Search:immer

SASSYHIYA want to take you somewhere. The journey starts in Kathy and Helen's flat in South London. Sit down, close your eyes, and immerse yourself... You are on your way to a musical rainforest a long way from Camberwell. Explore your new surroundings, and you will find beautiful pop blooms like Let's See What We Can Find, as bright and vibrant as The Sundays, thrusting their colourful faces up from the forest floor. You'll find tangles of sharp-edged guitar, as if Swiss she-punks Kleenex had been left to evolve here in the rich fertile soil (I Had A Thought). You'll find dark pools full of lyrical complexity, deceptively deep and immersive, with shimmering reflections of The Go-Betweens (Perennial). And you'll come across delicate love songs, creeping up the trunks and branches of the bass and drums, displaying their fragile beauty (Thank You And Goodbye). And what's that exotic striped animal prowling through the undergrowth? Actually, it's Crayon Potato, Sassyhiya's pet cat, the other resident of their flat in South London, taking up her role as the feline star of a lilting, singalong anthem written in her honour. That's what is so great about this album. You are somehow, simultaneously, exploring the most exotic forest in the world while also sitting in a flat in an ordinary, familiar English street with Sassyhiya and their cat. This album transports you without pretending the real world doesn't exist: it doesn't get all mystical on you (Take You Somewhere is as unlike Enya as anything you've heard). Sometimes you might be reminded of Girls At Our Best, and then Delta 5. You might even, on occasion, think of Echo and the Bunnymen. Sassyhiya (pronounced "Sassy Hiya") were formed when Helen and Kathy, real-life partners and co-songwriters, joined up with Pablo and Neil (drums and guitar). Helen had previously been in Boys Forever and Basic Plumbing, collaborating with much-missed Veronica Falls musician Patrick Doyle. She and Kathy then formed Barry, a stripped-down queercore outfit, with Bart McDonagh (The Male Gays) and Mark Amura (My Executive Dysfunction). Sassyhiya feels like a culmination of all these elements, hitting the sweet spot between post-punk and indie pop. They know their way around a melody but still keep it wonky, with influences ranging from the Breeders and Broadcast to Dolly Parton.

Eines wollen die Forth Wanderers vor der Veröffentlichung ihres dritten Albums "The Longer This Goes On" klarstellen: "Wir sind nicht zurück", sagt Gitarrist Ben Guterl mit Nachdruck. Das ist vielleicht eine unerwartete Aussage für das erste Album der Band seit ihrer Trennung vor sieben Jahren, aber die Band besteht darauf, dass es eine ehrliche Antwort ist - sie haben sich zusammengefunden, um die zehn kompliziert konstruierten Perlen aufzunehmen, die dieses neue Album ausmachen, und sie sind immer noch dabei herauszufinden, was es für sie bedeutet, in Forth Wanderers zu sein. Wenn man sich diese Songs anhört, von denen jeder einzelne ein glitzerndes Fest der eindringlichen und intuitiven Texte von Sängerin Ava Trilling und der natürlichen musikalischen Chemie der Band ist, hat man allerdings kaum das Gefühl, dass irgendetwas ungesagt bleibt. Das Album ist voller glänzender Melodien, klingender Gesangsharmonien und schlüpfriger, schräger Rhythmen und ist mehr als nur eine Rückkehr zur alten Form. Die Band scheut sich nicht, den Umweg über eine Hook zu gehen, indem sie instrumentale Schnörkel übereinander legt, um die leeren Stellen zu füllen, Raum für Trillings eindringliche Stimme zu schaffen oder ein Riff oder einen Text zu wiederholen, bis er zu einem Zen-Koan wird. Auf "The Longer This Goes On" klingen Forth Wanderers selbstbewusster und selbstsicherer als je zuvor. Man sollte es nur nicht als Comeback bezeichnen. Der Weg zu "The Longer This Goes On" begann im Sommer 2021 in einem Café in Brooklyn. Dort trafen sich Guterl und Trilling zum ersten Mal seit der Auflösung der Forth Wanderers im Jahr 2018. Die drei Jahre, die sie voneinander getrennt waren, hatten den Druck, den die Band während der Tourneen mit ihrer früheren Musik verspürte, teilweise abgebaut: "Wir fühlten uns alle frei, herumzualbern und Spaß zu haben", sagt Guterl. Die Wiedervereinigung mit dem Bassisten Noah Schifrin, dem Gitarristen Duke Greene und dem Schlagzeuger Zach Lorelli führte dazu, dass sich das Spielen so gut anfühlte, wie seit der Gründung der Band nicht mehr. "Es fühlte sich an, als wären wir wieder in der High School". Die Band hat die Art und Weise, wie sie bisher gearbeitet hat, neu definiert. "Dies ist das erste Mal, dass ein Großteil der Musik organisch entstanden ist", erklärt Schifrin. "Alle fünf von uns haben wirklich auf eine Art und Weise zum Schreibprozess beigetragen, wie wir es in der Vergangenheit nicht getan haben", fügte Guterl hinzu. Das daraus resultierende Album, das unter dem wachsamen Auge von Dan Howard produziert wurde, zeigt die Band so präsent und unbelastet, wie sie ihren Sound zum ersten Mal in Echtzeit geschaffen hat. Die Texte sind vollgepackt mit Bekenntnissen, die so breit gefächert sind, dass sich jeder, der sich in den Wirren einer unsicheren romantischen Vorhölle verirrt hat, verstanden fühlt, und doch so präzise geschrieben, dass sie eindeutig aus eigener Erfahrung stammen müssen. Das ist genau das, was Forth Wanderers sowohl so universell nachvollziehbar als auch so speziell macht. Auf "The Longer This Goes On" haben sie diese Fähigkeit, mit minimalistischen Texten und üppiger Instrumentierung an den starken Fäden der romantischen Langeweile zu ziehen, noch vertieft. Forth Wanderers sind sich nicht sicher, was als Nächstes kommt - sie wissen nicht, ob sie weiterhin neue Musik aufnehmen werden oder ob sie diese Songs jemals live aufführen werden. Diese Aufnahmen sind also zehn flüchtige, aber unschätzbare Eindrücke aus der Zeit, die sie als Band verbracht haben; das Wiederaufleben von Freundschaften zwischen Highschool-Kumpels, deren Träume sie ins Rampenlicht katapultiert haben, bevor sie alt genug waren, um Auto zu fahren; Songs, die die Ungewissheit der Zukunft ebenso einfangen wie ihre Musik ihr eigenes Selbstvertrauen in der Gegenwart zementiert. Auf "The Longer This Goes On" machen die Forth Wanderers Musik zu ihren eigenen Bedingungen.

"Crack" ist radikale Reduktion - Für das zweite Album hat die Berliner Band alle Differenzen und Summen weggestrichen und im Proberaum ein Punk-Album eingespielt, das keine weiteren Genrebezeichnungen braucht. DIY wird hier nicht als Gimmick, sondern als alternativlose Notwendigkeit verstanden - "Crack" entstand ohne Studio, ohne Produzent und ohne Ahnung. SEXBEAT interpretiert Punk geschichtsbewusst mit weitgefächerten Einflüssen, die von Oblivians über Suicide bis hin zu Hot Snakes reichen. Klanglich orientiert man sich am 90er-Jahre-Sound des Dischord-Katalogs: Bass und Drums drücken nach vorne, Gitarre und Gesang kotzen sich dazwischen aus. Die Songs klingen mal stark fragmentiert und mechanisch, mal detailliert ausgearbeitet, aber immer direkt und unverblümt. Textlich geht es um alles, was nervt: kaputte Politik, kaputte Gesellschaft und all die kleinen kaputten Dinge in einem selbst. Referenzen reichen von Gordon Solie Motherf**ers ("Give them a dirty floor for a stage. A five bucks show and I'm stoked for days") bis zu George Orwell ("Four legs good, two legs bad"*) - und am Ende muss sogar Grammy-Preisträger Beck herhalten, denn über allem steht: "You make me wanna try crack".

Dive into the ultra deep field with the third release by Alphawaves. A0708EP, exemplifies Alphawaves' unique ability to sculpt atmospheric textures and intricate rhythms, seamlessly merging the organic with the synthetic. Yet another masterclass in balance, where cutting-edge sound design meets the warmth and depth of analog undertones. The result is an immersive sonic landscape that transcends time, presenting a vision of the future that feels both unsettling and profoundly familiar.

Representing the spirit of the underground in Dubai, Shadi Megallaa is a multifaceted music lover whose unwavering passion for music permeates throughout all of his endeavours. A pioneer of Dubai’s electronic music culture, Shadi’s roots lie with the foundations of modern day electronica: all shades of house, techno and beyond. His commitment to preserving and evolving the culture is inherent in his record shop, The Flip Side, which has been intrinsic to the growth and development of music culture in Dubai. As a DJ and producer he draws on a multitude of experience, diverse taste and a refined ear that has instilled the ability to craft compelling productions. On Spirits Of The Deep we find Shadi exploring the deeper side of electronic music, creating layers of vibration designed to immerse the listener in layers of positive vibration.

As prescribed by Shadi himself, we start the traditional way, with Side B (the info side), where ‘Microgravity’ transports us into the cosmos. Soothing sonics envelop a taut low end with crisp percussion and swathes of pad work cultivating an interstellar atmosphere. Subtly shifting layers keep you locked into a groove, as the track maintains its energetic pulse. The synth lines increase with intensity midway through, adding more potency. Across almost nine minutes Shadi takes us on an excursion beyond the stars…

This is followed by ‘G-Dub’, a smooth jazz-inflected piece full of soul nourishing goodness. Intuitive drum programming with a groove-laced low end form the propulsive backbone of this track. The dreamlike melodic elements are almost transcendent in their illuminating impact. With all of its elements combined, ‘G-Dub’ is a glorious foray into the depths of true deep house. Shadi keeps things interesting throughout, adding and subtracting layers to complement the pace. Those hi-hats and intermittent cymbal crashes are especially impactful. A delight.

On the flip we have ‘Pressure’, where Shadi’s UK breaks influence comes through. A characterful vocal sample features throughout the intro before we enter a world of unusual sounds. The beats are, once again, impeccably executed, accompanied by a dubby bassline and an ever-evolving cacophony of squelchy sounds and chirps. Running at just over 9 ½ minutes, ‘Pressure’ sees Shadi flexing his creative muscles with a heady, expansive composition that invites us on a deep musical trip.

Finally, ‘The Poet’ closes out the EP on an emotive tip. The track is dedicated to the Palestinian poet and activist Refaat Alareer, who was killed during an airstrike on Gaza in December 2023. It utilises Refaat’s powerful poem If I Must Die, with the spinetingling words taking centre stage, as Shadi’s beats, bass and bright pads provide the backdrop. A piano-led melody appears in the latter part of the track, amplifying its emotionally-charged atmosphere. A wonderfully imagined homage to a martyr for peace. As the samples state, Let it bring hope…

Repress alert! For the first time since its initial release in 2019, Voyage proudly present a repress of Huerta’s debut album Junipero. With copies changing hands on the second-hand market for £90, here’s a chance to own this cult classic!

Huerta’s debut album for Voyage is a righteous journey along the coast of California; a psychosomatic blend of melodic rhythm, natural sounds and ambient textures.

Recorded throughout 2019, Huerta combines a blissful wash of west coast inspired ambient with the more affable, rhythmic house cuts he has been previously known for. Drawing on the surrounding landscapes of his upbringing, Huerta’s ode to the Juniper tree is an immersive and introspective experience; a long player capable of taking you to an elevated state of mind.

Composed, arranged and recorded by Steve Huerta at Diesel Studios Berlin, 2019

Sleeve Design: Sam Donaldson

Purple vinyl, limited to 150 copies. Born from the murky industrial depths of Birmingham, UK, Margarita Witch Cult's self-titled debut studio album is a tour-de-force in classic metal, hard rock, doom, and mind-melting psych. A thunderous drum fill propels you into opener 'Diabolical Influence'- a lurching behemoth of a tune that makes easy bedfellows of crushing stoner riffs, Latin incantations, and a simply humongous chorus. The pace quickens with the frantic 'Death Lurks at Every Turn'- a hair-raising thrasher of breakneck snare rolls and unruly guitar solos. 'The Witchfinder Comes' only furthers the sense of foreboding, as tales of torture and pleas for exile fall on the ever-deafening ears of the listener. 'Be My Witch' comes in hot and heavy as a grungy ode to the forbidden, and the blistering 'Annihilation' concludes side A with speed-freak ferocity. The more adventurous and immersive side B is kick-started with 'Theme From Cyclops' - the deft chops of all 3 members being undeniable as we gallop into the ambitious, face-melting journey that is 'Lord Of The Flies'-a belting doom groover that culminates in a classic guitar & bass dual to rival even the most virtuosic of axe-wielders. As we near the end of our perilous sonic expedition, 'Aradia' serves up an instrumental serving of pure downtuned filth, with sleazy swagger and tasteful shredding that give extra provenance to its author's deep bag of tricks. The killer blow comes in the shape of the simply savage 'Sacrifice'- an unholy exhibition of undeniable force. The duality of the track makes for an experience that leaves our sweet listener reeling- the bludgeoning weight of its monstrous main-riff giving way to razor-sharp verses and a tripped-out, mind-bending psych jam- only to come crashing back to crushing reality as the final, fatal notes ring out. With their debut LP, Margarita Witch Cult have crafted a timeless, merciless beast- one that will chew you up and spit you out, yet somehow keep you crawling back for more.

Wiederveröffentlichung des zweiten Milkshakes-Albums als schwarze Vinyl-Stereo-LP! ,Vom eröffnenden Raspeln von ,SEVEN DAYS" bis zu den ausklingenden Tönen von ,WO' NOW" geht der rasende Beat weiter. Sogar die ruhigeren Tracks sind mit dem unverwechselbaren MILKSHAKES-Branding versehen, was darauf hindeutet, dass THE MILKSHAKES die unbestreitbaren Anführer des World Beat sind!", heißt es hier. Nach dem imaginären internationalen Erfolg ihres Debütalbums ,Talking Bout...", und der 45er Single "It's You" c/w ,Please Don't Tell My Baby" beschlossen die Milkshakes, das wenige Geld, das sie noch hatten, für einen weiteren Longplayer zu verschwenden. Das Ergebnis war das clever betitelte, wenn auch etwas prahlerisch klingende ,Fourteen Rhythm & Beat Greats". In der Tat, wenn man die Augen schließt und den Plattenspieler ausschaltet, könnten alle 14 - zähle sie (wenn du das nächste Mal deine Augen öffnest) - fein gearbeiteten Stücke auf dieser LP fast als ,großartig" bezeichnet werden, je nachdem, wo du musikalisch stehst. Mit Live-Favoriten wie ,Black Sails In The Moonlight" und ,Red Monkey" war der allgemeine Konsens, dass dies das bisher beste Werk von THE MILKSHAKES sei (fragt sie selbst). Das muss zum Teil stimmen, denn das renommierte Londoner Label Big Beat Records fand das Album gut genug, um es auf seinem eigenen renommierten Label Big Beat wiederzuveröffentlichen - und das gleich zweimal. Aber das war vor über 40 Jahren, also versucht bitte, eure Begeisterung zu zügeln und bildet eine geordnete Schlange... obwohl, je schneller sie ausverkauft ist, desto eher kann sie - wieder einmal - nachgepresst werden. Bassist Russ Wilkins erinnert sich an die Aufnahme der LP: ,Die Aufnahmen fanden in Herne Bay in Oakwoods zweitem Studio statt. Ich glaube, ich war gerade mit den Prisoners dort gewesen und hatte "Taste of Pink" aufgenommen. Ich benutzte meinen Framus Star Bass und fing gerade an, einen Fender-Bassverstärker zu benutzen, der mich im Studio im Stich ließ, also musste ich einen AC30 Top verwenden, der ziemlich verzerrt und nicht das war, was ich wollte, aber wir mussten damit arbeiten. Man kann es bei "No-one Else" hören, das bei den Proben großartig klang. "Can You Tell Me" war der Beginn des Strippings, bei dem wir versuchten, so minimal wie möglich zu sein, und ich schaffte es später, es auf nur zwei Noten zu reduzieren. Es gab natürlich auch die Wall City Version der Platte, die von Hansi Steinmetz in Berlin herausgebracht wurde - mit einem andersfarbigen Logo auf der Vorderseite. Da sind auch viel mehr Backing Vocals drauf. Ich denke, dafür muss ich etwas Verantwortung übernehmen. Es wurde eher wie die vorherigen Pop Rivets-Alben aufgenommen, indem wir uns alle zusammen in einem Raum aufstellten und live spielten, mit sehr wenigen Overdubs, abgesehen von dem einen oder anderen Solo. Wir haben noch ein weiteres in dieser Art gemacht und dann die Richtung geändert, als wir die sieben Alben an einem Tag oder was auch immer veröffentlichten." RUSS WIILKINS, MAI 2025

"Kamino blends deep basslines, melodic textures, and experimental electronics into a personal sonic journey. RH1 crafts immersive tracks that drift between emotion and abstraction, offering a sound that's intimate, cinematic, and infused with a sense of upward-looking hopefulness."

Under-the-radar artist CV1 debuts on Life In Patterns Lab with "Blocks of Darkness", a six-track EP that delivers a captivating blend of raw, expressive techno inspired by 90s and 2000s sounds with a modern edge. This release showcases CV1's talent for crafting immersive techno journeys, balancing peak-time energy with deeper, hypnotic, and introspective moods. "Blocks of Darkness" is set to release in mid-July 2025 on hand-stamped vinyl and digital formats.

… oder Beastie Boys…oder Robert DeNiro…oder Banksy…oder Sportfreunde Stiller – klein anfangen und
dann mal schauen, was draus wird. Es wurde – zwar nicht wie alle erwähnten Künstler, aber der Weg
ist ja eventuell noch nicht vorbei für die Sportfreunde, die bei ihrem ersten Studioalbum auf vier Jahre
Liedansammlung zurückgreifen konnten. In Spanien mit und bei Uwe Hoffmann (Die Ärzte…) turbulente
Wochen verbracht, um in die Wunderwelt der Produktion eingeweiht zu werden. Daraus entstand eine
vorwärtsdrängende Musikplatte, die das zukünftige Spektrum der Sportfreunde definieren sollte. Zwischen
„Hockey (Feld)“ und „Fast wie von selbst“ liegen Punksongs, Balladen, verspielter Dadaismus, Neugier auf
Energie und tiefe Emotion. Sie schwebten damals auf Wolke sieben und waren auf Ochsentouren, auf den
10-Meter-Brettern (Video „Wellenreiten“), auf dem Mond (Video „Fast wie von selbst“), in Fernsehstudios
(Mit ihnen wuchsen und an ihnen verzweifelten MTV und VIVA), in Kochstudios (Video „Heimatlied“),
bouncten mit der Meute und Hans Rosendahl bei „Spitze“ um die Wette und sie klauten dem FC Bayern
die Meisterschale im Video zu „Wunderbaren Jahren“, dem Lied, das ihre erste musikalische Errungenschaft war und nach fast 30-Jahren immer noch deren Bandmotto darstellt. Denn, was soll denn noch
kommen? Außer eventuell ein Duett mit Mike D. und Ad Rock von Beastie Boys, ein Kurzfilm mit Robert
DeNiro, ein Mauerkunstwerk in New York mit Banksy oder eine Übernahme des königlichen Fußballclubs
Real Madrid…die wunderbaren Jahre sind noch nicht vorbei.
Auf dieser LP sind erstmalig auch die Lieder ”Rocket Radio”, ”Wir müssen gewinnen” und ”Money Mark”
enthalten, die es bisher nur auf der CD gab.
Nun kommt das Ganze in weiß daher, damit Nachzügler die reine Shellac-Weste bestellen können. Let´s
surf it!
180gr + weißes Vinyl, bedrucktes Beiblatt mit jeder Menge exklusiven Fotos von damals!

It was in such a dense and impenetrable darkness that Lake of Tears must have been
born.
And their debut album is immersed in this darkness. It was baptized "Greater Art" and
indeed the title sets the tone for what was to follow. Yes, it is a higher art, it was and is
something different. Although there are infuences from other Swedish bands of the
time, such as Tiamat, or even death metal elements, what is certain is that their doom
metal brought to the fore something new, fresh and completely innovative.
We won't go into the process of choosing any songs, as we've said it before, Lake of
Tears never included indifferent compositions on any album. However, we can't help
but make a small exception when talking about the magnifcent epic " Upon The
Highest Mountain ", which in itself would be an excellent reason to purchase the
album.
We are proud to release Lake of Tears ' debut on vinyl after 31 years. For the older
generation to remember and the younger generation to discover. Because what these
Swedes made here, three decades ago, stands as an immortal monument. Is it doom
metal? Does it have death metal infuences? Is it gothic metal? Yes, but it sounds a bit
different...Who really cares?
It was then that the magnifcent prologue was written, becoming the beginning of
everything that was to follow. And hold on... the epilogue hasn't been written yet...

A Deep Dive Into Rock Royalty - The Many Faces of Deep Purple (2 LPS)
Step into the legendary world of Deep Purple with this exclusive double vinyl release, The Many Faces of Deep Purple. More than just a tribute, this compilation is a curated journey through the band's extensive musical legacy, featuring collaborations, rare recordings, and side projects from key members like Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner, Nicky Simper, Ian Gillan, Don Airey, and Jon Lord. Pressed by MPO for optimal sound quality, this deluxe edition includes 20 tracks across four sides, each selected to reveal a new facet of one of rock’s most influential bands.
Unreleased Gems, All-Star Collaborations & Classic Covers
This collection uncovers the band’s wider universe, from early recordings by Episode Six and Warhorse to powerhouse tracks by Trapeze, Funky Junction, and Quatermass II. Glenn Hughes lends his unmistakable voice to standout perfor- mances, including Piece of My Heart and Freak Out Tonight, while Joe Lynn Turner teams up with guitar icon Leslie West for a searing version of The Seeker. Listeners will also discover rare studio tributes and pre-fame moments, such as the spirited Deep Purple covers by Thin Lizzy members under the Funky Junction moniker.
A Must-Have for Collectors & Classic Rock Fans
Packaged in a striking gatefold sleeve and featuring liner notes that contextualize each track, The Many Faces of Deep Purple is a collector’s dream and a sonic treasure trove. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new listener exploring rock’s golden age, this double LP release delivers an immersive and essential experience that celebrates the talent, evolution, and influence of the Deep Purple legacy. Available now in limited quantities, don’t miss your chance to own a unique piece of rock history.

Ólafur Arnalds & Eoin French, known professionally as Talos, come together on A Dawning, a deeply immersive collaborative album set for release in July 2025 via OPIA Community and Mercury KX. Created before the untimely passing of Talos in 2024, the record blends their distinct musical voices—into something truly transportive. Adding a deeply personal touch, all artwork for the album and its singles were crafted by Talos himself, offering fans an additional insight into his beautiful creative vision. This release not only celebrates the musical partnership between Arnalds and Talos but also honours the enduring legacy of Talos, ensuring his artistic spirit continues to inspire and resonate.

Underoath sind seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten eine wegweisende Stimme im progressiven Heavy Rock. Nur sehr
wenige können mit ihnen mithalten, wenn es darum geht, immer wieder an die Grenzen zu gehen oder sich
kreativ weiterzuentwickeln. „Voyeurist“ ist eine Rückkehr zu Underoaths Heavy-Metalcore-Wurzeln, die sie
in den 2000er Jahren zu einer der größten Bands in der Metal-Welt machten. „Voyeurist“ ist ihr neuntes
Album und das erste, das die Band komplett selbst produziert hat. Es wurde im Studio von Gitarrist Tim
in Tampa, FL aufgenommen und enthält 10 Tracks, die schwer, aber dennoch experimentell und manchmal
wunderschön sind. Während das letzte Album „Erase Me“ aus dem Jahr 2018 eine Abkehr von ihrem
Sound war und eher ein geradliniges Rock-Album, kehrt dieses zu den beliebten Metalcore-Wurzeln der
Band zurück, von denen die Fans so begeistert sein.

Mute veröffentlicht am 11.07. das neunte Soloalbum des für immer einflussreichen Künstlers Mark Stewart - 'The Fateful Symmetry' - ist ein vitales Meisterwerk, das kurz vor seinem frühen Tod im April 2023 fertiggestellt wurde.

In seiner illustren Karriere als Pionier mit The Pop Group, Mark Stewart & The Maffia und als Solokünstler hat Stewart ein bahnbrechendes Werk geschaffen, das von den DIY-Idealen des Punk, radikaler Politik, Protestbewegungen, Theorie, Philosophie, Technologie, Kunst und Poesie geprägt ist. Mit 'The Fateful Symmetry' wird Stewarts bleibendes Vermächtnis als „verehrter Gegenkultur-Musiker“ (The Guardian) mit einem Album fortgesetzt, das so furchtlos und visionär ist wie seine besten Arbeiten.

'The Fateful Symmetry' zeugt von seinem unermüdlichen Einfallsreichtum und ist eines seiner intimsten und kraftvollsten Statements. Es ist ein erstaunlich ausdrucksstarkes und innovatives Album, ein kämpferisches und schönes Manifest für eine bessere Welt. Der unnachahmliche, titanische Mark Stewart, nie normalisiert, immer außergewöhnlich.

Die queere Singer-Songwriterin jasmine.4.t ist die erste britische Künstlerin, die bei Phoebe Bridgers' Label Saddest Factory unter Vertrag steht. Ihr Debütalbum wurde komplett von Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers und Lucy Dacus, auch bekannt als Boygenius, produziert. Jasmine und ihre Band sind nach L.A gereist, um das Album in den Sound City Studios aufzunehmen und haben das innerhalb von 12 Tagen fertiggestellt. Die Songs des Albums entstanden inmitten persönlicher Umbrüche im Jahr 2021: ""I came out as trans to my nearest and dearest. Some did not accept me, but some did." Trotz der schmerzhaften Erfahrungen, bietet "You Are The Morning" einen persönlichen Einblick auf ihr Liebesleben. Jasmine lernte Gitarre spielen, als ihr Onkel, ihr sein altes Instrument geschenkt hatte. Sie spielte zunächst Songs Ihrer Lieblingsmusiker nach, doch Musik spielen und Texte schreiben gehörte für sie immer schon zusammen. Der Titeltrack paart Jasmines gezupfte Gitarre mit Streichern, die ein Gefühl von Leichtigkeit und Sicherheit vermitteln. Textlich handelt der Song von Zugehörigkeit und Verbundenheit. Auf dem abschließenden Track "Woman" wird sie von dem Trans Chorus of Los Angeles unterstützt. Dieser generationenübergreifende Chor besteht aus Transpersonen, die genau wie Jasmine ihre Stimme als Quelle für Zusammenhalt benutzen. Der Song beginnt mit einer Solonummer, die in eine Gruppenperformance aufblüht und handelt von der inneren Kraft, die daraus entspringt zu wissen, wer man im tiefsten inneren ist: "I am, in my soul, a woman". Für jasmine.4.t sind Aktivismus und Performance eng miteinander verbunden. Mit ihrer Plattform sammelt sie weiterhin Spenden und macht auf die Trans Mutual Aid Manchester aufmerksam, eine Organisation, für die sie sich ehrenamtlich engagiert hat. Sie möchte Gleichgesinnten etwas zurückgeben. Um ihre Geschichte auf "You Are The Morning" zu erzählen, bezieht sie sich immer wieder auf dunkle Aspekte Ihres Lebens. Umgeben von Freunden, war der Aufnahmeprozess jedoch voller Hoffnung. Durch ihre Auftritte, ihren Aktivismus und ihr künstlerisches Schaffen läutet jasmine.4.t eine neue Ära ein.

Random Colored Edition, Limitiert. Love A ist etwas Bemerkenswertes gelungen: Das, was ihr Debüt "Eigentlich" auszeichnet, haben sie sich bewahrt. Die volle Faust auf die Zwölf, diese unmittelbare und schnörkellose Konfrontation, das Getriebensein durch ein Leben, das mehr Fragen aufwirft als es Antworten anbietet, dem Scheitern immer näher als dem Gelingen. Stefans Gitarre, die ganz untypisch für Punk völlig unverzerrt daherkommt und Jörkks latente Hysterie über allem.

From the depths of personal reckoning to the forefront of the UK"s alternative scene, SPLIT CHAIN have spent the past two years transmuting raw emotion into sound. Their debut album, motionblur, out soon on Epitaph Records, is a thunderous statement of intent-an electrifying fusion of shoegaze, grunge, and nu-metal that surges with both nostalgia and forward momentum. Sonically, motionblur captures a distinctive aesthetic, steeped in the melancholic haze of early 2000s alt-rock yet sharpened by the intensity of modern hardcore. Guitars drenched in chorus and distortion crash into ethereal, hook-laden vocals, forging a sound that"s at once crushingly heavy and deeply immersive. Following a string of self-released singles that organically amassed millions of streams, SPLIT CHAIN"s signing with Epitaph catapulted them further into the spotlight. Their first label-backed single pushed their streaming numbers past the 15-million mark, earning them accolades as AltPress" Breakout Artist of the Month and Revolver"s "Badass Rising Band to Know." With nods from Stereogum, The Needle Drop, BrooklynVegan, and Metal Injection, the buzz around Split Chain is undeniable. With motionblur, SPLIT CHAIN aren"t just making an album-they"re making a moment. And if their trajectory so far is any indication, this is only the beginning.

From the depths of personal reckoning to the forefront of the UK"s alternative scene, SPLIT CHAIN have spent the past two years transmuting raw emotion into sound. Their debut album, motionblur, out soon on Epitaph Records, is a thunderous statement of intent-an electrifying fusion of shoegaze, grunge, and nu-metal that surges with both nostalgia and forward momentum. Sonically, motionblur captures a distinctive aesthetic, steeped in the melancholic haze of early 2000s alt-rock yet sharpened by the intensity of modern hardcore. Guitars drenched in chorus and distortion crash into ethereal, hook-laden vocals, forging a sound that"s at once crushingly heavy and deeply immersive. Following a string of self-released singles that organically amassed millions of streams, SPLIT CHAIN"s signing with Epitaph catapulted them further into the spotlight. Their first label-backed single pushed their streaming numbers past the 15-million mark, earning them accolades as AltPress" Breakout Artist of the Month and Revolver"s "Badass Rising Band to Know." With nods from Stereogum, The Needle Drop, BrooklynVegan, and Metal Injection, the buzz around Split Chain is undeniable. With motionblur, SPLIT CHAIN aren"t just making an album-they"re making a moment. And if their trajectory so far is any indication, this is only the beginning.

Ltd Edition!

'moisturizer' ist das mutige zweite Album von Wet Leg, der fünfköpfigen Band von der Isle of Wight, die von Rhian Teasdale und Hester Chambers gegründet wurde. Zusammen mit Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes und Joshua Mobaraki hat Wet Leg die letzten Jahre auf der Straße verbracht und sich zu einer wilden, elektrisierenden Live-Band entwickelt. Das neue Album fängt diese Energie ein und liefert einen Sound, der straffer, mutiger und selbstbewusster ist, aber immer noch vor dem gleichen schnellen Witz und der rohen, ungeschliffenen Energie strotzt.



Isoliert in einem abgelegenen Haus auf dem Lande entstand 'moisturizer' in einem kreativen Rausch, der sich mit Themen wie Besessenheit und alles verzehrender Liebe befasst. Während ihr Debüt aus dem Jahr 2022 mit zwei Grammys ausgezeichnet wurde und die Charts stürmte, bringt 'moisturizer' den nötigen Biss mit: schrille Gitarren, schwere Beats und eine furchtlose Hingabe, alles auf einmal zu fühlen.

Schweiengötter nehmen menschliche Gestalt an und veröffentlichen ,Debütalbum"? Wenn man in einer Kleinstadt aufwächst, muss man entweder seine Freizeit kreativ gestalten oder man radikalisiert sich im Internet. Über dem San Fernando Valley von Los Angeles erhebt sich der süße, schwüle Sound von The Toxhards. Mit halb Psych, halb Prog, halb Rocktheater und halb Indie (das sind vier Hälften) hauchen The Toxhards dem längst obsoleten Genre des ROCK 'n' Roll neues Leben ein. Von ,existenziellen Doom-Bops" bis zu mitreißenden Hymnen über Schweinegötter, bieten The Toxhards einen genreübergreifenden, elektrischen und exzentrischen neuen alternativen Sound. Ihre Musik wird bereits auf TikTok Reels millionenfach angeklickt, ihre unterhaltsamen Bits und Sketche millionenfach geschaut (135k Follower auf TikTok, 75k Follower auf Instagram und 13k auf YouTube). Im Laufe der zwölf Tracks plus vier Zwischenspielen folgt ,Your Neighborhood" dem Protagonisten Adam und seiner Unzufriedenheit mit dem Leben - er hat Freundin verloren, ihm fehlt der Mut, seinen Ambitionen zu folgen - und er beginnt, die schlimmste Version seiner selbst zu werden, die er nur sein kann: ein unsicheres, reaktionäres Individuum, das Trost darin findet, sich in dunklen Online-Ecken über ,andere" zu beschweren. Ursprünglich aus dem Midwestern, nun in der smoggefüllten Höllenlandschaft des San Fernando Valley von Los Angeles lebend, ist die Band auch für ihre unterhaltsamen und mitreißenden Live-Auftritte bekannt, bei denen sie aufblasbare Schweinekostüme tragen, T-Shirts verschenken, unveröffentlichte Songs präsentieren, Kaffeepausen einlegen, Instrumente tauschen und gelegentlich einer ausgedehnten Jam (oder zwei oder drei oder...) fröhnen. Mit jeder neuen Veröffentlichung und bei jeder Show beweisen sie, dass sie die Zukunft von was auch immer sind. The Toxhards haben uns viel zu erzählen und zu bieten. 2023 bei Hopeless Records unterschrieben und direkt ihre erste Single "(The) Coffee Song / October" veröffentlicht.2024 gab's die limitierte und aktuell ausverkaufte Vinyl-Compilation ihrer bisherigen Songs und Singles zwischen 2022 und 2024. Obwohl es sich um eine Zusammenstellung handelt, betrachtet die Band es als ihr "eigentliches Debütalbum", aber nun ist "Your Neighborhood" dran! Für Fans von Ween, Car Seat Headrest, White Reaper, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, symphonischen Weezer, Indie-Prog, Alterntive Pomp, Psychpunk....

Apersonal Music, the Barcelona-based imprint known for its sun-drenched blend of house and disco since 2010, proudly presents the new EP by one of its longest-standing artists: Cisco Cisco. Portuguese duo Cisco Cisco are renowned for crafting emotional and uplifting house and disco, filled with hypnotic sampling and shimmering effects. Their sound has become a signature of Apersonal’s catalog, and The Heat EP is a glowing continuation of this.

On the A side “Why Can’t I Be You?” brings classic disco energy to the table — lush, melodic, and full of that heartfelt groove Cisco Cisco do so well. Plus returning to remix duties alongside Cisco Cisco is Ron Basejam, whose unmatched ability to transform disco originals into
dancefloor monsters shines once again. His remix of “Why Can’t I Be You?” stretches nearly eight minutes, slowly building and wrapping the listener in a deep, infectious groove.

On the B side “The Heat” is a bold detour into early-2000s French electro house, evoking the raw drive of the 2000s. “Under the Bridge” channels the spirit of a Generation X Parisian house party, with filtered synths and punchy basslines reminiscent of Daft Punk’s earliest work. And rounding out the EP Rayko delivers on his finest style, bringing a darker, late-night vibe to the release. His remix of “The Heat” is a driving, immersive journey blending electro and techno influences tailored for the deeper hours on the floor.

Black Moon Circle return with A Million Leagues Beyond - a powerful new album recorded live at Trondheim"s intimate and legendary Moskus club. Since 2014, the Norwegian trio has built a devoted following with their heavy blend of space rock, psychedelia, and raw jamming energy, earning acclaim for both studio albums and immersive live performances. Moskus is a small bar located in Trondheim that hosts about 70 concerts every year, showcasing genres as diverse as jazz, country, Americana, rock, progressive jazz and occasionally psychedelic hard rock. With a capacity of around 80, the audience faces the stage which barely has room for drums and a couple of amplifiers. Feeding off the intimate atmosphere, Black Moon Circle have done what they do best, conjuring up heavily improvised jams out of thin air.

SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint is back with its third release of 2024, marking a full label debut from Sonic Propaganda with their 'Native' EP.

Sonic Propaganda comes from the collaborative minds of Earwax and Rosati, a pair who favour dark and intense techno sounds and take inspiration from Jeff Mills and Robert Hood. In the studio, they blend analog and digital technologies into smoky warehouse atmospheres and immersive journeys that connect with listeners on an emotive level, and this full EP lands following their contribution to the third instalment of the Mutual Rytm's Federation Of Rytm compilation series in February.

The powerful 'Native' opens up at high speed with tightly coiled drum loops that never let up. Sleek metal percussive sounds peel off the grooves and lock listeners into a perfect state of hypnosis. 'Soul Pressure' is just as absorbing, with a tense bassline keeping you on edge as the train-like drums march under incendiary hi-hat ringlets. There is plenty of perfect machine funk to 'Terminal', which has more rusty synth textures and chopped-up vocal fragments humanising the turbulent grooves. 'Basic Path' brings an extra skip to the kicks as they enter, scuffed up and flowing just above the groove, while vocal pulses and twitchy synth modulations bring the detail. 'Body Empire' closes the vinyl package with a deeper vibe and pensive synths that add warmth and soul to the brilliantly mechanical grooves, while digital bonus 'Acid Riot' closes with squelching acid lines amongst a swell of analog crunch and laser-sharp percussion.

Washed Up Color Vinyl is Clear w/ White Splatter! A white ship sailing in a sea of blackness, Codeine's swan song arrived in 1994 amid grunge's ascension to alt radio's godhead status. John Engle's guitar alternates between crystalline and sludge, and Stephen Immerwhar's distorted bass floats on top of punishing drums from newcomer Doug Scharin (Rex, June of 44), resulting in nine perfect meditations on the loneliness and uncertainty of early adulthood. "Codeine's unyielding numbness creates its own kind of warmth _ the feeling of cold water running for so long that it suddenly feels hot." _ Spin

Coaxial System presents a powerful four-track techno EP loaded with immersive textures and driving atmospheres designed to ignite the dance floor. Also featuring a heavy-hitting remix by Squaric and a groovy reinterpretation by Stephen Disario.

Modeight steps into 2025 with a thrilling entry from Vedana, the Leeds-born, New Zealand-based artist making waves in the underground scene. With a career shaped by years behind the decks and a newfound passion for production, Vedana distills his rich clubbing heritage into four cutting-edge tracks on Epiphany EP. The journey begins on A1 with "Epiphany". This groove-heavy minimal house piece is powered by rolling basslines and jagged modular sequences that ignite the dancefloor. Perfectly tuned for pre-parties and equally ready to take over peak-time sets, it's a versatile cut that balances tension and release in all the right places. Next up is A2's "Flawless Victory". As the name suggests, this track hits with triumphant energy. A massive beat locks in with deep, dynamic basslines, building a sense of pressure that commands attention. Add in trippy atmospheres and enveloping textures, and you've got a dancefloor weapon primed to elevate the vibe. Flipping to the B-side, "Onomatopoeia" lives up to its playful title. Short, synthetic stabs cut sharply across the soundstage, synchronized with a hypnotic groove that feels both meticulous and spontaneous. It's a standout piece, rich in personality and brimming with rhythmically charged creativity. Closing the record is B2's "Present in the Culture". An absolute heavyweight of a track, it delivers a mix of atmospheric swells and plucky, tactile sounds that pull listeners deep into a trippy sonic journey. With its driving force and immersive vibe, it's a fitting finale to a stellar EP.

Stephen Disario returns to his imprint Conundrum Records with his first release of the year, the Tawa EP. A fixture of the Los Angeles scene, Disario delivers three dark, percussive techno cuts that lean into tribal rhythms and hypnotic energy. Each track is a testament to his razor-sharp drum programming, immersive sound design, and cerebral atmospheres-hallmarks of his evolving sonic identity.

The EP also features a standout remix from rising Brazilian talent Marcal. His Hightimes rework blends dense, chugging grooves with eerie chimes and trance-like, spacey textures, offering a fresh, mind-bending take on the original.

Die Anfang der 1970er Jahre gegründete US-Band ist einer der beständigsten Underground-Acts in der Geschichte des Heavy Metal. Beeinfl usst von britischen Bands wie The Groundhogs und Black Sabbath, hat ihre eigene Art von Doom Metal später wiederum andere Bands wie Paradise Lost oder Cathedral beeinfl usst. Obwohl sich die Besetzung der Band im Laufe der Jahre mehrfach änderte, ist Sänger Bobby Liebling immer noch am Ruder, und Pentagram gilt heute als echte Kultband mit einer generationsübergreifenden Fangemeinde.

Mit ihrem fünften Studioalbum machte die Band um Frontmann Nergal einen großen Schritt weg von ihren rohen und primitiven Anfängen. Es war ein wichtiger Meilenstein in der Entwicklung von Behemoth und führte mehr Elemente aus dem Death-MetalGenre ein, während sie sich als Komponisten und Musiker immer weiter von ihren traditionellen Black-Metal-Wurzeln entfernten und entwickelten.

Emerging from the fertile chaos of Düsseldorf’s Salon des Amateurs scene, Sequence of Events, the collaborative project of Deniz Saridas and Joshua Gottmanns, presents The Art of Memory, an album that feels both intimate and ungraspable, like recalling a dream that fades upon waking.

Rooted in the post-industrial landscapes of West Germany, The Art of Memory channels the bleak resilience of these environments into its sound. It’s a collage of kraut-infused electronics, shoegaze textures, and industrial pulses, filtered through a lens of introspective psychedelia. “We don’t consciously break down or combine genres,” they explain. “Everything is interwoven, like chemistry. Some reactions happen immediately, others take years under pressure.”

From the opening track TAR, with its stoic vocals and drum-heavy propulsion, to the robotic Meagre Gardens, where autotuned chants coil around unconventional drum programming, the album moves like a fever dream through fragmented memories. Soul Divider unfolds like a cinematic journey through yearning and desire, its repetitive pulses echoing the ache of unfulfilled longing, while Nature Hates Life distills pop music through the eyes of a killjoy: “Kurt Cobain on an AKAI MPC2000,” as the band describes it. Even moments of tenderness, like the drifting Becomings, shimmer with absolute sensuality: a seductive exploration of presence defined by absence. We lift each other up and hold each other down.

The creative process behind The Art of Memory is as fluid as the music itself. Saridas and Gottmanns, both self-taught musicians with backgrounds in fine art, worked intuitively, drawing from a shared pool of samples, text fragments, and images. Operating somewhere in the space between fin de siècle aesthetics and occultism, it’s a dream wedding with a continuous stream of meaningless (moving) images generated by human and non-human entities.

Ultimately, The Art of Memory is not an escape but an immersion. A meditation on the sensory overload of the present and the ghosts it leaves in its wake. In a world where music is often reduced to background noise for consumption, Sequence of Events offers something more elusive: a record that lingers, unsettles, and demands to be remembered.

SMFORMA returns with Quiet Collapse, their third EP, continuing to explore the boundaries between techno, industrial, and EBM. With a career defined by hard-hitting, direct sounds, their new work reinforces their identity through three original tracks where rhythmic tension and raw energy merge uncompromisingly.

Additionally, the EP features remixes by Statiqbloom, Radical G, and Nghtly—key names in the European EBM-Techno scene—who each bring their own vision to SMFORMA’s sonic power. Expect sweeping bass, electric textures, and a sound crafted for both the club and immersive listening.

The German band Schatterau returns to Hands in the Dark with their latest release, »Übers Jahr« (»Throughout the Year«), which follows their acclaimed debut album from last year.

This sophomore effort, as its title implies, delves into the cyclical nature of time and the duality of the transient and the eternal unfolding of events. The album comprises 17 vignettes that reflect on the seasons, capturing their unique light and sounds, the passage of time, and the interplay of movement and stillness, as well as the perpetual transformation that leads to new beginnings.

Continuing the approach of their inaugural album, the compositions are constructed around endless cassette loops, allowing the band to explore intricate textures and weave them into a surreal, dreamlike tapestry. In this release, the warmth and melancholy of the compositions have developed into a more intricate existence, showcasing a wider array of textures and sounds, while the songwriting exhibits greater maturity, inviting listeners into a more immersive and cohesive experience.

»Übers Jahr« transcends being a simple collection of auditory moods; it serves as an intimate portrayal of the seasons that cyclically unfold, embodying a mystery that surpasses both memory and time.

New Environments & Rhythm Studies finds Andrew Pekler returning to the humid zones he explored on previous albums such as Sounds From Phantom Islands and Tristes Tropiques. Split between longer immersive compositions and shorter glimpse-like sketches, these 12 tracks feature new juxtapositions of Pekler's familiar palette of synthetic field recordings, warm, undulating electronic textures, shifting percussion patterns and serene melodies.

As with much of his recent work, Pekler's compositions here are structured around the beguiling effect of synthetic and non-synthetic sounds mirroring, mimicking and modulating one another. The teeming atmospheres within tracks such as Globestructures, Cymbals In The Mist or Globestructures: Option II are, despite their seemingly anthropogenic nature, entirely synthetic. Elsewhere, the lopsided grooves of Cumbia Para Los Grillos or Fabulation For K are derived from recordings of crickets and other insects which Pekler loops and uses to trigger electronic percussion – producing a pleasantly skewed rhythmic base for the fragments of melody which are layered on top. The six Rhythm Studies also follow the same principle – a playful interweaving of the organic and synthetic.

New Environments & Rhythm Studies is a further attempt to re-describe past tropes which laid claims to authentically represent music and sound from beyond the Western world (exotica, ethnomusicology, field recording) as undertakings of the imaginary.

Written and produced by Andrew Pekler, mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi, artwork by Morgan Cuinet, graphic design by Dmytro Nikolaienko.

After several killer EPs and tracks on labels such as Tresor, Multi Culti, Hard Fist, or Playground Records, Antonio De Oto aka A-Tweed finally delivers "Spring Music" his first solo LP via Abstrakce Records, changing perspective on his music and way of producing. A minimal approach, where echoes and reverbs become some of the main characters of the full journey, mixing up weird acid, experimental downbeat, electro, dub, and tribal vibes across a wide range of tempos.

Slow-motion beats pulse beneath swirling acid lines, while dubby echoes and reverberations sculpt a landscape that is both immersive and mysterious. A-Tweed’s meticulous production draws from the label’s tradition of organic textures and ambient vibes, yet carves a distinct path balancing deep bass, shimmering synths, and a subtle sense of psychedelia that lingers long after the needle lifts.

A cohesive journey, crafted for those who seek introspective voyages without giving up new forms of dancefloor communion. A manifesto about the power of slow rhythms, dub sensibilities, and acid-tinged experimentation, out of any hype and trend, aiming for a distinctive sound. An essential addition to the ever-evolving Abstrakce catalogue. The spring has just arrived.

"OKU" – An Introspective Journey through Sound and Playfulness
With his fourth LP, Martin Merz invites you on a journey into personal moments and memories. Through the playful and experimental lens of electronic soundscapes, OKU explores various moments of interaction, capturing the innocence, wonder, and depth of the bond shared between a father and his son. From spontaneous moments of laughter to quiet, reflective exchanges, OKU paints a sonic portrait of a pair navigating their world through sound.
The compositions are filled with vibrant textures, dynamic beats, and intricate layers, drawing the listener into a world where the boundaries between sound and emotion dissolve into a thrilling exploration. OKU is a record that reminds us of the simple yet profound beauty of our relationships and the music that exists between the spaces of our everyday lives.
Immerse yourself in the captivating soundscapes of OKU!

With a deeply introspective and poetic essence built upon Monolink's layered vocals, spirited rhythms and poignant storytelling, "Powerful Play" invites listeners to embrace the fleeting nature of existence and immerse themselves in the beauty of the moment; his distinctive blend of electronic beats and raw acoustic elements serving as a perfect backdrop to the song's profound lyrical depth.

On the B-Side andhim rework the track with their signature blend of luscious grooves, refined electronica and subtle euphoria, breathing fresh life into the original. The remix plays with dynamics and space, pulling Monolink's haunting vocal lines through intricate rhythms, warm analog textures and a hypnotic build that carries listeners through an immersive sonic narrative. The duo's groove meets Monolink's elegiac depth, resulting in a track that's both club-ready and emotionally resonant.

2023 Repress

It's the quiet ones we should watch, they always say. Which is particularly astute advice right now, when loud, constant self-declaration and saturated 'brand' visibility have become the norm. But above the babble and brightness, some voices will always speak quiet volumes ­- with calm eloquence and the kind of certitude that comes from valuing the playing out, not just the prize.

Sweden's José González is just such a voice. He first charmed his way into the UK's earshot via the murmurous and elegant, classically finger-picked folk pop of his 2005 album, Veneer, which has since sold over a staggering 430, 000 copies in UK alone. Two years later came In Our Nature, a further exploration of José's influences (Argentinian Folklore, the '60s US folk tradition and the British pastoral folk-pop style of the same era), on which he resisted the temptation to beef up his alluringly introvert aesthetic. The albums made the UK Top 10 and Top 20 respectively.

Conceived as the natural third part in an acoustic trilogy, Vestiges & Claws is a(nother) hushed and delicate solo set that forefronts the artist and guitarist's compellingly intimate vocal style and intricate playing technique, but it's often strikingly rhythmic in nature and cohere's perfectly, with hand claps and taps on the body of his instrument underlining the songs' mantric rise-and-fall pattern, while elsewhere, over-dubbed guitar parts and multi-tracked vocal harmonies entwine to sweetly immersive effect.

The title refers to both cultural practices and biological features that survive despite having lost their original function, and to currently useful tools, ie the 'claws' of modern life.

Vestiges & Claws was recorded almost entirely by José and self-produced, mostly in his Gothenburg home, using computer plug-ins to achieve a warm, analogue sound. He prefers working alone, mainly for artistic reasons. 'There were a couple of things that enabled me to complete this record: one was curiosity, to be able to play percussion and do a lot of harmonies and also to produce and mix the album; the other was aesthetics. I love to listen to Arthur Russell and Shuggie Otis, to music that has been done mostly by one person in their solitary state.'

As José sees it, the record is his personal, 'zoomed-out eye on humanity on a small, pale blue dot in a cold, sparse and unfriendly space. The amazing fact that we are all here, an attempt at encouraging us to understand ourselves and to make the best of the one life we know we have - after birth and before death.

In December 2024, The Lost Recordings released the first volume of this legendary concert, recorded on October 11, 1960, at the Olympia by Miles Davis and his quartet, joined by saxophonist Sonny Stitt. Alongside pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jimmy Cobb, they formed an ensemble of exceptional musicality.

Now comes the second part of this remarkable concert.

In 1960, Miles returned to Paris for the fourth time in 12 years. Just months earlier, he had performed there with John Coltrane in a turbulent concert, marking the end of their collaboration. In October, at the Olympia, he rediscovered a stage he loved in a city he had fallen for back in 1949. "I loved being in Paris, I loved the way I was treated there," he would later say.

Since 1949, his music had evolved. From his immersion in Parkerian bebop to his collaboration with Gil Evans, he refined his style, developing a more spacious jazz inspired by Ahmad Jamal and enriched by his classical training. The soundtrack of Elevator to the Gallows in 1957 was a turning point, foreshadowing the pinnacle of Kind of Blue in 1959.

From the opening notes of Stardust, a previously unreleased piece, Miles sets the tone—seduction and lyricism. With a track attributed to Sonny Stitt, the swing settles in. The atmosphere intensifies with ‘Round Midnight, followed by Walking, where Stitt and Davis engage in a masterful exchange. If I Were a Bell and Fran Dance offer a more introspective moment before Two Bass Hit reignites the energy. The concert reaches its peak with So What and All of You, as Miles captivates the audience until the final notes of The Theme.

Our quest to recover the full concert began in 2022 when a friend sent us a photo of magnetic tapes in Brittany. A label reading "Miles Davis – Olympia 1960" caught our attention. After two years of research spanning France, the United States, and Stockholm, we are proud to present, for the first time, the complete version of this legendary concert.