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„Life has never been easy, so keep moving“ is the opening line of Making moves, the title song of SANTROFI‘s new album. Four years ago their celebrated debut ‚Alewa‘ introduced this 8 piece Highlife collective powerhouse from Accra to the world.

After five solid years on the road, SANTROFI is now ready to release some fresh material. co-produced and mixed by four-time Grammy Award winner Jerry Boys (REM, Ali Farka Toure, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab, Kronos Quartet). The band has continued an intense tour schedule, with 2024 seeing their first shows in the USA as well as a Japan tour of with 13 sold out shows 2024. where.

Making moves is both a celebration of SANTROFI’s roots and a leap into the future of Highlife. The opening track Amina is a Ghanaian childhood game turned Highlife Funk. It draws from the past, pushing it into the future. The title song Making moves sees Santrofi team up with the current booming Afrobeatscene in Ghana: It features Ghanas Newcomers Kofi Jamar and Arathejay. The song talks about trying to survive on the sometimes crazy streets of Accra without loosing your mind. Su nkwa sees Santrofi celebrating their love for typical Sikji Highlife music. And the nostalgic No money, no honey sums up yet another common truth from the streets of Accra. From the opening Highlife funk of Amina to the Ghanaian-childhood-game-turned- boogie-banger Gyae me how, this record will get you dancing.

Led by producer-bassist Kojo Ofori, SANTROFI unites 8 of Accra’s most gifted musicians with a passion for both vintage highlife grooves and a hip hop sensibility. Members of the band have played with leading Ghanaian artists including Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Ambolley, AK Yeboah and highlife pioneer AB Crentsil with whom they recorded just before he passed away - watch out for that!

SANTROFI have shared stage and studio with rising stars of Ghana’s vibrant urban music scene such as Kidi, Yaw Tog, Black Sherif, AratheJay and even Nigerian superstar Wizkid (who has made Accra his second home). The upcoming album sees the band teaming up with some of the most exciting talents in Ghana‘s such as AratheJay and Kofi Jamar.

If you think it is impossible to play a funk groove (or even drill) over a pulsing Highlife clave: SANTROFI will prove you wrong. Listen to the phrasing of SANTROFI‘s horn section, hear the Highlife clave running through every bar of their music. Santrofi are pushing Ghanas Highlifegrooves into the future without loosing its sweet soul. And don’t forget to come and see them Making moves live in your city.

Dogman is the fifth studio album by American rock band King’s X, released in 1994. The album was produced by Brendan O’Brien (who had recently worked with Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and The Black Crowes). Dogman was considerably heavier than previous albums and marked a transition in the band’s sound. In 1999, Doug Pinnick reflected, “For me personally, the Dogman record is what King’s X really sounds like. The self-titled record was a step and an eye-opener and after that we could just make our music.”

Mit Rausch Against the Machine kehren Schmutzki zu ihrer Brutstätte zurück: Die verregneten und mit Licht verklebten Straßen ihrer Stadt, wo sie einst in jenem verschimmelten Bunker die ersten 3 1/2 Akkorde in den feuchten Stahlbeton rotzten. Doch vieles hat sich geändert: Gute Freunde sind fort, die alte Liebe fast vergessen und von den damals grandiosen Nächten nur noch Schemen übrig. Sind wir erwachsen geworden_? Schmutzki stemmen sich mit aller Kraft und diesem Album dagegen! Sie beschwören die alten Geister und reanimieren die Nacht und den guten, alten Wahnsinn. Und plötzlich ist alles wieder da: Der Rausch, die Liebe und die alte Gang, die heute alles in Schutt und Asche legen wird. So wie früher. Aber diesmal für immer!

Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom is the Delines most realized and strongest album to date, a record of romantic misfits and grifters who live out of suitcases and cars, who can"t seem to settle down, who hope that in the next town or city will be the score that saves them. Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom features the stalwart Delines line up: Amy Boone on vocals, Cory Gray on horns and keyboards, Sean Oldham on drums, Freddy Trujillo on bass, and Willy Vlautin on guitar. The record features Amy Boone"s lush, world worn voice, the cinematic production skills of Askew, and the horn and string arrangement of Delines keyboardist and trumpeter, Cory Gray. This is wide screen, CinemaScope, Delines at their best.

Pianist Masako Ohta and trumpet player Matthias Lindermayr are back on Squama with 'Nozomi', the follow-up to their 2022 debut 'MMMMH'.
The Japanese title, which translates to ‘hope’, felt fitting, as the album was conceived during a time of personal loss for Ohta, during and after which music proved itself as a beacon of hope.
The music on Nozomi unfolds gently, with Lindermayr’s airy tone and lyrical playing being wrapped in Ohta’s chordal backing that moves from tender to tense and back over the course of the album. While most tunes were written by Lindermayr, the only exception being an interpretation of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s ‘Hibari’, the arrangements are largely improvised, letting the duo’s intuition guide the course and build the form.
Solemn slowness has become a signature trait of the Munich-based duo and it makes listening to their new record a healing retreat from the frantic chatter of the present.

It’s written in the Agreement Terms. There’s no getting out alive in Life. And yet, mankind keeps striving for eternal life; through art, through power, through cryogenics, through singularity. In that misguided quest against the inevitable, we all fall into the category of lost travellers. No one is exempt. In that understanding, Confucius MC and producer Bastien Keb offer no misgivings about the destination on the somber “Time Will Come”: Time will come for all of us / try to take your time.

Songs For Lost Travellers is a collaborative album by Con and Bastien Keb that merges unexplored pathways between rap, folk, and jazz into a spiritual triumvirate. Each genre is a balancing force within the record. The result is an album unlike either artist have made previously, possibly unlike any record in existence. Songs For Lost Travellers opens with bedtime stories and fairytales. Both “Tell Me Lies” and “Fairytale” present the creature comforts that trick us into forgetting the truth. Con’s first words spoken are “tell me lies ‘til I swear I can’t remember” over Keb’s lo-fi plucking that feels like it was lifted from a handheld recorder capturing a nursery mobile above a crib. Third track “Time Will Come” resets the album after acknowledging on “Fairytale” there’s “no nourishment in half-truths / no sustenance in eating lies.”

Honest and direct, Con and Keb imbue Songs For Lost Travellers with knowledge and truth from their lived experiences. There is grief hidden in the notes, an inherent sadness that is balanced with an awareness that grief is a protest against the social machinery of remaining numb. The record lingers in a meditative state, unafraid of restlessness and embracing solitude, with the expectation that peace is just as imminent as death.

The production contains a complimentary authenticity. Neither Con nor Keb bothered much with the professional studio in making Songs For Lost Travellers. Instead they opted for the raw state of their home recordings and first takes, matching the intimacy of being alone and reflective in their creative energies. Room static on “Tell Me Lies” makes it feel like you’ve entered their apartments. The immediacy continues on “Gutters,” as Keb plays guitar while watching the tele and Con hums along to the vocal melody in search of the proper pocket for his verse. Someone snaps their finger to mark a cue, but the snap never returns to the mix to keep time.

More drawn to Keb’s recent folk recordings on the Songs For Lilla EP than his funk roots circa Dinking In The Shadows of Zizou or the cinematic soul of The Killing of Eugene Peeps, Con leaned into the spacial freedom he heard in Keb’s lo-fi production cobbled from field recordings and voice notes. Both artists placed their families into the tableau. Con wrote “Little Man” for his son, hoping to add a positive contribution to the canon of parental rap songs. Later, his son appears at the end of “Paramount” to deliver a passage from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Keb secretly recorded his mum playing saxophone and sampled his cousin playing sax as well. The result is a near-drumless album (save for “Toulouse” and light tapping on “It Would Speak”) in which Keb’s raw production (plus a few sessions with Kofi Flexxx) gave Con a liminal zone, unencumbered by beats per minute, to craft melodies that turn his philosophical rhymes into mantras.

Perhaps there’s a message in the presence of family? It would be one of many. Con and Keb’s reflective, somber approach to Songs For Lost Travellers does not wallow in the mire. Music is action and it’s taking them through a portal to the other side of grief. We are welcome to join (which is also in the fine print of the Agreement Terms), but first there’s a password in the final song, a single request to answer: Tell me what you care about.

Biography by Blake Gillespie
credits

"Victory of Bad Taste is the second solo album by Barry Hay. It was originally released in 1987, fifteen years after his first solo album release. Victory of Bad Taste includes two singles: ""Draggin' The Line"" and ""Jezebel"". The album contains original songs and a few covers from, amongst others, Frankie Miller and Tommy James. Hay gained worldwide fame in the 70s as lead vocalist and frontman of the popular rock band Golden Earring. Together with band member George Kooymans, Hay wrote the massive hit ""Radar Love"", released in 1973. Victory of Bad Taste is available as a limited edition of 750 copies on gold coloured vinyl and includes an insert with lyrics."

John Patitucci stands as a towering figure in the global jazz scene, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to modern jazzfusion and beyond. His bold new album, Spirit Fall, marks an exciting new phase in his career as a leader, featuring his trio withthe extraordinary Brian Blade and Chris Potter, and stands as one of the most significant new signings to Edition Records.Patitucci’s exceptional versatility across acoustic and electric bass has set a new standard in contemporary music, influencinggenerations of bassists worldwide. Collaborating with icons like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, his work hasdefined the sound of jazz for decades, particularly his role in Corea’s Elektric Band, which helped shape jazz fusion’s evolution. Amultiple Grammy Award-winner, his virtuosity and ability to span genres have made him a vital force in jazz.His past solo works, including Line by Line and Songs, Stories and Spirituals, have already showcased his profound ability toblend jazz, classical, funk, and world music. Spirit Fall continues this tradition, bringing a fresh perspective to his ever-evolvingartistry while reaffirming his position as one of the most creative forces in contemporary jazz.

"Live Mind, is the first live album from rock supergroup, The Third Mind. With over an hour of performances, Live Mind was overseen and curated by Don Boles, Will Golden and Brett Brock from shows in February and March 2024 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Ventura Music Hall in Ventura, CA, and The Kessler Theater in Dallas, TX. Produced by Dave Alvin and Victor Krummenacher, the album was mixed and mastered by Craig Parker Adams at Winslow Court, Los Angeles, CA.

What started four years ago as a wishful music fantasy, the supergroup of “Californian Psychedelic Rockers” (Doom Charts) is now a reality. The brainchild of GRAMMY award-winning guitarist Dave Alvin and veteran alternative music bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom, Eyelids), The Third Mind’s two studio albums–The Third Mind (2020) and The Third Mind 2 (2023)–feature guitarist David Immerglück (Counting Crows, Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale) and vocalist Jesse Sykes from her critically acclaimed group, Jesse Sykes and The Sweeter Hereafter. The Third Mind live psychedelic improv performances include the addition of guest guitarist Mark Karan (Bob Weir's Ratdog, Phil Lesh, Delaney Bramlett) subbing for Immerglück."

The Velveteers bring a visceral energy to their explosive sophomore album, A Million Knives. The album is a blistering rock anthem infused with melodic indie songwriting. With GRAMMY Award-winning producer Dan Auerbach at the helm, the Boulder, CO trio encapsulates the raw, forceful, and profoundly heavy energy of their live performances and laser-focuses a spotlight on tightly crafted songs as they carve out their own distinctive niche. Driving The Velveteers is the commanding presence of frontwoman Demi Demitro, a no-bullshit, five-foot-something spitfire with thunderous guitar riffs and soaring vocals, backed by the incendiary duo of Baby Pottersmith and Johnny Fig on drums. The band's signature dual drum setup creates a thunderous foundation that propels their gritty, dynamic garage rock sound. On A Million Knives, this setup melds seamlessly with a more modern indie rock influence-the attitude of Wolf Alice, the colossal sound of Queens of the Stone Age, and the singular lyrical voice of Hole. The Velveteers have built a dedicated following through relentless touring and electrifying performances, sharing stages with renowned acts such as Smashing Pumpkins, The Black Keys, Greta Van Fleet, Guns N' Roses, and Des Rocs. With A Million Knives, The Velveteers offer a compelling testament to their rising stardom, a rock 'n' roll album as beautiful as it is terrifying.

2023 was a whirlwind year for Oracle Sisters. The trio—Julia Johansen, Chris Willatt, and Lewis Lazar—followed the release of their debut album Hydranism with a globe-spanning tour that captivated fans and critics alike. From the highways between Knoxville and Nashville to sold-out clubs in rain-soaked Seattle, and festival stages across the UK, they logged countless hours on the road. Their journey was a tapestry of exhaustion and exhilaration, falling apart, brawls and disputes, love and acceptance. By the year’s end, just two days before Christmas, they found themselves in Tokyo, reflecting on the fleeting nature of time and the fragments of inspiration gathered along the way. It was there the seeds for their next album, Divinations, began to sprout. Composing as a true trio for the first time, Oracle Sisters pieced together sketches formed during stolen moments on tour. These fragments coalesced into Divinations, an album shaped by the band’s nomadic existence. The recording sessions spanned cozy Parisian studios, a barn in northern France, and the storied Valentine Studios in Los Angeles. Their creative process embraced experimentation—swapping primary instruments, playing with toy drum machines, and crafting melodies on quirky tools like the OP-1 and a baby Casio keyboard. This spirit of discovery lent the album a sense of spontaneity and wonder. At its core, Divinations channels mysticism and timeless storytelling. The band’s songwriting draws on diverse influences, from the surrealist poetry of Baudelaire and Rimbaud to the introspective philosophies of Carl Jung. Musically, echoes of Talking Heads, Air, and Leonard Cohen resonate throughout the album and tracks like “Riverside” delve into existential questions— “How far are you going? Is it more than money can buy?” Elsewhere on the album “Marseille,” born in the city that gave the song its name, kicks off as a trance with lyrics that play between the sincere and desperate self-help affirmations, we give ourselves while trying to find a bridge between our individual lives and a universal feeling. Lead-single “Alouette” is Oracle Sisters at their most direct; propelled by a driving bassline and exuberant strings, the track summons the sound of 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s rock n roll as they sing about “getting out of dodge, finding a pirate ship and sailing home.” Inspired by the book Caliban and the Witch, “Blue Left Hand” is a lyrical tapestry weaving together history, philosophy, and cultural critique. The lyrics, “It’s in the harbor of every page / It’s in the corner of the playwright’s stage / And every player and every fake / And every witch that we burned at the stake,” reflect on the forces that shaped the capitalist society we know today. Across Divinations’ 11 tracks it’s not only geographic boundaries that were crossed but also the boundaries of time and circumstance. While their work may not consciously reflect specific worldly events, they seek to embrace the universal and offer a space for healing. “Good music would make sense to a farmer in 17th century France as it would to a pastry chef in Slovenia in the 21st century,” shares Lazar. “It’s not written for any temporal powers that be. It’s about expressing our common humanity and taking it from there.” This intuitive approach fuels Oracle Sisters creative process - whether composing in a frozen French farmhouse or performing live with an ever-expanding lineup of collaborators, the band remains committed to exploring the unknown. Through Divinations, they hope to leave listeners feeling transcendent, levitating on waves of intuition and discovery.

The third album Fort Sensible by Brisbane alt-rockers Tape/Off is a genuine labour of love, a passionate dose of opinionated heart-on-sleeve rock’n’roll representing not just a place but a time with its cache of meticulously-crafted guitars, robust rhythms and socially-conscious lyrics mining both the personal and the political.

While musically they veer seamlessly between intricacy and intensity their words cut straight to the quick, the songs caustic and catchy in equal measure, making Fort Sensible by far the most ambitious and accessible album in the band’s storied decade-plus history.

Tape/Off’s first two albums - Chipper (2014) and Broadcast Park (2018) - were both longlisted for the prestigious Australian Music Prize, yet Fort Sensible takes the tried and tested Tape/Off aesthetic to a whole new level as the band seek to both share the creative load and fully harness their innate collective chemistry.

The guitars of Nathan Pickels and Ben Green weave together like an electric tapestry, the resultant soundscapes both intricate and ambitious whilst still entirely capable of busting out massive riffs with the best of them, their inherent simpatico now built upon by years of experience playing off each other. From a rhythmic perspective Tape/Off's propulsive drummer Branko Cosic's immense power and Cameron Smith's robust, expressive basslines combine to provide the perfect rhythmic bottom-end throughout the record.

Excitingly Tape/Off's sonic palette has been broadened substantially on the new album, with Pickels' angry and angst-laden diatribes throughout Fort Sensible now augmented by Green and Smith taking vocal turns at junctures, adding a whole new dynamic and dimension to proceedings.

At a time when our leaders seem lacking and the world needs the redemptive powers of art and music more than ever, Tape/Off announce themselves as a serious force to be reckoned with the uncompromising power and beauty of Fort Sensible!

Hailed by Galore Magazine as "A Queer Icon", 80's inspired popstar Caroline Kingsbury releases her latest EP "I Really Don't Care!" on pink 10" vinyl. "I Really Don't Care!" was produced by Charlie Brand (Minature Tigers), and features the song "Take My Phone Away" co-written with Justin Tranter.

Kingsbury has been featured in influential playlists such as Spotify's Fierce Femmes, Fresh Finds, and Apple Music's Alt Pop, and New Music Daily. She's toured the US multiple times over supporting artists like Alex Lahey, St Lucia, Arlie, and has garnered praise from Pitchfork, the New Yorker, Gay Times, Rolling Stone, and many more."

High Roller Records, reissue 2025, 180g black vinyl, ltd 300, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, poster

Ten years later, and with ve full-length records out, Vundabar-Hagen, bassist Zack Abramo, and drummer Drew McDonald-are marking their time together with a new 11-track collection called Good Old. Four of the songs are acoustic reinterpretations of previous Vundabar tracks, while the remaining seven were created during recording sessions between the releases of 2015's Gawk and 2018's Smell Smoke. The songs from these sessions are raw, loud, elastic, and energetic, crackling with the banged-up spirits of punk-, art-, pop-, grunge-, and indie-rock-and they've never been heard until now.

High Roller Records, reissue 2025, 180g black vinyl, ltd 300, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, lyric sheet, poster

High Roller Records, reissue 2025, 180g black vinyl, ltd 300, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, lyric sheet, poster

"You Got" is the only amen track here, a fast paced tune and one I really enjoyed working on. "Think About It" hits hard and is really fun in the mix. Finally, "Transit" closes out the EP. If you like Reese bass, you won't be disappointed with that one: straight and to the point, powerful tuneage.

It's another 45 Rocafort treatment!

"If There's a Will, There's a Way" was written by Don Covay and Donny Hathaway and released in 1972 on the American Janus Records label. Covay, a key figure in the 1960s and 1970s soul scene, was known for his gritty voice and songwriting for artists like Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. Hathaway, on the other hand, was an influential soul singer, composer, and pianist often celebrated for his collaborations with Roberta Flack. This song blends both of their distinct styles: Covay's raw, Southern soul vibe and Hathaway's sophisticated, jazz-influenced arrangements. Like Donny Hathaway's live album released that same year in 1972, this track grabs you from the very first notes. A classic soul groove, with a powerful vocal delivery!

Notably, this track was later sampled by Pete Rock in his remix of "Lots of Lovin'" with C.L. Smooth, bringing the soulful essence of the original into the realm of 90s hip-hop.

On the b-side, another track from the fantastic Janus Records catalogue. Harvey Mandel's "Baby Batter," originally released in 1971 is a blend of funky blues and psychedelic rock vibes representing another popular genre from the early 70's in the USA. Mandel's signature guitar work shines throughout the track and the drum break in the introduction will please the hip-hop heads and 45 DJs out there.

In the neon-lit underbelly of Vilnius, where the pulse of the city syncs with the rhythm of the cosmos, Lithuanian sound architect Tourman emerges with his debut EP on Trance-Atlantyk entitled “Identification Mentale.” This electrifying release is a masterclass in neo progressive house soundscapes, featuring three original tracks and one hard-hitting remix.

The EP kicks off with „Restricted Airspace”, igniting senses with its relentless drive and pulsating bass. The track is a cybernetic symphony, weaving together glitchy synth lines and hypnotic beats that propel you into the heart of a digital dystopia. Embracing a darker, more introspective vibe, “Digitalog” is a proper roller that dances effortlessly between the realms of emotion and energy.

The title track boldly attacks your auditory membranes with its earwormy synth stabs, echoing the familiar yet exhilarating sensations of a sonic awakening. This cut also serves as a true manifesto for the modern trance movement, capturing the essence of euphoria and nostalgia in one exhilarating ride. The last word on the EP belongs to the polish power duo Penera, who transform the original title track into a hard-hitting, uncompromising dancefloor stomper that effortlessly blends hardgroove energy with trance nostalgia. Their remix amplifies the intensity, layering driving beats and electrifying synths that explode with energy.

Berlin based label "Matasuna Records" kicks off the new year 2025 with a soulful 7inch featuring songs by Barcelona's "The Blaxound" and singer "John Vermont". Their common love for vintage soul from the 60s and 70s brought them together for this project to compose and record classic soul sung in Spanish. This 45 shows that the concept worked out wonderfully: Spanish Soul at its best, sounding authentic and contemporary at the same time!

Matasuna Records, known for its reissues of musical treasures from the past, also has an eye for exciting new discoveries in contemporary music. With "The Blaxound & John Vermont" the label has once again found an interesting project for soulful & contemporary music that fits perfectly into the label's sound spectrum and will appeal to lovers of authentic soul music.

The two songs "No Es Por Ti" and "Qué Más Te Da?" from their recently released album will be released for the first time as a 7-inch vinyl single on Matasuna Records. The instrumentation and the lovely harmonies are the ideal basis for John Vermont, who with his versatile voice, sometimes powerful, sometimes smooth - but always soulful - can fully develop his vocal spectrum and fill the songs with his presence. Instrumental and vocal arrangements are beautifully balanced and harmonious. Beatific!

Artist info


"The Blaxound" is a Barcelona-based music project with deep ties to the city's Funk and Soul sceney. The project started in 2003 under the direction of musician, songwriter and producer "Marta Roman". The Blaxound has released four studio albums between 2007 and 2024 on different labels.

Years ago, Marta focused on the idea of recording a classic soul album sung in Spanish, respecting as much as possible the original production and sound of the late 60s and early 70s. Luckily, she met singer "Ivan Espejo" aka "John Vermont", which was the turning point and led to the full vocal album "Déjalo Ir" released on "Love Soul Productions" in 2024.

All songs were composed, recorded and produced by Marta Roman in her own studio, Black Flamingo Recordings, in Barcelona, Spain.

Balanced out analog dub-house sessions at the intersection of ice and fire. Born in a Budapest basement, forged by Berlin-like mid-tempo minimalism with a pinch of Balkan, developed to the next level by dub carpets of the north. Hungarian local heroes LI and ZOL debut record opens a new chapter with four shapeshifting trakkers under the flag of SCHNRZ, that refers to Schonherz, the name of the neighbour dormitory of their basement studio. Mastered by Stefan Betke at scape mastering.

Ein prächtiges Doppelalbum (2x LP) im Gatefold welches die besten Beispiele eines bis vor kurzem sehr unterschätzten Genres enthält.
Jetzt ist es natürlich der angesagteste Sound überhaupt.
Aus dem umfangreichen Nippon Columbia-Katalog hat Cunimondo Takiguchi die heißesten Stücke der innovativsten Schöpfer des City Pop-Genres zusammengestellt.
Wenn man dann noch die berühmte hohe Produktionsqualität und Qualitätskontrolle von Gearbox hinzunimmt, hat man einen frühen Anwärter auf die Compilation des Jahres!

The mysterious DJ EXS lands on AOD’s sister label, DHUTT, for his debut release. Blurring the lines between garage, techno & bass music!

Bartees Strange begann die Arbeit an "Horror" in seinem Homestudio. Eine Session mit Yves und Lawrence Rothman (Yves Tumor, Lady Gaga) lieferte das rhythmische und klangliche Rückgrat für große Teile des Albums. Nachdem Bartees Strange Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey...) kennengelernt hatte und die beiden schnell Freunde wurden, arbeitete Strange an Material für Antonoffs Band Bleachers und Antonoff an "Horror". Die beiden beendeten die Arbeit am Album gemeinsam, indem sie die Songs roh bearbeiteten, editierten, arrangierten und sie in Kleidung kleideten, die Angst einflößt. Während des gesamten Albums legt Strange eine schwierige Wahrheit nach der anderen ab. Auf den 12 neuen Tracks des Albums finden sich genreübergreifende Fäden der Musik, die sein Vater ihm nahegebracht hat - Parliament Funkadelic, Fleetwood Mac, Teddy Pendergrass und Neil Young - die mit Stranges Interesse an Hip-Hop, Country, Indie-Rock und House verschmelzen. Seit dem Release seines 4AD-Debüts "Farm to Table" (2022) spielte Bartees Strange neben eigenen Headline-Touren (und einem Auftritt beim letztjährigen Reeperbahn Festival) im Vorprogramm von Acts wie boygenius, Clairo, Dijon und The National. Während eine Tour zum neuen Album noch angekündigt werden wird, gibt es schon eine Reihe von Release-Shows in 2025 in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. und London. Geboren in Ipswich, England, als Sohn eines Militärvaters und einer Opernsängerin, verlebte Bartees Strange eine Kindheit, die geprägt war von diversen Umzügen bevor er sich schließlich in Mustang, Oklahoma, niederließ. Später spielte Bartees Strange in Hardcore-Bands in Washington D.C. und Brooklyn, während er in der Regierung von Barack Obama und der Bewegung für Umweltschutz arbeitete. In letzter Zeit wurde seine Musik auf mehreren populären TV- und Film-Soundtracks verwendet, darunter bei The New Look von Apple TV und I Saw The TV Glow von A24-Studio.

Nach ihrem Debüt und den zwei EPs "In Theory Depression" und "twotwentytwo" veröffentlicht Thala nun ihr bemerkenswertes zweites Full Length Album ,Avalanche" auf Fire Records. Diese Songs, die sich an die zerebralen Emotionen des Shoegaze und Indie-Rock der frühen 90er Jahre anlehnen, sind musikalische Manifeste von tiefen und verwirrenden Gefühlszuständen. "Avalanche" zeigt Thala in dem Moment, in dem der Indie selbstbewusst in einen rauschenden Panorama-Rock ausbricht, ein Statement zum Erwachsenwerden und eine deutliche Weiterentwicklung ihrer bisherigen Arbeit. Das Eröffnungsstück ,1st of the year" ist ein berauschendes Stück der Erkenntnis, dass nicht alles so laufen wird wie geplant, und ist ein Gefühlsausbruch, der eine dunklere Seite ihrer Musik offenbart. Thala ist eine Performerin, die das Leben mit all seinen Abenteuern lebt und mit den Rückchlägen umzugehen weiß. "i don't want u to die" ist eine ehrliche Parabel voller moderner Melancholie, ein befreiendes Stück Indie-Rock, das mit dramatischer Wucht und punktgenauer Präzision daherkommt; "spit it out" ist eine flüchtige Chronik der Rache, die kalt serviert wird, während "tongue-tied & starry-eyed" (featuring Communion-Künstler Sfven) die Einsicht vermittelt, dass man manchmal einfach weiterziehen muss. Thala nimmt uns mit auf ihre persönliche Reise, wenn "drive song" in ein schlafwandlerisches Plädoyer mit Vintage Cure-ähnlich klingenden Gitarren gleitet, während 'body to you' mit einem herrlich triumphalen Refrain von "it's alright, it's alright" den Einsatz erhöht. Das ist Popmusik, Emo-Pop vielleicht, welche von Strophe zu Refrain aufblüht, ähnlich wie Sharon Van Etten oder hymnische Phoebe Bridgers, mit einem Klangbild, welches zu Weilen an Ethal Cain oder Wolf Alice erinnert. Für Fans von beabadoobee, boygenius, Sharon Van Etten, Wolf Alice und Phoebe Bridgers Ltd 'Avalanche White' Vinyl-LP mit DLC

Blue Valentine Vinyl. Sometime in 2005, a lone box of master tapes escaped an estate sale and made its way through a network of collectors, record dealers, and "junkers" into the hands of leading Ohio soul expert Dante Carfagna, who linked them to Columbus, Ohio's mysterious Prix label (See: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label). A bit of research turned up Prix proprietor George Beter, who identified most of the unlabeled material. All it took was an endless series of phone calls and letters and two fields trips in Columbus. But one complete mystery wended its way onto our final Prix compilation. "You and Me," a simple but irrepressible demo credited only to Penny & the Quarters, was found tacked onto a mixed studio reel. Our survey of every willing lifer left on the Columbus soul scene, including retired DJs, producers, and important local artists, produced not so much as a glimmer of recognition at the name Penny & the Quarters. Though we loved the song from the first play, it may've ended up a bit buried on our original compilation, as #18 of 19 tracks.Four years later, Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label hadn't exactly become a huge seller, although listeners had repeatedly told us that the unfiltered studio demos that fill out the record's back half were true diamonds in the rough. But neither Penny nor her Quarters had appeared to claim credit for their efforts. Then, completely out of left field, we heard from respected screen actor and avowed Numero fan Ryan Gosling that Penny's piercing bit of stripped down doo-wop was being considered for inclusion in Derek Cianfrance's indie-weeper film Blue Valentine. What we didn't know was that "You and Me" had won a major role in what became an indie circuit hit, and that Penny & the Quarters would instantly assume the role of world's most famous unknown doo-wop group.Every week is a slow news week in Columbus, Ohio, and early January 2011 found the city recovering from the thrill of elevating Ted Williams_the formerly homeless guy with the awesome voice for radio_into a national news sensation. But both major daily newspapers in town, as well as the city's alternative weekly, also ran stories about how a lost and unknown Columbus soul group had become the musical centerpiece of a film already garnering Oscar buzz. That mainstream spotlight aimed at Blue Valentine and Penny & the Quarters did the trick: we finally made contact with the widow of Jay Robinson, lead Quarters' singer and songwriter. Robinson, it turned out, had also been the leader of Columbus doo-wop pioneers The Supremes (later known as "The Columbus Supremes," for reasons which should be obvious). Jay Robinson never did give up on the dream of writing a hit record; even so, the posthumous realization of his dream is cold comfort for his widow and daughter. With their blessings, we returned to those estate sale masters and pulled down another neglected track ("You Are Giving Me Some Other Love") from the still-unknown Penny and her now-partly-known Quarters. "You and Me" is a song that could not be suppressed: not when Prix failed to release it; not when Penny & the Quarters were forgotten; not when Numero stuck it at the bitter end of a much overlooked compilation. Its evolution from estate sale trash to silver-screen gold has finally returned it to big-hole 45, where it probably should have lived all along.

After five solid years on the road, SANTROFI is now ready to release some fresh material. co-produced and mixed by four-time Grammy Award winner Jerry Boys (REM, Ali Farka Toure, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab, Kronos Quartet). Led by producer-bassist Kojo Ofori, SANTROFI unites 8 of Accra"s most gifted musicians with a passion for both vintage highlife grooves and a hip hop sensibility. Members of the band have played with leading Ghanaian artists including Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Ambolley, AK Yeboah and highlife pioneer AB Crentsil with whom they recorded just before he passed away - watch out for that!

The second outing of Johannes Volk for Running Back picks up, where Extra Dimensions left us: traditional techno components, an inclination for melodies, 80s electro(nic) pop and aesthesia for ecstasy. Something for everyone’s taste and nothing tacky.
Lightweave is like the conversation that Giorgio Moroder and Wolfgang Voigt never had („I Feel Sägezahn“). With a power plant of a bass line that’s pretty much all you need.
The direct connection to the EPs artwork is Cubistic Pathway. Painted with acryl on canvas as a birthday present, it’s like the title tracks little and playful brother and a homage to 16bit platform games like Turrican or Contra.
Fragments of Moments is the sort of piano-not-piano-house stomper that classic techno DJs love, while Sense of Wonder is one of those songs without vocals that appeals to 80(8)s-kids and their offspring.
Last but not least, Emotional Message and its hypodermic breakbeat dates back to 2011, wears the heart on the sleeve, and screams tearjerker, bear hug or elevation. If you can’t get enough of that, there are three digital bonus tracks, that mix, re-mix and fixate the topics you just read about. Volk’s populi!

A maelstrom of music and metaphysics, a crushing conduit for connection, contemplation and catharsis; ritualistic sludge-metal juggernauts Pothamus return to this plane of existence with new album `Abur', the highly anticipated spiritual successor to their colossal debut, `Raya'. The search for meaning stands central as a pillar of belief in the enigmatic world of Pothamus. Whilst blending eastern philosophy and western esotericism into a unique ontology, the band stay true to the fundamentals of music: sounds, instruments and bodies coming together just as they too drift away. To experience Pothamus is to open yourself to an immersive, out-of-body experience that transcends the ordinary and delves deep into the profound. `Abur', Pothamus' sophomore full-length is an odyssey of truly epic proportions. As well as honing their already formidable live sound in the intervening years, the band have widened their musical palette in order to explore a truly original take on heavy music that steers them ever further away from well-trodden post-metal paths. On `Abur' the Pothamus' signature ritualistic sound is elevated by the glacial sounds of the Surpeti, an drone instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent traditionally used for mantra singing, whilst drummer Van Hulle adds his voice in harmony with guitarist Coussens' to create an astounding richness and depth. Capturing Pothamus at their creative zenith was musical contemporary and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Psychonaut, Hippotraktor) who recorded, mixed and mastered `Abur'. A 44-minute pilgrimage through nature, animism and the depths of the human soul, `Abur' is Pothamus' answer to the big, existential questions that keep us all awake at night. Titanic, all-consuming heaviness is met with ethereal, airy beauty as the band contemplates the interconnectedness of all things, creating a singular sonic universe balanced perfectly between cosmic creation and absolute destruction. FOR FANS OF: Amenra, Heilung, Om, Wardruna, Briqueville, The Black Heart Rebellion 3-panel gatefold CD + 28 pages booklet, gatefold LP + 28 pages booklet

Ivory coloured vinyl! A maelstrom of music and metaphysics, a crushing conduit for connection, contemplation and catharsis; ritualistic sludge-metal juggernauts Pothamus return to this plane of existence with new album `Abur', the highly anticipated spiritual successor to their colossal debut, `Raya'. The search for meaning stands central as a pillar of belief in the enigmatic world of Pothamus. Whilst blending eastern philosophy and western esotericism into a unique ontology, the band stay true to the fundamentals of music: sounds, instruments and bodies coming together just as they too drift away. To experience Pothamus is to open yourself to an immersive, out-of-body experience that transcends the ordinary and delves deep into the profound. `Abur', Pothamus' sophomore full-length is an odyssey of truly epic proportions. As well as honing their already formidable live sound in the intervening years, the band have widened their musical palette in order to explore a truly original take on heavy music that steers them ever further away from well-trodden post-metal paths. On `Abur' the Pothamus' signature ritualistic sound is elevated by the glacial sounds of the Surpeti, an drone instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent traditionally used for mantra singing, whilst drummer Van Hulle adds his voice in harmony with guitarist Coussens' to create an astounding richness and depth. Capturing Pothamus at their creative zenith was musical contemporary and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Psychonaut, Hippotraktor) who recorded, mixed and mastered `Abur'. A 44-minute pilgrimage through nature, animism and the depths of the human soul, `Abur' is Pothamus' answer to the big, existential questions that keep us all awake at night. Titanic, all-consuming heaviness is met with ethereal, airy beauty as the band contemplates the interconnectedness of all things, creating a singular sonic universe balanced perfectly between cosmic creation and absolute destruction. FOR FANS OF: Amenra, Heilung, Om, Wardruna, Briqueville, The Black Heart Rebellion 3-panel gatefold CD + 28 pages booklet, gatefold LP + 28 pages booklet

Shirley Holmes sind entweder die ernsteste lustige Band oder die lustigste ernste Band. "Wehrhafte Ironie" beschreibt dabei wohl am besten den Umgang des Trios mit dem immer lauter werdenden Hintergrundrauschen des aktuellen Weltgeschehens. Bereits der Titel des neuen Albums "Mein bestes Selbst" ist, wenig überraschend, "zu 87 Prozent ironisch" gemeint. Den Songs selbst wohnt gleichzeitig aber auch irgendwie das ganz unironische Versprechen inne, dass man als Mensch quasi schon ab Werk genau richtig ist und diese Richtigkeit höchstens noch in die entsprechenden Kanäle lenken muss.

Shirley Holmes sind entweder die ernsteste lustige Band oder die lustigste ernste Band. "Wehrhafte Ironie" beschreibt dabei wohl am besten den Umgang des Trios mit dem immer lauter werdenden Hintergrundrauschen des aktuellen Weltgeschehens. Bereits der Titel des neuen Albums "Mein bestes Selbst" ist, wenig überraschend, "zu 87 Prozent ironisch" gemeint. Den Songs selbst wohnt gleichzeitig aber auch irgendwie das ganz unironische Versprechen inne, dass man als Mensch quasi schon ab Werk genau richtig ist und diese Richtigkeit höchstens noch in die entsprechenden Kanäle lenken muss.

Celebrating over ten years in the game, Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers' carefully cultivated Tuskegee Music imprint returns with a deeply rooted collaboration between West Coast-based talents Late Delivery and BL SUEDE. Reinterpreting a club classic from Sheila E. and Prince, blending soul, deep tech house and freestyle influences at 130 bpm, ‘Glam Life’ lives up to the prosperous vibe of its title.

Originally from Washington D.C. and New Orleans respectively, Late Delivery have been refining their shared love of house culture since meeting in 2008. Collaborating with Inglewood, CA raised producer and vocalist BL SUEDE, this ode to a iconic time in Black music culture is imbued with the same sense of musicality, with BL’s fluid vocals in a heavenly posture amid joyous horns and irresistible percussion.”

Kenny Glasgow’s smooth, restrained take presents a champagne room mirror perspective on this particular ‘Glamorous Life’, with the former Art Department man and US rave scene lifer tapping directly into sensual, minimal pleasure. Afriqua meanwhile takes BL SUEDE's versatile vocals in a bright, diverse direction, conjuring fresh elements from an archive of breaks and bubbling basslines, landing between modern Amapiano and vintage EBM.

Mit ihrer beeindruckenden Technik und sensiblen Musikalität gehört die deutsch-japanische Pianistin Alice
Sara Ott zu den weltweit führenden Interpreten.
Auf ihrem neuen Album „John Field ff Complete Nocturnes“ widmet sich Ott den Kompositionen von John
Field: „Für mich war die Auseinandersetzung mit den Nocturnes eine große persönliche Bereicherung: Sie
berühren mich zutiefst mit ihrer Schönheit und Anmut.“
Von seinen Zeitgenossen (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann) hochgelobt, sind John Fields Nocturnes heute weitgehend unbekannt.
“Ich hoffe, mit dieser Gesamteinspielung der Nocturnes, die damit auch schließlich im Katalog der Deutschen
Grammophon präsent ist, vielleicht ein paar Menschen dazu zu bewegen, die Musik von John Field zu entdecken – dem Mann, der uns das Nocturne vermacht hat.”

Following their acclaimed debut ‘The Summoned’ on Acid Jazz in 2023, Mama Terra return with a new album - ‘Chameleons: Live Interpretations of Herbie Hancock’. The album recasts Hancock’s iconic works in a new, live setting, as a basis for both homage and exploration, with ‘Headhunters’ being a prime influence for leader Marco Cafolla. The album grew out of Jazz FM’s ‘Classic Albums’ series, and was recorded live at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival in June 2024. The performance demonstrates the prowess of Mama Terra as a live outfit. Led by Marco Cafolla (Keyboards), musicians include Konrad Wiszniewski (Tenor Sax), Rachel Lightbody (Vocals), Ross David Saunders (Upright Bass + Mix Engineer) & Doug Hough (Drums). Known for their fresh and invigorated take on spiritual jazz, with soul and R&B influences, Mama Terra showcased at the 2024 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, alongside a host of festival and jazz club appearances. ‘Chameleons…’ shows a band in ascendency.

Major-label debut by You Me At Six, Hold Me Down, was released on Virgin Records in January 2010, after the success of their debut album Take Off Your Colours - Released on vinyl for the first time, hear the album that cemented their reputation pressed on high-quality 180g vinyl. Taking their name from an abbreviation of the time they would meet, You Me At Six were formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 2004 by vocalist Josh Franceschi, guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, and bassist Matt Barnes. Drummer Dan Flint joined in 2007. They first broke through at 2007's Slam Dunk Festival with their brew of heavy, melodic, emo-tinged rock, and after two self-released singles, the band signed to Slam Dunk Records. By 2010, they had signed to Virgin. Working with producers John Mitchell and Matt O'Grady, the band crafted 12 new tunes for Hold Me Down, including the singles Kiss And Tell, Underdog and Liquid Confidence which won Best Single at the 2010 Kerrang! Awards. The album reached No 5 in the UK chart, and fully established them on the vibrant UK rock scene. With a stable line up since 2007, You Me At Six have become one of Britain's most-loved bands, and announced recently that they will be splitting up after playing the Slam Dunk Festival in 2025, with Franceschi stating "Let's have the opportunity to say goodbye properly, versus slipping out the back door."