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Jan Jelinek plays The Carpenters, concert by Jan Jelinek for four loudspeakers, 20th July 2022 at Uferstudio 1, Berlin.

For this live performance, Jelinek used a sample from the song “’ * ***” by The Carpenters. Towards the end of the 1st half, the original source sample emerges from the dense arrangement of processed loops and reveals its identity, a moment that recalls awakening from deep hypnosis. The 2nd half of the performance zooms in further on the source material, leading to a complete dissolution of any referentiality.

faitiche edition is a series of concerts on tape cassette. The recordings are NOT available digitally. Buyers/owners of the tape can send a photo of their cassette by email to info@faitiche.de (Subject: “das digitale Konzert”) to receive a Bandcamp download code free of charge.

The concert was part of “TetraTon - A concert evening in quadraphonic”. The same evening, there was also a concert by Liz Allbee & Sabine Ercklentz entitled “Close-Up”. The event received support from the Initiative Neue Musik Berlin.

sound recording: Jan Jelinek
drawings: Vincent Klingelhöfer
photo: Udo Siegfriedt
layout: Tim Tetzner

The annual Bonkers Music compilation returns, delivering another round of high-energy bangers. This year, the release explores a slightly evolved musical style while staying true to its signature sound. Celebrating its sixth edition, “Year VI” will be available on 12” vinyl, accompanied by a few exciting surprises.

A1. Neskeh’s “106 Cabrel” revolves around a melodic yet hypnotically repetitive lead sequence, crafted to evoke a trance-like state on the dance floor and radiate positive energy. The foundation of big, punchy kicks and a robust bassline gives it a quintessential club vibe.

A percussive break in the middle shifts the mood entirely, paying homage to Goa rhythms and shamanic rituals, immersing listeners in a more primal atmosphere. The drop reignites the momentum, enhanced by the warm tones of the beloved Minilogue, adding an almost epic dimension to the journey.

A2. Berlin’s Mike Sacchetti and Madrid’s David Meyer unite on “Agria Pachanga,” a dance energy piece that pulses with percussive drive and a subtle touch of Latin identity.

Acid-inspired arrangements swirl around classic drum machine sounds. The syncopated rhythms and pumping basslines push the track towards an agitated club atmosphere, building this song into a bold declaration of fiesta.

A3. Two friends from Guadalajara, Mexico, Leonor & Ludviq, now living in different European cities, (Barcelona & Lyon) join forces to bring you Capybara Trance, This electrifying track combines dark, driving energy with intricately sequenced melodies, a hard-hitting chugging bassline, and the unique touch of capybara-inspired sounds. Anchored by a commanding kick drum that sets an unrelenting tempo.

B1. “Nebula” is a deep, atmospheric journey through cosmic sounds and pulsating rhythms. The track blends hypnotic melodies with dark synthetic textures, evoking a sense of drifting through endless galaxies. With a strong groove and intricate arrangements, it delivers energy that fits perfectly in both morning sets and more conceptual playlists. The collaboration between Radial Gaze, Ducati Flux, and Persona RS captures the spirit of exploration, creating a versatile track that can be the highlight of any set

B2. Intruso hailing from Bogota, now based in Barcelona brings “Somos Acido” this track draws inspiration from the early 2000’s House and Trance, capturing the nostalgia and emotional resonance of his first experiences with electronic music as a child. A driving Acid bassline injects dynamic energy, making it perfectly suited for the dance floor.

B3. Argentinian born, Australia based producer Poulper teams up with Mexican maestro Hugo Vallejo to kick off this intergalactic adventure. This track weaves together acid-laced elements and an infectious rhythm, layered with haunting post-dark vocals that narrate the fiery, cosmic tale of love burning in the vast expanse of space. A bold and immersive journey into the unknown, perfect for this stellar compilation.

“Growing up has always been a solitary journey, marked by forward-looking anticipation, anxiety, unripe potential, aspirations, and closures.”

London based Chinese composer and multi-instrumentalist Li Yilei returns to Métron Records with NONAGE, their second full length release following 2021’s OF. An introspective reflection on the journey through childhood, this new work brings together samples from old Chinese TV shows, mechanical children’s toys and an array of acoustic and electronic instruments - some of which were designed and built by Li themselves.

The Chinese title for "NONAGE" is "垂髫", which translates to “childhood” or “disheveled hair”, and refers to the carefree phase of life when children let their hair down, both figuratively and literally. For Li, nonage is a place that they always revisit - to learn about fear and fearlessness, love and despair, grief and glee, curiosity and mistakes.

“I remember pressing piano keys like touching flowers, reading scores like looking at paintings, writing like how I would talk to myself, greeting death like how I would greet life.”

Initially conceived as an archiving project, the record retraces and reimagines fractions of Li’s childhood memories through smell, location and colour, and brings to life the lingering feelings that remain into adulthood.

Compositions are built around a variety of unusual sources: damaged instruments such as a toy piano, a hand cranked music box, bird whistles, a broken accordion and anything else Li could find that evoked nascent recollections. Interspersed throughout are samples from Li’s childhood piano jams, moments of contemplative transmigration where previous incarnations of self and memory meet the present.

FIRE UP: Fifteen successful releases later, Anetha continues to fan the flames with MTY-FEU, an incandescent new compilation. Titled «Ils s’embrasèrent, réduits ensemble», the release stands for fusion and oneness.



Bursting from the depths of the earth, magma is devouring: melting hot techno, deep techno, fast techno, firestorms of trance, eruptions of hard groove, break, mental, smoldering experimental… MTY-FEU is a lava flow of boiling, vital energy, unstoppable and full of blistering textures.



During the Nuit Blanche (A1), we surrender. We, the offer. Our fire is combusting. Our feet, stomping.
Berserk, in a fury, there’s No End (C1) to this party. In a trance, Eternal Echoes (E2) beguiles us all, until we become one into the Molten Core (H2) of Inferno. Ils s’embrasèrent, réduits ensemble.

The incredibly talented visual artist FEMUR crafted the artwork by creating an AI-generated meta-crackle of fire. Diplomatie Studio handled the design while mastering was entrusted to Sixbitdeep, except for Anetha’s edit, where mix and mastering credits go to Le Dom. We’ve opted for bio-vinyls for this release, knowing that one day these records will return to ashes, only to rise again, like the phoenix.

The iconic Hôtel Costes music collection, a veritable benchmark of Parisian luxury and refinement, continues to captivate lovers of sophisticated sounds. Famous for its unique blends of warm vocals, funk, jazzy and pop grooves, fusing electronic sounds and acoustic instruments, this series is a must for connoisseurs of refined music.



This seventh volume, orchestrated by the talented Stéphane Pompougnac, offers light electro soul and racy house, perfect for livening up the most elegant evenings and keeping the most reluctant dancing until the wee hours. The Hôtel Costes series has revealed exceptional talents such as Pink Martini, Flight Facilities, General Elektriks, Angus & Julia Stone and Brigitte, while mixing hidden nuggets with masters such as Gotan Project, Femi Kuti, Trentemøller, Thievery Corporation, Shirley Bassey and Grace Jones.



With over 5 million copies sold worldwide, following the resounding success of the reissue of the first six volumes, this seventh opus is finally available for the first time on vinyl. A true gem that will delight long-time fans and appeal to a new generation of listeners worldwide.

Following the success of his self-released Woldsman001 two-tracker, standout sets at Tresor and Unfold, and praise from the likes of RA and Mixmag, London-based Yorkshireman Dyslecta launches his new imprint, Tenuous Links.

The first release comes from Dyslecta himself in the form of ‘Fulcrum’. Four wigged-out techno cuts aimed squarely at the dance floor

The EP draws inspiration from the natural wolds surrounding his hometown in East Yorkshire. Deep, cyclic drum patterns contrast with the brash, distorted bass elements mirroring the duality of the region’s chalk quarries and glacier-carved valleys.

With the aim of pushing innovative club sounds forward, Fulcrum sets a staunch tone of what’s to come on Tenuous Links.

Coming out on super limited 12” handstamped vinyl

The iconic Hôtel Costes music collection, a veritable benchmark of Parisian luxury and refinement, continues to captivate lovers of sophisticated sounds. Famous for its unique blends of warm vocals, funk, jazzy and pop grooves, fusing electronic sounds and acoustic instruments, this series is a must for connoisseurs of refined music.



This eighth volume, orchestrated by the talented Stéphane Pompougnac, offers light electro soul and racy house, perfect for livening up the most elegant evenings and keeping the most reluctant dancing until the wee hours. The Hôtel Costes series has revealed exceptional talents such as Pink Martini, Flight Facilities, General Elektriks, Angus & Julia Stone and Brigitte, while mixing hidden nuggets with masters such as Gotan Project, Femi Kuti, Trentemøller, Thievery Corporation, Shirley Bassey and Grace Jones.



With over 5 million copies sold worldwide, following the resounding success of the reissue of the first six volumes, this eighth opus is finally available for the first time on vinyl. A true gem that will delight long-time fans and appeal to a new generation of listeners worldwide.

Arcane returns to Foxy Jangle to deliver the tenth record in the series.

Its double-a deep dive into razor-sharp breaks, rolling subs, and atmospherics. Expect a masterclass in tension and release, weighty basslines, and fierce drum edits.

Out soon

CSL presents Future Contact, a vinyl EP with 4 original tracks and remixes from ADJ & Fleck E.S.C. Advanced electro with Detroit overtones, powerful drums and spacey sounds for the originals. ADJ with his raw remix that overwhelms you with his bass, and to close the vinyl Fleck E.S.C. raises the adrenaline and gives more impact with atmospheric sounds!

For their 21st release, Not An Animal Records welcomes the Northeast-of-England's Tom Rankin, aka Frequencies Of Love to the fold for his first-ever release. A half-step away from their usual low-slung sound, the EP is a bright and sepia-tinted affair bringing prime-time energy to the label. It is rooted squarely on the dancefloor and steeped with glimmering synthesizers and lashings of keys. Despite this stylistic departure, the ever-present driving grooves make it feel right at home.

The EP begins with Tucan, delicately shifting and changing synthesizer arps flow throughout, weaving a delightful tapestry of past and present.

The record glides smoothly into round 2 with Bpsyde pulling no punches; it has a distinct atmosphere of the old-school about it. A one-two of percussive breaks on the one hand and progressive bass on the other with LFO Arps, keys and nineties vocal chops completing the combo.

Pegasus is a shimmering whirlpool off the Adriatic coast. An antiphonal of choral chanting and female spoken word endlessly circle the groove, occasionally combining in a viscous duetto of wacky, Italo-flavored deliciousness.

For the remix, groove deconstruction connoisseur Fantastic Man gives Pegasus the Midas treatment. Riding a throbbing and reprogrammed bassline, key elements from the original mix cameo throughout the track, rounded off by piano chord progressions to complete the pensive sound that constitutes the glue throughout the EP.

On their new "CANT U HEAR ME / Trust" EP, Mind Against reunite with rising producer CAY to craft a release that pulses with raw emotional energy and dancefloor innovation, marrying the euphoric rush of UK club culture with their signature cinematic sound. Building on the momentum of their last collaboration "FLORAL," the title track leads with hypnotic vocals that float over crystalline percussion and cascading synths. The result is a perfect alchemy of Mind Against's atmospheric mastery and contemporary British club music, pointing toward an exciting new chapter where melodic techno meets peak-time euphoria.

Tuskegee returns with serious intent and a fresh club weapon from a recognised statesman of house music, Junior Sanchez. Having written and collaborated with artists including Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, and Roger Sanchez, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ pairs Sanchez with vocalist and songwriter Dave Giles II, riding high himself following link-ups with Honey Dijon, Mike Dunn, and a producer on Beyonce’s anthemic ‘Cozy’.

‘Bitch U Could Neva’ is a powerful, instantaneous trip back into the underground style and attitude shared between both artists, reflecting the vibe of Sanchez’s rise to success in the halcyon days of New York nineties clubbing, alongside Giles II’s own youth in the Chicago creative scene. Living up to the attitude of its title, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ bumps with peak-time energy, jackhammer drums and chopped-up vocals never undermining its fundamental sensuality, an increasingly rare link between true, authentic dancefloors past and present.

The pair then look to London for a confident, stripped-back take from prestigious record collector and curator GIDEON. The founder of dance music institutions Adonis and Glastonbury’s infamous Block 9 goes deep to find the track’s potential as a minimal, vogue-adjacent house workout, scattered with telephone dial tones and an upfront disclosure; “Bitch, I’m serving.”

Back across the Atlantic, Physical Therapy and Michael Mangan team up under their Fatherhood project to give ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ a seriously bouncy redress, winding tight drums atop a rubbery bassline and paying their own Twilo and Tunnel-era tributes with cut-up vocals and an ecstatic onslaught of rave stabs.

Sasha links up with Joseph Ashworth for epic new single 'HiFiHi' comes on Sasha's Last Night on Earth as two different versions

Sasha has been on an exceptional run of form of late, not least in collaboration with a wide range of innovative producers. His work continues to explore the most moving end of the electronic spectrum, both in terms of well-crafted grooves but also inescapable synth emotions. This time he links with Joseph Ashworth, Sound Of Outside label head and a regular on the likes of Anjunadeep, Needwant and Pets Recordings. His painstakingly crafted sound draws from a wide spectrum of influence, is rich in texture and melody and has seen him serve up indelible DJ sets all over the world.Together these studio wizards cook up 'HiFiHi' which is a sublime seven-minute trip built on bass, full of drama and tension. The silky synth lines weave in and out with rising chords and vocal motifs all enriching it with warmth and soul. After an epic build-up, fresh synth energy breaks out with trance-inducing magic and euphoric chords that bring great emotional release. The LoFiLo Mix is more mellow and with extra vulnerability in the elegant blend of synths and melodies that wash over you in a beautifully serene and escapist fashion.

AJ Christou returns to Crosstown Rebels with his captivating two-tracker, ‘Desire’. Landing on 25th April 2025, the release sees the V-House Sounds boss return following his contribution to the label’s ‘Spirits’ VA series, showcasing his slick and warm sound across two crisp productions. Manchester-based favourite AJ Christou continues his impressive start to 2025 as he steps up for his first full release on Damian Lazarus’ revered Crosstown Rebels imprint with his latest two-track EP, ‘Desire’. An exciting name within the contemporary house landscape, Christou has earned his ever-rising reputation with releases via influential imprints such as Hot Creations, Paradise Music, Cuttin’ Headz and Fools Gold Records - collaborating with renowned names like A-Trak and Robert Owens - as well as his own V-House Sound imprint. Now, with ‘Desire’, the DJ/producer and label boss delivers a refined yet electrifying showcase of his sound, blending rolling grooves and subtle intricacies.Title track ‘Desire’ opens the release with its deep, pulsating basslines, crisp percussion, and a sultry vocal line that lures listeners into its infectious energy. On the flip, ‘Patience’ offers a more subtle yet equally engaging journey, featuring textured soundscapes, dynamic drum arrangements, and a groove-laden core primed for late-night moments. Providing another standout addition to his catalogue, ‘Desire’ marks Christou’s return to Crosstown Rebels in style, further solidifying his position within the global scene.

Die Violinistin Esther Abrami wirft auf ihrem Album "WOMEN" neue und erhellende Schlaglichter auf Komponistinnen. "Women" legt den Fokus auf die außergewöhnlichen Talente von 14 Komponistinnen aus unterschiedlichen Epochen und Genres und enthält neue Kompositionen der Oscar-Preisträgerinnen Rachel Portman und Anne Dudley sowie neue Arrangements von Werken historischer Komponistinnen wie Pauline Viardot, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Teresa Carreño und Ethel Smyth. Esther Abrami hat selbst einige dieser Stücke neu arrangiert und mit "Transmission" ein eigenes Orchesterstück für das Album komponiert. Im Mittelpunkt von "Women" steht die Weltersteinspielung von Ina Boyles Violinkonzert, eine poetische, spätromantische Komposition. Esther Abrami hat jedes Stück für das Album aufgrund einer besonderen emotionalen Verbindung zu den unterschiedlichen Frauen hinter der Musik ausgewählt: "Solange ich mich erinnern kann, war die einzige klassische Musik, die ich je gehört habe, von männlichen Komponisten geschrieben. Ich habe über 15 Jahre lang klassische Musik an renommierten Musikschulen studiert, aber in all den Jahren kein einziges Stück von einer Frau gespielt. Es war nicht so, dass ich sie diese Stücke aktiv vermieden hätte - sie waren einfach nicht Teil des Kanons. Ich fragte mich 'haben Frauen jemals klassische Musik komponiert?' und es stellte sich heraus, dass sie es taten, und ich entdeckte einen verborgenen Schatz. Ich verbrachte Monate mit Recherchen und tauchte in eine völlig neue Welt der Musik und faszinierenden Geschichten von Frauen ein, die im Schatten der Geschichte geblieben waren. Dieses Album ist meine Hommage an sie und eine Reise durch Jahrhunderte der Musik, erzählt durch die Stimmen von Frauen, die trotz aller Widrigkeiten komponierten, kämpften, lebten und schufen. Die Geschichten dieser Frauen inspirierten mich für meinen Karriereweg und zeigten mir wie wichtig es ist, dass zukünftige Generationen diese entdecken können. Ich hoffe, 'Women' kann eine neue Generation junger Mädchen dazu inspirieren, zu komponieren." Über ihre gesamte noch junge Karriere als professionelle Musikerin hinweg hat sich Esther Abrami dafür eingesetzt, Komponistinnen eine Stimme zu geben. In ihrem Podcast "Women in Classical" spricht sie mit einflussreichen Musikerinnen über ihre Karriere. Auch mit ihrer EP "Spotlight" mit dem Londoner "Her Ensemble", das ausschließlich aus Frauen und non-binären Musiker*Innen besteht, hat sie bereits wortwörtlich ein Schlaglicht auf Komponistinnen geworfen. "Women" führt diesen Weg konsequent fort und versammelt eine Reihe außergewöhnlicher Mitwirkenden, wie das ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien unter der Leitung von Dirigentin Irene Delgado-Jiménez, die Pianistin Kim Barbier, die Harfenistin Lavinia Meijer und das Esther Abrami Quintet."Ich bin unglaublich glücklich mit einem so großartigen Orchester und tollen Musikerinnen an einem so persönlichen Projekt zu arbeiten. Diese Kompositionen mit einem Orchester zum Leben zu erwecken, ist eine Erinnerung, die ich nie vergessen werde."

Jan Akkerman (b. 1946) stands apart as a singular figure in the realm of rock and beyond. A Dutch guitarist of unparalleled versatility, he earned international acclaim in 1973 when he topped the prestigious Melody Maker readers’ poll, surpassing icons like Eric Clapton (2nd), Jimmy Page (5th), and Carlos Santana (10th). His fame, however, has never defined his artistry. For Akkerman, it’s always been about the music—any genre, as long as it resonates. He’s a lifelong improviser who approaches each performance as a new adventure. Akkerman first rose to prominence with Focus, a band that embodied the grandiose instrumental rock spirit of the 1970s. Long compositions, dazzling technique, and adventurous arrangements made them a cornerstone of progressive rock. Despite the accolades, Akkerman remained true to his calling. When asked about his success, he has always brushed it aside, preferring to let his guitar do the talking. Side 1 of this record captures Akkerman’s stunning performance on July 10, 2011, at the Nile Hall in Rotterdam. Here, he showcases his ability to take listeners on a sonic journey. The mellow “Tranquilizer” offers a relaxed groove, followed by the heartfelt ballad “You Do Something to Me,” unfolding emotion without words. In “Piétons”—a gospel-tinged blues—trumpeter Eric Vloeimans delivers a fiery solo before the leader propels the piece into uncharted territory. Side 2 brings us back to an earlier moment, recorded in July 2005 at the Paul Acket Paviljoen in The Hague. “Streetwalker” delivers a funk-driven explosion featuring alto saxophonist Benjamin Herman, while “The Zebrah” sends Vloeimans soaring into the musical stratosphere, only to have Akkerman reignite the piece with blistering guitar lines, his band driving forward like a well-tuned Mercedes on an open highway. Akkerman’s live performances are as unpredictable as they are electrifying. Whether sharing the stage with legends or newcomers, his spontaneous creativity makes every concert unique—a master class in musical freedom. Jan Akkerman remains a touchstone for guitarists and fans alike, an authentic improviser whose name still elicits one universal response from any seasoned Dutch rock enthusiast: “He’s the best guitarist in the world.” The North Sea Jazz Concert Series includes officially licensed releases that will be released as standard on 180-gram white vinyl in a sleeve of heavy paper and printed on reversed board. The records are captured in mainly black-and-white artwork by Hans Pol in his signature style of the festival with inspiration from the covers of classic older jazz releases from the Blue Note label, for example. The liner notes are written by journalist and jazz expert Jeroen de Valk. For all recordings it’s a first time ever release on vinyl!

Die Violinistin Esther Abrami wirft auf ihrem Album "WOMEN" neue und erhellende Schlaglichter auf Komponistinnen. "Women" legt den Fokus auf die außergewöhnlichen Talente von 14 Komponistinnen aus unterschiedlichen Epochen und Genres und enthält neue Kompositionen der Oscar-Preisträgerinnen Rachel Portman und Anne Dudley sowie neue Arrangements von Werken historischer Komponistinnen wie Pauline Viardot, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Teresa Carreño und Ethel Smyth. Esther Abrami hat selbst einige dieser Stücke neu arrangiert und mit "Transmission" ein eigenes Orchesterstück für das Album komponiert. Im Mittelpunkt von "Women" steht die Weltersteinspielung von Ina Boyles Violinkonzert, eine poetische, spätromantische Komposition. Esther Abrami hat jedes Stück für das Album aufgrund einer besonderen emotionalen Verbindung zu den unterschiedlichen Frauen hinter der Musik ausgewählt: "Solange ich mich erinnern kann, war die einzige klassische Musik, die ich je gehört habe, von männlichen Komponisten geschrieben. Ich habe über 15 Jahre lang klassische Musik an renommierten Musikschulen studiert, aber in all den Jahren kein einziges Stück von einer Frau gespielt. Es war nicht so, dass ich sie diese Stücke aktiv vermieden hätte - sie waren einfach nicht Teil des Kanons. Ich fragte mich 'haben Frauen jemals klassische Musik komponiert?' und es stellte sich heraus, dass sie es taten, und ich entdeckte einen verborgenen Schatz. Ich verbrachte Monate mit Recherchen und tauchte in eine völlig neue Welt der Musik und faszinierenden Geschichten von Frauen ein, die im Schatten der Geschichte geblieben waren. Dieses Album ist meine Hommage an sie und eine Reise durch Jahrhunderte der Musik, erzählt durch die Stimmen von Frauen, die trotz aller Widrigkeiten komponierten, kämpften, lebten und schufen. Die Geschichten dieser Frauen inspirierten mich für meinen Karriereweg und zeigten mir wie wichtig es ist, dass zukünftige Generationen diese entdecken können. Ich hoffe, 'Women' kann eine neue Generation junger Mädchen dazu inspirieren, zu komponieren." Über ihre gesamte noch junge Karriere als professionelle Musikerin hinweg hat sich Esther Abrami dafür eingesetzt, Komponistinnen eine Stimme zu geben. In ihrem Podcast "Women in Classical" spricht sie mit einflussreichen Musikerinnen über ihre Karriere. Auch mit ihrer EP "Spotlight" mit dem Londoner "Her Ensemble", das ausschließlich aus Frauen und non-binären Musiker*Innen besteht, hat sie bereits wortwörtlich ein Schlaglicht auf Komponistinnen geworfen. "Women" führt diesen Weg konsequent fort und versammelt eine Reihe außergewöhnlicher Mitwirkenden, wie das ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien unter der Leitung von Dirigentin Irene Delgado-Jiménez, die Pianistin Kim Barbier, die Harfenistin Lavinia Meijer und das Esther Abrami Quintet."Ich bin unglaublich glücklich mit einem so großartigen Orchester und tollen Musikerinnen an einem so persönlichen Projekt zu arbeiten. Diese Kompositionen mit einem Orchester zum Leben zu erwecken, ist eine Erinnerung, die ich nie vergessen werde."

The Rough Trade Singles collects The Fall's four singles recorded for this influential label in 1980 and 1983 – How I Wrote 'Elastic Man' / City Hobgoblins, Totally Wired / Putta Block, The Man Whose Head Expanded / Ludd Gang and Kicker Conspiracy – none of which appeared on any of the band's studio LPs. With 7-inches being the era's vehicle for buzzing communiqués, The Fall would use the format for short-form, standalone works rather than as mere promotional devices for forthcoming albums.

"Totally Wired" is often cited (and rightfully so) as The Fall's most infectious tune – an amphetamine-fueled anthem with stuttering nods to forebears, yet too incisive to have been made by anyone else. "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'" is another mad hoedown, one reimagined for the post-punk age. While the playful rhythm machine on "The Man Whose Head Expanded" almost suggests danceability, Mark E. Smith's idiosyncratic shriek on "Kicker Conspiracy" pierces through the twin drumming of Paul Hanley and Karl Burns and the group's unpredictable / unmistakable racket. Together these songs remain some of the absolute best material The Fall would ever release.

Superior Viaduct's edition is the first time that The Rough Trade Singles has been available on vinyl domestically. Liner notes by Brian Turner.

Very few bands manage to last decades, and for the ones that do, it's often easy to settle down and get a little too comfortable. But there's nothing comfortable about Devourer, the explosive new album from Cursive. The iconic Omaha group is known for their intensity, ambition, and execution, and has spent 30 years creating a bold discography that's defined as much by its cathartic sound as its weighty, challenging lyrical themes. And Devourer is as daring as ever. Full of intense and incisive songs, the album proves exactly why Cursive have been so influential and enduring-and why they remain so vital today.In the years since their 1995 formation, Cursive developed into one of the most important groups to emerge from the late-'90s/early `00s moment when the lines between indie rock and post-hardcore began blurring into something altogether new. Albums like Domestica (2000) and The Ugly Organ (2003) became essential touchstones whose echoes can still be heard in new bands today. Devourer, as an expansive new double-album, examines humanity's bottomless capacity for consumption through a series of songs that act like vignettes, driven by frontman Tim Kasher's never-ending appetite for both taking in and creating art."I am obsessive about consuming the arts," he explains. "Music, film, literature. I've come to recognize that I devour all of these art forms then, in turn, create my own versions of these things and spew them out onto the world. It's positive; you're part of an ecosystem. But I quickly recognized that the term, `Devourer,' may also embody something gnarly, sinister." Fans have come to expect such heady topics from Cursive, but Devourer sets a new standard.While Cursive's music hasn't gotten any more comfortable, perhaps its being released into a world that's at least a little more shaped in their image. Devourer sounds urgent and fresh, the work of a band still experimenting, still hungering to find new creative heights. On album highlight "Consumers," the protagonist bemoans, "I saw our future and I want to go back." But Cursive are only moving forward.

The wonderfully favourable response to our first CD and double vinyl volume of the original A and B sides of the singles of the late great Isaac Hayes – as originally released on Stax’ Enterprise subsidiary between 1969 and 1972 – has forced us to bring forward, this month, the release of “Hot Buttered Singles 2” to cater for what Ace is sure will be just as great a level of popular demand.

This volume picks up where “Hot Buttered Singles Vol 1” left off with Hayes’ final 45 of 1972, and carries his seven inch story through to 1976 – by which time Stax was defunct, and Hayes’ was on his own Hot Buttered Soul label via ABC Records. It features eight US R&B chart hits including the much sampled ‘Hung Up On My Baby’ and ‘Chocolate Chip’, Hayes’ biggest hit of this period ‘Joy’ and the ever-popular 1976 instrumental ‘Disco Connection’, which finally gave Hayes’ his second UK Top 20 hit after ‘Shaft’.

All tracks match the original single edits, and wherever possible are taken from digital transfers of the original Enterprise singles masters. Where the original 45s came in two parts, they also do so here. And where original singles masters no longer exist, as was the case for two tracks, Ace’s engineers have re-created them beat for beat from the longer album versions. (Have fun guessing which two they were…)

Hailed by Pitchfork for his “ambient, intimate…songs that blossom gently with intricate musical details and enigmatic lyrics,” Conner Youngblood gained early acclaim with a series of self-released singles and EPs before breaking out internationally with his 2018 full-length debut, Cheyenne, which fused electronic and analog elements into a lush mix of bedroom pop and chamber folk. Youngblood toured the record heavily until 2020, when the pandemic forced him off the road and, hungry for fresh inspiration, he began enrolling in Russian, Danish, Spanish, and Japanese language lessons. He didn’t realize it at the time, but those classes weren’t just expanding his vocabulary, they were laying the groundwork for his most ambitious, experimental album yet: Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly.
 
Written and recorded at home in Nashville, the collection is a dreamy series of meditations steeped in desire and yearning, loneliness and loss, exhilaration and escape. The lyrics blur the lines between fact and fiction, toying with magical realism and outright abstraction in various languages, and the arrangements are surreal and cinematic to match, hinting at everything from Cocteau Twins to Atoms For Peace. In addition to producing and engineering, Youngblood played every instrument on the album himself, and the result is a pure, unfiltered journey deep into the subconscious of a relentlessly curious artist, one with a boundless imagination and an insatiable appetite for sonic exploration. 

The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four is a
double album of tracks written by Andy Gill and Gang of Four, all newly
reinterpreted and recorded by artists whose own unique contributions to
music were enriched by listening to Gang of Four.
The album features songs from across Gang of Four’s 40-plus year career, each
individually chosen by the artists who covered them. Andy Gill originally conceived of the album to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of Entertainment! in 2019. His widow, Catherine Mayer, explains that this plan had already
changed by the time of Andy’s death in 2020, after some artists chose tracks
from different albums and periods.
“Andy was massively excited about this project,” Mayer says. “It wasn’t of
course conceived as a tribute album, but it’s comforting to me that he lived to
see artists he hugely admired enthusiastically agreeing to participate, signalling that the admiration was mutual.” The album artwork has been created by
English artist Damien Hirst, a long-time friend of Andy’s.
Idles - Damaged Goods. Tom Morello & Serj Tankian - Natural’s Not In It. Helmet
- In the Ditch. 3D x Gang of Four feat. Nova Twins - Where The Nightingale Sings.
Hotei - To Hell With Poverty. Gary Numan - Love Like Anthrax. Gail Ann Dorsey -
We Live As We Dream Alone. Herbert Gr nemeyer feat. Alex Silva - I Love A Man
in a Uniform. LoneLady - Not Great Men. JJ Sterry - 5.45. La Roux - Damaged
Goods. Everything Everything - Natural’s Not In It. Dado Villa-Lobos - Return The
Gift. The Dandy Warhols - What We All Want. Warpaint - Paralysed. Flea & John
Frusciante - Not Great Men. The Sounds - I Love a Man in Uniform. Hardcore
Raver in Tears - Last Mile. Killing Joke x Gang of Four - Forever Starts Now (Killing
Joke Dub) . Sekar Melati - Not Great Men (live version)

2025 Repress

DJ Koze might be one of the world's best producers, but above all he's a DJ, and it's his DJ ear that governs. J
ust as in a great set, so with his releases: 'Seeing Aliens' came out of nowhere, a big buzzing beast of a track, to announce that Koze was back on the scene and prime everyone for the coming album, knock knock.
But now that Koze has your attention, it's time to remind everyone what's most important about club music, pull things back, take a turn to the left, and get deep into the groove.

Thus 'Pick Up': the second single from knock knock is 100% pure groove, doubly so in the extended 12' version.

In a sense it's incredibly familiar - it is essentially a filter disco record, very close to something you could imagine coming out of Paris around the turn of the millennium. But of course, this is Koze. Nothing is normal or familiar in his world, and he's taken this most foundational of clubland staples into new territory. Flipping amples of Gladys Knight & the Pips 'Neither One Of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)' and Melba Moore's 'Pick Me Up, I'll Dance', it creates something completely airborne, shot through with emotions such as gods must feel: not quite explicable to the human mind but strong enough to knock you off your feet. In its way it's absolutely as powerful as 'Seeing Aliens', but it comes in like the proverbial iron fist in a glove of velvet.
The flip, a ten-minute new track, 'The Love Truck' is a big contrast again. If 'Pick Up' is giddy flight,
'The Love Truck' is woozy floating. Its sharp, clicking percussion recalls 2000s minimal techno, but this time absolutely nothing is generic. The long, intense, on-and-off bass tones, the flickers of birdsong, the pure voices slipping in backwards as if from the future... it's all like the most blissful dream, and culminates in a coda so subtle yet so beautiful it's like ever time you've ever seen the sun rise and thought 'I never want this to end', all the while understanding deep down that the fleeting nature of the pleasure is also what give it its power. But of course, being created with that consummate DJ's ear, it's also full of the thrill of wondering what Koze has in store next.

Where's Joao Donato? It's a frequently asked question, referring simultaneously to the physical location and the musical moment he inhabits. A sampling of some of his more descriptive song titles suggests Donato's comfort with musical hybrids: "Bluchanga," "Sambolero," and "Sambongo," to name just a few. Lacking a formal genre for his style of music, Donato's is a distinct sound, immediately recognizable from the first few bars of any of his compositions. He was funky back when "funk" was a bad word (listen to either of his 1960s Brazilian LPs, Sambou, Sambou and The New Sound if Brasil, for proof). His compositions are deceptively simple, while his arrangements are harmonically complex, revealing their intricate details upon repeat listening. Today, Donato brings this flavor, now near synonymous with his name, to a new album in the Jazz Is Dead series with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Joao Donato JID007. "Donato is one of the greatest Brazilian composers from that golden era. His signature style, simple melodies combined with colorful chordal progressions, establishes a new lane for Jazz Is Dead," explains Younge. "Joao is one of the most innovative Brazilian jazz composers of the last century. Creating with and learning from this maestro was one of the greatest experiences of my career."

Moor Mother is an American musician, poet, and interdisciplinary artist known for her avant-garde and experimental work. The Great Bailout is an expansive meditation that acts as a non-linear word map about colonialism, slavery, and commerce in Great Britain. Featuring guest contributions from Lonnie Holley, Angel Bat Dawid & Sistas of the Nitty Gritty, Vijay Iyer, Mary Lattimore, and more, it"s Moor Mother"s most uncompromising vision to date. Moor Mother has gained recognition for her unique blend of spoken word, noise, and electronic music, addressing themes of race, gender, and socio-political issues. She hails from Philadelphia and has been an influential figure in the city"s vibrant arts and music scene. She has received critical acclaim for her albums, with reviewers praising her fearless approach to sound and her thought-provoking lyrical content on albums like "Jazz Codes" and "Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes", showcasing her boundary-pushing sonic experiments.

Placenta is the fourth collection of broadly imaginative and highly collaborative Carlos Niño & Friends music released on International Anthem since 2021. But perhaps more notably for the zeitgeist of today, it is the first new music to be released by Carlos Niño & Friends following the November 2023 release of André 3000’s New Blue Sun – an album which Carlos produced alongside André, while co-writing, performing, and co-mixing every song. The announcement of Placenta also comes while Carlos is in the middle of tours with André to support New Blue Sun, where Carlos wields an immense presence as music director, bandleader, and percussionist, and performs alongside many of the same musicians that are present on his recent & Friends albums, including this new one.

Placenta is announced on the 1st solar return of Moss Niño, of whom Carlos and his partner Annelise are Earth parents. Their experience of pregnancy, labor and delivery were all profoundly impactful for Carlos. Becoming a father again (a whole 25 years after the birth of Azul Niño, who has become a regular artistic collaborator for Carlos) he felt total Inspiration for this set of recordings, and hence it is perhaps the most conceptually-grounded Carlos Niño & Friends album we've yet to present–fully connected to the spirit of family, birth, and "how we get here."

In Niño’s words, Placenta is “dedicated to Mothers, Children, Babies, Aunties, Doulas, Midwives, Birthworkers...,” and a short list of track titles includes: "Love to all Doulas!," "Some Rest for the Midwives," "Real Vital Organs," and "Generous Pelvis." The centerpiece of the album, the sprawling "Placenta, Nourishment, New Home, The Galaxy," is an unbelievably vivid immersion in the sonic architecture of Niño's memory-scape...like being present in his energy field...or being present in a birthing room, or maybe even being born yourself. And it just might be the most powerful, unique piece of music Niño has ever created.

Featured artists on Placenta, in order of their entry on the album, include: Nate Mercereau, Jamire Williams, Sam Gendel, Jamael Dean, Dexter Story, Brandon Eugene Owens, Maia, André 3000, Jesse Peterson, Ariel Kalma, Surya Botofasina, Annelise, Haize Hawke, Aaron Shaw, Devin Daniels, Tiffany de Leon, Michael Bolger, Michael Alvidrez, Moss, Iasos, Photay, Deantoni Parks, Adam Rudolph, Andres Renteria, and Cavana Lee.

Pressed on Bio Mint Vinyl LP

Eluveitie, formed in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann, has consistently merged modern metal with Celtic musical traditions. Originating from the Swiss Alps and deeply rooted in Celtic history, mythology, and spirituality, the band has become a cornerstone of the modern metal scene.Their debut, "Vên" (2004), set the stage for a unique blend of melodic death metal and traditional folk. Subsequent albums like "Slania," "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)," "Helvetios," and "Origins" solidified their reputation. The acoustic albums "Evocation I – The Arcane Dominion" and "Evocation II – Pantheon" showcased their versatility.

In 2022, Eluveitie released the singles "Aidus" and "Exile of the Gods," marking a new chapter in their musical journey and thematical cycle pursuing the lyrical
concept opened by their last studio album "Ategnatos". These tracks were followed by the announcement of their upcoming album, "ÀNV," set for release in April 2025. The first single from this album, "Premonition," has just been unveiled, offering a glimpse into the band's evolving sound.

Over the years, Eluveitie has undergone lineup changes, including their latest addition with Lea-Sophie Fischer on violin in May 2024. Despite these changes, the band's essence and soul remains untouched. With nine studio albums, numerous tours all around the globe, and headline shows worldwide, Eluveitie continues to be a dynamic force in the metal genre.

As they approach the release of "ÀNV", Eluveitie remains committed to their roots while exploring new musical horizons. Coming as one of their most profound and earnest albums, "ÀNV" presents a result of more than 20 years of intense involvement with Celtic mythology and spirituality, translating deeply pagan knowledge for a modern generation.

Eluveitie's journey reflects a dedication to authenticity and innovation, ensuring their place as a defining presence in modern metal.

One of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the past decade, Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem emerged from cult favourite status to mainstream hero following the huge success of her empowering, truth-telling 2021 single ‘I Do This All The Time’. The song resonated intensely as a perfect example of Taylor’s affectionately termed ‘trojan horse’ or ‘salad and chips’ approach, fearlessly packing important, emotive messages into witty, resonant pop music.

Self Esteem’s wildly acclaimed second album Prioritise Pleasure quickly followed, tackling the hypocrisies and joys found in her experiences of modern day womanhood across dating, friendship, comparison culture, self love, women’s safety and sexual assault and much more. Prioritise Pleasure received Mercury Prize, BRIT Award, Sky Arts and NME Award nominations, was crowned The Guardian and Sunday Times Culture’s Album of the Year, and ‘I Do This All The Time’ was also named The Guardian’s #1 song of 2021.

Quite the opposite of an overnight success, Taylor spent a decade as one half of indie duo Slow Club before adopting the pop star persona she’d always dreamed of. She released her first Self Esteem album Compliments Please in 2019, featuring fan favourite singles ‘The Best’, ‘Girl Crush’ and more.

Gathering a passionate and vast legion of fans ever since, Taylor has appeared on The Graham Norton Show, Celebrity Gogglebox, Friday Night Live & Taskmaster, performed three times on Jools Holland including the NYE Hootenanny, graced the covers of magazines from Grazia to NME to Sunday Times Style, and is one of a handful of artists to have been playlisted across BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music simultaneously.

Having reached new heights of acclaim, Taylor continued to grow, diversify, and create in 2024. Branching out into the world of acting, Taylor starred in a regular role in the Sky series SMOTHERED before completing a run playing Sally Bowles in the multiple Olivier Award-winning production of 'Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club' in London's West End. Starring alongside Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) as Emcee, the pair’s time on stage was extended due to popular demand and showcased the sheer range of talent in Taylor’s repertoire. Last year’s releases ‘Big Man’ and ‘Love Second Music First’ followed a collaboration with Becky Hill on her song ‘True Colours’.

d4vd’s debut album, WITHERED, is one of the most hotly anticipated albums of the year. It completes the story laid out in his 2023 EPs, Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals, as he continues to articulate a relationship’s ricocheting emotions: the coruscating highs and bleak lows, all set to music that’s intimate, hook-heavy, and refreshingly direct. Created primarily on Bandlab, WITHERED brought d4vd back to the place his music journey began: his sister’s closet, alone with his iPhone. To finish the record, d4vd journeyed to London with a trusted crew of collaborators to create a cohesive, intimate record that’s meant to be listened to sequentially — the songs consumed like chapters — that spotlights his evolution as a deft and dynamic vocalist.

" Pickled Eggs and Sherbet is the sole album by English electronic group All Seeing I - the production trio of Dean Honer, Jason Buckle and Richard Barrett (aka DJ Parrot).

" Part of the late nineties big beat / trip hop scene, it brought together many disparate threads of the Sheffield's music scene past (and then) present including contributions from the likes of cabaret crooner Tony Christie, Human League frontman Phil Oakey and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker.

" Lead single "The Beat Goes On" which had a huge viral moment on TikTok and social media in 2022, becoming one of the most widely used 'Sounds' in recent years accruing 2.4 billion views and 162k creations.

" The follow up 'Walk Like A Panther' peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart. Featuring vocals from Tony Christie, it became his first hit single in 25 years.

" London Records have remastered & re-issued the cult-classic album :
1. for the very first time on vinyl ! As collector Red & Yellow Double LP.
2. with an expanded and remastered 2CD edition to boot, including rare b-sides from lost CD singles, new mixes from DJ Parrot and more.

This year, Youth Fountain embarks on a new chapter with this acoustic EP, Together in Lonesome. Like previous Youth Fountain acoustic EP’s, the release reimagines their signature sound, stripping down the intensity to reveal raw, poignant renditions of their songs. Alongside this, fans will be able to dive deeper into the band’s catalog with the release of a limited-edition vinyl LP, ‘Stuck in My Own Hell’, which is released 25th April 2025 and brings together all three of their acoustic EPs into one stunning package. These projects highlight the band’s ability to connect through vulnerability, offering listeners an intimate experience that resonates deeply. "Getting to have all 3 acoustic EP's in one whole collective compilation for Youth Fountain is really exciting. Super nice way to tie everything together. I’m sure a lot of super fans of Youth Fountain will also be stoked to have the songs all on vinyl for the first time ever. " says Tyler Zanon

Annie A, the one-off collaborative project between Félicia Atkinson, Time is Away, Christina Petrie and Maxine Funke, arrives on A Colourful Storm with an inquisitive, exploratory composition evoking questions of inconstancy and reconciliation, vastness and finitude and the sometimes cruel deception of human perception. Who will conduct our dreams if we never wake?

It is a geographically diverse yet like-minded ensemble whose seeds were sown during an A Colourful Storm show in London, where time on stage was shared by Atkinson, Time is Away and Petrie. Atkinson had previously found solace in Time is Away's Ballads (ACOLOUR041), Funke's Seance (ACOLOUR035) and particularly the voice of poet Petrie, whose delivery drifts from a wide-eyed stream of consciousness to crystalline sensory expression. It is the perfect accompaniment to Atkinson's hushed tones, spoken sensitively like a mother to a resting child.

Atkinson's evocative sonic landscapes are formed from keyboard, voice and organic materials collected from life on the dramatic coast of Normandy, as well as field recordings from places far and wide. She breathes life into liminal spaces, the sound of wind, whispers and the distant clatter of rocks conjuring visions of places both beautiful and eerily familiar. Time is Away delicately arranges the field of sounds, their weaving and layering likened to the assembly of an Anni Albers textile. The spirit of Albers guides the piece, Petrie's recounting of her loom and thread a symbol of her endurance, vitality and seeking wonder in intricacies. The piece also features an exclusive concluding track by Maxine Funke, whose meditation on vulnerability confronts and surrenders herself to the enchanting natural world.

‘Devotion to a Noble Ideal’ is the first EP release on vinyl from The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus. Part retrospective and part reimagining of their work – the EP contains 4 tracks, each produced in collaboration with a different creative partner, offering a sometimes radical reinterpretation of three previous works as well as one new piece. It is a startling body of material from the Liverpool based art house collective that, nearly 40 years since its inception, continues to evolve. Formed in Liverpool in 1985, the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus is a unique experimental ensemble whose work goes beyond music. Their mesmerising recorded material is influenced by diverse cultural perspectives and stimulates a deeply personal and subjective awakening. Ethereal vocals, ambient compositions, chants, acoustic instrumentation and field recordings generate beautiful and emotionally intense soundscapes. Includes a double sided 12” insert of illustrations by Mr John Varley, Mr Prince and Miss Macfarlane from the publication THOUGHT-FORMS by Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater

Nach wichtigen Stationen bei Silver Jews und Lambchop hat William Tyler eine Reihe von neugierigen Alben veröffentlicht, die seine ländliche Herkunft und seine Begeisterung für klassische Musik mit seiner Experimentierfreudigkeit und Feldaufnahmen verbinden. Seine produktive Enklave der Instrumentalmusik hat nicht nur neue Klänge hervorgebracht, sondern auch kritische neue Stimmen. Kein anderer amerikanischer Sologitarrist dieses Jahrhunderts hat diese fruchtbare Szene so beeinflusst wie er. Und auf dem brillanten, erfrischenden "Time Indefinite", Tylers erstem Soloalbum seit fünf Jahren, betritt er endlich den immer größer werdenden Raum, den er mit geschaffen hat. Die Gitarre ist der Ausgangspunkt für ein Album, das nicht nur Tyler, sondern auch die Möglichkeiten eines ganzen Bereichs neu überdenken lässt. Ein Strudel aus Lärm und Harmonie, Geistern und Träumen, Angst und Hoffnung - es ist nicht nur eine großartige Gitarrenplatte. Es ist ein atemberaubendes Album eines großen Gitarristen, ein Meisterwerk unserer kollektiv ängstlichen Zeit. Anfang 2020, als die Welt am Rande ungeahnter Unruhen stand, verließ Tyler LA und zog nach Nashville, wo er die meiste Zeit seines Lebens gelebt hatte. Der größte Teil seines Equipments und alle seine Platten blieben zurück, in Erwartung einer vermeintlich schnellen Rückkehr. Das war natürlich nicht der Fall. Während Tyler also mit den Depressionen, den Nerven und den Fragen dieser unendlich angespannten Zeit zu kämpfen hatte, begann er, Ideen mit seinem Telefon und einem Kassettendeck aufzunehmen, wobei er sich mit den Verzerrungen, die diese Geräte mit sich bringen, abfand. Tyler sprach mit Kieran Hebden darüber, eine gemeinsame Platte zu machen, und einige dieser Stücke fühlten sich wie Testfälle an. Als diese Zusammenarbeit in andere Richtungen ging, entdeckte Tyler andere Klänge. Er bat seinen langjährigen Freund, den Produzenten Jake Davis, ihm dabei zu helfen, die Songs zusammenzufügen, und entschied sich dafür, das Rauschen und Wackeln zu akzeptieren und ungewollt eine Platte zu machen, die diese Zeiten und die heutige Zeit widerspiegelt - unruhig, beschädigt, ehrlich. Eine Wippe aus Kampf und Überleben definiert diese Songs, eine Landkarte der Angst und des Glaubens und der Pfade, die sie verbinden. "Dies ist eine Platte über Geisteskrankheiten", wird Tyler ohne Scham sagen, so offen im Leben und in der Sprache, wie er es auf den Aufnahmen ist. "Es ist Musik darüber, den Verstand zu verlieren, aber nicht zu wollen, über den Versuch, zurückzukommen." Das braucht er nicht zu sagen; man spürt es, erkennt es vielleicht aus eigener Erfahrung. Tylers Alben sind ein Nest aus nicht-musikalischen Einflüssen, denn er pendelt zwischen Spiritualität und Philosophie und beschwört die Landschaften der amerikanischen Vorstellungskraft. "Time Indefinite" ist nicht anders, vor allem in der Art und Weise, wie es die sehr persönlichen Filme von Ross McElwee beschwört. Mitte der 80er Jahre begann er, einen Film über Shermans Marsch durch den Süden zu drehen, der sich jedoch zu einer verworrenen Geschichte über Familie, Verlust und das, was wir tun, wenn unsere besten Instinkte sich den schlimmsten Dingen ergeben, die wir uns vorstellen können, entwickelte. Das Album ist eine Anspielung auf diese Idee, auf das unerbittliche Drängen der Zeit und unseren Platz in ihr, unter ihr und neben ihr. Es ist keine große Offenbarung, dass das Leben, das wir führen, die Arbeit prägt, die wir machen, ob wir das nun beabsichtigen oder nicht. In diesen Liedern kann man Tyler hören, wie er laut mit eingehenden Dämonen ringt: Sucht, mittleres Alter, Einsamkeit, Neurosen. Alle unsere Kämpfe sind unterschiedlich, aber wir sind uns darin einig, dass wir sie haben. Dies ist der Soundtrack, den Tyler geschaffen hat.

Nach wichtigen Stationen bei Silver Jews und Lambchop hat William Tyler eine Reihe von neugierigen Alben veröffentlicht, die seine ländliche Herkunft und seine Begeisterung für klassische Musik mit seiner Experimentierfreudigkeit und Feldaufnahmen verbinden. Seine produktive Enklave der Instrumentalmusik hat nicht nur neue Klänge hervorgebracht, sondern auch kritische neue Stimmen. Kein anderer amerikanischer Sologitarrist dieses Jahrhunderts hat diese fruchtbare Szene so beeinflusst wie er. Und auf dem brillanten, erfrischenden "Time Indefinite", Tylers erstem Soloalbum seit fünf Jahren, betritt er endlich den immer größer werdenden Raum, den er mit geschaffen hat. Die Gitarre ist der Ausgangspunkt für ein Album, das nicht nur Tyler, sondern auch die Möglichkeiten eines ganzen Bereichs neu überdenken lässt. Ein Strudel aus Lärm und Harmonie, Geistern und Träumen, Angst und Hoffnung - es ist nicht nur eine großartige Gitarrenplatte. Es ist ein atemberaubendes Album eines großen Gitarristen, ein Meisterwerk unserer kollektiv ängstlichen Zeit. Anfang 2020, als die Welt am Rande ungeahnter Unruhen stand, verließ Tyler LA und zog nach Nashville, wo er die meiste Zeit seines Lebens gelebt hatte. Der größte Teil seines Equipments und alle seine Platten blieben zurück, in Erwartung einer vermeintlich schnellen Rückkehr. Das war natürlich nicht der Fall. Während Tyler also mit den Depressionen, den Nerven und den Fragen dieser unendlich angespannten Zeit zu kämpfen hatte, begann er, Ideen mit seinem Telefon und einem Kassettendeck aufzunehmen, wobei er sich mit den Verzerrungen, die diese Geräte mit sich bringen, abfand. Tyler sprach mit Kieran Hebden darüber, eine gemeinsame Platte zu machen, und einige dieser Stücke fühlten sich wie Testfälle an. Als diese Zusammenarbeit in andere Richtungen ging, entdeckte Tyler andere Klänge. Er bat seinen langjährigen Freund, den Produzenten Jake Davis, ihm dabei zu helfen, die Songs zusammenzufügen, und entschied sich dafür, das Rauschen und Wackeln zu akzeptieren und ungewollt eine Platte zu machen, die diese Zeiten und die heutige Zeit widerspiegelt - unruhig, beschädigt, ehrlich. Eine Wippe aus Kampf und Überleben definiert diese Songs, eine Landkarte der Angst und des Glaubens und der Pfade, die sie verbinden. "Dies ist eine Platte über Geisteskrankheiten", wird Tyler ohne Scham sagen, so offen im Leben und in der Sprache, wie er es auf den Aufnahmen ist. "Es ist Musik darüber, den Verstand zu verlieren, aber nicht zu wollen, über den Versuch, zurückzukommen." Das braucht er nicht zu sagen; man spürt es, erkennt es vielleicht aus eigener Erfahrung. Tylers Alben sind ein Nest aus nicht-musikalischen Einflüssen, denn er pendelt zwischen Spiritualität und Philosophie und beschwört die Landschaften der amerikanischen Vorstellungskraft. "Time Indefinite" ist nicht anders, vor allem in der Art und Weise, wie es die sehr persönlichen Filme von Ross McElwee beschwört. Mitte der 80er Jahre begann er, einen Film über Shermans Marsch durch den Süden zu drehen, der sich jedoch zu einer verworrenen Geschichte über Familie, Verlust und das, was wir tun, wenn unsere besten Instinkte sich den schlimmsten Dingen ergeben, die wir uns vorstellen können, entwickelte. Das Album ist eine Anspielung auf diese Idee, auf das unerbittliche Drängen der Zeit und unseren Platz in ihr, unter ihr und neben ihr. Es ist keine große Offenbarung, dass das Leben, das wir führen, die Arbeit prägt, die wir machen, ob wir das nun beabsichtigen oder nicht. In diesen Liedern kann man Tyler hören, wie er laut mit eingehenden Dämonen ringt: Sucht, mittleres Alter, Einsamkeit, Neurosen. Alle unsere Kämpfe sind unterschiedlich, aber wir sind uns darin einig, dass wir sie haben. Dies ist der Soundtrack, den Tyler geschaffen hat.

Machine Head - fierce, relevant and unstoppable!

Very few bands make it to their 11th album. Even fewer do so with the same fire and fury that defined their early years. But Machine Head isn’t just any band. For over three decades, the personification of determination, Founder/Vocalist/Guitarist Robb Flynn, has led Machine Head on an uncompromising path – one fueled by defiance, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit of evolution. Now, with ‘UNATØNED’, they’ve once again sharpened their sound into its most direct and impactful form to date.
Determined to challenge himself, Flynn set strict songwriting parameters for ‘UNATØNED,’ shorter, more focused songs with a decidedly American feel, unconventional key changes, and shifting structures that break expectations. That self-imposed restraint resulted in a lean, unrelenting album that captures Machine Head at their most potent.
The album drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-a-longs of love-lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence.
‘UNATØNED’ is Machine Head proving once again that longevity in metal isn’t about comfort – it’s about taking risks, standing firm in conviction, and refusing to stagnate. Eleven albums deep, they remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever.

Blurring the lines between the mundane and the mystical, ESKA’s latest album, ‘The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman’, is a profound exploration of motherhood, artistry, and the delicate dance between daily rhythms and creative transcendence. For ESKA, these aren’t opposing forces—they’re inseparable threads in a richly woven life.

“It’s the sound of a first-generation, middle-aged African British woman living in post-everything Southeast London,” ESKA reflects.

After two decades of trailblazing collaborations with world-renowned artists – Moses Sumney, Grace Jones, Radiohead and Baxter Dury, to name a few - along with various accolades - including a Mercury Prize Nomination, ESKA’s new album stands as her most personal and compelling work yet. A self-directed journey, it sees her embracing her ultimate creative partner: herself.

Rooted in her eclectic musical upbringing, ESKA pulls inspiration from the sounds and influences that have defined her journey, breaking free of conventional boundaries. The result is a body of work that defies easy categorisation—bold, dynamic, and unmistakably hers.

Blurring the lines between the mundane and the mystical, ESKA’s latest album, ‘The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman’, is a profound exploration of motherhood, artistry, and the delicate dance between daily rhythms and creative transcendence. For ESKA, these aren’t opposing forces—they’re inseparable threads in a richly woven life.

“It’s the sound of a first-generation, middle-aged African British woman living in post-everything Southeast London,” ESKA reflects.

After two decades of trailblazing collaborations with world-renowned artists – Moses Sumney, Grace Jones, Radiohead and Baxter Dury, to name a few - along with various accolades - including a Mercury Prize Nomination, ESKA’s new album stands as her most personal and compelling work yet. A self-directed journey, it sees her embracing her ultimate creative partner: herself.

Rooted in her eclectic musical upbringing, ESKA pulls inspiration from the sounds and influences that have defined her journey, breaking free of conventional boundaries. The result is a body of work that defies easy categorisation—bold, dynamic, and unmistakably hers.

BIG|BRAVE"s preternatural instincts and depth of skill as musicians are on full display on their most naked and austere record to date, OST. The trio entered the studio with broader concepts and themes in mind, but no preconceived music. The overarching concept was to make a film score for a film that had yet to be created, to use minimal instrumentation, or more specifically not their standard band instruments, and to improvise within these parameters. OST was fully written and recorded in the studio. The band was free to enter the live room and record a take with whatever instrument was at hand. Once they had a good foundation for a song, Ball, Wattie, drummer Tasy Hudson and even engineer/producer Seth Manchester would each build on it, layering takes, from instrumental improvisations to abstract vocals, until they felt it was a completed piece. Wattie"s voice seamlessly blends with the instrumental flourishes made from "The Instrument", a Wurlitzer, prepared piano, synths and a very limited amount of electric guitar. Additionally, there is a sprinkling of flute by Melissa Guion (MJ Guider). The performances of each player are tactile and ardent, even at their most subtle and effected. Following OST"s completion, BIG|BRAVE contacted director/ visual artist Stacy Lee to visually score the record. Director Lee and BIG|BRAVE, having previously collaborated, had established an artistic understanding which allowed BIG|BRAVE to give Lee no instruction, no limitations: the creative process synthesized across film and music. Select screenings with live performances are in the works.

BIG|BRAVE"s preternatural instincts and depth of skill as musicians are on full display on their most naked and austere record to date, OST. The trio entered the studio with broader concepts and themes in mind, but no preconceived music. The overarching concept was to make a film score for a film that had yet to be created, to use minimal instrumentation, or more specifically not their standard band instruments, and to improvise within these parameters. OST was fully written and recorded in the studio. The band was free to enter the live room and record a take with whatever instrument was at hand. Once they had a good foundation for a song, Ball, Wattie, drummer Tasy Hudson and even engineer/producer Seth Manchester would each build on it, layering takes, from instrumental improvisations to abstract vocals, until they felt it was a completed piece. Wattie"s voice seamlessly blends with the instrumental flourishes made from "The Instrument", a Wurlitzer, prepared piano, synths and a very limited amount of electric guitar. Additionally, there is a sprinkling of flute by Melissa Guion (MJ Guider). The performances of each player are tactile and ardent, even at their most subtle and effected. Following OST"s completion, BIG|BRAVE contacted director/ visual artist Stacy Lee to visually score the record. Director Lee and BIG|BRAVE, having previously collaborated, had established an artistic understanding which allowed BIG|BRAVE to give Lee no instruction, no limitations: the creative process synthesized across film and music. Select screenings with live performances are in the works.