Suche:ke

Matt Gold and Dustin Laurenzi present Devotional Fade, a collaborative record of electroacoustic rhythmic improvisations – equal parts meditation and dance, released on We Jazz Records, 24th April. Laurenzi and Gold, key collaborators in the Chicago creative scene and with genre spanning artists such as Bill Callahan and Makaya McCraven, step forward here with a major artistic statement, a product of extended improv sessions capturing the duo's hypnotic interplay. This is the sound of two of Chicago's most vibrant instrumental voices listening deeply, communing in sound.

Recorded in Laurenzi's attic studio, Devotional Fade emerged from a series of weekly sessions over the course of a single month. The duo kept the tape rolling continuously each day and selected a number of immersive sonic worlds to present, oscillating between patient, sacred minimalism and wild, dancefloor-worthy combustion.

The pair set two parameters to heighten the sessions' stakes: editing would be kept to a minimum, and a rule of "no pitched overdubs" was put in place – ensuring that all melodic and harmonic gestures would have to be committed in real time. Laurenzi and Gold held true, only sparingly adding a stray shaker or brush to these already largely complete improvisations. Devotional Fade is imbued with quiet propulsion and ecstatic repetition.

Matt Gold is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer based in Chicago, IL. His work pulls from diverse traditions of electric and acoustic music. Matt has performed across six continents and contributed to over fifty recordings as a collaborator and instrumentalist, garnering critical praise from Pitchfork for playing "one of the most exhilarating guitar solos of recent memory, in any genre." Gold has several long-running collaborative bands spanning jazz, folk, experimental, and chamber music including Sun Speak, Storm Jameson, and Tin. He performs and records with an array of creative artists including Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Jamila Woods, Natalie Merchant, and Greg Ward. Gold co-curates the record label and concert series Flood Music.

Chicago saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Dustin Laurenzi has developed a personal approach to improvisation and composition that has garnered the attention of the city's creative music community. Laurenzi's music is inspired and informed by jazz, folk, and improvised music. His inventive improvisational sensibilities have made him a sought-after musician in many circles of Chicago's vibrant music scene and beyond. Laurenzi has toured extensively with songwriter Bill Callahan and is featured on Callahan's 2024 release Resuscitate! He has toured with Grammy award-winning artist Bon Iver and appears on the band's critically lauded 2016 release 22, A Million. Laurenzi has also performed with Jeff Parker & The New Breed, Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, Matt Ulery, Japanese Breakfast, and This Is The Kit.

In 2026, the sample alchemist returns to his first love with his 11th album, Endless Smile 2. A 16-track project conceived as a tribute to his landmark 2015 album Endless Smile, which featured his iconic tracks “Betty” and “Qu’attendez-vous de moi”.

Born from a desire to return to the essentials, Endless Smile 2 focuses on instrumental compositions enriched with samples and organic textures inspired by the 70s. The album develops a warm and sun-soaked atmosphere, crossed by the melancholic touch that defines Degiheugi’s musical universe.

Recorded between 2023 and 2025 in his studio Endless Smile Records and mixed by his longtime collaborator Mr. Gib, the album opens with the trip-hop anthem “The Last Opening”. Far from being a simple introduction, it acts as a true gateway into Degiheugi’s new sonic journey. Keyboards set the tone, the horn section led by N’Zeng invites listeners into the groove, while guitars and organic keyboards immerse us fully into his musical world. The scene is set: he’s back.

Among the standout tracks, “Ain’t Goin Down” delivers a reggae-influenced groove driven by a message of hope, while “Vem O Mar” (feat. Hugo Kant) explores funk and tropical soundscapes. “Ipanemax”, a nod to the classic “The Girl From Ipanema”, and “Ouh Baby” extend this Brazilian atmosphere, while “Savoir Danser” leans toward oriental textures and “Juanita Bonita” ventures into a bold fusion of cumbia and dub.

The album also reveals Degiheugi’s signature melancholic side. An addictive loop settles deep into the listener’s mind as “Sympathique et sympa” balances nostalgia with urban groove. The haunting strings of “Naked” and the soul ballad “She Worries” respectively reflect on mortality and the fragility of romantic relationships. Guest artist Miscellaneous addresses gender-based violence on “Love Is Blind”, telling the story of a woman trapped in a toxic relationship.

Endless Smile 2 closes with “Enivrez-vous”, an outro inspired by Charles Baudelaire’s poem, bringing the album to a contemplative conclusion. With this release, Degiheugi masterfully completes a musical journey that began ten years ago.

First-ever vinyl edition of 2007 album "The Earth Is Shaking" by The Hydromatics featuring Kent Steedman (The Celibate Rifles) on guitar! Bang! Records brings you "The Earth Is Shaking", the THIRD album by The Hydromatics - a transatlantic high-energy rock 'n' roll unit powered by Detroit legend Scott Morgan (The Rationals / Sonic's Rendezvous Band) and Amsterdam cult-hero Tony "Slug" Leeuwenburgh (Loveslug). Originally released in 2007, this record captures the band leaner, rougher and fully locked-in: big riffs, street-level groove, zero filler, and that unmistakable Detroit soul-grit that Morgan owns like nobody else. And here's the headline for rock'n'roll die-hards: Kent Steedman (The Celibate Rifles) is on guitar - bringing bite, melody and attitude, plus extra sonic spice (yes: theremin) and production muscle. The result is The Hydromatics at maximum voltage, moving confidently into their own songs while still carrying the Motor City flame. Highlights include the swaggering "Streets Of Amsterdam", the barroom punch of "Standin' At The Juke", and the epic ride of "Detroit Leaning". Enjoy for the first time on vinyl!

On "Enduring Sonance," saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson reflects on a lifetime of lyrical, deeply felt songs drawn from jazz, pop, and film—brought to life by an all-star ensemble featuring Renee Rosnes, Joe Locke, Jay Anderson, and Kendrick Scott. *** Certain songs have a way of lingering in the imagination—resonating long after we’ve last heard them, sometimes for a lifetime. On his breathtaking new album "Enduring Sonance," veteran saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson celebrates the music that has left the deepest imprint on his musical life. “Some of the tunes on this record have stayed with me for, in some cases, over 50 years from the time that I first heard them,” Wilson says. “I wanted to put some music out there that people can connect with, no matter what kind of music they like.” Originally conceived as a ballads project, Enduring Sonance evolved into something broader and more personal. Rather than focusing on tempo or style, Wilson gravitated toward a sense of lyricism—music whose emotional clarity and melodic resonance endure across genres, decades, and listening habits.

To realize this vision, Wilson assembled a deeply intuitive ensemble featuring pianist and arranger Renee Rosnes, vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist Jay Anderson, and drummer Kendrick Scott, with special guest Kevin Newton (French horn, Imani Winds) appearing on two tracks. Each musician brings a rare sensitivity to melody, texture, and space, allowing the material to unfold with warmth, restraint, and quiet authority. The repertoire draws from a wide musical landscape, including works by close collaborators and modern jazz masters Billy Childs and George Cables, alongside enduring songs by Michel Legrand, Quincy Jones, Milton Nascimento, Gino Vannelli, Bill Lee, and Eliane Elias. These are not standards in the traditional sense, but deeply personal selections—songs that have accompanied Wilson through different chapters of his life. The album opens with Childs’ “Quiet Girl,” its subtle rhythmic motion enhanced by Newton’s luminous French horn, and travels through cinematic ballads, soulful grooves, and reflective lyricism. The title Enduring Sonance speaks both to the lasting resonance of these songs and to Wilson’s enduring musical relationships—most notably with Rosnes, whom he has known for nearly four decades and whose sensitive arrangements help unify the album’s diverse repertoire. “These songs are the soundtrack of my life,” Wilson says. “I’d love it if listeners came away from this album with the same kind of enduring sound and feeling.”

Diese erweiterte Ausgabe von „From A Page“ enthält die beiden CDs in einer Klappbox mit einem 16-
seitigen Booklet mit Liner Notes von Oliver Wakeman, einem Faltposter und fünf Kunstkarten.
und die erweiterte Ausgabe der 2LP von „From A Page“ wurde auf Halfspeedmastered 180-GrammSchwarzvinyl gepresst.
„From A Page“ ist ein Album mit Aufnahmen der Yes-Besetzung von „In The Present“ mit Chris Squire
(Bass), Steve Howe (Gitarren), Alan White (Schlagzeug & Percussion), Benoit David (Gesang) und Oliver
Wakeman (Keyboards). Die Songs wurden während der Sessions aufgenommen, aus denen schließlich das
Album „Fly From Here“ von 2011 hervorging, auf dem Geoff Downes nach Wakemans Ausstieg aus der
Band am Keyboard zu hören ist. Die 4-Song-Mini-LP „From A Page“ wurde 2019 veröffentlicht und enthält
Songs, die nicht auf „Fly From Here“ verwendet wurden.
Die 2-CD-Version von „From A Page“ enthält die ursprünglichen vier Songs sowie alternative Versionen von drei Songs aus „Fly From Here“ mit Oliver Wakemans Keyboard-Parts aus den ursprünglichen
Songwriting-Sessions und eine Studioversion des von Chris Squire geschriebenen Songs „Aliens“, der auf
der Tour 2008 gespielt wurde, auf Disc 1. Disc 2 enthält Demoversionen vieler Songs, darunter „Updraft“,
das die Grundlage für den Abschnitt „Army of Angels“ von „Into The Storm“ bildete, „Don’t Take No For
An Answer“, das nicht auf dem Originalalbum enthalten war, aber während der Sessions bearbeitet wurde,
und den Single-Mix von „To The Moment“, der zuvor nur auf Vinyl erhältlich war.

- 2026 repress -

SHDW & Obscure Shape launch new label Mutual Rytm with powerful eight-track V/A "Federation Of Rytm I", featuring VIL & Cravo, Lars Huismann, Grindvik and more.

Favourites for many within today's modern techno landscape, Stuttgart-based pairing Marco Blasi and Luigi Urban, aka SHDW & Obscure Shape, continue to grow their profile and position as artists leading the current new wave of techno. Having launched their first label From Another Mind in 2014, releasing material from themselves alongside remixes from the likes of Rodhad, James Ruskin and Dax J, early December welcomes the arrival of a new project and a second imprint to the fold, Mutual Rytm.

Showcasing a new dimension of techno and electronic music, celebrating originality and innovation by combining timeless cuts from the past with cutting edge sounds of the present and the future, the label will serve as a breeding ground for new artists alongside established talent and legends from the scene. Opening the imprint in style, the label bosses head up the first-ever release and the first V/A "Federation Of Rytm I" as they welcome a selection of new and established talent.

"Since the beginning of the global pandemic, we have been diving deep into the roots of our music and working on the aesthetics of our sound. That's when we realized that now is the right time to start a new project which differs from FAM, in both musical and artistic direction. The project will showcase a new dimension that aims to channel the authentic perspectives of both established and up-and-coming talents. With our new label, we want to give all artists the opportunity of musical freedom and expression of their versatility as producers. It is an honour to accompany the young artists on their careers, to see them grow and to help them in their development as musicians." - SHDW & Obscure Shape

The duos rolling opener "Conquest Of Paradise" quickly sets the tone and builds to reveal a classy and slick offering, combining rich stabs with tough drums and sharp hats, while Invexis keeps the tempo high as he weaves escalating synths and pacy kicks across "Elektronenwind". VIL & Cravo combine on the jacking and lively "Apolonia Loop", as eerie synths work amongst warped vocals across a tweaked out peak-time effort, before Alarico keeps the energy levels up throughout the relentless funk of "I'm Into You".

The second half of the package sees Lars Huismann enter the fray with the no-nonsense, snaking grooves of "Hyper Dub", with Nicolas Vogler's "Sauva Bite" fusing hypnotic tones with straight regimented claps for an intense yet playful ride through sounds and sonics. "Your Dry Lips" switches up the aesthetic as Grindvik journeys down a wormhole of metallic percussion and warping low-ends, before closing the show with authority via Stigmata's grinding and menacing offering "Gestas".

180g Vinyl

The album features the group playing Gary McFarland arrangements of Kuhn's compositions, accompanied by a string section on several tracks, with Kuhn delivering stream of consciousness lyrics in an unplanned and largely improvised fashion in the studio. However, that wasn't the only surprising aspect to the session. Airto Moreira's appearance was more by chance than design, he having just popped by the studio, again, unplanned. The 'Steve Kuhn' album is all the stronger for these extemporaneous and serendipitous elements and showcases a band at the top of their game; tight and funky yet relaxed and flowing like molten gold, with stabs and washes of keyboard from Kuhn. Splashes of free playing enter the session, but the band never stray too far from a melodic and harmonious centre of gravity. Kuhn's deft keyboard skills provide melodic embroidery to the impressive rhythmic textures and tonal colours of Carter, Cobham and Moreira. As if the music wasn't enough, the album is given extra significance by the fact that, within a few months of the recording, McFarland would die after being mysteriously poisoned by methadone in a New York bar. In a sense, it is a valedictory album from McFarland, channeled by Kuhn and the band. It's among the hardest of Kuhn's albums to find so this reissue is most welcome. Luxuriate in the glow of Kuhn's Fender Rhodes and the pliant funky bass of Ron Carter; immerse yourself in the percussive interplay of Moreira and Cobham, a pairing that has rarely sounded so good. This is such an exquisite album; you will lose yourself in its delicate power and find yourself coming back to it again and again. "It's a beautiful picture, and it helped me to comprehend things, life a bit, you know. And as I'm thinking about it, I hope it does that for whoever listens to it too." - Thundercat, Musician Details: Heavyweight Vinyl 45 RPM Cut / Original glued prints on Thick Cardboard 700 gram / 2 Separated parts hand-glued / Glossy lamination / PVC outer / 30x60 cm insert printed on 300 gram DNS paper with interview to Steve Kuhn by Tony Higgins.

Purple Haze started out in Linköping in 1981. When singer Christer Göransson joined them towards the end of the year, they soon changed their moniker to Genocide (after the Judas Priest song of the same name) and supported local metal heroes Axewitch. A final name change was to follow: In August 1983, the band, now called Mindless Sinner, recorded a four-track demo entitled »Master Of Evil«, consisting of the title track, “Broken Freedom”, “Key Of Fortune” and “Screaming For Mercy”. This attracted Swedish label Fingerprint Records, and they in turn released the NWOBHM-inspired material as a mini-album with an awful cover and getting the band’s name wrong (spelling it Mindless Sinners). By then, the line-up of the band was Anders Karlsson (bass), Magnus Danneblad (guitar), Jerker Edman (guitar), Tommy Johansson (drums) and vocalist Christer Göransson. »Master Of Evil« originally saw the light of day on Fingerprint in January 1984. Christer Göransson takes us back to the early days of Mindless Sinner saying: “We wanted to record an album, but we couldn’t afford the studio cost. We were lucky to win a music contest, and the price money paid for the studio. I remember walking into the studio, and we thought it was like a spaceship in there, with all the buttons and flashing lights everywhere. We recorded the four songs that would become »Master Of Evil«. We then gave the tape to the Axewitch guys, and they played it to their record label at the time Fingerprint/Web Records and they liked it so much that they signed us as well.” Over the years, the music of Mindless Sinner has often been compared to the Tygers Of Pan Tang from England but Christer Göransson doesn’t see too many similarities: “We really love Tygers Of Pan Tang but I don’t think they were a big influence. It was more Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Dio etcetera. That kinda stuff.” In addition to the four tracks of the original edition of »Master Of Evil«, the current High Roller Records pressing also contains the five songs of the band’s first demo tape from early 1983 (including “Mindless Sinner”, “Higher And Higher”, “We All Go Back”, “Heavy Metal Will Never Die” and “City Games”). All nine tracks were mastered by Patrick W. Engel at his Temple Of Disharmony in November 2025. Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for maximum quality on all levels ... The ultimate audiophile re-issue of this Swedish metal classic!

Leather-jacket krautrock? Indeed. Welcome to the world of Carrboro NC's Object Hours. These generous saviors consist of three Triangle scene lifers who all worship the riff but imagine what happens if the riff fell into the middle of your favorite CAN LP. Yes, it lives up to the hype.

"Solved By Walking" was recorded in the winter of 2025 at Betty's in the Chapel Hill woods, these are mighty rock slabs ready for all seasons. Rock believers have felt the ripples and knew the day was coming. Object Hours is a band that fits right in on stage alongside acts as varied as Kim Gordon and Tropical Fuck Storm, bringing the house down in these and similar moments. These are songs that groove, peel paint, sandblast, inspire unconscious movement, make your head bob - frequently all at the same time. These are the jams inspired by the time that you heard "Fun House" coming out of that dude's car with the windows down in the middle of the summer, the ones inspired by the kids who own 3 copies of "Daydream Nation," the ones who listen to the last 1:30 of Wire's "Too Late" over and over. This is the band that has a timer on stage so they don't keep each song playing for days on end, the band whose Bandcamp bio succinctly summarizes their approach thusly: "We try to keep songs under 25 minutes for your sake." Every word here should be inspiration for you to *want* and *need* to hear this record and every word here is true. Just you wait.

Real heads know and the rest of the heads are getting ready to find out. Get ready for Object Hours' "Solved By Walking".

'Matsuli Music is proud to announce the first vinyl reissue of Philip Tabane’s Sangoma ("Spiritual Healer") since its 1978 release. Remastered from the original tapes with lacquers cut by Frank Merrit and pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl at Pallas in Germany, this definitive edition re-asserts the power of one of South Africa’s landmark recordings. Featuring new liner notes by cultural critic Kwanele Sosibo and artwork restoration by Siemon Allen, Sangoma returns in full force through an extended Malombo line-up, fronted by Tabane's spellbinding guitar - ancestral, timeless, and unbound.
'Philip Tabane (1934–2018), the mercurial guitar genius of South African music, forged a sound that was as rooted in the spirit world as it was in daily life. With the Malombo Jazzmen of the 1960s, Tabane disrupted Western notions of “jazz,” bringing the resonant rhythm of cowhide malombo drums into the foreground. While outsiders and the uninitiated often reached for labels like “primitive yet sophisticated,” Tabane and his collaborators named it more truthfully: “music of the spirit.”
'By the time of Sangoma, Tabane stood at a crossroads. Fresh from a period of three years’ touring in the United States where he graced the Newport Jazz Festival, and played alongside Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders and others, he brushed off comparisons with characteristic self-assurance: “No, I don’t play like Miles. Miles plays like me.” Back home in South Africa, and with a newly signed international distribution deal with WEA Records, he harnessed this momentum into a larger band setting, capturing a rare intensity.
'The result was Sangoma—an album that bridges contradictions: expansive yet intimate, celebratory yet haunted by exile and return. Tracks such as “Sangoma,” “Hi Congo,” and “Keya Bereka” are not simply performances but living testaments, songs that would remain in his repertoire for decades. Unlike the moody, immersive character of much of his work, here Tabane is on the move—urgent, restless, uncontainable. As he announces on the second track, “Maskanta wa tsamaya” (“something that kicks ass”).
More than four decades on, Sangoma is both an historical document and a timeless invocation. From his home in Mamelodi to the world and back again, Tabane’s spiritual healing endures—raw, electric, and unbowed.'

American jazz drummer Roy Porter hit a late career high with his first album Jessica. The classic record throngs with intricate rhythms and vigorous drumming that reveal a playful yet ambitious approach. The standout title track 'Jessica' - a long jazz-funk meditation written for his girlfriend - reimagined by the master, Kenny Dope, shimmers with melancholy and colour. Extended breaks and beefed-up drums give the mix extra punch, while the horns retain their jazzy flair and the vocal version on the flips makes it's 7" debut - these cuts have previously been album only and are well worth copping.

After a savage summer of performing over 35 festival shows, COLLIGNON continue their journey with the release of Bicicleta.

Bicicleta was written and recorded right in the midst of the band's summer tour. Gino, Yves and Jori seized the moment, the album captures exactly where they currently stand as a band: thriving on the energy of their live performances, with the desire to dive deeper into their music.

The result is Bicicleta—a diverse and authentic album that stays true to COLLIGNON’s distinctive blend of wildly grooving beats, psychedelic guitars, and sharp keyboard riffs. The music transports listeners across many borders, all while maintaining their signature COLLIGNON sound.

This album was made with vinyl in mind, designed to be experienced as a complete journey. From the first Maloya rhythms of "Fonkér la Mér" (Kreol for 'fond du cœur de la mer', meaning ‘from the bottom of the heart of the sea’) to the Brazilian groove and cosmic crescendo of "Vai Vai Vai (Into the Stars)", Bicicleta is a trip that flows from track to track.

The album, recorded while Jori left his Portuguese studio for a year-long stay in the Netherlands, pays homage to what -without engine, exhaust or pollution- might be considered the finest emblem of Dutch culture: the bicycle.

The words of adventurer Nellie Bly, written in 1896, still ring true today: ‘In a frenetic era of expanding possibilities, cycling offers a journey into a landscape of dreams. The bicycle has always signified independence and freedom in steering one’s daily course and the byways of its occasional adventures.’

To truly experience this album, nothing compares to holding the vinyl sleeve in your hands and spinning the record on your turntable.

Following the celebrated reissue of Classics Vol. 1, Metroplex unveils Model 500 - Classics Vol. 2, a powerful new collection of essential works from Juan Atkins--pioneer of Techno and architect of some of the most forward-thinking electronic music ever recorded. Bringing together key cuts, rare mixes, and long-sought favorites from across Atkins' groundbreaking output, this compilation highlights the full spectrum of his sonic universe: deep, rolling machine funk, shimmering electro-techno hybrids, and timeless futurist grooves that helped shape generations of electronic artists. Each track has been carefully remastered to enhance its original energy while preserving the raw spirit and space that define the Model 500 sound. From expansive, atmospheric journeys to soulful vocal transmissions and Detroit-powered rhythmic science, Classics Vol. 2 presents Juan Atkins at his most inspired--an essential document of a visionary whose influence continues to echo across dancefloors worldwide. Three decades on, these tracks have lost none of their immediacy, imagination, or futuristic pull. Restored for a new era, Classics Vol. 2 celebrates the legacy of Model 500 with pristine sound and renewed force. Pure Detroit heritage. Eternal future music.

Jeder Künstler muss seine eigene Stimme finden. Gia Margaret fand sich selbst erst, als sie ihre Stimme verlor. Aufgrund einer Stimmbandverletzung, die sie jahrelang am Singen hinderte, entwickelte sie andere musikalische Ausdrucksformen und meisterte die Grammatik einer komplexen, heimeligen Form der Ambient-Musik, die von Ernest Hood begründet und von The Books perfektioniert wurde. Angeführt von sanften Klaviermelodien, die wie Atem auf Glas hauchen, jetzt, da ihre physische Stimme geheilt und ihre künstlerische Stimme geschliffen ist, schließt sich der Kreis mit Singing, ihrem ersten Gesangsalbum seit There's Always Glimmer aus dem Jahr 2018. Die Musik auf Singing zeugt von derselben Sensibilität für Details, die sie in ihrer Stille entwickelt hat. ,Es gab eine Zeit, in der ich wirklich nicht wusste, ob ich jemals wieder singen würde. Als ich dann geheilt war, stand ich unter großem innerem Druck, stark zurückzukommen", sagt Margaret. ,Ich wusste nicht mehr, wer ich war. Es fühlte sich an, als würde ich neu anfangen und mich wieder mit diesen sehr alten, alten Teilen meiner selbst verbinden." Dieses Gefühl der Vermischung von Entfremdung und Wiederentdeckung ist auf dem gesamten Album spürbar. Im Opener ,Everyone Around Me Dancing" beobachtet sie eine Party von den Seitenlinien aus und ist sich bewusst, wie ihr Körper sie von gemeinschaftlicher Freude abhält, ihr aber gleichzeitig neue Wege der Selbsterkenntnis eröffnet. Ausgeschlossen von der Szene ist sie ,näher am Boden, am Planeten". In ,Alive Inside" ist sie so weit entfernt von der Quelle, dass sie zu jedem betet, der sie hören könnte (,ein Gott, ein verstorbener Freund, ein Geist"). Wenn ihre Stimme anschwillt, scheint sie in einem Netz aus Verzerrungen gefangen zu sein; es ist, als würde sie in ihrem Streben die Grenzen des Sagbaren ausloten. Der Entstehungsprozess von ,Singing" war ein Prozess des Lernens, jedem dieser Gefühle zu vertrauen. Das Album wurde teilweise in London mit Guy Sigsworth von Frou Frou aufgenommen, der Margaret dabei half, die Vielzahl ihrer Ideen für ,Good Friend" zu vereinen, einem Highlight des Albums, das unter anderem gregorianische Gesänge von ILA und Turntable-Scratches enthält . David Bazan und Amy Millan sind ebenfalls zu hören, ebenso wie Kurt Vile und Sean Carey, während Margarets langjähriger Kollaborateur Doug Saltzman einen Großteil des Albums spielt und co-produziert. Deb Talan, ehemals Mitglied von The Weepies, steuert ihre Stimme, ihr Klavier und ihre Gitarre zum abschließenden und definitiven Statement des Albums ,E-Motion" bei. Gia Margaret singt stets. Jede Note dieses Albums singt ein warmes Requiem für ihr vergangenes Ich; jede Ebene singt ihr zukünftiges Ich ins Leben. Auf dem gesamten Album wendet sie die Lektionen der Sprachlosigkeit an - die quasi-rationalen Wege, auf denen wir kommunizieren, ohne zu kommunizieren, die Art und Weise, wie formlose Klänge wie ein Skalpell zum Kern der Dinge vordringen können - auf ihre eigene künstlerische Stimme.

Jeder Künstler muss seine eigene Stimme finden. Gia Margaret fand sich selbst erst, als sie ihre Stimme verlor. Aufgrund einer Stimmbandverletzung, die sie jahrelang am Singen hinderte, entwickelte sie andere musikalische Ausdrucksformen und meisterte die Grammatik einer komplexen, heimeligen Form der Ambient-Musik, die von Ernest Hood begründet und von The Books perfektioniert wurde. Angeführt von sanften Klaviermelodien, die wie Atem auf Glas hauchen, jetzt, da ihre physische Stimme geheilt und ihre künstlerische Stimme geschliffen ist, schließt sich der Kreis mit Singing, ihrem ersten Gesangsalbum seit There's Always Glimmer aus dem Jahr 2018. Die Musik auf Singing zeugt von derselben Sensibilität für Details, die sie in ihrer Stille entwickelt hat. ,Es gab eine Zeit, in der ich wirklich nicht wusste, ob ich jemals wieder singen würde. Als ich dann geheilt war, stand ich unter großem innerem Druck, stark zurückzukommen", sagt Margaret. ,Ich wusste nicht mehr, wer ich war. Es fühlte sich an, als würde ich neu anfangen und mich wieder mit diesen sehr alten, alten Teilen meiner selbst verbinden." Dieses Gefühl der Vermischung von Entfremdung und Wiederentdeckung ist auf dem gesamten Album spürbar. Im Opener ,Everyone Around Me Dancing" beobachtet sie eine Party von den Seitenlinien aus und ist sich bewusst, wie ihr Körper sie von gemeinschaftlicher Freude abhält, ihr aber gleichzeitig neue Wege der Selbsterkenntnis eröffnet. Ausgeschlossen von der Szene ist sie ,näher am Boden, am Planeten". In ,Alive Inside" ist sie so weit entfernt von der Quelle, dass sie zu jedem betet, der sie hören könnte (,ein Gott, ein verstorbener Freund, ein Geist"). Wenn ihre Stimme anschwillt, scheint sie in einem Netz aus Verzerrungen gefangen zu sein; es ist, als würde sie in ihrem Streben die Grenzen des Sagbaren ausloten. Der Entstehungsprozess von ,Singing" war ein Prozess des Lernens, jedem dieser Gefühle zu vertrauen. Das Album wurde teilweise in London mit Guy Sigsworth von Frou Frou aufgenommen, der Margaret dabei half, die Vielzahl ihrer Ideen für ,Good Friend" zu vereinen, einem Highlight des Albums, das unter anderem gregorianische Gesänge von ILA und Turntable-Scratches enthält . David Bazan und Amy Millan sind ebenfalls zu hören, ebenso wie Kurt Vile und Sean Carey, während Margarets langjähriger Kollaborateur Doug Saltzman einen Großteil des Albums spielt und co-produziert. Deb Talan, ehemals Mitglied von The Weepies, steuert ihre Stimme, ihr Klavier und ihre Gitarre zum abschließenden und definitiven Statement des Albums ,E-Motion" bei. Gia Margaret singt stets. Jede Note dieses Albums singt ein warmes Requiem für ihr vergangenes Ich; jede Ebene singt ihr zukünftiges Ich ins Leben. Auf dem gesamten Album wendet sie die Lektionen der Sprachlosigkeit an - die quasi-rationalen Wege, auf denen wir kommunizieren, ohne zu kommunizieren, die Art und Weise, wie formlose Klänge wie ein Skalpell zum Kern der Dinge vordringen können - auf ihre eigene künstlerische Stimme.

Season 2 formed in late 2024, bringing together seasoned Melbourne musicians with previous and current projects including Parsnip, The Stroppies and Phil and the Tiles. The five piece, comprising Carolyn Hawkins, Claudia Serfaty, Charlotte Zarb, Freya McLeod and Matt Powell, quickly set to work writing winsome, DIY, shimmer-pop hits that careen through your mind in a gratifying dizzy rush.

With a clear collective vision and little time to waste, Season 2 spent 2025 writing and recording, appearing live only a handful of times. Finally, this April, the band are primed for their debut release, a full-length album entitled 'Power of Now'. ‘Power of Now ‘is a cerebral explosion of melody, hooks, drones and rhythm. In the vein of The Feelies, The Vaselines and The Clean, Season 2 have whipped up a sonic whirlwind. It's a giddy thrill of snappy slap, catchy gang vocals and crystalline guitar refrains.

'Abundance of Power' is a bittersweet bop of ponderous bass, crisp chord flashes and grounded vocals that dwell on slighted futures and bored realities. 'Becomes a Dream' is a delirious race of scrappy strumming and flying phrases that unsettle as much as they pinball endorphins - "pour the ink into the sand, watch the dog it bites the hand". "Tell me something, elbows on the table, I'll tell you nothing, leave you tugging at the cable" they sing on the peppy future single 'Tugging at the Cable', capturing a certain innocent, wide-eyed expressiveness. Season 2 do sparky well, their songs are instant rewards, tunnelling into your subconscious and testing the dance floor. They keep everything moving, the beat and the conversation. Season 2 sound barely controlled and all the better for it, you have no choice but to be swept up.

'Power of Now' was recorded by Alex Macfarlane (The Green Child, Chateau) and mastered by Mikey Young. It will be released digitally and on LP (black vinyl) on April 24th, internationally via Upset The Rhythm and locally in Australia by Spoilsport Records.

Angelo De Augustine kehrt mit ,Angel in Plainclothes" zurück, seinem fünften Album und bisher inspiriertesten Werk - eine tief empfundene Darstellung seiner mehrjährigen Reise der Heilung und Erneuerung. Das Album präsentiert De Augustines kraftvolle Melodien und ergreifende Texte in Titeln wie der eindringlichen Elegie ,Empty Shell", dem hoffnungsvollen ,Spirit of the Unknown" und dem herausragenden psychedelischen Country-Stück ,Mirror Mirror". Die Themen befassen sich mit der Zerbrechlichkeit des Lebens, zweiten Chancen und dem Wiederaufbauen seines Lebens, nachdem eine nicht diagnostizierte Krankheit ihn zwang, grundlegende Fähigkeiten neu zu erlernen: ,Ich versuche herauszufinden, wer ich jetzt bin", sagt De Augustine. ,Ich habe das Gefühl, dass mir eine zweite Chance im Leben gegeben wurde, und ich möchte sie leben." Das Album wurde vom Künstler in seinem Aufnahmestudio ,A Secret Place" in Südkalifornien geschrieben, aufgenommen, arrangiert, produziert und gemischt. Es ist das erste Mal seit Jahren, dass er wieder mit anderen Künstlern zusammengearbeitet hat, darunter der Streicharrangeur Oliver Hill (Kevin Morby, Helado Negro), den Harfenisten Leng Bian, die Backgroundsängerin/Percussionistin Wendy Fraser, den Produzenten Thomas Bartlett (der De Augustines ,Tomb" sowie St. Vincent und Bebel Gilberto produziert hat) und den Co-Produzenten Jonathan Wilson (Angel Oisen, Father John Misty) bei ,The Cure". Das Ergebnis ist ein kraftvolles Statement der Hoffnung: ,Eine der größten Hilfen, die mich am Leben gehalten haben, waren die Menschen in meinem Leben, die mir gesagt haben, dass letztendlich alles gut werden würde. Ich hoffe, dass diese Songs die gleiche Wirkung auf die Menschen da draußen haben und ihnen helfen zu erkennen, dass Wunder möglich sind."

Hrishikesh Hirway, Musiker, Komponist und Podcast-Ersteller, bekannt für seinen preisgekrönten Podcast und die Netflix-Serie ,Song Exploder" sowie Kompositionen für Film und Fernsehen, darunter ,Companion", Save The Date, Our Nixon und Everything Sucks!, begann sein eigenes Musikprojekt unter dem Namen One AM Radio und änderte seinen Namen mit der Veröffentlichung von To Call My Own EP im Jahr 2022. Produziert vom Grammy-Gewinner Philip Weinrobe (Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker, Theo Katzman, Cass McCombs), In the Last Hour of Light ist eine Erinnerung daran, loszulassen - von Menschen, von Erinnerungen, vom Wunsch, die Zeit davon abzuhalten, zu schnell zu vergehen. Die Songs entstanden nach dem Tod von Hrishikeshs Mutter, als die Jahre sie immer weiter in die Vergangenheit drängten; in den Momenten, in denen er in seinem Krankenhauszimmer darauf wartete, dass sich sein Vater erholte; in dem Traum von einer Tochter, die er nie haben wird. Es gibt auch Liebeslieder - aber es ist die Art von Liebe, die die Patina eines langen gemeinsamen Lebens trägt, in dem man ebenso viel Zeit hinter sich hat wie vor sich. Die Band von Hrishikesh bestand aus Shahzad Ismaily (Feist, Arooj Aftab), Ken Pomeroy, Mike Haldeman (Moses Sumney, Dawn Richards) und Joshua Crumbly. Zur Besetzung von Hrishikeshs Band gehörten Shahzad Ismaily (Feist, Arooj Aftab), Ken Pomeroy, Mike Haldeman (Moses Sumney, Dawn Richards), Joshua Crumbly (Leon Bridges, Kamasi Washington), Oliver Hill (Kevin Morby, Broken Bells, Vagabon), Sean Mullins (Sam Evian) und Cole Kamen-Green (Beyoncé, Taylor Swift); mit Gastauftritten von Iron & Wine, Fenne Lily, Ken Pomeroy und Uwade Hart (St. Vincent), Zosha Warpeha (L'Rain) und Dustin O'Halloran.

Manchmal hörst du eine Band, die sich gleichzeitig neu und vertraut anfühlt, und das lässt dich innehalten. TV Star ist so eine Band. In den letzten Jahren hat die fünfköpfige Band aus Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, still und leise an ihrer Stärke gearbeitet - EP für EP, Show für Show -, bis ihr lang erwartetes Debütalbum ,Music For Heads" rauskam und klar machte: Sie haben sich zu etwas Besonderem entwickelt. Eine Mischung aus jangly-psych, Garage-Grit und Soft-Focus-Tiefe; diese Songs leuchten von innen heraus mit einer beeindruckenden Originalität. In einer Zeit, in der so viel Musik in algorithmischer Gleichförmigkeit verschwindet, klingt TV Star trotzig menschlich. Auf den zehn Tracks der LP schärft die Band ihre Instinkte, die sie über die Jahre verfeinert hat - sie kombiniert zeitlose Pop-Sensibilität, psychedelisch angehauchten Jangle in der Tradition von The Brian Jonestown Massacre, punkige Rhythmussektionen und Vocals, die mit der Wärme von Mojave 3 dahinschweben, um etwas ganz Eigenes zu schaffen. Mit Music For Heads greifen sie nicht nur auf die Musik der Vergangenheit zurück, sondern treiben eine neue Welle voran. Die Band wurde 2020 aus der gemeinsamen Bewunderung für den Psych-Rock der 90er Jahre, klassischen Shoegaze und Alt-Country-Underdogs gegründet. Der Startschuss fiel, als jemand die Kassette ,Electriclarryland" der Butthole Surfers aus dem Jahr 1996 von der Wand nahm und auf den Track ,TV Star" zeigte. Was folgte, war weniger die Gründung einer Band als vielmehr die Entstehung eines kleinen Ökosystems. Ashlyn Nagel (Gesang, Keyboard), Bryan Coats (Gitarre), Che Hise-Gattone (Gitarre), Mark Palm (Bass) und Tucker Devault (Schlagzeug) brachten ihre eigenen Instinkte, Eigenheiten und musikalischen Hintergründe mit ein, bis die Songs schließlich nach allen gleichzeitig klangen. Aufgenommen in einer Reihe gemütlicher Studios im Nordwesten - The Unknown in Anacortes und ein paar Verstecken in Seattle - ist ihr Debütalbum ,Music For Heads" eine Mischung aus klirrender Gitarrenmusik, psychedelischem Pop und authentischem Indie-Rock, ohne sich ganz auf einen Stil festzulegen.

Saxophonist, producer and composer Brian Allen Simon explores darker hues, transposing waking and altered states under his studio veil Anenon. On the deeply evocative new album 'Dream Temperature', he shifts electronic processing to the foreground, introducing digitized wind instruments and unworldly atmospherics, not heard since his innovating mid-late 2010s output.

A longtime Los Angeles resident, born and raised, Brian Allen Simon has expressively operated under the moniker Anenon, releasing the highly revered 'Petrol' (2016), 'Tongue' (2018) and the viscerally beautiful 'Moons Melt Milk Light' (2023), in a line of unwavering musical dialogues. While the penultimate album was a deliberate, reductive, entirely acoustic detour that was born out of a want to unplug, 'Dream Temperature' sees Brian primed with a newly discovered wind synthesizer as his central compositional tool, alongside acoustic piano and tenor saxophone. The entirety of the album's electronics are triggered by Brian's lungs, generating otherworldly synths modulated by expressive breath control, channelled through the laptop as the core processing chamber for added textural components and field recordings.

A free floating and heavy emotional resonance marks 'Dream Temperature' from beginning to end, invoking the feeling of waking up, still heavy from a night of half-remembered dreams, and continuing one's day in this state. Simon maps out the album's spatial voice early on the statement title track, a deep, yet compact cut, generated from digital saxophone rasps that whistle by in close proximity, along with haze filled textures and sub bass. There is a sonic oscillation of urban grit and pastoral drift throughout as tracks pass by like introspective thoughts, fueling both a tense and ethereal quality that underpins the album. Interluding solo and part-solo piano improvisations 'Last Sun 1' and '2' are positioned adjacent to the buffering digital soundscapes. Their softer, still processed timbres pierce the melancholic exterior, offering a contrasting tenderness that could echo the grace of Ry?ichi Sakamoto, the spiritualist rigor of ECM's Keith Jarrett and a touch akin to Aphex Twin's piano miniatures. 'Nulle Part 1+2' signals the first appearance of an acoustic wind instrument, as tenor saxophone flourishes are juxtaposed against noisy drones, all shouting at the void, with notes resurfacing like lost digital data.

The album was recorded at home during either sunset or nocturnal hours between September of 2024 and October of 2025, a period in which Brian found himself craving more lengthy and intimate studio time as he searched for more pronounced textural qualities amidst his new sonic ambitions. 'When The Light Appears, Boy' shows further evidence of this deeper universe, revealing a grittier edge as the album's essential blueprint is sonically inked. A sprawling expanse of wind synths rhythmically encircle the listener before a dreamy, ghostly ambience blankets 'Toyama'. The sound is evocative of the productions of post dubstep era luminaries such as Burial or the productions of HTRK's Nigel Yang. More isolating and enveloping than the previous all acoustic record, this is music both disorienting and yet warmly inviting all at once. A sonic diarist at heart, personal field recordings were also taken from Sardinia, Japan, Big Sur and LA which intersect at unexpected moments throughout the album's 31-minute play time.

'Dream Temperature' is a vital coalescence of both Simon's electronic and acoustic practices with repositioned electronics akin to earlier works, both haunting and elegant, yet still profoundly personal. Simon continuously resonates as an experimental outlier treading an enthralling, non-linear musical path. This music resolutely glows with an unknowing aura, like an untapped energy source waiting to be discharged.