Mother Earth is an album by Within Temptation, released in 2023. Mother Earth includes a.o. the following tracks: “Mother Earth”, “Our Farewell”, “Dark Wings”, “In Perfect Harmony” and more. The album is a High Quality, Gatefold Sleeve, Insert heavy metal 2-LP.
Little Dreamer is an album by Peter Green, released in 2023. Little Dreamer includes a.o. the following tracks: “Loser Two Times”, “Momma Don'tcha Cry”, “Born Under A Bad Sign”, “I Could Not Ask For More” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality, Insert blues LP.
Debut album of heavy Colombian salsa by the obscure and short-lived El Clan Antillano. Founded in 1975 by singer Jacky Carazo and radio personality / composer Mike Char and backed by a studio orchestra comprised mostly of Fruko Y Sus Tesos band members. The record has been remastered from the original tapes, with an additional three bonus cuts taken from two rare 45 singles, including the sought after track ‘Alma’. First time reissue. 180g Vinyl.
El Clan Antillano was an obscure, short-lived salsa group started in 1975 by singer Jacky “El Caballo” Carazo, originally from Cartagena, and radio host / song composer Mike Char, from Barranquilla. The band was active only until 1977, with a mere two albums to its name. Carazo and Char, “los amigos costeños” (friends from the Caribbean coastal area) created El Clan Antillano as a fresh start after the previous group Carazo had been the lead singer for, El
Afrocombo, had become inactive.
Char primary passion was music, especially songwriting. One of his skills in this area was adapting foreign songs, often in a different language, rhythm, arrangement or genre, and refashioning the tune in an uptempo Caribbean dance mode as a salsa or cumbia. This formula, as well as his own original compositions, soon brought him success not only with costeño friends like Carazo and Vicentini, but also with Medellín’s Fruko, allowing him to make a name for himself with record labels in that city. It was at this juncture, in 1975, that El Clan Antillano was born. This is their first album and was recorded with local studio musicians. It’s been said that most on the first album were from Fruko Y Sus Tesos (the voice of Joe Arroyo can be heard on coro) as well as others involved with various groups like La Protesta (de Colombia) and Juan Piña’s La Revelación.
The album kicks off with ‘Donde ‘sta? Donde ‘sta?’, a medley of costeño lyrical phrases quoting various popular porros. Gradually changing the vibe, this is followed by Enrique Aguilar’s ‘El baile del
ratón’, a humorous cumbia that changes into a salsa halfway through. As if El Clan Antillano were not entirely confident about featuring purely salsa from the start, the same cumbia/salsa hybrid formula is used in the third piece, a faithfully rendered version of Eddie Palmieri’s ‘Mi cumbia’.
‘Estás equivocada’ rocks hard like the best Venezuelan salsa of the time. ‘Esta mañana’ is a cover version of an obscure bolero from Curaçao’s Erwin Castaneer with Super Combo Castaneer. ‘En la oscuridad’ is an interesting mashup of Puerto Rican bomba and New York style pachanga. ‘El despertar’ is a sunny sounding pop song reinvented as a Nelson y sus Estrellas style salsa/cumbia hybrid with a fantastic ‘montuno’ section.
Up next is a hard salsa jam in the ‘pregón’ (street vendor’s cry) genre, written by Fruko Y Sus Tesos percussionist Álvaro Velásquez (composer of ‘El preso’). The original album track list closes out with a fantastic rendition of Puerto Rican singer/composer Bobby Capó’s classic ‘El negro bembón’ that the world first leaned to love through Cortijo y Su Combo. Three bonus tracks have been added to the album as it was originally very short. Interestingly, there were four songs from two 45 singles cut by the band that were never included on either long play. While the ephemeral El Clan Antillano may not be as well known as the groups it’s related to, namely El Afrocombo and Fruko Y Sus Tesos, it certainly deserves credit as a worthy participant in the historical evolution of salsa colombiana.
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180 AUDIOPHILE VINYL
DELUXE GATEFOLD SLEEVE
INCLUDES 8-PAGE BOOKLET WITH LYRICS
FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM BY LORDI, FEATURING “BITE IT LIKE A BULLDOG”
AVAILABLE ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME
LIMITED EDITION OF 666 INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED COPIES ON SILVER AND
BLACK MARBLED VINYL
Following on from the psychoacoustic concrète of Outside Ludlow / Desert Disco LP (BT075), Sam Dunscombe returns to Black Truffle with Two Forests / Oceanic. Dunscombe has been active in recent years on multiple fronts, including as a key member of the Berlin community of Just Intonation researchers and practitioners; working with composers like Taku Sugimoto, Mary Jane Leach, and Anthony Pateras; and the release of Horatiu Radulescu - Plasmatic Music vol. 1 (the result of many years performance research into the thought and music of this seminal Romanian spectralist). In parallel with these activities, Dunscombe has been deeply involved in research on the role of music in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, prompting these two side long pieces, composed using field recordings and digital synthesis. As Dunscombe explains in the accompanying liner notes, music plays a key role in psychedelic-assisted therapy, yet it is often restricted to stock forms of New Age, ambient and electronica. Taking seriously the potential for spatio-environmental sonic experiences to add to the therapeutic process, these two pieces are intended to suggest how ‘a music-as-environment approach may help to add options to the therapist’s toolbox’. ‘Two Forests’ begins in a central Californian sequoia grove. Bird songs and buzzing insect life are treated with a variety of time-based processing methods (slicing and recombination, primitive granular synthesis, delay, and so on), which strip the field recordings of their linear, documentary character, reframing them in an enchanted web of traces and echoes. Analysing the pitches found in the original recordings, Dunscombe used them to generate a large Just Intonation pitch set. These tones are woven slowly into the field recordings, gradually building in density and complexity until the forest has been transformed into an unreal space of infinite proportions. Emerging from this cosmic expanse in the final minutes of the piece, we find ourselves in the Amazon rainforest outside Manaus, Brazil. As Dunscombe writes, the piece creates ‘a sense of place-gone-strange, of space and time simultaneously expanding and contracting across octaves, miles, and minutes’. On ‘Oceanic’, several recordings of different beaches fade in and out to create a texture both homogenous and constantly shifting in both the rhythm of the waves and each recording's sense of depth and distance. Tones relating in simple ratios to the average rhythm of each beach float over each other, colouring the white noise texture of the field recordings with shifting hues. In both pieces, Dunscombe forgoes the easy consonance that bogs down much contemporary ambient music for a richer harmonic array informed by extended tuning practices and spectralism. The end results suggest a hitherto undreamt-of meeting of Radulescu’s undulating sonic masses and the discreetly processed location recordings of Irv Teibel’s ‘psychologically ultimate’ Environments. Looking beyond the insularity that can afflict experimental music culture, Dunscombe’s work is a moving argument for the healing power of expanded approaches to sound and music. Even outside of a psychedelics-assisted therapy, frequent immersion in Two Forests / Oceanic is almost guaranteed to produce beneficial psychological results.
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mule musiq welcomes british producer jimmy wallace, presenting his debut album “red, yellow, black” - a nine track strong record that partly leaves the dancefloor behind.
since childhood, music has been a strong influence on the 33-year-old artist. his mother, a music teacher, exposed him to classical sounds from an early age.
but it was hearing the electronic tones of the french touch movement, which really ignited his mu-sical journey. a year later he started to dj, acting out his love for four-to-the-floor grooves in local clubs. today you'll find him on the bill with artists like ruf dug, mr scruff, or bradley zero, heating up the dance floors.
as a producer he has already released a handful of stunning eps, including one for sweden’s finest house label studio barnhus, and one for london’s revered rhythm section international imprint.
both feature house tunes with an edge, house tunes with a love for the roots of the genre along-side more reflective, ambient moments. he also runs the label tartan records, where he publishes dancefloor focused white labels.
his music has been championed by titans of the scene such as palms trax, ryan elliott, dj tennis, gilles peterson, dixon, and hunee. axel boman even coined his debut ep as “one of the very best demo emails ever received at label studio barhnus hq”.
an advance praise, that wallace now acknowledges with an album full of deeply crafted music. some tracks lean towards the dancefloor, like the swung sounds of “bubbles”, the hypnotic mael-strom of “good morning”, or the epic, jazzy moments of “labyrinth”.
the theme of nature is evident throughout, with field recordings and environmental sounds he rec-orded on the road, being fused with his own musical ideas.
tracks like “waterfall” and “tokyo street”, draw influence on time spent in asia, whereas "dhq", "by the river", and "by the lake" are inspired by his childhood and hometown in the shropshire country-side. “i’ve been writing ambient and more nature focused material for a few years now without really having a plan for it.
finally, this year after writing the tune “labyrinth” i felt i had a body of work which was both diverse and cohesive enough to bring together on a record. so, the album represents moments of time i have spent in various outdoor spaces around the world, using sound to try and turn these experi-ences into musical format.” wallace discloses.
the result is a mesmerizing long player featuring an evocative, emotional story arc that avoids ste-reotypes and straight party orientated narration. “having written plenty of club music for the past few years, i wanted to show a different side to my sound.
something more intimate, private, experimental which can be listened to away from the party.” he reveals on the meditative, blissful “red, yellow, black” - an album, which has the power to transport listeners to places and spaces new – for inspiration, relaxation, and dancefloor moments off the beaten path
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Experimental rock quintet from Los Angeles for fans of Unwound, Duster, Slint, and Lowercase. Mixed and engineered by Tim Green at Louder Studios (Unwound, Melvins, Jawbreaker). Live appearances with Flenser labelmates, Have a Nice Life, Chat Pile, Midwife, and tour dates planned throughout 2023. Since its formation in 2018 by like-minded Calarts students Alex Kent (guitar, vocals), April Gerloff (bass), and Sylvie Simmons (guitar), as well as the recent addition of Clint Dodson (percussionist), Los Angeles-based quartet Sprain has honed its signature flavor of experimentalism to a razor-fine point. Gradually moving from twisting conventions in its early works of minimalist slowcore to now transcending the confines of genre altogether, Sprain's evolution over the past several years has encouraged the band to embrace a sound true to its muse. With its latest record, The Lamb As Effigy or Three Hundred And Fifty XOXOXOS For A Spark Union With My Darling Divine, the band has translated this intent into an ambitious work that pairs its resplendent scale with uncompromising honesty towards the band's artistic and conceptual essences. The most extraordinary of art isn't created without its fair share of trials, of which Sprain faced numerous during the recording process of The Lamb As Effigy, with the sum and circumstances of them nearly sealing the album's fate in limbo. With obstacles including session reschedulings as a result of a line-up change and a major studio electrical failure at the last possible moment, a mixing process that demanded the organization of several years of material across four separate studios, and the recording of the actual songs pushing the members of Sprain to their own physical limits, there were several times where the band considered scrapping the whole thing altogether. But Sprain persevered, applying the knowledge and willpower derived from those struggles to get The Lamb As Effigy across the finish line. Clocking in at nearly two hours, The Lamb As Effigy resembles an aural parallel to the human experience itself, with all the glorious beauty, crushing brutality, and unexplainable chaos that comes with it intact. Explosions of earth-sundering guitars, angelic keys, swirling strings, and bursts of improvised electronic noise coalesce to weave a visceral yet unique sonic tapestry bearing hints of no-wave, sound collage, 20th-century avant-garde, and free jazz. Spanning bellowing howls, emphatic spoken word, and nuanced croons, Alex Kent's dynamic vocal delivery adds texture to these eight meditations on otherwise immaterial topics and the meaning or the lack thereof they embody.
For fans of Mt. Eerie and Wolves In The Throne Room. Experimental, highly idiosyncratic take on black metal from Oakland California / Olympia Washington two piece. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Nicholas Wilbur (The Microphones, Have A Nice Life, Planning For Burial). Previous releases with on cult DIY label An Out Recordings. 2018 split release with Thou. Ragana is a duo whose members alternate duties on drums, guitar, and vocals to produce some of the most unique and affecting dark music in metal today. The two-piece came together in 2011 in the DIY punk scene of Olympia, WA and are now based in Olympia and Oakland, CA. In their time together so far, Ragana have self-released five albums and teamed up with genre-favourite Thou for a split release in 2018. The following year, Ragana released their heralded We Know That The Heavens Are Empty EP and have quietly been working on new music ever since. The band signed with The Flenser in late 2022 and now present their forthcoming debut album for the label, Desolation's Flower. On Desolation's Flower, Ragana draws upon a number of influences from the flora and fauna of their Pacific Northwest origins to the darkly nostalgic folk of Mt. Eerie and, yes, their Olympian forebears Wolves In The Throne Room, synthesising them into an experimental, highly idiosyncratic take on black metal. Held together by an intense focus on raw emotion and haunting atmospherics, Ragana shifts seamlessly from tender, mesmerising vocal harmonies to piercing, heart-ripping screams and back again, yielding music that is heavy, beautiful and punishing all at once. Written over the past few tumultuous years, Desolation's Flower is the band's most devastating effort to date, containing seven incantations of loss, rage, pain and hope. Expertly engineered by the masterful Nicholas Wilbur at the Unknown Studio in Anacortes, Washington (Planning For Burial, drowse, Divide and Dissolve, Have a Nice Life), the album serves as the culmination of the past decade plus of the band's ethos and execution.
For fans of Mt. Eerie and Wolves In The Throne Room. Experimental, highly idiosyncratic take on black metal from Oakland California / Olympia Washington two piece. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Nicholas Wilbur (The Microphones, Have A Nice Life, Planning For Burial). Previous releases with on cult DIY label An Out Recordings. 2018 split release with Thou. Ragana is a duo whose members alternate duties on drums, guitar, and vocals to produce some of the most unique and affecting dark music in metal today. The two-piece came together in 2011 in the DIY punk scene of Olympia, WA and are now based in Olympia and Oakland, CA. In their time together so far, Ragana have self-released five albums and teamed up with genre-favourite Thou for a split release in 2018. The following year, Ragana released their heralded We Know That The Heavens Are Empty EP and have quietly been working on new music ever since. The band signed with The Flenser in late 2022 and now present their forthcoming debut album for the label, Desolation's Flower. On Desolation's Flower, Ragana draws upon a number of influences from the flora and fauna of their Pacific Northwest origins to the darkly nostalgic folk of Mt. Eerie and, yes, their Olympian forebears Wolves In The Throne Room, synthesising them into an experimental, highly idiosyncratic take on black metal. Held together by an intense focus on raw emotion and haunting atmospherics, Ragana shifts seamlessly from tender, mesmerising vocal harmonies to piercing, heart-ripping screams and back again, yielding music that is heavy, beautiful and punishing all at once. Written over the past few tumultuous years, Desolation's Flower is the band's most devastating effort to date, containing seven incantations of loss, rage, pain and hope. Expertly engineered by the masterful Nicholas Wilbur at the Unknown Studio in Anacortes, Washington (Planning For Burial, drowse, Divide and Dissolve, Have a Nice Life), the album serves as the culmination of the past decade plus of the band's ethos and execution.
Detroit producer Apollo Brown has made a name for himself as one of Hip-Hop’s most legendary new producers while maintaining a golden era sound. His production credits are a who’s who of Hip-hop greats from Danny Brown to Ghostface Killah, Ras Kass to Westside Gunn. Even Chance the Rapper used a pair of Apollo beats on his debut mixtapes. Known for bringing the best out of musicians, Apollo has a knack for making timeless classics. Brooklyn’s Joell Ortiz started on none other than Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label and built a huge buzz in the industry. He’s worked with legends like Just Blaze among others. He then signed to Shady Records as ¼ of the supergroup Slaughterhouse. He’s worked with Hip-Hop titans Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Akon, and Big Daddy Kane. Now the pair of Hip-hop luminaries are celebrating the 5 year anniversary of their first collaborative album on Mello Music Group with a deluxe edition including 2 new songs. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece: Mona Lisa.
Ringo Starr achieved international fame as the drummer for THE BEATLES. Stop and Smell the Roses is a studio album originally released in 1981 which includes contributions from Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood and Stephen Stills. This LP has deluxe packaging that will include an OBI side strip, Single album jacket, printed inner sleeve, original record labels and specialty color vinyl. This is a MUST for all fans/collectors of THE BEATLES.
Step into the captivating world of Melody Fields as they release their transformative albums, "1901" and "1991." With a marbled musical background, these albums are crafted with the precision of a brushstroke by the likes of Pablo Picasso or Gustav Klimt. Each track is carefully composed, drawing inspiration from manic behavior, fixated obsessions, and the pursuit of something greater. Melody Fields explores themes of spirituality, faith, trust, and conviction in various forms, often leading to addiction or madness. During the pandemic, Melody Fields accumulated hours of material, embracing the freedom to experiment with drum machines and synthesizers in one session, and exploring oriental instruments in another. The result is a sonic tapestry that defies conventions and pushes boundaries. The primary album, "1901," can be described as a rock album with psychedelic influences. It features repetitive guitar riffs, distorted soundscapes, and mesmerizing three-part harmony vocals. As they traverse these musical landscapes, Melody Fields is joined by guest musicians from esteemed bands such as Goat and Holy Wave, adding an extra layer of sonic brilliance. The album culminates with the captivating track "Mayday," a haunting composition written by the legendary Klaus Dinger from Neu! In contrast, "1991" is a concept album that evolved from late-night jam sessions, experimental sounds, and danceable music. It presents four remixes, including contributions from Goat and Al Lover, breathing new life into the original composition “Jesus” from “1901”. Notably, "1991" includes the thought-provoking composition "Diary of a Young Man," written by Daniel Treacy from Television Personalities, which invites introspection and reflection. Melody Fields' "1901-1991" presents a sonic journey through time, combining elements of rock, psychedelia, and experimentalism. These albums showcase the band's dedication to musical craftsmanship and their willingness to embrace diverse influences. Prepare to be immersed in their sonic universe, where boundaries are shattered, and creativity knows no limits.
Step into the captivating world of Melody Fields as they release their transformative albums, "1901" and "1991." With a marbled musical background, these albums are crafted with the precision of a brushstroke by the likes of Pablo Picasso or Gustav Klimt. Each track is carefully composed, drawing inspiration from manic behavior, fixated obsessions, and the pursuit of something greater. Melody Fields explores themes of spirituality, faith, trust, and conviction in various forms, often leading to addiction or madness. During the pandemic, Melody Fields accumulated hours of material, embracing the freedom to experiment with drum machines and synthesizers in one session, and exploring oriental instruments in another. The result is a sonic tapestry that defies conventions and pushes boundaries. The primary album, "1901," can be described as a rock album with psychedelic influences. It features repetitive guitar riffs, distorted soundscapes, and mesmerizing three-part harmony vocals. As they traverse these musical landscapes, Melody Fields is joined by guest musicians from esteemed bands such as Goat and Holy Wave, adding an extra layer of sonic brilliance. The album culminates with the captivating track "Mayday," a haunting composition written by the legendary Klaus Dinger from Neu! In contrast, "1991" is a concept album that evolved from late-night jam sessions, experimental sounds, and danceable music. It presents four remixes, including contributions from Goat and Al Lover, breathing new life into the original composition “Jesus” from “1901”. Notably, "1991" includes the thought-provoking composition "Diary of a Young Man," written by Daniel Treacy from Television Personalities, which invites introspection and reflection. Melody Fields' "1901-1991" presents a sonic journey through time, combining elements of rock, psychedelia, and experimentalism. These albums showcase the band's dedication to musical craftsmanship and their willingness to embrace diverse influences. Prepare to be immersed in their sonic universe, where boundaries are shattered, and creativity knows no limits.
In the year 2000, I had gone to the Toad in the Hole basement pub to ask the some members of a local band called the Pets if they could help me record some of my music, in the same way they had recorded their album “Love and War”. In regards to my passion for recording, Love and War remains one of my biggest inspirations of all time. There’s hardly a style of music they don’t try to explore. To my surprise, they had recently lost a member and planned to ask me to start a new band, which we named the Waking Eyes. We spent the next 14 months or so building a sonic landscape in Matt’s parent’s basement in Steinbach, Manitoba. In proper daydream and full-fantasy mode, we prepared for a future vinyl pressing by making the album have seamless song transitions, except for between songs 6 and 7 (or side A and side B). I really never thought this day would come, but I can honestly say it’s a bit of youthful dream come true, and is incredibly rewarding. While I’ve had lots of music pressed to vinyl, never has such a formative part of my songwriting life been etched into that big beautiful disc. - Rusty Robot, The Waking Eyes
“Incident At a Free Festival” is a tribute to the mid-afternoon slots at Deeply Vale, Bickershaw, Krumlin, Weeley, and Plumpton – early 70s festivals that don’t get the column inches afforded the Isle of Wight or Glastonbury Fayre, but which would have been rites of passage for thousands of kids. Bands lower down the bill would have been charged with waking up the gentle hippies and appealing to both the greasy bikers and the girls in knee-high boots who wanted to wiggle their hips. And the best way to do that was with volume, riffs and percussion.
Compiled by the venerated Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne, this is the heavier side of the early 70s they summarised on the acclaimed “English Weather” collection. There’s an air of menace and illicit thrills among tracks by Andwella, Stack Waddy and Leaf Hound (whose “Growers of Mushroom” album is worth well over £1,000). Bigger names include the rabble-rousing Edgar Broughton Band and kings of the festival freakout, Hawkwind. They are represented by their rare version of ‘Ejection’
For every mystical Tyrannosaurus Rex performance there was something like Atomic Rooster’s Tomorrow Night or Curved Air’s Back Street Luv to capture the spirit of the day and stir the loins of festival goers; the tracks on “Incident At a Free Festival” were inspired by both Chicago’s percussive wig-outs and the Pink Fairies’ anarchic spirit. The sounds were heavy and frequently funky, with a definite scent of danger. Their message was clear and simple: clap your hands, stamp your feet, hold on to your mind.
So, put on your wellies in your living room, drop the needle and enjoy...
The studio at 122 West Loveland Avenue was not an unfamiliar space for Steve Okonski, the leader of his eponymous trio Okonski. Ever since the Colemine label set up shop in Loveland, Ohio it has been a host to a number of groups passing through town, including Durand Jones and the Indications who all of this trio's members have connections to. After setting aside some time in winter of 2020, Okonski, trained initially as a classical pianist, invited Michael Isvara "Ish" Montgomery and Aaron Frazer to work on an album that was initially planned to be beat driven and fully composed trio instrumentals. After finishing this first session with some improvisations, a second week was booked in the summer of 2021 to try and capture some more of that spontaneous energy. During this session, the tracks were all improvised and recorded live to a Tascam 388 during several late nights at the Colemine HQ. They were structured to allow the group's collective intuition to fully shape the melodies and arcs of the music. The album opens with Runner Up, where a triumphant yet melancholic melody in the piano leads to a more reserved B-section driven by the drums and bass of Frazer and Montgomery. As you journey through the remainder of the album you are met with a plethora of evoked and explored emotions. The calmness one has walking down a moonlit street after midnight, the connection one has for a person who comes into their world for just a moment or a lifetime, and the nerves and catharsis one feels when starting upon a new, unknown journey. Magnolia closes with Sunday, a track that was recorded late into the night at the close of their first recording session. Without the spontaneity of Sunday, the remainder of Magnolia would likely have never come to fruition. Magnolia was composed from the heart and from the spirit of those in the studio those late nights in Loveland. It is the culmination of an emotional and artistic release that was not afforded or recognized before the band sat at their instruments, and because of that it is introspective, meditative, spiritual, and new.
- 20-track collection includes Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band covering Sixto Rodriguez, Iggy Pop & Zig Zags performing a Betty Davis classic, Ethan & Maya Hawke interpreting Willie Nelson, and Angel Olsen paying homage to Karen Dalton - Double LP pressed on special limited edition color wax - Featuring new cover art by renowned British artist Sophy Hollington - Booklet with track-by-track notes by Lydia Hyslop // For more than 20 years, acclaimed reissue label Light in the Attic Records has shined a spotlight on some of music's most unique - and often forgotten - voices. But reviving these long-out-of-print recordings is only half of the process. "We believe that an essential component of archival work, aside from simply honoring the music, is to seek ways in which to bring fresh perspectives, context, and reverence to the original artists and their work," says LITA founder, Matt Sullivan. Thus, LITA's acclaimed cover series was born, in which contemporary acts pay homage to their favorite LITA artists and songs. Spanning more than a decade, 20 of these inspired cover songs will be available together for the very first time on the 2xLP Light in the Attic & Friends. From Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band covering Detroit singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez and Mac DeMarco performing a song by Japanese icon Haruomi Hosono, to Iggy Pop & Zig Zags honoring funk queen Betty Davis, and Ethan & Maya Hawke covering country great Willie Nelson, these performances bridge the gap between generations, languages, and musical traditions.
"Galt MacDermot (1928-2018) was an award-winning Canadian-American composer, pianist, writer of classical music and theatrical pieces. MacDermot also composed music for several film soundtracks (like the 1970 blaxploitation film `Cotton Comes To Harlem') and released several exceptional jazz and funk albums on his own label Kilmarnock Records. He is best known for his work on the Grammy winning 1967 musical Hair (which also produced several number-one singles like "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In") and Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971) for which he won a Tony Award. In 2009 Galt MacDermot was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and in 2010 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1979, MacDermot formed the New Pulse Jazz Band, which performed and recorded his original music. Galt MacDermot's music is extremely popular with collectors of jazz and funk. Working with jazz and soul musicians such as Bernard Purdie and Idris Muhammad, MacDermot created pieces that used African rhythms (he made the study of African music his speciality). In recent decades, his work has become popular with hip-hop musicians including Busta Rhymes, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Gang Starr, Action Bronson, Public Enemy, MF Doom, Madlib, J Dilla, Obie Trice, Naughty By Nature, Run DMC and Digable Planets_the list is endless. The album "Ghetto Suite" was written in 1970 and released in 1972 and is considered one of the most ground-breaking records ever issued on Galt MacDermot's Killmarnock label and consists out of a selection of songs and poems by Harlem/Bronx school children, set to Galt's music, and sung by vocalist Angela Ortega. Given That Galt's handling the music, you can bet that there's plenty of nicely executed funky touches - supported by rolling bass-work, snapping drums, and organ virtuosity. But the real charm of these groovy tunes comes from the lyrics, which have a simple and to the point way of dealing with issues of racism, poverty and other issues of the time. The story telling is surprisingly gripping even after all these years. The whole album creates an extremely personal direct sensitivity to the environment of Ghetto kids_telling us with defiantly honest intensity what it was like to be young and black, the drugs and the deaths, the topic of incarceration_or simply the fact of being battered by the frustration of Ghetto existence. Ghetto Suite is way more than an entertainment record, it has been used by teachers and counsellors to inspire and motivate the muted voices of the black inner cities_ documenting both their anguish and their triumphs. Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the FIRST EVER vinyl reissue of this exceptional conceptual album (originally released in 1972 and a highly sought-after pricey collectable ever since) This unique record now comes as a deluxe 180g vinyl edition (strictly limited to 1000 copies) with obi strip and features the original artwork and extensive sleeve notes.
Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster (born Kansas City, 1909) needs little introduction, Webster is regarded as one of the three foremost swing era tenor saxophonists - the two others being Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. His ballad playing and sound inspired such later fellow saxophonists as Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Webster became famous for his unique sound, quick tempos, his solos that contained great virile rhythmic momentum, a rasping timbre and an almost brutal aggressiveness filled with growl, while his ballad playing was breathy, tender and sensual. The list of his collaborations is long, Ben Webster worked, recorded and played with legends from the likes of Art Tatum, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Roy Eldridge and Dexter Gordon_but a dream came true when he was offered a permanent job in Duke Ellington's orchestra where his personal style matured. Webster stayed with Ellington until 1943, after which he formed his own groups and played with other small ensembles. From 1952 on he spent his time between Los Angeles and New York playing, freelancing and recording with a variety of soloists, among them high-profile singers like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae and Frank Sinatra. Despite excellent reviews of his albums, it was difficult for Webster to find steady work in the US during the early 1960's, and when in 1964 he got offered to play for a month in London he accepted and sailed to England. Webster never returned to the United States. In Europe he found plenty of work, playing residences in Scandinavia, settled in Amsterdam (1966-69) and then in Copenhagen (where he even has a street named after him). He toured frequently, playing in clubs and at big festivals with local bands or with visiting American musicians. Ben Webster suffered a stroke in Amsterdam in September 1973 following a performance in Leiden and died on September 20. Even when his health started to decline during his last years, his playing never did. To the last day Webster played with passion and intensity, delivering weight on every note. Webster is the subject of two renowned documentaries and two extensive biographies have been published about his legacy. Responsible for a plethora of excellent recordings he remains THE best-selling tenor saxophonist in jazz. Ben Webster was one of those unique jazz musicians whose presence came through on every recording (He recorded for prestigious labels including Verve, Impulse!, Prestige, Reprise, Blue Note_and countless others. On the album we are proudly presenting you today (Wayfaring Stranger recorded in 1970 by the NPS Radio network in The Netherlands) you will find mind-blowing high-quality Dutch sessions that were left dormant on a shelf and weren't commercially released for over 30 years! On 'Wayfaring Stranger' the listener is treated to no less than nine sublime tracks that document Webster's trademark relaxed-swinging but imaginative playing style that never gets boring. The album features an all-star line-up from the likes of Rob Langereis (Toots Thielemans), John Engels (Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie) and Cees Slinger (Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton). Expect a 61-year-old Ben Webster in excellent form giving a warm, dusky, gritty yet funky performance where he delivers everything from up-tempo material, 12-bar blues jams to soulful expressive ballads. Webster's quartet is in constant musical dialog with each other, creating a unique back and forth between musicians at the top of their game. Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the FIRST EVER vinyl release of this fantastic album (originally released as a limited Compact Disc edition back in 2000). This unique record comes as a deluxe 180g DOUBLE vinyl edition (strictly limited to 1000 copies) with obi strip.
Released here on vinyl for the first time ever, this collection of rare recordings by Australian rock legends FRATERNITY was unearthed and curated by author and co-manager Victor Marshall from the archives of original band manager Hamish Henry whilst performing research for his book on the band, entitled 'Fraternity: Pub Rock Pioneers' (Brolga Publishing 2021). - Original cover artwork by renown Australian artist Vytas Serelis who also designed the cover artwork for Flaming Galah. - Deluxe package includes gatefold jacket packed with original press clippings and previously unpublished period band photos plus extensive liner notes by original band co-manager Victor Marshall. - Album features legendary AC/DC front man BON SCOTT on lead vocals! His work with FRATERNITY put Scott on the radar of George Young, AC/DC co-producer and older brother of Angus and Malcolm, eventually leading to Scott replacing then-front man Dave Evans in 1974.
'Elephantasia' is a glorious folk opus from 1972, long lost and attaining a legendary reputation for its candour and creativity, from the late Bangor-born singer/songwriter Dave Evans. Finally, the LP sees the light of day again via Earth Recordings, it is a true gem from the vaults of British folk history. For fans of Nick Drake, Bill Fay and Davy Graham - with a touch of Michael Chapman, Bert Jansch and Fahey for good measure. Dave Evans' story is like a Pinter play; he sailed the seas in the merchant navy, was taught guitar in a brief interlude by the "mythical" Morocco John, wound up sharing a room with Steve Tilston in 1963 when they attended Loughborough Art College and ran the local folk club, while learning to make stringed instruments, the art of wine making and ceramics. Over the next year, Dave got a domestic 2-track reel-to-reel tape recorder and experimented with its two speeds to produce the tracks 'Elephantasia' and 'Lady Portia'. He pulled in members of local prog band Squidd, including latter day Hawkwind member Steve Swindells on keyboards, John Merritt on bass and Rodney Matthews on drums, who also designed the 'Elephantasia' album cover, and went on to become a renowned fantasy artist. 'Elephantasia' the album was originally released in 1972, fully exposing Dave's finger picking style, lilting vocal and his dalliance with the tape manipulation. It sold around 2000 copies and over the years became a talked about rarity, deemed too progressive for folk, too folk for the new prog heads. In best plot-thickening style, Dave tried two more releases and then disappeared. The scant sleeve notes recounted the songs' creation, featuring tales of experimentation in sound inspired by elephants, old memories recounted with all of the unpleasant bits edited out, storylines for escapists, the residents of St Agnes Park, broken beauty queens and a fat feline. It's an eclectic but beautifully fluent narrative from a finger picking maestro with a warm and engaging vocal style that wowed Peel and Whispering Bob back in the day. Dave Evans sadly died in April 2021. Earth Recordings is proud to reissue 'Elephantasia' for the first time in over 50 years, in collaboration with his estate and original Village Thing producer Ian A. Anderson. "Cult status guaranteed." Uncut. Classic Black Vinyl, DL card. CD Digisleeve.
Tower Of Power is an album by Tower Of Power, released in 2023. Tower Of Power includes a.o. the following tracks: “What Is Hip?”, “This Time It's Real”, “Clean Slate”, “Just Another Day” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl funk LP.
From Music In High Places is an album by Unwritten Law, released in 2023. From Music In High Places includes a.o. the following tracks: “Before I Go”, “Seein' Red”, “Elva”, “How You Feel” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality, Insert rock LP.
Every Kind Of Light is an album by Posies, released in 2023. Every Kind Of Light includes a.o. the following tracks: “It's Great To Be Here Again!”, “All In A Day's Work”, “Love Comes”, “I Finally Found A Jungle I Like!!!” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality, Insert pop 2-LP.
Much has changed since Trio Grande"s first release in 2020, not least for the band itself: prodigious multi-instrumentalist Nate Wood now joins the indefatigably creative partnership forged in New York City by Gilad Hekselman and Will Vinson. The foundational triumvirate of drums, guitar and alto saxophone remains and even though each member is rated among the most individual and influential practitioners of their own instrument, the unmistakable enduring character of Trio Grande incorporates them all into its own unique identity, continuing to grow and develop at its own pace, to create new possibilities of form and texture, composition and improvisation.
Columbarium are a Belgian (the village of Zwevegem) heavy doom metal band, formed in 2021 but comprised of seasoned members from the regional doom scene over the last ten years.
Having played about a hundred gigs in a former incarnation (as Loose License) in Belgium, The Netherlands and France with bands like The Gates Of Slumber, Nekromant, Marche Funebre, Serpent Venom, FAAL, Famyne and King Hiss, they have built a serious reputation as a live act in the last decade.
The addition of an extra guitar / keyboard player some years ago (Koen Biesbrouck, formerly also from the avantgarde / instrumental rock band Locus Control) has taken the music to another horizon and that newfound sound was the cradle for the band’s rebirth, which led to renaming the band Columbarium.
The four guys found that sound with Belgian producer Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio (Amenra and Aborted) and with Brad Boatright from AudioSiege Mastering Studio (Portland - Monolord and Pig
Destroyer).
Featuring guest vocals from Michelle Nocon (Bathseba / Serpentcult / Of Blood And Mercury).
The LP is pressed on green vinyl.
For fans of Paradise Lost, Winter, Tiamat, Swallow The Sun, My Dying Bride, Opeth, Celtic Frost, Anathema, Cemetary, Katatonia, Autopsy, Candlemass.
Deer Tick’s debut album, ‘War Elephant’, is back (even though it never went anywhere). It is the same stellar album released in 2007 and then reissued by Partisan in 2008. This version of the album finds us returning to the original 2007 illustrated cover. This cover will become the new standard version of the album across all formats. The music and track listing remains the same.
John McCauley III wrote, arranged, played, and recorded the album at the tender age of 21. The album is full of songs wiser and more nuanced than John should have been able to produce according to natural law. The words are deliberate and heartfelt and follow the lead of singer / songwriter heroes of John’s like Townes van Zandt, Neil Young and Richie Valens.
The album concludes with a cover of the 1962 GRAMMY-winning Song Of The Year, ‘What Kind of Fool Am I’, made famous by Sammy Davis, Jr.
It can safely be said that this debut album is a genre defying classic; it’s a hook filled bar room rock album that is as connected to 90’s Seattle catchy gloom as it is to left-of-the-dial late 80’s Minneapolis and 70’s Austin honky tonk.
140g Heavy Metal Grey (gun metal grey) coloured double LP with an etching on side D, housed in a single sleeve jacket with printed insert.
Original release press included reviews from Pitchfork and The Line of Best Fit plus support from Billboard, Brooklyn Vegan, All Music and American Songwriter.
Every Kind Of Light is an album by Posies, released in 2023. Every Kind Of Light includes a.o. the following tracks: “It's Great To Be Here Again!”, “All In A Day's Work”, “Love Comes”, “I Finally Found A Jungle I Like!!!” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality, Insert pop 2-LP.
"Macrodose" is an album recorded in the classic form of Producer & MC, (Antiquant and Prykson Fisk). JuNouMi Records (est. 2002) gives this hip-hop project the highest mark of quality. Real underground rap album including many guests such as Axel Holy and King Kashmere from UK.
Prykson writes about the album as follows: Macrodose is a lyrical "trip report" with a perfect musical accompaniment, a diary of a total life transformation inspired by the power of medicine contained in entheogens.
To emphasize the urban character of the project, we asked the well-known street artist TYBER to create the graphic design of the album, which is ultimately based on a dedicated mural painted in September in Gdańsk.
Mr. Aleksander aka Prykson Fisk aka Fred Flin100NER is 170 kg of live hip-hop. Beat-boxer, MC and DJ, associated with Hip-Hop culture since 2003. Prykson is an experienced psychonaut and owner of the KOMORA REC home studio. Creator and author of over 20 albums and mixtapes. His official debut K02M02 (2020) landed in the respectable 7th place of OLiS... Representative of the MOST BLUNTED team, KOLOKOS - one of the creators and founder of such projects as: Renegaci Funku, Hedora, Prykson Ifs and Dusty Vibez. He played beats in every genre, from dubstep, grime, drum and bass, through rap, to jazz and funk played live with a band. He has conducted countless workshops in the field of hip hop (beat-box, rap) throughout Poland... A fan of good food, underground music, multidimensional visual art and conspiracy theories. An experienced gourmand of life and a well-known local healer.
Antiquant - 24-year-old producer from Zielona Góra. He has collaborated with artists such as Ryfa Ri, Mada, Asthma, Mareceli Bober. With his beats, he tries to drown the listener in an ocean of cosmic sounds. The axis of its production is the artistic achievements of producers such as flying lotus, monte booker and j dilla. In his songs, he does not limit himself to one style, his beats are often a patchwork of various genres of music. In his productions you can hear boom bap drums, trap eight hundred eighth notes and jazz trumpets coexisting in the strangest musical ecosystems. Antiquant appreciates experiments, loves to push his boundaries, look for undiscovered sounds and use effects in ways they shouldn't be used.
An album crammed full of rare & unreleased tracks from the vaults of swell map founder Jowe Head. o Swell Maps formed out of various bedrooms in the mid -70s and became the pioneers of DIY punk. o Swell Maps founding members were Nikki Sudden, Epic Soundtracks, Jowe Head & Phones Sportsman o Includes demo versions of 2 of the bands Singles "Dresden Style" & "Read about Seymour". o Exclusive Liner notes by Jowe Head o Exclusive artwork originally designed by Epic Soundtracks & Jowe Head in 1977 o 2 Lps with printed inner bags in extra wide spine LP sleeve with cover sticker
After almost 25 years a new studio album of the German prog rock legend in original lineup! Agitation Free was one of the leading representatives of German experimental rock
music in the early 1970s. The Berlin band developed long, for that time unusual, free
instrumental improvisations from the end of 1967. They achieved cult status as early as
1972 with an independent mixture of improvised rock paired with electro, ethno, jazz and
trance elements.
Extensive live activities gave the band a steadily increasing level of recognition throughout
Europe. For example, the group performed in the cultural program of the Olympic Games
in Munich in the summer of 1972, toured France for two months in early 1973, performed
at the "German Rock Super Concert" in Frankfurt in May, produced the second album "2nd"
and then went on tour through France and major German cities. In 1974, the band began
to show signs of fatigue, which led to their temporary breakup at the end of the year after
a farewell concert.
Although a number of albums (with recordings from 1972 to 1974) were released after the
group's breakup and the studio album "River of Return" was released in 1999, it took
almost 35 years for the original band to reunite for concerts. In February 2007, Agitation
Free, with the original lineup from 1974, gave a series of concerts at Tokyo's "Shibuya
O'West."
In retrospect, it became clear that the experimental circle Agitation Free was one of the
important bands of the "Berlin School" and furthermore a career springboard for several
German musicians. Christopher Franke, for example, helped the band Tangerine Dream
achieve worldwide recognition. Michael Hoenig worked with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine
Dream before he became known as a film composer in Hollywood after a solo album
(among other things, the film music for the blockbuster "9 1/2 Weeks" with Kim Basinger
and Mickey Rourke). Axel Genrich moved to Guru Guru, Burghard Rausch became a
founding member of Bel Ami. Gustl Lütjens, toured with Shirley Bassey and Nena and later
found a large audience with his new age band Living Mirrors, especially in the USA. Lutz
"Lüül" Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with ex-Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced
solo records in addition to theater music, and has enjoyed success with the 17 Hippies since
the late 1990s.
In the line-up Michael Hoenig (keyb, syn, el. perc), Burghard Rausch (dr, el. per), Lutz GrafUlbrich ((git, acc. git, bj), Gustl Lütjens (git acc. git, vocals) and Daniel Cordes (b, syn) the
new studio album "Momentum" was recorded.
After almost 25 years a new studio album of the German prog rock legend in original lineup! Agitation Free was one of the leading representatives of German experimental rock
music in the early 1970s. The Berlin band developed long, for that time unusual, free
instrumental improvisations from the end of 1967. They achieved cult status as early as
1972 with an independent mixture of improvised rock paired with electro, ethno, jazz and
trance elements.
Extensive live activities gave the band a steadily increasing level of recognition throughout
Europe. For example, the group performed in the cultural program of the Olympic Games
in Munich in the summer of 1972, toured France for two months in early 1973, performed
at the "German Rock Super Concert" in Frankfurt in May, produced the second album "2nd"
and then went on tour through France and major German cities. In 1974, the band began
to show signs of fatigue, which led to their temporary breakup at the end of the year after
a farewell concert.
Although a number of albums (with recordings from 1972 to 1974) were released after the
group's breakup and the studio album "River of Return" was released in 1999, it took
almost 35 years for the original band to reunite for concerts. In February 2007, Agitation
Free, with the original lineup from 1974, gave a series of concerts at Tokyo's "Shibuya
O'West."
In retrospect, it became clear that the experimental circle Agitation Free was one of the
important bands of the "Berlin School" and furthermore a career springboard for several
German musicians. Christopher Franke, for example, helped the band Tangerine Dream
achieve worldwide recognition. Michael Hoenig worked with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine
Dream before he became known as a film composer in Hollywood after a solo album
(among other things, the film music for the blockbuster "9 1/2 Weeks" with Kim Basinger
and Mickey Rourke). Axel Genrich moved to Guru Guru, Burghard Rausch became a
founding member of Bel Ami. Gustl Lütjens, toured with Shirley Bassey and Nena and later
found a large audience with his new age band Living Mirrors, especially in the USA. Lutz
"Lüül" Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with ex-Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced
solo records in addition to theater music, and has enjoyed success with the 17 Hippies since
the late 1990s.
In the line-up Michael Hoenig (keyb, syn, el. perc), Burghard Rausch (dr, el. per), Lutz GrafUlbrich ((git, acc. git, bj), Gustl Lütjens (git acc. git, vocals) and Daniel Cordes (b, syn) the
new studio album "Momentum" was recorded.
On 'Der Ferne', Phil Struck intricately weaves an abstract tapestry of textures, incorporating elements reminiscent of Hassellian-like sounds and multi-textured dubby soundscapes, a testament to the musician's getaways from urban life, journeying in the heart of nature. The music's warm and concise amalgamation of audio fragments lends it an ineffable quality, evoking hazy, sun-drenched memories, while the radiating reminiscences of the natural world invite contemplation of its true essence, remaining captivating for the discerning listener. What enigmatic experiences await discovery, and should the extraordinary always overshadow the ordinary?
„Der Ferne im Nahen. Der Ferne jenseits der Stadt. Der Ferne und den Dingen, die sich einem dort zeigen.“
"Der Ferne" stands as the fourth album by ambient and experimental artist Phil Struck, hailing from Kiel, Germany.
Exclusive Ten Track Compilation Of Mungo Jerry In Original Mono Mix. Includes Previously Unreleased Versions Of All Their Major International Hits. ‘Mighty Man’ - Original PYE Records Test Audition Version. ‘Lady Rose’ - Previously Unreleased Mono Version. ‘Hello Nadine’ - Previously Unreleased Mono Version. ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’ - Unreleased Version Containing The Third Verse Missing From The Original Hit Single. ‘Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black’ - Unreleased Mono Version. ‘You Don’t Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War’ - Acoustic And Harmonica Version. ‘Feels Like I’m In Love’ - Ray Dorset’s Original Demo Of Kelly Marie’s Global #1 Hit.
Limited to 500 copies ww. Independent heavyweights Spearmint return this year to follow-up 2021's highly acclaimed 'Holland Park', with the superb new album 'This Candle Is For You'. Spearmint have been making great records for a couple of decades now: this will be their tenth album proper. Still the same line-up: Shirley Lee (singing, guitar), Simon Calnan (singing, keyboards), James Parsons (guitar, bass) and Ronan Larvor (drums). This album will be the 60th release on their own hitBACK label. Missed out so far? The new album provides the perfect place to start! The dizzying multiverse of an album covers a wide array of themes, including the search for a missing sister, the ways we remember lost loved ones, Prince's encounters with Joni Mitchell, the story of John Gavin, the James Bond star who never got to make a film, late-night drinking in Soho, the joys of B-movies & video nasties, changing attitudes to mental health, the plight and wonder of older cats, the reaction to the death of Sarah Everard, and the afterlife. Re-united with producer Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti), the band feel that this record is their best yet. Singer Shirley explains "We started off just wanting to make an album that would stand alongside our last one 'Holland Park', but it ended up surprising us - we love it!"
Hailing from the Los Angeles underground of the 1980s, Savage Republic forged an astonishing reputation for themselves as art-punk and industrial pioneers with their legendary performances. Their brand of ritualistically tribal exhibitions blurred the boundaries of Post-Punk and Industrial music. Their music incorporates minimialist bass rumbles, exotic and/or militaristic drumming, Arabic melodies, alternate tunings, primal chants and even a bit of surf guitar. Savage Republic released four full length albums in the 1980s, plus several live records and compilation tracks. 1989 everything went quiet as the republic scattered to pursue other interests and their labels and distributors folded. After reuniting in 2002 for a brief U.S. tour supporting the boxed-set reissue of their five studio albums by Mobilization Records, several of the members began sharing ideas for new songs, reviving the band officially in 2005. In 2006/2007 Savage Republic added drum professor Alan Waddington (the Unforgiven) to the line-up and released "1938" on Neurot Recordings, the band"s first studio recording in 18 years. The limited edition "Siam" EP was also released on Neurot Recordings featuring alternate mixes of some of the "1938" material. In 2021 Savage Republic released the album "Meteora" on Gusstaff Records and during the tour promoting this album in January 2023, the band also played a concert in Wroclaw, Poland. It became not only a document of this route, but also a kind of summary of their entire history. The album is released in CD format (the entire concert), as a black LP (over half of the concert) and as a limited red vinyl with an 8-inch vinyl record (lathe-cut) added with a few remaining songs from the concert. Both LP versions were pressed on thick 200g vinyl. Vinyl versions include download codes with the entire concert.
A quietly funky collection that repays repeated play by creating a mesmeric, almost
hypnotic, cocoon to lose yourself in" Echoes
Examining our relationship with the cosmos as well as more intimate liaisons closer
to home; new transatlantic future soul duo Cosmic Link are set to release their
eponymous debut album on 24th November.
The duo consists of Florida based Jay Myztroh and Bristol based producer Ben
Dubuisson, best known for the Hundred Strong project. Citing influences of Erykah
Badu, Prince, Alice Coltrane, Stevie Wonder and Esperanza Spalding; the album
crosses cosmic soul/RnB, low-end weighted hip hop, and conscious jazz. While the
musical vibrations lay down a groove on a sensory level, the lyrics prompt deeper
subconscious thought.
Under a “Cosmic” header, side one of the album starts with ‘Let It Go’, a song about
releasing the things that no longer serve you in your life, before exploring
meditation (‘Quiet Time’), karma, and responsibility in the way you live your life
(‘Metaphysical’).
Side two of the album is grouped with the theme “Link” and as narrative, explores
the evolution of a relationship: ‘Cellphone’ expresses the desire to be close to
someone, ‘Shoot’ is the introduction to the courting stage, and ‘Show U Love’ is a
request to take a step into a committed relationship.
“All of these songs are personal,” says Jay. “They explore either my experiences or are
written to me as understandings to help me navigate this plane of existence. The
personal nature of the music is what makes it universal to all humans”.
The overall theme of the album is summed up in the lyrics of the closing title track,
“Our motion is perpetual/together we move/at the speed of life/ intertwined by our
timelines/which coincide”.
Jay explains, “There is no separating the all from the source. With all living things
being products of the Cosmos, we are forever linked to it. We all share a source, atimeline, a planet, air, a sun etc. We are linked by simply being and doing the things
beings do”.
Introduced by mutual artist friends, the catalyst for their collaboration was the 2017
album 'Black Diamonds' by Jay's previous project Stono Echo, produced by the late,
great Paten Locke. Over the course of a few years they began remotely exchanging
music and lyrics, building a catalogue of finished tracks. During this time, Myztroh
was also completing his Masters degree in choral conducting that focused on
discovering and promoting compositions from the African Diaspora. Run by Ben
Dubuisson, High Noon Music has been based in Bristol since the early 2000s,
releasing records by artists including Ben’s own Hundred Strong, plus Boca 45,
Joseph Malik, Kali Phoenix, One Cut, Mr Fantastic, and Numskullz.
10th anniversary deluxe edition of Mac Miller's second studio album Watching Movies with the Sound Off on heavyweight galaxy vinyl. Includes a bonus 10" zoetrope picture disc with bonus track "The Star Room (OG Version)" and a never before released vinyl exclusive track "The Quest."
With the release of his sophomore album, Pittsburgh native Mac Miller goes up against some of hip-hop's heavyweights to shatter the public perception and prove that he is a talented lyricist.
Miller made a name for himself several years ago with the release of his popular mixtapes , gaining a following from the party-heavy beats and whimsical rhymes. Miller's first album Blue Slide Park debuted on the charts at the number one spot of Billboard's 100 making it the first indie album to snag the number one spot since Tha Dogg Pound's Dogg Food in 1995. Despite the commercial success of BSP, Miller's debut album received mixed reviews and he was lambasted and accused of being one-dimensional. Determined to prove himself as a serious lyricist, Miller's Watching Movies With The Sound Off goes toe to toe with Cole and West. Picking up where his 2012 mixtape Macadelic left off, Miller continues his psychedelic journey through hip-hop with a more serious undertone to his lyrics.
Miller once again pulls double duty and puts on the producer's hat of his alter ego Larry Fisherman. The 21-year-old handles most of the production on the album but he enlists the help of several others including Pharrelll Williams, Diplo, The Alchemist, Clams Casino, Flying Lotus and more. It's clear Miller has grown just as much as a producer as he has as a rapper. Sonically, WMWTSO is a complex and challenging conglomerate of trippy, acid-laced sounds that mesh well with Miller's laidback flow.
WMWTSO may seem like a far leap from his debut album, but with the several projects released in between the two albums, Miller has been on this path for a while. Accomplishing the goal of proving he's more than a flash in a pan and can make more than party hits, Miller's sophomore album WMWTSO holds its own against his colleagues that share the same release date. A must have on vinyl for any fan!