Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

DJ Cash Money was one of the most skilled DJ’s to come out of Philadelphia in the 1980s (two time World DJ mixing champion). He teamed up with MC Marvelous in the late 80s to release their only album ‘Where’s The Party At?’, on Sleeping Bag Records. Highlights include; ’The Mighty Hard Rocker’, ‘Play It Kool’, ‘Ugly People Be Quiet’ (which samples Tears For Fears) 1988 album from the golden age of Hip hop, reissued with original artwork, printed inner sleeve and pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl

In 1976, Aura quickly rose to the top as Hawaii's preeminent funk band when it secured the most coveted gig in Honolulu's nightclub scene: a residency at The Point After. Consisting of eight siblings from the Mendoza family of Waipahu, Aura became the first local band ever to play the venue. They kept the gig for ten years.

When they got into the studio in 1979, however, the band embraced ideas outside of their usual live act in the spirit of collaboration, absorbing new ideas from drummer Mike Kennedy, saxophonist Bill Popaka, and producer Gary Shimabukuro.

Magic Lover' showcases what Aura can bring to the dance floor with its incredibly tight brass, solid groove, and dirty bass line—elevated by the voices of Beverly and Christine Mendoza.

But a funk group is only as good as their ballads, and Let Go, It's Over' is proof they've got just as much talent when the tempo slows down.

Dope Demand is a brand new hip-hop reissue label bringing you the cream of underground and golden era rap on 7", 12" & beyond! All releases are fully licensed, remastered and legit. This is not afly by night operation, Dope Demand is helmed by true heads, fans who grew up on this music and have the utmost respect for the art-form. These are NOT bootlegs, we repeat - NOT BOOTLEGS! We've done a lot of hard work, and there are a lot of exciting classics and rarities to come from the DD crew. Snoozing is not advised!

To begin proceedings we take it back to '87. We enter the court of a King Asiatic (Nobody's Equal) for some of that 'genuine like Gucci' flavour. That's right - Big Daddy Kane's all-time, game changing, stripped back, battle rap classic 'Raw' gets the reissue treatment. This one is slays, it's easily up there with the greatest rap records of all time. We dare you to disagree. Nobody can touch this dream-team pairing of Kane & Marley Marl, this one is FIRE. Oh, if that wasn't enough, we threw the ultra hard to get instrumental on the flip. Happy We are!

As mentioned before, these super limited 7's are fully licensed and all audio is sourced from the license holders and is top shelf quality. On top of that we got some fresh original artwork from the Atelier Superplus design house. All in all, a tight release right here that will 'cold rock a party 'til the A.M.'. These will not stick around for long! Until next time...

Beautiful debut album from the incredible, Ce´lia. Conducted & arranged by Arthur Verocai and Roge´rio Duprat; featuring songs by Lo Borges, Antonio Adolfo and Joyce amongst others.
Ce´lia recorded four self-titled albums for Continental between 1971 and 1977, 'Amor' in 1982 plus several more before she sadly passed away late in 2017, aged 70. This is her debut album from 1970.
Ce´lia was a Brazilian vocalist who worked frequently with master arranger-composer Arthur Verocai in her early years and many other heavyweights over the course of her extensive career. Joyce was particularly supportive in the making of this album, writing the beautiful 'Abrace Paul McCartney' and her husband at the time, Nelson A^ngelo, recorded some of the songs.
Features an exclusive insert of a translated interview with Celia, completed in 2011 in her hometown of Sa~o Paulo. Focusing, in particular on her recording work with Arthur Verocai, it showcases her wonderful sense of humour and how she was embracing her new legion of fans, particularly in the world of hip hop.
Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Warner Music.

Keida has been on everyone's eye since her hits like Ganja Tree' and Stand For Something'. M16' showcases her motivation in music and is sang on an early 80's Volcano-esc rub a dub rhythm. It's a perfect match both musically and lyrically.

Third EP in a row for the new Conte-Petrella project, which further explores the themes and sounds found on their previous collaborations, "Sun Song/Nigeria" and "African Spirits/New World Shuffle", with it's heavily West African influenced rhythms and cosmic-leaning musicality, once again with the participation of Bridgette Amofah and her incredible voice. A work suspended between joyous straight-up pary jam and spiritual atmospheres, where it's easy to get equally as lost in the driving groove as the intergalactic sound-palette that floats on top of it.

We present to you our ninth release on 7” format, a collaboration between Ojah and Jamaican singer Ras Tavaris.

The A side contains the track “Long Run”, a great modern roots vocal performance by Ras Tavaris over a steppers riddim paired with the delivery of important lyrics for these times of fast changes and short-term views.

On the B side we find a dub version as usual, in this case an instrumental dub,
mixed live in analog by Ojah at his studio in London.

Limited edition of 500 copies, hand-stamped and hand-numbered, served in a thick custom reversed kraftliner sleeve.

Produced by Ojah, recorded at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London.
Vocals by Ras Tavaris
Backing vocals by Jah Kirk
Mixed & mastered by Oscar Pablos “Ojah" at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, 2019.
Graphic design by Victor Castro.

Smoove returns with one of the most exciting and ambitious multi layered cut and paste mixes that Wack Records have ever released.
Over a year in the making, Smoove has meticulously sifted through hundreds of original samples spanning over 6 albums.
Behold a tribute to one of the greatest rap groups of all time!

Sonnenstadt - We've Been Hiding To Long - Album »in The Depth
Of A Undiscovered Tonal Cosmos, Hidden Beyond The Obstacle
Of Lunar Dust: We've Been Hiding To Long.« Leipzigs Downbeat
Gem »sonnenstadt« Sprinkles Nine Tracks Of Its ¡rst Full Length
Album On A Lovely Tape. Good To Have In A Cozy Mood. First
Release On Newly Founded Label »unforced«.

Criminally unavailable, home-recorded fully digital soul JAM from 1990.

Ed and Joe Wartts, the rowdy younger brothers of acclaimed gospel singer, Andrew Wartts, go hard here with a conscious approach to love and politics; a passionate plea for a more compassionate world. Agitated bass tones cascade only to vanish under a supernatural synth lead that floats somewhere between neo soul and phantom G-funk. Ed's idiosyncratic playing and Joe's raw, emotional vocals deliver an earnest commandment for any era. Electronic instrumentation and voice mingle in a noble and metallic way, giving the track a kind of tough, sophisticated, griminess. A spectral strangeness, rising up from somewhere …

Beautiful private spiritual jazz LP "Deep Stream" released in 1979 on Evidence Music International.

'The Mountain Has Fallen' starts with Systematic,' DJ Shadow and Nas' first-ever collaboration together. The song debuted during the season premiere of HBO's Silicon Valley in April. Horror Show' finds Shadow and Danny Brown collaborating for the first time over a jagged, haunting soundscape. Good News' is a brand new composition, reminiscent of some of Shadow's more free-form, fractured work found on 2016's 'The Mountain Will Fall' full-length.

The EP closes with Corridors,' a piece featuring Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price (who scored the 'Gravity' film). Shadow is a massive fan of his work, and Price wrote and programmed the string parts on the song.

From a lost chamber of a dark cavern, Dueling Experts unlock the most esoteric of styles. Chicago's Verbal Kent (of Ugly Heroes) joins forces with Ghana mc Recognize Ali for the new self titled album produced by Lord Beatjitzu.

Legendary Underground Disco Rare Groove Classic From 1976, Original Radio Version B/w Long 'Disco' Version With The Legendary, Heavily Sampled Break, Available Here Now On A Properly Licensed & Freshly Remastered Limited Reissue 45!

WELCOME TO DETROIT. Or to be more precise, 14611 Nine Mile Road, East Detroit, the original home of GM Records and recording studio founded by Guido Marasco in 1968. Marasco also ran the Bumpshop label from the site, named after the car repair shop next door. A tiny third label, Love, was also part of the operation but only spawned one release, the mighty funk outing The Pusher' by Final Decisions. Marasco died in 2015 leaving behind an interesting legacy of R&B, Funk, Psych and Northern Soul that is only now enjoying the recognition that is deserves.

COMPARED TO WHAT - MR. FLOODS PARTY (GM 714)
Compared To What' was an original composition by Gene McDaniels and was first recorded by jazz musician Les McCann on his 1966 album Les McCann Plays The Hits. It is a highly regarded Vietnam protest song and has been covered by over 270 artists. Mr Floods Party recorded and released their version in Detroit in 1970 on GM 714. It was released the following year in Europe on Ember (UK), Metronome (Germany) and Melody (Greece). The Northern Soul scene adopted it as a new release at The Torch all-nighters in Stoke-on-Trent but it gained its anthemic status a few years later at Wigan Casino. It was reissued in the UK, by popular demand, in 1975 on the Bulldog label but both of the UK releases use an alternate master that lacks the energy of the original 'GM' 45 featured here on our official 2017 edition.
CAN'T TURN AROUND NOW - FORK IN THE ROAD (GM 712)
A superb, reactivated, Wigan Casino oldie originally released on GM 712 in 1970. Little is known about Fork In The Road except that the quartet, from Detroit, were clearly inspired by the Four Tops but only managed one 45, although it did see a release in the U.K. on Ember and in a picture sleeve on German Vogue. The Ember release is the rarest and is now highly collectable.

"NOON" One of the most prominent and widely acclaimed polish producers, returns after a two-year break with the new album called "Nobody Nothing Nowhere".

The fifth solo work of NOON was released by his own label called "Nowe Nagrania". The idea of "Nobody Nothing Nowhere" is connected to the various places in Poland and Europe: from the first sketches recorded in Gdynia, through Warsaw and London, to the final recordings in Łódź. Alan Kamiński is responsible for the graphic design of the album, based on NOON's own photos.

The atmosphere of working on "Nobody Nothing Nowhere" is similar to the aura of "Gry Studyjne" LP - NOON's sophomore album. However, this time NOON puts emphasis on much greater advancement, devoting himself to work alone with one analog beat making machine called Elektron Rytm Mk2.

Mikołaj Bugajak on "Nobody Nothing Nowhere" is accompanied by excellent musicians and also his regular concert partners - drummer Marcin Awierianow, bassist Piotr Połoz (both from polish post-punk band Psychocukier) and violinist Tomasz Mreńca. It is worth mentioning that NOON's part's contained on "Nobody Nothing Nowhere" were programmed on the machine in the shape of live performances, which gave the LP additional element of dynamism and life.

"Album called "Nobody Nothing Nowhere" is an album about escape, which turns out to be impossible. All these struggles and attempts to change destiny resemble a spiral journey. The albums consists of three parts, and is summarized by the song called "Spektrum".

My fifth album is released less than two years after "Algorytm" premiere in terms of experiences that I wanted to share with the audience." (NOON)

Rocks FOE returns to Black Acre with new, eight-track project 'Fight The Good Fight' — a dark and conceptual record built around the notion of, according to Rocks himself, 'everything being an internal and external battle'.

A powerful lyricist and complex story-teller, Rocks' sound combines hyper-fierce spitting with his own, abstract beat sketches. Having released his impressive debut EP, 'Legion', back in 2015 — a raw, self-produced grime-rap hybrid — he has since remained dormant to the outside world, bar a quick-fire feature on Commodo's 'How What Time' LP in 2016.

Written over the course of that period and entirely self-produced, 'Fight The Good Fight' digs deeper than ever before into Rocks' psyche, drawing on both religious elements — 'I was more or less force fed it when I was younger' — and his own experiences for much of its lyrical inspiration. He talks money, love, confusion, happiness and ambition to tell the story of his own every day battles.

Musically, 'Fight The Good Fight' also broadens horizons, with Rocks widening his scope to take in sounds from beyond the sprawling urban landscape of his home town of Croydon. On tracks like 'Nitty Gritty' and 'Into My Own Hands' for example, the two tracks that bookend the record, he flows at trademark lightning speed over crunchy rap beats, but its on cuts like 'Downpour' and the wandering spoken-word of 'Red Hand Of Ulster' that he unmasks a new, more vulnerable guise. Toning down his flow to reflect and take stock, it is in these solemn, inward moments that Rocks shines the brightest.

Comfortable spitting acapella, off-beat or even in spoken word — over straight-up rap beats or woozy Commodo instrumentals — he has long been considered one of the UK's most compelling young lyricists, but on 'Fight The Good Fight', Rocks addresses his demons, calls out bullshit and comes of age proper.'

Sao Paulo's SELVAGEM drop a masterful double sider for Universal Cave 004.
'Tudo Bem" is sunny, soulful AOR bliss. A tribute to a favourite Brazilian musician and an update for contemporary rotation. "Luanda" is hypnotic, psychedelic tropicalia.
Truly digging deep, SELVAGEM give Universal Cave a taste of the Forward Deep & Free sounds of Balnearico from Brazil.
Balnearico is the fusion of Balearic and "balneário," the Portuguese word that is synonymous with beach.

Vinyl includes mp3 coupon. Shabazz Palaces' Black Up, the group's Sub Pop debut, was recently hailed as one of the best albums of the decade by outlets like Pitchfork, Gorilla Vs Bear, and Variety. Pitchfork summed it up thusly: "Black Up is drowned in murky instrumentals and bombastic, introspective rhymes. The sounds flirt with jazz but also root themselves in a firm understanding of silence, or the sparse magic of simplicity. The songs teem with unexpected climaxes...From great mystery exploded an album of impossible vision." That "impossible vision" has continued to confound and engage Shabazz Palaces fans over the course of four acclaimed albums and two EPs. Each release feels like an evolution, letting the music speak for itself, while slowly revealing more about its creator. With The Don of Diamond Dreams, the group's fifth album, that spirit remains, this time embracing modernism in hip-hop and rap. Featuring 10 tracks in 43 minutes, the album features the highlights "Fast Learner (ft. Purple Tape Nate)," "Chocolate Souffle," "Bad Bitch Walking (ft. Stas THEE Boss), and "Thanking The Girls." It also features contributions from singer/keyboardist Darrius Willrich, Seattle's OCnotes (who collaborated with Shabazz leader Ishmael Butler on the Knife Knights project), Los Angeles musician Carlos Overall, and bassist Evan Flory-Barnes. The Don of Diamond Dreams was recorded throughout 2019 and produced by Shabazz Palaces at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle, mixed and engineered by Erik Blood at Studio 4 Labs in Venice, California, and mastered by Scott Sedillo at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles.

LP SKY BLUE VINYL/LOSER-EDITION

Vinyl includes mp3 coupon. Shabazz Palaces' Black Up, the group's Sub Pop debut, was recently hailed as one of the best albums of the decade by outlets like Pitchfork, Gorilla Vs Bear, and Variety. Pitchfork summed it up thusly: "Black Up is drowned in murky instrumentals and bombastic, introspective rhymes. The sounds flirt with jazz but also root themselves in a firm understanding of silence, or the sparse magic of simplicity. The songs teem with unexpected climaxes...From great mystery exploded an album of impossible vision." That "impossible vision" has continued to confound and engage Shabazz Palaces fans over the course of four acclaimed albums and two EPs. Each release feels like an evolution, letting the music speak for itself, while slowly revealing more about its creator. With The Don of Diamond Dreams, the group's fifth album, that spirit remains, this time embracing modernism in hip-hop and rap. Featuring 10 tracks in 43 minutes, the album features the highlights "Fast Learner (ft. Purple Tape Nate)," "Chocolate Souffle," "Bad Bitch Walking (ft. Stas THEE Boss), and "Thanking The Girls." It also features contributions from singer/keyboardist Darrius Willrich, Seattle's OCnotes (who collaborated with Shabazz leader Ishmael Butler on the Knife Knights project), Los Angeles musician Carlos Overall, and bassist Evan Flory-Barnes. The Don of Diamond Dreams was recorded throughout 2019 and produced by Shabazz Palaces at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle, mixed and engineered by Erik Blood at Studio 4 Labs in Venice, California, and mastered by Scott Sedillo at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles.

In about 2003 I did some work for Deepfunk and Northern Soul Legend Keb Darge and as was the way back then I received payment in vinyl. Included in the pile was this little Detroit number which I instantly fell in love with.

In 1980 David Mcmurray and Adell Shavers and David McMurray, who went on to be a member of 80's hit band 'Was Not Was', wrote and produced this Amazing Detroit Modern/Boogie 45 which for some reason suffered the same fate of many of "AOTN" releases and disappeared from history. But thanks to the generation of collectors before me this gem sat safely in Northern collection such as Keb's for years waiting for its day in the sun. It only got limited play but recently the record has had a resurgence in popularity and value which it deserves.

After a tip off about Jason Stirland, from Soulstax Records, I found David McMurray and it was wonderful to find he was keen to help me bring this wonderful 45 back into the limelight. So here we are...

Spring has finally landed and we have the perfect soundtrack for those long sunny afternoon in the park. We are glad to present Explorer of the Humankind for his first release with us. Starting with Stars in her eyes, a gentle track where the Lyon newcomer use his voice as well as real drums for a smooth listening-experience. Following in the same vein but a touch more upbeat is Just a Tool, a more playful funk-inspired piece. Closing the a-side, Share the Love takes the tempo a bit higher and and shifts toward more club-friendly territories, houses goodness.

Turn that disc and get awake for I Know, a disco-edit piece with trace of french heritage and filter action. Lastly, Deep Inside takes us into a gentle profound dreamy state, moving more on the inside than with the feet.

It is hard to think of many 7” singles where both sides are as heavy as this one! "Change The World" & "Try, Try" were released in 1977 by 'Solat', a Dutch-based funk group made up of Surinamese and Dutch-Antillian musicians.

Formed after ex-band members of Reality/Tony And Reality; Eddy Veldman, Franky Douglas, Ivor Mitchell and Glenn Gaddum teamed up with singer Billy Jones, Solat went on to release two singles for Poker records. With it's crossover nature, it pleases disco, funk and modern-soul collectors and DJs alike, plus due to only been released in the Netherlands, the record has now become an extremely sought-after item with a high price tag to match.

Both amazing cuts are aimed straight for the dance-floor, but retain conscious and positive messages that are as relevant now as they were back then. 'Change TheWorld’ is an anthemic feelgood disco funk gem, whilst 'Try, Try ‘ is reminiscent of a Mizell Brothers golden-era production.

Mr Bongo present a replica edition with dinked centre- and original cover- and also label artwork, for all to enjoy!

Back in 2018, Lumière Noire celebrated its first anniversary with a compilation featuring thirteen exclusive tracks by an eclectic group of electronic musicians – a family portrait of sorts. A few months later, a second volume of From Above, compiled by the label's artistic director (and DJ) Chloé, once more brings thirteen established acts together with promising upstarts. The first compilation was the embodiment of the label policy advocating for both artistic excellence and a widening of electronic aesthetics – bopping from deviant house music to adventurous IDM and to the rigor of dancefloor techno, among other electronic explorations. Some of the artists featured are now closely associated with Lumière Noire, while others were more established performers such as Benedikt Frey, Lauer, Jonathan Fitoussi, Il Est Vilaine, Dave e Brun (half of Swayzak) and Frank Agrario, as well as upcoming artists such as C O N T R A (a side project by none other than Iñigo Vontier), Sutja Gutierrez, Théo Muller, Markus Gibb, Bajram Bili, and a sprinkling of UFOs circling the genre (Suuns' Ben Shemie, Drvg Cvltvre, and electro-acoustic combo Lumi). This group photo laid down a number of paths for a label in perpetual evolution.

Since then, the Parisian entity has continued to grow within the international electronic scene, releasing Local Suicide's Leopard Gum EP, Iñigo Vontier's first LP, and planning another slew of releases for 2020. The lineup for this second volume of From Above is once again equally intriguing, offering a crescendo-like track listing over a double LP format, which is a feat of sorts for a "Various Artists" compilation.

Marc Mélias' fascinating, unsettling Permanent Waves gets the proceedings going with a contemplative track that provides a serene opening to the odyssey on which From Above will be taking the listener. Pletnev continues on with the playful, hooky Marco O’Polo, a fundamentally techno track built over a seductive 90s-inspired breakbeat. Douglas Greed (whom Chloé remixed on BPitch a few years back, and had himself remixed track from her album Endless Revisions featuring Ben Shemie’s vocals), supplies Vancouver, a slice of ambiance à la Boards of Canada, supported by a gripping breakbeat. The rhythmic arpeggio of Israeli producer's Middle Sky Bloom makes his contribution a hypnotic, disconcerting slice of dark disco. Thomass Jackson, a safe bet in the new wave of the Latin-American electronic music blowing its sometimes hot, sometimes cold wind, proposes Mithra, a dancefloor incantation to the Antiquity's bull god. With Bells, Goldmoon delivers a track that is both melodic and nostalgic, tinged with rhythmic samples, Moog basses and solar backgrounds. Longtime friend of Chloé, Krikor, who has released two albums on L.I.E.S. Records (Pacific Alley and Saudi), offers a moment of respite with Sally Hardesty (a nod to fans of horror movies), a heavenly and bewitching track that, paradoxically, hints at the highly energetic second half of the compilation. Discovered with Confidences EP released on Lumière Noire, the young French producer Morgan Blanc asserts himself here with Werde Der Du Bist ("Become who you are"), a song with luminous chords and midtempo rhythms to start the second half of the compilation by raising the tension. Galician producer, DJ and designer Cora Novoa continues the rollercoaster's ascent with her Virtual Aesthetics, which once again brings those acid tones – this time without the vertigo. Equally corrosive, but tenser and more percussive, the uncategorizable NSDOS' AL-G attempts to give order to a chaotic electronic world full of violence and danger. Rebeka Warrior (half of the duo Kompromat alongside compatriot Vitalic), takes on a more nostalgic vibe with Ich Komme Zurück, a French/German techno chant evoking a secret dream of a track from a bygone era. Three years after the release by Lumière Noire of Moderna and Theus Mago's stroboscopic Dog Is Calling You, Theus Mago makes a solo comeback with Idealistic Stone, a most acid of club tracks, rattled by the modulations of the inevitable TB 303. French electro-rock saltwarth Yan Wagner's dancefloor alter ego The Populists' Prehistoric Lemurs gives an almost Orientalizing twist to Kraftwerk's techno-pop. To close things off, the collection's last track, the appropriately-named Instant Track by impromptu encounter between Hervé Carvalho (Acid Arab), Jacques Bon (Smallville) and Demian (Kompakt) Acid Love Triangle, releases the pressure with a long, bittersweet reverie that leaves the listener, at the end of these thirteen musical adventures, to rest languorously on an artificial and welcoming shore.

Winston Heywood started in 1971 self producing some songs like "Bam Sa Bo" and "Stop The War". In 1976 he recorded three songs for Lee Perry, "Africa", "Long Long Time" and "Back Biting".

The 360 Band name may not be familiar to everyone just yet, but anyone who loves good music has probably listened to Molly Duncan, Steve Ferrone and Hamish Stuart at some point - knowingly or otherwise. Molly, Steve and Hamish have individually and collectively played on recordings that have
achieved combined sales approaching 30 million units and were all long-standing members of the original Average White Band - the infuential UK band who conquered the world during the seventies and early eighties.
After the demise of The Average White Band in 1982, Molly, Steve and Hamish went on to work with a stellar list of globally renowned artists including: Atlantic Starr, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Eric Clapton, The Bee Gees, Whitney Houston and Tom Petty. The dynamic trio reunite after a long break to deliver a superb album. Aided and abetted by some of the UK's most talented and respected musicians including: Steve Pearce, Adam Phillips, Ross Stanley, Andy Caine, Jim Watson, Danny Cummings, Tom Walsh, Neil Sidwell and Hamish's daughter: Emma (backing vocals) - Molly, Steve and Hamish have produced a record of outstanding quality. The stunning new
album entitled: '360' represents a real return to the groove-laden soulful sounds that so many people have come to know and love.

1970s Detroit American funk-soul group signed to Invictus, part of the legendary HDH label group (HollandDozier- Holland), who helped define the iconic Motown sound. Highlights include 1971 single ‘She’s Not Just Another Woman’ which was picked up by radio stations and
reached #11 in the US Billboard charts. This was followed up by ‘You’ve Got To Crawl (Before You Walk) #28 in US Billboard chart. In 1972 ‘Enny Meeny-Miny-Mo’ reached #29 in the R&B charts and ‘I’m Worried’ was released as a solo single with Northern Soul legend Melvin Davis. Plus the Mick Jagger covered ‘Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)’ Reissued with original artwork, printed inner sleeve and pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl

The Roundtable & Northside Records are pleased to offer this long awaited and special Record Store Day reissue of this highly collectible Australian rare groove LP.
If you can imagine the gathering of a group of Australian session musicians channelling the sounds of Herbie Hancock Headhunter's and Marc Moulin's Placebo, recording an album out of hours at a TV studio and then releasing a privately pressed hard hitting jazz funk record then what you have is Arena, one of Australia's most revered and scarce rare groove records.
This was the name given to a pick-up group of session players led by Ted White, a veteran of the British big band jazz scene (an associate of Ted Heath and Basil Kirchin) who had immigrated to Australia in the 1960s to work in the burgeoning television industry. This one-time studio project (recorded only to test out the facilities for a new studio) barely yet thankfully saw an LP release in 1975. Pressed in minute quantities only with limited distribution, the album was subsequently forgotten and obscured by time, only to be resurrected in the 90s by DJs and collectors seeking out lost and rare records.
The album has since become one of the country's most celebrated and collectible jazz funk recordings and has proved to be a pivotal point in Australian jazz, marking a shift from the modern jazz and R&B sounds of the previous decades to the cross pollinating electric jazz funk of the 70s. Characterized by the heavy use of electronically treated saxophone, psychedelic guitar, Moog and spacey Fender Rhodes, the album is a classic of the genre.
While acknowledging the often compiled and sampled breaks track, The Long One, the complete album offers much more, exemplified by its complicated and obsessive jazz rhythms, abstract and middle-eastern horn lines and pulsing electric funk.

The first reissue of the famous and long-awaited "Medley Maxi 45" by Cortex. Originally released in 1979, this Medley is the perfect tool for DJs (Already played by MCDE at We Love Green Festival as the Final track…). On B side the “Mary & Jeff (Fender Rhodes Version 77)” was released in 2010 on a very limited 7inch (TV003).

Never republished! Remastered from original tape by Trad Vibe records.

In the 80s, a Nigerian DJ named Hycentto Junior was notorious for making Onitsha people dance on his grooves. Soon, influenced by U.S hip-hop artists, he began rapping on top of the music he played.

His eccentric style drew the attention of the biggest name, and the famous Nkono Teles decided to work with him on his next LP, Mama Groove. Their project was released in 1991. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the number of copies available was really low, making it very hard to find.

More than 25 years later, working for a motor company, Hycentto met online with French music passionate collective 'Lorem Ipsum', that had randomly found his Mama Groove LP.

The result is a reissue auditioning all the 1991 Mama Groove's tracks and two bonuses selected from his first 1984 album, At A Party Last Night. The unique variety of sounds and genres, covering Electro Hip-Hop, Digi Reggae and Disco-Funk, will carry you from poolside to late night dancefloors!

First opus of the new series is La Batterie, by the UK's Richard Podolor and Sandy Nelson in 1983 in the hypnotic shimmering disco of 'Let There Be Drums.' The music of Polodor and Nelson is being given new life by Kalahari Oyster Cult. Alongside the entrancing original are two remixes. First up is Australia via Amsterdam's very own Max Abysmal with his 'Spooky Remix.' Adopting and adapting the raw energy of the '83 version, Abysmal layers ghostly notes and spectral snares into his mechanical remake. The flip takes on a different slant with 'Shotgun' taken from the EP of twenty fives years ago. A super slick work of understated funk shot through with bold keys and powerful chants to show another side of the UK pair. The fiercely talented Benedikt Frey closes, turning his daringly able hand to 'Let There Be Drums.' He keeps the vocal line, the rest of his rework is dipped in a thick heart of darkness threat. Pulsing thumps, menacing notes and danger lurk in this jungle of Frey's own making.

Unearthed by renowned record collector and music historian DJ Amir, BBE Music presents the first ever reissue of rare 1978 jazz-fusion album ‘The Jupiter Effect by The Larry Rose Band. Recorded in Amsterdam by a Dutch/American quintet of players, released on eclectic Dutch label Crossroad, The Jupiter Effect was the sole offering from multi-instrumentalist Larry Rose and his band.

Having performed in various groups, most notably The Liquid Blues Band, which featured Lex Silva on bass and Clay Cotton on B3
(these two would go on to play with John Lee Hooker and Charlie Musslewhite respectively), a young Larry Rose dropped out of college and bought a one-way ticket to Europe, where he’s spend the next few years in Amsterdam as a musical adventurer, trading guitar lessons for rent and living out his dreams.

In late 1975, Larry met fellow American songwriter Stanley Davis and formed The Larry Rose Band. In their first iteration, the group played rock n roll covers across Holland and Germany, until Larry and Stanley splintered off in 1977 to create their own jazz-tinged material with new members Toon Janssen (drums/percussion) and Theo van Halen (saxophones).

When Larry’s old friend, American vocalist Paul Pinto visited Amsterdam in 78, the band invited him to join them in the studio to record their first (and what would be their only) album, The Jupiter Effect. On this special album, The Larry Rose Bands myriad influences and inspirations are on display, from blues through rock to jazz and beyond, all played by a dazzlingly talented group of young players, road-hardened and at the height of their powers.

*Landing on Alchemy Dubs is our third release on 12' format, a very special collaboration between Ojah, Fikir Amlak, Don Fe and Nik Torp.

The A side contains the track 'On my mind', a vocal version of Ojah's 'Mind' riddim that features beautiful vocals and harmonies by Fikir Amlak paired with inspiring and emotional lyrics. The second cut is a vocal dub version mixed in analog live by Ojah.

On the B side we find Don Fe's excellent flute version 'Remind' that takes the riddim to a different dimension with its deep and meditational melodies. The second cut on this side is a haunted flute dub version, also mixed live by Ojah in classic fashion.
The Hammond and melodica featured on both sides have been played by Nik Torp (keyboard player from The Specials) and masterfully recorded through an MCI desk that used to belong to Island Records (hundreds of seminal records where recorded through it, including for example Bob Marley's Exodus).

Also available complementing this release is ALDBS7007, a 7' that contains an additional Hammond & melodica solo version and an additional dub.

Limited edition of 600 copies, 180g heavyweight vinyl, hand-numbered, served in a thick custom sleeve with amazing artwork by Victor Castro.

Produced by Ojah, recorded at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, UK
Hammond & melodica by Nikolaj Torp Larsen 'Nik Torp', recorded by George Murphy at Eastcote Studio 1, London, UK
Vocals on A1 by Fikir Amlak, recorded by Manuel Guerra Rubio at Arkchant Studio, Barcelona, Spain
Flute on B1 by Don Fe, recorded by Don Fe at Don Fe Studio, Murcia, Spain
Mixed & mastered by Oscar Pablos 'Ojah" at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, UK
Graphic design by Victor Castro

Official reissue of one of the hardest to find albums by the Afro Soul maestro, a pure Afro Funk spiritual grail from 1978! Born in 1943 in Ikole-Ekiti in Ondo State, Nigeria, Orlando Julius Ekemode ( Orlando was really a nickname, taken from the Nigerian actor, Orlando Martins) had started in music from an early age, becoming the school drummer and learning flute, bugle and other instruments at St Peters Anglican School in Ikole-Ekiti. Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he is credited as one of the first musicians to fuse US R&B into traditional highlife music, creating his own influential Afrobeat sound during the mid-'60s. From his time playing in the USA during the 1970s onwards, he is credited with bringing African music to a broader audience and famously co-composed the song Going Back To My Roots' with Lamont Dozier. In 1978, Orlando Julius Ekemode decided to produce himself this amazing session, originally recorded between Maryland and West Virginia (USA) and released in limited quantity in Nigeria by the obscure label Jungle Records. 6 stunning Afro-Funk monster tracks, recorded by 8 musicians based in Oakland. Fully licensed with the artist and remastered by The Carvery. Essential!