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Mahoney's voice vacillates smoothly between ghostly and falsetto, while McNany's arrangements and instrumentation bump, click, and whirr like a lovingly tuned Rube Goldberg jukebox. Not too surprising, perhaps, considering they named the band after a song by schizophrenic outsider favorite Daniel Johnston, and they cite Harry Nilsson and Roxy Music as influences. - VIBE

Elisabeta. Just hearing her name puts a grin on her face.

Originally released on Polychrome Sounds, "Elisabeta, the remixes" features a remaster of the original by Karpov not Kasparov and three truly unique and magnificent remixes.

The first one is Carrot Green, who gave the original the Brazilian Ritmo-treatment, with extra acid on top for a spicy touch. On the second remix, Belgian mastermind Strapontin created a smooth grooving tension-builder, slow rolling to a deep and beautiful introverted climax. Lastly, Pletnev took the atmosphere of the original and gave it a trippy ethnic-break beat twist, as only the Vilnius producer can do so well.

UK Garage. Dubplate's. Persian. Breaks. Matrix. Riddims. Existence Is Resistance. Vibe. Old Skool. Dub. Shuffling. Bass. UKG. Bleeps. Groove. Love Song. R&B. Lost Words. Artist Formally Known As P.P. Undeground. Soul Singer. Smooth. Nicola Duncan. Archive. Nu Skool. Classic. Broken Beat. Persian Prince. Deejay. UK Funky. Same People. Bass Music. Garage. Pirate Radio. Beats. Unearthed. Vinyl. BreakBeat.

Cryovac Recordings is a collection of artists with a personal style that bleeds through their work. Cryovac artists have a relentless energy and passion for the music called techno. They are warriors with a clear vision and discipline on a course that is their own. The Cryovac crew believes in the vinyl record and has always been drawn to its’ unique quality it gives to sound. This e.p. celebrates the record shop, a crossroads of ideas and inspiration, where connections are made solid in the unity of the underground.

Rebecca Goldberg twists the 303 around a relentless 4/4 groove that evolves tweaks and pops into a sonic neurosis. Her yin yang approach applies a smooth steady delivery moving parallel to a raucous funk. The collaborative effort of Andy Garcia and Mike Kretsch produced a techno with moody rises and falls, stark kicks, and eerie effects held together with heroic energy. Toms and knocks, digital barks and farts, random clicks and ticks all fall into a galloping composition.

Info We Release Jazz is ecstatic to present its fifth release (following Ryo Fukui's Scenery and Mellow Dream, Le Cercle Rouge's soundtrack by Eric Demarsan and Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion), the first ever live performance and recording by Marc Moulin's sought-after jazz-funk band Placebo, captured at Casino Kursaal during the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 and never released before. Placebo's Live 1971 is available in a limited edition 180g vinyl mastered at half speed, housed in a 350gsm sleeve with UV coating and an obi strip. June 17th, 1971, the Montreux Riviera, its delightful microclimate and postcard scenery, its fabled music history and the luscious wines of the region. A dream setting for Marc Moulin to lead his ensemble on a 26 minutes+ jazz adventure - Nick Kletchkovsky on bass, Freddy Rottier on drums, Johnny Dover on bass clarinet, Alex Scorier on soprano saxophone, and Richard Rousselet on flugelhorn. The magic of that night is dripping through Placebo's sumptuous 'Showbiz Suite", a soulful piece in two parts in which every instrument gets enough room to shine, smoothly navigating between cozy cognac-by-the-fireplace funk and heartfelt grittiness, served with a pinch of Soft Machine vibes. It's the night Placebo was born, when foundations were laid for three classic albums: Ball of Eyes (on which you can hear a shorter studio version of 'Showbiz Suite"), 1973, and their final self-titled album. Born in 1942 in Ixell

The sensitive mountain » (la montagne sensible) is the nickname Alain Bashung came up with for Arnaud Rebotini. At the height of his fame, after the success of Fantaisie Militaire in 1998, Bashung readily agreed to create an album with Rebotini. The two men didn’t know each other; their record label had introduced them. Bashung brought in “Mortel Battement” and “Nocturne,” two poems by Jean Tardieu, which he recited in a voice simultaneously warm and flat, and Arnaud produced an impressionist soundscape that ended with an apocalypse of metal. Bashung was so proud of their collaboration that he offered to give several interviews to promote the record. Today, listening back to this moving Léo Ferré influenced "talking singing" exercise, it’s hard not to hear the template for L'Imprudence, the album that Bashung went on to record with Rebotini two years later. In a similar way, the album Organique sparked a productive partnership between Rebotini and filmmaker Robin Campillo, which resulted in their being awarded a César for Best Original Music in 2018. The director, who trusted Rebotini to create the soundtracks for his films Eastern Boys and 120 Beats per Minute, never kept his love for the 2000 record a secret.

Yet it’s an understatement to say that when it was released, Organique was not in the spirit of times. That year was all about the French touch. The funky samples of Modjo’s “Lady” and Superfunk’s “Lucky Star” ruled the sweaty dancefloors. Although Rebotini was familiar with the electronic scene, he had something else in mind when he set about creating Organique. Under his own name or under the pseudonyms Aleph, Avalanche, Black Strobe, Maison Laffitte, and of course Zend Avesta, he had already released several quite bizarre and experimental techno, house, or jungle maxi singles on pioneering labels like P.O.F., Source, and Artefact, run by his friend Jérôme Mestre’s, whom he had met back when both were working as record salesmen at Rough Trade’s ephemeral Parisian store. It was at Artefact, still financed at the time by Barclay and Universal, that he naturally proposed this record project, which was a bit "different." It was his first real album.

Arnaud Rebotini has never hidden his love-hate relationship with the electronic scene. He’s a fan of rave music, Rex, and later Pulp, but he listens mostly to metal and contemporary music, mainly American minimalists such as Terry Riley, Philip Glass, Steve Reich. He wanted to mix this genre with a more French aesthetic inspired by Debussy, whose unconventionality fascinates him. From the first suspended guitar note of Organique, you can pick up another influence, possibly poppier. In the style of Mark Hollis, the erratic leader of Talk Talk, whose only solo album’s silences and dissonances left their mark two years earlier, we hear the fingers touching the keys of the clarinet on “Ondine.” The instruments have presence, character. Nothing is smooth. Everything is organic.

Although it’s sometimes labeled as electronica because of Rebotini’s career, there’s nothing digital about Organique. No "pro tools" editing or samples, only programmed drums and some synth layering. And his guest vocalists. Playing the role of electro producer, he invited Bashung, of course, to join him on the album, but also Roya Arab, who Rebotini first spotted while she was playing in Archive, and her sister Leila, Gus Gus alum Hafdis Huld, Kat Onoma’s Philippe Poirier on the “Samuel Hall” inspired track “Qu’est ce qui m’a pris,” and former KaS Product member Mona Soyoc.

The frustration of a tour where he had "little to do on stage," the desire to sing himself, and the creation of the Black Strobe project, a haunting mix of blues and rock, stopped Zend Avesta from putting out another album. Eighteen years later, the Organique we rediscover today has lost nothing of its strangeness, nor beauty. When it came out, Bashung said, "What is interesting for a musician is to feel that you have a piece of wasteland in front of you, something to clear.” That remains true today.

Switzerland's Alma Negra are known for their deft, tasteful explorations of world roots, anchored in digging, sampling and sharing. On this brand new remix collection, Alma Negra invite a trio of equally curious producers to remix some three of their best-received musical endeavours. French producer and DJ Bambounou capitalises on the quick tempo and raw-energy at the heart of the Maloya sound as the basis for his raw and hypnotic reimagining of 'Kabare', originally sourced from Christine Cabare, one of the most notable stars of the contemporary Maloya scene. Glenn Astro, meanwhile takes on another release, 'Haleto lale lalô'. Originally influenced by the Saho sound, the origins of which lie in the musical history and landscape of Eritrea, the Money $ex Records owner fashions two distinctive reworks out of the already adapted original material. After applying the soft pressure of his weightless, smooth funk for an initial, blissed-out remix, he switches up to a warm, percussive jack session on his 'Rhythm Trax' remix, available here as a digital bonus. Finally, cult producer and musician Michal Turtle, best known for his sensational LPs and compilations on Music From Memory, delivers only his second ever remix in a forty year career, conjuring a magical slice of dreamy, percussive pop from 'Tany Be', awash in signature brass.

Some two years after dropping his debut album, "Broken Knowz", Jay Daniel delivers a follow-up. Interestingly, the fast-rising Detroit producer opted to move away from his usual club sound on "Tala", recently telling Resident Advisor that it was, "an invitation to know me outside of DJing". It's as deep, jazzy and musically rich as you'd expect, with Daniel flitting between jazz-funk/broken beat fusion, spacey ambient soundscapes, head-nodding hip-hop beats, intergalactic R&B instrumentals, super-smooth beatdown fare and the kind of hushed, glassy-eyed grooves that are best enjoyed while lying flat on your back at six in the morning.

4 TRACKS OF PURIST JUNGLE TECHNO FROM A COLLABORATION BETWEEN RON WELLS AKA JACK SMOOTH AND DANIEL SILK OF WORLDWIDE EPIDEMIC

Last year saw The Last Poets celebrate their 50-year anniversary with the righteous, politically-charged poetic record, "Understand What Black Is". Now to continue the party, Brighton production-maestro Prince Fatty has reworked the album with a fresh twist and blend of smooth, dub-delights. Set to land on the 29th March, the revolution marches on - this is "Understand What Dub Is".

After Prince Fatty's involvement in the production of the original project, he was the perfect person to help update the record with five decades of experience for a new audience to enjoy. The ten tracks of "Understand What Black Is" depict a relevant, historical philosophy of identity and race that has followed The Poets over the last 50 years. Since the origins of the civil rights movements back in the late 60's, Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan (two of the longest-standing group members) have provided social commentaries and a voice to African-American consciousness that has now been heard on a global scale.

Their raps, exploitations and insights quickly evolved into the origins of hip-hop in Harlem, New York back in 1968, and now in 2019 they continue to voice their dedication to the cause with the backing of slick rock-steady infused beats to keep things moving. Having had their work sampled by the likes of NWA, Dr Dre, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and countless others is just a testament to the timeless sounds and prophecy they have created, and now Prince Fatty has stepped up to put his stamp on it.

Prince Fatty's ever-reliable work gives "Understand What Black Is" another lease of life as he maintains an undeniably slick groove throughout. Both therapeutic and warm, the soulful rhythms of "Understand What Dub Is" provide the perfect platform for The Last Poets to delve into everything from Trump's inauguration, nods to Biggie Smalls and respect to Prince. The calm, collective and downright thought-provoking words go hand-in-hand with the roots-driven reggae medleys with ease - this is dub in its rawest form.

Not only do these songs explore personal struggles and individual endeavours, they also represent a collective of deprived aspects of humanity and socialism, that perhaps now need to be pointed out more than ever. Although there is a variation of sound, the overlying topics remain a constant - it is time to "Understand What Black Is" once more.

The five-track EP by Leonid Nevermind has everything you want for your body and mind. Picturesque electronics with deep funky, jazzy and mellow Electro moods. Musically rich with a blend of attractive drifts between breezy and melodious Detroit House, dark and smooth 90s indie-house, jazzy piano flourishes, clunky broken beat, and sticky Lo-Fi House.

On March 29, Eric Copeland delivers Trogg Modal Vol. 2, the counterpart to last October's Vol. 1. The former Black Dice member's 'Freakbeat 4/4' agenda gets further refined here - Vol. 2 is more laid-back than the first, but still highly danceable. Self-described as 'late Night Flight proto tekno,' the tracks pulse with thick layers of percussion, melodic fever dreams, and riffs wrung through a taffy puller. Eric's textured, off-the-cuff approach to dance music adds a refreshing element of spontaneity and 'jamming' to a climate of uncanny smoothness and polish.

Where Vol. 1 was composed of 'rippers,' Vol. 2 travels at its own pace, continuing to showcase Eric's ability to recontextualize 4/4 tracks as psychedelic contortions, from the squelchy vibrations of 'BS Dropout' to the blithe, video arcade soundtrack 'High Score Zed.' Taken together, the two volumes of Trogg Modal showcase the versatility of one of the most continuously exciting experimental artists of the past twenty years - arriving in 2019 with his mischievous sense of adventure firmly intact.

After taking a deep dive into the dusty crates with Belgian & Dutch music, Harde Smart now unearths a smooth selection of jazzy, funky & soulful gems from their collected vinyl stash. All the music you hear, was recorded and produced during the 1970's, in either Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) or Holland. Besides exquisite grooves and hard-pounding drums, the selected songs also have Dutch lyrics in common, making this a rather unique way to approach and compile lyric-driven Flemish and Dutch music from back in the days. Record collectors all over this language area seem to have neglected a considerable part of their own musical legacy for a few decades, while firmly searching for rare grooves and breaks in the bins with more exotic music.

Yet nothing is so certain as the unexpected. 'Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 70's' is the first 'Dutch' compilation album to uncover the genuine, Afro-American funk and soul vibe. A sound that - albeit infrequently - influenced the work of some of the popular and less popular singers and musicians in this small part of the world in the 70's. Although influences undoubtedly also derived from the French chanson and rock music from that era. This 21-track album smashes all musical predictability and takes you on a weird and nostalgic trip; offering a revised set of 'essential homegrown classics' for the local listener, yet also being very exciting to the ears of the non-Dutch speaking audience.

On March 15th Erased Tapes presents the invigorating and powerful debut solo album Lines of Sight by Australian-born, Liverpool-based composer, saxophonist and founder of Immix Ensemble, Daniel Thorne. Deeply moving, full of otherworldly beauty and rapture, the album is alive, throbbing like a circulatory system, colourful and glowing. It literally dazzles - effectively capturing what the birth (or death) of a planet might sound like.

In Daniel's own words, 'Thematically, this music was inspired by birds-eye aerial images and the idea of perspective - how something incredibly complex like a river or the surface of the ocean is reduced to a simple line or shape when viewed from the heavens. The line between natural and man-made becomes increasingly blurred.'

Every strand is fresh, vital and purposeful. The description 'seamless' might suggest a smooth, bland fusion, but here elements overlap in intermittent, undulating layers of mesh. Avant-garde, noise, electronics, ecclesiastical, classical, a touch of jazz and traces of Wyatt-style contemporary folk come together, each occupying their own space while acquiescing with the whole.

'Several compositions are derived from ratios and processes, and are highly calculated, while others evolved in a much more organic way. I wanted to create music that blurred lines between acoustic and electronic, organic and synthetic, composition and improvisation.
I've long been a fan of studio-based composition, but have always found the infinite possibilities on offer daunting and, often, a stumbling block. To get around this I set myself a challenge of limiting myself to the physical instruments in my possession - a few different saxophones and a bass synth, with no more than four tracks to record them,' he adds.

Lines of Sight follows Thorne's work as artistic director of the acclaimed, collaboration-focussed group Immix Ensemble. Together with experimental electronic artist Vessel, he co-wrote Transition released on Erased Tapes in 2016, described by BBC Radio 6's Mary Anne Hobbs as 'a remarkable new piece of music'. More recently, he worked with acclaimed modular synth wizard Luke Abbott, to create a four-part suite, which was premiered live in June 2017. Immix Ensemble have also performed special live commissions with Kelly Lee Owens, Dialect, Jane Weaver and Bill Ryder-Jones, among others.

Prior to leaving Australia, Daniel was fortunate to work with some of the country's leading new music ensembles as both a composer and performer, receiving commissions from the TURA New Music Festival and the Australia Council, as well as being appointed as Composer in Residence at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In the UK he was the recipient of the prestigious Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition, and also undertook a residency at Metal Liverpool, which provided him with the time and space to create Immix.

As the first track under Thorne's own name, 'Iroise' was recorded for the Erased Tapes 10th anniversary release 1+1=X, alongside works by Nils Frahm, Penguin Cafe, A Winged Victory For The Sullen and Rival Consoles. He also recently remixed Manu Delago, known as the live percussionist for Björk and Ólafur Arnalds. After a first solo performance at Sea Change Festival 2018, the new year will see Daniel tour across Europe, promoting the forthcoming release of Lines of Sight.

Social Lovers return to the dance-floor with a stunning white label release of "Lover's Flame / The Light" on Hobo Camp to close out 2018, following up their ltd 7" "Can't Get Enough". "Lover's Flame" is a mixture of street funk and freestyle, evoking classic 80s NYC synth feels, accompanied by Doherty's playful vocals. "The Light" channels soulful garage house feels, and keeps the vibe sensual, spiritual, and heavy. A true dance 12" with an additional 'Instrumental' version of the A side, and 'Keypella' of the B side, DJs are already banging these tracks out on systems worldwide.

Led by head-producer Matty P, and the sultry voice of Megan Doherty, Social Lovers are a collaborative group that sprung up from the desert of Phoenix, Arizona and soon to spread to both coasts. Now with their core members sharing home-bases in both New York City and Los Angeles, their smooth sound is best defined as 'street funk with a splash of class'.

The wondrous rarity that is Hipnotic 'Are You Lonely' gets the rework treatment form four masters of the re-edit, each with their own trademark sound.

First up to the operating table, Opolopo increases the tempo edging up to the 118-mark adding a characteristic juiced up bass synth that oozes smoothness and swapping the flute melodies with cosmic synth lines that sparkle in the darkness.

Greg Wilson & Che Wilson tackle edit duties next in classic Wilson style. Again, opting to move into peak-time tempo territory, they begin with a stripped back, spacey intro that sees elements added one by one from a bumping bass and panning pads to rough snares and crisp claps. It wouldn't be a Wilson edit without a double dose of tape delay, the duo dropping the vocals and synth lines expertly in and out for maximum dancefloor flavour.

Back down to the original pace on the B side, The Revenge offers up a slick, late-night redub treat. Only a handful of components are involved as he chops and changes the bass and synth lines to provide a mesmerizingly chuggy groove whilst dropping in choice vocal echoes that makes Hipnotic, even more hypnotic. Last up, Yam Who brings those strutting guitars further forward in the mix whilst adding some delicate piano touches that offer an elegant enhancement to the original.

Four new interpretations of a much loved and sought-after funk fuelled, boogie gem.

Black Friday LP now made a regular catalogue item. When it comes to authentic, ride-or-die hip-hop, few crews have as much resonance as Mobb Deep. Featuring two double-threat MCs who also produced - Havoc and the sadly-departed Prodigy - the crew changed the hardcore rap game in 1995 with their sophomore classic The Infamous, and went on to rule the dark corners of hip-hop for the second half of the 90s and well into the 2000s. After multiple Mobb Deep platters in the '90s, Prodigy entered the 2000s as a solo artist with force, rolling over a stomping, piano-freaked backdrop laced by producer The Alchemist, with Keep It Thoro.' It has held up over time, proving itself as an anthemic classic that the streets and clubs still respect. Flaunting a smooth-but-menacing flow, Prodigy's no-nonsense lyricism on Keep It Thoro' is prototypical modern age brag rap. Countless MCs have followed his flow, from Fabolous to Joey Bada$$. The song is short and sweet, clocking in at just over 3 minutes. There are no wasted verses, just hardcore rhymes that stay with you. But Thoro' was the tip of the iceberg on what proved to be one of the more coveted rap full-lengths of the era. The album boasted other charting singles, including Rock Dat Shit' and Y.B.E.' (featuring B.G.), but it can be argued that the album's real gems are buried deeper. Genesis,' What U Rep' (featuring Noreaga) and Three' are all sinister yet pensive. Wanna Be Thugs' and Delt With The Bullshit' are strong and evocative Mobb Deep cuts, featuring production and vocals by Havoc. And alongside other standouts, perhaps the deepest cut of all - especially in light of Prodigy's way-too-soon passing due to complications from Sickle Cell Anemia - is You Can Never Feel My Pain,' which details the health issues and challenges this talented MC and producer had been facing his whole life. H.N.I.C. was Prodigy's first solo album, but it is perhaps his best. Among fans he will never be forgotten, for his skills, his storytelling and his no-B.S. approach to the art of MCing.

We are very excited to present you this new signing and debut EP by Dampé. A studio and live project from South East London. Since moving to the city, Dampé has been intimately involved in its club culture " from running warehouse spaces and booking venues to DJing and performing in groups across the city and Europe, under a slew of different aliases.

The music is made on a boat on the Thames and is a combination of dusty analogue gear, live instrumentation, and samples. For Dampé, influential parties were "Co-Op, FWD>>" and "You're A Melody" and echoes of those dances can almost be felt in the sound. Across five original tracks, the EP explores weirder and worldlier ends of house music, all with a nod to undeniably UK sounds.

"Peach Shuffle" is a made-for-the-floor, broken beat work-out that has this great warped and chopped Persian vocal sample giving the track a unique and world-wide touch, followed by "St James" Road", a crunchy live Rhodes jam and ode to a favourite street south of the river. "Move Me" is all garage-infused vocal loops and singing bowls and acts as an experiment-come-DJ tool. "Carn" is a super-swung hip hop beat featuring "SMBD" aka "Simbad" providing additional keys. Closing out with "Zongo Junction, At Night", a late night roller with material pieced together from saturated CR 78 samples and field recordings made when Dampé was recording sound for a film about witchcraft and the internet across rural Ghana.

To round up this exciting EP we ask a fellow SE London enthusiast "Nebraska" to make a remix of the title track "Peach Shuffle". Cutting up the vocal of the original, adding some mean bass and pouring a smooth "dance floor" sauce over it. The delicious end result is something we are very proud off and we hope you will enjoy as much as we do!

The new sampler on Siena has arrived! Number 4.0 is a real dance floor filler. The A1 comes from Lonely Planets Records artist; Sinan Alakus, who opens the EP with his raw drums and sharp synths. To keep the A-side housey, A2 is collab between the mates Tetelepta & Amro. Rollin' bass and smooth melodies. House 2 tha Bone it is!

On the flip, Tom Liem opens the B-side. A perfect dreamy minimal joint. Jocelyn, who had his debut EP on the main ESHU Records last year, delivers the last one on the EP. This B2 is a badass trip you don't want to end. Mean body in the low end, spacey chords on the up. From the start till the end you will dance!

Matt Edwards' R-Time Records welcomes back Sir Lord Commix with five silky cuts for the fourth 'Retroactive' release.

Amoon Andrews' outfit Sir Lord Commix returns with the fourth instalment of re-released gems that have been in high demand on the vinyl market. Born out of Rekids, R-Time Records has previously released twelve of Commix's cuts, yet his treasure trove discography keeps on giving, spanning two decades.

Released on Ugly Music in '96, 'World Of Groove' is a smooth house cuts with an abundance of soulful stabs and driving percussion whilst hypnotic melodies and sweeping cosmic strings envelope 'Life Cycle', which first appeared on Cynic in '05. 'Cosmic Jive' - from the highly sought after 'Evidence' vinyl of '97 - pumps a reverberated kick amongst shimming chords and rising bleeps.

Appearing on an extremely rare release on Hard Up, 'Under Seige' has an off-kilter rhythm and erratic yet funky slapping bass melody. Finally, the release concludes with an ethereal cut titled 'Beyond Reach' complete with liquid breaks, floating arps and shining melody (originally from a Talahachi VA in 2014).