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Frantic (2002) ist ein von Kritikern gefeiertes Soloalbum von Bryan Ferry, das den legendären Künstler in
seiner kreativen Renaissance zeigt und seinen unverwechselbaren Gesangsstil mit einer reichen Mischung
aus Rock, Blues und atmosphärischen Balladen verbindet. Mit herausragenden Eigenkompositionen wie
„A Fool for Love“ und „San Simeon“ sowie eindrucksvollen Interpretationen von Bob Dylan- und Lead
Belly-Klassikern demonstriert das Album Ferrys meisterhafte Fähigkeit, Songs mit Eleganz und emotionaler
Tiefe neu zu interpretieren. Mit Gastauftritten von Brian Eno von Roxy Music und Johnny Marr von The
Smiths ist Frantic nicht nur ein Karrierehöhepunkt, sondern auch ein unverzichtbares Sammlerstück – ein
fesselndes Hörerlebnis von Anfang bis Ende, das Ferrys avantgardistische Wurzeln mit zeitlosem Songwriting
verbindet. Ein Muss für Fans anspruchsvoller, genreübergreifender Musik.
Das Album erscheint zum ersten Mal seit 2002 als limitierte blaue 1LP-Vinyl- und 1CD-Edition. Bryan
Ferry hat auch die aktualisierten Grafiken für beide Formate überwacht.

Der aus Harlem/New York stammende Pianist Freddie Redd (1928-2021) wurde 1959 durch die Musik
bekannt, die er für das mit mehreren Preisen ausgezeichnete Off-Broadway-Theaterstück “The Connection” geschrieben hatte. Der Soundtrack des Theaterstücks, in dem es um das Leben heroinabhängiger
Jazzmusiker geht, erschien ein Jahr später bei Blue Note. Noch im selben Jahr spielte der von Charlie
Parker, Thelonious Monk und Bud Powell beeinflusste Pianist mit “Shades Of Redd” sein zweites Album für
das Label ein. Darauf stellte er sein kompositorisches Können mit einem formidablen Hard-Bop-Quintett
noch nachhaltiger unter Beweis.

If you're a serious music fan but not a native Kiwi, your first awareness of New Zealand's fab music scene may have come from the debut of The Chills' mesmerising Kaleidoscope World collection of early singles. Within a few years, a great number of NZ acts saw music released by various UK and US labels . . . generally to great praise and enthusiasm. That this occurred without any of these acts having to move abroad to further their chances was nearly as delightful a feat as the music itself. The exception to this was Dead Famous People, radical in a snap decision after a five-song 12" for Flying Nun, Lost Persons Area, to change hemispheres and make a go for it in London. It started well. Three London recordings were added to three from their Flying Nun EP and put out by Billy Bragg's Utility label - about as perfect a mini-album as there's ever been. Response was positive, more songs recorded, the group did a John Peel session and played out often, but the vaguely impoverished group began to fall apart. Singer and primary writer Dons Savage - determined to make it - had a near-miss at becoming Saint Etienne's singer on an early take of their 'Kiss And Make Up' cover, and there was a fine performance from her on The Chills' 'Heavenly Pop Hit' . . . but dismay had set in. Upon learning of her mum's passing back home, Dons returned to NZ and was quiet for decades. Most of their London recordings were later released later in minuscule quantities by very small labels, but these saw scant press or attention and enjoyed next-to-no sales. Their moment had passed, and the band has suffered the strange fate of being the least-known of the truly brilliant acts associated with Flying Nun. Listening to these `lost' songs, it seems unfathomable that they could have fallen by the wayside. No NZ songwriter comes as close to equalling Martin Phillipps' pop brilliance as Dons. Her superbly sweet vocals, delicious harmonies and sophisticated arrangements aside, the songs dealt perceptively with universal follies of youth and yearning in tandem with a then-unusual twist of lyrics dealing matter-of-factly with her sexuality at a time when `women's music' was seen as exclusionary (segregated into its own bin in shops, if it existed there at all), and the riot grrrl movement was years away, later breaking through due to its radical stance. Dons is a pioneer in myriad ways, the irony of her transcendent brilliance failing to propel a greater career may rest in the fact that she leapt to the head of the class too quickly for people to grasp it; a fate that's befallen so many musical geniuses acknowledged today but less in their time - something rather tragically acknowledged in old pal Martin Phillipps' song with The Chills, 'A Song For Randy Newman, Etc.' None of these thirteen songs fails to deliver something both immediate and unique. And we're proud to debut 'Vampirella"', a magical fantasy song of longing and intrigue - surely one of the most perfect tunes to ever sit around unreleased for decades! Dons is again busy conjuring new songs; in the meantime we're delighted to unveil these obscure gems from the past.

BUY! HERE’S WHY! • The revolutionary 1959 stereo extravaganza returns on slime-green Vinyl and CD. • Features vocals by Paul Frees (Boris Badenov, The Haunted Mansion’s unseen Ghost Host), Thurl Ravenscroft (Tony The Tiger, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”), George Rock (“All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”), and Loulie Jean Norman (singer on the theme from Star Trek). • Detailed liner notes from Joe Marchese (theseconddisc) feature new interviews with Spike’s children: multiple Grammy-winning engineer Leslie Ann Jones, Emmy-winning producer-director Spike Jones Jr., Linda Lee Jones, and Gina Jones.

Satisfaction comes in many forms. When the magical word Motown is uttered, most people are hard-wired to The Four Tops, the Temptations and The Supremes. But to reduce Motown to the effervescent sixties is only part of the label’s remarkable legacy.
By the 1970s, a different sound was gathering. America was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The Vietnam War had been a disaster, urban street crime was epidemic and the nation’s college campuses were alive with political resistance. The joyful hope that had inspired “Baby Love” now felt anachronistic and out of time.

The music industry was changing too. The vinyl pop single on 45rpm which had been the staple of Motown’s success was being challenged by concept albums.   This was the era of Edwin Starr’s anti-war album War and Peace (1970), The Temptations mind-bending Psychedelic Shack (1970) and Marvin Gaye’s state-of-the-nation classic What’s Going On (1971).
By the early 1970s Motown had a stable of male vocalists that was arguably the best in the world, among them former lead singers from The Temptations - David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards and Eddie Kendricks. Alongside them singer-producers like Leon Ware and Frank Wilson were asserting their presence.

David Ruffin’s “Crime in the Street” captured the epidemic of violence in Detroit allowing his exquisite voice to quietly rage against gun crime. Recorded a few years before his underground classic “Rode by the Place”, both sound more modern today than when they were recorded.
If there is a common thread here, it’s the mid-tempo shifting soul soon to be christened as “quiet storm” including groups on the margins of Motown such as The Originals and The Fantastic Four led by the impassioned “Sweet” James Epps.
Just to keep you satisfied, immerse yourself in the overlooked creativity of Detroit’s male voices in the early 1970s.

Mit der neuen Single ,Die 10 Gebote der Jungpianiere" auf der A-Seite und dem Klassiker ,Skandal im Sperrbezirk" auf der B-Seite bringen sie Punk-, NDW- und Rock-Attitüde zurück in die Jetztzeit. Mit ,Die 10 Gebote der Jungpianiere" präsentieren PIA UNITED nicht nur einen Song, sondern gleich ein Manifest für ihre stetig wachsende Fan-Community. Im Mittelpunkt steht die charismatische Frontfrau Frollein Höhne, die gemeinsam mit ihren drei erfahrenen Mitstreitern General, Sir Herle und Costja Chaos musikalisch und textlich klare Kante zeigt: Freude am Anderssein, rebellischer Humor und Zusammenhalt beschreiben das Lebensgefühl der Pianiere. Der B-Seiten-Hit ,Skandal im Sperrbezirk" (feat. Jogi von HARTHOLZ) taucht die NDW-Legende der Spider Murphy Gang in ein neues Licht - visuell und soundtechnisch frisch aufgeladen. 2 Track 7" in schwarzem Vinyl Auflage: 300 Stück, handnummeriert Inside out print, + Post- und Mitgliedskarte

Das atemberaubende Debütalbum von Peki Momés mit 12 herausragenden Songs: Türkischer Psychedelic, Global Disco und Outland! Peki Momés ist eine in Deutschland lebende türkische Künstlerin, die erst 2024 zufällig begann, Musik aufzunehmen. Gesegnet mit Stil und Intuition statt formaler Ausbildung, eroberte ihr frischer und kompromisslos authentischer Zugang zur Musik Herzen und Ohren im Sturm. Peki wurde innerhalb und außerhalb der Organic-Groove-Szene schnell zur Sensation, die von Trendsettern wie Coco Maria, Iggy Pop oder Turntablist DJ Koco unterstützt wird. Peki Momés' Musik ist ein vielseitiger Mix aus Klängen des globalen Undergrounds, geschmackvoll arrangiert von Produzent Dustin Braun und einer Band unglaublich talentierter Jazzmusiker. Dirty Disco, Fuzzy Funk, anatolische Rare Grooves, experimentelle Synthesizer, Library Music und japanischer City Pop verschmelzen auf natürliche Weise mit ihrem unverwechselbaren Gesang und kreieren einen einzigartigen, ätherischen, fremdländischen Sound, der ganz ihr eigen ist.

Limitierte Erstausgabe im handgefertigten Deluxe-Tip-On-Sleeve.

"Turkish city pop - I love it." - Coco Maria

Phantoms bahnbrechendes Debütalbum „Handed to Execution“ von 2023 erscheint nun mit der Klangqualität, die es schon immer verdient hat. Unter der Leitung von Patrick W. Engel wurde es sorgfältig neu abgemischt und remastered, sodass diese definitive Edition den Speed/Thrash Metal der Mexikaner endlich in seiner ganzen knochenbrechenden Pracht präsentiert.
Mastermind, Sänger und Gitarrist J.C. erklärt: „Damals wussten wir noch nichts über Recording, wir haben es während der Arbeit an der Platte gelernt. Es war auch etwas unglücklich, da sich unser anderer Gitarrist Harel den Arm gebrochen hatte und ich schließlich das gesamte Album ohne Hilfe aufnehmen musste, während wir den Schlagzeuger wechselten. Es war eine Herausforderung, aber wir haben es geschafft.“
Was als ambitioniertes DIY-Projekt begann, wurde schnell zu „einem sehr beliebten Album, das uns Fans auf der ganzen Welt beschert hat“. Phantom wurden 2021 in der Underground-Szene von Guadalajara gegründet und etablierte sich mit drei Demos und einer Vierer-Split-LP, bevor sie „Handed to Execution“ herausbrachten.
High Roller Records freuen sich nun, diese unverzichtbare Neuauflage zu veröffentlichen, die die minderwertigen früheren Pressungen vergessen macht, die J.C. als „ziemlich chaotisch“ beschreibt. Jeder donnernde Drum-Schlag und jedes messerscharfe Riff ist nun perfekt ausbalanciert, um maximale Wirkung zu erzielen.
Phantom werden im September/Oktober 2025 mit Evilcult aus Brasilien durch Europa touren.

High Roller Records, bone vinyl, ltd 350, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert.

Find Deliverance“, hat uns mit seiner seltenen Mischung aus technischem Thrash und unorthodoxem, aber höchst inspiriertem Songwriting so begeistert, dass es in unsere Best-of-2022-Liste aufgenommen wurde. Aus dieser Liste wurde eine Zusammenarbeit geboren und nun geben Species mit ihrem zweiten Album „Changelings“ ihr 20 Buck Spin-Debüt. "Changelings" ist in jeder Hinsicht ein Schritt nach vorne, und es ist erstaunlich, wie viel die einzelnen Tracks und das Gesamtwerk leisten können. Das Album bietet ein Übermaß an kantigem Gitarrenkrieg, traditioneller Euro-Thrash-Aggression mit modernem Nachhall, rhythmischen Percussionsanfällen und komplizierten Basslinien, die nicht nur der Gitarre folgen, sondern mit ihr auf eine Weise dialogisieren, die dem Album ein zweites melodisches Gehirn verleiht. In Kombination fügen sich diese Elemente nahtlos zusammen und verleihen „Changelings“ seine farbenfrohe und unheimliche Vision, als hätte John Carpenter „Rust In Peace“ hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang mitproduziert. Es strotzt nur so vor Sci-Fi-Paranoia, außerirdischem Terror und einem Hauch von Bedrohung durch den Kalten Krieg. Die frühe Konvergenz von Thrash Metal und Death Metal ist auch im formwandlerischen Sound von Species unverkennbar.

Zwar gibt es mehr als genug primitive und traditionelle Thrash-Bands, doch Species beschreitet den weniger ausgetretenen Pfad des Genres, der von vorwärts gerichteter Virtuosität und einfallsreichen Experimenten geprägt ist, und zeigt, dass es immer noch genügend fruchtbaren Boden gibt, um neues musikalisches Terrain zu erschließen. Nirgendwo wird dies deutlicher als auf dem 10-minütigen Albumschlussstück „Biological Masterpiece“, wo Species alle ihre Waffen ausspielt: Hyperspeed-Attacken, dystopische Ruhephasen und instrumentale Meisterleistungen in einer klimatischen Saga jenseits von Raum und Zeit. „Changelings“ ist das seltene Album, das heutzutage immer noch die Fähigkeit hat, auf die triumphalste und euphorischste Art und Weise zu überraschen.

'Rainy Sunday Afternoon' wurde im vergangenen Herbst in den Abbey Road Studios aufgenommen und ist das dreizehnte Album von The Divine Comedy, ihr erstes Studioalbum seit dem britischen Top-5-Album 'Office Politics' von 2019. Die letzte Veröffentlichung der Band war die Best-of-Compilation 'Charmed Life' von 2022, die ebenfalls Platz 5 der britischen Albumcharts erreichte. Neil Hannon schrieb zuletzt die Original-Songs für den Warner Bros. Blockbuster 'Wonka'.

Neil sagt: "Mein musikalisches Schaffen ist im Guten wie im weniger Guten ein Spiegelbild meiner Persönlichkeit. Ein großer Teil dieser Persönlichkeit genießt die Ausgelassenheit, zelebriert die Albernheit. Und davon habe ich in den Wonka-Liedern reichlich Gebrauch gemacht. Aber wie jeder Mensch habe auch ich eine dunkle, melancholische Seite. Und aus irgendeinem Grund war die in letzter Zeit sehr präsent. Ich brauchte dieses Album als Ventil für diese Gefühle. Um gewisse Dinge zu verarbeiten. Sterblichkeit, Erinnerungen, Beziehungen, politische und soziale Umwälzungen. Jeder sollte hin und wieder die Gelegenheit bekommen ein orchestrales Pop-Album zu machen. Es sollte Teil der Grundversorgung sein durch den National Health Service.“

'Rainy Sunday Afternoon' wurde im vergangenen Herbst in den Abbey Road Studios aufgenommen und ist das dreizehnte Album von The Divine Comedy, ihr erstes Studioalbum seit dem britischen Top-5-Album 'Office Politics' von 2019. Die letzte Veröffentlichung der Band war die Best-of-Compilation 'Charmed Life' von 2022, die ebenfalls Platz 5 der britischen Albumcharts erreichte. Neil Hannon schrieb zuletzt die Original-Songs für den Warner Bros. Blockbuster 'Wonka'.

Neil sagt: "Mein musikalisches Schaffen ist im Guten wie im weniger Guten ein Spiegelbild meiner Persönlichkeit. Ein großer Teil dieser Persönlichkeit genießt die Ausgelassenheit, zelebriert die Albernheit. Und davon habe ich in den Wonka-Liedern reichlich Gebrauch gemacht. Aber wie jeder Mensch habe auch ich eine dunkle, melancholische Seite. Und aus irgendeinem Grund war die in letzter Zeit sehr präsent. Ich brauchte dieses Album als Ventil für diese Gefühle. Um gewisse Dinge zu verarbeiten. Sterblichkeit, Erinnerungen, Beziehungen, politische und soziale Umwälzungen. Jeder sollte hin und wieder die Gelegenheit bekommen ein orchestrales Pop-Album zu machen. Es sollte Teil der Grundversorgung sein durch den National Health Service.“

GOODWIN, das Soloprojekt des The Slow Show-Sängers Rob Goodwin, hat das Debütalbum 'PEEKABOO' angekündigt, das am 19. September 2025 über PIAS Recordings veröffentlicht wird. An Goodwins Seite ist dabei Lambert, der mysteriöse, maskierte Pianist und Komponist, der u.a. für seine Zusammenarbeit mit Künstlern wie Nils Frahm und Ólafur Arnalds bekannt ist.

'PEEKABOO' geht über die cineastische Wucht seiner Band hinaus und liefert etwas Intimeres und Ungeschliffeneres. Eine Sammlung zutiefst persönlicher Songs, die in stillen Momenten entstanden sind und in Berlin-Neukölln mit Lambert geformt wurden. Als Produzent bringt Lambert seine Handschrift - sowohl spielerisch als auch tiefgründig - in 'PEEKABOO' ein. Er verwebt eindringliche Pianos und Arrangements mit Goodwins intimem Storytelling und lässt jeden Song in seinem eigenen ruhigen Raum atmen. Gemeinsam geht es auch auf 'PEEKABOO' Tour im Herbst.

Getragen von Goodwins unverwechselbarem Bariton - einer Stimme, die sowohl zärtlich als auch donnernd und voller Sehnsucht ist - entfalten sich die zehn Songs wie eine Reihe stiller Bekenntnisse. Inspiriert von den stimmungsvollen Atmosphären von Leonard Cohen und Nick Drake, behandeln die Lieder das Gewicht von Liebe, Verlust und stiller Tapferkeit. Romantische, traumhafte Geschichten für Menschen, die verstehen, dass manchmal die kleinsten Momente die größte Bedeutung haben. “These songs are fragments of myself. Sharing them feels exhilarating and terrifying, as vulnerability often does.”

Phantoms bahnbrechendes Debütalbum „Handed to Execution“ von 2023 erscheint nun mit der Klangqualität, die es schon immer verdient hat. Unter der Leitung von Patrick W. Engel wurde es sorgfältig neu abgemischt und remastered, sodass diese definitive Edition den Speed/Thrash Metal der Mexikaner endlich in seiner ganzen knochenbrechenden Pracht präsentiert.
Mastermind, Sänger und Gitarrist J.C. erklärt: „Damals wussten wir noch nichts über Recording, wir haben es während der Arbeit an der Platte gelernt. Es war auch etwas unglücklich, da sich unser anderer Gitarrist Harel den Arm gebrochen hatte und ich schließlich das gesamte Album ohne Hilfe aufnehmen musste, während wir den Schlagzeuger wechselten. Es war eine Herausforderung, aber wir haben es geschafft.“
Was als ambitioniertes DIY-Projekt begann, wurde schnell zu „einem sehr beliebten Album, das uns Fans auf der ganzen Welt beschert hat“. Phantom wurden 2021 in der Underground-Szene von Guadalajara gegründet und etablierte sich mit drei Demos und einer Vierer-Split-LP, bevor sie „Handed to Execution“ herausbrachten.
High Roller Records freuen sich nun, diese unverzichtbare Neuauflage zu veröffentlichen, die die minderwertigen früheren Pressungen vergessen macht, die J.C. als „ziemlich chaotisch“ beschreibt. Jeder donnernde Drum-Schlag und jedes messerscharfe Riff ist nun perfekt ausbalanciert, um maximale Wirkung zu erzielen.

Für sein treffend betiteltes Solo-Debütalbum "Introducing..." hat Aaron Frazer mit Dan Auerbach von The Black Keys zusammengearbeitet. Soft spoken und mit dem Aussehen eines leicht unzufriedenen Matinee-Idols aus den 1950er Jahren gesegnet, besitzt Frazer eine einzigartige Stimme, die sowohl zeitgemäß als auch zeitlos klingt. Der in Baltimore aufgewachsene, zurzeit in Brooklyn lebende Songwriter wurde als Schlagzeuger und Co-Vokalist von Durand Jones & The Indications bekannt. Jetzt tritt er mit "Introducing..." als Solist hinter dem Drumkit hervor und demonstriert nicht nur seine beeindruckenden stimmlichen Qualitäten, sondern auch sein Können als hochklassiger Songschreiber. Schon die erste Single "Bad News" sorgte für Aufsehen ("a gorgeous piece of vintage R&B" - CLASH), die sich anschließende Lead-Single "Over You" ist inspiriert von elektrisierenden Northern Soul 45s der 60er Jahre. Nur zwei Belege der erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit zwischen Frazer und Auerbach. Die zwölf Songs auf "Introducing..." verbinden gekonnt den Soul der 70er Jahre mit Dan Auerbachs besonderer Sensibilität für Vintage-Sounds im neuen Gewand. "Introducing..." enthält klassische Message-Songs im Stil von Künstlern wie Gil Scott-Heron sowie motivierende Liebeslieder, die von Disco-, Gospel- und Doo-Wop-Einflüssen durchzogen sind. Das gesamte Album wurde innerhalb nur einer Woche in Auerbachs berühmten Nashville-Studio nach einer schnellen und produktiven Songwriting-Session aufgenommen. Auerbach holte auch den legendären Songwriter und Falsettspezialisten L. Russell Brown (schrieb früher Hits für Frankie Valli von The Four Seasons) an Bord, der den wunderschönen Opener "You Don't Wanna Be My Baby" auf dem Album mitkopmponierte. Für "Introducing..." rekrutierte Frazer eine beeindruckende Schar alteingesessener Session-Musiker aus Nashville. Darunter Mitglieder der legendären Memphis Boys (die in Dusty Springfields "Son of A Preacher Man" und Aretha Franklins "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" mitspielten), den Perkussionisten Sam Bacco sowie diverse Musiker aus dem Daptone/Big Crown Records-Umfeld.

Germany's Invexis comes back to the Manchester-based Scrap & Delete label with the 'Morphium' EP, arriving 19th September 2025. The four tracks follow up his remix for label founder Dorbachov's 'Ellesmere Street' EP earlier in 2025, which won support from Luke Slater, Jako Jako, Dave Clarke, and more. Title track 'Morphium' opens the EP in unexpected territory: an emotive, melodic crossover track that retains Invexis' mechanical backbone while reaching for something more transcendent.

With soaring synth layers and expertly balanced weight, it's a rare euphoric moment in his catalogue; one destined to erupt across festival tents. 'Nordic Noise' pulls things back into colder, rawer terrain, a frostbitten slab of functional minimalism with raw textures, fizzing hi-hats, and relentless groove cycles. 'Instinct' channels classic loop techno through a modern lens, driven by restless percussion and syncopated punch. Finally, 'RS' pays tribute to late-'90s groove science with complex, kinetic motion and heads-down intensity, reimagined for a new generation of warehouse punters.

Georgette Sayegh & Melhem Barakat – Belghi Kull Mawaidi & Instrumental:

Finally, hopping across from Egypt to Lebanon for this infectious number, Georgette Sayegh delivers what some consider her magnum opus in a captivating duet together with Melhem Barakat, and on the flipside a stripped-down instrumental version that’s equally catchy.

Georgette Sayegh is a legendary Lebanese singer and actress known for her tender and dulcet voice that echoed the grace and beauty of the inimitable Fairuz yet carried its own unique warmth. Her passion for collecting vinyl at an early age formed her eclectic musical palette, and she eventually caught the eyes of the Rahbani brothers and played the lead role in a monthly play written by Fairuz’s son, Ziad. Georgette’s household classic "Yay Yay Ya Nassini” shot her to stardom across the Arab world in the 1970’s, and till this day carries the exact same nostalgia of a Lebanese summertime anthem – flirtatious, jolly, and unfettered. In Belghi Kull Mawaidi (I cancel all my appointments), Sayegh’s voice entwines with compatriot and fellow household staple, Melhem Barakat in an emotional display of longing and depth - her voice delicate yet powerful, effortlessly blending with Barakat's commanding baritone.

The instrumental version on the flipside (surprisingly a stereo mix) reveals a highly catchy arrangement that is lush and emotive, driven by strings that glide smoothly through the melody, while brass instruments add a touch of drama. The rhythm section, punctuated by a steady percussion, anchors the track, allowing the interplay of instruments to build a sense of urgency and longing, accurately reflecting the struggles and emotional resilience that defined Sayegh’s own life.

This reissue, remastered with painstaking care, brings both versions of Belghi Kull Mawaidi back to life, making it an essential addition to any avid listener, DJ or collector’s shelf. It captures the timeless beauty of two of Lebanon's most cherished musical icons, their voices and instruments merging to create a track that resonates through the ages.

Muhammad Al-Najjar
London, April 2025

credits
Audio restoration and vinyl mastering: Colin Young
Lacquer cut: Timmion cutting lab
Sleeve and label artwork: Grotezk Studio
Under License of Voix de L'Orient

One of the most expansive instrumental Hip Hop series to date, MF DOOM’s lauded Special Herbs collection assembles a mountainous collection of his beats, ranging from series exclusives to slightly reworked favorites he produced for himself and others. Released under the alias Metal Fingers, Special Herbs succeeds at capturing DOOM’s highly influential sound which continually breaks and reinterprets the rules of the game in favor of The Super-Villain. The world is a treasure trove of sounds, and the Metal-Fingered DOOM accepts no limits; ’70s Soul/Funk classic, ’80s R&B hits, rap nostalgia, and even soundbites from children’s records & TV all find their place in the ingredients needed to perfect his recipes.

Nach seinem Comeback mit „The Healer“ (1989) begab sich John Lee Hooker zu Russian Hill Recording in San Francisco und The Record Plant in Sausalito, um einige seiner bekanntesten Songs neu zu
interpretieren, darunter „Boom Boom“, das diesem Album seinen Titel gibt. Eine Starbesetzung zeitgenössischer Bluesgrößen nahm an den Sessions teil, darunter Charlie Musselwhite, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert
Cray und Albert Collins.

Tin Fingers takes on a darker, melancholic direction on their second full album. Felix Machtelinckx' weeping vocals, preaching, searching, and trying to understand God, form the leitmotif. With rich melodies, haunting piano sounds, improvisations, first takes and no overdubs, Tin Fingers is searching for pureness and keeping things human and simple. The band is playing together intuitively, without a computer, without ego, just for the sake of music

The creation of the album was very fluent and spontaneous. Singer Felix wrote the backbones of the songs and the lyrics on acoustic guitar and piano. He wanted to have songs ready in order to be able to record and write arrangements fast. With an eye for details but without overthinking, keeping the ideas fresh. 'I wanted to stay in love with the music.' he explains. 'It needed to go fast, very fast, in just two weeks the entire album was recorded and ready to be mixed.'

In the studio, the band especially focused on picking the right mood rather than playing the right notes.

They were fed up with working on a computer for many hours, overthinking production choices, and adding instruments on top of each other as if they were Lego blocks. This time they decided to work in a more traditional way, going for first takes, jams, and essentially working with analog gear. No computers, no screens, no distractions. Only four humans in a studio trying to make a sound together by keeping things spontaneous and raw. They said goodbye to perfection and worked towards an unfinished product, a snapshot.

Tin Fingers also didn't want to sound like any other artist on this record. They decided not to listen to music during the sessions, and to never express ideas by referencing other bands. Just before the studio session, however, bass player Simen Wouters broke the rules and shared Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's, I See Darkness. Its dark and searching sound ended up inspiring the band unmistakably.

Once the recording was finished, the band decided to keep the volatile rhythm going and asked reputable NYC-based mixer and producer D. James Goodwin to finish the job. Goodwin, known for his analog folk productions with a real American punchy sound but a tender touch, proved the right man for the job. He opened up the songs and kept things poetic, minimal but impressive.

Leila Gamal’s ‘Abaleeh Abalingi’

At the height of Pan-Arabism, when the United Arab Republic fused Egypt and Syria in a fleeting but bold experiment, a new wave of popular music was emerging—vibrant, infectious, and universally danceable. Among its lesser-known stars was actress Leila Gamal, whose voice—delicate yet rich with longing—embodied the golden era of Egyptian cinema. Born in Alexandria to Syrian roots, Gamal’s vocals were a magnetic blend of sweetness and passion, with a timeless allure that echoed the silver-screen sweethearts of her time.

Abaleeh Abalingi pulses with the hypnotic drive of funky organ riffs, reminiscent of the blind visionary Ammar El Sheriyi, creating a sound both cinematic and undeniably catchy. The delicate lyrics by Khairi Fouad place the track firmly in the lineage of the Middle East’s most iconic pop divas, from Angham to Nawal El-Zoughbi who he subsequently wrote for. This reissue, lovingly remastered, brings this long-lost gem back to life, where it belongs—spinning on turntables, teasing dance floors, and transporting listeners to Egypt in the late sixties.


Adel Osman’s “Oriental Eyes”

Oriental Eyes captures the essence of the 60s Egyptian Franco-Arab movement, blending Western (often jazz) influences with Arabic melodies to mesh mystique with sensuality. Osman’s commanding yet delicate vocals deliver the bilingual lyrics with captivating sincerity, his voice effortlessly gliding over the swells of the arrangement. The trumpet, possibly connecting him to Zaki Osman of Salah Ragab’s legendary Cairo Jazz Band, adds a layer of flair, enriching the track’s Tarantino-esque eclecticism. Now remastered, ‘Oriental Eyes’ is not only a nostalgic gem but a timeless reminder of the boundary-defying spirit that defined the 1960s musical landscape.

Given the ongoing war efforts against Israel, this record wasn’t pressed by Sono Cairo till much later in 1975 once Egypt had recaptured the Sinai and restored national pride. Sono Cairo (Sawt el-Qahira) was the first Arab-owned and by far the largest record label in the Middle East, amassing an unmatched catalogue of music. With exclusive rights over much of Umm Kulthum’s works, Sono Cairo played a crucial role in disseminating the sounds of Arab Nationalism and projecting Egypt’s soft power across the region.

Muhammad Al-Najjar
London, April 2025

credits
Audio restoration and vinyl mastering: Colin Young
Lacquer cut: Timmion cutting lab
Sleeve and label artwork: Grotezk Studio
Under License of Sono Cairo

Following the vinyl release of Delfonic's reworks of Roy Ayers tracks taken from the BBE Music compilation Roy Ayers-Virgin Ubiquity, it's now Osunlade's turn to add his production and remix enchantment to the music of the master craftsman with these remixes of Brand New Feeling. Featuring the exceptional vocal talents of Merry Clayton, perhaps best known for her blistering performance on the Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter and her own Webster Lewis penned hit Emotion, alongside Jazz vocalist and Earth, Wind & Fire, Ubiquity and Harvey Mason collaborator Silvia Cox, Osunlade's Yoruba Soul remixes have added new dimensions to this track. Hailing from St Louis, USA Osunlade's CV includes writing music for Sesame Street to working with and producing artists as varied as Patti Labelle, Freddie Jackson, Eric Benet, Martha Wash, Salif Keita, Nadirah Shakoor and Cesaria Evora. He started the Yoruba Soul project and label after his move to New York because of 'the continued need to create the music I wanted' and it is this musical freedom that has made him one of the most distinctive music makers, producers, DJs and remixers around today. Brand New Feeling is released as a vinyl EP featuring two tracks, the Yoruba Soul Mix Parts 1 & 2.

After years of friendship and sound fragmentation, Felipe Valenzuela and Federico Molinari have succeeded in capturing and distilling their unique musical perspective into a single frame.Throughout this process, these two minds from across the Andes have developed numerous productions with a broad, multidirectional genre range.This release features four tracks, each with its own distinct identity. The A1 track, FORCED TO THE SCALES, which lends its name to the EP, blends elements of Spanish classical music with a futuristic edge, seamlessly adapting to various moments within a set.The second track on side A, RAPS TIGHT, is an experiment born from the same session, where a subtle sensitivity is expressed through a a slow beat, enveloped in a harmonious world.On side B, 503 emerges from a different creative process, combining two divergent paths that naturally intersect, resulting in a track full of energy and dynamism.The EP closes with DEAD MAN, a one-shot recording that, through its raw spontaneity, encapsulates the conclusion of a fragmented journey within a frame full of versatility.

Palham Music releast post mortem eine Zusammenstellung von Tracks des Künstlers Flavio Diners. Seine Sassy Bearbeitung versprüht leichten sommerlichen Vibe, auf Bubblejam freestylt er sich der untergehenden Sonne entgegen. Auf Ohhhs and Yeahs werden auf krautig transzendente Weise Körper und Geist getrennt. Auf der B-Seite werden 2 Bearbeitungen seines A Night at Finsbury Park angeboten, die uns gönnerhaft durch die Blackstock Road vorwärts schieben. Bei Some Deep Vibes halten wir dann nach durchtanzter Nacht unsere Beine ins Wasser und genießen diese. Pew pew.

Palham Music presents a posthumous collection of tracks by artist Flavio Diners. His Sassy rework exudes an easy, summery vibe, while on Bubblejam, he freestyles his way into the sunset. With Ohhhs and Yeahs, body and mind drift apart in a transcendent, kraut-inspired soundscape. On the B-side, two reinterpretations of A Night at Finsbury Park guide us graciously along Blackstock Road. And with Some Deep Vibes, after a night spent dancing, we cool our legs in the water and simply savor the moment. Pew pew.

Aer making everyone dance with "I'm Gonna Dance," Muzic Family Vs. Stylóo is ready to ignite the
dancefloors again with "Sweat," an adrenaline-fueled track that unites the tradi!on of Italo Disco with a
modern pop-dance sound.
At the helm of "Sweat" is Roberto Tura, one of the most influen!al producers in the Italian and
interna!onal dance scene. A key figure of 80s Italo Disco, Tura( has shaped !meless hits for ar!sts like Den
Harrow, Joe Yellow, Albert One, and Stylóo themselves, helping to define the sound of an era that s!ll
makes fans' hearts beat faster all over the world. With "Sweat," Tura( once again proves his ability to
merge the magic of those years with a modern, powerful sound, capable of winning over new genera!ons of
listeners and ge(ng everyone dancing.
By his side is Silvio Melloni, a top-level musician and arranger, who is now part of the historic band Ma"a
Bazar. Melloni brings his experience and musical sophis!ca!on to the project, cura!ng arrangements rich in
detail and nuance, where every element is calibrated to maximize the emo!onal and rhythmic impact of the
track. His ar!s!c sensi!vity perfectly matches Tura('s energy, crea!ng a winning combina!on of technique,
passion, and crea!vity.
The release of "Sweat" doesn't stop at the original version: two exclusive remixes are included to enrich the
project, promising to make the track explode on the most demanding dancefloors.
 Italoconnec"on Remix – The duo formed by Fred Ventura and Paolo Gozze( (aka Italoconnec!on)
transforms "Sweat" with their characteris!c touch: sonic elegance, pulsa!ng energy, and a refined
sound that blends dance-pop rhythms with the vibrant nostalgia of Italo Disco. It's an interpreta!on
that leaves no room for rest and pushes you to listen and move.
 A.P. Mono Remix – A.P. Mono infuses an 80s-flavored electro-disco soul: funk syncopa!on,
enveloping synths, and an irresis!ble groove. His reinterpreta!on turns the track into a true
energe!c vortex, perfect for making anyone who dances to it sweat.

Finally, I was able to devote some time to actually getting some collaborations completed for a new release of the Meeting Of The Minds series, with some brand new names arriving to Future Retro London!

Nebula is one of my favourite artists making new jungle atm, his versatility in music on the darker & lighter sides of the spectrum, the richness of his atmospherics and melodies & the way his drum edits flow throughout his tracks, I consider him a big inspiration in what I make. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to work with him on "Without Fear".

I've been enjoying some of what Stekker's been doing in his music, representing the ruffer lo-fi side of production and he's been putting out some great stuff on his own label Ruff 'n' Tuff as well as on a release he did for Coco Bryce's label Myor. I reached out to him about a collaboration and he had started something, which I was really into and that led to "The Quest".

I owe a lot to DJ Trace, as he was one of the first big names in jungle/d&b to really show me support for what I was doing. He gave me my debut vinyl release when he asked me to remix an old classic of his called "Final Chapta", which he released in 2011 on his label DSCI4. I also had music released on a label he started a few years after that called 117 (which I also helped design artwork for), so we go way back. He's been making more music than ever before recently and I was lucky enough to be able to get a collaboration in with him and "Patterns Of Thought" is the end result of that.

I've known Ark X & Duburban for a number of years, I would see them at a lot of events up north, as well as at events in London that they'd travel down for. They also were good friends with Kid Lib and would drive down with him whenever he was visiting/DJing in London & I was becoming familiar with their music through him, through Ark X's labels Supercharger & Hypercharger (where some of Ark X's music was being released under his previous alias of Black Orchid) & through Duburban's collaborations with Jahganaut. Big up to both of them for collaborating with me on "Come A Dance"

Percussive P (who has previously released on the label with FR037 & our remix on THCFR001) is a top quality producer who I wish had more music/releases out there. I used to play a tune of his called "Gunsmith" a lot in sets, as well as a lot of his collabs with Kid Lib which I was a big fan of. I'd previously collaborated with him on a tune for Dublinquents a few years ago and I was quite keen on doing a new collaboration with him for Meeting Of The Minds, so he sent me some tracks he had started, I picked my favourite to work on and that led to "Impatience".

Fluid Haunts is a solid producer who I was familiar with, but it wasn't until his music was drilled into my head by Dwarde who was playing a few select tunes from him in every single b2b set we had together, that I started to really appreciate his skills. Dwarde would play "Not Your Ordinary Love Song" without fail, in any given moment and time, and it would always get a great reaction from the crowd, so I had to get in touch to see if he'd be up for working with me & thankfully he was! We ended up making "Pineapple Soup" together & I can't remember why it's called that, I think he named the tune ????

Hobzee is one half of Silent Dust (him & Zyon Base) & I used to chat regularly with him and trade music with him on AOL Instant Messenger (showing my age here!) a long while back. He got back in touch with me about wanting to work on music together and he had an early version of "Sunspots" done. It was very promising sounding so I was quite keen to get involved with him on it and I'm grateful that I was able to get him on Future Retro London after many many years of IM chats!

Usually, I limit my collaborations on Meeting Of The Minds to producers that are fairly established and already somewhat known to other people, but for those who don't know who Eff is, she is a potentially familiar face to anyone who has attended a Future Retro London event, as she has been on the door for every single one. One day after a Distant Planet event in Bristol, she mentioned to me that she had an idea for a track inspired by a PFM tune and she already had the title in mind for it, which is "Wavebreak". I was curious about how this would sound in reality, so we met up to work on the tune & she said it was pretty much like how she had envisioned it & I liked how it sounded, so I thought it would be worth putting out on a future Meeting Of The Minds release, which ended up being this one.

Big up to all the artists involved on this edition of Meeting Of The Minds, it's quite a long and arduous task putting together each one, which is why there was such a gap between Vol. 9 & 10 and Vol. 11 & 12. I plan on getting the series back into something more regularly occurring, so hopefully I can actually stick to that plan!

The highly anticipated collaboration from Shawn Lee and Kelly Finnigan ishere. The A-side on this 45, Say It Again, features Kelly on vocals and piano. It's asmooth, soulful tune, pulling references from Bobby Caldwell and FM radio. Shawn says of the track "there has always been a mutual admiration societybetween myself & Kelly. Over the years I've had the pleasure of playing onboth the Monophonics & Kelly's solo records in the studio and live onstage. This is the first I've had Kelly on something that I've put together. Good thingscome to those who wait_and here it is!"The instrumental B, Harpsichord Rock, comes straight out of some sort oflost 1970's Italian movie. Entirely written and recorded by Lee, it's a hypnoticjam with a groove. The mood: funk.

This plate is about to welcome back one of the unsung heroes from the 45 Seven lands of dub, meditating with us from day one. Weather it may be about 4578's foundations of the rolling Dub Over Distance along the shuffly Dub Pacifico or the later forward lurking tribal jungles of Black Lake flipped by Lack Blake on 45719: Dub Across Borders always knows to amaze with both a contemplating deep inner focus of well laid-out hand-made instrumentation and vintage dubbing as well as refreshing ear-opening sounds and soul-pleasing vibes collected from all over the world, creating a very own sphere of what feels like some kind of ancient sci-fi riddim, rooting upwards to the phuture.

When sweating over a hot mixing desk and hoping for a fresh breeze, the roots of Come Rain were laid in a form of bassdrums knocking at the sky's gates, stabby infra subs foreseeing well-wished thunders and moist dark skank works are calling for storm. An inner shout for the elements, incarnating in a certainly minimal yet pretty heavy 160 stepper, rolling over all the dry hot air out there.

Yeh Sih Dub comes after the rain: new branches grow, fresh leaves spread, foggy clouds reach up for a mountain-high rainforest. Awakening the world bass side of Dub Across Borders, it gives you ceremonial Bhuddist horns as well as houting sounds of the tantric Khamak, a poundy stab bass and the shimmering spring-splashing ride sitting on top as its crown. Only rarely 80 bpm bass has been as easily touching and moving at the same time.

Take a deep breath and dive into this piece of both mindful and reflective space bass, launching sub-heavy Jungle onto imaginery moons of spacial perception. We are actually just about to start this journey, feel free to get aboard!

"Absolute gold, thanks a bunch" Will be supporting lots" Pugilist
"Epic Dub pressure, big fan of Dub Across Borders" Sun People
"Sounding great as usual, will play for sure!" Tracy & E3 of Zamzam

Dario Bassolino is pianist, producer and composer born in Naples, where he currently resides. With an eclectic taste and an genre-defying musical ability, he has produced for and played alongside alt-R&B vocalist LNDFK, jazz-funk legend Nicola Conte, Early Sounds boss Pellegrino and has collaborated with Nu Genea, Kurtis Rosenwinkel and rapper Pink Siifu to name a few. Inspired by the Brazilian funk greats Hermeto Pascoal and Airto Moreira and their Italian counterparts such as Franco Califano, Lucio Battisti, Panella, Enzo di Domenico and Gennaro D'Auria. Bassolino’s live show has a very organic form and is inspired by jazz, funk and disco improvisation, having extensive experience playing to enthusiastic international audiences as a session musician at prestigious festivals Primavera Sound, Montreux Jazz festival, Dour Festival and We Out Here.

Bassolino's new release is located where the sea begins and the sky ends. Two tracks that carry the horizon drawing a straight line between Naples, Tunisi and Beirut. A thin but tangible line that unites the Mediterranean poles. Hence the concept of "Popoli del Mare", the multiform sound waves intertwine a composition with an incessant rhythm: the Afro contamination of Charif Megarbane finds a fit with the Italian and dreamy harmonies of Bassolino. Baid Alik is a song of love and hope. The sound, purely inspired by the research of Habibi Funk, evokes the memory of an ancestral past shared by Bassolino with the Tunisian singer Marzouk Mejri.
His voice, halfway between proto- rap and melodic, mix perfectly to the disco-cinematic instrumental.

Indie exclusive Peak Edition on Orange & Black Swirl Vinyl, in a gatefold cover + poster.



It's spring of 2023 in the North Carolina Piedmont, and songwriter and singer M.C. Taylor - leader of the band Hiss Golden Messenger - is feeling alive. Joyful. Eternal, he might say. For the Grammy-nominated musician, whose albums have traced an internal path through adulthood, fatherhood, spirituality, and depression for well over a decade, this is something new. "The tunes on Jump for Joy were composed in free moments throughout 2022, a year during which Hiss was on the road more or less constantly," explains Taylor. "And perhaps because the post-pandemic energy out in the world felt so chaotic and uncertain, I found myself thinking a lot about the role that music has played in my life and how exactly I ended up in the rarefied position of leading a band and crew all over the globe through dingy graffiti-scrawled green rooms, venerated music halls, dust-blown roadside motels.

Sometimes playing in front of 5,000; sometimes 200. Sleeping sitting up. Laughing until my stomach hurts. Not being able to fall asleep at 3 a.m. in some anonymous bed because my mind is spinning with anxiety or depression or adrenaline, or because my ears are still ringing. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, then robbing Paul to pay Peter back. Over and over again. It's an outlaw life but one, I'm coming to realize, that makes me happy." The songs that make up Jump for Joy - the sharpest and most autobiographical that Taylor has written under the Hiss name - read as a sort of epistolary, postcards between the present-day songwriter and his alias Michael Crow, a teenaged dreamer very much like Taylor himself, who trips his way through the 14 tunes that make up the record. In this way, Jump for Joy is a meditation on a life lived with art, and the ways that our hopes and dreams and decisions bump up against_ and, with a little bit of luck, occasionally merge with real life. "Creating this character became the way that I could explore these vulnerable, tender moments that were so decisive in my life, even if I didn't know it at the time," explains Taylor.

Produced by Taylor and engineered by longtime Hiss compatriot Scott Hirsch over two weeks in the late fall of 2022 at the fabled Sonic Ranch studio in Tornillo, TX, just a short walk from the Mexican border, Jump for Joy dances with joyful, spontaneous energy that feels like a fresh chapter in the Hiss Golden Messenger oeuvre. Taylor is accompanied throughout the album by his crack live band: guitarist Chris Boerner, bassist Alex Bingham, keyboardist Sam Fribush, and drummer Nick Falk, a collection of musicians that have helped make Hiss Golden Messenger's live performances legendary affairs

*Limited to 500 copies.*

For the first time ever, this incredible 1974 recording by Joe Truss and composer Michael Kamen (who would go on to score Hollywood blockbusters like Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and Robin Hood) is getting the proper release it always deserved.

Nearly all original copies were destroyed by the pressing plant after being pressed at the wrong speed. A second run of just around 50 copies was quietly made — and then it vanished into obscurity. Until now.

Psychedelia collides with deep grooves in an explosion of creative madness.
One of the rarest records to come out of the Caribbean, finally reissued for the world to hear.

The B-side? An unreleased funk track, salvaged from a reel containing the soundtrack of a never-released film — a forgotten gem brought back to life.

To mark the occasion and do this release justice, Lava On Wax is proud to present this as a 7” with a full picture sleeve, featuring beautiful artwork by Hamraz Bayan.

Prepare to be blown away by this psychedelic funk trip — full of raw drum breaks and brain-melting synths.

Special thanks to Guts for the support, Joe Truss for believing in the project and granting the license, and to Hamraz Bayan for blessing the cover with her unique art.

A double vinyl helping of dripping-in-soul house from Toronto's Demuir. It originally surfaced digitally in 2021 but has been constantly in demand ever since. Not at all surprising when you start to dip into the likes of 'Aesthetics' (dub), with its constant synth washes and subtle funk underpinning, or the loopy, bongo-teased hypnotism of 'No Corazon, No Beat'. It's a varied selection here, from late night floor crushers to the softer, jazzier 'Bichano Doce', but there are two constants remaining throughout, namely quality production and a knack for irresistible grooves built for the floor. Demuir by name, demure by nature.

"This is brilliant" - Gilles Peterson

Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros doesn't remember recording this single. It's understandable—the sessions happened over forty years ago, and at the time, Malheiros, Ivan Conti and José Roberto Bertrami were backing countless MPB artists throughout the genre's golden age. As one of Brazil’s most influential groups, Azymuth's story is well known. Vocalist Luisa, however, remains something of an enigma. She recorded this, her one and only single, in 1981 for Carlos Lemos' Piramide Label.

With Luisa’s powerful yet understated vocal, Bertrami's futuristic synths and José Carlos Bigorna's brow-raising tenor sax licks, the stirring early-80s pop ballad "Romantica" should have been a radio hit. On B-side, "Lenha na Fogueira", Azymuth lock into an exceptional samba-funk groove with legendary guitarist Paulinho Guitarra. The record also features backing vocals from the lesser-known vocal group Arco Iris.

Luisa will be reissued for the first time on 7" vinyl and digital on September 5th, 2025, via Far Out Recordings.