Orbis X is a sublabel of Orbis Records and will be mainly focusing on softer yet often usable as DJ material for the broader mass interested in Electronic music. This sublabel is an extension of Orbis Records softer, more melodical and experimental side. Music will be ranging from house, dub, chicago over melodic acid and even breaks. Not any track makes it to this sublabel if it can't stand on its own and stand the test of time!
Aleksander Zekovski might not ring a bell but it should ring a bell within a few months.
We warmly welcome Moda on OrbisX with his very special and pure analog feel to sound.
Unique, funky, very good arrangements and multi-talented. Nothing more, nothing less.
Someone who deserves to be discovered or at least get a bigger audience.
We re taking the leap of faith with Moda, serving him a full EP to experiment.
The Roots EP was born.
The full EP is a mixture of funky beats with some housy touches with, in some phases, gentle and experimental dirty glitches.
Something to add to your collection. This EP can be played in quirky eclectic DJ sets, lounge bars or just at home with a nice glass of red wine.
Background music while having dinner with friends and you want to serve something special This is one of those special EP s!
Something To Talk About is funky, dreamy and sparks that twitchy leg movement when you doubt if you should be dancing or be slightly head banging to that tune.
That kinda track. Serves well with candles, wine and late night talks.
Under Her Skin might take off on a weird bit quirky dirty start, but when that lead kicks in, ... we were sold.
Extremely funky. Be aware: you can t hold yourself from clapping to this song.
On the B-side, "Winter Tale" counts as the second A track on the EP. Deep! Gentle and yet so snappy in it's own dirty way.
We fell in love from the first note, or should we say that filthy deep baseline, those dirty well mixed-in toms and snappy rude claps!
"Running Man". Well... if you like dreamy catchy house. This is for you.
A nice extra track, making this EP a brilliant pressing.
We can't emphasize the talent Alexander has.
We hope he gets more attention with this EP.
Full support for you Alex.
Breakbeat Paradise Recordings is turning back time to the early 70s when funk music was made by talented musicians joining forces in bands with the objective to create the next big funk anthem. So many big tunes and classic funk productions came out of this era and it also harnessed a new breed of funk bands across the globe who is dedicated to continuing the legacy of the funk music in the new millennium.
Breakbeat Paradise Recordings has proudly collected 4 bands to represent the new era of funk from various parts of Europe. German based Grand Slam, Swiss funk band Grand Mothers' Funck, Nasa Funk from Greece and A Man About a Dog from the UK has all provided original funk jams to this groovy 12" vinyl.
Leading the way on the a-side is Grand Slam who has created a big summer tune which sits in well with some of the current radio funk jams and will be sure to bring the ladies on the floor. Grand Slam has been around since 1985 by incorporating various flavors from Rock, Jazz, Soul and Hip Hop. The Get On Down jam from their upcoming release due May 2017 shows just how its done to do classic oldskool P-Funk which sounds as fresh as anything else on the radio here in 2017! Produced by (and featuring) veteran P-Funk legend Gary "Mudbone" Cooper!
Grand Mother's Funck means business on the straight up funky The Dog tune taken from their brand new album Take The Money. A special edit was done for this release as they are celebrating their 12th album release from a legendary veteran funk band who has been tearing up the Swiss funk scene for over 23 years now.
On the flipside the funk is riding equally high as Nasa Funk rolls in their Stand Up jam. Straight outta Thessaloniki, Greece comes this 5-man band with vocalist George Perin leading the way. This tune is produced with old friend of label Basement Freaks.
Last but certainly not least we turn our attention to the UK where the band A Man About a Dog has cooked up a latin-inspired and jazzy funk tune called Pollos.
That sums up the first all original funk release to be dropped on Breakbeat Paradise Recordings. After digging in a sampling so many great funk tunes over the years, this seemed like only right way to pay our respect to the genre of music we love and cherish so much.
[B] A2 | Grand Mother's Funck - The Dog (Throw Me A Bone Mix)
This Disco Funk Banger was discovered reasonably late in the game on the Deepfunk scene,. Vivian Lee's big powerful vocal over the pushy backing is what its all about, straight to the point short and sweet dance floor killer. This sounds better than the O.G which was pretty rough.
Brazil 45, number 57: 'Zózoio - Como É Que É' also known as 'Zozoi' is an uptempo samba-jazz-MPB workout with a catchy chorus hook, guitars, subtle driving percussion and big horns. The song was written by Joyce's husband Nelson Angelo. The track appears on Celia's first self-titled LP that was released on Continental in 1971 and remains hard to find. We are also big fans of France Gall's more well-known version, which was reissued by Jazzman several years ago. Featuring slightly different lyrics, in French, by her husband Robert Gall. 'Para Lennon e McCartney' comes from the same Celia LP - a soaring anthem with big horns, vocals and tough funk drums underneath. Written by Márcio & Lô Borges and Fernando Brant.
COMPILED BY PETE PASQUAL, ERICA OLSON & DJ KINETIC
Following on from acclaimed compilations like 'Down Under Nuggets' and 'Heavy Soul' (and two other new titles 'Running The Voodoo Down' and 'Dodgy Bossa (& Silly Sambas)' - details below), Festival Records presents another deep dig into the archives, this time shining a light on rare Australian soul-jazz, jazz-funk, and freaked-out groove rock from the late '60s and '70s.
BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN - AUSTRALIAN FUNK, SOUL & PSYCH (MOSTLY) FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS is a stunning 20 track CD and 2LP release that highlights a point when the previously disparate styles of rock, jazz and soul all started influencing each other, and exciting new genres were created. To quote the liner notes (by DJ Kinetic):
Australia produced some amazing music during the 60s and 70s that sat outside of the normal rock mould. Avant guard artists like John Sangster pushed boundaries and experimented with the fusion of local and overseas influences, artists like Dalvanius recorded soaring disco music that was lost amongst the popular music of the time, only to be rediscovered by DJs overseas who were searching for unknown sounds, composers like Brute Force and His Drum took risks and recorded left-field funky sounds hidden within their more mainstream compositions, and popular artists like Billy Thorpe occasionally strayed from their A&R directions and took leaves from the books of American artists who were largely unknown in Australia at the time. Beneath the veneer of bland rock and roll lay an unknown multitude of funky sounds hidden from mainstream view.
In addition to the artists that Kinetic mentions (and the compilation features two John Sangster tracks - stunning versions of 'Hair' and the Beatles' 'A Day In The Life'), the collection includes iconic names of the era like the Daly-Wilson Big Band (featuring Kerrie Biddell), Renee Geyer and the Johnny Rocco Band. '60s sides from Ross D Wyllie and The ID (featuring Jeff St John) reveal the various styles' roots in American rhythm & blues, and the unexpected inclusion of some legendary Australian rock outfits like Tamam Shud and Blackfeather reveals the psychedelic and progressive rock influences at play. The full range of the music is highlighted by the inclusion of both cabaret/daytime TV performer Al Styne and outrageous Kings Cross club act Count Copernicus & The Cosmic Fire as well as the in-house studio 'pops' orchestra, Festival Studio 24 Orchestra.
Co-compilers Pete Pasqual, Erica Olson and DJ Kentic to undertake interviews with specialist media around release. Facebook ad's around release.
Ekambi Brillant was born in the village of Dibombari in Cameroon in 1948. In 1962 he attended school in Yaounde and learned his musical craft. In 1971 he heads off to the big city lights of Douala. Here he finds himself in a French TV, music competition hosted at "Le Domino" nightclub. It is here where he brushes shoulders with other Cameroonian music legends such Manu Dibango and Francis Bebey.
The music contest win gives him the break he needs and in 1972 and with the support of fellow troubadour JK Mandengue he finds himself with a record deal with Phonogram and his first hits in France.
Its in 1975 where we pick up this merry tale. Because it is in 1975 when things start to get a bit funky. Which is just how we like it here at Africa Seven. In partnership with French producer, guitarist and all around hero, Slim Pezin he creates the "Africa Oumba" album. He goes on in the two subsequent years to record the Soul Castle and Djambo's Djambo's albums also with Slim.
Our compilation focuses on the funkier end of Ekambi's music drawn mainly from the 1975 to 1978 period. Things open up with our theme tune "Africa Africa" (of course). It's tribal twisted psych funk is the perfect start to any album. We then move to "Aboki" possibly Ekambi's finest dance floor filler. Next it's the choppy disco strings and slap bass of "Nyambe" and the swirling African swing of "N'Kondo" and the pulsing chop-funk "Ekila".
The flip side starts off with "Soul Castle" an ordinary day tale for our hero. "Massoma" and its funk boogie get things bopping next up before "Machine Ma Bwindea" gives us some punchy brass and low slung funk grooves. "Mother Africa" shows us the songwriting power of Ekambi while also managing to have one of the funkiest flange basslines we have heard in a good while. Things close off with swing-time of "Lambo Lena".
Ekambi Brillant would go on to become one of the big name legends of Cameroonian music with nearly 20 albums to his name. He has contributed to the emergence of several Cameroonian artists such as Marthe Zambo, Valery Lobe, Aladji Toure and Africans. He now spends his time in Cameroon and Washington DC. Ekambi, we salute you sir.
Villalegre Recordings is back with his second release after an acclaimed debut ep, which is already found in some 'real deejays' " vinyl cases, namely Dj Garth, Stevie Kotey, Timm Sure, Richard Sen and Massimiliano Pagliara.Discómanos ep consists of 4 edits of unknown gems, masterly revisited by collectors and artists as big as Mike Burns, Rayko , the great Sagittarius and Christian Beetz aka Frwctrl. Once again, Jorge Moreira and Crew dig deep down into many underground scenes around the world, to come up with an ep you'll always want to have in your case.
Listen carefully to Jose Rico's mastering work! A unique sound, which brings back reminiscences of Tom Moulton, Larry Levan, Dany Krivit or the very own Ron Hardy's reel to reel edits. Exotic love (Frwctrl mix) The trip starts with a Christian Beetz opus, which edits and extends a wonderful and unknown antique Spanish disco-funk track, with chorus voices flying like eagles to drive the dance floor to a unique climax. Sweat and pleasure lead by a smashing funky guitar, synths which drive you from the beach to the darkest, most hedonist dance floor. For your Love (Rayko edit)
Rayko is an edit master; he has presented his productions on the biggest disco dance floors on the planet, and this work reconfirms him. 'For your Love' tastes like Paradise Garage and nights of freedom and love. An original track with first class drums and a bass guitar, that reaches straight to the heart. The message comes with violins, which create the perfect emotion to wrap up a disco music masterwork that later becomes house. I want your body (Mike Burns Edit)The original track is a treasure that's hard to get, edited by Mike Burns, one of the strongest artists in the European underground disco scene. Mike selects this cut with a killer bass line, crazy synth effects and organs to turn the original track into an extended cut, which not only shakes the dance floor, but also the cloakroom and toilets. Programa Sintético (Sagittarius 1983 Tribute Edit)Sagittarius edits in a sublime way a mysterious track, loaded with energy, synths and effects. A production work, which transforms the original track into a technoid cut with a frequency in tune with Ron Hardy's proto-techno edits and progressive European music.
Finally, the battle is about to reach its thrilling finale after three exhausting rounds. Our pugilists are staggering on their feet and the bookies are running around frantically, taking the final bets. Will the Bad Guys suckerpunch the Good Guys into oblivion, or does team Good have an epic deathmove in store for its malevolent adversaries Amsterdam native Nachtbraker steps back into the arena for the fourth chapter in the saga. The Quartet Series label boss and Heist and Dirt Crew mainstay has defected to the bright and sunny Good Guys. Piano chords, chopper effects and toms are the main ingredients of his funk-laden and groovy energy drink. Better than steroids they say. Laurence Guy (Church, Rose Records) joins forces or heads in this particular case with a much-needed supplement that tugs on your heartstrings with its lush keys and deep pads. This London lad has been stirring up the scene with his flawless and addictive chords, not to mention the big support he's getting from maestro Move D. Will this dapper duo be strong enough to floor the misfits featured on the flip Great precaution is imperative with two heavyweights in the other corner. First mr. Tommy Vicari Jnr (Cabinet Records, YAY Recordings, AMMO84) comes barging in. This Sheffield veteran has been making killer cuts for years now and is about to step into the ring with his slamming snares, and wonkly wobbly bassline swinging around a phat kick. To keep both The Bad Guys feet on the ground LK (Shall not Fade, Hokkaido Dance Club) adds some extra meat with a deep, heavy bassgroove, while a sexy vocal and steady chords create that gangsta vibe that will boost the Bad Guys' confidence.
'Figa de Guiné' is an uptempo jazzy bossa groove, laden with percussion and drums taken from the 'Semideus' soap opera. Originally released on 'Semideus' soundtrack by Som Livre in 1973. 'Alibabá Alibabou' - uptempo funky samba from the legendary Novos Baianos, big on the horns and chorus vocals. Originally released on a 4-track 7' EP in 1979, entitled 'Trio Electrico'.
For those of you wondering what Adesse Versions was doing at our Heist Boiler Room this summer in London, the answer is here. The "Push it along" EP for Heist is Adesse Versions first appearance on our label and features 4 stunningly raw and warm originals, and an amazing remix by New York's ambassador of funk: Ge-Ology, together with multi-instrumentalist Marc de Clive-Lowe on keys.
After having released numerous records for Jackmaster's Numbers, Local Talk and Toy Tonics, we're happy to welcome Adesse Versions to the Heist family. When he sent us his demo's we had the tough job to choose the right tracks, cause there were just too many. The selection on the "Push it along EP" features what we feel are his purest work up to date. With only a small amount of elements, he manages to create such a big and warm sound, finding a great balance between gritty percussion, rich analog synths and funky sampling work.
Opening track Tout it is built around an ever evolving arpeggiated synth, a dancehall-esque percussive riddim and lovely pad work. It builds up slowly, without ever becoming dull, changing small elements and adding momentum with each step.
E to E is based on a chopped vocal looped to bits (only shouting: (E, E, E, E, E..), dancing hihats and a rolling bassline, whereas Geology flips the high energy original into a classic deephouse tune that fans of Larry Heard will love. The steady bassline and trianglework form a perfect canvas for MdcL's work on various synths, adding layer after layer of melodrama.
The title track goes for the same recipe as Tout it, with fierce snares laying down the rhythm and a far away disco sample adding the right dose of funk. Ebony Roses is the final track of the EP: A beatless groove built around a spoken word vocal with dreamy piano work around it building up suspense as the track evolves.
We've been playing this EP over the course of the last few months and it's been getting great response, so we're happy to finally share it with you.
'Ela Mandou Esperar' is a stomping, soulful Brazilian funk taken from Cassiano's sought after 'Imagem E Som' LP from 1971. A big hint of Northern Soul to this one to!
'Uma Vida' - big drums, piano and lush backing vocals as you would expect from Dom Salvador - a dramatic start that flips into joyous call-and-response funk/ soul. Taken from the awesome 1971 'Som, Sangue E Raça' LP.
RAWAX is very honoured to welcome a true House legend to the family. Mr. Roy Davis Jr joined forces with us to present some of his greatest releases re-mastered & back on vinyl!
We're starting with "The Wild Life E.P." from 1994.
Added on board the Chicago house production team Phuture, as a replacement for DJ Pierre, Roy Davis Jr. later followed his mentor to New York and worked at Strictly Rhythm, recording his own singles for Force Inc., Big Big Trax and Power Music. Originally born in California, Davis moved to Chicago's south side early in his childhood. After being turned on by legendary acid-house pioneers like Phuture and Lil' Louis, he became a DJ and began producing as well, with his first single, "20 Below," recorded for the Jack Trax label.
Roy describes the music that he makes as "soul electrica"; soul music mixed with electronics. His style has changed and grown up through the years as he has been going back to his spiritual roots in house music, away from the sound that he once was associated with - Phuture's "acid" and "wild pitch." The sound he is working on is expanding more on the soulful side combining an unmistakable deep funk sound of Chicago.
RAWAX proudly welcomes Mr. Lamont Norwood aka Dj Di'jital to the family! A true pioneer from Detroit!
Truly an old school Techno Bass jewel, DJ Di'jital has been a key player in the development of what some call the "Second Generation" of Detroit Techno. Having released on classic Detroit labels like Metroplex, Direct Beat, and Twilight 76, there is plenty of good reason why his name and his work have become so legendary over the years.
Influenced by early groups like Kraftwerk and Parliament, it was no surprise that the 80's fusion of Electronic Music, Funk and Hip Hop that brought about the Electro Funk sounds, would have such an impact on him. As a kid, Lamont Norwood aka DJ Di'jital became acquainted with the idea of mixing two songs together using tape decks, which while being limited, still gave him the drive and passion to pursue a career as a professional DJ. Over the years he played many different house parties and underground clubs, even spending some time as a Cabaret DJ.
Throughout this time, Di'jital became an incredibly skilled turntablist, quickly gaining the reputation of being a formidable force behind the wheels of steel. The year 1996 would prove to be quite a momentous one for Norwood, not only signing to the already well established label Direct Beat, but also becoming the official DJ for one of the label's finest and most important artists, Aux 88. Having already released his first EP, "Prototype", on Direct Beat, this would become a great opportunity that would help seal him as an icon of what was now known as the Detroit Techno Bass scene. Over the next few years,
Di'jital continued recording for Direct Beat, releasing some of the greatest and most unique Techno Bass classics to date, even doing a few remixes for some of Aux 88's most well known releases like "Electro/Techno", "I Need To Freak", and "Break It Down". Hit EPs like "From The Mind Of The Master", and "360 Degrees" became instant classics, still very sought after to this day. He also had some of his songs appear on some of the various Direct Beat compilations that were released between the years 1996 and 1999 like "Xperience De Bass II", which released "Radar2Bass", one of his most notable works, as well as the all time collector's album, "Techno Bass: The Mission".
Perhaps what may have been one of the biggest signs that his career was becoming exactly what he had hoped for, was the opportunity presented to him to remix Aaron Carl's classic "Down", which was released on the iconic Metroplex Records in 1998; Something that to any Detroit native would have been an honor and a milestone, given the reputation and level of success and influence that Juan Atkin's imprint had on the Detroit Electronic Music scene, as well as the global Electro/Techno movement.
Between the years 2000 and 2002, there was a small hiatus in complete EPs or albums being released by DJ Di'jital, although there were 2 different tracks released on the labels Bipolar and Studio iK7. In 2002, he went on to sign to another of Detroit's legendary imprints, Twilight 76, where he released 2 EPs, "Bass Programmers", and Di'jital's Revenge". In 2005, already a veteran and having amassed the necessary skill and knowledge needed to be a true beat warrior, Di'jital was now ready to join the resistance...Underground Resistance that is! Featured on the Interstellar Fugitives Vol. 2 compilation ( also later released as a 2xCD/DVD set ), Di'jital also released on the Electrocuter EP, which featured the previously released "Bang", as well as "Track 19".
In 2006, already well into the digital age ( no pun intended ), Norwood would release his first set of downloadable works, starting with an album called "The Prototype", on Twilight 76, which was completely unrelated to his first EP which was also called "Prototype". Recently, Twilight 76 has also released what is so far a 2 volume set of battle cuts dubbed "Electro Battle Tools".
The only known material that is known to be in the future for DJ Di'jital at the moment is a remix of Morphogenetic's "Techno Bass Is Back!", which was originally released as a free download to members of Technobass, but will soon be released on a 12"/Digital release that will launch the site's own label "Techno Bass Music". There will also be a follow EP by Di'jital, so stay tuned! Over the years, DJ Di'jital has proven to be an unstoppable force in the Techno Bass scene, tirelessly working to push the boundaries of Electro forward with his futuristic and visionary beats that have unleashed mayhem across the globe, not just in his published works, but also in his incredible DJ acts, where one can truly witness one of the few actual turntablists in this style of music. Expect more in the future as Di'jital's revenge continues to spread across the globe with his out of the ordinary approach towards Techno Bass music.
Official reissue of the ultimate Brazilian classic: Arthur Verocai - Arthur Verocai. Comes in a gatefold sleeve, 180 gram vinyl, remastered audio and a printed innersleeve. BIG TIP
Originally released in 1972, the self-titled album by Arthur Verocai became one of the most sought after releases from Brazil to date. The last copy on ebay went over 5000 USD. The entire album is a true masterpiece, containing funk flavorings, a touch of folk, jazz style soloing, 20 piece string arrangements, the blending of electronics and keyboards with organic sounds, and superb soundtrack style music. !
A great step forward for the legendary Tim Maia - working here in a style that's even tighter and more sophisticated than before - yet still equally filled with funk and soul! The arrangements are a bit bigger than before, and the production a bit more professional - but that change only brings Tim into even more heavenly soul territory - with a mix of grooves and strings that lays somewhere between the best early 70s work on labels like Curtom or Motown! Tim's got a new sense of majesty on the album - and also sings in English in a few spots - at a level that makes us wonder why he was never able to crack the American soul market at the time. An essential record from the man who brought American soul music to Brazil - with tracks that include "Over Again", "New Love", "Balanco", "Reu Confesso", "Preciso Ser Amado", "Amores", and "Do Your Thing Behave Yourself".
THE ASSISTENZ is the culmination of a four year creative hot streak as vivid as any part of CRISTAN VOGEL's long career. The trio of dance oor-oriented records formed by 2012's The Inertials, 2014's Polyphonic Beings and now THE ASSISTENZ are sensual pleasures rst and foremost: a lifetime of study of frequencies and rhythms on the frontline of the world's clubs has been put into the creation of sounds that interface with the nervous system and emotional re- sponses with extraordinary immediacy. But there's much more too: together with the more ab- stracted album Eselsbru¨cke, these form an enticing sonic narrative, encoded themes running through them, each part revealing more about the whole. THE ASSISTENZ, then, is many things: a personal document, a tribute to Copenhagen where it was recorded and after whose famous cemetery it is named - but also the nal piece in this bigger puzzle, which unlocks untold secrets from the previous three records.
There's a deeper history, of course. CRISTIAN's productions going back to the start of the 1990s have woven their way into the fabric of underground culture. His own recent remasters of his early albums, and the Sub Rosa Classics 1993-1998 collections have shown just how potent his early work remains. But his new work exists in a very different world to those past works, and is far removed from the recent electronic generations who he has in uenced too. In fact, as you listen to THE ASSISTENZ, you realise that there's no point making comparisons with other elec- tronic producers at all. While you will certainly hear some of the most fundamental and enduring vectors of underground music - dub, electro, acid, funk - owing through the tracks, even those things are rebuilt from the molecular level, created completely afresh with new, precise, but some- what skewed vision.
CRISTIAN's understanding of music now is spectral. That is to say, with every step through his exploration of sound over the years, he has made more and more detailed analyses of the specif- ic frequencies that make up speci c sounds and produce speci c effects on the human mind and body. And as a result, his own sound synthesis - increasingly done via the Kyma programming platform - is more and more able to reach beyond the 'synthetic' and impact in uncanny and wonderful ways. The most obvious sense of this is the way his sounds touch on the human voice: not just in the chattering, shimmering, singing tones of THE ASSISTENZ's ghostly centrepiece 'Barefoot Agnete', in the alien radio signals of 'The Merman's Dream' or even in the subliminal 'aaah's hiding in the background of the noisy 'Vessels', but in the way any sound, anywhere in any track can sound peculiarly vocal, heard from the right angle.
And it's not just the boundary between human and non-human, or that between acoustic and synthetic, that get blurred to the point of non-existence. CRISTAN's creative methodology now is all about leaving you so uncertain about where anything came from, or what scale the sounds are operating on, that you have no choice but to let go of preconceptions and standardised criti- cal faculties and go with it. Sometimes that can take you to places where darkness and physical- ity close in on you as on 'Vessels' or 'Telemorphosis', or into haunted spaces on the edge of the void like those of 'Snowcrunch' and 'Barefoot Agnete', but even in those, there is euphoria. And in the voluptuousness of 'Hold' or the body-rocking funk of 'Cubic Haze', all the abstraction is grounded in the sheer pleasure of your own bodily responses to the sound.
So many of the science ction dreams of the 1990s are now (virtual) reality. We live in a time when social networks consciously manipulate our emotions, where data is money, where ma- chines learn, where images can't be trusted, and where the synthetic can feel more real than real. Over some 25 years, CRISTIAN's experiments have traced much of this weirdness and evolved with it, and his understanding of synthesis and algorithmic processes to create structure makes him one of the most important composers working today. But THE ASSISTENZ doesn't just ex- periment with the interfaces between mind, body and machine: it expresses those relationships in ways that are beautiful, troubling, moving and scary, and which even make you want to dance. Together with the preceding three albums it enacts a glorious, endlessly-explorable mapping of just what electronic music can do.
Breakbeat Paradise Recordings is pleased to welcome back the Laptop Funkers for another set of high-octane fun & funky breakbeat. This 8-track album is a symphony of samples and breaks designed for you to Feel The Goodness. Following up on the successful vinyl release Ready to Rumble from 2013 the Laptop Funkers is back in better shape than ever!
Almost instantly after Ready to Rumble was sold out and a repress was demanded , tunes started coming in for what quickly turned out to be a full album release. Now after tweaking and perfecting these jams for over 2 years we are ready to present you with Feel The Goodness - a 12" vinyl filled to the limited with the finest beats and breaks this scene has to offer.
The Laptop Funkers ( the alias used by producer and sound designer Nuno Soczka for this breaks project ) is an elusive underground act that only emerges when there are some fresh choons to showcase. The influences are not hard to discover and Laptop Funkers has no problem in taking us back to the glory days of Big Beat with tunes that would make even Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers feel envious!
Some of the biggest grooves you've heard for a while can be found throughout this ruthless funky album : from the soul-gospel flow of the Feel The Goodness tune to the bouncy brass works on Ain´t Nobody Like We , the ghetto drops on Incredible Funk and the contagious funky groove of Soul Power , from the pump up energy on I Can Keep It Going to the laid back soulful vibes on Where The Funkers At , the b-boy banger attitude of Got The Party Rockin and the chemical psychedelics of The Temple.
8 golden joints of epic sampling inferno that'll be sure to keep you entertained from start to finish. Comes in a full-color front-and-back cover 12" vinyl package with custom illustrations by the talented Cristiano Suarez.
As so many times before BBP is here to provide the b-boys and girls with some proper breaks to keep the party going...,
Vinylmania: As classic disco came bounding through the late '70s and into the electronically orientated sounds of the '80s, New York was one of the undisputed frontiers for the latest developments in dance music culture, nightclubs and the art of DJing. At the center of this seminal time for vinyl culture was a store called Vinylmania, set up by Charlie Grappone in the heart of Greenwich Village, Manhattan, just as the culture of 12-inch singles and promo copies was taking hold. From supplying Levan, Tony Humphries and many more with the latest imports to championing the emergence of house music in the mid-'80s, Grappone and his staff played a significant role in New York's own dance music story. Through the '90s and up until closing in 2007, Vinylmania was a store that catered to DJs from across the complex mixture of racial, social and sexual demographics that made up New York and its legendary nightlife. Man Friday: As the NYC Peech Boys came to an end, Man Friday became Larry Levan's newest production project. Fronted by Kofi Morny and Brodie Williams, their dubut single 'Love Honey, Love heartache' was released by Vinyl Mania in 1986 with Larry Levan at the helm of the mix. Love Money: In the spirit of most dance music borrowing elements from other sources, 'Love Honey' was heaviliy inpired by another Paradise Garage & Loft classic from 1980 and its remix in 1981 by UK Outfit Funk Masters / TW Funkmasters. A dubbed out track big in the Jazz-Funk scene in the UK, it became a hit among underground Deejays in Both NYC & Chicago. Love Honey: No matter what list you look at. 'Love Honey' is always attached to Larry Levan's tenure at the Paradise Garage. All the elements of a Garage Track are here; Dub Echoes, Synth Basslines, Percussions that linger, FX -that one can only dream of hearing on a Richard Long System- and an Organ, because after all, they say the Garage was like going to Church. Remember when you'd buy a record after hearing it at the Club We miss that. As a result, We are proud to Introduce Get On Down Sound with the aim to bring back our favorite Dance 12's to a new generation of Vinyl-DJs. Re-mastered for optimal club use, these are official re-issues of some of Dance Music's most influential cuts.
A. Mahmoud Ahmed - Aynotché Tèrabu / AA. Seyoum Gèbrèyès & Wallias Band - Mètch Ené Terf Fèlèghu
'Aynotché Tèrabu', featuring Equators Band, was original released on Amha Records, Amha AE 920 A in 1975. This one has been a firm favourite in our DJ sets since we have had it cut; driving Ethio-funk with big vocals and drums.
Mahmoud Ahmed also appeared on Africa 45, number 4 with 'Bemen Sebeb Letlash'.
'Mètch Ené Terf Fèlèghu' was originally released on Kaifa KF 002 A (7703) in 1973. Mid tempo, Ethio funk led by a low slung bass line and horns.
Both Seyoum Gèbrèyès and Wallias Band appeared previously on AFR45.014.
Our sixth release marks the closing of a circle: Lucky Charmz—the man of our first release, Follow Me To Flottbeck Falls'-EP—returns to deliver his second full length effort. LHLT006 is the U Still Coming Over'-EP, a long overdue follow up to his first EP: More than anything else, it's a fresh slice of summer groovers. Opener Faceless Goat' instantly delights with it's majestic opening chords, only to unleash a smashing grandeur of sample fun and lustful grooves. It's a no-vocals-required anthem, rich in texture and yet subtly enchanting. While Faceless Goat is probably best enjoyed blasted out to vast, scenic landscapes on mediterranean costs from the terrace of a ancient estate, it is also tried and tested for Vorzech', houseparties and—of course—any club scenario (it won't fail you). We cannot help but to notice that Latency Jam''s stoic groove recalls the jungle books's march of the elephants, it's spacey synth madness points to outer space and, well, did we mention that It's super funky Yes, it's a funky spacewalk towards jupiter with your awesome, intergalactic elephant friends. Sonically charming with it's rapid fire hi-hat's, bubblegumspongecake melodies and zapping space laser's, that've all trickled out of a Nord Lead Young Lucky once laid hands on, Latency Jam' will also never let you down. On the flip we find Waffle Cut', yet another sun-oozing Lucky Charmz tune. Captivating trickle-down arpeggios radiate warmth, while soft pads sooth you into hypnosis. It's a bit like staring at the big yellow in the sky for too long—you get all frizzy, drizzy and a little silly.
When Kompakt came across Amsterdam-based Harm Coolen and Merijn Schotte Albers aka WEVAL back in 2014, we were blown away when we heard their slow-burning, darkly emotive tracks.
Their debut EP 'Half Age' on Atomnation featured painfully intimate and surprisingly kinetic electronic chamber pop that convinced us they were a perfect fit in Kompakt's family. Following two widely acclaimed EPs for Kompakt and playing numerous festivals including DGTL, Reeperbahn, Iceland Airwaves and Piknic Electronik, we now see the two tackle their self-titled debut full-length WEVAL. What you have before you is not a mere collection of tracks, but a complete listening experience with organic flow, emotional heft and a narrative thread.
Smitten with WEVAL's uniquely personal and catchy approach to producing dark electronic music, it didn't take much to win us over... and so came WEVAL's acclaimed 2014 label debut EASIER EP (KOMPAKT 318), followed by the bold and beautiful 2015 offering IT'LL BE JUST FINE / GROW UP (KOMPAKT 344) which saw the two soundsmiths digging deeper into the granularities of electronic funk than ever before. However, Harm and Merijn's music - while astonishingly fully-formed even in its earliest stages - always seemed destined for more, a bigger format, more space to explore the nooks and crannies of their rapidly evolving sound cosmos. Simply put, they needed to think about an album and their beloved living room studio wasn't cutting it anymore.
An old school building became WEVAL's new home, repurposed to house small creative businesses - but in the summer of 2015, it was abandoned most of the time, with everybody out in the sun while our heroes turned the building's attic into a sweet spot to make some noise, have 24-hour access and lose track of time. And apart from a sketchy tenant being evicted, the occasional soccer game with friends and live gigs across Europe, there really was no interruption to the focussed vibe. It's not like they were looking for distraction anyway: "working on the album all by ourselves in this bloody hot attic was all we had on our mind", the artists admit. And they decided that their album shouldn't sound too clean: "We try to find the beauty in imperfection. It makes things sound more human".
Weval draw their inspirations from no single genre of music but a cumulation of music that inspires them. The results present an astonishingly coherent vision - cuts like the dramatic THE BATTLE, bass growler I DON'T NEED IT or the trippy epic MADNESS share the same DNA of zestful nostalgia, a knack for immersive sound-sculpting and that certain kink in the groove. They also feed on deeply personal experiences and moods, as exemplified by the haunting electronic ballad YOU'RE MINE, the carefully layered, polaroid-tinted JUST IN CASE or the beautifully voiced closer YEARS TO BUILD. And sometimes, it's just an old, out-of-tune piano that stands in the hallway: "Whenever I'd pass by it, I couldn't resist playing it", says Merijn, "so Harm decided to start recording and it became an integral part of YOU MADE IT (PART I)". No doubt about it: this is WEVAL's most powerful and organic material yet - which means a lot, considering the amount of skill already on display in their small, but weighty portfolio.
(de) Als sich 2014 in Amsterdam Kompakts Wege mit denen von Harm Coolen und Merijn Schotte Albers aka WEVAL kreuzten, waren wir sofort Feuer und Flamme für ihre schwelenden, emotional aufgeladenen Tracks. Ihre Debüt-EP "Half Age" auf Atomnation präsentierte intimen und überraschend kinetischen, elektronischen Kammer-Pop, der wie angegossen zu Kompakt zu passen schien. Nach zwei vielbeachteten EPs auf dem Label und einer Reihe von Festvialgigs (inklusive DGTL, Reeperbahn Festival, Iceland Airwaves und Piknic Electronik) nehmen Weval nun mit dem gleichnamigen Release ihr erstes Album in Angriff. Und legen dabei nicht einfach nur eine Ansammlung von Tracks vor, sondern kreieren eine komplette Hörerfahrung mit organischem Flow, emotionalem Gewicht und einm roten Faden.
Angetan vom einzigartig persönlichen und mitreissend düsteren Klang WEVALs brauchte es nicht viel um uns zu überzeugen... und so kam es 2014 zum gefeierten Labeldebüt EASIER EP (KOMPAKT 318), gefolgt vom kühnen und wunderschönen 2015er Release IT'LL BE JUST FINE / GROW UP (KOMPAKT 344), für das die beiden Soundtüftler tiefer denn je in die Granularitäten des elektronischen Funks abtauchten. Nichtsdestotrotz - und obwohl sie schon von Anfang an ausgereift klang - schien die Musik von Harm und Merijn auf dem 12"-Format stets bestimmt für mehr: mehr Freiraum um auch die äussersten Winkel ihres rapide expandierenden Soundkosmos zu erkunden. Sie mussten schlichtweg zum Langspielformat wechseln, und ihr heissgeliebtes Wohnzimmerstudio konnte da nicht mehr mithalten.
Ein altes Schulgebäude wurde schliesslich WEVALs neues Zuhause, umfunktioniert für kleine Kreativunternehmen - doch im heissen Sommer 2015 stand es zumeist leer, da alle draussen in der Sonne badeten, während unsere Helden im Schweisse ihres Angesichts das Kellergeschoss in ein lärmfestes Aufnahmestudio verwandelten. Mit Studiozugang rund um die Uhr liess es sich bestens die Zeit vergessen. Und abgesehen von der Räumung eines zwielichtigen Nebenmieters, dem gelegentlichen Fussballspiel mit Freunden und natürlich Live-Gigs in ganz Europa, gab es auch keine Ablenkungen vom hochkonzentrierten Kreativfluss. Ablenkungen, die das Duo ohnehin nicht suchte: "ganz allein in diesem verdammt heissen Keller am Album arbeiten war alles, was wir im Sinn hatten", geben die Künstler zu. Und sie entschieden sich, dass ihr Album nicht zu sauber klingen sollte: "Wir versuchen die Schönheit im Makel zu finden. Es lässt die Dinge einfach menschlicher wirken."
Weval beziehen ihre Inspiration nicht aus einem einzelnen musikalischen Genre, sondern eher aus einer Akkumulation von Musik, die sie inspiriert. Die Ergebnisse zeichnet eine beeindruckend kohärente Vision aus - Aufnahmen wie das dramatische THE BATTLE, der Bassknurrer I DON'T NEED IT oder die Trip-Saga MADNESS teilen diesselbe DNA aus schwungvoller Nostalgie, einer Schwäche für immersive Klangschnitzerei und einer gewissen Delle im Groove. Sie nähren sich auch aus zutiefst persönlichen Erfahrungen und Stimmungen, wie zum Beispiel bei der eindringlichen elektronischen Ballade YOU'RE MINE, dem vorsichtig geschichteten, polaroid-gefärbten JUST IN CASE oder dem wunderschön gesungenen Schlussakt YEARS TO BUILD. Und manchmal ist es nur ein altes, verstimmtes Klavier, das im Flur herumsteht: "Immer wenn ich dran vorbei lief, musste ich darauf herumklimpern", erklärt Merijn, "also wurde es ein zentraler Bestandteil von YOU MADE IT (PART I)". Kein Zweifel: dies ist WEVAL's stärkstes und organischstes Material bisher - was durchaus was bedeutet, wenn man das Talent bedenkt welches bereits in schmalen, doch gewichtigen Portfolio der Band steckt.
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Heavyweight soul providers Fat Freddy's Drop are about to take flight once again with the worldwide release of new album Blackbird on 24th June 2013. Blackbird is the third full-length release from the New Zealand band and will see Fat Freddy's Drop exceed half-a-million album sales worldwide, the result of playing over 800 shows in their career-to-date, clocking up 412 appearances in Europe, 27 Australian Tours and over 300 shows in their homeland.
Fat Freddy's Drop celebrate a decade of European touring by releasing Blackbird in East London. The already sold-out show at Village Underground attracted over 4,000 hopeful ticket ballot entries in just 24 hours for only 500 lucky spots.
Featuring nine tracks, Blackbird was written and recorded at Bays, the band's own studio, which was one of the last vinyl pressing plants in New Zealand and then an apostolic church. Fitchie says, 'What you hear on the album is the sound of Bays, the room itself, the vibe of the place and the performance we can get out of the band in there.'
'Blackbird is truer to FFD's musical philosophy than anything else we've done', says Chopper Reeds. 'The song structures are open and unruly - just like our live shows - whilst we've pushed ourselves to deliver rich and deeply layered arrangements that showcase Joe Dukie's exceptional voice. We feel totally at home melding together this unholy mix of disco, rootsy dub, blues, soul and electronic funk - it's what we do.'
Fat Freddy's Drop have released two studio albums, 'Based On A True Story' (2005) and 'Dr Boondigga & The Big BW' (2009), two live albums, 'Live At The Matterhorn' (2001) and 'Live At Roundhouse' (2010) and a stash of limited edition vinyl singles, including the now legendary 'Midnight Marauders' and 'Hope For
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This is the new digitally remastered 2015 expanded edition of Soul Jazz Records' biggest ever selling release, 100% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady and Funk in Jamaica.
Since the album's original release nearly twenty years ago, 100% Dynamite has become a cornerstone of reggae: eighteen killer tracks that show the influence that American Jazz, Funk and Soul music had on Jamaican Reggae.
The proximity of the West Indies to the USA meant that many Jamaican musicians were influenced by American styles of music whilst at the same time defining new styles of their own such as Ska, Rocksteady and Dub.
100% Dynamite features some serious Jamaican funk by Jackie Mittoo, The Upsetters and Toots & The Maytals, the cream of Jamaica's jazz musicians such as Tommy McCook, Cedric Brooks and Lennie Hibbert. Also included here are heavyweight Reggae versions to Soul classics by Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto', Aretha Franklin's 'Rocksteady', Syl Johnson's 'Is It Because I'm Black', William DeVaughan's seminal 'Be Thankful' and more.
100% Dynamite also features revolutionary tunes such as Johnny Osbourne's 'We Need Love', Sound Dimension's 'Drum Song' and Lloyd Robinson's 'Cuss Cuss', songs that helped define a unique sound for Jamaican music in the sixties and seventies. These influences went both ways - check Brentford All Stars massive 'Greedy G', the basis for Boogie Down Productions' 'Jack of Spades', or Willie Williams' 'Armageddon Time', later covered by The Clash.
This new expanded edition features seminal tracks from the greatest Jamaican producers - Clement Dodd, Lee Perry, Winston Riley (Techniques) and many more.
The album is available as CD, heavyweight double vinyl (+download), plus digital.
Who would have thought that Gerd Janson and Phillipp Lauer, aka The Tuff City Kids, delivering a 'Rocker' mix for Alter Ego, wich is not only one of their best up to this date remixwork, but also probably one of the biggest electro-summerhits in 2016. The Tuff City Kids production work is quite similary eclectic like in Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke's original version. They know exactly how to juggle with different styles, until they come up with a fresh new sound that transforms an ordinary rave into an unforgettable happening. In this case they are mixing real performed krautrockdrums, 90's prototrance-balearicstrings and an unexpectedly new, enthusiastic way of working with Alter Ego's trademark melodyhook. This melody-theme is dripping formally out of every programmed bass and synthesizer line without beeing to cheesy, superficial or over the top. Even their 808 electro-remix for the track Gate 23 is keeping to the premise of the legendary New York punk rock band The Ramones, that a good party track should not illustrate the effects of psychedelic drugs, the music has to be the pill itself. The rich details and playfulness of the mixes are showing Gerd Janson and Phillipp Lauer as real fans of the original versions.In the same spirit, they are trying to melt pop-appeal, art-sensibility and clubhit-function in one piece of vinyl.
Killer LP that mixes elements of zouk and tropical influences from the French West-Indies, with heavy disco and funk flavors. Tip!
Crystal was an 8 piece combo from the French West-Indies islands led by Franck Donatien. Gifted guitarist and composer, Franck Donatien had a few experience leading band projects such as Crystal, Lazer or Taxi Créole, and is mostly known and respected for his long and prolific career as a musicians for many artists from the local zouk music scene.
With Crystal, he released 2 albums between 1984 and 1985, both today very hard to find and famous for including some amazing tracks. If Funky Biguine, Crystal's second album, is mostly a 1 track LP with few other moments, Music Life is truly a brilliant album from first note to the last, including climax titles such as Music Life', or Santo Domingo'.
Favorite Recordings makes this forgotten treasure available again for all. Fully restored and remastered with great attention to sound quality, Music Life by Crystal is presented in a deluxe vinyl replica, and digital versions.
'2 Minutos De Um Novo Dia' - pacey samba-funk-MPB that originally appeared on a 7' from 1969 released on Odeon Brazil. Soaring vocals, strings and horns over alternating full and half-time funk drum breaks. Very big indeed.
'Candomble' has been a resident in our DJ sets for a long, long time. A retrained, deeper opening section drops into drum heavy, rich uptempo jazzy-MPB. Super catchy vocal hooks and piano lines sit over the top from start to finish. Taken from their self titled album from 1975 on RCA.
The Roundtable & Northside Records are pleased to offer this long awaited and special Record Store Day reissue of this highly collectible Australian rare groove LP.
If you can imagine the gathering of a group of Australian session musicians channelling the sounds of Herbie Hancock Headhunter's and Marc Moulin's Placebo, recording an album out of hours at a TV studio and then releasing a privately pressed hard hitting jazz funk record then what you have is Arena, one of Australia's most revered and scarce rare groove records.
This was the name given to a pick-up group of session players led by Ted White, a veteran of the British big band jazz scene (an associate of Ted Heath and Basil Kirchin) who had immigrated to Australia in the 1960s to work in the burgeoning television industry. This one-time studio project (recorded only to test out the facilities for a new studio) barely yet thankfully saw an LP release in 1975. Pressed in minute quantities only with limited distribution, the album was subsequently forgotten and obscured by time, only to be resurrected in the 90s by DJs and collectors seeking out lost and rare records.
The album has since become one of the country's most celebrated and collectible jazz funk recordings and has proved to be a pivotal point in Australian jazz, marking a shift from the modern jazz and R&B sounds of the previous decades to the cross pollinating electric jazz funk of the 70s. Characterized by the heavy use of electronically treated saxophone, psychedelic guitar, Moog and spacey Fender Rhodes, the album is a classic of the genre.
While acknowledging the often compiled and sampled breaks track, The Long One, the complete album offers much more, exemplified by its complicated and obsessive jazz rhythms, abstract and middle-eastern horn lines and pulsing electric funk.
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Completing a quick fire trio of new EPs, Constant Sound hits release number six with a pair of new tracks from VRSION that come with a dance floor friendly remix from Persuader. VRSION is a German producer who has already made a big impact with his release on Craig Richards' excellent The Nothing Special label. Following up that in fine style is the opener here, 'Torn', which is a hurried and urgent track that sits on the divide between house and techno. It is driven and slick, rubbery and hypnotic but has plenty of nuance and funk in its well programmed drums. Some occult sounds and wordless vocals embellished the whole thing and it really is the sort of track that blows dance floors apart and will stand out in any set. 'Capricorn Meet Leo' then toys with kinked drum patterns, rattling percussion and fathom deep bass that sucks you right into VRSION's world. It's a restless place where harmonies ride up and down the scale, cause claps come at you from odd angles and dark vocals add a sense of paranoia. Remixing this one is Persuader, who does so with a stripped back sense of restrain. he retains the original's weirdness, but layers in serene pads and tripped out atmospherics that really make it ripe for playing at 4am. This is the most adventurous release yet for Constant Sound, and is sure to prove one of its bets as a result.
Following two EP releases on Delusions Of Grandeur the time felt right for thatmanmonkz to get working on his debut LP. The Sheffield b-boy is no newcomer to production having been releasing music since the mid-noughties but has seen a definite rise in interest the last few years following essential releases on his own Shadeleaf label as well as remixes and productions for the likes of Classic, Kolour LTD and Kon's StarTime.
With his first musical love being Hip Hop it's easy to understand how his approach to house turns out so refreshing. Inevitably MPC's, big, bold samples, Jay Dee inspired grooves and a raw, underproduced sound all play a big part and never one to shy away from an interesting collaboration he has enlisted the skills of several vocalists including Detroit MC Ta'raach (whose credits include Slum Village and Jill Scott), Erik Rico (collabs include Ron Trent and DJ Spinna), Khalil, Dave Aju, Pete Simpson (as A Brother Is...) and Malik Ameer.
Things kick off with a low-slung soul jam entitled Air featuring Kahil Anthony complete with sparkling Rhodes arps and a dub-wise bassline underpinning a beautifully lazy groove. Jus Anutha Wunna Deez follows with a rough and ready house jam that clearly doffs its cap to those old Sound Signature and Mahogoni Music releases we know and love so much. Next up we have Boogie Down with Erik Rico rocking some Parliament inspired vocal business bringing the feelgood vibes to this rolling P-Funker. Some Ol' Nex' Ish goes for a jazz samba meets house fusion whilst A Fly New Tune goes strictly old school with a classic combo of dusty break, filtered fusion rhodes n bass sample, movie dialogue snippets and a masterful flow delivered by Ta'raach. Dave Aju steps up next on Turn It Out laying down a unison vocal refrain to compliment the bumping disco groove complete with a call and response section for some singalong party participation!
As we continue, Another Night Under The Glitterball sees thatmanmonkz back in familiar territory with a rock solid, deep jazz-house jam. On I Can Hardly Breathe we're treated to a downtempo gospel-infused affair which leads us perfectly into the most bumpy club- friendly track of the LP For Bae. Moon On The Hill is a collaboration with Italian DJ Kali and his Raw Standard crew and treats us to some distinctly mid 90's Kruder and Dorfmeister vibes to zone out to before heading off in an altogether more bonkers, psychedelic dancehall direction on Vampires. Baked is another classy thatmanmonkz take on Hip Hop featuring Malik Ameer on the mic. Take U 2 My House sounds like something Prince might have made in the mid-80's if he'd just come off a 3 day bender at Panorama Bar. And closing the show in perfect style and fashion we have For Those I've Lost Along The Way which is a blunted yet beautifully optimistic number that has echoes of Lonnie Liston Smith and a brilliant spiritual vocal sample which provides the perfect closer to an amazing debut LP.
I started this album simply writing a script, I think it is important that an album has a continuity that gives the album a cinematic sense, basically this must to tell you a story. For this time I chose the topic of: the development of human evolution in the future.'
I find it interesting to experiment with the sound and textures of the classical music, but not with the idea of how to adapt a techno track with classical instruments, I prefer to writing scores from scratch for each of the instruments and adapting synthesizers as part of that orchestra. I think that all this brings us an epic ingredient, that from the beginning I think it was the link between classical and techno music.
Besides the classical music, I have been experimented with different kinds of recording and synthesis, also I created almost all the sounds from zero. I have included different fx sounds, developed it with techniques as morphing and overlapping layers of sound, all to setup the tracks with a complex and rich textures, but with care about do not obtain something pasty.
I worked a lot with the space' in the tracks, trying to place each sound in a particular three-dimensional situation with clean reverbs, also the feeling of tension' is highly significant in this work, but ultimately the most important thing has been to build on a script written -as I said before- so that the narrative is a fundamental part of the album.
Mental jacktrax by Gerry Read. Easy to resist these non-formulaic jack tracks in the days of conformist dance music cause its not the tunes that will make your crew do the fist pump thing during the weekly big headliner rave... but we like!! Mr Read is funky as fuck and reminds us a bit of dutch Techno punks Unit Moebius (which is always a good thing!!).
Some feedback from family and friends:
Moxie Feeling the darkness of this and the percussive beats. Thanks'
Leon Vynehall really great'
Mosca Ur Head and The Grand National are wicked genreless things'
marcel dettmann thx'
Aera I love the romantic melodies. Will definitely play on my next wedding party!'
Ambivalent I've been a big fan of Gerry Read's stuff for a while. His stuff definitely doesn't sound like anyone else. I love Tango, Woosy and Ant Eater Robot. Thanks for sharing!!'
Danny Daze freaking huuuuuuuge gottttt daaaayum!!!'
Vin Sol WIld ass trax! Woosy gonna make it's way in to my sets'
RANDOMER Enjoying 'Tango''
Arttu Bonkers! and I LOVE all of it!!! :D'
Paul Woolford Truly demented in all the right ways. I'm going to play 'Stand By...' out for sure.... Thank you !'
Marco Bernardi liking this mad shit'
DJ Haus BIG'
DJ Deep Dope!'
Ze's 'Jimmy Renda-se' is instantly recognisable thanks to the driving lead
guitar intro and funk drums; Tropicalia at it's finest. The track is taken from
his 1970 self-titled LP. As sampled by Ameriie on 'Take Control' and recently
included in the soundtrack to 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E'.
Jorge Ben - Take it Easy My Brother Charlie
We thought it was time to release this all-time classic samba-rock/MPB song by
Jorge Ben, also known as 'Take It Easy My Brother Charles'. Taken from his
self-titled 1969 LP on Philips Brazil and also released on a 7' EP the year
before.
Sampled by Drumagick on their Drum & Bass big hitter 'Easy Boom'.
Alex from Tokyo presents new label world famous debut release from Tokyo Black Star - Edo Express EP out in October, 2015
Paris-born, Tokyo-raised, New York-based international eclectic French DJ, music producer and sound designer Alex from Tokyo is very excited to announce the October 2015 launch of his record label 'world famous" with a new Tokyo Black Star EP (the first release in three years)!
The four different straight up house music club tracks here on the "Edo Express EP" showcase Alex from Tokyo's versatile and funky DJ style and come from a very special fun jam session that took place in January 2015 at Isao's Tokyo Black Star and phonon studio with the help of their great musician/analog equipment otaku friend Kenichi Takagi leading to Kenichi san officially becoming the third Tokyo Black Star member, bringing along some of his favorite old, new and handmade (modular) synths into the mix.
The stunning artwork for the release is done by long-time collaborator the very talented New York based Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, who has been creating the Tokyo Black Star visual identity since their first release on Innversions in 2005.
Working in harmony with music partner and sound/mastering engineer Isao Kumano in Tokyo, Alex from Tokyo formed Tokyo Black Star in 2000 while remixing Big Moses feat. Jan'elle's house classic "For you" for Kerri Chandler's label Bassmental records. Since then Tokyo Black Star has released five EPs including the first-ever release on high-profile Berlin label Innversions (the "Psyche Dance EP," 2005) and their full length debut album 'Black Ships' (April 2009, also on Innervisions), an EP on DJ Deep's Deeply Rooted House label and remixes for artists like Tony Allen (P-Vine records Japan, 1999), Carl Craig (Psyche 'Neurotic Behavior' on Planet E, 2011), Phenomenal Handclap Band (Tummy Touch Records, 2013), Bing Ji Ling (Lovemonk), and Kuniyuki (mule music), and among others.
Always looking for new challenges and sonic adventures, in the summer of 2010 the Tokyo Black Star duo were joined by top Japanese audio professionals at Isao's studio in Tokyo, leading to the creation of a new 'revolutionary' audio brand called phonon , which makes exceptional pro-audio equipment for studio and DJ use.
Tokyo Black Star's last release, in 2013, was a special musical contribution called "X" for a unique celebratory 10th anniversary compilation for Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas fashion brand Y-3. Alex from Tokyo co-directed the exclusive compilation
world famous will be presenting a wide range of dance floor and eclectic music by Tokyo Black Star, Alex from Tokyo's collaborative projects with other artists and his affiliated japanese and international connections! Mastering for all releases will be done by Isao Kumano.
Entitas, is the second instalment of Jay Clarke's BLACKAXON imprint, and sees the label boss bring out the big guns in the form of three distinct and diverse cuts. First up is Entity, an autonomic monster which has sweat soaked energy written all over it. It's auspiciously one part deep, and more than double just as twisted. Things are far from linear with Entity, it's mercilessly the sum of it's own parts, and has the hallmarks of a true big room pleaser written all over it. A truly authentic demonstration of the old adage 'It's not where you are going, it's how you get there'. Entity is certain to be reached for by all of the major players on the Techno circuit for a long time to come.
On the flip, Ghosts Of Acid is the Yin to Entity's Yang. A plangent and introspective groove opens up with wispy cymbals, cleverly placed rims, hats and claps. Exploratory and evolving subaqueous acidic forays dare the listener to dive in a little deeper, with the reward being a very proficient and efficient take on the now classic Acid sound.
Existence Through Perception seeks to carry on where the previous two tracks left off. A driving groove and sinister hook lets up briefly midway to a near triumphant fanfare, only to be brought back to it's mischievous overture. A perfect late night/peak time track for DJ's looking to elevate the bar of their set just one more rung higher.
Support From:
(Phase), DVS1, Ben Klock, Answer Code Request, Luke Slater, Norman Nodge, Chris Liebing, Lucy, Oscar Mulero, Speedy J, DJ Deep, Tommy Four Seven, Cassegrain, Inigo Kennedy, Slam, Brendon Moeller, Nihad Tule, Kr!z, Psyk, Jonas Kopp, Truncate, Samuli Kemppi, Juho Kusti, Anthony Parasole, Eric Cloutier, Jereon Search, Moerbeck, Truss, Distant Echoes, Yac (I/Y), Philippe Petit, Thomas Hessler, Randomer, Volte-Face, Fundamental Interaction, Arnaud Le Texier, Ame, Angel Molina, Tensal, Kwartz, Stacey Pullen.
Credits
A booming clavinet led banger from everyone's favourite disco uncles, Eric Duncan and Dean Meredith.Heavy on the lasers and scything hi hats with a bassline as deep as you’d expect from these fellers.Marcellus' trademark sound is all over his remix - sultry rhodes and sweet, driving funk, and The Central Executives version strips it to the bone, revealing not a skeleton but a robot.
A robot playing a fucking saxophone! Rock on, dudes.
Etruria Beat welcome again the berlinian Dj Oliver Deutschmann! He was already featured on the label with his remix of Dast's 'Architect'. Now he offers two original tracks with a defined and aggressive sound, backed by two huge remixes from Etruria label boss Luca Agnelli and from french Techno stalwart Electric Rescue. Get ready to blow up some dance floors with those 4 hard hitting monsters. The EP opens with Agnelli's remix of Resist", this track is a muscular and stomping. He catches the originals mood and transforms it into a spectacular version that will leave the dance floor in ashes. BIG! The original version of 'Resist' it's a funky and driving technostomper with house chords that creates an obsessive and powerful rhythm, accompanied with a hypnotic vocal saying 'Resist' in132bpm! The B side continues with the original version of 'Hope' which got a melody in the best Detroit tradition and powerful 808 drums. A stripped dark atmosphere ensure a breathless pace, to the final second. Finally, Electric Rescue morphs this one into a powerful loopy journey, A synth hellfire as it's best. All of them are already Berghain approved and rocked countless other floors. Don't be stupid, buy that shit!!! Additional mix downs have been made at Caduceus Lab Geneva
Sao Paulo born Toni Tornado was considered the Brazilian James Brown by many.
His career began as 'Tony Checker', lip syncing to rock 'n' roll hits and touring extensively outside of Brazil. Whilst in New York he met Tim Maia and became involved in the 'Black Rio' movement. Toni also worked with Ed Lincoln and Antonio Adolfo amongst many others. He had a successful acting career and starred in many soap opera's.
'O Journaleiro' is a tearing funk track with tough drums and big vocals. Taken from his hard to find and expensive to acquire debut LP, 'BR-3', released by Odeon Brazil in 1971.
This track has never been released on 7".
Som Tres was a jazz ensemble formed by legendary Brazilian musician César Camargo Mariano, who also formed Sambalanço Trio.
Cesar's collaborations with many of Brazil's most important singers, notably Wilson Simonal and Elis Regina, have brought him worldwide acclaim; the historic 1973 album Elis and Tom, made with Antonio Carlos Jobim, features Cesar as arranger, pianist and musical director.
Som Tres recorded eight albums between 1966 and 1971. 'Homenagem a Mongo' is taken from the sought after 'Som 3' LP from 1969 on Odeon Brazil. It has never been released on a 7".
The III Rivers juggernaut sets forth once again, release number 4 The Charivari EP, putting Voiceless in the cockpit and leading the charge.
Second Nature sets a dark, sultry and ominous tone as Voiceless deploys a plethora of sounds and moods that resonate with all the tense drama of the label's affiliated club night, Bohemian Grove.
Big laser beam synths dart through a thick pitch black haze while a factory line percussion section hammers on.
Always keeping a foot in the sonic warfare division, we get three locked grooves loaded and ready for battle, funky, electrified technoid wobblers that should fight off most opposition with ease.
Flip the disc and Opt-out opens with a controlled urgency as a barrage of kick drums sets the train in motion. Voiceless layers up rich, untreated piano chords against the backdrop of dark industrial chaos, percussion artefacts career around the mix and various elements are put through an aural meat grinder before the familiar and welcoming piano motif returns like a long lost friend, guiding us through the smoke hand-in-hand. A beautiful juxtaposition of soulful melancholy and cold, glacial machines.
Final track Charivari really hits the accelerator as a tough and mechanical rhythm jolts against blurred, radioactive pads and searing string lines before collapsing into a fractal breakdown introducing mystical, weaving high end leads. An eyes-down fist pumper of the highest order and one that commands excessive smoke & strobe light abuse late, late into the session.
One to close off one of their infamous soirees in style, hoards of mutant dancers leaving the industrial backdrop of the club's venue and crossing paths with the early morning dog walkers and Sunday strollers. Four releases in and we've lost none of the quality control, unique drive and free minded 'true spirit' (to quote Tresor's legendary catchphrase). The label goes from the strength to strength and with it, brings a whole new generation of techno shamans under their wing.
out of Stock
Last delivered 4 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Big Strick and Generation Next follow up their highly successful CD album " Like Father Like Son" with a vinyl double album. It features 7 songs from the album along with a bonus track from Generation Next. With vocals tracks featuring Don Q and Tony Coates, Next and Strick bring us flavor and funk. ' The Ride' features Tony Coates, bringing lyrics for the soul. Along with the warm vocals is a warm bass and moving percussion. 'Ypree' is the bonus track produced by Generation Next. It is a mellow, hard hitting underground track. Hard drums and loud claps. Reverbed high hats and repeating congas.
out of Stock
Last delivered 4 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability