Beats Vinyl New Releases - News

Piano, synthesizer enthusiast, composer, and arranger, Eric Borders aka Captain Supernova, makes first release under new moniker, E. Lundquist. Pushing the boundaries of funk fusion, it’s as much 70s library music, as it is Pink Floyd and The Flaming Lips at times. It often feels as if the planet is going to unfold.

Borders, born and raised on the westside of Los Angeles, is known for his cinematic and cosmic compositions that push jazz into a different time and space. ‘Multiple Images’, the debut release as E. Lundquist, is the composer's first attempt at making a Library Style record. A genre that lends itself well to the Sci-Fi and Jazz Fusion vibes that Borders has been known for in the past. The music often plays as if it is the soundtrack to something happening both simultaneously in and out of this universe.

“As we finished the record it sort of evolved from a library piece into a full fledged album with a mix of different inspirations from blaxploitation, 70s funk, soundtrack, themes, cinematic, and contemporary jazz-funk. It only felt right to break away from the fictional character and give this music a composer name as if you read it on the back of a KPM record. Then E. Lundquist was born.”

The new name pays homage to old family bloodlines, and is the last name of his biological grandfather. While Eric Borders was his given name, Borders has no actual blood relation to his family, it was the name his father had adopted from his Step-grandfather. The name of the album “Multiple Images” is an ode to one of Lundquist’s favorite Library tracks by Brian Bennett “Images”.

”Gateway” The opening track leads you through a universe of cosmic melodies and imagination into a new atmosphere. Deep kicks ride along bubbled bass lines, rave-y stabs, and sinister Detroit strings.*

"LIGHT SPAN" * Huge drum work and clever percussion take us further into the void covered with gorgeous arps & snappy snares. Definitely a sound of the time as well as the future, taking the listeners back to the 90's rave era with its massive bass stabs. Enjoyable journey music.

* "NEBULA 7" *A fine taste of Detroit techno string work and arrangement, the EP's ending track pushes the ear to the final elements of the journey. Haunting voices, funky space bass and futuristic cool. Well chilled and served perfectly as a completion of the EP, this track rounds out the 'Trilogy Wave' series concept of the group in this 1995 popular recording reissue.

Do you believe in ghosts ? Those things that cannot be explained which lurk where we fear to tread once that last light goes dark ? Paranormal Sounds of the Synthesizer, was written and conceived as a library record for just that. Electronic music composers Repeated Viewing and Timothy Fife have created a record to take you into the world of the paranormal, the unexplained, and what happens when the light goes out
Paranormal Sounds of the Synthesizer is a “split” LP. Repeated Viewing covers side A, while Timothy Fife handles side B. Repeated Viewing’s mood is of dread and darkness. They build a musical world of haunted parlors, candles flickering, and incantations spoken in whispered tongues. Timothy Fife, by contrast, takes us into the world which lies between here and there. Electrical pulses and droning currents make contact with the other side, giving static charge and access to afterlife conversations with those long from this earth.

Sissi Rada is a wonderfully ambiguous personality and one of the best harpists for contemporary classical music in Europe and at the same time producer of beautiful abstract electronica songs. Her album "Nanodiamond" comes out on new Berlin label Kryptox with guest vocals by Lena Platonos, co-production by Brian Eno on 81948 (2000 OM69) and Andi Toma of Mouse on Mars on Maps and Blueblack Tomb. A futuristic body of work that combines the sweet melancholy of the classical harp with subtle electronic soundscapes and Sissi Rada's magical voice.

Heavy 180g black vinyl. First time on vinyl. 350gsm Gatefold, interior sleeve printed. Half Speed Mastering. 45 rpm.

The Threshold HouseBoys Choir was a project by Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson. Operating out of Bangkok, Thailand, the Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV founding member started this audio and visual endeavour following Coil's end. File under COIL Forever, Erotic Trance, Religious IDM, Ecstatic Classical, Post Ethnic Industrial Exotica and best album ever heard.

Infernal Sounds bring their digital series to life with this spicy VA compilation, snipping four of the standout tracks from their first four EP's. The VA presents tracks from all over the world, spanning from Japan to the US, back home to Bristol and bouncing to Barcelona. Karnage, 'Spirit Bomb' kicks things off by slicing and dicing you with mid-range blades and tearing you apart with the heavy trap-style low-end ruckus. Switching things up completely on the A2 is Kodama with the wonderful 'Clear Your Head', entangling you in the beautiful melodies and uplifting mainframe, before Chief Kaya spins you all the way back to '06 on 'Ma'at'. The track brings about an essence of the old-school and a premium beat that you need to feel on a soundsystem. Finally, Khanum drops you in with and takes you under with 'Bun Politician', a strong message for the times, and a forceful track at that.

The tracks on this EP have had heavy support from the likes of Truth, N-type, BunZer0, Sicaria Sound, Deep Tempo, Hamdi and many more.

Dass Lounge-Musik mehr ist als wohltemperierte Hintergrundbeschallung für Bars, stellt die Vinyl-Kompilation "Spirit Of Lounge" sympathisch groovend unter Beweis. Mit Acts wie unter anderem Kruder & Dorfmeister ("High Noon"), St. Germain ("Alabama Blues"), Thievery Corporation ("It Takes A Thief"), Goldfrapp ("Lovely Head"), Gotan Project ("Diferente"), Morcheeba ("Enjoy The Ride") und Moby ("Natural Blues") huldigt die Zusammenstellung den Neunzigerjahren, die gemeinhin als das goldene Lounge-Zeitalter gelten. Damals begannen immer mehr Künstler damit, gesetzte elektronische Varianten wie Ambient und Trip-Hop sowie ruhigere Spielformen von House mit Easy Listening, Jazz, Acid Jazz, Nu Jazz, New Age und sogar Tango auf ungekannte Weise zu fusionieren. Die Ergebnisse klangen recht unterschiedlich, was Lounge letztlich zu einer Sammelbezeichnung machte. Doch eines verbindet alle Stücke: sie klingen einfach total entspannt und eignen sich so perfekt als Soundtrack für den Alltag.

The anniversary album “20Years 2raumwohnung” including new edited versions and two new songs! - 2RAUMWOHNUNG - the duo of Inga Humpe and Tommi Eckart - two of the leading protagonists of German electropop, released eight albums, sold over 1.000.000 records, made remixes (Ennio Morricone, Herbert Grönemeyer, “Trip to Asia”), soundtracks ("Tatort", "Das Sams", "Mädchen, Mädchen"), collaborated with famous musicians (Moritz von Oswald, Paul van Dyk, Paul Kalkbrenner, Westbam, DJ Koze, Ricardo Villalobos, Dieter Meier, UMAMI, Rosenstolz), won awards and accolades (Dance Music Award, 1Live Krone, Goldene Stimmgabel, Fred-Jay-Preis der GEMA for Inga), played concert tours in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and performed in New York, Japan, China, Spain, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, and Korea.

Repress !

Tolouse Low Trax, Sacha Mambo, General Purpose and newcomer Berkay Mate get on the remix of Ex Ponto’s ‚ Neka Neka' LP. Neka Neka is a nod to ex-Yugoslavian experimentalists of the 80s (Rex Ilusivii, Kozmetika, Miha Kralj etc) and the thriving, late-night hedonism of Belgrade's Club 20/44

Tolouse Low Trax provides a remix to Middle Path that is experimental, deep and pulsating. The track is obscure, but has a pulse that you can feel in your chest and ears listening to be beautiful spoken words which will leave you in a trance.

Sacha Mambo reworks 20-40 into a vivid melodic trip that goes into the explorations of the cosmos. The movement of this track is groovy and uplifting, it will keep you on the move. The eclecticism and craziness of Sacha Mambo are definitely heard in this remix.

General Purpose remix Ex Ponto into psychedelic drug chug. This mid-tempo acid banger will keep your body moving, melt your mind and the break down will set you off. Close your eyes and immerse yourself in the vivid journey.

Berkay Mete serves up a remix of intoxicating Eastern sounds. This track is ideal for a sun soaked dancefloor or in the darkness of the nightclubs. Wherever it is played it will, the rhythm will grab you and keep you.

Ludvig Cimbrelius is an artist of many expressions. Whilst all are deeply rooted in a spiritual and ethereal sound, his most majestic output has arguably come to life through the Illuvia alias. After capping off a debut, self-titled album in 2017 with an atmospheric Drum and Bass track, it quickly sparked a two-year conversation between Ludvig and A Strangely Isolated Place to pursue a full record in this style. Focusing on the far reaches of both the Ambient and Drum and Bass spectrums, Iridescence Of Clouds, combines the two extremities. Soaring, euphoric Ambient textures overlay distant echoes of driving Drum and Bass, before subtly transitioning to drums at the forefront, once again.Typically atmospheric Drum and Bass song structures become blurred, as half-step kick patterns sit amongst more recognizable Amen breaks; or reverb-heavy drums; often echoing the worlds of Ludvig's other aliases - his fingerprint instantly recognizable. The expected breakdowns are often ephemeral; teased slowly into existence and then faded into the background as each track weaves in and out of the two musical spectrums and the progressive emotion of the album unfolds at a glorious, soaring pace.

Jonathan Fitoussi is a French composer that explores an electronic music versed in futuristic tones that
evokes the vision of the future as it was perceived in the 60s or 70s, mixed with the perception of a unique,
utopic world, yet to be reached, yet to be build. On top of two live recordings, several collaborations and music
for movies, this is his fifth solo album, and his first for Transversales Disques, a label he co-founded.
Leading the electronic aesthetic of its writer towards more rhythmic, hypnotic tracks, this album is also a new
step in the ever growing discography of this musician.
In Plein Soleil, Jonathan Fitoussi explores the continent of his electronic instruments, watching them move
along with him on his journey, like uncharted territories, beyond what’s already been said, done, composed
and played. In these tracks, or should we say, between them, something new unfurls. Where, in the past,
musical mechanism, melodic shades were shaped by atmospheric frames, reluctant to choose between
amniotic and repetition, what’s at play here is of a different nature, more rhythmic, all made of vibrating
percussion, of synthetic sparkles that bump into each other and reverberate. The hypnosis of the percussion,
the trance of the desiring-machines, the synthesizers immanence, dreaming themselves as bongos, as bass,
vibraphones, marimbas, while floating high above, or sometimes far below, timid waves, drones, threads
connects the beats together.
This is not a dance record, but this a record that’ll caught you dancing, dreaming inside of these tracks leading
to other places that at first only exist because of the power of the spirit: “Rayons solaires”, “Vents
magnétiques”, “Soleil de minuit”, “Continent blanc”, “Amazonie”…

A welcome departure from their first effort, the record has gained greater reconection in recent years when contemporary audiencies could fully aprreciate the strenght and harsher direction the duo decided to take for their follow-up album.
More rhythmically-oriented tunes whilst revisiting some old-favorites like Daguerrotipo or La Edad del Bronce (both off their first album, but albeit in new mixes).

The Wah Wah edition has been mastered from the original tapes by Eugenio Muñoz, reproduces the original sleeve artwork and and features an insert with photos and info. It is a strictly limited edition of 500 copies only.

First vinyl issue of these raw experimental dub collaborations between Muslimgauze and The Rootsman, written, recorded and mixed at the Third Eye Studio, Bradford, UK between 1997 and 1998. Originally released on CD by Russian label Aquarelist.

Les Disques du Crepuscule present a new, remastered vinyl edition of Quart de Tour, Mon Amour, the highly collectible debut album by enigmatic Belgian duo Piscine et Charles, originally released by the label in 1984.

This remastered 2021 reissue retains the original cover art, as well as adding text and previously unseen images from the Piscine et Charles archive, plus a digital copy (MP3). A limited edition of 500 copies only has been pressed on turquoise vinyl.

A duo comprising Dominique Outers and Luc Raemdonck, Piscine et Charles taped their debut album at Daylight Studio in Brussels with engineer Didier de Roos (Univers Zero, Tideline), along with several guest musicians and classical singer Lucie Grauman. A concept album of sorts, Quart de Tour, Mon Amour (which translates as Quarter Turn, My Love) combines literary lyrics with music described as a ‘neat fusion of coldwave, electronics and lounge-jazz, predating acid-jazz by about five years and conjuring impressive atmospheres.’

Despite failing to reach a wide audience at the time, the album has since become a sought-after collector’s item, with the title track recently appearing on acclaimed anthology set Uneven Paths: Deviant Pop From Europe on Dutch label Music From Memory. ‘A very unique sound, Piscine et Charles explore a poetic, romantic and enigmatic musical realm where synth-pop meets jazz and spoken word.’

Rudolf Abramov hit all Optimo Music's buttons at once. Drums, energy, songs, instrumentals, super production, Post Punk echoing, dance floor destroying, home listening friendly, and completely unique.

Who are they and what are they about? Read on...

Rudolf Abramov is a duo based in Berlin. They seem to open a door to unexpected musical encounters. It's an almost impossible task to sum up their sound in a comprehensible way, but in their own words their music is 'a response to a seemingly endless conflict about disgust, acceptance and love.' Since the duo likes to invite other musicians and fellow humans to add to their pieces, this often creates another layer to their unexpected musical encounters.

"Losing Perspective" is the result of a journey that began with a week-long recording session outside the city. Back in Berlin the skeletons of the track gradually grew in flesh, experience and emotion, describing this time in a vibrant and ever-changing city; a city where the faded colours sometimes seem more appealing than the unifying glow of the new.

In order to preserve for ourselves the conflicting colours in their fantastic disharmony, we have therefore watched the pieces change rather than moving them in a particular direction. The result is a number of tracks with different facets that derive from different moods and voices, indulging in diversity.

At the end of this process, we look back at this colourful collage and connect our own very personal history with it and both resolve in harmony. When asking the cat from our studio’s courtyard for example, she said that "Losing Perspective" was about stray tomcats who have lost their old home port to a newfangled establishment wandering randomly through the days in search of songbirds, distraction and rest. And we feel like she kinda has a point there.

Another uncovering arrives from Astral Industries by the name of The Humble Bee. The alias of industrious, multi-talented UK artist Craig Tattersall, The Humble Bee’s ‘A Miscellany For the Quiet Hours’ was the inaugural release on Tattersall’s now discontinued Cotton Goods imprint. This beautifully intimate work resurfaces after more than a decade since its initial release, now available on vinyl for the first time. 

Constructed entirely of tape loops, fragile tapestries of forgotten artefacts canter with teetering rhythmic pulses. Melodic counterpoints drift in soft bucolic reverie, as hazy recollections of undefined pasts seep out in blurs of nostalgic colour. The album is imbued with a close tactile quality, lovingly crafted as a result of both manned and unmanned decay experiments. Undeniably tender yet wilfully introspective, something speaks immediately of those magic sonic moments, illuminated by the quiver of late night candlelight.

Montreal duo Mathieu Charbonneau (Avec Pas d'Casque, Organ Mood) and Pietro
Amato (Bell Orchestre, The Luyas) put melody and mood front and centre on this
second volume of luxuriant, immersive synth music. Like a humanist balm amidst
the ongoing wave of conceptronica, the pieces that comprise Synth Works Vol 2
were captured organically, live off the floor, on the eve of the pandemic. Recalling
elements of 70s kosmische and environmental musics, the collection finds the
longtime collaborators roving uncharted territory, ever mindful of their fellow
passengers.

Marbled Grey vinyl - Vinyl Only

With the next 7” we keep on traveling and connecting dots between Latin and African culture, fusing electronic elements.
Nuri’s debut album “Drup” is a tribute to Tunisian’s African heritage, and a bridge to other traditions, replete with percussions and vocals from all over the mother continent, combined
with electronic work to constitute an amalgam of then and now.
We chose two representative songs of this masterpiece, and cut them on a 7” vinyl to provide you with fresh beats for your vinyl bag!

Following her debut album, I'll Look for You in Others (Past Inside the Present), Patricia Wolf joins Spain's Balmat label with See-Through, her second album. See Through finds the Portland, Oregon musician and field recordist continuing to develop her signature style of ambient, balancing radiant soundscaping with a carefully expressive sensibility. But the new album is also marked by an important difference. Where I'll Look for You in Others was largely written in response to the death of a loved one, See-Through represents a kind of rebirth.

Nach aufsehenerregenden Solo-Releases von Julienne Dessagne aka The Twins und Sascha Funke kehren die gefeierten Techno-Liederschrauber zurück zu SASCHIENNE und präsentieren GOLDEN PRINTS, eine umwerfendes Set von Synthie-befeuerten, Beat-affinen Klanglandschaften mit reichlich Atmosphäre und Spannung.

Es ist eine Art von ungezogener Romantik, die sich durch die aufkeimenden Techno-Szenarios von SASCHIENNE zieht, oft gepaart mit einer täuschend einfach gehaltenen Hookline - die gerne in ein intensives Drama von Reibung und Therapie mündet. GOLDEN PRINTS macht da keine Ausnahme und verwischt von Anfang an die ohnehin flüchtigen Grenzen zwischen hymnischer Elektronik, Cyber-Folk und industriellen Lärmschlieren.

Equal parts Sheffield bleep, fractal IDM and interstellar ambience, Hyper Nu Age Tekno sees Taro Nohara (aka Yakenohara) plotting a star map on a faded rave flyer. Let the billionaires blast into orbit while you explore your inner space with Growing Bin.

From the LP's earliest moments, the whomping subs and crystalline chimes of "Space Debris", it's clear that we're a long way from Hamburg. Taro pilots this craft on a deep space exploration way beyond the run out groove, to a place where heartening chords herald a twin sunrise and any broadcasts are lost in translation. The polyrhythmic pulse of "Ill Ell" follows, its concentric chimes and rapid fire kicks summoning the teknoguild to a watery altar in the engineering department. Sticking with interstellar mysticism but taking a turn for the transcendent, "Baker Baker Paradox" spins Reich-ian repetition into a graphene gossamer embellished with chrome, crystal and shoegaze shimmer.
The B-side begins on the observation deck, bathing in the beauty of "Celestial Harmonia"'s sci-fi exotica, before the entheogenic "Use Your Head" prompts a delirious dash to the holodeck. Laying serene pads over a techy 4/4, Taro turns out the most danceable and dreamy track on the LP. As ambient chords ring out into the aether and rhythmic pulses shift out of phase, "Airplane Without People" is the loading screen for your virtual fantasy, soon rendered through the woody percussion and spheric bass of "Music For Psychic Liberation". Leave your body behind as you pick mushrooms in a CGI forest.

Some Justice / Burnin’ Passion ‘93 EP 12"

Serious history business: 'Some Justice' was the first time Micky Finn and Aphrodite joined forces and launched a partnership that would change drum & bass history. Prior to them linking, Urban Shakedown comprised of Aphrodite and Claudio Giussani who had a run of fantastically euphoric hardcore crossover records during that golden rave era. 'Some Justice' landed in 91 and the instantly goosebumping vocal cut 'Burnin' Passion' landed in 93. Both of them enjoyed these touch-ups in 94, which still sound fantastic today. Feel the burn.

Some Justice ‘94 / Burnin’ Passion ‘94 EP 12"

Serious history business: 'Some Justice' was the first time Micky Finn and Aphrodite joined forces and launched a partnership that would change drum & bass history. Prior to them linking, Urban Shakedown comprised of Aphrodite and Claudio Giussani who had a run of fantastically euphoric hardcore crossover records during that golden rave era. 'Some Justice' landed in 91 and the instantly goosebumping vocal cut 'Burnin' Passion' landed in 93. Both of them enjoyed these touch-ups in 94, which still sound fantastic today. Feel the burn.

Some Justice / Burnin’ Passion ‘93 EP 12"

Serious history business: 'Some Justice' was the first time Micky Finn and Aphrodite joined forces and launched a partnership that would change drum & bass history. Prior to them linking, Urban Shakedown comprised of Aphrodite and Claudio Giussani who had a run of fantastically euphoric hardcore crossover records during that golden rave era. 'Some Justice' landed in 91 and the instantly goosebumping vocal cut 'Burnin' Passion' landed in 93. Both of them enjoyed these touch-ups in 94, which still sound fantastic today. Feel the burn.

Ltd to 100 copies

Yearly compilation album RADAR by KEROXEN, introducing the second volume in the series of themed based albums showcasing the talents and misfortunes of carefully selected musicians/bands based in the Canary Islands.

Where Radar Vol.1 (KXN012, 2020) focused its sights on rock oriented music, Vol.2 looks at the more experimental, free flowing side of electronic and sample based music, also Made in Tenerife this last year (2021).

The format stays the same as Vol.1: 4 different artists are invited to contribute 2 tracks, no rules other than do their own thing. The result being an extraordinary amalgamation of various genres and styles of the electronic music cannon including: smoky dub beats by King L. Man, tropical casiotone divagations by Usted, inverted & polyrhythmic workouts from the Tupperwear duo, ultra precise dub-tech-2step edits by Postman and organic psychedelics by freak trio Lagoss.

Yet another crucial document from a region you usually do not associate with forward thinking music, more than a simple compilation, RADAR 2 unveils the thin veil of new and uncompromising music being produced in and around the orbit of the Keroxen Collective.

It seems the Atlantic isolation works as a catalyser here, judging from the copious amount of different and challenging music we’ve been seeing from this corner of the world over the last few years. We invite you to dive with us, in the wild remote tropical waters of RADAR vol.2.

Repress

Growing Bin burst into 2018 with a bang, crash and symbol splash, uniting a premier pair of per-cussion obsessives for a supernatural mission into the heart of the rhythm.
Dressed in the pitch black of Du¨sseldorf stands Wolf Mu¨ller, master of the tropical drums and seven time Salon Des Amateur breakdance champion. Repping Cologne and Berlin is Niklas Wandt, Germany's funkiest drummer and a mixed musical artist as adept in experimental jazz as demen- ted Euro dance. Standing toe to toe in a no holds barred, no drum unstruck groove contest, these two titans will make you swing your pants like a Crash Bandicoot victory dance...so stretch out and step in to ‚Instrumentalmusik von der Mitte der World'.

Taking to their task with the joyful abandon of two big kids getting creative with the Kindergar- ten music tray, Mu¨ller & Wandt marry dripping electronics, Froesean pads and rubber-limbed basslines with tribal polyrhythms, C2 claps and Indonesian shakers - and that's only on the A1. Comprising of three trance-inducing epics, a handful of medium-sized movers and a couple of freeform interludes, this dynamic double pack could almost pass as a lost Library masterpiece, but our mind guides go Furthur, fusing esoteric funk and free-jazz freak-out a truly transportive experience. Prepare to enter a world of techno totems and neon skulls, shades of Yello and excel- lent birds. Within these grooves lies a transdimensional pathway between the Temple of Doom, the Twilight Zone and De Palma's Paradise, brought to life in a shamanic rite.

Forget the healing frequencies of Growing Bin's ambient outings, this time we're dancing for mental health.

(words by Patrick Ryder)

The debut album by Berlin based indie band Yoga combines powerpop & shoegaze

Ibiza Records brings you Archives Vol 12 EP with the flavours of 1994 when the scene was emerging from hardcore into Junglism thus the creation of Jungle. These 3 track are gems from 2 On A Tip n Paul Ibiza taken from Ibiza's vast back catalogue showcasing their musical prowess.

Reissue of this obscure cassette from 1987, a really interesting rarity by Carl Matthews under the CAM moniker. Sturdy synth basslines sculpt solid rhythm patterns that bring to mind the innovations of the moment in electro and dance records. Having in mind that Matthews was a white ambient composer, it´s very curious to find him dropping these groovy bombs that sound like a primitive detroit electro or hip hop beats, mixed with sampled voices that recall Art of Noise influences. Also to mention the conceptual work: Quid Rides is inspired in Roman Civilization, as the name of both the album and tracks point (all of them in latin). Experimental-roman-electro seems to be a pretty weird label, but works fine here... Mutant-futuristic-proto-electro for roman statues would work too.

From the pitch black of the unknown, planet Earth has received another cosmic transmission from Dagobert and Kalson. n the warm spectrum of interstellar frequencies and a colorful palette of sounds, they will take you on a higher space exploration platform. Kraftwerkish sequences with ambient soundscapes with a dash of otherwordly pulses are arranged for your unique listening experi ence. Stellar Mode 002 is a musical rendition from cosmic radia tion converted purely for your sonic experience. Ready to launch?

Official Reissue Of The Excellent First Mini Album By End Of Data, Originally Released In 1984 By Divine Records (tuxedomoon, Fra Lippo Lippi, Mecano...).
End Of Data Existed In Rennes, Brittany (france) During The Early Eighties And Shared Members With Charles De Goal. They Released Only 2 Records That Are Classics Of The Minimal Synth Pop And New Wave.

great And Rare French Album. Minimal Synth,post Punk And Some Art Rockish Hints. Would Appeal To All Fans Of Autopilot, Kas Product, Dark Day, Sad Lovers And Giants,etc.' Mutant Sounds

Hidden Spheres is the alter ego of Manchester’s Tom Harris, who first made his mark on the underground circuit with his release 'The Bloos' on Moods & Grooves, before following it up with the much in demand ‘Waiting’ on Lobster Theremin offshoot Distant Hawaii.
Here, Tom joins the Scissor & Thread family, the Brooklyn label founded by Francis Harris, and home to music that traverses a number of boundaries. Hidden Spheres fits right in - the five track 1985 EP blends house, broken beat, ambient, jazz and other elements into a heady brew.
'King Tut' starts proceedings, a laid back jazzy groove, rich in textures and soulful flourishes.
'My Names' touches on the UK broken beat legacy of 4 Hero and Bugz in the Attic - an off kilter groove layered with sweet jazz and house inflected licks. ‘Karl' is a much more direct dancefloor track, albeit with the deepness that we expect from Hidden Spheres.The penultimate track '1985' steps into the unconventional house vibes of Detroit's third wave. 'Soon We’ll' finishes up the EP - a supremely jazzy piece built around the sax, piano and washes of strings and ambient elements - a superb closer for a deep and heartfelt release.

Progression and creativity are keywords regarding James Plotkin's oeuvre. Beginning with the relentless, ever evolving and hallucinating music of OLD, through his many solo records and collaborations, to the surreal heavy-weight sound of Khanate, he's always been bound to be personal. And quality stuff.

Proof of quality are these instrumental demos of his landmark album of experimental music Joy of Disease'. Electronic dark psychedelic music to listen carefully at night, these are not half-baked demos. They have been considered worth sharing by master self-editor Plotkin, and it's such an honour to release them.

The Joy of Disease: Demos and Remixes' showcases the initial recordings in preparation for the cult-favorite Joy of Disease album, released in 1995 on John Zorn's Japanese Avant label. These early home-recorded instrumental versions are supplemented by unreleased remixes from Plotkin and co-producer Mick Harris of Napalm Death/Scorn fame. The remixes were done during the original album sessions at Mick Harris' Black Box studio in the Custard Factory in Birmingham, UK.

... somewhere full of stabbing psychedelic guitar loops and a slow, steady swarm of almost goth-like dirge beats that was quieter than something of the Wax Trax! or Boredoms ilk, but also subtler and simpler, with an avant-garde touch of Bruce Gilbert-styled feedback minimal electronica' All music review

This is the first time these demo recordings have been heard by anyone other than Plotkin since their inception.

Keith Tucker and Marty Bonds (Reel By Real) collaborating.

K1 / MARTY BONDS ......A soon to be electro/bass classic, the track gets body’s jumping with a killer bubbly bass line in true 'K1' fashion. Hard drums, infectious bass, alien-like signature vocals to show off Keith Tuckers writing skills...the full package of Detroit funk and originally. Thoughtfully completed with an "instrumental" and a "Bassapella" version for those who like to manipulate their mix.
* "TO FLY"
An electro masterpiece brought to you by the legendary producer Mr. Marty Bonds. Deep street bass dances amongst the spectral electronic percussions and commanding vocal in an intense mission for those who like to get their groove on. Also a head-nod to the"Hellraiser 2" sample that inspired this composition. Heavy stuff as Marty Bonds goes into a whole new bag from his Detroit techno origins... A must hear & have