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Ziúr lines up with The Tapeworm for an exclusive cassette-only release featuring Kenichi Iwasa, exploring the electroacoustic realms.

Invited to perform solo at Tarek Atoui's performance series at Kunsthaus Bregenz in October 2024, Ziúr decided to write a new piece for the occasion. This composition, 'Turn Liquid Into Dust', was then performed within the framework of Tarek Atoui's 'Waters' Witness' exhibition as an 8-channel spacial audio piece, transmitting sounds through the installation's structure – metal bars, stones, compost piles… Composed in London in autumn 2024, its principal source of sonic material is recordings of Atoui's instruments which Ziúr had recorded in his studio in Paris during the summer of 2024. In addition, she invited the Japanese woodwind player and virtuoso Kenichi Iwasa to join on all pieces, his contribution providing a binding element, tying the pieces together.

Opener 'A Cold Drip' consists solely of Iwasa's spectral squalls. The tense noir drone of 'Long Call' features a string instrument built by Atoui. For the airy yet dense title track, Ziúr recorded an organ named The Reed Box, with Iwasa floating atop its smoggy soundbed. Closer 'Chips 'n' Crumbles' echos and reverberates with the rattles of household items Ziúr found around her home.

Driven by a relentless appetite for boundless experimentation, Ziúr has been subverting expectations since she was a teenager, corkscrewing through hardcore, metal and punk before veering towards electronic music's turbulent fringes. She produces just like she DJs, gathering a wide variety of ingredients and figuring out the most intriguing, unexpected ways to simmer them into a coherent narrative that helps listeners synchronize the conflicting messages that surround them. Genre isn't a fixed point for Ziúr, but a colour in a vast palette that stretches across history and borders, helping illustrate music that's powerfully subversive. Her The Tapeworm edition follows acclaimed recordings for Planet Mu, PAN, Objects Limited and Hakuna Kulala.

Kenichi Iwasa is a London-based improviser and multidisciplinary artist from Japan, also known for his legendary Krautrock Karaoke night as well as collaborations with visual artists and musicians such as Beatrice Dillon, Maxwell Sterling and Linder Sterling. He currently performs with Naima Karlsson under the name Exotic Sin.

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Looming above Hastings on the South Coast of the UK, carved into East Hill, three black shapes are visible from a distance. Mysterious and ominous, they assume the aspect of the entrance to a church or a portal to dimensions unknown. Closer inspection however reveals them to be no more than mere follies carved and painted into the rock, as hoaxster John Coussens sought to convince visitors that an elaborate subterranean kingdom lurked within. Centuries later, this coastal town remains a place that serves as a magnet to the wyrd and the mischievous. And it’s here that the meeting of minds took place that led to 'Folly' - the second release for Rocket’s Black Hole series - an imprint focused on the unorthodox, otherworldly and esoteric. The journey that led to ‘Folly’ began in the dingy cellar of a wine bar in the town. Black Arches formed around a regular local experimental night in such environs aptly named Weird Shit, initially as a freeform musical outlet for author and musician Gareth E. Rees’ later incorporating Matt Frost from his garage rock troupe The Dirty Contacts, and frequent collaborator James Weaver, to form a vehicle for wild experimentation and psychic abandon. Given he was also a regular attendee, it was no surprise when Sexton Ming, arch maverick outsider artist and uncompromising iconoclast of over four decades standing, entered the picture. Soon after a perplexing but serendipitous chain of events took place, with demons conjured up via improvised sessions, poetic licence taken, dystopias chronicled, audio files gone awry, vocals overdubbed and laptops lost, Somehow amidst the sturm-und-drang ‘Folly’ was summoned in all its murky glory. As we embark on the second quarter of an uncertain century, just maybe this psychic travelogue is a dark prism to make sense of the chaos we confront. Whichever, it remains a spectacle as compelling as that by which Black Arches were named

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The boundaries between contemporary art music and folk music are pushed as Apneseth and his all-star ensemble invite listeners into their very own musical universe. Hardanger fiddle player Erlend Apneseth, with his distinctive playing style, a long list of critically acclaimed Hubro releases, and explorative musical collaborations, has achieved the rare feat of becoming a favorite among audiences and critics in the worlds of folk music, jazz, and contemporary music. His latest album, Song over Støv, will be released on Hubro on April 4th, and the band he has assembled for the occasion can only be described as a supergroup made up of some of the most influential musicians on today’s Norwegian music scene. The project originated as a commissioned work for Oslo World and Riksscenen in 2023. As a composer, Apneseth has spent recent years working with orchestras and larger ensembles, and after being a member of Frode Haltli’s Avant Folkfor several years, he was inspired to write for a large band himself. For this project, he brought together 11 fantastic musicians, creating an immense musical playground. The commissioned work matured over time before Apneseth took the ensemble into Amper Tone studio in August 2024, with Bård Ingebrigtsen at the controls. Ingebrigtsen also mixed the album, which was produced by Anja Lauvdal and Apneseth himself

Rotes Vinyl. Vier Jahre nach "Golden Staples" erscheint das dritte Album der Franzosen, diesmal als Kooperation von Kicking Records (F), Kidnap Music und Rookie Records. "Staring at the Sun" ist eine Ode an die Melodien des New Wave, eine Hommage an The Cure und Killing Joke, der Eckpfeiler einer Band, die mit halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit auf dem Highway der Unberechenbarkeit fährt. "Like Gods We Feast" oder "Secrets" fassen den fantastischen Wechsel der Gangwechsel: Hinzufügen von Loops und Synthesizern, Beharrlichkeit einer unverwüstlichen Bass/Schlagzeug-Kombination, eine Fülle kristalliner und kraftvoller Gitarren, eine Menge eindringlicher Vocals. Diese Jungs wissen, wie man gute Songs schreibt, das ist eine Tatsache. Und sie wissen auch, wie man sie zu spielen hat. Aber vor allem wissen sie, wie man ihnen eine Seele gibt, indem sie die Kraft der Klänge mit der Unmittelbarkeit von raffinierten Texten versehen. Die Texte mit klaren und kraftvollen Bildern, die sich mit radikalen Themen wie Scheitern, Einsamkeit, Isolation oder Geisteskrankheit befassen. Ein Alltag, der alles andere als einfach ist, mit einer Botschaft der Hoffnung. Wenn man Ed Scientist fragt, ob dieses Album die perfekte Mischung aus den ersten beiden Alben sein könnte, teilt der Gitarrist/Sänger diesen Standpunkt nicht: "Das würde ich nicht sagen. Ich betrachte Staring at the Sun als eine echte Weiterentwicklung unseres Stils. Mit der Hilfe von (Produzent) Santi, der eine echte Meisterleistung vollbracht hat, haben wir Dinge gewagt, die wir nie zuvor ausprobiert haben".

Macht Euch bereit für die Magie von "LOVE", dem neuen Studioalbum der schwedischen Prog-Rock-Legende The Flower Kings, die auf eine über 30-jährige Karriere zurückblicken. Als The Flower Kings am 20. August 1993 ihr allererstes Konzert in Schweden gaben, ahnten sie wahrscheinlich noch nicht, dass sie im Begriff waren, Prog-Rock-Geschichte zu schreiben. Mit nunmehr 17 Studioalben, unzähligen Live-Aufnahmen, welt-weiten Tourneen und Festivalauftritten hat die Band ein Vermächtnis geschaffen, das nur von wenigen Bands übertroffen werden kann - und sich als Pioniere der Wiedergeburt des Prog-Rock erwiesen. Das Line-Up besteht aus den drei Originalmitgliedern Roine Stolt, Hasse Fröberg und Michael Stolt sowie den später hinzuge-kommenen Mitgliedern Mirko DeMaio und Lalle Larsson. Gemeinsam haben sie ein Album geschaffen, das den wahren Geist dessen einfängt, was Progressive Rock immer sein sollte: eine kreative Revolution, frei von den Zwängen kommerzieller Hitfor-meln. "LOVE" erinnert an die goldene Ära der späten 60er und frühen 70er Jahre und strotzt nur so vor Vintage-Vibes, epischen Kompositionen und einer reichen Mischung an Einflüssen - von Klassik und Jazz bis hin zu elektronischer Musik und Filmsound-tracks.Auf "LOVE" bieten The Flower Kings über 70 Minuten klangliche Erkundung in 12 Tracks, die von ausgedehnten 12-Minuten-Epen bis hin zu prägnanten 3-Minuten-Perlen reichen. Das Album verwebt Themen zu einem kohärenten Ganzen, das man am besten als eine zusammenhängende Reise erlebt: zugängliche Melodien gepaart mit experimentellen Momenten, wilden Gitar-rensoli und virtuoser Synthesizerarbeit, die an ihre frühen Werke erinnern. Mit neuem Selbstbewusstsein und neuer Kreativität beweisen die Flower Kings einmal mehr, warum sie die Könige des Progres-sive Rock sind. Zur Erinnerung: Krieg ist nur Angst und Versagen, Angst, die sich in kleinen Leuten mit zweifelhaften politischen oder religiösen Absichten manifestiert - LIEBE ist immer der Sieger.

Durch einen glücklichen Zufall zusammengebracht, durch ein gemeinsames lebenslanges Engagement für die Musik verbunden und durch ein frisches Feuer beflügelt, schaffen Paradise Slaves hypnotisch schwere Rockhymnen voller Atmosphäre und Emotionen. Das Quartett aus Boston und Anchorage ist eine unheimliche Verbindung zwischen dem Stimmgewaltigen Brock Lindow (36 Crazyfists), dem Solokünstler und Gitarristen Tyler Stroetzel, dem Gitarristen Jon Kita (Diecast), dem Bassisten Brad Horion (Diecast) und dem Schlagzeuger Ryan Manning (Blitzkid, Pentagram).

„Für mich besteht das Gesamtkonzept von With Hell In His Eyes darin, niemals zu kapitulieren, weiter zu kämpfen und weiterhin dankbar für das Leben zu sein“, sagt er. „Das waren meine Gedanken. Ich bin ein 49-jähriger Mann, der eine Menge erlebt und gelernt hat. Keiner ist perfekt. Zu dieser Erkenntnis zu kommen und zu versuchen, jeden Tag besser zu werden, ist definitiv ein Ziel.“

Letztendlich sind Paradise Slaves ihrem Schicksal genau dorthin gefolgt, wo sie hingehören.

Auch nach elf Alben wild, relevant und unaufhaltsam wie eh und je! Nur wenige Bands schaffen es bis zu ihrem elften Album. Und noch weniger schaffen es mit dem gleichen Feuer und der gleichen Wut, die ihre Anfangsjahre prägten. Doch Machine Head ist nicht einfach nur eine Band. Über drei Jahrzehnte lang hat Gründer, Sänger und Gitarrist Robb Flynn, die Verkörperung der Entschlossenheit, Machine Head auf einen kompromisslosen Weg geführt – einen Weg, der von Trotz, Neuerfindung und dem unermüdlichen Streben nach Weiterentwicklung geprägt war.Mit „UNATØNED“ haben sie ihren Sound nun erneut geschärft und das in der bisher direktesten und wirkungsvollsten Form erreicht. Dieser Kampfgeist, gepaart mit dem unerschütterlichen Bekenntnis zur Neuerfindung, hat Machine Head an der Spitze der harten Musik gehalten. Mit fünf Millionen verkauften Alben, über einer Milliarde Streams (650 Millionen allein auf Spotify) und einer Grammy-Nominierung ist ihr Erbe unbestreitbar – doch Nostalgie spielte dabei nie eine Rolle.
„UNATØNED“ ist ein Zeugnis von Dynamik, ein Album, das bis ins kleinste Detail ausgereift ist und von kreativer Disziplin und dem Drang nach Fortschritt geprägt ist. Entschlossen, sich selbst herauszufordern, setzte Flynn für „UNATØNED“ strenge Songwriting-Vorgaben: kürzere, fokussiertere Songs mit einem ausgesprochen amerikanischen Touch, unkonventionellen Tonartwechseln und wechselnden Strukturen, die Erwartungen brechen. Diese selbst auferlegte Zurückhaltung resultierte in einem schlanken, unerbittlichen Album, das Machine Head in ihrer kraftvollsten Form einfängt. Geschrieben in ständiger Bewegung – unterwegs, in Hotelzimmern und über Kontinente hinweg – spiegelt es die rohe Energie ihrer Rückkehr in die globale Festivalszene nach einer elfjährigen Pause wider.
Das Album trieft vor melancholischen Melodien und hämmert doch mit knallharten Riffs, erhebt sich mit hymnischen Mitsingliedern von verlorener Liebe und Traurigkeit zu dröhnender Power und unerschütterlichem Selbstvertrauen.

David Janeway’s 1986 independent release Entry Point is a gathered and stylish offering of fusion jazz, flitting between Latin, modal and spiritual themes. Featuring desirable cameos from the likes of Bob Berg, Steve Berrios and Marcus Belgrave, the album comprises seven tracks, six of which are original Janeway compositions.

Self-released in 1986, Entry Point didn’t initially make a splash and fell into relative obscurity, only to be discovered by rare jazz collectors and dealers many years later. Upon contacting David with a view to potentially reissue Entry Point, he revealed that he had original sealed copies of the release in his possession – a record which has commanded high prices in jazz dealer circles. We have exclusively imported the last of the original stock: what you’ll get here are original, sealed copies from 1986, pressed up on David’s New Direction label. They are all in mint condition, sealed in their original shrink wrapping, and extremely limited in quantity, with only forty copies in stock.

Entry Point is a beautiful album full of outstanding musicianship, dedication, craft and audible passion, informed by the many diverse musical stylings of its time and gathered by the overarching sonic maturity and discipline of jazz. A true classic of its ilk, and a one-of-a-kind album that is an absolute must for any discerning jazz collector, a newly discovered gem that is long overdue recognition for the outstanding piece of work that it truly is.

David Janeway is an extraordinary pianist with a great facility and wealth of ideas. He exhibits maturity and depth in his playing. He has most definitely “ARRIVED”. ~ Eddie Henderson

Dateline: April 10, 1970. Setting: The storied Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. Context: Miles Davis, three days removed from his first session for Jack Johnson and, with newly recruited soprano saxophonist Steve Grossman in tow, opening shows for countercultural heroes the Grateful Dead on the latter’s home turf. Result: The initial rumblings of a thrilling era in which Davis and his cohorts would again upend jazz and popular conceptions of the genre with music steeped in groove, improvisation, and hang-on-for-your-life adventurousness. All captured on Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West.

Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity's numbered-edition 180g 33RPM 2LP set helps bring what went down that spring evening in Bill Graham’s venue to your listening room with exceptional clarity, balance, and presence. Originally only released in Japan in 1973 and unavailable in the United States until the late ‘90s on compact disc, this marks the first time Black Beauty has been issued on domestic vinyl. The wait is worth it.

Benefitting from quiet surfaces and excellent definition, these LPs present the band’s livewire energy and torrential storm of notes with captivating dynamics, pacing, and fullness. At its core, this audiophile reissue takes you into the walls of sound erected by a band learning on-the-fly the sheer power, will, and breadth of the electric jazz Davis was orchestrating and realizing, on the spot, would reach rock audiences that until that point had only a faint awareness of his mad-scientist experimentation. The sense of release and reach conveyed by these carefully restored records make it clear the veteran bandleader was in the process of a permanent shift that he’d chase for the next five years.

Given Davis was only a few months away from releasing the pioneering double album Bitches Brew, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that much of the fare here adheres to similar explorative approaches. Turbulent rhythms, provocative trumpet passages, and rich, saturated tonal colors that seemingly splash against a blank canvas take precedence over any traditional attempts at organization and melody. Davis and Co. intentionally play everything on a line with the bandleader signaling changes with his horn via coded phrases. The group speaks a common language — with each member having gone to achieve iconic status for their career contributions and technical prowess.

In the company of Grossman, Chick Corea (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), and Airto Moreira (percussion), Davis constructs themes around “Directions,” “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down,” “It’s About That Time,” the title track to Bitches Brew, and more from his then most-recent studio works and the in-progress Jack Johnson. His farewell to the popular standards that for nearly two decades remained a part of his repertoire arrive via a brief dalliance with “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” a shortened albeit aggressive “Masqualero,” and the “Theme” finale of “Spanish Key.” Initially, Black Beauty lacked specific track listings due to Davis’ increasing frustration with listeners over-analyzing his music.

In retrospect, it’s difficult to blame anyone for wanting to view what’s on display here with the aural equivalent of a magnifying glass. Leaning in rock directions, yet maintaining an ear for spaciousness and solos, Black Beauty survives as a snapshot of a thrilling moment amid a transitory period in which evolution came fast and furious. Just two months later, Davis would add another instrumentalist to the lineup in the form of organist Keith Jarrett, and the perpetually restless visionary would blast off to a more atmospheric and arguably more chaotic universe.

Consider, then, this live document a bridge to that galaxy and a breathtaking example of the possibilities of jazz itself.

ArteFAKT proudly presents the first-ever official release of B-Semi Live 24/5/1984, a rare and explosive document capturing a crucial moment in Japan’s underground noise and industrial scene. Recorded at the legendary B-Semi venue in Tokyo, this performance brings together three pioneers—Merzbow, Null (K.K. Null), and Nord—delivering a raw, unfiltered onslaught of early Japanese noise in its most visceral form.
This historic recording showcases the primitive power and experimental spirit that defined the scene, sitting alongside the abrasive intensity of Whitehouse, the industrial ritualism of SPK, and the mechanical destruction of Throbbing Gristle. A sonic time capsule of Japan’s most groundbreaking sound revolutionaries, B-Semi Live 24/5/1984 is an essential piece of noise history.
Now available for the first time ever as an official release on limited edition vinyl and digital formats.

Portland's contemporary music makers and the city's historic Black music community come together on this new remix project which draws from the Albina Music Trust's archive. Across the long player, the artist reinvents the sounds of Portland's Black musicians with a modern beat-based sensibility, all of which subtly pay homage to the 1968 "Soul Assembly" program by the Black Student Union which educated audiences about Black Portland's cultural identity. Among many standouts are reimagined works by Jonny Cool, Jumbo of The Lifesavas and Tony Ozier who do a fine job of bridging generations and highlighting Portland's rich heritage.

Celebrate a decade of Turnover's iconic sophomore album Peripheral Vision with this 10 Year Anniversary Edition. Retaining the album's iconic cover art, the packaging has been completely overhauled to include a new lyric poster & printed photo inner sleeve. This special limited edition also includes two bonus tracks from the era - "Humblest Pleasures" and "Change Irreversible." Released on May 4th, 2015 via Run For Cover Records, Turnover's second album Peripheral Vision is widely regarded as an essential body of the work in the band's discography, maturing its sound into a shoegaze-inflected post-punk direction following the band's 2013 debut record Magnolia. Described as "a tour de force" by Kerrang!, the album set the stage for an extensive and prolific touring history over the past decade and three subsequent albums, including their most recent LP, 2022's Myself in the Way. - Updated vinyl packing - new jacket, inner-sleeve, lyric poster - 2 Bonus tracks from "Humblest Pleasures" EP

Audiophile 180g Vinyl 33RPM LP
All Analogue Mastering by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering!

Pressed at RTI
Impex Treatment packaging featuring a 4-page heavy-stock booklet with rare photos and new historical notes by producer/author/historian Charles L. Granata



"Although Donovan had already captivated listeners with hits like 'Sunshine Superman' (a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in September of 1966) and 'Mellow Yellow' (#2 on the chart in December of that year), it's The Hurdy Gurdy Man issued in the fall of '68 that became a benchmark of the psychedelic era. The album artfully captured the essence of the moment with its fresh, smart and stylistic approach to songwriting, endearing melange of rock, pop, drone, folk, world and jazz overtones (coupled with deeper psychological undertones, i.e. transcendental consciousness and a yearning for an 'ideal' world).

"Musically, Donovan and producer Mickie Most made liberal use of multiple feels inspired by a wide range of styles, most remarkably the drone: a harmonic effect in which a note or chord is continuously repeated throughout a composition and commonly forms the tonality on which the piece is built. This brought an unusual and memorable quality to many tunes on the album, as did Donovan's whimsical, spiritual-esque vocals. Then, too, both 'The Hurdy Gurdy Man' and its namesake album reflect a tougher rock sound than the singer's earlier recordings."

—Charles S. Granata

Our AAA HQ-180 33.3-rpm LP was mastered from Epic Records' analog master tapes by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, plated and pressed at RTI for flat and silent surfaces and incredible detail. The 4-page insert features a new appreciation by producer, author, and historian Charles S. Granata that puts in context the positive effects of Donovan's clever, innovative writing and performances.

Der Grammy-nominierte, New Yorker Komponist/Perkussionist Eli Keszler präsentiert sein neues, selbstbetiteltes Album. In den letzten Jahren kollaborierte Keszler mit Oneohtrix Point Never, Skrillex, Rashad Becker und Laurel Halo, komponierte die Filmsoundtracks für Olmo Schnabels "Pet Shop Days" (2023), Lotfy Nathans "Harka" (2022) und Dasha Nekrasovas "The Scary Of Sixty First" und lieferte mit Daniel Lopatin die Filmmusik für "Uncut Gems" (2019). Nach gefeierten Alben wie "Icons" (2021) und "Stadium" (2018) ist sein neuestes Werk ein freizügiger, Lynch-artiger Songzyklus, in dem Keszlers virtuose Darbietungen eine lebendige Landschaft abstrakt-elektronischer Klänge durchqueren. Das Album atmet, knarrt und seufzt auf 12 Tracks. Noir-artige Jazz-Torch-Songs machen huschenden Trommeln und filmischen, dubartigen Texturen Platz. Die Texte werden von fast unhörbaren Stimmen geflüstert und geweint, als kämen sie aus einem entfernten Raum. Mit Gastauftritten von Sängerin Sofie Royer und Saxophonist Sam Gendel.

Listen to This.” As the original working title for Bitches Brew, the instruction and invitation remains to this day as the best way to approach a record that shattered conventions, altered music history, and, 55 years later, still sounds far ahead of its time. The template for jazz fusion, Bitches Brew is rightly ranked by virtually every significant outlet among the 100 greatest albums ever made. Sewn together with vibrant colors, voodoo textures, and ethereal moods, the 1970 landmark emerges with supreme detail and nonpareil feeling on Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM 2LP vinyl set.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, this definitive-sounding 55th anniversary reissue enhances every element of a double album that established new possibilities for studio recording techniques. You’ll hear wide and deep soundstages, separation between instruments, and an extremely broad dynamic range. If ever a jazz album can be said to have gone to outer space and back, this is it.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, this definitive-sounding 55th anniversary reissue enhances every element of a double album that established new possibilities for studio recording techniques. You’ll hear wide and deep soundstages, separation between instruments, and an extremely broad dynamic range. If ever a jazz album can be said to have gone to outer space and back, this is it.

Davis conceived Bitches Brew by having the musicians stand in a semi-circle. There, he pointed at them with vague directions for tempo, solos, and cues. The collective improvisation and interplay spawned a galaxy of melodies and grooves that were later spliced together by producer Ted Macero. Benefitting from the ultra-low noise floor and superb groove definition of this pressing, these distinct creations take shape with utmost realism. Compositions stretch across jet-black backgrounds and paint canvases laden with millions of colors and shades. Juxtaposed percussion, loose jams, and melodic segues explode with impressionistic verve.

Bitches Brew also boasts visionary artwork. By design, the lavish packaging and gorgeous presentation of the UD1S Bitches Brew set call attention to such matters. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, it features special foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendor of the recording. It is made for discerning listeners who desire to fully immerse themselves in everything surrounding the album, from the images to the tones. And this is one effort where every last detail matters.

Gathering a Hall of Fame-worthy lineup of musicians and tweaking it according to his desires, Davis follows through on his idea to “put together the greatest rock and roll band you ever heard.” Central to his proposition is the presence of two (and sometimes three) drummers and two bassists, a tactical move that makes rhythms a central focus. Akin to the futuristic album cover art, the drum-driven suites head toward distant universes and uncharted territories. At once hypnotizing and grooving, they chart maverick adventures via quixotic rock, funk, and R&B elements.

A without-a-net experiment involving interchangeable double-quintet lineups, Bitches Brew explores the previously unimaginable with electrified instruments — Fender Rhodes piano, processed trumpet, dissonant guitars, and bass among them — and an emphasis on feeling over composition. Mesmerizing and soothing, jarring and smooth, overt and subtle: The music seemingly covers an entire map of emotions and sensations, and like no record before, ties together the groundbreaking creativity of the multiple disciplines that were changing popular culture at the end of the 1960s and dawn of a new decade.

Conceptually, Davis described Bitches Brew as “a novel without words” and “an incredible journey of pain, joy, sorrow, hate, passion, and love.” The vast psychedelic expanses of warped echoes, liquid reverb, and tape loops confirm such ambitious contrasts of light and dark, fear and hope. Yet the most absolute characteristic of the watershed effort lies in how it resists definitive interpretation and encourages free thought — the very principles Davis used to conceive Bitches Brew.

More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called “converts”) are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.

Die erste EP von Bleed, "Somebody's Closer", wurde von der Band im Jahr 2021 zunächst selbst über digitale Plattformen veröffentlicht. Obwohl die EP, die sich auf den Alt-Rock/Metal der späten 90er/frühen 00er Jahre beruft, nicht in physischer Form veröffentlicht wurde, erregte die in Dallas, Texas, ansässige Band mit ihrer hauchdünnen Verzerrung - die Spannung und Atmosphäre gleichermaßen erzeugt - großes Aufsehen und erregte über mehrere gegenseitige Verbindungen die Aufmerksamkeit von 20 Buck Spin. Das Label brachte 2022 Vinyl- und Kassetten-Editionen heraus und machte so die Musik von Bleed einem neuen Publikum und einer breiteren Öffentlichkeit bekannt. Seitdem hat sich die Vorfreude auf das Debütalbum der Band in die Höhe geschraubt - und jetzt, wo der Frühling in den Sommer übergeht, ist es endlich soweit.

Die selbstbetitelte LP von Bleed behält die melodische Schwere und die straffen Songstrukturen der EP bei, taucht aber gleichzeitig kopfüber in den ozeanischen Dunst ein und treibt ihren Sound in ein Gebiet, das eindringlicher, unerbittlicher und hypnotisch üppig ist. Die Gitarren wiegen sich in aufgestapelten Wellen von Gravitationsangst, darunter pulsieren exzentrisch übersteuerte Rhythmen, und die Stimme von Gitarrist und Sänger Ryan Hughes schwebt ein und aus, manchmal distanziert und losgelöst, manchmal aufgerissen vor Verzweiflung. Die Texte bewegen sich in Fragmenten und spielen auf Themen wie tiefe innere Kämpfe, Bewältigungsmechanismen und das Verletzen derer, die man am meisten liebt, an. Es ist Musik, die nicht so sehr Aufmerksamkeit verlangt, sondern direkt in den Blutkreislauf sickert, die Art von Album, die sich nachts um 3 Uhr in einer Endlosschleife im Hinterkopf festsetzt.

Gleich zu Beginn werden kühne Schritte unternommen, um die Authentizität von Bleeds Universum in Bezug auf seine Inspirationen und Ambitionen auszuweiten. Die Art und Weise, wie Bleed diese Songs sich entfalten lassen, hat etwas Selbstbewusstes, sie wirken sofort und haben es nicht nötig, länger als nötig zu verweilen. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das sich massiv und doch intim anfühlt, brutal und doch schön, vertraut und doch einzigartig. Es hinterlässt nicht nur einen Eindruck, sondern hallt noch lange nach, wenn die letzten Töne verklungen sind.

Alexander Johansson & Mattias Fridell return for their third outing on James Ruskin's Blueprint Records to follow their "Geometriska Strukturer EP" in 2023 and "Marvatten EP" last year.

This Swedish duo have built an impressive reputation since their production debut in 2000 and have gone on to release music on labels including Audio Assault, Symbolism, Blueprint, H. Productions, ARMS, XXX Records, and their own Lømsk label which they launched in 2022.

Their new "Bentik Zone EP" features three peak-time assaults alongside a more experimental closing track, set for release on vinyl and digitally on 2nd May.

This re-issue of World Machine, Level 42's 1985 breakthrough album, is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail of the original UK first pressings and available in audiophile 180g pink vinyl in celebration of the album's 40th anniversary.

By 1985, Level 42 – bassist and vocalist Mark King, keyboard player/vocalist Mike Lindup, guitarist Boon Gould, drummer/lyricist Phil Gould and studio-only keyboard player Wally Badarou – were on the verge of breaking big - After a string of well-received albums, such as their pioneering jazz-funk 1981 debut or the Ken-Scott produced True Colours, the group decided, rather than work up material through jamming, to sit and write some songs for their forthcoming album.

Producing themselves, with assistance from engineer Julian Mendelsohn, this new approach meant that World Machine was the quantum commercial leap they craved. And most of that was due to the album's towering lead single, the pop-funk of "Something About You". With its expensive video seeing the group styled for the 80s, it set radio alight, becoming a Top 10 hit and charting around the world, importantly in the US. Following up with the tender ballad "Leaving Me Now" and then the bouncy funk of the album's title track as singles, the album's success was guaranteed; it reached No 3 in the UK charts and spent an amazing 72 weeks on the listings.

Originally released in the late '80s, this album stands as a defining statement of the Japanese noise and industrial scene—an unrelenting fusion of power electronics, mechanized chaos, and avant-garde intensity.
The brainchild of Ichiro Tsuji, Dissecting Table’s sonic assault exists in the same lineage as the dystopian brutality of Whitehouse, the mechanical terror of SPK, and the raw sonic deconstruction of early Einstürzende Neubauten. At the crossroads of noise, industrial, and extreme experimental music, Ultra Point Of Intersection Exist embodies the radical spirit of the era, pushing boundaries alongside contemporaries like Controlled Bleeding and Ramleh.
This long-awaited reissue restores a crucial chapter in noise history—available now for the first time as an official release on limited edition vinyl and digital formats.

Phantasmagoria is a landmark release from Japan’s legendary noise collective C.C.C.C. Originally unleashed in the early '90s, this album represents the group’s masterful balance between overwhelming sonic force and hypnotic, psychedelic intensity.
Led by Hiroshi Hasegawa and fortified by the presence of Mayuko Hino, C.C.C.C. blended the raw power of Japanese harsh noise with elements of cosmic electronic music, creating a sound that resonates with the crushing density of Merzbow, the ecstatic distortion of Hijokaidan, and the hypnotic feedback worship of The New Blockaders. Phantasmagoria stands as a crucial document of noise music’s golden era, where extreme frequencies met transcendent states of mind.
This long-awaited reissue finally brings this essential work back to life—available now for the first time as an official release on limited edition vinyl and digital formats.

**Gangster Music Vol.3: The Most Gangster Music Trilogy of All Time Comes to a Triumphant Close**

Imagine curating a dream lineup of MCs and producers from every corner of the rap world—sounds impossible, right? Not for artist and illustrator Gangster Doodles, who has been bringing this vision to life for the past decade. Now, with “Gangster Music Vol.3”, the trilogy reaches its grand finale, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever before.

Gangster Doodles himself puts it best:
"It’s hard to believe that I’ve been actively working on this Gangster Music series for the past 10 years. The most gangster music trilogy of ALL TIME is almost complete!! And in my humble opinion Vol.3 is the most exciting out of the 3, both from a music standpoint (special shout-out to all my music heroes on Vol.3) and artistically speaking this is the most fun I’ve had in years”

Since launching Volume 1 in 2019 and following up with the second volume in 2022, Gangster Doodles has been shaping the Gangster Music series into a one-of-a-kind sonic universe—an unfiltered mix of underground titans, unsung legends, and rising stars. Volume 3 is the biggest installment yet, boasting a staggering 30 tracks that traverse the entire spectrum of rap and beat culture.

This time around, the lineup is as eclectic as ever. From legendary pioneers like Lee Perry and Tommy Wright III, to veteran producers such as Mr. Scruff and Peanut Butter Wolf, the album pays homage to hip-hop’s roots while pushing forward into fresh territory. The roster also includes established up-and-comers like Devin Morrison, Low Leaf, DJ Harrison, Quelle Chris, Homeboy Sandman, and Suzi Analogue, ensuring a mix of classic flavors and new-school innovation. The bubbling underground is well represented too, with artists like Raz Fresco, Atlanta’s 645AR, and Pro Era’s Chuck Strangers bringing their own distinct heat.

From pioneering SoundCloud rappers like Pouya to genre-bending composer John Carroll Kirby, from Birmingham’s Romderful to Chile’s RVYO, the album encapsulates a truly global soundscape, proving once again that Gangster Doodles’ ear for cutting-edge talent is second to none.

As always, the cover art is a vital piece of the puzzle. This time, Bootleg Garfield & Friends take center stage, bringing the same playful irreverence that has defined Gangster Doodles’ artwork for years. Fans are encouraged to engage, remix, and make the cover their own, staying true to the spirit of interactive creativity that has always fueled the series.

After years of meticulous curation, countless DMs, emails, and behind-the-scenes wrangling, Gangster Music Vol.3 is here to complete the trilogy in legendary fashion. Expect boundary-pushing beats, next-level lyricism, and a lineup that celebrates hip-hop in all its many forms.

“Thanks to everyone who’s actively supported and continues to tap-in. Believe & trust when I say I've got more dope stuff cookin’. STAY TUNED!! GANGSTER DOODLES 4EVER. 1LUV."

Gangster Music Vol.3 is out April 7th on All City. Stay tuned, stay tapped in, and get ready for the most gangster music experience yet.

Jan Jelinek plays The Carpenters, concert by Jan Jelinek for four loudspeakers, 20th July 2022 at Uferstudio 1, Berlin.

For this live performance, Jelinek used a sample from the song “’ * ***” by The Carpenters. Towards the end of the 1st half, the original source sample emerges from the dense arrangement of processed loops and reveals its identity, a moment that recalls awakening from deep hypnosis. The 2nd half of the performance zooms in further on the source material, leading to a complete dissolution of any referentiality.

faitiche edition is a series of concerts on tape cassette. The recordings are NOT available digitally. Buyers/owners of the tape can send a photo of their cassette by email to info@faitiche.de (Subject: “das digitale Konzert”) to receive a Bandcamp download code free of charge.

The concert was part of “TetraTon - A concert evening in quadraphonic”. The same evening, there was also a concert by Liz Allbee & Sabine Ercklentz entitled “Close-Up”. The event received support from the Initiative Neue Musik Berlin.

sound recording: Jan Jelinek
drawings: Vincent Klingelhöfer
photo: Udo Siegfriedt
layout: Tim Tetzner

Repress!

Excursions in Gwoka vol. 2 is another adventurous outing for the Beauty & the Beat label that takes them ever deeper into the gwoka scene of Guadeloupe. it is the celebrated carnival outfit Akiyo who are in focus here with two tracks taken from second and supremely hard-to-find long player, Mouvman, in 1993. 'Deboule' is a real heater with bustling drum funk and chatting tribal vocals all run through with synth wizardry from Marie-Galante Jacques-Marie Basses. 'Blo' is just as steamy and intern with percussion, whistles and big beats all making quite the impact. Breakplus adds a London twist to 'Deboule' while CW adds a cosmic air to 'Blo.'

“Growing up has always been a solitary journey, marked by forward-looking anticipation, anxiety, unripe potential, aspirations, and closures.”

London based Chinese composer and multi-instrumentalist Li Yilei returns to Métron Records with NONAGE, their second full length release following 2021’s OF. An introspective reflection on the journey through childhood, this new work brings together samples from old Chinese TV shows, mechanical children’s toys and an array of acoustic and electronic instruments - some of which were designed and built by Li themselves.

The Chinese title for "NONAGE" is "垂髫", which translates to “childhood” or “disheveled hair”, and refers to the carefree phase of life when children let their hair down, both figuratively and literally. For Li, nonage is a place that they always revisit - to learn about fear and fearlessness, love and despair, grief and glee, curiosity and mistakes.

“I remember pressing piano keys like touching flowers, reading scores like looking at paintings, writing like how I would talk to myself, greeting death like how I would greet life.”

Initially conceived as an archiving project, the record retraces and reimagines fractions of Li’s childhood memories through smell, location and colour, and brings to life the lingering feelings that remain into adulthood.

Compositions are built around a variety of unusual sources: damaged instruments such as a toy piano, a hand cranked music box, bird whistles, a broken accordion and anything else Li could find that evoked nascent recollections. Interspersed throughout are samples from Li’s childhood piano jams, moments of contemplative transmigration where previous incarnations of self and memory meet the present.

FIRE UP: Fifteen successful releases later, Anetha continues to fan the flames with MTY-FEU, an incandescent new compilation. Titled «Ils s’embrasèrent, réduits ensemble», the release stands for fusion and oneness.



Bursting from the depths of the earth, magma is devouring: melting hot techno, deep techno, fast techno, firestorms of trance, eruptions of hard groove, break, mental, smoldering experimental… MTY-FEU is a lava flow of boiling, vital energy, unstoppable and full of blistering textures.



During the Nuit Blanche (A1), we surrender. We, the offer. Our fire is combusting. Our feet, stomping.
Berserk, in a fury, there’s No End (C1) to this party. In a trance, Eternal Echoes (E2) beguiles us all, until we become one into the Molten Core (H2) of Inferno. Ils s’embrasèrent, réduits ensemble.

The incredibly talented visual artist FEMUR crafted the artwork by creating an AI-generated meta-crackle of fire. Diplomatie Studio handled the design while mastering was entrusted to Sixbitdeep, except for Anetha’s edit, where mix and mastering credits go to Le Dom. We’ve opted for bio-vinyls for this release, knowing that one day these records will return to ashes, only to rise again, like the phoenix.

The iconic Hôtel Costes music collection, a veritable benchmark of Parisian luxury and refinement, continues to captivate lovers of sophisticated sounds. Famous for its unique blends of warm vocals, funk, jazzy and pop grooves, fusing electronic sounds and acoustic instruments, this series is a must for connoisseurs of refined music.



This seventh volume, orchestrated by the talented Stéphane Pompougnac, offers light electro soul and racy house, perfect for livening up the most elegant evenings and keeping the most reluctant dancing until the wee hours. The Hôtel Costes series has revealed exceptional talents such as Pink Martini, Flight Facilities, General Elektriks, Angus & Julia Stone and Brigitte, while mixing hidden nuggets with masters such as Gotan Project, Femi Kuti, Trentemøller, Thievery Corporation, Shirley Bassey and Grace Jones.



With over 5 million copies sold worldwide, following the resounding success of the reissue of the first six volumes, this seventh opus is finally available for the first time on vinyl. A true gem that will delight long-time fans and appeal to a new generation of listeners worldwide.

The iconic Hôtel Costes music collection, a veritable benchmark of Parisian luxury and refinement, continues to captivate lovers of sophisticated sounds. Famous for its unique blends of warm vocals, funk, jazzy and pop grooves, fusing electronic sounds and acoustic instruments, this series is a must for connoisseurs of refined music.



This eighth volume, orchestrated by the talented Stéphane Pompougnac, offers light electro soul and racy house, perfect for livening up the most elegant evenings and keeping the most reluctant dancing until the wee hours. The Hôtel Costes series has revealed exceptional talents such as Pink Martini, Flight Facilities, General Elektriks, Angus & Julia Stone and Brigitte, while mixing hidden nuggets with masters such as Gotan Project, Femi Kuti, Trentemøller, Thievery Corporation, Shirley Bassey and Grace Jones.



With over 5 million copies sold worldwide, following the resounding success of the reissue of the first six volumes, this eighth opus is finally available for the first time on vinyl. A true gem that will delight long-time fans and appeal to a new generation of listeners worldwide.

Russell / Guns marks the beginning of a fresh artistic partnership between legendary figures of Los Angeles Hard Rock: Jack Russell and Tracii Guns, accompanied by Johnny Martin, Shane Fitzgibbon and Alexxandro del Vecchio. For Jack Russell, this represents a long-awaited return to recording and new music, coming seven years after the release of "He Saw It Coming". Tracii Guns is a legend in his own right. He founded LA Guns in 1983, laying the foundation for one of the true giants of rock: Guns N' Roses.

After departing the band and reuniting with former Girl lead vocalist Phil Lewis to reform LA Guns, he signed with Vertigo Records and released 14 studio albums with the band. Jack and Tracii discovered a common thread in a collection of songs that draw from the bluesy power and heavy energy of their most celebrated material and roots, yet infused with a fresh, energetic drive and modern metallic production."Medusa" is an album that showcases the artistic integrity and commitment to Rock 'n' Roll from two extraordinary rock stars of the 80s and 90s.

Arcane returns to Foxy Jangle to deliver the tenth record in the series.

Its double-a deep dive into razor-sharp breaks, rolling subs, and atmospherics. Expect a masterclass in tension and release, weighty basslines, and fierce drum edits.

Out soon

Repress!

Emotional Rescue and Utopia Originals join forces to release the pop, new wave, funk of Obscure Desire, a one-off project and EP from effervescent 80s Auckland, New Zealand that saw three friends come together to make a perfect piece of club pop history.

Revolving around the musical talent of Andrew Waldergrave, a trained pianist, music degree drop-out, who moved to the island’s cultural centre of Auckland and emersed himself in the arts and nightlife scene the city had to offer.

Working at Obscure Desire, a Fashion Boutique meets Salon, he became friends with Grant Mitchell and Giselle Trezevant, together forming not a band, but as they saw it, a project to make a record for their scene and beyond.

Coming from outside of the established band route of endless rehearsals, local gigs, growing a fan base and home recordings, they fell did not have the support network of indigenous New Zealand labels. As so often the case in unearthing these lost reissue gems, the artists took matters into their own hands, seeking to write, record and release themselves.

After meeting Trevor Reekie, head of the local Pagan Records label, he took on production duties. Collating the necessary musicians, the project grew from the one song to become a full EP, recording between a home 16 track studio and a full 24 track desk at Harlequin Studios.

Centred around the title song, it is a perfect pop moment. Waldergrave’s piano leads into an infectious groove of slap bass, gated drums, Reekie’s acoustic guitar and cut vocals, before Trezevant’s vocals propel the song to an 80s swing out vibrations. Coming in Extended, Harlequin and Instrumental (digital only) mixes, this was an overload of White Funk.

Here reduced to the best two versions, more room is given to let the other recordings breathe, first the gloriously anthemic instrumental Bullet. Intricate programming and production, lead into the pop sensibility of I Wonder, some kind of wonderful antipodean reimagining of Chris & Cosey finest pop moments, an optimistic paene that permeates the whole EP. Closing 4A, espouses the Jazz Funk, with Trezevant’s simple French lyrics telling of dreams of a lover’s image.

Released in 1986 with no local support from radio and TV, it became something of a “hit” record in New Zealand’s more discerning clubs, however the members soon moved to London and the project remained a one-off moment. Over time the EP has gained cult status to become globally desired that sees copies of the original 12” selling for $000s. Now at last available for a global reach, while remaining a personal, uplifting moment of time.

Der Soundtrack von Carlos Rafael Rivera erhielt 2024 zwei von insgesamt 10 prestigeträchtigen Emmy-Nominierungen, die Apples Miniserie "Lessons In Chemistry" (2023) einheimsen konnte, nämlich für "Outstanding Music Composition" und "Outstanding Main Title Theme Music". Rivera schrieb eine optimistische, subtile und vorsichtige Grundlage, die durch starke Leistungen der Besetzung getragen wird und eine ernsthafte, emotionale Reflexion des Kampfes der weiblichen Hauptfigur darstellt, in die Grenzen der gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen zu passen.

"Lessons in Chemistry" spielt in den frühen 1950er Jahren und handelt von Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), deren Traum, Wissenschaftlerin zu werden, in einer patriarchalischen Gesellschaft auf Eis gelegt wird. Als Elizabeth aus ihrem Labor gefeuert wird, nimmt sie einen Job als Moderatorin einer Kochshow im Fernsehen an und macht sich daran, einer Nation übersehener Hausfrauen – und den Männern, die plötzlich zuhören – viel mehr als nur Rezepte beizubringen.

Tuskegee returns with serious intent and a fresh club weapon from a recognised statesman of house music, Junior Sanchez. Having written and collaborated with artists including Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, and Roger Sanchez, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ pairs Sanchez with vocalist and songwriter Dave Giles II, riding high himself following link-ups with Honey Dijon, Mike Dunn, and a producer on Beyonce’s anthemic ‘Cozy’.

‘Bitch U Could Neva’ is a powerful, instantaneous trip back into the underground style and attitude shared between both artists, reflecting the vibe of Sanchez’s rise to success in the halcyon days of New York nineties clubbing, alongside Giles II’s own youth in the Chicago creative scene. Living up to the attitude of its title, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ bumps with peak-time energy, jackhammer drums and chopped-up vocals never undermining its fundamental sensuality, an increasingly rare link between true, authentic dancefloors past and present.

The pair then look to London for a confident, stripped-back take from prestigious record collector and curator GIDEON. The founder of dance music institutions Adonis and Glastonbury’s infamous Block 9 goes deep to find the track’s potential as a minimal, vogue-adjacent house workout, scattered with telephone dial tones and an upfront disclosure; “Bitch, I’m serving.”

Back across the Atlantic, Physical Therapy and Michael Mangan team up under their Fatherhood project to give ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ a seriously bouncy redress, winding tight drums atop a rubbery bassline and paying their own Twilo and Tunnel-era tributes with cut-up vocals and an ecstatic onslaught of rave stabs.

Immortal Onion haben sich als eine der aufregendsten Acts der neuen polnischen Jazzwelle etabliert. Ihr einzigartiger Stil geniesst internationale Anerkennung, was sich in Gigs in 25 Ländern Europas und Asiens widerspiegelt. Die neue LP "Technaturalism" geht über Jazz hinaus und bietet eine fesselnde Mischung aus elektronischer Hardstyle-Energie und zarten, lyrischen Momenten, in der die Band moderne Technologie mit organischer Sensibilität verbindet. Das in Eigenregie geschriebene, aufgenommene, produzierte und gemischte Album gab ihnen die Freiheit, einen wahrhaft originellen Sound zu kreieren. Das Vinyl wurde von Stefan Betke bei Scape Mastering gemastert.

After releasing their single 'U' late last year on cult Berlin dance label Live From Earth and DJing the label's night at Berghain the band are celebrating their foray into club music with a special 12-inch featuring remixes of the single from friends of the band and Live From Earth affiliates.

What it is, is funky! When the acid jazz scene ruled the world it looked for its inspiration in places that other jazz fans tended to overlook. The soul jazz of the late 60s and early 70s. The music of lounge bars and small clubs that fuelled the night life of black America. This compilation brings together ten examples of the sound and is a high quality listen from start to finish.

In the post-bebop world jazz was often condemned as an intellectual music aimed at the head not the feet, but a strain of the music was always for dancing, coming straight from the legacy of the big bands, and always tipping its head to what was going on in the R&B charts. The tracks included here all stay true to that legacy.

So whether we have Lonnie Liston Smith’s plea for 'Peace & Love' with its Bob Marley echoing horn lines, or Joe Bataan as band leader covering Isaac Hayes’ ‘Theme From the Men’, this is music allied with the contemporary sounds of the day. Oliver Nelson's synth heavy 'Skull Session' or his TV hit 'Theme From The Six Million Dollar Man' covered by Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes show this. At the heart of these recordings are the rhythms − and as such Bernard Purdie is the star either as a solo artist or simply as the man behind the kit with Harold Alexander.

This is Funky Jazz is an entry ticket to a party that everyone should want to be invited to.