Hackney singer-songwriter Mychelle debut album Good Day is set for release on April 30 via FAMM (Maverick Sabre/Jorja Smith). In her own words "This album is inspired by the music I love to listen to, with lyrics that helped me release what wasn’t serving me.‘Good Day’ is my way of saying goodbye to the chapters in my life that created bad days.I’m incredibly grateful for every single person who played a part in bringing ‘Good Day’ to life, and for those who continue to help push it further. I’ve really enjoyed the entire process.Thank you, and have a ‘Good Day’. Raised in Stoke Newington, Mychelle grew up surrounded by music and first picked up a guitar at 10. Years later, she overcame her shyness through busking—spending over four years performing on London’s streets, where her raw and soulful delivery caught the attention of FAMM, leading to her signing.
Since her debut The Way (2021), Mychelle has released standout EPs, including Closure (2021), Someone Who Knows (2022), It’s Not You, It’s Me (2023), and Me & Gaz (2024). Her collaboration with ENNY on Forbidden Fruit has nearly 2.5 million plays, proving her ability to connect deeply with audiences. Having performed at Montreux Jazz Festival, Boardmasters, Deershed, and Michael Kiwanuka’s tour, Mychelle will soon join Jorja Smith on her UK & ERIE tour and take the stage at Across The Tracks and Mad Cool Festival in Madrid, promising an exciting summer of live performances. Beyond music, she thrives in movement—whether on the basketball court, football field, or running track—infusing energy and passion into everything she does. Good Day marks a bold new chapter, showcasing her evolution as an artist and her unwavering trust in her craft.
ENG Mamalarky thrive in the in-between, a tri-coastal outfit straddling Atlanta, Austin, and Los Angeles, crafting a sound that feels both meticulously constructed and effortlessly unspooled. Their brand of indie rock is delightfully askew-swirling psych flourishes meet wiry guitar tangents, all anchored by tender, off-kilter hooks that burrow deep. It"s music that invites you into its strange little universe, full of inside jokes and late-night musings turned into melodic gold. Their sophomore effort, Hex Key - marking their Epitaph Records debut-lands in April, with plenty of mileage ahead as they road-test new material. A spring tour includes a run with Hinds and a stop at Treefort Music Fest, where their shape-shifting sonics will no doubt translate into hypnotic, full-bodied chaos. Formed in Austin in 2016, Mamalarky"s lineup has since scattered across time zones, but their chemistry remains unmistakable. Guitarist Livvy Bennett (formerly of Cherry Glazerr), keyboardist Michael Hunter (White Denim), drummer Dylan Hill, and bassist Noor Khan (Faye Webster"s touring bassist) operate like a band that"s spent years finishing each other"s musical sentences. Their songwriting thrives on kinetic interplay-nimble and restless, yet always landing in some deeply satisfying pocket. While indie-pop might be the easiest tag to slap on them, Mamalarky dodge the genre"s more predictable trappings. Instead of settling into breezy melancholy, they embrace complexity-knotty time signatures, rubbery basslines, and melodies that feel like they"re winking at you. It"s heady but never pretentious, the kind of music that rewards repeat listens, each spin revealing a new hidden corner.
"Fimbulvinter" by Bjorn Riis: A Journey Through Darkness and Light... Named after the legendary long winter that heralds Ragnarok, a time of both destruction and rebirth. Bjorn Riis' new album Fimbulvinter is a profound and deeply personal work. Drawing from his own experiences with anxiety, Bjorn explores themes of hopelessness, paranoia, and despair, ultimately finding a spark of hope and gratitude in the darkness. "This isn't an autobiographical album," Bjorn explains, "but I wanted to share parts of my own journey and address a subject that I feel is both deeply important and still somewhat taboo." Musically, Fimbulvinter reflects Bjorn's diverse influences, blending the atmospheric and introspective tones of progressive rock with the energy and swagger of the hard rock bands he grew up with in the early '80s. Fans of Kiss, Black Sabbath, and classic progressive acts will find much to love in the album's rich soundscapes. From the driving, anthemic energy of "Gone" - a track made for blasting on the open road - to moments of introspection and monumental heaviness, Fimbulvinter is a dynamic journey through darkness and light. Bjorn takes centre stage on the album, performing all instruments and vocals, while also enlisting contributions from talented collaborators, including Henrik Bergan Fossum (Airbag), Arild Broter (Pymlico) and Kai Christoffersen on drums. Longtime partner and co-producer Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes also returns, ensuring the album's production is as impeccable as its compositions. With Fimbulvinter, Bjorn Riis once again demonstrates why he is a cornerstone of the progressive rock scene, delivering music that is as emotionally resonant as it is sonically captivating.
"Fimbulvinter" by Bjorn Riis: A Journey Through Darkness and Light... Named after the legendary long winter that heralds Ragnarok, a time of both destruction and rebirth. Bjorn Riis' new album Fimbulvinter is a profound and deeply personal work. Drawing from his own experiences with anxiety, Bjorn explores themes of hopelessness, paranoia, and despair, ultimately finding a spark of hope and gratitude in the darkness. "This isn't an autobiographical album," Bjorn explains, "but I wanted to share parts of my own journey and address a subject that I feel is both deeply important and still somewhat taboo." Musically, Fimbulvinter reflects Bjorn's diverse influences, blending the atmospheric and introspective tones of progressive rock with the energy and swagger of the hard rock bands he grew up with in the early '80s. Fans of Kiss, Black Sabbath, and classic progressive acts will find much to love in the album's rich soundscapes. From the driving, anthemic energy of "Gone" - a track made for blasting on the open road - to moments of introspection and monumental heaviness, Fimbulvinter is a dynamic journey through darkness and light. Bjorn takes centre stage on the album, performing all instruments and vocals, while also enlisting contributions from talented collaborators, including Henrik Bergan Fossum (Airbag), Arild Broter (Pymlico) and Kai Christoffersen on drums. Longtime partner and co-producer Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes also returns, ensuring the album's production is as impeccable as its compositions. With Fimbulvinter, Bjorn Riis once again demonstrates why he is a cornerstone of the progressive rock scene, delivering music that is as emotionally resonant as it is sonically captivating.
Lucas und Arthur Jussen gehören zu den gefragtesten Klavierduos unserer Zeit. Die niederländischen Geschwister gelten dank ihrer internationalen Karriere mittlerweile zu den großen Aushängeschildern der Klassik in ihrem Heimatland. Ihr neues Projekt Cantus/Rêve ist nun die Kulmination ihrer Arbeit der letzten Jahre: es vereint die beiden bislang nur digital veröffentlichten Alben ”Cantus” - mit Kompositionen von Brahms, Bach und Arvo Pärt - und ”Rêve” - mit Stücken von Debussy, Hahn und Koechlin - erstmals im physischen Format. Die wunderschöne Gatefold-LP mit sechs Tracks pro Seite zieren Schwarz-Weiß Fotos des Geschwisterduos. „Diese Musik strahlt so viel Vertrauen und Frieden aus, und wir hoffen, ihr schätzt sie genauso wie wir“, sagen Lucas und Arthur. Zu den Höhepunkten ihres gefüllten Konzertkalenders 2024/25 gehören Auftritte mit dem Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Bamberger Symphoniker, Dresdner Philharmonie, sowie eine anschließende Europatournee mit dem Gewandhausorchester. ”Die beiden Niederländer sind großartige Klangerzähler, sie schlagen mit ihrem Sinn für Licht-und-SchattenWirkungen die Zuhörer in ihren Bann. ” - Der Tagesspiegel
Leo Parker war einer der ersten Baritonsaxofonisten, die sich auf das glatte Parkett des Bebop wagten. Nachdem seine glanzvolle Karriere Mitte der 1950er Jahre durch exzessiven Drogenkonsum einen Einbruch erlitten hatte, gelang ihm 1961 bei Blue Note ein leider tragisch kurzes Comeback. Auf “Rollin’ With Leo” begeisterte er mit swingenden Eigenkompositionen. Nur vier Monate nach den Aufnahmen starb er im Alter von 36 Jahren an einem Herzinfarkt.
Nachdem Grachan Moncur III bei Blue-Note-Aufnahmen von Jackie McLean und Herbie Hancock auf sich aufmerksam gemacht hatte, produzierte Alfred Lion für das Label zwei Soloalben des versierten AvantgardePosaunisten. Auf “Some Other Stuff” ist er mit einem besonders abenteuerlustigen Ensemble zu erleben, dem gleich drei Musiker angehörten, die seinerzeit im legendären zweiten Quintett von Miles Davis spielten.
Wie kann es sein, dass das 1969er Album „Off Centre“ als eines der gesuchtesten britischen Jazz-Alben gilt und nur für größere Summen den Besitzer wechselt, obwohl Frontman John Cameron kein namhafter Jazzmusiker ist?
Ganz einfach: Cameron ist einer der erfolgreichsten und vielseitigsten britischen Studiokünstler, hat Hits für Pop-Stars wie Donovan, Cilla Black und Hot Chocolate arrangiert und Musiken für bekannte Filme und TV-Serien komponiert. Tief im Herzen muss Cameron allerdings ein Jazzmusiker sein, das beweist sein Quartettalbum als Pianist zusammen mit Bassist Danny Thompson (Nick Drake, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel), Saxofonist & Flötist Harold McNair (Quincy Jones, Blossom Dearie, Ginger Baker) und Drummer Tony Carr (Bryan Ferry, Joan Armatrading, Wings).
Das dynamisch swingende, groovende Album erlebt jetzt seine erste Vinyl-Wiederveröffentlichung, remastert in den Abbey Road Studios von den Original-Analogbändern. Eine großformatige Beilage präsentiert ein ausführliches neues Interview mit John Cameron.
Discover the groundbreaking sound of Los Texao, a legendary Peruvian rock band that helped shape the music scene in the 1970s. Born in the culturally rich city of Arequipa, Los Texao's journey to stardom was paved with innovation, passion, and an undeniable connection to their roots. Their music fused the energy of psychedelic rock with Latin American influences, captivating audiences across their native Peru, Los Texao's psychedelic phase was marked by experimentation with new sounds and instruments. This release comprises their complete recordings, including all their singles and also covers of some of the most influential rock bands of the era, most of them previously unavailable on vinyl. Formed in 1969, the band took their name from Arequipa's emblematic flower, the nasturtium, and made an immediate impact with their debut at a local band contest. Soon after, they recorded their first 45 RPM single, which included covers of tracks by Chilean group Los Beat 4. But it was in the early 70s when Los Texao truly found their voice. With a dynamic lineup, including the talented Fernando "Feño" Humbser and Juan Núñez on guitar, Víctor Dibán on vocals and bass, and Edgar "Chito" Manrique on drums, their musical evolution began to take shape. The addition of Julio Torres, a keyboardist and guitarist from the iconic bands Los Beatniks and Los Dig It, further elevated their sound. Los Texao's psychedelic phase was marked by experimentation with new sounds and instruments. They embraced the emerging trend of playing rock in English, despite the language barrier, and incorporated cutting-edge gear. With the help of the legendary Peruvian jazz musician Jaime Delgado Aparicio, they created hypnotic tracks like 'Algún día' and 'Nunca cambias,' capturing the essence of 70s rock with swirling textures and atmospheric vibes. But it wasn't just the melodies that set them apart - their electrifying rhythms and powerful arrangements, like those heard in 'Stone' and 'La pelea del gobernador,' showcased their refined musicianship and intense dedication. Los Texao quickly became a sensation in Peru, performing in cities like Puno, Moquegua, and Arica (Chile), and sharing stages with iconic bands like Los Shain's, Traffic Sound, and Telegraph Avenue. Their infamous hit 'La pelea del gobernador' tells a tale of generational conflict and rebellious youth, captured in a live performance that still resonates with audiences today. The band's wild live shows became the stuff of legend, with fans packing into intimate venues to experience the raw energy of their loud, unapologetic rock. In addition to their 45s, Los Texao also recorded covers of some of the most influential rock bands of the era, including Cream, Steppenwolf, and The Guess Who, showcasing their versatility and love for classic rock. Unfortunately, this session remained lost for years and some of these covers have never been available on vinyl before. Despite their growing success, Los Texao eventually disbanded in 1975 due to personal and professional challenges. But their legacy never faded.
Jubiläums-Reissue! Die Schwedischen Punkfolker hauten 2015 mit ihrem zweitem Album 15 dermaßen geile Melody-Kracher raus, das es nur so eine wahre Freude ist! The Sensitives kombinieren Folk, Punk, RnR / Billy teilweise mit Country- und Offbeat-Elementen zu einem wilden Mix, bei dem sowohl live als auch auf Platte sofort der Funke überspringt! Vom Geheimtipp mit unzähligen DIY Pub- & Clubshows in ganz Europa, wechseln die Schweden mit ihrem Album Dogs on the Run jetzt auf die Überholspur, schon der Opener "Kick a hole in the sky" stimmt auf die weiteren 40 Minuten vortrefflich ein nd mit "To the Punx" schafft das Trio nebenbei eine Szenehymne, die sich gewaschen hat! Der charismatische Gesang von Paulina & Martin verbunden mit einem abwechslungsreichen Songwriting zwischen schnellen Pogo-Tracks und coolen Mid-Tempo Ohrwürmern zieht sich dann auch durchs ganze Album! Das hat mehr als nur Charme, ist verdammt authentisch und der Funke springt sofort über! Man kann ohne Übertreibung sagen, dass The Sensitives eine absolute Ausnahmeband sind!! Für wen Dropkick Murphys, Gaslight Anthem oder Baboon Show keine Fremdwörter sind, für den ist diese Scheibe wie gemacht! Mehrfarbiges Vinyl!
Mannequin Pussy"s music feels like a resilient and galvanizing shout that demands to be heard. Across four albums, the Philadelphia rock band that consists of Colins "Bear" Regisford (bass, vocals), Kaleen Reading (drums, percussion), Maxine Steen (guitar, synths), and Marisa Dabice (guitar, vocals) has made cathartic tunes about despairing times. "There"s just so much constantly going on that feels intentionally evil that trying to make something beautiful feels like a radical act ," says Dabice. "The ethos of this band has always been to bring people together." Their new album, I Got Heaven, which is out March 1 via Epitaph Records, is the band"s most fully realized recording yet. Over ten ambitious tracks which abruptly turn from searing punk to inviting alternative pop, the album is deeply concerned with desire, the power in being alone, and how to live in an unfeeling and unkind world. It"s a document of a band doubling down on their unshakable bond to make something furious, thrilling, and wholly alive. Following the 2019 release of their critically acclaimed third album Patience, Mannequin Pussy returned in 2021 for their EP Perfect. They toured that release relentlessly and added guitarist Maxine Steen to the band"s official lineup. The band changed their entire creative formula, choosing to write together in the studio in Los Angeles with producer John Congleton , over slowly crafting tracks at home.
If You Asked For A Picture', das zweite Album von Sabrina Teitelbaum alias Blondshell, ist ein triumphales Album, das den unabschließbaren Prozess der Selbstfindung einfängt. Zu klug, um eine endgültige Antwort zu geben. Wie auch schon auf ihrem 2023 erschienenen selbstbetitelten Debütalbum angedeutet, dessen Eigenwilligkeit, Selbsterforschung und lässiger Humor sie zu einer der am meisten gefeierten neuen Künstlerinnen der letzten Zeit gemacht haben, strotzt das Album nur so vor Dringlichkeit, Ambition und zerstörerischer Kraft.
Limited edition milky-clear 2LP of The Adicts’ only official live album for RSD2025.
First time on vinyl for 35 years; now with bonus disc with 13 additional tracks!
Remastered, and with improved packaging with previously unseen photos.
The Adicts came from Ipswich on the east coast of England, dressed in white in an amalgam of The Joker and Clockwork Orange imagery. Their previous studio albums had made a big impact in the UK, with singles entering the lower reaches of the national charts on Sire Records – (who insisted they change their provocative punky name to ADX or The Fun Adicts for children's TV!).
With catchy, glam-punk singalong tunes and theatrical shows, they were dramatic and exciting live – the best way to experience them. The Adicts still continue to grow their audience and regularly tour the USA, UK and Europe.
Recorded live at the Alabama Halle, Munich, Germany. Mixed from multitrack by The Adicts.
Manolis Pappas writes: "Coming from Thessaloniki, but currently residing in Athens, Savvas Metaxas presents "Feedback Poetics", a study in ambient, minimal electronics and feedback drone, revealing a work of compelling compositional clarity. "Feedback Poetics" was recorded during a long improvisational night, with most of the piece captured in a single take. Later, a few additional sounds were added. Recorded using the Lyra-8 synthesiser by Soma Electronics and the Lemondrop granular synthesiser, the album weaves intricate sonic patterns into a meticulously crafted soundscape. The idea behind this recording was to create a long, meditative piece, captured entirely through headphone monitoring. The title reflects the experience of listening to these sound frequencies dancing around the listener's head. Metaxas, known for his output on esteemed labels in recent years and co-founder of Dasa Tapes and Granny Records, offers a work that resonates with the intimacy of a private live performance, yet possesses a refined and considered structure befitting a carefully curated cassette documentation." – Manolis Pappas/Coherent States.
Sediment is an assemblage of field recordings made in the Swiss canton of Jura on a single day in August 2022. Jura's rock and limestone formations create a complex topology which hosts a diversity of sound spaces; human, more-than-human, geophonic, subterranean and extra-terrestrial. By walking and driving through this landscape curious pockets of activity are revealed to the listener. The layers of strata that make up Jura; earth, rock, forest, cables, pipes, factories, planes and radio towers inform the sound strata. These recordings incorporate and embrace these many layerings; the acoustic, radio, magnetic, vibrational, tectonic, resonant.
Over the course of a day Tim Shaw and Laurent Güdel followed their ears, they visited forests, mountains, rivers, hydroelectric plants, caves, radio broadcast towers, wind turbines, train tracks, sacred wells, man made tunnels and abandoned factories, harvesting sounds from this tangled and ever-changing soundscape. Using various listening devices they attempted to listen into the full spectrum of activity, hydrophonic, geophonic, air-pressure, electromagnetic and radio.
Sounds harvested include pieces of limestone being submerged into water, electromagnetic fall out from cell towers, the resonance of a limestone processing factory, VLF radio, the mechanisms of infrastructure, radio controlled airplanes and acoustic signals. These files are mixed and blended together to create a new stratification.
The final compositions were separately pieced together in each of the artist's studios using the collective corpus of recordings. The result is two different sonic interpretations of this layered, ancient and complex landscape.
Tim Shaw works with sound, light, and communication media to create performances, installations, and site-responsive interventions. His practice spans environmental sound art, digital media, media archaeology and walking. He frequently presents his work at festivals, in forests, caves, warehouses, up mountains, and in museums and art galleries all over the world.
Laurent Güdel explores analogue synthesis, phonography, and sound archives through multi-channel electroacoustic compositions, live performances, installations, and audio publications. His work explores the politics of sound, the means of production of early electronic music, and the archaeology of audio technologies, their infrastructures and institutions. He is also co-curator of Kopfhörer, a series dedicated to live experimental music.
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Looming above Hastings on the South Coast of the UK, carved into East Hill, three black shapes are visible from a distance. Mysterious and ominous, they assume the aspect of the entrance to a church or a portal to dimensions unknown. Closer inspection however reveals them to be no more than mere follies carved and painted into the rock, as hoaxster John Coussens sought to convince visitors that an elaborate subterranean kingdom lurked within. Centuries later, this coastal town remains a place that serves as a magnet to the wyrd and the mischievous. And it’s here that the meeting of minds took place that led to 'Folly' - the second release for Rocket’s Black Hole series - an imprint focused on the unorthodox, otherworldly and esoteric. The journey that led to ‘Folly’ began in the dingy cellar of a wine bar in the town. Black Arches formed around a regular local experimental night in such environs aptly named Weird Shit, initially as a freeform musical outlet for author and musician Gareth E. Rees’ later incorporating Matt Frost from his garage rock troupe The Dirty Contacts, and frequent collaborator James Weaver, to form a vehicle for wild experimentation and psychic abandon. Given he was also a regular attendee, it was no surprise when Sexton Ming, arch maverick outsider artist and uncompromising iconoclast of over four decades standing, entered the picture. Soon after a perplexing but serendipitous chain of events took place, with demons conjured up via improvised sessions, poetic licence taken, dystopias chronicled, audio files gone awry, vocals overdubbed and laptops lost, Somehow amidst the sturm-und-drang ‘Folly’ was summoned in all its murky glory. As we embark on the second quarter of an uncertain century, just maybe this psychic travelogue is a dark prism to make sense of the chaos we confront. Whichever, it remains a spectacle as compelling as that by which Black Arches were named
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The boundaries between contemporary art music and folk music are pushed as Apneseth and his all-star ensemble invite listeners into their very own musical universe. Hardanger fiddle player Erlend Apneseth, with his distinctive playing style, a long list of critically acclaimed Hubro releases, and explorative musical collaborations, has achieved the rare feat of becoming a favorite among audiences and critics in the worlds of folk music, jazz, and contemporary music. His latest album, Song over Støv, will be released on Hubro on April 4th, and the band he has assembled for the occasion can only be described as a supergroup made up of some of the most influential musicians on today’s Norwegian music scene. The project originated as a commissioned work for Oslo World and Riksscenen in 2023. As a composer, Apneseth has spent recent years working with orchestras and larger ensembles, and after being a member of Frode Haltli’s Avant Folkfor several years, he was inspired to write for a large band himself. For this project, he brought together 11 fantastic musicians, creating an immense musical playground. The commissioned work matured over time before Apneseth took the ensemble into Amper Tone studio in August 2024, with Bård Ingebrigtsen at the controls. Ingebrigtsen also mixed the album, which was produced by Anja Lauvdal and Apneseth himself
Rotes Vinyl. Vier Jahre nach "Golden Staples" erscheint das dritte Album der Franzosen, diesmal als Kooperation von Kicking Records (F), Kidnap Music und Rookie Records. "Staring at the Sun" ist eine Ode an die Melodien des New Wave, eine Hommage an The Cure und Killing Joke, der Eckpfeiler einer Band, die mit halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit auf dem Highway der Unberechenbarkeit fährt. "Like Gods We Feast" oder "Secrets" fassen den fantastischen Wechsel der Gangwechsel: Hinzufügen von Loops und Synthesizern, Beharrlichkeit einer unverwüstlichen Bass/Schlagzeug-Kombination, eine Fülle kristalliner und kraftvoller Gitarren, eine Menge eindringlicher Vocals. Diese Jungs wissen, wie man gute Songs schreibt, das ist eine Tatsache. Und sie wissen auch, wie man sie zu spielen hat. Aber vor allem wissen sie, wie man ihnen eine Seele gibt, indem sie die Kraft der Klänge mit der Unmittelbarkeit von raffinierten Texten versehen. Die Texte mit klaren und kraftvollen Bildern, die sich mit radikalen Themen wie Scheitern, Einsamkeit, Isolation oder Geisteskrankheit befassen. Ein Alltag, der alles andere als einfach ist, mit einer Botschaft der Hoffnung. Wenn man Ed Scientist fragt, ob dieses Album die perfekte Mischung aus den ersten beiden Alben sein könnte, teilt der Gitarrist/Sänger diesen Standpunkt nicht: "Das würde ich nicht sagen. Ich betrachte Staring at the Sun als eine echte Weiterentwicklung unseres Stils. Mit der Hilfe von (Produzent) Santi, der eine echte Meisterleistung vollbracht hat, haben wir Dinge gewagt, die wir nie zuvor ausprobiert haben".
Macht Euch bereit für die Magie von "LOVE", dem neuen Studioalbum der schwedischen Prog-Rock-Legende The Flower Kings, die auf eine über 30-jährige Karriere zurückblicken. Als The Flower Kings am 20. August 1993 ihr allererstes Konzert in Schweden gaben, ahnten sie wahrscheinlich noch nicht, dass sie im Begriff waren, Prog-Rock-Geschichte zu schreiben. Mit nunmehr 17 Studioalben, unzähligen Live-Aufnahmen, welt-weiten Tourneen und Festivalauftritten hat die Band ein Vermächtnis geschaffen, das nur von wenigen Bands übertroffen werden kann - und sich als Pioniere der Wiedergeburt des Prog-Rock erwiesen. Das Line-Up besteht aus den drei Originalmitgliedern Roine Stolt, Hasse Fröberg und Michael Stolt sowie den später hinzuge-kommenen Mitgliedern Mirko DeMaio und Lalle Larsson. Gemeinsam haben sie ein Album geschaffen, das den wahren Geist dessen einfängt, was Progressive Rock immer sein sollte: eine kreative Revolution, frei von den Zwängen kommerzieller Hitfor-meln. "LOVE" erinnert an die goldene Ära der späten 60er und frühen 70er Jahre und strotzt nur so vor Vintage-Vibes, epischen Kompositionen und einer reichen Mischung an Einflüssen - von Klassik und Jazz bis hin zu elektronischer Musik und Filmsound-tracks.Auf "LOVE" bieten The Flower Kings über 70 Minuten klangliche Erkundung in 12 Tracks, die von ausgedehnten 12-Minuten-Epen bis hin zu prägnanten 3-Minuten-Perlen reichen. Das Album verwebt Themen zu einem kohärenten Ganzen, das man am besten als eine zusammenhängende Reise erlebt: zugängliche Melodien gepaart mit experimentellen Momenten, wilden Gitar-rensoli und virtuoser Synthesizerarbeit, die an ihre frühen Werke erinnern. Mit neuem Selbstbewusstsein und neuer Kreativität beweisen die Flower Kings einmal mehr, warum sie die Könige des Progres-sive Rock sind. Zur Erinnerung: Krieg ist nur Angst und Versagen, Angst, die sich in kleinen Leuten mit zweifelhaften politischen oder religiösen Absichten manifestiert - LIEBE ist immer der Sieger.
Durch einen glücklichen Zufall zusammengebracht, durch ein gemeinsames lebenslanges Engagement für die Musik verbunden und durch ein frisches Feuer beflügelt, schaffen Paradise Slaves hypnotisch schwere Rockhymnen voller Atmosphäre und Emotionen. Das Quartett aus Boston und Anchorage ist eine unheimliche Verbindung zwischen dem Stimmgewaltigen Brock Lindow (36 Crazyfists), dem Solokünstler und Gitarristen Tyler Stroetzel, dem Gitarristen Jon Kita (Diecast), dem Bassisten Brad Horion (Diecast) und dem Schlagzeuger Ryan Manning (Blitzkid, Pentagram).
„Für mich besteht das Gesamtkonzept von With Hell In His Eyes darin, niemals zu kapitulieren, weiter zu kämpfen und weiterhin dankbar für das Leben zu sein“, sagt er. „Das waren meine Gedanken. Ich bin ein 49-jähriger Mann, der eine Menge erlebt und gelernt hat. Keiner ist perfekt. Zu dieser Erkenntnis zu kommen und zu versuchen, jeden Tag besser zu werden, ist definitiv ein Ziel.“
Letztendlich sind Paradise Slaves ihrem Schicksal genau dorthin gefolgt, wo sie hingehören.
Auch nach elf Alben wild, relevant und unaufhaltsam wie eh und je! Nur wenige Bands schaffen es bis zu ihrem elften Album. Und noch weniger schaffen es mit dem gleichen Feuer und der gleichen Wut, die ihre Anfangsjahre prägten. Doch Machine Head ist nicht einfach nur eine Band. Über drei Jahrzehnte lang hat Gründer, Sänger und Gitarrist Robb Flynn, die Verkörperung der Entschlossenheit, Machine Head auf einen kompromisslosen Weg geführt – einen Weg, der von Trotz, Neuerfindung und dem unermüdlichen Streben nach Weiterentwicklung geprägt war.Mit „UNATØNED“ haben sie ihren Sound nun erneut geschärft und das in der bisher direktesten und wirkungsvollsten Form erreicht. Dieser Kampfgeist, gepaart mit dem unerschütterlichen Bekenntnis zur Neuerfindung, hat Machine Head an der Spitze der harten Musik gehalten. Mit fünf Millionen verkauften Alben, über einer Milliarde Streams (650 Millionen allein auf Spotify) und einer Grammy-Nominierung ist ihr Erbe unbestreitbar – doch Nostalgie spielte dabei nie eine Rolle.
„UNATØNED“ ist ein Zeugnis von Dynamik, ein Album, das bis ins kleinste Detail ausgereift ist und von kreativer Disziplin und dem Drang nach Fortschritt geprägt ist. Entschlossen, sich selbst herauszufordern, setzte Flynn für „UNATØNED“ strenge Songwriting-Vorgaben: kürzere, fokussiertere Songs mit einem ausgesprochen amerikanischen Touch, unkonventionellen Tonartwechseln und wechselnden Strukturen, die Erwartungen brechen. Diese selbst auferlegte Zurückhaltung resultierte in einem schlanken, unerbittlichen Album, das Machine Head in ihrer kraftvollsten Form einfängt. Geschrieben in ständiger Bewegung – unterwegs, in Hotelzimmern und über Kontinente hinweg – spiegelt es die rohe Energie ihrer Rückkehr in die globale Festivalszene nach einer elfjährigen Pause wider.
Das Album trieft vor melancholischen Melodien und hämmert doch mit knallharten Riffs, erhebt sich mit hymnischen Mitsingliedern von verlorener Liebe und Traurigkeit zu dröhnender Power und unerschütterlichem Selbstvertrauen.
Der Grammy-nominierte, New Yorker Komponist/Perkussionist Eli Keszler präsentiert sein neues, selbstbetiteltes Album. In den letzten Jahren kollaborierte Keszler mit Oneohtrix Point Never, Skrillex, Rashad Becker und Laurel Halo, komponierte die Filmsoundtracks für Olmo Schnabels "Pet Shop Days" (2023), Lotfy Nathans "Harka" (2022) und Dasha Nekrasovas "The Scary Of Sixty First" und lieferte mit Daniel Lopatin die Filmmusik für "Uncut Gems" (2019). Nach gefeierten Alben wie "Icons" (2021) und "Stadium" (2018) ist sein neuestes Werk ein freizügiger, Lynch-artiger Songzyklus, in dem Keszlers virtuose Darbietungen eine lebendige Landschaft abstrakt-elektronischer Klänge durchqueren. Das Album atmet, knarrt und seufzt auf 12 Tracks. Noir-artige Jazz-Torch-Songs machen huschenden Trommeln und filmischen, dubartigen Texturen Platz. Die Texte werden von fast unhörbaren Stimmen geflüstert und geweint, als kämen sie aus einem entfernten Raum. Mit Gastauftritten von Sängerin Sofie Royer und Saxophonist Sam Gendel.
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Audiophile 180g Vinyl 33RPM LP
All Analogue Mastering by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering!
Pressed at RTI
Impex Treatment packaging featuring a 4-page heavy-stock booklet with rare photos and new historical notes by producer/author/historian Charles L. Granata
"Although Donovan had already captivated listeners with hits like 'Sunshine Superman' (a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in September of 1966) and 'Mellow Yellow' (#2 on the chart in December of that year), it's The Hurdy Gurdy Man issued in the fall of '68 that became a benchmark of the psychedelic era. The album artfully captured the essence of the moment with its fresh, smart and stylistic approach to songwriting, endearing melange of rock, pop, drone, folk, world and jazz overtones (coupled with deeper psychological undertones, i.e. transcendental consciousness and a yearning for an 'ideal' world).
"Musically, Donovan and producer Mickie Most made liberal use of multiple feels inspired by a wide range of styles, most remarkably the drone: a harmonic effect in which a note or chord is continuously repeated throughout a composition and commonly forms the tonality on which the piece is built. This brought an unusual and memorable quality to many tunes on the album, as did Donovan's whimsical, spiritual-esque vocals. Then, too, both 'The Hurdy Gurdy Man' and its namesake album reflect a tougher rock sound than the singer's earlier recordings."
—Charles S. Granata
Our AAA HQ-180 33.3-rpm LP was mastered from Epic Records' analog master tapes by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, plated and pressed at RTI for flat and silent surfaces and incredible detail. The 4-page insert features a new appreciation by producer, author, and historian Charles S. Granata that puts in context the positive effects of Donovan's clever, innovative writing and performances.
The Colombian producer whose name is on everyone's lips, figure of the underground in his native land, Felipe Gordon makes a sensational debut on our beloved label SKYLAX RECORDS ! His fabulous Django Mango EP mixes his house music obssessions with his love for Latin & jazz music. Adept of analog equipment and eminent musician, he gives us a real work of art to store alongside Nuyorican souls legends (master at work in mind). Kicking off the release, the title song django mango takes us through the swirls of the alleys of bogota, a bit as if moodymann had paid for a first class round trip in bogota , a laid-back title that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. a clever mix of funky bassline & a light piano that almost reminds us of the masters of the buena vista social club (without the vocals!) in house mode. A masterpiece in itself. on A2, we can hear this mixture again the perfect fusion between the golden-age house aesthetics and the cultural sounds of South America all complemented by a superb vocal during the break "our names are nick names wich won't reflect where we came from" a statement in itself ! The b-side from the outset gives us perhaps one of the best songs of the ep, the brilliant dakar, a subtle mix of rhodes, swaying bass and African children's chants. And to end, D, Fuck Off All Your Trouble, is an ode to the resilience of the motor city in the purest style of the 313. A brillant debut !Skylax 4 Ever
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'Back in 1975 Parliament found the perfect groove releasing two seminal albums in the same year. First up was “Chocolate City” that celebrated the love for Clinton and his troops in the Washington DC black community and this was followed up by “Mothership Connection” widely considered to be the perfect example of P-Funk. George Clinton led his Funkadelic/Parliament troops into the galaxy long before Star Wars came along to join in on the fun. Featuring a galactic line-up that included Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker, Fred Welsey, Gary Shiner, Glen Goins and even the Brecker Bothers on horns this album kicks funky butt from the opening blast of ‘P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)’ right to the very last drop of ‘Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples’. It’s a joyous album and as well as spawning the ‘Star Child’ character on the title track saw the band start to tour with a spaceship as a stage prop paid for by record label Casablanca. “Mothership Connection” went top 20 and platinum stateside. Three singles were taken from the album including an edit of ‘Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off That Sucker)’ that sold a million copies.
As time has passed and the legend of Funkadelic, Parliament, George Clinton and the entire P-Funk stable has grown new generations of fans and musicians have bought, enjoyed and sampled “Mothership Connection.” Today it is seen as a classic and essential album.'
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Rawax is very happy to present you the 3rd release byJordan GCZ.
As always Jordan delivers deep, groovy and complex Techno on the highest level!
Don't miss this beauty!
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Rhythm Of Paradise with the first release on HOUSEWAX!
We are very happy to welcome back our dear friend, who already delivered
timeless music for us on CHIWAX ! This beauty comes with an fantastic remix by Spiritual Emhpasi
also known as St. David!
Big record - highly recommeded!
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Montreal, Quebec. A vast, adorned studio—an after-midnight sanctuary for the MOAB collective. Outside, winter carves its presence, the snow piling high against the factory’s walls. Inside, time dissolves into a sprawling, 24-hour reverie—music unfolding in an endless current, every moment captured, distilled, refined.
MOAB is a Montreal-based collective that embraces improvisation as its guiding force. Long, unbroken sessions where intuition eclipses thought, and where the body moves before the mind.
This is their first offering, released on Knekelhuis. A document of instinct, frozen in time yet endlessly shifting.
Portland's contemporary music makers and the city's historic Black music community come together on this new remix project which draws from the Albina Music Trust's archive. Across the long player, the artist reinvents the sounds of Portland's Black musicians with a modern beat-based sensibility, all of which subtly pay homage to the 1968 "Soul Assembly" program by the Black Student Union which educated audiences about Black Portland's cultural identity. Among many standouts are reimagined works by Jonny Cool, Jumbo of The Lifesavas and Tony Ozier who do a fine job of bridging generations and highlighting Portland's rich heritage.
Dateline: April 10, 1970. Setting: The storied Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. Context: Miles Davis, three days removed from his first session for Jack Johnson and, with newly recruited soprano saxophonist Steve Grossman in tow, opening shows for countercultural heroes the Grateful Dead on the latter’s home turf. Result: The initial rumblings of a thrilling era in which Davis and his cohorts would again upend jazz and popular conceptions of the genre with music steeped in groove, improvisation, and hang-on-for-your-life adventurousness. All captured on Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West.
Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity's numbered-edition 180g 33RPM 2LP set helps bring what went down that spring evening in Bill Graham’s venue to your listening room with exceptional clarity, balance, and presence. Originally only released in Japan in 1973 and unavailable in the United States until the late ‘90s on compact disc, this marks the first time Black Beauty has been issued on domestic vinyl. The wait is worth it.
Benefitting from quiet surfaces and excellent definition, these LPs present the band’s livewire energy and torrential storm of notes with captivating dynamics, pacing, and fullness. At its core, this audiophile reissue takes you into the walls of sound erected by a band learning on-the-fly the sheer power, will, and breadth of the electric jazz Davis was orchestrating and realizing, on the spot, would reach rock audiences that until that point had only a faint awareness of his mad-scientist experimentation. The sense of release and reach conveyed by these carefully restored records make it clear the veteran bandleader was in the process of a permanent shift that he’d chase for the next five years.
Given Davis was only a few months away from releasing the pioneering double album Bitches Brew, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that much of the fare here adheres to similar explorative approaches. Turbulent rhythms, provocative trumpet passages, and rich, saturated tonal colors that seemingly splash against a blank canvas take precedence over any traditional attempts at organization and melody. Davis and Co. intentionally play everything on a line with the bandleader signaling changes with his horn via coded phrases. The group speaks a common language — with each member having gone to achieve iconic status for their career contributions and technical prowess.
In the company of Grossman, Chick Corea (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), and Airto Moreira (percussion), Davis constructs themes around “Directions,” “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down,” “It’s About That Time,” the title track to Bitches Brew, and more from his then most-recent studio works and the in-progress Jack Johnson. His farewell to the popular standards that for nearly two decades remained a part of his repertoire arrive via a brief dalliance with “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” a shortened albeit aggressive “Masqualero,” and the “Theme” finale of “Spanish Key.” Initially, Black Beauty lacked specific track listings due to Davis’ increasing frustration with listeners over-analyzing his music.
In retrospect, it’s difficult to blame anyone for wanting to view what’s on display here with the aural equivalent of a magnifying glass. Leaning in rock directions, yet maintaining an ear for spaciousness and solos, Black Beauty survives as a snapshot of a thrilling moment amid a transitory period in which evolution came fast and furious. Just two months later, Davis would add another instrumentalist to the lineup in the form of organist Keith Jarrett, and the perpetually restless visionary would blast off to a more atmospheric and arguably more chaotic universe.
Consider, then, this live document a bridge to that galaxy and a breathtaking example of the possibilities of jazz itself.
Listen to This.” As the original working title for Bitches Brew, the instruction and invitation remains to this day as the best way to approach a record that shattered conventions, altered music history, and, 55 years later, still sounds far ahead of its time. The template for jazz fusion, Bitches Brew is rightly ranked by virtually every significant outlet among the 100 greatest albums ever made. Sewn together with vibrant colors, voodoo textures, and ethereal moods, the 1970 landmark emerges with supreme detail and nonpareil feeling on Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM 2LP vinyl set.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, this definitive-sounding 55th anniversary reissue enhances every element of a double album that established new possibilities for studio recording techniques. You’ll hear wide and deep soundstages, separation between instruments, and an extremely broad dynamic range. If ever a jazz album can be said to have gone to outer space and back, this is it.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, this definitive-sounding 55th anniversary reissue enhances every element of a double album that established new possibilities for studio recording techniques. You’ll hear wide and deep soundstages, separation between instruments, and an extremely broad dynamic range. If ever a jazz album can be said to have gone to outer space and back, this is it.
Davis conceived Bitches Brew by having the musicians stand in a semi-circle. There, he pointed at them with vague directions for tempo, solos, and cues. The collective improvisation and interplay spawned a galaxy of melodies and grooves that were later spliced together by producer Ted Macero. Benefitting from the ultra-low noise floor and superb groove definition of this pressing, these distinct creations take shape with utmost realism. Compositions stretch across jet-black backgrounds and paint canvases laden with millions of colors and shades. Juxtaposed percussion, loose jams, and melodic segues explode with impressionistic verve.
Bitches Brew also boasts visionary artwork. By design, the lavish packaging and gorgeous presentation of the UD1S Bitches Brew set call attention to such matters. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, it features special foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendor of the recording. It is made for discerning listeners who desire to fully immerse themselves in everything surrounding the album, from the images to the tones. And this is one effort where every last detail matters.
Gathering a Hall of Fame-worthy lineup of musicians and tweaking it according to his desires, Davis follows through on his idea to “put together the greatest rock and roll band you ever heard.” Central to his proposition is the presence of two (and sometimes three) drummers and two bassists, a tactical move that makes rhythms a central focus. Akin to the futuristic album cover art, the drum-driven suites head toward distant universes and uncharted territories. At once hypnotizing and grooving, they chart maverick adventures via quixotic rock, funk, and R&B elements.
A without-a-net experiment involving interchangeable double-quintet lineups, Bitches Brew explores the previously unimaginable with electrified instruments — Fender Rhodes piano, processed trumpet, dissonant guitars, and bass among them — and an emphasis on feeling over composition. Mesmerizing and soothing, jarring and smooth, overt and subtle: The music seemingly covers an entire map of emotions and sensations, and like no record before, ties together the groundbreaking creativity of the multiple disciplines that were changing popular culture at the end of the 1960s and dawn of a new decade.
Conceptually, Davis described Bitches Brew as “a novel without words” and “an incredible journey of pain, joy, sorrow, hate, passion, and love.” The vast psychedelic expanses of warped echoes, liquid reverb, and tape loops confirm such ambitious contrasts of light and dark, fear and hope. Yet the most absolute characteristic of the watershed effort lies in how it resists definitive interpretation and encourages free thought — the very principles Davis used to conceive Bitches Brew.
More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called “converts”) are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.
Our fi rst outing takes shape as a 4-tracker from ADMNTi, delving deeper into the sounds that have shaped the Londoners aural palette.
'Second Hand Sushi' kicks things off to a rowdy start - a real slab of energy that consists of paces drum patterns, twisting synths, and gritty, rattling basslines.
This one's a no-frills dancefl oor destroyer. The steppy drums of 'Lost Fruits' pull us further in, paired with shifting subs and laced with soundbites that echo the era of tape packs and pirate radio.
As we fl ip to the B-side, ‘Diptych’ delivers a still pacey yet more soothing vibe, blending lush orchestral strings with warped vocal chops, all while keeping the head-bopping grooves intact. Rounding things off , a dub-tinged stepper which comes in the form of 'Shrublands'. Eerie chords evolve throughout the track, accompanied by melancholic flutes that bode well with the heavily delayed sax and wobbing basslines. Dialogue from London graff royalty weave in and out, as well as a certain Brooklyn king.
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Steeped in Caribbean flavor and seasoned with a fistful of hand-percussion, "Yamar" was initially sidelined from 2009's Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay for feeling less like cargo than an authentic piece of pan-Americana. Phish fans may recognize this previously unattainable A-side as it as been a staple in their setlists since the late '80s, imported by bassist Mike Gordon who heard the Mustangs performing it in a Bahamian hotel. Backed with the sweltering "Words To My Song," this doubler-sider is a must for any sea side or pool side DJ.
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Die erste EP von Bleed, "Somebody's Closer", wurde von der Band im Jahr 2021 zunächst selbst über digitale Plattformen veröffentlicht. Obwohl die EP, die sich auf den Alt-Rock/Metal der späten 90er/frühen 00er Jahre beruft, nicht in physischer Form veröffentlicht wurde, erregte die in Dallas, Texas, ansässige Band mit ihrer hauchdünnen Verzerrung - die Spannung und Atmosphäre gleichermaßen erzeugt - großes Aufsehen und erregte über mehrere gegenseitige Verbindungen die Aufmerksamkeit von 20 Buck Spin. Das Label brachte 2022 Vinyl- und Kassetten-Editionen heraus und machte so die Musik von Bleed einem neuen Publikum und einer breiteren Öffentlichkeit bekannt. Seitdem hat sich die Vorfreude auf das Debütalbum der Band in die Höhe geschraubt - und jetzt, wo der Frühling in den Sommer übergeht, ist es endlich soweit.
Die selbstbetitelte LP von Bleed behält die melodische Schwere und die straffen Songstrukturen der EP bei, taucht aber gleichzeitig kopfüber in den ozeanischen Dunst ein und treibt ihren Sound in ein Gebiet, das eindringlicher, unerbittlicher und hypnotisch üppig ist. Die Gitarren wiegen sich in aufgestapelten Wellen von Gravitationsangst, darunter pulsieren exzentrisch übersteuerte Rhythmen, und die Stimme von Gitarrist und Sänger Ryan Hughes schwebt ein und aus, manchmal distanziert und losgelöst, manchmal aufgerissen vor Verzweiflung. Die Texte bewegen sich in Fragmenten und spielen auf Themen wie tiefe innere Kämpfe, Bewältigungsmechanismen und das Verletzen derer, die man am meisten liebt, an. Es ist Musik, die nicht so sehr Aufmerksamkeit verlangt, sondern direkt in den Blutkreislauf sickert, die Art von Album, die sich nachts um 3 Uhr in einer Endlosschleife im Hinterkopf festsetzt.
Gleich zu Beginn werden kühne Schritte unternommen, um die Authentizität von Bleeds Universum in Bezug auf seine Inspirationen und Ambitionen auszuweiten. Die Art und Weise, wie Bleed diese Songs sich entfalten lassen, hat etwas Selbstbewusstes, sie wirken sofort und haben es nicht nötig, länger als nötig zu verweilen. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das sich massiv und doch intim anfühlt, brutal und doch schön, vertraut und doch einzigartig. Es hinterlässt nicht nur einen Eindruck, sondern hallt noch lange nach, wenn die letzten Töne verklungen sind.
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This re-issue of World Machine, Level 42's 1985 breakthrough album, is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail of the original UK first pressings and available in audiophile 180g pink vinyl in celebration of the album's 40th anniversary.
By 1985, Level 42 – bassist and vocalist Mark King, keyboard player/vocalist Mike Lindup, guitarist Boon Gould, drummer/lyricist Phil Gould and studio-only keyboard player Wally Badarou – were on the verge of breaking big - After a string of well-received albums, such as their pioneering jazz-funk 1981 debut or the Ken-Scott produced True Colours, the group decided, rather than work up material through jamming, to sit and write some songs for their forthcoming album.
Producing themselves, with assistance from engineer Julian Mendelsohn, this new approach meant that World Machine was the quantum commercial leap they craved. And most of that was due to the album's towering lead single, the pop-funk of "Something About You". With its expensive video seeing the group styled for the 80s, it set radio alight, becoming a Top 10 hit and charting around the world, importantly in the US. Following up with the tender ballad "Leaving Me Now" and then the bouncy funk of the album's title track as singles, the album's success was guaranteed; it reached No 3 in the UK charts and spent an amazing 72 weeks on the listings.
Here comes the Tekno Section utlimate double pack with a selecta of New Skool abd Oldschool artists from Mem Pamal or Ixi to Ochoa Oby One and more....
A superb double EP with full vibes !
Coming from a diverse background of equal amounts hip hop and rock, the producer behind the alias of nrl:ndr got into dance music late in his musical career. After playing in kraut-oriented bands like So Many Mammals, parts of that group reformed into the live techno outfit Tren Né, with the goal of fusing techno elements with live drums. Playing for illegal raves with a punk-like energy, nrl:ndr has cemented his relationship with his machines in service of the dance floor.
But his solo debut on blundar is quite far removed from that scene. To understand this music, one should be aware of the conditions under which it was manufactured. Reluctant to consider himself an artist in the traditional sense, nrl:ndr makes his music free of anticipation and without apparent goals. To glean into this outré musical space is like putting one's ear to the boarded up windows of the photograph that adorn the front sleeve.
The album makes extensive use of the Roland JV-2080, a sample-based synth rack from 1996 with a distinctly clean sound. Our producer dives deep into the expansion cards (labeled after genres like “Hip Hop” and “World”) for curious and sometimes cheesy samples. But he also forces the JV-2080 to do things which are not its forte, like the arduous task of programming decent kick drums.
Another technique that is testament to his experimental view on music making, is the idea of using sketches of unfinished tracks with different time signatures, and mash them together into something new - of which the results of one of these experiments can be heard on the closing track and its bilingual conversation between ambient and tribal.
Full of stunted rhythms and eerie melodies, the unclassifiable nature of the music of nrl:ndr lies somewhere in the vicinity of IDM, classical avant garde and private press synth. From the epic opening track - echoing the post-kraut drumming style of Michael Shrieve - to juggling with chopped up vocal samples and treading into almost trap-like territories on A4, he crosses into a multitude of genres without getting his hands too dirty with nostalgia.
