News

Vertical67 returns to his home label with a new EP of four emotional and melodic electro tracks.

Donny Benét is an adult Entertainer, Hit-Maker, Attentive Lover- and one of Australia’s most acclaimed- and experienced Jazz-Musicians. He has toured Europe- and the UK five times through 2017/2018, playing Festivals & Headline-Shows in 14 different Countries- and will be returning in 2020! The Don’s gigs are rammed with 20-somethings partying like a scene out of Miami Vice.

Recorded in the infamous Donnyland-Studios using the finest Japanese, American & Italian synthesizers, The Don speaks to the heart, promising love as soft as Italian leather. Donny’s immaculate Armani grooves hint at the dancefloor and the bedroom The Don is transportive. ‘Night In Rome’ opens the shutters of your hotel room onto a view of The Colosseum, ‘Reach The Top’ thrusts you on a frenzied race to success through the streets of NYC.

‘Working Out’ urges you to break a sweat wherever you may be. ‘Konichiwa,’ is a song assmooth as the silken tofu from whence the song’s spirit is inspired, and ‘Santorini,’ an ode to love worth fighting for along the crystal-waters of the Aegean Sea.

New album “Mr Experience” due for Release on 22nd May, 2020

Donny Benét is an adult Entertainer, Hit-Maker, Attentive Lover- and one of Australia’s most acclaimed- and experienced Jazz-Musicians. He has toured Europe- and the UK five times through 2017/2018, playing Festivals & Headline-Shows in 14 different Countries- and will be returning in 2020! The Don’s gigs are rammed with 20-somethings partying like a scene out of Miami Vice.

Recorded in the infamous Donnyland-Studios using the finest Japanese, American & Italian synthesizers, The Don speaks to the heart, promising love as soft as Italian leather. Donny’s immaculate Armani grooves hint at the dancefloor and the bedroom The Don is transportive. ‘Night In Rome’ opens the shutters of your hotel room onto a view of The Colosseum, ‘Reach The Top’ thrusts you on a frenzied race to success through the streets of NYC.

‘Working Out’ urges you to break a sweat wherever you may be. ‘Konichiwa,’ is a song assmooth as the silken tofu from whence the song’s spirit is inspired, and ‘Santorini,’ an ode to love worth fighting for along the crystal-waters of the Aegean Sea.

New album “Mr Experience” due for Release on 22nd May, 2020

California based producer Never Dull has been putting out his fair dose of 'Soulful' infused floor stompers since last year. Making his debut on 'Night Shift Records' he decided to go back to the basics. Sampling and re-arranging Soul and Disco music from the mid to late 70's, Never Dull complements the great vocal choruses of the tracks by adding layers of sounds. Organic drums, disco baselines and electric soulful pianos give this EP a magic touch, making this his Go-To 'Discollection' when it comes to choosing a banger to keep the night going on the dance floo

Due to unforseen circumstances release is cancelled for now and will be hopefully remade in a different version...



Recently voted” as “The best British number one from British soil” by the readers of UK newspaper “The Guardian, “West End Girls” by British duo Pet Shop Boys is an all-time synth-pop classic that comes in a 2×12” package with two mixes from legendary Dutch producer remixer Ben Liebrand, a 2020 version from UK house hero Michael Gray, and a new mix by Italian wizard Moplen. The 2 Liebrand mixes offer an acoustic variation on the 80’s synth theme, expanding on the luscious string section, providing a canvas for extensive trumpet solos. The result is the ‘Ben Liebrand “9 Course Suite”. Also provided is the ‘Ben Liebrand Nu-Disco Remix’ with a more laidback feeling featuring a funky acoustic bass line. Michael Gray adds his classy percussive beats with a more sustained feel letting the melodies take over, yet retaining the PSB charm, whilst multi track guru Moplen stays true to the original Bobby Orlando PSB production. Mastering was done at the famous Abbey Road Studio’s in London.

Brooklyn’s TOUCAN SOUNDS presents a talent heavy compilation of Boogie, Afro, Nu Disco & House from JACQUES RENAULT, ADELINE, ELI ESCOBAR, DJ PASTA , I.M. YONI, TONY G & HARUKA SALT. All 6 tracks are excellent without any filler!

Brief Encounter, THE soul band from North Wilkesboro, N.C., formed the 1970's and recorded through the the 90s with various labels as well as self releasing. We have been working with band members Montie & Gary Bailey (who has actually visited me in Scotland) to bring you a few releases over the last few years, culminating in this final release alongside their rarest and unknown single when they were known as Sounds of Soul. Never a step wrong, not a bad track to be seen, one of America's finest 70s soul bands.

Brief Encounter, THE soul band from North Wilkesboro, N.C., formed the 1970's and recorded through the the 90s with various labels as well as self releasing. We have been working with band members Montie & Gary Bailey (who has actually visited me in Scotland) to bring you a few releases over the last few years, culminating in this final release alongside their rarest and unknown single when they were known as Sounds of Soul. Never a step wrong, not a bad track to be seen, one of America's finest 70s soul bands.

Mendel & Delfonic re-edit classics by Germannu & Valéria on this Notes on a Journey 12" limited to 300 copies.

On the one hand there are two new editions of Germannu's «Fale De Mim» and one edit each for «Marcação» and «Pé na Estrada» by Valéria. Four times the very finest in soulful Brazilian pop music as one is now almost used to from Notes On A Journey.

«Fale De Mim» by Germannu, by the way, originally appeared in 1984 on the EP «Germannu» and was released in September 2020 by NOAJ as a lavish reissue.

The 4-track 7inch «Pé na Estrada» by Valéria originally came out in 1983 on the Brazilian label PPA (Paladar Produções Artisticas) and was re-released by NOAJ in November 2020.With «NOAJ Edits 01», a first absolute must-have edits package was put together. And as the title suggests, the series will continue in the following months with more highlights from the NOAJ catalog.

Yet another solid Soul/Funk nugget lifted from the vaults of Miami's CAT Records (Another T.K. Disco subsidiary).

Often sampled, re-edited & re-jigged but never bettered! Gwen McCrae's all time classic "All This Love I'm Giving" finally see's a timely repress, just as God intended, on a dinked 45 with all original artwork intact! That's right, you may recognize this number from Cassius' 1999 hit "Feelin' For You" but this track has long been a staple of rare groove dances & sophisticated soul parties with discerning DJ's & selectors clamoring for the original 45 at any cost.

Backed here with it's original b-side slow jam "Maybe I'll Find Somebody New" this rare 45 has been re-mastered, re-pressed & brought back for 2015's dance-floors in conjunction & with the permission of T.K. Disco / Henry Stone Music, Miami USA.

Throughout Ibadan Records' deeply-rooted New York history and its ongoing transcendent surge into the future, there are certain special moments in House music history to acknowledge. This brings us to our 138th Ibadan Records installment by Kerri Chandler. Kerri Chandler was one of the many artists who benefited from Jerome Sydenham's artistic direction. The two initially met in 1991, when Sydenham was a part of the A&R team that signed Chandler's debut single to Atlantic Records. After Sydenham founded Ibadan Records in 1995, the two collaborated on several groundbreaking projects that stand as a testament to House music history and to their long-lasting friendship. Chandler's early career evolved through illustrious House remixes and productions. Tracks like Drink On Me, Shoe-B-Doo, While We're Young and Ain't That a Bitch truly exemplify the trailblazing and original innovative spirit of Kerri Chandler and the birth of his signature sound. Presenting New York Chronicles Vol. I I

When Alaia & Gallo debuted on Soul Heaven back in 2016 with ‘Who Is He?’ the record quickly swept across dancefloors during that hot European summer. With Kevin Haden’s serene vocal covering Bill Withers’ timeless classic ‘Who Is He (And What Is He To You)’, Alaia & Gallo’s skilful and refreshing take on the soulful house sound resonated with both selectors and the dancefloors they played it on. Now Glitterbox Recordings revisit this exquisite Soul Heaven essential, delivering a new remix package for a new decade. Featuring mixes from enigmatic mega-star Claptone, Australia’s disco king Dr Packer and ultimate DJ’s remixer to the stars The Reflex, who each turn their hand at ‘Who Is He?’ to give this blissful cut another lease of life.

If you start with a tune like Keep On Movin’, more a national treasure than simply a classic, you really have to do something special with the remix. As you’d expect from the team that brought you the original song back in 1989, Funki Dred Records have revisited their triumph in four unique mixes the bring it right up to date, while celebrating the legacy it left and the heritage that surrounded it.

The Zepherin Saint Go-Go mix has all the pulsating rhythm of that DC vibe, but cushioned with horns and keyboards for an almost orchestral, very Soul II Soul street-meets-sophistication arrangement – if they start making blaxploitation films in again, this is where you’d look to find a theme song.Booker T takes a very different approach, as the urgency of the vocal pushes the tempo yet never gets too frantic as the whole thing is anchored by a trancey reading of the original’s melody, which keeps feet on the ground while making them move. The Satta Dub Mix is a dub masterclass that doesn’t simply strip the elements out, but opens the tune up with the precision of a scalpel to reveal the intricate layers of the melody lines and how the rhythm was stacked beats and chords to create patterns you just can’t ignore with enough bounce and echoing dub technique to keep everybody on their toes. The Salsa Mix, however, is the most exciting and will be a joy for not just Soul II Soul fans, but anyone who appreciates music with a no limits approach. North London meet South America in a explosion of salsa swing and Funki Dred beats, that brings the best out of each - there’s even a flamenco guitar and talking drums.

While this Latin-flavoured mash-up is the epitome of Jazzie B and Soul II Soul’s 40-year history of making moves other people might not have dreamed of, all four of these remixes celebrate daring but meticulous approach to everything they did. And it’s this attention to detail as they reapproach one of Soul II Soul’s finest moments, that ensures each of these tunes lives up to the famous motto “A happy face, a thumpin’ bass, for a lovin’ race”

repressed !

"(Emotional) Especial returns in 2018 after a supremely quiet 2017 as batteries were recharged and life happened. In mind is the introduction of new duo, Weird Weather and their debut EP, Bamboo Room. Slotting perfectly in the label family with 4 cuts covering dark basement club music through to calmer, balmier moments. LJ Horstman and D Thornley, conjoined metal nerds from opposite ends of the London suburbs who bonded over love of dub mixes, create Weird Weather. This debut collects tracks from four years of jamming, constructing, dubbing and re-dubbing. Cheap synths played with strict finger musicianship, deep bass over 4/4, clattering Roland drum boxes and analogue pads and submerged vocals calling out over the noise of the digital Coffee Maker. Full spectrum of influences are apparent for the heads with nods to Yello, Jah Shaka and the Horn "Megamixes" of Frankie Goes To Hollywood and ZTT alumini - all go in the dub blender with a slug of 80s rock bombast. 4 demos passed down and the mixing desk skills of homeboys Mr TJ Fairplay and Mr J Paton are added for good measure. To start, Sequence 5 is a one-take body-music desk dub. The relentless riding rhythms and faint harmonics pull you to the floor in unknown fashion. Trash Dolphin follows as an aquatic New-Wave meets NY-house in-joke that went too far. Sample bits out the window to reach nirvana. Taking the flip is Bamboo Room. A sub 90 bpm, euphoric mind-melter for the post Ambient House generation. The true winner with tranquil(ity) bass and psychedelic (research) lab trip shifts. Seamlessly completed with the poolside 'Ormus Mix' for the suave recliners. Thanks to Eric Dan for phantom support via the LCD screen. Onwards and upwards. "

Based on Francesco Fisotti's real life experience, Lido Sirena wants to be a sound details of late 80s summer on Salento coast. The new Apulian sound, also called "Adriatic Funk", is a perfect mix between floating disco strings and solid weighty kick drums.

Dark Entries is pleased to announce a deluxe reissue of Sexual Harrassment’s 1983 opus I Need A Freak. Lynn Tolliver, DJ/Program Director at Cleveland’s WZAK, adopted the pseudonym David Payton in order to keep his musical endeavors separate from his public persona. Sexual Harrassment (misspelled deliberately) was formed as a concept band, with members selected based on appearance and choreographic skill rather than musical ability. Tolliver’s explicit lyrics focused on the central themes of desire and sexual relations. Working at a studio in Akron, he recorded an album of quirky-yet-lurid electro funk, which was released on Heat Records. Tolliver remarks, “I learned as a youngster, sex sells! The things that are rated the worst – violence, horror and sex – are the things people want to see or hear about.” I Need a Freak was a surprise hit, selling over 100,000 copies.

I Need A Freak is presented here for the first time on double LP, pressed at 45 rpm for maximum DJ-friendliness. While the album’s naughtier moments seem quaint by contemporary standards, the fusion of lo-fi funk and disaffected vocals still stuns today. On the eternal electro-raunch anthem “I Need a Freak”, minimalism serves to highlight the lasciviousness of the deadpan lyrics, which were inspired by Lourdes Figueroa, Tolliver’s girlfriend at the time. Tolliver’s whimsy shines on tracks like “If I Gave You a Party” and “K.I.S.S.I.N.G.”, which contrast nursery rhyme structures with decidedly R-rated lyrics. “Exercise Your Ass Off” lampoons the home exercise craze, but with a more-than-suggestive sexual bent. Also included are two bonus cuts, “We Want Prince” and “These Are The Things That I Like”, previously released as singles in 1984 and 1986, respectively. “We Want Prince” is both a homage to the Purple one and a gentle satire of obsessive fandom.

I Need A Freak has been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. The album comes in a gatefold sleeve featuring the original artwork. Included are lyrics, photos, and liner notes by Lynn Tolliver and drummer Dale Jackson. Tolliver’s sly provacateurship is best captured by the quote: “It’s funny – without sex, mankind is dead, yet we hide the very thing we need.”