Cerca:blende

Donovan Philips Leitch is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist who in the 1960s developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music. He emerged from the British folk scene and reached fame in the UK in early 1965 before replicating this in the US the following year, baring the fruits of the blossoming, successful, and eventually long collaboration with record producer Mickie Most.

Fast forward to 2018 and we're very pleased to say we're re-issuing these wonderful albums on our own state51 Conspiracy label - these are the first two of five, with another special release to follow in 2019. All five were cut at Abbey Road, pressed on 180g audiophile vinyl and lovingly re-created to replicate the original releases. They are all strictly limited to just 300 copies for the world too.

2026 Repress

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With his fourth album Rhythm-Al-Ism he created his masterpiece, a perfect hip-hop album. As Quik explains, “the name Rhythm-Al-Ism alone tells you what I was doing. I was mixing up rhythms. I was meshing R&B with hip-hop and jazz. And a little bit of comedy”. It’s absolutely sensational and as with a lot of mid-90s albums those original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue.

A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues.

Released in 1998 on Profile, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the closest Quik ever got to making a commercial splash. “You’z A Ganxta” and “Hand in Hand” made radio waves across the country and the less radio-friendly tracks like “Medley For A ‘V’” were bumping out of car stereos. Combining his soulful, jazzy P-Funk/G-Funk beats with his effortlessly smooth flow, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the quintessential West Coast Party. Squelchy synths, bouncy bass, monstrously knocking drums and freaky keys - this is peaking acidic party-rap, straight out the gate. Music for gliding, for skating, for time with your people and your poison. Sunshine. No cares. BBQs. Heavy smoke in the air. Dripping with wit and good humour. A real swing to the vibe.

The album opens with Quik setting out his mission statement with “Rhythm-Al-Ism (Intro)”, telling us what this is all about before the self-explanatory “We Still Party” rocks the spot. It’s definitely all about the party here, complete with Quik’s signature head-nod/body-moving beat. Next up, the undeniable laidback funk and dripping swing of groove-laden “So Many Wayz”. This positively slaps.

Then we get to the three huge singles. The R&B-tinged radio-friendly minor-hit “Hand In Hand” closes the first side only for the flip to get straight into the rolling and scratching of bleepy computer-funk banger “Down, Down, Down” (featuring a particularly nice use of Howard Johnson’s epochal “So Fine”). The effortlessly smooth, flute and guitar-laced “You’z A Ganxta” completes the trio. Next up the fast-paced, vocoder-enhanced, woulda-beena-global-hit “I Useta Know Her”. This coulda (shoulda) been a single too. Head-nod funk workout “No Doubt”, with its ace sample of Prince's “Sexy Dancer”, closes out the second side.

“Speed” races out the gate on the second disc, sampling Edwin Birdsong’s “Rapper Dapper Snapper” in a harder, better, faster, stronger way than those daft Parisian punks. Amphetamine-swift raps over soaring, string-drenched b-boy beats. A total anthem. Up next, the staggering, near 8-minute laconic, lounge-y sax-rap of “Whateva U Do” cools things down and smooths things out with its flute wrapping around a sample of Smokey Robinson’s “So In Love” and some oh-so-classy lounge-piano tinkling. And speaking of smooth, things don’t get much smoother than the blissfully melodic glider-anthem “Thinkin’ ’Bout U” riding that ace flip of SWV’s “Use Your Heart”. Exceptional.

The exquisite funky-flute-slapper “Medley for a ‘V’ (The P***Y Medley)” opens the fourth and final side, with star turns from Snoop Dogg and a typically suave Nate Dogg. It’s followed by the supremely skanked-out “Bombudd II”, a beautifully sweet reggae-fuelled ode to the herb. “Get 2Getha Again” is slick funk. Stunning.

This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Rhythm-Al-Ism was originally pressed as a double and we’ve reproduced the original LA vibe picture sleeve and insert to match.

As that original front cover says, this is “over 70 minutes of commercial free music” and it’s absolutely perfect from start to finish. There are no stand-out tracks here. It’s all gold.
: Rhythm-al-ism (2LP)

After the excellent response to the first volume, Acid Jazz Classics returns with the second volume.
The Acid Jazz sound born in the 1990s, which harked back to the Soul Funk of the 1970s, found in IRMA one of the labels most dedicated to
this world, and still releases music that can be categorized under this name.
From songs from the 1990s with artists like Jestofunk, Bossa Nostra, Black & Brown, Gazzara, Italian Secret Service, LTJ Xperience, Sarah
Jane Morris, to the present day with artists like The Smoke Orchestra, Yuts and Culture, Fusion Funk Foundation, Micky More & Andy Tee,
Belladonna, and many others.
19 tracks on a double vinyl, some of them never before released on vinyl, all rigorously perfect for both the club and listening.
In fact, some tracks are little club gems:
"Say It Again" by Jestofunk in its very first version from 1993;
Belladonna - Black Jazz, one of her most requested songs ever released on vinyl;
Key Tronics Ensemble - You For Me, the Montuno Salsa version performed for years by Little Louie Vega at many of his gigs;
the Micky More & Andy Tee remix of Sarah Jane Morris's Hold On To Love!

Brooklyn based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson presents his new work "Imagine Giving Up" on Helsinki's We Jazz Records. The album, to be released on 17th January of 2020 sees Parzen-Johnson move into new domains of sound as he uncovers newfound energy and pulse in his music.

In addition to the sonically rich analog synth elements that accompany his earlier solo saxophone work, Jonah has layered heavily sound designed samples of his own saxophone to create truly one of a kind percussive snaps, reverberant basses, and warbling leads. At it's core, the music remains deeply devoted to almost vocal sounding melodic lines and patiently developed compositional ideas.

A compact set of 6 originals, "Imagine Giving Up" is Jonah Parzen-Johnson's most ambitious album yet. While taking a step away from the previous world of "ambient jazz", his new music stems from the use of drone-like sounds for baritone saxophone, a style which is uniquely his own. Electronics are blended in for good measure, creating a coherent vision of abstract jazz with depth. As with all of Parzen-Johnson's releases, the music comes with a deeper narrative which he will continually explore in live performance.

The manifesto for the album reads as follows: "Only a few people can really start over. Everyone else is left to struggle down the path they were assigned. The option to give up, to choose your own path, is power, and, hopefully, a call to action: take a risk to help someone." "Imagine Giving Up" by Jonah Parzen-Johnson, will be available via 'We Jazz Records' on violet and black vinyl versions, CD and digitally.

ATA Records proudly present the latest release from The Flying Hats, Blender 7” Following the buzz surrounding their debut LP and the soft limited pre-release of Blender, anticipation for this single has been huge - and with good reason.
“I've never heard something so perfectly combine funk and reggae and do it in a way that is dancefloor gold”. - Monkeyboxing.
The Flying Hats - the Leeds quartet responsible for one of the standout albums of the year - return in phenomenal form with two previously unreleased cuts of the highest calibre. Both tracks strike hard somewhere between Kingston and New Orleans, as if The Meters were channelling Jackie Mittoo or Sound Dimension were jamming with Jimmy Smith.
Thick, funky-reggae organ leads the charge with killer breakbeats, bass pressure, and rhythm-section fire designed to light up any dancefloor worth its salt. Both sides are built for selectors, collectors and dance DJs alike.

In March 2025, "On the Love Beach" completed a highly successful solo concert in Shanghai and Beijing with Toushi Naoki.

In 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of their memorable debut album, "On the Love Beach," the band's first three albums will be reissued on CD and vinyl!
All three albums use the original master tapes, and each has been thoroughly remastered under the supervision of Shinji Shibayama for high-quality sound!

This is Nagisa Nite's second album and only live recording, released in 1998. Featuring an acoustic arrangement featuring acoustic guitar and djembe,
the band's imaginary concept is "A Tyrannosaurus Rex from Osaka." This is a realistic documentary of a solo performance held in a dilapidated wooden
apartment building in Tokyo during a scorching heat wave in July 1997, a space that was barely a free space. The band performed in the scorching heat
of July, with the venue lacking air conditioning, forcing them to play with the windows open. This resulted in "ambient music" that occasionally blended with
the sounds of the outside world and the barking of dogs. The band's determination to never perform in a place like that again led them to believe that this
unique and intriguing experience was what made this album so unique.

The environment forced the band members and the audience to remain unwavering, creating an undeniable tension in the small venue, creating a literally
"hot" groove despite the entire performance being acoustic. This experiential live album, the polar opposite of the '71 Nippon Genya Festival, is impossible
to recreate, even for the band members themselves, including the immersive recording.

The 1998 album was only available on CD, but this time, the album is available on vinyl for the first time on a 2LP!
Remastered using the original master DAT tape, it recreates the "hot" and "ambient music" atmosphere even more realistically. T
akeda's cover of Midori Mako's "Yasashii Nipponjin" is also a must-listen!

Limited Picture Disc 7“

Mit „Hey Tú!“ entfesseln Hocico eine ihrer aufregendsten Kollaborationen: Gemeinsam mit Rafael Reyes von Prayers liefern die Industrial-Electro-Pioniere eine gnadenlose, zweisprachige Hymne über Verrat, Wut und Selbstermächtigung. Ein Aufeinandertreffen zweier unverkennbarer mexikanischer Stimmen, die ihre Karrieren auf schonungsloser Ehrlichkeit und furchtloser Selbstentfaltung aufgebaut haben - und nun gemeinsam die Welt in Brand setzen…
Musikalisch ist „Hey Tú!“ ein aggressiver, treibender Track, der sofort in Bewegung versetzt. Hocicos typisches Industrial-Venom trifft auf kantige EBM-beats und kreiert eine Energie, die Körper und Seele gleichermaßen befeuert. Es ist vor allem das explosive Zusammenspiel von Erk Aicrags gnadenloser Wut und Rafael Reyes’ ungehaltener Provokation, das den Song auf ein ganz neues Level hebt. Lyrisch ist der Track ganz bewusst konfrontativ - auf Englisch und Spanisch rechnet „Hey Tú!“ scharf mit Verrat und falscher Spiritualität ab. Zeilen wie „You’re a poser, you’re a loser, you’re a fucking fake“ oder „Soy el infierno que viene por más“ lassen keine Fragen offen: Das ist Kriegspoesie für eine digitale Generation, aufgeladen mit persönlicher Wahrheit und ungefilterter Wut. Der Song prangert Heuchelei an, entlarvt Opferrollen als Machtspiel, und holt sich in jeder gebrüllten Zeile die eigene Stärke zurück. Der Refrain „Hey tú! come mierda“ wird zum gnadenlosen Schlachtruf. Und in Reyes Worten „Without me, your name carries no fucking weight“ ist die Botschaft eindeutig: Es geht um Vermächtnis, um Verrat, und um das unerschütterliche Selbstbewusstsein jener, die ihre Narben mit Stolz tragen. „Hey Tú!“ ist ein musikalischer Mittelfinger an Blender, Mitläufer und spirituelle Hochstapler. Hocico und Prayers zeigen sich hier von ihrer rohesten, aggressivsten Seite.

Fracture & Neptune return to Astrophonica with their first collaborative 12” on the label since 2010.

Two epic, psychedelic, and deeply authentic tracks for both the floor and the head, carrying the unmistakable hallmarks of the duo’s classic sound — A psychedelic concoction of Jazz, Sci-Fi, Dub, and Breakbeat Choppage. Rooted in the lineage of Jungle and Drum & Bass, yet delivered in Fracture & Neptune’s unmistakably unique style.

To celebrate the release, UTILE — responsible for all Astrophonica design — have gone all out on the artwork, creating an iconic, type-based image for both tracks, presented on a full-colour, double-sided printed sleeve. Massive shout to UTILE for being as important to the label as the music.

“Erase Everything” is a journey through LA 2049 via London 1999 — as if Deckard were blasting an AWOL tape in his Spinner. Merging classic breaks and analogue saturation with soaring, cutting-edge pads and city-wide reverb, the result is both devastating and deeply thoughtful.

“Good Stuff” is inspired by a love of digging for samples across Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rock, and by a dedication to crafting kaleidoscopic soundscapes — All that good stuff, blended into one hallucinogenic trip.

Meeting at Islington Sixth Form College in 1996, Charlie (Fracture) and Nelson (Neptune) bonded over their deep love for the defining sound of London at the time — Jungle and Drum & Bass. Countless trips to Black Market Records in Soho, playing on pirate radio stations, and eventually, a makeshift bedroom studio — complete with an E-Mu ESI4000, a Mackie desk, and a few FX units — set the foundation for their journey. Their first release arrived in 2002 on Droppin’ Science, the label run by legendary Hardcore and Jungle pioneer — and fellow breakbeat manipulator — Danny Breaks. A run of mid-2000s releases on Ireland’s Bassbin, Paradox’s Outsider, and London’s Inperspective Records propelled Fracture & Neptune further into the cosmos. In 2009, they founded Astrophonica — initially as a home for their own music, but it quickly evolved into a hub for like-minded artists to experiment and explore freely. Almost 30 years on, they’re back in the studio with APHA034 — with more to come.

After appearing on the in-house series The Secret Sun under the moniker Sensefinite, Dan Piu once again graces OCD with pure aural bliss.
This EP took a long time to come to life—not for lack of material, but because the sheer volume of brilliantly composed, unique, and exciting productions to choose from turned the process into a literal “lost in music” experience: a psychedelic journey that at times seemed to have no end in sight.
Talk about first-world record label problems…
It’s techno, it’s trance, it’s house, it’s bleep—it’s all of that and more, seamlessly blended with the gentle finesse Dan brings to all his productions.

VUO14 delivers a journey through spacey deep techno moods, guided by Kirill Matveev. Side A features two tracks seamlessly blended into one continuous flow, inviting you to either focus on each part individually or let the narrative unfold as a whole.
On the flipside, Rasmus Hedlund takes the listener further into the night, raising the tension with a hypnotic dub excursion. Closing the record, Tm Shuffle reshapes the atmosphere into a bass-heavy, reverberated and house-tinged version - best experienced in front of a powerful sound system.
A versatile record for deep techno selectors and sonic explorers alike.

The new album by "Thomas Sarrodie & Bi-Polar Blues" marks a fresh start, strongly inspired by the band"s participation in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. This almost initiatory journey to the heart of Blues and Rock has ignited the energy and soul that make this new album the work of an inspired trio (guitar/vocals, double bass, drums), driven by the group"s extensive experience, yet remaining unique and original. With a guitar rooted in blues, blended with contemporary rock energy and 1960s psychedelic echoes, Thomas Sarrodie & Bi-Polar Blues captivates with its enchanting slides, a baritone tuning, a surprising double bass, and a swirling drumbeat. Formed twelve years ago by Thomas Sarrodie (guitar, vocals) and Sylvain Blanquiot (bass), the Thomas Sarrodie Group established itself on stages across Occitania with various drummers, until Jérémy Cazorla joined behind the kit. Influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix, Sarrodie adds a personal touch, avoiding clichés, as evidenced by three studio albums and a vibrant live recording. Eager to evolve, the trio incorporated double bass, slide, and baritone tunings, reshaping their sound toward a rootsy blues while retaining rock energy. Renamed Thomas Sarrodie & Bi-Polar Blues, the group embarked on a new tour and the recording of an eponymous EP. This EP reflects their ambition to push boundaries, with compositions evoking the Delta or the Hills, tinged with R.L. Burnside"s influence, while honoring a 1960s tradition with a modern approach.

Hüsker Dü. Live. 1985. Das transzendente Punk-Trio aus Minneapolis in seinem explosivsten Jahr, live aufgenommen auf der Bühne im First Avenue, in der vielleicht am besten klingenden Aufnahme der gefeierten SST-Ära der Band. Diese 4xLP/2xCD-Edition enthält Beau Sorensons Restaurierung der 21 Songs des gesamten Sets vom 30. Januar 1985, dazu 20 zusätzliche Live-Tracks aus dem weiteren Tourneeverlauf des Jahres und ein Deluxe-Booklet mit detaillierten Informationen zu den zwölf geschichtsträchtigen Monaten von Hüsker Dü. Wie klingt eine Legende, in dem Moment, wenn sie geschrieben wird? Betrachtet man das Jahr 1985 durch die dynamische Linse der Independent/DIY-Musik, so gab es Mitte des Jahrzehnts für Hüsker Dü einen kraftvollen und unbestreitbaren Sprint von der rauen Punk-Institution bei SST zur künstlerischen Empathie bei Warner Bros. Die New York Times bezeichnete die Band als "die beste, die aus der Hardcore-Szene hervorgegangen ist". Im Einklang mit diesem Lob zeigte Hüsker Dü ein kreatives Tempo, das in keiner anderen Musikära zuvor oder seitdem jemals erreicht wurde. Nachdem sie im Juli des Vorjahres mit dem Doppelalbum "Zen Arcade" die aufkeimende Alternative-Rock-Bewegung sprengte, veröffentlichte die Band nur sechs Monate später, am 14. Januar 1985, das epochale "New Day Rising" und hörte nie auf, dem Sonnenaufgang über dem Hidden Beach nachzujagen, der das Cover des Albums zierte. Am 30. Januar 1985 erreichte Minneapolis am Abend zum Zeitpunkt des Konzerts -11 °C, was einem gnadenlosen Temperatursturz von 19 Grad gegenüber dem Tageshöchstwert von 8 °C bedeutete. Die 1500 Besucher im First Avenue brauchten jedoch kein T-Shirt, geschweige denn eine Daunenjacke: Von den ersten blendenden Momenten von "New Day Rising" an war klar, dass Bob Mould, Grant Hart und Greg Norton fest entschlossen waren, jedes Molekül im Raum in Brand zu setzen. Ihre Setlist bot eine nächtliche Kaskade von Feuerbällen aus den Alben "Everything Falls Apart", "Metal Circus", "Zen Arcade" und "New Day Rising" sowie fünf neue Songs, die später auf "Flip Your Wig" wieder auftauchen sollten. Außerdem würdigten sie ihre rockigen Vorfahren: mit einer rasanten Version von "Eight Miles High" von The Byrds, einer turbulenten Interpretation von "Helter Skelter" von den Beatles mit Dave Pirner von Soul Asylum, einem Pop-Punk-Remake von "Ticket To Ride" ebenfalls von den Beatles und ihrem charakteristischen Cover von Sonny Curtis' Mary-Tyler-Moore-Titelsong "Love Is All Around" zum Abschluss. Die First-Avenue-Bänder von 1985 zeigen Hüsker Dü in Höchstform mit bereits beliebten Songs, ein paar Jahre bevor sie ihren Status als Blaupause für den kommenden Alternative-Rock-Boom endgültig gefestigt hatten. Dieses Box-Set feiert diese Aufnahmen, die vielleicht die besten Hüsker-Dü-Aufnahmen sind, die während der legendenhaften SST-Jahre der Band produziert wurden. "Wenn ich an diese Zeit zurückdenke", kommentiert Greg Norton, "waren das drei Jungs, die das taten, was sie liebten, Spaß hatten und im Grunde anderen Menschen zeigten, dass man sich selbst treu bleiben kann, seiner Musik treu bleiben kann und sich nicht der Mode oder den Erwartungen beugen muss, um etwas wirklich Großartiges zu schaffen."

Holy Sons is the largely solo project of Emil Amos (Grails, Om, Lilacs & Champagne). Puritan Themes is his 17th album and his 4th for Thrill Jockey Records and a tentpole album in his wide-ranging output, including myriad private press LPs, collections of oddities, and conceptual series". Puritan Themes" relaxed vibes are influenced by the laid-back west coast rock sound of mid-period Fleetwood Mac, blended with a dose of psych distortion and imbued with the breeziness and ease of yacht rock. Puritan Themes is a record that knowingly, barely fits into the modern world. When mixing the record in Chicago, everyday Amos skated through Douglass Park listening to podcasts about the inner workings of The Band, listened to 70"s AM radio while washing dishes and went to sleep at night to early Bee Gees interviews. The earliest concept of the record was based around the track "Chain Gang" which was an imaginary take on if Cat Stevens had smoked a ton of salvia and taken a much darker route within that world of dense, story-telling/message-based songwriting. The track "Raw & Disfigured" borrows its name from the last Thrill Jockey Holy Sons record, in a referential move that"s stolen from the way Led Zeppelin separated the track "Houses of the Holy" from the record of the same name (once again harkening back to 70"s lore).

Last Retch is a death metal band hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Your favourite parts of OSDM - The earworms of Carcass, the driving melodic force of Bolt Thrower, and the sheer brutality of Cannibal Corpse - blended with ease and delivered with memorable ferocity. The band made their initial mark in early 2021 with a well-received demo that showcased their raw and unfiltered sound. In September 2022, Last Retch released their debut full-length album, Sadism and Severed Heads. The album comprises nine tracks, including titles like "Neurosis," "Doomrider," and the title track "Sadism and Severed Heads." The cover art was crafted by the renowned painter Paolo Girardi, adding a visual intensity that complements the band's sound. Continuing their momentum, Last Retch released the Ergotism EP on April 26, 2024. This EP features tracks such as "Scalped En Masse," "Heaving Pieces," "Doomrider II," and the title track "Ergotism." The release solidified their status as a rising force in the death metal scene. In Steel City, Abject Cruelty is unavoidable. Decaying from all angles, Hamilton represents the suffering, plight, fears, and harsh reality of our most vulnerable. Our shared indignation inspired 8 tracks of pure old-school death.

OK EG turn inwards on Silent Green, their new release on Kia's ambient label Cirrus. Written for a live performance in Berlin, Silent Green finds balance between intimate post club dream states and low tempo rhythmic workouts. Fragmented voices harmonise with delicate synths and organic textures on open sky. Wooden machinery clicks and whirs on veil, opening into an inner expanse. Optimistic warmth and melancholy blend on spirit, knitted with resonant hi hats, scrolling wavetables and dubbed claves. Sequenced hand drums and piccolo snares create structure for rising pads and analog bass on death adder, as subtle grooves unfurl under the watchful gaze of digital crows. The artwork, created by the Amsterdam based digital artist Tharim Cornelisse, finds the cycle of life and death in the artificial environment of a greenhouse, digitally blended with patch notes from the first time the music was performed.

Huayno has its roots in the Andes during the colonial era, when indigenous peoples began to blend their music with influences brought by European settlers. During this process the Spanish guitar naturally became very prevalent, incorporating the tunings, finger-style and rhythms of the traditional Andean harp along with it.

The late Alberto Juscamaita Gastelú, known as Raktako, was a renowned guitarist, composer and mentor to generations of guitarists from his home in Ayacucho, southern Peruvian Andes. His unique style also blended techniques from the Spanish lute and other instruments brought by colonisers, such as the violin and accordion. For over a century, Raktako preserved Ayacucho's musical traditions and the Andean guitar form.

In 2022, the last disciple of Raktako, Gustavo Yashimura, shared with Sound of the Andes' Hánkel Bellido a series of astonishing home recordings made by Raktako between approximately 1930 and 1940. These recordings, made with the sparsest of equipment, had never been published before and represent an invaluable cultural treasure. The guitarist, who lived for over 100 years and passed away in 2023, had been largely forgotten until recently, when the Ministry of Culture of Peru officially recognised him as Meritorious Personality of Culture. His legacy, which includes a profound influence on Peruvian music, especially the Ayacucho guitar tradition, is finally being acknowledged.

Debut release on GAMM for San Francisco's edit and reworks maestro King Most.
For this supa funky 7inch, King Most first takes on Dorothy (Ashby), Dilla (Jay) and Phife (Dog) and puts it all in the blender for a rare groove(ish) hip hop jam...on a slight Detroit tip.

On the AA side King Most hits up Patrice Rushen and blends her with Soul II Soul vocals for a warm and tasteful rework.

Classic old school GAMM material :)

"Psychedelic Cumbia Party" brings together for the first time the best recordings of Los Zheros, a pioneering band of Amazonian cumbia from Peru. Their sound blends fast, percussive cumbia rhythms with surf-style electric guitars. The album features their psychedelic rock hit 'Cuarto oscuro,' a highly sought-after track not only among cumbia collectors but also garage and psych DJs. This compilation is a joint release with Peruvian label Rey Record and includes an insert with never-before seen photos of the band, as well as liner notes by expert Víctor Zela (creator of the acclaimed project "La Cumbia de mis Viejos"). DESCRIPTION This compilation brings together for the first time the best songs by Los Zheros, one of the most renowned cumbia bands to emerge in the early 1970s in Iquitos-alongside groups like Los Rogers and Los Wemblers-in the heart of Peru's Amazon capital. The unique Amazonian sound blended fast, percussive cumbia rhythms with electric guitars in a surf style-a distinctive fusion that came to define Peruvian-recorded cumbia, markedly different from the traditional cumbia styles that developed in other cumbia-producing countries like Colombia. The album includes their psychedelic rock hit 'Cuarto Oscuro,' a highly sought-after track not only by cumbia collectors but also by garage and psychedelic DJs. This song also marked the beginning of their recording career in 1973. This compilation is a joint release with the Peruvian label Rey Record and comes with an insert featuring never- before-seen photos of the band, as well as liner notes by genre expert Víctor Zela (the mind behind the prestigious project "La Cumbia de mis Viejos").

Rivet’s new album for Editions Mego is an uplifting and joyous affair coming in the wake of tragedy and disenchantment. It is yet another rebirth from an artist willing to take a step back and reprise the current situation he is in. Mika Hallbäck has a long credible history in the Swedish underground. First recognised for his industrial techno works under the Grovskopa moniker he worked privately on more experimental works that eventually came out as On Feather and Wire, an album released on Editions Mego in 2020. After much acclaim for this bold new direction that blended electronic abstraction, pop and industrial forms into a heavy synthetic trip two tragedies struck. One was the passing of label boss Peter Rehberg and then the passing of his dog Lilo, who was as close as a companion one could have. These events led to the release of the more unsettling follow up L+P-2 (Lilo and Pita minus two) on Midnight Shift Records in 2023. Peck Glamour sees Rivet return to the reawakened Editions Mego with an album of optimism inspired by reconciliation with loss and further explorations of new mental/sonic realms.

Hallbäck defines his approach as not being married to any particular machine, instrument, process or genre. However he holds a particular affinity to sampling, of which, he says, provides the dirt and grit amongst what would otherwise be pristine, generic machine music. The contemporary crate digging method of scouring obscure download music bogs for unique sounds was his preferred research practice.

Peck Glamour is an album full of tracks brimming with the excitement of exploration. It's the results of a mind informed by punk, industrial, techno, dancefloor, disappointment, trauma and rebirth. Here the synthetic and authentic is viewed simply as the same means of human rationale and expression.

The opening, ‘Catch Up to Light’, sets the scene with ecstatic and odd fluorescent vocals sliding amongst crystalline likembe whilst synths swirl amongst the external festivities. ‘Orbiting Empty Cocoon’ is somewhat a homage to the alien sound worlds of The Orb, one which takes the listener deeper into a mind melting array of teased potential as visual elements are executed in a mask of audio wizardry and euphoric staccato rhythms, the later being a nod to Singeli music. ‘Patitur Butcher’ is more dance frontal utilising the Ghatam drum and a YouTube rip of a Chinese language lesson. ‘Plastic Bag Putain’ was made during the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and should be clear of its intent. ‘All that Heaven Allows’ is a marimba cover of an imaginary Love Parade anthem. 'Kyrie Geire’ potentially briefly fills the void left by the demise of Coil. The entire trip of Peck Glamour is sewn up with ‘We left before we came’ whereby extraneous recordings of double bass player Gregory Vartian-Foss (tuning/strumming/moving the bass) are superimposed with local field recordings to create a gorgeous bed of sounds acting as an exciting exit music to this sharp collection of cinematic ear excursions.

After seven years away, Detroit's supergroup 3 Chairs aka Kenny Dixon Jr., Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite and Theo Parrish, returned in 2013 with 'Demigods', a superb EP that now gets repressed. Known for their loose, free-flowing jam style, the collective blended their distinct individual influences into four unique tracks. The title cut delivers raw, dynamic acid, 'Elephant Ankles' radiates Parrish's jazzy, polyrhythmic soul, '6 Mile' channels Moodymann's mechanical edge with playful bass and 'Celestial Contact' drifts into minimalist, atmospheric territory. The release captures the crew's spirit of freedom and experimentation and proves this cult outfit can craft music that's as fun to make as it is to hear. It's the sound of four producers at ease yet still pushing new creative edges.