Search:ma fra

Big'n was, is and always shall be a legacy noise rock band from Chicago (est. 1990) comprised of vocalist William Akins, guitarist Todd Johnson, bassist Fred Popolo, and drummer Brian Wnukowski. After releasing a stellar debut album (1994), followed by their sophomore and signature effort Discipline Through Sound on Skingraft Records (1996) and a split single with Shellac, the band became inactive for some years. In 2018,Big'n recorded and releaseda new EP, Knife of Sin,via Computer Students. In 2022, they released DTS 25, an expansion of their pioneering second album. Both were recorded by the late, great Steve Albini. Big'n is back once again with a ruthless new album, End Comes Too Soon - their first in 28 years - released via Computer Student. It"sall still here as presentand disciplined as ever - BrianE's powerful, reliably precise drumming with melodic phrasing that shapes the songs, Fred's metallic superstructure of a bass that builds the defined framework of the music, Todd's clangorous guitar that has more harmonic content than a lot of his noisier peers, and William Akins' yarling vocals, the most recognizably human thing about the band, that convey layers of tension and intent, all the emotional content of a hellbound therapy session. Tragically, on May 7, 2024, Steve Albini suddenly passed away of a heart attack. Naturally, Big'n were shocked and devastated. End Comes Too Soons' title comes from a lyric, and is unrelated to Albini; still, the album became a roundabout love letter to the man, his studio, and his legacy. Like its predecessors, the album is structured by snippets of musical interludes or Transmissions - and there are six here, under the common code "XMSN."

Six songs that are worth it. Manic electropunk that somehow - consciously or as collateral damage - manages to pack that seventies goblin horror movie vibe (on one track it's also a video game soundtrack) into catchy and contemporary songs that just move forward. Big guitars, big synthesizer, big drum beats and those nasty melodies that can still accelerate demons in 2023. A bit of VOLT could be mentioned as a reference, but the band from mighty, mighty Offenbach (for a world career I would suggest Frankfurt) clearly has its own flair and, despite the home recording, seems so powerful that it hurts. Compared to the Bandcamp stream on vinyl and a decent system, “Havana Syndrome” sounds much more powerful. The almost cheap beatbox is the real icing on the cake, because the guitar, the bass and, above all, that divinely played synthesizer are so amazing that I'm inclined to want a child from a band for the first time. I'll tell you straight away, it won't be pretty, but at least it'll be talented. Exquisite 12”, which especially calls for a second helping! Shortly before the ten points, but there is still something going on.

After almost two years without a release, Naarm 5-piece Zombeaches return with a post-punk whirlwind of a track. A Taste of Oxygen immediately hooks you with its chaotic garage rock sound, with frantic drums, and scratchy guitar lead. The reverb and distortion partnered with a commanding vocal performance create a hypnotic feeling, drawing you in completely.
What sets this track apart is the energy switch from the raw, aggressive energy in the verses entirely flipped to a more brooding chorus with beautiful harmonies, before being taken right back to the madness of the verses, almost experiencing whiplash as a listener.
Amongst this sonic chaos, lyricist James Young shows off his impressive songwriting skills, detailing how exciting and colourful the big city looks from the outside, only to realise how unhealthy the lifestyle can be.
A Taste of Oxygen is our first taste of their upcoming album, which is set for release later this year. This track sounds like it was made to be experienced live in a sweaty, crowded venue, so definitely keep an eye out for that opportunity

BASta! is the solo project of double bass player and composer Joris Vanvinckenroye, in which he explores and pushes the limits of the double bass. In this project, using looping and effect pedals, Joris creates an almost orchestral sound, using the full range of his instrument-from the deepest basses to the highest notes. These layered compositions weave complex rhythms and melodies into a rich and compelling soundscape.

The debut album of BASta!, Cycles, was released in 2009 on the label Homerecords.be and marked the beginning of an adventurous journey that brought BASta! to numerous stages, both solo and in collaboration with multidisciplinary productions by Rode Boom and Retina Dance Company, among others. Besides BASta!, Joris has been active for decades in bands such as Aranis, Troissoeur and MOTYK (formerly Flairck), with which he performs internationally, from Mexico to China and from Oman to the United States. He also composes music for dance, theatre and multidisciplinary productions, including Rode Boom's successful production Unknown Evidences, which has been performed over 600 times in France, Morocco and Denmark, among others.

Joris Vanvinckenroye:double bass, Viola da Gamba
Composed and recorded by Joris Vanvinckenroye,
Mixed at Studio Cucurucu by Jesse De Roo
Mastered at Elektropolis by Uwe Teichert
Album produced by Nik Bartsch

Die 'weiße' LP GREATEST HITS" ist erstmals 1977 bei RAK erschienen und war nach einer Reihe von Top Hits die erste "offizielle" Best Of von Smokie.
Mit den Singles aus den ersten drei Alben, die für diese Kopplung ausgewählt wurden, sind schon reichlich Hits versammelt. Die zur Erstveröffentlichung bis dato völlig neuen 'Non-Album' Tracks sind dann allerdings für den Aufstieg der LP in den Legenden-Status verantwortlich. 'Living Next Door To Alice' wurde als erste neue Single ausgekoppelt und ein Welterfolg sondergleichen. Mit 'Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone' hat das Album zudem eine zweite neue Single, die ebenfalls zum Top-Hit avancierte. Das Album erreichte Platin Status in Deutschland, war 67 Wochen in den Charts, davon allein 8 Wochen auf der 1 und auch in vielen anderen Ländern in den Top 10, darunter mit einer #6 Platzierung auch der heimische Markt der Band, England.
Da die Erfolgsserie mit den folgenden Alben und Singles wie ‚'Mexican Girl'‚ 'It's Your Life' oder 'Needles And Pins' anhielt erschien 1980 die 'goldene' GREATEST HITS VOL.2 und wurde ein weiteres Chart-Album für die Band. Ebenso wie die erste Greatest Hits ist auch Vol 2 durch verschiedene Vertragswechsel bis heute nicht wieder neu aufgelegt worden. Bis heute! Jetzt werden beide Alben zusammengefasst und zudem mit einigen weiteren Erfolgstitel, die der Erstveröffentlichung nachgelagert waren, ergänzt. Damit sind diese Kult-LP endlich wieder aufgelegt und das auch gleich noch auf hochwertigem 180g Vinyl die sich auf dem Plattenteller in strahlendem Weiß präsentieren .

Producers S. Fidelity, Bluestaeb, and Melodiesinfonie form a powerhouse trio known for their innovative blend of RnB, House, and 2-Step sounds. Their collaborative magic often unfolds in unique settings, such as a picturesque studio in the South of France, where they crafted their long awaited EP "365 P". The trio's ability to capture the essence of live sessions and translate it into vibrant, downtempo grooves has earned them a reputation already. As a result the group created these most vibey tracks between RnB, House & 2-Step to their catalogue ever - catching the vibe of this beautiful sessions together with douniah.

“Being Stuck in a loop with someone. repeating the same conversations over n over while nothing changes.” - douniah
"We started working on a joint project in Paris at Bluestaeb’s flat in 2017 already. Over the course of the years following, we tried to continue working on the project remotely from Berlin, Paris and Zurich. With only one conclusion: we need to be in the room together to make this a record that feels exciting to us. This May we finally closed ourselves in for a week and created what has become this beautiful EP with tons of live recordings." - S. Fidelity

Vibes Addikt kicks off 2025 with an explosive first release: the new single from Samuel Sanders, "One D". A track that pays tribute to the sounds of 90s raves while infusing a resolutely modern and impactful energy.

Samuel Sanders, known for his incisive productions and contributions to prestigious labels like Ghoststyle, Invasion, and Kevlar, makes his grand return with a track that hits hard. "One D" draws direct inspiration from the old-school rave vibes, featuring deep basslines, acid synths, and a hypnotic atmosphere that sweeps the listener into an energetic, danceable spiral.



As a bonus, N.O.B.A. offers a remix that completely reinvents the track, amplifying its immersive and impactful dimension, perfect for energizing the most intense sets. His remix enhances the hypnotic aspect of "One D", while adding the brutal and modern touch that is N.O.B.A.'s signature.



The EP continues with "Azekor" (B2), a track that will literally take over the dancefloors. Designed for the peak moments of a night, "Azekor" is a hypnotic techno track with an unrelenting groove, ideal for those high-energy club moments.

With this first release on Vibes Addikt, Samuel Sanders makes a bold entrance into 2025. "One D" and "Azekor" are must-hear tracks, true anthems for fans of raw, hypnotic techno capable of taking over the dancefloors.

Early support from Dave Davis, Youri Parker, Furax, DJ HS, Franky Kloeck, Tom Leclercq…

John Lee Hooker - "It Serve You Right To Suffer (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series)" 180g Heavy Vinyl LP Released on the Impulse! Records label in early 1966, this collection is a mix of new compositions and re-workings of tunes John Lee Hooker had previously recorded, including a cover of Barrett Strong's 1959 Motown hit "Money (That's What I Want)." Featuring Panama Francis on drums, Milt Hinton on bass, and Barry Galbraith on second guitar, the result is some of the best John Lee Hooker material with a band that you're likely to come across. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. Verve Label Group; Verve; Jazz; Catalog

La Pointe debut on Damian Lazarus’ Secret Teachings with ‘Umbra’, featuring remixes from Nathan Fake and Jonny Rock. The experimental label opens its 2025 schedule on 24th January with the Geneva-based trio’s warping original backed by a pair of late-hours remixes from two of the best in the scene.

Emerging from a confluence of rave culture and artistic mastery, La Pointe make an impressive label debut on Damian Lazarus’ Secret Teachings imprint with the enigmatic ‘Umbra’. The release, set for 24th January, is accompanied by stellar remixes from revered producer Nathan Fake and the ever-versatile Jonny Rock, delivering a sonic journey that transcends the ordinary. La Pointe, a trio formed by Geneva-based techno pioneers Crowdpleaser and Entlet alongside New York City’s Jonny Sender, represents a fusion of cultural and musical legacies. Rooted in the dynamic after-hours scenes of Geneva and New York’s underground club culture, the trio creates music that is both innovative and steeped in tradition. Their studio, located in an old factory by the meeting point of the Rhone and Arve rivers, lends its name—and its industrial inspiration—to their project.

The original mix of ‘Umbra’ is a hypnotic exploration of light and shadow, blending atmospheric melodies with deep, pulsating rhythms—a testament to their ability to craft soundscapes that resonate emotionally and physically. Nathan Fake’s remix ventures into intricate, textural layers, marrying ethereal tones with electronic intensity. Jonny Rock injects a raw, off-kilter groove and late-hours energy into his reinterpretation, blending his eclectic influences from disco, funk, house, and beyond. The genesis of La Pointe is as captivating as its sound. Crowdpleaser and Entlet are celebrated architects of Geneva’s rave scene, running the legendary after-hours party The Shark for over a decade and hosting luminaries like Alexander Robotnik, Boo Williams, and Sonja Moonear. Jonny Sender, a stalwart of New York’s downtown music revolution in the 80s to 00s and bass player of post-punk band KONK, brought his unique perspective honed in venues like Mudd Club to the trio when he moved to France. This debut appearance on Secret Teachings is not just a collection of influences but a narrative woven from decades of underground culture and musical exploration - making it a perfect fit for Lazarus’ label as he continues to champion boundary-pushing artistry, curveball signings and inspired remix curation.

Dream Dance Vol. 53-96 fasst die stärksten Titel der ehemaligen CD Ausgaben zusammen.Diese 2 LPs in hervorragender Klangqualität sind ein begehrtes Sammlerobjekt, nicht nur für Liebhaber der Kultserie "Dream Dance".Diesmal mit dabei sind Cosmic Gate, Pulsedriver, Armin van Buuren, Fragma, Mark `Oh, Master Blaster, Michael Mind, Chicane, Swedish House Mafia, Kyau & Albert, Chris Campell und natürlich Dream Dance Alliance.Alle Titel in den langen Original/Extended, oder Club Mixen. Auch perfekt zum Auflegen im Club!

*press Release From David Katz*

The Hardest Working Reggae Band In Southern England, Dubheart Is On A Mission To Spread Messages Of Peace, Love, Unity And Resistance Through A Heady Stew Of Contemporary Roots Reggae, Delivered On Live Instruments With A Hefty Dose Of Dub In The Mix. Cool Under Pressure, Their Latest Offering, Is The Band's Most Compelling Set To Date, A 'showcase'-style Album Where Every Vocal Track Is Followed By Its Dub Counterpart, And The Vital Contribution Of The Brassica Horns—from Rising London Ska Band Chainska Brassica—is Another Intriguing Element That Makes This Album Tougher Than The Rest.

Drawing On The Foundations Laid By Jamaican Stalwarts Such As Burning Spear, Dennis Brown And Culture, Dub Pioneers Like Scientist And Jah Shaka, Plus Newer Vanguards Such As Tarrus Riley, Grounation And Conscious Sounds, Dubheart Has Crafted A Distinctly Appealing Style That Is Very Much Their Own, Based On The Organic Presentation Of Their Musical Vision. Indeed, This Fully Self-contained Five-piece Is Firmly Engrained In The Neo-roots Movement Of The Present, With A Sound That Faces Ever Forwards.

The South Coast-based Band Was First Formed Back In 1999, And Slowly Built A Following Through Their Intense Live Performances, Which Always Harnessed A Live Dub Element. Their First Ep, the Solid Foundation Rhythm,' Issued On Their Own Karnatone Label In 2011 And Featuring Dub Mixes By Russ D Of The Disciples, Became A Regular Part Of Jah Shaka's Live Playlists. It Was Followed By The 7' 45, we Chant,' Featuring The Band's Charismatic Bristol-based Lead Singer, Tenja (who Originally Hails From France), The Track Becoming An Underground Anthem In Japan (via Rob Smith, Aka Rsd). Dubheart's First Album, Mental Slavery, Was Released In 2013, A Momentous Year That Also Saw The Band Win The European Reggae Contest Staged By Rototom Sunsplash, Leading To A European Tour With Festival Appearances At Summerjam (germany), Reggae Sun Ska (france), Overjam (slovenia), Sudoweste (portugal), United Islands (czech Republic) And The Sardinia Reggae Festival, As Well As Rototom In Spain. Then, In 2015, Karnatone Issued The Dub Companion To Mental Slavery, Mixed Down In A Heavy Dubwise Fashion By Drummer Gavin Sant, Otherwise Known As Fullness, The Band Was Then Invited To Participate In The Bbc Television Show, The Uk's Best Part-time Band, Leading To Their Ep Of Cover Tunes, 2016's full Time Pressure,' Again With Dub Versions From Fullness. part Of The Band's Appeal Lies In Its Tightness As A Recording And Performing Unit, When You See Them Live, You Understand That This Band Of Brothers Is On A Higher Mission, United In Their Wish To Use Music As A Means Of Upliftment. And That Sentiment Is Entirely Evident On Cool Under Pressure. The Melodic Bass Grooves Of Mark Shepherd Act As The Perfect Buffer To The Furious Rolls And Expressive Drum Patterns Of Fullness, David 'daddy U' Mountjoy Adds Scintillating Melodies On Keyboards, Including Some Delightful Wurlitzer Lines, And Richard Ramsey's Guitar Licks Tend Towards The Understated, Aside From The Occasional Solo Pyrotechnics, As Heard Here On rocky Road.' And On Songs Like can't Wait,' watcha Gonna Do' And The Title Track, The Brassica Horns Add Further Melodic Depth Through Fanfares Of Treble Brass Texture. with The Rhythms Laid Entirely Through Live Recording Sessions Cut At Fullness' Home Studio In Bournemouth (with Horn And Wurlitzer Overdubs Done Elsewhere), Cool Under Pressure Reveals Dubheart As A Band On The Rise, Heading For Unstoppable Heights.

The Dub Deconstructions On The Disc Allow The Listener To Hear The Exceptional Quality Of Their Playing, Emphasizing Each Member's Individual Talent, While The Lyrics Tackle Subjects We Can All Relate To, With watcha Gonna Do' Addressing Social Inequalities, can't Wait' Alluding To The Refugee Crisis, rocky Road' Imploring Everyone To Hold Strong In Trying Times, And rise Up' Calling For Direct Action Against The Unjust System That Rules Our Lands. Overall, The Outstanding Title Track cool Under Pressure' Really Sums Up The Band's Ethos: The System May Burden Us With The Stresses Of Censure And Control, But Our Obligation Is To Stay True To Ourselves And Resist. And The Music Can Help Us To Achieve This.

Following the success of the limited edition ATARI 50 vinyl, Microids Records and ATARI are teaming up for a new limited edition vinyl featuring ATARI Recharged.

The Recharged collection is a series of video games by Atari, Inc. that are remakes and reimaginings of classic Atari franchises. The series launched in 2020 with Missile Command: Recharged as the first title and has completely revived several franchises. Berzerk: Recharged, released on November 8, 2023, is the first game in the Berzerk series since the 1980s.

It also includes titles such as Asteroids: Recharged, Caverns of Mars: Recharged, Centipede: Recharged, Yar’s Revenge: Recharged, Gravitar: Recharged, Breakout: Recharged, Black Widow: Recharged, and Quantum: Recharged. A new soundtrack has been created for each game by Megan McDuffee. This vinyl includes the complete soundtrack collection: 40 tracks across 2 colored vinyl records, presented in a gatefold edition.

Linking music and literature, building a bridge between the written and the sung – only the greats have managed to do this in the past. Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker, and Patti Smith were just some of the shining stars that Anna B Savage orientated herself towards as a teenager. Born on the anniversary of Bach’s death, the young musician spent her birthday every year in the Green Room of the Royal Albert Hall watching her parents perform compositions by the grand master. That shaped her. Today, thanks to albums such as her debut, “A Common Turn” (2021), and the incredibly sensual art-pop opus “in|FLUX” (2023), the singer-songwriter is one of the truly exceptional talents on the British independent scene. In her music, otherworldly vocals nestle up against chamber orchestral compositions, delicate arrangements rise up and blow away, and the musician’s highly eclectic sound grows song by song into an experience that lingers for days and weeks. Potentially life-changing.
A sense of rootedness is at the heart of Anna B Savage’s third record You and i are Earth, a record that is as much about healing as it is an unbowed sense of curiosity, and, more simply, “a love letter to a man and to Ireland.” Following on from her critically acclaimed records A Common Turn and in|FLUX, You and i are Earth manages to convey a sense of intimacy, while also being open-ended. Gentleness is as radiant a touchstone on the record as earthiness, something that Savage attributes to the place she finds herself at present, both geographically and emotionally. And quite literally the record bears witness to a particular piece of earth - Ireland, and Savage’s relationship to it as her new home. That process is brilliantly rendered on Agnes, a complicated piece of work featuring Anna Mieke that turns on tropes of duality and transformation. It mirrors an unsettling experience that Savage had through meditation, which ultimately ended in an immersive, beautiful feeling, “I felt like I was part of the earth, completely connected to the mycelium network, I felt like I was where I was meant to be.” In many ways, that experience framed the album’s artwork, a photograph taken in some woodlands in Co. Sligo, with Savage looking up at the trees, their fractals reflected in her eyes, mirroring something she had felt in her meditation, bringing us back full circle, and to that sense that we are essentially in unison, or at least striving to be, that “you and I are earth”.

Linking music and literature, building a bridge between the written and the sung – only the greats have managed to do this in the past. Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker, and Patti Smith were just some of the shining stars that Anna B Savage orientated herself towards as a teenager. Born on the anniversary of Bach’s death, the young musician spent her birthday every year in the Green Room of the Royal Albert Hall watching her parents perform compositions by the grand master. That shaped her. Today, thanks to albums such as her debut, “A Common Turn” (2021), and the incredibly sensual art-pop opus “in|FLUX” (2023), the singer-songwriter is one of the truly exceptional talents on the British independent scene. In her music, otherworldly vocals nestle up against chamber orchestral compositions, delicate arrangements rise up and blow away, and the musician’s highly eclectic sound grows song by song into an experience that lingers for days and weeks. Potentially life-changing.
A sense of rootedness is at the heart of Anna B Savage’s third record You and i are Earth, a record that is as much about healing as it is an unbowed sense of curiosity, and, more simply, “a love letter to a man and to Ireland.” Following on from her critically acclaimed records A Common Turn and in|FLUX, You and i are Earth manages to convey a sense of intimacy, while also being open-ended. Gentleness is as radiant a touchstone on the record as earthiness, something that Savage attributes to the place she finds herself at present, both geographically and emotionally. And quite literally the record bears witness to a particular piece of earth - Ireland, and Savage’s relationship to it as her new home. That process is brilliantly rendered on Agnes, a complicated piece of work featuring Anna Mieke that turns on tropes of duality and transformation. It mirrors an unsettling experience that Savage had through meditation, which ultimately ended in an immersive, beautiful feeling, “I felt like I was part of the earth, completely connected to the mycelium network, I felt like I was where I was meant to be.” In many ways, that experience framed the album’s artwork, a photograph taken in some woodlands in Co. Sligo, with Savage looking up at the trees, their fractals reflected in her eyes, mirroring something she had felt in her meditation, bringing us back full circle, and to that sense that we are essentially in unison, or at least striving to be, that “you and I are earth”.

Bereite dich auf eine Odyssee der Seele mit THE GREAT OLD ONES' neuesten Werk, Kadath, vor. In diesem sieben Titel umfassenden Meisterwerk taucht die Band in Lovecrafts „The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath“ ein und führt den Hörer durch die zum Scheitern verurteilten Träume von Randolph Carter und seine Suche nach der schwer fassbaren, prächtigen Stadt, die ihm von böswilligen Göttern verwehrt wurde.

Auf seiner Reise durch die gefährlichen Dreamlands erlebt Carter Ehrfurcht und Schrecken zugleich - sein Weg ist geprägt von phantastischen Welten und kriechendem Chaos. Mit Kompositionen, die sowohl gewalttätig als auch atemberaubend schön sind, fängt Kadath die essentielle Gegenüberstellung von Terror und Wunder ein, unterstrichen durch die makellose Produktion von Francis Caste im Studio Sainte-Marthe. Jeder Track ist eine Mischung aus komplexen Melodien und furchteinflößender Intensität, die THE GREAT OLD ONES als herausragende Vertreter der Lovecraft'schen Black-Metal-Klangwelten festigt.

Wage zu träumen und lass dich von Kadath an den Rand des Wahnsinns und darüber hinaus führen!

David Allred is a prolific composer and producer based in Portland, Oregon. His new album The Beautiful World captures an enriched, realised understanding of why he composes in the first place. Dedicated to the expression of existential themes such as death, grief, longing and loss, the album’s core theme centres around the suicide of a young girl Lauren, who was a family friend to Allred. For as long as he could remember, Allred always created music out of a kind of dissociative state which he finds alluringly easy to lapse into. A repetition of a motif is usually where he begins composing. But unlike his previous works, The Beautiful World firmly has one foot in reality and is deeply intertwined with Allred’s relationships, past and present. Through his correspondence with Erased Tapes label head and the album’s producer, Robert Raths, over the past year, he came to realise that everyone has a Lauren in a way – someone they’d lost. Through writing to Raths, Allred was able to draw out this thread from the work and position it more clearly as the central concept to this work. The music doesn’t reflect the chaos of trauma, instead it has a therapeutic quality. It was through this dialogue that Allred was able to create what may be his most cohesive body of work to date. The 11 track album unfolds around Oh Lauren, providing the core of the album’s sentiment – how grief returns to us throughout life over and over. Embedded more than halfway through the album, Allred allows listeners to cohabit a meditative space through ambient textures, drones and ballads echoing the vocal sincerity of Arthur Russell, Daniel Johnston and the hypnotic storytelling of Robert Ashley. To truly reckon with The Beautiful World’s emotional position, listeners must understand the importance of the figure of Lauren, and the significance she has had throughout Allred’s life. Lauren’s suicide as a child provided the catalyst for Allred’s lifelong grief. But it was death anxiety and grief itself which provided Allred a link to a universal relationship that people have with each other and the world they live in. Impermanence and loss are the driving force behind all of our connections. The trance-like nature of the album perhaps comes from David Allred’s time sense – particularly when it comes to memory and trauma. Time becomes non-linear rather than a straight line – where one can repeat or return to the same themes but older and in a different frame of mind. Grief continues to manifest itself in life and despite personal growth, there will always be moments where the same feeling will manifest itself again. The album encourages listeners to sit with the concept of grief, and Allred is hopeful they can find comfort and learn to process it in a healing way. The Beautiful World is therefore heavily influenced by Allred’s work in therapy, particularly his relationship to writing music. In the past, Allred would be composing music as a means to dissociate from his life, but the album sees him engaging and connecting more authentically than ever with others and himself. Despite his prolific previous works being made in the company of others, Allred needed to step back from the scenes that he’s worked in to discover what he really wanted to create. Allred concludes: “In the power of love, curiosity, humour, and reconciliation, we give you The Beautiful World.”

From the frayed loop of San Diego's white belt `90s scene, Boilermaker provided a subtle counterpoint to the Gravityobsessed post-hardcore landscape. They called it Leucadia-core, a hybrid of major chord riffs, emotive yelps, angular bass chug, and pounding rhythms, building and releasing with the Swami tides. NotEnough Time To Get Anything Halfway Done compiles the trio of Terrin Durfey, Tim Semple, and Richard Sanderson complete discography_three albums, singles, and rarities_into a 41-song/ 4xLP box set, with annotation and illustration in the accompanying 24-page book. Surfs down. Hang zero.

From the frayed loop of San Diego's white belt `90s scene, Boilermaker provided a subtle counterpoint to the Gravityobsessed post-hardcore landscape. They called it Leucadia-core, a hybrid of major chord riffs, emotive yelps, angular bass chug, and pounding rhythms, building and releasing with the Swami tides. NotEnough Time To Get Anything Halfway Done compiles the trio of Terrin Durfey, Tim Semple, and Richard Sanderson complete discography_three albums, singles, and rarities_into a 41-song/ 4xLP box set, with annotation and illustration in the accompanying 24-page book. Surfs down. Hang zero.

Die französische Singer-Songwriterin Laura Cahen zählt in ihrem Heimatland zu einer der wichtigsten Stimmen der Indie-Szene, nun kündigt sie ihr viertes Studioalbum 'De l'autre côté' für den 24. Januar 2025 an. Inspiriert von Künstlerinnen wie Laurie Anderson, Laura Marling oder Adrianne Lenker verbindet ihre Musik akustische und elektronische Elemente, um emotional reiche, selbstreflektierende Klanglandschaften zu schaffen. In Form poetischer Liebeslieder behandelt sie Themen wie Weiblichkeit, Ökologie, Homosexualität und Gleichberechtigung.

Midori Hirano and Brueder Selke"s debut album Split Scale unites two artists who share both inimitable skill and depth of expression. Pillars of Berlin"s new music community and globally lauded composers, they each share a background in classical tradition while practicing on the cutting edge of modern music. Split Scale is an elegant emotive ambient album built primarily from pianos and cello and electronics. After tracks on Longform Editions and the creation and curation of the Q3Ambientfest, this power pairing should be an immediate hit with fans of quality ambient or minimal modern music. As Brueder Selke, the polymath duo brothers Daniel and Sebastian Selke"s interdisciplinary partnerships are vast and include classical institutions like the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie and Filmorchester Babelsberg. The brothers have additionally been working as musical directors of the Schaffrath Chamber Orchestra and curating their own festival Q3Ambientfest which has featured the likes of fellow artists such as Laura Cannell, Mabe Fratti/Resina, Jules Reidy, Grand River, Yair Elazar Glotman, and now-collaborator Midori Hirano. Midori Hirano"s mastery of sound sculpting has put her in high demand as a composer for film and television, including recent soundtracks for All or Nothing, Tokito, and a documentary on the Premier League, alongside astounding collaborations with artists including Hprizm of Anti Pop Consortium and Ilpo Väisänen of Pan Sonic. In addition to her own composing, Hirano has remixed the likes of Robot Koch and Rival Consoles. Split Scale, the group"s first album together, follows a series of live collaborations. The artists chose a simple concept, following a western scale from beginning to end, and from this created a suite of sublime, synesthetic soundscapes and cinematic movements. The vivid tapestry of sound and color is luminous and emotive.

Seit sie die Wiener Musikszene mit ihrem Debüt ,Trouble" (2022) und dem Nachfolger-Album ,Lightning Trails" (2023) im Sturm erobert haben, etablierten sich die Jangle-Pop-Maestros Laundromat Chicks in jenem seltenen musikalischen Terrain, in der sich Humor, Übermut und Verletzlichkeit überschneiden. Von pubertären Power-Pop-Hymnen bis hin zu knackigem Jangle-Pop sind Laundromat Chicks die Art von Band, die einen an alle Lieblingsbands auf einmal erinnert. Auf ihrem Album ,Sometimes Possessed" (Siluh Records) erweitert die Band ihre Soundpalette. Mastermind Tobias Hammermüller führt sein Songwriting in neue Bahnen, indem die gewohnt schlagfertigen Gitarrenhymnen mit abstrakteren, sanfter klingendenmusikalischen Ideen abwechseln. Das Quartett, bestehend neben Hammermüller (Gesang/Gitarre) aus Theresa Strohmer (Gitarre/Gesang), Felix Schnabl (Schlagzeug) und Lena Pöttinger (Bass), war von Anfang an sehr produktiv - sowohl bei Laundromat Chicks als auch bei anderen Projekten. So spielen Strohmer und Pöttinger auch in der Garage-Pop-Band Topsy Turvy, während Schnabl sein eigenes 60er-Jahre-Garage-Punk-Projekt Salamirecorder hat und in der Psychrock-Gruppe Telebrains Schlagzeug spielt und singt. Laundromat Chicks' erste beiden Veröffentlichungen bei Siluh Records, sind eine Fundgrube an zu entdeckenden Gitarrenpops, z.B. die Single ,You're on the Line" ist so witzig undeindringlich wie jede pubertäre Powerpop-Hymne diesseits von Buzzcocks und The Undertones, während ,Nobody Believes Me" den eisigen Fatalismus von Joy Division mit dem knackigen Jangle von The Babies and Girls verbindet. Es steht außer Frage, dass die Laundromat Chicks in nur 20 Minuten eine Band sein können, die dich an alle deine Lieblingsbands auf einmal erinnert, aber auch gleichzeitig in neue, aufregende Gefilde entführen kann. Auf Sometimes Possessed erweitert diese speziellen Gebiete erheblich: Die bislang gewohnten 20 Minuten dehnen sich nun zu einem inspirierten 30-minütigen Fiebertraum aus. Damit sich die Gefühle entfalten konnten, musste der Startpunkt des Albums irgendwo aus einem abgelegenen bzw. fast vergessenen Fundus kommen. Das Ergebnis ist Laundromat Chicks' hitzeverzerrte Interpretation der von Ray Davies geschriebenen 60ties Ballade ,This Strange Effect", ein schwindelerregendes Duett, dargeboten von Sänger Hammermüller mit Gitarristin Theresa Strohmer als Duett.

Das 1981 erschienene Debüt des legendären Pianisten von Eberhard Webers Colours Band und später der
Jan Garbarek Group, Freigeweht, präsentierte Rainer Brüninghaus als höchst originellen und eigenwilligen Klangmaler, begleitet von den ECM-Koryphäen Kenny Wheeler am Flügelhorn und Schlagzeuger Jon
Christensen sowie dem Oboisten Brynjar Hoff. In einer Besprechung des Albums aus dem Jahr seiner
Veröffentlichung führte die Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung des Pianisten Einflüsse und minimalistische
Gestaltungsgabe auf Steve Reich zurück und nannte Brüninghaus ”den phantasievollsten Verwender der
Minimal Art. (...) Er nutzt die Minimal Art weder als Ideologie noch als Rhythmusgruppenersatz, sondern
spielerisch-konstruktiv als Element, das man aufgreifen kann. Als brillanter Konturenzeichner der Themen
und als genialer Improvisator ist der Trompeter Kenny Wheeler der ideale Partner.” Jon Christensen verleiht
Brüninghaus’ lyrischen Themen, die von Wheeler und Hoffs kontemplativen Tönen eindrucksvoll untermalt
werden, kompromisslosen Antrieb. (Die Luminessence-Edition von Freigeweht erscheint in einem Tip-on
Gatefold und mit neuem Begleittext)

Midori Hirano and Brueder Selke"s debut album Split Scale unites two artists who share both inimitable skill and depth of expression. Pillars of Berlin"s new music community and globally lauded composers, they each share a background in classical tradition while practicing on the cutting edge of modern music. Split Scale is an elegant emotive ambient album built primarily from pianos and cello and electronics. After tracks on Longform Editions and the creation and curation of the Q3Ambientfest, this power pairing should be an immediate hit with fans of quality ambient or minimal modern music. As Brueder Selke, the polymath duo brothers Daniel and Sebastian Selke"s interdisciplinary partnerships are vast and include classical institutions like the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie and Filmorchester Babelsberg. The brothers have additionally been working as musical directors of the Schaffrath Chamber Orchestra and curating their own festival Q3Ambientfest which has featured the likes of fellow artists such as Laura Cannell, Mabe Fratti/Resina, Jules Reidy, Grand River, Yair Elazar Glotman, and now-collaborator Midori Hirano. Midori Hirano"s mastery of sound sculpting has put her in high demand as a composer for film and television, including recent soundtracks for All or Nothing, Tokito, and a documentary on the Premier League, alongside astounding collaborations with artists including Hprizm of Anti Pop Consortium and Ilpo Väisänen of Pan Sonic. In addition to her own composing, Hirano has remixed the likes of Robot Koch and Rival Consoles. Split Scale, the group"s first album together, follows a series of live collaborations. The artists chose a simple concept, following a western scale from beginning to end, and from this created a suite of sublime, synesthetic soundscapes and cinematic movements. The vivid tapestry of sound and color is luminous and emotive.

A new album by four-piece band District Five from Zurich is always a good moment to reassess one’s own expectations. After Burnt Sugar 2022 and Pause 2023, Come Closer is the third album by Vojko Huter, Paul Amereller, Tapiwa Svosve and Xaver Rüegg, which mixes a wide range of references without ever being bothered by the commitment to one genre only. Imagine the band as something like a catalyst, through which its members constantly process what they are influenced by. And these influences are in constant motion: derived from the old-fashioned and amicable interest of collaboratively making music, the band comes together in their weekly ritual, dedicated to this synthesis of interests. At one point, this unrestricted game was called jazz, but even a generous concept can become too narrow. Which is why the genre remains an important influence, but not the only point of reference. Rather, its qualities are the root system from which everything else grows.

Case in point for this expansion of possibilities is the first track on Come Closer, which, and here comes a genre attribution after all, moves the album into the vicinity of dream pop. “Another One” centers the voice, evoking old and new memories alike. Accompanied by an adequately slowed-down guitar riff and rhythm, the musical framework remains stable before collapsing in a nervous, shimmering manner. Ready to be assembled anew. On the following seven tracks, District Five takes on this task, referencing post-punk motifs as well as progressive, meandering song structures. Condensed and expansive at the same time, driven by a desire for collective play.

This trusting cooperation between District Five’s members is ultimately the constant of Come Closer. Although the four musicians seem determined to find a different way to organize themselves as a band on almost every song, this conversational approach holds the album together on an intuitive level. And in the end, the only question that remains is: is it the members that influence the band, or is it the other way around?

Das Neujahrskonzert 2025 der Wiener Philharmoniker unter der Leitung von Riccardo Muti beschert einen schwungvollen Start ins neue Jahr. Im festlich geschmückten Goldenen Saal des Wiener Musikvereins erklingt ein glanzvolles Programm mit den schönsten Walzern, Polkas und Märschen der Strauß-Dynastie sowie einem besonderen Highlight: dem "Ferdinandus-Walzer" von Constanze Geiger, arrangiert von Wolfgang Dörner. Damit ist erstmals die Komposition einer Frau Teil des Neujahrskonzertprogramms.Riccardo Muti, der bereits zum siebten Mal das Neujahrskonzert dirigiert, bringt seinen über 50 Jahre gewachsenen, außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungsschatz mit den Wiener Philharmonikern in dieses Konzert ein und garantiert eine Darbietung voller Präzision, Eleganz und musikalischer Tiefe.Das Konzert, das weltweit Millionen Menschen begeistert, wird in über 90 Länder übertragen und besticht mit einem abwechslungsreichen Programm aus Walzern, Polkas und Märschen der Strauß-Familie und ihrer Zeitgenossen, sowie traditionellen Highlights, darunter der auch auf Social Media jedes Jahr gefeierte "Radetzky-Marsch" von Johann Strauß (Vater).Die Aufnahme des Neujahrskonzerts 2025 erscheint wie gewohnt bei Sony Classical

Neuauflage des 2013 erschienenen Albums "What You Don't See" der kalifornischen Pop-Punkband The Story So Far.
Farbige Vinyl: Tide Pods Marble

Nach 6 jähriger Pause ist die Rockband Heisskalt wieder zurück. Dass die Fans das sehnsüchtig erwartet haben, merkt man nicht nur an den
Streamingzahlen, die in 6 Jahren Inaktivität beständig hoch waren, sondern auch an der kürzlichen Ankündigung der ersten Tour, die innerhalb
kürzester Zeit zu großen Teilen ausverkauft war und hochverlegt wurde.
Die Single "Wasser, Luft und Licht", mit der Heisskalt ihr kommendes Album "Vom Tun und Lassen" ankündigen, lässt keine Fragen offen und lädt mit
großem Ohrwurm-Potenzial direkt zum Tanzen ein. Doch wie es typisch ist für die Band, die zu den einflussreichten der letzten 10 Jahre im Deutschen
Band-Markt gehört, steckt dahinter auch eine tiefere Message:
"Es geht um einen Prozess des sich Gewahr werdens, dass alles irgendwie doch eins ist, auch wenn es für uns einfacher scheint, zu trennen und
voneinander zu unterscheiden. Wir atmen alle die selbe Atmosphäre, trinken das selbe Wasser, wärmen uns am selben Licht. Wenn wir uns als Teil
dessen erkennen, dann ist das ganz schön friedlich. Und es braucht Frieden."

"From the remote reaches of Haparanda, Sweden, Häxkapell presents a black metal masterpiece that resonates with the eternal rhythms of nature and the cyclical dance of life and death.

“Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp” (‘Of earth’s blood and the grave’s grasp’) is a powerful blend of black metal, folk, and atmospheric darkness, interwoven with classical and progressive influences. Traditional instruments such as the violin, viola, willow flute, and hand drum infuse the music with ancient, primal energy. The lyrics, crafted through subconscious writing, serve as a conduit to the mystical and otherworldly.

The album was engineered, produced, and mixed by Oraklet. Drums were recorded at Nordvis Ljudstudio, with the remaining tracks laid down at Studio HMH. Mastering was handled by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio.

Founded in 2015 in the northernmost part of Scandinavia, Häxkapell is the creation of Oraklet, who embarked on an inward journey to explore the philosophical, spiritual, and mystical aspects of existence. Following the 2016 demo “Om sanningen,” Häxkapell released their debut album, “Eldhymner”, in 2021.

On “Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp”, Häxkapell’s music evolves much like the earth itself: slowly, imperceptibly, yet ever-changing. It reflects the cycle of birth and bereavement, with death and life beginning anew as earthen folk melodies murmur ancient slumbers into dawn. Oraklet channels these profound truths into lyrics and music."

Named after a metro station located in East Paris, Pointe du Lac originated in 2014 as the brainchild of analogue gear enthusiast Julien Lheuillier, joined shortly after by multi-instrumentalist Richard Francés, followed by Quentin Rollet on Saxophone a few years down the line. Les siphonophores des eaux froides et profondes de l'Arctique (“Siphonophores of the cold, deep Arctic waters”) is the project’s third studio album, the first one written as a three-piece as well as their first release on Hands in the Dark.

Like the organisms the album title refers to, Pointe du Lac’s music is highly polymorphic and complex, using a subtle and distinctive blend of Electronica, Krautrock, Jazz and Kosmische as vessels for the band’s fantastic instrumental imaginary voyages. Compared to previous albums and EPs -which tended to suggest cosmic odysseys- this new cinematic outing is diving deep and intends to shed light on fascinating, mysterious and diverse creatures and their habitats. Supported by (paradoxically) warm and impeccable sonic forms, the exploration turns out to be an unsurprisingly expansive one, yet accessible and oddly familiar sounding. There is a sense of assurance and serenity in the French trio’s latest offering, the musicians mastery and open-ended approach to free ambient music lets their ideas flow and never stagnate. The narrative of this expedition is one that will be remembered long after the listening finishes.

Die zweite LP des Duos aus Megan Louise und Johnny Jewel (Chromatics) wurde in LA und Palm Springs, Kalifornien, geschrieben und aufgenommen. Inspiriert von der ultralebendigen Welt der 1970er Giallo-Filme schrieben Desire den Soundtrack ihrer Träume mit ihren Lieblingsinstrumenten: Minikorg, Jupiter 8, 909, Mellotron, Simmons Rhythm Modules, String Machine, D-50, Fender Rhodes. Während House-Rhythmen die Grundlage ihrer Erzählungen bilden, ergänzen pulsierende Synthwave- und Daytime-Drama-Seifenopern die Farbpalette des Albums. Gesungen wird auf Englisch, Französisch und Koreanisch, was der Mischung noch mehr Dramatik verleiht. Durch all das hindurch gibt es den Optimismus des Kompasses der wahren Liebe, der uns durch all das Chaos navigiert, das das Leben zu bieten hat.

La Sonora Mazuren is the latest addition to the already rich indie-tropical scene out of Bogotá, Colombia. Deeply rooted in the popular sounds and rhythms of South America, the group draws from cumbia, chicha, guaracha, champeta and other styles mostly from Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

Far from being folklorists or revivalists, La Sonora Mazuren combines synthesizers and electric guitars with accordion and percussion to create a futuristic style indebted to early pioneers such as Polibio Mayorga or Bogota’s own Eblis Alvarez, of Meridian Brothers fame, who also produced their debut album.

The result is a psychedelic feast reminiscent of the golden years of Tropicalia.

Their first album, Bailando con Extraños, got them many accolades in Europe, in France in particular where the band toured in the fall of 23 and again in the summer of 24.

Their follow up album, Magnetismo Animal, was mostly tracked in rural Normandy, during one of their European tours, and completed in Bogotá. Barbès Records (Roots of Chicha, Chicha Libre, Chico Trujillo) will be releasing it in the fall.

Franz Mesmer and his theory of animal magnetism provide the running theme for their new album. A collection of songs linked by the idea of a shared trance-inducing energy, channeled through rhythms and sound experiments. Musical inspiration for the album come from Colombian gaita, vallenato and cumbia, Peruvian huayno and chicha, Ecuadorian Sanjuanitos - a panoply of Afro-Andean traditions filtered through a futuristic vision of dance music that melds percussion-heavy polyrhythms and psychedelic sounds.

Band members are all active on the new tropical Bogotá scene. Keyboardist and accordionist Ivan Medellin and bassist Nicolas Eckardt are members of cult band Romperayo. Percussionists and singers Giovanna Mogollón and Diana

Sanmiguel are also 2/3 of popular trio LA PERLA.

"CQQL Records is a “sequel” to the timeless production ethos of the 80s and 90s: a time when labels truly invested in production, artist development, and put out releases that still influence today’s generation of producers, djs, dancers, and collectors. We’re continuing the story of boogie, AOR, funk, house, soul, r&b, and more, and further developing the themes we feel are classic and need to live on while making sure that each project fits its own lane and style. We’re fond of analog sounds and gear, releases produced on physical media, and paying homage to djs, collectors, and the musicians themselves: an homage but never a replication."

Introducing "Stop 2 Quit," a captivating new deep, jazzy, and lo-fi house music 12" compilation EP that delves into the art of sonic escape amidst the overwhelming noise of modern life. Featuring a hard-hitting lineup of producers — Darone Sassounian, Jamma D, and Jarren representing Los Angeles, Roche in Portland, and Morris Mobley in Nancy, France — each track serves as a remedy to the relentless barrage of messages and distractions that flood our minds.

Mit ihrem Debütalbum "Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind" schafft es die in Virginia geborene und in Los Angeles lebende Songwriterin Kate Bollinger ihr Handwerk neu zu definieren und gleichzeitig zu verfeinern. Bollinger und ihre Band - zu der Jacob Grissom, Adam Brisbin, Matthew E. White (Sharon Van Etten, Hiss Golden Messenger, Mountain Goats) und Sam Evian (Cass McCombs, Blonde Redhead, Big Thief) gehören - bevorzugen das Eklektische, Melodische und Majestätische, wobei sie, inspiriert von Pop-, Rock- und Folk-Songs der 1960er Jahre, intime Lyrik mit klassischer Instrumentierung unterstützen. Es ist eine Sammlung von 11 Popsongs, ausgefeilt und doch rau mit einem unterschwelligen Punk-Geist, die das Leben, Beziehungen und das Erwachsenwerden thematisieren. Die Veröffentlichung folgt auf eine Reihe von Singles seit ihrer 2022 auf Ghostly International erschienenen EP "Look At It In The Light", auf Beiträge zu Projekten von Freunden (Drugdealer, Paul Cherry) und auf Tourneen mit Faye Webster, Liz Phair, Devendra Banhart und anderen.

An ingenious musician with a harmonious sense of melody, French pianist and composer Maxence Cyrin releases Passenger, his 9th album, composed and performed entirely on the piano. With influences ranging from Ryuichi Sakamoto and Brian Eno to Philip Glass and composers such as Erik Satie and Frédéric Chopin, this album weaves together ambient, minimalism and neo- classical music. This time around, the artist has sought to convey his emotions and ideas in a more intuitive and spontaneous way, even keeping improvisations such as "Under A Glass Bell" and "Dive" recorded during a residency in Brittany. Maxence Cyrin is one of France's most internationally acclaimed pianists.

Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams on the 17th March 1917 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. His family held a key position in the local black community with his father being pastor of the local Baptist church.

His first professional break came touring with the Broadway show “shuffle along” which eventually found its way to Los Angeles. Where Nat ended up playing at the century club on Santa Monica boulevard. This was an in-place for musicians and Nat’s already developed and incredible piano playing became a great attraction eventually forming a trio with Oscar Moore on guitar and Wesley Price on bass. With Nat’s great voice and add libs the trio were a great success in 1939/40.

In 1943 Cole signed to the infant Capitol records and began his enormous string of hits for that label and eventual amazing career partnership with the great arranger and orchestra leader Nelson Riddle. This was at the time of popular music already pioneered by Bing Crosby and latterly Frank Sinatra and something Nat would become a master of, with his by now incredible, highly developed and unique voice which we all instantly recognise.

Right up until his untimely and tragic death on 15th February 1965, Nat made a string of successful records for capitol, a string of film appearances, and the first black presenter of his own tv show, which ran for many years and introduced a whole host of new and old artists to the television screens. As is so often with people so talented, Nat’s life was short but extremely successful. He was a well loved and admired person with his vibrant and kind personality with many great friends and colleagues and made an enormous contribution to the music industry, civil rights and the world in general.

As a singer and pianist, he was exceptionally talented, and his voice will live on in immortality. His ability to express and sing any song was quite extraordinary to say the least and these recordings are a fine example of that ability. A must have for all music lovers!

The long-awaited new album by the Belmondo
Brothers, their first in a decade.
Renowned internationally for their collaborations
with such luminaries as Milton Nascimento and
Yusef Lateef, trumpeter Stéphane Belmondo and
his brother saxophonist Lionel - the most famous
jazz siblings in France - celebrate their artistic
reunion.
The brothers salute their masters and synthesize a
quarter of century of musical adventures via a
series of new original compositions.
Featuring songs inspired and dedicated to Wayne
Shorter, Bill Evans, Yusef Lateef, Woody Shaw
and their late father Yvan.
Featuring the great Belgian Eric Legnini on piano
and a tight and full-bodied jazz quintet.
An original mix of modal and spiritual jazz with
hints of classical liturgical influences and ethnic
vibes.
For fans of John Coltrane, the Blue Note albums of
Wayne Shorter, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard,
Yusef Lateef, Herbie Hancock, Jacky Terrasson,
Lili Boulanger.

Sir James and King Johnny are the leading figures of the mysterious crew: L'ENTOURLOOP. These elders, fed on the sound of sound systems, vinyl culture and lulled by the epic dialogues of classic cinema, concoct a fine fusion of Reggae and Hip Hop. These beatmakers like to use scratches and samples, all blended with a vintage French touch that takes us from France to Kingston, London and New York! Originally released in 2019, "Golden Nuggets" is an EP in collaboration with the Jamaican Skarra Mucci aka the "Dancehall President". Here we find all the ingredients that make the magic of the sound of L’Entourloop and Skarra Mucci.

Reissue on transparent red vinyl of the original 1983 album with the voice of Ivana Spagna.
Contains the two original versions, the 2022 remixes by Mario Natale and Roberto Turatti and a
2024 rmx by Marco Fratty

Alkisah Versi Hitam is a radical deconstruction and reimagination of Indonesian duo Senyawa's most recent album Alkisah by Hamburg's Marc Richter aka Black To Comm. The original album was released to critical acclaim in February of this year as a decentralized release on a multitude of labels from all corners of the world, Germany’s Dekorder being one of them. Richter is now completely reinventing the original album from scratch by doing an almost Teo Macero-level production job here, cutting up the originals and (re)constructing new material from scratch.

Arcane chants and vocal cut-ups, fierce freeform percussion, grimy No Wave collage, monochrome drones exploding into multicolour streams, unearthly psychedelic Noise and sheer sonic mayhem, warped discordant rhythms between moments of calming beauty - it's never easy to digest but the outcome is both ecstatic and transcendental - never sounding anything less than a fully formed singular album.

A special cassette version of the album will be released by Jordanian label Drowned By Locals.

BLACK TO COMM is the moniker of Hamburg composer/musician Marc Richter who is creating intricate multi-layered collage based works for labels like Thrill Jockey, Type and Dekorder. His 2019 album "Seven Horses For Seven Kings" revealed an increasingly angry, transcendental and fearless approach, attaining new levels of urgency through noise, volume, rhythm, repetition, atonality and beauty.

Jogjakarta’s SENYAWA embody the aural elements of traditional Indonesian music whilst exploring the framework of experimental music practice, pushing the boundaries of both traditions. Their music strikes a perfect balance between their avant-garde influences and cultural heritage to create truly contemporary Indonesian new music. Their sound is comprised of Rully Shabara’s deft extended vocal techniques punctuating the frenetic sounds of instrument builder, Wukir Suryadi’s modern-primitive instrumentation. Inventions like his handcrafted ‘Bamboo Spear’; a thick stem of bamboo strung up with percussive strips of the animal skin along side steel strings. Amplified it fuses elements of traditional Indonesian instrumentation with garage guitar distortion. Sonically dynamic, the instrument can be rhythmically percussive on one side whilst being melodically bowed and plucked on the other.

They have collaborated and performed with many notable musicians such as Stephen O'Malley of Sunn o))), Otomo Yoshide, KK Null, Keiji Haino, Rabih Beiani, Trevor Dunn, Greg Fox, Arrington De Dionysus, Melt Banana, Damo Suzuki and Oren Ambarchi.

On his third album as Etelin, Alex Cobb explores the intricacies of separation and belonging using field recordings and electronics, reconfiguring the dividing line between what is artificial and natural in the process. Maintaining a sense of playful reverence and lurking melancholy in its glitchy pastoralism, Patio User Manual hums with a meticulous and singular energy. From the loops and static pulses of "The Chemistry of Cobalt" to the tension and release of "Electrical Sailing," the listener is pulled into a sound world at once ambivalent and radiant, reaching its denouement in the lovely melody that closes the final track, "Picnic at Gas Station Park". Although the album might bring to mind the nuanced and imaginative ambient music published by labels such as Mille Plateaux, Sonig, and Silent Records in the 1990s, it is, in the end, a world of its own and very much of today. The patio as a stage for alienated life, pyrrhic in its isolation, deceptive in its promise of distinction. Orientation as disorientation, often unseen inside the frame but felt in the bones. What is out there, anyway, other than the thing we fear the most?



"Another day of weird weather and screens. What type of perfume did Philip Johnson wear when he designed Glass House? Is it actually possible to flee to the country when you’ve internalized a lifetime of intellectualized urban living? When you buy a DIY patio kit, you get instructions for how best to embed concrete or brick or flagstone into the natural world. The patio will make you enjoy your environment more. It will become yours. You can stand on it and think “this is Mine.” The structuralists talked about the importance of fixed camera position, but didn’t properly interrogate it because to do so would be impossible. It’s hard to believe that it really wasn’t long ago that computer music seemed exciting, novel, even radical. We’re now thoroughly estranged from eating what’s in season. Walking around the woods in southern Ohio in spring, I thought about the curious imperative of the patio, how my kids get excited about picking oyster mushrooms, the dynamics of switched capacitor filters, and how adequacy is tethered to doubt." - AC, May 2024