quête:kirby

BLK ODYSSY is an Austin-based artist and producer whose boundary-pushing sound blends soul, hip-hop, rock, funk, and pop. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in a household steeped in neo-soul, BLK began channeling his voice through music after the unjust killing of his older brother by police at age 12. That life-altering loss and the experience of growing up Black and male in 21st-century America fuels his raw, layered storytelling. His debut album, BLK VINTAGE (2021), written and produced with close collaborators, served as both a celebration and a critique of Black identity in America. It was met with critical acclaim and re-released in 2022 via Empire as BLK VINTAGE: The Reprise, featuring Mereba, Benny the Butcher, George Clinton, and Baby Rose. The project has since amassed over 100 million streams and positioned BLK ODYSSY as a standout voice in modern soul. His 2023 sophomore album, DIAMONDS & FREAKS, continued his ascent, merging surrealism and social commentary with contributions from Rapsody, KIRBY, Bootsy Collins, Cory Henry, and production from The Alchemist. NPR called BLK “a surrealist R&B auteur,” while Pitchfork praised his ability to bend genre into a cinematic sonic experience. In 2024, following a surreal Tiny Desk performance and festival appearances across Europe—including a headline set at North Sea Jazz Festival and Lollapalooza in Chicago—BLK ODYSSY launched a bold new chapter, with his third studio album, 1-800 FANTASY. The first single from the album, “WANT YOU” (co-produced by Tyler Johnson, known for his work with Harry Styles), marked a shift in tone. That was followed by “XXX” featuring Wiz Khalifa, and “STANK ROSE” featuring Joey Bada$$. Now averaging over 1M+ weekly streams, BLK ODYSSY is unleashing his fourth project, MOOD CONTROL, a ten-track album pushing alt-R&B, soul, and funk to new heights. 1xLP, pressed on Green, Brown & White 3 Color A Side B Side Vinyl.

"Kawaru Kieru" by "Cornelius" will be released in a vocal version performed by Keigo Oyamada himself.
The streaming version, "Kawaru Kieru (feat. mei ehara)," is included on the B-side.
This is an analogue 12-inch single. Lyrics by Shintaro Sakamoto (ex-Yura Yura Teikoku), music by Keigo Oyamada.




[d] b2. Kawaru Kieru (feat. mei ehara) [John Carroll Kirby Remix]

Imagine curating a dream lineup of MCs and producers from every corner of the rap world—sounds impossible, right? Not for artist and illustrator Gangster Doodles, who has been bringing this vision to life for the past decade. Now, with “Gangster Music Vol.3”, the trilogy reaches its grand finale, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever before. Gangster Doodles himself puts it best: "It’s hard to believe that I’ve been actively working on this Gangster Music series for the past 10 years. The most gangster music trilogy of ALL TIME is almost complete!! And in my humble opinion Vol.3 is the most exciting out of the 3, both from a music standpoint (special shout-out to all my music heroes on Vol.3) and artistically speaking this is the most fun I’ve had in years”

Since launching Volume 1 in 2019 and following up with the second volume in 2022, Gangster Doodles has been shaping the Gangster Music series into a one-of-a-kind sonic universe—an unfiltered mix of underground titans, unsung legends, and rising stars. Volume 3 is the biggest installment yet, boasting a staggering 30 tracks that traverse the entire spectrum of rap and beat culture.

This time around, the lineup is as eclectic as ever. From legendary pioneers like Lee Perry and Tommy Wright III, to veteran producers such as Mr. Scruff and Peanut Butter Wolf, the album pays homage to hip-hop’s roots while pushing forward into fresh territory. The roster also includes established up-and-comers like Devin Morrison, Low Leaf, DJ Harrison, Quelle Chris, Homeboy Sandman, and Suzi Analogue, ensuring a mix of classic flavors and new-school innovation. The bubbling underground is well represented too, with artists like Raz Fresco, Atlanta’s 645AR, and Pro Era’s Chuck Strangers bringing their own distinct heat.

From pioneering SoundCloud rappers like Pouya to genre-bending composer John Carroll Kirby, from Birmingham’s Romderful to Chile’s RVYO, the album encapsulates a truly global soundscape, proving once again that Gangster Doodles’ ear for cutting-edge talent is second to none.

Erstmals international auf Vinyl – zum 50. Jubiläum neu aufgelegt

Stones Throw Records präsentiert die erste internationale Wiederveröffentlichung von Haruomi Hosonos Kultalbum Tropical Dandy – fast genau 50 Jahre nach der japanischen Originalveröffentlichung von 1975.

Erhältlich als Standard Black Vinyl und limitierte Ocean Blue Edition, jeweils auf 180g-Vinyl mit OBI-Strip und einer neu übersetzten Version der originalen Liner Notes von 1975.

Tropical Dandy markierte Hosonos musikalischen Wendepunkt – ein wagemutiges, genreübergreifendes Werk zwischen Exotica, Jazz und Pop, das als stilprägende Grundlage für das spätere Japanese City Pop gilt.

Haruomi Hosono ist Gründungsmitglied der Folk-Rock-Band Happy End sowie der legendären elektronischen Formation Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) und gilt als einer der einflussreichsten Künstler Japans. Sein Werk überschreitet seit fünf Jahrzehnten spielerisch Genregrenzen und Kulturräume.

Diese Veröffentlichung ist die zweite Zusammenarbeit zwischen Stones Throw und Hosono, nach dem Compilation-Album Hosono House Revisited, das u. a. Beiträge von Mac DeMarco, Sam Gendel und John Carroll Kirby enthielt.

Erstmals international auf Vinyl – zum 50. Jubiläum neu aufgelegt

Stones Throw Records präsentiert die erste internationale Wiederveröffentlichung von Haruomi Hosonos Kultalbum Tropical Dandy – fast genau 50 Jahre nach der japanischen Originalveröffentlichung von 1975.

Erhältlich als Standard Black Vinyl und limitierte Ocean Blue Edition, jeweils auf 180g-Vinyl mit OBI-Strip und einer neu übersetzten Version der originalen Liner Notes von 1975.

Tropical Dandy markierte Hosonos musikalischen Wendepunkt – ein wagemutiges, genreübergreifendes Werk zwischen Exotica, Jazz und Pop, das als stilprägende Grundlage für das spätere Japanese City Pop gilt.

Haruomi Hosono ist Gründungsmitglied der Folk-Rock-Band Happy End sowie der legendären elektronischen Formation Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) und gilt als einer der einflussreichsten Künstler Japans. Sein Werk überschreitet seit fünf Jahrzehnten spielerisch Genregrenzen und Kulturräume.

Diese Veröffentlichung ist die zweite Zusammenarbeit zwischen Stones Throw und Hosono, nach dem Compilation-Album Hosono House Revisited, das u. a. Beiträge von Mac DeMarco, Sam Gendel und John Carroll Kirby enthielt.

Joviale machen Musik, die sich wie eine Show anfühlt; das Drama liegt in der Spannung zwischen Pop-Impuls und etwas Zerebralem und Sinnlicherem. Die multidisziplinären Künstler aus dem Norden Londons waren als Theaterkind aufgewachsen und machen sich nun ihre prismatische kreative Ausdruckskraft medienübergreifend zunutze, indem sie Komponenten von bildender Kunst, Performance und Musikaufnahmen zu einer einzigartigen Welt zusammenfügen. "Mount Crystal", das von Joviale zusammen mit John Carroll Kirby (Steve Lacey, Frank Ocean, Solange, Kacey Musgraves), Jkarri (PinkPantheress, Nia Archives, Natanya)und Kwaku Konadu produziert wurde, ist ein aufstrebendes, konzeptionelles Album. Die Songs sind elektrisch und gefühlvoll, gespickt mit jazzigen Experimenten, rhythmischem Rock und lebhaftem Sounddesign, alles realisiert mit einer Reihe von Mitwirkenden wie Sam Wilkes, Carter Lang und Will Miller. Im Jahr 2021, nach ihrer EP "Hurricane Belle", die erste Aufmerksamkeit von Pitchfork und Crack Magazine auf sich zog, zogen sie sich still zurück, um zu lernen und sich weiterzuentwickeln. Im Jahr 2025 kommen sie hinter dem Vorhang hervor: ursprünglich als Theaterstück konzipiert, strotzt "Mount Crystal" nur so vor Leben - Gefahr, Humor und dem menschlichen Geist - und beschwört einen metaphysischen Aufstieg, der über das Audioformat hinausgeht. Mit Plänen die Vision als Live-Set und mehr zu manifestieren, stellt Joviale den Kurs vor: "Die Überlieferung von Mount Crystal ist geprägt von der Verkörperung von Sehnsucht, Gefahr und Verzweiflung. Eine gespiegelte Dimension in einer fernen Realität, in der nichts ungesagt bleibt. Diese Kapitel sehnen sich danach, die Illusion des Vergnügens zu zerstören, indem sie den unerbittlichen Schmerz, den ich in meinem Bemühen zu lieben erfahren habe, verleugnen und die süßesten Melodien mit den süßesten Freunden umarmen."

Das erste Album von Lionmilk auf Stones Throw ist ein Gegenmittel gegen Depressionen und Herzschmerz.
Der aus Los Angeles stammende Lionmilk ist für seine Arbeit als Pianist, Komponist und Produzent bekannt.
Als unabhängiger Künstler schrieb, produzierte und spielte Lionmilk alle Instrumente auf dem neuen Album und erzählt seine Geschichten in verschiedenen Musikstilen.
Er spielte in den Live-Bands von Mndsgn und John Carroll Kirby.

Für Fans von: Toro y Moi, CARRTOONS, Thundercat, Washed Out, Neil Francis, Khruangbin.

**Gangster Music Vol.3: The Most Gangster Music Trilogy of All Time Comes to a Triumphant Close**

Imagine curating a dream lineup of MCs and producers from every corner of the rap world—sounds impossible, right? Not for artist and illustrator Gangster Doodles, who has been bringing this vision to life for the past decade. Now, with “Gangster Music Vol.3”, the trilogy reaches its grand finale, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever before.

Gangster Doodles himself puts it best:
"It’s hard to believe that I’ve been actively working on this Gangster Music series for the past 10 years. The most gangster music trilogy of ALL TIME is almost complete!! And in my humble opinion Vol.3 is the most exciting out of the 3, both from a music standpoint (special shout-out to all my music heroes on Vol.3) and artistically speaking this is the most fun I’ve had in years”

Since launching Volume 1 in 2019 and following up with the second volume in 2022, Gangster Doodles has been shaping the Gangster Music series into a one-of-a-kind sonic universe—an unfiltered mix of underground titans, unsung legends, and rising stars. Volume 3 is the biggest installment yet, boasting a staggering 30 tracks that traverse the entire spectrum of rap and beat culture.

This time around, the lineup is as eclectic as ever. From legendary pioneers like Lee Perry and Tommy Wright III, to veteran producers such as Mr. Scruff and Peanut Butter Wolf, the album pays homage to hip-hop’s roots while pushing forward into fresh territory. The roster also includes established up-and-comers like Devin Morrison, Low Leaf, DJ Harrison, Quelle Chris, Homeboy Sandman, and Suzi Analogue, ensuring a mix of classic flavors and new-school innovation. The bubbling underground is well represented too, with artists like Raz Fresco, Atlanta’s 645AR, and Pro Era’s Chuck Strangers bringing their own distinct heat.

From pioneering SoundCloud rappers like Pouya to genre-bending composer John Carroll Kirby, from Birmingham’s Romderful to Chile’s RVYO, the album encapsulates a truly global soundscape, proving once again that Gangster Doodles’ ear for cutting-edge talent is second to none.

As always, the cover art is a vital piece of the puzzle. This time, Bootleg Garfield & Friends take center stage, bringing the same playful irreverence that has defined Gangster Doodles’ artwork for years. Fans are encouraged to engage, remix, and make the cover their own, staying true to the spirit of interactive creativity that has always fueled the series.

After years of meticulous curation, countless DMs, emails, and behind-the-scenes wrangling, Gangster Music Vol.3 is here to complete the trilogy in legendary fashion. Expect boundary-pushing beats, next-level lyricism, and a lineup that celebrates hip-hop in all its many forms.

“Thanks to everyone who’s actively supported and continues to tap-in. Believe & trust when I say I've got more dope stuff cookin’. STAY TUNED!! GANGSTER DOODLES 4EVER. 1LUV."

Gangster Music Vol.3 is out April 7th on All City. Stay tuned, stay tapped in, and get ready for the most gangster music experience yet.

Originally released in 1971, produced by the legendary Sandy Roberton and featuring the likes of Richard & Danny Thompson, Keith Christmas and members of Mighty Baby & Fotheringay, the album has been talked about in glowing terms by an ever increasing fanbase over the years & is highly sought after. It’s a beautiful mixture of folk, psychedelic flourishes and adventurous production combining majestically with Shelagh’s exquisite songwriting and purity of voice. It will immediately appeal to fans of Pentangle, Incredible String Band and Joni Mitchell, as well as the solo records from members of some of the biggest U.S. bands of the 1970s; David Crosby’s ‘If Only I Could remember My Name’ and Gene Clark’s ‘No Other’, and is presented here for the first time ever on vinyl re-issue.

Born in Edinburgh in 1948 before moving to Glasgow and attending the Glasgow School of Art, Shelagh McDonald’s reputation grew rapidly on the London and Bristol folk circuit, gaining a cult following. In her early twenties she cut her first album titled simply ‘Shelagh McDonald’, the following year entering the studio with producer Sandy Roberton (Ian Matthews, John Martyn, Chocolate Watch Band, Steeleye Span) to cut ‘Stargazer’. Unfortunately for Shelagh, following a bad LSD experience, she withdrew from not only the music industry but public life shortly before commencing work on her third album.

However, it is ‘Stargazer’ that continues to grow its reputation, with original copies changing hands for hundreds of pounds.

Imbued with the finest instrumentation and vocal delicacy in late ‘60s folk, the record is heightened by a progressive production approach; the slow organ grooviness in the traditional ‘Dowie Dens of Yarrow’, uplifting gospel overtones of ‘Odyssey’ and the perfect match of melancholic piano and haunting strings by Robert Kirby on the title track. These sublime arrangements all serve Shelagh’s songwriting and soulful voice that invoke the finest folk traditions but at the same time look forward.

The album is the inaugural release on new label Different Strokes For Different Folks with more genre bending, rare and cult records scheduled for 2025.

Once again, Decca Records have been shining a light into the recesses of their vast archive to bring you 'The Decca Years 1963', a newly compiled collection of hits and rarities from the pioneers of British Pop music, available as a 45-song 2CD set, or a 22-song 'highlights' LP. Alongside big hits and familiar favourites from Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, Billie Davis, Kathy Kirby, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, The Tornados, and Tommy Steele, we are excited to bring you some tracks that are being made available again for the first time in more than 60 years, and a few that have never been on CD before. Both formats come in eye-catching, retro style packaging that references Decca releases from the early '60s, and feature informative track-by-track sleeve notes.

Der Soundtrack von 'KNEECAP', mit Musik von der Band sowie Bicep, Fontaines DC und Orbital, ist als Doppel-LP im Gatefold-Design auf farbigem Vinyl erhältlich. Er enthält auch Filmmusik von Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE und Ausschnitte aus den Dialogen des Films.

- Ltd. Col. 2LP: (LP1 Orange / LP2 Green Vinyl)

Having collaborated with John Carroll Kirby on his last two albums, Eddie Chacon teamed up with Nick Hakim to produce this new collection of songs of loving and letting go.

Low-key R&B legend Eddie Chacon returns with Lay Low, out January 31st. Having collaborated with John Carroll Kirby on his last two albums, Eddie Chacon teamed up with Nick Hakim to produce this new collection of songs of loving and letting go.

'Lookaftering' von Vashti Bunyan wird 20 Jahre alt. Aus diesem Anlass und zum 80. Geburtstag der Künstlerin erscheint eine erweiterte Ausgabe. Neben dem Original-Studioalbum auf Disc 1 enthält die Expanded Edition auf Disc 2 Demoversionen, alternative Takes und Live-Aufnahmen aller Original-Tracks des Albums. Außerdem begleitende Kommentare von Vashti Bunyan höchstpersönlich, Produzent Max Richter und Devendra Banhart sowie ein 16-seitiges Textheft mit einer Sammlung von Gemälden von Vashtis Tochter Whyn Lewis - Gemälde, die zufällig die Texte des Albums widerspiegeln.

Die Demos stammen aus den Jahren 2001 bis 2005 und wurden von Vashti zu Hause aufgenommen, wobei sie sich selbst auf akustischer und elektrischer Gitarre begleitete und mit Synthesizern experimentierte. Der Sound ist im Vergleich zum fertigen Album natürlich etwas zurückgenommen, doch die Live-Version von Lately, aufgenommen bei einem frühen 'Comeback'-Konzert in Los Angeles im Jahr 2006, mit der gleichen Instrumentierung wie auf dem Album, ist absolut perfekt.

Es ist eine wunderbare Erfahrung, die Demos und die endgültigen Versionen nebeneinander zu hören, während man die Sleeve Notes liest. Man erfährt und hört, wie sich die Songs und das Album entwickelt haben, und Vashti und Max Richter (der das Album produziert und auch darauf gespielt hat) erklären, wie alle beteiligten Künstler (Devendra Banhart, Johanna Newson, Adem Ilhan, Robert Kirby und Mitglieder der Band Vetiver), die von Vashtis Originalalbum 'Just Another Diamond Day' von 1970 berührt waren, die Gelegenheit ergriffen, dabei zu sein.

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few.

With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a re­ection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signi‑cant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The ‑rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly ‑nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll.

Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and in­uences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this ‑rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

Recorded quickly between John Cale producing Patti Smith's Horses and his going out on an Italian tour, Helen of Troy became Cale's third and final studio album for Island Records - This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1975 Island Records UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl. Helen Of Troy is a raw, fascinating listen. The title track with its horns and spoken word is one of Cale's best: after the sweet bubblegum of "China Sea", the album gets increasingly stripped down the acoustic guitar and piano of "Cable Hogue" and the punkish cover of The Modern Lovers' "Pablo Picasso" have long been favourites on the album. "Leaving It All Up To You" in which Cale becomes increasingly disturbed garnered controversy at the time and was actually removed from later pressings of the album because of its references to the Manson murders. Cale never lost his ability to shock. Taking its title from the opening line of Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line", "I Keep A Close Watch", a track Cale would record again several years later, with its Robert Kirby-arranged strings and horns, is the closest Cale has veered toward a power ballad. It is a work of great beauty among all the jagged edges of Helen Of Troy.

Zum 50sten Jubiläum (genau genommen 51sten) des 1973 erschienenen Solo-Debüts von Haruomi Hosono - dem Kultalbum 'Hosono House' - haben sich auf dieser Compilation verschiedenste Künstler versammelt, um mit ihren eigenen Neuinterpretationen einem Werk Tribut zu zollen, dessen Wirkung und Einfluss weit über Japan hinausreicht und auch heute noch spürbar ist. So nannte u.a. Harry Styles es als eine der Hauptinspirationsquellen für sein Grammy-gekröntes Album 'Harry's House'.
Bekanntheit erreichte Haruomi Hosono auch mit dem Elektropop-Trio Yellow Magic Orchestra, dem auch Yukihiro Takahashi und Ryuichi Sakamoto angehörten.
Die Compilation wurde von Josh Bonati gemastert, das Vinyl für ein besseres Hörerlebnis mit 45rpm geschnitten.
Auch für das Artwork ließ man sich durch das Original inspirieren von Tomoo Gokita.

- 2LP: ( inkl. OBI & Einleger mit Archivfoto sowie bedruckter Innenhülle)

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few. With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a re­ection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signi‑cant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The ‑rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly ‑nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll. Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and in­uences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this ‑rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few. With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a re­ection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signi‑cant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The ‑rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly ‑nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll. Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and in­uences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this ‑rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

We are delighted to present the debut record by pianist, poet and radio producer Phil Smith. Turning his attention away from BBC feature-making, and his cult Jazz-Disjunction NTS show, Phil offers us the diaristic, heartfelt and homespun "Tagebuch".

"Tagebuch" is a collection of musical journal entries, spanning Phil's time living in Berlin from 2013—2017. Using sweetly tumbling piano as a starting point, he flexes his storytelling chops, shifting from scene to scene via voice, folk-jazz arrangements, musique concrète and the occasional techno-synth chugger.

Don't be fooled by Phil's back-of-envelope charm, this is an expertly-crafted radio biopic without words; the minutiae of life percolated through layers of accordion, U-Bahn harmonics and beer foam. A talented cast of guests and friends, notably multi-instrumentalist Zac Gvi, add an unassuming weight and emotional muscle to this deeply personal source material.

Recommended if you like John Carroll Kirby, Penguin Cafe Orchestra or Alabaster DePlume. The vinyl edition of "Tagebuch" comes complete with a book of poems and photos by Phil.