Cerca:moo

Das anglo-australische Indiepop-Quartett Allo Darlin' meldet sich nach über zehn Jahren mit dem neuen Album ,Bright Nights" zurück. Es ist die Rückkehr ihrer intelligenten, schönen Popmusik mit Texten, in denen Erfahrung mitschwingt, und Melodien, die klingen, widerhallen und schweben. Da sie sich und die Musik, die sie zusammen gemacht haben, vermissten, kündigten Allo Darlin' an im Oktober 2023 ein paar Konzerte in UK zu spielen, und die Reaktion der Fans war überwältigend. Die Tickets waren innerhalb Minuten ausverkauft, und die Fans reisten aus der ganzen Welt an, so dass die Band ihr Konzert in London in einen doppelt so große Halle verlegen musste. Es schien, als hätten ihre Fans Allo Darlin' genauso vermisst wie sie sich selbst. In diesem Jahr war die Band außerdem Headliner einer exklusiven Deutschland-Show auf dem Cologne Pop Fest und antwortete auf die herzliche Einladung mit einem speziellen Song mit dem Titel "Cologne". Bright Nights folgt den emotionalen Gezeiten der vorangegangenen zehn Jahre: "Es ist ein Album, das von Herzen kommt und sich mit Themen wie Liebe, Geburt und Tod beschäftigt - "Dinge, über die wir mehr nachdenken als bei unserem ersten Album. Ich hoffe, dass das Album zeitlos und fröhlich klingt, aber auch nachdenklich und emotional", sagt Songschreiberin und Sängerin Elizabeth Morris Innset. Inspiriert von einer Mischung aus klassischem (Indie-Guitar) Pop, Folk und Country, knüpft Bright Nights dort an, wo Allo Darlin' mit dem We Come From The Same Place von 2014 aufgehört hat, und erinnert an den selbstbewussten und anspruchsvollen Sound ihres zweiten Albums Europe. "Wenn ich es höre, denke ich an die Wüste, aber ich kann das Meer sehen. Die süßen Klänge der hellen Sommernächte in der nördlichen Hemisphäre, aber auch das Bewusstsein, dass der Winter eines Tages zurückkehren wird". Die Aufnahmen auf dem Album sind Live-Aufnahmen, die nach Meinung der Band die beste Art war, diese neuen Songs aufzunehmen. Allo Darlin' bringen uns an einen Ort, an dem wir uns geliebt fühlen. In einer wechselhaften Welt ist die warme Umarmung ihres neuen Albums ebenso notwendig wie willkommen. "Breezy rom-pop brilliance." 8/10, NME - "Classic indie pop... doesn't rewrite the formula for wistful bedsit charm as much as show that it can still be carried out masterfully." Pitchfork - "A masterclass of modern cult pop." The Guardian - "Terrific, witty and heartfelt, like a less moody Belle & Sebastian." The New York Times

Das anglo-australische Indiepop-Quartett Allo Darlin' meldet sich nach über zehn Jahren mit dem neuen Album ,Bright Nights" zurück. Es ist die Rückkehr ihrer intelligenten, schönen Popmusik mit Texten, in denen Erfahrung mitschwingt, und Melodien, die klingen, widerhallen und schweben. Da sie sich und die Musik, die sie zusammen gemacht haben, vermissten, kündigten Allo Darlin' an im Oktober 2023 ein paar Konzerte in UK zu spielen, und die Reaktion der Fans war überwältigend. Die Tickets waren innerhalb Minuten ausverkauft, und die Fans reisten aus der ganzen Welt an, so dass die Band ihr Konzert in London in einen doppelt so große Halle verlegen musste. Es schien, als hätten ihre Fans Allo Darlin' genauso vermisst wie sie sich selbst. In diesem Jahr war die Band außerdem Headliner einer exklusiven Deutschland-Show auf dem Cologne Pop Fest und antwortete auf die herzliche Einladung mit einem speziellen Song mit dem Titel "Cologne". Bright Nights folgt den emotionalen Gezeiten der vorangegangenen zehn Jahre: "Es ist ein Album, das von Herzen kommt und sich mit Themen wie Liebe, Geburt und Tod beschäftigt - "Dinge, über die wir mehr nachdenken als bei unserem ersten Album. Ich hoffe, dass das Album zeitlos und fröhlich klingt, aber auch nachdenklich und emotional", sagt Songschreiberin und Sängerin Elizabeth Morris Innset. Inspiriert von einer Mischung aus klassischem (Indie-Guitar) Pop, Folk und Country, knüpft Bright Nights dort an, wo Allo Darlin' mit dem We Come From The Same Place von 2014 aufgehört hat, und erinnert an den selbstbewussten und anspruchsvollen Sound ihres zweiten Albums Europe. "Wenn ich es höre, denke ich an die Wüste, aber ich kann das Meer sehen. Die süßen Klänge der hellen Sommernächte in der nördlichen Hemisphäre, aber auch das Bewusstsein, dass der Winter eines Tages zurückkehren wird". Die Aufnahmen auf dem Album sind Live-Aufnahmen, die nach Meinung der Band die beste Art war, diese neuen Songs aufzunehmen. Allo Darlin' bringen uns an einen Ort, an dem wir uns geliebt fühlen. In einer wechselhaften Welt ist die warme Umarmung ihres neuen Albums ebenso notwendig wie willkommen. "Breezy rom-pop brilliance." 8/10, NME - "Classic indie pop... doesn't rewrite the formula for wistful bedsit charm as much as show that it can still be carried out masterfully." Pitchfork - "A masterclass of modern cult pop." The Guardian - "Terrific, witty and heartfelt, like a less moody Belle & Sebastian." The New York Times

The one-of-a-kind solo album by legendary jazz bassist Isao Suzuki—originally released in 1981—is now reissued on analog vinyl!

Crafted entirely by Suzuki himself through meticulous multi-track recording, the album features an eclectic mix of instruments including upright bass, Hammond organ, vocoder, Taishogoto, and erhu, along with his own vocals. Not only did he compose and perform all the music, but he also designed the jacket artwork and wrote the liner notes, making this truly a singular, self-contained expression of Isao Suzuki in every sense—a bold, genre-defying one-man masterpiece.

Ria Moran steps into a bold new chapter with Cubico, her debut solo album set for release in July 2025 via DeepMatter Records. A deeply personal and sonically rich project, Cubico sees Ria stepping forward as a producer and instrumentalist, blending R&B, neo-soul, and jazz with introspective songwriting that explores love, self-discovery, and emotional growth. The 12-track album moves fluidly between smooth R&B grooves and darker alternative tones, embodying the full spectrum of her artistry—sweet, emotional, moody, quirky, and fun. Ria made her long-awaited return in November 2024 with Take It or Leave It, a collaboration with Nubiyan Twist that showcased her evolving artistry and set the stage for Cubico and finding support from BBC Radio 6, Radio 1, Rinse Fm, Jazz FM, Worldwide FM, and more. Prior to this, her 2019 EP Moving into the Light gained widespread recognition from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 6, and Worldwide FM, placing her among the UK’s most exciting contemporary soul voices. Her music sits at the juncture of forward-thinking UK soul music and nu-jazz, placing her alongside contemporaries including Ego Ella May, Yazmin Lacey and Cleo Sol, whilst also nodding to pioneers like Sade and Erykah Badu. Beyond her solo work, Ria has built an impressive career as a collaborator. Her contributions to Nubiyan Twist’s Freedom Fables earned a MOBO Award nomination, and she later appeared on Blue Note Records’ Blue Note Re:Imagined series, performing a BBC Radio 2 live session at the legendary Maida Vale Studios. She also worked with bassist Daniel Casimir on his acclaimed Boxed In album, joining a roster of UK jazz heavyweights including Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. Since 2019, she has been a touring vocalist with Gotts Street Park, sharing stages with Celeste, ENNY, and Pip Millett. With Cubico, Ria Moran is fully stepping into her own as an artist, delivering a debut album that is as raw as it is soulful, as vulnerable as it is empowering—a must-hear for fans of innovative and heartfelt music..

Promising label newcomer IGLO returns to Figure with his second EP this year, building on a distinct sonic identity shaped by a background in classical music and live performance. Across five tracks, he further refines his mix of atmospheric depth, precise rhythms, and melodic nuance.
This time, his own voice takes on a more central role, adding a personal and expressive layer to the productions. On opener Computed Love, restrained, longing vocals blend into squelchy synths and minimal grooves - hauntingly beautiful, yet gritty with rumbling machine funk. Determined follows with a more menacing tone, its sharp percussion cutting through a bleak, shadowy atmosphere - perfect for building tension on the floor.
On the flip, IGLO switches up the mood: Enter the State runs on hypnotic loops and chopped-up piano riffs, peppered with cheeky, spoken-word style vocals that nod to ghetto house traditions. It breaks into an irresistible, swinging groove that hits with full force.
Offering a smooth counterpoint, Enlighten drifts into dubby terrain. Soft, ricocheting vocal snippets and warm chords conjure a hopeful, human glow - a bouncy balm for the soul, without losing its forward momentum.
Digital bonus track Find Yourself closes the EP on a spacious, almost sci-fi note - twinkling synths and airy melodies float above crisp textures, like a breath of fresh air at the end of a long night.With X49, IGLO deepens his connection with Figure and sharpens his unique voice - equally grounded in introspection and dancefloor impact, continuing to shape a sound that's thoughtful, bold, and marks him as one to watch.

ANNE & SERA J return for the second edition of their Symbiosis series on Mutual Rytm.

ANNE, known for potent techno on the likes of Soma and Hardgroove, and Nechto and Life In Patterns associate Sera J, have had standout years that have seen them put out a stream of essential club tracks. They are partners in both life and music, and the first volume of 'Symbiosis' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint was their first release together. Delivering an honest representation of their innermost feelings, having also contributed to the label's 'Federation Of Rytm III' VA in February, this new six-track EP (plus bonus cuts) presents a 'mature and refined connection between their souls'.

The second instalment of 'Symbiosis' reflects not only their deep personal connection, but also their collaborative synergy as musical peers with the same goals. The EP captures the essence of their mutual artistic journey and showcases the strength of their bond both in life and through their shared creative vision - to create a storyline through sounds coming from their souls and convey a narrative that many listeners may find relatable.

SERA J kicks off with the lithe and melodically elegant techno of 'Your Soul Is Art' which will have both heart and heels dancing. 'Illusions' is a more heavy and dubby cut with paired back grooves and pulsing synths, while 'Glacial Pace' is an urgent deep techno roller with turbocharged stabs and huge icy hi hats locking you into a trance.

ANNE steps up on the B-side with 'Floating Waves' exploring physical, chunky drum funk and raw synth textures. 'Planetary Dust' is a dark and moody astral techno journey to the stars, before 'Sweet Seventeen' brings a more melodic cut with a sense of hope and joy in the bright pads that shimmer above the glitchy grooves.

Both artists also offer two digital bonus cuts with SERA J's 'Syncrosonix' and 'Space Velocity' delivering perfectly reduced minimal techno monsters, while ANNE's 'Gentle Loop' and 'Starburst' are interplanetary trips with widescreen cosmic synths.

Come Live With Me represents a creative peak that sounds fresher in 2025 than it may have in 1974. The first album on his Crossover label, it lives up to the label’s name by showcasing the man’s singular ability to cross over to any audience by making songs from any time or genre undeniably his own.

Each side of Come Live With Me sets a seamless mood: Side 1 is a romantic suite of lush, latenight ballads, while a non-stop soul party is cooking on side 2. This two-sides-of-a-Saturday-night concept lets Ray Charles blend modern sounds and timeless traditions in ways no other artist ever could.

Removed from the trappings and tropes of the mid-’70s music scene, and fully restored and remastered in cooperation with the Ray Charles Foundation, Come Live With Me is finally ready to be appreciated as the masterpiece it always was.

Smut is the project of lyricist Tay Roebuck, guitarists Andie Min and Sam Ruschman, drummer Aidan O’Connor, and bassist John Steiner. Roebuck, Ruschman and Min started the band a decade ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, they’ve played alongside Bully, Wavves, and Nothing. After years in the Cincinnati DIY scene, they made their Bayonet Records full-length debut, How the Light Felt. The record was a revelation. Pitchfork called it “a rigorous, decade-spanning study,” and a “well-oiled spin on late-’80s guitar pop.” Under the Radar called it “pop perfection,” that “blends subtle hooks with wistful lyrics.” It was a record that explored grief through the lens of melancholic dreampop, using drum machines and layered, intricate melodies.
Tomorrow Comes Crashing, Smut's first record with O'Connor and Steiner, sees the band re-energized and trained on the limitless potential that comes with making music with people you love. Galvanized with a new lineup, Smut focused on creating a record that possessed the same towering intensity as the records that first got them into music: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, Relationship of Command. The outcome is ten of their most intense, bombastic, and focused songs to date.
Catharsis bursts through the seams throughout Tomorrow Comes Crashing. “Syd Sweeney, ”inspired by the actress, is the record's centerpiece. It's about how profoundly strange it can be to be a woman, to be misunderstood by people who don’t even know you. The song is driven by chugging guitars and big, rolling drums. In other words: stadium rock about perception. Paramore meets Dookie. “She connects to the youth and the girls in the water/All she amounts to is someone’s daughter,” sings Roebuck in one particularly poetic moment. The song comes to a thrashing metal-inspired breakdown. It’s ecstatic.
To make the record, Smut recorded “as live as they could,” alongside Aron Kobayashi-Ritch(Momma) in a studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn, over the course of ten days. “We have so much energy right now,” says Roebuck. Right before they went off to New York, Roebuck and Min got married, with the rest of the band by their side. The recording was a true labor of love — driving from Chicago with all their equipment, returning from 12 hour studio days to sleep on friends' couches and floors, Roebuck completely blowing her voice by the end. Smut has always been DIY. Because they love it. Because they have to do it–there’s no other option. Tomorrow Comes Crashing is the culmination of that DIY spirit: making a record that completely encompasses the intensity, moodiness, and emotion of their journey so far.

Originally issued on Hut Records in October 2002, Human Conditions built on the success of Alone With Everybody, retaining the new fans he had gained with that record - This re-issue replicates the 2002 UK first pressing and is available on audiophile 180g double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

"It's a beautiful world," sings Ashcroft on opening track and lead single "Check The Meaning". Its eight-minutes seem a culmination of all of Ashcroft's work to date – a haunting guitar figure, swelling strings, and subtle orchestration back a lyric that catalogues the battle of love over evil, ending with Ashcroft assuring the listener "It's gonna be alright." It is a powerful beginning to a powerful album. "Buy It In Bottles" maintains the introspection of "The Drugs Don't Work", a mood that can be also found on "Running Away" and "Lord I've Been Trying"; while "Bright Lights" and "Paradise" bring the anthemic rock.

When Brian Wilson guests on one of your albums, it suggests a certain status has been attained; Richard Ashcroft demonstrated that he could hold his own in such company; both are songwriters of the human condition, and the song Wilson appears on "Nature Is The Law", closes Human Conditions in stellar fashion.

Time may be "longer than rope," as Prince Buster once said, yet certain records have such an explosive impact, everyone knows they're classics from the minute they're released and Symarip's Skinhead Moonstomp, first issued in 1969, was one of them. The intro grabbed you within seconds, and the invitation to dance was irresistible. "I want all of you skinheads to get up on your feet. Put your braces together and get up on your feet. And give me some of that o-l-d moon stomping..."

Burning Sounds are proud to re- issue a new version of the iconic album with the
original singer Roy Ellis. Includes extensive sleeve notes & Q&As with Roy Ellis +
Skinhead Moonstomp 12" version.

Monde UFO follow the celebrated ‘7171’ album with a trip to the mysterious ‘Flamingo Tower’. In the shadows of the Los Angeles bustling music scene, the enigmatic collective led by visionary Ray Monde create a trance-like fusion of psychedelia and avant jazz, mantra-like evocations, brash moody ambience and passages reminiscent of long-lost library music.

Magnifying Monde UFO’s idea of musical chaos, their early sonic escapades into off-kilter exotica is now elevated with sweeping atmospheric waves of sound inspired by an eclectic brew of Arto Lindsey, Khan Jamal’s ‘Drum Dance To The Motherland’, Keith Hudson, Milford Graves, Marion Brown, Don Cherry and Lennie Tristano.

Cast deep into number theory with occasional quasi-religious touchstones, ‘Flamingo Tower’ bustles with background sounds overlaid with intimate melodies conjuring plenty of suitably strange illusions; a synthetic orchestra plays baroque pop, a guitar is set to auto destruct and Ray Monde’s hushed vocals carry a bracing narrative. It’s an evocative album, one for the heavy music nerds, sprinkled with ear candy and proliferated by mysterious numbers which litter the song titles.

“Monde UFO wander through a humid mist of exotic samba shuffles, shamanic whispers, and reverberating laser beam synthesizers.” New Commute

Dune Castle presents - From A Darebin Cave by Cantrips, an acid folk odyssey. Recorded live with a 7-piece band over two days, "From a Darebin Cave" features members from Surprise Chef, Don Glori, Karate Boogaloo, and more.

Centered around the nylon guitar and voice of Patrick Ryan (Cantrips), this album draws inspiration from late 60s/early 70s acts like Nick Drake, Terry Callier, and Donovan. The album also incorporates string arrangements reminiscent of Frank Sinatra's "Watertown" and late 60s psychedelic pop. This unique sound was crafted by two keyboardists emulating a string quartet with synthesizers, complemented by drums, percussion, double bass, and pedal steel guitar.

The lyricism delves into themes of isolation, loneliness, regret, and joy, inspired by the natural beauty of the Darebin Parklands surrounding the Dune Castle studio, and takes influence from Romantic poets such as Mary Oliver, William Blake, and Pablo Neruda.

Composed, performed and produced by Cosey Fanni Tutti, the 9-track album moves between propulsive beat constructions and expansive electronic explorations, continuing themes from 2019’s acclaimed album TUTTI. It is a personal reflection; a sonic realisation of her life, drawing on her powerful inner resolve and expressing it through music. The album finds Cosey making sense of some very tough years, dealing with personal bereavements alongside swingeing world events that have impacted us all. Centring on her own strength and self will, the album’s two distinct sides – one rhythmic, one more meditative – are connected by an overwhelmingly positive mood.

She explains, “My overtone chanting on the track ‘Stound’ was part of that, tapping into the inner self, to the core of your being, emotionally, physically, allowing the sounds to permeate and soothe as well as create a sense of power, resistance and resilience to what we face.” Even in the more melancholic moments, there’s a lightness that she explains is an “acknowledgement that it’s alright to be sad, that’s part of life, but there is so much joy too in our memories of people we lose and in the moments we share with each other. Joy is our resistance.”

There are also threads from her most recent projects running through 2t2. Her latest book RE-SISTERS and the score she wrote for Caroline Catz’s film Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and Legendary Tapes are acknowledged, most directly on ‘Threnody’ which is dedicated to Delia Derbyshire and Andy Christian, an artist friend of Delia’s. He sent Cosey an abstract drawing of the same name, created one night from an improvised evening where he drew while Derbyshire intoned and sang softly as she looked at the drawings, as if reading a score expressing how they made her feel. Cosey’s process and the different strands that make up her work form a totality of vision.

She goes on to say, “Once you get creating and listening, weaving, collaging sound it’s a wonderfully fulfilling feeling that takes you both out of yourself at the same time as essentially deep within.” The artwork reflects this idea that the album is a “sound cameo”, reflecting the light within the music, and the buzz of life that exists within all of Cosey’s work. Musician, artist and author Cosey Fanni Tutti has continually challenged boundaries and conventions through her work. As a founding member of the hugely influential avant-garde band Throbbing Gristle, one half of electronic pioneers Chris and Cosey, and as an artist channelling her experience in pornographic modelling and striptease, her work on the margins has reshaped the mainstream. Her first solo album, Time To Tell (1983) was followed by 2019’s Tutti and 2022’s Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and the Legendary Tapes. Her debut book, the Penderyn Music Book Prize shortlisted Art Sex Music, was published in 2017, followed by RE-SISTERS in 2022 (both Faber), which will soon get a Spanish edition.

Barcelona’s Egyptian Greyhound and Berlin-based Ziel join forces in search of a modern sound rooted in the spirit of classic dancefloor cuts. Riding the revival wave, their EP blends Progressive, Trance, and Balearic elements with Classic House undertones.

A1 – Ziel’s "Divinity" is a sensual vocal track, channeling the eroticism and transcendentalism of past eras. Straddling the line between after-hours soft-trance and progressive house with Hi-NRG ambition, it delivers a compelling emotional punch.

A2 – "A Life in Paradise" follows in tone but leans further into Classic House. Less Hi-NRG, more warmth — it’s a strong warm-up tool, ideal for building energy early on.

B1 – "Nature Dancer" by Egyptian Greyhound brings a powerful kick and drum groove for peak time, combining Balearic colors and trancey aesthetics to ignite the dancefloor.

B2 – "Ace of Swords" sees both producers come together for a trippy, acid-tinged closer that fuses deep Trance and Balearic moods into a dreamy final statement.

Atlanta Based Band Rujen And their Album "Velvet Dream".
Velvet Dream is more than a collection of songs - it’s a cosmic nudge sent to remind you that your future begins with a choice. You close your eyes and a vision begins to form: a life just beyond your reach, patiently awaiting your arrival. It’s the version of yourself you imagine when you tune out the noise and tune in to the things that make you feel. With their Broc Recordz debut, Rujen aim to open doors through that very threshold with 11 tracks of 70s-tinged space rock that thoughtfully weave together lyrical themes of time, personal agency, and the pursuit of silencing self-doubt.

Straight from Los Angeles, California, this fresh new single will take you for a journey into the Disco Boogie Galaxy.
Infectious grooves, fat basslines and powerful italian lyrics from the talented singer Moorea Masa.
Get ready to fall in love with the unstoppable & catchy vibes of Rosmarina!

A NEW DANCEFLOOR BOMB IS BORN FOR YOUR SUMMERTIME PARTY BY THE SEA.

How would you like to hear it? This project is the brainchild of Andy Baxter, a multi-talented musician and multi-instrumentalist from London. His recording career began in 2018 when he released his first album, Green, on Village Live.

Buoyed by this initial recognition by his peers, he quickly released a second self-produced opus the following year, entitled Dusk. But it was his third LP, Shapes, released by KingUnderground, that took him to the next level.

Conceived during the first period of confinement, Andy played almost every instrument on the album (a few musicians joined in here and there): drums first and foremost, his instrument of choice, but also bass, guitar, keyboards and even the flute, which he had just learnt at the time of the album's creation. Largely inspired by the library music of the 70s, including some of his mentors such as Piero Umilani, David Axelrod and Brian Bennett, the album is nonetheless resolutely modern. But there's no denying the cinematic atmosphere that emanates from his compositions.

From the opening track "We're From Nowhere", with its heavy, funky bass, you get the impression of being plunged into the Harlem blaxploitation of the heyday, and you can't help but see a musical nod to Roy Ayers' "We live in Brooklyn, baby". But you soon realise that far from being a nostalgic musician, Baxter also listens to his contemporaries like Khruangbin and BadBadNotGood, as can be heard on tracks like 'Leaves', 'Odysea' and 'Ikigai', with their atmospheric guitars and Fransesca Uberti's haunting backing vocals, which instantly invite you to travel and escape! But there are times when the mood gets a little tense, like on the more angst-ridden 'Villains', with its almost free jazz flights of fancy. Finally, his drumming also comes to the fore on the last track, 'Stay Free', with its Afrobeat rhythm reminiscent of a certain Tony Allen and evoking creative freedom as a common thread running through his values.

In nine tracks, Shapes takes us on a neo jazz journey that once again demonstrates the vitality of the English scene in this field for several years now! At the start of 2022, Robohands released their latest album, Violet, on the same label, confirming all the good things we thought about them! By allowing a number of musicians to join him on this new opus, Andy Baxter has shown a willingness to work with more accomplished collaborators.

While paying homage to the pioneers of the genre, this compilation pushes the boundaries of nostalgic soundscapes with fresh, original creations. Evoking a sense of familiarity and warmth, the release beautifully captures a feeling of wonder and introspection. Let these timeless rhythms set the mood for your most peaceful moments.



















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Erstmals veröffentlicht 2010 - 'Barking' (Reissue).

Underworld sind ein echtes Unikat, das auf den größten Festivals und Veranstaltungen der Welt als Headliner auftritt, in Underground-Techno-Clubs und Lagerhäusern spielt, Theaterproduktionen vertont oder Kunstgalerien, stillgelegte Schuhläden und japanische Kaufhäuser bespielt.

- Ltd. 2LP: (180g schweres schwarzes Doppelvinyl. Auf halber Geschwindigkeit geschnitten und sorgfältig auf höchste Audioqualität getestet. Double-Gatefold mit dem klassischen Design der Originalpressung und neuem LP-Cover-Rücken-Artwork, das neben den anderen 2025er LP-Reissues der Band ein einheitliches Bild ergibt.)

Repress!

In the mid-1970s, a force of nature swept across the continental United States, cutting across all strata of race and class, rooting in our minds, our homes, our culture. It wasn’t The Exorcist, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or even bell-bottoms, but instead a book called The Secret Life of Plants. The work of occultist/former OSS agent Peter Tompkins and former CIA agent/dowsing enthusiast Christopher Bird, the books shot up the bestseller charts and spread like kudzu across the landscape, becoming a phenomenon. Seemingly overnight, the indoor plant business was in full bloom and photosynthetic eukaryotes of every genus were hanging off walls, lording over bookshelves, and basking on sunny window ledges. The science behind Secret Life was specious: plants can hear our prayers, they’re lie detectors, they’re telepathic, able to predict natural disasters and receive signals from distant galaxies. But that didn’t stop millions from buying and nurturing their new plants.



Perhaps the craziest claim of the book was that plants also dug music. And whether you purchased a snake plant, asparagus fern, peace lily, or what have you from Mother Earth on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles (or bought a Simmons mattress from Sears), you also took home Plantasia, an album recorded especially for them. Subtitled “warm earth music for plants…and the people that love them,” it was full of bucolic, charming, stoner-friendly, decidedly unscientific tunes enacted on the new-fangled device called the Moog. Plants date back from the dawn of time, but apparently they loved the Moog, never mind that the synthesizer had been on the market for just a few years. Most of all, the plants loved the ditties made by composer Mort Garson.



Few characters in early electronic music can be both fearless pioneers and cheesy trend-chasers, but Garson embraced both extremes, and has been unheralded as a result. When one writer rhetorically asked: “How was Garson’s music so ubiquitous while the man remained so under the radar?” the answer was simple. Well before Brian Eno did it, Garson was making discreet music, both the man and his music as inconspicuous as a Chlorophytumcomosum. Julliard-educated and active as a session player in the post-war era, Garson wrote lounge hits, scored plush arrangements for Doris Day, and garlanded weeping countrypolitan strings around Glen Campbell’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.” He could render the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel alike into easy listening and also dreamed up his own ditties. “An idear” as Garson himself would drawl it out. “I live with it, I walk it, I sing it.”



But as his daughter Day Darmet recalls: “When my dad found the synthesizer, he realized he didn’t want to do pop music anymore.” Garson encountered Robert Moog and his new device at the Audio Engineering Society’s West Coast convention in 1967 and immediately began tinkering with the device. With the Moog, those idears could be transformed. “He constantly had a song he was humming,” Darmet says. “At the table he was constantly tapping.” Which is to say that Mort pulled his melodies out of thin air, just like any household plant would.



The Plantae kingdom grew to its height by 1976, from DC Comics’ mossy superhero Swamp Thing to Stevie Wonder’s own herbal meditation, Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Nefarious manifestations of human-plant interaction also abounded, be it the grotesque pods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers or the pothead paranoia of the US Government spraying Mexican marijuana fields with the herbicide paraquat (which led to the rise in homegrown pot by the 1980s). And then there’s the warm, leafy embrace of Plantasia itself.



“My mom had a lot of plants,” Darmet says. “She didn’t believe in organized religion, she believed the earth was the best thing in the whole world. Whatever created us was incredible.” And she also knew when her husband had a good song, shouting from another room when she heard him humming a good idear. Novel as it might seem, Plantasia is simply full of good tunes.



Garson may have given the album away to new plant and bed owners, but a decade later a new generation could hear his music in another surreptitious way. Millions of kids bought The Legend of Zelda for their Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1986 and one distinct 8-bit tune bears more than a passing resemblance to album highlight “Concerto for Philodendron and Pothos.” Garson was never properly credited for it, but he nevertheless subliminally slipped into a new generations’ head, helping kids and plants alike grow.



Hearing Plantasia in the 21st century, it seems less an ode to our photosynthesizing friends by Garson and more an homage to his wife, the one with the green thumb that made everything flower around him. “My dad would be totally pleased to know that people are really interested in this music that had no popularity at the time,” Darmet says of Plantasia’snew renaissance. “He would be fascinated by the fact that people are finally understanding and appreciating this part of his musical career that he got no admiration for back then.” Garson seems to be everywhere again, even if he’s not really noticed, just like a houseplant.