Following her acclaimed 2023 release Flood City Trax, a dreamy, lo-fi take on footwork inspired by the crumbling rust-belt city she calls home, Nondi returns to Planet Mu with her second self-titled album, Nondi…While Nondi… retains some of the hazy, nostalgic atmosphere of Flood City Trax, it pushes her sound in bold new directions. “I made this album to capture the sense of freedom I used to get from music when I was first discovering it all,” Nondi says. “It’s meant to be cute, fun, kinda weird and emotional — but most of all, it’s a presentation of some of the prettiest tracks I’ve made.” Though she hasn’t really experienced club culture where she lives, her impressionistic productions evoke the surreal, lingering sounds of a night out — the melodic haze that hums in your ears as you drift off to sleep. Lo-fi and melodic, yet fluid and free, her music carries a sense of flight and intuitive logic. Nondi’s influences range widely — Actress, Aphex Twin, footwork, and the stranger edges of dub techno are all felt, yet she hallucinates them through her own weathered, dreamlike lens. Her tracks often build from clashing loops that evolve and transform organically, or from familiar genre elements reshaped by her instinct for misty, heart-wrenching melody. Some moments stay closer to genre, like Broken Future 175, a drum-and-bass tear-out that dissolves into lush, blurred chords, or Just Hanging Out, a bruised and beautiful take on 2-step. Lead single Tree Festival feels like a blown-out fusion of rave energy and sped-up new-age bliss, while Death Juke drifts through off-beat vocal samples, pulsing drums and 8-bit FX, reminiscent of early Steve Reich reimagined through a Game Boy. Nondi… is a uniquely moving and exploratory album that expands her sonic world even further. Lo-fi yet luminous, playful yet profound.
The new album by the collective that for
over 25 years has been among the most
representative names of the Italian dance
and electronic scene worldwide.
“BLOOOM”, this is the title of the new release,
will be available in all traditional stores and
on digital platforms starting January 16.
Set against the soundscapes that have become
the Planet Funk trademark, the lyrics by Dan
Black attempt to give voice to a fragile and
contradictory condition of our time: an
intensified sensitivity that, instead of
turning into openness and connection, often
becomes emotional overload. A generation
constantly overwhelmed by excessive stimuli,
relentless information, anxieties, and fears,
called upon to find its way in a world thaoffers neither pauses nor silence. In this paradox, sensitivity is no longer just a natural gift, but
a daily effort: staying open and receptive without being overwhelmed, trying to preserve a human and
vulnerable gaze in order, despite everything, to fully appreciate life and the present moment.
The single’s artwork—like that of the album—curated by Nationhood, visually conveys this tension: the
distant sirens of a city that amplifies feelings of disorientation and loneliness even when we are
surrounded by thousands of people.
“BLOOOM”, preceded by the single “FEEL EVERYTHING”, arrives at the end of an intense, creative year
full of music, which saw Alex Neri (DJ, keyboards, synthesizers), Marco Baroni (keyboards, piano,
programming), Dan Black (vocals and guitar), and Alex Uhlmann (vocals and guitar) engaged between
studio work, collaborations, and live performances in Italy and abroad. A journey that today
transforms into new energy, into an even more open vision oriented toward the future.
Exactly one year ago, PLANET FUNK released “Nights in White Satin”, a single that reached the top
positions of the radio charts and launched a season rich in concerts and DJ sets in Italy and around
the world. The subsequent “I Get a Rush”, the collaboration with Alfa and Manu Chao on the remix of
their hit “A me mi piace”, and the track “È Naturale” together with Francesca Michielin, confirmed
Planet Funk’s ability to renew themselves and engage with different musical worlds while always
remaining true to their own identity.
Throughout this journey, music has inevitably intertwined with life. The memory of Sergio Della Monica
and Domenico “Gigi” Canu, pillars and founding souls of the PLANET FUNK project, is a living part of
this new chapter. Their vision, creative spirit, and way of understanding music continue to be a
constant guide, a deep root from which new ideas and new directions can grow.
“BLOOOM” is also this: a personal and artistic blossoming that, starting from the legacy left by
Sergio and Gigi, transforms into a living process of growth, metamorphosis, and discovery. An album
that does not look back with nostalgia, but forward with awareness, momentum, and a desire for
renewal.
Founded in 1999, for over 25 years PLANET FUNK have represented one of the most important, solid, and
influential realities in the international electronic music scene. Born from the meeting of Souled
Out! (Domenico “GG” Canu and Sergio Della Monica) and Kamasutra (Marco Baroni and Alex Neri), and
following their debut with “Non Zero Sumness” in 2002 (a gold record and a turning point for the
band), PLANET FUNK have managed to reinvent themselves over time while maintaining a unique sonic
identity. This has led them to collaborate with internationally renowned artists, deliver iconic
performances around the world, create soundtracks and international advertising campaigns, and
continue to demonstrate constant creative vitality
DJ Support by Fabrizio Mammarella, Sean Johnston (ALFOS), Erol Alkan, Ame, Fango, Jaye Ward, SHMLSS, Camilo Miranda, Marco Passarani, Logan Fisher, Massimiliano Pagliara, Otto (Bordello a Parigi), Phil Mison, Giulia Gutterer, Pete Herbert, Franz Scala, Lauer, Pedro Bertho, Feel Fly ...
New music from legendary Adriatic DJ and producer Verdo is as rare as an MP3 in the golden age of disco. Which is why you should be hella excited for GRATIS CLUB, his first full-length album and a love letter to the iconic club he once called home in Senigallia.
A true Loyal Hell Yeah Recordings member and consummate musician, Verdo brings his signature piano melodies to Italo disco, hi-NRG, and trance magic across X cuts that are equal parts dancefloor propulsion and cosmic exploration.
GRATIS CLUB captures the energy, eccentricity and euphoria of the club Verdo played and directed, translating the pulse of a local institution into a timeless, high-voltage record. With previous releases on Danny Was A Drag King and this label, including his 2020 Symmetry EP, Verdo continues to prove he’s one of Italy’s best-kept secrets with this new album.
Opener and lead single ‘Let In The Light' is pure Italo disco adrenaline: shimmering arps soar over lush chords and retro analogue drums, igniting the dancefloor. Second single ‘Boulevardier’ is introspective yet radiant with rugged synths spiralling inward while shiny 80s chords inject colour and retro soul, all carried by supple, marching drums. 'Eyes Melody' is an ascent to a higher state with acrobatic drums and bass and more luminous synth magic, 'Ballad' has a more downbeat and late-night feel with pensive pads and sad vocoder, then the title cut is bold, bright and unabashed in its stomping disco brilliance. 'Our Love Come Back' has a sense of yearning that surely translates the sadness felt at the closing of Gratis Club, then 'Lest We Forget' is a reminder of how pumping and sweaty the main room got with Verdo in the booth. 'Little Blue's is the gentle comedown and comforting hand that leads you home in a reverie.
GRATIS CLUB is a pure hit of unbridled Italo disco joy.
Club Splendore was born in 2022 in Modena, Italy, as an itinerant party and club format.
In just a few years, it has established itself as one of the most recognizable disco-oriented projects within the new Italian nightlife scene, exporting its sonic and visual identity to iconic clubs and international settings.
With over 20 dates in a single year, recurring sold-outs and a diverse crowd, Club Splendore has evolved into an experience that goes beyond the dancefloor: an inclusive, label-free space where music, style and attitude coexist under red lights and immersive atmospheres. The format has appeared in some of the most relevant venues across Europe, including Villa Delle Rose (Riccione), Palazzina Grassi (Venice), Matis Club (Bologna), Hierbas Club (Cortina), while also expanding internationally with dates at Do Not Disturb – W Hotel Amsterdam, COYA Mykonos, and House Party London, confirming the project’s ability to connect with an international audience. From the club to the record.
Club Splendore Vol.1 is the project’s first official vinyl release and marks a natural step forward: capturing on physical format the sound that has been defining its dancefloors over the past years. The record explores a contemporary take on Italo Disco, infused with classic disco, funk and modern house elements, delivered with an ironic, sensual and direct approach. A sound that reinterprets the aesthetics of the ’80s without nostalgia, translating them into a current, club-focused language. Behind the production and on the decks: Sparkling Attitude, Nicola Zucchi and Matteo Mussoni, resident DJs of the format and the core musical force behind Club Splendore.
Side A features “Drink Campari”, an italo disco track built around warm, enveloping textures, elastic basslines, bright synths and a late-night groove. A story of summer desire and endless nights, playing with the iconography of Italian Red Passion in a light, effortless way.
Side B hosts “Madame”, a bonus track and electronic ballad with a more intimate, suspended mood. A track designed for the final hours of the night, when the club slows down and the dancefloor gives way to something more personal.
Club Splendore Vol.1 is not a compilation, but a statement of intent. A first chapter that brings the club experience beyond the club itself, staying true to the promise that has defined the project from the very beginning: “We will bring the light into the darkness of the night.
Andrea Passenger is an Italian producer, DJ, consultant, creative director and founder of events like Aquario and Better Days and is next up to get things cooking on the Funkyjaws label. 'Disco Love' is a chest-pumping, sliding disco groove with funky licks and florid melodies. 'Get In Touch' then opens its heart with a soaring soul vocal and lavish strings that bring a real sense of elegance. 'Mar De Salvador' then taps into more worldly sounds with funky rhythms and high-speed desert blues style melodies laden with percussion. Last but not least is the more stripped-back and hurried disco funk of 'Tour De Force', which then explodes into life with strings.
Over the past decade, East London artist Kojey Radical has cemented himself as one of the most creative and unique voices in British music. His debut album Reason to Smile (2022) was released to critical acclaim, and saw him emerge as one of the defining voices in UK culture. Now, the 32-year-old readies to release his second album Don’t Look Down.
“I wanted to make this album more personal and more honest,” he says, “we have to be able to accept that the messenger has flaws and all.
16-tracks long, Don’t Look Down, set for release on 19th September 2025, is a musically rich and deeply introspective reflection on the shifting tides, lows and joys that have passed through his life since his emergence into the public eye.
Sonically, the album provides the most experimental and eclectic music of his career, with influences ranging from golden age Hip Hop to disco, grime to Indie, Jazz to Ska. Together, these strings combine to give a pertinent insight into Kojey’s inner world, and a timestamp documenting the feelings, emotions and experiences that arise when many reach the milestone of their 30s.
“When you’re younger, certain ages seem so grown,” he says, “you feel like you’re supposed to have your life together and all figured out by 30. Then especially when you're in the spotlight you feel extra pressure to have it figured out because so many people are looking towards you.”
Don’t Look Down follows debut album Reason to Smile (2022). A critical success, it landed at No.11 on the UK Album Charts and was nominated for the Mercury Prize as well as two MOBO Awards. In the following year came a nomination for Best New Artist at 2023 BRIT Awards and Best Contemporary Song at the Ivor Novello Awards. He toured across the UK, as well as hitting the festival circuit.
This sense of growth was not limited to music. Kojey was tapped by the British Fashion Council to host the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Fashion Awards as his stock in music and wider culture continued to rise.
The album he says, is a reflection of “the experiences I’ve had over the past few years. That shaped the direction I took going forward. It’s given me the opportunity to tell new stories from newer perspectives. It was liberating, and it was very necessary to keep me in love with the process and to keep making music.”
The result is his most innovative album yet, a project where a sense of profound personal interrogation and introspection dance in union with the rich musical tapestry. Don’t Look Down is a story of purpose lost and then found, of what happens in the aftermath of achieving your childhood dreams, and the ranging flux of emotions that rise to the surface once the music stop
Arguably one of the most memorable house music moments, born out of the black LGBT scene in Chicago at the legendary Warehouse and known as one of Frankie Knuckles earliest productions; ‘Your Love’ is a stone cold classic. A record that is up there with the greats, instantly recognisable and a song that only get better with time.
Written by Jamie Principle and originally released in 1986, ‘Your Love’ has become a seminal recording over the past 34 years. Originally an underground club anthem, famously borrowed on the crossover hit ‘You’ve Got The Love’ (The Source feat. Candi Staton), and most recently re-produced by as part of the Director’s Cut project which aimed to update a number of classic cuts for the modern dancefloor, this is a record that endures the test of time. Working alongside The Frankie Knuckles Foundation and Eric Kupper, SoSure Music now releases two new remixes for 2020 from Darrius Syrossian and Alan Dixon.
First up, House music aficionado and legendary Sankey’s resident Darius Syrossian offers his unique blend of beats to the remix package. With releases on the likes of Get Physical, Viva Music and Hot Creations, Darius’ production is heavily influenced by some of the greats – think of the finest spinners from Detroit, New York and Chicago – and is well placed to approach this huge task. Darius introduces a rolling house beat and some old skool breakbeats into his mix, keeping the energy high throughout; bringing a feeling of a euphoria and hitting the peak time moment.
Charting a rapid rise through the ranks in a relatively short time Alan Dixon is already building a name for himself in House and Nu Disco scene and has recently released on labels including Glitterbox, Permanent Vacation, Running Back and True Romance. Alan’s remix aims directly at the centre of the disco dancefloor. A strong beat dominates a unique energy through the mix along with a slightly nostalgic vibe. With a beautiful floaty interlude and a raw emotion this remix updates a classic with respect while also giving a fresh new twist.
The label say "Fresh from impressing with the pulsating techno of Boris Werner and the fuzzy live house jams of San Proper, Tom Trago's Voyage Direct label turns to a man who needs little introduction: Dutch legend and man of many pseudonyms Danny Wolfers.
Best known under his Legowelt alias, Wolfers has spent the last two decades flitting between strobe light acid house, 808 electro, fluorescent techno and shimmering space disco. Throughout, he's kept his productions pleasingly analogue-heavy, making great use of classic drum machines and vintage synthesizers. While his music may be steeped in the past, Wolfers' productions always sound like the future.
For this first outing on Voyage Direct, Wolfers resurrects the House of Jezebel alias - a pseudonym previously only used for the twinkling deep house warmth of 2010's 'Love & Happiness' - and delivers two tracks of synth-laden analogue house goodness.
'Back In Dogtown USA' sets the tone, as Wolfers layers rising chords, darting electronics and wide-eyed synthesizer melodies over a clattering analogue house groove. As with much of the legendary Dutch producer's work, the track ripples with rush-inducing melodic intent. It's the soundtrack to a party on Jupiter, and we're all invited.
Wolfers' ups the tempo dramatically on 'I Took A Train In 1979', transplanting us to the far reaches of our galaxy via jackin' techno drums, picturesque organ melodies, drifting chords and intoxicating pads. There are echoes of classic Detroit techno, surging Rotterdam electro and vintage cosmic disco, yet it doesn't really sound like any of these things. Like 'Back In Dogtown USA', 'I Took A Train In 1979' sounds like the past, reconfigured and rearranged for the consumption of future generations. In other words, it's a classic Wolfers production."
Transversales is very glad to announce the release of « Unreleased & Rareties » spanning 1972-2002, revelatory collection of short and secret music by electronic music pioneer, Jean SCHWARZ. He served as an engineer at the CNRS in the Ethnomusicology Department of the Musée de l'Homme in Paris, and was a member of the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (G.R.M) from 1969 to 1999.
This compilation allows us to discover some of unreleased rarities from Jean Schwarz’s personal archives and unpublished recordings which were composed for the dance, screen or the performing arts.
Remastered high-resolution audio transferred directly from the original master tapes.
Exclusive liner notes. Deluxe LP with printed innersleeves & OBI
Daniele Baldelli
Considered one of the first DJs in Italy, Daniele Baldelli began his career in 1969 mixing vinyl at the Tana Club in Cattolica (his hometown),
predating the birth of the modern DJ by several years. In the following years, he solidified his talent and technique at histor such as the Tabù Club, Baia degli Angeli, and Cosmic. From 1979 to 1984, Baldelli created his unique and eclectic style, blendi ic clubs ng seemingly distant sounds and musical styles, complementing them with tempo adjustments (bpm) and deliberately extreme equalization,
creating a truly distinctive sound, known as "Afro Disco." Soundscapes and tribal percussion blend with early electronic music experiments, and Baldelli's sets become truly mystical experiences, where, for the first time, the temples are replaced by the dance floor.
The documentary film "A Cosmic Life" has just been released, starring Daniele Baldelli alongside other illustrious guests from the nightclub scene, recounting the history and formation of this movement from the 1970s to the present.
Gaudi
A producer/musician among the most highly regarded on the international dub/electronic scene, over the past 30 years Gaudi, from his
London studio, has contributed significantly to expanding the boundaries of musical genres with high-profile releases and innovative
music production techniques. Recently nominated for a Grammy Award with 'Mass Manipulation', the album he produced for the reggae
band Steel Pulse, and also nominated for a World Music Award with his album 'Dub Qawwali' with Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan, Gaudi has collected a series of number 1s on the international charts: Billboard - with the album 'Heavy Rain' by Lee "Scratch"
Perry, 'Vessel of Love' by singer Hollie Cook and with 'Mass Manipulation' by Steel Pulse -, UK Chart n.1 with the album 'Prism' by the
band The Orb (with whom he has collaborated as a producer and keyboardist since 2008), with 'Blue Monday' - by Gaudi himself with
the band Dub Pistols -, UK Dance Chart n.1 with 'Jus Come rmx' produced with DJ Angelino for Cool Jack. He also reached no. 41 the UK charts with the album ‘Midnight Rocker’ by reggae singer Horace Andy (known to the general public for his hits with Massive in
Attack), no. 13 with the album ‘Dubwise 2’ by the band Dreadzone and no. 5 in the Italian charts with the song ‘Lasciala Andare’, written
by him for Irene Grandi. With 19 solo albums and 350 remixes and productions under his belt, Gaudi, with his artistic versatility, has
worked with Groove Armada, UB40, Simple Minds, Brian Ferry, Devo, Big Audio Dynamite, Damian Marley, Seun Kuti, Mad Professor,
Trentemøller, Grandmaster Flash ft KRS-One, Lamb, Don Letts, The Beat, Deep Forest, African Head Charge (in which Gaudi is a keyboardist and dubmaster), Elisa, Scientist, Dub FX, Roedelius, Caparezza, Caravan Palace, EMF, Sizzla, Jovanotti, Sly & Robbie, Piero Pelù, Youth of Killing Joke, and Maxi Priest, to name just a few. Capleton,
Daniele Baldelli & Gaudi
DJ Daniele Baldelli and producer Gaudi first met three years ago at the Jazz Cafe in London. Mutual respect and an innate need to
create new stylistic fusions were the catalysts for Baldelli and Gaudi, leading to a series of subsequent meetings that inevitably culminated in the need to create music together. The project began at Gaudi's Metatron Studio in London using analog equipment and later
moved to Baldelli's studio in Cattolica, where the two organically defined their sound, also inspired by Baldelli's precious record collection. The duo consolidated a powerful compositional symbiosis, and the project, born from a simple initial groove, later transformed
into an entire EP consisting of four original tracks and a highly innovative sound, featuring fusions of psychedelic-funk, tribal-dub,
electronic-disco, and, of course, "Afro-Cosmic"! Daniele Baldelli and Gaudi began their sonic collaboration without setting any stylistic
direction and with the intention of not creating pre-established goals to achieve; it is a project of pure artistic freedom guided by their
compositional instinct and their experience. Constantly active with their evenings and live concerts, Baldelli and Gaudi have performed
individually in many of the best international clubs and festivals.
Updated remixes of two big Balearic classics on Best Record! "Describing Linda Di Franco is no easy task: a reserved, sometimes elusive artist with a career that is difficult to define. From an early age she was interested in various artistic fields. Working as a DJ in clubs, then on the radio, she took the opportunity to record her first musical demo, Stage, obtaining international recognition which quickly took her to England and to the States, where she recorded her first compositions, My Boss and T.V. Scene. The songs are of great value and achieve unexpected success, also included in The Rise Of The Heart, a milestone in the nascent revolution of club culture, a Balearic classic supported by DJs in love with the indefinable sound of Ibiza. But Linda is extraordinarily ahead of her time and despite the enormous fame has gained with her songs she is already oriented towards a career as a music video director. For this reason the Turin singer-songwriter turns out to be one of the least fruitful artists of her time, while her CV in Hollywood is impressive in various roles which she holds, in addition to that of actress and director, that of impeccable sound technique. Intelligent artist, full of good and positive feelings and certainly also ambitious, but extremely scrupulous by subjecting sounds in cinema to careful review. Yes! The "sound" is an investigative tool for her, a way of understanding art. Linda Di Franco is - willy-nilly - still the undisputed queen of the Balearic sound today. So, she decided to produce Redux, a limited edition album published by Best Record, in which her most intrepid and famous songs are re-proposed in the jazz versions edited by her friends from Turin and Los Angeles. Then she had to give in to the boundless passion of Danilo Braca, the Italian DJ based in New York, who deserves credit for the successful combination of refined and ethereal songs with the disco genre. TV. Scene - Epic Remix, TV. Scene - Costa del Sol Mix and My Boss - Remix are Danilo's pearls, created with the help of excellent international musicians who with more defined and current sounds have added their art to that of Linda."
We are excited to announce the release of a limited edition green vinyl pressing of Ashford & Simpson ” It Seems to Hang On” remixed by Joaquin Joe Claussell. Following the rapid sell-out of his Deodato Whistle Bump 12”.
'It Seems To Hang On' by Ashford & Simpson remixed by Joaquin Joe Claussell should not be mistaken for one of his highly sought-after Edits & Overdubs Series. 'It Seems To Hang On' is a full-on remix produced and carefully crafted directly from the actual multi-track resulting in an unreleased instrumental version that breathes a different perspective into the classic composition. The record is housed in a special Japanese thick Cardboard 7" Jacket along with the Promo one-sheet representing the special Warner Disco 12 inch Promotional Copies from back in the heyday of the legendary Disco Promos. Tested for several years on dance floors across the globe, the record is finally here.
‘Cataclysm’ is a poignant call for revolution of both politics and consciousness, conveyed through ten distinct songs written and produced by Zanias between 2020 and 2024. Each piece of music inhabits its own aesthetic universe and rhythm, featuring elemental fusions of coldwave, italo disco, witchhouse, trance, breakbeats, hyperpop and even a touch of drum and bass. The unique amalgamation is best described as post-industrial ethereal wave, of Zanias’s very own signature. The subject matter grapples with how to move forward through times when civilisation and the entire ecosystem of the planet feel like they are on the brink of total collapse, while gazing back over hundreds of thousands of years of human survival in total awe of how far we’ve come. The lyrics aim for a balance of vulnerability and poetic strength, as the audience is beckoned to “thread the power through the pain”. While darker atmospheres are conjured through the sound design and instrumentation, the album ultimately directs itself steadfast toward the glittering sheen of hope. As the tempo ascends through the course of the album’s tracklist, so too does Zanias’s deep attachment to our sacred humanity and refusal to give in to despair.
‘Cataclysm’ represents an ambitious defiance of genre tropes in pursuit of pure artistry, with a potent political message delivered with assertive fervour and playful sincerity. Additional production was contributed by mixing engineer Trey Frye, best known for his work in the band Korine, and the album was mastered by Alain Paul.
Steve Moore reprises his beloved Lovelock guise by presenting his unique riff on the library breaks genre. Business And Pleasure contains grimy groove and sleazy, funk-laden lounge music.
This vinyl release is hyper-limited, with just 500 pressed for the world.
The LP is ushered in by the spacey synth-funk of the sleazy, woozy title track. This is that serious slo-mo cosmic-balearic head-nod shit. Laidback bass, heavy funk with dreamy synth and electric guitars. An outstanding opener. Up next, the dynamic, swaggering "Last Call" is a sophisticated, elegant stroll - sweeping, mellow strings, a smooth bassline and gorgeous percussion with urgent keys and swelling synths.
"Slinky Strut" is another spaced-out, sleazy funk groove with jazz rock by way of a heavy, heavy guitar riff, mellotron and bass breakdowns which build to brass crescendos. Gigantic. "First Class" closes out the side, and, like classic Hawkshaw / Bennett noir, it's got that mysterious and murky stretched out sleuth / detective soul with a great bassline and percussive elements, with swelling strings, ace synths and smooth Rhodes piano melodies entering the mix halfway through. Dramatic guitars and groovy percussion add extra intrigue. It's 7 minutes of funk!
Side B opens with the stretched-out psychedelic funk and jazz groove of "Stank 49". It takes its sweet time to unfurl, creating enormous - almost sensual - anticipation for the ensuing beauty but, as it does, we're left beguiled and straight-up hypnotised. Heaven-sent synth flourishes and a laidback bassline over smooth drums cement its simple, vivacious grace. "Dangerous Man" is that creeping crime funk we all love; heavy bass and fuzzy guitar riffs, mellow strings and sumptuous piano/synths. It's irresistible, it's ominous and it's pretty gargantuan. It's basically like an El-P hip-hop instrumental. We need to get some rappers over this stuff, stat!
"Stinkbug" is a dazzling and funky groove-fuelled jazz-rock workout with fizzing synth riffs joined by full percussion and drum breaks, building with strings to a strong swagger. Vigour! To close out this remarkable set, the breezy "Win Or Lose" is laidback soul-inflected funk, utilising urgent, skipping drums and galloping basslines. Just stunning.
This collection was written and recorded in Spring and Summer of ’24. Everything was tracked at Steve's home studio in Albany, NY except the drums and percussion, which were recorded by Jeff Gretz at his space in NYC. The whole collection is basically a rhythm section feature, so Steve's Rickenbacker 4003 and Fender Jazz Bass play very prominently. The bass guitar serves as lead instrument in a lot of these tracks. Also, lots of Rhodes and stringers (Solina, Logan etc) and guitar (Strat and Les Paul). He even dusted off my sax for this one, which he doesn’t do as often as he’d like!
This type of groove-oriented library music has been a steady part of Steve's diet since the late 90’s. In heavy rotation while writing this collection were the following classics: “Time Signals” by Klaus Weiss, “Tilsley Orchestral No. 10” by Reg Tilsley, and “Heavy Truckin’” by Simon Haseley. “Voyage” by Brian Bennett was also a big one.
Lovelock started as a dedicated Italo-disco project, but over the years Steve expanded it to include anything directly informed by the commercial/pop side of the music of his childhood (70s/80s). Writing and recording this album was, like a lot of Steve's music these days, basically a test to see whether or not he could do it.
The song titles, like the music, are meant to be evocative yet vague. But there is a bit of a travel theme. Steve imagined this record being the soundtrack to a sleazy salesman’s business trip. The kind of guy who, when asked if he’s traveling for business or pleasure, responds “both.” Beyond the traveling salesman comparison, the title directly relates to the creation of this album. This was something he wanted to do just for his own enjoyment. Yet, like our sleazy salesman, he still found a way to get paid.
The album’s cover was designed by Chris Stevenson, with no little direction from Steve. He knew that he wanted to go with something photography-based for this cover so, in true DIY/cheapskate spirit, Steve started by looking through his own photos. He found the cover image on his phone, taken through an almost empty bottle of beer, and it clicked. The whole album has a very boozy vibe (especially with titles like “Last Call”) so this shot seemed appropriate. We, hic, agree.
Mastering for this vinyl edition was overseen by Be With regular Simon Francis, and it was cut by the esteemed Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios to be pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry.
Space Echo is proud to present the new single by Derane Obika and Go.Soul.Map., arranged and performed by Sicilian
mastermind producer Salvo Dub - an overwhelming fusion of electronic sounds and soulful vibes. This track is a balance
of pulsating rhythms and enveloping melodies, a sonic journey that invites dancing and reflection.
The production stands out with its electronic soul — a rich blend of synthesizers and deep bass lines that pull the listener
into an energetic and immersive atmosphere. Every beat is crafted to move your feet and light up even the most
sophisticated dance floors.
It’s an explosion of energy, set against the unmistakable voice of Derane Obika. With his warm, soulful tone reminiscent of
Seal, Derane brings a unique spirit to the track, infusing every word with raw emotion and deep.
Here, Derane and Go.Soul.Map. don’t just celebrate dance music — they invite the listener into a full-bodied sensory
experience, where electronic beats meet soul tradition to create something truly extraordinary.
The lyrics expresses the idea of a complete fulfilment found in someone or something essential. It suggests that this
presence — a person, an emotion, or a spiritual guide — is so fundamental and complete that everything else becomes
unnecessary.
It evokes a profound sense of connection, purpose, and clarity. Like a path that leads directly to the essence of existence,
it conveys the feeling of being guided, inspired, and grounded all at once. It is a declaration of absolute trust, of love or
devotion — where the journey and the destination fully coincide.
Side B features a new version of “Walkin’ a Dream” from the debut album “Peaceful Sound for Broken Minds”. The new
rework 25, offers us futuristic and electronic sounds with 70s and 80s disco influences, mixing with space and cinematic
themes - very interesting!
Eclectic and genre-fluid, Whoosh is a masterful showcase of the expansive musical sensibilities of Vik Srinivasan—known as Vikmatic—and the finely tuned ear of co-producer and TSoNYC label head Danilo Braca. Drawing from a rich tapestry of sonic influences, the EP unfolds with effortless depth and elegance. Its title track opens with wistful spaciousness, unhurried in its approach, as layers of ambient texture float into view. Around the three-minute mark, a freeform trumpet—played by multi- instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter COULOU—enters like a gentle breeze, pairing seamlessly with a humblingly gorgeous vocal from indie pop artist Rén with the Mane. Her voice, set cool and weightless amid the atmospheric array, anchors the track in emotional resonance
In contrast, “Dream” quickens the pulse. It opens with a crisp hand drum before giving way to a forceful Italo rhythm and driving synths. The return of the meandering trumpet offers a warm counterbalance—a humanizing thread weaving through the escalating sonic tension.
“Jungle” follows with a playful sense of experimentation, placing the trumpet at center stage. It’s accompanied by a whimsically off-kilter selection of textures: crisp, deliberate percussion; a brooding electric guitar line courtesy of the ever-versatile Alvise Marino (aka Al-Veez); lush retro synth glides; and
The EP closes with “We Should Go,” where Rén with the Mane returns in more earthly form. Her vocals drift in and out between acid burbles and Italo arpeggiations, both intoxicating and charged with quiet urgency. It’s a fitting finale—elevated yet grounded, dreamy yet directive.
Across four free-flowing yet meticulously crafted tracks, Whoosh captures the essence of collaboration and creative freedom. It’s a transportive listen that resists genre boundaries, inviting the listener to drift, dance, and discover within its lush and unpredictable terrain.
Directly from the Many Records files, an iconic italo disco track from early 1985 written and arranged by Enzo Vallicelli (the man behind great hits from Cruisin' Gang of Max-Him). No remixes or updates are needed for this track, it still sounds as fresh and powerful as the day it was released.
Ajere” tells the story of the sudden end of a love story: the disorientation, the balance, and the strength to say “Nun te vogl’ chiù manco je!” (I don’t want you anymore either!).
In this reggae reinterpretation, Chiara Della Monica meets Tonico70, who with his direct language brings a concrete, urban and visceral charge to the song.
Available on 45 rpm vinyl, with the song on side A and the instrumental on side B, “Ajere” blends Neapolitan melody and Jamaican groove, transforming a breakup into an act of liberation.
Just when you thought every holy grail must have been unearthed by now, here come Basic Unit with their deep cover late 90s masterpiece Timeline, the dankest darkcore-electronica-tech step album you've likely never heard.
Ben England and Rick Dallaway formed Basic Unit and debuted on Moving Shadow in 1997. They also moved on Nocturnal, a cult label that reached beyond D&B to platform some more experimental sounds. It was a short-lived label with some ominous footnotes — 'Several people involved with Nocturnal have vanished or are dead' reads the label's Discogs description. But in 1998 Nocturnal put out Timeline, a CD-only album from Basic Unit that cut a sharp, scathing figure against most D&B of the era. England and Dallaway embraced the album format as a chance to go deep, inhaling their inspiration from early days Autechre as much as Source Direct and boiling down the results to a steely, minimalist framework.
The likes of 'Resolution' are desolate, stark workouts that feel fractured and raw enough to align with early grime, complete with the strings, but the rhythms move in mysterious formations designed to confound like the most bloody minded electronica artists of the late 90s. Blown out bass and scattered flurries of machine gun breaks, squashed tundra drones that sound like they were pulled from 10th generation VHS b-movies and bit-crushed animal grunts fit for a Mega Drive beat 'em up. The sonics are redolent of the times, but Basic Unit chisel them mercilessly into their spartan vision, deploying brain-frying beat science with a stern restraint.
It's the kind of record that gives so much while holding so much back — a deadly tease that has flown under the radar for too long. This is the sort of shock reissue material that gets us gassed at Sneaker, and we're proud to be giving it a re-boost and a first ever outing on wax, all the better to shock you out.
Rocker’s Revenge was a studio musical project, assembled by producer Arthur Baker in 1982. The band comprised of Baker himself plus Donnie Calvin, Dwight Hawkes, Tina B and Adrienne Dupree Johnson. They are most remembered by their 1982 post-disco hit "Walking on Sunshine", which peaked at number 1 on the US Dance Chart and number 4 in the UK.
On the A side of this release, the track is reset for 2025 with a remix by post punk indie rockers Yard Act, where they have include their own guitar, synths & vocals to give their unique stamp to it. – It’s become a track they have been performing live. On the other side is an unreleased 9 minute remix by New York’s legendary Sound Factory co-founder Junior Vasquez back from 1988, to make it proto acid house bassline & driving percussion journey.
Boston-born Arthur Baker launched his music career as a Disco DJ, but soon made his way into music-making, producing classic Disco for legends Northend and TJM. Arthur is one of the most visible and widely imitated early Hip-Hop/House producers; masterminding breakthrough experimentation with tape edits, sampling and synthetic beats on such records as Afrika Bambaataa's 'Planet Rock', New Order's 'Confusion', Freeez's ‘IOU’, and his own break Dance classic ‘Breaker's Revenge'. Baker would go on to become an award-wining DJ, music and film producer, working for and with the likes Dylan, Hall & Oates, Al Green, Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Diana Ross, &many more; on film music for 80s/90s classics such as Beat Street, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Life Less Ordinary. Turning his hand to film documentary’s, Baker has produced Finding The Funk and 808 the Movie. Baker has also directed a documentary on Rocker’s Revenge ‘On A Mission’ along with completing their debut album.
Four Flies is thrilled to present the very first release of Gianfranco Reverberi's hidden masterpiece: a mind-blowing soundtrack, possibly his wildest and most daring. This Italian score is sort of a Holy Grail for fans of the spaghetti sound, especially thanks to the legendary track "Psicolimite".
In 1973, a mysterious 45 rpm single surfaced under the name 'Sharon Chatam e la sua Orchestra.' The single seemed to be a harmless cover of the theme from Last Tango in Paris, complete with a typical image from the film. But behind the innocent facade, a secret was hidden: the B-side track, "Psicolimite," was actually the main theme from Rivelazioni. When someone in the United States figured this out and realized the 'Sharon Chatam' moniker was a pseudonym for Reverberi and his team, the price of the record skyrocketed, making it a coveted collectible.
This makes the discovery of the full soundtrack even more exciting, considering that the music Reverberi composed for the infamous film by Renato Polselli - one of the most outrageous and uncompromising Italian genre cinema directors - was thought to be lost forever, perhaps vanished into the depths of some film processing lab. But thanks to the sleuths at Four Flies, this enigmatic masterpiece has been resurrected and presented in all its glory. It's available now as a luxurious gatefold double LP with original artwork by the brilliant Eric Adrian Lee.
While the film, despite some critics praising it as "psychotronic," is a bizarre mishmash of rambling pseudo-psychoanalytic theories and sexual deviance voyeurism, the music stands out as a foremost, vital element, able to exist on its own.
Reverberi's reputation as a serious, refined producer (for artists like Lucio Dalla, Gino Paoli, Luigi Tenco, and many more), however, led him to keep his distance from exploitation films like Rivelazioni. To maintain his image, he had his friend and former schoolmate Umberto Cannone take credit for the score – a tactic he also used for Polselli's next film, Mania (1974).
But this anonymity might have unexpectedly increased his creative freedom, for the score he put together and recorded is experimental, at times raw, and driven by a relentless rhythm section where bass and drums lay down the groove. The use of electronic instruments is impressive for the time, with drum machines and spacey synths creating a dark and dreamlike atmosphere. Psychedelic flutes, piano phrases, crazed percussion, filters, compressors, and jazzy improvisations on sax and vibraphone complete the mix.
The full soundtrack was recovered following the discovery of the original 1-inch, 16-track tapes, which were transferred, mixed, and mastered for optimal listening on both vinyl and digitally, with the digital version featuring 8 bonus tracks.
Red Vinyl. Jim Jarmusch's crypto-vampire love story film, "Only Lovers Left Alive" won the 2013 Cannes award for best soundtrack. The soundtrack, predominantly by Jozef Van Wissem and SQU"RL, also features Zola Jesus, Yasmin Hamdan and Madeline Follin (of Cults). "Only Lovers Left Alive" which is set against the romantic desolation of Detroit and Tangier, features an underground musician (Adam, played by Tom Hiddleston), who is deeply depressed by the direction of human activities. He reunites with his resilient and enigmatic lover (Eve, played by Tilda Swinton). Their love story has already endured several centuries at least, but their debauched idyll is soon disrupted by her wild and uncontrollable younger sister (Ava, performed by Mia Wasikowska). Can these wise but fragile outsiders continue to survive as the modern world collapses around them?The physical formats of the soundtrack have been out of print for years and the vinyl will cost you a pretty penny on Discogs. Sacred Bones is thrilled to bring this incredible soundtrack back in print on several variants including clear and red splatter vinyl.SQU"RL are: Carter Logan, Jim Jarmusch, and Shane Stoneback. An enthusiastically marginal rock band from New York City who like big drums & broken guitars, cassette recorders, loops, feedback, sad country songs, molten stoner core, chopped & screwed hip-hop, and imaginary movie scores. Jozef Van Wissem is a Dutch minimalist composer and lute player based in Brooklyn.
"We loved this piece of ramshackle punk funk when we first heard it on 7" in 1994 and we still love it now!" - The Chemical Brothers, 2025 A timeless slice of garage soul punk, the "Fuck Shit Up" DBN102 7" 45rpm was released in 1994, the second volume in Dub Narcotic Sound System's Dub Narcotic Disco Plate series. Immediately recognized as a unique bending of disco bleed towards the teeming masses, "Fuck Shit Up" was championed by the likes of Chemical Brothers, Beck, The Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion (who covered the song on their 1996 Now I got Worry LP) and Make-Up. "Fuck Shit Up" is still a must-play at every down-in-the-basement dance stomp the world over. Assorted unauthorized postings on youtube have accumulated over 100,000 views. Now available for the first time in the digital realm, the original "Fuck Shit Up" is reimagined as a 7" 45rpm phonograph record with new remix version on the flip by Hifi Sean (aka Sean Dickson of Soup Dragons). Hifi Sean's most recent album, in collaboration with David McAlmont, is Twilight (Plastique Recordings), a twelve-song night drive, dancing from dusk `til dawn, with all the moments in-between (out February 14). Hifi Sean has also directed a video for the "Fuck Shit Up Hifi Sean Mix."
Borghesia is an electronic music group, founded in 1982 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The band was formed by four members of alternative theatrical group Theatre FV-112/15: Dario Seraval, Aldo Ivancic, Neven Korda and Zemira Alajbegovic. They established FV Video to self-publish their video projects and FV Založba – the first independent record label in ex-Yugoslavia. Aldo and Dario took care of songwriting, production and recording while Zemira and Neven handled the visuals. In the late 80s the band signed to PIAS and went on to release a string of successful albums and played world-wide tours.
Clones was Borghesia's second album, self-released on cassette only in 1984. The band borrowed synthesizers (Roland SH-101, Casio VL-1, Korg Polysix) and a Roland 808 drum machine from friends. Every song was played live - no overdubs - and recorded to a cassette deck over a few nights at their club Disco FV during 1983-1984. The music on "Clones" is meant to accompany various video installations and performances. All of the songs are instrumental and feature various cutting edge techniques for 1983. Hypnotic, proto-techno and acid rhythms and synth lines. Music on the A Side of the LP is faster and club oriented while the B Side offers a drugged out soundtrack to get lost in.
All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley directly from the original master tape. Each LP is housed in a silver jacket with original gelatin print by photographer Jane Štravs. A fold-out poster is included with unreleased photos, original artwork and liner notes by Željko Luketić. After 28 years, Borghesia's "music for video" is finally appearing on vinyl for the first time.
The Rhythm Section – raves first super group - consisting of Ellis Dee, Rennie Pilgrim, Newton and Ritchie T. The group disbanded in 1993 after the rise of jungle as the guys didn’t want to go in that direction and felt their job was done in building the rave scene to what it was. But then in 1995 they had a request to reform and tour America as the rave culture was growing out there. So, they did reform, minus Ritchie T, and embark on a rather rave induced tour of the US with all the antics that you would expect from those guys!
They also wanted to make some new music for the tour and The Sequel album was born. Though written in 1995, they guys purposely kept the sound retro, calling upon their knowledge of the late 80s and early 90’s London warehouse scene.
Released originally as a limited edition double album which commands a high price on Discogs, this is the second part of the album – part one being the 180g blue vinyl release on Vinyl Fanatiks last year.
For the latest Klasse Wrecks release, the label combine with Japan's finest festival and events crew Rainbow Disco Club to collaboratively present WRECKSRDC. Overrocket were an electro-pop band from Tokyo that enjoyed a grip of great releases in the early 2000s while signed to Neon Discs and its parent label Aten. During a digging session Luca Lozano discovered the forgotten tracks 'Duralumin' and 'Shadow of the Sun' and immediately set out trying to contact the band's members to arrange a re-release and remix. A few months of patient trying, the connection was finally made and wheels were set in motion. Musically the EP conjures up perfectly the sonics of that time, a grey area between analog convention and the unexplored territories of new digital freedom. Shadow Of The Sun is electro-pop perfection, with breezy vocals and a bouncing beat that sounds like nothing else around...past, present or future. Duralumin is a more dancey collection of blips and beats, one that will make sense in the current return to early 2000s aesthetics. To round out the release and propel it into 2025, KW label bosses take a track each and interpret in their own way. Lozano revisits his electro roots with two remixes of Shadow of the Sun, distorted 808s and growling 101 basslines provide a simple backdrop for the perfect vocals. Mr. Ho takes Duralumin into a more driving and pacey direction, upping the energy and excitement with fast percussion and a huge side chained breakdown that recalls the unbridled rawness of the early 2000s, when everything was just a little bit more fun. Keeping within the confines of Japan and in an effort to bring everything full circle, the label enlisted Japanese artist Gonno to master the tracks for an updated modern sound. The tracks themselves being mastered a few miles from where they were originally penned over 20 years ago.
“To Model Phenomena” is a scientific concept that describes a computer’s ability to emulate, regardless of whether the emulated phenomenon exists outside its circuits or is purely imaginary.
Modeling communication platforms enables us to interact with each other or with computers. Modeling behavior patterns, nuclear fusion, or, as in the case of scientists from the Human Brain Project, a virtual human brain, allows us to simulate cognitive processes such as perception, memory, and decision-making, providing insight into the nature of human thought.
In this record, the phenomena modeled are those moments when the mind leaps into the void, confronting new paradigms. For instance, when science, art, or mass media introduces new information, propelling us into a transformed reality.
From this starting point, European musician Shifting Heigo maps a path between realities, evolving his narrative as his music unfolds. This work draws inspiration from Curtis Roads (vice chair of Media Arts and Technology at the UCSB) and his studies on granular synthesis and time scales, where each track on To Model Phenomena evokes a sense of movement, where nothing begins or ends in quite the same way.
A musician with strong ties to new technologies, Shifting Heigo has collaborated with the University of Málaga (Spain) in its PH Degree Program in video game design, composing interactive music, while also singing as part of the tenor section in the Qatar Concert Choir, affiliated with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
Currently based in Abu Dhabi, he is now part of a circle of electronic musicians surrounding the New York University Abu Dhabi, an institution that supports electronic and experimental music across the Middle East.
To Model Phenomena is the result of his search for a unique voice as a musician, where ternary rhythms, noise, and silence shape the narrative. This is a discourse from a musician’s perspective on the changes that science, technology, art, and the rapid flow of information demand of us. A direct gaze into the fear of change.
Aimer Perdre is a movie by the Guit Brothers and tells the story of Armande Pigeon; the queen of shenanigans. In Brussels, she struggles to make ends meet because she can’t stop gambling on everything, always ending up on the wrong side of luck. When she teams up with Ronnie one night, everything changes – they win it all. And when you hit a winning streak, you have to know when to stop.
For Aimer Perdre, Brooklyn NY native Simon Hanes travelled to Brussels in order to work directly with the directors, synchronizing the editing of the film with the composition of the soundtrack so that both processes would influence each other. Hanes and the Guits spent 3 months working alongside each other almost every day, passing ideas back and forth and allowing the soundtrack to grow organically. The music is an honest representation of Hanes’ experiences over those months, which he spent couch surfing across Brussels, sharing meals and ideas with new friends in broken refrains of French and English – falling asleep at the Cinémathèque, and occasionally breaking into abandoned buildings…but thats a story for another time.
Throughout all this, Simon hired musicians he met in bars, members of the Brussels experimental/artistic community, singers from a choir that was rehearsing in the squat where the Guits built their editing room…All the while sculpting the soundtrack out of these seemingly dissolute elements and constantly blurring the line between the compositional process and his day to day life.
Finally the process culminated in hiring the FAMES string orchestra for ONE SINGLE HOUR (all they could afford) to achieve the full orchestral sound the film’s climax so clearly needed.
The end result, like the film itself, is a reflection of life – a hodgepodge of sounds, colors and ideas that come together to create a beautiful, unique tapestry, sometimes harmonious, other times less so.
Comes with a limited edition flexidisc with a bonus track.
NIX001 features a collaboration between NIX founder Árni and Icelandic synth-disco producer Hermigervill. The resulting track, Gott, is a fragmented soundscape of abstract beats and distorted granularized sequences, with an obscure Icelandic female vocal interspersed between the percussive rhythms.
The unlikely combination of the two artists, coming from very different sonic directions has yielded an incredibly surprising and fresh cocktail of elements.
About PTU:
Alina Izolenta and Kamil Ea, also known as PTU, perform at the joint of techno, experimental electronics and sound design. PTU creates multi-layered dance works, lacing them with non-linear plots and often accelerating up to 150 bpm. The duo’s ‘Broken Clock Is Right Twice A Day’ (2017) and LP ‘Am I Who I Am’ (2019) were released by Nina Kraviz’ ТРИП label.
Announcing the debut album from one of London’s most electrifying acts, New Regency Orchestra. An 18-piece Afro-Cuban big band, inspired by the musical melting pot of NYC in the 1950s, but with the punch and power of a whole host of London’s best Latin and jazz musicians. Blowing new life into these compositions, the album is a reimagining of some of the finest music from that golden era. From early 1950s René Hernandez and Tito Puente, through to the 1970s salsa of Rafael Labasta and Orlando Marin, produced and performed with fresh fire.
NRO is the brainchild of its artistic director, and the man behind Total Refreshment Centre and Church of Sound, Lex Blondin. Through a long-held passion for jazz, Lex discovered the explosive Afro-Cuban rhythms of mid-1940s NYC via the godfather of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá. A time when two musical worlds collided in a fusion of creativity and energy, jazz luminaries like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker joining forces with Cuban greats like Machito and Chano Pozo. This vibrant sound was music to dance to and found a home at The New York Palladium, a formative space of freedom and expression that was key to the scene’s development.
Although dance-focussed in their makeup, those early recordings are not often heard in modern club environments and Lex dreamt of retelling their story with a contemporary dynamism. A slice of serendipity followed, as a slot at a new festival opened up and Lex jumped at the chance to make this idea a reality, an 18-piece big band breathing new life into these beloved songs.
Enlisting the expertise of some of the capital’s finest talent, Lex and co-captain Andy Wood, of Como No fame, put together a world-class line-up of talent. Bringing in Eliane Correa as musical director and bandleader, a fluid and interchanging 18-piece band was formed.
The album itself is a hand-picked selection of timeless Afro-Cuban jazz classics, reimagined with NRO’s unbridled energy. It contains ten incredible instrumental tracks including 'Pregon' with its anthemic horn stabs and the addictive head nod bounce of 'Mambo Rama', alongside two scorching vocal numbers in 'Papa Boco' and 'Labasta Llego'. Coupling a heavyweight rhythm section with a wall of horns, they provide a fresh spin on songs from Tito Puente and Chico O'Farrill, René Hernandez through to Rafael Labasta.
“Some of the tunes like Tito Puente’s ‘Mambo Rama’ and ‘Scarlet Mambo’ might sound like they went to a gym as extra drums and bass synth were added to them whilst the tune ‘Sahib & Tito’ is a mix of Tito’s ‘Mambo Buda’ and Sahib Shihab’s ‘Nus’. Our intention is to be both respectful to the innovators and inventors of this incredible music and to pay our dues, but also to add something special from London where the city’s new jazz scene connects with its Latin American musicians and the musical influences around us.”
This pure collective joy, shared experience and music you can’t help but move to.
The multi-talented global traveller Shawn Lee starts the new year 2025 with "Lost", the first album by Shawn Lee's GPS Band. The story behind the album is best told by the artist himself: "Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. In this case…Italy. While on tour there in 2024, I found that I never knew where I was or where I was going. For that matter, I affectionately dubbed it 'The Lost in Italy Tour'!"
Shawn Lee continues: "While listening to music in the car barreling down the open road, GPS voice directions kept barking instructions over the tunes. Suddenly, the full musical concept of the 'Lost' album smacked me right between my ears. Instrumental tracks equipped with GPS voices on top robotically guiding me to my various destinations. Sometimes it was a venue like the Parasdiso in Amsterdam. or record label like Légére in Hamburg - and for goodness' sake, even a pizza restaurant in Italy! The possibilities were infinite.
"I lovingly explored the sounds of the late 70s & early 80s delicious brew of Post-Punk, Post-Disco, Krautrock, Punk-Funk, old school HipHop and No Wave. Armed with a P bass,Madcat Telecaster, a handful of synths and a few choice effects, the album was both a minimal and focused affair. Sometimes less is more… The world on the other hand, is way more than less and a very big place to get 'Lost'. So this is just the beginning of a long journey and with my GPS Band, I will always arrive at my destination."
In 2045, researchers at MindTech discovered an anomaly in neural networks used for direct data transmission into the human brain. They called this phenomenon “Phantom Scripts” — mysterious glitches in the code that activate when a person falls asleep or closes their eyes. Deprived of visual stimuli, the brain becomes more receptive and starts responding to internal impulses from the neuro-interface, generating unexpected images and phrases, as if creating messages from the void.
Analysis revealed that these scripts are particularly active during deep sleep or meditation, when the mind is most vulnerable to external influence, as though an intelligent force is attempting to communicate through the subconscious. What lies behind these messages and why they appear remains unknown. Perhaps the answers are hidden in the darkness itself.
Modernized disco boogie cover of Klique's 80s classic tune, with vocals by Boston's own Saucy Lady and UK's legendary talent Omar, all masterfully crafted by Yuki Kanesaka as the musical director and producer alongside Saucy Lady on the arrangement. The track not only features a full live brass section and strings with talents from Japan and Boston, it also features Curtis Williams of Kool & the Gang on alto, while David Frank of the mega duo The System on the Oberheim and Moog adding the authentic boogie spice.
Piano overdubs recorded by another production and engineering legend Carl Beatty known as the studio pioneer of all the major label R&B performers of the 70s, 80s, and 90s including Luther Vandross, Aretha, Melba Moore, Mass Production and more. All of which create the melange of groove that the funk universe desperately needs.
On the flip side, French Producer and DJ heavyweight Young Pulse brings a whole new take on the original mix with added vocal layers by Young Pulse himself he brings a more broken beat, house flavor to the classic tune which will undeniably electrify the dance floors.
Cerrone has been a musical icon beyond Disco for 5 decades. He keeps inspiring the greatest names of electronic music and improving his way of playing & creating music. With “Disco Symphony” Cerrone revisits in a symphonic way 21 of his greatest hits performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Cannes (+50 musicians) directed by the legendary Randy Kerber , also featuring Cerrone himself on the drums & an additional bass-guitars-keyboards band playing with the orchestra. Merging the power of electronic music , the groove of Disco and the lyrism and unique touch of a symphony orchestra , in respect of the club Culture Cerrone was born in and with . This performance recorded live will be played in Paris at La Philharmonie de Paris on February 21st 2025, day of release.
Rocksteady Disco welcomes Dennis Liber & Lex for a standout debut here. Their four-tracker captures the magic of musical nights spent down in Mexican hotspot Tulum with organic and airy grooves aplenty. 'Una Sera D'Estate' (feat Max Giovara) exodus late-night warmth and loved-up vibes with its melodic bassline and disco-tinged house drums. 'End Of The Line' is more lively but is no less direct with its big drums and pointed bass phrasings. Liber then goes solo for the dreamy, Italo-tinged yet tropical 'Playa Eden' and wonderfully escapist closer 'Hidden Island' complete with Balearic beats and the sound of singing dolphins.
he initial seed for this project was planted in 2020 when Nicolás Jaar wrote the song “Piedras” for a concert at the Museum of Memory & Human Rights in Santiago, Chile, which commemorates the victims of human rights violations during the military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990. Between 2022-2023 it took on a new form as a radio play entitled 'Archivos de Radio Piedras', which was shared on a dedicated Telegram channel. In 2024, the play was converted into a 24 channel installation at the University Museum of Mexico City (MUAC), where it was exhibited for 5 months.
Piedras 1 and 2 is a collection of the tracks featured within the play, all new music by Jaar, but partly presented within the play as the music of Salinas Hasbún (the name a composite homage to Jaar's grandmothers, Graciela Salinas and Miriam Hasbún).
The play follows two friends mourning the disappearance of Salinas Hasbún, a musician and writer who vanished in the early 2020s. Although they live in a future where technology is advanced, they
resort to DIY radio methods because the anonymous group “Las 0cho” has launched a worldwide attack on undersea internet cables, causing a global internet blackout.
The play's central theme revolves around the idea that truths, memories and identities speak from the cracks (“rasgaduras”), or the "in-between" spaces ("en el entre"). This concept is supported by the
way much of the narration unfolds - in the liminal spaces between radio frequencies. The instability and transitory nature of a constantly shifting radio dial becomes not just a metaphor but the structure of the play itself. It’s in these moments of noise, static and interference that the deeper revelations of the story emerge. This disjointed, ever-changing medium mirrors the way memory and trauma operate within the play - non-linear, slipping through the gaps, found in fragments or ordinary moments, rather than direct transmissions of “official” historical accounts.
This notion reaches its climax at the end of the narrative, when a text is discovered in which Salinas speaks of finding a new number in a small pond in a cave mentioned in the first episodes of the radio play. This pond, inside the “cochlea of the world”, is seen as a way to introduce real-life randomness to computation. Embodied in the salt lakes of northern Chile, home to the world’s oldest bacteria, this randomness disrupts the rigid order of binary code, paving the way for a transformation of digital life.
First solo release by Nicolás Jaar since 2020’s Telas and Cenizas.
Compilation selected from the etiopiques CD series.
"A few years ago the world discovered a unique sound coming from the distant Ethiopian capital Addis Abeba. The emotional blow was only matched by the brightness of this original and magnificent discovery. The Ethiopiques series directed by Francis Falcetto and edited by Buda Musique provides a comprehensive landscape of this subtle musical universe where local and western cultures do magnify each other. This new Ethiopian Urban Modern Music release follows the first Soul & Groove installment and keeps revealing some essential parts of the modern Ethiopian puzzle. An unequalled soul funk signature until today."
Dennis Anthony Thomas, better known as King Kong, is a renowned Jamaican singer known for tracks such as "Trouble Again" and "Legal We Legal". "Song of Love" is an iconic obscure track from King Kong's discography, released under Pisces Productions. This track is one of the era's most cherished anti-apartheid anthems, embodying the spirit of resistance and solidarity.
The lyrics of "Song of Love" capture the urgency and emotional depth of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. The song references then-President P.W. Botha, expressing a direct appeal for human rights and unity among South Africans. Through themes of harmony and love, King Kong emphasizes the resilience of people and the beauty of cultural solidarity.
In reggae's tradition of addressing political struggles, "Song of Love" resonates as an artistic and symbolic statement against apartheid.
The song captures the shared aspirations for peace and freedom, representing how the South African struggle echoed worldwide — including in Jamaica, where reggae artists like King Kong amplified these calls through music.
“Song of Love” is more than just a song; it’s a historical message and testament to reggae’s role in the global fight for human rights. King Kong’s “Song of Love” epitomizes a generation of reggae artists who leveraged music to advocate for justice, spreading messages of hope, resilience, and change that resonate to this day.
Originally released in 1989 Produced and Arranger by: R. (Briggs) Fergusen, S. Small, Y. (Polly) Linton Sleeve artwork by Parade Studio
Label artwork by Florian Weigel
Licensed courtesy of Dennis Anthony Thomas aka King Kong
DJ Support: Dave Lee, Dimitri From Paris, The Shapeshifters, Tedd Patterson, Jimpster Kevin Yost, Hector Romero, CJ Mckintosh, Moodena, Marina Trench and more...
Italian Disco Veteran DJ Corrado Alunni provides an incredible Quality EP of Four Tracks. A superb blend Of Jazz Funk on 4/4 Beats; Horns, hammond organ and rhodes are the main ingredients of this beautiful 4-track Vinyl. A Must Have.
Always endeavoring to drop it a little way different, Ital Counselor Records once again stretch things in a forward direction while paying full and forceful tribute to that which has come before. This heartical 7" is a tribute to the late great Prince Lincoln Thompson in the form of a reimagined take on his composition "Kinky Money Game."
It is with great honor that ITAL COUNSELOR records has been able to work with two legends of the music business on this slab of plastic. Firstly, Jeb Loy Nichols comes with a storied history in music and the visual arts. He first came to ITAL COUNSELOR’s attention upon discovering the 1981 compilation, “Wild Paarty Sounds” via Cherry Red/On-U Sound. Later would be greater, with projects skirting the realms of country, soul, reggae, and leftfield. Bands like the Fellow Travelers, solo albums with Adrian Sherwood, and more recently writing songs for Horace Andy’s latest On-U album have all contributed to an impressive body of work.
Over the years when Jeb is not making music, he can be found writing books or churning out block prints of birds, leaves, pithy phrases, and the odd sleeve art for labels like Pressure Sounds, and, yes ITAL COUNSELOR. His sleeve work on this 7” indeed captures the essence of the music hiding under the cardboard exterior. Lo-fi, retro while poignantly on time. Social commentary manifested auditorily and visually.
Jeb’s reinterpretation of Thompson's original bubbles over a slow burning one drop built by none other than Studio One, Riz Records, and Tuff Scout Records alum Gil Cang. In yet another musical first brought to you by ITAL COUNSELOR, this piece of wax represents the only time Jeb and Gil have worked together. The results are a magical mix equally at home in the hands of a sound system operator unconstrained by the current ‘steppers’ norms as it is on a home stereo where one can deeply sit with the lyrics of depth and significance. An old time something feel for these nowadays times. An ITAL COUNSELOR Records essential.