Suche:playhouse
- Woosah Ft Lana Je' (Slug-Dub Mix)
- Drop It Low 112707
- Juke That Back Low (Jukestrumental)
- Bust It Down Shorty
- Back Da Fuck Up (Remix) Ft Missy
- Pussy Pop
- Fuck These Hoes
5 track EP of "Ghetto House" from Chicago's DJ SLUGO and released on SUBTERRANEAN PLAYHOUSE RECORDS. The followup EP to "GHETTO HOUSE MUSIC" released in 2023. Boomin', bassy, acid-tinged house music. Full pic sleeve with artwork from BRYON "BANGGHZ" WALKER. VINYL ONLY (no digital)
LIVERPOOL’S LONG LOST 90’s INDIE ROCK NOISEMAKERS. COMPILING THREE SINGLES AND UNRELEASED TRACKS. “If these guys were American they’d have a massive following” STEVIE CHICK. Back in the 1990's PLAYHOUSE were Liverpool's premiere 'honey souled indie rock band' (NME, 1997). They had a devoted following around the country after supporting the likes of Sleater Kinney, Unwound, Penthouse, Pavement, Sebadoh, Feeder and Gary Numan. With three 7" singles under their belt and support from the NME and John Peel, the band were due to record their debut album until disaster struck when the drummer, Simon, broke his leg in a bizarre incident. Simon later went on to play with the rock band - Black Spiders and now performs under the name of Blobb Ross. Singer and guitarist Pete continues to write songs, over a 1000 at this point. He is Liverpool's most prolific and enigmatic figure, writing some of the most beautiful songs around. Bassist Jason went on to perform with Mugstar, Sex Swing, Klamp, Domes, Twin Sister & JAAW. 'Dynamo' compiles the three singles they released, alongside unreleased tracks, including a cover of Sebadoh's 'It's So Hard To Fall in Love'
From Alehouse to Playhouse Bjarte Eike and his barnstorming Barokksolistene capture the vital spark of Restoration London’s entertainment scene with a captivating new recording for Rubicon Classics! The Playhouse Sessions will be released on 23 September 2022 to coincide with Barokksolistene’s concert double-bill at London’s Southbank Centre.
‘A smattering of Purcell, dances from Playford’s Dancing Master, shanties, reels and ballads succumb to a nine-piece ensemble drawing on Baroque, jazz and folk styles for a no holds barred hooley of riotous improvisatory give and take,’ (BBC Music Magazine review of The Alehouse Sessions, August 2019)
London’s musicians, pushed in the 1650s, to the margins of society by order of Oliver Cromwell, found room for new forms of entertainment in city-centre taverns and alehouses. They remained there long after the restoration of the monarchy, performing sets of dances, theatre songs and bawdy ballads to audiences glad to be free from Puritan constraints on pleasure.
Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike and his Barokksolistene have restored the spirit and substance of those long-forgotten performances with their Alehouse Sessions, hailed by The Times as ‘irresistible’ and ‘fabulously unrestrained’ by The Guardian. Five years ago the Norwegian violinist and his band scored a best-selling album with The Alehouse Sessions on Rubicon Classics. They return to the label with another compelling collection of music and words of the kind on offer more than three centuries ago at Henry Purcell’s favourite Westminster watering holes. The Playhouse Sessions, set for release on Rubicon Classics on 23 September 2022, reflects the uplifting energy and engaging emotional contrasts of Barokksolistene’s Alehouse performances.
“The album contains a sort of inner narrative that runs through the recording,” says Bjarte Eike. “It has become like a play in its own right, with each track being a small tale within a larger story.” The recording’s tracklist includes Eike’s beguiling arrangements of music from Purcell’s semi-opera The Fairy Queen and his own original compositions on words from the play on which it is based, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; popular songs and ballads such as ‘The Irish Washerwoman’, ‘I often for my Jenny strove’ and ‘The Three Ravens’; tunes from Purcell’s welcome odes and stage shows, Come ye sons of art and Dido and Aeneas among them; the ‘Willow Song’ from Shakespeare’s Othello; Eike’s own voice in Puck’s monologue from Act 5 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and John Dowland’s sublime air ‘Can she excuse my wrongs’.
London’s theatres were closed at the start of the English Civil War in 1642 and remained shut until the Restoration. Alehouses offered redundant musicians, actors and dancers a place to scrape a precarious living and soon became their creative refuge. “Although a few surviving theatres reopened in 1660 with the return of Charles II, there was little money around to rebuild those that had been demolished,” observes Bjarte Eike. “And a generation of musicians had already found an audience in places like the Black Horse in Aldersgate Street. So popular were their alehouse sessions that Cromwell tried to abolish them! But they outlived him and became part of Restoration musical life.” The form of a Barokksolistene Alehouse, he adds, is like a creative room. “Within its framework I can frequently refurbish the show with new contents. The Playhouse project is likewise an extension of the ever-evolving Alehouse Sessions. Together they tell the story of music and theatre in London during Cromwell’s time and after the Restoration. Of course there’s an historical context to what we do. But there’s also the practical context – which is even more important to me – of connecting with a contemporary twenty-first century audience. An Alehouse / Playhouse performance is not something for the museum; it's about music made in the present moment, just as it was in the London alehouses of Purcell’s day -- with their playhouses annexed to the rear of the beer-drinking saloons. The encounter of musicians onstage and the audience in the hall is the real magic of it. We have to fuse the audience into the action of our performance!”
The Playhouse Sessions will be launched on Friday 23 September with a late-night concert at the Purcell Room and a post-concert Alehouse Session in the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Soprano Mary Bevan is set to join Eike and his Alehouse Boys for the first half of their Southbank Centre double-bill, offering unique interpretations of songs from Purcell shows and other hits from the late seventeenth-century London stage. “The Southbank Centre is a direct descendant of concerts given in the 1650s in the alehouses of London,” notes Eike. “These alehouses after all staged some of the world’s first public concerts. Later, after the Restoration, it became common for promoters to advertise alehouse concerts in the press and offer subscription tickets. Purcell and his fellow musicians were thus just as at home performing there as they were in the chambers of the royal court or in London’s new theatres.”
Bjarte Eike launched his Alehouse Sessions in company with like-minded musicians 15 years ago. The ensemble comprises a core of regular performers, all of whom have committed to memory a huge setlist of up to four hours of music. Typically they meet a day or so before a concert tour to share a meal and make music together; then next day, re-grouping thirty minutes before the show, they discover Eike’s select-menu for the evening. “That ensures that every show is fresh,” he notes. “I make sure we never repeat the same programme twice. It’s therefore essential to work with people who share my outlook and dare to adventure. We’re into a high-risk sport, with lots of traps and places where the unexpected appears - for good or for ill. And so the audience knows we’re vulnerable. But our skill is seen in how we re-act on the hoof to the unpredictable. That’s authenticity and honesty - and above all it’s a performance that’s genuine.”
Armed with a classical training and a background in folk music and improvisation, Bjarte Eike was drawn naturally to Early Music in all its stylistic variety. “I never really felt at home with only one genre,” he recalls. “Early Music allowed me to study profound, complicated compositions, but performing it has also opened up the chance of rebellion and uproar! Early music offers wide, multi-faceted areas of musical exploration for me. You find, for instance, links to different types of music wherever you look in seventeenth-century English repertoire. And I am fascinated by all these connections. They offer a foundation for the Alehouse Sessions and for all Barokksolistene performance more generally. Every member of the group plays, sings, dances and improvises without limitation. We’re all interested in the many different fields of being a stage performer and pushing hard at the ‘normal’ boundaries of what it means to be a classical musician.”
A never before issued recording of Horace Tapscott leading his legendary Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, 'Live at Century City Playhouse 9/9/79' documents the entirety of a 2 hours performance, sprawling across glorious 3 LPs, that rises as one of the most beautiful, striking, and historically important records of the year. A joyous explosion of sound, seeded by social, political, and community-based action, at the juncture of spiritual and free jazz, this one's a 10 out of 10 and not to be missed.
Rolando’s back in the game with Syncrophone Remixes Vol.2—flipping DJ Qu’s “Undescribed3,” Detect Audio’s “Synchronize,” and Anthony Shake Shakir’s “Arise.” Three exclusive remixes, pure underground techno for real heads. Detroit spirit, cop this 12” before it disappears!
DJ Feedbacks :
Honey Dijon : DJ Qu is the one for me. Will def support!
Raresh (ar:pi:ar) : super! thanks
Truncate : Thanks!
The Advent : Smooth bgrooves on here.. 3 - Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - Arise (Rolando Remix)
Anika Kunst (Symbolism / RSPX) : Cool release. Arise rmx is beautiful. Thanks!!
Harvey Sutherland (MCDE / PPU / Voltaire Records) : DJ Qu flip for me, thanks!
Scott Grooves : The Shake is the one
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Wooow hot hot hot
Roman Fluegel (Roman Fluegel, Dial, Cocoon, Playhouse, Robert Johnson) : The Remix for Shake is the one for me.
Erol Alkan (Phantasy Sound) : Downloading Thanks!
Enrica Falqui (ERIS, Plexus 4) : I like it!
Daniel Avery (Phantasy / Fabric) : Awesome
Laurent Garnier : cool release
Elisa Bee : Only love for Rolando, thanks x
Slam (Soma) : Brilliant - thanx
San Proper (Perlon / Rush Hour / Proper's Cult) : Totally what i needed to hear, Rolando remixing Shake & Q, my heroes lined up. I will enjoy playing all 3 mixes. One Love.
Axel Boman (Studio Barnhus) : killer remixes!
Terry Farley : DJ Qu mix my fave - heads down LETS GURN
D'Julz (Bass Culture) : great work !
gilbr (Dj Gilb'R / Chateau Flight (Versatile)) : Like the Shakir remix thanks for sending
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Lea Lisa (Phonica Records / Folklor Club) : mental, really good one
Dj Deep (Deeply Rooted) : Super nice package! Dj Qu's Undescribed3 remix for me here! Thank you
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Rrrrreeeeemix!! Thx
Efdemin (Dial) : Wonderful remix package!
Inland (Inland) : Hellooo. These are great. Qu and Shake versions both killer! Thanks
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : DJ QU remix bangin
Uncertain (RSPX, WRKTRX, Suara) : remix 1 for me
Harri (Sub Club) : very nice all three will play and support
Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free) : Thank you!
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Richie Hawtin (M_Nus) : downloaded for r hawtin
Luke Solomon (Classic / Freaks / Music For Freaks) : all killer
Luke Slater : Thanks Ro!
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Felix Dickinson (Futureboogie, Rush Hour, Cynic) : I like this
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Alienata (about blank) : Very nice remixes, all of them, thx!
Nat Wendell (Depth of My Soul, Courtesy of Balance, Love & Loops) : Dope remixes!
Dave Clarke (white noise radio) : Not my sound, but please keep them coming !
A fresh reinterpretation project from 20/20 Vision’s Ralph Lawson and Carl Finlow that revisits their own classic Blaze remixes for 2026.
Originally remixing ‘Lovelee Dae’ back in 1997 for German label Playhouse and ‘Wishing You Were Here’ in 1999 for Slip ‘n’ Slide, these new takes deliver stripped-back dub versions and refined edits crafted for the dancefloor.
The collection blends classic Blaze soul with deeper, groove-driven house textures—highlighting the timeless songwriting of Blaze while giving it a fresh underground perspective
RAWAX proudly presents Acid Jesus aka Roman Flügel & Jörn Elling Wuttke with her groundbreaking debut album called "Acid Jesus" from 1993
Following the title of the classic Ecstasy Club record - be it a direct influence or merely a coincidence - Acid Jesus was the first of many collaborations between Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke.
Situated in Germany’s then blistering techno scene and especially a mirror of Frankfurt at the time, the early recordings are also a feedback loop to what was happening in the UK and the USA before and at that very time. With many definitions and interpretations of techno already in place, and while its triumphal procession slowly geared itself into exhaustion, Flügel and Wuttke succeeded with their own and unique take on it, that owned as much to Underground Resistance and the Belleville Three as it did to Sven Väth and Andrew Weatherall. Depicting the booster detonation of what was to become the holy label trinity of Playhouse, Klang and Ongaku, this is a collection of tracks and experiments in sound that won’t sound dated, yet classic, mesmerizing and eternal. Jesus loves the acid and vice versa.
RAWAX proudly presents Acid Jesus aka Roman Flügel & Jörn Elling Wuttke with her groundbreaking debut album called "Acid Jesus" from 1993
Following the title of the classic Ecstasy Club record - be it a direct influence or merely a coincidence - Acid Jesus was the first of many collaborations between Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke.
Situated in Germany’s then blistering techno scene and especially a mirror of Frankfurt at the time, the early recordings are also a feedback loop to what was happening in the UK and the USA before and at that very time. With many definitions and interpretations of techno already in place, and while its triumphal procession slowly geared itself into exhaustion, Flügel and Wuttke succeeded with their own and unique take on it, that owned as much to Underground Resistance and the Belleville Three as it did to Sven Väth and Andrew Weatherall. Depicting the booster detonation of what was to become the holy label trinity of Playhouse, Klang and Ongaku, this is a collection of tracks and experiments in sound that won’t sound dated, yet classic, mesmerizing and eternal. Jesus loves the acid and vice versa.
- A1: Isolée - Beau Mot Plage (Freeform Reform Parts I & Ii)
- A2: Greenskeepers - Bang In Your Face?
- B1: Iz & Diz - Mouth (Brad Pepe Remix For Friends)
- B2: Markus Nikolai - Bushes (The First Re-Creation) (Version 1.2)
- C1: Folamour - Devoted To U
- C2: Crazy P - One True Light
- D1: Girls Of The Internet - When U Go
- D2: Sophie Lloyd Feat. Dames Brown - Calling Out
Following Volume 1, this second instalment of Classic’s 30th Anniversary series dives even deeper into the label’s visionary, genre-bending catalogue—balancing pioneering remixes, cult favourites, and future classics.
Once again, this 2x12” release is beautifully presented in a raw reverse board sleeve, a tactile nod to Classic’s earliest releases. Inside, are deep teal and green GMUND card stock inner sleeves with embossed detailing elevate the package into a collector’s item worthy of the music it holds.
Record One opens with one of the most revered remixes in house history. Isolee’s ‘Beau Mot Plage’ (Freeform Reform Parts 1 & 2), originally licensed from Germany’s Playhouse and lovingly reworked by Freeform Five’s Anu Pillai with a live ensemble. It’s a sprawling, euphoric journey that helped define Classic’s international reach and is still widely regarded as one of the greatest house records ever pressed.
Up next is Greenskeepers’ off-kilter banger ‘Bang in Your Face?’, showcasing the quirky, ‘G-swing’ sound for which James Curd and his crew became known for during their long-standing relationship with the label.
On the flip, Pépé Bradock’s jaw-dropping rework of Iz & Diz’s ‘Mouth’ takes center stage—a remix composed entirely from human sounds, equal parts sensual and surreal. Universally praised, it’s a masterclass in sonic innovation and remains one of the most acclaimed house remixes of all time.
The side closes with Markus Nikolai’s beloved ‘Bushes’, The First Re-Creation (Version 1.2) by Classic co founder Derrick Carter—a distinctive and maximalist edit that draws out the Latin horns, strings, and quirky vocals, turning a cult hit into a distinctly ‘Classic’ anthem.
Record Two captures Classic’s renewed energy in the 2010s.
Folamour’s ‘Devoted To U’ from his Umami LP is a 10-minute odyssey in groove—warm, progressive, and cinematic, with soaring piano lines and narrative richness.
Then comes Crazy P’s ‘One True Light’, shimmering with spacey textures, cosmic energy, and the deep, effortless groove the band has perfected over decades.
On Side D, we have Girls of the Internet’s lush and emotionally rich ‘When U Go’, blending soulful vocals with clean, spacious production that balances melancholy with movement.
Closing out Volume 2 is Sophie Lloyd’s now iconic ‘Calling Out’, featuring the unstoppable vocal force of Dames Brown. A modern gospel-disco-house anthem, the track glows with raw energy, live instrumentation, and spiritual fire—cementing its place as one of Classic’s defining moments of the last decade.
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
- A1: Pop Go The Beatles
- A2: From Me To You
- A3: I'll Get You
- B1: Money
- B2: Twist & Shout
- B3: Pop Go The Beatles
During the first week in August 1963, the Beatles were touring in Lancashire, so they fulfilled their obligation to record the tracks for episodes 11 and 12 of Pop Go The Beatles at the BBC’s Playhouse Theatre in Hulme, South Manchester on August 1st. From Me To You, I'll Get You and Money were broadcast as part of show #12. Also recorded on August 1st was a rousing version of Twist & Shout that was broadcast on show #11.
George solos blues-style on the customary, instrumental version of Pop Goes The Weasel that started and finished each show.
- A1: Banks Of The Nile
- A2: Nothing More
- A3: The Ballad Of Ned Kelly
- A4: The Sea
- A5: Too Much Of Nothing
- B1: Gypsy Davey
- B2: Bold Jack Donahue
- B3: Eppy Moray
- B4: Silver Threads And Golden Needles
Trevor Lucas and Gerry Conway were members of the folk-rock group Eclection, who released an album in August 1968 on Elektra Records. After the group disbanded in 1969, they formed Fotheringay with Lucas's girlfriend Sandy Denny, who had recently left Fairport Convention. The Fairports were recording mostly traditional folk material at this time and Denny left the group so that she could perform more of her own compositions.
The BBC session on Side One of this LP features songs from the first Fotheringay album and took place at the Playhouse Theatre on April 13th 1970. The songs on Side Two were recorded at BBC’s Maida Vale Studios in November 1970. They are ‘off-air’ recordings but the sound quality is still very good.
Sasha returns with atmospheric gem 'How to Wear Raybans Well' Featuring remxes from heavyweights Roman Flügel and Nathan Fake.
Electronic luminary Sasha has had a busy 2024 that has so far yielded standout collaborations with the likes of Super Flu & Sentre and a solo single 'Florian Drift' that proves he remains at the cutting edge. His Last Night on Earth label continues to serve up a rich mix of melodic house and techno from the most exciting names in the scene and this latest solo single finds the boss head into new realms once more.
The superb 'How to Wear Raybans Well' is awash with fizzing dub chords and electric lines that flash about the mix. The deep rooted drums have a subtle bounce as they serve to sweep the floor off its feet and lock them into a state of melodic techno bliss.
First to remix is Nathan Fake, a UK talent who has always had his own unique sound. It's based on his mastery of synths and melody and has arrived on labels like Ninja Tune and Border Community as well as his own Cambria Instruments. His remix ups the ante and strips things away to bring more defined drums and crisp hits. The synths bring a range of emotions as they unfold with a mind of their own throughout this most captivating track.
Roman Flügel has been an ever present in the electronic world almost since the start. The German's output has covered endless ground from micro house to acid to techno on the most tasteful labels from his own Playhouse to Mule, Dial and Live At Robert Johnson. His remix is timeless surging techno that comes with waves of warming synths and unrelenting drum pressure designed for peak time dance floor wig-outs.
From Chillán, Chile, emerges Marcelo, a genuine talent,
He started in a band, singing and playing bass, now embracing electronic music's element.
His first EP "Got a Pineapple," a very organic and groovy, complete jazzy concept with intricate details, setting the mood smoothly.
"Rolling Out", brings a genuine bass killer, Perfect for the dance floor, a track that delivers thrill and thrillers.
Completing the debut is the legendary Losoul, a Playhouse icon, No introduction needed; his catalog speaks for quality, his talent not gone, minimal touch you can enjoy. Minimal master piece from Gathaspar for second remix very mental like he do always.
Together, they form an excellent combo, continuing our mission,
To print records of quality music, transcending shallow ambition.
For cover the daughters of Carmen Piemonte, Carmen Valbuena Piemponte.
...Finally repressed! No more words needed... Classic!
The original version of this gorgeous schlager techno track, released in august 2001 on Kompakt's Total 3, would put a smile on a lot of people's faces. Apart from the reworked original version, you'll get two sensational remixes: The one from Frankfurt's high-aesthete, super hipster, club- and label-owner with a three-letter name: Ata. Since the very beginning, his Playhouse label has always been a guarantee for finest German House music. It's his first (!) remix ever and his first studio work since the legendary first Playhouse release 'Holy Garage' in 1993. The 'Playhouse Mix' turns the original version into a mega-hip, late-night monster and reminds a bit of the great Larry Levan and Metro Area's congenious adaption of early-80s disco music. The 'Robert Johnson' club is going down on its knees. Wonderful. The other remix comes from one of Kompakt's in-house pioneers of pop ambient: it's Olaf Dettinger. Who didn't want to miss this chance and has interrupted his creative pause only for doing this wonderful 'Moonlight Mix'. Dettinger's cosy hi-tech sounds and Sonja Luebke's seraphic voice, both singing a duet to the moon. Very, very beautiful, indeed.
DER SMARTE HIT VON JÜRGEN PAAPE MIT REMIXEN VON PLAYHOUSE'S ATA UND DETTINGER. HERRLICH !
Supported by Roger Gerressen, Andrey Pushkavev, E.Wan, Hermanez, youANDme, Philipp Priebe, Ohm, Jason Kendig, Barbara Preisinger
French Berlin-based producer and DJ Anthony Georges Patrice returns to his own Ausblick imprint this October with 5NRG accompanied by a remix from the much loved Playhouse artist LoSoul.
Throughout the past decade France's Anthony Georges Patrice has been steadily unveiling his productions on the likes of Berlin's Lossless, Ghetto Rhythms Records and of course his own Ausblick where he returns here, all the while honing his skills as a DJ through regular appearances on his adopted home turf of Berlin and further afield to Amsterdam, Paris and beyond.
Here, Anthony makes awelcome return to Ausblick with a new 12" release and leading the way is on the a-side is the original mix of ‘X5NRG’, a DJ tool like clubcut fuelled by trippy vocal loops, murky atmospherics, a throbbing bass groove and resonant synth sweeps all underpinned by a crisp4/4 rhythm.
On the flip-side Germany's groove maestro LoSoul flips the original with his own unique twist, laying down a near twelveminutes of subtly unfurlinghypnotisminhis signature fashion. Fragments of the originals atmospherics and vocals are dubbed out while LoSoul's raw, skippy rhythmic style and unfaltering drive keeps listeners locked in
throughout.
- A1: Papermusic Issue One - Downtime
- A2: Louie Balo – Don’t Shut Me Out
- A3: Kgb – Detroit 909
- B1: Jovonn Feat. Krystine – Better Love
- B2: Wam Kidz – In Love Again
- C1: Kings Of Tomorrow Feat. Sean Grant – I Hear My Calling (Vocal Mix)
- C2: Free Energy - Happiness
- D1: Omegaman – Into The A.m
- D2: Presence – How To Live (2022 Remaster)
The next issue in the on-going Mastermix series features a centerpiece of Frankfurt’s club history: Wild Pitch Club.
A predecessor to the esteemed Robert Johnson and a stepping stone for Panorama Bar’s very own nd_baumecker.
Founded by Playhouse masterminds Ata and the late Heiko M/S/O it was a Thursday club night that heavily featured house music as a prescription to the ongoing techno fever. Enamored with the US-American roots of it and all things deep, it not only presented the right records, but also their creators and protagonists. With a string of guest DJs from Robert Hood and Claude Young to Kerri Chandler and Theo Parrish as well as talent from the UK and Europe, it was one of the culture’s hubs at the time.
Here you have its testimony. Selected and mixed by Ata and nd_baumecker, it’s an authentic snapshot of the club’s vibe and spirit, spread over two 2x12” volumes, a collectable tape (download included) and a pleasant streaming version, it’s the full dosage. Like Roach Motel confessed: Wild Pitch, I love you.
The next issue in the on-going Mastermix series features a centerpiece of Frankfurt’s club history: Wild Pitch Club.
A predecessor to the esteemed Robert Johnson and a stepping stone for Panorama Bar’s very own nd_baumecker.
Founded by Playhouse masterminds Ata and the late Heiko M/S/O it was a Thursday club night that heavily featured house music as a prescription to the ongoing techno fever. Enamored with the US-American roots of it and all things deep, it not only presented the right records, but also their creators and protagonists. With a string of guest DJs from Robert Hood and Claude Young to Kerri Chandler and Theo Parrish as well as talent from the UK and Europe, it was one of the culture’s hubs at the time.
Here you have its testimony. Selected and mixed by Ata and nd_baumecker, it’s an authentic snapshot of the club’s vibe and spirit, spread over two 2x12” volumes, a collectable tape (download included) and a pleasant streaming version, it’s the full dosage. Like Roach Motel confessed: Wild Pitch, I love you.
- A1: J C.'s State Fair
- A2: A Finite Sequence Of Defined Computer Implementable Instructions
- A3: Particular Conditions That Someone Is In A Specific Time In Use To Indicate A Position On A Diagram
- A4: An Informal Contraction Of A Material Universe
- B1: Field I (Infringe Or Go Beyond The Bounds Of A Moral Principle Or Other Established Standard Of Behavior)
- B2: To The Same Extent I Execute
- B3: Field Ii (Infringe Or Go Beyond The Bounds Of A Moral Principle Or Other Established Standard Of Behavior)
- B4: Afta Mi Till Dem Di Soil
- B5: Field Iii (Infringe Or Go Beyond The Bounds Of A Moral Principle Or Other Established Standard Of Behavior)
Night Defined Recordings is proud to welcome Roger 23 for his first solo album in seven years since the widely acclaimed „Thao-N-Y“ on Mensch in 2015. The enigmatic producer, DJ and record digger has released his music via renowned quality labels such as Playhouse, Bio Rhythm, Meakusma and Ilian Tape among others. After appearing on our rapidly sold out first NDVAX compilation, he’s now back at NDR with an album, which showcases the versatile musical interest of the cheerful Saarländer. Self-imposed highest demands on sound quality, complete openness to give place to various musical influences and the experience of many years of a music inhaling individual make ‚Bounds Of A Moral Principle And Established Standard Behavior‘ an album complete in itself
DJ-Support by Madmotormiquel, Schlepp Geist, Bara Bröst, Mario Aureo, David Hasert and more.
After 15 years of Djing, clubbing and promoting including 4 years of FEINES TIER happenings in Cologne the busy crew is finally starting the label of the same title. Before going official with the first catalog number they pressed the SLINGA EP by PHILIPP FEIN & NIELS FREIDEL as a beautiful 3-tracker on vinyl. It contains the original and remixes by MAX MOHR from the Ex-Playhouse camp and bassline operator ALAVI with a slower funky edit.
Sascha Kloeber & Partina Records... a secret hint for superb produced
songs in highest quality with a lots of feelings and musical emotions.
From deep to nice. Be careful with "Nights of the Sun" - it turns into a
surprise by a heavy synthesizer sound.
Limited white colored Vinyl with a special mastering: much more
dynamic and smoother sound than the digital release.
Early support by: Pig&Dan (Cocoon), Max Cooper (Traum), Laurent Garnier, Patrick Kunkel (Cocoon), Tim Green (Get Physical, Cocoon), Microtraum (Traum), Beatamines (Keno), André Kraml (Dirt Crew, Trapez), Homebase (Beatwax, Playhouse), Broombeck (Terminal M), Anderson Noise, Philipp Wolgast (Kompass Musik), Oscar Barila (Bondage Music), Martin Dacar, Turm 3 (Seenplatte) and more
RAWAX proudly welcomes Khan to the artist family! We are very happy to present you this outstanding artist on his own series with new, past and present music. Starting with Khan feat. Julee Cruise - Say Goodbye from 2002 - originally released on iconic Playhouse! Besides the great remixes by LoSoul and Rework, our version features for the first time the unreleased Isolée Mix - highly recommended!
Apollo / R&S are delighted to welcome back The Primitive Painter, aka the duo of Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke for a timely reissue of their 1994 lost classic self-titled album of sonorous IDM.
Growing up in Frankfurt, in the 80s and 90s the duo met at an indie rock club in their home town of Darmstadt, bonding over their shared obsession with the first wave of acid, Chicago house and early Detroit techno as well as their patronage of now iconic Frankfurt club nights like The Omen or Dorian Gray or the infamous Delirium Record shop run by scene stalwarts Ata (Robert Johnson) and Heiko MSO (Playhouse).
Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Dog and Transmat as well as seminal compilations such as Planet E’s Intergalactic Beats and Warp’s Artificial intelligence compilation the duo honed their inventive take on the Detroit techno blueprint under the monicker Acid Jesus, debuting on their freshly minted Klang Elektronik label. The label was started in conjunction with Ata and Heiko after Fluegel & Wuttke (regular patrons of the Delirium store) pressed a demo on them, muttering the immortal line; “Please listen to the tape, we are big Mr. Fingers fans.”
Through the mid ’90s the project flourished giving rise to a classic album and a brace of singles that number amongst the best of the era’s techno, winning them a influential fans most notably Sven Väth, David Holmes and Andrew Weatherall who invited them to play live at one of the legendary Sabresonic parties in London.
Alongside the success of the Acid Jesus project, the duo found great inspiration in outside of the club, including an ambient happening when the KLF came to play Frankfurt; “There were live sheep eating grass on stage while they played at Mark Spoon’s club XS”, as well as cinematic influence from the likes of Jim Jarmush and Wim Wenders. It was however the euphonic IDM grandeur of Apollo Recordings self titled compilation of 1993 that really got their creative juices flowing: “It was a ten track compilation with artists like David Morley, Model 500, Aphex Twin which still sounds so good today,” Jörn enthuses. “ It was really the trigger to go away from the Detroit sound and more towards the big melodies of B12 etc.”
Deciding to make their tribute to this style of music the duo turned out 10 tracks of gauzy, melodious electronica in a white hot fever, one after another over the ensuing months. Settling on a name for the new project they picked ‘The Primitive Painters’ taking inspiration from the band Felt. “We are both children of the C86 movement,” explains Jörn. “this attitude of noisy art school influenced rock like Primal Scream, MBV, The Jesus & Mary Chain really inspired us to take a DIY approach to our music.”
They sent the resulting demo cassette to Renaat at R&S / Apollo. “We really had no expectations,” Jörn explains. “So we were shocked and delighted when we received a fax saying that he wanted to release it”.
The resulting release was bungled by an R&S mix up that attributed the album to the duo’s own Klang Elektronik label which confused both fans and distributors alike, denying the release the critical boost and attention that it so richly deserved. Accordingly the release slipped out without much fanfare, with a chastened Fluegel & Wuttke returning to their Acid Jesus activities which would eventually lead to their blockbusting success as Alter Ego.
Over the ensuing years the reputation of The Primitive Painter album has only grown, with second hand copies (only 500 vinyl were pressed) changing hands for exorbitant amounts on Discogs, leading us to this opportune moment of a richly deserved ‘first’ release on the label for which the project was started, Apollo / R&S.
“This really brings us full circle,” says Jörn. “Apollo / R&S meant and means so much to us as artists and so it was bittersweet to not have the official release - to put that right all these years later feels really good.”
This new vinyl release comes in re-created original gatefold artwork and includes all original 10 tracks (Stoned Soul Picnic was previously on the CD only).
Proudly presenting a new series of Mr Bongo reissues exploring the incredible back catalogue of Sonny Lester’s iconic Groove Merchant record label. First up, the spellbinding funk-fuelled, soul jazz album ‘Simba’, by guitar maestro O'Donel Levy.
Baltimore-born, Levy was already well regarded as one of the best up-and-coming jazz guitarists at the time of Simba’s release. Having toured with George Benson and Jimmy McGriff, as well as featuring on McGriff’s Black Pearl album on Blue Note, he went on to sign with Sonny Lester’s Groove Merchant. Produced by Lester himself and recorded over two back-to-back days of sessions in 1973, Simba features a who's who of ‘70s session players. The album features the legendary studio drummer Steve Gadd, Cecil Bridgewater on Flugelhorn, bass by Tony Levin and arrangements by Manny Albam.
A masterclass in tight yet effortlessly funk-driven rhythms, the tracks showcase these musicians at their zenith. Album opener 'Bad, Bad, Simba' wouldn’t have been out of place on a Lalo Schifrin ‘70s car chase soundtrack. Levy's playing is brilliant, bright and slick, with an infectiously exuberant energy that is complimented perfectly by Gadd's supreme drumming. ‘Playhouse' serves up another vibrant offering, Wah Wah guitars, horns and flutes duelling it out in a fast-paced fashion.
The cinematic thread continues throughout, yet with the tempo taken down a notch. 'Sierra Lonely' and ‘Sad, Sad, Simba’ head into lush ballad territory, with superb arrangements by Albam and beautiful playing by Collins and Bridgewater on Flugelhorn. Here Levy shines without taking any limelight, as the players synergize to a relaxed perfection. ‘Nigerian Knights’ closes the album flawlessly, showcasing once more Levy’s understated yet magnetic flow on the guitar.
Every track on ‘Simba’ is a winner. As with CTI Recordings of the same era, the feel and textures of Sonny Lester's productions have that pre-emptive, hip-hop aesthetic, which later producers would rework and reimagine. This album is expertly balanced, deftly arranged and magically executed, ebbing and flowing with a cool buoyancy that just grooves and grooves.
PHILIPP ROLLER produced his album, "Sommer 97," back in 1996 during his student days in his small home studio. Drawing inspiration from acts like Kraftwerk, Orbital, various artists on Warp Records, and computer game music, Roller crafted a unique sonic experience. Initially released on cassette, the album was unveiled to an intimate audience at Künstlerhaus Stuttgart in February 1997. Following the initial release, Roller had the opportunity to sign with a small British label. Unfortunately, circumstances led to the label's dissolution before the record could see the light of day. Despite efforts to secure a new label, "Sommer 97" remained confined to DAT tapes and hard drives for years. Fast forward to 2020 when Michael Kübler and Daniel Varga (Rework) joined forces to establish EXLOVE Records. Recognizing the album's potential, they decided to bring "Sommer 97" out of obscurity and into the world. Philipp Roller, now residing in Berlin and working as a freelance interface designer for music software, has had an illustrious past creating a lot of music not only on his own but even for fashion shows, art and image films, and contributing ideas to Rework's debut track "Anyway I Know You" on Playhouse. In August 2021, Roller released his first single, "Kiss & Tell / Roller Disco," on Exlove Records. Finally, after a remarkable 26-year journey, Roller's legendary "Sommer 97" tape is set to be released as a double album on vinyl.
After their successfull collaboration with Get Physical Music REWORK returns with another new dancefloor pleasure release called "Sun" and the following Album "Cue It Back". Sinister synth effected stabs and minimal cold female vocal contributions are still part of their iconic sound. REWORKs minimalist beat and pulsing synth-work still captures an internal glamour combined with cold and Jane Birkin type vocal contributions by various female artists. With a sonic template of their earlier Playhouse tracks REWORK shows their love to club music again on their own label exlove records
Berlin based producer and DJ, Fletcher, joins the roster of Anthony Georges Patrices’ Ausblick imprint this December with his ‘Blurred Lines’ EP. The past decade has seen Fletcher steadily unveiling his own distinctive twist on dub techno and micro house with a debut album on Steve O’Sullivan’s Mosaic and further material on the likes of Roger Gerressen’s Irenic, Ohm Series, his own Tact Recordings/Tactics. Here though he drops his new two tracker on the growing Ausblick label, following its recent release from label boss AGP with a remix from Playhouse legend LoSoul. Title-cut ‘Blurred Lines’ leads and see Fletcher lay down a sturdy, shuffled percussive groove at the foundation of the composition while ghostly chimes, swelling subs and modulating synths ebb and flow within its eight-minute duration. ‘What’s It All About’ follows and edges into more mind mending, minimalistic realms with oscillating bass tones, organic percussion and murky atmospherics all intertwined to create a low-slung dance floor focused tool.
Five groups, one mythical studio - documenting the emergence of a generation!
The initial postulate was simple: five groups, one emblematic studio and 24 hours for each to imagine and record two unreleased tracks with one objective - the will to document a French jazz scene in the midst of renewal.
In these last few years, several innovative currents have shaken up the world of jazz and attracted new fans. They have bubbled up from Los Angeles, impregnated with hip-hop culture (Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Thundercat), or from London, tinged with African rhythms (Nubya Garcia, Kokoroko, Ezra Collective). Meanwhile, in France, a new scene is emerging, carrying with it more of a dancefloor-oriented sound influenced by electronic music - an obvious kinship with the French Touch explosion of the late 90s.
Historically, every movement has been assimilated to a certain neighbourhood, to specific clubs where late at night, young guns stayed up to imagine the jazz of tomorrow - the Cotton Club for the jazz of the 20s, Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem for Be-Bop, the Black Hawk in San Francisco for West Coast jazz, Birdland in New York for Hard-Bop or a lot more recently, the Total Refreshment Centre which has been the playing field for the new London scene.
In Paris too, this new sound is associated with actual venues, places which have allowed these groups to form, create a repertoire and forge an aesthetic - Le Baiser Salé for Monsieur Mâlâ, La Gare/Le Gore for Photon, La Pêche in Montreuil for Ishkero, La Petite Halle for Underground Canopy and also le Duc des Lombards and le 38 Riv’ for Alex Monfort; it’s in a live context that this music will always continue to evolve.
Keeping this “live” spirit, with all its spontaneity, was actually the guiding line for the elaboration of this Studio Pigalle compilation. Each take was recorded in the most organic way possible, bringing all the musicians together in the same room to limit post-production alterations before the final cut was assembled, in just one day, by studio in-house sound engineer, Felix Rémy.
A feeling of urgency permeates a record guided by an artistic production taking care to crystalise the essence of this artistically free-range generation whose childhoods were rocked just as much by Bill Evans and Roy Hargrove as by J Dilla and Jeff Mills. One of the two tracks recorded is geared towards the dancefloor, and the other, more cosmic/ambient gives freer rein to individual interpretation.
There were therefore many possible ways of interpreting these guidelines for the five formations which number among the most distinctive on the current French musical landscape, and the occasion, for some, to rummage through their archives! With Transe (Mbappé) and Da Verdere (Vella), Monsieur
Mâlâ present us with two unreleased tracks issued from the very first rehearsals of the quintet reworked especially for this compilation. “Seen the aesthetic range of this group, it all worked out very naturally in the studio”, recounts keyboardist Nicholas Vella “Recording like they did in the sixties with all the channels live and working with small imperfections was a very interesting task, even when it came to the mix, we had to make do with the takes we had... “
“Our group is very recent, and with this session, in just two tracks, we had the opportunity to present the entirety of our musical universe,” says Photons pianist Gauthier Toux. “All too often, we assimilate this fusion between jazz and dance music to computers and post-production modifications. For “Dessine”, we kept the first take, and we must have recorded just three or four for the other track with more of a techno bent. In one day, we understood that we could play our entire repertoire live, from A to Z”.
“When the Komos label offered me this project, it immediately spoke to me”, remembers Alex Monfort “Straight away, I thought of “Since I Met You”, a track with a nine/four time signature which really is reminiscent of a new- soul groove, but with this extra cosmic vibe! I wrote the words to the chorus and Nina Tonji placed her voice on the track, adding her own verses. For “Tonight”, the up-tempo track, I wanted to head off in more of a hybrid direction inspired by Kaytranada or the Black Radio series by Robert Glasper. A cross-over between jazz and hip-hop which really does represent my world, and I also tried to place vocals centre stage (Emcee Agora)”.
“We truly resonated with the way Antoine Rajon imagined this compilation and the recording session”, confide Warren Dongué and Jérémy Tallon from Underground Canopy. “When arriving in this studio we felt as if we had gone backtothe70s! Inkeepingwiththespiritofthisera,heknewhowtoletus keep our spontaneity, without recording in too many takes, and that’s how we like to work”.
“We managed to adhere to the themes of the compilation without changing our instrumentation, we wanted to remain faithful to the sound of Ishkero on these new compositions and take them somewhere else” – says drummer TaoEhrlich -“Withoutaddinganyelectronics.Thesessionwassupervisedin a truly subtle and benevolent manner. From a human perspective, it was also a wonderful experience”.
Whether turned towards hip-hop, ethnic or electronic music, the artists featured on this Studio Pigalle compilation represent the eclecticism of a new generation in the process of writing the first chapters of its history. Open to experimentation, these artists continue to hold high an immutable love for improvisation and creation in the moment... another definition of the word Jazz!
The last decade has seen a seismic shift in how people buy and play music, vinyl has returned to being the dominant physical format with CDs consigned to second fiddle. Things were very different back in 2012 when we compiled and released the eponymous "Cool Runnings" on CD only. The vinyl revival is a belated opportunity to give the band their first long playing record to complement that earlier CD release. Together for a dozen years, Cool Runnings were one of Bristol's longest lasting bands gigging throughout the 1980s, though their failure to gig beyond the West Country meant they were also one of the City's best kept musical secrets. Originally formed in Weston-Super-Mare by Keyboardist Mark Tuck and Guitarist George Condover, they immediately relocated to Bristol and recruited various local musicians including an experienced and talented singer, Winston Minott. Although "Robin Hoods of The Ghetto" was their solitary release, the band regularly recorded material throughout their career and fortunately thanks to the foresight of George and Mark in holding onto various master tapes, Bristol Archive Records were able to release the band's self-titled debut album "Cool Runnings" in 2012. For this vinyl release we've selected eight tracks recorded between 1983 and 1985 at various local studios, and a solitary live track to give an idea of why the band were so popular in person. Although their music leans towards the more mellow end of the market, Lovers Rock, music ideally suited to Winston's soulful voice, the band were more than capable of writing good roots tunes including the excellent "We Must Go Home", "Children of Zion" and "Robin Hoods of The Ghetto". Winston Minott had spent many years touring all over Europe with soul band The Invaders and many songs showcase his vocal talent, but a particular highlight has to be "Playhouse" an alternative recording of which can be found on "The Bristol Reggae Explosion Volume 3". Perhaps proper management would have seen Cool Runnings achieve the success and wider exposure that their combined talents and unique take on reggae undoubtedly deserved. Now thirty years after the members went their separate ways, Bristol Archive Records are pleased to finally release the vinyl album that if things had worked out differently should have appeared in the 1980s
2023 Repress
Bronky Frumu Rehand Despite all the collaborations on last year's Amygdala by Pampa cult leader DJ Koze, there was still one recurring comment from the public: The album still had DJ Koze's trademark stamp all over it. That is why have been taking the proper steps to rectify this problem, offering a remix series, to further disassociate DJ Koze from this otherwise respectable assortment of songs. Here is the second installment. First up is Roman Flügel, co-founder of the legendary label powerhouse Ongaku/Klang/Playhouse, not to mention his more recent releases on Clone and Live At Robert Johnson. We have no idea what kind of app he used, but somehow he transformed the title track 'Amygdala' from a laid-back, wind-chiming electro-pop number into a clock-working tech-house fairy tale. Roman wisely and tastefully retains the original guest spot from Milosh (of the duo Rhye), offering a grittier backdrop for his lulling vocal delivery. Next comes Robag Whrume, who is no stranger to any Pampa fan, having released an album and a mix CD with us, aside from his countless other works. Here he has taken the pleasant puffiness of DJ Koze's 'Nices Wölkchen' and incubated it in a deep house cocoon. The witch-shifted voice of guest singer Apparat is given a new life, hovering amidst a mesmerizing mechanical groove. As always, there's nothing formulaic about Robag's formula as he serves up little moments of magic.
In its main mix, Surprise is a classic early nineties house track that heavily nods towards the Big Apple, house music’s disco roots and the power of swinging drum programming, albeit with meticulous production work and engineering. In short, it sounded and sounds as un-German as Germans can. The Holy Bassline Mix on the other hand is already in the shape of things to come. Carried by a Roland TB-303, sprinkled with trance bits and elegiac pads, its in perfect balance.
Others thought so as well. Heavily supported by David Holmes and Andrew Weatherall, it was the manager of the latter who licensed it to Eye-Q Records UK with the addition of the Fake Jazz Mix and ordered remixes by freshmen Isoleé and Losoul who became pillars of Playhouse. The first known for his idiosyncratic and sculptural ways of creating dance music meets the irresistible funk of his peer and both add spice to the already great menu. Here you have the chance to listen and digest Surprise in all its glory and entirety for the first time. Carefully remastered and processed by Lopazz and packaged by Running Back. Remember the good times and get some more.
- 1: Deep 6 - We’re Going Deep
- 2: Ralph Falcon - Every Now And Then
- 3: Papermusic Issue One - Downtime
- 4: Global Goon – Fin
- 5: Kgb – Detroit 909
- 6: Angel Moraes - The Cure (12" Megamix By Angel Moraes & Tom Moulton)
- 7: Omegaman -Into The A.m
- 8: Da Rebels - House Nation Under A Groove
- 9: Lectroluv - Dream Drums
- 10: Joi Cardwell - Trouble (The Vibe Mix)
- 11: The Afrodizzyact – Strange
- 12: Dewayne 'Powermix' Jensen – Don’t Go
- 13: Louie Balo - Don’t Shut Me Out
- 14: Benji Candelario – Can’t Turn My Back
- 15: Kings Of Tomorrow - Untitled
- 16: Kings Of Tomorrow Feat. Sean Grant - I Hear My Calling (Vocal Mix)
- 17: Iz & Diz - Down 4 U
- 18: Presence – How To Live
- 19: Glenn Vernon – Can’t We All Get Along
- 20: Jovonn Featuring Krystine – Better Love
- 21: Low Key – Try Me Baby (Low Key’s Original Mix)
- 22: Free Energy - Happiness
- 23: Wam Kidz - In Love Again
- 24: Tronic Pulse – Early A.m
Tape
The next issue in the on-going Mastermix series features a centerpiece of Frankfurt’s club history: Wild Pitch Club.
A predecessor to the esteemed Robert Johnson and a stepping stone for Panorama Bar’s very own nd_baumecker.
Founded by Playhouse masterminds Ata and the late Heiko M/S/O it was a Thursday club night that heavily featured house music as a prescription to the ongoing techno fever. Enamored with the US-American roots of it and all things deep, it not only presented the right records, but also their creators and protagonists. With a string of guest DJs from Robert Hood and Claude Young to Kerri Chandler and Theo Parrish as well as talent from the UK and Europe, it was one of the culture’s hubs at the time.
Here you have its testimony. Selected and mixed by Ata and nd_baumecker, it’s an authentic snapshot of the club’s vibe and spirit, spread over a collectable tape (download included) and a pleasant streaming version, it’s the full dosage. Like Roach Motel confessed: Wild Pitch, I love you.
- 1: Mercy Baby - Pleadin
- 2: Willie Nix - Just Can't Stay
- 3: Schoolboy Cleve - She's Gone
- 4: Willie Egans - Wear Your Black Dress
- 5: Lightnin' Hopkins And Ruth (Blues) Ames - Finally Met M
- 6: Otis Spann - It Must Have Been The Devil
- 7: John Lee - Rhythm Rockin' Boogie
- 8: Little Hudson - Im Looking For A Woman
- 9: Donnie Williams - Boogie Chilluns Playhouse
- 10: Ervin Rucker - So Good
- 11: Lonesome Lee - Lonely Travelin
- 12: Willie J. Charles - Feelin' Kind A Lonesome
- 13: Eddie King - Love You Baby
- 14: Jimmie Raney & Slim Slaughter - You Drink Too Much Booz
- 15: Gladys Tyler - Pack Up
- 16: Harmonica 'Blues King' Garris - Blues King Mango
For Dancer Only ist die legendäre Clubnacht von Bill Kealey, dem ebenso trinkfesten wie umtriebigen Sammler und Jäger aus Dublin. Quasi jedes Wochenende ist er mit seinem 7"-Vinylkoffer unterwegs und beglückt die Massen. Da er das schon ein paar Jahrzehnte macht, gehört er zur absoluten Champions League derer, die sich mit Rhythm & Blues der 50er und all seinen Spielarten beschäftigen. Dies ist seine erste Compilation und wir behaupten, dass es eine der Besten ist, die Stag-O-Lee je veröffentlicht hat.
Erstmals auf Vinyl: Das selbstbetitelte Debütalbum (2002) des britischen Singer/Songwriters Matt Hales aka Aqualung von 2002 mit der Hitsingle 'Strange & Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)', die ihn über Nacht berühmt machte und dem Album zu Goldstatus im UK verhalf. Mit der zusätzlichen Bonus-LP 'Live At The Playhouse Theatre'. Dunkelgrünes Doppelvinyl.
- 'Uniting Radiohead-ish British rock and symphonic pop in the masterly mould of Burt Bacharach, the Beatles and the Beach Boys, tenor Hales delivers keenly focused keyboard-based drama that lows away all pretenders trailing in Coldplay’s wake.' - Rolling Stone
- 'What might result if Joe Jackson ever enlisted Radiohead as a backing group.' - Guardian Guide
- 'Slow, intricate songs of longing and love.' - The Independent
- 'A guiltless pleasure.' - Hot Press







































