ORANGE SWIRL VINYL
Public Memory is the solo project of Brooklyn's Robert Toher, recorded over the course of a year as he lived in Los Angeles temporarily. Previously of the group ERAAS, Robert places a greater emphasis on electronics in this new project. Rhythm is at the forefront, with the tone informed by stripped down, narcotic impressions of krautrock, hypnotic percussion, and subtly layered atmospherics. Spectral vocals meld with delicate piano against hip hop beats and a dub sensibility, conjuring clouded lights, foggy glass in empty buildings, urban wraiths. To call it minimal would, on the surface, seem appropriate. Wuthering Drum does not need an abundance of flashes and frills to illustrate its point, nor does it need smoke and mirrors to mask a lack of vision. However, repeated listens yield layers of tonal variations, textural nuance, and tastefully placed overdubs. There is a slightly religious or spiritual element at Wuthering Drum's core; a sense of being in an existential crisis, while simultaneously being uplifted, in the face of change. This is the search for redemption in a far away place, away from comfort; it is adjustment to an inner dissonance, rather than the washing over of past fears and regrets with sterile holy waters.
Back in 2023, I picked up a record by Jacob Dwyer — I was completely captivated. His lyrics weren’t just words; they were portals. I had to track him down. After some digging, I made contact — and asked him if he would like to collaborate with me.
He said yes.
Fast forward through months of back-and-forth, and then it landed — in my inbox — Tom’s House: a one-hour audio-drama written and performed by the incomparable Jacob Dwyer. It’s a hypnotic, surreal journey through the mind of someone returning home after 15 years — disorienting, poetic, and fully immersive.
To accompany this masterwork, I put together my take on Canon HF10 — 12 minutes of deep, rolling tech grooves, bouncing acid basslines, freaked-out synths, and lyrical gold. (“He demanded a fried egg sandwich…”)
Flip to the B-side and things get wild with The Baby Legit Upside Down — a full-tilt burner packed with razor-sharp 808 electro/techno drums, squelchy 101 bass stabs, swirling pads, and an evolving sub that’ll shake the foundations. Dwyer’s voice threads through the chaos with uncanny flair — bizarre, brilliant, unforgettable. The title means what it says.
We close the EP with Red Flowers — slowing the tempo, diving into squelchy breaks and textural weirdness, as Jacob drops in snippets of conversation with his sister, alongside more sharp, off-kilter reflections on Tom’s House.
Check the full audio-drama: Jacob Dwyer – Tom’s House
Secretsundaze’s recently minted 9FINITY continues its stellar run of explorations into the outer regions of modern club music with an imprint debut from fast-rising talent Milès Borghese.
Borrowing elements from early Detroit techno, and Perlonized minimal, the ‘Antic Drive’ EP distills the German-born, Austria-based producer’s broad spectrum of influences into a highly functional, club-ready collection of tracks that perfectly fits the imprint’s modus operandi.
The A-side kicks off with ‘Do You Ever Fantasize’, a deep club tool built around the vocal sample of the title and punctuated by building drums, alien sonics at every turn, and a mean, highly danceable bassline to boot. The peak time worthy ‘Sustain’ follows an impressive opening, as an incessant mind-looping hypnotic groover aimed straight at the floor.
The EP’s title track ‘Antic Drive’ opens up the flip. Leaning on subtle textures and almost off kilter percussion, minimal broody deepness is the motive here. Borghese’s impressive first outing wraps up with ‘Mateo Does’, a driving rhythm-heavy track built for late nights and early mornings.
Gladio Operations continues its expansion into the electro universe and, with this fourteenth release, lands in Viking lands, giving Danish producer Martin Stoffregen his debut on the label.
This artist, who releases his work under the alias Krypton 81, is no stranger to the scene, having released on major labels such as Bass Agenda and Mars Frequency, among others.
On this EP, entitled “Quantum Entanglement”, we sense a breath of fresh air in its three original tracks, which are refined and elegant. With strong sequences and adorned with sublime textures, we encounter “Binary Encoding”, the track that opens the EP and shows us the way to “Particle Proximity” and “Quantum Computing”. These two Kraftwerk-flavoured tracks are imbued with captivating melodies and subtle vocals, transporting us to an infinite emotional state of continuous well-being.
This EP is reinforced with two heavyweight remixes. The first is by producer Univac, who returns to the label and gives us his particular vision of “Binary Encoding”, once again showcasing his unmistakable and classic industrial sound, dark and emotive. The second remix is by German producer Vertical67, who gives “Quantum Computing” more hypnotic tones than the original
As always - the U JAZZ ME vinyl is numbered to 100 copies and it was pressed on 180g black wax.
Music was composed and produced by Bartosz Weber (guitar, electronica) with creative aid of Michał Fetler (saxophones) & Jacek Prościński (drums).
This Molar record was created in a few stages. First it was substantial to find creative means which would spark the new material. The Polyend Tracker was perfect for that as it is both simple and surprisingly fresh. Only after that I applied my favourite environment and comfortably sat in my digital domain. The next stage was to find kindred spirits who share the same mental and musical sensibility. Michał Fetler and Jacek Prościński seemed to fit like a custom-made rubber glove. It was equally important that they are excellent and experienced musicians as well as good humans. Fetler brought his own sensitivity and ideas, we tried sampling his instruments live which you can hear in quite a few places on this record. We still apply this technique during performances. His contribution is best heard in Berry Teaching, or Stimulating Labourer. In both cases he starts the fun and I enter sampling and answering to his parts. Jacek Prościński fits the bill both in terms of his creative approach and contagious enthusiasm. His style also encouraged me to pick up the guitar and completely change a few parts which led to a more extreme ending in Brav0o (initially it was played on synths and calmly faded out into oblivion). What more is there to do than sit back (or stand up, run, float or fall, whichever you prefer listening to music) and enjoy this selection of audio extravaganza.
Devilish Affair returns with a heavyweight four-tracker from David Heine & Konstantin Kost, delivering two original cuts that move between dub-infused grooves and deep house warmth. Both tracks carry a timeless flow - subtle, detailed, and designed for heads who appreciate depth over flash.
On remix duties, the label calls in two heavyweights: Andre Kronert contributes a bright, deep housey tune that shines with warmth and clarity, while label head Eric Louis adds his own touch of refined deepness, balancing dancefloor drive with immersive textures.
A versatile EP that captures the essence of Devilish Affair - deep, timeless, and crafted with care.
On The Arboretum, Analogue Attic co-founder Alex Albrecht leans further into the dancefloor, channelling the more hypnotic and driving energy that Butter Sessions is known for. Across the five tracks, listeners are treated to Albrecht's signature melody-driven deep house, bolstered by intricate rhythms, a deeper low end, and hypnotic loops designed for larger systems and later hours.
The tracks are playful yet serious, functional yet full of personality. There's the joy of long blends and the tiny details that bubble up in the mix: field recordings from time spent away, nostalgic archival material, and subtle harmonic shifts that keep the tension simmering.
It's a record built for dancers, but also for home listening. By embracing a tougher, more energetic sound, this release expands Albrecht's sonic world while staying true to the textural depth and sense of journey that run through all his work.credits
BRIDGE - WAITING PATIENTLY b/w LOVE’S IN YOUR CORNER
Paul Tillman Smith is a significant figure within in the music community of The San Francisco Bay Area, California. His connections and collaborations read like a who’s who of famous musicians.
As leader of 70s Buddah Records group VITAMIN E and then BRIDGE, the subsequent band cut an album in 1981 for the CBS distributed Bang label that never saw the light of day.
It was released by First Experience Records as a double LP and CD in 1999 and is recognised as being one of the finest unreleased discoveries within its genre.
IZIPHO SOUL revisit the album and release two gems from this magnificent body of work.
WAITING PATIENTLY - Modern Soul with all the right ingredients - lead vocal Derick Hughes, backing vocals courtesy of The Satin Shadows, driven along by Butch Haynes’ conga playing. Presented here as an extended version crafted by Phil Ward.
On the flip - LOVE’S IN YOUR CORNER (Remastered) featuring the supreme voice of Debravon Lewis (RIP) and Larry Sampson. There’s importance in documenting this great song, as this demo paved the way for the Norman Connors’ version.
Sciahri's label, Sublunar, is proud to welcome back one of its familiar faces - Cirkle - with his new EP, "Fading Trails". Known for his unmistakable sound, Cirkle continues to blend classic and modern techno elements in a way that cements his place as one of the most distinctive producers in the scene.
The EP opens with "Silent Rage", a powerful and hypnotic track driven by infectious vocals and intense energy. Next comes "Beaten II", the follow-up to one of his most celebrated work a dark, epic journey that pulls you deep into its atmosphere.
On the flip side, "Machina" explores a minimal but heavy low-end territory, showcasing precision and raw groove at its finest. Finally, "Fading Trails" delivers a deep and emotional trip, its arrangement guiding the mind into another dimension a true standout piece.
DOUBLE VINYL
The full album on vinyl for the first time, packaged with the classic original Designers Republic artwork
ABOUT
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Collabs 3000: Metalism, the original classic pure techno album and first full-length collaboration between techno innovators Chris Liebing and Speedy J, is remastered and reissued via NovaMute.
Originally launched by Speedy J (aka Jochem Paap) as a platform for 12" collaborations with other artists, the Collabs series laid the groundwork for what would become one of techno's most compelling partnerships. The first release with Chris Liebing, Collabs 300 (featuring 'Trick_' / 'Treflon_'), landed in 2004 to a rapturous response; its machine-funk intensity and unmistakable breakdowns helped define the sound of early 2000s techno whilst revealing a writing and production chemistry that demanded a larger playground for their work.
That creative spark ultimately manifested in Collabs 3000: Metalism, a landmark record for techno. Combining the pair's mastery of subversive electronics and peak-time techno, the album remains a career highlight for both artists: a smouldering collision of taut techno rhythms, sonic abstraction, and, as the title suggests, robust metallic beats.
The 20th anniversary edition of this timeless techno masterpiece has been fully remastered by Liebing himself and is available on CD and for the first time on vinyl across 2 discs.
2025 Repress
Mihai Popoviciu, one of the most esteemed names in the deep house and minimal scene, is set to unveil his anticipated new album, ‘Puzzle Box’, on Bondage Music. As one of the label’s core artists, Popoviciu returns for his second full-length album release on the imprint following his successful 2016 album, ‘Home’ - available on vinyl from 15th November 2024.
With a career spanning over a decade and with releases on numerous influential labels such as 8Bit to Berg Audio, Popoviciu has firmly established himself as a go-to within the minimal-leaning realms of house music. Known for intricate soundscapes and deep, hypnotic grooves, his work continues to captivate audiences globally. On ‘Puzzle Box’, he delves deeper into his signature stripped-back yet soulful aesthetic, offering a diverse collection of tracks that traverse through various sonic textures.
“With Puzzle Box, each track unlocks something deeper with every listen” - Mihai Popoviciu.
Consisting of thirteen tracks in total, ‘Puzzle Box’ showcases the Romanian’s sound to its fullest. On the vinyl edition, fans are treated to standout tracks like ‘Batiscaf’, ‘Storm Rider’, and ‘Far Gone’ — vinyl-only gems that capture Popoviciu’s talent for layering subtle, dubby tones with groovy rhythms. The opening track, ‘They All Say’, sets the mood with smooth, atmospheric beats with a skippy groove, followed by the dynamic “Video” and the driving, pulsating energy of “Frankfurt.”
Popoviciu’s skill in crafting versatile productions is showcased throughout the album, with each track offering something unique.
From the sleek, melodic strains of ‘Puzzle Box’ to the hypnotic, rolling basslines of ‘Kinetic’, this LP is a journey into his meticulously constructed sound. The digital version also features the bonus track ‘Body Count 2’, offering a final, rhythmic flourish to round off the release.
‘Puzzle Box’ further cements Mihai Popoviciu’s role as a mainstay on Bondage Music, a label which continues to champion forward-thinking, minimal-leaning house music. With this latest LP, Popoviciu once again proves why he remains a favourite, building on his storied career with another masterclass in refined, deep electronic music.
Cassette / Tape[16,18 €]
2025 REPRESS
A DJ, producer and significant figure in contemporary electronic music, Marcel Dettmann steps forward to contribute to Running Back’s ongoing Mastermix series. Whereas previous editions of Mastermix have taken an ear to the sound of lapsed, legendary clubs such as Wild Pitch and Front, Dettmann’s curation deftly captures the man himself in ongoing perpetual motion, raiding the vault for his own precision-tooled edits, long-employed on dancefloors to devastating effect. Alongside a continuous mix, this release arrives as a 3LP gatefold, and as a limited edition cassette.
Closely associated with Berlin’s techno landscape, Dettmann was born and raised in the former GDR, then later immersed in the bleary-eyed counter cultural landscape of post-unification Berlin. Initially oriented by post-punk, industrial and new-wave music, Dettmann has been DJing since 1993, always expanding and perfecting his repertoire. He later began working behind the counter at the city’s tastemaking rave boutique Hard Wax, and a decade after he first dropped a needle, became (and remains) resident at notable local nightspot Berghain/Panorama Bar, where his instincts have helped sculpt the signature sound of both main dancefloors.
Of course, you’re probably not asking, “Who is Marcel Dettmann?” More importantly, you might want to know; just what treats has he gifted us here? The trip begins with a simple pitch-shift skywards, transforming Identified Patient’s creeping ‘The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania’ into a peak-time freakout, before an alternate take on Toctronic’s ‘Bis uns das Licht vertreibt’ emerges from the vaults for the first time. Dating from 1995, and one of Dettmann’s all-time favourites, Cristian Vogel’s ‘Untitled’ clambers back into the box with respectable cuts, while John Bender’s ‘Victims of A Victimless Crime’ kicks off the flip sporting a new arrangement, transporting us back to the foundations of a confident, stripped-back sound.
A few subtle edits to Clark’s perilously funky ‘Dirty Pixie’ takes us to Dettmann’s remix of Junior Boys. Produced in 2010, it transposes the Canadian duo’s sophisticated pop with our curator in his minimal prime, and has since become an irresistible prize for high-minded diggers. The same can be said for Experimental Products’ explosive proto-electro anthem ‘Who Is Kip Jones?’, empowered from pricey Discogs purgatory with just the slightest of tweaks. It’s deservedly sandwiched between the guiding influences of Chicago and Detroit in the form of Mutant Beat Dance’s raw ‘The Human Factor’ and a shimmering new version of previous solo production ‘Water’, featuring close friend and Ostgut Ton ally, Ryan Elliot.
The second half of the Mastermix seamlessly connects the mechanical past and digital present of EBM and industrial in the dance, with Dettmann’s instincts as a guiding hand. Severed Heads’ iconic ‘We Have Come To Bless This House’ emerges with mere nips and tucks, while Nitzer Ebb’s ‘Shame’ is significantly reimagined as a highwire act of rhythm and tension, setting up a sensual second take on a 2017 remix of ‘Limbo’ from Swiss synth heroes, Yello.
Core musical memories are shaken and stirred with a context-shifting take on Frank Duval’s emotional classic ‘Ogon’, while Ian North’s ‘Sex Lust You’ and Ford Proco’s notable Coil collaboration ‘Expansion Naranja’ effectively throb with only minor adjustments, respectfully imagined as “shadow versions”. Meanwhile, a simple breakbeat lifts Albert Kuningas’s ‘Astraalprojektio’ in the direction of wide-eyed dancefloors, while a fresh take on K-Alexi Shelby’s ‘Season of The Real’ inexplicably emerges somehow even funkier than before.
The conclusion of the compilation leads back to Das Tier from the prolific experimentalist Conrad Schnitzler, whose swirling synths and hypnotic vocals are duly tightened by Dettmann, but only as he puts it, “in conversation with the original.” Concluding three discs and thirty years of commitment to the dancefloor, this Mastermix not only offers us the opportunity to eavesdrop on this endless exchange, but to gain some sought-after material for our own record collections.
Der zurückgezogen lebende Elektronikmusiker Jeremy Dower aus Melbourne kündigt eine Compilation mit bisher unveröffentlichten Stücken aus einem Vierteljahrhundert an, die in zwei Hälften unterteilt ist, um sein unaussprechliches Ambient-Techno-Projekt Tetrphnm aus den 90er Jahren sowie die melancholischen Faux-Jazz-Aufnahmen, die er später unter seinem eigenen Namen veröffentlichte, zu präsentieren. Personal Computer Music, 1997-2022 ist der Höhepunkt der laufenden Reissue-Reihe von Chapter Music für Jeremy. Im August veröffentlichte Chapter seine früheren Alben erstmals digital - Sentimental Dance Music For Couples (ursprünglich 2000 über das US-Label Plug Research, Heimat von Veröffentlichungen von Flying Lotus und Jon Tejada) und Music For the Young and the Restless (ursprünglich 2004 auf dem japanischen Label Bit Of Heaven). Zunächst inspiriert von strengem deutschen Techno wie Monolake und Mouse on Mars, wuchs Jeremys Klangwelt und nahm so unterschiedliche Einflüsse wie The Sea and Cake, Joao Gilberto, Jaki Liebezeit und Alain Goraguer auf. Jeremy arbeitete jedoch ganz allein auf der anderen Seite der Welt an diesen Meilensteinen und improvisierte Systeme der ,subtraktiven Komposition" mit billigen Soundkarten aus den 90er Jahren, 12-Bit-Samplern und gebufferten Noise Gates. Seine Musik entwickelte sich in einer parallelen, aber separaten Welt zu Genres, die später als IDM oder Microhouse bezeichnet wurden, aber eigentlich klingt sie wie nichts anderes als Jeremy Dower - magisch einfallsreich, berührend und persönlich. Efficient Space hat einen Tetrphnm-Track auf ihrer beliebten 2018er-Compilation mit australischer Elektronikmusik der 90er Jahre, 3AM Spares, veröffentlicht. Aber Personal Computer Music, 1997-2022 ist Ihre erste Gelegenheit, Jeremy Dowers faszinierende Musikgeschichte mit der Tiefe zu erkunden, die sie verdient.
Four years on from their landmark Grassroots, visionary half-time heavyweights The Untouchables return with their third album, Lost Knowledge. The duo of Kate McGill and Ajit 'Nitrox' Steyns have carved out a space in modern D&B all their own, building on a legacy that reaches back to the late 00s to keep pushing into unexplored terrain with an assured and deadly line in rhythmic intrigue and atmospheric immersion.
Lost Knowledge launches into action instantly with the high-pressure drum science and dubby splashes of 'Drunken Bells', capturing the loopy techno propulsion and rolling intensity that drives so much of the output on Samurai Music. Where The Untouchables excel is in finding variety and nuance in their relatively forbidding, pared down sound. The heads-down groove of 'Mafia Town' owes as much to dembow and dancehall as D&B, while 'Lost Knowledge' spirals out into psychoactive flurries of synth strafes and organic percussion slathered in tight-locked delay trails. There's no light relief from strident hooks or riffs, just a pure, unshakeable commitment to the power of the beat and deeply designed layers of sound shaping out the space around.
'Busy Bones' makes space for carefully deployed hints of pad tone while the snares snap out of the mix with a sharp set of teeth. 'Four Eared Demon' baits the gabber crowd with its rapid-fire 4/4 hats atop seasick creaks across the midrange, keeping subtlety and patience in the lower frequencies to maintain the signature elegance readily associated with The Untouchables. 'Phase Correlation' teases an artfully unhinged ripple of synth that stands out amongst the murky murmurs filling out the middle distance, but it's still exercised with brutal precision.
Nothing happens by accident or feels out of place - McGill and Steyns are in total control, and they demonstrate incredible range and inventive approaches within their focused style. The accent of the grooves shifts, and individual sounds carry all kinds of artefacts, yet everything gets folded into the exacting Untouchables sound with a liberal dubwise sensibility. Brimming with inspiration and immaculately produced, on Lost Knowledge their one-of-a-kind sound is stronger than ever.
"Die unangefochtenen Könige des Garage Rock" sind wieder da! Zwei Jahre nach ihrem Album "Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)" aus dem Jahr 2023 melden sich Thee Headcoats mit einer neuen Platte zurück, die sich nahtlos in die Reihe ihrer besten Alben aus den 1990er Jahren einreiht. Wir präsentieren Ihnen stolz "The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ,n` Beat Vernacular". Mit 12 fantastischen Stücken (oder Liedchen, wenn Sie so wollen), die letztes Jahr in den Ranscombe Studios in Rochester aufgenommen wurden. "The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm 'n' Beat Vernacular" erscheint am selben Tag wie "Man-Trap", das brandneue Album von Thee Headcoatees, auf dem die Jungs als Backing-Band fungieren. Thee Headcoats ist eine der vielen Musikgruppen unter der Leitung von Billy Childish und (soweit wir wissen) seine bislang produktivste. Kein Wunder, wenn man Billys unermüdliche Kreativität und seinen vollen Veröffentlichungsplan bedenkt. Thee Headcoats spielen harten R&B, Rock 'n' Roll und Punk Rock, beeinflusst von den frühen Kinks, Pretty Things und vor allem The Downliners Sect, mit einem zusätzlichen Sinn für Humor, der durch Bruce, die Vorliebe des Schlagzeugers für Deerstalker-Hüte, geprägt ist. Thee Headcoats etablierten ihren Stil auf ihrer ersten LP "Headcoats Down" Hangman, 1988 und setzten ihn mit "The Earls of Suavedom" [Crypt, 1989] und "Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even! It's Thee Headcoats! (Already)" [SubPop, 1990] fort. Auf späteren Alben wie "The Messerschmitt Pilot's Severed Hand" aus dem Jahr 1998 kam ein schlankerer, punkigerer Sound zum Vorschein, doch die Jungs blieben ihrem rauen, von den 60ern inspirierten R'n'B treu und klangen auf ihrem Comeback-Meisterwerk "Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)" aus dem Jahr 2023 im Wesentlichen unverändert. "The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm 'n' Beat Vernacular" setzt da noch einen drauf und ist beeindruckenderweise eines der absolut besten Billy Childish Alben der letzten 25 Jahre. Das glauben Sie nicht? Dann kaufen und hören Sie es und lassen sich eines Besseren belehren_
Norwegian–Cuban duo to you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest return with their second album, Primordia. Using field recordings, electronics, and live instruments, they craft improvised soundscapes that blur the line between natural and musical environments.
Primordia continues their focus on the interaction between people, nature, and sound, combining raw textures with subtle improvisation. The result is an immersive work that feels both organic and otherworldly.
For Marcela Dias Sindaco’s third release on the Oklahoma City label Fixed Rhythms, she delivers a full-length 2xLP of her characteristically magical electro. These songs were recorded in various studios across Brazil, capturing the intangibles of Brazilian city life. You can hear her influences (Detroit techno, kosmische synth travel, electro, etc.), but she distills it all yet again into something completely her own. Whenever you listen to her music, you know it’s her. Hypnotizing electro made on warm machines with her sung/spoken Portuguese woven enchantedly throughout…truly sublime listening. This is a 16 track groove journey that will make you a Marcela fan if you aren’t already one.
The two black 12 “s come housed in a beautiful jacket that offers you a glimpse into Marcela’s world. The background of the artwork on the backside features a wallpaper design that you may find in an old home in Brazil. Inside is an insert written by Italian curator and philosopher Massimo Torrigiani. Only 300 copies pressed…don’t sleep on this one.
Old-time and traditional music stay exciting for their contrasts. Exacting instrumentation honed through mentorships and late-night jams at fiddler's conventions tangles with a community-sourced inventiveness that influences variants and new sounds. Joseph Decosimo is a master of this genre for this very reason, blending deep technique with an openness and curiosity that keep his music crackling with life. A "marvelous fiddler" (No Depression) and banjo player who braids "exultation and veneration" (INDY Week) into his music, on his third solo album Fiery Gizzard Decosimo gathers a close-knit ensemble of friends from his musical career to infuse his interpretations of fiddle and banjo pieces with a contagious communal joy. As an artist working with traditional music from the South and Appalachia, Decosimo chooses songs based not only on historical significance and lineage but also his own sensory approach. For Fiery Gizzard, his ear was tuned to otherworldly tones and mystery, sourcing from field recordings such as Virginia fiddler Luther Davis' hypnotic version of "Shady Grove" while amping up the music's psychedelic potential. On the middle Tennessee banjo composition "Flowery Girls," a VHS of bluesman Abner Jay inspired Decosimo to rig up a pickup inside a fretless banjo and play it thr ough a tube amp to capture some of Jay's edge and funkiness. But to round out the sound and keep it kinetic meant galvanizing a genre-eschewing crew to jam out - and not in a "spaced-out drooly" kind of way, he laughs, but as a sort of "responsive conversation." Decosimo has always been a community-minded artist. He began playing as a seventh graderin Tennessee, fostering relationships with older players at jams and in homes, a learning mode natural to his inquisitive nature and desire for musical connection. A folklorist by intuition, he later became one by profession, studying with old-time legend Clyde Davenport, teaching in East Tennessee State University's renowned bluegrass program, and receiving his PhD at the University of North Carolina with a dissertation titled "Catching the `Wild Note': Listening, Learning, and Connoisseurship in Old-Time Music." In North Carolina, Decosimo kicked about in the verdant environment of Durham and Chapel Hill's folk and indie scenes, collaborating with artists including Alice Gerrard, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Jake Xerxes Fussell. This community has influenced his own music, including his "sublime and strangely heartening" (Bandcamp Daily) 2022 release While You Were Slumbering and Beehive Cathedral, Decosimo's 2024 "Appalachian mountain music treasury" (New Commute) trio album with Luke Richardson and Cleek Schrey for Dear Life Records. Continuing on this path, Fiery Gizzard is home base for a loose outfit of mostly Tarheel-based musicians from within and beyond traditional music. Inspired by a tour with fiddler Stephanie Coleman (Nora Brown), guitarist Jay Hammond, and synth builder and multi-instrumentalist Matthew O'Connell, Decosimo assembled studiomates based on close friendships and comfort. Coleman, O'Connell, and Hammond contribute to Fiery Gizzard, along with bassist and producer Andy Stack (Helado Negro, Wye Oak), horn player Kelly Pratt (Beirut, David Byrne), Mipso and Fust's Libby Rodenbough, Joseph O'Connell (Elephant Micah), and trad/experimental artist Cleek Schrey. Decosimo's fiddle and banjo work is virtuosic, intricate and simple simultaneously, a testament to his many years of study. On some tracks, his playing or lovely, plain-hearted singing is the centerpiece, such as on his interpretations of Texan street preacher Washington Phillips' 1929 recording "I Had a Good Father and Mother" or the Eastern Kentucky fiddle barn-burner "Glory in the Meetinghouse," famously played by Luther Strong for Alan Lomax. But there's also a trusting open-door policy, like where Southern Appalachian tune "Ida Red" relaxes into Coleman's sweet, confident fiddling and Hammond's loping guitar. As a bandleader, Decosimo's confidence and enthusiasm for the music reveal the heart of traditional music and how it can come to life through community. Fiery Gizzard is Joseph Decosimo as a powerful champion of traditional music - a sponge who soaks up as much as he squeezes out, a responsive artist who makes his genre accessible, and a magnet who can bring musicians of all sorts into his orbit with his same passion.
Marc Brauner joins Flipsight with a four-track journey combining soulful depth and club-ready energy in equal measure.
Under Marc's motto, "Stay Radiant", the A-side opens with a deep head-nodder that glows with a smooth and rolling groove from start to finish. "It's Alright" immediately raises the pulse with tight percussion, lush pads, and feel good momentum.
Flip it over for the B-side, "Show Me How" rides a big kick-snare combo and subtle spacy accents. Closing things out, "Floaty" does exactly what the title suggests: a bass-driven buzzer that lifts the floor and seals the deal.
