Suche:end

'THE HARMONY CODEX - the seventh album by Steven Wilson - takes you on a trip. A genre-spanning collection that opens up like a musical puzzle box, it presents a series of endlessly beautiful vistas that roll out and shift in front of you.

Arguably the best album Wilson has made during a career that’s spanned more than three decades both as a band leader and as a solo artist, it represents the apotheosis of a life spent fully absorbed in music.

Lucky number 17? You better believe it. We here at Brown Acid have been scouring the highways and byways of America for even more hidden stashes of psych/garage/proto-punk madness from the so-called Aquarian Age. There’s no flower power here, though—just acid casualties, rock stompers and major freakouts. As always, the songs have been officially licensed, and all the artists get paid. Kicking off this trip, Grapple’s “Ethereal Genesis” is a heavy psych gem from 1969 written by J. Bruce Svoboda, a.k.a. Jay Bruce, formerly of The Hangmen and The Five Canadians (who were actually the same San Antonio band). The latter’s 1966 garage favorite “Writing on the Wall” has been endlessly covered, but Grapple were never heard from again. With a guitar riff that blatantly rips off Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath,” Image’s mostly instrumental lysergic obscurity “Witchcraft ’71” (originally unveiled that very year) also boasts a horror-movie organ intro, a voodoo drum break and some championship chanting. Private press heads might recall late Image drummer John Beke from his ’80s reemergence with country rockers Crossfyre. Stone Hedge were a seven-piece rock band out of Michigan with a penchant for Creedence and anthropomorphism. “Smokey Bear” is their 1972 tribute to the official mascot of the U.S. Forest Services—not to mention the A side of their sole single—and it recalls the kind of organ-drenched swamp jam that soundtracked many a Burt Reynolds flick back in the day. If you think being a Southern rock band from Milwaukee doesn’t make much sense, that’s probably why Crossfire changed their sound along with their name—to Bad Boy—after signing with United Artists. Bad Boy’s severely underappreciated second album, Back To Back, is a 1978 hard rock jewel, but you can hear their boogie-woogie roots on this rare 1975 single. With a band name like Primevil and song title like “Too Dead To Live,” you probably expect some gnarly proto-metal riffage. Instead, you a get a harmonica-drenched, soul-infused rock rave-up from 1972. Primevil would release their sole LP two years later: Entitled Smokin’ Bats at Campton’s, it’s a reference to their trusty singer, harp player (and bat smoker?), Dave Campton. Brown Acid regulars already know Pegasus from their appearance with “The Sorcerer” on our Seventh Trip. “Ready to Rave” is the flipside to that 1972 single, in which they explain how they like their whiskey cold and their women hot. It’s another killer glimpse of what might have been if these one-and-done Baltimore hard rockers had been able to keep it together. One of two obscure singles released by Texas musician Bobby Mabe in 1969 (the other appears under the name The Outcasts), “I’m Lonely” delivers a heavy dose of vocal soul to the otherwise psych-garage presentation. Fans of fellow Houstonians the Moving Sidewalks—whom Bobby and his Outcasts may well have gigged with—will especially dig this one. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, may not be known as a cultural mecca, but they did give us Truth & Janey. This deadly hard rock trio delivered their holy grail full-length, No Rest for the Wicked, back in 1976. “Around and Around” is a Chuck Berry cover that originally appeared on a 1973 single the band released under the earlier name Truth. Originally released in 1973, “High School Letter” is the debut single from San Diego rock squad Glory. This infectious bonehead cruncher features future Beat Farmer Jerry Raney and the original rhythm section of Iron Butterfly in bassist Greg Willis and drummer Jack Pinney. Glory is what they got up to after their former bandmates left for L.A.’s garden of Eden. “Jack the Ripper” is a mercilessly bootlegged Cleveland classic from 1978 with a serrated punk edge and vocals that recall Mick Blood of Aussie savages the Lime Spiders. Or maybe it’s the other way around—the Lime Spiders formed the year after Strychnine carved off this lethal paean to the infamous Whitechapel slasher of olde.

RIYL: The Fall, Royal Trux, The Dead C, Shirley Collins, ’70s British progressive rock, Dean Blunt.
Throughout their legendary, decade-long run, the Shadow Ring were an enigmatic force on the international musical sub-underground. Before their disbandment in 2002, this shambolic rock outfit, formed by a group of rowdy teenagers in southeast England, left behind a mighty run of eight LPs, a handful of 7"s, and a spate of raucous live shows and cryptic zine appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, all which have bolstered their enduring word-of-mouth mystique. Beginning this year with the first-ever vinyl pressing of the self-released pre-Shadow Ring tape The Cat & Bells Club (1992), Blank Forms Editions is conducting a systematic retrospective of the storied group, including a multi-year LP reissue effort and a forthcoming comprehensive CD box set and an over five hundred page book. Recorded in summer of 1994 at S.H.P studios (frontman Graham Lambkin’s parents’ home), the group’s sophomore record Put the Music In Its Coffin is a more sinister, saturnine affair than their debut City Lights. Coffin was many listeners’ introduction to the Shadow Ring, who had hitherto self-released their music, courting a steady stable of international fans through the magazine and mail-order catalog Forced Exposure. For their follow-up, the duo reached out to the ascending Philadelphia label Siltbreeze, whose eclectic roster of sneering, low-fidelity rock and noise connected disparate subterranean scenes from rust-belt America to the English Midlands, Dunedin, and beyond. As luck would have it, Siltbreeze proprietor Tom Lax was already a fan of the band’s first record and arranged to release both a 7” and their “difficult second album.” The connection proved to run deeper than vinyl within six months, Lax would pick up the pair from the airport for their spring 1995 US tour. This episode marked not only their first trip to the States but their first live performances at all, formally introducing the Shadow Ring to the American underground and solidifying the allure of the Folkestone pair. From the get-go, the record has a menacing, vile ambience. Its opening track “Horse-Meat Cakes,” inspired by an anecdote by pulp author Philip K. Dick about how he and his wife subsisted off low-grade pet food when he first arrived in San Francisco, sets the tone lyrically and sonically. Subsequent tracks are filled with Rabelaisian body horror and sinewy, haptic diction. “I try to pass out vital organs, convinced that they are waste,” intones Lambkin in “Heart, Liver & Lungs,” before a chorus of detuned guitars kicks in, nearly drowning out the speaker’s account of consuming chevaline intestines. Later songs similarly detail vernacular cooking (“Caribbean Porridge,” about a cornmeal hangover cure), bodily processes (“Nocturnal Middle Rumbles,” about nighttime defecation), and creaturely conflict (“Crystal Tears” and “Spin The Animal Dial”). The album’s makeshift percussion and teenaged rawness resembles the verve of City Lights, while its screeching strings and gnarly distorted vocals give it a sparse, miasmic atmosphere that look towards the uncompromising, otherworldly experimentation of the band’s Hold Onto I.D. (1996) and Lighthouse (1997), making this one of the Shadow Ring’s most distilled musical statements

Tube Alloys have made a type of record that is in short supply these days. A record that is untethered to prevailing musical trends, punk or otherwise, in either their native Los Angeles or further afield. It's in keeping with a tradition, sure, one pioneered by bands like Wire, Swell Maps and This Heat, who sought to combine the vitality of punk music with an omnivorous ear for the avant-garde. But Tube Alloys honour this tradition with their disinterest in nostalgia and their ability to cast an irreverent eye towards our present and - crucially - our future, rather than endlessly rehashing our past. In short, Tube Alloys are adventurous where many of their contemporaries are content to play it safe. In doing so they tick a lot of boxes for those with open minds and open ears, while simultaneously making sense of the innate contradictions found in any great work of art. Their songs are muscular without being boneheaded, clever without being nerdy. A dry Australian humour is barked with an American sense of self-assuredness. Songs end before you've had a chance to digest their brilliance, or they explode right when you think they've already peaked. And just when you think you're comfortably along for the ride, the songs disappear altogether, and the record's centrepiece abruptly takes shape as an oblique spoken riff on Time. And Time it is, for something a little different. Finally! If you are in need of refreshment, then look no further, you have found your Oasis!

On October 20, 2023, Anetha will release her third tempetuous compilation on her label Mama told ya entitled MTY-AIR «Mille attaques, les vents contrèrent», just one year after MTY-TERRE «Contre tout, toutes et tous, la terre demeure» and two years after MTY-EAU «L’eau repousse les feux agressifs».

Through air element, the compilation comes up with the collaboration of 22 artists with 20 tracks, divided into 4 vinyls: Once again, Anetha carried away with her a generation of electronic artists from around the world to simply blow our mind.

------

ON AIR: After twelve successful releases on Mama told ya, Anetha paraglides in our skies with the stormful MTY-AIR, a volatile new compilation: 4 swirling vinyls, 20 aerodynamics tracks, 1 wind blowing perfume.

Entitled «Mille attaques, les vents contrèrent», it will be the third of a series around the four elements. Capricious yet vigorous, air sweeps out everything on its way. Nothing can save you when you’re in the eye of the cyclone: prepare to fly hard. Alongside our windbreaker artists, skydive into the celestial vastness of sound: Gusts of disturbed techno, squalls of groove, mental tornado, minimal bass hurricane, cloudburst of psytrance… Time to get some fresh air.

Piercing pampero, mad mistral, forceful cierzo are blowing, blazing khamsin, steady sirocco, sharp shamal, dank nor’wester are entwining… Techno winds from all around the world are joining the fight against humanity. This is « Endgame » (B2). Final chapter, twisters and typhoons are cleansing the surface of earth, overthrowing everything on their path. Poor soul, don’t try to confront air’s blast as it will « Facelift » (D2) the shit out of you in less than a second. Take shelter as air is untouchable, unpredictable, unstoppable. Or if you’re brave enough, you’ll jump into the sky, looking for the currents to carry you up, sailing whirlwinds, riding airwaves, on the road to the « Temples of Quantum » (H2). Now jump!

The artwork has been once again entrusted to visual artist Karin Kimel, who worked on MTY-EAU’s artwork. She delivers an aerial scenery where supernal wafts are swirling, embalming our air. Diplomatie Studio took care of the design, mastering was entrusted to Sixbitdeep. And for the second time, with a direct message from earth to Earth, we opted for recycled vinyls.

Introducing the eagerly awaited second instalment of Fabio's meticulously curated collection of liquid Drum & Bass classics - 'Generation Liquid.'

Fabio, a true legend in the music industry for over three decades, kickstarted his illustrious career as a Pirate Radio DJ in the mid-80s. Throughout the years, he masterfully evolved his style across various musical genres, ranging from Dub and Hip Hop to House, until he ultimately solidified his position as one of the pioneering forces behind Jungle and Drum and Bass. Fate played a remarkable role in Fabio's extraordinary musical journey. Serendipitously, he landed a pivotal spot on the pirate radio station Phase One, all thanks to a connection through a close friend. This opportunity allowed Fabio to showcase his raw talent and hone his early skills. As destiny continued to guide him, Fabio formed a powerful partnership with Grooverider, and together, they soared to fame, headlining numerous major outdoor raves and orbital M25 parties during the late '80s acid house boom. The duo's magnetic presence and innovative sound captivated audiences, setting them apart as trailblazers in the electronic music scene.

As club culture blossomed, Fabio and Grooverider became the distinguished residents at the iconic club night RAGE, hosted at Heaven in the heart of London. Their influence was immense, as they were credited with moulding the early Jungle sound and orchestrating the world's first-ever weekly Jungle night. Fabio's unwavering passion and dedication to music have not only left an indelible mark on the industry but have also inspired countless aspiring artists. His boundless creativity and willingness to push the boundaries continue to shape the ever-evolving landscape of electronic music, solidifying his status as a true pioneer and a living legend.

After the Jungle scene declined and underwent a distinct shift in sound and style, Fabio took the initiative to establish London's first dedicated soulful deep Drum and Bass night, known as Speed. Week after week, Fabio shared the decks with LTJ Bukem, and their skilful sets eventually garnered immense popularity, drawing in not only junglists but also celebrities, club kids, record label A&R representatives, and the who's who of the West End at that time. When the curtain fell on Speed Fabio's legacy continued to flourish with the inception of his legendary Swerve weekly residency at The Velvet Rooms, which later relocated to the iconic club, The End. The influence of Swerve was profound, serving as a catalyst for the creation of influential labels like Hospital Records, Tony Coleman (also known as London Elektricity) became a regular attendee, further contributing to the scene's growth and innovation.

The term 'Liquid', was born out of Fabio's deep admiration and support for his protégé, the talented Northern Irish producer and DJ, Dominick Martin, famously known as Calibre. This inspiration led to the creation of his acclaimed 14-year radio show on BBC Radio 1, 'The Liquid Funk Show', which drew from Calibre's masterful productions that Fabio likened to "liquid gold" for the ears. Through this show, Fabio played a crucial role in breaking numerous iconic records, and artists such as Chase & Status, High Contrast, and many many more.

Now, 'Generation Liquid' takes the baton from the legacy of Speed, Swerve, and 'The Liquid Funk show', capturing the essence of the era and the soulful, deeper music that Fabio has championed throughout his illustrious career. This meticulously curated collection celebrates records that embody the spirit of soulful D&B, making it a must-have for anyone who has followed Fabio's musical journey since the vibrant days of the 1990s up until now.

The second volume of this immersive exploration into the soulful realm of Drum & Bass is just as indispensable as its predecessor. It boasts a curated collection of rarities, timeless classics, and straight-up anthems from the vibrant liquid D&B scene. Esteemed artists such as DJ Marky, Calibre, Calyx & TeeBee, and dBridge all contribute to what is undeniably becoming a seminal anthology of the subgenre. The track selection and seamless programming are expertly guided by none other than Fabio himself, providing listeners with a nostalgic glimpse into the electrifying atmosphere of being right on the dance-floor at iconic events Speed and Swerve.

Wewantsounds is delighted to release 'Sharayet el Disco' a selection of
Egyptian '80s disco and boogie tracks curated by Egyptian DJ Disco
Arabesquo from his vast collection of cassettes and officially released on
vinyl for the first time
Remastered for vinyl and including colour insert with liner notes by Moataz Rageb
(Disco Arabesquo). Most tracks have never been released on any other format
and are making their vinyl debut with this set. A journey through the funky sound
of 80s Egypt, Sharayet El Disco (which can be translated by "Disco Cassettes")
features Simone, Ammar El Sherei and more obscure names from Cairo's
cassette culture.
The audio has been remastered for vinyl by David Hachour/Colorsound Studio in
Paris and the LP features artwork by young Egyptian graphic designer Heba Tarek
and a 2-page insert featuring artwork of the original cassettes plus insightful liner
notes by Moataz Rageb.
The set is a unique insight into the diversity of the Egyptian Disco sound, from the
pulsating Disco of "Hezeny" by Hany Shenouda's Al Massrieen band to the boogie
of Simone's "Merci," via Firkit El Asdekaa's tongue-in-cheek "Eklib el Sheriet" ("turn
the cassette to the other side"), produced by legendary Egyptian musician Ammar
El Sherei.

'In 1972, trumpeter Baikida Carroll and some of his colleagues from the Black Artists Group (more precisely saxophonist/flutist Oliver Lake, trombonist Joseph Bowie, drummer Charles "Bobo" Shaw and trumpeter Floyd LeFlore) took the advice of their friends in the Art Ensemble Of Chicago and left their native Missouri to come and discover the bright lights of Paris for themselves. The following year they would even get the chance to record their only album which would rapidly attain mythical status and a collector’s item: “In Paris, Aries 1973”.

Therefore, it was not surprising that they crossed paths with Jef Gilson in the capital. He was always on the lookout for new artists for his recently formed Palm label and had been active on many fronts in jazz since the end of the 50s. The French bandleader / pianist / composer / sound engineer had already recorded, in the preceding months other American musicians who would go on to have great careers: Byard Lancaster, Keno Speller, Clint Jackson III, Khan Jamal... Gilson therefore offered Baikida Carroll the chance to record his first album under his own name, which would be the 13th release on the label. Carroll logically asked Oliver Lake to join him. He also recruited Manuel Villaroel, a young Franco-Chilien pianist from the group Matchi-Oul, who had already released an album on Futura in 1971 and would release another on Palm in 1976. The group was completed with the addition of Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos, who had just released a well-received album on the Saravah label. They were ready to enter the studio for the 3rd, 4th and 5th June 1974.

The first side of the album is divided into two long tracks which send free jazz back to its long-lost African roots. The opener “Orange Fish Tears” indeed rolls out a jungle of percussion of all sorts and sizes -the whole group is involved- which weave and mix together reaching a point where all bearings are lost, lending a sense of wonder to the majestic entry of the brass and woodwinds, flying suddenly out from the undergrowth. “Forest Scorpion” (sic) is a real voodoo ceremony where a venomous percussive groove backs the fiery solos from keyboards and saxophone in a furious trance. A warning; after these two tracks listeners are physically and emotionally wiped out!

The other side is more introspective. Deliberately using dissonance and repetition, “Rue Roger” -the only composition by Oliver Lake- in a long dialogue between trumpet and saxophone, could almost remind us of Terry Riley in his favourite ballpark. “Porte D'Orléans”, the fourth and final track on the album, has the group back to their old tricks in a long hallucinatory jam which owes as much to the contemporary music of György Ligeti as to the most angst-ridden Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack music (remember the heavy chords which beat through “Planet of the Apes»).

With these two sides, and in under 45m, Baikida Carroll and his musicians show just what they can do, from cerebral to charnel without ever simplifying things. This is an essential album if you are a fan of free-wheeling avant-garde music from the Art Ensemble of Chicago to Sonic Youth and including Shabaka Hutchings and Rob Mazurek. For those with good taste, in other words.'

Sublime ethereal minimalism from Hiroyuki Onogawa on this retrospective compilation album for
Mana, the first dedicated release and remaster of his soundtrack compositions.

The album August in the Water: Music for Film 1995-2005 plots a decade of Onogawa’s compositions for films by the renowned filmmaker Gakuryū Ishii (formally known as Sogo Ishii). Ishii’s leftfield and trailblazing cinema has proven highly influential - Crazy Thunder Road (1980) is frequently cited as the starting pistol for the Japanese cyberpunk genre - and unfathomably difficult to source outside of Japan. This, coupled with the mysterious and artistic nature of the films, has seen him build a cult-like following. Most of his oeuvre remains undistributed outside Japan, though Third Window Films has recently taken great strides toward making some titles available internationally.

This retrospective publication, sequenced into an album by Onogawa himself, spans a fertile period of collaboration with Ishii, through soundtracks for three remarkable films: August in the Water (1995), Labyrinth of Dreams (1997), and Mirrored Mind (2005). Each feels texturally and sensually linked with the spiritual, ambient, dreamlike quality that lingers in Onogawa’s music.

The sound Onogawa conjures for these films is elegant and patient, often minimal or essential in form, but saturated in a poetic emotion and atmosphere that feels strange and otherworldly, touched by the metaphysical in subtle ways. Boundaries are crossed between New Age and science fiction, locating a blissfulness, melancholy and paranoia within the same spectrum, and moving toward an enchanting sense of mood and colour.

It’s notable that the compositions on this album straddle the millennium, and the mix of divine and uncertain themes in the music carry that currency. New listeners might hear links to Mark Snow’s compositional work for the X-Files and Millennium, or other celebrated future-facing and future-fearing Japanese anime or cyberpunk.

Onogawa’s music adds great depth and tenor to the sensory experience of the films themselves, but it stands just as strongly as a listening experience on its own terms, a virtuosic example of ambient that changes in hue when turned in the light. Remarkably, and in similar circumstances to Ishii, Onogawa’s work has never been widely available outside of (always highly enthusiastic) underground fan posts, usually sourced from extremely limited and private CDs limited to Japan. This retrospective seeks to remedy that, and hopes to achieve recognition for Onogawa as one of the great composers of the last three decades.

Onogawa continues to work in film, both in the creation of soundtracks, and now as a producer and director. He composed the music for Koji Fukada’s Harmonium (2016), which won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as for Fukada’s A Girl Missing (2019). As a director, he received the Grand Prize for Best Short Film in the Noves Visions category at the Sitges Festival in 2022 for Flashback Before Death (Guu), co-directed with Rii Ishihara.'

Jdotbalance left the moon and the sky for a city that works. This is their first offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, 'Sublimate' combines two aspects of a digital pipe and mallet assortment—both as the percussive base for a groove, and as an interstitial layer where inherent resonances are massaged into melody. Bubbles and squeaks dance around the sound-stage periphery, occasionally pierced by high frequency statements, presenting as either ghostly yelps from the aether or as bursts of kaleidoscopic shards. A third of the way through the track, the instrumentation truly does sublimate, crystallizing into a new self—bolder and naughtier, abandoning its pensive optimism for a detour around the spectrum's dark end. On the flip, 'Precipitate' continues with its predecessor's primer of metallic percussion, but accelerates the pace to reveal Jdot’s attitude leaning toward cunty malice. The kick drum relentlessly pounds us as 16th note droplets metamorphose from chrome-dipped hail into full-blown acid wind. As intensity retreats beneath the digital rubble and the track draws to a close, so does our stream of Jdot’s consciousness. These two songs will accelerate your nervous system.

Attentat have been going strong since 1978, but as they were working on this album things came to a
crashing halt when vocalist Jönsson ended up in a coma. The whole experience ended up just
strengthening the band's resolve to plow through. Jönsson recovered in record time, the band
replaced both a few songs and a member and ended up with a banger! Swedish singalong punk rock
reminiscent of classic English bands like Buzzcocks and The Clash as well as later US groups like
Rancid and Social Distortion with a little bit of Slade and Sweet sprinkled on top.

Neuauflage zum 10-jährigen Jubiläum des Debüts und gleichzeitig einzigen Albums von Palms, der Band bestehend aus Chino Moreno (Sänger der Deftones) und Mitgliedern des 2010 aufgelösten Post-Metal-Kollektivs Isis. Auf dem Album enthalten sind auch zwei Bonustracks, 'Opening Titles' und 'End Credits', die Anfang des Jahres bereits digital erschienen sind. Das Originalalbum ist seit langem vergriffen und erreicht auf Discogs Summen von bis zu 100 Dollar.

Neuauflage zum 10-jährigen Jubiläum des Debüts und gleichzeitig einzigen Albums von Palms, der Band bestehend aus Chino Moreno (Sänger der Deftones) und Mitgliedern des 2010 aufgelösten Post-Metal-Kollektivs Isis. Auf dem Album enthalten sind auch zwei Bonustracks, 'Opening Titles' und 'End Credits', die Anfang des Jahres bereits digital erschienen sind. Das Originalalbum ist seit langem vergriffen und erreicht auf Discogs Summen von bis zu 100 Dollar.

If you were to ask for a defining Habibi Funk track, there are a few that come to mind: from Fadoul’s “Sid Redad,” Dalton’s “Soul Brother” to Ahmed Malek’s “Omar Gatlato.” However, none are as widely connected with us at this point as Hamid Al Shaeri’s “Ayonha.” We heard the track for the first time when we were working on selecting tracks for your first compilation and we instantly loved it. We obviously had heard of Hamid El Shaeri’s music before, but only material from his Al Jeel phase when he was already the full-blown
superstar he is now.

Listening to his releases from the early 1980’s opened a whole new door for us. At the time, Hamid had just left Libya to pursue his career in Egypt via a detour in London, where he recorded his
first album. Hamid’s distinct sound of the sound is quintessentially reliant on heavy synths and so it was particularly important to purchase these synths in a timely manner. “Whenever a new one synthesizer would come out, we would have to buy it immediately, otherwise someone else would get their hands on that sound.” London also played an important role for Hamid as a musical epicenter.

He fondly reminisces about the many live shows he attended there, including some of the biggest international musicians like Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson. After returning to Cairo where he also recorded his following albums, he connected with SLAM! for the
release of his debut, laying the foundation of a collaboration that lasted for 5 albums. Luckily, we were able to connect with Hamid through our friend Youssra El Hawary, whose extensive network has opened many doors for us within the Egyptian music scene. We met Hamid for the first time probably in 2016 at his office / rehearsal studio in the outskirts Cairo. We were expecting a larger-than-life
character in-line with his status as a certified superstar, yet the actual person turned out to be very approachable and super easy to connect with. He liked the idea of an effort to amplify his early works again,
which, when originally released, were far from an economic success.

While he was down to assist with an interview and his blessing for the project he also told us that for any license we needed to speak with the original label SLAM! who released these songs, still held the rights and also remained in business over the decades though they didn’t actively release any new music. Hany Sabet had started SLAM! records in the early 1980s and focused on cassette tape releases, the
format that expedited the success of a new generation of record labels in Egypt. By the mid 1980’s, SLAM! had become one of the most successful and economically dominant record labels in Egypt, with Hamid El Shaeri being just one of their key artists, alongside Mohamed Mounir, Hanan, Hakim, Mustafa Amar and many more. Luckily, Hany Sabet turned out to be a friend of our colleague Malak Makar’s father, which probably helped to warm him to the idea of licen- sing “Ayonha” to this - in the scale of his world - tiny label
from Germany. Eventually “Ayonha” ended up becoming a widely successful release and either Hany or we brought up the idea of a full album dedicated to Hamid El Shaeri’s work on SLAM!.


"Maktoub Aleina” is the first single and will be released January 14th. Following the massive success of "Ayonha,” “Maktoub Aleina” is another mid-tempo groover with a beautiful, synth-forward melody, that brings together a lovely combination of soul, disco and Arabic pop music of the highest order, giving a taste of full album. The second single, “Yekfini Nesma Sotak” will be released January 28th and combines Hamid’s unique formula of soul and pop, held together by a catchy synth melody. “Yekfini Nesma Sotak” picks up the
pace a bit, making the uplifting mood of the track even more powerful. Third single, arriving February 11th, is “Dari Demou’ek,” one of the stand out tracks of Hamid’s early recordings done for SLAM! in the early 1980s. Dominated by a disco infused bassline, the track offers a lot of space of the funky production to shine while Hamid inserts his vocals at all the right moments. A masterpiece of disco touched by Arabic pop music.

Full album arrives February 25th. This release is dedicated to Hany Sabet, the founder of SLAM! and his wife Rosemary Jane Sabet (who
took the photos we used for the cover and the booklet), who sadly passed away during the time it took us to prepare the release.
Vinyl comes with an extensive booklet with an interview with Hamid as well as unseen photos

Plant43 wrote a trio of EPs over the winter season at the end of 2022 and the start of 23 and has been putting them out on his own Plant43 Recordings label.

This third part from the man born Emile Facey is another emotional rollercoaster that conveys the wintry scenes in which they were written while also taking you on to the more warm and optimistic light of spring.

Lithe electro rhythms and icy synths open up on 'Tidal Flexing' while 'Reflective Waves' gets a little darker and more intense. 'System's Edge' is a celestial cruise with quick, slick drums and masterful leads then 'Mind Drift' channels Drexcyian cyborg funk to close. The final part of the story comes on coloured vinyl but only in limited quantities.

Holy Hive haben in der kurzen Zeitspanne von 3 Jahren zwei Alben und eine EP veröffentlicht und dann beschlossen, sich aufzulösen. Während die Fans diese Nachricht zweifellos nicht mögen werden, bleibt uns allen die zeitlose Musik, die sie während ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit gemacht haben, erhalten, und produktiv waren sie sicherlich. Springs zartes Falsett über dem schweren Schlagzeugspiel von Homer Steinweiss erwies sich als eine himmlische Kombination und sie schufen einen Sound, der die Ohren und Herzen aller Hörer verzauberte und den Begriff "Folk Soul" prägte. "Big Crown Vaults Vol. 3 : Holy Hive" gräbt in der Schatztruhe unveröffentlichter Aufnahmen und holt einige heraus, die nie den Weg auf Vinyl gefunden haben. Diese Aufnahmen entstanden größtenteils während ihrer zwei Album-Sessions, einige wurden sogar aufgenommen, bevor sie bei Big Crown unterschrieben.

Im Herbst 2023 erscheint bei Erased Tapes das Album Give It to
the Sky: Arthur Russell"s Tower of Meaning Expanded. Bei der
vom Komponisten und Producer Peter Broderick und dem 12-
köpfigen Ensemble 0 aus Frankreich aufgenommenen Version,
handelt es sich um eine erweiterte Neuinterpretation von Arthur
Russells minimalistischer Orchesterkomposition "Tower of
Meaning", die erstmals im Jahr 1983 veröffentlicht wurde. "Give
It to the Sky.." vereint zudem auch unveröffentlichte Stücke von
Russell, die überarbeitet und neu aufgenommen wurden. Mit
ihrer umwerfenden, insgesamt 80 Minuten langen Hommage
hauchen Broderick und Ensemble 0 dem "Tower of Meaning"
neues Leben ein und verknüpfen diesen minimalistischen
Meilenstein mit etlichen verlorenen Songideen aus Russells
Nachlass. Das komplette Album, das so gut wie ohne Overdubs
auskommt, wurde live in einem kleinen Theater im Südwesten
Frankreichs eingespielt. Gewiss war Russell nie ein Freund
endgültiger Versionen. Er dachte kontinuierlich über die
Möglichkeiten eines Stücks nach und fragte sich, was es sonst
noch alles sein oder werden könnte. "Give it to the Sky" knüpft
ganz klar an diese Herangehensweise an, indem es "Tower of
Meaning" als grobes Framework nutzt, um darauf aufzubauen,
diesen atmenden Kern nach oben und nach außen zu erweitern
- und insgesamt etwas entstehen zu lassen, das man ganz klar
in Russells wundersam-paradoxer Welt verorten kann. Auch
"Give it to the Sky" kann somit keineswegs als letztes Wort oder
ultimative Interpretation gedacht sein. Broderick und Ensemble
0 sind längst darüber im Austausch, welche Formen es auf der
Bühne annehmen oder wohin es sonst führen könnte.

Im Herbst 2023 erscheint bei Erased Tapes das Album Give It to
the Sky: Arthur Russell"s Tower of Meaning Expanded. Bei der
vom Komponisten und Producer Peter Broderick und dem 12-
köpfigen Ensemble 0 aus Frankreich aufgenommenen Version,
handelt es sich um eine erweiterte Neuinterpretation von Arthur
Russells minimalistischer Orchesterkomposition "Tower of
Meaning", die erstmals im Jahr 1983 veröffentlicht wurde. "Give
It to the Sky.." vereint zudem auch unveröffentlichte Stücke von
Russell, die überarbeitet und neu aufgenommen wurden. Mit
ihrer umwerfenden, insgesamt 80 Minuten langen Hommage
hauchen Broderick und Ensemble 0 dem "Tower of Meaning"
neues Leben ein und verknüpfen diesen minimalistischen
Meilenstein mit etlichen verlorenen Songideen aus Russells
Nachlass. Das komplette Album, das so gut wie ohne Overdubs
auskommt, wurde live in einem kleinen Theater im Südwesten
Frankreichs eingespielt. Gewiss war Russell nie ein Freund
endgültiger Versionen. Er dachte kontinuierlich über die
Möglichkeiten eines Stücks nach und fragte sich, was es sonst
noch alles sein oder werden könnte. "Give it to the Sky" knüpft
ganz klar an diese Herangehensweise an, indem es "Tower of
Meaning" als grobes Framework nutzt, um darauf aufzubauen,
diesen atmenden Kern nach oben und nach außen zu erweitern
- und insgesamt etwas entstehen zu lassen, das man ganz klar
in Russells wundersam-paradoxer Welt verorten kann. Auch
"Give it to the Sky" kann somit keineswegs als letztes Wort oder
ultimative Interpretation gedacht sein. Broderick und Ensemble
0 sind längst darüber im Austausch, welche Formen es auf der
Bühne annehmen oder wohin es sonst führen könnte.

Dogstar – guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Robert Mailhouse and bassist Keanu Reeves – epitomize the quintessential Southern California storytelling rock band they’ve always been in their hearts, making deeply resonant music that literally comes from Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Nearly a quarter century after what seemed to be their final album, Happy Ending (released in 2000), Dogstar has reformed and taken a great creative leap forward, establishing an entirely new path. “Our earlier records were almost in the wrong decade,” says Robert Mailhouse. “Looking back, it’s almost like we started a Seventies band that somehow got lost in the Nineties. When everybody else was shouting, we were trying to tell stories because in Bret, we’ve always had a singer-songwriter in the Jackson Browne tradition. But people kept saying `grunge’ because of the times we were in – or maybe because of the clothes we were wearing.” “This music just sounds like us,” says Bret Domrose with a smile. “One of the things I love about this album is the variety of feel,” says Keanu Reeves. “Every song is not the same – you can hear our diverse influences and a lot of different tones here. And I feel like finally on this album, we’ve managed to take all those influences and our passion for playing together and once and for all turned it all
into Dogstar.”

Dogstar – guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Robert Mailhouse and bassist Keanu Reeves – epitomize the quintessential Southern California storytelling rock band they’ve always been in their hearts, making deeply resonant music that literally comes from Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Nearly a quarter century after what seemed to be their final album, Happy Ending (released in 2000), Dogstar has reformed and taken a great creative leap forward, establishing an entirely new path. “Our earlier records were almost in the wrong decade,” says Robert Mailhouse. “Looking back, it’s almost like we started a Seventies band that somehow got lost in the Nineties. When everybody else was shouting, we were trying to tell stories because in Bret, we’ve always had a singer-songwriter in the Jackson Browne tradition. But people kept saying `grunge’ because of the times we were in – or maybe because of the clothes we were wearing.” “This music just sounds like us,” says Bret Domrose with a smile. “One of the things I love about this album is the variety of feel,” says Keanu Reeves. “Every song is not the same – you can hear our diverse influences and a lot of different tones here. And I feel like finally on this album, we’ve managed to take all those influences and our passion for playing together and once and for all turned it all
into Dogstar.”

Das Debütalbum von Beach House aus dem Jahr 2006 ist jetzt endlich via Bella Union wieder auf Vinyl erhältlich. Enthalten ist der Song 'Master Of None', der von The Weeknd in seinem Song 'The Party & the After Party' gesampelt wurde.










j B5 | [Silence]

Was als Lockdown Homerecording Projekt von Lars Schmidt Subterfuge begann, ist mittlerweile zu einer passablen Band aus alten Bekannten herangewachsen durch Christoph Schneider Klee, Clayton Farlow, Soccer, Philipp Breuer [Pale] und Mark Specht [ehem. Subterfuge]). Mit Don'ts and Dos liegt nun das Debut-Album vor, welches am 25. August digital sowie als CD und Anfang Oktober auf Vinyl über Subjangle und Less Records erscheint und über Cargo vertrieben wird. Nach der hochgelobten Simple EP im letzten Jahr (drei dieser Tracks sind als neue Versionen auf diesem Album zu finden) ist The Radio Field zurück, um uns mit ihrem Debüt "Don'ts and Dos" eine Art musikalische Archäologie des Jangle-& Twee-Pop der 80er und 90er Jahre zu liefern, mit herrlich knackigen, klaren, hochmelidiösen Riffs plus des den einehmenden Vibes des College-Rocks, welcher nie weit entfernt anklingt. "Die Songs von The Radio Field bohren sich wie ein kleiner fieser Alien-Wurm durch meinen Gehörgang direkt in das Wohlfühlzentrum meines Gehirns - und bleiben dort für immer! Schon das Debüt 'Simple EP', die Lars (man kennt ihn von der institutionellen Düsseldorfer Band Subterfuge) noch ganz alleine eingespielt hat, war grandios, jetzt kommt endlich das erste Album. Die zehn im Domblick Studio von Bassist Christoph in Köln eingespielten und mit einigen prominenten Gästen (Robert Stadtlober, Stefanie Schrank, Phantom Handshakes, Bukahara) veredelten Stücke sind durch die Bank weg Hits! Und Ohrwürmer! Und Meilensteine! Oder wie nennt Ihr denn Songs, die ihr sofort mitsingen und niemals vergessen könnt?" MARK KOWARSCH (ANTIKÖRPER AUF BYTE FM, SHARON STONED)

The Mapendo album of the Mighty Cavaliers, up to today, has been shrouded in mystery. If you look at the original cover of this very rare Kenyan funk-infused album all you will find are the names of the engineer and the producer, as EMI Kenya omitted the names of the musicians and the songwriters. Digging deeper a rather sinister story of deceit develops whereby Mapendo becomes symbolic for all what was wrong about the Kenyan record industry in the 1970s, and the music industry in Africa as a whole. As this maltreatment of artists proved endemic throughout the continent, although little talked about.

One of the three surviving members of the Mighty Cavaliers, bass player Bonnie Wanda - who started his career in 1971 with Gloria Africana - vividly remembers participating in the recording of the two albums the band made in 1976 and 1977 - Fisherman and Mapendo - and how they, especially on the last album, got short-changed by shrewd record label executives. In the 1960s it was mostly Indian and European record bosses that called the shots and usually gave musicians the chance of a one-off payment for their session time and recorded songs or wait for - hopefully - a generous royalty check. In most cases records didn't sell more than a thousand copies with an occasional hit selling in the tens of thousands, so musicians were reluctant to register themselves with the Music Copyright Society of Kenya. Although without doing so one couldn't receive royalties.

'For two years the Mighty Cavaliers performed five nights a week at the Starlight Club for five hour sets.

The re-release of Mapendo, the first of the German Want Some Records label, is another exciting puzzle piece in the tapestry of groovy Kenyan music. It proves that there are still great gems out there to be re-discovered for audiences worldwide.

Text written by Michiel van Oosterhout

This Album is dedicated to the musicians
Bonnie Wanda, Rashid Salim, Vuli Yeni, Juma Waweru Njuguna and Athmani 'guitar boy'."

Throughout their legendary, decade-long run, the Shadow Ring were an enigmatic force on the international musical sub-underground. Before their disbandment in 2002, this shambolic rock outfit, formed by a group of rowdy teenagers in southeast England, left behind a mighty run of eight LPs, a handful of 7"s, and a spate of raucous live shows and cryptic zine appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, all which have bolstered their enduring word-of-mouth mystique. Beginning this year with the first-ever vinyl pressing of the self-released pre-Shadow Ring tape The Cat & Bells Club (1992), Blank Forms Editions is conducting a systematic retrospective of the storied group, including a multi-year LP reissue effort and a forthcoming comprehensive CD box set and an over five hundred page book. Recorded and self-released by the group's own Dry Leaf Discs in 1993, City Lights is the debut record of the then duo Graham Lambkin and Darren Harris_an assured arrival statement teeming with stripling angst and ambition. Lifelong chums Lambkin and Harris were barely nineteen and living at home in the seaside town of Folkestone, Kent, with few overhead expenses. The two were freshly employed as a forklift operator at a hardware store and an aide at a home for children with disabilities, respectively, affording them the time and funds to commit to a proper full-length release. Frontman Lambkin describes the album as a "microscopic examination of leisure activities, this time centered around a nightclub," a conceit surging through its lyrics, song titles, cover art (depicting an audience of cats and mice at the Leas Club, a Folkestone fixture), and flip side (replete with fictional bandmates and pseudonymous liner notes). On a recently-acquired secondhand guitar, Lambkin plays repetitive, brooding licks that form the record's backbone, weaving in and out of sync with Harris's free-form percussion and the pair's sing-song poetry. Tracks range from unraveling nursery-rhyme ditties to extended jams awash with Casiotone and toy piano noodling. The duo's musical hobby-horses work themselves in: the influence of Mark E. Smith's breathless deadpan, the headless outer-edges of ESP-Disk's back catalog, the eerie atmospherics of Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa, and the deconstructed rock tunes of the Dunedin scene are all detectable, although there is a sui generis quality to the Shadow Ring's artless temerity. "I've got to see and taste those city lights," intones Lambkin on the album's title track_indeed, this is a record of naked drive and pent-up desperation, and a shimmering glimpse of what's to come. For Fans of The Fall, Royal Trux, The Dead C, Shirley Collins, '70s British progressive rock, Dean Blunt.

Limited Loser Edition on Mustard Yellow vinyl. In 1988 Mudhoney released their debut 7" single, "Touch Me I'm Sick," and it rapidly became the defining anthem of the Seattle scene that, shortly thereafter, took the world by storm. Punk? Garage? G****e? Who cares when it rips this much! The B side, "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More," ain't no slouch, either. Later in 1988, the band followed up with Superfuzz Bigmuff, a six-song EP so overflowing with chaotic rock energy it warped thousands of minds, and inspired countless guitarists to immediately search for the titular fuzz pedals. In the words of Dynamite Hemmorage's Jay Hinman: "My feeling - and I know I'm not alone in this one - is that for all the play and worldwide attention several Seattle-area bands got during the 1988-92 period, at the end of the day (and even at the time), there was Mudhoney - and then there was everybody else. To me, you, and most everyone who was paying close attention to underground rock music during those years, Mudhoney still sound like the undisputed kingpins of roaring, surging, fuzzed-out, punk rock music. These first recordings were so life-affirming upon their release, connecting everything great about the sixties (biker movies, fuzzboxes, old guitars, three-minute songs) with the frothing, punk rock of the early 80s, that a whole new style of music was born. They called it grunge, but to me it was amped-up, clear-the-room, ramalama rock that exploded like Nagasaki live, and it was about as joyous and as fun a noise as anyone'd heard in years." These 2023 colored-vinyl editions of the two releases celebrate the 35th anniversary of Mudhoney's opening salvos, and we couldn't be more excited to have them back in print.

Alien Transistor is proud to announce a reissue of Such December, the fourth album by Japanese indie folk-pop artist, Gratin Carnival. Listeners might already know Gratin Carnival from their appearance on the Alien Parade Japan compilation of indie pop groups working with brass and woodwind; compiled by Markus Acher of The Notwist and Saya of Tenniscoats, it introduced this beautiful genre to the wider world. Gratin Carnival’s “Just Watching” was one of the many highlights of that compilation, and its gentle bossa-folk glide reappears on Such December.

Originally released in 2020, Such December captures beautifully the happy-sad charm of Gratin Carnival. The project of Koreyuki Mitsunaga, Gratin Carnival started in 2011; Mitsunaga had been home recording for some time and decided on the name as an umbrella for his music-making. Mitsunaga’s main instruments are guitar, which he uses to great effect throughout, his gorgeous acoustic playing reminiscent of players like Ueno Takashi of Tenniscoats or João Gilberto, and alto saxophone and clarinet. Those three instruments make up the core of Gratin Carnival’s sound, along with Mitsunaga’s charmingly doleful singing.

Recording at his parents’ home, with a four-track cassette recorder and a MacBook, Mitsunaga created Such December during 2020, though the songs on it stretch back to 2016. The closing “On The Train” was the first song written for the album – “a song about a small trip,” Mitsunaga recalls – and from there, he built a beautiful collection of songs that sit together perfectly. There’s great clarity in Mitsunaga’s writing, with nothing extraneous getting in the way of the lucid arrangements and gorgeous melodies; there’s something of chamber jazz about it at times, so it’s no surprise that Mitsunaga shares his love of Benny Goodman’s small group playing.

He's also a fan of Japanese folk artists like Kenji Endo and Kyouzou Nishioka, and grew up listening to Japanese popular music, The Beatles, and The Carpenters. You can hear trace elements of all this in Such December, in the clear-headedness of the melodic decisions made by Mitsunaga, and the quiet charm of the song’s gentle arrangements. They take on different shapes live, too, where Mitsunaga often invites other musicians to join in – his live band currently includes Masafumi Ezaki (trumpet), Nahoko Kamei (bass clarinet, piano, keyboards) and Tadashi Yonago (trombone, self-made instruments).

As with plenty of musicians from the Japanese underground, Mitsunaga is involved in other music, too – he’s been working with The Otoasobi Project, which performs music in collaboration with individuals with learning disabilities, and their families; and he’s also involved in improvised music. With Such December, though, you get to hear Mitsunaga’s music at its most personal and individual, ten songs of still, gorgeously poised indie folk-pop, where the swooning clang of six strings meets the breathy bliss of woodwind and brass.

Hier hatten sich die Klänge aus dem nahen Mali und Guinea mit den lokalen Stilen vermischt und eine reiche Musikszene hervorgebracht: Bands wie Bembeya Jazz, Super Djata Band und andere Mandingue-Giganten gehörten zu den Bestsellern der Region. Leon Keïta, eine feste Größe in der malischen Musikszene, wurde 1947 in Conakry an der Atlantikküste von Guinea geboren. Leon half bei der Gründung der legendären Rail-Band, die zu einer gefeierten Stütze des Nachtlebens in Bamako wurde und die internationalen Karrieren von Salif Keita, Mory Kanté u.v.a. begründete. Leon selbst schloss sich Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux an, mit denen er durch Westafrika tourte, bevor er sich der Arbeit an seinen eigenen Kompositionen zuwandte. Als Leon bereit war, ins Aufnahmestudio zu gehen, lud er seine Freunde von Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux ein, ihm als Begleitband zu dienen; aus dieser Zusammenarbeit gingen zwei Platten hervor, die beide 1978 auf dem Label Papa Disco veröffentlicht wurden. Ein Jahr später veröffentlichte Leon "Rythmes et Mélodies du Mali", das er gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder Germain geschrieben hatte und das vom großartigen Orchestre Black Santiago begleitet wurde. Obwohl Leon nicht viele Soloaufnahmen gemacht hat, erwecken seine Lieder weiterhin die Verehrung aller, die das Glück haben, sie zu hören. In den letzten Jahren wurde der Song "Dalaka" von Carlos Estrada, dem Betreiber des Soundsystems in Barranquilla, wiederentdeckt und wurde zu einem unerwarteten Hit an der kolumbianischen Karibikküste. Zwölf Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung der von der Kritik hochgelobten Bambara Mystic Soul Compilation taucht diese neue Zusammenstellung erneut tief in die Mandingue-Kultur ein, die während Leon Keïtas legendären Sessions Ende der 70er Jahre aufgenommen wurden.

Manchmal fühlt es sich so an, als würde Dilla inmitten eines Films leben. Er spielt in einem Aperol-orangenen Universum, ist eine chaotische Kreuzung aus romantischer Coming-of-Age-Komödie und ausgeflipptem Actioner. Der rote Faden, der sich durch den Streifen zieht: Die kesse, fantasiegeladene Vertreterin der Gen-Z - Dilla eben - spaziert leichtfüßig eine schier endlose Avenue entlang. Immer wieder biegt sie kurz ab, feiert hier bis zum Sonnenaufgang, erkennt da Sinn im Banalen und fährt dort ein bisschen Gefühlsachterbahn. Über absurde Umwege landet sie schließlich in der großen Stadt, wo sie unverhofft zur gefeierten Musikerin avanciert.Im Spätsommer 2023 geht Dillas Reise in die nächste spannende Phase: Ihr lang ersehntes Debütalbum steht in den Startlöchern. Auf 11 Tracks verewigt die junge Musikerin die letzten 2 Jahre: Nicht chronologisch, eher anarchisch, augenzwinkernd und gespickt mit Perspektivwechseln. Dillas Debüt "Also bin ich" erscheint am 06.10.2023 auf orangefarbenem Vinyl.

Jacob Bellens’ new solo Off My Meds took shape over two turbulent years in Jacob’s life. Several major life events happened back to back in a very short time, and it ended up breaking him down to a point of total exhaustion. The energy needed to uphold the outer self we all need to function was no longer there, and his inner actual beliefs and values began to show themselves one by one, which was not pretty to look at. Change was inevitable, simply because the price of not changing would be much higher in the long term.

The album is a pop-poem about accepting the premise of the life given to you. It is an ode to the perils of modern existence and our birthgiven right to love, laugh and cry, whatever hand we may have been dealt to begin with. Lyrically it is centered around self care and the courage to love someone and be loved in return. About taking responsibility for everything in your life instead of using your life history as an excuse for not living, no matter how tragic or unique your situation might be or seem to yourself.
Musically it draws upon an eclectic mix of influences and genres, while still maintaining a distinct underlying red thread throughout the album. It is a melancholic funk hybrid with a positive DNA, and though it sounds like pop music in the best sense of the word, it doesn’t quite look and feel like pop music. It is rather a collection of sounds and feelings put into words that are deeply personal - but personal for all.

Das dreiköpfige Grunge-Rock/Punk-Trio The Pleasure Dome aus Bristol (Großbritannien), bestehend aus Bobby Spender (Gesang und Gitarre), Loz Fancourt (Bass und Backing Vocals) und Alex 'Bert' Elvin (Schlagzeug) gründete sich im Juli 2019. Sie sind bereits ausgiebig durch Europa und Großbritannien getourt und waren Anfang des Jahres Headliner bei Supersonic in Paris, wo das Publikum vor ausverkauftem Haus Schlange stand, um ihre Live-Show zu erleben. EQUINOX wurde im Februar 2023 in Wales in den abgelegenen Mwnci Studios aufgenommen. Produziert wurde EQUINOX von einem Freund der Band, Tom Smith, gemischt von James Trevascus (Beak, Billy Nomates) und gemastert von Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney).

Natalie Beridze is a Georgian artists, composer and songwriter, in Georgia she is considered to be pioneer of Georgian electronic music. Beridze has been releasing music since 2003 on record labels such as: Max.E; Monika Enterprise; CMYK; Laboratory Instict; Chainmusic and CES Records. She has collaborated with artists such as Thomas Brinkmann, AGF, Gudrun Gut, Joerg Follert, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nikakoi and Gacha Bakradze.

Compiled of 7 tracks "Spines" is a perfect album to hear on a perfect soundsystem in the club. In Natalie's words "Spines" resembles her recollection of driving on the backseat of a car, looking at ever changing lanscape flying by. Her endless source of inspiration is "Strata-A georgraphic fiction" by Robert Smithson and John Ruskin's "Frondes Agrestes".

With the album "Souvent Fauché Toujours Marteau", Bérurier Noir completed seven years of permanent agitation. More than a title, it's a demand that puts a masterly end to the epic of the herd of rock. The themes dear to Les Bérus blend together in the ultimate uproar: anti-militarism, resistance to drugs, nostalgia for the squats that nurtured a rebellious youth, revolt in the ghetto suburbs, international solidarity... all underlined by a zest of Bérurière madness. The band also experimented with hip hop sounds and surprising, welcome oriental resonances, echoes of folklore from the world zone. However, this album abandons the satirical aspects with which its predecessors were imbued. The tone is no longer one of facetiousness: our two clowns have written their epitaph, and it is resolutely black.

Ein Stück Bonsai Kitten Geschichte wird neu aufgelegt: Das lang ausverkaufte Debut-Album Done With Hell ist jetzt als streng limitierte und handnummerierte Collectors Vinyl-Reissue in Yellow-Red Splash endlich wieder erhältlich.Mit Songs wie "Don´t Mess With Me", "Virgin Suicide" und dem Titel-Track "Done With Hell" als Duett mit Köfte De Ville von MAD SIN, legte die Berliner Sängerin Tiger Lilly Marleen 2011 mit ihrer Band einen Senkrechtstart hin. Die musikalische Mischung aus Punkrock, ~Billy und Rock´n`Roll nannte die Kombo selbstbewusst Killbilly und sprengte seiner Zeit klassische Genre-Grenzen. Die Geschichte von Bonsai Kitten geht bis heute weiter, da Tiger Lilly Marleen ihre Band immer wieder neu erfand.Das Reissue wurde für die Wiederveröffentlichung aufwendig remastered und enthält zudem zwei exklusive Bonus-Tracks, die in aktueller Bandbesetzung mit Metal-Drummer Marc Reign (ex-Destruction), Bluesgitarrist Wally (u.a. Psychopunch), E-Bassist Spoxx (Feeling B) und Tiger Lilly Marleen neu aufgenommen wurden und so eine Brücke zwischen der früheren und heutigen musikalisch härteren Ausrichtung der Band schlagen.

2012, 12 Jahre nach Gründung wagte sich das Freisinger Quintett RPWL an ihr erstes Konzeptalbum. 'Beyond Man And Time' war eine musikalische Reise durch die Welt außerhalb von Platons Höhle - und der erste Chart-Entry von Deutschlands bester Artrock-Band. Die Band schaffte Themen für die einzelnen Charaktere des Konzept-Albums. Orientalische Percussions, ausgedehnte Moog-Soli oder indische Sitar sorgen wohlplatziert für eine atmosphärische und farbenfrohe Umsetzung. So ist es nur natürlich, dass diese musikalische Reise in einem 16-Minuten-Werk wie 'The Fisherman' gipfelt, um schließlich mit einem äußerst nachdenklichen, ruhigen 'The Noon' zu enden'. Der Song 'Somewhere In Between', auf der CD noch mit 2.04 Min kurz gehalten, ist nun erstmalig in seiner Originallänge von 9.22 Min enthalten. Die Doppel-LP kommt somit auf eine Gesamtspielzeit von über 81 Min.
Erstmalig erscheint das Album nun auf Vinyl, in wertiger Ausstattung als 180Gr. Doppel-LP im Gatefold Sleeve mit wattierten, schwarzen Innenhüllen sowie 4-seitiger Textbeilage!

Ursprünglich von der Sängerin und Multi-Instrumentalistin Cathy Lucas im Jahr 2015 gegründet, ist VANISHING TWIN nach einer Reihe von Besetzungswechseln nun das eingespielte Kollektiv aus Lucas, der Schlagzeugerin Valentina Magaletti und dem Bassisten Susumu Mukai. Mit den unterschiedlichen Hintergründen und Berührungspunkten ihrer Mitglieder - Lucas' linkes Songhandwerk, Magalettis einzigartige Herangehensweise an der Perkussion und Mukais lange Erfahrung in der Produktion elektronischer Musik - hat die Band seit 2016 auf fast einem Dutzend Veröffentlichungen einen hypnotischen Sound an der Schnittstelle von Minimalismus, Kosmischer Musik, Post-Punk und traumbeladenem, psychedelischem Pop entwickelt. "Afternoon X" zeigt VANISHING TWIN inmitten einer ausgeprägten kreativen Veränderung, in der jedes Mitglied weniger definierte Rollen übernahm und einen kollaborativen Ansatz verfolgte, der eher an die Arbeit dreier Co-Produzenten als an die einer Band erinnert. Das Album, das Ende 2022/Anfang 2023 aufgenommen wurde, ist das Ergebnis einer Reihe von Marathon-Aufnahmesitzungen, an denen das Trio in verschiedenen Konfigurationen teilnahmen. Mit einer spielerischen Balance aus Humor und Strenge, bei der jedes Mitglied die Rolle des Multiinstrumentalisten und den Prozess über das Ergebnis stellt, setzt "Afternoon X" den Weg der Erkundung fort, der ihre letzten Veröffentlichungen bestimmt hat. Metronomische, zyklische Patterns und pulsierenden Basslinien bilden nach wie vor das Herzstück ihres Sounds, aber diese verwurzelten Rhythmen ergeben nun die Grundlage für das Streben nach einer größeren klanglichen und strukturellen Bandbreite. Somit begeben sich VANISHING TWIN auf eine neue, facettenreiche Reise, die in ihrer Gesamtheit ihr bisher spannendstes Werk veröffentlichen.

Habibi Funk is digging deep to present the songs of Ibrahim Hesnawi, otherwise known as “The Father of Libyan Reggae.” Kingston meets Tripoli in this incendiary collection of Arabized roots, dub, dancehall and more. Featured on Habibi Funk’s last compilation (HABIBI015) with his track “Tendme,” Hesnawi crafts restless funk with evident buttressing from a reggae foundation. Highlighted across the LP is how Hesnawi essentially pioneered such an effortless synthesis between traditional Libyan music and Jamaican reggae stylings, plus the endlessly disparate funk, jazz, and disco accents which firmly situate Hesnawi in a league of his own. LP out everywhere October 6th.

Owners Club call themselves a "pub rock four piece" - but they are so much more than that. There's a through line in their taut, visceral guitar sound going from British greats like Roxy Music and Marc Bolan, through The Buzzcocks and The Jam before taking a detour off to NYC and nodding towards The Strokes and The Walkmen. The Dorking-based four piece are a blistering live act, with songs that range from singing about the long discontinued Double Diamond beer to vampires, the occult and an England that feels like a distant memory.

This EP will be the band's debut release on vinyl. Recorded at Small Pond Studios in Brighton in April this year, and produced and mixed by Matt Gleeson of WELLY fame, it presents three songs that brilliantly demonstrate what a ferocious, tightly-wound sound this Dorking four-piece can produce.

The lead single will be Double Diamond - a song that came about after a chance purchase of a Double Diamond-branded ashtray from a car boot sale by Dorking train station. The song is a romantic and messy vision of the life the ashtray’s lived, the pub it came from, the punters who left their fag ends in it and the messy nights and bar fights it’s witnessed. With sprawling synths, punchy guitar lines and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the song is an anti-advertisement for a drink which no longer exists, as well as a look through rose-tinted beer googles at what Britain's night life - for better or (almost certainly) for worse - was once like. As the advert used to state: you know where you are with Double Diamond. It works wonders.

Forever is a 1993 album by the British shoegaze band Cranes. Forever continues the trend of the band's previous albums, revolving largely around Alison Shaw's distinctive vocals. The album contains elements of shoegaze, dream pop and gothic rock, and features the singles "Adrift" and "Jewel".

The album starts with hypnotizing acoustic guitar chords on the first track "Everywhere". Songs like "Cloudless", "And Ever" and "Far Away" show the band taking an extremely minimalist approach to their songwriting with sometimes nothing more than a piano accompanying Alison's voice. The songs "Adrift" and "Clear" are heavy post-punk rockers and "Jewel" is one of the brightest and most colorful songs that Cranes have ever produced.

"Jewel" ended up being an underground hit in the U.K. and U.S., though thanks to a somewhat transformed remix courtesy of longtime Cranes fan Robert Smith (Forever takes its name from a The Cure rarity of the same title).

Forever turned out to be a favorite amongst fans and critics, it's a lost treasure of early 90s dream pop, delivering unique and mesmerizingly beautiful music. The hidden track "Shine Like Stars" is included on the LP.

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Forever. Therefore, the album is available as a 30th anniversary edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl and includes an insert. Also, the band will perform the complete album at EartH in London on October 14.

Northern California psychedelic sorcerers Carlton Melton are brain surfers, mind trippers, … “psychlists,” if you prefer. The band will take your head for a ride, occasionally rushing at superluminal speeds through a wormhole or gliding softly on a gentle breeze in a leafy glade. Sometimes your brain needs to rage, and sometimes it needs to repose. For a decade and a half, the band has yo-yo’ed, almost schizophrenically, between these two modes: walloping space jams with furious guitar solos in one hemisphere of the brain and ethereal, feather-light splashdowns in the other. Not to mention a track here and there that builds from the latter into the former. But with two new releases in 2023, the band has evolved. Whether psych rock or ambient trance, their sound remains driving, organic, and flowing. With the addition of Anthony Taibi (White Manna, DDT), however, the group’s metal freak-outs are Hawkwindier and their droning kraut trances are Spacemen 3-er. In January, the quartet released the playfully spacey Resemble Ensemble, recorded in Taibi’s home studio 3D Light. October now sees the band Turn To Earth, a work with scents of Autumn, a season of death and transition. The cover art evokes a vine-covered, electric crucifix. The sound is, well, earthy but also gritty and striving towards change. The album was recorded in Fall 2022 and now harvested in Fall 2023. Phil Becker (Terry Gross, Pins Of Light) contributed drums and percussion to a few tracks on Turn To Earth, recording the album at El Studio in San Francisco.

With Becker at the helm, the synths have become more prominent (“Cosmicity,” “Roboflow,” “Migration”) and the tone heavier on the doom (“Cloudstorming,” “Unlock The Land,” title track): several moments could even serve as background music for epic dark fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian, Fire and Ice, or Heavy Metal. As exquisite as Turn To Earth is, Melton are best appreciated as a live act: their recordings as well as their gigs are largely improvised – not so much composed as birthed. And yet their most recent tour ended abruptly and perilously. The group had to cancel its final three shows once members were admitted to Arnhem hospital in the Netherlands. Five years later, reinforcements have strengthened the band and restocked its arsenal of great tracks. After the rockus interruptus of that 2018 tour and the tantric tease of the intervening Covid lockdown, Melton have some unfinished business. An October 2023 tour is poised to set the freshly minted quartet back onto the stages of Europe and within the cerebral folds of its fans. Turn To Earth, sure … but keep your head in outer space. Carlton Melton is: andy duvall – drums/gtr; clint golden – bass; rich millman – gtr/synth; and anthony taibi – synth/gtr.

From small beginnings in 1974 as a local cinema and university event, Film Fest Gent has grown yearly in stature and is now recognised as one of the major destinations for the film industry. A vital component is the celebration of film music in the shape of the World Soundtrack Awards which honours the very best composers at work in the world of cinema. In 2016 the award went to one of the most brilliant composers of his generation, Ryuichi Sakamoto. This is the first overview of his remarkable catalogue of film scores, fully approved by the composer and performed by the masterful Brussels Philharmonic under the baton of Dirk Brossé. Sakamoto was already a celebrated pioneer in electronic music and composer/pianist/singer in Japan when director Nagisa Oshima asked him to write the score for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence in 1983 and also to star alongside David Bowie. In a 30 year plus career since then he has worked with the cream of film directors including Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor), Brian De Palma (Snake Eyes), Pedro Almodovar (High Heels) and most recently Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant). This compilation is a fitting tribute to his status as one of the greatest living musicians and film composers.

"I imagine myself playing these songs in a small club that is slowly burning," says A. Savage of his second solo record, Several Songs about Fire. After more than a decade in New York, the co-frontman of Parquet Courts has left the city, marking his exit with a masterpiece of maturity and a worthy corollary to his first solo venture, 2017"s Thawing Dawn. "Fire is something you have to escape from. This album is a burning building, and these songs are things I"d leave behind to save myself." Produced by John Parish on a 1" 16-track in just ten days in Bristol and studded by the support of Cate Le Bon and Jack Cooper (Modern Nature, Ultimate Painting) as well as saxophonist Euan Hinshelwood (Cate Le Bon), drummer Dylan Hadley (Kamikaze Palm Tree, White Fence), and violinist Magdalena McLean (Caroline), Savage"s outsize gifts as a lyricist and observer - a quality Parish calls "an emotional openness guarded by a laconic wit" - shine. Worrying questions of wealth and poverty, self and other, Savage displays the poet"s gift of knowing when to narrate and when to vanish, leaving the listener to their own emotional privacy rather than instructing them how to feel. The end result is tantamount to psychic odyssey, with "Elvis in the Army" placing us in a subterranean venue where the livid, ratifying cymbal raises the room"s blood pressure and "Mountain Time", evoking an austere waltz playing in a desolate house, returning those listening to life. Influenced by Sybille Baier and Townes Van Zandt, Savage joins a canon of songwriters constantly dilating aperture and perspective. In rendering the signage of laundromats and threats of debt collectors as glistering and totemic as the scope of mountains, rivers, seas, and skies, Savage finds hopes and curses in equal measure.

Prolific songwriter and guitar virtuoso David
Tattersall presents 11 new songs on themes of
memory, dreams, loneliness and love, featuring
nylon string guitar improvisations in the vein of
gypsy jazz legend Django Reinhardt.
 The David Tattersall Group are old friends who
rehearsed together for months in a small, smoky,
sweaty room, before recording the album on a
huge red boat moored on the River Thames, all
vintage microphones and wooden walls inside.
Friendship is a vital part of the record’s magic.
 Stylistic influences include Ronnie Lane, after
whom one song is named, and the nylon-string
guitar work of Jonathan Richman and Willie
Nelson. A pastoral mood prevails, with swells of
melancholic violin and Spaghetti Western
harmonica, backed by honky-tonk piano and the
dry drum sounds of Neil Young’s ‘Harvest’ period,
while the golden voice of Holly Holden adds a
touch of glamour to proceedings.
 David’s process includes much musical
improvisation and stream of consciousness writing,
but his end goal is to couple classic songwriting
with the collective chemistry of musicians playing
live in the studio. His lyrical influences include Tom
Verlaine, John Cooper Clarke and the New York
School of Poets, particularly James Schuyler.
 Pressed on 140g white vinyl with OBI strip.
 Includes digital download code

Too Pure are excited to get Moonshake’s debut album, ‘Eva Luna’, back in
print, releasing a deluxe edition, re-mastered from analogue 1Ú2” tape, on
blue double vinyl.
 The reissue contains 19 tracks - the album’s original 10, the non-LP threesong single ‘Secondhand Clothes’, the two B-sides from the ‘Beautiful
Pigeon’ single and four tracks from a November 1992 John Peel session.
The release also includes an 8-page full-colour booklet.
 Moonshake were formed in 1991 by David Callahan (vocals, guitars,
samplers), formerly of The Wolfhounds, and New York musician Margaret
Fiedler (vocals, guitars, samplers). Callahan and Fiedler recorded a demo for
Creation Records, and were joined by John Frenett (bass) and Miguel
Morland (‘Mig’, drums) to record and release the ‘First EP’ for Creation in
1991.
 They took their name from a 1973 single by Can. Both Fiedler and Callahan
wrote songs, and they would (generally) sing on the songs that they wrote.
Their output of shared inspiration produced wildly different results - Can, PIL,
Kraftwerk, MBV and Erik B & Rakim were a melting pot that made
Moonshake somewhat uncategorizable, and as Margaret noted in an
interview, “Moonshake was a collision - it was supposed to be a collision.”
 Their debut album, ‘Eva Luna’, took its name from a novel by Chilean author
Isabel Allende, and the tracks on it are split evenly between the two
songwriters. Callahan’s songs are somewhat angry, dissonant, post-punk
affairs, while Fiedler’s are just as angular, but her quieter sometimes near
whispered vocals compliment her writing partner’s equally. Producer /
engineer Guy Fixsen, fresh from his work on My Bloody Valentine’s
‘Loveless’, was instrumental in making the album cohesive.
 This album has been critically revisited often since its original release, with
Tiny Mix Tapes describing their sound as “an updated take on Can and
Public Image Limited’s rhythmic propulsion with noisier guitar work and a
predilection for sampling influenced by The Young Gods.” Last year, in a
wonderfully long piece to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary, Louder
Than War wrote that they were blown away by the album’s “utterly
spellbinding, dizzyingly genre-defying approach at articulating explicitly the
sound of a city in the throes of urban psychosis and derangement... ‘Eva
Luna’ really is one hell of a ground-breaking record, and it stands resolutely
alone among all of the albums released in 1992 as no other band has
managed to create anything remotely similar before or since. It really is a
unique album with few equals.”
 In 1993, the original incarnation of the band split up, and Margaret Fiedler
and John Frenett went on to form Laika with Guy Fixsen. Callahan and
Morland continued on with guest musicians, with Callahan ultimately
remaining the band’s sole original member. Moonshake ended in 1997 but
their legacy is indisputable.

"10 from 6" is a 1985 compilation album by Bad Company, featuring their hit tracks like "Can't Get Enough" and "Feel Like Makin' Love." It's a fan-favorite, and has enjoyed commercial success, selling millions of copies and contributing to Bad Company's enduring popularity in the rock music scene.

"10 from 6" is a 1985 compilation album by Bad Company, featuring their hit tracks like "Can't Get Enough" and "Feel Like Makin' Love." It's a fan-favorite, and has enjoyed commercial success, selling millions of copies and contributing to Bad Company's enduring popularity in the rock music scene.

"I imagine myself playing these songs in a small club that is slowly burning," says A. Savage of his second solo record, Several Songs about Fire. After more than a decade in New York, the co-frontman of Parquet Courts has left the city, marking his exit with a masterpiece of maturity and a worthy corollary to his first solo venture, 2017"s Thawing Dawn. "Fire is something you have to escape from. This album is a burning building, and these songs are things I"d leave behind to save myself." Produced by John Parish on a 1" 16-track in just ten days in Bristol and studded by the support of Cate Le Bon and Jack Cooper (Modern Nature, Ultimate Painting) as well as saxophonist Euan Hinshelwood (Cate Le Bon), drummer Dylan Hadley (Kamikaze Palm Tree, White Fence), and violinist Magdalena McLean (Caroline), Savage"s outsize gifts as a lyricist and observer - a quality Parish calls "an emotional openness guarded by a laconic wit" - shine. Worrying questions of wealth and poverty, self and other, Savage displays the poet"s gift of knowing when to narrate and when to vanish, leaving the listener to their own emotional privacy rather than instructing them how to feel. The end result is tantamount to psychic odyssey, with "Elvis in the Army" placing us in a subterranean venue where the livid, ratifying cymbal raises the room"s blood pressure and "Mountain Time", evoking an austere waltz playing in a desolate house, returning those listening to life. Influenced by Sybille Baier and Townes Van Zandt, Savage joins a canon of songwriters constantly dilating aperture and perspective. In rendering the signage of laundromats and threats of debt collectors as glistering and totemic as the scope of mountains, rivers, seas, and skies, Savage finds hopes and curses in equal measure.

Colbie Caillat ist eine meisterhafte Geschichtenerzählerin, deren luftige Folk-Pop-Songs aus SoCal sich mit schimmernden Country Songs vermischen, die sowohl den Schmerz des Endes als auch die Hoffnung auf das, was kommt, wenn man mutig genug ist, seinem wilden Herzen zu folgen, verkörpern.

Auf ihrer musikalischen Reise und beim Experimentieren mit neuen Klängen hat Caillat einen Moment in ihrem Leben in einem Lied festgehalten. Die in Kalifornien aufgewachsene und in Nashville lebende Sängerin singt voller Dankbarkeit dafür, dass sie diese Liebe kennengelernt hat und so viele Lektionen gelernt und die Freuden auf ihrem Weg geteilt zu haben. "Die Liebe, die ihr geteilt habt, sollte nicht verschwendet werden:
Ihr helft euch gegenseitig zu wachsen und ein weiserer und weiterentwickelter Mensch. Wir mussten zusammen sein, um zu werden, was wir heute sind, auch wenn wir nicht zusammen enden.

THE KEENING ist das musikalische Soloprojekt von Rebecca Vernon (SubRosa).

THE KEENING webt ein Netz aus üppiger Orchestrierung, amerikanischer Gothic-Sensibilität und winterlichen Mörderballaden vor einem Hintergrund aus dunkel schimmerndem Folk. Vernons frühere Band SubRosa hallt in THE KEENINGs kammermusikalischem Doom wider, der von Flöte, Streichern, Harfe, Waldhorn, Klavier, Orgel und Hackbrett getragen wird. Ultra-melodische Streifzüge durch verwunschene Sümpfe, endlose Brunnen, geheime Verbrechen, juwelenbesetzte Käfige und den wenig beneidenswerten Fluch, Zeuge eines Mordes zu sein, gibt es zuhauf. So düster das auch klingt, es gibt immer ein Licht am Ende des Tunnels.

Rebecca Vernon war die Leadsängerin, Gitarristin und Haupt Songwriterin der gefeierten Band SubRosa aus Salt Lake City. Sie beendete dieses 13-jährige Projekt im Jahr 2018, um sich auf THE KEENING zu konzentrieren.

Endlich ist es soweit, Torstens lang ersehntes 7. Studio Album “Soul Searching” wird bei Membran Records erscheinen. Nach 8 Jahren Pause, persönlichen Krisen und schweren Zeiten, danach viel Songwriting und Reflektion, wird dies ein sehr persönlicher Tonträger, wie Torsten findet.

The most potent memories I have of music are from my early childhood listening to the oldie's station, riding in the back of my Pops' 1975 Cadillac Seville to work alongside him moving plants in Sacramento at the now long gone Capitol Nursery during white hot summer afternoons, and then the drives back home in the purple twilights and oily blue-oranged nights. I'm talkin' The Temptations, War, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, The Delfonics, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan...soul music. I loved the melodrama of it all. The world outside refracted and transmuted through the crackling speakers past Pops' thumping thumb and my tiny whirring mind and left whatever road behind us fundamentally changed in our wake. Through the years other sounds too left its imprint well before I picked up a guitar. Rap, Punk, hardcore, dub, R&B--and a little later in middle school, blues, folk and country. But those early Cadillac memories always remained the bedrock. With folk and blues music, I fell in love with the immediacy of it and found the acoustic guitar economical for all the solitary roaming of my early 20's. All the while I knew that one day, when I had something I felt like I could add, I wanted to incorporate the sound of those early Cadillac memories. But only after I felt established as a songwriter in its most simple form, banging on a wooden guitar and yodeling up some melody did I feel comfortable exploring other sounds and only recently did I find the time and space to do that. The pandemic trapped all the world in their rooms. While recording my last record in the height of it and at the behest of my friend and You, Yeah, You producer Brad Cook and his friend Justin Vernon, I bought my first keyboard. A Roland Juno DS. I started tinkering on it throughout the past couple of years and as I became more stationary started writing songs on different instruments that I accumulated. Layering sounds on garageband in my apartment writing bass and horn parts, making drum loops, adding synth... I became pretty obsessive with the endless possibilities it brought and got quicker and quicker at making songs that way. It was just so fun and limitless.

The most potent memories I have of music are from my early childhood listening to the oldie's station, riding in the back of my Pops' 1975 Cadillac Seville to work alongside him moving plants in Sacramento at the now long gone Capitol Nursery during white hot summer afternoons, and then the drives back home in the purple twilights and oily blue-oranged nights. I'm talkin' The Temptations, War, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, The Delfonics, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan...soul music. I loved the melodrama of it all. The world outside refracted and transmuted through the crackling speakers past Pops' thumping thumb and my tiny whirring mind and left whatever road behind us fundamentally changed in our wake. Through the years other sounds too left its imprint well before I picked up a guitar. Rap, Punk, hardcore, dub, R&B--and a little later in middle school, blues, folk and country. But those early Cadillac memories always remained the bedrock. With folk and blues music, I fell in love with the immediacy of it and found the acoustic guitar economical for all the solitary roaming of my early 20's. All the while I knew that one day, when I had something I felt like I could add, I wanted to incorporate the sound of those early Cadillac memories. But only after I felt established as a songwriter in its most simple form, banging on a wooden guitar and yodeling up some melody did I feel comfortable exploring other sounds and only recently did I find the time and space to do that. The pandemic trapped all the world in their rooms. While recording my last record in the height of it and at the behest of my friend and You, Yeah, You producer Brad Cook and his friend Justin Vernon, I bought my first keyboard. A Roland Juno DS. I started tinkering on it throughout the past couple of years and as I became more stationary started writing songs on different instruments that I accumulated. Layering sounds on garageband in my apartment writing bass and horn parts, making drum loops, adding synth... I became pretty obsessive with the endless possibilities it brought and got quicker and quicker at making songs that way. It was just so fun and limitless.

20 albums and 25 years into her recording career and only now does Thea Gilmore feel enough of herself to make the self-titled album that renews her vows to music - her first love. The album is released on 6th October. The album was entirely written, played and produced by Thea. Thea Gilmore is absolutely the record she wanted to make. In many ways the record she had to make. Sustained by the very public dissection of her personal life laid bare on her last full-length release, the stunningly intimate Afterlight, Thea's hard-earned reputation as one of the most distinctive, strident and bold singer songwriters of her generation propels her to reach for new ground and this new release feels like a great leap forward into tomorrow. "That's why this is my first self-titled album," she explains. "On my last album I changed by name to Afterlight and drew a line under everything I'd done up to that point. Not to invalidate it, but to put an end to the 'before'. It was a very inward-looking record that was rooted in the darkness of everything that happened to me up to 2019, whereas this album has its head up and is eyeing the world as a challenge. It's a logical forward motion - the emergence from the shadows of Afterlight into the relative lightness of Thea Gilmore - in a renewal of my vows to music; my first love. In a weird way it feels like a debut of sorts so it made sense to make it eponymous." Across 12 tracks Thea delves into the cracks between the paving slabs of life's big themes. She's exploring the understanding that comes with experience, choosing her battles and finding out who she is now. The stunning 'She Speak In Colours' is a song for love and loss written as part of BBC Radio 2's critically lauded 21st Century Folk project; while 'The Next Time You Win' with its simple piano figures and its collage of spoken and sung lines seems to both accept the way the world works while reaffirming the pledge to stand on the frontline of change. Thea is also excited to bring the album to the stage. She will play London’s Union Chapel on 12th October and then an 11-date tour around the UK in early 2024. Full dates below. Thea Gilmore has made 20 albums since the release of her first, Burning Dorothy, in 1998. The veteran of hundreds of festivals, she has sold out shows across the globe.

Orions Belte has been a steady supplier of groovy, catchy and dreamy instrumental pop since their 2018 debut album Mint. Women is their third studio album, but that doesn’t tell the whole truth when you also count their two live albums with accompanying films, three EP’s and a huge project where each of the members released their own solo album under the Orions Belte moniker. The three musicians rarely sit still, and the inspiration seems to be endless. This is probably also why their music is in such high demand. As usual, all the songwriting and production is done by the band members themselves, and this time they have put a lot of effort into making everything bigger and more powerful than on the previous records. The string arrangements flow easily throughout the record. It almost feels like releasing a million balloons all at once while lying looking at the night sky and dreaming of road trips on bumpy country roads through the Amazon in Brazil. There is always a great span to the Norwegian trio's songs, and on Women we are served noisy guitar riffs on "Silhouettes", cinematic string arrangements on "I Will Always Miss You", irresistible and catchy summer vibes on "Jai Alai", while Louien (Live Solberg) contributes beautiful vocals on the almost mournful "When You're Gone, I'll Be Gone". Matias Tellez is – as expected of an Orions Belte release – involved in the mix, while Ola Kvernberg and Øyvind Torvund have written string arrangements.

"The Friends of Eddie Coyle" may not be Dave Grusin's best known or most celebrated score but, like both book and film, it's a quiet classic." David Toop


Dave Grusin's cult funky soundtrack for Peter Yates' 1973 superb crime movie, 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle,' was never released at the time. It is finally out 45 years after for RSD 2018 on Wewantsounds, remastered from the original tapes with one bonus alternate take and featuring a new essay by leading UK writer and musician David Toop. Housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve, the release also features a stunning cover by highly sought-after Alternative Movie Poster illustrator Oliver Barrett.













[m] 13: MR CONNECTION (ALTERNATE) [BONUS TRACK]

Sidney Lumet's masterpiece Serpico released in 1973 is one of the most iconic movies of the 70s. Featuring a career-defining performance by Al Pacino in the title role, it's a superb neo noir encapsulating the post-Watergate mood of the early 70s. The film's soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis is equally stunning. Composed by Greek musician and arranged by cult jazz pianist Bob James, it is a superb blend of funky instrumental and traditional melodies reminding The Godfather OST.

Along with Aunt Mary, Junipher Greene and Terje Rypdal, Saft were also a well known group who
were part of the growing norwegian music scene in the end of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s.
Their rare debut album, released in 1971 on Polydor, is a great mixture of beatlesque songs,
garnished with some progressive pieces and touches of folk. You really can feel the enthusiasm of the
band to create a long lasting experience for their listeners throughout the entire album... and they did a
great job because every track is a brilliant musical journey on its own.

Brutter continue with their deep dives into the endless possibilities of beat music. The duo has a gravitation towards headstrong bass drums and pulsating patterns that contain remnants of everything from dub to disco, from hip-hop to mechanical workshop. On their fourth album 'Outta', Brutter steps out of their good dogmatic rhythm skin and brings strings into the mix. Auto-harp and lap steel guitar contribute twisted sweet tones and floating comments to everything that otherwise thumps and beats. 'Outta' gives a precise sound picture of where Brutter has ended up after 10 years of digging for rare beat metal. Brutter is the duo consisting of Norwegian brothers Christian and Fredrik Wallumrød, founded in 2012. Christian Wallumrød is a well renown pianist and composer, releasing music since 1996 on labels like ECM Records, Jazzland and Hubro. Fredrik Wallumrød was educated at the Trondheim Music Conservatory, same as his brother, with focus on drums and jazz as a genre. He has later changed his course for rock/metal and more pop-oriented music, such as Span / El Caco / Dog Almighty, in addition to his work with singer/songwriter Susanna and soul / r&b artist Jarle Bernhoft. Christian Wallumrød – drum machines, electronics, auto harp Fredrik Wallumrød – drums, drum synth, electronics, lap steel.

Like an annabac, the first seconds of the first song from the first album by SAFFRON EYES (a group from Saint-Etienne including members of Raymonde Howard, Le Parti, ThOmas.W...) summarize, for those in a hurry, the themes and feelings that will be developed on the short half-hour of music that the disc contains: smiles in front, blows in the back, amicable breakups and deaf threats. Smile Until It Hurts encapsulates all of this: pleasure in offering (racy and referenced songs, in the fine tradition of indie rock), joy in receiving (pies in the mouth). If the previous EP - first recording act - of the group Pursue a Less Miserable Life (released in 2020 on our label) had a taste of the end of summer, this one clearly smells of the Cold War. He is degreased, boned and only the desire to fight remains, mischievously camouflaged under a form of obvious beauty that whistles in the shower. A production fed on indie rock and its roots (blues, post-punk and a hint of doo-wop), bringing together around a happy campfire the Pixies, Jesus Lizard, Wet Leg, Fugazi, The Cramps, The Gun Club, La Luz, The Feelies, The Bad Seeds, Kathleen Hanna, Anna Waronker…

Dessa, the rapper, singer, writer, academic, and all-around polymath, who NPR hailed as a “national treasure,” will release her first solo full-length album in five years, Bury the Lede, September 29th, 2023 on Doomtree Records. It’s an eleven-track project of hard-hitting rap verses, big, catchy pop hooks, and a couple melancholic tracks. Dessa (an anthropology and psychology-enthusiast whose 2018 album, Chime, was inspired by neuroscience) conceptualized Bury the Lede as an examination of human nature and mortality. Reflecting on the pleasure-seeking and loss-aversion that define us as a species, the album ultimately endorses a Camus-with-a-lime-twist take on life. “It’s about indulging in a measure of hedonism even as the threat on the horizon mounts … Survival is, at best, indefinite. So maybe get a cocktail with an umbrella in it,” says Dessa.
The new album leans into the light more than past projects–more moments of levity and abandon, more danceable–but it’s still very much a product of Dessa’s lyrical style, writerly and multi-layered, and meticulous.
Executively produced with longtime collaborators and friends Lazerbeak (Doomtree, Lizzo) and Andy Thompson (Taylor Swift, Dan Wilson), Dessa and company’s indie-rock, soul, and Swedish-pop inflected rap on Bury the Lede create an album that’s hard to imagine hearing from anyone else. And, despite the wide range of influences, it’s also one of Dessa’s most cohesive albums to date.

Nach dem Ausstieg von Sänger Matti bei den "GUMBLES" beschlossen die übrigen Mitglieder das Erbe der seit über 20 Jahren erfolgreichen Band fortzuführen. Mit der Umbenennung in "Barney Army" (einen der kultigsten Gumbles-Lieder) und neuem Sänger (Paul von "Rotz & Wasser") meldete sich die Band 2020 mit der schnell ausverkauften Mini-LP "Ein kleines bißchen Oi-Punk" zurück. Drei Jahre später nun endlich ihr brandneues Album "BA positiv", denn den "Barney Army"-Virus wird man nicht so einfach los: Ein Dutzend neuer frenetischer Oi/Punk/ Hymnen leicht angereichert mit etwas Metal, perfekt eingebauten Leadgitarren und dem prägnanten neuem Gesang, der wie die Faust aufs Auge passt.Pogo-taugliche Gassenhauer treffen auf melodische Singalong-Hymnen von smart bis hart, die sich sofort in den Gehörgängen festsetzen. Manchmal mit dem Finger in die Wunde der Gesellschaft, manchmal unter der Gürtellinie mit dem typisch Norddeutschen Humor und jeder Menge Spaß. Der "Neuanfang" hat der Band spürbar gut getan und den beliebten Gumbles-Sound nicht nur spielerisch auf ein neues Level gesteigert. Lieder wie "Stiefelemotionen", "Heimathafen" oder den komplett neu arrangierten "Kneipenüberfall" belegen das eindrucksvoll und dürften bald in jeder Punkrock-Playlist ein fester Bestandteil sein! Barney Army machen einfach Spaß, sind aber beileibe keine Spaß-Kapelle.

Infernal Sounds strip things down and go back to basics with their next endeavor, returning to their roots by releasing a two track single by debutants, Frenchless. Not only is it their first venture on the label, but this is their first ever release under this moniker from the mysterious deadly duo.

It's been a few years since Gemmy returned with a release, but he's back in business with a brand new 12 on Infernal Sounds. Entering the imprint on the milestone 30th release, this is a record of pure character and old-school licks that you'd be more than accustomed to if you've listened to the purple-laced producer in previous years. 'Irreversible Culture' kicks things off with a rough and tough low end kick and step, layering that ultimate groove and steppers delight.

Since his career started over three decades ago back in 1981, The Chicago house veteran Boo Williams has been heavily involved in the house music industry, racking up highly strong reputation with his massive discography which includes a wide range of influences.

Hooking up with Mr Green Velvet, aka Curtis Jones’, much celebrated Relief Records in the mid-‘90s, the hard, jackin’ sub-label of Cajual, and later releasing on the tough-as-nails Dutch label Djax, 1996 saw Boo produce his seminal album with the bouncy house of ‘Home Town Chicago’, the first of a series of reissues by Anotherday Records.
Boo has since gone on to record for reputable imprint such as Ovum Recordings, Relief Records and Rush Hour.

For those who have religiously followed Boo over the many years, he continues to deliver as promised, once again bringing the driving beats and textured etherial soundscapes as you'd expect from the master‘. And for those who are just tuning in for the first time, Boo will open up your ears to a new level of sound.

Many things have been said, written and rightfully attributed to DJ and Producer Boo Williams' monumental career: "innovator".
As Boo Williams said: «House music will never die! Love, peace and hair grease».

Label owner, Adrien Calvet, is in charge of the B side. Always trying to push boundaries of raw sounds and electro glitch.

Phase O' Matic, an eccentric treasure hunter, ventures to the Parcel Islands after hearing about Erik and Huber's psychedelic antics. Intrigued by tales of a telepathic shark guarding a hallucinogenic treasure (Shadowfin), he dives deep into the South China Sea wearing his signature glowing shark tooth necklace.

Amidst swirling colors and cosmic jellyfish, Phase communicates telepathically with the school of sharks and ends up locating something he did not expect to find: hundreds of aged vials labelled 'Acid Lean'. Phase O' Matic quickly realized that the 'Acid Lean' vials were the very eau de vie Serb and Paramedic initially sought. He decides to deliver the treasure to Qassem Acidmani himself, hoping to claim the elusive reward promised by Gandalf OG.

Ein außergewöhnliches Album und eine geradezu bewusstseinserweiternde Klang-Erfahrung. Zwei Jahre nach seinem großen Erfolg "Persona" aus 2018 kehrt der Londoner Elektro-Musiker und Produzent Rival Consoles endlich mit dem rundum überzeugenden "Articulation" zurück Das Album entstand als konzeptionelles Experiment, das erforschen will, inwieweit visualisierte Strukturen sich musikalisch umsetzen und hörbar machen lassen. Während des Schreibprozesses zeichnete Ryan Lee West (aka Rival Consoles) also konkrete Formen und Muster von Hand, um zu versuchen dem Entstehungsprozess elektronischer Musik eine haptisch erfahrbare und vom Computer vollständig losgekoppelte Grundstruktur zu geben. Dazu passend wurde der Albumtitel gewählt, der sich auf ein Stück des zeitgenössischen Avantgarde-Komponisten Györgi Ligeti bezieht, weil dieses eine ganz ungewöhnliche grafische Partitur hat. Die Idee, analoge Zeichnungen und Werkzeuge zur Entwicklung digitaler Kreationen zu verwenden, ist deutlich hörbar: Auf "Articulation" beschwören grüblerischen Techno-Nummern, nostalgische Ambient-Meditation, pulsierende Soundscapes traumwandlerische Stimmungen herauf. Die Zeichnung wird zu Klang und Rhythmus und diese zur frei fließenden Energie.

In a realm where the threads of fate intertwined with the tapestry of existence, there existed a timeless construct we call “MENG”. This transcendental domain pushed a sanctuary where an unholy wisdom was safeguarded. Within its twenty-two walls, the experiences of countless sages and seekers resided, forming a reservoir of enlightenment, of vision and of identity.

Among the enigmatic texts that adorned the shelves of The Memory Palace, one stood out—the "Tubular Heaven," a chapter that held the essence of the universe's patterns and transformations. The book we speak of is the Book of Change - I Ching. Legend has it that the Memory Palace embodied the vibrations of those who sought its wisdom, guiding them to the Slow-Chain’s pages where hexagrams unveiled the secrets of existence.

Amidst this cosmic dance of knowledge, there lived a young wanderer whose name we do not say out loud. Driven by a deep yearning for understanding, this Warrior ventured into the city of Tanoy. With every step, he felt the resonance of centuries long gone, as if the walls whispered to him the essence of reality itself - “you may fall as long as you stand up again. Repeat this 1000 times and you will understand me. Only then can we control the sound.” As he reached for the illuminated Book of Change, a light was cast onto a newly fabricated realm of questions.

One hexagram, in particular, was essential. The cryptic symbolism was perplexing. Upon meditation, we slowly begin to realize that life is indeed a tapestry of imperfections, yet from these glitches we arise with profound growth and transformation.

As our curiosity spikes, we delve into the pages that follow, discovering an unexpected connection between I Ching and the world of Jeans, no denim. In ancient times, the craft of weaving denim mirrored the wisdom of these hexagrams. Just as threads interwove to create a durable fabric, I Ching reveals how life's experiences intertwine to form a meaningful existence. Denim, like life, is sturdy yet adaptable - a true testament to the harmonious balance between falling and standing.

As this journey comes to a gentle end, we must stress that hexagrams prove that other divination systems exist. It has become clear that the patterns hitherto observed are not confined to one culture, tradition, mind or body. Instead, they echo throughout history, manifesting in various divination systems across our globe. Hexagrams are a universal language, transcending boundaries and demonstrating the interconnectedness of humanity's pursuit of higher understanding.

We can now truly emerge from the Memory Palace, carrying the wisdom of everything above us. It’s time to Drag A Friend into this Made Up Reality. Or is it? We now understand that life's glitches are the catalysts for growth and that just as threads wove together to create denim, experiences wove together to create a meaningful existence.
As we walk beneath the open sky, we whisper into the wind, "Hexagrams are the echoes of universal truths, proving that the search for wisdom knows no bounds."

The chimes tingle in the deep subset of your imagination. As the pages of the Book of Change unfurl one last time, the shimmering tapestry of our shallow minds unravels.

We have revealed the kaleidoscopic corridors where perceptions dance in hallucinogenic symphony to the hymns of our rich minds.

In a world seemingly gone crazy a bit of good old common sense is as necessary as a simple cup of black coffee.” A random quote out of the ether but one that could define the sound, the style and craftmanship of The Irrational Library. Based on a foundation of groove set forth by Mishal Zeera on the bass guitar and Lars van der Weiden on drums; this sets the locomotive in motion for the guitar and baritone sax of Tom de Haan to build upon. A sonic sound that continues to search in between the lines, to reach where most musician dare not to dwell. A musical landscape so familiar yet fresh and new for these times. And
always waiting and watching, ready to jump that train are the poetic and socially zoomed in words of Joshua Baumgarten.

Félicia Atkinson: »Ni envers ni endroit que cette roche brûlante (Pour Georgia O’Keeffe)« (2021)

Félicia Atkinson’s Ni envers ni endroit que cette roche brûlante (Pour Georgia O’Keeffe) is approached as a meditation, not as meditative music, but as a reflection on the art of creation: how to inhabit one’s creation, how to convey it, domesticate it and live with it. Drawing inspiration from the artist Georgia O’ Keeffe, both in her work as a painter and in the houses in which she lived in New Mexico, and even in the landscapes that surround them, Félicia Atkinson has composed a piece that evokes and celebrates, in a poetic and holistic way, the mystery of art, the somnambulic oscillation that accompanies the act of creating. Blending fragmentary voices, islands of piano, electronic textures and patterns, and field recordings, Félicia Atkinson’s music is sincere and inspired, a meditation, then, but also a lesson we sometimes forget: being an artist is not an activity, even less a profession, it’s a singular way of approaching the world and, in so doing, densifying it.

Richard Chartier: »Recurrence.Expansion« (2020)

Richard Chartier’s music takes up residence at the frontiers of the audible, on the edge where sound diffracts into an inter-dimensionality where sounds, space, listening and silence recombine in an arborescence of becomings that present themselves to us and then disappear. The space-time in which Richard Chartier’s music unfolds is a stretched space-time, barely emerging in the world of sound. The delicacy, precision and accuracy of the composition Recurrence. Expansion lies precisely in this dialogue between a shape that is exposed and developed in an inspired and masterful way, and the sonic biotope in which this shape develops. It is from such an encounter that the singularity of Richard Chartier’s music emerges, music of attentive listening, but also sensitive, inhabited music, a music of discreet metamorphosis.

Gottwax is back with its seventh instalment, and this time, the reins are in the hands of the Beeyou co-founder and FUSE regular, Laidlaw. Laidlaw showcases his unparalleled talent and versatility as a producer in the 'Prophecy' EP, solidifying his status as one of the rising stars in the scene. This four-track EP takes listeners on a journey through deep house, stripped-back grooves, and breakbeat, making it an absolute essential for every discerning DJ's collection.

The EP kicks off with 'Wait Till The End,' a deep house gem with a playful bass line, moody chords, and sparkling top notes. Each element is thoughtfully crafted, blending harmoniously to create an atmosphere that subtly builds throughout the track. 'Wait Till The End' is a flawlessly realised tune, serving as an incredibly strong start to this EP.

Next up is 'Planet 727,’ is a minimal groover with deep, subby bass and hints of tribal drums, infusing the rhythm with captivating movement. This track is one for late-night, ensuring the dance floor keeps moving till the early hours.

As the title track of the EP, 'Prophecy' does not disappoint. This groove-laden breakbeat track is brimming with deep sub bass and intricate textures, leading into an infectious melody. A must-have in every DJ's bag, 'Prophecy' will undoubtedly be the soundtrack for countless future parties.

Closing out the EP is 'That Was Well Quick,' a high-energy composition adorned with mesmerising melodic textures. With its hypnotising baseline groove and captivating top lines, this track creates an infectious atmosphere, injecting an electrifying energy into the dance floor. 'That Was Well Quick' is an absolute essential for all devoted electronic music lovers.

We are beyond excited to welcome Laidlaw to the Gottwax family and share this incredible release you. Prepare to be taken on an unforgettable sonic journey with the ‘Prophecy EP’.

Lukid's first solo album in 9 years, following several releases as one half of Rezzett and 3 EPs as Refreshers.

For their next venture, Infernal Sounds brings together two titans in the scene marking #IFS026 with a collaborative EP from returning family member Chad Dubz, and debutant Somah. The Business EP is a goliath, featuring full-throttle sounds on the title track 'The Business' to kick things off properly. 'Naraka' follows in the same vein, producing a rough and rugged low end which you can feel deep in your chest, whilst 'Amplify' provides a stripped back, bass heavy affair. 'Unresolved' closes the EP, rounding things off with a more melodic skanker.

The release has already received some strong support in the scene from the likes of Truth, J:Kenzo, Sicaria Sound, N-Type and many more, making it a must own 12".

It’s been a pretty eventful year for FKOF Records, but we’re delighted to be ending it with a bang and by welcoming two brand artists to the imprint. We’ve been long-time fans of Oddkut and Abstrakt Sonance and when we discovered they’d been on the buttons together we knew it was material we wanted to home...

Heavenly Recordings release the next two volumes in their series of remixed classics and unreleased versions. ‘Heavenly Remixes 7 & 8’ sees the label going back into the archive, as well as picking off some more recent remixes, and both albums primarily feature either previously unreleased versions or re-workings available for the first time on vinyl and CD.

Heavenly have always seen immense value in the remix, a value way beyond what it might bring commercially. Since their first release in 1990 (where Andrew Weatherall overhauled a one-off single by club kids Sly and Lovechild) Heavenly remixes have been carefully curated and treated as a key part of the A&R process. It’s an opportunity to view an artist through a different prism, to play out a musical ‘what if’ scenario. It’s the kind of exploration that’s happened consistently through the thirty plus years the label has released music.

The ‘Heavenly remixes’ series continues to showcase the very best remixes, versions, meditations, re-rubs and dubs from all around the world of artists right across the roster of the country’s most exciting record label. In most cases, the albums offer the first physical release for a remix, elevating them from streaming playlists to their rightful, spiritual home on super heavy vinyl (or shiny, super-packed compact disc).

Heavenly remixes 7’ heads to Belfast, where David Holmes - a producer who first appeared on Heavenly in 1994 amping up the acid on Saint Etienne’s ‘Like A Motorway’ - appears as solo artist and as one third of Unloved, who get a lift right to the heart of a Vauxhall sweatbox by Horse Meat Disco. It draws a line between Amsterdam and Frankfurt as Ludwig A.F. amps up the electronics on Pip Blom’s ‘Keep It Together’. It stops off in a south London studio where super producer Dan Carey plays the desk with Toy, then relocates LA psych rock band Fever The Ghost to an Ibizan shoreline as the sun sets on the horizon. It cements Sheffield’s reputation as the home of modern British techno with the return of true originators Forgemasters. And it pitches up in front of a renegade soundsystem late night at Glastonbury as Erol Alkan’s mighty rework of Con Man gets its third rewind of the night.



‘Heavenly remixes 8’ opens with Space Afrika’s lush, ambient reimagining of the Orielles’ ‘BEAM/S’ before Justin Robertson stretches Amber Arcades’ ‘Turning Light’ into eight minutes of electronic dub. Elsewhere, Baxter Dury’s peerless ‘Miami’ becomes a string-laden electro skank in the hands of French producer Pilooski; Edinburgh’s bedroom techno genius Eyes of Others’ ‘Safehouse’ turns into an East End bathhouse courtesy of disco deviants Decius; Ashley Beedle’s Black Science Orchestra turns Unloved’s heartworn torch song into seven minutes of glimmering dreamlike percussive house and Katy J. Pearson’s freak flag is flown high thanks to The Umlauts’ throbbing filtered electro mix. It ends similarly to how it began as TONE takes

Fran Lobo’s ‘All I Want’ on a gorgeous slow motion spacewalk.

German musician Mary Yalex debuts on A Strangely Isolated Place depicting a storied transition from our recognizable surroundings, into a vision of the future.

With releases and music styles across a variety of labels over the years, it has been Yalex’s more experimental ambient work that has stood out amongst her catalog, and in Fantasy Zone, we find Mary fine-tuning this sound to reflect the work of a true architect of storytelling, mood and atmosphere.

Drawing influences from her day-to-day surroundings, Fantasy Zone begins with more vivid pieces; softer melodies and clearer instrumentation, represented as much in song titles such as Air, After Rain Comes Sun, and Half Light of Dawn. The second half of the album transitions into a future state, as Yalex draws on darker manifestations - perhaps intrinsically influenced by the state of the world, and in particular her love of nature, we play witness to more storied, haunting atmospheres, distant voices and slowly shifting gravitational chord movements. Dystopian-bound or pure fantasy, Yalex depicts a future that mirrors some of the more poignant, thought-provoking work of great synthesizer soundtracks of the past.

Lady Tazz’s Mind Medizin imprint drops its third release this April with Linear System’s ‘Simian’ EP.

Hot on the heels of no.name’s recent ‘Unseen’ release, catching the attention of Luke Slater, Ben Sims, Truncate, Shlomi Aber and B.Traits, Mind Medizin continues its upward trajectory with a groovy third instalment. Here, Italian DJ and producer Linear System (Symbolism/Edit Select/Planet Rhythm) takes the reins with his warehouse-ready ‘Simian’ EP.

Sinister pads creep over chugging percussion, alarming bleeps and moody basslines in the loopy ‘Simian’, before rolling low-ends meet eerie analog synths in ‘Unknown Object’ as heavy claps complement crashing cymbals in this other-worldly cut.

Mr Bongo is thrilled to announce a special RSD Black Friday edition of 'Speak Your Peace,’ a stunningly beautiful album by the legendary Terry Callier. This remarkable record not only showcases Terry Callier's immense talent, but also features production by Bluey (Incognito) and Marc Mac (4 Hero). It includes the single, ‘Brother to Brother’, a song co-written and performed with British musical icon, Paul Weller. This stellar cast of producers and collaborators infuses the album with modern sensibilities while maintaining the integrity of Terry Callier's unique sound.

'Speak Your Peace' is a testament to Terry Callier's enduring legacy as a singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known for his ability to blend genres seamlessly, here he takes listeners on a transcendent journey through soul, jazz, folk, and blues. His captivating voice and exceptional guitar playing create a musical landscape that is both timeless and profound. This collection of songs tackles a range of themes, from love and introspection to social justice and the human experience. Terry Callier's poignant lyrics and soul-stirring melodies intertwine, creating a multi-dimensional work of art. It rates with his incredible Cadet work in its vision, articulation, and execution.

Mr Bongo Records is honoured to present 'Speak Your Peace’ and to celebrate the legacy of Terry Callier and his impact on the musical landscape.

: Written and recorded in a series of bedroom studiosin England and France, London-based Gareth Donkin’s extraordinary debut, Welcome Home, showcases the 23-year-old’s stunning mix of instrumental virtuosity and emotional intuition, blending highly sophisticated melodic and harmonic craftsmanship with deeply moving lyrical explorations of longing, desire, and determination. The songs here draw on soul, funk, pop, yacht rock,hip-hop, jazz, and even bossa nova, hinting at times to everything from Michael Jackson and Bill Evans to George Benson and Jamiroquai, and Donkin’s performances are nothing short of mesmerizing, layering up instrument after instrument in the best one-man-band tradition of Prince or Stevie Wonder. The result is a moving work that’s equal parts brain and brawn, a masterful coming-of-age self-portrait from a young artist discovering himself—and his sound—one song at a time. Born with perfect pitch, Donkin was already fanatically obsessed with both jazz piano and drums before he turned twelve. In high school, he began DJing and teaching himself to record and sample, and by the time he headed to the Leeds College of Music to pursue a degree in production, he was already writing and recording his own material at home. His first single, “Catharsis,” would go on to rack up more than a million streams on Spotify, and a series of subsequent tracks would find similarly organic success and help land him a deal with the burgeoning drink sum wtr label.

McKowski is pleased to confirm details of his debut solo album: ‘Notes From The Boneyard’, a new release that arrives courtesy of the Deltasonic label.

In anticipation of the record, the Irish songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has unveiled the single “Return of Pygmy Pony”.

“Return of Pygmy Pony” is one of 10 cinematic tracks, alongside previous single “Lake”, that comprise upcoming album ‘Notes From The Boneyard’. Envisioning a fictional world known as ‘The Boneyard’, McKowski’s debut will promise a purely instrumental album of atmospheric folk and otherworldly soundscapes to capture your imagination and seep into your soul.

Utilising a unique blend of acoustic guitars, strings, analog synths, and electronic toys, Mckowski creates a haunting and evocative journey across its transient 35 minutes. Gifted with the talents of some old allies, ‘Notes From The Boneyard’ sees guest musicianship from the likes of Steve Wickham (viola), Howe Gelb (guitar), Laura Mcafadden (cello), Dave Murphy (pedal steel), with St Francis Hotel also adding further elements of atmosphere and production.

With one foot rooted in a dark woodland and the other foot stepping into unknown territory, the end result is a must-listen for fans of soundtracks, the surreal, or simply those searching for the unexpected. Like the wooden beauty of Angelo Badalementi’s ‘Straight Story’ mixed with the dark synth undertones such as Carpenter-esque Moog; it’s the ideal companion for those pensive days and long nocturnal hours.

Instrument-swapping London/Margate trio Wicketkeeper create a loose, breezy jangle-rock that’s been likened to Ultimate Painting and Teenage Fanclub. A laid back, fuzzy racket comprised of fizzing guitars interweaving with buoyant basslines and layered harmonised vocals.

They followed a split 12” with Car Seat Headrest with their debut album ‘Shonk’ in 2020. ‘Zambroni’ was self-recorded at home, rather than in a live-room, which enabled the band to play with dynamics and broader arrangements, layering multiple guitar and vocal tracks for the first time, resulting in a more melodic, considered and playful record.

Skarra Mucci is a Jamaican Reggae and Dancehall artist born in Kingston. Known as the "Dancehall President", his career counts 7 solo albums, including the essential "Return of the Raggamuffin" (2012) and countless classics and cult collaborations, such as the hit "My Sound" from the album "Greater Than Great" (2014) which exceeds 15 million cumulative Spotify and YouTube streams and the critically acclaimed album "Dancehall President" (2016) with its tour of more than 100 dates around the world, from Mexico to China.

5 years after the release of "Skarra Mucci & The One Love Family" (2018), this essential figure of Jamaican music, with his versatile flow and recognizable voice, announces a new studio album with multiple influences "Perfect Timing", which is scheduled for release on September 29, 2023.

The album opens with a hybrid roots-tinged hip hop riddim. Brass and percussion resonate throughout the track as Skarra Mucci gives way to a mesmerizing voice sample that gives the track “Here I Come” all its depth.

An introduction that sets the tone for an album tinged with a mix of genres by Skarra Mucci and his team of top producers brought together by Undisputed Records. "Perfect Timing" is indeed an ode to Reggae of all eras, full of nods to the Sound System culture, from its beginnings to the present day. From the choice of the featurings to that of the producers, nothing is left to chance to offer us a journey through the highlights of this rich culture which has never ceased to evolve, without any period being left behind.

For his 1st single, it is with a major player in the current Reggae scene that Skarra Mucci has chosen to announce the release of his 8th solo album by inviting the Martiniquais Yaniss Odua on the title "Roots Rock Reggae".

Accustomed to albums teeming with successful collaborations, "Perfect Timing" is obviously no exception to the rule. We find in particular on the title "Street Dance" the essential French producers of L'Entourloop, with whom he released the very successful EP "Golden Nuggets" (2019, 6 titles, 17M cumulative streams Spotify and YouTube) to drop once again a banger between Hip-Hop and Dancehall in line with their huge 2013 hit “Dreader Than Dread” (38M combined Spotify and YouTube streams).

Jamaican legend Johnny Osbourne also takes part in the celebration for a version of his classic of the digital era "What A La La", with Skarra Mucci on the Stalag riddim replayed for the occasion by the beatmaker specialist in the matter: Manudigital.

Skarra Mucci continues his exploration of various styles and influences with the very groovy "Dancehall", produced by the musicians of Dub Akom, in which he lets us perceive all his class and his swing. We also find the massive “Who Fool Them”, a UK stepper track produced by Evidence Music, but also the future Dancehall classic “Rappa Pam Pam”, or the huge “Misty Babylon” in a much more Roots register.

The album "Perfect Timing" ends with the eponymous title, on a riddim and Lovers Rock melodies carried by a joyful piano and a groovy bass. A finale in the form of a declaration of love for Reggae, this music which gave him so much and to which he gave everything.

See you on September 29, 2023 to discover "Perfect Timing", Skarra Mucci's new album.