Search:jo

John Edwards’ early releases, mainly at Aware Records under the tutelage of Floyd Smith, thrilled soul lovers with his consummate vocals and impressed the multi-million selling Spinners enough to hire him to replace their revered vocalist Philippe Wynne.
Edwards’ first Aware hits, such as ‘Stop This Merry-Go-Round’ and ‘Careful Man’, led to his eponymous debut LP. As the label’s major male artist, the company followed up by recording a second album and were probably anticipating a further hit. But Aware collapsed thanks to the label owner’s criminal activities, putting paid to that proposed disc.
When the master tapes were uncovered in the ’90s, the tracks were issued on the 1996 Kent CD ‘Careful Man’ and handful of singles were issued to great acclaim.
At last, we have collected the tracks on vinyl and the beauty of ‘Tin Man’, ‘How Can I Go On Without You’ and ‘Cold Hearted Woman’ can be enjoyed as they were originally intended. Modern soul fans will be able to sleep easily again.

In den letzten paar Jahren haben wir alle den Sinn für die Zeit verloren, aber es muss so um 2023 herum gewesen sein, dass Robert Rotifer, Journalist, Singer-Songwriter und zeitweiser Gitarrist/Bassist bei allen möglichen Bands, von Louis Philippe & The Night Mail über Swansea Sound, Penrose Web, Papernut Cambridge, André Heller, Keiron Phelan bis hin zu Fay Hallam's Band, seinen Freund Kenji, Ex-Sänger der deutschen Sunshine-Pop-Sensation Friedrich Sunglight, fragte, warum er eigentlich in keinen Bands mehr singt. Das war der Auslöser einer Zusammenarbeit, aus der zuerst langsam, dann immer schneller, eine üppige LP gewachsen ist, auf der neben Robert & Kenji noch der elegante post-Glam Veteran John Howard, das große junge Wiener Talent Leo Schlager alias The Zew, die lebende She-Punk-Legende Helen McCookerybook und der beliebteste singende Drummer der britischen Indie-Szene Ian Button zu hören sind. Die ursprüngliche Idee war, dass Robert Songs für Kenjis glockenklare, wendige Stimme schreiben sollte, was stilistisch automatisch eine melodiöse Baroque Pop-Richtung suggerierte. Als nächstes entwickelte sich ein textliches Thema, vom Opener "Considering", einem Lied an einen Freund, der seinen Weg verloren hat, über Songs der Ermutigung ("Things to do in Winter", "Stay With Us", "The More That I Think About What We Should Do") zu Songs über den feindseligen Zustand der Welt ("The Words", "Listen to the News", "Sense of Time"). Was für Rotifer als eine Reihe von Heim-Demos an Gitarre und Tasten in ungewohnten Tonarten (für Kenjis Stimme) begann, wuchs bald zu größeren Arrangements heran, angereichert durch Ian Buttons Drums, seine Stimme, weitere Instrumente und sein Ohr für einen guten Mix. Kenji und Rotifer hörten noch mehr am Horizont und beschlossen, dass dieses Material noch mehr verschiedene stimmliche Schattierungen gebrauchen konnte. Während Robert seine über den Kontinent verstreuten Freund:innen John (Südspanien), Helen (London) und Leo (Wien) für Vocal-Takes gewinnen konnte, die Ian in den Mix einfließen ließ, schrieb Roberts Tochter Emma gerade eine Seminararbeit an der Uni darüber, wie in der Independent-Musik-Szene Arbeit organisiert ist. Sie kam zu dem Ergebnis, dass das Musiker:innen-Netzwerk, in dem ihr Vater sich herumtreibt, einer Theorie der gegenseitigen Unterstützung gleicht, die man "Radical Friendship" nennt. Also widmete Rotifer dieser Idee noch einen Song, den er diesmal selber sang (nebst dem Schluss-Song "Is This Real Enough?"). Am Ende ergab es sich, dass alle Beteiligten auf jeweils einem Track die Haupt- oder Nebenstimme und auf allen anderen Songs unterstützende Harmonien singen. Auf diese Weise wurde das Album per se zu einer Verkörperung von Radical Friendship, nicht in der Theorie, sondern in der Praxis. Radical Friendship Theory is keine Band. Es ist ein liebevoll arrangierter Reigen von Songs in vielen verschiedenen Stilen, von Baroque Pop zu Psychedelia, Power Pop, Country Rock bis zu Bücherwurm-Indie, interpretiert von einem Kreis von Freund:innen, der sich immer erweitern und wandeln kann. Rotifer, der während der Fertigstellung des Albums von Canterbury nach Berlin gezogen ist, wird diese Songs in verschiedenen Städten mit verschiedenen Musiker:innen spielen, von Wien über London bis Glasgow, Hamburg, wahrscheinlich Berlin und Paris, wo immer seine radical friends zuhause sind. Indessen bringt das britische Label Spinout Nuggets die Studio-Version des Stoff in seiner Original-Besetzung heraus - eine Zelebrierung menschlicher, kreativer Freundschaft als lebensrettende Alternative zu einer Welt der digitalen Pseudokommunikation und künstlich geschürter Konflikte.

Demon Records presents a thrilling original Circuit Breaker story read by Jo Martin, featuring the Fugitive Doctor.

Jo Martin - the Fugitive Doctor in the BBC TV series – reads this gripping adventure by Steve Lyons, with David Banks as the Cyber-Leader. This fourth instalment in the Circuit Breaker story arc comes on 1LP translucent “Purple Coat” vinyl with a stunningly designed inner and outer sleeve.

Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker launches on 25 June 2026, kicking off an epic, multi-platform adventure unfolding this summer across audio, publishing, gaming and digital, bringing fans together for one connected, must-follow Whoniverse event. The story event will see a single, escalating crisis play out across multiple formats, with each chapter unlocking new clues, new dangers… and a new side to the Time Lord.

Futurismo are proud to present the iconic 1982 debut album, Only Theatre of Pain, by gothic legends CHRISTIAN DEATH. Available on deluxe 2xLP, CD digipak.

Hailed as a masterpiece of it’s genre, and considered by many as ground zero for Deathrock, Only Theatre of Pain is a seminal work of unholy power and pitch black emotion. Whilst this record may have it’s roots in punk - the origins of this true original version of Christian Death took place in Southern California during the early 80’s hardcore explosion - it cannot be overstated how important this record was in shaping the subsequent landscape. Emerging like an adrenaline shot into the heart of darkness, this unrestrained and mysterious recording still remains unclassifiable.

Featuring the late visionary Rozz Williams (then only in his teens) alongside punk luminary Rikk Agnew (guiding light in the Adolescents), James McGearty and George Belanger, Only Theatre of Pain’s musical exploration is adorned with psychosexual lyricism and an innate struggle with faith. Rozz’s vocals creep and possess, demonic and haunting, against the captivating, unmistakable guitar work of trailblazer Agnew. It’s a performance, but also a truth, perhaps Only Theatre of Pain is an art show, as much as it is an era defining record.
Aside from their spellbinding sound, it may have also been the lore of Christian Death that set them apart from other LA goth bands of the time. A near-nude Rozz Williams nailed to a cross at the Whiskey a Go Go may have played a part, but what it is apparent when you listen to the unhallowed musical stages on Only Theatre Of Pain is a depth of vision and orchestration that goes beyond the simple stance of brooding many of their contemporaries emulated, delving into the realms of pure unadulterated catharsis. The result is an eradefining statement that remains as unsettling, innovative, and resonant today as it was over four decades ago.

Only Theatre Of Pain is presented here in a new remastered deluxe pressing with a second disk containing early demo’s and rare material, further demonstrating why Christian Death stood alone in their sound and approach. This journey of religious depravity, recorded by the legendary producer Thom Wilson in a matter of days, harnesses the huge concepts of band projecting older than their years. Ahead of the curve in sonic artistry and visual aesthetics, this slab of sacrilegious American punk is nothing short of essential listening for the gothic inclined. A must for fans of The Misfits, Bauhaus and The Cramps.

This classic LP comes in deluxe super limited edition ‘California Hell’ coloured vinyl and contains a second disk of bonus material. It is packaged in a gloss laminated sleeve with metallic ink, containing printed inner sleeves, a large fold out poster, redux artwork featuring the photography of Edward Colver, and liner notes by Lisa Fancher of Frontier. Also available as CD digipak

“No-one does 140 better than the UK, the way it gets done here is different and I really wanted to explore that…”

King Kashmere is an experimental musician from North West London.

Best known as a voice of distinction among the UK rap fraternity and frontman of decorated duo Strange U, much less is known about his work as a producer.

After years of fine tuning his craft, King Kashmere reveals ’Zero Point Modulations’, his first full length release as executive producer / from behind the boards.

A feature-stacked, genre-blurring spectacular that shines a powerful light on what Kashmere sees as his true calling, the 23-track release marks the start of a long-awaited shift in King Kashmere’s output; rooted in the coding boom of the mid-eighties but encapsulated in a double disc vinyl this Summer.

FEATURE LIST (in order of appearance):

Gawd Status, Joker Starr, Durrty Goodz, Flirta D, Harry Shotta, Genesis Elijah, Killa P, Dabbla, Jaz Kahina, PAV4N, Jae Mann, Jazz T, Cappo, Illaman, Ramson Badbonez, Flowtecs, Micall Parknsun, BVA, Fliptrix, Farma G, C.O.N-Vers, Verb T, AyiTe, Tommy Biz, Ray Vendetta, HPBLK, Reign MC, Confucious MC, Alecs DeLarge, TrueMendous, Raggo Zulu Rebel, AnyWay Tha God, JayaHadADream, Larwood




[d] 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla

“No-one does 140 better than the UK, the way it gets done here is different and I really wanted to explore that…”

King Kashmere is an experimental musician from North West London.

Best known as a voice of distinction among the UK rap fraternity and frontman of decorated duo Strange U, much less is known about his work as a producer.

After years of fine tuning his craft, King Kashmere reveals ’Zero Point Modulations’, his first full length release as executive producer / from behind the boards.

A feature-stacked, genre-blurring spectacular that shines a powerful light on what Kashmere sees as his true calling, the 23-track release marks the start of a long-awaited shift in King Kashmere’s output; rooted in the coding boom of the mid-eighties but encapsulated in a double disc vinyl this Summer.

FEATURE LIST (in order of appearance):

Gawd Status, Joker Starr, Durrty Goodz, Flirta D, Harry Shotta, Genesis Elijah, Killa P, Dabbla, Jaz Kahina, PAV4N, Jae Mann, Jazz T, Cappo, Illaman, Ramson Badbonez, Flowtecs, Micall Parknsun, BVA, Fliptrix, Farma G, C.O.N-Vers, Verb T, AyiTe, Tommy Biz, Ray Vendetta, HPBLK, Reign MC, Confucious MC, Alecs DeLarge, TrueMendous, Raggo Zulu Rebel, AnyWay Tha God, JayaHadADream, Larwood




d 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla




[d] 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla

“No-one does 140 better than the UK, the way it gets done here is different and I really wanted to explore that…”

King Kashmere is an experimental musician from North West London.

Best known as a voice of distinction among the UK rap fraternity and frontman of decorated duo Strange U, much less is known about his work as a producer.

After years of fine tuning his craft, King Kashmere reveals ’Zero Point Modulations’, his first full length release as executive producer / from behind the boards.

A feature-stacked, genre-blurring spectacular that shines a powerful light on what Kashmere sees as his true calling, the 23-track release marks the start of a long-awaited shift in King Kashmere’s output; rooted in the coding boom of the mid-eighties but encapsulated in a double disc vinyl this Summer.

FEATURE LIST (in order of appearance):

Gawd Status, Joker Starr, Durrty Goodz, Flirta D, Harry Shotta, Genesis Elijah, Killa P, Dabbla, Jaz Kahina, PAV4N, Jae Mann, Jazz T, Cappo, Illaman, Ramson Badbonez, Flowtecs, Micall Parknsun, BVA, Fliptrix, Farma G, C.O.N-Vers, Verb T, AyiTe, Tommy Biz, Ray Vendetta, HPBLK, Reign MC, Confucious MC, Alecs DeLarge, TrueMendous, Raggo Zulu Rebel, AnyWay Tha God, JayaHadADream, Larwood




d 04 - Big Bad Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla




d 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla




[d] 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla




[d] 04 - Big [Bad] Feat. Genesis Elijah, Killa P & Dabbla

The Way I See It puts Raphael Saadiq's love of 60s soul on full display, with Saadiq stating it was "the culmination of a lifetime of experiences informed by the music I grew up on." Recorded on vintage equipment, the set features Motown session musicians, guest appearances from neo-soul singer Joss Stone, R&B vocalist CJ Hilton, New Orleans collective The Rebirth Brass Band, a remixed bonus track from Jay-Z, and even a guest appearance by Stevie Wonder. Throughout the recording process Saadiq immersed himself in the aesthetics and styles of the decade, watching footage of Al Green, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pops, and others for further inspiration. The end result is an upbeat collection of songs, ranging from the romantic to the mournful, but frequently beaming with hope and positivity. The Way I See It racked up Grammy nominations for Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. To this day it is considered one of the essential records of the classic soul revival, and one of Saadiq's finest career achievements.

To mark its 10th Anniversary,
discover Awa Ly's Album "Five And A Feather" (Including one previously unreleased track) On Vinyl For The First Time !

One night, Awa had a dream.

The atmosphere was enchanted, almost mystical, enveloped in a setting that summoned the moon, the Earth, and the elements. An ancestral blend of Native American and African cultures, a shamanic being was there, speaking in an unknown language, narrating stories both real and imagined. She received these tales from others, made them her own, absorbed them, shared their joy, and soothed their harbored pain or sadness.

Upon waking, the shamanic narrator had vanished, but her presence was still palpable; Awa made her the storyteller of this new album: Five and a Feather.

Five, like all things counted by fives: the senses, the oceans, the lines of a musical staff, the fingers on a hand. And feather, the magical element that connects them-the very one Awa used to write and compose the ten tracks of this new album where, under the brush of SainaSix, she becomes the first Black woman immortalized in Mucha's Art Nouveau aesthetic.

Ballaké Sissoko's kora, Paco Sery's senza, Greg Cohen's double bass, Faada Freddy's vocals, the steel guitar, or the erhu (Chinese violin) are all elements that illuminate the shamanic storyteller's tales.

Produced alongside the duo Jean Lamoot and Pascal Danae (winners of the 2015 Victoires de la Musique in the World Music category with their band Rivière Noire), Five and a Feather faithfully captures the warm atmosphere of live-recorded sessions where instruments answer and interlock with one another, creating the perfect showcase for the album's principal instrument: Awa's voice.
Words that she delicately places or lets fall onto the notes like tears of joy or sadness, flowing from that source called love.

An album written, composed, and recorded like fine lace, starry with details that only reveal themselves to those who know how to seek them out.

2026 Repress

Knob twisters Biesmans & Johannes Albert are back at it with another sun-drenched late summer weapon. This time they shine a "Tangerine Beam" straight onto the dancefloor. Expect a cheeky disco spark that might remind you of something at the core, bouncing rhythms, and a melody so infectious you'll catch yourself humming along after the first round. Both playful and relentless, "Tangerine Beam" connects the dots between timeless disco heat and modern club thunder. One spin and you'll know: this beam is unstoppable. For the vinyl fan, there will be an orange 12" even. When life gives you tangerines...

Secrets Of Sound slip into electronic erotica with this new and steamy compilation of after-hours disco and sexually charged sounds. Both originals and tasteful reinterpretations of classic tunes from Kylie Minogue, Amanda Lear, La Tour and Enigma feature on this most intimate collection. There is blissed out depth from Ed Temple, Italo melodic flair from Lipelis and sultry vocal allure on System Olympia's 'Signal Your Love.' Elsewhere, Jorja Chalmers casts you adrift on a new age Balearic life raft and Gareth Anton Averill & Sobrenadar closes with the shimmering 80s nostalgia of 'Paris.' Steamy indeed.

The recordings on Volume II were captured in Copenhagen, Denmark on January 18, 2020. Guided as much by human instinct as by musical intention, the ensemble moved through the evening with a shared sensitivity…listening, responding, and trusting the moment as it unfolded. Though Morten McCoy admits to having felt quite ill that evening, nothing in the music suggests restraint. Instead, what remains is a vivid, playful exchange, where McCoy and Johannes Wamberg carry both Part I and Part II as a flowing conversation, speaking through sound rather than words.

Part I begins abruptly, almost throwing the listener back in time to the exact moment the improvisation was born. Jonathan Bremer steps to the forefront, providing a solid, melodic bassline as Kristoffer and Eliel, perfectly in sync, lay down a steady foundation for whichever voice chooses to rise above the rhythm.

This is also one of the few I Am An Instrument recordings to feature two guitarists. Johannes Wamberg leads the way, shaping the harmonic direction, while Steven Jess Borth II adds subtle rhythmic textures through muted palm work, deepening the groove without ever stepping into the foreground.

Part II unfolds with Morten McCoy on his Moog One, delivering a beautiful, expansive solo. Using a carefully chosen patch, the sound pulses through the rhythm, moving with the groove rather than above it, riding the beat like a wave through the ocean.
Shaped by trust, presence, and collective improvisation, Volume II captures a group deeply attuned to one another, allowing intuition and momentum to guide the unfolding form.
——
Volume III was recorded in Copenhagen on March 5, 2020. Little did anyone know that only days later, the world would be placed on pause for years. Captured just before that moment of global stillness, this session carries a heightened sense of presence, a final gathering before silence reshaped everything. Recorded in a space more commonly associated with a club atmosphere, the music draws on a different kind of energy and immediacy. With Eliel Lazo unable to attend, the group invited Victor Dybbroe of Girls In Airports to join on percussion, subtly reshaping the ensemble while preserving its core spirit. Part I opens with Steven Jess Borth II calling out on tenor saxophone, answered by Morten McCoy on Wurlitzer electric piano. The piece gradually unfolds into a meditative groove, patient and expansive, carrying the listener through an eight-minute journey of layered rhythm and restraint.

Part II begins with Jonathan Bremer on stand up bass, slowly joined by the rest of the ensemble as each voice enters with intention. Midway through, an unexpected vocal melody from Borth emerges, drenched in reverb and delay, later reappearing as a melodic line on the tenor saxophone.

Part III is led by Morten McCoy on Wurlitzer electric piano. His signature melodic language sets the direction, guiding the ensemble while leaving ample space for the music to breathe and evolve through collective improvisation. Reprise returns to the closing moments of Part II, its title reflecting its origin. The familiar groove reappears, transformed into a distinctly Jamaican-influenced rhythm, over which Borth delivers a final tenor saxophone solo, bringing the conversation to rest.

Any questions about any of these products feel free to get in touch and we'll help you out!

a a1. Part I [Vol.2]
[b] a2. Part II [Vol.2]
[c] a3. Part I [Vol.3]
[d] b1. Part II [Vol.3]
[e] b2. Part III [Vol.3]
[f] b3. Reprise [Vol.3]

Soul Music legend Candi Staton returns to her down-home Alabama roots on her 32nd album, Back to My Roots. The twelve-track Americana set features an array of Staton-penned originals and some well-chosen covers.

"These songs represent my roots," Staton adds as she reflects on her many trials and triumphs. "Even the new songs on some level represent something I've experienced and that's what real soul music is about." Back to My Roots was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks. “Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”

Staton received the Americana Music Association UK’s highest honour, the International Lifetime Achievement Award, at the UK Americana Music Awards ceremony at Hackney Church in London last year for her southern soul work that stretches from her 1969 Muscle Shoals hits to her more recent collaborations with the likes of Americana kings Jason Isbell and John Paul White.
The album opens with a mid-tempo Bonnie Raitt-styled contemporary blues “I Missed the Target Again” that finds Harry Connick Jr.’s longtime guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. (aka the Prophesying Guitarist) showing off his skills that set the tone for the song and the album.

Staton’s older sister, Maggie Staton Peebles (who alongside Staton was a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s), joins her for two duets. The first, “It’s Gonna Rain,” features just a drum, steel guitar and vocals. “My mother used to sing that song to us all the time when I was a child,” Staton recalls. “It’s a really soulful kind of song I wanted to revisit.” They then take turns leading Thomas Dorsey 1939 gem “There Will Be Peace in the Valley” that Elvis Presley popularized in the 1950s.

“Hang on in There” is a new, mid-tempo song that has an old school gospel flavour and features vocals from veteran bluesman, Larry McCray.
While in Europe in 2023 for her farewell concert tour that took her to the Glastonbury Festival and Love Supreme, Staton and her British band, PUSH, went into a London studio to record a new version of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 gem, “Shine A Light.” “I love the way that came out,” Staton says. “We put a big choir on it and put our own twist on it.”
From there, Staton revives another Thomas Dorsey classic, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow,” with a bluesy vibe. When Al Green started recording gospel in the early 1980s, he re-introduced this song into the culture.

“God’s Gonna Use Me Anyway” is a new mid-tempo blues with subtle Caribbean influences.

The mood takes a turn on “1963.” It’s a poignant, spoken-word reflection on September 15, 1963, when four black girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. “I was in the city that day and I remember the chaos and horror after the bombing,” Staton recalls. “Just thinking of how racism and hatred caused those men to kill those girls was so emotional for me that I could only do it in one take.”

It's a perfect segue into "Reach Down and Touch Heaven," a haunting, plea for divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. "That's straight Baptist," she says. "I used to be a church pianist back in the 1960s. I've never played piano on one of my records before so that's a unique song for me because I’m finally playing on one of my records. The message of that song is about the homeless. It came to me when a homeless person on the street asked me for $5. When God touches your heart to help somebody else that’s heaven to God’s hears. So, when we reach into our purse or wallet to help someone, we’re touching heaven."

Staton offers love as an antidote to hate on the bouncy, Motown-styled, “Love Breakthrough.”

Her publicist brought Aaron Frazer & the Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY’s 2017 cut “My God Has a Telephone” to Staton’s attention. She shifts the track from a retro 1960s groove to more of a 1980s Malaco Records arrangement, a subtle but distinct variation. Staton brought in her longtime friend and STAX Records legend, William Bell (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Trying to Love Two”), to add raspy seasoning to the track.

The album closes with the wistful, “In God’s Hands We Rest Untroubled,” that was originally written and recorded by the late country star, Lari White, who died in 2017 at the age of 52. “Lari sent me that song to consider at least ten years ago and I always loved it,” Staton says. “The record label didn’t want it on the album or something, so I just held it.”
Staton says, “I grew up hearing a lot of these old songs when they were new songs. I toured with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and we got to know people like Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and others who sang these types of songs. So, I’m sort of paying tribute to them and the influence they had on me by refreshing these songs and making new songs in the old style.”’

The Body"s landmark record Master, We Perish, originally released in 2013, found the acclaimed duo at a crossroads in their career. Recorded just before the duo of drummer Lee Buford and guitarist/vocalist Chip King were leaving their longtime home of Providence for Portland and released in between their breakthrough albums All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood and Christs, Redeemers, Master expanded on the duo"s love of layered worldbuilding with more precision and a stronger emphasis on percussive samples than ever before. The seeds of the duo"s celebrated collaborative inclination are evident as the album features Assembly of Light Choir leader Chrissy Wolpert, choir member Reba Mitchell, Otesanek vocalist Leslie Weitz, and guitarist David Lifrieri. With the expanded edition, the album"s striking cover painting by Providence mainstay Manifester aka Matt Brinkman (Mindflayer, Forcefield) is finally rendered in its original form. Master, We Perish is expanded with rare bonus tracks from The Body"s early days, taken from a pair of rare 7" singles Cop Killer/Dead Cops as well as a split with Get Killed. These storied singles mark the first time the band truly pushed the boundaries of sound in the studio and on record. It also marks the beginning of The Body"s practice of wielding the studio as a veritable weapon to translate their gargantuan sound with deeper impact on LP. The results are not only pushing the capacity of the album format but are sonically riveting. The bonus material was recorded at Machines with Magnets. The band described them economically: "NASTY."

The Body"s landmark record Master, We Perish, originally released in 2013, found the acclaimed duo at a crossroads in their career. Recorded just before the duo of drummer Lee Buford and guitarist/vocalist Chip King were leaving their longtime home of Providence for Portland and released in between their breakthrough albums All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood and Christs, Redeemers, Master expanded on the duo"s love of layered worldbuilding with more precision and a stronger emphasis on percussive samples than ever before. The seeds of the duo"s celebrated collaborative inclination are evident as the album features Assembly of Light Choir leader Chrissy Wolpert, choir member Reba Mitchell, Otesanek vocalist Leslie Weitz, and guitarist David Lifrieri. With the expanded edition, the album"s striking cover painting by Providence mainstay Manifester aka Matt Brinkman (Mindflayer, Forcefield) is finally rendered in its original form. Master, We Perish is expanded with rare bonus tracks from The Body"s early days, taken from a pair of rare 7" singles Cop Killer/Dead Cops as well as a split with Get Killed. These storied singles mark the first time the band truly pushed the boundaries of sound in the studio and on record. It also marks the beginning of The Body"s practice of wielding the studio as a veritable weapon to translate their gargantuan sound with deeper impact on LP. The results are not only pushing the capacity of the album format but are sonically riveting. The bonus material was recorded at Machines with Magnets. The band described them economically: "NASTY."

Klappcover Edition, limitiert auf 2,000 Stück. Im letzten Vierteljahrhundert haben Kenner beobachtet, wie sich Shearwater still und leise zu einer der markantesten und experimentierfreudigsten amerikanischen Bands entwickelt hat. Angeführt (wie immer) von Songwriter und Naturforscher Jonathan Meiburg, zeigen die neun fesselnden Songs auf ,The New World", dass die Band weiter als je zuvor vorgestoßen ist und sich in seltener Gesellschaft befindet: Neben Meiburgs Bandkollegen Shearwaters Emily Lee und Dan Duszynski gehören zu den Mitwirkenden des Albums der Instrumentalvirtuose Shahzad Ismaily, der Saxophonist und Klarinettist Doug Wieselman, der Qanun-Spieler Farouz Zriek, der Gitarrist Leo Abrahams, der Ngoni-Spieler Mamadou Kouyate, die Perkussionisten Mahamadou Tounkara und Moctar Kouyate (von Ngoni Ba) sowie den unklassifizierbaren Schlagzeuger Thor Harris. (Es gibt sogar einen Überraschungsauftritt von einem gewissen L. Anderson.) Das klingt vielleicht nach vielen Mitreisenden, aber sie sind alle die ideale Begleitung für eine rasante Reise durch Freude, Verwirrung, Ehrfurcht und Trotz, mit Meiburgs Stimme als anmutigem und doch schwer fassbarem Wegweiser. Sowohl zurückhaltend als auch kunstvoll ist ,The New World" auf eine Weise fesselnd, wie es nur wenige Alben sind; es ist schwer, nicht bis zum Ende zuzuhören, wenn man einmal reingehört hat.

Mr Bongo presents a reissue of the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s self-titled album, originally released in 1976 on the ultra-rare tax-scam imprint TSG Records. Formed by Khalid Abdul Shalid, the record was the only album released by the group, and has since become a mythical, highly sought-after prize for collectors and DJs, ranking among the most coveted albums on the 1970s rare soul scene.

This New Jersey soul-funk gem captures the raw energy of mid-‘70s underground funk and soul. Its journey began in relative obscurity having been released on TSG, one of several US “tax-scam” labels operating at the time. These labels exploited loopholes in the tax system by inflating production costs to create write-offs against their tax bills, meaning commercial success was never the objective. Records were often pressed in extremely limited quantities, with little to no promotion or distribution and in many cases, artists were unaware their music had even been released. While this led to the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s album slipping into obscurity upon release, it later cemented its status as a holy grail for diggers and DJs. Unfortunately, like many releases of its kind, it also meant the band never received the recognition they deserved at the time.

Musically, the album is a unique listen with a varied palette that will appeal to fans of a broad range of tastes. From the luscious, dreamy ballad ‘Rain’, which will melt even the stoniest of hearts, to the raw, drum-heavy funk of ‘Love To Love’, it showcases the group’s depth and versatility. Highlights include the string-laden, floaty stepper ‘Just From You’, and ‘Nothing Can Stop My Loving You’, with its spacey synth lines, which will be a joy for modern soul fans. Elsewhere, ‘Step Out’ opens with a heavy drum break (later sampled on Latyrx’s ‘Interlude’ from their 1997 debut) before unfolding into a brilliant male-female vocal exchange.

Every track on here is a winner and it’s criminal that the band never received the publicity or credit they deserved when it was first released. Alongside the TSG Records release in 1976, the album was later released again in 1978 with alternate cover art on another tax-scam label, Graham International. Both versions have since become highly collectable and over time, the album has steadily gained the recognition it always deserved. This reissue by Mr Bongo offers a wider audience the chance to experience a truly special record, one that stands as a testament to the overlooked brilliance of the era’s underground soul and funk scene.

New 2026 edtion in beer coloured vinyl! It's hard to believe fresh-faced pogo punks Teenage Bottlerocket (or TBR as the kids call them) celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2025. Since their inception way back in 2000, there has been one word best suited to describe them: Rad. Teenage Bottlerocket is the epitome of rad. Stay Rad! shows a slightly different side of Teenage Bottlerocket, putting their songwriting progression and personal growth on full display, while remaining a quintessential TBR album -complete with enthralling melodies, perfect harmonies, and their trademark breakneck down strumming. As with every Teenage Bottlerocket record, Stay Rad! has a good mix of silly and serious, but the overriding sentiment is one that echoes its title. From the incredibly catchy and clever "I Wanna Be a Dog" to the heartfelt hit "Everything to Me," Stay Rad! checks all the boxes of classic TBR. At the same time the band manages to stretch their boundaries on the riffy ode to Norwegian black metal "Creature from The Black Metal Lagoon" and the hardcore influenced "The First Time That I Did Acid Was the Last Time That I Did Acid." Top to bottom Stay Rad! meets expectations and shatters them with plenty of new twists for the legions of TBR faithful. Beer color vinyl & gatefold with Silver foiled sleeve art Produced by Andrew Berlin at the Blasting Room (Rise Against, Descendents) Features hit singles "I Wanna Be A Dog" and "Everything To Me" For fans of Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Descendents, The Queers, The Lillingtons

Sir Richard Bishop returns for a new sponítaneous six-string meshing of people"s music, recollections and psychic intentions. Are y"all ready for some Hillbilly Erotica? Migration from last album"s Ragas to this new Erotica is another chapter in Bishop"s progress, drifting via songs into the further frontiers of his pappy"s hometown sounds, trancing over and out in their hand-me-down clothes. As with the ragas, the "rotica"s hung round the neck of John Fahey"s infamous dubbing of certain tradiítional American folk sounds as "American Primitive." A perfectly good thought, but Sir Richard picks his own axe and chose a separate path. Rushing through gutters & picking pickled brains in the saucy head waters of the down-low & literal American primitive, his hillbilly music is a mash of brined cultural inheritance, mini-ragas and moonshine-drunk savagery breaking out on the frets. As a conception for Sir Rick"s acoustic guitar music, it"s a dynamite means and frame, centering his improvisations in a place overflown with pagan desire and unbound in deliverance. Here he flies up and down the neck, his manner less pristine, yet more exquisite, a flailing, flowing-on-the-river medley through stubborn whitewater turbulence, post-grass and folk"s classical gas. Anybody who takes a snort of this here Hillbilly Erotica will find a frankly spellbinding richness of intent and execution in their ear-mouths. And may thereafter find brain and blightness. It"s fine!

Sir Richard Bishop returns for a new sponítaneous six-string meshing of people"s music, recollections and psychic intentions. Are y"all ready for some Hillbilly Erotica? Migration from last album"s Ragas to this new Erotica is another chapter in Bishop"s progress, drifting via songs into the further frontiers of his pappy"s hometown sounds, trancing over and out in their hand-me-down clothes. As with the ragas, the "rotica"s hung round the neck of John Fahey"s infamous dubbing of certain tradiítional American folk sounds as "American Primitive." A perfectly good thought, but Sir Richard picks his own axe and chose a separate path. Rushing through gutters & picking pickled brains in the saucy head waters of the down-low & literal American primitive, his hillbilly music is a mash of brined cultural inheritance, mini-ragas and moonshine-drunk savagery breaking out on the frets. As a conception for Sir Rick"s acoustic guitar music, it"s a dynamite means and frame, centering his improvisations in a place overflown with pagan desire and unbound in deliverance. Here he flies up and down the neck, his manner less pristine, yet more exquisite, a flailing, flowing-on-the-river medley through stubborn whitewater turbulence, post-grass and folk"s classical gas. Anybody who takes a snort of this here Hillbilly Erotica will find a frankly spellbinding richness of intent and execution in their ear-mouths. And may thereafter find brain and blightness. It"s fine!

Four years near the beginning of the last decade, William Cashion and Bruce Willen created quietly radiant instrumental music from two tessellated guitars, a few modest synths, and a slew of percussive and noisy toys, like walkie-talkies or the things that gave the pair their handle, bells. This 2016 live recording is taken from the band"s next-to-last show, cut in an artist-run space called The Compound in their hometown of Baltimore. Peals is the project of two bassists known best for their other livewire and loud Baltimore bands: Future Islands for Cashion, Double Dagger for Willen. This recording does not feel at all out-of-time, like some overlooked gem that was simply swallowed by its moment. It sounds relevant, welcoming, welcome. These 38 seamless minutes have clear predecessors: Manuel Göttsching"s E2-E4, Cluster and Eno"s Cologne dalliances, the way Midwest Emo could sound smarter than its lyrics read.

Das Originalalbum "Genesis Revisited" des legendären Gitarristen Steve Hackett erscheint zum ersten Mal seit zehn Jahren wieder auf Vinyl. Es enthält Genesis-Klassiker wie "Watcher of the Skies", "Dance on a Volcano" und weitere Titel, die von einer Besetzung aus einigen der besten Musiker neu interpretiert wurden, darunter John Wetton, Paul Carrack, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Chester Thompson, Colin Blunstone und viele mehr. Erhältlich als Gatefold-Ausgabe mit 180 g 2LP + LP-Booklet.

For nearly a decade, Lucia has been carving out her place as an artist in the UK indie scene. Her latest record, Picking Petals, is the culmination of that hard graft and bold vision — an album rooted in her Scottish upbringing and shaped by the creative community she has built around her in Glasgow and beyond, featuring collaborations with Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES and Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party. Lucia’s debut, Burning Castles, was streamlined and statuesque, built on metronomic beats and synth-led pop. The intention behind Picking Petals sharpened into focus in the face of this. This time, it was crucial to capture the essence of Lucia & The Best Boys’ live shows— loud and electric. In recent years, Fairfull has shared bills with a new wave of women in alternative music: joining Wolf Alice on their Blue Weekend tour in 2022 and, more recently, opening for the aforementioned The Last Dinner Party. In summer 2024, she toured alongside fellow Scottish icon Shirley Manson on the UK and European leg of Garbage’s live shows. The Scottish synchronicity feels poignant. This rich and historical landscape is where Picking Petals came to be, Lucia heading north to write in weather-beaten bothies alongside the band or in solitude. Likewise, the songwriter was insistent that acclaimed alt-pop producer Yves Rothman experience her stomping ground rather than sun-drenched LA, hunkering down in Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studios, a Glasgow townhouse transformed into a citadel of sound. For some people, Picking Petals will be a coming-of-age album. For Lucia & The Best Boys, it’s just coming home.

Iconic return with “II”, a second album that doesn’t just continue the band’s journey — it defines it. Where their debut introduced the chemistry between five world-class musicians, II sharpens that vision into a clearer, heavier, and more confident sonic identity, delivering a sound that is more powerful, more direct, and unmistakably rock. At the heart of the album lies the electrifying guitar partnership of Joel Hoekstra and Michael Sweet, delivering a masterclass in soaring melodies, blazing solos, and muscular riffs that perfectly balance technical brilliance with pure hard-rock attitude. Beneath them, the rhythm section of Tommy Aldridge and Marco Mendoza drives the record with thunderous authority, creating a groove that is both massive and relentless. The album kicks off with “Cry No More”, a high-octane opener that immediately sets the tone — an energetic slice of hard rock packed with driving riffs, explosive drums, and a chorus built to stick. On the other side of the emotional spectrum, “Tears Keep On Falling” showcases the band’s dynamic range, unfolding as an electrifying power ballad where melody, atmosphere, and intensity come together in dramatic fashion. Towering above it all is Nathan James, whose performance on II is nothing short of extraordinary — powerful, soulful, and commanding, elevating every track with unmistakable presence. With bigger riffs, deeper grooves, and a stronger sense of identity, II captures Iconic at full force: a band no longer introducing itself but fully owning its sound.

Magyar Posse’s third album Random Avenger out on vinyl for the first time ever in July via Svart Records Looking back, it was the golden age of Magyar Posse. The album Kings of Time had received a tremendous response from both critics and music lovers. The band was touring intensely in Finland and abroad. By now, the band was a well-oiled machine, ready to capture the successor to their celebrated second album. The band decided to follow a different path compared to the creation of Kings of Time: they would record their third album alongside the well-known, slightly eccentric engineer and producer Jani Viitanen. The recognizable Magyar Posse style was present in the pieces of Random Avenger, but something was slightly different. The new music was more rhythm-based, more riff-based and in places more joyous than the dynamic minor key avalanche of Kings of Time. Consciously or unconsciously, the band members saw that they had travelled the Slavic melancholy road as far as possible with the previous album. The success of Kings of Time felt like a positive push, not an extra pressure on their shoulders. It was only natural to strike again while the iron was hot. Many of the pieces had been already developed by the time Kings of Time was released, which eased the production of Random Avenger. After the meticulous but relatively swift mixing and mastering process, the band members were satisfied with the result. The only component that made some of them blush was the cover art – graphic designer Tom Backström had glaringly used photos of empty stages in forgotten community centres and the like. The beauty or the ugliness is once again in the eye of the beholder. Right after its release, Random Avenger got a very positive response, but not as overwhelming as Kings of Time – which was to be expected, as the previous Magyar Posse album had probably been the most universally praised Finnish album of the whole decade. Mikko Elo, musician / journalist, Pori, Finland, March 1st 2026

Magyar Posse’s third album Random Avenger out on vinyl for the first time ever in July via Svart Records Looking back, it was the golden age of Magyar Posse. The album Kings of Time had received a tremendous response from both critics and music lovers. The band was touring intensely in Finland and abroad. By now, the band was a well-oiled machine, ready to capture the successor to their celebrated second album. The band decided to follow a different path compared to the creation of Kings of Time: they would record their third album alongside the well-known, slightly eccentric engineer and producer Jani Viitanen. The recognizable Magyar Posse style was present in the pieces of Random Avenger, but something was slightly different. The new music was more rhythm-based, more riff-based and in places more joyous than the dynamic minor key avalanche of Kings of Time. Consciously or unconsciously, the band members saw that they had travelled the Slavic melancholy road as far as possible with the previous album. The success of Kings of Time felt like a positive push, not an extra pressure on their shoulders. It was only natural to strike again while the iron was hot. Many of the pieces had been already developed by the time Kings of Time was released, which eased the production of Random Avenger. After the meticulous but relatively swift mixing and mastering process, the band members were satisfied with the result. The only component that made some of them blush was the cover art – graphic designer Tom Backström had glaringly used photos of empty stages in forgotten community centres and the like. The beauty or the ugliness is once again in the eye of the beholder. Right after its release, Random Avenger got a very positive response, but not as overwhelming as Kings of Time – which was to be expected, as the previous Magyar Posse album had probably been the most universally praised Finnish album of the whole decade. Mikko Elo, musician / journalist, Pori, Finland, March 1st 2026

OXO 86: Jau, wir haben es tatsächlich getan und einige unserer Songs auf Englisch neu aufgenommen. Das war gar nicht so einfach für uns, denn unser Schulenglisch aus DDR-Zeiten reicht gerade mal für ein Gespräch auf dem Schulhof. Also haben wir ein paar englischsprachige Freunde gebeten, uns ihre Stimmen zu leihen (die Aufnahmen entstanden gemeinsam mit Sänger Willy und der ganzen Band!). Mit dabei waren Freunde aus anderen Bands, wie Greg von ,Bishops Green", Chris von ,On the Job", Ole von ,Brutal Bravo", einige Musiker bekannter Ska-Bands usw. Unglaublich, aber wahr OXO 86 sings English! CD sowie schwarzes, klar-gelbes mit schwarzem Splash und klar-rotes mit schwarzem Splash-Vinyl gibt's aktuell!

OXO 86: Jau, wir haben es tatsächlich getan und einige unserer Songs auf Englisch neu aufgenommen. Das war gar nicht so einfach für uns, denn unser Schulenglisch aus DDR-Zeiten reicht gerade mal für ein Gespräch auf dem Schulhof. Also haben wir ein paar englischsprachige Freunde gebeten, uns ihre Stimmen zu leihen (die Aufnahmen entstanden gemeinsam mit Sänger Willy und der ganzen Band!). Mit dabei waren Freunde aus anderen Bands, wie Greg von ,Bishops Green", Chris von ,On the Job", Ole von ,Brutal Bravo", einige Musiker bekannter Ska-Bands usw. Unglaublich, aber wahr OXO 86 sings English! CD sowie schwarzes, klar-gelbes mit schwarzem Splash und klar-rotes mit schwarzem Splash-Vinyl gibt's aktuell!

Red Dwarf Star emerges as a striking new chapter for Coley Taylor of famous US/CH based MASERATI, a new project that captures a deeply personal arc that spans continents, relationships, and creative reinvention. Working largely alone, Taylor embraced a deliberately stripped-down approach, navigating unfamiliar technology with joyously unpolished determination. Much of the material was recorded in a modest, direct manner that prioritizes feeling over finesse. This DIY ethos is balanced by key collaborations that elevate the record's sonic depth. Drums were recorded in Los Angeles by Kellii Scott, whose distinctive style adds weight and clarity, while contributions from Allen Epley and Jenna Fournier introduce subtle vocal textures that expand the emotional range of the songs. Despite its introspective origins, Red Dwarf Star is not intended to remain a solitary endeavor. What began as a personal outlet is evolving into a fully realised band, with a lineup assembled to bring these songs into a more expansive, dynamic setting. This shift signals not only a new phase for the project, but also a broader artistic trajectory. Taylor is known best for his work with Maserati, a legendary outfit that leans into collaborative, rhythm-driven expanses rooted in krautrock and electronic psych. Through Red Dwarf Star Taylor's lineage of influence is felt, echoing the raw emotional immediacy of `90s alternative, post-hardcore, and the textured atmospheres of jagged dream-pop that bleeds. These are sounds that have lingered in Taylor's creative subconscious for decades, now resurfacing with renewed urgency. For fans of MASERATI, FAILURE, SLOWDIVE, QUICKSAND, SHINER, HUM Black or coloured vinyl LP or CD available

"Time's Up"! Die australischen Streetpunker von "The Clinch" kommen endlich über den großen Teich mit ihrem brandneuem, dritten Album und ihrer ersten Europa-Tournee! 2018 erschien ihr Debut "Our Path is gone" und die 5 köpfige Band aus Melbourne avancierte schnell zum Geheimtipp: Schnörkelloser rough'n'tough Aussie-Streetpunk mit dirty RnR-Kante a la Rose Tattoo und einer Prise Brickwall-American Oi! Dazu Texte fernab der üblichen ausgetretenen Pfade und dezent eingesetzte aber stets mitreißende Gang-Vocals. Schnell machten Vergleiche mit Bonecrusher oder Bishops Green die Runde. Mit dem 2 Jahre später erschienenen Nachfolger "Basecamp" zementierte The Clinch ihren Ruf und die weltweiten Kritiken von Maximum RocknRoll bis Ox-Fanzine waren sich einig: Diese Band hat das gewisse Etwas und startet durch! Die erste Tour in Europa wurde geplant um aus dem Schatten des Outbacks heraus zu treten_dann kam die Pandemie und eine Krise folgte der Nächsten_aber aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben: Im Fühjahr 2026 veröffentlichen "The Clinch" mit "Melbourne" und "Journeyman" digital die ersten Single-Auskoppelungen und kündigen mit "Time's up" ihr neues Album auf Sunny Bastards an! Musikstil und Sound als bewährtes Rezept sind gleich geblieben auch wenn The Clinch thematisch noch persönlicher den Finger in die Wunde der Gesellschaft legen_ Streetpunk, authentisch, ergreifend, ehrlich und ungeschönt ohne Pathos: 10 harte Volltreffer, die Spuren hinterlassen! "Man's not fed on good intention. No Safe Spaces left to mention" Songs wie "Stray Dogs" oder "FED" sind unter die Haut gehende Underdog-Anthems über Kampf, Verzweiflung, Zuversicht und sich nicht unterkriegen zu lassen. "Another day, another try"! Das Leben ist halt eine Reise und endet für Alle gleich! Mit Deinen Freunden im Rücken, einem Kämpferherz und "Seelenfutter" wie diese Platte ist es jeden verdammten Tag ertragbar. Also genieß es bevor "Time's Up!"! Oder um es mit "The Clinch zu sagen" It's my chosen way of life"!

"Time's Up"! Die australischen Streetpunker von "The Clinch" kommen endlich über den großen Teich mit ihrem brandneuem, dritten Album und ihrer ersten Europa-Tournee! 2018 erschien ihr Debut "Our Path is gone" und die 5 köpfige Band aus Melbourne avancierte schnell zum Geheimtipp: Schnörkelloser rough'n'tough Aussie-Streetpunk mit dirty RnR-Kante a la Rose Tattoo und einer Prise Brickwall-American Oi! Dazu Texte fernab der üblichen ausgetretenen Pfade und dezent eingesetzte aber stets mitreißende Gang-Vocals. Schnell machten Vergleiche mit Bonecrusher oder Bishops Green die Runde. Mit dem 2 Jahre später erschienenen Nachfolger "Basecamp" zementierte The Clinch ihren Ruf und die weltweiten Kritiken von Maximum RocknRoll bis Ox-Fanzine waren sich einig: Diese Band hat das gewisse Etwas und startet durch! Die erste Tour in Europa wurde geplant um aus dem Schatten des Outbacks heraus zu treten_dann kam die Pandemie und eine Krise folgte der Nächsten_aber aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben: Im Fühjahr 2026 veröffentlichen "The Clinch" mit "Melbourne" und "Journeyman" digital die ersten Single-Auskoppelungen und kündigen mit "Time's up" ihr neues Album auf Sunny Bastards an! Musikstil und Sound als bewährtes Rezept sind gleich geblieben auch wenn The Clinch thematisch noch persönlicher den Finger in die Wunde der Gesellschaft legen_ Streetpunk, authentisch, ergreifend, ehrlich und ungeschönt ohne Pathos: 10 harte Volltreffer, die Spuren hinterlassen! "Man's not fed on good intention. No Safe Spaces left to mention" Songs wie "Stray Dogs" oder "FED" sind unter die Haut gehende Underdog-Anthems über Kampf, Verzweiflung, Zuversicht und sich nicht unterkriegen zu lassen. "Another day, another try"! Das Leben ist halt eine Reise und endet für Alle gleich! Mit Deinen Freunden im Rücken, einem Kämpferherz und "Seelenfutter" wie diese Platte ist es jeden verdammten Tag ertragbar. Also genieß es bevor "Time's Up!"! Oder um es mit "The Clinch zu sagen" It's my chosen way of life"!

Those albums that never age, that never cease to surprise with their innovative freshness-listen after listen-defying the years that go by. Released in 2016, Heimat's debut album is one of those records you love knowing is there on the shelf or on the turntable, like a reassuring talisman. To mark it's 10th anniversary, and such an awaited repress, we decided to honor this landmark album as it deserves: with a powerful remaster by Tioma Tchoulanov (UVB76, NzeNze) featuring enhanced dynamics, and an ultra-limited edition on blue splatter vinyl.

What a beautiful object this is, celebrating-alongside Armelle and Olivier Demeaux-ten years spent exploring the outer limits of music, in France and abroad, from SMAC venues to squats and other joyful initiatives. Their deeply sincere music loses none of it's naive tension; the emphasis is there, yet it remains restrained, contained, almost nervous, without any show of. Here, then, is something to make this fantastic album, a subtle milestone in a teeming musical landscape. A fine achievement indeed!

“Released on Joe Boyd’s Hannibal label here was a band rooted in Thompson/Swarbrick Fairport but also a snatch of the Velvet Underground and a sprig of The Byrds. The Eighteenth Day Of May evoked a legendary era, and now they are a justifiably legendary band too.” – KLOF Mag

Beginning life as a trio in London, 2003, the original line-up consisted of Allison Brice (vocals, flute), Richard Olson (acoustic guitar) and Ben Phillipson (guitar, mandolin) before expanding the following year to include the rhythm section of Mark Nicholas (bass) and Karl Sabino (drums, autoharp) and finally Alison Cotton (viola).
This being the mid zeros, the independent music scene in the UK was reluctant to embrace a sun-dazed folk band but this, their sole album, has gradually feathered a bed of affection amongst international folk fans. Twenty years on, the album is now rightfully seen as a trailblazer for the myriad alternative/psych folk bands that emerged in its wake.
Andy Childs who signed the band originally takes up the story. “I first heard their music on a cover mounted CD with the much missed Comes With A Smile magazine and as far as I could tell no-one was making music like this anymore, certainly not with such panache and confidence. To my jaded ears it all sounded so uninhibited - old weird folk songs, Americana, original psych-folk, minimalist drones. Great melodies and all six of them could sing! A joyous, unfettered sound that could in one moment conjure up flashes of The Byrds and then effortlessly the spirit of Velvet Underground would drift through. They even covered a Spacemen 3 song. I loved the fact that they had the aplomb to tackle traditional folk songs like Lady Margaret and Flowers In The Forest and not be afraid to stamp their own identity on them.
Signing them to the Hannibal label was straightforward. If anything the album somehow sounds fresh and undated, even better than it did in the day when perhaps eclecticism was out of synch with the times; its subtleties have become more apparent.”
“Their rendition of Lady Margaret builds to a headswirling crescendo that challenges anyone who claims Shirley Collins, Buffy Sainte-Marie or Trees have recorded the definitive version and the hallucinatory The Waterman’s Song To His Daughter raises an already brilliant album to an unholy level” - IT’S PSYCHEDELIC, BABY Magazine

Above The Trees
Written and produced by Vietnam Siren
Mastered by Joe Farr
Photography by Jelle Reynders
Layout and design by Sam Londero

Sophomore album by Brighton based multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Marlon Bianco. Concept album with the A-side sticking firmly to terra firma and the flip blasting off into outta space. Psychedelic spacetronics mixed with soulful vocals and soundtrack sounds. Marlon is helped along his journey by his clones including SFJ's Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson, David Bardon (who both also produced it) and a host of other talented musicians: Dante Notar, Jonathan Chung, Laura Gallon and Federico Bersano.







[g] 07: Roboland (SFJ) [feat. SFJ]

Celebrated drummer, bandleader, and composer Cindy Blackman Santana has been a force to be reckoned with since her 1987 debut album, Arcane, featuring jazz legends Wallace Roney, Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, and Buster Williams. Fast forward to 2026, and Cindy commands that same power with her new album, Coherence: a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey combining jazz, rock, fusion, and spirituality, featuring special guests John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana. Buckle up for a masterclass in modern music from one of the most electrifying drummers to ever do it.

With Tarabesque, his powerful new album, Firas Zreik delivers his boldest and most visionary work to date. Fearlessly placing the kanun—the shimmering Mediterranean harp—at the center of a jazz quartet, a hybrid ensemble, and an Arab Takht ensemble, Zreik reimagines the instrument as both a rhythmic engine and melodic force. He builds a world of Maqam-driven melodies woven through rich harmonic and modal landscapes that feel fresh, organic, and defiantly new.

Based in New York City, Zreik is a Palestinian composer and kanunist who recently received Grammy recognition as a songwriter and performer on Residente's award-winning album Las Letras Ya No Importan, and composed The Art of Kanun, a film music album commissioned by Universal Music Production France. He is an official showcase artist at WOMEX 2022, a MacDowell Fellow, and has performed at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, and The Jazz Gallery.

With Tarabesque, Zreik signals the emergence of a new musical language—merging Tarab, the ecstatic listening state central to Arab musical traditions, with global influences to create a sound timeless, urgent, and entirely his own.

2026 marks a historic chapter in his musical journey as Ross prepares for the release of his twelfth studio album, Set In Stone, slated to drop in July 2026. The highly anticipated album rollout was ignited by the Top 10 radio single "Minks In Miami," an opulent track featuring French Montana and Max B. To further commemorate his enduring legacy, Ross is currently celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his debut number-one album, Port of Miami. Honoring the milestone, he is embarking on a grand 17-city orchestra tour, performing his timeless classics alongside the soaring live instrumentation of the Renaissance Orchestra and the powerful vocals of the Sainted Trap Choir. In addition to the new album Rick Ross' also released his 3rd book "Renaissance Of A Boss."