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Keys To The World, Richard Ashcroft's third solo album, landed in January 2006 and quickly crept like a mile-a-minute vine to number two, whereto it clung for some time. Produced by long-time collaborator Chris Potter, it marks the former Verve frontman's last solo full-length for ten years, before its later supersession by 2016's These People. The LP leans heavy on orchestration, its string arrangements by Julian Kershaw performed by the London Met Orchestra, and electric viola parts from Bruce White sallying over its songwritten entirety. Sonically, Ashcroft dialled down the bombasticity of earlier outings for an analgesic, string-swept sound, dividing the lauds: praised by some for its melodic clarity maturer songwriting, others found it all too safe, though that didn't stop it going Platinum in the UK.

In 1974, Tangerine Dream--then composed of Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann & Christopher Franke--performed a now legendary concert set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Coventry Cathedral. Nearly fifty years later, the current incarnation of the band--Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane & Paul Frick--returned to that same sacred space in 2022 to perform a monumental 'From Virgin To Quantum Years' set, bridging eras in a performance that reflects the band's extraordinary & ceaseless evolution.

After making their mark with their debut album, The Risen Dread returns with their highly anticipated second studio album. Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono at Bloom Studios in Guidonia, Rome, Italy. This new record showcases the band's evolution, delivering an even heavier, darker, and more intense sonic experience.
While not a concept album, death looms large as the central theme, weaving through the lyrics with raw emotion and unsettling storytelling. From existential dread to violent ends, each track explores different facets of mortality, drawing the listener into a visceral journey through the inevitable.
The music delivers heavy riffs, dynamic drumming, and a mix of intensity and melody, further refining the band’s identity while pushing their sound forward.
Set for release on June 13, 2025, via Time to Kill Records, the album builds on the band's signature sound with a balance of aggression, atmosphere, and storytelling.

After two highly acclaimed releases on their own label, LEGACY join To Pikap Records to continue their subaquatic trip on the Detroitish side of electro. ''Expanding the Bubblenet'' is simultaneously fuel for the dancefloor and food for the brain. Enter the net to claim your share.

On the occasion of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of our work, in cooperation with PGP-RTS, we prepared a quite special edition: Max And Intro-Return To The Future 1984-1994 LP collects 12 tracks of this legendary Belgrade synth-pop group on high-quality 180-gram vinyl, remastered from the original master tapes with a handful of extras: the record comes with a rare interview from 1985, a lyrics sheet, and phenomenal unreleased photos by Goran Basarić and Max’s Poster.

After making their mark with their debut album, The Risen Dread returns with their highly anticipated second studio album. Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono at Bloom Studios in Guidonia, Rome, Italy. This new record showcases the band's evolution, delivering an even heavier, darker, and more intense sonic experience. While not a concept album, death looms large as the central theme, weaving through the lyrics with raw emotion and unsettling storytelling. From existential dread to violent ends, each track explores different facets of mortality, drawing the listener into a visceral journey through the inevitable. The music delivers heavy riffs, dynamic drumming, and a mix of intensity and melody, further refining the band's identity while pushing their sound forward.

Movie Rock - ein neues Genre wird definiert. Den beiden Komponisten Sven Bergmann & Oliver Bartkowski ist eine wunderbare Symbiose aus Rock und Pop gelungen, die mit klassischen und sogar jazzigen Elementen, sowie Ausflügen ins Reich des Musicals neue Maßstäbe setzen kann. Der Fan von Film-Scores wird gleichermaßen bedient wie der Rockfan, bei dem es auch gerne einmal krachen darf. Bergmann und Bartkowski konnten bereits mit "The Movie Trip Show" ihr Publikum begeistern. Sie komponierten die Musik für den international prämierten Euro-Western "Durch seine Venen fließt Blei - Bullet Vain" und präsentieren nun mit HEAVEN"S SAPPHIRE "Welcome To Wonderworld" ihr erstes Movie-Rock-Album.

Emerging from the fertile chaos of Düsseldorf’s Salon des Amateurs scene, Sequence of Events, the collaborative project of Deniz Saridas and Joshua Gottmanns, presents The Art of Memory, an album that feels both intimate and ungraspable, like recalling a dream that fades upon waking.

Rooted in the post-industrial landscapes of West Germany, The Art of Memory channels the bleak resilience of these environments into its sound. It’s a collage of kraut-infused electronics, shoegaze textures, and industrial pulses, filtered through a lens of introspective psychedelia. “We don’t consciously break down or combine genres,” they explain. “Everything is interwoven, like chemistry. Some reactions happen immediately, others take years under pressure.”

From the opening track TAR, with its stoic vocals and drum-heavy propulsion, to the robotic Meagre Gardens, where autotuned chants coil around unconventional drum programming, the album moves like a fever dream through fragmented memories. Soul Divider unfolds like a cinematic journey through yearning and desire, its repetitive pulses echoing the ache of unfulfilled longing, while Nature Hates Life distills pop music through the eyes of a killjoy: “Kurt Cobain on an AKAI MPC2000,” as the band describes it. Even moments of tenderness, like the drifting Becomings, shimmer with absolute sensuality: a seductive exploration of presence defined by absence. We lift each other up and hold each other down.

The creative process behind The Art of Memory is as fluid as the music itself. Saridas and Gottmanns, both self-taught musicians with backgrounds in fine art, worked intuitively, drawing from a shared pool of samples, text fragments, and images. Operating somewhere in the space between fin de siècle aesthetics and occultism, it’s a dream wedding with a continuous stream of meaningless (moving) images generated by human and non-human entities.

Ultimately, The Art of Memory is not an escape but an immersion. A meditation on the sensory overload of the present and the ghosts it leaves in its wake. In a world where music is often reduced to background noise for consumption, Sequence of Events offers something more elusive: a record that lingers, unsettles, and demands to be remembered.

First Word Records are incredibly proud to bring you ‘I Swear To You’; the stunning sophomore album from Georgie Sweet.

Georgie is a singer / songwriter currently based in Brighton, with a uniquely smooth, soulful vocal tone.

Whilst working on her debut record (‘Misunderstood’), Georgie began a songwriting partnership with multi-instrumentalist Marc Rapson, who is on the boards throughout this project. The duo discovered a natural musical connection instantly, and began working on an abundance of beautiful new material shortly after the release of the first album; writing and creating at Rapson’s home in Hertfordshire at various sessions from 2021 onwards, culminating in this new 12-track album, ‘I Swear To You’.

Despite being one of the UK’s best kept secrets, Georgie’s already been pricking the ears of some highly-respected selectors. The first single from this record (‘Smaller / All That We Were’) received love from tastemakers such as BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson (“this one melts”), Jazz FM's Tony Minvielle ("supremely talented”) and Clash Magazine (“exudes soulful grace”), whilst previous material found itself in the crates of legendary luminaries like DJ Jazzy Jeff & DJ Spinna amongst others.

At the end of 2024, Georgie signed to Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label, First Word Records; although she previously featured before on the label, via the title track of the highly-acclaimed 2021 sophomore album by Children of Zeus, 'Balance', along with Akemi Fox. Prior to this her debut album 'Misunderstood' dropped back in 2020 on Futuristica Music; an independent imprint run by Deborah Jordan & Simon S, on which Georgie also collaborated with acclaimed producers like K15 and Mecca:83.

An all-round creative soul, away from creating music, Georgie also works as an illustrator and animator. However, her lifelong love of music is unquestionable. She’s been a vocalist from a young age, initially working with her musical parents (a producer and professional singer respectively).

With a hugely diverse set of inspirations ranging from Stevie Wonder to Michael McDonald, Hiatus Kaiyote to Chappell Roan, Mac Miller to Sampha, and George Duke to EW&F, Georgie's respect, love and admiration for a wide range of music is clear; from jazz to soul to pop to hip hop.

Probably the finest work of Hector Rivera - Latin soul at it’s best. A non-stop
boogaloo party that never lets up with plenty of cha-cha and funky grooves.
• Two tracks taken from Hector Rivera’s debut album “At The Party with Hector Rivera”
originally released in 1966 on Barry Records.
• Remastered by Phil Kinrade and presented in a 7” Discobag sleeve.
• Part of the Demon Records Singles Club.

1974 veröffentlichte die Band 'Phaedra' ihr erstes Album für Virgin, und spielte in der Coventry Cathedral ein fulminantes Konzert. Knapp 50 Jahre später kehrte die aktuelle Besetzung der Band an gleiche Stätte zurück, um eine bewegende Karriere-Rückschau in Bild und Ton festzuhalten. Die 20 Tracks (auf dem 3LP-Set ohne die ‘Introduction‘) enthalten zahlreiche Highlights, inkl. "Stratosfear", "Phaedra", "Ricochet", "Raum", "Choronzon" u.v.a..

"Super Killer Aptocalyptic Noise and ultra Desperate Drowning Garage Punk from Toulouse France , members of the Fatals, Blow up! Amphetamine penis etc.." Die Jungs aus Toulouse sind zurück auf der Bühne der Anti-Pop Szene und sprengen mit ihrem super killer apokalyptischen Noise und ultraver Desperate, Drowning Garagenpunk das Hirn weg. Mitglieder von The Fatals, Blow up! oder Amphetamine Penis, und so weiter... die französischen Gitarrenwand-Könige sind zurück und haben diese 11 Songs im legendären Swampland Studio aufgenommen (The Monsters, Bad Mojos, The Spits, Sloks, Oh Telephone, Nestter Donuts...) um ihr bereits viertes Album!! bei Voodoo Rhythm Records zu veröffentlichen (You Can't Save Me - 2015 Death of an Angel - 2017 Nervous Breakdown 2020). Wie üblich spielen sie mit dröhnenden Gitarrenwänden (Hawkwind, Jesus und Mary Jane) und flirten mit ihren Musikfreunden The Limiñanas (französische, verzweifelte, herzzerreißende, traurige Liebes Lieder) und ihrem ganz eigenen Garage-Punk aus Toulouse zu zelebrieren... das ist deine Chance, dieses Album zu erwerben, das nur auf Vinyl erschienen ist ... keine CD, kein Tape ... nur Vinyl!! Genre/Stil: Hard Rock/Psych-Rock/Garagerock - Klassisch schwarzes Vinyl mit Booklet & DLC

Das dritte Album von Mission to the Sun, Seven Years, markiert eine bemerkenswerte Entwicklung für das Projekt. Während sie ihrer Mischung aus atmosphärischem Sounddesign und gespenstischen Gesangsséancen treu bleiben, dringt das Duo weiter in melodisches Territorium, wobei es die Zugänglichkeit mit seiner Grundlage von elektronischem Lärm und grüblerischen Texturen beibehält. Christopher Samuels' akribische Musikproduktion erschafft eine Welt aus hypnotischen Rhythmen, gebrochenen Melodien und dichten Klanglandschaften, während Kirill Slavin's Gesang rohe Emotionen kanalisiert und den Hörer durch Themen wie Sucht, Besessenheit, Macht, urbane Isolation, nächtliche Verletzlichkeit und die unausweichlichen physischen Zwänge der Realität führt. Von den Basslines und gefundenen Samples von ,Dead Friends", bis hin zu ,Black Hole Soul", dem dem einzigen Stück des Albums mit erkennbarem Beat, wo Samuels üppiger Orgelsynthesizer und IDM-infizierter Rhythmus eine geisterhafte Grundlage für Slavins Meditation über Selbstzerstörung bietet, ist Seven Years unerbittlich in seiner Tiefe. Der Schlusstrack ,Infection" schwillt mit schwermütiger Intensität an, während Samuels Streicherarrangements und Klavier ineinander greifen. Mit "Seven Years" verfeinern und erweitern Mission to the Sun ihr klangliches Universum und dringen mit ihrem Sound in neue emotionale und melodische Gefilde vor und erschaffen dabei die raue, eindringliche Atmosphäre, die ihre Arbeit definiert. Ein Album der Transformation und Abrechnung und die bisher eindrucksvollste und vollständigste Veröffentlichung von Mission To The Sun.

Feiern Sie 30 Jahre Freundschaft mit Disney und Pixar’s Toy Story: Die Songs to Infinity and Beyond
zoetrope Vinyl mit den kultigen Songs „You’ve Got a Friend in Me“ aus Toy Story, „When She Loved Me“
aus Toy Story 2, „We Belong Together“ aus Toy Story 3, „I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away“ aus Toy
Story 4 und mehr!

Auf “Down To Earth”, seinem Debütalbum für Blue Note, präsentierte sich der aus der New Yorker Bronx stammende Freddie Roach 1962 als origineller Komponist und außergewöhnlich nuanciert spielender Hammond-B3-Organist mit einer Vorliebe für geschmackvolle bluesige Grooves.

Hell Yeah have been busy making musical connections and reaching out to like-minded beatmakers once again. This time, it is Pier Paolo Polcari aka Polcari, a founding member of cult Italian band Almamegretta, who steps up with the magnificent new album I Will Try To Imitate The Birds. The eight-track record also features Adriano Viterbini, another Italian music icon and guitarist with the revered Bud Spencer Blues Explosion and I Hate My Village as well as Ubjk, San Ignacio and Sergio Dileo.

Label head Marco first got in touch with Polcari after he remixed Italian cultural hero Sergio Messina's cover of 'Fly Away' back in 2021. The pair began sharing music, discussing their favourite records and, eventually, the natural next step was to work towards the album now served up here.

The multi-talented Polcari is a master of downtempo sounds and as well as several solo projects that fuse trip hop, folk, dub and world music, he made a global mark as part of Almamegretta. The revered Naples band formed in the late 80s and has worked with greats like Massive Attack and Adrian Sherwood across more than 15 albums and are currently on a special 30th anniversary tour. Also playing on the album are Adriano Viterbini, a composer and member of blues-rock outfit Bud Spencer Blues Explosion, San Ignacio who is a downtempo and cumbia innovator behind the much sought-after albums like La Identidad Es Una Trampa and Sergio Dileo, sax player in the much-loved Naples band Nu Genea as well as being a busy jazz collaborator.

Opener 'Jardino' Feat. San Ignacio sets a laidback vibe from the off with gently breaking drums topped with whimsical melodies. 'Vita Nova' is cavernous dub with more lush instrumentals, xylophones and wispy synth motifs making for a world escape and 'Mundo' (Feat. Ubjk) has an air of Eastern melody with delicate pads and glowing keys floating above the pillowy drums. 'The Birds' (Feat. Adriano Viterbini) has fluttering harp strings that bring real beauty to a downtempo groove packed with vocoder vocals, synth smears and organic percussion.

'Orcos Ou Fadas' carries on with a rich blend of strings and percussion, shuffling rhythms and curious moods, 'Raifuki' lurches on moody drums and introverted melodies and 'Ligea' Feat. Sergio Dileo brings some romantic Latin rhythms and seductive clarinet while 'Superluna' completes the odyssey with more wavy dub and magnificent collages of melody and percussion.

I Will Try To Imitate The Birds will lift you off your feet and carry you away to a lush world of cathartic, sun-kissed musical pleasure.