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Studio, the influential project of Swedish musicians Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg, presents their legendary 2006 debut in remastered form, in partnership with Ghostly International. Available in limited edition "Fog Machine Vinyl", CD, and cassette. "One of the finest pieces of electronic music you'll hear this year.” - The Guardian (2006). Included in year-end best-of write-ups by Pitchfork, FACT Magazine, and Rough Trade. Physical copies have long been out of print for West Coast, and the album has also been notably absent from most streaming services until now.

“Somehow, I knew I wanted to make a conceptual record that, although only imaginary at that point, could represent or define how our city sounded,” says Lissvik of Gothenburg's influence on West Coast. Some called Studio, the project of Swedish musicians Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg, “the missing link between The Cure and Lindstrøm,” Pitchfork heard Durutti Column and Can, as the duo’s story became swept up in a loosely developing scene — adjacent first to the label Service (Jens Lekman, The Whitest Boy Alive) and later Sincerely Yours (The Tough Alliance, jj) — and a precursor to the 2010s boom at the axis of electronic and psychedelic music guided by indie greats like Caribou, Four Tet, and Darkside.

West Coast, their seminal 2006 debut, captured a faraway romanticism of Balearic brushed up against Krautrock, disco, dub, and afrobeat, with pop lyricism lifted from new wave, all made modern by two art school grads in Gothenburg. First pressed in a small vinyl-only run via their own Information label, the album has been notably absent from most streaming services, and the internet’s record of its initial impact is all but fossilized from a bygone blog era, while its sound is simply untraceable to any one moment in music.

Outside of three 7” releases, they’d keep the music to themselves for several more years. In 2005, Hägg remembers, “We got our degrees and were kicked out of our studio spaces so all these recordings were just piled up. A year later we dusted them off and started to deconstruct and assemble them in a more drawn-out fashion.” In the same breadth, they cite DJ Screw, J Dilla, and Joy Division, along with early ‘80s European live DJ sets from the likes of Beppe Loda, Dj Mozart, and Baldelli as reference points.

“The anything-goes mentality was very encouraging and was a big cornerstone to the Studio sound,” says Hägg. “But there’s so much more to the picture, we were not that young then and had lots of musical baggage in our suitcases, the new thing was that we finally let it all come through, not bound by any borders that was often the case with music identity in Sweden during the 90s.” In the afterglow of the record’s 2007 reception, Studio receded from view, clouded behind a mountain of remix requests (including one for Kylie Minogue that saw release) and label bureaucracy. “It’s easy to wish we would have done some proper recordings of our own instead,” Hägg reflects. But both artists, now well into respective careers beyond Studio, have come to peace with West Coast as their most enduring effort together. Lissvik adds, “It serves as a good reminder for me to keep to that decision and promise and to continue exploring and growing

A familiar face to the art circles of NYC and Detroit, Scott Avery is the tabbed alias for Philly-born, Detroit-based producer, Amani Olu — an ambitious creative who makes his music debut via Child Self. The EP includes four disparate tracks that explore wanderlust, play, experimentation, and unencumbered curiosity. An homage to innocence and the source of his creative expression, Child Self represents a juncture in Avery’s personal history, a moment of reflection as the artist considers the roads which have led him to the present.

Throughout the EP, memory—both personal and historical—resurfaces in roundabout ways, unlocked in ecstatic sonic transmissions, expressing the depths and sentiments that language can’t express. Coupled with Detroit’s legendary history and an aching devotion to the early years of Avery’s life, Child Self richly entwines sounds with spiritual expression. With subtle reference points and underlying samples seamlessly flowing between disco and rap, house and Motown, Child Self is a composition of gradual histories tactically woven back together into proof of concept for an ambitious and varied career to come.

Hana Vus "kontemplativer Indie-Pop fängt die Desillusionierung des jungen Erwachsenseins ein", schreibt der NME. Ihre neue LP Romanticism unterstreicht dieses Gefühl als ein Coming-of-Age-Werk, das die Vergänglichkeit der Jugend betrauert und nach einem Sinn sucht. Die in LA geborene Songwriterin macht seit der High School Musik und hat bereits ein Debütalbum und mehrere EPs mit glühenden, grüblerischen Hymnen voller Abstraktion und Emotionen veröffentlicht. Bei ihren früheren Arbeiten hat Vu immer wieder Feedback erhalten, aber für die Entwicklung von Romanticism hat sie sich von der Außenwelt abgeschirmt, um ihre eigene Vision zu bewahren. Das Ergebnis ist eine einheitliche Sammlung von Songs, die vor Tiefe und Intimität nur so strotzen. Die üppigen und lauten Songs erinnern sowohl an gitarrenlastigen Indie-Rock der späten Achtzigerjahre als auch an futuristisch anmutende Synthie-Bass-Schichten. Sie pulsieren vor Bedeutung und schütteln sich vor Verspieltheit, getragen von ihrer kraftvollen, sonoren Stimme und unterstrichen durch das von der Romantik inspirierte Artwork der Platte.

Von Dave Brubeck bis Herbie Hancock oder Miles Davies, 20 der besten Jazz-Tracks, die jemals aufgenommen wurden!!

Introducing Utopia ‘Now Playing” on Opaque Blue vinyl - Experience Wiz Khalifa through a blend of his greatest hits and fan favourites. Including "Black And Yellow," which became an anthem representing his Pittsburgh roots, "See You Again" an emotional tribute featured in the Furious 7 soundtrack and "Young, Wild & Free," a collaboration with Snoop Dogg, celebrating carefree living. This tracklist highlights Wiz's versatility and impact on both hip-hop and mainstream music.

Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams on the 17th March 1917 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. His family held a key position in the local black community with his father being pastor of the local Baptist church.

His first professional break came touring with the Broadway show “shuffle along” which eventually found its way to Los Angeles. Where Nat ended up playing at the century club on Santa Monica boulevard. This was an in-place for musicians and Nat’s already developed and incredible piano playing became a great attraction eventually forming a trio with Oscar Moore on guitar and Wesley Price on bass. With Nat’s great voice and add libs the trio were a great success in 1939/40.

In 1943 Cole signed to the infant Capitol records and began his enormous string of hits for that label and eventual amazing career partnership with the great arranger and orchestra leader Nelson Riddle. This was at the time of popular music already pioneered by Bing Crosby and latterly Frank Sinatra and something Nat would become a master of, with his by now incredible, highly developed and unique voice which we all instantly recognise.

Right up until his untimely and tragic death on 15th February 1965, Nat made a string of successful records for capitol, a string of film appearances, and the first black presenter of his own tv show, which ran for many years and introduced a whole host of new and old artists to the television screens. As is so often with people so talented, Nat’s life was short but extremely successful. He was a well loved and admired person with his vibrant and kind personality with many great friends and colleagues and made an enormous contribution to the music industry, civil rights and the world in general.

As a singer and pianist, he was exceptionally talented, and his voice will live on in immortality. His ability to express and sing any song was quite extraordinary to say the least and these recordings are a fine example of that ability. A must have for all music lovers!

The Queen of Jazz and 'Satchmo' had duetted earlier in their illustrious
careers. But it wasn't until Producer Norman Granz came up with the
idea of putting them together for specific albums that their true
chemistry was revealed. The Platinum Collection features two iconic
albums Ella & Louis and Ella & Louis Again. Both albums feature Jazz
At The Phil regulars Oscar Peterson (Piano), Herb Ellis (Guitar), Ray
Brown (Bass) and Buddy Rich (Drums) with the exception of Louis
Bellson replacing Buddy Rich on Ella & Louis Again recording. Now it's
time for Fitzgerald to 'take it Ella - swing it'....

Though 潘PAN is an entirely new artist - new outlook, new message, new material and name - you may have met the woman herself before. Back in the mid-‘10s, the Taipei-born rapper went by the moniker Aristophanes. After performing a career-changing feature on ‘SCREAM’, taken from Grimes’ celebrated NME Album of 2015 ‘Art Angels’, Aristophanes went on to build a cult fanbase, releasing her debut mixtape ‘Humans Become Machines’ two years later and then her distributor went bust during covid. Signed to Transgressive she re-released her mixtape followed by Reborn and Ghosts EPs earlier this year.

Across a constantly morphing sound palette that moves from metallic, apocalyptic beats to delicate nods to the traditional music of her Asian heritage, via heavy, industrial moments, spacious soundscapes and much more, the thread is Pan’s utterly mesmeric vocal. Performing in a mix of Mandarin and English, she explains that having the two languages to play with is “like featuring another artist who has a different way of describing things”.

Across the releases, confident sexual expression mixes with tenderness, empathy and a particularly feminine sort of strength to create a world that Pan hopes will transcend language and connect her audience via something more innate. “The music is a place to feel safe,” she says. “The message that I want to carry through these two EPs and the album is to demonstrate the strength of accepting your own situations. When you can’t make things right but you’ve done your best, sometimes it’s really hard to admit that to yourself. It takes strength to do that. I use lots of sexual metaphors, but I feel like it’s more about the female need to be seen and heard. I want to build something more delicate and layered and connected to our life experience - to the trauma and the pleasure and the growth.”

In the time since she last stepped into the spotlight, the musician has experienced her fair share of all these things. Now, it’s as an entirely evolved artist that she returns with a new collection of music that revels in it all: the trauma, the pleasure, the growth and the long-awaited rebirth of 潘PAN

The latest from prolific producer and trumpeter Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Mark Ronson, El Michels Affair, Elvis Costello). The Leonhart Brass Band features members of Antibalas, the Dap-Kings & Red Baraat. The Leonhart Brass Band was conceived during the 2020 COVID-19 quarantine when trumpeter/composer/producer Michael Leonhart was unable to perform with his 18-piece orchestra at NYC's famous Jazz Standard. Leonhart began composing music for a small brass band that would be capable of playing outdoors without amplification. Building on the foundation of the classic brass bands (Dirty Dozen Brass and Rebirth Brass Band), Leonhart has infused elements of hip-hop and funk to create his own sound. The Leonhart Brass Band features members of Antibalas, the Dap-Kings & Red Baraat. "Jabbar" – Dedicated to and inspired by hooping legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar (aka Lew Alcindor), whose father was a transit police officer/jazz musician and whose mother worked as a department store price checker. In addition to Jabbar's storied career on the hardcourt, Jabbar grew up surrounded by jazz and has been a die-hard music fan his entire life, tragically losing his vast record collection in a 1983 fire that destroyed his LA home. Leonhart's tribute centers around an infectious bass riff in C minor, punctuated by brass stabs and solos by Leonhart on trumpet and Jason Marshall on the seldom-heard bass saxophone. "The Iceman" – The title is taken from basketball great George Gervin's famous nickname given to him during his years playing in both the ABA (American Basketball Association) and the NBA (National Basketball Association) for teams such as the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. Legend has it the name came from Gervin's cool temperament on the court and his rare ability to play incredibly hard without breaking a sweat. "The Iceman" sees the Leonhart Brass Band horn section dividing into two groups as they play counterpoint melodies against one another. The tape echo effected bari sax solo is performed by Stuart Bogie

Coming up next on Papa Records is something truly special – a limited edition 7” of The London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) with their uplifting new single, "Rather Be" remixed by talented producer/DJ - Ayce. A release to surely joyously ignite dancefloors.

As one of the most dynamic and inspiring forces in the UK music scene, LCGC is Europe's premier contemporary Gospel choir. Their sound seamlessly blends Soul, Funk, House and R&B while maintaining a powerful message of God’s love, peace, and unity through their refreshing and vibrant take on Gospel music.

LCGC has shared the stage with a long list of music icons, such as Elton John, Madonna, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J, Adele, Gorillaz, Blur, Gregory Porter, Justin Timberlake, and Mariah Carey, and their collaborations continue to expand.

Originally from Hackney, East London, Ayce 'The Beat Junkie' is a skilled DJ, musician, and producer. His early success as a highly sought-after keyboard player paved the way to working with major artists such as Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Duffy, Wretch 32, and Paul Carrack, among others. Ayce creates a brand of house music that's soulful and funky, crafted to get you moving. Focusing on powerful, often choral-style vocals in both his original tracks and remixes, his music not only energises but also leaves you feeling uplifted.

An accomplished musician and songwriter, Ray Charles was considered the creator of the soul music genre, a unique R&B forerunner to rock ‘n roll and other musical offspring. During a career that spanned some 58 years, Charles performed a total of more than 10,000 concerts, and starred on over 100 albums, many of them top sellers in a variety of musical genres. On this compilation you will find twenty four of his greatest hits. With “Georgia On My Mind”, “Hit The Road Jack”, “I’ve Got A Woman”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “I’ve Got News For You” and many more.

Maria Callas was born to a Greek family in New York in 1923. Her vocal training took place in Athens, where her teacher was the coloratura soprano Elvira de Hidalgo, who had sung with Enrico Caruso and Feodor Chaliapin. After early performances in Greece, Callas’s international career was launched in 1947 when she performed the title role in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda at the Arena di Verona in Italy.

Her voice defied simple classification and her artistic range was extraordinary. In her early twenties she sang such heavy dramatic roles as Gioconda, Turandot, Brünnhilde and Isolde, but over the course of her career her most famous roles came to be: Bellini’s Norma and Amina (La sonnambula); Verdi’s Violetta (La traviata); Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Anna Bolena, Cherubini’s Medea and Puccini’s Tosca. Though her timbre was not always conventionally beautiful, Callas’s musicianship and phrasing were in a class of their own. She brought characters to vivid life with her skill in colouring her tone and making insightful use of the text.

She is credited with changing the history of opera: by placing a perhaps unprecedented emphasis on musical integrity and dramatic truth, and by transforming perceptions – and reviving the fortunes – of the bel canto repertoire, particularly Bellini and Donizetti.

The 1950s marked the height of Callas’s career. Its base lay in the opera houses of Italy, and she became the prima donna assoluta of Milan’s legendary La Scala – notably in the productions
of Luchino Visconti – but her operatic appearances also encompassed London’s Royal Opera House, the New York Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opéra, the Vienna State Opera, and the opera houses of Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Lisbon, and, in the early 1950s, Mexico City, São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.

From 1959, when she started a life-changing love affair with the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, her performing career slowed down and her voice became more fragile. Her final stage performances came in 1965, when she was only 42.

There were many plans for a return to the stage – and for further complete recordings – but they never reached fruition, though in 1974 she gave a series of concerts in Europe, North America and Japan with the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano; he had partnered her frequently in the opera house and in the studio, not least in the 1953 La Scala Tosca under Victor de Sabata, considered a landmark in recording history. Callas died alone in her Paris apartment in September 1977.

From day one, Linkin Park built the band upon the premise of fusing all of their favourite styles of music-as disparate as they might be-into one signature sound. Fast-forward 12 years to LIVING THINGS and the same six players have not only developed new tools to make that philosophy a reality, but they're finally comfortable embracing-and coalescing-every aspect of their career. OK, maybe not the XXL work shirts and neon hair dye of the early days. But in their music, the band has spent the past year reinventing how to tastefully bridge the gap between all the musical destinations they've visited, and how to marry all the ideas they've accumulated. And as LIVING THINGS began taking shape, for the first time Linkin Park was eager to use every tool in their toolbox. With each song, they flexed their expertise with both cutting-edge and classic gear, and they infused their vocals with an honest, thrilling enthusiasm; they picked apart their own ideas of what defines a song, and what defines Linkin Park. LIVING THINGS is a personal album, centered on human emotions and relationships implied by the title. It is informed by and built upon all previous Linkin Park albums, while still pushing the band's sound into new territory. It's spirited, energetic, daring and unafraid to hybridize the past, present and future. It's absolute proof to a radical theory six musicians have devoted their lives to testing.

Limited edition 180g audiophile pressing
This outstanding LP contains all of Ray Charles' top-10 Billboard hits between
1953 and 1959 for Atlantic Records, a seminal period in the legendary career of
one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century.

MC Fats was a beloved figure in the drum and bass community, known for his smooth vocals and infectious energy on the mic. With a career spanning over two decades, he collaborated with some of the biggest names in the genre, including DJ Hype, Calibre, Alix Perez, and of course the multi genre chart topping Chase & Status!

Sadly, MC Fats passed away in March 2023, leaving behind a legacy of incredible music and unforgettable performances. But his influence lives on, and his music continues to inspire and uplift fans around the world. One of MC Fats' final releases is a new single called Anytime, in collaboration with Drum and Bass legend and producer partner Cool Hand Flex.

As one of Suburban Base original artist roster we were delighted to welcome them ‘back home’, and Fats was excited to see the reaction and plays the Anytime was already gaining. Having discussed with Flex, his dear friend and long-time collaborator, we together feel that it's appropriate that this release goes ahead as a tribute to our brother.

The track features MC Fats' signature soulful vocals, layered over Flex's classic jungle beats and modern production techniques. The single also includes an incredible remix from up-and-coming producer FreezeUK, adding a stunning version to the package which is already gaining maximum play nationwide.

Anytime is a testament to MC Fats' enduring talent and passion for Drum and Bass music. It's a reminder of the joy and energy he brought to the scene, and a tribute to his unforgettable voice and spirit. As we mourn the loss of MC Fats, we celebrate his incredible legacy and the impact he had on the Drum and Bass community.

His music will live on, inspiring new generations of artists and fans alike. Don't miss your chance to own this essential piece of Drum and Bass history - pre-order your copy of ‘Anytime’ now, and join us in celebrating the life and music of MC Fats.

ANYTIME will be released on vinyl & digital formats April 2023

Alicia Myers - I Want To Thank You & Don't Stop What You're Doin' are staple classics and for the first time since their initial release in 1981 are together on one piece of vinyl. A serious double header!

Both tracks are produced by Kevin ‘Mr Groove’ McCord, heralded as Dam Funk’s favourite producers and one of the founding members of Al Hudson & The Soul Partners & One Way before going on to contribute to hundreds of r&b, funk, disco, and boogie dancefloor movers in the ’70s and ’80s.

At the height of his career he produced his One Way band members, Alicia Myers debut solo album, Alicia featuring both tracks on this release. I Want To Thank You, a certified classic that never fails to elicit a joyous reaction anytime it’s played & Don't Stop What You're Doin' famously sampled by J Dilla for ‘What It’s All About’ by Slum Village feat. Busta Rhymes on the legendary ‘Fantastic Vol.2’ album.

Another fully licenced and remastered essential release from the South Street family!

Anathema's phenomenal live album with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra reissued on vinyl.

'A band that have mastered the art of aural seduction'- Metal Hammer

In May 2012 Anathema released 'Weather Systems', which became the most acclaimed and successful album of the band's celebrated career. The album

scored high in numerous critics end of year polls around the world and cemented the band's reputation as one of the most exciting and progressive

band around. Following the release of the album the band embarked on a lengthy tour. The European leg opened with a triumphant one-off show at the ancient Roman

theatre of Philippopolis with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2012. This incredible show was recorded, and the results were later released in

2013 on Kscope as 'Untouchable'. It is now reissued on double vinyl in a wide spine sleeve. The release of 'Untouchable' follows an extensive worldwide headline tour,

including performances at Download Festival, ArcTanGent and Wembley Arena with Opeth in support of their 2017 studio album 'The Optimist'. The release

won the Album of the Year at the Progressive Music Awards '17, reached the top 10 in the Polish charts, top 20 in Germany, top 40 in the UK, and has 6

million track streams on Spotify. This built on the success of their previous Kscope material, which also won at the Progressive Music Awards, including

Album of the Year, Live Event of the Year & Multimedia Package of the Year for 2010's 'We're Here Because We're Here', 2012's 'Weather Systems' and 2013's 'Universal'.

'A beautiful bit of live magic' - Kerrang

'Sumptuous live recording of a band at their zenith' - Prog

2nd pressing on 2xLP Black Vinyl with Starlight Sparkle Vinyl 2nd pressing comes with a 2x7" EP on Transparent Yellow & Magenta Vinyl Please Note: "quality of sparkle vinyl comparable to vinyl with metallic effects" Sparkle / Starlight: Large silver particles Carefully designed, beautifully remastered and loaded with new ways to play - "Risk of Rain" is back and better than ever! Dive into the iconic roguelike full of unique loot combinations, enhanced with new Survivors, overhauled multiplayer, fan favourite content from Risk of Rain 2 and more! Ten years after "Risk of Rain" was released into the world to become a true classic, the game was revived in November 2023 as "Risk of Rain Returns" to reconnect with its fans and be discovered by those who didn't realise what they were missing. Time to give the iconic game soundtrack an update as well, isn't it? Creator Chris Christodoulou gives an insight on his work as well as the extensive and luxurious new vinyl release that comes with some remarkable extras: "Can you believe it's been ten years already? It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in my small bedroom/studio in front of an aching computer writing the music for `Risk of Rain'. And here we are, ten years later, returning to it to, adding to its musical compendium. What an unexcepted, magnificent journey! With this very special release we're celebrating both, the 10-year anniversary of `Risk of Rain' and the release of `Risk of Rain Returns'! This modular album contains the entire Risk of Rain soundtrack remastered and the four new tracks written for `Risk of Rain Returns' (with contributions from special guest musicians Damjan Mravunac & Maria Papageorgiou). Daniele (art), Kevin (Black Screen Records) and I worked very hard to make this complex release a reality and we are extremely proud of it! We hope you enjoy every aspect of it as it is a labour of pure love! Finally, a very special thanks to all of you who have carried this music across the past decade! You have my love, Chris

Limited edition - 250 copies

Coming from the vaults of one of the label heads 'Golden Ivy'. This single presents a full circle, baleo-industrial experience that makes its mark as a firm revisit to the label after some time spent being harbored by other imprints.

The foundation upon which this release stands originally stems from a sample from the mindfulness record ’Sinnenas dans” by the renowned Scanian folk musician and multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller. With its re-illumination graciously blessed by the original creator, it quickly transcends into flute-laden fourth world grandeur, underpinned by synthesized meanderings and industrial motorik. Flip the record for the version, and you’ll find label friend and artist Philipp Otterbach taking us on a post-punk dub jaunt of sorts, carefully decorated with his signature of deep and enigmatic sounds—often both sculptural and contrasting.

This record serves as a reflection of the label’s long-standing affinity for subtle rhythmicism and is well suited for mindful low-tempo dances in the many years ahead.

Released in 2000, Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best of Blue Öyster Cult is a comprehensive compilation album showcasing the most iconic tracks from Blue Öyster Cult's storied career. Spanning their early 1970s beginnings to their success through the 1980s, the album features hits like the legendary "Don’t Fear The Reaper," the hard-hitting "Godzilla," and the haunting "Burnin' for You." Known for blending hard rock with elements of metal and psychedelia, Blue Öyster Cult’s complex guitar work and enigmatic lyrics shine throughout this collection. The album highlights the band’s innovative sound, which helped shape the rock genre with its unique mix of heavy riffs, intricate harmonies, and dark themes. For both longtime fans and new listeners, Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best of Blue Öyster Cult is a must-have, offering a perfect introduction to the band's most influential and timeless tracks. Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best Of Blue Öyster Cult is a limited edition of 2000 numbered copies on translucent blue coloured vinyl.

Celebrated French, New York-based pianist Romain Collin is thrilled to announce the release of his highly anticipated solo pianoalbum, "Dust." The album, showcases Collin's exceptional talent and unique approach tostorytelling through music."Dust" is a testament to Collin's obsession with the expressive power of a single note. Drawing on his deep love of songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Björk, and Sting, Collin infuses each piece with the warmth and intimacy of theupright piano. The album features a collection of original compositions and carefully selected covers, distilled into a bare-bonessolo approach that creates a cohesive and comforting mood."I have always been fascinated by how much story can be conveyed through a single note," says Collin. "This album reflects my journey of exploring the purity of expression and the raw, luminous sound that solo piano can offer. It's about balancing beautyand emotion, and I hope listeners can find solace and connection in these pieces."

"I'll Be Your Rainbow is the only recorded album by classic soul singer Bobby Wilson. Originally released in 1975, the album is a perfect blend of the styles of soul that were running through the east coast underground of the early 70s. It includes elements of the burgeoning club scene on the more up-tempo songs, and sweet warm vocals on the strong mellow cuts. The album was recorded in Detroit, Philadelphia and Miami, produced by Vernon Bullock and orchestrated by Paul Riser. It features the UK soul scene hit ""Deeper and Deeper"". I'll Be Your Rainbow is available as a 50th anniversary edition of 500 copies on light green coloured vinyl and includes an insert. It is the first time the record is pressed on coloured vinyl and the first repress since its original release in 1975."

Jet Set is a collection of 15 carefully crafted guitar-driven songs that prove to be the most diverse and inventive of Los Straitjackets' oeuvre. The album was recorded at The Pow Wow Fun Room studios in Los Angeles with producer and friend Janne Haavisto (of Laika and the Cosmonauts) and includes a few guest appearances by The Basic Cable Horns (from the Conan show) and Finnish actress and musician Irina Bjorklund. Jet Set delivers the high-energy rock and roll instrumental music fans have come to expect from Los Straitjackets. This pressing of Los Straitjackets' long-out-of-print 2012 classic is pressed on orange vinyl and limited to 500 copies.

Black Truffle is thrilled to begin 2025 with a rare solo release from Konrad Sprenger, alias of elusive Berlin composer-producer-instrument builder Jörg Hiller. A prolific collaborator, Sprenger has worked extensively with icons of American minimalism such as Ellen Fullman (with whom her recorded the gloriously eccentric song album Ort) and Arnold Dreyblatt (as a core member of the Orchestra of Excited Strings since 2009), as well as releasing their music on his impeccably curated label, Choose. As an instrument builder and installation artist, he has overseen the creation of a computer-controlled multi-channel electric guitar and, with Phillip Sollmann, a modular pipe organ system designed to be reconfigured from space to space.

In much of Hiller’s work, a scientific approach to acoustic phenomena co-exists with a pop sensibility and a sly sense of humour. Nowhere is this unique combination more in evidence than in his slim body of solo work, beginning with the startling diversity of instrumentation and compositional approaches heard on the short pieces of Miniaturen (2006) and Versprochen (2009), followed by the more single-minded exploration of the computer-controlled electric guitar on Stack Music (2017). Set brings together these various strands of Sprenger’s work into a wildly infectious, playful epic, performed by the composer and the mysterious Ensemble Risonanze Moderne. On the LP’s second side, we are also treated to a guest appearance from longtime collaborator Oren Ambarchi, on whose recent solo releases Simian Angel and Shebang Sprenger has made key production contributions. Ambarchi’s signature stuttering, swirling harmonics weave through a sparkling assemblage of electric guitars, acoustic instruments, percussion and electronics—though, given the deft use that much of Sprenger’s recent production work makes of midi-controlled sampled instrumentation, it’s anyone’s guess where the acoustic ends and the digital begins here.

As soon as the needle drops on the first side, we are inside a musical world that Set will inhabit for its 33 minutes: sparkling guitar harmonics and palm-muted notes, tuned percussion, crisp electronic drum hits, flashes of horns, and untraceable bursts of synthetic sound are arranged into a skittering polyrhythmic framework calling up the detail-rich percussive constructions of contemporary techno filtered through the pointillism of the post-serialist European avant-garde. Behind this shifting mist of particulate sound, winds and strings sound out held chords, reminiscent of Arthur Russell’s Tower of Meaning in their epic yet seemingly aimless drift. The relationship between elements is mysterious, appearing both carefully considered and almost random. Though never straying too far from where it begins, as the piece moves along, it spotlights increasingly bizarre instrument choices (shakuhachi and steel drums, anyone?) as well as momentary liftoffs into motorik propulsion. Set is a fascinating, mercurial thing: at once propulsive and fragmented, essentially static in form yet ever-changing in detail, unabashedly egghead in its construction yet sure to get the feet tapping.

Complete your collection with NEOACID14 and its 5 outstanding tracks; now carefully materialized on a premium and visually striking vinyl, crafted with love and precision to delight your ears as much as your living room.

A wonderful singer whose recording career lasted for only six years, Billie Poole (1929-2005) excelled singing both jazz and blues. Presented here is her second and last album, Confessin’ the Blues, on which she sings with the support of an all-star small group consisting of the Junior Mance Trio (with Mance at the piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums) plus guitarist Kenny Burrell. 180-gram VIRGIN VINYL LIMITED EDITION of 750 COPIES. The Complete Album + 2 Bonus Tracks.

Knox Chandler’s career has spanned for over four decades, including performing, recording, arranging and producing, with such acts as REM, Depeche Mode, Grace Jones, Marianne Faithful, Natalie Merchant, Tricky, The Creatures, Dave Gahan Paper Monsters and The Golden Palominos etc. His long stints as a member of The Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Cyndi Lauper’s band; has given Knox the experience of a worldwide recording and touring musician. For the past ten years Knox was residing in Berlin Germany, deepening his exploration of sonic soundscapes (Sound Ribbons), and applying it to different genres and mediums.

Bobby Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader whose work explores the nexus between notated and improvised music. One of the seminal figures of the 1980s New York ‘Downtown’ scene, Previte has received multiple awards for music composition including the 2015 Greenfield Prize for Music and a 2012 Guggenheim Fellowship. His original compositions have been recorded and released on Sony, Elektra, Rykodisc, New World, Cantaloupe and Rarenoise. Leading a plethora of diverse ensembles from the drums, he has collaborated with an array of leading lights in and beyond the music world, including master composer John Adams, pianist Terry Adams of NRBQ, pantheon filmmaker Robert Altman, fellow Doom Jazzer Jamie Saft (recording released by Subsound), country music star Jessi Colter, blues great Johnny Copeland, composer and visionary Lukas Foss, computer music pioneer Lejaren Hiller, seven-string guitar wizard Charlie Hunter, re-discovered genius Julius Eastman, Rock author and ambassador Lenny Kaye, Lounge Lizards leader John Lurie, jazz/noise shredder Sonny Sharrock, folk hero Victoria Williams, maestro Michael Tilson-Thomas, the legendary Tom Waits, and, most recently, rock icon Iggy Pop.

Knox Chandler’s career has spanned for over four decades, including performing, recording, arranging and producing, with such acts as REM, Depeche Mode, Grace Jones, Marianne Faithful, Natalie Merchant, Tricky, The Creatures, Dave Gahan Paper Monsters and The Golden Palominos etc. His long stints as a member of The Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Cyndi Lauper’s band; has given Knox the experience of a worldwide recording and touring musician. For the past ten years Knox was residing in Berlin Germany, deepening his exploration of sonic soundscapes (Sound Ribbons), and applying it to different genres and mediums.

Bobby Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader whose work explores the nexus between notated and improvised music. One of the seminal figures of the 1980s New York ‘Downtown’ scene, Previte has received multiple awards for music composition including the 2015 Greenfield Prize for Music and a 2012 Guggenheim Fellowship. His original compositions have been recorded and released on Sony, Elektra, Rykodisc, New World, Cantaloupe and Rarenoise. Leading a plethora of diverse ensembles from the drums, he has collaborated with an array of leading lights in and beyond the music world, including master composer John Adams, pianist Terry Adams of NRBQ, pantheon filmmaker Robert Altman, fellow Doom Jazzer Jamie Saft (recording released by Subsound), country music star Jessi Colter, blues great Johnny Copeland, composer and visionary Lukas Foss, computer music pioneer Lejaren Hiller, seven-string guitar wizard Charlie Hunter, re-discovered genius Julius Eastman, Rock author and ambassador Lenny Kaye, Lounge Lizards leader John Lurie, jazz/noise shredder Sonny Sharrock, folk hero Victoria Williams, maestro Michael Tilson-Thomas, the legendary Tom Waits, and, most recently, rock icon Iggy Pop.

“Pound for pound, Simon Joyner is my favorite lyricist of all time. He has shades of all the greats (Van Zandt, Cohen, Dylan) but exists in a space all his own…He truly is an American songwriting treasure.” - Conor Oberst REISSUED!!! Omaha, Nebraska native and singer/songwriter SIMON JOYNER has been writing about the dizzy and dark aspects of the human condition since 1992. The Cowardly Traveller Pays His Toll was originally released in 1994, on Sing, Eunuchs!, exclusively on vinyl, and marks the first major critical milestone in Joyner’s lauded career. John Peel famously played it in its entirety on his BBC radio program and Joyner’s underground cult status was solidified; in all of John Peel’s years in radio he had only played a record in its entirety three other times.

Legendary 7X GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning artist/producer Dr. Dre celebrates the 30th anniversary of his magnum opus, The Chronic by announcing the album will be re-released. The Chronic, which is not currently available on streaming services, will again be available to fans on all major DSPs .

Steve Berman, Vice Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, said: “Dr. Dre is without a doubt one of the most iconic and groundbreaking artists in the modern era. He has also used his platform to fuel some very impactful philanthropic efforts that will ensure his legacy is felt for generations to come. Dre’s solo career all started with the The Chronic, one of the most celebrated recordings of all time.

First released on December 15, 1992, The Chronic peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and has spent 97 weeks on the chart since its release. The album also spawned three top 40 hits on the Hot 100, including top ten records with "Nuthin' But a “G” Thang" (No. 2) featuring Snoop Dogg and "F— Wit Dre Day" (No. 8). The Chronic topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for eight weeks, while "Nuthin’ But a "G" Thang" hit No. 1 for two weeks on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Last June, Rolling Stone placed The Chronic on its 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time List, boasting how the album "redefined the West Coast Hip Hop sound." Pitchfork also holds the seminal album in high standing, saying The Chronic lives on as a “timeless show of strength” and “gave shape to L.A.’s present and future.” Videos from The Chronic are also available on Dr. Dre’s official YouTube channel.

Last year, Dr. Dre dazzled during the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in Los Angeles. His enormous set was star-studded, as Dre performed alongside some of music's biggest stars, including Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and 50 Cent. Dre commanded the stage – just a few miles from his birthplace of Compton – with a groundbreaking setlist anchored by hits such as "The Next Episode" and the 2Pac-led "California Love." The historic performance earned Dr. Dre his first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). The Hollywood Reporter called the halftime show "thrilling and nostalgic," while Billboard credited Dre for his "seismic impact" on music.

For more than five decades Carlos Santana has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural, and geographical boundaries. To date, Santana has won ten GRAMMY Awards and three Latin GRAMMY Awards, received the Billboard Century Award, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honor, is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award, and has been cited by Rolling Stone as #11 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Teaming up with producers Lino Nicolosi, Nicolosi Team, and Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey), Santana presents three distinct versions of his composition “Let The Guitar Play” - The Radio Version, The Soul Radio Version, and The 70's Version. The first two feature Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels who delivers a poetic rap over an EDM-style drum beat, serving as a dynamic catalyst for Santana to intricately weave his signature guitar magic. This limited edition three song 12” is pressed on tie-dye vinyl. This is a 2024 Black Friday Record Store Day release.

Stick To Your Guns hold a mirror up to society’s ills without blurring its ugliness. In an attempt to unapologetically trumpet real change, the Southern California quintet—Jesse Barnett vocals,Andrew Rose [bass],Adam Galindo[drums], Chris Rawson [guitar], and Josh James [guitar]—never shy away from speaking or screaming unpopular truths from the purest place. Founded in2003, Stick To Your Guns have always written and performed with a sense of urgency, their socially conscious message hitting as hard as their signature hybrid of hardcore, punk, and metal. Over the course of their career, they’ve amassed over 50 million total streams, performed on four continents, and shared stages with the likes of Parkway Drive, Architects, and Every Time I Die. Most recently, Alternative Press praised 2017’s True View as “the result of a long time spent on self-reflection and realization.” The band’s latest release ‘Invisible Rain’ incorporates two new songs that remain quintessentially Stick To Your Guns while incorporating fresh elements. The band’s relentless pursuit of a better world and their critique of societal injustices continues to drive their music and message. In 2024, Stick To Your Guns signed with SharpTone Records, marking a new chapter in their storied career. This partnership promises to bring their potent blend of activism and music to an even broader audience, amplifying their call for change and social justice.

WRWTFWW Records is delighted to announce the first official worldwide reissue of Satsuki Shibano’s Wave Notation 3: Erik Satie 1984, the final album from the sound-defining Wave Notation environmental music series curated by Satoshi Ashikawa. Originally released in 1984 on the Sound Process label, Wave Notation 3 followed Ashikawa’s own Still Way (1982) and Hiroshi Yoshimura's Music For Nine Postcards (1982).

The highly sought-after album, sourced from the original master tape, is available as a double LP (housed in a luxurious heavyweight sleeve) for the first time ever. Digipack CD and digital formats are also available. This exclusive reissue, including English and Japanese liner notes by the artist, was supervised by Japanese ambient legend Yoshio Ojima.

Wave Notation 3 is a splendid tribute to seminal French composer and pianist Erik Satie, himself one of the main influences behind kankyo ongaku / environmental music (alongside Brian Eno, John Cage to name a few). The alphabetically-sequenced album features 26 pieces showcasing Shibano's unique piano interpretation of Satie’s works.

The artist explains: « For this album, I sequenced the compositions in alphabetical order of each title, irrespective of the period of each composition or style. By doing this, I attempted to effectively create ‘Music as an environment’ and at the same time, allow the listener to genuinely experience Satie’s music. »

Satsuko Shibano’s minimalistic approach to ambient classical is simply perfect and offers a beautiful and tranquil listening experience, furniture music with extra comfort and soothing simplicity, relaxing to the mind and to the soul. This Wave Notation deserves a spot among the pillars of Japanese environmental music, next to Midori Takada’s Through The Looking Glass, Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Green, and Satoshi Ashikawa’s Still Way.

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few.

With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a re­ection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signi‑cant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The ‑rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly ‑nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll.

Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and in­uences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this ‑rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

"Vangelis (29/3/1943 –17/5/2022) was a Greek musician, composer, and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music. He composed the Academy Award-winning score to Chariots of Fire (1981), as well as for the films Blade Runner (1982), Missing (1982), Antarctica (1983), The Bounty (1984), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), and Alexander (2004), and the 1980 PBS documentary series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage by Carl Sagan. Vangelis started writing music when he was 4 and performed his first live concert at age 6. He started his career as a member of The Forminx. In the sixties, he was a founding member of Aphrodite's Child along with Demis Roussos and Lucas Sideras. He also enjoyed succes as part of Jon & Vangelis early in the eighties. The Best Of Vangelis from 1993 is an absolute classic. It contains Vangelis classics like “Alpha”, “To The Unknown Man”, “Pulstar (Audio)”, “Spiral” and “So Long Ago, So Clear” featuring Jon Anderson from Yes. Now for the first time available on vinyl as a Limited Edition 2LP set, on white coloured vinyl.
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The SteelDrivers are more than the launching pad of Chris Stapleton’s career and the home-base to the multi-talented musician and songwriter Tammy Rogers. They’re an ever-evolving group of seasoned veterans who have reinvigorated bluegrass by mixing in their individual influences and histories. Stirring Southern soul, Nashville country, deep blues, and wooden-church gospel into bluegrass, The SteelDrivers created a hybrid old as the hills and fresh as morning dew. Or, as a slack-jawed Vince Gill described their sound more directly, “an incredible combination.” Over the past 20 years, The SteelDrivers have become one of the biggest names in progressive bluegrass. After four Grammy nominations, the Americana Music Association’s New Artist of the Year and IBMA’s 2009 Emerging Artist of The Year, The Muscle Shoals Recordings took them to the next level, winning the band their first Grammy Award and landing them another #1 Bluegrass album. In every way, The Muscle Shoals Recordings was a major step forward for the group. Former bandmember Chris Stapleton contributed a new song, “Drinkin’ Alone,” and longtime fan Jason Isbell shows up on a few tracks as co-producer and guitarist. The core of the SteelDrivers stepped up as well, with even richer and more evocative songs and performances that cut deeper than ever. It sounds like an album that should have always existed on vinyl but somehow never was. Until now. Vinyl debut of the Billboard #1 Bluegrass Album & Best Bluegrass Album Grammy winner Featuring production & guitar by Jason Isbell Includes "Drinkin' Alone," written by former SteelDriver Chris Stapleton "Their playing is magnetic" —NPR "The group has rarely sounded more focused or passionate

On (ii), London & Vienna-based duo Bara & Isa present their singular version of devotional music. After meeting at an experimental choir in Café OTO, the duo started collaborating, mostly by exchanging files (initially during the pandemic and now between London and Vienna). (ii) is their debut album which follows a handful of self-released singles and an EP.

Described by the duo as a "sort of document of personal development, and also the struggles of everyday motions", this is music which embraces contradictions. Themes of reflection, acceptance and care sit side by side with notions of spiralling and falling, as Bara & Isa explore the nuances and complexities of quotidian life. Working with a rich sound palette of organ pipes, electric organ, voice notes, field recordings, vocals, harp, chimes, tuning forks, singing bowls, bells and flute, the duo slow-cooked and composed these beautiful songs between 2021 and 2024, mostly by exchanging files. And that's exactly what this music sounds like: a digital call with a loved one, glitching, slowed down, disembodied, yet heartwarming and comforting. Mesmerizing, inviting and bewildering all at once.

“Their music toys with proximity and intimacy, it carries a romanticism which feels forged from a struggle for connection in an isolating world. Tender, precarious folk ballads for a time which struggles to stay in sync.”
Daryl Worthington — The Quietus

“Late Junction 3 airplay”
Jennifer Lucy Allan — BBC Radio 3

This record _produced by Bomp's Greg Shaw_ is the result of pure teenage exuberance!! Garage punk at its best that transports you back to either 1984 or 1966! Produced by Greg Shaw, "All Black and Hairy" was originally released in 1984 on his label Bomp!, resulting the only LP ever recorded by the band in their short career. Unavailable for over a decade now we are thrilled to reissue this essential `80s garage gem as part of a series of releases celebrating Bomp! 50th anniversary. Includes a booklet with notes by band member John Hanrattie and rare photos.

This Is DJs Choice Vol. 4 brings you a great selection of Funk, Soul, Latin and Hip Hop.

Five years after the last installment of the series, Volume 4 is compiled by Gu, a long-time friend and DJ partner of Unique label founder Henry Storch, and the tracks represent the two decades they have known each other and played records together, as well as the music they enjoyed.

All choices are originally 7 Inch records from Gu's crates put together like a DJ-Set for you to enjoy: The Soul of The Sweet Vandals and Carlton Jumel Smith, the Deep Funk of Naomi Davis & The Knights Of Forty First Street, The Supersonics and Sharon Jackson & The Soul Destroyers, the Latin sounds of Diesler and Eli Goulart E Banda Do Mato and the Hip Hop grooves of Jay Are (aka J.Rawls and John Robinson), The Bamboos featuring Ohmega Watts and Daddy-O of Stetsasonic.

This compilation is a celebration of music from beginning to end.

About This Is DJs Choice:

The series started as a friendship project by Henry Storch, who wanted to immortalise friends and allies from the DJ scene, who picked vinyl as their format of choice. The genre didn't matter, as long as the vibe was right. In 2008 Vol. 1 featured a selection of organic Club Sounds and Break Beats put together by Soulinus & Pun, followed by Keb Darge & Lucinda Slim and their favorite Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly and 60s Soul tunes on Vol. 2 in 2009. In 2019 Les Intouchables aka Marc Hype and DJ Suspect presented a variety of funky and soulful music with an addition of the occasional Boogie, Reggae and Hip Hop track.

About Gu:

Gu is a DJ, musician, label owner, producer, writer and producer from Northern Germany. His dedication to music started in his pre-teens in the late eighties and he is playing vinyl ever since. Over the years he has worked with a number of his favorite DJs and artists like Keb Darge, Andy Smith, Snowboy, The New Mastersounds, Osaka Monaurail, The Sweet Vandals, The Allergies, Andy Cooper of Ugly Duckling, Daddy-O of Stetsasonic and Chuck D of Public Enemy to name a few. His DJ career took him all over Europe again and again.

In 2005 he started Our Label Records with his brother Tom to release new Funk music on 7 Inch vinyl and added the Hip Hop 45 imprint Origu in 2015. Since 2009 and he is on air every week with his radioshow Home Diggin', which was also picked up by Chuck D's Rapstation in 2019. Additionally he is lead singer/rapper for the Songcore duo Sorry We're Closed and the Hip Hop outfit Alder Ego. He also does readings of his book of one-liners and competing on Slam Poetry stages.

Over 19 tracks, Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music mines gold from dollar bin country-rock detritus to reconstruct events as seen from the genre's wild west - Americana's vast private press substructure. As progenitor and contemptuous poster boy for the music that came to be Cosmic American, Gram Parsons found himself mired in a recording career spent mostly in scouting the perimeters of chart success. "He hated country-rock," Parsons collaborator Emmylou Harris would later reflect. "He thought that bands like the Eagles were pretty much missing the point." Parsons had been orbiting the idea of Cosmic American Music for some time. In 1968 he'd parted ways with the Byrds and was looking to take air with a new project. "It's basically a Southern soul group playing country and gospel-oriented music with a steel guitar" he told Melody Maker, on the subject of The Flying Burrito Brothers. So it was that when A&M's Burrito Brothers debut The Gilded Palace of Sin made it to shelves in February of 1969, early adherents to the Cosmic American gospel were already echoing its message from areas flanking Gram Parsons' Southern California hills and canyons. There was F.J. McMahon in coastal Santa Barbara, Mistress Mary further inland in Hacienda Heights, and Plain Jane of Albuquerque, New Mexico, each responding by committing their own private readings to tape before day one of the 1970s. Parsons himself might've disdained them, had he even been aware of such minor ripples, shimmering at the edges of his desert oasis. But these were true believers all the same, given over fully to his roots music concept, each filling vinyl grooves with non-rock instrumentation like fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel guitar, the last undoubtedly Cosmic American Music's most distinguishing stringed signifier. Only too predictably, big labels did the grunt work of confining and defining the movement, as ABC, United Artists, RCA, and more played catch-up with Asylum's raptor rock juggernaut, via backwoods crossover also-rans with names like Gladstone, American Flyer, and Silverado. Twang reigned, the shitkickers kicked shit, and the vaguely western-sounding guitar records piled up. Country-rock became "the dominant American rock style of the 1970s," as Peter Doggett's comprehensive Are You Ready for the Country put it much later. Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music picks up and dusts off golden ingots from the dollar-bin detritus of that domination, to reconstruct events as seen from the genre's real Wild West-America's one-off private press label substructure.