Guangzhou-based producer and DJ COLA REN released her debut LP, 'Hailu' in June 2023, a ful-some ambient, balearic, and downtempo brew with a gorgeous sense of melody and spirituality that offers a soothing escape.
To celebrate the release, we have invited 8 talented musicians to the enchanting realm of ‘Hailu'. This remix compilation serves as a metaphorical exploration akin to the "Chakras," symbolizing the diverse energy centers within the human body. Through the collective reinterpretation of Hailu's original composition by 8 musicians, each imbuing it with unique hues and symbols, the remix re-flects varied spiritual essences and elemental qualities.
"Two-pronged, remix attacks don't come much more exciting and potent than this... as here - thanks to our good friends at Nervous NYC - we're beyond hyped to bring you the legendary Masters At Work and Dave Lee on one single, fully weaponised package.
Putting their own, inimitable spins on Louie Vega's ˙Music Is My Life˙ - which features the unique talents of Unlimited Touch - we're treated to a pair of wonderfully complimentary, but no less idiosyncratic re-rubs from these two stalwarts of the scene.
With a production hand and artistic touch like no other - Masters At Work lead the way here, with their main remix. Characterised by that trademark looseness and deliciously warm, organic approach - their rework is awash with woozy psychedelia and layered so expertly, that getting lost in the music is both gloriously simple and an absolute pleasure. But no true Vega & Dope remix suite, would be complete without a bonafide Dub version. And for ˙Music Is My Life˙ - this sees the dynamite duo take proceedings down a distinctly more mesmeric and mood-laden path… one where the vocal is instead used as a powerful rhythmic weapon, and the star of the show, is a surreptitiously morphing and shape-shifting, delicately acid-laced synth lead.
Next up - having recently switched his attentions to productions under his own namesake - is Z Records' head honcho, Dave Lee. Snapping into life with its crisp and punchy drum work - what Lee's remix does share with that of the Masters is in the over-arching, tripped-out haze which douses proceedings. However - where his remix opts to stick its head well and truly above the parapit, is in it stylistic flavouring. As when it comes to slicing that genre cake, so to split the worlds of Disco and House perfectly down the middle - there's simply no one who does it finer.”
Ever since he made his first trip to Japan to DJ, Optimo Music founder JD Twitch has been bewitched by Japanese music, and particularly the vibrant, imaginative, and often far-sighted sounds which emerged from the island nation during the 1980s. Now he’s put years of digging in Japanese record shops to good use on Polyphonic Cosmos, the latest release on his compilation-focused Cease & Desist imprint.
Subtitled ‘A Beginners Guide to Japan In The ‘80s’, the collection offers a personal selection of Japanese gems recorded and released between 1981 and ’86 – a period when advances in recording and musical technology offered the nation’s artists and producers a whole new tool kit to employ. When combined with the unique musical culture of Japan, where local traditions are frequently fused with Western styles to create timeless, off-kilter aural fusions, this embrace of locally pioneered music technology had spectacular, often unusual results.
Eight years in the making, Polyphonic Cosmos provides an endlessly entertaining musical snapshot of Japanese music of the early-to-mid ‘80s with all of the open-minded eclecticism and sonic twists that you would expect from the Glasgow-based DJ.
Compare and contrast, for example, the gently breezy, morning-fresh folk-plus-electronics bliss of ‘ばら二曲 Baranikyoku (Fellini&Rota)’ by World Standard – the most familiar alias of long-serving musician/producer Sohichiro Suzuki – and the hallucinatory, slow-motion tribal rhythms, post-punk rhythms and tape delay-laden electronics of Imitation’s ‘Exotic Dance’. Or, for that matter, the tipsy mid-‘80s electronic reggae of Pecker’s ‘Sha La La’, the grungy but melodic post-punk strut of ‘You Go On Natural’ by Earthling (a track Twitch accurately describes as “sheer unrelenting groove”), and the unearthly, swirling sonics, new age instrumentation and flotation tank vocals of prolific (and seemingly mysterious) act Geinoh Yamashirogumi’s ‘Rimme Kohkyogaku Meiki’.
It’s a credit to JD Twitch’s curatorial skills that the quality never dips, and sonic surprises lurk around every corner. Consider for a moment the hard to describe, far-sighted audio immersion of D-Day’s ‘Ki-Ra’ – all languid post-pop guitar, enveloping chords, spoken word vocals, shuffling 808 beats and marimba melodies – and the two contributions from video games soundtrack specialist (and driving instrumental synth-pop specialist) Hiroyuki Namba.
The collection naturally includes some selections that have long been favourites in Twitch’s DJ sets – see Masumi Hara’s ‘Your Dream’ – as well as a handful of tracks from artists who may be more recognisable to those with only rudimentary knowledge of Japanese musical culture. The great Yasuaki Shimizu, whose work as Mariah has become far better known in recent years thanks to reissues of some of his most magical albums, is represented via ‘The Crow’, a picturesque chunk of horizontal, hard-to-define jazz-not-jazz smokiness, while the collection fittingly concludes with a sublimely funky, oddball electronic workout from Yellow Magic Orchestra legend Ryuichi Sakamoto (the frankly incredible ‘Wongga Dance Song’).
Originally released in 1990, Same Place The Fly Got Smashed was Guided By Voices’ fourth album in as many years. Roughly a concept album about an alcoholic named Joker Bob who goes on a bender, someone dies, and Bob gets the chair (“the electrifying conclusion”). From the moment the needle drops, the listener is served notice that this isn’t going to be an easy listen, as an argument taped off of a TV cuts to a basement recording of a lone, blaring electric guitar with someone yelling over the top. But for those brave enough to pass the opening hazards, there are wonders within. This particular album has come to be held in higher and higher regard by fans, and they are correct to consider it a top-tier release. The story and sequence have a flow, and consideration for approachability is optional. Many of the crudest tracks reveal themselves as necessary stitches in the album’s tapestry. Yet it also contains all time greats like “Drinker’s Peace,” “Mammoth Cave,” the epic “Local Mix-Up/ Murder Charge,” and of course “Pendulum” with its immortal opening line: “Come on over tonight, we’ll put on some Cat Butt and do it up right!”—a rare break in the clouds on one of the band’s darkest albums. This reissue, like the previous ones in this series, is a mostly faithful reproduction of the original pressing of 500 on the band’s own Rocket #9 label. And like the others, the virgin RTI vinyl is housed in a thick tip-on jacket, and includes Robert Pollard’s original handwritten lyric insert.
Kwamé Bâ aka Fényan
Music producer, keyboardist and professional dancer based in France.
Coming from a Senegalese bloodline and growing up in Martinique (West indies), Fényan is deeply rooted in Black music. Epitome of a childhood in the West indies. A Caribbean Tale about Kreyol langage, about legacy and resilience, about turning victimhood into proactivity.
Douvan Douvan can be translated by "avant garde" in Kreyol. It is a story about People growing up and facing themselves, and their elders in order to move forward in their enlightenment.
It is your story.
Bax is back. First released in 2011, Mosca’s UKG homage, ‘Bax’, did big things when it landed. Almost 10 years on, it’s time for a repress.
Though Mosca missed the golden era of garage in the nineties, he caught on to darkside pioneers such as Horsepower Productions, Benny Ill and El-B later on. A blend of homegrown British styles lies at the core of his electronic music influences, early dubstep, jungle, minimal grime and bassline, which he’d experienced first-hand at Sheffield’s legendary Niche club. (Little known fact: The name Bax is a partial nod to Steve Baxendale, the man behind Niche).
All these elements coalesced in the studio and the two-tracker materialised in a couple of days. Both sides of the record do their thing on the floor; ‘Bax’ with its now infamous ‘My DJ is live in the place’ sample, that earworm melody and a ruffneck b-line.
On the flip ‘Done Me Wrong’ sees Mosca incorporate several key garage tropes; the bassline swinging alongside soulful vocals (which get sliced and diced), not forgetting that cheeky rewind.
Boston is not exactly worldwide known for its coldwave or synth pop artists. Most of us know the Capital of Massachusetts because of its hardcore legacy that still continues today.
And yet, just like flowers in a rugged land, here comes House Of Harm, a post-punk trio whose new approach to the genre was showcased on their two tape EPs, earning them a cult international following as well as an imposing line up of supporting gigs opening for Editors, She Past Away, Lust For Youth, and The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels. Due on September 4 is their debut full-length Vicious Pastimes out on vinyl LP and digital format.
Nine songs where timeless melodies of Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me-era Cure perfectly match French coldwave moodiness, enhanced by Cocteau Twins ethereal airiness and Creation Records seminal shoegaze sounds. Just enough light reaches House Of Harm’s base layer, giving life to infectious hooks and unforgettable mantras. The gritted core of every song makes expansive moments of release cathartic, always tethered by commanding drums.
Check out the very first single they wrote Isolator and its melancholic synth pop refrain, or Against The Night whose darkwave is as claustrophobic as One Hundred Years. Catch sounds almost like a Sarah Records hit, while the title-track hurls us back into the bleak realms of the Sisterhood. Different influences but everything is just in its place simply because House Of Harm are the rare band where you can feel every individual member’s devotion to each song’s world.
RIYL: The Cure, Depeche Mode, A Flock Of Seagulls, For Against, Drab Majesty.
Die in Los Angeles ansässige Dark-Melodic-Metal-Band Witherfall präsentiert ihr viertes Album über DeathWave Records. Der Vorgänger 'Curse Of Autumn' konnte großes Lob in der relevanten Fachpresse sowie die # 20 in den deutschen Album-Charts als auch US-BILLBOARD-Charts verbuchen.
Das neue Album wird von einem ehrgeizigen Zeitplan mit sieben Singles begleitet, von denen jede ein offizielles Video enthält, das die Geschichte des Albums voller Herzschmerz, Wut und Hartnäckigkeit erzählt. Das sind Witherfall, immer bereit, die Extrameile zu gehen, um endlich zur Speerspitze der internationalen Metal-Szene vorzudringen. Witherfall wurde 2013 in Los Angeles gegründet. Seitdem hat die Gruppe drei vielbeachtete Alben veröffentlicht. Die band macht keine Abstriche und engagierte für 'Curse Of Autumn' u.a. den international anerkannten Top-Drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Jordan Rudess). Die Band engagierte erneut den Produzenten/Studio-Zauberer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Shadows Fall) als Ingenieur/Co-Produzent sowie für Mix und Master
Das Cover von Blake Armstrong (In Flames, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Harry Potter) bietet einen visuellen Gegenpol zur Musik auf dem Album sowie zu Michaels kompromissloser Text-Offenheit.
Neben der CD gibt es schwarzes Vinyl sowie zwei limitierte farbige Versionen!
Fresh jackin house and jazzy disco vibes from JOSH AARON, handpicked to rep JORDAN FIELDS latest installment on the mighty TRAX RESEARCH. Real Chicago ish on this 4 tracker. Pressed on limited edition assorted multi color vinyl. Paper sleeve
Our eighth chapter of Small Great Things is introduced by our resident, David Silver. The limited vinyl and digital release, titled the 'My Japanese Friend EP,' features four exquisite original tracks. This EP seamlessly blends deep and classic house vibes with contemporary beats, ensuring a refreshing dance floor experience.
Starting with the A1 side, 'Trademark' initiates the journey with a solid house groove complemented by stabs and a robust bassline. Transitioning to the A2 track, the title piece 'My Japanese Friend' assumes center stage with its infectious groovy bassline, piano chords, and captivating drums, enveloped by ambient jazzy melodies.
Turning over to the B side, we encounter two more enticing house compositions. On B1, David's 'U Move' delivers a fresh, dance floor-ready cut, featuring vocals and guitars. B2 takes the spotlight with 'Peace & Low,' a finely crafted deep house gem.
The A Side is one of the most adventurous synthed out peak hour spiritual- level boogie rager. Flip Side is another psychedelic disco freak out stomper. Hasn't sold on Discogs in almost 15 years. Test presses co-signed by fellow Chicago disco Kingpins MARK GRUSANE and DARRYN JONES.
Pleasure Planet's kaleidoscopic debut album has been a long
time coming, but good things come to those who wait.
Developed over years of late-night studio improvisations,
'Pleasure Planet' is an affectionate and colorful patchwork of
the New York City-based trio's knotted in§uences that's
suspended between the rave and the chill-out room, weaving
glistening pads and chunky basslines into vocal earworms
and warm, saturated rhythmic cycles. Bandmates Andrew
Potter, Kim Ann Foxman and Brian Hersey enter into a
lysergic dialog with their discrete personal musical histories,
drawing inspiration from vintage EBM, ambient music and
heady early '90s West Coast rave sounds and launching
these classic elements into a transcendent new sonic
universe.
Fuelled by the Berlin-based duo's love of club music in all its forms ''FJAAK THE SYSTEM'' is FJAAK's most definitive album to date, a winding sonic odyssey that surveys the rave landscape, dipping between frantic euphoria and deep contemplation. Featuring sizzling collaborations with Modeselektor, Skee Mask, Red Eye and J.Manuel, the album draws a bold line under FJAAK's 15 years of mischief and mayhem, pulling together 23 tracks (culled from over 300, no less) that truly reflect the duo's boundless enthusiasm for the dancefloor. Grazing UK breakbeat, techno, 2-step, d'n'b, jungle, trip-hop and ambient, these elasticated, hybrid bangers paint a vivid picture of FJAAK's utopian club ideal, a place where genre boundaries evaporate and only the groove remains. Since graduating in audio engineering in the early 2010s, FJAAK have been challenging the logic of a maddeningly conservative club scene with their hardware only live shows, DJ sets a myriad of record releases. In 2019 they launched the label and platform Spandau20 with a steady flow of records and a mixtape series featuring new talent and established artists. With their rebellious attitude and notoriously energetic live sets, the duo have brought back a crucial lost ingredient to the rave: playfulness. And if their well-loved albums 'FJAAK', released on Modeselektor's Monkeytown imprint, and 'Havel' set the scene, 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM' rises above and beyond expectations, creating a new benchmark. It's not just blood, sweat and tears either, FJAAK's advanced technical knowhow and love of synthesizers and drum machines helps them formulate a sound that's conscious of dance music history, but focused on a brighter, more equitable future. Their second single 'And You Feel' is an emotional rollercoaster combining UK breakbeat with a dubstep-influenced bassline wobler and alluring vocals, emulating the moment the mind becomes a tranquil void through the crescendo of adrenaline like a strain of physical exertion. This is reflected on their new music video which shows an unexpected ''rage room'' scene.
Cinthie Christl is a powerhouse of a DJ, producer, label manager, record store owner and all-round house music aficionado. Shall Not Fade is excited to announce Cinthie is joining the family to mark the 60th release on the label. Free Fall EP shows off the German polymath's expansive musical knowledge, developed through decades of spinning vinyl.
The 4-tracker kicks off with "Offenbach Anthem" bounces along with a varied post-disco inspired beat and oh-so-deep bassline that strikes against the aerated chords of the melody. Dramatic strings add to the disco flavour, the fluid and glittery opener cruises into the tight, 4-to-the-floor business and stuttering stabs of "13 Steps To Heaven".
Rave energy takes over on "Oh No No No"; organ takes centre stage blending with crooning diva vocalisations - releasing the tension of the last track into an overflow of euphoria. "What You Mean To Me" closes the EP with a slice of the super-smooth classic house that Cinthie is known for; infectious grooves and perfect lulls forming a triumphant end to the record.
YOIONWAX's 10th anniversary record is already here! This is our second fully printed record with an incredibly cool zoetrope artwork by Alex Mikheev. This time, we're embarking on an amazing journey to unexplored places, and our guide is the very cool and experienced musician Donnie Cosmo.
We start in a tropical forest, and as we walk through the tropics to the starting pad of our ship, Donnie suggests trying Jungle Juice. Moving on, we encounter The Man From Planet X, whose story accompanies us to a small stop as we switch from side A to side B.
Mystical Journey begins as soon as we put the needle on the record on side B. The zoetrope artwork, which is now located on the entire record, can be examined indefinitely, especially when we listen to such a soundtrack. It is at this moment that we break away from the earth and find ourselves in open space, an exciting journey awaits us. Having traveled a long road through stars, planets, galaxies, Donnie suggests Prepare Your Soul, and we prepare our souls for the transition to a new level, because we have come a long way with you, and this record is a great gift for the sixth anniversary of our project, which took place at the end of May.
We are actively working now on the development of the project and are preparing something new, we are sure it will be very cool, and you will like it, so do not miss your chance now to become the owner of a collector's edition, a truly exclusive and legendary record - YOIONWAXOIO!
"Diamond Life": 1984, erstes Album, erster großer Wurf. Sades subtile Soul-Jazz-Cool-Mischung, die sich völlig gegen den synthetischen New-Wave-Trend der Zeit richtet, wird zu einem der meistverkauften Alben des Jahres auf der ganzen Welt. Mit den Singles "Your love is King", "Smooth operator" und "Hang on to your Love". Das Album wurde in den Abbey Road Studios mit halber Geschwindigkeit von den Original-Mastern gemastert. Das Mastering mit halber Geschwindigkeit erzeugt einen außergewöhnlich klaren Klang, der die Dynamik der Originalmischungen bewahrt. 180G Vinyl. Die Originalcover wurden einschließlich der Papierqualität und Druckmethoden reproduziert."Diamond Life":
CEP Records is ready to release its first various artists compilation. This collection features six tracks with a wide range of groovy, funky and driving techno.
On the A-side, Alec Dienaar kicks things off with a gripping atmospheric tune, introducing top-notch groove elements and catchy vocal shots. Cult’s track ‘Big Pimpin‘’ displays his signature, featuring snappy filter cuts, driving drums, and a dogged energy. Closing out the A-side, KAIPE takes a funkier side with a leading bassline and a memorable melody that exacts attention. Next up, Marcos Fagoagas delivers ‘Surreal Awake’, a track with a uniquely structured low-end and self-sung vocals that retain the rhythm organic. ‘Feel So Alive’ by SOURCE CODE embodies a full-on summer vibe with infectious vocals and tuneful high-pitched stab elements. Bringing this release to a close is THD+N's dub techno gem ‘Voicemail’, characterized by a winding synth line and timeless vocals that captivate throughout.
Ghost Phone is back! Blowing in from Bristol with another hand of anonymous aces. Glossy R&B in flagranti and off it’s tits in a dank, heaving basement session.
The opener Hologram is characteristically greened-out: a 160bpm g-funk odyssey for the autonomic massive. Then it’s back to earth with Want U, a nectar-sweet, stripped-back dancefloor heater, complete with tongue in cheek nods to the Jersey Club sound. Tough, loose jungle breaks revitalise a 90s classic on the flip, in So Gone; before Darkness Finds Home With U wraps things up with dense, heady atmospherics and ethereal vocals.
Loud Enough returns with the third and final installment of the 3-EP series dedicated to Roman Pigna Records, the dancefloor-oriented sister label of Nature Records. Following the releases by Marco Passarani and Mario Pierro, it's now Francesco De Bellis's turn, akaFrancisco / Mr. Cisco.
In line with the previous EPs, LE004 showcases four tracks: two timeless cuts, "Fregna The Age" and "Miss Cha Cha Cha," alongside two previously unreleased tracks from the same era, "Move" and "House." Each piece embodies Francisco's groovy, Chicago-inspired signature style, ensuring a captivating journey on the dance floor. Music produced and written by Francesco De Bellis. Originally recorded in Studio 22 (Pigna Studios) Rome, Italy 2024 – 2008. Remixed in Mondo Studio Rome 2023
'Crescendo' is the captivating result of a collaboration between the Swedish producers Emil Holmström and Peter Wikström, who form the duo Ecovillage, and a multi-talented cast of musicians all of whom share a passion for improvisation and experimentation.
Recorded between 2019 and 2022 in Los Angeles and Umeå, Sweden, the sessions were designed to explore the possibilities of creating a sonic environment that blends jazz and ambient to create something altogether fresh, vibrant and immersive.
‘We always wanted to create something new and original, something that would challenge us during the recording and also evolve our listeners. We also tried to break away from the conventions and expectations of ambient music’.
The album consists of ten tracks, each with its own mood and style. Some songs are uplifting and energetic, while others are mellow and dreamy. The vocals range from soft whispers to powerful chants, adding texture and emotion to the music.
‘Crescendo is an album that invites the listener to immerse themselves in a rich and diverse musical landscape that reflects the vision and spirit that we had during the recording process’.
Composed, mixed and produced by Emil Holmström & Peter Wikström
Featuring Jonas Knutsson, Laraaji, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Green-House, Brothertiger, Kenji Kihara, Botany, Nightlands, nubo, Nat Birchall, Oceananda, Sharananda, Thore Pfeiffer, Annie Barker and Joseph Shabason
Recorded in Austin, Berlin, Los Angeles, Manchester, Mainz, New York, Philadelphia, Tokyo and Umeå
Jenifa Mayanja is a favourite amongst true deep house heads. Her work is smoky, jazzy, and emotive, and has come on labels like Underground Quality before now. Here she arrives on the sixth EP from fledgling but already cultured label Sole Aspect and shows off her sophisticated sound once more. 'Rise To The Top' is full of elegant harmonies and jazz melodies that dance on pulsing rhythms, 'Like A Dream' brings spiritual vocals to bold chords and dusty drums while 'Our World' has piano lines floating high over the languid drums and bass.
'Rose Colored Glasses' has fresh melodies and challenging synths that defy usual genre norms and bring all new ideas to deep house. This is music that elevates mind, body and soul.
Warg Records is proud to announce its most accomplished and well crafted project to date, Defiant Revolution I.
The 2x12" various artists compilation features 12 tracks from the likes of Slam, Cleric, Lars Huismann, ANNE, Gary Beck, Keith Carnal, Sera J, Alpharisc, Arnaud Le Texier, Habgud, Chontane, and Regent. This VA marks the tenth release on the label.
For the third label’s release, Clouzer returns to Distant Gaze with “Call of the Abyss,” a six-track EP featuring three originals alongside three remixes from acclaimed artists Damon Jee, Zakmina, and Berlin’s emerging talent, Zee Mon.
At the helm of the EP is Clouzer’s captivating journey, “Voices from the Abyss,” extraterrestrial echoes and pulsating broken beats, embarking on an exploration into the depths of the unknown. The EP’s second track emerges as a powerful stage presence, guided by the haunting vocals of Valentin Henning. Blurred and delayed textures immersing the listener in a mind-altering experience. Pulsating rave energy of “Perpetual” fuses cosmic elements, broken beats, and dark disco bassline, embodying Clouzer’s distinctive sonic identity.
Adding to the EP’s allure are three remixes, each offering a unique interpretation. Zee Mon’s rendition of “Perpetual” channels darkwave energy, infusing the track with an irresistible pulse, a primetime banger on vibing dance-floor. Damon Jee’s remix of “Stalactites” delivers his trademark full-throttle dance-floor oriented dark disco, elevating the EP to the next level of intensity. Finally, Zakmina’s broken beat journey serves as a beautiful sublime culmination of the EP, evoking the feeling of a perfect closing track for an enchanting morning DJ set.
In 2021, we welcomed Endrik Schroeder to the Bordello family with his Second Breath 12”. The memorable hooks and attention to detail that characterised his first appearance run deep in his latest. The Hope sees the French producer accompanied by a true legend of electronics, Caroline Hervé aka Kittin. Hervé’s penchant for combining brighter tones with darker shades is evident from the needle. Industrial hiss pierces swirling vocals. Clean claps, warm bass and crystalline chords give way to woe-streaked lyrics, lyrics that ascend into an arc of pulsating synthwave pain. Schroeder takes the reins on the flip. A beam of light is cast over throbbing arpeggios and a slicing snare, notes drifting ever higher as “The Dogs” takes hold. Strings swim as a spread of sounds grow, a palpable energy building under Schroeder’s watchful ear and hand in this seven minute plus odyssey into his
CoN and KwAkE are Confucius MC and Kwake Bass. They share long and entwined histories with saxophonist and Native Rebel label owner Shabaka Hutchings, and with many of the incredible London musicians and producers who have emerged over the last decade.
Eyes In The Tower, their debut album released one year ago, was the second release on Shabaka Hutchings’ Native Rebel Recordings, where he invites friends and family to RAK Studios improvise around sketches he’s written specifically for the invited artists. A uniquely London evolution of classic hip hop, it was brewed for over a decade before being made in three days.
Two tracks from the album have now been remixed to celebrate the one year anniversary of the album: 15 Minutes gets reworked by Daisuke Tanabe and Dance In The Dark by Anja Ngozi.
Confucius MC has been embedded in UK hip hop since the early 2000s. He was the support of choice for Mos Def, and recently toured with UK hip hop stalwart Jehst.
Kwake Bass is musical director for Sampha and Kae Tempest. Behind the kit he has become the player of choice for travelling US heavyweights, playing with MF DOOM, The Roots and Joey Bada$$, as well as UK major players Lianne La Havas and Mica Levi.
"The warmth of fire and the whisper of water, the magic of wind and the trembling of the earth, the melody of peace and silence to revive soul and body" – said the Queen and closed the portal behind the travellers.
On the summit of the Astral Cliff there was the long-forgotten DP-6 shuttlecraft of the Kwansi pirates. Corrosion on the hull plating had almost completely taken over the paint, which only occasionally peeked through between dense clusters of fluorescent bryophytes. The vines and wires dangling from the stern provided a perfect living dome for the lively Sivinerian millipedes goofing around on the runes engraved on the ship. The sweet scent of exotic flora created an ethereal glow. A giant stingray floated gracefully across the celestial kaleidoscope. Each flap of its shining wings gave the impression of time slowing down. One could be absorbed by this grace and lightness for hours, immersing oneself in the world of aesthetics and harmony that ufolded before the observers’ eyes while they were enveloped in the calming embrace of the gravitational massage chairs.
– Sea Devil – what an appropriate name for such a majestic creature.
– That's right, Cat... A true manifestation of multielements in all their splendour!
Classic South African house / Kwaito album on vinyl for the first time.
Originally released on CD in 1995, this album which is associated with the birth of South African street music genre – ‘Kwaito’ and dance/dress style ‘Pantsula’ is now remastered for vinyl from the original tapes – resulting in the best sounding version of the recording to date.
Regarded as one of the earliest full length Kwaito albums, ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ was released just one year into South Africa’s new democracy in 1995. Characterised by ‘mid-tempo’ beats, heavy bass hooks, adapted breakdancing and vocals in informal Zulu and other South African languages; ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ would form a critical part of the South African street music movement that now has its own fashion, crews and dance style.
It helped post-democratic South Africa define its own musical identity and would pave the way for other Kwaito releases that ultimately led to the emergence of Amapiano years later.
366 DAYS MUSIC, the brand run by Geneva-based artists Auguste Safar and Raphael Graham focused on promoting music events, is expanding its horizons and finally debuting as a record label. Aimed at showcasing house, techno, and minimal techno sounds, the label owners Auguste and Raphael are debuting with "Za Ria." On the remix duties? No other than veterans Dandy Jack and Ricardo Villalobos resurrecting their Ric Y Martin moniker.
The title track, 'Za-Ria' (A1), provides a glimpse into the young duo's talent and producer ethos: robust minimal grooves, rolling basslines, modular bleeps and bloops, ritualistic percussions and meticulous sampling — all the necessary ingredients for peak-time shenanigans. 'Depth's Drunkenness' (A2), on the other hand, follows a somewhat hypnotic path. Its rhythmic structure remains as tight and stomping as the previous track but expands on minimalism. Vocal whispers and synth stabs fill the space, keeping the frequency spectrum exciting and alive. On the flip side, Dandy Jack and Ricardo remix 'Za-Ria' (B1), throwing a 4-by-4 groover into a frenzy of sample mangling in micro/macro proportions. And while granular sampling and modular processing are usually unpredictable tools, here, everything is rhythm, like beautifully organized chaos.
Quickly establishing themselves as some of the most exciting young talents in the Swiss electronic music scene today, Auguste Safar and Raphael Graham, along with their 366 DAYS imprint, are ones to look out for.
Frankie from Atlanta has released an EP showcasing two tracks characterized by deeply profound synths and the elegant signature style typical of this producer. “The Operator” radiates energy and mysticism, propelled by a solid bassline that imbues the track with dynamism and virtuosity. In the remix, Detroit legend Gari Romalis lends his genuine touch, emblematic of his artistry. This release seamlessly merges the finest elements of both musical realms, expertly capturing the essence of each producer. It’s a testament to their skill and creativity, delivering an immersive musical experience.
Albert Alan Owen was born in Wales in 1948 to parents of Welsh and Latvian heritage. His family later moved to Zimbabwe, where his father took up a teaching position. There, Owen was deeply influenced by local music and culture, while also exploring American RnB and jazz. It was during this period that he became acutely aware of the harsh inequalities under British colonial rule, which instilled in him a lifelong aversion to discrimination and racism.
In 1967, Owen returned to Europe to pursue his studies and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He went on to spend time in Paris, studying composition with the eminent Nadia Boulanger and piano under Jacques Février, a favorite pianist of Ravel’s and Poulenc’s. Owen's focus shifted almost entirely to composition, and the acquisition of a Fender Rhodes electric piano marked the beginning of a divorce from his classical Western training. This transition allowed him to merge his passion for African and African-American music with the impressionistic styles of Ravel and Debussy while exploring the innovative realm of electroacoustic composition.
These formative experiences framed Owen’s career as a composer and educator at the Royal Academy of Music and London’s Working Men’s College. He eventually returned to Wales, where he continues to reside.
In 1979, 29-year-old Albert Alan Owen released Keyboards & Strings, a light magical chamber music masterpiece.
Transcending the formal conventions of its era, Keyboard & Strings is an acoustic and electric piano piece, where the violin is met by synths and electronics.
As is often the case in Albert Alan Owen’s most intimate works, there is a sense of ethereal beauty that emerges from the music, akin to the emotional state one might experience while contemplating a Félix Vallotton landscape or the unfathomable mystery of dawn’s first light.
Quiet, profound, and immersive, Keyboard & Strings stands out as an electronic-age tone poem, a rare gem that transcends time and place.
DJ Support: Jamie Jones, Reboot, Dennis Cruz, Raresh, Reelow, Dimmish, Fabe, Archie Hamilton, Rich NxT, Chicks Luv Us, Christian Burkhardt, Terry Francis.
This EP is inspired by love and dreams and continues her quest to find the perfect blend of emotional yet minimal melodic beats. Opener 'L'Amour' radiates Lazic's signature sounds with a slick bassline and melodic chords that convey meaningful emotions under female spoken words. It's a seductive world of warm pads and silky beats that cast a hypnotic spell. The fantastic 'Todo El Universo' features the vocals of Lazic's Spanish friend Monica. The title translates as 'all the universe' and is a favourite line from Paulo Coelho's novel The Alchemist about accomplishing your dreams. It's a deep and comforting groove with soft drums and pillowy pads that soothe the soul and are perfect for more intimate dance floors.
Remixer Nu Eau is a pivotal part of Romania's minimal scene with a meticulously crafted sound that has taken him to the likes of Gettraum and Memoria Recordings and he also co-founded the Uvar imprint. His version of ‘L'Amour' is more up tempo but no less heady, with lush cosmic synths doing an elegant dance over the compelling beats.
Spanish pair Los Suruba have done it all over the last 20 years - released hundreds of tracks, played thousands of gigs, established their own network of record labels, held residencies everywhere from Ibiza to London and crafted countless underground hits. Their remix of ‘L'Amour' is serene and cerebral with paranoid voices drifting through the mix and rippling chords keeping you afloat in the cosmos.
Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Francois K, Luke Una and Downtown Disco.
The third in Greg Wilson’s 12 inch DJ series of GW Edits features two uptempo mid-‘70s disco cuts by the Mighty Clouds Of Joy and Vicki Sue Robinson, the latter a huge tune back then, the former very much slept on, but sounding every inch a classic. Reworked with Ché Wilson, following on from last year’s acclaimed remix of Gabriels ‘Love And Hate In A Different Time’, ‘Mighty Cloud’ and ‘The Turnaround’ guarantee full-on dancefloor satisfaction.
1981. A new South African band is making waves. Produced by the team “Van Blerk/Roos & Greg Cutler", it includes succulent voices and melodies, psychedelic Moog, Fender Rhodes surrounded by some Afro-folky guitars. This album is definitely a winner.
Between 1972 and 1973 Poy-Poy Makhubela appeared on 4 singles with The Young Movers produced by David Thekwane.
In 1975, as a lead guitarist, he decided to bring together four musicians to form the band Unity. Jeff Radine (Fender Rhodes, Moog), George Legobye (bass), Edward Modiselle (percussion) and Robert Moema (drum). The members were all from the group The Sound Jaws, except Jeff Radine who was with Rugare and played with Harari, Chicco, The Black Five or Prince Nico.
In 1978, after hearing Unity playing in a club, Mike Tswai joined the band as a manager.
Poy-Poy has gone on to have a long career, touring the world and playing with some of the South African’s greats including Brenda Fassie, Don Laka, Blondie & Pappa, Dorothy Masuka as well as Kwaito bands like Alaska, Boom Shaka or Trompies.
The label's first EP is by Yu, a great Italian artist who gives us 4 tracks with his unique and unmistakable style, with an energetic and natural flow.
Fruit of experimentation and research dominated by strong kicks and basses accompanied by hypnotic and captivating sounds.
Characterized by the rhythmic energy of club music.
On his new album always centered at night, moby has once again conjured into reality a collection of heartachingly beautiful, tender-yet-defiant songs, made in collaboration with uniquely talented, soulfully aware, other-worldly vocalists. All the songs are love letters to the unrestricted and enchanting music scene of late ‘70s, early ‘80s New York that shaped Moby as a musician. The featured vocalists were given the same assignment: “Please don’t write anything commercial. Let it be weird. Let it be personal. It doesn’t have to make sense.”
“Because of that randomized freedom, I’ve been on the receiving end of so much genius work,” says moby. “And the result has been one of the most exciting, surprising things I’ve ever done as a musician, and it’s one of the most worthwhile things a human being can do: make tender, gentle, vulnerable music that’s a clarion call to act.”
Featured on this album are some of the most exciting vocalists of our time. Some are well-known - such as serpentwithfeet on the breathless daydream of a song ‘on air’, the jazzy soulstress Lady Blackbird on the haunting ‘dark days’, or the astounding poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah on ‘where is your pride?’. Other contributors have been found in relative obscurity - such as friend and vocalist Brie O’Banion on the Cream cover ‘we’re going wrong’, or Sheffield poet laureate Danaé Wellington on the powerful ‘wild flame’.
“The goal for always centered at night is to do something uncompromising,” says Moby. “To make music that is emotional, atmospheric and potentially beautiful. And what better use of this weird privilege I have than trying to foster creative expression that has uncompromising integrity?”
NEW WORLD DEPRESSION by $uicideboy$ delves deep into a tumultuous psyche, portraying a world riddled with inner demons, existential crises, and a stark defiance of societal norms. Throughout the album, the duo navigates through themes of fame, self-destruction, and the relentless search for identity amidst chaos. Their raw, unfiltered lyrics serve as a gritty narrative of personal turmoil, substance abuse, and the struggle for authenticity in a world that often feels cold and indifferent. This album is an unapologetic exploration of the darker sides of human experience, resonating with anyone who has ever felt out of place or battled with their own shadows.
‘Inevitable Incredible’ is a brand-new studio album that sees Kelly writing primarily on the piano for the first time. Recorded on a remote island in Norway, the forthcoming album sees Kelly step away from the comfort of Stereophonics and explore emotion and vulnerability. The album features 8 incredibly evocative cinematic songs, all with live vocal & piano plus stunning orchestral strings. Available on deluxe book bound CD and heavyweight vinyl with stunning artwork by artist Christine Clark.
Having plied his trade around the world for more than three decades, German guitarist, bandleader and musical explorer Jan Whitefield has always instilled in his craft a natural aesthetic of authenticity, a key component which has seen him amass a sizeable and varied catalogue of material which has remained timeless where some of his contemporaries have faded away.
In the early 90s, as various UK bands were signed up by sizeable labels and enjoyed even mainstream chart success in the Acid Jazz and rare groove boom, Jan and his brother Max formed the Poets Of Rhythm, self-releasing their own uncompromisingly hard-edged take on 70s street funk on the then completely unfashionable 7" single format, forerunning the Deep Funk scene by almost a decade. 30 years on, in spite of a legion of retro-focused bands having followed in their wake, few have yet to come close to matching the energy and spirit of those early Poets 45s.
Since then, Jan has applied himself to all manner of new incarnations and innovative side-projects, releasing further funk surveys as the Whitefield Brothers before leading his own band under the pseudonym Karl Hector, with releases on labels such as Stones Throw, Daptone, Ninja Tune, Mo'Wax, Strut and more. An avid music lover, explorer and record collector extraordinaire, Whitefield's music has effortlessly absorbed his expanding interests along the way, particularly drawing influence from Ethiopian Jazz and West African funk and highlife, as well as Kraut-rock and ambient via his Rodinia alter-ego.
More recently, Whitefield has begun to venture into the astral planes of what's now commonly referred to as 'spiritual jazz', and this is very much where we find him manifesting on 'The Infinity Of Nothingness'. A set of mature, delicate and meditative orchestrations, like much of Whitefield's best work the album is studiously true to its key influences - and in this instance the twin figureheads of Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders are particularly preeminent - but also completely avoids falling into a trap of mere tribute or facsimile. With subtle yet diverse accents of Hip Hop, Library and the Avant Garde appearing wholly unobtrusively, the album is unified by a marked trance-like feel, beginning with the sparse, processional opener 'Nothingness' through to the 3 part 'Infinity Suite' of 'Time', 'Space' and 'Energy'.
As he did as a schoolboy with the Poets of Rhythm, with 'The Infinity Of Nothingness' Whitefield achieves that exceptionally rare feat of creating music that is not only worthy of sitting alongside that of his overarching influences, but will also stand up with it against the tests of time.
Incredible new album from our new signing to BDQ records ZAN on the Boogie - Jazz Funk tip, due May. We’re so happy to be releasing this fabulous album.
Zan’s beautiful voice is an abiding part of the Australian music landscape. In the 80’s, she came to prominence out front of Melbourne’s iconic pop funk band
I’m Talking with Kate Ceberano, Zan’s lead vocals shine on one of the bands biggest hits ‘Holy Word’, which is still considered a trail-blazing Australian classic today. She loaned her vocal
talents to some of the most memorable Australian songs including The Models “Out Of Mind Out Of Sight” and “Barbados”. She appears in numerous videos singing backing vocals for a number
of Australian artists.
Zan appeared with I’m Talking in the classic music film Australian Made directed by Richard Lowenstein of Dogs in Space and Mystify fame. The film captured the incredible concert tour, which featured a plethora of major Australian performers such as INXS, Jimmy Barnes, The Divinyls & The Models. In her time with the I’m Taking band and as a solo performer she has made countless appearances on Australian TV including the legendary music programme Countdown.
In the 80’s she even performed for Princess Diana and Prince (now King) Charles at the
Rockin’ the Royals concert, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne, meeting the Royal couple after the show. Zan was bitten by the soul/R&B bug at an early age. Born in London of Sri Lankan heritage,
arriving to the shores of Australia as a young girl. Her love of music took her from Australia to New York and London, where she lived in the 90’s and early 2000’s regularly performing and recording with top international session musicians/artists. She’s also
had the extraordinary honour of performing live with both U2 &
B. B. King, Zan’s self-titled solo album was released through Amber Records in Germany in the mid 90’s and she also toured with UK Acid Jazz band
Mother Earth throughout Europe & Japan, eventually returning to the city she calls home, Melbourne.
Since being back in Melbourne, Zan has performed at various popular music venues such as The Night Cat, Memo and The Espy and in 2019, to the delight of 80’s music fans, Zan sang once again with the re-formed I’m Talking, playing a number of shows supporting Bryan Ferry on his acclaimed Australian tour. The re-formed band received several rave reviews for their shows. Zan’s new material is influenced by her considerable experiences, her rich musical history and the songs and artists she grew up on - soul and R’N B singers such as Chaka Khan, Renee Geyer and many others of that genre. Her new songs are steeped in 80’s dance/boogie funk/soul & pop flavours, re-capturing that feel-good factor from the era whilst bringing to it a new unique and contemporary edge.
Through the medium of a distinctly synthesised, sustained ambience, seasoned artist and composer Jasmine Guffond arrives on OOH to explore the tension between technology and human creativity in an increasingly ambiguous playing field.
Alien Intelligence came into being during Guffond's residency at fabled Parisian institution GRM in 2021. While learning how to generate sound and make music with the in-house Serge modular synthesiser, the Australian artist noticed the typical role of human input for machine output was being subverted by the behaviour of certain electronic elements, which came to exercise their own influences on the direction of the music.
Taking this idea one step further, Guffond proceeded to explore the programming environment MaxMSP, a customisable interface which allowed her to blur the lines between human input and machine directives even further. Across the three extended pieces which make up Alien Intelligence you can hear the results of Guffond's inquisitive approach as she coaxed the machines into bringing their own ideas to bear on the music.
The tension inherent in this thematic duality is mirrored by the contrast between glacial ambience and chaotic interference across the album. On 'Serge & Maxine Variation One' the presiding mood is a slow and patient one, as undulating waveforms rich with harmonic overtones spill out over one another across 10 minutes. The track's latter passage, driven by steadily intensifying oscillations, is then interrupted with an unexpected flurry of pitch shifting. This kind of complex technical movement features more prominently at the start of 'Serge & Maxine Variation Three', which then gradually shifts into a gentler ebb and flow of rising and falling frequencies.
Angled slightly differently and residing on the B side of the album, 15-minute quiet epic 'Serge & Maxine Variation Two' bookends a louder passage of synth work with serene, sustained notes that ring out a sort of hymnal melody. Throughout, the movement in the music evolves in subtly modulating, hypnotic, ways, but there are also unexpected turns or melodic diversions which feel much more incongruous. In its closing stretch, the notes dart around more freely as though played by hand, but it's hard to be sure whether these shifts in the otherwise delicate tonal music were a human conceit or a programming by-product. In the end, the two inputs logically become one.
As Guffond says herself, "More-than-human logics emerge, a kind of alien intelligence that questions an assumed central position of human subjectivity in socio-technical assemblages and considers the philosophical, socio-political and cultural implications beyond music practice in an increasingly technologically mediated world."
As AI creeps into art as much as other aspects of modern life, Guffond applies her playful instinct to the theme of these works by re-considering machine intelligence as 'alien', crediting its contributions with a more robust yet enigmatic identity in the creative process, leading to an end result which is far from artificial.
►Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi, cover art by Ilan Katin, layout by incepBOY, photo by Camille Blake, words by Oli Warwick
