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GRAMMY-nominated recording artist GloRilla releases her highly anticipated debut album GLORIOUS. The star-studded affair includes features from Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Sexyy Red, Kirk Franklin, Bossman Dlo, Fridayy, T-Pain, Muni Long, and Chandler Moore. The debut studio album comes after Big Glo trailblazed her way through the music industry with infectious hit records and high-profile collaborations that have won fans around the globe, including this year's Hot 100 hits ""Yeah Glo!,"" ""TGIF"" and ""Wanna Be"" featuring Megan Thee Stallion."""

Bringing new life to the electrifying sounds of Peru’s golden era of cumbia, *CHICHA POR FAVOR Vol. 1 is a highly anticipated limited edition vinyl release, featuring 12 rare tracks from the historic El Volcan label, known for its groundbreaking cumbia in the highlands of Cusco, Peru. This curated collection, spanning the 1970s and 80s, delivers listeners an immersive sonic journey into the heart of Peru's tropical music heritage.

For vinyl collectors, cumbia enthusiasts, and aficionados of Latin American musical history, this album is a rare treasure, packaged with an exclusive insert detailing the cultural origins of each track and offering in-depth insights into the socio-musical evolution of Peruvian cumbia. This release is the inaugural volume of CHICHA POR FAVOR, a project aimed at preserving and celebrating the defining sounds of Peruvian tropical music.

The tracks featured in CHICHA POR FAVOR Vol. 1 offer a uniquely authentic perspective on Peruvian cumbia’s intricate layers, capturing the influence of coastal rhythms, Andean folklore, and Amazonian beats, fused with elements of rock and psychedelia. From the driving electric guitars of *Grupo Atlantic*’s “Danza Atlantic” to the lively, Amazonian-infused grooves of *Los Invasores* and *Los Tigres*, the album reflects a diversity of styles that arose during a transformative era in Peru’s music scene. Notably, the release revives the distinctive sound of *El Volcan* a Cusco-based label that became a beacon for cumbia in the Andes and beyond.

Peruvian tropical music emerged in the 1960s as a fusion of traditional Andean sounds with electric guitar-driven interpretations of Afro-Caribbean and American rock influences. The insert, included with each vinyl, presents a well-researched narrative of the genre’s genesis and evolution, from early instrumental adaptations of huayno rhythms to the psychedelic Amazonian sounds that became its signature.

This compilation is not only a celebration of Peru’s cultural legacy but also an educational experience, designed to give listeners a comprehensive understanding of the geographical, cultural, and musical landscapes that shaped this genre.

Rich in melody and instantly classic in feel, Luca dell’Orso debuts on CWPT with an extended EP of lush Italo, sensitively summoned from the Netherlands. Having impressed with previous releases on labels including Bordello A Paligiaria and Red Laser Records, these six tracks demonstrate a delicate approach to his studio, flitting between pop songwriting and analog experimentation.

From the soft fanfare that announces ‘Solitair & Solidair,’ ‘Actors’ establishes a confident groove that gently pushes an Alfa Romeo pedal toward Balearic ecstasy. On the instantaneous lead single ‘Dear Rosie,’ dell’Orso blends the signature palette of the vintage Yamaha-X7 synthesizer with longing vocals from collaborator Jolisa. A paean to a special person from a distant past, ‘Dear Rosie’ is blessed with a wistful melody befitting an Eric Rohmer classic, a musical postcard of a treasured connection. From wistful midsummer memories, dell’Orso easily transports listeners to another season entirely with ‘Winter Scent’, a deep meditation reflecting the artist’s walks in the few hours of available sunlight, thoughts beautifully vocoded beneath a heavy sonic layer.

Out of this lavish gloom blossoms the inevitable sound of spring on the driving, optimistic ‘Love by Association’; an enduring recipe of distinct drums and pitch-shifting synthesis, frozen in time for frenetic Eurodisco dancefloors. On ‘Propaganda’, dell’Orso offers a more forceful take on the same instincts, skipping inner-Schengen borders to simmer via industrially-tinted pleasures as revealed in Dusseldorf, 1984. For a sublime finale, ‘This Time (Things Will Be Different)’ takes to the piano, where Luca dell’Orso finds space to demonstrate the elegant minimalism that easily coexists alongside his timeless energy.

Aphelion Recordings marks its 30th anniversary with the release of a long-awaited EP featuring the iconic track Arrest and remixes by techno legends

Zugzwang's debut EP was released in 1995 on their own Aphelion Recordings, sounding like an instant classic. Four tracks of fully formed ambient techno: deep, immersive and richly textured. Despite being hitherto unknown, this music held its own against the best of its peers: Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, etc. With original copies changing hands for over £250, it is today recognised as an iconic, timeless piece of British electronica. The heart-stoppingly beautiful Euphonic was recently included in arbiters of good taste Ivan Smagghe and Ivan Ivkovic's IDMEMO compilation.

Zugzwang, also working under the aliases Aphelion and Replicant, went on to become electronic cult heroes. They released on Worm Interface and Ambient Soho Records and were featured on the celebrated ALT Frequencies compilation alongside artists like Gescom and Autechre. They were on the cusp of signing a deal with Jeff Mills Axis Recordings, and Tom Middleton once called the family landline to wax lyrical about their work.

Now, 30 years after APH001, Aphelion Recordings is proud to announce APH003. This is both a vital historical document and a forward-looking statement of intent. This new EP revives the legendary Arrest track in its original form, sounding as timeless as it did in 1995. Alongside the original mix, the EP features three killer remixes by some of electronic music's most celebrated figures: Nuron, Voyance (Ben Sims & Nick Dunton), and Mike Golding of B12.

Welcome into the world of scarse music for the ultimate connoisseurs, fine taste beatmakers and holy grails collectors.
You made a step close to The Edge.
From cult Italian soundtrack and 80's iconic anime, English and French library music, to tunes that made Hip Hop iconic anthem, Medline picked 10 compositions to cover, among his favorite crate diggers treasures.

With a 30 years Dj's culture, he unite on vinyl a collection of underground classics.
When other musicians sample, as former beatmaker, he found his fulfillment by playing the entire tracks, as homage to these composers.

In 2018 Solstice has set the corner stone of this unique artwork at the cross road of Jazz, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop worldwide culture.
With The Edge, the out of boundaries producer, placed the level even more higher.
The whole work is incredible, for a man alone, without music theory knowledge but playing flutes, horns, keyboard, guitar and many more instruments... creating in his little home studio the sound of a 70's orchestra.

Challenging and epic:
Epic for covers like A Day In The Life, Beatles cover by Les Demerle, took by Buck Wild for O.C. Time's Up and of course the eponym David Axelrod's The Edge on David McCallum album.

Challenging, for library anthem like Hot Dog, Ghetto or Keep Quiet by Jacky Giordano, sharp and definitely audacious.
Despite the variety of the ten themes, the man's touch is present each time, into the texture, sound taste and balance. Like a chef bringing up to date magical recipes.

The archetypal type of records My Bags loves to release, "The Edge" is built as a crate digger paradise, a timeless record linking past and present into a highly concentrate of divine grooves.

Crucial version of the classic Deniece Williams number! Karen Dixon sings it in a Lovers Rock style. From the Neville King archive and licensed for it’s first ever 7 Inch press. Complete with Instrumental Version on the flip! 40 years of endless play!

Limited Edition White Vinyl

At the forefront of a rising wave of Brazilian artists captivating international audiences, Nyron Higor brings a quiet yet potent sense of wonder to his new self-titled album. Born in Maceió, Higor’s latest work is rooted in the traditions of Northeastern Brazilian music and golden-era MPB. Within the peaceful surroundings of his home, Higor weaves these roots together with global influences and contemporary production techniques, for a uniquely dreamlike vision of hope.

Following the success of his self-released debut Fio de Lâmina—an instrumental record of delicately balanced rhythmic and harmonic patterns, which earned support from tastemakers like Mr. Scruff, Gilles Peterson, and John Gomez—Higor’s new album is a move towards a more expansive, lyrical exploration of transcendence and triumph. As Higor explains, “This album is a test of resistance and a big event in my life as a young Black man from the Northeast and coming from a humble background, financially speaking, its context is political.”

Taking his demos and unfinished tracks to São Paulo, Higor worked alongside friends and collaborators from Brazil’s vibrant contemporary music scene—including fellow Maceioense artists Bruno Berle, Batata Boy, and New York-based Brazilian vocalist Alici Sol—assembling a rich musical landscape and a cutting edge development on the musical world from which he emerges.

For Higor, the process of recording and producing in close collaboration with Berle and Batata Boy allowed him to fully cultivate the emotive power of his compositions. Album opener "Ciranda" sets the tone with a slow frevo rhythm, as wistful trombone melodies and melancholic acoustic guitar harmonies create an atmosphere both intimate and grand. Lead single "São Só Palavras," featuring Alici Sol and Bruno Berle, captures both the lightness and depth of young love in an all too fleeting minute-and-a-half moment of soaring brilliance.

Building upon the instrumental sound of his debut, “Louro Cantador” with its playful organ, birdlike whistles and elegant acoustic guitar, emanates a kind of rare natural beauty, as each sound dances amidst the gentle pulse of Higor's bass—his main instrument.

Through ten carefully crafted tracks, Higor’s acuity for sound and silence draws listeners into a place that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. “Above all, I value making music that brings me genuine satisfaction. I’m always looking for depth in the things I create.”

This album is a testament to the timeless themes that define Higor’s artistry, as well as his creative drive to overcome the obstacles he faces. Conveying his feelings of jubilance for his work, Higor notes, “This work is liberating, contemplative and victorious!” Each track invites the listener to experience the raw intimacy, the joy and longing, and the otherworldly ingenuity of Brazilian music, which seems to endlessly keep us coming back for more.

CREDITS

Ciranda (Nyron Higor)
Tico Lima: Trombone, Nyron Higor: Drums, Bass, Synthesizers, Electric Piano, Guitar, Molho de Jatobá, Ganzá, Caxixi, and Indigenous Whistle

Louro Cantador (Nyron Higor)
Nyron Higor: Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion, and Direct Sound

Demo Love (Nyron Higor)
Nyron Higor: Drums, Bass Synth, Keyboards, and Synthesizers

São Só Palavras feat. Alici, Bruno Berle (Nyron Higor, Batata Boy, Alici Sol, and Bruno Berle)
Alici Sol: Vocals, Bruno Berle: Vocals and Bass, Nyron Higor: Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizers, and Whistles

Estou Pensando Em Você feat. Johanna (João Menezes, Rubens Adati)
Nyron Higor: Vocals, Johanna: Vocals. Bruno Berle: Vocals, Rubens Adati: Piano, Guitar, Programming, Stefan Costilhes: Bass, Batata Boy: Programming

Maravilhamento feat. Nathalia Grilo (Nyron Higor, Nathalia Grilo)
Nathalia Grilo: Vocals, Nyron Higor: Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, and Synthesizers

Som 24 (Nyron Higor)
Nyron Higor: Sampler, Keyboard, Bass Synth, Vocoder, and Steel Guitar

Pizzicato (Nyron Higor)
Nyron Higor: Double Bass and Keyboards

Eu Te Amo (João Menezes)
Nyron Higor: Vocals and Bass, João Menezes: Guitar, Batata Boy: Rhodes Piano, Bruno Berle: Xylophone

Me Vestir De Você feat. Johanna (Paulo Novaes and João Menezes)
Nyron Higor: Vocals, Johanna: Vocals, Bianca Godoi: Drums, Bruno Berle: Bass, Guitar, Percussion, and Rhodes Piano, Batata Boy: Rhodes Piano and Guitar

===================

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 were recorded by Nyron Higor in Maceió

Track 4: Bass and Synthesizers recorded by Ico dos Anjos. Vocals recorded by Batata Boy at Estúdio Rural

Track 5: Guitars, Bass, Programming, and Pianos recorded at Inhame Estúdio. Coproduced by Rubens Adati

Tracks 9 and 10 Recorded and Co produced by Ico dos Anjos

Mixed by Batata Boy, Ico dos Anjos, Bruno Berle, and Nyron Higor

Mastered by Batata Boy

Produced by Batata Boy, Bruno Berle, and Nyron Higor

Lacquer Cut by Caspar Sutton Jones @ Gearbox Records

Cover photo by Claudio Virginio

Vinyl centre label artwork by Tadáskía

Sleeve design by Alessandro Renaldin

**Including 12-page booklet including liner notes and artwork made by Vormlust** Lush house, electronic and italo tracks ready for club use. A beautifully produced album with absolute floor killers and emotional set-enders. FIGI's debut album, "fig.1", is a meticulously crafted compilation of 11 tracks that have been made and woven together over a span of three years. The album delves into the intriguing realm of figures, both in the context of shapes and language, where they possess the unique ability to evoke emotions and connections without being the exact representation of those sentiments. Each track on "fig.1'' originated in moments of creativity, allowing the smallest of ideas to sprout and grow into full musical compositions. Drawing inspiration from the serene landscapes of the Jura in Pays de Gex and the energy of club nights in Amsterdam, Berlin, London and The Hague. Throughout the album, FIGI skillfully captures the essence of pure bliss in some tracks, while others ignite extreme dancefloor excitement. "fig.1" marks an exciting new chapter in FIGI's musical journey, serving as a blueprint for innovative approaches to music creation. It is a demonstration of the artist's dedication to crafting a rich and diverse sonic landscape that resonates deeply with the listener.

Repress 2026

THE WORLD OF HANS ZIMMER - PART II: A NEW DIMENSION ist die mit Spannung erwartete Fortsetzung des Erfolgsalbums The World of Hans Zimmer - A Symphonic Celebration von 2019. Dafür hat Hans Zimmer neue, klangmalerische Orchestersuiten komponiert, die auf vielen weiteren seiner ikonischen Soundtracks basieren. Höhepunkte des über zwei Stunden Musik umfassenden Doppelalbums sind die wie ein Cellokonzert angelegte Suite von No Time to Die, das elegische A Time of Quiet Between the Storms aus Dune II oder die epische Orchestersuite von The Prince of Egypt. Darüber hinaus können sich Fans über eine einzigartige neue Version von The Rock freuen - einem der großen Hans Zimmer Klassiker aus den 90er Jahren. Auf THE WORLD OF HANS ZIMMER - PART II: A NEW DIMENSION versammelt Hans Zimmer ein herausragendes Ensemble von Solist*Innen. Darunter die Sänger*Innen Lebo M, Lisa Gerrard, Gan-ya Ben-gur Akselrod und Nokukhanya Dlamini, der Multi-Holzbläser Pedro Eustache, Bassist Juan García-Herreros, Gitarrist Alexios Anest, Pianistin Eliane Correa, Cellistin Mariko Muranaka, Violinistin Rusanda Panfili sowie die Percussionisten Aleksandra Šuklar, Luis Ribeiro und Lucy Landymore. Diese spielen gemeinsam mit dem Odessa Orchestra & Friends und dem Nairobi Chamber Choir unter der Leitung von Dirigent Gavin Greenaway.Part 1 Man of Steel SuiteDriving (Miss Daisy) SuiteThe Rock SuiteNo Time To Die Suite Interstellar Suite Dune II SuiteThe Prince of Egypt SuiteWonder Woman SuiteSherlock Holmes SuiteInception SuitePart 2The Dark Knight SuiteGladiator SuitePearl Harbor SuiteKung Fu Panda SuitePower of One: Mother AfricaThe Lion King SuitePirates of the Caribbean Suite

2LP 180gm 45 RPM audiophile edition, printed insert, polylined inners, gatefold sleeve, numbered Obi strip. The Alan Parsons Project "Pyramid" is re-issued in a variety of different formats including this 2LP heavyweight, 45 RPM Audiophile edition. The first pressing comes with a numbered Obi-strip. This edition was expertly cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, October 2023 on a customised Neumann VMS 80 lathe at half speed using high-resolution archive transfers taken from the original 1978 mastertapes. As with other The Alan Parsons Project albums, the focus was on very high-quality studio sound production, and they recorded the album at Abbey Road Studios in London. There were a variety of different lead vocalists employed including John Miles, Colin Blunstone, Lenny Zakatek, David Paton, Jack Harris and Dean Ford. Plus, a selection of session musicians such as guitarist Ian Bairnson and drummer Stuart Elliot with arrangements by Andrew Powell.

Fragility, modesty, delicacy... Frànçois’ voice evokes illustrious contemporaries, from Devendra Banhart to Vincent Gallo, whose vocal inflections sometimes echo behind the uniquely French timbre.

Artists like Malik Djoudi with his captivating pop, in-demand jazzman Thomas de Pourquery, and British folk artist Rozi Plain all lend their talents to Âge Fleuve. These three delightful collaborations blend seamlessly into the album’s 10 tracks. But the album’s fluidity is also felt in the flavor of certain compositions, like the upbeat “Où mène la nuit,” a kind of mystical inquiry into the whirlwinds of youth. Then there’s “Aïeul inconnu”, whose apparent melancholy pairs perfectly with its elegant groove. “Adorer”, the duet with Thomas de Pourquery, is an uplifting track that jumps wholeheartedly into the joy of living in the “present moment”.

Âge Fleuve—or rather, a “liquid inspiration”— is built on a heritage of memory. And when one delves into the mystery of this heritage, the answer becomes clear: “We’re here, under this part of the river, further downstream. Everything communicates, everything is in motion.” In other words, an album flowing through the river of our sensory, intimate, and universal heritage.

FOR FANS OF: Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward, bbb (Crosses), The Black Queen, Lady Gaga, Depeche Mode, Ministry
Love, das neue Album des Londoner Industrial-Noise-Pop-Dreigestirns Tayne, ist eine Erkundung von Liebe, Begehren, Konflikten und Angst. Während
einer Phase der Dissoziation geschrieben, dokumentiert Tayne-Mastermind Matt Sutton seine Vorstellungen von Liebe als Konflikt, Opfer und
Kompromiss, wie emotionale Bindung zu Konflikten führt und wie sich die Auswirkungen über Generationen hinweg ausbreiten können. Was kostet
die Liebe? Wie weit sind wir bereit zu gehen, um ihr nachzujagen? „In den meisten Liedern ist definitiv eine besiegte Haltung zu spüren“, sagt Matt.
„Ich war von Intimität eingeschüchtert, hatte Angst davor, verletzlich zu sein und mich zu outen.“ Mit einem wütenden Hybrid aus Metal, Industrial,
Shoegaze und Pop ringt Love mit der klassischen Definition des Wortes und erforscht, wie wir mit den Konflikten umgehen, die bei der Suche danach
entstehen. Matts Gesangsmelodien bilden einen starken Kontrapunkt zu den rasselnden Beats und den Wellen pulsierenden elektronischen Lärms,
die diese zehn Tracks prägen, und schaffen einen kraftvollen Hybrid, der ebenso viele Anleihen beim Art-Pop von Lady Gaga wie bei den akustischen
Angriffen von Nine Inch Nails nimmt. Gewalttätige Synthies kollidieren mit verführerischen Melodien, die den inneren Konflikt im Herzen der Platte
widerspiegeln. „Der Kontrast ist für mich viel interessanter“, erklärt Matt. „Ich liebe immer noch extremen Metal und Heavy-Bands, aber ich denke, es
ist ein bisschen aufregender, wenn man versucht, etwas zu schaffen, das nicht das ist, was alle anderen machen.“

Alien Ant Farm is an American rock band formed in Riverside, California in 1996. Their third album TruAnt was released in 2003 and produced by brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots. The album reached #42 on the Billboard 200 album chart and includes the singles “These Days” and “Glow”.

TruAnt is available on vinyl for the first time and includes a 4page booklet with lyrics

Gathering Volk Soup’s early singles and B-sides, Incompetent Hits is a sordid encapsulation of the band’s early sound. While showing signs of their gradual escape from genre, this compilation pins down the raw energy the band are known for and offers up a mix of instinctive punk naiveté and ambitious bravura.

20th May, 2016 marks forty years to the day that David Bowie's first ever best-of compilation, including songs from 1969 to 1976, CHANGESONEBOWIE was released. To mark this anniversary the album is being reissued on 180g heavyweight vinyl, cd and digital formats. Half of the limited vinyl will be pressed on black vinyl whilst the other half will be pressed on clear vinyl, this will not be mentioned on the sleeve so it will be completely random as to which one you receive.

Blackest Ever Black presents Sleep Heavy, the debut album of broken-hearted, downtempo R&B/street-soul and supremely atmospheric, introspective electronics from Jabu: a trio comprised of vocalist/lyricists Alex Rendall and Jasmine Butt, and producer Amos Childs.The group was born out of Bristol's Young Echo collective: an ecosystem unto itself which has birthed and nurtured a number of other notable soundsystem-rooted projects and artists to date including Kahn & Neek, Sam Kidel, Ishan Sound, Ossia, Asda, chester giles (the title Sleep Heavy comes from a giles poem) and Killing Sound (Childs with Kidel and Vessel).

2019 feiert das Blue-Note-Label seinen 80. Geburtstag. Unter den Aktivitäten des Jahres findet sich
auch eine für Vinyl-Fans besonders interessante: die "Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series".
Man nennt ihn den 'Klangpoeten': Joe Harley, Mitbegründer und Koproduzent des renommierten
amerikanischen Vinyl-Labels und Mail-Orders 'Music Matters'. Zum Jubiläum wurde er jetzt von Blue
Note beauftragt, ausgesuchte Alben für eine exklusiven LP-Edition zusammenstellen. Diese rein
analogen Reissues werden von den originalen Masterbändern von Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) neu
gemastert und bei Record Technology Incorporated (RTI) in 180g-Vinyl gepresst. Die Originalcover
werden als hochwertige, schwere Tip-on-Sleeves faksimiliert. Zu den von Joe Harley handverlesenen
Aufnahmen werden für ihre Aufnahmequalität berühmte Blue-Note-Klassiker, aber auch
herausragende aktuelle Einspielungen gehören.
Die ersten beiden Alben der Serie sind besondere "Blue-Note-Leckerli": Wayne Shorters 'Etcetera'
und Chick Coreas 'Now He Sings, Now He Sobs'.
Ausstattung: 180g-Pressung, neues Remaster von den Analogbändern, keine digitalen
Fertigungsschritte, schwere Tip-on-Hüllen

First Word Records is extremely proud to welcome aboard Takuya Kuroda.

A highly-respected trumpeter born in Kobe, Japan, Takuya is a forward-thinking musician that has developed a unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop music.

After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz & contemporary music at The New School in Union Square; a course he graduated from in the mid-noughties. It was here that Takuya met vocalist José James, with whom he worked on the 'Blackmagic' and 'No Beginning No End' projects.

Following graduation, Takuya established himself further in the NYC jazz scene, performing with the likes of Akoya Afrobeat and in recent years with DJ Premier's BADDER band (also including acclaimed bass player, Brady Watt). Premier said "The BADDER Band project was put together by my manager, and an agent I've known since the beginning of my Gang Starr career. He said, 'What if you put a band together that revolved around a trumpet player from Japan named Takuya Kuroda? He's got a hip-hop perspective and respect in the jazz field…"

Takuya Kuroda is already incredibly prolific, releasing five albums in the past decade and fortifying a solid reputation in the global jazz scene. 2011 saw the release of Takuya's independently-produced debut album, 'Edge', followed by 'Bitter and High' the following year and 'Six Aces' on P-Vine in 2013. Takuya was signed to the legendary Blue Note Records in 2014 for his album 'Rising Son', as well as appearing on their 2019 cover versions project, 'Blue Note Voyage'. He released his 5th album 'Zigzagger' on Concord in 2016, which also featured Antibalas on a reimagining of the Donald Byrd classic 'Think Twice'.

Late Summer 2020, Takuya Kuroda returns with his sixth album 'Fly Moon Die Soon'.

In his words, "this album is about the irony between the greatness of nature and the beautiful obsceneness of humanity. Melodies and grooves fly back and forth from being spiritual to being vulgar."

It took two years to make this album. In 2018, I decided I just couldn't make albums the same way I had been in the past anymore. As a birthday treat to myself, I booked a studio in Brooklyn for two days, with only myself and an engineer, Todd Carder. I brought along some tracks I'd been building at home to see if we could complete them within that time. We began replacing sounds and adding texture, sampling noises from all over the studio; me sipping coffee, hitting a 26" kick drum, speeding up snares. At the end of the two days we were like "wow, I didn't know we could make tracks this good in this way". This is how the process of the full album started. Everything was based on my beats I made at home, inviting musicians in one by one, adding or replacing parts. I was very careful when developing these tracks; just note by note, part by part. I wanted to make the music effectively from a blend of two different recording methods; one very slickly produced part and one very organic part played by live musicians. I remember mixtapes from when I was kid, and wanted to make an album that wasn't just a bunch of flashy singles, trying to catch people's attention in the first 30 seconds, or full of guest features. Instead, I'm essentially just trying to let the grooves breath."

The album consists of nine tracks of excellence. The uptempo jazz-funk of 'ABC' and 'Moody' sit alongside soulful jazz cuts like 'Fade' and 'CHANGE', also featuring Corey King on vocals. The title track is a downtempo groove lead by a heavy Moog bassline, whilst 'Do No Why' contains an infectious piano riff throughout. Aside from Takuya's original compositions, he revisits two classics from Ohio Players ('Sweet Sticky Thing' featuring Alina Engibaryan on vocals) and Herbie Hancock ('Tell Me A Bedtime Story') whilst the album closes with the epic 'TKBK'.

Takuya adds "this special cover was inspired by the Golden Moon I saw during a photoshoot in Death Valley with my homie Hiroyuki Seo".

Takuya Kuroda is a truly unique talent, and this album is a realisation of the evolution of his sound.

'Fly Moon Die Soon' is released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label First Word Records on vinyl & digital in September 2020.

2025 Repress

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With 1995’s Safe + Sound, he scaled new levels of musical magnificence with his signature new age P-Funk/laconic G-Funk. A quintessential, sun-scorched LA album, this is pretty much essential. Typical for mid-90s albums the original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue, complete with “Tanqueray”, the hidden track from the original CD release.

A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues.

By the time of his third album DJ Quik was a household name on the West Coast - California’s premier rapper/producer not named Andre Young. Released on Profile in 1995, Safe + Sound was certified gold. Less reliant on samples and more focused on live instruments, it elevated him from producer to fully-fledged composer. This sound — the quick, winding basslines, tinny high hats, smooth instrumental solos, soulful pipes, and Roger Troutman’s talkbox — defined him. This is an album of full-blown masterpieces. Rich soundscapes and masterfully arranged orchestrations with dense layers of sounds, intricate rhythms, and well-balanced songwriting.

The first track proper, “Get At Me” samples Cameo whilst Quik takes aim at the Judases in his life, the horn-laced chorus providing a triumphant feel. On the horizontal “Diggin’ U Out”, the soulful electric piano of Warryn Campbell lays a relaxed groove for Quik to talk over about one of his favourite topics: sex. Title track “Safe + Sound” chronicles Quik’s formative years over a slick instrumental. The moody bass locks a laidback infectious groove, the hook is catchy and Quik’s delivery is in fine form. On the uber-chilled “Somethin’ 4 Tha Mood”, Quik cooks up a breezy, feel good track of sparkly keyboards, syncopated claps, shuffling hi-hats, woozy synths and a floating two-minute flute solo courtesy of Robert “Fonksta” Bacon. Analysing the highs and lows of an average day in the hood, it echoes Cube’s “It Was a Good Day”.

“It’z Your Fantasy” is a silky smooth soundtrack to Quik’s detailed retelling of a sexcapade with a young lady and whilst “Tha Ho In You” is musically perfect for that midsummer family BBQ, its lyrical content is unsurprisingly decidedly less family-friendly. A real highlight, the infamous “Dollaz + Sense” is one of the most ruthless diss tracks of all time. The brutal lyrics ride a laidback West Coast beat, flipping a sample from Young & Company’s “I Like (What You’re Doing To Me)” as Quik fires lyrical shots at his arch Compton nemesis, MC Eiht. On the loping, hazy “Let You Havit”, Quik is again in gangsta mode, with more bars of barbs aimed at Eiht, rhyming over sun-kissed synthy-rollerskate funk.

Some of the finest tracks on Safe + Sound are those designed to de-stress. The evocative “Summer Breeze” is a classic warm-weather jam, anchored by a twangy funk guitar, breezy string arrangement, and a soulful hook delivered by Dionne Knighton. Quik’s nostalgic lyrics are not far from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”, reminiscing over barbecues at the park, young love, and the brevity of halcyon youth. The relaxed and jazzy “Quik’s Groove III” is another highlight, as bass, guitar, piano and flute combine to create a smooth, soulful instrumental.

The swaggering “Shack Up”-sampling “Sucka Free” features a cameo from Playa Hamm, all funky braggadocio and over much too quikly (pun thoroughly intended). The jazz-flavoured “Keep Tha ‘P’ In It”, again featuring Playa Hamm but this time extending the cameo invitations to Hi-C, 2nd II None and Kam, is pure laidback P-Funk. The deep bass and industrial drums make sure the groove hits hard.

“Tanqueray” was originally a hidden track on the CD version of the album, but it’s too good to hide. This wild party samples Brass Construction’s gigantic “Get Up To Get Down” and soars in its drunk-ebullience. An apt way to close this party-driven set.

This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Safe + Sound was originally pressed as a double, so all that was missing was the CD’s hidden bonus track “Tanqueray”, so we’ve fixed that. The original vinyl release never got a picture sleeve, so we’ve recreated the original’s promo-style silver-sticker and plain black jacket. A subtle cover for a wonderfully unsubtle record.

Repress!

Defected’s vinyl series continues to commit the label’s biggest digital releases to wax, delivering the best house music previously unavailable on vinyl, and this nineteenth edition collates four unmissable releases from 2023’s incredible summer season. Opening the compilation, British house favourite Jansons delivers old skool vibes with ‘Hypnotic’, championed by 90s hip-hop and RnB inspired vocal vocals courtesy of Dope Earth Alien. Next up, LP Giobbi’s long-awaited Defected debut came in the form of ‘Giodisco’, a joyful, vibrant club cut that showcased the live musician and producer’s disco-adjacent sound. On the B-Side, the First Lady of Defected Sam Divine presents her long-awaited dancefloor release ‘Take My Hand’ featuring Josh Barry on vocals. After teasing the track for nearly a year in her live sets, the heavenly house release did not disappoint. Closing out this esteemed collection is the addictive collaboration between Parisian underground favourites and London singer-songwriter Camden Cox, ‘Lady Love’, which dominated the summer season with its undeniable energy and earworm vocal.