quête:force 10

Gars Records proudly presents the first release in our "Gars of Gars" series, celebrating classic Detroit and modern techno with a fresh, boundary-pushing approach. This dynamic compilation features breakthrough artists BENZA, Mython, and James Harbrecht, alongside rising talent Deranged. Local Lithuanian producers y2kati and Phaseline join forces with international heavyweights like Bondarük, delivering a truly global sound. A bold yet respectful nod to techno’s roots, "Gars of Gars" is set to make waves and stand the test of time. And last but not least, the entire release was mastered by the almighty Joe Farr, bringing over 25 years of industry expertise to the sound.

Billy Bultheel's debut solo album is an ambitious distillation of the composer's sprawling litany of influences and his unique approach to site-specific composition. A compilation of pieces created between 2016 and 2023, the album is a forceful testament to Bultheel's expansive performance practice and collaborations with cutting-edge visual artists like Anne Imhof and James Richards.

One of the world’s most recognisable dance acts, with three No.1 albums, numerous Top 10 singles, album sales in excess of 20 million, Faithless stand in a class of their own as one of the world’s most celebrated dance acts. A leading force in electronic music for three decades, their distinctive style, powerful messaging, unforgettable live shows and continued ability to push the sonic envelope has seen them straddle the underground and mainstream like no-one else. They are a case in point that success can be achieved without ever diluting your message, ethos, or integrity with topics such as social justice and spiritual searching becoming a golden thread through their music. Few maintain the balance between depth and accessibility, while elevating a culture like Faithless continue to do.

"Back in print with a brand new 2024 cut by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering, pressed on striking Transparent GOLD colored vinyl and topped off with a collectible “Footlong” OBI. NPR calls “Angherr Shisspa” a “vital reissue of a punk-prog opus”.

Japan's Koenjihyakkei blend progressive rock, jazz fusion, symphonic rock and neoclassicism with the energy of hardcore punk, the volume of metal and the attitude of rock in opposition.

Tatsuya Yoshida’s (of the renowned bass and drum duo RUINS), progressive rock powerhouse is Area and ELP at their most excessive; Deus Ex Machina with tempo changes multiplied by 100; and Magma at their orff-ian choral, fusion jazz, overcharged gospel peak.

“Angherr Shisspa”, the band’s landmark fourth album explodes with glittery keyboard lines, speedy bass/drum workouts, emotive reed respites, and operatic female vocals that take the listener from sheer exuberance to absolute apocalypse... all performed with superhuman technique in confoundingly catchy, complex arrangements.

“...towers over most modern progressive rock because of an attention to detail and an almost overwhelming force of conviction. No irony here: this rocks with the teeth and heart to cut through scenes and the ""overground"" like a knife."" - PITCHFORK"

Sydney's Lipstick Killers released just one single in their lifetime – the perfect ’79 pairing of “Hindu Gods of Love” and ”Shakedown USA”, released on both their own Lost in Space Records and Greg Shaw’s Voxx Records and produced by Deniz Tek of the band's heroes Radio Birdman - but a posthumous live album and a couple of archival releases followed. It was all incredible.

And it was all put together a few years ago on Grown Up Wrong!'s 2CD set Strange Flash! And while the 2LP version of that release included all the studio stuff and the live in LA 1981 set, there was no room for this brain-burning, chaotic live set from '79. Tour De Force, which was recorded for local radio station 5UV, captures the band as they were still emerging from the cocoon that was the Psycho Surgeons.

The Nuggets influences are there, but it's a Stooges influences which dominate proceedings, and definitive readings of both sides of the Psycho Surgeons classic 45 "Wild Weekend"/"Horizontal Action" are included alongside early Killers killers like "Teen Police" and "Sockman" and later faves like "Hindu Gods of Love', "Shakedown USA" and "Dying Boy's Crawl". The band's hot take on the Thirteenth Floor Elevators' "I've Got Levitation" is also featured. There's also plenty of tunes that were only ever captured on tape on this wild night, including "Human Crash", "Crush On You", "Head Off" and "Bully"!

Sydney's Lipstick Killers released just one single in their lifetime – the perfect ’79 pairing of “Hindu Gods of Love” and ”Shakedown USA”, released on both their own Lost in Space Records and Greg Shaw’s Voxx Records and produced by Deniz Tek of the band's heroes Radio Birdman - but a posthumous live album and a couple of archival releases followed. It was all incredible.

And it was all put together a few years ago on Grown Up Wrong!'s 2CD set Strange Flash! And while the 2LP version of that release included all the studio stuff and the live in LA 1981 set, there was no room for this brain-burning, chaotic live set from '79. Tour De Force, which was recorded for local radio station 5UV, captures the band as they were still emerging from the cocoon that was the Psycho Surgeons.

The Nuggets influences are there, but it's a Stooges influences which dominate proceedings, and definitive readings of both sides of the Psycho Surgeons classic 45 "Wild Weekend"/"Horizontal Action" are included alongside early Killers killers like "Teen Police" and "Sockman" and later faves like "Hindu Gods of Love', "Shakedown USA" and "Dying Boy's Crawl". The band's hot take on the Thirteenth Floor Elevators' "I've Got Levitation" is also featured. There's also plenty of tunes that were only ever captured on tape on this wild night, including "Human Crash", "Crush On You", "Head Off" and "Bully"!

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of hip-hop’s most iconic albums with Jeezy’s TM:101 Live, a once-in-a-lifetime reimagining of Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, now backed by a full live orchestra.
Originally released in 2005, TM:101 didn’t just introduce Jeezy to the world; it immortalized trap music, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B charts and #2 on the Billboard 200. Widely hailed as a critical and cultural classic, the album became the blueprint for a generation of street anthems and dominance.
Now, Jeezy elevates his legacy with an epic live performance, merging raw lyrics with rich orchestral arrangements lending to a new level of sonic depth. Featuring stunning live renditions of tracks like “Soul Survivor,” "Go Crazy,” “My Hood" and “Trap or Die,” this release captures the emotion, scale and storytelling that defined a movement.

Ranil is undoubtedly the most unconventional figure among the greats of Amazonian cumbia, earning a well-deserved place alongside iconic bands like Los Mirlos, Los Wembler's, and Juaneco y su Combo. This compilation offers a glimpse into the vast musical output Ranil created in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Psychedelia, rock fusion, cumbia, salsa, mambo, Amazonian folk_ you'll find all these flavors blended into the vibrant, jungle-rich sound Ranil crafted. DESCRIPTION Ranil is undoubtedly the most unconventional figure among the greats of Amazonian cumbia, earning a well-deserved place alongside all the better-known iconic bands. He worked as a teacher, criollo guitarist, radio host, TV entrepreneur, and politician, but gained lasting fame as the founder of Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical in the 1970s. By 1968, around the same time Los Destellos were making waves in Lima, groups like Los Wembler's de Iquitos and Juaneco y su Combo began electrifying cumbia in Iquitos. This new genre, dubbed Amazonian cumbia, exploded nationwide in 1973, thanks to hits by Juaneco y su Combo, Los Mirlos, and Los Wembler's. The success these bands achieved spawned dozens of other groups from the Amazon. Ranil, always a visionary, recognized the movement's potential and joined forces through his first single recorded on the Dinsa label in 1974. Unhappy with the contractual terms, he went on to found Producciones Llerena, the label on which he would release the rest of his discography. Over the years, Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical featured guitarists like Límber Zumba and Luis Nigro, while Ranil remained the lead vocalist and bassist for group. Zumba and Nigro had already played with other regional bands and written songs for groups like Los Destellos and Los Mirlos. This compilation offers a glimpse into the vast musical output Ranil created in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bringing together 14 tracks from the band's 10 LPs. These records have always been hard to come by as, despite being recorded in Lima, they were distributed by Ranil from Iquitos. Psychedelia, rock fusion, cumbia, salsa, mambo, Amazonian folk_ you'll find all these flavors blended into the vibrant, jungle-rich sound Ranil crafted.

Recorded from late 1996 through early 1997, Hold Onto I.D., The Shadow Ring's fourth album, marks the apogee of the trio's experimental rock epoch - their last record clinging to their factitious bandness before they let all song and structure go awash in sonic malaise for their final run of releases on Swill Radio. The surrealist dreams of City Lights and Put the Music in Its Coffin give way to pseudo-expressionistic lyrics mired in the banality and bleakness of the everyday, set against the backdrop of the Coombe House (as pictured on the album's cover). While Hold Onto I.D. is the group's most overtly autobiographical release to date, Lambkin's lyrics obfuscate his expressionist tendencies filtering them through the codes and languages of officialdom, linking the "inner self" with documents of the state_identification cards, National Insurance numbers, and British passport numbers. Having moved out of their parents' homes and into the top floor of the famed Coombe House, Graham Lambkin and Darren Harris set out to rework material drafted over the previous year, aided by Tim Goss, still safely in residence at the "Valebrook Inn." While the familiar sounds of Harris's deadpan recitation and Lambkin's electric guitar, amateurishly strummed, dominate the album, the emotive interludes of Goss's keyboards populate the record along with of home-cooked tape experiments and dime-store concrète. Originally released on CD and supported by a US tour with friends Scott Foust and Karla Borecky's Idea Fire Company, Hold Onto I.D. is perhaps the band's best-known and most accessible album. (The Shadow Ring's sole representative on a streaming platform, it was once acknowledged by the Guardian as one of "the 101 strangest records on Spotify.") Offered here for the first time on vinyl, Hold Onto I.D. is an essential album for both completists and the uninitiated alike. 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 in 2023 with the first-ever vinyl pressing of the self-released pre-Shadow Ring tape The Cat & Bells Club (1992), Blank Forms Editions has been conducting a systematic retrospective of the storied group. Wax-Work Echoes and Hold Onto I.D. are the latest releases in a multiyear reissue effort that includes several LPs, a comprehensive CD box set, and a nearly five-hundred-page book.

For many bands, having all their gear stolen would be catastrophic. For Third Ear Band, this unfortunate 1968 incident opened a portal to beneficial change. Leader/percussionist Glen Sweeney viewed the heist as a sign to alter Third Ear Band's approach, and they switched to exclusively using acoustic instruments. With electrified psychedelia in full bloom, Sweeney, Paul Minns (oboe, recorder, whistles, flutes) and Richard Coff (violin, viola) struck out on an individualistic path, blending Indian raga with chamber music – without plugging in.

Third Ear Band's 1969 debut album, Alchemy, established them as a solemn, powerful force in the global underground. On Alchemy, Sweeney laid down a steady pulse on hand drums, while Minns and Coff wove in melismatic patterns on oboe, recorder, violin and viola. This approach carried over to Third Ear Band's self-titled sophomore album, often called Elements due to its track titles being named after the four basic components of medieval European alchemists' doctrines.

On this 1970 LP, Third Ear Band sounded at once ancient and contemporary, yet they turned on the hippies with their epic, trance-inducing jams that suggested secret knowledge of infinity. Although Third Ear Band flourished during the West's countercultural zenith, they were peculiarly estranged from it on a sonic level. Even outré contemporaries such as Comus and Jan Dukes De Grey sounded like pop groups compared to TEB. Having no traditional front person or electric instruments, Third Ear Band forged a singular path that flowered most vividly on Elements.

The long songs here stream forth from their skilled hands, evoking a communal transcendence in sound – a hypnotic swirl that doesn't swing, but rather wafts and undulates with cloistered beauty. TEB's music exists in an eternal now, a perpetual wow. It is an ouroboros of organic textures, seemingly magicked into the air spontaneously, yet possessing a rigor that suggests long hours in the lab. Without electricity, it somehow burrowed deeper into your consciousness.

– Dave Segal (excerpt from the liner notes)

Sydney artist Natalie Slade's debut album Control, co-written with Hiatus Kaiyote's Simon Mavin, is now followed-up with a second instalment of Australian future soul in Molasses, an album featuring a range of UK and Antipodean artists. Joined by The Dieyoungs on keys and Laneous on guitar, Natalie's songwriting and vocals are brought to the fore with excellent production by key Melbourne scene driver, Brisbane's Sampology and additional production from guest Dan Kye. Staying true to the debut album's style of Australian future soul Molasses has an emphasis on poetic storytelling, Natalie's lyrics and melodies that are heard against a lush bed of string arrangements and the influence of Sampology’s soulful but gritty sensibility. As well as her amazing eponymous releases Natalie has also featured on tracks from artists as important and diverse as Posy, Plutonic Lab, Parker and Rhodes and Dojo Cuts among others. Sampology is an innovative producer who, for the past 15 years or so, has been a driving force behind Australia's Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul and Broken Beat/Jazz explosion and has worked with the likes of Ron Trent, Tiana Khasi and Charlie Hill as well as releasing his own tracks. This collaboration between Natalie and Sampology on Molasses is a real high-water mark of music, song-writing and production. Releasing on digital and double vinyl LP, Molasses further chronicles the rising stars of Australia's burgeoning and increasingly important neo-soul and future soul scenes.

With creative verses rooted in technical brilliance, Detroit emcee Elzhi has attained the highest level of lyrical mastery. Now 15 years into an inspired solo career, the former Slum Village member has ramped up his output lately, joining forces with producers Georgia Anne Muldrow, Oh No, and JR Swiftz for three acclaimed albums in the 2020s. Now, Elzhi is reuniting with famed North Carolina producer Khrysis as the duo Jericho Jackson, revisiting the chemistry that resulted in a celebrated 2018 joint album. After emerging in the Justus League collective during the rise iconic group Little Brother, Khrysis has gone on to work with hip-hop royalty like Sean Price, Black Thought, Mac Miller, JID, Conway, Rapsody, Talib Kweli, Redman, and many more. With a highly anticipated album on the way, Elzhi and Khrysis are launching the new era of Jericho Jackson with the flawless EP I Am Him, channelling the spirit of vintage maxi-singles. “For me, the maxi-single represents a time when

hip-hop was unapologetically raw and underground,” Elzhi explains. “Some of my favourite artists used the format to showcase remixes, freestyles, and loose tracks that might not have fit the sound of an album. This is our way of restoring that feeling.” An exciting burst of new music from two undeniable talents, the project features appearances by Domo Genesis and Oh No.

CANDLEMASS - a name forged in darkness; a legacy built on doom. Born from the cold shadows of Stockholm in 1985, this Swedish titan of epic doom metal has stood as a monolithic force for nearly four decades. In 2025, CANDLEMASS marks 40 years of sorrow-laden grandeur, a testament to their unwavering reign over the genre they helped shape. Their journey began with the seismic release of “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” (1986), a requiem that redefined heavy music, followed by the monumental “Nightfall” - both now sacred texts in the annals of doom. These albums remain cornerstones of a genre that thrives in the echoes of CANDLEMASS somber majesty. Despite doom’s reputation for slow, crushing weight, CANDLEMASS themselves show no signs of slowing down. Relentless and untamed, they continue to storm stages worldwide, bringing their towering hymns to devoted Candlemaniacs from Tokyo to Los Angeles. With Grammy win in Sweden and a U.S. Grammy nomination in 2019, the band’s fire still burns with undiminished intensity. Originally released in 2009, “Death Magic Doom” is the tenth studio album from CANDLEMASS.

2025 Repress

British tour de force Rene Wise is an exciting talent synonymous with hair-raising and hard-nosed Techno. A name that's been confidently claiming its stake in common lexicon with a passion for polyrhythms, forward-looking frequencies and kaleidoscopic beats. It's the mind-expanding potential of his favourite genre that forms the basis of his new vinyl release on Bassiani Records. Drawing on personal experiences of the psychedelic sort, he also cites the role of atmosphere and spatial configuration in the making of his sound, in his own words: 'the space that the music is presented in, is hugely important and there are some very unique and special spaces in the world that capture the true essence of how techno music should be experienced. Bassiani is one of these places.' Well that praise goes both ways, it's hard to imagine a more fitting EP for the club. This four track release is both an homage to the Bassiani floor and a powerful dive into a trippy realm of Techno Wise has spent his years as a musician diligently exploring. A third eye journey across oscillating soundscapes and sonic horizons from the trailblazing techno wunderkind.

Demon Records Singles Club are proud to present a reissue of the
legendary band Freestylers.
Freestylers formed in 1996 when DJs and producers Matt Cantor and
Aston Harvey joined forces. Two years later Freestylers would release
their debut album We Rock Hard on the legendary imprint
Freskanova.
We Rock Hard would become their most commercially successful
release to date and this reissue cherry picks four of the biggest tracks
from the album. B-Boy Stance, Ruffneck, Here We Go and Warning all
showcase the classic big beat and breakbeat electronica that would
remain the band's trademark sound throughout their career.
Newly remastered and now available in a 12” discobag sleeve
featuring the original artwork

2025 Repress

Conundrum Records delves into the depths of techno with a riveting release from Hitam, the Dutch producer who's renowned for his immersive soundscapes, stimulating textures and dynamic low-end. The "Subterranean EP" is a compelling journey through shadowy, bass-driven terrain, meticulously designed for powerful club systems. Despite the variety in tempo, the EP's relentless energy and thunderous low-end form a cohesive thread throughout.

The EP kicks off with "Nagini", where minimalist, driving drum patterns intertwine with glitchy synths and eerie atmospheres, setting the stage for what's to come.
"Hoia Baciu" intensifies the experience, maintaining a dark, brooding energy that envelops the listener in its foreboding vibe. "Kaelago" shifts gears slightly, slowing the tempo but upping the complexity with intricate sound design and broken beat transitions that showcase Hitam's deft production skills.

Adding to the EP's allure, renowned techno artist Rene Wise contributes a hypnotic, tribal-infused remix of "Kaelago," layering new depths onto the original and enhancing its already potent impact. For those seeking an even more intense experience, Hitam's alternative version of "Kaelago" serves as a digital bonus, pushing the boundaries of auditory immersion.

"Subterranean" is a masterclass in crafting dark, cerebral techno, with Hitam firmly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. This EP is not just a collection of tracks but an exploration of mood and atmosphere, making it an essential listen for those who appreciate techno's deeper, more introspective side.

Nach den Erfolgen des Merchcowboy Mixtapes Vol. 1 und Vol. 2 erscheint am 18. Juli 2025 der dritte Teil des Benefizsamplers. Dieses Mal unterstützt man #LeaveNoOneBehind sowie PRO ASYL und stellt sich so klar gegen Rechtsruck und Ausgrenzung und positioniert sich für bedingungslose Humanität. Unter anderen unterstützen Die Toten Hosen, Die Ärzte, Deichkind, Broilers, Heaven Shall Burn, Donots, Madsen, Grossstadtgeflüster, Sondaschule, Montreal, Deine Cousine, Juli, Ebow, Lara Hulo, H-Blockx, Heisskalt und viele weitere der bekanntesten Namen der deutschen, alternativen Musikszene das Projekt. Allesamt Bands und Künstler*innen, die politisch aktiv sind und sich für eine weltoffene, tolerante Gesellschaft einsetzen. Das Merchcowboy Mixtape Vol. 3 wird durch Musik Spenden für die Organisationen #LeaveNoOneBehind sowie PRO ASYL sammeln. Also genau die Organisationen, die sich täglich für die Förderung gelebter Demokratie, die Unterstützung von Geflüchteten sowie Bekämpfung von Faschismus einsetzen. Alle Bands und Künstler*innen verzich-ten hierbei auf Gagen - der Erlös aus dem Verkauf des Samplers wird vollständig zu gleichen Anteilen an beide Organisationen gespendet.