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Produced by Wild Rivers and Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Adrienne Lenker), "Better Now" consists of eight tracks that complement the recent album Never Better, as the group dives deeper into the complicated, confusing and unknown realities of life in their twenties, and the personal growth they’ve found through it all. Of the new project, Wild Rivers shares: “Better Now" is our companion record, and the other side to "Never Better".

On the first record, the songs contain raw, absolute and instinctual feelings. In many ways, Better Now is the afterglow of this. We’re reflecting and understanding that relationships change over time. Complicated situations can be just that, complicated. Feelings can remain unresolved. If the first record is bright and bold, this one is the softer gradients in between; the sunrises and the sunsets. Both projects make up the full spectrum of who we are.

"Better Now" is just the moodier, misunderstood one. Musically the records really are twins. We wrote all of the songs at the same time. Finishing Better Now, we really felt that it was the close of a massive musical and personal chapter. It’s bittersweet but so meaningful to be able to chronicle our lives between these projects. Ultimately, we are optimistic; ‘better now,’ after the ups and downs of the relationships and turbulence of our twenties. Hopefully we’re wiser for it.”

The Blessed Madonna began with three magic words, scrawled in shoe polish on a broken - down box and hung on the wall at a small sweaty party: We Still Believe. “I think you have to give up completely to really understand what hope is. It was like 2011? I had spectacularly, monumentally failed. I left the label. I wasn’t DJing. I wasn’t putting out records. I was divorced and living on my Dad’s couch so naturally my friends and I decided to throw an illegal rave. We didn’t have any decorations, so I took a box and wrote, ‘We Still Believe’ on it. I needed to believe that something better was possible and that’s how it all started.” After years of $50 gigs, strung together by gas money and surfed couches, The Blessed Madonna cemented her reputation as a sublime technician behind the decks with a legacy of fluent and dynamic sets, spanning from disco to techno to house and back. One room sweatboxes, circus tents, theatres, massive festival stages and entire city blocks have all served as the canvas for her shows. After a jam packed 2023, from Glastonbury to Sonar to Boiler Room Bali, The Blessed Madonna has been filling the dance floor everywhere she goes and is now releasing her debut album.

Smart Alex, the brainchild of Laurant Webb and Dave Coker from the iconic Housey Doingz, has unveiled a standout reissue single on Sushitech. Specially Hot is a massive house sound system track that has been a secret weapon for Fabric residents for many years. The A side also includes a groove-laden chugger, never before released remix. Blow Your mind on the flip side is an original massive dub tracks. This heavyweight release seamlessly blending the original London house sound with Sushitech's distinctive dub-based style.

DJ Support: Massimiliano Pagliara, Lauren Lo Sung, Make A Dance, ADMNTi, Jeremy Sylvester, Locky, SUCHI, Daisy Moon, Martyn Bootyspoon, Storm Mollison

Beeyou Records proudly presents False Promises, the latest EP from Dennis Quin, an artist known for his timeless, soul-moving House music.

First up on the A side Reactivate delivers a high-energy garage vibe with punchy basslines and crisp percussion. This is then followed by Diamond Hunting is a bumpy 4x4 track that works on every dancefloor.

Flipping on the B side Dennis opens up with Accidentally that blends classic House grooves with playful modern production, followed by False Promises (Original Mix) bounces with a lovely vocal and vibrant House energy. The EP finishes off with Well Conducted a track that howcases Dennis’ other styles with a downtempo, chilled vibe.

Vom Opener bis zum letzten Track vermittelt Soul-Crooner Joseph Malik dem Hörer, dass er sich auf einer musikalischen Entdeckungsreise durch äußerst originelle Soundlandschaften befindet und dass PROXIMA EBONY den Beginn einer neuen Ära der Zusammenarbeit mit internationalen Musikern markiert. Zu diesen zählen Hip-Hop/Rap-Künstler*innen wie Antoine Green aka Capitol A, Kameelah Waheed und DJ Nasty P und Top-Musiker wie Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive), Chris Franck (Smoke City, Zeep) und die renommierte Jazzharfenistin Alina Bzhezhinka, die alle einen Trip durch vielfältige Genres mit Einflüssen von Afro-Futurismus über Dirty Soul und Punk Funk bis zu 1970'/80'er Disco und Acid Techno unternehmen.

Here comes No Obligation, the second full-length release from THE LINDA LINDAS further advances their unironic, joyful, and exciting trajectory of mashing up L.A. punk with alt-rock, garage rock, power pop, new wave, rock en español. No Obligation was written and recorded by the band during spring breaks, winter breaks, and long weekends (Lucia and Eloise are still in high school, Mila just finished middle school, and Bela is patiently waiting for them to get done with it already) and was produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Best Coast, Bleached). Known for their incredible musicianship and live performances, the band who has shared stages with and opened for Paramore, Japanese Breakfast, Jawbreaker, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, are about to embark on a massive two-month tour across America with Green Day. Look for headlining shows at small clubs in between-including a sold-out gig at the famously DIY Gilman Street in Berkeley. The new album, No Obligation, is out on October 11 . No Obligations. No expectations. No limits for THE LINDA LINDAS.

Here comes No Obligation, the second full-length release from THE LINDA LINDAS further advances their unironic, joyful, and exciting trajectory of mashing up L.A. punk with alt-rock, garage rock, power pop, new wave, rock en español. No Obligation was written and recorded by the band during spring breaks, winter breaks, and long weekends (Lucia and Eloise are still in high school, Mila just finished middle school, and Bela is patiently waiting for them to get done with it already) and was produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Best Coast, Bleached). Known for their incredible musicianship and live performances, the band who has shared stages with and opened for Paramore, Japanese Breakfast, Jawbreaker, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, are about to embark on a massive two-month tour across America with Green Day. Look for headlining shows at small clubs in between-including a sold-out gig at the famously DIY Gilman Street in Berkeley. The new album, No Obligation, is out on October 11 . No Obligations. No expectations. No limits for THE LINDA LINDAS.

Hardwarez, the third LP by Master Boot Record (aka MBR) on Metal Blade, sees multi-instrumentalist mastermind Vittorio D'Amore (aka Victor Love) aurally exploring the duality of technology and humanity in 9 intense and incandescent tracks. The LP, which follows 2022’s Personal Computer and 2020’s Floppy Disk Overdrive, comes from the expansive mind of Love, an Italian producer who emerged from the underground as an anonymous project in 2016 to create the soundtrack for the cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game VirtuaVerse. The project seamlessly evolved into a standalone entity, releasing over 14 albums in just a few years.
To create Hardwarez, the technologist worked by live streaming his desktop on YouTube while composing new music. Everything is programmed via MIDI. “The very first song I wrote is actually also the first single, “CPU,” he says. “Even though the other songs on the album have a quite different style, the type of riffing and the different melodic section of this track worked as a base to upgrade the sound before moving forward.” “CPU” is also where Love decided to test the real guitar overdubs and was inspired by the results.
“With every album I’ve upgraded bits of the sounds, adding new layers,” he says. “In Hardwarez the core sounds for synth guitars, leads and pads are still those that constitute the trademark MBR sound, but what makes this album very different is the addition of guitar overdubs that play along synth guitars for both the rhythmic and solo sections.”
Intensive touring augmented with live musicians helped Love to make the decision to include real guitars to achieve a massive sound and boost the enhanced frequency spectrum of the instrument. “On this record there are a lot of heavy riffs with palm muting and my lead guitarist Shreddy recorded most of those leads and solos as well playing in unison with synth leads and adding extra energy to them.”

Lee Ranaldo and Rob Menard have been friends and collaborators for years and this split cassette release on Important Records' Cassauna label amplifies their unique musical personalities and sonic compatibility. Both artists contributed over 30 minutes of music making this a pair of mini-albums on one tape.

Ranaldo plays Farfisa, electric guitar, tres, marimba, bass and bells, taking the listener on a lyrical, hazy, ride full of life, time and echoing riff shimmer. Massive vibes from author, artist, Sonic Youth gtr slinger.

Rob Menard (Ascension Sound), delivers a mini-album of washed out, minimal lo-fi astral guitar and feedback drones. Menard founded the 20 Guitar Circular Wall Of Angelic Sound and practices vibrational frequency healing.

Hardwarez, the third LP by Master Boot Record (aka MBR) on Metal Blade, sees multi-instrumentalist mastermind Vittorio D'Amore (aka Victor Love) aurally exploring the duality of technology and humanity in 9 intense and incandescent tracks. The LP, which follows 2022’s Personal Computer and 2020’s Floppy Disk Overdrive, comes from the expansive mind of Love, an Italian producer who emerged from the underground as an anonymous project in 2016 to create the soundtrack for the cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game VirtuaVerse. The project seamlessly evolved into a standalone entity, releasing over 14 albums in just a few years.
To create Hardwarez, the technologist worked by live streaming his desktop on YouTube while composing new music. Everything is programmed via MIDI. “The very first song I wrote is actually also the first single, “CPU,” he says. “Even though the other songs on the album have a quite different style, the type of riffing and the different melodic section of this track worked as a base to upgrade the sound before moving forward.” “CPU” is also where Love decided to test the real guitar overdubs and was inspired by the results.
“With every album I’ve upgraded bits of the sounds, adding new layers,” he says. “In Hardwarez the core sounds for synth guitars, leads and pads are still those that constitute the trademark MBR sound, but what makes this album very different is the addition of guitar overdubs that play along synth guitars for both the rhythmic and solo sections.”
Intensive touring augmented with live musicians helped Love to make the decision to include real guitars to achieve a massive sound and boost the enhanced frequency spectrum of the instrument. “On this record there are a lot of heavy riffs with palm muting and my lead guitarist Shreddy recorded most of those leads and solos as well playing in unison with synth leads and adding extra energy to them.”

ANTON NEWCOMBE and DOT ALLISON just announcedthat they will be releasing an album together under the moniker All Seeing Dolls. ''Parallel' will be out in February 2025. Upfront they share the single 'That's Amazing Grace' (backed with "Siren's Echo iron Lung") and make available this 2-track 10" as a limited teaser. Anton Newcombe is the founder, the sole constant and the creative mastermind at the centre of one of music's most fascinating bands; Brian Jonestown Massacre. He's a frontman, songwriter, composer, studio owner, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, father and force of nature. There have been 21 BJM albums over the last 30 years, each embarking on their own mind-expanding adventure and exploring the outer realms of rock'n'roll; psychedelic rock, country-blues, snarling rock'n'roll, blissed-out noise-pop and more. Newcombe has established himself as a once-in-a-lifetime talent, a revolutionary force in modern music and an underground hero. Dot Allison released her debut solo album Afterglow in 1999. Over the years she has strived to keep the listener on a journey - and herself too. She revolts against what she has done before, to evolve and not just occupy the same space. That journey has taken her from Afterglow's broad church (trip-hop, Tim Buckley-esque ballads, dance tracks, chilled psychedelia) to the sultry synth-pop of We Are Science (2002), the lush, baroque Exaltation Of Larks (2007) and the eclectic, rootsy drama of Room 7½ (2009). After a hiatus to raise her family she returned with the graceful acoustic folk record Heart-Shaped Scars (2021) and the haunting, barely there beauty of Consciousology (2023). The range of guest stars on Allison's records is equally broad: where else would you find a cast list that includes Kevin Shields, Hal David, Paul Weller, Pete Doherty and Darren Emerson. Likewise, Allison's own guest roles with the likes of Massive Attack, Scott Walker, Slam, Philip Shepard, The Babyshambles & Pete Doherty, underlining the huge respect her peers hold her in.

Next up on Funnuvojere Records is label boss Massimiliano Pagliara’s highly anticipated ‘Hooking Up’ EP. Featuring four distinct club belters, each one is crafted to suit different moments of the party. The new EP once again truly showcases Massi’s deep understanding of the dancefloor.

The title track, ‘Hooking Up’, is a cosmic pop song infused with Chicago house influences, embodying Pagliara’s signature style at its best. The track is a journey through lush melodies and infectious rhythms, capturing the essence of Pagliara’s sound and setting the tone for the rest of the EP.

‘Last Kiss (On Acid)’, is a pulsating acidic banger designed for late-night parties where the energy is high, and the walls are dripping with sweat. ‘Fave Rave’ is characterised by its dirty bass line that conjures the foggy, intimate atmosphere of a packed dance floor.

Closing the EP is ‘Poseidon’s Dream’, a cheeky Italo disco hit that brings a playful, nostalgic, but no less energetic finish to the release. With its catchy melodies and upbeat tempo, the track is the perfect way to end the night on a high.

Drawing inspiration from David Hockney (a favourite artist of Pagliara), French artist Grav Jonz crafted the beautiful artwork. Hockney’s influence permeates not only the artwork but also serves as the muse for the entire EP, weaving his unique artistic spirit throughout.

* From Karma Recordings comes their eigth EP. They are continuing their trend of getting their heroes from the 90’s to remix the original sound. The massive rave icon Ellis Dee, one of the biggest producers on the planet brings his unique blend of piano sounds to the hands in the air anthem Warehouse Crew by DJ KOS, as well as featuring the original. DJ Ande has gone a little different with his hardcore tune Trip Home Pt 1 which is a nod to the classic hardcore tunes Trip to the Moon by Acen. To round things off web ring back DJ Terrace to hammer home a wicked tune in Top Gun which makes this another belter of an EP not to be missed.

Kreaturen der Nacht sehnen sich in die 80er Jahre des letzten Jahrhunderts zurück. Post-Punk und New Wave stiegen zu glorreichen Höhen auf und diese epische Erforschung dunkler Klangwelten auf der Basis von harten Gitarren und treibender Elektronik fand auf allen alternativen Tanzflächen statt. Klangvolle Namen wie SISTERS OF MERCY, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM, DEPECHE MODE, JOY DIVISION, THE HUMAN LEAGUE, ULTRAVOX und viele andere funkeln noch immer in einem magischen Glanz. Zum Glück sind all die subtile Erotik, elektrisierende Spannung und die düstere musikalische Leidenschaft nicht für alle Zeiten verloren gegangen: Die Rettung naht mit SOROR DOLOROSA auf schwarzen Schwingen. Das vierte Album der Franzosen mit dem vielsagenden Titel "Mond" hat musikalische Reißzähne, die schon beim ersten Durchgang köstliches Klangblut sprudeln lassen. Der klassisch-dunkle Post-Punk findet sich ebenso wieder wie Wave-Elemente und ein überwältigender Drang, die Füße in ekstatischen Tänzen unter dem namensgebenden Mond bewegen zu müssen. Doch SOROR DOLOROSA gehen dabei keineswegs mit abgestandenem Nostalgie-Schlangenöl hausieren. Die nach Paris umgezogenen Veteranen haben das klassische Feeling mit dem massiven Sound des neuen Jahrtausends für einen neuen Höhenflug aufgerüstet. Die Idee, den Mix und das Mastering von "Mond" James Kent anzuvertrauen, erweist sich als hervorragender Schachzug. Der PERTURBATOR-Vordenker hat die üppige Produktion dieses epischen Albums mit einer vibrierenden Power und wohltuenden ätherischen Kühle aufpoliert. Textlich bleiben SOROR DOLOROSA dem seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2001 in der südfranzösischen Stadt Toulouse eingeschlagenen Weg treu. Die erstmals mit der "Severance" (2009) Debüt-EP manifestierten dunkel-romantischen und kathartischen Gefühlslandschaften lassen noch immer das Herz der Band schlagen. Die Inspiration für "Mond" stammt unter anderen aus den Federn von Dichtern und Schriftstellern wie William Blake und Edgar Alan Poe.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco’s first collaboration on Vaya Records, the bestselling album Celia & Johnny, Craft Latino proudly presents this remastered reissue featuring (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Featuring massive hits such as “Quimbara,” “Toro Mata” and “Canto a La Habana,” the iconic album catapulted the legendary Cuban singer’s status as the “Queen of Salsa.”

“Everything here is a gem. Neneh triumphs with a seamless and unorthodox blend of hip-hop, R&B, dance music, and pop” 4 ½/5 Allmusic

Coloured vinyl reissue of Neneh’s second album – first UK reissue on vinyl since its release in 1992. On release the album gained favourable reviews (4/5 in both Q and Rolling Stone) with Allmusic labelling the album “magnificent and risk-taking”.

The singles “Money Love” and “Buddy X” charted internationally with album track “Trout” featuring Michael Stipe and receiving heavy airplay on US alternative radio. Portishead’s Geoff Barrow co-wrote and co-produced “Somedays” and “Move with Me” appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 Sharon Stone film Sliver.

The Swedish-born, UK-based artist started her musical career in The Slits going on to gain global recognition as a solo artist with her 1988 single ‘Buffalo Stance’ from the album “Raw Like Sushi’. Always irreverent, unpredictable and stylish, she has now released five studio albums and collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Massive Attack, Michael Stipe, Lenny Kravitz, Geoff Barrow and Four Tet, won two Brit Awards and been nominated for a Grammy.

“Loves Love” jettisoned STÜM into 2024 and now “Beautiful Dancers” is here to take him ever higher.

As the second single off his forthcoming Essence Of Time EP, “Beautiful Dancers” is a blissful yet haunting take on techno. This track is total club rapture made up of ghostly vocal calls, static-like percussion and howling wind effects. A record of mixed emotions, pleasure and pain all blended up into 6 plus minutes.

Speaking on the tune, STÜM says “The songwriting process involved juxtaposing the organic with the synthetic weaving together contrasting sounds to mirror the duality of human emotion.”

Third in line is “Limbo”, a heaving acid hit full of hypnotic foreign instruments and vocals. This one gives off a massive street party feeling. From there we head to “Escape” a more dreamy and introspective bell-tone tune. A deliberate breather from STÜM before storming into the title track of the EP.

“Essence Of Time” is a shimmering rave piece. Dulcet piano intertwines with airy effects and hammering synths – another excellent example of STÜM’s ability to blend light and shade all at once.

Parisian label Chuwanaga is proud to present their latest 12-inch series release from Jéroboam, "Brexit Funk / Peckham Night". The band, also known in the streets of Paris and Montreuil as Echoes Of, is celebrating Britfunk and the rich musical heritage of Greater London, reflecting their deep appreciation for the iconic Britfunk sound. After several successful collaborations celebrating the genre with the label at the infamous New Morning venue in Paris, Jéroboam has crafted two brilliant compositions for this EP.

"Brexit Funk" is an electrifying homage to the classic London Jazz-Funk scene of the late seventies and early eighties. It is a tremendous track, reminiscent of the early sounds of Incognito and Freeez, infused with the energy of Hot Cuisine and Hi-Tension. It features a standout brass section, amazing solo performances, and a strong rhythm section. Having played in London and now across the whole UK, the band decided to ironically name this track as a musical memory of this strange transition.

On the B-side, you’ll find "Peckham Night" and its dub version, an outstanding composition that perfectly emulates the late seventies soul-jazz vibe. Beautiful vocals by singer Agyei blend seamlessly into this perfect composition. All along, you really feel the band coming together, bringing out the best of their soul. It really is the work of passionate and experienced musicians who have built strong confidence playing together for years.

Jéroboam is a group of 10 Parisian funkateers recognized as one of the biggest funk outfits on the current French scene. They already boast extensive live experience and a solid reputation between Paris and London. In addition to their original and popular tributes to American funk cities of the 70s-80s, they have also gained attention as a formidable backing band for Howard Johnson, Junior Giscombe, and Kyoto Jazz Massive. Having also released two highly acclaimed EPs on the Space Grapes label, they continue to work on their own original compositions under the name Jéroboam, with their debut album scheduled for release in 2025.

Most of the writing of Naima Bock's second album, Below A Massive Dark Land, was a solitary affair. It may not sound like it - it's made up of strong, purposeful arrangements with a huge host of musicians, filled with cradling space and warm light. This will also come as a surprise to anyone who has seen Naima perform in the time since the release of her 2022 debut Giant Palm, which was undoubtedly a communal experience. But there's power in the solitary, too. Giant Palm was arranged with collaborator Joel Burton, but going this one alone in search of something that was truly hers, Naima found she was capable of more. "After me and Joel stopped working together", she remembers, "it was an impossibility to even fathom doing arrangements myself but then I started learning violin and it was possible". Finding that she could go it alone was incredibly powerful for Naima: "I think I needed it, to be able to feel proud of something". Beyond the writing process, however, the record is not a stark, stripped back affair. Below_ still has the majesty that made Giant Palm so remarkable. Having tugged the first record down from the skies and spreading it across the earth, Naima finds a newfound vocal power and confidence born from hundreds of hours on stage, and the music sounds fuller, more tangible, and no less enveloping. This can be heard on the album's lead singles: "Kaley" feels fresh and surprising in its rug-pull choppiness but is distinctly Naima in its swinging, jubilant choruses. The accompanying "Further Away" takes a different tack, drawing you in with its simplicity. Finally, the hazy, luxurious beauty of "Feed My Release" draws on the sepia-toned traditions of The Roches, John Prine and Loudon Wainwright III and imbues them with the kind of stark confessional songwriting of Mount Eerie. These are ambitious, rich arrangements that reach deeper and darker lyrically than Giant Palm. Below a Massive Dark Land was predominantly produced by Jack Osborne (Bingo Fury) and Joe Jones, and recorded at The Crypt in north London, with additional production and arrangement by Oliver Hamilton (caroline, Shovel Dance Collective) and Naima herself. Six of the tracks on Below_ were mixed by Jason Agel, with the remainder done by Osborne and Jones. The album was mastered by Kevin Tuffy.

Two seminal 12" mixes of a pair of Michael Wycoff heavy hitters from 1982. One a two-step favourite and one a Loft classic, these sought-after versions have never been paired on the same record.

Side A features the smooth-gliding anthem "Looking Up To You". The unmistakable snap of that sighing intro is unlike anything else. As such, it's no surprise that Leon Ware, celebrated master of the unexpected chord, has his fingerprints all over the track. Co-written with Zane Grey, "Looking Up To You" stands among the very best of Leon's staggering bank of compositions, both solo and with Michael Jackson, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye. It's such an influential track, serving as the sample foundation of a massive top five R&B hit for Zhane in 1993, but it has never been bettered upon. Original 12" copies - if you can find them - go for over £50 today, making this side worth the price of admission alone.

If that wasn't enough, it's arguable that the B-Side wins again. A staple of David Mancuso's New York Loft parties, the Tee Scott mix of uplifting boogie gem "Diamond Real" is on another level entirely. A DJ legend of infamous clubs Better Days and Zanzibar and a trailblazing innovator, Tee Scott mastered the art of the reconstructive club mix.

For maximum destruction of discerning dancers, we've opted for here for his heavenly dub. 7 minutes of devastatingly slick dance floor dynamite, at once polished and dilapidated, its ecstatic charm is universal.

Devout lovers of modern soul have long worshipped the rapturous, sophisticated funk of Michael Wycoff. In combining that richly elegant voice, redolent of Donny Hathaway, with the production of keyboardist and arranger Webster Lewis, it's no surprise that both of these tracks became vital club classics of the early 80s R&B scene. Clear, full-bodied and bright - the 12" versions of these tracks are notoriously punchier than those featured on Wycoff's LP, and feature boomin' low end and neck-snapping drums. Buy on sight.