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The legends of the golden era of Italian soundtracks and library music go by many names, but the backbone of that era’s definitive sonic identity is most often identified as I Marc 4 (also known as Marc 4 or I Marc Quattro). While the moniker might be less familiar to the uninitiated, it is a simple acronym derived from its founding members: Maurizio Majorana (bass), Antonello Vannucchi (organ), Roberto Podio (drums and percussion), and Carlo Pes (guitar). The number "4" serves to highlight the core synergy of these four master musicians. Their journey began in Rome’s vibrant jazz scene of the 1950s and early 1960s, where they honed their craft as members of the RAI national orchestra and collaborated with the most prominent jazz and pop icons of the day. However, it was their pivotal role in defining the Italian cinematic sound of the 1960s and 1970s that secured their legacy. Their unmistakable style was an eclectic fusion of beat, jazz, classical, and Latin influences—textured with early synthesizers, experimental sound effects, and a blend of electronic and baroque instrumentation. Consequently, their initials are etched into the credits of countless landmark recordings by legendary composers such as Nino Rota, Armando Trovajoli, Gianni Ferrio, Alessandro Alessandroni, Piero Umiliani, and Ennio Morricone.

Beyond their work as session luminaries, they produced a vast body of library music under their own name at the legendary Telecinesound Studios in Rome. These recordings were released through prestigious library labels like Sermi, Ricordi, and Fonit Cetra, as well as through their own imprints: Nelson Records, Silver Men, and Silver Music, spanning a definitive series of sixteen albums. Ten of these volumes were issued on Nelson Records during the 1970s, featuring the now-iconic military stencil design. Each release was color-coded: red (G.L.P. 1001), dark blue (G.L.P. 1002), gold (G.L.P. 1003), light green (G.L.P. 1004), brown (G.L.P. 1005), black (G.L.P.1006), light blue (G.L.P. 1007), yellow (G.L.P. 1008), orange (G.L.P.1009), and cool green (G.L.P. 1010). The series was completed by two elusive companion releases: S.M. 2001 on Silver Music and S.M. 2002 on Silver Men, both presented in the same distinctive brown sleeve. Rediscovered in the 1990s and 2000s, these Nelson releases have since achieved cult status among collectors, producers, and DJs worldwide. The final two installments, S.M. 2001 and S.M. 2002, remain the rarest and most enigmatic of the set.

Often overlooked, they contain some of the most profound "hidden gems" in the group’s catalog. The tracklist traverses a wide stylistic spectrum: from the rare groove and proto-hip hop energy of "Trama Nella Metropoli", "Beat Morbido", and "Candy", to the lush cinematic atmospheres featuring the ethereal vocals of Edda Dell'Orso on "Summer In Love", "On The Rain", and "Arcobaleno". The collection is rounded out by sophisticated jazz pieces like "Flauti Ensemble", "Passeggiata", and "Atmosfere Dolci”. Sonor Music Editions has meticulously curated the finest moments from these two rare albums for this first-ever dedicated reissue. Bringing together the best of Silver Music (S.M. 2001) and Silver Men (S.M. 2002), this release retains the iconic stencil artwork but introduces a striking silver finish. This design choice honors the original ten-album sequence while shedding new light on these outstanding recordings—works that remain, in every sense, golden.

We’re delighted to be working with London based deep house label, To The Rocks

Presenting the Visions of love EP from Lucas Moinet, a Paris-born producer with his roots planted firmly in the soul of house music. Through projects like Keraw, Groove Boys Project and Projecture, he’s built a catalogue that doesn’t chase trends, it’s going straight back to the source. Chicago, Detroit, New York. Four tracks. Deep, soulful, deliberate. Made by someone who clearly loves and lives the culture.

In Arc, Yorkshire-born artist Kirk Barley explores alternative tunings and off-grid sequencing to shape fluid rhythmic and melodic systems that unfold into rich harmonic forms. Kirk’s fourth album under his own name and debut for Marionette continues his exploration of just intonation through a sparse but finely detailed palette of organic atmospheres, metallic shimmer and off-kilter rhythms. Across the record, glassy pads, gamelan metallophones, clarinet and guitar dissolve into fluid, dreamlike forms, suggesting vast coastal landscapes, charged air and the stillness that follows turbulence.

Drawing on the feel of sample-based hip-hop, the minimalism of Terry Riley and Jon Hassell, as well as dub techno and post-rock, Kirk brings together a range of influences in a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. After first hearing Terry Riley’s Shri Camel as a teenager, he became captivated by just intonation and microtuning, inspirations that have shaped his work ever since, from his earliest Bambooman releases to the present solo works and as on half of Church Andrews & Matt Davies. Arc is his first record to be fully rooted in alternative tunings from start to finish. Longtime friend and collaborator Matt Davies appears on Ion, Sundry, Ecstatic and Fret (Haar), where his finely detailed, ASMR-like muted percussion deepens the dialogue between tactile acoustic sound and Kirk’s luminous electronic palette.

180g White Vinyl

* Following on from the hugely popular ‘Klavirni’ (Emika’s first solo piano album in 2015) her second installment of piano solos are a magical cluster of melodies, dreamy effects, obscure production mistakes with tape echo’s and other old analog gear.

* The pieces were recorded during the time she was pregnant with her first child Silvy, to whom she has dedicated this record ‘To Silvy who heard it first from the inside’.

* The collection of ‘Dilo’s’ which means moment in Czech, were recorded ‘in a state of ultra hyped up creativity combined with a massive fear about losing my identity or creativity as an artist once I would become a mother’ - says Emika about the album process.

* A truly personal affair and in keeping with the original style of the first Klavirni, all the Dilo’s were recorded improvisations by the composer on her home piano, this time in Berlin.

* Dilo 7 from the first album has been streamed more than 15 million times on Spotify and there will also be a ‘Red Edition’ repress of the album on vinyl.

* This release marks the 5 year anniversary of Emika Records, celebrating 5 years of independence since her days with Ninja Tune.

* Dilo Variations EP (not released previously before on vinyl) will come with the anniversary releases on a cute little 10’’ with updated artwork.

* This is also the final release in her Emika Records catalog before starting a new venture in 2020 with more details to follow later in the year.

* ‘Klavirni Temna’ which means dark piano in Czech, explores the relationship between dark and light, good and evil, death and rebirth.

* ‘Music is a powerful and sometimes unexplainable force.’ - Emika

Leading Danish contemporary jazz label April Records is proud to present Well, actually..., the third album from Polish acoustic jazz quartet O.N.E. Grounded in the spirit of democracy andcollective improvisation, the album offers a tightly woven set of original compositions that blur the lines between modal jazz lyricism and the raw energy of free improvisation.The band name O.N.E. is a clever double entendre: in Polish, "one" (pronounced oh-neh) means "they" in the feminine plural - an apt nod to the all-female lineup. In English, of course, it signifies unity. Both meanings reflect the band"s egalitarian, leaderless approach and cohesive group sound.Almost three years after the recording of their previous release Entoloma(Audio Cave), the group reunited in December 2024 at Studio S4 in Warsaw to record a fresh set of ten compositions. Spread over two sides, the album captures the continued evolution of a band that thrives on interaction, trust, and shared purpose - even in a society fractured by post-pandemic socio-economic uncertainty and political ambiguity. Featuring contributions from all four members - pianist Kateryna Ziabliuk, saxophonist Monia Muc, bassist Kamila Drabek, and drummer Patrycja Wybranczyk - the recordreflects their commitment to artistic democracy. Each voice is given space, yet the music always feels greater than the sum of its parts. Even on the miniature solo track solo form, the other three players remain present, supportive, and responsive. From Ziabliuk"s percussive piano textures and dreamlike voicings on tracks like Osloand Berio, to Muc"s expressive, woody tone on alto and baritone sax, each piece explores dynamic interplay and shifting emotional landscapes. Drabek"s resonant, grounded bass - by turns lyrical and propulsive - provides a central thread, while Wybranczyk"s drumming fizzes with precision and imagination, as heard on Cipherand the angular closer Sneaking Around.Together, these four distinctive creative forces have developed a shared language built on mutual respect, long-term collaboration, and deep listening. Their concerts across Europe (including Jazzahead, B-Jazz, Umea, and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival) haveaffirmed their standing as a boundary-pushing group with something new to say.








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Released in 2011, Komba is Buraka Som Sistema"s second studio album - their fusion of Angolan kuduro and bass music reaching further across the globe, absorbing new rhythms along the way. Among the standout tracks: "(We Stay) Up All Night" and "Hangover (Bababa)". This limited vinyl reissue - pressed on coloured wax for the first time - remains faithful to the original release, including the bonus track "Burakaton" featuring Colombian outfit Bomba Estéreo.

Leo Mas is a true icon, who was there at the start of the Ibiza revolution in the 80s, he is the protagonist and witness of the birth of Ibiza as the World Capital of Clubbing alongside Dj Alfredo Fiorito at Amnesia (Ibiza) during the years of 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990, thanks to his unique sound and innovative set he is as one of the Pioneers of House and Techno music and one of the Balearic Beat Originators.

Leo Mas - The Dark Side (Irreverent Mix)

Amnesia was the club that changed the European and later the global club scene in 1987, thanks in part to the support of London DJs Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Nicky Holloway, Johnny Walker, and Nancy Noise, who came to Amnesia for the first time that year. At the time, Amnesia was still an open-air club, and the group was amazed by the unique, eclectic, and irreverent style of Alfredo and Leo, who played the new House Music imported from the United States along with a genre-blending sound that would later become known as Balearic Beat. When he returned to London, Paul Oakenfold bought all the records that were being played at Amnesia, with the help of Nancy Noise, and together with his friend Ian St. Paul opened the one-night event Future, “The Original and Only Balearic Club.” This later became Spectrum on Mondays, and eventually evolved into Land of Oz, where in the VIP chillout room, the White Room, the DJ was Alex Paterson, later known as The Orb. Danny Rampling and his wife Jenny wanted to recreate their Ibiza experience by opening Shoom, while Nicky Holloway would go on to open The Trip. All of these clubs transformed the London club scene and, in turn, had a worldwide influence. During the second half of the 1980s, Amnesia was also the favorite club of Sven Väth, who was a regular customer there.

This one-hour long recording is an essential snapshot of a pivotal point in dance music history. The records’ selection was, deliberately a mix of Indie Rock, Gothic Synth-Pop, Subversive Electro, Industrial, Belgium New Beat, Techno with Poetry, EBM. A magical moment in time that could never truly be repeated, yet lives on through this tape, now finally available to music lovers everywhere, including those who only ever dreamed of experiencing it firsthand.

The release comes with liner notes by Robert Harris (Dr. Rob), DJ, music writer and author of the well-known book, IBIZA DJ 1976 - 1988, released in 2019, during his collaboration with Paul Byrne (Test Pressing)

Ri-tape & ELSI Berlin produced a very limited run of 50 tapes, be quick!

For the very first time, the energy of So W'Happy Festival is captured on vinyl with the So W'Happy – Vinyl Sampler 2025.

Produced in collaboration with Babaorum Records, this release brings together a selection of the festival's most iconic anthems, including the official So W'Happy Festival anthems from 2022 to 2025.

Featuring tracks by Frontliner, Rayzen, DRS, Sandy Warez, Unsyn, D-Charged, JNXD and Carola, the sampler reflects the evolution of the festival through the artists and productions that have helped shape its identity. From euphoric hardstyle melodies to uncompromising hardcore and uptempo energy, every track captures the passion, intensity and atmosphere that define the So W'Happy experience.

More than just a compilation, this first vinyl edition celebrates the music that has become the soundtrack of one of Belgium's leading harder styles festivals.

French

Pour la toute première fois, l'univers du So W'Happy Festival est immortalisé sur vinyle avec le So W'Happy – Vinyl Sampler 2025.

Réalisée en partenariat avec Babaorum Records, cette sortie réunit une sélection des hymnes les plus emblématiques du festival, dont les anthems officiels des éditions 2022 à 2025.

Avec des titres de Frontliner, Rayzen, DRS, Sandy Warez, Unsyn, D-Charged, JNXD et Carola, cette compilation retrace l'évolution du festival à travers les artistes et les productions qui ont forgé son

identité. Des mélodies hardstyle aux sonorités hardcore et uptempo les plus explosives, chaque morceau retranscrit l'énergie, la passion et l'ambiance qui font aujourd'hui du So W'Happy un rendez-vous incontournable de la scène hard music.

Bien plus qu'une simple compilation, ce premier vinyle célèbre la musique qui accompagne l'histoire d'un festival devenu une référence de la scène harder styles en Belgique

Following the success of its debut vinyl release, So W'Happy Festival returns with the So W'Happy – Vinyl Sampler 2026, once again in collaboration with Babaorum Records.

Bringing together an explosive selection of artists from across the harder styles spectrum, this new edition perfectly captures the intensity and diversity that define the festival. Featuring tracks by The Dark Horror, Chicago Zone, Binum, K-Style, Jumpkiller, DJ HS, DJ Adolphe, DJ Furax, Pat B, G Sayz and many more, the sampler delivers everything from hardstyle and jump to hardcore and uptempo.

The release also includes The Dark Horror's Official So W'Happy Festival Anthem 2025, alongside exclusive reinterpretations and festival favourites, including Hysta's explosive remix of the timeless classic The Age Of Love.

Powerful kicks, unforgettable melodies and uncompromising energy make this vinyl a true reflection of the So W'Happy experience. Whether you're reliving unforgettable moments from the festival or discovering its unique atmosphere for the first time, the So W'Happy – Vinyl Sampler 2026 brings the spirit of the harder styles straight to your turntable.

French

Après le succès de son premier vinyle, le So W'Happy Festival poursuit l'aventure avec le So W'Happy – Vinyl Sampler 2026, une nouvelle fois réalisé en partenariat avec Babaorum Records.

Cette nouvelle édition rassemble une sélection explosive d'artistes emblématiques des harder styles et reflète toute la richesse musicale du festival. Avec des titres de The Dark Horror, Chicago Zone, Binum, K-Style, Jumpkiller, DJ HS, DJ Adolphe, DJ Furax, Pat B, G Sayz et bien d'autres, cette compilation navigue entre hardstyle, jump, hardcore et uptempo avec la même énergie qui anime les scènes du So W'Happy.

Le vinyle comprend notamment l'Official So W'Happy Festival Anthem signé The Dark Horror, ainsi que plusieurs morceaux incontournables et des relectures marquantes, dont le puissant remix de The Age Of Love par Hysta, véritable rencontre entre un classique intemporel et la nouvelle génération des harder styles.

Entre kicks ravageurs, mélodies fédératrices et énergie sans compromis, ce nouveau sampler retranscrit toute la puissance et l'atmosphère du So W'Happy Festival. Une sortie incontournable pour prolonger l'expérience du festival et retrouver chez soi l'esprit unique du So W'Happy.

Lonely Man's Dream marks a milestone for Forager Records: our tenth release, and perhaps our most personal. More than a compilation, it is a self-portrait. A reflection of the musical obsessions, late-night discoveries, and restless digging that have defined this label from our first record to this latest one.

Spanning the dreamy psychedelic folk of the 1970s to the cool shimmer of 1980s synth pop, Lonely Man's Dream traces a decade of curatorial wandering. Eleven artists. Eleven songs. Each one rare, obscure, or otherwise lost to the margins of music history. Among them, two tracks surface here for the very first time: “Never Say Goodbye” by Cocktails and Dreams, a synth pop transmission from Norway, luminous and weightless as the skies on the cover. “True Love” by Keith Jones, a drum machine backed demo that pulses with a late night intimacy.

What unites these songs across genre and era is the same quality we have always chased; a transporting ache, the sound of someone searching, or the feeling of a memory you can't quite place. Like every record before it, this one asks nothing of you but your full attention and an open ear.

Ten releases in, we are still looking for the same thing we started with. We hope you feel it too.

* Featuring a selection of songs sourced from rare records of the 70s & 80s reissued for the first time.
* Includes 2 unreleased songs from the 80s
* Original artwork by Eric Thompson
* Very limited initial first pressing

Persona proudly presents its debut release, introducing Nae – a trusted friend, dedicated producer and creative force behind the new label. Nae delivers with his deep and immersive production style, providing a powerful blend of driving bassline and crystalline drums, all the while delving into his signature atmospheric sound.

These tracks are carefully crafted to captivate the dance floor, delivering bursts of pulsating intensity, as well as more intimate, reflective moments. With four tracks and four different flavours, this EP is designed to fit seamlessly into your record bag. With only 300 copies available, this limited first release of Persona’s debut is not one to miss. Grab it while you can

Jorge Ben’s 1963 debut, Samba Esquema Novo, introduced his infectious blend of bossa nova and samba, propelled by the timeless Mas Que Nada and Chove Chuva. While his later sound leaned more into rock and Afro-Brazilian rhythms, this album bursts with swirling melodies, rich harmonies, and big-band energy, all anchored by Ben’s distinctive, minor-key guitar work. A vibrant, era-defining classic.

Kid Katana Records teamed up with Digital Eclipse / Atari to bring the legendary Wizardry remake game OST, for the first time on vinyl. Winifred Phillips crafted a unique soundtrack, which was recognized by the 2025 Grammy Award Winner for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.


This OST is steeped in ancient history and culture, with Phillips using authentic period instruments from around the world, including gitterns, nyckelharpas, dulcimers, and bone flutes, and a choral battle anthem in the ancient language of the Wizardry spellbook.

Inspired by Kenneth Grahame's 'Wind in the Willows', the sonic endeavours of Mole have so far given us two cassettes (Before I Glare Up At The Sun Through The Top Soil and Mole's Uninvited Guests) and a top class library CD of covers. With ‘For Red Riverbank’, The Sprigs return to bison for their first full length LP, this time joined by Ratty and Badger to form a full three piece band, and to help Mole take on the developers working above ground…

Armed with guitars, pipes, samples and bric-a-brac, it’d be easy for the Sprigs to succumb to a totally romanticised nostalgia for an imagined British folkloric tradition. There’s enough of it going around. Instead, the gang create a ramshackle, ruddy faced blend of introspective hibernation, real-world anxiety and some absolutely knee slapping, joy inducing tunes. It’s a masterwork of folk collage - where beautiful straight-to-tape guitar sketches are cut up amongst British labour history with the help of Leon Rosselson and Ash Reid, giving way to waves of depression and relief in equal measure. Such is life!

2026 Repress

Polygonia & MTRL - Division / Taris EP incl. Remixes by Claudio PRC and Mary Yuzovskaya

A1. Polygonia - Division
Right from the start the listener is cast into orbit with driving percussion and abstract sound effects. Soon they are followed with a morphing bass sound and cymbals which lock the groove into place, cranking the drive to the max. As the track progresses the landscape of sound reveals its nature with metallic quality, like schrapnel from a barren city. Truly a Deep Techno banger which will without a doubt fill a dance floor.

A2. MTRL - Taris
The listener is slowly submerged into the waves of percussive bass sounds and menacing sweeps of noise which remind of a storm in a desert, the horizon only slightly glimmering behind the veil of sand. Soon the listener is introduced with a pounding kick drum, almost making the landscape seem even more ruthless as the track progresses.
Quality, heady Deep Techno.

B1. Polygonia - Division Claudio PRC Remix
The hypnotic Techno maestro Claudio PRC twists the idea of the original track into a mind explorative voyage with a triplet feel. The remix is shrouded in melancholy with distant pad sounds, which add a nice tension to the track. As usual, a brilliant remix from Claudio PRC.

B2. MTRL - Taris Mary Yuzovskaya Remix
On the remix the Berlin based producer is molding the source material into a driving and psychedelic track, functional yet synapse tingling. Now the bass has a bit more liquid-like quality and the overall soundscape is more abstract. Hallucinatory effects of noise are filling the spaces between the sounds, almost like being surrounded with faint whispers. Driving and psychedelic Deep Techno done with finesse.

Words by Latmos

Since The Summoned announced Mama Terra as one of Britain's more intriguing modern jazz propositions, anticipation has only gathered pace, and this latest offering more than answers it, with Marco Cafolla's Glasgow ensemble stretching spiritual jazz into widescreen territory, enriched by Conrad Roberts' evocative narration on the title track and 'Bliss'. Elsewhere, 'Isha' drifts with serene assurance, then 'The Observers' gives way to a far more expansive finale. It's another bold step from a group whose musical vocabulary seems to grow richer with every outing.

First Word Records proudly bring you the sophomore EP from Ruby Wood - ‘No Rain, No Flowers’.

Ruby is a singer / songwriter hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the UK. Her soulful yet distinctive voice has enabled her to front numerous projects over the years; perhaps best known as lead vocalist of the critically acclaimed Submotion Orchestra, since 2009.

Her first solo EP ‘Sincerely’ dropped back in 2023, and received love from the likes of Jamie Cullum, Craig Charles, Jyoty, Huey Morgan, Wordplay & saw Ruby named Mi-Soul Radio's 'One to Watch'.

The follow-up EP ‘No Rain, No Flowers’ is a personal tale of growth through adversity. Reflecting on long-term love, fleeting intimacy, grief, and the relationships that shape us. Rather than offering answers, the 8-track EP sits with life as it is. Imperfect, cyclical and shared. The title speaks to the belief that difficult experiences are not separate from growth, but essential to it.

Musically, the project encompasses contemporary flavours within the realms of r&b, soul and hip hop. It features an impressive collective of vocal collaboraters; Illa J, Devin Tracy, Abnormal Sleepz & PRIDO. Each bring their own distinct perspective, whilst complimenting the EP’s introspective tone; favouring warmth, restraint & lyrical authenticity. All are backed by a smooth sonic backdrop of beautifully rich instrumentation, produced primarily by Rob Mitchell of Abstract Orchestra.

Ruby has performed live shows with Nightmares on Wax & Abstract Orchestra as well as with r&b legend Bryson Tiller at his sell-out UK gigs, including Wembley Arena & Manchester Apollo. This is additionally to touring with Bonobo & Nubiyan Twist, and collaborating with the likes of Krept & Konan, Alfa Mist, GLXY and Roska, to name a few.

The diversity of her career, ranging from the intimate to the large-scale performances, gives Ruby a unique balance of vulnerability and musical depth, prioritising authenticity over spectacle. As a solo artist, her work is rooted in honest lived experiences, leading to a focus on songs that resonate long after first listen.

This EP offers a reflection of where Ruby is at now, informed by where she’s been before. It’s a project that embraces imperfection, recognising that those experiences that challenge us the most, shape us the deepest.

VRNT presents VRLTD008, bringing together French producer Praymond with remixes by Guy From Downstairs and Cabanne. The label, vinyl-only, rooted in minimal techno and deep house, originally founded in Calgary and based in the Canada/USA-region, has built a reputation for high-quality, rhythm-centered releases. With L’odeur des rêves, Praymond delivers two originals and two reinterpretations that move in the micro-house and deep-house spectrum with subtlety and refinement. The A-side track presents a detailed groove with space and elegance; the Guy From Downstairs remix expands that vision with his signature swing. On the flip, “73 Infuse” anchors the release, and Cabanne’s remix reshapes the piece with clarity and finesse.
This 12″ (transparent vinyl, 140 g, four cuts) speaks to selectors and listeners who value texture, groove and mood ahead of showmanship. VRNT’s catalogue emphasises these traits, and this release slots in perfectly, warm, composed, and deeply musical.

The second album from Chicago based Brigette Calls Me Baby firmly establishes them as a band to watch. It's fair to say that they are a band that takes a lot of influence from 1980s UK indie in general and The Smiths in particular. Opening track 'There's Always' finds vocalist Wes Leavins channelling Morrissey's finer moments; and in particular those moments when Morrissey was in thrall to the crooners of the 1950s. This is particularly poignant in relation to the themes that run through the album, most notably the idea that certain moments in your history shape your very being for the rest of your life. Clearly hearing certain records has shaped Brigette Calls Me Baby as much as those all important life-change moments. That's not to say this a band that isn't ploughing its own furrow, songs like "Slumber Party" with its relentless bassline and dance influenced drums show a band that can mix its influences are create something unique. "I Can Take The Sun Out Of The Sky' might have those darkened crooning tones from Leavins, but they can't keep a lid on the sheer positivity that his band is generating, it has the feel of a real summer anthem.

In a world currently defined by unrest, uncertainty, and cultural fracture, acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Isaiah Collier returns with Joy, a 5-track EP that reframes one of humanity’s most nuanced emotions both as a devotional grounding and political act.

Collier’s deeply personal compositions present joy as an act that isn’t rooted in escapism or abstraction, but rather, as something hard-won rooted in lived experience, shaped by transformation, and sustained through connection. Throughout the album’s five compositions, Collier positions joy as a guiding light during challenging times, an expression of challenging yourself to utilize your gifts, an affirmation of love and discovery, and as an affirmative source of reassurance.

“We are in a paradoxical time, where so much is being revealed to us,” Collier shares. “Everything feels political from every scope… our collective hearts feel the heaviness in the air. Yet I say to you all—don’t despair. For right now, the most political thing we can do is share joy.”

That ethos is made clear in the opening title track and lead single “Joy.” A pulsing rhythmic motif anchors the melody with a sense of both searching and certainty. Collier conceived the piece around 3 years ago reflecting on a time where many people in his life were experiencing loss of family and friends and experiencing profound life transitions. “Everything just felt like it was falling apart with no aim in sight,” he reflects. “Yet, there is a light at the end of it all.”

As he played the chords with a sense of urgency, he could feel the vibration of yellow in the piece. That initial triplet motif serves as the guiding light on the piano and the only word Collier could hear was Joy. In addition to Collier at the helm singing and playing piano and tenor sax on the track, it features an expansive 11-piece ensemble with a full horn and string section allowing Collier’s propensity for composition and arrangement to shine with an eclectic sonic palette.

“Landscape of Dreams” finds Collier serendipitously leaning into utilizing his gifts as a multi-instrumentalist. While he had a sketch of the piece going into the studio, a traffic delay caused musicians to be late arriving at the studio. Never one to waste time in the studio environment, Collier stepped into new creative territory and took up the challenge of executing playing all instruments himself as an act of trust and experimentation. “I’ve never done this before, and so it was a leap of faith for me,” he asserts. “I always dream of doing stuff like this, and being part of the small percentage of people who can do it like Prince, Steve Lacy, Frank Zappa, and Stevie Wonder. The end result finds Collier immersed in a hypnotic soundscape playing layered flutes, drums, Metatron, Wurlitzer, and auxiliary percussion.

Another layer of joy is revealed in “Where I’m Loved” that serves as a love letter and leaning into the process of stepping into the willingness to explore life and love with a partner. On the intimate meditation of vulnerability and connection, Collier's vocal prowess is on full display, exerting effortless falsetto reminiscent of D’Angelo over soulful Wurlitzer and guitar as he crosses over into more R&B-inspired realms. “I believe everyone deserves this feeling or to honor the memories of it. Furthermore, I believe you should also go where you’re celebrated and not tolerated.”

“When the Dust Settles” captures the electricity of live collaboration and Collier further steps out of being confined to any specific genre. He had just gotten a microKORG keyboard from co-producer Sonny Daze and was exploring the vast array of sounds on the instrument. Collier plays synth bass on the microKORG joined by the electrifying improvisation of Cole Runge on guitar and the combustible rhythm of his brother Jeremiah Collier on drums with additional post-production work from Sonny Daze.

The album’s final track “God’s By Your Side” reflects on perseverance and artistic legacy, directly inspired from the passing of D’Angelo, whose life’s work was a huge part of Collier’s childhood growing up in the late 90s and early 00s. With gospel flavor and direct influence both from D’Angelo’s vocal and instrumental arrangements, the track speaks to resilience and persistence in the face of obstacles—an affirmation of source and reassurance. “And what’s better than having God by your side, right?” asserts Collier.

Joy is a through-and-through expression of the arc of joy in its truest form. Joy transcends fleeting happiness and is conscious gratitude shaped by taking chances, leaning into your gifts, fostering community, and lived experiences.

“Joy is partially happiness,” Collier explains. “But to me it means happily being grateful for family, friends, lovers, teachers, and good times. These are the things that anchor us.”

The release of Joy comes off the heels of significant momentum for Collier, whose work continues to garner accolades and resonate across cultural spheres. He was featured on the cover of DownBeat’s April 2025 issue, where he was named “The Next Sax Giant,” and profiled on NPR’s Jazz Night in America for his ambitious 13-movement interdisciplinary suite The Story of 400 Years, that traces 400 years of Black American History. He released two full-length albums in 2024 with The World Is on Fire highlighted in The New York Times’ Fall Arts Preview and The Almighty named among the publication’s Best Jazz Albums of the year.

Beyond performance and recoding, Collier’s influence is recognized in broader cultural and intellectual spaces as he was the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2025 Up and Coming Artist of the Year Award, the 2024 Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz, and was named a Steve Jobs Archive Fellow joining an elite cohort of the next generation of artistic visionaries through a yearlong program.

In addition to the release of Joy, Collier is touring his “Collier Plays Coltrane” program throughout 2026 in honor of John Coltrane’s centennial. Rather than presenting Coltrane’s expansive catalog as repertory, Collier approaches this music as something living, reshaping it in real-time with a sense of space and improvisational dialog reflecting both reverence to the past and present times.

"Motorway City" is a superb, driving-based collection of library music. The tracks on this album were all written between the mid-60s and the early 80s to hymn car travel, back when the petrol-operated motor car was seen as the transport mode of the future, when motorways were new and thrilling. It was car travel’s golden age.
The tracks are highly collectable rarities from the libraries of De Wolfe, Chappell and Hudson. It has been compiled by Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne who has also written the informative sleevenotes. It stretches from mod movers to proto-ambient, something for every car journey.

Library music soundtracked the many short films that extolled the virtues of TopTray restaurant at Watford Gap or the comfortable leather seats in an Alpine Sunbeam. These tunes illuminated the joys of motor travel, and were given titles such as ‘Fast Lane’, ‘Super City’ and ‘Clearway’.
Many of these tracks seem time specific. The sun peeks over the horizon for Basil Kirchin’s ‘Through New Territory’; Reg Tilsley’s ‘Hold The Road’ is so bright at midday that you’ll need to wear shades to stop the sun getting in your eyes; John Fiddy’s ‘City Skyline’ has to be seen (and heard) at dusk.

Ex-Soft Machine Karl Jenkins provides the tense ‘Wheeling’, and Peter Reno’s thunderous ‘Convoy’ shifts the mood up a gear. Maybe you should risk nudging the speed up, 80-plus, to the soundtrack of Alan Hawkshaw’s ‘Fuel Injection’ or Simon Park’s mellow-but-dynamic ‘Big Road’.
Beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve, "Motorway City" could be the soundtrack to your summer holiday.

Tokyo producer Calm supplies a steady shore's lapping of sound with his next album, Ambient Jazz, not far after his previous records Before and Quiet Music Under The Moon. After a period of sharp emotional whiplash, Calm sets in again to moll the nerves here, serving a full plate of smooth new age and sonic draperies, recalling the night time jazz chasms of John Hassell especially. Between prefectures Tokyo and Yamagata, trusted collaborators are once again folded in, Calm asking them to prioritise tone over improvisation; saxophonist Kato takes central improv stage again on the plainly titled 'Jazz Acid 2' and 'After Dark', while deeper sus-chord shades stark jazz on the likes of 'Space Ritual'.

John Edwards’ early releases, mainly at Aware Records under the tutelage of Floyd Smith, thrilled soul lovers with his consummate vocals and impressed the multi-million selling Spinners enough to hire him to replace their revered vocalist Philippe Wynne.
Edwards’ first Aware hits, such as ‘Stop This Merry-Go-Round’ and ‘Careful Man’, led to his eponymous debut LP. As the label’s major male artist, the company followed up by recording a second album and were probably anticipating a further hit. But Aware collapsed thanks to the label owner’s criminal activities, putting paid to that proposed disc.
When the master tapes were uncovered in the ’90s, the tracks were issued on the 1996 Kent CD ‘Careful Man’ and handful of singles were issued to great acclaim.
At last, we have collected the tracks on vinyl and the beauty of ‘Tin Man’, ‘How Can I Go On Without You’ and ‘Cold Hearted Woman’ can be enjoyed as they were originally intended. Modern soul fans will be able to sleep easily again.

Presenting the eighth edition of the Bizarre Trax wax series and the second solo outing from bare-knuckle beatmaker B.Love. A Shape You Can Feel EP marks a subtle but deliberate evolution in the producer's sound. While the groove-led, funk-infused records that first put his name on the map are still woven into his DNA, this latest four-tracker strips things back in favour of a more understated, headsdown approach. Leaner drums, weightier low-end and hypnotic arrangements take centre stage, with each cut built for long blends and late-night dancefloors. Across four rolling club weapons, B.Love explores a deeper, more refined sonic palette without losing the character that's become synonymous with his productions. Chopped vocal fragments, unmistakable sample work and crisp, polished percussion remain at the core, but are now delivered with greater restraint, allowing space, tension and groove to do the heavy lifting. Designed for selectors who favour subtlety over spectacle, A Shape You Can Feel EP is a confident statement from an artist continuing to carve out his own lane; proof that sometimes the smallest shifts leave the biggest impression

Soul Music legend Candi Staton returns to her down-home Alabama roots on her 32nd album, Back to My Roots. The twelve-track Americana set features an array of Staton-penned originals and some well-chosen covers.

"These songs represent my roots," Staton adds as she reflects on her many trials and triumphs. "Even the new songs on some level represent something I've experienced and that's what real soul music is about." Back to My Roots was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks. “Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”

Staton received the Americana Music Association UK’s highest honour, the International Lifetime Achievement Award, at the UK Americana Music Awards ceremony at Hackney Church in London last year for her southern soul work that stretches from her 1969 Muscle Shoals hits to her more recent collaborations with the likes of Americana kings Jason Isbell and John Paul White.
The album opens with a mid-tempo Bonnie Raitt-styled contemporary blues “I Missed the Target Again” that finds Harry Connick Jr.’s longtime guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. (aka the Prophesying Guitarist) showing off his skills that set the tone for the song and the album.

Staton’s older sister, Maggie Staton Peebles (who alongside Staton was a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s), joins her for two duets. The first, “It’s Gonna Rain,” features just a drum, steel guitar and vocals. “My mother used to sing that song to us all the time when I was a child,” Staton recalls. “It’s a really soulful kind of song I wanted to revisit.” They then take turns leading Thomas Dorsey 1939 gem “There Will Be Peace in the Valley” that Elvis Presley popularized in the 1950s.

“Hang on in There” is a new, mid-tempo song that has an old school gospel flavour and features vocals from veteran bluesman, Larry McCray.
While in Europe in 2023 for her farewell concert tour that took her to the Glastonbury Festival and Love Supreme, Staton and her British band, PUSH, went into a London studio to record a new version of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 gem, “Shine A Light.” “I love the way that came out,” Staton says. “We put a big choir on it and put our own twist on it.”
From there, Staton revives another Thomas Dorsey classic, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow,” with a bluesy vibe. When Al Green started recording gospel in the early 1980s, he re-introduced this song into the culture.

“God’s Gonna Use Me Anyway” is a new mid-tempo blues with subtle Caribbean influences.

The mood takes a turn on “1963.” It’s a poignant, spoken-word reflection on September 15, 1963, when four black girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. “I was in the city that day and I remember the chaos and horror after the bombing,” Staton recalls. “Just thinking of how racism and hatred caused those men to kill those girls was so emotional for me that I could only do it in one take.”

It's a perfect segue into "Reach Down and Touch Heaven," a haunting, plea for divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. "That's straight Baptist," she says. "I used to be a church pianist back in the 1960s. I've never played piano on one of my records before so that's a unique song for me because I’m finally playing on one of my records. The message of that song is about the homeless. It came to me when a homeless person on the street asked me for $5. When God touches your heart to help somebody else that’s heaven to God’s hears. So, when we reach into our purse or wallet to help someone, we’re touching heaven."

Staton offers love as an antidote to hate on the bouncy, Motown-styled, “Love Breakthrough.”

Her publicist brought Aaron Frazer & the Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY’s 2017 cut “My God Has a Telephone” to Staton’s attention. She shifts the track from a retro 1960s groove to more of a 1980s Malaco Records arrangement, a subtle but distinct variation. Staton brought in her longtime friend and STAX Records legend, William Bell (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Trying to Love Two”), to add raspy seasoning to the track.

The album closes with the wistful, “In God’s Hands We Rest Untroubled,” that was originally written and recorded by the late country star, Lari White, who died in 2017 at the age of 52. “Lari sent me that song to consider at least ten years ago and I always loved it,” Staton says. “The record label didn’t want it on the album or something, so I just held it.”
Staton says, “I grew up hearing a lot of these old songs when they were new songs. I toured with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and we got to know people like Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and others who sang these types of songs. So, I’m sort of paying tribute to them and the influence they had on me by refreshing these songs and making new songs in the old style.”’

Mit The Drum "n" Bass Session erweitert Wagram die renommierte Electronic Music Anthology um ein weiteres zentrales Kapitel der elektronischen Musikgeschichte. Auch diese Ausgabe wurde von FG Radio, einer der wichtigsten Plattformen für elektronische Musik in Frankreich, kuratiert und widmet sich ganz den energiegeladenen, bassgetriebenen Facetten von Drum "n" Bass. Die Compilation vereint wegweisende Künstler wie Goldie, Roni Size, Calibre, Nookie, DC Breaks, Souljah und DJ Gilb"R - Namen, die das Genre von seinen frühen Jungle-Wurzeln über soulful, deepen Drum "n" Bass bis hin zu modernen, clubtauglichen Produktionen entscheidend geprägt haben. Rasende Breakbeats treffen auf massive Basslines, atmosphärische Flächen und eine unverwechselbare Mischung aus Präzision und Energie. The Drum "n" Bass Session richtet sich gleichermaßen an DJs, Sammler und Liebhaber elektronischer Subkultur. Eine sorgfältig kuratierte Anthologie, die den Stil nicht historisiert, sondern seine zeitlose Dynamik und Relevanz eindrucksvoll hervorhebt - kompromisslos, direkt und absolut dancefloor-erprobt.

Futurismo are proud to present the iconic 1982 debut album, Only Theatre of Pain, by gothic legends CHRISTIAN DEATH. Available on deluxe 2xLP, CD digipak.

Hailed as a masterpiece of it’s genre, and considered by many as ground zero for Deathrock, Only Theatre of Pain is a seminal work of unholy power and pitch black emotion. Whilst this record may have it’s roots in punk - the origins of this true original version of Christian Death took place in Southern California during the early 80’s hardcore explosion - it cannot be overstated how important this record was in shaping the subsequent landscape. Emerging like an adrenaline shot into the heart of darkness, this unrestrained and mysterious recording still remains unclassifiable.

Featuring the late visionary Rozz Williams (then only in his teens) alongside punk luminary Rikk Agnew (guiding light in the Adolescents), James McGearty and George Belanger, Only Theatre of Pain’s musical exploration is adorned with psychosexual lyricism and an innate struggle with faith. Rozz’s vocals creep and possess, demonic and haunting, against the captivating, unmistakable guitar work of trailblazer Agnew. It’s a performance, but also a truth, perhaps Only Theatre of Pain is an art show, as much as it is an era defining record.
Aside from their spellbinding sound, it may have also been the lore of Christian Death that set them apart from other LA goth bands of the time. A near-nude Rozz Williams nailed to a cross at the Whiskey a Go Go may have played a part, but what it is apparent when you listen to the unhallowed musical stages on Only Theatre Of Pain is a depth of vision and orchestration that goes beyond the simple stance of brooding many of their contemporaries emulated, delving into the realms of pure unadulterated catharsis. The result is an eradefining statement that remains as unsettling, innovative, and resonant today as it was over four decades ago.

Only Theatre Of Pain is presented here in a new remastered deluxe pressing with a second disk containing early demo’s and rare material, further demonstrating why Christian Death stood alone in their sound and approach. This journey of religious depravity, recorded by the legendary producer Thom Wilson in a matter of days, harnesses the huge concepts of band projecting older than their years. Ahead of the curve in sonic artistry and visual aesthetics, this slab of sacrilegious American punk is nothing short of essential listening for the gothic inclined. A must for fans of The Misfits, Bauhaus and The Cramps.

This classic LP comes in deluxe super limited edition ‘California Hell’ coloured vinyl and contains a second disk of bonus material. It is packaged in a gloss laminated sleeve with metallic ink, containing printed inner sleeves, a large fold out poster, redux artwork featuring the photography of Edward Colver, and liner notes by Lisa Fancher of Frontier. Also available as CD digipak

For the first time ever, Los Campesinos! are proud to offer new pressings of their first three studio albums on their very own record label; Heart Swells.
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of LC!’s formation, and coincides with the band being more popular and relevant than ever before. The 3 albums are available for the first time since 2020, on brand new colour ways, on 12” vinyl and CD, with updated artwork and packaging.

What the press said:

"This debut is unusually taut and polished, with hooks, crescendos, and clever turns of phrase nearly always in the right place. ” 8.4/10 - Pitchfork

“captures more believable, crackling punk energy than most hardcore bands.” 10/10 - AV Club

“Recommending this album seems too light a course of action; requiring it may be more apt. Consider Hold on Now, Youngster...highly required, then.” - 9/10 - All Music

“They write ridiculously knotted, satisfying hooks… they have great lyrics, great videos, their live show is phenomenal, and most importantly and intangibly (like all great bands) they somehow summon up a world through their music, until it feels as if everything in life is here.”
9/10 - Popmatters

or the first time ever, Los Campesinos! are proud to offer new pressings of their first three studio albums on their very own record label; Heart Swells.
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of LC!’s formation, and coincides with the band being more popular and relevant than ever before. The 3 albums are available for the first time since 2020, on brand new colour ways, on 12” vinyl and CD, with updated artwork and packaging.

What the press said:

“an absolutely astounding album” 4.5/5 - DIY

“Romance Is Boring is a triumph.” - 8.3/10 - Pitchfork

“The fact that the seven-piece manage to make music that is as orchestrated and coherent as it is invigorating is only one of the few astonishing things about them.” - 9/10 Popmatters

“What primarily sets ‘Romance Is Boring’ up as a significant step forward is that it’s incredibly structurally cohesive, and yet blows anything they’ve previously released out of the water in terms of textural intricacy, technical prowess and general experimentation.” - 4/5 NME

For the first time ever, Los Campesinos! are proud to offer new pressings of their first three studio albums on their very own record label; Heart Swells.
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of LC!’s formation, and coincides with the band being more popular and relevant than ever before. The 3 albums are available for the first time since 2020, on brand new colour ways, on 12” vinyl and CD, with updated artwork and packaging.

What the press said:

"This debut is unusually taut and polished, with hooks, crescendos, and clever turns of phrase nearly always in the right place. ” 8.4/10 - Pitchfork

“captures more believable, crackling punk energy than most hardcore bands.” 10/10 - AV Club

“Recommending this album seems too light a course of action; requiring it may be more apt. Consider Hold on Now, Youngster...highly required, then.” - 9/10 - All Music

“They write ridiculously knotted, satisfying hooks… they have great lyrics, great videos, their live show is phenomenal, and most importantly and intangibly (like all great bands) they somehow summon up a world through their music, until it feels as if everything in life is here.”
9/10 - Popmatters

'Heavy Metal' ist das Debüt-Soloalbum von Geese-Frontmann Cameron Winter. Es ist eine unerwartete klangliche Kehrtwende von Geeses unverkennbar Jam-ähnlichem Indie-Twang undverzichtet größtenteils auf Stadiongitarren zugunsten eines sanfteren Anschlags, der seinen mystischen, fantasievollen lyrischen Stil voll zur Geltung bringt. Gelegentlich verwirrend, doch unendlich bereichernd, enthüllt 'Heavy Metal' Winter als Chamäleon-artigen Meister seines Fachs, einen wandlungsfähigen Singer-Songwriter im Stil von Größen wie Dylan, Cohen und Nilsson.

Somewhere in the Wind is the third record that Loren Connors and I have made together. Of the three, it’s the first that consists exclusively of electric guitar duos and it’s the first that was recorded live. To me it feels very much like a live record; this music happened in crowded rooms in Brooklyn on two dates in 2025 and there’s an urgency to connect with others and a pleasure in doing so that can be heard on both of these tracks. On the first of our duo records (Arborvitae, 2003) I primarily play piano, and on the second (Evening Air, 2024) we switch off on piano and guitar. Both of those albums bespeak the privacy of the recording studio, where time is suspended and one can explore the quietest of sounds. By contrast, Somewhere in the Wind is the noisiest, most raucous and most free of our duo records. It’s the sound of us taking it to the stage.

I became a fan of Loren’s playing from the moment that I first heard it, after happening upon a beat-up copy of In Pittsburgh circa 1992 in a used bin in the Dr. Wax record store in Chicago where my then-bandmate Bundy K. Brown worked. Everyone has taken a chance on a record because it looked interesting and wouldn’t set you back too much. In that regard In Pittsburgh was the find of a lifetime. I had just switched from playing in a postpunk power trio (Bastro) to making mostly drummerless respect-your-neighbors music (Gastr del Sol), and Loren’s pacing and touch and his lovely, unaffected compositions had me from the first listen. Not long after that, Jim O’Rourke and I reissued In Pittsburgh on our Dexter’s Cigar label, and I fondly remember first meeting Loren in New York’s Grand Central Station—so glamorous for this country mouse—and taking the train upstate with him where he shared a bill with Gastr del Sol. During soundcheck, Jim, Loren, and I played together for a bit and Loren’s approach to the instrument was something that one could instantly sink into, the kind of situation where there are no mistakes. I still feel that when we play together.

David Grubbs

Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science ― Matthew Stevens, Aaron Parks, and Morgan Guerin ― delivers their sophomore project, Trip the Night Fantastic, on Candid Records. GRAMMY® nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for their 2019 release, Waiting Game, this acclaimed collective returns ― boasting an illustrious roll call of emcees, spoken word artists, and instrumentalists ― this time exploring systemic and contemporary themes that demand our attention, call us to action, and add stunning breadth to the time-honored tradition of amalgamating art and activism. Women’s empowerment, climate change, immigration, gender justice, body autonomy, community building, and animal rights are all elucidated with a freshness, depth, and creative brilliance that can only be birthed from someone whose creative core is rooted in empathy and humanity.

Featured throughout this new recording are vocalists Ledisi, Arooj Aftab, Michael Mayo, Miki Howard, Fatoumata Diawara, Debo Ray, Christie Dashiell, Lizz Wright, Vuyo Sotashe, Safa, Imani Rousselle, and Ian Michael; instrumentalists Brandee Younger, Marc Ribot, Larry Goldings, Rashaan Carter, Simon Moullier, Riley G, and Brenda Navarrete; emcees Nappy Nina, Kokayi, Kassa Overall, and Khemist; and spoken word artists J. Ivy, Aja Monet, Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball, and Moor Mother.

I Never Knew Love sees Detroit house mainstay Chez Damier return to the iconic KMS catalogue with a timeless house classic, now available again on fresh 12” vinyl.

A staple of the deeper side of Detroit house, the release combines soulful vocals, warm grooves and refined production, reflecting the signature sound that has defined Chez Damier’s work across decades.

This edition features standout versions including the MK Extended Club Mix from Marc Kinchen, alongside additional extended mixes and a reconstructed version of Help Myself by Carl Craig, offering strong depth and versatility for DJs.

As a key release from the KMS catalogue, this record continues to hold lasting appeal across both classic house collectors and DJs seeking authentic Detroit-rooted material.

Back on fresh 12" vinyl, this repress brings an essential Chez Damier release back into circulation for a new generation of listeners.

An essential catalogue piece for stores supporting classic house and Detroit heritage releases.

The third release for Parallel Line comes from Aberystwyth-born, Berlin-based, Severin Black. He works closely with woodwind, electronics, low-end and feedback, runs his own label Archaic Vaults, and has played everywhere from the ICA to a 460-year-old church with a giant pipe organ. The last album, Country Music, featuring Pavel Milyakov and Vanessa Bedoret, showed how far his Celtic-rooted improv style has reached across the experimental dub community.

The EP opens up with a flute loop leading the eerie track "Brandy", not quite like anything else. "Yarmouth" goes darker and more ritualistic, with haunted stepper vibes. Then the B-side is nine minutes of "Cautious (Dub)", a stretched-out live take that takes you on a slow, dreaded journey.

Mastered by E-mura, artwork by Zodiak. Photo by Thom Mac Gillavry.

The Body"s landmark record Master, We Perish, originally released in 2013, found the acclaimed duo at a crossroads in their career. Recorded just before the duo of drummer Lee Buford and guitarist/vocalist Chip King were leaving their longtime home of Providence for Portland and released in between their breakthrough albums All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood and Christs, Redeemers, Master expanded on the duo"s love of layered worldbuilding with more precision and a stronger emphasis on percussive samples than ever before. The seeds of the duo"s celebrated collaborative inclination are evident as the album features Assembly of Light Choir leader Chrissy Wolpert, choir member Reba Mitchell, Otesanek vocalist Leslie Weitz, and guitarist David Lifrieri. With the expanded edition, the album"s striking cover painting by Providence mainstay Manifester aka Matt Brinkman (Mindflayer, Forcefield) is finally rendered in its original form. Master, We Perish is expanded with rare bonus tracks from The Body"s early days, taken from a pair of rare 7" singles Cop Killer/Dead Cops as well as a split with Get Killed. These storied singles mark the first time the band truly pushed the boundaries of sound in the studio and on record. It also marks the beginning of The Body"s practice of wielding the studio as a veritable weapon to translate their gargantuan sound with deeper impact on LP. The results are not only pushing the capacity of the album format but are sonically riveting. The bonus material was recorded at Machines with Magnets. The band described them economically: "NASTY."

The Body"s landmark record Master, We Perish, originally released in 2013, found the acclaimed duo at a crossroads in their career. Recorded just before the duo of drummer Lee Buford and guitarist/vocalist Chip King were leaving their longtime home of Providence for Portland and released in between their breakthrough albums All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood and Christs, Redeemers, Master expanded on the duo"s love of layered worldbuilding with more precision and a stronger emphasis on percussive samples than ever before. The seeds of the duo"s celebrated collaborative inclination are evident as the album features Assembly of Light Choir leader Chrissy Wolpert, choir member Reba Mitchell, Otesanek vocalist Leslie Weitz, and guitarist David Lifrieri. With the expanded edition, the album"s striking cover painting by Providence mainstay Manifester aka Matt Brinkman (Mindflayer, Forcefield) is finally rendered in its original form. Master, We Perish is expanded with rare bonus tracks from The Body"s early days, taken from a pair of rare 7" singles Cop Killer/Dead Cops as well as a split with Get Killed. These storied singles mark the first time the band truly pushed the boundaries of sound in the studio and on record. It also marks the beginning of The Body"s practice of wielding the studio as a veritable weapon to translate their gargantuan sound with deeper impact on LP. The results are not only pushing the capacity of the album format but are sonically riveting. The bonus material was recorded at Machines with Magnets. The band described them economically: "NASTY."

Mr Bongo presents a reissue of the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s self-titled album, originally released in 1976 on the ultra-rare tax-scam imprint TSG Records. Formed by Khalid Abdul Shalid, the record was the only album released by the group, and has since become a mythical, highly sought-after prize for collectors and DJs, ranking among the most coveted albums on the 1970s rare soul scene.

This New Jersey soul-funk gem captures the raw energy of mid-‘70s underground funk and soul. Its journey began in relative obscurity having been released on TSG, one of several US “tax-scam” labels operating at the time. These labels exploited loopholes in the tax system by inflating production costs to create write-offs against their tax bills, meaning commercial success was never the objective. Records were often pressed in extremely limited quantities, with little to no promotion or distribution and in many cases, artists were unaware their music had even been released. While this led to the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s album slipping into obscurity upon release, it later cemented its status as a holy grail for diggers and DJs. Unfortunately, like many releases of its kind, it also meant the band never received the recognition they deserved at the time.

Musically, the album is a unique listen with a varied palette that will appeal to fans of a broad range of tastes. From the luscious, dreamy ballad ‘Rain’, which will melt even the stoniest of hearts, to the raw, drum-heavy funk of ‘Love To Love’, it showcases the group’s depth and versatility. Highlights include the string-laden, floaty stepper ‘Just From You’, and ‘Nothing Can Stop My Loving You’, with its spacey synth lines, which will be a joy for modern soul fans. Elsewhere, ‘Step Out’ opens with a heavy drum break (later sampled on Latyrx’s ‘Interlude’ from their 1997 debut) before unfolding into a brilliant male-female vocal exchange.

Every track on here is a winner and it’s criminal that the band never received the publicity or credit they deserved when it was first released. Alongside the TSG Records release in 1976, the album was later released again in 1978 with alternate cover art on another tax-scam label, Graham International. Both versions have since become highly collectable and over time, the album has steadily gained the recognition it always deserved. This reissue by Mr Bongo offers a wider audience the chance to experience a truly special record, one that stands as a testament to the overlooked brilliance of the era’s underground soul and funk scene.