quête:bara

On (ii), London & Vienna-based duo Bara & Isa present their singular version of devotional music. After meeting at an experimental choir in Café OTO, the duo started collaborating, mostly by exchanging files (initially during the pandemic and now between London and Vienna). (ii) is their debut album which follows a handful of self-released singles and an EP.

Described by the duo as a "sort of document of personal development, and also the struggles of everyday motions", this is music which embraces contradictions. Themes of reflection, acceptance and care sit side by side with notions of spiralling and falling, as Bara & Isa explore the nuances and complexities of quotidian life. Working with a rich sound palette of organ pipes, electric organ, voice notes, field recordings, vocals, harp, chimes, tuning forks, singing bowls, bells and flute, the duo slow-cooked and composed these beautiful songs between 2021 and 2024, mostly by exchanging files. And that's exactly what this music sounds like: a digital call with a loved one, glitching, slowed down, disembodied, yet heartwarming and comforting. Mesmerizing, inviting and bewildering all at once.

“Their music toys with proximity and intimacy, it carries a romanticism which feels forged from a struggle for connection in an isolating world. Tender, precarious folk ballads for a time which struggles to stay in sync.”
Daryl Worthington — The Quietus

“Late Junction 3 airplay”
Jennifer Lucy Allan — BBC Radio 3

the second Egyptian Eyeliner release on käfTen is just as tearful and sentimental. Ecstasy on the housefloor.

2024 Reissue

Fabrizio Fattori is one of the most rapresentative dj in the afro balearic italian movement, Best Italy with this album put together all the songs produced from Fabrizio during 1985 including all the songs coming from the rare and high in demand Appunti D'Africa and Baraonda 12" singles plus unreleased material.

Hosono's solo career would take many twists and turns from this point forward, with forays into exotica, electronic, ambient, and techno, culminating in the massive success of techno pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), who made their debut in 1978. Admired by artists ranging from Van Dyke Parks to Mac DeMarco, Hosono continues to forge ahead as he heads into his fifth decade as a musician. With the re-release of his key albums for the first time outside of Japan, his genius will be discovered by a whole new generation of fans around the world.
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The unbelievably prolific Haruomi Hosono is one of the major architects of modern Japanese pop music. With his encyclopedic knowledge of music and boundless curiosity for new sounds, Hosono is the auteur of his own idiosyncratic musical world, putting his unmistakable stamp on hundreds of recordings as an artist, session player, songwriter and producer.

Born and raised in central Tokyo, his adolescent obsession with American pop culture informed his early forays into country music, which he would revisit later in his career. Hosono made his professional debut in 1969 as a member of Apryl Fool, whose heavy psychedelia was somewhat at odds with his influences, which leaned towards the rootsy sounds of Moby Grape and Buffalo Springfield. The latter was one of the main inspirations for his next group, Happy End, whose unique blend of West Coast sounds with Japanese lyrics proved to be highly influential over the course of three albums. After the band’s amicable break up in 1973, Hosono began his solo career with Hosono House, an intimate slice of Japanese Americana recorded inside a rented house with recording gear squeezed into its tiny bedroom.

Lovin' Mighty Fire' is Howard Williams' third Japanese music compilation for the Ace Records house of labels - this time, for BGP International. Assembled in between his job as a record distributor and his monthly Japan Blues show for NTS radio, the first two have taken a look at the late 50s for a blast of Japanese rockabilly ( Nippon Rock'n'Roll' CDWIKD 313), then the 60s and 70s for a romp in Japanese surf music ( Nippon Guitars CDWIKD 297). Following his retrospective of jazz singer Maki Asakawa for Honest Jon's, this new outing searches for the soul music of Japan, from the early 70s to the early 80s.

Japan has long been known as the final destination for many a collectible soul record. Yet, who suspected that some fine soul grooves were recorded for the domestic market, from ballads, to funk and disco Strangely enough, some of the busiest writers and producers in this field came from a late 60s rock band, Happy End, but on listening to their collaborations, their rhythmic, soulful feel is immediately apparent.

The bluesy funk of Lily, the soul-diva brilliance of Minako Yoshida - represented here in both slow-grind mode and epic disco, the maverick genius of Haruomi Hosono, the lively songstress Yasuko Agawa, and the sultry steaminess of Mari Natsuki, and more. This album finally plants a Japanese flag firmly on the global map of soul.

In 1989 Oumou Sangare, a young singer from the Wassoulou region of southern Mali, went to the JBZ
studio in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire to record her debut album. Except for electric guitar and bass, the
line-up was traditonal - kamalengoni or 5-string 'youth's harp', karinyang (iron scraper) and violin
(substtutng the local one-string fddle). The music they recorded was exactly the kind of music per-
formed by hunters to charm the wild animals and invoke the protectng spirits, but with updated lyrics
refectng the concerns of young women living in African cites today.

The music of Wassoulou, with its funky beat and strong melodies has become increasingly popular
in Mali over the last few years. But no one could have foretold the wild success of Oumou Sangare's
recording, which within a few months had sold over one hundred thousand copies in West Africa
alone - not countng bootlegs. This was Mali's best selling cassete ever. And not a drum machine or
synthesizer on it!

What is the secret of Oumou Sangare's astounding rise to fame Partly the sheer force and beauty
of her voice - she frst trained with the Mali Natonal Ensemble and then lef to join the independent
group Djoliva Percussions (with whom she toured France and the UK in 1986). And undoubtedly, be-
cause of her powerful lyrics, which address the problems of young Malian women - torn between the
old values of the countryside and the modern ways of city life. But it's also the brilliant arrangement
of the typical Wassoulou sound - with its slow-driving rhythm punched out on the bass strings of the
harp and its soaring melodies. 'Moussolou' ranks among the best recordings of Malian music of all
tme.

Now for the very frst tme World Circuit are releasing this iconic album on deluxe single vinyl.
Mastered at Abbey Road the vinyl is pressed on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl and presented alongside a
beautful 10 page booklet and download card.

KOIZUMIX PRODUCTION, a collaborative project between Kyoko Koizumi who worked under a different name in the 1990s and club culture artists and creators,
is finally being released in analog format. These two works, now difficult to obtain, are making their long awaited debut on vinyl.

The release is a complete analog version of the 1998 CD, which could be considered a KOIZUMIX PRODUCTION remix best-of.
It includes all tracks from the original CD, plus additional remixes that were previously available only on vinyl, compiled into a 2-disc set titled “89–99 COLLECTION”.

FELT wade deeper into the murky waters of contemporary Scandinavian electroacoustic music following the recent reissue of Johan Wieth’s Health & Safety project on sub-label LEFT and established gems from the likes of Civilistjävel!

Gintė Preisaitė, a Lithuanian artist and graduate of Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory, reveals her first solo release under her own name, following a collaborative effort with Toshimaru Nakamura in 2025 and a number of cassettes as “Baraboro”. The deliberately genre-blurring sound Preisaitė deploys works with composed pop vignettes, sustained drones, FX manipulations and guttural bursts of noise. Sparse piano movements, sample-laden psychedelia and moments of big beat/trip-hop rhythms gel with crowd noise, close mic’d intimacy and experimental percussion with a focus on instrumental timbres and extended techniques.

With a background in composing for large ensembles, Preisaitė's multi-instrumental approach is evident across the eight tracks, moments of dense concrète-style sound collages anchored by the human voice never being far away. She laments on fantasy, absurdity and relationships as a cast of players contribute string, brass, accordion, and guitar parts. Passages move from delicate acoustic folk motifs through to wide-eyed, cut-and-paste glitch electronics and spectral melodic riffs, making the album an unorthodox and welcome addition to Denmark's current world-class music scene.

Brutal Archives presents its first EP by BARAT. Built on hypnotic grooves, low-end pressure, this record dives into the darker side of techno.

Across four tracks, the EP moves from high-energy dancefloor cuts to a more emotional and introspective moment, featuring a cracked interlude.

Producing since 2010, BARAT has shared lineups with artists such as Psyk, Markus Suckut, Rebekah, Par Grindvik and more.

Ursprünglich 1968 in New York auf Barakas eigenem Label Jihad veröffentlicht, ist "Black And Beautiful Soul And Madness" ein leidenschaftliches Zeitdokument der 1960er Jahre. Man könnte es leicht für eine verschollene Veröffentlichung von ESP-DISK halten, fügt es sich doch nahtlos zwischen Sun Ra, The Fugs und Albert Ayler ein. Die Band nutzte ihre Stimmen auf vielfältige Weise: mal singend im Stil von Doo-Wop und Soul, mal rappend im Stil der Last Poets, und oft auch beides gleichzeitig. Emotional fesselnd und von enormer Kraft, wird dieses Werk nun erstmals wieder auf Vinyl zugänglich.

Stripped of its branches and reduced to the bare trunk, Evigt Morker 6 stands at the threshold where fire becomes voice and light devours the sky. Across six tracks, the music moves through hushed revelation, listening for a call that cannot be refused. Salvation and damnation burn side by side on the horizon, as everything else is consumed by flame. ''Kapa grenarna. Lat stammen sta ren infor slutet. Nar riket oppnas ska rosten tala i lagor, bara for dig. Lyssna, och se hur ljuset ater himlen tills oandligheten skymtar. Kliv in i den negativa elden dar intet vander sig om och blir till.''

Bryan Zentz, also known as Barada, is a techno luminary back on the scene with a new five-track release. Blending classic Chicago sounds with a futuristic twist, his music transports listeners to the golden era of acid techno and house. Zentz's career began in the early '90s, releasing music on visionary labels like Experimental, Bush, Definitive, and other genre-defining imprints of the era. His ongoing innovative approach ensures that his music looks towards the future while giving a nod to the past. Prepare to be captivated by the raw energy of Barada Trax Six

This record is like the lost crown jewels of House Music with a story that spans decades. Originally programmed in 1998 on an Akai S3000XL, this was meant to be released on Bjørn Torske's Footnotes in 2001. Unfortunately the original matrix and the master DAT tapes got lost under crazy circumstances. Yet several years later the tapes were found by Sex Tags Mania in the studio of mastering engineer Helmut Erler and the record eventually got issued in 2009 when a totally different House sound was "en vogue." Then due to some unfortunate coincidences most of the records ended up in far flung Japan, and so this record stayed totally underground. Yet it became a cult hit when House Music and later Disco got a proper revival around 2010/11. So over the years prices for this rarity were rising and rising... Then fast forward to 2025: after a sunny day off Berlin's modular synthesizer show "Superbooth" ATJ boss Mr. Fonk and Doc L. Junior teamed up to finally reissue this gem with new masters by Andreas Kauffelt of "Schnittstelle" / Berlin. On this 12“ Norwegian Disco and Balearic sounds meet: funky but deep to the core, playful but hypnotic, stripped down but with baroque details. Truly one of House Music's greatest productions.

Maurice “Mobetta” Brown has always thrived at the crossroads—between jazz and hip-hop, improvisation and songcraft, trumpet and microphone. With Betta Days, the Grammy-winning trumpeter, composer, and MC sharpens his genre-bending vision into one of his most dynamic statements yet.

The album plays like a conversation between worlds: lush horn arrangements sit beside hard-hitting beats, verses weave seamlessly through melodies, and Brown’s trumpet leads with equal parts fire and finesse. A student of jazz tradition who came up in Chicago’s storied scene, he’s since expanded his reach into hip-hop and soul, collaborating with icons like Aretha Franklin, Santigold, Talib Kweli, and Anderson .Paak. Betta Days captures the spirit of all those influences while standing firmly in Mobetta’s lane.

At its core, Betta Days is about resilience and growth—finding light even in heavy times. The songs carry a message of pushing forward, fuelled by the energy of community and the joy of creation. Whether he’s delivering sharp verses or soaring trumpet lines, Maurice Mobetta Brown reminds listeners that the future is wide open, and that better (or Betta) days are always ahead.

Funky Trip makes a striking debut on LOK.ltd with the Kong EP, a refined showcase of his deep, groove-driven minimalism. Seamlessly blending hypnotic rhythms with subtle emotion, Funky Trip crafts an immersive listening experience that pushes the boundaries of Romanian-inspired minimal.

Adding to the release’s allure, Romanian maestro Barac joins it with a stunning remix of the title track, infusing it with his trademark hypnotic flow and cosmic depth. Together, they deliver a record that feels both timeless and forward-looking.

A standout vinyl for collectors and selectors alike, Kong EP is essential for those seeking stripped-back yet transcendent dancefloor narratives—proof of Funky Trip’s growing influence within the deeper realms of minimal house.

This project seeks connections between what is happening in biogenetics (cloning, biomechanical grafts), in art (the body as a territory to be redesigned), and all modern practices of intervention in music such as remixing, cutting and pasting, sampling.
To consider the sonic landscape as an unstable, moving cell culture, which allows experimentation on the body of musical pieces, on their chemical composition in an entirely artificial way. Surgical score, altered rhythms, reworkings.
Music is a mirror of what is happening in our time.

2025 Repress
Gregory Porter’s “1960 What?” continues to be one of Expansion’s most sought after releases and comes now in new enhanced packaging. It combines the original with the Opolopo Kick & Bass re-Rub

Gregory Porter as narrator, sounding like Amiri Baraka, declares on “1960 What?” that “the motor city is burning y’all—that ain’t right” and refers to Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and describes trigger-happy policing (supported by a trumpet that blares, jabs, rumbles, and yearns); and the song portrays how certain events turn people against the possibilities of life and light. A vision that only recognizes strength and cruelty and rage is dangerously imperfect: rather, creativity, education, intelligence, sensitivity, democratic political participation, and compassionate social work are goals and virtues that can be affirmed, if not actively pursued, in all times.

The Chisa Years: 1965-1975 (Rare and Unreleased) is a compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album consists of 14 rare or forgotten tracks recorded by Stewart Levine and Hugh Masekela from 1965 to 1975 when they ran their own Chisa Records label.Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote 'In sum, there isn't a weak moment on this entire collection. It's appeal is wide and deep and one can only hope this is the first of many volumes of this material to appear. BBE Records has done a stellar job in making this slab available.' Dan Nishimoto of the Prefix Magazine stated 'The compilation focuses on Masekela's original idea of 'African American Music.' From the early experiments of the Zulus (a group featuring M'Bulu) in mixing doo-wop, rhythm & blues and South African gospel and the mbaqanga/'Grazing in the Grass'-style work of the generically named Johannesburg Street Band to the clearly Fela-influenced Ojah (Masekela's band in the mid-'70s, consisting of players from Ghana and Nigeria) and the readyfor-primetime belting of M'Bulu, each track reveals a multi-pronged effort to find and challenge the notion(s) of how African and American cultural forms could interact.'

Das Trio - Pianist/ Keyboarder/ Produzent Moses Yoofee, Bassist Roman Klobe-Baranga und Schlagzeuger Noah Fürbringer - hat sich in den letzten Jahren mit spektakulären Live-Shows in Clubs in Deutschland und darüber hinaus einen Namen gemacht. Sowohl von R&B, Hip-Hop und Soul als auch von traditionellerem Jazz geprägt, spiegeln die Songs von Ocean die Spontanität, Inspiration und instinktive Raffinesse ihrer Live-Auftritte wider. Der herrlich hektische Titeltrack und das zunehmend ekstatische Minor Issues stehen in Kontrast zu der eher zurückhaltenden Komplexität von At Ease - und während der hypnotische Rhythmus von Fragile ihre Liebe zum Hip-Hop verrät, wird das üppige Richmond von einem herrlich ruhigen Groove angetrieben, bevor es auf seinem Höhepunkt einen Gang höher schaltet. "Jeder liebt Fusion", so die Band, "auch wenn es keiner zugibt", aber das ist nur ein Element des ausgefeilten Stils des Trios, bei dem Moses" außergewöhnliche Keyboard-Fähigkeiten auf Romans fließende Basslinien und Noahs tighte Schlagzeug-Patterns treffen.

Let us introduce to you the third volume of the brand new series
"OBSCURE TRACKS", made of essential, stand-out and rare italo and
electro tracks, remastered and repress on vinyl for the first time ever
offering DJs the chance to get hold of suche as gems previously tucked
away in the Mr. Disc Organization back to catalogue.