Individually, Kronos Quartet and Sun Ra are two of the most groundbreaking names in contemporary music. The former is the legendary San Francisco-based string quartet that laid a blueprint for what concert music could become, working with the likes of John Cage, Tanya Tagaq, and Astor Piazzolla. The latter was a singular jazz and avant-garde bandleader, as well as a philosopher and poet, who honed an extraordinary strain of cosmic experimental music from the 1950s until his ascension in 1993. As a capstone to Kronos Quartet’s 50th anniversary, the group has joined forces with the Red Hot Organization for the new album Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra. It’s stacked with some of the most innovative artists active today — everyone from multidimensional electronic musician Jlin, to Moor Mother and DJ Haram’s radical noise / rap project 700 Bliss, to abstract hip hop luminaries Armand Hammer, to avant-garde hero Laurie Anderson, to minimalist pioneer Terry Riley.
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The true test of originality for any musician comes when you hear an instrument being played and you instantly know who’s playing it. For electric guitarists, certainly Hendrix qualifies; Page and Clapton, too. Maybe Eddie Van Halen before the legion of imitators. You probably have your own list, but to us, standing toe-to-toe (or pick-to-pick) with those legends is Television guitarist and solo artist Tom Verlaine. His self-taught, jazz-influenced style, largely devoid of effects, and vibrato tone (oh, that tone!) makes any Verlaine solo unmistakably a Verlaine solo. That he was quite an accomplished, idiosyncratic songwriter is just a bonus. Real Gone Music is very, very proud to announce that we have arranged with the Verlaine estate to release Tom’s last three solo albums on LP; Songs and Other Things was the last record he released, in the same year (2006) as the all-instrumental Around. As the title indicates, this was indeed a return to lyrics and vocals, the first record with “songs” since 1990’s The Wonder (although the first track, “A Parade in Littleton”—one of the “Other Things”—is a low-key, funky instrumental that would have been home on a late Talking Heads album). The time off clearly allowed Verlaine to build up a strong cache of compositions, with “Nice Actress” and “The Earth Is in the Sky” among the highlights. The record also marks a welcome return of Verlaine’s enigmatic lyrics, which as always prompt head scratching while somehow making intuitive sense. But in the end, it’s the amazing guitar work—ably supported by Fred Smith of Television fame and Jay Dee Daugherty of The Patti Smith Group among others—that elevates Songs and Other Things to essential status, worthy of its exalted position as the final release of Tom Verlaine’s career. Bassist and original engineer Patrick Derivaz has mastered the album for its vinyl debut; Verlaine’s long-time partner Jutta Koether contributes notes. Teal vinyl pressing!
Between December 2022 and January 2024, the collective De Niemanders (producer Rick Wiegerinck joined the team) visited asylum seekers' centers in the Netherlands with a mobile studio, searching for singers, musicians, and their music and stories. The music sessions were mostly filled with pure joy, while the conversations were heavy, hopeless, hopeful, cheerful, and everything in between. The collective connected with creative individuals from all over the world, who in turn introduced them to even more artists, writers, and storytellers. Rocco, Wout, and Rick quickly realized that they needed to offer more than ‘just’ the music album as a platform, so a completely unique Niemanders newspaper was born, and journalist Christianne Alvarado joined for a six-part podcast series.
Following their instincts, they created a new Niemanders album that became a genuine collaboration between the people they met and themselves. A significant difference from the prisons was that this time, the singers and musicians could be recorded in a mobile studio. As a result, the album is a mix of many singers and languages, telling the stories of their journeys, dreams, families, past lives ‘back home,’ and their current situation as refugees. There are songs inspired by the stories that residents of asylum seekers' centers told or wrote down, sung by Rocco, while other tracks emerged from writing sessions with singers Isma IP, Guy-El Mabiala, Q-Mars, and Hamid Reza Behzadian, and are also sung by them. The song material is a creative melting pot of colorful music that ranges from swinging afrobeat, highlife, desert rock, and rootsy psychedelia, but the alternative rock for which Ostermann and Kemkens are known also seeps through. You could say that, with few exceptions, each song is a film soundtrack for the text.
Unfortunately, the harsh reality of asylum procedures also intruded into some of the blossoming musical friendships. Due to a negative decision by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), one of the great singers was forced to leave the Netherlands. This is just one example of the lack of control over—and the nerve-wracking wait for—an IND decision, which unfortunately seems to be something every person in an asylum procedure must endure. The asylum process can bring years and years of uncertainty and waiting, or sudden deportation.
Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. Absurdists jazz-infused post-punks, The Cravats originally released single 'Rub Me Out' with Crass Records in 1982. A favourite of John Peel's, the Redditch band left a long legacy, reforming in 2009. Penny continues; “Fast, furious, fiery and often very funny, the Cravats were nothing like the average punk band, indeed, like Zappa before them, their sensibilities leant more towards progressive jazz mixed in with an ample helping of gallows humour; ‘make mine rare’. Dada also comes to mind as The Shend weaves his way through the complex vagaries of everyday existence. ‘Now you see me, now you don’t’. There’s no doubt about it, the Cravats are worth keeping your ears open, and your eyes out for, but mind the gaps!”
- A01: Spindyrella - Sinnlös
- A02: Imaginary Friend Feat. Riah - Knight Sugar
- A03: Karya Zevas - Cosmos
- A04: High Park Funk - Shades On
- A05: Ranko - Escalator Eyes (Cuts By Dj Juicy)
- A06: Brett Eclectic - Keep Goin' (Don't U Ever Stop)
- A07: Marcel Vogel & Tim Jules Feat. Mey - Reset Your Heart
- A08: Duktus Feat. Host Junior - Music
- A09: Illwig - Together
- A10: George John - A Passing Storm
- A11: Drunkenstein- Hollywood Boulevard
- A12: Sempra - Clairvoyant Dub
- B01: Filburt - Under 1000 Plays
- B02: Real Velour - Who You Are
- B03: The Chord Memory Club X Heron - L.t.g.o
- B04: Moff & Tarkin - Halifax
- B05: Lavan - Bring It Back
- B06: Jetson G - Bleep Express
- B07: Zacharias - Pretend To Be Active
- B08: Shesokey - Close Your Eyes
- B09: Jana Falcon - Cum Over
- B10: Dj Detox & Robyrt Hecht - Mi Casa
- B11: Marco Lazovic - I Never Forget U
- B12: Hearts - Elotranc (Rebirth)
This year's compilation is once again dedicated to the Bärenherz children's hospice here in Leipzig.
The people in this organization do such incredibly important work, but unfortunately it is all too often "invisible" - because if we're honest, it's not a topic you like to deal with unless you are directly or indirectly affected yourself. And then you realize that the costs of care, accommodation, supplies and psychosocial therapies are only partially covered by health insurance. The children's hospice does not receive any state subsidies, and that's why it is dependent on private donations.
We asked a few old friends from our new hood (now that we are no longer just mentally but also physically located in Leipzig) for tracks, as well as new ones - from Connewitz to Chicago - bridging the gap between Neo-Soul, good old Boom Bap, Modern Funk, Electro, Synthiepop, Breaks and of course, House Music in all its shades.
One love goes out to all artists and supporters!
Since dropping his first single in 2021, Michael Adebayo Olayinka, the artist known as Ruger, has made a habit of standing out amongst worldwide audiences, not least thanks to bright pink hair, an eyepatch, and an unequivocally true-to-himself attitude. Spending the bulk of 2023 on a sold-out international tour, Ruger has steadily granted fans a stream of top-tier projects in two short years, from the debut EP ‘Pandemic’ to follow-up ‘The Second Wave’. Breakout single ‘Asiwaj’” would catapult him to wider fame, the track going #1 in Nigeria and #3 on the OCC Afrobeats Chart in the UK, whilst “Girlfriend” and “Bounce” would catch further attention from fans worldwide.
This is the first reissue of the “Piece Of The Action” LP since 1973, and the CD has bonus tracks with everything Bobby Hutton recorded between 1969 and 1974. Everything taken from the original master stapes and restored.
Bobby Hutton is from Detroit, Michigan and began his career after winning a talent show at the 20 Grand nightclub. In 1971 he performed on the very first nationally aired Soul Train TV programme. He cites Jackie Wilson as his biggest influence. He began writing under his real name Harold Hutton, then Billy Davis at Chess Records persuaded the change to Bobby Hutton. He had decided not to pursue a career at Motown, and after one single for Checker, then another at Blue Rock (a subsidiary of Mercury) he moved to the Philips label for the huge Northern Soul favourite, “Come See What's Left Of Me" which was first played at the Stafford All-Nighters back in1985, covered up as Casanova Brown. Talents that produced and arranged for Bobby during those Blue Rock/Philips sessions include Donny Hathaway and Joshie Jo Armstead, and in fact it was with Jo that Bobby co-wrote that Northern Soul classic.
The Philips tracks are all on the CD as bonus tracks to the Piece Of The Action” album for ABC Records in 1973.
Produced by Dee Ervin, there are several fine tracks to enjoy but surely none better than the Gary Wright-penned “Lend A Hand” which became one of the biggest 'modern' Northern Soul tracks of all-time after spins at venues like the Highland Room at the Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino. The track was first championed by DJ Colin Curtis in 1974.
The album is beautifully produced with vocal accompaniments from artists including Patti Hamilton of The Lovelites, Jean Plum, Mikki Farrow and Frankie Karl. It received great reviews at the time and that persuaded ABC to release a non-album follow-up 45 produced by the brilliant McKinley Jackson and Reginald Dozier credited “Loving You, Wanting You, Needing You, Wanting You”/'Watch Where You’re Going” which is an elusive, highly sought-after single by soul collectors worldwide (now an Expansion 7” reissue).
In 2007, Bobby was honoured as he was voted the best singer in Chicago, quite an achievement and something that Bobby is quite rightly very proud of
We expect that many of you will have heard of Anton Barbeau, but for those who haven’t, and indeed those who have but don’t know much about him, here’s some relevant information. Anton is from Sacramento, California and has been putting out his music on a variety of labels since the early 90s. He has lived in the UK and Germany, and we believe he’s now back in California. A brilliant singer/songwriter and performer with an ear for a catchy, psychedelic tune, Anton has worked with plenty of celebrated artists over the years, including Scott Miller, Colin Moulding, Kimberly Rew, Andy Metcalfe, Morris Windsor, Robbie Mackintosh and many more. In 2006 he released ‘In The Village Of The Apple Sun’ on San Francisco’s Four Way Records as a CD only issue. When we started Blue Matter, Anton contacted us suggesting we might like to re-issue the album, as it had never been on vinyl, and he thought it’s overtly psychedelic direction would suit the label. We, of course, agreed. Having worked with Anton over 20 years ago, we were familiar with his output, and were overjoyed to get the opportunity to release this masterpiece on our label. Great songs, great playing, it’s a thoroughly wonderful album, and it’s a genuine pleasure to be working with the excellent Mr Barbeau once again.
Blue Matter are extremely proud to be releasing a brand-new album by the great English eccentric, Paul Roland. ‘Morbid Beauty’ will make its’ appearance in mid 2024 and is a fantastic example of Paul’s trademark mixture of gothic rock and psychedelia, if perhaps a little more rock flavoured than usual. To Blue Matters’ surprise and delight the album features our old friend Mick Crossley (Flyte Reaction) on guitar throughout. Paul Roland is from Kent and has been making music since the late 70s. He has issued countless albums on a variety of labels and has been cited as a ‘psych legend’, a ‘true cult hero’ and a ‘great innovator’. Frank Zappa is quoted as saying somewhat amusingly ‘Paul Roland writes nice music, but it’s too complicated for me!’ Paul’s musical reputation is probably somewhat greater in Europe than in the UK, which seems strange as he has been so influential to many British acts. Paul is also a celebrated music journalist and successful author having written books on cinema, history and music. For us, to be able to release a new album, and a fantastic album at that, by an artist of his calibre is a long and handsome peacocks’ feather in Blue Matters’ Edwardian top hat
Welcome to the fascinating musical universe of EXOTIC ROOSTERS! It emerges as a burst of freshness and originality, blending an eclectic variety of musical influences to create a truly unique and exciting auditory experience. Comprised of experienced and virtuosic musicians on their respective instruments, the group captivates audiences of all ages with its energy and unmistakable style. Exploring the intersection between tradition and modernity, EXOTIC ROOSTERS combines the rich soundscapes of marimba, vibraphone, double bass, percussion, and drums to create an expansive and nuanced musical landscape. From frenetic rhythms that invite dancing to captivating melodies that transport the listener on an emotional journey, each performance aims to be a celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression.
In the relentless musical era of the late 90s, two passionate souls, Eugeni Camacho and Rafa Navarro, embarked on a unique sonic odyssey by blending the melodious marimba with the pulsating drums. Together, they successfully created STAMINA PERCUSSIO in their concerts. However, life composed its own score, separating Rafa, who was abducted by the Canary Islands, and Eugeni, who was drawn to vibrant New York. Upon their return, after years of musical exploration in different projects with the Oscars (Oscar Cuchillo and Oscar Rocher), their hearts aligned with a new melody. In the loom of destiny, they discovered the emerging talent of Bernat Cucarella. A prodigy with drumsticks and a 4.0 brain. By uniting Rafa's island experiences, Eugeni's resonant jazz from the Brooklyn alleys, and the rich musical diversity harvested in life's journeys by each of the members, they gave birth to a magical musical tale: EXOTIC ROOSTERS
As Country music continues broadening its influence in every corner of the modern soundscape, the quickly growing 'Red Dirt' genre, which encapsulates the Western lifestyle and outlaw sound, is taking centerstage lead by acts such as the influential Randy Rogers Band. For over 20 years, the band's roster and traditional approach has remained unchanged and inspired the surge in a new generation of artists. Acts such as Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel, Flatland Cavalry, and William Beckmann all began their musical careers on the building blocks set forth by Randy Rogers Band.
The band's second album, Rollercoaster, is applauded as one of the most impactful collections in the Texas music scene. The influence of this record garnered the band bookings in venues once thought out of reach and made them a pillar of 'Red Dirt' Country music.
Now, as the record prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Randy Rogers Band is releasing a newly re-mastered/re-sequenced edition of Rollercoaster to commemorate the music that ignited their long-lasting journey as a Texas music staple act.
Parisian label and collective Prima Materia is proud to present the first 12" record in its 'Half Sided Series'.
The aim here is to offer a series of vinyls in the form of split EP's, with two producers each proposing a side featuring the different styles of techno we love so much.
For this first opus, we invited Portuguese dj and producer Fresko (Hayes Collective) and our resident Louis The 4th (Tar Hallow, Planet Rhythm, Prima Materia).
Louis The 4th opens Side A with 'Structured', a devilishly effective percussive tool, followed by 'Instant Attraction' in the pure techno tradition, where a hypnotic synth follows us all the way.
Then Fresko takes over on Side B, offering a more playful and colorful side with 'Cray' and 'Audio Space 2000', two tracks where mechanical grooves are accentuated by the Portuguese artist's signature elements and fx, with a surgical level of precision.
UFC presents Cybernetic Implant, its seventh release, an EP where electro and cyberpunk go hand in hand with hardware equipment for a trip to an unpromising future. The Ep consists of six tracks, three originals mixes produced by Ático Corp. and three remixes by producers Hd Substance, 7053M4R14 and Robot City.
In the three original tracks we find three different visions of electro where broken and sharp rhythms are mixed with bursts of synthesizers, atmospheres and samples that refer directly to less optimistic science fiction.
On the other side we have the three remixes where each artist contributes their particular vision by reimagining the tracks in their studios directly from their hardware gear. Synthesizers, drum machines and hardware effects are once again invited to the journey. Welcome this time not to a credible future, but to a dystopian future.
After a slight hiatus Jad & The’s Speed Dial imprint is back and this time joined by a myriad of underground talent to give you the Various Artists “Rhythm Rituals” EP.
The A side is jam packed with 3 uptempo tech-prog-chug goodness featuring Eora Nation based up and comer Mtty, label head Jad & The, and a re-issue of Pocket’s timeless “Smoke Signals” previously released via Australia’s seminal “Thunk” Recordings in the year 2000.
On the flip the tempo is slowed but Australian DJs DJ Relax and Local Support deliver arguably the finest moments on the record - broken beat Balearic badness in the best way, hell yeah!
Jorge Ben is a name that any lover of Brazilian music will be very familiar with. He is widely regarded as the James Brown of Brazilian music and is famed for writing the Brazilian anthem ‘Mas Que Nada'. For the duet ‘Carolina, Carol Bela' he teamed up with the singer and guitarist Toquinho. Toquinho is best known for his collaborations, as composer and performer, with bossa nova poet Vinicius de Moraes.
'Carolina, Carol Bela' featured on the album Toquinho by Toquinho. It was originally released in 1970 on the small independent Brazilian label, RGE. The song was sampled by DJ Marky and XRS for their Drum & Bass track ‘LK’ (V Recordings, 2002). This went on to be a huge chart hit across the world, and a number one hit in the UK.
João Donato is a Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist. He has collaborated with many of the greats of Brazilian Music, including Tom Jobim, Astrud Gilberto and Gilberto Gil. He was one of the few Brazilian artists who went over to perform in the States during the bossa nova boom of the late 60’s. The song ‘A Rã’ was originally released on his seminal album Quem é quem, (EMI, 1973), an album that is full of great tracks and was considered as one of the 100 best albums of all time by the Rolling Stone magazine.
Rio-born, Joyce Moreno, is one of the greatest Brazilian artists of all time. The voice, the playing, the writing, they all combine to make her a true allrounder. She possesses the ability to transport, captivate and transcend listeners. With a career that has spanned more than 30 albums and over 50 years, she continues to record and tour the world.
‘Aldeia de Ogum’ is one of her most well-known songs. With a joyfully jazzy arrangement, building Latin percussion, Brazilian flute and tropical atmosphere, this full-bodied samba smash became an anthem amongst London’s DJs and dancers in the Acid Jazz days. A favourite of Patrick Forge and Gilles Peterson, it was regularly spun at their legendary Dingwalls sessions.
Originally featured on her sought after Feminina LP from 1980, it also appears on our 'Essential' Joyce compilation from 1997. The original pressing of this Brazil 45 was the first time the track had been released on 7".
A fellow Rio native, Rosinha was a highly acclaimed composer, arranger and guitarist who played with legends including Baden Powell, Sérgio Mendes and Sivuca.
Here we present her stunning cover of the Gershwin classic, ‘Summertime’. Rosinha’s elegant, instrumental interpretation showcases her majestic guitar playing, and what a player she was! Backed with beautifully arranged, emotion-drenched strings, this track is guaranteed to stir your soul.
'Summertime' is taken from her 1975 RCA LP entitled Um Violão Em Primeiro Plano. The original pressing of this Brazil45 was the first time the track had been released on 7".
Remastered with refreshed artwork.
Campo's debut album, released in 2012, was a milestone in the new South American music scene. The brainchild of Juan Campodónico - one of the creators of Bajofondo - combines sophisticated pop, electronica, and South American roots, uniting past and present in a unique way. Neo-cumbia, tango, and candombe shake hands with Britpop, soul, and trip-hop in a timeless album. A place where indie rock intersected with the great Latin bands of the 1950s, fringe genres like cumbia villera were transformed into sophisticated music, tango joined alternative pop, and track music became contemplative and landscaped. Juan Campodónico has a long artistic career (Peyote Asesino, Bajofondo) and extensive experience as an artistic producer on some fundamental records of Uruguayan and South American music (Jorge Drexler, Cuarteto de Nos, No te Va Gustar among others). In 'Campo' is a very heterogeneous group of composers, performers and instrumentalists from different genres and geographical locations (Jorge Drexler, Martín Rivero, Ellen Arkbro, Pablo Bonilla and Verónica Loza, among others). 'Campo' was based on the song format, jumping the limits of the Río de la Plata, immersing himself in rhythms, genres and forms of South American songs from the past and present, seeking the link with pop, rock and electronic music. The album -which received nominations for the American Grammys, the European MTV Awards and the Latin Grammys- broke schemes and prejudices. He brought together opposite worlds such as cumbia and britpop, songwriters and dance music, or bolero and electropop, finding beauty and sophistication in unexpected places.
Typically, a band's big indie label debut doesn't come 15 albums into its career, but with Constant Smiles' Paragons, here we are. Primary songwriter and sole "constant" member Ben Jones_who considers Constant Smiles a collective_sees its impressive output as a way to document the group's evolution. Since its live debut as a noise duo on Ben's home of Martha's Vineyard in 2009, Constant Smiles has grown to include contributions from 50 other members, all of whom have personal connections to the group's extended family. And while the collective has indulged an array of musical whims along the way - including Ben's penchant for penning a new set's worth of material for each live performance - Constant Smiles' sound has tightened up considerably over their past couple of albums, in large part as a result of Ben's working relationship with Mike Mackey, who has become his main creative partner. This increased focus manifests on Paragons in the band's most cohesive batch of songs to date, ranging from shimmering psych-pop excursions to bittersweet, piano and string-accented strummers, and an execution that feels like a massive step forward for the band. Through its recent forays into dream pop and shoegaze (Control) and synth-pop (John Waters), Constant Smiles has learned how to incorporate its experimental inclinations more fluidly into the mix. Artists like Yo La Tengo, and the more recent Rat Columns, are good touchstones for Constant Smiles' musical approach - tethering to an indie-pop core while perennially mining genres, always finding new ways to intrigue listeners and pursue a unique vision. Paragons was produced and engineered by Ben Greenberg in the last two weeks of December 2020 at Gary's Electric, with additional recording done by Ben Jones at his home studio, The Void, and his Aunt Leanne's house. The album was mixed at Circular Ruin Studio and mastered by Josh Bonati. The band on Paragons consists of Jai Berger (who performed "Introduction"), Spike Currier (bass and synth), Matthew Addison (drums), Emma Conley (violin), Nicky Wetherell (cello), Adam Lipsky (piano), and Ben Greenberg (guitar and Mellotron).
Italian artist Fedele unveils exciting upcoming album ‘Depth Of Being’ which again finds him exploring all new electronic music realms. The 11 track album arrives on his own label Obscura and is his first since going solo. Fedele is a key part of the underground scene and has been working alone for the last three years since his departure from Agents of Time.
He has truly made his mark in that time with music on the likes of Ellum Audio, Tiga’s Turbo Recordings and his own Obscura. This superb new album is a mix of stylish progression from the signature sound Fedele is known for while the other side of the album dives more into the experimental world, using more vocals than before.
The impact, influence, and importance of Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut – the album that invented hardcore hip-hop and bridged rap, rock, and funk in then-unparalleled ways – cannot be measured. The first full-length record released by Profile Records, the 1984 set permanently changed the sound of music, broadcast streetwise wisdom to every corner of the country, and made the notion of a one-man band a distinct reality. Bolstered by an incendiary blend of staccato deliveries, stark beats, aggressive exchanges, evocative hooks, and socially conscious messages, Run-D.M.C. still hits listeners in the jaw with the same intensity it did nearly 40 years ago when it could be heard booming from ghetto blasters carried around city blocks nationwide.
Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl 33RPM LP is the definitive-sounding version of the groundbreaking work cited by Rolling Stone as the 378th Greatest Album of All Time. This reissue also represents the first time this gold-certified effort has been presented in audiophile quality. Benefitting from the ultra-low noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces of SuperVinyl, Run-D.M.C. now plays with a clarity, immediacy, punchiness, and directness worthy of the artistry, urgency, and intellect of the trio's material.
The brilliance of Russell Simmons and Larry Smith's production comes into view as if the music is being broadcast on a giant system in a small club — only more focused, lively, and unlimited. Free of dynamic constraints and fatiguing harshness, this LP invites you to turn up the volume and experience the raw, rough, invigorating songs that changed the look, sound, and feel of hip-hop overnight. Think the trio’s sparse framework of drum machines, tag-team rhymes, keyboard accents, and turntable scratches is stuck in the mid-80s? Spin MoFi’s SuperVinyl LP and gain new appreciation for the music, messages, and production on display on Run-D.M.C.
Recorded in the wake of two successful and pioneering singles, both included on the album, Run-D.M.C. effectively took a sheet of coarse-grit sandpaper to the polish, sheen, and linear presentation of all the hip-hop that preceded it. Stripped to bare-bones foundations, the songs grab your attention and shake you by the collar with a combination of industrial-leaning rhythms, staggered deliveries, dance drama, and hard, minimalist percussion. Then there are the lyrics.
The LP broadcasts a smart mix of boots-on-the-ground reports, uplifting advice, and then-nascent b-boy culture. In one fell swoop, its narratives and music rendered the scene’s proclivity toward glamor and softness passé. Run-D.M.C.’s tough, cool-minded fashion sense showed the trio walked its talk and gave fans — particularly those living in long-ignored urban areas — heroes which with they could identify. Kangol hats, black jeans, leather jackets, Adidas sneaks, and gold chains were the new currency.
In every regard, Run-D.M.C. signifies the birth of modern hip-hop. Never more obviously than on the groundbreaking “Rock Box,” where rap and rock were first fused. As the first hip-hop video to receive regular rotation on MTV, the track eviscerated racial and social boundaries, awakened musicians and listeners to new possibilities, and redefined both popular music and, ultimately, popular culture. As the Roots’ Questlove has stated, it “ knocked down many obstacles, enabling hip-hop to become the new gospel."
Such teaching includes the real-world scripture of “Hard Times,” utopian hopefulness of “Wake Up,” and observational truths of “It’s Like That.” Released as the group’s debut single well before its eponymous album, the latter tune established themes and outlooks Run-D.M.C. would embrace during its career. Namely, the keen awareness of various prejudices, economic ills, and disruptive violence as well as the knowledge that education, self-motivation, and hard work were the ways to escape disadvantages and disillusionment.
Inspired and inspirational, the song reflects the spirit and shrewdness that courses throughout Run-D.M.C. That includes a detailed account of the trio’s not-so secret weapon (“Jam-Master Jay”), purpose statement (“Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)”), and a revolutionary hybrid autobiographical narrative-dis track (“Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1)”) widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop songs ever created. The same can be said for every moment on Run-D.M.C.
MoFi SuperVinyl
Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analog lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are virtually indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.


















