The Gentle Spring are a new group, formed by Michael Hiscock, Emilie Guillaumot and Jérémie Orsel. Michael has an illustrious pop history, having been a founder member of The Field Mice, possibly the most beloved band on Sarah Records in the 1990s. And with The Gentle Spring, it seems that history is repeating itself…
When Michael and his friend Bobby Wratten formed The Field Mice, the two of them very quickly created a set of songs whose emotional honesty, raw guitars and perfect pop melodies pierced the hearts of a generation of indiepop fans, kids who were unmoved by the posturing of mainstream indie, and who didn’t want to spend time in fields dancing at 24-hour raves. The Field Mice were the band who defined the meaning and the spirit of Sarah Records. Defiantly in love with pop, defiantly un-macho, defiantly…sensitive. And now, remarkably, Michael has done it again. With his new musical partner Emilie, The Gentle Spring have created a fresh new iteration of indiepop music. Once again, the songs are unafraid of raw emotions, brutally honest and is still in love with big pop melodies.
They are still….sensitive. But life is seen through a different lens now. There is wisdom, there is experience, and there is the ability to look back at the world with a mixture of regret and joy. These are very adult songs, and the arrangements reflect this. Rich acoustic guitars and Emilie’s haunting keyboard have replaced hectic drum machines and urgent distortion. And there is a third element to this music. Jérémie Orsel’s sophisticated guitar adds textures and melodies that give these songs a real depth, while maintaining an enigmatic distance, never quite overwhelming the vocal line. So things are clearer now.
But feelings are just as strong. The pain of unrequited love that made Field Mice songs so poignant hasn’t gone away. In some ways, the thought of roads not taken is more profound when experienced in retrospect. I Can’t Have You As A Friend entertains this notion, still moved by the allure of a different life, but shuddering with fear at what might have happened. Also still haunted by the past, The Girl Who Ran Away conjures up the ghost of a previous failed relationship, which threatens to undermine happiness in the present. In Severed Hearts, sung by Emilie, there is the stark recognition that some endings really are final: sometimes there can be no reconciliations. But the song cleverly moves on from this: it acknowledges that, even after the worst emotional loss, you have to pick yourself, you will move on. It’s sophisticated and it’s mature – but it will still break your heart. Sugartown is another song that plays this trick on you. It insists that there will always be lightness and shade. It warns you against complacency, but does it so kindly that you feel like you’ve been embraced. When Michael’s and Emilie’s vocals combine in the final chorus, telling us that we don’t live in Sugartown, you know they are right – and yet the sweetness of the singing makes you feel that – just for a moment – you do.the band perform as a trio and have already found a keen audience in France, where they are based. During a short tour of the UK in January, to coincide with this release, British audiences will get their first opportunities to see The Gentle Spring play these new songs live
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- A1: Darts Of Pleasure
- A2: Take Me Out
- A3: The Dark Of The Matinée
- A4: Michael
- A5: This Fire
- B1: Do You Want To
- B2: Walk Away
- B3: The Fallen
- B4: Outsiders
- B5: Lucid Dreams
- C1: Ulysses
- C2: No You Girls
- C3: Right Action
- C4: Evil Eye
- C5: Love Illumination
- D1: Stand On The Horizon
- D2: Always Ascending
- D3: Glimpse Of Love
- D4: Curious
- D5: Billy Goodbye
- Ascend
- Drift
- Astray
- Barren
- Nyctophobia
- Wreckage
- Scavenge
- Animal
- Phantasmagoria
- Torment
- Perish
The intrepid composer and field recordist Jacob Kirkegaard is no stranger to perilous and hostile regions of the world. His 4 Rooms invoked the radioactive decay through the amplification of architectural resonance in Chernobyl, Ukraine; and he has ventured to the arctic environments of Greenland on a number of occasions to document that barren, icy territory. His recurrent use of shadow and mystery through his work both as metaphor and as extended sonic technique reflects the complex, existential conditions that cross-contaminate what we consider civilization and what we consider wilderness. Waste disposal, firearms, the decomposition of dead bodies, the eerie stillness of morgues. These have also been the source material in Kirkegaard's formidable work.
With Snowblind, Kirkegaard turns to history, and a poetic, failed attempt for a team of Swedish explorers to reach the North Pole by balloon in the late 19th Century. Perhaps driven by blind adventurism, perhaps consumed by his own delusions, S.A. Andrée launched this ill-fated flight in July 1897, registering only two days in the air before crashing into the ice and ultimately failing to navigate the frigid waters and ice floes. Yet documentation of their expedition - photographic, scientific, and diaristic - survived, to be discovered some thirty years after their deaths.
"I wanted to created a cold and hostile album, where there is no escape, no warmth and no happy ending," as Kirkegaard explains about Snowblind. "Yet, I wanted to leave out any immediate drama. It is the creeping shock, the icy feeling from realizing what has been lost and that there's no escape."
Yes, Snowblind is a very bleak album, but one that eschews the isolationist, long-form drone of conceptually similar works by Thomas Köner, Lustmord, Werkbund, and Lull with interconnected constellations of cryptic tone, thrumming reverberation, arctic bluster, and a plethora of harrowing sonic proclamations.
Stick To Your Guns hold a mirror up to society’s ills without blurring its ugliness. In an attempt to unapologetically trumpet real change, the Southern California quintet—Jesse Barnett vocals,Andrew Rose [bass],Adam Galindo[drums], Chris Rawson [guitar], and Josh James [guitar]—never shy away from speaking or screaming unpopular truths from the purest place. Founded in2003, Stick To Your Guns have always written and performed with a sense of urgency, their socially conscious message hitting as hard as their signature hybrid of hardcore, punk, and metal. Over the course of their career, they’ve amassed over 50 million total streams, performed on four continents, and shared stages with the likes of Parkway Drive, Architects, and Every Time I Die. Most recently, Alternative Press praised 2017’s True View as “the result of a long time spent on self-reflection and realization.” The band’s latest release ‘Invisible Rain’ incorporates two new songs that remain quintessentially Stick To Your Guns while incorporating fresh elements. The band’s relentless pursuit of a better world and their critique of societal injustices continues to drive their music and message. In 2024, Stick To Your Guns signed with SharpTone Records, marking a new chapter in their storied career. This partnership promises to bring their potent blend of activism and music to an even broader audience, amplifying their call for change and social justice.
Moody cacophonies, sonic dispatches from Japan, crystalline breakbeats that are more environment than rhythm: Jake Muir’s enmixed, described by Muir as a “(re)mixtape,” is a mind-bending deep dive into the enmossed archive. Besides reflecting the history of the label, Muir’s mix is a production in its own right. A Los Angeles native based in Berlin, Muir is a DJ and field recordist who “sees mixes as a vehicle to explore narratives outside of the album format.”
In Bathhouse Blues (2023), where Muir sampled various sources to explore gay cruising culture and sensuality, his more expansive, conceptual approach to the form is illuminated. Mixes are not just a linear succession of tracks with transitions—they’re excavations that also result in the creation of new audio artifacts. Inspired by the psychedelic impulses of illbient, Muir uses DJ and sound engineering techniques to melt down genre distinctions and create alien atmospheres.
From the enmossed community, Muir pulls from artists like bad lsd trips, Angelo Harmsworth, Nick Klein, Tetsuya Nakayama, and Patrick Gallagher to coalesce a super-compendium of the global sonic underground, all viewed through his own unique lens. Muir takes major liberties with processing and effects automation to carve new worlds from the soil of these preexisting works. Some of the tracks and material on enmixed are heavily edited, emphasizing specific harmonics or bass frequencies, and some portions contain three or four layers, putting artists in direct conversation with each other.
This heady approach—using the tools of both mixtape and remix—results in a super textual and dense palimpsest of the enmossed catalog. “Because mixes are more open- source,” Muir says, “it’s easier to express some ideas since there is more material to pull from.”
- Rob Goyanes
Silver foil printed j-cards on heavyweight iridescent ('Lapis Lazuli') recycled paper Duplicated at a carbon-neutral facility
- A1: Los Yesterdays- Who Made You You?
- A2: The Altons- Float
- A3: Thee Sacred Souls- It's Our Love
- A4: Vicky Tafoya- The Moment
- A5: Thee Sacred Souls- Running Away
- A6: Jensine Benitez- Illusion De Amor
- A7: Johnny Ruiz & The Escapers- Sorry
- B1: Los Yesterdays- Louie Louie
- B2: The Altons- Cry For Me
- B3: Vicky Tafoya- Love Don't Treat You Fair
- B4: Thee Sacred Souls- Love Is The Way
- B5: Jensine Benitez- Sparkle In Your Eyes
- B6: Johnny Ruiz & The Escapers- Prettiest Girl
- B7: Junior Scaife- When My Heart Beats
We are pleased to present the second instalment of the Penrose Showcase series. Featuring 14 more souldies from the ever-growing Penrose family, get down with this one-stop-shop for some of he best groups on today's soul scene: Thee Sacred Souls, The Altons, Los Yesterdays, Vicky Tafoya and the Big Beat, Junior Scaife and the Penrose Scholars, Johnny and the Escapers and Jonny Benavidez.
Worte sind keine Selbstverständlichkeit. Vor allem dann nicht, wenn sie von einem breitschultrigen Dichter mit dem Feuer eines Predigers und der Ehrlichkeit und Weisheit eines Laien mit voller Wucht über erdige Live-Beats und zwischen hymnischen Melodien und mitreißenden Riffs gebrüllt werden.
Worte sind wichtig. Geschichte ist wichtig. Menschen sind wichtig. Und BIG SPECIAL sind wichtig.
Ein Duo, das lauter ist als Bomben, BIG SPECIAL schreiben über Verzweiflung und Kampf, über ein Großbritannien im Niedergang, darüber, wie man in seinen dunkelsten Momenten Stolz findet, darüber, dass der wahre Klassenkrieg im Vereinigten Königreich immer nach unten geht. Es sind Lieder der Hoffnung, der Verzweiflung und noch mehr Hoffnung, denn letztendlich gewinnen die guten Menschen. Lieder, die die Stimme wiedergeben, die man hört, wenn man in den Spiegel schaut und sein wahres Ich sieht - Kampflieder für eine Welt, die aus den Fugen geraten ist.
- Chaleur Humaine
- Peace Of Mind #2
- Watching The Cars
- Alma
- She's An Easy Rider
- Réparations
- A Long Time
- Voir Le Jour
- A Tiger Has Escaped From The Zoo
- Le Léthé
- Vitalisme
- Au Revoir Ma Chérie
On October 18th, Nicolas Michaux will release his third album, titled Vitalisme. This album consists of twelve recordings made over the years on the Danish island of Samsø and at the Free House, the studio of Capitane Records in Brussels. Much like in his previous album Amour Colère, Michaux navigates between polarities in Vitalisme : dawn and dusk, birth and destruction, hope and cold lucidity, past and future. However, this time it is less about exploring the different poles of human experience and more about bringing them together at a precise point where life unfolds. Armed with impeccable writing in both French and English, Michaux traverses the familiar lands of inspired songwriters, addressing grand themes of timeless poetry as well as the empirical realities of the contemporary world: love, illness, war, wisdom, resurrection; but also climate change and class war
- A1: Be Ill Feat. Kurupt & Masta Killa (Prod + Cuts By Rakim Allah)
- A2: Now Is The Time Feat. B.g, Hus Kingpin & Compton Menace (Prod. Rakim Allah)
- A3: Love Is The Message Feat. Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King & Snoop Dogg Additional Vocals By: Sally Green, Kobe Honeycutt & The La Grand Choir (Prod. Rakim Allah) (Violin Quartet Courtesy Of Nino Chikviladze)
- A4: God's Playground Feat. .38 Spesh, Fred The Godson & Skyzoo Additional Vocals: Dmx (Prod + Cuts By Rakim Allah)
- B1: Pendulum Swing Feat. Kxng Crooked, La The Darkman, Canibus & Chino Xl (Prod. & Cuts By: Rakim Allah)
- B2: International Feat. Kool G Rap, Tristate & Joell Ortiz (Prod. Rakim Allah)
- B3 - Sign Of Se7En Feat. Prodigy (Of Mobb Deep), Method Man, X-Raided & Big Twins (Prod. Rakim Allah)
Cassette[14,50 €]
Hip-hop legend Rakim is breaking new ground with his upcoming studio album, G.O.D.'S NETWORK (REB7RTH), by flexing his skills both on the mic and behind the boards. Widely lauded as the best lyricist of all time, The God MC himself is blessing the culture with the next step in his historic career.
“I feel like the battery in my back has been reenergized,” Rakim said about his new album, which arrives nearly four decades after the release of his classic debut with Eric B., Paid In Full. Since then, he’s continued to shape the landscape and culture of hip-hop as we know it, inspiring rising artists with his hype live shows and incredible studio albums. And while he’s produced some of his previous work—notably “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” “Juice (Know The Ledge),” and “Paid In Full”—this feels like new territory for the 18th Letter, whose production and scratching talents are nothing short of remarkable.
G.O.D.'S NETWORK (REB7RTH) is proof that Rakim is truly one of the most special artists we’ve known not just in hip-hop, but all of music. You can tell he feels that level of praise when speaking about the genesis of the album. “Having the ability to showcase my talents behind the boards coupled with the elite lyricism the world already knows and gives me infinite praise for alongside some of the best talents to ever do it is truly a blessing and for that I am humbled,” he said.
Rakim is more than an official triple-threat as an artist, because he’s also showing off skills as a curator. On this album’s seven tracks, he enlists a who’s-who of top hip-hop talent, including the dearly departed Nipsey Hussle, Fred the Godson, DMX, and Prodigy (of Mobb Deep). Rakim also linked with many of his contemporaries, such as Snoop Dogg, Method Man, KXNG Crooked, B.G., and Kool G. Rap, among others.
The album’s first single, “Be Ill,” is the perfect introduction, as it pairs Rakim’s raw rhymes and head-nodding production with slick guest features from Kurupt and Masta Killa. Elsewhere, Rakim slows it down for the soulful “Love Is The Message,” which features Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King, Snoop Dogg, Sally Green, Kobe Honeycutt, and the LA Grand Choir. And then there’s the chest-thumping “International,” a straight-up slapper with hard-hitting rhymes from Kool G. Rap, Tristate, and Joell Ortiz.
For fans of hip-hop, and especially of Rakim’s storied discography, there is so much to love on this record. You can hear his hunger as an emcee and producer on every track, as well as his desire to collaborate with so many respected artists. Despite having decades in the game and many classics to his name, it feels like Rakim is just getting started.
While the world awaits the July 26th release date, fans can catch Rakim performing live throughout the US from now until the end of year in support of G.O.D.S Network (REB7RTH). In addition to debuting new material, he’ll be performing all the classics from his beloved catalog.
- A1: Be Ill Feat. Kurupt & Masta Killa (Prod + Cuts By Rakim Allah)
- A2: Now Is The Time Feat. B.g, Hus Kingpin & Compton Menace (Prod. Rakim Allah)
- A3: Love Is The Message Feat. Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King & Snoop Dogg Additional Vocals By: Sally Green, Kobe Honeycutt & The La Grand Choir (Prod. Rakim Allah) (Violin Quartet Courtesy Of Nino Chikviladze)
- A4: God's Playground Feat. .38 Spesh, Fred The Godson & Skyzoo Additional Vocals: Dmx (Prod + Cuts By Rakim Allah)
- B1: Pendulum Swing Feat. Kxng Crooked, La The Darkman, Canibus & Chino Xl (Prod. & Cuts By: Rakim Allah)
- B2: International Feat. Kool G Rap, Tristate & Joell Ortiz (Prod. Rakim Allah)
- B3 - Sign Of Se7En Feat. Prodigy (Of Mobb Deep), Method Man, X-Raided & Big Twins (Prod. Rakim Allah)
Vinyl LP[25,17 €]
Hip-hop legend Rakim is breaking new ground with his upcoming studio album, G.O.D.'S NETWORK (REB7RTH), by flexing his skills both on the mic and behind the boards. Widely lauded as the best lyricist of all time, The God MC himself is blessing the culture with the next step in his historic career.
“I feel like the battery in my back has been reenergized,” Rakim said about his new album, which arrives nearly four decades after the release of his classic debut with Eric B., Paid In Full. Since then, he’s continued to shape the landscape and culture of hip-hop as we know it, inspiring rising artists with his hype live shows and incredible studio albums. And while he’s produced some of his previous work—notably “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” “Juice (Know The Ledge),” and “Paid In Full”—this feels like new territory for the 18th Letter, whose production and scratching talents are nothing short of remarkable.
G.O.D.'S NETWORK (REB7RTH) is proof that Rakim is truly one of the most special artists we’ve known not just in hip-hop, but all of music. You can tell he feels that level of praise when speaking about the genesis of the album. “Having the ability to showcase my talents behind the boards coupled with the elite lyricism the world already knows and gives me infinite praise for alongside some of the best talents to ever do it is truly a blessing and for that I am humbled,” he said.
Rakim is more than an official triple-threat as an artist, because he’s also showing off skills as a curator. On this album’s seven tracks, he enlists a who’s-who of top hip-hop talent, including the dearly departed Nipsey Hussle, Fred the Godson, DMX, and Prodigy (of Mobb Deep). Rakim also linked with many of his contemporaries, such as Snoop Dogg, Method Man, KXNG Crooked, B.G., and Kool G. Rap, among others.
The album’s first single, “Be Ill,” is the perfect introduction, as it pairs Rakim’s raw rhymes and head-nodding production with slick guest features from Kurupt and Masta Killa. Elsewhere, Rakim slows it down for the soulful “Love Is The Message,” which features Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King, Snoop Dogg, Sally Green, Kobe Honeycutt, and the LA Grand Choir. And then there’s the chest-thumping “International,” a straight-up slapper with hard-hitting rhymes from Kool G. Rap, Tristate, and Joell Ortiz.
For fans of hip-hop, and especially of Rakim’s storied discography, there is so much to love on this record. You can hear his hunger as an emcee and producer on every track, as well as his desire to collaborate with so many respected artists. Despite having decades in the game and many classics to his name, it feels like Rakim is just getting started.
While the world awaits the July 26th release date, fans can catch Rakim performing live throughout the US from now until the end of year in support of G.O.D.S Network (REB7RTH). In addition to debuting new material, he’ll be performing all the classics from his beloved catalog.
- A1: Burnt Cork Face
- A2: Exceptional Negro Prod. Deener
- A3: Child In Iron Collar Prod. Walz & Bohemia Lynch
- A4: Spook’s Blues Prod. Cities Aviv
- A5: Melanin Child Prod. Sb11
- A6: Grease Paint Tap Dancer
- A7: Black(S) N Control Prod. Walz
- B1: A Colored Night Prod. Lukah
- B2: A Black Man’s Worst Fear Prod. Deener
- B3: Beautifully Blackface Prod. Hollow Sol
- B4: Fly Blackface Fly Prod. Hollow Sol
- B5: Shoe Polished Face
Written and recorded in a firestorm of creativity during the mastering phase of Lukah's upcoming double LP with Real Bad Man, Permanent Blackface is a monstrous vignette displaying the true power of Lukah's songwriting and the technical brilliance of his team. The album flashes before you like a lightning strike illuminating a barren cityscape.
Introducing himself as Mr. Blackface, Lukah identifies the true artist's responsibility to hold a mirror to the listener in order to confront and disarm taboos. In both content and music, the record balances vulgarity and introspection, the horror of silence, and the comfort of colossal, discordant sound. Over 12 songs the celestial, often blood-soaked color palette of soul and R&B that gave emotional weight to Why Look Up and Raw Extractions has been scraped away like a charred skeleton. With a small cast of voices consisting entirely of Lukah's immediate family, and production duties handled in-house by WALZ, Deener, Hollow Sol, Cities Aviv, SB11, and Lukah himself, the record has the intimacy of a theater production. The only voices present are Lukah, joined by his mother providing scat vocals, and his grandfather discussing the Jungian self-hatred of the colonial project and its terrifying repercussions for contemporary Black Amer-icans, with a fitting invocation of Dr. Frankenstein's monster. The beats here are reminiscent of noir, 78rpm swing and big band, evoking the underlying horror of a pre-Civil Rights movement America, where segregational binaries invert-ed folk tales through the white terror of ghosts, the black "spook", and mythic themes of fate and free will. The whip-lash of shifting perspectives keeps your head on a swivel in way only Lukah's superior pen can elucidate. Will it trigger anger that first voice you hear on Permanent Blackface is Judy Garland singing "Sweet Chariot"? But isn't this just Lukah speaking through her, announcing he's got "The Southin his mouth"? As the internet endlessly debates intention and appropriation in our artistic history, the insignificance of this small sample is put into perspective: another white pebble in a black ocean of Lukah's creation. "If the sun don't shine today / pray the sun come out tomorrow...pray the sun pierce through the sorrow"
The album introduces an unnamed character beset by disposition. As the story's scope increases, the gaze of the mir-ror shifts. How would white society feel if historical roles were reversed? How does a presumed white listener experi-ence the trauma of interacting with police?
- Honey
- Suck
- Prescriptions
- The Knife
- Real Friends
- Pretend Friends
- Conspiracy Podcast
- Profiteer
- Addict
- Illusionist
- Ships
- Panic In Babylon
- Viholliseni Maalla
- Gaz Hilarant
- Illuminoni
- I Want To Hold Your Other Hand
- Face Down On The Moon
- The Clouds Are Lies
- Stairway To The Best Party In The Universe
- Seven Kinds Of Wonderful
- Waking Up To Hand Grenades
- Blue Order / New Monday
- A1: I'm A Villain
- A2: The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show Feat. 6'9", Jungle & Grand Wizard
- A3: Halftime (Butcher Remix)
- A4: It Ain't Hard To Tell (Remix)
- A5: One Love (Lg Main Mix)
- B1: Life's A Bitch (Arsenal Mix)
- B2: One Love (On L Main Mix)
- B3: The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
- B4: It Ain't Hard To Tell (The Stink Mix)
- B5: It Ain't Hard To Tell (The Laidback Mix)
Forbidden ist das achtzehnte Studioalbum der englischen Rockband Black Sabbath, das ursprünglich am
5. Juni 1995 veröffentlicht wurde. Diese Aufnahme war die Wiedervereinigung der Besetzung von Black
Sabbath aus der Tyr-Ära von 1990 mit der Rückkehr von Neil Murray und Cozy Powell. Dieser Remix von
2024 enthält einen vollständigen Remix von Forbidden von Tony Iommi und ist auf Ultra Clear-Vinyl und
CD-Digisleeve erhältlich.
- A1: Always This Late
- A2: Say My Name (Feat. Zyra)
- A3: Bloom
- A4: All We Need (Feat. Shy Girls)
- A5: Sundara
- A6: White Lies (Feat. Jenni Potts)
- B1: Kusanagi
- B2: Echoes (Feat. Py)
- B3: It’s Only (Feat. Zyra)
- B4: Koto
- B5: Memories That You Call (Feat. Monsoonsiren)
- C1: Sun Models (Feat. Madelyn Grant)
- C2: For Us (Feat. Briana Marela)
- C3: Light (Feat. Little Dragon)
- C4: Say My Name (Feat. Zyra) (Hayden James Remix)
- D1: Bloom (Lane 8 Remix)
- D2: All We Need (Feat. Shy Girls) (Beat Connection Remix)
- D3: It’s Only (Feat. Zyra) (Rüfüs Du Sol Remix)
- D4: Always This Late (Illenium 2014 Remix)
10 Jahres-Jubiläums-Edition von ODESZA’s wegweisendem Album ‘In Return’ welches erstmals im September 2014 erschien und die beiden Gold-Status Singles ’Say My Name’ & ’Sun Models’ sowie Klassiker wie ‘All We Need’ enthält. Das Gelb-Rot marmorierte 2LP Reissue enthält mehrere Tracks, die erstmals auf Vinyl veröffentlicht werden wie z.B. Remixes von RÜFÜS DU SOL, Hayden James, ILLENIUM, Lane 8 und Beat Connection.
Format: Gelb-rot marmoriertes Doppelvinyl (140g) im Gatefold mit farbigem Bellyband.
Taking the album name from the famous adventure novel ‘My Side of the Mountain’, Iconoclastic artist Kat Von D explores themes of love and sobriety in her sophomore album release. Created whilst covering her iconic tattoos and finding a new faith to live by, this synthwave, goth, post-punk album was created whilst finding peace amongst the chaos and written from Kat’s own experiences of love, darkness and vulnerability with collaborations from respected songwriters Shep Solomon (Enrique Iglesias, Kelly Clarkson, Natalie Imbruglia) Fernando Garibay (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Kylie Minogue) and guest vocalist Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy).Kat Von D has an impressive résumé. She has done everything from shaking up the tattoo industry to starring in hit TV shows, writing best-selling books, and creating a beauty empire. But before all of that, her first love was music. She poured her heart into melodies and songwriting before she became known for her work in tattoos and makeup. With a background in classical music and an eclectic appreciation for different genres, it is clear that ‘My Side of the Mountain’ is an impressive follow up album from Kat.
Just a Man, Beres Hammond’s 1979 album, is a hidden gem in his illustrious career, celebrated for its heartfelt lyrics and smooth melodies, hallmarks of Hammond's signature style. This album offers a rare glimpse of Hammond before he became the lover’s rock icon we know today. Blending R&B, disco, soul reggae, and lovers rock, Just a Man showcases his soulful voice against the backdrop of disco-infused reggae rhythms, creating an irresistible vibe.
At this pivotal moment in his career, Hammond had just left the band Zap Pow to focus on his solo work, and Just a Man was a bold statement of independence. It reflects Hammond’s early musical journey, combining elements of R&B and disco with reggae, and marks a key moment in his rise as a solo artist.
Produced by Joe Gibbs, a legendary figure in reggae, and arranged by Willie Lindo, the album features some of Jamaica’s most esteemed musicians: Val Douglas & Mike Chung on bass; Mike Richards, Robert Stephenson & Calvin McKenzie on drums; Robert Lyn, Franklyn Waul& Harold Butler on electric piano; Lenox Gordon, Willie Lindo on guitar; Pam Hall, Prilly Hamilton, Sharon Forrester & Beres Hammond on backing vocals; Waul, Clive Hunt & Noel Seale on percussions; Hunt, Franklyn Waul & Harold Butler on piano; Dean Fraser on saxophone; Peter Ashbourne Group as string ensemble; Jerome Francque & Roland Robinson on trombone; David Madden, Willie Brackenridge & Clive Hunt on trumpet.
The album’s standout track, “Do This World A Favour,” became a UK soul hit, but the entire album features rare and funky gems like "Keep My Wheel Turning" that reflect Hammond's versatility and ability to transcend genres.
Our exclusive edition has been remastered, delivering superior sound quality that enhances the richness of every note.
This edition is published under the direction of Joseph Barthelet for Jamwax, under license from Gavin D.A. Gibson.
Just a Man is more than just an album; it’s a significant piece of jamaican music history.
- A1: Poppy Jean Crawford - Glamorous (Compiled By Angel Olsen)
- A2: Coffin Prick - Blood
- A3: Sarah Grace White - Ride
- A4: Maxim Ludwig - Make Believe You Love Me
- A5: Camp Saint Helene - Wonder Now
- B1: The Takeover (Poppy Jean Crawford Cover - Performed By Angel Olsen)
- B2: Swimming (Coffin Prick Cover)
- B3: Sinkhole (Sarah Grace White Cover)
- B4: Born Too Blue (Maxim Ludwig Cover)
- B5: Farfisa Song (Camp Saint Helene Cover)
A few years ago, Angel Olsen quietly formed somethingscosmic, a new imprint and a home for Olsen to have “the flexibility to release when and how I want to with the help from my longtime partners at Jagjaguwar.” Somethingscosmic’s second release, ‘Cosmic Waves Volume 1’ is a compilation reimagined as a dialogue; side A features artists chosen by Olsen, with each artist choosing their own song for the collection. Side B is a collection of songs from the same artists, but chosen by Olsen and recorded by her. Each song, unsurprisingly, illuminates a new artist Olsen finds spectacular. Hearing Olsen refract the artists’ songs back to them reveals the depth of Olsen’s imagination, while spotlighting multiple exciting artists at work.
“As someone that emerged into the music scene through a small tape label,” says Olsen, “I’ve wanted to continue the spirit of discovery and of my debut release, ‘Strange Cacti’, while supporting and collaborating with artists and friends whose music I have been moved by. I feel there is something unique and special about covering another artist's song,” she continues. “We all make it our own, or we try to, but I personally always learn something new about the process when I’m engaging someone else’s words and melodies in such a close way. Time and again I find that putting myself into various different styles of songs can lead to new ways of thinking and creating.”
The artists on “Cosmic Waves Volume 1” draw from a sprawling, myriad sounds, eras and inspirations. Poppy Jean Crawford’s magnetic growl and guitar-god heaviness; Coffin Prick’s reckless, psychedelic fuzz; Sarah Grace White’s hypnotic voice and melody; Maxim Ludwig’s expert minimalism; and Camp Saint Helene’s beautiful, big sky folk. “Thank you for listening and supporting this experiment,” Olsen says. “If you like what you hear, please support these artists by buying some of their music, merch, a ticket to their show, or telling your friends about them. It goes a long way. Love, Angel”
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