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Borusiade lands on Dark Entries with their triumphant third LP, THE FALL: A Series of Documented Experiences. The Romanian producer and DJ Miruna Boruzescu aka Borusiade has a track record of genre-bending releases on tastemaking outlets like Cómeme, Pinkman, Cititrax, and of course Dark Entries, who unleashed their stunning 2020 sophomore album Fortunate Isolation. THE FALL builds on Borusiade’s mythos with its 9 brooding and sophisticated tracks investigating the contours of memory and embodiment - the “fragile bridge between body and mind” in Borusiade’s words. Moody basslines and melancholy synths wrestle with muscular rhythms; this is electronic body music for the heart and head. This is their most diaristic work to date, as well, chronicling love and loss through the gauze of reflection. Tracks like “Save Me”, “Recovery and Redemption”, and “The Fall” sprung from painful breakups, periods which Borusiade identifies as some of their most creatively fruitful, finding themselves “making the best music when I was brokenhearted.” There are odes to musical titans we’ve lost: the minimal electro producer Porn Darsteller is comemorated on “Darsteller”, while industrial legends Genesis P-Orrige and Lady Jaye are honored on “Pandrogyne.” THE FALL comes housed in a sleeve using Gautier D'Agoty’s “Essai d'Anatomie,” an anatomical work from 1745, and also includes a lyric sheet. Trauma, from lost love to pandemic isolation, informs THE FALL, situating itself as a gap that can only be accessed through sound and the creation of art. “What can I add? When life gives you drama, make music.”

Jazz re:freshed are proud to present the third studio album by bassist and composer Daniel Casimir.'Balance'encapsulates 'Big Band Energy', with his signature combination of Classical, Jazz and cinematic sounds.

The albumpays homage to the traditions of big band composition and historical significance whilst illustrating contemporary sensibilities.

This ambitious project explores the balance between two large and full sounds of a big band and a string section and is inspired by icon Wayne Shorter's album'Emanon'which made a deep impression on Casimir during the process of creating the album.

An organic development of Casimir's last critically acclaimed album'Boxed In'which featured a jazz quintet alongside a mini chamber Orchestra and was comprised of a woodwind, brass, with a string quartet,'Balance'is a self produced album that takes his musical vision to the next level in his most ambitious body of work to date, leading 26 musicians.

Recorded in November 2022 at Livingston Studios, in a very conscientious recording process which saw piano, bass, and drums recorded together first, followed by trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and the string section and an all star band that consists of figures from the UK Jazz scene, Cassie Kinoshi, Binker, Nubya Garcia, Rosie Turton, Sheila Maurice-Grey and Jay Phelps to name a few alongside a stunning string section performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

The final day of recording enlisted the powerful vocal prowess' of Zola Marcelle and Ria Moran to finesse the masterpiece. The track'Music Not Numbers'is an encouraging call to all musicians to not allow streaming culture to affect their creative process and to continue expanding the intrinsic nature of music. Whereas track,'Search for Goldilocks'explores the second meaning behind the album title 'Balance', which is to seek balance within and discover the qualities in life that are "just right".

Mark Barrott’s 2024 album, 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends', is a profound and deeply personal exploration of life, love, and loss. Released on Anjunadeep Reflections, this album is a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2023 release, Jōhatsu (蒸発). Unlike his previous works, this album chronicles a more intimate and emotional journey, reflecting the life Mark had with his late wife, and the harrowing experience of her illness and eventual passing. It stands as both a tribute to her memory and a reflection on the profound impact she had on his life and music. Mark has been a constant innovator throughout his nearly four-decade-long career. He’s best known to some as Future Loop Foundation, the alias under which he created ambient drum and bass in the mid-90s. Others know him for his ‘Sketches From an Island’ series, released under his own name, which played a significant role in the revival of the Balearic music scene. He’s also the founder of International Feel, a label that was instrumental in the bespoke vinyl movement of the 2010s and played a role in bringing DJ Harvey back into the spotlight. Barrott’s work has always pushed the boundaries of genre, and 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends' is no exception. However, this album is perhaps his most personal and emotionally charged work to date. The album’s creation was born out of tragedy. Barrott began writing music for the album during the eleven weeks of his wife’s illness, using it as a form of therapy to cope with the overwhelming grief and loneliness that followed her passing on January 25, 2023. “I actually started writing music most nights throughout this process—it was therapy to mitigate the loneliness of coming back to a cold, dark winter home after spending the day with her at the hospital,” Barrott explains. What began as a way to process his emotions evolved into a project that would ultimately become 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends'. The album traverses genres, blending orchestral, ambient, and jazz elements to create a rich and varied soundscape. Each track on the album serves as an audio diary, capturing specific moments from the eleven weeks of his wife’s illness. The music oscillates between intense emotional peaks and more soothing, delicate moods, reflecting the rollercoaster of emotions that come with facing such a profound loss. Ultimately, this album is about acceptance and gratitude for what was, not grief for what could have been. It addresses the fundamental issue that confronts all human beings: life and death. ‘Everything Changes, Nothing Ends’ is out on 29th November on Reflections.

2026 Repress

DJ Support: Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam,Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne,Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, GW Harrison,DJ Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos,Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone,Nice7, Dario D’Attis, Mousse T, S-Man, Huxley, KCLights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, ChrisLake, Format:B, Pirupa, TCTS, Alan Fitzpatrick, LowSteppa, Mat.Joe, Raumakustik, Eskuche

Coming out the traps strong, our next 4-track vinylsampler series kicks things off with Toolroom’s very own Mark Knight who continues his impressive string of collaborations with Darius Syrossian appearing alongside him for the first time on the label. Mark and Darius, along with studio maestro James Hurr,stumbled on this classic ‘Let’s All Chant’ sample and together proceeded to write a peak-time, tech house slammer around it. With relentless energy and lush vocal licks and that all-familiar 90’s sample, this one works a treat on the dancefloor.International House don Low Steppa is next for a special release with Malta’s finest, Jewel Kid. Their track ‘Big Busta’ oozes ATTITUDE! Slamming tech house drums, an insatiable groove and a tongue-in-cheek vocal that will raise many a smile on the dancefloor. Another certified club weapon for sure! CASSIMM kicks off the flipside on the vinyl with another peak-time club weapon as he returns with ‘Say Yeah’ alongside vocalist Mahalia Fontaine. The Italian born House music maestro is on fine form as always here, hot on the heels of his ‘Love Desire’ record that went stratospheric in late 2023 on Claptone’s ‘Golden Recordings’ label. With a big bassline and oodles of dance floor energy alongside Mahalia’s rasping, diva style vocal adding that classic house vibe to proceedings! Finally, we round things off with the once mysterious but now ‘unmasked’ house duo ‘Wh0’ with a rip-roaring club banger! Remixing for the likes of The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Calvin Harris and Meduza whilst collaborating with Armand van Helden, Nile Rodgers and David Guetta under his Jack Back alias.This track is a heads down, no-nonsense, tongue-in-cheek club weapon! Seriously powerful drums, aplayful acid line and a very cheeky vocal that will cause a stir on many a dance floor!

Countless radio plays on Radio 1 from Danny Howard,Sarah Storie, Pete TongOther notable radio plays – Kiss FM, Toolroom Radio,Sirius XM, Data Transmission Radio, Radio 1 DanceAnthems, Radio 1 Party Anthems, Rinse FM, SelectRadio, Tomorrowland Radio

Sweetheart is the first Cassie Ramone album in ten years, a crowning glory for a singular artist who has forged a unique path through the underground. Breaking out in the late 00s with the revered Vivian Girls, to her current status as a traveler on the
heartworn highway, Cassie Ramone has survived and thrived. Sweetheart is Ramone's greatest recorded statement to date:
focused songwriting shot through with American tragedies, distorted guitars and tear-stained fretboards. Recorded with
collaborator Dylan White in Richmond, VA in the latter's Valley Structures barn studio between December 2023 and March
2024, Sweetheart is Ramone's songwriting rendered direct but with a sweeping cinematic quality. Smeared with reverb and
scintillating like stars in the pitch black night, these songs fulfill the promise of Ramone's songwriting prowess.
Ranging from heart-stealers like I'm Going Home or Joy to the World to the riotous guitar scree of the titular Sweetheart,
Ramone's songwriting here is raw and direct, bolstered by White's perfectly balanced instrumentation. White's work on
Sweetheart blows up Ramone's songs to epic proportions, with waves of shoegazed guitars crashing and cresting with
emotion. As a result, Sweetheart fits effortlessly in with the best of Ramone's work with Vivian Girls and The Babies. With the
emotional vulnerability at its core, Sweetheart is Cassie Ramone emerging as one of the most honest and vital songwriters of
the underground.
Sweetheart, released on White and Ramone's new CD-R Records, builds on Cassie Ramone's legacy as a DIY pioneer. With Vivian Girls, Ramone and her bandmates forged a distinctive sound from 80s Punk, Shoegaze and 60s Girl Groups, delivering it with a dedication to world-building and Do It Yourself pragmatism. CD-Records and this first release are a continuation of Ramone's mission to maintain creative and aesthetic control over her art, communicating directly and honestly. Sweetheart may
also be the best record of her career.
Released on Cassie Ramone and Dylan White's label CD-R Records

When Sonny Rollins arrived to Los Angeles in early 1957, he discovered that Ray Brown was also in town with Oscar Peterson's trio and that Shelly Manne was on hand leading a band of his own. The result was a March 7, 1957 recording session, Way Out West, which marked Rollins' very first date in a trio setting and his first recording without the accompaniment of a piano or guitar. The saxophonist was at the height of his career during this period and in 1957 he was named the "New Star" tenor saxophonist in the Down Beat critics' poll. THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 1 BONUS TRACK - Contains new specially prepared liner notes by Penguin Guide to Jazz's writer BRIAN MORTON and by Paris' prestigious JAZZ MAGAZINE.

‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ is Katie Melua’s third live album, newly recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London on 16th May 2023 to a sold-out audience. Bookending Katie’s ‘Love & Money’ tour in 2023, promoting her ninth studio album of the same name, ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ is a celebration of her remarkable 20-year career to date.

Initially postponed from 2020 due to the global pandemic, the concert was the fulfilment of a long-held personal ambition of Katie’s. The 21-track setlist takes in beautiful live renditions of some of Katie’s best-loved and classic songs, including ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’, ‘I Cried For You’ and ‘Nine Million Bicycles’, as well as the first live recordings of newer songs like ‘Golden Record’ and ‘Quiet Moves’

Habibi Funk is excited to announce the release of Samh Almea'ad, a new 7" record by Libyan artist Cheb Bakr, hitting the shelves on December 6, 2024. Recorded in the early 2000s, Bakr’s music fuses the pulse of Libyan pop with R&B and hip-hop influences, bringing the energy of Benghazi to the dance floors of New York in the early 2000s. Cheb Bakr’s sound is a unique blend of styles that captures the essence of two worlds and includes production and vocals by Ahmed Ben Ali.

Our journey with Cheb Bakr’s music began when Yousef Alhoush, whose father Najib Alhoush led The Free Music from Libya, generously lent us boxes of cassettes to digitize. With the help of a journalist traveling from Tripoli to Cairo, we brought the tapes and a high-quality deck to Egypt. For three days in a hotel room on Zamalek island in Cairo, we sifted through nearly 100 tapes, finally landing on several from Cheb Bakr that dated back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. His albums stood out for their fresh, genre-defying sound—Bakr’s vocals flowed effortlessly over R&B and hip-hop beats with touches of jungle and drum and bass percussion, creating a fusion that crossed cultural and musical boundaries.

Returning to Berlin, we took a deeper dive into the digitized tapes, identifying bands, singers, and producers that excited us. In the process, we noticed familiar rap verses on a few of Bakr’s tracks—verses by none other than Ahmed Ben Ali, who was about to release an album with Habibi Funk. When we asked Ahmed about his connection with Bakr, he explained that they’d collaborated closely at Jamaica Studios in Benghazi, with Ahmed even producing some of Bakr’s songs.

Despite having lost touch for years, Ahmed helped us reconnect with Cheb Bakr through mutual friends. Their reunion took place in Bakr’s living room, where we joined them on a video call to discuss Bakr’s career and his influences. He explained how he sought to reinterpret eastern Libyan folk sounds for a new generation, blending them with contemporary genres.

This 45 marks the beginning of our work with Cheb Bakr, offering a glimpse into his unique musical style, with a full album to follow at a later date. The release includes two standout tracks that showcase Bakr’s dynamic range. Side A features “Samh Almea'ad,” a reinterpretation of a 2003 New York classic with Bakr’s signature spin. Since our first listen in that Cairo hotel room, it’s been played at every Habibi Funk set without exception. Side B, produced by Ahmed Ben Ali, features “Rjana Lamta,” a track that hints at American influences alongside a nod to Ahmed’s “Dameek Majeb.” Bakr’s artistry ties these contrasting elements into an original, dancefloor-ready track that remains as captivating today as it was two decades ago. As always, this 7" release comes with a booklet detailing some of the Cheb Bakr story. Samh Almea'ad will be out on vinyl December 6th.

Licensing info: These songs were licensed from Cheb Bakr. We pay the licensing partner 50% of the profits of this release. Only project related costs are deductible from the gross income, research and travel costs come out of our own share. Publishing was not included in our agreement (We feel it’s important to be transparent about these deals, therefore we will include these infos in all future releases).

Tori Amos has long been renowned for never playing the same show twice. As The Guardian noted in 2022, she "is famous for her eclectic setlists peppered with fan favourites, B-sides, and covers." Now, these unique live performances are captured in a new live album entitled Diving Deep recorded across Tori's 2022-2023 Ocean to Ocean tour, which spanned 93 dates around the globe.

Global icon ROSÉ has announced her first studio album rosie - arriving December 6th via Atlantic Records. The 12-track collection marks ROSÉ’s most personal and candid release to date, with her co-writing and co-producing the project in its entirety.

As a member of BLACKPINK, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, ROSÉ has shattered records, performed on the most heralded stages, and amassed millions of fans around the world. On her own, the Korean-New Zealand superstar’s 2021 single “On The Ground” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and became the highest-charting song by a solo K-pop female on the Billboard Hot 100. Simultaneously, ROSÉ has been an unstoppable force in fashion as global ambassador for renowned brands including Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co, Rimowa and Puma. Her influence in music, fashion and philanthropy has led to her having over 79M followers on Instagram as she is a testament to the growth of Korean influence in music and fashion on a global scale.

Trapped Animal records is proud to announce the release of Despite Yourself Deluxe from 90’s legends Headswim, which has never been available on vinyl before.

For the first time, Headswim’s iconic second album is available on double gatefold vinyl, featuring 7 bonus tracks, including an unreleased version of their hit 'Tourniquet'! Lovingly released on double vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, this deluxe re-issue features seven bonus tracks including previously un-released tracks, including a previously unheard version of their biggest hit, Tourniquet featuring a string orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios!

The bonus material was collated by scouring through Sony's DAT tape archives, in this process the band and label found some wonderful lost recordings. The record will be available on either limited edition blue or back 180 gram vinyl. Despite Yourself, featuring the singles "Tourniquet" and "Better Made”, was Headswim’s sophomore album and documents the development of the band maturing as songwriters. “We were aiming for longevity and believed we had written a collection of songs honestly expressing who we were, where we’d been and where we wanted to go. The album was a declaration of intent, an expression of our lived experience, a light in the dark.” Originally released on 2nd September 1997 Despite Yourself reached 24 in the UK charts and would see the band tour the USA and Europe, make “several TV appearances (including Top of The Pops), film a couple of glossy music videos and get some mainstream media attention. We’d been given a chance and we’d grasped it with both hands.

Na de comeback plaat van 2021 'Is er iets?', is Madou terug met de EP, 'Engel', net op het moment dat Vera Coomans 75 jaar wordt.
De afgelopen 3 jaar speelde Madou op vele mooie plekken en is de band ook uitgebreid: Mattijs Vanderleen (Marble Sounds, Tommigun) op drums en Marc De Maeseneer (Lady Linn etc...) maken nu ook deel uit van de band.
Hoogtepunten waren Dranouter in 2022 en de uitverkochte AB 'Rewind' show in september 2022 met de re-release na 40 jaar van de eerste Madou plaat op vinyl.

Al die concerten gaven goesting en Vera begon Wiet en Thomas naar nieuwe songs te vragen.
Die nieuwe melodieën leidden tot nieuwe verhalen die nieuwe liedjes werden. Een beetje zoals Randy Newman deed op 'Little Criminals'. Filmische verhalen, muzikale kortfilms, als je wil, een beetje zoals Randy Newman deed op 'Little Criminals'. Maar hier heeft elke song een verhaal met een vrouw als hoofdpersonage.

In november 2023 kreeg Vera telefoon van Gorik van Oudheusden, aka Zwangere Guy.
Hij was op zoek naar muziek voor de TV-serie, 'Putain' waaraan hij werkte, en hij vroeg ons of hij wat nieuw materiaal kon horen. Vera en Thomas speelden in de ICP studio in Brussel een akoestische versie van 'Engel' voor Zwangere Guy en Chuki Beats en die reageerden meteen enthousiast. 'Engel' staat ook op de soundtrack van 'Putain' in een prachtig strijkersarrangement van Wiet Van De Leest.

In mei 2024 trok Madou een paar dagen naar de Jet studio in Brussel en namen ze de EP 'Engel' op onder leiding van Peter Van Laerhoven.

De EP:

Engel:
Gaat over de onvermijdelijkheid van de dood. Vera Coomans:' Als je 75 bent, dan probeer je je in verloren uren wel eens 'de overkant' voor te stellen en wie je op een dag zal komen halen. Of je hem zal herkennen ook. En of het spannend wordt.

Waar het beter was:
Een vrouw wordt wakker uit een nachtmerrie in een nog bangelijkere realiteit.

Koude Voeten:
Waar maanziek zijn toe leiden kan, of hoe je verloren kunt lopen in je eigen hoofd.

Myanmar:
Hoe troostend en het kan zijn om verloren te lopen in je eigen hoofd.

Mooie Dag:
Een mooie dag maar met weerhaken.

Gebroken Glas:
Wat eerst 'Bovary' als titel had, werd uiteindelijk 'Gebroken Glas'.

Madou:
Vera Coomans: zang
Wiet Van De Leest: piano, viool, altviool
Thomas Devos: gitaar, bas, zang
Louis Van De Leest: keyboards, synths, beats
Mattijs Vanderleen: drums, percussie, beats
Marc De Maeseneer: saxofoon

Madou speelt ook live:

S.E. Rogie went from running a tailor shop in Sierra Leone to being one of West Africa's most popular artists. He toured around the country, singing his palm wine music in multiple local languages, created his own record label, and was known as the most handsome man in Sierra Leone. He formed the highlife band The Morningstars in 1965. In 1973, he came to the Bay Area to live and expand his base, performing everywhere from local high schools and convalescent homes to festivals and large stages. In his later life he hit the road again and toured the world, eventually passing away while on stage in Russia in 1994. He shared the following songwriting wisdom with his son, Rogee Rogers: "When you write a song, you can be complicated if you want, but your chorus should be that anybody can sing it." These tracks were originally released on his own Rogie label in the 1960s and include solo, ensemble, and Morningstars songs, most of which have never been reissued until now."

‘Leon’ is the highly anticipated fourth album from Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, and producer Leon Bridges. With 13 tracks featuring Leon’s signature storytelling and a unique blend of organic genre alchemy, ‘Leon’ is his most poignant, powerful, and personal work to date. He takes fans on a trip through the heart of Ft. Worth he knows best, the things he holds dear, and the people and places that shaped him. Featuring production by Ian Fitchuk (Beyonce, Noah Kahan), Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves), and Tyler Johnson (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), Leon describes the album as “somewhat of a self-portrait… I’m excited to share these stories about my home, about nostalgia, about my upbringing, about where I’m from, with all of you. I hope this music brings you back to your roots and your journey.”



Quote from Leon:
“‘Leon’ has been a long-time coming. I started writing pieces of it as far back as ‘Gold-Diggers Sound.’ They didn’t fit what I was trying to do with that album and I tried moving on. But I couldn’t shake them because they’re part of me. And, if I’m honest, also because I think this is some of my most excellent work yet.In many ways, Leon has been in the works since my childhood. This record is about simpler days. It’s about time spent in my beloved Fort Worth and the experiences that made me the man I am today. It’s soulful music in the truest sense - it’s imbued with my soul.I’m excited to share these stories about my home, about nostalgia, about my upbringing, about where I’m from, with all of you. I hope this music brings you back to your roots and your journey.”

Singer Andy Stokes, billed as the 'Northwest King of Soul Music', may have recently worked with such industry luminaries as Snoop Dogg but, way back in the late 70s, he was fronting a hopeful Jazz-Funk group struggling to break into even just the Oregon circuit. Despite boasting members from internationally successful acts like Fantasy Records' own Pleasure, Lights Out never saw their one demo – cut in 1982 for the well-established Solar Records – even get a promo pressing. Two of the tightest and busiest of their dancefloor wreckers from the session now grace their only 7" to date.

First time ever on 7" 45rpm vinyl, dinked centre hole with picture sleeve, 500 numbered copies only.

A wicked familly selecta.

This record gonna be a date in the Pumpin world... The Tribe oldschool world... exactly as when Okupe 01 went out and when Okupe newskool sound did the game...

Azur vinyl color version :)

Kinda Busy 04 Fourth release for Kinda Busy featuring Blumet with Sin23 and Protokick in a super Tekno Tribe mission.
Side A starts with Pain is Gain a fresh new banger from Blumet at 167bpm smashing samples from an old Dead Prez tune and another Hip Hop classic!! Spot the samples! Banging pumping tribe with chopped samples properly mashed up and a solid synth reef on the second part of the track, to make you trip along with the rythm ! Funny surprise on the outro, Fuck Meloni !
A2 features The Amulet, a massive track from the infamous Protokick at 163bpm. Classic smashing kick in his style with very hypnotic synths and effects with a crispy and trancy voice to the end, can't miss this papa !!
The flip belongs to the new scene talent by now resident on the label since Kinda Busy 03, Sin23.
B1 with Engine Overload is a trippy and stompy pumping Tribe at 165bpm, brillant to mix with Aku Sound from Kinda Busy 03 ! Crunchy and clean sounds delivered here with a pro sound design that will exceed expectations !
B2 is the place for Tek in Trance at 163bpm. This is a more dated track from Sin23, yet well acclaimed and validated by his fans ! He likes to blend different styles and sounds, bringing that trance feeling on the percussions of the pumping Tribe. Top tune !!
Do not miss this release !!

The Future of Latin / The Gun is a seminal EP from Nino was originally a slow burn upon its release on Production House back in the early 90's, but over the years it has become a much sought after classic.

This repress is lovingly remastered from DAT and available again for the first time since the original run

This superb remaster of the classic old skool rave EP from X-Static has been lovingly remastered from DAT, and made available for the first time since the early 90s!

This EP from The Brothers Grimm is a bona fide classic - but what else would you expect from the legendary combination of two of the best producers in the scene, Dyce and Acen?

Both sides are incredible, but Exodus is the track that really took off to become one of the first jungle anthems. The EP is famous for its clever use of an absolutely killer breakbeat, and a unique vocal that showcased all the best elements of old skool rave and jungle. This is mixed with many audio elements that were brand new back then, but have since become standard in the jungle scene.

Now beautifully remastered from DAT, this is an EP that every collector and raver must have in their collection!

We've got a lovely bit of golden-era hip-hop here from the DATUM Recordings label. It comes on 45rpm and features one jam each from King Most and Casquiat. The former goes first with 'A Tribe Called Westwood' with signature Tribe bars and a deep cut groove with raw bass. On the flip is 'Colossal Rhymes' which is a great big slice of boom-bap complete with smooth flow, organic percussion and some eerie melodies hanging in the air above the beats.

Alton Ellis is one the finest soulful voices to come out of Jamaica. As well as writing hit singles himself, he could make a cover version known as a foreign tune sound like a Jamaican reggae tune with the greatest of ease.

As the more upbeat rhythms of the earlier 'Ska' period began to slow down around the turn of 1966 some say due to the extreme heatwave that hit the island of Jamaica that year, slower rhythms suited the people to groove to at the various sound systems and dances. This also allowed the singers to express themselves more and allow the song to shrine through. No one did this better than Alton Ellis.

Alton Ellis (b.1944, Kingston, Jamaica) started off singing at an early stage as part of a duo with singer Eddie Perkins and recorded for both Studio One and Randy's as 'Alton and Eddy' and had a massive hit with the song 'Muriel'. The singing pair went their separate ways with Alton going solo with Studio One and being a much in demand voice also recorded with Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Studio as 'Alton Ellis and The Flames'. As we stated earlier as the beat slowed down the top singers shined through and Alton Ellis reigned supreme. One of his tunes that we feature on this set 'Get Ready(Do the Rocksteady') even gave this period in reggae's history its name 'Rocksteady'. It's this fantastic period Rocksteady 1966-1968 that we feature on this release. This set carries all the big hits 'Ain't That Loving You', 'Girl I've Got A Date', 'Cry Tuff' alongside many more classics. All the cut at Treasure Isle songs that really defined the era.

So sit back and enjoy the Rocksteady sound it's finest....
We hope you enjoy the set....

Released on 45 for the first time by Partial in 2017. This is a welcome repress as the first press quickly sold out

Bonafide roots reggae legend and ex-Black Uhuru frontman in mighty fine style with a choice cut originally dating from 2005 when Ryan `Twilight Circus' hooked up with Michael (Sometimes Mykal) `Grammy' Rose.
Now coming on 45 for the first time, backed with a boom Twilight Circus dub cut coming on vinyl for the first.
Features the late great Style Scott (Roots Radics, Dub Syndicate, On-U Sounds) on drums.

For the first time in their diverse second act, they allow themselves to be a rock band, freed of adornment and embellishment. As much as Carlson’s guitar has always been the focal point of EARTH’s music, it’s been surrounded by consistently diverse instrumentation. Here the dialog between Carlson and Davies drumming remains pivotal, underpinned by the sympathetic bass of Bill Herzog (Sunn O))), Joel RL Phelps, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter) and thickened by additional layers of guitar from Brett Netson (Built To Spill, Caustic Resin) and Jodie Cox (Narrows). Perhaps the largest left turn on Primitive And Deadly, though, is the prominence of guest vocalists Mark Lanegan and Rabia Shaheen Qazi (Rose Windows) who transform the traditionally free ranging meditations of EARTH into something approaching traditional pop structures.
On “Rooks Across the Gates,” a song stylistically the closest to the folk inspired modality of Angels Of Darkness, Carlson stretches out into some of his most lyrical playing to date, creating an almost symbiotic relationship between his performance and the vocals of old friend Mark Lanegan. “From the Zodiacal Light,” meanwhile, takes the late 60s San Franciscan/freaked-out jazz-rock transcendence of The Bees Made Honey In The Lion’s Skull and quickly re-appropriates that sound into a musky torch song for the witching hour.
This contradictive tension between a band pushing itself ever-forward whilst surveying their history is reflected in the albums twin recording locales. The foundation of the record was laid in the mystic desert highlands of Joshua Tree, California where EARTH recorded hour after hour of meditations on each track's central theme at Rancho de la Luna. Upon returning to Seattle these were edited, arranged and expanded upon at Avast with the help of long-term collaborator Randall Dunn (who was previously at the helm for the Hex, The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull and Hibernaculum sessions).

Frenchie King is a veteran artist and producer from the world of Reggae music. He was born in Jamaica and moved to the UK at the age of 12, where he began singing in a church choir. In the late 1960s he formed a church band with two friends called "The Ressurectors". Their music caught the attention of Reggae star Alton Ellis. After meeting Alton a new band formed called "Black Stallion" and their first song on Venture Records was released entitled - "Love Power". Alton was mentor and guiding light for Frenchie and crew; enabling them to jam with a host of Studio One artists.

Frenchie went on to work with noteworthy Reggae arists like: Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown, Dennis Alcapone, Ken Parker, Tito Simon, Dave Barker, Bobby Davis (The Sensations), Ruff Cutt, Owen Gray and Akabu.We didn't tour with Dennis or John Holt but Alton would always call them to the stage to jam, but we did a few shows with Alton sister Hortense Ellis and few other too much to mention...

Moving into the 1980s, Frenchie started a solo career and switched to the label "M1" where he released projects like "Your Entitled" and "Poor Me Natty Dread". During this time he also worked with renowned producer Sid Buckner (Studio One), before taking a brief hiatus; returning to help produce artist Owen Gray. He also wrote the song "Blackbird" for the band Akabu which was released in 1995 on U-Sound. M1 recording produce yours truly under name countryman linkup with the man Ezekiel in Luton hence M1

Moving forward into the 2000s, along with other musical adventures the iconic album "People Had Enough" was released in 2017, along with singles, "Let Us Do Something" and "Dance Cork". On let us do something and dance (kark) is produce by Michael McNeil aka the original jah son , a good musical sou-jah.

Which brings us up to date. In 2023 Frenchie hooked up with The Blackstones. Through this came the opportunity to work with Iron Sound Records and producer Alien Dread. This is the first single on ISR, with a solid Roots vocal track backed by studio band: Alvin Davis, Asha B and Steven Wright. More to follow!

Oscar Brown Jr.'s debut LP launched his legend as a singer, songwriter, and activist. Featuring the classic "Work Song," it showcases his exceptional talent.

Re-mastering by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

This 'live' nightclub date with a jazz trio, revealed to be a faked on the Columbia compilations that have since come out, is nonetheless a great LP, maybe the best single Columbia LP from Aretha. John Hammond discovered her and just wanted great music, but the label couldn't decide if she was a show tune singer, jazz or r&b and never figured out she was all of the above and deserved her own category. This is the most jazzy Aretha ever and if she'd wanted to concentrate on this one area of her talent, she would still be ruling it. Worth the buy just for the track 'Without The One You Love'. J. Ellis













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FERMA third vinyl release lands just before the close of the year and it is a special one. Petros Spatharos leads with a set of bangers distilling perfectly the sound of the label. Athens-based artist is widely known for his dark, immersive industrial sound, so yeah expect nothing less.

Side A starts with ”Datura”, layering heavy drums with dark reeses and syncopations – solid stuff. ”Xorkia” is an eyes-down track which will keep you in the zone with stellar percussion and atmosphere. ”Vultures” closes the first side with higher energy levels and more distinct breakbeat elements.

On Side B, Randstad remixes ”Datura” and pumps up the tempo to create a mind-bending industrial electro track with aggressive synths. Boris Barksdale wrap-ups the physical release by remixing ”Xorkia” and changing the core to techno and reworking percussion to create an industrial heavy-hitter track.

Es ist Ehre wie gleichsam Respekt für elektronische Künstler, Musik für den Sci-Fi-Filmklassiker Metropolis zu können, und mit dem einfach benannten Soundtrack for a Film reihen sich Factory Floor in die Reihen von Giorgio Moroder und Jeff Mills ein. Soundtrack for a Film ist zwar subtiler als die Alben von Factory Floor, trägt aber immer noch den typischen Ansatz des Duos. Soundtrack for a Film führt die Fähigkeit von Factory Floor, ausgedehnte, sich entwickelnde Tracks zu kreieren, zu einem logischen Abschluss, und das Album könnte als ein zweieinhalbstündiger Schnitt gehört werden. Trotz der Länge verlieren Gurnsey und Void dank ihrer sorgfältig ausgewählten Motive nie den Fokus. Da Factory Floor die organischen und mechanischen Aspekte von Metropolis und ihrer Musik auf Soundtrack for a Film ausbalancieren, erreichen sie das Beste aus beiden Welten - ein Auftragswerk, das genauso originell ist wie ihre eigenen Alben.

6 track EP feat. BRANDON MARKELL HOMES w/ mixes from DAM SWINDLE & ROBERT PM, as well as a vinyl exclusive collab w/ COTO LOCO & RASHEEDA ALI. Lush chords and smooth vocals fuse into a 90s earworm house jam on the title track, while SWINDLE infuse their remix with a modern 2-step vibe.

Erstmals als Vinyl,2015

Johannes Oerding ist kein Künstler von der Stange. Er ist nicht gern im Studio und konzentriert sich lieber auf das, was ihm Spaß macht: seine Konzerte und das Schreiben von Songs
Die Musik auf "Alles brennt" hat Oerding erneut im Team mit Sven Bünger und Mark Smith produziert. Innerhalb von vier Wochen wird "Alles brennt" am Meer produziert. Es folgen Overdubs in Kiel, Drums in Hamburg und nach insgesamt zwei Jahren besteht das Album aus 12 Songs, die den verschiedenen Facetten des Johannes Oerding so nah kommen wie nie.
Angefangen mit dem bewusst poppigen Titelsong, der mit dem 700 Mann starken Chor Hamburg Singt im Refrain überrascht, und "Wenn du lebst", das uns mit offenen Armen empfängt, über "Turbulenzen", einer Art Selbsttherapie gegen seine Flugangst und das Problem Kontrollverlust, mit dem er sogar an roten Ampeln zu kämpfen hat, und "Nie wieder Alkohol", einer spontanen, übermütigen Rock'n'Roll-Momentaufnahme, bis hin zu "Zweites Gesicht", seinem bis dato wohl persönlichsten Song.

Stornoway release "Best of Unplucked", featuring hand-picked versions of their much loved "unplucked" recordings from their career to date. Featuring brand new versions of favourites including "Zorbing" and "Farewell Appalachia", as well as Talking Heads" "This Must Be The Place" and Depeche Mode"s "Enjoy The Silence", plus recordings from the 4AD vault ("Beachcombers Windowsill" and Tales From Terra Firma"), live favourite "The Only Way Is Up" ("Bonxie Unplucked"), and "Dig The Mountain!" Shed Sessions, this is Stornoway in their most natural form, and perhaps their most beautiful.

Der in Bristol ansässige irische Produzent Seamus Malliagh kreiert unter dem Namen Iglooghost ungezwungen-detailreiche, elektronische Musik, indem er Juke, Footwork, Punk, Electronica, Hip-Hop und Pop in einen Mixer wirft und ins Unendliche geht. Inspiriert von den alten Frontmännern von Factory Records, Flying Lotus, ARCA und den Metalbands seiner Jugend, entstand sein neues Album in einer alten Werkstatt an der Küste von Kent neben einer Kläranlage, umgeben von alten Stämmen, Abgasen, bedecktem Wetter und rauer See. Sein Ziel war ein Sound, der mehrere Genres miteinander vermischt und aus einer Art Küstenradiosendung aus einer fiktiven Zeitlinie strömt.

- "In jede Ecke und jeden Winkel von Tidal Memory Exos 43-minütiger Laufzeit sind so viele verrückte Ideen, Texturen und Rhythmen gestopft, dass es bemerkenswert ist, dass die Platte ihre thematische Stoßrichtung mit solcher Überzeugung beibehält. Dies ist ein dichtes, langes Stück Science-Fiction der nahen Zukunft, das abstraktes Geschichtenerzählen in gefühlsbetonte, Gänsehaut verursachende Clubmusik kleidet." - Resident Advisor

- "Iglooghosts Tidal Memory Exo ist ein Meisterwerk des Weltenbaus – denken Sie an geomagnetische Stürme, prähistorische Kreaturen, erfundene Mikro-Genres wie 'Foamtek' und 'Sporestyle'." – Dazed

"The new album of the Maîtrise de Notre Dame de Paris is a world premiere recording of a new Magnificat written by composer and long-time Notre Dame choir organist Yves Castagnet.
Release date ties in with the official re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in December 2024 (public opening December 8, 2024).
France TV will dedicate a special program to the opening on December 7, 2024, in with Gautier Capuçon and the Maîtrise de Notre Dame de Paris. The event will be covered by worldwide media.
Recording was made by Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris, Chœur d’adultes, Henri Chalet, conductor, Yves Castagnet, Organ.
Soloists: Thaïs Raï Westphal, Anouk Defontenay, Jordan Mouaïssia and Carlos Builes Velez
The Magnificat will be premiered live at Notre Dame on December 9, 2025, at the ceremony inaugurating the fully restored choir organ.
“The Magnificat has accompanied me in my daily life for over 30 years. In fact, this text appears daily in the Catholic liturgy, every evening of the year, in the office of Vespers. Every evening, I accompany the singing of the Magnificat on the organ as part of the services at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Virgin Mary's own words, sung in this cathedral dedicated to her... How can you not be moved by the power and beauty of this text?” says Yves Castagnet."

Jonny Tobin is a Grammy and JUNO-nominated artist based in Vancouver. His sound resides in an alternate dimension between 90's video games and 60's Blue Note records, where fat synth funk grooves playfully collide with abstract jazzy undertones. To date, Tobin has released 5 original albums, making numerous official Spotify editorial playlists to the tune of over 10 million streams. As a live performer, recently Tobin headlined the 2023 Vancouver Jazz Festival and opened for notable acts like Adi Oasis, CARRTOONS and Braxton Cook. After the success of his 2019 vinyl debut "Sunrise" on Austin Boogie Crew Records, Tobin began work on Steppin' Out, his new and exceptional LP full of catchy modern funk songs. On this magnetic album executive produced by Austin Boogie Crew (ABC), the label connected Tobin with vocalists from all over. Featured collaborators include XL Middleton, Shiro Schwarz, Maya Killtron, The Vapor Caves, Rojai and Daniel David (FKA Trailer Limon), many of whom made previous appearances on ABC. Driven by Tobin's stellar production and synth wizardry, this project is a testament to the familial strength of the modern funk community in both good times and bad.

First time on LP worldwide / New liner notes by Graham Parker / Includes the fan favourites "Blue Horizon," "I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again," and "Socks 'N' Sandals" / Packaged as an LP with bonus 7" single / Remastered for vinyl by the album's original co-producer and engineer, Dave Cook / Graham Parker has been pre-promoting this upcoming LP release from the stage/ Graham Parker's fifteenth studio album, Deepcut to Nowhere, was first released by the independent label Razor & Tie in 2001. Parker recalls, "Within weeks after the release date of Deepcut to Nowhere, I was up early driving from New York State to Boston on what seemed like the most beautiful day in the history of autumn, to rehearse with the Figgs for a festival in Oregon, slated for a few weeks later, followed by a tour to support the album. That day was September 11th, 2001." In the aftermath of the attacks, Parker comments, "The press members I spoke to could barely get past the first track on Deepcut to Nowhere, 'Dark Days,' asking me if I was some kind of 'seer,' or had a mysterious crystal ball. Followed by 'I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again,' the opening salvos of the album seemed to capture imminent trauma, but of course, I was just writing songs." As the 12-song set progresses, Parker's focus expands to include the nostalgic "Blue Horizon" ("as emotionally rich a song as I'll ever write"), a dark-humoured take on the evils of colonialism ("Syphilis and Religion"), and the indignity of wearing socks with sandals. Taken together, Deepcut to Nowhere is among Parker's finest and most varied collections of songs, several of which have gone on to become setlist staples. Deepcut to Nowhere, originally released on CD only, finally makes its worldwide LP debut.

First Word Records areproud to present a new double-AA sided collaboration from K S R and Konny Kon (Children of Zeus) - 'Part of the Plan / Faded from the Jump', available on 7" vinyl and digital.

Two of Manchester's finest r&b ambassadors, the duo team up for two tracks displaying very different styles of soul music.

'Part of the Plan' has a timeless classic feel, nodding back to the likes of Stax and Atlantic, akin to the contemporary sound of Daptone artists like Jalen Ngonda or Thee Sacred Souls. Waves crash on the dock of the bay, with [ K S R ]'s soulful tones and Konny's laidback production (accompanied by Son of Zeus, Tyler Daley on the backing vox).

'Faded from the Jump' is another three and a half minutes of bliss, taking on a sound that's more signature to the duo's previous work, individually and collectively, sitting somewhere between future r&b, neo-soul and classic Manny street soul. [ K S R ] again takes the lead on this smoothed-out cut, with Konny behind the boards on production.

[ K S R ] hails from Moss Side and has been steadily building a strong rep for himself over the past few years with a slew of releases, including an EP and several singles via First Word. He was named "R&B act to watch" by Complex, and hand-picked by Mahalia to perform an event she curated personally at London's Jazz Cafe. He's toured with artists including Pip Millet, Etta Bond, Mica Miller & The Mouse Outfit, and also collaborated with various d&b artists, such as Zero T, Lenzman, Searchlight and Makoto. Music aside, [ K S R ] has also been creative ambassador for New Balance, Foot Locker, Nike, Size? and Manchester United.

Konny Kon is best known for being one half of hip hop soul duo, Children of Zeus. With performances for Colors and Soulection, and support from peers Jazzy Jeff, Jazzie B, Loose Ends & countless others, Children of Zeus have released two highly-acclaimed albums and two EPs on Worldwide Award winning-label, First Word. Additionally to writing, performing and producing, Konny is a formidable DJ, hosting a popular monthly show on NTS Radio, and performing at numerous events; most recently supporting Mercury Award-winner's Ezra Collective at every date on their European tour, culminating in a show with Children of Zeus at Wembley Arena, London.

Both artists have had wide support across the board from numerous tastemakers, including 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Rinse, Represent, Unity, Mixmag, Notion, Hypebeast and tons more. The duo have previously collaborated on 'All on You' (from the CoZ album 'Travel Light') and single 'CGWY' (from [ K S R ]'s EP 'Peace + Harmony').

This single showcases the vocals of [ K S R ] and the production of Konny Kon to a degree that exudes pure quality and class, exemplifying the power of modern British soul music.

'Part of the Plan / Faded from the Jump' is released on 7" vinyl and digital, 22nd November 2024.

JVB released their self-written, self-produced, self-mixed and mastered sophomore album – No Hands – which debuted in the Top 10 on Spotify’s Top US Album’s Chart. The critically-and-fan-acclaimed collection of genre-bending tracks are their most impressive work to date and feature appearances by Danny Brown, Terror Reid and Z-Trip.

Direct follow up to OKC noise rock band’s 2022’s breakthrough album God’s Country. Mixed by Benjamin Green (Uniform, Portrayal of Guilt, Drab Majesty). Mastered by Matt Coloton (The Rolling Stones, Blur, Nick Cave, Sunn O)). Full US tour in 2024, EU early 2025, with more dates to come. Like the towering mounds of toxic waste from which it gets its namesake, the music of Oklahoma City noise rock quartet Chat Pile is a suffocating, grotesque embodiment of the existential anguish that has defined the 21st Century. It figures that a band with this abrasive, unrelenting, and outlandish of a sound has stuck as strong of a chord as it has. Dread has replaced the American dream, and Chat Pile’s music is a poignant reminder of that shift—a portrait of an American rock band molded by a society defined by its cold and cruel power systems. Though very much on-brand with Chat Pile’s signature flavor of cacophonous, sludgy noise rock, the band’s shift to a global thematic focus on Cool World not only compliments the broader experimentations it employs with their songwriting but also how they dissect the album’s core theme of violence. Melded into the band’s twisted foundational sound are traces of other eclectic genre stylings, with examples of gazy, goth-tinged dirges to abrasive yet anthemic alt/indie-esque hooks and off-kilter metal grooves only scratching the surface of what can be heard in the album’s ten tracks. Besides stylistically stretching the boundaries of the Chat Pile sound, Cool World is also the band’s first record to have someone else handle mixing duties, with Ben Greenberg (Uniform) capturing and further amplifying the quartet’s unmistakably outsider and folk-art edge. While Chat Pile’s debut album was plenty disturbing with its B-movie-inspired interpretation of a “real American horror story”, what the band depicts on Cool World is unsettling not just from its visceral noise rock onslaught, but from depicting how all sorts of atrocities are pretty much standard parts of modern existence. In film terms, think something like a Criterion arthouse film by way of schlocky grindhouse splatterfest: undeniably gratuitous and thrilling in the moment but leaving a looming dread in the back of one’s mind for how close the horrors depicted mirror reality.