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Cheeba’s Funky Rock Ensemble are back with two sides of funky rock breaks for hairy b-boys !

After the great feedback of their debut release 18 months ago, they went back into the studio soon afterwards to record some more slices of hip-hop orientated funky-psyche beats aimed at the dancefloor. Since then, both new tracks have been on a one-off dubplate and getting aired all over the country to an enthusiastic reception - so it’s about time we got them out there for everyone else to, like , just dig, maaaaan !

DRUG-CRAZED LONDON HIPPIES takes you down to the seedy back street clubs of late 60s swinging Soho - to the early discotheque scene and the psychedelic experience of numerous young rock groups and their fans. With heavy fuzz, funky beats and dirty flute loops this takes you straight to those hedonistic dancefloors in the early hours.

YOU WANNA RIDE ? Stays in the same era and same counter-culture, but on the other side of the Atlantic with the free festival vibe of alternative lifestyles in California. More fuzz-rock sounds, blended with heavy beats , screaming hammond and wordless female vocals to take you on a deep trip - to lose yourself in a field as the sun rises.

Named after his grandfather's pool hall cafe in Alert Bay, British Columbia, the record connects small-town grit with the bright lights of Nashville, where Willie recorded with Grammy- winning producer Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Kingfish, Susan Tedeschi). From roadhouse stompers to backseat ballads, Garret T. Willie sings of love, loss, addiction, and resilience with a voice that cuts like hi- beam headlights on a dark backroad. Bill's Cafe is alive wire of energy and soul, carrying old-soul traditions into the future with fire and truth.

2026 Repress

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With his fourth album Rhythm-Al-Ism he created his masterpiece, a perfect hip-hop album. As Quik explains, “the name Rhythm-Al-Ism alone tells you what I was doing. I was mixing up rhythms. I was meshing R&B with hip-hop and jazz. And a little bit of comedy”. It’s absolutely sensational and as with a lot of mid-90s albums those original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue.

A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues.

Released in 1998 on Profile, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the closest Quik ever got to making a commercial splash. “You’z A Ganxta” and “Hand in Hand” made radio waves across the country and the less radio-friendly tracks like “Medley For A ‘V’” were bumping out of car stereos. Combining his soulful, jazzy P-Funk/G-Funk beats with his effortlessly smooth flow, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the quintessential West Coast Party. Squelchy synths, bouncy bass, monstrously knocking drums and freaky keys - this is peaking acidic party-rap, straight out the gate. Music for gliding, for skating, for time with your people and your poison. Sunshine. No cares. BBQs. Heavy smoke in the air. Dripping with wit and good humour. A real swing to the vibe.

The album opens with Quik setting out his mission statement with “Rhythm-Al-Ism (Intro)”, telling us what this is all about before the self-explanatory “We Still Party” rocks the spot. It’s definitely all about the party here, complete with Quik’s signature head-nod/body-moving beat. Next up, the undeniable laidback funk and dripping swing of groove-laden “So Many Wayz”. This positively slaps.

Then we get to the three huge singles. The R&B-tinged radio-friendly minor-hit “Hand In Hand” closes the first side only for the flip to get straight into the rolling and scratching of bleepy computer-funk banger “Down, Down, Down” (featuring a particularly nice use of Howard Johnson’s epochal “So Fine”). The effortlessly smooth, flute and guitar-laced “You’z A Ganxta” completes the trio. Next up the fast-paced, vocoder-enhanced, woulda-beena-global-hit “I Useta Know Her”. This coulda (shoulda) been a single too. Head-nod funk workout “No Doubt”, with its ace sample of Prince's “Sexy Dancer”, closes out the second side.

“Speed” races out the gate on the second disc, sampling Edwin Birdsong’s “Rapper Dapper Snapper” in a harder, better, faster, stronger way than those daft Parisian punks. Amphetamine-swift raps over soaring, string-drenched b-boy beats. A total anthem. Up next, the staggering, near 8-minute laconic, lounge-y sax-rap of “Whateva U Do” cools things down and smooths things out with its flute wrapping around a sample of Smokey Robinson’s “So In Love” and some oh-so-classy lounge-piano tinkling. And speaking of smooth, things don’t get much smoother than the blissfully melodic glider-anthem “Thinkin’ ’Bout U” riding that ace flip of SWV’s “Use Your Heart”. Exceptional.

The exquisite funky-flute-slapper “Medley for a ‘V’ (The P***Y Medley)” opens the fourth and final side, with star turns from Snoop Dogg and a typically suave Nate Dogg. It’s followed by the supremely skanked-out “Bombudd II”, a beautifully sweet reggae-fuelled ode to the herb. “Get 2Getha Again” is slick funk. Stunning.

This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Rhythm-Al-Ism was originally pressed as a double and we’ve reproduced the original LA vibe picture sleeve and insert to match.

As that original front cover says, this is “over 70 minutes of commercial free music” and it’s absolutely perfect from start to finish. There are no stand-out tracks here. It’s all gold.
: Rhythm-al-ism (2LP)

,Long Time Caller, First Time Listener" ist der Nachfolger des Kult-Debütalbums ,Things Are Gonna Be Alright" der aufstrebenden Londoner Indie-/Alt-Country-Band Vegas Water Taxi aus dem Jahr 2023. Es vereint die gefeierte EP ,Long Time Caller" mit ihrem Nachfolger ,First Time Listener" und zeigt das Talent von Vegas Water Taxi-Frontmann Ben Hambro für tödlich witzige Songtexte, die sich nicht vor der allzu realen Traurigkeit in ihrem Kern scheuen. VWT fängt den kulturellen Zeitgeist perfekt ein und bricht den prahlerischen Charme der Americana durch ein eindeutig britisches Prisma: US-Roadtrips, Trucks und Whiskey in Spelunken werden gegen nächtliche Overground-Fahrten, Klatsch und Tratsch der Kreativdirektoren aus Dalston und Scampi-Pommes im Spurstowe Arms ausgetauscht.

Auf ihrem dritten Album bei Oh Boy Records und ihrem fünften seit Beginn ihrer Karriere vor einem Jahrzehnt stellt Emily Scott Robinson erneut ihre Meisterschaft als Performerin und Geschichtenerzählerin unter Beweis. Mit Appalachia - aufgenommen in den Dreamland Recording Studios mit dem Grammy-nominierten Produzenten Josh Kaufman - öffnet sich Robinson für Experimente und singt mit ihrer kristallklaren Stimme über Widerstandsfähigkeit, Liebe, Trauer und Hoffnung. Robinsons Talent ist keine Überraschung - sie ist mittlerweile eine erfahrene Tournee-Künstlerin, sowohl im In- als auch im Ausland. Ihre Alben ,Traveling Mercies" (2019) und ,American Siren" (2021) landeten jeweils ganz oben auf den Jahresendlisten ,Best Country and Americana Albums" des Rolling Stone und ,10 Best Country Albums" von Stereogum. Sie wurde von der Washington Post, Billboard, American Songwriter und No Depression gelobt und erreichte mit ihrem Song ,Let 'Em Burn" Platz 19 der NPR-Liste ,100 Best Songs of 2021". Es war ihre 2020 veröffentlichte Single ,The Time for Flowers", eine Hymne der Hoffnung, die sie zu Hause inmitten der globalen Pandemie aufgenommen hatte, die die Aufmerksamkeit von Oh Boy Records auf sich zog, dem 1981 von John Prine gegründeten Independent-Label. Robinson ergriff die Gelegenheit, sich dem freigeistigen und beliebten Plattenlabel anzuschließen, das das Erbe ihres Helden weiterführt. Robinson ist überzeugt, dass die Songs auf ,Appalachia" die besten sind, die sie je geschrieben hat - sie singt über ihre an Demenz erkrankte Großmutter, einen Saloon voller schillernder Charaktere, in dem nur Bargeld akzeptiert wird, und über ihre Dankbarkeit für das Leben trotz aller Schwierigkeiten. Das Album enthält ein Duett mit dem Grammy-Gewinner John Paul White, das die Liebe feiert, die mit Narben und Alter einhergeht, sowie eine Hymne für alle, die jemals gescheitert sind oder hinter ihren Erwartungen zurückgeblieben sind. ,Es gibt etwas, das ich bei jeder Platte, die ich mache, tue", sagt sie. ,Ich verwebe ein Gebet darin und bitte darum, dass all diese Songs ihren Weg zu allen finden, die sie brauchen. Ich bitte diese Songs, von Nutzen zu sein, den Menschen zu helfen, Freude zu finden und zu erleben."

'Vintage Violence' is John Cale's first post-Velvet Underground album and was originally released in 1970. Cale's signature sound with the Velvets was purposefully rough and aurally challenging, but 'Vintage Violence' is a startlingly user-friendly piece of mature, intelligent pop with a smooth, satin finish. The Welsh rocker shows a pop craftsman at work on ten tracks that reference everything from Country Rock to Beach Boys harmonies to The Band-style Americana and beyond.

A1 Hello, There
A2 Gideon's Bible
A3 Adelaide
A4 Big White Cloud
A5 Cleo
A6 Please

B1 Charlemagne
B2 Bring It On Up
B3 Amsterdam
B4 Ghost Story
B5 Fairweather Friend

The second volume in Death Is Not The End's survey of a form of Brazilian country music known as música caipira ("hillbilly music") - a stripped-back forerunner to música sertaneja, the Brazilian equivalent to US country & western which in it's contemporary form has come to dominate the domestic music industry in recent decades. This collection covers some of the earliest recordings made by the pioneering folklorist Cornélio Pires at the end of the 1920s, through to records from the 30s, 40s & 50s and the beginning of the 60s.

Somewhat rooted in Portuguese troubadour folk traditions, música caipira is typically performed by a duo singing in parallel thirds and sixths, drawing upon a Portuguese-Brazilian style known as moda de viola - with the viola being the viola caipira, a Brazilian-style ten-string guitar that is the core instrument of the music. Born out of the "outback"-style region in north-eastern Brazil, these songs tell stories of pain, love, loss & betrayal - often backed by homemade guitars using invented tunings. Away from the polished pop country & western-stylings of the sertaneja, these recordings could be viewed as the Brazilian equivalent to the roots music of the American dustbowl or Appalachia.

Adam Greens Musik ist so untrennbar mit dem Wesen New Yorks verbunden wie das Rumpeln der U-Bahn, der Schmutz der Lower East Side oder der barocke Glanz der Midtown-Blocks, in denen einst die Geisterjäger ihre Runden drehten. Seine Songs spiegeln die Stadt in ihrer zeitlosen Mischung aus Chaos, Energie und Sehnsucht wider. Sie durchdringen die dunklen Geschichten Manhattans ebenso wie die von Gentrifizierung gereinigten Straßen und fangen die widersprüchliche Erfahrung des Großstadtlebens ein - die Gleichzeitigkeit von Nähe und Einsamkeit, Abenteuer und Entfremdung, Gesellschaft und Isolation. Sein 2005 erschienenes Soloalbum Gemstones ist tief in dieser Welt verwurzelt - eine musikalische Antwort auf Bright Lights, Big City. Die rockabilly-getriebenen Rhythmen rütteln wie die L-Train, die Melodien wehen wie ein Windstoß zwischen den Häuserschluchten. Doch auch wer New York nie betreten hat, findet in diesen Stücken den universellen Nerv des Alleinseins inmitten der Menge. Getragen von Greens markanter Baritonstimme entfaltet sich Gemstones als bunte Klangreise: vom drehenden, von einer Wurlitzer angetriebenen Titelsong über das orgelnde Over The Sunrise und das unwiderstehliche Rock"n"Roll-Stück Emily bis hin zur bittersüßen Ballade Losing On A Tuesday. Fantasievolle Bilder, surreale Sprachspiele und charmante Melodien schaffen eine Welt. Doch unter all dem Witz und der Verspieltheit schlägt ein echtes, warmes Herz voller Gefühl. Gemstones ist zugleich berauschend und tröstlich - ein Album, das Leichtigkeit mit Tiefgang verbindet. Nach seiner Veröffentlichung machte es Adam Green vor allem in Deutschland zum Star: Das Publikum erkannte in diesem modernen "Two Cent Opera" die Schönheit kleiner Geschichten und großer Melodien. Zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum erscheint Gemstones nun neu auf Vinyl - ein perfekter Anlass, diesen musikalischen Edelstein erneut funkeln zu lassen.

Kurt Vile once sang that he had a freeway in mind, but Matt Kivel (Vile’s former Woodsist labelmate) literally has a freeway mind. Kivel grew up in Santa Monica, California, getting shuttled up and down the 10, the 101, PCH, and all the other freeways Angelenos lovingly affix definite articles to. He started out in music as part of the buzzy, Eagle Rock-based indie band Princeton, toured the country relentlessly, burned out, and then resurfaced with a series of bleak, hauntingly spare solo albums that garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Over the ensuing decade, Kivel collaborated closely with a growing set of brilliant, and varied musicians from across the globe, including Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Alasdair Roberts, Madi Diaz, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, Jana Horn, and Satomimagae. He moved to Austin, Texas then left for New York City for a spell and then returned to Austin where he settled down. In 2017, he started writing the songs for what would become his eighth solo album, Escape From L.A. Escape From L.A. is an autobiographical song cycle that chronicles the first thirty-three years of Kivel’s life in the City of Angels. The material was labored over, rewritten, rearranged, and rerecorded numerous times, between LA, New York, and Austin. Kivel self-effacingly refers to it as his “bootleg as hell Blood On The Tracks” with myriad alternate sequences, tempos and arrangements that will never see the light of day. It involved over twenty collaborators, a string section, pedal steel guitars, and a renewed lyrical and vocal clarity that allows the narrative vignettes to unspool in vivid detail. It’s a beautiful, grounded statement and one of Kivel’s best.

The cult series returns with the brand new
“The Mood Mosaic Vol. 22 - Funk IT.”
. A sonic journey through rened grooves
and timeless atmospheres, crafted with
unmistakable taste.

Adam Greens Musik ist so untrennbar mit dem Wesen New Yorks verbunden wie das Rumpeln der U-Bahn, der Schmutz der Lower East Side oder der barocke Glanz der Midtown-Blocks, in denen einst die Geisterjäger ihre Runden drehten. Seine Songs spiegeln die Stadt in ihrer zeitlosen Mischung aus Chaos, Energie und Sehnsucht wider. Sie durchdringen die dunklen Geschichten Manhattans ebenso wie die von Gentrifizierung gereinigten Straßen und fangen die widersprüchliche Erfahrung des Großstadtlebens ein - die Gleichzeitigkeit von Nähe und Einsamkeit, Abenteuer und Entfremdung, Gesellschaft und Isolation. Sein 2005 erschienenes Soloalbum Gemstones ist tief in dieser Welt verwurzelt - eine musikalische Antwort auf Bright Lights, Big City. Die rockabilly-getriebenen Rhythmen rütteln wie die L-Train, die Melodien wehen wie ein Windstoß zwischen den Häuserschluchten. Doch auch wer New York nie betreten hat, findet in diesen Stücken den universellen Nerv des Alleinseins inmitten der Menge. Getragen von Greens markanter Baritonstimme entfaltet sich Gemstones als bunte Klangreise: vom drehenden, von einer Wurlitzer angetriebenen Titelsong über das orgelnde Over The Sunrise und das unwiderstehliche Rock"n"Roll-Stück Emily bis hin zur bittersüßen Ballade Losing On A Tuesday. Fantasievolle Bilder, surreale Sprachspiele und charmante Melodien schaffen eine Welt. Doch unter all dem Witz und der Verspieltheit schlägt ein echtes, warmes Herz voller Gefühl. Gemstones ist zugleich berauschend und tröstlich - ein Album, das Leichtigkeit mit Tiefgang verbindet. Nach seiner Veröffentlichung machte es Adam Green vor allem in Deutschland zum Star: Das Publikum erkannte in diesem modernen "Two Cent Opera" die Schönheit kleiner Geschichten und großer Melodien. Zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum erscheint Gemstones nun neu auf Vinyl - ein perfekter Anlass, diesen musikalischen Edelstein erneut funkeln zu lassen.

Difficult as it may be to imagine, there was a time when Sun City Girls did not exist. Prior to the Bishop brothers teaming up with drummer/shaman Charlie Gocher to form SCG's classic trio lineup, there were various ad-hoc assemblages of local Phoenix-area freaks and weirdos – groups which existed only long enough to play a single gig, open mic or house party before disbanding without a trace. Hatched from this milieu was Paris 1942, a short-lived band formed by guitarist Jesse Srogoncik that included Alan Bishop, Richard Bishop and former Velvet Underground drummer Maureen Tucker.

Paris 1942 would play only four shows in as many months, but between April and August of 1982, the band would gather several times a week in Tucker's living room, where the group feverishly wrote and rehearsed with a kind of quotidian discipline. While P42 didn't release anything during their brief tenure, a 7" EP and LP (both self-titled) surreptitiously surfaced on the Majora label in the mid to late '90s. Until now, those two titles – as well as an appearance on Placebo's Amuck comp in late '82 – would be the only documented evidence that this improbable, serendipitous and magnificent band ever existed.

While those expecting P42's music to sound like a tantalizing combination of Sun City Girls' iconoclastic hoodoo havoc and the Velvets' primal drug-chug certainly won't be disappointed, Paris 1942 more often than not transcends even these nearly impossible expectations. Srogoncik's songs, in particular, are a revelation, displaying as much in common with the exuberant raunch of The Gun Club and the chapbook punk of Peter Laughner as they do any of the more obvious touchstones.

The group's foresight to document and capture this meeting of musical minds – a meeting as unlikely as it was short-lived – provides a missing link between the Velvets and the Voidoids, between the Dead Boys and the Dead C, between ESP-Disk' and DNA. Far more than a historical curiosity, Paris 1942 provides a fresh perspective on an embryonic and sadly vanishing US underground. It is music that blinks at the past and anticipates a thousand possible futures.

– James Toth (excerpt from the liner notes)

Kee'ahn, whose name is derived from kee’an, the Wik word meaning to dance and to play, is a proud Yalanji, Jirrbal, and Badulaig artist. Her music is steeped in connection to culture, community, Country, and self and with her soulful voice and storytelling, Kee’ahn has had a powerful impact on the Australian music scene, earning her the Archie Roach Foundation Award and Music Victoria’s Best Emerging Artist award. She has since performed at the 2025 AFL Grand Final collaborating with Baker Boy, Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Dallas Woods, Alice Ivy and shared stages with the likes of Julia Jacklin, Hiatus Kaiyote, Greentea Peng and Angie McMahon.

Kee’ahn’s debut EP “for me, for you x” is a collection of lush cinematic soul and rnb love letters. Across 5 tracks, Kee’ahn explores the pursuit of hope, compassion, connection, heartbreak, and healing. This project naturally and authentically came together, detailing moments across 5 years of Kee’ahn’s life. Each song begins on guitar and vocals with demo production in Kee’ahn’s Brunswick bedroom - they are diary entries to herself, formed into messages that hit the hearts of its listeners.

Each song is reminiscent of classic 60’s jazz soul to 90’s neo-soul rnb, to early 2000’s inspired soul pop weaving dynamic soundscapes with clear and meaningful catchy lyricism.

Multi-platinum selling artist Ashnikko makes their hotly anticipated return with ‘Smoochies’, set for release on 17th October.

Equal parts sexy, playful, and feminine, ‘Smoochies’ toes the line between the grotesque and the absurd. Moving past the pressures of viral fame, Ashnikko fully embraces their maximalist pop persona, blending club, country and hip-hop influences. The album stands as the "older sister" to DEMIDEVIL and a liberated evolution from WEEDKILLER. It's their most personal and collaborative work, trading fantasy worlds for autobiographical themes through the lens of the "Smoochie Girl”: a messy, chaotic and authentic figure who rejects beauty standards and the male gaze in favour of personal autonomy and joyful whimsy.



With hits like 'Daisy', 'Stupid' and 'Slumber Party' and a global fanbase built through worldwide sold-out tours, 'Smoochies' marks the start of a bold new era.

The Mighty Diamonds are one of the most famous vocal groups to come out of the Jamaican Reggae scene.
Their perfect harmonies ride over the wholesome and Garveyite influenced lyrics to such great effect that they will always evoke memories of that time and place, but also like all great music never seems to date.

The Mighty Diamonds consist of Donald ‘Tappy’ Shaw (lead vocals) Fitzroy ‘Bunny’ Simpson and Lloyd ‘Judge’ Ferguson providing those fantastic harmonies.
They began their recording career working with producers Stranger Cole and Rupie Edwards but found their breakthrough success with producer Joseph ‘Joe Joe’ Hookim at the legendary Channel One Studios recording ‘Hey Girl’ and covering two foreign tunes namely ‘Country Living’ (The Stylistics) and ‘Stoned Out of Mind’ (The Chi-lites) which suited their vocal styles perfectly.

The vocal group also cut tracks with other famous producers of the time Joe Gibbs ,Gussie Clarke and Mr.Tappa Zukie of which we focus this release on.On listening, these tunes work perfectly with harmonies weaving together and lifting the songs to another level.
The group also leave some room for a history lesson in the shape of ‘Morgan the Pirate’ and the thought provoking ‘Do You Want to Spend Your Time Wasting Time’.
Well waste no more and enjoy this set by one of Jamaica’s finest vocal groups….

Man kann nicht über Wicca Phase Springs Eternal sprechen, ohne über Verwandlung zu sprechen. Seit über einem Jahrzehnt nutzt der Sänger, Songwriter und Produzent Adam Andrzejewski diesen Künstlernamen als kreativen Sammelbegriff, unter dem er ein umfangreiches Werk geschaffen hat, das ebenso beständig fesselnd wie ständig im Wandel begriffen ist. Diese geschickte Fähigkeit, Sounds und Stile zu vermischen, ist zu seinem Markenzeichen geworden, aber unabhängig von den Genre-Kennzeichen - von Rap-Beats über New-Wave-Synthesizer bis hin zu Goth-Atmosphären - ist das schlagende Herz von WPSE Andrzejewskis einzigartige Stimme und seine esoterische und doch emotionale Lyrik. Diese Schlüsselelemente haben das Projekt durch musikalische Erkundungen geprägt, und auf seinem neuesten Album Mossy Oak Shadow" stellt Andrzejewski sie nun auf die Probe. Er verzichtet auf wummernde 808s und aufwendige Produktionen zugunsten einer schnörkellosen Band und spärlichen Live-Aufnahmen. Das Album ist eine mitreißende Sammlung von verträumten Folk-Rock-Songs, die beweisen, dass Wicca Phase Springs Eternal wirklich alles sein kann. Ich habe immer irgendwie gedacht, dass ich, solange ich den Namen Wicca Phase Springs Eternal habe, alles machen kann, was ich will", erklärt Andrzejewski. Der Name bietet einen Rahmen für die Texte und die Ästhetik des Projekts - mein Songwriting mit einer mystischen Überlagerung - und solange ich etwas darinnen zum Funktionieren bringen kann, ist das Genre nicht wirklich wichtig." Diese gewagte kreative Mentalität war es, die Andrzejewski antrieb, als er das WPSE Projekt ins Leben rief, neben seiner Arbeit als Mitbegründer des einflussreichen Kollektivs GothBoiClique oder als Mitglied von Thraxxhouse und Misery Club und seinem Punk-Nebenprojekt Pay For Pain. Dennoch hätten wohl nur wenige ahnen können, dass das neue richtige Album von Wicca Phase Springs Eternal eine Sammlung von countrylastigen Folksongs sein würde, die ohne auch nur einen Hauch von Ironie dargeboten werden. Wie bei allem, was Wicca Phase Springs Eternal macht, zeigt sich Andrzejewski auch auf Mossy Oak Shadow" voll und ganz engagiert. Mossy Oak Shadow" mag für Fans von Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, die durch seine beatlastigen modernen Klassiker wie Secret Boy" (2016) oder Suffer On" (2018) auf ihn aufmerksam geworden sind, wie eine drastische Kehrtwende erscheinen - aber das sollte keine völlige Überraschung sein. WPSE-Veröffentlichungen haben sich schon immer mit reduzierten Akustiksongs beschäftigt, und noch weiter zurück gibt es Andrzejewskis frühere Arbeit als Mitglied der Emo/Indie-Größen Tigers Jaw. Als er diese Band 2013 verließ, um sich auf Wicca Phase Springs Eternal zu konzentrieren, stieß er auf Skepsis bei den Zuhörern, die zögerten, seine neue Persönlichkeit und seinen experimentellen Trap-Sound anzunehmen. Ironischerweise hat Andrzejewski jetzt Wicca Phase Springs Eternal so gründlich etabliert, dass er seine Fans erneut mit einem krassen Klangwandel herausfordert - diesmal jedoch durch die Rückkehr zu dem gitarrenorientierten Songwriting, das er beiseite gelegt hatte. Dylan, Will Oldman, Richard Thompson - was ich an diesen Songwritern am meisten mag, ist, dass ich ihnen vertrauen kann", erklärt Andrzejewski . Wenn sie etwas völlig Seltsames machen, vertraue ich darauf, dass sie wissen, was sie tun, weil es von derselben Person kommt, die all diese anderen Songs geschrieben hat, die ich liebe. Auch wenn es vielleicht etwas Zeit braucht, bis ich dort bin, wo sie sind, möchte ich es versuchen."

Star Feminine Band, hardest working women in Beninese show business, are releasing their third album on Born Bad, who went all out for their first. Some get malaria at the sight of that sticky world label : rest assured, the world is all they deserve after nine years of hard work. These eight young women, from a village that even Beninese can't quite place, started out in hard mode.

They had to convince themselves that it was worth a shot, but also their family, their village and an entire continent.

André Balaguemon, composer, manager and lyricist, does a lot, while remaining in the background. He put the group together, included his three daughters, houses everyone with his wife Edwige who also manages dances and costumes. He gave them a musical training, and created the framework for them to continue school while rehearsing hard. From local heroes to UNICEF ambassadors, the group has made it. The very existence of this new album is a testament to the perseverance of Grâce, Anne, Urrice, Bénie, Angélique, Sandrine, Julienne and Ashley. The personnel of this family affair has changed a bit : two new women have joined the group, which conquered bigger stages (Glastonbury in the summer, the X-mas BBC special).



This new album brings simple joys : watching them grow from Benin's first girl band to a band in its own right. And never forgetting why they took to the stage in the first place. Star Feminine Band makes straightforward music, taking no detours to express what's missing in the country. When Grâce advocates for kids getting a chance to get to school it's because there's nothing else more important to say that day. Teachers, don’t leave the kids alone, after all.



As they said on their first album, « music is our job », let them be that : musicians having a lot of fun on this album. It wanders through the vast territory of the countless West African styles. They even make a quick foray into reggae to talk about marriage (with a little rap thrown in), and interweave their voices in multiple languages (Waama, Ditamari, Bariba, Fon, Yoruba). And boy do they have hits. To each is own, but “L'enfant c'est un don de Dieu » (Child is god’s gift) is a mighty steamroller, methodically smoothing out the ground for dancing together to its final chorus, singing « debout-les-en-fants / get up, kids ! » along.



Smoother than the first two albums, supported by fine arrangements, ambitious keyboard parts and more complex vocal harmonies without losing any of their spontaneity, this third opus quietly adds to Benin's musical heritage. As they make clear in « Jusqu'au bout du monde », clever little number that we can already hear swelling up on stage: « oui, c’est Star Feminine Band qui a gagné - o / Star Feminine Band won».