Brooke Combe, a rising Scottish singer-songwriter, delves deep into her soulful roots with her new album Dancing at the Edge of the World. This album marks her most authentic work yet, blending rich, emotive vocals with contemporary soul sounds. Brooke’s music captures the essence of heartbreak, empowerment, and self-discovery, resonating with a broad audience.
Reissue of a lost hit by the British composer Kevan Frost, now championed and given a brand-new Dub Mix by Mark Grusane. Up for pre-order now and due late-March on our RSS series!
Kevan Frost grew up in Jos, Nigeria where he became a self-taught musician and developed a deep understanding of rhythm and melody. In the 90's, Frost was a session musician for many studios in London, one of these was unable to pay him so they gave him a few free days in the studio and the result was "Give It Up" as he explains:
"I went in and recorded all the music in a day, and the vocals and mix on day two. This was the days of only having 24 tracks available on tape so I programmed the drums, bass and keyboard parts on C-Lab which was only available on the Atari computer and the samples I made on my Akai S-1000 sampler. Full of floppy disks I went in early on day one and printed all of this on tape. I then recorded the guitar parts. Day two was me layering the lead vocals and Backing vocal parts as quick as I could before starting to mix."
However, the track fell into obscurity with no major label backing or marketing budget. A friend of Mark Grusane’s came across it in Brooklyn at the African Record Centre and it eventually ended up in Mark's hands and from there he edited the original track to a more stripped-back dub mix and began playing it out to great effect on dancefloors.
After a bit of digging, we tracked down Kevan and a fully licensed reissue is due on Rush Hour in late March 2026, including a brand new ‘Dub Mix’ from Mark Grusane.
An instrumental counterpart to ‘Man Kill Man’ by Lone Ark meets The 18th Parallel, ‘Kanata’ marks the debut solo release of Japanese saxophonist extraordinaire Yuko Arakawa.
A member of ZIONHILL SESSION—the collective led by Mr. Saito, who also lends his trombone to this recording—Yuko Arakawa channels a deep reverence for the legacy of Count Ossie and the pioneers of Nyahbinghi instrumental reggae. Her playing moves with a spiritual intensity, echoing the meditative roots sound of Cedric 'Im' Brooks, while igniting flashes of raw, untamed energy reminiscent of Sugar Belly. The result is a living, breathing sound—both grounded in tradition and reaching beyond it.
Roberto Sánchez delivers a deep Mutron Bi-Phase dubby mix that expands the sonic horizon of the track. True to its title, ‘Kanata’ (彼方)—a Japanese word meaning ‘far beyond’ or ‘in a distant place’—invites the listener into a meditative journey, drifting across time, space, and memory.
PROMISE is the latest album from Brooklyn-based producer Ibe Soliman, aka Bad Colours. Known for his blend of house, proto-techno, rap, and soul, Bad Colours delivers a dynamic, emotionally resonant record. Driven by hypnotic rhythms and personal storytelling, PROMISE explores themes of vulnerability, desire, and transformation. It's a versatile album designed for both dancefloors and introspective listening.
PROMISE is the fourth LP from Bad Colours on Bastard Jazz, following 2024's collaborative album with Cor.ece, Been Here Before. Soliman's career spans over a decade—DJing alongside artists like James Murphy, Mark Ronson, and Q-Tip, and producing for Kendrick Lamar, Faith Evans, Keyshia Cole, and Rick Ross. His work has received support from KCRW, KEXP (including multiple Midnight in a Perfect World mixes), and CBC Radio 3, and has charted on both the NACC Top Electronic and Top 200 charts. Bad Colours has been featured in press outlets like NYLON, Nonderland, Resident Advisor, Electronic Groove, and Fusicology. His music has appeared in Netflix's Escape from Spiderhead, Hulu's Woke, Disney's Chang Can Dunk, Showtime's American Gigolo, Valorant's Rising Stars, and more.
Soul Music legend Candi Staton returns to her down-home Alabama roots on her 32nd album, Back to My Roots. The twelve-track Americana set features an array of Staton-penned originals and some well-chosen covers.
"These songs represent my roots," Staton adds as she reflects on her many trials and triumphs. "Even the new songs on some level represent something I've experienced and that's what real soul music is about." Back to My Roots was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks. “Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”
Staton received the Americana Music Association UK’s highest honour, the International Lifetime Achievement Award, at the UK Americana Music Awards ceremony at Hackney Church in London last year for her southern soul work that stretches from her 1969 Muscle Shoals hits to her more recent collaborations with the likes of Americana kings Jason Isbell and John Paul White.
The album opens with a mid-tempo Bonnie Raitt-styled contemporary blues “I Missed the Target Again” that finds Harry Connick Jr.’s longtime guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. (aka the Prophesying Guitarist) showing off his skills that set the tone for the song and the album.
Staton’s older sister, Maggie Staton Peebles (who alongside Staton was a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s), joins her for two duets. The first, “It’s Gonna Rain,” features just a drum, steel guitar and vocals. “My mother used to sing that song to us all the time when I was a child,” Staton recalls. “It’s a really soulful kind of song I wanted to revisit.” They then take turns leading Thomas Dorsey 1939 gem “There Will Be Peace in the Valley” that Elvis Presley popularized in the 1950s.
“Hang on in There” is a new, mid-tempo song that has an old school gospel flavour and features vocals from veteran bluesman, Larry McCray.
While in Europe in 2023 for her farewell concert tour that took her to the Glastonbury Festival and Love Supreme, Staton and her British band, PUSH, went into a London studio to record a new version of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 gem, “Shine A Light.” “I love the way that came out,” Staton says. “We put a big choir on it and put our own twist on it.”
From there, Staton revives another Thomas Dorsey classic, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow,” with a bluesy vibe. When Al Green started recording gospel in the early 1980s, he re-introduced this song into the culture.
“God’s Gonna Use Me Anyway” is a new mid-tempo blues with subtle Caribbean influences.
The mood takes a turn on “1963.” It’s a poignant, spoken-word reflection on September 15, 1963, when four black girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. “I was in the city that day and I remember the chaos and horror after the bombing,” Staton recalls. “Just thinking of how racism and hatred caused those men to kill those girls was so emotional for me that I could only do it in one take.”
It's a perfect segue into "Reach Down and Touch Heaven," a haunting, plea for divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. "That's straight Baptist," she says. "I used to be a church pianist back in the 1960s. I've never played piano on one of my records before so that's a unique song for me because I’m finally playing on one of my records. The message of that song is about the homeless. It came to me when a homeless person on the street asked me for $5. When God touches your heart to help somebody else that’s heaven to God’s hears. So, when we reach into our purse or wallet to help someone, we’re touching heaven."
Staton offers love as an antidote to hate on the bouncy, Motown-styled, “Love Breakthrough.”
Her publicist brought Aaron Frazer & the Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY’s 2017 cut “My God Has a Telephone” to Staton’s attention. She shifts the track from a retro 1960s groove to more of a 1980s Malaco Records arrangement, a subtle but distinct variation. Staton brought in her longtime friend and STAX Records legend, William Bell (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Trying to Love Two”), to add raspy seasoning to the track.
The album closes with the wistful, “In God’s Hands We Rest Untroubled,” that was originally written and recorded by the late country star, Lari White, who died in 2017 at the age of 52. “Lari sent me that song to consider at least ten years ago and I always loved it,” Staton says. “The record label didn’t want it on the album or something, so I just held it.”
Staton says, “I grew up hearing a lot of these old songs when they were new songs. I toured with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and we got to know people like Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and others who sang these types of songs. So, I’m sort of paying tribute to them and the influence they had on me by refreshing these songs and making new songs in the old style.”’
Multi-faceted musician and co-founder of the Hungry Music label, Worakls, has unveiled the full tracklist for his stunning production 'Orchestra', an ambitious project filled with 10 brand-new productions, including recent single 'Cloches.'
Allowing his musical film influences to fully express themselves by incorporating them into his music, 'Orchestra' combines the grandiose feeling of album opener 'Nikki' with the melodic rhythms of 'By The Brook', and wistful yet percussive tones of tracks like 'Detached Motion.' Packed with cinematic elements throughout, Worakls explains his creative process, stating:
'Along the years, I have become more sensible to the emotions of film music, and I wanted to lead my universe into that direction. My aim is to mix in the emotions of this music with the freedom and energy of electronic music.'
With the original music composed to be specifically played with an orchestra, the album is accompanied by a tour of the most prestigious venues in Europe where Worakls will be accompanied by an orchestra formed of 20 musicians. Having recently kickstarted the schedule in Paris, the tour will take in a further 9 sold-out dates across France and Belgium throughout February, March, and April.
Spending the last ten years travelling the globe's most prestigious concert halls and festivals, Worakls' journey into composition started at the age of 3, learning the piano amidst his family of musicians. However, it was the 2015 launch of his 'Hungry Band' group alongside fellow frenchman N'to and Joachim Pastor which earned the French producer widespread acclaim. Proving his skills in composing film scores as well as electronic and orchestral productions, Worakls recently scooped the 'Best Original Soundtrack' prize at the Deauville Green Awards for Ushuaia and InFocus. The accolade was awarded to Worakls for his work on 'Une Oasis d'Espoir' alongside Nicholas Van Ingen & Jean Baptiste-Puchain.
More than a first album, more than a show, 'Orchestra' is the culmination of an inimitable artist whose inspirations touch all generations of music lover. After more than a decade of waiting, 'Orchestra' marks the first solo album from Worakls, and is set for a physical release in Spring 2019.
Limited repress!
What is it about New York City, that concrete jungle that continually inspires the creative spirit? From Warhol’s Factory to Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage to David Mancuso’s Loft, collectives that celebrate and nurture unfettered, organic artistry have been absolutely intrinsic to the story of this sprawling metropolis. Its latest chapter is being written at the hands of ‘The Maestro’, Grammy Award winner Louie Vega and his Expansions NYC parties, the sound documented in his latest album Expansions In The NYC (Nervous Records).
Starting in February 2019 in Manhattan and Brooklyn venues, Vega’s Expansions NYC parties have their origin not in his revered prowess as a DJ but rather his whole-hearted appreciation of the different elements of the dance floor surrounding him: the dancers, the musicians who bring their instruments to join him ad-hoc on the night, the small, dedicated crowd of clubbers whose ears to the ground keep them informed on the underground party information. The events included 6-hour DJ Sets with Louie under his select curation, and would usually end with 3 AM jam sessions involving keyboardists, guitar players and poets all performing in front of a jam packed crowd. In just a few short years the Expansions NYC events have evolved into an NYC-clubland institution, an intimate celebration of house, funk, disco, afro, R&B and more.
As with his parties, so goes his album. The collective vibe that forms the beating heart of Expansions NYC parties is absolutely front and centre in Expansions In The NYC, Vega drawing in one of the most comprehensive lists of collaborators in recent memory. House heavyweights Honey Dijon, Joe Claussell, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and Anané rub up against legendary vocalists Bernard Fowler, Cindy Mizelle, Lisa Fischer, Audrey Wheeler and Tony Momrelle. Gospel royalty BeBe Winans and Debbie Winans, pop icon Robyn and rising star Karen Harding sit alongside disco-era champions Unlimited Touch, Cuban jazz pianist Axel Tosca, Nico Vega, Two Soul Fusion with Josh Milan and Vega and underground legend DJ Spinna. At the centre of it all, fingerprint on every beat, touch on every groove, sits a master at work, weaving the individual threads into a rich dance music tapestry.
"In the past few years I’ve found new inspiration both from the musicians I’m working with and the audiences coming to see me at my DJ shows,” Vega says. “So for me this album represents new beginnings, bringing together a beautiful mosaic of artistic perspectives to express musically what we call Expansions In The NYC."
At its heart, Expansions In The NYC is a love letter to New York, as much as melting pot as the city it represents, the scope of its line-up possible only because of the influence and reverence of Vega the artist, the DJ, the producer, the curator. In creating this album, Louie Vega has once again utterly enriched the lives and libraries of music lovers the world over, far beyond the hustling streets of NYC that have so indelibly left their mark on his work.
Following standout releases on acclaimed underground imprints like Klasse Wrecks, Planet Trip, Superior Elevation, and more, Brooklyn-based producer GEE DEE steps into a new chapter with the launch of his very own label, FREE UNIVERSE. The debut release, IT’S A FEELING, is a vibrant four-tracker that showcases his deep-rooted love for hypnotic grooves, playful textures, and dance floor-ready energy.
The title track, “IT’S A FEELING, ” leads the charge — a punchy, genre-blurring cut that captures the essence of GEE DEE’s sound: raw, emotive, and rhythmic. “ENERGY LOOP” follows with a bright, bouncing bassline and cheeky percussion, keeping spirits high and bodies moving.
On the B-side, the legendary KIM ANN FOXMAN delivers a sped-up, psychedelic reimagining of “IT’S A FEELING. ” The remix brings a darker, tunneling energy to the original, twisting it into a late-night trip that’s equal parts hypnotic and propulsive. Closing things out is “TWO VOICES” — a heady,
'90s-inspired roller drenched in spaced-out textures and woozy synths. A bold first statement from FREE UNIVERSE, this release marks a fresh new chapter for GEE DEE — producer, DJ, and now label head — continuing his journey of pushing boundaries across the spectrum of underground dance music.
Machine Girl's debut album celebrates its tenth anniversary with a long-awaited reissue, which marks the first time it arrives on CD as well as vinyl. Originally released in 2014, WLFGRL fused footwork, jungle, digital hardcore and rave into a chaotic, euphoric sound that helped launch a global underground movement. The album's packed with raw intensity and plenty of breakcore influence so it introduced a new generation to extreme electronic music and to celebrate its return, a one-off livestreamed show at Brooklyn's Trans-Pecos accompanied the release. As we are reminded listening back now, WLFGRL is a real high-water mark in outsider music culture.
One of the most iconic labels in house music made a major return in 2024. King Street Sounds is celebrating its legacy with a series of re-releases that dive into its extensive back catalogue, showcasing some of its biggest releases. One of these being Dennis Ferrer’s iconic debut solo album The World As I See It from 2006. A body of work that sounds as good today as it did 19 years ago and, in that time, has gone on to become one of the greatest house music albums of the last 25 years. This release will be the first time all ten tracks from the album have been included in one vinyl package, and will include a frameable, double sided record sleeve sized poster. With copies of previous editions of the album costing close to £100 on the second-hand market, this limited sky blue vinyl edition will give a new generation of house & electronic music fans an opportunity to own this piece of dance music history.
Mita Gami & EREZ join forces for collaboration ‘Where’s My Voice?’ Uniting the rich sounds of Tel Aviv and NYC via Los Angeles, Mita Gami and EREZ combine again for their latest collaboration, ‘Where’s My Voice?’. Marking their first collaborative appearance on Damian Lazarus’ esteemed Crosstown Rebels, the single follows their previous work together on Borders Of Light while welcoming EREZ to the label for the first time.
A mainstay within Tel Aviv’s thriving scene, Mita Gami returns to Crosstown Rebels following his acclaimed remix of Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff’s ‘Renegade’ alongside Adam Ten. With prior releases on labels such as Diynamic, REALM and his own Maccabi House imprint, he continues to showcase his artistry while pushing boundaries. Meanwhile, EREZ, an artist known for seamlessly blending her mesmerising vocals and intricate production, makes her label debut after recent standout material on Get Physical Music and Discotexas.
‘Where’s My Voice?’ is a driving composition that pairs EREZ’s intoxicating vocals with hypnotic rhythms. A journey through tension and release, the track builds a captivating and trippy atmosphere that showcases the duo’s ability to craft evocative trips for the late hours. On the flip, Brussels-based DJ/producer and Sanctuary Music founder Samer Soltan adds his own take and steers the original into deeper territory, guided by commanding stabs, brooding melodies and intricate textures.
Mita Gami’s artistic vision extends far beyond the studio, curating ‘Sunrise Kingdom’ at Midburn Festival and performing on global stages such as The Brooklyn Mirage, Lightning in a Bottle Festival, and Hï Ibiza. Similarly, EREZ’s dynamic live performances—effortlessly transitioning between instruments—have earned her spots at Coachella, Outside Lands, and The Brooklyn Mirage. With ‘Where’s My Voice?’, the pair explore sound, emotion, and rhythm, adding to their places as innovating talents in the electronic music sphere.
2025 marks 50 years since the release of Donna Summer’s debut international hit ‘Love To Love You Baby’. To herald in this milestone anniversary, we proudly present this newly expanded edition of Donna’s classic hits collection “On The Radio”. • This 24 track/2LP collection features the international hits that propelled Donna’s popularity through the decades, from her 1976 UK Singles chart debut up until her 2008 studio album and includes eighteen UK Top 20 hits. • They include ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Bad Girls’, ‘This Time I Know It's For Real’, ‘Down Deep Inside (Theme From 'The Deep')’, ‘I Remember Yesterday’, ‘Love's Unkind’, the vocal powerhouse track ‘No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)’ with Barbra Streisand and the groundbreaking #1 ‘I Feel Love’. • Donna Summer gained prominence during the disco era of music, rightly earning the title "The Queen of Disco" and becoming one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s and all-time best-selling female Artists. • She was the first artist to have three consecutive Double Albums hit No. 1 on the US Billboard charts, as well as becoming the first female artist to have four No. 1 singles in a thirteen-month period. • Donna’s catalogue has sold more than 130 million units worldwide and her music is still relevant today, as her music continues to fill the radio airwaves, appears in TV programmes, movies, as well as TV commercials. • In 2023, her daughter, Brooklyn Sudano, who along with Roger Ross Williams, directed “Love To Love You, Donna Summer”, a documentary that followed Donna’s personal life and career. The film had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival and was screened at SXSW. HBO released it in May 2023. • Earlier this year, Donna was posthumously awarded a Recording Academy Special Merit Lifetime GRAMMY, as well as ‘I Feel Love’ being inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame
a 1. Love To Love You Baby Single Edit
b 2. Could It Be Magic 7" Version
c 3. I Feel Love [Edit]
[f] 6. Love's Unkind [7" Version]
[g] 1. I Love You [Single Version]
[h] 2. Rumour Has It [Single Version]
[i] 3. Last Dance [7" Version]
[j] 4. MacArthur Park [Single Version]
[k] 5. Heaven Knows [7" Version]
[l] 6. Hot Stuff [Single Version]
[m] 1. Bad Girls [Single Version Edit]
[n] 2. Dim All The Lights [7" Single Version]
[o] 3. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) [7" Version]
[p] 4. On The Radio [7" Version]
[r] 6. State Of Independence [7" Version]
[s] 1. She Works Hard For The Money [7" Version]
[t] 2. Unconditional Love [Edit]
[u] 3. Dinner With Gershwin [Edit]
[v] 4. This Time I Know It's For Real [7" Mix]
[7" Remix]
[PWL 7" Mix]
June 11, 2024 — Today, techno titan Charlotte de Witte announces her latest electrifying single, “How You Move”. The dynamic production is the second revelation from her highly-anticipated “Roar” EP, set to be released on vinyl June 20th. In sync with her latest offering, de Witte will captivate New York City once again with a monumental takeover inclusive of an Extra Butter Merchandise pop-up and a massive KNTXT show at Brooklyn Storehouse, marking a significant moment as one of the first headliners to conquer the new venue.
“How You Move” is a testament to de Witte’s signature style of pushing boundaries and encapsulating the raw essence of the techno genre. The release boasts a fusion of pulsating acid and a mesmerizing energy that promises to resonate deeply with listeners, mirroring the intense, adrenaline-fueled experiences of her live performances.
From Charlotte de Witte:
"This has been such a fun track to make. It's a high energy track containing all of the ingredients that I love the most: straightforward, engaging vocals and a powerful acid line. Show me how you move, how you get down!"
It’s a sonic exploration of motion and intensity, syncing with the heartbeat of the city that never sleeps. Coinciding with the release, de Witte’s forthcoming KNTXT takeover at the Brooklyn Storehouse is poised to be a highlight of the summer, aligning with the visceral energy of the “Roar” EP. Situated in the heart of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, The Brooklyn Storehouse is the first US-based venture from Broadrick Live – Drumsheds, and former Printworks operator – brought to fruition in partnership with Teksupport. The venue has been designed to host up to 6,000 attendees, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience.
Following her takeover last year that electrified New York City, de Witte returns to the city that never sleeps with an even bigger spectacle. Last May, de Witte kicked off an electrifying campaign and tour for her “Overdrive” EP which featured a pop-up store at Extra Butter, two sold out shows at Brooklyn Mirage and a guerilla-style surprise performance that closed down Orchard Street in NYC. This June, de Witte will deliver a high-octane immersion for New Yorkers once again with her second consecutive KNTXT pop-up shop at Extra Butter. Opening on Friday, June 21, the KNTXT pop-up at Extra Butter Lower East Side will offer exclusive merchandise, limited-run apparel and unexpected live music experiences at every turn, uniting loyal fans and new audiences alike.
Ralph Session is a producer who has been making his mark on the house music scene dropping quality underground house music since 2009. The New Yorker, now based in Barcelona, has racked up well received releases on some of the hottest labels around including Razor n Tape, Local Talk, Nervous, Moulton Music, Large and Exploited and continues to head up his own label Half-Assed as a platform to curate the culturally deep sound of his native New York City. For his Freerange debut he’s joined forces with LA producer and vocalist Juliet Mendoza who can also be found dropping gems for the likes of Planet E, Ocha and Shaboom.
Freak sees Ralph stay true to his roots once again with all the US house hallmarks present and correct. Muscular beats keep things punchy and with plenty of weight and energy whilst the simple stabs and vibraphone hook and just the right touch of musicality without getting in the way of the all important groove. Juliet Mendoza adds the icing on the cake with her spoken word urging you to cut loose on the dance floor.
Detroit’s own Ladymonix steps up for remix duties and turns the Freakometer up to 11. Fresh from output on her own Frizner Electric label as well as Planet E, Toucan Sounds and Studio Barnhus, she twists things into an otherworldly house jam which will lock you into it’s minimal groove. By glitching out the vocal and keeping the groove stripped to the core Ladymonix has created a club track that will stick in your head long after the lights come up.
In addition to these two versions we also have Ralphs own Brooklyn Bounce Mix and an instrumental to get your teeth stuck into.
The latest 7" single on Bob Stanley's MEASURED MILE label is a floor-filling double-sider.
The percussion-and-woodwind driven ‘Night Of The Wolf’ has been played out at northern soul nights in the UK, at Brooklyn discotheques in the mid-70s, and originally it was an Italian progressive rock album track. Much loved by everyone. It was issued as a super-rare US 45 in 1975 under the name the Al Foster Band, and this is its first official reissue.
ACT 1's 70s modern soul midtempo classic ‘It’s The Same Old Story’ also got played out in the early discos of New York, Chicago and LA, but it was only ever an album track. This marks its first ever release on a DJ-friendly 7". Get it while you can!
Voted DJ Mag’s Underground Hero in 2022, DJ & producer Lauren Flax has been a fixture in Brooklyn’s electronic scene for two decades. On her latest project Liz & Lauren EP, she teams up with Liz Wight of shoegaze techno duo Pale Blue, whose sultry vocals explore questions of love and isolation to the tune of Detroit house and acidic techno.
Flax and Wight became fast friends in 2021 after being introduced by Pale Blue member & 2MR co-founder Mike Simonetti, who’d enlisted Flax to remix Pale Blue’s “Breathe.” Naturally, when Flax needed a vocalist for some tracks she was working on shortly after, she knew just who to call. “I was in my last year of grad school doing an internship in community mental health helping kids cope with the trauma of the pandemic,” Wight says of the time. She channelled this experience as she wrote and recorded the lyrics to Liz & Lauren EP from her home in Los Angeles.
As a result, the lyrics on Liz & Lauren EP are open-ended musings on connection, isolation, and convention. Lead single “Fix Everything” can be read both as an indictment of the trappings of marriage or, on Flax’s view, a rousing call to action, applicable to issues ranging from the degradation of the environment to the attack on LGBTQ+ rights in America. As the EP progresses, Wight’s airy vocals consider the pitfalls of love, from the destructive power of infatuation to the pain of outgrowing a relationship.
Sonically, Liz & Lauren EP feels like a natural progression from Flax’s first release on 2MR, 2021’s Out Of Reality, which saw her exploring a more minimalist production style for the first time in her work. “I Don’t Want To Hurt You” and “Fix Everything” pulse with bright, dynamic production, while slow burner “Return To Love” takes a sparser approach, anchored by a muted drumbeat and a simple, earworm synth refrain. “I’d Risk It All To Be With You” is a masterful balance of both; it even gets the club treatment on the EP’s closing remix, courtesy of Flax’s friends Mark Archer and Simon Neale (Shadow Child) of MASC.
Liz & Lauren EP is an impassioned collection that showcases both Flax and Wight’s artistry in equal measure. For both artists, it’s a testament to stepping outside the norm (DJing for Flax, performing in Pale Blue for Wight) and collaborating with others, the fruits of which are sure to be felt on the dancefloor for years to come.
Named "best kept secret of Canadian funk" by the Quebecois newspaper La Presse, The Brooks are a band of accomplished musicians, well-known in the soul/funk scene across the Atlantic. Expert instrumentalists led by Alexandre Lapointe create a dazzling combo with frontman Alan Prater— an incredibly energetic showman who has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry. This passionate and experienced band fan the sacred fire every time they perform! Thanks to a solid realization, their musical message comes across beautifully. The Brooks go beyond mere interpretation and style exercises: they are a powerful groove machine and a driving force in their sector. 50 years of African American music are condensed in the band's aesthetic. In their live shows and in their records, you can hear James Brown's meticulousness, D'Angelo's delightfulness, Fela Kuti's radiance, Herbie Hancock's intergenerational openness, and J. Dilla's innovative spirit. These heroes of music didn't let rules and trends dictate their messages, and neither do The Brooks. Just like these history makers, they built their reputation with sweat and rigor, outside of conventional channels. The Brooks are incredibly hard workers united in a project where pleasure and complete artistic freedom are the only key words. After 8 years of existence, with an EP and two albums, they have already won many awards and nominations (GAMIQ, Independent Music Awards, ADISQ...) and built a solid reputation in the Quebec indie world.
Who are The Brooks? First, there's the icon, Alan Prater! This Florida-born musician can boast that he shared the stage with the Jacksons! Thanks to his many trips and experiences, he became a key member of Montreal jazz. He is the band's biggest asset: if The Brooks were a sports team, Alan Prater would be captain. Then, at the drums: Maxime Bellavance, one half of the Beat Market duo, whose "dancy and retro futurist" groove can be heard in several major and underground projects in Canada. Philippe Look aces guitar and vocals. His experience as a session musician working with famous bands for 20 years allowed him to take part in different projects: rock, downtempo, trip hop, electro… As one of the founding members of The Brooks, he also wrote many of the band's songs. Keyboardist Daniel Thouin is an integral part of the Montreal jazz scene. He is both an accomplished acoustic piano player and synthesizer player, well versed in writing as well as in improvising, in organic sounds as well as in the latest technologies. Thouin possesses a double vision, which allows him to both exalt and lead productions. Composer Sébastien Grenier wows us with his saxophone. Thanks to his theoretical knowledge and his 20 years of experience, acquired through continuous training all around the world, he is a true guiding force. French trumpetist Hichem Khalfa begun learning the instrument at 7 years old. He attended a musical conservatory before going to the Haute École de Musique and finally pursuing his studies at McGill University. He won prizes at Rimouski International Jazz Festival and received the François Marcaurelle prize at Montreal Off Festival. His successful jazz projects allowed him to work with famous musicians like Blitz the Ambassador, Nomadic Massive, Rhonda Ross and Kalmunity. Philippe Beaudin can be considered an apostle of Afro-Latin percussions, which he teaches and practices with great passion. Thanks to his participation in several projects, you can discover his talent both on stage and onscreen. The Brooks' philosophy is based on art in its rawest form, on perfectionism in musical practice. The choices they make and the directions they take are motivated mostly by instinctive feelings. This is how The Brooks recently crossed the path of Underdog Records during a trip in France. It was love at first sight for the two groups who share a passion for soul. Their chemistry allows them to be completely free in their creative process and natural as ever in their conception-creation-communication approach.
Disco pioneer and mix/production legend John Morales leaves his signature mark on his version of these two modern disco cuts cooked up by Philadelphia's Michael The Lion and Brooklyn’ Amy Douglas & Steven Klavier.
After the success of 'Funk Train' and 'Get It On', we wanted to push further and deeper and make an EP. As we started working, we knew there was one song that could be a successor to 'Get It On' - a song about overcoming hard times in our own personal lives. We wanted a chorus and a message that would burrow into your subconscious and become a kind of mantra - 'Find A Way'. Our incredibly talented friend, the vocalist Steven Klavier, was the perfect collaborator for this, and we three wrote something to stand the test of time. When struggles find you, and times are hard... reach down deep, look to the light, and “Find A Way.”
Layton Giordani steps up for his first solo EP of 2018. In terms of pedigrees, it doesn't get finer than Layton Giordani.
The Brooklyn-born DJ/producer followed up his lauded debut album of 2017, with a collaboration with Danny Tenaglia to close out the year and marked the summer of 2018 with a three-way collaboration with Adam Beyer and Green Velvet, 'Space Date'.
The period has been a big one for Layton personally, also. From humble beginnings in his native NYC as an Output resident, to being thrust into the bustle of the European club and festival circuit, he's enjoyed a stint living in Amsterdam, growing and developing over this time. All these experiences have had a fundamental influence on him and his music.
The four-track EP 'Phase II' represents a new chapter for this exciting talent. Beginning with 'New York to Amsterdam', a track that draws inspiration from the Yves Deruyter's classic 'Back To Earth', Layton's work packs a memorable punch as tough acidic undertones and brain scrambling synth effects undulate raising the intensity, making it a perfect opener for Adam Beyer when he played Berghain earlier this year. Following this, 'Enter the Stratosphere' is steely electro-tinged techno paired with atmospheric licks of melody, awhile maintaining the artist's trademark low-end chug. On the B side, 'Body Language' follows, a track written when Layton was scrubbed out of touring for a month courtesy of a shattered elbow from a skating accident. Not wasting the downtime, he's crafted a cut that's sleek, sexy and smart, with a seductive vocal and rousing melodic riff that runs throughout. Closing out the EP, 'Black Mirror', stays true to its dystopic name, a stomping rave cut that pummels dancefloors with a menacing lead synth that's purpose built for the cold months ahead. A classy conclusion to an EP from one of techno's brightest talents.
Black Vinyl[23,95 €]
Uni Boys waltz back into our lives spinning thundering playful songs full of ideas on a self titled power-pop LP recorded all analogue across two weeks with Paul D. Millar in Brooklyn and once again with cameos from friends The Lemon Twigs. The raw power of Uni Boys undeniable pop has marked them for rock’n’roll greatness from the start. With a unique feel for classic melodies — worn proudly on their sleeves, delivered tongue in cheek, and charged with the swagger of restless youth — they’ve won the hearts of their young generation’s music scene and earned the respect of their legendary predecessors.
Power Pop saviors recorded in all their analog glory on their third Curation Records long player UNI BOYS. Returning to NYC under the sonic thumb of Paul D. Millar (Lemon Twigs/Tchotchke) Noah Nash and Lemon Twigs drummer/guitarist Reza Matin have crafted 12 new songs of introspection, heartbreak and young love - the follow-up to their success with‘BUY THIS NOW!’. The resulting ‘UNI BOYS’ album is their most listenable, radio-ready (if this was 1979) record to date, it's so super catchy you’ll not get away easily.
