The Silence of the Perfect Dark is the debut release by The Silence, a project formed by Ophidian and Eye-D as an outlet for all things dark, brooding, funky and dirty. This special vinyl edition features eight of the tracks from the album that outline some of the many musical directions you'll be hearing The Silence exploring in the near future. Highly recommended if you like music slightly unsettling.
Jan Erik Vold and Jan Garbarek, two of Norway's most prominent figures in jazz teamed up with
bassist Arild Andersen, drummer Jon Christensen, guitarist Terje Rypdal and Bobo Stenson on
keyboards and these two September days in 1970 and made a formidable jazz album. Two poems
from Violence ("Det alle vet" from the collection of poems Mor Godhjertas glade version. Ja (1968) and
"Dikt" from Kykelipi (1969)) and long tenacious instrumental parts.
Swapping BPM for GPM (Goosebumps per minute), Dusky’s Life Signs Vol.3 is made from the heart to nourish the soul. to a long-overdue journey to the uncharted territories of Planet Dusky. Completing their triptych for Running Back with four tracks, one of the UK’s most dependable duos shows once again how to connect fun with functionality and funk with efficiency. From the jacking rhythms of early Chicago to the emotive qualities of Detroit and the fever pitch aesthetics of the UK sounds of the 90s or the studies of the contemporary scene, it includes the right choice for each taste and need. Dusky, but not rusty.
The MERCYFUL FATE vinyl re-issues continue! After re-releasing 'Time' and 'In The Shadows' in August - the three remaining Metal Blade classics will get the 'Original Series' treatment: original layout, 400g spine sleeves (inside-out print), 250g insert, large artwork poster ('Into The Unknown', '9') or 350g Gatefold-sleeve + large poster ('Dead Again'). *2023 new vinyl pressing *Original Release Date: June 15th, 1999. * Format Details: Single LP + poster. Mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel BAND LINE-UP: King Diamond: Vocals Hank Sherman: Guitar Mike Wead: Guitar Sharlee D’Angelo: Bass Bjarne T. Holm: Drums Recorded and mixed at Nomad Recording Studio, Carrollton, Texas, USA February – March 1999 Produced by Kol Marshall and Mercyful Fate Mixed by Kol Marshall and Mercyful Fate Engineered by Kol Marshall 2nd Engineer Vince Rossi
2023 Repress
One of Larry Heard's most under-rated albums finally remastered and available as full vinyl release for the first time! Known for his classic early house releases Larry Heard's productions always hinted at deepest outer space, but his 1996 Alien album was his first actual science-fiction record. It's almost as polished as the most mainstream dance production, but just as sublime as any Detroit producer. Heard's house roots often show themselves, while the chords and shimmering production make this an album almost on par with Heard's mid-'80s peak. The project was a recording & sound-development experiment that was mostly constructed around a Korg O1/W workstation keyboard that was left at Larry's studio to check out by Victor 'melodious myles' Houston along with some of the staples of his studio, including the Roland d550 and Oberheim Matrix 1000. Mr Fingers magic touch can be heard all over the album, and this showcases the incredible musical talents of the man, who's name by now cant be left out from any hall of fame when you're talking music innovators from the last century! Recommended!
RIYL: The Fall, Royal Trux, The Dead C, Shirley Collins, ’70s British progressive rock, Dean Blunt.
Throughout their legendary, decade-long run, the Shadow Ring were an enigmatic force on the international musical sub-underground. Before their disbandment in 2002, this shambolic rock outfit, formed by a group of rowdy teenagers in southeast England, left behind a mighty run of eight LPs, a handful of 7"s, and a spate of raucous live shows and cryptic zine appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, all which have bolstered their enduring word-of-mouth mystique. Beginning this year with the first-ever vinyl pressing of the self-released pre-Shadow Ring tape The Cat & Bells Club (1992), Blank Forms Editions is conducting a systematic retrospective of the storied group, including a multi-year LP reissue effort and a forthcoming comprehensive CD box set and an over five hundred page book. Recorded in summer of 1994 at S.H.P studios (frontman Graham Lambkin’s parents’ home), the group’s sophomore record Put the Music In Its Coffin is a more sinister, saturnine affair than their debut City Lights. Coffin was many listeners’ introduction to the Shadow Ring, who had hitherto self-released their music, courting a steady stable of international fans through the magazine and mail-order catalog Forced Exposure. For their follow-up, the duo reached out to the ascending Philadelphia label Siltbreeze, whose eclectic roster of sneering, low-fidelity rock and noise connected disparate subterranean scenes from rust-belt America to the English Midlands, Dunedin, and beyond. As luck would have it, Siltbreeze proprietor Tom Lax was already a fan of the band’s first record and arranged to release both a 7” and their “difficult second album.” The connection proved to run deeper than vinyl within six months, Lax would pick up the pair from the airport for their spring 1995 US tour. This episode marked not only their first trip to the States but their first live performances at all, formally introducing the Shadow Ring to the American underground and solidifying the allure of the Folkestone pair. From the get-go, the record has a menacing, vile ambience. Its opening track “Horse-Meat Cakes,” inspired by an anecdote by pulp author Philip K. Dick about how he and his wife subsisted off low-grade pet food when he first arrived in San Francisco, sets the tone lyrically and sonically. Subsequent tracks are filled with Rabelaisian body horror and sinewy, haptic diction. “I try to pass out vital organs, convinced that they are waste,” intones Lambkin in “Heart, Liver & Lungs,” before a chorus of detuned guitars kicks in, nearly drowning out the speaker’s account of consuming chevaline intestines. Later songs similarly detail vernacular cooking (“Caribbean Porridge,” about a cornmeal hangover cure), bodily processes (“Nocturnal Middle Rumbles,” about nighttime defecation), and creaturely conflict (“Crystal Tears” and “Spin The Animal Dial”). The album’s makeshift percussion and teenaged rawness resembles the verve of City Lights, while its screeching strings and gnarly distorted vocals give it a sparse, miasmic atmosphere that look towards the uncompromising, otherworldly experimentation of the band’s Hold Onto I.D. (1996) and Lighthouse (1997), making this one of the Shadow Ring’s most distilled musical statements
Shortly after the great Envision EP (Xistence 001) Dublin based Phil Robertson DJ/Producer alias Arbilla back with it’s second release on his own imprint Xistence Records. This 4 tracker EP brings some dark Detroit Techno where classic meets the modern sound. The title track “Moving Forward” is from the deeper side of techno, futuristic synth melodies with heavy claps and bleeps.
Detroit’s techno legend, lifetime member of Underground Resistance, master of the darkness James Pennington aka Suburban Knight on remix duty... pure Detroit machine funk, more groove oriented version with filthy bass. Flip side track called Windjana is solid but with a classic claps/hihats which driving by a massive bassline.
Life Scenario with dark melodies,heavy percussions, and killer bassline inspired by James’ sound and shows mad respect & much love for Motor City underground.
Three appearances on Andy C’s Nightlife 5 in 2010 signaled the start of Wilkinson’s journey with RAM Records. Three years later he would go on to drop his debut album ‘Lazers Not Included’, propelled by the success of ‘Afterglow’, featuring Becky Hill, making a dent in the UK Top 10 and going on to gold certified status with over 150+ million streams to date. Capturing his dancefloor ready sound, which helped make him one of the biggest names in electronic music in the UK and beyond, Lazers features the anthems ‘Take You Higher’, ‘Heartbeat’, ‘Too Close’ and ‘Half Light’.
To mark the 10th anniversary of its release, the album has been pressed in full for the very first time on yellow vinyl. With a refreshed design, this special edition will make a great collector’s item for old and new Wilkinson fans alike.
Memory Play returns to Control Freak Recordings, this time offering up the latest release for their White Label series with Weather Structures EP.
Following recent performances across Japan and at London techno haven FOLD, Memory Play has marked themselves out as one of the most exciting & energetic live techno acts to emerge onto the scene in recent years.
Dark, mechanical and intensely psychedelic, Weather Structures EP sees Control Freak exploring new sonic territory. A boundary-pushing exploration in driving 4x4 techno, Memory Play’s strong focus on hyper-detailed textures will be instantly familiar to fans of their debut Choice EP, released on Control Freak earlier this year.
DJ 3000, Presents 'Mezë EP’ – A Fusion of Music, Culture, and Life
Franki Juncaj, globally recognized as DJ 3000, is set to launch his fifth album, 'Mezë.' This release marks the culmination of an extraordinary artistic journey, inviting everyone to revel in the beauty of music, culture, and life while breaking down boundaries and uniting people through its masterfully crafted tracks.
Renowned for his ability to infuse Detroit's musical vibrancy with his Albanian heritage, DJ 3000 embarks on a fearless exploration of his roots. 'Mezë EP' harnesses the power of food as a metaphorical "glue" that harmoniously binds the realms of life and music.
The title track, 'Mezë,' transcends mere genre classification; it is an artistic masterpiece that captures the heart-pounding communal essence of a party while reflecting the vibrancy of sharing a meal together. 'Humble Quest' delves into the depths of Detroit's musical heritage, while 'Tanbur' is a global celebration, gracefully incorporating ethnic stringed instrument samples that ride atop a steady drumbeat. 'Snake Eyes' ventures into the realms of Electro, underscoring Franki's mastery across diverse electronic dance music genres.
'Mezë EP’ is a testament to the power of music, culture, and the universal joy of life. Join DJ 3000 on this extraordinary journey, where boundaries disappear, and we are brought together through music, food, and family.
Son of Detroit Waajeed is back with the three-track “Ten Toes Down” EP, the next chapter in a musical odyssey through struggle and self-awareness that finds the producer creating some of the strongest work of his career.
Joined by Wu-Tang songstress Blue Raspberry under alias Candi Lindsey on “Heavy” and the tribal soliloquy “Deeper Into Blue,” this new project is a reflection of many changes since last year’s “From the Dirt” full-length.
'Ten Toes Down' is the first in a string of releases in 2019.
NDATL continues with a release from Detroit soldier Norm Talley (Upstairz Asylum) Right out the gate Norm deep aggressive sound comes across loud & clear on "Gonna Be". Then down deep in the sound of "Power" where spoken words give insight.
Side B "The Bounce" should have dancefloors worldwide doing just that. "The Truth" no longer needed to be sought cause here it is in musical form. And a stray away from the usual Norm Talley we get the softer side "Dearly Beloved" ft Jerald Dameyon.
It’s 6am on Sunday the 24th of January and I’m driving vaguely towards the beach.
Suitcase in the water is a tapestry of musical vignettes, field recordings and fragmented anecdotes that blur diary and fiction. On Monday 23rd of March 2020, police in England dyed the ‘Buxton Blue Lagoon’ black to deter visitors from swimming in the former limestone quarry. Things now float in that water.
Created during the pandemic by Jacob Dwyer and Sam Purcell, Suitcase in the water is a personal snapshot in time, and an insight into the private worlds of two remote collaborators.
Jdotbalance left the moon and the sky for a city that works. This is their first offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, 'Sublimate' combines two aspects of a digital pipe and mallet assortment—both as the percussive base for a groove, and as an interstitial layer where inherent resonances are massaged into melody. Bubbles and squeaks dance around the sound-stage periphery, occasionally pierced by high frequency statements, presenting as either ghostly yelps from the aether or as bursts of kaleidoscopic shards. A third of the way through the track, the instrumentation truly does sublimate, crystallizing into a new self—bolder and naughtier, abandoning its pensive optimism for a detour around the spectrum's dark end. On the flip, 'Precipitate' continues with its predecessor's primer of metallic percussion, but accelerates the pace to reveal Jdot’s attitude leaning toward cunty malice. The kick drum relentlessly pounds us as 16th note droplets metamorphose from chrome-dipped hail into full-blown acid wind. As intensity retreats beneath the digital rubble and the track draws to a close, so does our stream of Jdot’s consciousness. These two songs will accelerate your nervous system.
New Digital Fidelity has been making sweet moves recently with a debut on the lauded Moods & Grovers label out of Detroit followed up by a single on his own Scopic Records. Now he brings his class to Beachside and again shows off his love of Detroit house vibes. Opener 'Crush On The Beachside' is raw and intense with humid chords and jacked-up drums, then 'Shattered' brings more loose and jumbled beatdown grooves and 'Crush On The Beachside' (K15 remix) is then bubbly, jazzy and cuddly. 'Cracking' rounds out with more rich chord work and bristling drum funk.
The good news is that Fuzati didn't commit suicide after all. 8 years after their cult debut album Vive La Vie", the klub des loosers are back with a new avalanche of punchlines and cynicism.
Le klub des loosers is made up of Fuzati and Detect. Le klub des loosers released their first album, Vive La Vie, on the RecordMakers label in 2004. Le klub des loosers has worked with the likes of Jean-Benoît Dunckel (AIR), MF DOOM, TTC, Jonathan Lambert, Gérard Baste (Svinkels) and Fredy K (ATK). This album marks the comeback of Klub des Loosers after an absence of over 7 years.
If you were to ask for a defining Habibi Funk track, there are a few that come to mind: from Fadoul’s “Sid Redad,” Dalton’s “Soul Brother” to Ahmed Malek’s “Omar Gatlato.” However, none are as widely connected with us at this point as Hamid Al Shaeri’s “Ayonha.” We heard the track for the first time when we were working on selecting tracks for your first compilation and we instantly loved it. We obviously had heard of Hamid El Shaeri’s music before, but only material from his Al Jeel phase when he was already the full-blown
superstar he is now.
Listening to his releases from the early 1980’s opened a whole new door for us. At the time, Hamid had just left Libya to pursue his career in Egypt via a detour in London, where he recorded his
first album. Hamid’s distinct sound of the sound is quintessentially reliant on heavy synths and so it was particularly important to purchase these synths in a timely manner. “Whenever a new one synthesizer would come out, we would have to buy it immediately, otherwise someone else would get their hands on that sound.” London also played an important role for Hamid as a musical epicenter.
He fondly reminisces about the many live shows he attended there, including some of the biggest international musicians like Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson. After returning to Cairo where he also recorded his following albums, he connected with SLAM! for the
release of his debut, laying the foundation of a collaboration that lasted for 5 albums. Luckily, we were able to connect with Hamid through our friend Youssra El Hawary, whose extensive network has opened many doors for us within the Egyptian music scene. We met Hamid for the first time probably in 2016 at his office / rehearsal studio in the outskirts Cairo. We were expecting a larger-than-life
character in-line with his status as a certified superstar, yet the actual person turned out to be very approachable and super easy to connect with. He liked the idea of an effort to amplify his early works again,
which, when originally released, were far from an economic success.
While he was down to assist with an interview and his blessing for the project he also told us that for any license we needed to speak with the original label SLAM! who released these songs, still held the rights and also remained in business over the decades though they didn’t actively release any new music. Hany Sabet had started SLAM! records in the early 1980s and focused on cassette tape releases, the
format that expedited the success of a new generation of record labels in Egypt. By the mid 1980’s, SLAM! had become one of the most successful and economically dominant record labels in Egypt, with Hamid El Shaeri being just one of their key artists, alongside Mohamed Mounir, Hanan, Hakim, Mustafa Amar and many more. Luckily, Hany Sabet turned out to be a friend of our colleague Malak Makar’s father, which probably helped to warm him to the idea of licen- sing “Ayonha” to this - in the scale of his world - tiny label
from Germany. Eventually “Ayonha” ended up becoming a widely successful release and either Hany or we brought up the idea of a full album dedicated to Hamid El Shaeri’s work on SLAM!.
"Maktoub Aleina” is the first single and will be released January 14th. Following the massive success of "Ayonha,” “Maktoub Aleina” is another mid-tempo groover with a beautiful, synth-forward melody, that brings together a lovely combination of soul, disco and Arabic pop music of the highest order, giving a taste of full album. The second single, “Yekfini Nesma Sotak” will be released January 28th and combines Hamid’s unique formula of soul and pop, held together by a catchy synth melody. “Yekfini Nesma Sotak” picks up the
pace a bit, making the uplifting mood of the track even more powerful. Third single, arriving February 11th, is “Dari Demou’ek,” one of the stand out tracks of Hamid’s early recordings done for SLAM! in the early 1980s. Dominated by a disco infused bassline, the track offers a lot of space of the funky production to shine while Hamid inserts his vocals at all the right moments. A masterpiece of disco touched by Arabic pop music.
Full album arrives February 25th. This release is dedicated to Hany Sabet, the founder of SLAM! and his wife Rosemary Jane Sabet (who
took the photos we used for the cover and the booklet), who sadly passed away during the time it took us to prepare the release.
Vinyl comes with an extensive booklet with an interview with Hamid as well as unseen photos
