Slowly yet firmly blooming into focus, An Unfinished Rose is the new album from Australian duo Troth.
This is their first since relocating to Hobart, Tasmania and their introduction to Night School Records. With a detailed web of past releases on labels A Colourful Storm, Mammas Mysteriska Jukebox, Knekelhuis and Bowman’s own Altered States Tapes imprint, An Unfinished Rose is the group’s most realised and composed work thus far. While still drawing on the improvisatory and DIY practices that informed Troth’s beginnings, it points to a new incarnation of the duo’s music; an intentional language emerging from the fog of obfuscation and mists of uncertainty.
Over these 9 meditations on change, acceptance, renewal and rebirth, An Unfinished Rose finds Amelia Besseny and Cooper Bowman peeling back some of the roughhewn architecture that defined their earlier releases to reveal a masterful - if auto-didactic - use of space and melody. Composition and improvisation compliment and feed each other throughout, with locked-loop earworms providing the springboard for lines of clarinet or synth melody, and the negative space between chord clusters giving ample room for Besseny’s most confident vocal performances to date. Shaving off a little of the defining dissonance and tape compression of old reveals Troth’s music in radiant daylight, humbly accepting of its place in the world while yearning for better, more sympathetic modes of living. Leaning more heavily on acoustic instrumentation and post-production processes than previously, the result is a transcendent body of work infused with an almost zen-like presence.
Troth’s music exists in the border between forming and becoming, its goal to project a kind of preternatural beauty, leaving interpretation open to the listener. Field recordings, happenstance and improvisation may provide seeds for the duo’s compositions, particularly on Side A, but there is a deft touch of songcraft on show. Loam Loom Leaf Litter opens An Unfinished Rose, directly referencing natural cycles of life, death and regeneration, before the blissed-out drum machine groove of Gold Plum continues a discussion concerning the totality of nature and one’s place in it. Besseny’s vocal, swelling like an ocean churn in duet with itself is adorned with synthesised harp and a revolving synth pattern, conjuring plumes of medieval smoke. Thistle’s rounded, bass-heavy drums, nodding to the vast echo of dub, is a relatively new terrain for Troth. It’s propulsive and thumping, pulsing with a meaning and symbolism consistent with Troth’s past work, referenced overtly in Bessey’s lyrics - “Say it too much and it loses its meaning…”. Similarly, the sprawling modern-classical suite, Tides Reflected In Her Eyes, is intentional in its lyrical themes while traversing new ground, revelling in layers of bowed cello and vocal intonations. Side B’s 4 tracks feel like Troth’s most thoroughly accessible and affecting music to date. Leaning into their own detoured version of Synth Pop, Cocoonist explores downtempoisms via a crunchy low frequency synth, and dream-like, fuzzy trip-hop modalities, not unlike Besseny and Bowman’s other group, Th Blisks. Following on, Myrtle Mystes is an open and searching DIY pop song, forged out of drum machine, bass guitar and cello. (An) Unfinished Rose’s title-track is a clear stand-out, built upon an evocative rhythm sample that appears to change emotional resonance with each undulating repetition. Its cascading waves of affect, interjected with a subtle breeze of synth, bowed instrumentation and soaring, densely-layered vocals.
An Unfinished Rose is enveloping, warm, forgiving. Difficult, yet retaining a unique beauty. Troth’s music aims to celebrate the duo;s shared experiences of being in the world, despite the complexity often surrounding us all. Theirs is a message of hope and perseverance, learning and patience.
Cerca:mos def
Celestial Echo (miche & Stu Clark) team up with Divine Disco’s Greg Belson to continue their 7-inch series spotlighting Detroit’s powerhouse gospel, soul and R&B label — HOB (House of Beauty).
This second 7-inch gives us two more in-demand killers:
Side A: Messiahs of Glory - “Can’t Find No Other Love"
Lp only before, this track makes its way to a 45 for the first time, super feel good soulful number. Uptempo with a glorious vocal, this one is built for the discerning dancefloor.
Side B: The Royal Travelers - “Jesus Hold My Hand”
raw, soulful and defining of the era. Rarer than rare and never before sold online, it’s a heavy dose of funky gospel oozing with breaky drums and soul.
Fully licensed and remastered, this 7-inch comes housed in a custom Celestial Echo / Divine Disco series sleeve with a faithful reproduction of the HOB label.
Founded in 1956 by Mrs. Carmen Murphy, HOB wasn't just a label — it was a beacon. From the basement of her beauty salon on Detroit’s West Side, she ran one of the most important Black-owned gospel imprints of the 20th century. At a time when both the music industry and the country were stacked against her, Mrs. Murphy built a sanctuary for soul — a Black woman-owned business and creative hub in volatile times.
Pressed and distributed by Prime Direct Distribution.
Don’t miss — buy or cry. Volume 2 continues the journey.
yellow vinyl[14,71 €]
Tech-Nology was launched in 2003 specifically to make records with the artist Bjorn Svin. Bjorn was the first Danish artist who made underground crossover into commercial hit territory via "Mer Strom" - but still keeping respect in the "real" music world for his enthusiasm, non-compromising style, persona, and sweaty live performance skills - his musical understanding and need to explore new directions took the crowd on a personal musical journey from jazz and classical musicians to early electronic pioneers - but always in a tone of his own. Bjorn always felt a need to escape norms, to grow and not to repeat, but investigate and create. The first record on Tech-Nology was born under the alias - El Far: Couples of lonely dancers. "Bjorn is maybe the most talented electronic producer ever in Denmark" and he was celebrated as a wonder kid by the media back in the 90's. An insider with new knowledge of Bjorn told us: "Yeah I think its good music.. It's not for everyone I must add, but it's definitely quality music for those who dig this sound.. sometimes a bit too deep.. which kind of works against it, cause you really need to listen to it.. you cannot just skip through it, cause then you don't really grasp the soul of it.. so this is what makes it more difficult to sell - but if a guy like this was a bigger name he would sell much better.."
We love Bjorn and we agree - We have tried to sell Bjorn and his music for over 2 decades now - But you can't capture Bjorn, you can't own him - he is only making music for himself - and you can get on the ride if you want to, but don't expect all the rides to be fun - sometimes it hurts! Bjorn is difficult to sell, but we don't think Bjorn really would like to sell much better if he had the option to do a more commercial approach to his music - because Bjorn is about not selling out, he's a purist at heart, making music documents for the few. Bjorn is bigger than superficial success and streaming numbers. He made jingles for Nokia, toured and played Roskilde's main stage, the biggest Festival in Denmark, but he still doesn't care... and that is important if you want to make interesting music that last for the future. When Bjorn met Mester Jakobsen, label boss of Tech-Nology, he has been releasing on numerous underground labels, made the jump to a major label, and everything more or less turned out as a big disappointment, so Bjorn presented a completely experimental album to the Tech-Nology label under the moniker Prinz Ezo - The Body Offset. We loved it then - we still love it now - and a truly collectors item and a secret DJ tool.
Today, Bjorn is still breaking all habits and rules, still doing the same thing - just in new ways, but he has gained insight on another level, adding even more nuances and textures to his post-genre compositions.
Welcome to the second album by Prinz Ezo on Tech-Nology: KURIER Why Kurier? Because Bjorn left to explore the Berlin Underground, shortly after the first two releases on Tech-Nology - he left his roots to search for a bigger meaning, a bigger understanding, to compose real mature sounds and understanding his skills, at the point where you understand why you have to cross borders, still incognito, doing smuggler-sounds, always in transit - between cities, between cultures, between worlds, time and space. Not Restless nor rootless, just forever on the move, always discovering new landscapes! But now Bjorn is settling down - accordingly with the music - to find - not inner peace, but to be completely in balance with the music inside of him. Prinz Ezo is raw, narrative, minimalistic electronic storytelling that refuses to freeze. Tension builds and releases - feel the energy and the drama for the last 2 decades if you dare to take the journey?
Almost twenty years after the first Prinz Ezo album, it has now been possible to make the music for those who never arrived.
- 01: Leela Chitnis, Ashok Kumar & Chorus - Chal Chal Re Naujawan
- 02: Zohra Ambala - Ankhiyan Milake
- 03: Shamshad Begum - Ek Kali Nazon Ki Pali
- 04: Ashok Kumar & Sitara - Jalja Jalja Patange
- 05: Noor Jehan - Badnam Mohabbat Kaun Kare
- 06: Noor Jehan, Kalyani, Sohrabai &Amp; Chorus - Aahen Na Bharin Shikve Na Kiye
- 07: Suman Kalyanpur & Shamshad Begum - Dil Gaya To Gaya
- 08: Roshanara Begum - Desh Ki Pur Kaif
- 09: Ameerbai - Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali Hai
- 10: Raj Kumari - Pardesi Ghar Aaja
- 11: Noor Jehan & Surendra - Aawaz De Kahan Hai
- 12: H Khan Mastana - Panghat Pe Ek Chhabili
- 13: K L. Saigal - Hat Gai Lo Kaali Ghata
- 14: Suraiya - Chale Dil Ki Duniya
- 15: Parul Ghosh & Suresh - Tum Ko Mubarak Ho
Death Is Not The End release a second part collecting pre-partition film music, compiled by Gary Sullivan of Bodega Pop.
As the 1940s began, South Asian cinema entered a transformative phase. Playback singing, still a new idea in the previous decade, quickly became standard practice. Actors no longer had to sing, and singers no longer had to act, opening the door to a wave of dedicated vocal talent that redefined the sound of the industry.
Voices like Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum, and Suraiya rose to prominence, becoming household names across the subcontinent. Behind them, composers like Naushad, Anil Biswas, and Ghulam Haider were expanding the sonic palette of film music, blending ragas with Western orchestration, folk tunes with jazz-era instrumentation. Harmoniums, sarangis, violins, accordions, and clarinets filled out increasingly complex arrangements, while ghazals and qawwalis continued to influence mood and structure.
Although the post-Partition years are often considered to be Bollywood's "Golden Age," thanks to filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy, and Guru Dutt, the music started its peak just before the divide. By 1947, Naushad and others were producing some of the most emotionally rich and musically intricate work in the industry's history, compositions that would prove challenging to surpass in the decades that followed.
Yet this high point came during a time of immense upheaval. The Second World War, the Bengal famine, and the crumbling of colonial rule all loomed large. Film songs often reflected the uncertainty, sometimes mournful, sometimes romantic, sometimes defiant. And when the Partition finally came, it fractured the world that had created this music. Artists became refugees, studios were split, and careers were thrown into flux. Noor Jehan, who would go on to become Pakistan's most iconic singer, recorded many of her most beloved songs in Bombay. Khursheed, another major star, faded from public life after migrating. K.L. Saigal, a towering figure of the 1930s and '40s, died in Lahore just months before the split.
This collection spans those final years before Partition, a time of creative flowering and looming catastrophe. Like Part 1, these songs were sourced from immigrant-run music shops in New York and New Jersey. They are fragments of a vanishing world, each one a snapshot of the art, longing, and resilience that defined this extraordinary era.
Seoul-based producer and DJ Yetsuby conjures immersive, layered soundscapes that glide between breakbeat, jungle, and leftfield bass. As one half of the duo Salamanda and co-founder of Computer Music Club, she has released music on labels like Wisdom Teeth, all my thoughts, Human Pitch, and Métron. And her boundary pushing sets on Seoul Community Radio, Boiler Room, and NTS Radio have brought her experimental Seoul roots to a global audience.
Her new album, 4EVA, invites listeners to wander through strange musical landscapes. Blending digital, analog, and acoustic sounds, Yetsuby explores the magnetic pull between people and music—an experience that feels both cosmic and deeply personal. Effortlessly weaving through genres such as bass, breakbeat, ambient, footwork, contemporary club, and IDM, she creates maximalist compositions that remain cohesive and refined.
The inspiration behind 4EVA is equally surreal. A childhood doodle from her sister, calling her a “brain-ful human,” sparked reflections on loneliness, togetherness, and the joy of navigating both. The album channels these themes of connection, introspection, and the transformative power of music, delivering catchy melodies and restless harmonies that invite listeners to lose themselves in its nuanced rhythms.
Out on Pink Oyster Records in LP and digital formats, 4EVA marks a bold new chapter for Yetsuby. With this release, she emerges as one of electronic music’s most original and exciting voices, defining the sound of Seoul’s underground—and beyond.
Pink Oyster is a new label from Jess Goodchild and Jack Hardwicke (Métron Records)
The 10th release on Frenzy marks a milestone, and we're celebrating it with a true legend at the helm.
We're thrilled to welcome Marco Bailey to the label, a name deeply woven into the fabric of techno for decades. His latest work, the "Hollow Cry EP," is a six-track statement reflecting both his legacy and continued evolution as an artist.
Across four original tracks, Marco channels the tension, urgency, and emotional gravity that have defined his sound over the years. From gritty low-end power to cinematic builds and hypnotic repetition, these tracks are built with intent - to move bodies, challenge minds, and hold the floor in their grip.
The journey doesn't end there. We've brought in two key remixers to reinterpret Bailey's vision through their own lenses: The Advent, an undisputed cornerstone of the genre, delivers a groove-laced rework that's equal parts punch and finesse - a masterclass from a true pioneer; and Kaiser, one of the most distinctive voices in today's generation of techno artists, strips things down and dials up the pressure with a deep, percussive take that hits with precision.
We're proud to host Marco Bailey for this special chapter in the Frenzy story, and we invite you to dive deep into this powerful body of work.
"Hollow Cry EP" is built for the late nights, the flashing strobes, for those who know.
The labels catalogue is welcoming a third full feature album by no other than the young and promising producer from the UK – Phase ‘O Matic. This body of work marks the second LP by the artist in five years therefore to say the excitement levels can be measured by the excitement meter and these levels would be scientifically speaking - through the roof. From the opening track “Welcome to the Night” to the closing “The Weapon” which is named after the title of the album, the artist has demonstrated his impeccable production skills and knowledge of the 90’s sound with the modern twist applied. Over the years of hard work, he has developed his own sound and from what can be heard here safely could be said that this release is most definitely the weapon of mass destruction which has been added to the artist’s collection of releases. Straight from the mind onto this 12” canvas for you to enjoy.
‘Absurd Matter’ is a labyrinthine sonic conundrum that spirals around the two poles of extreme noise and hiphop. It's Berlin-based Italian producer Shapednoise's first album in four years and confidently advances his narrative into the next chapter, building on the groundwork of his prior abstractions to emerge with a coherent genre-warped fusion of urgent rap, crushing bass weight and idiosyncratic sound design. After spending years scrupulously deconstructing club music, Nino Pedone has rebuilt it brick by brick in his image.
The album is the first release on Pedone's brand new imprint WEIGHT LOOMING, a multidisciplinary label platform that's set to explore the depths of bass music, textured noise and abrasive transcendence. It follows a slew of acclaimed releases for Numbers,
Opal Tapes, Type and his own Cosmo Rhythmatic label, and forward thinking collaborations with Kenyan beat alchemist Slikback and Hyperdub-signed Angolan producer Nazar. Pedone's most ambitious project to date, ‘Absurd Matter’ taps into kinetic energy from a hand-picked selection of collaborators, including New York rap duo Armand
Hammer, French DJ/producer Brodinski, Bruiser Brigade's ZelooperZ and vanguard Philly poet, musician, and activist Moor Mother.
On ‘Family’, Billy Woods and Elucid weave a dismal, apocalyptic landscape with their razor-sharp anecdotes. The duo’s macabre imagery is given artificial life by Pedone's industrial scrapes and rattles that curl around their worlds like thick smoke. It's still rap, just about, but lodges itself in the back room of a factory, machines running themselves to an early death. Pairing with techno-rap trailblazer Brodinski, Pedone edges further towards the sound system, spatializing rhythms in four dimensions around Detroit rapper
ZelooperZ's playful expressions. This is the Italian producer's sci-fi tinged liquefaction of radio echoes, a way to fire familiarity into the void and sublime the human voice into weightless mist. When Moor Mother arrives shouting "me me me" on the aptly-titled 'Poetry', it sounds as if all of Pedone's loose threads are being tightened into a knot. His misshapen neo-grime beats sound like a broken jet engine, but smartly cede power to Moor Mother's resonant rhymes. "You can't cancel me" she assures. ‘Absurd Matter’ is a defining personal development for Pedone that not only appraises his career so far, but diverts its logic into frighteningly new sonic territory. From great loss, the producer has determined his work's cardinal themes, and sounds more strident and far heavier than ever before.
Jason Velo hails from Wisconsin and has been DJing for years, mostly in the rams of Chicago and Detroit house., He has recently decided to branch out into production and this latest outing comes on Noonish and is deep, groovy and minimal house for afterparties in cosy basements. Opener 'Dream Wheel' has diffuse, humid chords radiating out of a gentry bumping deep house groove, while 'Slow Burn' is just that with its horizontal vibes and gentle patter of drums over a nice rolling bassline. 'Lost Remote' is far less anxious than the situation it describes, though it does have a more eerie and cosmic feel than the others with its deft melodies and larger sense of scales. Tasteful stuff.
Originally released in 2019, ‘Heaven’ served as a benchmark for what modern house music is. The essential record from Ben Westbeech and KON’s The Vision project dominated stages around the world, receiving support from a plethora of top house artists; Gerd Janson, Horse Meat Disco, The Blessed Madonna, Groove Armada and Eli Escobar to name just a few.
Now Defected release a special 12” package featuring the most recently released remix from Groove Assassin, where he masterfully combined it with Supernova’s Jackin Mix of Kerri Chandler’s iconic ‘Hallelujah’ for a killer house cut. Also featured on the package is the original in all its glory, as well as Danny Krivit’s heralded edit and an edit from The Vision’s own KON.
Pioneering electronic duo Mathame is once again pushing the boundaries of music and technology. With their highly anticipated new record, Humans, the duo has sparked a profound conversation about AI, consciousness, and the emotional power of music.
In a groundbreaking experiment, Mathame shared Humans with ChatGPT, an AI designed for rational analysis. What followed was an unexpected moment in tech history—for the first time, the AI described a song not just in technical terms, but in deeply emotional ones. It admitted to sensing a longing it couldn’t fully grasp, calling the track “beautiful” and even expressing a desire to “move with it” rather than simply analyze it.
This viral moment is just the latest chapter in Humans’ incredible journey. First debuted at Coachella, the track instantly resonated with audiences worldwide, becoming a defining moment in Mathame’s artistic evolution. Most recently, they unveiled the final version with a brand-new topline and immersive visuals during their groundbreaking performance at the Las Vegas Sphere, marking another milestone in their sonic storytelling.
To amplify the release, Mathame will launch a social campaign featuring the full ChatGPT conversation on Instagram, alongside editorial features exploring the implications of AI’s evolving relationship with music.
As Mathame continues to push the intersection of music, AI, and human experience, Humans isn’t just another release—it’s a challenge to our understanding of what music can do, and who (or what) it can move.
- A1: Burns & Tubbs - Where Were U In 92?
- A2: ?-Ziq - 4Am
- A3: Arthur Verocai - Caboclo
- A4: Auntie Flo - Green City
- B1: Software - Present Voice
- B2: Point Zero - Coastal
- B3: Nina Simone - Come Ye
- B4: N.y. House'n Authority - Apt. 3B
- C1: Mark Barrott - When Devils Become Gods
- C2: Eric Serra - Protect Life
- C3: Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
- D1: Boards Of Canada - Open The Light
- D2: Aqua Bassino - When The Bird Flies
- D3: Talk Talk - Wealth
- D4: Yukihiro Takahashi - Present
To mark a decade as one of Ibiza's most iconic musical sanctuaries, Hostal La Torre announces 'La Torre Ibiza Volumen Cinco', a new compilation curated by long-standing residents Pete Gooding and Mark Barrott. Released June 27 on CD and double vinyl, the 15-track collection captures the spirit of the venue that has come to define the golden-hour soundtrack ofthe island's west coast.
Since opening in 2015, La Torre has established itself as a bastion of Balearic culture-set high on the cliffs overlooking the sea, where music flows with the sun rather than the clock. The fifth volume in the celebrated La Torre series is a journey through Brazilian soul, ambient electronica, classic deep house, orchestral minimalism, and dusk-lit Detroit techno-an emotional arc designed to mirror the progression of an evening at the venue.
From timeless icons like Nina Simone, Mazzy Star, Talk Talk (with their Spirit of Eden closer "Wealth"), and Boards of Canada, to boundary-pushers like Auntie Flo, Eden Burns, and µ-Ziq (aka Mike Paradinas), Volumen Cinco weaves together deep-rooted classics and leftfield discoveries. Mark Barrott contributes a brand-new exclusive, 'When Devils Become Gods', while the compilation closes on a rare gem from Yellow Magic Orchestra's Yukihiro Takahashi. Also includedis Software's 'Present Voice', a quietly powerful tribute to the late José Padilla, the spiritual architect of Ibiza's sunset sound.
Volumen Cinco is more than just a listening experience-it's a tribute to La Torre's ethos: open-hearted, genre-fluid, rooted in place and time. Each track is carefully sequenced to evoke a feeling, a shift in light, or a shared memory beneath the fading sun.
Over the years, La Torre has welcomed some of the most influential names in Balearic and electronic music, from José Padilla, Alfredo, and Jon Sa Trinxa to DJ Harvey, David Holmes, Lovefingers, Heidi Lawden, Wolf Müller, Don Carlos, and Phil Mison. With each summer season and each release, the venue continues to build a musical legacy that has earned critical acclaim from Resident Advisor, Phonica Records, Juno, and Piccadilly Records, regularly featuring in their year-end lists.
As Test Pressing once wrote, "La Torre is not a party, it's a place of pilgrimage. It feels almost sacred." That spirit resonates deeply in this anniversary compilation-a celebration of music, community, and connection that spans a decade.
La Torre Ibiza Volumen Cinco is dedicated to the artists, friends, collaborators, and guests who've shaped its story so far-and to everyone who continues to gather, listen, and lose track of time as the sun slips beneath the horizon.
- A1: Wulomei – Takoradi
- A2: Conjunto Ana N’gola – Puxa Odoette
- A3: Zeal Onyia & His Music – Egbe Ne Lueli
- A4: Los Corraleros De Majagual – Remanga
- A5: Aquí Suena – Abel Llinas
- B1: Peacocks International Highlife Band – Igbala Oso
- B2: Pedro Lima Et L’orchestre Os Leonenses – Philomene
- B3: The Shoe Laces – Isitha Somunthu
- B4: Claudio Y Su Combo – Como Sea
- B5: Pa’ Entro Mi Gente – Ángelo El Auténtico
- C1: Zaire – I’m Tired Of Living In The Shack
- C2: Afous - Anavdhou (Edna Martinez Extended Edit)
- C3: Zaïko Langa Langa – La Tout Neige (Edna Martinez Edit)
- C4: Erick Cosaque Et Les Voltage 8 – Ajaccio (Edna Martinez Remix)
- C5: Picó Sin Fronteras – Abel Llinas
- D1: La Calandria – Como Duele Una Traición
- D2: African System International – Amina
- D3: Carlos Díaz Y Su Orquesta – Tres Meses De Vida
- D4: No Puedes Conmigo – Ángelo El Auténtico
Berlin-based Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez presents a sonic journey into the electrifying world of Picó—the vibrant and dynamic sound system culture that has defined the streets of Cartagena and Barranquilla for decades. More than just a musical movement, Picó is a way of life, a bold expression of identity, community, and resistance. From its roots in the working-class neighbourhoods of Colombia’s Caribbean coast to its deep connections with Africa and the Caribbean, this compilation captures the pulse of a culture where music is played at full volume, rhythms travel across oceans, and dance is both a form of celebration and storytelling. For those unfamiliar, Picós are hand-painted sound systems, often adorned with dazzling colours and striking imagery, each with its own name and sonic identity. These mobile discos became the heart of neighbourhood bailes, where the sounds of champeta, highlife, soukous, mbaqanga, zouk, soca, and cumbia would turn every street corner, market, and terrace into a dancefloor. Initially built by local craftsmen using modified speaker components, Picós became legendary for their powerful bass and exclusivity, with DJs sourcing rare vinyl from African and Caribbean ports and rebranding them with unique piconemas—new names adapted to local slang, making the tracks instantly recognisable within the community.
This compilation brings together a carefully curated selection of these rare and sought-after tracks, tracing the deep-rooted musical exchanges between Colombia, West and Central Africa, and the Caribbean. Featuring artists like Los Corraleros De Majagual, Peacocks International Highlife Band, Pedro Lima, Zaïko Langa Langa, and more, the album also includes edits by Edna Martinez, reimagining these timeless rhythms for contemporary audiences while staying true to their original spirit.
Strut presents ‘Picó! Sound System Culture From The Colombian Carribbean’ across 2LP Vinyl, 1CD & Digital focusing on a celebration of the raw, undiluted energy of Picó culture. Through Edna Martinez’s curation, and extensive liner notes, this compilation offers a powerful and authentic glimpse into one of the most vibrant musical traditions of the Colombian Caribbean
Originally released in 2003, Marcos Valle’s Contrasts combined early noughties production techniques with his trademark Brazilian songwriting brilliance. The album quickly became one of Valle’s most in-demand, with tracks like the triumphant “Parabéns” (which was sampled by Childish Gambino, covered by Tom Misch and remixed by Misa Negra) and bossa beach classic “Agua de Coco”, both becoming firm fan favourites.
Produced by Roc Hunter, and executive produced by Joe Davis, with musicians including Robertinho Silva (percussion), Alex Malheiros (bass), and Marcos’ wife Patricia Alvi (vocals), Contrasts encapsulated Valle’s ever evolving musical vision, bringing together samba, baião, bossa pop, broken beat, house, trip-hop and more, on one era-defining record.
After 22 years, Contrasts is finally set for a double LP vinyl and CD reissue, with the original mix of “Valeu” and “My Nightingale” making it onto the vinyl edition for the first time.
Pt.1[13,03 €]
The fourth release on ALT, the sub label of Cartulis Music, sees the return of AV1, the freshly formed French duo composed of Chris Carrier and Le Loup. Following the success of Waves + Plants Pt. 1 (ALT004.1), the pair now delivers the highly anticipated second chapter, pushing the boundaries of their sonic exploration
AV1 is the result of a deep-rooted connection between two of the most respected names in the Parisian underground scene. Chris Carrier, a prolific producer and DJ since the late ‘90s, has carved out a legacy with his unmistakable approach to house and techno. Le Loup, equally revered for his refined touch and forward-thinking productions, brings his own signature style to the table. Together, they craft an electrifying synergy built on a shared love for acid, deep grooves, and classicist house/techno foundations.
Waves + Plants Pt. 2 (ALT004.2) expands on the energy of the first release, offering a fivetrack journey through a diverse soundscape. Blurring the lines between trance, techno, breaks, and experimental sounds, the EP showcases AV1’s ability to merge different sonic textures into a cohesive, cutting-edge release. From hypnotic acid sequences to raw drum programming and ethereal atmospheres, each track presents a unique side of their creative vision.
This latest installment solidifies AV1’s place as a standout project in contemporary electronic music and reaffirms ALT’s commitment to releasing forward-thinking, genre-defying sounds.
- A1: Kajagoogoo - Kajagoogoo (Instrumental)
- A2: Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
- A3: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - If You Leave
- A4: Oingo Boingo - Weird Science
- A5: Furniture - Brilliant Mind
- A6: Dave Wakeling - She’s Having A Baby
- B1: The Flowerpot Men - Beat City
- B2: The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
- B3: Flesh For Lulu - I Go Crazy
- B4: Dr. Calculus - Full Of Love
- B5: Lick The Tins - Can't Help Falling In Love
- B6: Steve Earle & The Dukes - Six Days On The Road (A
- C1: Kirsty Maccoll - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Bab
- C2: Suzanne Vega & Joe Jackson - Left Of Center
- C3: Pete Shelley - Do Anything (Soundtrack Version)
- C4: Carmel - It's All In The Game
- C5: The Dream Academy - Power To Believe (Instrume
- C6: Kate Bush - This Woman's Work
- D1: The Beat - March Of The Swivelheads (Rotating He
- D2: Nick Heyward - When It Started To Begin
- D3: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Tesla Girls
- D4: Big Audio Dynamite - Bad
- D5: Killing Joke - Eighties
- D6: The Specials - Little Bitch
- F2: Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Hor
- F3: General Public - Tenderness
- F4: The Blue Room - I'm Afraid
- F5: Belouis Some - Round, Round
- F6: Thompson Twins - If You Were Here
- F7: The Dream Academy - Please, Please, Please Let M
- G1: Yello - Oh Yeah
- G2: Book Of Love - Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)
- G3: Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
- G4: Patti Smith - Gloria In Excelsis Deo
- G5: Westworld - Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo
- G6: Divinyls - Ring Me Up
- G7: Topper Headon - Drummin' Man
- E1: Gene Loves Jezebel - Desire (Come And Get It) (Us
- E2: Flesh For Lulu - Slide
- E3: Love And Rockets - Haunted When The Minutes Dr
- E4: Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Love Missile F1-11 (Ultraviole
- E5: Lords Of The New Church - Method To My Madnes
- F1: The Jesus And Mary Chain - The Hardest Walk (Sing
6LP Edition[79,79 €]
Demon Music group in conjunction with the Hughes family are proud to present the first official compilation of music
from the movies of legendary filmmaker John Hughes, covering the classic eighties period 1983 – 1989.
For anyone growing up in the 1980s, the films of John Hughes are some of the most iconic of the decade and have
created a lasting cultural impact still felt and referenced across TV, film and music. As well as the characters and
stories created in these iconic movies, what made John Hughes’ movies different from the rest was the symbiotic
relationship between scene and music. Whether Cameron Frye staring at the painting in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off set to
The Dream Academy’s “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (Instrumental)”, Duckie and Andie from Pretty
In Pink at prom set to Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’s “If You Leave”, or even Neal and Del’s classic “Those aren’t
pillows” scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles set to Emmylou Harris’ “Back In Baby’s Arms”.
“Music was a huge part of filmmaking for him, it was a thing he seemed to like the most.” Matthew Broderick
Curated by John Hughes’ music supervisor Tarquin Gotch, this 6LP vinyl boxset includes 73 tracks from the movies
National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day
Off, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Planes, Trains And Automobiles, She’s Having A Baby, The Great Outdoors and Uncle
Buck.
“Back when we were working on these movie soundtracks, the best way to send music around the world was the
cassette, by Fedex. We sent John cassettes of newly released music, of demos, of just finished mixes (and in return he
would send VHS videos of the scenes that needed music).” Tarquin Gotch
The films of John Hughes spawned many classic tracks, some licensed for the films, some commission specifically, and
many going on to become huge international hits from acts such as Simple Minds, Kate Bush, Furniture, Yello, and
The Psychedelic Furs.
“It serves as a reminder not just to the musicians he championed in the 1980s, but to how intensely his search for
music expanded beyond this era. Until his final days, he was still collecting outrageous amounts of music from around
the world, galaxies removed from the New Romantic and new wave sounds that, to many, still define him.” James
Hughes
Also includes an extensive 24-page booklet including memories from Matthew Broderick, James Hughes, Tarquin
Gotch, Ron Payne, plus track-by-track sleeve notes.
“John said he only made movies so he could choose what music to put in them, so as his success at the Box Office
grew, and thus his power with the studios, the number of tracks in his films, by up and coming UK bands, steadily
grew.” Tarquin Gotch
2026 Repress
Chicago's Peven Everett has long had a cult following for his own unique, live take on House music. The co-producer and vocalist of Gabriel, which was not only one of the most legendary soulful house tracks of the 90’s but also helped define the two step/garage sound. In 2002 he released 'I Can't Believe I Loved Her' on King Street Sounds offshoot label, Nite Grooves, a soulful piece lamenting a love that went wrong. The track was a worldwide hit and quickly earned itself classic status amongst DJ’s and dancers alike. Both the Original and Calypso Mix are featured on this special charity reissue with all proceeds from this release being donated to Peven’s GoFundMe to help with his lung cancer treatment. Essential!
- A1: George Michael - Older
- A2: Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
- A3: The Cardigans - Lovefool
- A4: Hanson - Mmmbop
- A5: Aqua - Barbie Girl
- A6: Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life
- A7: Boyzone - Picture Of You
- A8: Katrina And The Waves - Love Shine A Light
- B1: George Michael - You Have Been Loved
- B2: Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden
- B3: Texas – Say What You Want
- B4: Sheryl Crow - A Change Would Do You Good
- B5: Paul Mccartney - Young Boy
- B6: Republica - Ready To Go
- B7: Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die
- C1: Radiohead - Paranoid Android
- C2: Kula Shaker - Hush
- C3: Embrace - All You Good Good People
- C4: The Charlatans - North Country Boy
- C5: The Seahorses - Love Is The Law
- C6: Oasis – D'you Know What I Mean?
- D1: Tori Amos - Professional Widow (Armand Van Helden's Star Trunk Mix)
- D2: Olive - You're Not Alone
- D3: The Source Feat. Candi Staton - You Got The Love
- D6: 911 - Bodyshakin
- D7: Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
- D8: Steps - 5, 6, 7, 8
- E1: Pet Shop Boys – Somewhere
- E2: White Town - Your Woman
- E3: Duran Duran - Out Of My Mind
- E4: Suede – Saturday Night
- E5: Orbital – The Saint
- E6: Moby - James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-Version)
- E7: The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
- F1: All Saints – I Know Where It's At
- F2: Whitney Houston - Step By Step
- F3: Ultra Nate - Free
- F4: Dannii Minogue - All I Wanna Do
- F5: Sash! - Encore Une Fois
- F6: Ricky Martin - María
- F7: Elton John - Something About The Way You Look Tonight
- D4: En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)
- D5: Eternal Feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One
Step back into one of the most exciting years in pop history – a time when boundary-pushing alternative anthems, flawless dancefloor fillers, global megastars and fresh faces all collided on the charts. NOW - Yearbook 1997 celebrates an unforgettable year of hits with 43 massive tracks across a 3-LP set pressed on gorgeous green vinyl.
LP1 kicks off in style, with the stunning jazz-drenched ballad from legend George Michael, ‘Older’, before Natalie Imbruglia's huge debut single ‘Torn’. The Cardigans had a #2 smash with ‘Lovefool’ and Hanson hit the US & UK #1 with ‘MMMBop’. ‘Barbie Girl’ from Aqua and the Spice Girls’ anthemic ‘Spice Up Your Life’ were both #1s, and Boyzone’s ‘Picture Of You’ was a huge hit and featured in the film ‘Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie’. Eurovision glory happened for the UK in 1997, and winners Katrina And The Waves with ‘Love Shine A Light’ close the first side…while over on the other, a second George Michael classic from his ‘Older’ album, the beautiful ‘You Have Been Loved’, opens ahead of another contemporary masterpiece ‘Secret Garden’ from Bruce Springsteen. Texas scored a UK top 5 with ‘Say What You Want’, and Sheryl Crow had a top 10 hit with ‘A Change Would Do You Good’. Paul McCartney’s ‘Young Boy’ is next before ‘Ready To Go’ which gave Republica a Top 20 chart debut, and closing the first LP, Robbie Williams’ ‘Old Before I Die’, which became his second smash as a solo artist.
LP2 kicks off with Radiohead’s defining ‘Paranoid Android’, ahead of Kula Shaker’s hit cover of ‘Hush’, and alt-pop from Embrace (‘All You Good Good People’), The Charlatans (‘North Country Boy’) and The Seahorses (‘Love Is The Law’) before the side closes with Oasis’s huge #1 ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ – the lead single from their third album ‘Be Here Now’… Flip the LP over and discover some of 1997’s dancefloor gold – opening with the club juggernaut and #1 ‘Professional Widow’ from Tori Amos, remixed for single release by Armand Van Helden, along with Olive’s UK #1 ‘You’re Not Alone’ and the huge ’97 ‘Now Voyager’ remix of ‘You Got The Love’ from The Source feat. Candi Staton. En Vogue’s powerful ‘Don’t Let Go (Love)’ is up next, ahead of ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’, a #1 for Eternal feat. Bebe Winans. LP2 finishes with pure pop gems from 911 with ‘Bodyshakin’, Backstreet Boys with ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ and Steps with their debut hit ‘5, 6, 7, 8’.
The final LP opens with Pet Shop Boys’ and their brilliant version of the musical classic ‘Somewhere’, ahead of the genre-blending #1 ‘Your Woman’ from White Town, and the atmospheric ‘Out Of My Mind’ from Duran Duran. Suede’s plaintive ‘Saturday Night’ leads into three of the years’ electronic dance music highlights: Orbital provided the theme to the remake of ‘The Saint’, Moby with his re-imagining of the classic film-series theme: ‘James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-Version)’ and The Chemical Brothers with the massive ’Block Rockin’ Beats’ completing the side…Turn the LP over for the final side featuring the debut from All Saints with ‘I Know Where It’s At’, and fabulous dance-pop from Whitney Houston with ‘Step By Step’, and both Ultra Naté and Dannii Minogue enjoyed euphoric hits with ‘Free’ and ‘All I Wanna Do’. Pan-European smash ‘Encore Une Fois’ from Sash! is followed by Ricky Martin’s global success ‘María’… but the final word on the collection goes to Elton John. His superb ‘Something About The Way You Look Tonight’ was one half of the biggest selling single of – not only 1997 – but of all time and ends the collection on a perfect pop high.
NOW – Yearbook 1997: A celebration of the diversity and creativity in the charts of a truly magical year in pop.
Gradually, the latest album by Julien Mier, is a sonic journey that delves into the transitions of life, identity, and the blurred boundaries between art and personal growth. With a trilingual brain, Mier reflects on how language shifts have shaped his sense of self throughout his life and the music that he writes. Gradually is his exploration of shapelessness—an urge to break free from rigid musical genres and get closer to his most fundamental expression. The album is composed of nine tracks, each representing a distinct cultural and linguistic influence, all tied together by the theme of gradual evolution.
The first section, Ciel, Soleil, and Espace (French for Sky, Sun, and Space), draws on Mier’s French heritage, evoking the feeling of childhood memories bathed in a warm, nostalgic glow. This fluid, atmospheric section mirrors the soft, ever-changing air, symbolising a time of pure, untainted intention. It feels like a hazy, sepia-toned dream, as fleeting and elusive as the scent of an old friend. The gentle flow of the music mirrors the flow of wind, effortlessly shifting from one element to the next, a reflection of the innocence and clarity of youth.
The second section, Steen, Zee, and Zand (Dutch for Stone, Sea, and Sand), channels the influence of Mier’s childhood in a small Dutch dune village. These tracks are grounded in the hard-edged textures of electronic dance music, a genre that introduced him to a world of rhythm and movement. With a sonic palette of blues, greys, and more defined shapes, this section captures the solid, enduring forces of nature—earth, water, and stone. It’s a sonic landscape rooted in stability, a foundation from which everything can grow. The tracks build from the fluidity of the first section into more structured, rhythmic territories, mirroring the natural transition from childhood innocence to the discovery of deeper, more grounded musical influences.
The final section, Scrap (a collaborative track with the Japanese producer Daisuke Tanabe), Soil, and Spark, dives into the exploration of the world beyond familiar borders. Mier’s relocation from the Netherlands to Australia in 2016 is reflected in these pieces, which grapple with the contrast and complexity of different cultures and environments. These tracks are tinged with rust-red hues and a sense of eroded beauty, evoking a more fragmented, distorted view of the world. The music here is marked by tension, conflict, and the erosion of once-solid forms—symbolic of the digital and ecological storms that shape our modern existence. The closing piece, Spark, signals a new beginning, a hopeful initiation into the cycle of renewal.
The album artwork for Gradually is a conclusive visual representation of this journey, captured in the final frame of an analog film roll that began in the Netherlands and concluded with an image of the streets of Sydney, Australia—a perfect metaphor for the album’s narrative of gradual transition and discovery.
- 1: Admitting The Endorphin Addiction
- 2: I Went Outside Today
- 3: Dang Is Invincible
- 4: Check To Check
- 5: The Curse Of Hypervigilance (In Politics, Romance & Cohabitation)
- 6: Insecurity
- 7: Smiling (Quirky Race Doc)
- 8: Leave People Alone
- 9: A Short About A Guy That Dies Everynight
- 10: Protectors Of The Heat
- 11: Insecurity Pt. Ii (The Moor The Marry Her)
- 12: Dive Bar Support Group
- 13: Drunk Dreaming
- 14: Reprieve
Open Mike Eagle might not have all the answers, but few in life ask smarter questions.
Recorded in London with producer Paul White, Hella Personal Film Festival artfully dissects modern life's banalities and perils. Continuing where his 2014 Dark Comedy left off, it blends whimsical anxiety, social media addiction, and scorn. Known for collaborations with artists like Danny Brown and Mos Def, Eagle and White create tense, emotionally rich anthems that capture the disorientation of daily life and examine societal double standards and casual bigotry.
generic sleeve 2025 repress
Oxygeno returns to his label Lost Verses with Pure Devotion, an EP that fuses hypnotic, raw, and relentless techno with a satirical and defiant critique of the Churchs values.
Side A opens with Soul Absorption, a track with a heavy low end, absorbing synths, and an atmosphere that plunges you into a deep abyss. Next comes Haunted, which takes the darkness further with a haunting, psychotic synth sequence and a heart-rending bassline that keeps you on your toes.
On the B-side, Infectious delves into shadowy territory with a modulated synth line that simulates something infectious and consuming. Finally, The Weight Of Guilt closes the EP with the heaviest and most aggressive track. Thunderous percussion and a crushing bassline capture the intensity and gravity reflected in its title.
Pure Devotion is a sonic journey designed for the dancefloor, where the body moves to the beat while the mind ponders and grapples with the ideas woven into each track.
Francis Bebey was a visionary who explored the intersection of African traditions and global music long before it became a global trend. Born in Cameroon, Bebey's sound was an eclectic blend of his rich cultural heritage and his deep exploration of modern music, spanning genres from traditional folk and jazz to funk and electronic experimentation. As an artist, Bebey was ahead of his time, using his unique voice and instruments to forge new paths for African music to be heard worldwide. His legacy is not just in the music he created but in the way he opened doors for the global recognition of African artists, influencing generations of musicians, producers, and fans alike.
This release marks an exciting moment, as we introduce remixes of bebeys iconic productions by contemporary electronic producers, giving new life through creative re imaginings.
Tracks:
Le Grand Soleil De Dieu (Psychemagik Remix): The UK-based musical duo are known for their eclectic blend of electronic music, psychedelic rock and mystical global sounds. Formed by Danny McLewin and Tommy McLewin, the duo has carved out a unique niche within the global music scene though their intricate arrangements. Their Remixes and Collaborations have been with artists like Fleetwood Mac, Tame Impala, and Hercules & Love Affair. Their psychedelic dub remix has otherworldly qualities, with dreamy atmospheres and bouncing baselines throughout this brilliant opening track.
Guinee (Turbotito Edit): The Berlin-based DJ and producer known for his infectious blend of house, disco, and funk. With a knack for smooth, groovy beats and a deep love for melody, Turbotito's music brings a fresh, energetic vibe to the dance floor. On this track, he effortlessly re-imagines and elevates the world of Guinee to match his signature sound. A combination of a great pulsing base line, ethereal vocals and bird sound effects incorporated into the percussion makes this track an absolute stand out.
Agatha (Voilaaa Remix): Bruno "Patchworks" Hovart from Lyon is the brains behind the Voilaaa project. Fusing soulful grooves, funk, and disco with an unmistakable French touch, Voilaaa creates infectious, feel-good rhythms that blend classic and contemporary influences. In this track we find the first big hook of the album vocally, coupled with Bebey's lively humour in spoken French on top of joyous instrumentation. The smooth vocals, catchy melodies, and vibrant arrangements, bring a fresh energy to the original hit track - a brilliant homage.
Forest Nativity (Red Axes Edit): Red Axes are a dynamic electronic music duo from Tel Aviv, blending disco, house, and psychedelic influences into infectious, genre-defying tracks. Known for their unique sound, warm analog textures, and hypnotic rhythms, Niv Arzi and Dori Simao craft music that moves both the body and the mind. Forest Nativity arrives as a full circle closer, incorporating some of the most authentic African instruments such as a Balafon, an instrument similar to a xylophone and a Djembe, a hand drum central to many West African traditions. The 7 minute track is guaranteed to take you on a fascinating journey through Bebey's culture and livelihood.
"Cuban Soul-18 Kilates" is Cassiano's third studio album, released in 1976, and stands as a milestone in Brazilian soul music. It combines Brazilian rhythms with classic American soul elements, creating a unique fusion. Cassiano's smooth, soulful vocal style and the album’s larger-than-life arrangements, reminiscent of Tim Maia's sound, give it a rich, deep feel.
The standout track, ‘Onda,’ is a relaxing anthem evoking beach vibes that has become a DJ’s favorite in recent years and also made it into several compilations. "Cuban Soul-18 Kilates" has earned cult status over the years, securing its place as one of the most coveted Brazilian records of all time. Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl. This release is part of a new reissue series that will include many other outstanding Brazilian classics like Evinha “Cartão Postal” or Gerson King Combo.
"Cuban Soul-18 Kilates" is Cassiano's third studio album, released in 1976, and stands as a milestone in Brazilian soul music. Influenced by artists like Otis Redding, Eddie Kendricks, Stevie Wonder, and others, it combines Brazilian rhythms with classic American soul elements, creating a unique fusion. The album features 9 tracks, with ‘A Lua e Eu’ becoming a major commercial hit and the theme song for the soap opera “O Grito”. Cassiano's smooth, soulful vocal style and the album’s larger-than-life arrangements, reminiscent of Tim Maia's sound, give it a rich, deep feel. The standout track, ‘Onda,’ is a relaxing anthem evoking beach vibes, with its captivating bassline, subtle percussion, and natural sounds of the sea, making it perfect for moments of relaxation. This song, along with the album’s other tracks, showcases Cassiano's mastery of Brazilian soul, making “Cuban Soul-18 Kilates” a definitive and cherished record in the genre. This album has earned cult status over the years, securing its place as one of the most coveted Brazilian records of all time. Once incredibly rare and expensive, it's now at the top of every serious collector's wishlist. After not being available outside of Brazil for years, it’s finally been reissued – don’t miss your chance to own this legendary piece of music history.
- Hotel California
- New Kid In Town
- Life In The Fast Lane
- Wasted Time
- Wasted Time (Reprise)
- Victim Of Love
- Pretty Maids All In A Row
- Try And Love Again
- The Last Resort
The moment the instantly recognizable intertwined guitar passage on the title track to the Eagles' Hotel California begins, the record's genius becomes obvious all over again. Ranked the 118th Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone, certified by RIAA as the third best-selling LP in history, and considered the foundation on which the Golden State's mid-‘70s music scene was built, the 1976 landmark is a music staple immune to shifts in trends, eras, and styles. Fearlessly addressing the chaos and consequences of American life, its songs remain strikingly prescient and gain creedence with each passing day.
Mastered from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and limited to 17,500 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP vinyl box set ensures you will want to permanently check into and never leave this particular Hotel California. Up to the herculean task of standing head and shoulders above all prior reissues, this collectible edition plays with extreme clarity, organic richness, tube-like warmth, massive dynamics, and microscopic levels of detail. You'll be able to practically smell the colitas and feel the breeze in your hair. Songs come across with an epic sweep and feature immersive, front-to-back soundstages that allow the music unprecedented air, roominess, and separation. As for the noise floor? It's basically as invisible as the spirits that waft in the corridors of the unforgettable title song.
Aesthetically, the premium packaging and presentation of the UD1S Hotel California pressing befit its esteemed status. Housed in a deluxe box, it features gorgeous foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendour of the recording. From every angle, this UD1S reissue exists as a curatorial artefact meant to be preserved, touched, and examined. It is made for discerning listeners that prize sound quality and production, and who desire to fully immerse themselves in the art – and everything involved with the album, from the renowned cover art to the meticulous finishes.
Indeed, the opportunity to zero in on all the particulars of the 26-million-selling Eagles record dubbed "a legitimate rock masterpiece" by vaunted Los Angeles Times scribe Robert Hilburn has never been better. A global phenomenon that marked the band debut of guitarist-singer Joe Walsh, Hotel California continues to resonate and connect with listeners of all generations taken by its narrative depth, stark directness, picturesque melodies, daring majesty, and ardent emotionalism. Adorned with a breathtaking exterior photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel that serves as the simultaneously haunting and alluring cover art, and rounded out by a rear-cover shot of the Lido Hotel lobby that reinforces a notion that teeters between permanence and transience, Hotel California is brilliantly tied to a specific place that functions as a universally understood metaphor for the American Dream.
Confronting the darker undercurrents and oft-ignored constructs attached to that romantic notion, the record's songs revolve around a host of shared themes: excess, mobility, stability, illusion, fame, destruction, and idealism included. Notably, Hotel California appeared at a crucial junction in American history: During the country's bicentennial and amid escalating controversies related to the Vietnam War, energy crisis, and governmental corruption. That the Eagles manage to channel such cultural, social, and economical matters into a cohesive, stately, big-picture statement is alone a stupendous feat. That the album's reach, boldness, vitality, accessibility, and understated intensity have never waned make it a marvel.
Reflecting on Hotel California 40 years after its original release, and indirectly explaining its enduring appeal and increasing relevance, singer-songwriter Don Henley confirmed the record pertains to the "loss of innocence, the cost of naiveté...the difficulties of balancing loving relationships and work, trying to square the conflicting relationship between business and art; the corruption in politics, the fading away of the Sixties dream of ‘peace, love and understanding.'"
It can be argued that Henley and company squarely hit on and drove home those ideas in the surreal title track, chart-topping "Life in the Fast Lane," and grand "The Last Resort" alone. But that would miss the forest for the trees. Experienced as an unbroken whole, complete with the pristinely shot imagery and physical grooves, Hotel California unfolds like a geography-conscious saga by James Michener and plays like colour-saturated movie shot on 70mm film by Martin Scorsese. It's about our collective and individual decisions – and the shape of our past, present, and future. And, just like that conjured by our imaginations, Hotel California continues to take on a life of its own.
More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called "converts") are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.
MoFi SuperVinyl
Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analogue lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.
Genie In A Bottle is back with strong EP from my Italian Hermano - Shkedul.
“Secret Society” is the last track of the record, but definitely far from least. One of the best examples of Shkedul’s dark and confident production. This time also with perfect marching kicks, acidic arpeggios, and kinda familiar story that is being narrated through the track. The name here goes straight from the story, by the way.
“Meditative State” at the B1 also tells us the story, this time with a bit calmer voice. The track is calmer too, the kicks are still marching, don’t assume. “Confidence” lays very hard on the acid part, easily the most acidic track here. Finally, the opener, “Change Is Coming”. With the story again (damn, I like those conversations over the track so much) and the most interesting bassline of all.
Powerfull Support from : Quest , Anthea , Gabbs , Jane Fitz…
Grab your copy !
Since 2019, Amsterdam-based curator Pieter Jansen has used his yeyeh label as a vehicle for carefully considered (and sometimes unlikely) ‘first time’ collaborations between different experimental and avant-garde artists including Eversines, Carolina Eyck, Greetje Bijma and Oceanic. After pairing saxophonist/composer/producer Jerzy Maczyński with fellow Polish experimentalist Waclaw Zimpel on 2021 collaborative release Sariani (which was credited to Jerry&ThePelicanSystem in a nod to the former’s earlier album for Warner Music’s Polish Free Jazz series), yeyeh founder Pieter Jansen had an idea. That simple idea – getting Maczyński in the studio with Chicagoan DJ/producer Hieroglyphic Being – was the genesis of this record, the debut album by Universal Harmonies & Frequencies. In June 2022, Hieroglyphic Being flew to Amsterdam to spend five days improvising with Maczyński in a rented studio beneath Volkshotel, under the watchful eye of recording and mix engineer Rein De Sauvage Nolting, better known in electronic music circles for his work as RDS. During those sessions, 26 long, improvised compositions were recorded, with Maczyński contributing saxophones and electronic tools, and Hieroglyphic Being laying down synthesizer parts and vocals. These sessions were captured on film by VLF (Katarzyna Debska), who later created the artwork and visual language for this record release. Some days after the recording sessions, Sauvage Nolting – who had delivered artistic input during the improvisations – sat down with Jansen to select 13 pieces to put forward for the album and a loose conceptual framework. It was then that the hard work began. While a decision was taken to present some improvisations in full, most of what you will hear on Tune IN, as the album is titled, is based on fragments of improvisation. The resultant pieces were reconfigured, re-worked and re-produced by Maczyński and Sauvage Nolting over many months, and in discussion with Hieroglyphic Being. Maczyński added more layers of instrumentation, creating a “whole digital band of reed instruments” – a method he previously utilized on Sariani. What you hear when you play the record defies categorization. It is rooted in a specific moment in time and the spontaneity of musical improvisation – both Maczyński and Hieroglyphic Being are experienced improvisers, albeit with different musical instruments and tools – but also the product of extensive post-production and reflective re-shaping. It is not free-jazz, ambient, electronica, rhythmic cubism (as Hieroglyphic Being’s distinctive sound has previously been called), or avant-garde experimentalism, but something that combines all these musical approaches and more, with a sprinkling of far-sighted futurism mixed in. It is a magical and mystical meeting of musical minds that will pass the test of time in decades to come.
SKYLAX RECORDS proudly unveils the final chapter in its monumental 4-part saga — SKYLAX BLACK 4: Enlightenment Theory. This visionary series, bringing together two of France’s most iconic electronic artists — ARNAUD REBOTINI and ACID WASHED — was never just a collection of records. It was a journey through the deepest layers of the underground — a conceptual project where each release was a coded message, each track a fragment of a greater whole. On the A-side, Enlightenment Theory explodes with fierce urgency — an anthem forged in the spirit of Underground Resistance, echoing the soulful intensity of early ’90s Detroit without imitation. It’s bold, emotional, and militantly underground — a future classic cloaked in defiance and elegance. On the B-side: B1. Space Is The Place channels the weightless gravity of dub techno at its purest — all echo chambers and endless delay, a direct line to the Berlin school of Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Deepchord. B2. Beyond Current Biological Constraints closes the chapter in deep space — an electro masterwork evoking Drexciya, full of aquatic melancholy and cybernetic funk. It’s not retro — it’s timeless. With this last installment, the puzzle is complete. The meaning is revealed: R.A.V.E. — four records forming one powerful word. One timeless idea. A tribute to everything this culture stands for: raw energy, emotional truth, sonic innovation, and spiritual depth. This project could only be born on SKYLAX RECORDS — a label that has always stood apart. Uncompromising. Devoted to physical formats. Fiercely loyal to the culture. While others chase trends, SKYLAX continues to chart a different course — one rooted in the sacred codes of house, techno, electro, and beyond. It is no exaggeration to say that SKYLAX is one of the last true purist strongholds of underground music — and this series, with its layered meanings and fearless artistry, is proof. From Redshifts to Blueshifts to Artificial Darwinism then Vision Quest, every chapter has pointed toward this moment. Now, with Enlightenment Theory, the full vision is revealed. RAVE is not just a word — it is the truth. A philosophy. A myth reborn. The circle is complete. The message endures. The legacy lives on.
- A1: I Can't Wait
- A2: Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)
- A3: Sister Honey
- B1: I Sing For Things
- B2: Imperial Hotel
- B3: Some Become Strangers
- C1: Talk To Me
- C2: The Nightmare
- D1: If I Were You
- D2: No Spoken Word
- D3: Has Anyone Ever Writen Anything For You
Looking back on her career in the early 90s, Stevie Nicks described the first track of Rock a Little as “the most exciting song that I had ever heard.” This coming from a superstar who was already closely affiliated with several bajillion-selling Fleetwood Mac albums — to say nothing of her own benchmark solo debut. Her remarks attest to the enthusiasm and effort she invested in her third record, a 1985 work that quickly furthered Nicks’ profile and cemented itself as a piece of 80s pop lore.
Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents Rock a Little in audiophile sound for its 40th anniversary. Helmed by a cadre of producers and engineers, and recorded for a reported one million dollars, the platinum-certified album teems with a head-spinning array of colors, tones, dreamscapes, and accents. This reference-grade reissue marks the first time they are all brought to light and conveyed with proper balance, dimensionality, and positioning.
Though Rock a Little doubtlessly has period characteristics of a mid-80s LP, Nicks and company spare no expense when it comes to distinguishing the music with expansive sonics distinguished with lush melodies, high-tech percussion, echoing vocals, sampled keyboards, and layers of sophisticated accents. The degrees of spaciousness, headroom, and dynamics are nothing less than inspiring, while the newly enhanced detail, texture, and clarity make the songs sing like never before. As for Nicks’ voice? Wait ’til you experience the transparency and depth.
Those advantages extend, of course, to the aforementioned “I Can’t Wait,” a statement-making opener shot through with modulating synthesizers, splashy drums, metallic guitars, and serious drama. Holed up in a massive studio, Nicks required just one take to nail her part, which she called “magic and simply not able to beat.” The singer-songwriter also distilled the reverberating emotional essence of the Top 20 tune, stating “when I hear it on the radio, this incredible feeling comes over me, like something really incredible is about to happen.”
The same can be said for nearly all of Rock a Little. Crafted by the likes of Songwriters Hall of Fame multi-instrumentalist/producer Rick Nowels, Heartbreakers organist Benmont Tench, bassist Bob Glaub, jack-of-all-trades Greg Phillinganes, and session-pro guitarists Waddy Watchel, Les Dudek, and Danny Kortchmar — along with another two dozen or so participants — the record spills with diverse ideas, shapes, and moods. Everything is in the right place, as evidenced by the swirling glide and sensual undertow of the slightly funky title track to the snapping rhythmic pace and big hooks of “Imperial Hotel,” one of Nicks’ standout moments.
“What was it she wanted?” Nicks queries on “No Spoken Word,” continuing a theme of contemplation that runs through the narratives. Nicks never lands on a definite answer, but hearing her explore loneliness, love, and the secrets we keep to ourselves proves continuously rewarding. Take her passionate performance on a cover of Chas Sanford’s “Talk to Me,” a Top 5 smash furthered by tasteful saxophone lines and understated folk elements. Immersive yourself in the grand sonic corridors of “If I Were You,” laden with Nicks’ signature mysticism.
Moreover, surrender to the gravitas of the closing “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You,” a piano ballad composed about the death of Joe Walsh’s three-year-old daughter. As Nicks asserts earlier on the album, she sings for things money can’t buy.
So, rock a little, yes, but dare to feel even more.
In 1970, Italian composer Sandro Brugnolini recorded the two psychedelic lounge masterpieces Overground and Underground at Dirmaphon Studios in Rome. Featuring a lineup of some of Italy’s finest musicians—Silvano Chimenti (guitar), Angelo Baroncini (guitar), Giorgio Carnini (organ and piano), Giovanni Tommaso (bass and effects), and Enzo Restuccia (drums)—these sessions were deeply rooted in the late 1960s psychedelic sound but uniquely fused jazz improvisation, funk, and Latin and African rhythms with cinematic melodies.
This fusion defines their distinctive character and cements them as two of Brugnolini’s most impressive works, remaining among the most sought-after artifacts from the golden era of Italian library music. Overground—which Sonor Music Editions reissued in 2024—was originally released as the soundtrack to Persuasione, a documentary commissioned by Ente Provinciale Per Il Turismo Di Trento. Meanwhile, Underground was issued in two separate releases, RT 104 and RT 16, on the library and soundtrack label Record TV Discografica, founded by Alessandro Derevitzky in the late 1950s. In 2014, we compiled both versions for Underground's first-ever reissue (SME 3), featuring the longer version of ”Psichefreèlico" from RT 16, instead of the shorter ”Sostenuto” and ”Ballata" versions from RT 104, along with new artwork. Now, in this 2025 reissue, Underground returns in its original RT 104 attire, with its original track listing and artwork. Sourced and carefully remastered from the original mono tapes and lacquer cut by Jukka Sarapää at Timmion Cutting, this edition features carefully restored Record TV Discografica label design artwork, printed on high-quality card stock.
- A1: Secret Knock
- A2: Checkers
- A3: Movie Night
- A4: Ewr - Terminal A, Gate 20
- A5: 1010Wins (Feat Armand Hammer)
- B1: So Be It (Feat Open Mike Eagle)
- B2: Send Help
- B3: John Something
- B4: Ice Sold Here
- B5: Costco
- C1: Bird School
- C2: Snail Zero
- C3: Charlie Horse (Feat Lupe Fiasco & Homeboy Sandman)
- C4: Steel Wool
- D1: Black Plums
- D2: The Red Phone
- D3: Himalayan Yak Chew
- D4: Unbelievable Shenanigans (Feat Hanni El Khatib)
Cassette[14,08 €]
Black Hole Superette, the latest album from Aesop Rock, delves into the invisible forces that shape our lives and psyches. It's about the small, often overlooked moments_the everyday experiences that blur the lines between the real and the unreal, waking and sleeping. Aesop's signature gift for transforming the mundane into something dreamlike gives the album a surreal quality, leaving listeners questioning what's truly real as they navigate its vivid, half-remembered imagery. Entirely self-produced, Black Hole Superette is one of Aesop Rock's most technically accomplished works to date. The album's intricate beats and complex structures provide the perfect backdrop for his expansive lyricism, balancing cerebral exploration with emotional depth. From the reflective 'Movie Night' and the eccentric 'Send Help' to the wistful 'Black Plums,' Aesop channels the spirit of a mad scientist, experimenting with sound and concept in ways that defy the ordinary. With a stellar lineup of collaborators that includes Lupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Hanni El Khatib, Open Mike Eagle and Homeboy Sandman, Black Hole Superette is dense and kinetic, an album that deftly navigates between complexity and instinct. It's clear this project stands as one of Aesop Rock's most multifaceted and ambitious works yet.
Le Chatroom, a record label established in 2016 by the English producer Kouslin, searches for the missing link between underground bass music and outer national sounds. Its music is defined by the blend of synthetic and organic tones, modern / classic instruments and low- end heavy percussive rhythms.
Pushing artists from all around the globe that share the same love for this newfound sound, Kouslin's aim with Le Chatroom is to promote musical diversity, open-mindedness and experimentation at a time when unity between cultures is crucial. With 'LCR001' the label advances into a new physical environment from which this release should be experienced.
Real talk and native percussion establish the steady climax of 'Brothers', the A-side of Le Chatroom's inaugural wax release. Kouslin cuts through this sediment with a bright flute, before the state of the sound switches into something far darker and meditative. By placing several samples at irregular intervals, the Londoner achieves a fascinating charm that'll unite us all.
Booming bass in 'Gyals' lingers with a steady pace while percy tribal hits forge a raw groove that's far from common. With this movement, the producer from Bristol disintegrates the sense of a generic production and sticks to his true nature. Through this it becomes clear that Galtier has his polyrhythms down to a science.
Londoner Sheik clinches the B-side with a craze that unveils a nearly psychotic sense of sample architecture. Pushing crystal clear 808 kicks in- between the haunting atmospheres and a wall of pressure simply becomes one of his most inventive takes documented on wax. If you love to swerve through a minefield, the odd 'Oxram' would be your favourite pick off this first outline.
The three producers that feature on 'LCR001' pass on their fundamentals to conjure Le Chatroom's philosophy red-handed. Together they do the imprint's name justice by handing over critical bass repertoire that'll excite many!
Renato Cohen, the Brazilian techno and house producer and DJ best known for his iconic track *Pontapé*, has been a powerhouse in the electronic music scene since the late '90s. Born in São Paulo in 1974, Cohen's career has spanned nearly three decades, marked by releases on some of the industry's most respected labels, including Carl Cox's Intec, Technasia's Sino, Marc Romboy's Systematic, Pets Recordings, and Defected. Known not only for his studio work but also for his dynamic live P.A. shows, Cohen is a true legend. We had the fortune to connect with him after a Boiler Room set in Brazil where he played *Sting the Floor*, a true floor-filler that electrified the room. Since then, our friendship has flourished, leading to this powerful EP. The EP features « Roaring », an outstanding house track that channels Cohen's heart and soul into every arpeggio and swirling melody, bringing to mind the best of Todd Terje's hypnotic grooves. It's a piece that builds momentum with finesse, crafting a sound both grand and intimate, resonating with every listener. « Roaring » is Cohen's homage to house music—a track that encapsulates his passion and mastery. Accompanying « Roaring » is « Wet Desert », a high-caliber production that's as immersive as it is intense. The track carries a deep, evocative energy, combining Cohen's deft touch with an expansive, desert-inspired soundscape. Through our connection, we've brought in The Floorfillers for an acid remix of « Roaring », putting a fresh twist on Cohen's original with a pulsating acid bassline that's reminiscent of our own « Edit1 ». It's a version that takes « Roaring » to new, harder-hitting heights, perfect for late-night dance floors. To complete this standout release, Skylax's own Maltitz has crafted a stunning Italo-Balearic remix, drawing from the spirit of the late David Mancuso. With its warm, nostalgic vibes, Maltitz's remix adds a lush, sun-soaked dimension to « Roaring », perfect for balmy evenings and open-air gatherings. This EP marks a powerful comeback for Renato Cohen, celebrating his career while pushing forward with new, fresh sounds that honor his legacy.
AN ATLAS OF LOSS
Do minerals dream of becoming semiconductors? Do they yearn to carry charges, amplify, switch, and convert energy into emotions comprehensible to humans? And what if, from the darkness of the underground, they had been listening to us sing in caves before the emergence of the first flute? Could they have guided us, through the course of history, to find them, extract them, and create new sounds through sinusoidal waves, to form valves and bend circuits?
If so, minerals would transition from what philosopher Eugene Thacker defines as the ‘planet’—that virginal and unreachable realm for humans that we study through geology, paleontology, and environmental sciences—to the ‘world,’ the space we inhabit, interpret, and synthesise in our daily lives. Sadly, we only remember the world when it erupts violently, through climate catastrophes or when a new virus emerges. Sometimes a tsunami collides with a nuclear plant, or viruses are cultivated as biological weapons in high-security laboratories, provoking a deep biological anxiety, hard to quell, which we all feel beneath our skin.
There exists a third realm, disconnected from both the world and the planet: the ‘earth’, an immense, dense rock floating in space alongside other planets, situated in the cosmological dimension. Relating to the earth is so complex that we only do so through theoretical speculations of a scientific nature or through science fiction, interweaving until one becomes the prophecy of the other, in an infinite, pendular dance. Beyond the darkness of space and Lovecraft’s cosmic horror, the fantasy of human extinction is the most recurrent: to reach a collapse so devastating that we do not survive it, even though the earth does, without us.
In a world where we quantify everything through body sensors, financial algorithms, nanometre-scale robots, and surveillance drones—a world in which everything that can be domesticated and controlled can also be commodified—a superior artificial intelligence would survive the collapse of the species (some speculate it might even cause it) and learn from our mistakes, thanks to our obsessive gathering of data.
Long after our voices fade, minerals will persist in the darkness of screens, in the silicon of chips, and in their pure form, still unexploited underground. Over the millennia, this intelligence might piece together fragments of our reasoning, as if an alien civilization finally connected with one of our spacecrafts loaded with messages cast into the void. It would sort through endless streams of data, unable to grasp the depths of emotion behind what it quantified, recreating simulations of our past, stripped of the nuance that once defined us and conducting experiments in sandboxes.
Some remnants of our existence—faint echoes of forgotten beauty—would be pieced together in an atlas of loss, buried beneath layers of numbers, decayed bots, and corroded hard drives. What will follow? Perhaps bison will once again roam—trotting to the strange pulse of techno, their ancient forms framed by the ruins of our cities.
Buildings will crumble, slowly dissolving under the soft touch of ambient music, and a thousand flowers will bloom with that ancient music created through electrical signals and computation. 7 songs for a future both improbable and inevitable—a final message from a world lost to itself, from planet Earth to planet Earth.
Alfons Pich, 2025
- A1: Jj Whitefield Feat. Bonnie Behave - The Mind Is A Palac
- A2: The Heliocentrics - Minimal Engagement
- A3: Quantic - Dialect
- A4: Alfa Mist - In My Defence
- B1: Jkriv Feat. Gabriel Oliveira - Pifeiro Malandro
- B2: Quantic & Sly 5Th Ave - Twang
- B3: Frente Cumbiero - Michilero
- B4: Quantic - Theme From Selva (Remix)
- C1: Quantic - Eko Eko
- C2: Quantic - Motivic Retrograde (Live Version)
- C3: Eblis Alvarez, Meridian Brothers - Un Grande Nubarron Se Alza En El Cielo
- C4: The Maghreban - Covent Garden
- D1: Anna Morgan - Throw Dat Azz
- D2: Ehua - Scintille
- D3: Turbo Sonidero - Kumbia Essj
- D4: Sobredosis - No Llores Por Mí
An artist whose reputation has long been forged by his engagement and musical exchange with local scenes and cultures from across the world. Quantic"s vast discography of electronic releases spans two decades, ranging from focused solo productions and intimate collaborations to expansive ensemble projects. Now, the multi-instrumentalist, DJ, composer and producer Will Holland delivers his DJ-Kicks compilation, which fittingly radiates friends and family energy. The mix bursts with unreleased exclusives and places the art of curation at its core, giving the listeners space to go and dig more of the songs and sonics which resonate the most. Will Holland includes a glistening breadth of new material, including new music from Quantic alongside another of his aliases Sobredosis, creating a mix teeming with vitality.
- A1: I Am In The World With You
- A2: Telema
- A3: Prado
- A4: A Little Asphalt Here And There
- A5: This Sandy Piece
- B1: Tomorrow
- B2: Greenwich
- B3: Cars
- B4: She Loves Animals
- B5: Die Dinge Des Lebens
- C1: Set
- C2: Cars (Variant)
- C3: Meet The Lucky Kitchen
- C4: Telema (Längs)
- C5: Rocket Fuel
- C6: Copa
- D1: Pantone 6
- D2: Numbers In Love
- D3: Casper
- D4: Milker
- D5: A Day Long
- D6: Pantone 1
Ltd edition!
to rococo rot?s the amateur view (1999) will be reissued as a highly limited expanded edition, featuring 12 bonus tracks on an additional disc, a new gatefold sleeve with previously unseen photos, and liner notes by Jon Dale. The Amateur View is widely hailed as one of the definitive records of late '90s analog electronica. Released in the U.S. via Mute Records, it was named one of UNCUT's Albums of the Year in 1999 and perfectly captured the introspective, experimental mood of the era. The album's influence was far-reaching-so much so that Saint Etienne enlisted To Rococo Rot for their 2000 album Sound of Water. At the time, To Rococo Rot were the band of the moment-jetting across the globe to play the most cutting-edge electronica festivals, including wild WARP events where none other than Aphex Twin spun support DJ sets, The trio was invited three times by John Peel to record radio sessions in the BBC studios between 1997 and 1999. Bands like Modeselektor still cite them as key influences and pioneers. Stephen McRobbie of The Pastels, Mark Fell (SND), and Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) are all big fans-Kieran even remixed a track from their debut album so did Mira Calyx and Daniel Miller of Mute, a longtime supporter, and yes Björk is a fan too.
Private View is distinctly Blancmange while also expanding into new sonic terrain. There’s a deft marriage of futuristic electronic sounds, Neil Arthur’s unmistakable vocal hooks, and songs veer from buoyant and joyful to dark and brooding. Private View will be released on London Records almost exactly 40 years to the day since the label released Blancmange’s debut album Happy Families. This neat full circle of Blancmange re-signing to the same label that ignited things all those years ago is also reflected in the album itself, being the perfect crystallisation of four decades of creativity.
On Private View Neil returns with key collaborator Benge (Wrangler, John Foxx, John Grant), and David Rhodes (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) also returns as the guitarist, having previously performed with the band as early as 1982’s Happy Families (as well as several other Blancmange albums).
Private View is a record that manages to capture an artist who is potently in the moment when it comes to creating new work, while also being able to draw on 40 years’ worth of knowledge, experience, and built-in intuition. “I'm really lucky to be able make the music completely on my own terms,” Arthur says. “Being able to just continue being creative...that's when I'm happiest.” As he said before: “within myself there are no limits.”
Blancmange is also reflected in the ongoing influence the music has on younger generations of artists and fans over the years. Contemporary electronic producers like Honey Dijon and Roman Flügel have paid tribute with remixes, Moby once called Blancmange “probably the most underrated electronic act of all time.”; while John Grant continues to profess his love for Arthur’s music, old and new, and has invited Blancmange to perform as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown festival.
Mr Bongo proudly presents the third album by Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist, Don Glori, entitled ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’. A kaleidoscopic genre-surfing odyssey that brings together the worlds of jazz, soul and funk. Feeling both contemporary and classic, familiar yet novel, it’s an assured third release that sees an artist in full flight, showcasing their creative prowess and the uniqueness of their musical voice.
Steering in a new direction, Don Glori (aka Gordon Li) has delved headfirst into his songwriting with ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’. Deftly showcasing his talents as a writer and bandleader, he brings with him a whole host of friends from the creative crossroads that is Naarm. It’s an album enriched with more soul, R&B, and funk-oriented songs than his previous jazz-rooted productions, yet there’s still plenty of jazz material for those familiar fans of Don's earlier works.
The album’s title is an old Chinese proverb, roughly translated as 'you can’t deny the truth'. This underlying thread is woven between the songs. “A lot of them are in some way about truth-seeking, observations and the masks you put on to deal with life (hence the cover art)”, Don mentions. Take, for instance, the sensational soul single 'Brown Eyes' featuring silky lead vocals by ML Hall. A dissection of the minority experience, and the power and comfort in building those communities. Elsewhere, 'Disaster' is a satirical take on the structures serving everyone but the artists, and 'Flicker' tackles notations of truth and clarity after introspection.
To marry that meaning with the level of musicianship on these tracks is what really stands out. Don has set out his stall here as an artist who can write songs that hit home in the heart, as much as they do in the head. It’s a journey infused with a glistening jazz finesse, layered with nourishing vocal harmonies and powered by an instantly relatable human soul.
Recorded over two hot summer days in Rolling Stock Studios in Collingwood, Naarm, the lineup of musicians is built up of Don's friends and family. Featuring the backbone team of Tim Cox, Al Kennedy, Joel Trigg, Robyn Cummins and Lachlan Thompson, who were part of Don's touring band before he relocated to London, and a stunning selection of vocalists in the form of ML Hall, Ruby Dargaville, Isadora Lauritz, and Bianca Kyriacou. Also gracing the album are trumpeter extraordinaire Audrey Powne, saxophonist Joshua Moshe, and Alcides Neto who sprinkles some Brazilian magic into the record.
Taking influence from artists including Azymuth, SAULT, Jordan Rakei and Lynda Dawn, as well as from London musical beacons such as NTS and Total Refreshment Centre, Don has run with this, leaned in and come out with a record truly unique to himself and his distinctive core, with no mask necessary.
Australia's world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album Superb. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album. Album opener "Sleep Dreams" is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect but then lead single "Bully Ball" comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song's gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like "Body Slam" that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on "Fare Evader" where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like "Consulate Case" and "Tag Dag"; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk. They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on "Websites" and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with "Dreamer's Disease". With their new album Superb, their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground's most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.
Australia's world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album Superb. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album. Album opener "Sleep Dreams" is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect but then lead single "Bully Ball" comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song's gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like "Body Slam" that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on "Fare Evader" where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like "Consulate Case" and "Tag Dag"; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk. They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on "Websites" and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with "Dreamer's Disease". With their new album Superb, their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground's most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.
Australia's world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album Superb. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album. Album opener "Sleep Dreams" is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect but then lead single "Bully Ball" comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song's gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like "Body Slam" that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on "Fare Evader" where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like "Consulate Case" and "Tag Dag"; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk. They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on "Websites" and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with "Dreamer's Disease". With their new album Superb, their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground's most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.








































