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Der Soundtrack von 'KNEECAP', mit Musik von der Band sowie Bicep, Fontaines DC und Orbital, ist als Doppel-LP im Gatefold-Design auf farbigem Vinyl erhältlich. Er enthält auch Filmmusik von Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE und Ausschnitte aus den Dialogen des Films.

- Ltd. Col. 2LP: (LP1 Orange / LP2 Green Vinyl)

As one of the brightest and most prolific new songwriters to emerge from the Birmingham music scene over the past few years, Will Stewart has made a name for himself as both an imaginative storyteller and six string gunslinger whose detailed accounts of life around the Deep South seem to capture the essence of not just the humid, kudzu-covered environs they come out of, but also the creative cultural milieu that makes such narratives possible in the first place. Taking cues from everyone from Big Star and R.E.M., to Phosphorescent and the Drive-By Truckers, and even classic Southern literary figures like Eudora Welty and Barry Hannah, Stewart has managed to carve out a place for himself as a conjurer of time, place and characters— and the stories that swirl around them— in a way that’s simultaneously reflective, empathetic and unapologetic in their presentation.

Now on his fourth solo LP, over his past three studio efforts Stewart has shown a deft touch for not just engaging character arcs and succinct studies in the human condition, but also a range of musical modes that span everything from quiet dissertations on love and loss, to brash rockers and moody explorations of the complicated nature of modern Southern living. As someone who also wears the hat of a highly sought after sideman who lends his talents to friends and fellow travelers like Birmingham locals The Blips, Terry Ohms and Sarah Lee Langford, there are few sonic spaces that Stewart’s hands haven’t touched in some way.

Stewart’s newest offering sees him poised to deliver his most ambitious project yet, with a 10-track song cycle centered around the iconic, and now defunct, Moon Winx Lodge in Tuscaloosa, AL, and some of the characters and scenarios that have played themselves out there over the years.

Over the last few years, New York based producer umru has applied his vivid sonics to an expansive pool of sounds through his own work, or with those operating on the cusp of the underground and mainstream space such as Charli XCX, 100 gecs and ericdoa. After opening a new era late last year with the carnal rap chaos of ‘check1’ ft. Tommy Cash and 645AR before following it out with the hyperactive love story of ‘heart2’ with Rebecca Black and Petal Supply, umru today announces his second official EP on the PC Music label; comfort noise. Alongside the announcement, he’s sharing another taste from the project - a collaboration with Fraxiom titled ‘all i need’, also featuring Hannah Diamond and Tony Velour. Opening more gently than his most recent previous efforts, ‘all i need’ is centered around a pervading tenderness that glitters even through the song’s more hectic moments. Fraxiom’s vocal glides in a breathless fashion as if they’re expressing their crush in as descriptive fashion as possible, becoming the main melodic centrepiece as the track transforms into a relentlessly percussive workout. Tony Velour’s verse brings a more laid back rhythmic approach to the track before Hannah Diamond lays down a twinkling contribution to the track’s closing moments, making ‘all i need’ one of the most sonically diverse electronic pop tracks of recent times. With comfort noise, umru has compounded his reputation as one of this generation’s most inventive crossover producers. Taking his truly versatile sonic palette and applying it to classic pop songwriting, umru is pushing the boundaries of what is possible within his scene, and as unpredictable as his sound is, you can be sure it’ll be one hell of a ride. North American tour with Hyd through November 2022 followed by Boiler Room stage (OOM ROOM) curated by umru featuring ericdoa, Petal Supply, William Crooks.

f11 FLRNTN, Benjamin Duchenne - "Last Man Standing" (feat Sivan) (1:08)
f12 Nicholas Gunn & Harshil Kamdar - "Here I Am" (feat Alina Renae - Richard Durand remix) (1:08)
f13 DJ TH X TH3 ONE X Sue McLaren - "Everything To Me" (1:08)
f14 Matty Ralph - "Te Adoro" (1:08)
f15 Armin Van Buuren & Vini Vici - "Sarabande" (feat Anna Timofei) (1:08)
f16 Lilly Palmer - "Hare Ram" (1:08)
f17 David Forbes - "Techno Is My Only Drug" (1:08)
f18 Armin Van Buuren - "Blah Blah Blah" (Lilly Palmer remix) (1:08)
f19 Armin Van Buuren - "The Road To Your Destination" (A State Of Trance Year mix 2024 outro) (1:14)

"In a reality where the sun is neon and the streets are lit with lasers...where the message of love is communicated through soaring synths and haunting vocals, you'll find the music of Causeway"

American synth-wave project, Causeway, is the brainchild of Marshall Watson and Allison Rae.
Through sophisticated downbeat melodrama, lyrical motifs of isolation, and an ultra-vivid wall of sound, the two bring a sizzling synth-laden take on the dream wave genre.

Coming to the fore with support from Italians Do It Better, Causeway released their first full length album 'We Were Never Lost' to immediate acclaim, soon landing spots in tv shows Never Have I Ever, and Riverdale.

Fast forward to the here & now and they've returned with an updated sound and a new label relationship with Manchester's Sprechen, on which their new album 'Anywhere' is welcomed to the fold.

The enigmatic duo has brought forth a reverb drenched cosmic journey across 10 tracks. Where narratives of dark & light are conveyed via emotional synthesizer soundscapes alongside captive melodies and ethereal vocals to take you on a diverse and cinematic listening experience.

Hints of post punk, new wave and 80's noir run throughout the album where influences such as The Cure, Cocteau Twins, OMD and New Order are embraced by Causeway's own unique sonic stylings of electronic music neatly wrapped around each track.

Here’s another one of those great early-‘90s glam metal albums that got lost in the grunge explosion. And because it came out in 1992, Capitol never bothered releasing it on vinyl in the U.S. So this one’s been a long time comin’…and as soon as you hear the opening cut “Hang On Lucy,” you know you’re in for a ride. Fans of Dokken, RATT, Skid Row, and Mötley Crüe will flip over Under the Influence…and lead vocalist Drew Hannah is in the grand tradition of Vince Neil et al. Trivia note one: Wildside ruled the Sunset Strip (and were the subject of a bidding war between Capitol and Polygram) under the name Young Gunns but was forced to change their name when Lionsgate Films came out with their Young Guns movie. Trivia note two: this was the first non-Van Halen record recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 home studio, engineered by famed Led Zeppelin producer Andy Johns! We’ve had this lost classic remastered for vinyl to make sure it pops…fire orange pressing housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket!

Denison Witmer returns with a new collection of ten vibrant and pensive folk-pop songs recorded and produced by Sufjan Stevens, his long-time friend and collaborator. Anything At All finds Denison in a suitably reflective mood, mining sublime revelation from an ordinary, domesticated life. Topics like bird watching, carpentry, houseplants, and hiking offer insights into bigger, existential questions about life, death, meaning, and purpose. What are we doing with the precious time we have left on this earth? Whether it's spent making clocks, gathering berries, planting trees, or putting the kids to bed at night, these songs suggest that a life lived with thoughtfulness and care can lead to deeper joy and fulfillment. Recorded sporadically over a period of two years, Anything At All was primarily created at Sufjan's Catskills studio during the pandemic, with additional sessions recorded by Andy Park, in Seattle, WA. Contributors include Stevens and Park as well as Sam Evian, Hannah Cohen, Sean Lane, and Keenan O'Meara, amongst others. The album's musical aesthetic marries Denison's folksy, Mennonite vibe with Sufjan's signature bells and whistles: lush strings and woodwinds, women's choir, and an occasional jazzy saxophone weave their way around Denison's matter-of-fact vocals and acoustic guitar. These are simple folk songs with bursts of awe and wonder.

Produced by Creed Taylor and originally issued on the CTI label in 1975, Jim Hall's Concierto followed the path of Miles Davis' celebrated Sketches of Spain in presenting, among other tunes, an arrangement of Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez."

The LP was an all-star venture, with Hall accompanied by such luminaries as Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Roland Hanna, Ron Carter and Steve Gadd. Desmond had a long history of recording with the guitarist, but this was Hall and Baker's first out of just two recorded encounters.

Concierto received a **** ½ rating on AllMusic, with reviewer Anthony Tognazzini stating that it "ranks among the best albums of Hall's superb catalog and the personnel is a jazz lover's dream come true."

Mint Condition - A record label focused on excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics, overlooked gems and never heard before material, mined from the last 30+ years of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. From Chicago, Detroit and New York, London, Berlin and beyond. Mint Condition have got their digging hats on to bring you exclusive heat and those rarer than rare jams that have been in your wants list for years. Dig in......

Rewind to 1997 and Uk's finest clubs are alight to the tech-house sounds emanating from South London. Terry Francis, a key figure in the scene, needs no introduction, Fabric resident, Wiggle co-founder, as well as part of the seminal Housey Doingz collective, 'Dubtown' was his first solo outing, all 4 tracks are instant classics, and the EP itself has become his most sought after release to date.

The tracks themselves are varied and brilliant, EP opener 'Hannah's House' kicks off with an infectious bass line and builds with expertly programmed percussion. Simple yet effective riffs intertwine with warm pads and deep chord stabs. 'Hannah's Dub' strips the track down, eerie synths add a tuneful swagger without ever losing dancefloor appeal. 'As You Cry' broadens the sonic palette with swinging rhythms, crisp snares and dreamy chords that deliver the peak time funk and bump. Lastly 'Reggae's House' is a deep dub infused jam, acidic 303 touches combine effortlessly with pads and stabs, whilst echoing bursts of percussion make some real tripped out musical moments.

All 4 tracks are deep winners, tweaked to maximum effect by a master of the genre. A rarity for decades now available once more. 'Dubtown' has been legitimately re-released with the full involvement of Terry Francis, lovingly remastered by London's Curve Pusher from the original sources especially for Mint Condition. 100% legit, licensed and released. Dug, remastered, repackaged and brought to you by the caring folks at your favourite reissue label - Mint Condition!!

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Vol. 1 is a studio album by American singer and pianist Ray Charles. It was recorded in February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City. It featured country, folk, and Western music standards reworked by Charles in popular song forms of the time, including R&B, pop, and jazz. Charles produced the album with Sid Feller and performed alongside saxophonist Hank Crawford, a string section conducted by Marty Paich, and a big band arranged by Gil Fuller and Gerald Wilson. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Vol. 2 features one side performed by the Ray Charles Big Band with the Raelettes, while the other side features a string section and the Jack Halloran Singers. Including "I Can't Stop Loving You", Bye Bye Love", "Half As Much", "You Win Again", "Careless Love", “You Are My Sunshine” and many more.

Dj Koncept is of course a wicked turntablist, and this is an early vinyl release of his, old skool hip hop vibes with legendary collaborations and awesome scratch tracks, all timed with a hint of downbeat and a smattering of jungle...

Neues Album erscheint am 31. Mai 2024 bei City Slang inklusive der Single 'Big Swimmer' featuring Gesangsharmonien von Sharon Van Etten!

King Hannah entwirft einen musikalischen Wandteppich, der nahtlos zwischen den ruhigen Tiefen des meditativen Pops und den weitläufigen, klangvollen Landschaften voller Dunkelheit, Witz und schrägem Humor pendelt. Merricks Gesang, ein rauchiges Vergnügen, verleiht ihren Worten tiefes Gewicht und Kraft, ergänzt durch die bluesigen Leinwände, die Whittle meisterhaft unter ihnen malt. Ihr Sound wechselt mühelos von Momenten post-rockiger Weite zu dem Gefühl, dass Springsteen auf eine düstere Seitenstraße abseits seines Highways zur Freiheit gerät. In jüngster Zeit hat das Duo die Bühnen neben geschätzten Künstlern wie Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore, Kevin Morby und DIIV geziert und das Publikum auf Festivals in ganz Europa und Nordamerika, darunter End of the Road, Green Man, Primavera Sound und Fusion, in seinen Bann gezogen. King Hannah wurde unter anderem von Stereogum als "Band to Watch", von The Guardian als "Ones to Watch" und von Paste als "Best of What's Next" gefeiert und in der Rubrik "NEU" des DIY Magazins sowie als "Rising Artists" von SPIN vorgestellt.

British Funk Renegades - Baker Brothers: A Legacy of Groove and Innovation

Since 2001, British funk luminaries the Baker Brothers have been at the forefront of the UK funk scene, consistently redefining the genre while staying true to its roots. Their groove, deeply embedded in soulful nostalgia, draws inspiration from legendary acts such as Steely Dan, Sly and the Family Stone, The Doobie Brothers, D'Angelo, The Roots, The Meters, and Prince.

Renowned for their electrifying live performances, the Baker Brothers deliver an "in-your-face" experience that takes audiences on a journey through their extensive back catalogue, spanning eight studio albums and four live albums. These albums feature collaborations with notable artists, including Hamish Stuart of the Average White Band, Snowboy, and soul divas Vanessa Freeman, Hannah Williams, Acantha Lang, and Katie Holmes.

With over ten tours in Japan and numerous European tours under their belt, the Baker Brothers have proven their enduring appeal. They continue to navigate the challenges of band life with unwavering creativity and passion, using music as their vehicle to overcome life's hurdles.

As they forge ahead with new creations, the Baker Brothers' signature sound—characterised by tight horns, a driving rhythm section, and irresistibly funky guitar riffs—remains as killer as ever. Their journey is a testament to their longevity and their unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of funk.

Sugar war das vierte Album, das Nancy Sinatra 1966 aufnahm - eine unheimliche Leistung, wenn man bedenkt, dass die Beatles zu dieser Zeit etwa zwei Alben pro Jahr aufnahmen. Das kultige Ron Joy-Coverfoto von Nancy im rosa Bikini (der erste auf einem Albumcover!) war 1967 ein gewagter Schachzug, der dazu beitrug, Sugar auf Platz 18 der Charts zu katapultieren (Nancys zweithöchstes Chartalbum nach Boots). Es ist ein seltsames Album, das einen von Nancys bekanntesten Songs, Sugar Town, mit Kompositionen aus den 1920er Jahren kombiniert, die in einem zeitgenössischen Dixieland-Jazz-Pop-Fusion-Stil aufgenommen wurden, der so nur von Produzent Lee Hazlewood stammen konnte. Nancy Sinatra war ihrer Zeit lange Zeit voraus - sowohl in ihren Entscheidungen als Künstlerin als auch als Geschäftsfrau - und zwar gleichermaßen stark, schwül und versiert. Unbeirrt schlug sie schon früh ihren eigenen Weg ein und ebnete den Weg für jahrzehntelang nachfolgende Künstlerinnen - und behielt dabei stets die Kontrolle über ihre Karriere, ihr Image und ihre Musik. Im Jahr 1965 veränderte Nancy Sinatra das Gesicht der Musik, der Mode und der Kultur. Die endgültige Vinyl-Neuauflage von Nancys legendärem Album von 1967 kommt alswunderschön verpackte und erweiterte Gatefold-LP mit 20-seitigem Booklet, enthält die Hits "Sugar Town", "In Our Time", und "Coastin'", wurde neu gemastert von den analogen Originalbändern vom GRAMMYr-nominierten Toningenieur John Baldwin und enthält zwei Bonustracks: die Non-Album-Singles "In Our Time" und "Leave My Dog Alone".

Sugar war das vierte Album, das Nancy Sinatra 1966 aufnahm - eine unheimliche Leistung, wenn man bedenkt, dass die Beatles zu dieser Zeit etwa zwei Alben pro Jahr aufnahmen. Das kultige Ron Joy-Coverfoto von Nancy im rosa Bikini (der erste auf einem Albumcover!) war 1967 ein gewagter Schachzug, der dazu beitrug, Sugar auf Platz 18 der Charts zu katapultieren (Nancys zweithöchstes Chartalbum nach Boots). Es ist ein seltsames Album, das einen von Nancys bekanntesten Songs, Sugar Town, mit Kompositionen aus den 1920er Jahren kombiniert, die in einem zeitgenössischen Dixieland-Jazz-Pop-Fusion-Stil aufgenommen wurden, der so nur von Produzent Lee Hazlewood stammen konnte. Nancy Sinatra war ihrer Zeit lange Zeit voraus - sowohl in ihren Entscheidungen als Künstlerin als auch als Geschäftsfrau - und zwar gleichermaßen stark, schwül und versiert. Unbeirrt schlug sie schon früh ihren eigenen Weg ein und ebnete den Weg für jahrzehntelang nachfolgende Künstlerinnen - und behielt dabei stets die Kontrolle über ihre Karriere, ihr Image und ihre Musik. Im Jahr 1965 veränderte Nancy Sinatra das Gesicht der Musik, der Mode und der Kultur. Die endgültige Vinyl-Neuauflage von Nancys legendärem Album von 1967 kommt alswunderschön verpackte und erweiterte Gatefold-LP mit 20-seitigem Booklet, enthält die Hits "Sugar Town", "In Our Time", und "Coastin'", wurde neu gemastert von den analogen Originalbändern vom GRAMMYr-nominierten Toningenieur John Baldwin und enthält zwei Bonustracks: die Non-Album-Singles "In Our Time" und "Leave My Dog Alone".

On the EP 'Och sen kom vintern', the longing for something else is pervasive. The band Diket consists of Levina Storåkern, Jonathan Fimland Kleven, Oddbjørn Sponås and Hanna Skjerdal. With band members from prominent bands such as Benedikt, Ævestaden and Hey Gloria, Diket makes melancholic music with roots in the folk tradition. Diket is the interaction between text and music, and themes such as everyday life, nature and longing for something else are present throughout.

A collaboration between Duncan Bellamy (Portico Quartet) and Belinda Zhawi (MA.MOYO), Jump Ship, Sit Lean, Be Still, Stand Tall is a collection of sonic-poetry that sets Zhawi’s illuminating, elliptical words in dialogue with diffuse, explorative music and sound by Bellamy. Fluctuating between expansive contemporary classical arrangements and intimate layered vocal experiments, together they render these disparate forms into something distinct, melancholic and luminous.

Belinda Zhawi is a literary & sound artist based in London & Marseille, author of Small Inheritances (ignitionpress, 2018), & experiments with sound/text performance as MA.MOYO. Her work explores African diaspora research and narratives, and how art and education can be used as intersectional tools. Her literary & sound works have been featured on various platforms including The White Review, Vogue, NTS, Boiler Room & BBC Radio. She’s held residencies with Triangle-Asterides, France; Cove Park, Scotland; Serpentine Galleries; ICA London and was a Brixton House Associate Artist 2022 - 24. Belinda’s the co-founder of literary arts platform, BORN::FREE. She is working on her first full poetry collection.

Duncan Bellamy (b. Cambridge, UK, 1986) is a multidisciplinary artist based in London. His diverse practice encompasses painting, silkscreen, photography, sound and music. His work examines the shape of time, loss and our relationship to the past and present in a period of compressed transformation. He is a founding member of Mercury Prize nominated Portico Quartet, and has contributed sound work to the artist Hannah Collins audio-visual installation I Will Make Up A Song. Bellamy is working on a debut exhibition and new music.

12th Isle revisit the various artist compilation format first explored with 2019’s ‘Inkosi’ and assemble a veritable mixtape of sorts unfolding across six tracks aimed with the club in mind. Echo Party get things started with a dub heavy, studio alchemy excercise in discipline that appears in an extended mix to the original form on Murray Collier (Dip Friso) & Hannan Jones’s self-released CD-R. Italian newcomer Guizzi features with a thunderous downtempo excursion with tight conga percussion in a DK/RAMZi vein that feels very at home on the label. Der Opium Queen pulls off a propulsive, video game OST style dancefloor hit that brings to mind that Les Aeroplanes project on Jamal Moss’s Mathematics label from way back when whilst on the Side B a freak-folk skit from Memotone sits next to heads-down motorik from Lo Kindre and a bleep-infused dub techno piece by Toronto via Bangladesh real one Raf Reza. More V/A's to come.

The seeds of composer Rafael Anton Irisarri’s latest LP were first planted during his 2016 tour in Italy, months before that Autumn’s unexpected presidential election. The linguistic glitch of an innocuous diner in Milan named “il Mito Americano” – meant as “The American Dream” but translated literally to English as “The American Myth” – sparked a series of ideas, both conceptual and musical.

Amid the chaos of 2020, while exploring the stark world of brutalist architecture and inspired by the false fronts of Potemkin villages, a vision started to take shape: FAÇADISMS. Composed over three years, it’s a late capitalist lament of simmering electric despondency.

Irisarri’s obsession with repeating motifs mirrors the cyclical nature of our tumultuous political history. The album’s eight tracks heave and storm like a tempest being drained of its rage. This is the sound of majestic dissipation, of morning afters, fashioned from a mournful haze with cavernous guitars and granular twilight. A euphony of a receding tide as one sifts through the remnants of what remains: dust, delusion, and memory.

Opening with the somber gauze of “Broken Intensification," FAÇADISMS moves fluidly between moments of absence and abandon. Ashen swaths of electronics billow above smoldering embers of melody, guitar, and scattered streaks of processed strings and voice, as on the rapturous doom of “Control Your Soul's Desire for Freedom,” featuring Julia Kent on cello and Hannah Elizabeth Cox on vocals. "The impoverished peoples of the Americas have known all along that 'freedom' is a cruel illusion crafted by the elites, akin to Potemkin's fake villages designed to impress Catherine the Great," Irisarri indicates. "FAÇADISMS illustrates a twisted inversion where the rulers deceive their subjects with illusions of safety, democracy, and free speech to create a grotesque mirage of control over their own lives.”

Elsewhere, Irisarri leans into passages of hushed oblivion (“Hollow,” “Dispersion of Belief”), while ragged drones rumble and disintegrate into wind-battered ambient wreckage. One has the sense that it’s all too late. The hour of fury has passed. The beauty has come and gone. Irisarri’s muse has become the crack in the façade of the unraveling myth.

The record closes with a climax of grand departure. Co-written with Kenyan sound artist KMRU, “Red Moon Tide” surges from flickering elegy to celestial disquiet, roiling waves of hymnal descent, and bristling noise. The effect is unsettling and unmooring: a soundtrack for the soul leaving the body, only to discover a void. It’s the sound of the center not holding, of shared illusions being dissolved in a tunnel of white light.

The cover photograph captures a profound sense of desolation. Taken in the historic shanty town of La Perla, Puerto Rico, where Irisarri spent his childhood, brutal colonial mysteries are lost to time. A skeletal concrete structure decays against an expansive blue horizon. Only the shadow of its shell ripples on the empty sea.

Has the American myth finally run its course?

The seeds of composer Rafael Anton Irisarri’s latest LP were first planted during his 2016 tour in Italy, months before that Autumn’s unexpected presidential election. The linguistic glitch of an innocuous diner in Milan named “il Mito Americano” – meant as “The American Dream” but translated literally to English as “The American Myth” – sparked a series of ideas, both conceptual and musical.

Amid the chaos of 2020, while exploring the stark world of brutalist architecture and inspired by the false fronts of Potemkin villages, a vision started to take shape: FAÇADISMS. Composed over three years, it’s a late capitalist lament of simmering electric despondency.

Irisarri’s obsession with repeating motifs mirrors the cyclical nature of our tumultuous political history. The album’s eight tracks heave and storm like a tempest being drained of its rage. This is the sound of majestic dissipation, of morning afters, fashioned from a mournful haze with cavernous guitars and granular twilight. A euphony of a receding tide as one sifts through the remnants of what remains: dust, delusion, and memory.

Opening with the somber gauze of “Broken Intensification," FAÇADISMS moves fluidly between moments of absence and abandon. Ashen swaths of electronics billow above smoldering embers of melody, guitar, and scattered streaks of processed strings and voice, as on the rapturous doom of “Control Your Soul's Desire for Freedom,” featuring Julia Kent on cello and Hannah Elizabeth Cox on vocals. "The impoverished peoples of the Americas have known all along that 'freedom' is a cruel illusion crafted by the elites, akin to Potemkin's fake villages designed to impress Catherine the Great," Irisarri indicates. "FAÇADISMS illustrates a twisted inversion where the rulers deceive their subjects with illusions of safety, democracy, and free speech to create a grotesque mirage of control over their own lives.”

Elsewhere, Irisarri leans into passages of hushed oblivion (“Hollow,” “Dispersion of Belief”), while ragged drones rumble and disintegrate into wind-battered ambient wreckage. One has the sense that it’s all too late. The hour of fury has passed. The beauty has come and gone. Irisarri’s muse has become the crack in the façade of the unraveling myth.

The record closes with a climax of grand departure. Co-written with Kenyan sound artist KMRU, “Red Moon Tide” surges from flickering elegy to celestial disquiet, roiling waves of hymnal descent, and bristling noise. The effect is unsettling and unmooring: a soundtrack for the soul leaving the body, only to discover a void. It’s the sound of the center not holding, of shared illusions being dissolved in a tunnel of white light.

The cover photograph captures a profound sense of desolation. Taken in the historic shanty town of La Perla, Puerto Rico, where Irisarri spent his childhood, brutal colonial mysteries are lost to time. A skeletal concrete structure decays against an expansive blue horizon. Only the shadow of its shell ripples on the empty sea.

Has the American myth finally run its course?

The seeds of composer Rafael Anton Irisarri’s latest LP were first planted during his 2016 tour in Italy, months before that Autumn’s unexpected presidential election. The linguistic glitch of an innocuous diner in Milan named “il Mito Americano” – meant as “The American Dream” but translated literally to English as “The American Myth” – sparked a series of ideas, both conceptual and musical.

Amid the chaos of 2020, while exploring the stark world of brutalist architecture and inspired by the false fronts of Potemkin villages, a vision started to take shape: FAÇADISMS. Composed over three years, it’s a late capitalist lament of simmering electric despondency.

Irisarri’s obsession with repeating motifs mirrors the cyclical nature of our tumultuous political history. The album’s eight tracks heave and storm like a tempest being drained of its rage. This is the sound of majestic dissipation, of morning afters, fashioned from a mournful haze with cavernous guitars and granular twilight. A euphony of a receding tide as one sifts through the remnants of what remains: dust, delusion, and memory.

Opening with the somber gauze of “Broken Intensification," FAÇADISMS moves fluidly between moments of absence and abandon. Ashen swaths of electronics billow above smoldering embers of melody, guitar, and scattered streaks of processed strings and voice, as on the rapturous doom of “Control Your Soul's Desire for Freedom,” featuring Julia Kent on cello and Hannah Elizabeth Cox on vocals. "The impoverished peoples of the Americas have known all along that 'freedom' is a cruel illusion crafted by the elites, akin to Potemkin's fake villages designed to impress Catherine the Great," Irisarri indicates. "FAÇADISMS illustrates a twisted inversion where the rulers deceive their subjects with illusions of safety, democracy, and free speech to create a grotesque mirage of control over their own lives.”

Elsewhere, Irisarri leans into passages of hushed oblivion (“Hollow,” “Dispersion of Belief”), while ragged drones rumble and disintegrate into wind-battered ambient wreckage. One has the sense that it’s all too late. The hour of fury has passed. The beauty has come and gone. Irisarri’s muse has become the crack in the façade of the unraveling myth.

The record closes with a climax of grand departure. Co-written with Kenyan sound artist KMRU, “Red Moon Tide” surges from flickering elegy to celestial disquiet, roiling waves of hymnal descent, and bristling noise. The effect is unsettling and unmooring: a soundtrack for the soul leaving the body, only to discover a void. It’s the sound of the center not holding, of shared illusions being dissolved in a tunnel of white light.

The cover photograph captures a profound sense of desolation. Taken in the historic shanty town of La Perla, Puerto Rico, where Irisarri spent his childhood, brutal colonial mysteries are lost to time. A skeletal concrete structure decays against an expansive blue horizon. Only the shadow of its shell ripples on the empty sea.

Has the American myth finally run its course?

This self-titled LP marks the fifth release of Scottish artist Murray Collier’s Dip Friso project, his longest running alias and the solitary vanguard of his own Real Landscape imprint. Across the six tracks he delivers another collection of warped percussive loops, heavily manipulated guitar work and psychedelic sound experiments that drift between popular music forms ('I’ll Get to Hiding') and whittled down takes on electric blues and shoegaze ('Another Country’). The former features the instantly recognisable croon of Still House Plants vocalist Jess HK embellishing a backdrop of tape loop alchemy, an inspired pairing given the shared history of Glasgow dwelling. ‘Thin Ayrshire’ (written with Hannan Jones) treads a similar path with Collier’s own beyond-unrecognisable voice featuring, broken suddenly by a brief flash of 12th Isle’s Loris S. Sarid & Innis Chonnel’s ‘Spalted Water Portal’ thanks to a recycled tape spool. ‘A Sorry Business’ takes on avant-jazz inspired puddle skronk, a stunted casio bleep propelling forward guitar dirge and cymbal crashes, whilst Australian minimal wave heroes The Systematics are paid homage via a farewell cover of their track ‘Midnight on Balancing Day’ (here ‘Midnight’).

All in, the album sees the project incorporating more instrumentation and a full use of vocalists, leaning less heavily on gauzy sample collage styles and providing a more introspective look at the hazy, dubwise world Collier has been building for the past half a decade.

Lemonheads’ seminal album ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’, lovingly reissued for it’s 30th Anniversary. The long overdue reissue includes a slew of extra material, including an unreleased ‘My Drug Buddy’ KCRW session track from 1992 featuring Juliana Hatfield, B-sides from singles ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ and ‘Confetti’, a track from the ‘Mrs. Robinson/Being Round’ EP, alongside demos that will be released for the first time on vinyl. This reissue celebrates their prestigious fifth album, these deluxe bookback editions feature new liner notes and unseen photos.

Described by music journalist and author Everett True as “A 30-minute insight into what it’s like to live hard and fast and loose and happy with like-minded buddies, fuelled by a shared love for similar bands and drugs and booze and freedom.”. ‘It's A Shame About Ray’ had a considerable impact back in those heady, carefree days of '92, the record perfectly captures Dando’s ability to effortlessly encapsulate teenage longing and lust over the course of a two-minute pop song.

Singles such as 'My Drug Buddy' and the breezy perfect pop of the title track might stand out (plus the add-on of 'Mrs. Robinson' which later copies included), but the album's real strength lies in the tracks in-between; the truly fantastic 'Confetti' (written about Evan's parents' divorce), and the eye-wateringly casual acoustic cover of 'Frank Mills' (from the "hippie" musical Hair), a version that seems to resonate with every ounce of pathos and emotion felt for the lost 1960s generation. To hear Evan Dando sing lines like 'I love him/but it embarrasses me/To walk down the street with him/He lives in Brooklyn somewhere/And he wears his white crash helmet' is to truly appreciate how wonderful and tantalising pop music can be. Then, there's the rush of insurgency and brattishness on the wonderfully truncated 'Bit Part'; the topsy-turvy 'Ceiling Fan In My Spoon'... this was male teenage skinny-tie pop music on a level of brilliance with The Kinks, early Undertones, Wipers.

* BCee returns to Spearhead Records with ‘These Are The Days’.
* These Are The Days see’s BCee collaborate with 13 different vocalists showcasing some of the finest and freshest the scene has to offer.
* Over the past 23 years, BCee has achieved over 100M streams, headlined the biggest clubs in the world such as Fabric, and through his label Spearhead Records has nurtured and presented a myriad of new talents to the world who’ve gone on to become some of the biggest names in this game: Hybrid Minds and Netsky to name a few. His music has garnered support from industry heavyweights like DJ Marky, Sub Focus, London Elektricity, Camo & Krooked, and Fred V.

Nicknamed "the Hendrix of the Kora", Seckou Keita has been celebrated for his ingenious tunings and virtuosity and praised as "one of the finest exponents of the kora". Performing all over the globe, he has captivated audiences at WOMAD, Hay, Glastonbury, Tokyo Jazz, Chicago World Music Festival, Sydney International, Montreal Jazz Festivals and many more collaborating with the likes of Damon Albarn & the Africa Express; Catrin Finch; Omar Sosa; AKA trio; Paul Weller and The Lost Words, Spell Songs. 'Homeland' heralds a bold new direction for the kora virtuoso, who invites his audience to explore his Mandinka roots and the ancestral culture of the griots. A journey between past and present, tradition and modernity, in words and music, infused with traditional rhythms embracing Afro-pop, urban and hip-hop. Homeland features collaborations with the Daar J Family, poet Zina Edwards and Costa winning poet Hannah Lowe.

Nicknamed "the Hendrix of the Kora", Seckou Keita has been celebrated for his ingenious tunings and virtuosity and praised as "one of the finest exponents of the kora". Performing all over the globe, he has captivated audiences at WOMAD, Hay, Glastonbury, Tokyo Jazz, Chicago World Music Festival, Sydney International, Montreal Jazz Festivals and many more collaborating with the likes of Damon Albarn & the Africa Express; Catrin Finch; Omar Sosa; AKA trio; Paul Weller and The Lost Words, Spell Songs. 'Homeland' heralds a bold new direction for the kora virtuoso, who invites his audience to explore his Mandinka roots and the ancestral culture of the griots. A journey between past and present, tradition and modernity, in words and music, infused with traditional rhythms embracing Afro-pop, urban and hip-hop. Homeland features collaborations with the Daar J Family, poet Zina Edwards and Costa winning poet Hannah Lowe.

“A huge thing for this record was to make it feel as close to our live show as possible,” says Tom Sharkett of W.H. Lung’s latest album. “We didn’t want it to sound live but we wanted to capture the excitement of the live performances.”

This is something that has become paramount to the group in recent years as they have undeniably blossomed into one of the most joyous and arresting live bands in the country. “The reason I’m in a band is to play live music,” says singer Joe Evans. “For me, music is live music. That’s what it’s for, to be played with people.”

The five-piece band, also featuring Chris Mulligan, Hannah Peace, and Alex Mercer-Main, decided to try something new on their third album after two incredibly successful collaborations with previous producer Matt Peel. In order to capture the energy, spirit and dynamism of their live shows, they relocated to Sheffield to work with Ross Orton (MIA, Arctic Monkeys, Working Men’s Club) who was able to harness this side of the band to remarkable effect. “Ross is the Sheffield Steve Albini,” says Evans. “He’s the king of not overthinking it and trusting the process of the art of recording songs. He was always there to stop us fucking around with cerebral stuff and get it down.” Sharkett echoes this too: “He was the exact producer we needed without us even realising. His productions and mixes are bombastic, lively and in your face and that’s exactly what we wanted.”

However, while this album is rooted in a sense of capturing a moment and a sparky liveness, that’s not to say it’s a raw or ragged record. It is still a meticulously composed, delicately layered and pristinely produced piece of work that, in true W.H. Lung style, runs the gauntlet from dance to pop to indie while still capturing that distinctly unique quality that is unquestionably their own. “It was a really big thing for me to realise what made us sound like us on this record,” says Sharkett. “I think the album sounds a lot more confident and self assured because of it. Some songs sound just so much like Lung and I’m really proud of that. I’m not sure we’ve done that as consistently across the other records.”

While the band have drilled deeper into finding their own singular identity, it’s not a record resting on its laurels. It’s a significant leap forward, expanding on their solid foundations while also breaking new ground. “The big difference with this record is its directness in every sense,” says Sharkett. “The songwriting is more upfront. Previously we’d focused a lot on vibe and production as opposed to just writing songs. The overall mission here was to revert to a classic songwriting structure and for the production to come afterwards.” And so what you have on this record are deeply considered and well-crafted songs, then recorded with blistering intensity in the moment, and then given a touch of experimentation afterwards. Then throw in Orton’s contributions to the band and it’s proven to be a real winning formula. “He brought a real dose of magic to the songs we’d written,” says Sharkett. “And brought an extra bit of wonk and quirkiness each time.”

The band’s ability to write more traditional and conventional songs is clearly a skill they’ve taken to with ease, at times there’s an almost Springsteen-like quality – but if he'd ever had an ecstasy period – to tracks such as ‘Thinner Wine’ and ‘Bloom and Fade’. While ‘How to Walk’ was constructed with one thing only in mind: that it would absolutely slay on stage. “I can’t wait to play this live,” says Evans. “We wanted a song to represent our live set, a new big one, and this is it.” Once again it leans towards the anthemic, with its driving, propulsive charge complete with incandescent synths and vocal melodies so irresistible you can already hear them being sung in unison by a crowd.

It’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off a record that is more rooted in traditional songcraft while also capturing the power of a live performance, as well as pushing sonics into experimental new directions while working with a brand new collaborator. But here the band has managed to do just that. And the album’s closing song ‘I Will Set Fire To The House’ is a perfect example of such a thing. It’s a song that feels immaculately constructed but also very much alive and of the moment as its radiating synths engulf from the off, and Evans’ vocal is silky but powerful and in perfect symbiosis with Peace’s. It’s a song that captures the endless joys of music playing long into the night. “It may be a bit of a bloody bombastic way to end an album saying ‘and we’ll dance into the sunrise’,” says Evans. “But fuck it.”

MORE PRESS ON ‘VANITIES’ (MELO131)

"Vanities artily refines an exhilarating brand of up-front electro-dance" MOJO ⅘

'Idiosyncratic yet euphoric electronic pop on triumphant second LP' 9/10 Uncut

''One of the most effective alternative pop albums of the year'' 4/5 Record Collector
'Dance music for the modern age' - The Times (4*)

The origins of Oreo Jones forthcoming third studio album, to be released September 20th, 2024, started in 2019 while on an extended trip to Antananarivo, Madagascar supported by an Andy Warhol Foundation grant. The myriad sights and sounds of this journey greatly inform the sonic tapestry of this new album.Jones teamed up with indie producer Ben Lumsdaine (Durand Jones/Wishy/Varsity/Barrie) to build songs from the ground up sending demos back and forth from across the country. Jones also recruited composer and vocalist Hanna Benn to add heavenly harmonies sprinkled throughout the album. The result is a sound that is intentional and immediate, earthly and ethereal. Each song is a chapter in a narrative crafted with purpose.Emotionally, the album emerges from a place of much needed rest and peace. During the recording process, Jones' uncle passed away unexpectedly. Over the past few years, he has found himself processing grief and loss within his immediate family of elders. Nephew is an ode to celebrate the ancestors who shaped the artist he is today.

See You At The Maypole, the sixth full-length album in Half Waif"s prolific catalog, is a recognition of personal sadness, and a call to ecstatic togetherness. It"s gathering the colors of our spirit, in all its shades, and making something intricate and remarkable. The ceremonial folk dance performed around a maypole is filled with fauna and flora, with ribbons woven into complex braids incapable of unraveling; these dances are survivals of ancient ritual, honoring the living trees, and the return of Spring and fertility. These patterns -- this dance -- cannot be completed alone, and so, Half Waif welcomes others to join her, a collective of bleeding color. "We are so much stronger for the colorful experiences we go through," she says. "That"s where we find our humanity and find each other." While the seclusion of grief feels infinite, Rose brought the songs to her trusted friend and longtime collaborator of the past decade, Zubin Hensler. The pair worked away from others for Mythopoetics, carefully crafting each note and flourish themselves but something else was needed for See You At The Maypole. To that end, Hensler and Rose welcomed a wealth of players and friends into the world of the record: Jason Burger and Zack Levine on drums and percussion; Josh Marre (Blue Ranger) on guitar; Hannah Epperson and Elena Moon Park on violin; Kristina Teuschler on clarinet; Willem de Koch on trombone; Rebecca El-Saleh on harp; and Spencer Zahn on upright bass. Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief, Bon Iver) lent his deft mixing skills to many of the tracks, including lead single "Figurine." "This wasn"t just my story, I wanted to say. It was every story of loss-the loss of a life, the loss of a dream, the loss of trust and hope and faith. A story of finding a way back again," Rose explains. "My own avenue back to the land of the living was through my relationships with people and with the natural world. It only seemed right that these songs would invite those people in to build the very heart of the sound."

'SOPHIE', das selbstbetitelte zweite Album der visionären Künstlerin, Produzentin und Pop-Pionierin, wird am 27. September 2024 über Transgressive und Future Classic veröffentlicht.

Dieses Album wurde von SOPHIE und einigen ihrer liebsten Kollaborateure geschaffen. Es stand kurz vor der Fertigstellung, als sie auf tragische Weise starb, und wurde von denjenigen, die ihr am nächsten standen, liebevoll fertiggestellt. Als SOPHIEs Studiomanager und vertrauenswürdiger Gesprächspartner für über ein Jahrzehnt war Benny Long maßgeblich an der Veröffentlichung von 'Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-insides' beteiligt und zeichnete für Mastering, Produktion und Mixing verantwortlich. Die beiden arbeiteten dann über mehrere Jahre zusammen, um das Konzept und die Produktion dieses Nachfolgealbums zu entwickeln, das Benny liebevoll vollendet hat, um SOPHIEs Vision zu ehren.

'SOPHIE', das selbstbetitelte zweite Album der visionären Künstlerin, Produzentin und Pop-Pionierin, wird am 27. September 2024 über Transgressive und Future Classic veröffentlicht.

Dieses Album wurde von SOPHIE und einigen ihrer liebsten Kollaborateure geschaffen. Es stand kurz vor der Fertigstellung, als sie auf tragische Weise starb, und wurde von denjenigen, die ihr am nächsten standen, liebevoll fertiggestellt. Als SOPHIEs Studiomanager und vertrauenswürdiger Gesprächspartner für über ein Jahrzehnt war Benny Long maßgeblich an der Veröffentlichung von 'Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-insides' beteiligt und zeichnete für Mastering, Produktion und Mixing verantwortlich. Die beiden arbeiteten dann über mehrere Jahre zusammen, um das Konzept und die Produktion dieses Nachfolgealbums zu entwickeln, das Benny liebevoll vollendet hat, um SOPHIEs Vision zu ehren.

- Ltd. Col. 2LP: (Crystal Clear Vinyl)

Tanukichan, the musical project of Oakland, CA’s Hannah van Loon, has been a prominent figure in modern shoegaze music since 2016, when she first collaborated with Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi. Together, they released an EP and two full-length albums under Bear's Company Records, culminating in 2023's GIZMO. With her new EP Circles, out September 20th, 2024, via Carpark Records, van Loon ventures into new territory by teaming up with a new producer for the first time – Franco Reid.

The genesis of their partnership dates back to the GIZMO campaign, when Reid noticed van Loon wearing an Incubus shirt in a press photo on Instagram. Intrigued by whether or not van Loon was a genuine fan, he sent her a DM. Their shared musical interest sparked a dialogue that eventually led to the creation of the single "NPC" in 2023.

Lead single “City Bus,” offers a reflection on van Loon's childhood bus rides in San Francisco, evoking the stop-and-go rhythm of commuter life through hard-hitting drums and heavy guitar feedback phasing in and out of the mix. Themes of self-reflection and societal belonging permeate the track, echoing van Loon's ongoing personal journey.

While much of Circles delves into internal struggles, “It Gets Easier” takes on a more celebratory tone as van Loon realizes she’s developed a heightened sense of maturity when dealing with hardship. “It feels easier to let go of situations or people that don’t serve me,” reflects van Loon, “Or if they can’t be avoided, at least I don’t have to dwell on the sadness or discomfort I feel when letting someone down.” Introduced by Reid, nu-gaze sensation Wisp, contributes a verse in her similarly ethereal vocal style.

There is a notable shift on Circles when you consider the first three Tanukichan releases were produced by a pioneer of the chillwave genre. With van Loon’s consistently dreamy songwriting and Reid at the helm, Tanukichan enters new sonic territory that feels larger, arena-ready, and more like a highspeed night drive than the hazy summer dream of its predecessors.

Two classically trained musicians from vastly different traditions, MD Pallavi and Andi Otto came together to create a jewel of a record in ’Songs for Broken Ships’ and Multi Culti have whipped up a stunning remix package for it featuring Simone de Kunovich, Auntie Flo, Peter Power, Kaleema and more.

Hailing from Bangalore, trained in Hindustani music and poetry since childhood, MD Pallavi’s beautiful voice makes an elegant companion to cellist / composer / producer Andi Otto’s idiosyncratic and unconventional style. Andi’s music has featured on labels such as Shika Shika and Pingipung (which he co-runs and curates) and, of course, Multi Culti, who released his previous album ‘Bow Wave’ which featured his first collaboration with Pallavi.

While the heart of "Songs for Broken Ships" showcased the duo's unique meld of cross-cultural folktronica and acoustic ballads with MD Pallavi's poetic Kannada verses at the core, "Remixes from the Clouds” reframes these elements for a vast spectrum of electronic listeners and club go-ers.

An ethereal hypnotic techno re-interpretation of ‘Prayer to the Cloud’ from Italian producer Simone de Kunovich. Scottish ambient maestro and mushroom aficionado Auntie Flo's ecstatic reinterpretation of "Clockshop". Multi Culti veteran downtempo wizard Peter Power's organic and earthy rendition of "Prayer to the Cloud." The mystic sounds of Kaleema breathing new percussive life into "Clockshop". The package concludes with a 'prayer-a-pella' version of "Prayer to the Clouds", spotlighting MD Pallavi's vocals in their purest form, for DJs and producers seeking to slather their rhythms with spiritual voice.

The Multi Culti imaginarium also present an expanded digital package that includes mixes from Hannah Lee, Bliz Nochi & Emil Jourjou, Migramara, and Poligra. In the words of Shawn Christopher: "people from all nations, dancing together." Celestial harmony, one 12” at a time.

Paul Weller – der „Godfather of Brit-Pop“ ist zurück!
„66“ heißt sein neues und mittlerweile 17. Studioalbum, welches zu seinem 66. Geburtstag erscheint. Das
Cover wurde von Sir Peter Blake gestaltet. Der ehemalige Sänger und Gitarrist von „The Jam“ zeigt auf
dem Album seine reflektierte Seite, mit viel Melancholie und dennoch auch einem positiven Kern. Die
12 Songs auf ”66” wurden im Laufe von drei Jahren in Wellers Black Barn Studio mit einer Reihe von
Gastmusikern (Suggs, Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, Erland Cooper, Duo White Label, Hannah Peel,
Christophe Vaillant, Say She She, Dr Robert, Richard Hawley, Steve Brooks, Max Beesley) aufgenommen.
Paul Weller wurde bisher mit 4 BRIT – Awards ausgezeichnet, einen für „Outstanding Contribution to
British Music“

GAMM heads down under with prolific producer Inkswel for a tasty 7 inch crammed with deep hip hop, funk, soul and overall jazziness.
You'll hear reminiscence of Dilla, 90's R&B and even Jersey House (pitched down) on the two track Chill (feat vocals from Blu & Ta'Raach) and Hanna-Ma-Dia.

If you're an open-minded hop hop or soul head...this one's definitely for you.

Come Play With Me and Breed Media are excited to present Come Play With Breed, Vol. 2. Featuring D5, Graft, Hannah Rowe and Mica Sefia, the 10” compilation spotlights the Northern Hip Hop and Soul scenes respectively. On the A-side, D5’s upbeat UK Rap opener, “What’s That”, is followed by Graft’s reflective Jazz-influenced Hip Hop track “Vows To The Art.” Hannah Rowe opens the B-side with an addictive fusion ballad for old souls. Finally, Mica Sefia closes the release with a powerful narration on her experiences as a black woman.

Artist Bios:

D5

Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, D5 draws influence from the likes of Drake, Skepta and Brent Faiyaz and his sound flits between moody R&B and upbeat Rap that oozes a calm confidence. Elements of genres such as Garage, UK Rap and US Hip-Hop intertwine neatly to create his signature style. A style that crystalised on his 2020 EP Channel 5. Consisting of 8 songs, all helmed by producer and close friend CSHARP, the project is D5 at his most personal and led to the video for lead single ‘Silence’ premiering on Link Up TV and garnering him his highest streams to date. However, before ‘Channel 5’ D5 had created the EP If Only We Could Go Outside during the height of the pandemic. The track ‘Movies’ received airplay from the esteemed BBC Radio 1 Presenter Melvoin Odoom. With backing from the likes of GRM Daily and DJ Target spinning 2022 single ‘What’s Up’ on BBC Introducing, D5’s star is surely set to rise as he continues to develop his artistry. In addition to this, he has opened up for the likes of Novelist and fellow hometown hero Graft, proving with every successive performance and release that he is worthy of being a headline act.

Graft

Graft, winner of MOBO Unsung and BBC Three's The Rap Game UK, has propelled himself to national recognition for his unwavering sense of self and musical talent. Hailing from the vibrant city of Leeds, Graft’s topical and poetic approach to songwriting takes inspiration from genres such as Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, Jazz and Alternative Rap. This fusion of inspiration has seen him grace the stage at the acclaimed Reading and Leeds Festival, and has collaborated with esteemed brands such as Adidas, Virgin Media, Boohoo and Leeds United. Now with this national acclaim, Graft prepares for the release of his highly anticipated EP, Golden Child.

Hannah Rowe

Hannah Rowe’s emotional range transcends generations; the young singer writes about experiences and shifts in life, offering all listeners a sense of reflection within her rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound. Hannah is backed by a group of highly accomplished musicians who happen to be her adored closest friends. After finding one another at university, Sam Hughes on guitar, Luke Harrison on bass, Owen Moriarty on keys and Charlie Tanner on drums intertwined their varied influences to paint their own alluring and soulful sound - one difficult to define, but has been said to resemble the likes of Raye, Lianne La Havas, Moonchild and Yebba.

Mica Sefia

Liverpool born, Leeds-based future-soul Queen Mica Sefia endorses the interpretive nature of music as an art to be studied and related to by the public. Mica’s own exploration of self-expression solidified her passion in the production of a timeless and authentic style of music. Preferring to keep her lyricisms and narrative open to interpretation, Mica relates to a balanced approach to songwriting, in which her music remains subjective, but retains its emotive sensitivity. Mica’s music leans into the genres of Alt Soul, Rock and Jazz intertwining them to create atmospheric sounds and textured layers.

Hannah Mohan’s new album is a first in more ways than one. Time Is a Walnut is the first solo release from the Western Massachusetts singer and songwriter, after nearly a decade fronting indie-pop band And the Kids. The album also comes amid the longest stretch Mohan has spent in one place since she left home at 16 to hop freight trains and hitchhike across North America.

Making music has been at the center of Mohan’s life ever since, even as other circumstances have changed—sometimes radically. A long-term relationship crumbled in 2019. Then the pandemic arrived, bringing an end to her band. After writing a batch of new songs taking stock of her situation, Mohan asked Alex Toth of Rubblebucket and Tōth to produce them, the latest installment of a longtime friendship and occasional creative collaboration.

Although Time Is a Walnut is a breakup album, don’t go in expecting tearjerkers. Mohan draws from a richer palette here, with themes of messy eroticism on the sultry “Soaked,” altered consciousness on the buzzy rocker “Heaven and Drugs,"" and navigating personal hells with Lady Lamb on “Hell.” Throughout, the songs showcase Mohan’s powerful voice, prismatic melodicism and distinctive lyrical sensibility as she processes major events in her life.

Hailing from Tain in the Highlands, Laura Jane Wilkie has a unique style which has roots in the Highland fiddle traditions but is influenced by an eclectic range of music from all genres.

Vent is centered around ancient women's work songs - waulking songs. Laura studied these to adapt them for the fiddle, immersing herself in the Scottish archives as well as having them passed on from friend, tradition bearer and one- woman- ceilidh: Rona Lightfoot. The album explores the melodies of these ancient waulking songs and how they have individually and communally provided a sense of safety, shared knowledge, power, love, humour and freedom to not only rural working women's communities but to Laura as a non Gaelic speaker.

Vent features an array of amazing talent including: Ian Carr on guitars/ harmonium; Sarah Hayes on keys/flute/ vocals; Joe Rattray on bass; Rachel Sermanni on vocals; Hannah Read on electric guitar; and Alice Allen on cello as well a improvised vocal samples by Pippa Blundell, Hannah Findlay, Gillian Fleetwood, Rona Lightfoot and Imogen Macleod.

Hailing from Tain in the Highlands, Laura Jane Wilkie has a unique style which has roots in the Highland fiddle traditions but is influenced by an eclectic range of music from all genres.

Vent is centered around ancient women's work songs - waulking songs. Laura studied these to adapt them for the fiddle, immersing herself in the Scottish archives as well as having them passed on from friend, tradition bearer and one- woman- ceilidh: Rona Lightfoot. The album explores the melodies of these ancient waulking songs and how they have individually and communally provided a sense of safety, shared knowledge, power, love, humour and freedom to not only rural working women's communities but to Laura as a non Gaelic speaker.

Vent features an array of amazing talent including: Ian Carr on guitars/ harmonium; Sarah Hayes on keys/flute/ vocals; Joe Rattray on bass; Rachel Sermanni on vocals; Hannah Read on electric guitar; and Alice Allen on cello as well a improvised vocal samples by Pippa Blundell, Hannah Findlay, Gillian Fleetwood, Rona Lightfoot and Imogen Macleod.

Introducing Jahnah Camille (pronounced Hannah), a young artist emerging from the DIY scene of Birmingham, Alabama. Camille's songs capture the rollercoaster of teenage angst, heartbreak and introspection over a well-made bed of driving guitars and catchy, compact melodies. A five-track EP infused with anxiety and grit, i tried to freeze light, but only remember a girl, is a shining introductory project smoothed over by Camille's sugar-sweet voice and cutting lyricism. Much of the EP's songs were written and recorded while Camille was still in high school, taking trips back and forth from Atlanta to record. In the time following, Camille dug into the local DIY scene, steadily gaining an impressive resume of opening slots as she cut her teeth supporting acts like Clairo, Soccer Mommy, Cryogeyser and Wednesday as they came through town. Now 19 years old, Camille delivers an excellent snapshot of those uncertain and wildly hopeful late teen years. i tried to freeze light captures Camille approaching heartbreak and self-perception from a variety of angles-each track playing slightly with genre and cadence and infused with influence from her musical heroes, like Liz Phair and Fiona Apple. The EP pulls at a range of alternative rock and pop threads, there's the 90s alternative rock opener "flesh" and the country-gaze-tinged "roadkill." Camille then softens on the swooning synth-layered ode to love lost, "elliot," before relaxing into a folksy, acoustic "paper doll."I wanna talk and not spill out carnival sounds" Camille confides on closer "carnival sounds"--a track that illuminates the singer's art-pop influences and knack for revealing tender and at times searing admissions through her lyricism. While misunderstandings color the emotional sentiment of the EP, Camille's artistry and expression come through clear as day on i tried to freeze light, presenting her as a promising young voice with real talent and a hunger for musical experimentation.

The first thing that strikes you is the rhythm. The Gossip have been making punks dance since they debuted 5 years ago, long before dance punk existed. Soulful and jagged, you can hear everything from Dischord to Motown in Brace's playing. Now, with the addition of new drummer Hannah Blilie (Shoplifting, ex-Chromatics) they have a new thundering beat for the kids to dance to on the corners and in the clubs. The next thing that smacks you is Beth's voice, all the guttural blues of the South is in that inimitable instrument. It resonates with the confidence that is in her lyrics asking people to hold on just a little bit longer, re-assuring the youth that there are others out there, and spitting in the face of all who say otherwise! "Standing in the Way of Control", their third album, was recorded by Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) at Seattle's Bear Creek. From heartbreakers like "Coal to Diamonds" to the anthemic title track, released as a single with a Le Tigre remix, the band is unafraid to put it all out there and take their audience to new places. This is the sound of a band destroying and surpassing all expectations placed on them.

Plasma Color Vinyl. 'The way Bloomsday's Iris James Garrison writes songs feels like somewhere between a mirror and a memory. Spacious, full-bodied folk songs, they are an ode to things that are good no matter how small; they sometimes feel like the ghost of a Mary Oliver poem. Bloomsday's new record, 'Heart of the Artichoke', is a relic of unfettered creativity and community. They recount the miracles of the mundane, the memories that become sacred, an ode to all that is holy: nightswimming, songs plucked from the ether, the ways friendship can endure. Like earlier Bloomsday songs, the work here is threaded with warmth; it's simmering, crisp and deeply human, an encapsulation of the present moment. Recorded across 10 days in June 2023 in upstate New York at duo Babehoven's studio and co-produced by Babehoven's Ryan Albert, with mixing by Henry Stoehr of Slow Pulp. The record was built out with a wideranging group of collaborators, including inventive drumming from Andrew Stevens (Lomelda, Hovvdy), Alex Harwood, Richard Orofino, Babehoven's Maya Bon, Hannah Pruzinsky (h.pruz, Sister.), and Chris Daley. It was an insulated and collaborative experience: all family dinners on the back porch, bonfires, feeling a full sense of joy, of friendship, of purity in the artistic self. Collaboration is an integral part of Bloomsday's musical process. Garrison is malleable in the studio, their songwriting generous and spacious. But in listening to the record, there's a sense that Garrison leaves room for the players, for the listener; for songs to find the shapes they're meant to take. Garrison's role as maestro is crucial, singular - it's a collaborative, exploratory spirit harnessed by Garrison's intuition, and by an honest commitment to carve out creative space for play, to delve into what's known - or pushing past that, into unknown. "The ghosts of the past still come up and haunt me," Garrison says, "but I sit in what I have and see it. All of these songs are about loved ones, about personal struggles with getting out of my head and being present." Heart of the Artichoke was written from a healed, matured place - written in a moment of safety from chaos. It's a prayer for the present, an appreciation of tenderness and what happens once we give ourselves the space to really see, and really feel - becoming free and whole - an ode to the way healing allows us to bloom.

'The way Bloomsday's Iris James Garrison writes songs feels like somewhere between a mirror and a memory. Spacious, full-bodied folk songs, they are an ode to things that are good no matter how small; they sometimes feel like the ghost of a Mary Oliver poem. Bloomsday's new record, 'Heart of the Artichoke', is a relic of unfettered creativity and community. They recount the miracles of the mundane, the memories that become sacred, an ode to all that is holy: nightswimming, songs plucked from the ether, the ways friendship can endure. Like earlier Bloomsday songs, the work here is threaded with warmth; it's simmering, crisp and deeply human, an encapsulation of the present moment. Recorded across 10 days in June 2023 in upstate New York at duo Babehoven's studio and co-produced by Babehoven's Ryan Albert, with mixing by Henry Stoehr of Slow Pulp. The record was built out with a wideranging group of collaborators, including inventive drumming from Andrew Stevens (Lomelda, Hovvdy), Alex Harwood, Richard Orofino, Babehoven's Maya Bon, Hannah Pruzinsky (h.pruz, Sister.), and Chris Daley. It was an insulated and collaborative experience: all family dinners on the back porch, bonfires, feeling a full sense of joy, of friendship, of purity in the artistic self. Collaboration is an integral part of Bloomsday's musical process. Garrison is malleable in the studio, their songwriting generous and spacious. But in listening to the record, there's a sense that Garrison leaves room for the players, for the listener; for songs to find the shapes they're meant to take. Garrison's role as maestro is crucial, singular - it's a collaborative, exploratory spirit harnessed by Garrison's intuition, and by an honest commitment to carve out creative space for play, to delve into what's known - or pushing past that, into unknown. "The ghosts of the past still come up and haunt me," Garrison says, "but I sit in what I have and see it. All of these songs are about loved ones, about personal struggles with getting out of my head and being present." Heart of the Artichoke was written from a healed, matured place - written in a moment of safety from chaos. It's a prayer for the present, an appreciation of tenderness and what happens once we give ourselves the space to really see, and really feel - becoming free and whole - an ode to the way healing allows us to bloom.

FLUKTEN is a Norwegian jazz quartet, with members from Hanna Paulsberg Concept, Atomic, Moskus, GURLS, Wako, Espen Berg Trio, Hullyboo, Skadedyr and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Their debut album Velkommen håp from 2021, was well received and earned them a Norwegian Grammy in the category of jazz. When Flukten was going to record a follow-up to "Velkommen håp", they again wanted to record in the same studio and collaborate with technician Mike Hartung. The new album shows how thw quartet has evolved, and the album was recorded by musicians with surplus energy to follow up the first album. Concerts are scheduled throughout Norweay, as well as Oslo Jazz Festival.

If you can judge an artist's quality by the company they keep, then FaltyDL is up there with the best of them. The label history of the producer known to his friends as Drew Lustman reads like a "who's who" of 21st century electronic music imprints - Ninja Tune, Unknown to the Unknown, Planet Mu, Studio Barnhus, the list goes on.

WithIn the Wake of Wolves, we can now add Central Processing Unit to this illustrious roster. The Sheffield label joins the party at a notable juncture - while FaltyDL has kept up an impressive clip of releases throughout his career,In the Wake of Wolvesis both the NYC-based producer's first LP for two years and his first full-length release away from his own Blueberry Records for almost a decade.

In the Wake of Wolvesproves to be both a great match for CPU and also further evidence of the label's burgeoning sonic palette. While CPU has built its reputation on top quality electro joints, recent releases have delivered adventurous electronica experiments (Proswell'sPeople Are Giving And Receiving Thanks At Incredible Speeds), hard-wired breakbeat techno (Baby T'sI Against I) and golden-age synth explorations (twenty-fifth anniversary reissues of Bochum Welt'sDesktop RoboticsandFeelings on a Screen, both of which first emerged via the legendary Rephlex Records).In the Wake of Wolvestakes things further still - this is a brilliantly genre-voracious record, one which marries the rhythmic cut-and-thrust that we have long known FaltyDL for with all manner of adventurous stylistic choices.

Those familiar with the FaltyDL experience will recognise the trademark blend of synthetic grit and harmonious softness in album opener 'I Need You'. This could pass for Four Tet or even Hannah Diamond at points, the steady build of pulsing synths and looped vocals recalling a more mysterious version of the PC Music sound. 'I Need You' stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any of FaltyDL's other great atmospheric album openers - no small feat given the competition. 'Further', the following number, is yin to 'I Need You's yang. This is a pulsating track which gleefully skitters between machine-funk, tubing darkside bass and breakcore-adjacent drum programming, all of which is peppered with some genuinely beautiful work in the higher synths.

'Further' sets the scene for several of the more club-facing cuts here. 'Minds Protection' similarly features all manner of strange percussive sounds to surprise the ear, and it also boasts a thrilling mid-section in which the bottom falls out the track to incorporate a short snippet of blown-out junglism. With its tunnelling low-end and clattering drums, 'Full Spectrum' kicks off a delightful run of grime-influenced joints which take cues from Mr. Mitch, Logos and many of those other producers who took the Eski sound to exciting new places in the 2010s. 'Forget Me Not', the album's longest track which is placed three spots from the end, feels like the record's climactic point - a pitter-patter post-house joint that has a hint of Caribou in its DNA, it'll take the clubs by storm.

But as much as FaltyDL may consistently bring the heat in terms of the beat programming, the thing which has long marked Lustman out as a special talent is the musicality of his compositions. No matter how much drums clatter or bass bangs, FaltyDL always hooks the ear back in with a sonorous synth or pleasing nugget of melody. Nowhere is this more apparent than onIn the Wake of Wolves' more weightless numbers, each startling in their prettiness. 'Half Spectrum' is a new-era beat track packed full of ear candy; the keening keys of 'GasGas' are potent with feeling; and on the album's closer, the evocatively-titled 'Mila Stans In A Meadow For The First Time Eating Strawberries', we get a gorgeous synth vignette that joins the dots between the modern mastery of Yung Sherman and the most emotionally affecting moments of Aphex's Twin's catalogue.

At once wistful and hopeful, archival and futuristic, FaltyDL's brilliantly unpredictableIn the Wake of Wolvesis a feather in the cap for both this seasoned producer and the Central Processing Unit label.

RIYL: AFX, Bochum Welt, Mark Fell, Mrs Jynx, Boards of Canada

Neues Album erscheint am 31. Mai 2024 bei City Slang inklusive der Single 'Big Swimmer' featuring Gesangsharmonien von Sharon Van Etten!

King Hannah entwirft einen musikalischen Wandteppich, der nahtlos zwischen den ruhigen Tiefen des meditativen Pops und den weitläufigen, klangvollen Landschaften voller Dunkelheit, Witz und schrägem Humor pendelt. Merricks Gesang, ein rauchiges Vergnügen, verleiht ihren Worten tiefes Gewicht und Kraft, ergänzt durch die bluesigen Leinwände, die Whittle meisterhaft unter ihnen malt. Ihr Sound wechselt mühelos von Momenten post-rockiger Weite zu dem Gefühl, dass Springsteen auf eine düstere Seitenstraße abseits seines Highways zur Freiheit gerät. In jüngster Zeit hat das Duo die Bühnen neben geschätzten Künstlern wie Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore, Kevin Morby und DIIV geziert und das Publikum auf Festivals in ganz Europa und Nordamerika, darunter End of the Road, Green Man, Primavera Sound und Fusion, in seinen Bann gezogen. King Hannah wurde unter anderem von Stereogum als "Band to Watch", von The Guardian als "Ones to Watch" und von Paste als "Best of What's Next" gefeiert und in der Rubrik "NEU" des DIY Magazins sowie als "Rising Artists" von SPIN vorgestellt.

"Trails" is a 7-track EP by Guitarist and composer Robbie Belchamber, which draws upon elements of jazz, brazilian, west african and folk music. The compositions are centered around the soft timbre of fingerstyle nylon-string guitar, with subtle arrangements incorporating voice, flute, percussion, mandolin, accordion and electric guitar filling out the texture.

"During lockdown I spent a lot of time exploring Melbourne's northern waterways, riding my bike along the Birrarung, Darebin creek and Merri creek. These opportunities to slow down, reflect, observe and spend time in nature formed the genesis of many of the compositions. "Trails" sonifies these experiences, the bubbling rhythms of water, melodic inventions of currawongs and magpie-larks, pervasive scents of the bush, all changing with the seasons."

"Trails" is the first release under Robbie Belchamber, and features collaborations Melbourne musicians such as Lucky Pereira (Glass Beams, 30/70), Hannah McKittrick, Grace Robinson (Empress), Moses Carr, Aidan Ryan (NoLess) and Erica Tuccerri.

Chrome is back again with his 5th full studio album. A new project under the guise of ChromePlus alongside Super JB, A Civilian and Tom Hanna. Chrome has amassed an incredible catalogue since 1990 as member of the mighty Def Tex and collaborating with IllInspired, Whirlwind D, DJar One, Specifik, Crease and DJ Nappa to name but a few.
This album has taken just over 3 years to complete and release but the wait is worth it. Featuring live instruments over sampled drums and turntables it has a vastly different DNA to most Hip Hop based albums, and with this the soundscape is able to stretch out in a way that would be almost impossible when staying in the realm of samples. But with the sampled drums keeping the dynamic energy of more usual Hip Hop production
Chrome’s previous single ‘Anything You Want’ achieved the prestige of ‘BBC Introducing’ single of the week which gives only a hint of the quality that can be expected here. Chrome is always trying something new and pushing his music into territory that many other artists do not attempt and with great results and with the stunning artwork it is the complete package for the decerning Hip Hop listener. There is something for each part of the Hip Hop spectrum here from Fast Rap, thoughtful and experimental guitar driven tracks, instrumentals and the almost forgotten DJ track with the tempo varying accordingly.

Öjskog’s debut album Dolda Byar is a study in explorative, farreverberating industrial and techno landscapes as described by Berlin’s Hardwax record store. The remixes EP of Dolda Byar continues down the explorative and experimental path with four exceptional remixes from Notzing, Ena, BODYXVIII and Fresnal Lens. Notzing’s Dream remake of Aatos delivers intricate time signatures and layering that produces an ethereal landscape of the original, while Ena highlights his signature micro-sampling style of organic and found sounds to deliver a twisted remix of Kefhel. BODYVXIII’s remix of Gleymdu is an opaque study in sonic experimentation and Fresnel Lens rounds off the EP with a haunting and unnerving reduction of Hanna. Mastered & Cut by Tim Xavier at Manmade Mastering Berlin

Featuring live versions of songs from that album, shining a light on female composers and vocalists from the classic age of jazz, this album captures the racuous and occasionally hilarious energy of a Judith Owen live show.

Reissue im neuen Artwork zum 10-jährigen Jubiläum von Hannah Aldridges gefeiertem Debütalbum "Razor Wire" (2014), einer eindringlichen Erkundung von Liebe, Verlust und Rebellion. Aufgewachsen im Herzen von Alabama, ist Aldridges Musik eine Abrechnung mit der Erziehung im US-Süden und der Suche nach Identität. Mit ihrer düsteren wie melodischen Stimme erzählt sie Geschichten über Kampf und Selbstfindung. Aufgenommen im renommierten Welcome To 1979-Studio in Nashville, profitierte "Razor Wire" von der Zusammenarbeit angesehener Musiker und Produzenten wie Chris Mara, Brad Pemberton, Andrew Higley, The 400 Unit und Dylan Leblanc. Dieser Meilenstein markiert ein Jahrzehnt musikalischer Erforschung und Entwicklung und lädt die Hörer ein, die transformative Kraft von Aldridges Musik neu zu entdecken.

New Zealand's Marlon Williams has quite simply got one of the most extraordinary, effortlessly distinctive voices of his generation-a fact well known to fans of his first, self-titled solo album, and his captivating live shows. An otherworldly instrument with an affecting vibrato, it's a voice that's earned repeated comparisons to the great Roy Orbison, and even briefly had Williams, in his youth, consider a career in classical singing, before realizing his temperament was more Stratocaster than Stradivarius. But it's the art of songwriting that has bedeviled the artist, and into which he has grown exponentially on his second album, Make Way For Love, out in February of 2018. It's Marlon Williams like you've never heard him before-exploring new musical terrain and revealing himself in an unprecedented way, in the wake of a fractured relationship. In early December, Williams and his longtime girlfriend, musician Aldous (Hannah) Harding, broke up. While personally wrenching, the split seemed to open the floodgates for Williams as a writer. "_I wrote about fifteen songs in a month," he recalls. Sure enough, while Make Way For Love draws on Williams' own story, in remarkably universal terms it captures the vagaries of relationships that we've all been through: he bliss (opener "Come To Me"); ache ("Love Is a Terrible Thing"); nagging questions ("Can I Call You"); and bitterness ("The Fire Of Love", whose lyrics Williams says he "agonized over" more than any). And there's "Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore", a duet with Harding, recorded after the two broke up, with Williams directing Harding's recording via a late-night long distance phone call. "We finally got to talk it out," he adds. "We still love each other very much."If "breakup record" is a trope-and certainly it is-then Marlon Williams has done it proud. Like the best of the lot, Make Way For Love doesn't shy away from heartbreak, but rather stares it in the face, and mines beauty from it.

The second studio album by British hyperpop singer and visual artist Hannah Diamond. “Perfect Picture is the pinnacle of today’s hyperpop yet steers away from its once abrasive nature towards a well-rounded, rebooted version: one where all that Hannah is and can be is indeed made picture perfect.” – DIY MAG
Limited Edition 12" Vinyl Record (140g, Black), with full colour labels. Perfect Pink high gloss innersleeve, inside full colour, high gloss flood outersleeve with Perfect Picture album artwork. 4/4 18x24 double-sided Perfect Poster insert, with full colour high gloss flood finish.

Together with British folk-pop musician Hannah Rickard, the country music-inspired album "We Talk Too Much" was created in 2019 - an affair of the heart, as the legendary Status Quo founder and frontman says. "My love of country and Americana is well known and has always been present in the background when I've written a song or worked out a melody on my acoustic guitar. Bringing this album to life has been a joy and I hope people can relate to these songs; it's a collection I'm really proud of." "We Talk Too Much" is now released on LP for the first time; "mastered for vinyl" and pressed on 180g black vinyl for the best possible sound experience. In addition, "Broken Memory", written by Francis Rossi and Hannah Rickard, is an exclusive bonus song for this wonderful vinyl release.

Released in July 1994 by Atlantic Records, Cracked Rear View is Hootie & the Blowfish's most successful album, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 five times during the course of 1995. It was also the best-selling album of 1995 in the United States, selling 7 million copies, and since then has gone on to sell more than 10.2 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine says Hootie & the Blowfish, on Cracked Rear View, "...deliver the goods, turning out an album of solid, rootsy folk-rock songs that have simple, powerful hooks."

The album played a pivotal role in shaping the career of its lead vocalist, Darius Rucker, who transitioned to country music in the mid-2000s as a solo artist. Cracked Rear View was an instant sensation, with chart-topping hits such as "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry," and "Only Wanna Be with You." The album has a distinctive sound, blending rock, pop, and a hint of folk, using Rucker's soulful, raspy baritone as its emotional core, and his heartfelt delivery to win over audiences.

This Analogue Productions (Atlantic Series) reissue of Cracked Rear View has the essential elements that make it a standout for your collection. We turned to Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound in Nashville for an exemplary cut direct from the master tape. Pressing on 180-gram vinyl is by Quality Record Pressings, and the album is housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

Cracked Rear View's emotional depth and Rucker's distinctive voice left an indelible mark on the music industry, making Hootie & the Blowfish's debut album a timeless piece of musical history.

Following their critically acclaimed 2019 debut album Unfurl, Hidden Notes Records are happy to announce the release of the multi-award-nominated experimental/contemporary folk string duo Fran & Flora’s sophomore full-length album, Precious Collection. Released on Friday 12th April 2024, this album, produced by the duo themselves, explodes in myriad directions expressing the richness of the long-standing collaboration between Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vocals/electronics) and Flora Curzon (violin/vocals/electronics). With Klezmer and Yiddish song as the predominant inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum) respectively, and Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.The album was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA). The music of Fran & Flora sits in two camps, both steeped in tradition, with material drawn directly from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and years of study with traditional music masters, whilst simultaneously garnering a contemporary and avant-garde aesthetic, speaking to the more classical and experimental listener. Fran & Flora inject their source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a ‘border-defying’ (Mojo) sound. Their influences range across a wide spectrum of artists and composers from Silver Mt.Zion to Rhiannon Giddens, Lankum, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Colin Stetson, Adrienne Lenker, Shabaka Hutchings and Mica Levi. As string players Fran & Flora’s collaborations together and separately includes performing with the likes of Tom Skinner, Portico Quartet, Imogen Heap, Riz Ahmed, Sam Lee, Talvin Singh, Jocelyn Pook, Hannah Peel and The Vernon Spring. Within the global Klezmer community they have worked with Zoe Aqua, London Klezmer Quartet, Sashe Lurje, Craig Judelman, Merlin & Polina Shepherd and Frank London, and have taught at Klezmer music camps including at Klezfest London, contributing to ongoing research and revival work.

Following their critically acclaimed 2019 debut album Unfurl, Hidden Notes Records are happy to announce the release of the multi-award-nominated experimental/contemporary folk string duo Fran & Flora’s sophomore full-length album, Precious Collection. Released on Friday 12th April 2024, this album, produced by the duo themselves, explodes in myriad directions expressing the richness of the long-standing collaboration between Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vocals/electronics) and Flora Curzon (violin/vocals/electronics). With Klezmer and Yiddish song as the predominant inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum) respectively, and Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.The album was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA). The music of Fran & Flora sits in two camps, both steeped in tradition, with material drawn directly from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and years of study with traditional music masters, whilst simultaneously garnering a contemporary and avant-garde aesthetic, speaking to the more classical and experimental listener. Fran & Flora inject their source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a ‘border-defying’ (Mojo) sound. Their influences range across a wide spectrum of artists and composers from Silver Mt.Zion to Rhiannon Giddens, Lankum, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Colin Stetson, Adrienne Lenker, Shabaka Hutchings and Mica Levi. As string players Fran & Flora’s collaborations together and separately includes performing with the likes of Tom Skinner, Portico Quartet, Imogen Heap, Riz Ahmed, Sam Lee, Talvin Singh, Jocelyn Pook, Hannah Peel and The Vernon Spring. Within the global Klezmer community they have worked with Zoe Aqua, London Klezmer Quartet, Sashe Lurje, Craig Judelman, Merlin & Polina Shepherd and Frank London, and have taught at Klezmer music camps including at Klezfest London, contributing to ongoing research and revival work.

Spaceship is Mark S. Williamson, a musician, sound artist, film maker and educator based in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. His work is often made in response to his environment, working on location, combining
field recordings with electronic and acoustic instrumentation, usually recorded outside, amid the landscape and weather. Mark has recorded for wiaiwya, Apollolaan, the Dark Outside and his own Forged River Recordings. "Williamson is building desire tunnels, churning through the layers of rock and soil to find his conclusions." - The Wire // "...the droning synthesizer waves conjure up something spectral and eerie, stretching out like the wi de horizon..." - The Quietus // "Beautiful." - Hannah Peel

Nach mehr als einem Jahrzehnt veröffentlicht die Kultband Gossip ihr neues Album »Real Power« über Columbia Records. Für »Real Power« kamen Beth Ditto, Nathan Howdeshell und Hannah Blilie wieder zusammen und haben sich mit dem Starproduzenten Rick Rubin zusammengetan, der bereits für ihr Album »Music For Men« verantwortlich war. Das Ergebnis ist ein Comeback der Superlative, das die Kraft der Musik, die Freude am kreativen Ausdruck und die Kraft der Familie nach einem kollektiven und persönlichen Trauma feiert. Gossip haben mehr als 10 Millionen Platten verkauft. Sie wurden weltweit mit Gold und Platin ausgezeichnet, traten in zahllosen renommierten Fernsehsendungen auf und spielten ausverkaufte Konzerte in einigen der legendärsten Clubs der Welt. Sängerin Beth Ditto ist eine Ikone in Sachen LGBTQIA+, Feminismus und Mode.

Today's club culture all started with Northern Soul and its roots in the Mod all-nighter scene of London clubs. All the ingredients were there: DJs privy to the latest imports and advance promos, dancers fuelled by illegal uppers, venues which had scarcely opened when the pubs were all but deserted. The records, drugs and clubs have all changed, true, but the lifestyle is identical. Featuring classics from the Northern Soul Scene including Tom Jones, Ronnie Jones, Brotherhood of Man, Sonny Childe, Billie Davis, Tony Newman, Bats and more. Presented for the first time on orange colour vinyl and CD, this is essential for any funk and soul lovers.

Standard black vinyl is limited to 500 copies. Digipack CD. It’s two years since CONNECTIVITY (2021) smashed into the top 40 and debuted at #1 in the UK download chart, propelling the fiercely independent voice of GRACE PETRIE from critics’ choice to the main stages of major festivals across The UK and Ireland, Australia and Canada. For a seasoned road dog who spent almost 15 years clocking up tours with the likes of Billy Bragg, Frank Turner and Hannah Gadsby, the COVID lockdowns were like a cage for Petrie and when restrictions lifted, she hit the road harder than ever, armed with her most searing and successful record to date, and determined to make up for lost time. Sell-out headline tours across the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand followed, with audiences from Melbourne to Toronto mesmerised by the ferocity of her socially urgent lyricism and the barnstorming power of her live show. But travelling the globe hasn’t diminished her laser focus on the political issues plaguing the UK, with two more Prime Ministers, endless blunders and evermore division seen since she last swapped microphone for pen and paper. Now the songwriter is back - stronger, older and a whole lot angrier than ever before. As right wing ideologues trade in suspicion and cynicism, tearing communities apart against a backdrop of crumbling public services, the ordinary folk of Britain continue to suffer the consequences of corruption and individualism. From within this maelstrom of despair comes BUILD SOMETHING BETTER - the new, uncontainable album from Grace Petrie. Recorded raw and unflinchingly with folk-punk legend Frank Turner in the producer’s seat, BUILD SOMETHING BETTER is a return to blistering protest form for Britain’s most relevant political songwriter, a decade after being hailed as “a powerful new voice”, (The Guardian) and “a millennial’s Billy Bragg” (Huffington Post). In a world that seems to make less sense than ever, these are songs made to both holler along to from the crowd barrier and to tear up with on a lonely late night train. A record for everyone whose broken heart beats for, and whose boots stomp in time with, the hope a brighter tomorrow. “An effervescent charm-bomb of a performer” - The New Yorker. Headline Tour: 21st Feb Belfast - Oh Yeah Centre 22nd Dublin - Whelan’s, 24th Manchester - Academy 2, 28th Kendal - Brewery Arts 29th Edinburgh – Summerhall 1st March Gateshead – Glasshouse 6th Birmingham - Glee Club 7th Leeds - Brudenell Social Club 8th Nottingham - Rescue Rooms 9th Liverpool – Philharmonic 13th Oxford - The Bullingdon 14th London - Islington Assembly Hall 15th Brighton - Concorde 2 16th Norwich - Norwich Arts Centre 20th Cambridge - The Junction 21st Portsmouth - Wedgewood Rooms 22nd Exeter – Phoenix 23rd Bristol - Trinity Centre

Standard black vinyl is limited to 500 copies. Digipack CD. It’s two years since CONNECTIVITY (2021) smashed into the top 40 and debuted at #1 in the UK download chart, propelling the fiercely independent voice of GRACE PETRIE from critics’ choice to the main stages of major festivals across The UK and Ireland, Australia and Canada. For a seasoned road dog who spent almost 15 years clocking up tours with the likes of Billy Bragg, Frank Turner and Hannah Gadsby, the COVID lockdowns were like a cage for Petrie and when restrictions lifted, she hit the road harder than ever, armed with her most searing and successful record to date, and determined to make up for lost time. Sell-out headline tours across the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand followed, with audiences from Melbourne to Toronto mesmerised by the ferocity of her socially urgent lyricism and the barnstorming power of her live show. But travelling the globe hasn’t diminished her laser focus on the political issues plaguing the UK, with two more Prime Ministers, endless blunders and evermore division seen since she last swapped microphone for pen and paper. Now the songwriter is back - stronger, older and a whole lot angrier than ever before. As right wing ideologues trade in suspicion and cynicism, tearing communities apart against a backdrop of crumbling public services, the ordinary folk of Britain continue to suffer the consequences of corruption and individualism. From within this maelstrom of despair comes BUILD SOMETHING BETTER - the new, uncontainable album from Grace Petrie. Recorded raw and unflinchingly with folk-punk legend Frank Turner in the producer’s seat, BUILD SOMETHING BETTER is a return to blistering protest form for Britain’s most relevant political songwriter, a decade after being hailed as “a powerful new voice”, (The Guardian) and “a millennial’s Billy Bragg” (Huffington Post). In a world that seems to make less sense than ever, these are songs made to both holler along to from the crowd barrier and to tear up with on a lonely late night train. A record for everyone whose broken heart beats for, and whose boots stomp in time with, the hope a brighter tomorrow. “An effervescent charm-bomb of a performer” - The New Yorker. Headline Tour: 21st Feb Belfast - Oh Yeah Centre 22nd Dublin - Whelan’s, 24th Manchester - Academy 2, 28th Kendal - Brewery Arts 29th Edinburgh – Summerhall 1st March Gateshead – Glasshouse 6th Birmingham - Glee Club 7th Leeds - Brudenell Social Club 8th Nottingham - Rescue Rooms 9th Liverpool – Philharmonic 13th Oxford - The Bullingdon 14th London - Islington Assembly Hall 15th Brighton - Concorde 2 16th Norwich - Norwich Arts Centre 20th Cambridge - The Junction 21st Portsmouth - Wedgewood Rooms 22nd Exeter – Phoenix 23rd Bristol - Trinity Centre

Das lebenslange Armdrücken zwischen Kopf und Herz steht im Mittelpunkt von Faith Crisis Pt 1, dem dritten Album der Emo-Indie-Rocker Middle Kids aus Sydney. Die neuen Songs legen die schmerzhaften, frustrierenden und chaotischen Teile des logischen Puzzles dar, das das Leben jeden Tag von uns verlangt. Produziert von Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975, Beabadoobee), bringen Hannah Joy, Tim Fitz und Harry Day meisterhaft Emotionen des Überwältigtseins zum Ausdruck, die den Hörer von den ersten Takten an fesseln. Das Trio greift erneut auf das Wesentliche des Indie-Rock zurück (Gitarre, Bass, Schlagzeug) und hebt seine Songs mit euphorischen Gesangsdarbietungen, einer mitreißenden Produktion und unvergleichlichen Pop-Sensibilität hervor.

Das lebenslange Armdrücken zwischen Kopf und Herz steht im Mittelpunkt von Faith Crisis Pt 1, dem dritten Album der Emo-Indie-Rocker Middle Kids aus Sydney. Die neuen Songs legen die schmerzhaften, frustrierenden und chaotischen Teile des logischen Puzzles dar, das das Leben jeden Tag von uns verlangt. Produziert von Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975, Beabadoobee), bringen Hannah Joy, Tim Fitz und Harry Day meisterhaft Emotionen des Überwältigtseins zum Ausdruck, die den Hörer von den ersten Takten an fesseln. Das Trio greift erneut auf das Wesentliche des Indie-Rock zurück (Gitarre, Bass, Schlagzeug) und hebt seine Songs mit euphorischen Gesangsdarbietungen, einer mitreißenden Produktion und unvergleichlichen Pop-Sensibilität hervor.

Franco-British artist, born in Birmingham suburbs in 1993, Albert Newton welcomes us into the metaphysical universe of his debut album scheduled for release early 2024 on Byebye records.

After releasing his first EP «Bedroom Posters (*Spring)» in 2020, Henry met a quantum researcher and an astrophysicist who opened his eyes to the reality and beauty of the scientific world we live in. These encounters would prove a major inspiration for the writing of his first album, «Twin Earth».

A 10-track album influenced by a wide range of musicians from Bowie, MGMT and Tame Impala to Frank Ocean or even Philip Glass. Produced by Max Baby (Hannah Jadagu, Goldie Boutilier).

The multilayered lyrics map the traditional rollercoaster of emotions as well as their place in the celestial architecture . Nothing is ever perfect on this twin planet, but Albert Newton looks upon it with tenderness and gratitude, and shares a much-needed optimistic vision.

Optimo (Espacio) started life as a weekly club night. It was born at The Sub Club in Glasgow on a wet, windy, wintry November Sunday night in 1997. Run by JD Twitch and partner in crime Jonnie Wilkes. Optimo was a reaction against what felt like an increasingly conservative musical soundtrack in clubs here at that time. Clubland felt as if it had become very bland and a bit too serious; it was the era of the dawn of the Superstar DJ. Clubs often felt like bastions of male energy. It seemed dance music and culture was going somewhere far, far away from where it was meant to be. The notion of fun had got lost.

It was no longer the world they had devoted ten years of their lives to already, and lots of their friends felt the same. When the opportunity came up to do a Sunday night at The Sub Club it felt like the perfect opportunity to rip it all up and start again. So they did. There was nothing in the city (or possibly anywhere) like it. As the club believed wholeheartedly in what they were doing, there was no pressure from The Sub Club to fill the club. So, they embraced the freedom. Groups of people who had never been in the same room at the same time before came together. A community of kindred spirits started to emerge.

Word spread, slowly. Lots of people checked it out. Many loved it, some hated it. The core of the Optimo idea was to embrace music they loved that might work on the dancefloor from whatever era or genre they thought felt right. It might not seem very radical now but at that time it was revolutionary.

After about a year and a half, the club went from having 100 people attending most nights to suddenly one week having 500 people turn up. It was very weird. It was as if a collective light bulb went off in people’s heads in Glasgow. From that week on, until the very last weekly Sunday night at the Sub Club, in 2010, over a decade later, it was packed.

There were 550 Sunday Optimo nights. A LOT of music was played. So, what was the music? People often find it hard to pin down exactly what Optimo is. This has been a positive but also a negative as we live in a world where people want easily defined “brand identities”. The simplest definition of the music played is “music for dancing”, which of course is a very broad definition. Even better than trying to define it in words, we have these 2 volumes of music that give a hint of what that might be.

This is not a “Best of Optimo” or a “Greatest Hits of Optimo” compilation. For people who come to, or used to come to the nights there are of course “Greatest Hits”. But, over such a long timespan they are “hits” belonging to a certain moment in time and space. Someone who came to Optimo in 1997 would have a completely different notion of the big tracks at the club to someone coming in 2003, or 2010, or today. This compilation is just a snap shot missing several genres that might make up the DNA of Optimo. There is though a broad sweep through lots of music Optimo loves, that they believe is amazing. Music that they know will rock a dancefloor, that they have played between 1997 and 2023. Of course Optimo nights were not all about rocking the dancefloor. The first hour was always a time for them to play music they loved that often was far removed from the dance. Side 1, Volume 1 of this compilation is the kind of music one might hear at the very start of an Optimo night.

Optimo have always loved a good slogan. The most long lived, and fitting Optimo slogan is "We Love Your Ears", which is in essence what it is all about to them.

Die New Visionaries sind der in Großbritannien lebende australische Künstler Joel Sarakula und der niederländische Musiker Phil Martin. Ihr fesselndes Neo-Soul-Debüt 'Roadmaps' lässt den Hörer in eine Klangexpedition eintauchen, bei der Grenzen verwischen und sich zeitgenössische Elemente mit Anspielungen auf musikalische Pioniere zu einem charakteristischen Sound für Soul-Enthusiasten, Filmgrooves-Liebhaber und Musikentdecker verbinden. Trotz Phils Engagement in der europäischen Soul/Funk-Szene und Joels Neigung zum Soul-Pop ist ihre gemeinsame Affinität zu modernen Instrumentalbands (Khruangbin, Calibro 35, Air El Michels Affair) und klassischen Einflüssen (David Axelrod, KPM Library Series) massgebend.

This is the first album of Mickey Stevenson’s Venture material. ‘Funky Way’ was the label’s first release and a hit in 1967, despite limited airplay due to having the word “funky” in the title. It went on to become an early funk classic, covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame, Jimmy Bee for Kent, Ray Johnson and others.











[i] 09 Tryin' To Fly My Kite [In Rainy Weather]

"Javelin" verbindet musikalischen Schwung mit emotionaler Weite. Manchmal hat man das Gefühl, dass das Album von einem großen Team produziert wurde - aber das ist es ganz und gar nicht: Fast jeder Sound hier ist das Ergebnis von Stevens zu Hause, der selbst etwas geschaffen hat, das sich manchmal wie ein Zeugnis der Studio-Opulenz der 70er Jahre in Los Angeles anfühlt. Die Beiträge stammen von einem engen Freundeskreis - Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui und Nedelle Torrisi -, die bei vielen Songs Harmonien beisteuern, sowie von Bryce Dessner, der bei "Shit Talk" akustische und elektrische Gitarre spielt. Der zärtliche und mystische Abschluss des Albums, "There's A World", wurde von Neil Young geschrieben. Während "The Ascension", das von der New York Times als "ein Schrei der Verzweiflung und ein Gebet um Erlösung" gelobt wurde, eine kunstvolle, aber dringliche Elektronik verwendet, um sich dem Moment zu nähern, beginnt "Javelin" wie ein Selbstporträt, detailliert und doch schlicht. Dies ist Stevens' intimstes Werk, das an "Seven Swans" oder "Carrie & Lowell" erinnert und den Hörer in die Nähe seiner inneren Abrechnung ruft. "Javelin" wird von einem 48-seitigen Booklet mit Kunst und Essays begleitet, die alle von Stevens geschaffen wurden, darunter eine Reihe von akribischen Collagen, zerschnittenen Katalogfantasien, Puff-Paint-Wortwolken und sich wiederholenden Farbfeldern. Die 10 kurzen Essays - abwechselnd lustig, tragisch, ergreifend, stumpfsinnig und spezifisch - bieten kleine Einblicke in Lieben und Verluste, die ihn und diese Lieder geprägt haben.

"Javelin" verbindet musikalischen Schwung mit emotionaler Weite. Manchmal hat man das Gefühl, dass das Album von einem großen Team produziert wurde - aber das ist es ganz und gar nicht: Fast jeder Sound hier ist das Ergebnis von Stevens zu Hause, der selbst etwas geschaffen hat, das sich manchmal wie ein Zeugnis der Studio-Opulenz der 70er Jahre in Los Angeles anfühlt. Die Beiträge stammen von einem engen Freundeskreis - Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui und Nedelle Torrisi -, die bei vielen Songs Harmonien beisteuern, sowie von Bryce Dessner, der bei "Shit Talk" akustische und elektrische Gitarre spielt. Der zärtliche und mystische Abschluss des Albums, "There's A World", wurde von Neil Young geschrieben. Während "The Ascension", das von der New York Times als "ein Schrei der Verzweiflung und ein Gebet um Erlösung" gelobt wurde, eine kunstvolle, aber dringliche Elektronik verwendet, um sich dem Moment zu nähern, beginnt "Javelin" wie ein Selbstporträt, detailliert und doch schlicht. Dies ist Stevens' intimstes Werk, das an "Seven Swans" oder "Carrie & Lowell" erinnert und den Hörer in die Nähe seiner inneren Abrechnung ruft. "Javelin" wird von einem 48-seitigen Booklet mit Kunst und Essays begleitet, die alle von Stevens geschaffen wurden, darunter eine Reihe von akribischen Collagen, zerschnittenen Katalogfantasien, Puff-Paint-Wortwolken und sich wiederholenden Farbfeldern. Die 10 kurzen Essays - abwechselnd lustig, tragisch, ergreifend, stumpfsinnig und spezifisch - bieten kleine Einblicke in Lieben und Verluste, die ihn und diese Lieder geprägt haben.

Jordan Munson ist ein Komponist, Performer und Multimedia-Künstler. In seinen Werken erforscht er die Erinnerung und unsere Beziehung zur Technologie, und es heißt, dass er "akustische Melodien und elektronische Rhythmen mit aufregender Absicht verschmilzt" (The New York Times). Seine Kompositionen beruhen auf einer Ausbildung in Perkussion, Improvisation, Pop und Sounddesign und stellen subtile Landschaften mit reichhaltigen Texturen und treibenden Melodien einander gegenüber. Munson setzt Technologie ein, um natürliche Klänge zu interpretieren und umgekehrt, wobei er sich auf die Übertragungsverluste konzentriert, die durch diese ständige Neusynthese entstehen. "Heartless Fools" wurde 2018 in den Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík, Island, aufgenommen. Seit diesen ersten Aufnahmen ist die Musik durch weitreichende Zusammenarbeit mit Musikern aus Jazz, Klassik und Pop gewachsen. Zu den Künstlern gehören das experimentelle Pop-Trio Square Peg Round Hole, die Sänger*innen Isaiah Robinson und Hanna Benn sowie die isländische Cellistin Pórdís Gerdur Jónsdóttir. Während die Musik selbst nicht politisch sein soll, bezieht sich der Titel "Heartless Fools" auf die Reaktion von zwei Personen auf die aktuelle politische Landschaft. Die erste arbeitet sich durch Schock und Trauer, während sie die Realitäten dieser Welt wahrnimmt, und versucht, dem Ganzen einen Sinn zu geben. Die andere, angeheizt durch einen Verlust der kulturellen Identität, ist voller Wut, die sie antreibt, unmenschliche Dinge zu tun. Dies zeigt sich in der Musik als Kampf zwischen Ordnung und Chaos, Kontemplation und Ungeduld. Die Werke stehen in einem ständigen Spannungsfeld, sowohl intern und miteinander.

Helsinki-based artist Öjskog delivers his stunning debut album on Naarm’s Southern Lights. Featuring a chain reaction of effervescent sonics, radioactive undertones and drone-infused currents, Öjskog transports the listener on a journey through a dark and paranormal sonic soundscape.

Problem Patterns have got something to say and they're going to say it fucking loudly Unfiltered, raw and absolutely vital, queercore quartet Problem Patterns are angry. When Problem Patterns reconnected during a break in the pandemic, they realised that the mission was more important and the rage was extra- critical. This, surely, was punk rock time. Problem Patterns are not limited by age or ability or binary identities. They don't have a front person, they swap instruments and roles to ensure that each member of the group has a voice. They espouse queer punk and they have shared touring schedules with Queen Zee, JOHN, Pink Suits & soon to be Bob Vylan. They are part of a supportive musical community in Belfast that includes Gender Chores and Strange New Places. Live shows are celebratory and uplifting. Outbreaks of fun and positive havoc are part of the experience. The band's admiration for Bikini Kill and the riot grrrl movement led to an online conversation with the artist Kathleen Hanna, who they later went on to support (Bikini Kill) in Manchester and Glasgow. "She's been part of relighting the fire," says Ciara, "and the trust and confidence we have in ourselves as a band. We've for more of a 'fuck it' than we've ever had. And we already had that. Punk provides protest songs and it provides a release for feelings." Beverley agrees: "We're talking about what's currently happening right now. Always.

• 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
• SOUNDTRACK FROM THE BRAND NEW NETFLIX
ORIGINAL THRILLER MINI TV-SERIES LIEBES KIND (DEAR CHILD)
• SCORE BY THE OSCAR-WINNING COMPOSER
GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA (BABEL, THE LAST OF US) & JUAN LUQUI (THE LAST OF US, FINCH)
• LIMITED EDITION ON CRYSTAL CLEAR VINYL



Liebes Kind is the 2023 Netflix psycho-thriller series, based on the novel of the same title by Romy Hausmann. The story follows a mysterious woman’s escape from her harrowing captivity, which points investigators toward the dark truth behind an unsolved disappearance

13 years earlier. Liebes Kind starts where traditional thrillers end with redemption, but the true extent of this nightmare is revealed with the arrival of Lena’s parents at the hospital the same night.



The series is accompanied by a captivating score by the critically acclaimed duo Gustavo Santaolalla and Juan Luqui. The two released their Original Soundtrack this September with the help of Robert Messinger and Sergio Chiappetta. The globally renowned multi- instrumentalist, composer, and producer Santaolalla is also known for his Academy Award-winning scores for Babel and Brokeback Mountain, as well as the legacy score of The Last Of Us.

Despite all the dark elements of the series, the two composers were able to also capture the fragility of the characters. The Original Soundtrack for Liebes Kind is available as a limited edition on crystal clear vinyl.

Grand River and Sofie Birch are set to unveil their collaborative EP, titled “Our Circadian,” on November 24, through Melantónia.

The two-track release follows Grand River’s final release under the now-discontinued Editions Mego label earlier this year, and Sofie Birch’s two solo albums from 2022. Our Circadian represents the second collaborative release on Melantónia, a platform founded by Hanna Maria & Mattia Onori in 2021, dedicated to music for non-dance environments, featuring early contributions from artists like Polygonia, Plants Army Revolver, and Melantónia co-founders Hanna Maria & Mattia Onori themselves, amongst others.

“Our Circadian” was conceived remotely in 2021 during the lockdown, with the aim of encapsulating two distinct moments of those days – early morning and late afternoon – along with their subtle emotional nuances. The first track of the release – 7PM – conveys dreamy atmospheres that flow into colorful rhythms, recalling the electroacoustic nature of the label’s melancholic sounds. The gloomier 3AM, on the other side of a 7“ record, offers a timeless introspection of a gently intensifying synth sound’s fling.

Grand River, a composer and sound designer, brings her background in linguistics to her work. She draws inspiration from minimalism and ambient music, resulting in atmospheric and rhythmically intricate compositions. Her artistic pursuits traverse the realms of art and electronic music, exploring forms of communication that transcend language, often influenced by nature, scale, and movement. Grand River’s impressive portfolio includes sound installations at 4DSOUND/Monom and Terraforma’s Il Pianeta, as well as performances at prestigious venues like Barbican, Rewire, MUTEK, Le Guess Who?, CTM, Draaimolen, and Atonal’s Kraftwerk. She has also worked on remixes for notable acts like Tangerine Dream. Since 2016, she has curated the label One Instrument, offering a unique creative challenge to artists: creating music using only a single instrument.

Sofie Birch, a celebrated sound artist and producer, is known for her lush ambient releases, art installations, live performances, DJ sets, and her NTS show “Ambient Abracadabra.” Her sonic creations can manipulate space, infuse it with a profound sense of calm, and invite listeners to engage in meditation and introspection through the healing qualities of sound and vibrations. Her music acts as a conduit for understanding the complexities of the mind and body through artistic expression, characterized by a distinct emphasis on stillness, suspension, and sustain. Sofie’s soundscapes open gateways to dream-like states of perception and heightened presence, providing a transcendental journey into an alchemical biosphere. Her extensive repertoire includes performances at renowned events such as Barbican, Roskilde Festival, MUTEK, Unsound, CTM, Rewire, Monom, and Terraforma, as well as award-winning compositions for VR experiences and animated films, in collaboration with artists like Baum & Leahy and animation director Pernille Kjaer.

As Our Circadian takes its final form, it promises a narrative of resilience, creativity, and the indomitable human spirit guided by the artistic mastery of Grand River and Sofie Birch.

New Zealand indie trifecta Mermaidens, are set to make a resounding splash in the music scene yet again with the announcement of their fourth self-titled album and release of the project's first single ‘I like to be alone’. The trio, comprising of Gussie Larkin (guitar/vocals), Lily West (bass/vocals), and Abe Hollingsworth (drums), has been on an impressive journey of musical excellence, boasting three critically acclaimed albums, international tours, and a slew of accolades to their name. With a sound that is both bold and adventurous, Mermaidens' music is a testament to their unwavering creativity and relentless work ethic. Their upcoming self-titled album, a product of the band's tireless efforts between 2019 - 2022, promises to be a captivating sonic journey, delving into themes of self-awareness, introspection, long-term love, and even channelling political anger and frustration. Recorded mainly at Surgery Studios in Wellington, with the engineering prowess of Lee Prebble and produced by Samuel Flynn-Scott of The Phoenix Foundation fame, the album also saw the band stepping up their production game with Gussie and Lily working their magic with Protools in their DIY home studios, showcasing their growth and versatility as artists. “Working with Sam has really been a round-trip in our creativity,” as Lily explains, “we grew up listening to Sam’s early records and here we are getting the inside scoop on how to make that kind of magic. Listening to Pegasus today still transports me to a time when I listened to music on a Walkman. In the best possible way - sometimes it felt like we’d added an evil genius to the mix, we’d be working on a song and he’d come in like a mad scientist with fresh ideas to try.” To give fans a taste of the upcoming album's brilliance, Mermaidens have released new single 'I like to be alone.' The song has been part of the band's live repertoire for a while and explores the fulfilling contentment of being alone and the struggle to convey this sentiment to a partner. Its relatable lyrics capture the essence of cherishing solitude while navigating the complexities of human connections. Gussie's candid and honest approach to self-discovery is complemented by the song's, Michel Gondry inspired video, as Gussie explains: “The giant jean pocket and denim world were created by Hannah Webster, a textile designer and illustrator based in Wellington. Hannah took all the wild ideas for props and made them come true! I’m still in awe of how she managed to sew a 6x6 metre backdrop for the denim world out of whatever scraps she could find. The video captures our playfulness and sense of humour, and is a hint of what’s to come for the rest of the music videos. I love the way the story wraps up with the three of us together, literally playing “in the pocket”. Mermaidens' self-titled album will be released on Friday 3 November 2023 and is available for pre-order now. UK listeners will be able to pick up an exclusive Rough Trade vinyl pressing in transparent red, along with an A3 poster and jumbo bumper sticker. Having released their last two albums through iconic local label Flying Nun, Mermaidens will be released independently. Creative control is an important pillar for the band, who are hands on in every facet of their projects. Mermaidens gather their community close via their hugely popular multi-city boutique festival Mermgrown, hosting peers including Womb, Hans Pucket, Vera Ellen (Girl Friday) and Kōtiro from 2021 onwards. They've been invited to share the stage with Death Cab For Cutie, Sleater-Kinney, Gang of Four, Parquet Courts, Lorde and The Veils, and have toured extensively in Europe, the UK, and Australia.