Fang Island's second and last record, long out of print and back in stock as gray splatter coloured vinyl in gatefold jacket LP via Joyful Noise, defined the sound of danc-y/math-y indie rock of the early 2010s alongside contemporaries Lightning Bolt, Titus Andronicus, and Japandroids. Fang Island described their music as the sound of "everyone high fiving everyone." No matter where they went, Fang Island's up-with-people approach made them a subversive art project by default. At a time when the belligerent noise-rock of Lightning Bolt and The Body defined Providence, Fang Island played major-key guitar harmonies and flashy tapping riffs. When people tried to call them "math-rock," they thought of themselves as "recess rock." Two years after Fang Island released what they expected to be their first and only album, Major became the "highly anticipated sophomore LP." The songs were bigger, shinier and hookier, forged under the pressure that comes with being a band rather than a couple of weekend warriors - label pressures, grueling tours and the frequent personnel changes that ultimately brought the band to their amicable end. Fang Island began with the crackle fireworks and, as the band heard fireworks going off in the distance as they played in Barcelona, they took it as a supernatural sign that this show would be the perfect bookend to their career. "We were getting older, we were in serious relationships, we were getting tired, and that just felt like the right way to end it."
Search:m p sound project
Denovali presents the new album of the prestigious Swedish pianist and composer Matti Bye. Matti is well-known for his regular performances at various silent film festivals and screenings worldwide, where you can see him perform solo and with artists such as Lau Nau. Bye has been involved in several collaborations, including Hydras Dream, where he recorded and released an album with Anna von Hausswolff. Additionally, Matti is recognized for his scores in projects like ”Young Royals," ”Tove," „The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared,“ and "A Traves de tu Mirada” among many others.
Matti Bye's third album, "Capri Clouds", moves through the element of the air and further into space. A lone piano sounds, echoes - sometimes like a waltz. We have the sound of the wind with us and the sound of the sea below us as we fly, and above we hear the stars and planets spinning. A piano from the past, as if Satie met space - as if Spiritualized and Satie talked to each other across timeand space.These songs go straight to the heart and to the senses, and create images in your head. Stories from your own memory bank, as well as new visions – music to lean into, meditatively and hopefully longing. But there is also an undertone of something dark and desolate. Musically, Matti Bye moves within the realm of neo-classicism, but he is also approaching romanticism. References to composers suchas Schubert and Beethoven are to be found here, as well as to post-romantic bands such as Kraftwerk and The Cure. In this third album of a trilogy – the first was "Bethanien", the second "The Forgotten Land" – Bye continues his musical journey. Here we encounter a brighter and lighter production. Anders af Klintberg has brought "Capri Clouds" up from the underworld and the dreamscape, towards clouds and skies.
Pacific Rhythm is elated to announce the forthcoming release of “Exiles”, a deeply life-affirming and introspective four-tracker from one of electronic musicʼs most prolific duos, Frank & Tony. This EP also marks the first release from the pair outside of their own imprint Scissor & Thread. Back in 2021 they approached us with the intention of contributing something that felt like a natural part of our catalog and itʼs safe to say they arrived right at home.
“Exiles” further explores the dubby, subtle energy theyʼve crafted since the project began in 2012 and refines it down to the pure essence of genre. Itʼs a deeply rewarding listen and we believe Itʼs a wonderful addition to the on-going soundscape weʼve been building for the last decade with Pacific Rhythm.
- A1: Escudo Y Espada
- A2: La Misma Luna (Feat. Angélica Garcia)
- A3: De Nuevo Otra Vez
- A4: El Año Del Dragón (Feat. Σtella)
- A5: No Se Puede
- B1: La Catarata
- B2: También
- B3: Espejismo
- B4: Por Qué
- B5: Fe
White Vinyl[21,81 €]
Rafael Cohen’s Spanish-language solo project Las Palabras gives the D.C. punk scene veteran and member of dance-rock group !!! (Chk Chk Chk), the words to reveal himself as a Latin alternative artist and what he calls “a cautious believer”. Fe, Faith his second Las Palabras album, and first on the Barcelona label La Castanya, “deals with what it means to have faith, what it means to have doubts, and what it means to stay open to the idea that something untouchable and unknowable may exist”.
Written and produced by Cohen in his home studio in Brooklyn and mixed by Black Pumas guitarist Adrian Quesada, Fe builds on nylon-string guitar and electric bass with live drums and synthesizers in songs that embrace elements of 70s Brazilian funk and an amalgam of beats from hip hop to bachata, interspersed with contemplative ballads on which Cohen’s voice and guitar can be quiet enough to hear the rumble of a bus going by in the background.
“Fe” is colored by musical influences that include those Brazilian grooves, but also shades of Sade, Sounds of Blackness and eighties electro funk group Zapp. The arrangements spotlight the rhythm section, with drums played by Chris Egan (!!!, Solange, Blood Orange) and featuring Alberto Lopez (LCD Soundsystem, Stanley Clarke) on percussion. Cohen credits Adrian Quesada for the album’s warm, worn-in tone: “He made the beats sound a lot bigger and gave it an ’80s hip hop feel. He really understood the references and brought his background in Latin music to it”
Rafael Cohen’s Spanish-language solo project Las Palabras gives the D.C. punk scene veteran and member of dance-rock group !!! (Chk Chk Chk), the words to reveal himself as a Latin alternative artist and what he calls “a cautious believer”. Fe, Faith his second Las Palabras album, and first on the Barcelona label La Castanya, “deals with what it means to have faith, what it means to have doubts, and what it means to stay open to the idea that something untouchable and unknowable may exist”.
Written and produced by Cohen in his home studio in Brooklyn and mixed by Black Pumas guitarist Adrian Quesada, Fe builds on nylon-string guitar and electric bass with live drums and synthesizers in songs that embrace elements of 70s Brazilian funk and an amalgam of beats from hip hop to bachata, interspersed with contemplative ballads on which Cohen’s voice and guitar can be quiet enough to hear the rumble of a bus going by in the background.
“Fe” is colored by musical influences that include those Brazilian grooves, but also shades of Sade, Sounds of Blackness and eighties electro funk group Zapp. The arrangements spotlight the rhythm section, with drums played by Chris Egan (!!!, Solange, Blood Orange) and featuring Alberto Lopez (LCD Soundsystem, Stanley Clarke) on percussion. Cohen credits Adrian Quesada for the album’s warm, worn-in tone: “He made the beats sound a lot bigger and gave it an ’80s hip hop feel. He really understood the references and brought his background in Latin music to it”
- A1: Ouverture
- A2: Opéra Sirocco
- A3: Il Était Une Fois
- A4: L'envol
- A5: L'ascenseur
- A6: Un Petit Tour
- A7: Le Cadeau
- A8: L'ile Aux Mariés
- A9: Le Deltaplane
- A10: Orage
- B1: Berceuse Flashback
- B2: Terres Interdites
- B3: Duel
- B4: Le Souffle De Vie
- B5: La Marelle
- B6: Le Souffle Magique
- B7: Le Passage
- B8: Les Adieux
- B9: Le Royaume De Sirocco
« Most aresting, however, is the film's use of sound and music, which give each scene an atmospheric lilt. »
Maya Phillips
In order to celebrate the first anniversary of Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds, the animated film by benoît Chieux, Stereo Rônin Records partners with Cristal Publishing, Sacrebleu Production, Take Five, and Ciel de Paris to offer a limited vinyl edition of the original soundtrack composed by Pablo Pico.
The soundtrack of Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Currents, composed by Pablo Pico, stands out for its melodic richness and immersive atmosphere. It accompanies the journey of Juliette and Carmen through a fantastical world. The music blends traditional instruments with modern sounds, creating a nostalgic yet dynamic ambiance. The themes evoke adventure, discovery, and magic, enriching the film’s visual narrative. With his captivating compositions, Pablo Pico captures the essence of the story, providing an auditory experience that perfectly complements the film's universe.
Synopsis
Juliette and Carmen, two fearless sisters aged 4 and 8, discover a secret passage to the Kingdom of Air Currents, their favorite book. Transformed into cats and separated from each other, they must show courage and daring to reunite. With the help of the singer Selma, they will try to return to the real world by confronting Sirocco, the master of winds and storms... But is he as terrifying as they imagine?
“Being able to release this magnificent soundtrack composed by Pablo Pico is a great pride and a real pleasure. I want to open our catalog to unique works and universes. Being able to do this from our second published title, with a first foot in the world of animation, with Sirocco is an important shift for the label”
Frédéric Claquin – Stereo Ronin
“Sirocco’s music is like a deep breath. It was inspired by the fantastic universe of the film, the epic breath and the fantasy of the characters. I hope that with this vinyl edition, you will be able to relive the adventures of Juliette and Carmen and that the songs of Selma will take you far to the Kingdom of Air Currents”
Pablo Pico – Composer
“Cristal is a music publishing house, specializing in music for images, committed to working alongside composers for over 25 years. Our mission is to highlight the emotions sought in audiovisual productions, we choose our projects carefully, Sirocco was a real favorite, both on the subject and on its treatment, where music has its place, and becomes a real actress in the film. The talent of Pablo Pico brings this accuracy to the story”
Eric Debègue – Cristal Group.
Since ever great fans of DJ Ralf's music, both Marcellino and I decided of dedicang a tribute to him... a record that could
always feature him in his DJ sets!
There was a video on YouTube with an interview with the "uncle from Italy" who told a li$le about his career... with
various anecdotes...
We therefore thought of "building" him a musical ou&it specifically so that he could play it himself...
Groove, great rhythmic bass, and a very Old Skool sound that recalled the Chicago and Detroit periods... we therefore
gave life to the project (ino)2 (Walterino & Marcellino and Keller)
We took the most interesng phrases from the interview, and looped the phrase... Ralf, Ciao Ralf, thus giving the song the
tle!
- Unperson
- Apparition 3
- Bruise
- Blackmail
- The Itself Of Itself
- Study For Tape Hiss And Other Audio Artefacts 11.58
- Apparition 5
Steven Wilson is no stranger to composing music that appears to counter everything else before it in his catalogue. Bass Communion, his long running solo electronic project, is no exception to this perverse streak that apparently likes to turn all expectations upside down. The Itself of Itself, Bass Communion's first album for 12 years, skilfully pays testament to this. Long established as a purveyor of mostly atmospheric or ambient textures, the seven cuts that represent The Itself of Itself take detours from this approach in order draw as much from musique concrete, noise music, abstract electronics and uneasy listening. Whilst still rippled with the same shades of light and dark that can be found throughout all of Bass Communion's work, The Itself of Itself reveals a fascination with analogue sounds and, more importantly perhaps, 'unwanted' analogue artefacts like tape hiss, wow and flutter, static noise, and sonic break-up, taking the music into a space at once different yet familiar. 'Apparition 3' presents a stark nod to Wilson's established command of shifting textures steeped in penumbral gauze, while 'Bruise' is akin to a space probe adrift and headed towards a white dwarf as all communication is reduced to a disturbing and indecipherable crackle. Between the other five cuts we witness fragmented, garbled and buried voices, vast vacillating banks of grainy hum, what sounds like the dying gasps of an oboe, spooky swirls from an indiscernible source, swathes of tape hiss, moody drones, and spiralling slivers of noise. Meanwhile on the title track, a mellotron flute rusts and collapses in on itself in a way that renders it the very antithesis of the one deployed on 'Strawberry Fields Forever'. Everything adds up to a dynamic listening experience where unease, dread and comparatively claustrophobic torrents of sound make (un)natural bedfellows to moments of enchantment and serenity. Above all, The Itself of Itself sees Steven Wilson cutting his teeth on an album that's at once cinematic and moody whilst proving him to be a master in electronic music craftsmanship. It's an album that might surprise some of those who have thus far been paying attention to his work as Bass Communion, but setting out to please everyone was never part of his raison d'etre. The Itself of Itself catches Bass Communion spreading its weatherbeaten wings to embrace new strategies and a strong desire to journey elsewhere. Arriving in a wonderful Carl Glover designed deluxe cover also comprising a 24pp. booklet of his photographs and an obi strip, this version of The Itself of Itself arrives in December on Lumberton Trading Company as a 2LP pressed in an initial run of 1000 copies.
- Boot Licking, Boots Kickin
- Bubble Butt Trouble
- Frozen Nose, Melting Toes
- Spill The Beans And Tell The Truth
- Ride The Bar
- Chicken Shit Bingo
- Strain My Taters
- Ye Gods And Little Fishes
Peter Brötzmann: tarogato, contra-alto clarinet, bass saxophone Paal Nilssen-Love: drums, gongs, percussion 2nd Volume of the perfect pairing Brötzmann & Nilssen-Love, recorded at Zuiderpershuis in Antwerp, August 2015. The music is less frenzied and aggressive than we're used to, as the musicians shared their exploration of new tools with a more contemplative approach. To be sure, both Brötzmann and Nilssen-Love summon the usual energy here and there, but it's a genuine revelation to hear them feel out new sounds in real-time, whether it's the former caressing the rheumy nasality of the contra-alto clarinet, or the latter reveling in the sustained resonance of his new gongs. Still, even if they were trying out new tools, their rapport and level of engagement was just as strong and deep as ever. Colliding schedules prevented them from ever wrapping up the production on the album, but they began planningfor it during the pandemic. Sadly, it fell to Nilssen-Love to shepherd the project at home, but it was worth the wait. This duo album represents a major statement from both musicians. Artwork by Brötzmann, design by Lasse Marhaug. Liner notes-transcription of an interview with Peter Brötzmann.
- Uneven
- Flight Of The Phoenix
- Sky Full Of Hope
- Ladder To The Stars
- My Secret Place
- Four Hands
- Ladder To The Stars (Electronica Remix)
magenta marble vinyl[45,34 €]
2LP, 180g clear vinyl. Stephan Thelen's music has grown beyond the Swiss Minimalist movement, as seen in his work over the past decade. His Fractal Sextet project exemplifies this evolution, deepening his original concepts while embracing new influences. Their second album, Sky Full of Hope, builds on the promise of their debut, showcasing a confident and cohesive group dynamic. The album features intricate polyrhythms and complex time signatures, but despite its mathematical foundations, the music remains accessible and engaging. Thelen credits the group's ability to blend technical precision with musicality, creating a sound that feels both refined and compelling.
2LP, 180g, magenta marble vinyl, limited to 200 copies. Stephan Thelen's music has grown beyond the Swiss Minimalist movement, as seen in his work over the past decade. His Fractal Sextet project exemplifies this evolution, deepening his original concepts while embracing new influences. Their second album, Sky Full of Hope, builds on the promise of their debut, showcasing a confident and cohesive group dynamic. The album features intricate polyrhythms and complex time signatures, but despite its mathematical foundations, the music remains accessible and engaging. Thelen credits the group's ability to blend technical precision with musicality, creating a sound that feels both refined and compelling.
- 1: Arndale Dawn
- 2: Super Shiny Floors
- 3: Roller Shutter Fault
- 4: Bargain Bin Shuffle
- 5: Flamingo Window Display
- 6: Shoplifter Outwits Security
- 7: Arndale Dreams
- 8: A Fancy Electronic Gadget
- 9: What A Pointless Gift!
- 10: Dwell Time
- 11: Incident In The Food Court
- 12: Arndale Hopes (Shattered)
- 13: Closing Time, Please Leave
"Dwell time is defined as the length of time a shopper spends in a shopping center, starting from the moment they enter till the moment they exit."
Experimental artists Xqui & Dogs Versus Shadows join forces in this lively, dadaesque spree through the earthly delights of shopping mall muzak and consumer theory. Xqui is a prolific experimental electronic producer based in Lancashire UK, known for his mind melting-palettes and brooding abstract soundscapes: "carefully constructed, intelligent and mature.. a musician very much in control of his art" - We Are Cult "As good as Basinski, and neck and neck with the degenerative sounds of Eno's best." – TQ Dogs Versus Shadows is a prolific experimental electronic producer based in Nottingham UK, known for his boundless invention and quick-witted powers of reflective observation. Formerly a much-loved broadcaster, Lee 'Pylon' was known for his influential underground radio show Kites & Pylons, before changing tack to delight and intrigue listeners with his DVS project: "A rare example of gamekeeper turned poacher...a welter of impressive electronica"
- Chant
- Fiori Strappati
- Petto Rotto
- Benu
- Cielo Azul
- Nido
- Cielo Fermo
- Alba
- Luna D’autunno
- Come Fan Le Stelle
- Ali Di Cotone
- Ali Di Fuoco
- L’ultimo Giorno
- Sogno Diurno
- Ocre
Limited edition pressing - 50 copies come with one page insert. Download code included.
The album Sonic Mystics for Poems (of Life and Death of a Phoenix) by Andrea Burelli is a work that masterfully blends traditional musical languages with the formal and conceptual sensibilities of contemporary music. It offers a profound reflection on the life-death-life cycle, centered on poetic texts that oscillate between human-sensitive experience and the mythical journey of a phoenix, a metaphor of this circular and infinite reality.
The work, which includes a collaboration with musicians from the renowned Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop, stands out for its clear influence from classical Western music and modal traditions, as well as experimental electronics. Composed for voices, strings, synthesizers, and drum machines, this music features a minimalist tapestry of polyphonies, enhanced by sophisticated electronic elements and a diverse array of rhythmic articulations.
Field Notes describes Andrea Burelli as a versatile artist capable of embodying a multitude of roles, from poet to composer, musician, and singer, emphasizing how her work reflects this versatility by ¨combining elements of art song, contemporary music, pop, and electronic sounds.¨ According to Groove Magazine, this LP evokes neoclassical chamber music and an imagined Italian folklore, aligning with contemporary explorations of modern vocal abstractions, similar to the work of artists like Marina Herlop, stating that: “This is how the new and the good emerge.”
Furthermore, the music has received positive feedback from internationally acclaimed artists such as Rashad Becker, who, in addition to being the mastering engineer of the project, describes it as "pure and honest"; James Young of Darkstar calls it "bold and innovative"; while Eartheater (PAN), Rabih Beaini, and Gigi Masin have praised it as "beautiful."
- A1: A Better Day (Dj Spinna Remix) Featuring Raul Midon
- A2: Love Is On The Way (Roots Mix) Featuring Blaze
- B1: Nos Vida (Masters At Work Remix) Featuring Anané
- B2: Mon Amour (Dj Gregory Remix) Featuring Anané
- B3: Mozalounge (Jazz N' Groove Remix)
- C1: Messin' About
- C2: Love Is On The Way (Louie Vega Latin Mix) Featuring Blaze
- D1: Our People (Eol Bonus Track)
- D2: Steel Congo Featuring House Of Rumba
Warehouse Find!
Vega Records are proud to present the re-release of EOL Extensions by Elements Of Life, the second album from Louie Vega’s critically acclaimed live orchestral project. With an allstar cast of remixers the lineup is a who’s who of worldwide talent. On the repertoire are Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Dope, Dj Spinna, Joe Claussell, House of Rumba, & Dj Gregory, along with EOL Alumni lead vocalists Josh Milan, Anané & Raul Midon. The Vinyl release is in two parts, two double packs, get it on your turntable, close your eyes and listen to the cosmic sounds of EOL. The new tracks “Messin’ About”, “Our People”, and the unreleased mix of “Love Is On The Way” are ones not to be missed.
Philipp Greter is a genius. He is not only the keyboardist of the acclaimed swiss Dub band Dub Spencer & Trance Hill he is also the producer and mastermind behind the band and responsible for the crisp project "William S. Burroughs In Dub". Philipp has worked with and for The Young Gods, Yello mastermind Dieter Meier, Lee Scratch Perry, amongst many others. "Greter Than Dub" is being released on Liquid Sound Design, the psychedelic dub label of Grammy Award winning producer Martin "Youth" Glover: highly respected songwriter/producer, sonic pioneer, and founder and bassist of Killing Joke. Almost everything on this album is grooving, swinging, vibrating and echoing in delay. It is not only an album for the dancefloor it is also a soundscape travel for the comfortable sofa trip.
Bruno Sanchioni unveils "Capture EP 3" on Art Max Records
Bruno Sanchioni, an icon of electronic music and creator of legendary projects such as Age Of Love and BBE, returns with Capture EP 3. This new EP continues the journey of its predecessors, promising a fresh immersion into his rich and innovative soundscape.
Capture EP 3 stands out with tracks that skillfully blend punchy acid lines with catchy melodies. Each piece maintains a hypnotic atmosphere while delivering surprises that captivate and enrich this work, showcasing Sanchioni's boundless creativity and mastery of electronic nuances.
This EP is a must-have for fans of authentic and innovative sounds, proving once again that the artist remains a cornerstone of the scene.
Bruno Sanchioni présente "Capture EP 3" sur Art Max Records
Bruno Sanchioni, icône de la musique électronique et créateur de projets emblématiques tels qu'Age Of Love et BBE, revient avec Capture EP 3. Ce nouvel EP s'inscrit dans la continuité des précédents, promettant une nouvelle immersion dans son univers sonore riche et innovant.
Capture EP 3 se distingue par ses morceaux qui fusionnent habilement des lignes acid percutantes avec des mélodies entraînantes. Chaque piste, tout en maintenant une ambiance hypnotique, offre des surprises qui captivent et enrichissent cette œuvre, témoignant de la créativité sans bornes de Sanchioni et de sa maîtrise des nuances électroniques.
Cet EP est un incontournable pour les amateurs de sonorités authentiques et novatrices, prouvant une fois de plus que l’artiste reste un pilier de la scène
Indian born, UK artist Michael Diamond, co-founder of Vasuki Sound label and club night, announces new EP Placid Wakefulness, featuring single ‘Reverse Entropy’. available on all platforms 5th December via Vasuki Sound.
A uniquely multifaceted talent, Michael Diamond’s unforgettable ‘jazzed electronic’ sound is informed by a spectrum of influences, not least by intersection of the scientific and practical worlds of electronic music. From the music scholarship he won to read Medicine at Oxford where he quickly discovered new ways in which the two worlds can co-exist, his days were spent immersed in academic studies of music perception and cognition, while his nights were spent alongside the likes of Ben UFO, Batu & Ross From Friends, playing at one of UK’s most long-established nights ‘Simple’. A chance encounter there also led him to connect with musical collaborator Alex Wilson – the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year semi-finalist and then musical director of Oxford’s Jazz Orchestra – who appears frequently across Diamond’s compositions and on Placid Wakefulness.
No stranger to a concept piece, Diamond’s previous project, the highly personal and critically acclaimed exploration of culture and identity, Third Culture (album of the month/year acknowledgments from Stamp The Wax, Juno and Phonica Records, also earning him a DJ Mag ‘One To Watch’, a Youth Music Awards ‘Rising Star’ nomination and a Gilles Peterson’s ‘Future Bubbler’ accolade) explored the experience of being a ‘third culture kid’ born in Kerala, India and growing up in the UK with a sense of fractured identity.
On Placid Wakefulness, Diamond honours his academic research working alongside world-renowned musicologist Professor Eric Clarke. Specifically how music may affect our sleepfulness and wakefulness, how instinctively we are soothed by some sounds and energised by others - ‘what it is about dance music that makes people go hard all night long?’ and ‘what is it about ambient music that makes people feel the opposite way - to lull them into this sense of calmness or rest?’, mindful of the unconscious ways his findings were already manifesting in his work as an artist. And while his research provides a framework for some of the ideas within the piece, Placid Wakefulness can be viewed as more of an unintentional byproduct, or case-in-point of his findings, rather than a piece consciously constructed in their image.
Across Placid Wakefulness’s four tracks we find the artist unpacking a range of sonic ideas on this theme, from ambient calm to club-adjacent rhythms. The EP opens with hypnotic lullaby of ‘A Way of Listening’ complete with transcendent flutes provided by Alex Wilson, cello by George Lloyd-Own and a mellow groove. On the more energised ‘Reverse Entropy’, rhythmic ambiguity moves to rhythmic disambiguation with a four-to-the-floor beat as the track progresses, releasing tension and inviting an urge to dance as a jazz sax moment transmutes into glorious techno percussiveness.
On ‘Turning and Turning’ the bpm shifts down a gear, a sonic dreamstate where tough textural rhythms create a kind of liminal state tension. Closing out the EP we return to a sense of restfulness with the EP’s title track, where a gorgeous picked guitar loop interplays with vibrating ambient pads and a slow and steady beat. The Placid Wakefulness EP is a captivating testament to Diamond’s singular artistic talent and the fascinating interplay of neuroscience and how we experience and enjoy music.
- A1: Music Not Numbers (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra & Chris Maddock)
- A2: Balance (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra & James Beckwith)
- A3: I`ll Take My Chances (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra, Ria Moran & Binker Golding)
- A4: Believe (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra)
- B1: Just A Little Bit (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra)
- B2: In Search For Goldilocks (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra & James Beckwith)
- B3: You Know (Feat London Contemporary Orchestra, Zola Marcelle & Nubya Garcia)
Jazz re:freshed are proud to present the third studio album by bassist and composer Daniel Casimir.'Balance'encapsulates 'Big Band Energy', with his signature combination of Classical, Jazz and cinematic sounds.
The albumpays homage to the traditions of big band composition and historical significance whilst illustrating contemporary sensibilities.
This ambitious project explores the balance between two large and full sounds of a big band and a string section and is inspired by icon Wayne Shorter's album'Emanon'which made a deep impression on Casimir during the process of creating the album.
An organic development of Casimir's last critically acclaimed album'Boxed In'which featured a jazz quintet alongside a mini chamber Orchestra and was comprised of a woodwind, brass, with a string quartet,'Balance'is a self produced album that takes his musical vision to the next level in his most ambitious body of work to date, leading 26 musicians.
Recorded in November 2022 at Livingston Studios, in a very conscientious recording process which saw piano, bass, and drums recorded together first, followed by trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and the string section and an all star band that consists of figures from the UK Jazz scene, Cassie Kinoshi, Binker, Nubya Garcia, Rosie Turton, Sheila Maurice-Grey and Jay Phelps to name a few alongside a stunning string section performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.
The final day of recording enlisted the powerful vocal prowess' of Zola Marcelle and Ria Moran to finesse the masterpiece. The track'Music Not Numbers'is an encouraging call to all musicians to not allow streaming culture to affect their creative process and to continue expanding the intrinsic nature of music. Whereas track,'Search for Goldilocks'explores the second meaning behind the album title 'Balance', which is to seek balance within and discover the qualities in life that are "just right".
- A1: Mckennai Beat
- A2: What Wood Feat. Brother Portrait
- A3: Ladybug
- A4: Modern Ifa
- A5: Fm Feat. Max Mckenzie
- A6: Austral Mood
- A7: Slave Cemetery
- A8: Cari And Whales
- B1: Meditation & Heartbreak
- B2: For Nahel Feat. Selina Jones
- B3: Cosmic Psylo
- B4: Norwood Junction
- B5: Ears
- B6: Unrooted Maskossa
- B7: Last Bantu (Outro)
Releasing now for well over a decade - Neue Grafik: known to friends as Fred, has successfully transplanted from Parisian rookie to one- man London Institution. Beginning as a solo producer and DJ,Fred spread his wings upon relocating to South London - at first with his Neue Grafik Ensemble and later with his now iconic twice-weekly Orii Jam - the latter of which has given agency to an entire new generation of musicians; spawning an aesthetic, nurturing a unique sound and becoming a launchpad for countless artists.
Dalston Tape Volume 1 is Fred’s attempt to fall back in love with beatmaking - taking it back to the roots of
where the project began. I say “attempt” because he’s simply learnt too much and made too many friends
along the way to make a mere DIY beat tape. Since his early MPC-led productions on Parisian label, Beat
X Changers, Fred has learnt to play the keys to a concert hall standard, he has become proficient in double bass and built up a dense network of collaborators who he has composed, recorded, engineered and produced for both at home in SE London and in the iconic Total Refreshment Centre Studios in Dalston.
This experience adds unavoidable dimensions to his toolbox - resulting in something more akin to a miniature-magnum-opus than a simple beat-tape.
Yes, we hear the influences of Pete Rock, Mad Lib, J Dilla and Al Dobson Jr but we also hear the musicality of D’Aneglo, James Blake and live contributions from an ever growing army of young graduates of the Orii School.
Mark Barrott’s 2024 album, 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends', is a profound and deeply personal exploration of life, love, and loss. Released on Anjunadeep Reflections, this album is a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2023 release, Jōhatsu (蒸発). Unlike his previous works, this album chronicles a more intimate and emotional journey, reflecting the life Mark had with his late wife, and the harrowing experience of her illness and eventual passing. It stands as both a tribute to her memory and a reflection on the profound impact she had on his life and music. Mark has been a constant innovator throughout his nearly four-decade-long career. He’s best known to some as Future Loop Foundation, the alias under which he created ambient drum and bass in the mid-90s. Others know him for his ‘Sketches From an Island’ series, released under his own name, which played a significant role in the revival of the Balearic music scene. He’s also the founder of International Feel, a label that was instrumental in the bespoke vinyl movement of the 2010s and played a role in bringing DJ Harvey back into the spotlight. Barrott’s work has always pushed the boundaries of genre, and 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends' is no exception. However, this album is perhaps his most personal and emotionally charged work to date. The album’s creation was born out of tragedy. Barrott began writing music for the album during the eleven weeks of his wife’s illness, using it as a form of therapy to cope with the overwhelming grief and loneliness that followed her passing on January 25, 2023. “I actually started writing music most nights throughout this process—it was therapy to mitigate the loneliness of coming back to a cold, dark winter home after spending the day with her at the hospital,” Barrott explains. What began as a way to process his emotions evolved into a project that would ultimately become 'Everything Changes, Nothing Ends'. The album traverses genres, blending orchestral, ambient, and jazz elements to create a rich and varied soundscape. Each track on the album serves as an audio diary, capturing specific moments from the eleven weeks of his wife’s illness. The music oscillates between intense emotional peaks and more soothing, delicate moods, reflecting the rollercoaster of emotions that come with facing such a profound loss. Ultimately, this album is about acceptance and gratitude for what was, not grief for what could have been. It addresses the fundamental issue that confronts all human beings: life and death. ‘Everything Changes, Nothing Ends’ is out on 29th November on Reflections.




















