CHARLY RECORDS present the first ever reissue of the sought-after Gospel treasure Crying In The Street by Robert Sims and his Seven Brothers.
Originally released circa 1969 by Lelan Rogers on his Nashville based House Of The Fox imprint. The title track ‘Crying In The Streets’ is a Gospel anthem penned by Sam Matter, Kerry Porter and Ted Harris as a response to the assassination of Martin Luther King. It was recorded contemporaneously by Baton Rouge deep soul vocalist George Perkins who scored a regional hit when it was picked up by Lelan Rogers for his Silver Fox subsidiary. The song was covered to great effect by Buckwheat Zydeco, featuring Ry Cooder, and appears on the 2005 benefit album for Hurricane Katrina.
This is a forgotten gem, atmospheric and beautifully produced. It is a passionate, life-affirming record that resonates today just as much as it did over 50 years ago.
A Gospel Experience.
Poor Creature is comprised of Ruth Clinton, Cormac MacDiarmada and John Dermody, all three are members of other bands (Landless and Lankum respectively) who have built a large following on re-interpreting songs from the past Songs that have existed for centuries can seem immutable and anchored to time. A new generation of Irish musicians are keen to acknowledge that musical legacy, while reimagining the songs within a contemporary context. Poor Creature's sound - particularly in the context of contemporary Irish folk - offers something unique. There's the gauzy, underwater, almost psychedelic seams of 'Bury Me Not' and 'Adieu Lovely Erin'. 'All Smiles Tonight' and 'Hicks' Farewell' nod to the influence of American folk/bluegrass acts like Doc Watson and the Louvin Brothers. These shifting sounds are made possible by producer John 'Spud' Murphy, who has produced all of Lankum's albums, and worked with Junior Brother, OXN, Pretty Happy, Ye Vagabonds as as well as the final two albums by The Jimmy Cake, with whom John has played for over 20 years. "There's something about the everyday and the fantastical, being entangled, which I think Irish music does so well." This also sums up All Smiles Tonight, moving through stories and loss and history to create an otherworldly and timeless album for the ages.
The Modern Jazz Quartet, known for its sophisticated and elegant approach to jazz, consisted of pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Connie Kay
Here are Some key points about the album: "Fontessa" is regarded as one of the Quartet's essential recordings, praised for its elegant performances and refned compositions. The album refects the commitment to creating jazz that is both accessible and artistically ambitious. Critics and jazz enthusiasts often highlight the interplay between Milt Jackson's vibraphone and John Lewis's piano, supported by the solid rhythm section of Percy Heath and Connie Kay. The title track "Fontessa" is a suite in several movements, showcasing the band's ability to merge different musical themes seamlessly; the album includes notable covers such as "Angel Eyes," "Willow Weep for Me," and "Over the Rainbow" all of which are given the Modern Jazz Quartet unique treatment with a mix of lush harmonies and sophisticated improvisation. The album, released in 1956, signifcantly contributed to the evolution of jazz by demonstrating that it could be a serious, artful genre capable of sophisticated expression. The Modern Jazz Quartet infuence extends beyond jazz to classical and popular music, and "Fontessa" remains a testament to their innovative spirit and enduring appeal, a key album in their discography, exemplifying their unique sound and artistic vision.
LTD Repress !
LIZZ is back on PlayedBy with Chapter II, a compilation of new and unreleased artifacts and other treasures from his dense catalog. Diverse and expansive, it captures his versatile musicianship and ever-evolving production style.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of tracks produced by LIZZ: on one hand rallying for the right to party, and on the other, nostalgic odysseys, sometimes lustful and sometimes wistful. Chapter II has a bit of everything. Thirteen tracks of club heat varied narrative that is worth listening to carefully.
Opener "Seamless" and its steady snare keep spirits high while the spacey keys provide a trippy, out-there vibe. On the flipside, "Clasic Dewan" uses elements we've heard before - warm pads, a percussive organ, and a looped vocal sample - but still makes for a great dancefloor track. Both tracks are a throwback to LIZZ's tried and true Terrafirma.
"Cynelmoon" unravels a labyrinthine universe twisting in and out of misty existence, with its snake-like rattles winding through a maze of synth bleeps.
Refreshing and zippy, "Dip Si M" stands out as a gritty reinterpretation of a great space and sounds like the most fun he's ever had on record. On the other hand, "Chemical Chords" is ethereal, meditative, with a hushed musicality that is almost stoic.
LIZZ takes the listener on a journey of vertiginous peaks and deep valleys as he leads "Round Around" into spiraling locked down looped club music.
Listening to "Nothing with Nothing" feels like a video-game on its own. It’s a bundle of joy and energy, peaking with a crescendo of color.
On "69" the energy builds with such careful, gradual restraint that even the most active listener might wonder how they ever got to this point. Chopped up shards of melody and vocals combine to create a kaleidoscopic funhouse with a strong Perlon-esque flavour.
"Roaki" is the dreamy track with an irresistible groove, where LIZZ combines smooth synth pads with dubby and distorted electronic drums that add a sense of cyberpunk feel, reconfirming's Playedby's fanaticism for this project.
A bubbling, percussive roller marks the beginning of "Jazzohub" and skyrockets from there. The track hits with an inviting vocal that dissolves into a fluid swirl of layered hand drums.
"No More High" is a a real banger. This one bounces hard with a bass-heavy beat and a military snare, leaving you no choice but to tip-toe with its groove all night long.
Chasing an ever-vivid muse,"Electronic World" hits with its drumming rhythms, labyrinth of synth bleeps and bold vocals reminiscent of tunneling club nights.
Closing track "I Am Cross" brings an unusual kind of dark atmosphere to the fore: it's cavernous and enveloping, almost as if the rhythm was an afterthought.
Chapter II is every bit as ambitious as its predecessor. Across thirteen tracks, LIZZ approaches the dancefloor forms of his earlier work with a fresh and voluptuous groovy attitude. Somehow, individually, we must reclaim our own experience.\5
Cinthie makes a welcome return to her own 803 Crystal Grooves imprint this June for its sixth release, the project comprises four original"s showcasing Cinthie"s many different sonic styles and influences.
The past decade has seen Berlin"s Cinthie moving from strength to strength, racking up milestone achievements like her DJ Kicks mix compilation and a steady stream of critically acclaimed material via the likes of Aus, Heist, Shall Not Fade and of course her own 803 Crystal Grooves label where she returns here with some fresh machine jams.
"Grooves" kicks off the package, a dynamic dance floor cut fuelled by processed vocals uttering the track title, murky bass stabs, heavily swung drums and gritty saturated stabs all dynamically evolving and unfolding throughout. "Boxer" follows next and showcases Cinthie"s love for dub-tinged sounds, laying down spiralling dub echoes, a snaking bass groove and hypnotic chord sequences atop a robust, swinging rhythm section.
"Hands Up" then kicks off the B-Side, shifting gears to a classic House aesthetic with dreamy keys, bright stab sequences, glistening synth textures and smooth strings, intertwined with soulful vocals and classic 909 workout. "She Wants It" then concludes the EP on a more cinematic tip with sweeping lead synths, fluttering arpeggios, elongated bass drones and vocal lines running with raw, crunchy drums.
Originally released in 1989 on the band’s own Thwart Productions label, Tangle was the first vinyl release from Thinking Fellers Union Local 282. Coming after their debut cassette, Wormed, By Leonard, it shows the band leapfrogging stylistically into a more mature phase of their patented surreal compositional modus operandi. Tracks like the opener, "Sister Hell," foreshadow the band's later evolutionary mutations and was a minor hit in the underground circuit at the time. The rest of the album is a sleek maelstrom of crackpot dissonance, noise-rock power balladry, schizo-telepathic improv and some of the finest underground music of the era. In short, Tangle is a template and Proclamation of Intent that presages TFUL's classic 90s releases. Originally produced by their longtime engineer and thaumaturge, Greg Freeman, this reissue is impeccably remastered from the original master tapes by Mark Gergis. New and contemporary artwork ties a saucy bow around this astonishing reissue.
"World of Pooh immensely brightened the dark corners of San Francisco, California during the years 1983-1990, with their most recognized guise being the MMF trio that existed & thrived during the years 1986-1990. This is the lineup you’ll hear documented on this exceptional collection of 45s, compilation tracks and assorted ephemera. The band has ranged from being a footnote for some (“is that the band Barbara Manning was once in?”) to a fondly-regarded memory for others (“the Land of Thirst album is a forgotten classic”) to a turnstile, door-opening band for still others — like me. They arrived in my life as they were slowly exiting theirs, and I eagerly attended a half-dozen shows of theirs circa 1989-90 around San Francisco moments after I moved there. They were instantly my favorite local band, one I was instantly duty-bound to see whenever & wherever they played. Their jagged and discombobulated take on underground pop music was exceptionally fertile, feral and fetching, and it served as a personal gateway drug that flowered my own appreciation for many different kinds of subtle musical tension.
I also spent at least five glorious years watching Jay Paget, who drummed for World of Pooh and later the Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, ply his rhythmic trade with much aplomb. He was always a steady hand behind the musical wheel of innovative bands who often threatened to careen off course. And I’ll admit to an untoward admiration of (and fascination with) World of Pooh founder, guitarist and singer Brandan Kearney from the moment I met the guy. Not only was he exceptionally friendly and welcoming to a carpetbagging interloper quickly trying to horn in on his scene (me), he was at once one of the most quick-witted, self-deprecating, highly intelligent & musically conversant people I’d ever met. Everything he and his band were doing, along with the mind-boggling DIY gunk he was pushing through his record label, Nuf Sed, and via his multiple other bands (among them: Caroliner & Archipelago Brewing Company, with several more to follow), made me extremely curious and not a tiny bit jealous about these wiser, weirder and musically more daring freaks who were making art, love & war in the relatively grittier & non-gentrified San Francisco of the day.
What I’ve learned in the 35 years since the band broke up is just how highly regarded they were (and remain) by not only those who saw them, but by a now-considerably larger group of humans who’ve subsequently heard & loved their records. I know that their place in the late 1980s was a small but special one, and I’ve seen plenty of online clamoring for more, more, more about this ephemeral and poorly-documented band. And rightly, here it is, lovingly assembled: their two hard-to-come-by 45s, a handful of comp tracks, and a quartet of phenomenal songs just coming to light for the first time, including that Half Japanese cover that dimly existed in my memory as a live song they naturally pulled off with sangfroid, from a time and space when we were all a little younger. - Jay Hinman"
'Bird and Diz' is the legendary collaboration between two jazz giants: saxophonist Charlie Parker (nicknamed "Bird") and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (often referred to as "Diz") key figures in the development of bebop. Their partnership was pivotal in shaping the sound and direction of bebop and their recordings together are considered some of the most influential in jazz history.
This set contains the complete original LP 'Bird and Diz' (Verve MGV-8006), consisting of a quintet session which marked Parker and Gillespie's last studio date ever (although they would later be recorded together live on numerous occasions, including the celebrated 1953 Massey Hall concert). This session was also Parker's only studio encounter with the great Thelonious Monk. Side B features nine alternate takes from the session.
Overall, the partnership between Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie represents a
golden era in jazz history marked by innovation, collaboration and artistic excellence
and their music continues to inspire and captivate listeners, ensuring that Bird and Diz
will always be remembered as two of the greatest figures in the pantheon of jazz
legends.
Crystal Viper was founded and has been led by vocalist, bassist and guitarist Marta Gabriel. Their latest studio album 'The Silver Key' was promoted live throughout Europe via extensive touring and at major Summer festivals such as Wacken Open Air or Hellfest. While due to Marta's presence the band is very often compared to female-fronted acts, Crystal Viper's style is deeply rooted in Heavy and Power Metal forged by legends such as Iron Maiden or Judas Priest.
When you think of Scandinavia, Slamming/brutality isn't the first thing to come to mind. That's until the slam crew of DEVINE DEFILEMENT spewed onto the Icelandic scene in late 2016.
Devine Defilement draw inspiration from a variety of death metal sub-genres they have concocted a brutal cocktail of groove, slams, blasts and ferocity that has made them a force to be reckoned with!
With several releases under their belt Devine Defilement has kept busy playing shows in their home country of Iceland, as well as heading on numerous European tours.
The band has played all the major metal festivals of Iceland like Eistnaflug, Satan, Reykjavik Deathfest & Noroanpaunk to name a few, and has also appeared on notable European death metal fests such as Deathfeast Open Air & Nice to Eat You and already have a more festival appearances lined up for 2025.
Devine Defilement's live show is highly energetic, heavy and brutal as hell and it's on stage that these maniacs are in their true element!
In 2025 the band is set to release their new full-length album "Ruthless" through Time To Kill Records, and it is their most savage offering yet!
You're strolling down an alley in New Orleans or Brooklyn late at night and this sound jumps out at you -- rock & roll, classic rhythm & blues, sung and played with verve, personality, and joy. The dance floor is full. You stroll in and hear sounds that wouldn't have sounded out of place on the legendary Specialty Records of the 1950s and '60s.
Indeed one of the eight cuts onWrite It Down, the new album fromJackson& The Janks, comes from the repertoire of rhythm & blues singer Mamie Perry, first recorded in 1959. The rest areJacksonLynch originals, inspired by his time living and playing music in the Crescent City. Theuniquearrangementsof the band itself have deep roots in NOLA, too, with Matt Bell (Esther Rose) on lap steel, Craig Flory (Tuba Skinny) on bass saxophone and Sam Doores (The Deslondes) sharing backing vocals while trading-off on drums and keys.
Jacksonand the Janks have performed at the Brooklyn Folk Fest, Blackpot Festival (Louisiana), and Oldtone Festival (New York) and did a video session for tastemaker series GemsOnVHS and Jackson a solo session for Paste. Its residency on Fridays in Brooklyn (when they're not on tour) packs the house week after week with fans and folks drawn in by the word-of-mouth buzz and the sound.
Keys To The World, Richard Ashcroft's third solo album, landed in January 2006 and quickly crept like a mile-a-minute vine to number two, whereto it clung for some time. Produced by long-time collaborator Chris Potter, it marks the former Verve frontman's last solo full-length for ten years, before its later supersession by 2016's These People. The LP leans heavy on orchestration, its string arrangements by Julian Kershaw performed by the London Met Orchestra, and electric viola parts from Bruce White sallying over its songwritten entirety. Sonically, Ashcroft dialled down the bombasticity of earlier outings for an analgesic, string-swept sound, dividing the lauds: praised by some for its melodic clarity maturer songwriting, others found it all too safe, though that didn't stop it going Platinum in the UK.
Globally beloved Australian trio Sons Of The East have announced their highly anticipated second album, SONS, due out via MGM (Metropolitan Groove Merchants) The Sons Of The East -- Jack Rollins (vocals, guitar), Nic Johnston (vocals, keys) and Dan Wallage (guitar, banjo) -- originally hail from Sydney's Northern Beaches, but their unmistakable sound has carried them to every corner of the globe. Blending folk, blues, soul, and classic country, their music channels the raw vulnerability of Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons, combined with the soaring harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Avett Brothers. Known for their deft songwriting and a palpable sense of joy that runs through every note, they've built a career on both timeless recordings and legendary live shows -- the kind that leave audiences singing along.
The Bathers' 1999 album Pandemonia is re-released by Last Night From Glasgow - Pressed on two shades of vinyl and CD.
"Is Glasgow the most romantic city on earth? The work of the Bathers can make you believe so. Kisses on tenement stairwells, Kelvingrove girls. It's the music of those Glasgow evenings where the elusive sun can make a late appearance on the red sandstone tenements and suddenly that tough old imperial city feels like the perfect place to fall in love. And The Bathers provide the soundtrack."
Featuring guest appearances from Belle & Sebastian's Isobel Campbell and Richard Colburn. Also Catherine Leroy, Mario Caribe, Neil Cameron and Bather regulars...Callum McNair, Hazel Morrison, Robert Henderson, Barry Overstreet & Iain White.
Reissue of in-demand Italo title, with accompanying edits by Hysteric. "For the much-requested 12'' reissue of Roaring Mosquitoes, Best Record followed the hint by a die-hard German researcher and esteemed DJ of 'hidden musical treasures' Frinda Di Lanco. Further enriching this reissue - masterfully remastered by Dom Scuteri - with two of his splendid edits is the Australian DJ-producer George Hysteric, one of the world's leading authorities and a leading figure in Italo Disco. The juxtaposition of the two songs performed with grit and physicality by Agostina Casalino and her cousin Antonietta Casalino (aka Roaring Mosquitoes) highlights two aesthetically and rhythmically similar approaches, albeit with different roots and inspirations. "You Aren't With Me" has the merit of not wanting to reinvent the genre, but exploits the familiarity of pop-dance forms, obtaining an immediate catchiness. The piece stands out for its linearity while reworking melodic mechanisms typical of the 80s new wave: short instrumental intro, well-defined verse-chorus, obsessive repetition of melodic hooks that make it an immediate and "dragging" song on the dance floor. The arrangement focuses on a solid electronic drum groove, sinuous basslines, clean guitar riffs, "cutting" keyboards and the use of the chorus typical of the Italo Disco of those years. Some passages recall the melodic line and rhythmic progression of "Tonight... Crazy Night", an intriguing song that the Canadian artist Dorine Hollier created in 1984 at the Titania Studios in Rome with Pierluigi Giombini. Even with "Ah Ah Ah Ah" which features a vibrant and cheerful sound there's a playful use of citation for some idea that Diego Pepe took from a Micky & Joyce track. It evokes the "space disco" spirit of Jean-Pierre Massiera and the influence of the French scene of 1979: polyphonic synthetic strings, echo effects on electronic hi-hats and a vaguely futuristic atmosphere, but with an even more captivating sound revitalized with more scratchy modern touches and compressed basslines. A mix of vintage and contemporary that enhance its charm."
‘Mormaço Queima’ is where it all began for Ana Frango Eléctrico. Raw, quirky and lo-fi, it’s a debut album brimming with attitude and youthful energy, characteristics that would go on to define their sound. Previously released digitally in Brazil in 2018, with a private press CD version in 2020 and later a Brazilian vinyl version in 2022, here at Mr Bongo we felt it deserved a much-needed worldwide edition for all of us to savour.
A charming, idiosyncratic blend of MPB, Tropicália, and indie from a talented singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who would later become one of Brazil’s brightest international stars. ‘Mormaço Queima’ has a cool, laidback, swagger channelling ‘90s bands such as Pavement. The arrangements feel loose and easy, the opener, 'Farelos' (Crumbs), seems to ebb and flow on a razor's edge before the percussion and Antonio Neves' trombone draws the song into a structure. Another highlight is 'No Bico Do Mamilo', which has a free-flowing vibe, Ana pushing, pulling, and playing with the song's energy, keeping listeners constantly on their toes. Tracks such as 'Roxo' lean more into a punk attitude, with the pendulum swinging from easy-going to frenetic. The longest song on the album 'Picles', continues to sway the pendulum this time moving from DIY punk-funk into a psychedelic workout
Co-produced by friends and fellow future collaborators Guilherme Lirio, Gustavo Benjão, Marcelo Callado, and Thiago Nassif, ‘Mormaço Queima’ is a playful showcase of Ana Frango Eléctrico’s distinctive style. Plotting Ana's musical career, it's clear they are not one to be pigeon-holed, nor to be confined to a single genre. Instead, they are ever evolving and this captivating debut album was the building block for a career that has already seen them gain multiple Latin-Grammy awards and tour the world with their music.
Cover of a song from 1990 that made history in Italian and European clubs at the dawn of the techno and progressive movement. This 12″ version has been reworked in perfect contemporary style and printed on limited edition vinyl.
This fourth EP in the Time Crystals series sees Troy returning to the label with a low-key driver, carried by sharp percussion and filtered chords that keep the attention locked in before Ukrainian Svarog and Ma-gooch take over, delivering their signature sound - evolving pads, dreamy soundscapes - resulting in yet another beautiful early hours piece of music.
Wonderchild Luigi Tozzi proves once again that he is a master at blending ambient-influences with dubby atmospheres, resulting in music that fits both dancefloors and living rooms. For the EP's forth track Jonas Korbl, who you might remember from his debut album in 2017 on Dynamic Reflection LTD, combines energetic percussion patterns and synth rhythms.
His Primal Grade is a seemingly perfect successor to Tozzi's Haboob, as both artists obviously take pride in their carefully arranged and modestly performed pieces of techno.
Equilibrium is part of Dynamic Reflection's 15 year anniversary celebration: Time Crystals. This is the fourth of five EP's. Own all five and an all new, visual piece of art will appear.
