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New album from Dutch indie pop favourites Maureens. Warm, jangly guitar pop filled with rich harmonies and bittersweet melodies. Recorded with producer Frans Hagenaars, Don't Give Up captures the band's timeless sound perfect for fans of Teenage Fanclub, The Go-Betweens, and Real Estate. Maureens craft guitar-driven pop that feels like the soundtrack to a perfect late-summer evening - warm, melodic, and quietly nostalgic. Their songs blend bright, jangling guitars with rich harmonies and a subtle undercurrent of melancholy, creating a timeless sound that feels both classic and unmistakably their own. Formed in the Utrecht music scene, the band now celebrates fifteen years together and five albums deep into their journey. At the heart of Maureens are the songs of singer and guitarist Hendrik-Jan de Wolff, whose love of melody and harmony shapes the band's distinctive sound. For their latest record, Don't Give Up, Maureens reunited with producer Frans Hagenaars, recording much of the album live in a secluded wooden cottage in the Belgian Ardennes, capturing a raw and immediate energy.

On his new album, Micha Acher rearranged compositions for bands such as Tied & Tickled Trio and Ms. John Soda from previous years.

Why are we interested in ghosts? What fascinates us about the eerie? According to cultural theorist Mark Fisher, the allure that the eerie possesses is not captured by the idea that we „enjoy what scares us“. It has, rather, to do with a fascination for the outside. For that which lies beyond standard perception, cognition or experience, as he writes in his book „The Weird and the Eerie“.

In fact, also none of the 15 pieces from Henry and the Ghost is really scary. On the contrary, they all feel strangely familiar. Like revenants or doppelgängers, which in fact they are. They have all been released before. But in a different form. In different line-ups. With different band projects such as Tied & Tickled Trio, The Notwist or the Alien Ensemble.

With the „Songbook“, Micha Acher's aim was, as he says, to find out how the familiar pieces sound in a chamber music instrumentation. Therefore he met with Theresa Loibl (bass clarinet, piano), Timm Kornelius (bassoon), Markus Rom (guitar, banjo, electronics) and Simon Popp (drums, percussion) in his living room for a musical séance in the summer of 2022. The séance lasted two days. Afterwards, Markus Rom (Oh No Noh), added some haunting electronical ideas.

The mood of most of the pieces is melancholic. There are surprising twists and siren-like melodies. Just as ghost stories should be. However, most of the songs sound very light-footed. With their feet in pop, folk, jazz and classical music. Pieces such as „Johanna“ with its wheezing harmonium and spooky piano, or the dreamy „Modest Farewell“ on the other hand have a cinematic flair. Immediately faces and scenes arise in the mind. But at the beginning, there is „Hamlet“. It starts with ghostly electronics and merges into a calm, almost classical guitar piece. Could it be that the ghost of Hamlet's father is hiding between the strings?

„34E“ begins with a banjo. Then the deep humming of Micha Achers sousaphone and the other brass instruments kick in. In the slow, solemn „Aelita“, the sousaphone starts a dialogue with a children's piano. With the banjo and the other wind instruments acting as mediators. The title of „All Tomorrow's Past“ brings Velvet Undergrounds „All Tomorrow's Parties“ to mind. Another ghost from the past. What connects the two pieces is free-floating percussion, which accompanies the sumptuous melodies.

„Arc“ takes us on an exhilarating voyage at sea, with the sousaphone providing powerful propulsion. Towards the end, things get quite turbulent. With the clarinet stirring up the water, before the sea calms down again. „Henry and the Ghost“ is characterised by a ghostly mood change between major and minor. In „Radio Four“ the banjo with its stoic chords keeps the lively brass section in check. „Solid Ground“ is imbued with melancholy. „Space Minor“ takes us into outer space, with the power of sousaphone and percussion.

„Tomorrows“ is filled with cautious optimism. And the concluding „Nordlead“ turns out to be a revenant of the instrumental „N.L.“ from The Notwist's legendary album „Shrink“ from 1998. In the new version, the piece sounds like a distant echo. One that also brings to mind how Micha Acher's music has evolved. Which new worlds he explored and opened up since the nineties. And yet Acher's signature is recognisable in every single note of this fascinating „Songbook“.

Reissue 2026

The track "I'm So Crazy" by Par-T-One vs. INXS (a remix of INXS's "Just Keep Walking")

is widely praised in dance/electronic circles for successfully fusing classic rock attitude with driving house beats,

retaining the iconic guitar and vocals while adding powerful drums,

making it a timeless and energetic club anthem that captured the spirit of the original for a new generation.

Produced in 2001 by the Italian electronic duo Par-T-One (Sergio Casu aka Sergione and Andrea Pareo),

reviews highlight its infectious energy, inspiring guitars, and effective dancefloor appeal.

The song has been classified as "Punk House" because the video depicts people performing the Pogo move and Michael Hutchence's skinhead-like vocal style.

The song also features samples of Dennis Parker's "Like an Eagle" and "I'm So in Love."

The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and the video (directed by Sam Brown and Paul Gore,

who later found success directing videos for James Blunt and The Bravery) won and was nominated for various awards

in the Short Film category and Best Promotional Video.

2026 re-release remastered by Gianni Bini at HOG Studio

For The Bobby Lees, their fourth album and Epitaph debut New Self marks a thrilling new chapter for the band while doubling down on what"s always made them so magnetic. The Bobby Lees don"t need much in the way of introduction. Within a few seconds of exposure to their furnace-blast live shows or their bottled-lightning studio records, it"s easy to hear why they"ve earned fans in legendary musicians like Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, and Henry Rollins. They"re as uncompromising in their sound and generous with their energy as any of their punk ancestors who first rewrote the rules of engagement back in the 1970s. Led by singer and guitarist Sam Quartin, drummer Macky Bowman, and bassist Kendall Wind, The Bobby Lees bring wildness and danger back into punk rock. You can hear the band easing into a new confidence -- one that"s both looser and more towering -- all throughout New Self, from the seething, fiery "Napoleon" to the rambunctious, offbeat take on PJ Harvey"s "50ft Queenie." This is the sound of a band who"s scrambled over shaky ground only to come back stronger than ever: more confident, more connected, louder and fiercer and secure in their own skin.

the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.

the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.

“So Help Me God is the long-awaited second album from Kelsey Lu, arriving June 12 2026 via Dirty Hit. Moving between shadow and release, the 10-track record follows her groundbreaking 2019 debut Blood and is co-produced by Lu, Jack Antonoff and Yves Rothman, mixed by Oli Jacobs, with contributions from Sampha, Kamasi Washington and Kim Gordon. Across the record, Lu blends distorted guitars, choral swells and dark electronic pulses into a sonic landscape that moves between devotional intensity and cinematic scale. So Help Me God expands Lu’s singular creative universe - where music, visual art and performance converge into one multidisciplinary project, marking the return of one of contemporary music’s most singular voices.”

The Byrds were one of the earliest groups who could combine the best of two worlds. They caught on to the energy of the British Invasion and combined it with the lyricism & musical elements of the contemporary folk movement. Along the way they pioneered Psychedelic and Country Rock, always keeping things recognizable with their vocal harmonies accompanied by their jangly guitars.

On their third album Fifth Dimension from 1966 they started showing a more LSD-tinged side of themselves with the Psychedelic Rock of songs such as "Eight Miles High" and "I See You" and a preference for the Indian raga. One of their most pioneering albums!

Fifth Dimension is available as a 60th anniversary edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on orange vinyl.

Als MONO ihr vorheriges Album OATH 2023 gemeinsam mit ihrem langjährigen Produktionspartner und Freund Steve Albini aufgenommen hatten, konnten sie sich nicht vorstellen, dass es das letzte Studioalbum sein würde, das sie zusammen machten. Albini starb im darauffolgenden Jahr tragisch, und dieser Verlust hinterließ eine unermessliche Leerstelle - nicht nur im Leben all jener, die Steve persönlich kannten, sondern bei jedem, der eine emotionale Verbindung zu einem der Tausenden von Alben hat, an deren Entstehung er in den vergangenen vier Jahrzehnten beteiligt war. Er brachte Klarheit in das Chaos und eine selbstlose Hingabe an die Kunst und die Künstler, die ihresgleichen suchte. Auf persönlicher wie auf praktischer Ebene stellte sein Tod MONO vor tiefe Trauer und große Unsicherheit. Albini war zu einem grundlegenden Bestandteil des unverwechselbaren MONO-Sounds geworden, und allein der Gedanke daran, ihn ersetzen zu müssen, war mehr als entmutigend.Und dann kam: Brad Wood (Touché Amoré, The Smashing Pumpkins).Ausgewählt aufgrund seiner Vertrautheit mit MONOs kreativen und technischen Arbeitsprozessen - ebenso wie seiner jahrzehntelangen Freundschaft mit Steve Albini - betrat Brad Wood im September 2025 das legendäre Electrical Audio Studio, um aufzunehmen, was schließlich zu Snowdrop werden sollte. Gemeinsam mit dem in Chicago ansässigen Dirigenten und Orchesterleiter Chad McCullough verpflichteten MONO ein zehnköpfiges Orchester und einen achtköpfigen Chor für die acht monumentalen Stücke, aus denen Snowdrop besteht. Die Band spielte, und Wood nahm in demselben heiligen Raum auf, in dem die meisten MONO-Alben ihrer 25-jährigen Geschichte entstanden waren - die Songs auf Snowdrop tragen daher ein besonderes Gewicht. Abgemischt wurde das Album von Wood in seinem Seagrass-Home-Studio in Los Angeles; es klingt zugleich intim und umhüllend.Wo leicht ein Schatten über Snowdrop hätte liegen können, findet sich stattdessen eine außergewöhnliche Atmosphäre der Dankbarkeit. Statt in Herzschmerz zu verweilen, entsteht eine eindringliche Wertschätzung für das gut gelebte Leben mit einem geliebten Freund - und eine Sehnsucht danach, was noch kommen mag. Snowdrop ist der Klang einer Band, die Schock und Trauer in Hoffnung und Staunen verwandelt - und neue Klarheit im befreienden Gefühl des Nichtwissens findet.

Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders return with their best album yet, and a UK tour this August. Press by Silver PR
‘’On the alternate timeline where the Meat Puppets inherited the bulk of the Grateful Dead’s tourheads when Jerry Garcia died in 1995, none of this would be necessary, because Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders are a household name for evolving their own musical space that overlays dusty folk, cosmic jazz, deep psych, free improv, and even (gasp!) indie rock, building an audience that ranges from open-eared curiosity seekers to deep committed music weirdos that’s also yielded the Heavy Lidders, an infamous sub-cult of concert tapers that you’re already sick of hearing about. A lot of other things are better over on that timeline, too.
But in this consensus reality (and probably the other one, too), Liquid Donnon catches the Lidders at their heaviest, “heavy” in the Lidderverse being far from a monolithic musical idea. There’s heavy like the album-opening “From Loch Raven to Fells Point,” one of several tracks with elegant and gnarled conversational jams featuring the core Lidders lineup of Alexander alongside guitarist Drew Gardner and bassist Jesse Sheppard (both of Elkhorn) and drummer Scott Verrastro. But there’s heavy, too, like “Calliope Walker” and “Tightroping,” featuring Gardner shifted to dream-space vibraphone, the former with saxophonist Tacuma Bradley, the latter with Christina Carter of Texas noise-psych legends Charalambides on veil-crossing wordless vocals, her first collaboration with Alexander in some 20 years.
But then there’s also heavy like the cover photo of Alexander’s late friend and album namesake Donnon, taken at a Dead show at Rich Stadium in Buffalo in 1989, a spirit threading through the songs and weaving unexpectedly into Alexander’s life decades later, emerging especially when Alexander passed through a near-death experience of his own. But, taken together, the different heavies of Liquid Donnon add up into a state of musical grace, where all the Heavy Lidders from all the universes come together as one. Just, like, imagine.
Convened in 2019 on Alexander’s relocation back to his native east coast, the Heavy Lidders are the latest hard-touring expression for the guitarist’s music, joining a vast and tangled discography (and tape list) that includes the beloved long-running west coast Dire Wolves Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band and, before them, the Iditarod and Black Forest/Black Sea, as well as a bushel of solo play-all-the-instruments projects, a stint with Jackie-O Motherfucker, sessions with Kemialliset Ystävät and Avarus and others, and you’ll have to keep digging for the rest.
And while it’s not hard to find tapers at Lidders gigs (and they encourage you to be one), or to track themes and songs over Alexander’s many live releases, Liquid Donnon makes a new primary text, the original versions of six new pieces for the repertoire. The album closes with a devastating pairing of “Reservoir Drop” into “The Summer Song,” floating into a duo between Alexander’s guitar and Carter’s voice. Catch a half-dozen Lidders shows this summer, and you might not ever catch them playing it like that again, but you just might open the doorway back to that better place." - Jesse Jarnow (writer, WFMU DJ, producer and host of The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast)

You can't put Bebe Rexha in a box. From her Grammy-winning songwriting roots on Eminem's "The Monster" to global chart-toppers with David Guetta and Florida Georgia Line, Rexha has established herself as a premier musical chameleon. With her latest project, Dirty Blonde, she officially enters a new era as an independent powerhouse. Now signed to EMPIRE, the Brooklyn-born star has crafted a 13-song "genre kaleidoscope" that serves as her first-ever visual album, representing a total creative rebirth and a departure from the major-label system she's known since she was a teenager.

Recorded across London, Tokyo, and Europe, Dirty Blonde captures the energy of Rexha's global travels. The project seamlessly blends heavy-hitting dance floor anthems with deep, personal storytelling. With the lead single "New Religion" she takes us straight to the club by reimagining the iconic dance record "Insomnia" by Faithless. On "Tokyo," she explores a drum & bass pulse inspired by a late-night rendezvous in Japan, while "Cike Cike" (produced by long-time collaborator DJ Snake) sees Rexha embracing her Albanian heritage by mixing traditional linguistic roots with modern 808 basslines.

At the emotional core of the album is the lead single, "I Like You Better Than Me." The track strips away the pop-star veneer to tackle themes of insecurity and self-scrutiny, blending raw lyrics with a pop-rock edge. From the Jersey-bounce-meets-country vibes of "Drink and a Little Love" to her vulnerable reflections on fame, Dirty Blonde is a celebration of an artist who is finally playing by her own rules. As Rexha firmly asserts, "The old Bebe is dead," leaving behind a focused, stronger creator who is making the music she truly loves.

"raqs", which translates to the Dari noun for "dance" is written the same way like its Arabic original made of the three root letters: ra qa sa - to dance. under this premise of cultural kinship Afghan-German producer artist Farhot is about to addanother sonic layer to his discography, this time designed for the dance floor - a space, where culture can be shared by many, which invites movement and connection.while his earlier work was heavily influenced by the various traditions of hiphop, which later was enfused with sounds inspired by his Afghan roots, on "Raqs" he explores the vibrant musical heritage of mostly Arabic speaking regions from North Africa to West Asia, where as his fascination for Somali music also took him to East Africa. Like a well versed HipHop producer Farhot"s approach to "raqs" was guided by a virtual sampling journey which allowed him to connect and fuse sounds from Egypt, Lebanon or Somalia carefully woven into an EP that stands apart from his previous work but nevertheless carries his sonic signature: productions, that can sound as complex and immense as they sound playful and simple or creating intensity through unconventional ways of chopping and distorting vocals - amongst others one will find samples of Lebanese legend Fairuz dressed in an almost experimental uptempo production. Whoever followed Farhot"s work around the release of his sophomore LP Kabul Fire Vol. 2 via his own label Kabul Fire Records will know that he releases music intentionally alway ensuring a new quality to music, especially when he samples from cultures that are often times overshadowed by conflict or simply forgotten. With "raqs" he reminds us of the rich musical traditions that always existed beyond the west. he also reminds us of the ways that music can connect beyond borders, like an Afghan producer from Germany, who loves Somali music and Fairuz.

On her second EP "Reality Check", Kuoko continues to make her way and search for her own answers. On the follow-up to her debut "Lost Woods", her electro-pop sound remains mystical and spherical, but, as the title implies, this project sees the Hamburg-based music producer deal with a number of quite tangible, personal and social topics. On songs like "Floating" or "Hiding in the Dark" she reminds us to follow our guts despite the ever- increasing pressures of society and technology . Despite the heavy undertone, the atmosphere remains positive all throughout the EP as Kuoko"s crystal-clear voice floats through the elaborate, ethereal soundscapes that she created. After putting out her debut EP in 2018, playing several live shows - three of them at the Reeperbahnfestival - and winning a local award for emerging artists (Krach + Getöse), the young multi- talented artist now invites us to check out her latest work. Accept this invitation and give it a listen. It"s definitely worth it.

Get ready for Macem Ly"s debut album "Honda Date" - a neologism and a homage to all the hopeful Vietnamese couples he watched as they"d rather hopped on to a Honda moped rushing into nature for a romantic date than facing the rush of urban life. So the multi-instrumentalist and producer artist naturally created the perfect album for all those who travel and observe while enjoying long rides on busses or mopeds - not least for knowers of high-quality instrumental productions with a special place for hiphop tradition in their hearts. With "Honda Date" he showcases his musical prowess rooted in HipHop, Funk and Soul all the while proving a certain versatileness in creating new sounds - that are also born out of his training in classical music. Unconventional drums, alternative 808 beats, delicate soul samples and those of modern Jazz guitarists non unambiguously carry Macems Ly"s handwriting as he pays tribute to the old while non the less creating something new.

Colemine ist stolz darauf, die neueste 45er von Aaron Frazer zu präsentieren. Diese hier ist etwas ganz Besonderes. Zwei Tracks mit der Rhythmusgruppe der legendären Cold Diamond & Mink, dem Rückgrat des finnischen Soul-Labels Timmion. Die A-Seite ist ein neuer Track: ,It's A Shame". Und es ist vielleicht wirklich schade, dass dieser Titel es nicht auf die "Into The Blue" LP geschafft hat, denn er ist ein echter Knaller. Meisterhaft von Aaron und Produzent Alex Goose zusammengestellt und arrangiert, besticht der Track durch knackige Drums, Aarons charakteristisches, seidiges Falsett und wunderschöne Streicharrangements. Du wirst den Refrain noch tagelang vor dich hin summen. Die B-Seite ist der Album-Closer auf ,Into The Blue" - und das aus gutem Grund. Es fühlt sich wirklich wie ein süßer und gefühlvoller Abgesang am Ende eines Films an. Ein Klagelied über die Höhen und Tiefen der Liebe, das Gefühl, angesichts des Scheiterns dumm dazustehen, aber trotzdem weiterzumachen. Es fühlt sich an wie ein verlorenes Sample, das von Aaron und Goose gekonnt ins Hier und Jetzt geholt wurde. Für Fans von Durand Jones & The Indications, Pale Jay, Jason Ngonda, Thee Sacred Souls, Neil Frances, Khruangbin.

Newly signed to Heist or Hit (Westside Cowboy, Her’s, Nature TV), Georgian's forthcoming debut EP 'Crackled Grounds' reads like an anthology in the vein of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. These aren’t just songs, but scenes, self-contained worlds that glimmer with strange detail before dissolving into mirage. “We recorded on a farm just north of Amsterdam” states James. “It gave us space and focus and helped us channel the Western feel we wanted to impress upon the tracks. Arno gave us lots of pedal board options and guitar choices. Those things in particular helped us fine-tune the sound we were chasing.” The resulting collection chronicles the ups and downs of existence and blooms with natural imagery. ‘Strike a Wound’ seethes with revenge. The slow attack on the guitars has the onomatopoeic effect of enacting each blow. ‘Crackled Grounds’ conjures an apocalyptic wilderness that wouldn’t be out of place on the ‘Kill Bill’ soundtrack. ‘Medusa’ is a parable of strong women overcoming obstacles and jolts with the energy of those early Johnny Cash Sun recordings. ‘Gardens’ lingers on the awkward tenderness of running into a long-lost lover; while ‘Californian Jeans’ pays homage to denim as talisman, armour, and second skin.

Irgendwann um das Jahr 2024 tauchte Vorhex Angel scheinbar aus dem Nichts auf: keine Social-Media-Präsenz, keine Identitäten, lediglich ihr Name tauchte hier und da auf einem Flyer in Nashville oder New Orleans auf. Wer neugierig genug war, um ihre Live-Show zu besuchen, konnte mit einer Vielzahl unerwarteter Dinge konfrontiert werden, die die Sinne anregten: aufwendige Bühnenbilder, Stroboskoplichter (oder alternativ völlige Dunkelheit), brennende Gegenstände, vor dem Auftritt eingenommene Rauschmittel. Die Musik bei diesen Auftritten passte zu dem Mysterium. Sie war laut, unberechenbar und verdammt viszeral. Wenn die beiden Live-Veröffentlichungen der Gruppe und ihr Debüt ,Heavenly" tatsächlich viszeral sind (Raven Sings the Blues nannte sie ja ,Erben des Strudels von High Rise"), dann ist der Nachfolger ,Drain" sicherlich ihr intellektuelles Werk. Seine sieben Tracks führen den Hörer vom Morgen bis zur Nacht, ein weitläufiges experimentelles Doppelalbum mit überlebensgroßen Gitarrensoli, spacigen Drone-Exkursionen und Momenten von kraftvoller Intensität durch das gesamte Werk. Zum ersten Mal sehen wir, wie Vorhex Angel ihren hämmernden Klangangriff gegen stimmungsvolle und dramatischere Gefilde eintauschen. Die Band - bestehend aus den Brüdern Jake und Jamin Orrall von JEFF the Brotherhood und Kunal Prakash von Silver Synthetic - erweitert die Grenzen des Vorhex-Angel-Konzepts, lädt neue Musiker in ihren Kreis ein, geht mehr Risiken ein und erntet dafür umso mehr. ,Drain ist keine Musik, die man im Hintergrund beim Kochen laufen lässt", warnt Kunal, bevor er zwinkert: ,Vielleicht ist sie etwas für besonders abenteuerlustige Köche." Vorhex Angel verspricht, dass noch mehr kommen wird. Mehr Jams, mehr unerwartete Wendungen - allein in diesem Jahr können wir mindestens eine Tour und mindestens zwei (!) weitere Alben erwarten. Vorerst gibt es ,Drain" zu feiern, sich damit auseinanderzusetzen, damit der Hörer wie die Musik selbst ein- und ausatmen kann, mit reichlich Raum für gedankliche Kontemplation. SPA Sometime around 2024, Vorhex Angel emerged seemingly out of the ether: no social media presence, no identities, simply their name popping up in Nashville or New Orleans on a flyer here and there. Those with enough curiosity to attend their live show could be met with any number of unexpected things to spike the senses: elaborate stage dressing, strobe lights (alternatively, complete darkness), burning things, pre-performance ingestibles. The music at those functions matched the mystery. They were loud, unhinged, and visceral as all hell. If the group's two live releases and debut Heavenly are indeed visceral (Raven Sings the Blues did name them "heirs to the maelstrom of High Rise"), then followup Drain is surely their cerebral offering. Its seven tracks guide the listener from morning to night, a sprawling experimental double album with larger than life guitar solos, spaced-out drone excursions, and moments of potent intensity throughout. For the first time, we see Vorhex Angel trade their pummeling sonic onslaught for moody and more dramatic pastures. The band-revealed to be brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall of JEFF the Brotherhood and Silver Synthetic's Kunal Prakash-push the parameters of the Vorhex Angel concept outward, inviting new players into their circle, adding more risk and generating more reward. "Drain is not in-the-background cooking-type music," warns Kunal, before winking: "Maybe it is for particularly adventurous chefs." Vorhex Angel promises there will be more. More jams, more left turns-just this year, we can expect at least one tour and at least two (!) more albums. For now, there is Drain to celebrate, to sit and chew on, to allow the listener to breathe out and in like the music does, with ample room for cerebral contemplation.

Maximum Exposure Inc. presents Joy Rider, the debut album from Down Town, the Toronto duo of Ian Elias Afif (bass+effects) and Maxwell Cecil Stover (soprano saxophone + electronics).

Produced and mixed in collaboration with Tony Price in Toronto, Joy Rider portrays a new vision for low-end music as sculpture. Liquid bass paintings, alloy tone abstractions — a virtual still life formed out of fretless aluminum bass, specular soprano saxophone cybernetics, and metallic rhythm architectures.

These pieces belong to a lineage of post-minimalist, low-end experimentalism that treats electroacoustic improvisation and ambient synthesis as mutable sound matter - Joe Zawinul's circuitboard cartographies, the insurgent bass guitar mutations of Bill Laswell, Mick Karn, and Robbie Shakespeare, Evan Parker's recursive multiphonic sax investigations, the most textural sides from the ECM catalogue and the sonic holography constructed by Jon Hassell and Michael Brook during their sessions with Eno and Lanois Hamilton, Ontario.

The album unfolds like a series of suspended environments - music for inside a city.

Ghost Funk Orchestra are a mystery. Plain and simple. Dirty, soulful production, verbed and fuzzed out guitars, mysterious vocals that feel like a lost score to a Quentin Tarantino film. The brainchild of one-man producer/musician/arranger Seth Applebaum, GFO is forging new territory and blurring the line between soul and psychedelic.

Available for the first time on vinyl! ESCAPE THE FATE deliver electrifying melodies and shattering screams with raw emotional force. Their staggering Epitaph debut entitled There"s No Sympathy for the Dead has five songs and every one of them is guaranteed to blow you away. Die anderen beiden Alben, die wir als Backkatalog haben, haben sich auf CD über 3.000 bzw. 5.000 Stück verkauft!!

"Imagine a classic singer/songwriter record loaded with the intimacy and grit reminiscent of Alex Chilton or Nikki Sudden." Shindig

Los Angeles singer-songwriter Tracy Bryant returns with his new album The Well, which is his first release since 2019’s critically acclaimed Hush. His fourth solo album, The Well marks a striking new chapter, trading his signature guitar-driven sound for piano-led songwriting that took root during the pandemic. The album was born out of one of the most turbulent periods of his life, written in the wake of his father’s sudden passing and birth of his first child. It was produced by longtime friend and compatriot Joo-Joo Ashworth at Studio 22 in Cypress Park, CA, and mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters. The nine songs are filled with raw emotion and driving motorik rhythm, telling tales of loss and love, relationships beginning and ending.
 
When the pandemic upended Bryant’s promotion for Hush and brought his 2019 European tour to a halt, he found himself at home rediscovering his musical roots at the piano, listening to Vince Guaraldi and Arthur Russell to take inspiration for the song structures. Without a band around, Bryant used the instrument to create both rhythm and melody, which resulted in a repetitive and precise backbeat, which was elevated when he began working with drummer Carmeron Gartung to rehearse the new songs. This different approach would define the style of The Well, creating an amalgamation of sounds with classic songwriting structures blended with post-punk, 90s indie, krautrock and psychedelia.
 
To produce the record, Bryant turned to Joo-Joo Ashworth, who share a friendship stretching back to 2011 (when Joo Joo was only 18) when both of their bands, Corners and Froth, were at the forefront of the bourgeoning Los Angeles/Echo Park music scene of the time and embarked on their first national tours together. Ashworth, who has since become one of underground music’s most respected producers, recorded the album throughout 2024/2025 on half inch tape at Studio 22 in Cypress Park, California, giving The Well a warm, considered sound that matches the weight of its subject matter.
 
The album’s emotional core was forged by two significant life events arriving in close succession. In January 2022, Bryant’s father passed away unexpectedly at the age of 67. Just three months later, Tracy and his wife welcomed their first child. The Well is a direct result of those experiences, a songwriter processing grief and joy, endings and beginnings in real time. 
 
The nine songs take the listener on a meticulously crafted journey through the nooks and crannies of Bryant’s mind. Spanning 37 minutes, the album is an exploration of classic songwriting elements moving fluidly between driving beat punk, like “Weight” and “Widow”, and more melancholic tracks like “Halfway” and “Danny”. Album opener “Cold Floor” sets the tone immediately, Bryant’s lyrics confronting the day of his father’s death with unflinching directness – the breezy California piano sound is in direct contrast to the heavy theme. The Bowie-esque title track is perhaps the album’s most expansive moment – a fully realised epic composed with a dynamic flare. 
 
 The Well feels like an arrival. Dramatic and expansive, it is a true, visceral reflection of the life changing events that altered the course of Bryant’s life. Fans will be surprised by the heavy focus on piano but they will welcome the change as a bold turning point for an artist who has lived long enough to know exactly what he wants to say. 

Some previous press:

"feels like a slice of California, down to its ringing post-surf guitars and bright melodies, but cross-cut with a folk sensibility more aligned to the work of Elliot Smith or, on occasions, Conor Oberst." Uncut - lead album review

"…sees the Los Angeles rocker confront both the finer and uglier aspects of love and life, combining classic rock with psychedelic tinges and catchy melodies." Evening Standard 4*s

Soul Jazz Records’ ‘Calypso – Musical Poetry in the Caribbean’ was first issued in 2014 and has been out of print for nearly 10 years. On its release ‘Calypso’ was voted one of the year’s best 50 reissues in Rolling Stone magazine and received glowing reviews in Pitchfork, The Guardian, Songlines and many more. This new edition has been fully remastered and comes as a one-off limited-edition double vinyl pressing on translucent green vinyl, complete with bespoke inners featuring extensive sleevenotes, notes on all the artists and songs featured, and original artwork and photography. The album is also available in a new card-edition CD package, also with complete notes and text.

Featuring Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Viper, Count Zebra, Lord Flea, Lord Hummingbird, King Fighter, Lord Growler, Lord Byron, Lord Ivanhoe and other members of Calypso’s aristocracy and aristocrats, the album features the music of Calypso in its many styles. Calypso is one of the most exciting and enduring forms of musical expression that first emerged at the beginning of the 20th century – swinging, persuasive rhythms, brilliantly expressive melodies, and lyrics of great humour, wisdom and wit. Here you will find music from Trinidad, birthplace of Calypso, other Caribbean islands including Jamaica and the Bahamas, as well as sounds from the style’s subsequent onwards journey including Britain, Panama and the United States. Calypsonian songs play out a role in society similar to the storytelling Griots of West Africa (and the corresponding music of Kaiso); with their own tales about popular and incredible news items, modern life, local politics all mixed up with sexual innuendo, one-upmanship, comedy and more. At its source, Calypso is intricately and inextricably bound to the social history of Trinidad and its myriad of traditions, beliefs, folklore and fables. As the music spread around the world, both from the diaspora of many of its performers as well as its commercial success, the subjects of songs similarly took on local topics.The most notable singer of Calypso in England was the Trinidadian Lord Kitchener, who came to Britain in 1948 on HMS Empire Windrush, along with fellow Calypsonians Lord Beginner and Lord Woodbine.

Hip Hop icon and one of the genre’s most distinctive voices, Big L returns with 'Harlem's Finest: Return Of The King', the latest release in Mass Appeal's 'Legend Has It...' series.

Features guest appearances from Nas, JAY Z, Mac Miller, Joey Bada$$, Method Man and more

Mission of Mercy, the fourth full length album from celebrated guitarist and songwriter Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac) and his band The Dirty Knobs, is due June 12 via Soundly Music/Thirty Tigers. The album features appearances from the B-52s’ Kate Pierson and Morgane Stapleton alongside the Dirty Knobs’ Chris Holt (guitars, keys), Lance Morrison (bass) and Campbell’s fellow Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone (drums, percussion). Mission of Mercy displays Campbell’s full songwriting range, with tracks ranging from the unbridled rock & roll of “I Remember” to the Americana ballad “More Than Gold” and even the Brian Wilson-inspired psychedelia of the title track. Campbell states that “Mission Of Mercy is an action-packed collection of tunes that continue the vibe we established as well as some new directions in the songwriting. It’s full-throttle Knobs from start to finish and we look forward to playing these live this year.” Last year saw the release of Campbell’s New York Times Best Selling memoir Heartbreaker, which Rolling Stone hailed as “essential…a vividly told new autobiography,” while the Los Angeles Times praised its “tale of endurance and patience rewarded” and No Depression proclaimed it “does what the best music memoirs do: encourage readers to listen once again, or for the first time, to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and to Campbell’s solo works.” The Dirty Knobs (named after tech slang for a broken amp dial) were founded in 2000 by Campbell as a writing and club-date project outside the Heartbreakers. The group finally got on record with 2020's Wreckless Abandon and 2022's External Combustion. Those LPs, Campbell says, were the Knobs “trying to find our way as a rock & roll band.” “Now it’s down to great songs,” adds Campbell, “the depth in the lyrics and chords.” He recalls something Petty once told him: “Tom said, ‘I love the English language. There’s so much you can do with it.’ I'm discovering that, too. Looking for rhyme schemes, the right word. At first it was a struggle. Now that door has opened,” Campbell says. “I’ve turned a corner.” The Dirty Knobs are “still a rock band but growing into different feels.”

Yellow Days' new album Rock And A Hard Place is a tour de force which sees George van den Broek returning to his soul roots, channelling everyone from Stevie Wonder to Gil Scott-Heron to his idol, Ray Charles, in a set of emotionally charged songs constructed with an attention to detail worthy of the Brill Building.
Beautifully sung, brilliantly played and almost glowing with intelligence, it's the sound of Yellow Days coming of age.

„Immer noch hier“ singen die Sportfreunde Stiller gleich zu Beginn von „Happy Birthday!“, ihrem Album
zum 30-jährigen Band-Geburtstag. Ein pragmatischer, ein geradezu logischer und deshalb auch ein höchst
gelungener Einstieg. Nicht, dass man explizit darauf hätte hinweisen müssen, denn für viele von uns waren
die Songs von Peter, Rüde und Flo ja immer irgendwie gegenwärtig, schaut mal in eure Playlisten, CDund Plattenregale. Dabei klingen sie 2026 frisch und unverbraucht wie zu seligen „Thonträger“-Zeiten,
gleichzeitig aber auch erfahren, mit allen Wassern gewaschen und bei aller Nostalgie auch zeitgemäß. Rockmusik wie sie sein muss, punkig anmutendes Uptempo-Schlagzeug und zuweilen wohl temperierte, ruppige
E-Gitarren inklusive.
Hinzu kommt ihr untrügliches Gespür für unvergessliche Pop-Melodien und ein gewisses Faible für flächige,
manchmal an die 80er Jahre erinnernde Synthies. Auch textlich geht „Happy Birthday!“ - in stürmischen
Zeiten - in die richtige Richtung: Dem Leben zugewandt, ab und an auch nachdenklich, grundsätzlich aber
alle Menschen verbindend. Die Sportfreunde Stiller sind also immer noch hier - und das ist nicht nur gut
so, sondern womöglich besser denn je!

Newly remastered and repackaged, Soul Jazz Records’ Gipsy Rhumba was first released to much-critical acclaim around the world in 2012, the album is a stunning mix of Latin, Funk, Flamenco and Rhumba rhythms. The album is being released on deluxe double vinyl, complete with large text and lush photography across two inner sleeves. Also new limited-edition new-card sleeved CD, out of print for more than ten years. The album is like no other and remains the first album ever outside of Spain to seriously focus on the history of Gipsy Rhumba, one of the most interesting musical culture clashes ever that first took place in the early 1960s.

In the Catalan region of Spain, Gypsies primarily known as the creators of Flamenco, came up with a fascinating hybrid style – Gipsy Rhumba – which blended together Latin and Rhumba music of Cuba and the Caribbean together with their own Flamenco as well as the emerging Rock and Roll from America. The album tells this unique story of how this Latin-tinged music came about in the heart of Spain's gypsy community. The album comes with extensive sleevenotes, exclusive and stunning photography from the celebrated French photographer Jacques Leonard. The album is put together by two of Spain's most important Gipsy Rhumba specialists - compiler David El Indio and sleevenotes by Jose Manuel Gómez (Gufi).

A mix of metallic doomgaze, epic gothic soundscapes and post punk attitude. Loud and crushing, yet sharp enough to stick in your head for days. There are two kinds of heavy bands: the ones that make a lot of noise and the ones that drag you somewhere you didn't know you needed to go. Cwfen (pronounced 'Coven') are the latter, and Sorrows is a record that doesn't just crush - it haunts long after the final note. The allure of Cwfen's sound lies in contrasts: the glacial ferocity of Amenra, with the velvet-and-razor vocals of King Woman, and the rotting grandeur of Type O Negative. It's as hypnotic as it is harrowing, but somehow even better than the sum of those parts. Since emerging from Glasgow's underground just 18 months ago, Cwfen's reputation is growing, selling out shows and pulling growing audiences into their doom-laden fever dream. Released in October, the band's debut single 'Reliks' was a hit with fans and critics, landing a spot on Kerrang!'s release of the week playlist. And rightly so. Their sound devours and delights in equal measure. "Cwfen have emerged from the darkest depths of the Caledonian underground with a beguiling blend of doom metal and gothic post-punk for those who like to live deliciously." Kerrang! Sorrows lives in the space around doom where the weight of the riffs is matched by the weight in your chest, where the lyrics and the songwriting are as important as the music itself. Loud and crushing, yet sharp enough to stick in your head for days. It builds, burns, collapses, resurrects. Big on riffs, bigger on feeling. The kind of songs you carry with you. Singer and rhythm guitarist Agnes Alder bears her claws one minute, then whispers the next, as the band follows like a storm front, rising, breaking, drowning you in the weight of it. From the guttural Penance to the lush Whispers, to the feral Wolfsbane and the insurrectionist Rite. It includes a long reworking of Embers and Bodies, the two self-recorded demos that launched them into the scene with a bang and their growing legion of fans already adore. Intricate vocal arrangements, heavy and harsh guitars, a mix of atmosphere and heft, it undoubtedly punches above its weight for a debut. As Agnes says: "When we stopped trying to fit into any one space, what came out was this beautiful mix of dark and light. Something visceral and cathartic." This is a band that sits right in the boundaries between the heavy genres, pulling in everyone from the young goths and to the die-hard metalheads alike and 'Sorrows' truly does deliver in spades. Make no mistake, Cwfen are set to be one of the names to watch in 2025. FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Zetra, King Woman, Type O Negative, Alcest, Faetooth, Liturgy. Limited vinyl pressing, 500 copies in transparent red vinyl. Full colour Gatefold outer sleeve, with a full colour printed inner sleeve, Full download included as well.

In 2019, La Volte released Les Furtifs, the latest novel by science fiction writer Alain Damasio. At that time, to mark the publication, Damasio invited the band Palo Alto to join him on stage in response to an invitation from the literary festival Oh les beaux jours !, held at La Criée – Théâtre national de Marseille. What was initially intended as a one-off performance led to a multi-date tour across France. The show performed at La Maroquinerie was filmed and recorded in multitrack and will be release on the 12th of June 2026 on Hublotone (HUBLO006CD).

At the same time, to join this release, Palo Alto invited eight artists to remix the pieces composed for the show: Ptôse, Pacific 231, Judith Juillerat, Herb Duncan, Norscq, Thierry Zaboitzeff, Lefdup & Lefdup, and Electronicat.

Bringing together the best of the French underground music scene, these tracks echo avant-garde artists such as Coil and Tuxedomoon, blending electronic music with string instruments, instrumental compositions with acid club influences. They will be available on vinyl in a gatefold sleeve featuring artwork by Kiki Picasso (ex-Bazooka). Inside the gatefold, an exclusive text by Alain Damasio introduces the project.

Palo Alto is a French band formed in Paris in the late 1980s. They have recorded a dozen albums and developed several projects featuring guest musicians such as Scanner, Simon Fisher Turner, Ramuntcho Matta, J. G. Thirlwell / Foetus, Richard Pinhas and the New York trumpeter Rhys Chatham. They contributed to a tribute album to John Balance / Coil and asked a dozen artists to reinterpret "Half-Mute", Tuxedomoon’s debut album, featuring the original members of the American band (Steven Brown, Blaine L. Reininger and Peter Principle). In 2018, they were selected by the Californian band The Residents to take part in a cover album released on Cherry Red Records. Their latest album, dedicated to the philosopher Gilles Deleuze, was released on the Belgian label Sub Rosa in 2020.

a A1 - The Stealthy Ones remix By Ptôse
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]

[a] A1 - The Stealthy Ones [remix By Ptôse]
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]

Los Angeles rock trio Dogstar is back with All In Now, the band’s fourth studio album and the follow-up to 2023’s Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Produced by Nick Launay (IDLES, Amyl and the Sniffers, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds), All In Now marks a new era for Dogstar, with layered guitar riffs and heavy bass inspired by their time out on the road. Includes black LP in a gatefold jacket with a printed insert.

Splatter Vinyl Single. Dies ist die vierte Ausgabe der Ancient Grease "Heavy DJ"-Split-7"-Reihe mit Untergrund Bands aus dem Psych/Prog/Acid/Space/Art/Stoner-Rock!

Formed in 2022 and already moving with the assurance of a band far beyond its years, Hanry stands at the confluence of atmosphere and impact, restraint and eruption. Hanry return with `What Came From Silence`, their first full-length album that captures the band at a decisive moment in their evolution. Their performance at the legendary Trans Musicales in Rennes, broadcast nationally to an audience of thousands, marked a defining moment, and the forthcoming live session with KEXP signals Hanry's international ascent The new album is a cinematic journey that is all at once introspective, soaring and meticulously curated. Hanry transform restraint into resonance, and `What Came From Silence` is an album that invites immersion; it begins in stillness and slowly, inexorably, unfolds into something vast and luminous Sonically, the album deepens Hanry's exploration of contrast. Clean guitar tones shimmer with crystalline precision, only to dissolve into waves of saturated distortion. Ambient passages feel suspended in time, yet the band resists drifting into passivity. Even at their most delicate, there is motion; subtle pulses and evolving textures that suggest forward momentum. When the band unleashes its full force, the sound remains articulate; each instrument retains its identity within the surge. "The main new element on this album is our collaboration with the pianist Mariposa, who worked with us on the track Phantom Rush. His sensitivity and musical depth brought a new dimension to the piece. He took the composition into a space we likely would not have explored on our own, adding both emotional intensity and richness to the track." (Hanry) FOR FANS OF Explosion in the Sky * Boards of Canada * Massive Attack

Formed in 2022 and already moving with the assurance of a band far beyond its years, Hanry stands at the confluence of atmosphere and impact, restraint and eruption. Hanry return with `What Came From Silence`, their first full-length album that captures the band at a decisive moment in their evolution. Their performance at the legendary Trans Musicales in Rennes, broadcast nationally to an audience of thousands, marked a defining moment, and the forthcoming live session with KEXP signals Hanry's international ascent The new album is a cinematic journey that is all at once introspective, soaring and meticulously curated. Hanry transform restraint into resonance, and `What Came From Silence` is an album that invites immersion; it begins in stillness and slowly, inexorably, unfolds into something vast and luminous Sonically, the album deepens Hanry's exploration of contrast. Clean guitar tones shimmer with crystalline precision, only to dissolve into waves of saturated distortion. Ambient passages feel suspended in time, yet the band resists drifting into passivity. Even at their most delicate, there is motion; subtle pulses and evolving textures that suggest forward momentum. When the band unleashes its full force, the sound remains articulate; each instrument retains its identity within the surge. "The main new element on this album is our collaboration with the pianist Mariposa, who worked with us on the track Phantom Rush. His sensitivity and musical depth brought a new dimension to the piece. He took the composition into a space we likely would not have explored on our own, adding both emotional intensity and richness to the track." (Hanry) FOR FANS OF Explosion in the Sky * Boards of Canada * Massive Attack

Damian Dalla Torre returns with People Pleaser, a record shaped by movement, collaboration and an ever-deepening relationship with sound as environment.
The Leipzig-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer first found wide attention with his 2022 debut Happy Floating, and his subsequent album I Can Feel My Dreams was named the #1 Contemporary Album of 2024 by The Guardian, an accolade that broadened his audience and deepened confidence in his evolving voice. That second album, written between Europe and South America, opened unexpected doors and took Dalla Torre to stages across New York, Japan and Italy. “When you release music, it’s very intimate,” he reflects. “You show your emotions pretty raw. I was kind of scared. But getting so much positive feedback gave me a lot of self-confidence to try out more.”

People Pleaser begins in that quiet shift of confidence.

The title stayed with him for months before he committed to it. “It was a working title for a long time,” he says. “I didn’t actually think I would use it. But this term also felt somehow relevant in connection with the phase of self-negotiation during the development process. Some aspects are related to pressure, others are positive.” The ambiguity felt right. Rather than presenting it as a statement, Dalla Torre leaves it open, an invitation rather than a confession.
At the centre of People Pleaser is collaboration. Guitarist Bertram Burkert, whose playing stretches from classical delicacy to electric abstraction, joined Dalla Torre in the studio for an intensive three-day session, recording a wide palette of textures that would become the backbone of the album. Vocalist Laura Zöschg, a key live collaborator, harpist Babett Niclas, organist Felix Römer, tape experimentalist Markus Rom, marimba and vibraphonist Volker Heuken and Japanese artist Manami Kakudo also contribute, creating a sound that feels intimate yet expansive.

Damian Dalla Torre returns with People Pleaser, a record shaped by movement, collaboration and an ever-deepening relationship with sound as environment.
The Leipzig-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer first found wide attention with his 2022 debut Happy Floating, and his subsequent album I Can Feel My Dreams was named the #1 Contemporary Album of 2024 by The Guardian, an accolade that broadened his audience and deepened confidence in his evolving voice. That second album, written between Europe and South America, opened unexpected doors and took Dalla Torre to stages across New York, Japan and Italy. “When you release music, it’s very intimate,” he reflects. “You show your emotions pretty raw. I was kind of scared. But getting so much positive feedback gave me a lot of self-confidence to try out more.”

People Pleaser begins in that quiet shift of confidence.

The title stayed with him for months before he committed to it. “It was a working title for a long time,” he says. “I didn’t actually think I would use it. But this term also felt somehow relevant in connection with the phase of self-negotiation during the development process. Some aspects are related to pressure, others are positive.” The ambiguity felt right. Rather than presenting it as a statement, Dalla Torre leaves it open, an invitation rather than a confession.
At the centre of People Pleaser is collaboration. Guitarist Bertram Burkert, whose playing stretches from classical delicacy to electric abstraction, joined Dalla Torre in the studio for an intensive three-day session, recording a wide palette of textures that would become the backbone of the album. Vocalist Laura Zöschg, a key live collaborator, harpist Babett Niclas, organist Felix Römer, tape experimentalist Markus Rom, marimba and vibraphonist Volker Heuken and Japanese artist Manami Kakudo also contribute, creating a sound that feels intimate yet expansive.

First released in 1976, "Metallic K.O." was the fourth album from IGGY & THE STOOGES, a classic, memorable recording of the Stooges confrontational last gig. The Stooges had not been heard since "73"s "Raw Power", and the sound of kamikaze Iggy in between new songs dodging eggs and glasses thrown by Hell"s Angels gave him a new audience in the embryonic punk crowd. It defined Iggy as a punk originator, sold 100k+ and become the Stooges best-selling album. Previously re-issued as an extended, two-CD set with two complete shows (FREUDCD070), it"s now been condensed down to the exact original album edit that shocked and inspired so many. In the 2007 remastering from the original tapes an original tape-speed fault was found - now for the first time the album can be heard in the correct pitch! As Lester Bangs said: "IT"S THE ONLY ROCK ALBUM I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR HURLED BEER BOTTLES BREAKING AGAINST GUITAR STRINGS". Recorded 1973 & 74. Inner bag with historical background.

New from Ulla’s 28912 label comes a gorgeous bouquet of lowercase wonders from Justin Cantrell aka J and the Woolen Stars, part of Picnic, and the brains behind the excellent Daisart and se Dessaisir Publishing labels.

»Puff« is a glistening pool of lush refractions and music-box lullabies, featuring an array of acoustic instruments and fragile foley sounds that are gently peeled away until all we’re left with are the faded outlines of half-remembered songs.

A sound that roots itself in the prophetic machinations of artists like Fennesz and the languid Japanese minimalism of Fourcolour or Moskitoo, »Puff« strikes a delicate balance, sounding as bewitchingly informal as a Tenniscoats set, but also consistently muddling the perception of high and low-brow sound. Cantrell’s skill lies in a sort of sonic conjuration, bamboozling the brains of those of us who grew up listening to stepped-on audio via ramshackle RealMedia streams by alchemising the content, turning found sound into gold. Just tell us you don’t get chills from hearing the bitrate-impaired acoustic guitar on »Dirty like an angel«, set against a backdrop of windy, harmonic detritus. It’s both meticulously contrived and gloriously off-the-cuff, like one of Vincent Gallo’s classic »When«-era demos reduced down to 96kbps.

Similarly, »She knows just what to say« provokes faint memories of folk music, with impromptu fiddle parts gently steamrolled to create a sound that’s nothing short of exquisite, like pressed flowers rediscovered in an old, discarded book. Even the more palpably electronic elements are hand sculpted in a way that belies the era we’re living in - it’s music for a digital age that sounds oddly unplugged, flawed and human. An unmistakably lovely antidote to the opiating nostalgia of our time.