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Compiled by Philip King
“And then came the rise of synth pop : blokes with dodgy haircuts hunched over keyboard-operated
machines stuffed with wires and do-it-yourself tone oscillators making sounds like a brood of geese
passing gas in a wind tunnel. Whoopee! This is the way the ‘70s ended : not with a blood-curdling bang
bang but with a cheap, synthesized, emasculating whimper.”
NICK KENT, NME.

All The Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop 1978-1985 is a new compilation that charts the
underbelly of the epoch-defining sound of the synthesiser in 80s popular music. Compiled by Philip
King (previously seen compiling All The Young Droogs, Glitterbest and Boobs - The Junkshop
Glam Discotheque), the music here connects the dots between DIY synth enthusiasts grappling with
new, cheap synthesisers at the tail-end of punk and wannabe, jobbing songwriters enthral to the new
music pioneered by Gary Numan, Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller’s Mute Records. Featuring rare
tracks of auto-didactic progressive pop music, proto-techno punk, shoot-for-the-stars-land-in-the-gutter
chart flops and heralded, underground synth classics, School Daze paints a picture of beautiful failure.
Complete with extensive sleeve notes written by King and never before seen imagery, all 24 tracks
were remastered by RPM in-house engineer Simon Murphy, many from vinyl copies due to lost master
tapes. The story told on All The Young Droids is one of the dawning opportunity presented by both the
emergence to the market of cheaper analog synthesisers and the distribution networks plus indie labels
that exploded with the advent of punk music in 1976. While the music that sprouted out all over the
globe in the wake of these factors was decried as fake, plastic, a refutation of punk’s guitar-led
revolution, it’s telling that much of the music on All The Young Droids.. was created in bedrooms,
ramshackle studios and home-made set ups with often borrowed equipment. In the era of record labels
jumping to capitalise on the success of The Sex Pistols, The Clash (both on major labels, of course)
these artists struggled to stand out from a new gold-rush with next to no budget or PR team. With radio
and labels desperate for the new Yazoo, what resulted was a testament to necessity being the mother
of invention.

At the time, the synthesiser was the music of the future, a shiny new machine that could paint like an
orchestra with a single finger and a 4-track. In the hands of Manchester avant-pranksters Gerry & The
Holograms it’s a pulsing, sardonic weapon.. the only instrument on the Messthetics classic lampooning
of New Wave fashion. In Hamburg, a 16 year old Andreas Dorau used it to write and record (with his
female classmates on vocals) a global smash in Fred Vom Jupiter (later licensed to Mute Records).
The hard-to-find English version (Fred From Jupiter, natch) is included here. Many artists with alreadystoried careers caught the bug and recorded synthesiser-fuelled peons to space, computers, the future
and, of course, love-interests. Harry Kakoulli, late of Squeeze, recorded a solo album in 1979 that
included the incredible power-synth-pop smash-that-never-smashed I’m On A Rocket. Similarly, Ian
North of Neo and American Power Pop stalwarts Milk ’n’ Cookies bought a Korg MS20 and used a
tape machine to record We’re Not Lonely, an absolute lost-classic of minimal synth pop. We’re Not
Lonely also features on the Junkshop Synth Pop sampler 7” twinned with John Howard unreleased
track You Will See, released April 12th 2025.

There are plenty of compilation debuts in evidence. Sole Sister were a mysterious trio who were
featured on the Scaling Triangles compilation of female-fronted, queer-adjacent post-punk /
underground music that also featured The Petticoats. Selwin Image were from San Francisco and
featured members of the recently defunct power pop/punk group The Pushups. Their stupidly catchy
The Unknown fizzes with New Wave energy - think XTC to Sparks but remains unreleased until now.
Dream Unit’s A Drop In The Ocean is an early synth wave cut, positively teaming with Joy Division
instrumentation, previously only released on a long-forgotten and super rare, self-released EP.
Incandescent Luminaire’s Famous Names belies an archetypal struggle of a small-town trying to
make it in a cruel industry but is a thrilling New Romantic-Synth Wave cross over with a OMD
gloominess that’s a joy to hear. Feminist Minimal Wave track I Am A Time Bomb by performance artist
Peta Lilly and Michael Chance is a revelation destined for new found cult status. It was released on 7”
and lost until now.

The flipside to the subterranean, never-made-it synth pop mentioned above are the ambitious, even
fruity attempts at success that have a perennial elegance to their confidence. New Jersey-ite Billy
London (real name Ed Barth) tried to cash in on the synth boom with Woman, released by a major
label, a lurching new wave track built on the Louie Louie rhythm and a wonderfully camp Lou Reedstyle sleazy vocal before exploding in the synthesised chorus. The song bombed but with a chorus like
this, you have to wonder why? Ex-Glitter Band member John Springate’s My Life is truly epic, with
doomed chord progressions and massive sounding drums turning into at least 3 different songs in the
course of the track. Before you wonder what’s going on the song resolves with a glorious return to the
main refrain.

The dry-ice-dressed dance floor is well catered for too. Design’s Premonition and Vision’s Lucifer’s
Friend are stone-cold minimal synth bangers, well loved but given a new lease of life here. The
Warlord’s The Ultimate Warlord was released in 1978, a homespun proto Hi NRG banger that was
later re-recorded by The Immortals in Canada who had a club hit with it. One-man- band Disco
Volante’s No Motion was re-issued by Synth wave label Medical in 2012 but makes its first vinyl
compilation appearance here. Close your eyes and you can imagine what Lawrence of Felt would have
sounded like with some cheap Korgs a little earlier in his career. Gibraltar-based trio The Microbes
imagined a computer programming people to dance - how prescient - and ended up with a propulsive,
robo-funk track with splendid rubbery bass playing over a tectonic drum machine. Previously picked up
by Belgian label Stroom TV, Dee Jay Bert & Eagle’s heavily Euro-accented I Am Your Master
demands the listener to “come to paradise!” In a frankly terrifying manner.
All The Young Droids is the first compilation to peel away from the narrative that dour, Minimal Synth
and Cold Wave were the only musical children of the first rush of synth pop. Philip King and School
Daze Records describe a much more complicated world: along with the austere, Brutalist children of
Daniel Miller (who produced Alan Burnham’s Bowie-Low-influenced Science Fiction here) was a
plethora of desperate cash-ins, accidental mainstream hits, ambitious pop dramas and major label
punts that went nowhere. Crucially, the compilation blurs the line between junk and treasure. What if the
two things are interchangeable. What if it’s all science fiction?

Nubiyan Twist present NT Soundsystem - Dubplate Inferno, a new 9 track album reimagining tracks from their critically acclaimed album ‘Find Your Flame’, transforming them into bass-heavy, dub-infused dancefloor killers. Produced by band leader Tom Excell alongside singer Aziza Jaye, the remixes channel the raw energy of the band’s live performances, blending their signature fusion of jazz, afrobeat, soul, and reggae with the gritty, immersive sound of traditional UK soundsystem culture.

The album features some extra guests on vocals, legendary MC Horseman appears on a drum & bass version of ‘Battle Isn’t Over’ whilst newcomer SkillFul Kxng from Kingston, Jamaica, breathes some Dancehall fire on ‘Woman’, adding to contributions from the original record including Seun Kuti, Mamani Keita & NEONE the Wonderer.

This project is a celebration of collective musical innovation, paying homage to the UK’s rich soundsystem heritage while pushing boundaries with their genre-defying style.

Nubiyan Twist have built up a name as one of the forerunners of the UK Jazz scene, fusing together global grooves, soul and jazz; intertwined with electronic elements, horn-led melodies and spontaneous improvisation.

The influence of soundsystem culture has been ever present in their music, from dub sessions the band used to attend in Leeds to jungle raves of East Anglia in the 2000’s. Band Leader Tom Excell has a history of DJing and producing dance music, including with reggae side-project Chief Rockas, working with reggae giants such as Super Cat, Luciano & Turbulence.

Nubiyan Twist’s lead singer Aziza Jaye was born of Jamaican heritage and has grown up around soundsystem culture, boasting an incredibly versatile vocal style and large catalog of work alongside a plethora of producers, including recent work with Mungo’s Hi-Fi.

LA-based producer Real Bad Man and Detroit artist ZelooperZ release their joint album Dear Psilocybin via the pro-ducer’s own Real Bad Man Records. The album marks the duo’s first collaboration, culminating in a full-length project that also features guest appearances from Boldy James, MAVI and a verse from The Alchemist. On Dear Psilocybin, ZelooperZ invokes unconventional production out of Real Bad Man to match his own unpredictable and outlandish delivery, working outside of traditional song structures and existing in a lane of his own. The Detroit multihyphenate, who is an integral part of Danny Brown’s Bruiser Brigadecollective and also an accomplished visual artist, painted the album’s corresponding cover artwork as well.

“I definitely haven’t made anything like this before, it’s a very subtle version of my music as far as tone, ” ZelooperZ explained in a conversation with Real Bad Man for his RBM Radio show. He elaborates on the off-kilter approach to the way he recorded to say, “the album feels like a movie soundtrack for a film about a man losing his mind and getting spurts of memories along the way. ”

Speaking about how the project differs from the rest of his collaborative catalog, RBM says, “It’s trippy and it’s a little different – but the main goal was for it to be authentic to Z and his process. ” That dedication to authenticity rings true across his catalog, drawing back to the foundations of his beginnings as a producer, learning the fundamentals of sampling, experimenting with chords and learning to piece songs together by ear. RBM builds a cohesive production arc around each artist he works with, catered to their strengths as artists, working with a variety of lyrical stylists includ-ing Memphis rapper Lukah, Pink Siifu, Blu, Kool Keith, Elcamino & more.

Real Bad Man is the production moniker of visual artist and designer Adam Jay Weissman. A designer and visual artist first, he made his foray into music through his On High Alert series of imaginative, multi-generational compilations, which have featured the likes of Roc Marciano, ROME STREETZ, Pink Siifu, Maxo and more. In the years since, he’s partnered with some of hip-hop’s most talented and adventurous artists on full-length projects, refining and shaping the trajectory of some of rap’s most exciting independent artists.

Bittersweet - Das neue Album von Formosa ist wie ein Neubeginn für die Band. Nach der Coronapause geben die Jungs Vollgas und liefern zehn starke Nummern! Bei den Songs und dem Sound der Platte erfindet sich die Band neu ohne dabei sich selbst zu verlieren. "Es fühlt sich an wie ein Neustart, eine neue Ära" sagt Sänger Nik Bird. Die Musik von Formosa hat sich weiterentwickelt, teilweise wurden die Songs härter und schneller, insgesamt ist dennoch jeder einzelne melodiös und eingängig. Die Produktion wie auch das Songwriting sind auf einem Höchstniveau so, dass Formosa ihr beste Scheibe präsentieren. "Mit dem neuen Album sind wir sehr zufrieden, wir haben extrem viel Schweißblut die letzten Monate zwischen den ganzen Touren hineingesteckt und das Ergebnis kann sich sowas von sehen bzw. hören lassen" Nik Beer, Gitarrist. "Wir haben es geschafft uns treuzubleiben und trotzdem nicht auf der Stelle zu treten. Wir sind mächtig stolz auf die Scheibe und jetzt sind wir gespannt was der Rest der Welt denkt" Paris Jay, Drummer.

Mit ,Backstage" hat Jay-Jay bereits sein 15. Album veröffentlicht, und seine Inspiration wird ständig erneuert. Hier finden wir die grundlegenden Elemente seines musikalischen Universums: Jazz, Triphop, Pop und sogar einen Hauch von Easy Listening. Die erste Single ,How Long Do You Think We're Gonna Last?" bietet einen köstlichen Soul-Sound, der auf den ersten 14 Alben von Jay-Jay nicht zu hören war. Auf ,Backstage" singt Jay-Jay zum ersten Mal in seiner Diskografie einen Song komplett auf Französisch, der Rimbaud gewidmet ist. Der Text stammt von dem französischen Schriftsteller Renaud Santa Maria. Schließlich liefert Jay-Jay eine persönliche Version von ,Lujon", dem Kultsong zum 100. Geburtstag des Komponisten Henry Mancini. Aufgenommen in Stockholm im Winter 2024, wurde das Album in Paris von Alex Gopher (Air, Phoenix, Bob Sinclar...) gemastert. Für JJJ-Hardcore-Fans: In der Auflage von 1000 LPs gibt es 20 goldene Tickets zu gewinnen, die nach dem Zufallsprinzip verteilt werden. Die goldenen Tickets berechtigen zu einer VIP-Einladung zu einem beliebigen Jay-Jay Johanson-Konzert + Backstage-Treff mit Jay-Jay Johanson. Die CD-Version hat indes zwei Bonustracks aufzuweisen.

Discover the Sound of IBIZA with our new vinyl collection ! One double vinyl focussing on Techno with gems from Laurent Garnier, Stve Bug, Chrstopher Just... One double vinyl dedicated to House Music with perls from Ultra Naté, Kings of Tomorrow, Bob Sinclar...

Shortly after Jay Dee’s younger brother Illa J’s solo debut was issued on Delicious Vinyl, the label and the artist knew the next step in honouring Jay Dee’s legacy was to issue the complete instrumentals from Yancey Boys as a stand-alone release. This mother lode of previously untouched (at the time) beats dates as far back as Jay Dee’s time working on the Pharcyde’s sophomore album, 1995’s Labcabincalifornia. As Delicious Vinyl owner Michael Ross explains, “From ‘95 through ’98 Jay Dee was my go-to guy for hot beats and remixes. He was always making beats, always. So there was a select amount of tracks that he composed for me during that time, tracks as good as anything he’d done, only they never got used.” Once these beats were used for Illa J’s Yancey Boys they were presented to the public on Yancey Boys Instrumentals.

Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue another Warda classic from the 70s, We Malo, originally recorded in 1975 by the legendary Arabic Diva who has sampled by Jay-Z and J Dilla. The album blends traditional Arabic music with 1970s grooves, showcasing Warda's distinct vocal style. She is accompanied by a full-sized orchestra, updating the classy traditional sound with modern instruments (electric guitar, organ). We Malo was penned by composer Baligh Hamdi. This reissue features newly remastered audio, original cassette artwork and a two-page insert with a new introduction by Mario Choueiry from the Institut du Monde Arabe

"CAM Sugar is thrilled to present Jeymes Samuel’s Spaghetti Western Collection, a selection of rare cuts from Italian Western film soundtracks (1963–1972), curated by the acclaimed father of the contemporary Spaghetti Western genre, BAFTA-winner director (The Harder They Fall, The Book of Clarence) and singer-songwriter Jeymes Samuel (The Bullits, Executive Music Consultant for The Great Gatsby alongside Jay-Z and Baz Luhrmann, as well as collaborator of Gorillaz and Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica). The English artist has also supervised the art direction of the products – painting the cover artwork by hand – compiled the music selection and produced two new original tracks. 2-LP DELUXE VERSION 2LP, a 20-track deep dive into the CAM Sugar catalogue casting a light on the trademark Italian sound that shaped Spaghetti Western, the legendary film genre birthed 60 years ago from the brainchild of Sergio Leone A Western Saloon Inspired Box Set with additional artwork for the box set. Exclusive 7” featuring an original song written and composed by Jeymes Samuel and an instrumental version of the song. Exclusive 10” featuring an original song written and composed by Jeymes Samuel with a CAM Sugar Sample and an unreleased poem by Regina King. Exclusive Official and unreleased story board from The Harder They Fall by Dwayne Turner Exclusive Interviews by Jeymes Samuel with The Harder They Fall protagonists Regina King and David Oleyowo, included in a booklet that will also feature content from the CAM Sugar Archives: Original Scores and Movie Posters One Dollar mini poster customized with Jeymes Samuel’s portrait in pure Spaghetti Western style THE STANDARD 2LP and CD versions:Featuring the 20 tracks selected by Jeymes Samuel and the exclusive booklet, including interviews By Jeymes Samuel to The Harder They Fall protagonists Regina King and David Oleyowo as well as content from the CAM Sugar Archives: Original Scores and Movie Posters.
"

DJ Quik & JasonMartin (formerly known as Problem), are back with their second collaborative project, Chupacabra. As can be the fear with fan-favorite follow-ups, Chupacabra refuses to copy the formula laid out on Rosecrans yet shares the same soul, steeped in the cores of West Coast G-Funk, but alive and grown up, in a more sophisticated tone. With an album that is LA to it’s core (sans a few tasteful features from artists that would get the nod despite not being from there), Chupacabra provides the sounds to a golden summer in the city of Angels. Like the chupacabra, JasonMartin & DJ Quik are both enigmatic and mystical figures in the hip-hop space. A star-studded list of features include The Game, Suga Free, Jay Worthy, Larry June, Channel Tres, Bun B, DOM KENNDEY, & more. 1xLP, pressed on Blue Vinyl.










j B1 | TWO HI (WAVES) feat Wiz Khalifa, Channel Tres, Free Nationals & George Clinton

For his third long-player under the Phi-Psonics banner, Ford-Young marshalled a series of live recordings at the Healing Force Of The Universe record store in Pasadena, sculpting fourteen tracks, largely composed in the moment with a fluctuating cast of players, which wonderfully transmit his ideals of community and inner peace. Called "Expanding To One", it features exquisitely calming yet searching pieces like "There"s Still Hope", where Seth"s softly undulating bassline underpins beatific explorations from core Phi-Psonics members, Sylvain Carton and Randal Fisher (both on saxophone), and Josh Collazo (drums), alongside guests Zach Tenorio (Wurlitzer piano) and Mathias Künzli (percussion). Equally sublime, "Healing Time" ripples like a mountain stream, with Ford-Young, Carton, Fisher and Tenorio joined by Minta Spencer (harp), Dylan Day (guitar) and, on drums/percussion, Jay Bellerose, a revered LA stickman most recently under the spotlight in Jeff Parker ETA IVtet.

Es gibt einen wilden Südstaatenmotor im Inneren des Debütalbums von Billy Allen + The Pollies Black Noise, das ein neues Kapitel in der der Entwicklung des ,Muscle Shoals Sound". Wie The Swampers vor ihnen, schöpft die Band aus unzähligen Einflüssen des Rock'n'Roll, klassischem Soul und Psychedelia zu einem um einen ganz eigenen, das Genre sprengenden Sound zu kreieren. Die Band wurde während der Pandemie Pandemie im Jahr 2020, als Billy Allen und Pollies-Frontmann und Haupt-Songwriter Jay Burgess begannen Demos auszutauschen und gemeinsam Songs zu schreiben. Als sich die Abriegelung lockerte, wurden mehr Mitglieder von The Pollies beteiligt, und aus einem lustigen Schreibprojekt entwickelte sich zu einer richtigen Band. Als es an der Zeit war, eine richtige Platte aufzunehmen, holten sie sich ihren Freund und manchmal auch Pollie Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes) und sein Studio in Florence, Alabama. Das Ergebnis ist ein 11-Song-Klassiker, der stöhnt und jammert und tanzt und feiert, eine großartige Band, angeführt von einer der einer der wirklich großen Stimmen der heutigen Südstaatenmusik.

Es gibt einen wilden Südstaatenmotor im Inneren des Debütalbums von Billy Allen + The Pollies Black Noise, das ein neues Kapitel in der der Entwicklung des ,Muscle Shoals Sound". Wie The Swampers vor ihnen, schöpft die Band aus unzähligen Einflüssen des Rock'n'Roll, klassischem Soul und Psychedelia zu einem um einen ganz eigenen, das Genre sprengenden Sound zu kreieren. Die Band wurde während der Pandemie Pandemie im Jahr 2020, als Billy Allen und Pollies-Frontmann und Haupt-Songwriter Jay Burgess begannen Demos auszutauschen und gemeinsam Songs zu schreiben. Als sich die Abriegelung lockerte, wurden mehr Mitglieder von The Pollies beteiligt, und aus einem lustigen Schreibprojekt entwickelte sich zu einer richtigen Band. Als es an der Zeit war, eine richtige Platte aufzunehmen, holten sie sich ihren Freund und manchmal auch Pollie Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes) und sein Studio in Florence, Alabama. Das Ergebnis ist ein 11-Song-Klassiker, der stöhnt und jammert und tanzt und feiert, eine großartige Band, angeführt von einer der einer der wirklich großen Stimmen der heutigen Südstaatenmusik.

One of the most legendary, influential and enduring names in rock music history, SWEET, will re-release their 2012 studio album "New York Connection" via Metalville Records. The release will see the album being pressed for the first time in coloured vinyl and a special edition CD with bonus tracks not included on the original release. "New York Connection" is a selection of material that was originally written by other artists, to which the band has unmistakably put their signature sound on . So is it a boring cover album? Well, no! Not really! This time it's a little different! Aside from a decent selection of must-haves - Andy Scott, said we have also added guitar riffs, drum beats or vocal lines from our own classics where appropriate. So their rendition of "It's All Moving Faster" incorporated the guitar line from SWEET's "Burn On The Flame" while "Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones used elements of "The Ballroom Blitz". Although the most obvious example is the fusion of Russ Ballard's "New York Groove" (previously covered by both Hello and former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley) and Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind". Amazingly, it works!

Step into the world of Cicciolina, a sonic journey as captivating as it is audacious. This reissue captures the electrifying energy of the 80s, blending pulsating dance rhythms with surprisingly melodic moments, all wrapped in lyrics as provocative as they are unforgettable. Produced by Jayhorus, “Perversion” is an album that defies easy categorization – a testament to Ilona Staller’s unique artistry and the irresistible power of a truly original sound. Prepare to be seduced and ignite your senses. Open the gatefold cover and rediscover the uninhibited spirit of an icon.

Tracks from original master tapes.

THE SPEAKER WARS, an American rock band formed by Stan Lynch and Jon Christopher Davis, brings a unique blend of rock, country, and gospel influences to their debut self-titled release, the product of a longstanding collaboration. Stan Lynch, a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer, has contributed his talents as a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, drawing on his work with Don Henley, Ringo Starr, The Byrds, and many others. Lynch produced, engineered, and mixed the album, lending guitar, keyboard, bass, and vocal skills to the mix. Jon Christopher Davis, a seasoned singer-songwriter from Dallas, honed his craft in Nashville, writing songs for icons like Dolly Parton, Timothy B. Schmit, and Vince Gill. Davis, known for his soulful lead vocals, fronts the band and adds guitar, bass, and keyboard layers to their distinct sound. The band’s live lineup features Lynch on drums, Davis on guitar, and additional musicians Jay Brown, Brian Patterson, Steve Ritter, and Jay Michael Smith, creating a dynamic stage presence.

Detroit deep house don Rick Wade back in full force! Four cuts of pure groove, lush vibes, and soulful grit. Limited wax, no sleep!

Laurent Garnier : cool release
Radio Slave (Rekids) : Woah !!! Rick knows.
Ben Sims : Now downloading. Will check asap!
DJ Bone (FURTHER) : So deep so dope! Love every track here.
DJ Sneak (I'M A HOUSE GANGSTA) : superb work
Jaye Ward (Dalston Super Store / Netil Radio) : super deep super lush
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Ryan Crosson (Visionquest) : Been playing Rick's music for 20 years. thanks for sending
Arno (Pressure Traxx / Einzelkind / Half Baked) : In a world that gets more and more crazy and unpredictable it feels good to know that some things can still be relied upon. Like Rick Wade and his crunchy deep house jams. Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised to receive such a good digital promo. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Berlin
Pat Hyland (Northside Loft Society) : Loving this EP. Rick‘s House interpretations are the finest. Full Support. Your Love Is........ Magic!
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Big Daddy Rick is goin' deep!
Harri (Sub Club) : lovely stuff, will play and support
Fred P : Dope...
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : Classic sounds of Rick Wade!
Enrica Falqui (ERIS, Plexus 4) : Dusk Runner for me, thanks!
William Kiss (Rekids) : Lovely!
Kléo (Rush Hour) : deep and soulful just the way it's supposed to be!
Bill Brewster (NTS) : Best track: Your Love Is
Gerd (4Lux / Clone) : Amazing house tracks by Rick Wade as usual! Phonogramme killing it too!
Aleqs Notal : Love it !!! Full support
Jorkes (Freeride Millenium) : lovely. thanks so much for sending. xoxo
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Nice, thank u
Dorian Paic (Raum Musik) : Your Love Is is the one for me. Thx for the promo!
Dj Hutch (Ambers) : Lovely stuff this

info: Inspired by a trip to Brazil and having collected a fair amount of samples while digging around Rio, Scream & P. Rock have been locked down in the studio creating their third collaborative album - Fresh Press III. Synthesis of Brazilian groove, bass synths, live percussion and funky drums, guitar solos and funk riffs, live bass guitar, vintage breaks and raw experiments. Here is a special approach to sampling and creating cinematic arrangements.

The signature sound of a well-coordinated tandem of a break DJ and music producer is familiar to the audience from the first two «Fresh Press» albums. The third release, which was worked on for over a year, takes a special place and is presented on 12” wax in a limited edition of 300 copies

'Test Driving The New Prius' is a 35 minute radio play (with sound effects) written and performed by Jim Fry (Earl Brutus, Pre New) and Luke Haines. (The Auteurs, Baader Meinhof a.o.). Just as that other modernist masterpiece Ulysses depicted a day in the life of Leopold Bloom, Test Driving The New Prius follows the life in a daze of Endgame Man. In this tale of derring-do our hero acts out a perilous adventure in the 400 yards between his home, his local pub and the off-licence. With nervous system reduced to a series of involuntary twitches and reality reduced to a background hum of decades of half absorbed mindless daytime TV wittering. Can Endgame Man get home and make it through to Wednesday with only his spirit familiars - an endless trail of 75cl bottles of Glen's vodka to guide him? With cameos from Jayne MacDonald, Brian Eno, Martin Degville /sigue Sigue Sputnik) and the cast of Blankety Blank (1980). Written and executed by Jim Fry and Luke Haines Originally Broadcast as a Radio Play in 2022, now a limited-edition 12-inch vinyl LP on berry red vinyl,exclusively released for RSD 2025

Classic and legendary are words used on a regular basis, but you genuinely do not get more classic or legendary than Hurt You So by Jonny L. Wildly inventive when first released, and sounding as fresh today as it did back then, these 4 original mixes are pure fire, inescapable anthems from the then and the now, and this reissue, remastered from DAT and rereleased, cannot be missed…

Club / DJ Support
Ed Solo, Ray Keith, Jay Cunning, Dj Rap, Dope Ammo, Annie Mac, Billy Bunter, the Fat Controller, Glowkid, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Clayfighter, Jimni Cricket, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker, Ponder and many others

**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.

Norman Westberg (guitar), Giridhar Udupa (ghatam, konnakol, khanjira, percussion) and Jacek Mazurkiewicz (double bass, electronics)An extraordinary meeting of three artists from three different musical worlds and three different continents. Norman Westberg (ex-Swans) and Jacek Mazurkiewicz have already released one album together "First Man In The Moon" in 2021 (published by the Swiss label Hallow Ground).In the new project, they are accompanied by Giridhar Udupa, an Indian master of ghatam (a clay percussion instrument that looks like a jug). The album will feature 3 long trance compositions, referring to ambient, krautrock, free jazz and Indian music.Jacek Mazurkiewicz describes the creation of this album as follows:"I met Norman Westberg while supporting the Swans tour in Poland as 3FoNIA. A few years later, during Norman's tour with Gira, we recorded a duet.The trio session took place similarly to the previous duet session during Norman's solo concert in Warsaw on the Swans tour.Recorded with Adam Toczko, a quick meeting on a day off from work.I invited Giridhar Udupa to the trio, whom I had met earlier during the period when I co-founded the band Limboski. I once invited Wacek Zimpel to play a few concerts with Giridhar. Wacek later created Saagara and I was wondering about some unusual musical context in which I would find myself with Giridhar. I was looking for an interesting sound configuration, but also a cultural one, with a different approach to creating music. I got the impression that for both Norman and Giridhar it was a fairly fresh meeting, not obvious. And on the other hand, ordinary - everyone did their own thing."Detroit guitarist Norman Westberg moved to New York in 1980 and became a part of the experimental music scene that was experiencing its golden age. Westberg himself became a permanent fixture when he joined the iconic avant-rock band Swans in 1983, and was the only member other than frontman Michael Gira to play with them for most of the band's run, both until their 1997 disbandment and his return in 2010. Westberg has also been involved with other legendary New York noise-rock acts, including Jim Thirlwell's Foetus and the post-Swans Heroine Sheiks, in which he played with Cows frontman Shannon Selberg; and in 2014, he joined the noise-rock supergroup Hidden Rifles, whose members included Mike Watt of Minutemen and Mark Shippy of U.S. Maple. Westberg's solo compositions, most often for solo guitar and a set of effects, draw on drone and post-minimalism, bringing to mind dark ambient passages from Swans albums.Giridhar Udupa is an extremely valued teacher and world-renowned artist, an Indian master of ghatam (a clay percussion instrument that looks like a jug). He was born into a family with long musical traditions. He began learning to play at the age of four, guided by his father. At the age of twelve, he already had his first performances behind him. He currently gives concerts alongside the greatest masters. He has received many prestigious awards. He performs in the USA, Spain, Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, Oman and Kuwait. Giridhar Udupa is a member of the band of the Indian vocalist Bombay Jayashri, nominated for an Oscar for the best song for the film Life of Pi. He is one of the founders of the Layatharanga band. He also plays virtuoso other traditional instruments of South India, such as mridangam and kanjira, and is excellent at using the konnakol technique (a type of rhythmic vocalization).For three decades, the artist has been a global ambassador and icon of Carnatic music. He is the founder of The Udupa Foundation, a charity organization established in 2015 to promote Indian music, performing arts and culture. He has participated in recording dozens of albums. He is also well-known in our country thanks to his cooperation with Polish performers, which resulted in excellent artistic effects, such as the famous Indialucia - Michał Czachowski's group / project or the Saagara formation, led by Wacław Zimpel. Udupa also played on the album Lechoechoplexita, released by Leszek Hefi Wiśniewski, and on the album of the band Layatharanga, released in our country.Jacek Mazurkiewicz is interested in music in the broad sense. He puts his sounds together based on emotional impressions and pulse. Combining acoustics with electronics, he is constantly looking for a new sound. Solo as 3FoNIA, in a duet with Mikołaj Trzaska or Tomek Dąbrowski, the JMB trio with Wojtek Jachna and Jacek Buhl, in the Modular String Trio quartet, the Afrobeat quintet Faso Tamala are just some of his musical incarnations. With Patryk Zakrocki, as part of an audio mission, he massaged hundreds of pairs of ears in the Inner Ear Massage Office. He also deals with sound design, composing and producing music for films and theatre performances. He collaborated with many Polish and foreign artists.

Welcome to our porch

Through our many years of playing together on many stages across the globe, we have been able to share our Carolina roots with lots of people. But our tradition really doesn’t live on the stage; it lives on a back porch of Mebane, in a living room in Morganton and in countless other places wherever a musician might find themselves. We wanted to revisit the sounds, places, and textures at the beginning of our musical journey together and to share that experience with y’all. The rain, the cicadas, and thunder become part of the band, grounding us and the music firmly in the long narrative of the place we call home

Rhiannon Giddens reunites with her former Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Justin Robinson on What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, an album of North Carolina fiddle and banjo music. Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, the album features Giddens on banjo and Robinson on fiddle, with the duo playing eighteen of their favourite North Carolina tunes: a mix of instrumentals and tunes with words.

Many were learned from their late mentor, the legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson; one is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker, from whom they also learned by listening to recordings of her playing. Giddens and Robinson recorded the album outdoors and on location at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes, as well as the former plantation Mill Prong House. They were accompanied by the sounds of nature, including two different broods of cicadas, which had not emerged simultaneously since 1803, creating a true once-in-a-lifetime soundscape. The duo, along with four other string musicians including the multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, will embark on the Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue North America tour in April.

“With the assaults on reality going on in the world today, we wanted to offer another kind of record, like walking back onto a gravel or dirt road while a stampede goes the other way,” Giddens says. “With the cicada choir, this record could’ve only happened at a certain time in the last 120 years. We doubled down on place, time, realness, and old-fashioned front porch music. It’s a reminder that another way exists, with music made for your community’s enjoyment and for dancing–not solely for commercial purposes.

“What is the role of music in our society?” she wonders. “How do we de-couple it from unfettered capitalism, where music is a product and musicians are incidental? How do we use the tools and system that we have been bequeathed in a way that reminds us of other ways of being?” Robinson adds, "Recording this album felt like being back in the saddle. Just this time Joe is not here, and his fiddle is under my chin. The album is about home, the cicadas, the storms, the music, and the people who make it feel like home."

Thompson was one of the last musicians of his era and his community to carry on the southern Black string band tradition. He played a crucial role in the lives of Giddens and Robinson, who, along with their Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Dom Flemons, spent their formative years learning from Thompson in traditional apprentice/mentor relationships. His influence has guided all of their artistic journeys as well as their mission to keep the legacy of the Black string band tradition alive.

In further tribute to Giddens’ North Carolina roots, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow will arrive just a week before Biscuits & Banjos, the inaugural edition of her first festival, which highlights the deep roots and enduring legacy of Black music, art, and culture while fostering community and storytelling. The sold-out festival will feature a much-anticipated Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion, their first performance together in more than a decade.

Auf "Warlord of the Weejuns" definiert er in Brooklyn geborene und im Südosten Londons lebende Rapper Goya Gumbani seinen Sound mit reichhaltigen Full-Band-Arrangements neu und verbindet Londons neue Jazz-Generation mit dem Hip-Hop-Erbe von New York City. Zu den Gästen des Albums gehören die ebenfalls in London lebende schwedischen Soulsängerin Fatima, lojii, Seafood Sam und Yaya Bey. Der Titel des Albums ist eine Ode an Miles Davis, den Goya für seine Leidenschaft für Musik und den allgegenwärtigen Stil bewundert, den er in jeden Aspekt seines Lebens einbrachte. Goya kanalisiert diesen Ehrgeiz auf diesem neuen Album, das mit üppigen Arrangements in voller Bandbesetzung aufgenommen wurde und seine eigene Stimme als Teil der Instrumentierung einsetzt. Mit Goya und seiner scharfen, mühelos geschmeidigen Stimme als tonangebendem Dirigenten des Albums bringt er eine Schar musikalischer Köpfe zusammen, um eine weitläufige, strahlende Sammlung musikalischer Vignetten zu schaffen, die die wortlosen Ausdrücke des Jazz und die meditativen Rhythmen des Reggae aufgreifen. In "Warlord of the Weejuns" geht es um Selbstbestätigung, Selbstwert und das schwarze Erbe, das Wissen und Macht von innen heraus manifestiert. Goya arrangierte seine einzigartige Vision mit Produktionen von Joe Armon-Jones, Swarvy, Franky Bones, Dan Diggers, Alejandro ?anchez, Maxwell Owin, Omari Jazz, Les Lockheart, Zalente und Ghostly-Labelkollegen quickly, quickly.

Auf "Warlord of the Weejuns" definiert er in Brooklyn geborene und im Südosten Londons lebende Rapper Goya Gumbani seinen Sound mit reichhaltigen Full-Band-Arrangements neu und verbindet Londons neue Jazz-Generation mit dem Hip-Hop-Erbe von New York City. Zu den Gästen des Albums gehören die ebenfalls in London lebende schwedischen Soulsängerin Fatima, lojii, Seafood Sam und Yaya Bey. Der Titel des Albums ist eine Ode an Miles Davis, den Goya für seine Leidenschaft für Musik und den allgegenwärtigen Stil bewundert, den er in jeden Aspekt seines Lebens einbrachte. Goya kanalisiert diesen Ehrgeiz auf diesem neuen Album, das mit üppigen Arrangements in voller Bandbesetzung aufgenommen wurde und seine eigene Stimme als Teil der Instrumentierung einsetzt. Mit Goya und seiner scharfen, mühelos geschmeidigen Stimme als tonangebendem Dirigenten des Albums bringt er eine Schar musikalischer Köpfe zusammen, um eine weitläufige, strahlende Sammlung musikalischer Vignetten zu schaffen, die die wortlosen Ausdrücke des Jazz und die meditativen Rhythmen des Reggae aufgreifen. In "Warlord of the Weejuns" geht es um Selbstbestätigung, Selbstwert und das schwarze Erbe, das Wissen und Macht von innen heraus manifestiert. Goya arrangierte seine einzigartige Vision mit Produktionen von Joe Armon-Jones, Swarvy, Franky Bones, Dan Diggers, Alejandro ?anchez, Maxwell Owin, Omari Jazz, Les Lockheart, Zalente und Ghostly-Labelkollegen quickly, quickly.

Mechanisms of Omniscience - a brutal and unrelenting journey through technical death metal, returns to the market as a special vinyl reissue, brought to you by our newly established record label. Originally released by Abnormality in 2016, this album has left a lasting mark on the genre with its punishing riffs, precise technicality, and intense lyrical content. Abnormality explores profound and provocative themes in every track, addressing existentialism, corruption, and the darker side of human nature. This is an album that defies genre expectations, marrying complex arrangements with raw aggression. Abnormality, a force hailing from Massachusetts, has carved a niche within extreme metal for its signature blend of technical prowess and relentless heaviness. Led by the fierce vocals of Mallika Sundaramurthy, the band is complemented by the exceptional talents of guitarist Jeremy Henry, bassist Josh Staples, and drummer Jay Blaisdell. Together, they create a sound that is as precise as it is punishing, offering fans a visceral experience in each performance. This reissue celebrates the lasting impact of Mechanisms of Omniscience while paying homage to Abnormality’s powerful contribution to metal.

Mechanisms of Omniscience - a brutal and unrelenting journey through technical death metal, returns to the market as a special vinyl reissue, brought to you by our newly established record label. Originally released by Abnormality in 2016, this album has left a lasting mark on the genre with its punishing riffs, precise technicality, and intense lyrical content. Abnormality explores profound and provocative themes in every track, addressing existentialism, corruption, and the darker side of human nature. This is an album that defies genre expectations, marrying complex arrangements with raw aggression. Abnormality, a force hailing from Massachusetts, has carved a niche within extreme metal for its signature blend of technical prowess and relentless heaviness. Led by the fierce vocals of Mallika Sundaramurthy, the band is complemented by the exceptional talents of guitarist Jeremy Henry, bassist Josh Staples, and drummer Jay Blaisdell. Together, they create a sound that is as precise as it is punishing, offering fans a visceral experience in each performance. This reissue celebrates the lasting impact of Mechanisms of Omniscience while paying homage to Abnormality’s powerful contribution to metal.

Mess Esque is an Australian duo who sound like they literally dreamed themselves into being, made up of Helen Franzmann (McKisko) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Tren Brothers). The two enjoy moving at an unhurried pace, but what: here"s their third album in less than five years! "Jay Marie, Comfort Me" feels a hemisphere away from Mess Esque"s first efforts, and a whole new atmospheric level above. The duo began as a correspondence course in 2020, swapping tracks remotely between Melbourne and Brisbane to experiment with pairing Mick"s guitar, keys and loops with Helen"s ruminative vocals. Their third effort arrives after the two actualised into the same space - that is, touring and performing together! - but they"ve continued the absentee ballot as before, collaborating from some 800 miles apart to write another great album. One with an edge... rocking, we daresay! Along with Keeley Young and Kishore Ryan from the live band, the album features cellist Stephanie Arnold and a couple of Australia"s living legends of percussion: Bree van Reyk and Mick"s ol" Dirty Three partner-in-crime, Jim White.

Lonnie Liston Smiths 'Expansions' ist eines der einflussreichsten Alben aller Zeiten, dessen Sound viele verschiedene Genres streift. Es ist ein Grundpfeiler der Dance-Musik und eine Hymne für die britische Clubszene. Zum 50. Jubiläum feiert Ace Records diesen Einfluss mit einer hochwertigen Deluxe-Vinyl-Edition des Albums. Mit dem Original-Masterband haben sich die Mastering-Spezialisten ins East Londoner Carvery-Studio niedergelassen, um das Album komplett analog aufzunehmen - es hat noch nie besser geklungen! In einer laminierten Klapphülle verpackt, die Jack Martins Original-Illustration des Künstlers so erstrahlen lässt wie nie zuvor. Dazu kommt ein ausführlicher, illustrierter Covertext von Frank Tope, der die Reise der Platte durch das Universum von ihrer spirituellen Jazz-Tradition zur Club-Hymne erzählt. Diese Album-Story wird mit Unterstützung von Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay und anderen erzählt. Das Album als Ganzes ist unverzichtbar und geht über die Tanzbarkeit des Titeltracks hinaus. Mit seinen sieben Tracks zählt es zu den großen Jazzalben der 70er Jahre. Produziert von Lonnie Listen Smith und Bob Thiele, sollte es in keiner Plattensammlung fehlen.

Original Soundtrack for A24's I SAW THE TV GLOW, featuring 16 original songs by an all-star ensemble, including Caroline Polachek, Florist and Jay Som. Also featuring a vinyl-only exclusive bonus track, "Tonight Tonight" by Snail Mail. Pressed on violet vinyl.

"Stoned Immaculate" (1991) ist das wohl bekannteste Dub Syndicate-Album, aufgenommen zwischen Jamaika und London. Zu den rockigen Rhythms des Bandleaders Style Scott gesellen sich weitere Topmusiker wie Skip McDonald (git), Lee "Scratch" Perry und Akabu on vocals, Leith Levene (keys), sowie Samples des verstorbenen, großartigen Prince Far I. Es markiert eine Zeit, in der das Label von Acid-House-Fans ebenso angenommen wurde wie von Hardcore-Dub-Fans, und diese LP zum festen Bestandteil der "Comedown"-Session nach dem Rave wurde. Der Titeltrack ist eine wahre On-U-Sound-Hymne, die Reggae, ausgeflippte Electronica, The Doors und Motown zu einem epischen Groove vermischt. Das seit Jahren vergriffene Vinylformat wurde von Frank Merritt im The Carvery neu geschnitten und enthält rare Fotos von Coneyl Jay und neue Linernotes von Rob Harris (Testpressung).

"Ital Breakfast" (1996) ist ein weiterer Dub Syndicate-Klassiker, bei dem Style Scott noch mehr jamaikanische Topmusiker zusammenbrachte, darunter Mitglieder von Roots Radics, Soul Syndicate, Joe Gibbs' Professionals und Bunny Lee's Aggrovators. Dieses unglaubliche Erbe wird durch Adrian Sherwoods Arbeit am Mischpult ergänzt, bei der er die Londoner Musiker Skip McDonald und Akabu overdubbte und seine Klangmagie auf das Rohmaterial wirken ließ – eine echte transatlantische Dub-Zusammenarbeit. Die LP enthält zudem einen Cameo-Auftritt des legendären DJs I Roy auf dem Titeltrack sowie ein Gastfeature von Lee "Scratch" Perry auf "The Captain's Trance Mission". Das seit langem vergriffene Vinylformat wurde von Frank Merritt im The Carvery neu geschnitten und enthält rare Fotos von Coneyl Jay und neue Linernotes von Rob Harris (Testpressung).

"Obscured By Version" ist ein brandneues Set von "Versionen" von Dub Syndicate- Rhythms aus ihrer '89-'96 Klassikerphase. Adrian Sherwood holte die Originalbänder hervor, setzte seine Mischpultmagie ein und betrachtete den zeitlosen Puls von Lincoln Valentine 'Style' Scott aus ganz neuen Blickwinkeln, mit frischen Overdubs von Cyrus Richard (Dub Asante Band). Es ist eine passende Hommage an die langjährige kreative Partner- und Freundschaft zwischen Sherwood und Scott. Gemastert von Frank Merritt bei The Carvery, mit raren Fotos von Coneyl Jay und Linernotes von Rob Harris (Test Pressing).

"Echomania" (1993) ist ein klassisches Dub Syndicate-Album, auf dem Drummer "Style" Scott und Bassist "Flabba" Holt, das Fundament der mächtigen Roots Radics, die monströsen Rhythms zusammenhalten, während Adrian Sherwood seine Magie an den Reglern wirken lässt. Mit Gastauftritten von Lee "Scratch" Perry bei "Dubbing Psycho Thriller" und "Dubaddisababa", Michael Franti (Beatnigs, Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy) bei "No No" und dem Tabla-Virtuosen Talvin Singh auf mehreren Tracks. Das seit langem vergriffene Vinylformat wurde von Frank Merritt im The Carvery neu geschnitten und enthält rare Fotos von Coneyl Jay und neue Linernotes von Rob Harris (Testpressung).

"Strike The Balance" (1989) ist ein großartiges Dub Syndicate-Set mit Vocalfeatures von Bim Sherman auf dem Lloyd & Devons-Cover "Cuss Cuss" und Shara Nelson (die kurz danach mit Massive Attacks "Blue Lines" einer weltweiten Öffentlichkeit bekannt wurde) auf einer Version von Serge Gainsbourgs "Je T'aime". Die LP erschien 1989 zeitgleich mit den Anfängen von Dub Syndicate als Tourband. Sie ist erstmals seit über 25 Jahren auf Vinyl erhältlich, neu geschnitten von Frank Merritt bei The Carvery, und enthält rare Fotos von Coneyl Jay und neue Linernotes von Rob Harris (Test Pressing).

Oríkì is an album blending jazz, Fuji and Afrobeat in a powerful tribute to Yorùbá heritage. Featuring Mercury Prize-shortlisted Moses Boyd, Afronaut Zu (Steam Down, Rudimental) and spoken word artist Adesayo, Oríkì merges ancestral praise with contemporary expression.

Six years in the making, the album draws inspiration from NIJI’s great-grandmother, Matilda Taiwo (Mata), and serves as his personal statement on identity, history, and homecoming. The album is threaded with the evocative rhythms of the talking drum, grounding each composition in cultural authenticity. With Oríkì, NIJI invites listeners into his journey of reconnection, presenting a work both timeless and rooted—a musical expression of past, present and future converging.

There is no one universe for Ben LaMar Gay, he just sonic booms from one sound to another." - NPR Music
Ben LaMar Gay’s de facto debut album, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun, was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer / improvisor / renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from “7 albums he made over 7 years but never made the effort to actually release. ” The material showcases Gay’s penchant for genre-hopping—from Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earworms—while keeping his singular musical voice in focus.
In the years since its release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Ben LaMar Gay’s output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of Open Arms To Open Us, the unhinged long form freedom of Certain Reveries—each fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote the OG press release, “to call it ‘eclectic’ would only scratch the surface. This music is everything.

Apple Cores is the latest full-length album from New York tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, "one of the fiercest sounds in jazz today" (The Guardian) with a "penchant for unbound exploration" (Pitchfork). Informed by the rhythms and textures of hip-hop and funk while remaining rooted in jazz, Apple Cores was recorded with Chad Taylor (drums/mbira) and Josh Werner (bass/guitar) over the course of two intense, entirely improvised sessions. The album takes its name and intention from the column that poet and jazz theorist Amiri Baraka wrote for DownBeat in the 1960s. In addition to Baraka, the influence of another jazz giant looms mightily over Apple Cores: trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, Don Cherry. In a testament to Cherry"s influence over the music that the trio is playing, Lewis designed each song title as a cryptogram of sorts, making subtle references to Cherry"s life and music. Apple Cores further cements Lewis as one of the provocative and prolific musical voices of his generation. It follows his breakthrough with JazzTimes" Album of the Year Jesup Wagon (2021), a dreamlike mosaic of gospel, folk-blues, and catcalling brass bands inspired by inventor George Washington Carver, and Eye Of I (2023), his joyous and exploratory debut for ANTI-.