Search:d mind

Limited to 500 copies on gold vinyl, contains download also. The second of three groundbreaking albums by the ultimate power trio who morphed blues into hard rock and spawned punk. A much-loved opus with a side-long concept piece. A bona fide inspirational rock classic. “Tony McPhee has turned to anarchic paranoid battlegrounds of the mind for inspiration,” Melody Maker. And a second side that delivers the mighty ‘Cherry Red’, McPhee’s take on The Beatles’ ‘A Day In the Life’, a sideswipe at junk food and a glorious interpretation of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Groundhogs Blues’. “Both musically and lyrically, ’Split’ speaks for a lost time, a nomad time when ideals took to the hoof and musicians stayed on the road rather than confront the fact that the '60s 'war' had been lost.” Julian Cope // “Murky, fuzzy, and wisely esoteric.” AllMusic. // “Supercharged, fractured and raging.” MOJO // Remastered and packaged with bonus tracks on the download (out-takes from the original sessions that spawned this spontaneous monster).

For fans of Michael Kiwunaka, Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, Gregory Porter, and Mg.Kee. Full tour in the works for 2025 in North America and Europe. Collaborated with a wide range of artists including Jack White, Dwele, Slum Village, Black Milk, Foreign Exchange, 14KT, and Daru Jones. Former musical director for tours for Black Milk and Slum Village, throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. “From the Throne Room” is Abernathy’s fourth official LP, following the trilogy of “Monologue,” “Dialogue,” and “Epilogue,” released between 2016 and 2019. Aaron Abernathy has been firmly established in the modern soul scene for almost two decades, and he continues to elevate his craft as a songwriter and performer. His latest LP “From the Throne Room” once again demonstrates a rare ability to seamlessly shift between lyrical themes and musical styles, and it is his most inspired and uplifting album to date.
The turmoil caused by the pandemic was especially hard on touring musicians, and as a veteran musical director and bandleader who has regularly traversed the globe, Abernathy was certainly affected. Instead of wallowing in grief and darkness, he tapped into his gifts as a songwriter and lyricist to manifest light and optimism in his own life. As expressed on the opening track “New Relationship,” this “new way of seeing” kicked open some new creative doors for him as a musician and producer, with a wide variety of influences. The four-to-the-floor push of “A Reason to Smile” brings to mind 80’s post-disco boogie, “Show Off” shows off a modern rock edge, and the booming, driving energy in tunes like “Hope Song” and “Joy” is reminiscent of the electric 60’s soul of Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. With its catchy hooks, powerful lead vocals, and slick self-produced arrangements, “From the Throne Room” proves that Aaron Abernathy remains one of the most talented singer/songwriters of his generation in contemporary soul music.

Released on October 25th as a limited-edition double AA 7” on limited edition “Death Grey” vinyl, "Death Grip Kids" is The Lovely Eggs at their most punk rock. Kicking and screaming and stamping their way through three minutes of righteously pissed off fury. With more out of this world artwork by illustrator Casey Raymond, the Double AA features a re-release of their digital single “Memory Man” (which has not been previously available on 7” vinyl until now). ‘Memory Man’ shows the Eggs at their hypnotic, Can-like best. David’s drums lock into a flawless Krautrock inspired groove, whilst Holly’s vocals hang ethereally over the song’s swirling, mesmerising psychedelia. The strictly limited edition 7" also features one of the band’s first ever songs “True Grit” from 2005 which will not be available digitally and can only be heard by buying this vinyl. Both A-sides come from the band’s new album Eggsistentialism, released in May 2024. Recorded by the band at home in Lancaster with production work from Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, the results are without doubt the most expansive, mind-melting ten songs the band have delivered yet. They head out on the final leg of their Eggsistentialism tour in October with support from Psych Poppers ‘British Birds’ as well as performance poet ‘Violet Malice’

NOW Music is proud to present the newest addition to the ‘Yearbook’ series: NOW – Yearbook 1981. NOW – Yearbook 1981; a celebration of the eclectic and creative brilliance of the year in pop. 4 CDs of 85 tracks that defined the charts in 1981. Available on a 4CD special edition which is housed in ‘hard-back book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet with a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz, and original singles artwork, and as a standard 4-CD package. A limited edition 3LP set pressed in translucent red vinyl, limited to 3,000 units and a 4CD set

Back in print, on white & purple splatter vinyl!

Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Head North has used their indie-influenced pop-punk to break out of the local scene and demand the attention of a national audience. Packing in sentiments as big as their sound, the band hits home with walls of guitar lines, frenetic punk rock drums and an emotional complexity anchored behind their lyrics. Singer Brent Martone hits raspy notes of anger and sadness, knowing when to shriek and when to soften, adding a layer of versatile energy to back up his passion.

RIYL: The Dangerous Summer, Brand New, Have Mercy

Blending elements of post-hardcore, emo and Southern-tinged indie rock, Microwave balance frankness with a penchant for wit, allowing for seemingly standard personal confessions to make a significant and striking impact. While often tipping into the heavier side of resonant punk, the band shines brightest in soft reservation. Their self-released debut album Stovall feels like a snapshot in time, bringing to mind that same unforgettable feeling that albums like Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American, Manchester Orchestra’s I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child and Taking Back Sunday’s Tell All Your Friends did years ago.

RIYL: Manchester Orchestra, All Get Out, Taking Back Sunday"

Hailing from the Isle of Wight and steadily building in momentum via a run of stunning singles, Wet Leg are making their much anticipated breakthrough with their debut album on Domino. The duo hit a note between the brooding post punk and new wave romanticism and a spikier pop streak which should find them winning hearts and minds all over festival season. 'Chaise Longue', 'Wet Dream' and 'Too Late Now' have been doing the rounds since the girls signed to Domino in 2021, and it only takes one listen to know they're going to be huge. Razor sharp hooks, singalong choruses and a droll sense of humour are all conspiring to make Wet Leg your new favourite band.

The original pressings are already hard to find, being extremely rare! Plus, to collect them all, you'd need the cost of a car for this parade of super pricey premium editions! If you want to enjoy the ultimate rare grooves, this is your only option!

These soul and funk performances, buried in the midst of the late 70s US record industry, which could be considered the destiny of the TAX SCAM label, are a must-listen! Enjoy killer tunes with grooves and feelings that are just as good as the hits of the time!

Derwin Daniels, Soprano Sax player and composer, made this little R&B 45 in 1989. Recorded with vocals by the unfortunately passed away La Donna Wells who brings a Mary J Level performance 3 years before "What's The 411" hit the streets. Slick, deep R&B that's soulful enough for modern soul and disco sets, what's not to love. Flipped with some Jazz Bizznes from Derwin, utter gold!

This is the forth in the massively popular Kick Four series from Good 2 Go DMR with four absolute monster Jungle Techno tracks.

2024 Repress

All in that stark contrast between ethereal spaciousness and steely, martial rhythms out the industrial spectrum, 'Far Field' takes us on a voyage across the board, from breaks-heavy machine stunts to washed-out tapestries, via EBM-laced detours and junglistic maneuvers. Investigating the nexus zone between dance functionality and limitless escapology, it extrapolates both artists' blends to further immersive, hypnotic effect. Taking over the A side, .VRIL gets the ball rolling with 'Lost Together', which sets the tone on a low-slung, nostalgia-drenched note; combining the syncopated swagger of downtempo techno with ambient-oid stasis and static-filled opacity. Like watching an all-metal sun sinking past the blazing skyline. Revving up the engines, 'Fnord' feat. RAeYN conjures up a way more muscular arsenal of big-room-ready wares, from aggro snare salvos to anthemic synth kinetics, through that replicant-hunting kinda vibe. One to have the Saturn rings go hula hoop, with all woofers and brains in the vicinity melting in XTC. Shutting the A side off, 'We Believe' returns to a lighter, more vaporous mindset but sure implements that signature heavy swing of .VRIL, flush with textured kicks and FX-soaked arps. True monster prog swell. Flip it over and there's HVL dishing out a textbook example of his vortical electronic furls with the title-track, 'Far Field' - an oneiric drift that slowly rises from its heavy-lidded slumber, ascending towards bleepin' n bloopin' experimental effervescence as bars fly by. A number bound to hack your body and mind into two distinct facets, and while one dances its way frantically across the ever buzzing space/time continuum, the other shall reach a state of healing calm and transcending ubiquity. Smoothly shuttling us off to the upper layers of the ionosphere, 'Lancet Mxi' clenches it on a trippy note, taxiing us midway zero-G UK bass territories and eerie ambient abstraction. HVL's total, widescreen vision at its most unhindered, all set at expanding your mind to yet uncharted horizons of sound and closing the gap between two distant, estranged galaxies. A fractured headspace to both dance and dream to. *Dressed in a fine piece of artwork courtesy of Daniel M. Diaz, 'RYCL021' comes pressed on 180g audiophile black vinyl for optimal playing and listening experience.

" Utah Saints are one of the most important acts since the inception of electronic dance music. Early adopters of sampling, they brought the artform - used chiefly in hip-hop in the 1980s - into new realms.

" Incorporating rock, dance and hip-hop elements into their music, they scored 5 Top 40 UK singles including 'Something Good' and 'What Can You Do For Me' and a Top 10 album in the space of just two years.
" Out of print since its original release over 30 years ago, Utah Saints' eponymous debut album returns on 2LP - remastered & extended with 3 sought after remixes by CJ Bolland, DJ Misjah and Union Jack. Includes special limited edition mirror board packaging, for National Album Day 2024.

Here we go with the 9th release of Gabberhead Records

mindSET is the ninth album from enigmatic producer SW., directly following this summer’s excursion into his trademark techno, IDM and bleep soundscapes, on the myDEFINITIONS Vol II album. But with his mindSET album SW. takes a left turn, as pioneers often do, and we find ourselves on the lesser traveled side roads of electronic music history. Or in SW.’s own words: “the more abstract leftfield elements.”
It’s in these less-defined areas that SW. finds his sweet spot, building dancefloor soundtracks that defied definition. And with mindSET the sounds and the machines might have changed, the methodology remains the same.
“It draws from what was more generally seen in leftfield as a term for the slightly off-kilter house and broken beats that didn’t fit neatly into classic genres, whether that was Chicago house, French garage, drum and bass, or broken beat. It’s more about those in-between sounds that never really took off, only appearing briefly in the early to mid-90s and then quickly disappearing. There was a certain magic in that moment, which I wanted to capture. Also, the entire album was produced using classic analog equipment, with old machines that were used during that era. That’s the approach I’ve taken.”
The eight tracks on mindSET are shaped out of de-tuned techno pop synths and heavy, syncopated drums, grooving along chopped-up polymeters to create an eerie mood, as if orbiting an undiscovered planet for the first time. The harmonic movements are often bent out of shape, sometimes veering towards Gherkin Jerks or Cristian Vogel territory. But in the end, the sounds are less important than the atmosphere, and the tracks represent an attitude or an approach - to creating the music as well as experiencing it. mindSET is a nod to those dancers sharing an oddball moment, and for those of us on the same wavelength, it's a vibe we can all get inside.

Remastered reissue of the second landmark EP for Plus 8 Records by Speedy J. Again expanding on the emerging sounds of Techno Speedy J took it further into euphoric, minimal lofi and bleepy territory with ''Rise'', ''Tresor'' and ''De-orbit''. All while effectively stripping it down to the bare bones rocking only a 909 and a vocal sample on ''Something For Your Mind''. This release and in particular ''Something For Your Mind'' was there at the forefront of techno as we know it these days with a harder, raw and no-nonsense approach and all its variations such as Gabber that grew out of that in Rotterdam the following year.

The Well is the second album by the duo So Sner, composed of Susanna Gartmayer (bass clarinet) and Stefan Schneider (electronics). Recorded over nearly two years in various studios and spaces, the album reflects So Sner's extensive touring across Europe. The final mixing took place in Vienna at the studio of Martin Siewert, who served as both co-producer and mastering engineer. Known for his meticulous attention to sonic detail, Siewert brings his unique techniques and distinctive sound enhancements to the album, resulting in a work that is both stylistically cohesive and daringly uncompromising.

So Sner’s critically acclaimed debut album REIME (TAL26, 2021) was celebrated for its innovative fusion of bass clarinet and electronic sounds in unexpected and surprising ways. With The Well, the duo explores both fluid and dissonant sonic landscapes, embracing different structural and sonic challenges. The result is a quieter, more introspective set of compositions than many might have anticipated. The album is a statement of two confident collaborators crafting complex, spatial musical moments in their own distinct manner.

The music on The Well generates a multiplicity of effects that transcend conventional oppositions such as hand-played versus programmed, composition versus improvisation, or analog versus digital. The album suggests a re-articulation of these categories, allowing the ten tracks to gradually blend one musical idea into another, and one musician into another, in a circular and complementary fashion. The polymetric permutations and exploratory reed components create a soundscape where all elements coexist harmoniously, without compromising or diminishing each other’s presence.

With its sparse sound architecture, The Well invites listeners into a space of effective emptiness, offering room for the mind and body to explore—a sonic island where one can develop sensuality through patient movement.

For So Sner, live performance is a passion of the mind, and since they began working together in 2020, their music has taken them to many different places. The live experience has deeply influenced the recorded music on this album, with the interplay between live performance and studio work informing their creative process. The Well captures the genuine act of exploring new territories, serving as a storage place for the time and space shared by the duo, re-filtering their experiences of performing and traveling together.

The Well is a lucidly playful and ambitious album by two contemporary musicians who are continually learning to create and respond to the subtle and significant changes in their music, maintaining momentum throughout the entire work.

In addition to her work with So Sner, Susanna Gartmayer has recently collaborated with artists such as Joe McPhee and Maria Portugal, and remains a member of her long-running band, the Vegetable Orchestra. Stefan Schneider, founder of the label TAL, has recently performed with Garth Erasmus from Cape Town and fine art luminary Katharina Grosse.

The Sound Of Hardstyle präsentiert die neue Serie: The Anthems Vol.1. Eine nostalgische Zeitreise mit einigen der besten Hardstyle-Hymnen, die die Szene je hervorgebracht hat. Mit Acts wie Brennan Heart, Technoboy, Wildstylez, Headhunterz und Noisecontrollers und Hymnen wie Power Of The Mind und CTRL.ALT.DELETE darf dieses Vinyl in keiner Hardstyle-Sammlung fehlen!
Zusätzlich zu den goldenen Hymnen bietet The Sound Of Hardstyle ein mit viel Liebe zum Detail gefertigtes Produkt mit geprägtem Logo und hochwertigem Sticker auf der Vorderseite.

Emma Anderson, Mitbegründerin von Lush und Sing-Sing, veröffentlicht Spiralée: Pearlies Rearranged. Es besteht aus neuen Versionen aller 10 Tracks ihres letztjährigen Solo-Debütalbums Pearlies, die von Julia Holter, LoneLady, The Orielles, deary, Daniel Hunt (Ladytron), Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, MEMORIALS, Concretism, Masal und dem Produzenten des Originalalbums, James Chapman alias Maps, neu interpretiert wurden. Wir nennen es nicht Remix-Album, denn es ist so viel mehr als das - alles wurde neu arrangiert, von den Tracks über die Reihenfolge bis hin zum anagrammatischen Titel (der zu Stuart Jones' atemberaubendem Spirograph-meets-Saul Bass-Artwork führte), und das Ergebnis ist im Grunde eine brandneue Platte. ,Es war eine Chance, einige wirklich einfallsreiche Leute zu finden, die die Tracks auf den Kopf stellen, und genau das ist passiert", erklärt Emma. ,Wir haben eine interessante Reihe von Künstlern ausgewählt und ihnen die Stems ohne Vorgaben gegeben, um zu sehen, was sie sich einfallen lassen würden. Das Ergebnis ist absolut brillant und eine Platte, die für sich allein steht, ohne dass man weiß, wie die Originale sind." Tracklisting: 1. Willow And Mallow (Daniel Hunt Mix) 2. The Presence (Concretism Mix) 3. Clusters (LoneLady Lost Minds Mix) 4. For A Moment (deary Dub Mix) 5. Xanthe (Witching Time Version) 6. Inter Light (MEMORIALS Mix) 7. Taste The Air (Julia Holter Mix) 8. Tonight Is Mine (Lorelle Meets The Obsolete 84-86 Mix) 9. Bend The Round (The Orielles Blend The Round Mix) 10. I Was Miles Away (Masal Spectral Mix)

Emma Anderson, Mitbegründerin von Lush und Sing-Sing, veröffentlicht Spiralée: Pearlies Rearranged. Es besteht aus neuen Versionen aller 10 Tracks ihres letztjährigen Solo-Debütalbums Pearlies, die von Julia Holter, LoneLady, The Orielles, deary, Daniel Hunt (Ladytron), Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, MEMORIALS, Concretism, Masal und dem Produzenten des Originalalbums, James Chapman alias Maps, neu interpretiert wurden. Wir nennen es nicht Remix-Album, denn es ist so viel mehr als das - alles wurde neu arrangiert, von den Tracks über die Reihenfolge bis hin zum anagrammatischen Titel (der zu Stuart Jones' atemberaubendem Spirograph-meets-Saul Bass-Artwork führte), und das Ergebnis ist im Grunde eine brandneue Platte. ,Es war eine Chance, einige wirklich einfallsreiche Leute zu finden, die die Tracks auf den Kopf stellen, und genau das ist passiert", erklärt Emma. ,Wir haben eine interessante Reihe von Künstlern ausgewählt und ihnen die Stems ohne Vorgaben gegeben, um zu sehen, was sie sich einfallen lassen würden. Das Ergebnis ist absolut brillant und eine Platte, die für sich allein steht, ohne dass man weiß, wie die Originale sind." Tracklisting: 1. Willow And Mallow (Daniel Hunt Mix) 2. The Presence (Concretism Mix) 3. Clusters (LoneLady Lost Minds Mix) 4. For A Moment (deary Dub Mix) 5. Xanthe (Witching Time Version) 6. Inter Light (MEMORIALS Mix) 7. Taste The Air (Julia Holter Mix) 8. Tonight Is Mine (Lorelle Meets The Obsolete 84-86 Mix) 9. Bend The Round (The Orielles Blend The Round Mix) 10. I Was Miles Away (Masal Spectral Mix)

Emma Anderson, Mitbegründerin von Lush und Sing-Sing, veröffentlicht Spiralée: Pearlies Rearranged. Es besteht aus neuen Versionen aller 10 Tracks ihres letztjährigen Solo-Debütalbums Pearlies, die von Julia Holter, LoneLady, The Orielles, deary, Daniel Hunt (Ladytron), Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, MEMORIALS, Concretism, Masal und dem Produzenten des Originalalbums, James Chapman alias Maps, neu interpretiert wurden. Wir nennen es nicht Remix-Album, denn es ist so viel mehr als das - alles wurde neu arrangiert, von den Tracks über die Reihenfolge bis hin zum anagrammatischen Titel (der zu Stuart Jones' atemberaubendem Spirograph-meets-Saul Bass-Artwork führte), und das Ergebnis ist im Grunde eine brandneue Platte. ,Es war eine Chance, einige wirklich einfallsreiche Leute zu finden, die die Tracks auf den Kopf stellen, und genau das ist passiert", erklärt Emma. ,Wir haben eine interessante Reihe von Künstlern ausgewählt und ihnen die Stems ohne Vorgaben gegeben, um zu sehen, was sie sich einfallen lassen würden. Das Ergebnis ist absolut brillant und eine Platte, die für sich allein steht, ohne dass man weiß, wie die Originale sind." Tracklisting: 1. Willow And Mallow (Daniel Hunt Mix) 2. The Presence (Concretism Mix) 3. Clusters (LoneLady Lost Minds Mix) 4. For A Moment (deary Dub Mix) 5. Xanthe (Witching Time Version) 6. Inter Light (MEMORIALS Mix) 7. Taste The Air (Julia Holter Mix) 8. Tonight Is Mine (Lorelle Meets The Obsolete 84-86 Mix) 9. Bend The Round (The Orielles Blend The Round Mix) 10. I Was Miles Away (Masal Spectral Mix) Limitierte Summer Wine LP Edition

Time to welcome another newcomer to Freerange with a brilliant debut that has already been gaining a lot of interest from early spins. Stefano Ritteri should be a familiar name to many, having dropped several well- received releases on key labels such as Pets, Rockets & Ponies and Get Physical as well as his own monthly Rinse France radio show. A producer in the old school sense, he has the ability and desire to flip from deep, emotive and down tempo jams to the most impactful, high energy floor fillers, all with a deft touch and unique and experimental spin. The Italian producer, now relocated to London, has a studio chock full of vintage synths and hardware outboard which keep him inspired and ensure his output sounds fresher and fatter than most, as can be heard on this excellent two-tracker entitled A Different Happiness EP The title track is a spaced out, percussion-heavy jam which takes a minimal approach but wins hearts and minds with an ear-worm of a melody that gets gets you hooked in from the start. Snippets of spoken word add to the intense atmosphere making this one of those sure-fire, perennial tracks which can work in a variety of sets and still guaranteed to make an impact and stand out in the crowd. Flip over for Pocket Melody, another simple yet effective and inventive track which sees Stefano letting loose on his synths and coming up with some warped Zawinul-inspired vibes in the process. The playful melody snakes around in an improvised way whilst the dubby drums and classic analogue machine beats ensure everyone stays locked into it's hypnotic groove. Definitely a producer to watch for us and we're sure Stefano is on track to continue making some amazing music. We hope you love this as much as we do!

Fully Restored Vinyl Remaster & Restored Original CD Release Artwork For Vinyl With
Memorabilia Assemblage Full Colour Inner-Sleeve
“A pitch-perfect exercise in the type of literary pop music that I felt had gone amiss since
Factory stopped releasing records. “ Alan McGee (On 17 Stars – The Guardian 2009 )
After a short label hiatus, Caroline True Records are delighted to bring you a limited
vinyl edition of a classic Salford /Manchester album.
The Montgolfier Brothers, Mark Tranmer (GNAC) & Roger Quigley (At Swim Two Birds)
initially released “Seventeen Stars” on the Salford-based Vespertine label in 1999.
Much critical acclaim & appreciation from pop dynamo Alan McGee led to a 2000 re
release on his nascent post-Creation Poptones imprint.
“So we ended up pressing records as usual. Our first record was Seventeen Stars by the
Montgolfier Brothers, a baroque, cinematic classic that almost no-one has ever heard.” Alan
McGee (On Poptones in “Creation Stories: Riots, Raves & Running A Label” 2013 )
Since that moment, “Seventeen Stars” has gathered universal plaudits & affection,
along with occasional live performances from the group.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the original release, CTR have remastered this brilliant
work for vinyl. The sleeve expands the original Vespertine CD release artwork to LP
size. Beautiful, memorable, fragile ... An album that proves the longevity of great
songwriting, tunes and textures that stay with you.
“An exquisitely beautiful elegy to a lifetime of misspent opportunities.”. (Exclaim – USA 2000)
For lovers of Felt, The Durutti Column, Jacques Brel, The Blue Nile & François de Roubaix.
This is a vinyl only strictly limited-edition release with no repress.

2024 Repress
The Aggrovators were one of Jamaica’s finest session bands, many of the tracks you know and love from the 70’s Reggae scene probably featured this group of musicians in some shape or form.
The band were put together by Bunny’Striker’Lee , one of Jamaica’s formidable producers, who with no studio of his own had to rely on buying studio time from the existing establishments, such as Randy’s Studio or Channel 1.
The updating of Studio 1 classic’s which in some cases were reworkings of American R&B tunes was common practice. The rhythms were much loved favourites and with the added incentive that the musicians knew the tracks inside out.
This set of dubs are straight from the master tapes of such sessions orchestrated by the man Bunny Lee himself, no one knew better…you can’t keep a good tune down never mind a great one..
So sit back and enjoy The Aggrovators in fine Studio 1 style….RESPECT

For the next reissue in Mr Bongo’s Cuban Classics series, we look to Raúl Gómez’s entrancing 1977 Instrumental album. Presenting a unique blend of orchestral disco and jazz-funk, with Afro-Cuban flavours and soundtrack influences, it’s rich with drum breaks, energy and evolving compositions. A record that forever keeps you guessing, powered by an exemplary orchestra at the top of their game.

Cuban composer and singer Raúl Gómez is most known for featuring in the groups Mirtha Y Raul and Los Bucaneros alongside producing the Cuban classic Los Reyes 73 album, amongst a whole host of other incredible productions over the years. Released on Cuba’s state-owned label Areito, Instrumental sees Gómez not only as an instrumentalist and author, but also as a producer and arranger.

It's an album that deftly evades pigeonholing. Floating between instrumental mood music and library/soundtrack mastery, followed by explosions of cosmic-Latin funk, psych guitar workouts and compositions that reflect the orchestrated disco coming out of the US at the time, from greats such as Love Unlimited or MFSB. Lace that together with a healthy serving of Afro-Cuban magic to underpin the tracks and it’s a recipe for a record that captivates from start to finish.

Predominantly an instrumental album as the title suggests, the record showcases the Orquesta EGREM in full flow, soaring strings and vibrant horns at every turn. Highlights include 'Mi Samba Carnaval' with its breathtaking drum break, bubbling synths and sublime arrangements and the romantic film music impressions of ‘Tema De La Sierra', that have been a sampling source for many a producer. Elsewhere, ‘6 Son’ is a mind-melding psych guitar powerhouse, with 'Dacapo', written by Gilberto Peralta, offering up a slice of atmospheric and energetic Latin shuffle. One of only a handful of tracks where scat vocals compliment the orchestral tones, a Brazilian percussion theme marries with dancefloor sensibilities for a dose of feel-good, brilliance.

A wide-ranging, multi-dimensional release, Instrumental exhibits musicianship, composition and creativity at its finest and demonstrates another key example of the rich output of music that flowed from the island of Cuba post revolution.

Die schwedische Produzentin und DJ La Fleur bricht drei Jahre musikalischer Stille mit ihrem bevorstehenden und lang erwarteten Debütalbum 'Väsen', das am 18. Oktober bei PIAS Électronique erscheint. Ihr unverkennbarer Stil ist technisch hervorragend ausgearbeitet und zu gleich hochemotional. Ihre neuen Songs, die ständig überarbeitet wurden, haben eine optimistische, positive Kraft und melodische Schönheit über komplexen Perkussionsschichten, die so mit Hooks geschmückt sind, dass man die Ohren nicht davon abwenden kann.

Während der Pandemiejahre zog La Fleur von Berlin zurück nach Schweden und arbeitete als leitende Angestellte in einem Stockholmer Krankenhaus. Eine krasse Veränderung nach einem Jahrzehnt mit ihrem eigenen Label Power Plant, zahlreichen Kollaborationen und gefeierten DJ Set und Auftritten. Die gezwungene Pause nutzte sie, weiter an ihrem Debütalbum zu feilen, das 2020 eigentlich schon fertig war, doch ihre geänderten Lebensumstände sollten noch einen Einfluss darauf haben: „I’ve always drawn inspiration not only from music, but changing elements in my life. It’s only now I feel I have the tracks ready for the world to hear.“

- Col. LP: (Green Bio-Vinyl)

“A huge thing for this record was to make it feel as close to our live show as possible,” says Tom Sharkett of W.H. Lung’s latest album. “We didn’t want it to sound live but we wanted to capture the excitement of the live performances.”

This is something that has become paramount to the group in recent years as they have undeniably blossomed into one of the most joyous and arresting live bands in the country. “The reason I’m in a band is to play live music,” says singer Joe Evans. “For me, music is live music. That’s what it’s for, to be played with people.”

The five-piece band, also featuring Chris Mulligan, Hannah Peace, and Alex Mercer-Main, decided to try something new on their third album after two incredibly successful collaborations with previous producer Matt Peel. In order to capture the energy, spirit and dynamism of their live shows, they relocated to Sheffield to work with Ross Orton (MIA, Arctic Monkeys, Working Men’s Club) who was able to harness this side of the band to remarkable effect. “Ross is the Sheffield Steve Albini,” says Evans. “He’s the king of not overthinking it and trusting the process of the art of recording songs. He was always there to stop us fucking around with cerebral stuff and get it down.” Sharkett echoes this too: “He was the exact producer we needed without us even realising. His productions and mixes are bombastic, lively and in your face and that’s exactly what we wanted.”

However, while this album is rooted in a sense of capturing a moment and a sparky liveness, that’s not to say it’s a raw or ragged record. It is still a meticulously composed, delicately layered and pristinely produced piece of work that, in true W.H. Lung style, runs the gauntlet from dance to pop to indie while still capturing that distinctly unique quality that is unquestionably their own. “It was a really big thing for me to realise what made us sound like us on this record,” says Sharkett. “I think the album sounds a lot more confident and self assured because of it. Some songs sound just so much like Lung and I’m really proud of that. I’m not sure we’ve done that as consistently across the other records.”

While the band have drilled deeper into finding their own singular identity, it’s not a record resting on its laurels. It’s a significant leap forward, expanding on their solid foundations while also breaking new ground. “The big difference with this record is its directness in every sense,” says Sharkett. “The songwriting is more upfront. Previously we’d focused a lot on vibe and production as opposed to just writing songs. The overall mission here was to revert to a classic songwriting structure and for the production to come afterwards.” And so what you have on this record are deeply considered and well-crafted songs, then recorded with blistering intensity in the moment, and then given a touch of experimentation afterwards. Then throw in Orton’s contributions to the band and it’s proven to be a real winning formula. “He brought a real dose of magic to the songs we’d written,” says Sharkett. “And brought an extra bit of wonk and quirkiness each time.”

The band’s ability to write more traditional and conventional songs is clearly a skill they’ve taken to with ease, at times there’s an almost Springsteen-like quality – but if he'd ever had an ecstasy period – to tracks such as ‘Thinner Wine’ and ‘Bloom and Fade’. While ‘How to Walk’ was constructed with one thing only in mind: that it would absolutely slay on stage. “I can’t wait to play this live,” says Evans. “We wanted a song to represent our live set, a new big one, and this is it.” Once again it leans towards the anthemic, with its driving, propulsive charge complete with incandescent synths and vocal melodies so irresistible you can already hear them being sung in unison by a crowd.

It’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off a record that is more rooted in traditional songcraft while also capturing the power of a live performance, as well as pushing sonics into experimental new directions while working with a brand new collaborator. But here the band has managed to do just that. And the album’s closing song ‘I Will Set Fire To The House’ is a perfect example of such a thing. It’s a song that feels immaculately constructed but also very much alive and of the moment as its radiating synths engulf from the off, and Evans’ vocal is silky but powerful and in perfect symbiosis with Peace’s. It’s a song that captures the endless joys of music playing long into the night. “It may be a bit of a bloody bombastic way to end an album saying ‘and we’ll dance into the sunrise’,” says Evans. “But fuck it.”

MORE PRESS ON ‘VANITIES’ (MELO131)

"Vanities artily refines an exhilarating brand of up-front electro-dance" MOJO ⅘

'Idiosyncratic yet euphoric electronic pop on triumphant second LP' 9/10 Uncut

''One of the most effective alternative pop albums of the year'' 4/5 Record Collector
'Dance music for the modern age' - The Times (4*)

Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2016 haben die Londoner High Vis ihre Palette an progressivem Hardcore mit Nuancen von Post-Punk, Brit-Pop, Neopsychedelia und sogar Madchester-Groove verfeinert und einen Mittelweg zwischen Hooks und Wut, Melodien und Moshpits gefunden. Sänger Graham Sayle beschreibt ihr drittes Album Guided Tour als eine Achse der konkurrierenden Kräfte: "Es versucht, eine hoffnungsvolle Platte zu sein, während es gleichzeitig wütend macht." Die Band, die von Schlagzeuger Edward 'Ski' Harper, Bassist Jack Muncaster und den Gitarristen Martin MacNamara und Rob Hammaren komplettiert wird, ist tief in der britischen und irischen DIY-Hardcore-Szene verwurzelt und wird von Rastlosigkeit und rechtschaffener Wut gleichermaßen inspiriert. Sayle sagt: "Jeder kratzt sich, jeder arbeitet die ganze Zeit, und die Vorstellung von Entspannung ist es, sich zu ficken und der Realität zu entgehen. Dieses Album ist eine Flucht vor dieser Realität." Von den ersten Sekunden an, in denen eine Kabinentür zuschlägt, ein Auto aufheult und ein sackartiger Rhythmus zum Leben erweckt wird, klingt Guided Tour wie eine Band, die nach neuen Höhen strebt und vor Energie strotzt. Das Ergebnis der mehrwöchigen Aufnahmen in den Holy Mountain Studios in London mit Produzent Jonah Falco und Tontechniker Stanley Gravett fühlt sich dynamisch und einstudiert an, wie Hymnen, die sich durch Schweiß und Wiederholung in das Gedächtnis der Sinne eingebrannt haben. Harper bringt es auf den Punkt: "Wir hatten eine klare Idee, jeder Moment wurde genutzt. Wenn wir 60 sind, können wir uns vielleicht hinsetzen und einen Schlagzeugsound hinbekommen, aber im Moment geht es darum, die Dinge zu erledigen." Die 11 Songs des Albums umfassen das gesamte Spektrum zeitgenössischer Gitarrenmusik, die durch Erfahrung, Kameradschaft und gesellschaftliche Frustrationen geschärft wurde. Von schwungvollem Streetpunk ("Drop Me Out", "Mob DLA") über schrillen Indie-Spott ("Worth The Wait", "Deserve It") bis hin zu Heavy Alt ("Feeling Bless", "Fill The Gap") und shoegazeartigem Spoken Word ("Untethered") - die Chemie der Gruppe verwandelt jeden Stil in ihre einzigartige Intensität. Sayle setzt sich für diese sich entwickelnde Verschmelzung ein: "Jahrelang hatten wir, die wir aus dem Hardcore kamen, ziemlich klare Grenzen - andere Szenen waren getrennte Welten. Jetzt vermischen sich die Dinge immer mehr, wir schöpfen aus verschiedenen Quellen."

The Intima led a chameleon-like existence from 1999 to 2004, confounding critics who struggled to describe their distinctive sound while sharing stages with everyone from The Rapture to The Mekons. Hailing from Olympia and Portland, the postpunk quartet utilized sharp rhythms, prescient lyrics, and a collaborative compositional approach to conjure forth a sound that manages to be explosive yet detailed, experimental yet propulsive and melodic. Featuring a classically-trained violinist, custom-tuned guitars that careen at odd angles, and an imaginative and powerful rhythm section, the band explored the intersection of art-punk and agitpop with a spirit and tenor uniquely their own. In 2017, the Polish website More Noise summed up their sound by saying that "the first association that comes to mind is The Ex and the Dutch avant punk scene of the 1980s, but fans of the bands Dirty Three, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Unwound may also be intrigued."The group toured the States extensively during the 4+ years that they were active, including one grueling six-week tour undertaken just after 9/11 and another one in 2003 during which the US began bombing Iraq. The group's live sets are remembered for their combination of unbridled intensity and tightly-coiled musicianship, as well as their chaos potential, whether that chaos was performing in the middle of an illegal street party or causing a PA to burst into flames immediately preceding a headlining set by Deerhoof. A memorable show in DC with Q And Not U was mentioned by Dischord group Black Eyes in their Speaking In Tongues booklet last year, with Hugh McElroy describing the Intima as "a really aggressively-beautiful and poetic punk band with a violin where a guitar normally would be...pushing genre barriers in a way that helped me see a vision of how we might want to do that ourselves."Peril and Panic was recorded in Olympia over eight months in 2002 and was released in 2003 on LP (Zum/Collective Jyrk) and CD (Slowdance). In 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, the group commissioned Jason Powers to remix the original tracks from the ground up, which turned into an 18-month endeavor that included some compositional edits, significant work to improve the sound of the drums, and the uncovering of unreleased songs. Today, a fully remixed and remastered Peril and Panic is finally being released into the wild sounding much closer to how it was originally meant to be heard. Sounding more relevant than ever, it seems increasingly clear that the ideas and feelings that informed both band and album are no longer so "radical" - if anything, they've become the zeitgeist of today, as a confluence of global crises points to a fraught future long predicted.

Coming together as Raz & Afla, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey converge worlds through their dynamic fusion of electronic and traditional African rhythms, forging a path that is as bold as it is innovative. Rooted in their deep-seated passion for music and cultural exploration, they seamlessly blend their distinct musical backgrounds to create a unique sonic landscape that captivates audiences worldwide.

Raz Olsher is a visionary producer and composer known for his boundary-pushing electronic soundscapes, bringing his expertise in blending diverse musical elements to the duo. His meticulous attention to detail and penchant for experimentation form the foundation upon which Raz & Afla's sound thrives.

Already part of the Wah Wah 45s family with his band Afrik Bawantu, Afla Sackey is an esteemed percussionist and vocalist with roots tracing back to Ghana. He infuses the duo's music with rich traditional African rhythms and melodies. Afla's virtuosity on percussion instruments and his soulful vocals add a visceral, organic dimension to their compositions, creating a mesmerising auditory experience that transcends cultural boundaries.

Together, Raz & Afla defy genre limitations, seamlessly weaving together electronic beats, Afrobeat grooves, and intricate percussive textures. Their music resonates with a deep sense of cultural authenticity and a forward-thinking approach that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music.

Following on from their critically acclaimed full length debut The Cycle, and its subsequent remix project, their sophomore LP, Echoes Of Resistance, finds the duo remaining committed to exploring new sonic territories and creating music that speaks to the universal language of rhythm and melody. Once again, they invite listeners on a journey that celebrates the beauty of cultural exchange and the power of music to inspire and unite.

From more politically conscious cuts like the singles What's Going On? and We Taya, and On Da Phone, which deals with addiction to social media, to dealing with more personal and social issues on songs like ENo Be Me and Ano Be Mumu, Raz & Afla's music is something for the mind, body and spirit, as well as the feet.

There are moments of pure euphoria and unadulterated joy too though, as tracks like Mon Ni Fere, Voodoo Zeezee and Baby Moo inspire elated, tribal dance floor pleasure, and there's still time for a little, good old fashioned loving as Shikor Shikor conjures up the raw emotions of care and affection whilst delivering a hypnotic beat and instantly irresistible vocals from Afla Sackey.

With a growing discography that includes critically acclaimed releases and collaborations with musicians from around the globe, Raz & Afla continue to carve out their place in the international music scene. Their electrifying live performances are celebrated for their energy and the profound connection they forge with audiences, making every show a vibrant celebration of musical diversity and harmony.

The success of the 1962 Modern Sounds in Country And Western Music albums paved the way for Charles’ creative freedom as an artist. Throughout the rest of his career, he continued to show his deep affinity for country music. 1965’s Country and Western Meets Rhythm and Blues (aka Together Again) features Ray’s timeless version of the Buck Owens country standard “Together Again.” It also holds the distinction of being the first album Charles recorded in his own RPM International recording studio. While on 1996’s Crying Time album Ray delivers the definitive version of that Owens song and earned Ray the GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance Male and recognition as Producer of Best Rhythm & Blues Recording by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. As if that weren’t enough, the album also boasts Charles #1 Billboard smash “Let’s Go Get Stoned.”

MOMO. releases his 7th album Gira, on Batov Records bringing together some very special musicians and guests from London"s bustling and hustling jazz community, with fellow Brazilian artists, recorded and cut to tape at East London"s Total Refreshment Center.

"This is the complete soundtrack album for Interstellar Sentinel, an action-packed bullet-hell shoot'em-up that takes you on a sci-fi fantasy journey through legions of monsters, demons, and cosmic mind-ripping entities. The game was created by a friend and colleague from the former Factor 5 USA studio and is an inspired love letter to some of the best side-scrolling games ever made, like Salamander/Life Force, Gradius, R-Type, Darius, Super Aleste, Einhander, Ikaruga, and more." - Chris Huelsbeck The soundtrack, featuring all new compositions, is heavily inspired by Chris' earlier works and successes, like Turrican, X-Out and Katakis and should be an aural feast for his fans.

They still exist, these stories: A fresh newcomer project from Cologne sends their first demo to just one address. An A&R, who has a medically certified autotune allergy, listens to the demo, hears an autotune track and signs the band anyway. ‘Streetpoet’ by Mourad Kehailia & Sebastian Fischer aka 9OASES is as unusual as the genesis of this record. It’s a wild hybrid of raving breakbeats, a chord hook that would have done Underworld proud in their heyday and the aforementioned autotune rap. It is magical. Axel Boman is a remixer who can make the magic even more magical. His 8-minute version of ‘Streetpoet’ establishes a long overdue new genre: trancehall! With ‘New Ballad’, 9OASES show us that they really mean business with their plans for world conquest. This is great techno pop with heart and mind. We are very excited to see what the guys from Cologne will do next.

Es gibt sie noch, diese Geschichten: Ein frisches Kölner Newcomer-Projekt schickt ihr erstes Demo an nur eine Adresse. Ein A&R, der eine ärztlich bescheinigte Autotune Allergie hat, hört sich das Demo an, hört einen Autotune Track und signt die Band trotzdem vom Fleck weg. ‘Streetpoet’ von Mourad Kehailia & Sebastian Fischer aka 9OASES ist so ungewöhnlich, wie die Entstehungsgeschichte dieser Platte. Es ist ein wilder Hybrid aus ravigen Breakbeats, einem Chordhook, der Underworld zu ihren Glanzzeiten alle Ehre gemacht hätte und eben besagtem Autotune Rap. Es ist magisch. Mit Axel Boman wurde ein Remixer verpflichtet, der das Magische noch magischer machen kann. Seine 8 minütige Version von ‘Streetpoet’ begründet ein längst überfälliges, neues Genre: Trancehall! Mit ‘New Ballad’ zeigen uns 9OASES, dass sie es wirklich ernst meinen mit ihren Welteroberungsplänen. Das ist großer Technopop mit Herz und Verstand. Wir sind sehr gespannt, was die Kölschen Jungs als nächstes tun werden.

Kaum zu glauben: Harald Grosskopf gibt es jetzt schon ein Dreivierteljahrhundert. Anlässlich seines 75. Geburtstags erscheint nicht nur im Ventil Verlag seine Autobiographie "Monsieur Séquenceu" - sondern auch endlich wieder ein neues Album vom Elektronik-Altmeister. Man muss zu diesem Mann eigentlich nicht viel sagen: Mitbegründer von "Wallenstein", ergo Drummer auf mindestens zwei der wunderbarsten Krautrockalben (nämlich "Mother Universe" und "Cosmic Century"), Mitglied der legendären "Kosmischen Kuriere", Platten mit Ash Ra Temple und Klaus Schulze. Schließlich wechselt Harald Grosskopf dann von den Drums zu den Sequencern und schafft Atemberaubendes. Und nun: "Strom". Die Evokation der Elektrizität, der Virtuosität der Schaltung, die Mensch und Maschine kunstvoll verschraubt und der über ihrem Triumphzug verödeten musikalischen Digitalität entgegengestellt wird. Wer genau hinhört, der erkennt den Ingenieur hinter den Klanggebilden sogleich.

Kaum zu glauben: Harald Grosskopf gibt es jetzt schon ein Dreivierteljahrhundert. Anlässlich seines 75. Geburtstags erscheint nicht nur im Ventil Verlag seine Autobiographie "Monsieur Séquenceu" - sondern auch endlich wieder ein neues Album vom Elektronik-Altmeister. Man muss zu diesem Mann eigentlich nicht viel sagen: Mitbegründer von "Wallenstein", ergo Drummer auf mindestens zwei der wunderbarsten Krautrockalben (nämlich "Mother Universe" und "Cosmic Century"), Mitglied der legendären "Kosmischen Kuriere", Platten mit Ash Ra Temple und Klaus Schulze. Schließlich wechselt Harald Grosskopf dann von den Drums zu den Sequencern und schafft Atemberaubendes. Und nun: "Strom". Die Evokation der Elektrizität, der Virtuosität der Schaltung, die Mensch und Maschine kunstvoll verschraubt und der über ihrem Triumphzug verödeten musikalischen Digitalität entgegengestellt wird. Wer genau hinhört, der erkennt den Ingenieur hinter den Klanggebilden sogleich.

“Oh My God! I’m So Alone.” is the third full length album from Liverpool’s premium Indie-Pop group, SPINN. A noted step away from their earlier sound “OMGISA'' feels like a major step forward for the trio. Reflecting upon the alienation and uncertainty they have felt in their early twenties, SPINN have taken inspiration from the people, places, films and books that they have come to know and love, and built an album with the aim of helping to navigate the daunting landscape of adulthood in mind. Built on the band’s underdog spirit, refusal to buck to trends, and their ability to articulate complex emotion through well written pop music, “Oh My God! I’m So Alone” is an album which perfectly exemplifies why SPINN are a band with such staying power, worthy of maintaining their place on the wider Indie scene whilst so many of their peers have fallen by the wayside.

Círculo Cerrado presents its second album “Circular Economy”, 4 tracks that span a wide range of textures with the common denominator of atemporality.

A1. Rindeau, the Argentinian illustrator and music artist from Strain Collective, presents “Machine soul”, intelligently crafted with the best combination of electro-techno and EBM.

A2. Galdar’s breed Aniano materializes another mind-blowing track with “Encadenado a la Realidad”, a house tune with funk overtones and psychedelic undertones.

B1. Javier Carballo and Aniano aka HDZ brings a darker engine “ La Furnia ”, trailblazingfrom breaks, IDM to acid house for full voltage.

B2. Frenchman Tom Joyce, owner of Sounds Benefit label, captures in “ Good Game“ a hypnotic and minimalistic track with hints of tripping on top of 909 drums.

In Cornish slang it is said that things get done ‘dreckly’; that is, not now, not necessarily tomorrow, but, at some indefinite point...in the future...soon...

Fitting then that when Bristol’s Langkamer decamped to their de facto home-from-home in the picturesque south-west seaside town of Falmouth to record their third album in as many years (with an EP thrown in there too) - there was no particular need to rush things: “The process was much slower and more considered for Langzamer.”, drummer/vocalist Josh Jarman explains: “The first two albums felt pretty urgent, and each was finished in about 6 months, but this one feels a lot more deliberate. It’s taken us two years to get this done.”

Equally fitting too that Langzamer kicks off proceedings with ‘Heart of Tin’: the first bars are languidly lugubrious, so deliciously plucked-out and scuzzed-up that they linger in the air like passing smoke, magically, slowing time down to their own assured and steady will. And in so much time, that also feels like no time at all, comes an opening line of such stark, disarming confessionalism as might be found in the David Berman/Silver Jews songbook: “Do you want the good news or the bad news first? // They’re both bad news, but the bad is worse” It’s Langkamer in a nutshell: embattled, heart-on-sleeve Slacker Rock slaked with twinges of fret-sliding Americana, yet deeply embedded in the folk mythologies, colloquialisms and experiences of the band’s West Country roots.

Throughout Langzamer, confronting the listener again and again is this conflict between the band’s breezy, melodic charm, and the threat of something more sinister lurking in the undergrowth. While those more familiar with Langkamer’s oeuvre to date will have already come to know and love their often self-deprecating yet witty lyricism, the songs on Langzamer take this trademark ebullient gloominess to more challenging plains: “Principally this is an album about grief, and everything that entails...” explains Jarman. “in a sense death brought these songs to life.”

This thread is felt no more so than on ‘Salvation XL’. Inspired by a “particularly bad batch of food poisoning I had in Morocco”, Jarman explains, and beginning with the memorable opening line, “Jesus came to me a Burger King in Marrakech”, the band wind their way through the ‘big topics’: death and God.

“This trip was shortly after a few of my friends had passed away, and I think a lot of my thoughts and actions at that time were being influenced by my grief without me realising it.”, he explains, “Whenever I dwell on grief, and how death has given my life a new context, I come back to that. The ongoing battle between agnosticism and atheism. I wasn’t raised in a very strict religious home, but I come from a long line of methodists, and it’s interesting to think about the way theism and religion have shaped my life without me knowing it. I think that’s being channelled on this album a lot. The uncertainty that comes with disbelief.”

Our collective mortal frailties are also felt on lead single ‘Richard E Grant’. With a trademark bittersweetness, a track that begins as an appreciation of the actor’s humorous social media presence unfolds as a study on “finding healthy coping strategies to deal with loss.”. Elsewhere, ‘At The Lake’ - to the tune of mournful, folk-like balladry - explores binge-drinking culture and the troubled association between unhealthy behaviour and creativity. The listener is left in no mind as to the meaning behind the references to James Joyce and Janis Jopin as “souvenirs stolen from the dark”.

With themes as weighty as these strewn across the album’s 10 tracks, It seemed like a particularly astute move then for the band to personally approach Ben Woods, founder of the Golden Dregs, to assist on production duties. Not only would the delicate intimacies of Woods’ main project - see 2023’s On Grace & Dignity for reference - add an appropriate moodiness, but Woods was also born and raised in Cornwall, where the album was recorded; amidst “eating pasties” and breaks by the sea, Woods and the band transformed the vaults underneath iconic Falmouth venue The Cornish Bank into a makeshift studio for a weeks’ worth of recording. Occasionally friends would drop by to lighten the load; Zander Sharp tracking violin on ’Double Island’ and ‘Flight’; Josh Law and Ben Sadler of Breakfast Records labelmates Getdown Services, both of whom contribute to the soul-stirring ‘mountain’ chorus on ‘Aberfan’.

When compared to the brightness of 2023’s The Noon and Midnight Manual, Woods’ influence on the record seems indisputable. On the aforementioned ‘At The Lake’, for instance, which features backing vocals from Woods. Or, most acutely, on the piano strains of harrowing closer ‘Bluff’, a track with such chilling, spectral severity as to effect the band’s most heartbreaking effort to date. While it’s particularly sombre note on which end proceedings, it's also an appropriate one: Langzamer bravely stands tall as their most restrained, matured, and sincere collection to date. And almost by virtue of its impeccable honesty, those moments of sunshine-joy that creep through the cracks feel that much more golden.

Smart Alex, the brainchild of Laurant Webb and Dave Coker from the iconic Housey Doingz, has unveiled a standout reissue single on Sushitech. Specially Hot is a massive house sound system track that has been a secret weapon for Fabric residents for many years. The A side also includes a groove-laden chugger, never before released remix. Blow Your mind on the flip side is an original massive dub tracks. This heavyweight release seamlessly blending the original London house sound with Sushitech's distinctive dub-based style.

In collaboration with musicians and parody artists Auralnauts, Stumpy Frog Records has pressed the soundtrack to their ongoing series of ‘As Seen on TV’ parodies known as the ‘Infomercial Wars’. During an unspecified point in time, a faceless dystopian company pushes out products under the guise of improving the quality of life for humanity. The commercials have a sexy presentation to them, designed to lull the viewer into a hypnotic state and gloss over what is really being sold to them: enslavement to an evil entity. The true purpose of these products is clear to anyone with an iron will: to imprison your mind, strip away your humanity and weaponize what remains. Humanity’s only hope is a scrappy group of freedom fighters whose key to success is convincing you to buy their products instead of the enemy’s. May the best infomercial win. Beyond humanity. Beyond Copper. The parody series is made up of real life infomercials with complete audio makeovers. The products themselves vary from one commercial to the next, but a popular trend in these ads is the seemingly unlimited uses for copper, which is taken even further by the parody versions. The bubbly pitchman from the source material has been replaced by a soothing, yet vaguely threatening alien presence. This mysterious voice paints a picture of a world that would make David Cronenberg and James Cameron blush, and all of it is held together by a dystopian soundtrack that is perfect for ushering humanity into the next step of this forced evolution. Side A of the album contains six full length studio versions of the music featured in each ad. 1) 300% More Human 2) Techromancer 3) Full Body Copper System 4) Master of Reality 5) Final Boss (Sock Defense Grid) 6) Beyond Copper Side B features the ads themselves, presented faithfully as they appear on the Auralnauts Youtube channel.

The highly anticipated follow-up to Thee Sacred Souls's breakout 2022 self-titled debut, Got A Story To Tell, features 12 all original new songs, a soaring statement of exquisite craftsmanship from this young band from San Diego whose story grows bigger by the day. Recorded and produced by Gabriel Roth at Penrose Recorders, in Daptone’s Riverside, CA studio, and written in the throes of supporting their 2022 album, which was met with significant excitement and major touring that brought them across the world. What swirls together on Got A Story To Tell is an appreciation of decades of soul music, and beyond - a sound and feel that is timeless, lived in, and very much in the now. Album opener “Lucid Girl” champions independent women, set to some of the toughest sounding drums and bass the band has yet to put to tape. “Waiting On The Right Time” slinks with a touch of slow-burning psychedelia. A plea for empathy punctuates “One and the Same,” with Lane singing: “We’re one and the same, I feel one day / We learn to live with each other / In love, not fear / Just for a moment, why can’t we be together.” “On My Mind” is a sweeping orchestration, with Lane navigating the complexities of finding happiness while balancing the good with the bad. The album is punctuated with strings and squelching guitar, trundling piano, pops of conga, horns - it makes for a thrilling, layered listen that rewards with multiple spins.