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It is a huge honour to announce the publication of Peter Brotzmann’s final concerts on OTOROKU. When we invited Peter to do a residency at Cafe OTO back in February 2023 we had no idea these would be his last ever shows and he played with such power it would have been hard for anyone present to believe he would never play publicly again.

Recorded over two nights this grouping of Jason Adasiewicz on vibraphone, John Edwards on bass and Steve Noble on drums feels especially resonant and personal to Cafe OTO. The first time Peter performed at the venue back in 2010 it was in a trio with John and Steve, (released as The Worse The Better kick starting our in-house record label) so it feels fitting that the last shows he ever played here should also have that trio at its core.

The quartet last played together at OTO back in 2013, (released as Mental Shake on OTOROKU), and Brotzmann humbly opened the return of the group saying, "it's a pleasure to be back” before launching straight into a long blast on the alto sax, swiftly met by the relentless energy and engagement of Adasiewicz, Edwards and Noble.

There are moments of tenderness to Brotzmann’s playing that feels specific to this small group - one that cuts across three generations - and in a space that’s come to feel like home. Of course, there is dizzying, forceful, singleminded playing, but even amongst a relentless chorus of cymbal splashes and busy vibraphone clusters the lyrical, spacious moments are savoured and held onto. As he remarked at the end of the group's first visit to OTO, “the Quartet is, for us, a great adventure.”

Peter clearly wanted to play to the end. Did he know these might be his last shows? We will never know. What is clear is he wanted to go out in style and on his terms. For anyone in the room at the time or listening to these recordings it’s clear he achieved that.

It was Peter’s wish that these recordings should be made public and he was due to finalise the cover design on the week he passed away. We would like to thank Peter’s family for working with us to fulfil Peter’s wishes to release this material but more than anything we would like to thank Peter himself for all the extraordinary memories, his generosity and all he has given the music. On a personal level for us, like so many, he meant a huge amount and we miss him deeply.

The Quartet will be released as a complete recording on 2CD and as a special edit version on 2LP. Both feature artwork by Peter Brotzmann and UNTIET and are complete with photographs by Dawid Laskowski.
OTOROKU will also release a special 4LP boxset edition, limited to 250 copies and only available direct from us. Pre-orders are on the website now and Cafe OTO members will receive a 20% discount.

A multifaceted artist, who over his career has traversed between singer-songwriter, hit producer, DJ and curator, Ben Westbeech debuts on Glitterbox Recordings with a fully realised and fresh artistic vision, delivering ‘Times Are Changing’ featuring RAHH. A manifestation of Ben’s long-held career reputation as a magnet for talent, RAHH’s flawless vocal and the considered songwriting is ready to captivate listeners, creating an uplifting and anthemic quality with its jazzy bass with journey-like arrangement. The record has been committed to wax along with house legends Louie Vega and Josh Milan’s array of remixes and a Takin’ It Back Dub from Louie’s son Nico Vega. A 12” delivery already sought after by selectors of the highest order, this joyous soulful record is easily transformed into club-ready heat, without losing any of its heart across the mixes.

Produced by Grammy Nominated producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair, Clairo). Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest album Yarın Yoksa. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Şimşek with production by Leon Michels has yielded a stand out record that challenges genre with a broad appeal and a powerful message. They refer to themselves as “outernational” over international as they say it suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Derya, who sings and plays the bağlama, is German born to Turkish parents. Drummer Helen Wells is Berlin-based by way of South Africa while keyboard player Graham Mushnik and guitar/bass player Antonin Voyant are both French. The collective influences they bring to Anatolian music make for a completely unique and fresh sound that both pushes the genre forward and champions its rich heritage. Yarın Yoksa which translates to If There Is No Tomorrow delves into deeply personal pain and collective resistance with a central thread of loss, longing, and hope for change running throughout. The lyrics are poetic and rely heavily on symbolic language, metaphors, and storytelling while the music shifts track to track making each tune stand out on its own but work together perfectly as an album. “Cool Hand”, the first single released on Big Crown in September of 2024, is a beautiful juxtaposition of intensity and light-heartedness over a thoroughly infectious groove. The message is poetic and complicated, repeatedly declaring “I love you, I’m crazy about you” but ultimately finding a sense of peace through accepting a broken heart. “Direne Direne” is a protest song that embodies the struggle and tireless pursuit of justice encouraging people to resist oppression. Derya’s lyrics soar over the psych-soul musical backdrop as her story of personal struggle transforms to a universal call for resilience and strength. The slow and weighty vibe of “Yakamoz” lets onto the meaning of the lyrics even to those who don’t understand Turkish. It is a deeply moving song that captures the profound emotions connected to displacement and loss without knowing if you will ever return. The steady groove of the band, along with the anguished vocals paint a vivid picture of the devastation experienced by the protagonist who ultimately realizes that her roots are within her and anywhere she goes is her home. Nine of the tunes on the album are original compositions but they also take on three Anatollian folk songs with their own inimitable approach. The acapella introduction of “Misket”, a folk song from Ankara/Türkiye, will stop you in your tracks. The tune deals with death and how the living cope and continue a relationship with those who have passed away. Another traditional tune from Sivas that they put their signature sound to is “Hop Bico”, a tune about a playful character named Bico who is a symbol of vitality and spirit. The synth intro grabs your ear from the first note and the earworm chorus encouraging Bico to lead the group in celebration and embrace life through dance has the same effect on everyone who hears it. The band has taken a big step forward that you can hear on this record. Derya’s passion and authenticity is front and centre and the music is too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of all those who hear it, and just wait till you hear them play it live… Upcoming Tour Dates (+More To Be Added): 18th March The Deaf Institute, Manchester / 19th The Jam Jar, Bristol / 20th Scala, London / 21st Norwich Arts Centre.

Produced by Grammy Nominated producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair, Clairo). Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest album Yarın Yoksa. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Şimşek with production by Leon Michels has yielded a stand out record that challenges genre with a broad appeal and a powerful message. They refer to themselves as “outernational” over international as they say it suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Derya, who sings and plays the bağlama, is German born to Turkish parents. Drummer Helen Wells is Berlin-based by way of South Africa while keyboard player Graham Mushnik and guitar/bass player Antonin Voyant are both French. The collective influences they bring to Anatolian music make for a completely unique and fresh sound that both pushes the genre forward and champions its rich heritage. Yarın Yoksa which translates to If There Is No Tomorrow delves into deeply personal pain and collective resistance with a central thread of loss, longing, and hope for change running throughout. The lyrics are poetic and rely heavily on symbolic language, metaphors, and storytelling while the music shifts track to track making each tune stand out on its own but work together perfectly as an album. “Cool Hand”, the first single released on Big Crown in September of 2024, is a beautiful juxtaposition of intensity and light-heartedness over a thoroughly infectious groove. The message is poetic and complicated, repeatedly declaring “I love you, I’m crazy about you” but ultimately finding a sense of peace through accepting a broken heart. “Direne Direne” is a protest song that embodies the struggle and tireless pursuit of justice encouraging people to resist oppression. Derya’s lyrics soar over the psych-soul musical backdrop as her story of personal struggle transforms to a universal call for resilience and strength. The slow and weighty vibe of “Yakamoz” lets onto the meaning of the lyrics even to those who don’t understand Turkish. It is a deeply moving song that captures the profound emotions connected to displacement and loss without knowing if you will ever return. The steady groove of the band, along with the anguished vocals paint a vivid picture of the devastation experienced by the protagonist who ultimately realizes that her roots are within her and anywhere she goes is her home. Nine of the tunes on the album are original compositions but they also take on three Anatollian folk songs with their own inimitable approach. The acapella introduction of “Misket”, a folk song from Ankara/Türkiye, will stop you in your tracks. The tune deals with death and how the living cope and continue a relationship with those who have passed away. Another traditional tune from Sivas that they put their signature sound to is “Hop Bico”, a tune about a playful character named Bico who is a symbol of vitality and spirit. The synth intro grabs your ear from the first note and the earworm chorus encouraging Bico to lead the group in celebration and embrace life through dance has the same effect on everyone who hears it. The band has taken a big step forward that you can hear on this record. Derya’s passion and authenticity is front and centre and the music is too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of all those who hear it, and just wait till you hear them play it live… Upcoming Tour Dates (+More To Be Added): 18th March The Deaf Institute, Manchester / 19th The Jam Jar, Bristol / 20th Scala, London / 21st Norwich Arts Centre.

Produced by Grammy Nominated producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair, Clairo). Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest album Yarın Yoksa. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Şimşek with production by Leon Michels has yielded a stand out record that challenges genre with a broad appeal and a powerful message. They refer to themselves as “outernational” over international as they say it suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Derya, who sings and plays the bağlama, is German born to Turkish parents. Drummer Helen Wells is Berlin-based by way of South Africa while keyboard player Graham Mushnik and guitar/bass player Antonin Voyant are both French. The collective influences they bring to Anatolian music make for a completely unique and fresh sound that both pushes the genre forward and champions its rich heritage. Yarın Yoksa which translates to If There Is No Tomorrow delves into deeply personal pain and collective resistance with a central thread of loss, longing, and hope for change running throughout. The lyrics are poetic and rely heavily on symbolic language, metaphors, and storytelling while the music shifts track to track making each tune stand out on its own but work together perfectly as an album. “Cool Hand”, the first single released on Big Crown in September of 2024, is a beautiful juxtaposition of intensity and light-heartedness over a thoroughly infectious groove. The message is poetic and complicated, repeatedly declaring “I love you, I’m crazy about you” but ultimately finding a sense of peace through accepting a broken heart. “Direne Direne” is a protest song that embodies the struggle and tireless pursuit of justice encouraging people to resist oppression. Derya’s lyrics soar over the psych-soul musical backdrop as her story of personal struggle transforms to a universal call for resilience and strength. The slow and weighty vibe of “Yakamoz” lets onto the meaning of the lyrics even to those who don’t understand Turkish. It is a deeply moving song that captures the profound emotions connected to displacement and loss without knowing if you will ever return. The steady groove of the band, along with the anguished vocals paint a vivid picture of the devastation experienced by the protagonist who ultimately realizes that her roots are within her and anywhere she goes is her home. Nine of the tunes on the album are original compositions but they also take on three Anatollian folk songs with their own inimitable approach. The acapella introduction of “Misket”, a folk song from Ankara/Türkiye, will stop you in your tracks. The tune deals with death and how the living cope and continue a relationship with those who have passed away. Another traditional tune from Sivas that they put their signature sound to is “Hop Bico”, a tune about a playful character named Bico who is a symbol of vitality and spirit. The synth intro grabs your ear from the first note and the earworm chorus encouraging Bico to lead the group in celebration and embrace life through dance has the same effect on everyone who hears it. The band has taken a big step forward that you can hear on this record. Derya’s passion and authenticity is front and centre and the music is too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of all those who hear it, and just wait till you hear them play it live… Upcoming Tour Dates (+More To Be Added): 18th March The Deaf Institute, Manchester / 19th The Jam Jar, Bristol / 20th Scala, London / 21st Norwich Arts Centre.

Printed sleeve / Visual from Enki.

Mr Protokick comes here with a 3 tracker : 3 BOMBS.
A side : 1 tune to bring its bass to the MAX volume.

A side 45 RPM
B side : 2 tracks 33 RPM.

This is a record to play.
This is not Music : it's DANCE !

In this edition we welcome back Samuel Padden and XOTR, and also see first collaboration release on tone dropout from label head honcho Sween and good friend Alphonse , and of course save the best to last a absolute banger from firm dropout fave Kostas G.

That side kicks off with a melodic uplifting breakbeat smasher called Downfall(epic mix), from Sween and Alphonse , lots of stabs and synths and pianos a real gradual classic, then we welcome XOTR- with Oddessey , an absolute stonker of a warehouse banger , real big deep sounds with a real old warehouse and trance feel, sounds great on the dance floor , this side starts with Samuel padden and a great four four bleep bass track called teslas still alive, then finally kostas G tears it up with an absolute breakbeat classic , beats bass and bleeps all make a dance floor filler and round off this quality selection of dance floor trax from the tone dropout crew .

first pressing sold out on pre-order - here's a repress for late March 2025 on green vinyl - new barcode, new SKU.

After a first This album cover is quite mysterious, isn't it? Let's uncover what's behind it. The first notes of the opening track immediately set the tone: the journey begins. Take the album title literally and allow yourself to be comforted by the tenderness the British band is about to offer.

Dream pop is a genre of its own, characterized by a warm sound, enveloping bass lines, dreamy synths, and beautiful vocals. With "No Rush," Tokyo Tea Room guides the listener through an exploration of their emotions and an escape from everyday life.

Each of the 13 tracks on this project exudes the same tender energy, yet stands out with creative and meticulously crafted compositions. This project is poised to become a staple of the genre.

Seer Record Co is back with even harder hitting trax! Our second release comes direct from Montreal via Brazil. Seer DJ Hermano ful«lls his prophecy and is forever etched on the soundwaves of the Discodrama EP. As if fallen from heaven, this Balearic driven 12” has everything you could need. From
downtempo to peak time 303 business, seer-002 is a must have in DJ crates. On the A side A1 explores the 303- Balearic connection, while on A2, we are blessed by Kodemul’s essential bass thumping rub, battle tested at Panorama and approved. On the ¬ip side for B1, fresh off their Mutek Debut, DJ Hermano summons OJPB to help him weave spells of sound into the fabric of time. A hazy, windows-down, synthesizer-draped downtempo hit! Last but certainly not least, is CDMX’s «nest, Soos. Bringing us on the PM side of things for B2, with coma-inducing 90s style deep house stabs, immensely lush roll-your-eye-back pads and cutting edge «nger snaps ! “Turning the intangible into something that can be heard, felt, and lived.” -Seer Record Co.

Shadow Child & DJ Haus Present RHYTHM FORCE VOL.1 - a deep dive into the aquatic vaults of orgasmic synth pads being sponged by rusty breakz & saturated sub bass

DJ Support: Erol Alkan, Kenneth Bager, Leo Mas, FFan, Sean Johnston (ALFOS), Max Essa, Coyote, Ban Ban Ton Ton, Chris Coco

Hell Yeah series File Under Balearic Gabba continues its mission to bring some vital, previously digital-only Balearic Gabba weaponry to vinyl for the first time. This second volume has artwork by Planet Luke and features Wallace next to new school stars SIRS and Pedro Bertho.

Tartan Records label head and British talent Wallace opens up with a remix of Sewell And The Gong's 'Better Words' that has been a real summer hit for label head Marco Gallerani.

The original came on Jason Boardman's fine Before I Die label and is one of those jams that transcends genre and wins over techno heads, Adriatic beach groovers and festival main stages alike. It is 'proper Balearic Gabba' says Marco with its tropical percussion, humid pads and watery droplets all adding lush atmosphere to the dubby drums. The chords and reedy leads are beautifully delicate but get floors in a blissed-out, loved-up trance.

SIRS is an artist on fire right now and already impressed on this label with his remix of Aura Safari which is one of the year's standout Balearic house jams. He has a new single on the way for Hell Yeah but first flips label mate My Friend Dario's 'Tellaro' into a wobbly, psyched-out dub disco and breakbeat chugger. The zippy synths and shimmering keys are underpinned with a taught bassline and playful vocals that bring great fun and irresistible party vibes to any set.

Hell Yeah mainstay Verdo then has his 'Boulevardier' remixed by Pedro Bertho, a rising talent from Brazil with a steamy South American style. This one is a modern beach classic that unites both young and old heads with its frayed analogue drums and snappy percussion joining the dots between 80s Chicago house, new age and Balearic with its big piano chords and phased bass all getting hands the air.

There's iconic. Then there's *iconic*.

A MASSIVE speaker-smashing release, decades overdue. It's been bootlegged - shamefully so, many times over the years - but finally we present the first ever officially licensed reissue of this truly special Afro-disco-not-disco LP from 1979. A favourite of Harvey, Antal, Young Marco and, er, every great DJ to ever play deep records ever, basically. It's not hard to see - or, indeed, *feel* why.

Gem after gem of relentless, irresistibly funky gold, it's an incredibly revelatory album with endlessly complex drum patterns and basslines to dive into, throughout. Truly, this is uniquely FIRE music, unlike anything else you've ever heard, based on Gwo ka music from the gorgeous islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. A thrilling synthesis of primal, hypnotic drums - the most tribal of percussive elements high in the mix throughout - with the loping synth pyrotechnics of, amongst a whole host of other greats, Wally Badarou and bass power of disco funk don Sauveur Mallia (Arpadys, Spatial & Co.)

Originally released on the seminal French label Barclay, you'd be hard pressed to even find an original copy in nice condition anywhere, let alone for a reasonable price, so it's high time an officially licensed, remastered reissue came around. It's just the latest in a long line of Be With reissues where the music sounds like the - drop-dead dazzling - cover. This here is a true drum attack. BUY ON SIGHT!

Tumblack was a short-lived project, produced and arranged by electronic wizard Yves Hayat and it can certainly be regarded as one of the first examples of Zouk, mixing powerful disco-funk arrangements with Gwo ka, traditional music from Guadeloupe. Gwo ka is an Antillean Creole term for "big drum". You can say that again! It refers to both a family of hand drums and the music played with them, which is a major part of Guadeloupean folk music.Whilst the first side is credited to the exceptional Tumblack band, the flip is given over to "Tumblack & Friends". These weren't just any old friends. Oh no, they were the absolute cream of the French scene (think Arpadys, Voyage, Le Club, Giant, CCPP, Synthesis, Swing Family) such as Sauveur Mallia, Wally Badarou, Marc Chantereau on percussion, Slim Pezin on guitar and Jean-Paul Batailley and Pierre Alain-Dahan handling drum duties.

The urgent, frantic "Fracas" gets things moving straight away with a cavalcade of drums and percussive funk before giving way to the stratospheric "Invocation", one of the album's many, many highlights. It's effectively one long heavenly drum break, a really hard, raw, tribal drum workout without a whole lot else going on - and all the better for it! One to make you sweat, no question. Up next, "Jubilé" is announced with a bellowing accapella voice, chanting the titular name before the heaviest of kicks smashes out your system and lulls you into an absolute state of bliss for nearly 6 minutes. Whoooooosh! Rounding out the sensational A-Side, "Vaudou" is a scratchy, funky patterned drum workout which - yep, yet again - absolutely slays your neck muscles, making them snap and contract in extraordinary fashion. TURN IT UP!

Ushering in the B-Side, the brief, fidgety, African chant-funk of "Parlement" segues seamlessly, beautifully into "Waka", an overwhelmingly rich gem of percussive funk. You do not want this to end, once it hits its stride. For maximum heavenly drum pleasure, you'd need to go a long way than the moment "Waka" feels like it's fading out before it kick-drum-blend into the mighty "Caraïba (Intro)". It's just staggeringly good. It's a minute-long layered drum prelude to the gigantic track which follows. Indeed, "Caraïba" is arguably the best loved and most well-known cut off the LP. And with good reason...featuring that Mallia bass, warm Rhodes and clavs, synth magic, memorably alto sax lines and, of course, tribal chanting.

Another mighty super-ahead-of-its-time classic, the bouncing bass heavy synth funk of "Chunga Funk" deploys Mallia and Wally Badarou (on Mini Moog) exceptionally well. I mean, come on, that bassline is just ridiculous. Try not to move to this one. This extraordinary record closes out with the more traditional Gwo ka sounds of "Bateau La Passé", the tribal chorus making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Tumblack really is a gorgeous late-70s disco-not-disco essential. It's an absolute MONSTER that will completely blow you away; and, yes, it's as compelling and trance-inducing as the cover. The audio for Tumblack has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The cover of Tumblack is so iconic and we sought special permission from original artist Hélène Majera to recreate this at Be With HQ. It absolutely zings off the print and serves as the perfect finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Basse Brevis der kanadischen Komponistin Sarah Davachi wurde im Rahmen des Festivals Présences 2024 uraufgeführt, das Steve Reich gewidmet war und von Radio France und INA grm gemeinsam in Auftrag gegeben wurde. Ausgehend von ihrem eigenen minimalistischen Ansatz erkundet Sarah Davachi mit äußerster Sorgfalt die Verflechtungen und komplexen Beziehungen zwischen den klanglichen, räumlichen und zeitlichen Komponenten der Musik. Mit Hilfe von Entwicklungen, die im Laufe der Zeit nachvollziehbar sind, gelingt es der Komponistin, eine äußerst präzise, subtile und lebendige Musik zu schaffen. Was jedoch auffällt und in Basse Brevis besonders deutlich wird, ist die Tatsache, dass ein derartiger Ansatz, der sowohl abstrakt als auch zurückhaltend ist, dennoch zuweilen äußerst ergreifend ist. Das Werk verbindet Momente der formalen Erkundung mit Momenten reiner Emotion auf perfekt beherrschte Weise und erzeugt eine sanfte Spannung, während es zwischen zwei Arten des Hörens schwankt, die sich unentschlossen zwischen instrumentalen und konkreten Ansätzen bewegen und parallel dazu eine Diagonale des Klangs nachzeichnen, die sich um Wahrnehmung, Empfindung und Gefühl herum entfaltet.

Francesco Sotgiu has forged a unique and very swinging project of songs. With a quintet consisting of Luigi Bonafede on piano, Emanuele Cisi and Riccardo Luppi on woodwinds, Salvatore Maiore on bass, Francesco on drums, and with special guest Paolo Fresu on trumpet to cap off this heartfelt collection. There is also a nice diversity of groups within this larger collection. A nice trio piece called “Calm” featuring Paolo Birro sitting in with Marco Micheli and Francesco. And one called “Lotus Blossom” where Francesco shows his considerable skills and soul on violin. But the bulk of the material is straight-ahead jazz and is totally swinging and soulful, proving that jazz has no borders and is a worldwide language to which Francesco has added to that tradition with this project and all the great voices he has included here. Bravo maestro.

This is the comment of Gil Goldstein, American accordion player who won 5 Grammys and collaborated with giants such as Gil Evans, Wayne Shorter, and Michel Petrucciani.

This record was recorded in the middle of the pandemic times, and most of the work for preparing this record took place via the telephone: the selection of the songs on paper, the exchange of ideas on arrangements, staff and instruments, a sort of “phone rehearsal” of the structure of the songs, with the choice of a solo; everything else, everything that will happen in the recording sessions, is the result of a controlled improvisation, a jam session masterfully captured in the studio through the use of well-positioned ribbon microphones.

This is why “Passing,” literally “passing” or “crossing”: because the musicians have gone through listening to these songs as teenagers, and find themselves today, as a mature meeting of old friends who create an informal game made of nostalgic fun, great personality, confrontation, and deep spirituality. In the classic “Caravan” by Ellington and Tizol or “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria, Coltrane toning, the Latin accent of the rhythm section supports the interpretation of the theme and the interplay in the solos between the soprano and tenor saxophones by Cisi & Luppi, and the piano by Bonafede.

A certain elegance in the execution distinguishes pieces such as Duke Ellington’s “Sound of Love,” yet another tribute by Mingus to the Duke, with a calibrated solo on the double bass of Maiore and the flute by Luppi, the immortal “Take Five” by Paul Desmond, with the highlighted soprano by Cisi, “Wishes,” “7th Street,” and the eponymous “Passing,” all pieces composed by Sotgiu, characterized by the precise medium/fast drive of the drums and a certain “cinematic” taste of the main themes.

In songs such as “Black Bats and Poles,” composed by trumpeter Jack Walrath for the Mingus Orchestra, and in “Stranatole,” an original piece in which Sotgiu writes a theme of Monk’s influence and enjoys overturning the traditional “Anatole Jazz” structure, the quintet opts for an effective hard bop language, with exciting moments of dazzling virtuosity in Bonafede’s solo. While in Coltrane’s “Wise One” and McCoy Tyner’s “Ballad for Aisha,” we enter a modal, mystical, and ceremonial jazz, of a cosmic depth, which seems to hover in the sweet volume of the great hall of the recording studio. These are truly magnificent interpretations.

A special separate mention for two classics such as “My Foolish Heart” by Victor Young, performed in trio by Sotgiu, Maiore, and the unmistakable trumpet by Paolo Fresu, and the (unfortunately very short) “Lotus Blossom” by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, which in the piano-violin duo of Birro and Sotgiu, in a minute gives a suspended momentary magic, sums up the roots of African-American jazz music, and also referencing an old-fashioned Italian musical sensitivity, typical of Nino Rota’s music for Federico Fellini’s films.

On the first day of Spring 2025, LNFG are proud to plant, into your musical
consciousness, The Instant Garden by Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys) & Matt
Deighton (Mother Earth)The Instant Garden is a sonic assortment of open
tuned acoustics and ferocious electrics with psychedelic melodies and bells
and bass
Imagine Fred Neil & Marc Bolan bonding over Five Leaves Left and you might conjure
something close to the intimate beauty of this record.
On the first day of Spring 2025, LNFG are proud to plant, into your musical
consciousness, The Instant Garden by Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys) & Matt Deighton
(Mother Earth) - The Instant Garden is a sonic assortment of open tuned acoustics
and ferocious electrics with psychedelic melodies and bells and bass - Imagine Fred
Neil & Marc Bolan bonding over Five Leaves Left and you might conjure something
close to the intimate beauty of this record.

On the first day of Spring 2025, LNFG are proud to plant, into your musical
consciousness, The Instant Garden by Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys) & Matt
Deighton (Mother Earth)The Instant Garden is a sonic assortment of open
tuned acoustics and ferocious electrics with psychedelic melodies and bells
and bass
Imagine Fred Neil & Marc Bolan bonding over Five Leaves Left and you might conjure
something close to the intimate beauty of this record.
On the first day of Spring 2025, LNFG are proud to plant, into your musical
consciousness, The Instant Garden by Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys) & Matt Deighton
(Mother Earth) - The Instant Garden is a sonic assortment of open tuned acoustics
and ferocious electrics with psychedelic melodies and bells and bass - Imagine Fred
Neil & Marc Bolan bonding over Five Leaves Left and you might conjure something
close to the intimate beauty of this record.

Abstract Orchestra's composer, leader, arranger and producer Rob Mitchell has now added remixing to his already notable list of credits, in this case turning his hand to Abstract's MADVILLAIN project. Rob has worked with many artists during his busy career; The Haggis Horns, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Sharon Jones and the Dap–Kings, Brand New Heavies, and Slum Village, alongside many others but it was the orchestra's work he wanted to revisit. Seeing the pandemic as an opportunity to spend more time in the studio, Rob spent several months polishing his production skills before embarking on this remix project, he wanted to make sure he did it justice. Working under the moniker Ghostlife, a nod to the fabled anonymity of rapper MF DOOM, Rob has reworked the big band orchestration of Abstract, creating a beat led affair with greater dance floor appeal.

For Abstract Orchestra MADVILLAIN REMIXES, Ghostlife cherry picked ten tracks from Abstract's two-album project and plays with a higher BPM count within the hip hop aesthetic of the original. The tracks include "Raid", "Fancy Clown", "Curls", and "Figaro" and in this case Ghostlife has forgone the big arrangements Abstract is known for, rather he has coaxed out hooks and samples from their tracks and produced something he hope will appeal to a different crowd. There is dancefloor potential in "Eye","Accordian" and bass heavy "Borrowed Time" while the reworks of 'Fancy Clown" and "Curls" would fit well into any radio show.

From the deepest trenches of deadstock 45s and the unsung annals of soft rock infamy, we present SR4HT02: (Till You're) Back In My Arms.

Universal Cave and the Street Road Band cover Dan Strimer with Insured Sound's cult anthem (Till You're) Back In My Arms which was originally released as a 45 in 1977 on Lost Nation Records out of Guysville, Ohio. When Universal Cave featured Back in My Arms on Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8 in 2023, we reached out to Dan Strimer to tell him how much we loved his record, and quickly made a friend who helped us release a cover of his song 47 years after it first came out. Dan is still making music to this day and there are even rumors of some unreleased recordings making their way out in the near future.

On vacation in Hawaii when we released Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8, Alex Tebbs Mitchell of Universal Cave kept coming back to Dan's catchy, rural classic rock tune. When Alex returned to Philadelphia, he assembled the Street Road Band to record a laid back, 'southwestern Balearic' cover version with André Ethier on vocals, Charles Simon on guitar, Jesse Spearhawk on Pedal Steel, Alex Tebbs Mitchell on Rhodes and bass, Ryan M. Todd on synthesizers, and Shawn Ryan and Brian Cassidy on additional programming and arrangement. The result is a blissful soft rock ballad inspired by the likes of Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler.

After recording the cover, we called in the UK's finest Balearic maestro's Coyote to take the multitracks to the White Isle and back for a remix worthy of Cafe Del Mar. Coyote send the song into a dreamy, dubby, deep house groove, confirming that the record is, in fact, Balearic.

Mixed by Alex Tebbs Mitchell
Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman

It's hard to imagine El León Pardo, a loyal advocate of some of the most advanced projects in which folklore is the road map and the destination itself, without his kuisi. It's hard to see him with his hands free. Always holding on to that ancestral instrument, that pre-Colombian flute that survived the conquest and has become a symbol of resistance, overcoming the ravages of time, the imposition of ideologies, dogmas and religions. Despite all that, the kuisi continues with its liberating sound, the power of its cry, its invitation to dance, its sound a cure and a blessing. That's why it leads the way in this Viaje Sideral ("Space Voyage"), an astral journey in which the kuisi is the vehicle and the life force of the rhythm. Viaje Sideral feels like floating eternally in the infinite cosmos. This second long player from El León Pardo is inspired by humanity's relationship with the stars, escaping to mythical planes and led into a trance by Caribbean percussions, analog synths, deep bass, electric guitars and the hypnotic vibrations of the kuisis and trumpets that complete the soundtrack of this voyage. Through these nine songs, El León Pardo continues to create a sound of his own, evolving in his intention to pay tribute to the psychedelia of the tropical world of the Caribbean in the 1970s and 80s, but this time also taking as reference artists like Terry Riley, Kraftwerk and Mad Professor, including the roots of ambient and electronic music with the characteristic sound of the kuisi, an encounter of dreamlike and astral sounds, with the music of the bandas pelayeras of the tropics and figures like Pedro Laza and Juan Lara. In this new universe the Cartagena trumpeter dialogs with the past, processing the ideas that have emerged over the years and morphed into his personal search that gives an identity to his ideas, nurtured by figures like producer Diego Gómez (Llorona Records, Discos Pacífico, Cerrero) who awoke his interest in electronic instruments, Edson Velandia and kuisi maestros like Juan Carlos Medrano and Fredy Arrieta. In his sound there is a particular feature, one that contains histories of personal experiences, accompanied by the kuisi, including ancient Zenú flutes dating from between 600 and 800 AD and which helped create the atmosphere of "Invocación." "Viaje Sideral," the song that gives the album its name, was born from a dream in which two stars speed towards the earth and an imminent collision. As the record continues, the stellar connection becomes clear with songs like "Urmah" with Edson Velandia, inspired by an article about extra-terrestrial races and how the Urmah were a race of hominid felines, the greatest geneticists of the universe; and "Cumbia espacial," featuring rapping from N. Hardem, seeking to create that aura of immensity and consciousness of the infinity of the universe.

Ignite’s A Place Called Home 25th anniversary edition on vinyl with bonus tracks out in March 2025 Svart Records is proud to reissue the Californian melodic hardcore band Ignite’s album A Place Called Home. Previously released on vinyl only on its original release date in 2000 on TVT Records, A Place Called Home will finally be available on wax again on March 21st, 2025. Formed in Orange County in 1993, Ignite's sound is hard to pin down. Their music contains elements of punk, hardcore, alternative, and even heavy metal. Their 30-year career has produced several classic albums with A Place Called Home being their commercial breakthrough album, combining the spirit and muscle of hardcore and the catchy tunes of west coast punk rock. Sixteen songs loaded with great hooks, compelling, socially conscious lyrics, and the heaviness that hard music fans love. The band’s bassist and founding member Brett Rasmussen comments the reissue: "When I found out that the guys at Svart Records were licensing A Place Called Home for a vinyl reissue I was beyond stoked. This album will finally be available again, after being out of press for so long, and this time there will be colored vinyl! I'm really looking forward to spinning this reissue and I'm happy that it will be available for our fans to enjoy again on a turntable." The authorised Svart Records 25th anniversary edition of this modern genre-defining classic contains three bonus tracks previously only available on the European CD version of the album and comes with an insert. Available on Svart exclusive black & white marble vinyl, limited transparent red vinyl, and classic black vinyl. A Place Called Home is out on March 21st, 2025.

Ignite’s A Place Called Home 25th anniversary edition on vinyl with bonus tracks out in March 2025 Svart Records is proud to reissue the Californian melodic hardcore band Ignite’s album A Place Called Home. Previously released on vinyl only on its original release date in 2000 on TVT Records, A Place Called Home will finally be available on wax again on March 21st, 2025. Formed in Orange County in 1993, Ignite's sound is hard to pin down. Their music contains elements of punk, hardcore, alternative, and even heavy metal. Their 30-year career has produced several classic albums with A Place Called Home being their commercial breakthrough album, combining the spirit and muscle of hardcore and the catchy tunes of west coast punk rock. Sixteen songs loaded with great hooks, compelling, socially conscious lyrics, and the heaviness that hard music fans love. The band’s bassist and founding member Brett Rasmussen comments the reissue: "When I found out that the guys at Svart Records were licensing A Place Called Home for a vinyl reissue I was beyond stoked. This album will finally be available again, after being out of press for so long, and this time there will be colored vinyl! I'm really looking forward to spinning this reissue and I'm happy that it will be available for our fans to enjoy again on a turntable." The authorised Svart Records 25th anniversary edition of this modern genre-defining classic contains three bonus tracks previously only available on the European CD version of the album and comes with an insert. Available on Svart exclusive black & white marble vinyl, limited transparent red vinyl, and classic black vinyl. A Place Called Home is out on March 21st, 2025.

We are thrilled to announce another underground gem on our label. This time, it's Collage's incredible 4-track EP "Mit den Puppen tanzen" (Dancing With The Puppets). Originally released in 1984 on the small FMusic label, the 12" EP is a true highlight in German Electro and NDW history, becoming a sought-after item among collectors. It features intense lyrics by singer Katrin A. Kunze, with music composed by Markus Kammann and Jürgen Grah.

Kammann and Grah, both originally from Solingen - a small city near Wuppertal - had previously collaborated on the new wave project Schwarze Bewegung with a different singer. Their self-titled LP was released in 1982 on Bacillus/Bellaphon. During this period, the electro sound pioneered by Kraftwerk evolved into electro-funk, sparked by the release of Afrika Bambaataa's groundbreaking track "Planet Rock", which achieved global acclaim. The iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine, masterfully employed by Arthur Baker's production team, revolutionized dance music with further hits like "Looking for the Perfect Beat" and collaborations with Planet Patrol. Markus Kammann cites these tracks, along with black music as a whole, as key influences on his work. In contrast, much of the electronic music emerging from Germany at the time rather leaned towards the styles of artists like Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. Kammann's influences are evident in Collage's EP, which incorporates elements of early electronic hip-hop, such as the scratching sounds in the title track (created with tape rather than turntables) and short rap segments in "Niemals zurück".

By this time, Kammann and Grah had acquired their own Roland 808 as well as a JUNO-60 keyboard. Grah, originally a drummer, played keyboards and vibraphone, while Kammann, primarily a guitarist, also played bass. All the lyrics on the EP were written and performed by Kathrin A. Kunze, who hailed from Cuxhaven, a northern German city. She moved to Wuppertal around 1983 to study literature, and the group Collage was born.

Through Uwe Bauer, drummer of Fehlfarben, and their manager Horst Lüdge (of Profil), Collage connected with Werner Lambertz, a legendary sound technician from Düsseldorf. Lambertz's state-of-the-art studio featured custom-built sequencers capable of triggering the JUNO-60, as well as expensive equipment like a vocoder. Over the course of a week, the group completed all four tracks.

The EP's hard yet playful electro beats were complemented by Kunze's distinctive performance and introspective lyrics, which lent the songs a uniquely German and wavy touch. Her subtle songwriting conveyed a sense of paranoia and sorrow, as seen in lines like "Ich glaub mir selber nicht. Wer hält denn schon, was er verspricht?" ("I don't believe myself. Who stays true to their word, anyway?").

Unfortunately, the EP was never properly promoted and was distributed solely through the independent market via EFA. Despite this, Collage continued working on new material and pre-recorded an album that garnered label's attention. Polydor expressed interest but proposed using the compositions for a solo project with singer Inga Humpe (of Neonbabies), who was already signed to their roster. This would have required replacing Kunze as the vocalist, an idea the group firmly rejected. As a result, the album was never released. In 1987, Kammann, Grah, and Kunze launched another project called Cold End, which released another brilliant and highly sought-after 12" single, Metropolitan Jungle, originally issued on Tam Tam and recently re-released.

The first-ever reissue of "Mit den Puppen tanzen" is limited to only 400 copies - 200 on classic black vinyl and 200 on blue transparent vinyl. The cover art remains true to the original 12" release, designed by the aforementioned Uwe Bauer (aka Bimbo Art). This reissue is a must-have for DJs and collectors alike

The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound - or more accurately, the Young Widows feel - is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album. The heaviness of Power Sucker isn't mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career. Historical accomplishments aside, Power Sucker has the shock and wonder of a new band's debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.

The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound - or more accurately, the Young Widows feel - is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album. The heaviness of Power Sucker isn't mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career. Historical accomplishments aside, Power Sucker has the shock and wonder of a new band's debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.

"Tonky" ist Lonnie Holleys fünftes Studioalbum und enthält Gastauftritte von Isaac Brock, Angel Bat Dawid, Billy Woods, Alabaster de Plume, Mary Lattimore und anderen. Bei der Leadsingle "Protest With Love" ist Jacknife Lee, der auch das gefeierte Vorgängeralbum "Oh Me Oh My" produziert hat, als Bassist, Keyboarder, Synthesizer, Schlagzeuger, Programmierer, Flötist, Percussionist und Sänger zu hören. Weitere Mitwirkende sind The Legendary Ingramettes am Gesang, Kelly Pratt an den Bläsern und Flöten, Jordan Katz an den Bläsern und natürlich Holley am Gesang. Holley fordert die Zuhörer auf, "mit Liebe zu protestieren" und "die Liebe zu deiner Waffe zu machen". Es gibt Dichter wie die große Mary Oliver, die vorschlagen, dass die Hauptfunktion des Menschen, wenn er sich durch die Welt bewegt, solange er Leben und die Fähigkeit hat, sich durch die Welt zu bewegen, darin besteht, dem Aufmerksamkeit zu schenken, was andere törichterweise als klein oder alltäglich bezeichnen mögen. Das Gehirn und das Herz sind beides Gefäße, die so viel Platz haben, wie man ihnen zugestehen möchte, und zu leben bedeutet, Sammlungen von gefundenen Zuneigungen zu schaffen. Die Geräusche der geliebten und vertrauten Häuser, die Bewegungen der Bäume und der Menschen unter ihnen, die Art und Weise, wie jemand, den man verehrt, einen ein paar Sekunden lang umarmt, bevor er sich aus der Umarmung löst und in einer überfüllten Fußgängerzone verschwindet. Wenn wir unser Leben, unser Schaffen und unsere Liebe auf diese Weise betrachten, bedeutet das, dass wir, zumindest für einige von uns, durch die Aussicht auf das, was als Nächstes kommt, vorwärts getrieben werden können. Welchen Moment wir festhalten und in unsere überquellenden Taschen stecken können. Die Arbeit von Lonnie Holley ist ein Werk dieser Art von Anhäufung und genauer Aufmerksamkeit. Das Vergnügen, einen Klang zu finden und ihn gegen einen anderen gefundenen Klang und einen weiteren zu pressen, bis der Hörer, bevor er es merkt, von einer Klangsinfonie überflutet wird, die sich anfühlt, als würde sie sich zusammenfügen, während sie über einen hinwegspült. "Tonky" ist ein Album, das seinen Namen von einem Spitznamen aus der Kindheit hat, der Holley anhaftete, als er einen Teil seiner Kindheit in einem Honky Tonk verbrachte. Lonnie Holleys Leben des Überlebens und der Ausdauer erforderte - und erfordert zweifellos immer noch - eine Art Erfindung. Eine Erfindung, die auch in Holleys Liedern reichhaltig und präsent ist, die auf "Tonky" voll und eindringlich sind, einem Album, das mit seinem längsten Lied beginnt, einem neunminütigen, erschöpfenden Marathon eines Stücks namens "Seeds", das mit einem einzigen spärlichen Klang beginnt und sich dann ausdehnt. Gesänge, schwache Tasten, Streicher und als Krönung Holleys Stimme, die nicht singt, sondern klar und deutlich von der Arbeit auf der Erde erzählt, als er jung war, und von der Gewalt, die er dabei ertragen musste, als er blutig und mit Schmerzen von Schlägen ins Bett ging. Der Song weitet sich zu einer Metapher über den Ort aus, über das Versagen des Zuhauses oder eines Ortes, der einen beschützen soll, der nicht das hält, was er zu sein vorgibt, selbst wenn man unermüdlich daran arbeitet, daran arbeitet, daran arbeitet, etwas Sinnvolles daraus zu machen. "Seeds" gibt nicht nur den Ton für ein Album an, das sich um Wiedergeburt, Erneuerung und die Grenzen von Hoffnung und Glaube dreht, sondern unterstreicht auch, was Holleys größte Stärke als Musiker ist, nämlich sein Engagement für Fülle und Großzügigkeit. Er ist ein unglaublich begabter Geschichtenerzähler, der sich der mündlichen Tradition verschrieben hat, so dass viele Hörer völlig zufrieden wären, wenn sie zu Füßen einer Lonnie-Holley-Platte säßen und seinen robusten, ausladenden Erzählungen lauschen könnten. Aber "Tonky" ist ein Album, das sowohl klanglich als auch in Bezug auf die vielen verschiedenen Künstler, die auf dem Album vertreten sind, einen Platz bietet, an dem sie sich zu Hause fühlen können, ganz gleich, wie sie die Zeit verbringen, die sie für einen Song brauchen.

Orange Vinyl. Benefits return with the their highly anticipated second album, "Constant Noise" Due out 21st March via Invada Records,"Constant Noise" follows the band's debut album `NAILS' which earned widespread press and radio support and appeared in album of the year lists inc. Louder Than War (#1), BBC 6Music, NME, The Quietus,The Line Of Best Fit and more. After a succession of different line-ups, Benefits have now settled as a two-piece made up of Hall and electronic virtuoso Robbie Major. "We're still angry" says Hall, "just angry in a different way to before. If the previous record was black and white, we wanted this to be technicolour." The first taste of this new musical direction came in the form of "Land Of The Tyrants", which saw the band delving into bass-heavy, dance inflected rhythms and subtle industrial undercurrents. Follow-up single `Relentless' featured The Libertines' Peter Doherty and saw the band move further into ambient electronic atmospherics. Doherty is just one of the collaborators on the new record, Zera Tonin, the singer of queerpop-electro duo Arch Femmesis, Neil Cooper of Therapy?, and Middlesborough rapper Shakk all make cameos. In addition to the guest musicians, the album also features production from James Welsh (Phantasy Sound), and James Adrian Brown (ex-Pulled Apart By Horses)who helped to guide the new direction. The result is an album that gleans as much from the likes of Underworld and Leftfield as it does the likes of The Streets or Beastie Boys in their pomp, or even the 90s / early 00s Indie Sleaze-era. Orange vinyl comes with full album download (inc. two tracks not on vinyl)

Luponero aus Finnland ist ein alternatives Hardrock-Kraftpaket, angeführt von Marco Luponero, dem Gründer von Terrorwheel und späterem Altaria-Bassisten. Die explosive Energie und die mitreissenden Melodien des Trios haben ihnen eine treue Anhängerschaft eingebracht und ihre rohen, ehrlichen Texte spiegeln das Chaos und die Schönheit des modernen Lebens wider. Auf ihrem selbstbetitelten Debütalbum erforschen Luponero einen positiven Nihilismus, inspiriert von einer breiten Palette an Einflüssen, von Grunge, Punkrock und Classic Rock bis zu 80er-Synthwave, Ambient-Pop und Post-Punk.

Geniusz, Minor Talent, Generational Talent. Let the old folks fight it out. Sharp Pins are too busy staying up late watching vampire movies. Fathers and Children of the Revolution. Finally cartographed and designed by the actual Youth in Revolt "Nothing Stands in their way, they ARE the face of today". How can you tell you've been in the presence of the Sharp Pins? You see their sticker on yr phone, yr car, yr guitar, yr drums, yr bass, yr clarinet, yr flugelhorn, yr tuba, yr dog - its a MOD MOD WORLD, we're just living in it. 14 tracks 33RPM. Sharp Pins is the super solid lo-fi noise pop project of talented Chicago musician Kai Slater of Lifeguard and Dwaal Troupe."Radio DDR" originally released at home as a Hallogallo tape. "Youth Revolution Now".

Way back in 1962 all roads led to Dartford in Kent when a coming together of influences would result in the formation of the world’s greatest rock and roll band,The Rolling Stones...
Mick Jagger the singer and Keith Richards lead guitarist were both fans of early rockers Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, whilst rhythm guitarist and harmonica player Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart would be immersed in the Blues that were coming from Chicago,the same influences would bring the original bassist Dick Taylor and drummer Tony Chapman to the party.

This album is produced by Neil Perch in the Alte Ziegelei studio and features the world reknowned Zion Train brass section along with vocals from Zion Train singer `Cara' and the award winning poet Roger Robinson. Featured on several tracks is Paolo Baldini playing guitars and bass guitar alongside veteran musicians - Trinny Fingers, Blacka Wilson, Dreada One and Professor Skank who hails from Crete. For this album Zion Train return to their roots with copious amounts of analogue Dub mixing performed by Perch on his TAC Scorpion vintage mixing desk. With mastering at the Pressure Mastering, and artwork by the highly acclaimed anarchist artist Marko Gin from Croatia, this album presents Zion Train at their creative, anarchic best. Zion train are one of the most unique and enjoyable live dub acts on the planet, their use of dynamic onstage dub mixing whilst performing alongside acoustic instruments and exceptional vocalists, make Zion Train one of a kind.

Benefits kehren mit ihrem mit Spannung erwarteten zweiten Album "Constant Noise" zurück. "Constant Noise" erscheint am 21. März über Invada Records und folgt auf das Debütalbum "NAILS". Nach einer Reihe verschiedener Besetzungen haben sich Benefits nun als Zwei-Mann-Band etabliert, bestehend aus Frontmann Kingsley Hall und dem Elektronik-Virtuosen Robbie Major. "Wir sind immer noch wütend", sagt Hall, "nur auf eine andere Art als früher. Wenn die vorherige Platte schwarz-weiß war, wollten wir, dass diese Platte in Technicolor erstrahl". Der erste Vorgeschmack auf diese neue musikalische Richtung kam in Form von "Land Of The Tyrants", bei dem die Band in basslastige, tanzbare Rhythmen und subtile Industrial-Unterströmungen eintauchte. Bei der Nachfolgesingle "Relentless" wirkte Peter Doherty von den Libertines mit, und die Band bewegte sich weiter in Richtung elektronischer Ambient-Atmosphären. Doherty ist nur einer der Mitstreiter auf dem neuen Album. Zera Tonin, der Sänger des Queerpop-Elektro-Duos Arch Femmesis, Neil Cooper von Therapy? und der Rapper Shakk aus Middlesborough haben alle einen Gastauftritt. Zusätzlich zu den Gastmusikern wurde das Album von James Welsh (Phantasy Sound) und James Adrian Brown (ex-Pulled Apart By Horses) produziert, die die neue Richtung mitbestimmten. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das von Underworld und Leftfield ebenso viel hat wie von The Streets oder den Beastie Boys in ihrer Blütezeit oder sogar von der Indie-Sleaze-Ära der 90er und frühen 00er Jahre.

Cross Record's new album, Crush Me, is steeped in the pressures and wonders of existence—a profound statement, especially coming from artist and death doula Emily Cross. A two-and-a-half-year gestation period offered challenges, disappointments, and joys reflected in the cramped space of the album, which explores how we handle the weights we carry. Emily Cross had held hundreds of Living Funerals and was as many episodes deep into her podcast, What I’m Looking At. She was five years into serving clients as a death doula and fresh off a tour with Loma, her band with Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) and Dan Duszynski, when she began work on her fourth album. After moving from Austin, TX to Dorset, UK, she established the Steady Waves Center for Contemplation (named after a track from her second record, Wabi-Sabi ), where she hosted Living Funerals, met clients, scheduled mindful tea sessions, and showcased experimental music nights. All the while, she was scribbling down song ideas. Cross’s Tascam four-track demos finally reached readiness, and she sent them to an interested major independent label. She was encouraged to push her imagination to the limits of what a record could be. So, unlike her usual process of recording as inexpensively as possible, she prepared a two-week recording session in Germany with a group of skilled musicians from around the world. True to her previous work, Cross left plenty of room in her demos for experimentation, collaboration, chance, improvisation, and complete obliteration, then resurrection when necessary. Comfort and traditional structure were eschewed in favor of unaccountable magic, prayers whispered into The Void. Cross is comfortable with the chaotic and unpredictable, a perspective demanded by her work and writing style. The Berlin Airbnb was packed with people, instruments and luggage. During a ride down in a tiny elevator to the studio, Cross realized how central the sense of being crushed was to the album. “I thought of it later and it dawned on me that ‘Crush Me’ perfectly embodied the record,” says Cross. Yes, the weight of a body laying limply atop yours, or the tight squeeze of a hug, can be pleasant. Go too far, and you’re in the hands of a cruel, adolescent god. Upon leaving Germany, the record was unfinished, and without a roadmap. As passages were recorded as isolated parts, Cross and musician Marcin Sulewski collaborated, facing a haphazard brick pile, waiting to be assembled. Work dipped in and out of view like a buoy bobbing in a violent sea over many months. During that time, the aforementioned interested label went radio silent, suddenly not seeming so sure of a thing. Collaborators disappeared, continuing the themes of abandonment, surrender, and disarray that followed the project. Cross physically felt her entire body go numb: In a twist of fate, the record was rescued by long-time friend and supporter Ben Goldberg at Ba Da Bing Records who was eager to help realize the project. Cross worked for months on the album, all the while nursing a pregnancy and continuing her full-time funeral work. The last minute participation of Seth Manchester of Machines with Magnets, who mixed and mastered, was an essential liferaft. He gave true final form to the abstracted songs. Crush Me has the effect of a spell being cast, with songs balancing heaviness and levity. Vocals, guitars, and keyboards float above, as drums and upright bass (often bowed) lurch beneath. On “Rolling Backwards” percussion wanders about while feedback squeals and persists in the distance. “Dorset Area Of Natural Beauty” starts with a thick, unhinged church organ progression punctuated by the disquieting sounds of laughter reaching the point of hysteria. “God Fax” is a slow-moving panic attack, with shallow breaths in and out framing a guttural cacophony like a wooden freighter encountering increasingly turbulent waters and vocals struck emotionless by autotune. The album ends with “Twisted Up Fence,” a reflection on life from outside the wall--wistful, warm, and comforting. Cross, likely with a smile on her face, sings: “You say it’s an endless abyss” “And I say the abyss is the best”

Der ranzige Kern von Cerebral Rot, bestehend aus Ian Schwab (Gitarre / Gesang) und Clyle Lindstrom (Gitarre), ist nach wie vor dabei, doch die Rhythmusgruppe von Corpus Offal, bestehend aus Jason Sachs (Bass) und Jesse Shreibman (Schlagzeug), sorgt nun für intensive Wellen von magenverbrennendem Übelkeit. Nach der letztjährigen Demo-Entjungferung präsentieren Corpus Offal ihr selbstbetiteltes Album, das wie eine eiternde Leiche aus der mitternächtlichen Kanalisation auftaucht: faulig, pulverisierend und auf perverse Weise belebend.

Eine knüppelnde Autopsie von Death Metal, Gore und Deathgrind. Die tief gestimmten Grooves, die unharmonischen Leads und das Mid-Tempo-Rumpeln von Cerebral Rot sind in Tracks wie 'Spinous Forms of Mortal Abhorrence' und dem Titeltrack zu hören, während sie die Messlatte für Tansformation in noch grässlichere, verflüssigte Formen legen. Die gurgelnden Schleimvocals von Ian Schwab sind gefährlich radioaktiv, direkt aus dem versiegelten Keller eines nuklearen Leichenschauhauses beschworen und erzählen von einem Splatterfest aus morbider Poesie, verwesendem Fleisch, absurden Experimenten und grausamen Überschreitungen. Jeder Song liest sich wie die Akte eines Gerichtsmediziners, gekreuzt mit dem fiebrigen Geschwafel eines Psychopathen - präzise in seinem anatomischen Horror und abstoßend in seiner bizarren Verderbtheit.

Wenn Corpus Offal seinen katastrophalen Abschluss findet, ist man erschöpft, desorientiert und fragt sich, ob man ein Meisterwerk überlebt oder das musikalische Äquivalent eines Snuff-Films gesehen hat - und das mit einer unglaublich schweren Billy-Anderson-Produktion. Betritt also das Krematorium, atme tief ein und lass dich vom körperlichen Rausch des Gemetzels von Corpus Offal anstecken. Dies ist ein akustisches Schlachthaus und du bist der Kadaver.

Der ranzige Kern von Cerebral Rot, bestehend aus Ian Schwab (Gitarre / Gesang) und Clyle Lindstrom (Gitarre), ist nach wie vor dabei, doch die Rhythmusgruppe von Corpus Offal, bestehend aus Jason Sachs (Bass) und Jesse Shreibman (Schlagzeug), sorgt nun für intensive Wellen von magenverbrennendem Übelkeit. Nach der letztjährigen Demo-Entjungferung präsentieren Corpus Offal ihr selbstbetiteltes Album, das wie eine eiternde Leiche aus der mitternächtlichen Kanalisation auftaucht: faulig, pulverisierend und auf perverse Weise belebend.

Eine knüppelnde Autopsie von Death Metal, Gore und Deathgrind. Die tief gestimmten Grooves, die unharmonischen Leads und das Mid-Tempo-Rumpeln von Cerebral Rot sind in Tracks wie 'Spinous Forms of Mortal Abhorrence' und dem Titeltrack zu hören, während sie die Messlatte für Tansformation in noch grässlichere, verflüssigte Formen legen. Die gurgelnden Schleimvocals von Ian Schwab sind gefährlich radioaktiv, direkt aus dem versiegelten Keller eines nuklearen Leichenschauhauses beschworen und erzählen von einem Splatterfest aus morbider Poesie, verwesendem Fleisch, absurden Experimenten und grausamen Überschreitungen. Jeder Song liest sich wie die Akte eines Gerichtsmediziners, gekreuzt mit dem fiebrigen Geschwafel eines Psychopathen - präzise in seinem anatomischen Horror und abstoßend in seiner bizarren Verderbtheit.

Wenn Corpus Offal seinen katastrophalen Abschluss findet, ist man erschöpft, desorientiert und fragt sich, ob man ein Meisterwerk überlebt oder das musikalische Äquivalent eines Snuff-Films gesehen hat - und das mit einer unglaublich schweren Billy-Anderson-Produktion. Betritt also das Krematorium, atme tief ein und lass dich vom körperlichen Rausch des Gemetzels von Corpus Offal anstecken. Dies ist ein akustisches Schlachthaus und du bist der Kadaver.

Yellowstone is an American neo-Western drama television series. The series stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly and follows the conflicts along the shared borders of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, a large cattle ranch, the Broken Rock Indian reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and land developers. The first part of the fifth and final season premiered on November 13, 2022, with the second part scheduled to premiere on November 10, 2024. Composer Brian Tyler, who once worked and performed in a Native American musical group, said he worked hard to blend his knowledge of traditional Native American music with the melting pot of western cultures in his score. “What I ended up doing was finding ways to incorporate some of the percussion, some of the woodwinds, some of the instrumentation and weave it into things like cellos, basses, cimbaloms and all these exotic instruments,” Tyler said. The package includes an insert.

7FO: pronounced "nana f o" in English, "nana" being seven.Ryuno Nukegara: "dragon's husk". These are the only difficulties you'llencounter here. This is warm, friendly, very relaxed music, very"understandable" and yet intriguing, sure to appeal to fans ofelectronic ambient, dub and chill-out music, as well as artists likeHaruomi Hosono, Captain Ganja, La Monte Young, Equiknoxx andTapes.The Osaka-based 7FO combines groovily sparseelectronic percussion with similarly sparse dub-feel synth bass, aswell as pentatonic synth and steel pan melodies, the latter with anintriguing Okinawa/Sunda/Malay feel. Sparkling dub-influencedprocessing and thoughtful mixing gives us a music which istrans-oceanic, warm, and enveloping. Following releases onRVNG, Bokeh Versions and Metron,Ryu no Nukegarais availableon digital, CD and 12" LP, featuring a suite of four tracks and the20-minute title track, whose titular dragon is Asian: a potentsymbol of water, strength and good luck.

Repress on white vinyl featuring enhanced artwork, inspired by the original 2001 release.

Armagedda’s debut album, “The Final War Approaching”, is a hateful slab of youthful fervour. Originally released by the iconic cult label Sombre Record in 2001, this is black metal distilled to its purest, most unadulterated form. While drenched in lo-fi minimalism, the production is absolute perfection for the material. The piercing guitar leads cut through a dense fog of reverb, while the prominent bass and drums impart a malevolent force – all of which culminates in a sinister authenticity, inimitable and true.

Armagedda’s “Ond spiritism” (2004) is held in the same regard as the iconic releases by black metal contemporaries such as Funeral Mist, Watain, and Deathspell Omega. Boasting one of the best productions ever to emerge from Necromorbus Studio, the unique tonal quality of the guitars casts a hollow, haunting resonance – impeccably conveying the wistful, folk-infused dissonance. Creative basslines weave through sinister melodies, seamlessly integrated with the minimalist yet masterful percussion.

Artwork by E. Danielsson (Watain)

Divergence and Declaration is the second album by San Francisco Bay Area Darkwave duo Vague Lanes. The album features their signature two-bass configuration, with Mike Cadoo (Gridlock) handling the melodic six-string duties. At the same time, Badger McInnes (Here We Burn) propels the music forward with his low-end four-string.
The album opener, "Heptahedron", also features drums by Martin Atkins (P.I.L., Ministry, Killing Joke). The album's title eludes to the refinement and solidification of Vague Lane's manifesto, and by utilizing a more expanded pallet than their debut album Foundation and Divergence, the duo displays confidence in their creative trajectory and the overall substance of their musical voice.

Released in 1967 with personnel including Lonnie Liston Smith (piano), Ronnie Boykins (bass), and Grady Tate (drums), Now Please Don’t You Cry… marked the beginning of Roland Kirk’s groovier explorations that would eventually lead him to record Blacknuss (1971). It’s vintage Kirk in a pared-down setting and is considered an essential Kirk album. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.