Cerca:mar tex

Anchored in the charmingly warm vocal presence that McNown partly honed by busking at the beach in Southern California just a few years ago, Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up) takes the latter half of its title from a gorgeously textured track that perfectly exemplifies his newly refined sound. With its rootsy and ethereal instrumentation—luminous steel guitar, lush mandolin, soulful organ—“The Cost of Growing Up” arrives as a clear-eyed but melancholy meditation on the inevitability of pain. “To me, the cost of growing up is an acceptance that difficult things are going to happen—from minor inconveniences to devastating loss, it’s all a part of life,” says McNown. “But there’s also beauty in that because, without those hard moments, you wouldn’t be able to truly love.”

for the next release on galaxiid, we present "carpet watcher", the long-awaited second album from ishome, the project of russian producer and visual artist mirabella karyanova.

emerging from the far eastern port city of nakhodka, ishome's music has always carried a sense of distance and introspection. her debut album confession (2013) became a cult classic, a fragile, cinematic blend of ambient textures, submerged rhythms and quiet emotion.

carpet watcher was completed in 2018 but remained unreleased until now. like much of ishome's work, it was created with no urgency to be heard, a self-contained world suspended in time. drifting between viscous beats and spectral melodies, the album feels like a memory slowly coming into focus.

from her earliest recordings, mirabella has resisted genre classification. her sound draws from minimal techno, ambient, leftfield pop, outsider art, and the surrealism of soviet-era animation. in her hands, these influences dissolve into something deeply personal, a language of mood and movement rather than style.

beyond the studio, ishome has performed live across europe and russia, including sets at berghain and signal festival, as well as appearances on boiler room and nts. she also creates under the mischievous alias shadowax, where playful chaos replaces introspection. her audiovisual performances, combining original music, iphone-shot footage, digital collage and hand-drawn animation, reveal the full breadth of her artistic vision. dreamlike, humorous and emotionally direct.

ishome rarely releases her music, and when she does, it feels less like a project and more like a postcard from a world she's still wandering through. carpet watcher is the first glimpse into that world in over ten years.

"HARTE WORTE" melden sich zurück! Nach dem ungewollten Chart-Erfolg 2018 ihres letzten Albums "So wie ihr uns kennt" wurde es 7 Jahre sehr still um die Band. Genauer gesagt hatte die Band sich eigentlich aufgelöst ohne dies mit den üblichen Tränendrüsen-Pathos groß zu kommunizieren. Der Proberaum gekündigt, alle Social Media und Bandseiten wurden einfach abgeschaltet und gelöscht. Aber nicht nur Stephen King wusste schon: "Manchmal kommen Sie wieder"_ Was Du im Herzen trägst und wofür Du brennst, kannst Du zwar eine Zeit lang ignorieren, aber unmöglich abschalten. Jedenfalls nicht, wenn jede verdammte Textzeile und Note authentisch und ein Teil Deines Leben ist! Und so hat Sänger Marco mit seinen Mitstreitern vor ein paar Wochen die Band reaktiviert und arbeitet an einem neuen Album und den ersten Live-Auftritten. So lange wollten wir aber nicht warten. Deshalb gibt es mit "Extrem Unangenehm" ein ziemlich gesuchtes Album der Band aus dem Jahr 2012 in limitierter Auflage. Erstmals auf Vinyl und erstmals offiziell überhaupt! Die Lieder gehören seit Jahren zu den beliebtesten Pogo-Highlights bei jedem Harte-Worte Konzert. Wir wissen echt nicht wie oft wir gefragt wurden, wann Songs wie "Helden unserer Jugend", "A.O.G." oder "Sisierra" endlich veröffentlicht werden. Jetzt ist die Zeit reif oder um es mit dem Opener des Albums zu sagen: "Der Ruhrpott meldet sich zurück!" Punk, Oi!, Streetpunk, Pott Core

"HARTE WORTE" melden sich zurück! Nach dem ungewollten Chart-Erfolg 2018 ihres letzten Albums "So wie ihr uns kennt" wurde es 7 Jahre sehr still um die Band. Genauer gesagt hatte die Band sich eigentlich aufgelöst ohne dies mit den üblichen Tränendrüsen-Pathos groß zu kommunizieren. Der Proberaum gekündigt, alle Social Media und Bandseiten wurden einfach abgeschaltet und gelöscht. Aber nicht nur Stephen King wusste schon: "Manchmal kommen Sie wieder"_ Was Du im Herzen trägst und wofür Du brennst, kannst Du zwar eine Zeit lang ignorieren, aber unmöglich abschalten. Jedenfalls nicht, wenn jede verdammte Textzeile und Note authentisch und ein Teil Deines Leben ist! Und so hat Sänger Marco mit seinen Mitstreitern vor ein paar Wochen die Band reaktiviert und arbeitet an einem neuen Album und den ersten Live-Auftritten. So lange wollten wir aber nicht warten. Deshalb gibt es mit "Extrem Unangenehm" ein ziemlich gesuchtes Album der Band aus dem Jahr 2012 in limitierter Auflage. Erstmals auf Vinyl und erstmals offiziell überhaupt! Die Lieder gehören seit Jahren zu den beliebtesten Pogo-Highlights bei jedem Harte-Worte Konzert. Wir wissen echt nicht wie oft wir gefragt wurden, wann Songs wie "Helden unserer Jugend", "A.O.G." oder "Sisierra" endlich veröffentlicht werden. Jetzt ist die Zeit reif oder um es mit dem Opener des Albums zu sagen: "Der Ruhrpott meldet sich zurück!" Punk, Oi!, Streetpunk, Pott Core

To mark 10 years since SOPHIE’s game-changing singles collection PRODUCT, Numbers are celebrating with a special edition featuring 11 songs across Deluxe Vinyl and Compact Disc.

This anniversary release includes bonus tracks, track-by-track slide posters, and a SOPHIE PRODUCT Card. Physical editions are now available for pre-order and released on 11th July 2025.

SOPHIE classics ‘BIPP’, ‘LEMONADE’ and ‘VYZEE’ are joined by two immaculate PRODUCT-era songs ‘OOH’ and ‘GET HIGHER’ recorded and produced at the time, each with colourful single artwork completing the set.

‘OOH’ is one of SOPHIE's earliest productions that has been through several revisions since 2011. It was one of three original tracks that Numbers had signed when SOPHIE uploaded the song alongside 'BIPP' and 'ELLE' to her Soundcloud, and while it had been through several iterations and speed changes, this finalised version was completed by SOPHIE in 2019.

SOPHIE once described ‘OOH’ as “hi tech club dance pop”. Musically speaking, the earworm hook is carved out by her signature portamento-infused synths and candy-coated lyrics, a firm cult classic approved by AG Cook and Charli XCX. Initially titled 'MAKE RESPECT', the track was first performed live by SOPHIE in 2011 to a handful of lucky people at a beach afterparty surrounding Sonar Festival, Barcelona and later that year at Manhattan's New Museum. The vocal was recorded as the first track in the same one-day recording session as SOPHIE's debut single 'NOTHING MORE TO SAY', released on the Huntley & Palmers label, where Sophie's songwriting was performed by the London vocalist Jaide Green.

The genesis of the ‘OOH’ and ‘NOTHING MORE TO SAY’ recording session is lore-worthy in its own right: after watching Jaide Green perform live with Olly Murs during the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, SOPHIE reached out and invited Jaide to record in her home bedroom studio.

‘GET HIGHER’ was born during joyous sessions in 2013, when SOPHIE’s beat was introduced to the vocalists Cassie Davis and Sean Mullins. The track feels like a visionary precursor to ‘Vroom Vroom’, and doesn't sound out of place next to the sub-clang intensity of SOPHIE’s ‘HARD’ and ‘MSMSMSM’. Striking a playful balance between blissed-out hyperpop and club-ready Atlanta trap, it showcases SOPHIE’s signature, laser sharp sound design. Originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD edition of PRODUCT, ‘GET HIGHER’ has remained a hidden gem.

A groundbreaking producer, songwriter and performer, SOPHIE's visionary approach reshaped the landscape of pop and electronic music. Emerging in the early 2010s, SOPHIE introduced a hyper-detailed, futuristic sound defined by metallic textures, elastic basslines, and an uncanny blend of synthetic and emotional tones. Collaborating with artists including Charli XCX, Madonna, Vince Staples and Arca, SOPHIE helped pioneer a new pop movement while challenging conventions around identity, genre and production. SOPHIE's work continues to resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on a generation of artists and listeners alike. Discography: PRODUCT (2015), OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES (2018), SOPHIE (released posthumously, 2024).

Grinderman entstand 2005, als Nick Cave Material für das Album „Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus“
von Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds schrieb. Gemeinsam mit Martyn Casey am Bass, Warren Ellis an Violine
und Gitarre und Jim Sclavunos am Schlagzeug erarbeitete die Band gemeinsam Songs. 2006 ging sie in
ein Londoner Studio und begann eine Marathon-Session mit Songwriting und Demoaufnahmen. Mit dem
Ziel, den raueren, ursprünglicheren Sound von Caves gefeiertem Post-Punk-Projekt „The Birthday Party“ nachzubilden, wichen die Texte und die Musik von Grinderman deutlich von Nick Caves früheren Arbeiten
mit The Bad Seeds ab.
Im darauffolgenden April nahmen sie die besten dieser neuen Songs auf und nahmen mit Hilfe ihres langjährigen Freundes und Produzenten Nick Launay ein Album auf. Ihr am 5. März 2007 veröffentlichtes Debü-
talbum „Grinderman“ mit elf Songs wurde von der Kritik hoch gelobt und enthält die Singles „No Pussy
Blues“ und „Get It On“. Das Quartett kam 2009 wieder zusammen, um „Grinderman 2“ aufzunehmen, das
2010 erschien. Im Dezember 2011 gab Cave die Auflösung der Band auf einem Musikfestival in Australien
bekannt.
Das „unglaublich aufregende Debütalbum“ (Observer Music Monthly) ist auf schwarzem Öko-Vinyl und im
CD-Digisleeve-Format erhältlich

Protector Edition: Amethyst Swirl Vinyl. Mit "Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory" präsentiert Sharon Van Etten eine aufregende neue Dimension ihres Sounds und Songwritings. Zum ersten Mal wurde das Album in völliger Zusammenarbeit mit ihrer Band - Jorge Balbi (Schlagzeug, Maschinen), Devra Hoff (Bass, Gesang) und Teeny Lieberson (Synthesizer, Klavier, Gitarre, Gesang) - geschrieben und aufgenommen, was Van Etten genau die Freiheit gab, die sich aus dem Loslassen ergeben hat. Die Themen sind zeitlos, klassisch Sharon, aber die Klänge sind neu, vollständig realisiert und scharf wie Glas. Diese neue Herangehensweise begann während der Proben in der Wüste für eine bevorstehende Tournee, als Van Etten ihre Band in den kreativen Prozess einbezog: "Zum ersten Mal in meinem Leben habe ich die Band gefragt, ob wir einfach jammen können. Worte, die nie aus meinem Mund kamen - niemals! Aber ich liebte alle Sounds, die wir bekamen. Ich war neugierig - was würde passieren?" Offenbar Magie. "In einer Stunde schrieben wir zwei Songs, aus denen schließlich "I Can't Imagine" und "Southern Life" wurden." Das Album wurde im ehemaligen Studio der Eurythmics, The Church, aufgenommen, das perfekt zu der mystischen Mischung aus Elektronik und analogen Texturen der Band passt. Die Produzentin Marta Salogni (Björk, Bon Iver, Animal Collective, Mica Levi) war sowohl als Bindeglied als auch als Produzentin unverzichtbar, da sie "die Synthesizer liebte und einen Sinn für Abenteuer hatte" und es verstand, "die Dunkelheit und die einzigartigen Klänge zu umarmen, die wir während des Schreibprozesses entwickelt hatten", so Van Etten. Über diese neue künstlerische Geisteshaltung und die Kunst des gemeinsamen Schreibens sinniert Van Etten: "Manchmal ist es aufregend, manchmal ist es beängstigend, manchmal fühlt man sich festgefahren. Jeder Tag fühlt sich ein wenig anders an - einfach in Frieden zu sein mit dem, was man fühlt und wer man ist und wie man in diesem Moment zu den Menschen steht. Wenn ich einfach offenbleiben kann und gleichzeitig weiß, dass sich meine Gefühle jeden Tag ändern, ist das alles, was ich im Moment tun kann. Das und versuchen, die beste Person zu sein, die ich sein kann, während ich andere Menschen so sein lasse, wie sie sind, und es nicht persönlich nehme und einfach nur bin. Ich bin noch nicht so weit, aber ich versuche, jeden Tag so weit zu sein." Mit "Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory" vertieft Van Etten den Diskurs, der einen Großteil ihres Katalogs belebt, und erforscht, was es bedeutet, einfach nur ein Mensch zu sein. Das ist ihr Genie - schräg, aber auch relevant und persönlich.

Pioneering British electronic musician Mark Van Hoen is set to release his latest solo album, The Eternal Present, on 23 May 2025 via Dell'Orso, a remarkable collection of tracks spanning nearly three decades of recordings from 1998 to 2024.
The Eternal Present embodies its philosophical title, inspired by Joseph Campbell's concept that "Eternity isn't some later time... Eternity is that dimension of here and now that all thinking in temporal terms cuts off." The album explores music as the ultimate expression of existing in the present moment, transcending time and creating a sonic experience that is simultaneously "spectral, ghostly, melodic, harmonic, and decayed."
An influential contemporary of Aphex Twin, Autechre, LFO and Boards of Canada, Van Hoen is best known for his solo work as Locust in the mid-'90s, which helped push post-rave electronic music into newly challenging realms. His extensive discography spans releases on influential labels including R&S, Touch, and Editions Mego. Van Hoen has worked on numerous collaborations throughout his career, including with Nick Holton and Neil Halstead of Slowdive under the moniker Black Hearted Brother—their album Stars Are Our Home was released in 2013.
The Eternal Present continues the lineage of Van Hoen's most significant works, with artwork by Ian Anderson (Designers Republic) reflecting the album's "eternal present" concept with a mysterious visual approach, allowing listeners to form their own imaginary landscapes. The mastering by Stefan Betke (Pole) enhances this document of the evolution of the artist over the years as he continues to hone his signature sound. Using a host of instruments including analogue synthesisers and employing various recording approaches, Van Hoen's equipment changed dramatically over the years—from early DSP processing used on his first solo record on Apollo ‘Playing With Time’ to various synthesisers, modular systems, tape machines, and digital workstations—contributing to the album's rich sonic diversity.
Throughout The Eternal Present, ideas are woven together through spoken word quotations and abstract vocals featuring notable collaborations from Rachel Goswell on the Slowdive cover "Shine" (from 1998), Megan Mitchell (Cruel Diagonals) on "Somewhere", and session vocalists Clare Dove and Dorothy Takev on "No-One Leave" and "It's Not You (In A Way)" respectively. The use of cleverly assembled vocal samples from an "undisclosed but very famous female vocalist" on "Multiplex" (2016) and the indistinct vocalisations on the Cabaret Voltaire-influenced "Only Me" (2017), constantly challenges and disorientates the listener through fluctuating, ever-changing musical elements.
The album was recorded across multiple locations including Somerset, London, Los Angeles, and New York—even beginning compositions during flights and in airport lounges—reflecting Van Hoen's changing personal circumstances, environments, and situations throughout the years.
Of Indian-Jamaican descent, Van Hoen was born and raised in England, absorbing diverse musical influences from his neighbors—African-Jamaican on one side and Punjabi Indian on the other. "Each family played their own music frequently, and I absorbed it." His musical foundations include Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, OMD, Tangerine Dream, Japan, Cabaret Voltaire, and Cocteau Twins, later finding inspiration in My Bloody Valentine, LFO, and '90s producers Robert Leiner and CJ Bolland.
These eclectic influences are evident on The Eternal Present, which contains snapshots of different periods in his life, with changing circumstances across decades creating a variety of textures and sounds. As Mark explains: "It holds the same sonic signature as many of my solo releases and early Locust albums. It's a natural development that has taken place in the last few decades. It's even related to the earliest music I made as a teenager, although perhaps more sophisticated."
“What a remarkably affecting, majestically broad and captivating work it is..what strikes you most is the album’s myriad diversity. Outstanding” (Electronic Sound)

“Whether channelling mid- 70’s Eno, early Aphex Twin or Neu! his vivid sounds shimmer with emotional weight” (Mojo 4*)

"Musically, Van Hoen belongs to a distinguished family tree. Originally influenced by the likes of Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream, and later presaging both Autechre's glitch and Boards of Canada's pastoral IDM." (Pitchfork)

20 Jahre - das letzte Studioalbum der britischen Death-Metal-LegendeThose Once Loyal ist das siebte und letzte Studioalbum der britischen Death-Metal-Band Bolt Thrower. Ursprünglich 2005 veröffentlicht, zählt es bis heute zu den stärksten Werken der Band. Mit präzisem Songwriting, markanten Riffs und einer kompromisslosen Produktion verkörpert das Album alles, wofür Bolt Thrower bekannt sind: kraftvoller, schnörkelloser Death Metal mit Haltung.Die Texte behandeln Themen wie Loyalität, Erinnerung und die Auswirkungen von Krieg - ernst, reflektiert und ohne Klischees. Musikalisch bleibt die Band sich treu: midtempo-lastige Songs, eingängige Gitarrenarbeit und ein wuchtiger Sound, der auch nach zwei Jahrzehnten nichts an Wirkung verloren hat. Ein Album, das sich nicht nur an Fans der Band richtet, sondern auch an alle, die klassischen Death Metal mit Substanz schätzen.Jetzt erhältlich als 20th Anniversary Edition in der neuen Farbe Military Green.01. At First Light - 4:0202. Entrenched - 3:4203. The Killchain - 4:5704. Granite Wall - 3:4705. Those Once Loyal - 4:1706. Anti-Tank (Dead Armour) - 4:1507. Last Stand of Humanity - 3:2308. Salvo - 5:3209. When Cannons Fade - 5:44

Promising label newcomer IGLO returns to Figure with his second EP this year, building on a distinct sonic identity shaped by a background in classical music and live performance. Across five tracks, he further refines his mix of atmospheric depth, precise rhythms, and melodic nuance.
This time, his own voice takes on a more central role, adding a personal and expressive layer to the productions. On opener Computed Love, restrained, longing vocals blend into squelchy synths and minimal grooves - hauntingly beautiful, yet gritty with rumbling machine funk. Determined follows with a more menacing tone, its sharp percussion cutting through a bleak, shadowy atmosphere - perfect for building tension on the floor.
On the flip, IGLO switches up the mood: Enter the State runs on hypnotic loops and chopped-up piano riffs, peppered with cheeky, spoken-word style vocals that nod to ghetto house traditions. It breaks into an irresistible, swinging groove that hits with full force.
Offering a smooth counterpoint, Enlighten drifts into dubby terrain. Soft, ricocheting vocal snippets and warm chords conjure a hopeful, human glow - a bouncy balm for the soul, without losing its forward momentum.
Digital bonus track Find Yourself closes the EP on a spacious, almost sci-fi note - twinkling synths and airy melodies float above crisp textures, like a breath of fresh air at the end of a long night.With X49, IGLO deepens his connection with Figure and sharpens his unique voice - equally grounded in introspection and dancefloor impact, continuing to shape a sound that's thoughtful, bold, and marks him as one to watch.

Recorded with BRIT Award-winning producer Ethan Johns (Paul McCartney, Kings of Leon, Laura Marling, Ray Lamontagne) Ann's debut album Clever Rabbits explores the limits of prescribed identity in a timeless, brave and sensitive challenge of the zeitgeist - Inspired by the Chinese idiom "Clever rabbits need three burrows", and the imagery of three rabbits found in Devon's churches and China's caves, Ann Liu Cannon weaves Anglo-Celtic folklore, sacred texts, the sonic binaries of modern digital synthesis and her classic singer-songwriter roots, with integrity and precision - Clever Rabbits is a story told in her distinctive land of elegant, wonky folk

Air Texture proudly announces its latest artist-curated compilation, “Hardwired,” assembled by Berlin-based musician JakoJako. This expansive collection celebrates the implicit connection between hardware-focused electronic producers, featuring contributions from Rødhåd, Acid Pauli, The Field, Neon Chambers, and many more.

“Hardwired” draws its conceptual foundation from synthesizer terminology. As JakoJako explains: “A hardwired synth has connections already soldered into the machine—it comes with certain functions without needing to patch cables externally. As a hardware producer, I feel whenever I meet someone who creates music as I do, we have this immediate connection, like a hardwired synthesizer. There’s no need for small talk—we can speak about gear.”

This metaphor of pre-established connections forms the emotional core of the compilation, celebrating the community of hardware enthusiasts who share an intuitive understanding and appreciation for machine-based music creation.

JakoJako has established herself as one of electronic music’s most intriguing voices, exploring the territory between technical precision and emotional expression. Her artistic approach balances rigorous knowledge with unrestrained intuition, creating works that reach beyond genre boundaries.

A Berghain resident with performances at Dekmantel and Fusion, to the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican, JakoJako has released music on prestigious labels including Tresor, Mute, and Leisure System, and crafted remixes for artists like New Order and Martin Gore. Her deep relationship with analog and modular synthesis, including her ongoing connection to Berlin’s SchneidersLaden, informs her distinctive sound.

Following her recent Mute album “Têt 41,” this curation for Air Texture provides further insight into the musical universe that has shaped JakoJako’s artistic vision.

“Hardwired” showcases 23 tracks for its digital release, with a select 9 tracks pressed to vinyl. The collection spans the spectrum of contemporary electronic music while maintaining cohesive focus on hardware-driven production approaches.

Highlights include collaborative works between JakoJako and fellow producers Mareena and Frank Wiedemann, alongside contributions from established artists like Rødhåd, Acid Pauli, and The Field, plus emerging talents representing the hardware renaissance in electronic music.

Founded by James Parker Healy, Air Texture emerged from New York City’s late ’90s rave scene, carrying forward the fundamental PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) ethos with a collaborative and curatorial focus. Air Texture has evolved from its roots in Manhattan’s club era and Brooklyn’s warehouse scene to embrace a global perspective, working with producers across diverse styles and regions worldwide through the label and its PLace: nonprofit series.

Am 4. Juli 2025 erscheint das mit Spannung erwartete neue Album von VINTER, das Fans und Kritiker gleichermaßen in ihren Bann ziehen wird. Nach ihrem erfolgreichen Debütalbum "Seasons" entfaltet sich nun auf diesem Werk ein vielschichtiger, emotionaler Klangkosmos, der die faszinierende Entwicklung der Künstlerin dokumentiert. Produziert von Joshua Lange und co-produziert von VINTER selbst, verbindet das Album tiefgründige Texte mit einem abwechslungsreichen Sound, der von Alt Pop über Indie Folk bis hin zu eleganten Singer/Songwriter-Klängen reicht.

Mit ihrem markanten Signaturesound - einer Mischung aus organischen Instrumenten, modernen Beats und atmosphärischen Vintage-Vibes - gelingt es VINTER, in jeder Note Geschichten zu erzählen, die die Zuhörer:innen direkt ins Herz treffen. Ihre Texte, die mal melancholisch, mal unbeschwert leicht sind, spiegeln die Widersprüche und Kontraste wider, die VINTER so gekonnt in ihre Musik einfließen lässt. Ihre Stimme, die sowohl zart und verletzlich als auch kraftvoll sein kann, verstärkt die emotionale Tiefe ihrer Songs und macht jedes Stück zu einem einzigartigen Hörerlebnis. Jedes Lied auf diesem Album ist wie ein eigenständiges Kapitel aus einem unvollendeten Buch, das von zwischenmenschlichen Erfahrungen, introspektiven Momenten und poetischen Bildern handelt.

Zur Veröffentlichung des Albums wird VINTER mit einem exklusiven Record-Release-Konzert im Meistersaal der legendären Hansa Studios in Berlin die Bühne betreten - und das mit voller Band sowie einer beeindruckenden Streicherbegleitung. Ein unvergesslicher Abend für alle Musikfans. Tickets sind bald erhältlich.

Underground Pacific is back with a new double vinyl compilation titled ‘The Only Good Wave is a Dead One’ that confirms, once again, its uncompromising taste for bold electronic music, psychedelic textures, and raw, electrified rock ‘n roll. This release brings together a varied group of artists, each of them adding something special to the journey.

The trip begins with “Excursions” by Gregory Moore, a piece that floats into a humid sonic world, between the nostalgic tones of vintage video game soundtracks, the Fourth World atmospheres of Jon Hassell, and the shimmering calm of ’90s Japanese ambient à la Takashi Kokubo.

Next comes Talee, the Rotterdam-based regular of the label, with “Makes Me Wonder”. Here, grunge-soaked vocals meet a tight dark disco groove, pierced by crystalline guitar chords that shimmer at the track’s heart. A song with its soul in the past and its feet in the club.

Label founder Cantor teams up once again with German duo New Hook on “Achtung! Achtung!”, an homage to the eponymous track by Italian producer Black Saagan. Fueled by vintage drum machines, punk-infused vocals, and melodies echoing the krautrock minimalism of Cluster, the track channels pure Cold War disco energy.

On “Scavengers”, Berlin based World Wild Web and Rasp Thorne deliver a pure mix of electro-rock noir – Suicide by way of David Lynch. Picture a never seen before episode of the series where Martin Rev and Alan Vega are playing live at the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks, while Laura Palmer slowly moves her head to the music, with a devilish smile on her face.

All the way from Grenoble to Berlin, H.L.M. deliver a dirty bass-driven anthem called ‘Fronde’. French spoken vocals spitfire over layers of distorted drones and hypnotic rhythms. The result is rough, hypnotic, and brings to mind the grooves of Death in Vegas.

New Hook return, this time solo, with ‘Unity’: a blend of groovy downtempo percussions, melancholic guitar riffs, and their signature brand of spoken word, a style that’s quickly become their sonic fingerprint.

Then it’s the turn of mexican-wave exponents Montessori featuring Vongold on “Ad Libitum”: a techy sunrise piece with soft pads, subtle build-ups, and an ecstatic sense of endlessness. After-party music for vast, open spaces.
Next up are SX2 from Ireland with their ‘Buttons’, offering a rolling tech-house banger laced with desert guitars. Psychedelic FX’s and whispered vocals drenched in delay slow the pace in a breakdown full of tension, preparing the floor to an euphoric release.

A dream from the pandemic era reappears: Cantor’s “Hannett’s Dream”, originally released in 2020 by Modular’s Project’s imprint ‘Nothing Is Real’ together with their own reworked version present also in two very limited vinyl-collector editions released by Underground Pacific. The introspection and hypnotic structure of the original cut here is replaced by a more stripped down arrangement, with a four-to-the-floor groove that is perfectly crafted for peak-time ignition.

Closing out the release is “Carissima” by the man behind iconic label Wonder Stories, Aimes – a Moroder-esque bassline and sensual vocals play on top of a warm groove that suddenly fractures into jazz-tinged, breakbeat mood, in the style of early Warp Records, just in time to get back into its disco-ish swing.

Contrary to what the title of this release might suggest, the wave isn’t dead at all. It’s well alive in the underground, reanimated by labels like Underground Pacific who are always ready to welcome artists who aren’t afraid to crash genres together and, above all, who are driven by the desire to make free-form, inspired pieces of music.

New entry in the legendary fabric presents mix series, home to standout releases from SHERELLE, Overmono, Saoirse, Kode9, and more.
- Curated and mixed by Pretty Girl – rising star producer/DJ/vocalist known for emotionally rich dance music and a global touring presence including Coachella, DC10, Lost Village, Glastonbury, and more.
- Mix includes exclusive unreleased material, the brand-new single “Innadream”, and hand-selected tracks from Australian and UK scenes.
- A journey through melancholic club textures, groove-heavy house, UK garage, and lo-fi rhythms – all tied together with Pretty Girl’s signature melodic flair.
- Backed by recent remix work for Romy and George Fitzgerald, and the acclaimed EP Get Back To Me.
- Launch party at fabric London (June 6)

o Resident Advisor: “A star in the making”
o Dazed: “Crafting nocturnal soundscapes for the party, the after-party, and the morning train ride home”
o The Sunday Times: “Succession of brilliant tracks”

Pretty Girl is the alias of Melbourne-born, London-based producer, vocalist, and DJ who’s rapidly emerging as a defining voice in emotive club music. Fusing dreamy textures with deep house, UKG, and lo-fi rhythms, her sound bridges dancefloor euphoria with introspective detail. A regular at global festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, and DC10, she’s earned acclaim for both her immersive live sets and expressive studio work. Recent highlights include her Get Back To Me EP, remixes for Romy and George Fitzgerald, and now her most expansive statement to date: a mix for the revered fabric presents series.

Having crested the west coast modular-ambient wave in just a few releases - including 2018's Sharing Waves on the influential LA experimental imprint Leaving Records - Sean Hellfritsch has swapped the mossy analog synth improvisations of his prior output for refined melodic arrangements dressed in sprightly dawn-of-digital textures. Big Earth Energy plumbs the depths of Hellfritsch's multimedia mind and naturalist heart, spinning an impressionistic narrative world off of cultural touchstones like the PC game MYST, and the work of Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi. Inspired by the aforementioned, and guided by Hellfritsch's experience as an animator and filmmaker, Big Earth Energy is the soundtrack to a hypothetical video game with a pointedly ecological premise, and a twist of psychedelic charm. In Hellfritsch's imagined virtual journey, the player assumes the perspective of a treefrog sixty-five-million years ago, hopping epochs with each new level, forming a comprehensive picture of the massive changes the planet has gone through over the eons. The ultimate goal of the game is not to amass resources, defeat enemies, or gain power, but to fully witness the unfolding of one of the biggest systems of energy imaginable - or as the album's creator puts it - "to explore the incomprehensibly vast energetic expression and mystery that is Earth." Big Earth Energy is steeped in exploratory RPG intrigue, possibility, and contemplation, lovingly overlaid with Miyazaki-an sentiments and aesthetics. The through-composed, organic, meandering synthesis heard on previous Cool Maritime albums has been fully replaced by meticulous polygonal arrangements that recall the computerized sheen of late 80s work by composers like Hiroshi Yoshimura, and Yoichiro Yoshikawa - using true-to-period gear no less. Even given its referentiality, Big Earth Energy comes off as forward-facing where so much reminiscent music remains fixed to a bygone moment in pop culture. Hellfritsch has created a musical world where the endless verdancy of the biosphere finds its parallel in the golden age of early 1990s video games, and late 80s Japanese environmental music, all while pointing to a hopeful planetary and artistic future that vindicates the motives of all of these muses.

First Word Records are proud to present the debut single from Above The Clouds (aka kidkanevil & Magic Manfred) with their instrumental take on an MF DOOM classic, 'Arrow Root'

One of the original First Word roster, UK Producer/DJ and all-round laptop music geek kidkanevil has developed a distinctive and progressive sound over the years, gleefully exploring the beats and bleeps of the electronic music universe to international recognition. Leeds born, sound system bred and raised on a (un)healthy diet of video games and anime, his solo work inhabits the curious space between bass frequencies and otaku culture. But as a devoted teenage backpack rap nerd, somewhere in the back of kid's mind was a lingering desire to reconnect with his first love, hip hop.

Not long after moving to Berlin he joined a studio space in graffiti plastered Kreuzberg, where he met multi instrumentalist wizard Magic Manfred; a disciple of all things boogie, disco, funk and soul. Born and raised in Berlin, and currently a touring musician for many an act, Manfred's musical map joins the dots from piano lessons at four, to starting a band with his teenage friends, leading him to his true calling - the bass - via the club vibrations of his hometown, which introduced him to the world of DJing and production, and a stint studying in the explosive London jazz scene to finalise his Jedi training.

Bonding over their mutual love of '90s hip hop, a friendship and musical kinship developed, coupled with a desire to honour past eras but push things forward, Above The Clouds was born; named after their joint favourite DJ Premier beat, with a touch of irony regarding their basement based studio of a windowless variety.

kidkanevil explains "We did a number of covers to sort of get warmed up and in the pocket, of which 'Arrow Root' was one. I actually interviewed DOOM once, mask and all, and I always regretted I forgot to ask him about the original sample. It's been one of my favourite DOOM beats forever and it came up in conversation one day, then manifested pretty quickly into a session. It came together with relative ease and quickness, which is usually a good sign. Manfred worked out the chords and I remade the drums in about the same time frame. Mario is an exceptional saxophone player based in Berlin, so a few text messages later she came by the studio and nailed the entire thing on her first take. And that was that, our humble tribute to the supervillain!"

This one is backed up on the flip side with 'Tram Delay Beat'; a low slung neck-snapper teasing more of what's to come.

This is the first single from the duo, with a long player now in the works…

Above the crowds, above the clouds, where the sounds are original, infinite skills create miracles…

Mit ,Backstage" hat Jay-Jay bereits sein 15. Album veröffentlicht, und seine Inspiration wird ständig erneuert. Hier finden wir die grundlegenden Elemente seines musikalischen Universums: Jazz, Triphop, Pop und sogar einen Hauch von Easy Listening. Die erste Single ,How Long Do You Think We're Gonna Last?" bietet einen köstlichen Soul-Sound, der auf den ersten 14 Alben von Jay-Jay nicht zu hören war. Auf ,Backstage" singt Jay-Jay zum ersten Mal in seiner Diskografie einen Song komplett auf Französisch, der Rimbaud gewidmet ist. Der Text stammt von dem französischen Schriftsteller Renaud Santa Maria. Schließlich liefert Jay-Jay eine persönliche Version von ,Lujon", dem Kultsong zum 100. Geburtstag des Komponisten Henry Mancini. Aufgenommen in Stockholm im Winter 2024, wurde das Album in Paris von Alex Gopher (Air, Phoenix, Bob Sinclar...) gemastert. Für JJJ-Hardcore-Fans: In der Auflage von 1000 LPs gibt es 20 goldene Tickets zu gewinnen, die nach dem Zufallsprinzip verteilt werden. Die goldenen Tickets berechtigen zu einer VIP-Einladung zu einem beliebigen Jay-Jay Johanson-Konzert + Backstage-Treff mit Jay-Jay Johanson. Die CD-Version hat indes zwei Bonustracks aufzuweisen.

“Recorded at BBC Broadcasting House and partially aired on BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction, the first studio encounter between London-based duo Exotic Sin and Swiss percussionist Julian Sartorius is now published in full on this album from Sagome.

Winding through six distinct and interconnected paths, the trio effortlessly create a shared language in this expansive improvised session.

Listening back two years later — the session was recorded on March 24, 2023 — it’s evident how they build at a relaxed pace, offering space for the listener to enter into their evolving sound. Anchored by piano, delicate wood, metal, and air instruments, a fluid system of interactions develops: repeating, deepening, but not fixating. The direction of travel is not cyclical or linear and the pace insists on forward confidently, avoiding the trap or comfort of recurring motifs.

Percussion is not a timekeeper, but a key element, introducing new textures that even on the final track Path 6, trace out a horizon that feels more like a blurred beginning than a definitive end.

In Session, Exotic Sin moves into a lighter, perhaps more playful language for improvisation than on their debut album Customer’s Copy. This could be influenced by Sartorius’ tactile approach to sonic materials or the more stripped-back nature of the improvised session, with less emphasis on synthesised and electric sounds. While the emotional imprint from their debut album—murkier and insistent—remains, it has been aired out to dry. In Session, their sound-world is broad and moves with levity.”

Andrea Zarza Canova – April 2025


Music by
Kenichi Iwasa (electric and acoustic percussion, trumpet, horns, thumb piano, effects).
Naima Nefertari (piano, Yamaha keyboard, flute, bells, percussion).
Julian Sartorius (drums, percussion).

Recorded and mixed live for Late Junction at BBC Broadcasting House, London, on the 24th of March 2023 by Joe Yon and John Boland.
Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi.
Produced by Silvia Malnati at Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 3.
Extracts from the session were played on Late Junction on the 14th of April 2023.
Artwork by Josef William Back.
Graphic design by Nicola Tirabasso.

Founded in 2020 by Austrian producer Lee Stevens, Rising Seed has evolved into a joint venture with Ken Hayakawa and a collective of guest musicians. Blending Acid Jazz, Trip Hop, and Disco, the project bridges the warmth of live instrumentation with the depth of electronic production.
With a strong focus on recording and re sampling real instruments, Rising Seed crafts a rich, organic sound—where vintage samplers, drum machines, and analog textures meet hypnotic grooves and cinematic atmospheres. Inspired by artists like Moby, Kruder & Dorfmeister, and Massive Attack, their debut album True Lies unfolds like a layered collage, blurring the lines between past and future, truth and illusion.
The opening track, “Follow Me,” perfectly embodies this fusion: sampled instruments and vocal snippets blend seamlessly with live recordings of flute and saxophone, all set against a funky drum break. “Gone West” does the unthinkable—marrying a house groove with esoteric vocals, live sitar by Amrith Jan, and—why not?—a touch of harmonica. “Like A Lion” is a dub-infused downbeat track packed with crusty blues samples.
On “Freedom,” we hear a more minimalist side of Rising Seed, with a tight brush-drum arrangement and densely layered sitar melodies. Another high point is “Soldier of Peace,” featuring even more funky sitar and a subtle acid line, reminiscent of the early days of big beat. It’s followed by “True Lies,” which elegantly distills the downbeat sound of the late '90s while staying true to the Rising Seed formula.
“Psych Jazz” is, as the title suggests, both psychedelic and jazzy, albeit with a somber, low-slung trip-hop feel, while “Don’t Worry” is equally trippy yet more upbeat, carried by a moaning vocal sample that urges us not to worry. Finally, “Stay with Me” closes the album with a jazz-infused vibe that is both moody and uplifting, its shuffling drum groove and elegant piano melodies providing a fitting conclusion.