Поиск:mind to mind

Oversized custom cut LP jackets (13” / 33.02 cm width)
Silkscreened with bespoke iridescent citrus green ink by Mark Rice
Short story by Natalia Zuluaga

Flexi 7”:
steaming mescaline (extended mix by bad lsd trips)
Citrus green metallic foil stamp
Pressed in full stereo
Edition of 150

I.

bad lsd trips is the collaborative duo of makers doris dana and domingo castillo flores. Respectively the two have fostered practices that have sprawled out through various approaches and, whether in the lanes of the musical or the contemporary arts, the phenomenology of the social and inclusive prevails. On ultrafest, this motif continues through the psychedelia of its eight time-defying recordings, welcoming the listener into an open temporal architecture of the stereo field as a signifier of environment. It is worth noting that the group began collaborating in Miami, Florida with longer form improvisations recorded to a stereo cassette deck. In these recordings, the paved geographical sprawl and oceanic view permeated the approach to amassing long swaths of sound material. Listening back on that work at the time of this writing, each track feels as though one is walking into an active space, arriving to an event already in full swing and finding your place inside of it. On ultrafest (this album) something different occurs. The space and events are built around you as you move through the record.

II.

The name of the album is ultrafest, which should effectively provoke your mind's eye the imagery of young people dancing, salivating, grinding, and imbibing chemical compounds to the perversely formalized musical genres of “Electronic Dance Music” and latter-era Dubstep often heard in European Uber rides and energy drink commercials. A far distance from the icy and machinic reverie of Techno’s finest rave eras or the notable historical contributions of Miami’s cerebral producers to IDM’s global output, ultrafest is a libidinal catharsis as festival scaled to a multinational corporation of hedonistic excess. The festival has been a hallmark of Miami cultural industry production and optical enticement for tourism, purportedly bringing in nearly a billion dollars in revenue to the city since 2012. Scores of documentation exist wherein this decadent escapism leaves the concertgoer, usually in some neon garment on a near nude body potentially adorned with fluffy faux fur leg warmers, facing a comedown from the combination of volume, sun, dehydration, and methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine. This MDMA experience characterizes an aspect of the way bad lsd trips employs vocals and pitch on this album. The detached, high octaved longing of a high pitched vocal is decoupled from its typical auditory body of song. High-pass clicks and pops touch the (h)air on the back of the neck, promising goosebumps and teasing towards euphoric rushes of dopamine, yet also exist decoupled from the body of song. As the dopamine depletes and the sun imposes itself, Miami’s downtown of skeleton real estate is your company as you meander towards your parked vehicle to rest your fatigued senses, elevated heart rate, and quench the need for air conditioning on your skin. The immediacy of bombastic social immersion to architectural alienation palpable here.

III...

- Nick Klein

Dear Friends, Shouldn’t we all take a moment to re­ect on ourselves from time to time, break away from habits, and venture down new paths? Simon Hinter, widely recognised as a house producer with releases on renowned labels such as Freerange, Quintessentials, and Kerri Chandler’s Madhouse Records, is now daring to explore something new with us, while embracing something old: Drum’n’Bass is his great old love, now rekindled with his Confusion EP.

Unsurprisingly, this comes with intense emotions, and the four tracks of the EP oscillate between profound euphoria and melancholia. You can sense both, the beginning and the end of a party night at the same time. These tracks, however, defy the current listening habits shaped by the need for instant grati¬cation. Instead, they are an ode to the loop. Here, the mind is invited to engage, to actively listen and perceptually complete the experience. We hope you enjoy this rollercoaster of emotions! Sincerly yours, Brombért P.S.: The physical release comes with handcrafted, screen-printed artwork by the fabulous graphic artist Zatina Kessl

Still sniffing out the gnarliest bassweight swerves on his rounds in the underground, Dogpatrol makes his way back to Sneaker Social Club for another four cuts of irreverent, misfit rave damage.

Hailing from Offenbach (DE) but with a sound more indebted to UK styles like breakbeat hardcore, dubstep and garage, DogPatrol has been a natural fit on Sneaker. The slanted approach he takes to his influences results in a mutant style that shuffles and slams in all the right places without sounding like anything else out there.

‘1200kcal’ rides jagged, dusty drums that come on like drunken UKG, offset by rubbery bass arps that add a cosmic lick to proceedings. ‘Baby Flame’ has a nastier outlook hinging on a bludgeoning synth splat that calls back to the Control Tower brand of warehouse electro from the early 00s. Making sure no-one is second guessing the scent Dogpatrol is tracking, ‘Ya Playin Yaself’ dips into a dubstep-minded half-step roller with naive keys run through a giddy signal chain. ‘Offgenbach HBF Riddim’ completes the set with a breakbeat cut n’ paste job which tracks back to the source with strong echoes of The Blapps Posse’s raw and funky approach.

The reference points are just slight hints of familiarity, but Dogpatrol comes across as inspired as ever digging up the bones of cult rave signifiers and chewing them into his own unique shapes.

Longcut Records thrives on the transformative power of music. Discover concept albums that tell stories of journeys, struggles and raw emotions. Find your next soundtrack to let your mind wander or join us in our social activism, amplifying the voices that deserve to be heard. Just like our emblem—a spirited dachshund in motion—we embody relentless energy and a rebellious spirit against mainstream music. Mind us, but our true heartbeat resonates most powerfully with modern composition, ambient, techno, jazz, and experimental sounds.

Devilish edit duo Duane Harriott and Sean Marquand aka Devin Dare are back with some fresh flips for the new year! Kicking off with feel good classic NYC disco, DANCEMUZAK spins a familiar tune into something hypnotic and driving, while ITSDISCOTIME takes some mind-blowing holy grail source material and loops and builds to perfection. The flip side launches with the cheeky uptempo soul of LOOKINGGOOD that seems almost predestined for a Theo Parrish set, and finishes slow and low with the Clavinet driven funk of 1HEATER4SASHA. DD show once again why they are some of the best editors in the game!

Anyone with a passing interest in footwork and juke will know of Traxman. Corky Strong has a long history of deep involvement in Chicago house, first releasing on the legendary Dance Mania label in the mid nineties, and since then splitting his productions between ghetto house, juke and footwork, releasing alongside Steve Poindexter and Fast Eddie and the late DJ Deeon and DJ Rashad, including an seemingly endless supply of self-released juke edits of whatever direction his deep knowledge of Black American music takes him. The third volume of 'Da Mind Of Traxman' is his first since 2014. In the intervening years he's kept things rolling, DJing regularly, releasing lots of music, becoming a grandfather and being a mentor for younger artists coming up in the scene.

This new album was crafted with the help of fellow Planet Mu artist Sinjin Hawke, who took on A&R duties to collate the best from hundreds of tracks dating back to 2005. Sinjin holds Traxman's status in high regard; "This album series is important and holds real documentarian value—working on it feels like the modern equivalent of curating a piece of Miles Davis’s catalog in the '60s and '70s." Volume 3 showcases Traxman's uncanny ability to take old music into the future without losing the feeling and energy of his samples and influences. He knows how to add a hi-definition modern chassis with the skill of someone who deeply and intuitively understands the craft of dance music. These are some of the purest, most innovative ideations of Chicago footwork.

a A1 Kill Da DJ (ft. Bobby Skillz & Sinjin Hawke) explicit


[d] A4 Where They At (ft. DJ Twan) [explicit]

[f] A6 I’ll Write The Hook [explicit]


[i] B1 Trust Me [explicit]



[m] B5 Talaban [explicit]

The year is 1974 and we are in Kingston, Jamaica: Lee Scratch Perry has just presented Susan Cadogan's album 'Sexy Suzy' on his Upsetters label. The Jamaican singer, who is just under 25, sees her cover of 'Hurt So Good' flirt with the top of the UK and JA charts but has no idea that 50 years later, she would still be a household name among Jamaican music fanatics.

On the B-side of this LP, produced by Mr Perry himself, the penultimate track is a cover of Little Willie John’s "Fever". Over the years this song has taken an unshakable place in the hearts of reggae lovers worldwide. With nearly 700 different versions referenced to date, Fever already enjoyed classic status at the time, mainly thanks to the success of Peggy Lee’s version released in 1958. Since then, in all styles, across all continents, the song has been reinterpreted, so much so that it's rare to find a year since 1956 without a new version hitting the market! Universal, timeless, this love song is known to all music enthusiasts, but in the reggae scene, it’s Susan Cadogan and Lee Scratch Perry’s version that still reigns supreme.

50 years after its release, Stand High Patrol offer us their own version. Recorded at the end of 2023, the Susan Cadogan / Stand High Patrol collaboration wasn’t initially meant to move beyond its dubplate status. However, due to the track’s success in the dance and a growing demand, it became the first pressed collaboration on record between a Jamaican artist and the Dubadub Musketeerz. Accompanied by its dub version, Stand High’s take on Fever is a creative reimagining and brings to mind that classic 90s UK dub style. Its sits firmly on its foundations, a stepper roots-flavored drum beat. Some might find the interpretation ‘more jazzy’ than Lee Perry’s, but everyone will have their own take. One thing’s for sure—its impact on the dancefloors is undeniable!

Repress!

Techno phenomenon Charlotte de Witte today announces her brand-new EP “Power Of Thought”, out October 19 on her own KNTXT label. The trio begins with the title track “Power Of Thought” - which immediately erupts into a hypnotic techno beat interspersed with spoken mantras of mindfulness. This is followed by “Pria”, a pulsating journey featuring hypnotic, mantra-like vocals. The EP ends with ambient track “Abada”, punctuated with the occasional drum and chanting vocals before it quickly strips away to silence.

“For ‘Power Of Thought’, I wanted to create an EP that touches deeper emotions and captivating the meditative trance you have when you let go on the dance floor,” says de Witte. “‘Pria’ has already brought me a lot of joy over the last few months when I have played it during my sets. It offers a moment of reflection and a chance to catch your breath during the rougher, more peak time tracks I play. ‘Abada’ is a track that I really enjoyed making. I discovered these magical chanting vocals and I just knew I wanted to use them in a track. Though this track is maybe less playable in one of my sets, I feel that Abada found its home on this EP and completes the ‘Power Of Thought’ circle.”

Best known for her “dark and stripped-back” brand of techno and crossover to other sounds of the underground, Charlotte de Witte pushes the boundaries of the electronic genre with music that has a distinct and unforgettable sound that is uniquely her own. De Witte’s innovative ability allows her to seamlessly blend genres and styles that
have won her a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim.

“Power Of Thought” is the followup EP to de Witte’s “Overdrive” EP, campaign and tour, which recently wrapped with a Los Angeles takeover last month and included performances at Brooklyn Mirage, Primavera Sound, Rock Werchter, Super Bock Super Rock, Lowlands and Rock En Seine. The “Power Of Thought” release will include an exclusive apparel drop as well and will coincide with the opening day of KNTXT Turbo Club, de Witte’s epic 3-day pop-up event series taking over Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) from October 19 - 21, 2023.

With a different “KNTXT” each day, the turbo-charged pop-up will feature a massive lineup of performances, a dedicated KNTXT shop, immersive music experiences and other surprises at an undisclosed location in Amsterdam. Capacity will be very limited and tickets can be purchased now at https://kntxt.be/events/ade.

Following ADE, de Witte will embark upon the KNTXT Latin America Tour on October 26, which will take her to Mexico City, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.

Two sought after artists, Deft and Manni Dee, combine their uniquely eclectic sounds on collaborative EP ‘Swamp Season’ arriving on Hooversound in March 2025.

Deft, a familiar favourite within the Hooversound family having released two EP’s on the label, is no stranger to breaking boundaries when it comes to sonic stereotypes. Enter: Manni Dee. Another equally exciting name on the London circuit who is an advocate for non-conformism. Between them they have released on Exit, 1985 Music, Critical and Fabric Originals - their style has been recognised globally and continues to grow. Both creatives bring something refreshingly new to the table, whether it’s with their amalgam style of music making, their esteemed record platforms (Silk + Steel, B4 Music) or their DJ sets - it makes perfect sense for the duo to unite on their vision.

Their latest offering combines their boundaryless artistic style of forward-thinking atmospheric production on an EP named ‘Swamp Season’. The two producers play with different elements of club music and hip hop by blurring genres and throwing the rule book out of the window. The end result highlights how Deft and Manni Dee have excelled once again across five bass-fuelled tracks which will expand your perspective on electronic music.

On their single, the duo said “‘Charged’ was the last track we wrote for the EP. Rooted in the simplicity of 00's hip hop instrumentals, on steroids, adapted with the wider electronic sphere in mind. Inspired by the past and present, facing the future.”

Deft and Manni Dee also explained how they came to collaborate; “We've always shared the same taste in hip hop and electronic music, and also share a studio together underneath FOLD in Canning Town, so it just made sense for us to make a record together. Our process was creatively free with no preconceptions, having worked together remotely and together across multiple studios around the world. The result has created a new and exciting avenue for us both, opening the floodgates to eliminate boundaries. It's Swamp Season.”

The critically acclaimed Colours & Light, Project Gemini’s second album, takes on a new life in Deluxe Edition format. Firmly rooted in the mood and melodies of the original album, the Deluxe Edition features an unreleased album track, alternate versions and a whole host of remixes from friends of Project Gemini. To accompany the digital release, Jack Sharp’s (Wolf People/Large Plants) distinctive, distortion-heavy remix of ‘After The Dawn’, and the previously unreleased ‘Darkness Rising’, receive a special 7” pressing.

On the A side, Jack Sharp of the psychedelic, folk rock bands Wolf People and Large Plants, takes on ‘After The Dawn’. Sharp, who featured heavily on Colours & Light, dials up the distortion with this all-consuming, darker shade of a remix. Sucking you down into a wormhole of layered guitar reverberations and Paul’s spiralling, echoed vocals, it’s an intoxicating, driving hit of mind-bending, progressive rock.

Taken from the Colours & Light album recording session, the B side features ‘Darkness Rising’. A previously unreleased, original track that didn’t make it onto the album, Project Gemini leans in on the wah-wah fuzzed guitars, using it as the basis for a sonic brew of synths, percussion and bass-heavy, psychedelic rock synergy.

1021 is the third studio album from Toronto singer/songwriter, Rochelle Jordan. Originally released in 2014, 1021 is the album that forever changed Rochelle’s trajectory as an artist. Filled with moments of honest and pure self expression yet still showing signs of who she has eventually become, the album showcases Rochelle’s resilience as an indie artist, her unapologetic risk taking, and her drive and uncompromising belief in herself. The album’s production is filled with lush, airy, evocative beats, with her vocals drawing comparison to the iconic R&B superstar, Aaliyah - in fact, “Ease Your Mind,” was co-produced with Eric Seats, who produced the iconic Aaliyah track, “Rock the Boat.” Since then, Rochelle has gone on to become a major player in the R&B and dance spaces, most recently working with Kaytranada on his new album. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary since it’s release, 1021 will be making its debut on vinyl for the very first time. 2xLP, pressed on Baby Blue Galaxy vinyl and includes a 24x36 double-sided poster, as well as three additional songs not originally included on the album - this is strictly for the Day Ones.

After Dull Boy Johnny's previous release, a double EP with a tropical A-side and an erotic B-side, this time the three gentlemen are out on the dance floor. After all, the neighbours decided as much.

Unlike the recordings of their previous work that took place abroad, this time they stayed in a steamy attic room in Belgium, where guitarist and producer Jan built a studio. Unable to record at night because of neighbours who did not (yet) appreciate Dull Boy Johnny's music, they dove into Antwerp's nightlife.

The group's previous work took you on a cinematic journey where every musical nuance takes you to a specific setting. Be it an erotic seventies scene, a beach party in the Bahamas, or a blood-curdling chase in the Wild West, Dull Boy Johnny covers it all. Nard Houdmeyers, Rik De Bal and Jan found each other in a shared interest in film genres such as blaxploitation, neo-noir and spaghetti westerns. And therefore also the artists inherent to these genres such as Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and Ennio Morricone. Dull Boy Johnny's conceptual approach to music can be traced back to this passion for cinema.

For the new EP, however, they traded that cosy movie-watching for turbulent nightlife (the angry neighbours, you know). Besides, it was about time to get their inspiration in the flesh. Dull Boy Johnny immersed himself in the pulses, flashes and swell of downtown Antwerp. Thunder chasing crept under their skin and then into their guitars. In grandfatherly fashion, they then turned to composing, first with just bass, guitar and vocals. In that small lineup and with the sounds of the night still reverberating in their minds, the first pieces of the puzzle were laid out. After that, the sound was opened up and a solid rhythm boost was added. This defined the catchy, up-tempo nature of the upcoming EP that centres on themes of dancing, flirting and partying. Expect rousing riffs, catchy hooks and swinging rhythms. Details were meticulously laid out and bricked into the songs with delicate grouting. The fine polishing of the songs was done with patient finesse and a constant attitude to serve the song. With songs like Suspicion, She Can Groove and Dynamite, it is immediately clear that the gentlemen got their mustard from the club: action, party and spunk! All without losing their typical sensuality.

Despite the different working methods for the third EP, there are a lot of recurring elements that define Johnny's fresh sound. The essence? Catchy high vocals contrasted with a sensual baritone voice, carried by a groovy bass and rhythm section. Around it, the details that give the songs the right atmosphere swirl.

Dull Boy Johnny's music prefers to function as a soundtrack to your own imagination. As you listen, you are invited to wander through the various landscapes of their musical world, regularly giving a nod to the more lustful side of your brain. The songs have already been praised for their compelling melodies and irresistible energy.

With this release, Dull Boy Johnny proves their ability to create timeless music that both touches the soul and moves the body. So surrender to Dull Boy Johnny's punchy grooves and dance the night away. Long live the neighbours!

Valerio Vaudano joins the roster of Cinthie’s 803 Crystal Grooves sub-label Collective Cuts with his ‘Lose My Mind’ EP.
Valerio Vaudano ‘: ’I'm a fan of Cinthie and feel honoured to release these tracks on 803 Crystal Grooves! This is the kind of sound I mostly love to play and produce at this time: house sound that blend energy, groove and 90s nostalgic melodies with Detroit, Chicago and Italo flavours. this new EP represents me best and explains better than words. The entire EP was produced using a 90s sampler without using a computer, I'm very proud of
the result! I hope you enjoy it!’’ Title-cut ‘Lose My Mind’ leads, laying down crisp saturated drums, crunchy stab sequences, choppy vocal hooks and bright strings all dynamically evolving throughout for ultimate dance floor impact. ‘Sunday Remedy’ follows with bumpy breaks, a weighty kick
and amalgamation of vocal samples in combination with gritty bass stabs and classic piano chords to perfectly encapsulate the essence of house.
Opening the flip-side is ‘Down The Street’, diving deeper with airy chords, breathy vocal chants and bouncy bass stabs intertwined with a more raw, reduced rhythm section. The aptly titled ‘Smooth As Butter’ then rounds out the release with a nod to the Detroit House sound, fusing shimmering keys with jazzy drums, twinkling chime melodies and lowpitched vocals across its near five minute duration.

Last May, Hard Times captivated us with The Lost D.A.T.S (Part One)—a remarkable collection of unreleased and freshly unearthed gems from the vaults of NYC legend DJ Romain. But the story didn’t end there. To our surprise and delight, Romain had delivered an even larger treasure trove of beats—too many to reveal all at once.

Now, Hard Times is proud to present the next chapter: DJ Romain – The Lost D.A.T.S (Part Two).

"1996-97? Yeah, that’s when New York was still NEW YORK!

That was around the time we really started to get hold of exotic herbs. Copper Haze, hydroponic! The vibes in the studio were always lovely. I had hair at the time! Dread-Locs down to my shoulders... I was still rockin’ the Wallabees, or British Walkers as we called them - representing for Brooklyn and my West Indian roots!

There was no social media, no supervision, nobody all up in our business… It was classic "mind your own business" NYC Vibes! I was DJing at a lot of the hot clubs and THE hottest afterhours in the city. There were nights when I saw Micheal Douglas roll into the afters with Grace Jones - they were there to party and unwind and I was there dropping the dope tracks for the people.

When it was studio time, with my homie Matt Echols...I was probably setting things off with some quality herbage, a big ass bag of Funyuns and my trusty SP-1200, lol. I had picked up some tips and tricks from Todd Terry and by '96-'97 I was a Shaolin with it myself! This was around the time tracks like "Flowers" and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Dub)" were tearing up the clubs. I wanted to be able to get my ideas out with no problem, and by then I had a lot of confidence...

Being able to Dj in some of the hottest NY hot spots at the time, I was able to really see what worked and what didn't on the dancefloor. The best House Dancers from around the world and around the Tri-State area would be at my jams. I'm talking Ejoe, Voodoo Ray, maybe kids from the Mop-Top Crew... I was definitely taking note of the kind of rhythms and sounds that would make them go crazy on the dancefloor!

And that's how we went about it - I laid down the rhythms that made it happen in my sets and translated the vibes I was picking up from NYC itself. Matt threw down musically and we were just being as creative and inventive as possible! But we always kept in mind that our job was to make the people on the dancefloor jump!

A lot of the jams from those days got signed to various record labels, we dropped a lot of them on our own label...and some of them ended up in the archives - until now!"

After his furious comeback, STARTER frontman Francis Foss has fallen in love. In “True Love”, one of the two new tracks on the upcoming maxi-single, he sings about the most overwhelming of all feelings. “Love is and always will be the most beautiful thing in the world,” says the young-at-heart Francis with conviction.

But when you turn the orange record over, you quickly realize: “Vision on My Mind” sounds more melancholic, darker. “Being in love has its mysterious side,” Francis explains. “Dreams and reality often go hand in hand. Especially when the full moon rises over New York.

Behind this production is once again the Swiss duo VISION, who brought STARTER back to life with “Future Shock”. For “True Love” they were able to use a demo tape by Reto Keller, alias “Gary Gray”, who was active for STARTER from 1985-1989. The result is an exciting mix of genres in the experimental style of the 80s.

The 12″ double A-side maxi single “True Love/Vision on My Mind” by STARTER is strictly limited to 300 copies and is pressed on orange transparent vinyl. It comes in a disco sleeve (opening at the top) and is protected by a sturdy plastic cover.

***** AUGMENTED REALITY COVER *****

For the third release on Dust In Grooves, Olivia Mendez curates a compilation EP that honours the boundary pushing spirit of the vinyl-only imprint and presents a collection of mind bending tracks by emerging and established techno producers. The first VA instalment on DIG showcases adventurous, challenging, and dynamic cuts while maintaining the groovy and raw signature sound of the label. Bridging the analog format with a forward thinking design is the animated cover created by visual artist Deniz Bicer, she is also known as Ojelibalon.

LKY - Bitter
Bitter by Manchester based producer LKY is a direct immersion in the atmospheric depths conveyed within a minimalistic tool track. With trippy loops and changing beats, this opener leaves a bitter taste of the sweaty, trance-infused 90s.

Deluka - R.A.W
R.A.W glistens with a mind-bending sound design, produced by the No Signal Records founder Deluka. He delivers a visceral, hypnotising track with quirky highs and stomping, rhythmic lows, captivating the attention all throughout the end.

Metapattern - Tamakotuma
On the B side, the relentlessly driving and layered Tamakotuma by Metapattern, beams with melting synths, intense rhythm and skewed melodies. After joining the Mord and HAYES families, Metapattern contributes a dynamic track with evolving retro-futuristic design, journeying across dimensions.

Dotdat - Take me to Detroit
An homage to the roots of timeless sound and community, Take me to Detroit by Dot Dat is a soothing dance-floor energy tamer, filled with melodic arpeggios and spacious drums. After his release on Truncate records, Dot Dat closes out the DIG VA with a slower-paced track, laced with classic synths.

Words by Lora Mateeva

Animation - Deniz Bicer
Master - Nihad Tule
Graphist - Ferdinand Prat

‘Subtle Bodies’ is the new album by US-based sound artist and composer Francis Morning, released on Ltd. cassette via Lo Recordings, which contemplates the concept of the non-physical, energetic layers of a person that exist alongside the physical body. Being the next installment of Lo Recordings' ongoing SPACIOUSNESS series, the album features 15 tracks that embrace the theme through hints of electric piano melodies buried under layers of tape hiss, meandering sine wave bass notes, and expansive ambient textures.

The compositions on ‘Subtle Bodies’ are meditations on impermanence, imperfection, and the natural process of decay, approached without judgment. They arise from moments of introspection, often inspired by the contemplation of inner channels, energies, mindfulness, breath, and other Tibetan Buddhist practices. Deliberately recorded using minimal equipment, each piece explores and pushes against the thresholds in an attempt to strike a balance of texture and noise. About Francis Morning:

Francis Morning is a US-based sound artist, musician, and composer known for crafting gently textured sonic environments using a simplified palette of musical hardware, including analog tapes and cassettes, field recordings, synths, pedals, pianos, and acoustic and electric guitars. His work embraces imperfection, human quality and touch, and the transient nature of life. The music began to take shape as simple, personal daybreak rituals with no audience or expectations. Each piece was recorded live in single takes, with the original elements eventually discarded or recorded over, as a statement and exercise in impermanence and letting go.

Little John is one of the most loved and prolific 80s dancehall artists. He started as a child artist in 1979 and by the mid 1980s had recorded for every major producer. In 1984 at age 14 he already knew the ropes of the business and started to produce 45s on his own Romantic label, which he continued sporadically releasing tunes on up until 1993. For us this is one of the coolest looking labels of the latter 1980s, and has a handful of hard to find killer 45s, mostly obscure and mostly slept on. So naturally we needed to corral these for another all killer no filler compilation. True to his own roots, Little John’s label mostly features fresh youthman artists, though a handful of veterans, like Frankie Paul and Early B who are both featured here, also recorded for him. The ten songs on this comp are our favorites from the label, featuring a selection of killer rhythms spanning the heavy mid 80s style, the proper late 80s digital style, and the more uptempo early 90s style. Hardcore DKR heads take note - this features three cuts on that most hallowed 1987 digi rhythm.

‘Belgium is too small for pianist Alex Koo’ – De Tijd

‘Stunningly original’ – Downbeat Jazz Magazine

‘Fabulous technique, sounding downright genius at times.’ – London Jazz News

‘When listening, Keith Jarrett’s name came to mind several times. Not because Koo’s playing is similar to that of the American master, but because it is of the same exceptionally high level.’ – Trouw

‘Koo’s compositions and playing are absolutely world class.’ – Written in Music

The son of a Belgian missionary sent to Japan in the seventies and a Japanese peace activist, pianist and composer Alex Koo refuses to be boxed into any traditional category. As the renowned German Jazzthetik magazine put it, "Alex Koo defies categorization."

With ten uniquely personal tracks, Blame It on My Chromosomes is more than a musical statement; it is a form of self-therapy. "The only way not to spiral into depression as a jazz musician nowadays is to vent and lose yourself in the music," Koo shares. "Music needs a purpose beyond self-promotion. For me, it's about accepting who I am and letting go of anything else."

Featuring celebrated trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire on two tracks, Blame It on My Chromosomes highlights Koo's fearless versatility. One of these tracks, "Jonass," is dedicated to Koo's childhood friend who tragically passed away, adding a deeply personal layer to the album. "When we were kids, we would skate and do stupid things with shopping carts, inspired by Jackass," Koo recalls. "That's why we called Jonas 'Jonass'-he had the biggest smile you could imagine, his laugh was contagious, yet he also was the most reckless one among us."

Koo, praised as "stunningly original" (Downbeat Jazz Magazine), is known for creating music that transcends genre boundaries, blending jazz, indie, contemporary classical and film music with innovative freedom. A native of rural West-Flanders, Belgium, he began his musical journey as a classical piano prodigy at the age of five. In his teens, he developed a passion for jazz and improvisation, earning praise from jazz legends such as Kurt Elling, Kenny Werner, and Brad Mehldau. Koo has even been described as "of the same rare high level as Keith Jarrett" (Trouw). His 2019 album, Appleblueseagreen, featuring Mark Turner and Ralph Alessi, was included in Downbeat's Best Albums of the Year.

Alongside Koo, Blame It on My Chromosomes features his longstanding trio, whose fearless interplay brings the album's narrative to life. The trio, with Koo on piano, Dré Pallemaerts on drums, and Lennart Heyndels on bass, represents the very best of the Belgian jazz scene. Their intuitive chemistry and artistry are the driving force behind the album's emotive power, with special guest Ambrose Akinmusire adding a transcendent layer on two standout tracks.