2025 Repress
When people think of Tough Gong they usually think of Bob Marley and rightly so, as he was nicknamed and often called Tough Gong and from this his early releases which came out on the Tough Gong label. But Tough Gong was also the name of a recording complex named after Bob Marley hat included a top level recording studio, pressing plant and distribution centre that would allow reggae music to carry on many years after his sad and too early demise.
Bob Marley had take over the former residence of Island Records boss Chris Blackwell the Island House, 56 Hope Road around 1974. Just before the 'Smile Jamaica' concert on 03rd December the same year the house was ambushed by gunmen. Bob's manager Don Taylor was hit 5 times AND Bob was shot in the arm and his wife Rita Marley was hit in the head by a stray bullet. How no one was fatally injured is staggering. Immediately after the concert Bob Marley started his self imposed exile from Jamaica, settling in London, England. This would lead to the aptly named exodus album being recorded there in the summer of 1977. It would not be until the 'One Love' peace concert in Kingston's national arena on the 22nd April 1978 that would see Bob's return to the island. Marley felt is was important to show his commitment to the people of Jamaica and on his return to 56 Hope Road he began construction of his own recording studio with the help of music mogul Tommy Cowen. Unfortunately Bob Marley's short life would end on the 11th May 1981 from cancer which originated form a football injury. His passing would lead to 56 Hope Road being turned into a museum to the legend of reggae music.
A new location would have to be found to carry on Bob's work which was 220 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 11. The buyer would be Rita Marley and the Tough Gong International Organisation.
Engineers working at the new facility included Errol Browne who had worked at Treasure Isle studios and Hopeton Overton Browne known as 'Scientist', named by the great producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee who worked with him previously at King Tubbie's and Channel One's studios described his ground breaking style as being like that of a scientist.
We focus for this release on the work carried out by the great Scientist on the songs of the Black Solidarity Label run by Ossie Thomas (aka Joe The Boss) recorded at Tough Gong studios. One of the foremost recording, pressing and distribution facilities on the Jamaican island set up from the work of Bob Marley to carry forward reggae music. Hope you enjoy this set......
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- A1: Countrymusicdisco45 4 08
- A2: Sometimes Shooting Stars 2 57
- A3: Short Cut Home 3 25
- A4: Disappointment 3 00
- A5: Days Are Mighty 2 46
- B1: Don't Dance With Me Tonight 3 27
- B2: You Got It Wrong 2 39
- B3: Ring The Bells 3 57
- B4: Let's Make It Up 2 49
- B5: When Did You Stop Loving Me 3 54
- C1: Just Beginning 4 00
- C2: Wintering Of The Year 3 16
- C3: Let It Rain 3 04
- C4: We Tell Each Other Who We Are 3 27
- C5: Trip To You 4 06
- D1: Dirt 2 54
- D2: Heaven Right Here 3 38
- D3: If Later Ever Comes 3 03
- D4: Remember The Season 3 10
- D5: A Little Love 3 35
- D6: Weary Traveller 3 20
“The high priest of country cool” - Rolling Stone
“I like him very much. He’s very special. He’s singing with a voice I never heard before” - Townes Van Zandt
“A conscious, soulful brother” - Horace Andy
“He’s a brother to me - one of the best singer/songwriters I’ve ever met” - Adrian Sherwood
“Unearthed mine of gems from inner Wales - a songbook of ideas - that's Jeb!” - Gilles Peterson
Jeb Loy Nichols is a bonafide Country (Got) Soul legend. The Music Maker presents 21 incredibly deep, grooving and soulful songs from the cream of Jeb's catalogue; from its earliest days to his latest unreleased gems via countless rare and unbelievably good lost-classics. This 2LP set is presented in a gatefold sleeve complete with freshly commissioned artwork courtesy of Jeb himself.
In collecting these uncut, under-heard gems, we hope to do justice to Jeb's jaw-dropping artistic brilliance. A man who, in working with Adrian Sherwood, Dennis Bovell, Dan Penn, Larry Jon Wilson and countless other legendary characters, has crafted some of the most deeply affecting folk, country, soul, funk, blues, dub, reggae, gospel, rap and electronic music, ever heard.
The first music Jeb really felt a connection with was southern soul: "I used to listen to the radio at night and fell in love with Bobby Womack and Al Green, The Staple Singers and Joe Simon – that whole Nashville/Memphis/Muscle Shoals thing.” But Jeb was so much more than a soul boy, Indeed, he "went to bluegrass festivals with my dad and come home and listened to jazz records with my mother.” And, when he was fifteen, he heard his first punk record: "God Save The Queen" by The Sex Pistols. “That and The Ramones completely changed me.” In 1979 he got a scholarship to go to art school in New York: “A great time. Punk was over but hip-hop was starting and I got into that in an obsessive way.”
His first recording, in 1980, was an unreleased rap song called "I’m A Country Boy". If that isn't an insight enough into Jeb's kaleidoscopic path through music, in 1981 he visited friends in London and found himself living in a squat with Adrian Sherwood, Ari Up (from the Slits), and Neneh Cherry. “Adrian put me to work immediately, moving boxes of records all across London. It was Adrian that was and is my biggest influence – in his complete disregard for genre purity.” So, presumably you're getting the picture? A veritable musical magpie with a voracious appetite and unimpeachable taste.
"Mine has always been a meandering career. I've done what I've done, and made the music I've made, due to chance meetings. I'm not particularly ambitious; it's more important to me that I work with friends and like-minded people. I've been a big fan of Be With for years. Everything they release is essential. When they asked about rereleasing "Countrymusicdisco45" I was both pleased and flattered. We began talking about how we'd do it; two years and twenty-one tracks later, here we are. I've always thought of the music I make as Country Music. Music conceived in the country, written in the country, recorded in the country. I left London and moved back to the country so I could live among the trees, the grasses, the animals, those things that don't go to war and get greedy. This compilation is the story of that life. Hand made, lo-fi, ramshackle, stripped down, real deal music. Heartworn and funky. Music made in the kitchen, not in the studio. As the great Skip Mcdonald said, Perfect ain't perfect. It's great to see all these tracks gathered together. It feels like a family reunion. Some older members of the tribe, some newer arrivals."
Opener "countrymusicdisco45" is a song Jeb wrote about how his crew lives, tucked up blissfully in the hills: "House parties full of country folk dancing to disco, reggae, soul, country, hip-hop. All night. I recorded it at home under the influence of Stevie Wonder." It's one of the funkiest records you'll ever hear. "Sometimes Shooting Stars" was recorded in Nashville and mixed by the legendary Dennis Bovell. It's deep, dubby, majestic. A thing of fragile, melodic beauty. The party ramps back up again with the undeniable groove of "Short Cut Home" before the profoundly moving "Disappointment" arrives. One of many songs he's recorded with good buddy Benedic Lamdin (aka Nostalgia 77): "We were going for a Leon Thomas meets Richard Brautigan meets Alice Coltrane kind of thing". We think they nailed it. "Days Are Mighty", like a lot of the tracks on this collection, "started life as a demo, an attempt to get something down while it was fresh. No frills, nothing fancy, just feel." And what feels!
The irrepressibly funky "Don't Dance With Me Tonight" is a deeply moving, slow-mo organ-drenched head-nod-funky country-ballad. Next up, the breezy "You Got It Wrong" was recorded in Wales with some of Jeb's good friends and neighbours, The Westwood All Stars, featuring Clovis Phillips and Will Barnes. Skanking fiddle-flecked gem "Ring The Bells" was the first thing Jeb recorded when he moved to Wales. A combination of all his loves; country, reggae, soul. It's followed by "Let's Make It Up", a truly sumptuous string-drenched emotional groover. "When Did You Stop Loving Me" is another Nashville track, written and recorded during a time Jeb was spending a lot of time with the Muscle Shoals crew, Donnie Fritts, Spooner Oldham, George Soule and Dan Penn: "It shows, I'm sure, their influence." Oh, you bet it does!
The swaggering country-funk of "Just Beginning" should grace many groove-focused DJs' sets whilst "Wintering Of The Year", again made with Clovis, is pastoral, campfire soul. The glacial, gorgeous "Let It Rain" is from an unreleased record Jeb made with the great British jazz bass player Andy Hamill and "We Tell Each Other Who We Are" is freaky country-soul made by a man with a love for strutting, wonky hip-hop stylings. Rounding out the side, "Trip To You" is pure, uncut amphetamine-propelled drum-machine soul.
The spare, beautiful "Dirt" is from an EP Jeb made with Julian Moore in his house in South London: "All first takes, straight to tape." Swoon! "Heaven Right Here" was a very minor league hit in America: "It was produced by the brilliant and much missed Wayne Nunes. It was started in the countryside of Missouri, finished in the countryside of Wales, and recorded in the countryside of Sussex." Double swoon! "If Later Ever Comes" is electronica meets J.J. Cale business whilst "Remember The Season" is truly wonderful and breezy guitar soul. "A Little Love" was made with Wayne Nunes as well, after a night of listening to Studio One and Northern Soul. Bouncy dub closer "Weary Traveller" was written by Bill Monroe, the hero of Jeb's youth: "Monroe's music was heavily influenced by black southern churches; I've tried to keep some of that feral feel." This was the final recording by Jeb's 1990s Country-Dub band, Fellow Travellers.
The name of this compilation comes from a time when Jeb lived in Peckham, south London and he used to DJ and sometimes perform at a local bar: "The owner of the bar, a Jamaican named Count Percy, once asked me what I called my music. I told him I wasn't sure, I guess just pop music. He thought about it for a minute and then said, 'no, more like mom and pop music'. Rather than call me a country singer or a folk singer he always referred to me as The Music Maker."
With the long overdue deluxe overview of his beloved music, we hope to finally shine a light on the unheralded genius of Jeb Loy Nichols. RIYL Larry Jon Wilson, Townes Van Zandt, Bobby Charles, country got soul artists, dub, deep soul, disco, dancing, heartbreak. This deluxe collection, spellbinding from beginning to end, should hopefully go some way to ensuring Jeb reaches an ever bigger, ever more appreciative crowd of followers. Mastering for this special double vinyl edition was overseen by Be With regular Simon Francis and it was cut by the esteemed Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios to be pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry. The artwork has been lovingly put together by The Music Maker, himself, Jeb Loy Nichols. "Be With is the perfect home for this mongrel music. I am forever in their debt." The pleasure is all ours, Jeb.
N1_SOUND & Ras Yunchie join forces on an 8-track LP that transcends both definition and generation. INNA DJ STYLE, out November 7th, marks the Toronto veteran singer’s first-ever vinyl release.
Pairing four vocal cuts with four dub versions on the b-side, INNA DJ STYLE bridges experimental dub, digi, and roots, embodying what Ras describes as an “open” sound—one that draws from reggae traditions while boldly breaking new sonic ground.
N1_SOUND first encountered Ras’ distinctive voice and soaring falsetto at Toronto sound system parties. A cornerstone of the city’s reggae scene, Ras Yunchie has been performing since 1983 and remains a vital presence more than 40 years on. His contributions have been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National DJ Association, alongside titles such as DJ of the Year, DJ Sound Champion, and winner of the 1985 DJ Sound Clash.
While the rhythms pulse with heavy bass and the three-dimensional lead melodies synonymous with N1_SOUND, it’s Ras’ vocals that make INNA DJ STYLE truly shine. Each track was recorded in a single take and left largely untouched—a testament to the raw talent and enduring artistry of the 61-year-old singer. Across the four vocal cuts, the alchemy of contrasting styles, influences, and lived experience highlights how collaboration can push sound and genre into bold, unexpected territory.
Hector Lavoe's "Alejate" (Joe Claussell Mix) Extremely Limited yellow Vinyl repress 12” of the timeless Joe Claussell remixes of the Fania Records masterpiece.
Legendary New York DJ, producer and soul magician Joe Claussell delivers yet another of his stunning reworks of one of Hector Lavoe's Iconic Songs the classic "Alejate." Taken from him universally praised Hammock House Remix produced for the Iconic Fania Records Label. As usual, he brings his signature touch while honoring the original's spirit and with great respect for its Latin roots. Claussell still manages to breathe new life into the track by mixing up organic rhythms and
percussive flair to create a version tailor-made for any dance floor. There is a Dance Dub with a heavier low end and plenty of jazzy expression before the Alt instrumental shuts down. This is a 12" that bridges tradition and modernity with care and creativity.
With Dominik Eulberg and Arne Schaffhausen (of EXTRAWELT) we welcome back two longtime Cocoon heroes to the label. The two were featured in a VICE Magazine special last year for a 'field recording' documentary. you-need-to-hear-this/dominik-eulberg-westerwald-extrawelt-zurich-lost-and-found) which marked the beginning of a new collaboration. Dominik and Arne checked their fresh recorded sounds in the studio and found out that there have a common base and musical understanding. They started to work on new tracks and it looks like this joint venture will continue for a longer time. The first results of their mutual work is 'A Little Further' which will be released in three different versions on Cocoon Recordings in the next weeks (COR12117). So let's start with 'Not On A Map' version: This one seems to be tailor made for the next afterhour and the rising sun. Dominik and Arne create the perfect mood for those special moments on the floor with a nice mix of energetic beats, interesting sounds and an emotional bass- and synth-programming. So many layers and different levels however the overall picture never gets overcharged or too demanding. Coming up next is the '37 Routes' version which quite stands out with the used breakbeats and no standard 4/4 kick drum. The synths are more scratchy and louder and the bassline seems to jump out of the speakers, this is a massive wall of sound production. The direction here is clear. However the two incorporated some cool and magic breaks that seem to refer to the deeper Eulberg sound which forms a great mix of two different techno-visions. Last but not least there's the 'Imaginery Escort' version which appears a bit like the dub edit of 'A Little Further".
On April 13th, 2019 Record Day, Vega Records celebrates with the new release 'My Body' performed by none other than the Legend and King Luther Vandross. This is a song that was never released and was recorded back in 1979 by Luther Vandross when he was working on the colossal album 'Never Too Much'. Brought to Louie Vega by artist and renowned background singer to the greats Mr. Fonzi Thornton, Vega was able to work on the immaculate sounds of Vandross. As Vega recalls 'When I put up the tracks in my studio it sounded as if Luther were singing today, it made it so easy to come with the house grooves having such a perfect vocal performance and one of kind tone. Once I came with the music, I felt I needed to call his original background singer team, which Fonzi organized in a flash. He called upon the genius background singers Brenda White, Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Tawatha Agee and Fonzi himself. We are talking the A-Team of background singers, a dream come true in my studio', Vega recalls.
The Result is a stunning art piece by Richard Wilson on the cover of the vinyl double pack 12'. There are seven versions to choose from ready to work back to back.
So not only is it record day, it's also the birthday of Luther Vandross which is on April 20,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUTHER VANDROSS!!!
LOUIE VEGA SENDS A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LUTHER VANDROSS & THANK YOU TO FONZI THORNTON, SEVETA WILLIAMS, AND VANDROSS MUSIC, LLC.
Channeling inventive sound design into incisive, characterful techno variations, Jurango returns to Livity Sound with an eight-track double EP — his longest release to date. Taíno Gold captures a moment in time for Bristol-based Nate Reece's continually evolving sound as it draws on the full spectrum of UK club music.
Following a debut for Livity's reverse label in 2021 and last year's An Amorphous Mass EP, Reece is more assured than ever tackling a variety of club-focused cuts. The tracks on the release all came together before, during and after a two-month visit to Reece's grandparents' home — an idyllic tropical environment in a small community at the top of a hill in the northern part of Jamaica.
Taíno Gold refers to the island's indigenous Taíno community and the legend of a witch luring Spanish settlers into a trap on the Martha Brae river. There are no messages explicitly embedded in the music, but the release is both a personal reflection of Reece's own experiences and family heritage, plus a reminder about the enduring sceptre of colonialism and the continued need to fight against it. From absorbing Jamaica's fraught history through museum and plantation visits to the abundant nature in the garden surrounding his grandparent's house, the double EP marks a place in time for Reece, with eight advanced, ear-catching tracks as the end result.
From the cascading arps of 'Black Torches' to the tunnelling chords of 'Waiting For Trelawny', the melodic dimension of the Jurango sound is more confident than ever. 'Hibiscus' is a shimmering celebration of dub techno and crooked drum pressure and 'Chalk On Trees' basks in aqueous, fathoms-deep pads to close out the EP. Elsewhere, Reece brings new textural and tonal detail to his percussive workouts, splashing acidic noise around the angular experimentation of 'Maybe It's Broken' and firing off double-time rhythms to inject 'Double Sevens' with infectious urgency.
With the space afforded by a longer release, Reece widens out the scope of his artistic identity while absorbing the particular scene and setting that surrounded him while making the tracks. Taíno Gold is a vibrant next step for Jurango and a natural continuation of his work with Livity Sound.
Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
Glimmers of a missing link in the connective tissue between the hardcore continuum and Dub-Spectrum arts. A tome all its own, as if one is sifting through an archeological dig in aural form, hearing layers of the past, present, and future.
PD002 takes flight in the form of a lost, deadeye jungle bird scavenging for his next trinket. It captures the raw energy and playful, feral sound that defines the Pelican Dub aesthetic: a blend of primal rhythms, hypnotic textures, and experimental intensity.
Pelican Dub 002 features three original tracks by DJ Merlín, alongside one co-production with Adam Pits:
Obsession
Obsessed once again… Nearly lost my head rocking it like a madman.
These drums weren’t simply made. They were forged by a blacksmith with a big blade and a bad temper. It boasts a peculiar flow and a three verse arrangement. Not a mix tool, or is it?
Down the Wrong Road
A futuristic techno-dub track featuring pinched, glassy drumwork wrapped around a pseudo-acid riff. Born during the aftermath of a questionable decision of two friends meeting early in the morning after separate all-night adventures, hence the title: Down the Wrong Road…..
Dirt Bubble
Dirty, unpredictable, and uncompromising. The original version of Dirt Bubble is a raw and visceral workout, chaotic in just the right way.
Dirt Bubble (DnB Mix)
The younger sibling that has outgrown its original prototype. This DnB rework has rightfully become a flagship for the Pelican Dub sound. Expect primal rhythms, wild experimental drum design, and a savage, stretched-out analog bassline that dominates the low end.
Dot / Stephan Bazbaz - Split EP Vol. 2 (Depthful002)
Depthful returns with its second release, following the success of the first release by label owner and artist Dotan Bibi aka Dot.
In the second release, Dot returns to collaborate with his close friend and artist Stephan Bazbaz for their second split EP, following the great success of the first one released back in 2017 on Stephan's label, "No waves"
A1. opening With Dot's track 'Hoag’s Object'. is an intriguing fusion of house and dub influences, balancing the pulsating energy of house with the relaxed, spatial vibes of dub. From the start, listeners are greeted with a deep, groovy bassline and lovely acid line, that immediately establishes a rich foundation for the track.The rhythm section and congas is tight and persistent, with the signature rolling beats of Dot's sound laying the perfect backdrop for the track's sonic landscape.
A2. 'Fading Fast' isn't just a track; it's an experience. If Hoag’s Object laid down the groove with subtlety, 'Fading Fast' fully submerges you in its rich, atmospheric depths. From the very beginning, there’s a sense of movement - like something slowly emerging from the mist, with deep, resonating bass frequencies that pull you into the track.The rhythm section feels almost submerged, like you’re hearing it from underwater. The inclusion of short, scattered vocal samples in 'Fading Fast' adds an extra layer of intrigue and emotional depth, without pulling focus from the track's atmospheric core. Rather than traditional, lyrical verses, these vocals appear like fleeting whispers - fragments of a larger story, almost like half remembered phrases.
B1. opening with Stephan's track 'Overload' and it feels like an immediate shift in energy, where the vibe ramps up with pure house power. This track is all about the rhythm, the groove, and, most importantly, that bassline that keeps you locked in.
From the first beat, it’s clear 'Overload' isn’t messing around. The drums hit with a sharp, punchy attack, but it’s the bassline that truly makes this track shine. Deep, low, and relentless, the bassline pulses in a way that feels almost like it’s driving the entire track forward. There’s something about the way the low end sits in this track that makes it feel alive especially with the warmth of the lovely deep pad Holding the whole track underneath.
B2.'Better in Space' is the closing track of the record, it feels like a natural continuation of the vibe that’s been built, but also a final statement that allows the listener to fully sink into the deep, spacious world Stephan is known for. With this track, we’re stepping into a place where dub and deep house collide seamlessly, creating an atmosphere that's both expansive and intimate - taking us out there but also pulling us inward. From the very first moment, 'Better in Space' sets the stage with a warm, enveloping bassline that instantly grounds you.
Mastered By Pheek
Designed By Idan Am-Shalem
DJ Support: Axel Boman, Coyote, Rune Lindbaek, Dr Rob (Ban Ban Ton Ton), Lefto, Johan Blende, Feel Fly, Marco Gallerani and many more
Secret Soul Society, aka South Wales's Cal Gibson, continues his red-hot streak of form with four original jams for Hell Yeah that effortlessly weave decades of influences into intimate, unusual sounds that go from Balearic daydreams to after-hours soul burners.
Gibson was one-half of Nottingham's deep house and downtempo outfit Neon Heights back in the 2000s, a collective that label head Marco has long admired. He has landed here before with the superb Keep The Mystique in 2023, a 15-track collection of brand new curveball cuts built from lovingly sourced samples. Since then, he has continued to collide jazz, funk, Afro, beats, dub, soul and reggae on Paper Wave and Magic Wand.
'To Be Happy' opens with gentle, sun-soaked grooves, swirling keys and dreamy pads that evoke a hazy Mediterranean sunset. Nostalgic soul samples tug at the heart while the track’s laid-back vibe is perfect for golden-hour moments. 'Orange Surprise' is a magical slice of downtempo bliss with hints of romantic vocals. It's built on soft broken rhythms and drifts between ambient soul and laid-back electronica, perfect for introspective moments or late-night winding down.
'Keep On Trying' flips the script with more texture. The synths are crystalline, the pads are sugary, and the meandering bassline unfolds in wonky fashion while soft male vocals bring a steamy edge. Last but not least, 'What You Do To Me' is funky and slow motion disco with 80s synths and reverb that drowns you in good vibes.
This EP is Secret Soul Society at his most expressive and emotive.
Four years on from their landmark Grassroots, visionary half-time heavyweights The Untouchables return with their third album, Lost Knowledge. The duo of Kate McGill and Ajit 'Nitrox' Steyns have carved out a space in modern D&B all their own, building on a legacy that reaches back to the late 00s to keep pushing into unexplored terrain with an assured and deadly line in rhythmic intrigue and atmospheric immersion.
Lost Knowledge launches into action instantly with the high-pressure drum science and dubby splashes of 'Drunken Bells', capturing the loopy techno propulsion and rolling intensity that drives so much of the output on Samurai Music. Where The Untouchables excel is in finding variety and nuance in their relatively forbidding, pared down sound. The heads-down groove of 'Mafia Town' owes as much to dembow and dancehall as D&B, while 'Lost Knowledge' spirals out into psychoactive flurries of synth strafes and organic percussion slathered in tight-locked delay trails. There's no light relief from strident hooks or riffs, just a pure, unshakeable commitment to the power of the beat and deeply designed layers of sound shaping out the space around.
'Busy Bones' makes space for carefully deployed hints of pad tone while the snares snap out of the mix with a sharp set of teeth. 'Four Eared Demon' baits the gabber crowd with its rapid-fire 4/4 hats atop seasick creaks across the midrange, keeping subtlety and patience in the lower frequencies to maintain the signature elegance readily associated with The Untouchables. 'Phase Correlation' teases an artfully unhinged ripple of synth that stands out amongst the murky murmurs filling out the middle distance, but it's still exercised with brutal precision.
Nothing happens by accident or feels out of place - McGill and Steyns are in total control, and they demonstrate incredible range and inventive approaches within their focused style. The accent of the grooves shifts, and individual sounds carry all kinds of artefacts, yet everything gets folded into the exacting Untouchables sound with a liberal dubwise sensibility. Brimming with inspiration and immaculately produced, on Lost Knowledge their one-of-a-kind sound is stronger than ever.
2025 Repress
Powerhouse performer Gretel Hänlyn today releases her highly anticipated second EP Head Of The Love Club, via VLF Records. Premiering as Clara Amfo’s Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1, focus track ‘King Of Nothing’ is a rollicking revenge track, cementing Gretel as one of this year’s most exciting breakout stories.
Gretel Hänlyn has spent the last year stamping her ground as one of female guitar music’s new frontrunners, imbued with a singular vision and wickedly unique voice. Inspired by 90s alternative artists like The Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins and PJ Harvey, Head Of The Love Club is a suitably contemporary stride forward in the hotly tipped artist's sound and marks a definitive departure from the indie-folk textures of her breakthrough debut EP Slugeye. A heady mix of hi-fi grunge, goth-pop and alt/indie ballads, the EP features previous singles ‘Drive’, ‘Today (can’t help but cry)’ and ‘Wiggy’ alongside five other tracks that candidly display Gretel’s exceptional storytelling.
Last year was vital for the rising star: she released her debut EP Slugeye to critical acclaim, collaborated with Mura Masa on his headrush of a single ‘2gether’ (9M+ streams on Spotify alone) and was also playlisted multiple times across UK radio - a rare feat for a fiercely independent artist. This year is set to be her breakout – Hänlyn has already been included in NME’s coveted NME100 list, performed live as part of DIY magazine’s ‘Class of 2023’ series and was dubbed one to watch by The Sunday Times, Metro, Time Out + more.
Kai Alce's NDATL is one of house's most authentic outlets, and now its sub-label NUTRIA is fast becoming just as essential. Its third outing marks the impressive debut of South African talent Reagan Ruler with his 'Trouble Man', which weaves deep house, soul and jazz-funk into a sophisticated new statement. Opener 'Hypnotize' delivers silky chords and airy vocals with a deep percussive flow that shows a real knack for melody. 'Don't Stop' bursts with shuffling drums and soulful uplift next to the horns and then a top reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye's' Trouble Man' pairs bite and boucle with deep and smooth drums and an almost Sade-like vocal. Instrumental and dub versions round out this expert 12".
Numbers welcome New York’s Jubilee to the Glasgow based label - Main Character EP features ‘Trippin’’, a collaboration with Jersey club Queen UNIIQU3. One of the most vital voices in American underground dance music for over a decade, Jubilee brings her South Florida rave roots and East Coast sensibilities to the imprint.
Born from the dizzying emotions of love and grief, the EP opens with the cheeky cackle of UNIIQU3 on ‘Trippin’’. Marking their hotly-anticipated first collaborative release, ‘Trippin’’ bridges Jubilee’s Miami bass heritage and UNIIQU3’s Jersey club sound to create a playful lead single featuring tantalizing vocals.
Starting to work on Main Character in 2019, Jubilee revisited the project during an intense period of change and loss. Bringing in further influences from electro, Baltimore club, 90’s dance and techno to create her signature sound, Jubilee channels the fun, drama and chaos that comes hand in hand during challenging times. A deeply personal release, Jubilee looks to her friends and family for inspiration, including a sample of her parents on ‘Lucky’.
Jubilee’s debut on Numbers continues a stand-out year for the dynamic artist who released two stellar EPs earlier this year alongside celebrating 10 years of Magic City - her party series and record label which was awarded DJ Mag’s ‘Best Record Label’ in 2023 - with a run of records, merch and events across the States.
Fast At Work returns with another statement EP, this time from the label’s own Carré and her closest collaborator, Danny Goliger. Navigating through textured atmospheres, rhythmic explorations, and immersive landscapes, they allowed their music to unfold naturally—an organic process shaped by curiosity and intuition. Each track was born from sampling its predecessor, creating a recursive dialogue that guided the creative flow. A commitment to a tension-building groove in ‘Up Too Late’, the warped dub throughlines of ‘Tricky One’, the intricate, delicate uptempo delight that is ‘Exit Plan ’, and the bridge between all four tracks ‘Don’t Keep Me In Suspense’ — each reflects different moments in this journey. An expert in textural exploration, the Dutch DJ and producer Konduku brought out the true hypnotic potential of the title track. Their influences ripple outward, yet the sound remains inherently theirs—fluid, unbound by singular genre or label.
- A1: Born In The Usa (Lp1 Nebraska Outtakes Demo Version 1982)
- A2: Losin' Kind
- A3: Downbound Train
- A4: Child Bride
- B1: Pink Cadillac
- B2: The Big Payback (Single B-Side 1982)
- B3: Working On The Highway
- B4: On The Prowl
- B5: Gun In Every Home
- C1: Nebraska (Lp2 Electric Nebraska)
- C2: Atlantic City
- C3: Mansion On The Hill
- C4: Johnny 99
- D1: Downbound Train
- D2: Open All Night
- D3: Born In The Usa
- D4: Reason To Believe
- E1: Nebraska (Lp3 Nebraska)
- E2: Atlantic City
- E3: Mansion On The Hill
- E4: Johnny 99
- E5: Highway Patrolman
- F1: State Trooper
- F2: Used Cars
- F3: Open All Night
- F4: My Fathers House
- F5: Reason To Believe
- G1: Nebraska (Lp4 2025 Remaster)
- G2: Atlantic City
- G3: Mansion On The Hill
- G4: Johnny 99
- G5: Highway Patrolman
- H1: State Trooper
- H2: Used Cars
- H3: Open All Night
- H4: My Father's House
- H5: Reason To Believe
Bruce Springsteen's statewide ode Nebraska '82 is given ample extra space with a new expanded edition, as his 1982 acoustic masterwork is cast in renewed light by its use the forthcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, which documents the conception of the original album. Now with an extra 17 solo outtakes, including demos of 'Born In the USA' , 'Pink Cadillac', and 'Downbound Train', as well as the fabled Electric Nebraska sessions with the E Street Band, the new dubs illuminate the breadth of Springsteen's vision for a reconciled America, where Springsteen found much inspiration in the folk, literature and short stories of the heartland, particularly in those of Flannery O'Connor, childhood and young-adult memories. Notably, it was deemed by PopMatters to beo one of the first every DIY records made by a major artist, and soon sparked a DIY revolution by folk musicians the globe over.
Dark Entries release 'A Boy Alone', a double LP set from Manchester electronic music pioneer Eric Random. Best known for his early recordings for New Hormones and Les Disques du Crépuscule and collaborations with Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), Cabaret Voltaire and Nico.
As an original member of The Tiller Boys with Shelley, Random injected a healthy dose of Krautrock into the dour Manchester post-punk scene in 1978/79 before going solo the following year. Random's first 7' 'Subliminal'/'23 Skidoo' was released in 1981 via Les Disques du Crépuscule and explored ominous sonic surrounds. That same year also saw the release of a second 7" single on New Hormones, 'Dow Chemical Company'/ 'Skin Deep'. Both tracks offered bubbling, rhythmic sound patterns, and were the first to feature other musicians that would become know as The Bedlamites. Consisting of Lynn Walton on vocals, Ian Runacres and Andy Diagram of Dislocation Dance, and bassist Wayne Worm, aka Wayne Sedgeman. Their debut 12' single 'Subliminal Seduction'/'Bedlam-a-Go-Go' was released in 1982 through Plurex, mixing arid funk textures and sparse melodies. That same year the group contributed proto chill-out track '6.55' to Plurex compilation 'Hours' and the highly filmic track 'In Cassette Conference' to the Touch cassette package 'Feature Mist'. In 1983, Random spent several months in the Himalayas with a group of musicians from the Kulu Valley and studied non-Western instruments such as tabla. On returning to Manchester, Random convened a new group of Belamites including Walton, Sedgeman and drummer Graham Dowdall aka Dids of Ludus. They released the 12' single 'Mad As Mankind'/'Dream Web Of Maya' in 1984 on Cabaret Voltaire's Doublevision, embracing electronic, industrial and dub styles. In 1985 they contributed the soothing 'Pure Power' to Food Records' 'Imminent Episode One' compilation.
Our reissue also includes 4 unreleased bonus tracks from Eric's archives recorded between 1981-1984. The whole set adds up to 115 minutes of sinister, somnambulant Random music. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. Each copy is housed in a gatefold jacket designed by Eloise Leigh featuring a spread of ephemera, photos with liner notes by James Nice of LTM.
FSL returns with a 12" from Germany born, Dublin based artist Small Crab on her label debut.
Deemed "one to watch in 2025" by Mixmag, real name Anastasia Rigaud takes us on an education of Introspective and laid out steppers for the smoked out dark room.
To top it all off the release features a very driving main room cut mix from London based, Dublin's son Glimmerman.
One of contemporary ambient’s preeminent figures lands on its leading label, enacting a transition into a new phase of rhythmic noise and tonal shadowplay laced with peculiar sensitivities, wrangling Dilloway-influenced tape noise thru ASMR ambience, fritzed dub techno, layered vocal drone and ritualistic mantras.
Perila steps up solo with a heavily satisfying debut for West Mineral, investigating negative space and states of subconsciousness. The shift in tone feeds forward into arcane realms of resonant dark ambient and dream-pop, harnessed in amorphous structures using dub-as-method. It’s wholly immersive stuff in a way that’s long been Perlia’s calling card, but here more careful in its command of personalised, atmospheric physics from the Coil-esque ‘cheerleader’, thru the deeply smudged and sexy trip hop of ‘lava’, and the oozing, sloshing OOBE-like spectres of ‘give it all’.
The title of the album is a reference to Carl Jung’s phrase "all haste is of the devil” which informs Perila’s writing process here; she slows down in an attempt to feel more and tap into her shadow self. Album opener 'cheerbleeder' is a doomed, tremolo-heavy mass of ghost notes, while the rattling chains and strangulated voices on ‘metal snax' sounds like they belong on a Wolf Eyes tape. 'grain levy tep dusk' strikes closer to recently unearthed industrial plates from Tolerance and Mentocome, with rusted clangs threaded into deflated, half-speed pulses. The album keeps growing from there, shifting and expanding as Perila exhales and absorbs her cognitive blind spots. She credits "trance states" for helping her let go, and we broadly get to experience that on the mantra-like 'thunder me' and the blurry all-vocal highlight 'hold my leg', which sounds like it could have been snatched from Grouper's 'Way Their Crept' sessions.
As with all of Alexandra Zakharenko’s work under various aliases - Aseptic Stir, Baby Bong, Wedontneedwords, Perila - her allure is self-evident to lovers of textured, diffuse electronics, and never more so than on this lip-bitingly potent suite of delicacies and primordial urges, perfectly balancing ancient and techngnostic aspects with an x-amount of seductive strangeness left in the margins.




















