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Hip-hop legend Ice Cube finally returns with his latest studio album “Man Down” – a hard-hitting statement that once again proves why he remains one of the most vital voices in rap today. With “Man Down”, Ice Cube delivers a powerful project that dives deep into today’s social realities, both musically and lyrically. Fans can expect raw lyrics, strong production, and real stories from one of the most inflfluential MCs of all time.

Exclusively for collectors and true fans: “Man Down” is available in several formats: Black Double Vinyl, Limited Marbled Double Vinyl, Music Cassette

RYAN DAVIS & THE ROADHOUSE BAND ist das Projekt des in Louisville lebenden bildenden Künstlers, Multiinstrumentalisten und Songwriters Ryan Davis. Für Freunde von Alternative Country, Folk, AMERICANA, Independent, Silver Jews, Bill Callahan, Lambchop, Cass McCoombs, Sparklehorse, Giant Sand/Howe Gelb... Das kommende zweite Album, "New Threats From The Soul", beschäftigt sich intensiv mit der Verwirrung menschlicher Leistungsfähigkeit und deren Wirkung in einer absurden und entarteten Welt. Das klingt wahrscheinlich hoffnungslos schwerfällig und streng. Ist es aber nicht - nicht im Entferntesten. Es macht einen Haufen Spaß. Die Songs sind allesamt Ohrwürmer; die Arrangements sind wirklich aufregend und beleben die Arbeit der CRACKERJACKS, aus denen sich die weitläufige ROADHOUSE BAND zusammensetzt. Jedes Durchhören des Albums offenbart mehr von der Tiefe, der Breite und dem Gewirr der Komplexität des Projekts. Das erst limitierte Debüt-Album "Dancing On The Edge" von 2023 wurde von denen, die es gefunden haben, schnell geliebt und von Publikationen wie Pitchfork oder The Line Of Best Fit hoch gelobt. Sie hielten es für ein "bemerkenswertes, unendlich lohnendes Debüt". Tough Love legte es im Jahr 2024 erstmals weltweit auf. "Davis is someone with the originality, wit and ambition to cut through the murk." - Uncut In "New Threats From The Soul" gelingen RYAN Beinahe-Reime, die Affen, die seit hundert Jahren an Chat-GPT-fähigen Schreibmaschinen arbeiten, nicht hinbekommen hätten: "bromeliad" und "necrophiliac"; "urinal" und "de Chirico". Kinky Friedman beklagte, dass die Leute seine lustigen Lieder für traurig und seine traurigen Lieder für lustig hielten, obwohl sie beides gleichzeitig waren. Wie der Kinkster kann RYAN einen durch einen Kloß im Hals zum Lachen bringen. In seiner formidablen Crew von Harmonie-Sänger*innen befinden sich vier der begabtesten Lyriker*innen und Sänger*innen, die derzeit unter uns wandeln - Catherine Irwin (von FREAKWATER), Will Oldham, Lou Turner, Myriam Gendron - was von der tiefgründigen Kraft seiner Texte zeugt (diese Leute melden sich nicht oft, um irgendwelchen Brei zu singen). "New Threats From The Soul" ist eine Meisterklasse in der Reduktion des Erhabenen auf das Prosaische, des Unermesslichen auf das Winzige und umgekehrt (der Trick kann nur in beide Richtungen funktionieren). Dopple-Vinyl und CD (Digipak) erhältlich

RYAN DAVIS & THE ROADHOUSE BAND ist das Projekt des in Louisville lebenden bildenden Künstlers, Multiinstrumentalisten und Songwriters Ryan Davis. Für Freunde von Alternative Country, Folk, AMERICANA, Independent, Silver Jews, Bill Callahan, Lambchop, Cass McCoombs, Sparklehorse, Giant Sand/Howe Gelb... Das kommende zweite Album, "New Threats From The Soul", beschäftigt sich intensiv mit der Verwirrung menschlicher Leistungsfähigkeit und deren Wirkung in einer absurden und entarteten Welt. Das klingt wahrscheinlich hoffnungslos schwerfällig und streng. Ist es aber nicht - nicht im Entferntesten. Es macht einen Haufen Spaß. Die Songs sind allesamt Ohrwürmer; die Arrangements sind wirklich aufregend und beleben die Arbeit der CRACKERJACKS, aus denen sich die weitläufige ROADHOUSE BAND zusammensetzt. Jedes Durchhören des Albums offenbart mehr von der Tiefe, der Breite und dem Gewirr der Komplexität des Projekts. Das erst limitierte Debüt-Album "Dancing On The Edge" von 2023 wurde von denen, die es gefunden haben, schnell geliebt und von Publikationen wie Pitchfork oder The Line Of Best Fit hoch gelobt. Sie hielten es für ein "bemerkenswertes, unendlich lohnendes Debüt". Tough Love legte es im Jahr 2024 erstmals weltweit auf. "Davis is someone with the originality, wit and ambition to cut through the murk." - Uncut In "New Threats From The Soul" gelingen RYAN Beinahe-Reime, die Affen, die seit hundert Jahren an Chat-GPT-fähigen Schreibmaschinen arbeiten, nicht hinbekommen hätten: "bromeliad" und "necrophiliac"; "urinal" und "de Chirico". Kinky Friedman beklagte, dass die Leute seine lustigen Lieder für traurig und seine traurigen Lieder für lustig hielten, obwohl sie beides gleichzeitig waren. Wie der Kinkster kann RYAN einen durch einen Kloß im Hals zum Lachen bringen. In seiner formidablen Crew von Harmonie-Sänger*innen befinden sich vier der begabtesten Lyriker*innen und Sänger*innen, die derzeit unter uns wandeln - Catherine Irwin (von FREAKWATER), Will Oldham, Lou Turner, Myriam Gendron - was von der tiefgründigen Kraft seiner Texte zeugt (diese Leute melden sich nicht oft, um irgendwelchen Brei zu singen). "New Threats From The Soul" ist eine Meisterklasse in der Reduktion des Erhabenen auf das Prosaische, des Unermesslichen auf das Winzige und umgekehrt (der Trick kann nur in beide Richtungen funktionieren). Dopple-Vinyl und CD (Digipak) erhältlich

Reality Shock is proud to announce the release of "Mission", a brand new 7" single by Afrikan Simba, with accompanying dub mix by Kris Kemist.

Mission is the title track of the recently released third studio album from the internationally acclaimed roots reggae chanter Afrikan Simba. Originally hailing from Nigeria & residing in East London, Afrikan Simba is well established in the roots reggae world, known for his conscious, spiritual, and uplifting lyrics. With a career spanning several decades, Afrikan Simba has worked with legendary sound systems like Jah Shaka, Aba Shanti, and Channel One as well as artists like Luciano, Nereus Joseph, Little John, Earl Sixteen & many more, performing at countless shows & festivals across the globe.

Mission 7" is produced by Mercury nominated producer Patrick Williamson in collaboration with Kris Kemist of Reality Shock Records, who has been working closely with Simba for over 20 years. The song features Backing vocals by Indra & brass by Tribuman. On the flip side of the 7" is a heavyweight dub version mixed by Kris Kemist at Reality Shock Studio.

With ,We Do It Out of Love," acclaimed harmonica player Alex Rossi delivers a heartfelt and masterfully crafted tribute to jazz legend Toots Thielemans - one of the most influential voices ever to grace the chromatic harmonica. This album features a carefully curated selection of pieces that reflect the full emotional and musical range of Thielemans' legacy - lyrical, virtuosic, and deeply moving. Highlights include the evocative ,Waltz for Sonny," the tender ,I Do It for Your Love," and Pat Metheny's rhythmically vibrant ,Better Days Ahead" - all reimagined with fresh arrangements that honor the original spirit. Alex Rossi captures the essence of Toots' sound while adding his own voice, bridging past and present with stylistic sensitivity and precision. He is joined by a stellar lineup of internationally acclaimed harmonica players: Antonio Serrano, Gabriel Grossi, Grégoire Maret, Franco Luciani and Olivier Ker Ourio - each bringing their unique sound and deep respect for Toots' musical heritage. ,We Do It Out of Love" is more than just a tribute - it's a global celebration of the instrument Toots Thielemans elevated to poetic heights. A soulful, resonant homage filled with admiration, artistry, and, above all, love.

Red/Black marbled vinyl. With ,We Do It Out of Love," acclaimed harmonica player Alex Rossi delivers a heartfelt and masterfully crafted tribute to jazz legend Toots Thielemans - one of the most influential voices ever to grace the chromatic harmonica. This album features a carefully curated selection of pieces that reflect the full emotional and musical range of Thielemans' legacy - lyrical, virtuosic, and deeply moving. Highlights include the evocative ,Waltz for Sonny," the tender ,I Do It for Your Love," and Pat Metheny's rhythmically vibrant ,Better Days Ahead" - all reimagined with fresh arrangements that honor the original spirit. Alex Rossi captures the essence of Toots' sound while adding his own voice, bridging past and present with stylistic sensitivity and precision. He is joined by a stellar lineup of internationally acclaimed harmonica players: Antonio Serrano, Gabriel Grossi, Grégoire Maret, Franco Luciani and Olivier Ker Ourio - each bringing their unique sound and deep respect for Toots' musical heritage. ,We Do It Out of Love" is more than just a tribute - it's a global celebration of the instrument Toots Thielemans elevated to poetic heights. A soulful, resonant homage filled with admiration, artistry, and, above all, love.

Grinderman entstand 2005, als Nick Cave Material für das Album „Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus“
von Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds schrieb. Gemeinsam mit Martyn Casey am Bass, Warren Ellis an Violine
und Gitarre und Jim Sclavunos am Schlagzeug erarbeitete die Band gemeinsam Songs. 2006 ging sie in
ein Londoner Studio und begann eine Marathon-Session mit Songwriting und Demoaufnahmen. Mit dem
Ziel, den raueren, ursprünglicheren Sound von Caves gefeiertem Post-Punk-Projekt „The Birthday Party“ nachzubilden, wichen die Texte und die Musik von Grinderman deutlich von Nick Caves früheren Arbeiten
mit The Bad Seeds ab.
Im darauffolgenden April nahmen sie die besten dieser neuen Songs auf und nahmen mit Hilfe ihres langjährigen Freundes und Produzenten Nick Launay ein Album auf. Ihr am 5. März 2007 veröffentlichtes Debü-
talbum „Grinderman“ mit elf Songs wurde von der Kritik hoch gelobt und enthält die Singles „No Pussy
Blues“ und „Get It On“. Das Quartett kam 2009 wieder zusammen, um „Grinderman 2“ aufzunehmen, das
2010 erschien. Im Dezember 2011 gab Cave die Auflösung der Band auf einem Musikfestival in Australien
bekannt.
Das „unglaublich aufregende Debütalbum“ (Observer Music Monthly) ist auf schwarzem Öko-Vinyl und im
CD-Digisleeve-Format erhältlich

Grinderman entstand 2005, als Nick Cave Material für das Album „Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus“
von Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds schrieb. Gemeinsam mit Martyn Casey am Bass, Warren Ellis an Violine
und Gitarre und Jim Sclavunos am Schlagzeug erarbeitete die Band gemeinsam Songs. 2006 ging sie in
ein Londoner Studio und begann eine Marathon-Session mit Songwriting und Demoaufnahmen. Mit dem
Ziel, den raueren, ursprünglicheren Sound von Caves gefeiertem Post-Punk-Projekt „The Birthday Party“ nachzubilden, wichen die Texte und die Musik von Grinderman deutlich von Nick Caves früheren Arbeiten
mit The Bad Seeds ab.
Im darauffolgenden April nahmen sie die besten dieser neuen Songs auf und nahmen mit Hilfe ihres langjährigen Freundes und Produzenten Nick Launay ein Album auf. Ihr am 5. März 2007 veröffentlichtes Debü-
talbum „Grinderman“ mit elf Songs wurde von der Kritik hoch gelobt und enthält die Singles „No Pussy
Blues“ und „Get It On“. Das Quartett kam 2009 wieder zusammen, um „Grinderman 2“ aufzunehmen, das
2010 erschien. Im Dezember 2011 gab Cave die Auflösung der Band auf einem Musikfestival in Australien
bekannt.
Das „unglaublich aufregende Debütalbum“ (Observer Music Monthly) ist auf schwarzem Öko-Vinyl und im
CD-Digisleeve-Format erhältlich

Japanese acid pop outfit Cho Co Pa Co Cho Co Quin Quin channel the globe-trotting spirit of Haruomi Hosono’s 1970s tropical boogie on their debut album, Tradition.

Named after one of the basic rhythms of Cuban folk music and drawing on influences from across the globe, Cho Co Pa Co Cho Co Quin Quin are quite simply a world unto itself.

Comprised of three childhood friends, Daido, Yuta and So, who reconnected during the coronavirus pandemic, Cho Co Pa initially emerged as a playful way for the three 23-year-olds to pass the time. Tapping into their youthful connection, they created a sound that exudes confidence and curiosity, a homage to the masterful world of YMO’s and Happy End’s Haruomi Hosono, rooted in the trio’s own idiosyncratic experience of the present.

Recorded at home and promoted on hugely popular DIY TikTok videos, their debut album Tradition is a technicolour exercise in armchair travelling – a kind of lockdown exotica for the housebound whose nostalgic flights of fancy are laced with a sense of whimsical melancholy for the lost freedoms of youth.

Referencing everything from Afro-Cuban percussion to lo-fi beats, Buddhist spirituality to trap, each member of the band brings different musical inspirations to the table. Latin American and Middle Eastern styles sit adjacent to a fascination for the electronic music of Aphex Twin, Dorian Concept, Underworld and Daft Punk. At times, the music verges on acid pop bliss, at others, it grooves with the instrumental funk sensibility of BADBADNOTGOOD.

“In the first place, when I create a song, my goal is to transport the listener to a mysterious place,” vocalist Daido explained in a recent magazine interview. Using lyrics as another sonic texture in the composition of ideas, Cho Co Pa paint beguiling sonic postcards of far-flung moods across 12 highly original tracks.

Marrying the organic and the electronic on rhythmically sophisticated compositions like ‘Chichibu’ and ‘Watatsumi’, it is on the album’s standout track ‘Gandhara’ that the experimental sound of Cho Co Pa comes to the fore. Referencing the ancient city of Gandhara through which Buddhism made its way from India to China, the track is a vocoder-trap-inspired, Udu drum-driven pop jam that lilts with unmistakable Balearic flair. If that’s difficult to imagine, then know simply that ‘Gandhara’ sounds like nothing else on this side of Saturn. Even Daido seemed surprised by the outcome: “I feel like we were able to create something that exceeded our abilities. That was huge!”

Hugely popular in Japan, with festival appearances lined up alongside BADBADNOTGOOD at Asagiri Jam in October, it's safe to say the success of Tradition has taken Cho Co Pa by surprise. You won’t have heard anything like it."

A long-lost Japanese acid folk gem, Niningashi’s 1974 private press debut Heavy Way shimmers with originality, deft song writing and a dream-like groove.

Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine.
A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo’s life, and Japanese society more widely as a nostalgia for the pastoral calm of the traditional life, met the cosmopolitan thrill of coffee, sex and cigarettes in the big city.
Intoxicated by Tokyo, driven by a passion for music and surrounded by a thriving acid folk scene, the young student filtered his experiences through a psychedelic cocktail of soulful influences from the US and Japan.
Niningashi was his first band, and Heavy Way was their only album. It was honest and raw, deep and strangely funky, in an off-beat kind of way. Across nine tracks, Okubo and the 6-piece band put their own spin on the new folk sound of Japan, combining witty lyrics with electric guitar-driven solos and crisp, understated grooves.

Melancholy and profound, opening track ‘Ameagari’ feels like a synthesis of Harvest-era Neil Young and Haruomi Hosono’s Happy End. Then there’s the whimsical washboard country sound of ‘Semai Boku No Heyade’; the moody, low-lit charm of ‘Restaurant’; and ‘Hitoribotchi’, a sensitive portrayal of childhood, steeped in memories of rainfall that will resonate with fans of Woo and Mac Demarco.
While Okubo would go on to taste success with psychedelic folk bands Neko and Kaze, the latter of which scored three #1 albums, little is known about his mysterious debut with Niningashi.
Self-released by Okubo in 1974, and featuring album artwork by his brother, it has slowly generated a cult following online, intrigued by its soft and enchanting sound. So few records were ultimately pressed that those remaining have fetched up to £1,500 online.

Featured on Time Capsule’s era-spanning collection Nippon Acid Folk, Niningashi’s Heavy Way is a deep-cut grail of a vibrant time in Japan’s musical history, where even the pharmacists were making jams.

Best of' albums are invariably repackaged collections of old recordings, so Vice Squad's `Punk Rockers' is a breath of fresh air The songs have been lovingly recorded and remastered, keeping all the original fire and adding decades of experience gained from punishing tours and continuous songwriting Beki is the original architect of the songs and the Vice Squad name, and she is the sole surviving member of the original lineup to have continued as a full-time musician Vice Squad are 100% DIY and record everything in their home studio with guitarist/riffmaster Paul Rooney engineering and mixing. There is nothing sloppy here; the whole album is concise and intelligent with lightning-speed diction, passion, and intent. The glorious `If I Knew What I Know Now' and `The World Is Wrong' are examples of Vice Squad's ability to write instantly catchy, witty songs, and the more gut-wrenching material from their last album, `Battle of Britain', showcases some enormous riffs and a voice that is a million decibels from Beki's untried teen vocals. The album opens with the deliciously effervescent `If I Knew What I Know Now', followed by the sparkling old-school tongue-twister `Out of Reach'. Next up is the visceral `Get A Life', an angry anti-suicide note to the desperate, originally the title track from their 1998 comeback album. This is followed by a shimmering version of Vice Squad's old-school classic `Resurrection'. While the treatment of the old songs remains true to the original teenage renditions, the upgraded versions pack more of a punch with detuned guitars and growling bass. The tribal tom-toms of `Allergy' underpin just over two minutes of punk protest about the delights of pollution and asthma. Then comes the sublime `Sniffing Glue', a near-perfect punk love song that would be a huge hit if not for its subject matter. `Ordinary Girl' is punk-pop perfection brimming with hook lines and harmonies, warmly mocking the life that could have been chosen instead of the grindstone at the sharp end of the music industry. `The World Is Wrong' is anthemic, joyous, and wonderfully contrary, and one would expect nothing less from a band that has soldiered on and grown through the decades. It's always great when bands lead by example. In these increasingly tough times where our survival is threatened by the gargantuan greed of a few individuals, it's important to continuously stick two fingers up to the grabbers and spoilers. 'The World Is Wrong' does just that in an impassioned, melodic, and optimistic style. 'Hold your head up, stand your ground, and don't let the bastards grind you down.' Then we roar into the final single Beki wrote with original and now sadly deceased guitarist Dave Bateman, `Citizen', and continue with another teenage opus, the quite brutal `Scarred For Life'. `Voice of the People' is a bulldozer of a song, all swagger and ballsy riffs, and the chorus, `Freedom of speech is against the law; now we're all criminals,' snarls its derision at red-handed red tape. `Punk Police' sneers over a catchy-as-COVID guitar riff, and the lyrics, `Regulation cut, you must measure up, down on the street, PR companies, monied families, running the scene,' call out the hierarchies that now permeate Punk. Baritone guitars add extra darkness to one of the first-ever animal rights songs, `Humane', and I'm struck by how relevant the older songs are. Chocks away, and the awesome 'Spitfire' takes flight like Motörhead on extra amphetamines. Merlin engines fade into `Born In A War', the second in the triumvirate of conflict-themed songs, an absolute stonker with huge muscular riffs and lyrics that roar pure outrage. Then comes the ominous Last Rockers, with all the angst of the original plus added depth and resonance. Beki: ' "Last Rockers" is a typically depressive adolescent song about nuclear war and being too young to die but too late to live. I believed Punks were the `Last Rockers', the final youth cult before the Apocalypse. I was obsessed with punk, and all I wanted to do was sing in a band and be part of the movement, so I would often romanticise the idea of punk in my lyrics.'

Best of' albums are invariably repackaged collections of old recordings, so Vice Squad's `Punk Rockers' is a breath of fresh air The songs have been lovingly recorded and remastered, keeping all the original fire and adding decades of experience gained from punishing tours and continuous songwriting Beki is the original architect of the songs and the Vice Squad name, and she is the sole surviving member of the original lineup to have continued as a full-time musician Vice Squad are 100% DIY and record everything in their home studio with guitarist/riffmaster Paul Rooney engineering and mixing. There is nothing sloppy here; the whole album is concise and intelligent with lightning-speed diction, passion, and intent. The glorious `If I Knew What I Know Now' and `The World Is Wrong' are examples of Vice Squad's ability to write instantly catchy, witty songs, and the more gut-wrenching material from their last album, `Battle of Britain', showcases some enormous riffs and a voice that is a million decibels from Beki's untried teen vocals. The album opens with the deliciously effervescent `If I Knew What I Know Now', followed by the sparkling old-school tongue-twister `Out of Reach'. Next up is the visceral `Get A Life', an angry anti-suicide note to the desperate, originally the title track from their 1998 comeback album. This is followed by a shimmering version of Vice Squad's old-school classic `Resurrection'. While the treatment of the old songs remains true to the original teenage renditions, the upgraded versions pack more of a punch with detuned guitars and growling bass. The tribal tom-toms of `Allergy' underpin just over two minutes of punk protest about the delights of pollution and asthma. Then comes the sublime `Sniffing Glue', a near-perfect punk love song that would be a huge hit if not for its subject matter. `Ordinary Girl' is punk-pop perfection brimming with hook lines and harmonies, warmly mocking the life that could have been chosen instead of the grindstone at the sharp end of the music industry. `The World Is Wrong' is anthemic, joyous, and wonderfully contrary, and one would expect nothing less from a band that has soldiered on and grown through the decades. It's always great when bands lead by example. In these increasingly tough times where our survival is threatened by the gargantuan greed of a few individuals, it's important to continuously stick two fingers up to the grabbers and spoilers. 'The World Is Wrong' does just that in an impassioned, melodic, and optimistic style. 'Hold your head up, stand your ground, and don't let the bastards grind you down.' Then we roar into the final single Beki wrote with original and now sadly deceased guitarist Dave Bateman, `Citizen', and continue with another teenage opus, the quite brutal `Scarred For Life'. `Voice of the People' is a bulldozer of a song, all swagger and ballsy riffs, and the chorus, `Freedom of speech is against the law; now we're all criminals,' snarls its derision at red-handed red tape. `Punk Police' sneers over a catchy-as-COVID guitar riff, and the lyrics, `Regulation cut, you must measure up, down on the street, PR companies, monied families, running the scene,' call out the hierarchies that now permeate Punk. Baritone guitars add extra darkness to one of the first-ever animal rights songs, `Humane', and I'm struck by how relevant the older songs are. Chocks away, and the awesome 'Spitfire' takes flight like Motörhead on extra amphetamines. Merlin engines fade into `Born In A War', the second in the triumvirate of conflict-themed songs, an absolute stonker with huge muscular riffs and lyrics that roar pure outrage. Then comes the ominous Last Rockers, with all the angst of the original plus added depth and resonance. Beki: ' "Last Rockers" is a typically depressive adolescent song about nuclear war and being too young to die but too late to live. I believed Punks were the `Last Rockers', the final youth cult before the Apocalypse. I was obsessed with punk, and all I wanted to do was sing in a band and be part of the movement, so I would often romanticise the idea of punk in my lyrics.'

Vice Squad are 100% DIY and record everything in their home studio with guitarist/riffmaster Paul Rooney engineering and mixing. There is nothing sloppy here; the whole album is concise and intelligent with lightning-speed diction, passion, and intent. The glorious ‘If I Knew What I Know Now’ and ‘The World Is Wrong’ are examples of Vice Squad’s ability to write instantly catchy, witty songs, and the more gut-wrenching material from their last album, ‘Battle of Britain’, showcases some enormous riffs and a voice that is a million decibels from Beki's untried teen vocals. The album opens with the deliciously effervescent ‘If I Knew What I Know Now’, followed by the sparkling old-school tongue-twister ‘Out of Reach’. Next up is the visceral ‘Get A Life’, an angry anti-suicide note to the desperate, originally the title track from their 1998 comeback album. This is followed by a shimmering version of Vice Squad's old-school classic ‘Resurrection’. While the treatment of the old songs remains true to the original teenage renditions, the upgraded versions pack more of a punch with detuned guitars and growling bass. The tribal tom-toms of ‘Allergy’ underpin just over two minutes of punk protest about the delights of pollution and asthma. Then comes the sublime ‘Sniffing Glue’, a near-perfect punk love song that would be a huge hit if not for its subject matter. ‘Ordinary Girl’ is punk-pop perfection brimming with hook lines and harmonies, warmly mocking the life that could have been chosen instead of the grindstone at the sharp end of the music industry. ‘The World Is Wrong’ is anthemic, joyous, and wonderfully contrary, and one would expect nothing less from a band that has soldiered on and grown through the decades. It’s always great when bands lead by example. In these increasingly tough times where our survival is threatened by the gargantuan greed of a few individuals, it's important to continuously stick two fingers up to the grabbers and spoilers. 'The World Is Wrong' does just that in an impassioned, melodic, and optimistic style. 'Hold your head up, stand your ground, and don't let the bastards grind you down.' Then we roar into the final single Beki wrote with original and now sadly deceased guitarist Dave Bateman, ‘Citizen’, and continue with another teenage opus, the quite brutal ‘Scarred For Life’. ‘Voice of the People’ is a bulldozer of a song, all swagger and ballsy riffs, and the chorus, ‘Freedom of speech is against the law; now we’re all criminals,’ snarls its derision at red-handed red tape. ‘Punk Police’ sneers over a catchy-as-COVID guitar riff, and the lyrics, ‘Regulation cut, you must measure up, down on the street, PR companies, monied families, running the scene,’ call out the hierarchies that now permeate Punk. Baritone guitars add extra darkness to one of the first-ever animal rights songs, ‘Humane’, and I’m struck by how relevant the older songs are. Chocks away, and the awesome ’Spitfire’ takes flight like Motörhead on extra amphetamines. Merlin engines fade into ‘Born In A War’, the second in the triumvirate of conflict-themed songs, an absolute stonker with huge muscular riffs and lyrics that roar pure outrage. Then comes the ominous Last Rockers, with all the angst of the original plus added depth and resonance. Beki: ' "Last Rockers" is a typically depressive adolescent song about nuclear war and being too young to die but too late to live. I believed Punks were the ‘Last Rockers’, the final youth cult before the Apocalypse. I was obsessed with punk, and all I wanted to do was sing in a band and be part of the movement, so I would often romanticise the idea of punk in my lyrics.' The four bonus CD tracks kick off with ‘Coward’, another teen Bateman/Bond composition. ‘No You Don’t’ is just over two minutes of vocal acrobatics over a Dexedrine-driven Devo-esque chord sequence, and the frantically brilliant ‘I Dare To Breathe’ from ‘Battle of Britain’ continues the aural assault. Then the final sombre entreaty of ‘You Can’t Buy Back The Dead’ warns us that ‘Enough’s never enough; absolute power will corrupt; the war machine still rumbles on’ before fading into the future.

Since his first self-released album in 2017, Anders Buaas from Larvik has really made a name for himself in the prog-rock scene. He has previously played in several renowned Norwegian bands, worked as a producer, and was a touring guitarist for Paul DiAnno (Iron Maiden) and Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest). The new Anders Buaas album "Trollringen" is loosely based on and inspired by the novel of the same name by Norwegian author Sigurd Hoel - a historical saga, murder mystery and domestic tragedy inspired by a childhood discovery of an executioner's block used in the beheading of a murderer in 1833. On "Trollringen", Buaas has included songs with with lyrics and vocals for the first time. "All the songs were written between 2019 and 2025 without a concept in mind but fit the narrative of the story well. It is up to the listener to connect the dots. As I mainly focus on instrumental music, my main love and musical venture, I had some songs with vocals and lyrics that were unused. This was the time to fit them into an album. A live string section is also new to this release, as well as the use of soprano saxophone on the title track." He has brought in several internationally renowned vocalists to interpret some of the compositions on the album, including Tanya Wells, Tim Condor and Miriam Kjolen.

'Mei Semones' sweetly evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova and math-y indie rock is not only a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres, but is an intuitive means of catharsis. "Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new - that's what feels most natural to me," says the 23-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. "It's what feels most true to who I am as an artist." Plinking guitar tones and asymmetrical time shnatures exemplify her forays into angular indie rock more now than ever before, especially on her debut Bayonet Records single "Wakare no Kotoba"-its wide-interval arpeggios in odd meters being some of the most technically difficult guitar work Mei has ever implemented in her songwriting. Translated to "parting words" in English, the self-described "anti-love song" serves as a farewell to a toxic friendship, complete with orchestral swells and crashing guitars. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Semones began playing music at a young age, starting out on piano at age four before moving to electric guitar at age eleven. After playing jazz guitar in high school, she went on to study guitar performance with a jazz focus at Berklee College of Music. College is where she met her current bandmates, including string players Noah Leong and Claudius Agrippa, whose respective viola and violin add softness and multidimensionality to Mei's intricate guitar work. After releasing a slew of singles and an EP in 2022, coinciding with her move to New York City, Mei and her band have since gone on to collaborate with post-bossa balladeer John Roseboro and embark on their first-ever tour with the melodic rock outfit Ravi, Semones chronicles infatuation, devotion, and vulnerability in her songs, complete with sweeping strings, virtuosic guitar-playing and heartfelt lyrics sung in both English and Japanese, that have all become part of her sonic trademark: ornately catchy, genre-fusing compositions serving as the backdrop to tender lyrics touching on the universalities of human emotion.

'Mei Semones' sweetly evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova and math-y indie rock is not only a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres, but is an intuitive means of catharsis. "Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new - that's what feels most natural to me," says the 23-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. "It's what feels most true to who I am as an artist." Plinking guitar tones and asymmetrical time shnatures exemplify her forays into angular indie rock more now than ever before, especially on her debut Bayonet Records single "Wakare no Kotoba"-its wide-interval arpeggios in odd meters being some of the most technically difficult guitar work Mei has ever implemented in her songwriting. Translated to "parting words" in English, the self-described "anti-love song" serves as a farewell to a toxic friendship, complete with orchestral swells and crashing guitars. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Semones began playing music at a young age, starting out on piano at age four before moving to electric guitar at age eleven. After playing jazz guitar in high school, she went on to study guitar performance with a jazz focus at Berklee College of Music. College is where she met her current bandmates, including string players Noah Leong and Claudius Agrippa, whose respective viola and violin add softness and multidimensionality to Mei's intricate guitar work. After releasing a slew of singles and an EP in 2022, coinciding with her move to New York City, Mei and her band have since gone on to collaborate with post-bossa balladeer John Roseboro and embark on their first-ever tour with the melodic rock outfit Ravi, Semones chronicles infatuation, devotion, and vulnerability in her songs, complete with sweeping strings, virtuosic guitar-playing and heartfelt lyrics sung in both English and Japanese, that have all become part of her sonic trademark: ornately catchy, genre-fusing compositions serving as the backdrop to tender lyrics touching on the universalities of human emotion.

A Deep Dive Into Rock Royalty - The Many Faces of Deep Purple (2 LPS)
Step into the legendary world of Deep Purple with this exclusive double vinyl release, The Many Faces of Deep Purple. More than just a tribute, this compilation is a curated journey through the band's extensive musical legacy, featuring collaborations, rare recordings, and side projects from key members like Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner, Nicky Simper, Ian Gillan, Don Airey, and Jon Lord. Pressed by MPO for optimal sound quality, this deluxe edition includes 20 tracks across four sides, each selected to reveal a new facet of one of rock’s most influential bands.
Unreleased Gems, All-Star Collaborations & Classic Covers
This collection uncovers the band’s wider universe, from early recordings by Episode Six and Warhorse to powerhouse tracks by Trapeze, Funky Junction, and Quatermass II. Glenn Hughes lends his unmistakable voice to standout perfor- mances, including Piece of My Heart and Freak Out Tonight, while Joe Lynn Turner teams up with guitar icon Leslie West for a searing version of The Seeker. Listeners will also discover rare studio tributes and pre-fame moments, such as the spirited Deep Purple covers by Thin Lizzy members under the Funky Junction moniker.
A Must-Have for Collectors & Classic Rock Fans
Packaged in a striking gatefold sleeve and featuring liner notes that contextualize each track, The Many Faces of Deep Purple is a collector’s dream and a sonic treasure trove. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new listener exploring rock’s golden age, this double LP release delivers an immersive and essential experience that celebrates the talent, evolution, and influence of the Deep Purple legacy. Available now in limited quantities, don’t miss your chance to own a unique piece of rock history.

SASSYHIYA want to take you somewhere. The journey starts in Kathy and Helen's flat in South London. Sit down, close your eyes, and immerse yourself... You are on your way to a musical rainforest a long way from Camberwell. Explore your new surroundings, and you will find beautiful pop blooms like Let's See What We Can Find, as bright and vibrant as The Sundays, thrusting their colourful faces up from the forest floor. You'll find tangles of sharp-edged guitar, as if Swiss she-punks Kleenex had been left to evolve here in the rich fertile soil (I Had A Thought). You'll find dark pools full of lyrical complexity, deceptively deep and immersive, with shimmering reflections of The Go-Betweens (Perennial). And you'll come across delicate love songs, creeping up the trunks and branches of the bass and drums, displaying their fragile beauty (Thank You And Goodbye). And what's that exotic striped animal prowling through the undergrowth? Actually, it's Crayon Potato, Sassyhiya's pet cat, the other resident of their flat in South London, taking up her role as the feline star of a lilting, singalong anthem written in her honour. That's what is so great about this album. You are somehow, simultaneously, exploring the most exotic forest in the world while also sitting in a flat in an ordinary, familiar English street with Sassyhiya and their cat. This album transports you without pretending the real world doesn't exist: it doesn't get all mystical on you (Take You Somewhere is as unlike Enya as anything you've heard). Sometimes you might be reminded of Girls At Our Best, and then Delta 5. You might even, on occasion, think of Echo and the Bunnymen. Sassyhiya (pronounced "Sassy Hiya") were formed when Helen and Kathy, real-life partners and co-songwriters, joined up with Pablo and Neil (drums and guitar). Helen had previously been in Boys Forever and Basic Plumbing, collaborating with much-missed Veronica Falls musician Patrick Doyle. She and Kathy then formed Barry, a stripped-down queercore outfit, with Bart McDonagh (The Male Gays) and Mark Amura (My Executive Dysfunction). Sassyhiya feels like a culmination of all these elements, hitting the sweet spot between post-punk and indie pop. They know their way around a melody but still keep it wonky, with influences ranging from the Breeders and Broadcast to Dolly Parton.

Repress!

Wonderwheel recordings is proud to present the first full-length album from

producer Robin Perkins, aka El Buho. Balance represents a meeting of different currents that make up Buho's music: a fascination with the natural world, and its protection, a fascination with the rhythms, traditions and sounds of Latin America and a fascination with modern electronic music and production aesthetics. The album is peppered with Cumbia, Son Jarocho, Andean instrumentation & Afro-Colombian rhythms. Mixed with this, Robin integrates this idea of "nature music" - putting the sound of a misty forest, the songs of birds, of crunching leaves under foot or the rhythmic tapping of rain alongside synthesized sounds, electronic clicks or claps, deep basses. Trying at once to give them their own space but in a new, surprising perspective - it draws electronic music into something more soft, natural, different and appealing.

Balance is also an album that celebrates community and collaboration, showcasing collaborations with ten different artists form Latin America and beyond, both producers, instrumentalists and singers. Including more of a lyrical presence than his previous EPs, Perkins solicited the participation of talented singers like Dina al Wedidi from Cairo, Luzmila Carpio from Bolivia and the incredible decimas of Mexican poet Citlaly Malpica. The album also features the likes of harpist Veronica Valerio, Argentine multi-instrumentalist Rumo Tumba, jarana player Pablo Emiliano from Mexican Son Jarocho group Semilla and members of the Shika Shika family (the global collective he co-run's) Uji, Barrio Lindo, Kaleema, Minük and Jhon Montoya.

El Buho's music has an incredible power to convey feelings, atmospheres, memories or messages. The message that sits behind this music is to value on the one hand the power of community, of collaboration and of our modern, globally, connected world but also the remembrance, protection and celebration of the very earth we depend upon for our existence.