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After a long period of silence from the Teenage Bad Girl project, Greg Kazubski and Guillaume Manbell had the strong desire to get together to create music together again.

If the first two albums, Cocotte (2007) and Backwash (2011), were entirely produced remotely by exchanging audio files, for this third opus, the French electro duo found themselves in the studio for several weeks. Greg and Guillaume wrote and composed together and side by side, the 13 titles of Separate. Each piece transcribes the spontaneity felt by the group during these sessions. There we find electronic sounds which give pride of place to disco funk, tinged with modernity and pop melodies flirting with the eighties.

Django Reinhardt gilt als einer der größten Gitarristen aller Zeiten und als erster Jazzgitarrist Europas, der Einfluss auf Kollegen wie Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd, Wes Montgomery, Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia, Tony Lommi und Willie Nelson hatte. Aufgrund seiner körperlichen Behinderung spielte er hauptsächlich mit Zeige- und Mittelfinger und erfand so einen einzigartigen Gitarrenstil. Seine Virtuosität, geprägt von der Musik der Roma, wurde von einem hervorragenden Gespür für melodische Erfindungsgabe, Musikalität, Timing, Swing und Dynamik begleitet. Django spielte ausschließlich nach Gehör, da er weder Noten lesen noch schreiben konnte. Die Swing-Compilation "Golden Classics" enthält eine Auswahl seiner besten Aufnahmen, alle sorgfältig remastered.

Although it felt like the world had stopped spinning, at times, it was during these days, months, and years of uncertainty that many of Venice’s “Stained Glass” songs were conceived. Each member of Venice was quietly and privately cataloguing their artistic interpretation of this new reality and uncertainty by recording or writing down little snippets of ideas, like guitar riffs, melodies, or lyrics…all of these came about while looking at life through a new lens.

They set up the writing circle using an electronic drum kit, small tube amps, direct acoustic guitars and bass and the sm58 stage microphones for vocals. This small and simple setup allowed the band to work on ideas at low-volume levels by using headphones or low-level playback through studio monitors without bothering the neighbors with live drums. “Lunches made by Michael’s wife, Danielle, and visits from their dog Sachi, kept us grounded and let us stay in the creative bubble without leaving that space”, says bassist, Mark Harris. Michael and drummer, Andre Kemp, who co-produced Stained Glass, would later re-record the drum tracks with real drums in a friend’s studio.

“The beauty of this approach on Stained Glass was that one person’s idea would be presented to the other 5 musicians and each guy added a different color to that idea”, says Michael. “Whether it was an unexpected drum beat, or a moving guitar line, those simple ideas turned into pieces of art, colored by the different musical and lyrical contributions. That only happens when you are working that idea out, together, and playing as one unit”.

That was the main inspiration for the album title; like a kaleidoscope, each guy's experience and taste in music was bringing a different color to the songs, but together their contributions made one piece of art, one song. Michael concludes, “if you zoom out, each song becomes its own color and all those songs or colors come together to form one big piece of art, one big piece of ‘Stained Glass’”.

The nineties are often described as a hedonistic decade, a party decade when all arrows pointed upwards. In music culture, first things that comes to mind is the peak of club music, big-mouthed and drunken British rock bands, extreme Black Metal, and the high-energy "Scandi-rock" - a scene that the Euroboys members themselves were part of, in bands like Gluecifer, Team Spirit, Fair Fuck and Turbonegro. "Soft Focus" broke out from the noise after the nineties, and started introducing new vibes in the rock genre. With inspiration from the music scene that grew out of Laurel Canyon and California in the early seventies, Euroboys came up with a rock album that was soft on the edges, warm sounding with bittersweet melodies. Today, names like Fleetwood Mac, Eagles and David Crosby are of course gods on the retro sky, but it wasn't like that in 2004. This first time on vinyl reissue of "Soft Focus" has been remastered from the original tapes, and also features two bonus tracks that resurfaced in the process, mixed and released for the first time.

Bad Bad Hats traffic in playful concepts and warm scenes of youth, celebrated for crispy, lived-in melodies, big choruses that stick for days, and an easy musicianship that carries across their eclectic, wide-ranging releases. The new album – filled with their trademark freewheeling songs, pristine tones and several unexpectedly funky turns – suggests a band still having deep fun creating and playing, inviting listeners new and old to live life to their heartfelt tunes.

We decided to sign BOTTENHAVET after about 30 seconds of the first demo song we heard. Swedish rock forged in snow. They deliver unbeatable groove and stunning melodies. The band name translates to ’The Bothnian Sea’ so it's not hard to guess that the harsh climate has had an impact of this band! Before even releasing an album they have shows booked in Sweden, Finland and Poland. Listen and you will understand why!

Ljud i Tysta Rum by Bottenhavet includes the following tracks: "Bränn broar", "Jord", "I skuggan" and more.

To record "Ease the Work", Hour traveled via ferry with an entire studio’s worth of equipment to an old off-Broadway theater on Peaks Island in Maine, months before the first tourists would show up. The week-long session started with an island-wide power outage that halted recording on the first day, and ended with twelve songs that walk steadily between longing and contentment, sentimentality and subtlety, the lift of harmony and the compulsion of a melody you wish would play forever. Hour’s music cuts a broad pathway, and remains hard to classify or compare. Perhaps most at home beside work from Bill Frisell, Eiko Ishibashi, ECM Records, or the Louisville experimental chamber group Rachel’s, Ease the Work shows us life on the boundary of composition and improvisation. It reaches for the sweeping gestures and inspired pacing of classic film scores, Frank Sinatra ballads, and Scott Walker’s pop orchestra. It also retains the arresting intimacy of the band’s early work. Strings swell and harmonize in counterpoint with electric guitar, clarinet, and piano, while drums, synth pads, and field recordings complete the aural world.

"Ease the Work" by Hour includes the following tracks: "Stoner", "Brain Scrub", "Dying of Laughter", "The Most Gorgeous Day in History" and more.

This release comes with a Download Code.

Archival reissue of the Afro-prog-psych Zamrock masterpiece Presented For The First Time Ever In An Aged Copper Green Pressing "Electrified by a diet of James Brown, the Stones and Deep Purple, WITCH were the stadium-filling kings of 70s Zamrock. - ****" - The entirety of WITCH’s fourth album, restored and remastered from master tapes, and presented as an archival reissue in an aged copper green vinyl pressing. WITCH’s musical arc is contained to a five year span and, in retrospect, it is a logical one. The band’s fourth album - recorded after the band toured with Osibisa - makes use of traditional Zambian rhythms and folk melodies alongside progressive rock movements. It is the most "afro-rock" of WITCH’s oeuvre..

Blue/Black Marble Vinyl, limitiert auf 200 Exemplare. ARROW MINDS sind eine melodische Metalcore / Hardcore Band aus Rostock, Deutschland. Sie wurden in einer kalten Winternacht im Jahr 2016 gegründet. Wenn du Bands wie Strike Anywhere, Avail oder Architects magst, wird diese Band deine Welt auf den Kopf stellen. Ihr neues Album ist ein großer Schritt nach vorne im Vergleich zu ihrem letzten. Man merkt, dass diese Band ihren musikalischen Weg gefunden hat. Ihre kraftvollen und aussagekräftigen Songs repräsentieren alles, wofür eine moderne Metalcore-Band stehen sollte - schnelle, aggressive Melodien, die zu eingängigen Hooks führen; mit Texten, die nicht versuchen, nur leere Parolen raus zu hauen, sondern vielmehr notwendige Fragen stellen und Statements setzen.

Dies ist das Sequel zum letztjährigen Album The Hypnogue, das neue Songs enthält, die die Geschichte und den Mythos des The Hypnogue-Albums erweitern und bisher nur bei Konzerten erhältlich war. Der Nachfolger oder zweite Teil von The Hypnogue wird in einer Deluxe-Papphülle geliefert (eine Doppel-LP auf Vinyl folgt möglicherweise später im Jahr). Der Schwesteralbum "Eros Zeta & The Perfumed Guitars" führt das Thema des letztjährigen, von der Kritik hochgelobten Erfolgsalbum The Hypnogue fort und erzählt die Geschichte in 15 neuen Songs weiter. Die Doppel-LP kommt in Galaxy green-Vinyl, die CD wird in einer luxuriösen Papphülle mit farbigem Booklet, schwarz bedruckter Stecktasche und wieder mit einem Coverartwork von Christiana Monored präsentiert. 15 großartige neue Songs von The Church, die uns weiter in den Kaninchenbau von Antarctic City führen. This is the companion album to last year's The Hypnogogue, featuring further tracks that expand the story and mythos of The Hypnogogue albums theme, previously available at gigs only. The follow up or second part of The Hypnogogue will be supplied in deluxe gatefold card sleeve (vinyl double LP possibly to follow later the year) Following on the theme from last year's critically acclaimed The Hypnogogue, 15 new songs take the story further. Double vinyl in Galaxy Green colour, CD presented in deluxe card gatefold sleeve with full colour booklet, black printed inners and sleeve with cover art again by Christiana Monored. 15 superb new tunes from the Church taking you further down the Antarctic City rabbit hole.

The duo's third album of instrumental guitar recordings pushes their sinuous compositions into labyrinthine new shapes, interlocking and interlocutory, supported by a cast of stellar collaborators. Interwoven among the dazzling original pieces is a fascinating array of covers, ranging from traditional Breton dance tunes to a deconstruction of Neneh Cherry's "Buffalo Stance." Their melody-first sensibilities are perfectly suited to each other _ playfully complex guitar work that sounds as if it was tossed off in an afternoon of whiskey and laughs. - NPR An intoxicating, intricate web _ Wherever Salsburg and Elkington go, it's always a pleasure. - Aquarium Drunkard Sounds like winter has always been approaching, like Indian summer never quite fades, like fall isn't built around loss. - Stereogum

Dedicated global following with fans of vintage downtempo soul music. Pratt & Moody are cherished in California’s lowrider ballad circles based on their underground soul hits “Lost Lost Lost” and “Wheels Turning”. Enter the captivating realm of Pratt & Moody as they unveil their new deep-as-the-oceans single, ‘Creepin’ Around’. This dynamic duo – consisting of Pratt and Moody – have honed their craft channeling their collective prowess into a singular fusion of dark soul and haunting melodies. Their previous sleeper hits “Lost Lost Lost” and “Wheels Turning” still resonate in spaces where contemporary soul ballads are treated as a valuable commodity. With ‘Creepin’ Around’, Pratt & Moody dive deep into the shadows, crafting a sonic narrative about infidelity that transcends boundaries. The velvety vocals of Pratt wrap themselves around Moody’s evocative guitar, creating a timeless soundscape that resonates with raw emotion. As the instrumental version gracefully embraces the absence of words, the music is left to speak volumes. Accompanied by the rock-solid artistry of Cold Diamond & Mink, ‘Creepin’ Around’ transports you to the hazy realm of late-night introspection, where each note carries the weight of longing and desire. The track immerses you in a David Lynch like world where melancholy, darkness and passion coexist.

Dedicated global following with fans of vintage downtempo soul music. Pratt & Moody are cherished in California’s lowrider ballad circles based on their underground soul hits “Lost Lost Lost” and “Wheels Turning”. Enter the captivating realm of Pratt & Moody as they unveil their new deep-as-the-oceans single, ‘Creepin’ Around’. This dynamic duo – consisting of Pratt and Moody – have honed their craft channeling their collective prowess into a singular fusion of dark soul and haunting melodies. Their previous sleeper hits “Lost Lost Lost” and “Wheels Turning” still resonate in spaces where contemporary soul ballads are treated as a valuable commodity. With ‘Creepin’ Around’, Pratt & Moody dive deep into the shadows, crafting a sonic narrative about infidelity that transcends boundaries. The velvety vocals of Pratt wrap themselves around Moody’s evocative guitar, creating a timeless soundscape that resonates with raw emotion. As the instrumental version gracefully embraces the absence of words, the music is left to speak volumes. Accompanied by the rock-solid artistry of Cold Diamond & Mink, ‘Creepin’ Around’ transports you to the hazy realm of late-night introspection, where each note carries the weight of longing and desire. The track immerses you in a David Lynch like world where melancholy, darkness and passion coexist.

The ashtrays in the music cellar are getting cold. Nobody coughs, that Beer tastes stale, and the disco ball spins in slow motion the sequins are missing. Only a small illuminated sign shines on the counter. Tonight: LO FAT ORCHESTRA – New Wave HIT-MACHINE from Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The band – three men with a sense of well-being Melodies – sets off on a ghost ride. “I’m not your dancer,” sings Chrisi Schmid, the singer behind it powerful synthesizer that writes the lyrics without them to write down. "I'm not your fucker." I'm not your puppet, you clown. This is the essence of the new Lo-Fat album “LFO_09”, which contains eight songs. That the name of the album just as well could come from a UFO is consistent. You don't have to Wanting to fit in or be cool for the sake of being cool. If in doubt, for the doubt. “I was afraid to talk to you,” sings Chrisi in the song “Sound,” and his Synth hops a wild dance. “I was afraid I wouldn’t like you. And I didn’t want to be like you.” The band still doesn't need a guitar. The bass works for two (the new bassist is Dominic Rubli). Drummer Daniel Zimmermann switches seemingly effortlessly between high-speed, Ballade scene and assembly line. “Love is for free,” sings Chrisi in the wonderful ballad “Good Times”. “This place is killing me.”

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Desire, an everlasting grip of that youthful energy, that fire and fury you felt playing a style of music that gives you a lifelong addiction and appreciation. If you’ve once been part of that certain something, that became part of your identity, it never lets you go. Drummer Sascha, bassist Jan, guitarists Philipp and Tobias know how it is getting older but still feeling the fire. The four friends shook up the scenes out of Frankfurt in the 90s and 00s. They played in different bands, they toured Europe and the US of A, they were mods, punks, hardcore kids. And they never lost their connection and love for their music. That’s why they got together some years back, rehearsing and writing songs just for the heck of it. Out of pure desperation the four of them were thinking about staying a goddamn instrumental band, maybe working with projections and shit to fog the fact that there was something initial missing: a singer. The road was calling their names, and they wanted to play shows and let you and you and you know what they got... So, they gave it one last try to find somebody to fill the void behind the mic. What helped was a platform – basically Tinder for musicians – to find that certain somebody. They kept it simple and only dropped one thing: #blackflag. On the other side of the screen there is Sam, a mystical, ghostly punkrock fairy. Sam shares that same hashtag, and she wants to sing. So, why not give it a try? Sam takes the offer, shows up in the rehearsal space, and the rest is history. Sam owns it. Sam is prepared. Sam can sing, scream, kick ass and has the lyrics to back it all up! On different occasions they now set stages on fire. They played a sweaty show in a packed Molotow cellar at Reeperbahn Festival, they joined the “Female Fronted Is Not A Genre” festival at legendary SO36 in Berlin and took the place by storm. They are ready. They were born ready. And they have that record to prove it. As any classic hardcore/punk LP it’s almost over before it started. Ten songs in twenty minutes. That’s the way. I Am A God sets the tone: “You think that I’m a girl?”, Sam asks, “Let me tell you I am a god/ And you know that I’m heaven sent.” What else would Sam be? The legendary hashtagged Californian hardcore icons drip out of every note here. This is old-school knowledge, played today. Fast, furious, and packed with energy. But it’s way more than just a bland tribute. It’s a middle-finger that finds its own direction. Salary Man allows itself a certain amount of melody – also carried by Sam who obviously can do more than bellow. Or Somewhere that shows that The Pill is a more dimensional band that can even Hüsker Dü things up if they are willing to. The Bitter Pill presents itself surprisingly angular and kind of melancholic. And What’s New almost makes its way into post-hardcore territory. Inbetween Switch and Off give you all the Greg Ginn vs. Dez Cadena your damaged souls were desperately striving for. The debut album Hollywood Smile will be released on April 5th, 2024 by Hamburg’s Sounds Of Subterrania.

One of the more melodic and interesting bands of ska’s third wave, Grand Rapids’ Mustard Plug’s ‘Yellow #5’ features a mix of melodic choruses and horn charts, loudly distorted guitar and upbeat punk or rock beats. Now available on purple vinyl. “Fans of early Bosstones would like this a lot, and the band get extra points for not succumbing to easy novelty lyrics, instead writing about the more introspective sides of life and love” - Reno Gazette

Ornate Music has been serving up quality deepness since 2008 but it's been a while since we heard from them. Edinburgh based producer, Rai Scott, returns to Ornate Music, previously releasing on the imprint back in 2014. This long overdue followup to her Innershift EP brings ethereal atmospherics and hypnotising percussion. The opener is a dreamy and celestial vibe with gently rolling beats, while Version 2 is more defined by the smeared chords which spiral to the heavens. 'As Honest As She Lived' is another electric lullaby with well-crafted ambient pads and 'Nina' ends with layers of bells, glistening keys and shimmering melody that soothes the soul.

RFXN kicks off life with a new single from David Agrella that comes with a bunch of great remixes. First off he offers up his own Acid Mix of 'Perro Balearico' and it's a supple, deep and dubby track with liquid synths and prog chords that sound both retro and future all at once. The orange is a more dreamy and spaced-out sound for 5 am sessions. On the flip is a more punch but still silky and warmly melodic remix from Mario Liberti before last of all, Gabriel Rai gets darker. His drums hit harder and the synths are moodier as he takes dancers down a late-night path of mystery and intrigue.

London-born-and-raised DJ and producer Parris has announced his new EP Passionfruit, which is to be released on 22nd March 2024 via his own co-founded label can you feel the sun. Following his stand-out 2021 album Soaked In Indigo Moonlight, described as a “masterful” take on the pop genre (Crack Magazine), Passionfruit continues Parris’ affinity for polyrhythms and bouncing synths, but diving deeper into his love for clubbing and UK soundsystems, the result is a heady house compilation.

Each track on the EP is in contention with the one before it, a counterpoint to a sonic argument; melodic bubbly pop against heavy drum and bass, morning rays of sunlight against dark and swampy rhythms. Where the title track “Passionfruit” was described by Parris as imagining the “early morning of a set with the sunrise coming through the shutters”, the very next track “Slipping, Falling, Crawling” is much like the title suggests: a sludgy, percussion-heavy track which has fun with creating melody from the beat itself, stripped back and raw intent.

“Why Can’t Rabbits Wear Cowboy Boots” and “Underwater Fantasy” are almost alternate universe club classics. “WCRWCB” takes a club-formed structure, and uses it to explore the limits polyrhythms, layering chaotically over eachother, and building through the first half of the track, until it peaks with the introduction of an explosive bassline. “Underwater Fantasy” on the surface is the straightest-sounding track to come from Parris, but the disco-style vocals fight with the beat, pushing and pulling at eachother.

Parris (aka Dwayne Parris-Robinson) has dedicated himself to club culture from an early age, never missing a week at FWD>> (the club night where a generation of bass and techno DJs made their names), and was constantly tuning into Rinse FM. Immersing himself into the distinct sound of London built the foundations of the productions we hear today, with grime and drum & bass bubbling alongside slick pop references.

Early Moods’ sophomore album A Sinner’s Past is the ultimate dosage of classic early 70s proto-metal, 90s grunge riffing and timeless songwriting delivered with an explosive youthful energy. The Los Angeles area quartet burst onto the scene fully formed with a sound that somehow simultaneously merged gritty underground Street Doom with slick “big box” Heavy Metal melodies on their self-titled RidingEasy debut album in 2022. And it’s the band’s highly skilled musicianship paired with exquisite aesthetic taste — in addition to their killer live show — that has made them an immediate popular favorite. A Sinner’s Past takes those elements several steps higher with a nod to Soundgarden’s huge sonic depth, the low-mid fuzz drenched tones of Sabotage and classic 70s melodies and structures of Ulli Roth-era Scorpions. The latter in particular inspiring the album’s intricate tonal shifts and shimmering twin leads. “I’m very proud of these songs,” says guitarist Eddie Andrade. “We did a lot of different things, took a lot of chances and show a lot of growth, and I think people will pick up on it. I was trying to use more open chords, not the typical styles. We came off touring with Candlemass and Pentagram, sharing those shows with our heroes really pumped us up. We went into the studio just hungry to record.” The album was recorded near the band’s home base in Pico Rivera, CA by Allen Falcon of Birdcage Studios, who also mixed their debut album. “He’s a good friend of the band and we wanted to be more comfortable, in a relaxed environment for this,” Andrade says. “He had a lot of input and his ideas made a lot of impact on this recording.” The band started recording in May 2023, then worked on the album on and off for 3 months between tours, which also lends to its very refined sound. Early Moods was founded in 2015 by Andrade and vocalist/keyboardist Alberto Alcaraz after a few years of playing in thrash and death metal projects before the two realized that the classic doom that they’d grown up with was what they really wanted to explore. Going through a few lineup changes while delving deeper into the diverging influences that were calling, Early Moods arrived at the sound and lineup that grew their fanbase locally. The band released their debut EP Spellbound in 2020 on German label Dying Victim Productions, followed by their self-titled debut full length on RidingEasy Records in 2023. Early Moods is Oscar Hernandez on lead guitar, Chris Flores on drums, Elix Felciano on bass, Alcaraz on vocals/synth and Andrade on guitar.

Octave One stride into 2024 with a fresh four-track EP that once again showcases their unique take on techno with three new versions of classic tracks alongside an all-new cut.

Detroit's legendary Burden Brothers had a big 2023 that saw them release their superb Never On Sunday album, which was a nod to their 90s downtempo project of the same name. The bumper collection traversed deep techno, house, and tech in their usual inimitable style while the pair themselves continued to push techno forward with their incomparable live show at the world's most notable clubs and festivals. They now show that their creative reserves continue to run deep with four more essential tracks.

The first one is a new Mothership Remix of 'Price We Pay' with long-time vocal collaborator Karina Mia. The original appeared on Never on Sunday and this version comes on strong with vast rubbery kicks powering a deep and seductive groove. Muted synths roam down low while twinkling melodies fall from above next to the controlled, soulful vocal. The superb 'Mirror Image' is a new track that rides a heavy broken beat. Downtempo chords are melancholic but stirring and have a dramatic sense of finality to them.

'A Better Tomorrow' also gets a new Mothership Mix following its original release on the Burn It Down album back in 2015. Here it is a surging cut with funky guitar riffs and bleeping synth sequences that bring to life the thundering low end. It's a hi-tech and soulful fusion of the organic and the synthetic that will blow the roof off.

Last of all is a Mothership Instruments version of 'Price We Pay' that powers along on thudding drums with edgy synth stabs riding up and down the scales. Deft keys shine and twinkle and signature Octave One arps break out at the midpoint to take things to a higher level.

These are four more classic techno sounds steeped in great synth craft from The Burden Brothers.

Hailing from Detroit, Shadow Show is an uncompromising power trio that combines elements of 60’s garage-psychedelia into a 21st century modern pop-art incarnation. Sleek and spellbinding, the music sweeps you up into frenetic grooves and dazzling harmonies. Their music pushes the boundaries of what can be, yet remains deeply rooted in the raw, untouchable Detroit sound. Three years ago, Shadow Show released their debut album, “Silhouettes,” in the US (Burger Records) and UK (Stolen Body Records). Since then, they have dedicated themselves to writing, arranging, and producing their epic masterpiece, “Fantasy Now!”, while occasionally taking breaks for full length US, UK, and EU tours, as well as obtaining support dates with bands like Automatic, Death Valley Girls, The Nude Party, and the 5.6.7.8’s, to name a few. “Fantasy Now”’ is a huge step forward from their debut LP, reaching a more ambitious Sgt. Peppery psychedelic vision that includes swirling pop melodies, fuzz guitar hooks, flutes, tympani, backwards surprise twists, and a magical medieval acapella interlude. Shindig Magazine says Shadow Show "transport the listener down a spiral into the mind's eye.” Allmusic praises their "kaleidoscopic explosion of tremolo guitars and mod pop vocal harmonies.” The band has recently completed a USA tour, and full USA and European dates are being booked for Spring 2024. Shadow Show’s transcendental triumph, “Fantasy Now!” was written, recorded, and produced by Shadow Show in Detroit, MI, with the exception of “Aunt Maizy,” recorded live in London, UK. Mastered by Warren Defever (Third Man Records, His Name Is Alive). The album will be released worldwide February 16, 2024 on Little Cloud Records (US), Stolen Body Records (UK), and Water Room Records (JPN).

The Stanford Family Band release their debut EP "For Your Listening Pleasure" via Goo Records on 5th April 2024. Fronted by the captivating lead vocals of Elliot Stanford, the EP's six songs captures a vintage pop aura whilst retaining a fresh indie and garage rock edge.

Offering a sound which journeys through bittersweet memories, nostalgia, and the warmth of sunlit days, The Stanford Family Band have started to make a name for their unique sonic approach - drawing inspiration from iconic acts such as The Beach Boys and The Modern Lovers, built around complex four-part harmonies and irresistibly memorable melodic hooks.

Speaking about the EP, Elliot Stanford (lead vocals, piano, guitar and songwriter) said: "When we were first signing with Goo, we really had no idea what we would release or how it would end up looking. We have a lot of songs, old and new, some of which have been floating around for many years. In the end we just really wanted to put out a body of work that really encapsulates everything we are about! We love big dramatic songs and arrangements, but at the same time, a little cheeky country/garage rock beat has always tickled us so we just really wanted to capture everything that we love in one concise record. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work on this with our friend Harry Hayes (Producer) and we are mega proud of how it all came together!"

Having already garnered tastemaker press coverage (Earmilk, Fame Magazine among others), a whole host of radio play (John Kennedy - Radio X, RTE 2XM), The Stanford Family Band have quickly started to gain critical acclaim. This EP showcases the outfit’s uncanny ability as songwriters, creating memorable, charming and beautifully constructed melodic tracks.

Zweites Album der Art-Rock-Experimentalisten Drahla aus Leeds. Aufgenommen mit Matthew Benn und Jamie Lockhart im Jahr 2023, folgt angeltape dem von der Kritik gefeierten Debüt Useless Coordinates aus dem Jahr 2019 und ist ein avantgardistisches Dokument der Ereignisse, die sich in der fünfjährigen Pause zwischen den Alben entfaltet haben. Eine Vielzahl von Veränderungen - gute und schlechte - lenkten das berufliche und persönliche Leben der Bandmitglieder in unbekannte Bahnen. Doch anstatt sich den Widrigkeiten zu ergeben, tauchen Drahla mit angeltape wieder auf. Sängerin und Gitarristin Luciel Brown, Bassist Rob Riggs und Schlagzeuger Mike Ainsley erweiterten ihren Sound mit Gitarrist Ewan Barr und klingen nun wesentlich dunkler, komplexer und konzeptioneller. Drahla beschreiten neue klangliche Wege und experimentieren dabei mehr als je zuvor mit der Form der Musik. Das berauschende Zusammenspiel von treibenden Bass-Riffs und aufgeladenen Schlagzeugmustern bildet einen fesselnden Kontrast zu Browns melodischem Sprechgesang. Die einhüllende Atmosphäre, die von dem Quartett ausgeht, wird durch die eindringliche Saxophonbegleitung des langjährigen Mitstreiters Chris Duffin noch verstärkt. Die Band beschäftigt sich mit Themen wie Trauer und Trauma, während sie gleichzeitig Momente der Sentimentalität und Unterstützung in schwierigen Zeiten zelebriert. Eine unwiderstehliche und unerschütterliche Kraft durchzieht dieses meisterhafte zweite Album. angeltape ist eine herausfordernde, tröstliche und letztlich lohnende Platte für Künstler und Publikum.

Dog Unit sind eine Post-Rock-Band, zu der man tanzen kann, und ihre Debüt-LP 'At Home' ein betörendes Amalgam aus bezauberndem Drone, taktilen Strukturen, Zeitlupen-Polyrhythmen und Skewiff-Riffs. Dog Unit sind Henry Scowcroft und Sam Walton an Gitarren, die zwischen heulendem Feedback und souveräner Melodik wechseln, Pop-Dub-Bass-Maestro James Weaver, dessen minimalistischer Stil ein Genie für Prägnanz und Motorik offenbart, und Schlagzeugerin Lucy Jamieson, die zuverlässigste Zeitnehmerin diesseits einer Atomuhr. Gemeinsam auf der Bühne oder auf Platte hat man das Gefühl, es handelt sich hier nicht um vier Musiker, sondern um ein 16-gliedriges Geschöpf, das seine Zuhörer auf eine hügelige Reise eleganter modernistischer Wunder führt, wie ein Hochgeschwindigkeitszug, der wunderschön durch die japanische Landschaft fährt.

Guests are Jessica Higgins and Matthew Walkerdine of Glasgow, UK, both formerly of the bands Vital Idles and Mordwaffe. They have been closely tied with DIY music, art and publishing for over a decade. Using (amateur) electronics, singing, speaking and field recording they make songs which blend the rhythms of popular music and contemporary approaches to collage, sampling, improvisation and repetition. As inspired by film and art as they are the legacies of twee underground and avant garde experimentalism, their loose, domestically twinged compositions explore feelings, atmospheres and moments which are hard to articulate and the quite literal notion of being a “guest”.

“I wish I was special” is their debut record, and with it a chance taken to explore terrain not previously covered by their other groups. The ideology of DIY practice appears integral to these eleven compositions, side-stepping virtuosity in favour of instinct and impression, unafraid to press unknown buttons and walk head first into mistake, finding inspiration where convention might not otherwise allow one to tread. The results are confoundingly fresh, sharp-of-mind, and unusually intimate. There’s an obvious intelligence at play here, and no little humour of course, but crucially there’s also a sense of the personal, a first-thought/best-thought (auto)didacticism that celebrates shared understanding and implicit trust. What, ultimately, we might view as the fearlessness in radically being yourself around another. It’s an approach that draws some comparison with the private musings of Flaming Tunes, Idea Fire Company’s domestic electronics, or perhaps even Annea Lockwood’s framing of emotional connection within avant garde structures. More so, Guests represent a compelling continuation of DIY post-punk experimentation that values intuition over prowess, and with it guides the listener into unexpected spaces that somehow comfort as much as they challenge.




d Arrangements, as in Making Them [VIDEO]

A live act renowned for their free improvised performances, BIOS have markedly changed their approach since the debut release Fluorescent Minerals five years ago. To serve as a reliable basis for improvisation, the duo began to play with prearranged themes. Far from being limiting, on Powers of Ten these foundations become structures that are as full of change as they are playful. A single track can seem like a medley moving through sections of drama // reverie // fun without dwelling too long on either so as not to be at the expense of the whole. Fractured yet coherent, these emotions are professed in utmost seriousness and also half in jest.

Powers of Ten also marks a change in sound >> a new prominence given to rhythm and melody. Both members of BIOS claim not to listen to dance music much, but incidentally what they achieve on their new record is a kind of evermoving anxious dub. Its energy endures even after the rhythms and motifs dissolve in distant soundscapes, so that those too seem genuinely kinetic.

If the listener decides to follow this movement, they will be led on a journey into the record, framed and imagined as a quest through parallel variations of one environment. Powers of Ten is a decidedly adventurous album >> a spatial and hypnotic work of music composed by graphic designer Jozef Tušan and visual artist Boris Sirka, and the eighth release by the label Weltschmerzen.

Nexcyia unveils his debut album “Endless Path Of Memory” out December 8th on Pensaments Sonics.

Nexcyia’s inaugural project delicately explores the realm of sound design, eschewing the over-visited constraints of a tempo grid. Upon immersing yourself, the immediate departure from conventional song structures becomes apparent. Instead, it feels as though the artist fills the silence with disruptive yet evocative sonic experimentation. The compositions appear to surrender to the ebb and flow of textures, revealing a musical journey driven by spontaneity rather than a predetermined destination. The musical endeavour of the Londonbased sound artist revolves around the essence of sound itself, transcending the pursuit of memorable melodies. It invites listeners into a realm of moods and atmospheres that both surprise and elicits a deeper connection to one’s inner realities.

Given Adam Dove's background in sound art practices, it's no surprise that his inaugural fulllength release is a rich soundscape, weaving through the realm of harsh sampling and gentle synthesis. Requiring the listener to explore with him the boundaries


between reality and illusion, he neatly manipulates granular synthesis, interweaves a library from his own archived audio, while pondering the very essence of our universal desire to belong.

One of the greatest, heaviest, and most sought-after guitar records from 1970s West Africa, available on vinyl for the first time in over a decade!!!

Bamako, Mali, 1973: Rail Band, the official orchestra of the Malian state railway, drops their self-titled LP. It’s a relentlessly soulful and hypnotic blend of American funk, jazz horns, and Afro-Cuban music, reflected through centuries-old Mandé tradition and blasted at top volume by some of the continent’s greatest artists.

Led by legendary trumpet and saxman Tidiani Koné and held aloft by the intricate web of Djelimady Tounkara’s rumbling, reverb-soaked guitar, Rail Band’s sprawling compositions embody West African storytelling traditions while exulting in the technology and modernity of a newly independent Mali. Vocalists Salif Keita and Mory Kanté, two heroes of African music who would achieve global fame as soloists, are endlessly emotive, oscillating between silky ballads and funk screams. The band’s sound is filled out by layers of percussion, rolling guitars, and melodic horns filtered through the Caribbean.

Starting in 1970, Rail Band played five nights a week, from 2 pm til the early hours, at the Buffet Hotel de la Gare. Their audience was an international array of businessmen, young partiers, and people of the Bamako night. The band was incredibly versatile, switching genres, rhythms, and styles to meet their crowd. It was a volatile mix, one that would fall apart soon after these recordings were made, with Salif Keita’s departure to start the rival Les Ambassadeurs. Though Rail Band continued in many distinguished forms, the eight songs on this album reveal one of the greatest bands to ever exist, at the height of their creative powers.

On “Duga”, a composition dating back to the 13th century and passed on through oral tradition by the jelis (griots), the Rail Band replace balafon with the interplay of Cheick Tidiane’s speaker-rattling bass and Alfred Coulibaly’s tasteful organ. “Marabayasa,” with its iconic sax intro and Mory Kanté channeling James Brown, is a deep-cut favorite of DJs around the world. Part of a long and regal lineage of Malian guitar orchestras initially tasked with translating the region’s traditional music to modern instrumentation, Rail Band morphed and reenvisioned those traditions with a style and energy that has never been matched.

Mit "Beneath the Threshold" vollenden die erfolgreich wiederbelebten AUSTERE ihren Übergang in die Gegenwart. Das vierte Album der Australier weist auf eine frische Art und Weise in die musikalische Zukunft, die nach einer 13-jährigen Abwesenheit keineswegs voraussetzen war. Als die freiwillige Pause mit der Veröffentlichung von "Corrosion of Hearts" im Jahr 2023 endete, kehrte das Duo Mitchell Keepin und Tim Yatras mit einer reiferen und klarer definierten Version ihres eigensinnigen Black Metal Stils zurück, in dem sich sowohl die größere Erfahrung als auch eine künstlerische Entwicklung widerspiegelten. Während "Corrosion of Hearts" eine Brücke zwischen der Geschichte der Band und einer erneuerten musikalischen Vision schlug, erfolgt auf "Beneath the Threshold" ein stilistischer Sprung. Das klangliche Erbe von AUSTERE bleibt dabei lebendig. Die Wurzeln im frühen nordischen Black Metal und den depressiven skandinavischen Ablegern schimmern weiterhin durch. Gleichzeitig haben die Australier ihre emotionale Ausdruckskraft und auch schon zuvor vorhandene Blackgaze-Anlehnungen soweit gestärkt, dass die stilistische Verschiebung in Letzterem angekommen ist. Auf "Beneath the Threshold" bieten AUSTERE mehr Hooks, Melodien und Harmonien als Ergänzung zu den vielschichtigen, mal harschen und mal verträumten Gitarrenphrasen, die Keepin mit Hilfe von Yatras' gefühlvollem Schlagzeugspiel gekonnt verwebt. Diese Entwicklung wird durch eine entsprechende Produktion unterstrichen, die jedes der Elemente glänzen lässt und die Riffs klar herausarbeitet. AUSTERE haben die Sterne unter dem Kreuz des Südens neu ausgerichtet und die raue, majestätische Schönheit von "Beneath the Threshold" lässt Augen und Ohren zum Nachthimmel wandern, wo sich die gänzlich entfesselte australische Band endlich in ihrer vollen musikalischen Pracht präsentiert.

The latest in a prolific string of solo and collaborative releases by James Rushford, Turzets collects a pair of new works primarily created and recorded last year while the Australian composer-performer was in residence at La Becque, an art center on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The side-length piece "Fallaway Whisk" explores hesitation in its many forms_reticence of speech, sonic restraint_using live, abstracted translations of text from English to German against a lush and swelling soundscape. On the flip side, "Quire" is a work in ten movements influenced by the composer's study of late medieval repertoire on portative organ, weaving the instrument's woodsy interlocking melodies with angelic Yamaha CS-80 synth sweeps and stuttering glitches. The combined effort is somewhat a departure for Rushford, working in traces of Klaus Schulze, concrete poetry, and ars subtilior into a precise and ever-unfolding tapestry. Rushford's work draws from a wide range of collagist and improvisatory musical languages, staking out an idiosyncratic stylistic space that has been variously described as "electro-acoustic experimentation with a beating heart" (Boomkat) and "haunted Jacobean ASMR" (The Wire). Investigating the creases, cracks, and folds in traditions ranging from early music to New Age, Rushford's work subtly exaggerates seemingly liminal aspects such as atmosphere and the bodily presence of the performer until these take on a weight equal to musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, and timbre. In recent years, Rushford's solo work has been guided by his theorization of sonic images, particularly the shadow, which has inspired pieces as diverse as an hour-long companion to Federico Mompou's 1959-67 piano cycle Música Callada (2016) and a sumptuous translation of the play of light across flat surfaces into synthetic sound (The Lake from the Louvers, Shelter Press, 2021). His long-standing performance practice for piano, portative organ, synthesizers, and electroacoustic devices, is constantly infused with a delicacy of touch and a harmonic sensibility in which unorthodox tunings coexist with influences from fin de siècle Impressionism, the twentieth century avant-garde, and popular musical structures. He has worked with a vast range artists including Klaus Lang, Annea Lockwood, David Behrman, Tashi Wada, Haroon Mirza, Dennis Cooper, Ora Clementi, crys cole, Oren Ambarchi, Kassel Jaeger, Will Guthrie, and Graham Lambkin. He has performed as Golden Fur (with Sam Dunscombe and Judith Hamann) and Food Court (with Joe Talia and Francis Plagne).

'Mei Semones' sweetly evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova and math-y indie rock is notonly a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres, but is an intuitive means ofcatharsis. "Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new -that's what feels most natural to me," says the 23-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. "It's what feels most true to who I am as an artist." Plinking guitar tones and asymmetrical time signatures exemplify her forays intoangular indie rock more now than ever before, especially on her debut Bayonet Recordssingle "Wakare no Kotoba"_its wide-interval arpeggios in odd meters being some ofthe most technically difficult guitar work Mei has ever implemented in her songwriting.Translated to "parting words'' in English, the self-described "anti-love song" serves as afarewell to a toxic friendship, complete with orchestral swells and crashing guitars. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Semones began playing music at a young age,starting out on piano at age four before moving to electric guitar at age eleven. Afterplaying jazz guitar in high school, she went on to study guitar performance with a jazzfocus at Berklee College of Music. College is where she met her current bandmates,including string players Noah Leong and Claudius Agrippa, whose respective viola andviolin add softness and multidimensionality to Mei's intricate guitar work. After releasinga slew of singles and an EP in 2022, coinciding with her move to New York City, Mei andher band have since gone on to collaborate with post-bossa balladeer John Roseboroand embark on their first-ever tour with the melodic rock outfit Raavi. Semones chronicles infatuation, devotion, and vulnerability in her songs, complete withsweeping strings, virtuosic guitar-playing and heartfelt lyrics sung in both English andJapanese, that have all become part of her sonic trademark: ornately catchy, genre-fusing compositions serving as the backdrop to tender lyrics touching on theuniversalities of human emotion.

Since the early 90s Rotterdam is known throughout the world of dance music for its many influential creative endeavours and one of these was the short-lived label See Saw. Active between 1991 and 1995, the label was the home to mostly Dutch producers who were just dipping their toes in the waters of house and techno. Or, who already had a whole leg in like Speedy J.

Sandwiched between two of his early releases as The Melody (Discogs detectives know what’s up!) sits The Jewel EP, the only EP Gijs Vroom did under his Diamonds & Pearls alias. A kind stranger online once described the record as effective and joyful and we couldn’t agree more. It’s a mixed bag of zippy breaks, swirling pads, tight Lately basses, and foxy vocal snips and like many records of the era it maximises charm with minimal equipment. It’s these kinds of twelve-inches that stood at the cradle of the Dutch house sound and so it is very deserving of a little nook in your record bag.

Midwestless is the fifth and newest album from St. Louis, Missouri rock failures The Conformists. Once again recorded with Steve Albini at the majestic Electrical Audio, this album marks their first recorded output as a trio. Formed in November of 1996 deep within a basement bedroom somewhere between the corn fields and strip malls of Southern Illinois, The Conformists began as four teenagers with a desire to create Ugly Rock Music. Eventually, they grew up and now dabble in moments which could even be described as quite beautiful and melodic. Elsewhere, elements of insistent repetition with an initial appearance of stasis reveal — with multiple listens — intricate details under the surface.

Neither Timothy J. Fairplay, nor Norwell are strangers to the Dalmata Daniel family: both of them are trustworthy contributors to DD compilation albums of earlier years, plus Norwell has released his 'ODD' EP and 'Joint Spaceflights' EP back in 2017 and 2019 on the label. So this time, it's a return for Norwell, and a debut for Mr. Fairplay: their DDS09 split EP is here to present 4 tracks full of outer space lights, eerie vibes, mesmerizing beats and cosmic energies.

Timothy J. Fairplay's side A starts with the explicit kicks and ominous basslines of 'Caliber 9'. Slowly and steadily, the laser blasts and relentless drums all add up to define a world of space cadets on the run, where any odd-looking figure can turn out to be a malignant, speedy alien. 'TV Tower' takes us to another planet with an even higher rotation velocity. Fast percussion elements and squished lower frequencies take center stage in this intergalactic episode, but the whistle-like melodies and descending, bubbling robot signals make the journey complete.

Flip to side B, and enter the contemplating, otherworldly atmospheres of Norwell. 'Midnight Rituals' gives you the chills with its breath-like swooshes, grievous sirens and deadly asteroid belts. Yet, there is no need to worry: after an intense ride with your spaceship, eventually you end up in the same spot, where you started: in the stable and steady mid-tempo beats of an expertly-programmed drummachine. The orbital mission comes to an end with 'Natives', a dense and heroic hymn with emotive structures and well-crafted harmonics. The track starts with the bittersweet, lamenting synths of a solo voice, pouring their heart out in the spotlight, all alone on the stage. All of a sudden, a hard-hitting, rhythmic groove commences its last rush of dedicated cadences. It is full of breaks, it is full of 303s, completed with airy echoes and dreamy, light gestures. 'Natives' keeps on building its structure with elegant paces, providing a massive, yet delicate experience of Norwell's defined aesthetics. The track lets the last strokes of its gloomy synths roll out, along with the final round of looping drums, thus putting an end to DDS09.

Transparent Yellow w/ Black Splatter Vinyl. Since founding Swedish synthpop duo KITE in 2008, singer Nicklas Stenemo and keyboardist Christian Hutchinson Berg's brooding fusion of cinematic electronics and anthemic pop has steadily elevated into a spectacle of passion, atmosphere, and communion. Their debut double-A vinyl single for Dais Records, Don't take the light away / Remember me captures KITE at their most urgent, thrilling and apocalyptic."Don't take the light away" is a song about "the war between energies," with singer Stenemo's wounded croon leading a rising tide of stabbing strings, pulsing percussion, and looming bass orchestrated by keyboardist Hutchinson Berg, surging to a mass-chanted chorus both desperate and triumphant ("dance, let them dance into me / people versus people can't see / hands should be holding hands"). "Remember me" was written following the band's 2017 US tour, capturing the intense feelings of burnout and exhaustion. "Remember me, Won't you remember me, Promise you'll remember me."Words only tell half of the story; smoke spills across the stage, and the melodies become a battle cry. Our worst fears eventually boil over, turning into hope and resilience. Like the best of KITE's music, "Don't take the light away" and "Remember me" fuse theater and catharsis into anthems of universal yearning, born of "the struggle to keep a flickering candle lit in a very dark space."

Since their debut album in 2005, Finnish post-rock cinematic epics, Oddarrang, have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of atmospheric, melodically infused, and harmonically rich music, woven around an uncommon combination of guitars, cello, and trombone. The term "odd arrangement," from which Oddarrang takes its name, perfectly describes their effortless merging of atmospheric charm with post-rock influences, tasteful synth production, and resonant brass. In 2024, Oddarrang is set to release their fifth and self-confessed final album, an album that many consider their magnum opus.

This highly anticipated release blends all the elements from their previous works, resulting in a highly compelling musical masterpiece. The anticipation for this album is at its peak, representing the culmination of their artistic growth over the years. As a collective group, Oddarrang is a melting pot of diverse musicians, each contributing their distinct style to the musical canvas. Their evocative compositions possess a cinematic quality, conjuring a plethora of emotions and vivid imagery in the minds of their listeners. This forthcoming album stands as a true testament to Oddarrang's unwavering dedication and artistic evolution. It is a reflection of their authentic connection to the music they create, inviting audiences to embark on a transformative and emotionally charged musical journey.

"Oddarrang" includes the following tracks: "Lull", "Mishkan", "White Wall pt. 2" and more and comes on orange vinyl.

11 Years Voodoo Down Records celebrates a decade-plus milestone of music from the titular label, which was launched by three friends in Brooklyn in late 2012 and later split across both sides of the Atlantic.
Their 17th vinyl release is their first double 12”, compiling tracks from a selection of the artists that helped them hone their sound: STL, who featured on the first release on the label; October, a recurring favorite who came out of a techno hiatus to cut demos for this release; Tobias., who first appeared on the label in 2015; JXTPS, the recent roster addition from Melbourne; MadderModes, the Manchester duo who debuted on the Empirical Evidence EP; and as always, the label founders themselves: L’estasi Dell’oro, 12 x 12, and N’conduit.
These tracks run the gamut of sounds that have been a staple of the label over the years: upbeat drone techno from L’estasi Dell’oro leading off the release with “Get GOO ing”, dusty dub techno courtesy of STL on “Dungeon CeLL”, head-trip hypnotic techno from Tobias. on “Public Eye”, downtempo melodic from 12 x 12, punchy peak-time techno from JXTPS and N’conduit, and a raw acid techno groover from October.

This release celebrates a decade plus of music on the label. It also marks the return of STL, Tobias., and October to the label with all original material. October coming off a long hiatus, and will follow up with a mini-album later on the label.
The first 2x12” compilation released on the label, and along with the release we will be adding the label’s back catalog on major digital streaming platforms.
Touring by 12 x 12 and L’estasi Dell’oro planned in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia during the last weeks of 2024, and in LA, NYC, Denver following later in the year.

The Sun-kissed songwriting, deft guitar work, and lush vocal harmonies that have been at the core of The HawtThorns' sound are exponentially magnified through the lens of their new record, 'Zero Gravity'

KP and Johnny Hawthorn, have had celebrated careers that started in LA's singer- songwriter and Alt- Country scenes. Between the two, they have hundreds of recordings heard on network and cable TV, and film. KP co-founded LA's CALICO the band while Johnny fronted his own band and played in legacy acts, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Everclear. Their common ground has been the starting point for a sum greater than it's parts, an inspired combination of top- notchsongwriting, vocals and guitar work.

"Dynamite duo who aim to pull up their roots, stick by their guns and bring back the sounds of the Laurel Canyon in the 1960's, the British invaders of the '70's and the cosmic cowboys still twirling through time and space" - Pop Matters

"A perfect blend of melody and magic, one that incorporates the sunny sounds of classic California Rock blended with the rich resonant sounds of today's Americana musical environs" -The Alternate Root

"Already a leading light in L.A.'s independent country scene, the HawtThorns swing for the heartland country-rock fences with "Shaking," whose brightly- strummed guitars and sunny harmonies channel the warmth of the band's west coast home." -Rolling Stone

Zero Gravity by Hawtthorns, released 5 April 2024, includes the following tracks: "Hands On A Clock", "Faking It", "Don't Plan To Lose", "Don't Wait By The Phone" and more.

Zurich bass guitarist and composer Martina Berther is known for her delicious basslines in experimental rock outfits Ester Poly and AUL. On this solo debut, she conjures something utterly unique from her instrument.

'Bass Works' showcases Berther's talent and ingenuity across 12 startlingly varied one-take compositions. Taking root in improvisation, the collection unfolds like a playbook of strange and beautiful techniques.

Voided melodies, harmonics and surfaces that prickle and collapse in solitude and wonder; Berther's bass is a Geiger counter, etching the contours of abandoned landscapes and forgotten languages.

Recommended if you like the alien transmissions of Éliane Radigue, Mica Levi, Olivier Messiaen.