Sterns Edits returns after the sell-out success of its debut edition with another two catalogue reworks from Ben Gomori. This time he turns his attention to Burkina Faso's much-loved taxi-driver- turned-singer, Amadou Balake´.
Balake´ ('porcupine' in Mandinka) is Burkina Faso's proudest musical export, and in 2013 he recorded his final album before passing away: 'In Conclusion'. The record saw him revisit some of his most popular tracks from his remarkable 50-year career, backed by an eight-piece Burkinabe´ band who took the country's traditional sounds and brought them into a contemporary light.
Gomori retains the essence of the original recordings - which were mostly captured in one take - and marries them to vigorous afro-house stylings. 'Bar Konon Mousso (Musicien C'est Pas Quelqu'un)', in which Balake´ tells of a bar lady being unimpressed by his profession, gets a gentle push towards the modern dancefloor, its wonderful sax lines resplendent. 'Massa Kamba' is taken for a drive down the more traditional route, with commanding drums bolstering the original grooves and a marvelous triple harmony brass section at its core. Balake´'s freewheeling style suits the hypnotic feel of the edits to a tee.
Sterns Edits is an official collaboration between African music stalwarts Sterns Music and London's Ben Gomori.
“Sleep Walking” and “Just Below The Skyline” is a double header from The Future Sound Of London taken from the archives. Both tracks are previously unreleased and are the first to be part of a new series of limited edition 7” singles
Von Augustus Pablos bahnbrechendem „Java” bis zu Carl Malcolms UK-Pop-Crossover-Hit „Fattie Bum Bum” präsentiert Chapter Two einen Klassiker nach dem anderen von einer All-Star-Besetzung der Reggae-Größen der 70er Jahre, darunter Black Uhuru, Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, The Heptones und Big Youth. Wunderschön verpackt mit Innenhüllen mit seltenen Fotos und Liner Notes des Reggae-Historikers David Katz.
Beginnend mit dem fröhlichen Ska von Lord Creators Unabhängigkeitshymne 'Independent Jamaica' zeigt das Chapter One Album den wahren Verlauf der jamaikanischen Musik in den 1960er Jahren mit einer virtuellen Who's Who der Reggae-Musik, darunter Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, Rico, Skatalites, John Holt & Alton Ellis. Wunderschön verpackt mit Innenhüllen mit seltenen Fotos und Liner Notes von Steve Barrow von Blood & Fire.
Rhythm On The Loose “Break Of Dawn” is quite simply one of House Music’s all time classics.
Producer Geoff Hibbert was inspired by seeing dawn break on an Italian coast line to
draw inspiration from Moby’s anthemic “Go” and disco gem “Let No Man Put Asunder” by First Choice to create his loving homage to the UK Rave scene.
Network set up a label “The One After D” to release a limited edition press of the instant classic to create demand.
One of the first copies was picked up by Kevin Saunderson and his relentless playing of the track helped fuel interest in the USA.
The first release on Network in 1991 established the track as iconic. That original mix is here and still sounds as fresh as ever. Perfect in fact.
The 12” also contains remastered versions of the 1995 remixes by Rhythm On The Loose, Strike and Stonebridge.
Taken from Network’s extensive back catalogue and a re-issue of a timely classic that is always in-demand.
We're excited to announce 2 stone cold classics from Theo Parrish on Peacefrog - First Floor Part 1 and First Floor Part 2.
Originally released in 1998 "First Floor” is Detroit/Chicago auteur Theo Parrish’s debut album. Released on vinyl in two parts for maximum playability; the raw bluesy, soulful offbeat grooves have long since buried themselves deep under the skin of the house community.
Showcasing Theo’s innovative use of drum programming and effects its uniquely loose but taut knit of minimalist elements worked to maximal, hypnotic effect have solidified its reputation as a contemporary classic and served as a corner stone for Theo’s truly legendary status.
"First Floor” is one of those albums that has transcended generic borders to influence heads of all stripes with its unmistakable soul-nuzzling texture and groove. Essential.
Club Splendore was born in 2022 in Modena, Italy, as an itinerant party and club format.
In just a few years, it has established itself as one of the most recognizable disco-oriented projects within the new Italian nightlife scene, exporting its sonic and visual identity to iconic clubs and international settings.
With over 20 dates in a single year, recurring sold-outs and a diverse crowd, Club Splendore has evolved into an experience that goes beyond the dancefloor: an inclusive, label-free space where music, style and attitude coexist under red lights and immersive atmospheres. The format has appeared in some of the most relevant venues across Europe, including Villa Delle Rose (Riccione), Palazzina Grassi (Venice), Matis Club (Bologna), Hierbas Club (Cortina), while also expanding internationally with dates at Do Not Disturb – W Hotel Amsterdam, COYA Mykonos, and House Party London, confirming the project’s ability to connect with an international audience. From the club to the record.
Club Splendore Vol.1 is the project’s first official vinyl release and marks a natural step forward: capturing on physical format the sound that has been defining its dancefloors over the past years. The record explores a contemporary take on Italo Disco, infused with classic disco, funk and modern house elements, delivered with an ironic, sensual and direct approach. A sound that reinterprets the aesthetics of the ’80s without nostalgia, translating them into a current, club-focused language. Behind the production and on the decks: Sparkling Attitude, Nicola Zucchi and Matteo Mussoni, resident DJs of the format and the core musical force behind Club Splendore.
Side A features “Drink Campari”, an italo disco track built around warm, enveloping textures, elastic basslines, bright synths and a late-night groove. A story of summer desire and endless nights, playing with the iconography of Italian Red Passion in a light, effortless way.
Side B hosts “Madame”, a bonus track and electronic ballad with a more intimate, suspended mood. A track designed for the final hours of the night, when the club slows down and the dancefloor gives way to something more personal.
Club Splendore Vol.1 is not a compilation, but a statement of intent. A first chapter that brings the club experience beyond the club itself, staying true to the promise that has defined the project from the very beginning: “We will bring the light into the darkness of the night.
Naibu is a well respected artist with 6 critically acclaimed solo albums and releases on prominent labels like
Creative Source, Soul:R, Hospital and Paradox Music
The album takes influences from dnb's greatests (Photek, Paradox…) blending them with flavours of electronica and experimental music. A unique combination of sounds that will please home listeners and DJs alike, with cuts like 'Martial' shaking dancefloors worldwide.
Record comes with fully printed inner sleeve featuring original artwork by Japanese artist Hitomi Ito
⁃ Only 200 copies worldwide
Following up on the success of 'Sans Soleil' on Minato Music, Naibu brings out 'Abandon', a new and intimate album that showcases his talent not only as producer but also as singer / songwriter.
Probably his most personal release to date, this is a project that brings opposites together and champions
experimentation. From classic d’n’b stylistic references in tracks like 'Concave' and 'Convex', to the soft minimal tones of 'Belong', the album steps into uncharted territory with 'Martial' and its military paced drums, a track that will leave a mark on any dancefloor.
Naibu’s music is supported by a wide range of DJs, from Fabio to Loxy, and is regularly featured on Laurent
Garnier's radio show
The Select series makes a return for a superb 11th edition. Selecting some of the best music from the world’s most exciting electronic producers, with over 30 tracks featuring across 2 DJ mixes. Includes music and remixes from Kölsch, Danny Howells, Anthony Pappa, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Hunter/Game, Noir, Christian Smith and more
Die Select-Reihe kehrt mit einer großartigen 11. Ausgabe zurück. Mit einer Auswahl der besten Musik der weltweit spannendsten Elektronik-Produzenten, mit über 30 Tracks auf 2 DJ-Mixes. Enthält Musik und Remixe von Kölsch, Danny Howells, Anthony Pappa, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Hunter/Game, Noir, Christian Smith und vielen anderen.
Rising star Arjuna Oakes and renowned composer John Psathas return for a new collaborative project ‘Sierra’ after their underground hit ‘Future Lullaby’. Fusing Greek folk instrumentation with modern Jazz and recorded live in Athens’ iconic Sierra Studios, this EP brings together electrifying musicians from New Zealand and Greece to experiment and express themselves through the lens of Oakes and Psathas’ compositions.
The ‘Sierra’ EP is a unique capture, a snapshot in time for all those involved in its creation. For Arjuna and Sam, the EP marked their departure from New Zealand to live in London to pursue their respective music careers. For everyone else involved the EP offered a chance to create something different from their usual work, and express themselves in a different musical landscape. The excitement and creative freedom is an essential ingredient in what makes this EP work, and you can hear it all bubbling to the surface throughout the record.
After a longtime interest in the beguiling music of Nathan Dawidowicz, Hell Yeah now hooks up with the leftfield downtempo producer for their second full-length album, FLUFF. The immersive record features three long, winding and mystical soundscapes that blend trance and experimental into spiritual and ritualistic escapes.
Dawidowicz was born in Milan to a Polish-Lithuanian mother and a Cameroonian father, but grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. Because of that, their sound is deeply rooted in childhood experiences playing the piano at religious ceremonies, as well as taking inspiration from their father’s DJing throughout the '80s and '90s. Now based in Berlin, Dawidowicz has explored expression through music on labels like Luspoderosa, where they released their debut solo album, Sanctuary of Ideas.
It was when Calm and David Holmes started playing the epic, 23-minute 'Capricorn Rising Over Jerusalemite Temple' from that album that Hell Yeah founder Marco was encouraged to get in touch with Dawidowicz. A few months later, talk turned to releasing this new album, which comes with artwork by Spain's Alicia Carrera.
'Skeptic Afro Jr.' kicks off and soon sinks you into slinky, ever-evolving rhythms. It's a slowly evolving work of sound where the focus shifts from snaking basslines to lumpy drums, cosmic leads to life-affirming chords. 'Scintilla (Feat. Hannah Schraven)' is a deep and downtempo trip into dub and techno, with undulating drums and exotic melodies that escort you into otherworldly realms of spiritualism. Last of all are 'Deep Fluff' and a hidden track (Feat. Leo Börger), two cinematic explorations of deep space where acoustic frequencies and molten synths rewire your brain and connect you to a higher power.
FLUFF is another deeply personal and inward journey packed with transcendental experiences.
DJ FEEDBACK:
"That's such an outstanding piece of work - played two at the beginning on Saturday. Probably my favourite release of the year so far!" Sean Johnston ALFOS
"this is great! 3rd repeat. It’s so nice" Vladimir Ivkovic
"Just listened to Nathan's record and it really sounds amazing... Probably the best thing you've put out to my ears ;-) I love the way he bridges the sounds of the past with contemporary storytelling, taking you on a very long trip which you never want to leave!" Alexis Le Tan
"Don't Trust Mirrors" markiert eines der prägendsten Kapitel in der Karriere der New Yorker Komponistin und Produzentin Kelly Moran. 2019, frisch von der Tour zu ihrem Warp-Debüt "Ultraviolet", begann sie, inspiriert von langen Nächten auf der Tanzfläche, an einem rhythmischeren Nachfolger zu arbeiten. Doch persönliche Umbrüche und die pandemiebedingt unterbrochenen Tourneen änderten ihren Weg und führten zunächst zu "Moves In The Field" (2024), das von der New York Times als "weichherzig, aber stahlhart" gelobt wurde. Jetzt kehrt Moran zu dem Projekt zurück, das sie einst pausierte. "Don't Trust Mirrors" erkundet Verzerrung, Reflexion und die langsame Arbeit, sich selbst wieder zusammenzusetzen. Die zehn Tracks mit Warp-Labelkollege Bibio schimmern vor strukturellen Brechungen und bilden eine immersive Reise zu Selbstfindung und Fokus.
What can be said about Joey Beltram’s ‘Energy Flash’ that hasn’t be said already! The track still gets rinsed, week in, week out, across radio stations, clubs and festivals, testimony to the sheer importance of this techno classic.
Released originally in 1990 on the R&S Records label, ‘Beltram Vol. 1’ included the aforementioned ‘Energy Flash’, alongside three equally ground-breaking dance tracks that possibly get overshadowed by the big lead track. But tracks like ‘Subsonic Bass’ broke the mould and went on to influence a raft of rave and drum ‘n’ bass tunes, thanks in part to its use of the now legendary ‘hoover’ bass sound. The sinister acid of ‘Jazz 3033’ still sounds as fresh today as it did 33 years ago, and the menacingly titled ‘Psycho Bass’ reveals the EP’s most passive moment, as its solid breakbeat cuts through ethereal tones and chugging synths.
‘Beltram Volume 1’ has been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, and the release comes in an updated sleeve, faithfully recreating the 1990 packaging.
‘Beltram Volume 1’ by Joey Beltram is available on R&S Records from 10th February 2023.
There are techno classics, and there are techno classics! It’s without doubt that Joey Beltram has played a pivotal role in the growth of the techno sound that gestated in Detroit and was lapped up in Europe during those early years. Beltram spearheaded a darker sound that became a staple in the UK and European rave scene in the early 90s, and a sound that continues to come back around for revival and a new twist on the genre from the producers and DJs of the day.
‘Beltram Volume 2’ was first released on R&S Records in 1991, and despite the huge success of the ‘Energy Flash’ single, released a year prior, ‘Volume 2’, some say, is ‘Beltram’s definitive release on R&S’. Deep, dark and deliciously hypnotic, all four cuts on this EP still sound as raw and devastating 30 years later. Big tunes at seminal clubs like Rage (Fabio & Grooverider) and the network of UK raves soundtracked by the likes of Carl Cox, Colin Faver, Eddie Richards et al, Beltram’s unique sound help spawn the bass heavy drum & bass genre that was also burgeoning at the time.
‘Beltram Volume 2’ has been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, and the release comes in an updated sleeve, faithfully recreating the 1991 packaging featuring Christel Brodahl’s now legendary oil painting.
‘Beltram Volume 2’ by Joey Beltram is available on R&S Records from 9th December 2022.
It’s been over 20 years since Kenny Dixon Jr., better known as Moodymann, released Black Mahogani—an album rich in atmosphere and emotion, offering a quintessential journey through deep house, soul, and jazz. Timeless yet modern, it’s an immersive and emotionally resonant experience that reflects the singular character of Detroit’s deep musical heritage.
Originally released in 2004, Black Mahogani is arguably one of Moodymann’s most revered and sought-after works. It completes the puzzle laid out by his rare and elusive KDJ 12” releases from the mid to late '90s. With the help of Detroit legends like the late Amp Fiddler, Roberta Sweed, and Norma Jean Bell, Dixon infused his analog soundscapes and samples with a new organic warmth—expanding the deep house genre while simultaneously paying homage to 1970s soul and cinematic soundtracks.
Dixon’s masterful control of tension—knowing exactly when to hold back and when to let go—makes Black Mahogani an enduring masterpiece. It's not just a landmark in electronic music, but a definitive statement in 21st-century Black American music.
One of the highlights of the King Crimson 50th anniversary CD/Blu-ray editions to date has been King Crimson producer David Singleton’s series of Elemental Mixes as he utilises the full spectrum of available studio sessions for each album to produce very different takes on the familiar songs and pieces.
This is especially true of Lizard where the ambition of the material, the much-expanded line-up of musicians - the background of many of them in the jazz rather than the rock world - and the number of takes recorded, resulted in a large amount of material to be considered for this album.
There was enough material for David to be able to mix and produce alternate takes for every piece from the original album.
As well as giving great insight into the recordings, the nature of Elemental Mixes allows for different takes from individual musicians to be included – sometimes alongside one another - in a way that would never be considered in the formulation of the original album.
David comments that “When I was working on the Elemental mixes, I jokingly described them as ‘Lizard for those who don’t like Lizard’. They were a complete revelation. Lizard is the one album which, in its initial incarnation, never quite convinced me. And yet these Elemental mixes, with their opportunity to look ‘under the hood’ of the album, revealed something fresh, wonderful and astonishing. So, if you are a King Crimson fan, who like me, has never quite taken Lizard to your heart, then these are essential listening. And hopefully equally fascinating to those who already love the album”.
Presented as a single 200gram LP and including the complete album in Elemental Mixes form, running in the same sequence as the original album, this release showcases Lizard in a very different manner to how it’s previously been heard.
Lizard’s reputation has grown, deservedly so, in recent years as old and new audiences alike rediscovered the album, initially when it was first remixed for new Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound editions in 2009 by Steven Wilson and then as much of it was performed live for the first time in concerts by the most recent King Crimson line-up between 2016 and 2018.
We're excited to announce 2 stone cold classics from Theo Parrish on Peacefrog - First Floor Part 1 and First Floor Part 2.
Originally released in 1998 "First Floor” is Detroit/Chicago auteur Theo Parrish’s debut album. Released on vinyl in two parts for maximum playability; the raw bluesy, soulful offbeat grooves have long since buried themselves deep under the skin of the house community.
Showcasing Theo’s innovative use of drum programming and effects its uniquely loose but taut knit of minimalist elements worked to maximal, hypnotic effect have solidified its reputation as a contemporary classic and served as a corner stone for Theo’s truly legendary status.
"First Floor” is one of those albums that has transcended generic borders to influence heads of all stripes with its unmistakable soul-nuzzling texture and groove. Essential.
The neon is glowing, the lasers are cutting through the smoke, and space synth is ruling the dancefloors. Laserdance just dropped their groundbreaking album “Future Generation.” Tracks like “Power Run” and “Humanoid Invasion” are setting clubs on fire, and every bedroom producer dreams of reaching that cosmic perfection.
And in this athmosphere Spacehawk appears shining like an alien spaceship.
Behind the name Spacehawk stands Swedish producer Anton Eriksson, a modern-day craftsman of analog dreams. In his vast studio, packed with vintage synths and drum machines, Anton creates electronic masterpieces so authentic, so rich in melody and power, that even Michiel van der Kuy himself, the godfather of the genre, decided to collaborate with him.
The result? “Space Patrol” – a landmark single that bridges generations of synth lovers.
On the A-side, you’ll find Anton’s stunning original version, pulsating, melodic, and bursting with energy. Flip it over, and you get a remix by Michiel van der Kuy that feels like a time warp straight back to the golden age of Italo-space glory.
“Space Patrol” has it all: soaring melodies, driving basslines, hypnotic rhythm, and that unmistakable intergalactic energy that makes you feel like you’re racing through the stars.
Fans of Laserdance, Rygar, Koto, Syntech, and all things van der Kuy will instantly recognize the DNA of true space synth excellence here.
To top it all off the single comes on a bright yellow vinyl, housed in a stunning retro-futuristic sleeve that looks like it beamed in straight from 1980s sci-fi.
It’s not just a release. It’s a revival.
And if space synth runs through your veins, this is one you simply can’t ignore.
The catalog of Discomagic’s sublabel Sensation Records is a true treasure chest of surprises. Rare gems sought after by collectors, whose prices on the secondary market often exceed €100, €200, and sometimes even €500. Once again, Vintage Pleasure Boutique reaches into this vault of highly coveted obscurities. This time, the focus is on SNS 8017.
It is one of the cult productions by Raffaele Fiume, revered, cherished and long admired mainly thanks to the distinctive vocal presence of Giusy Ravizza. Upon its original release in 1984, the record did not achieve major commercial success. However, with the resurgence of Italo disco, the rise of the internet, discussion forums, collector communities, online marketplaces and web radio stations, places where fans and collectors gathered to rediscover forgotten tracks, “Light” gradually emerged as a highly desirable, much-loved and increasingly hard-to-find title.
Once again, Vintage Pleasure Boutique steps in to meet the expectations of all those who wish to own a vinyl copy of Giusy Ravizza – “Light.” This is not the original Italian pressing with the SIAE stamp on the label, but it sounds absolutely excellent.
Drummer-composer Tom Skinner announces Kaleidoscopic Visions, his second solo album, out 26th September 2025 via Brownswood Recordings and International Anthem
Kaleidoscopic Visions unfolds across two distinct sonic landscapes. Side A presents entirely instrumental compositions performed by Skinner's live Bishara band—bassist Tom Herbert, cellist Kareem Dayes, and Robert Stillman and Chelsea Carmichael on various woodwinds and reeds—with electric guitar on two tracks courtesy of Portishead's Adrian Utley. A drummer-composer bringing his wealth of experience to bear on the role of bandleader, Skinner composed primarily on guitar, embracing the freedom that came with writing on his secondary instrument.
These compositions include "Auster," dedicated to late novelist Paul Auster, and "Margaret Anne," which honours Skinner's mother Anne Shasby, a former classical concert pianist prodigy who abandoned her own promising career in the face of systemic misogyny, only to impart on her son what Skinner calls "the gift of music."
Skinner’s musical world opens further on Side B, where a collection of poised vocal collaborations stretch out from jazz and improvisation towards a more dream-like, soulful sound. The centerpiece is "The Maxim," a ten-minute collaboration with Grammy Award-winning Meshell Ndegeocello, a dubby, spacious meditation on life and death, delivered with a free-spirited grace. For Skinner, working with Ndegeocello—whom he first saw at Glastonbury as a teenager in 1994—represents a full-circle moment, indicative of the indirect paths and inspirational detours that have shaped his life.
The album goes on to feature South Carolina-based singer Contour (Khari Lucas) who appears on the low-lit soul ballad ‘Logue’, and closes with ‘See How They Run’, featuring London keyboardist-vocalist Yaffra (Jonathan Geyevu). It is the album’s most overtly lyrical track, an articulate exposition of jazz-inflected spoken word that speaks not only to the genre-fluid nature of the music but the breadth of Skinner’s palette.
This should come as no surprise. On Kaleidoscopic Visions, one of London’s most vital musical figures gives us a sparkling glimpse of the multi-coloured lens through which his unique sound is now refracting.
Following on from the first KMS Sampler, PDD in conjunction with Armada Music & BEAT Music Fund return for Volume 2 in the series. Once again mining the delights in the expansive catalogue, Volume 2 showcases four more essential cuts. Up first is the classic MK Mix of R-Tyme’s – Use Me. Next up on the A side we have the legendary pairing of Chez Damier and Ron Trent with their remix of Inner City – Share My Life. On the flip, the D’Pac Dub of Dionne opens the B side and then rounding off the EP is the second Inner City track, this time remixed by another Detroit hero, Carl Craig.
Just like Volume 1, the audio has been lovingly remastered by AIR Studios and their team of celebrated engineers, fully utilising their mastering knowledge. Another brilliant volume from KMS!
Marking 50 years of David Bowie’s groundbreaking tenth studio album, the limited-edition picture disc LP is pressed from the same master and includes an exact reproduction of the original promotional poster used at release.
For this anniversary edition, the Half Speed Master album has been recut on a customised late-model Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics, sourced from 192kHz restored masters of the original Record Plant master tapes. No additional processing was applied, delivering the closest possible representation of the album’s original sound.
(Limited Edition 12" Silver Vinyl, 500 Individually Numbered Copies Worldwide) To mark an exceptional milestone, the legendary DJ and producer Phi Phi celebrates 40 years behind the decks with the launch of his brand-new label Mouvement Perpétuel and its inaugural release, the Forty EP, available in both vinyl and digital formats.
Early support from Forty Cats (Balance), Graziano Raffa (Sudbeat), Acid Pauli, and many more.
A true pioneer and iconic figure of the electronic music scene, Phi Phi has shaped generations of clubbers through his legendary residencies at At The Villa, Boccaccio Life, and Extreme, to name just a few. Throughout his career, he has deeply influenced the evolution of trance and progressive culture in Belgium, crafting a distinctive sound and spirit that continue to inspire today’s artists.
The Forty EP captures the very essence of this musical journey: three original tracks blending progressive house and melodic techno, where captivating harmonies and hypnotic rhythms intertwine to deliver a sound that is both timeless, powerful, and refined.
Pressed on a silver vinyl limited to 500 individually numbered copies, the record was unveiled during a special event celebrating Phi Phi’s 40-year career — making each copy not only a true collector’s item, but also a symbolic piece of his enduring musical legacy.
Fantastisches Album mit 12 Liedern der Begena-Musiker Tafese Tesfaye, Admassu Fikre, Seyoum Mengistu und Alemu Aga. ""Die Begena ist eines jener seltenen Musikinstrumente, das seit über 5800 Jahren existiert. Faszinierend an ihr ist nicht nur ihr Alter, sondern auch die Tatsache, dass sich ihre Herstellung und ihr Verwendungszweck über all die Jahre hinweg nicht verändert haben. ... Während des Derg-Regimes, nach dem Sturz von Kaiser Haile Selassie, wurde sie nicht mehr als wichtig erachtet. ... Aber besonders in den letzten 15-16 Jahren hat es eine Renaissance erlebt. Es gibt viele, meist junge Begena-Spieler, von denen ich über 500 Schüler unterrichtet habe. Es gibt auch Begena-Bauer, die das Instrument für neue Schüler bauen. Das Interessante an diesem Instrument ist, dass die Musik, der Klang, der aus diesem Instrument kommt, die besondere Kraft hat, Menschen zur Konzentration, zur Ruhe und zum Nachdenken zu bewegen. Das ist eine besondere Qualität. Man muss kein Äthiopier sein, jeder kann es hören, es wird ihn automatisch zur Ruhe und Konzentration anregen."" – Alemu Aga (aus einem Interview mit Pit Budde für den WDR, Köln, 2008)
Another DINTE tape curated by cult WFMU show and blogger Bodega Pop; Gary Sullivan's long-running project rooted in a passion for digging for music in bodegas and cell-phone stores across NYC's boroughs. This edition focuses in on late 1990s and early 00s hip-hop & rnb from across Southeastern Asia.
"While on a work trip to Chicago in the mid-2000s, I was craving a bowl of pho. A bit of sleuthing led me to hop on the red line "L" up to Argyle Street, ground zero of Chicago's Little Saigon. In the 1960s, Chicago restaurateur Jimmy Wong invested in property on Argyle Street with a vision to build the city's new Chinatown, a kind of mall with pagodas, trees, and reflecting pools. In 1971, the Hip Sing Association, a labor/criminal organization, established itself in the area, and along with Wong, they bought up 80% of the buildings on a three-block stretch of the street. Wong reportedly broke both hips in an accident, leaving his dream to wither; in 1979, Charlie Soo of the Asian American Small Business Association brought it back to life.
Soo expanded the area into a vibrant mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian businesses, pushing for renovations, including an Argyle station facelift and the Taste of Argyle festival. At the time I exited the station and crossed the street to get a better look at a shop with a poster for A Vertical Ray of the Sun in the window, the area was home to some 37,000 Vietnamese residents.
Opening the door, I was gobsmacked by a cavernous Southeast Asian media store, bigger than any I'd been to in Dallas, Montreal, New York, or Seattle. I spent some time at the bins, pulling out collections by some of my then-favorite singers — Giao Linh, Khánh Ly, Phương Dung — before approaching the register to ask the young woman behind the counter if the they carried any Vietnamese rap. It was a longshot, I knew, but if such a thing existed on physical media and anyone carried it, it would be this place.
'Have you heard Vietnamese rap?' she replied, her tone of voice and facial expression betraying a comically exaggerated level of distaste. I admitted my ignorance but assured her that I had long cultivated a high threshold for cheesy pop music of all kinds and genuinely tended to like hip hop from around the world.
She rolled her eyes and pointed to an area I had missed. I walked toward a far corner of the store and knelt over a small box on the floor sparsely populated with CDs, VCDs, and cassettes. I pulled out half a dozen Vietnamese hip hop compilations and a strange-looking CD with a cavalcade of odd typefaces in a queasy multitude of colors: THAILAND RAP HIT, it boasted, with 泰國 "燒香" 勁歌金曲 below it. The information on the back provided an address in Kuala Lumpur and the titles in Thai and English translation. The first track included three simplified Chinese characters after the English-language version of the title, "The Chinese Association": 自己人.
WTF was going on here? Walking back to the register, I waved the CD, asking "What's up with this one?" She gave me a look. I placed it on the counter so she could bask in the cover's full glory. She shrugged. "I'm guessing it's Thai rap?" She looked disappointed in me when I said I'd take it.
It turned out to be a Malaysian pressing of half-Chinese Thai hip hop artist Joey Boy's third album, Fun Fun Fun from 1996, and it completely changed my sense what the genre could sound like. The rapper's self-assured, effortless, silly-but-cool rapid-fire delivery weaved in and out of the most bizarre, antic beats I'd ever heard. The six Vietnamese hip hop CDs were a mixed bag, mostly "serious" sounding mimicry of US rapping over predictable production, but the highs were very high. When I got home and listened to it all, I made a point to find as much hip hop from this part of the world as I could.
The tracks collected here provide a limited but potent reflection of the two-decade ascendency
and ultimate world-takeover of hip hop, as it displaced rock and its endless variants for millions of listeners. This not a fair and balanced overview of regional production: I've only included tracks from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Nor is this a biggest or most important artists collection; instead, I've tried to recapture the pure visceral thrill of that first time I heard Joey Boy, choosing bangers that sound like nothing else, from nowhere else."
The definition of the word 'fado' is technically 'fate', though the Portuguese meaning bound up with this term is more complex. The music itself can be fairly closely compared with that of Greek rebetika - also the American blues or the original working-class tango music of Argentina and Uruguay - and similarly takes it's common subject matter from the various cruel realities of the world. Though perhaps what distinguishes fado in character is it's often poised acceptance of the pains of life rather than protestation or resistance - as writer Paul Vernon says "It speaks with a quiet dignity born of the realisation that any mortal desire or plan is at risk of destruction by powers beyond individual control"
Death Is Not The End compile here a spine-tingling collection of fado recordings, taken from records issued in the mid 1910s through to the 1930s. The fado's Lisbon and Coimbra variants are presented here by some of the music's earliest recorded stars - spanning a time period leading up to the emergence of the fado's all-conquering star, Amália Rodrigues.
Over the past decade, East London artist Kojey Radical has cemented himself as one of the most creative and unique voices in British music. His debut album Reason to Smile (2022) was released to critical acclaim, and saw him emerge as one of the defining voices in UK culture. Now, the 32-year-old readies to release his second album Don’t Look Down.
“I wanted to make this album more personal and more honest,” he says, “we have to be able to accept that the messenger has flaws and all.
16-tracks long, Don’t Look Down, set for release on 19th September 2025, is a musically rich and deeply introspective reflection on the shifting tides, lows and joys that have passed through his life since his emergence into the public eye.
Sonically, the album provides the most experimental and eclectic music of his career, with influences ranging from golden age Hip Hop to disco, grime to Indie, Jazz to Ska. Together, these strings combine to give a pertinent insight into Kojey’s inner world, and a timestamp documenting the feelings, emotions and experiences that arise when many reach the milestone of their 30s.
“When you’re younger, certain ages seem so grown,” he says, “you feel like you’re supposed to have your life together and all figured out by 30. Then especially when you're in the spotlight you feel extra pressure to have it figured out because so many people are looking towards you.”
Don’t Look Down follows debut album Reason to Smile (2022). A critical success, it landed at No.11 on the UK Album Charts and was nominated for the Mercury Prize as well as two MOBO Awards. In the following year came a nomination for Best New Artist at 2023 BRIT Awards and Best Contemporary Song at the Ivor Novello Awards. He toured across the UK, as well as hitting the festival circuit.
This sense of growth was not limited to music. Kojey was tapped by the British Fashion Council to host the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Fashion Awards as his stock in music and wider culture continued to rise.
The album he says, is a reflection of “the experiences I’ve had over the past few years. That shaped the direction I took going forward. It’s given me the opportunity to tell new stories from newer perspectives. It was liberating, and it was very necessary to keep me in love with the process and to keep making music.”
The result is his most innovative album yet, a project where a sense of profound personal interrogation and introspection dance in union with the rich musical tapestry. Don’t Look Down is a story of purpose lost and then found, of what happens in the aftermath of achieving your childhood dreams, and the ranging flux of emotions that rise to the surface once the music stop
Emerging during the early stages of the recording industry in Japan, the ryūkōka style adopted western classical, blues & jazz elements into traditional and classical Japanese music.
This collection of 1920s & 30s ryūkōka recordings follows on from the Kouta Katsutaro tape we put out a couple of years back, and further captures the hauntingly unique sound of a cultural merging that was starting to reflect itself via popular song, ahead of the widespread influence of western pop music during post-war US occupation.
"Death Is Not The End are on a mission to expand the musical archive, with compilations of everything from Jamaican doo wop to pirate radio idents and adverts weaving new threads into the history of music. Longing For The Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939 goes back to the beginnings of the recording industry in Japan, and a style merging traditional Japanese forms with western pop and classical. Swooning orchestrations and prominent vocals capture some of the melodrama and bombast found in US and European music of the time, but beds of plucked and strummed instruments give an ordered elegance, tying it firmly to Hogaku tradition. Not much has been written about Ryūkōka, and a 2017 book by Hiromu Nagahara gives some clue as to why, arguing that although popular with the public, it was dismissed by critics both for its adoption of western sounds and its dwelling on Japanese traditional styles. Close to a century later, those are some of the qualities that make this compilation so fascinating." - The Quietus
"Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished ‘70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.
Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.
A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.
Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris."
Originally released in 1971, this classic album was the second studio album from the legendary American singer/songwriter Carole King. It is the 81st best selling album of all time, with over 10 million copies sold and is also ranked by Rolling Stone as 25th on the list of the Top 500 greatest albums of all time. A 12 track standard black vinyl, with download code insert (replaces previous version which had a mastering issue). Marketing.
Jalapeno Records are celebrating their 25th anniversary in the business. The label are marking the occasion with the release of a 3LP compilation featuring some of label boss Trevor Mac's favourite dancefloor gems from across the years. From a humble start in a basement recording studio on Holloway Road to a quarter century anniversary celebrated from their Brighton offices – Jalapeno Records has been an indie label with a mission - to bring the funk to the masses. Along the way that has taken in so many genres from chill to house, gospel to soul, breaks to drum & bass but it has all had a common thread running through it - the funk. "Twenty Five years means there are too many artists to list and this album is not supposed to be a Greatest Hits. We did that on the 20th anniversary. The album is dedicated to all of the artists that trusted us with their music and all the people who supported us along the way" says Trevor
k 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) feat. John Turrell — Kraak & Smaak
n 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) feat. Cleopold — Kraak & Smaak
[k] 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) [feat. John Turrell] — Kraak & Smaak
[n] 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) [feat. Cleopold] — Kraak & Smaak
[k] 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) [feat. John Turrell] — Kraak & Smaak
[n] 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) [feat. Cleopold] — Kraak & Smaak
