This release holds special significance as it captures MC Conrad’s final recording session, completed just days before his passing. On the day of the session, Conrad and DJ Prime Cuts laid down the chorus for Together, with plans for further writing that tragically never came to be. This release is both a tribute and a responsibility for DJ Prime Cuts, honoring Conrad’s last creative contribution and sharing it with the world.
Proceeds from the single will go toward the MC Conrad Foundation and a GoFundMe campaign, supporting Conrad’s son and continuing his legacy.
A-side Together is a vibrant electro-funk track combining chopped vocals, jazz-infused loops, and MC Conrad’s legendary voice. DJ Prime Cuts’ production masterfully blends the soulful essence of Roy Ayers with innovative, future-forward rhythms. The 130 BPM tempo breaks from Conrad’s typical work, but this track pushes beyond genres, creating a timeless piece that speaks to both artists’ versatility.
The B-side, Our Time Is Now, stands as a high-energy tribute to Roy Ayers. It showcases DJ Prime Cuts’ prowess as a producer, blending deep basslines with techno-infused elements to create a track that’s both innovative and nostalgic. Originally conceived as part of the tribute to Ayers, the track celebrates the present moment and is a powerful homage to one of music’s greatest legends. With its infectious rhythm and dynamic production, Our Time Is Now is a must-listen for electronic music fans and Roy Ayers. "
Cerca:mc prime
- 1
- A1: The Bird
- A2: Heart Don't Stand A Chance
- A3: The Waters (Feat. Bj The Chicago Kid)
- A4: The Season / Carry Me
- B1: Put Me Thru
- B2: Am I Wrong (Feat. Schoolboy Q)
- B3: Without You (Feat. Rapsody)
- B4: Parking Lot
- C1: Lite Weight (Feat. The Free Nationals United Fellowship Choir)
- C2: Room In Here (Feat. The Game & Sonyae Elise)
- C3: Water Fall (Interlude)
- C4: Your Prime
- D1: Come Down
- D2: Silicon Valley
- D3: Celebrate
- D4: The Dreamer (Feat. Talib Kweli & Timan Family Choir)
Ten years ago, Anderson .Paak didn't just release an album; he staged a full-scale takeover of the soul and hip-hop landscape. Released on January 15, 2016, Malibu served as the definitive arrival of an artist who had spent years grinding in the underground before a star-making turn on Dr. Dre’s Compton. While his previous work hinted at his potential, Malibu was the moment the world met the "Cheeky Andy" persona in full—a virtuosic drummer, a raspy-voiced crooner, and a sharp-witted rapper all rolled into one. The album is a sprawling, sun-drenched journey through the Southern California coast, blending 1970s funk, church-reared gospel, and gritty boom-bap into something that feels both nostalgic and entirely futuristic. With a heavyweight production lineup including 9th Wonder, Madlib, Kaytranada, and Hi-Tek, the record maintains a warm, analog texture that was a breath of fresh air in an increasingly digital era. It’s an album that breathes, full of intentional imperfections and the kind of "in-the-pocket" groove that can only come from a seasoned live performer. Beyond the infectious, dance-floor-ready energy of tracks like "Am I Wrong" and "Come Down," the album is a deeply autobiographical masterwork. .Paak uses the 65-minute runtime to unpack his life story with startling clarity, touching on his mother’s gambling addiction, his father’s incarceration, and his own brushes with homelessness with a sense of resilience that never feels heavy-handed. He weaves these heavy themes through a lens of triumph, grounded by vintage surfing documentary samples that give the project its cinematic, coastal atmosphere. It’s a celebratory record born out of struggle, anchored by his impeccable technicality on the drums and a guest list—featuring ScHoolboy Q, Rapsody, and The Game—that feels hand-picked to complement his specific brand of West Coast swagger. A decade later, Malibu stands as a modern classic and the blueprint for the soulful revivalism that would eventually lead .Paak to global superstardom and Grammy-winning heights. It remains a testament to the idea that the most profound music often comes from the most personal places, proving ten years on that the best way to move forward is to stay rooted in the groove.
Season 2 formed in late 2024, bringing together seasoned Melbourne musicians with previous and current projects including Parsnip, The Stroppies and Phil and the Tiles. The five piece, comprising Carolyn Hawkins, Claudia Serfaty, Charlotte Zarb, Freya McLeod and Matt Powell, quickly set to work writing winsome, DIY, shimmer-pop hits that careen through your mind in a gratifying dizzy rush.
With a clear collective vision and little time to waste, Season 2 spent 2025 writing and recording, appearing live only a handful of times. Finally, this April, the band are primed for their debut release, a full-length album entitled 'Power of Now'. ‘Power of Now ‘is a cerebral explosion of melody, hooks, drones and rhythm. In the vein of The Feelies, The Vaselines and The Clean, Season 2 have whipped up a sonic whirlwind. It's a giddy thrill of snappy slap, catchy gang vocals and crystalline guitar refrains.
'Abundance of Power' is a bittersweet bop of ponderous bass, crisp chord flashes and grounded vocals that dwell on slighted futures and bored realities. 'Becomes a Dream' is a delirious race of scrappy strumming and flying phrases that unsettle as much as they pinball endorphins - "pour the ink into the sand, watch the dog it bites the hand". "Tell me something, elbows on the table, I'll tell you nothing, leave you tugging at the cable" they sing on the peppy future single 'Tugging at the Cable', capturing a certain innocent, wide-eyed expressiveness. Season 2 do sparky well, their songs are instant rewards, tunnelling into your subconscious and testing the dance floor. They keep everything moving, the beat and the conversation. Season 2 sound barely controlled and all the better for it, you have no choice but to be swept up.
'Power of Now' was recorded by Alex Macfarlane (The Green Child, Chateau) and mastered by Mikey Young. It will be released digitally and on LP (black vinyl) on April 24th, internationally via Upset The Rhythm and locally in Australia by Spoilsport Records.
- A1: Bicep – Chroma 001 Helium
- A2: B.d.b – Chroma 002 L.a.v.a
- A3: Dove – Chroma 003 Bi83
- B1: Bicep – Chroma 004 Rola
- B2: B.d.b – Chroma 005 A.l.o.e
- B3: Bicep & Hammer – Chroma 007 Steall
- C1: Bicep & Eliza – Chroma 008 Tangz
- C2: Dove & Kehina – Chroma 009 Kr36
- C3: Bicep – Chroma 010 Brillo
- D1: B.d.b – Chroma 011 A.l.o.e Ii
- D2: Bicep & Eliza – Chroma 012 Tangz Ii
BICEP – das nordirische Duo Andy Ferguson und Matt McBriar – kündigt „CHROMA 000“ an, eine limitierte Sammler-Vinyl-Edition mit einer Sonderverpackung, die Tracks ihres Labels CHROMA zum Abschluss der Serie zusammenfasst und zwei neue Bonusversionen enthält. Sie umfasst zwei Schwarze Schallplatten (140g) mit maßgeschneiderten „Terrain6“-6-Wege-Hyperfarbdruck-Außenhüllen. Jede Einheit enthält außerdem eine 12-Zoll-Neon-Acrylplatte mit Lasergravur (eine von vier einzigartigen Versionen, die zufällig mit jedem Produkt geliefert werden), die alle in einer durchsichtigen braunen Mylar-Hülle mit Pantone-Siebdruck untergebracht sind. Wie bei allen visuellen Produkten von CHROMA basiert das Design des Boxsets auf der einzigartigen und unverwechselbaren visuellen Identität von CHROMA, die in Zusammenarbeit mit David Rudnick und seinem Terrain Studio entstanden ist. Diese basiert auf einem maßgeschneiderten visuellen System und einer Typografie, die sich durch alle Aspekte des CHROMA-Projekts ziehen, vom Artwork über die Pressefotos bis hin zu den visuellen Elementen, die von Zak Norman, dem visuellen Partner von BICEP LIVE, entwickelt wurden und die er in die unglaubliche CHROMA AV-, Licht- und Lasershow integriert hat. Die Veröffentlichung von „CHROMA 000“ bildet nur einen Teil des ehrgeizigen, weitreichenden CHROMA-Projekts von BICEP, das sich über fast zwei Jahre hinweg über ihr eigenes CHROMA-Plattenlabel, eine Reihe kuratierter Veranstaltungen und eine sich ständig weiterentwickelnde hybride DJ/ Live-CHROMA-AV-Show entwickelt hat, die rund um den Globus getourt ist und über 70 Shows vor mehr als 500.000 Menschen gespielt hat, darunter Prime-Slots bei legendären Festivals wie Glastonbury, Parklife und Coachella sowie zwei ausverkaufte Takeovers im Londoner Finsbury Park, Brighton Beach und aufeinanderfolgende jährliche Takeovers im Londoner Drumsheds mit einer Kapazität von 15.000 Besuchern.
- A1: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Flowdan - Our Sector (Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy Remix)
- A2: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Coby Sey - Ultimately (Amotik Remix)
- B1: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Flowdan - Our Sector (Quelza Reinterpretation)
- B2: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Coby Sey - Clean Slate (Alarico Remix)
Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy, Amotik, Quelza, and Alarico remix four tracks from Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem’s collaborative album ‘Layer One’. Released last year on the pair’s label LAYER, each artist on the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP retains the weighty, low-end edge that shaped the album, while reinterpreting four tracks through a myriad of techno, IDM, bass, and experimental shades.
Honouring the conceptual direction of ‘Layer One’, which delved into a post-human world and offered a serene reflection on a realm that continued to flourish in the absence of humanity, the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP echoes the same theme. The remaining human survivors on Earth signal a remembrance of their sensibilities, told through the powerful lyrics and vocals of grime MC Flowdan and interdisciplinary artist Coby Sey.
Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy open the EP with their remix of ‘Our Sector’ featuring the commanding vocals of Flowdan. Fragmented bass-driven textures skitter across the sparse soundscape, culminating in a track primed for the weirder hours of the night. On ‘Ultimately’, Amotik delivers his take on the original featuring spoken word by Coby Sey, and whips up a rolling four-four number pierced with bleepy percussion.
On the flip, Quelza’s reinterpretation of ‘Our Sector’ unfolds with zappy motifs and technoid flourishes, permeating the shadowy pads and spine-chilling harmonics that slink through the atmosphere. Alarico remixes ‘Clean Slate’, serving a potent techno track laced with equal parts restraint and release, enhanced by Coby Sey’s taut vocals.
While the original album represented the more exploratory sides of Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem, the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP offers a further step into the void, led by five contemporary artists who are unafraid to delve into the murkiest corners of the dystopian world conjured up by Klock and Mohem.
- A1: Ojah With Hugh Masekela - Afro Beat Blues
- A2: Letta Mbulu - Mahlalela
- A3: Baranta Feat. Miatta Fahinbulleh - Amo Sakesa
- B1: Letta Mbulu - U Se Mcani
- B2: Baranta With Miatta Fahinbulleh - Tepo
- B3: The Zulus - Za Labalaba
- B4: The Zulus - Aredze
- C1: Baranta With Miatta Fahinbulleh - Witch Doctor
- C2: The Zulus - Joala
- C3: Baranta With Miatta Fahinbulleh - Ahvuomo
- D1: Letta Mbulu - Melodi (Sounds Of Home)
- D2: Baranta Fet. Miatta Fahinbulleh - A Cheeka Laka Laka
- D3: Johannesburg Street Band - Awe Mfana
- D4: Letta Mbulu - Macongo
The Chisa Years: 1965-1975 (Rare and Unreleased) is a compilation album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album consists of 14 rare or forgotten tracks recorded by Stewart Levine and Hugh Masekela from 1965 to 1975 when they ran their own Chisa Records label.Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote 'In sum, there isn't a weak moment on this entire collection. It's appeal is wide and deep and one can only hope this is the first of many volumes of this material to appear. BBE Records has done a stellar job in making this slab available.' Dan Nishimoto of the Prefix Magazine stated 'The compilation focuses on Masekela's original idea of 'African American Music.' From the early experiments of the Zulus (a group featuring M'Bulu) in mixing doo-wop, rhythm & blues and South African gospel and the mbaqanga/'Grazing in the Grass'-style work of the generically named Johannesburg Street Band to the clearly Fela-influenced Ojah (Masekela's band in the mid-'70s, consisting of players from Ghana and Nigeria) and the readyfor-primetime belting of M'Bulu, each track reveals a multi-pronged effort to find and challenge the notion(s) of how African and American cultural forms could interact.'
Love From San Francisco – 'Keep Rockin' (+ Unreleased mixes)
A true underground classic returns via Mint Condition — 'Keep Rockin' by Love From San Francisco (aka Charles Webster) is back on wax in this freshly remastered 2025 edition. Originally released in the mid-'90s and long out of print, this deep house essential defined a generation of smoky after-hours and West Coast groove.
This deluxe 12" reissue stays true to the original deep, dubby sound but adds extra value for crate diggers and collectors alike with two previously unreleased mixes, recovered from the original DATs. These alternate takes give a new dimension to an already timeless track — stripped-down, hypnotic, and primed for modern floors. Pure vinyl heat from the golden era of deep house.
- A1: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Tears At The End Of A Love Affair
- A2: Brenda Holloway - Think It Over (Before You Break My Heart)
- A3: Jimmy Ruffin - He Who Picks A Rose
- A4: Gladys Knight And The Pips - If You Ever Get Your Hands On Love
- A5: The Originals - Suspicion
- A6: Barbara Mcnair - Baby A Go-Go
- A7: J. J. Barnes - (Tell Me) Ain't It The Truth
- A8: The Funk Brothers - Tell Me It's Just A Rumour Baby
- B1: Marvin Gaye - This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It's Killing Me)
- B2: The Monitors - Crying In The Night
- B3: Kim Weston - You Hit Me Where It Hurt Me
- B4: Carolyn Crawford - Keep Stepping (Never Look Back)
- B5: The Contours - Baby Hit And Run (Alternate Vocal)
- B6: Tammi Terrell - I Gotta Find A Way To Get You Back
- B7: The Spinners - Memories Of Her Love Keep Haunting Me
- B8: Chris Clarke - Come On And See Me
The title says it all - A Cellarful Of Motown! ..A Northern Soul Love Affair.
West Grand has been set up to mine the deep vaults of mighty Motown courtesy of a licence deal with Universal Music.
The first West Grand LP fuses two musical religions, Motown and Northern Soul.
In some ways they are unlikely bedfellows. Motown became known as Hitsville by churning out hit after hit, while Northern Soul passion is fired by a constant search for the unknown and the obscure.
The 16 tracks here - on incredibly the first Motown various artists vinyl album released worldwide for 40 years - join the dots. All of them were recorded in the 1960s. None of them were released at the time, despite being prime examples of the sublime magic conjured up by Berry Gordy’s genius-like team of singers, writers, producers, arrangers and musicians at that tiny little snakepit of a recording studio on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
Motown authority Adam White’s album sleeve notes confirm just how productive that studio was. It often ran 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As a result, lots of the most sublime music ever made was somehow rejected for release. It would have stayed unknown and unloved in tape boxes if it had not been for detective work by Soul aficionados turned detectives. That’s Northern Soul power. Many were DJs and collectors tracking down cassette copies or acetates (some of them found in rubbish skips and about to be destroyed). Others, notably Paul Nixon, the founder of the CD series A Cellarful Of Motown! which inspired this album, badgered the Motown gatekeepers so much they were eventually granted access to the forbidden kingdom.
Over recent years all the tracks contained here have been released—some bootlegged, some on legitimate seven-inch issues, some on CD, one download-only. The album proudly boasts debut vinyl release for some in the collection. All have been remastered and have never sounded better.
As a homage to Motown music makers + Rare Soul fanaticism, WEST GRAND believe we have come up with a classic.
- A1: It’s Never Too Late - Charmer
- A2: Start It All Over Again - Alias
- A3: Forever Gamblin’ On You - Petroc And Pals
- A4: Feeling The Fire - The Mad Brothers
- A5: Good Guy - Cross Creek
- B1: The Way Of The Girl - The Michael Rowe Band
- B2: Miss You Too Much - Angie Pepper
- B3: Pistolero - Spectrum
- B4: Girl Of My Dreams - Roy Mccomas
- B5: Wings Of An Eagle - Santiago
- B6: No Reason To Cry - Lawrence Schwedler
A full tank of gas, the gentle glow from the radio dial, & stretches of open highway await, Forever Gamblin’ On You meanders through miles of soulful AOR, funky folk, & dusty soft rock obscurities. A follow up to Sky Dust Drifter, this compilation was gleaned from American private press oddities & rarities of the 70s & 80s, all of which are seeing their first official reissues on this album. A celebration of love, rebirth, and exploration radiating like the warmth of a loved one from the passenger seat.
Featuring “Feeling The Fire”, a jazzy, AOR grooving declaration of love and desire taken from the sole release from The Mad Brother. The compilations’ title track “Forever Gamblin On You” by Petroc And Pals, features an echo-laden folk rock recollection of hard feelings delivered with swelling guitar in a mournful soft psychedelia. Angie Pepper’s “Miss You Too Much” dwells on a past love, rolling along with an effortlessly cool rhythm section, while Roy McComas croons of his manifested “angel of love” on the swirling psych folk rocker “Girl Of My Dreams”.
Forever Gamblin’ On You unfolds as a hopeful yet equally melancholic collection of nomadic anthems, primed for a memorable journey along the back roads of familiar American landscapes.
- A1: Duke Reid & His Group Duke S Cookies
- A2: The Skatalites Yard Broom
- A3: Stranger Cole & Patsy Todd Hey, Hey, Baby
- A4: Roland Alphonso Blackberry Brandy
- A5: Justin Hinds & The Dominoes Carry, Go, Bring, Come
- A6: Tommy Mccook Starry Night
- A7: Alton Ellis Cry Tough
- A8: The Paragons The Tide Is High
- A9: Don Drummond Thoroughfare
- B1: Baba Brooks & Eric 'Monty' Morris Strongman Sampson
- B2: The Skatalites Occupation
- B3: Marguerita & Don Drummond Woman A Come
- B4: Duke Reid S Group Pink Lane Shuffle
- B5: The Silvertones Midnight Hour
- B6: The Valentines Blam Blam Fever
- B7: The Coolies On The Bank
- B8: Stranger Cole & The Skatalites Rough And Tough
- B9: The Melodians Come On, Little Girl
- B10: The Techniques Oh Babe
Vol.2[35,25 €]
Discover a vinyl dedicated to the Treasure Isle label, featuring a compilation that blends rock steady and ska. This record gathers tracks from musical legends such as Alton Ellis, The Techniques, and Duke Reid. Each title is a perfect mix of melodic sweetness and captivating rhythms, typical of these musical genres, providing an immersive experience into the richness of Jamaican music. THIS VINYL IS A PRIME CHOICE FOR ENTHUSIASTS OF VINTAGE AND AUTHENTIC SOUNDS.
Warehouse Find - Test Pressing!
Time to welcome Kresy to the label with three original tracks of immaculate left of centre house. With only a clutch of releases his name may be new to many but if you dig deeper you'll find he's definitely moving the right circles. His debut release on John Talabot's Hivern Discs gave some broad exposure, picking up spins from the likes of Four Tet's Keiren Hebden, Jenifer Cardini and Nick Hoppner. Remix requests followed too with releases on Exquisite Pain, Southern Fried and Lovemonk all getting the Kresy treatment.
2014 looks equally busy with material forthcoming on Jay Shepheards Retrofit as well as DJ dates taking in Corsica Studios and Panarama Bar.
On his Freerange debut Kresy kicks off with Sweet Dangerous MC's, a shuffling, raw, 90's inspired cut which treads firmly forward rather than backward. The beats are crunched and jacked to perfection while the pads hiss and fizz all the while punctuated by the sweet dangerous MC in person.
Next up is Last Cocktail Of Stallone where echoes of Studio54 combine with the stomp of jacking Chicago house to produce a fresh fusion for 2014.
Flipping over we have a brilliant reinterpretation of Last Cocktail Of Stallone by west coast house heroes Vin Sol and MATRiXXman. Here the duo clearly had a fun session firing up the hardware drum machines and delays, reworking the rhythm track into a steady yet subtly massive warehouse jam primed for the dancefloor.
Finally, we're treated to the elegant beauty of Midnight In Manhattan where melancholic piano chords lay the foundation for an echoing sax riff to take centre stage. An original, interesting and above all deep slice of house that demonstrates Kresy's diversity and talent perfectly.
- 1: Odyssey Pt
- 2: The Little Things Ft. Angela Mccluskey
- 3: Miss Primetime Ft. Pell
- 4: C Mon Ft. Griz
- 5: All Of Me Ft. Logic & Rozes
- 6: Got The Love Ft. Jennifer Hartswick
- 7: Highly Possible Ft. Waka Flocka Flame
- 8: I've Gotta Know Ft. Jennifer Hartswick
- 9: No Apologies Ft. Natalie Cressman
- 10: Bring The Funk Back
- 11: Wide Open Ft. Cherub
- 12: Brighter Future Ft. Naaz
- 13: Long Time Coming
In 2016, Big Gigantic released their album Brighter Future, featuring tracks with hip hop artists such as Waka Flocka Flame and Logic, singers Jennifer Hartswick, Rozes, Angela McCluskey, and Natalie Cressman, as well as collaborations with GRiZ and Cherub. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Their fifth studio album, Brighter Future, reflects Big Gigantic's vision for uniting the world through music and community. Saxophonist/producer, Dominic Lalli wrote, "Now more than ever, we need to come together and work towards a brighter future for us, our children and for the human race as a whole." The album was released on August 26, 2016 and features special guests Waka Flocka Flame, Logic, Cherub, Griz, Pell, and many more. The singles "The Little Things" feat. Angela McCluskey and "All Of Me" feat. renowned rapper Logic have received national acclaim, with over 3 million downloads and 100 million streams.
- 1: In The Absence
- 2: Aevum
- 3: My Own
- 4: Apricity
- 5: Strange Kind Of Creature
- 6: Friends Of Mine
- 7: My Dove, To Sleep
- 8: Earthing
- 9: Together, Apart
- 10: Of Becoming
- 11: Threads
Vanbur – artist duo consisting of composers Jessica Jones & Tim Morrish – are releasing their debut album release this autumn. The album scoops up Earthing and my dove, to sleep, made famous by the Netflix show ONE DAY, alongside previous material from their debut EP ‘Human’ including In Cold Light which had a huge TikTok moment around the show’s release. Written over several years, ‘Of Becoming’ reflects a maturing of Vanbur’s sound as they themselves have gone through major life changes and transitions, which are addressed both lyrically and sonically in this impressive body of work. There’s a dreamlike quality to the album, representing the sometimes disorientating dichotomy found in immense change of wistful nostalgia and strength found in adaptation. Recorded at Church Studios with a 12-piece ensemble, the album weaves between lush orchestral heights such as Of Becoming and Friends of Mine and edgier alt-pop bangers such as Strange Kind Of Creature. Jess’ vocals are at times ethereal and textured, and at times lean further into her song-writing sensibilities with their most personal lyrics yet. With the pair’s range and skillset across production and composition fully explored, the album is a triumph of song-writing. The band have worked with filmmaker and Creative Director Matt Houghton on a strong visual aesthetic, from key artwork to narrative promotional films shot on 35mm. With graphic design by Torsten Posselt, the vinyl will have a tactile and natural quality tying in with the analogue feel of the campaign. Vanbur’s debut EP, Human, was released in 2018 and received press coverage in Clash, Ear Milk, Higher Plain etc and was played across BBC 6Music shows. The had their debut performance at the 100 Club and plan to bring a scaled up version to stages in 2026. The follow up remix EP included remixes by Mogwai and Katie Gately, and their music has been placed in hit-shows including One Day (Netflix), The Rising (Sky), Hanna (Prime) and Queens (Nat Geo).
Der international gefeierte Schlagzeuger und Produzent Makaya McCraven meldet sich mit einem besonderen Projekt zurück: Vier neue EPs - Techno Logic, The People"s Mixtape, Hidden Out! und PopUp Shop, die gebündelt als Doppel-LP und Doppel-CD unter dem Titel Off the Record (via XL Recordings) veröffentlicht wird. Es sind McCravens erste Studioarbeiten seit In These Times (2022), mit denen er zu seiner charakteristischen Mischung aus Live-Improvisation und Studio-Nachbearbeitung zurückkehrt. Schon jetzt geben die Singles "Imafan", "Away", "Technology" und "Choo Choo" einen Vorgeschmack auf das Projekt. Die vier EPs greifen auf verschiedene Live-Momente der letzten zehn Jahre zurück: Aufnahmen aus London, Berlin und New York (Techno Logic), ein Jubiläumskonzert in Brooklyn (The People"s Mixtape), eine Residenz im Chicagoer Hideout (Hidden Out!) sowie McCravens Los-Angeles-Debüt 2015 (PopUp Shop). "In einer Zeit, in der vieles virtuell und ungreifbar ist, bleibt es etwas Besonderes, wenn Menschen in einem Raum zusammenkommen und Musik teilen", sagt McCraven. "Diese Energie möchte ich festhalten - roh, menschlich, spontan." Mit Off the Record beweist der als "kultureller Synthesizer" und "Beat Scientist" bezeichnete Musiker erneut, warum er zu den prägenden Stimmen einer neuen Generation zählt, die den Jazz ins 21. Jahrhundert führt.
Boogie Back Records proudly presents the follow-up 7" vinyl release from UK soul stalwarts Ernie & the Family McKone featuring Laura Jackson. Following the success of their previous hit „Wish You Were Here“ , this new single delivers another slice of modern soul magic—rooted in vintage funk grooves, crisp production, and Laura Jackson’s unmistakable voice. On the A-side „Make It Allright“, expect an infectious uptempo stepper with irresistible hooks, while the B-side „Make A Move On Me“ offers another silky smooth uptempo groove perfect for prime-time and late-night spins. Timeless, classy, and crafted for the soul connoisseurs—don’t miss this essential addition to your crate. This is another special and exclusive 45/7“ release via Soulkitchen Distribution
- A1: Bobby Rush & Jimmie Vaughan– Going Down
- A2: Benny Turner– Reconsider Baby
- A3: Jivin' Gene– Flip, Flop And Fly
- A4: Kam Franklin– You'll Lose A Good Thing
- A5: Lil' Ed Williams– If You Change Your Mind
- B1: Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds– Talkin' Bout My Friends
- B2: Mckinlley James– Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
- B3: Lurrie Bell– The Sky Is Crying
- B4: Ruthie Foster– Lead Me On
- C1: Doyle Bramhall Ii– Bad Boy
- C2: Big Bill Morganfield– Just Like A Bird Without A Feather
- C3: John Primer– Honest I Do
- C4: Eve Monsees– Lookin' Good
- C5: Lynn August– The Things That I Used To Do
- D1: C.j. Chenier– Willie The Wimp
- D2: Sue Foley– You Got Me Where You Want Me
- D3: Kam Franklin– If (I Could Be With You)
- D4: Lavelle White– Message From Miss Lavelle
- A1: Pinetop Perkins– Chicken Shack/Sugar Bear Intro
- A2: Jimmy Rogers– Walking By Myself
- A3: Sunnyland Slim– Built Up From The Ground
- A4: Otis Rush– Double Trouble
- A5: Eddie Taylor (2)– Bigtown Playboy
- A6: Buddy Guy– Look On Yonders Wall
- B1: Angela Strehli– What It Takes To Get A Good Woman
- B2: Albert Collins– Cold, Cold, Feeling
- B3: Gary Clark Jr.– Catfish Blues
- B4: James Cotton– Midnight Creeper
- A1: Lou Ann Barton– Sugar Coated Love
- A2: Snooky Pryor– I'm So Glad
- A3: Angela Strehli– It Hurts Me, Too
- A4: Lazy Lester– No Special Rider
- A5: Lavelle White– You're Gonna Make Me Cry
- A6: Doug Sahm– I Won't Cry
- B1: Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli– A Fool In Love
- B2: Doyle Bramhall– Too Sorry
- B3: Sue Foley– Gone Blind
- B4: Barbara Lynn– Hear From My Daddy
- B5: Kim Wilson– Don't Touch Me
- B6: Pinetop Perkins– Going Down Slow
- A1: Los Lobos– 300 Pounds Of Joy Pt. 1
- B1: Los Lobos– 300 Pounds Of Joy Pt. 2
Hailing from the southwest side of Detroit, Michigan, Dusty Rose Gang makes music that sounds like a celebratory summer evening with friends on the beach of the city’s crown jewel, Belle Isle. The band’s feel-good rock & roll rests its laurels alongside many of the city’s musical heavyweights, bringing a swagger and heft present in the best of the MC5 and the Stooges, while balancing the subtle tones and attitude found in prime-era Sabbath, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and the Flower Travellin’ Band. It should be no surprise that the band’s songwriter, Dusty Rose, haunted the same high school halls as the MC5 at Lincoln Park High, as much of the attitude, poise and spirit can be found on the band’s A-One From Day One long player debut for the legendary Riding Easy Records. The songs shimmer and shake, shredding through solo after solo, while packing just enough hazy 70’s influence to make it sound like Dusty Rose Gang has been here all along. This is Detroit rock n’ roll made by lifers for lifers, the no-bullshit real deal that the Motor City has been breathing since before Gene Simmons coined the term “Detroit Rock City." A-One From Day One was produced and recorded by Warren Defever at Free Party Bar, Hamtramck and mastered at Third Man Mastering. Engineered by Cam Frank. The album was recorded with Brett Donlon (bass), J. Rowe (drums, percussion), Kara Meister (backing vocals), and Warren Defever (mellotron, organ). The current line-up of Dusty Rose Gang features Dusty Rose (guitar, vocals), Brett Donlon (bass), Blake Hill (drums) and Josh Budiongan (guitar).
- A1: Unpopular Parts Of A Pig
- A2: Cops And Coppers
- A3: Way Of The Exploding Dickhead
- A4: The Battle Of Los Angelsea
- A5: People Person
- A6: The Competent Horse Thief
- A7: Kafka-Esque Novelist Franz Kafka
- B1: The Digger You Deep
- B2: Autofocus On The Prime Directive
- B3: Not All Steeplejacks
- B4: Chekhov's Guns
- B5: Juan Party-System
- B6: Hate The Polis
Blue Vinyl[24,16 €]
- Ltd. Col. LP: (Blue Vinyl)
- A1: Unpopular Parts Of A Pig
- A2: Cops And Coppers
- A3: Way Of The Exploding Dickhead
- A4: The Battle Of Los Angelsea
- A5: People Person
- A6: The Competent Horse Thief
- A7: Kafka-Esque Novelist Franz Kafka
- B1: The Digger You Deep
- B2: Autofocus On The Prime Directive
- B3: Not All Steeplejacks
- B4: Chekhov's Guns
- B5: Juan Party-System
- B6: Hate The Polis
Clear Vinyl[24,16 €]
- Ltd. Col. LP: (Blue Vinyl)
- Scratch The Flea Point (Ft. Nerdie)
- Zoo
- Cosplay
- Blush
- Chanel (Ft. Alice Skye)
- Dial Up (Ft. Stoneset)
- Spiderweb
- Way Out
- Hotel
- Ephemera
- Sea Legs
- Bullet Point
- Big Axe
"A powder keg of bangers primed to shake the rat race to its core" - The Guardian Australia (Best of 2023) "Simultaneously chaotic and precise, no matter whether the palette is fierce rap, punk energy or slinking beats." - Rolling Stone Australia (Best of 2023) London/Melbourne rap duo Teether & Kuya Neil release their long-awaited debut album YEARN IV. YEARN IV captures the brooding and vivid world of two musical outsiders. Raised by the internet, the pair find their voice amid a sea of clashing cultural experiences and sonic histories, finding solace in the isolation of contemporary urban Australia. Recorded in Melbourne and completed in London, the album captures the duo's hyper local yet globally influenced rap sound at its core. Kuya Neil's drum heavy production collides with Teether's surreal and immersive storytelling, blending thrash metal and club music aesthetics with the echoes of the early internet. Lead single `ZOO' plays with the silent throes of cultural diversity over a paranoid trap instrumental, 'BLUSH' is a blissed out digital love letter wuth shimmering autotuned hooks and rave inspired breaks. `CHANEL' (featuring Indigenous Australian songwriter Alice Skye) is a guitar driven lament for Australia's myopic cultural landscape, fading out with "I'll never reach my full potential here". Teether & Kuya Neil released their first mixtape GLYPH via Chapter in 2021, receiving airplay from NTS, Dublab and Australian radio, plus writeups via Brooklyn Vegan and NME. Four tracks from `GLYPH' were featured in the iconic Australian Netflix series 'Heartbreak High' the following year. 2023 mixtape STRESSOR charted in the Australian Independent Top 10 and made it into end of year best of lists for The Guardian, Rolling Stone and NME Australia. The mixtape was nominated for Best Hip Hop Album at the 2024 Australian Independent Music Awards and named Album of the Week by 3RRR and fBI Radio. Teether & Kuya Neil have performed around Australia and New Zealand. They have played alongside international peers MC Yallah & Debmaster and They Hate Change as well as supported veteran alt-rap outfit Shabazz Palaces and Chicago Footwork pioneer RP Boo. As a solo artist, Teether has collaborated with New York rapper Billy Woods and toured with his outfit Armand Hammer in Australia in 2022. In 2024, he opened for the legendary Kim Gordon. Kuya Neil is an active producer in underground dance music, releasing tracks on UK labels Chinabot and Moveltraxx and has toured South East Asia as a DJ and promoter.
In Todmorden, the oddly-named market border town in West Yorkshire with a habit for embracing the weird and wonderful, a burst of sunshine is a precious thing. Through the thick of Winter, through every season in fact, the town’s folk are used to the wind and rain, fog and mist. As much a part of the town as the trademark deep valley it sits in, here the lay of the land invites the weather in, just as it does the many musicians, artists, and unique characters that have come to call the place home over the centuries.
Bridget Hayden is one such soul who found a home among these hills. The experimental musician, who invites the ghosts in for the classic folk songs that make up her stunning new album, knows only too well about such weather, how rare and treasured the breaks from it are. Her favourite thing to do in the valley, she says, is “to make the most of every tiny minute of sunshine.”
Such aspirations nearly derailed the recording of Cold Blows the Rain, her new eight-song collection released via the Todmorden- based label Basin Rock. Having hired the town’s Oddfellow’s Hall to record these new songs in the late summer of 2022, Hayden says the weather was so good she ended up basking in every second of it, only moving inside to begin recording when the sun was setting, working deep into the night to make up the time.
There’s a good chance, however, that it had to be this way. The songs that make up Cold Blows the Rain are not made for the sunlight. They come, instead, wrapped in mist and coated with drizzle, those elements shaping the album as much as the voice and the instruments held within, as real but ambiguous as the ghosts that linger in the shadows. The sound of the dark valley floor.
Mostly centred around meditative and experimental improvisation, Bridget’s work to-date has seen her spend more than two decades recording and performing on the underground music scene. She’s also toured internationally both as a solo artist and as part of bands such as Schisms and The Telescopes, while working on various side-projects with the likes of Folklore Tapes.
For all of this sonic exploration, so much of her work has been formed around elements of traditional folk aesthetics and, over time, she began to piece together a collection of reinterpreted traditional songs that she absorbed as a child from her mother: through The Dubliners and Muddy Waters, to Bessie Smith and The Leadbelly Songbook. Harvesting her love for Nina Simone, Karen Dalton, Margaret Barry, and more, Bridget takes these traditional songs and transforms them into something uniquely evocative
"It goes back to the womb,” Bridget says of that connection. “I would not call it a memory as it is so deep within my blood and bones. My mum was the source, she sang all the time, as part of life. So it was a very lulling and natural introduction. It seemed common to hear her singing – unbeknownst to her – in time with a raindrop dripping at the window,” Bridget continues. “I’ve always wanted to do a folk record as I love these songs so much. It comes much more naturally to me to sing other people’s words, especially when they’re as beautiful as these old verses.”
Underpinned by waves of analogue reverb, and led by Bridget’s stirring and weather-beaten voice, the songs on Cold Blows the Rain drift and crawl like low heavy clouds on flat-top hills, shaped by the land. The backdrop is equally as arresting, all subtle gloom cast in shadow, a gentle but pronounced swirling of textures, crafted from harmonium and violin courtesy of The Apparitions (Sam Mcloughlin and Dan Bridgewood-Hill).
“The weather speaks the most eloquently about human loss,” Bridget says, articulating such sentiments. “It’s good to feel enveloped by something so much vaster than ourselves. The rain and the tears all become one.”
Don McLeans neu gemasterte Version von Prime Time aus dem Jahr 1977 ist ein Zeugnis von McLeans Glauben an die Macht der Melodie und wirkt dem
Stereotyp entgegen, das ihm wegen „American Pie“ auferlegt wurde. Die CD enthält einen Bonustrack, „If You Can Dream“.
Pain Management presents a debut collaborative release from Bristol’s Larry McCarthy & mysterious newcomer Eris FM. The limited edition single fuses hellish Bristolian dub with tender vocal excursions on two dark cuts in equal parts tough and tender. A heartfelt comedown offering for the hyperactive via two cathartic weapons primed for maximum emotional release.
The A side’s foolish titular opener is a hellish mess of dub delays and eerie narrative exposition. Reminiscent of blown-out early No Corner offerings; a tangled mess of sirens and harsh noise ensnare FM’s disembodied commands. Turn your phone off / Tell no one where you are / Go out / Press your lips to the cracks in the soil. Overtly human exposition shrouded in a plosive shell of sawtoothed frequencies and machine drum paranoia. The effect is an unsettling hybrid of softness and uncertainty. A teeth-grinding mess of grit and potent anxiety primed for anti-dancefloor devastation; one to comfort the disturbed or disturb the comfortable depending on where you’re at.
On the flip ‘Red’ applies this same methodology to a beatless format, noisy chaos swapped out for ascendent grandeur. Here FM’s voice has more room to breathe, floating above an ever expanding synthscape. Reflective prosaic cohesion replaces the A side’s splintered present-tense directives.The rawness remains but on Red it takes the form of a commanding emotive clarity rather than claustrophobic uncertainty. A subtle heartbeat rhythm pulses beneath the nebulous pads, swaying like a slow dance in the early hours.
Hyper-limited run of 100 7” records
Indulge in the smooth vibes of Luke Beats' latest album, 'Cream', dropping now on Little Beat More.
Inspired by the Italian saying 'ci sta una crema' ('as good as cream'), which indicates the utmost satisfaction, this work is the perfect dessert for your musical gluttony, kneaded by the skilful hands of Luke Beats for all hip hop lovers. In a world where the saying 'Cash rules everything around me' (once again: C.R.E.A.M!) still resonates loudly from the days when Method Man and the Wu-Tang rapped it, the love and passion for music can continue to shine.
With nods to sounds that have defined this genre in its origins, especially in the melodic and synthesiser parts, 'Cream' blends tradition and novelty, love for the classic and curiosity for the contemporary, creating a dreamy, mellow atmosphere that takes listeners on a creamy journey.
The 18-track album features the collaboration of drummer Federico Romeo on '404 Fun 4 Days' and guitarist Danny Bronzini on 'JamDilla', while Luke Beats himself played bass parts on 'P.T.H', 'JamDilla', 'Cookin' and 'The D'.
Once again, Matteo Baracco's artwork adorns the EP, with a closed but squashed tube of tempera, which perfectly complements the nostalgic yet fresh sounds within, telling of an approach to production and beatmaking still anchored in the “old school” sound craft principles in which getting one's hands dirty is the prerogative needed to shape a sound that is personal and respectful of its history.
A further tribute to the golden era of hip hop is provided by the format of the release, in an iconic timeless audio cassette to dust off your ghettoblaster!
- 1: Do Or Die (Feat. Nathan James)
- 2: Pressure (Feat. Brandon Saller Of Atreyu)
- 3: Imposter Syndrome (Feat. Lzzy Hale)
- 4: Let It Hurt (Feat. Chris Robertson)
- 5: Runaway (Feat. Michael Starr)
- 6: Fall Of Man (Feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
- 7: Lost (Feat. Cole Rolland)
- 8: Hanging On (Feat. Lauren Babic)
- 9: Avalanche (Feat. Trevor Mcnevan Of Thousand Foot Krutch)
- 10: Won't You Come (Feat. Marisa Rodriguez)
- 11: Judge And Jury (Feat. Tyler Connolly)
Sophie Lloyd is one of the most prolific guitarists on the world wide web, a trailblazer who is redefining the concept of a "bedroom" guitarist. A talented composer and accomplished musician, Sophie graduated from the prestigious BIMM in 2018 with a First Class Honours BMus in Popular Music Performance, honing and refining a talent she has nurtured since childhood. Since then, she has amassed the kind of following that even the guitar gods she grew up idolizing would be envious of, with a reach surpassing 3 million followers across her social channels, built through a steady stream of sharing her talent via guitar "shredleys", covers and her own original material. In addition to her own content, Sophie's talent and popularity has led to collaborations with brands such as Amazon Prime, Hard Rock Cafe, LiveNation and Harley Davidson, her own Guitar course on Truefire and a stunning performance at Paris Fashion Week for Redemption Brand Clothing. She has also released her own signature guitar, becoming the first female artist to do so for exclusive Californian Guitar maker KIESEL.
Most recently, Sophie could be seen shredding on stage as guitarist for multi-platinum recording artist Machine Gun Kelly on his recent Mainstream Sellout World Tour, which included sold out shows at legendary venues such Madison Square Garden in New York and Wembley Arena in London.
At 27 Years Old, Sophie Lloyd is just getting started, with the upcoming release of her debut solo album. The first few songs have already been released to rapturous reception, including "Fall Of Man (Feat. Matthew K Heafy)", "Do Or Die (Feat. Nathan James)", "Lost (Feat. Cole Rolland)" and "Runaway (Feat. Michael Starr)" with some more exciting names including Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Chris Robertson (Black Stone Cherry), Tyler Connolly (Theory Of A Deadman) and Brandon Saller (Atreyu) all appearing.
- 1: The Eternals - Queen Of The Minstrels (3.25)
- 2: Michigan And Smiley - Nice Up The Dance (.33)
- 3: The Mad Lads - Ten To One (2.27)
- 4: Jackie Mittoo - Totally Together (2.35)
- 5: Horace Andy - Just Say Who (3.49)
- 6: The Skatalites - Addis Ababa (2.2)
- 7: Sugar Minott - Live Loving (4.28)
- 8: Lone Ranger - Can't Stand It (2.09)
- 9: Wailing Souls - I've Got A Burning Fire (2.11)
- 10: Bob Marley And The Wailers - Simmer Down (2.49)
- 11: Dub Specialist - Hooligan (2.30)
- 12: Alton Ellis - Your Heart Is Gonna Pay (2.55)
- 13: Roland Alphonso - Do It Good (3.20)
- 14: Wailing Souls - You Should Have Known (2.43)
- 15: Dawn Penn - No No No (4.29)
- 16: Freddie Mckay - You'll Be Sorry (3.27)
- 17: Alton Ellis - We Need Love (7.11)
- 18: Cornel Campbell - Best To Be Free (3.22)
Soul Jazz Records’ Down Beat Special is a roller-coaster ‘greatest hits’ ride through many of the all-time classic tunes hand-picked from across the mighty vaults of, without doubt, Jamaica’s finest ever record label and pioneering powerhouse of reggae music. Seminal tracks such as Michigan and Smiley’s ‘Nice Up The Dance’, Dawn Penn’s ‘No, No, No’, The Wailers’ ‘Simmer Down’, The Eternals’ ‘Queen of the Minstrels’… and on it goes.
Non-stop BIG tunes. Down Beat Special is an essential primer to Studio One Records. Originally released as a one-off pressing limited edition (long-since deleted) 7” box set, this new edition is fully remastered and expanded to a massive 18 super rare and killer cuts from the Studio One empire. Featuring the Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Horace Andy, Alton Ellis, Lone Ranger and many more, the album features rare and classic tracks throughout. Newly commissioned sleevenotes by Noel Hawks (History of the Jamaican Recording Industry) features a track by track historical and musical analysis, label scans and more added to this fantastic collection.
- A1: Augustus Pablo - Rockers Rock
- A2: K.c. White - No No No
- A3: Tenor Saw - Ring The Alarm
- A4: Johnny Osbourne - Bewitched
- B1: Pinchers - Agony
- B2: The Abyssinians - Mandela
- B3: Sister Nancy - One, Two
- C1: King Tubby Meets Tommy Mccook And The Aggrovators - King Tubby Dub
- C2: Chaka Demus & Pliers - Murder She Wrote
- C3: Johnny Osbourne - Ready Or Not
- C4: Jackie Mittoo - Earthquake
- D1: Sandra Reid - Don't Tell Me Tell Her
- D2: The Skatalites Meet King Tubby - Herb Man Dub
- D3: Kim Harriott - Woman Of The Ghetto
Soul Jazz Records’ 200% Dynamite! set the benchmark for reggae meets funk compilations that has never been bettered. Out of print for over 15 years this new 2023 edition with new tracks and is being released in a one-off limited-edition heavyweight special-edition coloured vinyl pressing + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2023.
Jam-packed with reggae tunes that crossed-over to become dancefloor hits such as Tenor Saw’s sound boy anthem ‘Ring the Alarm,’ K.C. White’s classic cut of the seminal ‘No, No, No’ and Augustus Pablo’s ‘Rockers Rock’, 200% Dynamite explores the links between reggae, jazz, funk and soul.
Carrying on perfectly from 100% Dynamite, this second compilation continues to trace the history of Jamaican reggae and the influence of American styles such as funk and jazz had on this music.
Featured here are serious funk and rocksteady tunes from the likes of The Skatalites and Johnny Osbourne through to Jamaican jazz from masters such as Tommy McCook and Byron Lee, as well as some serious dub from the likes of Augustus Pablo, King Tubby and Jackie Mittoo.
New bonus tracks on this new 2023 edition include seminal dancehall party cuts Sister Nancy’s ‘One Two’ and Chaka Demus and Pliers’ ‘Murder She Wrote’, alongside classic soul to reggae covers including cuts of Marlena Shaw’s ‘Women of the Ghetto’ and Odyssey’s ‘Don’t Tell Me Tell Her’.
‘Once again, Soul Jazz goes digging through the reggae vaults and produces another sterling compilation. If you’re looking for a primer on the music of the island, you could do worse than buying every one of the records in this superb compilation series.’ All Music
‘In Soul Jazz’s outstanding Dynamite! series 200% is the head-turner. The label has its finger on the pulse of the now just as surely as it does on that of the past.’ Pitchfork
‘Soul Jazz Records ‘Dynamite’ series has quickly become a
rewarding guide to reggae’s most infectious back pages. Every home
needs some Dynamite.’ Irish Times
‘Soul Jazz Records’ long-running series
of highly-regarded reggae albums.’
Rough Trade
Autumn 1904 is a post-punk indie-rock band formed in 1982 in Edinburgh, Scotland by Allan Dumbreck (keyboards) and Ross Thom (guitar). The band originally became a five-piece (Billy Bowie – bass, Keith Falconer – drums, Billy Leslie – vocals) but grew to a seven piece in early 1983 (taking on two female backing vocalists, Indira Sharma and Lisa Cameron). Autumn 1904 were part of the DIY indie-rock movement in Edinburgh in the early to mid 1980’s kicked off by The Shop Assistants, they worked alongside The Wild Indians, Finitribe (originally Gallery Macabre) and Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, often performing together or attending each other’s shows.
In February 1984 the band performed at the John Peel Roadshow at Edinburgh University and afterwards were invited to record a BBC Radio 1 session which was broadcast three times on the Peel show. They were immediately courted by 11 major record and publishing companies. In March 1984 their song “I heard Catherine Sing” featured on the Deadbeat magazine compilation album “Deadbeat 1”. Internal tensions and health issues over the summer of 1984 held up development and caused Sharma and Cameron to leave the band.
The band first split in January 1985 with Thom, Bowie and Falconer going on to form The Crows with former members of First Priority, including future Glasgow Cathouse / Garage promoter Donald McLeod MBE. Dumbreck and Leslie reformed the band and performed throughout 1985 sometimes including Shirley Manson, then working with Goodbye Mr MacKenzie and later with Garbage. This line-up lasted until November 1985 when the band split again. Dumbreck went on to work with Scottish groups The Big Dish, Horse and Thrum. Later working extensively in music education setting up the music department at UWS where Jim Prime (Deacon Blue) and Paul McGeechan (Love and Money) became lecturing staff.
The line-up at the time of the Peel session was Dumbreck, Thom, Bowie, Falconer, Leslie and backing vocalists Indira Sharma and Lisa Cameron.
In May 2021, the original five members agreed to re-master / re-record the original material from their studio recordings for release. Work began with producer Liam McCluskey (Gun, King King, Twin Atlantic). Approaching Ian Smith in 2022 at independent record label Last Night from Glasgow for advice, he offered to release the album on the label. The final masters include Tippi from label-mates The Hedrons on vocals and a number of fresh recordings of material written in 1982-83 but never previously recorded.
As the BBE Music J Jazz Masterclass Series hits its 19th title, the milestone is suitably matched by a collaboration between two giants of jazz brought together to deliver an exceptional album, working with a band of the very best Japanese jazz musicians. ‘Reminicent Suite’ by American pianist Mal Waldron and Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino was originally released in 1973 on the famed Victor label and was one of several Japan-only albums recorded and released by Waldron over a thirty-year period, most of which have never been available outside Japan. ‘Reminicent Suite’ comprises two extended tracks, both taking up a side each. The title track on Side A is composed by Waldron, and is a dark, brooding heavy groove typical of his early 70s sound. ‘Black Forest’ on side B is written by Hino and is a vivid and energetic piece, layered and textured with dense percussion and Hino’s signature trumpet tone. Mal Waldron started out in the early 1950s working extensively on the Prestige label with notable figures such as Gene Ammons, Jackie McLean and Charles Mingus. Most famously, he worked with Billie Holiday before leaving the States in the mid-60s and relocating to Europe where he established himself as a major figure working across many countries including France, Italy, and Germany, where he made his home in Munich. In 1969, Waldron recorded the first releases for two major European jazz labels, ECM and Enja, before visiting Japan on tour for the first time in 1970. Waldron instantly fell in love with Japan and, over the next three decades, extensively toured and recorded there for numerous labels. Terumasa Hino is one of the towering figures of post-war modern jazz in Japan. Coming to prominence via the Hideto Shiraki and Sadao Watanabe bands in the mid-60s, Hino soon emerged as one of the prime movers in new jazz generation that changed the direction of jazz in Japan. He explored a more open, freer, and improvised sound, mixing psychedelic and rock elements with freeform and post-bop jazz. Hino recorded for many of the leading jazz labels of the era including Columbia, Three Blind Mice, and East Wind and would go on to relocate to the US in the mid-70s, immersing himself with the leading fusion players of the New York scene including Larry Corryell, Mtume, Al Foster, Dave Liebman and many more. In the early 80s, Hino’s jazz funk tracks were dancefloor smashes on the UK jazz dance scene. Joining Waldron and Hino on ‘Reminicient Suite’ is a band made up of the very best Japanese jazzman of their day: Takeo Uematsu on sax, Terumasa’s brother, Motohiko Hino, on drums, and the legendary bass master, Isao Suzuki. Together, they deliver one of the very best albums of the era, a richly articulated and dynamic session that exemplifies the very best that the Japanese jazz scene was doing in the early 1970s. ‘Reminicent Suite’ is pressed on 200g vinyl presented in a gatefold sleeve plus obi strip, with new photos by Tadayuki Naito; translated original sleeve notes; and a 7500-word essay including interview with Terumasa Hino from Tony Higgins, co-curator of the J Jazz Masterclass Series. This is the first time this album has been available outside of Japan
After a string of two dozen brilliant albums beginning in the 1950’s, clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist,
composer and arranger Jimmy Giuffre stopped recording. For nearly ten years he focused solely on
live performance. This album, Music for People, Birds, Butterflies and Mosquitoes, marked his return
to the studio after his self imposed hiatus. Known for developing forms of jazz which allowed for free
interplay between the musicians, Giuffre began his career as an arranger for Woody Herman’s big
band in the late 1940s. Playing primarily saxophone, he became a central figure in the West Coast
cool jazz scene of the 1950’s, with the Lighthouse All Stars in Hermosa Beach, CA. In the late 50’s, he
began working within different configurations of the trio format, on what he called “blues-based folk
jazz.” A prime example being his piece "The Train and the River" famously featured in 1958 Newport
Jazz Festival concert film, Jazz On A Summer’s Day. The trio here is completed by drums and bass
with Giuffre trading seamlessly between tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute and bass flute. The twelve
original compositions are very much in Giuffre’s signature style. The melody explorations have an
eastern vibe, and are played in hushed tones with an almost chamber music like quality. From 1973,
originally on the Choice label, this album has been remastered and is being presented here as the
artist intended, with its original title, track order and album artwork, for the first time since its original
release. Remastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering. Vinyl cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out
Vinyl.
Black Vinyl[20,97 €]
In the decade or so that hard-working New York quartet Sunwatchers have operated, the group has steadily & subtly refined their sound - a brain-blasting mixture of jazz, psychedelia, krautrock, punk, noise, & Saharan blues - into something that is avant-leaning enough to appeal to the discerning jazz & experimental music fan & weird & wooly enough to get the true heads' toes tapping. "Music Is Victory Over Time" is the band's 5th album, and fourth for Chicago-based Trouble In Mind Records, seeing the long-running lineup of Peter Kerlin (bass guitar), Jim McHugh (guitars), Jason Robira (drums), and Jeff Tobias (alto saxophone and keyboards) in prime form. Album opener "World People" is a classic Sunwatchers number whose title expresses their Anarcho-Internationalist ideology (and the atypically multi-culti make up of their crowds), with an underlying melodic resonance to New Orleans funeral marches à la Albert Ayler _ a triumphant call to arms to all peoples. Live fave "Too Gary"'s gang vocal shout punctuates a motorik rager named for a phrase often uttered by a badass eight year old skateboarder McHugh knew with a speech impediment (it means "that's too scary"). "T.A.S.C." (or "Theme For Anarchist Sports Center") is inspired by Sonny Sharrock's maligned 80's output & sounds exactly like a wrathful, mutant version of a prime-time athletic show theme, replete with the requisite "sitcom ending." The sun- scorched "Foams" - a longform piece intended to depict natural stuff like tides, nightfall, and time slowly passing, ancient, peaceful and slightly gross all at once - practically jumps out of the speakers, its palpable intensity crackling in your eardrums. The title of "Tumulus" might reference an ancient burial mound, but the music itself might be the group's most high-tech song to date, complimented by an arpeggiating sequencer, three different forms of tape delay and an electric saxophone; ecstatic, fiery & deeply spiritual. "There Goes Ol' Ooze" is a smoky creeper that lets Tobias & Kerlin take a walk for a while, with respectful nods to the Stones and Steve Reich. "Song For The Gone" closes out the album, showcasing a sincerely tender moment for the gang, as an expression of love and resolve for dear friends who had recently, tragically died. Its cascading, bluesy melody attuning itself to our own collective unconscious grief. Having the distinct pleasure of being the first band to record in John Dwyer 's new LA-based recording studio Discount Mirrors, "Music Is Victory Over Time" boasts a beefed up sound. The band worked closely with in-house engineer Eric Bauer - facilitator, troubleshooter, sonic obsessive, a legendary freak and a DIY lifer. The band also had full access to the studio's epic armory of gear: amps, axes (it's Dwyer's Eddie Harris model electric sax), synths, a bass guitar once belonging to Klaus Flouride of the Dead Kennedys. Crucial for the sounds and the vibe. The album art was created by Josh MacPhee, the activist artist, author, archivist and founding member of both the radical artist collective Just Seeds and Interference Archive, a public collection of materials from social movements based in Brooklyn. MacPhee's participation in the project works as a statement of Sunwatchers' progressive utopian intentionality, and organically underscores their involvement in revolutionary projects within and without of their hometown. Listening to "Music Is Victory Over Time", Sunwatcher's rebellious spirit & unbridled enthusiasm remain fully intact, but the secret sauce is their infectious irreverence in the face of the horrors of this world. Much of our best cultural commentary is Trojan-horsed to the general public via humor & satire & the band has a knack for lacing the ridiculous with the radical. It's good to have them back. "Music Is Victory Over Time" is released worldwide digitally via most DSPs, on CD, black vinyl & a limited "Sunflare" blue/red splatter vinyl while supplies last.
Color Vinyl[20,97 €]
In the decade or so that hard-working New York quartet Sunwatchers have operated, the group has steadily & subtly refined their sound - a brain-blasting mixture of jazz, psychedelia, krautrock, punk, noise, & Saharan blues - into something that is avant-leaning enough to appeal to the discerning jazz & experimental music fan & weird & wooly enough to get the true heads' toes tapping. "Music Is Victory Over Time" is the band's 5th album, and fourth for Chicago-based Trouble In Mind Records, seeing the long-running lineup of Peter Kerlin (bass guitar), Jim McHugh (guitars), Jason Robira (drums), and Jeff Tobias (alto saxophone and keyboards) in prime form. Album opener "World People" is a classic Sunwatchers number whose title expresses their Anarcho-Internationalist ideology (and the atypically multi-culti make up of their crowds), with an underlying melodic resonance to New Orleans funeral marches à la Albert Ayler _ a triumphant call to arms to all peoples. Live fave "Too Gary"'s gang vocal shout punctuates a motorik rager named for a phrase often uttered by a badass eight year old skateboarder McHugh knew with a speech impediment (it means "that's too scary"). "T.A.S.C." (or "Theme For Anarchist Sports Center") is inspired by Sonny Sharrock's maligned 80's output & sounds exactly like a wrathful, mutant version of a prime-time athletic show theme, replete with the requisite "sitcom ending." The sun- scorched "Foams" - a longform piece intended to depict natural stuff like tides, nightfall, and time slowly passing, ancient, peaceful and slightly gross all at once - practically jumps out of the speakers, its palpable intensity crackling in your eardrums. The title of "Tumulus" might reference an ancient burial mound, but the music itself might be the group's most high-tech song to date, complimented by an arpeggiating sequencer, three different forms of tape delay and an electric saxophone; ecstatic, fiery & deeply spiritual. "There Goes Ol' Ooze" is a smoky creeper that lets Tobias & Kerlin take a walk for a while, with respectful nods to the Stones and Steve Reich. "Song For The Gone" closes out the album, showcasing a sincerely tender moment for the gang, as an expression of love and resolve for dear friends who had recently, tragically died. Its cascading, bluesy melody attuning itself to our own collective unconscious grief. Having the distinct pleasure of being the first band to record in John Dwyer 's new LA-based recording studio Discount Mirrors, "Music Is Victory Over Time" boasts a beefed up sound. The band worked closely with in-house engineer Eric Bauer - facilitator, troubleshooter, sonic obsessive, a legendary freak and a DIY lifer. The band also had full access to the studio's epic armory of gear: amps, axes (it's Dwyer's Eddie Harris model electric sax), synths, a bass guitar once belonging to Klaus Flouride of the Dead Kennedys. Crucial for the sounds and the vibe. The album art was created by Josh MacPhee, the activist artist, author, archivist and founding member of both the radical artist collective Just Seeds and Interference Archive, a public collection of materials from social movements based in Brooklyn. MacPhee's participation in the project works as a statement of Sunwatchers' progressive utopian intentionality, and organically underscores their involvement in revolutionary projects within and without of their hometown. Listening to "Music Is Victory Over Time", Sunwatcher's rebellious spirit & unbridled enthusiasm remain fully intact, but the secret sauce is their infectious irreverence in the face of the horrors of this world. Much of our best cultural commentary is Trojan-horsed to the general public via humor & satire & the band has a knack for lacing the ridiculous with the radical. It's good to have them back. "Music Is Victory Over Time" is released worldwide digitally via most DSPs, on CD, black vinyl & a limited "Sunflare" blue/red splatter vinyl while supplies last.
Michal Wolski’s first introduction to Southern Lights was to deliver the
striking and thunder-clapped remix of “Pressure” on DRYAD’s 2S2W
EP. He follows up that remix with his first EP titled ‘Primeval’. The EP
features ‘Braids” and ‘Primeval’ on the A-side; both tracks share the
same uncompromising, rhythmic and altering effects that is the result of Michal’s drum-focussed and modular-opaque experiments. On the Bside, Vohkinne provides a forceful and abrasive remix of Primeval while Blazej Malinowski delivers an ethereal journey on his interpretation to round off the sixth EP release on Southern Lights. All Original tracks by Michal Wolski Mastering by Manmade Mastering Artwork by Craig McWhinney
Jerry Jeff Walker was an American country music and folk singer-songwriter. He was a leading figure in the progressive country and outlaw country music movement, best known for having written the 1968 song "Mr. Bojangles". The late '60s and early '70s were an interesting time during which a number of enduring singer-songwriter albums were released, and this album is a prime example.
Originally released in 1969, Five Years Gone is a forward-looking album rooted in late-'60s folk and folk-rock rather than popular country. The poetic, yet sometimes inscrutable, lyrics owe more to Bob Dylan than any Nashville tradition. For this album, Jerry Jeff Walker was joined by some Nashville heavyweights, including Weldon Myrick, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, and Charlie McCoy.
Five Years Gone is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on gold coloured vinyl, including a 4-page booklet.
Grammy-winning producer, composer, guitarist and songwriter Blake Mills returns with his first solo record since 2020’s Mutable Set, co-produced by Blake and experimental artist Chris Weisman.
Blake Mills has released four acclaimed solo albums and produced, played and recorded with artists such as Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes, Phoebe Bridgers, Perfume Genius, Moses Sumney, Bob Dylan, Laura Marling, Cass McCombs, Weyes Blood and Randy Newman, among others. His album Mutable Set, released in in 2020, was praised by Pitchfork as “a hushed collection that floats through the subconscious like a tender dream” and earned their Best New
Music title. Most recently, Mills worked as the Executive Music Producer and chief songwriter on Amazon Prime’s limited series Daisy Jones and the Six.
- A1: Beastie Boys - Posse In Effect
- A2: Method Man - Sub Crazy
- A3: Jayo Felony - Penitentiary Bound
- A4: South Central Cartel - Servin' 'Em Heat
- A5: 3Rd Bass - Green Eggs And Swine
- B1: Flatlinerz - Rivaz Of Red
- B2: Redman - Hardcore
- B3: Empd - It's Going Down
- B4: Boss - 2 To Da Head
- B5: Onyx - Bichasniguz
- C1: Ll Cool J - Eat Em Up L Chill
- C2: Junkyard Band - Sardines
- C3: Nikki D - Monday We'll Be Together
- C4: Davy D - Have You Seen Davy?
- D1: Jazzy Jay - (This) Def Jam
- D2: Nice & Smooth - Let's All Get Down
- D3: The Afros - Afros In The House
- D4: Prime Minister Pete Nice & Daddy Rich - Dust To Dust
- D5: Slick Rick - King
The six letters of Def Jam, like the three of RAL (for Rush Associated Labels), Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin imprinted them indelibly into hip hop mythology. The epicenter is New York, in order to make sure to have in its ranks the best representatives of Boom Bap, Hardcore Funk, Go-Go or Electro. Beastie Boys, EPMD, Onyx, Redman, Method Man, LL Cool J, Junkyard Band, South Central Cartel, 3rd Bass; the list of MC's who left a mark stamped with the Def Jam or RAL logo is a freestyle where catching your breath is difficult. In order to study more closely the footprints left by these behemoths, Uncle O, the man behind the 5 volumes of Shaolin Soul compilations, explored the label's 1985-1995 period. From another age, tucked away behind a photograph of Glen E. Friedman, the man who created the visual history of Def Jam and RAL through iconic covers, they are the work of rap's T-Rex. Dinosaur Beats. Reviews R2, Mojo Blues and Soul, Guardian, Record Collector Ads R2, Mojo.
Greg Paulus joins forces with fellow Brooklynite Taylor Bense for a new Freerange EP showcasing their left field, raw house sounds across three original tracks plus a bonus Martinez Brothers edit.
With previous releases appearing on labels as diverse as Soul Clap, Let’s Play House, Ghostly International and Kompakt, the producer, DJ and trumpeter is perhaps best known for being one half of No Regular Play who have recorded LP’s and EP’s for Wolf & Lamb, Crew Love, and Let’s Play House. Never one to be confined to one genre, Greg takes influence from Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop and underground house to form a unique sound primed for discerning dance floors. Taylor Bense is an in-house composer and producer at the highly regarded Hyperballad Studios in Brooklyn, where he works and records a wide spectrum of music for everything from high end commercial work to EP’s for Wolf + Lamb and Soul Clap Records. The entire EP was recorded and produced at Hyperballad Studios over the past few years.
Title track Heat Make Sense wears its Prince inspiration on its sleeve with a hooky whistled tune, crunchy live bass fills and punchy, raw beats. Next up we have Switch which features Brooklyn MC’s Stimulus and Malik Work on vocal duties and Greg’s own trumpet adding top lines to the deep pads and rolling groove.
Marino takes us back to golden era jacking Chicago house of the 00’s but with Greg’s trumpet flourishes bringing a live, jazzy energy to the track. Fellow NYC mainstay Big $exy provides his trademark deep baritone vocal to give a little hip house flavour. Closing out the EP we have NYC’s Martinez Brothers providing an uptempo minimal edit of Do You Love Me, a track from Greg’s previous Freerange EP. The MB’s keep things rolling and stripped back for maximum club impact creating a useful DJ tool whilst allowing Greg’s musical and vocal parts to shine.
In the late 1980s, the renowned American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger John Hicks formed one of the most influential ensembles consisting of musicians that had played music at the highest level all their lives and gained their status as both stand-alone artists and important sidemen. Each of them had participated in many of jazz’s great moments and all shared the ability, documented on many albums, to inspire their fellow musicians to even greater heights. The ‘John Hicks Trio’ had several line-up changes over the years that included greats such as Clifford Barbaro (Strata East, Blue Note, Sun Ra Arkestra, Charles Tolliver), Clint Houston (Prestige, Nina Simone, Roy Ayers, Azar Lawrence), Ray Drummond (Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Lalo Schifrin), Marcus McLaurine (Muse, Verve, Weldon Irvine, Kool & The Gang) and Victor Lewis (Steve Grossman, Stan Getz, Charles Mingus, Cedar Walton, Chet Baker).
On the album we are presenting you today (I’ll Give You Something To Remember Me By from 1988) the trio consists out of some of the biggest and best players in the jazz, funk and soul scenes:
On piano we have the Atlanta based trio’s bandleader JOHN HICKS (1941-2006). He served as a leader on more than 30 albums and played as a sideman on more than 300 other recordings. After being taught piano by his mother, Hicks went on to study at Lincoln University of Missouri, Berklee College of Music, and the Juilliard School. After playing with a number of different artists during the early ’60s (including Oliver Nelson and being part of Pharoah Sanders’s first band) he joined Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers in 1964. In the early ’70s he taught jazz history and improvisation at Southern Illinois University before resuming his career as a recording artist. Next to his many solo recordings for labels such as Strata East and Concord, Hicks would collaborate with all the big names in the scene, including Archie Shepp, Mingus and Alvin Queen. In 2014 & 2015, J Dilla paid homage to John Hicks by sampling two of his songs.
On drums we have the legendary IDRIS MUHAMMAD (1939-2014) who to this day is still considered as one of the most influential drummers covering a multitude of genre-transcending styles. Born in New Orleans, he showed early talent as a percussionist and began his professional career while still a teenager, playing on Fats Domino’s ‘Blueberry Hill’. He then toured with Sam Cooke and would later go on to work with Curtis Mayfield. Next to his landmark solo recordings for Prestige Records, Idris would collaborate with iconic musicians and acts from the likes of Manu Dibango, Ahmad Jamal, Melvin Sparks, Charles Earland, Walter Bishop, Ceasar Frazier, Roberta Flack, Gato Barbieri, Nathan Davis, Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Galt MacDermot, Lonnie Smith…and countless others. Idris Muhammad’s work was sampled by renowned performers such as Drake, Beastie Boys and Fatboy Slim.
On bass we have CURTIS LUNDY (born 1955) who originates from Florida. Lundy is a well-respected bass player (and a master of his instrument), choir director, arranger, composer and producer who was part of performances and recordings of renowned acts and artists such as Pharoah Sanders, Frank Morgan, Cole Porter, Chico Freeman, Khan Jamal… and many others!
On I’ll Give You Something To Remember Me By (recorded at the legendary Dutch Studio 44 in March 1987 and released on Limetree Records in 1988) the listener is treated to eight majestic tracks of the highest caliber (including an excellent Thelonious Monk cover-tune) and features a remarkable outing of advanced musicianship by three jazz-giants in their prime, delivering an inspirational gem of an album.
These recordings sound as successful, young and vibrant as ever! Expect supercharged ragtime Post Bop with striking notes, no-holds-barred musicianship, high swinging solos, screaming choruses and plenty of solid virtuosity to spare. The up tempo none stop Latin beat is complimented by the terrific drum solos of Idris Muhammad and the rhythmic bass strokes of Curtis Lundy. This electrifying set of tracks makes this release a bonafide hit and a must have for any self-respecting jazz fan or collector.
Live At Gilleys - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981
Recorded live on September 15, 1981, Live At Gilley's captures Kris
Kristofferson at a time in his career where he and his band were firing on
all cylinders
Kristofferson was with a full band out of the road that featured Stephen Bruton,
Donnie Fritts and Billy Swan.On this night, the band stopped by Gilley's Honkytonk
in Pasadena, Texas to deliver a one in a lifetime performance featuring the hits,
"Me And Bobby McGee", "The Pilgrim" and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down." "What a
great album this is! Classic Kristofferson songs throughout, and live!! Kris was in
his prime and his vocals were outstanding and very soulful as always." - George
Strait "Kris Kristofferson was such an amazing songwriter, a great performer, and
was a good match for our crowd. It was totally jam-packed every night, but we'd
have an especially big crowd whenever an artist like Kris would come to town." -
Mickey GilleyPackaging: CD Digiwallet, Poster
Like meeting an old friend again, Dalmata Daniel welcomes DJ Overdose back to their catalog. Six years ago the infamous Dutchman's '05 Poly 800 Loop' EP was released, which served as a powerful launch to Dalmata Daniel, opening the first chapter in their story. Later in 2019, a split release with Sematic4 was also a highlight in the life of the label; and now, 3 years later, DJ Overdose checks in with the 'Powers of Ten EP' with a J. Mono remix, available both in digital and vinyl format, the latter having 2 bonus tracks.
The distinct, crunchy sound of DJ Overdose, bearing aspects of old school hip-hop-infused sampling and contemporary analog vibes creates the perfect blend of both worlds. 'Garden of Lust' opens up the adventure with a combo of warm basslines and solid drum-programming. This initial track feeds us these cardinal elements as the bread and butter they are: subtle variations and fine spices do appear here and there as the track goes along, but the key, beating pulse in 'Garden of Lust' brings massive hits stable as a sledgehammer in the hands of a blacksmith.
'Feed The Beats' elevates the game to cinematic territories: its majestic string-like central melody makes me alert and ablaze, making me feel like I'm in a late 80s L.A. setting facing malevolent zombie-aliens in my Wayfarer shades. Blasting beats and Carpenterian coolness all over the place, while the spooky bassline just keeps sneaking up on me endlessly.
If you are wondering when's the best time of the year to bring out your boombox at last, then this is your lucky day: with 'BOB', the first bonus track on the vinyl, we can experience some roarin' bassdrums, snappy snares, MCs with the speed of light and all that jazz. The low-bit sampling and vinyl scratching come and kick you right in the face so hard that it becomes pretty obvious you'll can't help but start some serious beatbox battles in your bathtub with your rubber duck.
A feverish groove in the prime time of a funky bash, in the haze of a sensual rave-up: that's all one really wants when going for a Saturday night out. We definitely get this and much more from 'Room 714', another vinyl-only bonus track. A berserk voice and ethereal chords guide us through this mysterious track, but while we are busy trying to impress our crushes on the dance floor, things around us are slowly getting very, very freaky, maybe a bit way too freaky.
As wobbly and jolly as it gets, our Dutch friend ends his session with 'Ðr ¡v€ M€ ¢r@z¥', a vocoder-heavy disco banger, full of merry vocal FX and smart rhythmic glitches as he completes his flight. To close the EP, our local hero, J. Mono delivers an insane remix of 'Ðr ¡v€ M€ ¢r@z¥': one can clearly imagine how he grabs and turns the BPM knob all the way up, fires up some arpeggios on his mighty synths and casts a complete reimagination of the original track.
Following a live debut at Berghain and standout shows at De School and Institut fuer Zukunft, Daniel Martin-McCormick returns as Relaxer with the fourth installment in the project's eponymous EP series. Jamie Lee' takes over the a-side, harrowing screams are framed by strobing chords and a deadly groove. Simultaneously euphoric, agonizing and cathartic, Jamie Lee' was written as the climax of Relaxer's live set and is a prime example of the artist's uniquely feral techno. Drawing equally on punk confrontations and more haunting emotional explorations, Jamie Lee' is a lacerating and visceral descent.
On the b-side, Unwind' oozes from the speakers, a miasmic cut that builds on the white knuckle tension of Jamie Lee.' A lone synth figure worms its way through pulsating 3D drones, shimmering dissonances and hiccuping drums, rocking out into a quasi catatonic infinity. Finally Regime Change' gently floats on the surface of a trash-filled sea, a fading, smog choked reverie.
"The letter X marks the spot, crosses over, literally with a cross. It’s the former, the ex-. The ex-lover known simply as “an ex”. Ex- is the latin prefix meaning “out”. Exterior, an exit. Extraordinary. Excellent. It’s exciting. Generation X. X-files. X is the unknown. X is Extreme“
Extreme is Molly Nilsson’s tenth studio album. Recorded in 2019 and throughout the 2020 global pandemic at home in Berlin, Extreme is a departure for Nilsson, an explosion of angry love. It’s an album of anthems for the jilted generation, soaked with joy and offering solace, bristling with distorted, Metal guitars and planet-sized choruses that bring light to the dark centre of the galaxy. It’s an album of the times, by the times and for the people. It’s a record about power. About how to fight it, how to take it and how to share it.
Absolute Power explodes with massive guitars, double kick beats and the instantly iconic line “It’s me versus the black hole at the centre of the galaxy.” Nilsson’s performance itself portrays absolute power in its confidence but the song is a call-to-arms, an entreaty to grasp the here and now, to take the power back. It’s Nilsson pacing the ring and we’re instantly in her corner. Earth Girls takes familiar Molly Nilsson themes - female empowerment and subverting the patriarchy - but casually throws in one of the choruses of her career. “Women have no place in this world” she sings, but it’s the world that isn’t good enough. Stadium-sized but still warmly hazy, Earth Girls has its fists in the air, glorifying in harmony, almost ecstatic in its feeling good. Nilsson’s Springsteen-level conviction and righteousness bleeds through the speaker cones, the cognitive dissonance between the song’s cadences and angry lyrics redolent of Bruce in his prime. Female empowerment isn’t always an angry energy on Extreme, however. On Fearless Like A Child, Nilsson’s anthem to the female body and women’s sovereignty of it, she croons over a mid-80s blue-eyed Soul groove. It sets a nocturnal scene as the narrator surveys her past and her surroundings. Before we’re fully submerged in a dreamlike, Steve McQueen-era Prefab Sprout poem to learning from your mistakes the song erupts into one of those lines only Molly Nilsson can get away with: “I love my womb, come inside I feel so alive” she fervently sings. Against the backdrop of ever-encroaching, conservative rulings on women’s reproductive rights in places like Texas, it’s simultaneously angry and full of love.
Every song on Extreme is a gleaming gem in a pouch of jewels. On Kids Today, Nilsson is the voice of wisdom, archly commenting on the eternal struggle between youth and authority. Wisdom infuses Sweet Smell Of Success with a transcendent love that forgives the narrator’s shortcomings and celebrates the moment, it’s a letter to the author from the author that asks “what is success” and concludes that this is it, this song, this moment. It’s a rare moment of simple reflection that is generous in its insight to Nilsson’s inner life. “Success” is a tool of power and we don’t need it… We need power tools and there are moments on Extreme where it feels like Nilsson is showing us how to find them. It's an open conversation through out Extreme. She’s a warm, comforting presence through out the album and specially on these songs of encouragement, songs perhaps sang to a younger Molly Nilsson or, really, to whomever needs to hear them. “They’ll praise your efforts, they’ll call you slurs a rebel, a master, an amateur / Merely with your own existence, you already offer your resistance.” On Avoid Heaven she’s even more direct, pleading with us to avoid concepts of purity and to embrace the glorious, ebullient, emotional mess we’re often in as a method of upending the power structures who need things to be perfect.
They Will Pay brings back the big, distorted power chords in the form of a agit-punk, pop slammer. Of course, when Molly Nilsson does punk pop we get the catchiest chorus this side of The Bangles or The Nerves. It’s rendered in an off the cuff, throwaway manner that is just perfect in its roughness. However, it’s on Pompeii that Nilsson delivers the album’s epic, emotional heartbreaker. Like 1995 on Nilsson’s album Zenith, or Days Of Dust on Twenty Twenty, the lyrics of Pompeii are heavy with a transcendent sadness, an aching poetry that cuts to the truth of the heart like the best Leonard Cohen lines, though here delivered with an uplifting, life-affirming love. It contains the most personal moments of Extreme, a song lit by the dying embers of romance. Yet it’s here where the alchemy at the base of all Nilsson’s best work is found. Turning small nuggets of personal truth into big, generous universal moments that invite everyone to cry, to love and to fight the power. In an album of jewels, it might be the shining star.
Molly Nilsson’s biggest, boldest and most vital album to date, Extreme is about power. Against the love of power and for the power of love.
- A1: Pimpshit
- A2: Old School Jackin' (Feat Prime Minister)
- A3: Northside Posse (Feat Emcee Mechanism)
- A4: Fat Ones (Feat Ice Dog)
- B1: One Straight Binness (Feat Shujaa & Class)
- B2: Into The Dangerzone (Dahkter Remix)
- B3: Meltdown (Feat Emcee Mechanism)
- B4: Off Beat
- B5: Louisville (Feat Ice Dog)
- B6: Run It
- C1: Badlands (Feat Class)
- C2: Hit A Block (Feat E-Dawg)
- C3: Extortion (Feat Ice Dog)
- C4: Mind Over Matter (Feat Emcee Mechanism)
- D1: Mech Og (Feat Emcee Mechanism)
- D2: Mindblowing
- D3: Migraine
- D4: Zone (Feat Ice Dog)
- D5: Pimpshit (Remix)
RARE RECORDINGS BY SEMINAL HIP_HOP GROUP TUFF CREW - This record is a double album vinyl set w/ unreleased bonus material/tracks. - Tuff Crew is known throughout the world as Philly's first Rap super group. They've toured extensively with some of the biggest names in Rap music such as Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Rob Base and LL Cool J. The response to Tuff Crew's music has been nothing short of stellar. On a national level, their single "My Parta Town" peaked at #23 on the Billboard Rap charts, while their album Back to Wreck Shop reached #74 on the Billboard R&B album charts. Estimates of Tuff Crew's global sales are in excess of three million units. Tuff Crew's body of work has resulted in a dedicated legion of fans across the world and their DJ Too Tuff has been the recipient of various accolades throughout his career. DJ Z-Trip advised that the technique of DJ Too Tuff inspired him to be a scratch DJ. Three time global DMC scratch champion DJ Q-Bert also notes Too Tuff as one of his inspirations. And A-Trak, Kanye West's DJ, has also voiced his adoration of the turntable techniques of DJ Too Tuff. Although Tuff Crew made an incredible mark on the musical landscape, they unfortunately fell victim to bad management and infighting. It was during this time period that DJ Too Tuff, the man behind legendary Tuff Crew sound, gathered the finest of Philly's underground MC's and began work on a solo project. The new Tuff Crew album, containing the finest of DJ Too Tuff's solo work, is entitled DJ Too Tuff's Lost Archives. DJ Too Tuff's Lost Archives will be highly sought after, and is destined to become an instant collector's item. For fans of of Eric B and Rakim, Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic MC's, Run DMC and Wu-Tang Clan, this record is not to be missed.
Black Truffle is pleased to announce For McCoy, a new work by Eiko Ishibashi dedicated to the widely loved character of Jack McCoy, portrayed by Sam Waterston in Law & Order. Following on from Hyakki Yagyō (BT064), For McCoy finds Ishibashi further exploring the unique space she has carved out in recent years, bringing together musique concrète techniques, ECM-inspired jazz, lush layers of synths and hints of pop into immersive and affecting structures crafted in her home studio, aided by a group of close collaborators.
Beginning with overlapping layers of descending flute lines, the expansive ‘I Can Feel Guilty About Anything’ (whose two parts stretch out over more than thirty minutes) unfolds with a free-associative logic, embracing dreamlike transitions and unexpected cinematic cuts. As a hovering cloud of synthetic tones and multi-tracked voices fans out from the spare opening moments, Joe Talia’s skittering cymbals settle into a gently propulsive groove, soon joined by melodic fragments performed by Daisuke Fujiwara on multi-tracked saxophone. As the drums cede to field recordings and ominous synth figures, the uncommon meeting of saxophone and electroacoustic techniques call to mind the more spacious moments of Michel Redolfi and André Jaume’s Synclavier-propelled oddity Hardscore or the early work of Gilbert Artman’s Urban Sax. As the piece continues on the LP’s second side, distant dialogue rumbles beneath a surface of processed flutes, blurring into a cavernously reverberant backdrop for stark ascending lines performed by MIO.O on violin. Eventually, the piece settles into a gorgeous passage of abstracted dream pop, where Ishibashi’s multitracked vocal harmonies glide atop synth chords, errant pings and snatches of outdoor sound.
Fragments of melodic material reappear throughout the spacious opening piece, finally stepping to the forefront on the closing track, ‘Ask Me How I Sleep at Night’. Here, over a shuffling groove supplied by Jim O’Rourke on double bass and Tatsuhisa Yamamoto on drums, layers of flutes, saxophones and guitars sound out melodies whose combination of twisting irregularity and soulful immediacy calls up prime Keith Jarrett, while their closely voiced harmonies suggest Kenny Wheeler or even Wayne Shorter’s Atlantis. In a classical gesture of closure, the web of melodic lines eventually leads back to the descending flute figures with which the record began. Presented in an immersive, impeccably detailed mix by Jim O’Rourke and arriving in a sleeve featuring Ishibashi’s beautiful drawings of Jack McCoy, For McCoy is an essential release for anyone following the enchanted and unique path being forged by Eiko Ishibashi.
Multi Culti launch a new quarterly 12" series in step with the seasons beginning with SOLSTICE I:
Post-pandemic lockdown inspiration can be found in the great planetary balancing act that has taken place since a cataclysmic impact with an asteroid caused mass extinction and set our earth’s orbit off axis. This AXIAL TILT, or obliquity, is responsible for the seasons, and life as we know it has evolved around these unleashed forces. As our lives and for many, careers, have spun dramatically off axis as of late, we look ahead to the coming seasons, with the hope that we can weather the changes, and maintain inner stability. To aid in this quest, Multi Culti promises to deliver sonic support with utmost regularity at the peak moments of cosmic significance, with each Solstice and Equinox.
Beginning this journey are some of the label’s most beloved artists. Israeli duo RED AXES provide a chakra-elevating soundtrack with their inimitable blend of psych-garage-tronica, a sun-kissed banger that signals a long-awaited return to the togetherness of the dancefloor.
ZILLAS ON ACID turn in a robustly wiggly jam that electrifies, frazzling zaps and frenetic percussion recall the fritzy tension of the past year, a cathartic shock-treatment for traumatized dancers looking to get back to prime spine-shaking shape.
Mexico managed to stay open for the most part, and TYU seems to have not skipped a beat here, still in perfect form after breaking out as one of the hottest young producers to emerge in recent years. Dark disco, Mexi-chug, call it what you want, but the emergent genre is never better represented than here… spooky, phosphorescent tribal dance, Tulumminati-tested and approved.
Finally, the big guy - MANFREDAS - whose remixes and edits have been highlight-reel material the past couple of years, delivers a long awaited original track with his requisite heavy-weight swag. Wonky tunings and a chunky downtempo beat underpin Manny’s trademark masterful arrangement style, building patiently, with breakdowns that managed to wring every last drop of impact out of an odd, other-worldy assortment of sounds.
For the Perth group, creativity and production hasn’t stopped in 2020. Despite
much of this year’s tour plans being put on pause, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have used their time off road to continue preparing themselves for the release of their fourth studio release, and an eventual blistering return to stages
around the world with a heavy-hitter of an album primed for the live space.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have already given fans an early taste of the forthcoming SHYGA! era, with ‘Mr. Prism’ in August. The creation of SHYGA! The
Sunlight Mound, especially off the back of 2019’s huge LP And Now For The
Whatchamacallit, came together in a different environment for McEwan and
the results speak to the band’s evolution and McEwan’s evolution as a songwriter.
“For the first time in a long time I was home without any tours booked, no
work, no deadlines and I felt free to create. My writing process became ritualistic; every morning starting with a small walk to the local bottle shop at 11am
and writing whatever flowed, allowing myself to design in all styles without
boundaries, and not trying to theme the album early on. I haven’t had the luxury of writing this way since the first record, which I spent almost a year working
on. It felt like I was myself again, creating without opinion or constraints. I was
gliding through weeks with a day seeming to pass.
Big Ever is the new moniker of Sydney born, Berlin based music producer Thomas McAlister. Over 2016-19 Big Ever released a string of EPs and singles under the name Cop Envy; through Black Opal, Templar Sound, Cry Baby Records, Decisions and Hypercolour. Incienso is hyped to release the debut Big Ever EP “Otto” as the first in our run of very exciting records coming out in 2021.
Coming through with four distinctive and vibrant club tracks primed for all hours of the night or early morning, Big Ever lets loose on 2021 with a bold and unique take on percussion, bass, and ambiance working in unison to extraordinary effect.
Written, Produced and Mixed by Thomas McAlister
Mastered by Rashad Becker
Artwork and design by Ezra Miller
As a band, The Cobbs are virtually unknown but its members were in fact the Revolutionaries i.e. the 1970s CHANEL ONE studio band!
Check this line-up: Sly Dunbar: Drums, Rad Bryan: Guitar, Ranchie McLean: Bass, Ansel Collins: Keyboards!
Initially released separately on Trojan‘s Amalgamated label in 1969 and never repressed since, these two organ driven wild instrumentals were produced by Joe Gibbs.
These two rare tracks exemplify the Skinhead reggae style and are a prime example of the very best Boss Reggae instrumentals of the time.
- A1: Wouldn't It Be Nice
- A2: You Still Believe In Me
- A3: That's Not Me
- A4: Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
- A5: I'm Waiting For The Day
- A6: Let's Go Away For Awhile
- A7: Sloop John B
- B1: God Only Knows
- B2: I Know There's An Answer
- B3: Here Today
- B4: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
- B5: Pet Sounds
- B6: Caroline No
The ultimate pressings of the Beach Boys discography from Analogue Productions!
Original mono mix produced by Brian Wilson
One of 10 titles featuring 33 1/3 mono and stereo remastered editions: Surfin' USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down Vol. 2, All Summer Long, Today!, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), Beach Boys Party!, Pet Sounds and Smiley Smile
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, most from the original master tapes or best sources available
Lacquer plating by Gary Salstrom and 180-gram vinyl pressing by Quality Record Pressings!
"It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water…I love the album so much. I've just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life. I figure no one is educated musically 'til they've heard that album." – Paul McCartney
"All of us, Ginger (Baker), Jack (Bruce), and I consider Pet Sounds to be one of the greatest pop LPs to ever be released. It encompasses everything that's ever knocked me out and rolled it all into one." – Eric Clapton
"For those in search of an original mono in pursuit of sonic quality, search no more. This Analogue Productions pressing is now the definitive pressing and the one we chose to feature at our Classic Album Sundays events to honour the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds, an album that helped change the course of pop music." — Colleen ‘Cosmo' Murphy, Classic Album Sundays
"Overall though, this new reissue is the best sounding of all. The bottom end has more weight and solidity and the instrumental separation and front to back layering is nothing short of astonishing compared to the pleasing mush offered up by other editions. ... Pet Sounds belongs in every serious rock record collection and if you're going to have but one version this one from Analogue Productions is the one to have." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet Read the whole review here.
"What I can say is that Kevin Gray has been able to extract every last bit of information from whatever tape is in the box, and present it in a way that is pleasing and natural to the ear. ... in my opinion, the Analogue Productions pressings are now THE definitive issue of each Beach Boys album, and will be my reference copies until if and when something better comes along — which may be never." — Lee Dempsey, Endless Summer Quarterly, Summer 2015 Edition
To meet the standards of Analogue Productions, our Beach Boys album reissues had a mission to achieve: Present the band's music the way that Brian Wilson — famed co-founder, songwriter and arranger — intended. Mono mixes created under Wilson’s supervision were how the surf rockin’ California crew rose to fame! And we’ve got ‘em!
For the early part of the Beach Boys' career, all of their singles were mixed and mastered and released only in the mono format — they didn't release a single in stereo until 1968. In those days, hits were made on AM radio in mono. And the mono of those times worked well for Wilson, who suffers from partial deafness. In fact, for their first 13 albums, Wilson originally turned in all the final mixed Beach Boy albums to Capitol Records only in mono. The mono mixes were where Wilson paid intense attention, and the dedication paid off!
We’ve taken 10 of the most classic, best-sounding Beach Boy titles ever and restored them to their mono glory!
But there’s no disputing that the close harmonies and one-of-a-kind rhythms of hits like “Surfer Girl,” “In My Room,” “Little Deuce Coupe” and more lend themselves naturally to stereo. So we’ve got your 2-channel needs covered with prime stereo mix versions as well.
Mastered by Kevin Gray, most from the original master tapes, and plated and pressed by Quality Record Pressings, the finest LP pressing facility in the world, these are awesome recordings to experience. And the look of each album befits its sonic superiority! Presented in "old school" Stoughton tip-on jackets, these time honoured favourites shine brighter than the originals!
Pet Sounds is famous for its use of multiple layers of unorthodox instrumentation as well as other cutting edge audio techniques for its time. It's considered the best Beach Boys album, and one of the best of the 1960s. The group here reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create a richly symphonic sound.
Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with exotic touches of orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, Theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. It wouldn't have been a classic without great songs, and this has some of the group's most stunning melodies, as well as lyrical themes which evoke both the intensity of newly born love affairs and the disappointment of failed romance (add in some general statements about loss of innocence and modern-day confusion as well). The spiritual quality of the material is enhanced by some of the most gorgeous upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) ever heard on a rock record. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "God Only Knows," "Caroline No," and "Sloop John B" (the last of which wasn't originally intended to go on the album) are the well-known hits, but equally worthy are such cuts as "You Still Believe in Me," "Don't Talk," "I Know There's an Answer," and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times." It's often said that this is more of a Brian Wilson album than a Beach Boys recording (session musicians played most of the parts), but it should be noted that the harmonies are pure Beach Boys (and some of their best).
VH-1 named Pet Sounds as the No. 3 album in the Top 100 Albums in Rock 'n' Roll History, as judged in a poll of musicians, executives and journalists. It's been ranked No. 1 in several music magazines' lists of the greatest albums of all time, including NME, The Times and Mojo Magazine. It was ranked No. 2 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
For the Perth group, creativity and production hasn’t stopped in 2020. Despite
much of this year’s tour plans being put on pause, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have used their time off road to continue preparing themselves for the release of their fourth studio release, and an eventual blistering return to stages
around the world with a heavy-hitter of an album primed for the live space.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have already given fans an early taste of the forthcoming SHYGA! era, with ‘Mr. Prism’ in August. The creation of SHYGA! The
Sunlight Mound, especially off the back of 2019’s huge LP And Now For The
Whatchamacallit, came together in a different environment for McEwan and
the results speak to the band’s evolution and McEwan’s evolution as a songwriter.
“For the first time in a long time I was home without any tours booked, no
work, no deadlines and I felt free to create. My writing process became ritualistic; every morning starting with a small walk to the local bottle shop at 11am
and writing whatever flowed, allowing myself to design in all styles without
boundaries, and not trying to theme the album early on. I haven’t had the luxury of writing this way since the first record, which I spent almost a year working
on. It felt like I was myself again, creating without opinion or constraints. I was
gliding through weeks with a day seeming to pass.
- A1: Road To Earth (With Peter Thomas)
- A2: It's The Music (With Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk, Hektek & Deejay Snoop)
- A3: In The Dark (With Nichola Richards)
- A4: The Spell Of Ra-Orkon
- A5: Political Power (With Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk & Donald D)
- A6: Drifting Stars
- B1: Not Get Caught (With Derobert)
- B2: Locked & Loaded
- B3: Catfight
- B4: Hot Stuff (With Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk & Deejay Snoop)
- B5: The Showdown
COLOUR VINYL[16,77 €]
The Mighty Mocambos' new album "Showdown" sets another cornerstone in their prolific career as a globally active instrumental funk outfit. While maintaining their organic approach of recording real musicians live on tape, the group has refined their trademark sound with a dramatic edge, a hard hitting production and ventures into less obvious musical territories. While highly enjoying themselves as the tight unit they are, The Mighty Mocambos invited an exciting list of guests to contribute to their musical "Showdown": German film composer icon Peter Thomas, hiphop godfather Afrika Bambaataa, rap legends Charlie Funk aka Afrika Islan (member of the original Rocksteady Crew) and Donald D (of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate), plus Nichola Richards, Shawn Lee, DeRobert from peer label GED Soul in Nashville, Zulu Nation MCs Deejay Snoop & DJ Hektek and organ genius Guillaume Metenier all joined the group for their new musical adventure. "Showdown" is released on vinyl LP by Mocambo Records and on CD and digital incarnations by Légère Recordings.
About the Mighty Mocambos:
The Mighty Mocambos and their many incarnations have released dozens of 45s and several albums on their own imprint Mocambo Records and other labels such as Kay Dee, Truth & Soul, Tramp, Légère and Favorite Recordings, to name a few. They have collaborated with musical legends such as Afrika Bambaataa, Lee Fields or Kenny Dope, put new talent like Gizelle Smith and Caroline Lacaze on the map, brought Caribbean steel drums to funk clubs with their alter ego Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, and have toured through all civilized parts of the continent and beyond for the better part of the last years. Their unique style and trademark sound are loved by peers, fans and critics alike and distinguishes them from mere retro-copycat-acts as well as overproduced plastic soul. The Mighty Mocambos continue to deliver their brand of funk with blazing horns, soulful guitars, driving drums and basslines combined with an extra bit of quirkiness. When not producing records for one of their many incarnations and collaborations, the band is touring steadily. Whoever witnessed a concert will tell you about the musicality, passion, energy, humour and joy that the band loves to bring to the people. Background What started out years ago as a take on "deep funk" and its associated vinyl culture has completely grown into its own oeuvre d'art. With the launch of their production studio and record label in 2006, things started to gain momentum. Apart from self-releasing the group's own recordings, Mocambo Records became a household name by putting out highly collectable vinyl 45s by today's best funk outfits as well as unearthing lost library funk treasures. The Mighty Mocambos however did not restrict themselves solely to their own label. Their interpretation of the Furious Five classic "The Message", released under a pseudonym on an obscure phantasy label without proper distribution, got picked up and remixed by Grammy- nominated producer legend Kenny Dope (Masters at Work, Bucketheads). Their first single with UK funk singer Gizelle Smith, "Working Woman", became an overnight smash and a prime-time club favourite of funk & soul DJs worldwide. Initially released on the Finnish private press imprint Old Capital, it got the remix treatment by Kenny Dope and a re-release on Kay Dee Records as well. After earning their credits through vinyl 45s, the band stepped up their game with the full- length "This Is Gizelle Smith & the Mighty Mocambos" in 2009. The album received rave reviews, got lots of airplay - and sold a bunch of physical copies too. Its success led to an extensive tour throughout Europe with club dates from Marseille to Oslo, performances at massive festivals such as the Printemps de Bourges in France and live radio appearances at respected FMs such as the BBC and Radio Nova. With the following album "The Future Is Here" (2011), the band stepped further into the spotlight and explored new sounds with features by hiphop legends Afrika Bambaataa and Charlie Funk, French singer Caroline Lacaze and German rare groove queen Su Kramer, while manifesting their unique raw funk sound and refining their unmistakable instrumental style that had long gained international reputation. The album was toured extensively, including a legendary performance with Afrika Bambaataa at Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival (covered by ARTE TV), support gigs for Lee Fields and headline shows at renowned venues such as Amsterdam's Paradiso, Islington Assembly Hall in London, Paris' Bellevilloise, Tempo Club in Madrid, or at home at Hamburg's Mojo Club. After producing the critically acclaimed debut album "En Route" (2013) of French soul singer Caroline Lacaze, where their adapted their sound to deliver a stunning mix of French Beat, Soul & Psychedelic Rock, the band went on to record a full length under their moniker Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band. Their interpretation of 50 Cent's P.IM.P. had long become a cult classic and was often mistaken for the original sample. The group's approach in stretching the boundaries of funk by adding Caribbean steel pans caught the interest of Brooklyn's finest label Truth & Soul who signed the band for the album "55", an explosive mix of funk and hip hop cover versions as well as original compositions that showcase the band's singularity in today's funk circuit. The Mighty Mocambos' recent album "Showdown" (2015) sets yet another cornerstone in their prolific career as a globally active instrumental funk outfit. While maintaining their organic approach of recording real musicians live on tape, the group has refined their trademark sound with a dramatic edge, a hard hitting production and ventures into less obvious musical territories, with a diverse list of special guests ranging from German film composer icon Peter Thomas to hiphop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.
East London-born music legend and all round boundary-breaking innovator, Dizzee Rascal, today announces the release of his 7th studio album, entitled ‘E3 AF’ and new single ‘L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large)’, out via Island Records.
This new release marks the genesis of a new era for Dizzee and is the first album wholly written, recorded and produced in the UK in over a decade. ‘E3 AF’ is a 10-track layered, purposeful statement of intent, rooted in Dizzee’s inedible ties to both east London and Black British music’s legacy. He sound is sharper, stronger and more self-assured than ever, and it is obvious that he has poured the creative energy of the past few years into ‘E3 AF’ as a body of work. First single, L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large), features Tottenham born MC Chip and kicks open the door with the force of a steel toe capped boot. Chip, adds another thwack of bravado to the rumbling, Dizzee-produced beat. ‘E3 AF’ confirms Dizzee’s status as an artist still very much in his prime, sonically it draws on the infectious pace of grime and resolutely forward-thinking UK rap. From one song to the next, you are taken on a journey through Black British musical excellence. Ice-cold UK drill drips on Smoke Boys-featuring ‘Act Like You Know’ (produced by MK the Plug) and Eastside pulses with pure grime courtesy of Chubby Dreadz and Platinum 45. Self-produced opener ‘God Knows’ (featuring P Money) and high-octane ‘You Don’t Know’ pull from dubstep, grime and drum ‘n’ bass while threatening to wreak havoc with your speakers. By the time Alicai Harley’s warm up vocals float over sunny syths on the deeply personal ‘Energies + Powers’ (produced by Steel Banglez), the album practically radiates heat. Dizzee Rascal is a unique artist that has inspired many for multiple generations. From his 2003 debut album release, the Mercury Prize-winning ‘Boy In The Corner’ to date, Dizzee has continued to push expectations and boundaries. He is British musical royalty. Every album that followed stacked up another marker of success. Between 2004 and 2017 all album releases blasted firmly into the Top 10 Official album chart, won awards, critical acclaim and amassed Dizzee a huge following of devoted fans. ‘E3 AF’ is set to confirm Dizzee Rascal’s status as the master at the top of his game.
States of Fugue SF02 is the adventurous & uncompromising new record from Zoë Mc Pherson. It follows the success of her critically acclaimed 2018 album String Figures SF01, an audiovisual project that earned her invitations to perform around the world.
States of Fugue SF02 also inaugurates her new hybrid label SFX, a collaborative project with fellow multimedia artist Alessandra Leone. The label presents an opportunity for the pair to fully embody their creative vision whilst building bridges between, and for practitioners working at the intersection of different creative fields.
Zoë Mc Pherson's recent recorded work includes collaborations with Rupert Clervaux and Christina Vantzou, and a remix for Contagious, which was released on Rabih Beaini's Morphine imprint. SoF features collaborations with Elvin Brandi and dutch free improv scene singer Greetje Bijma, a cast which reveals Zoë's punkish & deviant taste and who's vocal work provides moments of both ballistic & mystic power.
Brandi features on Learn Ur Language with a rabid diatribe, somehow flowing through Zoë's staccato barricades. On album closer Bug, Greetje's alien annunciations are neatly vaporised into the year 3000.
The album relentlessly toys with typical dance music meter, creating complex organic structures that activate forgotten muscles in those exposed at sufficient volume, puppeteering the obedient dancer into new patterns of movement. Tenace is the prime example, where wormhole rhythms pull you in with the gravity of an unknown planet.
The album within it's singular feeling for electro-naturalism is rich in humanity and personality, aided throughout by the diverse terrain of Zoë's voice - a tool she uses for full spectrum expression, from whispers to screams. With the launch of SFX and a clutch of multimedia collaborations alongside, we are witnessing her evolve in all directions.
SFX is a new hybrid label from Zoë Mc Pherson and Alessandra Leone. After collaborating for three years on their multimedia String Figures project, the label will build on this foundation, continuing to develop and release objects and experiences across various mediums.
The labels first release will be Zoë Mc Pherson's sophomore LP
States of Fugue, released February 20th 2020.
Following our 004 EP we present our first VA release with NorthSouth Records bossman and all round Don Henry Hyde (aka Harry McCanna) kicking things off. 'Still Talking' epitomises the forward-thinking sound that is currently coming out of London - a perfect example of our ethos and aesthetic at the label. A tried and tested bomb that will do serious damage on any dance floor.
Kepler is another artist we have been working closely with over the course of 2017, an exceptional year for him bringing his sound to the masses. Happy to be working with him, with plenty more to come in 2018 - you can catch Kepler's solo release in the form of 006 later this year..
On the B Side, a name I'm sure you have all heard & also now officially a member of Entity : London, Lost Act sets the pace with his trademark groove on 'Locked'.
Smoud Beats complete the EP with a funky fresh track primed for the dance floor. The young duo from Italy have been creating some real good music of late and I'm really happy to have them on board to round off this record.
Drew McDowall's back story reads like a primer of psychedelic fiction woven into statements of the unbelievable, superhuman and outright insane. Somewhere in the chaotic madness, comes an artist such as McDowall with total control and absolute calm within his songs and artistic method.
Growing up in the gangs of 1970's Scotland, Drew McDowall started to shy away from the daily violence once punk took hold of the counterculture youth. Drew McDowall quickly scrambled to form his own punk band in 1978 with his then wife, Rose McDowall, called The Poems. Shortly lived, the Poems released a single and various tracks but more importantly, the band allowed McDowall to network with other local musicians in Glasgow, such as Orange Juice, and allowed him to travel down to London thus forming friendships with Genesis P-Orridge, David Tibet and countless others, bringing Drew into the fold of the experimental revolution happening in the UK brought upon by Throbbing Gristle and executed by bands such as Psychic TV and Current 93.
During the 1980's, McDowall found himself in the ranks of P-Orridge's Psychic TV and collaborating with the mysterious duo comprised of former Throbbing Gristle creator Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and the enigmatic John Balance who had been creating esoteric and progressive electronic music under the title of Coil. It was during his formative collaborations with Coil that McDowall saw himself shift from occasional contributor to austere full-time member of the arcane outfit. McDowall's impact on the band's sound was apparent as the releases transformed from their previous avant pop signature to a more complex and methodic electronic imprint accompanied by even more abstruse subject matter than previous years. McDowall would continue honing his compositional skills with Coil until the release of the band's two most broad-minded albums, Astral Disaster and Musick to Play in the Dark.
The past decade, Drew McDowall found himself living in New York City and re-appropriating himself within the local music scenes he found himself contributing to. In 2011, alongside his friend and collaborator, Tres Warren (Psychic Ills), McDowall found himself exploring his passion of meditative drone and abstract sound patterns in their project Compound Eye. In recent times, McDowall's production work has provided the music world with some of the most outstanding remixes for bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Azar Swan and Long Distance Poison as well as his well-received scores he composed alongside artist Tamaryn for the works of Bret Easton Ellis. Outside of his collaborative duties, McDowall formed an audience as a solo artist, playing countless performances and showcases around New York's electronic music haunts.
Dais Records approached Drew to solidify his standing as a leading electronic musician with the recording of new material neatly wrapped up in his debut album entitled 'Collapse'. Recorded in 2015 in Brooklyn, NY, McDowall's synonymous modular synthesizer compositions are augmented by obtuse sampling cut-ups and contributions from Nicky Mao (Hiro Kone / Effi Briest) rounding out the lumbering sequential knot work that has become synonymous with McDowall and craft.
TERRANOVA returns to the fore with the HEADACHE EP, another impressive assortment of floor-ready house weaponry - after the sublime sophistication of the PAINKILLER EP (KOMPAKT 262) and its accompanying remixes (FM X/PAIN 001), the new material shoves the pendulum back into more rugged club territory, showcasing the sort of sonic urgency and rawness the legendary project has become known for in the first place.
As missing links between the dystopian pop of TERRANOVA's turn-of-the-century work and the slick kinetic drama of their current incarnation on Kompakt, the three cuts of the HEADACHE EP congenially continue the multi-layered, nifty thrust of 2012's house nouveau epic HOTEL AMOUR (KOMPAKT 248 CD 95), but also manage to evoke the wonderstruck immediacy of an act burning through its first speakers. This becomes particularly manifest with the deployment of CATH COFFEY as vocalist for title track HEADACHE (also a primer for TERRANOVA's upcoming full-length). A member of iconic British rap outfit Stereo MCs in the early 90s and collaborator of Tricky, the singer was featured on TERRANOVA's initial outings and is a well-established presence in their early work. On the new 12", she reintroduces her unique brand of battle-hardened, deadpan soulfulness to the searing funk of the reinvigorated project.
HEADACHE, a cover of a song from Birmingham's iconic and controversial postpunk outfit The Au Pairs, as well as its instrumental sequel HEADLOCK are both fuelled by the propulsive beats and upscale hooks we've grown to expect from TERRANOVA, but there seems to be something else at work, too - a somewhat darker undercurrent that may or may not be part of the actual arrangement. In any case, this adds much-needed depth to today's dance floors, providing them with a riveting soundtrack for the most intense of prime times. There's no need for EP closer TOURETTE to hide behind its compatriots, either: it's a full-blown thrill ride in its own right, brimming with jittery sampling, arresting percussion and some pretty rad bassline abrasiveness thrown in for good measure. A well-placed shot at the dancer's solar plexus, this wraps up the HEADACHE EP nicely, giving players and punters another perfectly valid reason for post-apocalyptic celebration.
Strago & Krone have gradually been carving out the Mutacube sound over these past few years. Cursed is a prime example of their particular brand of stripped-down futuristic funk: moody yet dancefloor orientated. Crank it up! Anemona, with its minimal groove, is the deeper cut on this 12" Brimming with intricate percussion and a hefty low end, it effortlessly wins you over.
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