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DirtybLends edition 10 is a Chicago slab of ruff business!

the A-side comes from new member of The Klan of The Beatheadz Grizzly Knuckles with ‘Caviar’ an influential continuation concept from the early days of trax records for 1 of the nastiest productions to come from The Sensuous Man & Woman Goes Disco laying on top of a drum machine rhythm that gets to the heart of the cut and the message!

the B-side comes from the leader of The Klan of The Beatheadz: The Jak himself re-creating the drum rhythm of Jesse Saunders with his Kpr machine from scratch, then applying influential sounds from his keyboard to sound like DJ Rush from his proto release on relief records by creating a new blueprint for Jakbeat CHICAGO style of slam dance and mosh pit chaos that happened at The Reactor or Medusa’s (for those who remember)

This vinyl re-pressing of Martin Carthy's Debut album is released to commemorate Topic's 85th anniversary in 2024 - Limited edition of 1000 copies - Black vinyl, standard weight with black, polylined inner sleeves. In the early 1960s, the approach Martin Carthy took to folk music was nothing short of revolutionary, albeit a relatively quiet revolution befitting of his humble nature. You wouldn't find Carthy's music clambering up the singles charts; his was not a face adorning the teen magazines. Instead, his influence was felt at a grass-roots level. He plied his trade in the folk clubs, which is where the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon sought him out, enamoured of his traditional repertoire and keen to learn songs like 'Scarborough Fair' and 'Lord Franklin' directly from him before adapting them for their own purposes.

His debut eponymous album, re-released here, on vinyl by Topic Records as part of their ongoing Topic Treasures series, is a snapshot of the work he was doing at the time.

Originally finding its way into the world in 1965, courtesy of Fontana Records, Martin Carthy pulled together 14 songs from his burgeoning repertoire. Produced by Terry at the Philips Recording Studios in Marble Arch, the album was a must-learn checklist for budding guitarists and folk club orgas, and, to this day, remains an essential listen for anyone attempting to find their way into traditional English folk music. Most people turn up for 'Scarborough Fair', very few leave without getting hooked on 'High Germany', 'Sovay' and 'Ye Mariners All'.

The album also introduces Carthy's earliest collaborations with Dave Swarbrick, an enduring and much-copied partnership that lasted, off and on, until Swarbs death in 2016, and became a blueprint for how guitar and fiddle duos ought to sound. While Carthy had been building up his solo repertoire over the previous five or six years, several of the duo arrangements on this album ('Lovely Joan', 'A Begging I Will Go', 'Broomfield Hill') were thrown together in the studio, adding a fizz and freshness to the recordings. This became the pair's standard way of working. "We used to rehearse on stage, in front of the audience," he explains today.

In the years since, Martin Carthy has become the veteran of over 40 studio albums and a veritable beacon for musicians and music lovers seeking "the real stuff." Pressed to name his favourite, he needs no time to think it over. "I always stand by the first album," he says of his 1965 debut. "I love it. There are some things on it I think I couldn't have done better. There was a clarity of purpose."

And, with this re-release, we can be sure that newcomers get to hear that sense of purpose in the best possible quality, as clearly as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and a generation of folk lovers did six decades ago.

Re-issue des 2. Saffire Albums als Digipak & Ltd. Transparent Curacao LP. Die schwedischen Hard Rocker Saffire haben einen Remix des 2015 auf AOR Heaven erschienenden Albums gemacht. Nicht, dass der ursprüngliche Mix schlecht gewesen wäre, sondern eher aufgrund der Tatsache, dass sich die ursprüngliche Veröffentlichung klanglich anders anfühlte als gewünscht. Mit diesem Remix konnte die Band neue Produktionszutaten hinzuzufügen, von denen sie glauben, dass sie von Anfang an auf dem Album hätten enthalten sein sollen. Melodischer "old-school" Hard Rock & Metal, mit heutigem Sound. Sie klingen ein wenig nach 70er, nach Uriah Heep, Deep Purple etc., was vor allem die Keyboard/Orgel-Klänge und Einsätze betrifft. Die Riffs und Lead-Gitarren-Parts hingegen sind offensiv und knackig, und Sänger Tobias Jansson hat seinen eigenen Stil und Tonlage. Frischer Hard Rock mit Retro Anteilen, ein weiterer "Made In Sweden" Qualitätstitel.

Arkajo is back on his own label with two originals and two remixes by kindred spirits, Polygonia and Konduku. Starting with the warm Entwine, stepped-out beats laced with swirly stabs. Polygonia's finishes off the A-side with an organic and atmospheric rework; saturated in deep, trippy, rattling tonally percussive flows. Arkajo's Signature leads the B-side: broken drum patterns with whispers from the realm between where Sweden and the UK meet. Konduku settles the score with his dark and eerie 4x4 techno take. A diverse record to keep in the bag for both hazy basements and the upcoming summer season.

The Three of Us is a name you might not know even if you are something of a jazz lover. It was the name that jazz keyboardist Hilton Felton - who will be much more well known to those with an ear for rare groove - used for this one groovy soul-jazz album. It arrived in super limited quantities back in 1971 and is now hugely sought after and therefore also rather expensive on the second-hand market. Joining Felton for these sessions were bassist Joe Harris and stickman Johnathan Setell, but it is Hilton's touch that really elevates the music - his free melodies and deep grooves really make their mark. This one has never been reissued before.

Embark on a sonic journey with Gabriels' 'Love and Hate' as it undergoes a mesmerizing transformation through the skilled hands of Xpress 2.

The Xpress 2 remix propels the track to new heights, infusing it with dynamic beats and an infectious rhythm that beckons listeners to the dancefloor. In addition, this vinyl edition also includes the Kerri Chandler remixes, adding a more soulful touch.

Kerri expertly blends emotive melodies with a pulsating energy that captivates the senses. This remix package is a testament to the collaborative prowess of these musical maestros, offering a transcendent experience for electronic music aficionados and dance enthusiasts alike.

Dive into the reimagined soundscape of 'Love and Hate' – a fusion of artistic brilliance and dancefloor magic.

Minas 'Num Dia Azul' is a sublime slice of private press bossa nova meets jazzy MPB perfection. Warm and bubbling with youthful spirit, the music is simultaneously loose in swagger, yet slick and tight. The album was originally released in 1983 and reflects the great music coming out of Rio at the time, yet 'Num Dia Azul' wasn't recorded in Rio, but actually in the USA.

Recorded in North Carolina just after Patricia and Orlando Haddad had graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the record was only released for the Brazilian market on their own Blueazul Records imprint. As with most private press labels, they could only afford to have it pressed in small quantities. To add to its later obscurity, hundreds of copies were also destroyed in a house fire. They say cream always rises to the top, and fast forward to the 2010s, the word amongst collectors and DJs was spreading about this mythical under-the-radar recording. People from across the globe were contacting Patricia and Orlando for more information, hoping to secure themselves a copy. Luckily the original tapes had remained with the artists and were in great condition, so in 2016 the pair ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to have it remastered and repressed.

For this Mr Bongo 2023 re-issue, we have tried to keep it as close to the original 1983 version as possible, both in the packaging and audio presentation. The CD version comes with bonus tracks. We are super proud to keep Patricia and Orlando's serene recordings in the circulation that they deserve to be. One for fans of Brazilian artists such as Burnier & Cartier, Edu Lobo and Joyce. We are sure those fans will lose themselves in the alluring textures of 'Num Dia Azul'

NOW is proud to present the very best of Country music with NOW That’s What I Call Country. 4 CD’s jam-packed full of the biggest Country hits of all time! With 86 tracks and its mix of classic and modern hits, this collection is essential for any Country music and Pop fan! So, grab yours today, and get ready to enjoy the very best of Country also available on a Coloured Triple LP set with 50 tracks and its mix of classic and modern hits, this collection is essential for any vinyl collection! So, grab yours today, and get ready to enjoy the very best of Country across 3-LPs!

New York alternative rock / post-grunge band Superbloom follow up their debut album ‘Pollen’ with this new mini-album of 90’s inspired heavy rock music. FFO: Siamese Dream era ‘Pumpkins, Kerbdog, Quicksand, Narrow Head, etc. If you like the sound of chunky riffs, swirling production, and dreamy interludes then this is for you. 180g coloured vinyl.

Jakku are Per Ingvaldur Højgaard Petersen and Bárður Næs both born and raised on the Faroe Islands. On their debut EP “Fashion” they unveil their unique take on dark, spiritual electronica locked to chopped up traditional singing from the Faroes as well as other corners of the world.

Jakku have labelled it Kingodub after a primeval form of hymn singing which is still practiced on the isles. Expect deep, heavy beats with ancient marching and chanting

Der großartigen Sängerin Billie Holiday nähert man sich immer sehr respektvoll, behutsam ihrem tragischen Leben gegenüber, aber auch voller Bewunderung der fantastischen Musik, die sie erschaffen hat. Die aktuelle Analogue Productions/Verve Edition in 45rpm, verteilt auf zwei super sauber gepressten Vinyl-Scheiben, unterstreicht dies akustisch mehr als deutlich. Dabei ist die Tatsache, dass die Aufnahmen in Mono sind, ein soundtechnischer Haupt-Gewinn. Der Klang gewinnt dadurch definitiv an Intensität, Tiefe und Druck. Die Scheibe erschien erstmals 1955. Eine geniale Band bannte damals 12 wunderbare Lieder auf die analogen Studiobänder. Neben Sängerin Billie Holiday agieren noch die Schlagzeuger Larry Bunker und Alvin Stoller, Harry „Sweets“ Edison an der Trompete, Barney Kessel an der Gitarre, Jimmy Rowles am Piano und Ben Webster am Saxophon. Den Bass teilen sich Red Mitchell und Joe Mondragon. Der Opener „Do NothingTill You Hear From Me“ ist maximal fesselnd. Holidays Stimme erfüllt den ganzen Hörraum. Kessel spielt dazu wunderschön bluesig-trockene und wohlklingende blue notes. Websters Saxophon ist so unendlich präsent, dass man unschwer meinen könnte, man säße inmitten des Ensembles. Mit Swing und Maxi-Groove kommt „But Not For Me“. Jazz as Jazz can! Herrlich perlen die Klavierfiguren von Rowles. Der Kontrabass kommt dabei so unendlich druckvoll und dynamisch. Das muss man hören, fühlen und spüren. Holidays Stimme hat dabei soviel Klangfarbe, dass man nur noch Schwärmen kann. Die zwei 180 Gramm schweren LPs kommen im ästhetisch gestalteten Klappcover. Dieser audiophile Edelstein gehört in jede gut sortierte Schallplattensammlung, und zwar definitiv schrankenlos Genre-übergreifend. wb

Warehouse find!

Since emerging in the early 2000s with releases on the seminal Merck label, Proswell (Joseph Misra) has proven to be one of the most original voices in IDM. People Are Giving And Receiving Things At Incredible Speeds (PAGARTAIS), his debut on Sheffield's Central Processing Unit, is another Proswell record which overflows with creative energy. Containing five widescreen electronic epics, PAGARTAIS showcases some of the most ambitious work in the discographies of both artist and label.

The core sonic palette of PAGARTAIS is one schooled in the IDM and electronica sounds of imprints like Rephlex Records, B12 and Skam. These tracks are helmed by thick washes of keys, an array of playful synth tones and drums so deft it's sometimes hard to tell whether they have been programmed or played live. However, across almost forty minutes of music here Proswell explodes preconceptions about genre and form, his music gleefully jumping from one new sound to the next while assimilating electro, prog, computer game music, post-jazz and pretty much everything in between.

Opener 'PAGARTAIS I' sets the tone for the rest of the record. This is a track which never sits still - beginning with a distorted melee of drums that comes off like a strange new version of breakbeat, 'PAGARTAIS I' moves through some thrillingly idiosyncratic takes on Rephlex-school IDM, stargazing Detroit electro and The Comet Is Coming's futurist electronic jazz across its near-ten-minute runtime. Following number 'PAGARTAIS II' is no less impressive, referencing the hyper-modern computer sounds of Iglooghost and Kai Whiston while containing a driving opening section which could have soundtracked one of the legendary Wipeout games.

Although this fabulously unpredictable record often zips along at high speeds, Proswell is also able to dial things back when he needs to. Indeed, the second half of PAGARTAIS finds him slowing down a tad in order to deliver some of the album's most atmospheric material - 'PAGARTAIS III' blends cutting-edge electronics with sonorous jazz harmonies and fizzing improvised lead lines, the mysterious 'PAGARTAIS IV' is a sort of freeform variation on the maximalist, colourful electronica of Galaxy Garden-era Lone, and the slinking computerised Braindance number 'PAGARTAIS V' recalls Calum Gunn's recent CPU drop Addenda.

Really, though, none of these comparisons quite do justice to the inventive capacity of this music - Proswell's in a lane of his own here. An incredibly innovative fusion record that takes in IDM, prog, computer music, electro and plenty more besides, People Are Giving And Receiving Things At Incredible Speeds (PAGARTAIS) is the sound of a unique musical mind in full flight.

RIYL: Calum Gunn, Kai Whiston, Iglooghost, Rustie, Bogdan Raczynski

Back in stock!

NULLPTR never fails. Since emerging in 2016 with the Optical LP, Eddie Symons' project has become a byword for top-draw contemporary electro productions. After triumphantly returning to Sheffield's Central Processing Unit with 2020's Future World full-length, NULLPTR follows that album up with a new quartet of machine-funk slammers. Striking a balance between highwire, twitchy rhythm programming and some deft textural work, the Terminus EP demonstrates exactly why the NULLPTR name is so respected in the world of electro.

The first half here almost showcases the two sides of the NULLPTR sound in microcosm. Opening track 'Connected' zips along like one of the racers from a Wip3out game. The 808s are all booming breakbeats and hissing-piston hats, with a jittery synth bassline nipping in and out of the spaces left vacant by the drums. Atop these swirl eerie keyboard pads, the reverb from them draping across the rest of the instruments like fog above a city. By contrast, following cut 'Mesospheric Cruise' is the yin to 'Connected's yang. Where its predecessor was tense and coiled, this lilting number is expansive and open like a primetime Virginia joint - though the point where the wistful house pads strip back to foreground the twinkle-toed electro beat still has a pleasing crunch to it.

The B-side of Terminus serves dystopian snap from the off. Genre masters Drexciya are invoked by 'Syndicate'. The needle-gun bassline here turns itself inside-out across these five minutes, and all the while the tune is laced with some evocative shadow-realm synth pads. A similar energy courses through the EP's closing title-track, a cut which also brings into play a booming four-to-the-flour that gives it an unstoppable sense of forward-motion. Like 'Connected' and 'Mesospheric Cruise' - indeed, like all of the NULLPTR material that Central Processing Unit has brought us down the years - these jams will sound positively devilish when deployed in a dark basement.

The Terminus EP sees electro don NULLPTR (Eddie Symons) deliver four slices of unadulterated machine-funk heat.

RIYL: Virginia, Cardopusher, Drexciya, Silicon Scally

Lone returns to Greco-Roman with a two track 12” of some of his finest work to date. A’-side Waterfall Reverse’ is an ecstatic hardcore song that ascends into a utopian dream. Resident Advisor called it "A fresh reinterpretation of Lone's dayglo breakbeat hardcore.....one of Cutler’s best moments"

AA-side Triton serves as a companion piece and keeps things leaner and focused on a 4/4 club sound. Both tracks are peak Lone; mind bendingly, breathtaking machine funk!

Dieses neueste Werk, das zwölfte Studioalbum der Band, wurde hauptsächlich während derselben Aufnahmesessions von TLGA aufgenommen, vor, während und nach dem jüngsten Covid-Notfall, von den verschiedenen Bandmitgliedern und schließlich wie üblich vom Toningenieur/Produzenten außerordentlichen Talents Karl Groom von Threshold bearbeitet, abgemischt und gemastert.

Somit ist die Besetzung des Albums dieselbe wie beim letzten: nämlich Stu Nicholson (Gesang), Dean Baker (Keyboards) und Spencer Luckman (Schlagzeug), Lee Abraham (Gitarren) und Mark Spencer (Bassgitarre). Das Hauptalbum besteht aus fünf Tracks sowie zwei Bonustracks auf der CD.

Wie schon bei TLGA hat 'The Long Goodbye' einen klaren und zeitgemäßen Klang, beinhaltet aber musikalisch immer noch eine Vielzahl von Einflüssen, einschließlich einiger Anspielungen auf das progressive Erbe der Band, insbesondere im epischen abschließenden Titeltrack, in dem der Alterungsprozess und das schwierige und heikle Thema der früh einsetzenden Demenz hoffentlich mit einer gewissen Ernsthaftigkeit behandelt werden.

Dieses neueste Werk, das zwölfte Studioalbum der Band, wurde hauptsächlich während derselben Aufnahmesessions von TLGA aufgenommen, vor, während und nach dem jüngsten Covid-Notfall, von den verschiedenen Bandmitgliedern und schließlich wie üblich vom Toningenieur/Produzenten außerordentlichen Talents Karl Groom von Threshold bearbeitet, abgemischt und gemastert.

Somit ist die Besetzung des Albums dieselbe wie beim letzten: nämlich Stu Nicholson (Gesang), Dean Baker (Keyboards) und Spencer Luckman (Schlagzeug), Lee Abraham (Gitarren) und Mark Spencer (Bassgitarre). Das Hauptalbum besteht aus fünf Tracks sowie zwei Bonustracks auf der CD.

Wie schon bei TLGA hat 'The Long Goodbye' einen klaren und zeitgemäßen Klang, beinhaltet aber musikalisch immer noch eine Vielzahl von Einflüssen, einschließlich einiger Anspielungen auf das progressive Erbe der Band, insbesondere im epischen abschließenden Titeltrack, in dem der Alterungsprozess und das schwierige und heikle Thema der früh einsetzenden Demenz hoffentlich mit einer gewissen Ernsthaftigkeit behandelt werden.

Open Mics might not always have a great reputation but for Merlin Hydes it brought some good things. On one hand he met his producer Jon Kenzie who is hosting "Bring Your Own Song" in Hamburg and on the other hand playing that Open Mic put him in touch with DevilDuck Records because they are good friends with Jon Kenzie and he told them to check this boy out. A couple of months later the debut album "In Plain Sight" was recorded at Kenzie"s home studio in just three days and is now ready to conquer the world... or at least a little part of it. The idea was to just record the songs in a cosy and easy set up just as in the good old days without thinking too much about it and avoid any perfectionism. "In Plain Sight" describes the balancing act between the peaceful country life, the desire to have a yard and a garden and the supposedly exciting and urban city in which you always might feel a bit strange and as you have chicken poop under your shoes", as Hydes explains....

Days of the New (the Green album) is the second self-titled studio album from Days of the New, originally released in 1999 and written, performed and produced by Travis Meeks. After the first album, the band broke-up and with only Matt Taul on board from the past, lead bandmember Travis Meeks surrounded himself with a sea of musicians, including a young pre-Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger for background vocals and even drew in an orchestra. Influential Rolling Stone's review called the album "a progress report from an artist in the midst of a head-spinning transition". The first single "Enemy" charted #10 in the US Alternative Airplay chart, #10 in the Mainstream Rock Tracks and the second single "Weapon & The Wound charted #10 in the Mainstream Rock Tracks. Days of the New (the Green album) celebrates its 25th anniversary and is available on vinyl for the first time. This 2LP includes an insert.

Days of the New (II) by Days Of The New, released 16 February 2024, includes the following tracks: "Enemy", "Skeleton Key", "Bring Yourself" and more.

This version of Days of the New (II) comes as a 2xLP. This release comes with (a) Insert(s).

clear vinyl


Brooklyn Sway returns for its fifth release with another all-star cast of names drawn from the Brooklyn underground, as always vinyl only and with label art from NYC mural legend Cern.

Label regulars Vivian Wang and DeWinter lead off the A-side in a tough-but-dreamy style on 'What About Love', the heavily processed vocals of NYC house guru Kevin Williams giving the tune a true NYC afterhours flavor. Next up is David Paglia, also a frequent label contributor, whose 'Spellbound' toughens up the rhythm section with dub bass and a steady breakbeat backbone while liquid pads and the vocal hook hold dancers in their spell.

The flipside ups the ante for grime, leading off with label head Jay Prouty, DeWinter, and NYC OG Emma's 'What We Do', precision tooled for when the afterparty gets dicey. A hip hop acapella floats through a dense web of flutes, breaks, and a rugged house beat: smart DJs will sense main floor potential here, swaying halfway between gangster lean & proper house dancing. Charles Levine from Soul Clap needs no intro, and his 'Gimme A Break' is equally literal, a funky breakbeat belter with effortless vocal flourishes that balances perfectly between hard and smooth, just the way we like it in Brooklyn.

2023 Repress

Frank Maston’s Tulips is a sample-ready film score to the best 70s movie never made. Originally a super-limited self-release on his Phonoscope label in late 2017, Tulips has already become incredibly sought-after. Be With were introduced to Maston by mutual friends Aquarium Drunkard and it didn’t take long before we decided this modern classic deserved a reissue.

Inspired by the deep-grooving soundtracks of Italian cinema - think Morricone, Umiliani and Alessandroni - Maston conceived the entire Tulips project as a continuation of these revered works. Frank designed the artwork and made two 16mm films to accompany the music: “It wasn’t just the LP… it was kind of a whole vibe I was trying to create. Not really trying to emulate the things that influenced me but more trying to make something that could sit alongside those records on a shelf. I’m still very proud of the project.”

There’s a distinct library music feel too, with wiry organ, spacey keyboards and loping 60s guitar hinting at KPM and DeWolfe. Like the best library music, Tulips creates a cinematic universe through sound alone, evoking moving images in the listener’s technicolour imagination. It turns out that was accidentally on purpose: “I was discovering a lot of library music for the first time… listening to a composer’s entire catalog or finding all this obscure stuff. I wasn’t entirely conscious of the influence until I started making this music and realized I was channeling the vibe. That’s when I began focusing more on weaving melodic themes throughout the record to make it function more like a soundtrack”.

Tulips was recorded between 2015 and 2017 in a small studio in a village called Zwaag in Holland, during downtime from Frank’s touring duties with Jacco Gardner’s band. “Tulips” comes from the title of the very first demo he made in Holland, it was the first thing that came to mind. Makes sense.

Recording in Europe with some very European influences in mind, Frank wanted to eschew any American influences. But we can still feel the studio wizardry of the likes of Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson in there somewhere. A psychedelic bedroom-pop song-cycle, full of hypnotic hooks and dusty drums, Tulips manages to sound charmingly homemade yet wholly widescreen.

Dreamy opener “Swans” is an exquisite soul instrumental and recalls the soft-psych of Koushik, which Be With loves of course. Tropicalia influences abound in the cool and breezy “New Danger” and the KPM-references are loud and proud on the lush organ pop of “Old Habits”. Fast-paced “Chase Theme No. 1” manages to be both tense and laid back, decorated by acid-drenched spaghetti Western guitars. The glorious Gainsbourg-esque melancholia of “Infinite Bliss” is all gauzy flutes and happy-sad vocalizing and the title is almost perfect: it’s bliss, no question; *if only* it went on forever. Side A closes with “Evening”, a subtle bossa nova beat thing. Gorgeous.

Side B opens with the heat-shimmer guitars of “Rain Dance”, evoking an unreleased Byrds or Buffalo Springfield backing track. Yes, it’s that good. “Sure Thing” is music to accompany an elevator ride you never want to end, but in a good way! The ornate “Garçon Manqué” is as beautiful as the instrumentals on Pet Sounds (think “Let’s Go Away For A While”) and the wistful “Turning In” starts like a stroll in the park before Maston introduces a scorched-Earth guitar solo that would startle if it wasn’t so pitch-perfect. “Chase Theme No. 2” is a briefer, more keening counterpart to what we hear on side A. The head-nod bass-drums-keys funk of “Hues” rounds out this staggeringly assured set; still opening each phrase with a plaintive strum, but using vibrato and heavy reverb to accent the electric organ melody. Sublime.

All these top drawer musical references might sound like just more of the usual release notes hyperbole, but there’s a reason that this still-young LP already changes hands for big money. It really is that good. Of course that first pressing didn’t hang around for long and Frank’s regularly been asked about a re-press pretty much ever since.

Re-issuing Tulips on Be With made sense to Frank “because the record would fit in so well with the catalogue”. Having already delved into the archives of KPM and Themes, and beginning to do the same with Coloursound and Selected Sounds, the collaboration “just makes sense and seems inevitable”. We agree.

Frank wasn’t sure a record of instrumentals with obscure soundtrack references would be an easy sell when it was originally released, and was surprised when Tulips turned out to be exactly what some people wanted to hear. We reckon its timeless beauty ensures that it’ll *always* have an audience.

The record was originally cut to be played at 45rpm, a technical quirk that grants the home listener the opportunity to go deeper, for longer. Played at 33rpm, the more languid unfurling of the tracks proves just as wonderful a trip. As a psilocybin-soaked case study from Aquarium Drunkard back in January of 2019 describes, some of the songs sound as if they were intended to be heard that way. The slower speed allowing the listener to step inside and perhaps even “crack the code” of the music’s meaning.

Mastered for this vinyl reissue by Simon Francis and featuring alternative burnt orange artwork from Maston himself, this Be With pressing is limited to just 500 copies. Hypnagogic it may be, but please don’t sleep.

2023 Repress

Maston’s Darkland is a breezy collection of the material from the Tulips sessions that didn’t make it on to the original LP. Originally a digital-only release for those in the know in the autumn of 2018, after re-issuing Tulips in 2020 it made too much sense for Be With to give Darkland a vinyl release.

Like Tulips, Darkland was recorded mostly in Hoorn, in the Netherlands, between 2015-2017 during downtime from Frank’s touring duties with Jacco Gardner’s band. Bits were also done in Los Angeles on some extended trips back home.

The collection plays like an alternate view of Maston’s instant modern classic Tulips; a companion piece to the LP proper with similar mixture of shorter themes and more full length tracks. As Frank Maston explains: “I think Darkland is the shadow of Tulips in a way… what it might’ve been in a different universe. But the heart of Tulips beats in these songs as well and they evoke the same memories and feelings for me. I see my process playing out across these songs - lots of experimentation and trying out new techniques and sounds and just sort of going for it.”

Frank goes on: “It was all from the same pool of material, like 30+ ideas. I was making a lot of little demos… some would be more fleshed out and become songs and others would just be a cool riff and not go anywhere. When I started trying to form it all into an LP I went through all the sessions and ideas and collected the ones I thought were the most fleshed out and cohesive together as a whole. There were a fair amount of songs that were finished and in hindsight really should have been on Tulips (like what would’ve been the title track). And the rest of these songs are either very early versions of tunes that ended up on Tulips or some cool ideas that just ended up being dead ends. It definitely shows how wide my net was in the beginning before I narrowed the record down stylistically.”

Darkland opens with its ornate 39 second title-track before striding into “Tulips”, that full-length title-track that never was. It’s a real head-nod, percussive-rich electric piano stunner that would’ve been a comfortable standout on the album proper. But now this “downlifting” gem is given ample room to shine on this record.

The funky organ-led bass and drums workout “Immaculate Conception” will keep your neck gently snapping while MPC fiends go reaching for their sampler. And that’s gospel. “Love Theme No 3” cuts a breathtakingly stylish vibra-slapped swathe through the middle of the opening side before we’re startled by the pronounced bass and twinkling percussion of “The Owl In Daylight”. Charming digi-drums underpin the wonky synth (quiet-)banger “Innovative Patterns” which has a lovely melodic switch-up in the final third before the tempo (and hairs on your neck) rise on the faintly creepy yet imminently groovy “Osiris”. The gorgeously soft-focus “Groove Experiment No 3” closes out the first half in slow-mo wonderment.

The lushly melancholic “Raincloud” ushers in side B before the emotionally-stirring “Phonic” taps at the door, coming on like the long lost sister to Pet Sounds’ “Let’s Go Away For A While”. Next up, the swooning beauty “Love Theme No 2” keenly sways in front of you, growing ever more insistent and hypnotic. The too-short “Italian Summer” conjures the same flirtatious imagery as the title hints at whilst “Endless” is a fascinating “piano-pella” alternative version to “Rain Dance” from Tulips. “Wonder Theme” has a nostalgic, exotic 60s swing and album closer “Willow” is a hushed, campfire folk gem. The gently circular strumming is just magical.

Speaking to Aquarium Drunkard back in 2019 about the sessions that became Tulips, Frank noted: “I was really surprised by the lack of sunlight during my first winter in Holland, so I would call it Darkland which then became the name of the first demo I wrote during that time. It was also the working title of the record when I first started writing. Some are full songs that didn’t make the cut (including what would have been the title track), some are just ideas that I never finished.”

Whilst we were working on Darkland’s vinyl release Frank explained more specifically about the music that didn’t make it on to Tulips: “When I was putting together the tracklisting for Tulips I was already thinking that whatever didn’t make it onto the LP would be cool to release eventually somehow. The response to Tulips has been so passionate over the years that it’s nice to be able to offer another piece of that world. And for me personally it’s amazing to have more of my work out there in the world. Most common bit of feedback was that many of these songs should have been on Tulips. The odd friend says it’s much better than Tulips.”

Just like Tulips before it, Simon Francis’s vinyl mastering for Darkland has been cut at 45rpm so you can trip out to this as well at a woozy 33 1/3. The artwork too has been designed by Frank himself as a literal visual continuation of the Tulips cover.

We couldn’t possibly say whether Darkland is better than Tulips, and luckily we don’t have to decide.

Best remembered for his partnership with the rapper Will Smith in the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, the duo won the first rap Grammy as well as scoring some big pop hits back in the day, including their 1987 smash, "A Touch Of Jazz," which famously sampled Bob James' classic track "Westchester Lady."

In a full circle moment, James and Jeff have joined forces on the tune "That Bop," a thumping dance track overlain with elegant piano hooks. "It was fun to work with him so many years after he had sampled me in the past," says James, who reveals they collaborated by sharing music files across the internet during the pandemic.

"We also did a couple of other tunes that may see the light of day soon," discloses James, who is keen to work with the hip- hop legend again. "I hope the next time we'll actually be in the studio at the same time so that we can interact," he says. The B-side features Bob James' original jazz-funk classic and DJ favorite, "Shamboozie", available for the first time on 7" vinyl.

Released by evosound on a 7" Vinyl Single on the 6th of October, 2023. Limited Edition of 1,200 copies worldwide.

Die aus Bristol (UK) kommenden IDLES haben heute ihr kommendes fünftes Album 'TANGK' angekündigt. 'TANGK', der 11-Track-Nachfolger ihres Grammy-nominierten Albums CRAWLER, wurde von Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, The Smile, Beck), Mark Bowen und Kenny Beats (Denzel Curry, Vince Staples, Benee) und der Band selbst co-produziert. 'TANGK' - ausgesprochen "Tank" mit einem Hauch von "g" und einer lautmalerischen Anspielung auf den peitschenden Gitarrensound, den sich die Band als eine Art Siegel für das Leben in der Liebe vorstellte - ist das bisher ehrgeizigste und eindrucksvollste Album der Band.

IDLES sind eine der stärksten Rockbands des letzten Jahrzehnts. Godrich, Beats und Bowen waren auch für die IDLES ein hervorragendes Tandem, das sie in neues Terrain vorstieß und dann die Zügel anzog, wenn es nötig war. 'TANGK' ist gleichzeitig ausladend und konzentriert, einfallsreich und unmittelbar. Über das Album sagt Sänger Joe Talbot: "TANGK. Ich brauchte Liebe. Also habe ich es gemacht. Ich habe der Welt Liebe gegeben und es fühlt sich wie Magie an. Dies ist unser Album der Dankbarkeit und der Kraft. Alles Liebeslieder. Alles ist Liebe."

Wo IDLES einst darauf aus waren, die Welt zu verarschen, den ewig Gestrigen die Stirn zu bieten und persönliche Traumata in Echtzeit zu exorzieren, sind sie in diesem neuen Akt angekommen, um die Früchte solcher Beharrlichkeit anzubieten: Liebe, Freude und tatsächlich Dankbarkeit für die bloße Möglichkeit der Existenz. Diese Musik gedeiht nicht trotz unserer Probleme, sondern wegen ihnen. Wenn wir uns nicht um uns selbst und um die anderen kümmern, so scheint 'TANGK' in einem gewaltigen Hook nach dem anderen auszurufen, wer dann?

Die aus Bristol (UK) kommenden IDLES haben heute ihr kommendes fünftes Album 'TANGK' angekündigt. 'TANGK', der 11-Track-Nachfolger ihres Grammy-nominierten Albums CRAWLER, wurde von Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, The Smile, Beck), Mark Bowen und Kenny Beats (Denzel Curry, Vince Staples, Benee) und der Band selbst co-produziert. 'TANGK' - ausgesprochen "Tank" mit einem Hauch von "g" und einer lautmalerischen Anspielung auf den peitschenden Gitarrensound, den sich die Band als eine Art Siegel für das Leben in der Liebe vorstellte - ist das bisher ehrgeizigste und eindrucksvollste Album der Band.

IDLES sind eine der stärksten Rockbands des letzten Jahrzehnts. Godrich, Beats und Bowen waren auch für die IDLES ein hervorragendes Tandem, das sie in neues Terrain vorstieß und dann die Zügel anzog, wenn es nötig war. 'TANGK' ist gleichzeitig ausladend und konzentriert, einfallsreich und unmittelbar. Über das Album sagt Sänger Joe Talbot: "TANGK. Ich brauchte Liebe. Also habe ich es gemacht. Ich habe der Welt Liebe gegeben und es fühlt sich wie Magie an. Dies ist unser Album der Dankbarkeit und der Kraft. Alles Liebeslieder. Alles ist Liebe."

Wo IDLES einst darauf aus waren, die Welt zu verarschen, den ewig Gestrigen die Stirn zu bieten und persönliche Traumata in Echtzeit zu exorzieren, sind sie in diesem neuen Akt angekommen, um die Früchte solcher Beharrlichkeit anzubieten: Liebe, Freude und tatsächlich Dankbarkeit für die bloße Möglichkeit der Existenz. Diese Musik gedeiht nicht trotz unserer Probleme, sondern wegen ihnen. Wenn wir uns nicht um uns selbst und um die anderen kümmern, so scheint 'TANGK' in einem gewaltigen Hook nach dem anderen auszurufen, wer dann?

The music of Atlanta trio Omni has always swung fast and hit hard. And Souvenir, their fourth album and second for Sub Pop, packs their biggest punch yet. Inactive during the majority of the pandemic-the longest downtime in their history-they approached this recording with lots of pent-up energy. Guitarist Frankie Broyles, singer/bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker converted their creative fuel into sharp, driving songs that land immediately, sporting chopping riffs, staccato beats, and wiry melodies. Why does Souvenir sound so sharp? Because each track is a compact unit that stands on its own, reflecting the time and place in which it was created. That's why Omni called the album Souvenir: it's a collection of audio objects, a stash of musical miniatures. Think of it as a family photo album, a binder of rare playing cards, a shoebox holding precious gems. Take "Plastic Pyramid," the first song Omni wrote after coming out of lockdown. Filled with twists and turns, it's a journey unto itself, charged by clanging chords, spinning rhythm, and Frobos trading lines with Izzy Glaudini of Automatic, with whom Omni toured with last fall. (Glaudini sings on two other Souvenir tracks, the first guest vocalist the band has collaborated with). Or take opener "Exacto," a slicing web of intertwined guitar and bass. Its razor-fine notes and syncopated beats perfectly match pointillist Frobos lyrics such as "Exacto, de facto, concise, quite right"-a line that could well be an Omni mantra. The precision and clarity of Souvenir comes from some new Omni developments. For one, this is their first album with Yonker as their full-time drummer, and his forceful playing adds exclamation points to every pointed moment on Souvenir. In addition, the trio worked with Atlanta-based engineer Kristofer Sampson for the first time. Sampson pushed the band to a higher degree of power, with Frobos's vocals more upfront in his pulsing mix and the rest of the music leaping out of the speakers. You might notice that Frobos' singing is a bit more emotional and even nostalgic this time around. In crafting his vocals, he was inspired by the early college radio rock of formative favorites like REM, the Cure, and Big Audio Dynamite-the kind of bands whose melodies could have been top 40 hits in an alternative universe. The lyrics on Souvenir are also by turns funny, absurd, and even cryptic. A wry humor has always coursed through Omni's songs, and this time, it comes in shades of both dark and light. In "Granite Kiss," an "astronomical" love story concludes with the hope that "we can decay together," while in "PG," a romantic walk in the park includes a rose-colored mugging. Immediacy rushes throughout every moment of Souvenir, making it the band's most powerful album to date. Omni has truly crafted a musical keepsake-a set of songs that you'll want to keep close, an aural memento you'll cherish for the rest of time.

Der legendäre Rockgitarrist Steve Hackett wird sein neues Studioalbum "The Circus And The Nightwhale" am 16. Februar 2024 über InsideOut Music veröffentlichen. Die 12 Tracks von "The Circus And The Nightwhale" sind ein Rite-of-Passage-Konzeptalbum, in dessen Mittelpunkt eine junge Figur namens Travla steht. Für den Musiker haben die 13 Tracks einen autobiografischen Aspekt, der über sein 30. Solo-Album sagt: "Ich liebe dieses Album. Es sagt die Dinge, die ich schon seit langer Zeit sagen wollte." Aufgenommen zwischen den Tourneen 2022 und 2023 im Siren Studio in Großbritannien - mit Gastbeiträgen aus Schweden, Österreich, den USA, Aserbaidschan und Dänemark - umfasst die Besetzung von "The Circus And The Nightwhale" neben Steve an elektrischen und akustischen Gitarren, 12-saitiger Gitarre, Mandoline, Mundharmonika, Percussion, Bass und Gesang einige bekannte Gesichter. Roger King (Keyboards, Programmierung und orchestrale Arrangements), Rob Townsend (Saxophon), Jonas Reingold (Bass), Nad Sylvan (Gesang), Craig Blundell (Schlagzeug) und Amanda Lehmann (Gesang). Nick D'Virgilio und Hugo Degenhardt kehren als Gäste an den Drumhocker zurück, der hervorragende Tontechniker Benedict Fenner ist an den Keyboards zu hören und Malik Mansurov ist wieder an der Gitarre. Und schließlich ist auch Steves Bruder John Hackett wieder an der Flöte zu hören. Steve fasst "The Circus And The Nightwhale" wie folgt zusammen: "Es ist eine schöne Reise, die schmutzig, kratzig und rauchig beginnt und dann himmlisch und göttlich wird. Wie kann man da widerstehen?" Das Album wird als Ltd CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (inkl. 5.1 Surround Sound & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g LP + LP-Booklet & als digitales Album erhältlich sein.

Der legendäre Rockgitarrist Steve Hackett wird sein neues Studioalbum "The Circus And The Nightwhale" am 16. Februar 2024 über InsideOut Music veröffentlichen. Die 12 Tracks von "The Circus And The Nightwhale" sind ein Rite-of-Passage-Konzeptalbum, in dessen Mittelpunkt eine junge Figur namens Travla steht. Für den Musiker haben die 13 Tracks einen autobiografischen Aspekt, der über sein 30. Solo-Album sagt: "Ich liebe dieses Album. Es sagt die Dinge, die ich schon seit langer Zeit sagen wollte." Aufgenommen zwischen den Tourneen 2022 und 2023 im Siren Studio in Großbritannien - mit Gastbeiträgen aus Schweden, Österreich, den USA, Aserbaidschan und Dänemark - umfasst die Besetzung von "The Circus And The Nightwhale" neben Steve an elektrischen und akustischen Gitarren, 12-saitiger Gitarre, Mandoline, Mundharmonika, Percussion, Bass und Gesang einige bekannte Gesichter. Roger King (Keyboards, Programmierung und orchestrale Arrangements), Rob Townsend (Saxophon), Jonas Reingold (Bass), Nad Sylvan (Gesang), Craig Blundell (Schlagzeug) und Amanda Lehmann (Gesang). Nick D'Virgilio und Hugo Degenhardt kehren als Gäste an den Drumhocker zurück, der hervorragende Tontechniker Benedict Fenner ist an den Keyboards zu hören und Malik Mansurov ist wieder an der Gitarre. Und schließlich ist auch Steves Bruder John Hackett wieder an der Flöte zu hören. Steve fasst "The Circus And The Nightwhale" wie folgt zusammen: "Es ist eine schöne Reise, die schmutzig, kratzig und rauchig beginnt und dann himmlisch und göttlich wird. Wie kann man da widerstehen?" Das Album wird als Ltd CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (inkl. 5.1 Surround Sound & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g LP + LP-Booklet & als digitales Album erhältlich sein.

Die musikalische Liebesgeschichte des Duos begann im Sommercamp, wo die beiden in der Schweiz geborenen Musiker ihre Playlists miteinander teilten. Das Teilen von Playlists führte zum Teilen von Träumen, und so wurde Psycho Weazel geboren. Ihre Musik ist ein retro-futuristisches Elektronik-Spektakel, das Indie-Dance, Cold Wave und EBM miteinander verbindet. In ihrem Studio am Ufer des Neuenburgersees haben sie einen beeindruckenden genreübergreifenden Katalog geschaffen. Diese ansteckenden Tracks bringen die Tanzflächen rund um den Globus zum Glühen - "Mains d'argile" wird da keine Ausnahme sein.

WRWTFWW Records is happy to announce the first-ever physical release of Louisiana-based composer and producer Jammin’ Sam Miller’s full HD re-creation/restoration of the beloved Super Metroid video game soundtrack. The limited biovinyl double LP is packed with 27 tracks and features an exclusive artwork by French illustrator Pierre Thyss, as well as an obi strip.

Composed by Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano, the soundtrack for 1994 SNES exploration / action-adventure / sci-fi / alien video game Super Metroid has always been a fan-favorite. A true masterclass in music storytelling, it beautifully evokes the epic and eerie adventure of the game’s protagonist Samus Aran with superb use of atmospheric sounds, space-operatic arrangements, rumbling bass, oppressive techno-futurist moods, tribal drums, and airy synth themes, admirably balancing the ominous feel of a dark menace and contemplative, even soothing, ambient soundscapes.

Jammin' Sam Miller assiduously recreated the soundtrack note by note, by finding the original equipment used to create it, translating the MIDI into a modern studio context, adding in keyboard samples, and re-mixing and re-mastering the whole score. He explains: "This was made possible by locating the original instrument samples from workstation keyboards and drum machines before they were put into the game and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience."

Super Metroid is pressed on biovinyl, a sustainable alternative to traditional vinyl. Biovinyl replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases, resulting in 100% CO2 savings in bio-based S-PVC production. Furthermore, it is 100% recyclable and reusable, embracing the circular economy ideology.

"We Started Nothing is the debut studio album by English indie pop duo The Ting Tings. Jules & Katie's combination of dance, indie pop and new wave proved to be one of the hottest things in 2008. The result being the album peaking at #1 in the UK Albums Chart. We Started Nothing spawned no less than six hit singles, including ""That's Not My Name"", which reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart. Eventually, the band, the album and several singles and videos were nominated for a variety of NME, MTV, Grammy Award and Brit Awards. The Ting Tings won the MTV Award for Best UK Act and ""Shut Up and Let Me Go"" won the award for Best UK Video. We Started Nothing is available on black vinyl and contains an insert."

Arketip Discs is a Barcelona-based vinyl and digital imprint co-founded by Spear and Makuto that has featured music by Reeko, Truncate, Temudo, ORBE and Eduardo De La Calle.
Makuto is the label head from Spain with a growing reputation and who has kept his productions exclusively to Arketip Discs so far. ''Sfera'' is a hypnotic and atmospheric cut with modular accents and tones that morph and expand in sleek style.
A. Morgan is from Manchester, UK and has been establishing his productions with revered releases on the likes of Jay Clarke's Blackaxon, Joton's New rhythmic, Hans Bouffmyhre's Sleaze and Berlin's BCCO. ''Vogue One'' has a stripped-back style and groove focused rhythm with creative sound design and precise percussion highlights.
VIL is known as a core member of the Portuguese outfit HAYES, and has released music on Ben Klock's Klockworks, Ben Sims' Hardgroove, Shlomi Aber's Be As One, and TWR72's Float amongst others. ''The Reaction'' has a shuffling and quirky rhythm with deep, floating chords and electric elements creating a unique vibe.
Also from Spain, Psyk is the Non Series label owner whose back catalogue includes Tresor, Luke Slater's Mote Evolver, Scuba's Hotflush, Reeko's Mental Disorder and Chris Liebing's CLR to name only a few. Psyk's impressive remix of ''The Reaction'' succeeds in expanding distinct electric fragments from the original into a tapestry of organic, modular soundscapes

Extra Characteristics
Printed Sleeve

It’s been quite some time since the maiden Club Belgique release. But a little virus cannot keep a big one down forever and so San Soda and Red D have once again taken up their new beat aliases and got cracking. The result is the second installment of Club Belgique, a project dedicated to Belgium’s very rich new beat & more history.

On the A-side we find Nick Berlin’s acid masterpiece ‘Donnez-Moi De L’Aciiieed!’ that tears up any dancefloor instantly. Is it a reissue? A remaster? A clever translation? That’s for you to find out! Max Erotic knows and he also knows that the B-side is where it’s at for some raw and dusty italo-inspired sounds, with a sexy Italian voice on top. Do you wanna dance with us too?

High Roller Records, Als der inzwischen verstorbene Rhett Forrester die New Yorker Band Riot nach ihrem gut aufgenommenen Album "Born In America" von 1983 verließ, dauerte es nicht lange, bis er mit der Arbeit an seinem ersten Soloalbum begann. "Gone With The Wind" wurde ursprünglich 1984 auf dem französischen Label Bernett Records veröffentlicht. "Even The Score" von 1988 war das zweite und letzte offizielle Soloalbum von Rhett Forrester, da der legendäre Sänger am 22. Januar 1994 im Alter von 37 Jahren in Atlanta, Georgia, erschossen wurde. Obwohl auf "Even The Score" kein weiteres Studioalbum folgte, hörte Rhett nicht auf, neue Musik aufzunehmen. Er arbeitete mit verschiedenen Musikern in unterschiedlichen Bands und Projekten über einen Zeitraum von sechs Jahren bis zu seinem frühen Tod 1994 zusammen. Zwei davon sind auf "The Canadian Years" zu hören. Dr. Dirty (die Gruppe hieß ursprünglich Mr. Dirty, wurde aber wegen der Verwendung von zwei D's als Logo in Dr. Dirty umbenannt) war das Geistesprodukt des Gitarristen Rob Robins. Er erklärt: "Scot Gaines, der Bassist, und ich hatten schon fast ein Jahr lang geschrieben, als wir Rhett Forrester in Calgary trafen. Er hatte gerade seine Zeit bei Rick Plester's Black Symphony beendet. Wir waren auf der Suche nach einem Sänger, mit dem wir ein paar Gigs spielen konnten. Rhett wurde erwähnt, und wir trafen uns mit ihm, und es schien, als würde er gut passen! Wir haben ihm sofort die Songs vorgespielt, an denen wir gearbeitet hatten. Rhett war immer großartig im Studio und hat seine Parts aufgenommen. Ein echter Profi. Egal, was wir ihm vorsetzten, Rhett lieferte immer eine großartige Leistung ab." Die eigentlichen Demo-Sessions für Dr. Dirty fanden von 1992 bis Anfang 1993 statt. Rob Robins: "Wir haben vier Songs in Calgary aufgenommen: 'Red Bone Rock', 'Smoking Gun', 'In And Out' und 'Coming Home'. In LA haben wir 'Rescue Me', 'Hold On', 'Love Song' und 'Too Little Too Late' aufgenommen. Ursprünglich hatten wir ein gewisses Interesse von einem Label, gerade als sich das Projekt auflöste. Einer der wohl ungewöhnlichsten Beiträge von Rhett Forrester war 1992 (kurz vor den Dr. Dirty-Sessions) in Form von The Black Symphony (bestehend aus den drei Songs "In The Beginning", "Redemption" und "End Of Time") entstanden. Black Symphony war das Baby des kanadischen Gitarristen Rick Plester, der erklärt: "Ich habe so ziemlich das gesamte Material für die fünf Alben von The Black Symphony geschrieben. Ich habe in Magazinen in ganz Nordamerika Anzeigen für einen Leadsänger geschaltet und Rhett Forester hat sich gemeldet. Als er mich aus heiterem Himmel anrief, war ich angenehm überrascht, denn ich war schon vorher ein Fan von Riot gewesen. Ein paar Wochen später flogen wir Rhett nach Calgary in Kanada, wo ich zu der Zeit lebte. Einige Tage nach seiner Ankunft nahmen wir drei Songs in einem Studio in Calgary auf. Rhett war sehr unterhaltsam, es machte Spaß, mit ihm zusammen zu sein. Ich genoss seine Freundschaft. Er war sehr engagiert und brachte eine Menge mit. Am Ende war es traurig, dass ich ihn wegen seiner Drogenprobleme und abgebrannten Brücken gehen lassen musste."

High Roller Records, Als der inzwischen verstorbene Rhett Forrester die New Yorker Band Riot nach ihrem gut aufgenommenen Album "Born In America" von 1983 verließ, dauerte es nicht lange, bis er mit der Arbeit an seinem ersten Soloalbum begann. "Gone With The Wind" wurde ursprünglich 1984 auf dem französischen Label Bernett Records veröffentlicht. "Even The Score" von 1988 war das zweite und letzte offizielle Soloalbum von Rhett Forrester, da der legendäre Sänger am 22. Januar 1994 im Alter von 37 Jahren in Atlanta, Georgia, erschossen wurde. Obwohl auf "Even The Score" kein weiteres Studioalbum folgte, hörte Rhett nicht auf, neue Musik aufzunehmen. Er arbeitete mit verschiedenen Musikern in unterschiedlichen Bands und Projekten über einen Zeitraum von sechs Jahren bis zu seinem frühen Tod 1994 zusammen. Zwei davon sind auf "The Canadian Years" zu hören. Dr. Dirty (die Gruppe hieß ursprünglich Mr. Dirty, wurde aber wegen der Verwendung von zwei D's als Logo in Dr. Dirty umbenannt) war das Geistesprodukt des Gitarristen Rob Robins. Er erklärt: "Scot Gaines, der Bassist, und ich hatten schon fast ein Jahr lang geschrieben, als wir Rhett Forrester in Calgary trafen. Er hatte gerade seine Zeit bei Rick Plester's Black Symphony beendet. Wir waren auf der Suche nach einem Sänger, mit dem wir ein paar Gigs spielen konnten. Rhett wurde erwähnt, und wir trafen uns mit ihm, und es schien, als würde er gut passen! Wir haben ihm sofort die Songs vorgespielt, an denen wir gearbeitet hatten. Rhett war immer großartig im Studio und hat seine Parts aufgenommen. Ein echter Profi. Egal, was wir ihm vorsetzten, Rhett lieferte immer eine großartige Leistung ab." Die eigentlichen Demo-Sessions für Dr. Dirty fanden von 1992 bis Anfang 1993 statt. Rob Robins: "Wir haben vier Songs in Calgary aufgenommen: 'Red Bone Rock', 'Smoking Gun', 'In And Out' und 'Coming Home'. In LA haben wir 'Rescue Me', 'Hold On', 'Love Song' und 'Too Little Too Late' aufgenommen. Ursprünglich hatten wir ein gewisses Interesse von einem Label, gerade als sich das Projekt auflöste. Einer der wohl ungewöhnlichsten Beiträge von Rhett Forrester war 1992 (kurz vor den Dr. Dirty-Sessions) in Form von The Black Symphony (bestehend aus den drei Songs "In The Beginning", "Redemption" und "End Of Time") entstanden. Black Symphony war das Baby des kanadischen Gitarristen Rick Plester, der erklärt: "Ich habe so ziemlich das gesamte Material für die fünf Alben von The Black Symphony geschrieben. Ich habe in Magazinen in ganz Nordamerika Anzeigen für einen Leadsänger geschaltet und Rhett Forester hat sich gemeldet. Als er mich aus heiterem Himmel anrief, war ich angenehm überrascht, denn ich war schon vorher ein Fan von Riot gewesen. Ein paar Wochen später flogen wir Rhett nach Calgary in Kanada, wo ich zu der Zeit lebte. Einige Tage nach seiner Ankunft nahmen wir drei Songs in einem Studio in Calgary auf. Rhett war sehr unterhaltsam, es machte Spaß, mit ihm zusammen zu sein. Ich genoss seine Freundschaft. Er war sehr engagiert und brachte eine Menge mit. Am Ende war es traurig, dass ich ihn wegen seiner Drogenprobleme und abgebrannten Brücken gehen lassen musste."

Als der inzwischen verstorbene Rhett Forrester die New Yorker Band Riot nach dem viel beachteten Album "Born In America" von 1983 verließ, dauerte es nicht lange, bis er eine Solokarriere startete, die in zwei Studioalben mündete: "Gone With The Wind" (1984) und "Even The Score" (1988). Am 22. Januar 1994 wurde der legendäre Sänger in Atlanta, Georgia, im Alter von 37 Jahren erschossen. Die "Sessions"-Compilation vereint eine Reihe verschiedener Projekte, an denen Rhett Forrester im Laufe seiner allzu kurzen, aber dennoch beeindruckenden Karriere beteiligt war. Die meisten dieser Aufnahmen sind im Vergleich zu den bekannteren Veröffentlichungen von Rhett Forrester, sei es mit der legendären Band Riot, Jack Starrs erstem Soloalbum "Out Of The Darkness" oder Rhett's eigenem Solo-Output, in Vergessenheit geraten. Den Anfang machen die "Dirty Water Sessions", die erstmals auf dem längst vergriffenen Compilation-Album "Hell Or Highwater" zu hören waren und in Texas mit dem Gitarristen und Co-Autor Jonathan Grell aufgenommen wurden, der früher bei der Band Winterkat spielte. Diese Songs sind die allerletzten Aufnahmen, die Rhett vor seinem frühen Tod machte. Als nächstes folgt das Projekt "Dogbone", eine Band, die Rhett mit den ehemaligen Keel-Mitgliedern Brian Jay und Dwain Miller gründete. Diese Aufnahmen wurden Mitte der 1990er Jahre in begrenztem Umfang halboffiziell veröffentlicht, sind aber bis heute weitgehend ungehört geblieben. Außerdem enthält "Sessions" den einzigen Track aus dem "Thrasher"-Projektalbum mit Rhett. Dieser Track wurde von Andrew Duck McDonald und Carl Canedy produziert und war auch auf der "Hell Or Highwater"-Compilation zu hören. Den Abschluss dieser Veröffentlichung bilden die Demos für Dr. Dirty, bekannt als "The Clear Lake Sessions". Diese Aufnahmen bildeten die Grundlage für die vollständigen Dr. Dirty-Aufnahmen, die auf der High Roller Records-Veröffentlichung "Rhett Forrester - The Canadian Years" zu hören sind.

Als der inzwischen verstorbene Rhett Forrester die New Yorker Band Riot nach dem viel beachteten Album "Born In America" von 1983 verließ, dauerte es nicht lange, bis er eine Solokarriere startete, die in zwei Studioalben mündete: "Gone With The Wind" (1984) und "Even The Score" (1988). Am 22. Januar 1994 wurde der legendäre Sänger in Atlanta, Georgia, im Alter von 37 Jahren erschossen. Die "Sessions"-Compilation vereint eine Reihe verschiedener Projekte, an denen Rhett Forrester im Laufe seiner allzu kurzen, aber dennoch beeindruckenden Karriere beteiligt war. Die meisten dieser Aufnahmen sind im Vergleich zu den bekannteren Veröffentlichungen von Rhett Forrester, sei es mit der legendären Band Riot, Jack Starrs erstem Soloalbum "Out Of The Darkness" oder Rhett's eigenem Solo-Output, in Vergessenheit geraten. Den Anfang machen die "Dirty Water Sessions", die erstmals auf dem längst vergriffenen Compilation-Album "Hell Or Highwater" zu hören waren und in Texas mit dem Gitarristen und Co-Autor Jonathan Grell aufgenommen wurden, der früher bei der Band Winterkat spielte. Diese Songs sind die allerletzten Aufnahmen, die Rhett vor seinem frühen Tod machte. Als nächstes folgt das Projekt "Dogbone", eine Band, die Rhett mit den ehemaligen Keel-Mitgliedern Brian Jay und Dwain Miller gründete. Diese Aufnahmen wurden Mitte der 1990er Jahre in begrenztem Umfang halboffiziell veröffentlicht, sind aber bis heute weitgehend ungehört geblieben. Außerdem enthält "Sessions" den einzigen Track aus dem "Thrasher"-Projektalbum mit Rhett. Dieser Track wurde von Andrew Duck McDonald und Carl Canedy produziert und war auch auf der "Hell Or Highwater"-Compilation zu hören. Den Abschluss dieser Veröffentlichung bilden die Demos für Dr. Dirty, bekannt als "The Clear Lake Sessions". Diese Aufnahmen bildeten die Grundlage für die vollständigen Dr. Dirty-Aufnahmen, die auf der High Roller Records-Veröffentlichung "Rhett Forrester - The Canadian Years" zu hören sind.