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Cactus Lee ist texanische Musik in ihrem Kern, eine Mischung aus Austin-Nachtclub-Vibes und staubiger Dancefloor-Energie. Cactus Lee ist ein Projekt des Austiner Songwriters Kevin Dehan und spiegelt eine tiefe Liebe zu texanischen Country-Songwritern wider, die mit dem kühnen Geist von Outlaw- und Outsider-Einflüssen verwoben ist. Mit einem Sound, der gleichzeitig kindlich, verträumt und scharfsinnig ist und an Ikonen wie John Prine und Tom T. Hall erinnert, hat sich Cactus Lee seit seiner Gründung 2019 eine unverwechselbare Nische in der Musikwelt geschaffen. Über sechs Alben, darunter zwei Veröffentlichungen im Jahr 2023, ein Live-Album und mehrere EPs, waren Dehans Songwriting und seine auf vier Spuren selbst aufgenommenen Bemühungen die Grundlage für ein sich ständig weiterentwickelndes Projekt. Auf dem neuen, selbstbetitelten Album Cactus Lee beschäftigen sich die Songs mit Themen wie Liebe, Verlust, Familie und Selbstfindung und bieten flüchtige Momentaufnahmen von Charakteren und Momenten, die von einem einladenden texanischen Charme durchdrungen sind. Das Eröffnungsstück "Rabbit" stellt einen verliebten, aber schwer fassbaren Protagonisten vor, der durch Bukka Allens Akkordeon und Adam Amrams ansteckenden Rhythmus zum Leben erweckt wird. "Sister" ist ein zartes Versprechen auf bessere Zeiten und gemeinsame Momente, perfekt für offene Straßen und luftige Tage. Roll Maggie" mit seinem Zusammenspiel von Saxophon und Steel-Gitarre erforscht das Glücksspiel der Liebe als ein aufregendes Glücksspiel. "Got A Heart Like Rainwater Blues" zelebriert die unnachgiebigen Bande einer Familie auf der Flucht, durchdrungen von einer bluesigen Unverwüstlichkeit. "Lorelei" zeichnet das rätselhafte Porträt einer fesselnden Figur, untermalt von Doo-Wop-Harmonien. "The Fiddler" fängt die hypnotische Magie einer Tanzfläche ein, untermalt von einem eindringlichen Bratschensolo. "Twenty Dollars", das das Album abschließt, ist eine zutiefst persönliche Ode an Dehans Tochter Jolene. Das selbstbetitelte Album von Cactus Lee unterstreicht die Fähigkeit von Kevin Dehan, die Essenz des texanischen Twang in Songs zu destillieren, die weit über den Lone Star State hinaus Anklang finden, und zwar durch eindrucksvolle Texte und eine durchdachte Instrumentierung.

Keyboarder, Produzent und Songwriter Joe Armon-Jones präsentiert sein bisher ambitioniertestes Soloprojekt: All The Quiet. Ein mitreissendes Statement, das Jazz, Funk, Dub, Hip-Hop und Soulmusik verbindet und vollständig von Armon-Jones selbst geschrieben, produziert und gemischt wurde. Als Bandmitglied ist er als Teil des mit dem Mercury Prize ausgezeichneten Ezra Collective bekannt, das 2024 als erste Headliner-Jazzband die Londoner Wembley Arena ausfüllte. "All The Quiet (Part I)" ist das erste Kapitel eines zweiteiligen Albums auf seinem Label Aquarii Records. Gastmusiker und Featuregäste sind u.a. Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome und Goya Gumbani.

Sechs Jahre sind vergangen, seit Armon-Jones' letztes Soloalbum "Turn To Clear View" 2019 auf Gilles Petersons Brownswood Recordings veröffentlicht wurde, aber man darf diese Lücke nicht mit einer Pause verwechseln. Denn in dieser Zeit tourte er um die Welt, baute ein Studio auf, wirkte an Alben grosser Namen des britischen Jazz mit und nahm Kollaborationen mit Liam Bailey, Fatima, Hak Baker, Prince Fatty, Ranking Joe, Maxwell Owin und der Dubstep-Legende Mala auf.

Keyboarder, Produzent und Songwriter Joe Armon-Jones präsentiert sein bisher ambitioniertestes Soloprojekt: All The Quiet. Ein mitreissendes Statement, das Jazz, Funk, Dub, Hip-Hop und Soulmusik verbindet und vollständig von Armon-Jones selbst geschrieben, produziert und gemischt wurde. Als Bandmitglied ist er als Teil des mit dem Mercury Prize ausgezeichneten Ezra Collective bekannt, das 2024 als erste Headliner-Jazzband die Londoner Wembley Arena ausfüllte. "All The Quiet (Part I)" ist das erste Kapitel eines zweiteiligen Albums auf seinem Label Aquarii Records. Gastmusiker und Featuregäste sind u.a. Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome und Goya Gumbani.

Sechs Jahre sind vergangen, seit Armon-Jones' letztes Soloalbum "Turn To Clear View" 2019 auf Gilles Petersons Brownswood Recordings veröffentlicht wurde, aber man darf diese Lücke nicht mit einer Pause verwechseln. Denn in dieser Zeit tourte er um die Welt, baute ein Studio auf, wirkte an Alben grosser Namen des britischen Jazz mit und nahm Kollaborationen mit Liam Bailey, Fatima, Hak Baker, Prince Fatty, Ranking Joe, Maxwell Owin und der Dubstep-Legende Mala auf.

Was ist ein "Boogie"? In der Umgangssprache ist es ein Tanz oder eine Gelegenheit zum Tanzen. Da es sich hier um ein Destroyer-Album handelt und nicht um den allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch, sind die Implikationen eines Titels wie "Dan's Boogie" verführerischer und gefährlicher zugleich. "Ein Boogie ist ein Täuschungsmanöver, ein Betrug, der nicht ganz funktioniert, die Bewegungen, die wir machen, wenn wir damit konfrontiert werden", erklärt Dan Bejar. "Ich denke an Spionage, Doppelagenten, die mit einem offenen Auge schlafen und die Ausgänge im Auge behalten. Aber ich denke auch an kleine Siege und Niederlagen auf der Straße und an Improvisation". Um "Dan's Boogie" aufzunehmen, musste Bejar eine Reihe von gewollten und ungewollten Hindernissen überwinden, um die Songs zu schreiben. Die Monate nach der Fertigstellung von "LABYRINTHITIS" wurden zu einem Jahr und dann zu zwei Jahren, in denen Bejar sich selbst den Neujahrsvorsatz gab, jeden Tag eine Stunde lang Klavier zu spielen. Das hat ungefähr vier Tage gedauert, aber die Songs, die Bejar als Ergebnis dieses Vorsatzes bezeichnet - darunter "Cataract Time", "Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World", "Bologna" und "Dan's Boogie" - sind allesamt Destroyer-Songs aus dem breiten Spektrum, das Bejar und seine Mitstreiter für sich selbst geschaffen haben: Spektakuläre Pop-Epen, persönliche Piano-Balladen und schwelende Stimmungsbilder, die die Grenzen zwischen Song, Roman und Kino verschwimmen lassen, jedes voll von der Dringlichkeit eines Staatsgeheimnisses im Kopf eines gequälten Spions. Die Leadsingle "Bologna" ist der radikalste Rahmen für diese Energie, denn es ist das erste Mal, dass Bejar einen Song schreibt, in dem er sich selbst als Nebenfigur vorstellt. In der Hauptrolle ist Simone Schmidt von Fiver zu hören, deren Stimme - hart und ausdrucksstark, durchdringend durch die Düsternis der Szene - ein Sirenengesang ist, der das ganze Album durchdringt. Die Schwere ihrer Stimme ordnet "Dan's Boogie" um ein Gefühl des drohenden Untergangs herum, so wie das Versprechen einer Fatale auf das Ungewöhnliche und Ekstatische die Hauptfigur eines erotischen Thrillers zum Verhängnis wird. "Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World" ist ein köstlicher Widerspruch, ein schwungvoller Song, der aus der Verwüstung entstand, die Bejar absichtlich mit sich selbst anrichtete. "We are now entering a new phase", intoniert Bejar und führt Schichten von Gitarren und Synthesizern ein, die die Palette erheblich verdunkeln, während er zwischen Gesang und Sprache wechselt. Der Nebel, der Bejar umgibt, wird durch die Reibung zwischen konkurrierenden Wahrheiten und Geschmäckern erhellt, etwa wenn sein Interesse an jazzigen Balladen auf das Interesse des Produzenten und Bassisten John Collins an Bands wie Led Zeppelin und Scritti Politti trifft. Als Bejar Collins erzählte, dass er an Sammy Davis Jr. dachte, entstand der Titeltrack, in dem Bejar mit fast wahnhafter Freude einen Rat Pack-Swagger vor einer verträumten Klangkulisse aus schwebenden Gitarren, üppigen Bläsern, Jazz-Drumming, spacigen Synthesizern und - vielleicht am ehesten dem Selbstverständnis Bejars entsprechend - einem klimpernden Lounge-Piano annahm. Das Herzstück von "Dan's Boogie" ist vielleicht "Cataract Time", ein achtminütiges Epos, das zu den schwersten Texten gehört, die Bejar je geschrieben hat, und eine der musikalisch komplexesten Kompositionen von Destroyer ist. Getragen von einem lässigen Groove, sind Bejars Texte verklärt, ihre Melancholie schmeckt fast widersinnig nach Hoffnung. Es ist ein intimer Song, der Destroyers übliches urbanes Fabel-Milieu gegen eine erfrischende Innerlichkeit eintauscht, aber sein beschwingter Groove lässt eine Zukunft erahnen, der Bejar und seine Band entgegenfiebern. Wo frühere Destroyer-Alben mit der Welt kämpften, tanzt "Dan's Boogie" mit ihr, und seine neun Träumereien verschmelzen zu einem einzigen langen Treiben. Dan Bejar mag die Ausgänge im Auge haben, aber er wird nicht so bald abreisen.

Mint green vinyl, limited to 350 copies. Dead Meadow's highly anticipated tenth studio album Voyager to Voyager marks a defining moment in their illustrious 26-year journey. Revered as a pioneering force in the heavy psychedelic rock scene since their formation in the late '90s, the band delivers not only their most emotionally charged and sonically expansive album to date but also a powerful tribute to their brother, late bassist Steve Kille, whose battle against cancer and untimely passing in early 2024 has made it the poignant end of a chapter in the band's history. Written and recorded across three intense sessions in downtown LA's Ultrasound Studios, Voyager to Voyager perfectly encapsulates Dead Meadow's raw energy and creative chemistry. During the sessions, the band worked quickly, using only the first or second take to preserve the immediacy found in their live show, with drummer Mark Laughlin delivering some of his best performances to date.

Following the success of their Mercury-nominated debut album, Vehicles & Animals, Athlete reached new heights with Tourist, featuring the massive hit singles "Wires" and "Half Light". The album was both a critical and commercial triumph, climbing charts around the world and earning a #1 spot on the UK album chart. An evocative blend of atmospheric melodies and heartfelt lyricism, Tourist is rich in emotional depth and sonic grandeur. With its lush instrumentation, anthemic choruses, and tender moments of introspection, Tourist captures Athlete at their most expansive and vulnerable. A 2LP vinyl version is also available. Long out of print on vinyl (and now highly collectable), this special edition celebrates the album's 20th anniversary with new remastering by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering. Pressed on 140g black vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves and an obi strip

Following the success of their Mercury-nominated debut album, Vehicles & Animals, Athlete reached new heights with Tourist, featuring the massive hit singles "Wires" and "Half Light". The album was both a critical and commercial triumph, climbing charts around the world and earning a #1 spot on the UK album chart. An evocative blend of atmospheric melodies and heartfelt lyricism, Tourist is rich in emotional depth and sonic grandeur. With its lush instrumentation, anthemic choruses, and tender moments of introspection, Tourist captures Athlete at their most expansive and vulnerable. A 2LP vinyl version is also available. Long out of print on vinyl (and now highly collectable), this special edition celebrates the album's 20th anniversary with new remastering by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering. Pressed on 140g black vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves and an obi strip

VINYL COMES IN A HIGH-QUALITY SCREEN-PRINTED COVER!
LIMITED TO 200 COPIES!

Coinciding the cinema release of ‘Der Wald in mir’, the soundtrack by Gregor Schwellenbach is being released in an exclusive edition in high-quality screen-printed covers by director and artist Sebastian Fritzsch. Microtonal strings in dialogue with electronic sounds, noise music, drones and ambient, complemented by improvisations by experimental string wizards Emily Wittbrodt and Matthias Kaiser. These different worlds of sound are linked by melodic motifs that come together in the final end credits song. This closing track was created in collaboration with indie artist Jungstötter, 'a singer, whose intense aura I associate with the sensitivity and emotional depth of the main character Jan, just as I hear the strength and unflinching devotion of the character Alice in co-singer Isabelle Pabst.’ (Gregor Schwellenbach)
Pünktlich zum Kinostart von „Der Wald in mir“ erscheint der Soundtrack von Gregor Schwellenbach in einer exklusiven Schallplattenedition in hochwertigen Siebdruck-Covern von Regisseur und Künstler Sebastian Fritzsch. "Um Jans Innenwelt gerecht zu werden, wollten wir uns einer enormen musikalischen Vielfalt bedienen: Mikrotonale Streicher im Dialog mit elektronischen Klängen, Geräuschmusik, Drones und Ambient, ergänzt durch Improvisationen von Emily Wittbrodt und Matthias Kaiser, bis hin zu New Wave und zur Indiepop-Ballade. Diese verschiedenen Klangwelten werden durch melodische Motive verbunden, die im finalen Abspannsong zusammenfinden. Dieser Schlusstitel entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit Jungstötter, einem Künstler, dessen intensive Aura ich mit der Sensibilität und emotionaler Tiefe der Hauptfigur Jan verbinde, so wie ich in Co-Sängerin Isabelle Pabst die Stärke und unbeirrte Zugewandtheit der Figur Alice höre." (Gregor Schwellenbach)

Sunset edition - 300 copies

Driving is Sam Wilkes’ Indie Rock record. Iit is the first release on Wilkes Records, an imprint borne of the artist’s emergent need to self-release. The songs presented here exist comfortably within the ever-expanding Wilkesian cosmos, characterized as they are by virtuosity, torqued experimentalism, and collaboration with a range of talented musicians. But Driving’s influences, its sincerity, and its allegiance to a certain pop sensibility reflects a departure for an artist who has primarily staked his claim within the experimental jazz idiom.

Take the first track, “Folk Home,” which inaugurates the album’s fecundity—a bright, green, humid, summer feel. A swirling, freakout coda of reversed vocals gives way, in no short order, to a caterwaul of flute work that conjures Van Morrison’s (in)famous Astral Weeks sessions. Standing beside Morrison, the usual suspects are all present, if somewhat abstractedly. Dylan, The Dead, Joni, the Fab Four. Wilkes has developed a reputation as an experimental jazz luminary, but his deep affinity for the pop/rock/folk idiom of the latter twentieth century rings clear throughout Driving. More so than any Wilkes release to date, Driving is a collection guided by and dedicated to the man’s attention to songcraft.

Written and recorded during a period of rain-damage induced renter’s itinerance (and the attendant desire to produce a kind of therapeutic, self-soothing, home-feeling music), Driving loosely charts the trajectory/experience of “a protagonist,” both Wilkes and not, “who has figured out how to live an enlightened and fulfilled life, but is unable to do so because he thinks about it too much.” This friction is surely relatable — a symptom of our compulsively self-aware present. But Wilkes avoids the obvious pitfalls of public hand-wringing. Rather, Driving’s nine tracks evince a genuine, and mature searching-ness, both sonically and lyrically. The ending refrain of “Own” serves like something close to a thesis— “Letting go // isn’t a concept // it’s an action.” In an attempt to beat back ego, hyper-cogitation, language itself, Wilkes arrives at an axiom that feels so true and familiar, you’d swear you’d heard it one hundred times before.

Driving’s final third is, fittingly, its most emotive and cathartic. Tracks seven and eight, “Again, Again” and “And Again,” form a diptych, joined most obviously by the jangling, recursive grooves of guitarist Daryl Johns. Wilkes is said to have encouraged Johns to go “full Lindsey Buckingham” (clearly a welcome and resonant prompt), but one also catches stray Knopfler vibes, some intermittent Fripp, and (perhaps more-so in tone than technique) the spirit of DIY prophet and jangling man himself, Martin Newell (the Cleaners from Venus). Wilkes has stated that he finds joy in creating musical environments suitable to the contribution and flourishing of his favorite musicians. Throughout Driving, and in these two tracks especially, he has more than succeeded.

The record closes with the titular track: a story-song that, according to Wilkes, poured out of him (melody, composition, and lyrics) in a single sitting. The tale is told plainly, bravely, starkly; a mistake was made, regrets have been had, and all is wrapped up in the recollection of a deeply felt adolescent heartsickness—a time when the narrator was first afire with music and automotive freedom. The song captures the moment when meaning inexplicably falls into place, when a long-nagging memory suddenly assumes narrative form, and the subsequent sense of lightness and unburdening. It is fitting that Driving, a record conceived as a form of self-therapy, should culminate with a sense of humble revelation. That Wilkes is plainly eager to share the vulnerable fruits of this labor constitutes Driving’s joyful offering.

Words by Emmett Shoemaker

'Through Today' is the sophomore album for rising Australian band Chimers. A husband / wife duo comprising life partners Padraic Skehan (vocals / guitar) and Binx (drums / vocals). Recorded by Jono Boulet (Party Dozen) over two days at Stranded Studios, Wollongong and mixed at Boulet’s Sydney home studio, produced by the band and veteran manager / promoter / producer Tim Pittman (Feel Presents), 'Through Today' features ten tracks of tightly-coiled intensity that barely lets up for all of its 34 mins. In enlisting Boulet, the band were confident that due to his own experience of being one half of Party Dozen, they had someone who understood the confines of working within the structure of a two-piece but also the possibilities that creates. Boulet, in turn, rewarding that trust by capturing a powerful bedrock of sound that allowed the band's taught rhythms to circle and permeate and yet give full breathing space for the melody within. For Pittman’s part, having a third ear on hand to devote serious listening time and critical commentary was an added bonus. It’s a major step forward from the band’s 2021 self-titled debut. A twelve track effort that snuck out during covid and only hinted at the power within. "Our debut felt more like just trying to capture the songs we had at the time, we weren’t sure if we’d even release it or if it would be our only album" "This time around we were intent on capturing the energy and intensity of our live show on the recording but with a more produced sound than self-titled. We worked more on song structure previous to the sessions. We rehearsed a lot playing quietly so we could actually talk to each other whilst playing the song and iron out any kinks.” “Jono turned the whole live room into a drum room, mics everywhere. The guitar amps were situated outside to prevent too much spill but still recorded live along with about half of the vocals. Second guitar and the rest of the vocals were recorded the next day. Jono was super quick and had the same work ethic and mindset, get in, get it done. If the first take was good enough, move on.” - Padraic Lyrically Chimers maintain the intensity as they tackle the themes of love, life, death and relationships, distance from home (Padraic is Irish, moving to Australia in 2001) and the current political climate providing enough drama to fuel a forest fire. Guest musicians on the album include saxophonist Kirsty Tickle - also of Party Dozen - and violinist Jordan Ireland of The Middle East. Both of whom were invited in on short notice adding their respective parts in just 1-2 takes each without any prior knowledge of the material. Binx too showing added versatility contributing lead vocals to An Echo and sharing lead across 3AM, Generator and others. “Singing is not something that comes naturally to me, and it was at the last minute before we went into the studio that Padraic suggested I sing the lead in An Echo. Having very minimal musical instruments within the band I think having the two different vocals adds a nice dynamic to the record.” - Binx 'Through Today' is a great album. Solid and confident from the get go. No waste. No unnecessary fat. Should it be Chimers last it would remain a defining statement of originality and intent. But it’s not the last, it’s just the beginning. And there’s plenty more where that came from. BIO Like many good bands Chimers are a band born of isolation, not geographically though, via the pandemic. Irish born Padraic Skehan and his life partner Binx, formed the band in their Wollongong backyard during the initial lockdown of 2020. Veterans and drummers both of the ‘Gong’s vibrant garage-scene – The Pink Fits, The Drop Offs, Evol and more – Chimers is an altogether different beast, Padraic taking a giant leap forward by removing himself from the back-seat and assuming the role of driver; singing, playing guitar and writing the songs that would eventually become their 2021 self-titled debut album. It’s a sound and album that draws heavily on Skehan’s time as a youth in Ireland and the post-hardcore sounds of Dischord Records, Husker Du, The Wipers and which has seen the band find friends and favour in like-minds The Mark Of Cain, Henry Rollins, Guy Picciotto and Mudhoney. This is no mere nostalgia though, the band instead landing at the vanguard of a new generation of Sydney and surrounds bands – Body Type, Second Idol, Dust, Private Wives, R.M.F.C – borrowing from the past in order to create a future.

Bristol-based singer, songwriter and bandleader, who has powered her way to the-forefront of the British blues and roots scene in recent years, releases 'Shining In The Half Light on "Tidal Wave Splatter" colored vinyl. Crammed with vibrant originals brought to life with her A-list touring band, 'Shining in the Half Light' is Bailey's first full length album recorded in the UK & feature's Joe Wilkins on Guitar, Jonny Henderson on Ivories, Matthew Waer on Bass duties and Matthew Jones on drums. It was recorded in deepest Devon in December 2020 at Middle Farm Studios and produced by Dan Weller. An exciting team of co-writers feature with three credits for Ashton Tucker & Will Edmunds, who both wrote with Elles for 'Road I Call Home', plus she teamed up with longtime guitarist Joe Wilkins to write the slow-flowing, philosophical 'Riding Out The Storm'. Other kindred spirits include guitar maestro Martin Harley, for the gentle and romantic 'Different Kind Of Love' and Matt Owens, co-founder of the hugely successful indie-folk outfit Noah and the Whale, on the aforementioned 'Sunshine City'. The album comes to a striking conclusion with its title track, co-written with Nashville's Craig Lackey, written over Zoom in May 2020.

As a founding member of Dublin experimental folk group Lankum, Ian Lynch explores submerged leylines of music and song. Forging a musical path that is all at once dark, mysterious and foreboding, but ultimately transcendental. His new solo project One Leg One Eye sees him taking a fresh approach to musical arrangement culminating in a sound that is more rooted in the raw aesthetics of second wave black metal than contemporary folk. The project was born across 2021, a period in which Lynch was able to enjoy the freedom of experimenting and exploring different paths of sound design without expectation or pressure. Seeking out interesting settings to record music and gather field recordings, there are several environments, external and interior, whose respective essence have seeped into the spirit of the music and come to represent Lynch’s artistic approach and development with this singular debut album, …And Take The Black Worm With Me. Rediscovered spaces in Dublin and the familiar enclave of his bedroom are intrinsic to the distinct and sometimes harrowing atmosphere conjured throughout the album’s five enveloping compositions. One particular location, an abandoned factory where his father worked when Ian was a child, provided a space of great inspiration and intrigue during this time. Lynch frequently visited the large abandoned warehouse and sang with his shruti box, contented in his solitude. ‘I’d Rather Be Tending My Sheep’, grew into existence from those initial sessions, eventually finding a home as an emotive centrepiece to the album. Reflecting on the overall recording of …And Take The Black Worm With Me, Lynch says, “Everything I was doing with these songs was all kind of new to me; experimenting with different sounds, textures and palettes and seeing what I could come up with by piecing it all together. I spent about a year making the album. I loved the whole process because it was basically just me in my bedroom recording everything. The experience of recording like this and having my own time to do it was amazing. I could focus on recording a specific element and happily spend all day working on that one part, doing it as many times as I wanted. At the end of the day if it didn’t feel right, I could just try it again the next day. When you’re on your own you can spend as much time as you want on particular parts until you feel that it’s absolutely perfect. I found that to be a really liberating experience. It was probably my favourite experience recording music.” The collection of songs (and their chronology) featured on …And Take The Black Worm With Me tell a story unique to Lynch’s experiences with anxiety and recognising his shadow self. Whilst the album became an outlet of personal expression for Lynch, the overarching themes and subsequent journey to confront one’s internal dichotomy of light and dark before accepting this inherent duality is universally shared. The eerie and often unsettling world contained within the album’s texturally dense opener ‘Glistening, She Emerges’, driven by the captivating drone of distorted uilleann pipes, immediately immerses the listener in this transportive work. It descends with a great heaviness, yet woven throughout the arrangement is a fascinating and indescribable entity that draws you further into this otherworldly dimension. This mood continues as the tracklist progresses and transitions into Lynch’s haunting realisation of ‘Bold and Undaunted Youth’ which further demonstrates a cinematic influence to Lynch’s compositional style. Sonically, Lynch effectively builds an impressively vast terrain with brilliantly murky lo-fi recording techniques and an unshakable curiosity to move beyond conventional structures and play with the timbre of the instruments available to him. From recording hurdy-gurdy or concertina to tape and experimenting with loops and effects pedals to stitching field recordings together, there’s an intimacy established between Lynch and his audience established through the simultaneously eerie and beautiful tones courting through …And Take The Black Worm With Me. This culminates in ‘Only the Diceys’, the extraordinary closing track in which we reach a place of resolution mapped into the album’s narrative structure. Mixed by longtime collaborator John ‘Spud’ Murphy in his Dublin-based Guerrilla Sounds Studio and mastered by Harvey Birrell …And Take The Black Worm With Me features contributions from Ruth Clinton (Landless) on church organ and vocals by Laurie Shanaman (Ails, Ludicra). Of Shanaman’s participation, in particular, which further illustrates the lo-fi and DIY ethos to the recording, Lynch says, “Laurie is my favourite black metal vocalist of all time and so I reached out to her hoping to have her involved in some way. She did, and she features on the opening track by providing some incredible screams. She recorded them into her phone and sent them over to me; what appears on the album is literally a phone recording of her screaming in her kitchen!” …And Take The Black Worm With Me continues Ian Lynch’s groundbreaking work with Lankum; recontextualising traditional forms and generating new spheres of music in his wake, confirming his status as one of the most interesting and innovative artists working in Ireland today.

Some record crates deserve a sub-category called 'play it again, Sam'. tracks that spin on the turntables without a push. Funk Kraut, Zombie Zombie's second LP on Born Bad, is of this kind. This well-proportioned classic is a fine example of the style the trio has been embodying: instrumental for synths and drums music played live. This time it was a quick affair, recorded by Laurent Deboisgisson in the studio of Cheveu's singer. A pretty straightforward job, and a far cry from their previous concept album. Let us praise Krikor Kouchian's mix: drums have been resampled with some restraint, and that Linn Drum kick lightens up the overall mix. It marks a notable evolution in the band's sound, and adds some dynamic. The album kicks off with 'No cruise control', a big bad sedan that effortlessly eats up the distance at 120 BPM. Kraut as can be, with a twist. And as far as funk goes, it's not Bootsy Collins, but there's a whiff. Space is structured by synth patterns, for optimized drumming : forward, straight and fluid, top-notch suspension (Cosmic Neman / Dr Scho?nberg take care of business on drums). They treat themselves to a diversion via Darmstadt to take some musique concrete on board : mechanical birds chirp, the odd atonal piano here and there. Nerds will appreciate liner notes detailing the equipment used : about twenty synths and they still describe it as minimal. With 'Densite?', we've just passed a polyphonic milestone: outright chords ! Long, suspended pads, pierced only by fat claps. Clapping hands are not far off. The band shows it has mastered concise pop formats. That same vibe can be found in 'Jungle the Jungle', paradoxical tune, catchy and moody at once. You'll get some brass riffs in 'Helix', which takes off on a synth moving from one speaker to another to herald the crash of syncopated drums to come.Zombie Zombie sounds ready to write themes for niche TV series.'Aurillac Accident' documents a haphazard soundcheck which, once in the studio, became a bitter ballad, breaking apart into dubby gravy. Live with two drummers performing, this aspect showcases in 'Snare Attack' and 'Double Z', with its jogging hi-hats and creepy little toy piano motifs. Cardio levels are high on 'Dodorian', perfect track for depraved spinning classes, with its moving filter, disco arpeggios and flashes of synthetic brass. 'Magnavox Odyssey', a nostalgic but bouncy synth lasagna, brings this album to a majestic close. The cover by Dddixie sets the tone with its 'Motorik Vibes & Stereo Grooves' sticker. Motorik, absolutely, it's autobahn time for 45 minutes. And when it comes to stereo grooving, the acoustic image is as wide as the canyons of Mars. DO NOT MISS THIS ALBUM (or the previous Vae Vobis)!

"Bloodshot Bill, the Canadian hickup rockabilly Trash LoFi King of One-Man-Bands meets Gerard Van Herk from the legendary Deja Voodoo duo to create music that comes direct out of a rotten crypt and smells like an obscure trashed up rock'n'roll bad-ass delinquent." -VVR Bloodshot Bill ist eine Ein-Mann-Band aus Quebec in Kanada. Keine Computer, keine Overdubs, einfach nur seine Gitarre mit Kickdrum und ein Hi-Hat, 2020 war er Gewinner von ,Ameripolitan Rockabilly Male Of The Year". Bloodshot Bill sei ,wie Roy Orbison mit einer Kopfverletzung", sagt Reg isseur John Waters. Er hat in den letzten 20 Jahren eine Menge Musik veröffentlicht (Norton, Goner, Squoodge etc und wurde auf Platz 8 der Top 10 Rock-Gitarristen des Vintage Rock Magazine gewählt. Gerard Van Herk, Gründer und Frontmann des legendären Duos Deja Voodoo aus Montreal in Kanada, veröffentlichte seit 1981 viele Platten auf u.a Midnight Records oder What Wave. Sie waren Pioniere in Kanada und schufen ihr eigenes Musikgenre Slugabilly. 2024 trafen sich die zwei Musiker und nahmen die vier Songs dieser EP auf. ,Shot of Blood" und ,Crawl" von Gerard Van Herk sowie ,She said no" und ,Shish Taouk" von Bloodshot Bill. Die Tracks gingen verloren und es wurde nur eine dünne MP3 gefunden die dann von Matt von den Ouside Inside Studios versucht wurde wiederherzustellen. Hören Sie selbst!!!

The Quireboys trafen 2022 auf ein kleines Orchester! Ein Abend, an dem klassischer Rock auf klassische Musik unter dem Dach des legendären O2 Forum Kentish Town traf. Bei diesem Meilenstein in der Geschichte der Quireboys wurde die Band von einem Streichquartett und einem Bläsertrio begleitet, die dem bewährten Sound der Gruppe eine neue Dimension verliehen. Gemeinsam interpretierte das erweiterte Ensemble der Quireboys Stücke aus dem umfangreichen Backkatalog der Band neu. Ein ziemlich einzigartiger Abend. Zum Glück haben The Quireboys die Erinnerung an dieses einzigartige Live-Erlebnis in ihrem neuen Konzertalbum mit dem Titel ,Orchestral Quireboys Live" festgehalten. Auf dem Album mit sechzehn Titeln spielt die fünfköpfige Band live Fan-Favoriten wie ,There She Goes Again", ,I Don't Love You Anymore" und ,7 O'Clock", aber auch versteckte Perlen aus dem Repertoire der Gruppe. Jeder der dargebotenen Songs wurde dank der Streicher und Bläser zu neuem Leben erweckt. Orchestral Quireboys Live funktioniert. 10-Song-Vinyl-LP & 14-Song-CD mit 16-Song DVD!

Der gefeierte Komponist (A Scanner Darkly, Before Midnight, Hit Man) und musikalische Außenseiter Graham Reynolds veröffentlicht sein erstes Soloalbum für Fire Records. Gepresst auf limitiertem lila/weißem Splatter-Vinyl in einem Deluxe Die Cut Mountain Sleeve. Eine sozio-geografische Reise entlang der Sierra im Kopf. Der herausragende Titeltrack "Mountain (Part 1)" ist voll von romantischen orchestralen Schwüngen, die das Bild einer weiten Landschaft heraufbeschwören, die von einem einzelnen Gipfel unterbrochen wird, während "...Part 2" einen zerklüfteteren Weg einschlägt, der einen kantigen Bergrücken überquert, bevor er sich in einem Hermann-esken Hitchcock-Stück festigt. "Mt. Monadnock" in New Hampshire wird namentlich erwähnt, während der "Enchanted Rock" (ein donnerndes, an die Einstürzenden Neubauten erinnerndes Wiedererwachen der Sinne, das von Grahams charakteristischer dröhnender Orchestertrommel begleitet wird) etwas außerhalb von Austin, Texas, steht, wo Reynolds seit über 30 Jahren zu Hause ist. Das Album wurde von Reynolds komponiert und eingespielt, mit Beiträgen vieler seiner musikalischen Freunde. Produziert und abgemischt wurde es von geheimnisvollen englischen Duo PeterTalisman. Das Album birgt einige Überraschungen, Austin-Nachbar Jad Fair (Half Japanese) taucht mit Backing Vocals auf, ebenso die italienische Chanteuse Marta del Grandi, deren beschwörende Worte auf "Linger In Silence" das exquisite siebenminütige "Prophet Harmonic" wieder zum Leben erwecken. ,Dieses Album ist sehr persönlich. Es beginnt mit Monadnock, dem ersten Berg, den ich je bestiegen habe, oben in Neuengland. Die erste Seite endet mit dem Enchanted Rock, dem ersten Berg, den ich in meiner Wahlheimat Texas bestiegen habe. Und obwohl ich schon mein ganzes Leben lang Musik veröffentlicht habe, ist dies das erste Mal, dass ich für etwas Eigenes, das nicht an einen Film oder ein anderes Medium gebunden ist, echte Labelunterstützung bekomme. In gewisser Weise ist es also mein erstes echtes Soloalbum", so Graham Reynolds.

It is undeniable that Billie Holiday’s singing changed in her later years. Her voice darkened and shifted to a lower range. Her economy of expression distilled her sound to its essence — a kind of heightened speech. The classic LP Songs For Distingué Lovers — her best work of the 1950’s — has also deepened and become burnished with time. Now in limited edition yellow vinyl.

Black Fairy is a fairy tale, but not in the traditional sense. When writing this play, i did not want to re-create the types of fantasies which are so common in Childrens theater. There is no kind of magic that can relieve black children from the oppression that retards their development. However, i do feel giving them a better understanding of their heritage can help them achieve their true potential. And those of us who are concerned with their development should try to expose them to knowledge that gives them a positive sense of identity. Although i do feel a chldren's play should be entertaining, I also feel it should be educational. Also, because there are so few children's plays which reflect the black experience, I wanted to write a play that Black children could identify with.

"Black Fairy" is a musical drama about a black fairy who lacks pride in herself and feels she has to offer Black children. But when she meets Black Bird and Queen Mother (Who take her to ancient Egypt, East Afrika, a southern slave plantation and the streets of Harlem) she begins toget a better understanding of her heritage. Her journey through the past enables Black Fairy to meet Aesop, Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Uncle Remus, Stag-o-lee, Leadbelly and many other characters in Black folklore and Black history. At the end of her journey, Black fairy realizes that "Being Black is nothing to be ashamed of" and is then able to share her knowledge with other Black children. Even though Black Fairy doesn't completely resolve her dilemma, having a knowledge of her heritage does give her more confidence to cope with the future.

During ther summer of 1974 "Black Fairy" was performed for over four thousand children in Chicago. And, in April of 1975, it played to over two thousand children in Detroit at Mercy College.

"Black Fairy" is the only the first of many children's plays we hope to produce at the Better Boys Foundation. There is an Afrikan proverb which says: "Children are the reward of life". We at Better Boys Foundationm are dedicated to this belief, and feel that helping childrren to appreciate their heritage is one means of showing our concern for their development.

A pure beauty of a kind... Angel Flo delivers here, not only some tunes...
It's an invocation, a ceremony...