One afternoon in 1975, friend and fellow music traveler, Harold Schroeder, showed up at Poo-Bah Record Shop where Tom Recchion worked selling records and experimental music to people, forcing them to buy albums that he swore would change their lives. Harold asked if Tom wanted to share in a studio space close to the shop. After seeing it Tom immediately said "YES!". They moved in and divided the space in half. On Tom's half he made drawings, paintings, performances, video, sculptures, installations, and music. Harold had his all set up for music with his newly acquired Steiner-Parker synth and guitars and things. At the beginning they played under the name The Two Who Do Duets. Soon the late-night jam sessions that took place in the back of Poo-Bah moved over to the fourth floor of 35 South Raymond. It was pretty beat up and derelict, the way one imagines an artist's studio to look. They could make all the noise they wanted. No one else was on their floor. The music heard on this LP has remained unheard since it was recorded and was created just before and right after the inaugural concert by the Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS) groups Le Forte Four, Doo-Doettes, and Ace & Duce. That concert took place in late January 1976. The sessions on this release feature members of the newly formed and expanded Doo-Doettes, which now included Dennis Duck, Juan Gomez, Harold Schroeder, and Tom Recchion, as well as Ju Suk Reet Meate from Smegma and Ace, of Ace & Duce. 35 S. Raymond eventually became a sort of LAFMS headquarters, with Chip Chapman of Le Forte Four, artist and future Extended Organ vocalist/guitarist Paul McCarthy, and soon to become singer for Nervous Gender, punk/folk artist Phranc, who along with many other artists and musicians, moved into the building. 35 S. Raymond allowed for free expression and explorations of all sorts. Some wild parties ensued, not to mention the luxury of endless hours of experimentation. Parking was free and so was the art and music. Ace found the tapes for side one ("Tom's Studio") in his archive and Ju Suk Reet Meate found the tapes for side two ("50 Of Every American Are Machines") and edited them both for this release. No overdubs or remixing was emplo
It has been exactly ten years since Finders Keepers Records rst liberated Luboš Fišer's immaculate soundtrack music for Valerie And Her Week Of Wonders (Valerie A Týden Divu) from the vaults of the Barrandov Studio in Prague. As the inaugural release of an ongoing discography of previously unreleased scores from the hugely creative 'Film Miracle' that occurred during and after the Czech New Wave (CNW), this score will always retain a special place in the heart of the label as well as our listeners who consistently request an updated repress of this signi cant vinyl milestone. Having grown in status from an obscure and misunderstood socialist-era art house oddity, via the hands of risqué foreign uff merchants, to nally nd its rightful audience as a bona de surrealist cinematic masterpiece of world class standards, this 1970 lm adaptation of Vítezslav Nezval's 1935 avant-garde novella (a lm that literally cross-pollinated Max Ernst's A Week Of Kindness and Lewis Carols Alice In Wonderland) has garnered widespread critical acclaim. Inspiring ongoing generations of visual artists, musicians, writers and lmmakers - all of whom regard this truly individualistic and inimitable surrealist lm poem to be an indelible in uence - Valerie continues to impregnate their daily artistic referential fabric.
Patterns Of Consciousness is the powerful second full length from analog synth composer Caterina Barbieri. Highly recommended to fans of Alessandro Cortini and Eleh, Barbieri can be seen/heard/felt live at major electronic music events across Europe and beyond.Gorgeous high resolution analog textures and algorithmic melodies unfold under Barbieri's careful control, exploring the basic nature of sound and consciousness. These pieces are minimal in arrangement but maximal in presence asserting Barbieri as a unique voice in contemporary electronic music composition."Patterns Of Consciousness finds Caterina Barbieri at her best, elegantly moving between melodically pleasant yet twisted sequences and comforting, reassuring sonic spaces. Every piece, while given a singular identity, is part of the bigger picture: a work of art that will push you, pull you, and then eventually leave you with your back against the wall once you get to the last track. " Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails)"A pattern creates a certain state of consciousness. Once it is created, the pattern stands as an object exactly like the sound waves which generate it. We are at the same time inside and outside of the object. While being it, we observe it. Over time we become familiar with the inner structure of the pattern. We decode its gravitational centres, where our psychomotor attentionis attracted, where everything seems to be drawn. When a change in the pattern occurs it causes a perturbation of the previously established field of forces. This causes consciousness to fracture, potentially unfolding layers of perceptions we weren't aware of or simply suggesting that we access only a fraction of our psychic potential.The layered nature of consciousness and the relativity of perception are some of the biggest secrets we can experience through sound." Caterina Barbieri
Hive Mind Records are delighted to present Congo, the debut album from Brazilian guitarist and composer Rodrigo Tavares.
Maintaining a meditative mood across it's nine instrumental pieces, Congo blends composition and improvisation with subtly experimental yet sophisticated arrangements that evoke the mood and rhythms of classic Brazilian artists such as João Gilberto, Dorival Caymmi, Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso.
Rodrigo's work draws on elements of jazz, post rock, minimalist composition and disparate global sounds to create a deep listening experience that falls between genres and wilfully defies categorisation. Congo is a lush soundworld that rewards exploration and will appeal to fans of music as diverse as Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society, Collocutor, BadBadNotGood, Slint or late Talk Talk, as much as it does to lovers of classic Brazilian music.
Hive Mind Records are proud to be releasing Congo on vinyl in gatefold sleeve designed by Brazilian graphic artist, Andrea Gomes, and featuring the original painting of celebrated Brazilian artist, Cristiano Lenhardt.
Unreleased baroque jazz horror score to controversial lesbian sex cult witchcraft exploitation drama from 1973, composed by the man who wrote the Catweazle theme! Hell yeah!
HISTORY:
Ted Dicks is not that well known as a composer these days, but back in the mid 1960s he was composing library music as well penning some of the greatest comedy songs of the era, including 'Hole In The Ground' and 'Right Said Fred'. His work was performed by Kenneth Williams, Petula Clarke, Bernard Cribbins, Topol and more. But until now, little has been known of his brief flirtation with film music.
Virgin Witch was his first brush with film scoring - one of only two score he wrote. The film was produced by legendary wrestling commentator Ken Walton (under his Sexploitation pseudonym of 'Ralph Solomans'), with the help of Hazel Adair, a woman famed for co-creating the long running UK TV soap Crossroads. Virgin Witch was a racey film, turned down at least once for certification by the BBFC, passed uncut with an X for release just in London, then cut and passed for general release shortly afterwards.
The score itself is a unique and quite beautiful pop baroque work, utilizing the cimbalom, an instrument more than likely played here by 'Ipcress file' musician John Leach.
This is a very limited release of a most unique 1970s pop horror lesbian witch score. Get it before they are all sold and you start moaning you didn't order it in time.
After being absent for a while, Glance is returning with a uncompromising authentic record on Footjob. It recently has become quieter around the man who used to be a founding member of Running Back, but for this occasion he went and dug in his archives and came back with some beautiful old tracks, just to compile them in a classic, full of groove second Footjob EP. As a bonus he finishes and ends the record with two Downbeat sounding songs in reminiscence of his former genre crossing alter ego Siro. So this goes out to all the realkeeper, oldschooler und newcats. Glance is back on the map.
Next up on Dusky's renowned 17 Steps label is the return of long term pal Kiwi. Having supported the lads on 9 of the 17 Steps tour dates and having also provided the 15th release in the label catalogue - the fellow Londoner now readies his 'Oooh' EP which comes backed up with a remix from Feel My Bicep affiliate Hammer.
Kiwi's sound is one defined by positive, kinetic feeling - joining the dots between Detroit Techno, Soul and Balearic. With previous releases on Futureboogie, Life and Death and Moscoman's lauded Disco Halal imprint, he's garnered several accolades including reaching number #85 in Mixmag's Top 100 tunes of 2017 and sitting at #1 in the genre chart for a total of 9 weeks with his 'Orca' EP back in 2016.
Now - continuing on his ascent, Kiwi lays out a pair of rapturous, gooey House jams that lands right on time for the festival season. On 'Oooh' - Vocal lines swirl over a largely beatless backing track. A rich, balmy feeling unfolds behind synth chimes and layered delays which work together to form an irresistible summer DJ tool. 'Andromeda' then follows up and blends 80's soundtrack-tinged stabs with crispy drums and thick sub bass before being accompanied by a pulsating synth line that carries the track to a delectable crescendo. Hammer then closes things up with a somewhat hallucinogenic take on 'Oooh' with LFOs, analogue sweeps and blobs of acid bleeding together to cap off an altogether warm and woozy trip.
ALEX is a dark, haunting and brooding synthwave record that sets the night on fire, taking you from darkness all the way to the shining lights of Broadway. With hints of cyberpunk, outrun and other 80's inspired retrowave influences, ALEX has developed a true signature sound that is funky, groovy and totally rocking. X takes you on a futuristic, electronic music trip that's filled with nostalgia and suspense. Artist bio: In the last few years, Ireland's Bart Graft has been releasing healthy amount of great music. His signature sound of pastel coloured and retro inspired synth music is stellar synthwave from the top of the shelve. Along with bigger names in the genre such as Mitch Murder, Waveshaper, The Midnight, and others, he truly is holding up the genre's current producer flame high. Inspired by the works of Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Talk Talk, Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, Tear For Fears, The Ward Brothers, Peter Gabriel, Frank Zappa, INXS, and many more... Nostalgic synth stabs accompanied by pulsating guitar licks, energetic drums roll around yet a bunch of track are plain chill. This album is a trip to the rooftops of 80s and 90s culture. From the fast-paced rock track, to ambient vaporwave, the balance is just right as 'Modern Life' cements Bart Graft as a force to be reckoned with.
As with the previous two releases on the label, 'Rellik' was recorded live and on the first take using a selection of analog synths, drum machines and sequencers, particularly the warm and dynamic sound of the E-Mu SP 1200 as the lead.
'The 'Rellik' project is a mashup between Rock and Hip Hop elements using SP1200 classic drum kits, filtered and distorted synths. We call this Krauttech' - MASK Intense sirens set the tone of the A1 before introducing a thumping sub and delayed snares, making way for harsh bass and dark effects in the A2 to generate an ominous atmosphere. On the flip, the B1 brings crunchy, modulated synths alongside an intense and thunderous kick whilst the B2 delivers a thick, pulsating low-end with an assortment of metallic and heavy drones that round off this cryptic
package.
LPost-Heretic Dracula X Chronicles is Nicola Kazimir's debut album. It features 30min full of diverse, rough, evil, melancholic electronic music compositions either partly sampled out of important melodies in his life or fully produced by him. Post-Heretic Dracula X Chronicles LP draws from contemporary and past cultural references evolving around institutional-critique, occultism and dividualism and manifests those via metatags or sonic compositions.
Nicola Kazimir is a part of the collective Les Points based in Zürich, Switzerland.
His art/music draws from 90's rave utopias, decentralized & dividual thought, institutional-critique, occultism, progressive & accessible frameworks as showcased at their offspace Mikro -
a physical room which has no doors and opening times during exhibitions and raves - making an institution available to all social layers.
His recordlabels "Les Points" and the newly founded "Gentrified Underground" appropriate those ideas and transfer them to the distribution channels of electronic music.
Nicola refuses genre-stigmas and explores a vast number of genres in his dj-sets and productions - his newest LP "Post-Heretic Dracula X Chronicles" being an example of that diversity.
Another very special EP on Al Zanders A to Z label
Teaming up this time with vocalist Sheyi, for a one-off foray into Broken Beat territory.
The story of its inspiration begins with a trip to Notting Hill Record & Tape Exchange...
After asking for some broken beat, the assistant ventured a withering opinion that "won't be monotonous enough, try the house music section instead"
Turns out it was Phil Asher of Co-op fame - who, after establishing a genuine desire for said genre - sold Al a bunch of West London music which became the influence for this EP.
Allowing Sheyi to shine over a bare bones, syncopated rhythm track on the title cut and an equally stripped down 'Satisfy' Al amps up the groove, with the G.I.T dub, which was made for IG Culture's radio show.
It is said that every generation casts its mind back to a previous era in times of crisis; the resources that will allow us to decode the questions of our moment may lie in the myths of another era.
Le Renard Bleu, the new musical and cinematic collaboration between Lafawndah and composer Midori Takada, and filmmakers Partel Oliva, takes a cross- generational echo as ground zero for recovering a crucial myth for uncertain times: the blue fox.
As transmitted by Takada, the fox appears in both ancient Senegalese and Japanese folktales as the trickster archetype; belonging both to the heavens and to the earth, the fox is the agent of chaotic good, shaking the world up when its energy has become stagnant. Above all else, the fox is famous for its cunning nature.
Renard Bleu marks the first new music released by Takada in nearly twenty years; it would be difficult to overstate the importance of her return to the public eye. Her first solo record, 1983's Through the Looking Glass, has been rediscovered and heralded as a lost classic; the influence of her percussion trio, the Mkwaju Ensemble, continues to permeate and inspire a new generation entranced by its lucid beauty, playfulness, and sensual patience. Takada has performed in numerous film score orchestras, including the ensemble for Akira Kurasawa's Dreams, coincidentally a key influence on Renard Bleu.
In the ensuing years, Takada has worked closely with theater group the Suzuki Company of Toga on productions of Electra and King Lear, an experience, she says, that allowed her to pursue 'a unity of music, body and space.' Recent live solo performances have evinced the depths of her exploration of all three.
Equally, it is Lafawndah's freedom of tone, decentralized maps of ancient and modern music cultures, and alloying of devotional intensity with modern songcraft casts her as a distinct relative of Midori Takada's.
Over the course of two EPs, self- directed music videos, and countless live performances, Lafawndah has drawn out an uncompromising exploration of how theater, situational intervention, and choreography can amplify the affective palate of forward pop music. One can trace the influence of artists such as Meredith Monk, Carlos Sara, and Andy Kaufman as much as musical antecedents AR Rahmann, Missy Elliott, or Geinoh Yamashirogumi.
It is in a mutual commitment to this unity that Lafawndah, Takada and Partel Oliva find fertile aesthetic common ground.
The music of Renard Bleu originated in Takada's preoccupation with the legend of the fox; after constructing a vivid instrumental composition dramatizing the spirit animal's journeys through waterphone, bells, marimba and various forms of drums, Lafawndah responded - in her inimitable mix of fairytale and undertow-- with melodies and lyrics capturing a dialogue between her and the fox himself. Eventually, the duo met in Tokyo for a week of communing with the material at Avaco Creative Studios, where new elements were composed on site.
Created in partnership with KENZO and premiered today via their channels, it was Partel Oliva who imagined a contemporary cinematic frame for the myth of the fox to re- appear, creating a hybrid of choreography and narrative around Takada and Lafawndah's performance of their joint composition (also titled Le Renard Bleu.) Returning to film in Japan for the third time, Partel Oliva's moving image work (Club Ark Eternal, The Pike and the Shield) has set the standard for and revolutionized the fashion art film. Their deployment of original music, dance, and a highly stylized mis en scene coalesces here in the casting of Los Angeles krump artist Qwenga as the eponymous fox, stalking the halls of the ancient Noh theater in which Takada and Lafawnda's performance takes place.
Why call up the myth of the fox now In Le Renard Bleu, Lafawndah and Takada's collapsing of distance between generations, styles, and milieus intimates that the relationship to time must be shaken. The future lies in fragments in the past; to remember is to recover it; the fox rises to thicken the plot.
Miami legendary producer Willie Clarke sat on this glorious Kat Roberts solo version of 'Stand Up For What You Want' since 1984 and we're happy to have worked with Willie to release these versions on vinyl for the first time. The 12" version with Les Brown was originally released in 1984 and is highly respected by collectors across the globe. The general feeling was that the song would have been better received with Kat pushing her vocals to the front and thankfully Willie had recorded two different takes of the song at the time when he recorded it originally. The song itself brings a positive message and provides Kat with a great platform to show off her warming vocals.
If the Outside Agency's new release on Genosha 175 was to be summarized with a few keywords, they would most likely be 'twisted' and 'evil'. On an ever ongoing crusade to bring high-quality tracks to a tainted genre, another word to describe this release could be 'uncompromising'. 'The Legacy of Cain' refers to the story of the first murderer, which symbolizes the first act of evil. For the Outside Agency, it is a return to their roots with a track that combines a very dark atmosphere with relentless breakbeats and kickdrums. The vicious, freakish nature of 'I Saw My Grave' is conveyed through distorted, dissonant pads and eerie sounding children's voices. There is an underlying sense of dread in this music that will remind you that evil is not just a set of jump scares, which might startle you momentarily but otherwise will not affect you. It does not just reveal itself when you quickly glance in the mirror, noticing something 'off' behind you. It is everywhere, both around us and inside us... all the time.
At long last! We're delighted to present a hypnotic time-capsule courtesy of Dissmentado aka Ismael Pinkler from Carisma and Kompakt collaborator, Máximo Graesse Bondino.
Recorded during summer trips in Buenos Aires and spending autumn in Tromso, Norway between 2006 - 2010, Maximo and Ismael met several times during that period and used friends houses and studios to produce a long list of material, selecting later the best of it for this compilation.
The tracks are long and slow, with deep and moving beats and long background sounds dedicated to warm up dreamers and after hour survivors.
The elements develop their movements in a relaxed way through the tracks creating a loose feel. Every beat was played with their hands and there is no arpeggiated melodies to remind you where the ground is.
The release is complemented by a beautiful artwork by the supremely talented Glasgow-based artist, Rosie McGurn
Tucky Buzzard
The Complete Tucky Buzzard 5 Lp Slipcase Box Set
- Having Come To The End Of The Psychedelic Path, The End Decided On A Change Of Musical Direction And A Change Of Name,
Arising From The Ashes As Tucky Buzzard In 1970 And Retaining The Line-up Of Guitarist Terry Taylor, Organist Nicky Graham,
Drummer Paul Francis, Bassist Dave Brown, And Vocalist Jimmy Henderson.
- The First Album, Recorded With Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra Directed By Waldo De Los Rios, Contained Some Last Vestiges
Of The Band's Previous Existence. But The Second Album, Produced By Old Associate Bill Wyman With Glyn Johns At Olympic
Studios Set Out The Band's Template Of Bluesy Rock, A Leading Genre At The Dawn Of The 70s. Mick Taylor Makes A Guest
Appearance.
- For The Fourth And Fifth Albums, The Band Was Signed To Deep Purple's Own Purple Records. Bill Wyman Continued In The
Producer's Chair, But The Departing Nicky Graham Was Replaced With A Second Guitarist.
- Strictly Limited To 750 Copies, And Housed In A Numbered Rigid Slipcase Featuring Photos From The Collection Of Terry Taylor
(bill Wyman's Right Hand Man In The Rhythm Kings For The Last 25+ Years), All The Original Sleeves (including Two Gatefolds)
Are Faithfully Reproduced. The Inner Sleeves Feature Extensive Annotation By Alan Robinson Based On Interviews With The Band.
The rising London based label is quickly defining his own and unique sound laying down the law with another live jam recorded 4 tracks release by his own boss DOTHEDU.Following the success of the first release, Senseverse Records has came back with Lost Acids EP, a rough lost minded trip with an unusual sense of refinement. The producer lets the trip's curtain rise with Lost Acids which takes us to a gloomy hidden place on the edge of the house and techno roots with a banging 909 and crescendo 303 which dives smoothly into the background own producer's voice, Colombine Acids explores the happier stage of the trip and keeps the sound on the thin line in between the 2 genres with his fat kick and the flying and clashing crashes.
The B1 throws us right back deep into the dark with a slowed down and mentally twisted remix by the very well known producer Florian Kupfer. Finally Early Acids rings down the curtain's trip with some fine classic house music sonorities that lead us to a dreamy and dancy closing.
It has been exactly ten years since Finders Keepers Records rst liberated Luboš Fišer's immaculate soundtrack music for Valerie And Her Week Of Wonders (Valerie A Týden Divu) from the vaults of the Barrandov Studio in Prague. As the inaugural release of an ongoing discography of previously unreleased scores from the hugely creative 'Film Miracle' that occurred during and after the Czech New Wave (CNW), this score will always retain a special place in the heart of the label as well as our listeners who consistently request an updated repress of this signi cant vinyl milestone. Having grown in status from an obscure and misunderstood socialist-era art house oddity, via the hands of risqué foreign uff merchants, to nally nd its rightful audience as a bona de surrealist cinematic masterpiece of world class standards, this 1970 lm adaptation of Vítezslav Nezval's 1935 avant-garde novella (a lm that literally cross-pollinated Max Ernst's A Week Of Kindness and Lewis Carols Alice In Wonderland) has garnered widespread critical acclaim. Inspiring ongoing generations of visual artists, musicians, writers and lmmakers - all of whom regard this truly individualistic and inimitable surrealist lm poem to be an indelible in uence - Valerie continues to impregnate their daily artistic referential fabric.
A.g. Returns With All-start Cast, Featuring The Likes Of Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Alchemist And More. For This Album, He's On His A-game, From Beginning To End. Touching On Topics From The Hip Hop Biz, Street Tales And Political Hypocrisy. The Taste Of Ambrosia Is A Full Meal Serving For Mature Rap Devotees Who've Grown Tired Of Contemporary Rhymesayer Laziness. Joined By Guests Including Diamond D, A-bless And Thirstin Howl Iii, A.g. Backs Up His Claim That He Is Ill Enough To Paint His Own Portrait, And Illustrates And Vision Of Rap Immortality That Hardcore Heads And Fellow Legacy Mcs Alike Can Worship Eternally.
currently the rediscovery of long forgotten japanese electronic, jazz and new age music is at a peak like never before. but although many re-issues already flood the record stores around the world: the large, diverse musical culture of japan still got some gems in store that are really missing.
for example, it is still quiet around the the work of japanese bass player, new-age and ambient musi-cian motohiko hamase. when the today 66-years old artist started to be a professional musician in the 1970's, he quickly gained success as a versed studio instrumentalist and started to be part of the great modern jazz isao suzuki sextett, where he played with legends like pianist tsuyoshi yamamoto or fu-sion guitar one-off-a-kind kazumi watanabe.
he also was around in the studio when legendary japanese jazz records like 'straight ahead' of takao uematsu, 'moritato for osada' of jazz singer minami yasuda or 'moon stone' of synthesizer, piano and organ wizard mikio masuda been recorded.
in the 1980's hamase began to slowly drift away from jazz and drowned himself and his musical vision into new-age, ambient and experimental electronic spheres, in which he incorporated his funky medi-tative way of playing the bass above airy sounds and arrangements.
his first solo album 'intaglio' was not only a milestone of japanese new-age ambient, it was also fresh sonic journey in jazz that does not sound like jazz at all. now studio mule is happy to announce the re-recording of his gem from 1986, that opens new doors of perception while being not quite at all.
first issued by the japanese label shi zen, the record had a decent success in japan and by some overseas fans of music from the far east. with seven haunting, stylistically hard to pigeonhole compo-sitions hamase drifts around new-age worlds with howling wind sounds, gently bass picking and dis-creet drums, that sometimes remind the listener on the power of japanese taiko percussions. also, propulsive fourth-world-grooves call the tune and all composition avoid a foreseeable structure. at large his albums seem to be improvised and yet all is deeply composed.
music that works like shuffling through an imaginary sound library full of spiritual deepness, that even spreads in its shaky moments some profound relaxing moods. a true discovery of old music that oper-ates deeply contemporary due to his exploratory spirit and gently played tones. the release marks another highlight in studio mule's fresh mission to excavate neglected japanese music, that somehow has more to offer in present age, than at the time of his original birth.
out of Stock
Last delivered 11 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
As we celebrate the 25th year of V Recordings, it couldn't be a better time for another release from DJ Patife & Vangeliez. One of the OG's of Brazilian D&B Patife teams up with fellow countryman Vangeliez (formerly one half of Human Factor) once again. Fresh from their last single, as well as features on last year's very well received 'Viva Brazil' compilation released in conjunction with SUNANDBASS, this duo has definitely found their own lane!
* On 'Living Together' they link up with two of the most recognizable voices in the D&B, MC Fats and Stamina MC to create an uplifting summer anthem, that spreads the positivity of music across the globe. These two vocalists need little introduction, but in case you don't know, they are behind some of the most seminal moments in our genre's history, classics like Calibre's 'Drop It Down' , DJ Hype's 'Peace, Love & Unity, DJ Marky & XRS's 'LK', D Kay's 'Barcelona' and so the list could go on... Basically with the coming together of these four names you're in safe hands! 'On The Floor' continues to push a euphoric feeling, but adapts a sub low bass that could tear through any system!
* Teaming up with Manchester's finest for vocals on 'Ain't That Bad', the tracks follow in the vein of their previous collaboration on Soul-R, and DRS delivers a stellar vocal performance that brings the track to life, and is again full of good vibes, definitely something you can never have enough of! 'Unexpected' is dripping with original liquid vibes - think Carlito & Addiction, Calibre, D Bridge Big Bud, Solid State - with a 21st-century twist - one for the those who like it deep.
* Drum & Bass as a genre now has so many different sounds and styles, but one sound that has ridden the waves of fashions and emerged as timeless is on display here as the duo deliver 100% organic, funk-filled Drum & Bass music for the soul.
* LABEL MARKETING: Features on V Recordings Podcast, Dedicated newsletter to 85,000 V Recordings subscribers. 80,000+ Facebook reach through label controlled Facebook and Twitter. Press on websites across the globe.
Originally released digitally on Luke Solomon & Derrick Carter's Classic Music Company last summer; Girls of the Internet's deep-house-dub-techno-afro ballad 'When U Go' is now being pressed up to vinyl on RAMP Recordings. Since it's release, 'When U Go' has been burning up some of the more discerning dancefloors worldwide, with club support from DJ's as diverse as Mark Farina, Stacey Pullen, Eli Escobar, Oliver $, François K, Soul Clap, Roger Sanchez, Carl Craig, Booker T, Serverino, Riva Star, Doc Martin, Karizma, Marco Carola, Tensnake & Mousse T. Peckham's finest pervayers of Deep House, Bradley Zero approved duo FYI Chris, turn in an exclusive dubby West Coast-vibed remix of the track available only on this vinyl.
The B side is a brand new track from Girls of the Internet - 'Running' featuring Nattlie Maddix, of the House Gospel Choir. Mixing live instruments with synths and drum machines, 'Running' is a soulful yet driving disco tinged deep house track. To finish off this massive package, Local Action's Finn delivers a genre-straddling remix of 'Running'.
Goatherder is the seventh album from underground London producer Kristian Craig Robinson, AKA Capitol K. This ace manipulator of audio and punk warlord of groove has crossed a tapestry of styles and approaches with his own secret compass since 1998.
Along with everything from Chinese pop to the marching band music of the United Arab Emirates in his early musical vocabulary, the influence of rave, new wave, grunge, and noise-core would collide to create a bold new sound. His early studio experiments gave birth to his debut, Sounds of the Empire (Planet Mu, 1999) built upon a heady balance of samples and live sources that placed Capitol K at the forefront of the UK's electronic scene. The follow-up, 2002's Island Row, was released via XL Records, with lead single Pillow becoming a daytime Radio 1 crossover. Nomad Junk (2005) combined Asian field recordings into a vibrant psychedelic collage, while Notes From: Life On The Wire With A Wrecking Ball (2008) paid homage to London's squats and free anarchistic artistic spaces of which K was a part for many years. Andean Dub (2012) was an exploratory South American-influenced album of heavy synth laden cumbia sound system tracks.
The last seven years have seen Capitol K's stature as a producer elevated with his establishment of the renowned Total Refreshment Studio and recording work with musicians such as the Mercury Music prize nominated The Comet Is Coming, global dance act Ibibio Sound Machine (Merge), the pan-Arabic Flamingods (Moshi Moshi), Serafina Steer and her BAS JAN project, and contemporary folk artist Rozi Plain, among many more.
This latest work was developed and recorded in his native Malta, where he built a studio in a cave (a former goat stable). K gathered bamboo instruments collected around the world, including an ancient Quecha reeded pipe (his new-found lead instrument), and various resonating vessels and percussive objects including dry fennel storks collected from Punic troglodyte sites, and atonal flutes built from fresh cut farmland reed. Ritualistic improvisations took place over a series of seasonal visits, awakening genetic memory and plant communication.
Back in London the tracks were interfaced and expanded with post-industrial machine beat and bass guitar lock down. Homage is paid to New Age synthscapes, while a Spirit Jazz overtone arrives from K's recent years as the sonic muscle behind a plethora of luminous albums born in his Total Refreshment Studio. Goatherder follows on from the 2016 collaborative incarnation LOOSE MEAT and sonically abridges 2012's Capitol K album Andean Dub.
Outside of studio production and his solo repertoire as Capitol K, Kristian has toured as guest musician with multiple bands over the last 15 years, including Brazil's Cibelle (Crammed Discs), Archie Bronson Outfit (Domino) (whom he also co-produced), and recently Du Blonde (Mute Records).
His last project, Loose Meat, was a collaborative album of poetic dance music received lots of radio play in the UK and toured across the country for a year, performing a number of festivals.
He established the Faith and Industry record label which handled his subsequent releases and through which now he releases a number of other artists that he develops and produces.
The music on this EP was conceived in China, between 1989 and 1993. The original tracks were mixed to DAT in real time, in a small neighbour-proof studio inside my apartment in Macau, a 19th floor with a view to the hurricanes. There's a small, unexpected or improbable story behind each track, some little magic fused with the local atmosphere, certainly guaranteeing their lasting authenticity 25 years later.
TAIPEI DISCO
Late 80s Guangzhou was an exotic city where the traditional past coexisted in harmony with the present and even already with the future.
I'd rather spend my weekends in Guangzhou than diving into Hong Kong consumerism - as most ex-pats in Macau did. I took a cab at the border and travelled 150 Km through chaotic roads with family and friends until reaching the hot, humid, mega South China metropolis.
We ate on street joints in the evenings, went on to a karaoke bar and ended up at Taipei Disco, the only proper club in town. All the others were inside hotels and played generic music or they were seedy, sleazy, smoky cabarets.
Taipei Disco used to be a cinema and played cantonese pop music and anglo-saxon pop/rock (that was new). The spacious dance floor was generously lighted, the atmosphere was airy and modern. Boys and girls were in the habit of dancing in pairs, one in front of the other, observing a respectful yet sensual distance. When the girl took a few steps back, the boy went along and vice versa. With legs and feet (more than the upper bodies) synchronized with the music, they never exceeded in extroversion. Cool.
I always carried a MicroComposer and a portable DAT recorder in my travels through China and weekends in Canton. Any spontaneous musical idea was imediately recorded and memorized. The MicroComposer allowed multitrack recording, which was very handy on the road. Based on the emphatic choreography of Taipei Disco's dancers, i started to compose a rhythm track while sitting at a table, with headphones, listening to Cantopop in the background. As if by magic - not a rare occasion in music - everything began fitting together. Odd as it may seem, the track ended up sounding more germanic (Kraftwerkian) than Cantonese pop.
The story ends in a circle: the cantonese DJ at Taipei Disco, whom i used to ask to play certain records, wanted to play my music at the disco when it was basically only just a rhythm track and little else. From a cupboard under his set up he took out a battered keyboard (unrecognizable brand) and invited me to play over the track with the available sounds on the keyboard. The circle was complete, with Cantonese clubbers happily dancing forwards and backwards, as if it were another Cantopop hit.
I didn't get payed but the house offered us free ice cream cups in which little Portuguese flags were sticked.
The track would be finished later, in studio, with vocoder strings ensemble and synth solos.
TAIPEI DISCO (LIVE)
The live version of 'Taipei Disco' was recorded during a live set at the China Pop venue, in Macau, 1993. China Pop was a rock club built in the ample space of an old fishing warehouse, located in the labyrinthic Inner Harbour area. It was decorated with large Mao Zedong and Cultural Revolution posters and memorabilia and had a unique atmosphere, fusing Pop Art with film noir. We began our performance at 1AM, pretty early for Macau's nightlife standards. We were lucky. An audience showed up. And in Macau there were always several friends among the audience, which tranformed a musical performance into a relaxed party.
The atmosphere was particularly surreal on that night. The front row was dominated by French Crazy Horse dancers, a sort of Oriental Moulin Rouge. The girls had finished their last performance of the evening at the Crazy Horse and were still energized from their show. During our performance, right in front of us and perfectly synched, we could hear the famous irreverent screams of can-can dancers. You always had to expect the unexpected in Macau.
RED MAMBO (IMPROMPTU)
I was familiar with the Portuguese-speaking African countries well before having lived in China. I found myself returning several times to one in particular, always attracted by its magic and very distinct, identitary culture and music: Cape Verde.
During the early years of DWART a lot of the inspiration for drum machine rhythms (Roland's TR series) came from African music, especially from new musical trends that gained full autonomy with Cape Verde's independence from Portugal, as was the case with funaná.
I had the privilege of having known and befriended some of the greatest Capeverdian composers, musicians and singers during the 70s and 80s, such as Bana, Luís Morais, Cesária Évora, Paulino Vieira, Chico Serra, Tito Paris, and historical bands such as Bulimundo (ambassadors of funaná) and Os Tubarões (great innovators of morna, coladera and funaná, with the sonic impact of an afro-beat big band).
When Luís Filipe de Barros began playing Os Tubarões for the first time on Portuguese radio, that was the turning point for African music in Portugal. The 'Tabanca' album was so widely heard and talked about that it quickly got a Portuguese release through one of the big labels of the time.
The mystic of this band from the Santiago Island would reach the East. Os Tubarões played to a packed room in Macau in 1992, and after the bombastic gig we arranged a dinner and party at my place.
We ate and drank generously and the moment came for a jam session at the small studio on the 19th floor. Because Os Tubarões didn't all fit in the studio, we recorded an impromptu with only three of the musicians: Tótó Silva (electric guitar), Mário Russo Bettencourt (bass) and Zeca Couto (piano). And there we were improvising without barriers, suddenly detached from cultural roots, labels and constraints, a truly unique moment. The track is now being released exactly as it was recorded, imbued with the real communion between the musicians. And it could only be titled 'Red Mambo'. I wish to dedicate it to the memory of Ildo Lobo and Jaime do Rosário, founders of Os Tubarões, sadly and too soon departed from the land of music.
For this EP, Jófríður Ákadóttir has re-recorded some of the finest songs from her bands and solo-projects (JFDR, Samaris, Pascal Pinon) with new string arrangements. These versions have a simple, inherent beauty that is juxtaposed with their seething, stark intensity.
To replace the original arrangements with strings was originally planned as a one-off event: When preparing a Pascal Pinon performance in Portugal, Jófríður asked NYC-based composer Ian Davis to help her re-arrange four tracks. After the show Jófríður realized that the material deserved to be captured.
The featured songs were chosen from the repertoire of JFDR (her solo project) and Pascal Pinon (the duo she forms with her sister Ásthildur). There were no objective selection criteria: - I chose the songs that called for strings, songs that I was interested in continuing their story', Jófríður says. - Making this EP was meant to cast new light onto old bodies, to explore what is song and what is arrangement'. Indeed, the arrangements establish a fresh perspective on the selected songs (except for - My Work' - as the track will appear on a forthcoming JFDR album). Being freed from genre, these versions also expose JFDR's voice and its dynamics— the absence of beats gives her vocal performance new possibilities.
The EP was recorded live in a studio in Reykjavík, where Jófríður was joined by producer Albert Finnbogason, her sister Ásthildur (additional vocals and piano) and a string quintet. Ian Davis also made it to the recording sessions and brought two new transcriptions: - I wanted to have moments of clear simplicity juxtaposed with more dense, experimental passages. Sometimes the strings are just holding root notes and simple chords and other times they open up into more contrapuntal and textural moments', Ian explains. As a result, you'll find both moments of modest beauty as well as intensely seething passages. Even if Jófríður's voice clearly is the main attraction here, this EP - as she emphazises herself - is a collective work of those involved: - Trusting your collaborators is the truest gift'.
Mid last century. Commercial Music is a machine that generates dances that run each other over in the urge to reach the audiences and mark their place in time and history.
A never-ending list of choreographies co-habit: hully gully, madison, rock, limbo, twist and a long etcetera, until a new dance, bossa nova takes over the dance floors. Joao Gilberto, Tom Jobim or Vinicius de Moraes reach stardom in Brazil with this mix of samba and jazz, but the genre doesn't explode internationally until a few American jazzmen decide to import it. From there it reaches Europe, via France, thanks to Sacha Distel, the first on the continent to record an EP completely dedicated to this phenomenon.
It is 1962.
Shortly after in Spain, the number of artists including original or adapted tracks in their albums, escalate: Tony Vilaplana, Mina, Duo Dinámico, Latin Combo, Los 4 Brujos, Gina Baró, Grau Carol, Salomé or Marisol, who popularizes the new trend by recording 'Marisol rumbo a Río', a blockbuster film partially filmed in Brazil. The maestro Augusto Algueró writes the films soundtrack.
For this compilation we have consciously dug into the archives of three Barcelona based labels like Belter, Discophon and Olympo to serve Spanish sung bossa nova songs that have never, inexplicably, been released on vinyl, all songs are recorded during those two (musically speaking) prodigious decades: the twentieth centuries sixties and seventies.
You'd Think That Following "melodies Of Love" Would Be An Impossible Task. Not So, If You Happen To Be Genius Brit-funk Pioneers John Rocca And Andy Stennett. On Their More Understated - Yet, Pound For Pound, Stronger - Second Record, Pink Rhythm Stretched Out To Create A 4 Track Ep Of Richly Melodic, Exquisite Beauty. In The Process, They Trumped Their Most Well-known Release.
Cruising On A Funk-fuelled Journey From The Swaggering Title Track, Via The Blue-eyed Soul Of "trust Me", To The Stabbing Staccato Synth Heat Of "more And More" And Back Again ("india" Dub) This Ep Has Essential Seared Onto Its Substantial Grooves.
The Long Now is a duo featuring Richard Norris and Finnur Bjarnason, with special guests. They mix piano, voice, string section and electronics with the sound of the Icelandic breeze. The music sits within the post ambient, electronic, contemporary classical genre, with a strong sense of landscape, mood and melody. Richard Norris One half of the Grid, alongside Soft Cell's Dave Ball, one half of Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve with Erol Alkan... Richard Norris has a thing about working as a duo. With many productions and remixes under his belt, including tracks for Warpaint, Brian Eno, Tame Impala and many more, Richard brings an electronic sensibility to the Long Now. He has a long term passion for ambient, electronic, drone, soundtrack and modern classical music. Finnur Bjarnason Finnur Bjarnason is an Icelandic musician whose background is in classical music. Having trained to be an opera singer, rst in his native Reykjavík and later at the Guildhall School of Music and National Opera Studio in London, he then pursued an international career as an operatic tenor for over a decade, appearing in many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, singing everything from Montiverdi to Wagner to modern opera. As he has become ever more interested in where the boundaries between musical worlds get blurry, and particularly how the sound world of 'acoustic' singing world could best intersect with electronic music, he has begun an earnest exploration of the 'other side'. The Long Now play the Blue Dot Festival on Sat July 21st, with more dates to follow. The performance will be accompanied by a lm by BAFTA award winning director Kieran Evans, recently shot in Iceland. The band are currently preparing an album and series of live performances featuring piano, voice, electronics and string quintet.
Confused Machines' are excited to release an E.P by the composer and producer Ishai Adar (aka Oosh). Adar started his musical journey in the mid 80's as the keyboard player of the legendary Israeli post-punk band 'Nosei Hamigbaat', together with his high school friend Ohad Fishof.After his withdrawal from the band, he released 'Her': An innovative, experimental, electronic dance album, rare in the Israeli music scene of the late 90's. In this album, he fused 80's synth-pop influences ('Depeche Mode', etc.) with a cutting edge techno sound, which still sounds up to date. This album influenced the local underground electronic music scene of the late 90's.Following the album 'Her', Adar became a prominent composer and created soundtracks for motion pictures such as: 'Year Zero' (2004), Oscar-nominated 'Beaufort' (2007), 'A Film Unfinished' (2010), 'Bethlehem' (2013) and 'Mr. Gaga' (2015).In his current project '12', Adar revisits the synth-pop sounds which shaped his musical taste. He infuses profoundness and character to musical genres such as new-wave, Italo-disco, Euro-pop and contemporary dance music forming - multi-layered, euphoric and romantic melodies. A killer acid-techno remix of the track 12 by the legendary Rude 66 is included in the E.P.
The Disco music fever was also present in the Rumba and Flamenco scene of Spain in the late '70s / early '80s. Producers, sound engineers and studio musicians, collaborated closely with flamenco / rumba singers and bands, highlighting the productions that genius Josep Llobell did for the Belter label in Barcelona. Here you got 12 disco-rumba-flamenco bombs, a time machine to the boites and discotheques of the late 70s and the perfect soundtrack to an imaginary Kinki' cinema soundtrack.
Featuring Sangre Gitana, Rumba 3, Tobago, Los Gachós, La Marelu, El Turronero...
Insert with liner notes by Txarly Brown and photos.
The 2nd Release On 823, A Creative Project Founded By Ta-ku, Is Featuring The Label Debut Of Portland Wunderkind Quickly, Quickly.
823 Is Also The Numerical Representation Of The Phrase 'thinking Of You'. It Represents The Appreciation For The People/ideas/places That Inspire Us And Push Us Forward. As A Label We Are Proud To Present A Series Of Musical Releases That Showcase The Artists Musical & Visual Endeavors. The Artwork Is Shot By The Artist Themselves & Each Release Has An Accompanying Photo Zine That Acts As A Visual Story That Compliments The Music They Wrote At That Time.
There's A Maturity To The Sound Of Portland, Oregon-based Producer Quickly, Quickly That Makes It Difficult To Believe He's Just 17 Years Old. Using Elements Of Jazz, Hip Hop, And R&b, Quickly, Quickly Weaves A Tapestry Of Wispy Productions That Feel Equally Inspired By The Dusty Drums Of Early '90s Boom Bap As They Do By The Whimsical Electronics Of Head-turning Contemporaries Like Tennyson. Taking Over On Vocals, Bass, Drums, And Piano, He Offers Insight Into A Greater Understanding Of Musicality, There's Time Devoted To Each Audible Layer And It Shows.
Ta-ku:
graham First Caught My Eye With His Film Photography - It Was Only Co-incidental That He Also Made World Class Sounds & Made Me Ever So Jealous With His Musical Talent At Such A Young Age. Graham Is One Of Those Wunderkinds That Have Managed To Create Such A Strong Musical Identity For Himself And Makes It Look So Effortless. Graham Is The Reason Why I Started 823. He Is The Epitome Of Someone Who Embodies That Free Flowing Creative Energy That Needs To Be Showcased To The World!
Music Has Always Been A Part Of Quickly, Quickly's Life, As He Started Playing Piano When He Was Two Years Old. This Love Of Music Shaped His Young Life And Created A Solid Musical Foundation For Future Efforts. In 5th Grade Quickly, Quickly Found Hip-hop, Citing Common Market, J Dilla, Blue Scholars, And The Pharcyde As Early Influences. With His Love Of Hip-hop And Early Musical Background, It Seemed Only Right That Quickly Would Begin To Produce His Own Music.
Having Now Made Beats For Around Six Years, Quickly, Quickly Is Producing At The Top Of His Game. The Production On His Debut Ep over Skies' Is As Easy-going As It Is Complex, And The Fact That There Are No Samples On The Ep Makes It All The More Impressive. Inspired Heavily By The Sky And The Many Forms It Takes, This Ep Blends Genres And Crosses Musical Borders With Ease.
Seth Troxler & The Martinez Brothers' Tuskegee Music welcomes Chicago legend K- Alexi Shelby for a new EP that features some essential solo cuts as well as two great collaborations with Tony Lovlesss.K-Alexi is a genuine Chicago great. He's been at the core of the scene since the eighties and releasing his raw grooves on DJ International, Trax and Transmat, as well as his own K Klassik label. He has recently remixed for Seth Troxler's other label, Say It Play It, but is now back serving up the sort of engaging originals that have made him such an enduring star.
Excellent opener 'Cherry K Moon' is a raw slice of deep and soulful tech. The driving bassline melts your mind as afro percussion and driving drums make for a solid groove below. It's one for the late-night hours that will twist and turn any crowd inside out. The superb 'Dark Smile' is less tense and more house oriented in nature, with preacher style vocals up top and busy kicks down low. Live, chattery hand claps bring an organic feel and synth stabs inject looseness that will get hands in the air.
The pressure then builds through the manic Tony Lovlesss collab 'Anal Probe', a powerful techno track with hi tech drums and taught synths freaking you out as they ride up and down the scale. Their second track together 'Fly Shit' is more playful with radiant synths opening it up to the skies and lively, funky drum programming bringing a real sense of a sun kissed terrace party. Last of all, the standout 'Run With Jackals' feat. A.D.M is another heavily percussive track with rattling toms, vocal chants and hammering hits all adding up to a compelling afro-house rhythm. These are all innovate tracks that explore various different moods and grooves with a real sense of quality.
After introducing Griffit Vigo 'the Gqom legend' on the Originators EP on Gqom Oh! Records back in February with the percussive anthem Ree's Vibe and the historical track featured on MTV Base Gqom Nation documentary "Gqom 5 - Gqom Oh! is finally ready to release Griffit Vigo's first solo single 'DJ' on a 7" vinyl, with on the b-side another Gqom viral Durban track coming from the numeric series "Gqom 6. Griffit Vigo, a real innovator in the Gqom genre who grew up in Clermont and started to produce music around 2007, has attained a legendary status amongst his peers as he was one of the originators of gqom, inventing sounds as Umshanelo (meaning broom in Zulu) and chopping vocals that everybody then started to sample. Many of his beats were appropriated or sampled, so now the time has finally come for him to show his talent and unique style and inspire the listeners in the same way he inspired everyone in Durban. This single introduces his forthcoming album on Gqom Oh!, to be released in September/October 2018 entitled 'Gqom is Alive'. As the Gqom sound has massively changed in the past year, taking over South Africa and the world, also by evolving into a more commercial-focused and melodic branch which derives from Sgubhu, Griffit Vigo's intention is to keep the original Gqom sound as pure and authentic as it was when it was first birthed whilst still pushing the sound forward in the future.
Meet Me On The Corner is taken from the band's sophomore album, Orange Whip, which itself was BBC 6Music's Album of The Day on its release. It follows previous singles Whatever You Do and Sinner, which garnered support from Craig Charles, Tom Ravenscroft and Huey Morgan. The song showcases Honeyfeet at their funkiest and chunkiest. A pounding beat beefed up by bass, guitar and brass propels forward while Rioghnach Connolly sings lyrics that could be straight out of the playground, but suggest something deeper, possibly mystical even, in its demands for a dalliance on the street.
Remixes on this more foot friendly single come courtesy of homegrown legends of funky house music, Crazy P who come through with both a vocal and dub version. Honeyfeet's latest opus is turned into a straight up soulful disco monster by the boys from Nottingham, with Rioghnach's rasping vocals playfully meandering over Hot Toddy and Ron Basejam's crisp beats and trademark live bass. Elsewhere, much hyped Russian production don, I Gemin, delivers his take - still aimed at the dance floor of course, but a slightly deeper house affair based around jazzy keys and chopped up vocals that take the song into more sonorous territories.
As a bonus, the 12" package also features the acclaimed remix of previous single, Sinner, courtesy of erstwhile Polish Innocent Sorceror, Envee - his shuffling, moody take only previously being available on vinyl via a super limited (and now impossible to find) 7-inch release late last year. For the last couple of years Honeyfeet (whose name comes from a line in the Blues Brothers film) have been a conduit for the ideas and expressions of an exotic mixture of Manchester based musicians. This genre-defying band incorporate styles including jazz, folk and hip hop into their music.
The band are fronted by Rioghnach Connolly - also known for her work with Real World artists Afro Celt Sound System and The Breath - "A remarkable singer and flutist who...can ease from Irish traditional influences to soul" (The Guardian). The line-up is completed by Rik Warren (vocals/harmonica), Gus Fairbairn (tenor sax), Biff Roxby (trombone/vocals), Ellis Davies (guitar), Lorien Edwards (bass guitar), John Ellis (keyboards) and David Schlechtriemen (drums).
Since their self-released debut album, 2013's It's a Good Job I Love You, keyboardist John Ellis jumped on board as full-time member, bringing his unique musical presence. This enabled the development of a more texturally adventurous style, as witnessed with the dual atonal solo between himself and guitarist Ellis Davies on Sinner. Similarly, for their current LP, Orange Whip, engineer, bassist and spiritual guide Lorien Edwards makes his Honeyfeet recording debut, so completing the 'kitchen' of this very special band.
Originally recorded and privately pressed in 1973 on Jazz-Men records, featuring Leon Ndugu Chancler (Drums), James MTUME (Congas) and Larry Nash (Piano), Bobby Rodriguez leads this
stellar line up to perform the seminal 16 minute Latin variation of Freddie Hubbard's 'Little Sunflower'.
This extremely rare and sought after record is re-released for the first time on 180g Virgin Vinyl and presented in heavy weight 'tip-on' sleeves. Pressed and produced in the UK, using the mastering genius of Frank Merritt (Carvery Studios) and cut on the original Neumann Lathe used by Motown Records. Covered in heavy weight 'tip-on' sleeves and presented in screen printed paper counter bags with foil seals. Strictly limited to 1,000 hand numbered pieces, this special collector's edition will be available
through the Jazz Detective Records website and from select records stores worldwide for a limited time
To coincide with the release of their eagerly awaited debut album Gate Of Grief (now due out on 20 July), US dark electronic outfit WHITE RING release a double AA side 7' single of the two lead tracks on the album 'Leprosy' and 'Nothing'. Blending heavy, distorted electronics with eerie, unsettling vocals they push the boundaries further, subverting genre ideas and mashing them all together, with industrial, metal, rave, chopped and screwed, rap, grunge, neo folk, post punk and new wave all in the mix
'Leprosy' is brooding, abrasive and ethereal all at once, the track draws from a varied and challenging palette, steeped in existential dread. It was the first song they wrote for the album and features the vocals of co-founding member Kendra Malia. As Bryan Kurkimilis explains; 'This song was the first time we really wanted to start exploring aggression in our music.'
'Nothing' is underpinned by gothic 80s beats and sinister synth bass-lines. It crackles and fizzes with arcade bleeps with wraith-like melodies floating over the top. In this song, nothing is true and everything is permitted. It features the first collaboration with newcomer Adina Viarengo, who added her vocals in 2016 to the existing instrumental track that Bryan Kurkimilis created for the first set of WHITE RING demos in 2009.
WHITE RING were originally formed by Bryan Kurkimilis and Kendra Malia, before they were joined by Adina Viarengo, with Bryan and Adina currently touring as a duo. Gate Of Grief arrives a full eight years since their benchmark EP, Black Earth That Made Me, which sold out almost instantly, making their records some of the most highly sought after on the underground scene and earning them a cult following across the globe.
Swerving from aggressively abrasive to beautifully ethereal, musically they draw from varied and challenging palette, whilst tackling themes of loss and acceptance due to struggles with drug addiction and existential dread on a broader scope.
Dwelling on the outskirts of pop music, WHITE RING grew up in the age of the internet and were exposed to a huge range of music. They have developed a unique style while pushing the boundaries of accessibility and musical genre. They have created a piece of art that is brimming with symbolism and underlying tensions, that seduces and scares in equal measure.
Two Words is the debut release from the duo of Canadian sound artist crys cole and Australian songwriter Francis Plagne. Building on a series of experimental live performances in which the pair toyed with possible common languages for their seemingly unrelated approaches to music, the LP's two sides present a single piece that brings together abstract texture and slow-motion song in a sonic space where genre cedes to the logic of dreams.
The piece begins with a long, nearly static sequence built primarily from rubbed surfaces, using movement in the stereo field and changing mic placements to create a unified but unstable sonic environment that mimics wind, water, and breath, opening an impossible space between nature and artifice. This artificial outdoors ultimately makes room for Plagne's electric organ, which sounds a series of melancholic chords to accompany a wandering Wyatt-esque keyboard line as cole's intimate contact mic textures sizzle and pop in the foreground.
From here the piece makes a surprise detour into song, as the majority of the second side finds Plagne intoning a series of obtuse two word phrases (from a text by Berlin-based poet Marty Hiatt) to an austere organ accompaniment. Working closely with engineer and producer Joe Talia, cole and Plagne extend the studio-as-an-instrument tradition of Teo Macero and This Heat, introducing subtle yet unexpected production shifts that lead the listener from the initial austerity of the organ and voice to an oneiric space of asynchronised vocal doubles, creaking textures, and distant whistling, ultimately arriving at something like an imagined meeting of Organum and Arthur Russell.
Packaged in a suitably mysterious sleeve featuring a lush work by Australian painter Anne Wallace on the front and text by Hiatt on the back, Two Words is both comforting and strange, a disorienting blend of seemingly discrepant elements.
A Certain Ratio Stammen Aus Manchester. Sie Wurden Von Dem New Order Manager Rob Gretton 1979 Entdeckt Und Bei Dem Legendären Label Factory Unter Vertrag Genommen. In Dem Spielfilm 24 Hour Party People Bringt Es Factory-label-manager Tony Wilson Auf Diesen Nenner: having All The Energy Of Joy Division But Better Clothes'. Jedenfalls Sollten A Certain Ratio Sollten Später Weitere Acts Wie Quando Quango Und Swing Out Sister Hervorgehen. Dennoch Existiert Die Band Bis Zum Heutigen Tag. Ihr Post-punk Sound Ist Weniger Puristisch Angelegt Als Der Ihrer Zeitgenossen, Öffneten Sich A Certain Ratio Doch Auch Genres Wie Dub, Disco, Funk Und Soul.
- change The Station Von 1997 Wurde Ursprünglich Auf Rob´s Records Veröffentlicht, Dem Label Des New Order Managers Rob Gretton. Soul-pop Trifft Auf Die Ambient-electronica Dieser Dekade.
"Oozing.. oozing soul, oozing feel, oozing the essence of rhythm and the body. This is what Elbee Bad is about. A native New Yorker who has long since transplanted himself in Berlin, Elbee Bad AKA The Prince of Dance is back on Thema Recordings with a masterclass mini album that will resonate for years to come. "Crossing Dimensions" is more than just a record, it is a philosophy on turntablism and what it means to be engaged in this culture. Sitting comfortably on the shelf next to artists like Mr. G, Moodymann, and DJ Sprinkles, Elbee recalls this genuine house feeling while adding a spice that could only be summoned out of his creative nuance. From the anthemic knowledge of "Request Monster" to the bass blistering sonnets of "Crossing Dimensions", Elbee showcases the sound of an artist who is deeply in touch with himself, the crowd, and the history of this music. No filler, no bullshit, just truth, love, and HOUSE.
Text by: Nathan Levenson"
