The story of Tonic revolves around the longstanding, close brotherhood shared among members Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo, Dan Rothchild and Kevin Shepard. Russo is best known for his work as a soundtrack composer, notably Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard and Fargo. For this latter Russo won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special in 2017.
This Grammy Award-nominated Multi-Platinum trio released their debut album Lemon Parade in 1996. The album was produced by Jack Joseph Puig, who also worked among The Black Crowes, Green Day and No Doubt. The album included the hit single “If You Could Only See”, which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Track Charts and reached #11 on the Billboard Airplay Hot 100, where it remained for 63 weeks.
Suche:mr day
Edinburgh-based dance imprint Fresh Take Records launches their vinyl series Fresh Wax with a five-track VA including tracks from Easy Peelers, THEOS & Berzingue, Mr. Sosa, Aymeric and Bernado Mota.
Their first release of 2022 comes with the launch their new vinyl series with Fresh Wax 001: a varied and classic collection of tracks, many of which come from artists who have been involved with the label since day one.
- A1: She
- A2: When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door) (At Your Door)
- A3: Mary, Mary
- A4: Hold On Girl
- A5: Your Auntie Grizelda
- A6: (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone (I'm Not Your)
- B1: Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) (Here Comes Tomorrow)
- B2: The Kind Of Girl I Could Love
- B3: The Day We Fall In Love
- B4: Sometime In The Morning
- B5: Laugh
- B6: I'm A Believer
- C1: Apples, Peaches, Bananas & Pear
- C2: Don't Listen To Linda
- C3: I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
- C4: Of You
- C5: I Don't Think You Know Me
- C6: Words
- C7: Valleri
- D1: Through The Looking Glass (Remix)
- D2: I Never Thought It Peculiar
- D3: Tear Drop City
- D4: Hold On Girl (Remix)
- D5: I'll Spend My Life With You (Remix)
- D6: Mr Webster (Remix)
- D7: (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love (I Prithee)
- A1: Hands High (Feat. Jamelle Bundy)
- A2: Fans (Feat. Large Professor)
- A3: A's & E's (This What We Do) (Feat. Marsha Ambrosius)
- B1: Lil Young
- B2: Reminds Me
- B3: Black Ice Interlude
- B4: Good Music (Feat. Posdnuos, Light & Jamelle Bundy)
- C1: Pass The Mic (Feat. Krs-One)
- C2: Over There
- C3: Round & Round (Feat. Doitall)
- D1: Ei8Ht Is Enuff
- D2: Here I Go Again (Feat. Jamelle Bundy)
- D3: Dancin' Like A W.g. (Feat. Chester French)
Repressed! When asked at the time about what to expect from this collaboration with Edo G, the legend Masta Ace fired back without hesitation: “People are gonna be surprised when they hear the mixture of styles. We both have a different approach. It’s like the old Reeses commercial... Ya got peanut butter walking down the street. Coming from the other direction is chocolate. Someone trips and blam, a peanut butter cup was born. Something new and amazing was created that no one had ever thought of!” When one thinks of Boston and New York, the first thing that comes to mind is the infamous Red Sox/Yankees rivalry. But this time when Boston met New York, it was a collaborative effort to bring the world one of the tightest Hip Hop efforts of 2009. Two of the game’s most exceptionally creative and well-rounded artists, Edo. G and Masta Ace brought the two cities together with Arts & Entertainment. Like their home cities, these artists have a long history and have influenced the world. Hailing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, Masta Ace got his proper introduction setting off the quintessential Juice Crew posse cut, “The Symphony.” Not long after, Edo G’s debut Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto and it’s lead single “I Got To Have It” went to the top of the Billboard Rap Singles chart with heavy rotation on Yo! MTV Raps. Both Ace and Edo have continued to stay relevant, drop albums, tour the globe, and influence up and coming artists everywhere. Joining the duo on Arts & Entertainment was a notable list of prominent artists from NYC and the Bean including Posdnuos of De La Soul, Large Professor, DJ Spinna, KRS-One, Marsha Ambrosius, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Chester French, Double O of Kidz in the Hall, M Phases, and more. The album continues to be a fan favorite to this day, especially the never-gets-old cuts “Little Young” and “Dancin’ Like A White Girl,” and this re-issue is sure to be well received once again.
In Spring 2021, Mike Paradinas (µ-Ziq and the owner of Planet Mu) spoke to long time friend and past label signing Hannah Davidson (Mrs Jynx) about the therapeutic power of writing music when times are tough. Both had recently been dealing with the loss of a parent due to cancer, and fresh from writing Scurlage, Paradinas suggested a collaboration. “I’ve always thought Hannah’s melodic sensibilities chime well with my own," says Paradinas, "and I've wanted to collaborate with her for a long time, since her 2010 album 'Shark Carousel' in fact, because she'd written some melodies that I wish I had.” In a matter of weeks the two collaborated online, sending stems back and forth, each encouraging the other and fitting perfectly together. “After about ten days we had ten tracks we were happy with." adds Davidson, "It was exciting to hear what Mike would do with the stems I sent, and equally exciting to see what he thought of my additions to his stems.” Overall the result is an opus of deeply personal moments of grief, depicted in a feeling of serene, misty tranquility that makes it easy to get lost in. Davidson and Paradinas settled on the title 'Secret Garden' due to the melodic vista which unexpectedly opened up before them on the final track. The album truly is a melodic exploration that is so often missed in this genre. There are twists and turns in mood, from the pastoral loveliness of 'Jynxiq' and 'Unheard Melodies' which fall away to the dubby beats of 'Hi Jynx'; the sadness of 'Loss' leading into the beatless forlorn 'The Ballad of Darth Vader. The album ups the pace with the muffled kicks and warm atmosphere of 'Afternoon Sunshine', which sets the tone for the happier mood of the second half. This all leads up to the album's denoeument in final track 'Secret Garden' whose naïve meandering synth melodies, orchestral accompaniment and glockenspiel end the album in happy resolution.
- A1: Luli Lucina E O Bando - Flor Lilas (Kenny Dope Remix)
- B1: Jayme Marques - Berimbao
- C1: Di Melo - Pernalonga (Kenny Dope Remix)
- D1: Toni Tornado - Sou Negro
- E1: Milton Banana Trio - Primitivo
- F1: Milton Banana Trio - Cidade Vazia
- G1: Papete - Procissao Dos Mortos
- H1: Papete - Domingo No Parque
- I1: Antonio Carlos & Jocafi - Quem Vem La (Kenny Dope Remix)
- J1: Miguel De Deus - Black Soul Brothers (Kenny Dope Edit)
This special Record Store Day 5 x 45s collection comes packaged in a limited-edition Brazil 45 clamshell collector’s box.
The long-running relationship between Masters At Work and Mr Bongo has been a fruitful affair. Beginning in the 90s, it has included releases such as their seminal 'Brazilian Beat' 12" featuring Liliana, their magnificent rework of Atmosphere’s ‘Dancing In Outer Space’, and their recent hit Surprise Chef remixes 12". The influences of Brazilian music is evident in their DJ sets and productions, take the poly-rhythms of the 'Nervous Track’ as a prime example. We couldn't think of anyone more fitting to curate the third volume in our "Brazil 45 Boxset Curated by" series than one half of the MAW duo, the mighty Kenny Dope.
For his volume of the series, Kenny selected 10 knockout tracks from the golden era of Brazilian music. As you would expect from such a legend, he surpassed the brief of simply compiling the tracks, as he re-edited and remixed a number of his favourites especially for this boxset. Amongst these exclusives is a blazing, heavy psych-funk remix of Antonio Carlos & Jocafi's 'Quem Vem Lá’, and a hip-hop breakbeat bounce woven into Luli Lucinha E O Bando's folky-MPB beauty 'Flor Lilás’. Di Melo and Miguel De Deus are also given the Dopeman remix and edit treatment.
Kenny's selections pull out some forgotten classics and recently overlooked gems, many of which were once top of the want-lists for collectors in the 90s. These include Milton Banana Trio and the irresistible version of 'Berimbao' by Jayme Marques. Along with the Brazilian funk and jazzy-bossa dancefloor-oriented tracks, Kenny has also chosen the leftfield, deeper, trippy psychedelic folk sounds of Papete.
As with previous volumes, the selections are very personal and represent the individual sound and taste of the selector digging from the rich tapestry of Brazilian music. Its unique palate and stamp are exactly what you would expect from a Master At Work.
Another new colour pressing we have 200 only white vinyl coming in Mrch. Single LPs w/ printed inner sleeve + lyric insert and Download card. The Armed return with their first new album in over three years and Sargent House debut, ULTRAPOP. The album reaches the same extremities of sonic expression as the furthest depths of metal, noise, and otherwise "heavy" counterculture music subgenres but finds its foundation firmly in pop music and pop culture. As is always The Armed's mission, it seeks only to create the most intense experience possible, a magnification of all culture, beauty, and things. The band goes on to explain, "crafting vital art means presenting the audience with new and intriguing tensions sonically, visually, conceptually. Over time and through use, those tensions become less novel and effective and they become expectations. The concept of "subgenre" becomes almost the antithesis of vitality in art itself a fetishization of expectation. ULTRAPOP seeks, in earnest, to create a truly new listener experience. It is an open rebellion against the culture of expectation in "heavy" music. It is a joyous, genderless, post-nihilist, anti-punk, razor-focused take on creating the most intense listener experience possible. It's the harshest, most beautiful, most hideous thing we could make." ULTRAPOP follows their recent contribution to the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack “Night City Aliens” and 2018’s critically acclaimed album Only Love, which landed on ‘Album of the Year’ lists from The Atlantic, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Vice, Stereogum, and many more. The album was co-produced by the band's own Dan Greene in collaboration with Ben Chisholm (Chelsea Wolfe) and features contributions from Mark Lanegan, Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age, A Perfect Circle), Ben Koller (Converge, Killer Be Killed, Mutoid Man) and many more. Kurt Ballou (Converge, High on Fire, Russian Circles) remains at the helm as executive producer. An interactive ARG campaign with numerous stages of engagement is underway and will continue through release. A website, media mailings and various social media interactions are leading fans to find easter eggs including songs, album info, videos and much more. A livestream performance confirmed for same day. Videos for all three focus tracks (“All Futures”, “Average Death” + “An Iteration” are completed and will be released along with each song.
- A1 22: 02 Fm
- A2: Radio Skit 1
- A3: Changed
- A4: Falling Featuring – Melanin 9*
- A5: Summer In The Bits
- A6: Scences
- B1: Radio Skit 2
- B2: Decline Of Self Featuring – Confucius Mc, Coops
- B3: Piece Of Shit
- B4: Hold Ur Own
- B5: Kno Tha Status Featuring – Axel Holy, Datkid, Upfront*
- C1: Radio Skit 3
- C2: The Rain Featuring – Riah
- C3: Weekend Blues Featuring – Indira May
- C4: Men Can Breathe Featuring – Benaddict
- C5: Limitless
- D1: Radio Skit 4
- D2: My Wonders Featuring – Fliptrix
- D3: The Feeling
- D4: Hope Featuring – Dialect
- D5: In My Mind
- D6: Radio Skit 5
Rapper and producer duo Verbz & Mr Slipz announce their latest album ‘Radio Waves’ due out 13th November 2020. Released on the acclaimed Hip-Hop label High Focus Records, the 22-track project sits perfectly between present-day greatness and unrivalled nostalgia welcoming us into their unique rap landscape. The cover, designed by Matt Littler, captures the essence of the album perfectly.
Born and raised in Croydon, rapper Verbz has proven himself time after time with his innovative rhyming style and distinct flow. The creative partnership wouldn’t be complete without Brighton based producer Mr Slipz who marries Verbz’ form with his laid back jazzy sound as well as unmistakable attention to detail. The pair started making music together in 2017 when they released their debut collaboration ‘Lessons Of Adolescence’. This was followed by extensive tours and studio sessions where their musical alliance was cemented and their bond has been untouchable ever since.
Kicking off the album with humour and personality, '2202 FM’ is a full-bodied track which sees Verbz spit tales of admiration for his city whilst at the same time striving to escape. With London on the brain,
‘Summer In The Bits’ is an introspective analysis of a summer's day in the capital full of tense trials and tribulations. Moving throughout the album, ‘Kno The Status’ welcomes three potent guest verses from Alex Holy, Datkid & Upfront paired with an unrivaled arrangement and instrumentation magnifying Mr Slipz’ craft. Once again his incomparable production delivers on ‘Weekend Blues’ which see’s Verbz regretfully address craving more from his weekend to then be greeted by numbness on a Monday morning. High Focus linchpin Fliptrix delivers some captivating combinations on ‘My Wonders’ honing n on the current state of the world from his point of view. Up next is one of the lead singles
‘The Feeling’, which is a refreshing and rare representation of the classic Boom Bap sound. Before signing out, Verbz’ impressive storytelling shines through on ‘In My Mind’ offering insight into his artistry as he allows access to his inner thoughts via vivid storytelling lyrics. Sandwiched amongst the project are evocative radio skits placed to perfection, offering angles of comedy including a mini-interview acting as the final pieces to the puzzle.
This record is the culmination of two years of hard work packed with skill and finesse, as we have all come to expect. With their unrivalled chemistry, the dynamic duo have proven themselves to be some the most exciting artists on the scene, and 'Radio Waves' is going to cement their position at the top of the ranks.
It was certainly unpredictable that a legendary jazz drummer would record one of spiritual disco's most revered songs twenty-three years into his career, but that's exactly what happened when Idris Muhammad laid down the epic "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" in 1977. Hailing from New Orleans, Muhammad always had more than a touch of funk to his rhythms, and by the late '70s his collaborations with master engineer Rudy Van Gelder on recordings for the CTI and Kudu labels had gelled perfectly with the reigning jazz-funk sound of the day. Arranger Dave Matthews (famously part of the James Brown stable) collaborated with lyricist and former Long Island record store clerk Tony Sarafino on writing the song, which on the original recording unfolds over a nearly 9-minute build. Appearing at the crest of the disco movement, "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" was an immediate hit with David Mancuso and the attendees of his loft parties, quickly spreading to other venues and even making a small climb up the Billboard R&B charts. For this new issue on Most Excellent Unlimited, Danny Krivit, whose own career as a dancefloor orchestrator from the DJ booth has paralleled the timeframe of the song's existence, has replaced the original loose introduction with a mix-friendly steady groove that maintains the unstoppable pulse of the song while maintaining the cathartic mid-song break and giving the track potential for even more momentum.
Another percussionist is responsible for our flip side track, "Magic's in the Air." Vince Montana was not only an in-house arranger and producer for Philadelphia International and other Philly soul labels, but was an accomplished vibraphone player. His talents are on display and doubly emphasized by Mr. K in this overlooked cut from Ronnie Walker, a falsetto singer who draws a rather strong comparison to the best songs of fellow Philadelphians Blue Magic with this uptempo, subtly synthy 1975 track. Never having appeared on a 12-inch, and indeed never having appeared even on a full-length album, Krivit's edit is the first extended mix of "Magic's in the Air" to date. Alongside "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This," itself notoriously difficult to find in 12-inch form, this latest from MEU's long running series with Mr. K is a bonafide must-have for the discerning DJ.
Lemonheads’ seminal album ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’, lovingly reissued for it’s 30th Anniversary. The long overdue reissue includes a slew of extra material, including an unreleased ‘My Drug Buddy’ KCRW session track from 1992 featuring Juliana Hatfield, B-sides from singles ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ and ‘Confetti’, a track from the ‘Mrs. Robinson/Being Round’ EP, alongside demos that will be released for the first time on vinyl. This reissue celebrates their prestigious fifth album, these deluxe bookback editions feature new liner notes and unseen photos.
Described by music journalist and author Everett True as “A 30-minute insight into what it’s like to live hard and fast and loose and happy with like-minded buddies, fuelled by a shared love for similar bands and drugs and booze and freedom.”. ‘It's A Shame About Ray’ had a considerable impact back in those heady, carefree days of '92, the record perfectly captures Dando’s ability to effortlessly encapsulate teenage longing and lust over the course of a two-minute pop song.
Singles such as 'My Drug Buddy' and the breezy perfect pop of the title track might stand out (plus the add-on of 'Mrs. Robinson' which later copies included), but the album's real strength lies in the tracks in-between; the truly fantastic 'Confetti' (written about Evan's parents' divorce), and the eye-wateringly casual acoustic cover of 'Frank Mills' (from the "hippie" musical Hair), a version that seems to resonate with every ounce of pathos and emotion felt for the lost 1960s generation. To hear Evan Dando sing lines like 'I love him/but it embarrasses me/To walk down the street with him/He lives in Brooklyn somewhere/And he wears his white crash helmet' is to truly appreciate how wonderful and tantalising pop music can be. Then, there's the rush of insurgency and brattishness on the wonderfully truncated 'Bit Part'; the topsy-turvy 'Ceiling Fan In My Spoon'... this was male teenage skinny-tie pop music on a level of brilliance with The Kinks, early Undertones, Wipers.
- 1: Reason To Smile Ft. Tiana Major9
- 2: Together
- 3: Nappy
- 4: Silk Ft. Masego
- 5: Pressure Ft. Shaé Universe
- 6: Born Feat Cash
- 7: Pusher Man
- 8: Talkin Ft Kelis & Tiana Major9
- 9: War Outside Ft Lex Amor
- 10: Payback Ft Knucks
- 11: Fubu
- 12: Beautiful Ft Shakka & Wretch 32
- 13: Anywhere Ft Ego Ella May
- 14: Solo Ft. Rexx Life Raj
- 15: Gangsta
Wednesday 24th November - Kojey Radical, one of the UK's most influential musical voices, today announces details of his highly-anticipated debut album. Titled Reason To Smile, the 15 track album will be released on 4th March 2021 via Asylum / Atlantic Records. It features guest appearances from Tiana Major9, Masego, Shaé Universe, Cash, Kelis, Lex Amor, Knucks, Shakka, Wretch 32, Ego Ella May and Rex Life Raj and his own mother (whose voice weaves throughout the record) alongside a who's-who of global production talent including KZ, Swindle, Jay Prince, iO, The FaNaTiX, Cadenza, 169, Venna, Ric & Thadeus, Blue Lab Beats, Emil Larbi, Mr Cutts and Ed Thomas.
Having already made such an indelible mark on British music it's hard to believe that Kojey Radical has never released an album. Over four previous EPs, Kojey Radical has given people greatness but on Reason To Smile he's striving for perfection. Defined by a sound he describes as "space and bass" and featuring the singles "War Outside (ft Lex Amor)" and "Gangsta", Reason To Smile is without doubt Kojey Radical's most ambitious and complete work to date and an emphatic statement of the levels at which he operates.
Kojey Radical today also announces details of his “From Me To You” tour. Commencing on 4th March (album release day), the tour will see Kojey partner with record stores across the UK for a run of in-store and out-store shows and signings throughout album release week. These intimate shows will be a rare opportunity to see Kojey Radical so up close and personal and are sure to sell out quickly
Breaking News! DJs Pareja and Matias Aguayo have joined to form the dance project MDM Factory!
Modern transcendental Techno music for those who know, and those who want to learn!
In a turmoil of events nightlife would change forever, and confined to their respective places - A flat in Buenos Aires and a house in the jungle Diego Irasusta, Mariano Caloso and Matias Aguayo joined forces to create new communication on distance via music.
Taking all their dance floor knowledge and dreaming of sound systems and togetherness in a better future, DJs Pareja & Aguayo put their minds, bodies and souls to work on this stunning EP that will please the forward thinking underground freaks as well as the big room techno pros.
Let’s dive into this divine mess of glorious dance floor jams from the future...
A1. Curvas Peligrosas
With the first track it becomes clear what this is all about: Wobbly metamorphous sounds from outer space jamming with stomping and bass driven techno beats of tomorrow, a new kind of rave, hypnotic and seductive, utterly strange but wonderfully catchy and contagious in a good sense, harsh shuffled hiatus and alternating kick drums, a relentless bassline and sophisticated electronic sounds in a a permanent evolution resembling and invoking altered states of consciousness.
A2. Love Boat
This new rave anthem seems like a classic you haven’t heard about. Muscle memories from dancefloor days trigger your body as you listen on your headphones, awaiting the chance to play it out soon, hopefully, as the dance floors slowly reopen. Alternating between parts of kickdrum, clap and snare awesomeness, and the mangled rave signals that slowly morph into a more concrete melody reminiscent of ancient dreams of the future, this track has it all for the club kids of today.
B1. La Vida Loca
The title track is a tech banger that will please those who dig Kenny Larkin, Claude Young, The Surgeon, Dave Clark or any other star in the nocturnal sky of Techno Techno, as well as the lovers of DJs Pareja’s classic Cómeme Clubbangers, or the more Techno side of Mr. Aguayo. Definitely has the potential to become a huge hit if enough djs that don’t rely on algorithms get their hands on it
B2. Las Llaves
The closer is hyper modern tech funk at its best. Percussive greatness as you can find it on many Cómeme releases is triggered in a different way, “sabroso” rhythms that are played in the light and purposeful way of an elegant jazz drummer, pave the way for an always evolving psychedelic lead synth sound, that will be a useful tool for the dj who knows when to keep the groove, prolonging those magic times between the risings...
Orange Vinyl
Support from Lane 8, Timo Jahns, Shane / Fish Go Deep, Adana Twins, Yves Tomas, Audiosmith, Florian Kruse, Kirill Slider / Goom Gum, Dave202, David Granha, Avidus, Sasha c/o, Claptone c/o, Rich Vom Dorf, Argia, Nick Wessaert, Dennis Ferrer c/o, Super Flu, Holger /
Smash TV, GLOWAL, Ruede Hagelstein, Riva Starr c/o, Peter Kruder, Chaim, Paul C, Paco Osuna, Alfa Romero, Adriatique, Rauschhaus, Elif (TR), Cammora, Mr.Diamond, John Digweed, Franco De Mulero, VONDA7, Nico Morano, Jerome Price, Nhar, Beatamines, Angelo
Ceci, Anthony Pappa, Undercatt, Praveen Achary, Ruben Mandolini, Marco Faraone, Sobek, Tocadisco, Rodg, and Eelke Kleijn
- A1: The Release
- A2: Too Long (Feat Apocalypse)
- A3: Block Episode (Feat Punch & Words)
- A4: Commercial
- A5: Don't Understand (Feat Greg Nice)
- A6: Goodbye Lisa
- A7: Hold U (Feat Jean Grae)
- B1: Every Other Day
- B2: Roommates Meet
- B3: Take A Walk (Feat Apocalypse)
- B4: Something's Wrong (Feat Strick & Young Zee From Outsidaz)
- B5: The Classes
- B6: Acknowledge
- C1: Enuff (Feat Mr Lee Gee)
- C2: Watching The Game
- C3: Unfriendly Game (Feat Strick)
- C4: Alphabet Soup
- C5: Dear Yvette (Feat Jane Doe)
- D1: I Like Dat (Feat Punch & Words)
- D2: P T A (Feat J-Ro & King Tee Of Tha Liks)
- D3: Type I Hate (Feat Leschea & Rah Digga)
- D4: Dear Diary
- D5: Last Rights
- D6: No Regrets
Disposable Arts is a concept album by Masta Ace, originally released in 2001. It follows the Brooklyn MC as he is being released from prison and returns home, joining 'The Institute of Disposable Arts', a school in which Ace enrolls after realizing how bad the situation in Brooklyn has become. The songs and skits combine to complete one full story, and they feature guest contributions from Strick, Punchline & Wordsworth, Apocalypse, Greg Nice, Rah Digga, J-Ro, King Tee, Jean Grae and more, plus production by Ayatollah, Paul Nice, Domingo, and more, including tracks from Ace himself.
"We all know what teenagers are like. Bratty little gobshites. Moody shits. Forever toeing the line between cocky arrogance and whiny self-doubt, and to hell with anyone who gets caught in the crossfire. And this old fucker should know; he was really good at all of the above (still keeping on top of the ‘gobshite’ part, you’ll notice). For some reason, the entirety of rock’n’roll is predicated on music made for and about these states of mind - well, I guess if you mix ‘em all together, they can make for one helluva sense of reckless abandon. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Melbourne quartet Mr Teenage sound exactly like their name suggests: chaotic, raw, emotionally volatile… and of course they bind all this together with their own brand of heroically melodic garage rock. Produced by Billy Gardener (of Ausmuteants, Smarts, Cereal Killer and god knows how many other vital Aus-punx), this debut EP snarls, spits and swaggers with all the glorious self-belief of a drunken 4am stumble to the petrol station to buy a pack of skins. And the songs are fucking great too. Title track ‘Automatic Love’ expertly showcases the combined sounds of their cited influences (Thin Lizzy, Dictators, Martha Reeves, etc), with frontman Nic Imfeld’s voice at times edging close to the sandpaper soul of their countryman Shogun (ex-Royal Headache). Meanwhile ‘Waste Of Time’ sees him blending their garage licks with Joey Ramone bubblegum, just as ‘The Loser’ fashions a delightfully adolescent chorus of ‘the loser says what?’ from an airy melody that either The Shangri-Las or Del Shannon would be proud of. They wrap things up with another slab of pure punk/pub rock genius called ‘Kids’ that’ll get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end, as you fight the urge to crank-call your former school teachers and blame the kid who used to take your lunch money. Of course, singing about ‘kids these days’ marks Mr Teenage out as being older than their name suggests, and sure enough their name comes from an old wrestler rather than identifying with an age bracket they’ve outgrown. But with tunes like this… honestly, who gives a fuck what they’re called? This record is perfect." Will Fitzpatrick.
This release is a special one; a moment where the two halves of the Mr Bongo record label unite, our heritage re-issues and our contemporary artists roster.
Minoru Muraoka’s 'The Positive and the Negative’ is a firm favourite at Mr Bongo. It sees a master of the shakuhachi, a traditional bamboo Japanese flute, flex his prodigious skill resulting in a unique mix of breakbeat jazz and Japanese folkloric music. 'The Positive and the Negative’ featured on the 1970 'Bamboo’ album, which Mr Bongo reissued in 2019. Heralded by DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Egon, and many others. The record’s cult status had us thinking how could we pay further homage to a sublime track such as this. The opportunity came to us in an email from Melbourne’s Surprise Chef with a link to the fabulous reinterpretation of the track which they had just recorded.
"Minoru Muraoka’s ‘Bamboo’ LP has long been a fixture in our record bags, mostly for the killer shakuhachi funk cut The Positive and The Negative. The record is possibly our favourite from Mr Bongo’s extensive catalogue of reissues, and certainly the most influential to Surprise Chef; The Positive and the Negative’s cinematic atmosphere paired with the wonky drum feels and dramatic performance makes it a near-perfect amalgamation of what we try to capture on Surprise Chef records. We’ve borrowed an element or two from the tune over the last few albums (such as the percussion on ‘The Limp’), so it felt right to go head first into reinterpreting the entire track for ourselves. We recorded the tune in Karate Boogaloo’s attic studio with our man Henry Jenkins at the controls and Hudson Whitlock on percussion. We spent an entire day trying to get the take; we felt such a deep responsibility to capture the intensity of the original, we must have done 20 or 30 takes before we were finally happy. We stuck a fork in it late into the night, satisfied that we’d had our best crack at paying homage to a masterpiece by the great Minoru Muraoka.” - Surprise Chef
Forged in their signature sound, "The Chef" have made 'The Positive and the Negative' their own whilst simultaneously treating the original with utmost respect. The shakuhachi and koto have been replaced by synths and guitars, but the breakbeat psychedelic vein flows richly through both instruments
The 7" vinyl format was the right fit for this release, so the original Minoru Muraoka recording which clocks in over nine minutes has been edited into a 7” version to accompany Surprise Chef’s new take.
- 1: Farewell
- 2: The Boy If Named
- 3: Penelope Halfpenny
- 4: The Difference
- 5: What If I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
- 6: Paint The Red Rose Blue
- 7: Mistook Me For A Fool
- 8: My Most Beautiful Mistake
- 9: Magnificent Hurt
- 10: The Man You Love To Hate
- 11: Death Of Magic Thinking
- 12: Trick Out The Truth
- 13: Mr Crescent
On January 14th, 2022, Elvis Costello and The Imposters release, ‘The Boy Named If,’ a new album of urgent, immediate songs with bright melodies, guitar solos that sting and a quick step to the rhythm. Costello tell us, ”The full title of this record is 'The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories).’ ‘IF,’ is a nickname for your imaginary friend; your secret self, the one who knows everything you deny, the one you blame for the shattered crockery and the hearts you break, even your own." Produced by Sebastian Krys & Elvis Costello - the album is a collection of thirteen snapshots, “That take us from the last days of a bewildered boyhood to that mortifying moment when you are told to stop acting like a child - which for most men (and perhaps a few gals too) can be any time in the next fifty years," as Costello put it.
Acclaimed L.A. rapper Blu has left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape, crafting an impressive catalog instilled with the essence of the vibrant city he calls home. Now, the gifted lyricist is back with the new album "The Color Blu(e)". Among Blu’s most conceptual projects to date, "The Color Blu(e)" is an artistic thesis statement, celebrating and reflecting on a remarkable creative journey. The word “Blue” is featured in every song title, and “Blue” is also weaved into each of the album’s soundscapes. “This album is the ultimate cartoon series about myself,” Blu explains. “The Color Blu(e) is the cool breeze. Another day in the life of being Blu.” While he typically works with a single producer on each project, Blu recruited Sirplus, J57, and longtime collaborator Exile to shape the album’s sonic texture. An unapologetically personal collection with no features, "The Color Blu(e)" is packed with intricate wordplay and dynamic production, reaffirming the unique talent of the artist known as Blu
- A1: The Changeling (Lp La Woman Original Stereo Mix Remastered)
- A2: Love Her Madly
- A3: Been Down So Long
- A4: Cars Hiss By My Window
- A5: La Woman
- B1: L'america
- B2: Hyacinth House
- B3: Crawling King Snake
- B4: The Wasp (Texas Radio & The Big Beat) (Texas Radio & The Big Beat)
- B5: Riders On The Storm
- CD1-1: The Changeling (Cd1: La Woman: Original Stereo Mix Remastered)
- CD1-2: Love Her Madly
- CD1-3: Been Down So Long
- CD1-4: Cars Hiss By My Window
- CD1-5: L A. Woman
- CD1-6: L’america
- CD1-7: Hyacinth House
- CD1-8: Crawling King Snake
- CD1-9: The Wasp (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)
- CD1-10: Riders On The Storm
- CD1-11: Hyacinth House (Demo)
- CD1-12: Riders On The Storm (Sunset Sound Version)
- CD2-1: The Changeling (Cd2: La Woman Sessions Part 1)
- CD2-2: Love Her Madly
- CD2-3: Riders On The Storm
- CD2-4: L A. Woman (Part 1)
- CD3-1: L A. Woman (Part 2)
- CD3-2: She Smells So Nice
- CD3-3: Rock Me Baby
- CD3-4: Mr Mojo Risin
- CD3-5: Baby Please Don’t Go
- CD3-6: L A. Woman (Part 3)
- CD3-7: Been Down So Long
- CD3-8: Get Out Of My Life Woman
- CD3-9: Crawling King Snake
- CD3-10: The Bastard Son Of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Cars Hiss By My Window)
- CD3-11: Been Down So Long
- CD3-12: Mystery Train
- CD3-13: The Wasp (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)
LP + 3xCD + booklet !
The Doors found their mojo (and Mr. Mojo Risin’) in November 1970 as they recorded L.A. Woman over six days at the Workshop, the band’s rehearsal space on Santa Monica Boulevard. A success both critically and commercially, the album was certified double-platinum and contains some of the band’s most enduring music, including the Top 20 hit “Love Her Madly,” “Riders On The Storm,” and the title track.
To commemorate the album’s 50-year anniversary, Rhino keeps on risin’ with a 3-CD/1-LP set that will be available on December 3rd. L.A. WOMAN: 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION includes the original album newly remastered by The Doors’ longtime engineer and mixer Bruce Botnick, two bonus discs of unreleased studio outtakes, and the stereo mix of the original album on 180-gram virgin vinyl.
For this new collection, the original album has been expanded with more than two hours of unreleased recordings taken from the sessions for L.A. Woman, allowing the listener to experience the progression of each song as it developed in the studio. An early demo for “Hyacinth House” recorded at Robby Krieger’s home studio in 1969 is also included.
The outtakes feature Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, and Ray Manzarek working in the studio with two additional musicians. The first was rhythm guitarist Marc Benno, who worked with Leon Russell in The Asylum Choir. The other was bassist Jerry Scheff, who was a member of Elvis Presley’s TCB band.




















