quête:gi lo

On her new album Sun Without the Heat, McCalla brings more playfulness and joy than she has on previous records when she speaks to the concerns that have shaped her career, mainly including an ethos in which you must look back at lost and erased histories before you can embrace a forward vision of Afrofuturism and the importance of music making to heal and forge relationships across differences. Across Sun Without the Heat"s ten tracks, she achieves this with music that combines jazz, Haitian Twoubadou, American blues, folk and Brazilian Tropicalismo. Born in New York City to Haitian emigrants and activists, McCalla possesses a stunning mastery of the cello, tenor banjo and guitar. A founding member of Our Native Daughters alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Amysthyst Kiah and Allison Russell and an alumna of Grammy award-winning band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, McCalla has also received considerable praise and attention for her solo works, including 2014"s Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes, which prompted the New York Times to rave that "her voice is disarmingly natural, and her settings are elegantly succinct" and 2022"s Breaking The Thermometer (4/5 review from The Guardian). Lyrically on Sun Without the Heat, McCalla draws from the writings of Black feminist Afrofuturist thinkers Octavia Butler, Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Adrienne Maree Brown, among others, with frequent themes being grief, connection and motherhood. Like these authors, McCalla is thinking hard about collaboration as a means of creative expression, community thinking, personal salvation, and rectifying social injustice. "The stories we"ve been told about ourselves and the stories that we have to learn to undo the stories we"ve been told," she explains."Sometimes these are painful stories to tell. This is especially vivid in the title song, "Sun Without the Heat.""

DUBFIRE INVITES CHRIS LIEBING, TRUNCATE, CARL CRAIG, DRUMCELL, NADIA STRUIWIGH & MORE TO HIS REMIX ALBUM
EVOLV is a visionary window into the mind of Dubfire, the journey of the ‘hybrid’ being and its evolution. Last year in October, an 11-track debut album was released on his long-standing SCI+TEC imprint. And now, just over a year later, Grammy award winning producer Dubfire returns to that sonic discourse, drafting in an impressive array of names to re-interpret the material, and accompanied by Dubfire's new audio-visual EVOLV show which picked up where the critically acclaimed electronic performance experience HYBRID had left off.
The eclectic package will include such notables as Glaskin, Arjun Vagale, Nadia Struiwigh, Mathimidori (dub alias of Mathias Kaden), Maral, Decka, DEAS, Carl Craig, Truncate, Drumcell, Chris Liebing, and Luke Slater as L.B. Dub Corp who have all given the original music in their own unique style.
With a career spanning over 3 decades, Dubfire has achieved global success as an artist with relentless drive, talent, and intuition. Pioneering commercial notoriety came initially as one half of the Grammy Award-winning (2001) duo Deep Dish, before embarking on a truly groundbreaking solo career in 2007. A career filled with timeless tracks include his early works, ‘RibCage’ (2007), ‘Emissions' (2007), ‘Roadkill’ (2007) and the highly acclaimed ‘Grindhouse’ (2009) remix from Radio Slave which led to a host of other notable projects over the years.
Collaborative work highlights include projects with Miss Kitten, Luke Slater, Flug, and Oliver Huntemann, as well as co-producing two songs on Underworld’s Barking album. A true artist, he has always been heavily invested in exploring performance technology, unveiled to wide praise with his HYBRID live show. A two-year world tour commenced in 2015 and was followed by his retrospective album, A Decade Of Dubfire (2017), a celebration of his immense output during the first 10 years of solo artist stardom. EVOLV is Dubfire’s debut solo artist album.

Poly Dance Theatre presents its new show: Warning: killer track! Let's start with side A: an international adventure. Backstage, we meet up with rico OBF, who has recorded MC Waraba, the Malian singer and pioneer of the "Balani show" for his forthcoming album on Blanc Manioc Records, at the dubquake studio. Still backstage, we come across androo, the little pictureditor hanging around, who offers to do a re-interpretation by re-creating a riddim from the vocal.

So here's poet rapper MC Waraba, singing in Bambara and French, telling us a story about a girl's difficult choices over a riddim made in androo.
The result is a strange, solid, bewitching and melancholy blend of dub, wave and drill trap music. The references are many and scattered, as always with androo (just take a look at his bedroom). After the pop-epic poem, dub mix versions unfold, from dub vocal, with reminiscence of the delay-cut poem, to deep, robust instrumental straight.

B side: Warning: killer track again! Warning: another kind of Wave-dub-trap. Warning: Identity is theft. Warning: Sound system style: 4 parts! Here, starting with a badly cut sample (against American transparency! long live Brecht!), we wander through a heavy chorus-stepper-weird-club-dub, ranging from the most pop to the most ruff, via the most experimental to the deepest. 4 episodes. One season. To see again and again. To play again and again (if need be).
4 episodes (Warning again: Sound system style: 4 parts!)
A series of versions in which the dub mix experiments and pushes the track to its limits.

Translated with deepl

Thought is the essence of where you are now.

Composed in an era where people weren't concerned with music labels but just wanted to hear fresh new sounds and go out to clubs religiously, “Digital Imagination - The Essence of Thought” is a sci-fi inspired mixture of House, full- speed Trance and Trip Hop coming from a young Ted Heinz falling in love with electronic music in the thriving early 90s Boston rave scene. Originally release by Concept Records in 1993 and with original copies now hard to get ahold of, Sunny Crypt is happy to give this record a full reissue treatment with audio restored from the original DAT tape and a new graphic design.

Here at Four Flies, we kind of feel we need a bigger word than 'proud', this time, to present, in collaboration with Beat Records, the first-ever release of the original soundtrack written in 1976 by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis for the legendary Squadra Antifurto, the second chapter of the comedy-infused crime saga directed by Bruno Corbucci and starring Tomas Milian as the iconic Italian Police Marshal Nico Giraldi.

The excitement in this case is nothing short of gigantic, difficult to rein in for those who, like ourselves, grew up adoring the character played by Milian as one of our cult heroes, and dreaming that the soundtracks of the first three films in the saga – the only ones composed by the De Angelis brothers – would one day be released.

Since the launch of our label, Squadra Antifurto has been at the top of the list of film scores we most wanted to release. Until a few months ago, this dream of ours seemed destined to remain just that, so strong was the conviction in all of us that the master tapes were definitively lost, that they had forever vanished into thin air. That's why their recovery, made possible by Maurizio De Angelis himself and the persistence of our friends at Beat Records, is an extraordinary feat.

Nearly 50 years after it was first heard in cinemas, the soundtrack penned by the De Angelis brothers is resurrected in its entirety and can finally shine its incredible power all over us.

Beautifully seeping through this score – like many others composed by the golden duo in the 1970s – are elements from the Italian, and especially Roman, folk tradition, for instance in the warm, heartfelt ballad sung by Alberto Griso, "E nun ce voio sta," which first plays in the opening credit sequence and is then reprised in various forms throughout the film, culminating with the soul-stirring orchestral version that closes the album's tracklist.

But as in any Italian crime film worthy of that name, a different soundscapetakes centre stage: it's the music that accompanies the countless scenes of tension, action, and pursuit that punctuate the film, and which has made us fall madly in love with this score.

The main theme is a prog-funk joyride, drawing inspiration from the traditional tarantella but elevated to irresistible energy thanks to a rock orchestration featuring psychedelic flutes, wild percussion, distorted electric guitars, piano chords, and various feedback and delay effects.

The resulting groove is just mind-blowing, and we almost can't believe it's finally available on a record, completely remastered for vinyl.

We really couldn't be prouder, and dedicate this release to all passionate fans of Italian crime films, the De Angelis brothers, and Tomas Milian aka Nico Giraldi.

Available starting April 12th on standard black vinyl and limited coloured vinyl (transparent amber, limited to 300 copies).

From the bouncy, catchy acts at Motown (like The Temptations, The Marvelettes, and Stevie Wonder), to the horn-driven, gritty soul of Stax/Volt (such as Otis Redding and Booker T. & The MG’s), there was much diversity within classic soul. This essential LP edition contains 25 of the most legendary original songs of the idiom. If you’re looking for a way to start a soul music collection on vinyl, this would be a fantastic set to begin with. Here you can find the most influential artists, from the genre’s inception in the 1950s until 1962. The track listing covers the period when R&B was giving way to soul music. It includes smashes and classic soul anthems by such celebrated figures as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Ben E. King, and Marvin Gaye, to name a few. The underlying virtues of the R&B/soul music exposed here are represented by a direct emotional delivery, a pride and artistic integrity, and a feeling within the music which transmits itself to the listener. You can call it soul or R&B, it can be more or less intense, lively or educational, but it has to have those ingredients to truly succeed. From the explosion and growth of American soul, and its lasting impact upon the U.S. charts since then, this defining era is still regarded as one of history’s greatest musical movements. All of this remastered material represents a formidable slice of American popular culture, allowing listeners to experience some of the finest and most emblematic tunes of the soul genre.

repressed !

Along the west coast of Co Kerry in Ireland you will find the amazing Valentia Island.

Attached by a bridge to the mainland, it is a place of beauty touched by years of history and the songs of the sea.

I managed to obtain a house there for a few weeks, I took my computer and mic with me not knowing what to expect when I got there. In one of the rooms sat a piano, and as my fingers touched the keys I knew there was a story there waiting to be told.

The sound of the piano in that place was something very magical as 100mph winds battered the house and interrupted my recordings.
Other material has since emerged from those days spent on the island, but the main body of work that I recorded there makes up this album that I now present to you.

Album support from: Gilles Peterson, Skream, Laurent Garnier, Patrick Forge, Jean-Claude (IF), Soulclap, Joszif, Makoto, Breach, Flight, dBridge, Doc Scott, Trevino, Craig Richards, John B, Klaus
Fiehe. Mr Scruff....

LA via Paris classically trained keyboard wizard DAVID ZYLBERMAN AKA GHOST from EGYPTIAN LOVER's spaced out synthfunk backing band follows up his sold out/out of print STAR CREATURE debut with another set of Contemporary Electronic Jazz Funk primed for peak hour dance floor action. After flipping bananas covers of LONNIE LISTON SMITH and ROY AYERS, he drops an original production that gives that same synth driven, rhythm forward dance vibe. The B Side takes us straight to deep space with an uptempo cracker of a remix of BRIAN BENNETT's ‘SOLSTICE” done in a zero-gravity flavor previously considered impossible. The promo copies have already seen major support from Chicago and NYC heavyweights.

2024 Repress

Alleviated Records is proud to present the re-issue of the "LooseFingers" EP and to introduce (or re-introduce for some) the original name that Larry recorded under before it was modified to Mr. Fingers in 1985. This EP contains 3 great selections. First the romantic and soothing mid-tempo "Glancing At the Moon." If you enjoyed selections like "What About This Love" or "Children at Play" from Larry, this will most likely be to your liking. Next up, "Lamentation" a more experimental and tracky kind of tune that should provide an enjoyable experience for DJ's and people who like harder dance flavors. The "B" side gives us "Deep Inside." Larry's mellow vocals are featured along with Atlanta talent, Justin Chapman from KemeticJust on guitar. If you enjoy quality soulful deep-house music with jazzy influences, you will most likely want to add this EP to your collection of Larry Heard releases. Enjoy!

Over the course of five albums, Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall has carved out a niche for himself on the UK music scene as one of it's brightest talents. His languid, soulful music has won friends from Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson to Jazz FM and Mojo as well as an ever-growing international following. His new album Into Forever, puts the spotlight on Halsall the composer, arranger and producer. Halsall draws on a diverse range of influences from Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Phil Cohran and Leon Thomas to the more contemporary sounds of The Cinematic Orchestra, Max Richter and Nils Frahm to deliver his most complete recording to date. Into Forever features renowned Manchester based soul poet Josephine Oniyama and rising star vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto (Werkha) as well as regular collaborators, flautist Lisa Mallett, harpist Rachael Gladwin, koto player Keiko Kitamura, pianist Taz Modi, bassist Gavin Barras and drummer Luke Flowers (The Cinematic Orchestra) and two percussionists Sam Bell and Chris Cruiks. The result is arguably Halsall's finest record, asublime melding of stripped back soulful funk and deep, minimalist, spiritual jazz, that will take you on a journey deep into forever!

PHANTOM OF THE AFTERS is the 3rd album from Irish rapper Kojaque, out on his very own Soft Boy Records. With landmark projects Deli Daydreams and Town’s Dead, that saw him 2x nominated for Choice Music Prize, receive support from Radio 1, 1xtra, 6Music, support Loyle Carner & Lana Del Rey and headline festivals across Ireland, Kojaque changed the rap landscape (and Irish culture) for good. Collaborations on his latest project include Biig Piig, Wiki, Charlotte Dos Santos and Gotts Street Park. The album traces blurred outlines of childhood trauma, depression, grief and love, interweaving the physical and emotional journey of central character Jackie Dandelion with bigger questions about immigrant identity, homesickness, cultural stereotypes and ultimately the reconciliation of self. Kojaque has created a cinematic-universe that is bigger in scope but also more tender and intimate in approach than ever before. It’s this willingness to be vulnerable - grotesque, even - that’s captured in the album’s iconic artwork, which subverts the bigoted depictions of Irish caricatures in 19th and 20th century Punch Magazine cartoons and sees this particular Phantom of the Opera remove not just those distorted masks, but also his own.

With songs that are cocksure and contemplative, brutally honest but also refreshingly myth-making, PHANTOM OF THE AFTERS marks a new era from Kojaque: one of his generation’s most unique talents. In suitably audio-visual style, the album traces blurred outlines of childhood trauma, depression, grief and love. It interweaves the journey of central character Jackie Dandelion from Dublin to London with bigger questions about immigrant identity, homesickness, cultural stereotypes and ultimately the reconciliation of self. It’s this willingness to be vulnerable - grotesque, even - that’s captured in the iconic artwork, which subverts the bigoted depictions of Irish caricatures in 19th and 20th century Punch Magazine cartoons and sees this particular Phantom of the Opera remove not just those distorted masks, but also his own.

The record drops alongside one of its more brooding moments, ‘WHAT IF?’: a soulful ode to anxiety, and the crippling impact of fear in moving forward in life or your relationships. “I’ve been obsessed with Charlotte Dos Santos ever since I heard her project Cleo,” Kojaque comments. “She’s just got such a distinct voice and sound. I sent the track over hoping she’d be into it and she sent me back a near perfect hook.” A fully independent artist, Kojaque has brought a stellar lineup of guests together on his latest work: from Biig Piig, Charlotte Dos Santos and NY rapper Wiki (who featured on ‘JOHNNY MCENROE’) to Gotts Street Park (‘BAMBI’) plus production credits such as Calvin Valentine (Ryan Beaty), Tony Seltzer (Eartheater, Freddie Gibbs) and Karma Kid (Hak Baker, Shygirl).

PHANTOM OF THE AFTERS will see Kojaque continue to blaze a trail around the world. He first came to prominence with the genre-bending concept record Deli Daydreams: it became the first mixtape to ever be nominated for the Choice Music Prize, and demonstrated his prowess not only as a polymathic artist, but DIY label-head (co-founding Soft Boy Records, which was subject to a Boiler Room documentary) and visual artist (Kojaque has received a prestigious Royal Hibernian Academy Award for his film-making). Even as the rest of the world sat up and paid Irish Art some long-overdue attention, Kojaque’s creative output has remained thrillingly uncompromising. Tour-de-force debut album Town’s Dead examined everything from gentrification, masculinity and mental health to a gnarly love-triangle unfolding on New Year’s Eve, held together by a multi-hyphenate attitude. Once again nominated for the Choice Prize, Kojaque played a sold-out UK & European headline tour around the restrictive local lockdowns, with the album landing additional support across the likes of Radio 1, 1xtra, 6Music, plus shows with Lana Del Rey and Loyle Carner (who also sampled Kojaque on hugo). With his landmark projects to date, Kojaque changed the rap landscape (and Irish culture) for good. On PHANTOM OF THE AFTERS, you sense he’s just getting started.

Vana is a true Estonian lowkey gem, a duo (Ajukaja & Edith Karslon) who deal boldly with pop music clichés. On their debut 7” they cue up a track by beloved 80’s Estonian beachtown band to give it some new attire. A version & context of their own. They manage to lift a pseudo reggae track to present day & make it resonate here & now. Easy does it.

The B–side sees Vana on a pop trek. “Kuu Maa” is a real heart melter with its dreamy vocals, arousing piano line, guitar licks & funky bass. Grab that dictionary to catch each & every chunk of emotion on here. Or just let it slowly sink in. Lets go!

Released in 2012, debuting at Number 8 on the Billboard 200, Number 21 on the Canadian Albums Chart, Number 65 in the UK Albums Chart and Number 18 on the Australia Album Chart, ‘Vulnerable’ was the fifth studio album by The Used. Production and mixing was handled by John Feldman. ‘Vulnerable’ is now available on silver vinyl. “There are so many kids out there who are special in their own way, and I want people to understand that this record is for the misfits and for the outcasts and for anyone who’s never really fit in. There’s a place for all of us in this world. We can all find it if we just keep looking,” said frontman Bert McCracken to Alt Press.

Emotional Rescue dives back into one of its specialties, the formative years of Post Punk and Dub influenced music, presenting the, to date, unheralded Skinbat Scramble. The rarity of the unknown, the discovery of rich, lost music, it is a delight to release a compilation of the band's previously unreleased recordings. A snapshot of time, a journey that covers several decades of friendship but is concentrated here on the fertile 80's scene.

Forged around the friendship of Mark Eason and Fergus Crockford, but with ever changing line-ups, flowing in and out during misspent youths, self-taught playing, falling in and out of bands, travelling that well-worn journey from Home Counties boredom to the excitement of a rough edged London, taking in as music as possible, from Motown on to the The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Bowie, Pink Floyd, Gong and Fripp & Eno, before Dr Feelgood, Eddie & The Hotrods and a dose of John Peel led to discovering Dub and Punk and witnessing that short-lived burst of creativity at the Roxy Club, Marquee or Vortex and exploring back to early Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly and old Surf'n'Soul, alongside the likes of Wire and Suicide.

As the Post-Punk sounds mixed simultaneously with Two-Tone, local Art College gave way to university and the early struggles of finding a way in the late 70s / early 80s of Thatcher's Britain. Music was central, Skinbat Scramble finally appearing, morphing from numerous teen bands, early studio excursions of tape loops and effects leading to the first recording sessions in 1981.

The slower tempos, introspection, open structures, and shimmering experimentation of Post Punk were pivotal. John Foxx's early Ultravox, Siouxsies' "Lord's Prayer" period and The Electric Chairs seminal "So Many Ways", influenced to a freer future. PIL, ACR, Section 25 and Pink Military let imaginations briefly roam.

'Far out and weird', those first recordings made at Leeds Uni's Fine Arts Dept utilized Revoxes, Tandberg, MiniMoog and even a borrowed drummer. This was followed up with completed sessions at Elephant Studios in London, forming the basis of this compilation.

The tight scattergun rhythms on opener Submit, in both Vocal and short Dub mix, bely an unreleased band. Taught and crisp, it's like a song you've heard propelling open-minded, leftfield dancefloors for years.

The writing, musicianship and studio mastery displayed on North By Northwest and Skiddadle should not be music unreleased for almost 40 years. In North Dub and closer, Pixie Boot Dub their understanding of the opportunities of dub Reggae are clearly apparent, ethereal music wormholes for late night smokers.

However, it is in Basement Voltaire that the band step out time. Recorded in 1986 this is a 9-minute proto-techno wonder that mixes all their psychedelic meets punk youth in a crescendo of crashing claps and rolling toms that is of a time and so far ahead of its time.

And that was that, after 6 gigs, including a couple at the infamous St Martins, to an audience total you can fit on one hand, the band's first incantation closed and the master tapes were stored for several decades, waiting for "The Psychedelic Pirates" to finally surface.

Jamwax presents the resurrection of a hard-hitting space synth masterpiece that's set to ignite your senses and shake the very foundations of sound systems worldwide. 'In Ting Sound' is a sonic juggernaut, a hard-as-nails sound bwoy killer that refuses to be confined to the constraints of time. With its pulsating beats and infectious rhythms, this track commands attention from the moment the first note hits. But it's the heavy drums that truly set it apart, pounding with relentless force and driving the groove forward with unstoppable momentum.

Get ready to embark on a sonic journey like no other as this reissue comes with three exclusive unreleased tracks :
'Mandela': Feel the pulse of liberation with this uptempo digital killer, featuring Winston's impassioned plea to "Free Nelson Mandela...he never done no wrong, he is just a conscious man..."
Let the rhythm of justice resonate as you groove to this powerful anthem of freedom. 'Life All Over': Flip over to the B-side for a digital roots tune that- hits hard with its strong bassline and conscious lyrics. "Life AllOver" dives deep into the essence of existence, delivering a message of hope and resilience that reverberates with every beat. 'Finnegan' aka 'Life All Over Dubwise': Prepare to enter the realm of dub mastery. The second part of "Life All Over" takes you on a journey through the echoes of space and time, where the music transcends boundaries and the spirit of dub reigns supreme.

About Winston Fergus : Winston Fergus, a stalwart of the UK reggae scene whose career spans over four decades. Winston kickstarted his journey in 1976 as the vibrant lead singer of The Equators, renowned for their iconic track 'Father Oh Father' released under Joe Sinclair's esteemed Klik label. Not only did The Equators make waves in their own right, but they also provided the musical backdrop for rising star Pablo Gad, solidifying Winston's reputation as a mentor in the industry.

In 1977, Winston ventured into solo territory with the soulful release 'Give Me Love' on Jah Jah Bus, marking the beginning of a prolific solo career. Lightning Records recognized his talent and signed him, resulting in the release of 'African Woman'. Throughout the '80s, Winston remained a prominent figure, collaborating with luminaries like Clement Bushay, Clive Stanhope, and John Dread, producing hits such as 'Jezebel Woman', 'Keep On Dancing', and 'Hope For The World'.

In the late 80's, Winston's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish his own imprint, Fergie Music label, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.

Hailing from Detroit, Shadow Show is an uncompromising power trio that combines elements of 60’s garage-psychedelia into a 21st century modern pop-art incarnation. Sleek and spellbinding, the music sweeps you up into frenetic grooves and dazzling harmonies. Their music pushes the boundaries of what can be, yet remains deeply rooted in the raw, untouchable Detroit sound. Three years ago, Shadow Show released their debut album, “Silhouettes,” in the US (Burger Records) and UK (Stolen Body Records). Since then, they have dedicated themselves to writing, arranging, and producing their epic masterpiece, “Fantasy Now!”, while occasionally taking breaks for full length US, UK, and EU tours, as well as obtaining support dates with bands like Automatic, Death Valley Girls, The Nude Party, and the 5.6.7.8’s, to name a few. “Fantasy Now”’ is a huge step forward from their debut LP, reaching a more ambitious Sgt. Peppery psychedelic vision that includes swirling pop melodies, fuzz guitar hooks, flutes, tympani, backwards surprise twists, and a magical medieval acapella interlude. Shindig Magazine says Shadow Show "transport the listener down a spiral into the mind's eye.” Allmusic praises their "kaleidoscopic explosion of tremolo guitars and mod pop vocal harmonies.” The band has recently completed a USA tour, and full USA and European dates are being booked for Spring 2024. Shadow Show’s transcendental triumph, “Fantasy Now!” was written, recorded, and produced by Shadow Show in Detroit, MI, with the exception of “Aunt Maizy,” recorded live in London, UK. Mastered by Warren Defever (Third Man Records, His Name Is Alive). The album will be released worldwide February 16, 2024 on Little Cloud Records (US), Stolen Body Records (UK), and Water Room Records (JPN).

Singles V1 is a 6 track, 12-inch beautiful marine blue coloured vinyl EP. It is also the first physical release by Low Girl. As the title suggests the EP is a collection of the band’s singles up to the end of 2023 which features Big Now, So Cool, Blessing, Bored, Uh-Oh and Pockets. If you haven’t yet heard of Low Girl, be in no doubt, you will do soon. The band are a four-piece fronted by singer songwriter Sarah Cosgrove with band mates Toby Morgan, Tom Cosgrove and Bradley Taylor and it is clear to see that their popularity has been steadily growing since the release of their first single Big Now in 2021. The band have featured on the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading Festival and played at the Texas SXSW Festival at the invite of The British Music Embassy in 2022. They have also regularly toured and provided support for acts such as October Drift, Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Capital, Dream Wife and most recently Dekker. Low Girl’s indie pop, lo/fi sound, attributable to its vulnerable lyrics, synth licks and guitar driven riffs, has attracted admirers and radio airplay on BBC Radio 1, Radio X and particularly at BBC Radio 6 music, who have play listed a number of the band’s singles. Indeed, their single ‘So Cool’ was one of BBC Radio 1 Introducing’s singles of the week in April 2022 and ‘Bored’, was featured on the Late in the Day program’s International Women’s Day 2023 edition alongside Arlo Parks, Bjork, Sade, Nina Simone and other premier female artists. Sarah Cosgrove has also joined the panellists on one of August’s editions of Steve Lamacq’s round table together with Felix White and Deadletter’s Zac.

"Psychedelic rock from Minneapolis psych madmen Jokers Wild! Includes all of their rare singles, plus 15 more originally unreleased mind-melting cuts - complete with slide whistle!

When looking through the amount of outta-this-world acid-tinged, garage and psychedelic rock that came out of Minneapolis during the 1960s, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume that there was something in the water. Their sound was unlike any other Minneapolis ‘60s band – a true feat during that time.

Though the band began playing more local gigs during the early part of 1967, it wasn’t until May that they recorded their slide-flute-farfisa-organ infused psych wonderment, “All I See Is You "Psychedelic rock from Minneapolis psych madmen Jokers Wild! Includes all of their rare singles, plus 15 more originally unreleased mind-melting cuts - complete with slide whistle!

When looking through the amount of outta-this-world acid-tinged, garage and psychedelic rock that came out of Minneapolis during the 1960s, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume that there was something in the water. Their sound was unlike any other Minneapolis ‘60s band – a true feat during that time.

Though the band began playing more local gigs during the early part of 1967, it wasn’t until May that they recorded their slide-flute-farfisa-organ infused psych wonderment, “All I See Is You / I Just Can’t Explain It.” The single was recorded at the famed Kay Bank Studios (where groups like The Trashmen, Vaqueros, Readymen, Castaways and many, many more laid down tracks) but received very little airplay. Their second single featured “Echo” as the A-side, and it’s equally as fun, bringing a ? and The Mysterians-esque farfisa beat behind a driving, delightfully fuzzy bass and guitar. Like their first single, it didn’t go anywhere. The lack of budget really hurt the band, and with too many bills to pay, they weren’t able to recoup on recording costs. Poof… it ended up sitting on the shelf.

The remnants of their unfinished album can be heard here, along with unreleased material, a cover of the Hollies’ “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” and three of their limited release singles, “All I See Is You/I Just Can’t Explain It,” “Peace Man/Tomorrow,” and “Because I’m Free/Sunshine.” Catchy yet complex, tune out and turn on to this unsung Twin Cities garage-psych treasure and prepare to Step Outside Your Mind."

Anders als bei ihrem selbstproduzierten Debüt 'Refuge Cove' und dem Nachfolger 'Storm Queen' arbeitete Grace Cummings für ihr neues Album 'Ramona' mit Produzent Jonathan Wilson (Angel Olsen, Father John Misty) zusammen und schuf einen aufwändig orchestrierten Sound, der die Tiefe und den Umfang ihres stimmlichen Könnens voll zur Geltung bringt.

'Ramona', das am 5. April über ATO Records erscheinen wird, behandelt Trauer, Selbstzerstörung und emotionale Gewalt und verleiht Cummings Musik dabei eine neue Größe. “In the past I’ve been caught up in worrying about whether I’m being too emotional or over-the-top, but this time around I decided not to filter any of that out”, so Cummings. “My only intention was to be myself, which meant being extremely vulnerable in my writing and my vocal performance, without going back and editing myself later on.”

Das Album entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit einer Reihe von Gästen, darunter die Harfenistin Mary Lattimore und der Streicherarrangeur und Multiinstrumentalist Drew Erickson (Weyes Blood, Mitski, Lana Del Rey), mit Cummings an der Gitarre und am Klavier und Wilson an der Gitarre, dem Schlagzeug, dem Banjo und der Orgel. “I wanted everything and the kitchen sink on this record, to make it as big and dramatic as possible and show a whole range of colors.”