4-time GRAMMY-winning producer Larry Klein, who produced Herbie Hancock’s GRAMMY Album of the Year winning release River: The Joni Letters, has assembled another extraordinary star-studded project with Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen. This heartfelt tribute to Klein’s dear friend, the legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, presents stunning renditions of his profound songs by an impressive and eclectic line-up of guest vocalists including James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, Gregory Porter, Peter Gabriel, Nathaniel Rateliff, David Gray, Sarah McLachlan, and Luciana Souza. The backing band is no less impressive featuring a remarkable quintet of modern jazz talent including guitarist Bill Frisell, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, pianist Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Nate Smith.
Fünf Jahre nach der von 20 Buck Spin veröffentlichten Debüt-EP "Pulsing Dark Absorptions" erheben sich Daeva aus Philadelphia wie lodernde Flammen aus den höllischen Tiefen mit dem lange schwelenden ersten Album "Through Sheer Will And Black Magic...".
Ein feuriger Strudel aus frühem dämonischem Black Metal und zackigem Thrash Metal bildet die Grundlage des Albums, auf dem Daeva ihre Kunst wie glänzend geschmiedeten Stahl perfektioniert haben. Innerhalb dieses Wahnsinns setzt Gitarrist Steve Jansson die mit Maden übersäte Leiche des Death Metal und eine kräftige, tödliche Dosis reinen 80er-Jahre-Metal-Geistes frei. Die Reise durch dieses verbrannte Ödland wird durch die giftig-säurespritzenden Vocals des Sängers Edward Gonet geleitet.
Song für Song, Riff für Riff ist das von Arthur Rizk produzierte "Through Sheer Will And Black Magic" ein unersättlicher und unaufhaltsamer Wirbelwind aus außerweltlichen Genüssen und infernalischem Gemetzel. Wie in einem unerbittlichen Rausch stürmen Daeva die Tore des Himmels und unterwerfen die schwachen Schafen des Lichts in einem ultimativen Triumph der Hölle!
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Fünf Jahre nach der von 20 Buck Spin veröffentlichten Debüt-EP "Pulsing Dark Absorptions" erheben sich Daeva aus Philadelphia wie lodernde Flammen aus den höllischen Tiefen mit dem lange schwelenden ersten Album "Through Sheer Will And Black Magic...".
Ein feuriger Strudel aus frühem dämonischem Black Metal und zackigem Thrash Metal bildet die Grundlage des Albums, auf dem Daeva ihre Kunst wie glänzend geschmiedeten Stahl perfektioniert haben. Innerhalb dieses Wahnsinns setzt Gitarrist Steve Jansson die mit Maden übersäte Leiche des Death Metal und eine kräftige, tödliche Dosis reinen 80er-Jahre-Metal-Geistes frei. Die Reise durch dieses verbrannte Ödland wird durch die giftig-säurespritzenden Vocals des Sängers Edward Gonet geleitet.
Song für Song, Riff für Riff ist das von Arthur Rizk produzierte "Through Sheer Will And Black Magic" ein unersättlicher und unaufhaltsamer Wirbelwind aus außerweltlichen Genüssen und infernalischem Gemetzel. Wie in einem unerbittlichen Rausch stürmen Daeva die Tore des Himmels und unterwerfen die schwachen Schafen des Lichts in einem ultimativen Triumph der Hölle!
Dimi Angelis presents the 11th release on his ANGLS label - four timeless, heavily saturated,and straightforward tools decorated with minimalistic and highly effective sequences.
On the A-side, "Warp Drive" opens with an impactful 909 groove interrupted by a sharp and manic percussive sequence - the energy is driven by the interplay between these elements. "Hidden Spider" offers a driving, polyrhythmic bass line plotted against two psychedelic sequences interlocked in a call-and-response pattern.
On the B-side, "Cyberman" is direct and persistent - FM synthesis and highly focused hi-hats create an insistent and unrelenting rhythm. "Axonite" closes out the EP with a dense low-end and patiently evolving sci-fi-influenced sequences that fluctuate in intensity - effective weapons for any dancefloor.
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Following on from last year’s acclaimed Sylva Sylvarum, the epic double LP from Ora Clementi (her collaborative project with James Rushford), crys cole returns to Black Truffle with Other Meetings. Originally commissioned and released on cassette by Boomkat Editions in 2021, Other Meetings is a major addition to the body of carefully hewn solo work cole has released over the last decade, offering up two side-long suites of her radically intimate approach to sound. After many years dominated by touring and travel, cole found herself in lockdown in her Berlin apartment, working in a limited space with minimal equipment. Digging through archives of recordings taken overseas and exploring the sonic potential hidden in the objects surrounding her (including a coffee pot and a vase of dying flowers), she crafted what in her liner notes she calls ‘an internal dérive, a journey that drifted through many places without a defining compass’. Totalling over 50 minutes, the two pieces unfold at an unhurried pace, each containing four individually titled subsections. Beginning with a sequence of the highly amplified small sounds characteristic of much of cole’s work, the opening moments of ‘The time between two durations of sleep’ are underpinned by a gentle rocking motion, weaving together contact mic crunch, metallic resonance, glimpses of bird song, and isolated drum machine hits, the sonic space expanding and contracting as focus moves between elements. Briefly side-lined by a tactile but unplaceable sizzling, this complex weave of voices then returns in a kind of dubbed-out ‘version’, the percussive accents echoing around the stereo space. In one of the record’s most beautiful and unexpected moments, these sounds are joined by a sparse melodic line performed on a broken 1980s digital synth, the vaguely New Age timbres being taken on a long, tonally ambiguous wander. Cole’s immersion in memories of travel comes to the fore in the final section of the first side, titled ‘Wat Paknam’ after a royal temple in Bangkok, where snatches of voices, ringing bells and distant waves of chanting blur together with synth tones into an increasingly abstracted wave of sound. The second side, ‘Slices of cake’, opens in a similarly hallucinatory outdoor space of echoing bird song and liquified traffic before abruptly zooming in on a microscopic world of subtly processed and highly amplified objects, explored with a starkness and quiet insistence that calls to mind the fringe not-quite-concrète of outsiders like Paul A.R. Timmermans or Knud Viktor, whose obsessive interrogation of dripping water might also serve as a point of reference for the following sub-section, the aptly titled ‘magischer Abfluss’ (magic drain).
While Other Meetings develops many aspects of cole’s previous work – the hyper-magnification of small gestures, the unsettling edits and fades partly inspired by hypnagogic states, the location recordings smeared into oneiric haze – it is almost as if these pieces are somehow songs, the remnants of an evaporated music of which nothing remains except isolated hits from a synthetic drum, a handful of notes, or simply a duration of emptied atmosphere. Radically reductive yet deeply musical, Other Meetings is a major work from an artist driven by an uncompromising and idiosyncratic vision.
Presented with an inner sleeve with photos and liner notes from the composer and remastered audio.
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In a time where electronic music gets harder and faster each day, Berlin-based duo Brigade‘s debut album „Hard Times, Soft Music“ reclaims easy listening as a badge of honour. Being released on 14.10.2022, the record is a meticulously calibrated work of room temperature, a home cooked meal between friends or a warm sonic blanket that tugs you in after a rainy day. Pushing their club roots to the side, Brigade‘s debut album con- dently sits between ambient, house and hip hop. „We took the pandemic as a cue to take a break from dance floor productions and play around with different genres and production styles.“ The rst single „International CommunicationTM“ showcases that breadth and introduces an album pretty much anyone in the post-Shrek cultural landscape could agree on. Basically, if you appreciate a good hug, chances are you‘ll enjoy this LP. Also, there's a pretty cute dog on the cover.
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Line Renaud is on of the most famous french singers and cabaret review leader. Discover or re-discover her duets with Dean Martin "Relax Ay Voo" ! Originals Versions Remastered
'Neon Colonialismo' is the new album -the first under his name since 2014- by musical agitator Batida, aka Pedro Coquenao, one of the main catalysts of the Afro-electronic scene. Carried by a subtle and refined electronic production, the eleven tracks (equally divided between songs and instrumentals), travel through the Portuguese-speaking world, from Portugal to Angola through Cape Verde and Brazil. They feature the presence of many distinguished guests: Mayra Andrade, Branko, DJ Satelite, Poté, Botto Trindade, Bonga, Ikonoklasta, Octa Push, Lia de Itamaracá, DJ Dolores, Joao Morgado, Pedro da Linha & Nástio Mosquito.
On 14 October 2022, wildly creative free-form songwriter Rachael Dadd is to release her brand new studio album 'Kaleidoscope' via Memphis Industries and follows 2019's 'Flux', which was released to much acclaim and which she was touring when the pandemic struck. Like so many people disconnected from their communities and struggling through the lockdowns, Rachael Dadd turned inwards, seeking escape through music and connection through song writing, and her hope is that when people listen to 'Kaleidoscope' "they will feel held and find space to breathe, grieve and celebrate." "This album is a lot more honest and personal than 'Flux'" she shares, "but I feel the songs are universal as they are largely rooted in truth and love. If I had to pick a favourite album it would be this one because of the magical rekindling of human connection when me and my band got back in a room together again. All that magic went into these songs." Co-produced "intuitively, boldly, and playfully" by Rachael and Rob Pemberton (The Staves, Emily Barker, Maja Lena), 'Kaleidoscope' includes musical collaborators such as Maja Lena (Low Chimes), long-time collaborator Emma Gatrill (Willy Mason), Alex Heane (bass), Charlotte West (synths), Alex Garden (strings) and 'Flux' producer Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, James Holden, The Staves), giving the record "just the right colour combination, just the right pattern of shapes, plenty of space where needed and finally landing in a sound world that feels fresh and open and true" reflects Rachael.
On 14 October 2022, wildly creative free-form songwriter Rachael Dadd is to release her brand new studio album 'Kaleidoscope' via Memphis Industries and follows 2019's 'Flux', which was released to much acclaim and which she was touring when the pandemic struck. Like so many people disconnected from their communities and struggling through the lockdowns, Rachael Dadd turned inwards, seeking escape through music and connection through song writing, and her hope is that when people listen to 'Kaleidoscope' "they will feel held and find space to breathe, grieve and celebrate." "This album is a lot more honest and personal than 'Flux'" she shares, "but I feel the songs are universal as they are largely rooted in truth and love. If I had to pick a favourite album it would be this one because of the magical rekindling of human connection when me and my band got back in a room together again. All that magic went into these songs." Co-produced "intuitively, boldly, and playfully" by Rachael and Rob Pemberton (The Staves, Emily Barker, Maja Lena), 'Kaleidoscope' includes musical collaborators such as Maja Lena (Low Chimes), long-time collaborator Emma Gatrill (Willy Mason), Alex Heane (bass), Charlotte West (synths), Alex Garden (strings) and 'Flux' producer Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, James Holden, The Staves), giving the record "just the right colour combination, just the right pattern of shapes, plenty of space where needed and finally landing in a sound world that feels fresh and open and true" reflects Rachael.
South-east Turkey born DJ, sound artist and producer Banu uses music as a political tool. For her, the strong message carried through sound is a vehicle to express emotions as well as a means of fighting against oppression. Using participation, social design, ecology, feminist and queer theory to create multimedia installations with sound as a main element, Banu‘s practice is closer to contemporary art and activist spaces than the club realm.
Banu‘s debut album TransSoundScapes is an exercise in female solidarity between her as a migrant woman and her sisters from the trans community, where an artist from one marginalised group is showing support towards her trans sisters, using her platform to help them amplify their voices and building a bridge towards a mutual understanding of femininity.
Conceptually, TransSoundScapes comes in continuation of Banu‘s previous research-based work, using music as a positive tool for change while working with various marginalised communities. The album originated from the very real experience of being confronted with verbal harassment in Berlin on a daily basis, particularly aimed at her transfeminine friends and companions. As a queer woman of Turkish and Kurdish origin, Banu did not only observe the verbal aggression directed at her friends, but also understood most of the insults shouted in languages such as Arabic. Seeing how she got signifi cantly more verbal violence directed at them when in company of trans people made a lasting impression on her, so she wanted to try and use her relative privilege to amplify transfeminine voices through her music.
Coming from a very conservative family, making music has been her lifelong dream. It was the moment she had the opportunity to work with the iconic Arp 2600 synthesiser (a younger sibling to Eliane Radigue‘s infamous 2500 machine) that all her disparate interests came into place to create an empowering soundscape with the aid of analogue drum machines. TransSoundScapes has a very full, porous sound, where every element that comes into play sounds soft yet clear. Across the 7 tracks, Banu conjures pounding subterraneous bassy techno („Surgery“), slithering tentacular EBM („First Time“) and pulsating cavernous soundscapes („Harem“), where oversized dancefl oor elements are woven with poetic spoken word passages, resulting in sensusous yet political anthems. Banu artfully merges loosely related genres such as techno, electro, dub and sound poems into a sound that is at once deeply personal and extremely compelling.
All of the tracks are collaborative efforts, Banu seeing the process as an exchange of care and shared experiences, while integrating research into her writing process. The lyrics in „Transition (part 1+2)‘‘ are an adaptation of Sara Ahmed’s “Living a Feminist Life”, while „Surgery“ was born out of series of interviews with trans people, channeling the metallic sounds of a surgery room to refer to society‘s perception of transness as a medical condition. Tracks like „First Time feat. Patricia“, „Harem feat. Prince Emrah“ or „We feat. Aérea Negrot“ document her encounters with various trans women, centering their life experiences while also developing a deep dialogue through the process of making music together.
The darkest and perhaps the most emblematic track is ‚‘Bianka (In Memory Of)‘‘, dedicated to the late Bianka Shigurova, a 22-year old Georgian actress found dead in her apartment. It was her Tbilisi photographer friend George Nebriedze who told her Bianka‘s tragic story, whose death is suspected to be an assasination due to transphobia. Banu chose one of Nebriedze‘s analogue photos of Bianka as the album‘s cover art.
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Coming off the back of covers on CRACK and PERFECT Magazine cktrl announces his highly anticipated new EP Zero. The producer and multi-instrumentalist shares his latest blend of contemporary-classical and electronic R&B that features a collaboration with GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter 'Mereba' with artwork captured by multi-award winning Campbell Addy. The follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed EP ‘robyn’ which charted a journey from heartbreak to optimism, ‘zero’ is a tender exploration into love. As a genre-spanning artist whose music waives between R&B, jazz and neo-classical, cktrl’s latest record builds on his emotive sound whilst leaning towards a more electronic-tinged style of production with stunning featured vocals. On the project, cktrl says: "ZERO allowed me to explore my journeys in knowing love. And as a result I now know that I need to allow myself to let my relationships be what they're meant (to manifest organically) free of expectations and without dreams of an idea of someone. Past hurt definitely informed my decisions but it was so crucial for me to grieve those feelings from ROBYN and learn how to be gentle with myself. Just to be able to feel something new, loving again is always different and exciting, once you can open up. ZERO is that journey of ending up back where you started but different, loved and willing to give." The EP opens with the touching ‘mazes’ - initially released back in May via a beautifully crafted video courtesy of Yasser Abubeker. On this cut cktrl’s skills as a saxophonist immediately shine through as he portrays the complexities of loving someone through all its twists and turns. On title track ‘zero’ cktrl links with Ethiopian-American musician Mereba for a forward-thinking yet delicate collaboration that effortlessly meanders between cktrl’s various musical influences, before ‘felt’ provides a luscious display of soulful soundscapes. Accompanied by the angelic vocals from rising artists Anaiis, Annahstasia & Anajah, it’s a blissful celebration of love. The project closes out with ‘safe’, a contemporary R&B banger backed by a bass-driven beat and rich vocals, framing ‘zero’ as a stimulating collection of tracks that expand cktrl’s impressive repertoire of talent.
We are proud to present the official 40-year anniversary issue of Imagination's debut album Shake It. Remastered from original tapes, this deluxe edition is a double vinyl LP with gatefold sleeve, featuring a newly available lyric insert.
Shake It covers a diverse spectrum of styles and sounds, all combining to a unique soulful amalgam that ranges from sunshine AOR funk ("Mornin' Lights") and leftfield disco ("Strawberry Wine") to psychy, epic, downtempo, vocoder grooves ("Can't Stand Without You") and more. Originally released in 1980, it fast became one of Germany's most collectible privately-pressed LPs.
Shake It was the creation of young thoroughbreds working hard on becoming professional musicians, trying to take their next big step in the music business. Starting out as a pure jazz-rock combo in the mid '70s (as we hear on the recently released lost studio tapes, I'm Always Right (The WDR Tapes 1977)) Imagination left behind their instrumental roots, incorporating new musical trends and styles.
Uwe Ziss, their saxophonist and flutist, became one of two lead singers in Imagination. He would be joined by the younger Roger Mork, a student of original guitarist Willi Hövelmann, around 1979. Roger's voice would best be heard on the aforementioned "Mornin' Lights", one of the various standout tracks on Shake It. However, there is much more that this album offers.
There are brilliant soulful soft rock ballads like "Clouds Flee Before The Wind" and "Waitin for your Call" or the catchy "California" song that switches from a dreamy Westcoast sound (as the title implies) to danceable rhythm & blues with equal ease. Last but not least, we have unearthed three unissued bonus cuts. On one, the demo take of "Clouds Flee Before The Wind", we hear, for the first time ever, the original refrain of this song, which, for some strange reason, was taken out from the final mix on Shake It.
When all eight original songs were recorded and mastered in June, at the well-equipped West Aix-La-Chapelle studio, the stage was set for Imagination's long-desired career push. They'd initially press about 2500 copies of Shake It selling it mainly, locally, directly to their hometown fanbase in Düsseldorf. Meanwhile, their manager would attempt to arrange a record deal with a music label. Unfortunately, this became more difficult than expected. Negotiations with a smaller publishing company were made by Imagination, and Shake It was repressed on Nash Records in 1981 without their consent, under the false promises of a nationwide promotional tour which would never come to fruition. At the same time, the group would face a UK band under the same name achieving mainstream success, making it difficult (not to say entirely impossible) to perform as "Imagination". Though the band would remain active after Shake It, they'd split shortly after Nash's duplicitous reissue hit store shelves.
Luckily, through time, Shake It itself has remained worthwhile, creatively, for those who stumbled upon it and financially, too, becoming quite the sought after gem in record collecting circles. This deluxe anniversary double vinyl issue makes the LP available once again at a far more reasonable price, featuring the original, illustrious, eye-catching, Roy Lichtenstein-influenced banana art, as well as previously unavailable press pictures and more.
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Resignieren? Teilnahmslos die Zeiten Aussitzen? Vergiss es…wir haben da etwas Besseres "On the streets, on the streets There'll be riots on the streets…When they take your rights away" Und hier kommt der Soundtrack dazu:: Riot City Radio.Nach ihrer in 2020 veröffentlichten Mini-LP "Anchors in the Storm" haben die Jungs aus Plymouth, UK während der Pandemie ihre Zeit damit verbracht ihren ersten Longplayer "TIME WILL TELL" aufzunehmen! Und die Scheibe ist einfach ein Juwel in Sachen Streepunk/ Oi! geworden und vereint abwechslungsreich die verschiedensten Einflüsse zu melodischen Hymnen mit fetten Singalong-chorals bis hin zu aggressiven Shoutern.Riot City Radio kombinieren Liebe & Hass, Zuversicht und Rebellion in ihren Texten ohne dabei jemals zu vergessen, wo sie herkommen."True Attitude" verpackt in einen mitreißenden Sound oder anders ausgedruckt: Genau DAS, was wir lieben und jede Wette…es wird Euch nicht anders ergehen!.Time will Tell bietet 12 neue Songs…manchmal schnell und wie ein Schlag in die Fresse für Alle, die es einfach verdienen (Reap what you saw/ Never forgive, never forget). Manchmal antisocial mit klarem Bekenntnis zur Szene, ihren Wurzeln und der Working Class (Punk Rock Family / Working Class Anthem/ World at your feet…starring Mark/ Booze & Glory)!
The first progressive girl group of the French Occitan language
pop scene bring you folk funk, sun-baked bossa, Coltrane jazz and
their own brand of punky ‘Dizco Rural’ against an untouched
French Balearic backdrop spanning the late 70s and 80s.
If even the most assiduous of European record collectors consider
the Occitan language music scene to be France’s best-kept secret
then it’s as fair to say that the incredible multifaceted recordings of
langue d’oc prog girl group Lei Chapacans have spent the last four
decades hiding in plain sight. In all fairness this overlooked
treasure chest of minority language excursions into folk funk,
Balearic, bossa, John Coltrane-penned jazz, baroque psych,
Palestinian poetry, comedic synth skits (and even the rawest form
of femme-fronted multilingual punky disco) has been stowed away
in inconspicuous photographic record sleeves, falsely evoking
something closer to contemporary C&W while oft-misplaced in
record shop cassette racks alongside ‘traditional’ spoken-word and
scholastic albums.
So, for the uninitiated, don’t be too hard on yourself. The fun starts
here. For those who are familiar with the rare and sought-after
one-off solo album by Occitan singer Miquela and have craved for
more, then you’ve come to exactly the right place. Lei Chapacans
(a name that roughly translates to The Vagabonds) is the all-girl
vocal group assembled by Miquela herself just two years after her
debut release, having toured the word and snubbed major label
record deal offers with a steadfast allegiance to the protection of
the Occitan language in which this album is primarily penned and
performed (minus a small amount of German and sarcastic
English in one rebellious instance).
For European collectors with a penchant for French savoir faire,
but have further yearnings for folkloric femme funk, then it’s time
to look towards the Occitan sunset where you will meet Lolo,
Miquela, Sophie, Irena and Denise.
These amazing, and undeniably culturally important recordings
might have taken some time to find a wider audience, but for
music lovers, crate diggers and vinyl vultures alike there are still a
lot of tasty morsels out there to be scavenged and devoured, ask
any self-respecting Chapacan and they’ll concur wholeheartedly.
Wildly creative free-form songwriter Rachael Dadd is set to release
her brand new studio album, ‘Kaleidoscope’, via Memphis Industries.
The album follows 2019’s ‘Flux’, which was released to much
acclaim, and was the album she was touring when the pandemic
struck. Like so many people disconnected from their communities and
struggling through the lockdowns, Rachael Dadd turned inwards,
seeking escape through music and connection through songwriting,
and her hope is that when people listen to ‘Kaleidoscope’, “they will
feel held and find space to breathe, grieve and celebrate.”
“This album is a lot more honest and personal than ‘Flux’” she shares,
“but I feel the songs are universal as they are largely rooted in truth
and love. If I had to pick a favourite album it would be this one
because of the magical rekindling of human connection when me and
my band got back in a room together again. All that magic went into
these songs.”
Co-produced “intuitively, boldly, and playfully” by Rachael and Rob
Pemberton (The Staves, Emily Barker, Maja Lena), ‘Kaleidoscope’
includes musical collaborators such as Maja Lena (Low Chimes),
longtime collaborator Emma Gatrill (Willy Mason), Alex Heane (bass),
Charlotte West (synths), Alex Garden (strings) and ‘Flux’ producer
Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, James Holden, The Staves), giving the
record “just the right colour combination, just the right pattern of
shapes, plenty of space where needed and finally landing in a sound
world that feels fresh and open and true,” reflects Rachael.
Japanese aesthetics absorbed from her time spent living there are
subconsciously woven into Rachael’s songs. “I first stepped foot in
Tokyo in 2008, sparked by the adventure of such a rich and different
culture and later on I lived on a small island and experienced an
appealing and balanced way of life: the aesthetics, the art and the
traditions,” she recalls. “There was a lot of caring for each other, a lot
of gentleness, and a lot of simple living in harmony with nature. Japan
left its cultural mark on me and is now part of my inner world and I’m
sure this comes out with the words and music I write.”
“But overall,” Rachael explains, “this is an album of homecoming and
reconnecting to my own truth, to my community here, to the earthy
land that I love and to the sky that I know.”
October Drift embark on their second album campaign after the acclaimed ‘Forever Whatever’ LP and ‘Naked’ EP in 2020. Their most successful single to date ‘Airborne Panic Attack’ was released late 2021. I Don’t Belong Anywhere, is a taut, visceral record, a step forward for the band into an even more powerful, brutal sound following their highly acclaimed debut album forever Whatever 2018. Far less introspective than their debut, I Don’t Belong Anywhere is October Drift’s totem for bringing all of us together again. “A feeling of not belonging is something everyone feels or has felt,” explains Kiran. I Don’t Belong Anywhere features previously released singles including dark grungy‘Insects’, “a coming-of-age song, about feeling life pull you in different directions”, and the biting reflection on the harsh backdrop of 21st Century living airborne Panic Attack’. The album is about connection and one that’s truly from the heart, rich with added layers of meaning it finds the band poised to explode across 2022 with their most thoughtful and exciting record yet.
Since the release of 2020’s acclaimed ‘The Cause of Doubt & a Reason to Have Faith’, London based Lookman Adekunle Salami has been busy working on the eagerly-awaited follow up and today has released the first taste of what’s to come in the form of new single ‘Desperate Times, Mediocre Measures’. After four studio albums and with well over 35 million streams, Salami’s music continues to push genre boundaries and is certainly no stranger to spoken word - ‘Desperate Times, Mediocre Measures’ sees him return to this method as he waxes poetically about the state of power and wealth in the modern world; "Desperate Times, Mediocre Measures" is a song that tackles the idea of the cyclical and corrosive nature of power structures across our societies - Hierarchical Structures that, like all structures in our reality, are made up of, and reinforced by people who find themselves, more often than not, enforcing the very corrupted elements of those structures purely due to the fact that this can become the prime method of propping themselves up.” Very much a shift in a new musical direction, Lookman enlisted the help of renowned string arranger Stephen Bentley-Klein, who has worked with the likes of John Barry and Deep Purple, to provide the lush orchestration which works in perfect tandem with Salami’s thought provoking word play. L.A. Salami’s message is - once again - a highly interesting insight into the pitfalls of today’s society, constantly proving how is he is an artist we should all be paying serious attention to.
Back in 2002, Lacuna Coil released an album which is now undeniably an anthem laden millennial classic that established them as a band with the stamina to go the distance and much of the climbing that still lay ahead back then. Now, 20 years later, Lacunca Coil decided to revisit the songs, but not to just re-record the songs as they were, but deconstruct and transport them into 2022. ‘This is not a reboot or a spin-off or anything like that,’ says vocalist Cristina Scabbia. ‘We just wanted to give these songs a 2022 dress and see how this guy or girl who was born 20 years ago would still look fucking slick in 2022.’
Back in 2002, Lacuna Coil released an album which is now undeniably an anthem laden millennial classic that established them as a band with the stamina to go the distance and much of the climbing that still lay ahead back then. Now, 20 years later, Lacunca Coil decided to revisit the songs, but not to just re-record the songs as they were, but deconstruct and transport them into 2022. ‘This is not a reboot or a spin-off or anything like that,’ says vocalist Cristina Scabbia. ‘We just wanted to give these songs a 2022 dress and see how this guy or girl who was born 20 years ago would still look fucking slick in 2022.’
Trouble’s 2013 comeback album (feat. Kyle Thomas on vocals) is 100% quality Doom/Heavy Metal! Trouble’s last studio offering (from 2013) has proven to be quite extraordinary. After putting out the “Simple Mind Condition” and replacing Eric Wagner with Kory Clarke, Trouble looked like they were to reinvent themselves. After trying out Kory, Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell decided to call Kyle Thomas of Exhorder and Alabama Thunderpussy fame to reprise his role as vocalist for Trouble since he had acted as their vocalist for 4 shows during the late 90’s but had never recorded with them. With Kyle Thomas, Trouble was able to truly reinvent themselves, and in a very positive manner. Obviously the first notable topic of interest is the mentioned Kyle Thomas. As this was the first album to not feature long-time vocalist Eric Wagner (who sadly passed away in 2021). With that said, Kyle does a stellar job. He possesses an incredible vocal range, and delivers his vocals in a powerful way. Many of his vocal melody’s soar over nicely layered chords, and a lot of Kyle’s harmonies mesh nicely with the music. Kyle certainly deserves credit for stepping into the lead vocalist position and delivers a stellar performance. Musically, the album sits between Trouble’s classic doomy metal sound and their psychedelia/rock infused material. Some Trouble fans do not like that era of Trouble too much while others embrace and love it moreover Trouble’s classic releases. “The Distortion Field” manages to effectively mesh Trouble’s classic sound and their psychedelic rock nods in a very balanced way. The song writing is more straightforward as far as arrangements go, and the album is full of powerful riffs; Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell once again prove that they are the undisputed champions of heavy doomy riffing. Their powerful lead work can be heard throughout the album, and as always adds to the Trouble vintage sound. Upon its release in 2013 everybody gave Trouble the credit they deserve, and the album aged really well.
Finnish Disco and Electronic Music from Private Pressings and Unreleased Tapes 1980–1991
Hot on the sold-out heels of the three previous Svart-issued early 80’s synth pop and underground electronic music compilations (Satan in Love, Dance For Your Life, Cold War On The Rocks comes the last part of the quadrilogy: Black Hole, that reaches the final frontier of collectable cult synth disco music: privately released and completely unreleased music from 40 years ago. Black Hole has been again compiled by Mikko Mattlar, whose encyclopedic knowledge in the field of Finnish electronic music produces 20 cuts of electro-cult has helped him dig up 20 cuts of rare groove from obscure regional compilation records, seven inches of which only a test pressing exists, demo tapes and privately financed singles. Stylistically the compilation moves from 1979 disco funk as performed by Peak Funktion on their unreleased record to homebrewed synth visions by late 80’s bedroom wizards. Interesting curiosities among the 20 tracks include the riveting dance number by Jarkko Väljä, who received some fame back in the day as a Michael Jackson impersonator, and released one 7” single, that has become an expensive rarity. Another thing you wouldn’t believe existed at all if it wasn’t included here is “Israel Is Real” by We, a short-lived gospel vocal quartet, accompanied here by a drum machine and a synthesizer, which makes for an unforgettable and surprisingly catchy four minute piece of underground gospel disco from 1983. The compilation Black Hole – Finnish Disco and Electronic Music From Private Pressings and Unreleased Tapes 1979-1991 will be released by Svart Records on double vinyl and CD on October 14th.
CELEBRATING SUN RECORDS - THE LABEL WHERE ROCK 'N' ROLL WAS BORN! The Rock 'n' Roll Collection features 40-songs from the most important record label in the history of music, with everyone newly remastered from the original Sun Records master tapes. A comprehensive introduction to some of the most iconic and influential music ever recorded. These are the list remaining copies of the strictly limited edition pressed on orange vinyl exclusive to UK retailer Sainsbury’s. Elvis Presley introduced the rockabilly sound to the world in 1954 with the recordings he made at Sun Records. These epitomised the famous “Sun sound” and set the scene for the rock ‘n’ roll explosion to follow. This raw and exciting new sound was a remarkable fusion of white country music and black R&B and quickly found an eager audience with the youth of the day. Presley’s extraordinary success at Sun Records led to the tiny Memphis-based label becoming a magnet for aspiring rockabilly singers from all over America’s South. Despite a relatively short heyday, that “Sun sound” has endured the test of time and remains as popular as ever with listeners of all age groups. As well as featuring Elvis and such other household names as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich and Roy Orbison, the gatefold-sleeved double-album also includes significant contributions from the label’s other important artists such as: Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess, The Miller Sisters, Warren Smith, Malcolm Yelvington, Jimmy Wages, and Earl Hooker. Includes such all-time rock ‘n’ roll classics as: Mystery Train, That’s All Right, Blue Suede Shoes, Great Balls Of Fire, I Walk The Line, Yakety Yak, Rock Island Line, Good Rockin’ Tonight, Red Hot, Ooby Dooby, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On …and many more!
CELEBRATING SUN RECORDS - THE LABEL WHERE ROCK 'N' ROLL WAS BORN! The Rock 'n' Roll Collection features 40-songs from the most important record label in the history of music, with everyone newly remastered from the original Sun Records master tapes. A comprehensive introduction to some of the most iconic and influential music ever recorded. These are the list remaining copies of the strictly limited edition pressed on orange vinyl exclusive to UK retailer Sainsbury’s. Elvis Presley introduced the rockabilly sound to the world in 1954 with the recordings he made at Sun Records. These epitomised the famous “Sun sound” and set the scene for the rock ‘n’ roll explosion to follow. This raw and exciting new sound was a remarkable fusion of white country music and black R&B and quickly found an eager audience with the youth of the day. Presley’s extraordinary success at Sun Records led to the tiny Memphis-based label becoming a magnet for aspiring rockabilly singers from all over America’s South. Despite a relatively short heyday, that “Sun sound” has endured the test of time and remains as popular as ever with listeners of all age groups. As well as featuring Elvis and such other household names as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich and Roy Orbison, the gatefold-sleeved double-album also includes significant contributions from the label’s other important artists such as: Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess, The Miller Sisters, Warren Smith, Malcolm Yelvington, Jimmy Wages, and Earl Hooker. Includes such all-time rock ‘n’ roll classics as: Mystery Train, That’s All Right, Blue Suede Shoes, Great Balls Of Fire, I Walk The Line, Yakety Yak, Rock Island Line, Good Rockin’ Tonight, Red Hot, Ooby Dooby, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On …and many more!
TOWNES VAN ZANDT STUDIO SESSIONS FROM 1974 AVAILABLE ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER In 1974, Townes Van Zandt recorded what would have been his seventh album, ‘Seven Come Eleven’. Business issues prevented its release until the recordings surfaced two decades later as ‘The Nashville Sessions’. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Van Zandt’s turbulent musical career and launch of a major catalogue reissue programme, Charly has restored and re-mastered ‘The Nashville Sessions’ to present a stunning document of the folk-blues master at his absolute peak. “These are songs that tap into the timeless myth of the American troubadour, a place where wandering souls tramp the byways of their homeland...” Restored and mastered to vinyl from the original tapes provided by producer and manager Kevin Eggers. Full colour LP sleeve with original Milton Glaser portrait cover. Fully illustrated inner with detailed sleeve notes by Uncut magazine journalist Rob Hughes. Part of Charly’s 50th anniversary programme celebrating the start of Van Zandt’s career. All original Poppy and Tomato albums which Townes Van Zandt recorded at the peak of his career will be newly re- mastered, restored and lavishly repackaged and available on CD & limited edition 180g heavyweight vinyl. The death of Townes Van Zandt in 1997 at age 52 robbed the world of a troubled genius as well as one of America’s finest songwriters. His reputation and popularity has grown greater by the year inspiring books, a documentary and renewed interest from the media, passionately loyal fans and contemporaries such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris who have covered his songs to the upper-reaches of the American charts. “From Neil Young and Willie Nelson, Bono and Bob Dylan (who reportedly once said that Townes was “in some ways the better writer”) to Tindersticks and Mudhoney, songwriters and musicians speak of Townes with reverence.” MOJO MAGAZINE “He was the best songwriter and most riveting solo performer I’ve ever seen.” STEVE EARLE “An effortless masterclass in emotionally effecting Americana”.
Unlearn is the long awaited fourth album of DJ and producer 2econd Class Citizen. It marks the artist's return back to the newly relaunched label Equinox Records. Their previous collaborations achieved high acclaim for their genre bending fusion of hip hop, electronica and folk music.
The new album is an exploration of an artist journeying beyond their conventional confines. It is a musical adventure peppered with vintage samples concerning the perception of reality and our struggles with conforming to a broken society.
Unlearn is the most musically accomplished work of 2econd Class Citizen to date. As one would expect the drum programming, scratching and production is on point. Several tracks feature soothingly melodic and energetic passages of jazz saxophone from Leroy Horns and electric guitar riffs provided by long term collaborator Paul Drury.
2econd Class Citizen, real name Aaron Thomason, resides in Brighton, UK. He is also a painter and visual artist fascinated with abstraction and the chaos of mixing colours. His musical approach on the new LP draws many parallels to this creative process. An original painting from the artist forms the albums striking cover.
Equinox Records is run by DJ Scientist in Germany. The Unlearn project marks the 51st release and provides the perfect launch vehicle for the dormant label to rise again. The vinyl release of Unlearn as well as the single Be Together signify the first stops in a release plan which will please fans of the label.
FEEDBACK:
"Woah! It's sounds rad! Really heavy and cinematic!"
Kid Koala
"A dark and deep dive into a world of dense and diced samples and moody muted melodies. Would sit well next to Shadow's freakier forays into fractured funk. Or Format's last psychy LP, for sure."
DJ Moneyshot of The Allergies
"I love it. The new treatments with the additional instruments sound great, especially the horns. Glad to see that Equinox is back in action. Dope cover art."
Dday One
"It sounds like 2econd Class Citizen has been at a mountaintop retreat studying and meditating and came back with some superpowers."
Buddy Peace
The most beautiful themes of the famous science fiction universe Star Wars created by the American director George Lucas are now gathered in this exclusive vinyl record! First conceived as a cinematic trilogy in 1977, the franchise now counts films, series, novels and other goodies taking place «a long time ago in a galaxy far far away» in which a conflict between Jedi knights and Sith warriors remains.
The award-winning Star Wars soundtrack composed by John Williams and inspired by Wagner’s operas has influenced the greatest film musics. They are performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
OVERVIEW: When an ancient monster that laid waste to planets when the dinosaurs roamed Earth is accidentally released from its underground prison, there's only one kaiju you can count on to defend us all: Mothra! Directed by Okihiro Yoneda with a story by the great GODZILLA creator Tomoyuki Tanaka, REBIRTH OF MOTHRA sees the legendary lepidopteran protect the human race from Belvera, the evil sister of Mothra's twin priestesses. She wants to destroy the world with the superspace demon beast Desghidorah, a three-headed extraterrestrial dragon. But Belvera and her monster aren't counting on the larva of Mothra joining the fight. Enter Mothra Leo! Brought into score REBIRTH OF MOTHRA was Toshiyuki Watanabe, son of the great tokusatsu and anime composer Michiaki Watanabe (YOKAI MONSTERS: 100 MONSTERS, MAZINGER Z), who lived up to his legacy by supplying a bold and thrilling orchestral score. Watanabe's music is full of ethereal beauty, with a fantastic opening title cue replete with a glorious female choir to celebrate Earth's greatest defender and full-blooded brass magnificence as Mothra and son fight against the evil Belvera and Desghidora. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without Yuji Koseki's classic Mothra's Song: Over time, oversea, like a wave - our guardian angel! (Charlie Brigden)
The visionaries at Bethesda, Arkane and Laced are bringing the twisted ’60s soundtrack for award-winning looper-shooter DEATHLOOP to wax.
The complete 59-track soundtrack has been specially mastered for vinyl and will be pressed onto heavyweight discs. These will come in spined inner sleeves housed in a rigid board slipcase. Tracklist curation and stunning original sleeve artwork is by the team at Arkane Lyon.
This Standard Edition quadruple LP box set features traditional black discs.
Lead composer Tom Salta has built an enviable credits list, with entries in the Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy and Halo universes to his name. For DEATHLOOP’s original score, he immersed himself in the music of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Nelson Riddle and a host of other late-’60s influences. Layers of period-appropriate organs, synths and other instruments (including Rhodes, Wurlitzer and Hammond B3) help maintain the tension as Colt picks off Eternalists from the shadows. As things get dicey, or Julianna intervenes with extreme prejudice, tracks explode into furious guitar and drum grooves that propel the zany, supernaturally enhanced gunplay.
Ross Tregenza’s multi-genre diegetic cues perfectly complement the psycho-sophisticate stylings of Blackreef’s artistically aspirational inhabitants, while songwriter Erich Talaba and singer Jeff Cummings brought to life the vicious visionary Frank Spicer with catchy in-universe songs. Music agency Sencit teamed up with powerful yet soulful vocalists for trailer and credits songs, including Bond-ish banger “Déjà Vu” (featuring FJØRA), “Pitch Black” (featuring Lady Blackbird) and “Down the Rabbit Hole” (featuring Samantha Howard & Haqq.)
Erlend Apneseth is one of Norway's foremost Hardanger fiddle players and folk musicians. After being widely recognized with the award-winning and critically acclaimed Erlend Apneseth Trio, he now returns with an acoustic soloalbum. This is the first time since his debut album "Blikkspor" (2013) that he has put the soloistic performance in focus, and this time the unique acoustics in Emmanuel Vigeland's Mausoleum sets the scene for his improvisations and compositions. "The Hardanger fiddle is traditionally a soloistic instrument. For me, one of the most fascinating things about the instrument is its ability to fill a whole room with sound all by itself. Even though I've been working in an electro-acoustic universe the last years, I've never left the acoustic approach to the Hardanger fiddle, and I now felt the time had come to do something all alone again." Even though Apneseth is rooted in traditional music, he has immersed himself in improvisation and alternative sonic-and pizzicato-technics on the Hardanger fiddle, which makes him stand out with his very own musical expression. After incessantly exploring his instrument for many years, this album can be seen as a personal catalogue of the Hardanger fiddle's sonic possibilities. Erlend Apneseth has released eight albums, received numerous awards, among them "Grappas Debutantpris" and "Gammleng-prisen", and no less than five nominations for the Norwegian Grammy's. In 2019 he received the Norwegian Grammy's award in the Open Cathegory for his album "Salika, Molika", with Erlend Apneseth Trio and Frode Haltli. The album also received the NOPA-award and was nominated for the Nordic Music Prize. Apneseth has written commissioned works for Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Fordefestivalen and Ultima, and toured extensively in Europe the past years. Since 2021 he has collaborated with the composer Orjan Matre on new works for Hardanger Fiddle and The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.
The early ’80s were a fertile time for electronic music, as the explosion of relatively affordable synthesizers and drum machines gave creative musicians a new way to express themselves. For Danny Krivit, DJing at the Roxy and soaking in the sonics of the Paradise Garage, it meant an exciting collision of the worlds of dance music and hip hop. For our latest release, Mr. K has pulled out two of his sureshots from that era and given them a tune-up for today’s sound systems.
“Pleasure Boys” by Visage was released in 1982 and epitomized the new wave crossover sound that would be co-opted and expanded on under the Freestyle banner. While the track was conceived with the vocal taking the lead, that vocal was never heard at the Roxy, Krivit’s focus being the thunderous synth bass break that he’d extend to epic proportions using twin copies of the single. It’s this routine that he’s recreated on our featured edit, a bare bones riff that still sounds enormous on a club system.
For the flip, Krivit goes a little deeper with his edit of “Emotional Disguise” by Peter Godwin. Another cut originally released in 1982, Krivit again ditches the overwrought new wave vocal in favor of the atmospheric synth stylings of the instrumental, which he accurately describes as a standout, “played at the Garage and at the Roxy for the hip hop crowd.”
Energetic, atmospheric, and with huge sonic impact, these edits are appearing on 7-inch for the first time.
out of Stock
Last delivered 20 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
This is Midpoint. Tom Chaplin’s third studio album is the first where the musician presents all of himself: as a writer, a singer, a husband, a world-beating artist with a past (and all the ups and downs that come with it) – and as a middle-aged man.
It’s a beautiful collection of songs of reflection and imagination, warmly produced by Ethan Johns (Laura Marling, Paul McCartney), empathetically played by a small group of hand-picked supporting musicians, and recorded in six productive weeks at the end of last year in studios including Peter Gabriel’s Real World in Bath and Paul Epworth’s The Church in North London
Hailing from the UK, Boston Manor are rapidly becoming a global force to be reckoned with. Currently signed with respected label SharpTone Records, they have successfully built a name for themselves with their modern day emotive rock Anthems and DIY work ethic. A mainstay on the likes of SiriusXM’s Octane, BBC Radio 1, Kerrang! TV and MTV, the band has also been in constant circulation with significant coverage from Alt Press, Kerrang!, Rocksound, Upset and Revolver, culminating in their first Kerrang! Magazine front cover in 2020.
Since releasing their debut album “Be Nothing” to widespread acclaim, the band toured the world, including the Vans Warped Tour, nabbing a Kerrang! Award Nomination for “Best British Breakthrough Act”. Accepting invitations to further tour the world with the likes of Good Charlotte, A Day To Remember and Moose Blood, Boston Manor’s follow up album “ Welcome To The Neighborhood” saw the band achieve their first Top 40 UK album chart position and lead single “HALO” achieved Top 10 rotation at Active Rock radio.
In 2021, Boston Manor played the main stage at Download Festival, were direct support to headliners at Reading & Leeds Festivals on the Lock Up stage and headlined their stage at Slam Dunk Festival. They did a full USA tour with fellow UK punk band Neck Deep in the autumn, and will support them again later on in 2022 in Europe. The band also completed their own UK and US headline tours earlier this year and are currently on the festival circuit this Summer.
With the announcement of the new album, Boston Manor continued to go from strength to strength proudly waving the flag for progressive and anthemic British Rock music.
Hailing from the UK, Boston Manor are rapidly becoming a global force to be reckoned with. Currently signed with respected label SharpTone Records, they have successfully built a name for themselves with their modern day emotive rock Anthems and DIY work ethic. A mainstay on the likes of SiriusXM’s Octane, BBC Radio 1, Kerrang! TV and MTV, the band has also been in constant circulation with significant coverage from Alt Press, Kerrang!, Rocksound, Upset and Revolver, culminating in their first Kerrang! Magazine front cover in 2020.
Since releasing their debut album “Be Nothing” to widespread acclaim, the band toured the world, including the Vans Warped Tour, nabbing a Kerrang! Award Nomination for “Best British Breakthrough Act”. Accepting invitations to further tour the world with the likes of Good Charlotte, A Day To Remember and Moose Blood, Boston Manor’s follow up album “ Welcome To The Neighborhood” saw the band achieve their first Top 40 UK album chart position and lead single “HALO” achieved Top 10 rotation at Active Rock radio.
In 2021, Boston Manor played the main stage at Download Festival, were direct support to headliners at Reading & Leeds Festivals on the Lock Up stage and headlined their stage at Slam Dunk Festival. They did a full USA tour with fellow UK punk band Neck Deep in the autumn, and will support them again later on in 2022 in Europe. The band also completed their own UK and US headline tours earlier this year and are currently on the festival circuit this Summer.
With the announcement of the new album, Boston Manor continued to go from strength to strength proudly waving the flag for progressive and anthemic British Rock music.
In August she is releasing her solo debut "Changes Like the Weather in the
Mountain", consisting of her songs wrapped in electric guitar, wurlitzer, fiddles
and some high- pitched choir voices. Selma's music reveals an admiration for
Norwegian and English folk music, as well as containing an airy energy from
somewhere unknown – moving from an open space like big mountain into the
hidden rooms in one's heart.Selma is already known in the folk-scene in Norway
as a member of bands such as Norwegian Grammy nominated Masava and
Norwegian Grammy winner Morgonrode. She has toured and worked with artists
like Frokedal & Familien, Kristian Kristensen, Siv Jakobsen and the Switch. Her
musical work has been acknowledged by many, lastly featured as the theme song
in the Viaplay series Furia.
Growing up in the suburban university town of As, Selma French was exposed to
folk music from an early age, playing violin and Hardanger fiddle all her life, as
well as making songs on guitar. The list of musical inspirations is long, from
Linda Perhacs, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention and Judee Sill, to Frokedal,
Susanne Sundfor, Sandy Denn and The Roches.
Artists:
Selma French: vocals, acoustic guitar
Anja Lauvdal: synths, wurlitzer
Christian Winther: el-guitar
Andreas Winther: drums
Reflecting upon their new album Different Bridges, Nutrients discovered a
time capsule from the dullest days of the pandemic
The 10 hopeful songs manage to sonically sound as optimistic as their lyrics.
Unbeknownst to the band, they were composing an ode to the way life had once
been. Lyrically, Teeple subconsciously penned love letters to everything he had
taken for granted: parties, air travel, even just meeting new people. The band's
sun-drenched guitars continue to jingle and jangle on Different Bridges, yet this
time around, other ingredients are in the spotlight. Sean McKee's basslines
ecstatically bounce around on the album's title track opener, while Iulia Ciobanu's
ghostly harmonies and tense keys soar on the jazzy, lounge pop bop Nauseous.
Ben Fukuzawa's steady cadence and vivacious fills animate tracks like the spritely
closer, Kool Kat '22. Saxophone by guest Emily Steinwall shimmers alongside the
buoyant congas, bongos, and triangle added by percussionist Juan Carlos
Medrano. Still, guitar work on songs like the wordplay-adorned I and the nostalgic
House Fire Painting sturdily underpin Taylor Teeple and Will Hunter's smooth
songwriting. Compositionally, the band has freshened up forgotten cliches from
'70s soft rock and '80s new wave and incorporated them into a signature sound
listeners first discovered on their self- titled debut. Some of the more oblique
noodling may bring to mind bands like Steely Dan, while certain funk-lite grooves
evoke British pop groups like Orange Juice or Haircut 100. Contemporarily,
Different Bridges would likely find fans in listeners of fellow Canadians TOPS,
Video Age, or even Drugdealer. That optimism was perhaps a bit….well optimistic,
the band now recognizes. But they still believe that keeping a positive mindset is
key to creating music you can be proud of, and living a fulfilling life in general.
Danish quartet Kindsight make the kind of music that feels like a summer
kiss in an autumn breeze
Pointed out as "your new favourite band" by UK tastemakers For The Rabbits their
highly anticipated debut LP 'Swedish Punk' arrives in March on Rama Lama
Records (Melby, Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes, Wy etc.). The debut is packed with
charming and infectiously catchy noise- jangle- pop melodies full of exuberant
optimism and coming-of-age tales. Inspiration comes from acts such as Pixies,
Cocteau Twins, Snail Mail, Big Thief and more.
On 'Cover to Cover', The Brother Brothers pay homage to those early
influences and other favorite songwriters with unique arrangements of
twelve beloved classics they want more people to hear
Among their eclectic picks: Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got to Memphis,” Jackson
Browne’s “These Days,” James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes,” Hoagy
Carmichael’s “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes),” Robert Earl
Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again,” Richard Thompson’s “Waltzing’s for Dreamers,” Judee
Sill’s “Rugged Road” and Tom Waits’ “Flowers Grave.” Their exquisite version of
The Beatles’ “I Will” holds special significance, because they created their own
harmonies over the solo-vocal original when they were six.
Criminal Heart is not just another album from another Singer-Songwriter
According to Beth Nielsen-Chapman, "This is what killer songwriting sounds like"
Legendary guitarist Robben Ford describes it as "Absolutely beautiful."And Chris
Difford reckons it's the work of a "Fantastic and special singer-songwriter."This is
a 'coming of age' album from Hollie Rogers, who remains, by choice, completely
independent. Known already for the candid, confessional nature of her songs and
for live performances that make audiences laugh and cry, Hollie refers to the
album, which has been 5 years in the making, as her "baby." She says, "I'm not
having a human one. I'm proud to have nurtured this one instead; it's got a great
personality and there's absolutely no poop."
The album is the most impressive showcase to date of Hollie's songwriting
prowess, with each song framing insight into a cohesive story; one that reveals
itself more and more with each and every line of lyric. Love, lust and selfdiscovery are some of the key themes tightly bound together throughout, as an
added maturity reveals itself in the record's strong melodies, satisfying harmonic
structures, and hooky choruses. (Try listening to 'Sinner' or 'Love' without them
becoming earworms.)
Criminal Heart was produced at Masterlink Studios, Surrey - with a cast list of A
Grade players in the shape of Masterlink's House Band. Their CV's run like a
'who's who of music' - think Elton John to Herbie Hancock - and, much to Hollie's
particular delight… The Spice Girls. She admits, "Much as I may profess my
influences to be exclusively the likes of Joan Armatrading and Joni Mitchell, I
can't deny there's probably a smidge of Spicefluence hidden in there somewhere.
Girl Power!"
But spice aside; this is no 90s pop record. Indeed, US guitar legend Robben Ford
and UK chart- topper Jamie Lawson make guest appearances, as does a track
produced by 4- time Grammy- Nominated James McMillan. All serving to add
some particularly tasteful icing to a not- inconsiderable cake. (Or more likely, a
pasty - since Hollie is from Penzance, Cornwall. It's no coincidence that her name
rhymes with a famous Pirate Ship.)
