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Heith's music has always been infused with sacred mystery, striking a delicate balance between lived experience and imagination. On Escape Lounge, his second full-length release for PAN, Heith draws inspiration from contemporary digital spirituality and interpretations of experience that are crossing over from cultural niches into the mainstream - including internetbased conspiracy theories and psychological operations. The album presents a sonic diary recorded across Milan, Berlin, London, and Stockholm, crafting a post-informational folklore while exploring new territories in personal songwriting. The title Escape Lounge, inspired by airport waiting areas, serves as a metaphorical waiting room of the mind. Its hidden passages can lead either to peril and loss or to enlightenment and kaleidoscopic mental landscapes. This liminal space echoes the mysterious realms of Twin Peaks or the viral "Backrooms" phenomenon. Within it, contributing musicians - including frequent collaborators Leonardo Rubboli, Aase Nielsen, and 33 drummer Alexander Iezzi - move like ethereal presences, creating intangible soundscapes that leave traces of post-hypnotic melancholia. Notably, the vocal contributions from Price and James K enhance the otherworldly atmosphere, their multifaceted timbres adding layers of intentional ambiguity. Throughout the album, Heith masterfully blends acoustic instruments, human voices, and digital technology along an uncharted path that references the experimental pop of 90s trip-hop, 2000s indie-folk songwriting, and lush Mediterranean psychedelia. The sounds are meticulously crafted, combining synthesizers with guitar-based compositions in a computational songwriting approach that creates a collage across eras and landscapes. Each track unveils new dimensions of this delicate hallucinogenic narrative, delivering an immersive listening experience. As reality continuously shifts, Escape Lounge emerges as both sanctuary and confinement - a space of momentary connections and endless potential. In 2025, Heith will debut a new live show and audiovisual collaboration titled 'The Talk' with James K and Günseli Yalcinkaya, commissioned and premiering at Sonar Festival, Terraforma, Nuit Sonores, and Reworks.

'Find a Way' is the new album from Manchester-based pianist, composer, and producer Matt Wilde, released via his own imprint Hello World Records. The album serves as a reminder that creativity should be accessible and the importance of opening yourself to the unexpected as you 'Find a Way' through all endeavours. Digging into improvisation and jazz harmony on the LP, he crafts a sound that bridges jazz, hip hop, and electronic music, adding: "The creative act is not a matter of waiting for the perfect conditions, but of moving gently, insistently, through the imperfect".

Focus and title track "Find a Way" encapsulates this journey of process. Humans are known for adaptation and response when they face challenges, seeking solutions towards a better world. "Find a Way" leans into our instinctive reaction to improvise and reshape, taking the listener on an unexpected journey. The opening loop could as easily feel at home as part of an electronic soundscape, developing into a clock-like effect from the drums. This keeps time, allowing a duet between keys and trumpet to unfold, symbolising the individual, imperfect and non-linear paths we all carve out day to day.

The album was funded by Arts Council England and created in close collaboration with trumpeter and composer Aaron Wood, with the pair recording in Aaron's rural DIY studio in Huddersfield. Through improvising upright piano, Rhodes and trumpet over intricately programmed beats, the duo captured the spontaneity that makes jazz feel alive, but with the forward-facing touch of Ableton live production. "I actually had live drums recorded for this project and then deleted all of them and instead programmed intricate drums on Ableton live myself to create the kinds of drum sounds I could hear in my head," Matt adds, explaining the onerous process that truly made 'Find a Way' a labour of love.

Matt Wilde discovered jazz through an unconventional journey, and 'Find a Way' is an introspective map of this musical development. Starting out as a self-taught beatmaker, growing up Matt made tracks for friends in the grime scene before falling in love with jazz through the sample-heavy works of Madlib, J Dilla, and Pete Rock. Hints of this influence can be found on "Windup", driven by a deeper bass and a glitchy intensity not commonly associated with jazz. There are also nods to the weekly DJ residencies Matt had in his late teens, establishing a love for club music at iconic Manchester venues like Sankeys. "It's Ok, Feel it" incorporates pitched-up kicks and crisp, papery snares that pay tribute to UK dance culture and the foundation of connection in this world.

Guided by values of accessibility and creativity, Matt has become a key voice in the UK's boundary-pushing jazz and beats scene. His debut album 'Hello World' alongside EPs and single releases, have been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 1, Jamie Cullum and Soweto Kinch (BBC Radio 2), 'Round Midnight (BBC Radio 3), and across BBC 6Music, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM. He has performed headline shows at Band on the Wall (Manchester) and The Lower Third (London) and showcased his music at Brick Lane Jazz Festival and London's iconic Jazz Café.

A proud Mancunian with Polish roots, Matt's values-driven approach reflects his passion for community and empowering others through the arts. Matt founded the UK's first youth-led charity and is a trustee of Manchester music charity Brighter Sound. Driven by these values of equality and inclusion, Hello World Records strives to champion grassroots music with a backbone of fairness built into the business model. The imprint is named after Matt's debut album, released via Band on the Wall Recordings; simultaneously championing the music scene and global musical footprint of Manchester and highlighting the importance of artists reminding people: Hello World, I've made it. I'm still here.

- Martha Cleary, Glow Artists

Influenced by many different styles, it's hard to describe the tracks to any specific genre. Maybe they sound familiar to some of you - we thought now it's the right time to release them on wax.

4 tracks, each of them well dancefloor approved and with a unique touch for every hour of the night. Have fun.

DDE Signature Tracks is a record label based in Bogotá, Colombia, curated by the team behind Discos del Espacio Record Shop.

For our third release, we proudly present Stand Your Ground — a refined EP by Colombian producer Bralan Arias, who delivers four deep yet dynamic original tracks that carry emotional depth while remaining fully suitable for the dancefloor. Emerging as one of the most talked-about names in Colombia’s house music scene, Arias draws inspiration from jazz and collaborates closely with Bogotá-based musicians, infusing his productions with organic textures and harmonic richness. His sound bridges atmospheric depth with infectious groove, creating tracks that resonate in both intimate and late-night settings.

On the flip side, Emilio Mustafá reinterprets a track called On My Own with a distinctive UK garage twist. His remix injects syncopated percussion, shuffled grooves, and infectious energy, offering a playful counterpoint to the original’s depth and making it an essential weapon for adventurous selectors.

Out soon on 12” vinyl.

Introducing Beautiful, a 4-track, club-focused EP by Copenhagen’s Hekt on Numbers. It hints at his mass appeal while featuring club-ready vocal collaborations from close friends Henriette (on ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’) and Catharina (on ‘Anytime Anywhere’), who together record as Smerz.

Working entirely without samples, Hekt is a sculptor wielding digital synthesis and sticky hooks, with each element carefully constructed from the ground up and the process just as important as the finished result. “It’s about trying to be honest with what I like at every level,” he says. “To maximise the points where I'm forced to check in with my feelings on each aspect of the songwriting, sound design, mixing, and any other aesthetic choice. Creating digital approximations tilts towards an uncanny space where everything is crystal-clear but also kind of warped.”

On opening track “Beautiful”, the descending bass and acid lines are inspired by tracks Hekt and friends used to test subwoofers in the cars they rode around during their teenage years. “You Won’t Believe” started off as a MIDI piano sketch that accelerated towards the epic emotional impact of EDM stadium-fillers like Avicii and Eric Prydz. In a playful nod to internet culture, Hekt recalls that “I had this idea for adding a vocal that played on YouTube thumbnails and self-promotion. I called Henriette when she was in France and asked her to phrase it as epic as possible, and she sent two ideas over for ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’.”

On ‘Anytime Anywhere’, Hekt reimagines his sound at 110 BPM. What began as studio experiments morphed from Neptunes or Timbaland-style productions into a crunchy pressure overload closer to Gescom via Lazer Dim 700, with Hekt also adding his own vocals.

Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record Simple Things finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved Colors Of Silence.

The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits. Simply put, Simple Things is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.

Simple Things has been decades in the making. Indeed, Wally struggled not only with the idea of singing these wonderful songs himself but singing them in English and writing his own lyrics, while wrestling with the sensational backing tracks, which themselves seemed to have taken on a life of their own.

As Wally explained to us: "In addition to the instrumental artist I have been known as, so far, there has always been a singer who simply was not sure he was, up until now. Even though “Back To Scales Tonight”, my very first album, was, indeed, a song album."

Opener "It Couldn't Be You" embellishes the uptempo groove of soca-funk gem "The Lights Of Kinshasa". As Wally explained to us, it's about “a simple love story somewhere, one rainy night, under the lights of Kinshasa. A woman, a man, online dating, quite usual in our times. Then they meet, almost missing each other." The guide vocal Wally had laid for Colors Of Silence - with an organ sound - seemed striving for words in Linguala, a Congolese language he could not speak. Therefore the decision to do it himself was not an easy one, for it had to be in English to fit his singing. We think it turned out pretty good!

"You Can't Hide Always" vocalises Wally's deep concerns set to the propulsive "Smiles By The Millions": "Populism, ostracism, radicalism, ethics and values all turned upside down worldwide, are they all inevitably exacerbated by our social networks? It could all melt down one day, like a house of cards in the ocean of fake news and false prophecies”. Wally wanted to keep the track as bare as possible but, inevitably, the backing vocals and the synth-brass arrive ultimately to present a welcome 70s flavour, with no snare-drum added.

The bright and breezy "We'll Make It Again" adds vocals to "Where Were We", a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands. Here's Waly: "Where were we when we last said: "I love you"? Simple words to express something quite common, but never quite simple to deal with. A simple song about the resilience of the broken hearts.” The reggae came from it being conceived when Wally was scoring for “Third World Cop”, a 1999 Jamaican action movie.

"Walk Straight Ahead" provides Wally's gorgeous, contemplative and idiosyncratic vocals to the deep serenity of Colors Of Silence highlight, "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. As Wally describes, "it started as just whispers, sweet amber whispers. Then the colour turned darker, as darker skies seemed to fall upon us while the whole world keeps on walking ahead, straight ahead, regardless of the blatant warnings, feeling much too comfortable in conformity. Initially, the verses were to be spoken only. I realised they could be sung all the while, without overshadowing the ethereal atmosphere." Amen.

The serene, celestial "Painting My Life Blue" presents the vocal version of "Days To Wonder". Says Wally, "how does it feel when your second half is gone after decades of riding life together? Past the temporary loss of your bearings, you come to realise you've been blind to the essential, and suddenly you can see...For this most intimate song of mine, I had tried to come up with a melody on top of the existing backing track, long before realising the melody was in the keyboard part already. It just needed to be properly mixed with it."

The profoundly emotional "Just Two Lovers" works up the formerly-too-brief and glorious "Crystal Falls" into a much fuller masterpiece and features acoustic guitar sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod percussion. Waly explains further: "Dear little green men, please tell me, what is it about us that makes you want to come and visit us so often (contrary to Fermi's assertion)? And here is the reply I believe I heard them sing: "You've got the key you've been searching for: Love”. I reverted to the initial backing track I had made around 1985, which already bore the melody, and which I added acoustic guitars to, before singing it." An astounding closer.

A synth specialist, there can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!

When we asked Wally about the significance of this collection's title, he explained: "These are "Simple things” that everyday’s life seems to build upon. The simplest are the harder to describe, but when satisfactorily described i.e. with simple words, they are the more genuine and authentic to express and share. I’ve immersed myself in other classic song lyrics, something I hardly did before, just to appreciate the genius behind the simple words they were made of, and had a great time studying how powerful they were in expressing complex ideas such as love."

Recording was twofold: first, most of the backing tracks were recorded in 2001, in Wally's studio in Normandy, mostly using hardware synths and Yamaha digital consoles. Then, he fine-tuned the melodies and wrote the lyrics in late 2023, then added some overdubs and sang them all during summer 2024. States Wally, "Digital Performer was and remains the DAW I’ve been using throughout, ever since the 80s."

Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Sometimes, the simple things are the most extraordinary.

Cortex’s lost 1979 tracks, recorded in a barn-studio near Paris, resurface years later—featuring the legendary sample used by Damso and Wu-Tang.

DJ Support: DJ Harvey, Kelvin Andrews/ Balearic MIke (Down to the Sea and Back), Howler (Pikes/Totem Projects) Joe Morris (Shades of Sound/Pikes)

New vinyl only 4 track EP of reinterpretations on the fledgling Oswego Music label, from the mysterious Lovehandles.‘Unrequited Dub’ sees a quintessential eighties tune and Larry Levan favourite reframed as an epic 11 minute balearic slow jam- with scarce copies available digitally getting plays in recent months from Kelvin Andrews/ Balearic Mike (Down to the Sea and Back), Howler (Pikes/Faith/Totem Projects) Joe Morris (Shades of Sound/Pikes) and even Mr Harvey Bassett seeking out a copy. One for sunsets and heartbreak. Next up-‘Stars before the Sun’ is a recut of a thrift store Hare Krishna disco funk cut. WIth solina strings, drum breaks and a positive message to live for now. ‘Crystal Lites’ first on the flip; heads to the disco. Versioned here with whacked out pinging delays and reverbs. It’s been reworked before, but never like this. ‘It’s a Long Shot’ second on side two, is a 12” mix that never was- an eighties Balearic drum machine pop favourite,extended for djs. Its ethereal vocals, minor keys and spaced out fx perfect for late nights and early mornings. ‘The Drum-Set (skit)’ rounds things off here- a short and sweet reminder of the international, multiracial origins of rhythm. Perfect for mixtape intros and interludes.

Steve Moore reprises his beloved Lovelock guise by presenting his unique riff on the library breaks genre. Business And Pleasure contains grimy groove and sleazy, funk-laden lounge music.

This vinyl release is hyper-limited, with just 500 pressed for the world.

The LP is ushered in by the spacey synth-funk of the sleazy, woozy title track. This is that serious slo-mo cosmic-balearic head-nod shit. Laidback bass, heavy funk with dreamy synth and electric guitars. An outstanding opener. Up next, the dynamic, swaggering "Last Call" is a sophisticated, elegant stroll - sweeping, mellow strings, a smooth bassline and gorgeous percussion with urgent keys and swelling synths.

"Slinky Strut" is another spaced-out, sleazy funk groove with jazz rock by way of a heavy, heavy guitar riff, mellotron and bass breakdowns which build to brass crescendos. Gigantic. "First Class" closes out the side, and, like classic Hawkshaw / Bennett noir, it's got that mysterious and murky stretched out sleuth / detective soul with a great bassline and percussive elements, with swelling strings, ace synths and smooth Rhodes piano melodies entering the mix halfway through. Dramatic guitars and groovy percussion add extra intrigue. It's 7 minutes of funk!

Side B opens with the stretched-out psychedelic funk and jazz groove of "Stank 49". It takes its sweet time to unfurl, creating enormous - almost sensual - anticipation for the ensuing beauty but, as it does, we're left beguiled and straight-up hypnotised. Heaven-sent synth flourishes and a laidback bassline over smooth drums cement its simple, vivacious grace. "Dangerous Man" is that creeping crime funk we all love; heavy bass and fuzzy guitar riffs, mellow strings and sumptuous piano/synths. It's irresistible, it's ominous and it's pretty gargantuan. It's basically like an El-P hip-hop instrumental. We need to get some rappers over this stuff, stat!

"Stinkbug" is a dazzling and funky groove-fuelled jazz-rock workout with fizzing synth riffs joined by full percussion and drum breaks, building with strings to a strong swagger. Vigour! To close out this remarkable set, the breezy "Win Or Lose" is laidback soul-inflected funk, utilising urgent, skipping drums and galloping basslines. Just stunning.

This collection was written and recorded in Spring and Summer of ’24. Everything was tracked at Steve's home studio in Albany, NY except the drums and percussion, which were recorded by Jeff Gretz at his space in NYC. The whole collection is basically a rhythm section feature, so Steve's Rickenbacker 4003 and Fender Jazz Bass play very prominently. The bass guitar serves as lead instrument in a lot of these tracks. Also, lots of Rhodes and stringers (Solina, Logan etc) and guitar (Strat and Les Paul). He even dusted off my sax for this one, which he doesn’t do as often as he’d like!

This type of groove-oriented library music has been a steady part of Steve's diet since the late 90’s. In heavy rotation while writing this collection were the following classics: “Time Signals” by Klaus Weiss, “Tilsley Orchestral No. 10” by Reg Tilsley, and “Heavy Truckin’” by Simon Haseley. “Voyage” by Brian Bennett was also a big one.

Lovelock started as a dedicated Italo-disco project, but over the years Steve expanded it to include anything directly informed by the commercial/pop side of the music of his childhood (70s/80s). Writing and recording this album was, like a lot of Steve's music these days, basically a test to see whether or not he could do it.

The song titles, like the music, are meant to be evocative yet vague. But there is a bit of a travel theme. Steve imagined this record being the soundtrack to a sleazy salesman’s business trip. The kind of guy who, when asked if he’s traveling for business or pleasure, responds “both.” Beyond the traveling salesman comparison, the title directly relates to the creation of this album. This was something he wanted to do just for his own enjoyment. Yet, like our sleazy salesman, he still found a way to get paid.

The album’s cover was designed by Chris Stevenson, with no little direction from Steve. He knew that he wanted to go with something photography-based for this cover so, in true DIY/cheapskate spirit, Steve started by looking through his own photos. He found the cover image on his phone, taken through an almost empty bottle of beer, and it clicked. The whole album has a very boozy vibe (especially with titles like “Last Call”) so this shot seemed appropriate. We, hic, agree.

Mastering for this vinyl edition was overseen by Be With regular Simon Francis, and it was cut by the esteemed Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios to be pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry.

Regarded as one of London's "leading disco labels" The Disco Express is one of the most consistent and influential forces in the modern nu-disco scene.

A record label, international event series and DJ collective, TDE is dedicated to original, soul-infused house and disco music. With a global family of artists, the label blends vintage warmth with modern energy to honour the past whilst envisioning the future.

TDE100 is a 15 track compilation that distills the label's essence. Packed with fresh originals and hand-picked gems, the compilation blends funk, soul, nu-disco, house, and electronica. Crafted to move seamlessly from peak-time dance floors to laid-back Sunday listening, it's both timeless and forward-thinking.

Pressed across 2 X LP’s in a Gatefold Sleeve featuring John Morales / Derrick Carter & Inaya day.

This is original house & disco for 21st century dance floors and this train ain't slowing down anytime soon…

Nachdem sie auf ihrem gefeierten Debütalbum ein multidimensionales Klanguniversum definiert hatten, verlassen der Komponist und Filmemacher Chris Hunt und James ,Munky" Shaffer von Korn auf EXINFINITE das Vertraute und driften in ein Reich der Rekursion, wo sie auf ein Gewirr aus gespiegelten Wurmlöchern blicken, die mit unheimlicher Mehrdeutigkeit summen. Das zweite Album von VENERA ist düsterer, heavier und perkussiver als sein Vorgänger, aber es gibt etwas Intimeres in seinen Schaltkreisen, das schwer zu definieren ist - etwas Mystisches, Geheimnisvolles und Melancholisches. Songs materialisieren sich aus dem Nichts, nur um von sauren Synthesizern aufgelöst oder von Hunts geschärften Beats durchbohrt zu werden, während Shaffers dichte, gequälte Riffs durch euphorische, zeitverzerrte Vocals von FKA twigs, Dis Fig und Chelsea Wolfe ausgeglichen werden. Nach ihrer Begegnung mit der Unendlichkeit haben VENERA nach innen geschaut, über die Grenzen der Existenz nachgedacht und ihre tiefsten Emotionen ausgegraben. VENERA entstand 2022, als Hunt und Shaffer nach Aufnahmen mit der albanischen Künstlerin Xhoana X. ihr eigenes musikalisches Terrain betraten. Das Duo improvisierte gemeinsam und experimentierte mit cineastischem, von Science-Fiction inspiriertem Sounddesign und erkannte, dass die Zusammenarbeit Potenzial hatte. So begannen sie, ihren Sound weiterzuentwickeln und zu verfeinern, wobei sie Unterstützung von Deantoni Parks, dem ehemaligen Schlagzeuger von Mars Volta, Alain Johannes von Queens of the Stone Age, dem Post-Punk-Duo VOWWS und den LA-Noise-Rock-Legenden HEALTH erhielten. Nachdem ihr Debütalbum 2023 auf Mike Pattons Label Ipecac erschienen war, setzten VENERA die Dekonstruktion und Neugestaltung ihres Songwritings fort, tauschten Eno-artige Ambient-Atmosphären gegen explosive Beats und dichte Texturen aus und fanden heraus, wie sie die von ihnen eröffnete Erzählung erweitern konnten, ohne alte Pfade zu beschreiten. Auf ,Tear" ist die neue Richtung des Duos deutlich zu hören, wenn Shaffers ursprüngliche Gitarrenklänge zu unheimlichen Widescreen-Expositionen umgestaltet werden, die Hunt mit pneumatischen Kick- und Snare-Zyklen untermalt. Unterbrochen von Luftschleusen-Zischen und leuchtenden Synthesizern, bietet der Track eine Kulisse, die VENERA kontinuierlich verwandelt und das Konzept im Laufe des Albums neu formt. Die Kult-Singer-Songwriterin Chelsea Wolfe gibt dem düsteren ,All Midnights" einen gotischen amerikanischen Touch, indem sie kraftvoll über VENERAs vakuumverpackte Rhythmen und gasförmige Synthesizer singt, und der in Berlin lebende Noisemaker Dis Fig, der bereits mit The Body und The Bug zusammengearbeitet hat, verleiht Shaffer und Hunts tape-verzerrten Industrial-Pops und -Whirrs in ,End Uncovered" hauchige, emotional vielschichtige Töne. Sie lassen squelchigen, verlangsamten Techno in okkulte Noise-Reflexionspools auf dem schlängelnden ,Asteroxylon" einfließen, und Hunt antwortet auf Shaffers hallende Zupftöne mit Nebelhorn-Stöhnen auf dem unheilvollen, nachdenklichen ,uuu773". ,EXINFINITE" baut sich kontinuierlich auf, bis es ,Caroline" erreicht, eine intensive Zusammenarbeit mit FKA Twigs, die ihre unheimlichsten Töne isoliert. Zunächst umspielt sie ihre Worte mit bedrohlichen elektrischen Verzerrungen und verstümmelten, geisterhaften Stimmen, bevor sie in einen aufgeladenen opernhaften Schrei ausbricht, dem Shaffer und Hunt mit flirrenden kybernetischen Beats und dichten Wänden aus Gitarrenlärm begegnen. Dieser Track bricht das Konzept von VENERA vollständig auf, verschmilzt das Synthetische mit dem Natürlichen und löst Dysphorie, Selbstverlust und unendliche Regression aus. So wirken der blutrünstige Lärm und die finstere Atmosphäre von ,Decreation" wie eine dissoziierte Coda. In ,EXINFINITE" werden Zerstörung und Tod nicht überwunden, sondern so lange intensiviert, bis sie sich vollständig verwandeln.

Otoboke Beaver return with a new album Super Champon
It follows the critically revered Itekoma Hits of 2019. Champon is a Japanese
noun meaning a mixture or jumble of things of different type. Recorded, mixed
and mastered by Ippei Suda in between lockdowns at Osaka's legendary LM
Studio.Across 18 songs, chief singer- songwriter Acco expands the band's
possibilities and pushes their musical skills to the limit. Acco has remarked
previously that she is more influenced by 'manzai', a traditional style of comedy in
Japanese culture comparable to double act comedy or stand- up comedy
exemplified by its use of slang puns and wordplay, speedy back- and- forth
dialogue and impeccable timing in delivering a punchline, characteristics of which
Otoboke Beaver's music shares in droves.

The Weeknd's sophomore studio album Beauty Behind The Madness was released in 2015 and features the #1 hits "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills." 10th Anniversary Edition 2 LP set is pressed on standard weight transparent vinyl.

Cassette edition of Death Is Not The End's contribution to the Blowing Up The Workshop mix series.

"A trip across the frequencies of Bristol's pirate radio stations via cut-ups of broadcasts, taken from the late 1980s to the early 2000s ~ also a love-letter to my childhood, an audio document of the years I spent growing up in the city."

In the heart of a post-apocalyptic city, Spacelunch was making his way through the ruins, wearing a heavy armour of metal plates and flickering circuitry. Cat settled on his shoulder, listening intently to every sound. This time, they weren't just looking for an artefact — their target was the Singularity Echo, a mysterious device created right before the catastrophe. Legend had it that the scientists of the past, sensing the impending collapse, had put all their accumulated experience and knowledge together to create it. It was said that one day “Echo” would awaken and allow descendants to touch the wisdom of the ancients, learn the secrets of forgotten technologies and, perhaps, avoid the fatal mistakes of the past.

— We’ve been wandering around for how long? — muttered Cat, looking around warily. — And nothing.

— Sitting up there complaining, aren’t you? — Spacelunch grinned, deftly bypassing the debris and intertwined roots that poked out from under the asphalt.



Suddenly, a glow flashed before them, gradually taking the form of a palm-sized transparent crystal. It floated in the air, surrounded by silver lining that wove into intricate patterns, like a network of ancient runes. The symbols on its facets, flickering, cast soft reflections on the debris around them. As the professor slowly reached out his hand, the crystal shone brighter, and the low whisper of distant voices cut through the silence. Their minds were enveloped by the echoes of past events, filling their minds with images of the vanished world.

The friends froze for a moment, overwhelmed by shock and a sense of profound change.

— Well, — said Cat, not hiding his surprise. — It seems we've gotten a little smarter.

— A little? Now we have what has been lost for an era.

— So, we have a new adventure ahead of us. Where do we start?

The ghost town, once seemingly lifeless, now seemed to come to life: every collapsed building and every corner sparked with traces and clues as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for a sign.

The begena is a large ten-stringed lyre which is part of the traditional Amharic heritage of Ethiopia. The Amharas, who have long formed the politically and culturally dominant people of Ethiopia, mainly inhabit the central and northern part of the country. In the majority, they follow the monophysite Orthodox Tewahido Church established in the early fourth century AD.

Music plays a very important part in the life of the church. Most of the liturgy is sung and, contrary to secular music, it is accompanied by percussion instruments only. The begena occupies a special place because it is the one melodic instrument exclusively dedicated to the spiritual repertory. Because of its mythical origin, it is highly respected. Tradition holds that the begena was given to king David by God, and brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I, together with the Ark of the Covenant. It has always been the instrument of kings and nobles. Played by pious men and women of letters, it never became widespread. But it never disappeared either, not even under the Derg regime (1974-1991) which had banned the instrument.

Among Amhara string instruments, the begena is the most carefully crafted, especially with regard to the ornately sculpted crossbar. Its ten gut strings are cleaned and twisted several times. The characteristic buzzing timbre equalled by no other Amhara instrument is due to the enzirotch, that is, small bits of leather placed between each string and the bridge. This plays an important part in the sound production by creating a brief contact between the string and the upper rim of the bridge, thus modifying the vibrating properties of the string. In this manner, the spectrum of the sound is considerably enhanced (up to over 10 kHz).

The begena is a very powerful instrument, it keeps the devil thirty steps away, and its presence in the home wards off malicious spirits. Priests and preachers recommend its presence, especially during Lent (Fassika Tsom) when the Orthodox Amharas ponder their sins and repent. Because of its spiritual import, the begena generates intense emotion. According to some musicians, playing the begena brings them into direct contact with God or the Virgin Mary. The religious role of the begena is underscored by the shape of the instrument, each part symbolises an important element of the faith. The crossbar for instance, which reaches across the entire width of the instrument, represents God who is above all things. The belly which "gives birth" to the sound represents the Virgin Mary, and the ten strings recall the Ten Commandments.

Recorded by Stéphanie Weisser in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 2002-December 2005.

Mastered by Renaud Millet-Lacombe.

Issued under license from VDE-Gallo, Switzerland.