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Through 35 hedonistic highlights stretched across three volumes, Music For The Radical Xenomaniac delivers the first ever deep dive into The Netherlands’ colourful house sound of the 90s and the under-celebrated producers and record labels whose music soundtracked a countrywide cultural movement.

Plenty of books and documentaries have celebrated the riotous raves, legendary clubs, high profile DJs and promoters who shaped The Netherlands’ hedonistic house scene throughout the 90s. Music For The Radical Xenomaniac dares to challenge these narratives by shining a light, for the first time, on those who created the scene’s kaleidoscopic, game-changing and globally influential soundtrack.

Leading the charge were a disparate group of key creators who not only forged links with their counterparts in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, but also became celebrated figures on the worldwide electronic underground (Eric Nouhan, Aad De Mooy, Orlando Voorn, Stefan Robbers and Steve Rachmad). Alongside key underground imprints (Stealth Records, Basic Energy, ESP, Prime and Outland Records included) and lesser-known producers, these pioneers gave flavour to a radical musical movement via open-mindedness, unheard-of creativity and a genuinely futuristic ethos. All of these artists and labels are represented throughout the series.

So, what defined this hedonistic house sound from The Netherlands? Stylistically, it was varied – as the series so emphatically proves – but was defined by a set of distinctive sonic characteristics: emotive musical motifs, high-frequency synth sounds, mellow basslines, pulsating rhythms and more than a touch of hallucinatory intent.

Volume 3 is packed with in-demand tracks and hard-to-find gems, including a previously CD-only cut from Dutch techno originator Orlando Voorn (1999’s ‘Still’), a genuine rave classic from The Hague by hardcore DJ Charly Lownoise as Fluxland, and a killer cut from prolific producer – and genuinely influential pioneer – Aad De Mooy AKA D-Shake. He’s represented on this volume by Paradise 3001 cut ‘Surfin The Cuban Waves’, which first appeared on ESP Records in 1993.

Other highlights include Direct Movement’s ‘Natural Chemistry’, a sought-after slow house cut produced by Dennis Buné, who had an enormous impact on the Dutch house scene as Jaimy, and ‘Delphi (Rewaxed)’ by NYX, a highly regarded and hard to find single from former new wave and synth-pop producer Bart Barten, and occasional studio partner Hanz Meyer.

Packed full of forward-thinking 90s gems remastered for today’s dance floors by Alden Tyrell, Music For The Radical Xenomaniac Volume 3 is a life-affirming celebration of a distinctly Dutch musical movement, whose rich textures and melodies are still inspiring new generations of DJs and dancers today.

Gotthard Gründer und Gitarrist Leo Leoni und seine Bandkollegen präsentieren ihren Fans das erste CoreLeoni Livealbum. Die Songs zu "Alive" wurden im März 2022 im Rahmen der "Rock Generation Tour 2022" aufgenommen.

"Alive" ist die reine Rock & Roll-Quintessenz welche viele der frühen Gotthard- und aktuellen CoreLeoni Hits vereint, wie "Standing in The Light", "Firedance", "Purple Dynamite", "Let Life Begin Tonight" und viele mehr.
Die Band liefert auf der Bühne 100 % Energie und Erfahrung ab. Sänger Gent Bushpepa versteht das Publikum mit seiner einzigartigen Persönlichkeit, seinen Fähigkeiten und seiner Technik zu überzeugen, indem er die Songs, die wir alle lieben, respektvoll interpretiert.

Jgor Gianola, ehemaliger U.D.O- und Gotthard Gitarrist, hat die Zeit zurückgedreht, um sich perfekt an den einzigartigen Stil von Leo und Gotthard anzupassen. Er verbindet unvergessliche Erinnerungen, musikalische Kompetenz und Sounds, die sowohl alte als auch neue Fans zu begeistern wissen.

Schlagzeuger Alex Motta und Bassist Mila Merker vervollständigen den CoreLeoni Sound mit unschlagbarem Groove und Energie und halten so den Motor der Band auf kraftvolle Weise am laufen.

Nach drei international hochgelobten Studioalben, ist "Alive" das Sahnehäubchen für alle, die die frühen Gotthard und den klassischen CoreLeoni-Sound lieben.

Composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey continues her story by writing
and recording Bewitched, her second album. Inspired by jazz greats and classical masters
while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century
twentysomething, Bewitched represents an expansion of Laufey’s sonic palette. Tracks like
the breezy bossa nova cut “From The Start” and the smoldering string-assisted ballad
“Promise” have classic songcraft and intricate arrangements that make them feel instantly
timeless, while Laufey’s conversational lyrics give her music a relatability to the next
generation of jazz, pop, and classical aficionados.

SHARAKTAH ist in einem winzigen Dorf in Norddeutschland aufgewachsen und diesem schnell entwachsen. Seit seiner frühen Jugend macht der 24 Jährige Musik und schreibt Texte, damals noch im Schuppen seines Opas, mittlerweile in seiner neuen Wahlheimat Hamburg. Seine Songs sind kleine Hymnen seiner Generation, mit denen er nahbare Geschichten erzählt und mit seinen melancholischen, zerrissenen Texten und seinem Sound - der die Tür zu einer Welt aus Hip Hop und Grunge, Rap und verzerrten Gitarren öffnet - die aktuelle Stimmung wie den Nagel auf den Kopf trifft.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of "TOUCH," a selection of sought-after tracks produced by Yuji Ohno, one of the most revered producers and arrangers on the Nippon music scene. His blend of Jazz, Space Funk and Disco have long been highly sought-after by DJs around the world and we've been given unique access to the Nippon Columbia vaults and to Mr. Ohno himself to come with a versatile selection from his 70s body of work, all bearing his uniquely recognisable sound. The set includes works with singers Nanako Sato, Hatsumi Shibata and Ken Tanaka alongside tracks from his cult anime soundtracks for "Lupin III" and "Captain Future." Approved by Yuji Ohno himself, "Touch" was remastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia and features liner notes by Nick Luscombe in conversation with the maestro and artwork by Optigram's Manuel Sepulveda.

Born in Atami in 1941, Yuji Ohno started learning the piano at a young age and formed his own band during his teenage years, getting into Jazz in the process. After high school, he entered the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo and played in the revered university big band alongside two other pianists, Masahiko Sato and Hirosama Suzuki, who would have an illustrious career in their own right. After University, Ohno became a professional musician and started playing with the new wave of Japanese Jazz musicians forming his own trio and recording with the likes of Hideo Shiraki, Terumasa Hino and Masahiko Togashi from 1967 onwards.

At the turn of the 60s, Ohno started to veer away from the Jazz scene as he realised, as told to Nick Luscombe that "the jazz music being played by the Japanese at the time was only chasing the cutting edge, and was ignoring the roots and origins of jazz." Ohno therefore shifted his efforts to film and TV and also to producing artists for various Japanese labels, becoming one of the most in-demand composers, arrangers and producers in Japan. This is when Ohno developed his unique sound across a wide variety of styles. More than anything else, he got renowned for his anime soundtracks, particularly with the Lupin III series - represented here by the superbly funky "Silhouette" - which made his fame in Japan

Whether it's jazz, funk, disco or Pop, the "Ohno Sound" is unmissable both in terms of melodies and arrangements, on a par with those of such legends as Quincy Jones and Michel Legrand. Ohno's melodies are sophisticated yet accessible and there's a great sense of space in his productions especially when it comes to slow-burning grooves as heard on "Kirameku Inner Space" from the cult anime soundtrack "Captain Future" or "The Soaring Seagull" from the sought-after 1975 album "Electro Keyboard Orchestra." This album was recorded with seven fellow musicians including Kentaro Haneda and Ohno's old friend, Masahiko Sato and using twenty Korg synths to create a unique blend of futuristic jazz funk. "The Soaring Seagull" could be the perfect embodiment of Ohno's signature sound when it comes to instrumentals. The producer was however equally at ease with producing lush disco extravaganzas such as "Subterranean Futari Botchi" by Nanako Sato or "I Wish You Love" by Hatsumi Shibata, a revamp of Charles Trenet classic, both colourful and glitzy.

Ohno's versatility is on display here with a couple of jazz vocal tracks, "Speak Low" by Ann Young accompanied by the Yuji Ohno Trio and Mieko Hirota's fast and furious "I Want to Be Happy" while he also excelled at crafting gorgeous mellow songs such as Ken Tanaka's "Lilac-gai No Aki" and Hatsumi Shibata's "Mouichido Kikasete" closing the selection on a perfect note. "Touch" is just a tiny selection from Yuji Ohno's immense body of work and it will hopefully open the ears of Japanese music lovers to one of the most important musician, producer and arrangers of his generation.

The first release of Clinical Records is here! This brand new label combines repressing old gems with newly produced tracks by upcoming producers that are inspired by the sound from back in the day that we all like!

The A side is originally from Sleepwalker, 1 out of 3 from the trio Boom Generation. Both of the tracks were originally release in 1992!

A1 - Saying Hi There is an energetic, upbeat track with a driving bassline that will get any party going.

A2 - Fruitface comes with an infectious groove and old school stabs which are perfect for any warmup set.

B1 - Push Me Up is from new artist Ben Diggins and combines a heavy sub with groovy piano chords and a steady groove, one for the house heads!

B2 - Loosduinseweg is from Boss Priester, an artist that is really making way for himself. He puts a new touch to old school sounds with a groove to die for, a must have!

Composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey continues her story by writing and recording Bewitched, her second album. Inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twentysomething, Bewitched represents an expansion of Laufey’s sonic palette.

Tracks like the breezy bossa nova cut “From The Start” and the smoldering string-assisted ballad “Promise” have classic songcraft and intricate arrangements that make them feel instantly timeless, while Laufey’s conversational lyrics give her music a relataility to the next generation of jazz, pop, and classical aficionados.

Having tackled the music of KRAFTWERK on their 2022 album "The Twang Machine", THE ROUTES have applied their sound (described by IGGY POP as "beat-you-to-death surf music" on his BBC Radio 6 show) to the genius of PETE SHELLEY and BUZZCOCKS.

"Reverberation Addict" sees fifteen BUZZCOCKS- songs reimagined and rearranged as 60s surf guitar instrumental bangers (a la THE VENTURES, DICK DALE, TERAUCHI TAKESHI, LINK WRAY, THE SURFARIS and THE ASTRONAUTS and more). Prepare to be taken on a wild musical trip where "Orgasm Addict" and "Fast Cars" are transformed into the background music of a 60s drag race movie, "Just Lust" is presented all "Hey Bo Diddley!", and "What Do I Get" gets the ENNIO MORRICONE inspired spaghetti western treatment...

You don't have to be a fan of BUZZCOCKS to enjoy these tunes, and likewise if you're a BUZZCOCKS- fan you don't need to be a fan of surf music to enjoy them.

Finally, as most punks out there will instantly notice, the record cover is a reworking of that of the BUZZCOCKS single "Orgasm Addict".

And what better endorsement or seal of approval is there than having UK graphic design icon Malcolm Garrett MBE RDI himself onboard for the design? Yes, it's the real deal!

Whether you see it as musical blasphemy or musical alchemy, THE ROUTES have provided the world with another potential future cult classic, destined to irk or jerk future generations for years to come.

Daylight Saving Records will release Blowdry Colossus, the new solo album by Field Music"s Peter Brewis. The record is Peter"s first solo venture since 2008"s The Week That Was and follows collaborative albums with Paul Smith (on 2014"s Frozen By Sight) and Sarah Hayes (on 2019"s You Tell Me). The album was recorded over the last year at the Field Music studio in Sunderland, and features contributions from Peter"s brother David, Sarah Hayes and Peter"s son Alexander.

Rico Friebe is back with the album "Faces Meet" after his recent debut "Word Value" and delivers his personal "deer in the headlight"-moment. What once appeared sparely uncertain and questioning, equalling the fragile try to overcome a state of darkness and forsakenness, now forms into a frenzy of confrontational flashes on "Faces Meet".

Like reflecting on the uncertainties presented on "Word Value", "Faces Meet" reveals some genuinely harrowing findings, creating a wholesome musical moment in time that might never happen like this again.
Besides the uncompromising statements as to find in the opener "Look At Me", refined perceptions in "Nowhere To Run" or "Fifty-One", open-hearted calls in "Do More" and "Let Go", Rico's pivotal confrontation with the irrevocable truth and emotional dissection peaks in his heartbreaking story on "The Best Talk" which marks the crucial lynchpin of the whole album.

Like faces (and therefore people) are constantly meeting everywhere, being faced with the decision how honest and open to meet at all, "Faces Meet" happens to be an even more involved metaphor about surrendering to your true inner self in a mirror-like situation.
Deeply rooted in the seeds of his debut album "Word Value", Rico follows a highly natural and severely plain musical language while implementing new and further ideas and elements throughout his sonic landscape.

"Faces Meet" is an album of insight and self-awareness and the inevitably necessary foundation for his third double LP and magnum opus "Anthems For A Lost Generation" (set to be released in Spring 2024), accelerating a lately unstoppable story into unforeseeable pathways.

Rico Friebe is back with the album "Faces Meet" after his recent debut "Word Value" and delivers his personal "deer in the headlight"-moment. What once appeared sparely uncertain and questioning, equalling the fragile try to overcome a state of darkness and forsakenness, now forms into a frenzy of confrontational flashes on "Faces Meet".

Like reflecting on the uncertainties presented on "Word Value", "Faces Meet" reveals some genuinely harrowing findings, creating a wholesome musical moment in time that might never happen like this again.
Besides the uncompromising statements as to find in the opener "Look At Me", refined perceptions in "Nowhere To Run" or "Fifty-One", open-hearted calls in "Do More" and "Let Go", Rico's pivotal confrontation with the irrevocable truth and emotional dissection peaks in his heartbreaking story on "The Best Talk" which marks the crucial lynchpin of the whole album.

Like faces (and therefore people) are constantly meeting everywhere, being faced with the decision how honest and open to meet at all, "Faces Meet" happens to be an even more involved metaphor about surrendering to your true inner self in a mirror-like situation.
Deeply rooted in the seeds of his debut album "Word Value", Rico follows a highly natural and severely plain musical language while implementing new and further ideas and elements throughout his sonic landscape.

"Faces Meet" is an album of insight and self-awareness and the inevitably necessary foundation for his third double LP and magnum opus "Anthems For A Lost Generation" (set to be released in Spring 2024), accelerating a lately unstoppable story into unforeseeable pathways.

Rico Friebe is back with the album "Faces Meet" after his recent debut "Word Value" and delivers his personal "deer in the headlight"-moment. What once appeared sparely uncertain and questioning, equalling the fragile try to overcome a state of darkness and forsakenness, now forms into a frenzy of confrontational flashes on "Faces Meet".

Like reflecting on the uncertainties presented on "Word Value", "Faces Meet" reveals some genuinely harrowing findings, creating a wholesome musical moment in time that might never happen like this again.
Besides the uncompromising statements as to find in the opener "Look At Me", refined perceptions in "Nowhere To Run" or "Fifty-One", open-hearted calls in "Do More" and "Let Go", Rico's pivotal confrontation with the irrevocable truth and emotional dissection peaks in his heartbreaking story on "The Best Talk" which marks the crucial lynchpin of the whole album.

Like faces (and therefore people) are constantly meeting everywhere, being faced with the decision how honest and open to meet at all, "Faces Meet" happens to be an even more involved metaphor about surrendering to your true inner self in a mirror-like situation.
Deeply rooted in the seeds of his debut album "Word Value", Rico follows a highly natural and severely plain musical language while implementing new and further ideas and elements throughout his sonic landscape.

"Faces Meet" is an album of insight and self-awareness and the inevitably necessary foundation for his third double LP and magnum opus "Anthems For A Lost Generation" (set to be released in Spring 2024), accelerating a lately unstoppable story into unforeseeable pathways.

Der gefeierte Künstler Israel Nash aus Texas und Missouri wird sein mit Spannung erwartetes neues Album 'Ozarker' am Freitag, den 20. Oktober veröffentlichen. Aufgenommen mit dem Produzenten Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne), ist Nashs mitreißendes neues Werk eine Ode an seine Wurzeln. Aber mehr als das, es ist eine Meditation über Liebe und Familie, über die Schönheit und den Schmerz, den wir über Generationen hinweg weitergeben, über die Bande, die uns in guten und in schlechten Zeiten verbinden.
Israel Nash, der vom Rolling Stone als "master of sonic textures" und vom britischen Uncut Magazin als "folk-rock visionary" bezeichnet wurde, wurde zunächst in Europa bekannt, wo er sich mit einer Reihe von der Kritik gefeierten Alben eine treue Fangemeinde aufbaute, die ihm einen Vertrag mit dem renommierten Londoner Label Loose Music einbrachte. Als das amerikanische Publikum auf den Geschmack kam, zog der aus Missouri stammende Musiker nach Dripping Springs, Texas, wo er sein eigenes Aufnahmestudio auf einer Ranch baute und einen etwas psychedelischeren Sound entwickelte, der irgendwo zwischen Neil Young und Pink Floyd angesiedelt ist. Produziert von Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne), kehrt Nash mit seinem neuesten Werk, dem mitreißenden 'Ozarker', zu seinen Wurzeln im Mittleren Westen zurück und macht sich den Heartland-Rock zu eigen, mit dem er aufgewachsen ist - mit überlebensgroßen Gitarren, hymnischen Melodien und reichhaltigen Charakterstudien. Tipp!

Der gefeierte Künstler Israel Nash aus Texas und Missouri wird sein mit Spannung erwartetes neues Album 'Ozarker' am Freitag, den 20. Oktober veröffentlichen. Aufgenommen mit dem Produzenten Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne), ist Nashs mitreißendes neues Werk eine Ode an seine Wurzeln. Aber mehr als das, es ist eine Meditation über Liebe und Familie, über die Schönheit und den Schmerz, den wir über Generationen hinweg weitergeben, über die Bande, die uns in guten und in schlechten Zeiten verbinden.
Israel Nash, der vom Rolling Stone als "master of sonic textures" und vom britischen Uncut Magazin als "folk-rock visionary" bezeichnet wurde, wurde zunächst in Europa bekannt, wo er sich mit einer Reihe von der Kritik gefeierten Alben eine treue Fangemeinde aufbaute, die ihm einen Vertrag mit dem renommierten Londoner Label Loose Music einbrachte. Als das amerikanische Publikum auf den Geschmack kam, zog der aus Missouri stammende Musiker nach Dripping Springs, Texas, wo er sein eigenes Aufnahmestudio auf einer Ranch baute und einen etwas psychedelischeren Sound entwickelte, der irgendwo zwischen Neil Young und Pink Floyd angesiedelt ist. Produziert von Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne), kehrt Nash mit seinem neuesten Werk, dem mitreißenden 'Ozarker', zu seinen Wurzeln im Mittleren Westen zurück und macht sich den Heartland-Rock zu eigen, mit dem er aufgewachsen ist - mit überlebensgroßen Gitarren, hymnischen Melodien und reichhaltigen Charakterstudien. Tipp!

Das zweite Album des irischen Folk-Ensembles The Mary Wallopers folgt auf ihr hochgelobtes, selbstbetiteltes Debüt aus 2022. Irish Rock N Roll ist ein Album, das es schafft, das Chaos, den Humor und die Aufregung der Live-Shows der Band perfekt einzufangen und gleichzeitig die unglaubliche Emotionalität der traditionellen Balladen, die sie spielen, offenzulegen - sowohl in Songs, die von früheren Generationen weitergegeben wurden, als auch ihren eigenen.

Teichmann + Söhne’s »Flows« is not so much the result of a collaborative process as it is a process in itself. Over the course of nine pieces, the Gebrüder Teichmann—Andi and Hannes—and their father Uli repeatedly find common ground between the very different musical styles, sound aesthetics, and subcultural codes they have internalised throughout their lives. The source material out of which the album evolved was culled from several recordings of rehearsal sessions in preparation for the trio’s concerts that took place between the years 2012 and 2022. The three added only a few overdubs to those recordings but edited them rigorously to both preserve and transform the spirit of their unlikely collaboration. The combination of Uli’s background as a versatile jazz artist and multi-instrumentalist with his sons’ penchant for dub techniques, modular synthesis, and live sampling as well as their interest in electronic dance music take on ever-different shapes. »Flows,« released on the occasion of Uli’s 80th birthday, is as joyful, lively and free-spirited as its makers.

It took the three musicians decades to get together to jam. Uli and Lu, the mother of Andi and Hannes, ran the legendary Jazzclub Kneiting between 1978 and 1983 while he also made a name for himself as a musician who, besides jazz, is knowledgeable in a plethora of music styles from all over the world and has an instrument collection to match. Naturally, Andi and Hannes rebelled against this versatility by opting for simplicity. Already as pre-teens, they formed a punk band and once they got a whiff of the burgeoning techno scene, strayed even further from their father’s path. They eventually moved from their native Regensburg to Berlin where they made a name for themselves with a slew of releases on seminal labels like Disko B or Kompakt before starting to more regularly collaborate with musicians from the realms of Contemporary Music, Improv, and Sound Art. Even after Uli had finally contributed some saxophone licks to the brother’s 2011 »They Made Us Do It« LP, it indeed needed someone else to make them do it, i.e. finally get together to reconcile their musical differences in a creative way.

Finding out that the three had never performed together, Yoichi Osaki from Berlin’s iconic Miss Hecker venue, a focal point of the city’s so-called Echtzeitmusik (real-time music) and Improv scene, scheduled them to play their first concert on April 1, 2012. Even though the date was chosen deliberately, things got serious very quickly and this first joint concert proved to be the first of many. It also laid the foundation for »Flows« since the three would start recording their rehearsals. Revisiting the roughly 90 recordings, some of which clock in at a full hour, after ten years of playing with each other then started what Hannes describes as a »form-finding process.« It was a holistic one and involved all three of them, extending also to their choice of cover artwork, a piece created by Lu, who died in 2016 and to whom the album is dedicated. For the collage, she had used photos of the place where it all began, Regensburg, and the river that flows through it, the Danube. This made the piece, coincidentally created around the time Teichmann + Söhne started playing their first concerts together, correlate perfectly with the working process of the three musicians on a visual level.

Similarly, Teichmann + Söhne can be thought of as a human-musical collage. It is a meeting of three different musicians who all have in common that they have occupied alternative spaces and perfected a variety of musical styles and subcultural codes throughout their lives. When those flow into each other, this necessarily creates something that is as unique as the nine tracks collected on this album. While it is mostly Uli who takes the lead on pieces like the appropriately titled »Im Zwischen« (»In the Inbetween«), the brothers respond by live sampling his playing, thus serving as a creative interface between acoustic sounds and electronic responses. This in turn provides a framework in which Uli can improvise on a variety of acoustic instruments like the saxophone and the clarinet as well as a mandolin and glockenspiel or even percussion. This indeed makes their music flow—across different generations, between different musical ideas and genres, into previously uncharted territory.

Reissued on limited edition 180 gram Clear vinyl. On The Blackened Air (her second album but first for Touch and Go, originally released in 2002), Nina Nastasia and her band are not content to just support a vocal melody; they pry it apart and look down its throat. The stringed and wind instruments (viola, cello, mandolin, accordion, bowed saw, acoustic and electric guitars) reach up out of the songs into rarefied territory. Little stories of Peeping Toms and the police lights they bring with them, graveyards and impolite family, epigrams against disaster, depression, simple forgetfulness, all delivered so effortlessly that the precision of the delivery registers long after its substance has left its mark. When she sings "I'm not hiding anything / I'm not trying to fool you at all," in a song titled "That's All There Is," it is all the truth. A generation-plus of young troubadours pine for things they never had to lose, as if sadness and depression were inevitable consequences of being alive. Nastasia's music is an antidote to all of that. The Blackened Air is a darkish record not just in title, but by examining everything without caving in to decadence or solipsism, it is a rejuvenating experience. It is informed, without affect, unique, and succinct. Above all, it is beautiful to hear and a pleasure to have in one's home.

There are few things in life quite as mesmerising or outrageously euphoric as the nine-strong Umlauts army effervescing in fulsome force. Rebelling against labels, transcending borders of land and time - packed with twin vocalists equally competent in their skewering south-London drawl as they are in German, Italian or French - as in touch with the nostalgias of First-Generation post-punk or 80s pop as they are with the techniks of contemporary pop or big beat dance - the Umlauts are paragons of trans-europe excess, dripping with inarguable edge; shambling wildly from chaotic cool to bombastically exquisite order; invested with unhinging, socio-political bite, dancing in a rave of their own.

Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa is the debut album by Canadian composer and tenor, Jeremy Dutcher – which involves post-classical rearrangement of his Wolastoq First Nation traditional music. Granted access to the Canadian Museum of History, Jeremy discovered wax cylinders from 1907 of his ancestors singing forgotten songs and stories that had been taken from the Wolastoqiyik Nation generations ago. The album is Jeremy’s contribution to his heritage and community in attempts to revitalize the Wolastoq language to the world, which has less than 100 speakers alive today. This collection of ground breaking post-classical arrangements is truly one of a kind and recalls the mood of Rufus Wainwright's operatic performance or the haunting pop of Anthony & The Johnsons.

The first two minutes of Sun June’s third album, Bad Dream Jag-uar, is a reverie - Laura Colwell’s voice floats above a slow-burn,sparse synth, conjuring a tipsy loneliness, a hazy recollection, a disco ball spinning at the end of the night for an empty dancefloor. Sun June’s music often feels like a shared memory – the details so close to the edge of a song that you can touch them. And as an Austin-based project, their music has also always feltstrangely and specifically Texan – unhurried, long drives acrossan impossible expanse of openness, refractions shimmering off the pavement in the heat.

But on Bad Dream Jaguar, Sun June is unmoored. The back drop of Texas is replaced by longing, by distance, by transience, and aquiet fear. The only sense of certainty comes from the murky past.It’s a dispatch from aging, when you’re in the strange in-betweenof yourself: there’s a clear image of the person you once wereand the places you inhabited, generational curses and our fami-lies, but the future feels vast, unclear – and the present can’t helpbut slip through your fingers.

"Dahab Days" is the highly anticipated third album from acclaimed British guitarist Rob
Luft, who has witnessed remarkable growth in Europe in recent years, notably as a BBC
New Generation Artist and through collaborations with Elina Duni. Luft's debut album,
"Riser," released in 2017, made a lasting impact, showcasing his exceptional talent and
distinctive musical voice. Building on the success of "Riser," his second album, "Life is the
Dancer," further solidified his reputation as a versatile guitarist and composer.
With "Dahab Days," Luft embarks on another significant stride in his artistic journey. This
album represents a notable expansion of his sound, incorporating a string quartet and
reinforcing the contributions of his talented band members, who have become an integral
part of his musical identity. Luft's well-deserved reputation as a versatile guitarist shines
through as he delivers uplifting improvisations that evolve in hypnotic and contemporary
ways, captivating listeners with their compelling and immersive qualities.
The album derives its name from Dahab, a location in Egypt where much of the music was
written. Over the past three years, Luft has spent considerable time there due to the
Covid-19 pandemic's limitations. While not overtly drawing from the music of the region,
"Dahab Days" subtly reflects the influence of his experiences in that unique setting.

country songwriter from Brooklyn's indie underground, Dougie Poole blurs the lines between genre and generation on his third solo album, The Rainbow Wheel of Death. Rooted in sharp songwritingvand the organic sounds of a live-in-the-studio band, it's a classic-sounding record for the modern world. The Rainbow Wheel of Death's title nods to the colorful pinwheel that appears onscreen whenever a computer's application stalls. For Poole _ who found himself working as a freelance computer programmer once the pandemic brought his touring schedule to a temporary halt in 2020 _ it's also a reference to the holding pattern that's left much of society feeling stuck, unable to move ahead in an uncertain world. That feeling was pervasive when he in his New York City bedroom and wrapping up the songwriting process in the recording studio itself. Once hailed as the "patron saint of millennial malaise" for his sardonic wit and topical, tongue-in-cheek songwriting, Poole broadens his reach here. "High School Gym" builds a bridge between 2020s lo-fi textures and 1980s pop vibes, while "Must Be In Here Somewhere" _ whose narrator sits at a lap top, searching through "every server burning in North Carolina" for a digital souvenir of a long-lost relationship _ mixes modern concerns with classic country instrumentation. If records like 2017's Wideass Highway and 2020's breakthrough release The Freelancer's Blues told stories about uninspired Millennials languishing in dead-end jobs and no-good relationships, then The Rainbow Wheel of Death focuses on more universal issues like mortality, love, and the passing of the time. With The Rainbow Wheel of Death, Dougie Poole breathes new life into country music, retaining the acclaimed elements of his previous work _ drum machines, synthesizers, and his deep-set voice _ while pushing toward something warm, organic, and prismatic.

country songwriter from Brooklyn's indie underground, Dougie Poole blurs the lines between genre and generation on his third solo album, The Rainbow Wheel of Death. Rooted in sharp songwritingvand the organic sounds of a live-in-the-studio band, it's a classic-sounding record for the modern world. The Rainbow Wheel of Death's title nods to the colorful pinwheel that appears onscreen whenever a computer's application stalls. For Poole _ who found himself working as a freelance computer programmer once the pandemic brought his touring schedule to a temporary halt in 2020 _ it's also a reference to the holding pattern that's left much of society feeling stuck, unable to move ahead in an uncertain world. That feeling was pervasive when he in his New York City bedroom and wrapping up the songwriting process in the recording studio itself. Once hailed as the "patron saint of millennial malaise" for his sardonic wit and topical, tongue-in-cheek songwriting, Poole broadens his reach here. "High School Gym" builds a bridge between 2020s lo-fi textures and 1980s pop vibes, while "Must Be In Here Somewhere" _ whose narrator sits at a lap top, searching through "every server burning in North Carolina" for a digital souvenir of a long-lost relationship _ mixes modern concerns with classic country instrumentation. If records like 2017's Wideass Highway and 2020's breakthrough release The Freelancer's Blues told stories about uninspired Millennials languishing in dead-end jobs and no-good relationships, then The Rainbow Wheel of Death focuses on more universal issues like mortality, love, and the passing of the time. With The Rainbow Wheel of Death, Dougie Poole breathes new life into country music, retaining the acclaimed elements of his previous work _ drum machines, synthesizers, and his deep-set voice _ while pushing toward something warm, organic, and prismatic.

Der prägende Sound von Martin Rev, der vor allem im Zusammenspiel mit seinem langjährigen musikalischen Partner Alan Vega und der gemeinsamen Band Suicide in seiner Radikalität und Einzigartigkeit zu einem Einfluss für mehrere Generationen von Musikern werden sollte, findet seinen Ursprung insbesondere in der essentiellen Energie des Rock"n"Rolls, der Rev als Teenager prägte und so etwas wie die musikalische Entsprechung der urbanen Atmosphäre seiner Heimatstadt New York war. Nachdem Rev zunächst im Free Jazz und freier Musik nach neuen musikalischen Ausdrucksformen suchte, entwickelte er rasch eine Faszination für die elektronische Klangerzeugung, die es ihm ermöglichte, völlig alleine und autark zu arbeiten. Er experimentierte mit einfachstem Equipment, kombinierte verschiedene Geräte und Effekte und übersetzte so die Wurzeln des Rock"n"Rolls in einen neuen, bisher ungehörten elektrisierenden Sound, der sowohl der Beginn von Suicide als auch einer spannenden Solo-Karriere sein sollte. Die vorliegende Sammlung "The Sum of Our Wounds" umfasst verschiedenste Aufnahmen, die zwischen 1973 und 1985 entstanden. Dabei ist die Zusammenstellung weitaus mehr als nur eine Kollektion von Demos und Outtakes; vielmehr hat man das Gefühl, ein in sich geschlossenes Album zu hören und sich selbst Kompositionen, die einem bereits bekannt sind, gänzlich neu zu erschließen. Die Kassettenstücke besitzen in ihrer spröden Brüchigkeit eine große Sensibilität, eben wie eine Sammlung von Verwundungen.

DJ Bone is a Detroit titan. He plays on the decks with high energy and next-level skill that few can match - which is why they call him the Terminator. He pulls no punches in the studio either, crafting all killer no-filler club weaponry as exemplified here by his new album Further. This is top-level techno on his own Subject Detroit label with lashings of machine soul, futuristic ideals and evocative atmospheres. Some cuts sink into deep inner grooves and take you on a mindful trip and some are more wildly expressive, but all of them bang in the club.

Known for being part of the INNA DE YARD family for almost 20 years, Jamaican singer extraordinaire DERAJAH is a major figure in Kingston music scene. He is the bridge between the old and new generations, passing the knowledge from the elders to the youths. We are delighted to present his latest effort in collaboration with A-class studio band The 18th Parallel: ‘PROSPERITY’. A showcase album of 6 songs with dub versions produced between Geneva, Switzerland and Kingston, Jamaica. With the expert touch of mixing maestro Westfinga, the 11 tracks of ‘Prosperity’ are sonic masterpieces, timeless and innovative.

In between the raw and brutal sound of 80’s Jamaican rub a dub and today’s sophisticated and polished modern sound. Derajah's raw and emotive vocals paint vivid pictures of struggle and resilience, carrying a profound message of social consciousness and resistance against oppressive forces, while The 18th Parallel's ultra-solid riddims create a rich tapestry of sound that will transport you to the heart of roots reggae. With its impeccable production quality, ‘Prosperity’ captures the essence of reggae's golden era.

This groundbreaking album is a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, uplift, and ignite change.

The story towards the creation of this album also needs to be shared. As Fruits Records members were in Jamaica on tour and to record their first projects, they crossed Derajah paths a couple times without getting a chance to work together. But this was enough to set a strong foundation to a relationship that goes way beyond the musical side only. A few years after this meeting, one phone call only was enough to start the process. The rest is pure magic! Spontaneity, trust and loyalty became the guidelines for the creation of this gem, which stand out of time and space, and aim to carry on its path anyone seeking for knowledge, love and prosperity.

2023 repress! clear with pink vinyl.

Beach Fossils' sophomore album, Clash the Truth, is modern post-punk triumph that's left a lasting impression on the music scene it was born out of. After releasing their self titled debut and the beloved EP, What a Pleasure, songwriter and composer Dustin Payseur began recording dissonant and introspective demos reflecting on his southern upbringing and young adulthood in New York. The tracks that would eventually make up Clash the Truth involved Payseur taking his songwriting in a new direction, employing jagged instrumentals, existential lyrics, and socially conscious subject matter. The darker themes of Clash the Truth still come out vibrant through bright guitar tones, locomotive drumming, and Payseur's inventive home recording techniques. Referencing the sounds of Factory Records releases, New York's no wave scene, and 90's avant-pop, Beach Fossils expanded their sound past the perimeters of bedroom dream pop.

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

Alan Abrahams aka Portable returns to the label in fine form with his latest full-length LP, Augmented Dreams. The title refers to the use of everyday technological advancements to achieve what were once
only dreams or visions of past generations, making this an explorative concept album that is equal parts not-too-distant science fiction, and about as topical as it gets.
From the gorgeous opening string layers of “The Pull of Time” to the classy 4/4 grooves of “Begin Again” or lead single “Guiding Me”, into the apropos and angular sci-fi broken beat feels of “Parallax” and “The Color of Static”, fitting Detroit-influenced love taps like “Beacon” and “The Mycorrhizal Network”, the politically-inspired “Are We Not Above It?” referencing the lingering effects of colonization featuring NiQ E from South Africa on vocals and L_cio from Brazil on flute, through to the futurist pop elegance of the dreamy duet recorded with Alexey Kochetkov “I Need You” and the conclusive titular track, it is clear that both the in-depth concept and immaculately-crafted musical content in Portable’s inimitable style are balanced in significance and expressive effect. This also functions as a timely statement in itself, as today’s iceberg-tip evolution of AI technology is currently impending over the arts and many of our existing realities.
This ten-song album serves as an imaginative yet hyperrealist narrative on how humanity’s fascination with and reliance on ever-advancing technology defines the times we find ourselves in, while the skillful sonic displays and present-era production techniques along with Abraham’s knack for timeless emotive songwriting offer up this solid soundtrack for the ages.

Der Score von Leonard Küßner zum neuen Wim Wenders-Film. Mit dem über einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren entstandenen Werk in atemberaubender 3D-Qualität erschafft der Regisseur ein einzigartiges Porträt eines der größten zeitgenössischen Künstler und gewährt uns Einblicke in die Welt Anselm Kiefers, wie man sie sonst nie sehen könnte. Leonard Küßner ist ein preisgekrönter deutscher Komponist für Film, Theater und Konzertsäle und war für den Deutschen Filmmusikpreis (2018) und für die Beste Filmmusik in einem Dokumentarfilm beim Filmfestival des Max Ophüls Preises (2021) nominiert. Derzeit komponiert er seine erste Oper.

Zach Bryan prepares to release his self-titled follow up record to American Heartbreak on August 25th. The album will not only showcase Zach’s incredible songwriting but will also include some very special features including Kasey Musgraves, The Lumineers & War and Treaty. The focus single for album release is “I Remember Everything (feat. Kasey Musgraves). Zach wrote & produced the entire album himself! Zach has been continuing to sell out arenas and headline festivals all over the country as he continues to rapidly grow as one of the most influential new artists of this generation. “Something in the Orange” just became the longest standing Country song on the Billboard Top 100 this Century, marking this only the beginning of Zach continuing to break records as he goes!

Post-war musical history was written in Germany with the MPS label: noble music productions with many international greats come from the Black Forest and are timelessly legendary. Some treasures from the label's archive are released by HGBSBlue on highquality vinyl.

More than 20 top-class jazz musicians met in July 1965 for a jazz workshop at the Ruhr Festival in Recklinghausen and recorded a total of 17 pieces. Nine tracks from the live recording were to be released the same year as the first double LP on the young Villingen jazz label SABA (the forerunner of MPS). Everything was prepared for this, but it never happened.

It is not really clear why, because everything was technically ready for release.

With Hans Koller, Rolf Kühn, Leo Wright, Benny Bailey, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Ross, Stuff Smith and others, many leading players of the jazz scene at the time were involved. However, the two music tapes were not pressed onto record and slumbered unheard for many years in the MPS archive in Villingen. In 2018, on the 50th anniversary of the MPS label, this was made up for: the double LP, which was to be released as "Junges Forum 65" by SABA, was released by HGBSBlue in a limited edition and is now also available here. The music of the workshop formation is still full of sparkling creativity today, almost 60 years after it was recorded.

You can hear first-class jazz on a bebop basis, which was played in Europe at that time by an immensely creative generation of musicians full of commitment. A listening pleasure for every jazz fan on the one hand, but also a wonderful documentation captured on this double LP.

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.

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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.

Presenting the third volume of forward-thinking electronics and peerless Jungle / D&B expressionism from iconoclastic Bristol producer and DJ, Krust. An artist who has always been pushing the sonic envelope while keeping dancefloors fully locked.

Introducing 'Irrational Numbers,' a meticulously curated collection of five parts, available on both vinyl and digital formats. This compilation is a treasure trove of hand-picked records and archival gems from Krust's extensive discography, thoughtfully remastered and presented anew for both devoted fans and newcomers.

'Irrational Numbers' features a dizzying array of self-released 12" cuts, exclusive unreleased VIPs and dub-plates, alongside epic major label widescreen classics. It's an unmissable journey through the sonic output of one of the UK's most distinctive and forward-looking producers.

Volume 3 serves us a plethora of unmissable highlights from Krust's enviable back catalogue. From the raw jump-up chaos of 'Rukus', the early rolling business of 'The Resister' to the epic genre defying voyage that is 'Soul In Motion', no stone is left unturned on what is - once again - an essential purchase for any serious lover of electronic music.

For longtime Krust enthusiasts, this project serves as a fond reminder of the boundless creativity and originality that flourished during the early 1990s and beyond. For those new to his work, it presents an enthralling introduction to innovative electronic music that has comfortably set the tone for generations to come. Get ready to experience the evolution of sound and immerse yourself in the visionary artistry of Krust.

Carole Kings klassisches Weihnachtsalbum "A Holiday Carole" erschien 2011. Die 12 Songs des von ihrer Tochter Louise Goffin produzierten Albums vereinen kunstvoll das Spirituelle und das Weltliche mit einer bunten Mischung aus Christmas-Klassikern und neu geschriebenen Songs. Goffin hat drei Titel des Albums mitgeschrieben, darunter "Christmas in Paradise", bei dem sie mit den Grammy-Preisträgern George Noriega und Jodi Marr zusammengearbeitet hat, die erhabene Goffin/Marr-Komposition "Christmas In The Air" und das tief bewegende "New Year's Day", das sie gemeinsam mit dem renommierten Songschreiber Guy Chambers geschrieben hat. "Als erfahrene Produzentin", erinnert sich King, "war Louises erste Frage an mich als Künstlerin: 'Welche Songs magst du?'" Nachdem sie eine Liste ihrer Favoriten zusammengestellt hatte, machte sich Goffin auf die Suche nach ungewöhnlicheren Stücken und stieß dabei auf Stücke wie den Stax-Klassiker Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" von William Bell & Booker T. Jones. King drückt der Musik ihren eigenen, unverwechselbaren Stempel auf und verleiht ihr ein weihnachtliches Flair. Für King ist der emotionale Höhepunkt des Albums zweifellos "Chanukah Prayer". "Louise hatte die brillante Idee, das Chanukka-Gebet zu nehmen, das ich von meinen Eltern gelernt habe und sie von ihren Eltern, und zwar über Generationen hinweg", erklärt sie. "Sie sagte: 'Ich möchte dich aufnehmen, wie du das singst, und ich werde einen Song darum herum komponieren.'" Das Ergebnis ist ein warmes, von Jazz geprägtes Stück, das drei Generationen gesanglich vereint: King, ihre Tochter und ihren Enkelsohn.

Indonesian trio Grrrl Gang builds on their considerable worldwide buzz with Spunky!, their full-length debut album. Released on 22 September 2023 by Green Island Music in partnership with exclusive licensees Kill Rock Stars (United States), Trapped Animal Records (United Kingdom) and Big Romantic Records (Japan and Taiwan), the album is preceded by its title track and first single dropped on May 30, featured from the same title of the album, 'Spunky!' Spunky! arrives following some major life changes for Angeeta Sentana (vocals, guitar), Akbar Rumandung (bass, vocals), and Edo Alventa (guitar, vocals), including a switch in locale from Yogyakarta, the city where they formed the band while still in college. “This is Grrrl Gang’s first release after we graduated and got day jobs that made us have to move to Jakarta, which is undeniably 180 degrees compared to Jogja,” says Rumandung. “But moving to Jakarta enabled us to work with Lafa on Spunky! from start to finish.” The song itself essentially describes Sentana's experience during a manic episode. “I feel like I’m on top of the world, untouchable. I do things without thinking, always chasing after that feeling of instant gratification. I feel extra confident in myself to a point of grandiose thinking and that I could do anything,” Sentana explains. That would be Lafa Pratomo, the in-demand producer brought in to help shape the ten tracks that make up Spunky! With a resume that includes the likes of the chanteuse Danilla and legendary singer-songwriter Iwan Fals, Pratomo might not seem the obvious choice to take the Grrrl Gang producer’s chair. But according to Rumandung, “In terms of production, this was something new for us by working with someone outside of Grrrl Gang’s comfort zone.” Indeed, Pratomo considerably beefs up Grrrl Gang’s sound particularly Alventa’s guitar tones, Rumandung’s rumbling bass, and touring drummer Muhammad Faiz Abdurrahman’s muscular beats while preserving the band’s signature raucous energy, catchy melodies, and Sentana’s attitude-filled, equal-parts-honey-and-vinegar vocals. The music video for Spunky! premieres on the Grrrl Gang YouTube channel on the same day as the release of the song. The video, directed by Bathroom Girls, is part of a continuous movie, with Spunky! being the second chapter. It tells the story of an introverted girl who goes to a house party to validate herself among her peers. Despite facing challenges to her self-esteem, she manages to overcome her discomfort to survive the night. During the party, she watches Grrrl Gang perform Spunky! and is mesmerized by the confident performance of Angee, the lead singer. The girl imagines herself as Angee, a confident and cool person that she will never be. Hailing from the cultural city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Grrrl Gang is a rising force in the independent music scene with their infectious melodies, anthemic songs, and electrifying live performances. The power trio, composed of Angee Sentana on guitar and vocals, Akbar Rumandung on bass, and Edo Alventa on guitar, has been making waves in the Southeast Asian music scene since their formation in 2016. Grrrl Gang's music is a celebration of their collective roots and a testament to the power of pop music to connect people across cultures and borders. Their lyrics touch on themes such as feminism, mental health, and relationships with a raw honesty that speaks to a generation of young listeners. With their infectious energy, socially conscious lyrics, and unique sound, Grrrl Gang is poised to take the global music scene by storm and become a voice for a new generation

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

“coming of age” motif flows freely through She’s In Parties’ debut EP, End Scene. The four piece wanted to construct a record that’s influenced by the idea of a final, reflective monologue scene in a movie, and would fit nicely in an 80’s coming of age film like The Breakfast Club, but with their own generational twist to it. The listener can expect quintessential developmental milestones interwoven throughout the listening experience, with themes centering platonic and romantic relationships, mental health battles, illicit substance experimentation and more.

“We’re coming of age ourselves - apart from Granddaddy Matt,” the members joke, with 3⁄4 of the band having just begun their journey into their 20’s. “It’s something we relate to and, whether we like it or not, reflects itself in our music writing".