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After a few previous edits here and there, the two outsiders are back to add another stop to their endless journey through worldwide funky sounds. Deep disco, Boogie with a capital B (as in Bass or Beat — take your pick), breezy modern soul with an AOR touch, or hypnotic Afrobeat — the purpose of this four-tracker is simple: to bring some heat to any dance floor. Groove is in the heart (of Africa), as somebody once said.

From 1986-1987, Chet traveled and worked with the photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber on a project that would become their Oscar- nominated documentary "Let's Get Lost"1988. During this period, Chet performed at the Cannes Film Festival and recorded sessions at Studio Davout in Paris and Sage and Sound Studio in Hollywood. All remained unreleased until now. Inspired by the film - which celebrated its 35th anniversary last year - SWIMMING BY MOONLIGHT is a two-record soundtrack album curated by Bruce Weber and produced by John Leftwich that compiles music, dialogue and live concert recordings.

Rock 'n' roll would not exist without Chuck Berry and his musical brilliance, as documented in this incredible concert recorded and broadcast live in New York City at the Palladium on New Year's Eve 1988. It features 17 of his most famous songs, including “Nadine”, “Reelin and Rockin'”, “Roll Over Beethoven” and all the other Chuck Berry standards you know and love

Bert At the BBC is a comprehensive collection of Jansch’s appearances at the BBC, featuring over eight hours of rare and unreleased recordings, including live-on-air spots, studio sessions and full concerts straight from the BBC vaults, delving further into this legendary performer’s canon. Bert Jansch was the very essence of folk music, providing inspiration for everyone from Paul Simon and Neil Young to Led Zeppelin and countless folk revivalists. This unparalleled limited-edition compendium is available as a 4xLP and 8xCD set, housed in a coffee-table book set with a lavish 40-page book tracing the recordings from Bert’s earliest moments at the BBC. It includes interviews and insights from Lauren Laverne, Jools Holland, Johnny Marr, Jacqui McShee, Bob Harris, Bernard Butler, Mark Radcliffe and many more. Twenty broadcasters, producers and collaborators contribute at length to the booklet, with great affection for this gentle, maverick genius. Bert’s BBC legacy remains the most significant and exciting untapped reservoir of his music. The undeniable advantage of recordings made for broadcast is that they were, by their nature, created for public consumption and, barring live-on-air appearances – which might go well or go badly, but were going out either way – were explicitly signed-off by the artist as representations of his art that were good enough to be heard. The set is compiled by Colin Harper, author of Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British folk and blues revival (Bloomsbury, 2000), who contributes detailed liner notes to the package. The release is mastered by IFTA award-winning engineer Cormac O’Kane. The vinyl release features 48 tracks on LP and is accompanied by a download card with over six hours of extras spanning 1966–2009, including BBC4’s St Luke’s concert (2003), and a complete Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh concert (2004) for BBC Radio Scotland. It is also available as a special 8xCD set containing all 147 tracks and encased within a coffee-table book. Bert Jansch At The BBC is an epic and enduring trail, 45 years in the making. “He was that rarity, a musician who really did deserve to be regarded as a legend.” The Guardian // “As a guitar player there was no one like him. He was jazz and blues and folk but there was a whole world in there that was just him, esoteric”

Repress !

In 1991 Coil released the third of their early classic full-length albums “Love’s Secret Domain”, seemingly casting aside the gloom and funeral beauty of its predecessors in favour of a painstakingly multi-layered hallucinogenic electronic beast, which unlike some of their fellow ex-industrial contemporaries’ releases of the time wasn’t an attempt at easy accessibility or (the-gods-forbid) danceability, but a vibrating psychedelic masterpiece unrivalled in their discography and still a landmark album. artwork by Steven Stapleton released in co-production with Infinite Fog Prod.

Die italienische Singer-Songwriterin Marta Del Grandi veröffentlicht Ende Januar 2026 ihr neues Album Dream Life bei Fire Records, ihre erste neue Musik seit dem raffinierten, hingebungsvollen Pop ihres Albums Selva aus dem Jahr 2023. Del Grandi kehrt mit einem Album zurück, das in einem Feld der Träume spielt, einer multidimensionalen Panoramaaufnahme, unterbrochen von gelassener Desillusionierung, die musikalische Grenzen überschreitet, während persönliche Hoffnungen und Sehnsüchte gegen die Weite der Sterne und darüber hinaus geworfen werden. Das Album beginnt mit ,Antarctica", einem Song, der sich mit dem ethischen Dilemma der Welt auseinandersetzt und uns mit einem Riff, das an Talking Heads in ihrer Blütezeit erinnert und mit abstrakten Phrasierungen à la Laurie Anderson durchsetzt ist, aus unserer Komfortzone reißt. ,Neon Lights" unterstreicht diese Stimmung, geht jedoch auf einer persönlicheren Ebene darauf ein. Die verzerrten Gitarren und der wandernde Bass bieten einen härteren Einblick in rebellische Selbstfindung, eingebettet in einen symphonischen Klangteppich. Weiter in ,Dream Life" ist ,Alpha Centauri" ein eindringliches, introspektives Stück Pop-Magie, das Martas wunderschöne Stimme in Nostalgie für die Teenagerzeit schwelgen lässt und ihr inneres Kind wiederentdeckt, während eine entfernte Tuba eine Gegenmelodie trägt. Der Titeltrack untersucht den Quantensprung zwischen Realität und unseren Träumen und Ambitionen und bildet einen Kontrapunkt zu ,Shoe Shaped Cloud" und seiner grüblerischen Untersuchung einer gescheiterten Beziehung, die von einer schmerzerfüllten Stimme vorangetrieben wird, die an Radiohead in ihrer zerbrechlichsten Phase erinnert. Das Album spiegelt das wachsende Bewusstsein wider, dass wir die Zukunft oder das Ergebnis unserer Pläne nicht vollständig kontrollieren können. Dieser rote Faden zieht sich durch das gesamte Album, eine Reise, die poetisch, ironisch und tief in der Gegenwart verwurzelt ist. ,Mein vorheriges Album Selva hatte einen poetischen und bukolischen Charakter - in meinem Kopf kann ich mir jeden Song als Ölgemälde vorstellen - Dream Life hat einen zeitgemäßeren Ansatz, mit Texten, die politische und soziale Themen berühren, einer expliziteren persönlichen Erzählweise und einem klareren Pop-Sound. Es ist eher wie ein Fotobuch, klarer und detaillierter." - Marta Del Grandi Limitiertes, goldfarbenes Vinyl, bedruckte Innenhülle, mit DLC oder Digi-Sleeve CD.

Whitelands' second album Sunlight Echoes builds on their elemental debut - that won them fans from Slowdive to David Jonsson - with a more expansive sound that takes them out of the shoegaze shadows to somewhere bigger, better and brighter. Produced by long-time collaborator Ian Flynn and mixed by double Grammy Award-winner Eduardo De La Paz (New Order, The Horrors, The Charlatans, The KVB, Drug Store Romeos), there are soaring string arrangements (by Iskra Strings) and Lush guest vocals from labelmate Emma Anderson. "We're coming back with a lot more maturity and realness," says singer and guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio of their step up. "It shows in how much more emotional our music has become." With maturity comes a newfound confidence, so not only are there stunning melodies everywhere, but Etienne's vocals are front and centre throughout. "It's been really cool to watch Etienne push through boundaries," adds bassist Vanessa Govinden. "I like the direction we've taken on this album. We're taking a risk. It's half and half." She's right - the first half of the album has an almost Britpop breeziness, that belies the serious subject matter that inspired the songs, while the second half gets heavier, in all senses, with added grit and gravitas."This album is one of enduring," says Etienne of the overarching theme. "We had family that were dying, I was broke, there was a shortage of my ADHD medication_ I was suffering, but not just me, everyone around me was too." "The last two years have been challenging," concludes Vanessa. "The universe really fucked with us. That's why there are themes of loss, disconnection, fragmentation and yearning, but on the other side there is also unity and hope." Sunlight Echoes is a poetic, melodic statement of intent from this formidable band. Whitelands have fought back and triumphed in the face of adversity.

Waiting is the essence of travel. Patience is its own reward.

Two people. A Telecaster guitar with a few effect pedals. A drum machine. An audio interface is connected to a laptop. The ingredients are simple yet effective.

But any suggestion of four-track cassette machines and vintage bedsit productions is quickly dispelled by digital dubbiness and refined arrangements. A tail of reversed echos. The crystalline flourish of octave-pitched delays. Riddled hi-hats tickle and taunt. A bass drum asserts its space.

Winkler's guitar patterns have a fragmented, almost haphazard connotation. Searching in a shimmer of reverb. Until the beat, the framework, sets in to reveal structure. Intentionality. Reihse's programmed rhythms go just to the point of a groove, holding the moment of tension, knowingly delaying the gratification. Beats that have scratchy patina anda subtly playful edge; their crispness stands in contrast to the contemplative drift of the guitar. Is it a trance? Or a dance? Yes.

There are some apparent references here: a good portion of Les Disques du Crépuscule, some kraut-esque electronica, even a smidgen of Morricone / Spaghetti Western, blending into a kind of Musique Noir – yet these serve as a set of orientational coordinates, rather than quotations.

This is so far the most assured release by Periode, perhaps eschewing some of the naiveté that was wilfully cultivated in earlier output – there is no cheeky cover version this time. And no singing either. The nine pieces have the quality of a series, a variation on a mood, or a subset of moods. What emerges is an inviting swagger in the face of bleakness. There is a profound melancholy, but it is not the darker kind, and does not exclude humour.

First impressions may suggest that this is purely nocturnal music. Yet it equally evokes the harsh sunlight and baking summer heat. Or a rainy day. And transportation: the music suggests the motion of travel, even if that travel only happens within the mind. And waiting. Waiting while doing nothing much. Because that's all you can do. (Alexander Paulick)

Was also geschieht, wenn Paris und Havanna aufeinandertreffen? Die beiden Künstler tauchen tief in die kubanische Tradition ein und spielen zugleich mit klassischen Formen. Dabei rufen sie eine Epoche in Erinnerung, die Roberto nur allzu gut kennt – die des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts, als sich spanische klassische Musik und kubanische Rhythmen vermischten und das entstehen ließen, was später Danzón und Danzonete genannt wurde. Fonseca und Segal fügen dem eine Prise Improvisation hinzu – und damit Moderne.

Man sucht diese Musik nicht, und man hört sie auch nicht, um sie zu analysieren – sie kommt zu einem. Ihre Subtilität überrascht, weil sie in Bildern spricht. Das melodische Wechselspiel kitzelt die Wahrnehmung, zieht einen in die Außenwelt und umhüllt einen, während es zugleich im Inneren weiterlebt. Es ist eine Welt aus Echos und Erinnerungen, ein Wirbel aus Ideen und Gefühlen, die sich ständig erneuern und immer neue Bedeutungen finden.

In einer Zeit, in der künstliche Intelligenz allgegenwärtig scheint – sowohl in der Musikindustrie als auch in unserem Alltag –, erinnert uns diese Musik daran, dass das Geheimnis nicht darin liegt, zu kontrollieren, hinzuzufügen oder die Schöpfung für sich zu beanspruchen, sondern vielmehr darin, zu dekonstruieren, wegzulassen und Raum für Klarheit zu schaffen. Das Geheimnis besteht darin, den kreativen Prozess zu seinem Wesenskern zurückzuführen – Nuit Parisienne à La Havane tut genau das. Es ist ein Album, das nicht um unsere Aufmerksamkeit bittet, keine Rezensionen erwartet und keine Analyse einfordert. Es will gefühlt werden – vielleicht sogar betrachtet – wie eine Abfolge von elf Kurzfilmen, die sich vor unseren Augen entfalten. Es liegt an uns, die Bilder in unserem Geist schweben zu lassen, sie aufzunehmen und schließlich wieder verschwinden zu lassen.

Diese fünftägige Improvisationssession führt uns durch höchst unterschiedliche Genres: von kubanischen Rhythmen verschiedener Epochen über französisches Chanson, klassische Musik, afrikanische Rhythmen bis hin zu östlichen Einflüssen. Sie stellt die Frage: Was wäre, wenn auch die Musik mit den großen Herausforderungen der modernen Welt konfrontiert würde?

After two decades in the experimental music scenes of New York and Western Massachusetts, Wednesday Knudsen might be known equally as a sought-after improv collaborator and the vocalist and guitarist for the beloved long-running psych band Pigeons or, more recently, as a member of the New England psych-folk ensemble Stella Kola. Though her forthcoming release, Atrium, is Knudsen’s fifth solo album, it is both her first solo work to appear on vinyl and a double LP, marking her rich recording history with a stunning masterwork. Channeling the “atmosphere of presence” alongside the legions of Éliane Radigue, Hiroshi Yoshimura, and Joanna Brouk, on Atrium, Knudsen plays it all—alto saxophone, flute, guitar, synth, piano, autoharp, bass guitar, and vocals. The collected compositions are studies in the tones, timbres, and pacing particular to the woodland environment of the Taconic Mountains where she lives. Atrium’s tracks are sculptural rather than ambient, with a release into the gorgeous hold of gravity that insists we don’t escape or drift away. This is music for remembering time. This is music that reinforces the power of art as resistance. The songs on Atrium distill our attention in a language that Knudsen calls “the opening of the heart,” reminding us that subsistence and community results from our own actions and engagement with our exterior. Atrium is a refuge, vital in our current moment and imbued with resonant power for our future.

SPIRIT!, the third LP from HUNNY, is about embracing the weird-an album born from uncertainty and built on instinct. It"s a testament to breaking free, starting over, and tuning out the noise. Now the sole project of longtime frontman Jason Yarger, HUNNY has shed its past shape to become something more fully itself. SPIRIT! doesn"t reinvent the wheel so much as keep it spinning forward. Across 15 tracks, the album-co-produced by Yarger and former bassist Kevin Grimmett with drums by former drummer Joey Anderson-leans into the sounds that have always lit HUNNY"s fuse: hooky post-punk, gleaming synths, and shout-along choruses praised by Alternative Press, Kerrang!, and Rock Sound. But it also pushes further-into abstraction, playfulness, and freedom. It"s the latest turn for HUNNY, a band long celebrated for shapeshifting through genres and decades with style on fan-favorite releases like Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. (2019) and new planet heaven (2023)-always evolving, yet unmistakably themselves. That dynamic energy carries into their high-voltage live show, sharpened on tours with Joywave, Mom Jeans, Waterparks, and State Champs.

,Warmer Than Gold", das neue Album von Ben Cooks Projekt GUV, ist ein Dokument eines Lebens in der Musik, ein kritischer und feierlicher Reisebericht, ein Versuch, die homogenen und statusbesessenen Zustände der heutigen Welt durch den Einsatz von großen Beats, großen Refrains und Verzerrung zu überwinden. Es ist ein Album, das unterwegs entstanden ist und überall Sinn ergibt. Vor allem aber leitet es mit seiner erweiterten Klangpalette und der Betonung von Breakbeats eine neue Ära eines Künstlers ein, der nie aufgehört hat, sich weiterzuentwickeln. Cook, der zwischen Toronto und England aufgewachsen ist, verfügt über eine angloamerikanische Authentizität, die ihn von der wachsenden Schar von Hardcore-Kids mit Windjacken und Pilzköpfen unterscheidet. Zwei der ersten Konzerte, die er im Alter von 12 Jahren besuchte, waren Oasis und Neil Young. Nach dem Konzert, erinnert er sich, dachte er: ,Ja, ich werde für immer Musik machen." Kurz nachdem er Hardcore und Punk für sich entdeckt hatte, ging es los, zuerst mit seiner geliebten Hardcore-Band No Warning (mit der er bis heute spielt), dann als Mitglied der Punk-Experimentalisten Fucked Up, die er 2006 gründete. Er war ein Teil der Underground-Szene, die sich in den 90er Jahren in Kanada Kurz darauf entdeckte er Hardcore und Punk, und schon ging es los, zunächst mit seiner geliebten Hardcore-Band No Warning (mit der er bis heute spielt), dann als Mitglied der Punk-Experimentalisten Fucked Up von 2007 bis 2021 - und währenddessen baute er sich ein umfangreiches und beeindruckendes Repertoire an Soloarbeiten auf, zunächst als Young Governor, dann als Young Guv und jetzt einfach als GUV (,Ich bin nicht mehr so jung, Drei-Buchstaben-Bandnamen sind cool, und ich bin es leid, mit einem Rapper verwechselt zu werden", bemerkt Cook). Warmer Than Gold ist die großformatige Krönung all dieser Stränge. Die Musik des Albums behält den eingängigen Geist von Cooks früheren Alben bei, wie den gefeierten Doppelalben GUVI & II und GUV III & IV, fügt jedoch ein ausgeprägtes rhythmisches Element hinzu, das von klassischem Madchester und Britpop geprägt ist. Es verschmiert und schwebt, es fühlt sich an, als würde man um Mitternacht die Autobahn M1 entlangrasen, angetrieben von einer Dringlichkeit, die in Cooks anderen Werken nicht zu finden ist. Was jedoch von diesen früheren Power-Pop-Veröffentlichungen beibehalten wurde, ist das ausgeprägte Gespür des Künstlers für eingängige Melodien. In Kombination mit einer neuen Produktionssensibilität, die von den Beastie Boys über The Field Mice bis hin zu Primal Scream inspiriert ist, gelingt es Cook, die zentralen lyrischen Themen des Projekts musikalisch zu untermalen: die globale Verflachung der Kultur, das Vergehen der Zeit in der materiellen Welt und die Rolle des Künstlers in all dem.

,Warmer Than Gold", das neue Album von Ben Cooks Projekt GUV, ist ein Dokument eines Lebens in der Musik, ein kritischer und feierlicher Reisebericht, ein Versuch, die homogenen und statusbesessenen Zustände der heutigen Welt durch den Einsatz von großen Beats, großen Refrains und Verzerrung zu überwinden. Es ist ein Album, das unterwegs entstanden ist und überall Sinn ergibt. Vor allem aber leitet es mit seiner erweiterten Klangpalette und der Betonung von Breakbeats eine neue Ära eines Künstlers ein, der nie aufgehört hat, sich weiterzuentwickeln. Cook, der zwischen Toronto und England aufgewachsen ist, verfügt über eine angloamerikanische Authentizität, die ihn von der wachsenden Schar von Hardcore-Kids mit Windjacken und Pilzköpfen unterscheidet. Zwei der ersten Konzerte, die er im Alter von 12 Jahren besuchte, waren Oasis und Neil Young. Nach dem Konzert, erinnert er sich, dachte er: ,Ja, ich werde für immer Musik machen." Kurz nachdem er Hardcore und Punk für sich entdeckt hatte, ging es los, zuerst mit seiner geliebten Hardcore-Band No Warning (mit der er bis heute spielt), dann als Mitglied der Punk-Experimentalisten Fucked Up, die er 2006 gründete. Er war ein Teil der Underground-Szene, die sich in den 90er Jahren in Kanada Kurz darauf entdeckte er Hardcore und Punk, und schon ging es los, zunächst mit seiner geliebten Hardcore-Band No Warning (mit der er bis heute spielt), dann als Mitglied der Punk-Experimentalisten Fucked Up von 2007 bis 2021 - und währenddessen baute er sich ein umfangreiches und beeindruckendes Repertoire an Soloarbeiten auf, zunächst als Young Governor, dann als Young Guv und jetzt einfach als GUV (,Ich bin nicht mehr so jung, Drei-Buchstaben-Bandnamen sind cool, und ich bin es leid, mit einem Rapper verwechselt zu werden", bemerkt Cook). Warmer Than Gold ist die großformatige Krönung all dieser Stränge. Die Musik des Albums behält den eingängigen Geist von Cooks früheren Alben bei, wie den gefeierten Doppelalben GUVI & II und GUV III & IV, fügt jedoch ein ausgeprägtes rhythmisches Element hinzu, das von klassischem Madchester und Britpop geprägt ist. Es verschmiert und schwebt, es fühlt sich an, als würde man um Mitternacht die Autobahn M1 entlangrasen, angetrieben von einer Dringlichkeit, die in Cooks anderen Werken nicht zu finden ist. Was jedoch von diesen früheren Power-Pop-Veröffentlichungen beibehalten wurde, ist das ausgeprägte Gespür des Künstlers für eingängige Melodien. In Kombination mit einer neuen Produktionssensibilität, die von den Beastie Boys über The Field Mice bis hin zu Primal Scream inspiriert ist, gelingt es Cook, die zentralen lyrischen Themen des Projekts musikalisch zu untermalen: die globale Verflachung der Kultur, das Vergehen der Zeit in der materiellen Welt und die Rolle des Künstlers in all dem.

New FLEE publication focused on Arabian Gulf's pearl divers, their culture through their soundscape, traditional songs & rhythms. Including archival recordings and reinterpretations by moderns electronic artists such as Joakim, Tomaga, Ben Bertrand, Conny Frischauf, Hieroglyphic Being .....

Available as 2LP, black vinyls & 2LP+258p book (English & Arabic text) bundle.

The pearls of the Gulf have stoked the imagination and desire of people around the world for centuries, their magnificence matched only by the courage of the divers who found them. This project aims to honor the memory of these valiant free-divers, their culture and their music by the means of a 2XLP compilation with undisclosed original recordings of pearl divers and inspired modern-day compositions by artists like Tomaga, YPY, Ben Betrand, Tarek Yamani or Hieroglyphic Being. Along with that record, a 258 pages long book in Arabic and English is available featuring contributions from regional experts and artists to contextualize the tremendously rich theme that is pearling and its music.

Nacho Marco drops Colors in Dub Vol.1—deep house soaked in warm analog dub. From the hypnotic “Midnight Blue” and its Satoshi Tomiie remix to the raw pulse of “Bumblebee Yellow” and “Electric Green,” this wax rides late-night frequencies straight from Valencia to Paris.

DJ Feedbacks :


Francois Kevorkian (Wave) : Love the Satoshi mix
Eddie Fowlkes (Detroit Wax, Rekids, Classic Music Company) : thanks
Travis Kirschbaum (Warehouse Preservation Society) : Loving this. Especially Midnight Blue!
Sascha Dive : Midnight Blue for me!!
Brothers' Vibe (Luv4Wax) : Super ep, great works!!
Radio Slave (Rekids) : Another superb ep from Phonogramme and Satoshi's mix is great.
Giles Smith : "midnight blue" is nice
Alexkid (Rawax / FUSE / NG Trax) : Totally my vibe. <3
Aleqs Notal : Yes !!
Italojohnson (Italojohnson) : Track 1 for me!
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Okain (Talman / Infuse / Pleasure Zone) : Electric Green is dope!
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Receiving great feedback from the dance floor!
Steffi (Dolly) : lovely release!!
Laurent Garnier : Cool tracks
DJ Bone (FURTHER) : Electric Green and Satoshi Tomiie remix work for me.
Harri (Sub Club) : lovely stuff, will play and support
Rob Pearson (Evasive Records / Sine 102.6fm) : lovely - right up my street, cheers ;-)
Felix Dickinson (Futureboogie, Rush Hour, Cynic) : Solid E.P. current fave Electric Green
Jorkes (Freeride Millenium) : lovely, thanks so much. xo
Kassian (Phonica White / Heist Recordings) : wicked
Jaye Ward (Dalston Super Store / Netil Radio) : massive quality as ever!! super deep and pulsing gear, electric green is ace! thx
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) : Sounds great
Chloe Caillet (Smile Records) : love this!
Stevie Cox (Sub Club) : really lush, thank you !
Raresh (ar:pi:ar) : thanks
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Saoirse (Body Movements) : Super nice dubby vibes
Amotik : Very nice :)
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : Satoshi remix is hot!
Domenic Cappello (Subclub) : nice dubby house
Cee ElAssaad (ENSOULED) : Just the way I like it! dubby and groovy.
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Excellent work here from Valencia's finest!

Whispering Signals unveils Schweres Wasser, a new sub-label guided by Thorsten Hoffmann and Markus Offermann, rooted in Aachen’s influential techno scene. Their devotion to dub-techno’s stripped, elemental aesthetics shapes the first release: three dub-drenched, slow, and deeply absorbing tracks recorded more than a decade ago yet still sounding remarkably current. Reworks by long-time friends .VRIL & Danieli underscore the material’s enduring precision and timeless sound.

Cinematic feasts of dramatic strings and cascading pianos that will satisfy fans of Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds' The Ransom Note

CAY unveils his personal side on Another Life, a debut album rich in melancholic euphoria

The expressive, multi-faceted 10 tracker comes on Mind Against's HABITAT label in January 2026

Cologne-born producer CAY explores beyond the dancefloor with Another Life, a debut album that trades peak-time pressure for an ambitious and artful exploration of self. Far from being rooted in one genre, the record weaves his own honest vocals with a wide range of powerful rhythms that pull from progressive, broken beat, techno and trance.

For CAY, making music has always offered refuge and a place to calm his mind, process life’s chaos and channel personal experiences into sound. His journey started in the clubs of Cologne, in illegal forest raves and with trips to Berlin to soak up big room techno. His search for more purpose, away from mental demons and the darker side of the party lifestyle, led him to production. DJing followed after a push from his brother turned Manager, and while those experiences around Europe shaped his understanding of dance floor dynamics, he was never in a rush to release his early experiments.

Instead, CAY took private time to evolve into an accomplished artist with his own musical voice. Label heads Mind Against were so impressed when they heard what he sent to their demo inbox, they both reached out to collaborate, and he has since released on their label HABITAT.

With Another Life, he is making music that is multilayered and rich in narrative, rather than defined purely by big moments. It is drawn from years of writing, with more than 60 tracks whittled down to one concise, impactful statement. "There wasn't one big concept,” says CAY “but there was direction. It's a big risk for me, but I wanted to introduce people who like club music to something deeper. I want the music to say something real.”

Because of that, Another Life introduces CAY the vocalist. For the first time, he sings on several tracks. The subjects are real, whether that's an important friend, a moment with his girlfriend or, on 'Runaway', the thought of giving up and escaping everything. The lyrics are honest but often slightly oblique, so they invite your own readings rather than spelling everything out.

Sonically, the album moves between optimistic grandeur and introspective reality. It's cinematic but personal and bridges the gap between dancefloor drive and vulnerable storytelling. There is a grand scale to many of the tracks, with arching synths reaching and heavyhearted drums anchoring a groove: you'll dance, you'll cry, maybe both at the same time.

Another Life is the sound of a producer granting himself permission to sing, turn inwards and risk audience expectations. It’s intimate without being insular, club-capable without being confined, and a compelling first chapter for an artist who has spent years building toward this moment of truth.

The second release from the Époque label is a major one, featuring Niels Van Gogh’s 1998 hit single "Pulverturm”, which earned gold certifications in Belgium and South Africa and climbed into the Top 10 in the charts of many European and worldwide countries. The esteemed Brazilian techno artist ANNA delivers a rework, adding her signature touch to this iconic track.

"In 2023, while preparing for my Tomorrowland set, I was exploring iconic tracks that resonated in Belgium and could be perfect for an edit. I chose 'Pulverturm' for its powerful vocals and strong melody”, says ANNA. “What started as a quick edit turned into a labour of love, and I was so happy with the outcome that I wanted to try to release it as an official rework. We were in conversation with Niels Van Gogh when I sent the track to Charlotte de Witte, who loved it. She introduced me to Époque, and we decided to release the rework together. It's been a year since I crafted this rework, and I've never had so many artists from various genres, Techno, House, Melodic Techno, Tech House, Hard Techno, requesting a track like they did with my rework of 'Pulverturm.' It's incredibly exciting to finally share it with the world!"

Charlotte de Witte adds: “I fell in love with ANNA's masterfully crafted touch on ‘Pulverturm’ the moment she sent it to me. Being a bit of a sucker for legendary tracks that have left a deep mark on the history of electronic music myself, this one just hits all the right spots. It's been a long and challenging road to make it happen but I'm incredibly proud and honoured to have Niels Van Gogh's timeless classic ‘Pulverturm’, seen through ANNA's eyes, for the second release of Époque. A label we founded earlier this year to honour nightlife, club culture and dancefloor legacies.”

The original “Pulverturm” is a twitchy and hypnotic cut with trance infused synths over the top of the rumbling drums. There is progressive energy in the melodies and plenty of emotion in the vocals. ANNA’s version is driving and emotive with sensual vocals and bright, trance infused chords over rolling drums that bring the power.

About Époque:

Époque is a Belgian label and nightlife archive created by KNTXT and run by KNTXT and Charlotte de Witte. In collaboration with clubs and labels, past and present, Époque captures the spirit and lifestyle of our bygone discotheque culture. The Époque label reworks iconic tracks, brings back dance classics and uses club memories and aesthetics to translate these legendary compositions into unique new releases produced by today’s leading electronic music talent. Époque also designs high quality merch and party gear as an homage to the global club scene.

" A very limited 7” for the tropical heads, beat travellers and cosmic cumbia astronauts on the new imprint Sun Of A Beach — the free-spirited daughter of Editions de Lux, who skipped town, fell in love somewhere between Kingston and Cartagena, and came back glowing, barefoot, and heavy on the bass.

At home in the steaming rainforest as much as the urban jungle of the Chapinero district of Bogotá, Colombia’s psychedelic groove pilots Ácido Pantera deliver a double-sided tropical weapon aimed straight at late-night sweatboxes, boat parties, and sun-soaked terraces.

"Te quiero, te amo” is a declaration of love at 132 bpm, bouncing along like a low-rider over cobblestones while neon synths float in the humid air.

Flip it for “Pájaro cantor”, a sound system destroyer that will lock the floor in an acid trance that feels both ancestral and futuristic in the same breath. This one’s featured on the FC26 soundtrack and will have you shimmying like Luis Díaz right before he bangs one into the top corner!

You know what to do!"

Alan Vegas selbstbetiteltes Debüt-Soloalbum kam 1980 raus, zur gleichen Zeit, als Suicide ihr zweites Album "Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev" veröffentlichten. Während Suicides Plattenlabel ZE Records das Duo in Richtung eines synthetischen Disco-Sounds drängen wollte, der von Moroders Produktion von Donna Summers "I Feel Love" inspiriert war, zog es Vega in eine andere Richtung. Er wollte tiefer in die Wurzeln seiner eigenen musikalischen Identität eintauchen, die von Blues, Rockabilly, frühem Rock ,n' Roll und seiner anhaltenden Liebe zu Elvis Presley geprägt war. Vega nutzte die Zeit zwischen den Aufnahmen mit Suicide, um seine selbst geschriebenen Songs auszuarbeiten, begann mit der Produktion seines ersten Albums und trat live auf, um diesen Sound weiterzuentwickeln. Wie auch in seiner bildenden Kunst schichtete Vega Klänge auf minimalistische, dynamische und bewusste Weise. Das Ergebnis war ein einzigartiges Album, das aus rohen Materialien entstand und tief in Vegas künstlerischer Vision verwurzelt war. Tracks wie die klassische Hymne "Jukebox Babe" mit ihrem schwungvollen Rhythmus und ihrer minimalistischen Selbstsicherheit fingen diesen Ansatz perfekt ein und wurden in Frankreich zu einem Hit. "Kung Foo Cowboy" hat einen südstaatlichen Touch und lehnt sich stark an den Blues an, während der goldene Pop-Glanz von "Ice Drummer" mit melodischem, aber klagendem Gesang, marschierenden Trommeln und einem geschmackvollen Mundharmonika-Solo überzeugt. "Bye Bye Bayou" ist ein eindringlicher Mutant-Rockabilly-Song, der den Rock der 50er Jahre mit Vegas exzentrischem Performance-Stil verbindet und später in der Coverversion von LCD Soundsystem aus dem Jahr 2009 neu interpretiert wurde, wodurch Vegas Solowerk einer neuen Generation vorgestellt wurde. In ähnlicher Weise würdigte die Coverversion von "Ice Drummer" durch The Flaming Lips Vegas Außenseitergeist. Jetzt von Josh Bonati anhand der Originalbänder neu gemastert und erstmals auf Streaming-Diensten verfügbar, wurde Alan Vega von Sacred Bones Records originalgetreu neu aufgelegt, wobei die rohe Intensität von Vegas Originalaufnahmen erhalten blieb und sie gleichzeitig für Hörer auf der ganzen Welt neu zugänglich gemacht wurden. "Alan Vega" ist mehr als ein Solo-Debüt, es ist eine Erklärung der künstlerischen Unabhängigkeit und Freiheit eines der einflussreichsten und kompromisslosesten Künstler New Yorks. Ohne die intensive Elektronik von Suicide, aber mit Vegas Außenseiter-Energie und Schärfe, übersetzt das Album den frühen Rock 'n' Roll durch einen Art-Punk-Filter, der sich als eigenständiges Kult-Meisterwerk bewährt hat.

ATA Records proudly present the latest release from The Flying Hats, Blender 7” Following the buzz surrounding their debut LP and the soft limited pre-release of Blender, anticipation for this single has been huge - and with good reason.
“I've never heard something so perfectly combine funk and reggae and do it in a way that is dancefloor gold”. - Monkeyboxing.
The Flying Hats - the Leeds quartet responsible for one of the standout albums of the year - return in phenomenal form with two previously unreleased cuts of the highest calibre. Both tracks strike hard somewhere between Kingston and New Orleans, as if The Meters were channelling Jackie Mittoo or Sound Dimension were jamming with Jimmy Smith.
Thick, funky-reggae organ leads the charge with killer breakbeats, bass pressure, and rhythm-section fire designed to light up any dancefloor worth its salt. Both sides are built for selectors, collectors and dance DJs alike.

On the 25th August, Burna Boy will release his brand-new album ‘I Told Them…’. It will be available to stream everywhere as well as on CD & Vinyl. The Pre-order will go live alongside the album announce on the 28th July. ‘I Told Them…’ features Burna’s newest hit singles ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World (feat. 21 Savage)’, ‘Talibans II’ & ‘Big 7’ as well as a whole host of album features.



Burna Boy was born Damini Ogulu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in 1991 and began making music at just ten years old. As a teenager he honed his craft on Nigeria’s southern coast, delving into dancehall, reggae and Afrobeat’s. In the early 2010s Burna Boy emerged as one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising stars, combining influences from his Nigerian heritage with hook-filled pop stylings to create unforgettable tracks. His 2012 single ‘Like to Party’ broke into the global mainstream and paved the way for his full-length debut L.I.F.E, a year later.



Over the next five years, Burna Boy released two more albums and collaborated with a long list of high-profile artists including J Hus, Skales, Fall Out Boy and Lily Allen. African Giant was released in 2019 followed by his fifth album Twice as Tall in 2020 (which featured collabs with Chris Martin and Youssou N'Dour), both charted in several countries across the globe andgarnered worldwide acclamation, with the latter winning a Grammy Award for ‘Best Global Music Album’. Breaking cultural boundaries, he became the first Nigerian to headline a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, he released his sixth album, Love, Damini, last year (featuring collabs with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Khalid). It deservedly became the highest-charting Nigerian album in history and currently holds the record for the only African artist to earn a no. 1 on iTunes in 16 countries worldwide.

Repress!

Undoubtedly one of the most addictive records of 2017, CamelPhat & Elderbrook's 'Cola' has been a defining musical moment of the year. Growing exponentially since its release, the track has captivated tastemakers, DJs and clubbers alike, topping charts and blowing up worldwide to become a true modern anthem. Leading on from the success of the original and some heavyweight remixes, three of which hit the Beatport top ten - for the first time on vinyl, comes a remix package set to continue 'Cola's' dance floor domination.
Rising superstar Franky Rizardo's suitably heavyweight remix comes correct with a club-friendly update that elevates the unmissable vocal hook and bottoms out the breakdown. Dario D'Attis' vinyl exclusive mix continues the club feel with rolling grooves, teasing breakdowns and shuffling hi-hats in a remix which packs a punch, guaranteed to get people moving from the get-go. Mousse T. flips the track completely, bringing those Glitterbox vibes to Defected, taking 'Cola' to the next level and going straight to Traxsource #1 in the process.

Hot Creations Winter 2025 Vinyl Sampler featuring four of the Hottest recent releases on Hot Creations.

First up Jamie Jones marks Hot Creations’ 15th Anniversary with solo return with this year’s anthem: “Murder Mystery. His first solo release on Hot Creations since 2022’s ‘Bionic Boy’ EP, it’s a track designed to move, mesmerize, and captivate with every listen. Rolling basslines, intricate percussion, and a subtle tension pulse beneath the playful surface, making it a record built for late nights, festival main stages, and intimate spaces alike. It’s a statement of intent, and a reminder of why Jamie’s groove-driven productions continue to set the standard for house music worldwide. Next up Darius Syrossian returns to Hot Creations with ‘Bass In Ya Face’, featuring Cortez Walls is a driving, bass-fuelled floor-filler that combines weighty low-end grooves with hooky vocals.

On the flip, Joe Rolét makes his Hot Creations debut with this summer’s underground anthem. Enter: ‘No Hesitating’, the definition of a bassline mover. Stacked with rave-ready pressure and designed for full dancefloor impact, it’s a cut that has already been road-tested to devastating effect by Rolét himself alongside names such as Chris Stussy, Max Dean, and the Hot Creations head honcho himself, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after IDs of the year. Finally Manchester’s AJ Christou is back on Hot Creations with the incredibly infectious: ‘Bang Bang’, which leads with crisp percussion, slinky grooves, and a hook that’s been igniting AJ’s sets worldwide.

St. David is back on CHIWAX with a monster house retro banger!
Higly recommended!

Back in stock soon!

Dan Piu wrote this album during the "dark, dystopian times" of the last year. The record's themes take in nature, human life, sci-fi, cyborgs and plenty in between with opener 'Tru Confession' being a robust house track stacked with throwback breaks, futuristic synths and old school vocals. There is a real warmth and soul to the machine sounds of 'Un-X-Plored Exodus' while a certain sense of 90s New York house colours 'Upgrade System M59'. 'System Of Ethics' shows off a fine mastery of synth craft that brims with emotion and 'Asteroid Blues' is like a lost Kerri Chandler cut. Essential.

Pacific Northwester Drew Sullivan is the man behind the Slow Dancing Society and on his latest album, he interrogates nostalgia with clearer eyes while sculpting analogue glow, treated guitar and patient ambience into scenes that breathe. Tracks drift like headlights through snow - hums, howls, bass rumbles, rain-veiled keys all feature, each motion subtle, deliberate and devastating. The record's power lies in restraint: chord changes feel meteorological, melodies arrive as messages, then vanish. It's ambient music with a spine, grief without spectacle. By the time 'Blue Suburban Skies' lifts into Twin Peaks-levels of ache, Sullivan has rebuilt a world you want to hide away in forever.

Marco Funari’s Music Institute Records make’s a return with it’s first ever release from 1993, remastered and re-released. Another lost house classic !

Schneeweißes Vinyl. Zum ersten Mal seit seinem viralen Weihnachtsalbum ,A Joyful Sound", das 2020 rausgekommen ist, ist Kelly Finnigan (Monophonics) mit zwei neuen Original-Weihnachtsliedern zurück. ,I Can't Wait (For Christmas Time)" ist ein schwerer, aber entspannter Song mit einem geradlinigen Pop-Arrangement. Es ist dieser Rust-Belt-Soul-Sound mit den Harmonien, die südkalifornische Cruiser beflügeln: tief und emotional, mit genau der richtigen Instrumentierung, um Finnigans zarte Stimme in den Vordergrund zu rücken. Der Song wird auch von seiner Labelkollegin Kendra Morris und ihrer Band im Hintergrundgesang begleitet. Ähnlich wie frühere KF-Veröffentlichungen oder Perlen von The Escorts oder The Four Mints ist diese Platte für dich und deine Lieben gedacht, verpackt in hübsches Papier unter dem Baum bis zum Weihnachtsmorgen. Dann lass noch etwas Platz für Plätzchen und die B-Seite... ,Snowy Night In Ohio" fühlt sich an wie ein langsam fahrender Mitternachtszug, der sich von Cincinnati nach Memphis auf den Weg macht. Inspiriert von Finnigans erstem Winter in Ohio, seiner Liebe zu Gospelplatten und den Hornarrangements von Isaac Hayes. Dies ist ein wirklich herausragendes Instrumentalstück, das eiskalte Seele versprüht. Es enthält eine kurze Gesangsbotschaft von Finnigan, die sich wie ein Zeugnis und ein Herzensanliegen anfühlt. Mit dabei sind Terry Cole und Jimmy James von Colemine sowie Billy Aukstik und Morgan Price.

Childhood Intelligence Nineteen by Dan Piu “The Mystic Mind” 2x12 LP

As the vortex of time evolves, Swiss Underground Legacy “Dan Piu” returns to his home planet “Childhood intelligence”. A rare specimen and artifact known for his timeless & intelligent soul-infused music, arises with his 3rd solo album on Childhood. “The Mystic Mind” 2x12 Lp as the trilogy, the sequel of “Tru Time And Ages” and “Inside Universe”.

This Full-Length player is a voyage through yet another unexplored realm of Dan's creativity, where listeners are invited to explore a vast network of emotions. As the album organically unfolds, tales of spooky synth worlds emerge, where hypnotic atmospheres collide with analog technoid elements, guided by classic JUNO chord progressions. Witness the alchemy of vintage ARP, Jupiter, Mono/Poly, and 80s Yamaha sounds as they morph into an elusive journey of electronic mysticism crafted by the otherworldly mind, the “Mystic Mind” of Dan Piu.

For a few years, Slovakian born & Czech-based artist pantata (Stefan Barcak) has been making music for himself, while running a record store slash coffee bar (called 25,2 rpm) in Prague. Over the course of a month in 2024 pantata made many songs with different analog machines and selected the favourite tracks out of this. His music is very laidback -almost empty- analog music that reminds of K. Leimer and Tara Cross mixed with Czech & Slovakian childhood memories and love and honesty of nowadays memories. "I was born on March 3, 1998, in a small town in eastern Slovakia. In the distance, you could see the Slovak mountains. That image of big mountains on the horizon still inspires my work today. In my early years, before my family and I moved to Prague, I was quite an outsider, I liked drawing and painting and I never stopped. Nowadays, I have a nice setup at home. A few synths: Sequential Circuits Six-Trak, Pro-One, Yamaha DX7, Roland Juno, JP-8000, S-1 (a small SH-101 clone), and classic Roland drum machines like the 909 and 707. I also use a few effect pedals, an old mixer, and a Tascam Portastudio where I record everything to tape. When I make a track, I usually need to finish it in one day. I start playing my instruments, and whatever feeling I have that day needs to be recorded. If I leave a song for tomorrow, I might lose the feeling and feel something completely different, so I prefer to start a new track instead."

Mike Majkowski makes his debut on Hands in the Dark Records with Invisible, a selection of six moody and mysterious pieces produced between 2019 and 2025.

The prolific Australian double bassist and music maker has been involved in a diverse array of contemporary, improvised and experimental music since the early 2000s. This time, the Berlin-based artist is venturing deeper into downtempo, meditative and hypnotic minimal electronic realms.

While time and space are constraints, they also define our identities, creating inexplicable bonds with others flowing through shared moments and shared places. The state of being invisible obliterates these confines, allowing one to return to their pure essence. In this setting, Majkowski’s compositions display a discreet and profoundly emotional language characterised by vulnerability, darkness and confusion, while also embodying hope, soothing and resilience. A dim light, transcending love, space, memory and time.

On »Empty Room,« David Granström works with slow transformations, cyclical and isometric patterns as well as just intonation as a way to create harmonic stability, allowing his long-form pieces to develop their own unique temporal and spatial qualities. A prolific figure in Stockholm’s experimental drone scene and a collaborator of Hallow Ground label mates Maria W Horn and Mats Erlandsson, the Swedish composer navigates through moments of quietude and crushing volume on these five tracks. Sonically and atmospherically, the pieces on »Empty Room« simultaneously call to mind Fennesz’s most meditative work or the physical experience of seeing Sunn O))) live, blending guitar recordings and synthesised sounds with forceful effects similar to those of Mario Díaz de Leon’s Oneirogen project while still being as moving and delicate as Alessandro Cortini’s solo work. The album is marked by melodies and harmonies that are the product of a peculiar working process that turned the composer into an intent listener collaborating with, rather than simply using technology.

Having been invited by the self-organising artist group The Non Existent Center for a residency to Ställbergs Gruva, a defunct iron ore mine in Sweden’s Bergslagen region, Granström took his guitar as a starting point for his compositional work that heavily relies on real-time sound synthesis. »I seldomly use the instrument as a sound source in the final compositions and rather transcribe and orchestrate the harmonic structures using sound synthesis,« he explains. »On this album however, I chose to include the actual recordings of the guitar in order to extend the spectra between non-referential synthetic sounds and embodied referential sounds.« Working with precise tunings in order to blend the timbre of the synthesis with the harmonic structures of the composition, he created composite sound objects in which the harmonic elements blend into each other.

Through the re-amplification of synthetic musical materials from the inside of the abandoned mine, his original compositions were enriched with site-specific sound qualities before he further refined them in a singular working process. Granström works with algorithmic and generative processes, using the SuperCollider programming environment and thus blurring the lines between generative and creative forms of composition. »One of the things that I like about this way of working is that it creates a distance between myself as a composer and myself as a listener of the music that is produced entirely by the system,« he says. Granström’s technologically aided eschewing of the conventions of composing doesn’t make the end result any less personal, however. By listening again and again to the newly generated output, Granström simply took on a different role in the process of finalising the music, with the technology and the sounds becoming his co-authors.

By creating systems that generate music, he gains a new perspective on (musical) time, says Granström. »There doesn't have to be a fixed length to the music at all,« he explains. »And by writing music with this in mind, my focus tends to shift towards writing cyclical structures that gradually change and transform over time.« Simple parts, in other words, that emerge as the five complex wholes that form »Empty Room,« a record that itself seems to take on different forms with every new listen.

Announcing Perseverance Flow, the latest album from acclaimed Chicago-based ensemble Natural Information Society (NIS), release date 2024-10-24. After a trilogy of double LPs by expanded manifestations of the band that began in 2018 with Mandatory Reality & continued through Since Time Is Gravity (a Pitchfork Best Jazz & Experimental Album of the Year selection & Mojo’s #1 Underground Album of 2023), NIS returns to its core formation of Lisa Alvarado on harmonium, Mikel Patrick Avery on drums, Jason Stein on bass clarinet, & composer/multi-instrumentalist Joshua Abrams on guimbri for one continuous 37 minute composition across a single LP. As the rocket boosters on spaceship earth sputter closer to burnout, lower your stylus into a soundfield that grows stronger the deeper you travel into it; a dose of the medicine many of us look to music to deliver awaits you inside.

One of the deep contemplations of this natural information (thanks Bill Callahan) is the wide range of source materials Abrams draws from over the band’s more than 15 year history: Ideas from minimalism, modal jazz & traditional musics are regularly reimagined in these compositions. The 2021 double LP descension (Out of Our Constrictions), with guest soloist Evan Parker, reflected aspects of Abrams’ love of party music, Chicago house, & John Coltrane. *But even veteran travelers with the NIS best brace themselves for the Perseverance Flow.

Speaking to the history & the inspirations behind the album, Abrams offers: “We played the piece for a year in concert before the recording. At Electrical (Audio Studios, Chicago) we went in at 11 & were done in time to pick our kids up from school.” Abrams continues: "In a reference world, I imagine Perseverance Flow like a live extended realization of a Jaylib lost instrumental as remixed by Kevin Shields. Or vice versa. I also think it has sympathies to some of the more rhythmically intricate dance musics out of Chicago & Lisbon.”

The core NIS ensemble heard on Perseverance Flow always address Abrams’ writing with the discipline of orchestra musicians & the creativity of improvisers. But this time around, instead of inviting living legend status musicians Evan or William Parker or Ari Brown as honored guests to solo freely over the composed materials, Abrams’ invited guest collaborator was the medium of the recording studio itself. Situated at the board with engineer Greg Norman, Abrams pushed post production techniques found only sporadically on earlier NIS records deep into the heart of the music, distorting & reshaping instruments to subtly &, at times, aggressively mutate timbre & texture, color & time.

Refracting the band’s signature mesmerizing chains of overlapping rhythmic patterns through the sonic funhouse of dub makes Perseverance Flow the most formally experimental NIS album to date. Now a soundworld fully unique to itself is listening to itself, consoling & humoring itself, & consoling & humoring you. A destruction myth & a creation myth of a soundworld together at once —”energetically nutritious” (October 2025 Issue 500 The Wire) supernatural information society.

“Perseverance Flow is skipping rope in slo-mo. A dance of co-operation to rally guts & humors & keep marching through pouring tears” (Abrams).

Few producers have had the same seismic impact on techno and rave music as Joey Beltram. Hailing from Queens, New York, Beltram was a key architect of the early '90s rave explosion and responsible for some of the most influential electronic records of the era - and it was Belgium’s R&S Records that gave many of these tracks their first home.

Originally compiled and released by R&S in 1996, Classics brings together the core of Beltram’s groundbreaking early output - namely the Beltram Vol. 1 (1990) and Beltram Vol. 2 (1991) EPs, alongside the legendary Second Phase productions ‘Mentasm’ and ‘Mind To Mind’ (1991), plus a selection of aliases and collaborative work from the same period, including tracks under Mental Mayhem, Open Mind, and Disorder.

Now remastered and reissued as a 2LP set for 2025, Classics is available on vinyl for the first time since 2006, offering a long overdue opportunity to own these timeless cuts in their purest form. Across the 13 tracks, you'll hear the sheer force and innovation that made Beltram a household name in underground techno.

Integral to this collection are ‘Jazz 303’ and ‘Psycho Bass,’ co-produced with Norwegian techno innovator Per Martinsen (aka The Alien), which stand out for their experimental, forward-facing sound - highlighting a futuristic edge even within Beltram’s already pioneering catalogue. Elsewhere, his Second Phase project with Mundo Muzique delivers the seminal ‘Mentasm’ and ‘Mind To Mind,’ two foundational tracks that introduced the infamous “hoover” sound to dancefloors worldwide. Rounding out the set are deeper cuts under his aliases Mental Mayhem, Disorder, and Open Mind, capturing the breadth of Beltram’s restless creativity and technical command during his peak R&S years.
Classics’ by Joey Beltram is available on R&S Records from 25th July 2025.

Do you remember the last time you were breathing consciously? Either way, you are likely doing it now. On his new album Observation of Breath« for the Swiss-based Hallow Ground label, Lawrence English worked exclusively with an organ for four compositions that are exercises in »maximal minimalism,« as their creator himself notes in a nod to Charlemagne Palestine, who coined this term. While it seems somewhat fitting that those four pieces based on a steady flow of air were conceived and recorded in a situation of accelerated standstill caused by a respiratory disease, the Room40 founder is not so much concerned with capturing the zeitgeist than rather incorporating the spirit of time itself. »It is a record about presence and patience,« he explains. Exploring the unique sonic affordances of a singular instrument, »Observation of Breath« is not only devoted to the durability of sound but also to its density. That it marks his debut on Hallow Ground after having shaped its sound by mastering most of the label’s releases in recent years is just as fitting then as its release following albums by Kali Malone and FUJI|||||||||||TA, whose innovative work with organ instruments have facilitated a rediscovery of their possibilities.English’s compositions however are neither directly indebted nor responding to these musicians. His exploration of the organ’s many facets started a decade ago when the composer was given access to an instrument built in 1889 that is presently housed at The Old Museum in Brisbane. After it had already played a crucial role on his seminal albums »Wilderness Of Mirrors« and »Cruel Optimism,« last year’s self-released »Lassitude« was the first record that English entirely composed and recorded with that instrument. »During the soft lockdowns, I spent many days playing to an empty concert hall, recording the pieces that became ›Lassitude‹ and then, this album,« says English in regards to an unfortunate situation that fortunately provided him with time and space—two major themes but also key qualities of the four new compositions. In this sense, he goes on, »Observation of Breath« resolves a number of the questions originally raised by »Lassitude.

A chopped-and-screwed love letter to the sounds of rebajada – half-speed cumbia, pioneered by Sonido Dueñez in the 1990s, and born from an overheated turntable motor that didn’t make the crowd stop dancing. With Debit’s treatment, rebajada becomes an ethereal, at times intense ambient tapestry that’s also a history lesson.

Spend any amount of time pacing the streets of Monterrey, the bustling city in the north of Mexico where Delia Beatriz, aka Debit, grew up, and you’ll be sure to catch traces of cumbia echoing from Bluetooth speakers, DIY soundsystems, or car stereos. An Afro-Latin dance form and »practica cultural« originating in Colombia in the early 19th century, cumbia evolved rapidly in the early 1900s, as a localised sound played on drums and flutes quickly modernised to integrate European instrumentation like the accordion. When it reached Mexico in the 1940s, the sound shifted again, fusing with mariachi styles and integrating further vallenato folk elements. Eventually, cumbia spread across the entirety of Latin America, splintering into a spectrum of different musical styles such as chicha in Peru, and cumbia villera in Argentina. And over in Monterrey, cumbia inadvertently found its own idiosyncratic groove.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, waves of immigrants from across Mexico and Latin America headed to Monterrey to find work, making a home in Colonia Independencia. Colombian cumbia records, shipped in from Mexico City, Houston, and Miami, became the soundtrack of the neighbourhood, relaying familiar stories to a rural working class adjusting to their new industrial reality. The sound struck a chord with locals, and huge street parties hosted by ramshackle soundsystems known as sonideros unified the diverse community. So when cumbia rebajada materialised serendipitously in the 1990s, it emphasised and highlighted the memory distortions at the heart of the immigrant experience. Local record collector, selector, and sonidero Gabriel Dueñez had been playing cumbia for hours one night when disaster struck: his turntable’s motor overheated and slowed down, turning the music into a warped groan, with half-speed voices echoing over wobbly accordion drones and splashy drums. But the crowd kept dancing, and Sonido Dueñez realised he’d struck gold – cumbia rebajada was born.

Over the next few years, he dubbed a popular series of mixtapes, hawking them at the flea market on the dried-up Santa Catarina riverbed beneath El Puente del Papa, the bridge that links downtown Monterrey with Independencia. These woozy archives became the stuff of legend, poetically but subconsciously shadowing DJ Screw’s series of epochal cassettes that appeared over the border in Houston. Beatriz uses Sonido Dueñez’s first two tapes as the starting point for »Desaceleradas«, entering into a dialogue with time, culture, and geography as she recalls the sonic ecosystem that surrounded her decades ago, long before she emigrated to the USA. If 2022’s acclaimed »The Long Count« was an attempt to recover concealed pre-Columbian history in the face of colonisation, »Desaceleradas« jumps forward, figuring out how memory and shared celebration can resist a more contemporary form of cultural erasure. As AI systems scrape, blend, and decontextualise culture around us, leaving vapid slop, »Desaceleradas« proposes a slower, more careful, and ultimately more human kind of engagement. It’s an archive with a pulse.

Daybreakers return with another one for the deep heads, welcoming Chicago legend Vick Lavender to the fold for Essential Traxx Vol. 1. A musician, producer and DJ with over three decades in the game, Vick’s music lives in that space where house, jazz, and soul connect.

Back in the 90s, Vick came up alongside Glenn Underground and Boo Williams as part of the influential Strictly Jaz Unit, helping shape a sound that still echoes through dancefloors today. In the years since, he’s built his own world through Sophisticado — music rooted in live musicianship, deep feeling, and that unmistakable Chicago soul. It’s real house music.

On the A side, 1.4.4.5 (Where It Started) lays down that signature Chicago pulse — rolling percussion, Rhodes chords, and basslines that unfold like a live jam. Deep, patient, the real Vick Lavender sound.

Flip it for Tiano Nuevo featuring Spike Rebel, a lush meeting of house, Latin, and jazz sensibilities. Guitars, percussion, and keys come together, the kind of tune that keeps a dark room or a sunrise session dancing.

Essential Traxx Vol. 1 captures what Daybreakers is all about. Deeper than deep house.
Buy or cry

The Just Joans' new album Romantic Visions of Scotland finds the Glasgow band in characteristically melancholic form, pairing shambling indie pop with sharp observations on romantic pratfalls and everyday dis-appointments, all delivered with sardonic Scottish wit, fronted by siblings David and Katie Pope, whose wry lyrics and heartfelt vocals remain at the heart of the band’s distinctive sound.
Originally inspired by a grandiose exhibition title spotted on Glasgow buses in 2019 for a show at the Nation-al Museum of Scotland called Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland, the new album arrives six years later as a collection of semi-autobiographical snapshots from the Central Belt of Scotland. Whilst some of the details have been exaggerated for comic (or tragic) effect, the songs are based on personal experience of mundane failings, bitter regrets and missed opportunities that make up an unremarkable life.
Recurring themes of nostalgia for a bygone era and the fear of being left behind by lovers, friends and peers run throughout the album. Musically and lyrically, the band channels Village Green-era Kinks, with nods to The Television Personalities, The Smiths and Dolly Mixture.
In the past they have always recorded by themselves in a variety of bedrooms, living rooms – and the occasional toilet. For the first time they have abandoned their DIY recording practices to create what songwriter David Pope calls, “a corporate behemoth in an actual studio.” The album was recorded at Chem19 in Blan-tyre with Paul Savage, who is best known as a founding member of local legends The Delgados. He has also produced and recorded the likes of Teenage Fanclub, Arab Strap and Camera Obscura, and has captured a slightly more muscular version of the band while retaining their ramshackle charm.
The album artwork by vocalist and painter Katie Pope depicts Motherwell Train Station – an ordinary, boring place that speaks to the subject matter of the songs, but with a hint of potential escape. As David Pope ex-plains, “For me, the painting reminds me of the ending of Billy Liar in which Billy tries and fails to leave his hometown for the bright lights of London. Half the band also live in Motherwell, so it seemed appropriate.”
Funded by Creative Scotland, the recording allowed the band to bring in bass and cello arrangements, adding depth and a sheen of musical proficiency to their signature sound.
About The Just Joans - The Just Joans were formed in Glasgow in 2005 by songwriter David Pope. Early demos were collected together and released as a loose concept album, Last Tango in Motherwell, in 2006. Chris Elkin joined on guitar and was followed shortly after by David’s younger sister, Katie, on vocals and Fraser Ford on bass. Over the years they have released EPs and albums on WeePOP! and Fika Records and have gained a cult following as Scottish pop miserabilists.
The current line-up consists of Katie Pope (vocals), David Pope (vocals, guitar), Chris Elkin (lead guitar), Fraser Ford (bass), Arion Xenos (keyboards) and Jason Sweeney (drums).
Press Quotes:
“They fit snugly into the scratchy, low budget Scottish indie tradition of The Delgados and Arab Strap… There’s mischief in this miserabilism.” - Mojo 4*s
“Glasgow’s The Just Joans have documented the romantic pratfalls of a generation of indie kids with sardonic wit and a shambling musical style where Stephin Merrit lies down with The Vaselines.” - Uncut
“Funny and sad, it’s the kind of song that made Red House Painters, The Magnetic Fields and The Wedding Present’s early albums so easy to embrace; an unpretentious sharing of relatable gloom.” - Record Collector

Buddy Holly (1936–1959) was one of the most influential figures in early rock ’n’ roll. Known for his pioneering songwriting, distinctive vocals, and innovative use of studio techniques, he helped shape the sound of modern pop and rock music. With classics like “Peggy Sue,”

“That’ll Be the Day,” “Everyday,” and “Oh Boy!,” Holly’s legacy inspired generations of artists, from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen.

Though his career was tragically cut short, his impact on popular music endures to this day.

Jason ".idk." Mills' neuestes Projekt, Even The Devil Smiles, ist eine fesselnde Reflexion über Überleben, Transformation und die Schicksalsmomente, die seinen Weg für immer verändert haben. Ausgehend von seiner eigenen Geschichte der Inhaftierung und einer entscheidenden Wendung des Schicksals, die es ihm ermöglichte, seine Freiheit vorzeitig wiederzuerlangen, lässt er diese gelebte Erfahrung in ein Werk einfließen, das sowohl eindringlich als auch unerschrocken ehrlich wirkt. Durch seine lebhafte Erzählweise behandelt er Themen wie Verrat, spirituelle Konflikte und Widerstandsfähigkeit. Jeder Track pulsiert vor der Spannung gelebter Erfahrungen und fängt die Herausforderungen, Entscheidungen und Durchbrüche ein, die seinen Weg geprägt haben. Getreu Mills' multidisziplinärer Vision ist ,Even The Devil Smiles" mehr als nur Musik. Es präsentiert sich als kulturelles Artefakt, das eine Brücke zwischen der Mixtape-Ära des Hip-Hop und zeitgenössischem Design und hoher Kunst schlägt. Das Ergebnis ist ein Projekt, das die Härte und Unmittelbarkeit des rohen, Hardcore-Rap in sich trägt und sich gleichzeitig als Sammlerstück positioniert, das über die Musik hinaus Resonanz findet und Zuhörer und Trendsetter gleichermaßen einlädt, sich sowohl mit einer zutiefst persönlichen Erzählung als auch mit einem bleibenden kulturellen Statement auseinanderzusetzen.

Alan Vegas selbstbetiteltes Debüt-Soloalbum kam 1980 raus, zur gleichen Zeit, als Suicide ihr zweites Album "Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev" veröffentlichten. Während Suicides Plattenlabel ZE Records das Duo in Richtung eines synthetischen Disco-Sounds drängen wollte, der von Moroders Produktion von Donna Summers "I Feel Love" inspiriert war, zog es Vega in eine andere Richtung. Er wollte tiefer in die Wurzeln seiner eigenen musikalischen Identität eintauchen, die von Blues, Rockabilly, frühem Rock ,n' Roll und seiner anhaltenden Liebe zu Elvis Presley geprägt war. Vega nutzte die Zeit zwischen den Aufnahmen mit Suicide, um seine selbst geschriebenen Songs auszuarbeiten, begann mit der Produktion seines ersten Albums und trat live auf, um diesen Sound weiterzuentwickeln. Wie auch in seiner bildenden Kunst schichtete Vega Klänge auf minimalistische, dynamische und bewusste Weise. Das Ergebnis war ein einzigartiges Album, das aus rohen Materialien entstand und tief in Vegas künstlerischer Vision verwurzelt war. Tracks wie die klassische Hymne "Jukebox Babe" mit ihrem schwungvollen Rhythmus und ihrer minimalistischen Selbstsicherheit fingen diesen Ansatz perfekt ein und wurden in Frankreich zu einem Hit. "Kung Foo Cowboy" hat einen südstaatlichen Touch und lehnt sich stark an den Blues an, während der goldene Pop-Glanz von "Ice Drummer" mit melodischem, aber klagendem Gesang, marschierenden Trommeln und einem geschmackvollen Mundharmonika-Solo überzeugt. "Bye Bye Bayou" ist ein eindringlicher Mutant-Rockabilly-Song, der den Rock der 50er Jahre mit Vegas exzentrischem Performance-Stil verbindet und später in der Coverversion von LCD Soundsystem aus dem Jahr 2009 neu interpretiert wurde, wodurch Vegas Solowerk einer neuen Generation vorgestellt wurde. In ähnlicher Weise würdigte die Coverversion von "Ice Drummer" durch The Flaming Lips Vegas Außenseitergeist. Jetzt von Josh Bonati anhand der Originalbänder neu gemastert und erstmals auf Streaming-Diensten verfügbar, wurde Alan Vega von Sacred Bones Records originalgetreu neu aufgelegt, wobei die rohe Intensität von Vegas Originalaufnahmen erhalten blieb und sie gleichzeitig für Hörer auf der ganzen Welt neu zugänglich gemacht wurden. "Alan Vega" ist mehr als ein Solo-Debüt, es ist eine Erklärung der künstlerischen Unabhängigkeit und Freiheit eines der einflussreichsten und kompromisslosesten Künstler New Yorks. Ohne die intensive Elektronik von Suicide, aber mit Vegas Außenseiter-Energie und Schärfe, übersetzt das Album den frühen Rock 'n' Roll durch einen Art-Punk-Filter, der sich als eigenständiges Kult-Meisterwerk bewährt hat.

Die Third-Wave-Ska-Band Less Than Jake wagte im Jahre 2000 mit "Borders and Boundaries" einen mutigen Schritt. Unter der Leitung von Produzent Steve Kravacat lehnt sich das Album stärker als alle vorherigen Alben an Skate-Pop-Punk an. Anfangs polarisierte die Veröffentlichung (einige Kritiker schrieben, sie wünschten sich mehr Bläser und mehr ,Major-Label"-Sellouts, obwohl die Band wieder zurück bei einem Indie-Label war). Punknews bezeichnete das Album als ,unterschätzt". Chart Attack aus Kanada und Rock Hard & Ox-Fanzine aus Deutschland waren jedoch anderer Meinung. Ebenso wie Downed in Sound aus Großbritannien, das dem Album die perfekte Bewertung 10/10 gab und schrieb: ,Jeder Song ist so verdammt eingängig". 25 Jahre später ist "Borders and Boundaries" nun das meistverkaufte und beliebteste Album der Band. Die 25th-Anniversary-Edition enthält fünf bisher unveröffentlichte Demos und einen neuen Mix von "Is this Thing on?" von Tom Lord-Alge (u.a. Sum 41 ("Fat Lip"), Sevendust ("Waffle") und Angels & Airwaves ("The Adventure") sowie Weezer, Blink 182 etc. Gelbes Doppel-Vinyl in Gatefold Sleeve, Bonustracks auf de C-Seite, UV-Druck auf der D-Seite.

Infinity Gradient ist eine einstündige Komposition in sieben Sätzen für Pfeifenorgel und 100 Lautsprecher in 1-Bit-Audio. Aufgenommen wurde das Werk in der Royal Festival Hall in London, wo Organist James McVinnie 2024 als Artist-in-Residence tätig war. Die Lautsprecherinstallation - bestehend aus vier Subwoofern, 24 mittelgroßen und 72 kleinen Lautsprechern - bildet eine visuelle und klangliche Einheit mit der imposanten Orgel des Saals. Komponiert von Tristan Perich, verbindet das Werk die klangliche Direktheit seiner 1-Bit-Elektronik mit der archaischen Kraft der Orgel. Beide Instrumente basieren auf einem binären Prinzip: Ton oder Stille. Diese strukturelle Gemeinsamkeit schafft eine emotionale Tiefe, die trotz technischer Komplexität unmittelbar berührt. McVinnie, bekannt für seine genreübergreifenden Kollaborationen mit Künstlern wie Philip Glass und Squarepusher, initiierte das Projekt nach dem Hören von Perichs "Surface Image". Die Orgel der Royal Festival Hall - ein visionäres Instrument der 1950er Jahre - bietet mit ihren 7.866 Pfeifen eine ideale Bühne für dieses außergewöhnliche Werk.

Dan O'Farrell & The Difference Engine's fourth album (recorded and produced by Andy Lewis ) arrives at the start of 2026 like a cold, sharp bucket of water in the face. Bracing and troubling - like a tongue returning to a sore tooth - these songs probe life's dark waters: loss of family, faith, community & self- confidence - but also remains empathetic and rousing, ultimately cathartic. Once you've scraped the bottom, the only way is up. Creation is always an act of joyful defiance. Based in Southampton, and formed from the ashes of John Peel-endorsed indie-band Accrington Stanley , the band bring layers of warmth and subtlety to the uncompromisingly lyrical alt-folk songs of Dan O'Farrell, English-teacher by day and angry, leftist complainer by night.

LORNA SHORE haben ungeahnte Höhen erklommen, vor den größten Zuschauermassen ihrer Karriere gespielt und sind auf dem Weg zu "I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me" buchstäblich durchs Feuer gegangen. Das neueste Album des Quintetts aus New Jersey knüpft dort an, wo sie mit dem Klassiker "Pain Remains" aufgehört haben. Während die erste Single des Albums, "Oblivion", ein klassischer LORNA SHORE-Song ist, kann man in Songs wie dem hymnischen "Unbreakable", dem von Pathos getriebenen "Glenwood" oder den triumphalen Gitarrenmelodien von "Lionheart" den Sound des Extreme Metal hören, der seine eigenen Grenzen sprengt, geprägt von Erfolgen auf riesigen Festivals und Arenen mit Bands wie Gojira und Mastodon. Der Auf-stieg von LORNA SHORE war atemberaubend, und "I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me" ist nichts weniger als das Album, das ihre Karriere definiert.

Groggy, engrossing new work from Ulla under their newly minted U.e. tag, riffing to the sublime on a set of (mostly) acoustic reveries that tap into the kind of smokey vapours favoured by the likes of Vincent Gallo, Voice Actor, Jonnine.

A new year, label, album and handle for Ulla, a multifaceted artist who has draped our pages with wonder, under numerous aliases and collabs, for almost a decade. On ‘Hometown Girl’ they distill transience and flux into a quiet set of chamber works subtly resembling the room recorded nuance of their ‘Jazz Plates’ side with Perila - here taken a step further into more elusive, low-lit dimensions.

In a mode that’s wistful and melancholic, listening to the album’s dozen discrete pieces feels like leafing thru a journal of hand-written notes, reflecting on the feelings that come with separation from loved ones and displacement from familiarity. Ulla performed and recorded all of the instruments themselves, lending a tangible tactility to layered arrangements of woodwind, keys, strings, drums and voice, lightly speckled with electronics and perfused with open window field recordings.

They locate a crackling frisson of personality in the voice notes and day-dreaminess of their mottled inscapes, gauzily demarcating lines between past and present selves. In that aesthetic and approach we can also hear similarities to Jonnine’s blue-skied ‘Southside Girl’ or crys cole’s poetic sensuality, often leaning into the domestic surreal.

A frayed, opening salutation ‘Good Morning’ signals a delirious half hour in Ulla’s company, variously swaying to the downstroked jazz swing of a ‘Lavender (NF)’ spritzed with clarinet, whilst ‘Froggy Explorer’ stirs the air like Jan Jelinek on a barely-there tip. The Basinski-esque fritz of degraded loops really snags the imagination along with a twinkling nightlight ‘Ball’, as the album opens out into its most fully resolved songs with a closing couplet of disarming wonders ‘Drawing of Me’, and a blurry ‘Mute’ that feels like Ulla 〜almost〜 reveals too much before retreating back into the shadows.

„How Did I Get Here?“ ist das mit Spannung erwartete dritte Album des internationalen Musikstars Louis
Tomlinson. Inspiriert von der pulsierenden Atmosphäre von Santa Teresa in Costa Rica, fängt dieses Album
seine unerschöpfliche Kreativität und seinen unbändigen künstlerischen Geist perfekt ein. Nach dem Erfolg
seines Debütalbums „Walls“ (2020) und des Charttoppers „Faith In The Future“ (2022) markiert dieses
neue Kapitel einen weiteren Meilenstein in Louis’ Entwicklung zum Künstler, der er immer sein wollte.
Die Deluxe Edition ist eine CD im Mediabook mit 36 Seiten Lyric Booklet. Inclusive zweier Bonustracks
Die Vinyl erscheint als Clear LP

‘Clyppan’ is an Old English verb meaning “to embrace” or “to clasp.” It also referred to an ancient ritual in which people gathered in a circle, singing together around a sacred shrine. It’s a fitting title for the latest release from Newcastle’s Smote – a visceral document of the band’s electrifying live set, captured within the walls of London’s Bear Bites Horse recording studio.
Following the release of their acclaimed 2024 album ‘A Grand Stream’, Smote embarked on an intensive tour schedule, refining their live performance along the way into something transcendental – a full-spectrum psychic voyage. Anyone who caught them at Supernormal, Supersonic, or this year’s Roadburn Festival can attest: Smote are an unforgettable sonic presence, a near religious experience.
Recognising the urgency and potency of the band’s current live form, Rocket Recordings encouraged Smote’s founder and sonic architect Dan Foggin to document their live set in the studio. It was a sound too powerful to be left undocumented – it was something that needed to be clasped for future generations.
On January 22, 2025 – the day before their thunderous performance at London’s ICA alongside labelmates Teeth Of The Sea – the four members of Smote entered Bear Bites Horse studio. With producer Wayne Adams at the controls, they laid down a live set brimming with raw, elemental power.
What emerged is ‘Clyppan’ – four drone-and-repetition driven incantations, distilled from the primal essence of Smote’s sound. These tracks channel something ancient and urgent, summoning spirits and revelations in their wake. It’s music as ritual, as invocation – pure aural sorcery.
So gather together. Form a circle. Join hands. And embrace the ecstatic, untamed energy of Smote in their most untethered and primal form.

"Aroop Roy Vs Opolopo - Shigo Disgo" sees the two producers going head to head on another Canopy release, serving up club focused re-interpretations of two different Afro cuts : Chicco - Shigomase, a 1990s synth house bomb from South Africa and Spirit Konekson - Disco Party, a funky piece of 1970s Nigerian disco.

First up Aroop Roy takes on Chicco's proto house beast "Shigomase", dialling up the low end throb before bringing proceedings to a synthed out, hands in the air, euphoric crescendo.

Following on he takes his scalpel & bass guitar, chopping & flipping the Moog led funk of "Disco Party" into a restless Afro-boogie workout.

On the alternate side Opolopo channels extra sleaze into Shigomase, adding dirty dancefloor gristle and a raunchy back end, taking the vibe straight to the basement.

Rounding out proceedings Opolopo transports "Disco Party" into the present day with muscular drums and crunchy synth solos complimenting the loose limbed swing of the original

DJ Honesty returns on Syncrophone and drops tight techno / house cuts, flipped hard by Satoshi Tomiie on the remix. Pure underground heat, wired for the floor and the heads.

One of the leading Japanese alternative rock band, GEZAN’s leader, MahitoThePeople’s director debut film, i ai was released in March 2024, and it is an atypical coming-of-age film decorated with tinge of red.

　The film takes place in Akashi and Kobe, Hyogo prefecture. This film’s main characters are Ko (Kentaro Tomita), a rookie member of a band and a brother-like figure of his, Hee (Mirai Moriyama) who Ko idolizes and the story of this movie is based on their struggles with life and death. The story is also based on Mahito's real-life experiences and while reality and fiction are duplicated, the boundary between them slowly melts away. The film co-stars Honami Satoh, Kazuki Horike, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Eita Nagayama, Kyoko Koizumi, K-BOMB, Ichi Omiya and many other unique personalities. It should also be noted that the transparent images filmed by photographer, Masafumi Sanai gives the film, a special emotional quality.

　The film is not bound by any film theory but it poses a theme common to GEZAN's recent works and Mahito's writing activities: How can we live in a crumbling society while interacting with others? We can never live alone but living with others is also never easy. How can we overcome this time of extreme division of the world?

What left quite a strong impression in this film that not only Mahito personally directed but also wrote the script and composed the soundtrack as well was the main theme song, entitled “i ai”. This new piece of GEZAN is an extension of the work that this band has continued doing over the last few years. This 12" single, contains the song, “i ai” and it will be the first time released on vinyl.

Led by soft guitar arpeggios, the song gradually builds to a fever pitch, condensing the mood of the film which encompasses both tranquillity and intensity. The chorus of ineffable, multiple voices united together sounds like a lament that has spilled out of society or a cry of joy. GEZAN's collaboration with the 15-member chorus group, Million Wish Collective has been in development of late and the cultivated sensibilities through their activities are put to use in this song.

The song can also be considered a slow, relaxed dance track that lasts 9 minutes and 8 seconds. It has something in common with organic dance tracks from South America and other regions, and it is significant that GLOCAL RECORDS which represents glocal music from around the world in Japan are releasing it as a DJ-friendly 12-inch single.

The B-side features a remix by COMPUMA who is also closely associated with GEZAN. The song starts with an African styled percussion, with a thumb piano in the middle of the song and then returns to that memorable chorus. This song feels like a 18 minutes and 18 seconds long short movie like suite, with some dizzying changes from the beginning to the end. It is remix filled with enormous drama!

The cutting and mastering of this 12” was done by TOREI who is also active as a DJ and the artwork was created by jvnpey, a visual artist and graphic designer based in Tokyo. Their loving work also makes this 12" very special.

When I asked AI to find a synonym for the word, “division,” it displayed in succession, a series of words: “integration,” “consolidation,” “unification,” “unity”, and “reconciliation". All of these phrases are somewhat whitewashed and embarrassing but the mirage-like chorus echoing in the song, “i ai” seems to be trying to find a new word, that is a synonym for the word, "division. In this film, “i ai”, the message, “Let's live together after the end roll” was thrown out but included in this 12-inch, the message, “Let's live together after the music stops”, emerges.

Blues and Soul Award winner and double MOBO Awards nominee Ronnie Herel is back with his 2nd volume of his excellent compilation series Neo-Soul Sessions. Ronnie, a massively important figure in the UK Black music scene, is a radio presenter with Mi Soul and includes BBC 1xtra in his broadcasting credits. He is a DJ of international renown and was one half of the Quartz production duo which scored memorable hits with Dina Carroll. His undisputed love for and knowledge of the Neo-Soul genre shines through in the Neo-Soul Sessions and this latest, volume 2, is no exception. Featuring tracks from artists such as Vula, Terri Walker, Aname Rose and Slakah the Beatchild, among others, Neo-Soul Sessions volume 2 is a brilliantly curated and pieced together selection of twelve tracks that absolutely nails the beauty of the later releases in the Neo-Soul genre. Played from start to finish the track selection and order is a pre-made DJ set that flows in a way that would soundtrack a dancefloor, a house party and an excellent backdrop of tunes for any time and day of the week. Ronnie's passion for championing independent artists is also evident in his selections here and the compilation serves as a platform for those voices who deserve to break through. The decision to choose six of his favourite tracks to sit alongside six exclusive and unreleased gems means that a light is now shined on every artist featured on the compilation. An absolute must for serious lovers of Neo-Soul, RnB and Black Music, Neo-Soul Sessions volume 2 is released on double vinyl LP and CD formats.

Acclaimed songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin has announced her highly anticipated new album Next Of Kin, set for release on January 23rd, 2026. The first single, End Of It All, out September 18th, offers a first glimpse at the stunning progression of her sound, fusing her signature storytelling with bold new sonic textures to create a track that is as urgent as it is unforgettable.

Tim Bendzko veröffentlicht am 23. Januar 2026 sein neues Album "Alles, nur nicht zurück", das seine künstlerische Neuausrichtung markiert. Die zwölf Songs sind persönlich, ungeschönt und thematisieren Aufbruch, Neuanfang und das Loslassen. Musikalisch setzt er auf ein innovatives Zusammenspiel von Elektronik und natürlichen Instrumenten.VINYLDas neue Album von Tim Bendzko - als farbige Vinyl im hochwertigen Klappcover. Mit 12 brandneuen Songs und exklusivem Booklet.

Die Musik von Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak) und Daniel Pemberton für den Film Eddington auf rot-blauem Split-Vinyl. Mit Original-Artwork von Matt McCormick. Kommt mit einem ,Keep Honking"-Autoaufkleber. Eddington ist eine schwarze Komödie und ein moderner Horror-Western von Ari Aster. Der Film mit Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler und Joaquin Phoenix in den Hauptrollen spielt in einer Kleinstadt in New Mexico während der Corona-Pandemie. Der Film feierte im Mai 2025 bei den Internationalen Filmfestspielen in Cannes seine Premiere und wurde dort für die Goldene Palme nominiert und kam im Juli 2025 in die US-amerikanischen und im November 2025 in die deutschen Kinos.

Joaquin Joe Claussell Presents the Second Installment of His Acclaimed Alias: BlackSalsoul

Brooklyn, New York City — Renowned producer, DJ, and spiritual music visionary Joaquin Joe Claussell returns with the second chapter of his celebrated alias, BlackSalsoul. Continuing his lifelong exploration of deep, soulful soundscapes, this latest release focuses on edits and reinterpretations across Spiritual Jazz, Soulful Disco, and African Dance traditions.

Following the success of the debut 7” (Cat# UEDNEXT.1), which sold out within weeks and remains a one-time pressing despite overwhelming demand, the BlackSalsoul series reaffirms its commitment to exclusivity. Each edition will be available strictly on limited 7” and 12” vinyl—a tribute to the physicality and ritual of true record culture.

Blending the warmth of analog production with Claussell’s signature spiritual energy, this release bridges eras and continents, honoring the roots of soulful expression while speaking directly to today’s dance floors.

For fans of Fusion Jazz, Soulful Disco, and Afro-inspired Edits, the new BlackSalsoul record offers another essential journey through rhythm, emotion, and transcendence.

Das fünfte Album der Newcastler Riffzauberer Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (aka PIGSx7) ist geprägt von kalkulierter Aggression und selbstzerfrleichenden Texten. Zu den verblüffenden Boni gehören verspielte Synthesizer-Arbeiten und der Auftritt eines Hip-Hop-Masters. Mit seinem Titel, der Absurdität und Ernsthaftigkeit einander gegenüberstellt, ist dies Death Hilarious. Während Land Of Sleeper von 2023 als immersives Kopfhörer-Erlebnis konzipiert war, strebten Pigs dieses Mal nach etwas direkterem, böseren. ,Wir wollten, dass es ein Schlag ins Gesicht ist", grinst Produzent und Gitarrist Sam Grant. Dieses Ziel kam zum Teil dadurch zustande, dass die Band in den letzten Jahren sooooo viele Gigs gespielt hat. Die Band fühlte sich gut geölt und reif dafür, den Zuhörern zu Hause die Art von Prügel zu verpassen, die ihr Publikum von der Bühne aus erhält. Death Hilarious bietet einige Überraschungen, vor allem der Track 'Glib Tongued', bei dem El-P von Run The Jewels als Gastmusiker mitwirkt. Als Bassist John-Michael Hedley unwissentlich das schrieb, was seine Bandkollegen als ihr Äquivalent zu einer Hip-Hop-Nummer betrachteten, setzten die Pigs ihre Ziele hoch an und sicherten sich einen fulminanten Beitrag von einem der größten Rapper der Welt. Das soll nicht heißen, dass Pigs zum Nu-Metal übergegangen sind. Death Hilarious ist eine abwechslungsreiches, straffes Album, das sich zwischen sabbathianischem Doom, grotesk minimalistischem Noise Rock und zyklischen Post-Metal-Fortissimos bewegt. Auch die Pigs treiben sich selbst weiter an. Unpassende Synthesizer-Soli tauchen dort auf, wo normalerweise Gitarren-Histrionik Platz hätte. Klaviertracks lauern im Mix und verleihen dem Klangstrudeln eine fast unterschwellige Tiefe. Stitches" ist wie Motörhead, die versuchen, Glamrock mit einem beschwipsten Keyboarder zu spielen. Und dann ist da noch das 100-Meilen-Tempo des Cosmic-Thrash-Openers ,Blockage". Verzerrte Licks fliegen aus den Verstärkern von Grant und Lead-Gitarrist Adam Ian Sykes, während die Rhythmusgruppe dahinter brutzelt. Mit all dieser Power, die durch die Adern fließt, wird Death Hilarious mit Leichtigkeit eines der besten Rockalben des Jahres 2025 sein... und das ist kein Witz!

,No More Like This" beschäftigt sich mit Themen wie Sehnsucht, Spiel, Hingabe, Unterwerfung, Wiederholung und Reflexion, eingebettet in die Idee der Prägung - dem bleibenden Eindruck, den Menschen und Erfahrungen in uns hinterlassen. Es ruft in der Morgendämmerung, streckt sich zum Himmel, mit Charakteren, die oft zwischen Unterdrückung und Befreiung gefangen sind und auf der Oberfläche von etwas Größerem schweben. Dieses Album taucht in die Unterdrückung als Ablehnung von Authentizität ein. Es reflektiert darüber, wie wir uns falsch erinnern und unsicher bleiben, was wahr oder real ist. Eingetaucht in die Gewässer der Wünsche anderer, fragt das Album: Was wünschen wir uns wirklich? Wie können wir wissen, was ein echtes Verlangen ist? Klanglich verbindet ,No More Like This" Trip Hop, Electronica, Alternative, Techno und Indie und lässt sich von Künstlern wie MF Doom, Massive Attack und The Knife inspirieren. Diese reichhaltige Fusion schafft eine strukturierte Atmosphäre, die die Themen Prägung und Transformation widerspiegelt.

In March 2025, "On the Love Beach" performed solo shows in Shanghai and Beijing with Toushi Naoki to great success.

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of their memorable debut album, "On the Love Beach," and the band's first three albums are being reissued on CD and vinyl!

All three albums use the original master tapes, and each has been thoroughly remastered under the supervision of Shinji Shibayama for high-quality sound!

"On the Love Beach"'s third album, released in 1999, is a two-disc masterpiece that holds a unique position in the band's history, and many fans secretly cherish
the original LP version.

Shibayama's motivation for recording this album was to explore whether the concept he experimented with with Hallelujahs—"pursuing the uniqueness and
improvisation of the performance itself within the format of a pre-written song"—would work in a fixed band format rather than a session, and what the results would be.
It was a bold (and reckless) production approach: all basic tracks, including the lead vocals, were recorded live in the studio in one take, with no re-recordings allowed,
and overdubs like the chorus were kept to a minimum.

Although there are discrepancies between the punk-inspired performances and vocals due to the unedited concept, this is a rare example of the wild energy of a
band captured so authentically with such high sound quality in Jap-rock, and, regardless of its merits or demerits, it is undeniably compelling.

The raw sound quality, capturing the irreversible, fleeting interplay, demonstrates the outstanding engineering sense of Peace Music's Nakamura Soichiro,
and the pride of the rock band "Nagisa Nite" is evident throughout.

It's also noteworthy that this "Nagisa Nite" album contains the most solo works by Masako Takeda. Naturally, it's meticulously remastered from the original
master tapes for exceptional sound quality!

Brooklyn-born David Forman was steeped in soul music and Brill Building songcraft in the early 1970s while earning his living as a Hollywood set builder. He developed a soul singing style through his friendship with Aaron Neville, with whom he used to sing and jam on his apartment rooftop. He met Jack Nitzsche through his work on the 1972 film Greaser’s Palace (for which Nitzsche created the soundtrack) and later asked Nitzsche to produce this album. Forman’s original record deal with Davis was shepherded by the critic Stephen Holden of Rolling Stone and later the New York Times, and later by Paul Nelson, also of Rolling Stone.Fun fact about Forman: He was an assistant to Phillip Petit on his daring tight rope walk between the twin towers in 1974. And Forman later became a jingle writer and wrote and sang the famous Tums theme song (“Tum tum-tum-tum, TUUUUMS."This release features remastered audio, a plethora of archival photos, and a 24-page booklet with a 5500-word essay from noted journalist and producer Joe Hagan, a staff writer at Vanity Fair and producer of the 2022 compilation 'Earl's Closet' for Light In The Attic. Hagan is also fully committed to promoting the release through his network of key media gatekeepers, as well as his personal connections with legendary musicians, writers, and other cultural tastemakers.

Die Benefiz-Compilation "Passages: Artists in Solidarity with Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers", mit einer unglaublichen Auswahl an Künstlern wie Alan Sparhawk, Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin), Benjamin Booker, Lambchop, Marisa Anderson, Lonnie Holley, Bonnie Prince Billy, Dirty Projectors, William Tyler, Tim Heidecker und vielen anderen, wurde zusammengestellt von dem genialen Musiker und Musikvideo-Regisseur Rick Alverson und Emilie Rex von Lean Year. "Passages..." enthält intime, verletzliche Songs, die alle an einem Ort der Zuflucht und Sicherheit geschrieben, aufgenommen und geteilt wurden: einem Ort, der sich wie ein Zuhause anfühlt. "Wir hoffen, dass du ,Passages" an einem Ort hören kannst, der sich wie dein Zuhause anfühlt - wo du dich wohlfühlst, sicher bist und dich frei bewegen kannst. Die Künstler haben diese Songs aus Dankbarkeit für diesen Ort und zu seinem Schutz geschrieben und aufgenommen. Unser Zuhause, wie wir es kennen, ist in Gefahr. Einwanderer, Flüchtlinge und Asylsuchende, die ihr Recht auf sichere Durchreise einfordern, verteidigen unseren Zugang zu genau diesem Recht. Zu den vielen Organisationen, die sich solidarisch mit ihnen einsetzen, gehören zwei in Texas ansässige gemeinnützige Organisationen namens American Gateways und Casa Marianella. Mit über 70 Jahren gemeinsamer Erfahrung bieten diese Organisationen kostenlose oder kostengünstige Rechtsberatung, Lebensmittel, Unterkunft, Zugang zu Gesundheitsversorgung und andere wichtige Dienstleistungen an. Zusätzlich zu den großzügigen Beiträgen der Künstler wurden alle Arbeitskosten - Produktion, Abmischung, Mastering, Design und Werbung - sowie die Herstellungskosten für die Platte gespendet oder separat gesammelt, um sicherzustellen, dass alle Einnahmen der wichtigen Arbeit von American Gateways und Casa Marianella zugutekommen. ,Passages" ist sowohl eine Anerkennung der laufenden Arbeit als auch eine Einladung, noch mehr zu tun. Unsere Vertreter müssen uns sehen. Unsere Familien müssen von uns hören. Unsere Nachbarn und lokalen Organisationen, die an vorderster Front dieser Krise stehen, sind bereit, uns aufzunehmen."

Naive Melodies is a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation. Curated by Drew McFadden — the creative mind behind BBE’s acclaimed Modern Love (David Bowie tribute album) — this new collection dives deep into the Afro-diasporic rhythms and experimental soul roots that helped shape Talking Heads’ unmistakable New Wave sound. Inspired by artists like Fela Kuti, Parliament, and Al Green — whose influences loomed large in the band’s rhythmic DNA — Naive Melodies shines a light on the Black music traditions that underpinned their artistry. Far from a conventional tribute, Naive Melodies reframes the band’s catalog through the voices and visions of a new generation of genre-defying artists. These interpretations illuminate the foundational grooves and sonic textures that fueled Talking Heads’ rhythm-forward aesthetic, bringing them full circle with authenticity. “With Naive Melodies, I wanted to spotlight the deep and often overlooked influence of Black music on the sound of Talking Heads, drawing from the rhythmic foundations of Afro-diasporic traditions, soul, gospel, Latin, and spiritual jazz. This project is a chance to reimagine Talking Heads’ legacy through the lens of the very innovations that helped shape it, bringing those influences to the forefront through the voices of today’s most forward-thinking artists.” — Drew McFadden The album features a globally minded lineup, including Liv.e, Bilal, Rogê, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Aja Monet, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Theo Croker, Kenny Dope, Rosie Lowe, Pachyman, W.I.T.C.H., and more — spanning Afrobeat, jazz, soul, funk, gospel, dub, electronica, orchestral, and Latin styles. It reflects not only the boundary-pushing ethos of Talking Heads, but also the influence of Black music as a cultural force that helped shape it. This is not just a tribute album — it’s a recontextualization. A cultural conversation. A rhythmic reawakening.

Mit Calling melden sich The Busters eindrucksvoll zurück - neun Musiker, ein Album, das kollektive Kreativität hörbar macht. Entstanden in zwei Studios - den atmosphärischen Waldstudios bei Berlin und "Der Raum" in Waltrop - verbindet Calling emotionale Tiefe mit musikalischer Klarheit und der typischen Leichtigkeit der Band. Die Songs entstehen basisdemokratisch, ohne Hierarchie - aus Vertrauen, Präzision und Spielfreude. Das Ergebnis: ein Album voller Dynamik, Wärme und Atmosphäre. Man hört den Raum, die Luft, das Miteinander. Statt digitaler Perfektion steht das Gefühl im Vordergrund. Highlights wie der Titeltrack "Calling", das melancholisch-leichte "Champagne", das bissige "Freak Show" oder das hoffnungsvolle "Geschichte schreiben" zeigen die Band in ihrer ganzen Bandbreite - nachdenklich, ironisch, berührend. Live entfaltet sich die volle Kraft: The Busters gehören seit über 35 Jahren zu den besten Live-Bands Deutschlands. Calling fängt diese Energie ein - als klingendes Abbild einer Band, die weiß, wer sie ist, und trotzdem immer wieder neu aufbricht. With Calling, The Busters make a powerful return - nine musicians, one shared language, and an album that showcases the vibrancy of collective creativity. Recorded between two studios - the atmospheric Waldstudios near Berlin and "Der Raum" in Waltrop - Calling blends emotional depth with musical clarity and the band"s signature ease. No mastermind, no hierarchy - just a democratic process built on trust, precision, and joy. The result is an album rich in dynamics, warmth, and atmosphere. You hear the room, the air, the connection. Feeling takes precedence over digital perfection. Tracks like the floating opener "Calling," the subtly melancholic "Champagne," the biting "Freak Show," and the uplifting "Geschichte schreiben" reveal the band"s full emotional range - thoughtful, ironic, and deeply human. On stage, The Busters truly shine: with over 35 years of live experience, they are one of Germany"s most seasoned and beloved live acts. Calling captures that energy - a sonic reflection of a band that knows who they are, yet continues to explore new paths.

Black Vinyl

Das Album enthält Material aus allen Songwriting-Phasen der Band, einiges davon stammt aus den Zeiten von „Deprived“ und „Bringer of Drought“ sowie natürlich aus „Foreordained“, erklärt Gitarrist Samuel Dufour.

„Gateway“ wurde von dem langjährigen Mitarbeiter Xavier Berthiaume (Gevurah, Sanctvs) während derselben Session wie „Foreordained“ aufgenommen, gemischt und gemastert, wodurch die beiden Alben einen einheitlichen Klang erhalten und „Gateway“ die etablierten Erzählungen abschließen kann. „Wir betrachten es als das Ende eines Kapitels für die Band“, fährt Dufour fort. „Das heißt nicht, dass unser zukünftiges Material sich komplett von unserem bisherigen unterscheiden wird, ganz im Gegenteil, aber wir haben beschlossen, es beim nächsten Mal ein wenig anders anzugehen, indem wir neue Elemente hinzufügen, die bisher in unserer Musik noch nicht vorkamen, verschiedene Dynamiken ausprobieren und mit einer neuen Stimmung experimentieren.

Thematisch baut „Gateway“ auf Ideen auf, die erstmals auf „Foreordained“ untersucht wurden: „Der Song ‚Revival‘ aus ‚Foreordained‘ inspirierte das Thema des Albums, nämlich die Tatsache, dass Menschen seit Anbeginn der Zeit versuchen, ewig zu leben – oder ihr Leben auf unnatürliche Weise zu verlängern –, oft aus Gründen, die noch absurder sind als das Streben nach ewigem Leben selbst“, erläutert Dufour.

„Wir haben dies als Hauptthema verwendet und das Konzept weiterentwickelt, indem wir die abstoßendsten Formen der Grausamkeit untersucht haben, zu denen Menschen fähig sind – selbst wenn sie die Wissenschaft als Mittel einsetzen, um die Barbarei gegenüber ihren Feinden zu verlängern.“ Visuell setzt das Album die Zusammenarbeit von Phobocosm mit Lauri Laaksonen (Desolate Shrine, Convocation, Pestilent Hex) fort. „Auf den ersten Blick sieht man, dass es sich um ein Tor zu etwas Unheilvollem handelt, aber was dahinter liegt, bleibt dem Hörer überlassen.“ Phobocosm wird „Gateway“ mit ausgewählten Auftritten in Nordamerika unterstützen, gefolgt von Terminen in Europa im Jahr 2026.

Als gäbe es noch nicht genug Drama auf dieser Welt, schickt sich die Bremer Postcore-Band Dramatist an, diesem Drama ihr ganz eigenes Kapitel an die Hand zu geben und euch auf ihren Trip mitzunehmen. Dramatist hauen uns ihr Debütalbum "Wasting Words" nur so um die berühmten Ohren und werden ihrem Namen zu 100% gerecht, denn Dramaturgie wird hier sowohl textlich als auch musikalisch mit großer Spielfreude gelebt. Dass sie dabei durchaus auch politisch daherkommen, zeigt vor allem die erste Single "Fat White Families" und auch die fast gleichnamige englische Band war sicher ebenso wenig für leichte Kost in musikalischer und textlicher Hinsicht bekannt. Produziert wurde "Wasting Words" von Kurt Ebelhäuser (Blackmail, Dontos, Pascow), sowie Gregor Hennig (Muff Potter, Bela B., Herrenmagazin).

January 21, 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Hideaki Tokunaga's major label debut.
A long-awaited new album will be released on this memorable day! Titled "COVERS," it marks the launch of a new series of cover albums that truly showcase Tokunaga's talent.
This is his first studio recording since moving to Nippon Columbia, and his first cover album in 11 years since his smash-hit series "VOCALIST 6." With "VOCALIST," Tokunaga
built his own brand on the concept of faithfully covering classic songs by female artists. "COVERS" features a wide selection of works by both male and female artists,
reinterpreting classics that he "want to sing now" with his own powerful arrangements and vocals. It's been exactly 40 years since the release of his debut song, "Rainy Blue."
Look forward to the new sound that has been created as a result of this journey.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most celebrated musicals of all time, and this original London cast recording from 1986 remains the definitive recording. Michael Crawford’s Tony Award-winning performance as The Phantom and Sarah Brightman’s portrayal of Christine Daaé helped make this the best-selling cast recording in history. Re-issued for the first time in decades, this classic album brings the unforgettable score to a new generation of listeners. From the title song to “The Music of the Night” and “All I Ask of You,” every track reflects the power and beauty that continue to make The Phantom of the Opera a global phenomenon nearly forty years after its debut. Since its premiere, The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by more than 160 million people in 195 cities and has received over 70 major theatre awards. It holds the record as the longest-running show in Broadway history and was the first British musical to debut at number one on the music charts. The recording has been certified Platinum in six countries.

Das legendäre Kultalbum „Bastards“ aus dem Jahr 1993 ist endlich zurück – und das in einer limitierten, farbigen VinylEdition!

Mit brachialer Energie, kompromisslosem Sound und Lemmy‘s unverkennbarer Stimme gilt Bastards für viele Fans als das beste Motörhead-Album aller Zeiten. Klassiker wie Burner, Born to Raise Hell und I Am the Sword zeigen die Band auf ihrem absoluten Höhepunkt – roh, direkt und voller Wut und Herzblut.

Diese Sonderauflage ist ein Muss für jeden Rock- und MetalFan: Ein Stück Rockgeschichte, das in keiner Sammlung fehlen darf – Motörhead – Bastards, jetzt als exklusive Vinyl-Edition!

The legendary cult album ‘Bastards’ from 1993 is finally back – in a limited edition coloured vinyl release!

With its brutal energy, uncompromising sound and Lemmy‘s unmistakable voice, Bastards is considered by many fans to be the best Motörhead album of all time. Classics such as Burner, Born to Raise Hell and I Am the Sword showcase the band at their absolute peak – raw, direct and full of rage and passion.

This special edition is a must-have for every rock and metal fan: A piece of rock history that no collection should be without – Motörhead – Bastards, now available as an exclusive vinyl edition!

UK Legend Raggamuffin DeeJay Sweetie Irie brand new dancehall tune!!
Ugandan upcoming Artist Bad Sparksy's first vinyl

First Word Records are proud to bring you 'Penny Ballads', a 5-track EP from Royce Wood Junior. Royce Wood Junior is a Grammy & Mercury Award-nominated musician, songwriter and record producer from London, currently based in Brighton. As a multi-instrumentalist, he's collaborated with a litany of brilliant artists over the years, such as Jamie Woon, Nao, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jamie Lidell and Jordan Rakei, additionally to touring with the likes of the legendary Thomas Dolby. He's released two acclaimed solo albums to date ('The Ashen Tang' in 2015, and 'No Two Blue Ticks' in 2021). 'Penny Ballads' demonstrates RWJ's varied talents, with a collection of alternative soul compositions, each one as unique as the next. It includes the first two singles, the Poplife-Prince era flavoured 'Go Get Your Money', and the double-time future funk adrenaline shot, 'Clean Up', along with three previously-unreleased tracks. 'Beretta' is low-slung soul funk, beginning with quirky squelchy synths, before the soulful lead vocal of feature artist Lucey Way breezes in to melt everyone's hearts. 'Things' sweeps in next, an infectiously soulful midtempo heavy soul bop, with an instant earwork of a hook, like a modern-day Steely Dan / Doobie Brothers, complete with a head-nodding string section to end the track. The collection concludes on a more melancholy downtempo tip with 'Rolling'; an almost-folktronic anthem, with a key refrain that wouldn't be out of place on a 70's Stevie piece. RWJ (aka Jim Wood) says of this project… "Back in the 17 and 1800's Troubadours and minstrels would go from Tavern to Tavern selling Penny Ballads, single sheets of music and lyrics written quickly and frivolously to make a quick buck.. It strikes me that we're in a similar phase in the way we value music in 2025. An old Penny Ballad was cheap and dog-eared, ink-smudged, sung aloud by firelight, Now songs live in the digital ether, dissolved in the air, a ghostly breath paid in micro cents. The new era of Penny Balladry is here, and weird. This EP is a snapshot of my writing over a two year period. Focussed on minimal recording styles, one mic on the drums, generally first or second takes on parts and vocals, I wanted the music to feel like small moments with lyrics that talk about the weird nuances of being alive as a latter stage human on the cusp of the Ai revolution. Culturally so evolved, but physiologically still just a bunch of mammals walking about with primitive fears and needs. Just trying to reconcile it all moment to moment…" Previous support for Royce's music has included Radio 1's Future Sounds, BBC 6 Music's New Music Fix, Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Zane Lowe and MistaJam. There have been sessions previously for the likes of Red Bull and press from Huck, Line of Best Fit, Clash, Aesthetica & DIY magazine. Entirely self-written and self-produced, this EP gives a solid taste of RWJ's talents. A deeply funky diverse set of music from an immensely talented individual. 'Penny Ballads' is due to be released on vinyl & digital, 24th October 2025. The vinyl version also includes an exclusive additional mix of the first single 'Go Get Your Money'. TRACKLIST: 01: Clean Up (EP Mix) 02: Go Get Your Money 03: Beretta (feat. Lucey Way) 04: Things 05: Rolling 06: Go Get Your Money (B-Sharp Mix) Deconstructed Mixes

El Combo Batanga ist eine musikalische Explosion an der Schnittstelle von afro-kubanischen Rhythmen und Latin Funk. Eine Gruppe kraftvoller Musiker, die Son, Timba, Latin Soul und Bogaloo zu einem Genuss für das Publikum verschmelzen. Die Reise der Band begann in Havanna, wo der Sänger Ale Gutiérrez herstammt, bevor er Ende der 1990er Jahre nach Madrid zog. Er war Teil von Habana Abierta, einem Pionier der neuen kubanischen Musik in Europa. In Madrid trafen sich mehrere bekannte Musiker im La Negra Tomasa zu wöchentlichen Jam-Sessions, was schließlich zur Gründung von Los Chocolatinos führte. Nachdem Ale Gutiérrez Los Chocolatinos gehört hatte, schloss er sich der Gruppe an, zu der auch Yago Salorio (Kontrabass), Julián Olivares (Gitarre), Rodrigo ,El Niño" (Schlagzeug und Pailas) und Pepe Prat (Congas) gehörten. Diese Zusammenarbeit wurde zur Grundlage für El Combo Batanga, das kubanische Musiker in Madrid zusammenbrachte. Im Jahr 2018 stellte Rodrigo ,El Niño" eine Band zusammen, um Joe Bataan auf seiner Tournee zu unterstützen, und holte zusätzliche Musiker für eine reichhaltige Bläsersektion und Keyboard hinzu. Ihr gemeinsames Talent führte zu einer kraftvollen Live-Performance, El Combo Batanga, einem unaufhaltsamen Zug, der Groove und Flair lieferte.

GAVIAL sind zurück. Deutlicher. Verletzlicher. Größer als je zuvor. Fast drei Jahre sind vergangen, seit Gavial mit "VOR" ein kraftvolles Statement abgegeben haben. Drei Jahre voller politischer Brüche, gesellschaftlicher Abgründe und persönlicher Erschütterungen. Drei Jahre, die Spuren hinterlassen haben - hörbar, fühlbar, unausweichlich. Jetzt kehrt das Quartett aus Dresden/Leipzig/Berlin mit einem neuen Album zurück. Hier prallen Soul und Gospel auf Country, Psychedelic-Blues auf pure, unverstellte Emotion. Gavial erschaffen Klangwelten, in denen Gitarren, Bass und Stimme zu etwas Größerem verschmelzen. Melancholie, die nachhallt. Hypnose durch Klang. Energie, die nicht mehr loslässt. Mit Vehemenz präsentieren sich Gavial so roh und kompromisslos wie noch nie. Ihre Songs sind Spiegel - von allem, was brennt: Eine Welt, die sich selbst zerfrisst. Gesellschaften, die verlernt haben zuzuhören. Technologien, die uns überholen. Militarismus, der zurückkehrt. Menschenrechte, die zu Worthülsen verkommen. Institutionen, die versagen. Und Egoismus, der gedeiht. "Thanks, I Hate It" ist keine Kapitulation. Es ist ein Soundtrack zu einer Zeit, die uns täglich prüft. Gavial sind hier, um uns zu erinnern: Wir sind noch da. Wir fühlen noch. Wir hören noch zu. Und manchmal lautet die einzig ehrliche Antwort auf diese Welt: Thanks, I Hate It.

Unter dem dunklen Mond werden die Kerzen angezündet, und aus der Tiefe erhebt sich Ritual Arcana. Eine dreiköpfige Klangmaschine mit der Hohepriesterin SharLee LuckyFree am Bass und Gesang (ehemals Moth), dem legendären Godfather of Doom Scott WINO Weinrich an der Gitarre (The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan) und dem Taktgeber Oakley Munson am Schlagzeug (The Black Lips). Die alten Tore des Schicksals öffnen sich durch Schlüssel, Schwert und Feder, als Ritual Arcana im Januar ihr Debütalbum bei Heavy Psych Sounds veröffentlichen. Durch die Kraft des übernatürlichen Hardrocks beginnt das Ritual, und wir befreien uns selbst.

Purple Vinyl, limitiert auf 350 Exemplare. Unter dem dunklen Mond werden die Kerzen angezündet, und aus der Tiefe erhebt sich Ritual Arcana. Eine dreiköpfige Klangmaschine mit der Hohepriesterin SharLee LuckyFree am Bass und Gesang (ehemals Moth), dem legendären Godfather of Doom Scott WINO Weinrich an der Gitarre (The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan) und dem Taktgeber Oakley Munson am Schlagzeug (The Black Lips). Die alten Tore des Schicksals öffnen sich durch Schlüssel, Schwert und Feder, als Ritual Arcana im Januar ihr Debütalbum bei Heavy Psych Sounds veröffentlichen. Durch die Kraft des übernatürlichen Hardrocks beginnt das Ritual, und wir befreien uns selbst.

"Collision Drive" ist Alan Vegas zweites Solo-Studioalbum, das ursprünglich 1981 rausgekommen ist. Während sein Debütalbum den Grundstein für eine rohe, minimalistische Interpretation von Rockabilly und Blues gelegt hat, erweitert Collision Drive" die Palette mit einer raueren, vielschichtigen und ungefilterten Energie. Hier greifen Vegas Texte universelle Themen auf, die in seiner Faszination für das Straßenleben, Science-Fiction, Politik, Comics, Liebe und die Geheimnisse des Universums verwurzelt sind. Es ist ein Album, das vor Gefühl und Rebellion pulsiert und das gesamte Spektrum menschlicher Erfahrungen sowie Vegas sich weiterentwickelnde Vision zeigt. Alan erfand sich immer wieder neu, schuf und verfeinerte seine Meisterschaft der Variation und behielt dabei seine eigene unvergleichliche und unverwechselbare Ästhetik bei. Klanglich ist dieses Album dynamischer als sein erstes. Collision Drive" verzichtete auf Drum Machines zugunsten eines Live-Drummers und holte eine Hardrock-Band als Begleitung hinzu, wodurch es eine andere Sichtweise auf Vegas künstlerische Vision bot. Der schmerzhafte Punk-Rockabilly von Magdalena 82" entfaltet sich mit einer hypnotischen Mischung aus Gitarren-Slides und frenetischer Energie, während Vegas Cover von Be Bop A Lula" Gene Vincents Klassiker in ein aggressiv aufgeladenes, manisches Heulen verwandelt. Andere Tracks wie der treibende kosmische Rock 'n' Roll Raver" dringen in Psychobilly-Gefilde vor. Vega war unerbittlich innovativ und beschritt ständig neue Wege. Hier werden wir Zeugen seines vollständigen Aufstiegs in seine eigene Mythologie: teils Rockabilly-Outlaw, teils kosmischer Prediger, teils visionärer Außenseiter. Collision Drive" ist breiter angelegt als sein Debüt, aber genauso kompromisslos und eine mutige und persönliche Erkundung von Klang und Identität. Roh, elektrisierend und bahnbrechend bleibt es ein Kult-Meilenstein des Outsider-Rock und ein Prüfstein für die Entwicklung des Art-Punk und des experimentellen Pop von einer der furchtlosesten Ikonen New Yorks. Collision Drive" wurde von Josh Bonati anhand der Originalbänder neu gemastert und erscheint nun in einer ehrfürchtigen Neuauflage bei Sacred Bones.