Mexican producer/musician MONSIEUR VAN PRATT returns to our TSTD shores with his second two track Edit trip into the world of Mexican obscure, super rare Coverversions.
His first 7 Inch (with an amazing Edit of a Cover of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love") has been the most repressed and highest selling Issue in our long ongoing TSTD EDIT Vinyl series.
For the upcoming 7 inch he delivers two brandnew fun reworks:
Side A is a slow disco edit of a super rare Mexican late 70s cover version of Bill Withers' classic love song "Just The Two Of Us".
Side B is a midtempo Rework of a Mexican cover of "Upside Down" by Diana Ross w/ Nile Rogers
An acclaimed international cast of forward-looking artists – Jan Jelinek, KMRU, Lia Kohl, J. Albert, Laurie Torres, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Giuseppe Lelasi, Jung DJ and Smoke Point – remixes/remodels tracks from Arp’s transfixing late 2025 album Drifts for Barcelona-imprint Modern Obscure Music (Actress/ Sakamoto, Merzbow). Reflecting Arp’s stylistically-omnivorous approach, each remixer on Echo–Variations represents a unique corner of the music landscape, from the jazzy ambient glitch of storied German producer Jan Jelinek to the overdrivendrone landscapes of Kenyan ambient auteur KMRU to Smoke Point’s no frills club-tool to the haunted ambience of cellist Lia Kohl’s gorgeous electro-acoustic work. One can hear elements of hauntology, post-rock, minimal techno, glitch, spiritual jazz at play. Arp adds a few alternate mixes and two new tracks for good measure, ambient techno floater “Chlorophyll (1998 Mix)” and perhaps the most surprising of all, the dub techno heater “MMXXVI (Dub Mix).” Heart all together, its classic sounding heart RIYL Touch, Millie Plateaux: Creative,meditative, brain cleansing, thought provoking hauntological futurism.
Released in 2018 this extremely limited four track 7" EP is the only physical release by the Indonesian producer and local harsh experimental music pioneer Tembok Kamar Dinding Sekolah who unfortunately passed away only a few weeks prior to his actual vinyl debut on the underground imprint that is Flop Beat Disk.
Therefore this posthumous and highly limited to 120 copies pressing remains the only glimpse into his sonic world, seemingly formed and developed in a place rather isolated from the rest of the electronic music scene, a four track release spanning an arc from haunted Unformatted Techno to Rhythm Industrial x TechnoJazz amalgamations as well as bass heavy Broken Techno fusion and ethereal, hyperdecaying IDM x Glitch realms. This is for the most adventurous and headstrong amongst the DJs only.
Never officially distributed before this is the first time ever this unrecognized gem is available to a wider audience, albeit in highly limited quantities.
****COVER WITH AUGMENTED REALITY**** Argentinian producer Translate synthesises states of consciousness and perceptions into his semantics of sound, creating a distinct language of mental techno through hypnotic repetition, precision and deeply immersive atmospheres. His presence in this realm extends through his label Relativity, whose latest EP brings together tracks by Mike Parker and Oscar Mulero, while his own productions have appeared on Svreca’s Semantica Records. For his DIG release, Translate shifts into a broader spectrum, revealing a side of his production that has remained unexplored until now. DIG Curated captures this moment of a new sonic expansion between his signature hypnotic journeys and a stripped-down techno sound. Expansive opens the record with Translate’s distinct mental techno, pushed into an added psychedelic dimension. With a vast and trippy sound, the track steadily fills the space, inviting the dancers to go inward and simultaneously reach out into a collective morphic field. With Discursive, the coordinates shift, introducing a very stripped-down techno side of Translate’s production and a palette rarely heard from him before. Reduced to its essential elements, the track cuts directly through the floor with a functional groove, whilst retaining the tension embedded in his sonic DNA. On the B side, Fuse accelerates with fast-moving pads, mechanical drums and swerving loops that gradually lock the body into trance. Quirky textures spiral throughout, with robotic glitches sounding like organic beings. Coefficients closes the record by pulling the listener into rich bass and expanding loops over a cold melody that guides the final journey into a cosmic unfold. Hypnotic sci-fi vocals emerge from an interplanetary future, traversing space in search of earthly traces. The record ends suspended somewhere between the transmission and unknown, like a sonic threshold. Words by Lora Mateeva Animation/Artwork - Marcin Pospiech Master - Nihad Tule Graphist - Ferdinand Prat
With the stunning Planes In Reverse, Sascha Funke, the Berlin-born producer and DJ, and long-time member of the Kompakt family, releases his first album in almost a decade, since 2017’s Lotos Land. It’s a welcome return for one of the most eloquent and elegant producers in electronic and dance music, someone who’s always been able to say more with less, and the ten tracks here, moving effortlessly between techno, house, minimalism, disco house, and home listening tunes, are all gorgeously sculpted miniatures. With guest appearances from partner Julienne Dessagne (Fantastic Twins), with whom Funke has also worked in Saschienne, there’s something homely and family about it, too; a family of sounds, a home of tone. There’s also something consummate about Planes In Reverse, as though Sascha Funke has perfected the album format. There’s no flab here, no excess – it plays out like a perfectly designed experience, ten tracks, coming in under fifty minutes, an album where every moment matters.
It’s full of variety, but everything has the unmistakable Funke thumbprint, one that was developed during the late ‘90s / early ‘00s minimal techno and microhouse moment, but which was always open to other ideas and other sounds, too. Planes In Reverse came together quickly for Funke: “Last winter, I had two or three new tracks, which gave me a core feeling: ‘Ah, this could be the direction of something like an album.’ Sometimes it can be very easy that you wrap it up and then it becomes something coherent and solid. This happened within two or three months; it was very fast and direct.” Everything fell into place – the ten tracks revealed themselves, the album sat together as a whole, and the final piece of the puzzle was returning home again to Kompakt, who have supported Sascha Funke from the very start, releasing his first single, “Campus”, back in 1999.
Planes In Reverse opens stealthily with “What You See”, where rhythms percolate and bass prowls while gaseous textures fill the sonic spectrum. It’s also the first appearance of Fantastic Twins on the album; here, she speaks a hypnotic mantra, a prelude to the title track, where Dessagne has a pure pop moment, her voice ecstatic and vibrant. Indeed, Planes In Reverse plays out like thesis and antithesis ending in synthesis, the tracks nestling next to each other even as they shuttle between sounds, genres, perspectives. There are some beautiful moments dropped throughout Planes In Reverse – the heavenly textures that make the title track feel so cloud-bound; the glassy and orbital tones that drop from the skies through the disco house inspired “Karat”; the clamour and clatter of hyper-edited voices shuffling through “Splitter”; or the field recordings of Sascha’s son football training session that drop “Zockers” into a different place and space, slowly giving way to a beautifully paced electro-pop mantra. “In Germany,when the kids play a computer game, or when they play football, we describe it as zocken. They’re the players, they’re the Zockers.“ Funke explains.
Planes In Reverse winds down with the beautiful “Kruso”, where ticklish, loving arpeggios careen around the room, and drift-work chords shimmer and shuttle between your ears. It’s a perfect comedown to an album that feels breathes in and out at an organic pace, nothing above 130 BPM, everything sitting together just so. Indeed, that’s the feeling you take away from Planes In Reverse; it sums up the spirit of Sascha Funke productions perfectly, while also existing beautifully as its own world dreamt unto itself. It’s Sascha Funke down to the very essence. Nothing unnecessary, nothing extraneous: Pure Funke.
A hot slice of Latin dance music — produced by the legendary Masters at Work, the house icons and masters of that Nuyorican sound, “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” González — from Los Amigos Invisibles, the Venezuelan band who have spent decades perfecting the art of getting away with everything.
Packed with raunchy songs (of course) that fuse every American genre under the sun — from salsa to acid jazz to disco to funk — this record tore up dance floors twenty years ago.
Around The Sun is a 23-track anniversary compilation marking ten years of Batov Records, featuring artists including Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra, Sababa 5, Satellites, Boom Pam, MOMO. and Mamman Sani. The collection reflects the label's catalogue across Ethio-jazz, Anatolian psych, Mediterranean disco, contemporary jazz, instrumental music and other globally influenced styles. The release includes two Batov edits, several tracks appearing on vinyl for the first time.
We are finally ready to unveil one of the most exciting projects we have worked on in our label's history: a new release by legendary disco project Hudson People, best remembered for their essential classic "Trip to Your Mind" - which just received its anniversary issue on our label!
Now it's time for "Hold On" - a brand-new single featuring several mixes based on an original recording from the late 1980s, with the completely unheard yet incredibly soulful voice of singer Rickey Owens, whom composer and producer Reginald Hudson worked with at the time.
When we first got in touch with Reg Hudson several years ago, we were originally interested in releasing his "Shake It - Make It Loose" album, which he recorded with John Davis (later known as one of the real voices behind Milli Vanilli). While talking about John Davis (RIP) and other great GI singers such as Karl Keaton, Reginald Hudson immediately mentioned Rickey Owens as one of the best singers he had ever worked with.
Of course, we had never heard of him, as none of his music had ever been released. But when Hudson showed us some old demos and sent us the original DAT recordings, we were immediately hooked.
"Hold On" was recorded in or around 1988 with a simple drum machine and keyboard accompaniment - essentially a demo intended to be recorded properly in a better studio. But the vocal performance was simply stunning, complete with beautifully recorded ad-libs. Owens had a truly remarkable, clear voice with an incredible amount of soul. Luckily, Hudson had his old DAT tapes digitized several years ago, so the acapella recordings survived in excellent shape.
We immediately reached out to several producers to create reworks of the track. The 12" EP compiles some of the most club-friendly of these new mixes - but there is more to come…
First up is Thomas Redfern, a senior producer, professional studio musician and keyboardist from London, UK. His version is a catchy, funky yet deep House track that could easily become a favourite on dancefloors around the globe. Redfern also blessed us with a dub mix that takes things even deeper.
But it gets even catchier on side B of the vinyl. Tom Quick sped up the tempo, added filters and delivered a rework that could make fans of Chromeo, Daft Punk, Stardust and any late-'90s French House afficionado go completely nuts. Yes, we mean it! With a fresh twist on the original, the track has a massive club appeal that we hope both DJs and dancers will dig.
The vinyl single is completed by a mix from German legend DJ Friction, whose version is based on synth layers from the Tom Quick mix. Friction added new drums and bass, giving the track the distinctive modern electro boogie funk vibe he is known for. His mix brings to mind classics such as Shannon's "Let the Music Play" and works of Freestyle's Tony Butler.
The vinyl 12" with 4 mixes is released on The Outer Edge's brand-new sublabel, 1st Floor Records, which focuses on more dancefloor-oriented material. More mixes are available digitally and should not be missed.
PR Feedback:
„Killer“ – Gilles Peterson
„Disco, deep house and boogie all in there! Superb!“ – Groove City Radio
„Dope!!“ – DJ Craze
„The boogie mixes are so good!“ – Selvagem
„Awesome and Huge Package“ - Leon El Ray
„Wow, Trip to Your Mind is so good and this is a real grower“ - Ibiza Sonica
„Really liking the Balearic & Redfern Mix, thanks!“ – Mystic Bill
„Both Thomas Redfern mixes are ace!“ – Deeper Shades of House
Immersive, roots-infused dub-reggae power from Jamaica meets heavyweight instrumentation from Denmark on a landmark collaborative album out now via Recall Reality.
Rooted in the rich traditions of classic Jamaican sound yet pulsing with a hypnotic, contemporary organic weight, Signs of the Time brings together the evocative vocal artistry of rising roots talent Azizzi Romeo and the master craftsmanship of Denmark's formidable instrumental 11 piece band Guiding Star Orchestra. Built for sound systems and vinyl purists alike, featuring lush tape saturation, spring reverbs, and spacious dub mixes.
Released on Recall Reality, the album is a masterclass in modern roots reggae and deep dub dynamics. Rather than relying on rigid digital presets, Signs of the Time champions warm analogue textures, sprawling horn arrangements, and rolling basslines that echo the golden age of Studio One, Joe Gibbs, Bunny Lee and Channel One while carving out an entirely fresh, meditative space for the listener.
Azizzi Romeo carries forward a legendary musical lineage as the son of the late roots icon Max Romeo, bringing a captivating blend of spiritual urgency, conscious lyricism, and soulful conviction to the microphone. His delivery cuts straight through the mix, offering profound reflections on modern society, unity, and resilience in a changing world.
Backing him are the Guiding Star Orchestra, renowned for their authentic analog production ethos, deep-crate sensibilities, and musicianship that treats the mixing board as an instrument in its own right. The result is a seamless symbiotic project where every bubbling organ skank, hypnotic drum drop, and reverberating tape delay serves the song's core message.
To bring the record home, producer CHLLNGR spent a week in the spring working alongside UK dub maestro in his London studio - Prince Fatty, who mixed the entire album. Fatty invited legendary drummer Winston "Horseman” Williams into the sessions, and Horseman percussion added the final glue to the record.
Track highlights:
"Signs of the Time": Azizzi is joined by his late father, the legendary Max Romeo, on a prophetic warning of what awaits the world if we don't soon unite in peace and love.
"Thanks and Praises": An anthem of gratitude for everything life brings, and of rising up even when others want to see us fail.
"Jah Jah Disciples": A meditation on following Jah, and the strength that faith gives in the midst of adversity.
Signs of the Time is available now on Vinyl LP and Digital streaming platforms via Recall Reality.
Kampana brings to you two more reworks from Aroop Roy's legendary DJ Weapons series, on 7" for the first time. 'Visions' gives a disco lift to an obscure, but anthemic soul cut , with stunning vocals and classic sound.
'High Riding' is a funky rework that chops and splices the original sample into an infectious jazzy disco groove, building into an epic climax.
Mit Spirales präsentiert Dominique A ein neues Album, das zu den kraftvollsten und unmittelbarsten Werken seines jüngeren Schaffens zählt. Begleitet von seinen langjährigen Weggefährten Julien Noel (Keyboards), Sebastien Boisseau (Kontrabass) und Etienne Bonhomme (Schlagzeug) kehrt der französische Singer-Songwriter zu einem raueren, gitarrenbetonten Klangbild zurück. Die 16 neuen Songs bewegen sich zwischen persönlicher Reflexion und aufmerksamer Beobachtung gesellschaftlicher Entwicklungen und zeigen einmal mehr die besondere Fähigkeit des Künstlers, poetische Tiefe mit musikalischer Direktheit zu verbinden. Als einer der prägenden Vertreter des modernen französischen Chansons hat Dominique A über Jahrzehnte hinweg Generationen von Musikerinnen und Musikern beeinflusst. Spirales unterstreicht eindrucksvoll seine anhaltende künstlerische Relevanz und seine besondere Stellung innerhalb der französischsprachigen Musiklandschaft.
Skilled guitar dances over the ultimate groove by Marcus Miller and Omar Hakim.
This important Japanese fusion album was recorded by guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, who was extremely busy at the time as a first-call musician, together with Marcus Miller, Omar Hakim, and Warren Bernhardt, who were in Japan for Kazumi Watanabe’s "TO CHI KA" tour. The lively playing of Marcus Miller, then 21 years old and just before being discovered by Miles Davis, is a must-hear.
California-based couple Allie Schulz and Alex Pasternak are Florecer, a producer and vocalist combo who draw on the energy that having their daughters gave them. 'Babies' and 'energy giving' are not often heard in the same sentence together, given the demands newly born small people often have on parents' time and sleep, but judging by these sounds, this pair have been fully inspired. The title cut is tropical and dub and kosmiche all collide into an undulating rhythm that's bright and demanding of your attention. Coyote dubs it into a more smooth affair and then 'What I Knew' rides world dub with steel drums. 'Running Behind' slows to a deep, soft plod with whimsical vocals this time, and Chris Coco turns up the reverb for a lovely, sleepy dub of his own.
Ariadne's Labyrinth returns with Endless Corners on Adepta Editions. Classically trained yet shaped by London's illegal rave scene, her distinct sonic language is born from live improvisation. Following acclaimed releases on Detroit Underground and Touched Music, this EP seamlessly intertwines the dense, physical pulse of underground club culture with breathtakingly beautiful string arrangements. It is a visceral journey, bridging heavy dancefloor tension with vulnerable, chamber-esque introspection.
Berlin-based producer and live act Volkan Akin lands on Secret Society with a brace of finely tuned minimal house sounds for the small hours. 'Famosus' is stripped back but not lacking in clout: the drums and bass are tightly coiled while the hits pop out of the mix as a soft acid line wiggles endlessly in the middle of the mix. Franco Cinelli remixes with a bolder sense of swing and trippy vocals that are like voices in your head. '2SHY4' is the other original and is dry, dusty tech house with jazzy chords softening the edges and bringing some warmth, then Thomas Melchior remixes with his masterful touch and distils everything into deft, hypnotic grooves.
Limen brings together two artists whose musical paths converge around a shared sensitivity to listening, resonance, and the evocative power of sound.
Recorded at Ritmo e Blu Studio during a five-day residency between spring and summer 2025, the album emerged from a series of spontaneous encounters free from predetermined structures. The pieces preserve their original form, retaining the immediacy and temporal flow of the dialogues as they first unfolded.
Subsequent interventions were conceived not as revisions, but as an exploration of the open spaces already present within the recordings—deepening what remained unspoken and extending resonances without altering the music's natural evolution.
The title, derived from the Latin word for “threshold,” reflects the nature of the project itself: a place of passage between improvisation and composition, silence and vibration, memory and imagination. Limen inhabits a suspended territory where listening becomes an experience of openness, presence, and transformation.
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Lino Capra Vaccina
Lino Capra Vaccina is one of the most distinctive voices in Italian experimental music. A percussionist, composer, and pioneer of minimalist and meditative sound practices, he first emerged in the early 1970s as a founding member of the influential group Aktuala, whose visionary fusion of ancient traditions, improvisation, and contemporary research anticipated what would later become known as world music.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Vaccina has cultivated a unique artistic language centred on vibration, resonance, and the transformative power of sound. His landmark 1978 album Antico Adagio remains a touchstone of European minimalism, while his collaborations have included figures such as Franco Battiato, Juri Camisasca, Markus Stockhausen, Keith Tippett, Paolo Tofani, and many others.
Whether working with percussion, piano, electronics, or voice, Vaccina's music seeks a state of suspension and contemplation. His compositions unfold as immersive sonic environments whereancient echoes and contemporary sensibilities meet, inviting listeners into an experience that is at once intimate, spiritual, and timeless.
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Luca Formentini
Luca Formentini is an Italian composer, sound artist, and improviser whose work unfolds at the intersection of experimentation, atmosphere, and deep listening. Active since the late 1990s, he has developed a highly personal language in which guitar, voice, field recordings, and electroacoustic processes become tools for exploring memory, perception, and the expressive potential of sound itself.
His music resists easy categorization, moving freely between ambient, contemporary composition, improvisation, and sound art. Throughout his career he has released numerous solo works and collaborated with a wide range of internationally acclaimed musicians, including Holger Czukay, Robert Rich, Markus Stockhausen, Steve Jansen, Theo Travis and Steve Lawson.His recordings have appeared on labels across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States.
Rooted in a practice of attentive listening and sonic exploration, Formentini creates evocative musical landscapes that invite reflection rather than certainty, opening spaces where silence, texture, and resonance become as meaningful as melody itself.
Experiments and profound sounds accompany IAL's sixth release, proudly featuring MOD21 & Toki Fuko. The two have collaborated to present an EP brimming with analog sounds, a dedication to sound, and musical design, taking listeners on a truly immersive journey. Following the label's limited-release policy, this EP is a must-have for your collection, as it's an unmissable discovery of their signature sound, perfectly suited to any musical context.
Armada Music and PDD proudly continue the brand-new A State Of Trance Classic Series, celebrating some of the most legendary and influential records in trance history. Following the success of Volume 1, Volume 2 once again dives into the archives to bring three essential trance classics back to life on fresh vinyl.
Kicking things off on Volume 2 is “Chicane feat. Moya Brennan - Saltwater”, a true trance classic that showcases the sound and energy that helped define the genre during its golden era. Originally released in 1999 on Xtravaganza Recordings, the track quickly became a favourite among DJs and trance fans, and now returns to wax as part of this essential new series.
On the flip is “Veracocha - Carte Blanche (Extended Mix)”, another highly regarded classic from the A State Of Trance catalogue. Originally released in 1999, the track has stood the test of time and remains a firm favourite with trance DJs and collectors, making its return to vinyl a welcome addition to the series.
Last but not least is “Insigma - Open Our Eyes (Original Mix)”, completing another carefully selected trio of timeless trance records. Originally released in 2000 on A Trance Communication Release, this classic perfectly captures the euphoric, driving sound that made the era so influential and continues to resonate with trance fans today.
Volume 2 continues the series in style, bringing together three essential trance classics on one piece of wax and making this a must-have for both long-time A State Of Trance fans and a new generation discovering these timeless anthems.
Twenty-five years after its original release, Markus Guentner's debut album In Moll returns in a special anniversary reissue on Black Knoll Editions, reaffirming its place as one of the defining ambient recordings of the early 21st century.
Released in 2001 during the formative years of Kompakt's influential Pop Ambient series, In Moll emerged from a period of rapid transformation in electronic music. New technologies, expanding digital networks, and shifting creative possibilities allowed artists to imagine entirely new sonic worlds. Amid this fertile landscape, Guentner's music stood apart. Combining delicate melodic fragments, slow-moving harmonies, and a remarkable sense of spatial depth, In Moll introduced a distinct artistic voice whose impact can still be felt a quarter-century later.
The album arrived shortly after Guentner's contributions to the inaugural Pop Ambient compilation, including the now-beloved "Regensburg 1," named after his Bavarian hometown. Those early recordings immediately captured the attention of Kompakt founders Michael Mayer and Wolfgang Voigt. Recalling his first encounter with the music, Mayer describes listening to a demo CDR with Voigt while wandering through Cologne late into the night, replaying the tracks for hours. "We knew that we had found something outrageously beautiful and we wanted the whole world to listen."
Across its running time, In Moll unfolds like a series of dreamlike landscapes, inviting the listener into a world that feels both familiar and strangely other. Bells, hisses, distant textures, and slow-moving bass tones drift through vast expanses of atmosphere while luminous synthesizer washes seem to blur the horizon in a fine digital mist. The album's transportive qualities are matched by a remarkable sense of compositional discipline. Every gesture feels deliberate, every texture carefully placed. Balancing warmth and melancholy with restraint, Guentner created a body of work that rewards both close listening and complete surrender.
Reflecting on the album twenty-five years later, Wolfgang Voigt describes Guentner as "one of the first, but also one of the most important ambient artists" associated with Kompakt, calling his music "an integral, timeless part of the long history of pop ambient." Music critic and former Pitchfork Editor-in-Chief Mark Richardson, who reviewed In Moll upon its original release, similarly noted that the album "marked the arrival of an important new voice," and today regards it as "one of the finest ambient releases of the decade."
The album's influence continues to extend far beyond its original audience. For many listeners, In Moll served as an entry point into a new understanding of what ambient music could be. Black Knoll boss Rafael Anton Irisarri first encountered the album shortly after its release in 2001. "It immediately opened a door to a world of music I didn't know existed," he recalls. "At a time when I was still discovering my own creative voice, Markus showed me entirely new possibilities for what electronic music could communicate." Simply put, "The Sight Below would not have existed without In Moll paving the way."
Far from a historical curiosity, In Moll continues to feel strikingly contemporary. What once sounded futuristic now feels timeless, its patient pacing, attention to detail, and sense of wonder remaining entirely intact. The album's enduring power lies not only in its influence, but in the curiosity it continues to inspire, inviting listeners to step inside its world and lose themselves within it.
To mark its twenty-fifth anniversary, Black Knoll Editions presents the most complete edition of In Moll to date. Newly remastered in full analog by Rafael Anton Irisarri, this expanded release pairs the original album with a newly reworked interpretation by Markus Guentner himself, revisiting the material through the lens of twenty-five years of artistic development. The anniversary edition also features a new visual presentation designed by Guentner, offering a visual counterpart to the album's continued evolution. Together, these recordings and visuals celebrate both the enduring legacy of In Moll and its ability to reveal new dimensions twenty-five years later.
This 25th Anniversary Edition on Black Knoll Editions celebrates a recording whose quiet impact has only grown with time, preserving a work that remains as evocative, singular, and essential today as it was in 2001.
Twenty-five years after its original release, Markus Guentner's debut album In Moll returns in a special anniversary reissue on Black Knoll Editions, reaffirming its place as one of the defining ambient recordings of the early 21st century.
Released in 2001 during the formative years of Kompakt's influential Pop Ambient series, In Moll emerged from a period of rapid transformation in electronic music. New technologies, expanding digital networks, and shifting creative possibilities allowed artists to imagine entirely new sonic worlds. Amid this fertile landscape, Guentner's music stood apart. Combining delicate melodic fragments, slow-moving harmonies, and a remarkable sense of spatial depth, In Moll introduced a distinct artistic voice whose impact can still be felt a quarter-century later.
The album arrived shortly after Guentner's contributions to the inaugural Pop Ambient compilation, including the now-beloved "Regensburg 1," named after his Bavarian hometown. Those early recordings immediately captured the attention of Kompakt founders Michael Mayer and Wolfgang Voigt. Recalling his first encounter with the music, Mayer describes listening to a demo CDR with Voigt while wandering through Cologne late into the night, replaying the tracks for hours. "We knew that we had found something outrageously beautiful and we wanted the whole world to listen."
Across its running time, In Moll unfolds like a series of dreamlike landscapes, inviting the listener into a world that feels both familiar and strangely other. Bells, hisses, distant textures, and slow-moving bass tones drift through vast expanses of atmosphere while luminous synthesizer washes seem to blur the horizon in a fine digital mist. The album's transportive qualities are matched by a remarkable sense of compositional discipline. Every gesture feels deliberate, every texture carefully placed. Balancing warmth and melancholy with restraint, Guentner created a body of work that rewards both close listening and complete surrender.
Reflecting on the album twenty-five years later, Wolfgang Voigt describes Guentner as "one of the first, but also one of the most important ambient artists" associated with Kompakt, calling his music "an integral, timeless part of the long history of pop ambient." Music critic and former Pitchfork Editor-in-Chief Mark Richardson, who reviewed In Moll upon its original release, similarly noted that the album "marked the arrival of an important new voice," and today regards it as "one of the finest ambient releases of the decade."
The album's influence continues to extend far beyond its original audience. For many listeners, In Moll served as an entry point into a new understanding of what ambient music could be. Black Knoll boss Rafael Anton Irisarri first encountered the album shortly after its release in 2001. "It immediately opened a door to a world of music I didn't know existed," he recalls. "At a time when I was still discovering my own creative voice, Markus showed me entirely new possibilities for what electronic music could communicate." Simply put, "The Sight Below would not have existed without In Moll paving the way."
Far from a historical curiosity, In Moll continues to feel strikingly contemporary. What once sounded futuristic now feels timeless, its patient pacing, attention to detail, and sense of wonder remaining entirely intact. The album's enduring power lies not only in its influence, but in the curiosity it continues to inspire, inviting listeners to step inside its world and lose themselves within it.
To mark its twenty-fifth anniversary, Black Knoll Editions presents the most complete edition of In Moll to date. Newly remastered in full analog by Rafael Anton Irisarri, this expanded release pairs the original album with a newly reworked interpretation by Markus Guentner himself, revisiting the material through the lens of twenty-five years of artistic development. The anniversary edition also features a new visual presentation designed by Guentner, offering a visual counterpart to the album's continued evolution. Together, these recordings and visuals celebrate both the enduring legacy of In Moll and its ability to reveal new dimensions twenty-five years later.
This 25th Anniversary Edition on Black Knoll Editions celebrates a recording whose quiet impact has only grown with time, preserving a work that remains as evocative, singular, and essential today as it was in 2001.
Faitiche presents the debut solo album by cellist, sound artist, and composer Topu Lyo: “quiet scenes from tokyo” brings together sixteen miniatures for solo cello and tape echo that oscillate between abstracts drones and rhythmic pizzicato sketches – all recorded at Topu’s Tokyo apartment. The constant traffic noise from a nearby highway has become an accompanying soundtrack for his compositions and can be heard on the recordings. Topu’s playing is marked by a distinctive idiom oriented more towards abstract electronic studio effects than classical technique.
The artist spoke to Jan Jelinek about his work:
JJ: A solo cello album may seem like an odd fit for a label that has to date released only music that is electronic in the broadest sense. But I think “quiet scenes from tokyo” complements the Faitiche repertoire exceptionally well. Its sixteen miniatures showcase the cello in all its complexity: the bowed passages sometimes recall a tape feedback drone; the pizzicato playing conjures up the percussion recordings of Moondog; and the abstract textures might be mistaken for the product of a granular sampler rather than rapid finger work on the cello. I’m constantly surprised by just how rich and varied this album is – without ever losing the charm of its sketch-like quality. Could you say a few words about the making of your album – first of all, from a rather technical perspective: what production tools did you use, and why?
TL: My production tools were very sparse. Just a solo cello and my Roland 301 Space Echo, which I only used at the end, running everything through it during mixing, tape only. After years of working with electronics, pedals, and synthesizers, moving to Tokyo pushed me toward minimizing my setup. But my aesthetics shifted too, toward simplicity. I wanted to strip everything back to just the acoustic cello and see how far I could push it — replicating some of my favorite electronic effects through extended technique: slow portamento, LFOs, filters, detune, noise. I’d also been listening to a cassette of ocean sounds for years. When I moved to Tokyo I was horrified to find myself living directly across from a freeway. Eventually the freeway started sounding almost identical to the ocean — and that ended up playing a prominent part in the recording.
JJ: That’s super interesting: mimicking electronic production as a compositional idea for the cello! You say the sound of the freeway is crucial to the album: I, too, tend to interpret steady traffic noise as a positive soundscape – do we hear the freeway on the album? I can also hear other field recordings, for example on “a street car with announcements”. Can you say a bit about how these field recordings influence your playing?
TL: Yes, you can hear the freeway on the album! The freeway is most prominent in “old trees in lonely spring”, “yuyake koyake”, and “the moon” (you can clearly hear individual cars). When I first began recording I had my balcony door shut tightly, but after a while I began leaning into the highway sound and slowly opening the door little by little to control the amount of noise. “streetcar with announcements” was a moment I was recording and a car passed by making announcements in the background. I loved how it sounded! Same thing with “yuyake koyake”, and later I realized that every day at 5pm the same song plays to mark sunset, telling children it’s time to go home. Having this bedrock of sound puts less pressure on me to put music on top or to play more notes.
JJ: It’s astonishing how much this differs from what I’d imagined: I’d been picturing peaceful landscape recordings, but had never thought of a freeway. Which goes to show how open to interpretation traffic noises are. So the room by the freeway had a major influence on the album – how are you going to perform it live?
TL: The contrast between the freeway and the beautiful landscape in my head couldn’t have been starker. I too was imagining a beautiful landscape in which to create the album, but somehow it still worked out. I've been going back and forth a lot on live shows and I think the most honest way is to have it the most stripped down. I was thinking of using traffic samples etc., but I think the duet really comes from the background sounds from every unique venue/environment. So as it stands, I’ll just be doing acoustic solo cello.
Private Mexican lounge that still burns long after the cruise ship disembarks. Armed with a single nylon string guitar , a toy chest of rudimentary percussion, and the emotional microtones of the Spanish tongue, Alejandro Bravo’s lone LP blends bossanova, samba, and the Brill Building into a horny margarita for the tourist class. Recorded at home in Acapulco in 1971, Bravo’s self-released LP slaps and thrills with its taps and trills. Pair with a pregnancy test for best results.
A landmark of 1970s Turkish psychedelic funk, Zafer Dilek’s Oyun Havaları returns to vinyl 50 years after its original 1976 release on the legendary Yonca Müzik label.
One of the defining figures of the 1970s Turkish studio scene, Zafer Dilek transformed Anatolian melodies through his distinctive microtonal electric guitar and groove-driven arrangements. Across twelve instrumental reinterpretations of regional Turkish melodies, psychedelic guitar, bağlama, heavy bass and tightly locked percussion meet in a sound deeply connected to the golden age of Yeşilçam cinema and embedded in Turkish collective memory.
The album’s influence reaches directly into today’s global Anatolian psychedelic movement: Altın Gün later reinterpreted two tracks from the record, while Khruangbin championed the cult dance-floor cut “Yekte.”
Long sought after by collectors in its scarce original pressing, Oyun Havaları is finally available again as an official archival reissue, restored from the original master tapes, mastered and lacquer cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, London, and pressed on 180g black vinyl at Record Industry, the Netherlands.
We don’t know much about Ariane Bonzini. Her age, perhaps. Her first name, certainly – but it’s confusing, as you’d expect. The rest, he keeps to himself, tucked away somewhere between Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and the Landes in the off-season.
What we do know is that at 16 he left everything behind to try his hand at rap. That six years later he left everything behind, again, without really saying why. That he taught himself sound engineering as one might learn a dead language.
And then came Magenta. In 2025, for three months, Bonzini set himself a challenge bordering on the absurd: to produce one track a day, write it, record it, mix it, master it, film himself doing it, and post it on social media. Without planning, without taking a step back, working until 3 am behind the screen. His monthly listeners went from 35 to 100,000.
For ‘Mec Normal’, something changed. Bonzini headed to the Rue Boyer studio – a space steeped in analogue charm, where some of the synths had once belonged to Christophe – and surrounded himself with a team for the first time: Crayon on production, Renaud Letang on mixing.
Chilly Gonzales spotted him, and from their meeting came ‘Gonzini’.
Thirteen tracks suspended between gentle melancholy and a willing detachment. Soaring synths. Recurring, obsessive ‘you’s’. A voice that whispers where others would shout.
Ariane Bonzini is unlike anything we’ve heard before. That is undoubtedly what makes her so unforgettable.
,Ma Waraa Al-Shaabi" - ,Beyond Shaabi" - ist das neue Album bei Kou Records von Rizan Said, dem legendären kurdisch-syrischen Keyboard-Virtuosen aus Ras Al Ain in der Region Jazeera im Nordosten Syriens und dem wichtigsten musikalischen Kopf hinter Omar Souleyman. Rizan Said ist ein musikalischer Botschafter aus einem verschwundenen Syrien. Es war einmal vor nicht allzu langer Zeit, als die Jazeera - ein kulturell reiches Grenzgebiet kurdischer, arabischer, syrischer und armenischer Gemeinschaften - von einer unverwechselbaren musikalischen Tradition geprägt war: Handtrommeln und Rohrflöten, Hochzeiten, die tagelang dauerten, Dabke, die schon seit Jahrhunderten getanzt wurde, lange bevor Electro, Disco oder Orientalismus auftauchten, um ihr einen Namen zu geben. Rizan war das Wunderkind dieser Szene, ein Ausnahmetalent an Percussion- und Rohrblattinstrumenten, das zum Meister der Synthese in der Region wurde - er programmierte Korgs so, dass sie Zurna, Saz, Tanbura und Buzuq nachahmten, und vereinte die traditionelle Instrumentierung in einem einzigen Paar Hände, das sich blitzschnell bewegte.? Dies ist sein drittes Soloalbum nach ,King of Keyboard" (Annihaya, 2015) und ,Saz U Dilan" (Akuphone, 2019) - und sein bisher weitreichendstes. Aufgenommen im Sundlaugin Studio von Sigur Rós Sundlaugin Studio in Island aufgenommen und von Randall Dunn produziert, in Koproduktion mit Mark Gergis (Syrian Cassette Archives), führt ,Ma Waraa Al-Shaabi" syrische und kurdische Dabke in unbekanntes Klanggebiet: sieben Stücke, die die Hitze und Geschwindigkeit der Kassetten-Szene in etwas Weites, Fremdes und Lebendigeres als je zuvor übertragen.? Aufgenommen im Sundlaugin Studio, Island, im Mai 2026. Produziert und gemischt von Randall Dunn. Koproduziert von Mark Gergis. Zusätzliche Produktion: Ulfur Hansson. Gemastert von Ben Greenberg. Dolby-Atmos-Mischungen von Ben Greenberg. Lackschnitt von Paul Gold bei Salt Mastering. Cover-Artwork von Rebeka Arce; Porträt auf der Rückseite von Randy Ortiz.
Power Ballads and The Wash is the sophomore album from London-based multi instrumentalist James Howard, due for release on 6th November 2026 via boutique
label Faith & Industry. James is known as founder of critically acclaimed 2010’s band Blue House and collaborator with luminaries such as Rozi Plain, Dana Gavanski, Kate Bollinger and Alabaster Deplume.
For Power Ballads and The Wash James has worked with producer Mike Lindsay, co-founder of folktronica group Tunng. Power Ballads and The Wash follows James's debut solo album Peek-A-Boo, released to great acclaim in April 2023.
All eight songs of Power Ballads and The Wash began life as intimate live takes of
guitar or piano and voice, recorded at Howard’s studio in Deptford, south London.
Steeped in the energy of the local environment, each session was preceded by a visit to the Thames to ask for its muddy blessing, with the DLR rumbling by. The sessions at Lindsay’s Margate studio built a widescreen world around Howard’s original performances, from the restless Eventide vocal treatments on Seven Seconds to the Hollywood string samples of The Moon In The Movies and the Moog bass that quietly anchors the record throughout. Howard also praises violinist Magdalena MacClean's (Caroline) contributions.
Beneath this gentle absurdity, though, lies something quietly powerful. Howard’s
song-writing explores the notion that, despite our ever-shortening attention spans,
there is still the possibility of quiet reflection and the discovery therein of revelations hidden in plain sight. The world of these lucid dream-esque reveries is unmistakably London. The record began with a wing-and-a-prayer visit to the Thames, and ends there too: the wash from the Thames Clipper / nearly breaks through your shoe / like some feelings sometimes do.
In a cultural landscape trending toward mindless diversion, Your Old Droog has defied the odds, building a thriving career through musical depth and captivating songwriting. In pursuit of hip-hop immortality, the Brooklyn artist engages listeners with inventive metaphors, genuine reflections, and sophisticated rhyme architecture. Now, Your Old Droog is back with his tenth full length album, Bread & Butter. Recalling his humble immigrant family stretching caviar across slices of bread shortly after arriving from Ukraine, YOD has crafted a testament to making the best of any situation. This philosophy runs throughout Bread & Butter, as Droog chronicles the turbulence of rap success, ruminates on youthful memories, and dismisses unworthy challengers with clever precision. The project’s rich sonic texture is shaped by beats from Flying Lotus, Conductor Williams, Ohbliv, and more, while hip-hop luminaries Evidence, Oddisee, and Masta Ace make memorable appearances, along with South African star A-Reece and acclaimed singer Georgia Anne Muldrow. Grounded in resilience, perspective, and self-determination, Bread & Butter is an inspired statement from a truly distinct talent. Transforming personal history into universal truth, the album reaffirms Your Old Droog's place among the most thoughtful and compelling voices in modern hip hop.
On November 6th, Asthmatic Kitty Records will release Worst Christmas Ever!, a single-LP collection that distills Sufjan Stevens’ expansive holiday catalog—drawn from the box sets Songs for Christmas and Silver & Gold—into one definitive collection. The album pairs fifteen favorites, selected from more than one hundred Christmas recordings, with the newly released original song "On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)," Sufjan's first new Christmas song in nearly fifteen years.
Available on LP, CD, and cassette, Worst Christmas Ever! is the perfect introduction for new listeners and an essential addition for longtime Sufjan Christmas devotees.
"Part of what makes Sufjan Stevens' contributions to the Christmas canon so enduring and remarkable is that they're almost overpoweringly effort-intensive. He views the holidays as a labor of love—worthy of creativity and care, hard work and an ocean of ideas."
— NPR
"9 EPs and 100 recordings later, Stevens has undoubtedly accepted his reputation as a Bing Crosby for the thirtysomething NPR listener."
— Consequence of Sound
On November 6th, Asthmatic Kitty Records will release Worst Christmas Ever!, a single-LP collection that distills Sufjan Stevens’ expansive holiday catalog—drawn from the box sets Songs for Christmas and Silver & Gold—into one definitive collection. The album pairs fifteen favorites, selected from more than one hundred Christmas recordings, with the newly released original song "On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)," Sufjan's first new Christmas song in nearly fifteen years.
Available on LP, CD, and cassette, Worst Christmas Ever! is the perfect introduction for new listeners and an essential addition for longtime Sufjan Christmas devotees.
"Part of what makes Sufjan Stevens' contributions to the Christmas canon so enduring and remarkable is that they're almost overpoweringly effort-intensive. He views the holidays as a labor of love—worthy of creativity and care, hard work and an ocean of ideas."
— NPR
"9 EPs and 100 recordings later, Stevens has undoubtedly accepted his reputation as a Bing Crosby for the thirtysomething NPR listener."
— Consequence of Sound
Bondage-Music proudly welcomes back Mihai Popoviciu with his latest EP, “Pick Up The Phone.” A familiar name on the label, Popoviciu returns with another refined selection of deep, groove-driven house music, combining his trademark rolling rhythms, warm basslines and subtle atmospheric elements.
With a sound that effortlessly balances depth, hypnotic grooves and dancefloor energy, Mihai Popoviciu has established himself as one of the distinctive voices of contemporary house music. “Pick Up The Phone” continues this signature approach across four tracks, delivering a focused and timeless club release.
For this edition, Bondage-Music presents the EP as a Limited Splatter Edition on 180G vinyl. Adding to its collectability, two tracks are available exclusively on vinyl, making BOND12086 a special release for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts alike.
Originally released in 2009, this massively in-demand record has been changing hands for anywhere between £50 and over £100 now finally available once again. You only need to check the width and depth of the DJ support tells you all you need to know.
DJ Support: A-Trak, Andy & Jaymo, Annie Mac, Brodinski, Cagedbaby, Damon Martin, DJ Mehdi, Erol Alkan, Filthy Dukes, Groove Armada, Hell, Jesse Rose, Joe Ransom, Kissy Sellout, Kris Menace, Pedro Winter, Riton, Rory Phillips, Seth Troxler, Severino, Shit Robot, Simian Mobile Disco, Thomas Schumacher, Trevor Jackson and The Whip
Retro Grade, (Serge Santiago and Tom Neville) an exciting act on the electronic music scene, revolutionising the world of Italo House with their release titled "Moda." This captivating track, infused with nostalgic vibes and infectious grooves, promises to transport listeners back to the heyday of '90s dance music while maintaining a fresh and contemporary sound.
"Moda" showcases Retro Grade's ability to seamlessly blend classic Italo House elements with modern production techniques. The track features pulsating bass lines, and euphoric synth melodies all meticulously crafted to create an irresistible sonic experience. From start to finish, "Moda" exudes an infectious energy that gets floors moving.
Not content with delivering a stellar original track, Retro Grade enlisted the talents of acclaimed artist Sound Klash to provide a mind-blowing Remix of "Moda." Sound Klash, known for this boundary-pushing approach to music production, puts his unique spin on the track, infusing it with his signature dubbed-out house sound. The result is an extraordinary reimagining that takes "Moda" to different heights, showcasing Sound Klash's unparalleled ability to reinvent and elevate electronic music.
"Moda" and its captivating Sound Klash Remix are set to make waves across the scene.
From deep in the hard funk pocket, the Winston Brothers return to Colemine after four years with a second helping of sounds rooted in horn-heavy, 70s-style soul cinema, taking cues from the soundtrack work of Issac Hayes, Willie Hutch, Roy Ayers, and JJ Johnson. Helmed by multi-instrumentalist/producer Sebastian Nagel and longtime collaborator Lucas Kochbeck on drums, Sweets serves as a timely reminder of how Hamburg, Germany’s music scene helps shape and influence today’s soul sound.
Ultimately, bringing musicians like Kimo Eiserbeck (sax and flute) and Hans Stephan (trumpet), alongside some additional drum contributions by Max Whitefield (née Weissenfeldt), demonstrates the close-knit nature of these musicians. From influential bands like Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band to Angels of Libra and the Mighty Mocambos, Hamburg’s deep groove scene has sired its share of worthy soul and funk acolytes.
These musicians have shared stages and studios over the years, with various
configurations finding their way in the aforementioned bands. “We started as a school project… we were just kids,” Sebastian recalls. “It’s a family thing, and we really know each other well.” Sweets is more than just another addition to this scene’s collective musical canon; it is a vibrant dispatch from funk’s leading edge.
From deep in the hard funk pocket, the Winston Brothers return to Colemine after four years with a second helping of sounds rooted in horn-heavy, 70s-style soul cinema, taking cues from the soundtrack work of Issac Hayes, Willie Hutch, Roy Ayers, and JJ Johnson. Helmed by multi-instrumentalist/producer Sebastian Nagel and longtime collaborator Lucas Kochbeck on drums, Sweets serves as a timely reminder of how Hamburg, Germany’s music scene helps shape and influence today’s soul sound.
Ultimately, bringing musicians like Kimo Eiserbeck (sax and flute) and Hans Stephan (trumpet), alongside some additional drum contributions by Max Whitefield (née Weissenfeldt), demonstrates the close-knit nature of these musicians. From influential bands like Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band to Angels of Libra and the Mighty Mocambos, Hamburg’s deep groove scene has sired its share of worthy soul and funk acolytes.
These musicians have shared stages and studios over the years, with various
configurations finding their way in the aforementioned bands. “We started as a school project… we were just kids,” Sebastian recalls. “It’s a family thing, and we really know each other well.” Sweets is more than just another addition to this scene’s collective musical canon; it is a vibrant dispatch from funk’s leading edge.
Although nearly two decades after its release the legendary album Eksel by D'Arcangelo has achieved cult status, it is worth remembering that it all started in the early 90s in Rome. The twin brothers Fabrizio and Marco D'Arcangelo sculpted this electronic IDM treasure with a minimalist arsenal of hardware and analog synthesizers, achieving a raw though sophisticated sound that immediately caught the attention of Aphex Twin & Grant Wilson Claridge, Rephlex record label heads themselves.
While in 1993 and 1994 a large part of the European scene was carried away by the faster, more commercial rhythms of hardcore or eurodance, the D'Arcangelo brothers preferred to look toward the mental landscapes and abstract textures coming out of Detroit and Warp Records. By fusing the machine-like coldness of electro with melancholic melodies and complex rhythm structures, the Italian duo became one of the undisputed pioneers of braindance music in Mediterranean Europe.
Looking back, Eksel—released on Rephlex in 2007—stood as a challenge to the listening habits of its time. Positioned between mental experimentation and dancefloor functionality, the album moves effortlessly between hypnotic club contexts and intimate, detail-rich home listening. Now twenty years later, its legacy continues to resonate among collectors and lovers of analog sound. Eksel stands as proof that electronic innovation extended far beyond the major hubs of London or Berlin, strengthening the dialogue between British IDM and the Italian school, and establishing D'Arcangelo as architects of a distinctive sound.
Marco D'Arcangelo looks back on the album's origins with characteristic wit: "Eksel was conceived to celebrate our 40th Birthday. At Rephlex, they thought we should include a Roman attribute, just to remind people of our so-called 'ancestry'—which isn't really anything, but being born in Rome did sound cool. The XL in Roman numerals is 40, spelled 'Eksel'. And funnily enough, this year we are turning 60 (oh my god!), and 60 in Roman numerals is LX, spelled 'Leks'."
For this release, the partnership brings together a range of elements into a cohesive and refined sonic language. D'Arcangelo seamlessly blend leftfield electronica, avant-garde techno, and glitch, shaping a forward-thinking sound. Vintage synthesizers intertwine with crisp programmed percussion, while melodic structures interact with classic 808 rhythms. This deluxe reissue also exclusively includes RFLX1902 and Electronic Lounge, two tracks from the same era never before pressed on vinyl. The result is a warm and reflective body of work, deeply rooted in electro's legacy, yet unmistakably oriented toward the future.
Official reissue of the massive Sourmash – Pilgrimage to Paradise, originally released on Prolekult in 1993.
This essential reissue brings together both original versions, alongside heavyweight remixes from Hardfloor and Timo Maas.
Both original versions command serious money on Discogs, here’s your chance to grab the whole package for a fraction of the price — and beat the sharks!
A quiet intensity permeates Chantal Michelle’s music, like a veiled flame. Even at its most spare and delicate, an undulating tension unsettles the ear through wavering microtonal interference and uncanny spatial juxtaposition. She takes seriously the mandate of the composer to foster new relationships between various types of sounds, bringing together disparate field recordings, instrumental stems, and the sounds of circuitry in unheard configurations. Resolution is elusive, in its place a sense of oblong cyclicality and prickly uncertainty. When the veil is pulled back, we find more depth, more complexity, and more mystery.
Unit of Heart, Michelle’s second album of 2026, presents two interrelated pieces that highlight diverging compositional modes. Here she brings in two key collaborators: Patrick Shiroishi, who contributes flutes and saxophones throughout, and poet Funto Omojola, whose words and voice bookend the title composition. Both compositions unfold gradually, but where the album’s a-side “Sudden Oceans” presents a minimal tonal palette focused entirely on the subtle grain of wind instruments, “Unit of Heart” proceeds linearly, moving through passages of synthesizer, environmental recordings, and full-cheeked wails of saxophone. Both encourage a state of focused listening as the scope of the music deepens and widens.
“Sudden Oceans” allows the listener to hover in rippling currents of air, breath overlapping breath in a shimmering patchwork. All flutes and saxophones on the piece are played by Shiroishi, which are molded by Michelle into a pattern that resembles the flow of tidal waters, surging and receding moment to moment as the tonal density increases. Expansive and recursive, it reflects both the restorative awe and eerie disquiet of encountering the sublime. The first and last sounds we hear are the gentle rush of unmediated breath as Shiroishi connects and disconnects from his flute.
Michelle’s skill at presenting the familiar as preternatural comes to the fore on “Unit of Heart, ” one of her most ambitious works. Omojola’s voice begins with a melody that could be a lullaby, but as it’s bounced around the stereo field it takes on a haunted quality. Their poem, reprinted on the LP’s inner sleeve, hints at a similar type of transformation: “I mean this is where our mouth turns saliva into spears only a throat can recognize. ” Pads of downy synthesizer billow and are subsumed by a discordant ringing. The climactic section features atonal electronics and field recordings, first of water and then the evening call of insects, processed in such a way to transform them into pulsating bursts of noise. What we think we know about the world, what is elemental, can change with even the slightest adjustment of the lens.
“I am not sure which of us it is that's writing this page” - Jorge Luis Borges. There are places where a river runs through the story even when you cannot see it. Austin Cash grew up in the Arkansas Delta, and Nathan Smerage in the Chicago suburbs, their paths crossing years later in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where both became members of the Ozark Free Music Society, a loose congregation of musicians who made free and experimental music in non-traditional venues across the city. ‘River Season’ began as an impulsive text sent to Smerage in the summer of 2024, Cash suggesting they should make an album of guitar duets. Calling his bluff, Smerage returned a folder of recordings within a week. Cash had a handful of pieces of his own, originally written for an unreleased film about an Ozarks ceramicist. The songs began traveling back and forth between them by email, however, after opening for the Magic Tuber String Band and playing the compositions live for the first time together, realised the decision to record them live was the only true option. For four days, in the basement apartment where Cash lived, they recorded River Season live. The result is a meticulously composed collection of steel-string guitar music: part folk record, part road map.
Fahey and Ackerman are somewhere in the distance, alongside Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, Marisa Anderson, Nathan Salsburg, Loren Connors, and others. But River Season belongs to neither Arkansas nor Chicago entirely. Cash grew up in Arkansas before moving to Chicago, whereas Smerage grew up in Illinois before moving to Arkansas. River Season catches the two musicians at an intersection in their paths; it belongs to the stretches of road and rivers between them, real and imagined. "This new collaboration between Austin and Nathan is intimate and tonally diverse. Many of the tracks see Austin playing acoustic and Nathan on electric. The statements are succinct (all but two clock in under four minutes) and idiosyncratic. "Bell Harp" and "Painting Friend" are two stand out examples for me in which the textures of the electric/acoustic pairing play off each other in a way that I can't say I have encountered before." -Evan Morgan (Magic Tuber Stringband)
Alek Lee and vocalist Margeeah come together for a boutique 7″ pressing limited to 200 copies, featuring two tracks blending soul, reggae, disco and dub. Lee, whose catalogue includes releases on Antinote and Isle of Jura, brings his background in slower, dub oriented productions to a collaboration built around Margeeah’s vocals and live instrumentation. The sound sits somewhere between Massive Attack’s Blue Lines and Grace Jones.
Margeeah comes from the Israelite community, whose musical history includes The Soul Messengers. Her debut album, Looking for Love, was recorded in 1983 with Kingdom Sounds, originally issued as a private press LP and reissued by Frederiksberg Records in 2025. Its musicians included Abshalom Ben Shlomo, associated with Sun Ra. Her vocal style spans soul, jazz, funk and reggae, with reference points including Roberta Flack and Doug & Jean Carn.
For this release, Lee records his own live drums and percussion for the first time, alongside his signature smoky melodica lines. The production develops the reggae elements of Margeeah’s singing, combining bass driven arrangements with live rhythms, spacious guitar lines and dubby approach.
On the A side, “The Music Inside”, Margeeah effortlessly projects Lee’s lyrics about optimism and the desire for inner and outer freedom. Built around a recurring vocal refrain, the track places her voice over a rooted reggae arrangement.
The B side, “Can You Feel It?”, moves seductively towards a slower disc-dub sound. Bass and drums provide the foundation, with the percussion developing from a restrained groove into a fuller live kit arrangement. Melodica and guitar weave around Margeeah’s lead vocal and the hypnotizing title phrase.
Initially recorded in 1996 and officially released February 1997, 2nd Family's Killaz from the Blackside tape is one of the most distinctive examples of unpolished, stripped-back & paranoid mid-90s Memphis rap. Recorded by King JC together with 2nd Family MCs Pistol Grip & Killa Chrome in a home-studio set up at the group's base in Southern Hills Apartments in Whitehaven, South Memphis (known locally as Blackhaven or the Blackside, a short trip from Graceland) the sparse, brooding and somewhat introspective production sets the record apart from the more raucous, overdriven precedent of the period. Pressed on vinyl for the first time via Death Is Not The End in an edition of 300 copies.
