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LIMITED THIRD PRESS. 300 ONLY CLEAR VINYL WITH RED BLOOD SPLATTER, HOUSED IN A RED AND METALLIC SILVER SLEEVE.

The Swedish underground legends return with a brand new album. Let this reddit user take over …
“Listening to Brainbombs has been one of my weirdest experiences with music. Brainbombs are most definitely a band. I guess at the core they’re a hardcore punk/noise rock hybrid I guess? But… It's so unlike anything I’ve ever heard and I still don’t know if it's good or bad. I saw the edgelord Ed Gein album cover, and it intrigued me, so I listened to their biggest song and it was easily THE WORST thing I had EVER FUCKING HEARD. I shut it off as soon as it got to the vocals. I was shocked by the fact that it had almost a half million streams. But, a few hours later, I clicked on it again and didn’t know why.
Over the past few days, I’ve listened to all of their discography and looped a lot of it. And I don’t even think I like them. The music is abysmal, it's the same single riff and verse repeating for 5 minutes. To make it worse, the vocals are just a guy with a swedish accent awkwardly talking about murder and rape. That sounds awful right? It is awful. But at the same time I want to keep listening? It’s so childishly edgy and obnoxiously repetitive but so.. intriguing? Catchy? I’m not even sure. It's one of if not the weirdest experience I’ve ever had with music and I don’t know how to feel about it.”

What is Buck? Buck is a state of mind, a way of life, a demeanor that gets you through the good times and the bad. If you ask Brainstory, It is also the energy that permeates their debut album. Kevin, Tony, and Eric are a trio of brothers bounded by blood, fate, and a small town with nothing to do. Their story begins in the long lost lands of the San Bernardino Valley, in the twilight zone known as Rialto, California: An arid wasteland of boredom and empty lots. Through punk rock and skateboarding they found temporary liberation from the local monotony. However, it wouldn't be long before a hunger for more led them to explore musical realms beyond that of the hardcore punk they admired. After stints at music school and steady disappointment trying to navigate their local jazz scene they moved to Los Angeles and Brainstory was born. Through a introduction from Chicano Batman's bassist, Brainstory caught the ears of Big Crown head honchos Danny Akalepse and Leon Michels. Shortly thereafter they were on their way to Queens, to record at The Legendary Diamond Mine with Michels at the helm. An instant chemistry yielded 10 songs in 10 days and now Brainstory has gifted the world with one hell of an introduction to all things Buck. Highlights include the sublime slow burner, "Dead End" which was the A-side to their first 45 on Big Crown that sold out in a matter of days. With Kevin's sublime falsetto floating atop Tony and Eric's unflappable and unmistakable backbeat, this tune has become a favorite with the ballad heads, the low-riders, and the slowie collectors. "Breathe" showcases another side of their sound taking a page out of the Shuggie Otis playbook and flipping the script with some stoned out west coast swag. Kev and Tony's father, Big Tone, an accomplished performer himself, steps in on "Peter Pan" to sing lead vocals over a chorus of friends and family. Bassist extraordinaire, Tony, takes over lead vocal duties on "Sorry", a smoked out, G Funk groove that is just waiting to be sampled. These guys have come a long way from their self released EPs and opening tours with Chicano Batman. Their musical growth is undeniable, and taking their California sunshine vibes and mixing them with Michels' NYC aesthetic has proven to be an amazing combination. It's a debut record that pulls influences from so many genres seamlessly it's hard to nail down. Call it Funk, call it Rock, call it Soul, but over here at Big Crown HQ, we've decided to call it BUCK.

Piece of Me, das zweite Album von Lady Wray, ist so etwas wie eine Heimkehr für Nicole. Während ihr Solo-Debüt Queen Alone aus dem Jahr 2016 mehr in Richtung Soul und R&B mit einem Hauch von HipHop tendierte, ändert sich dies bei diesem Album. Es ist immer noch R&B mit den Texturen von analogem Soul, doch zeichnet sich ein starker HipHop-Einfluss ab, der Nicoles Schaffen für die Zukunft definieren wird. Boom-Bap-Drums und deepe Basslines stehen im Vordergrund und bilden den perfekten Hintergrund für Lady Wray, die sich auf ihrer bisher persönlichsten Sammlung von Songs mit dem Guten, dem Schlechten, dem Schwierigen und dem Freudvollen auseinandersetzt. Der Titelsong Piece of Me, der seit seiner Veröffentlichung 2019 bereits zum Klassiker geworden ist, handelt von den Menschen in deinem Leben, die mehr brauchen, als du zu geben bereit bist. Dieses Stück und die B-Seite der 7" Come On In waren die ersten Songs, die für dieses Album aufgenommen wurden - als Nicole im achten Monat schwanger mit ihrer Tochter war. Ihre Stimme ist so kraftvoll, so rau bei diesen ersten Songs, erstaunlich, wenn man sich vor Augen führt, wie sie aufgenommen wurden. Und noch verrückter ist es, zu wissen, dass sie sie alle in einem einzigen Take aufgenommen hat. Ihr langjährige Mitstreiter und Produzent Leon Michels entwirft das musikalische Fundament gekonnt zurückhaltend, um Lady Wray ausreichend Raum zu geben. Während die energiegeladenen Songs Under The Sun und Through It All mit Sicherheit zu Hits werden, die Lady Wray wieder mit ihrer R&B-Fangemeinde aus den 90ern connecten, zeigt Where Were You, wie ihre Jugendjahre wirklich waren. in dem poetischen und kraftvollen Beauty In The Fire setzt sich Nicole mit den Spannungen zwischen den Ethnien in Amerika auseinander und lässt sich im Showstopper Thank You stark von ihrem Glauben und ihrempfindet und in Joy & Pain feiert sie die Höhen und Tiefen des Lebens. Im Jahr 2021 ist es eher selten, ein eklektisches und doch zusammenhängendes Album ohne ,Ausreißer" zu hören - aber genau das ist Piece Of Me. Die bewährte Chemie zwischen Lady Wray und Leon Michels hat unbestreitbar das nächste Level erreicht, dieses Album ist ein Zeugnis ihrer Entschlossenheit und Hingabe.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut full length offering from Les Imprimés, Rêverie. The stirring and ethereal sounds of Les Imprimés have been making fans of anyone who hears them since their first 7" single hit the speakers. Morten Martens is the man behind the band. Born, raised, and working in Kristiansand, Norway, he keeps a low prole while making his heart felt, highly infectious, and unique music. This album is a long time coming for Martens and it is sure to make him a name to be reckoned with. The first thing you notice listening to Les Imprimés is the high level of musician-ship. Martens plays nearly every instrument on the recordings and handles the production and arranging. He has been making records for decades, winning a Spellemann Award (aka, the Norwegian Grammy) in 2006 for producing a HipHop album as well as getting nominations across three other genres. While awards and accolades speak to the level of his talent, this new album really shows who he is an artist on his own terms. Moving away from being a hired gun on the touring scene naturally led him to start doing more studio work. Slowly collecting gear and getting more experi-ence behind the boards he built his own studio on the island of Odderoya and was making a living playing with and recording other people's music. As the story goes, after those sessions would end he would work on his own project into the wee hours of the night. From these late night sessions, Les Imprimés was born and Rêverie began to take shape. However, "it wasn't until COVID, when things locked down, that I was really able to nd the time to focus on Les Imprimés" Morten says about creating and leading his own solo project. "It was a scary time. But I knew I had to do something with it." He took the sum of his inuences, combined them with his own vibe and got busy writing the music, playing the instruments, and singing the songs. "It's soul music, but I don't exactly have the soul voice," Morten explains humbly. "But I do it my own way, in a way that's mine. "It is his sound, his fingerprint, his sensibility, that makes his music hard to put in a box. The album showcases both Martens' range and his ability to make a cohesive album. The lead single "Falling Away" starts with a raw drum break and turns into a lushly arranged tune that paints the picture of love when it slips away. On "Still Here" he professes his resilience through life's twists and turns over a thundering track that puts a new spin on the B side ballad genre. Songs like "You" and "Our Love" mix tones from 60s and 70s Soul with arrangement nods to Doo Wop records while Martens' lyrics and delivery leave you singing the melodies long after they finish. "Love & Flowers" finds Martens in a moment of clarity with a song that ts the niche sub genre of happy break up tunes, the four on the floor track will move the dancefloor or while the message will resonate with anyone who put too much effort into the wrong situation in their lives. However, it is songs like "Muse" and "Chess" that really encapsulate the uniqueness of Les Imprimés as they push the boundaries of genre, one a profession of love for music and the other a cover of an electronic record respectively. Martens' lyrics, emotion, and delivery truly make the whole thing come together and stand out from any of his peers. There's an infectiousness and a pop sensibility in the writing that is done with the utmost class and taste giving Les Imprimés the rare quality of immediate attraction that only deepens the more you listen.

Der finnische Sänger Bobby Oroza veröffentlicht sein Debütalbum This Love bei Big Crown Records. Das Label aus New York City ist bereits Heimat von Bands wie Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Shacks und El Michels Affair. Bobby ist in Helsinki geboren und in einer Musiker- und Künstlerfamilie aufgewachsen. Zu Bobbys Glück hatten seine Eltern eine große Plattensammlung mit frühem Jazz, Blues, Motown-Hits, Gospelchören und Doo-Wop-Gruppen wie The Drifters und The Clovers, aber auch Alben aus Brasilien und Afrika, Folksongs aus Nord- und Südamerika von Bobbys Mutter und Salsa-Musik aus New York. All diese Einflüsse sind heute in Bobbys Musik hör- und spürbar. Auf Kuba studierte er monatelang intensiv Schlagzeug und Gesang. Mit Cold Diamond & Mink, der Hausband von Timmion Records, bestehend aus Bandleader Jukka Sarapää, Sami Kantelinen und Gitarrist/Komponist Seppo Salmi, bildet er ein brillantes Quartett, mit dem er seine Vision in Musik umsetzt. CD&M liefern mit ihren LoFi-Instrumentals die perfekte Untermalung für Bobbys verrauchte Tenorstimme, die Herzen brechen und schmelzen lässt. Der bereits 2016 als 7" Single veröffentlichte Titelsong "This Love" ist längst zum Hit in Lowrider-Kreisen geworden und wurde auf "Hat Trick" von Odd Future Rapper Earl Sweatshirt gesamplet. Der Song ist mit seinen harten Drums, den wilden Riffs, dem vergrabenen Bass und Bobbys verhaltenem, aber intensivem Gesang ein Muss für Soul-Sammler und hat sich als 7? mehr als 3.000 Mal verkauft. Der Song "Your Love Is Too Cold" ist ein Stomper, der Soul-Grooves früher Motown-Stücke mit Gitarrenriffs aus einem Funk-Soundtrack von James Brown mischt und schon jetzt weltweit auf allen Soul-Partys schwer angesagt ist. Bobby hat einiges für die Tänzer im Publikum in petto: Stücke wie "Lonely Girl" und "Falling in Love" sind Verneigungen vor dem Northern Soul, "Keep On Believing" liefert Jazz-Funk wie aus den Siebzigern. Aber "This Love" wendet sich vor allem an die Balladenliebhaber, die voller Sehnsucht in die Nacht schauen. Mit Songs wie "Alone Again", "Down On My Knees" und "Deja Vu" beschwört er eine intensive, leicht abgründige Sinnlichkeit. Eine einzigartige Spielart von Soul, made in Finland.

God Bless The Band is released on 28th August 2026. God Bless The Band celebrates an incredible two decades of Courteeners, featuring tracks from their seven studio albums - St. Jude (2008), Falcon (2010), Anna (2013), Concrete Love (2014), Mapping the Rendezvous (2016), More. Again. Forever. (2020) and Pink Cactus Cafe (2024) - along with two brand new tracks ‘The Luckiest Man Alive’ and ‘Plus One Forever’ produced by Liam Fray and James Skelly. Formats include heavyweight black 2LP and CD plus retail exclusive Crystal Clear 2LP.

The Gates of Slumber’s debut album and EP reissued in August Svart Records continue to reissue the works of Indiana’s true doom metal legends The Gates of Slumber by bringing back their debut album The Awakening and early EP Like a Plague Upon the Land in late August 2026. The 2005 EP Like a Plague Upon the Land is a punchy release praised for its authenticity to the genre. Never before released on vinyl, this hard-hitting fan favorite is heavily rooted in 70s rock-influenced doom. Traditional, slow, and heavy in the vein of Reverend Bizarre and Saint Vitus. The Gates of Slumber was formed by Karl Simon in 1998. Various people were in and out of the group between 1998 and 2001, when the Blood Encrusted Deth Axe demo was recorded with Jamie Walters aka Dr. Phibes/Athenar (Boulder, Midnight) on drums and bass. In 2003 Jason McCash took over the bass duties and was a long-time member of the band until his untimely demise in 2014, after which Simon decided it was time to call it quits. That was until 2019 when the renowned metal festival Hell Over Hammaburg wanted to bring the band back on stage to perform at the festival’s 2020 edition. Simon reformed the band with its original member Chuck Brown on drums and Steve Janiak on bass and got back to work, which resulted in the new self-titled album released in 2024 on Svart Records.

The Gates of Slumber’s debut album and EP reissued in August Svart Records continue to reissue the works of Indiana’s true doom metal legends The Gates of Slumber by bringing back their debut album The Awakening and early EP Like a Plague Upon the Land in late August 2026. The 2005 EP Like a Plague Upon the Land is a punchy release praised for its authenticity to the genre. Never before released on vinyl, this hard-hitting fan favorite is heavily rooted in 70s rock-influenced doom. Traditional, slow, and heavy in the vein of Reverend Bizarre and Saint Vitus. The Gates of Slumber was formed by Karl Simon in 1998. Various people were in and out of the group between 1998 and 2001, when the Blood Encrusted Deth Axe demo was recorded with Jamie Walters aka Dr. Phibes/Athenar (Boulder, Midnight) on drums and bass. In 2003 Jason McCash took over the bass duties and was a long-time member of the band until his untimely demise in 2014, after which Simon decided it was time to call it quits. That was until 2019 when the renowned metal festival Hell Over Hammaburg wanted to bring the band back on stage to perform at the festival’s 2020 edition. Simon reformed the band with its original member Chuck Brown on drums and Steve Janiak on bass and got back to work, which resulted in the new self-titled album released in 2024 on Svart Records.

Teksti-TV 666 will release their fourth mini-album as a limited-edition vinyl pressing in August Finland’s hottest indie rock band, Teksti-TV 666, released their new EP 4 digitally on All That Plazz in April. Svart Records, who have previously released the band’s albums and EPs on vinyl, is continuing this tradition with the new mini-album as well. EP 4 marks a small new beginning for this distinctive rock band, currently enjoying a strong cult following internationally. Teksti-TV 666 is known for their raucous krautrock, which has elevated the band to the status of an exceptional act in Finnish indie rock, even on the international scene. The band enjoys a strong and rapidly growing cult following, particularly in Sweden and Denmark. The new EP features four tracks of some of the most interesting Finnish indie rock on the international scene right now. It includes a 10-minute prog jam, a three-minute punk track, more traditional guitar rock, and the track “Fast & Furious,” which hooks listeners with its lighter, airier krautrock vibe.

Son Volt’s latest album, Sound Signal Serenades, will be released as a Record Store Day exclusive. Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance. The songs move fluidly between stripped-down intimacy and full-band drive, blending folk-rock, country, and electric grit with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are. There’s a sense of forward motion throughout the album—never nostalgic for its own sake, but deeply aware of where it’s been. Lyrically, Farrar explores themes of connection, resilience, and place, finding meaning in both the ordinary and the unsettled. This album stands as another chapter in Son Volt’s enduring catalog: honest, grounded, and quietly powerful, reaffirming their role as one of America’s most consistent and thoughtful rock bands.

South Coast artist Howman lands back on DNO Records for his second outing, ‘Trap Eastwood’. First introducing his heavyweight fusion of rock, hip-hop, dubstep and electronica via his outstanding 2023 debut, ‘Moon Operator’, the multi-instrumentalist and producer returns with a refined palette. Still bearing the first class musicality, rich layering and imaginative sonics that we’ve come to expect, the new EP is more stylistically focused than its predecessor. This time, Howman homes in on a spot somewhere in the 140/dubstep/trap sphere, decorating it with digital fizz, alien bleeps, snarling bass, and the signature gruff twang of guitar that makes his music feel deeply personal and eternally human.

The title track is perhaps the most prominent example of the latter, where Howman’s Western-esque riff conjures up the tension before a duel at high noon, while the bend and wobble of each string shapes the movement of the track like the curves of a rattlesnake.
But it’s a constant from the start, like on opener ‘Strip Search’, with its cinematic guitar intro, and combination of repetitive keys, earnest strings and bear-hug bass that nods to classic hip-hop.
Or closer ‘Fatigue’, where the layers of stuttering plucks, emotive melody and scratchy slide noises form a downtrodden soundscape plagued by police sirens and punctured by “Champion Sound” snippets.
On ‘Navigator’, Howman’s approach is more subtle: fluttering strums and a simple bassline creating a brooding, enigmatic vibe in stark contrast to the urgent, alarm-like stabs which first grip the attention.

Throughout there is an overriding sense of the unknown. ‘No Spring’ weaves drawn-out flute notes, tinkling percussion, super-massive 808 lows and spurts of breakbeat into a twisting, winding thing that wants to lure and enchant. While ‘Frosty’ is as ice cold as its name suggests, murderous bass meeting a spidery piano melody in dread-inducing matrimony — along with snatched words from some familiar faces outside a Berlin edition of THE MINE.

Produced between 2022 and 2025 across various locations, influenced by Howman having to move into more solo live performance (as opposed to his previous band setups), and miraculously surviving a catastrophic data loss incident, the EP is a snapshot of disruption focused into creative cohesion. We’ve been told, however, that it’s not a new direction or a sign of things to come, which only serves to make his next release that much more enticing, that much more of a mystery.

Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.

Am 28.08.2026 veröffentlichen IL CIVETTO ihr neues Album „Träume aus Lava“ – ein kraftvolles Plädoyer
dafür, wieder an die eigenen Träume zu glauben und Veränderung zu wagen.
Zwischen Hoffnung und Zweifel, Melancholie und Aufbruch verbindet das Berliner Fusion-Pop-Quintett
tanzbare Sounds mit gesellschaftlicher Haltung. Inspiriert von Sehnsucht, Fernweh und der besonderen
Energie Marokkos entstand ein Album über die Kraft von Visionen – Träume, die nicht naiv sind, sondern
etwas in Bewegung setzen und sich wie ein Lavastrom unaufhaltsam ihren Weg bahnen.
Nach vier Alben und Auftritten auf Festivals wie Deichbrand, SWR3 New Pop und Montreux Jazz Festival
präsentieren IL CIVETTO mit „Träume aus Lava“ ihr bislang nachdenklichstes, kämpferischstes und zugleich hoffnungsvollstes Werk.
„Träume aus Lava“ erscheint als CD im Digisleeve sowie als limitierte rot-schwarze Vinyl im Gatefold.

Mit „Everything’s Falling“ zeigen The Warning eindrucksvoll, warum sie zu den spannendsten Stimmen im
modernen Rock zählen. Das Latin-Grammy-nominierte Schwestertrio aus Monterrey, Mexiko, verbindet
Alternative Rock, Hard Rock und Metal zu einem kraftvollen Sound, der von starken Riffs und eingängigen
Melodien geprägt ist. Bekannt geworden durch ihr virales „Enter Sandman“-Cover, haben sich Daniela,
Paulina und Alejandra längst als eigenständige Künstlerinnen, mit einer internationalen Fanbase, in der
Rockszene etabliert.
Auf ihrem fünften Studioalbum „Everything’s Falling“ setzen sich The Warning mit inneren Konflikten,
Ängsten und Selbstzweifeln auseinander und verwandeln diese Themen in energiegeladene Songs mit ungefilterter Ehrlichkeit.

Zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum erscheint Pohlmanns Debütalbum Zwischen Heimweh und Fernsucht als hochwertige Colored 2LP Edition, eine besondere Veröffentlichung für langjährige Fans, Vinyl-Liebhaber und
Freunde deutschsprachiger Singer-Songwriter-Musik.
Mit seinem 2006 veröffentlichten Debüt legte Pohlmann den Grundstein für seine Karriere. Zwischen
Heimweh und Fernsucht verbindet authentisches Songwriting mit eingängigen Melodien und erzählt von
Aufbruch, Sehnsucht, Liebe und dem Wunsch, den eigenen Weg zu finden. Zwischen nachdenklichen
Momenten und unbeschwerter Leichtigkeit entfaltet das Album eine zeitlose Atmosphäre, die bis heute
begeistert. Titel wie „Wenn jetzt Sommer wär“, „Der Junge ist verliebt“ und der gleichnamige Song
„Zwischen Heimweh und Fernsucht“ zählen zu den bekanntesten Stücken des Albums und prägten seinen
frühen Erfolg.
Ob als nostalgische Reise zurück in die 2000er-Jahre oder als Neuentdeckung, diese Colored Vinyl Edition lädt dazu ein, Zwischen Heimweh und Fernsucht neu zu entdecken und immer wieder aufzulegen.

Raus aus seinem Sumpf! Anlässlich des 25-jährigen Jubiläums des Kinodebüts unseres aller Lieblingsogers
präsentiert Varèse Sarabande eine neue Reissue CD der klassischen Filmmusik von Harry Gregson-Williams
und John Powell zu „Shrek“.

Als sich der Horrorfan und Drehbuchautor Kevin Williamson mit dem Slasher-Meister Wes Craven zusammentat, schufen sie 1996 mit „Scream“ eine der großartigsten Horrorfilmreihen aller Zeiten. Der damals
noch relativ unbekannte Filmkomponist Marco Beltrami vervollständigte das Filmemacher-Trio mit seinen
avantgardistischen Orchestertechniken und schuf einen für die Reihe perfekten Spannungs- und Horrostil.
Nun, 30 Jahre später, feiert Varèse Sarabande das 30-jährige Jubiläum von „Scream“ mit dieser neuen
Sammler-CD-Ausgabe und Sammler-LP-Ausgabe in einem besonderen, blutgetränkten Sleeve.

»Dark Hours« war 2009 eine freudige Überraschung, da viele Bands mit zunehmendem Alter es häufig ruhiger angehen lassen. Nicht so die Schweden: Mit düsteren Untertönen wird eine Energie entfacht, die zeigt, dass die Band ihren eigenen Weg aus modernem Power Metal mit melodischen Zwischenspielen weiter ausbaut.

Bereits beim ersten Hören erkennt man, was diese erfahrenen Musiker zu bieten haben, besonders wenn man die klassischen Heavy-Metal-Merkmale mag: düster, melodisch, eingängig und böse.

Die "Simple Game" LP von Sendecki & Spiegel erscheint auf Skip und führt das Duo mit einem reduzierten, zugleich präzisen Programm zusammen, das Klavier und Schlagzeug in den Mittelpunkt rückt.

Im musikalischen Zentrum stehen kompositorische Kürze und ein feines Gespür für Raum: filigrane Motive und pointierte Rhythmen wechseln mit offenen Passagen, in denen die beiden Musiker gegenseitig Impulse geben und Formeln aufbrechen. Die Stücke bewegen sich zwischen modernem Jazz, lyrischer Improvisation und Momenten, die an die introspektiven Tendenzen zeitgenössischer Klaviermusik erinnern. Dadurch entsteht ein ausgewogenes Gleichgewicht aus Struktur und Spielfreude, das dem Duo eine eigene Klangsprache verleiht.

Vladyslav Sendecki bringt seine Erfahrung als international gefragter Pianist ein; Jürgen Spiegel ist als Schlagzeuger des Tingvall Trio bekannt und in verschiedenen Rollen als Live‑ und Studiomusiker aktiv. Die Zusammenarbeit baut auf beiderseitiger Vertrautheit und langjähriger Praxis im Jazzbereich auf, wodurch Arrangement und Interaktion klar konturiert wirken. Frühere Veröffentlichungen des Duos zeigen denselben Fokus a

Louisiana Red wurde im März 1932 in Alabama geboren und starb fast auf den Tag genau 80 Jahre später in Hannover. Der frühe Lebensweg von Iverson Minter, auch bekannt als Louisiana Red, war geprägt von Leid. Seine Mutter starb eine Woche nach seiner Geburt an einer Lungenentzündung. Als er fünf Jahre alt war, wurde sein Vater vom Ku-Klux-Klan hingerichtet. Danach lebte er in Waisenhäusern, bis er den Rest seiner Kindheit bei seiner Großmutter verbringen konnte. Als Jugendlicher wurde er wegen Einbruchs zu Zwangsarbeit verurteilt und anschließend von Uncle Sam in den Koreakrieg geschickt. Bluesmusiker wollte Iverson werden, seit er Muddy Waters kennengelernt hatte. Ende der 1950er Jahre spielte er in der Band von John Lee Hooker. Mitte der 1970er Jahre zog es ihn nach Europa, wo er durch Auftritte beim WDR-Rockpalast oder dem Montreux Jazz Festival einem breiteren Publikum bekannt wurde. In den 1980er Jahren verpflichtete Fritz Rau Louisiana Red für sein erfolgreiches Festivalformat "American Folk Blues Festival". 1983 veröffentlichte er sein erfolgreiches Album "Anti-Nuclear Blues", dessen Inhalt und Aussage heute aktueller denn je sind. Die Original-Vinyl-Ausgabe ist inzwischen zu einer gesuchten Rarität geworden. Nun erscheint das Album erstmals auch auf CD mit sechs Bonustiteln vom "American Folk Blues Festival" von 1981 sowie als Neuauflage auf Vinyl im frischen Soundgewand.

On Sirenas, Los Angeles quartet Allah-Las explore psychic vistas of atmospheric instrumental storytelling.

The band’s sixth album coalesces around a more spontaneous soundscape shaped by freeform experimentation, intuitive vibrations, and open-ended moments of inner and outer worlding.

Channeling a fluid sweep of influences, from The Durutti Column, I.A.O., and Popol Vuh’s scores for Werner Herzog to Jacques Cousteau’s expansion of The Silent World beneath the ocean’s surface, Sirenas mediates on subconscious grooves loosely imagined and deeply felt, and opens up previously unimagined pathways in the process.

Auf „Sirenas“ erkundet das Quartett Allah-Las aus Los Angeles die psychischen Weiten atmosphärischer instrumentaler Erzählkunst.
Das sechste Album der Band vereint eine spontanere Klanglandschaft, die von freiformigen Experimenten, intuitiven Schwingungen und offenen Momenten der inneren und äußeren Weltgestaltung geprägt ist.
„Sirenas“ kanalisiert einen fließenden Strom von Einflüssen – von The Durutti Column, I.A.O. und Popol Vuhs Filmmusik für Werner Herzog bis hin zu Jacques Cousteaus Erweiterung von „Die stille Welt“ unter der Meeresoberfläche – und meditiert über lose vorstellbare und tief empfundene unbewusste Grooves, wobei es bisher ungeahnte Wege erschließt.

Swiss hard rock veterans Shakra return with renewed fire and unstoppable energy on *Just Live Loud*, their explosive new studio album and the band’s very first release through Frontiers Music Srl. Fueled by massive riffs, soaring melodies, and the unmistakable chemistry that has defined Shakra for decades, the album captures the spirit of classic European hard rock while pushing the band into a heavier, more modern sonic territory. Produced with a raw yet polished approach, *Just Live Loud* delivers a powerful mix of thunderous anthems, emotionally charged ballads, and adrenaline-fueled rockers designed for both festival stages and late-night highway drives. From razor-sharp guitar work and pounding rhythms to towering vocal hooks, every track reflects the band’s commitment to authenticity, passion, and pure rock’n’roll attitude. Lyrically, the album celebrates resilience, freedom, brotherhood, and the determination to live life at full volume — themes that resonate deeply with the band’s own journey through the international hard rock scene. *Just Live Loud* also marks an exciting new chapter for Shakra, combining the experience and songwriting strength of their legacy years with a fresh creative momentum that feels more vital than ever. With this landmark release, Shakra reaffirm their status as one of Switzerland’s premier hard rock exports and prove that true melodic heavy rock is alive, loud, and ready to conquer a new generation of fans.

Secret South zeigt die Band auf ihrem dunkelsten, weitläufigsten Terrain: eine fiebrige Mischung aus Gothic Americana, Folk, Country-Anklängen und okkult schimmernder Schwermut. Bandoneon, Banjo, Hurdy-Gurdy und entrückter Gesang formen einen Sound, der fernab jeder Moderne wirkt und dennoch zeitlos bleibt - archaisch, intensiv und voller Sogkraft. Während die Stücke zwischen asketischer Kargheit und opulenter Weite pendeln, entfaltet sich die volle emotionale Wucht eines Albums, das bis heute Kultstatus besitzt.

Euronymous’ Deathlike Silence Productions in 1993, & with each subsequent release, Sigh grew to become one of the country’s greatest & most revered metal exports. With a journey through the strange & the psychedelic, incorporating a whole eclectic mix of genre styles & experimentation throughout their career, Sigh has remained a vital creative force in the avantgarde field whilst maintaining their old school roots, as witnessed with the stellar 2022 album, ‘Shiki’. 2025 also saw Sigh remaking their ‘Hangman’s Hymn’ album for a release on Peaceville as part of the band’s 35th anniversary celebrations, in the shape of ‘I Saw The World’s End: Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV’.

With the ongoing early line-up of Mirai Kawashima, Shinichi Ishikawa, & Satoshi Fujinami, ‘Scenario IV: Dread Dreams’ was the band’s fourth studio album, originally surfacing in 1999. This was also notably the final title in partnership with Sigh’s then-label, Cacophonous Records. Delving evermore into the experimental side of music to conjure an interlinked gallery of twisted soundscapes; ‘Dread Dreams’ became more of a journey into the realm of psychedelia & rock over black metal, with this Zappa-inspired odyssey acting as somewhat of a direct pre-cursor to what was to follow with the celebrated ‘Imaginary Sonicscape’ opus.

‘Dread Dreams’ was once more recorded at Shinjuku On Air Studio with J. Yamada, with a selection of guests including Damian Montgomery of Ritual Carnage lending lyrics plus guest vocals, along with King Fowley (Deceased), & Killjoy (Necrophagia) supplying additional song lyrics. Cover art came courtesy of renowned artist Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Autopsy).

Continuing with Peaceville’s re-issues of Sigh’s classic works, this edition of ‘Dread Dreams’ contains a new master created by Patrick Engel at Temple of Disharmony.

The release also includes a new interview with main-man Mirai Kawashima conducted by Dayal Patterson of Cult Never Dies, with his thoughts, influences & reflections on the album & its challenges.

Buckshot returns with The Package, his latest solo album and his first to be entirely self-produced. The Brooklyn legend handles every beat himself this time, with features from General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun bringing the Boot Camp Clik brotherhood full circle.
Co-founder of Duck Down Music with Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman, Buckshot has spent over three decades building one of hip-hop's most respected independent labels while staying prolific on the mic: a solo studio album, three with producer 9th Wonder, one with KRS-One, four with Black Moon, and four with the Boot Camp Clik. He's the voice behind "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn," a line that still echoes through the culture, prominently featured on two Crooklyn Dodgers tracks.

Formed in 1981 by two Rockford, Illinois, and two Brookfield, Wisconsin, natives in the midpoint of Milwaukee, Die Kreuzen (pronounced dee kroyt-zen) chose their name specifically to avoid stereotyping because “no one knows what it means. 'Die Kreuzen' roughly translates out of German meaning 'to intersect' or 'to hybridize,' which is exactly what they did on their five LP's for Touch and Go. Their self titled debut is considered one of the most seminal hardcore records of the early 80’s. As far as October File is concerned, remember that flannel shirt movement in the 90's? This is what those guys were listening to.

Formed in 1981 by two Rockford, Illinois, and two Brookfield, Wisconsin, natives in the midpoint of Milwaukee, Die Kreuzen (pronounced dee kroyt-zen) chose their name specifically to avoid stereotyping because “no one knows what it means. 'Die Kreuzen' roughly translates out of German meaning 'to intersect' or 'to hybridize,' which is exactly what they did on their five LP's for Touch and Go. Their self titled debut is considered one of the most seminal hardcore records of the early 80’s. As far as their second album October File is concerned, remember that flannel shirt movement in the 90's? This is what those guys were listening to.

From the swamping lands of Finland death/grind trio Galvanizer emerges with their debut album “Sanguine Vigil” after having paid all their dues with several tapes and a 7″ep like we were used back in the 90s.
Galvanizer have quickly become one of the most promising underground acts around, their old school approach perfectly combines with their youthful energy and their sound will perfectly please both fans of old school Finnish death metal and modern deathgrind sounds.
The artwork is painted by mighty TG Rantanen, a finnish institution famous for his works with Demilich, Demigod, Adramelech, Depravity and many more.

Recorded in Waterloo, Iowa and produced by Michael Cutsforth , the album blends iconic blues storytelling with soulful, lived- in delivery, performed with clarity, conviction, and heart. Burt - long celebrated for his ability to captivate audiences with a raw, acoustic roots style and winner of the International Blues Challenge for solo artist - returns to the core of what makes his music resonate so deeply. After releasing three studio albums with full- band arraignments, This Trip marks a conscious shift toward intimacy and honesty. Burt brings the immediacy of his live performances into the studio, stripping back instrumentation to place the listener directly in the room with the storyteller. The result is a warm, immersive listening experience where every lyric lands with intention and every pause carries meaning - an album that invites you to slow down, lean in, and truly listen. Lyrically, This Trip reflects on life in all its chapters, exploring love, loss, hurt, fear, joy, and the moments that define who we become. These are songs shaped by experience and delivered with empathy, offering comfort as much as truth. Listening to Kevin Burt feels less like consuming music and more like sharing space- it's reflective, grounding, and quietly transformative. This Trip isn't just an album you hear; it's one you feel, and one you'll want to return to again and again.

Louisiana Red's "Anti-Nuclear Blues" is considered a classic among acoustic blues albums and comes out on CD (w/bonus tracks) and LP in random coloured vinyl , limited to 500 copies worldwide - for fans of Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Sonny Terry, Lightnin' Hopkins Louisiana Red was born in Alabama in March 1932 and died in Hanover almost exactly 80 years later. The early life of Iverson Minter, also known as Louisiana Red, was marked by suffering.

His mother died of pneumonia a week after he was born. When he was five years old, his father was executed by the Ku Klux Klan. After that, he lived in orphanages until he was able to spend the rest of his childhood with his grandmother. As a teenager, he was sentenced to hard labor for burglary and subsequently sent by Uncle Sam to the Korean War. Iverson had wanted to become a blues musician ever since he had met Muddy Waters. In the late 1950s, he played in John Lee Hooker's band. In the mid-1970s, he moved to Europe, where he gained recognition among a wider audience through appearances at the WDR Rockpalast and the Montreux Jazz Festival. In the 1980s, Fritz Rau signed Louisiana Red for his successful festival series, the "American Folk Blues Festival." In 1983, he released his acclaimed album "Anti- Nuclear Blues," whose content and message are more relevant today than ever. The original vinyl edition has since become a sought-after rarity. Now, the album is being released for the first time on CD, featuring six bonus tracks from the 1981 "American Folk Blues Festival," as well as a reissue on vinyl with a fresh sound.

For more than a decade, Mama's Broke, the Canadian duo of Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria, have forged a style carried across landscapes rather than tied to one Their forthcoming 12- song LP Reunion follows years in near- constant motion, bringing their folk- without- borders approach to small clubs, DIY spaces, and everywhere in between. Reunion reflects a world coming apart in plain sight, tracing fractured communities, the erosion of shared ground, and the growing awareness that the systems we were taught to trust no longer hold or deliver the promises they were meant to keep. The songs don't preach or prescribe; they reflect, holding up a mirror and leaving space for something else to take shape.

1998’s OPUS OF STELLAR DOOM ROCK FROM THE SWEDISH LEGENDS,
INCLUDING MICHAEL AMOTT OF ARCH ENEMY ON GUITARS.
FEATURES NEWLY REMASTERED AUDIO & PRESENTED ON LIMITED PEARL ARCTIC VINYL.

Candlemass was formed by bassist & songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm, Sweden in 1984. Well known for their epic doom metal & continuing their legacy as genre leaders to this day, Candlemass has influenced a generation of the genre’s subsequent greats from My Dying Bride to Paradise Lost - Candlemass themselves taking a large influence from Black Sabbath.

‘Dactylis Glomerata’ was a come-back album of sorts, originally released in 1998, after the band had temporarily been laid to rest after the ‘Chapter VI’ album.

‘Dactylis…’ was an album of more stripped down dirty doom rock, with solid songwriting on display, evoking what some described as a strong stoner vibe, along with some hard rock elements. This was in contrast to the more epic heavy metal inspired compositions from previous albums, which the band were more known for. Having stood the test of time incredibly well, ’Dactylis Glomerata’ is a gem in the band’s rich history spanning four decades.

The album notably also features guitars by Michael Amott of Arch Enemy (ex-Carcass), & also a guest appearance by Ian Haugland from Europe.

This edition of ’Dactylis Glomerata’ is presented on limited pearl arctic vinyl, with newly band-approved remastered audio courtesy of Patrick Engel at Temple of Disharmony.

Originally released in 2016, 'Your Wilderness' marked a pivotal moment in The Pineapple Thief's evolution, expanding the band's sonic palette & establishing a creative partnership with renowned drummer Gavin Harrison that would help define the group's next chapter. Widely regarded as one of the band's most ambitious & emotionally resonant works, the album remains a landmark release in modern progressive rock. Now, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Kscope presents a newly remastered edition of 'Your Wilderness' on clear double vinyl, featuring a 2026 remaster by Steve Kitch &, for the first time on vinyl, the companion album '8 Years Later'. Previously only available as part of the sold- out 'Your Wilderness' Earbook, '8 Years Later' collects material written during the same creative period, offering a deeper insight into one of the most fertile eras in The Pineapple Thief's catalogue.

Led by the lightning-fast guitar work of Alvin Lee, the band had quickly evolved from a traditional blues outfit into one of the most exciting and commercially viable acts of the late '60s British rock scene. This album reflects that transition, combining their Chicago blues roots with heavier rock, boogie rhythms, and early progressive influences. Recorded at a time when studio experimentation was becoming central to rock music, Cricklewood Green shows the band expanding beyond their live reputation into more layered and exploratory territory. The hit single "Love Like a Man" became a defining track of the era, earning chart success and cementing the group's reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. Newly remastered at Air Mastering, this reissue restores the album's original power and nuance. In addition to the album is a newly mixed performance by Charlie Russell of their second set at the Fillmore East on Friday 27th February 1970 on disc two, the sheer power of the band is on full display. On the CD are a selection of rarities with the standout being a newly discovered "Cricklewood Jam" demo, recorded during the album's sessions and never heard until now..

Callisto celebrates 20 years of Noir with a vinyl reissue out in September Finnish post-metal outift Callisto are celebrating the critically acclaimed 2006 album Noir with its 20th anniversary vinyl reissue released by Svart Records in September. Founded in Kokkola in 2001, but already established in Turku early on, Callisto has been laying low in recent years. However, the band's versatile and nuanced metal achieved international popularity in the early 2000s. Their second full-length album, Noir, released in 2006, is a significant cornerstone of Callisto's career. – Noir is the album we have probably received the most feedback about over the years, the band admits. – People make and send covers of Noir songs to us and the album is usually the first thing that comes up in conversation when you come across people who have some experience, memory or opinion about Callisto's active years. Noir's production and recording process was also difficult in its own way, so it's already a reason to celebrate that it ultimately became an album that strongly defined the band's early years, the band continues. Noir has the menace and progressive edge of doom metal; the album is lively, looks forward darkly, moves from whispers to screams and ends with massive, powerful energy.

celebrating the critically acclaimed 2006 album Noir with its 20th anniversary vinyl reissue released by Svart Records in September. Founded in Kokkola in 2001, but already established in Turku early on, Callisto has been laying low in recent years. However, the band's versatile and nuanced metal achieved international popularity in the early 2000s. Their second full-length album, Noir, released in 2006, is a significant cornerstone of Callisto's career. – Noir is the album we have probably received the most feedback about over the years, the band admits. – People make and send covers of Noir songs to us and the album is usually the first thing that comes up in conversation when you come across people who have some experience, memory or opinion about Callisto's active years. Noir's production and recording process was also difficult in its own way, so it's already a reason to celebrate that it ultimately became an album that strongly defined the band's early years, the band continues. Noir has the menace and progressive edge of doom metal; the album is lively, looks forward darkly, moves from whispers to screams and ends with massive, powerful energy.

John Tchicai (1936 – 2012) was one of the most important free improvising saxophonists of the 20th Century: an artist of rare vision and aptitude whose lines soared and stood out even in the most hallowed company, and whose body of work as a leader / composer is among the most singular and distinct within the entire canon of that music. But Tchicai’s importance doesn’t end there. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father, his life and career represent a crucial bridge between the European and American traditions of free jazz. Initially trained on violin as a child, Tchicai shifted his focus to the clarinet and alto saxophone during his mid-teens, and began touring Europe as a professional musician by his early 20s, which landed him at a socialist youth festival in Helsinki, Finland, where he met the trumpeter Bill Dixon and saxophonist Archie Shepp. Impressed by what they heard, Dixon and Shepp encouraged the young saxophonist to move to New York, and in so doing changed the history of jazz forever.

Tchicai’s arrival in New York marks the rare occurrence of a European player joining the intimate circle that was first wave of American free jazz. Following his landing in the city in November of 1962, in addition to regularly sitting in with Don Cherry’s group, Tchicai began playing with Bill Dixon's band alongside Archie Shepp and Roswell Rudd, forming the nucleus of the foundation of the New York Contemporary Five - one of the most important groups of the era - which counted Tchicai, Shepp, Cherry, Don Moore, and J. C. Moses as its members. From the ashes of this group, Tchicai would go on to found the legendary ensemble, New York Art Quartet, with Roswell Rudd, Milford Graves, and Lewis Worrell, as well as working within Albert Ayler's band, recording “New York Eye and Ear Control”, Shepp’s band, recording “Four for Trane”, the ensemble that recorded John Coltrane's “Ascension”, and the Jazz Composer's “Orchestra”.

By the time he decided to return to Denmark in 1966, had Tchicai chosen to record little else, his legacy within the history of music would have been ensured. Incredibly ambitious, his arrival home marked the beginning of an incredible period of activity which saw him radically expanding his creative explorations, which by the end of the decade would include becoming a founding member of Amsterdam's Instant Composers Pool and helping to record John Lennon and Yoko Ono's “Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions”. This, however, was proceeded the formation of a new orchestra, Cadentia Nova Danica, led by Tchicai, dedicated to radical cross-disciplinary exploration. Remaining together between 1966 and 1971, the group and its shifting membership regularly fell into collaboration with artists and composers, notably Musica Elettronica Viva, who existed beyond the realms of jazz, as well as participating within multi-media events that incorporated the visual realms.

Cadentia Nova Danica’s only two LPs - “Cadentia Nova Danica” (Polydor, 1968), and “Afrodisiaca” (MPS, 1969) - are effectively Tchicai recorded efforts as a leader, and are legendary. There’s little mystery, once heard, why the later landed on Thurston Moore’s iconic “Top Ten from the Free Jazz Underground”, published by Grand Royal in 1996. Sadly, despite playing extensively during their five year run, with exception of a CD documenting a performance at Jazzhus Montmartre, in 1966, until now there has been no other publicly available recordings that allow us to capture a glimpse of this astounding band at work. Alga Marghen / Formalibera’s vinyl pressing of a never before released body of recordings, made in Copenhagen between 1969 and 1970, changes that in the most exciting of ways.

Comprising three pieces - “Mc Gub Gub, (I–VIII)”; “Ode to Skt. John”; and “Pladepip” - the material on this stunning LP comes from two specific events. The first, which encompasses the first side, “Mc Gub Gub, (I–VIII)” was recorded by Cadentia Nova Danica - in this instance, Tchicai, Sune Weimar, Theo Rahbek, Christian Kyhl, Niels Holt, Jørgen Thorup, Michael Schou, Morgens Bollerup, Allan Gregersen, Ole Matthiessen, Pierre Dørge, Willy Jaegert, Anthony Barnett, and Jon Finsen - on May 29th, 1969, at the ABC-Theatre in Copenhagen. Penned by Tchicai, the piece is a sprawling, evolutionary composition at the outer reaches of free jazz, rooted in large blocks of colliding tonality and rhythm - a sound only accessible to larger ensembles - that push territories explored by Charles Mingus to previously unimagined heights, threaded by moments of hard blown fire. Writhing like a stormy sea - skronking and devilish - “Mc Gub Gub, (I–VIII)” is a work of profound complexity that singlehandedly illuminates not only Tchicai’s singular vision as a composer, but also the power and uniqueness of Cadentia Nova Danica during the band’s most vital period.

The two pieces - “Ode to Skt. John” and “Pladepip” - taking up the flip side, were recorded on February 21st, 1970, at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio House, and are the outcome of Cadentia Nova Danica’s extended residency there between 1969 and 1970. In many ways, these two recordings offer some of the best insights into the broad collaborative approaches that defined the band, in this case encountering them working with Danish experimental composer, Svend Erik Werner, who was among the earliest in his country to embrace stylistic pluralism and the use historical forms within a modern context. “Ode to Skt. John” - based on aspects of Gregorian music - was penned by Werner, incorporating heady improvisation by the members of Cadentia Nova Danica, this time made up by Tchicai, Sune Weimar, Hugh Steinmetz, Theo Rahbek, Christian Kyhl, Michael Schou, Morgens Bollerup, Ole Kühl, Torben Enghoff, Mauritz Tchikai, Kjeld Ipsen, Willy Jaegert, Ole Matthiessen, Ole Thilo, Pierre Dørge, Steffen Andersen, Jon Finse, and Clause Bøje. The piece is a fascinating binary of the composed and improvised, utilising the band’s large scale to introduce a remarkable sound within its slow progressions and furious, driving free moments, in this incredible meeting of worlds.

The album’s final piece, “Pladepip”, is arguably its most historically significant: an entirely singular piece, unlike anything in Tchicai’s recorded canon as his foray into musique concréte. Drawing upon two recordings of full-band improvisations by Cadentia Nova Danica, for its creation Tchicai also gouged the surfaces of 78rpm records in his collection to skip and create repeated phrases and patterns, creating a stunning sound collage of hard angles and abrupt phrase, that creates a striking counterpoint to the band’s flowing improvisations that bookend those passages. The result is an engrossing listen and easily one of the most unique and culturally important gestures in the entire history of musique concréte.

Truly incredible, Alga Marghen / Formalibera’s vinyl pressing of this never before released body of recordings, made by John Tchicai’s Cadentia Nova Danica, in Copenhagen between 1969 and 1970, offers an unprecedented window into one of the most important groups working in Europe during that period, significantly expanding their rare and slim discography to date. Accompanied by extensive exploratory liner notes by veteran jazz writer, Ed Hazell, this is easily one of the most historically important archival releases of the year and is impossible to recommend enough. Absolutely essential on every count.

The latest report from Fader Cap’s Mannequin World suggests rising pressure pon de dance floor.
Conditions continue to deteriorate – percussion has become more insistent, someone keeps messing with the lights, and what’s with all the ducks?

This music was made for a hybrid live set at Miscellania (Naarm) with Skydiver Records.

Heavyweight vinyl.
300 units.

Es gibt eine unbestreitbare Verbindung zwischen dem Süden und Ereignissen außerirdischen Ursprungs. Vom eklektischen Jazz-Guru Sun Ra bis zum deutschen Raketenwissenschaftler Wernher von Braun - Alabama hatte schon immer mehr als nur einen reißenden Anteil an Verbindungen zum Weltraum und zu Dingen außerirdischen Ursprungs. So war es auch bei ,Man or Astro-Man?", die vor einigen Jahren in einer kleinen Universitätsstadt in Alabama ankamen bzw. dort eine Bruchlandung hinlegten. Als sie ihre Plattensammlungen wiederentdeckten, die lange Zeit auf vergessenen Dachböden verstaut oder hinter Regalen mit alten Zeitschriftenausgaben in zahlreichen heruntergekommenen Secondhand-Läden in Alabama versteckt waren, verliebten sich die Mitglieder von ,Man or Astro-Man?" in die verkratzten Klänge von Link Wray, The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Shadows und Duane Eddy - also in Instrumental-Gitarren- und Surf-Musik der späten Fünfziger und frühen Sechziger. Gleichzeitig hatten bizarre Bühnenbilder und Auftritte von Kraftwerk, Sun Ra, Devo, Frank Zappa, The Sputniks und natürlich den Residents großen Einfluss auf die sich rasch entwickelnde Truppe. Dennoch war es das erzwungene Leben in einer hoffnungslos konservativen Kleinstadtumgebung, das Man or Astro-Man? dazu brachte, das Offensichtliche hinter sich zu lassen und sich viel stärker von dem beeinflussen zu lassen, was sie hassten, als von dem, was ihnen eigentlich gefiel. Im Grunde könnte man sagen, dass Man or Astro-Man? weitaus stärker von College-Football und muskelbepackten Verbindungs-Spinnern beeinflusst waren als von Science-Fiction. Die Band trieb es, besonders bei Live-Auftritten, auf die Spitze, so lächerlich wie möglich zu sein, und verspottete dabei ernsthafte ,alternative" Acts und mit ihnen die Musikindustrie selbst. ,Experiment Zero" (1996) war ihr Debütalbum bei Touch and Go. Es wurde in drei Tagen im eigenen Studio von Man or Astro-Man?, dem ,Zero Return" in Alabama, zusammen mit Steve Albini aufgenommen und gilt als eines der großartigen modernen, vom Surf-Stil beeinflussten Gitarren-Instrumentalalben. Da Man or Astro-Man? ,Experiment Zero" als ihr Meisterwerk der langen Entwicklung der Surf-Musik etablieren wollten, begannen sie, sich schneller als je zuvor weiterzuentwickeln. Sie veränderten ihren Sound weiter und erweiterten den Einsatz von Samples, Computerprogrammierung, Keyboards, elektronischen Spielereien sowie experimentellem analogem Schneiden und Einfügen von Tonband. Obwohl das Album von der Kritik weithin gelobt wurde, mussten sich langjährige Fans erst einmal daran gewöhnen. Wo die meisten Bands müde geworden wären oder einfach immer wieder dasselbe Album im Kreis gedreht hätten, erfanden sich Man or Astro-man? und ihre Live-Auftritte immer wieder neu.

A boundary-pushing musician and multi-media artist from Brooklyn, New York, Frances Chang disrupts accepted reality through her unique and enchanting compositions. Chang’s songs are an exercise in communication, probing the tension between idiosyncratic personal experience and the drive to understand, and be understood, through a collective language.
For “I can feel the waves,” Chang’s new single and debut on RVNG Intl., a piano-centric melody is ornamented with primitive electronics and poetic vocals. The track boldly demonstrates Chang’s strength for unconventional yet contagious songwriting, and pioneers a genre the artist refers to as “slacker prog”: roomy and playful, offbeat and occasionally jarring, brimming with spiritual and emotional resonance.
The b-side, “Marry,” is a rollicking yet laid-back composition, with undaunted wobbly kicks bubbling under pianistic textures until a dialogue, acted out between Chang and Sylvia Gorelick, takes the foreground in the final moments of the track. As the instrumental carries its freewheeling pulse forward, the conversation, inspired by films like Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret and Catherine Breillat’s Fat Girl!, along with Broken Social Scene’s “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year Old Girl,” turns toward the relationship between internal subjectivity and the external necessity of “staying small.”
Where is Frances headed from here? A piano is at the center, synths and strings swelling around its shoulders. A little less tension, a lot more production. Some shadows will be encountered, some forgotten skeletons unearthed. Music excavated from the subtler, deeper layers of cerebral and shared experiences. Music that is truly its own.