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At 15 years of age Danny aka DJH worked at Dance Force Records, his Dad’s record shop, at the weekends in Kings Lynn. He also built himself a basic studio in the back of the shop where he linked up with a local customer and started to make music. These tracks would form an EP called The Bass Project which went on to be one of the most sought after hardcore records, being offered for up to £750 a copy. Not bad for a 15 year old kid who made his one and only release back in 1993.

This is the 3rd and final release for the DJH series whilst he takes a sabbatical from music, leaving us with 4 heavy hardcore tracks, with that authentic early 90’s feel with ‘Bad Boy Sound’ being a firm favourite of Jay Cunning over recent months on his Kool FM show. Sourcing original samples and memories from his time embedded in the scene as a teenager, this whole EP pays respects to the analogue dance scene that paved the way for all forms of UK bass music that followed.

What we hear on SICK! is the most realized version of Earl to date: a man with the same wandering spirit as before, but with a newfound command of his celebrity. This Earl is far more serene and grounded in who he really is. You feel his curiosity when speaking with him; his thoughts tend to land broadly and touch on everything from African literature to spiritual jazz and ’90s hip-hop before centering on himself. When asked to unpack his own narrative, he tends to speak in terms of we and not I, leaning on the group aesthetic to explain his own rise. The emphasis isn’t surprising, given Earl’s recent love of fellowship, but for an artist who made his name as a loner, his optimism is refreshing to hear. For an album born out of seclusion, SICK! is a moving ode to evolution. As always, Earl is a testament to the healing powers of honesty and self-awareness.

Limitierte Edition: weisses Doppel-Vinyl im Klappcover! Leidenschaftlich, anglophil, anachronistisch, maximalistisch und barock, "La Vita Nuova" wurde als eine Elegie der Begierde geschrieben. Nach ihrer Fertigstellung wurde sie zu einer Beschwörung. Aufrichtig und leidenschaftlich hat Maria McKee ganz einfach ein seligmachendes Erwachen erlebt, und in einem Crescendo der Prosa erschließt ihr neues Album "La Vita Nuova" diese Geschichte und skizziert eine bedeutsame und transformative Zeit in ihrem Leben, die vor Jahrzehnten begann, als sie in ihrem Wohnzimmer vorm Kamin mit ihrem älteren Bruder, dem verstorbenen, großen musikalischen Erneuerer Bryan MacLean, Mitbegründer der bahnbrechenden LA-Band Love, sang. Auf dem Weg dorthin war sie Leadsängerin der bahnbrechenden Americana-Band Lone Justice, veröffentlichte eine Reihe stimmungsvoller und eklektischer Solo-Platten, schrieb Chart-Hits, die die Charts toppten, und inspirierte die Hingabe einer treuen kultischen Fangemeinde, bevor sie scheinbar verschwand. Ihr letztes Studioalbum "Late December" wurde 2007 veröffentlicht, seitdem sind dreizehn Jahre vergangen. "La Vita Nuova" ist eine Hommage an Dantes Werk über die unerwiderte Liebe. Obwohl der unbewusste Impuls für die Entstehung dieses Albums darin bestand, den Schock einer der bisher größten persönlichen Herausforderungen für McKee, der Auflösung und Neuerfindung ihrer Ehe, zu verarbeiten, sind die Lieder progressiv und lyrisch dicht. Die Produktion ist orchestral und opernhaft und orientiert sich an McKees Lexikon der Ikonen - John Cale, Scott Walker und David Bowie. Es handelt sich also um ein Werk, das ein hohes Maß an Konzentration erfordert. Man muss vielleicht mehr als einmal zuhören, um sich mit der konfessionellen Erzählung zu verbinden, die im Subtext gehalten wird, und um zu verstehen, dass die "Muse", oder "Beatrice" des Albums innerhalb der Prosazeilen auch ein herzzerreißendes Phantom von McKees jüngerem, idealistischem Selbst ist. Und eine Metapher für die Jugend im Allgemeinen. Das spiegelt sich in den eindringlichen, kaskadenartigen melodischen Klängen der Joni Mitchell, die "I Should Have Looked Away" andeuten, und in der ergreifenden, nostalgischen Wehmut des Titels "Effigy of Salt" wider. McKee ist inzwischen nach London umgezogen. Die Orchesterarrangements des Albums wurden von McKee komponiert und arrangiert, die keine formale klassische Ausbildung hat und keine einzige Note liest. Aber genau das ist die Natur der kreativen Katharsis, die im Allgemeinen mit einem eigenen Willen arbeitet.

2000 pressed. First time on vinyl for the gorgeous 'Late December', with a second LP featuring rare recordings from her Live Acoustic LA tour in 2006, the package includes new liner notes and a download of the studio album and live show. An album that's broader than Broadway, a panoramic view of life, love and loss filled with drama and theatricality. Plus a live set that's heart-on-sleeve time, bringing together songs from Lone Justice, plus covers of the traditional country anthem 'The World Is Not My Home', Richard Thompson's 'Has He Got A Friend For Me' and three songs that show the bittersweet beauty of her brother Bryan MacLean's song writing. In total, it's Kurt Weill, Springsteen, it's the million-selling global hit 'A Good Heart' delivered by the songwriter herself in all its Phil Spector-like baroque beauty.

Mayday is the third LP by Montreal-based artist, Myriam Gendron. It follows her earlier, critically acclaimed albums, Not So Deep As A Well (2014) and Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found (2021). Myriam began exploring the complex folk traditions of Quebec (and beyond), with Ma délire, which combines traditional and original songs with arrangements that make space for avant-garde musical interludes by such folks as guitarist Bill Nace (Body/Head) and renowned jazz percussionist Chris Corsano. Mayday presents an even more syncretic fusion of the elements Myriam uses to create her sound. Most of the songs are original, sung in both English and French, and they blend traditional and avant elements with abandon. She is often accompanied on this album by the guitarist Marisa Anderson and drummer Jim White (Dirty Three, Xylouris White), whose work provides a quietly aggressive sort of free-rock base. Additional players include Montreal bassist Cédric Dind-Lavoie, Bill Nace and saxophonist Zoh Amba. Mayday is a thoroughly thrilling effort that manages to create new vistas of sound while maintaining a feel that is both intimate and familiar. The music here certainly possesses a richly serious tone, but Myriam Gendron (like Leonard Cohen) is able to infuse her darkness with a subtle, powerful light that reminds us that even the most pitch-black night is but a transitional state. Beautiful work.

Maggot Mass, the fifth full-length album by Pharmakon on Sacred Bones Records, marks the project's return after a five-year hiatus. This album signifies a departure from the original rules and structures established by Margaret Chardiet for Pharmakon, evolving into a new form. It retains the project's experimental roots in power electronics and noise while incorporating industrial and punk influences. The album stems from a profound disgust with humanity's dysfunctional relationship with the environment and other life forms. It explores the loneliness resulting from this broken bond and challenges us to acknowledge our personal and systemic responsibility. What peace can we make with privilege when the true cost of our comfort is not measured in dollars but in death? How can we reconcile with death when we impose the same hierarchical structures on it that we do in life? Is life worth living in the isolation of this self-imposed species loneliness? Humans often measure worth by accumulation _ money, assets, objects _ mistaking this for power and influence. Western heritage dictates a hierarchy, placing humans at the top, separate from the natural world. This delusion turns bodies into objects, land into property, and people into expendable tools. If our value were instead determined by our contribution to the ecosystem, who could claim that a human is more valuable than a maggot? Maggots recycle death into life, breaking down matter and nourishing new growth. They transform into flies, pollinating plants and sustaining the Earth's flora. In contrast, humans pollute rather than pollinate, with a select few profiting from exploitation at the expense of biodiversity and the well-being of many. In grappling with grief and loss on both personal and global scales, Margaret sought solace in the idea of rebirth through death, celebrating the beauty of regeneration through decay. However, she had to confront the stark reality of the disconnection from the earth under oppressive systems. Pharmakon is here imagining a path where the final act is to give back what was received from creation, offering our lives and deaths to sustain existence. once I slough off this human skin I will find my home and ancestral kin_ in the coffin-birth of my cadaver's ecosystem

2024 Reissue

Founded with the intent of bringing hidden sounds out of obscurity, Rarefied will project these sounds on to a platform to be experienced by the many denizens of sound system culture. While the music is made to enjoyed by all, it retains its identity as both an underground and unique form of artistic expression.

After a series of successful digital releases, Soukah bursts onto the vinyl scene, presenting a sound crafted over the course of almost a decade. His past works range from Industrial Noise to his own unique take on Dubstep. RARE1 showcases Soukah's versatile approach to production - His organic style, based on dark synthesis and unorthodox drum patterns, is a true representation of the Rarefied sound.

'JAK FOU' is the result of six months of studio time, the classical piano riff combined with haunting percussion results in an experience akin to ingesting 18 grams of psycobilin. On the flip side 'Loner' is a far darker, moodier affair. Written solely by candlelight, the production evokes the darkest elements of Soukah's soul. This track is best enjoyed alone, in the wilderness.

Rarefied's Newest Sonic Assault Finds Label Mates Sibla And Zygos In Some Chthonic Dwelling Performing Occult Rites For Sub Bass Dominance. Three Prime Cuts Of Out-there Dubstep For Fans Of Moldy, Decrepit Basements, Decaying Houses In The Middle Of Woods, And Fog Drenched Nights.

the Path' Heaves Underneath Pneumatic Infrabass Pressure And A Din Of Percussion That Sounds Like A Warehouse Falling Apart. It Lurches Forward On Broken Ankles, Scanning With Cataract Eyes, For Its Next Victim.

The Aptly Named haunted' Is Built From The Ground Up On Evp Recordings, Static Hiss, And Disintegrating Tape Reels. A Lone Scream Echoes Towards Infinity Until The Mid-way Point Where Black Stars Crack The Void.

The Circle Is Complete With sigil'. Hewn Together With Horror Flick Soundtracks, Whispered Voices And A Feral Half-step Foundation. It Seems Zygos And Sibla's Golem Has Breathed Life For The First Time.

Taylor Hollingsworth, the fingerpicking songwriter hailing from the vibrant city of Birmingham, AL, is back with an electrifying, foot stomper of an album titled "Yahola." With his unique blend of folk, rock, and blues, Taylor has carved out a distinct musical niche that he calls "folk n' roll" or electric folk. In a world full of manufactured pop sensations and cookie-cutter artists, Taylor Hollingsworth stands apart as a true maverick of original music.Taylor's dedication to his craft has earned him accolades and recognition both within and outside the local music scene. His immense talent on the guitar, coupled with his remarkable songwriting abilities, has earned him a rightful place among music connoisseurs. Notable achievements in Taylor's musical journey include having his works featured in popular TV shows, podcasts, and movies, showcasing his ability to strike an emotional chord with listeners. Esteemed artists such as Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers have recognized Taylor's songwriting prowess by covering one of his songs.

MR TOUT LE MONDE presents “YOU”, the final part of his SUN-HER-YOU albums trilogy, releasing September 13th.

This album marks a key moment for the French producer, blending indie pop and EDM styles. Following successful tours in Canada and Germany, he’s set for a 9-date US tour in September and his Paris headline debut at Le Trianon on November 15th, sold out 4 months in advance.

“YOU” showcases MR TOUT LE MONDE’s versatility across genres. The lead single “Before You Go” (featuring Oaks) deliver infectious electronic energy when “I Don’t Know” offers introspective indie pop. Fan favorites “Thinking Of” and “Wonderful World” reinforce the unique aesthetic that has become the artist’s signature.

The album’s concept revolves around fan experiences, with each track inspired by listener stories, reflected in the album’s striking cover art. Inspired by fan stories, the album resonates with MR TOUT LE MONDE’s core 18-35 demographic.

ReleasedexclusivelydigitallyinDecember2023,thiscountry/americananuggetcouldn'tgowithoutavinylpressing. Theo Lawrence presents a new album, Pickin' & Singin'. Recorded in the living room of his Bordeaux home, alone with his guitar, he embodies the figure of the lone cowboy with disconcerting naturalness and irresistible charm. Blessed with a velvety voice and magnetic melodies that evoke lasting love, lovers on the move, and the moonlight on the roof of a roadside bar, this album is a jewel with Theo Lawrence'sunique signature.

Johnny Tillotson burst onto the pop scene in 1959 with the classic 'Poetry In Motion' to be followed by other country flavoured biggies such as 'Send Me The Pillow You Dream On', 'Jimmy's Girl' and 'It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - all were hits in Britain. Born in Florida, Johnny's big break came when in 1958 he was signed to the small Nashville label, Cadence, together with another unknown act at the time - the Everly Brothers. Johnny has always regarded himself as a
country singer and many of the songs featured here are his own compositions recorded at the height of his career. His style is remarkable in that it has blended the best of country and pop qualities without losing the validity of the basic essentials of either. He had his own style and he has held on to it without making any concessions to a fickle industry that swings from one personality to another at the drop of a needle. We hope you'll enjoy this album of his best recording

Johnny Tillotson burst onto the pop scene in 1959 with the classic 'Poetry In Motion' to be followed by other country flavoured biggies such as 'Send Me The Pillow You Dream On', 'Jimmy's Girl' and 'It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - all were hits in Britain. Born in Florida, Johnny's big break came when in 1958 he was signed to the small Nashville label, Cadence, together with another unknown act at the time - the Everly Brothers. Johnny has always regarded himself as a
country singer and many of the songs featured here are his own compositions recorded at the height of his career. His style is remarkable in that it has blended the best of country and pop qualities without losing the validity of the basic essentials of either. He had his own style and he has held on to it without making any concessions to a fickle industry that swings from one personality to another at the drop of a needle. We hope you'll enjoy this album of his best recordings.

Mit ihrem neuen Album „Sad Girl“ schlägt TSHA ein neues Kapitel auf, in dem sie ihren Tracks ihren eigenen stimmlichen Stempel aufdrückt und sich den Genres nähert, die sie schon immer ausprobieren wollte, anstatt die Anerkennung ihrer Kolleg:innen zu suchen. TSHA zeigt nicht nur die euphorischen oder melancholischen Seiten ihres Charakters, sondern stellt sie alle zur Schau. Es ist ein Werk, das zeigt, dass es in Ordnung ist, traurig zu sein, und dass man darin sogar schwelgen kann - schließlich kann man die Höhen nicht ohne die Tiefen haben.

Es ist das zweite Album des aufstrebenden britischen Stars und folgt auf das Debütalbum, „Capricorn Sun“, aus dem Jahr 2022, das auf einem hellen, melodischen House-Fundament aufbaute und britische Garage- und Rave-Einflüsse einbrachte. Das Album wurde vom DJ Mag und BBC Radio1 Dance zu ihrem jeweiligen Album des Jahres gekürt, während das Music Tech Mag TSHA zur Produzentin des Jahres kürte, was für eine weibliche Produzentin, deren Produktionsfähigkeiten oft übersehen werden, sehr viel bedeutet.

Während sie Freude an Hedonismus und Eskapismus findet, ist „Sad Girl“ auch ein Album, das schwierige Gefühle anspricht. Das Zwischenspiel, „Lonely Girl“, erzählt von ihrer isolierten Kindheit in der überwiegend weißen Stadt Fareham in der Nähe von Portsmouth, in der sie sich Märchen im Stil von „Secret Garden“ ausdachte. „Green“ entstand nach einem Streit mit ihrem Partner, wo sie offen über toxische Positivität singt (auf dem Album singt sie zum ersten Mal). TSHA mag in den DJ-Videos, die sie in den sozialen Medien postet, Selbstvertrauen ausstrahlen und von einem Ohr zum anderen grinsen, aber sie hat auch offen über ihre Probleme mit ihrem psychischen Wohlbefinden gesprochen.

Mit dem Albumtitel lässt sie ihre Teenagerjahre Revue passieren. Er ist eine Anspielung auf emo-mäßige MSN-Screennamen und Hotmail-Adressen - und man kann es in den Anflügen von 00er-Jahre-R&B, rauem Elektro und hymnischem Techno hören, die an die Bittersüße und die Angst des frühen Erwachsenseins erinnern. Zwischen den Momenten der Stille und des Nachdenkens ist es im Kern eine Dance-Platte: heiße Club-Stomper reiben sich an hypnotischen Floorfillern und MTV-tauglichem Pop.

Oxblood & Gold Vinyl. Light In The Attic präsentiert in Zusammenarbeit mit Laurie Anderson und dem Lou Reed Archive die erste offizielle Anthologie von Lou Reeds Arbeiten für Pickwick Records 1964-1965. "Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-65"enthält Raritäten, Kultklassiker (The Primitives' "The Ostrich") und bisher unveröffentlichtes Material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy") und ist eine Zusammenstellung von Popsongs aus Reeds Feder, die er Mitte der 60er Jahre als angestellter Songwriter für das längst untergegangene Label Pickwick Records schrieb. Die Zusammenstellung ist der neueste Teil der Lou Reed Archive Serie und folgt auf Lou Reeds "Words & Music, May 1965" (2022) und die Wiederveröffentlichung von "Hudson River Wind Meditations" (2023). Als eine der originellsten und innovativsten Persönlichkeiten der Musikgeschichte erlangte Reed (1942-2013) zunächst als Mitbegründer und Frontmann der einflussreichen Band Velvet Underground Anerkennung. Im Laufe seiner fünf Jahrzehnte währenden Karriere brachte der zweifache Rock & Roll Hall of Famer seine einzigartige Vision in eine eklektische Bandbreite musikalischer Unternehmungen ein, darunter epochale Alben wie "Transformer" (1972) und wild experimentelle Werke wie der avantgardistische Noise-Klassiker "Metal Machine Music" (1975). Doch bevor er sich als Sänger, Songschreiber, Musiker und Dichter etablierte, begann Reed als interner Songschreiber (und gelegentlicher Session-Gitarrist/Sänger) bei Pickwick Records, einem Label, das sich auf Sound-ähnliche Aufnahmen spezialisierte, die die großen Pop-Hits der damaligen Zeit nachahmten. Von Garage-Rock und Girl-Group-Pop bis hin zu Blue-Eyed-Soul und Teenie-Idol-Balladen bietet Reeds Schaffen für Pickwick einen faszinierenden frühen Einblick in sein sich ständig weiterentwickelndes und wahrhaft grenzenloses künstlerisches Schaffen, das vom GRAMMYr-nominierten Mastering-Ingenieur John Baldwin restauriert und remastered wurde. Sowohl die 2xLP- als auch die CD-Editionen enthalten ausführliche Booklets mit ungesehenen Fotos, Linernotes von Richie Unterberger (renommierter Musikjournalist und Autor von "White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day") und ein Essay von Lenny Kaye (dem legendären Gitarristen, Mitbegründer der Patti Smith Group, Autor, Produzent und Kurator der bahnbrechenden Garage-Rock-Anthologie "Nuggets"). Die Doppel-LP-Verpackung wurde von dem mehrfach mit dem GRAMMYr ausgezeichneten Künstler Masaki Koike gestaltet. Eine spezielle farbige Vinyl-Edition wird auf "Oxblood"-Wachs (A/B-Seite) und "Gold"-Wachs (C/D-Seite) gepresst.

Light In The Attic präsentiert in Zusammenarbeit mit Laurie Anderson und dem Lou Reed Archive die erste offizielle Anthologie von Lou Reeds Arbeiten für Pickwick Records 1964-1965. "Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-65"enthält Raritäten, Kultklassiker (The Primitives' "The Ostrich") und bisher unveröffentlichtes Material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy") und ist eine Zusammenstellung von Popsongs aus Reeds Feder, die er Mitte der 60er Jahre als angestellter Songwriter für das längst untergegangene Label Pickwick Records schrieb. Die Zusammenstellung ist der neueste Teil der Lou Reed Archive Serie und folgt auf Lou Reeds "Words & Music, May 1965" (2022) und die Wiederveröffentlichung von "Hudson River Wind Meditations" (2023). Als eine der originellsten und innovativsten Persönlichkeiten der Musikgeschichte erlangte Reed (1942-2013) zunächst als Mitbegründer und Frontmann der einflussreichen Band Velvet Underground Anerkennung. Im Laufe seiner fünf Jahrzehnte währenden Karriere brachte der zweifache Rock & Roll Hall of Famer seine einzigartige Vision in eine eklektische Bandbreite musikalischer Unternehmungen ein, darunter epochale Alben wie "Transformer" (1972) und wild experimentelle Werke wie der avantgardistische Noise-Klassiker "Metal Machine Music" (1975). Doch bevor er sich als Sänger, Songschreiber, Musiker und Dichter etablierte, begann Reed als interner Songschreiber (und gelegentlicher Session-Gitarrist/Sänger) bei Pickwick Records, einem Label, das sich auf Sound-ähnliche Aufnahmen spezialisierte, die die großen Pop-Hits der damaligen Zeit nachahmten. Von Garage-Rock und Girl-Group-Pop bis hin zu Blue-Eyed-Soul und Teenie-Idol-Balladen bietet Reeds Schaffen für Pickwick einen faszinierenden frühen Einblick in sein sich ständig weiterentwickelndes und wahrhaft grenzenloses künstlerisches Schaffen, das vom GRAMMYr-nominierten Mastering-Ingenieur John Baldwin restauriert und remastered wurde. Sowohl die 2xLP- als auch die CD-Editionen enthalten ausführliche Booklets mit ungesehenen Fotos, Linernotes von Richie Unterberger (renommierter Musikjournalist und Autor von "White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day") und ein Essay von Lenny Kaye (dem legendären Gitarristen, Mitbegründer der Patti Smith Group, Autor, Produzent und Kurator der bahnbrechenden Garage-Rock-Anthologie "Nuggets"). Die Doppel-LP-Verpackung wurde von dem mehrfach mit dem GRAMMYr ausgezeichneten Künstler Masaki Koike gestaltet.

Das Londoner Post-Punk-Quartett Desperate Journalist kehrt im Herbst 2024 mit ihrem nunmehr fünften Studioalbum voller sardonischem, schrägem Humor und leidenschaftlicher Musik zurück. Auf ,No Hero", das die Vorab-Singles ,Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2" und ,Afraid" sowie die kommende Leadsingle ,You Say You're Lonely" enthält, versucht die Band, ihren zerklüfteten, düsteren Trademark-Sound in immer interessantere Bahnen zu lenken. Als kreativer Neustart sind die vorab veröffentlichten Singles glänzende, strahlende Wegweiserfür die Richtung in die Desperate Journalist ihren ursprünglichen dunkelen Indie-Sound in neue, immer reizvollere Formen und zerklüftete Winkel schieben und ziehen, ohne dabei die ihnen ganz eigene glühende Essenz zu verlieren. Es gibt klirrende Synthesizer, erhabene Gothic-Anklänge, es gibt stürmische Melodien, es gibt gespenstische Klaviereinlagen, berserkerhafte Gitarrenausbrüche und das eine oder andere Stück, das ein bisschen nach den famosen The Icicle Works klingt. Und es gibt (mindestens) einen gigantischen, verzweifelten Desperate Journalist-Refrain im Song ,7", der mit höchster Logik tatsächlich als Track Nummer 7 des Albums fungiert. Die beste aller Album-Tracknummern, ganz sicher, in diesem Fall ein Song, der auch als mögliche Single funktionieren würde und deshalb Album Fokus Track ist. ,Immer wenn wir etwas Neues schreiben, möchte ich, dass es gleichzeitig verrückter und poppiger ist als das, was wir vorher gemacht haben, und ich denke, dies ist das Album, auf dem wir in dieser Hinsicht wirklich einen Sprung nach vorne gemacht haben." - Jo Bevan 2024 Desperate Journalist besteht aus Jo Bevan (Gesang, Synthesizer und Drum Machine), Robert Hardy (Gitarren, Synthesizer und Klavier), Caroline Helbert (Schlagzeug, Drum Machine und Percussion) und Simon Drowner (Bass und Synthesizer). Erhältlich als weiße Vinyl-LP, Digipack-CD & Musik-Kassette!

Das Londoner Post-Punk-Quartett Desperate Journalist kehrt im Herbst 2024 mit ihrem nunmehr fünften Studioalbum voller sardonischem, schrägem Humor und leidenschaftlicher Musik zurück. Auf ,No Hero", das die Vorab-Singles ,Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2" und ,Afraid" sowie die kommende Leadsingle ,You Say You're Lonely" enthält, versucht die Band, ihren zerklüfteten, düsteren Trademark-Sound in immer interessantere Bahnen zu lenken. Als kreativer Neustart sind die vorab veröffentlichten Singles glänzende, strahlende Wegweiserfür die Richtung in die Desperate Journalist ihren ursprünglichen dunkelen Indie-Sound in neue, immer reizvollere Formen und zerklüftete Winkel schieben und ziehen, ohne dabei die ihnen ganz eigene glühende Essenz zu verlieren. Es gibt klirrende Synthesizer, erhabene Gothic-Anklänge, es gibt stürmische Melodien, es gibt gespenstische Klaviereinlagen, berserkerhafte Gitarrenausbrüche und das eine oder andere Stück, das ein bisschen nach den famosen The Icicle Works klingt. Und es gibt (mindestens) einen gigantischen, verzweifelten Desperate Journalist-Refrain im Song ,7", der mit höchster Logik tatsächlich als Track Nummer 7 des Albums fungiert. Die beste aller Album-Tracknummern, ganz sicher, in diesem Fall ein Song, der auch als mögliche Single funktionieren würde und deshalb Album Fokus Track ist. ,Immer wenn wir etwas Neues schreiben, möchte ich, dass es gleichzeitig verrückter und poppiger ist als das, was wir vorher gemacht haben, und ich denke, dies ist das Album, auf dem wir in dieser Hinsicht wirklich einen Sprung nach vorne gemacht haben." - Jo Bevan 2024 Desperate Journalist besteht aus Jo Bevan (Gesang, Synthesizer und Drum Machine), Robert Hardy (Gitarren, Synthesizer und Klavier), Caroline Helbert (Schlagzeug, Drum Machine und Percussion) und Simon Drowner (Bass und Synthesizer). Erhältlich als weiße Vinyl-LP, Digipack-CD & Musik-Kassette!

Das Londoner Post-Punk-Quartett Desperate Journalist kehrt im Herbst 2024 mit ihrem nunmehr fünften Studioalbum voller sardonischem, schrägem Humor und leidenschaftlicher Musik zurück. Auf ,No Hero", das die Vorab-Singles ,Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2" und ,Afraid" sowie die kommende Leadsingle ,You Say You're Lonely" enthält, versucht die Band, ihren zerklüfteten, düsteren Trademark-Sound in immer interessantere Bahnen zu lenken. Als kreativer Neustart sind die vorab veröffentlichten Singles glänzende, strahlende Wegweiserfür die Richtung in die Desperate Journalist ihren ursprünglichen dunkelen Indie-Sound in neue, immer reizvollere Formen und zerklüftete Winkel schieben und ziehen, ohne dabei die ihnen ganz eigene glühende Essenz zu verlieren. Es gibt klirrende Synthesizer, erhabene Gothic-Anklänge, es gibt stürmische Melodien, es gibt gespenstische Klaviereinlagen, berserkerhafte Gitarrenausbrüche und das eine oder andere Stück, das ein bisschen nach den famosen The Icicle Works klingt. Und es gibt (mindestens) einen gigantischen, verzweifelten Desperate Journalist-Refrain im Song ,7", der mit höchster Logik tatsächlich als Track Nummer 7 des Albums fungiert. Die beste aller Album-Tracknummern, ganz sicher, in diesem Fall ein Song, der auch als mögliche Single funktionieren würde und deshalb Album Fokus Track ist. ,Immer wenn wir etwas Neues schreiben, möchte ich, dass es gleichzeitig verrückter und poppiger ist als das, was wir vorher gemacht haben, und ich denke, dies ist das Album, auf dem wir in dieser Hinsicht wirklich einen Sprung nach vorne gemacht haben." - Jo Bevan 2024 Desperate Journalist besteht aus Jo Bevan (Gesang, Synthesizer und Drum Machine), Robert Hardy (Gitarren, Synthesizer und Klavier), Caroline Helbert (Schlagzeug, Drum Machine und Percussion) und Simon Drowner (Bass und Synthesizer). Erhältlich als weiße Vinyl-LP, Digipack-CD & Musik-Kassette!

"Soulfisticated Bumps" è l'ultima creazione del producer JayBee Vibes, un'esperienza sonora che fonde abilmente l'anima del jazz con il ritmo incalzante dell'hip hop. Questo album è una collezione di 25 beat strumentali che catturano l'essenza groovy della musica urbana, trasportando l'ascoltatore in un viaggio attraverso paesaggi sonori sofisticati e avvolgenti.
Con un mix di samples jazz e suggestioni lo-fi, ogni traccia è un'esplosione di creatività e energia. I synth bass pulsanti e le batterie rimbalzanti sono l'elemento guida di questo viaggio, facendo muovere la testa e il corpo con il loro ritmo irresistibile.
L'artwork dell'album è un capolavoro firmato da Cammamoro, rinomato fumettista ed illustratore italiano, che cattura perfettamente lo spirito e l'atmosfera dei brani contenuti in "Soulfisticated Bumps".
Questo lavoro è stato pubblicato sotto l'etichetta italiana Beat's Tailors, confermando ancora una volta la loro dedizione a promuovere artisti innovativi e suoni unici nel panorama musicale contemporaneo.
Descr: ENG


"Soulfisticated Bumps" is the latest creation from producer JayBee Vibes, a sonic experience skillfully blending the soul of jazz with the pulsating rhythm of hip hop. This album is a collection of 25 instrumental beats that capture the groovy essence of urban music, taking the listener on a journey through sophisticated and enveloping soundscapes.
With a mix of jazz samples and lo-fi suggestions, each track is an explosion of creativity and energy. The pulsating synth bass and bouncing drums serves as the guiding element of this journey, making heads and bodies sway with its irresistible rhythm.
The album's artwork is a masterpiece crafted by Cammamoro, renowned Italian comic artist and illustrator, perfectly capturing the spirit and atmosphere of the tracks contained in "Soulfisticated Bumps".
This incredible work has been released under the Italian label Beat's Tailors, once again confirming their dedication to promoting innovative artists and unique sounds in the contemporary music scene.

For Dutch artist Stefan Vincent, the feeling of melancholy also offers the opportunity for beauty to be found. “Decay and loneliness can serve a purpose. Depression can teach you things. To feel deep sadness also means the ability to feel profound
emotions.” he says. With this in mind, his debut album on MUSAR Recordings, “Post- Melancholy”, unpacks the twists and turns of grappling with this emotion, drawing from breaks, electro and IDM to make his most intricate work to date, after previous releases on Token, Dynamic Reflection, Symbolism, and Non-Series. Throughout “Post-Melancholy” Vincent traces the wave of melancholy and how it moves through the body, which allows for lighter moments alongside darker moods. Perhaps the lightest track on the album is its acidic-breaks opener, “Eyes Unclouded”, with its soaring acid lines and dazzling synths, which acts as a false pretense for the rest of the album. Tracks like “Poise”, “Arpeggino” and the meditative “Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F” also break up the intensity. However, nestled between the more pacey, bass-weighted tracks on the album, these lighter openings still feel like tear-jerkers.

The more common associations of melancholy show up on tracks like “Another Skin To Wear” and “You Know This Isn’t Going To End Well”, which all create a more ominous feel via IDM and the polyrhythmic structures of drum’n’bass. Particularly on “Another Skin To Wear”, which borrows its name from a Radiohead lyric, the track's swooping motion feels realistic to melancholy’s chaotic and often unpredictable path. But, like all great storytellers, Vincent leaves the most poignant moment of the album for last with the rolling “8AM on the Train… (For Maarten)” devoted to his dear friend, Maarten, who sadly passed away at the young age of 36. This LP is dedicated to Maarten de Vries (1986-2022)

Saxophonist Walter Smith III pays homage to his hometown of Houston, Texas on his sophomore Blue Note album, three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not, the follow-up to 2023’s return to casual. The album’s wry title signifies the lineup, which includes fellow Houston natives – pianist Jason Moran and drummer Eric Harland – while bassist Reuben Rogers, who hails from the Virgin Islands, rounds out the quartet. Together they enliven 10 compelling Smith originals and an imaginative rendering of a Sam Rivers composition – all of which speaks to Smith’s ascending status as one of modern jazz’s most engaging talents of his generation.

Welcome to the delirious world of Marcoca with 'Homage to Delusion'. Known for their album 'Silent Struggles', whose success has crossed cultures and continents and now accumulates millions of streams on platforms, the band takes their next step with a new album so well thought-out that it could be summed up as a brilliant reunion of everything that was best done in the 70s. ‘All This time’ crystallizes Marcoca's identity : funk, rock and soul cuddle up under a sheet of surf rock.

JD McPherson has created something unique and amazing with his latest album, Nite Owls. His first album release since 2018’s critically acclaimed Christmas classic, SOCKS. Over the past 5+ years, McPherson has stayed consistently busy writing new songs while at the same time touring with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. Being a touring musician offers the chance to see the sights, tour the town and pick up some inspiration from the local record shop. With Nite Owls, JD wanted to try something new and different. He wanted to take the inspiration from multiple decades and styles and incorporate them into his own sound. “The initial idea for the record was: It’s like if The late-60s Ventures were the session band on the first New Order record.” Says, McPherson. Idea achieved. Nite Owls delivers the signature sounds of vintage garage-rock while also seamlessly bridging the sounds of Bowie and Alan Vega. Songs such as “Sunshine Getaway”, “The Rock and Roll Girls” and “I Can’t Go Anywhere with You” sound like Chuck Berry is jamming with Buddy Holly. While song’s like, “Nite Owls” and “Don’t Travel Through the Night Alone” give a nod to the Factory sound from the UK. The throwback sound of the lone instrumental track “The Phantom Lover of New Rochelle” would make Dick Dale ride and Link Wray rumble. With Nite Owls, McPherson takes inspiration from multiple genres of the past and combines them together to evolve a sound that is all his own.

"Justin Townes Earle released Kids In The Street, his first record on New West Records, in May of 2017. The album received critical acclaim and further cemented Justin’s legacy as one of the best active songwriters in music. Songs like, “Champagne Corolla” showcased his wry sense of humor as well as his deft ability to build upon the music that came before him while at the same time creating something unique and new. Familiar, inventive, creative, and clever.

Justin would release his second album with New West Records in May of 2019. The Saint of Lost Causes was hailed as one of the best albums of 2019 by Rolling Stone Magazine with “half a dozen or so career classics.” “I was trying to look through the eyes of America,” Earle says. “Because I believe in the idea of America - that everybody’s welcome here and has a right to be here.” Earle tells these American stories in detail and without judgement. While some songs cite historic events like “Flint City Shake It,” and “Don’t Drink The Water,"" other tracks present fictionalized narratives that are no less harrowing, or true-to-life , as heard in ""Appalachian Nightmare,” “The Saint Of Lost Causes,” and “Over Alameda.""

Justin Townes Earle was always a champion of the underdog and All In features in depth looks at the hopeful, and the hopeless. Fueled by empathy, baked in the blues, Justin was never without something poignant or humorous to say. Sadly, Justin passed away in 2020 at the age of 38. ALL IN: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years) is a fitting tribute to Justin’s legacy. The collection features many never heard before songs, demos, and cover tunes, spanning his time as a New West Records recording artist."

Perpignan Burning: the Southern French capital of garage rock in search of the riff. Or as Lou Reed would put it: "You can"t beat two guitars, bass, and drums." Content: 27 previously unreleased tracks on the double LP and six digital-only bonus tracks. All tracks on this compilation were recorded in or around Perpignan, France, and go to the musical extremes of an extreme city. Whether garage punks or freakbeat mods, country punks or city rockers, whether pioneers or new to the scene: the only thing that counts is the riff. Pascal Comelade, infamous riff explorer since the 1970s, is the unlikely godfather of this bunch of punks and rockers. He opens the trip with his emblematic cover design and closes it with his own Riffifi orchestra to the ultimate riff of The Stooges" "I Wanna Be Your Dog".

Die britische Band The Telescopes wurde 1987 gegründet. Das Line-up der Band ist seitdem im stetigen Fluss, so können zwischen 1 und 20 Musiker*innen an einer Aufnahme beteiligt sein. Die einzige Konstante ist der aus Northumbria stammende Stephen Lawrie, Komponist und Gründer der Band. Ursprünglich bei Cheree Records gesignt, wechselte die Band später zu What Goes On Records und erreichte regelmäßig die Spitze der Indie-Charts; ein Deal mit Creation Records führte dann auch zu einem größeren Mainstream-Erfolg. Die Musik der Telescopes kennt keine starren Grenzen, sie umfasst viele Genres und folgt - stets von Stephen Lawries Inspiration geleitet - ihrem eigenen Kurs. Im Laufe der Zeit hat sich gezeigt, dass die Musik von The Telescopes nicht nur dem wiederholten Hören standhält, sondern auch bei jedem Hören etwas Neues offenbart - ein roter Faden, der sich durch ein äußerst einflussreiches, mehr als drei Jahrzehnte umfassendes Werk zieht. The Telescopes wurden als Einfluss auf viele Künstler aller Genres auf der ganzen Welt zitiert.

Die britische Band The Telescopes wurde 1987 gegründet. Das Line-up der Band ist seitdem im stetigen Fluss, so können zwischen 1 und 20 Musiker*innen an einer Aufnahme beteiligt sein. Die einzige Konstante ist der aus Northumbria stammende Stephen Lawrie, Komponist und Gründer der Band. Ursprünglich bei Cheree Records gesignt, wechselte die Band später zu What Goes On Records und erreichte regelmäßig die Spitze der Indie-Charts; ein Deal mit Creation Records führte dann auch zu einem größeren Mainstream-Erfolg. Die Musik der Telescopes kennt keine starren Grenzen, sie umfasst viele Genres und folgt - stets von Stephen Lawries Inspiration geleitet - ihrem eigenen Kurs. Im Laufe der Zeit hat sich gezeigt, dass die Musik von The Telescopes nicht nur dem wiederholten Hören standhält, sondern auch bei jedem Hören etwas Neues offenbart - ein roter Faden, der sich durch ein äußerst einflussreiches, mehr als drei Jahrzehnte umfassendes Werk zieht. The Telescopes wurden als Einfluss auf viele Künstler aller Genres auf der ganzen Welt zitiert.

Though she was Stax Records' Queen of Soul (and Otis Redding was her king), there was much more to Carla Thomas. In 1967, even while being promoted by the name of her most recent album, The Queen Alone, she was expanding her sound, developing a cabaret act that showcased a mix of genres and styles and that was built around her beautiful voice. She was exploring new vistas when these two sides were recorded.
Isaac Hayes wrote "Loneliness". Carla's suave delivery evokes Diana Ross, and the shiny brass horns call out a Burt Bacharach arrangement as much as Stax. This is Carla with a nice polish on the groove.
Labelmate and friend Deanie Parker wrote "If It's Not Asking Too Much". A sparer presentation, the organ drives the tango rhythm and also—a second keyboard, I think—swells behind Carla, everything entwining and deepening the song's brooding tone. This is the kind of side that can both start your night or finish it.
Carla Thomas has got it all.

Repress!

Leif Vollebekk, the Montreal singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist had hit a wall. In the midst of endless touring Leif found himself retreating to his lonely hotel rooms after shows and listening to Nick Drake's 'Pink Moon' alone in the dark. His own songs didn't sound right and he felt the bright spots in his sets were the covers he'd end with: songs by Ray Charles or Townes Van Zandt. In this deep blue mood he booked a secret show at a Montreal dive bar, only playing covers with a band that rehearsed once.  The experience led Leif to change his approach to songwriting: explore the ideas that came spontaneously to him, and let the songs shape themselves. Soon the songs came pouring out of him. This approach is what created the lush, freewheeling and often devastating 'Twin Solitude,' out February 24 on Secret City Records.

"By the time the last notes die away, all that's left should be you," Leif says. "And I'll be somewhere else. And that's Twin Solitude.' 

Leif's third album, features 10 delicate and expansive original songs, with lyrics that pour out of this singer songwriter that are often compared to Jeff Buckley.  Leif's words lay on a bed of elastic instrumentation full of piano, synthesizer, guitar, rich electric bass and strings.

Several songs on the album came to Leif and were written in one sitting. 'Into the Ether' came to be while he was exploring a Moog synthesizer. 'Elegy' is a bedside soliloquy, of love slipping through fingers and came to Leif while he was riding his bike through Montreal.  The meditative 'Michigan' was written on a half-tuned guitar and fully written as he was about to go to sleep.  Other songs on the album capture the countless hours Leif has spent on the road, crisscrossing North America. 'Big Sky Country' recalls a trip to Vancouver with his family when he was young, never forgetting the expanse of Montana and listening to Ian Tyson's song 'The Gift' in the car over and over again.
'Twin Solitude' features Olivier Fairfield from Timber Timbre (drums), Sarah Page from the Barr Brothers (harp) on 'Rest' Shahzad Ismaily of Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog and SecretCheifs3 (bass) on several tracks and the string duo Chargaux throughout the album as well.  It was engineered by Dave Smith and recorded at his Breakglass Studios in Canada.  Produced by Leif Vollebekk.

Vollebekk made his album debut in 2010 - and since then has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, and shared stages with Daniel Lanois, Beth Orton, Sinéad O'Connor, Patrick Watson, Coeur de Pirate, William Fitzsimmons and Sam Amidon. His debut 'Inland' was described as  beautiful, memorable and moving' by NPR and  timeless and monumental'  by The Independent.

For years, Manu Chao has been travelling the world to meet his fans in unusual venues, villages and small festivals. Elusive, but always accessible to those who cross his path, Manu now presents his new studio album 'Viva Tu', a collection of songs written at the heart of daily lives and struggles, and a fresh take on the state of the world, singing sunny, universal songs in Spanish, French, English and Portuguese, painting an unforgiving picture of social imbalances.
The lead song 'Viva Tu', a heartfelt rumba dedicated to the daily life heroes, has already made its mark. The second single, 'São Paulo Motoboy', is a colorful, sunny ode to the two-wheeled delivery people venturing the Latin American metropoles every day.
The album, to be released September 20th, also features some memorable collaborations, including 'Heaven's Bad Day' with country legend Willie Nelson and 'Tu Te Vas' with rising French rapper Laeti.

For years, Manu Chao has been travelling the world to meet his fans in unusual venues, villages and small festivals. Elusive, but always accessible to those who cross his path, Manu now presents his new studio album 'Viva Tu', a collection of songs written at the heart of daily lives and struggles, and a fresh take on the state of the world, singing sunny, universal songs in Spanish, French, English and Portuguese, painting an unforgiving picture of social imbalances.
The lead song 'Viva Tu', a heartfelt rumba dedicated to the daily life heroes, has already made its mark. The second single, 'São Paulo Motoboy', is a colorful, sunny ode to the two-wheeled delivery people venturing the Latin American metropoles every day.
The album, to be released September 20th, also features some memorable collaborations, including 'Heaven's Bad Day' with country legend Willie Nelson and 'Tu Te Vas' with rising French rapper Laeti.

For years, Manu Chao has been travelling the world to meet his fans in unusual venues, villages and small festivals. Elusive, but always accessible to those who cross his path, Manu now presents his new studio album 'Viva Tu', a collection of songs written at the heart of daily lives and struggles, and a fresh take on the state of the world, singing sunny, universal songs in Spanish, French, English and Portuguese, painting an unforgiving picture of social imbalances.
The lead song 'Viva Tu', a heartfelt rumba dedicated to the daily life heroes, has already made its mark. The second single, 'São Paulo Motoboy', is a colorful, sunny ode to the two-wheeled delivery people venturing the Latin American metropoles every day.
The album, to be released September 20th, also features some memorable collaborations, including 'Heaven's Bad Day' with country legend Willie Nelson and 'Tu Te Vas' with rising French rapper Laeti.

Zur Feier des 25-jährigen Jubiläums erscheint der 1999er Klassiker von The Get Up Kids in einer Deluxe-Neuauflage auf silberfarbigem Doppelvinyl im Gatefold samt Download-Code, sorgfältig von den Originalbändern remastert und mit einer Menge Bonusmaterial versehen, darunter seltenen Demoversionen und unveröffentlichten Raritäten. "Something To Write Home About" lieferte mit seiner elektrisierend-kämpferischen Konvergenz von Power Pop, Alternative Rock und Punk die Parameter für die im Mittleren Westen angesiedelte zweite Emo-Welle und wurde zum wichtigen Rock'n'Roll-Dokument des späten Millenniums.

Recorded in 1956 for the EmArcy label, Vaughan joins with Hal Mooney and his orchestra to dive head-first into a collection of iconic ballads and standards. Opening with Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life”, Vaughan weaves her way through the set, which showcases her at her best. Rodgers & Hart’s “My Romance” is a notable performance, and the raw emotion in “I’m Afraid the Masquerade Is Over” is palpable. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

A/B Side Effect, Black & Gold, limited to 200 copies. More than 4 years after "Sculpture Of Violence," GIVER from Cologne, Germany, announce their third album "The Future Holds Nothing But Confrontation" for September 20, 2024, on End Hits Records. In recent years, GIVER have not only refined their hardcore sound to be more brutal and atmospheric with elements of metal and post-punk, but thematically, it's clear that their new album serves as an even more drastic political manifesto. Capitalism, culture wars, the climate crisis, and their societal implications and consequences are central themes on "The Future Holds Nothing But Confrontation." GIVER critique the prevailing neoliberalism and its ongoing agitation for the uncompromising pursuit of happiness and satisfaction. The band explains: "What neoliberalism has established is a lonely place. Its driving force is the individualized pursuit of constant fulfillment, altering the way we interact with each other. Whatever we do to achieve satisfaction, there's always a lingering sense of something missing. Happiness and contentment are never the goal; they've been replaced by profit margins and excess. These are endless and extremely unevenly distributed. Anger arises in this vacuum. With this album, we want to remind that it's the economic conditions and inequalities that should be the target of our collective frustration. They create depression, despair, and a downward spiral. Being anti-fascists is not enough; we must also be anti-capitalists." This anger is also reflected musically in the furious 11 new tracks. Filled with powerful guitar riffs and sometimes bilingual lyrics, some of the songs also introduce a new, deep style of spoken word for GIVER, making the eventual eruptions that much more impactful. With the release of their third album, GIVER venture into fresh and melodic territory, integrating elements of post-punk, black metal, and hardcore into a sound that sits somewhere between bands like Oathbreaker, Converge, or Chelsea Wolfe. Although "The Future Holds Nothing But Confrontation" builds on a foundation of biting, powerful metal, it also incorporates dark vocal lines that could be found on a Fontaines D.C. or IDLES record. "The Future Holds Nothing But Confrontation" was produced by Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Employed To Serve, Funeral For A Friend).

Born in Aldershot on 11 September 1947, Catley's family moved to the Tile Cross area of Birmingham when he was young. He went on to attend the nearby Central Grammar School for Boys (Birmingham) and left to start an apprenticeship at the GPO before deciding on a musical career shortly after meeting similarly minded individuals at college. Whilst at college he joined several bands, such as The Smokestacks (Jeff Clark-guitar, Ron Savage-guitar, Derek Danks-bass & Brian Worrell-drums, Life and Clearwater). His first professional band was when he joined local outfit The Capitol Systems. The initial line-up was Bob Catley (vocals) Paul Sargent (guitar) Paul Whitehouse (bass), Dave Bailey (keyboards) and Bob Moore (drums). Shortly afterward they changed their name to Paradox, inspired by a science-fiction novel. A one-off deal was arranged with Mercury after Paradox had come to the attention of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt. The tracks were "Ever Since I Can Remember", backed with "Goodbye Mary". In addition, they recorded "Mary Colinto" and "Somebody Save Me". All of these songs were written by Dave Morgan. Paradox played festivals in the Netherlands and Italy before splitting up upon their return to the UK in 1970. Formed in 1972, Magnum throughout the next 16 years consisted mainly of Bob Catley on vocals and Tony Clarkin on guitar. Magnum began as the house band at Birmingham's famous Rum Runner night club (later the home of Duran Duran). They began to develop their own style by playing Clarkin's songs at a residency at The Railway Inn, in Birmingham's Curzon Street, in 1976. Joining Clarkin and Catley were drummer Kex Gorin and bassist Dave Morgan (later a member of ELO). Their most notable success during these early years was the Jeff Glixman produced Chase The Dragon (1982) which reached No. 17 in the UK, and included several songs that would be mainstays of the band's live set, notably ‘Soldier of the Line’, ‘Sacred Hour’ and ‘The Spirit’. Their breakthrough album came in 1985 with On a Storyteller's Night which featured the single ‘Just Like an Arrow’. This success continued in the following years with the Roger Taylor (Queen) produced Vigilante in 1986, the top 5 album Wings of Heaven in 1988, and the Keith Olsen produced Goodnight L.A. reaching No. 9 in the UK album charts in 1990. Subsequently, Clarkin decided to maintain a tighter control, and after their initial mainstream success, the band lost their major label backing and returned to a more personal level of production. This finally found the band splitting and the formation of Hard Rain in 1995, which saw Clarkin pursue a more Pop orientated direction with a band that included Sue McCloskey on lead vocals. This new direction didn’t sit well with Catley, and after a headline performance at The Gods in the late 90s, a conversation with Bruce Mee of Now & Then Records saw Catley agree with a decision which eventually led to his debut solo album, ‘The Tower’. This release was completely written by Gary Hughes of Ten, with the writing completely decided to be in the vein of classic Magnum. The album itself was recorded by various members of Ten, including the amazing Vinny Burns (Dare) on guitar. On release, the many positive reviews concluded that the release of ‘The Tower’ had succeeded beyond its wildest imagination…..and Bob Catley’s solo career had been launched with amazing success!! With a lyrical intricacy and majestic pomp, songs like ‘Far Away, ‘Fear of the Dark, ‘Madrigal’ and ‘Deep Winter’ take you back to that glorious period of Magnum between ‘Chase The Dragon’ and ‘Wings Of Heaven’ whilst hard melodic rockers such as ‘Scream’, ‘Dreams’ and title track ‘The Tower’ show just what Magnum would have sounded like if they’d gone a little bit harder. Another absolutely brilliant album that totally deserves to be filed alongside those mid-period Magnum classics.