quête:cro magnon

'Oonops Drops' is the eponymous name of DJ Oonops' monthly broadcast on Brooklyn Radio (NYC). It's not your average radio show without talk and comments for which he invites renowned guests with their exclusive mixes from around the globe to create timeless and thematic episodes. In the last sixty shows he got visited by artists like Morcheeba, Guts, Nickodemus, The Herbaliser, Nostalgia 77, Boca 45, Blundetto, Chinese Man and many more.

Born in 1977 he got in contact with music at an early stage and soon discovered his medium of choice: vinyl. Oonops is a dj, selector, digger and is known for his smooth mixing skills to rock parties in his unmistakable wildstyle of jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, beats, edits, reggae, dub and afro. He shared the stages with acts like Nightmares on Wax, The Beatnuts, Jeru The Damaja, Ebo Taylor, Myron & E, Akua Naru and The Artifacts to name just a few.

As a longtime friend of the label and as a resident of its own club night he now gets his own compilation series to showcase his manifold taste in digging, selecting and mixing. His matter was to create a compilation of manifold genres of undiscovered, previously unreleased and for the first time on vinyl delicacies for any avid and discernable listener and dj. Especially for the vinyl lovers he dug many tracks which are treats for every set from warm-up until peak time. This compilation will stay for a long time in the bags.

Released by Hegoa Records and Night School Records.
Greatest Heads is the fourth album by the radical Basque- Berlinesque group Al Karpenter. A deconstruction of structured “rock” music, here Al Karpenter re-imagine “the band” to explore the intersection between Free music, afro-beat, the avant garde and gonzo rock.
If Theodore Adorno wrote “To Write Poetry after Auschwitz is Barbaric” in 1949, Al Karpenter attempts to answer the difficult question today; what kind of music can be done in the face of a genocide? Álvaro Matilla, Marta Sainz, Enrique Zaccagnini & Mattin’s response to the planet’s slipping into a vortex of hate is to create a music ecstatic, a music of protest bursting with multiple musical languages and glossaries, full of overlapping histories and thrilling tensions.
Greatest Heads posits a plurality of musics both in opposition and intertwined: Al Karpenter play rock instruments pulled apart in the studio in post-production. Distorted rhythm chunks bit-crushed and dissipated, segments of freedom oppressed by waves of sound invading from every direction. The interplay between the chief instrumentalists and renowned, storied sound artist Mattin creates something akin to ESP freedom-seekers Cro Magnon playing in Miles Davis’ early 70s groups, The Los Angeles Free Music Society tightening up into a clenched fist of plunderphonics and runaway percussion.
We Are All Karpenters opens Greatest Heads with the most straight-forward song refrain of the record accompanied by a band that soon crash into eruption, imagining Sun City Girls in full free rock mode.
The modulating synth sound soon sucks the band into its wake to create a spine-chilling climax of distorted sound, made fully orgasmic with mastering engineer Rashad Becker’s attention to detail. On Izugarrizko Buruak (Greatest Heads), Matilla intones in Basque over a mangled distorto-beat. A Brand New Astraphobia creates a black space for a heavily processed guitar to blow up before falling to earth at night, a gentle figure serenading the coming end.
On Side B, the band begins by being masticated by a brutal phaser, squelching and stretching the music into new territories. The overt message of Stop The Genocide! is besieged by violence before Worm City aggressively samples the ghosts of soul music, mixing in noise bursts, prepared piano and swiping, abstracted sound. Epic closer Perfect Love feels like a beat poetry performance on a burnt world, still grasping for community, for home, for some sort of human love. A Mad love, then; an angry love fuelled by solidarity and collaboration.
The band’s cascading layers of references and polyglottal musics attempt to create the perfect lover, alive with rage and disorientating ecstasy: Al Karpenter.

mimismooth, a one-of-a-kind singer widely recognized for her work with numerous artists such as Sick Team, Senninsho, and Green Butter, as well as for her

collaborative project First Jam Magic released under the name BudaMunk x Takumi Kaneko (cro-magnon) x mimismooth.

1Co.INR, a beatmaker based in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the western tip of Japan’s main island, is known for his releases on Jazzy Sport such as the album
Enough Said and his collaborative work with DJ Mitsu The Beats on BEATS OF THE MONTH SPECIAL. Now, their highly anticipated collaborative project
Kanojo to Umi (""She and the Sea"") is finally being released as a fully limited-edition vinyl pressing!

The highly anticipated 3rd full-length by this Finnish band. Morbific is a rotten-to-the-core Death Metal trio deformed in the filthy and profaned boneyard of Kitee in early 2020, featuring Olli (guitar), Jusa (vocals / bass) and Onni (drums). The band’s Pestilent Hordes demo was unleashed in the summer of 2020, and it rapidly gained them some following amongst the finest gourmets of the variety of festering, moldering and disgusting Death Metal that’s malignantly influenced by Autopsy, Rottrevore, Deteriorot, Mortician, Grave, Maimed, Undergang, Impetigo and ancient Finnish masters of death and decay, such as Funebre and Disgrace. Shortly after, in the spring of 2021, the debut full-length Ominous Seep of Putridity saw the odious light of day to unanimous praise by both the fans and the media. Just a year later, and now aligned with Memento Mori, Morbific released their second full-length, Squirm Beyond the Mortal Realm. Aptly titled, the album quickly became a cult favorite of utterly uncomfortable, slimy Death Metal. Now, Morbific are prepared to eclipse such a sewer-dwelling “highwater” mark with Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh. Whereas its not-inconsiderable predecessor confronted the listener with a blown-out, almost demo-level feel, the Finns’ third full-length proves that they can move and mesmerize and maim no matter what the soundfield is. And on Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh, it’s a raw-yet-robust show of strength, “classic” Death Metal production in a most late 80’s fashion; just witness that gurgling, fuzz-tinged bass and feel its radioactive waves envelope you. But production is one thing and songwriting is another, and with the latter, Morbific are truly hitting their stride here. Lumbering and stomping, with well-timed bouts of disgusting gallop or even ragged blasts, their songwriting twists and indeed squirms with off-kilter insanity; some would call it chaos, if not for the exceptionally tight musicianship on display here, with the sum result being an uncomfortableness that bubbles up from a deeper gutter. Thankfully, Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh conveys its dark, disgusting and unconventional aura across every element -said chops simply heighten these sensations- and is, thus far, Morbific’s best melding of form and content. Cro-Magnon as ever but somehow enlightened in the creepiest sense possible, Morbific continue their reputation as Finland’s filthiest and Death Metal’s untrendiest weirdoes. Vividly captured by Chase Slaker’s cover artwork, Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh is the foulest stench only for the brave!

Squids neues Album "Cowards" handelt vom Bösen. Neun Geschichten, deren Protagonisten mit Kulten, Charisma und Apathie rechnen. Echte und imaginäre Charaktere, die in den dunklen Ozean zwischen Richtig und Falsch waten.

"Cowards" ist Squids mutigstes Album: Es wächst gleichzeitig an Umfang und kehrt zu den Grundlagen zurück. Die Band nahm "Cowards" in den Church Studios in Crouch End mit den mit dem Mercury Prize ausgezeichneten Produzentinnen Marta Salogni und Grace Banks auf. Für die Produktion war ausserdem ihr langjähriger Shifu und Kollaborateur Dan Carey zuständig, der die ersten beiden Alben der Band aufnahm. Die Platte wurde in Seattle von John McEntire (Tortoise) gemischt, bevor sie von der reichhaltigen analogen Kette von Heba Kadrys Mastering in Brooklyn, New York, komprimiert wurde.

Squid haben seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2016 als instrumentale Jazzband für eine monatliche Nacht in Brighton einen langen Weg zurückgelegt. Ihr Debütalbum "Bright Green Field" (2021) erschien, als sich die Welt nach der Pandemie wieder zu öffnen begann, und sie schafften es in die Top 5 der UK Charts. Im Jahr 2023 veröffentlichten sie ihr zweites Album, das grüblerische "O Monolith", das die Band um die ganze Welt führte und Neuland betrat, das Jahre zuvor kaum möglich schien. Beide Alben konnten sich hierzulande in den Top 100 platzieren.

Squids neues Album "Cowards" handelt vom Bösen. Neun Geschichten, deren Protagonisten mit Kulten, Charisma und Apathie rechnen. Echte und imaginäre Charaktere, die in den dunklen Ozean zwischen Richtig und Falsch waten.

"Cowards" ist Squids mutigstes Album: Es wächst gleichzeitig an Umfang und kehrt zu den Grundlagen zurück. Die Band nahm "Cowards" in den Church Studios in Crouch End mit den mit dem Mercury Prize ausgezeichneten Produzentinnen Marta Salogni und Grace Banks auf. Für die Produktion war ausserdem ihr langjähriger Shifu und Kollaborateur Dan Carey zuständig, der die ersten beiden Alben der Band aufnahm. Die Platte wurde in Seattle von John McEntire (Tortoise) gemischt, bevor sie von der reichhaltigen analogen Kette von Heba Kadrys Mastering in Brooklyn, New York, komprimiert wurde.

Squid haben seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2016 als instrumentale Jazzband für eine monatliche Nacht in Brighton einen langen Weg zurückgelegt. Ihr Debütalbum "Bright Green Field" (2021) erschien, als sich die Welt nach der Pandemie wieder zu öffnen begann, und sie schafften es in die Top 5 der UK Charts. Im Jahr 2023 veröffentlichten sie ihr zweites Album, das grüblerische "O Monolith", das die Band um die ganze Welt führte und Neuland betrat, das Jahre zuvor kaum möglich schien. Beide Alben konnten sich hierzulande in den Top 100 platzieren.

"Self-released avant garde jazz – reissued for the first time! Recalling Kraftwerk precursor the Organisation, or contemporaries like Faust, Hünerberg employs flute, organ, bass and balloon to his DIY compositions.

Over top of Gillespie's nimble, pointillist drumming (he also plays piano and harpsichord), Hünerberg employs flute, organ, bass and balloon (that’s not a saxophone on “Cucumber”). The disorienting opener “Cro Magnon/Two” recalls Kraftwerk precursor the Organisation, or contemporaries like Faust. There’s a strange, disconsolate atmosphere to the proceedings, almost as if the air had been sucked out of a recording session booked for some avant-garde jazz heavies.

Instead of Impulse, Phase Murmur should have been bound for ESP-Disk. Alas, the duo were experimenting out in the relative vacuum of southwestern Ohio. Far from any bustling metropolis or curious record labels, Phase Murmur was truly a DIY affair. Not only did the duo press the LP up themselves (down the road at Cincinnati's Rite Record Productions), but the evocative and mysterious photo on the cover is by Gillespie while the layout, with accompanying poem on the back, was assembled by Hünerberg.

It was on Phase Murmur where Hünerberg first found his voice, and the rest is the sound of history, unspooling on a reel-to-reel tape machine.

Includes new liner notes by Erick Bradshaw (Host of Spin Age Blasters with Creamo Coyl on WFMU)"

“Total Terror 2” is another collection of early Front Line Assembly demos remixed and remastered for a CD released for the first time in 1994. The original recordings of these songs were done in 1986/87. The equipment used was primitive, but then so is mankind.

Deluxe re-release including all tracks from the first edition plus some bonus taken from old compilations. Limited pressing of 500 copies with double vinyl record, deluxe gatefold sleeve and new vintage artwork.

Burying '60s sing-alongs and dance crazes beneath waves of reverb and giddy thud, Ty Segall has carved out his own shelf in the San Francisco neo-psych garage alongside local compatriots and collaborators Sic Alps and Thee Oh Sees. After shattering the Bay Area underground as a frantic one-man band that was devoured by the local press, Segall has now given up the solo act for a three-piece group that destroys sonic and melodic boundaries with manic glee. This new live setup is a better reflection of his studio work. As an exploration of the space between Cro-Magnon fuzz and atmospheric acoustic psych, Lemons is the natural next step after his celebrated self-titled 2008 debut on Castle Face.

Coastlines is the self-titled long player from the new Japanese production unit of DJ and producer Masanori Ikeda and solo artist, session musician and Cro-Magnon keyboard player Takumi Kaneko.

Masanori and Takumi have been part of the Japanese dance music scene for years and Coastlines was born out of their working together on soundtracks for video projects. The pair wanted to make laid-back listening music for now, laying Takumi’s playful keys over Masanori’s widescreen balearic jazz-fusion to conjure beautiful and breathtaking “coastlines”.

A couple of two-track 7"s put out in late 2018 and early 2019 on Japanese house music label Flower Records soon sold out. Those four tracks were expanded to a full album of music, “a joyous, relaxing, summery soundtrack for everyone’s after hours wind down” that was released just in time for summer. It soundtracked many a Be With BBQ in 2019.

The album opens in the horizontal with the sophisticated, cocktails-by-the-pool groove of “Sunset Reflection”. A lush, beatless wonder. Their re-imagining of Ralph MacDonald’s “East Dry River” removes all the original’s bells and whistles (quite literally) and re-gears it with a subtle balearic chug. The result is a percussive gem.

“Coastline” is a beach-jazz noodle. “Drifting Ice” is as chilled and glacial as its title would suggest, yet Masanori’s head-nod slo-mo house beats throb not far below the surface. “My Fire” is another soft killer, all swelling, swirling organ over muted kicks and snares. An elegant boom-bap.

A pair of insistent tunes of the deeply balearic variety raise the tempo, but not by too much of course. On “Woods And My Guitar” a half-heard vocal refrain breathes life into the synthetic xylophone and guitar. Deft piano-work turns “Half Moon Shadow” into lounge-house for the sophisticated beach bum. A classy duo.

The self-assured re-work of Azymuth’s “Last Summer In Rio” is arguably the album’s centrepiece. Ten minutes of casually propulsive slapped bass, steel pans and slick 80s soul beats. Cue the steel drum interlude of “Maracas Bay” before album closer “Down Town” transitions us one with a shuffling, string-hinted hit of ethereal, euphoric piano bliss. Gentle disco for the new decade.

As former Test Pressing scribe Dr. Rob observed on his ever-reliable Ban Ban Ton Ton blog, the Coastlines fusion is very much in conversation with their 80s counterparts, both at home and along the coastlines of different continents. So among the nods to revered Japanese artists like Hiroshi Sato, Sakamoto and Casiopea, there are also hints of Marcos Valle and Mtume, of the aforementioned Azymuth. “The production though is very much now, not then. Not retro, just proper”. We couldn’t put it better ourselves.

Coastlines was originally a CD release only available in Japan, with HMV putting out a super-limited vinyl version a few months later for Japanese Record Store Day. But this music is just too good, so when Be With was asked via Ken Hidaka to take care of a vinyl version for the rest of the world it wasn’t a tough decision.

Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman, just 500 copies of this double LP have been pressed by the good people at Record Industry.

The past few years, we've watched from afar as Tokyo based DJ Haruka has established himself as one of Japan's top DJs and a crucial figure in the dance music scene. Since inviting him to play a Butter Sessions party in Melbourne and catching him multiple times in Japan, our online curiosities were met in real life with his impeccable taste and personalised style of house and techno. Needless to say, when Haruka sent us his debut EP "Senko", we instantly heard something special in his approach to music creation.

The three original tracks, entitled by their respective BPMs, encapsulate everything we loved about his DJ sets - bold, acidic and relentless synth sequences that are as intense as the Shibuya crossing, paired with masterful live percussion and drumming from Izpon (of Japanese salsa band Banderas) and Shigekazu Otake (of cult group Cro-Magnon) to create a unique sonic space. The recordings snarling nature reflects the pure force of DJ Nobu's Future Terror crew, of which Haruka is a key member. Additional live dubbing and mixing work from Naoyuki Uchida of Dry & Heavy - "Flying Rhythms" glues this raging bull together while purveying it's raw energy.

On the flip side, label heads Sleep D offer an unflinching club-ready version of "120", while French royalty Zadig contributes a mesmerising 14+ minute dubbed out, psychedelic burner that brings a new focus to the soundscapes of the original.







d 4. 120 (Sleep D Remix) feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida
[e] 5. 106 (Zadig Remix) [feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]




[d] b1 | 120 (Sleep D Remix) [feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]
[feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]




[d] b1 | 120 (Sleep D Remix) [feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]
[feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]




[d] b1 | 120 (Sleep D Remix) [feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]
[feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]




[d] b1 | 120 (Sleep D Remix) [feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]
[feat. Izpon, Shigekazu Otake & Naoyuki Uchida]

Aussie rare groove ensemble Kerbside Collection's second album of instrumental funk and jazz grooves "Trash Or Treasure" (released May 2015) gets the remix, rework and re-use treatment with a variety of re-interpretations with everything from downtempo hip- hop/neo-soul and dusty analogue lounge beats, to fuzzy, Balearic electronic club workouts and even some broken beat flavours.Kicking off this limited edition 12" vinyl, AV artist/DJ/Producer Sampology lights up the sitar disco vibes of "Strawberry Fields" taking the track into sizzling Balearic, club work-out territory with added afro percussion, squelchy wobbles and effects, perfect for summer festivals and hazy end-of-night vibes. Vinnie Laduce's follows with his cruisy vocoder and lo-fi indie beats reconstruction of "Shake 'n' Bake", while another local Brisbane producer TwoDee (who also appears on "Mind the Curb" remixed) delivers an eighties, electro break flavoured re-work of 'Rabbit Hole'.Side B starts JNBO (The Cactus Channel bass player) and his unique wonky, analogue and quirky touch to the title track for a fuzzed out, analogue electronics burner for fans of Floating Points, Cro Magnon, Dabrye and Dimlite (bounced to tape no-less for added bump!). Closing in on this special vinyl is Kerbside's drummer Paprika who takes the coastal groove of 'Bogangar' to the afro side with his 'Mountain Air Afro- dub', recreating a low slung, Tony Allen styled afrobeat groove with added melodic movements and dubby effects, while he adds another remix taking "Trash Or Treasure" into future jazz/broken beat territory with added percussion, moog bass and a surprise heavy change up at the end, almost reflective of some classic Fat Freddy's Drop!