Mia Moretti makes her Crosstown Rebels debut with ‘Safe With Me’, featuring Irma Thomas. The soulful new single, backed by a remix from Sweden’s Tiger Stripes.
Los Angeles-based DJ and producer Mia Moretti heads to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels with ‘Safe With Me’, a disco-house celebration featuring New Orleans soul legend Irma Thomas, the Grammy-winning Soul Queen of New Orleans. Co-produced by award-winning producer Mark “Blakkat” Bell, a longtime figure in house and electronic music whose work spans from M People to King Britt, the release marks a full-circle moment for Moretti, who draws on her years of crate digging, gospel house expertise, and deep love for vocal-driven grooves.
‘Safe With Me’ pairs Moretti’s richly textured production with Thomas’ commanding vocal presence, creating a track that balances heartfelt emotion with dancefloor energy. Similar to Moretti's DJ sets, the track blends gospel, disco, and house sensibilities with storytelling. Swedish mainstay Tiger Stripes reinterprets the track with his own forward-thinking production. Known for his house and techno grooves that have energised clubs from Panorama Bar to Ministry of Sound, he injects ‘Safe With Me’ with shimmering synth layers and driving percussion, making it a perfect complement to the original production.Mia Moretti has established herself with vocal and gospel-driven house sets and productions. Her debut EP ‘Tambor’ (2023) marked a confident step as a producer sampling female bullerengue artists from Colombia, including Petrona Martinez and Toto La Momposina, followed by ‘Best I Can’ (2024) alongside gospel icon Vonita White and remixes from house music pioneers. In 2025, Mia has continued to build momentum with appearances from Ibiza to Paris Fashion Week alongside the launch of her Chef’s Kiss radio show on Diplo’s Revolution. ‘Safe With Me’ continues that trajectory, highlighting her instinct for timeless grooves and soulful storytelling.
Cerca:k mart
- 1: Threshold
- 2: Always Night
- 3: Feel To Feel
- 4: Wit's End
- 5: The Florist
- 6: Tell Me The Truth
- 7: Bells & Ecstasy
- 8: Martini Symphony
- 9: Life Drawing
- 10: God Give Me Strength
- 11: The Red Book
- 12: Red Drink With White I Once Drank A Blue Drink For A Blue Eyed Girl
- 13: Napoleon's Oracle
- 14: Marlon Brando
Soft Cell - Marc Almond and Dave Ball - release their classic track ‘Martin’ as a single for the very first time this Hallowe’en, Friday 31st October.
Originally featured as one side of a bonus 12” released as part of the original The Art of Falling Apart album in 1983, Martin has since become one of the most popular and enduring Soft Cell deep cuts.
Limited to 500 copies and pressed on deluxe black and red vinyl, it features special Hallowe’en remixes from Dave Ball, as well as a club remix from French electroclash pioneer The Hacker. Martin will also be released download EP across all digital platforms.
‘Martin originated in the arts studio at Leeds Polytechnic, as it was then known. We wrote and recorded it at the same time as the track “The Art of Falling Apart”. After we left art school all the pop madness of Soft Cell began and those two tracks were shelved.
Suddenly, Phonogram Records were asking for a second album. We were unsure of a direction or concept then I reminded Marc of those two art school tracks. I suggested to him that “The Art of Falling Apart” would be a great album title and he agreed….
Debt is a new album by Harvey Sutherland about the cost of doing business in the meme economy. In his first LP since the 2022 debut, Boy, the Australian artist reduces his fusiony disco repertoire to ten microhoused funk essentials. This is minimalism not so much as aesthetic conceit than pressurised container, shaken in the Escherised time and space unique to our overdriven, red-lining present. The album's title nods to the financial contortions necessary to strive/survive/thrive as an independent artist. But Debt is better understood as the ledger of what we owe, and to whom, in the course of a creative life. What's the ROI on being an artist, a son, a friend, a partner, a father? Have we been worth our loved ones' own investments? If that sounds transactional, this is merely the lingua franca of our overwhelmingly digital culture, a grifter's bazaar in which Bob Dylan tunes up over Salt Bae, and Wordsworth's pitch is opposite the Rizzler.
Debt came to life when Harvey Sutherland acquired a freightload of Y2K minimal cargo from Akufen, Ricardo and Baby Ford—courtesy of local Melbourne hero Martin L—which bent the album towards a moreish pointillism. The resulting music's eyes-down minimal gestures within expressive pop shapes feels apt for the apparently contradictory things we can't help craving: immediacy and craft, on-tap "authenticity," life lessons drawn from Reel nonsense. A few years after the "neurotic funk" of Boy, a thorough excavation of interiority that comprised Harvey Sutherland's first LP proper, Debt is his to-the-point response to pressures that manifest outside the self. But in its own way it remains a reflection of Harvey Sutherland's musical innerscapes, which stretch across the grit and glitter of private-press disco and the sensual grids of Metro Area.
- The Casualty
- The Martyr
- Shallow Means, Deep Ends
- Making Friends And Acquaintances
- A Red So Deep
- The Lament Of Pretty Baby
- The Game Of Who Needs Who The Worst
- The Radiator Hums
- The Night I Lost The Will To Fight
critical darling and beloved by fans, the success and recognition of Domestica changed the trajectory of Cursive's career. It was recorded over nine days at Lincoln, NE's Whoop-Ass studios (the original studio of Mike and AJ Mogis), and the album's bracing, jagged, cathartic, and visceral songs capture the urgency of the reunited young band_and continue to resonate with fans 25 years later.
- A1: Hi-Lo - Feverish (Original Mix)
- A2: Jeremiah - The Wanna Do Track (Unreleased Extended Mix)
- B1: Jeremiah - Sun (Original Mix)
- B2: Hi-Lo - Pieces (Original Mix)
- C1: Jeremiah - In Your Eyes (Unreleased Extended Mix)
- C2: The Last Disco Superstars - True Experience (12” Mix)
- D1: Hi-Lo - Another One (Original Mix)
- D2: Jeremiah - Only Dubbin' On My 808 (Original Mix)
- E1: Hi-Lo - He Didn’t Know (Original Mix)
- F1: Jeremiah - Dope Eyes (Extended Mix)
Founded in early 1995, Grow! quickly established itself as a key player in the underground house music scene. The label was created by Christian Mahringer (aka Jeremiah) along with Michael Peter (Duke) and Martin Retschitzegger (Tin). Together, they released a steady stream of 12" records, often under various pseudonyms, focusing entirely on the music rather than individual profiles.
While Grow! remained their main creative outlet, the founders were also active beyond the label: Mahringer released music on Chez Damier’s Balance Alliance and the renowned Chicago label Guidance, while Peter and Retschitzegger collaborated on records for Daniel Bell’s 7th City and Robert Hood’s influential M-Plant label, and also launched their own imprint, Central.
This new compilation presents a first carefully curated selection of the most notable tracks from the label’s catalog, alongside previously unreleased versions. All tracks were edited and remastered from the original tape recordings. It offers a deep dive into the raw, analog-driven sound that defined Grow!’s identity.
With its consistent focus on quality, anonymity, and artistic integrity, Grow! Records has left a lasting impression far beyond Austria’s borders. This release is both a celebration and a rediscovery of one of the country’s most respected underground imprints.
- A1: Part 1
- B1: Part 2
Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation is a studio album by American jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman, released in September 1961.
The album features what Coleman called a "double quartet," i.e., two self-contained jazz quartets: each with a reed instrument, trumpet, bass, and drums.
The two quartets are heard in separate channels, with Coleman's working quartet at the time in the left channel, and the second quartet, including
the former Coleman rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell, on the right.
The two quartets play simultaneously. Free Jazz was the first album-length improvisation at thirty-seven minutes, unheard of at the time.
The original LP package incorporated Jackson Pollock's 1954 painting The White Light. The cover is a gatefold with a cutout window in the lower right corner allowing a glimpse of the painting;
opening the cover revealed the full artwork, along with liner notes by critic Martin Williams.
Free Jazz served as the blueprint for later large-ensemble free jazz recordings such as Ascension by John Coltrane and Machine Gun by Peter Brötzmann.
Free Jazz is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on white vinyl.
- 1: The Throat Ancestors
- 2: La Grande Maison De Fous
- 3: Nightmare Chicken
- 4: Estrella Marianna
- 5: Calice Dei Fantasmi
- 6: The Verdant One
- 7: The House Of Dharma
- 8: Penga
- 9: Soften Our Evil Hearts
Black & Brown Marbled Vinyl[25,84 €]
- 1: The Throat Ancestors
- 2: La Grande Maison De Fous
- 3: Nightmare Chicken
- 4: Estrella Marianna
- 5: Calice Dei Fantasmi
- 6: The Verdant One
- 7: The House Of Dharma
- 8: Penga
- 9: Soften Our Evil Hearts
Black Vinyl[22,06 €]
The pioneering electronic sounds of Daphne Oram reimagined by TAAHLIAH, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Marta Salogni, Arushi Jain and others using tapes from Oram's archive.
To mark the centenary of overlooked electronic pioneer Daphne Oram, Nonclassical - together with Oram Trust and Oram Awards - have commissioned new music by a set of contemporary visionary minority-gender electronic artists celebrating the next generation of trailblazers.
This group of artists span early-career to high-profile DJs and musicians across diverse electronic worlds, representing a spectrum of distinct practises - from uncompromising club beats, performance art and sound art to ambient music and deconstructed future-forward Arabic dance music.
The artists have created these new works using samples from Oram's archive - housed at Goldsmiths, University of London - which features a mix of sound clips covering not only her innovative Oramics machine and other electronic music, but also match strikes, cat purrs, scraped objects and commercial jingles as well as recordings of Oram's own voice.
Look out for gigs around the UK and at London's Barbican Centre around the release.
Deadbeat Records is back with a debut 4-track EP from rising star Berwick. Four tracks of tightly produced breaks that range from moody and playful, uplifting to joyous - and everything in between. Will Hofbauer is on remix duties, and turns in a woozy, dub-soaked remix that sounds like it's been up way past its bedtime.
Early support from: Laurent Garnier, Identified Patient, DJ EZ, Doctor Jeep, Enzo Leep, AC Slater, Syz, Jay Carder, Alien Communications, Bake, Giant Swan, Yushh, Dead Man's Chest, Vladimir Ivkovic, Alien Communications, Shy One, Nala Brown, Andy Martin, Ehua, Ayesha, Sha Ru, Double O, French II, Tañ, Dadan Karambolo, Bokonon, An Taobh Tuathail, Shady Daoud, bake, Dax J, LWS, Gigsta, Nancy June, COLA REN, Yas Reven, Just Jane, Will Hofbauer, Guiltee
The debut studio album by singer Astrud Gilberto, featuring Antônio Carlos Jobim on guitar and arrangements by Marty Paich, The Astrud Gilberto Album was released by Verve Records in 1965. It peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200 chart and, in 2017, National Public Radio placed it at number 73 on the "150 Greatest Albums Made by Women" list. The album received a ****½ rating on AllMusic, with reviewer John Bush stating that "her voice was yet more sweet than had been heard previously, and as before, the record featured two strong leaders. As long as intelligent musicians were playing to her strengths (as they do here), the results were splendid."
- A1: Shania Twain– Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
- A2: Faith Hill– This Kiss
- A3: Brooks & Dunn– Boots Scootin’ Boogie
- A4: Travis Tritt– T-R-O-U-B-L-E
- B1: Tracy Byrd– Watermelon Crawl
- B2: Vince Gill– What The Cowgirls Do
- B3: George Strait– Check Yes Or No
- B4: Reba Mcentire– The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
- C1: Terri Clark– Better Things To Do
- C2: Patty Loveless– I Try To Think About Elvis
- C3: Martina Mcbride– Love's The Only House
- C4: Mary Chapin Carpenter– Shut Up And Kiss Me
- D1: Joe Diffie– Pick Up Man
- D2: Rhett Akins– That Ain't My Truck
- D3: Little Texas– God Blessed Texas
- D4: Rednex– Cotton Eyed Joe
- 1: Angelito
- 2: On Green Dolphin Street
- 3: Corcovado
- 4: Without You (Tres Palabras)
- 5: Ho-Ba-La-La
- 6: Something Latin
- 7: Manha De Carnaval
- 8: Latin Village
- 9: The Girl From Ipanema
- 10: Malaguena
- 11: Sugar Cane
- 12: Flying Down To Rio
In 1964, Martin Denny looked beyond the Hawaiian and Asian influences of his previous records to find another place to plant his umbrella in the sand, as well as in your drink: the sounds of Latin America. With this new sound to hang his exciting arrangements on, Latin Village has long been considered one of Denny's high-water marks, and Jackpot is thrilled to have this long-cherished LP back in print. This is an album that rips through what was considered "The Now Sound From Overseas," a sophisticated mash-up of sambas, bossa novas, and Latin jazz. From the first track, "Angelito" (the hit song written by Réne y Réne, later to also be covered by Trini Lopez & Herb Albert), all the way through to its closer, "Flying Down To Rio" (a song which Roxy Music later referenced in their 1972 song "Virginia Plain”), the album is a hypnotic listen. Latin Village also drops in some serious jazz numbers, with respected compositions such as "On Green Dolphin Street" by Kaper & Washington (which has been covered by Miles Davis, Bill Evans & Sarah Vaughn), "Malagueña" the sixth movement in Ernesto Lecona's Suite Andalucía & "Corcovado" by Antônio Carlos Jobim (who merged samba with jazz to create bossa nova). Latin Village is comforting in its familiarity within Denny's sonic world, but steps refreshingly out of the smoke-filled Tiki bars of his previous records and straight into the sunlight where this music still strolls around in a listener's heart, soul, and mind. “Latin Village is a triumph of Martin Denny’s search for a new style, post-exotica.” – ALLMUSIC, 4 stars.
- 1: Jungle River Boat
- 2: Harbor Lights
- 3: Manila
- 4: Mama Iti E Papa E
- 5: Bamboo Lullaby
- 6: Ringo Oiwake
- 7: Moon Of Manakoora
- 8: Limehouse Blues
- 9: Beautiful Kahana
- 10: Caravan
- 11: Congo Train
- 12: Hello Young Lovers
Martin Denny returns with his loyal crew of multi-instrumentalists that had previously performed on
Forbidden Island, Primitiva, Hypnotique & Quiet Village: stand up bass player Harvey Ragsdale, vibe player Julius Wechter (also a member of the legendary recording unit The Wrecking Crew) and percussionist Augie Colon who was called the “Grandfather of Hawaii Percussion”. And of course, the famous cover girl on Martin Denny’s albums, Sandy Warner, otherwise known as “The Exotica Girl”, returns as well. Although Denny was recording his output at an astonishingly brisk rate, there’s something about Exotica Vol. III, which makes it one of his best and most sought-after with collectors and listeners. Of course, the brilliance of the lead-off track of Les Baxter’s “Jungle River Boat”, with its tight vibe-and-percussion workout intertwined with Colon’s iconic bird calls and other worldly sounds, only makes the sweet, lazy water sounds of the following track “Harbor Lights” all the more delightfully mysterious. So pour your drink of choice, dim the lights, open the windows, and let Exotica Vol. III roll across you.
“His last volume is a no-brainer. The material is simply too good to avoid.” – AMBIENT EXOTICA
- A1: Volume One (Original Mix) - Anjunabeats
- A2: Gravity (Original Mix) - Parker & Hanson
- A3: Northern Lights (Original Mix) - Smith & Pledger
- B1: Gravity (Original Mix) - P.o.s
- B2: Helsinki Scorchin' (Original Mix) - Super8 & Tab
- B3: Amsterdam (Original Mix) - Luminary
- C1: Black Is The Colour (Coco & Green Remix Edit) - Cara Dillon Vs. 2Devine
- C2: Elf (Original Mix Edit) - Bart Claessen
- C3: Chasing Love (Original Mix) - Maor Levi Feat. Ashley Tomberlin
- C4: Sun 2011 (Original Mix Edit) - Slusnik Luna
- C5: My Enemy (Rank 1 Remix Edit) - Super8 & Tab Feat. Julie Thompson
- D1: Downforce (Club Mix 2025 Vinyl Edit) - Nitrous Oxide
- D2: Sushi (Original Mix 2025 Vinyl Edit) - 7 Skies
- D3: Rebound (Original Mix Edit) - Arty & Mat Zo
- D4: Around The World (Original Mix Edit) - Arty
- D5: Easy (Original Mix Edit) - Mat Zo & Porter Robinson
- E1: In And Out Of Phase (Original Mix) - Andrew Bayer & Matt Lange Feat. Kerry Leva
- E2: Bloom (Original Mix) - Norin & Rad
- E3: Wayfarer (Original Mix Edit) - Audien
- F1: The Great Divide (Myon & Shane 54 Summer Of Love Mix Edit) - Velvetine
- F2: Big Ben (Original Mix Edit) - Ilan Bluestone
- F3: The Dark (Original Mix Edit) - Boom Jinx & Meredith Call
- F4: U (Original Mix) - Grum
- F5: Enceladus (Original Mix Edit) - Sunny Lax
- G5: All In (Original Mix) - Fatum, Genix, Jaytech & Judah
- G6: Lost (Original Mix) - Tinlicker Feat. Run Rivers
- H1: The Best Part (Original Mix) - Gardenstate & Anamē Feat. Bien
- H2: Midnight (Original Mix) - Andrew Bayer & Alison May
- H3: Sweet Feeling (Original Mix) - Amy Wiles & Leena Punks
- H4: Remission (Original Mix) - Kasablanca & Lane 8
- H5: Lifetime (Original Mix) - J Ribbon
- I1: Nobody Seems To Care (Original Mix) - 16Bl
- I2: Moth (Original Mix) - Jaytech & James Grant
- I3: A Sort Of Homecoming (Michael Cassette Extended Mix) - Paul Keeley
- J1: To The Six (Martin Roth Remix) - Boom Jinx & Andrew Bayer
- J2: Beautiful Life (Original Mix) - Martin Roth
- J3: Shadow's Movement (Original Mix) - Michael Cassette
- K1: Be Mine (Original Mix) - Lane 8
- K2: Got This Feeling (Original Mix) - Cubicolor
- K3: Wyv Auw Chu (Original Mix) - Tom Middleton
- L1: Mr Man (Original Mix) - Dusky
- L2: Personal Space (Original Mix) - Yotto
- L3: Deep In My Soul (Original Mix) - 16Bl
- M1: Night Blooming Jasmine (Rodriguez Jr. Remix) - Eli & Fur
- M2: Need You (Original Mix) - Luttrell
- M3: Tuesday Maybe (Original Mix) - Way Out West
- N1: Breathing (Original Mix) - Ben Böhmer, Nils Hoffmann & Malou
- N2: Come Together (Original Mix) - Nox Vahn & Marsh
- G1: Nightwalk (Original Mix 2025 Vinyl Edit) - Spencer Brown
- N3: Sleepwalker (Extended Mix) - Tinlicker
- G3: Only Road (Cosmic Gate Remix) - Gabriel & Dresden Feat. Sub Teal
- N4: Room 1.5 (Original Mix) - Joseph Ray
- O1: Nightwhisper (Original Mix) - Jody Wisternoff & James Grant
- O2: Sometimes It's Scary But It's Still Just You And Me (Original Mix) - Leaving Laurel
- O3: Externalizer (Original Mix) - Dosem
- O4: Never Really Get There (Original Mix) - Cri Feat. Jesse Mac Cormack
- O5: Proud (Original Mix) - Qrion
- P1: Overtones (Extended Mix) - Frost
- P2: Points Beyond (Original Mix) - Cubicolor
- P3: Muse (Original Mix) - Rezident Feat. Kate Morgan
- P4: Surge (Proff & Igor Garanin Remix) - Above & Beyond
- P5: Next To You (Original Mix) - Romain Garcia
- Q1: Tri-State (Original Mix 2025 Vinyl Edit) - Above & Beyond
- Q2: Careless Love (Original Mix) - Croquet Club
- Q3: 8 Hours, Still No Rain (Original Mix) - Hosini & Jones Meadow
- Q4: Lose Sight (Original Mix) - Andrew Bayer Feat. Ane Brun
- Q5: Before We Drown (Original Mix) - Boerd Feat. Stella Explorer
- R1: Strength From Inside (Original Mix) - Above & Beyond
- R2: Sleep Is Sacrament (Original Mix) - Cephas Azariah
- R3: Kyoto (京都) (Original Mix) - Mark Barrott
- R4: Happiness (Original Mix) - Omfeel
- R5: Silhouette (Original Mix) - Yotto
- S1: Razorfish (Above & Beyond's Progressive Mix 2025 Vinyl Edit) - Tranquility Base
- S2: Anphonic (Original Mix Edit) - Above & Beyond Vs. Kyau & Albert
- S3: Hello (Original Mix Edit) - Above & Beyond
- S4: There's Only You (Above & Beyond Club Mix) - Above & Beyond Feat. Zoë Johnston
- G2: Higher Love (Original Mix) - Seven Lions & Jason Ross Feat. Paul Meany
- G4: Lovingly (Original Mix) - Oliver Smith Feat. Amy J Pryce
- S5: Screwdriver (Original Mix Edit) - Above & Beyond
- T1: On A Good Day (Above & Beyond Club Mix Edit) - Above & Beyond Pres. Oceanlab
- T2: Sun & Moon (Original Mix) - Above & Beyond Feat. Richard Bedford
- T3: We're All We Need (Original Mix) - Above & Beyond Feat. Zoë Johnston
- T4: Northern Soul (Original Mix) - Above & Beyond Feat. Richard Bedford
- T5: Quicksand (Don't Go) (Original Mix) - Above & Beyond And Zoë Johnston
From its modest beginnings as a university project, Anjuna has grown to become one of the most influential forces in electronic music. What began as, and remains, a passion project has evolved into a global electronic music powerhouse. Led by Jono Grant, Paavo Siljamäki, Tony McGuinness (better known as Above & Beyond) and label exec James Grant - Anjuna now spans three distinctive imprints: Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep and Anjunachill. To mark the label’s 25th anniversary, Above & Beyond and James have carefully curated a selection of picks from its rich catalogue that includes countless genre defining releases to present the label’s most expansive vinyl offering to date.
Covering the full spectrum of that 25 year journey, the ten vinyl box chronicles 84 of the label’s most iconic releases across all three labels, including a vinyl dedicated to label founders Above & Beyond. Encased in a custom outer slipcase box with a debossed foil Anjuna25 logo. Accompanying the ten vinyl is a 48-page perfect-bound booklet printed on premium art paper and textured cover stock, featuring track-by-track insights from artists and Anjuna HQ staffers delving into the stories behind each record and their reflections on 25 years of music. The Anjuna25 anniversary box set is a beautifully presented tribute to 25 years of innovation, artistry and emotional connection.
- A Loss
- I Deny
- Sacrifice
- If Only
- Verdammt
- The Awakening
- Adieu
- Metempsychosis
- Martyr
Die französischen Black-Deather Bliss Of Flesh präsentieren ihren neuen Longplayer 'Metempsychosis'! Das neue Album befasst sich mit Metempsychose anhand der Beobachtung einer Person, die hilflos miterleben muss, wie ihr Körper durch den Verfall ihrer fünf Sinne zerfällt. Klingt wie Hate, Necrophobic, Behemoth, Vader, God Dethroned, Nagelfar, Belphegor oder Marduk.
- Que Pasa
- Oye
- Groovy Samba
- Descarga China
- Bomba Chévere
- Para Pello
- The Jody Grind
- Como Fue
- Descarga China (Groove Version)
Manteca’s 2014 album, first time on vinyl. Manteca, the London Latin jazz/salsa funk combo, are back with a first-time vinyl release of their brilliant digital album “Oye” from 2014. “Oye” is a collection of heavy-duty Latin music that reaches well beyond the standard salsa or Cuban dance-band style, appealing to anyone and everyone, from mambo dancers to B-boys, jazz brothers to soul sisters! Led by Colombian singer Martha Acosta and bassist Javier Fioramonti, who have played with everyone from Roberto Pla and Candela, to Alex Wilson’s groups and Salsa Celtica, as well as backing Latin legends such as Joe Bataan, Jack Costanzo, Henry Fiol and Azuquita, this band really cooks! “Que Pasa” is smoking Latin funk, this will get your head nodding and foot tapping for sure.“Oye”, a lovely mid-tempo Afrobeat/Latin jazz fusion number with punching brass and super-funky kit playing. There are three cover versions on the album: Horace Silver’s “The Jody Grind”, a 1960s Blue Note Records soul jazz classic. Manteca does it justice, taking the original and turning it into a heavy Mongo Santamaria style funky Latin soul belter. Sergio Mendes’s “Groovy Samba” is also given the 1960s Mongo “Watermelon Man” style Latin soul jazz treatment. Very hip arrangement, and some fantastic brass soloing in there too. The last one is a brave choice. It’s the timeless bolero standard “Como Fue”, which the band plays beautifully. “Para Pello” (“For Pello”), a conga-style big percussive beat that evolved from Afro-Cuban street carnivals. Secondly, “Bomba Chevere”, a blend of Puerto Rican bomba and Colombian cumbia. The big Afro-Cuban track of the album is “Descarga China”, which has two different mixes. One is a descarga funk mix with some heavyweight kit playing and smoking trumpet soloing, while the other is a more straight-ahead Latin jam with Javier’s upright bass playing underpinning the whole number in a very Cachao way. Big shouts to the whole band, which features some of the best musicians from the London Latin music scene of the last three decades. These cats are as good as you’ll get in Latin music from anywhere across the world.This London Latin music gem has been crying out for a vinyl release for over a decade. At last, it's here. Slap it on the turntable, drop the needle on track one, turn the volume up, press play and be ready to dance. Standing still is NOT an option! DJ Lubi (One Jazz / Totally Wired Radio)
The perfect accompaniment to that deep fall feeling, Frank Maston's beloved 2025 single finally gets its long overdue vinyl release! As our friends New Commute articulated beautifully, "Foreign Affairs" drifts through London fog and Paris shimmer, its avant-lounge glow wrapping each melody in a wistful ache. On B-side "Liaison," ghostly strings and a solitary piano paint a deserted twilight shoreline, Pacôme Henry's distinct 16mm cinematography hovering nearby." We've pressed just 500 of these gorgeous records so, be quick, Maston always flies.
Originally written for a film Maston was scoring in 2024, he decided to keep it aside for himself. And, well, us all. The song has a vibe Maston has previously flirted with; he wanted to dive in...all the way: "The arrangement is huge, definitely the biggest I've written, and it merited live musicians playing together. Also another experiment, to do it with all live musicians playing my arrangements. I wanted to make something that you'd want to put on when you bring a date back to your place. It's on the edge of sappy but that's sort of the point. I decided to give myself an unlimited budget - just spend whatever was necessary to get the right musicians and record it the best way possible."
It's this dedication to sonic perfection which Maston is rightly lauded for. We couldn't not put this on a cute wee 7" when we heard it.
The A side, "Foreign Affairs", is a brilliant, Bacharach-esque romp with a bit of that unapologetically romantic Morricone angle. Says Frank: "I was trying to synthesize that sort of jazzy/sexy/classy/romantic mature sound, where the edginess is in these surprising chord changes and subtle arrangement cues."
A wonderful complement, the flipside "Liaison", evokes Martin Denny, but Eden's Island was in Frank's head, too. He wanted to take a deep dive into that exotica sound - a genre he'd referenced a bit but never fully committed to - so the piece is lavished with those big sighing strings and a pretty lush arrangement. Happily, it all sounds super rich. Also, "Umiliani is always a reference for this sort of thing (Il Corpo etc.), That almost mechanical arrangement of things moving together and a simple melody over it (something I nicked from Ennio)".
The two songs were recorded in Paris and London in the summer of 2024. Aside from the rhythm section and piano, there's vibraphone, a full string section, trombones and alto and concert flutes. "Liaison" boasts strings, vibraphone, a female choir and tenor sax. Maston played piano and acoustic guitar but that's it (as opposed to playing basically everything on Tulips). His friend Oscar Sholto Robertson played drums and percussion whilst Maston mainstay Elie Ghersinu (formerly of L'Eclair) played bass.
The theme for a lot of Maston's titles is that they have two meanings. So "Foreign Affairs" is both a reference to him living abroad and the idea of constant cultural diplomacy and then there's this sexy/cheeky interpretation of foreign affairs in a literal way - "an affair abroad, ooh la la!". The artwork for this 7" single has Roman campaign flags, referencing the foreign affairs in sort of a sassy way. There's a violence implied. But then if you look from a bit of a distance it looks like a bouquet of flowers. So Frank thought it went with the spirit of the title. Also, he's used a lot of roman motifs now so he kept that theme going, even with the terracotta cover.
This is a vitally important project for our Frank. He explains why, here: "For whatever reason, these songs really resonated with me. I feel like they are either the end of a stylistic era for me or the beginning of a new one. They're sonically the culmination of what I'd been working towards and trying to get better at since I started. If I heard this when I was making Tulips I would have said "YES! *This* is what I want to be doing!". So that's the essence of it. It's a statement and the intended reaction is "This is really good, but why now?". Like the edge to it is the context of someone making this sort of thing in 2025, which I think is a huge strength. The real heads will get it. My music always has like a 2-3 year latency until people really catch onto it, and these ones will have a nice payoff I think."
We couldn't put it better ourselves. So we haven't.




















