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U.K. progressive post-rock supergroup Crippled Black Phoenix is a musical collective that has featured nearly 30 members in it's rotating roster. The constant driving force is multi- instrumentalist Justin Greaves (Electric Wizard, Iron Monkey Se Delan), who formed the band in 2004 with Mogwai bassist Dominic Aitchison. Creating what they describe as "endtime ballads" to signify both the slightly macabre nature of their songs & the unusual blend of styles as the final evolution in music. The band have made live shows a focus by performing in unusual venues across the world as well as using Victorian-era instruments in tandem with more modern instruments, often involving more than a dozen members onstage. In 2006, Crippled Black Phoenix released their first album, 'A Love Of Shared Disasters', followed in 2009 by 'The Resurrectionists' & 'Night Raider', but it was their fourth album released in 2010 on Invada Records - 'I, Vigilante' - an album of uncompromising soundscapes that garnered the band & album widespread critical acclaim within the media worldwide. On 'I, Vigilante', CBP create songs that feel both sky-crackingly epic & intimate at the same time. "We Forgotten Who We Are" is an 11 minute thundering storm which powers through sections of head-nodding chugging guitars to a sunrise of happy melody & back, "Fantastic Justice" is a staggering display of songwriting, with twists & turns that make the band sound like a mini orchestra - horns, strings, crashes & swoons with Greaves the dark conductor. The spoken-word opening to "Bastogne Blues" is perfectly evocative for a genuinely troubled song, CBP's command of bleakness is at it's strongest here; cinematic doesn't come close to describing the song's emotional resonance. When 'I, Vigilante' threatens to disintegrate into a black hole of misery, a faithfully screaming version of Journey's "Of A Lifetime" shows a sense of humour & some sweet guitar tones. This edition of 'I, Vigilante' is presented on black vinyl LP & is the first time the album has been released on single vinyl

I must admit to being a sucker for two-guitar bands. Ok, Hendrix pulled off a trio. But I don’t care what anybody says: The Yardbirds were a better band than anything that came out of them (Ok, maybe not Zep. But Cream?).

Maybe the reason I go back so far in my references is that, within the two-guitar band format, original new roles are difficult and rare. There’s the classic (socially problematic and often boring) “rhythm/lead” solution. There’s the JB’s or Nile Rodgers’ chicken pickin’ vs comping solution (which avoids chordal clashes by relegating one of the guitars to the role of single-note percussion instrument). There’s Ornette’s Prime Time division between Bern Nix’s rolled-off “jazz” tone and Charles Ellerbee’s trebly wah. Almost everything else is a variation on one of these.


In Ches Smith’s record Clone Row, each piece is built around a different concept for guitar interaction. The delightful and gifted weirdness of Mary Halvorson’s playing is counterpointed, contrasted, unisoned with, played off, juxtaposed (that is to say, enters every relationship possible) with Liberty Ellman’s equally amazing sound palette, chops, and imagination. This definitely ain’t your father’s guitar band.
The overall vibe of the record—despite Halvorson’s occasional noise outbursts or Ellman’s distorted guitar lines (see Mixed Fridge) is neither punk/funk, nor Zorn-ish metal—and certainly not the looser parameters of Ornette’s improvised harmolodics. Smith’s vibraphone playing, Halvorson’s guitar tone (whammy pedal squiggles aside), the brilliant electronics, and (most of all) the compositions themselves are somehow strangely West Coast cool. It’s as if I’m hearing a Jim Hall concert in which one of us did a lot of mushrooms, or (dare I write this?) some post-punk post-Dave Brubeck post-trip-hop experiment with classical form.

This recording is, most of all, about Ches as composer. He’s picked up a lot on his long, strange trip of the last few decades. The Haitian funkiness of his work with We All Break is audible—but deeply buried, encoded in the polyrhythms (check out Heart Breakthrough). His long-running side musician collaborations with John Zorn and Tim Berne are also evident but sublimated here into something new.

Not that improvising is absent. Check out the compelling collective statements in Sustained Nightmare and Ready Beat. Check out the brilliant interplay and bass soloing on Abrade With Me (a Weather Report for the age of extreme weather?) Nick Dunston is my favorite bassist of the new generation, and he plays brilliantly throughout. And Ches’ drumming here has all the groove, energy, and incredible range that have kept him in demand from Saturday night Vodou services to jazz and new music recording sessions (…the thinking man’s rock barbarian?).
The sus chords in Abrade With Me do build, for a moment, towards a fusion type of climax...but just at the moment I was gritting my teeth in anticipated defense against some horrible synth solo, the drums drop out, and we’re transported to the ambient lounge at the rave, and we suddenly understand we’re in the hands of a composer with the power to transport us just about anywhere.
So, this is a composer’s record most of all; a composer’s record performed by musicians who happen to be great improvisers. Ches Smith builds here on his reputation as a gifted new voice with an important vision, while showcasing some of the most creative musicians of our time.

Chapter Music's landmark collection of Australian 70s-80s post- punk, originally released in 2001, gets its first ever vinyl release!
Can’t Stop It! documents a fantastically inventive and dynamic era, when Australian acts stepped out of the shadow of overseas influence and asserted their own musical identity for perhaps the first time.
Featuring tracks by future members of bands such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Einsturzende Neubauten, Dirty Three and The Go- Betweens, Can’t Stop It! is a vivid survey of the creativity and innovation bubbling away under the surface of Australia’s fairly unadventurous music culture of the time.
All of the bands on Can't Stop It! released their music independently, either themselves or through the handful of visionary labels of the era such as Au-Go-Go, M Squared, Missing Link or Innocent Records.
On its original release in 2001, the compilation got Chapter Music its first major international attention, written up in The Wire magazine, stocked at Other Music in New York and selling out numerous CD pressings.
Remastered with updated liner notes and photos, this deluxe 2LP set expands on the original 20 track CD with six bonus never- before-reissued tracks.
"A bracing corrective to the Northern Hemisphere's stranglehold on post-punk nostalgia" - The Wire

"Max Knouse’s voice feels like laughter that follows a well-loved joke. Only afterward, it dawns on you that you don’t fully understand the punchline. Or for that matter the set up. In fact, you’re not even sure what language the joke was told in. What to make of such a laugh—inexplicable, delightful, surprising, seemingly nonsensical? And what to make his voice, at once comforting, beguiling, and just beyond the bounds, like a blues moan or a Mingus lick or some ancient guttural holler? It’s the kind of haunt that lingers long after the record fades, echoing back in your imagination, laden with cryptic possibilities and occulted meanings.

Chipmunk’d Away is his third album. Known for his sessions and live shows with artists like Califone, Jolie Holland, Adan Jodorowsky, Psychic Temple, Simon Joyner, Alex Dupree, and others, Knouse has established himself as an essential factor in the West Coast indie pop underground, brandishing guitar chops that mirror the rawness of his voice; he treats his instrument like a divining rod of spiritual tension and joyful racket, pushing and pulling on it with affection and sometimes something darker.

From the swelling cosmic folk of “Mint and Tobacco,” which features Knouse intoning apocalyptically over engineer Michael Krassner’s washing guitars, “Your breathing ain’t so deep,” to the jazz standard swooner-meets-West Coast psych-pop title track, to the nightmare-scape blues of “Clumsy Hunter,” to the concluding audio collage sway of “Banana, Orange, and Something Else,” Chipmunk’d presents the range and scope of Knouse’s style: bold, adventurous, frightening, and then frequently, when you least expect it, heartbreakingly lovely, like a joke that clarifies your feelings before you could actually verbalize what those feelings even are. They had been hidden from you, chipmunk’d away, but now Max Knouse has revealed them."

You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.

Produced by Chez Damier and Ron Trent, the track was born in NYC, inspired by a transformative night at the legendary Sound Factory Club. In the early morning haze, as the echoes of basslines and rhythms lingered, the duo channeled the energy of the dancefloor into their studio. The result captured the raw, soulful essence of Deep House, reflecting the dancefloor communion that transcended time and space. To extend the feeling while honoring the original, Atjazz was invited to bring his jazz-influenced touc

With his deep understanding of groove and texture, he reimagined the track through two distinct remixes, each offering a fresh perspective. While both versions explore different nuances, they remain faithful to the track’s core essence, maintaining its hypnotic flow while adding a renewed vibrancy to the dancefloor. The duo of Chez Damier and Ben Vedren, proudly welcome French producer Fred H, one of the closest members of their extended musical family, to deliver a special remix of their track "Berlin Nights In Paris".

The result is a re-imagination of the track, introducing a percussive soundscape that drives the rhythm forward while offering a space for the listeners' minds to wander, immersing them in an atmospheric journey. This reinterpretation preserves the original’s essence while infusing it with new textures, dynamic movement, and a hypnotic flow that deepens its emotional impact.

This collaboration is more than just a remix. It’s a testament to the creative synergy within their musical circle, reinforcing the timeless spirit of house music while pushing it forward. er. Through his deep connection to what truly ignites the dancefloor, DJ SOURIRES maintains the emotive spirit of the original track, keeping its essence intact, yet injecting fresh dynamics that transforms it into a high-octane dancefloor heat track. His intricate, oscillating drum programming and masterful arrangement drive the rhythm forward, creating a compelling urgency that commands attention and movement. The remix swells with intensity, amplifying the hypnotic elements of the original while layering in driving percussion, rich basslines, and sharp, yet spacious synths that build tension and release in all the right moments. Every twist and turn in this remix is an invitation to lose yourself in the dance.

Introducing ‘Principauté de Bowl-Air’.

A brand-new label founded by DJ Bowlcut from South Korea, a key figure in supporting Seoul’s underground scene through Seoul Community Radio. This project presents his vision of deep, glitchy, minimal house music—woven with the story of a secret micronation hidden in the heart of Seoul.

The debut vinyl release, PBAVINYL001, features an original track by DJ Bowlcut, alongside reinterpretations by his friends DOTT and Rudolf C.

The A-side opens with “Tibetan Bowl”, a track built around the sound of a Tibetan singing bowl and vocal samples taken from a singing bowl tutorial—inviting listeners into the surreal world of Bowl-Air.

The second A-side track, “The Moment”, delivers a minimal yet gritty bassline and a hypnotic minimal house rhythm, layered with glitchy, acidic patterns and a Korean vocal sample that says, “Now it’s the moment you are waiting for.”

The B-side features remixes by DOTT and Rudolf C. DOTT reimagines “Tibetan Bowl” into a deeper, darker exploration of Bowl-Air’s hidden layers. Meanwhile, Rudolf C transforms “The Moment” into a nostalgic machine-funk-style track reminiscent of the early 2000s—perfect for injecting some funk into the dance floor.

Returning to an aphotic minefield of sound – Seismic Records is back with its third release, Drum Ring, crafted by Norwegian producer and Ute Records co-founder Ekkel. Emerging from the forests of Nordic electronic heritage, Teo Bachs – aka Ekkel – channels the raw energy of ’90s progressive sounds into his mind-bending productions. From the studio, his signature blend of breaks and intricate percussion create soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are propulsive. Titled Drum Ring, the EP captures the feeling of a complete mental trip through a narrative of tension, ancient textures, and enchanting melodies.

Poised with a sense of urgency, the A-side unfolds with a neatly rolling rhythm. Hradec Fog Fever builds a controlled frenzy of percussive elements, with layers stripping in and out, consistently driving the track forward. Slipping into A2, Owl Foot casts a sonic mist, a haze that tentatively creeps forward, flickering between atmospheric dips and shadowy contours. Vocal-cut whispers transcend through the soundscape, shy yet impactful, drawing you closer. It’s a tender introduction to a minimalist, dark progressive journey – a delicate balance of intrigue and mystery, where each sound lingers like a secret waiting to be discovered.

The B-Side strikes with poignant, powerful drum kicks that reverberate through layers of distortion. Drum Ring displays echoes of tension and unease, building a restless energy that urges deeper introspection. Ancient, enchanting tones weave through the chaos, grounding the frenetic soundwaves in something timeless and mystical. Sealing the EP, Endphase begins with faint, distant string notes that offer a fleeting, hopeful moment of rest. Growling chords and textures swirl, edging you to a meditation, only to be punctuated by sharp, deliberate drum patterns, adding a sense of momentum and purpose – a glimmer of light breaking through the mist. Experience the full cycle of a delicate trip as Ekkel guides you through Drum Ring – a precious and dark progressive journey.

2LP silk screened + insert

Before Guaracha UFO propelled Meridian Brothers onto the international stage, Eblis Álvarez was already shaping his singular sonic universe in the shadows. Released only on CD in between 2009 and 2012 via local label La Distritofónica, Meridian Brothers VI and VII never had wide distribution or media exposure. Yet, these albums represent a crucial phase in the band’s evolution, capturing the energy of Bogotá’s experimental cumbia scene at the time.

On VI, Álvarez crafts a hallucinatory patchwork of cumbia and vallenato, using his guitar as the guiding thread before layering other instruments on top. VII pushes experimentation even further with a custom-built sampling algorithm, generating unpredictable loops and grooves. These two albums laid the foundation for the radical fusion and irreverent spirit that would later define Meridian Brothers.

Now reissued on vinyl for the first time, these historic recordings offer a raw and fascinating glimpse into the origins of one of Latin America’s most forward-thinking musical projects.

2LP silk screened + insert

Before Guaracha UFO propelled Meridian Brothers onto the international stage, Eblis Álvarez was already shaping his singular sonic universe in the shadows. Released only on CD in between 2009 and 2012 via local label La Distritofónica, Meridian Brothers VI and VII never had wide distribution or media exposure. Yet, these albums represent a crucial phase in the band’s evolution, capturing the energy of Bogotá’s experimental cumbia scene at the time.

On VI, Álvarez crafts a hallucinatory patchwork of cumbia and vallenato, using his guitar as the guiding thread before layering other instruments on top. VII pushes experimentation even further with a custom-built sampling algorithm, generating unpredictable loops and grooves. These two albums laid the foundation for the radical fusion and irreverent spirit that would later define Meridian Brothers.

Now reissued on vinyl for the first time, these historic recordings offer a raw and fascinating glimpse into the origins of one of Latin America’s most forward-thinking musical projects

On his second EP for Altered Circuits, "Signal Drift", Jacopo Latini further distills his sound. Taking a more minimalist approach, he unreservedly treats the groove as the focal point. Still relying on his staple talent for weaving melodies and hooks, he delivers four trippy club tracks that show more can be done with less. Opener "Sharp" delivers immediate proof. After starting with a sequence of eerie sci-fi atmospherics and recondite vocoded vocals, the adding and subtracting happens so ingeniously, the track switches to club velocity 303 squelches and enhanced drum programming seamlessly. Similar techniques in building and layering are deployed on "Impulse", but this time, the shifts seem a tad more dramatic. The track revolves around an FM bass melody that's equally effective as it is simple, and its return to this stripped theme, surrounded by characteristic jittery hats, squashed claps, and a little more frills, keeps the listener on his toes. A bass patch, its sustain knob turned wide open, somewhat buried in the mix, drives "Bright Sound" together with a heavily modulated formant mid lead. Deadpan vocals add icing, and slightly euphoric, phased chords bring in a touch of subtle contrast. Closer "Rave Harvey" is a rare diversion as it starts in medias res with chords that reconfigure nineties trance and a distinct bassline immediately going for the limelight. It also shows Latini switching up his palette, trading restraint for vigor, with a slab of direct, unfiltered hi-energy as a result.

To kick off Ace Records 50th Anniversary we are delighted to offer up a 2-LP version of one of the most seminal and important heavy metal albums of all time.

Funded by and released on Chiswick Records in 1977, Motörhead’s debut album was a sonic blister of epic proportions capturing the musical lighting generated by Lemmy (bass/vocals), Phil Taylor (guitar) and Eddie Clarke (drums).

This 2-LP set not only offers up this classic first album featuring tracks like ‘White Line Fever’, ‘Violator’ and ‘Keep Us On The Road’ but also collates together, on sides three and four, ‘City Kids’ the “Beer Drinkers EP” as well as different mixed and alternative versions of ear-bleeding classics like ‘Motörhead’, ‘The Watcher’ and ‘Keep Us On The Road’.

The album cover features a silver hot foil replication Joe Petagno’s original Motorhead logo in all its glory. Sleeve notes are by Ted Carroll who takes the reader through the story of how Chiswick Records managed to scrape together the money to fund the recording and write themselves and Motörhead into rock and roll history.

It’s one hell of a way to kick off Ace’s 50th Anniversary re-issue schedule.

Strut proudly reintroduces a sought after independent disco gem from the Topomic catalogue: Beckie Bell"s "In Need Of...", reissued in full for the first time. Originally released in 1980, In Need Of... quickly became a cult classic of the French disco scene. After relocating from New York to Paris in the late 1970s, Bell carved out a unique space for her sound, blending the soulfulness of New York disco with the high energy sophistication of the European market. The full debut album features some of Bell"s earliest recordings, including the full length version of "Super Queen" (1979) and "In The Right Place" (1980), showcasing her commanding vocal delivery and distinct musical style. Standout track "Music Madness" has since become a much-loved disco anthem, revered by collectors and DJs alike.

Elektrotechnik - Impulse EP is functional, dark, built for the dance floor. Machine-tight sequencing stands in contrast to an emotional atmosphere across four original tracks. A tense, precisely constructed record that explores control, repetition and feelings. Dutch legend Rude 66 delivers a slowed-down mutation of "Impulse" with his signature vocoder work, while Teslasonic recharges "Das Fundament" with a tight acid bassline.

DJ Sodeyama returns to Sound Of Vast under his The People In Fog guise this June with the nine track 'Too Much Knobs And Cables' LP.

Over the past three decades DJ Sodeyama has been a staple in Japan's underground and beyond across the globe as a DJ and releasing material under his own name via the likes of Radio Slaves' Rekids, Dynamic Reflection, Nina Kraviz' трип and more. Here though, he makes a welcome return under his The People In Fog alias to Tokyo's Sound Of Vast, the platform that's played host to all of his material under this alias as well as others like The Mole, Shinichiro Yokota, San Proper and more.

Across the nine-track 'Too Much Knobs And Cables' LP, The People In Fog once again radiantly showcases his depth and understanding of true underground sounds. From the classic Deep House aesthetic of opener 'Red Morning', 'CC Love' and 'New Life' to more classic Chicago House inspired cuts like 'Animal Kingdom', 'Jack Out' and filtered Disco house jams like 'Dance To The Air', 'New Life' and 'Miraval'.

Sodeyama also dives deeper beyond House once again in true long player fashion to deliver the unique 80's tinged, funk-infused and vintage synth/drum machine laced 'Night Driver' and the cinematic closing piece 'Sun Moon Lake', which leans into a Balearic leaning sonic world via drifting guitar melodies, arpeggios, acid licks and a crunchy rhythm section.

Wewantsounds is delighted to continue its Algerian music reissue program with the release of Les Abranis' coveted 1983 LP, Album No. 1. Originally recorded in Paris and privately pressed by the group, the album is now being reissued for the first time. Curated by Cheb Gero, who recently compiled the Sweet Rebels Rai set for Wewantsounds, Album No. 1 is a masterful blend of Kabyle grooves, funk, and hints of reggae. Also known as Id Ed Was, the album is reissued with its original artwork, remastered audio by Colorsound Studio in Paris, and a two-page insert with new liner notes (in French and English) by journalist Rabah Mezouane.

COOL HAND FLEX - MELODY MADNESS

BLADERUNNER / OUTRAGE / RONI SIZE REMIXES AND REMASTERED ORIGINAL

Suburban Base returns with a heavyweight release, delivering fresh remixes of the classic Melody Madness by Cool Hand Flex, reimagined by two of the most respected names in the scene—Bladerunner and Outrage.

Bladerunner brings his signature rolling basslines and crisp production to the track, delivering a modern take while staying true to the original’s deep jungle roots. On the flip, Outrage delivers the AWOL Remix, a tribute to the legendary club night, channeling the raw energy of those iconic sessions with rugged breakbeats and deep, atmospheric textures.

This double A-side includes the highly valued Original Version and the much sought after Roni Size Remix from 1995, the release bridges the old and the new, paying homage to a foundational anthem while pushing the sound forward.

We are delighted to welcome DJ Sneak to Industry Standard. An artist that needs very little introduction in the House scene… Since being the forefather of the filtered disco house sound in the early 1990’s with his releases on Cajual, Relief, Henry Street & Strictly Rhythm, and his production credits with Daft Punk, he has been a mainstay in the underground scene with his unwavering style. Little has changed in Sneak’s music in this time, as he always delivers his jackin’ signature sound on his productions or in his DJ sets. So we are delighted to have him on the label.

There’s no point is going into the usual track descriptions, these are just straight up DJ Sneak… Real House Music made for Real House People on Real House Music Dancefloors. Enjoy!