quête:doo wop

Hardly Cricket sees the band truly lean into their rock tendencies. Those who have enjoyed their past forays into 70s style dual guitar leads will find much to latch onto here. Explosive, high energy tunes like “New Music” and “Sacred Heart” are instantly infectious and truly set the tone with high flying guitar action from all the players. However, as always, Shirese keeps it varied. With songwriting duties being more evenly spread throughout the group this time around, listeners will find 60s garage, country, and even doo-wop inflected songs as well. Matt Paolilo’s ever present vocals and tongue-and-cheek lyrics keep listeners on their toes. While the occasional descent into tape spliced experimental madness still finds its place in the grooves. Shirese continues to evolve as their lineup continues to cement. Gone are the days of a revolving cast of characters, and in its place we find a group of friends who mesh tightly, pushing beyond their perceived limits to true rock’n’roll glory! A Grapefruit Records and C/Site Recordings co-release. Limited to 300 copies.

Album features and was co-produced by Joseph Shabason. String arrangements by Owen Pallett. Thom Gill has written songs for Chaka Khan, in addition to contributing to albums by The Mountain Goats, Owen Pallett, Joseph Shabason, Bernice, and many others. Way Through is a collaborative album by Toronto musicians Chris Cummings, Joseph Shabason, and Thom Gill (as Cici Arthur). Inspired by moments of discovery in familiar places, the album's title reflects the feeling of uncovering hidden paths in life. Musically, it blends mid-century influences like Jobim and Sinatra, with producer-instrumentalists Shabason and Gill crafting lush, expansive soundscapes. Featuring a 30-piece orchestra led by Owen Pallett, the album brings a grand scale to Cummings' intimate, reflective lyrics. The project began in 2020 when Cummings lost his job and turned to full-time music for the first time in his life. His collaborators tailored the arrangements to showcase his understated vocal delivery against sweeping orchestral backdrops. Songs like 'Cartwheels for Coins' and 'Prior Times' explore themes of regret and emotional complexity, contrasting the grandeur of the music with Cummings' quiet introspection. Tracks like 'Damaged Goods' provide upbeat moments with doo-wop harmonies, while the cinematic closer 'No Fight Or Flight' emphasizes the filmic quality of the album. Through its orchestral richness and deeply personal lyrics, Way Through captures the tension between ambition and realism, offering a poignant reflection on life's unpredictable journey

Blue Valentine Vinyl. Sometime in 2005, a lone box of master tapes escaped an estate sale and made its way through a network of collectors, record dealers, and "junkers" into the hands of leading Ohio soul expert Dante Carfagna, who linked them to Columbus, Ohio's mysterious Prix label (See: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label). A bit of research turned up Prix proprietor George Beter, who identified most of the unlabeled material. All it took was an endless series of phone calls and letters and two fields trips in Columbus. But one complete mystery wended its way onto our final Prix compilation. "You and Me," a simple but irrepressible demo credited only to Penny & the Quarters, was found tacked onto a mixed studio reel. Our survey of every willing lifer left on the Columbus soul scene, including retired DJs, producers, and important local artists, produced not so much as a glimmer of recognition at the name Penny & the Quarters. Though we loved the song from the first play, it may've ended up a bit buried on our original compilation, as #18 of 19 tracks.Four years later, Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label hadn't exactly become a huge seller, although listeners had repeatedly told us that the unfiltered studio demos that fill out the record's back half were true diamonds in the rough. But neither Penny nor her Quarters had appeared to claim credit for their efforts. Then, completely out of left field, we heard from respected screen actor and avowed Numero fan Ryan Gosling that Penny's piercing bit of stripped down doo-wop was being considered for inclusion in Derek Cianfrance's indie-weeper film Blue Valentine. What we didn't know was that "You and Me" had won a major role in what became an indie circuit hit, and that Penny & the Quarters would instantly assume the role of world's most famous unknown doo-wop group.Every week is a slow news week in Columbus, Ohio, and early January 2011 found the city recovering from the thrill of elevating Ted Williams_the formerly homeless guy with the awesome voice for radio_into a national news sensation. But both major daily newspapers in town, as well as the city's alternative weekly, also ran stories about how a lost and unknown Columbus soul group had become the musical centerpiece of a film already garnering Oscar buzz. That mainstream spotlight aimed at Blue Valentine and Penny & the Quarters did the trick: we finally made contact with the widow of Jay Robinson, lead Quarters' singer and songwriter. Robinson, it turned out, had also been the leader of Columbus doo-wop pioneers The Supremes (later known as "The Columbus Supremes," for reasons which should be obvious). Jay Robinson never did give up on the dream of writing a hit record; even so, the posthumous realization of his dream is cold comfort for his widow and daughter. With their blessings, we returned to those estate sale masters and pulled down another neglected track ("You Are Giving Me Some Other Love") from the still-unknown Penny and her now-partly-known Quarters. "You and Me" is a song that could not be suppressed: not when Prix failed to release it; not when Penny & the Quarters were forgotten; not when Numero stuck it at the bitter end of a much overlooked compilation. Its evolution from estate sale trash to silver-screen gold has finally returned it to big-hole 45, where it probably should have lived all along.

"Twilight" ist die kleine Schwester von "Daylight" und laut Produzent Hifi Sean und Sänger David McAlmont ihr bislang bestes Album. "Twilight" ist eine 12 Tracks umfassende Nachtfahrt von der Dämmerung bis zum Morgengrauen, mit allen Momenten dazwischen. Der Opener "The Comedown" ist eine Zusammenarbeit mit The Blessed Madonna, der Titeltrack eine Klangwand mit Chören und das herausragende "Sorry I Made You Cry" ein verzerrter, von Doo-Wop inspirierter Torch-Song.

- Sean: "Ich wollte, dass sich dieses Album so anfühlt, als wäre man in einer dunklen Gedankenwelt und würde gleichzeitig von seinem Lieblingsmenschen umarmt."

- David: "Ich weiß nur, dass wir uns vorgenommen haben, eine kleine Schwester für Daylight zu machen, und am Ende unser bisher bestes Album herausgebracht haben."

"Twilight" ist die kleine Schwester von "Daylight" und laut Produzent Hifi Sean und Sänger David McAlmont ihr bislang bestes Album. "Twilight" ist eine 12 Tracks umfassende Nachtfahrt von der Dämmerung bis zum Morgengrauen, mit allen Momenten dazwischen. Der Opener "The Comedown" ist eine Zusammenarbeit mit The Blessed Madonna, der Titeltrack eine Klangwand mit Chören und das herausragende "Sorry I Made You Cry" ein verzerrter, von Doo-Wop inspirierter Torch-Song.

- Sean: "Ich wollte, dass sich dieses Album so anfühlt, als wäre man in einer dunklen Gedankenwelt und würde gleichzeitig von seinem Lieblingsmenschen umarmt."

- David: "Ich weiß nur, dass wir uns vorgenommen haben, eine kleine Schwester für Daylight zu machen, und am Ende unser bisher bestes Album herausgebracht haben."

As soon as Martin Circus was born in 1969, the band laid foundations for the French "Pop Musique" genre, deliberately turning its back on both French yéyés and rock'n'roll to better embrace psychedelia and the French language. In 1971, they were a pioneering, innovative group moving as fast as a speeding train, building upon everything they found on the way. However, faced with band members changing often, management issues and music evolution, Martin Circus ended up trying to fit in every style: soul, R&B, glam rock, disco, new wave, 80s mainstream music. To follow their journey is to listen to the world shifting along music charts. Behind the scenes, since the very first days of the band, one man had been pulling all the strings. Manager and artistic director Gérard Hugé used to work for both the band and the label - this has never been good news. What he cared about the most was getting records out, no matter who played on them. In the mid-70s, he registered the Martin Circus name, granting himself full power over the band. Deciding that it no longer had either a lyricist or a composer, he made the remaining musicians embark on a series of American 60s hits adaptations. As a result, they made tons of money : "Marylène" was a huge hit and gave them a new impulse. The Martins adopted a new look by wearing shiny Courrèges-style suits and platform boots, and on stage they performed dance moves choreographed by the eccentric Amadeo. They completely fit into the disco craze which was about to take over. Still, their music blended doo-wop and rockabilly with glam rock and funk music. They eventually hit disco with a soundtrack in the mannerof French disco groups such as Space and Voyage. Effortlessly, they released the epic 14- minute "Disco Circus", a track which was to become a real underground gem. DJ and remixer François Kevorkian then released it on the American Prelude label in a self-edited version, shortened to 7 minutes while retaining all the dazzling passages of the original track. It came to be a hit in the clubs of New York and Chicago, making a lasting impression on everyone who heard it. It got sampled on at least 40 tracks over the following decades and featured in dozens of bootlegs and prestigious compilations - by Laurent Garnier, Carl Craig, Juan Atkins, Joey Negro, The Beatnuts, The Rapture, and by Danny Krivit in the DJ culture film Maestro. As the 80s arrived, Martin Circus once again changed the way they looked and their style. Inspired by Devo and their cold dance music, by Buggles' synthpop and Plastic Bertand's postpunk. Throughout their career full of ups and downs, Martin Circus nonetheless managed to keep up with one stable element: contrary to what they seemed, the musicians never took the easy way out. Their playing and arrangements were consistently flawless and polished, they relentlessly dedicated themselves to playing quality music and this can only compel admiration. As Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion goes out of fashion, style never does."

Man of the moment Bruno Mars, currently the record breaking No.1 most listened to artist on Spotify, has his first two No.1 albums reissued on limited edition colour pressings.

Currently riding high with the 1 Billion plus streamed track with Lady Gaga ‘Die With A Smile’ as well as over half a billion streams for the debut single APT. with ROSÉ from Blackpink.

Doo-Wops & Hooligans Product Description

Limited Edition Neon Yellow Vinyl

Bruno Mars' chart-topping debut launched the singer-songwriter into superstardom and spawned a string of blockbuster hit singles including the No.1 singles "Just The Way You Are," "Grenade," "The Lazy Song," plus "Talking to the Moon," "Marry You" and "Count On Me" and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide, going 7 x Platinum in the UK.

Unorthodox Jukebox Product Description:

Limited Edition Neon Coral Vinyl

Bruno Mars' sophomore record has gone 3 x Platinum in the UK and features the smashes "When I Was Your Man" and "Locked Out Of Heaven," as well as "Treasure" and "Gorilla". The album presents a wide range of styles such as R&B, pop, reggae, rock, disco, funk and soul music, and includes production from Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Diplo and Supa Dups, as well as The Smeezingtons. The album has since sold over 6 million copies globally.

In 1969, producer and boogaloo godfather Bobby Marin conceived this undeservedly obscure funky, psychedelic Latin soul gem. Released on Ralph Lew’s short-lived Dorado label and engineered by Jon Fausty, Bobby was backed by a top-notch studio band that included Ricardo Marrero, Joey Pastrana, Bernard Purdie, Louie Ramirez, Orlando Marin and Ozzie Torrens. Includes liner notes by genre expert Pablo Yglesias telling the story behind the music. 180g vinyl. Generally, when discussing the first wave of Latin soul and boogaloo, it’s the bands and their leaders, the singers and the songs that get all the recognition. But what of the producers, composers, and arrangers? One of the top old-school New York Latin music producers, Bobby Marin, was behind the scenes for some of the best independently produced boogaloo and salsa of the ‘60s and ‘70s. “Saboreando - Pot Full Of Soul”, is the album Bobby created in 1969 for his friend Ralph Lew’s newly launched Dorado label. Fifty-five years later, Bobby confirms that he commemorated his humble Barrio beginnings playing stickball on West 107th Street and singing doo-wop while some kids played percussion on junkyard drums, by christening the band The 107th Street Stickball Team. The 107th Street Stickball Team was basically the same pool of friends as Ricardo Marrero’s group (Bernard Purdie on drums, Mike Viñas on guitar, Ricardo Marrero on vibes), with the addition of Louie Ramirez playing piano and organ, Orlando Marin, Joey Pastrana and Ozzie Torrens on percussion, Mike Viñas handling the electric bass, and Butch Johnson and Danny Agosto on lead vocals for a few numbers. At that time, soul music was seen by the present Latin generation, indeed the youth market in general, as something that was different, that broke with tradition. The record, with Bobby singing several of the best tunes including ‘Mojo Shingaling’ and ‘Rhythm and Soul’, highlights an affinity or connection between African American and Cuban music in a convincing blend that was emblematic of the scene and allowed the young generation to feel they had a fresh kind of music all their own. No wonder the LP notes boast The 107th Stickball Team is “a bunch of groovy youngsters.” We are now happy to make this undeservedly obscure funky, psychedelic Latin soul gem available again!

The Holiday Album That Turned Mariah Carey into the Queen of Christmas: Featuring the Standard “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the Singer’s Blockbuster Merry Christmas Exudes Joy, Spirituality, and Conviction
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes, Presented in Audiophile Sound for the First Time, and Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies:

Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP Set Plays with Superb Detail, Openness, and Definition
1/2" / 30 IPS / Dolby SR analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe

Mariah Carey didn’t become the Queen of Christmas just because of her fervent love of the holiday. Or as the result of a brilliant marketing plan. The iconic singer earned her title by way of her blockbuster Merry Christmas, a 1994 album that quickly joined the likes of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song as an all-time holiday vocal classic. Featuring a balanced mix of inspired originals and well-chosen covers, Carey’s fourth studio record has only grown in stature as new generations discover its magic. Mobile Fidelity’s 30th anniversary edition reissue of Merry Christmas makes her spellbinding performances and upper-tier register come alive like never before.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, the pioneering label’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP set of Merry Christmas plays with superb detail, depth, and dimensionality. Available in audiophile quality for the first time since its original release three decades ago, and featuring the bonus track “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” the nine-times-platinum set breathes with a newfound openness and transparency that enhance the spirituality, passion, and festive tenor of Carey’s singing.

Benefitting from superb groove definition, a nearly inaudible noise floor, and dead-quiet vinyl surfaces, the music takes on a heightened energy and anticipatory emotion synonymous with the holiday season. Carey’s signature vocals explode with liveliness and dynamics, the full scope of her acrobatic range presented in clear, transparent sound that practically places her on a small stage in your listening room. This collectible version also breathes with the kind of warmth, intimacy, and coziness you want from a landmark vocal album.

Recorded when Carey helped put “diva” back into everyone’s vocabulary, Merry Christmas gave the New York native another smash right out of the box. What nobody knew at the time was the degree of the album’s staying power — and how, many years removed from its initial promotion cycle, its legend would still grow and even spark a 2010 sequel. Having re-entered the Top 200 charts every year since 2019, Merry Christmas ranks as one of the three most commercially successful holiday LPs ever made and, in due time, will likely earn the top distinction in that class. A global blockbuster, it seamlessly ties together Christian, gospel, and secular threads and speaks to a boundless audience, independent of denomination.

Most obviously, the record remains inescapably connected to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” an uptempo anthem that towers as a holiday standard and one of the biggest-selling singles in history. Punctuated with celesta chimes, sleigh bells, springy keyboards, and joyous beats, the song echoes the simple albeit engaging melodies and doo-wop style of beloved holiday classics of yore — and blends such elements with contagious dance-pop rhythms to create an atmosphere rich in joy, wonder, and excitement. Radiant with golden soulfulness and sincere conviction, Carey’s exuberant singing and on-point phrasing put it all over the top. And how.

The song stands as the only effort in Billboard history to top the Hot 100 chart during at least three separate runs. Carey’s blockbuster has already hit No. 1 during five runs, spanning every year between 2019 and 2024. That’s just one of the many records the singer holds — and only one of the multiple highlights from Merry Christmas, which includes two other Carey-penned originals, “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” and “Jesus Born on This Day.”

Though slightly lesser known, Carey’s remarkable rendition of Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” further links her album with the big, lush, Wall of Sound heritage that helped inspire its production. Carey’s heartfelt take and transformation of the traditional “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” into an animated tune that even adults can believe, as well as her clairon reading of “Joy to the World” — cleverly augmented with bits of Three Dog Night’s 1971 hit of the same name — further reinforce her status as Queen of Christmas.

At the peak of her powers, Carey finds equivalent success when tapping more spiritual veins. Witness the reverence she brings to the timeless carol “Silent Night,” the piousness she invests in “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child,” and the sacred feeling she conveys throughout “O Holy Night.” You’ll also never think of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” the same way again after hearing Mimi pour her heart and soul into them, and pair the songs together.

Indeed, it’s Carey’s pliable voice, melismatic technique, and five-octave range — on display here in definitive fashion — coupled with her undeniable love for Christmas and understanding of the religious significance of the season that make Merry Christmas a must-have holiday staple. And on Mobile Fidelity’s LP, something you better add to your wish list.

If you feel like motoring down the highway at 100 miles per hour breathing in pure rock n roll exhaust then look no further– Rowdy is here to kick out the jams and rev up with their self-titled debut LP Rowdy! These seasoned rockers are dealing out a heavy dose of song-forward classic garage punk that sounds like a mixed bag of Joan Jett singing for Teengenerate and Roky Erikson and The Aliens covering Oblivions. This is no surprise as Rowdy is formed by members of legendary Austin band Hex Dispensers and Scotland's Goldie Dawn, (Hex Dispensers, major contributors to the Texas garage punk scene). Rowdy’s sound runs the gamut with catchy 77 punk tunes like “All in My Head”- with its huge chorus, anthemic doo-wop tinged songs like “Fine Mystery, and bluesy garage rippers like “Cost Of It”. The recording is raw and punchy, dripping with overdriven twangy guitars, a steadfast, tight rhythm section, and blown out vocals. This record is pure rock n roll madness! Pop this Rowdy on in your headphones, shotgun a Steel Reserve, and you’ll be on your motorcycle doing donuts on your highschool principal’s lawn in no time.

Charlie Manning ist Chubby and The Gang. Der Mitte 30-jährige gebürtige Londoner startete das Projekt 2019 mit der Absicht, Hardcore-Punk mit den
ansteckendsten Elementen des 70er-Jahre-Rock'n'Roll und Doo-Wop zu vermischen. Charlie brachte eine „Gang“ rotierender Instrumentalisten ins
Spiel, die auf den Alben Speed Kills (2020) und The Mutt's Nuts (2021) mitwirkten. Jetzt ist es soweit: Chubby and the Gang schließt sich dem
langjährigen Hardcore-Label Flatspot Records an und veröffentlicht das neue Album „And Then There Was...“.
Das Album besteht aus 16 von Charlie geschriebenen und gespielten Songs, produziert von Jonah Falco und aufgenommen und abgemischt von James
Atckinson. Es ist eine Mischung aus Kontrolle und Chaos, Liebe und Einsamkeit, Wut und Verletzlichkeit. Die Songs schreien förmlich danach, live
gehört zu werden, fühlen sich aber genauso wohl, wenn sie über die Lautsprecher einer schummrigen Kneipe laufen. Auf „And Then There Was...“
stellt Charlie sein Talent für Melodien und die Offenlegung seines wahren Ichs unter Beweis.
In den fünf Jahren, die es Chubby and the Gang gibt, hat die Band mehr erreicht als die meisten in der doppelten Zeitspanne. Es ist keine
Überraschung, dass die Band weltweit und in den Medien gelobt wird: Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Guardian, NME und viele mehr haben über sie
berichtet

Charlie Manning ist Chubby and The Gang. Der Mitte 30-jährige gebürtige Londoner startete das Projekt 2019 mit der Absicht, Hardcore-Punk mit den
ansteckendsten Elementen des 70er-Jahre-Rock'n'Roll und Doo-Wop zu vermischen. Charlie brachte eine „Gang“ rotierender Instrumentalisten ins
Spiel, die auf den Alben Speed Kills (2020) und The Mutt's Nuts (2021) mitwirkten. Jetzt ist es soweit: Chubby and the Gang schließt sich dem
langjährigen Hardcore-Label Flatspot Records an und veröffentlicht das neue Album „And Then There Was...“.
Das Album besteht aus 16 von Charlie geschriebenen und gespielten Songs, produziert von Jonah Falco und aufgenommen und abgemischt von James
Atckinson. Es ist eine Mischung aus Kontrolle und Chaos, Liebe und Einsamkeit, Wut und Verletzlichkeit. Die Songs schreien förmlich danach, live
gehört zu werden, fühlen sich aber genauso wohl, wenn sie über die Lautsprecher einer schummrigen Kneipe laufen. Auf „And Then There Was...“
stellt Charlie sein Talent für Melodien und die Offenlegung seines wahren Ichs unter Beweis.
In den fünf Jahren, die es Chubby and the Gang gibt, hat die Band mehr erreicht als die meisten in der doppelten Zeitspanne. Es ist keine
Überraschung, dass die Band weltweit und in den Medien gelobt wird: Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Guardian, NME und viele mehr haben über sie
berichtet

Weißes Vinyl im Klappcover! Die dänisch-brasilianische Band The Courettes war von Anfang an eine Rock'n'Roll-Sensation und ist mit ihrem vierten und bisher besten Album zurück: "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes". Und dieses Mal sind sie größer, breiter und tiefer als je zuvor, denn sie haben ihrem fulminanten Ramalama, mit dem sie in Großbritannien, Europa, den USA und Japan für Furore sorgen, noch mehr hinzugefügt. The Courettes treffen genau den richtigen Punkt zwischen Garage-Rock, Girlgroup-Pop, Doo-Wop-Harmonien, Herzschmerz und allem, was dazwischen liegt, und bauen auf dem Schwung des Vorgängers "Back In Mono" mit einer Sammlung von Songs auf, die ihren klanglichen Spielraum erweitern, während sie sich mit dunklen, emotionalen Themen auseinandersetzen, um "The Soul Of_ The Fabulous Courettes'" zu enthüllen. "Wir wollten kein "Back In Mono 2" machen", betont Schlagzeuger Martin Couri. "Wir versuchen immer, uns in eine Zone des Unbehagens zu begeben, in der meiner Meinung nach aufregende Dinge passieren, anstatt immer wieder das Gleiche zu tun", stimmt Sängerin, Gitarristin und Multiinstrumentalistin Flavia Couri zu. Mit jeder Albumveröffentlichung hat sich das Duo weiterentwickelt und "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes" lässt sich von den zahlreichen Vorbildern des Duos inspirieren, die zuvor nur angedeutet wurden. "Wir wollten unsere Liebe zur Spector Wall Of Sound und Motown zeigen", verrät Flavia. "Es war eine klare Mission und wir haben sie absolut erfüllt." Von den glorreichen Eröffnungsbeats und den stechenden Fuzz-Hupen von "You Woo Me" bis hin zu der abschließenden emotionalen Rührung von "For Your Love" über die fuzzige Dringlichkeit von "SHAKE!" und die feierliche Wärme von "California" haben The Courettes ihren Sound mit einer Instrumentierung und einer allgemeinen Raffinesse erweitert, die sowohl in ihrer Produktion als auch in ihrem Songwriting deutlich wird. Und vor allem haben sie dies erreicht, ohne etwas von dem Rock'n'Roll-Kern zu opfern, der von Flavias Gitarrensaiten und Martins ramponiertem Schlagzeug abgekratzt wurde. Bei ihrem Streben nach klanglicher Perfektion haben sie einige Gastmusikern und Klang-Zauberer im Hintergrund unterstützt, z.B. La La Brooks (The Crystals) mit Backing Vocals bei "California" und "Run Run Runaway" (bei denen auch noch Brian Wilson-Kollaborateur Darian Sahanaja den Gesang gemischt und mit einem Beach Boys-Vibe versehen hat). Produzenten-Legende Richard Gottehrer hat "Keep Dancing" und "Boom Boom Boom" abgemischt, Peter Kehl und Kasper Wagner (beide Black Tornado) geben sich mit diversen Blasinstrumenten bei "Shake!", "Better Without You" und "Stop! Doing That" die Ehre. Zu den Courettes gesellt sich in ihren eigenen StarrSound Studios in Dänemark erneut der Multi-Instrumentalist Soren Christensen, der Mellotron, Orgel, Klavier und Backing Vocals beisteuert und das Album gemeinsam mit C.T. Levine produziert hat. Während sich die Musik akustische und 12-saitige Gitarren, Bass, E-Bögen, Kastagnetten und Pauken einbezieht, haben sich auch die Emotionen entwickelt, die man zuvor nicht mit The Courettes in Verbindung gebracht hat. "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes" richtet sich an Herz und Kopf, es tanzt durch die Dunkelheit und feiert die Freude am Leben.

Die dänisch-brasilianische Band The Courettes war von Anfang an eine Rock'n'Roll-Sensation und ist mit ihrem vierten und bisher besten Album zurück: "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes". Und dieses Mal sind sie größer, breiter und tiefer als je zuvor, denn sie haben ihrem fulminanten Ramalama, mit dem sie in Großbritannien, Europa, den USA und Japan für Furore sorgen, noch mehr hinzugefügt. The Courettes treffen genau den richtigen Punkt zwischen Garage-Rock, Girlgroup-Pop, Doo-Wop-Harmonien, Herzschmerz und allem, was dazwischen liegt, und bauen auf dem Schwung des Vorgängers "Back In Mono" mit einer Sammlung von Songs auf, die ihren klanglichen Spielraum erweitern, während sie sich mit dunklen, emotionalen Themen auseinandersetzen, um "The Soul Of_ The Fabulous Courettes'" zu enthüllen. "Wir wollten kein "Back In Mono 2" machen", betont Schlagzeuger Martin Couri. "Wir versuchen immer, uns in eine Zone des Unbehagens zu begeben, in der meiner Meinung nach aufregende Dinge passieren, anstatt immer wieder das Gleiche zu tun", stimmt Sängerin, Gitarristin und Multiinstrumentalistin Flavia Couri zu. Mit jeder Albumveröffentlichung hat sich das Duo weiterentwickelt und "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes" lässt sich von den zahlreichen Vorbildern des Duos inspirieren, die zuvor nur angedeutet wurden. "Wir wollten unsere Liebe zur Spector Wall Of Sound und Motown zeigen", verrät Flavia. "Es war eine klare Mission und wir haben sie absolut erfüllt." Von den glorreichen Eröffnungsbeats und den stechenden Fuzz-Hupen von "You Woo Me" bis hin zu der abschließenden emotionalen Rührung von "For Your Love" über die fuzzige Dringlichkeit von "SHAKE!" und die feierliche Wärme von "California" haben The Courettes ihren Sound mit einer Instrumentierung und einer allgemeinen Raffinesse erweitert, die sowohl in ihrer Produktion als auch in ihrem Songwriting deutlich wird. Und vor allem haben sie dies erreicht, ohne etwas von dem Rock'n'Roll-Kern zu opfern, der von Flavias Gitarrensaiten und Martins ramponiertem Schlagzeug abgekratzt wurde. Bei ihrem Streben nach klanglicher Perfektion haben sie einige Gastmusikern und Klang-Zauberer im Hintergrund unterstützt, z.B. La La Brooks (The Crystals) mit Backing Vocals bei "California" und "Run Run Runaway" (bei denen auch noch Brian Wilson-Kollaborateur Darian Sahanaja den Gesang gemischt und mit einem Beach Boys-Vibe versehen hat). Produzenten-Legende Richard Gottehrer hat "Keep Dancing" und "Boom Boom Boom" abgemischt, Peter Kehl und Kasper Wagner (beide Black Tornado) geben sich mit diversen Blasinstrumenten bei "Shake!", "Better Without You" und "Stop! Doing That" die Ehre. Zu den Courettes gesellt sich in ihren eigenen StarrSound Studios in Dänemark erneut der Multi-Instrumentalist Soren Christensen, der Mellotron, Orgel, Klavier und Backing Vocals beisteuert und das Album gemeinsam mit C.T. Levine produziert hat. Während sich die Musik akustische und 12-saitige Gitarren, Bass, E-Bögen, Kastagnetten und Pauken einbezieht, haben sich auch die Emotionen entwickelt, die man zuvor nicht mit The Courettes in Verbindung gebracht hat. "The Soul Of... The Fabulous Courettes" richtet sich an Herz und Kopf, es tanzt durch die Dunkelheit und feiert die Freude am Leben.

Hidden Notes Records (Spindle Ensemble, Fran & Flora, Josh Semans) and Tardigrade Records (Cosmo Sheldrake, Howl) are excited to announce a unique collaboration to release ‘Selected Worlds’, the monumental and ambitious debut triple album by composer and pianist Daniel Inzani. Over the past 2 decades you might have seen Inzani performing with dozens of bands from Bristol’s underground alternative and avant-garde scene, blending classical, jazz, contemporary, improvisation, unusual harmony and rhythms as a band leader and collaborator. He’s released an avant-garde collaborative album with Alabaster dePlume, is the musical director and arranger for Cosmo Sheldrake’s 19 piece live band, leads his own critically acclaimed modern chamber quartet Spindle Ensemble and (the now disbanded) 8 piece Ethiopian Jazz meets Frank Zappa group Tezeta, He has toured worldwide as a keys player, collaborated with Canadian ensembles Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan and London Symphonia and co-founded Bristol’s experimental collective Bloom, leading to tours and releases with UK rocksteady favourites Count Bobo, the psychedelic space doo-wop of Dubi Dolzcek and many more. After years of recording, touring and eclectic composing he has gathered a trusted set of musicians who are both skilled improvisers and virtuoso players to record an instrumental triple album for release under his own name. The 3 vinyl discs act as albums in their own right, each with different sets of musicians, instrumentations, genres and intentions. The 3 discs were recorded live over 3 day periods in quick succession, with Daniel’s regular collaborator Cosmo Sheldrake engineering the recording sessions. It’s quite possibly the only album you’ll ever hear that starts with a neo-impressionist string quartet, goes on to merge avant-garde symphonic arrangements with group improvisation and ends with an 8 piece cosmic jazz band wigging out, yet Inzani’s voice is clear throughout making for a cohesive 2 hour odyssey from the mind of a composer whose idiosyncratic style thrives through variety Listeners will hear influences from the aforementioned composers including Mingus, Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Ravel and Moondog in Inzani’s music but might also find the soundtracks of Morricone and Jonny Greenwood nestled alongside the loose freeform leanings of Alabaster dePlume, the contemporary jazz of Kamasi Washington and the unique collaboration by Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders (minus the electronics perhaps.) Daniel will be performing a special preview of the album with an 11 piece band at WOMAD Festival (27.07) and a launch concert at this year’s Hidden Notes Festival in Stroud (21.09), with further tour dates to be announced

The wild greaser with an ever-broken heart, Cong Josie, is back! His
eagerly anticipated sophomore album; Moto Zone, pulls up throbbing,
revving, sweating and grinding hotter than bitumen on a summer day
It is a non- stop EBM'in', synth- punkin', rock 'n' rollin' and doo- woppin' sizzler, in
much the same vein as his 2021 debut Cong!. With this release however, Cong
pushes his own M.O. even deeper. The throbs get bolder, the NRG goes harder,
slow sleaze hip-grinding enters and the dream washes return to envelope all that
hear them like a siren's call. On Moto Zone, Cong conjures the age of rock 'n' roll,
a world of motorcycle gangs and hot rods, leather, chains, backcombing and hair
pomade, with an Aussie twist on greaser 'cool'. Confessional lyrics tell tales of
addiction and mental illness tracing the scars of a troubled past. Cong says the
"Moto Zone" reflects his daily life and mindset. A life of ADHD, burning the
midnight oil, living on black coffee, obsessively creating and revving through
every day. Ultimately Cong is reaching for bliss, feeling connection and a new
world in these songs. Exhilarating? Anxious? Hedonistic? Dangerous? Beautiful?
A lust for life? The record is all of the above.

On 'Leaving Me', the debut album by British singer and songwriter Denver
Cuss, she has crafted a wonderfully nostalgic album in the style of '60s
soul and rhythm and blues
Denver first gained recognition as an accompanist and background singer for PM
Warson, who produced this album. She and her co-writer Kit Warren began writing
this album in early 2022, recording it gradually over the next 18 months. They
utilised several studios across London to capture the best of each element: The
Cube in Stoke Newington for the drum sound, Hackney Road Studios for lead
vocals, and Sam Beer's studio in Acton for Hammond, Wurlitzer, and background
vocals. This album was a labour of love, involving over 12 musicians with
incredible talent.
Inspired by the doo-wop and Chicago soul pioneers The Impressions, the vocal
styles of Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin, and the echoing, modern R&B
sounds of Thee Sacred Souls and The Altons, Denver's debut album has a clear
thematic thread. It effortlessly navigates the world of '60s- style background
vocals and R&B horn arrangements, carefully curated by Denver. With her
background in jazz and her arrangement style firmly rooted in the world of soul
and R&B, you can clearly hear her influences, supported by some of London's
finest musicians.

The wild greaser with an ever-broken heart, Cong Josie, is back! His eagerly anticipated sophomore album; Moto Zone, pulls up throbbing, revving, sweating and grinding hotter than bitumen on a summer day. It is a non-stop EBM’in’, synth-punkin’, rock ’n’ rollin’ and doo-woppin’ sizzler, in much the same vein as his 2021 debut Cong!. With this release however, Cong pushes his own M.O. even deeper. The throbs get bolder, the NRG goes harder, slow sleaze hip-grinding enters and the dream washes return to envelope all that hear them like a siren’s call. On Moto Zone, Cong conjures the age of rock ’n’ roll, a world of motorcycle gangs and hot rods, leather, chains, backcombing and hair pomade, with an Aussie twist on greaser ‘cool’. Confessional lyrics tell tales of addiction and mental illness tracing the scars of a troubled past. Cong says the “Moto Zone” reflects his daily life and mindset. A life of ADHD, burning the midnight oil, living on black coffee, obsessively creating and revving through every day. Ultimately Cong is reaching for bliss, feeling connection and a new world in these songs. Exhilarating? Anxious? Hedonistic? Dangerous? Beautiful? A lust for life? The record is all of the above.

Bad Man Possee is a classic early Eighties dub reggae recording by Junior Murvin, who made his name working with Lee ""Scratch"" Perry on his 1976 debut album Police & Thieves. This album features some stirringly hypnotic tracks to go along with the hit title track. ""Guitar"" is an eerie ode to Murvin's first guitar, riding craftily over a headnodding rhythm provided by Dread At The Controls studio musicians the Roots Radics Band. While Murvin changes speeds quite mercurially, from the love lost recollection ""Never Fall in Love"" to the politically charged ""Rebellion,"" the high quality of the music remains even throughout. Murvin's outstanding doo wop-inspired falsetto is a uniquely inspired nod to the R&B tradition as well as the stylings of ska, rocksteady, and dub. Murvin tops the album off with simply astonishing version ""Man Is the Fire."" Bad Man Possee is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on translucent yellow coloured vinyl.

Written with no big plan in mind, Reverend Baron's "Overpass Boy" becomes a Los Angeles meditation, an eight song prayer of poetic topography. The album gives the city its own sound, and its own songs to hum. Recorded in several different locations of LA, and loosely sketching the story of a young wanderer, the album is an easy current of observations and longings. Slices of soul and doo-wop emerge in stacked harmonies, while the percussion and grooves are the blooms that could only come from East LA. Garcia's investment to vocal tenderness and instrumental high style strikes our universal center. His soft serenade reconnects us to something misplaced. Playing almost every instrument on the album, Garcia's spirit is tailored into the sound, designing an amalgam of tones and frequencies as idiosyncratic as the singer himself. Traversing the alleys, passing the sous-chef's cigarette smoke, under the shaking bridges, behind a velvet curtain in a good suit, with a slide guitar in the rain, the titles quilt together for us: Every promise out here walks and waits in the little hours. Jackie and Jimmy drive away and we're left in that little valley, suspended. Recorded and digitally released in 2019, "Overpass Boy" will be re-released by Karma Chief Records on 8/2/2024