Search:king so so

n a career spanning over 50 years James Brown became known as a progenitor of funk music and influencing the development of many other genres. All his hit songs, hidden gems and collaborations are now bundled on Collected. It contains 29 songs, including music from his early days with the Famous Flames, the J.B.’s and a wide collection of tracks from his solo career.

Brown began his career as a gospel singer and joined a rhythm and blues vocal group, the Famous Flames, as the lead singer in the 1950s. Later on he formed his own band and released successful singles as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". While developing the funk to a new level he created the J.B.’s, with which he scored hits like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". Brown was inducted into 1st class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the years he gained different honorific nicknames including "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" and "Soul Brother No. 1".

Music On Vinyl proudly presents a special coloured edition of the James Brown Collected compilation, which is available as a limited edition of 7.500 individually numbered copies on gold vinyl, and includes an insert with liner notes.

„It’s the Blues Man!“ ist das Debütalbum von Gitarrist, Harmonikaspieler, Sänger und Songwriter Eddie
Kirkland aus dem Jahr 1962, auf dem er von Saxofonist King Curtis und dessen Band begleitet wird.
Die kraftvolle Aufnahme stellt Kirklands raue, markante Stimme sowie seinen präzisen, groove-orientierten
Gitarrenstil eindrucksvoll in den Vordergrund.
In Zusammenarbeit mit Acoustic Sounds wurde das Album (AAA) von den Originalbändern remastered –
verantwortlich dafür war Matthew Lutthans im The Mastering Lab – und auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl gepresst.
Eine hochwertige Tip-on-Coverhülle mit Obi rundet das Gesamtpaket ab.

King Tehuero features four cuts, including two dub versions on the B-side by Don Fe, who also mixed and mastered the entire record.

The record opens with the Guitar Version. Guitar as a lead in sound system culture is far from the norm, giving the track a distinctive edge shaped by Andalusian tones and echoes of ancient Iberian lore.

The remaining cuts strip the guitar away, shifting the focus back to rhythm and low end. On the B-side, both dub versions explore deep, dark territory, with the second pushing further into bass-heavy, dubwise pressure.

a a1. King Tehuero [Guitar Version feat. Martincore]

[c] b1. King Tehuero [Don Fe Dub]
[d] b2. King Tehuero [Don Fe Dubwise Cut]

Cyphon Recordings continue their deep dive into the rich heritage of UK and Detroit electronic sounds with their second label release, this time from Danny Was A Drag King label boss DJ Rocca.

Active since the 90s, the Italian producer is a dedicated explorer of the Italo Disco-inspired sounds native to his home. He’s been plotting his sonic journey for decades, making pit stops at labels across Europe including Rekids,Toy Tonics, Slow Motion, Rotten City Records and Roam Recordings. On top of his solo outings, collaboration has played a big role in his production journey to date. He’s worked with artists like Howie B, Jazzanova and Zed Bias, as well as joining forces on ongoing projects with fellow Italian stalwart Daniele Baldelli and Dimitri From Paris, the latter under the name Erodiscotique.

Now back on his solo pursuits for Cyphon, Rocca proves he’s still very much at the top of his game. The four cuts on ‘Code 041’ explore all shades of electro, from raw, old school machine funk to futuristic cosmic sounds. It’s electro done the Rocca way.

The title track sets the tone. An eerie bass line crawls along, providing a bed for reflective pads to glide and mysterious synth sounds and echoing vocal samples to ricochet above. ‘No Gym’ greets us next, bringing that Italo flair Rocca’s mastered so well. It’s the most vibrant track on the release, matching colourful pinging synths and tropical-tinged melodies with a signature driving acid bass line.

On the flip, ‘The Bigger Lake’ takes the EP in a different direction, on a trip through dark glistening pads, tittering percussion and sub aquatic bass before the dusty breaks and moody, jazzy keys of ‘Omega’ bring the release to a close. Mirroring Cyphon’s label ethos, Rocca showcases the best of the past and present of a timeless sound.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull original motion picture soundtrack, now available on bronze colour vinyl, featuring music composed and conducted by John Williams.

Under the mentorship and executive production of Grammy-winning hip-hop producer 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Destiny's Child, Kendrick Lamar) come North Carolina's fastest-rising hip-hop duo! THE ZENITH is produced entirely by 9th's daughter JADA and includes 15 tracks of lyrical raps from Fayetteville's own S14H over JADA's smooth sampling.
With features from established and revered hip-hop acts such as Murs and Swank & King Draft as well as from fellow members of THE COLLECTIVE, KMac, Carri Starr, and Iris Moon, THE ZENITH is living proof that the soul of lyrical hip-hop lives on in the next generation through artists like JADA X S14H.

Red "Eruption" Marble Blend" Doppel-Vinyl, inklusive 16-seitigem Booklet mit Texten und ausführlichen Liner Notes. Ursprünglich 1998 veröffentlicht, fing ,South Central Thynk Taynk" von Abstract Tribe Unique (Abstract Rude, Fat Jack, Zulu Butterfly Priest, Irie Lion King und DJ Drez) einen entscheidenden Moment in der Underground-Szene von Los Angeles ein - als junge schwarze Künstler den Hip-Hop von Grund auf neu erfanden. Mit einer Mischung aus jazzigen Beats, spiritueller Einsicht und einer äußerst unabhängigen Produktion wurde das Album zu einer Hymne auf Selbstständigkeit und kreative Rebellion. Jetzt wird dieser lange nicht mehr erhältliche Klassiker von Rhymesayers Entertainment als Deluxe-2xLP-Set mit einem Text-Booklet und einem Bonustrack neu aufgelegt und kehrt für eine neue Generation zurück. Im kulturellen Zentrum der Platte steht Project Blowed, eine legendäre Crew aus L.A., die von Abstract Rude und Aceyalone gegründet wurde und eine Reihe von Rap-Innovatoren hervorbrachte, deren Einfluss bis heute im globalen Hip-Hop zu spüren ist. Während der Mainstream-Rap den G-Funk-Boom der Westküste aufgriff, schlug die Blowed-Crew einen anderen Weg ein - geprägt von Jazz, radikaler Politik und afrozentrischem Futurismus. ,South Central Thynk Taynk" ist eine vielschichtige Zeitkapsel aus dieser revolutionären Zeit, die Ab Rudes tiefgründige Lyrik mit Fat Jacks genreübergreifendem Produktionsansatz verbindet und eine poetische Reflexion über Familie, Kampf und künstlerische Bestimmung schafft. Diese Neuauflage enthält den Titel ,L.A. Styles Back (Project Blowed Remix)" mit einer generationsübergreifenden Besetzung von Schwergewichten - Aceyalone, Myka 9, Medusa, Pigeon John, Blu, 2Mex, Ellay Khule, Riddlore und NGAFSH -, die unterstreicht, wie die Underground-Szene von L.A. seit Jahrzehnten ein kreatives Epizentrum geblieben ist. ,South Central Thynk Taynk" ist mehr als ein Kultartefakt; es ist ein lebendiges Dokument der Transformation, der Gemeinschaft und der künstlerischen Kraft.















[o] 15 : L.A. Styles Back (Project Blowed Remix)” [feat. Aceyalone, Myka 9, Medusa, Pigeon John, Blu, 2Mex, Ellay Khule, Riddlore, NGAFSH]

Soul Jazz Records’ long out of print classic ‘Studio One Funk’ collection is being re-released in three new one-off limited-edition coloured pressing 18th anniversary format editions!
Firstly, a heavyweight special limited edition one-pressing only red 2xLP vinyl + download. Secondly, there is also a new special limited-edition one-off pressing edition red-pressed CD enclosed in jewel case and slipcase. And thirdly there is a very limited unique new one-off pressing red-cased cassette format (200 copies only)! 18 years on from its original release Studio One Funk remains one of our Studio One releases most in-demand titles and like all our earlier special coloured editions is sure to sell out fast!
Studio One Funk is made up of rare and unreleased Reggae Funk from the vaults of Studio One. Ever since the birth of Funk in America, the sound has been an ever-present ingredient in the melting pot of Studio One’s musical output.
The music on this release is a combination of originals, US covers and versions of existing Studio One cuts. Jackie Mittoo shows his appreciation for Booker T and The MGs, the studio group at Memphis’ famous Stax Records with ‘Hang Em High’, itself a cover of a film soundtrack by Dominic Frontiere. Incredibly this version has never before been released. Booker T’s super-funky ‘Melting Pot’ is also covered by the little-known Underground Vegetables.
Other versions include Isaac Hayes’ classic Blaxploitation soundtrack ‘Shaft’ again by Cedric Im Brooks track - another unreleased gem, straight from the tape master. Motown gets a look in with Alton’s stripped-down version of the Spinners classic ‘It’s A Shame’, written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta.
James Brown is apparent in spirit with the JBs-inspired groove on the super rare cut “Now” by Lee Arab. Lloyd Williams similarly does a fine Kingston-style version of the hardest-working man in showbusiness on ‘Reggae Feet’.
Version-wise, we have ‘Idleberg’, Cedric Im Brooks tough instrumental cut on Horace Andy’s seminal ‘Skylarking’. The little-known Prince Moonie gives us a rare DJ cut of another Horace Andy classic, ‘See A Man’s Face’.
Pablove Black’s cut of Sidewalk Doctor (A/K/A Poco Tempo) is one of a handful of Studio One releases featuring Augustus Pablo’s trademark instrument, the melodica, played by Black himself.
Add to these original cuts from Studio One’s heavyweight session players including Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Eric Frater, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Richard Ace, Vin Gordon and more and you have one of the finest selections of reggae and funk you will ever hear.







"This collection goes deep into the Brentford Road vaults and unearths a rake of previously unreleased gems alongside hard to find classics. Heavy and inspirational, totally unique and essentially timeless." Straight No Chaser
"An absolute treasure trove for the collector as well as being great for the ears and feet. Jackie Mittoo's 'Hang Em High' is worth the price of the album on its own." Echoes
"A superb collection that shows how much many Jamaican musicians were influenced by the heavy funk belting out of American studios from the early seventies onwards.” Touch
"The most satisfying listening experience so far in the Studio One series." The Wire
"Rare and unreleased grooves from Jamaica's house of excellence." Mojo

Mit "Eyes Full" legt Zoh Amba ein eindringliches Songwriter-Debüt vor - und zugleich die erste Veröffentlichung bei Matador. Bekannt geworden als Saxophonist:in der New Yorker Freejazz-Szene und gefeiert auf internationalen Festivals, kehrt Amba nun zu den eigenen Wurzeln zurück: zur Gitarre und zur Heimatstadt Kingsport in Tennessee. Die Songs auf "Eyes Full" tragen den rauen Geist dieser Landschaft in sich - zwischen schlingerndem Blues und Appalachian Folk. Im Zentrum steht das Sehen und Gesehenwerden. Amba richtet den Blick auf Menschen aus amerikanischen Kleinstädten: Arbeiter, Suchende, jene, die kämpfen und oft übersehen werden. Aufgewachsen in den Bergen Tennessees, zog Amba mit 17 nach San Francisco und später nach New York. Doch die Vergangenheit lässt sich nicht abschütteln - sie fordert ihre eigene Stimme. Lange glaubte Amba, dass instrumentale Musik allein zur Transzendenz führen könne. Doch irgendwann drängten sich Worte nach vorn. Die Gitarre wurde zum Werkzeug, um Erinnerungen und Erfahrungen direkt zu begegnen. So entstanden Songs voller Empathie für Menschen am Rand der Gesellschaft - Figuren zwischen Schmerz, Einsamkeit und Hoffnung. Aufgenommen wurde "Eyes Full" live und ohne Overdubs in den Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville. Kevin Hyland an der E-Gitarre und Jim White am Schlagzeug verleihen den Songs eine rohe, unmittelbare Kraft. Ambas Stimme knurrt, flüstert und brennt sich durch die Stücke. Zärtlichkeit und eruptive Energie liegen hier oft nur einen Herzschlag auseinander. "Eyes Full" ist ein Album, das hinschaut - und lange nachhallt.

Soul Jazz Records celebrate 25 years of working in partnership with Studio One with brand new editions of FIVE of their bestselling CLASSIC Studio One collections all released on limitededition one-off pressing coloured double vinyl. Also available in new limited-edition card wallet CD editions. The new edition featured albums are Studio One Funk, Studio One Dub, Studio One Ska, Studio One Roots and Studio One Classics. Studio One Roots set the standard for Soul Jazz Records’ long-standing series and features many of the classic artists from Clement 'Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s mighty roster of reggae. This album includes Freddie McGregor, Willie Williams, Cornell Campbell, Alton Ellis, Devon Russell alongside some of the defining in-house groups of Jamaican reggae history - The Sound Dimension, Brentford All-Stars, The Skatalites, New Establishment and more. The album is filled with a mixture of seminal cuts and super-rarities from the vast vaults of 13 Brentford Road.

Stand-out tracks include Alton Ellis’s ‘Blackish White’, a surreal and powerful Afro-centric dream, Count Ossie’s Rastafarian drummers’ genre-defying interpretation of Booker T and The MGs ‘Meditation’, Willie Williams aweinspiring versioning of the Skatalites' seminal Rastafari anthem ‘Addis Ababa’ and many, many more. Original sleevenotes by Lloyd Bradley (author of When Reggae Was King), compiled by Mark Ainley (Honest Jons), high-quality Soul Jazz mastering, wicked images of Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari on the cover, and a rare image of Clement Dodd and musicians inside the studio at Studio One on the full colour inner sleeves. “There isn't a weak number across these 16 tracks, from the Gaylads’ ode to ‘Africa’ and Devon Russell's version of the heavyweight ‘Drum Song’ rhythm, to stunning instrumentals such as Jackie Mittoo and the Cyclones with nyahbinghi drummer Count Ossie on ‘Meditation’, Lenny Hibbert’s sparkling vibe work over Mittoo's ‘Ghetto Organ’ and The Sound Dimension’s ‘Congo Rock.” Pitchfork “The music of this compilation is of a rare, rare beauty and is essential to anyone's reggae collection.” All Music

Mit "Eyes Full" legt Zoh Amba ein eindringliches Songwriter-Debüt vor - und zugleich die erste Veröffentlichung bei Matador. Bekannt geworden als Saxophonist:in der New Yorker Freejazz-Szene und gefeiert auf internationalen Festivals, kehrt Amba nun zu den eigenen Wurzeln zurück: zur Gitarre und zur Heimatstadt Kingsport in Tennessee. Die Songs auf "Eyes Full" tragen den rauen Geist dieser Landschaft in sich - zwischen schlingerndem Blues und Appalachian Folk. Im Zentrum steht das Sehen und Gesehenwerden. Amba richtet den Blick auf Menschen aus amerikanischen Kleinstädten: Arbeiter, Suchende, jene, die kämpfen und oft übersehen werden. Aufgewachsen in den Bergen Tennessees, zog Amba mit 17 nach San Francisco und später nach New York. Doch die Vergangenheit lässt sich nicht abschütteln - sie fordert ihre eigene Stimme. Lange glaubte Amba, dass instrumentale Musik allein zur Transzendenz führen könne. Doch irgendwann drängten sich Worte nach vorn. Die Gitarre wurde zum Werkzeug, um Erinnerungen und Erfahrungen direkt zu begegnen. So entstanden Songs voller Empathie für Menschen am Rand der Gesellschaft - Figuren zwischen Schmerz, Einsamkeit und Hoffnung. Aufgenommen wurde "Eyes Full" live und ohne Overdubs in den Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville. Kevin Hyland an der E-Gitarre und Jim White am Schlagzeug verleihen den Songs eine rohe, unmittelbare Kraft. Ambas Stimme knurrt, flüstert und brennt sich durch die Stücke. Zärtlichkeit und eruptive Energie liegen hier oft nur einen Herzschlag auseinander. "Eyes Full" ist ein Album, das hinschaut - und lange nachhallt.

Swedish rockers The Wannadies reached internationally stardom in 1994, when they released their third album Be A Girl.

The single "You and Me Song" became the group's biggest hit, peaking at number eighteen in the United Kingdom, after being featured on the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann's film Romeo + Juliet (starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio).

But the magic of the album goes further, “Might Be Stars" became another UK hit, and sounds exactly like the Britpop from that time. The sound of summer is what makes this record so wonderful, from the start to the end.

Be A Girl is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on white vinyl and includes an insert.

A defining transmission in the history of Skylax Records. Originally released across different moments of the Skylax catalogue, these recordings are now assembled as the final chapter of the Skylax House Explosion series — a project exploring the architecture, memory and survival mechanisms embedded within house music culture. The record opens with Move D’s “Outer Rim 64”, originally released in 2018 as part of the Skylax House Explosion narrative. Suspended between motion and distance, the track establishes the conceptual perimeter of this final chapter — a space where rhythm no longer functions only as propulsion, but as orientation. Here the listener stands at the outer edge of the dancefloor’s architecture, where structure persists even as its original social conditions begin to disappear. The sequence continues with Hardrock Striker’s “Motorik Life (DJ Sprinkles Dub)”, originally released in 2011. Rather than operating as a conventional remix, the Dub reinforces the motorik continuum of the original composition, transforming repetition into endurance. DJ Sprinkles preserves the infrastructural skeleton of the dancefloor — its capacity to sustain bodies through duration alone, without narrative resolution or emotional release. The record culminates with “Motorik Life (DJ Sprinkles Mountain Of Despair Remix)”, one of the most politically explicit works ever associated with Skylax Records. Through the relentless repetition of the phrase “mountain of despair,” Terre Thaemlitz dismantles the traditional function of dance music, transforming remix culture into structural critique. Referencing Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous metaphor, the remix removes the promise of redemption and leaves only the architecture of struggle. The dancefloor is no longer presented as escape, but as a temporary condition of survival. Together these recordings reveal house music’s true function: not to resolve despair, but to create temporary conditions in which bodies can continue to exist despite it.

AFTER THE DANCEFLOOR

you cannot preserve a dancefloor
by archiving its sound
because the dancefloor was never sound

it was bodies
finding temporary protection
inside systems designed to erase them

house music was never a genre
it was a survival strategy

when the lights disappeared
the structures remained
and so did we

'This compilation Pas Un Pas Sans… The Boleros of O.K. Jazz 1957-77 is a selection of songs from what is one of the most unique and passionate music genres on earth, the Congolese bolero.
'Of all Congolese bands venturing into the bolero, the O.K. Jazz orchestra is by far the king of this musical style which originated in the late 19th century in Cuba. In its nearly forty years of existence, the illustrious band released dozens of boleros, with beautiful compositions, mainly by Franco and Vicky, and occasionally from Kwamy, Edo, Simaro and Mujos among others. The slow form of the bolero allowed Franco, who said in various interviews that he loved all forms of ‘slow music’, to express his most profound soul stirrings and create a style of his own. With the suave voice of Vicky and the breathtaking and dramatic guitar touch of Franco, O.K. Jazz was able to capture the true essence of the bolero.
'The favorite theme in the bolero songs of O.K. Jazz was, without doubt, the joy and pain of love, but it also touches on friendship, city life in Kinshasa, laments, politics and even advertising for a shoe brand like the remarkable song ‘Pas Un Pas Sans Bata’ featured on this compilation.
'All of the songs, except one, were restored and remastered from the original 45 rpm or 78 rpm release. The selection chronologically presented here consists – as always – for a good part of songs never reproduced after their original release.'

Ten years ago, Adolph Robert Thornton Jr. planted his flag. Released on February 19, 2016, King of Memphis wasn't just a debut studio album; it was a bold declaration of independence and a flawless blueprint for self-made success. To celebrate a decade of this foundational Southern rap masterpiece, Paper Route Empire is honoring Young Dolph’s legacy with a series of exclusive, limited-edition 10th Anniversary vinyl variants.

Before King of Memphis, Dolph had already built a massive underground following through a relentless run of mixtapes. But this official debut elevated him from a local hero to a national powerhouse.

By bypassing the major label system and releasing the project entirely through his own Paper Route Empire (PRE), Dolph proved that undeniable talent, relentless hustle, and business savvy were all you needed to take the crown. The album peaked in the Top 50 of the Billboard 200, an incredible feat for a fiercely independent artist at the time, and cemented his status as a CEO who called his own shots.

King of Memphis is all killer, no filler. Over 11 tracks, Dolph's signature slow-flow delivery and larger-than-life charisma glide over heavy-hitting, trap-defining production from a legendary lineup of producers, including Mike WiLL Made-It, Zaytoven, TM88, and Cassius Jay.

With zero guest features, the project relies entirely on Dolph’s magnetic presence. From the motivational hustler's anthem "Get Paid" to the menacing confidence of "Let Me See It" and "Royalty," the album plays like a victory lap for a self-made king.

Over 30 years ago, Dog Eat Dog from New Jersey managed to set a milestone in the then still young crossover genre with their debut album. ‘All Boro Kings’ received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. With ‘No Fronts’, the album also boasts a club hit that is still popular today. In August 2018, German magazine Visions included ‘All Boro Kings’ in its list of the 25 crossover albums for eternity.

Underneath his mysterious metal mask, MF DOOM hides the cachet underground legends are made of. After his first group KMD’s sophomore album Black Bastards was shelved by Elektra in 1994, and his blood brother Subroc — one half of the sibling rap duo — passed away, surviving frontman Zev Love X slowly mutated into the supervillain MC known as MF DOOM, and the rap world is better for it.

The 1999 release of Operation: Doomsday marked MF DOOM’s official debut, reintroducing a mysterious figure who would soon become one of underground rap’s greatest voices. Within its 19 tracks, Operation: Doomsday reveals the confluence of DOOM’s tragic past, personal interests and daring creativity. His clever rhymes and remarkable schemes stood out against the landscape, and every sound he touched — from cartoon theme songs, to ‘80s soul, to rap classics and more — got reinterpreted into something brand new and surreal.

Decades later, MF DOOM is still celebrated for all facets of his work and influence. In the face of tragedy, DOOM re-infiltrated the rap game on his own terms, and crafted an instant cult classic. Operation: Doomsday stands as a testament to the power of betting on yourself against all odds.

Having already toured the UK/EU supporting the likes of Gregory Porter, Jools Holland and The Teskey Brothers, alongside selling out multiple headline shows in the UK and EU (Ronnie Scotts in London, Unterfhart Jazz Club in Munich and Jassmine in Warsaw among others), she's also co-written with the likes of Caro Emerald, Ruby Turner and Roberta Campos, and broken through to new territories via national radio play-listing in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy, as well as having strong radio support from BBC Radio 2, 6 and Jazz FM. Kat's third album 'What Happens Now' is a collection of timeless yet contemporary beautifully crafted songs with lyrics that cut to the core. Inspired by artists such as Emily King, Lake Street Dive and Raye, alongside legends Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Carole King that Kat grew up listening to, 'What Happens Now' is an amalgamation of her influences underpinned by her inimitable tone.

Born out of a shared pop-up studio on the 5th floor of an Omotesandō shopping mall, “Paradox” is the rousing result of a compelling musical collaboration between two British-born, Tokyo-based producers: The Magus Project (Rhythm King / The White Label, Silk Road Sounds, WhatSonic?) and Submerse (Hooversound, Future Retro, Straight Up Breakbeat, Breaker Breaker).

It also marks a collaborative first between The Magus Project’s own WhatSonic? label and Yeti Out’s imprint, Silk Road Sounds.

The archetypal DIY split-single approach — two individual artists offering a track each across a single release — is magnificently elevated in this case by a powerful connective force, in the guise of a shared rhythm spanning Paradox’s non-identical-twin tracks; a relentless pulse that, uniquely, allows either track to be mixed effortlessly into the other, bridging the transition between 126 and 168 bpm or vice versa.

Different speeds, different tracks, identical pulse: making the bpm matter and, well, not matter all at once: a kind of Schrödinger’s tempo, a thought-experiment in sonic form, an either/or/both of genre-spanning stylistic enquiry.

'Honesty Flowers' is the fourth studio album from Italian multi-instrumentalist Alessio Ferarri under the Upupayāma moniker. An epic double album set due for release May 29th 2026 on Fuzz Club, 'Honesty Flowers' finds Upupayāma's ever mind-blowing brew of organic psychedelic rock meets global grooves at its most percussive, lively and distorted. Equally hedonistic and heady, it courses through rhythmic funk grooves, doubled-down scorched fuzz riffing, winding motorik jams, tranquil drones and pastoral acid-folk across its seventy minute run time. A six-piece band live, where things take a more ever-evolving improvisation-based approach (see their recent 'Live At Fuzz Club Festival '25' LP), on the recordings Ferarri writes, plays and records everything himself – guitars, keys, flute, sitar, and an arsenal of percussion all feature. Never not working on new music, Ferarri started laying down these new tracks in his home barn studio in a small mountain village overlooking the city of Parma before its 2024 predecessor 'Mount Elephant' even hit the racks. The result was mixed by Chris Smith at Kluster Sounds (Kikagaku Moyo, Wax Machine) and mastered by Joseph Carra (King Gizzard, Babe Rainbow, ORB) On the new record, Ferarri says: "Honesty Flowers was born from listening to lots of funk music from all over the world, lots and lots of African music, and from listening to myself as I spent whole nights playing all kinds of percussion instruments. I would fall into a sort of trance and play the same rhythm for hours on congas or on a djembe. It's an album that was born above all from the beauty of being able to narrate the unknown and recognise yourself in it, which could translate into telling stories and bringing them to life.

A unique collaboration between Industrial Breakbeat pioneers Meat Beat Manifesto (Jack Dangers) and the undisputed king of Japanese noise, Merzbow (Masami Akita). "We may not speak the same language, but in the vortex of sound, there's a raw, primal understanding that transcends words. Noise can be art, a visual representation could maybe be Jackson Pollock's No 5, a plexus of chaos redefining what music can and could be. Pushing boundaries with Masami wasn't just a musical adventure, it was a masterclass in sonic anarchy"
(Jack Dangers, January 2024). 'Extinct' sees the duo take listeners on a transcendental journey, focusing on the dismantling of beat and structure and recycling the result through layers of beautifully crafted noise and feedback loops, giving birth to new rhythms buried deep in the dirt. The 20 minute opener 'FLAKKA' takes constantly evolving breakbeats which are gradually broken down over time, driven through a filter of harsh noise, destroying the old to give birth to the new. Raw and unforgiving, the track is a behemoth that blends mutant forms of broken beats and hints of dub, creating rhythmic noise of the highest calibre in the process. 'Burner' takes the record to its ultimate conclusion, the initial drum beat broken down so that it is barely recognisable. Pulsating distortion and high end audio fragments bleed into each other as the track lumbers forth and destroys everything in its path before slowly unravelling, degrading and falling apart. A harrowing yet somewhat cathartic trip through walls of harsh industrial noise and audio degradation, 'Extinct' is a masterful pairing of artists who have delivered something truly unique yet totally relevant. Don't sleep on this one! (Todd Robinson / Subunit) Composed, recorded and produced November 2023 - January 2024 by Jack Dangers and Masami Akita.

Bursting out of the Scottish underground with a bellyfull of hype, full page press coverage in Scottish nationals, and a sold-out launch show at Glasgow Art School, the Scottish electronic post-punk duo have fast become known for their abrasive sound, biting Glaswegian lyricism, and explosive live shows This brand new EP (with bonus former EP 'Bootlickers' and single 'The Mullets Are Moving In' on the B Side), blends sharp social commentary with distorted bass, fractured electronics, and heavy rhythms... Doss have built a thrilling reputation through relentless DIY touring and uncompromising performances, with support slots ticked off alongside the likes of Deadletter and Fat Dog in recent times.

Meet Me in the Garden is a richly textured exploration of love, loss, and renewal. Co-produced by Felix Bloxsom (SIA, Genesis Owusu), Daniel Mougerman (The Bamboos), and Rita Satch herself, and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Ben Kane (D’Angelo, Emily King), the album features contributions from some of Naarm/Melbourne’s finest, alongside a sweeping 12-piece string orchestra.
Blending smooth soul, contemporary R&B, orchestral flourishes, and stacked harmonies reminiscent of D’Angelo and Bilal, the album unfolds with cinematic beauty and emotional depth. It opens with a stirring string prelude by Mougerman before transitioning into the dreamy title track. Standouts include the meditative Breathe, the funk-fuelled Joyride, and Warrior Princess - a heartfelt tribute to Satch’s late grandmothers that helped her process grief through song.
Rooted in personal loss and spiritual growth, the album draws from Satch’s Kabbalistic studies and her belief in reunion beyond this life. With its timeless soul and modern edge, Meet Me in the Garden is a bold, soul-stirring debut that leaves a lasting impression.

Born Neville Beckford in Kingston, he first gained recognition as a sound system deejay before breaking through with the powerful single "Angela Davis." During the mid 1970s, he recorded extensively for producers including Rupie Edwards, Clive Chin, Keith Hudson, and Channel One, releasing a string of influential singles and albums. His debut LP Jah Woosh reached number one in the reggae album charts and established him as a leading voice of the era. The album Rebellion also features vocalist Sis Bee, whose spirited responses to Jah Woosh add a unique dynamic. Later, through his work with Adrian Sherwood and the Creation Rebel collective, Jah Woosh remained an important figure in roots reggae

Mit The House Session setzt die renommierte Electronic Music Anthology von Wagram ihre stilprägende Reise durch die elektronische Clubkultur fort. Nach erfolgreichen Ausgaben zu Deep House und Techno widmet sich diese Edition dem Herzstück elektronischer Musik: House Music. Kuratiert vom französischen Electronic-Aushängeschild FG Radio versammelt die Compilation zeitlose Klassiker, moderne Favoriten und inspirierende Genre-Perlen. Mit dabei sind zentrale Namen wie George Morel, Cassius, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Mézigue, Moloko, Soha, Bob Sinclar, DJ Gregory, Joe Smooth und St Germain - Artists, die House in unterschiedlichen Epochen maßgeblich geprägt und weltweit auf die Dancefloors gebracht haben. Zwischen funkigen Grooves, soulful Vocals, pumpenden Basslines und eleganten French-Touch-Momenten entfaltet The House Session ein breites Spektrum an Sounds, das sowohl Sammler als auch DJs anspricht. Eine hochwertige Anthologie, die den Spirit von House Music - warm, energiegeladen und zutiefst euphorisierend - perfekt einfängt.







g 7Cheek - Venus (Sunshine People) DJ Gregory Remix







g b3 Cheek - Venus (Sunshine People) [DJ Gregory Remix]







[g] b3 | Cheek - Venus (Sunshine People) [DJ Gregory Remix]

"Slime Wave 2" is the highly anticipated sequel to Hus Kingpin's 2019 album, immersing listeners into the gritty, yet hypnotic world of one of the waviest MC’s in underground hip-hop. Building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, this album pushes boundaries, blending intricate lyricism with captivating production to create an auditory journey like no other.
Backed by an array of talented producers, the album's beats range from soulful and jazz-infused to hard-hitting and gritty, providing the perfect backdrop for Hus Kingpin's lyrical prowess. Each track is a sonic masterpiece, meticulously crafted to evoke a range of emotions and keep listeners captivated from start to finish.
"Slime Wave 2" features a killer lineup of guest appearances, adding layers of depth and diversity to the album's sonic landscape, with Bala No Judas, Shyheim, Supreme Cerebral, Skrilla and Tritty joingin Hus on this journey.
Behind the boards, a stellar lineup of producers brings their A-game to "Slime Wave 2," ensuring a diverse and immersive listening experience. From the legendary Madlib's signature soulful soundscapes to the gritty, boom-bap vibes of Macapella, Owltree, and Manny Megz, each producer leaves their indelible mark on the album, creating a rich tapestry of beats that perfectly complement Hus Kingpin's lavish lyricism.

Robert Johnson was an American blues musician whose 1936 and 1937 recordings heavily influenced many, many future generations of artists. Despite the fact his recording career spanned a mere seven months, he is universally recognized as a master of the Delta blues style, one of the earliest-known styles of blues emerging from the Mississippi delta in the early twentieth century.

This second compilation of the King of the Delta Blues collects sixteen recordings previously available on the 78 rpm format and includes recordings of two Johnson songs that have since become blues standards: "Sweet Home Chicago" and "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom." In contrast to the deeply emotive songs released on the 1961 album, many of the tracks on this volume display Johnson's lighter side. In 2003 the record was ranked #424 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Whether he really needed to sell his soul to the devil at the crossroads to reach these great heights, we'll never know...

King Of The Delta Blues Singers, Vol.2 is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on yellow vinyl and includes an insert with liner notes by Pete Welding.

14 sorgfältig ausgewählte, atemberaubende, dämonische Tracks aus den legendären Demo Sessions Vol. 1 bis 7 der Meister des modernen Psychedelic Rock. Ein fuzziger Best Of-Tauchgang in die wilden Archive der australischen Psych-Meister und ein faszinierender Einblick in ihren mitreißenden kreativen Prozess. Enthält einige essentielle Tracks aus ihrem Repertoire, präsentiert in frühen Stadien, oder als Instrumentalversionen oder in alternativer psychedelischer Leckerbissen für die stetig wachsende Fangemeinde dieser Heavy-Psych-Freak-Out-Truppe. Mit Insert und exklusivem Psych-Artwork. Ermöglicht im Rahmen King Gizzard Official Bootleg Initiative. Unverzichtbar für Fans von knalligem, überdehtem, modernem Psychedelic Rock'n'Roll.

Brown Spirits are a super-heavy psychedelic three-piece band who play raw energetic super-charged psych rock heavily influenced by krautrock, freejazz and deep funk music from the 1970s that gives them a truly unique and highly addictive sound. The group record and mix their own music to ¼-
inch analogue tape at home maintaining a strictly DIY-ethic.

Brown Spirits are Tim Wold, Agostino Soldati and Ash Buscombe. The group are from the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, home to an ever-growing
music scene that includes Amyl and the Sniffers, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Surprise Chef, Tropical Fuck Storm and more.
The group have already released two superb critically-acclaimed album on Soul Jazz Records – ‘Cosmic Seeds’ and Solitary Transmissions’.
Soul Jazz Records are releasing three new albums from the Australian group on one day. All three albums are super-limited one-off special coloured
vinyl pressings of just 500 copies each that will all be deleted on the day of release.

These three albums were originally released (between 2017-2020) in long-deleted very short run-editions - either self-released in Australia or on an
indie German psych label. No copies of Brown Spirits #2 or Brown Spirits #3 are currently available anywhere in the world. Both of Brown Spirits two
earlier releases for Soul Jazz Records are also sold out on vinyl and these three super-limited special edition LPs will also sell out.

Marvin Gaye always dreamed of being a smooth crooner, “sitting on a stool, possibly behind a piano,” delivering velvety songs like Nat King Cole. But Motown had other plans. Pushed between raw R&B and polished pop, Gaye fought to find his own voice, eventually rising to become one of the greatest soul singers in history.

Motown Records released the first Marvin Gaye record in 1961 "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over", a single intended for (radio) promotion from the singer's debut album. This was followed up by the officially released "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" a week later. Gaye scored his first real hit with "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" in 1962, which he had co-written himself, joking about his alleged stubbornness. He found his own unique style with the single released at the end of the year: "Hitch Hike". The foundations were now laid for an enormous series of chart successes: "Pride And Joy", "Can I Get A Witness", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "Ain't That Peculiar" are all Motown classics from 1963-1965 which are still being regularly played today after all these years. The duets he recorded with Kim Weston ("It Takes Two"), especially Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross were certainly at least as good.

He scored his biggest ever hit with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" in 1968. "What's Going On" from the same titled album became a number 1 hit in the USA. The album was received as a masterpiece and is regarded as one of the most important records in pop history. In 1973, the artistically and commercially very successful, "Let's Get It On" album was mainly a musical ode to Marvin's love for his new muse Janis Hunter. His journey continued after a turbulent relationship, addiction and a dramatic creative rebirth in Belgium, where he crafted the global hit “Sexual Healing in 1982.

Marvin Gaye left behind timeless hits, groundbreaking albums, and a legacy that shaped the sound of modern soul. His story, from ambition to artistry, from struggle to brilliance, remains as powerful as the music he created.

Music On Vinyl proudly presents a special coloured vinyl edition of the Marvin Gaye Collected album which is available as a limited edition of 10.000 individually numbered copies on white (LP1) and silver coloured vinyl (LP2) and includes a booklet with liner notes.

King Jammy–produced full-length debut from rising reggae songstress Aza Lineage, Rebel Daawta. Features appearances from Hi-Times Band, Jessie Royal, and Johnny Osbourne. Beautifully packaged in a full-colour sleeve.

British alt-rock favourites A return with PRANG, their first studio album in over 20 years, released via Cooking Vinyl. Sparked by the effervescent lead single "Hello Sunshine," the album finds the band rediscovering their identity with the carefree spirit and stylish sloppiness that defined their early days. Written and recorded free from expectation or pressure, PRANG is a vibrant, hook-laden reaffirmation of A"s enduring appeal - balancing punchy, riff-driven anthems with heartfelt, soul-baring moments. Frontman Jason Perry, now a Grammy Award-winning producer known for his work with Don Broco, McFly and Kids In Glass Houses, helms production to preserve the band"s DIY ethos and singular personality. Lyrically, PRANG is A"s most open and reflective work to date. Drawing on two decades of life experience, Perry explores gratitude, resilience, mental health and friendship with warmth and disarming honesty. The result is an album that feels both nostalgic and strikingly modern - each track its own colourful island, yet unmistakably A. Twenty years in the making, PRANG is more than a comeback; it"s a rebirth. Cathartic, melodic and life-affirming, it marks a bold new chapter for one of Britain"s most beloved rock bands.

Repress 2025
The King of K-Pop Returns!

To those unfamiliar, G-Dragon is regarded by many as the Godfather of K-Pop. Rising to fame in the mid-00’s with his group, Big Bang, that later went on to become one of the world’s biggest selling boy groups. He quickly stood out with his unique and intricate songwriting as the leader of the group. A talented songwriter and trendsetter within the youth culture and fashion space, G-Dragon has received a bevy of awards, nominations for his music and fashion sense from the World Music Awards, to Hypebeast’s 100 list, to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, it’s apparent that G-Dragon has cemented his place in cultural relevance.

After serving his mandatory South Korean military service and a brief hiatus from music, the global superstar, G-Dragon has returned! He announced that he signed with indie-powerhouse, EMPIRE, and released his first comeback single on October 31, 2024 with POWER to immediate global fanfare and buzz, with the music video garnering over 44 MILLION views in a month and over 115 MILLION global streams. He soon followed that up with an electrifying performance at the 2024 MAMA Awards show in Osaka coupled with the release of his new single, Home Sweet Home which has garnered 100 MILLION global streams since release.

2025 will see the release of his first full length album since 2017 entitled Übermensch along with global tour dates. The album is expected to make a huge impact globally and further cement his place in music history!

Anathema formed in Liverpool in 1990, initially under the name of Pagan Angel & grew from a heavy doom/death metal style act into a more progressive & melodic group, blending rock elements with strong atmospherics inspired by classic acts such as Pink Floyd & Radiohead. The band signed with Peaceville Records after recording the 'All Faith Is Lost' demo in 1991, & is known for being part of the hallowed Peaceville doom metal trinity in the early 1990's (alongside fellow UK bands Paradise Lost & My Dying Bride), with some highly influential releases in the early part of their long, esteemed career. 'Pentecost III' was released in early 1995 & was recorded at the infamous Academy Studios in Yorkshire UK (My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost). 'Pentecost III' featured classic heavy & often hypnotic doom metal, as well as a reworking/rerecording of the 'Memento Mori' track from the 'Iliad of Woes' demo.

Formed by "Fast" Eddie Clarke (formerly of Motorhead) and Pete Way (formerly of UFO), the band delivered a raw, energetic sound driven by powerful guitar riffs and melodic hooks. With standout tracks like "Say What You Will" and "Easy Livin'," Fastway received praise for its straightforward rock appeal and infectious energy. Lead vocalist Dave King's dynamic voice adds a gritty edge to the album's heavy rhythms and bluesy influences. Fastway was a commercial success, helping the band gain a strong following and cementing their place in the hard rock and metal landscape. For fans of classic rock and early heavy metal, Fastway is a must-listen, delivering a high-energy experience from start to finish. Fastway is available on black vinyl.

Irish drone-doom-folk act One Leg One Eye, the project of founding Lankum member Ian Lynch and veteran noise monger George Brennan, announce their new album, CRONE, out on 1 May on AD 93.

Today the group share the first track on the album, ‘Many are my Names Besides’, on which they are joined by the elemental force that is legendary actor, performer, writer and director Olwen Fouéré (Operating Theatre) contributing vocals.

Olwen Fouéré comments:

“When Ian and George first approached me to work with them, they were already creating the Crone album as a sonic invocation of the ‘sovereignty goddess’, who personifies the land and the legitimacy to rule it, in her darkest and most terrifying form. As we spoke, the triple goddess figure of the Morrigan entered my mind, reinforced by a marked presence of crows every time we met. The Morrigan is essentially a war goddess, frequently appearing as a crow in a battlefield, a death prophet, a guardian of sovereignty, and a very powerful figure in Irish Mythology.

So I invoked her energy as a starting point, using text extracts that Ian sent me from the Ulster Cycle and other sources. The voice recording was done in one day, improvising the source material while the already composed music occupied my psyche through headphones.

Listening back, at this time in our world, I can only wonder at how much blood and war the Crone/ Crow of sovereignty is preparing to unleash now. Watch out.”

CRONE is the second album from Lynch and Brennan, following on from 2022’s slowburn slab of ambient grit, …And Take The Black Worm With Me. Bewildering, psychedelic and ultimately transcendental, the four tracks of One Leg One Eye’s CRONE shapeshift and morph endlessly in a coarse miasma. Traditional song structures and vocal melody are eschewed, instead the trio directly channel energies from the rich seams of mythological significance submerged below the Irish psyche. The anger, rage and beauty of the sovereignty goddess burn a consistent and deliberate line through the album in the form of obscure incantations and dire pronouncements, the gnarled sinews that bind it all together.

Just as the subject matter of the tracks delve deeper into Irish myth and the remote past, the temporal reality of the album reaches back into the bands prehistory, with the majority of it the material being recorded by Lynch and Brennan in 2021 before One Leg One Eye was conceived of as an entity with Brennan working on the CRONE project while Lynch worked on …And Take The Black Worm With Me.

When they were there they saw a lone woman coming to the door of the Hostel, after sunset, and seeking to be let in. As long as a weaver’s beam was each of her two shins, and they were as dark as the back of a stag-beetle. A greyish, wooly mantle she wore. Her lower hair used to reach as far as her knee. Her lips were on one side of her head.

She came and put one of her shoulders against the door-post of the house, casting the evil eye on the king and the youths who surrounded him in the Hostel. He himself addressed her from within.

"Well, O woman," says Conaire, "if thou art a wizard, what seest thou for us?"

"Truly I see for thee," she answers, "that neither fell nor flesh of thine shall escape from the place into which thou hast come, save what birds will bear away in their claws."

"It was not an evil omen we foreboded, O woman," saith he: "it is not thou that always augurs for us. What is thy name, O woman?"

"Calib," she answers.

"That is not much of a name," says Conaire.

"Lo, many are my names besides."

"Which be they?" asks Conaire.

"Easy to say," quoth she. "Samon, Sinand, Seisclend, Sodb, Caill, Coll, Díchóem, Dichiúil, Díthím, Díchuimne, Dichruidne, Dairne, Dáríne, Déruaine, Egem, Agam, Ethamne, Gním, Cluiche, Cethardam, Níth, Némain, Nóennen, Badb, Blosc, Bloár, Huae, óe Aife la Sruth, Mache, Médé, Mod."

On one foot, and holding up one hand, and breathing one breath she sang all that to them from the door of the house.

Strut proudly presents the first-ever reissue of a landmark 1974 Ghanaian highlife classic Sikyi Highlife by Dr K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings, originally released on Essiebons.

A defining recording of the era, Sikyi Highlife bridges tradition and innovation at a pivotal moment in Ghanaian music. Deeply rooted in the classic 1950s–’60s highlife sound, K. Gyasi drew inspiration from the ancient sikyi drum-dance of the Akan people of southern Ghana, shaping the album’s rhythms around its distinctive pulse.

The vocal arrangements echo the traditional Akan modal style, grounding the music firmly in Ghana’s cultural heritage. Yet Sikyi Highlife is equally forward-thinking. As electric guitars became standard in highlife during the 1960s, the 1970s ushered in further experimentation. The Noble Kings broke new ground as the first highlife guitar band to incorporate keyboards and a full horn section into their sound, expanding the genre’s sonic possibilities while retaining its rootsy spirit.

Gyasi’s approach was part of a broader indigenisation movement among Ghana’s electric highlife bands in the post-independence era. Inspired by the nation’s ‘African Personality’ ethos and reinforced by Afrocentric messages arriving from American soul and funk, artists began reclaiming traditional forms within modern arrangements. Contemporaries included Koo Nimo, who revived the older palmwine style, and drummer Nii Ashitey, whose Wulomei band pioneered a folklorised Ga highlife sound from 1973.

Like many musicians of his generation, Gyasi was a passionate supporter of Ghana’s independence movement. In 1963, he travelled as a musical ambassador alongside Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, performing across North Africa and the USSR and carrying Ghanaian culture onto the world stage.

The Noble Kings’ mid-’70s line-up featured some of the country’s finest musicians, including guitarist Eric Agyeman (who led the band at the time), Thomas Frimpong on drums and vocals, Ernest Honny on organ, and bassist Ralph Karikari - who was renowned for his innovative technique of translating the rhythms and tonal language of the traditional talking drum onto electric bass.

Upon its original release, Sikyi Highlife became one of the biggest-selling albums of the 1970s for Essiebons, earning Gyasi the affectionate honorary title of “Dr” from his devoted fans. Today, the album remains an evergreen classic, still cherished across Ghana and beyond.

Nach einer dreijährigen Pause kehrt der schwedische Singer-Songwriter Thomas Jonsson mit ,Give Up Together" zurück, seinem sechsten Album als I'm Kingfisher. Nach dem 2023 erschienenen, hochgelobten Album ,Glue", das größtenteils gemeinsam mit Jazzmusikern arrangiert wurde, hat sich Jonsson dieses Mal für einen etwas anderen, härteren Sound entschieden - mit einer brillanten Sammlung von Americana-Songs, die von ruhigen Drums, markanten E-Gitarren und satten Streichern umhüllt sind, während sie gelegentlich zu reduzierten Folksongs dekonstruiert werden. Als eines der bestgehüteten Geheimnisse Schwedens und als einer der besten Songwriter der nordischen Folk-Welle hat Jonsson still und leise ein mehr als beeindruckendes Repertoire aufgebaut, während er die Bühne mit Kevin Morby, Courtney Marie Andrews, The Weather Station und Damien Jurado teilte, und ist nun endlich bereit, neben seinen berühmteren Zeitgenossen ins Rampenlicht zu treten.

The Flirtations are poised to release ‘Still Sounds Like the Flirtations’ – their first album of new material in 55 years. They are best known for their 1969 signature song, "Nothing But A Heartache”, off their debut album ‘Sounds Like the Flirtations’. That song spent 14 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, and its success saw the group tour with Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, The Four Tops and The Temptations. “Nothing But a Heartache” remains an undeniable Northern Soul classic; it has been streamed over 13 million times, and in 2022 was remixed by Tobtok and Oliver Nelson. On their forthcoming album, which was produced, engineered, mixed, and co-written by Ben Rice (Joan Osborne, Valerie June), Earnestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce, and Viola Billups aka Pearly Gates tell the stories of their lives. Drawing inspiration from the churn of personal, social, and political situations that they have lived through over the past five decades, they capture a timeless and well-earned perspective on love and life. The record, which features the Dap King horns, contains standout tracks, including the reflective call to action “Memories”, co-written by Stevie Wonder; the hopeful love song “Ain’t No Easy Way” and the instant dance floor hit “Didn’t Anybody Tell You”, both co-written by Grammy-nominated songwriter Gian Stone (John Legend, Meghan Trainor); the uplifting groover “Love Somebody”; and the roaring “Take It Back”, co-written by Dave Sherman (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Elle King). The recording process was a transatlantic adventure, with sessions at Abbey Road and Resident Studios in London, Degraw Sound in Brooklyn, and Creative Workshop in Nashville. Retaining the classic soul sound and melodic harmonies The Flirtations are known for, the album will not disappoint long-time fans, while also promising to bring their authentic, inimitable sound to a new generation of music.

Zusammenfassung:
SLAYERs zweites Studioalbum Hell Awaits erscheint kommenden Frühling als 40th-Anniversary-Edition über Metal Blade Records. Die 1981 gegründete Band definierte mit ihrem extremen Mix aus Metal und Punk nicht nur ein Genre, sondern auch eine kompromisslose Haltung. Laut Gitarrist Kerry King ist Hell Awaits das Album, "auf dem SLAYER zu SLAYER wurden". Im Vergleich zum Debüt Show No Mercy zeigt sich die Band hier deutlich ausgereifter: komplexer, progressiver und aggressiver. Veröffentlicht 1985, war Hell Awaits ein Höhepunkt eines Thrash-Metal-Jahres voller wichtiger Debüts (u. a. Megadeth, Exodus, Kreator). Stark beeinflusst von Mercyful Fate experimentierten SLAYER mit längeren, anspruchsvolleren Songstrukturen - ein für sie einmaliger kreativer Ansatz.

Pressetext:
SLAYERs ikonisches zweites Studioalbum Hell Awaits wird nächsten Frühling von Metal Blade Records als 40-Jahre-Jubiläumsedition neu aufgelegt!
Gegründet 1981, überfielen SLAYER die Welt mit einer neuen Mischung aus Metal und Punk - schwerer, schneller und dunkler als alles andere - und setzten damit einen neuen Standard, der nicht nur ein Genre, sondern auch eine Haltung definierte. In ihrer gesamten Geschichte zögerte die Band nie, ihren extremen, fokussierten Klangangriff loszulassen. Versuchungen zum Trotz entschieden sich SLAYER immer dafür, kompromisslos brutal zu bleiben und sich dem Mainstream zu verweigern.
"Es ist die Platte, auf der SLAYER zu SLAYER wurden." So beschreibt Kerry King Hell Awaits. Und er weiß, wovon er spricht. Als Gitarrist, Co-Songwriter und Co-Texter war er gemeinsam mit Sänger/Bassist Tom Araya, Gitarrist Jeff Hanneman (R.I.P.) und Drummer Dave Lombardo im kreativen Prozess dabei und erschuf eines der größten Metal-Alben überhaupt.
Eine deutliche Abkehr von SLAYERs Debüt Show No Mercy von 1983 - und auch von allen späteren SLAYER-Alben - ist Hell Awaits zugleich ein Außenseiter und eine Festigung der Bandform. Show No Mercy war das Mission Statement, aber He