The 'Insights' EP is Spinscott's second release on the US based Elm Imprint label, as a highly anticipated follow up to the internationally successful 'Make It Funky / Lovelight' single. 'Insights' features 3 tracks that represent a progression of styles, and satisfies the demand for Classic Jungle sounds, fresh Drum And Bass, and deep '160' flavors.
Side A: 'Phaseout' - This forward-thinking Drum And Bass tune starts out with a moody & mixable intro, staccato drums and bass hits, before dropping into a precisely arranged dancefloor rhythm. Impact exceeds maximum threshold after the break, with the injection of an unexpected layered kick pattern, which has proven to leave no one standing still! But don't mix out too soon... the final phase features an exclusive drum break sourced from a family 45 pressing, circa 1968, sliced and reworked for it's debut appearance here. Phaseout has moved audiences during pre-release plays at Spinscott performances in the US, UK, and beyond.
Side B1: 'Rocker' - This 160 BPM tune was meticulously crafted using drums, effects, and other sounds from multiple genres of dance music, and engineered to make people move! Starting out on a jazzy tip with 808s, sax notes and various fx elements, it doesn't waste time getting to an onslaught of swinging drums and vocal artifacts. Rounding out with some classy Rhodes melodies, strings & short-cut Amens, 'Rocker' delivers an audible message for people to rock, swing, and move to the music! DJs will enjoy cutting in and out of this one, with many changes and elements to mix & blend with.
Side B2: (vinyl exclusive): '#7' - This oldschool style Jungle track FINALLY appears on the vinyl version of this release to satisfy over 5 years of relentless demand! Originally filmed as one of Spinscott's Real-Time Jungle videos, '#7' is the one that opened the floodgates to international recognition and performances worldwide. (see link below) Previously only available in video or performed live at shows, Spinscott has produced a full length 'dj friendly' version, featuring all the original elements of the original performance. '#7' was created and produced 100% on the MPC 1000 (as seen in the video), and features classic drum chops and layers, reverse bass, raw pads, and more.
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- A1: Nights Out
- A2: The End Of You Too
- A3: Radio Ladio
- A4: My Heart Rate Rapid
- A5: Heartbreaker
- A6: On The Motorway
- B1: Side 2
- B2: Holiday
- B3: A Thing For Me
- B4: Back On The Motorway
- B5: On Dancefloors
- B6: Nights Outro
- C1: Our Raid
- C2: Lets Have A Party
- C3: The Chase
- C4: Holiday (Bedtime Dub)
- C5: Please Me
- C6: Over
- D1: Matthias Gathering
- D2: Heartbreaker (French Version)
- D3: A Thing For Me (Breakbot Remix)
- D4: Intro Thing (Demo)
- D5: Young Americans (Demo)
- D6: Output (Demo)
- D7: Das Booty (Demo)
As Metronomy work on their forthcoming sixth album, they take a moment to reflect on the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough album 'Nights Out'. Metronomy's Joseph Mount has delved into the archives for 'Nights Out: 10th Anniversary Edition' which will be released on February 8th on Because Music.
It features the original critically acclaimed album alongside a second LP which expands upon Mount's vision with a set of unreleased demos, rarities and b-sides - many of which make their first appearance on vinyl. Two of the highlights come with alternative versions which have become staples of the Metronomy live set: a bedtime dub version of 'Holiday' which takes it into a darker, glitchier direction, and a French-language version of 'Heartbreaker'.
Mount's Francophile leanings are also explored in Breakbot's remix of 'A Thing For Me', which contrasts French touch vibes with Mount's distinctly English-accented vocals. Previously issued on an exclusive Rough Trade bonus disc, 'Over' is an instrumental of cinematic scale, while the disc closes with four previously unreleased demos including the leftfield minimalism of 'Das Booty'.
Although Metronomy's 2006's debut album 'Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe)' was discovered by those in the know, it was 'Nights Out' that captured the imagination of a much wider audience. Mount achieved the seemingly impossible: he highlighted both the joyous atmosphere of a big night out and a taste of the resultant comedown in a set that playfully veered towards being a concept album.
About Nights Out Joseph Mount says: 'Oscar reminded me the other day how I said to him on completing Radio Ladio 'I think I've just written my first number 1'. I hadn't. We also reminisced about the day we borrowed the Honda Insight for the album artwork: I found the owner on an enthusiast chat room, we gave his daughter two Kate Nash tickets and a meet and greet with Kate in exchange for a few shots with the vehicle... simpler times. Shout out to Myspace.'
Metronomy's most recent album 'Summer 08' was released in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. DIY described it as a 'pure-pop odyssey' and NME concluded, 'Mount has done it again. He could write music about the impact of Brexit on the UK's trade with China and make it sound amazing. He's that good.'
Metronomy bring 2018 to a close when they play Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party on December 31st. The 65,000 capacity show is headlined by Franz Ferdinand and completed by Free Love.
Lowell Dunbar and Robert Shakespeare are the renowned Jamaican rhythm section that has worked with a range of international stars, including Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Joan Armatrading, Garland Jeffries and countless others. They first came to know each other in the early 1970s, when both were based in rival bands playing in clubs on Kingston's Red Hills Road and started working together at Channel One studio in the mid-1970s, when Sly was musical arranger for the Revolutionaries house band and Robbie the main bassist for Bunny Lee's Aggrovators. After a stint of international touring in Peter Tosh's Word, Sound and Power band, which exposed them to the tastes and markets of overseas audiences, the pair joined forces more concertedly with their Taxi label, producing hits with Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Sugar Minott and the Wailing Souls. At the same time, as the driving force behind the Compass Point All Stars, they brought Grace Jones to prominence worldwide and made Gwen Guthrie a star through reggaefied disco, and then brought Black Uhuru into the top spot in the wake of Bob Marley's passing. Then, when Jamaican music went digital with the 'Sleng Teng' craze of the mid-1980s, Sly and Robbie made the shift in that direction too, becoming among the most prominent producers as the 80s gave way to the 90s. Dubs For Tubs: A Tribute To King Tubby is a digital dub salute to the King issued shortly after his terrible murder; it is mostly comprised of synthesizer re-cuts of classic Jamaican rhythms, with 'Dub For Joy' being a tough re-working of the Heptones' 'Love Me Girl' and 'Dub To Make You Move And Groove' a take on their 'Party Time'; Dennis Brown's 'Here I Come' is here mutated to 'Dub For Roots People' and his 'Here I Come' anthem shifted into the spongy 'Dub For All Seasons.' An intriguing offshoot of 'Sleng Teng' is among the other highlights.
A mythical and misplaced masterpiece of lost soft rock and acidic folk funk by a one-hit wonderer lost in the wilderness for four decades. From the producer of Margo Guryan, writer behind Wool, Gerry Mulligan collaborator, Tarantino soundtracker and Wendy & Bonnie confidant, Paint A Lady now emerges from folkloric obscurity, to bring a wash of soft psychedelic colour to your vinyl collection and quench the repeat requests of a thirsty new found audience waiting for the rain.
Within certain record collecting circles, especially those who gather under the umbrella that covers fragile niches like 'acid folk' and 'soft rock', it's difficult to imagine a time when the legendary Susan Christie album didn't exist. When Finders Keepers Records first shared the unheard 60's songs like Paint A Lady, For The Love Of A Soldier and Echoes In Your Mind with a wide-eyed audience thirsty for organic soul and festival friendly acoustic funk, Susan's new found fan base instantly felt like they had known these songs all of their lives, and with a single needle drop we saw the birth of what could rightfully be described as an 'instant classic'. Which is why it's hard to believe that the music on this lost 60s acetate was only pressed 12 years ago. As our lucky seventh release in an international discography that now surpasses the 100 mark (and one of a small clutch of English language recordings on the label) Paint A Lady has slowly become one of our most requested re-releases, and with this 2018 edition it is technically accurate to say that this pressing is the first-ever reissue of this elusive and essential LP.
The oft over used term mythical applies to this album on many levels. Perhaps it's the woozy nostalgia found within the pop craft of Paint A Lady that has led to false rumours that original 1960's copies used to exist on the collectors market, or the bizarre claim that songs like the head-nodding title track, and the acid-drenched sound effects on Yesterday Where's My Mind were just a product of a contemporary studio band trying to create a fake folk funk red herring. As a result Susan Christie and her producer and husband of 40 years, John Hill have happily taken the repeat phrase 'unbelievable' as a compliment to their songwriting skills and foresight. In all fairness, with a decade to ponder, the original 1969 song titles alone do seem custom-built for the nostalgia market... No One Can Hear You Cry might lament the unrequited yearning for a record deal which never quite followed Susan's won one-hit wonder novelty hit I Love Onions; similarly When Love Comes might allude to the subsequent 35 year wait for the right label to eventually come along. Echoes In Your Mind and the aforementioned Yesterday... could easily allude to the haunting melodies that sat in the can on John Hill's studio shelf while his projects for Margo Guryan, Wool and Pacific Gas & Electric sat proudly in record racks before benefitting successful French cover versions or making their way on to Quentin Tarantino soundtracks. The track Paint A lady itself, complete with it's future-proofed sample-worthy rhythm section, seems like the perfect title for a mock rock pseudo psych contender - at which point you eventually step back and see the bigger picture. These guys were simply one drop too far ahead of their time; a family force of experimental pop perfection that late 60's America simply wasn't ready for. It is just over 12 years since champion record rustler Keith D'Arcy (who you'll meet on the inside sleeve) stumbled upon one of the original acetates that led to the final release of Paint A Lady, and it's almost a longer 50 years since Susan and John added their final touches to these recordings which tragically went into hibernation for over four decades.
Whether this album has been on your wish-list for what seems like a lifetime, or you are taking a plunge into this deep puddle for the first time, when the needle drops on the first track you'll find that Susan Christie, John Hill and Finders Keepers have been saving up for a very rainy day.
- A1: Ikarie Xb-1
- A2: Surveillance On Standby-Alpha Centauri
- A3: A Small Stone In Space
- A4: Sunflower For A New Star
- A5: The Backwoods Of The Universe
- A6: Silver Ball (Vera In Cameo)
- A7: E.v.a. Will Teach You
- B1: The Tigers Breath
- B2: The Dark Star
- B3: Do Not Eat The Fruit
- B4: The Awakening
- B5: Voyage To The End (Of The Universe)
- B6: The White Planet
Liška, the Czechoslovakian word for fox. Beguiling in its beauty, cunning in it's charm. Said to be one of the most intelligent animals on the planet its global family consists of thirty-seven varieties; all of them recognised, respected and feared for their persuasive, creative, resourceful and elusive nature. The Liška we will talk about today is no exception to these hereditary rules and within the grooves of this record Finders Keepers present an 'elusive' musical artefact that best exemplifies every facet of this composer's animal namesake.
Had he not been born in the small Bohemian town of Smecno in the early 1920s the story of The Fantastic Mr. Liška might have well taken a different course. Alternatively, fettered by the hampers of communism, this lifelong resident of Czechoslovakia would never quite find his seat at the same table as the likes of John Barry, Ennio Morricone, Michael Nyman and Stanley Myers, nor drop enough phonographic breadcrumbs to track his legacy. But having waited patiently behind the borders of the wider landscapes of international cinema, Liška's musical brood, spanning multiple stylistic decades and generations, has now started to walk proudly amongst his would-be, latter-day compeers. In an era where music lovers have almost become immune to adjectives like 'lost', 'rare' and 'unreleased' in a climate where previously lesser-known off-kilter master composers such as Vannier, Kirchin and Axelrod have become widely revered, it is perhaps the perfect time for discerning listeners to advance above the feeding trough and seek out this truly pioneering and revolutionary Eastern European composer. Rivalled only by the likes of Krzysztof Komeda and Andrzej Korzynski in Poland, alongside Alexandr Gradsky in Russia, and often splitting workloads with fellow Czech composers like Luboš Fišer, Zdenek Liska's filmography of over almost 300 fully formed movie scores virtually eclipses the achievements of these socialist era luminaries. Respected unanimously in both Czech and Slovakian by studio bosses, producers, directors and actors alike Liška is widely known for his ability to take the existing energy in a reel of film and literally change the polarity to suit his own interpretation while maintaining the full support from his 'client' who would in-turn end up working under this composer's creative direction. Not only was Liška a genius of emotive orchestral and coral composition, his grasp on small group arrangements and intimate, minimal scores set him above the competition. By utilising primitive sample techniques by 'looping' a films existing ambient noise, or rearranging found sounds and dialog into subtle melodic arrangements, Liška would independently develop his own techniques which had simultaneously become known in Paris as musique concre`te. It is a direct extension of these experiments that saw Liška also draw parallels with Walter Branchi (Ennio Morricone's main electronic sidekick) in Italy as well as Daphne Oram in the UK, making Liška a relatively untravelled pioneer of early electronic composition and sound design due to his unlikely global environment. Imprisoned, preserved or reserved; time has been kind to Liška's music.
Top-debütalbum Der International Teachers Of Pop, Bestehend Aus Den Moonlandingz-gründern Adrian Flanagan (eccentronic Reaserch Council) Und Dean Honer (all Seeing I/i Monster) Sowie Sängerin Leonore Wheatley (the Soundcarriers). Itop Erzeugen Begnadeten Electro-pop Aus Analogen, Pre-1980er Us- Und Sowjet-synthesizern Und Einflüssen Aus Disco Und Pop Von Giorgio Moroder, Martin Rushent Und Bobby Orlando Bis Kraftwerk, The Human League Und Broadcast. Ihre Sheffielder Kollegen Jarvis Cocker Und Roisin Murphy Sind Itop Fans Der Ersten Stunde Und Luden Die Band Bereits Zu Supportgigs Ein.
In the cracks that sprawl between electronic and analog music, visual art, and craft creation, Yamila dances on the edge of sound and conceptual heights. The Spanish composer, cellist, singer and producer is based between Belgium, Holland and Spain. In recent years Yamila has created music for contemporary dance productions in places such as The Gothenburg Opera, Netherlands Dans Theater, and Dance Forum Taipei, among others. Her projects have been presented at festivals such as Sonic Acts Festival (Amsterdam), Arts Electronica (Linz), Seoul International Computer Music Festival, STRP Festival (Eindhoven), and Today's Art festival (The Hague) to name a few.
With 'Iras Fajro' (Forbidden Colours), her debut album, Yamila, summons in 11 songs with the strength of electronic sounds in front of a fragile voice that at times unfolds in small coral clusters. The brilliant electronic arpeggios and rhythms dissolve in the velvety voices of the cello, which are sometimes intertwined with the creations of two collaborators, the British producer and composer Clark (Warp) and the multifaceted ex- flamenco Nin~o de Elche (Sony).
My love wears forbidden colours My life believes My love wears forbidden colours My life believes in you once again
THROUGH GODS OWN EYES
MusicForSunrises&SunsetsDarkCornersOfTheDanceFloorDarkCornersOfTheMind.
FastDeepSlowRaveInspiringInspirtational&CosmicUpliftingWildPitchedHeartMelting&HeartPoundingSexMusic
Conceived in Bali as a club event to allow Phil Cooper and Indonesian DJ, Dea Barandana a chance to flex their rave potential and dig out those obscure, heavy dance floor cuts it has been hosting sporadic parties for the last 3 years, with no specific musical boundaries, it is about the late night, early morning dance floor experiences, heads down and lost in music!
A label was also planned, but when that would happen was always unclear, however a chance meeting in Croatia at Love International Festival 2018 between Phil and Carlo Bragagnini AKA La Mano has led to the inaugural release, TGOE001 La Mano 'Tana del Lupo' EP
Side A - Sirena, inspired by the classic Italo stable, a deep and driving intro that builds with a rolling, solid bass line, shimmering effects, gun fire handclaps and siren sounds before the piano line eases in to take it to a euphoric crescendo of soaring synths for maximum hands in the air vibes...
To add weight to the release, remixer options were discussed and both agreed on Man Power, and his rework has taken it to a much different place, adding a solid breakbeat to it, dirtying up the piano and extending the mix to 9+ minutes, this is HEAVY for the floor...
Side B - La Mano, the ying to the yang of Sirena, this is a much more progressive track, subtle in the arpeggio build up and layered to create a big sound culminating in a swirling series of dreamy chords and synth lines.
The Ambiente mix takes away the kick and percussion to allow the full dream like state to take effect, one for sunrises and sunsets across the globe...
This raw, intimate recording, which took place at the start of Prince's career right before he achieved international stardom, is similar in format to the Piano & A Microphone Tour that he ended his career with in 2016. The nine track, 35-minute album features a previously unreleased home studio cassette recording of Prince at his piano captured in 1983.
The private rehearsal provides a rare, intimate glimpse into Prince's creative process as he worked through songs which include "17 Days" and "Purple Rain" (neither of which would be released until 1984), a cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case Of You", "Strange Relationship" (not released until 1987 on his critically acclaimed Sign O' The Times album), and "International Lover".
The album also includes a rare recording of the 19th Century spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep" which will be featured during the end credits of Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman in theatres August 2018.
For fans of Prince's spontaneous live medleys, tracks 1-7 of the album are presented in that same format as they were originally recorded.
- A1: Pyrit - Time For Wind
- A2: A Place To Bury Strangers - Never Coming Back (Trentemøller Remix)
- A3: The Raveonettes - Expelled From Love
- A4: How Do I - Knowing Me, Knowing You
- A5: Kira Skov - I Celebrate My Life (Trentemøller Remix)
- B1: The Lollipops - Naked When You Come
- B2: Tropic Of Cancer - Children Of A Lesser God
- B3: Black Marble - Static
- B4: Trentemøller - One Eye Open (Trentemøller Remix Hbt Edit)
- C1: John Maus - Hey Moon
- C2: Trentemøller - Transformer Man
- C3: Slowdive - Slomo
- D1: Moon Duo - Lost In Light
- D2: Ctm - Paloma Pt.2
- D3: The Kvb - In Deep
- D4: Levin Goes Lightly - 1989
Anders Trentemøller's career is a travel-heavy one, with his touring schedule taking him pretty much all over the world. But it's his home port that's inspired his latest project, the sprawling, stunning compilation mix 'Harbour Boat Trips Vol. 02: Copenhagen'. Clocking in at just over an hour long, the compilation sees Trentemøller curate and craft sixteen songs into a heavy, hazy mix that ranges from shoegaze to electronica, featuring both familiar and celebrated artists like A Place to Bury Strangers (with a new Trentemøller remix) and Slowdive to more obscure finds, as well as Trentemøller's own tracks and remixes, most notably a brand new Trentemøller cover of Neil Young's classic 'Transformer Man'. The mix sees him pick up a thread he left off earlier in his career. In 2009 he put together 'Harbour Boat Trips - 01: Copenhagen', a compilation mix comprised of his favourite music, both Danish and international, from across four decades, loosely inspired by the motion and movement of Copenhagen's busy harbour. Closing in on a decade later, we're getting the second edition, with 'Harbour Boat Trips - 02' arriving this November.
- 1: Lamb With A Wolf Mask
- 2: Museum Of The Two Of Us
- 3: Nari Yuko Jin
- 4: Nobody`s Gold
- 5: My Black Jacket
- 6: Friendly Enemies
- 7: The End Of Metaphor
- 8: Dirty Dirtiness
- 9: The Place Where Designers Go To Die
- 10: Bean Tale
- 11: The Night Before The Typhoon
- 12: Gangsters, Seoul
- 13: Day Drinking At A Seaside Town
- 14: Bats We Are
The demons of night are out again: Seoul's one-stop shop creative collective Byul.org returns this fall with its third international album, entitled Nobody's Gold, out via Alien Transistor (worldwide) and the group's own Club Bidanbaem imprint (South Korea). Comprising 14 new songs, it's a dizzying, haunting affair that channels the group's manifold influences and references points (from post-punk to Stockhausen and back via club culture) and yet sounds intriguingly coherent.
Moving in and out of the shadows, Nobody's Gold breaks forth as pure sonic landscape - a universe of its own, folding and unfolding into both more experimental patterns, yet also with occasional hooks and dark catchy structures, gracious build-ups flickering among the hazy roar and thunder. After the screak and squeal of 'Lamb with a Wolf Mask,' the foreboding sounds of 'The Museum of The Two of Us' segue into a synthesized party tune about a missing friend being chased by police ('Nari Yuko Yin'), one of several vocal tracks with a sinister edge. Taking things up another notch, 'Friendly Enemies' is probably the closest this group will ever get to creating a stadium-ready anthem. On the other end of the spectrum, 'The Place Where Designers Go To Die' is a magnificent void with an immense and irresistible undertow...
Never too jolly (not even while 'Day Drinking at a Seaside Town' or during takeoff via epic pop tune 'Bats We Are'), Nobody's Gold compiles soundscapes with a very tangible, corporeal presence - iridescent sonic sculptures placed in unlikely settings (e.g. outer space, see: 'Dirty Dirtiness'), born at the fringes where night blends into day and vice versa.
Inspired by everyday life, half-remembered drug/club experiences, Pascal Quignard's disturbing La haine de la musique, Stockhausen and Bill Evans, the new LP sees the collective remain true to its DIY foundations while repeatedly questioning our listening habits and 'the exaggerated love for the concept of love,' as they put it.
Founded around the dawn of the millennium as a group of poetry-loving friends who'd occasionally meet for drinks, Byul.org has long become an extremely prolific and versatile collective within Seoul's scene: Main song-writer TaeSang Cho and his mates Yu Hur, Jowall, YunYi Yi, SuhnJoo YI, HyunJung Suh, and SoYoon Hwang went from publishing to recording, from releasing tunes to design, art direction and more. Although their list of clients includes Atelier Herme`s and the Venice Biennale (they did the Korean Pavilion twice), the group still remains a drinking circle of close friends at its core: Pals who simply like to create and carouse and dream and live and perform and play tunes together.
LP,180g, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART
Veteran library musician Alan Parker recorded with session vocalist Madeline Bell for his Themes International Music label and the result was 1976's The Voice of Soul.
The sensational uptempo dancer 'That's What Friends Are For' is probably the most well known track on the record, and is a big hit on the rare groove scene, but it is by no means an anomaly. The Voice of Soul is essentially a perfect, sophisticated soul album with heaps of swagger and sass from beginning to end.
Its once generic-sounding title is now deservedly defnitive.
And the whole LP oozes sex. It oozes sex so much that it could have soundtracked a period porn flm. Indeed, parts of it did. 'Love Is All' and 'You've Got What It Takes' both featured on the infamously banned Pretty Peaches from the same year.
As is usual with library records, The Voice of Soul was hard to get even when it was frst released. It's next to impossible now. So here's your opportunity to own what is in our opinion one of the fnest rare soul LPs of the late 70s, and a superb example of Madeline Bell's superlative vocal talents.
But that's not the whole story. As well as pitching the record as 'a varied selection of modern female vocal features which are equally suitable for background or radio programme usage', the original release notes go on to explain that 'the corresponding backing tracks are issued on TIM 1022 The Sound of Soul. Therefore it is possible to edit from vocal to instrumental version and vica versa where commentary or scene changes occur.'
So yes, all of the backing tracks from The Voice of Soul were released as The Sound of Soul, and we couldn't re-issue one without re-issuing the other.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for The Voice of Soul comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.
Life is simple. Sometimes you have some big idea, then you produce good music staff and this process needs no cooperation at all. It happens especially if your name is Jacek Sienkiewicz. Then You just make your very own EP with you original mixes only. Thi s is it, so simple.
What can you expect this time
You know, as usual on IDO label, carefully crafted, superior sound quality and music that every techno junkie can't miss.
How can we describe the music Is it this time a deep space journey or just long travel to land of ice and rocks Well. Maybe we'll leave all synesthetic experiences to you...
Some things, however, can be predicted. If you're familiar with Jacek's creations, listening the tracks from this EP will make on you at lest two impressions. First of all, you'll be charmed because you'll find the music here for which you love Jacek so much. Then another tracks and the second impression that will make you say out loud "Wow this is really Jacek's music". So, boys ang girls, isn't it a double win situation And for the end of this story we have a short advice related to experiencing this EP. Just play whole EP once and then... do it again.
November 5th, 2018 would have been Charles Bradley's 70th birthday. In celebration of his extraordinary life, Daptone imprint Dunham Records is proud to announce the release of his fourth and final album, Black Velvet. Black Velvet is a celebration of Charles Bradley, lovingly assembled by his friends and family at Dunham/Daptone Records. Though chronologically the material spans Charles' entire career, this is no anthology, greatest hits or other shallow rehashing of the songs that already made him famous. Rather, this album is a profound exploration through the less-travelled corners of the soulful universe that Charles and his longtime producer, co-writer and friend Tommy "TNT" Brenneck created in the studio together over their decade-long partnership.
It features new songs recorded during the sessions from each of his three albums, heard here for the very first time in all their scorching glory: "Can't Fight the Feeling," "Fly Little Girl" and the heart-wrenching single "I Feel a Change"; hard core rarities like his funk-bomb duet with LaRose Jackson, "Luv Jones," the psychedelic groover, "(I Hope You Find) The Good Life" and the ever-illusive alternate full band electric version of "Victim of Love"; sought-after covers of Nirvana's "Stay Away," Neal Young's "Heart of Gold" and Rodriguez's "Slip Away"; and the title track "Black Velvet," a stirring Menahan Street Band instrumental to which Charles was never able to cut a vocal.
Charles was truly a transcendent singer who led a remarkable life, overcoming unimaginable adversity to achieve great success and international acclaim very late in his life. What was really special about him and made him different from everybody else in the world was how he understood his pain as a cry for universal love and humanity. He felt that if he loved enough—if we all loved each other enough—we could take away the world's pain and sadness. That is why he jumped off the stage and literally tried to hug everybody he could. It's why he took such great care of a mother that had abandoned him. It's why he sang and danced like a lunatic. It's why he screamed like an eagle. And that's why we love him.
Black Velvet is a celebration of his life, and is destined to join Charles' first three albums alongside the cannon of essential soul records for the ages.
Deep Nigerian ''Igbo highlife'', here combining Highlife with the more traditional Igbo music - guitar-based music, with rare characteristic blend of horns and vocal rhythms..
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The 1970s and 80s saw the rise of the Ukwuani style in Nigerian highlife. A funky fusion of the laidback, mellifluous guitar lines characteristic of Igbo highlife with the rugged, animated rhythm section of Edo dance music, the sound was a sensation that made stars of musicians like Rogana Ottah, Steady Arobby, King Love A.U., Bob Fred and Chief John Okpor. One of the most consistent players in this field, though, was General Franco Lee Ezute, leader of the Harmony Kings International Band.
Bongo Joe presents this deluxe reissue of Onye Kata Obia, one of the Harmony Kings' most underrated albums. Full of electrifying guitar work and intoxicating rhythms, it is sure to keep the crowd dancing!
Following on from the three highly-acclaimed CoOp Presents 'Selectors Assemble' compilation EPs from the past year, it's now time to focus on some of the individual talents from the ever-evolving movement. As the international foundation grows, we invite aboard the extremely talented Neue Grafik into the fold.
French producer, instrumentalist and DJ, Neue Grafik, has been building a strong rep for himself over the past few years, releasing records previously on labels such as Rhythm Section, 22a and Wolf Music. His sound is a hybrid of jazz, house, broken beat and hip hop, all with his unique geographical flavours of African ethnicity, Parisian roots and a love for London thrown into the mix.
So to the music - two brand new tracks, 'I Miss Something' and 'Bed Stuy's Mood', complete with remixes from EVM128, Danvers, Xtra Bruk and NameBrandSound (aka label bosses IG Culture & Alex Phountzi) respectively, making this one essential package for the bruk soldiers and beyond.
In Neue Grafik's words...
"I remember the first time I was at a CoOp party and met IG - I just said something like "unbelievable party, well done! Thank you, man". I didn't expect to be a part of this brilliant family a few months after that; it's totally insane to think about it now.
I began to hang properly with the CoOp fam during a DJ session at The Flex in East London. I was so happy to live in this moment; surrounded by these talented performers, artists and producers, excitedly talking about unreleased music on everyone's USB sticks.
This EP is a personal vision of the broken beat scene and my love for that. A meeting with artists who build my own taste, with friends keeping the same vibrancy and desire for this music. 'I Miss Something' and 'Bed Stuy's Mood' are two tracks dedicated to Porte Des Lilas (Paris), and Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York). One was made in my house, the other on holiday. These two tracks, as well as the remixes from the Selectors Assemble crew, represent a real and deep friendship."
More essential music from the CoOp Presents camp, available on limited vinyl and all digital services. Don't sleep.
Following his previous releases on respected imprints such as Optimo Trax and last year's remix of Romanthony's 'Give U Up' on Glasgow Underground, Jasper introduces his own label with two of his most ID'd weapons over the last few months, 'Crypto' and 'These Are The Beats'.
The lead track 'Crypto' is a hypnotic builder showcasing a new, musical maturity expertly applied to his own productions. Digging deeper into the house and techno sounds he has been playing around the world since his early twenties, his heads down production sound is inspired by deeper moments on the dancefloor, whilst retaining the energy his own DJ sets are internationally renowned for.
On the flip 'These Are The Beats' rolls out more hypnotic lead lines and drum machine rolls to further the themes established by Crypto, plunging the dancer into a deeper state of consciousness without forgetting the dancefloor energy needed to hold your attention in the early hours of the morning.
The sound of Jasper's recent productions are the result of years of musical development; birthed in the basements of Subclub and refined the world over. Mitchell Street Records is a reflection of his own musical tastes, an outlet to showcase the music he loves to play.
Yuri Méndez's 7th album is called W. W is a collection of finely crafted songs. The instruments are many and their intonations, variegated. W comes in the usual formats, only better, and full to the brim with sensitive lyrics for the man and woman of today.
On the other hand, presumably the left, Yuri's ageing well and intent all the while on writing more numbers in order to keep a steady flow of fresh material ready at any time.
These are good times in W land or, as the poet said, 'it hurts a bit, but the colours are admirable'.
Yuri Méndez is Pajaro Sunrise. Initially a duo, he's been working on his own ever since the release of the second album, 2008's Done/Undone. His previous albums received praise from such fine publications as Q, Uncut and Monocle, and his music can be heard in several international motion pictures and TV series such as The Missing Lynx, Castle, The Big C, Catalan hit series Cites and Benvinguts a la família, and ad campaigns by the likes of McDonalds and Vodafone.
- A1: Play (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- A2: Blackberry (Somebody Told Me) (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- A3: It's Alright (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- A4: Nice Touch (Feat. B. Bravo, Rojai & Sally Green)
- A5: Sweet Tea (Feat. B. Bravo, Rojai & Sally Green)
- B1: Favorite Song (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- B2: Those I Like (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- B3: Pure Delight (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- B4: Rain On My Window (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojai)
- B5: Tonight's The Night (Feat. B. Bravo & Rojaik)
2018 was the hottest summer on record...so let's see if we can cool things down while still keeping it warm all over (and over). Enter Kool Customer: a new collab from LA's beatsmith B.Bravo and the Bay's croon daddy Rojai, coming out September 21 on Bastard Jazz. The vibe: think West Coast Boogie Funk A la Dam-Funk, thrown in Styrofoam cup with some 80s synth steez, then escorted to the strip club (at 3AM) dressed head to toe in a white tux lined with gold chains.
The LP's kick-off "Play" is an ode to bed springs, as is the grand finale "Tonight's the Night"— but what happens in between the sheets Prepare yourself for the smooth basslines and raspy bars of "Sweet Tea," the creamy licks and buttery synths of "Pure Delight," and the heads down r&b of "Rain on My Window." You can also envision yourself cruising in a low-rider when throwing on the breezy "Blackberry (Somebody Told Me)," or surfing (slash exhaling) a cloud above the city on the woozy "Nice Touch." Expertly produced beats are nestled up to warm vocals and crafty lyricism about life and love and lust in 2018 a plenty here.
Metaphors aside, the debut from Kool Customer finds two talented musicians doing what they do best: chilling you out while making you move, in perfect unison. Also, keep an eye out for the super-special deluxe pack, that might just come in handy when you need it most. Ooh La La.
- 1: Only A Man (Feat. Dan Salem)
- 2: Same Old Game (Feat. Leo Will)
- 3: Against All Odds
- 4: Let The Music Play (Feat. Manoo)
- 5: Only Rainbows (Feat. Dan Salem)
- 6: Can't Be No Crime (Feat. Rick)
- 7: Fast Lane
- 8: Gain Station
- 9: Rush Zone
- 10: The Turnaround
- 11: The Modern Way (Feat. Dan Salem)
- 12: Cranberry Dream (Feat. Elaine Thomas)
Confunktion Records own Mr. Confuse returns with his fifth studio album 'Only A Man'.
This album is about the depths of Mr. Confuse and therefore a very personal album in a way. From well-known soul topics of love and hate to social issues of modern life - this album is all about an odyssey through time, rhythm and music.
Times of big studio personals are long gone so a big part of creating this album was the imagination what kind of instruments, musicians and sound design is wanted. With up to 16 international musicians, Mr. Confuse created incredible sounding big arrangements.
The way Mr. Confuse produces his music is inspired by growing up with the 90s hip hop producer technique of creating something new by referring unheard funk and soul. This from of appreciating 60s and 70s music in order to bring it on a new level of musical expression is a clear trademark of Mr. Confuse.
The process of sampling and resampling recorded musicians creates an organic, powerful, authentic and danceable funk sound, which can be heard in each and every second on this record.
Twisting electro funk from the 80s into heavy 60s and 70s funk that could have been the blue print for the original version became a true Mr. Confuse feature already years ago. This time he re-funked the well-known freestyle electro classic 'Let The Music Play' by Shannon.
Also one of the reasons it's entitled 'Only A Man' is because it means composing, producing, arranging, mixing, recording, organising, promoting and going abroad preforming by just one 'man'.




















