Three decades deep and still as restless as ever. That's the energy Tokyo's Realrockdesign collective bring to this second anniversary split to mark 30 years of cross-disciplinary creativity. DOTT opens things with two tracks crafted from unpredictable basslines and razor-sharp vocal chops that never settle into anything predictable. Then Rio Kawamoto takes over and the shift is immediate: funky breaks laced with tribal samples give way to a heavier, acid-warped second cut that feels rather feral by the end. These tunes map out two different corners of Asia's underground but they share an unrelenting originality and shared allergy to the norm. A fitting way to mark three decades, then.
The duo of Alfredo Urra and Xabier Munárriz continues to explore the interplay between the organic and the technological through rough textures, mechanical pulses and dense atmospheres. The EP features four original tracks by Twusheps, plus a fifth track, Oh!, by MMS.
After the worldwide techno hit that was Darc Marc's "Dirty Rocking Bass" comes the next Cluster X instalment from French legend GANEZ THE TERRIBLE. "The Rave..." is another prime time techno monster from the Acid Techno/Techno underground that is going to cause massive dancefloor mayhem with its cheeky 'The rave, the sound, the people, the party" sample and hard funky beats and 303 stabs. With pounding remixes from D.A.V.E. THE DRUMMER, and new kid-on-the-block SEON, and a kicking bonus track "Elevator" from Ganez himself this gives a nod to all areas of harder techno.
Swooped Records would like to introduce our limited series of vinyl only edits We love many of the edit labels with 1-2 tracks per release, and we’re going to help you value up with 4 top-shelf cuts on every record! We kick it off with Chainsnatcher “Jump Up In It” Vox that is straight up, dirty, bumping House music! It’s also featured on Derrick Carter’s for The 6 Mix w/ Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC’s flagship BBC Radio 6 Music. Next up Ric Viera of Guided Methods fame teams up with Elrose for “Only Ewe”. This funky House take on an afro-boogie jam will shake the dance floor and keep the discerning heads nodding. The flip side brings us Chainsnatcher “Jump Up On it” Dub. This is for those that want a stripped back version of the Vox with well placed, minimal vocal snippets and that dance floor boogie. Agent 818 rounds it off with “Don’t Let Nobody” and it’s time to get the summer time vibe started pronto! This jam will do the trick whether it’s day party-fun to after-hours strutting, just ask DJ Heather as she’s been playing it for a minute now.
Body Clinic enters the realm of Big Trouble Records with 4 no nonsense, hard hitting club tools.
“Connection Lost” EP tells a story, between the influences of the early 2000’s East London scene, and the classic elements of House with an ever-evolving modern yank. Deep rolling subs keep the body moving, while classic organ sounds weave through the soul. A true diggers paradise, with tracks that journey their way through all hours of the night.
Cécille Summer 2026 Compilation
Summer and Cécille have always gone hand in hand.
For 2026, we’re back with another carefully selected collection of records that perfectly capture where house music feels today. Eleven tracks from artists we’ve admired for years, longtime friends of the label, exciting
newcomers, and fresh faces joining the Cécille family for the very first time.
Piem opens the journey with his long-awaited Cécille debut. A respected name in the scene for many years, his unmistakable groove has been on our radar for a long time, and we’re proud to finally welcome him to the label with Give Me The Rhythm.
Leon returns to where it all began. Since his very first Cécille release back in 2009, he’s been an important part of the label’s story. Let Bass Kick is classic Leon—timeless, understated and effortlessly effective.
UK duo Late Replies continue their incredible rise with Moment 4 U. Their fresh take on house music has been impossible to ignore, and we’re thrilled to have them on this year’s compilation.
Dutch mainstay Jesse Maas delivers Voices In My Head, another classy slice of groove from one of the most consistent names in the Netherlands’ house scene.
Buenos Aires’ Manu Desrets impressed us so much that one track simply wasn’t enough. His two contributions, Get GG and Voy No Kako, showcase two different shades of his sound and perfectly reflect why he’s become
one of the most exciting producers coming out of Argentina.
Andrew Azara has become a true part of the Cécille family over the years. This time he teams up with Traumer, who makes his label debut with a beautifully understated deep house record. Need You is one of those tracks
that quietly sticks with you.
We’re also excited to welcome Jay de Lys to the family. Together with Simon Kidzoo and Monölitio, the trio delivers Into The Light—a warm, feel-good house record that instantly became one of our favourites. Three
artists from Argentina, the Netherlands and Barcelona coming together exactly the way house music should.
After turning heads on last year’s Costa compilation, Brazil’s Classmatic returns alongside fellow Florianópolis producer Marian. Brazilian Madness is exactly what you’d expect: infectious groove, irresistible swing and that
unmistakable Brazilian sense of rhythm.
One of the hottest young names coming out of the Netherlands right now, Stefan Meser delivers Don’t Hesitate—one of those records that gets stuck in your head after the very first listen.
Closing the compilation is someone who’s been part of the Cécille story since the very beginning. Christian Burkhardt has been a longtime friend of the label and one of Frankfurt’s finest. Specialo lived in our vault for almost two years while we waited for the right moment to release it. This felt like the perfect place for it, and the perfect way to close another Cécille summer.
Eleven tunes. Eleven different stories. One soundtrack for Summer 2026. Welcome to the next chapter of Cécille.
DJ Support: Glenn Underground, Crazy P, Terry Farley, Aroop Roy, Chris Coco, Frank Tope, Greg Wilson, Dom Servini, Francois K, Max Essa, Oliver Dollar, Pete Herbert and many more
Danny Ward’s Balaphonic project, one of many the long-serving performer, producer, percussionist, drummer and DJ has utilised over a career spanning over three decades, has evolved considerably since his first release under the alias 11 years ago. Conceived as a platform to explore his love of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian musical culture, it gathered new impetus during lockdown and the recording of superb first album Resolution Revolutions, which fused these influences with nods to Balearica, dub, dancehall and deep house.
On the Organic Matters EP, Ward’s follow-up to that critically acclaimed set, the Balaphonic musical universe has expanded once more, with the Manchester native showcasing a wealth of eye-catching collaborations and an even more intricately layered and sonically detailed sound rich in live percussion and instrumentation. It’s an ambitious and widescreen musical vision wrapped in sun-soaked melodies, morning-fresh motifs and simmering, sunset-friendly soundscapes.
The dizzying new heights scaled by Ward on Organic Matters is evident from the opening bars of ‘Dew Drops’, a piece created in unison with internationally renowned composer and arranger Robin Dewhirst. Between them, the pair have conjured up a yearning, life-affirming samba shuffler where picturesque piano, xylophone and balafon melodies rise above Ward’s dense, layered Latin percussion and warming bass.
Next, Ward delivers a thrillingly different take on his 2005 composition ‘Switch’, featuring legendary Brazilian jazz vocalist Flora Purim and her equally talented daughter Diana Moreira Booker. Whereas that was a jazzy deep house workout, Ward’s Balaphonic re-make is a shuffling, gentle exploration in 7/4 time – a heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian records with which Purim first made her name in the 1960s and ‘70s.
‘Balaventurers’ sees Ward join forces with an old friend from the North-West scene, R.S.L founder Joe Botham AKA Baleardelica – a multi-instrumentalist and producer whose Flamenco-inspired acoustic guitar motifs provided the starting point for another vividly colourful exploration rich in layered vocalisations, twinkling keys and impeccably arranged percussion.
It’s followed by ‘Life of Strings’, a more up-tempo and dancefloor-leaning excursion written and recorded alongside Amsterdam-based violinist, and composer Katya Gabeli. While Ward’s percussion-rich groove provides propulsion and a rock-solid foundation, it’s Gabeli’s evocative string arrangement that provides the focal point and emotional resonance. It’s a genuinely brilliant collaboration.
To round off a second stunning Balaphonic release on NuNorthern Soul, Ward delivers two simmering, slow-motion delights: the Afro-Cuban rhythms, cascading melodies and melodic percussion motifs of ‘Boxfresh’, and stunning EP closer ‘Home’ – an almost overwhelmingly poignant and beautiful number that gently ebbs and flows on waves of tracked piano, dreamy chords and a comforting sense of closure. It’s a genuinely sublime conclusion to another wonderful Balaphonic release.
Repress! Back by popular demand–VSR 001 is designed to take you to the outer reaches of where you need to go. Wiersma has created a world where with your eyes closed and head down, the dance-floor can transport you to the outer reaches of space and back again for another beautiful night with all your favorite people.
Vermilion Sun Records was started as a passion project in 2025 with a belief in the magic of physical media juxtaposed against the incursion of AI. The original release featured just 100 copies and utilized US-only distribution; it was sold out in less than 5 months. After being brought across the pond from Boston to Brussels by local DJ & tastemaker Rasaaq, it was subsequently shared, quickly gaining popularity on Discogs. This repress is a testament to Vermilion Sun’s core belief; that is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, and there is magic in that ritual.
Wiersma is a cherished member of the electronic music scene in Boston/Cambridge, MA. A DJ, partygoer, and prolific producer, he has played many of the city’s favorite nights sharing bills with other local talent and setting the stage for international acts like Bradley Zero, Garrett David, and Cinthie. Tapping all of these channels brings forth a creativity where memories from nights in Boston and other global travel transform his unique productions. His release VSR 001 showcases this style, exploring the darker and proggier sides of the house universe while making sure to stay tethered to a reality with firm roots on the dancefloor. A1 begins with Once Around Vega where a cinematic opening draws you into groovy and spacey loops demanding you to move. Syntactic Roles churns more deeply, incorporating layered dystopian vocals, rolling basslines and light acidity that is sure to help you close your eyes and put your head down for a dance. The B side keeps the space station grooving with Transmission from L3, and closes out with Rules of Teleportation incorporating more vocals over chugging electro infused grooves.
Mit ihrem neuen Album Nine setzt das aus Chicago stammende Post-Metal-Trio Russian Circles seine bedächtige Weiterentwicklung und disziplinierte Verfeinerung fort. Dabei besinnen sie sich auf ihre Stärken und erweitern zugleich die Grenzen ihres Klangspektrums. Dies ist eine Band ohne Radio-Hits. Es gibt keinen Konsens unter Fans darüber, welches ihr bestes Album ist. Was bleibt, ist der Ruf nach Beständigkeit und Qualität - ein Ruf, der sie zu einer der weltweit bedeutendsten Bands im Bereich des instrumentalen Heavy Rock gemacht hat. Auch wenn sie betonen, dass ihre Musik aus einer Vielzahl unterschiedlichster Einflüsse schöpft, lässt sich sagen, dass sich die experimentierfreudige Vielfalt von Russian Circles zu einem unverwechselbaren, einzigartigen Sound entwickelt hat. Obwohl die Mitglieder von Russian Circles mittlerweile über das ganz USA verstreut leben - Gitarrist Mike Sullivan in Los Angeles, Schlagzeuger Dave Turncrantz in Chicago und Bassist/Keyboarder Brian Cook auf Vashon Island bei Seattle -, haben sie für Nine ihre jeweiligen Standorte musikalisch miteinander verwoben. Die sieben gewaltigen, fast seismischen Titel wirken wie Soundtracks zu den Herausforderungen und Tragödien des modernen Lebens. "Unsere Musik ist ein gemeinsamer Prozess der Versöhnung, der Orientierung und der Reflexion über das Älterwerden - sowohl als Individuen als auch als kreative Einheit. Das Leben hat reale räumliche Distanzen zwischen uns geschaffen, doch die Band bildet weiterhin unseren gemeinsamen Mittelpunkt. Diese kreative Zusammenarbeit ermöglicht es uns, den Lauf der Zeit zu erfassen und zugleich voller Zuversicht in die Zukunft zu blicken", erklärt die Band. Während frühere Alben beim Erkunden verschiedener musikalischer Gefilde fast spielerisch wirkten, ist Nine das Zeugnis einer Band, die ihr Terrain genau kennt und ihre Position in dieser vielfältigen Klanglandschaft festigt.
Magazine Announces 15th Anniversary Remaster of Barnt’s Techno Classic Geffen
Cologne-based record label Magazine celebrates the 15th anniversary of Barnt’s visionary anthem Geffen. One of electronic music's most defining tracks of the 2010s will be reissued in a 2026 remaster edition, marking the first time it receives its own dedicated standalone release.
Originally published on the legendary Cómeme imprint as part of the Various Artists EP The Power Of Now, the track rapidly became a global phenomenon. Looking back, one can hardly imagine Geffen without the 2010s, or, conversely, maybe even electronic music of that era without it. The composition mirrors the expressive possibilities of bedroom producers at the beginning of that decade—an era where artists could launch tracks into the world and have them resonate through their sheer sonic power, without major marketing efforts.
Barnt remembers: "It was one of my earliest tracks. I had just entered art school and didn't own much equipment. My MIDI keyboard only had two octaves. I would always play notes with my right hand while simultaneously shifting through the octaves with my left. This is how the hook line came to life. The production only consisted of seven or eight stems, and barely any equalizers were used during the mixdown. In hindsight, this sparse approach to production probably made it sound different and is why it hits so hard on big sound systems (while sounding unfinished to some on YouTube). At that time, we were doing a small festival on a playground in the center of Cologne. When I played the CDR there, Matias Aguayo demanded it right after. That is how it ended up on Cómeme."
The release comes with two very Magazine-esque reinterpretations from the label's two other co-founders alongside Barnt: a powerful atmospheric club remix by Jens-Uwe Beyer, and Magazine Hallucination, a wild, collaborative, psychedelic mutation by Crato and Beyer.
Jörg Burger, who already mastered the original track, is also responsible for the mastering of this release.
Another release on 25Hours is out. Label’s boss Giacomo Silvestri returns with two killer tunes, this time in collaboration with his close friend, and talented producers, Andrea Giuliani. They deliver something solid and catchy, perfect for the dancefloor.
You can also find two massive remixes by other two artists well known in the music industry: Manuel De Lorenzi, with his unique touch rolling and underground, and Jamahr who made something more electro with his solid signature.
This release will make you dance from start till the last second, don’t miss it.
10 years since his first edits outing on RNT, label co-founder JKriv digs into his deep well of reworks for a four-tracker of cheeky dancefloor madness. Coming in hot on the A side, I Feel Amor is modern twist on the disco classic anthem, a peak time weapon of epic proportions with hard-hitting beats and churning synths, and the inimitable sing-along vocal (pero en Español). Love Dub is a stripped down deep house affair, a solid driving groove with thunderous bass, synth accents and acapella flourishes. On the B-side, Cuando Bailo is the edit you didn’t know you needed; a callback to a bygone era of one-hit wonder magic, flipped masterfully to be all-club and just a sprinkle of camp. And rounding off the record Dance Sexy takes an obscure purple-hued cover into hypnotic red-light territory, with funky synth stabs riding a pulsing and infectious bass line, in classic JKriv fashion.
The man with the hat returns to where it all began. A lot of water has flowed down the Rhine since Rune Reilly Kölsch set out 16 years ago to conquer the raving planet with “Loreley.” But just as that rock stands firm against the floodwaters, so too is Kölsch’s instinct for great tracks, great emotions, and great moments. “Anti Promi Energie” is yet another track that generates incredible energy with astonishing ease. The B-side isn’t just a true standout within the Kölsch canon; it also opens a remarkable new chapter in the label’s history: “Verschwinden” can best be described as techno-folk—or simply as the ideal final track after a night of partying, before the dawn swallows up the happy souls.
Der Mann mit dem Hut kehrt dorthin zurück, wo alles begann. Seit Rune Reilly Kölsch sich vor 16 Jahren mit “Loreley” anschickte, den Rave-Planeten zu erobern, ist viel Wasser den Rhein hinuntergeflossen. Doch so unumstösslich wie jener Felsen den Fluten standhält, so stabil ist auch Kölsch’s Gespür für große Tracks, große Gefühle und große Momente. “Anti Promi Energie” ist wieder so ein Track, der mit erstaunlicher Leichtigkeit unglaubliche Energie erzeugt. Die B-Seite ist nicht nur innerhalb des Kölsch-Kanons eine echte Besonderheit, sondern schlägt auch in der Geschichte des Labels ein bemerkenswertes neues Kapitel auf: “Verschwinden” lässt sich am besten als Techno-Folk beschreiben – oder einfach als der ideale letzte Track nach durchfeierter Nacht, bevor der anbrechende Tag die glücklichen Seelen verschluckt.
With ZURNA OBSESSION, Türkiye Edition, MoBlack explores the rich musical heritage of Türkiye through a collection of collaborations united by the unmistakable sound of the zurna. Powerful, expressive and deeply rooted in Turkish folk traditions, the instrument becomes the centerpiece of a project that bridges cultural identity and contemporary club music. Across four productions, traditional melodies, regional influences and Afro House rhythms come together in a celebration of musical exchange, with MoBlack acting as the connecting force throughout the entire release.
Somewhere between extraterrestrial techno and intergalactic disco lies Oli Silva. A waveform of multi-dimensional energy filled with analog heart and electric soul.
His first outing finds him land his spaceship directly on Craig Richards' The Nothing Special, with the genre bending Unlikely Punctuality EP.
Wewantsounds continues its Middle East reissue series with Assa"d Khoury"s 1978 rarity, Electronic Touches Belly Dance. Reissued for the first time in nearly 50 years in partnership with Byblos Records founder Mozart Chahine, the album features Oriental classics reimagined through Khoury"s pioneering electronic keyboards. This definitive edition includes original artwork, remastered audio, a new introduction by Ahmed Khalil (Dikraphone), and an exclusive interview with Chahine, the album"s producer, conducted by Mario Choueiry (IMA)
Diese Doppel-Vinyl-Compilation lädt ein in die warme, entspannte Welt des Lo-Fi-Sounds - eine Musik, die entschleunigt, Atmosphäre schafft und Nähe erzeugt. Versammelt sind prägende Künstler des Genres, die Lo-Fi, Downtempo, Jazz-Einflüsse und elektronische Gelassenheit miteinander verbinden. Mit Beiträgen von FKJ, Darius, Kid Loco, St Germain, The Mighty Bop, DJ Cam, DJ Spinna und weiteren wichtigen Namen entsteht ein vielschichtiges Panorama zwischen organischen Grooves, sanften Beats und subtilen Melodien. Die Auswahl richtet sich gleichermaßen an langjährige Liebhaber wie an neue Hörer, die Lo-Fi als eigenständige, zeitlose Form elektronischer Musik entdecken möchten. Ein stimmiger, sorgfältig kuratierter Sampler für entspannte Hörsituationen, stilbewusste Sets und alle, die elektronische Musik lieber fühlen als konsumieren. ENGThis double-vinyl compilation invites listeners into the warm, comforting world of lo-fi music - a sound defined by relaxed rhythms, organic textures and understated emotion. Featuring leading artists of the genre, the collection blends downtempo beats, jazz influences and laid-back electronic production. With tracks by FKJ, Darius, Kid Loco, St Germain, The Mighty Bop, DJ Cam, DJ Spinna and others, the album offers a broad yet coherent overview of lo-fi aesthetics. It appeals both to seasoned listeners and newcomers seeking a timeless, atmosphere-driven listening experience. A carefully curated selection designed for calm moments, focused listening and stylish musical environments
Die Rare Groove Collection: Ethiopian Rare Groove beleuchtet einen der faszinierendsten Schmelztiegel moderner Musikgeschichte. In den Clubs und Cabarets des vibrierenden Addis Abeba der 1960er und 1970er Jahre entstand ein einzigartiger Sound, der äthiopische Traditionen mit Soul, Funk, Jazz und Disco verschmolz. Diese Edition versammelt rare und prägende Aufnahmen einer Szene, die bis heute weltweit nachhallt. Künstler wie Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed oder Getatchew Mekurya stehen für eine Musik von hypnotischer Kraft, getragen von polyrhythmischen Grooves, markanten Bläserlinien und unverwechselbaren Melodien. Das Doppel-Vinyl ist mehr als eine Compilation: Es ist ein musikalisches Zeitdokument, das die kreative Energie einer urbanen Hochphase einfängt - rau, elegant und zeitlos zugleich.
Please can someone please give me a better word for Sexy? Because the thesaurus is giving me ick...Send help because this is a SEXY record – and (football analogy incoming) – a sexy summer signing....
Yes, that’s right ODF’s summer transfer to the Shall Not Fade main label is complete. ‘The Rhythm Grooves’ makes a hat trick of 12”s for us after the UK OTW producer’s double sell out EPs ‘Deep Step’& ‘Rock With Me’ on our Time is Now imprint. The UKG and grooving breaks specialist has been developing his game and steps into House territory for something of a statement EP and we’re (hot and) here for it. Since launching his own On Da Floor label last year ODF has been on a tear and this record perfectly encapsulates why. Four double threat tracks that can be weaponised both as main stage WMDs or as deadly 3am tickets to another place....
This invisible dichotomy is most clearly on show in title track & A side opener ‘The Rhythm Grooves’ is equal parts hot under the collar and hands in the air. Deep and sexy house but with a stepping baseline and a big vocal. ‘Free Your Soul’ stays deep, a swung jacking house cut with big M1 stabs and piano riffs and cheeky breakbeat breakdowns. That palette is timeless and there’s every reason this track will be too.
The B-side leans more into sweaty room & heads down territory but just like before there’s that double threat and we’ve seen both these tracks go off in big rooms at peak time. ‘Back to Mine’ calls back to that sweet spot in the early 2000s with French Touch inspired tech house was dominating Ibiza...Sleazy and sunbaked? Check. But what we didn't realise was missing w as some Accieeeed. Big shout from ODF there.. ‘Do You Feel Me?’ closes out in celebratory style. A proper tech house tool complete
with chugging bassline and more sexy breathy vocals. It’s the after hours roller.
A serious note to close, because I don’t want the playfulness of this press release to make you overlook this (sexy) EP as it’s appeal is more than skin deep. Having sat with – and lusted over –these tracks for a while I can tell you that they just get better (and hotter) with every outing. The Rhythm Grooves is out 28th August 2026 on Shall Not Fade.
Often credited as the father of multi-media theatre, Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) took complete creative control over his productions - including cutting-edge approaches to lighting and costume that transformed human bodies into shifting sculptural shapes, while also composing wildly innovative electro-acoustic and synth-based audio as accompaniment.
After initially experimenting with musique concrète and tape manipulation (as demonstrated on the 1959 LP Choreosonic Music of the New Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais) Nikolais became the first owner of Robert Moog's synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society convention in New York in late 1964. Relying heavily on the Moog and later the Synclavier synth/sampler, these 21 tracks document Nikolais' highly-prescient compositions across the mid 1960s through to the late 1980s - existing not only as extensions of his other-worldly choreographic productions, but standalone pieces of foundational mid-century American electronic and experimental music.
"Born in Southington, Connecticut in 1910, Nikolais’s early years and early career were in acting, music and puppetry. It was not until the late 1930s that he began his work as dancer/choreographer in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was commissioned by the Avery Memorial Theatre, a part of the Wadsworth Atheneum, to create an evening-length work to the music of Ernst Krenek. Previously his work and study as a pianist-organist found him accompanying silent films. This sort of accompaniment required from the musician not only a playing skill but also a versatility in improvisation, matching movement to sound, and evoking mood to situation.
Nik was drawn initially to dance by his involvement with the percussion scores used by the illustrious early twentieth century German dancer Mary Wigman. In trying to learn more about percussion, he was lured into dance class and thus his career began. His development of music and dance occurred simultaneously. His introduction to the twelve-tone technique opened his mind to the expanding areas of atonal music, and his dealing with music as sound per se. In 1948, after being appointed director of the Henry Street Playhouse in New York, Nikolais formed the Playhouse Dance Company, later known as the Nikolais Dance Theater, and began his aesthetic orientation toward dance as a study of motion. By the 1950s, he had ceased creating literal dances and began his explorations and eventual milieu as an abstractionist.
Sound became an important part of his abstract theatre. For his first dances, which involved his new thinking of dance as both a visual and kinetic art, he used live percussion scores in which he directed his dancers to play instruments of all nature. There was a combination of children’s toy instruments as well as harsh and resonant automobile brake drums, and other pitched auto parts which he also used to accompany classes. Once he installed his own tape recording machines, he quickly used the limited range these instruments provided in a new way, slowing and increasing speed and reversing sound. He also made the sounds adhere to the choreographic structure (not the other way around), thereby giving the dance its independence from the musical phrasing. But the real need remained: the search for new sound. Nik made a sound library, recording noises and percussion and vocal sounds, which the French aptly called musique concrète. Needless to say, he became a master at splicing bits and pieces.
From 1956 to 1962 Nikolais composed eleven major scores for his theatre pieces using such techniques. In 1963, James Seawright, who at the time was assisting Nik in his productions and also working at the Columbia-Princeton Center for Electronic Music, recorded a sound bank for the production Imago (1963). With this material, Nikolais created his first synthesizer score. Imago won the Paris Grand Prix in 1968 and launched the Nikolais Dance Theatre towards its national and primarily international acclaim.
During the same period, Seawright came to Nik and told him of a young man who had invented and constructed a simplified synthesizer and insisted that Nik visit the electronic fair currently being held in New York. Nik did so and met Robert Moog. He was completely taken by the new machine and after making some suggestions to Moog, (which Moog made), Nik bought the inventor’s first machine with the aid of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Moog himself was astonished by what his machine could produce for Nik. This machine was later acquired by the Museum of Musical Instruments at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as the first Moog synthesizer. The Synclavier was Nik’s next source of sound and since the mid-1970s remained the major instrument in the Nikolais soundroom.
Alwin Nikolais has been honored and awarded throughout the world. He has received the French Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of the Arts, two Guggenheim Fellowships, as well as Mellon, Ford, and Rockefeller grants. He has been a recipient of NEA grants since 1966, been awarded five honorary doctorates, all for his remarkable achievements in Dance Theater. His genius has influenced several generations of artists."
—Murray Louis
By Most Bands' Fifth Album, The Sound Is Pretty Set. Parameters
Established. Refinement Dissipated In Favour Of Formulaic Execution Of
What's Worked In The Past. Fair Enough. All Them Witches Take A
Harder Route. In 2017, The Nashville Four-piece Offered What Might've
Otherwise Become Their Own Template In Their Fourth Album, 'sleeping
Through The War'. Their Second For New West Records Following
2015's Mellow-vibing 'dying Surfer Meets His Maker', 'sleeping
Through The War' Brought Larger Production Values To Dug-in Heavy
Psych Blues Jamming With Oversight From Producer Dave Cobb (jason
Isbell, Sturgill Simpson). After Exploring New Ground On 2013's
'lightning At The Door' And 2012's 'our Mother Electricity' As Well As
'dying Surfer Meets His Maker', With 'sleeping Through The War' The
Band Had Arrived At Something New, Something Sprawling, And
Grander-feeling Than Anything Before It.
So Naturally, In A Year's Time They've Thrown That All To The
Appalachian Wind, Turned The Process Completely On Its Head And
Reversed Paths - Recording In A Cabin In Kingston Springs, About 20
Miles Outside Of Nashville On I-40, With Guitarist Ben Mcleod At The
Helm. The Result, Mixed By Rob Schnapf (beck, Elliott Smith, Kurt
Vile), Is The Most Intimate, Human-sounding Album All Them Witches
Have Ever Recorded And Another Redefinition Of The Band. Introducing
Keyboardist / Percussionist Jonathan Draper To The Fold With Mcleod,
Bassist / Vocalist Charles Michael Parks, Jr., And Drummer / Graphic
Artist Robby Staebler, The New Eponymous Record Isn't Self-titled By
Mistake. It's The Band Confirming And Continuing To Develop Their
Approach, In The Shuffle Of 'fishbelly 86 Onions', The Organ-laced
Groove Of 'half-tongue', The Tense Build Of 'hjtc' And The Fluid Jam In
Closer 'rob's Dream'.
From The Sustained Consonants In Parks' Vocals To Mcleod's
Commanding Slide In 'workhorse' And Drifting Melancholy At The
Outset Of 'harvest Feast', All Them Witches Are Laying Claim To The
Essential Facets Of Their Identity.
Lp Format Pressed On Red Transparent 140g Double Vinyl In A Gatefold
Sleeve.
For Fans Of The Oh Sees, Baroness, Mastadon.
Following 2024’s Echoes of the Night EP, Michael Hodgson returns with Apply the Dub: four stunning new Adrian Sherwood remixes, this time of his long-running solo project, Misled Convoy.
The EP’s title is a nod to Sherwood’s renowned process in which tracks are not simply remixed, but dismantled, fed into his dub machinery and reimagined. The results are spacious and compelling, epic in scope, rich in detail and loaded with bass.
The prophetic voice of Kat Five (Feral Five) looms large on the opening track, as does Miho Wada’s flute on the last. David “Ital Horns” Fullwood returns to the project, providing trumpet to two of the tunes, while Doug Wimbish (Tack>>Head / Living Colour) adds bass, and Mark Bandola (The Lucy Show) guitar and keys, to a different pair of remixes.
The sessions began in 2025, with the original tracks drawn from the more experimental and industrial side of Misled Convoy, giving Sherwood plenty of room to work with sonically. In his Ramsgate studio, frequencies were pulled apart, bass lines elevated and melodies stretched while sounds disappeared into layers of delay, echo and dub processing before emerging dazed & confused and somewhere else entirely.
Since dub is the compositional glue that fuels Hodgson’s creative dynamic, this collaboration meant reverse engineering his process and stripping his compositions back to the bare bones: “Before we hit the studio, I had to remove a whole lot of my effects to make space for Adrian, which made the track sound empty and super weird, but this is how the magic happens. When you do a remix, you are inviting an artist you respect into your creative process and watch it get reimagined. This is a big part of dub and remix culture.”
Very much a meeting of two complementary approaches to sound, Apply the Dub has Hodgson’s dark and atmospheric electronica enhanced and deeply embellished by Sherwood’s long-established sonic manipulation and dub-mixing.
For Hodgson, the connection with Sherwood and On-U Sound has been life-long, from being a fan in his youth in Aotearoa New Zealand to supporting Patrick Docktor’s archiving of the label’s video and audio collection in London. In 2019 Sherwood invited Hodgson to collaborate with artist Peter Harris to create a visual backdrop to accompany his Time Boom X The Upsetter Dub Sessions tour. Hodgson went on to create videos for On-U’s 40th anniversary celebration at The Forum in London, helped with the immersive 3D Live Dub Experience at Earth Theatre and travelled to Japan for the Collapse of Everything tour where he worked on live video triggering for Sherwood’s shows.
1986 was a very good year for Mike Mareen. It was the moment when something changed in his music. After years of searching for the right sound, Mike decided to change his production team and it turned out to be exactly the right decision. The first major result was “Love Spy”, with Lutz Rahn playing a crucial role in shaping its sound. The record simply exploded. Even without the kind of massive promotion normally associated with an international hit, “Love Spy” became one of the defining records of that peculiar German intersection between synth-pop, electro, Hi-NRG and Italo Disco. But Mike and Lutz were only getting started. Soon afterwards they wrote and recorded “Agent Of Liberty”. And once again, everything worked. The single travelled far beyond Germany, appearing in places as distant as Mexico, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Venezuela and South Africa. It was another demonstration of how sophisticated Euro Disco could be when it was treated as serious electronic music rather than disposable dance-pop. The sound was simply dope. Sharp digital synthesizers, metallic FM textures, punchy electronic drums, dramatic arrangement changes and the kind of bright, futuristic timbres that made the Yamaha DX7 era so instantly recognizable. But the biggest change… was Mike himself. This was no longer the romantic lover of “Dancing In The Dark”. On “Agent Of Liberty” he sounds tougher, sharper and more confrontational. His half-spoken, half-rapped delivery cuts through the production with almost streetwise confidence, while huge uplifting backing vocals and highly melodic synth lines keep pulling the track back towards the dancefloor. And beneath the attitude there was something much more interesting going on. “Agent Of Liberty” announced a new chapter in Mike Mareen’s music, a direction that would later be developed much further on the “Let’s Start Now” album. Mike wanted to belong to the intelligent side of the electronic scene. And, just as importantly, he wanted to help shape where that scene was going next. “Agent Of Liberty” is probably one of the clearest examples of that ambition. It has all the ingredients of a huge club record, but there is tension in it, drama, attitude and a sense that something bigger is happening behind the beat. Four decades later, it still sounds completely distinctive. Not merely like a record made in 1986, but like a record that captures what was exciting about 1986 in the first place.
For its 40th anniversary, Vintage Pleasure Boutique brings “Agent Of Liberty” back to vinyl in newly remastered form. The release will be available on classic black vinyl and in a striking bright orange edition. And because this is not meant to be just another archival reissue, we have added two brand-new interpretations. Disco Computer takes the track into more adventurous territory. His remix is the more unconventional of the two, approaching the original from a slightly more modern and experimental angle while keeping its unmistakable melodic identity. A.P. Mono takes almost the opposite approach. Rather than trying to reinvent “Agent Of Liberty”, his version works more like a contemporary DJ edit. The original character remains intact, but the structure has been reshaped for the modern dancefloor, with stronger build-ups, clearer mixing points, carefully controlled changes in dynamics and moments designed to let the tension rise before the track hits again. The idea was simply to give DJs two new ways of playing it.
Forty years after its first release, “Agent Of Liberty” remains one of the most characteristic records not only of Mike Mareen’s career, but of the entire German electronic dance scene of the 1980s. Powerful, melodic, intelligent and wonderfully excessive. The Agent is back.
There are two version of the LP - limited to 100 numbered copies with transparent wax and classic black wax edition. Both 180g with special OBI strip.
Maciej Envee Goliński is an artist who probably needs no introduction. He has been working with U Know Me practically since the label's inception. His last album ("Time & Light") made a huge impact worldwide, but we had to wait eight years for the next vinyl release. In the meantime, Maciej has certainly been busy – he has released numerous club singles under several aliases, and has helped record and mix numerous albums from the world of jazz, soul, and electronica. "Wyszymory" is a carefully crafted concept album, inspired by our roots. "Wyszymory" is an album on which every open-minded listener will find something that has been playing in their soul for a long time...
"Of all things visible and invisible, my life is most filled with music and a fascination with sound. It matters not whether they are natural or artificial, isolated or resonating through space. Sounds that evoke
memories, as well as those entirely new. Some of them have resonated unchanged for thousands of years. Certain resonances and rhythms have remained unaltered for generations so distant that they have left no other trace in human civilization.
This bond with our ancestors truly fascinates me. Ever since I realized it, I have become more attuned to inspiration. Listening to traditional and classical music, I kept finding new anchor points. I was constantly surprised by new invitations to ponder what connects – or divides – the pulse of our region’s traditional music with the rhythms of Africa, the tribes of the vast East, or the frozen North. My great authority, Tomasz Stańko, in interviews conducted by Tomek Michałowski, used beautiful parables of love and creativity to bring me closer to the Cro-Magnon cave artists. The Icelandic literary magician Andri Snær Magnason, in his book On Time and Water, captivated me with the fascinating observation that through emotional contact, words, ideas, or memory, we reach back and forward two or even three generations – spanning a period of about 270 years. Then there is Sam Kowalski, who with his wonderful obereks played on the gitalele, took me on a hypnotic journey, from which one returns with a deep admiration for the art of musical storytelling, passed down from generation to generation. Finally, my own children surprise me with talents, behaviors, and increasingly distinct features of those generations that now dwell only in my hazy memory and on old photographs.
I wanted the protagonists of this album to be the very phenomena that modern humans share with their ancestors, regardless of the level of civilization. Most vital among them is the relationship between humans, nature, and their own emotions. Wyszymory has nothing to do with an academic study, though I did delve into Slavic mythology, archaeology, and history in search of inspiration. Nor is it an album of traditional music, even if such music is present thanks to wonderful instrumentalists. I managed to invite artists who cross boundaries daily, working not only with Polish music but also with Hindu and African traditions, and even jazz, with its long history of blending influences. Naturally, the album became a kind of sonic comic book, where individual scenes and stories – the sounds, pulsations, and ideas on how to use them – came to me over time, often under unique circumstances and in inspiring contexts."
Envee
Star Moles ist das Projekt von Emily Moales, einer Auswanderin aus New Hampshire, die in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania zu neuem Leben erwacht ist und sich dort weiterentwickelt hat. Seit sie 2017 zum ersten Mal Musik auf digitales Band aufgenommen hat, tut sie das, was jeder großartige Künstler tun sollte: Kunst schaffen, ihr Handwerk verfeinern und ihre eigene Stimme finden - in ihrem eigenen Tempo und in relativer Anonymität. In diesen Jahren hat sie viele Facetten ihrer selbst erkundet. Ihre bisherigen Veröffentlichungen (sieben Alben in voller Länge, mehrere EPs und unzählige Singles) waren oft fantastisch und konzeptionell geprägt und ließen sich von Literatur und Mythologie inspirieren. Das war für sie als Teenagerin im verschlafenen New England und als junge Erwachsene inmitten der bedrückenden Angst vor einer globalen Pandemie eine notwendige Flucht aus dem Alltag. Jetzt ist sie 27 und geht immer noch nicht besonders oft aus, und hat hochkonzeptionelle Kunst gegen große Wirkung eingetauscht. Sie fühlt sich dazu hingezogen, Musik zu machen, die so klingt wie die Musik, die sie liebt, und über ihr Leben im wunderschönen Philadelphia zu singen. Zudem bleibt sie fest im aktuellen weltgeschichtlichen Moment verwurzelt und spricht Themen wie religiösen Fanatismus, den ökologischen Kollaps und den unverhohlenen Aufstieg des Faschismus in Amerika an. Ihr überragendes fünftes Studioalbum heißt "Highway to Hell". AC/DC, da könnt ihr euch verdammt noch mal ein Beispiel daran nehmen. Einfach gesagt: Dieses Album ist ein bedeutendes Statement, das die Ankunft eines einzigartigen Talents signalisiert, das reif für den Durchbruch ist. Moales ist eine der Hauptakteurinnen in einem jungen, hungrigen Team unglaublich produktiver Künstler, die in der stets pulsierenden Musikszene in Philadelphia noch unter dem Radar fliegen, aber dabei sind aufzusteigen. ,Highway to Hell" wurde von Kevin Basko (Rubber Band Gun) produziert und enthält wichtige Beiträge von Mitgliedern des Kreativkollektivs ,Emily and Kevin's Historic NJ Recordings", darunter Sam Sullivan (Gitarre) und Jem Seidel (Schlagzeug).
Turbo was a part of Joe Robinson and Sylvia Robinson’s All-Platinum Records set up in New Jersey which operated from 1967 to 1979. At one stage the fiercely independent and proudly black owned label threatened to become another Motown or Philadelphia International. That never happened, but the Robinson’s dream of worldwide success came later when Sylvia discovered Rap, recorded Rappers Delight by The Sugarhill Gang and Sugar Hill records was born.
Music historian Steve Guarnori describes All Platinum as "probably the most unusual record company there ever was. Dysfunctional, but at the same time wonderful."
The All-Platinum chaos extended to Turbo. But despite anarchy - some superb albums went straight from manufacture to be deleted and sold as cut-outs - sublime music was created. This 10" 6-track release collects together some of the most hallowed Turbo releases which between them have become cherished by collectors.
Brother to Brother "The Bottle" captures the label at its most astute. Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson’s original version was an album only track on Strata-East so Turbo seized the opportunity to quickly make a worthy cover version and rush release it a single which enjoyed success.
"Ton Of Dynamite" by Frankie "Love Man" Crocker was Turbo’s debut release in 1968 (it actually sounds a later recording). At the time Frankie was a DJ on WWRL radio station in New York and the release was essentially a reward for his previous support of All-Platinum releases. The record (a b-side) is actually made Willie & The Mighty Magnificent who went on to re-record it as
"Funky 8 Corners". It took until 1975 for "Ton Of Dynamite" to get recognition when it became an anthem as the UK Northern Soul scene adopted it as part of the movement away from old skool 1960’s Soul. Whatever its’ provenance, "Ton Of Dynamite" is now revered by the Rare Soul and Funk communities.
The Optimistics "Man" from 1971 is another b side single. The group specialised in smooth harmony Soul but "Man" is a funkier affair which won support from Rare Soul aficionados and will cost you £600 plus if you are lucky enough to locate a copy of the hard to find 45.
Willie & West "Attica Massacre", also from 1971, is an even more elusive single. It is a powerful protest against the killing of 29 prisoners, many black, following a riot at a prison - Attica Correctional Facility in New York. The deaths and a subsequently discredited cover up caused outrage. John Lennon was amongst the first musicans to make a recording about the bloodbath, but the most emotional protest is this Willie & West track. Only 300 copies were manufactured of one of the most powerful civil rights recordings ever made. The vocal sounds like anti-War Edwin Starr at his most bristlingly aggressive.
Perhaps the strangeness of All-Platinum is best illustrated by the later success of Lonnie Youngblood "Sweet Sweet Tootie" which is essentially the backing track of "Attica Massacre" plus exquisite sax playing by Lonnie. Despite it selling 100,000 plus copies the label did not see this as a reason to reissue "Attica Massacre". Strange. Or as Marvin asked "What’s Going On"?
The New Sounds "Don’t Take Your Love From Me" was only issued by Turbo as an album track. Despite good music on it the LP was poorly (it at all)/ promoted and flopped. The superb "Don’t Take Your Love From Me" is a long time Northern Soul / X-Over favourite.
Larry Saunders mesmerising "On The Real Side" made no impact when released on Turbo in 1974 but was nevertheless issued in the UK by London Records. The Northern Soul discerning dancers instantly latched on to its combination of uplifting lyrics, heartfelt vocal and clomping beat and since then its’ appeal has extended across the whole of the Soul community. Without doubt an all time classic.
So six treasures from a label that despite frequently advocating cash out of chaos frequently conjured up awesome music.
ANORAX is grateful to have the opportunity to present this very special Soul selection.
*First-ever release on vinyl
*Produced in full cooperation with Hiroshi Yoshimura's estate
*Remastered from original sources by John Baldwin
*English translations of original 1996 release liner notes
*Reproductions of Yoshimura's handwritten recording notes
*Vinyl includes 5" x 7" postcard print
"My encounter with the Hoh Rain Forest, located inside Olympic National Park across the water from Seattle, felt like seeing a whole new world for the first time in my life. Long green fronds draped along the branches, like a scene in which fairies could be heard whispering to one another. But when you try to listen, no sound can be heard. Amidst the mysterious silence, in which no birds or insects make a sound, every living thing seemed to have stopped in its place, only to start dancing when some kind of spell is cast over them.
-Hiroshi Yoshimura
Originally issued on compact disc in 1996, Quiet Forest was Hiroshi Yoshimura’s last album-length work to be released before his passing in 2003. Largely inspired by his trip to the vast forests of the North American Pacific Northwest, the album is an aural reflection of the fantastical, surreal beauty he experienced as he walked through the otherworldly wilderness for the first time. The basic tracks were recorded in the fall of 1993. After numerous revisions to the song titles and a scrapped idea to overlay the tracks with nature field recordings, Hiroshi ultimately produced a latter-day masterwork that feels like the spiritual follow-up to Green, one of his defining works from a decade earlier."
*Produced in full cooperation with Hiroshi Yoshimura's estate
*Remastered from original sources by John Baldwin
*English translations of original 1996 release liner notes
*Reproductions of Yoshimura's handwritten recording notes
"My encounter with the Hoh Rain Forest, located inside Olympic National Park across the water from Seattle, felt like seeing a whole new world for the first time in my life. Long green fronds draped along the branches, like a scene in which fairies could be heard whispering to one another. But when you try to listen, no sound can be heard. Amidst the mysterious silence, in which no birds or insects make a sound, every living thing seemed to have stopped in its place, only to start dancing when some kind of spell is cast over them.
-Hiroshi Yoshimura
Originally issued on compact disc in 1996, Quiet Forest was Hiroshi Yoshimura’s last album-length work to be released before his passing in 2003. Largely inspired by his trip to the vast forests of the North American Pacific Northwest, the album is an aural reflection of the fantastical, surreal beauty he experienced as he walked through the otherworldly wilderness for the first time. The basic tracks were recorded in the fall of 1993. After numerous revisions to the song titles and a scrapped idea to overlay the tracks with nature field recordings, Hiroshi ultimately produced a latter-day masterwork that feels like the spiritual follow-up to Green, one of his defining works from a decade earlier."
GERDie Chopi Timbila zählt zu den großen Orchestertraditionen Afrikas und ist tief in der Kultur der Chopi im mosambikanischen Distrikt Zavala verwurzelt. Ihre charakteristischen Mwenje-Holzxylophone sind in sieben gleichmäßigen Tonabständen gestimmt und erzeugen eine mikrotonale Klangwelt, die sich deutlich von westlichen Tonsystemen unterscheidet. Die Ensembles vereinen Musiker verschiedener Generationen und Erfahrungsstufen, während jährlich neue Kompositionen entstehen, die Gemeinschaft, Geschichte und das Leben der Vatxopi widerspiegeln. 2008 wurde die Tradition von der UNESCO als Immaterielles Kulturerbe anerkannt und gilt bis heute als eine der komplexesten und schönsten musikalischen Ausdrucksformen Mosambiks. Mit Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy) ehren die Brüder von Timbila Ta Venancio, allesamt Söhne des legendären Timbila-Meisters Venancio Mbande, das Lebenswerk ihres Vaters und die kulturelle Bedeutung der Chopi-Musik. Die 2026 im Studio Bom Dia in der Provinz Inhambane entstandene Aufnahme interpretiert Mbandes Erbe neu und bewahrt zugleich dessen Geist und Tradition. Die zehn Stücke folgen der überlieferten Reihenfolge einer klassischen Timbila-Aufführung und entfalten eine zusammenhängende musikalische Erzählung. Ecos Do Legado ist damit zugleich Hommage, kulturelles Dokument und eindrucksvoller Beweis für die lebendige Zukunft dieser einzigartigen Tradition.[ENG]The Chopi Timbila is one of Africa's great orchestral traditions, deeply rooted in the culture of the Chopi people of Zavala, Mozambique. Its distinctive mwenje wood xylophones are tuned in seven equidistant pitches, creating a microtonal sound world markedly different from Western musical systems. Timbila ensembles bring together performers of different ages and skill levels, with new compositions created each year to reflect community life, history, and tradition. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, the tradition remains one of Mozambique's most celebrated and sophisticated musical forms. On Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy), Timbila Ta Venancio honors the legacy of revered timbila master Venancio Mbande through the work of his sons, who perform and reinterpret his enduring musical vision. Recorded in 2026 at Studio Bom Dia in Inhambane Province, the album serves as both a tribute to Mbande and a celebration of Chopi cultural heritage. The ten pieces follow the traditional sequence of a timbila performance, unfolding as an interconnected musical narrative. Ecos Do Legado stands as a powerful testament to a living tradition whose cultural significance continues to resonate across generations.
Die Chopi Timbila zählt zu den großen Orchestertraditionen Afrikas und ist tief in der Kultur der Chopi im mosambikanischen Distrikt Zavala verwurzelt. Ihre charakteristischen Mwenje-Holzxylophone sind in sieben gleichmäßigen Tonabständen gestimmt und erzeugen eine mikrotonale Klangwelt, die sich deutlich von westlichen Tonsystemen unterscheidet. Die Ensembles vereinen Musiker verschiedener Generationen und Erfahrungsstufen, während jährlich neue Kompositionen entstehen, die Gemeinschaft, Geschichte und das Leben der Vatxopi widerspiegeln. 2008 wurde die Tradition von der UNESCO als Immaterielles Kulturerbe anerkannt und gilt bis heute als eine der komplexesten und schönsten musikalischen Ausdrucksformen Mosambiks. Mit Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy) ehren die Brüder von Timbila Ta Venancio, allesamt Söhne des legendären Timbila-Meisters Venancio Mbande, das Lebenswerk ihres Vaters und die kulturelle Bedeutung der Chopi-Musik. Die 2026 im Studio Bom Dia in der Provinz Inhambane entstandene Aufnahme interpretiert Mbandes Erbe neu und bewahrt zugleich dessen Geist und Tradition. Die zehn Stücke folgen der überlieferten Reihenfolge einer klassischen Timbila-Aufführung und entfalten eine zusammenhängende musikalische Erzählung. Ecos Do Legado ist damit zugleich Hommage, kulturelles Dokument und eindrucksvoller Beweis für die lebendige Zukunft dieser einzigartigen Tradition. ENGThe Chopi Timbila is one of Africa's great orchestral traditions, deeply rooted in the culture of the Chopi people of Zavala, Mozambique. Its distinctive mwenje wood xylophones are tuned in seven equidistant pitches, creating a microtonal sound world markedly different from Western musical systems. Timbila ensembles bring together performers of different ages and skill levels, with new compositions created each year to reflect community life, history, and tradition. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, the tradition remains one of Mozambique's most celebrated and sophisticated musical forms. On Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy), Timbila Ta Venancio honors the legacy of revered timbila master Venancio Mbande through the work of his sons, who perform and reinterpret his enduring musical vision. Recorded in 2026 at Studio Bom Dia in Inhambane Province, the album serves as both a tribute to Mbande and a celebration of Chopi cultural heritage. The ten pieces follow the traditional sequence of a timbila performance, unfolding as an interconnected musical narrative. Ecos Do Legado stands as a powerful testament to a living tradition whose cultural significance continues to resonate across generations.
Mario Batkovic’s music occupies a singular space between composition, performance and sonic experimentation.
Based in Bern, Switzerland, the composer, accordionist and multi-instrumentalist has developed an intensely personal musical language rooted in a radical interrogation of the accordion — its timbre, mechanics, physicality and rhythmic potential. In Batkovic’s hands, the instrument becomes something far beyond its conventional role: a source of intricate, evolving sound in which performer and machine appear to become one.
Batkovic received International critical acclaim when his eponymous debut album was released on Invada Records in 2017, with Rolling Stone listing it in the top 10 avant-garde albums of the year. ‘INTROSPECTIO’ followed, a self-questioning, self-examination of society which featured collaborations with Colin Stetson, James Holden and Clive Deamer (Radiohead / Portishead).
II sees Batkovic venture further into radical, uncompromising and experimental territory, both in the reduction and the expansion of sound. Voices overlap, rhythmic structures develop an almost mechanical force, and layers of sound evoke analogue synthesizers. Then everything falls away: near-total silence, the breath of the bellows, a single frequency. Sounds emerge that can barely be traced back to any particular instrument.
The album is built entirely around the physical relationship between one musician and one instrument. No loops, no electronic layers. Everything you hear comes from an uncompromising exploration of the instrument itself. A primal force of creation and destruction.
With credits that include music for the global hit game 'Red Dead Redemption II’, commissions for AMI Paris, Cartier Fondation, Hugo Boss, Chanel and film scores ‘Mad Heidi’ and ’Shame and Money’ his compositional work has extended into some of the most distinctive fields of contemporary culture.
Isle of Jura is proud to present the first official reissue of Esa’s self titled LP originally released in 1987. Following the 2024 reissue of iconic single 'A Muto', this full album release marks a bittersweet milestone for the label. Developed in close collaboration with the estate of the legendary producer Martin Socko Moukoko following his passing last year, this reissue stands as both a definitive archival release and a respectful tribute to his legacy in Cameroonian music.
Originally released on Atesa in 1987, Esa is a pristine encapsulation of the "Paris Makossa" phenomenon. In the mid 1980s, Cameroon’s finest musical minds migrated to Parisian studios, cross pollinating traditional rhythms with cutting edge European studio electronics and Antillean Zouk sensibilities. At the absolute center of this movement was visionary producer Martin Socko Moukoko. The album is driven by the dancefloor anthem 'A Muto', which showcases a brilliant fusion of horn heavy Makossa and slick Antillean Zouk. Across the five other expansive, spiritual tracks, the sonic template expands significantly. Striking a perfect balance between the urban, brass led grooves of Douala Makossa and the fast, driving, syncopated polyrhythms of Cameroonian Bikutsi, the LP delivers a unique rhythmic energy. These traditional backbones are seamlessly laced with Martin Socko Moukoko’s advanced studio programming, bubbling digital synthesisers, slinky slap bass, and rich, layered harmony vocals.
By bringing the full LP back into print alongside Martin Socko Moukoko’s family, Isle of Jura ensures that his musical legacy is preserved, allowing this timeless intersection of Cameroonian tradition and electronic innovation to be heard exactly as it was intended.
A 180 gram pressing in a 3mm full sleeve designed by Bradley Pinkerton.
Soak’s fourth album, decembers, was born in literal silence. Contending with an autoimmune disease that prevented them from singing, it was the absence of sound that birthed the Derry artist’s most sonically and lyrically remarkable album to date.
The space that expanded from that enforced quiet, and the life lived within it - transitionary, liminal, escaping in search of connection - cracked something open. What floods in, is an album of stunning tenderness, honesty, and astonishing storytelling from an artist discovering the revelations at the end of the line.
In decembers, we travel on the road through America, walk the frost-glistened paths of Dublin at night, search for a meteor in Portugal, and return home to Derry. Everywhere, here is an artist evolving, exploring, releasing themselves, coming undone, and eventually, becoming.
At the core of the album is this lyrical statement: “Getting lost is getting free.” How brave it is to face the unknown. Because when you really go there, that’s where discovery lies. That discovery in decembers is a creative one, but it’s also about connection to people and place, to forgiveness, and ultimately to prioritising honesty. “A consistent theme is struggling for direction, battling the urge to run,” Soak says, “and instead, planting my feet.”
Soak’s fourth album, decembers, was born in literal silence. Contending with an autoimmune disease that prevented them from singing, it was the absence of sound that birthed the Derry artist’s most sonically and lyrically remarkable album to date.
The space that expanded from that enforced quiet, and the life lived within it - transitionary, liminal, escaping in search of connection - cracked something open. What floods in, is an album of stunning tenderness, honesty, and astonishing storytelling from an artist discovering the revelations at the end of the line.
In decembers, we travel on the road through America, walk the frost-glistened paths of Dublin at night, search for a meteor in Portugal, and return home to Derry. Everywhere, here is an artist evolving, exploring, releasing themselves, coming undone, and eventually, becoming.
At the core of the album is this lyrical statement: “Getting lost is getting free.” How brave it is to face the unknown. Because when you really go there, that’s where discovery lies. That discovery in decembers is a creative one, but it’s also about connection to people and place, to forgiveness, and ultimately to prioritising honesty. “A consistent theme is struggling for direction, battling the urge to run,” Soak says, “and instead, planting my feet.”
Power Of Soul is the third record as a bandleader by legendary jazz drummer Idris Muhammad, originally release in 1974. He embarked on his solo career in 1970 after years of work as a sideman for the absolute biggest names in jazz such as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, Ahmad Jamal, Pharoah Sanders, and many, many others.
This record was produced by Creed Taylor, founder of CTI, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. The architect of the Blue Note sound developed a deep relationship with Muhammad and played a big role in finetuning his sound. But, don't forget the rest of the line-up; the recorded features arrangements and compositions by keyboard legend Bob James and smooth jazz founder Grover Washington Jr., supplemented with performances by Randy Brecker, Joe Beck, and Ralph MacDonald. All in all, you can see why Muhammad's works ended up as samples on so many hip-hop records.
Power Of Soul is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on white vinyl.
Deep in the sea lives one of Earth's most ancient creatures: the Nautilus. Hunted for its beautiful shell and now, through our global evolution, endangered, like so many other beings. Perhaps most astonishingly, no one has ever observed a baby Nautilus in the wild. The title track of this debut EP takes you on a dark journey, searching through the deep ocean for this elusive animal.
On the other side, I don't believe in Fermi’s Golden Rule, is a sonic interpretation of a statement made during a quantum field theory lecture, questioning the experimental mathematics often used to derive the famous rule. But actually, trying to express the confusion about quantum physics in general.
The dub-infused EP is mainly inspired by the pioneering magic of Detroit’s electronic music scientists and the experiments of European electro wizards.
In this post Sounds world, the boundaries of Post Punk have not only broadened but splintered. And over the course of (now) four releases, Index For Working Musik have seen to using the sprawling boundaries to great effect, flexing a polyglot of styles to convey the language of the moment. On Which Direction Goes The Beam, the murky, distant ambience that was 2023's Indexé has been fleshed out, incorporating everything from the Brian Aldiss laced, ground lightning shudder of Dome, to the chamber-like arrangements of This Kind Of Punishment. There's even a candle flickering in the window for Think Fellers Union Local 282 that warmed these ears. And if you're a fan of the great Dutch band, Trespassers W (who isn't?), the collective consciousness IFWM enunciates on here is a similar testament of a band growing more sure footed in the pursuit of not only knowing all the ways in, but carving a few of their own on the way out. And it's discerning releases like Which Direction Goes The Beam that keep us in the hunt. Long may they forge. - Tom Lax. RIYL: Brian Jonestown Massacre, Velvet Underground, TOY, John Cale, Wire, Dome
