drum machines and loops in Baker’s Shakedown Sound Studio in Jersey City—hunting for that perfect beat. The early recordings featured greats such as Maceo Parker, Lenny Pickett, Tower of Power Horns, Michigan & Smiley, and Dizzy Gillespie, leading to the acclaimed debut ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ (1994). Fast-forward to April 2024, when Kronlund reunited with Baker in Miami, rediscovering recordings featuring percussion prodigy Bashiri Johnson, which inspired new creative sparks for the next chapter of Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

Obsessed With You The Early Years' is an official release of the early X-Ray Spex demo recordings which would evolve into the celebrated pioneering 'Germ Free Adolescents' album. Also includes early versions of classic Punk pioneering debut single tracks 'Oh Bondage, Up Yours!' and 'I Am A Cliché’.

Recorded in 1977, the majority of these recordings feature original saxophonist Lora Logic and capture the raw instinctive power of the band who seemed to arrive fully formed despite their youth. The iconic vocal stylings of Poly Styrene immortalised here are even more visceral than what was recorded for the final product and further indicate just how much inspiration they lent Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and the Riot Grrrls that followed. Elsewhere, an early take on 'Germ Free Adolescence' has subtle electronic influences that hint at a potential future the band didn't hang around long enough to fulfil.

This fascinating document is released in various limited edition vinyl formats. 'Day-Glo' orange or 'Day-Glo' pink vinyl with laser die-cut outer sleeve and 'Day-Glo' inserts. The sleeve design is based on original Poly Styrene artwork and brand new sleeve notes from Paul Dean and Lora Logic also feature. Also available on Compact Disc and Digital.

Amateur forever? Oh yeah! “Amateur Hour” celebrates 15 years of Frank Music - still running on pure DIY energy, with Johannes Albert happily admitting he’s got no master plan, just a deep feel for House Music. And somehow, nearly 80 releases later, that instinct still hits. Volume II dives into the digital archives - bringing these cuts to wax for the very first time. Tom drops the vocal house bomb “Watch Me”; New Zealand's Eden Burns flips “Sounds” into something seriously special, and Claus Casper brings the sunshine with “Piano Italiano” (exactly what you think it is). And then there’s Amount’s “Feel You” - the one that’s been moving bodies since Fusion Festival 2023 and hasn’t really stopped since.
Let's be frank. Once again.

Ein authentischer Geschichtenerzähler der heutigen Indie-Rock-Szene ist der in Tampa geborene und in New Orleans lebende Singer/Songwriter Thomas Dollbaum, und ,Birds of Paradise" ist sein bisher kraftvollstes und dynamischstes Werk. Nach seinen von Kritikern hochgelobten Alben "Wellswood" (Big Legal Mess, 2022) und "Drive All Night EP" (Dear Life Records, 2025) ist "Birds of Paradise" ein Abschiedsbrief an verlorene Liebste und sein früheres Ich. In diesen Songs sucht Dollbaum nach Akzeptanz an vergänglichen Zwischenorten: in den Kiefernwäldern Floridas, auf Nebenstraßen, die zur 1-95 führen, wo Vögel über das Wasser fliegen. Und obwohl die Geister seiner Alt-Country-Vorgänger Townes und Molina definitiv präsent sind, tritt Dollbaum auf Birds of Paradise aus ihrem Schatten heraus - er winkt der Vergangenheit zu und klingt dabei umso mehr wie er selbst. Dieser Moment - dieses Album - ist längst überfällig. Die Aufnahmen zu Dollbaums beiden vorherigen Veröffentlichungen hatten aufgrund von Umständen, die außerhalb seiner Kontrolle lagen, viel zu lange gedauert, was ihn frustriert zurückließ. Nachdem er acht Jahre lang von zu Hause weg war, war der Ort, den er verlassen hatte, nicht mehr der Ort, an den er sich erinnerte, und die Unveränderlichkeit der Natur fühlte sich wie eine Konstante an, über die er schreiben wollte. Mit einem Gefühl der Unmittelbarkeit schrieb er ,Birds of Paradise" in drei Monaten. Er rief die Musiker an, denen er am meisten vertraute und die er am meisten bewunderte - Nick Corson, Josh Halper und Jake Lenderman - und bat sie, sich mit ihm bei Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi, mit dem Produzenten/Toningenieur Clay Jones zu treffen. Sie lernten das Album in vier Tagen ein und nahmen es auf, wobei sie einen Blitz in einer Flasche einfingen, eine klangliche Offenbarung, auf die Dollbaums Songwriting schon immer gewartet hatte. Mit der Hilfe von Lenderman, Halper, Corson und Jones ist ,Birds of Paradise" Dollbaums hart erkämpfter Durchbruch. Lebendig und nachhallend wie Gedichte und Kurzgeschichten, die man nicht vergessen kann: Kojoten heulen, Vögel fliegen nach Süden, Kinder jagen Kaninchen durch das Zuckerrohr und Zigaretten kosten vier Dollar pro Packung. Birds of Paradise erinnert uns daran, woher wir kommen - an die Dinge in uns, die wir vergessen haben - wir brauchten nur Dollbaum, um uns das zu zeigen. So blickt man ohne Angst oder Scham zurück. So sieht Authentizität aus.

Funny How? is Christophe Chassol’s fifth album.



While it builds directly on his work with the “Ultrascores,” it also marks a turning point: a more contemporary sound, broader songwriting, and more explicitly political and social themes make Funny How? his most accomplished album to date. It’s also his most accessible: inspired by American stand-up comedy, Funny How? sounds like a joyful mix of all the music that inspires the artist: soul, jazz, rap, musicals… Thus, throughout the album, major stand-up figures like Dave Chappelle, Marina Franklin, Dulcé Sloan, and Tiny Thickemz appear alongside emerging comedians filmed in more intimate comedy clubs, composing a moving portrait of the new American scene.

Drawing on archival footage and sequences shot for the project in New York and Chicago, and true to his principle of harmonizing reality, he reveals its hidden notes, replaying and developing them throughout a fascinating process. The result is a major work, a choral, political, and deeply musical narrative. In concert, the work unfolds majestically through a hybrid performance where music and images respond to and converse with one another.



The premiere of Funny How? on April 17 and 18, 2026, at the Cité de la Musique in Paris is already sold out. The album is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026.

"Blinded by Fame", das zweite Studioalbum von Dutch Interiors, ist ein Fan-Favorit. Es wurde noch nie zuvor auf Vinyl gepresst. Die sechsköpfige Band aus Long Beach begleitet sich schon seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten. Jack Nugent, Conner Reeves, Shane & Hayden Barton, Davis Stewart und Noah Kurtz waren alle Freunde aus Kindertagen, und die Band ist das Ergebnis einer kreativen Verbindung, die durch bereits bestehendes Vertrauen und vertraute Verbundenheit entstanden ist. Man kann die unterschiedlichen Stile und Persönlichkeiten der Bandmitglieder an den Songs erkennen, die sie unabhängig voneinander schreiben, bevor sie sie der gesamten Band vorstellen, wo die Stücke oft zu ganz neuen Formen heranwachsen. Trotz dieser individuellen Herangehensweise an das Songwriting beschreiben sie sich gegenseitig als ,Zweige desselben Lebensstamms", deren aufeinanderprallende Einflüsse und Erfahrungen alle in die Songs einfließen. Mit Einflüssen, die von Ambient über Southern Rock und Jazz bis hin zu Dance-Musik reichen, wandelt sich die Band und oszilliert zwischen Alternative Country, kantigem Indie-Rock und Anklängen an dissonante Ambient-Klänge, während sie dennoch wie eine Band klingt, die sowohl ihre eigene private Sprache spricht als auch diese in etwas Universelles übersetzt. Nach der Veröffentlichung ihres jüngsten Albums ,Moneyball" und einer neuen EP, ,It's Glass", über Fat Possum ist Dutch Interior gekommen, um zu bleiben. Lob für Dutch Interior kommt von Pitchfork, Rolling Stone und anderen.

Wer sich Drunks Debütalbum ,A Derby Spiritual" aus dem Jahr 1996 noch einmal anhört, wird feststellen, dass es charmanter, sanfter und - wenn ich das so sagen darf - farbenfroher ist, als es sein stoischer Slow-Core-Ruf aus den 90ern vermuten lässt. Und man könnte sogar bemerken, dass Rick Alversons Stimme einen bisher ungeahnten, von Niederlagen gezeichneten Tom-Petty-Singsang aufweist. Der Sound der Band aus Richmond ist zweifellos zurückhaltend, knarrend und karg. Doch die Jahrzehnte haben diesem alten, traurigen Kerl einen wärmenden bernsteinfarbenen Schimmer verliehen. Das Black-Hole-Radio-Stück am Ende des atemberaubenden Openers ,Collarbone" scheint das Kommen von ,Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" vorherzusagen. Und hier in der seltsamen Gegenwart könnten Stücke wie ,Germany Skies", ,Gideon's Trumpet" und ,Gizmo" nahtlos in den heutigen Indie-Country-Boom eingefügt werden. Der seltsame Walzer aus Akkordeon und Geige in Stücken wie ,Indeliberate Matrimony" und ,Coming Home" klingt - wage ich es noch einmal zu sagen - wie Mellencamp aus der ,The Lonesome Jubilee"-Ära am Boden eines Fasses Schnaps. Alversons Lyrik schwankt zwischen dem hoffnungsvollen Nihilismus seines zeitgenössischen Songwriter- und Dichterkollegen aus Virginia, David Berman, und dem tiefgründigen Post-Beat-Minimalismus von Robert Creeley. Ich schwöre, wenn er in dem hoch-und-einsamen, von der Mundharmonika getragenen ,Window Sill" seufzt: ,I feel willy-nill/I pissed upon your window sill", klingt das im Lenderman'schen Sinne des Wortes verdammt romantisch. Im Rahmen des 30-jährigen Jubiläums von Jagjaguwar wird ,A Derby Spiritual", Jags zweite Veröffentlichung überhaupt, zum ersten Mal auf Vinyl gepresst. Ein drei Jahrzehnte langes Unrecht wird endlich wiedergutgemacht. Tatsächlich erscheinen im Rahmen der Feierlichkeiten zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum des Labels eine Handvoll dieser frühen Veröffentlichungen aus der Charlottesville-Ära von Jagjaguwar auf Vinyl.