- Enrico Caruso & Gaetano Donizetti - Una Furtiva Lagrima
- Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra - Caravan
- Irving Aaronson & His Commanders - Let's Misbehave
- Eddy Howard & His Orchestra - Till We Meet Again
- Duke Ellington - Take The 'A' Train
- Fats Waller - I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
- Sidney Bechet - Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
- Johnnie Ray & The Buddy Cole Quartet - Walkin' My Baby
- Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd - Desafinado
- Harry James & The Rhythm Section - Limehouse Blues
- Al Jolson - Toot, Toot, Tootsie! (Goo' Bye!)
- Stéphane Grappelli & Django Reinhardt - Out Of Nowhere
- Tommy Dorsey - Sleepy Lagoon
- Jackie Gleason - Serenade In Blue
- Erroll Garner - Lullaby Of Birdland
- The Modern Jazz Quartet - Bags' Groove
- Billie Holiday & The Teddy Wilson Orchestra - Easy To L
- Stephane Wrembel - Big Brother
- Fred Astaire & The Leo Reisman Orchestra - Cheek To Che
- Liberace - I'll Be Seeing You
- Glenn Miller & His Orchestra - Moonlight Serenade
- Hal Kemp & His Orchestra - With Plenty Of Money And You
- Leo Reisman & His Orchestra - What Is This Thing Called
- The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
Cerca:dj easy b
- A1: Jackie Opel – You're Too Bad
- A2: Johnny Osbourne – Murderer
- A3: John Holt – Hooligan
- A4: Keith Mccarthy – Everybody Rude Now
- A5: Owen Gray – Ballistic Affair
- B1: Roy Richards – Get Smart
- B2: Dillinger – Stop The War
- B3: Jim Brown – Love In The Dance
- B4: Desmond Baker And The Clarendonians – Rude Boy Gone A Jail
- B5: The Wailers – Good Good Rudie
- C1: Dennis Brown – Make It Easy On Yourself
- C2: Wailing Souls – Don't Fight It
- C3: Dub Specialist – Peace Theme
- C4: Mr Foundation – See Them A Come
- D1: Dudley Sibley – Run Boy Run
- D2: Dennis Brown – Johnny Too Bad
- D3: Bob Andy – Crime Don?T Pay
- D4: Soul Brothers – Mr Kiss A Bang Bang
Rude Boys are synonymous with Jamaican Dancehall culture from the present day going back to the very early days of Sir Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid’s first sound-clashes in Kingston. Studio One Rude Boy features artists and songs about rude boys and rude boy culture from all periods of Studio One’s history.
The album features Ska, Rocksteady, DJs, Roots and Dub The album features classic tracks from Jamaica’s finest singers and groups such as The Wailers, John Holt, the Wailing Souls, Dennis Brown alongside super-rare tracks from artists such as Mr Foundation, Dudley Sibbley and The Soul Brothers all recorded under Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s supervision at the legendary recording studio and record label. Musical backing comes from the legendary in house bands – The Skatalites, The Sound Dimension, Soul Vendors and Soul Defenders – who provide the classic Studio One rhythms so influential in the history of Reggae.
People's only work in 1971 featuring Outkast's organist Yusuke Hoguchi and guitarist Kimio Mizutani, Adams's Hideaki Takebe, and percussionist Larry Sunaga. Produced by Naoki Tachikawa, it was created with the concept of Buddha + Rock.
It is full of unique psychedelia sounds, such as the sutra chanting "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" backed by a fuzz guitar, the sound of monk's geta, bells, wooden fish, sitar, etc.
Although it uses a lot of sound effects reminiscent of Buddhism, it doesn't feel like a religious idea, and the work is overall easy to listen to.
In recent years, this album has been highly desired by DJs as a breakbeat material and as a spiritual record.
Celestial Echo is thrilled to introduce the reissue of Brutal Force's revered classic, 'Dreams For Sale.' Originally released, this soulful gem has maintained its status as a sought-after treasure by DJs and electronic music enthusiasts for years. A favourite of Floating Points, Jeremy Underground and Frederika
With original copies becoming more and more elusive, and only released on poor quality styrene, the decision to reissue this soulful gem was an easy one.
Celestial Echo proudly presents the re- issue on a limited edition 7-inch vinyl re- cord, remastered and pressed on heavyweight vinyl for an authentic ana- log experience. This exclusive release is adorned with a striking picture sleeve and redesigned labels, adding a con- temporary touch to this soulful master- piece.
CER001 gained huge support from DJs such as Gilles Peterson, Craig Charles and Ross Allen, with more to be expected as the label grows.
Warehouse Find!
pezzner is back with this, his third ep for freerange, following on from the almost here and other lover releases that kicked off his solo alter ego. he is now in demand for his remix skills with upcoming remixes including mike monday and mark farina for om, lusine for ghostly international and josh wink for shaboom. It's easy to hear why he is being heralded as the man to rival dave taylor's earlier house productions with his totally unique sound and floor friendly arrangements which guarantee peaktime plays from dj's across the board - justin martin remix
Warehouse Find!
Zepp001 returns to Delusions for our first release of 2011 and what a way to start the new year! The Seattle based disco obsessive has been holed up in his recently completed studio in Delphia (a city located on Antarctica's southern shore) and its easy to hear the influence this strange and otherworldly place has had on the two original tracks here on this release.
- 01: Dante Inferno (Intro)
- 02: All Alone (Feat. Masta Ace & Torae)
- 03: Lyrikal Landslide (Feat. Ruste Juxx & Nutso)
- 04: What`s Done Is Done (Feat. Ide & Jise One)
- 05: Deja Vu (Feat. Rasheed Chappell & Soul The American Dream)
- 06: Im Here (Feat. Dontique `& Cf)
- 07: The Mecca (Interlude)
- 08: Disobedience (Feat. Clever One)
- 09: Call Of The Wild (Feat. Team Thoro (Absouljah & Spicco & Halfa Brick))
- 10: She`s Broke (Feat. Guilty Simpson)
- 11: Believers (Interlude)
- 12: Ambition Of The Shallows (Feat. Napoleon Da Legend & Paloma Pradal)
- 13: Just Listen (Feat. Wildelux)
- 14: Longevity (Feat. G.o.d. Part 3, J-Merk & Jamil Honesty)
- 15: Who Be The Realest (Feat. King Magnetic)
- 16: Making Cuts (Feat. Dj Nix`on, Dj Topic, Ordœuvre & Dj Duke)
- 17: Hell`s Storm (Feat. Q-Unique, Hex One & Milez Grimez)
- 18: Maniac (Feat. Xplicit Content (Unkn?Wn, Fatha Death & Eternel & Apacalypze))
- 19: Damned (Interlude)
- 20: Other Shit (Feat. Dirt Platoon & Wyld Bunch)
- 21: Projects (Feat. Spit Gemz & Eff Yoo)
- 22: The Payback (Feat. Ems (M-Dot & Revalation & Mayhem))
Stuck in the depths of a dark alley, blocked by yet another breeze, hitting a stone wall, road sign ahead: Dead End.
Impasse. "Cul-de-sac".
Hip‐hop. The original, some would say, official music of the late 20th Century Bronx.
Some say it has endured it's fair share of distractions, detractors and defectors. Some say it has murdered itself, having been abandoned by its so‐called best men, those who have gone off in other directions, or who have, simply, just beat‐retired. Yet, there are plenty of Soldier Monks still out there, prepared to sweat it out in the Temple of Machinery and Mics.
Low Cut honored this cause four years ago, with his MPC crafted minimalist version of NY Minute and he's back to ring the bells and unsheathe the samples!
The starting point of Dead End's production remains the 90's boom-bap, but the will to carry it even further brings it to its destination. By decorating it with rich samples flushed out after digging through vinyls pressed several decades ago, it is guided by a compass pointing deposits to the East. With sound quality inherited from a fastidious composition and mix works, using inspiration rather than just being a copycat, Dead End celebrates it without setting it up as a museum piece.
Picturing the beatmaker stuck in the depths of a dark alley, ended with a brick wall, is easy. But far from isolated in his Parisian basement, Low Cut has rung phones in New York, Baltimore and Detroit, rounding up the faithful. He magnetized the hidden but sharp forces, and gained attendance of legends. The casting of Dead End : Ruste Juxx & Nutso, Dirt Platoon, Guilty Simpson, Torae, Rasheed Chappell and the stainless Masta Ace, among other beat crushers. Also starring DJ Duke, Nix'on, Topic and Ordoeuvre with their DMC titles crates, for a deep beatfight on bars scarified of scratches.
Heavy atmosphere, martial beats and street soul, Dead End is also the final episode of the projects initiated by Low Cut, based on the model of a producer inviting various MCs.
He will then replace his turntable needles, refresh his sample banks, and settle the BPMs of his productions on more abstract frequencies.
- A1: All Or Nothing (Feat Axel Ehnstrom)
- A2: What Is Love
- A3: Beautiful Life (Feat Sandro Cavazza)
- A4: Sky Is The Limit (Feat Jake Reese)
- B1: Reality (Feat Janieck Devy)
- B2: Dance With Me
- B3: In Too Deep
- B4: Dying Bird (Feat Joakim Willow)
- C1: Funky'n Brussels
- C2: Send Her My Love
- C3: Lift Me Up (Feat Nick Schilder)
- C4: Are You With Me
- D1: St Peter
- D2: Selfish Love
- D3: Footsteps In The Night
- D4: What Goes Around Comes Around
"Less Is More is the debut studio album by DJ and record producer Lost Frequencies. The Belgian youngster shook the world with debut single ""Are You With Me"" and soon found himself on top of the world, following up on his worldwide smash with global sensation ""Reality"" and ""Beautiful Life"". Now, he shows the full extent of his potential through his debut album. Harboring a plethora of ridiculously catchy singles alongside the before-mentioned hits, Less Is More shows exactly why Lost Frequencies' signature sound is so widely acclaimed. Easy on the ear, increasingly addictive, and filled with gorgeous, laid-back vibes, the songs on the album allow minds to drift and emotions to flow freely, all made possible through the delicate arrangements and a strong choice of sounds. Lost Frequencies describes the album himself as being ""all about the simplicity of good feelings blending together, bringing a chill, but still energetic vibe."" Less Is More is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on gold coloured vinyl. The vinyl package includes an insert with lyrics. "
Less Is More by Lost Frequencies, released 22 March 2024, includes the following tracks: "Beautiful Life", "Reality", "In Too Deep" and more.
This version of Less Is More comes as a 2xLP. This release comes with (a) Insert(s).
The vinyl is pressed as a gold disc. Another vinyl is pressed as a gold disc.
About 20 years ago, Carlos Giffoni quickly made a name for himself both as a noise guitarist and a laptop noisician upon arriving in New York (via Florida and Venezuela). His expertly curated annual No Fun Festival, as well as his No Fun label, further solidified him as a key figure in the international noise scene. The festival's success proved the formula for experimental and improvised music fests could work with the noise underground as well, but it also capitalized on the faster rate of connections being made between geographically disparate artists as a result of the (still relatively nascent) internet. Back then Carlos would play his laptop like a pinball machine, in contrast to the static stage presence of most laptop performers, and his solo music, like many others' at that time, expressed a less dark and dour vision of the implications of harsh noise. By the close of the 2000s, he had stopped doing the festival, switched gears musically to playing the lighter No Fun Acid sets, and moved to LA. Now he has re-emerged in a big way with Dream Walker, his first full-length since 2018's Vain (and only his second since 2010). Inspired by the masterful performances and diffusions he heard at the February 2023 GRM electronic music festival in Paris, particularly sets by old friends Lasse Marhaug, Jim O'Rourke, and Eiko Ishibashi, he began conceptualizing new music of his own in response, turning to synthesizers and other hardware to produce a work more firmly in the tradition of European electronic music than anything else he's done. Intended as a late night listen that evokes the edge of consciousness, with Carlos getting as close as possible to a trance state during the actual recording and mixing, each of the eleven tracks transition into one another rather than being standalone discrete pieces, forming two side-long suites that proceed like stages of a dream. Unabashedly tonal and repetitive, the glistening opener "Now Dream," the droning "Sleep Walker," and the closing triptych of "Lost in Descanso," "Sunrise," and "The Hidden Path" occupy a power electronics-ambient nexus that feels spiritually close to the Mego label. Elsewhere, "Ticking Clock" is reminiscent of Stereolab's non-easy listening vintage electronic side, while the two-part arpeggiated "Euphoria" recalls early Oneohtrix Point Never (which Carlos released on No Fun). The contrast between "One Breath"'s crackling opening and its remarkably fluid and soaring sustained synthesized chords is a distillation of the album's lingering tension between electronics' ability to project mechanical rupture as well as the organic and the infinite _or "walking between dreams," as Carlos himself puts it. Produced by Lasse Marhaug (who also mastered Carlos' first solo album, Welcome Home, back in 2005), released by Stephen O'Malley (who I remember DJing at the No Fun fest), with cover art and photos by personal friends, Carlos considers the album a family affair. But Dream Walker most of all heralds a maturation of the artist, and stands as a record that exists out of pure desire, rather than obligation or force of habit; a statement of reconnecting with music not by merely revisiting it, but by building on what's come before, both in his own work and in the music he loves. -Alan Licht, New York, December 2023
Maurice Fulton's outrageous remix of "The Fall" by Rhye has been cherished as a stone-cold masterpiece for the past decade. Out of print almost immediately, its legend has only grown and for too long it's been impossible to find a copy without parting with considerable cash. We've wanted to remedy this situation for years so we're delighted to announce that we've finally given it the Be With treatment.
The word ‘genius’ is bandied about liberally but it's fair to anoint Maurice Fulton with such lofty praise. Sheffield’s king of oddball disco, Fulton is one of our favourite artists, an outerspace-minded producer with roots in Baltimore club music who has no problem injecting dank interplanetary funk into the smoothest of acts. And so it goes with his remix of "The Fall". Rich and typically off-kilter, this is spellbinding disco par excellance. Fulton arms the track with a juddering electro-funk synth-bassline before shifting to a twanging disco reverb and conga-led, crash-cymbal-elevated groove.
Essential doesn't even cover it; it's just astonishingly good.
The gorgeous original, situated here on the flip, is a sublime serenade, all twinkling strings and sweet, sumptuous vocals over smooth, jazzy piano styles. It earned comparisons to Sade, Air and the xx upon initial release and it's still easy to understand why; it's warm and buoyant yet deeply melancholy. Elegantly downlifting, you could say.
Simon Francis remastered the original audio for both tracks and Cicely Balston's precise cut for Alchemy at AIR Studios ensures this 12" well and truly slaps. The immaculate Record Industry pressing will ensure this incredibly sought-after masterpiece finds a home in many more DJ boxes this and every year.
We, at UDG have further fined-tuned already a great design concept of our flight case into one specially for the most discerning DJ/producer. Constructed from aluminum thus providing an extremely stable structure with lighter weight compared to traditional flight cases. The inner sides are protected with pick & pluck foam that consists of two separate layers, each allowing user to create individualized adapted compartments. The pick & pluck foam allow you to pluck out any desired shape you require for various-sized DJ-controllers and providing the additional option of creating another slot underneath the controller for laptop or cable storage. This pick & pluck foam creating an easy, do-it-yourself customized system of case interiors.
The UDG Ultimate Pick Foam Flight Cases are designed to keep your gear protected from accidental damage when you transport it to and from gigs. They’re compact and lightweight yet tough enough to keep your gear safe.
EAN 8718969212229
Color Silver
Weight 4,55 kg / 10.01 lbs
Outer Dimensions (W x H x D) 49 x 42.3 x 21 cm | 19.3 x 16.6 x 8.3 inch
Inner Dimensions (W x H x D) 48 x 41.3 x 20 cm | 18.9 x 16.2 x 7.9 inch
Material Aluminum
Protection Corrosion resistant aluminium profiles with strong rounded corners
Fully-lined with high density foam protective padding & foam on lid
Two side strong butterfly lock & solid metal hinges
Rubber feet at the bottom for support in standing
Extra's Lighter weight than traditional flight cases
Black Diamond finishing surface
Ergonomic & sturdy carry handle
Pick & pluck foam with two separate layers
Replacement pick & pluck foam is available to purchase
Rear cable access hole with cover
Fits Technics SL-1200MK7, SL-1200MK6, SL-1200 MK5, SL-1200 MK4, SL-1200 MK3, SL-1200 MK2, SL-1200GR, SL-1200GAE,
Denon VL12 Prime,
Pioneer PLX-1000, PLX-500,
Reloop RP-8000 MK2, RP-8000 Straight, RP-8000, Reloop RP-1000M, RP-1000 MK2, RP-2000 MK2, RP-2000 USB MK2, RP-4000 MK2, RP-7000, RP-7000 MK2, RP-7000 MK2 GLD, RP-7000 MK2 Silver,
Audio Technica LP120-USB, LP120XUSB, LP1240-USBXP, LP1240-USB, LP140XP, LP3, LP5, LP7, LPW40WN,
Stanton STR8-150 M2, ST-150 M2, T.52, T.55 USB, T.62 M2, T.92 M2 USB,
Mixars STA, LTA,
Vestax PDX-3000, PDX-3000Mix, PDX-3000MKII,
or similar size turntable
With this 12" reissue made for Giancarlo Meo, legendary producer of Easy Going, Vivien Vee, Capricorn, Amin-Peck, Steel Mind, Claudio Simonetti (aka Kasso) and many other artists, Best Record once again offers a great dance music service for those who perhaps don't know to need it. Claudio Casalini, who 40 years ago was not only a record producer, but above all one of the most important club-DJs in Italy, remembers well the cheering crowd of the jet-set in the elegant Roman lounges, with the dance floor full of people vibrating for that fusion of disco, soul and funk sounds that many Italo-Disco songs featured in those early Eighties. The three versions of "Out to Get You" contain all those sounds, but is mainly the version re-edited by the imaginative and passionate Massimo Berardi DJ that brings a portion of musical restoration making it current, and so exciting and modern, absolutely suitable for dancing again in every part of the world.
Up the mountains, deep in the forest, I found these plants that live on sound and water. They don’t need light and therefore are unlike any other plants on this planet. Their peek of activity is during the night, when they are covered with a thin, black layer of nocturnal light. Night lies on these plants like a thin membrane. Their roots absorb drops, waves of sound and its vibrational intonation. When humans eat this plant they fall asleep and start dreaming instantly.
In this dream they become these plants, who are unnamed, and are able to feel the pulsation of their — now own — roots. Many years ago, when language was more sounds than codes, these plants were everywhere to be found in the planetary landscape. Nobody knows yet why these plants are only to be found in the high mountain in its deep forest. It is said that once you enter this forest it will not be easy to find your way out. Like in a dream, you need to be guided by a strong wave of consciousness to find your way out and back to the ground.
- A1: Aquarius Rising
- A2: Inner Search
- A3: When It’s Real
- A4: Psych Impression
- A5: Peace Of Time
- A6: Blue Miles
- A7: Lauren’s Astral Vision
- A8: Expressions From "The Ear
- B1: The Yellow Field
- B2: Donte’s French Excursion
- B3: Solar Journey
- B4: Transitions
- B5: Shades Of Mauve
- B6: Cosmic Portals
- B7: A Piece For Reflection
The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series Entry #7: Composer, producer & arranger Mario Luciano and vocalist Lauren Santi of Polyphonic Music Library deliver a collection of recordings that delve into Psychedelic Jazz, Experimental Soul & Cosmic Fusion. This is the next up in a series of music library releases, with future volumes produced by DJ Muggs, Karriem Riggins and more. The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series was created by Madlib and Egon to give their creative friends a chance to stretch out and indulge in whatever type of music they wanted. This music was created for easy, one-stop clearance in film and television synchronization usage and for sampling. You can also enjoy these albums in the way that many do with the best of the best vintage library catalogs – listen, ponder, repeat.
The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series Entry #7: Producer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Harrison (El Michels Affair/Gunna) fuses modern production with vintage instruments, drawing a line between J Dilla and David Axelrod. This is the next up in a series of music library releases, with future volumes produced by DJ Muggs, Karriem Riggins and more. The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series was created by Madlib and Egon to give their creative friends a chance to stretch out and indulge in whatever type of music they wanted. This music was created for easy, one-stop clearance in film and television synchronization usage and for sampling. You can also enjoy these albums in the way that many do with the best of the best vintage library catalogs – listen, ponder, repeat
‘WAVES’ will make you dive deep in bodies of water, making you get lost in a mixture of downtempo, modern music with sounds of nature and passing time. The dualities of sounds were gathered on a sampler and used to produce beats, rhythms, deep reverbs and delayed echoes via a vintage drum machine.
The opposites of nature are felt through this release, side A containing Cosmic dance tracks and side B relaxing tunes to meditate to at any time. Take it easy and enjoy the slow, lapping atmosphere.
With lush seascape artwork on body and case insert, two inserts with download code.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of LA the Darkman’s Heist of the Century LP, Coalmine Records has partnered up with the Brooklyn native for a special edition vinyl reissue, marking the first time that the record’s been repressed since its original release. This album is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most underrated releases from a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate, and it’s easy to understand why once you hear its dynamic 18 tracks. The Killer Bee embodies the raw spirit of the Wu while adding his own signature gritty flavor throughout Heist of the Century. He shines whether he’s spitting solo on standouts like “Shine,” “Street Life,” and the title track, and when he’s joined by rap heavyweights like Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Havoc, and Masta Killah. Rae actually delivers two show-stopping guest performances on”Az the World Turns” and “Spring Water.” The production lineup is just as serious, which boasts credits from the likes of RZA, DJ Muggs, Havoc, 4th Disciple, as well as Carlos “Six July” Broady who produced 10 tracks among others. Whether you were there day one, only started diving into the Wu’s vast discography recently, or somewhere in between, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better representation of their sound than Heist of the Century. “Heist of the Century undeniably continues in the vein of the surrealistic, orchestral sound that branded the Wu-Tang Clan as one of the most revolutionary hip-hop groups of the decade.” MTV.
The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series Entry #6: Gabriel Rowland (Los Yesterdays) brings out Eastside LA’s Chicano Soul and Funk Grooves. Orale, vato! This is the next up in a series of music library releases, with future volumes produced by DJ Muggs, Karriem Riggins and more. The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series was created by Madlib and Egon to give their creative friends a chance to stretch out and indulge in whatever type of music they wanted. This music was created for easy, one-stop clearance in film and television synchronization usage and for sampling. You can also enjoy these albums in the way that many do with the best of the best vintage library catalogs – listen, ponder, repeat.
2023 Repress!
Since 2009’s critically acclaimed Machine Dreams they have not sat still, touring the globe and making some high profile friends along the way.
No one in their right mind would have expected the future of soul music to come from Gothenburg, Sweden. But there it is in the dreamy, rhythmical, shifting, moody rainbow creature that is Little Dragon. It is easy to see why some of the world’s top musical luminaries are falling over themselves to work with them. Stylishly seductive in their own right, their 2007 selftitled debut was filled with classy songwriting and cool production, with the stunning track ‘Twice’ getting played on Grey’s Anatomy and countless adverts since it’s release. Machine Dreams showed a bouncier side, as they flexed their dancing nous and came up with an album that would turn Prince’s head.
Damon Albarn invited them to collaborate on two tracks for last year’s Gorillaz record Plastic Beach, which became album highlights for the critics with Pitchfork describing the songs ‘Empire Ants’ and ‘To Binge’ as “two of the most arresting things here; they’re airy, elusive and amazingly beautiful”.
Little Dragon started 2011 with a headlining tour of the U.S. and a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in March, thanks to a recommendation from super-fan Questlove of The Roots. In May, the band appeared on the track ‘Just Don’t’ from Raphael Saadiq’s Stone Rollin’, a record some are already calling the album of the year. Then Big Boi and DJ Shadow called to invite the group to work on new music.
Vocal Shades And Tones is a miraculous leftfield library classic from the genius mind of celebrated UK composer/singer/vocal arranger Barbara Moore. It's a heavenly groove-based blend of jazz, Latin, soft-psych, folk-funk and gospel soul. Recorded for the legendary Music De Wolfe in 1972, it's an audacious start-to-finish listen, as dizzying as it is dazzling. It's a perfect snapshot of a musical era, supported by Moore's glorious vocal arrangements. Widely regarded among collectors, DJs, and lounge/easy-listening acolytes as an absolute essential it is viewed as the holy grail by many production music heads, rarely appearing for sale and disappearing in a flash when it does. Indeed, originals now go for over £300 and it's easy to see why. Just one of the reasons why this fresh Be With reissue, part of a wider De Wolfe reissue campaign, is so utterly crucial.
Racing out the gate, the driving "Hot Heels" is a bright, sophisticated scat groove which sounds Brazilian, richly produced as if coming by the hand of Arthur Verocai. Yes, *that* good. It's followed by "It's Gospel" which is, er, a wonderfully slow and deeply soulful gospel treasure. The appropriately monikered "Steam Heat" is a darker, breathy gem, one for salacious crates and one of the record's most infamous tracks. "Fly Away" is pastoral West Coast soft rock, very much in conversation with John Cameron and Keith Mansfield's epochal KPM recording, Voices In Harmony. "His Name Was" is a stop-you-dead-in-your-tracks Beach Boys accapella church-organ stunner, whilst "Swing Over" is another carefree, richly produced sun-dappled smasher. The gentle Bossa and sunshine soul of the aptly-titled "Touch Of Warmth" closes out a virtually perfect A-Side.
The B-Side opens with the easy grace and dramatic build of "Voice Force Nine". The jaunty "Very Fine Fellow" may be the only track to slightly grate so we advise heading to the slower, moody "Shades-Tones", eminently more compelling with sparkling, hypnotic piano throughout, underpinning the gorgeous wordless vocals. Just beautiful. It was sampled by Redman for his Method Man-featuring "Do What Ya Feel" on the great Muddy Waters. We're back in Brazilian territory with the cool, uptempo "I'm Feather" before swooning to the warm, relaxed "Drifting", another total highlight which was famously sampled by Koushik on his legendary remix of Madvillain's "America's Most Blunted (Doom's Verse)". The penultimate track, "Take Off" is a bright, organ lounge groove before this remarkable set is rounded out by the beaty "Fly Paradise". It's so so good, it sounds like Rotary Connection fronted by The Mamas & the Papas. As noted in a recent Guardian article on Moore's life, "there is a plushness and electricity in the tight vocal harmonies that spring out, sung with the precision of cathedral choristers decades before Auto-Tune." Amen.
In the 1960s, Barbara Moore was a member of Top of the Pops’ resident vocal-harmony group, The Ladybirds and sang backing vocals for Dusty Springfield’s TV show. Her own outfit, the Barbara Moore Singers, were regulars on TOTP, singing with Jimi Hendrix when he performed "Hey Joe" live in Lime Grove Studios. An important detail for Moore was the shepherd’s pie she bought Hendrix when she found him alone, looking emaciated, near the BBC canteen. By 1970, she was working as a session singer for De Wolfe and, by 1972, was composing her own tracks for De Wolfe and working within their tight creative strictures. Each short track had to evoke an obvious mood and theme, with no significant key or tempo changes. Her response, this very album, managed to stay between the lines while cohering as an overarching artistic masterpiece.
The audio for Vocal Shades And Tones has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.




















