Search:class

Styles
Styles
Apply
Lack Of Afro - Press On LP
BMG8VC
Bastion Music Group
12inch17.10.202217.OCT.22

Hip-HopParty BreaksFunkSoul

A colossus of the funk & soul world, Adam Gibbons (aka Lack of Afro) has been releasing music for 15 years and continues to go from strength to strength. Previously signed to Freestyle Records in London and running his own label The Bastion Music Group since 2015, he has been responsible for some of the genre’s most important releases, not least his debut album Press On described by iDJ as “one of the most important albums of the modern funk era” and more recently given ‘classic’ status by Future Music Magazine.

An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, producer, DJ and composer, his music has won worldwide critical acclaim and to date has gained 115 million streams on Spotify. It has been featured on films, TV shows and adverts all over the globe, on networks including HBO, ABC, Sony Pictures, BBC, ITV, Sky TV, Fox Pictures & Warner Brothers Television, and used in multi million ad campaigns by the likes of Google, Spotify, Miller Lite and Adidas.

As a DJ and live performer, he has performed in over 20 countries worldwide and undertaken countless live sessions for radio and TV including two for the BBC at the highly revered Maida Vale Studios.

To date, he has released seven albums under the Lack of Afro moniker (most recently I’m Here Now in 2020), three as The Unity Sextet, one under LUSTRE, one under his own name, an EP with Herbal T as The Damn Straights, albums for other artists, music for several TV shows and over 60 remixes. He has also produced 13 award winning, sample packs for Loopmasters.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

28,11 €
Kuedo - Severant (10th Anniversary Edition) LP 2x12"
ZIQ309X
Planet Mu Records
2x12inch17.10.202217.OCT.22

BeatsElectro

We are excited to reissue Kuedo's classic 2011 album 'Severant' on double vinyl for the first time, and with a bonus track 'Work, Live & Sleep In Collapsing Space'. The cover artwork has been redesigned by Raf Rennie (Who also designed Kuedo's recent album on Brainfeeder, Infinite Window). In terms of feeling, ‘Severant’ explores the space between the detached world of the imagination and the real-time world; that feeling of coming out of a daydream, on the edge of the drift from the day-to-day grind. Jamie says of this moment ”As reality shapes imagination and escapism affects your choices in the real world, there is a strange relational loop between the two and the space in between the two. There’s a bitter sweetness in that gap, it has a certain emotive quality, kind of in between being and non-being”. Again, musically ‘Severant’ is inspired by related themes. It sounds as if it’s in a sweet spot between the emotive, innately futurist synth soundtracks of Tangerine Dream and Vangelis, borne from a time when the very idea of futurism was more prevalent, in combination with musical ideas and inspiration from the emotionally ambivalent, materialist fantasies of ‘coke rap‘ such as The Clipse. Rhythmically the record is influenced by what Jamie calls ”the two ultra modernmusics of modern times”, footwork from Chicago, which Planet Mu has explored in depth on its recent releases, and again the drum machine grids of coke rap. Jamie says ”I wanted to capture a really futurist sentiment, kind of melancholy and grand luminescent, so I used the instrument that most evokes that for me - that sweeping Vangelis brass sound.” And on coke rap he talks about the emotional ‘half being’ of the music, the energetically charged, detached ambivalence of the MCs, and the admission that the MCs could be ”fantasising without admitting to doing so.”

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

27,69 €
Pub - Autumn EP
AMP010
Ampoule Records
12inch17.10.202217.OCT.22

BeatsAmbientExperimental

Following the recent flurry of newly remastered releases from Ampoule records, most notably Pubs timeless ‘Summer EP’ & classic albums ' Do You Ever Regret Pantomime?’ & ‘Single’ besides releasing ‘Cheeky Speaker’ under his alter ego ‘Lucky & Easy’ last year.

Pub ‘Autumn EP’ sees his return to Ampoule with four brand new tracks that merge his love of all things Black Dog and Chain Reaction with a healthy dose of shoegaze and freaked out folk.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

21,39 €
Various - Pure Wicked Tune: Rare Groove Blues Dances & House Parties, 1985-1992
DEATH062
Death Is Not The End
Cassette17.10.202217.OCT.22

BeatsSpoken WordsPopSoundtrack

Pure Wicked Tune is a mixtape-style collection of extracts & cut-ups, taken from DIY cassette recordings featuring rare groove and "soul blues" soundsystems playing at early morning house parties and blues dances - mostly in South & East London - between the mid 1980s & early 90s.

Sounds like Funkadelic, Touch of Class, Latest Edition, JB Crew, Manhattan, 5th Avenue (and the many more featured on this tape) originally began to form in the mid-1980s. With lovers rock dwindling, and the reggae scene becoming dominated by harder digital-style dancehall, these sounds provided a tight but loyal crowd with a potent alternative - playing a mixture of killer rare soul, funk and boogie records in an inimitably reggae soundsystem style, complete with toasting, sirens and effects aplenty.

They were most well-known for playing at house parties and blues dances, typically in small flats or warehouses, with timing of such events generally running from the early morning hours until late the next afternoon. Though the popularity of the sounds faded following the dance music explosion of the early 1990s, there has been continued demand for revival sessions ever since. Whilst the influence of key British reggae & dancehall soundsystems on subsequent UK sounds like hardcore & jungle is relatively well documented, a similar line can just as easily be drawn from these sounds and the aforementioned styles' tendency toward sampling popular rare groove cuts, particularly well evidenced in the work of Tom & Jerry, 4hero, Reinforced & LTJ Bukem among others.

This represents the first outing in a series of collections exploring the sounds of UK soundsystem culture, via extracts from archival DIY cassette recordings of blues parties, dances & clashes made between the late 70s and early 90s. Often duplicated and shared widely, these ruff and ready "sound tapes" provided keen ears with music that wasn't otherwise readily available on the airwaves or in the record shops, and would go on to leave a deeply-rooted but too often overlooked influence on the UK's musical landscape.

out of Stock

Last delivered 11 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

14,92 €
KUMA - Honey & Groat LP
ROCLP008
Rocafort Records
12inch17.10.202217.OCT.22

PopJazz

Ever since jazz took its bop and free turn, each generation solved this eternal equation: how do you reconcile serious music and simple pleasure? On each of these occasions opinion was divided between orthodoxy and hedonism.

Trained in the theoretical rigours of classical music and jazz, experts on their instruments, and brought up on hip-hop culture, techno and house club scenes, Matthieu Llodra and Arthur Donnot - composers of KUMA – go against the conventional rules because they like to challenge their musical boundaries.

"Honey & Groat" is just like a bear (KUMA in Japanese, emblem of the band): behind the sweetness and apparent placidity, plenty of power. The resulting urban groove is reminiscent of 70's soul jazz with a contemporary sound: where instrumental talent meets pop simplicity.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

20,97 €
Nuage - Pink Television EP
PHONICA032
Phonica Records
12inch17.10.202217.OCT.22

HouseDeepNeotranceBreaks

After beginning his career with roots in Drum & Bass, Russian producer Nuage shifted his sound to embrace a wider range of styles while maintaining an emotionally charged sound and finding a home on labels such as Anjunadeep and 20:20 Vision. For our 32nd Phonica Records Label release, we are proud to present four stunningly euphoric works from Nuage.

Kicking off the ‘Pink Television EP’ is the title track, a floaty and playful melodic House excursion that reminds us of Floating Points’ synth work on his ‘Crush’ album. Next is ‘Ninety High’ which swaps the four to the floor for an intricate breakbeat, highlighting Nuage’s history in break heavy music. A cleverly reconceptualised Disco vocal sample and subtly withheld synth lines are combined with a sub rattling and pulsating bassline.

Maintaining the breakbeat on the B-side, ‘Don’t Forgive Me’ recalls classic Trance and Progressive House with haunting vocal reverberations and a warehouse wall shaking bassline as the track meanders through tension and release of euphoric energy. Lastly, ‘Glances’ opens with a skittish Rhodes riff and unites it with rich and perky melodies that weave in and out of focus.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

10,04 €
JOHN MASSARI - KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE LP (2x12")
WW116
Waxwork
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopSoundtrack

- The Complete 1988 Film Score by John Massari - Available For The First Time On Vinyl 180 Gram Violet and Blue Vinyl (Light In The Attic Exclusive Variant) - Exclusive Liner Notes by Composer John Massari - Exclusive Liner Notes by Killer Klowns Co-Creator Stephen Chiodo - Heavyweight 12" x 12" Art Print - Old-Style Tip-On Jackets with Matte Satin Coating // KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE have finally landed at Waxwork Records! After much anticipation, we are thrilled to present the official 1988 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Massari for the very first time on vinyl! Would you believe someone if they told you a circus tent-shaped spaceship landed in your small town and was abducting your neighbors to store them in cotton candy cocoons? In this '80's cult classic, teens Mike Tobacco (Grant Cramer) and Debbie Stone (Suzanne Snyder) have to fight both the diabolical bozos and the local law enforcement's disbelief to save themselves and their community! The original score to Killer Klowns From Outer Space is kicked off by the classic 80's horror movie theme track, Killer Klowns (From Outer Space) by California punk band, The Dickies. The 'nightmare merry-go-round' continues with a smattering of menacing electronic brass sections, electric guitar, bombastic drum machine beats, & harpsichord combined with sci-fi synth elements to capture the ultra-specific origins of the antagonists. Massari's score to Klowns is a retro-synth joyride from start to finish featuring immediately recognizable cues from the beloved 80's cult-classic! Waxwork Records is thrilled to present the official Killer Klowns From Outer Space double LP, released for the first time on vinyl. Complete with 180 gram "Cotton Candy" and "Popcorn" vinyl, deluxe packaging, new artwork by Ruiz Burgos, old-style tip-on jackets with matte coating, a heavyweight 12"x12" art print, and liner notes by composer Massari and Klowns co-creator Stephen Chiodo!

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

67,23 €
Trouble - The Distortion Field
HHR202245LP
HAMMERHEART RECORDS
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopHeavy-Metal

Trouble’s 2013 comeback album (feat. Kyle Thomas on vocals) is 100% quality Doom/Heavy Metal! Trouble’s last studio offering (from 2013) has proven to be quite extraordinary. After putting out the “Simple Mind Condition” and replacing Eric Wagner with Kory Clarke, Trouble looked like they were to reinvent themselves. After trying out Kory, Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell decided to call Kyle Thomas of Exhorder and Alabama Thunderpussy fame to reprise his role as vocalist for Trouble since he had acted as their vocalist for 4 shows during the late 90’s but had never recorded with them. With Kyle Thomas, Trouble was able to truly reinvent themselves, and in a very positive manner. Obviously the first notable topic of interest is the mentioned Kyle Thomas. As this was the first album to not feature long-time vocalist Eric Wagner (who sadly passed away in 2021). With that said, Kyle does a stellar job. He possesses an incredible vocal range, and delivers his vocals in a powerful way. Many of his vocal melody’s soar over nicely layered chords, and a lot of Kyle’s harmonies mesh nicely with the music. Kyle certainly deserves credit for stepping into the lead vocalist position and delivers a stellar performance. Musically, the album sits between Trouble’s classic doomy metal sound and their psychedelia/rock infused material. Some Trouble fans do not like that era of Trouble too much while others embrace and love it moreover Trouble’s classic releases. “The Distortion Field” manages to effectively mesh Trouble’s classic sound and their psychedelic rock nods in a very balanced way. The song writing is more straightforward as far as arrangements go, and the album is full of powerful riffs; Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell once again prove that they are the undisputed champions of heavy doomy riffing. Their powerful lead work can be heard throughout the album, and as always adds to the Trouble vintage sound. Upon its release in 2013 everybody gave Trouble the credit they deserve, and the album aged really well.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

31,30 €
Paul Well - Modern Classics (The Greatest Hits) LP (2x12")
0602435793412
Universal / Island
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopRock

Am 14.Oktober erscheint Paul Wellers ”Modern Classics (The Greatest Hits)“ zum ersten Mal auf Vinyl! Ursprünglich 1998 veröffentlicht und bisher nicht auf Vinyl erhältlich – ”Modern Classics (The Greatest
Hits)“ ist ein Compilation-Album, welches viele der Paul Wellers Solo-Singles von 1991-1998 enthält.

Die Veröffentlichung erscheint als 2LP - Gatefold Sleeve und enthält eine Bonus Live LP, aufgenommen im Victoria Park, Hackney, London, am 8. August 1998

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

41,39 €
Gloria Scott - ‘So Wonderful’
AJXLP646
ACID JAZZ
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Pop

Gloria Scott was discovered by Sly Stone before
working with Ike and Tina Turner in the Ikettes and
going on to make classic, collectable soul records
in the 1970s.
Her collaboration with Barry White yielded her
acclaimed 1974 album, ‘What Am I Gonna Do’,
which included ‘(A Case Of) Too Much Love
Makin’, and also sees three tracks on this brand
new record.
Alongside the White-written / associated tracks are
five original numbers (including a co-write with PP
Arnold), and a cover of Gospel-House classic
‘Promised Land’.
An absolute must-have contemporary record from
a classic soul artist.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

27,69 €
Various - MIDNIGHT TO SIX...FIRST TIME FROM JAMAICA
KSLP075
Kingston Sounds
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopReggae

2022 Repress

The legendary gig that Joe Strummer, singer from the Punk Rock band 'The Clash' attended and inspired his writing their classic 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' took place on the 05th June 1977.
At the Hammersmith Palais venue on Shepherd's Bush Road W6, London during the height of Punk Mania. The full line up for the show were all Jamaican artists Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson (all the first time from Jamaica) and Ken Boothe.
'Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae' who had already scored some hits with 'Everything I own' and 'Crying Over You' in 1974. Joe Strummer was expecting Roots, Rock, Reggae but the Sound System this evening 'Admiral Ken Sound' was playing 'Four Tops all night' as in soul and northern soul that were staple crowd pleasers at the time to warm up the audience, but in Joe's eyes the music should have reflected more Jamaican roots based music. The song also deals with bigger issues of black and white unity, but some people including the Punk Rockers.
'They're all too busy fighting, for a good place under the lighting'. Joe Strummer himself was looking for fun. 'I'm the Whiteman in the Palais....Just Looking for Fun'

The artwork supplied by Punk Artist MAL-ONE has used the two posters that were made for this gig, the reggae promoters 'Star Promotions' poster, that contained a picture of Ken Boothe and the venue's own poster that used text to announce it's line up for that evenings performance. Alongside these lost relics he has also combined the groups own poster for the 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' single that incorporated the use of rifle target sights, perhaps enhancing the air of violence contained in the songs message.
MAL-ONE has collaged these together joining the two stories as indeed the song lyrics reflected. People often forget that the songs release was in fact as year after the actual gig, we have tied this release to the 40th anniversary of the song's release. Joe Strummer was one of the few voices from the Punk Era that used his lyrics as a weapon to tell the events that were happening around him and their relevance to those times.
The song itsel a Clash Classic and also a Punk Anthem, released on the 16th June 1978. We have compiled this album with songs by these artists, most of which you would have heard that night. As a post script to this story when the Hammersmith Palais sadly closed its doors for the last time after 82 years' service in 1999, the owners thought it fitting to present Joe Strummer with a sign from the venue's entrance. Mr Strummer's understated reply 'I guess I'll have to send a man with a van round to pick it up'.
Hope you Enjoy the set....

out of Stock

Last delivered 4 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

13,40 €
The Damned - Damned Damned Damned LP
4050538794717
BMG Rights Management
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopRockPunk

‘Damned Damned Damned’ is now available on yellow vinyl for National Album Day. The Damned blazed a trail when they became the very first British punk band to release a single (New Rose) on 22nd October 1976, which was swiftly followed by the release of the very first British punk album, their classic debut long-player Damned Damned Damned, originally released by Stiff Records on 18th February 1977. Charting at 36 in the UK upon release the album has reached legendary status over the 45 years since it's initial release. At just half an hour long, Damned Damned Damned is a stone cold classic of rock & roll fire and coupled with the band's take-no-prisoners aesthetic, the Damned left rhetoric for the theoreticians and political posing for the Clash. All the foursome wanted to do was rock. The original line-up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Brian James and Rat Scabies regrouped last year and will perform the album in its entirety this coming November on a one off tour.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

31,72 €
Sharon Forrester - Love Don't Live Here Anymore LP
FSR130
Freestyle Records
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopReggae

"Good music never dies!" - This was Diane Ellis' mantra when she set out to produce this, her first record, in 1979. She recalls hearing the Rose Royce classic Love Don't Live Here Anymore on the radio and instantly thinking it would make for a great reggae cover, immediately envisioning the sound she was looking for. Drafting in the legendary Boris Gardiner and vocalist Sharon Forrester they created this timeless version of a perennial classic - now available here in it's full extended discomix glory for the first time on 12" since it's original outing, and backed with hornsman cut placing Dean Fraser's sax front row center.

The record was made when Ellis was studio manager for the world-famous Tuff Gong studios, but wanted her outing as a record producer to be a totally independent venture - gaining the great Bob Marley & the TG team's blessings in the process. And so Aquarius Studio in Half Way Tree was where it was all laid-down. Diane credits the Legendary owner and pioneering producer, Herman Chin Loy, as also being of great help on the record, providing a guiding ear throughout the process.

Despite this the evident strength of this first production, Ellis would follow up with only one other production, Junior Tucker's cover of "One of the Poorest People" (this time one recorded at Tuff Gong studios, and releasing the 56 Hope Road subsidiery). While both records performed well on local radio and charts, Diane exited the music industry shortly after. Now 43 years later, Diane is overjoyed her production is having a comeback, saying that "the support and love felt during the project can never be replicated, and I give thanks to all who supported then and now".

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

12,98 €
cktrl - zero
OHX002
OHX
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopR & BPopJazz

Coming off the back of covers on CRACK and PERFECT Magazine cktrl announces his highly anticipated new EP Zero. The producer and multi-instrumentalist shares his latest blend of contemporary-classical and electronic R&B that features a collaboration with GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter 'Mereba' with artwork captured by multi-award winning Campbell Addy. The follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed EP ‘robyn’ which charted a journey from heartbreak to optimism, ‘zero’ is a tender exploration into love. As a genre-spanning artist whose music waives between R&B, jazz and neo-classical, cktrl’s latest record builds on his emotive sound whilst leaning towards a more electronic-tinged style of production with stunning featured vocals. On the project, cktrl says: "ZERO allowed me to explore my journeys in knowing love. And as a result I now know that I need to allow myself to let my relationships be what they're meant (to manifest organically) free of expectations and without dreams of an idea of someone. Past hurt definitely informed my decisions but it was so crucial for me to grieve those feelings from ROBYN and learn how to be gentle with myself. Just to be able to feel something new, loving again is always different and exciting, once you can open up. ZERO is that journey of ending up back where you started but different, loved and willing to give." The EP opens with the touching ‘mazes’ - initially released back in May via a beautifully crafted video courtesy of Yasser Abubeker. On this cut cktrl’s skills as a saxophonist immediately shine through as he portrays the complexities of loving someone through all its twists and turns. On title track ‘zero’ cktrl links with Ethiopian-American musician Mereba for a forward-thinking yet delicate collaboration that effortlessly meanders between cktrl’s various musical influences, before ‘felt’ provides a luscious display of soulful soundscapes. Accompanied by the angelic vocals from rising artists Anaiis, Annahstasia & Anajah, it’s a blissful celebration of love. The project closes out with ‘safe’, a contemporary R&B banger backed by a bass-driven beat and rich vocals, framing ‘zero’ as a stimulating collection of tracks that expand cktrl’s impressive repertoire of talent.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

15,55 €
Riot City Radio - Time Will Tell LP
SBLP151
Sunny Bastards
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopPunk

Resignieren? Teilnahmslos die Zeiten Aussitzen? Vergiss es…wir haben da etwas Besseres "On the streets, on the streets There'll be riots on the streets…When they take your rights away" Und hier kommt der Soundtrack dazu:: Riot City Radio.Nach ihrer in 2020 veröffentlichten Mini-LP "Anchors in the Storm" haben die Jungs aus Plymouth, UK während der Pandemie ihre Zeit damit verbracht ihren ersten Longplayer "TIME WILL TELL" aufzunehmen! Und die Scheibe ist einfach ein Juwel in Sachen Streepunk/ Oi! geworden und vereint abwechslungsreich die verschiedensten Einflüsse zu melodischen Hymnen mit fetten Singalong-chorals bis hin zu aggressiven Shoutern.Riot City Radio kombinieren Liebe & Hass, Zuversicht und Rebellion in ihren Texten ohne dabei jemals zu vergessen, wo sie herkommen."True Attitude" verpackt in einen mitreißenden Sound oder anders ausgedruckt: Genau DAS, was wir lieben und jede Wette…es wird Euch nicht anders ergehen!.Time will Tell bietet 12 neue Songs…manchmal schnell und wie ein Schlag in die Fresse für Alle, die es einfach verdienen (Reap what you saw/ Never forgive, never forget). Manchmal antisocial mit klarem Bekenntnis zur Szene, ihren Wurzeln und der Working Class (Punk Rock Family / Working Class Anthem/ World at your feet…starring Mark/ Booze & Glory)!

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

18,28 €
Surprise Chef - Education & Recreation
BCR126LP
Big Crown Records
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopJazzHip-HopInstrumentalFunk

Surprise Chef’s music is based on evoking mood; their vivid arrangements utilize time and space to build soundscapes that invite the listener into their world. The quintet’s distinct sound pulls from 70s film scores, the funkier side of jazz, and the samples that form the foundation of hip hop. They push the boundaries of instrumental soul and funk with their own approach honed by countless hours in the studio, studying the masters, and perhaps most importantly, the “tyranny of distance” that dictates a unique perspective to their music. Hailing from just outside of Melbourne, Australia their first two albums, All News Is Good News and Daylight Savings amassed a die-hard fanbase and brought their sound from their home studio to every corner of the globe. The band is now signed to Big Crown Records, joining a lineage of contemporary and classic sounds that have influenced Surprise Chef’s music since their formation in 2017. Surprise Chef is Lachlan Stuckey on guitar, Jethro Curtin on keys, Carl Lindeberg on bass, Andrew Congues on drums, and Hudson Whitlock—the latest member who does it all from percussion to composing to producing. Their self proclaimed "moody shades of instrumental jazz-funk" have a bit of everything: punchy drums, infectious keys, rhythm guitar you might hear on a Studio One record, and flute lines that could be from a Blue Note session. But when you step back and take in the entirety of their sound and approach, you'll hear and see a group greater than the sum of its parts. In many ways Surprise Chef embodies the idiom "the benefits of limits." They were limited in that there weren't many people making or talking about instrumental jazz/soul/funk in Southeast Australia, let alone putting out records. This left them to develop their sound and approach in a kind of creative isolation where a small circle of friends and like-minded musicians fed off each other. "Being in Australia, being so far away, we only get glimpses and glances of this music’s origins," Stuckey says. "But hearing a label like Big Crown was one of the first times we realized you could make fresh, new soul music that wasn't super retro or just nostalgic." This approach is on full display throughout their new album Education & Recreation. Tracks like “Velodrome” pair chunky drums with an earworm synth line that has all the making of something you would find on an Ultimate Breaks & Beats compilation while numbers like “Iconoclasts” show their knack for tasteful use of space. From the crushing intro of “Suburban Breeze” to the floaty mellow bop of “Spring’s Theme” Surprise Chef has weaved together an album that takes you through peaks and valleys of emotion and provides a vivid soundtrack that will pull you deeper into your imagination. There is a beauty in the vast space for interpretation of instrumental music and they are adding a modern classic to the canon with this new album. Turn on the record and enjoy the ride, wherever it may take you.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

24,58 €
Local Group - Big Beats Are The Best
10PILLS019
1Ø PILLS MATE
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

TechnoElectroTechnoBeatsBreak-BeatDrum&Bass

Field Maneuvers residents LMajor and Corporeal Face - who together make up Local Group - follow up a sold out Laser Domes EP, a Secret Race 4 appearance and an XL Recordings inspired release Fresh Rhythms EP with a rave and hardcore inspired 4-tracker for mysterious imprint 1O PILLS MATE.

Heavily inspired by the UK sounds of garage, jungle and breakbeat, the duo's first outing on the label encapsulates everything you might hear in a Local Group set. 'Rhythmic Trip' is an emotional, breaksy number; meandering out of dark tones and patterns and into large vocal samples and uplifting odes to classic hardcore. Netil Radio resident Angel D'lites Dolphins Have Sex For Pleasure release on Banoffee Pie Records last year has already gone down as something of a contemporary classic, and here she continues in typically high velocity fashion with a wicked 150bpm lovecore remix of the Local Group original.

'Watch This Beat' nods to the right side of happy hardcore - its chipmunk vocals, ravey piano stabs and snappy breakbeats providing plenty of gun-finger induced, rush-in-the-rave moments - before 'Work That Thing' closes the door with a scratch-sampled cut of electro that sounds like it was taken from the middle of a Jerome Hill set.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

11,39 €5,67 €
Paradise Lost - Live Death
VILELP970
Peaceville
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopHeavy-Metal

THE UK DOOM LEGENDS PERFORMING TRACKS FROM THEIR CLASSIC
DEBUT ALBUM LIVE IN BRADFORD, 1989
Creators, pioneers & purveyors of the whole Gothic Doom Metal scene which
subsequently came to prominence in the early 90's, Britain's Paradise Lost rose
from humble Northern roots to become one of the UK's leading artists in the
metal genre throughout the decade & beyond, remaining as relevant & revered as
ever to this day after a career spanning over three decades. The band's first two
albums were released on Peaceville, in the shape of 1990's influential deathly
debut 'Lost Paradise', followed up by the more atmosphere- focussed genre
classic, 'Gothic' in 1991.
'Live Death' features a band still in their formative years, with an early showcase
of their raw potential from Bradford Queens Hall, 1989, in their home county of
West Yorkshire, England. From an era of what was still an evolving & blossoming
extreme metal scene, Paradise Lost already displayed an advanced maturity to
their compositions & a developing style of their own, as the quintet perform a set
containing tracks featured on their debut album, the masterpiece of death metal
that is 'Lost Paradise', with tracks such as 'Frozen Illusion' & 'Rotting Misery'.
This edition of 'Live Death' is presented on black vinyl, featuring the original cover
art.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

28,78 €
Bunny Striker Lee - 'strikes Back- The Sound Of Studio One'
KSLP068
Kingston Sounds
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopReggae

2022 Repress
The Sound of Studio One can be identified by the great singers that it cultivated along the many great songs that these singers released. But as studio 1's dominance was slowly pulled away by the up and coming new breed of producers many of the artists would inevitably end up working for these new camps and so the songs and singers found a new audience. The reggae sound of the Studio 1 would make a great combination and the man to pull this was together Bunny Lee.
The 1960's in Jamaica was run by two main factions, Coxsonne's Studio 1 and Duke Reid's Treasure Isle. These two leading protagonists saw what some of the other great Sound System men like ' Tom The Great Sebastian' had not taken onboard, that when the tunes they imported began to dry up from the USA, their future lied in producing music. Tunes that suited the musical styles that the people of Jamaica still enjoyed. By the late 1960's thse supremacy was being challenged by the up and coming new producers on the scene, Lee Perry being one, and the other being 'Ghost of the Studios' himself, Bunny Lee. Bunny 'Striker' Lee may have inherited the moniker 'Striker' from his liking of a particular TV show called 'The Hitch-Hiker', but it would soon stand also for the considerable hits he would obtain as he was declared producer of the year in Jamaica in 1969, 1970,1971 and 1972.
For this release, we have compiled many of the great Studio hits that Bunny Lee recorded with the singers that had originally cut at the famed Studio 1. Bunny Lee's sprinkling of magic over some classic tunes....the sound of Studio 1 backed up this time Bunny 'Striker' Lee's set of star musicians The Aggravators. Proving you can't keep a good tune down, or a great producer pushing forward.....Bunny Lee strikes back....
Hope you enjoy the set.....

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

13,40 €
Volruptus - Hessdalen EP
TRP017
TRIP
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

HouseTechTechnoElectroTechno

repress !

Interdimensional journeys lay ahead as Volruptus lands on with a 5-track tour of his alternate reality.

Androids navigate their way through deep space, determined to find more. One minute they're floating, the next, racing through a continuum at twice the speed of light. Sharp broken beats create a framework for immersive pads, glitchy inflections and acid bass to wander. Volruptus holds a state of the art lens to classic electro, exploring its form with the meticulous detail of a true audiophile. This one's for the psychonauts.

out of Stock

Last delivered 38 days ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

11,72 €
JUNIOR ROSS & THE SPEARS - Babylon Fall
KSLP077
Kingston Sounds
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopReggae

2022 Repress

Junior Ross and The Spears are another great Jamaican Roots group that have been nurtured under the guidance of fellow Jamaican, producer and singer Tapper Zukie.Who not only gave the singer and his band their name but recorded, produced and released their records on his own 'Stars' imprint label.

Junior Ross (Clifford Palmer, b.7 Sept 1953, Kingston, Jamaica) grew up alongside his brothers Frankie Jones and Roy 'Soft' Palmer, who in turn had entered the music business alongside future roots singer Price Alla .

Prince Alla had formed a group called 'The Nazarines' with Roy Palmer and Milton Henry, so music was all around Junior Ross and he would soon follow in their footsteps and start recording some of his songs.

This album you have here had its initial release in 1992...We have added to it various dub versions that were b-sides to the singles and extended recordings again produced by Tapper Zukie.

So you have the Junior Ross and the Spear's classis album and its related musical accompaniments all in one place and sounding better than ever...

We hope you enjoy this classic roots set....

out of Stock

Available to reorder, subject to availability

13,40 €
UPSTAIRS - GET ON A PLANE / YOU’RE JUST YOURSELF
BOTM-002
Boogie On The Mainline
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopFunkPopDisco

The second release on Boogie on the Mainline Records is a strictly limited disco 12" with two songs by German band, Upstairs, from 1980.

Side A features an exceptional track from their highly sough after “It’s Hard To Get In The Showbiz” album called “Get On A Plane”. The song is still totally under the radar in the collector’s scene and serves us with a smooth uptempo Disco Funk groove, a super mellow AOR vibe and a catchy chorus! The exclusive 12" mix has an extended ending to give you more of the final “Copa Cabana” chorus.

The flip side contains the instant classic “You’re Just Yourself”, a track which could already be found on the “Boogie on the Mainline” double vinyl compilation. Giving it more space, power and loudliness on 45 rpm with a new master we hope this perfect soulful tune will get even more spins in this “audiophile” edition.

out of Stock

Last delivered 4 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

10,71 €
Dr. John - Things Happen That Way
  • A1: Funny How Time Slips Away
  • A2: Ramblin’ Man
  • A3: Gimme That Old Time Religion
  • A4: I Walk On Guilded Splinters
  • A5: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
  • B1: End Of The Line
  • B2: Holy Water
  • B3: Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone
  • B4: Give Myself A Good Talkin’ To
  • B5: Guess Things Happen That Way
888072435933
Concord Records
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopJazzBlues

Over the course of his six-decade-long career, Dr. John embodied a near-mythic multitude of musical identities: global ambassador of New Orleans funk and jazz and R&B, visionary bluesman, rock and roll innovator, one-time top 10 hitmaker, self-anointed and massively revered high priest of psychedelic voodoo. On Things Happen That Way, the six-time Grammy-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famer otherwise known as Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr. reveals yet another dimension of his cosmically vast musicality: a lifelong affinity for classic country & western, whose songs he first encountered via the 78 rpm records frequently spun at his father’s electronics shop. Things Happen That Way arrives as the latest and final studio album from an artist who remained wholly unpredictable, alchemizing the charmed simplicity of traditional country into a wildly enchanting body of work.



Things Happen That Way marks the fulfillment of a longtime goal of the legendary singer/songwriter/pianist, who first began plotting a country inspired album decades ago. In bringing his album’s songs to life, Dr. John drew on a lineup of musicians befitting of a universally beloved luminary who worked with the likes of Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Etta James, and artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Ringo Starr, and Eric Clapton. Along with an elite cadre of New Orleans session players, the album’s personnel include icons Willie Nelson and Aaron Neville, as well as label mate singer/songwriter Katie Pruitt and country-rock powerhouse Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real. True to an artist whose music “transcended race and cultural divides”—as Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach proclaimed in presenting Dr. John his lifetime achievement award at the Americana Music Association Honors and Awards in 2013—Things Happen That Way reflects both a rich sense of history and a boundless passion for defying expectation.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

12,56 €
FLORE LAURENTIENNE - VOLUME II
RVNGLP83
RVNG International
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopAvantgarde

Following the compass of an entrancing debut, Flore Laurentienne's Volume II presents another palette of rich orchestral sound, where changing forces of water inspire metaphorical markers that navigate passages of life and loss. Mathieu David Gagnon resumes his voyage into environment and emotion with Volume II, drawing inspiration from the rivers and rugged wilderness of the composer's native Quebec. In his return as Flore Laurentienne - the namesake of an inventory documenting St. Lawrence Valley flora - Gagnon assembles vivid melodic motifs and delicate modulation with a vast string ensemble to emulate the tides of human experience. Listeners of Volume I will recognise Gagnon's signature approach towards reworking and reframing an emblematic melody or concept across a series of works in Volume II, a process he likens to that of a painter creating multiple sketches of the same view. Continued from the first album, the enigmatic "Fleuve" series is conjured to evoke the multiple personalities of the great St. Lawrence River, and the "Navigation" works ("III" and "IV") wade through dappled progressions and expansive streams of string, the latter of which harbors the gentle meanderings of improvised clarinet. In the world of Flore Laurentienne, complexity emerges from simplicity as the composer roams familiar environments in constant flux. Gagnon extracts beauty through repetition and constraint, utilizing the writing style of counterpoint for which one of his greatest musical inspirations, Johann Sebastian Bach, is renowned. The lilting waves of "Canon" possess the eponymous formation of melodic 'leader and follower' motif, and magnify the softness of the album's eighteen string musicians into a force of full euphoric resonance. In Volume II, Gagnon continues his expansion of classical composition archetypes to meet a new realm of sonic romanticism. Thematic conventions of wandering the pastoral sublime become altered into glimmering refractions, relaying the emotional and kinetic power of natural energies. Volume II forms an estuary where streams of auditory microcosm reach a horizon of dynamic contrast, and reflect the parallel tenors of nature and humankind.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

23,49 €
Agents Of Time - Universo 2x12"
KOM453
Kompakt
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

HouseVocalDanceTechPopDancefloorElectro

Italian duo Agents Of Time have been incredibly busy over the past few years, from releasing a string of classic singles – including their recent single for Afterlife, “The Mirage”, which earned more than five million views on Instagram – to remixing The Weeknd’s “Take My Breath”, which appeared on his recent Dawn FM (Alternative World). But the biggest news is here now – their second album, Universo, is ready. Elevating their trademark melodic techno with an exquisite pop-ness, Universo has found its ideal home with Kompakt, following their Music Made Paradise 2020 debut EP for the label. It’s a meeting of minds that makes perfect sense.

Andrea Di Ceglie and Luigi Tutolo, the two members of Agents Of Time, used their time during the pandemic to work on Universo, an album loosely conceptualised around their ‘personal universo’, a manifestation of the world Di Ceglie and Tutolo built both within and around their studio. This accounts for the sparkle and brightness of Universo – it’s full of personality, vim and vigour, the duo experimenting with their music, exploring its furthest corners. If you come to Universo expecting just another album of melodic techno, get ready to be pleasantly surprised – there’s a whole lot more going on here, and it’s all equally compelling.

After a typically poetic opening gesture – the swirling, synaesthetic, self-titled intro track – expectations are immediately blindsided with the two-step pop of “Fallin’”, sung with gentle clarity by guest Audrey Janssens, a dream of a song that harks back to the glory days of early ‘00s UK garage. “Interstellar Cowboy” is a confident, lithe, disco-fied strut; the gentle minor-key piano of “Liquid Fantasy” spirals into a gorgeously melancholy techno-pop epic, Vicky Who?’s voice rich with yearning. Janssens also reappears on the electro-swirl of “Poison”; “Dream Vision” revisits their single “The Mirage”, soft with sweeping strings, loaded with drama; “Part Of Life” sashays into view with a schaffel-stomp.

This rich variety throws the more dancefloor-focused tracks, like “Ciao”, into even starker relief – they’re more decisive, streamlined, yet rich with detail, chugging, Moroder-esque bass meeting strobe-lit synths that fire melodies out into the firmament. Universo feels texturally dense, but it still breathes, its sounds so tactile you want to reach out and grab them, its tunes so seductive you can’t get them out of your head. Universo is a fiercely beautiful album, brave in its spirit, a perfectly poised meeting-point of pop melody and stylish, lush techno: Agents Of Time in excelsis.

Das italienische Duo Agents Of Time war in den letzten Jahren unglaublich fleißig, von der Veröffentlichung einer Reihe klassischer Singles - darunter ihre jüngster Beitrag für Afterlife, "The Mirage", der mehr als fünf Millionen Aufrufe auf Instagram erhielt - bis hin zum Remix von The Weeknds "Take My Breath", der auf dessen aktuellen Album “Dawn FM (Alternative World)” erschien. Aber die bahnbrechendeste Neuigkeit ist erst jetzt endlich da - ihr zweites Album "Universo" ist fertig! “Universo" verbindet ihr Markenzeichen, melodischen Techno, mit einer besonderen Pop-Haltung und findet nach der EP "Music Made Paradise 2020" sein ideales Zuhause bei Kompakt. Eine Seelenverwandtschaft, die absolut Sinn macht.

Andrea Di Ceglie und Luigi Tutolo, die beiden Mitglieder von Agents Of Time, nutzten die Zeit während der Pandemie, um an "Universo" zu arbeiten, einem Album, das lose um ihr "persönliches Universum" herum konzipiert ist, eine Manifestation der Welt, die Di Ceglie und Tutolo in und um ihr Studio herum aufgebaut haben. Das macht den besonderen Glanz und die strahlende Helligkeit von "Universo" aus - es strotzt nur so von Persönlichkeit, Elan und Kraft, das Duo experimentiert mit Musik und erkundet auch noch deren entfernteste Ecken. Wer bei "Universo" nur ein weiteres Album mit melodischem Techno erwartet, wird angenehm überrascht sein - hier ist viel mehr los, und alles ist gleichermaßen spannend.

Nach einer poetischen Eröffnungsgeste - dem wirbelnden, synästhetischen, selbstbetitelten Intro-Track - werden mit dem 2-Step-Pop von “Fallin” alle Erwartungen sofort über den Haufen geworfen. Mit sanfter Klarheit von Gastsängerin Audrey Janssens gesungen, ist “Fallin” ein Traum von einem Song, der an die großen Zeiten von UK-Garage in den frühen 00er Jahre erinnert. "Interstellar Cowboy" ist ein selbstbewusstes, geschmeidig über den Laufsteg stolzierender Disco-Track; das sanfte Moll-Klavier von "Liquid Fantasy" entwickelt sich zu einem wunderbar melancholischen Techno-Pop-Epos, mit Vicky Who?’s Stimme voller Sehnsucht . Danach taucht auch Janssens Gesang auf dem Elektro-Wirbel von "Poison" wieder auf; "Dream Vision" greift die Single "The Mirage" auf, sanft und mit schwungvollen Streichern, voller Dramatik; "Part Of Life" dagegen ist ein echter Schaffel-Stomp.

All der Abwechslungsreichtum lässt eher tanzflächenorientierte Tracks wie "Ciao" noch deutlicher hervortreten - sie wirken noch entschlossener, stromlinienförmiger und dennoch reich an Details, pluckernde, Moroder-eske Bässe treffen auf stroboskopisch blitzende Synths, von denen aus die Melodien ins Firmament schießen. “Universo” fühlt sich textlich dicht an, aber es atmet trotzdem, seine Klänge sind so greifbar, dass man sie anfassen möchte, seine Melodien so verführerisch, dass man sie nicht mehr aus dem Kopf bekommt. “Universo” ist ein wunderschönes, mutiges Album, ein perfekter Treffpunkt von Pop-Melodien und stilvollem Techno: Agents Of Time in excelsis.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

26,01 €
Lester Robertson - Akirfa/Untitled Ballad
MRB7217
Mr.Bongo
7"-Vinyl14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopJazz

On this 7”, we present two lost jazz tracks by the trombonist and Horace Tapscott-collaborator, Lester Robertson. Lester has worked with some of the greats of jazz including Gerald Wilson, Anita O'Day, Lionel Hampton and Roy Porter Sound Machine on the classic 'Jessica' album.

Lester was a member of Horace Tapscott's The Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and features on the iconic underground jazz albums 'The Call' and 'Live At I.U.C.C.'. The Arkestra was set up in 1961 in Los Angeles and over the years has included wonderful, inspirational musicians such as Adele Sebastian, Kamasi Washington, Dwight Trible, Phil Ranelin, Arthur Blythe, Jesse Sharps and Nate Morgan.

These two recordings have recently been discovered on an archived master tape that little information on it other than Lester's name and the track titles. Sadly, the other players on the tracks aren’t credited on the tape, so a line-up can’t be 100% confirmed. Still, the magic of what they laid down in the session pays testament to their artistry. First up is the lively popping track 'Akirfa' in which Lester gets space to let rip and exercise his talents. On the flip is the euphonious 'Untitled Ballad', a mellifluent lullaby for an end-of-the-day wind-down.

Lost for a while, but thankfully not forgotten, these beautiful recordings finally get their chance to shine.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

15,92 €
VARIOUS - FICTIONS (MADE TO MEASURE 47) LP
MTMLP47
Crammed Discs
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Pop

Eight distinguished artists wrote and recorded original pieces for this album which joins the dots between vintage, experimental and neo-classical ambient, and pays tribute to the relaunched Made To Measure composers' series. All tracks were made to measure for this album, and revolve around the loose idea of wordless fiction. Aside from being such a seductive, fascinating collection of tracks and moods, the album is also modestly aiming at joining dots between certain classic ambient composers (represented here by Benjamin Lew & Steven Brown and Stubbleman, whose work has previously appeared in the Made To Measure series), artists who approach experimental ambient from their pop or club background (Lucrecia Dalt, Inne Eysermans, Matias Aguayo), and eminent exponents of the great new generation of ambient music composers (Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Christina Vantzou, Mary Lattimore, Félicia Atkinson). Fictions was curated by Marc Hollander.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

18,45 €
Upstairs - It's Hard To Get In The Showbiz
TAC-010
The Outer Edge
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopR & BSoulPopDisco

Upstairs, a band from Frankfurt, Germany was active from 1977 to 1983. Though considering themselves mainly a rock group, the band incorporated elements of funk, jazz rock and disco into their music. On their rare and privately released debut album "It's Hard To Get In The Showbiz" from 1980 they created something that could be called Germany's definite answer to AOR, yet still with an edgy and unique krautrock flavor.

The album starts with "Wontcha Try," a track where core songwriter, guitarist and lead singer Helmer Sauer is telling the story about being dismissed from his job: "They tried to tell me in a fucking gentle way, that the time had come to kick me…". Sauer serves more personal, hard-edged lyrics on the album as well. On "Happy Hooker," for example, he tells the story of a working girl in the red light milieu: "The job is as hard that you really can never imagine, she serves for the money, degradin' herself in a way - if you'd know how she's feelin' you wouldn't laugh at all". An empathetic view on the subject of prostitution rarely heard at that time.

But aside from the profound lyrics and songwriting, the album has a lot to offer on the groovy side of things. With catchy bass lines, rhythm guitar, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer, Clavinet and swift crisp drumming "It's Hard To Get In The Showbiz" is one of the best examples of late 70s flavored funky rock from Germany. Additional to the aforementioned "Wontcha Try" another DJ delight should be "Make Your Steps On Better Lines" which showcases a superb synth line and disco funk flavors. We also get the slick mellow latinesque AOR grooves of "Get On A Plane" as well as the now-classic "You're Just Yourself", which marks the most soulful track of the LP. As followers of our label are already well aware, "You're Just Yourself" was featured on the compilation, "Boogie On The Mainline - A Collection Of Rare Disco, Funk And Boogie From Germany 1980-1987" from 2018.

The band mainly performed locally and never really had ambitions to release their music on a bigger label. Too bad that Upstairs only released this one album. Of course, the highly sought-after original pressing is almost impossible to find nowadays. Therefore, we are proud to finally make this record available again after 40 years for a reasonable, regular LP price. Only 300 copies of the carefully re-mastered repress have been produced, and included is a printed lyrics insert identical to the original.

out of Stock

Last delivered 4 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

18,45 €
Imagination - I'm Always Right - The WDR Tapes 1977
TAC-008
The Outer Edge
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopFunkPopJazz

We are proud to present "I'm Always Right" by Imagination, an unreleased jazz rock LP from 1977. Comprised of five tracks with a playtime of roughly 30 minutes, you will hear one of the finest German late-70s rock-tinged electric jazz albums of the era. The recording is a delightful stand-out with unique compositions, aspiring solo work, and a soulful spirit throughout. Additionally, the album veritably glows with exceptional sound quality, as it has been remastered from original tapes that were cut more than four decades ago at the WDR Funkhaus, Cologne.

Here is the story of how label founder John Raincoatman became aware of these lost tapes:
"I first got in touch with members of Imagination from Düsseldorf (not to be confused with the UK disco band under the same name) in 2017 for licensing the track "Strawberry Wine" from their collectible "Shake It" album from 1980. A couple of months later, when I was speaking with Willi Hövelmann, the guitarist for Imagination, he told me about some recordings the band had made a couple of years before, when they had been invited to to the studio of the WDR, a major German broadcaster. A couple of weeks later, when Hövelmann finally sent me the files that he had requested from the WDR, I could not believe what I heard - not only that the songs were totally different from what I expected, but that they were also very very good! The music wasn't comparable to any other kind of fusion release that I knew of. These five songs were straight forward, tight and soulful electric jazz rock, a combination rarely heard from Germany from that time period."

How come Imagination - at that time a young newcomer band consisting of musicians between 19 and 22 years of age - was able to record at the well-equipped Funkhaus studio of German radio and television? Hövelmann explains: "The WDR got to know us from a newcomer band competition called "Pop am Rhein" (Pop at the Rhine) which was set up to support local bands and was promoted by several bigger newspapers. Imagination was one of the 5 contestants which were picked from 59 bands by a jury of music journalists and our band was invited to play a concert at the Philipshalle in front of about 3500 guests. Although a band called "Accept" won the contest (yes, the heavy metal band that gained international success in the following years!) and Imagination only made 3rd place, we were invited by music host and journalist Wolfgang Neumann to record in a professional studio."

Neumann's broadcasting show at the WDR was called "Rock Studio", and one of his special goals was to help push newcomer bands by giving them airplay. As a side note, Neumann actually compiled a series of three LPs on the Harvest label from 1979-1982, each of them featuring four bands. However, the earlier recordings of Imagination had only been used for broadcasting reasons, they were aired a couple of times but never made it to a vinyl or CD release.
So, on October 10th, 1977, it was time for the band to show up and prove themselves in the studio. The tracks were all recorded in one afternoon, mainly as one takes. In some cases flute, saxophone were overdubbed, as well as the vocals on "Love is Genesis", as Hövelmann remembers.

The first song, "Jazzgang" can probably be seen as Imagination's most characteristic composition out of their early period: heavy bass, saxophone leads and speedy solos by the band members. A genuine, rough, yet funky uptempo jazz rock tune. But it's "I'm Always Right", the second track on the album, that raises the bar as the key track of the release with its 10-minute length. The song starts with a great piano solo by Mario F. Demonte. In fact, "Demonte" was a pseudonym of Ratko Delorko, a classically trained piano virtuoso who is still active today as conductor, composer and performer. At that time, it was simply impossible for him to officially be part in a band like Imagination and hence the alias was invented. Anyway, the speedy intro leads to a very soulful mid-tempo jazz funk groove that offers space and time for the band members to perform a solo. First off is Uwe Ziss with sax and flute combined. The second solo belongs to Willi "Sultan" Hövelmann on electric guitar. For the furious ending the pace is set back to high speed. Delorko serves us with one of the most brilliant uptempo piano solos you may have heard in a while on a jazz record.

The next song stylistically stands out from the rest. "Biting My Time" incorporates a rhythm and blues feel with a 60s soul jazz attitude. The track was composed by Uwe Ziss who leads through the track with aspiring flute solos which feel like an easy summer breeze after the first two rock tinged tunes.

"Himalaya" sees Imagination move away from jazz quite a bit, rather approaching the psychedelic rock genre with a vibe reminiscent of the sound of the early 70s. Again starting with a piano solo by Ratko Delorko the pace is quickly at 150 bpm with the full band laying down an energetic jazz rock sound. Just after a little over one-and-a-half minutes there is a breakdown to a slower tempo with overdubbed mysterious vocals and psyche-y screams which may remind more of the legendary krautrock band Can than what is typically known as "jazz". The mood continues with tense saxophone and guitar solos, just to speed up again towards the end with furious drumming by Andreas Oelschläger.

"Love Is Genesis" concludes the release. It was composed and sung by former bassist Robert Schlickmann. Though most of the band members didn't really like the song at that time it still is a one-of-a-kind soft rock pop ballad which partly reminds of some of the vocal song tracks later to be found on the "Shake It" LP from 1980. The track manifested that Imagination were never really supposed to be solely an instrumental band.

We are now happy to have cleared the exclusive rights for this recording from the WDR and are proud to re-present this amazing collection of songs. It should appeal to fusion, jazz rock and jazz funk aficionados but also to late krautrock collectors. We are also certain that it will also please fans of the "Shake It" album, simply in terms of being such a bright and soulful debut with great music overall.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

16,77 €
Ara Pacis - Ara Pacis To the Westcoast / My Fate (Revisited)  7"
TAC-005
The Outer Edge
7"-Vinyl14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopFunkPopDisco

With "To the Westcoast / My Fate (Revisited)" by Ara Pacis we are proud to officially release two of the most exciting AOR tracks hailing from Germany.

Ara Pacis, a group from the island Föhr in the North Sea, was originally founded in 1971. Initially influenced by blues and classic rock by The Rolling Stones, The Who, and the like, they were also inspired by bands such as Steely Dan as well as the German/British group Lake. However, Ara Pacis created a style of their own when their privately pressed and self-distributed "To the Westcoast" LP was released in 1979. The songs were mainly characterized by two-part guitar riffs by Töns Brautlecht-Deppe and Wolfgang Schiffner, who also were the core songwriters of the band.

The freshly remastered single starts with the title track "To the Westcoast". Due to its sunny and yacht-y vibe it is easily amongst the best and most authentic tunes out of the "Westcoast rock" genre recorded in Germany. With family connections in California, lead singer Töns Brautlecht-Deppe was able to create and capture the feeling of the Pacific sea shore just perfectly.

The single is backed with a revised studio version of "My Fate". Here, lead singer Töns Brautlecht tells his story about getting into playing guitar as a young boy. The track is also featured on the album but the version we present on the 7" vinyl is an unreleased, even quite funky and more powerful take. It was recorded in 1981 at the Rüssl studio in Hamburg where Brautlecht had just started to work as an engineer.

As the "To the Westcoast" LP was released during a time when styles like New Wave, Synth Pop and Punk became popular in Germany and the interest in organic and soulful rock declined, Ara Pacis' debut remained relatively unnoticed until today and even the Krautrock collector's scene does not seem to be fully aware of this hard to find gem yet of which only 1000 copies were originally pressed. The band is still kept in good memory by their fans as a quite legendary live act and although they officially split in 1982, the group still served their fan base with revival concerts in 1990 and 2002 plus a website with full band story and lots of images from the early days.

We hope this single sheds new light on this great band. It is limited to 350 copies and released in a beautiful picture sleeve which shows the original LP artwork.

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

12,23 €
Set Fire To Flames - ‘Sings Reign Rebuilder’ 20th Anniversary Edition
LP13XX01
130701
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

Pop

Unavailable on vinyl for over 20 years, ‘Sings Reign
Rebuilder’ was the stunning 2001 debut LP from Set Fire To
Flames - a sprawling, adventurous 13-piece Montreal
collective, including seven members of Godspeed you black
emperor! plus others from bands like A Silver Mt Zion, Fly
Pan Am, etc.
The sole reason FatCat’s 130701 imprint was founded, the
LP remains an incredible and unique document. Recorded
over a five-day period in a rickety old house in a communal
atmosphere of long-duration improvised creative activity,
operating on no sleep / confinement / intoxication, it was
brilliantly edited to mix post-rock guitar-scapes; extended
passages of scratchy, freeform improv and concrete
clatterings; atmospheric location recordings; stirring,
chamber string arrangements; deep/sparse drones; and
Kraut-like, heavily rhythmic workouts.
Described on its release by TimeOut as “one of the most
broodingly beautiful, dramatically emotional, hauntingly
evocative albums likely to ever scrape at your soul… This
record will kill you”; and by Pitchfork as “a gripping testament
to the power of emotional expression in music... a
marvelously inventive and powerful album.”
Perhaps the most dynamic and adventurous record to come
out of the early 2000s Montreal scene around Godspeed you
black emperor!.
Long-awaited first ever reissue of a classic album, which sold
out of its original (only) pressing within weeks of its release
on 15th October 2001 and has been unavailable since.
Remastered at Dubplates & Mastering and issued in a
heavyweight black vinyl double LP edition, including lavish
gatefold packaging, 20th Anniversary-branded OBI strip and
original 24-page 7” x 7” booklet with full colour print and eight
tracing-paper pages plus full digital download coupon.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

43,49 €
A.O. Gerber - Meet Me at the Gloaming
HIH148LP
Hand in Hive
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopIndieRock

Meet Me at the Gloaming is the long-awaited second album from Los Angeles indie artist A.O. Gerber. Following-on from her acclaimed 2020 album Another Place To Need, which enjoyed support from the likes of Gorilla vs Bear, NPR and The Line Of Best Fit, who gave the record a glowing 9/10 review, the new LP showcases Gerber's knack for subtly infectious indie-pop, crunching, atmospheric alternative-rock and classic acoustic songwriting. Across Meet Me at the Gloaming, A.O. Gerber carefully grapples with the constraints she was taught as a child to reach for the flourishing that comes when we look past the black and white, and into the grey gauze of the in-between. “I was thinking about how damaging it can be to exist in that binary space of good and evil,” Gerber explains. “When we see everything in either/or’s, we lose the nuance and complexity that make life rich enough to be worth living.” By interlocking memory and imagination, Gerber crafts a gleaming future, where the light and the dark don’t just coexist - they create a new colour entirely.

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

21,81 €
Lacuna Coil - Comalies XX LP 2x12"
19658747331
Century Media Records
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopHeavy-Metal

Back in 2002, Lacuna Coil released an album which is now undeniably an anthem laden millennial classic that established them as a band with the stamina to go the distance and much of the climbing that still lay ahead back then. Now, 20 years later, Lacunca Coil decided to revisit the songs, but not to just re-record the songs as they were, but deconstruct and transport them into 2022. ‘This is not a reboot or a spin-off or anything like that,’ says vocalist Cristina Scabbia. ‘We just wanted to give these songs a 2022 dress and see how this guy or girl who was born 20 years ago would still look fucking slick in 2022.’

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

34,83 €
Lacuna Coil - Comalies XX LP 2x12"
19658737721
Century Media Records
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopHeavy-Metal

Back in 2002, Lacuna Coil released an album which is now undeniably an anthem laden millennial classic that established them as a band with the stamina to go the distance and much of the climbing that still lay ahead back then. Now, 20 years later, Lacunca Coil decided to revisit the songs, but not to just re-record the songs as they were, but deconstruct and transport them into 2022. ‘This is not a reboot or a spin-off or anything like that,’ says vocalist Cristina Scabbia. ‘We just wanted to give these songs a 2022 dress and see how this guy or girl who was born 20 years ago would still look fucking slick in 2022.’

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

34,83 €
Various - SUN RECORDS - ROCK 'N' ROLL COLLECTION
also available

Orange Vinyl[27,94 €]


CHARLYL277P
CHARLY
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopRock'n'roll

CELEBRATING SUN RECORDS - THE LABEL WHERE ROCK 'N' ROLL WAS BORN! The Rock 'n' Roll Collection features 40-songs from the most important record label in the history of music, with everyone newly remastered from the original Sun Records master tapes. A comprehensive introduction to some of the most iconic and influential music ever recorded. These are the list remaining copies of the strictly limited edition pressed on orange vinyl exclusive to UK retailer Sainsbury’s. Elvis Presley introduced the rockabilly sound to the world in 1954 with the recordings he made at Sun Records. These epitomised the famous “Sun sound” and set the scene for the rock ‘n’ roll explosion to follow. This raw and exciting new sound was a remarkable fusion of white country music and black R&B and quickly found an eager audience with the youth of the day. Presley’s extraordinary success at Sun Records led to the tiny Memphis-based label becoming a magnet for aspiring rockabilly singers from all over America’s South. Despite a relatively short heyday, that “Sun sound” has endured the test of time and remains as popular as ever with listeners of all age groups. As well as featuring Elvis and such other household names as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich and Roy Orbison, the gatefold-sleeved double-album also includes significant contributions from the label’s other important artists such as: Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess, The Miller Sisters, Warren Smith, Malcolm Yelvington, Jimmy Wages, and Earl Hooker. Includes such all-time rock ‘n’ roll classics as: Mystery Train, That’s All Right, Blue Suede Shoes, Great Balls Of Fire, I Walk The Line, Yakety Yak, Rock Island Line, Good Rockin’ Tonight, Red Hot, Ooby Dooby, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On …and many more!

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

27,10 €
Various - SUN RECORDS - ROCK 'N' ROLL COLLECTION
also available

Black Vinyl[27,10 €]


CHARLYL242P
CHARLY
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopRock'n'roll

CELEBRATING SUN RECORDS - THE LABEL WHERE ROCK 'N' ROLL WAS BORN! The Rock 'n' Roll Collection features 40-songs from the most important record label in the history of music, with everyone newly remastered from the original Sun Records master tapes. A comprehensive introduction to some of the most iconic and influential music ever recorded. These are the list remaining copies of the strictly limited edition pressed on orange vinyl exclusive to UK retailer Sainsbury’s. Elvis Presley introduced the rockabilly sound to the world in 1954 with the recordings he made at Sun Records. These epitomised the famous “Sun sound” and set the scene for the rock ‘n’ roll explosion to follow. This raw and exciting new sound was a remarkable fusion of white country music and black R&B and quickly found an eager audience with the youth of the day. Presley’s extraordinary success at Sun Records led to the tiny Memphis-based label becoming a magnet for aspiring rockabilly singers from all over America’s South. Despite a relatively short heyday, that “Sun sound” has endured the test of time and remains as popular as ever with listeners of all age groups. As well as featuring Elvis and such other household names as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich and Roy Orbison, the gatefold-sleeved double-album also includes significant contributions from the label’s other important artists such as: Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess, The Miller Sisters, Warren Smith, Malcolm Yelvington, Jimmy Wages, and Earl Hooker. Includes such all-time rock ‘n’ roll classics as: Mystery Train, That’s All Right, Blue Suede Shoes, Great Balls Of Fire, I Walk The Line, Yakety Yak, Rock Island Line, Good Rockin’ Tonight, Red Hot, Ooby Dooby, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On …and many more!

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

27,94 €
Allen Toussaint - Whipped Cream & Other Delights
CHARLYS202P
CHARLY
7"-Vinyl14.10.202214.OCT.22

Hip-HopSoul

To commemorate the songwriting, production and performing genius of Allen Toussaint (1938 - 2015) Charly are proud to present a limited edition 7-inch EP containing some of his most famous and well-loved songs. Issued on limited edition "whipped cream” white vinyl, the picture sleeve EP features the classics ‘Whipped Cream’ by The Stokes (later a worldwide hit performed by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass), ‘Here Come The Girls’ by Ernie K. Doe, ‘Working In The Coal Mine’ by Lee Dorsey and ‘Fortune Teller’ by Benny Spellman, all written by the unique and irreplaceable Allen Toussaint. He will be missed...

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

18,45 €
The Fixx - Every Five Seconds LP 2x12"
BFD360LP
Halesouth Ltd
2x12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

PopRock

The FIXX has been heralded as one of the most innovative bands to come out of the “MTV” era. For four decades, the style and substance of the band has always created a special connection with its audience. The FIXX’s themes are often complex, introspective and thought-provoking, but not without widespread mass appeal. The band has garnered three #1 hits, five more in the Top 5 and a dozen which reached the Top 10. With millions of albums sold worldwide, songs such as “One Thing Leads To Another,” “Red Skies” and “Saved By Zero” remain everyday staples on the playlists of the Rock, AAA and Alternative radio stations that continue to break new acts inspired by the era that The FIXX helped to define. The FIXX’s classic lineup remains intact, Cy Curnin (vocals), Jamie West-Oram (guitar), Rupert Greenall (keyboards), Dan K. Brown (bass guitar) and Adam Woods (drums). The alt rock pioneers return with their new studio album EVERY FIVE SECONDS,their first in nearly a decade, on June 3, 2022!

pre-order now14 Oct 2022

expected to be published on 14 Oct 2022

26,26 €
Eagles & Butterflies - Retropolis Vol. 01
RB112
Running Back
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

HouseElectroNeotrance

Welcome to Retropolis! Known for the inimitable Can’t Stop with Coloray, an unhealthy obsession with vintage music machines, a baroque style in the use of synthesizer melodies and a forewarn-looking approach to the past, Chris Barratt’s music as Eagles & Butterflies can be as fun-loving as melancholically beautiful. For his long overdue debut on Running Back, the english man dishes out a bit of both in a healthy bowl of broth.

Retropolis is not only the direction giving title, but bold and bonny at the same time. That its working title was Italo should tell you all you need to know. Suitable for big rooms, major moments, minor miracles and sophisticated car chase scenes alike. Faster takes off in another direction. Imagine two people falling in love during a bumper car ride – heartfelt vocals included.

On the flip side E&B follows a similar state of equilibrium. Like the highs and lows and ups and downs in a John Hughes movie, it also showcases the characteristics of two synthesizer classics: the exuberant piano version of Juno Ninja (please look at the digital release for a version devoid of it) offsets the poignant and plangent vibe of CS-80. In summary: made with lots of synthesizers and for fans of keyboard music. And always keep in mind: the future sounds and looks better than you think!

out of Stock

Last delivered 3 years ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

10,04 €
Various - Systema Naturae II
01205
012
12inch14.10.202214.OCT.22

TechnoTechnoDroneDeep

Systema Naturae is the first compilation of 012. It is inspired by and takes the name of one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carl Linnaeus, dating back to 1735, which broadly describes the hierarchical classification of the natural world. The series consists of three parts, each containing four tracks, where several artists are invited to recreate, with sounds, a deep reconnection with nature. Original artworks by Ciredz.

out of Stock

Last delivered 4 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability

14,71 €

Language