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“The future of Rock music is in safe hands” (10/10 Powerplay Magazine)… It’s time to embrace the next chapter of one of rock’s hardest-working bands. H.E.A.T storms back into the spotlight with the explosive new album “Welcome To The Future” – and it hits with full force!
In recent years, the Swedes have been impossible to ignore. At the front is Kenny Leckremo, undoubtedly one of the best rock and metal voices of his generation, with a stage energy that has been sorely missed in the scene.
Those lucky enough to meet the band know their passion for the ‘80s runs deep. H.E.A.T masterfully channels the spirit of rock’s most fun era, a time where exuberance reigned the stage, crafting a distinctive sound that melds power metal with melodic hard rock.
With “Welcome To The Future”, H.E.A.T brings you a heavy and melodic album packed with anthems that beg to be belted out. It’s an invitation to all who crave the rush of true arena rock.

Seit sie fünfzehn Jahre alt ist, steht Liv mit "Theatre Of Tragedy", und später mit "Leaves' Eyes" und unter ihrem eigenen Namen auf den großen und kleinen Bühnen in inzwischen über sechzig Ländern und verzaubert das Publikum mit ihrer engelsgleichen und facettenreichen Sopranstimme. Dabei stehen, sowohl für sie als Person als auch als Künstlerin, Authentizität und Herz immer an erster Stelle. Der Nachfolger des 2023er Erfolgsalbums "River Of Diamonds" wurde von Sascha Dannenberger produziert

Praise The Loud by Anthony Gomes, released 25 April 2025, includes the following tracks: "Netflix and Chill", "Meet My Maker", "Black Diamond Heavy", "Half" and more.

It is with a certain sadness for his fans across mediums that Donald Glover has declared Bando Stone and the New World the last Childish Gambino album. The ostensible soundtrack to a feature-length movie of the same name, the hour-long project includes snippets of dialogue that hint at the film’s apocalyptic subject matter. The fact that the soundtrack is preceding the actual film is part of Glover’s strategy: He wants listeners to work to figure out what they’re listening to. “The soundtrack forces the audience to participate in a way that I don't feel like most things force you to participate,” he says. “It forces you to have an imagination. I already see people being like, 'This is very cinematic, this must be the part that... This feels like a credit sequence.' A lot of stuff feels flat because it's not asking you to participate. Art used to be you had to participate on some level and have some sort of thought process on it. You can't just be like, 'Oh, this is mid.'” Even without the benefit of the full visuals, these 17 tracks make for a satisfying swan song that synthesizes what came before with fresher ideas gleaned from the threshold of finality.

Spacemen 3 began assembling their third album, 1988's Playing With Fire, at perhaps the freest, most confident point in their career. Recording began with the band road-tested and rugged, even amidst the functional volatility that famously motivated their course. The sessions' first offering came in the form of "Revolution," a single of heroic Stooges-devotion and the most commercially successful release the group had to date. High expectations for the album were soon exceeded, as Playing With Fire would become Spacemen 3's crowning studio achievement and cement their rightful place on the vanguard of otherworldly rock 'n' roll.

An exquisite mix of stuttering tremolo guitars and wistful melodies, Playing With Fire sheds any trappings of revisionism and furnishes a nuanced grade of psychedelia. Epic entries like "Suicide" (named after the notorious NYC band) and the mesmeric "How Does It Feel?" catch Spacemen 3 at their celestial apex, the very point where their collective writing, performance and production would crest and wondrously splinter.

Includes download card and new insert with liner notes by Marc Masters.

"Live in Oberhausen", das zweite Live-Album von KANONENFIEBER, wurde während ihrer bis dato größten Headliner-Show in Oberhausen aufgenommen. 1.800 Zuschauer füllten die ausverkaufte Turbinenhalle II, um Teil der "Die Urkatastrophe"-Tour zu werden. Sechzehn der insgesamt zwanzig europaweiten Konzerte waren bereits Monate vor dem Beginn der Tour ausverkauft. Damit konnte die Band, die nur 2,5 Jahre zuvor ihre erste Liveshow gespielt hat, einen weiteren Meilenstein in ihrer Karriere setzen.In der Setlist finden sich nicht nur beliebte Songs des Debütalbums- "Menschenmühle" und der darauffolgenden EPs, sondern auch acht Tracks aus ihrer neuesten Veröffentlichung "Die Urkatastrophe".KANONENFIEBER über das Konzept von "Die Urkatastrophe": "Der Erste Weltkrieg beschleunigte den Weg in die Moderne und gilt als die "Urkatastrophe" des 20. Jahrhunderts, das von Kriegen, Gewalt und Vertreibungen geprägt war. Etwa 17 Millionen Menschen, Soldaten und Zivilisten, verloren ihr Leben, große Teile Europas wurden zerstört und ungelöste Probleme hinterlas-sen, die zu weiteren gewaltsamen Konflikten führten. Dieses Album soll die Opfer des Ersten Weltkrieges dem Vergessen entrei-ßen. Mögen ihre Schicksale auch nach über 100 Jahren Mahnung sein für die nachfolgenden Generationen," erklärt Noise.Der Black und Death Metal von KANONENFIEBER soll nicht nur unterhalten, sondern anregen, sich weiterzubilden und das Bewusstsein gegen die Verherrlichung des Krieges schärfen. Denn im Krieg gibt es keine Gewinner. Alle verlieren - ihr Leben, ihre Seelen, ihre Menschlichkeit. Der Krieg wird oft abstrakt und anhand von trockenen Zahlen und Statistiken dargestellt. KA-NONENFIEBER wollen die Geschichten der Namenlosen und Gesichtslosen erzählen, um einen kleinen Einblick in ihre persön-lichen Schrecken und damit in das größte Grauen für die Menschheit als Ganzes zu gewähren. Krieg.Das Album erscheint in den folgenden Formaten: Ltd. CD+Blu-ray Digipak, Gatefold 2LP and Digital Album.

One of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the past decade, Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem emerged from cult favourite status to mainstream hero following the huge success of her empowering, truth-telling 2021 single ‘I Do This All The Time’. The song resonated intensely as a perfect example of Taylor’s affectionately termed ‘trojan horse’ or ‘salad and chips’ approach, fearlessly packing important, emotive messages into witty, resonant pop music.

Self Esteem’s wildly acclaimed second album Prioritise Pleasure quickly followed, tackling the hypocrisies and joys found in her experiences of modern day womanhood across dating, friendship, comparison culture, self love, women’s safety and sexual assault and much more. Prioritise Pleasure received Mercury Prize, BRIT Award, Sky Arts and NME Award nominations, was crowned The Guardian and Sunday Times Culture’s Album of the Year, and ‘I Do This All The Time’ was also named The Guardian’s #1 song of 2021.

Quite the opposite of an overnight success, Taylor spent a decade as one half of indie duo Slow Club before adopting the pop star persona she’d always dreamed of. She released her first Self Esteem album Compliments Please in 2019, featuring fan favourite singles ‘The Best’, ‘Girl Crush’ and more.

Gathering a passionate and vast legion of fans ever since, Taylor has appeared on The Graham Norton Show, Celebrity Gogglebox, Friday Night Live & Taskmaster, performed three times on Jools Holland including the NYE Hootenanny, graced the covers of magazines from Grazia to NME to Sunday Times Style, and is one of a handful of artists to have been playlisted across BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music simultaneously.

Having reached new heights of acclaim, Taylor continued to grow, diversify, and create in 2024. Branching out into the world of acting, Taylor starred in a regular role in the Sky series SMOTHERED before completing a run playing Sally Bowles in the multiple Olivier Award-winning production of 'Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club' in London's West End. Starring alongside Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) as Emcee, the pair’s time on stage was extended due to popular demand and showcased the sheer range of talent in Taylor’s repertoire. Last year’s releases ‘Big Man’ and ‘Love Second Music First’ followed a collaboration with Becky Hill on her song ‘True Colours’.

(10x12" box set, limited to 1000 copies, with premium finishing, uniquely numbered, incl. 10 records in individually printed sleeves, a booklet detailing the club's history & exclusive stickers) Boccaccio has secured its place among legendary venueslike Paradise Garage in New York and The Hacçinda in Manchester. Its bold fusion of emerging electronic genres such as New Beat, Acid, House, and Techno was way ahead of its time, drawing music lovers and clubbers from across Belgium and beyond.



Belgian label Music Man Records presents Boccaccio Life 1987-1993, a new compilation offering a fresh perspective on the legacy of the iconic Belgian club Boccaccio - often associated with the short-lived New Beat movement. The 40-track compilation highlights the raw and futuristic early house and techno sounds that were heard in the pioneering club.

Located in rural Destelbergen (Belgium), just a stone's throw from Ghent, Boccaccio has secured its place among legendary venues like Paradise Garage in New York and The Hacçinda in Manchester. Its bold fusion of emerging electronic genres such as New Beat, Acid, House, and Techno was way ahead of its time, drawing music lovers and clubbers from across Belgium and beyond. Sundays at Boccaccio were unlike anywhere else-offering sounds you couldn't hear anywhere else.

Boccaccio Life 1987-1993 is carefully curated by resident DJ Olivier Pieters and club regular Stefaan Vandenberghe, standing as the ultimate testament to a club that was more than just a venue. For those who experienced it, it was a community - a way of life. Hence the club's full name: Boccaccio Life.

This compilation stands as a testament to an innovative time in electronic music, capturing the raw, futuristic sounds of early house and techno. It sheds light on another side of Boccaccio, one that goes far beyond the short-lived New Beat scene. A carefully curated selection of 40 tracks, resonating with those who were there by offering familiar classics, while also reaching a new generation-those who never experienced it firsthand.

With tracks from Blake Baxter, Virgo, Frankie Knuckles, Tyree, and A Guy Called Gerald, the unmistakable influence of black American pioneers is clear-the originators of the firstanalog house and techno sounds. On the other hand, UK sound innovators such as The Orb and LFO bring both sharp textures and rough breakbeats to the table.

Club staple tracks include dreamy excursions from Roger Sanchez under his Egotrip moniker, the relentless basement house of Circus Bells by Robert Armani on Dance Mania, an uplifting take on a hip-house cut from The D.O.C. (Portrait of A Masterpiece in the CJ Ed-Did-It Mix), a timeless remix of UK Formation's Age of Chance from 1994, and an alternate take on The Tape by Boccaccio club regular and Belgian producer Frank De Wulf, taken from his B-Sides project.

While not always the obvious hits, these tracks have gracefully withstood the test of time, and were exclusive to Sundays at Boccaccio. Now, they are finally available to experience together in one collection, offering a timeless snapshot of a unique era.

An Introduction To Syd Barrett, is a reissue of the 2010 collection that brought together for the first time the tracks of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett on one compilation.

David Gilmour, who originally worked on Syd Barrett's two solo albums, as co-producer of The Madcap Laughs and as producer of Barrett, was the executive producer for the album. Damon Iddins and Andy Jackson at Astoria Studios remixed five tracks including ‘Octopus’, ‘She Took A Long Cool Look’, ‘Dominoes’ and ‘Here I Go’, with David Gilmour adding bass guitar to the last track. Pink Floyd's ‘Matilda Mother’ also received a fresh 2010 Mix.

The album features the original 24-page booklet and graphics plus all lyrics, and was designed including the cover art by long time Pink Floyd associate the late Storm Thorgerson and his estimable studio.

Born in Cambridge in 1946, Roger Keith 'Syd' Barrett was the primary songwriter, guitarist and original lead vocalist in the first incarnation of Pink Floyd. He formed the band in the mid-1960s with drummer Nick Mason, bassist Roger Waters and keyboard-player Richard Wright. With their groundbreaking, semi-improvised sets at the legendary UFO Club in London's Tottenham Court Road, they became the prime movers of British psychedelia.

Barrett wrote the warped pop vignettes ‘Arnold Layne’ and ‘See Emily Play’, the group's two hit singles from 1967, as well as 'Apples And Oranges', and the lion's share of the material – the dreamy ‘Matilda Mother’, ‘Chapter 24’ and the whimsical ‘Bike’ – on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Recorded at EMI's famed Abbey Road Studios while the Beatles were making Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd's first album has proved an enduring classic, referenced by everyone from David Bowie to Spiritualized via The Damned.

Barrett contributed ‘Jugband Blues’ to A Saucerful Of Secrets, the band's follow-up, but his behaviour became increasingly erratic and he left in April 1968, a few months after the addition to the group of his Cambridge friend David Gilmour on guitar and vocals.

Syd Barrett's first solo album, The Madcap Laughs, was a long time coming but made the Top 40 on its release in January 1970. Barrett followed in November that year, and contains tracks such as ‘Baby Lemonade’ and ‘Gigolo Aunt’ that provided the names for two cult US groups in the 80s and 90s.

Over the last four decades, Syd Barrett has become the ultimate rock enigma. In 1975, he paid an eerie visit to his former band mates at Abbey Road while they were recording ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’, the centrepiece of the Wish You Were Here album he had inspired. He never entered a studio again. In 2001, he was the subject of a BBC Omnibus documentary.

He died in July 2006 but his legacy lives on in the music of R.E.M., Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Cope, Spiritualized, Blur and countless other groups. Earlier this year, Faber and Faber published Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head, an exhaustive biography by long-time fan Rob Chapman.

An Introduction To Syd Barrett provides a handy overview of this visionary talent, this madcap genius whose star shone brightly yet burnt out all too quickly.

Yessss! Here it is! The comeback we have all been waiting for! Borrowed Identity is back! This classy producer and DJ from the German Black Forest has been making his mark some years ago (well it has been nearly a decade now) with releases on labels like Quintessentials (3 EPs to be precise), Circus Company or Foul & Sunk to name but a few. Now he teams up again with his Sandkastenbuddy Mechanical Soul Brother to present some super groovy, deep yet powerful and uplifting House tunes! Grab your copy and enjoy a hot summer!

With the Do For You EP, Fossar embarks on a deeply personal yet universal journey that’s as adventurous as our label’s name - Zissou. Known for his beautifully textured releases on Fuck Reality and Feuilleton, Fossar delivers a five-track exploration into the highs and lows of forging your own path. Each track reflects a different shade of the journey - passion, doubt, euphoria, and self-discovery, all woven together through Fossar’s signature warm basslines, hypnotic melodies, and crisp, driving rhythms.

More than just an EP, Do For You is a soundtrack for the summer, a call to take charge, and a reminder that the true adventure lies within. The path isn’t always clear, but the music is here to guide you.

Just Like You is the follow up to Falling In Reverse"s 2013 release Fashionably Late. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart, #4 on the Modern Rock Albums chart, and #3 on the Top Independent Albums chart. Falling In Reverse"s first album, The Drug in Me Is You debuted in the Billboard Top 20 in 2011. In 2012, Alternative Press gave Falling In Reverse the title of Artist of the Year while Revolver named Ronnie Radke one of the 100 Greatest Living Rockstars. Additionally, Falling In Reverse/frontman Radke have been on numerous magazine covers worldwide, including Alternative Press, Las Vegas Weekly, Rocksound, Hysteria, and Kerrang!. In 2014, Kerrang! named Ronnie one of the 50 Greatest Living Rockstars in the World, in the company of Lemmy, Slash, Steven Tyler, and Ozzy Osbourne. Reissued on Clear with Neon Pink Splatter vinyl to celebrate the 10th anniversary of it"s release.

2025 Repress

The precision of naming takes away from the uniqueness of seeing. In the case of Yan Cook, all come together in harmony, Yan joins the label with 4 very well crafted cuts, after a very steady profile and career, now is the time to make him shine even more.

In den letzten 24 Jahren war Tunde Adebimpe vor allem als Mitbegründer, Co-Sänger und Hauptkomponist von TV On The Radio bekannt. Die mehrheitlich schwarze Art-Rock-Band überstand zwei Jahrzehnte des unbeständigen kulturellen Wandels und wurde zu einer der beliebtesten, beständigsten und einflussreichsten Gruppen der New Yorker Rockszene der frühen 2000er Jahre. Obwohl Tundes poetisches Songwriting und seine überragende Stimme im Mittelpunkt von TV On The Radio stehen, wird die Band immer eine Zusammenarbeit zwischen einer Gruppe von Musikern sein. Tundes persönliche Geschichte verläuft parallel dazu, er ist eine Art kreativer Polymath. Er ist Musiker, aber auch Illustrator und Maler. Er ist ein ehemaliger Animator und Stop-Motion-Filmemacher (Celebrity Deathmatch). Er ist ein Fernseh- und Filmschauspieler, mit Rollen in Jump Tomorrow (2001), Rachel Getting Married (2008), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Twisters (2024) und Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024). Und jetzt ist er auch ein Solokünstler, mit seinem allerersten Soloalbum, "Thee Black Boltz". Das Album wurde von Tunde Abebimpe & Wilder Zoby produziert, mit Zoby als ausführender Produzent, mit zusätzlicher Produktion und Beiträgen von Jaleel Bunton & Jahphet Landis (von TV On The Radio) und anderen. Tunde hatte die Idee zu diesem Album im Jahr 2019, als TV On The Radio eine Pause einlegten. Zwei Jahre später, als sich die Welt von der Covid-Pandemie erholte, begann er ein Notizbuch mit Worten, Illustrationen und Ideen zu erstellen, das er als "Mixtape der Emotionen, die die Musik hervorrufen könnte. Eine Art Gefühlskarte" bezeichnet. Auf diese Weise beginnt Tunde die meisten seiner Projekte, und 2021 begann er, diese Ideen mit Hilfe des Multiinstrumentalisten Wilder Zoby (Run The Jewels), mit dem er sich in Los Angeles ein Studio teilt, in Musik umzusetzen. "Thee Black Boltz" ist kein TV On The Radio-Album. Aber die Aufregung, etwas alleine zu machen, entfachte in Tunde einen ähnlichen Funken wie in den frühen TV On The Radio-Tagen. Der Songwriting-Prozess ist derselbe, aber ohne seine TVOTR-Bandkollegen hatte Tunde "nicht dieses Gerüst, an dem er sich festhalten konnte. Das war sowohl beängstigend als auch aufregend". Das Herzstück des Albums ist sein Titel, eine Anspielung auf Tundes Neigung, über den Zustand des Menschen zu schreiben und zu singen, in all seinen Formen, unter all seinen großen und kleinen Stressfaktoren. Es ist seine Antwort auf das makroökonomische Unbehagen einer Welt nach der Pandemie, die sich auf einen gewalttätigen Autoritarismus zubewegt, und auf die persönliche Trauer, die durch den Verlust der letzten Jahre entstanden ist, insbesondere durch den plötzlichen Tod seiner jüngeren Schwester während der Aufnahmen zu diesem Album. "Thee Black Boltz" ist Tunde's verzweifeltes Festhalten an kleinen Momenten der Freude inmitten der Dissonanz und Traurigkeit, auf jede erdenkliche Weise. "Es war meine Art, mir einen Felsen oder eine Plattform inmitten dieses verdammten Ozeans zu bauen." Tunde schreibt in sein Notizbuch: "Die Funken der Inspiration/Motivation/Hoffnung, die inmitten von (und manchmal als Ergebnis von) tiefem Kummer, Depression oder Verzweiflung aufblitzen. Wie Elektronen, die sich in Gewitterwolken ansammeln und zusammenstoßen, bis sie einen Blitz abfeuern und einen Ausweg erhellen, wenn auch nur für eine Sekunde." Er fügt hinzu: "Außerdem ist es ein guter Name für eine coole Metal-Band, und ich denke, dass die meisten Leute mich als eine sehr coole Metal-Band bezeichnen würden."

If there's a group in this age that faithfully carries the torch of real group soul harmony, it must be these three cats from the US west coast by the name of Thee Baby Cuffs. Currently composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the trio prances on the stage with their new song "There Ain't Enough Roses". Produced together with the Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink, these gentlemen lay down pure soulful romantics enough to fill a jacuzzi. Even though they seem to be walking out from the candy and flower shop empty handed to meet their lover, they are equipped with lyrics and falsetto flows that can melt any heart. Continuing with their tried and tested downtempo ballad style, Thee Baby Cuffs deliver a soul boulder just as potent as their previous Timmion releases "My My Baby" and "You're My Reason", not to forget the brilliant work that they have put out on the Raza Del Soul label from California. So hop on in the passenger's seat and let Thee Baby Cuffs serenade you all the way to the sunset. In case you're more for the instrumentals, flip the single over to reveal the flute-led version that'll send you to that sweet Steve Parks lowrider territory in no time.

If there's a group in this age that faithfully carries the torch of real group soul harmony, it must be these three cats from the US west coast by the name of Thee Baby Cuffs. Currently composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the trio prances on the stage with their new song "There Ain't Enough Roses". Produced together with the Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink, these gentlemen lay down pure soulful romantics enough to fill a jacuzzi. Even though they seem to be walking out from the candy and flower shop empty handed to meet their lover, they are equipped with lyrics and falsetto flows that can melt any heart. Continuing with their tried and tested downtempo ballad style, Thee Baby Cuffs deliver a soul boulder just as potent as their previous Timmion releases "My My Baby" and "You're My Reason", not to forget the brilliant work that they have put out on the Raza Del Soul label from California. So hop on in the passenger's seat and let Thee Baby Cuffs serenade you all the way to the sunset. In case you're more for the instrumentals, flip the single over to reveal the flute-led version that'll send you to that sweet Steve Parks lowrider territory in no time.

Als Warped Tour Pop-Punk und American Apparel Indie-Rock das seltsame Post-Y2K-Milieu Gitarren-Band-Milieu dominierten, lieferten Bostons Karate einen fesselnden Schuss Rock, der sich ständig zwischen verschiedenen Schattierungen von unterirdischen Klängen bewegte. Die ruhigen Momente auf Karates viertem Album haben viel von der alten, ungezügelten Intensität, verwoben mit gedämpften Jazz-Melodien und Slowcore-Zurückhaltung. Diese 25-jährige Jubiläumsausgabe von Unsolved entspricht der Originalpressung aus dem Jahr 2000 und enthält auf Seite D die zwei Tracks der "Death Kit" 7" und den Song von der Crownhate Ruin Splitsingle.

Cherrie Coke Bottle Vinyl. Als Warped Tour Pop-Punk und American Apparel Indie-Rock das seltsame Post-Y2K-Milieu Gitarren-Band-Milieu dominierten, lieferten Bostons Karate einen fesselnden Schuss Rock, der sich ständig zwischen verschiedenen Schattierungen von unterirdischen Klängen bewegte. Die ruhigen Momente auf Karates viertem Album haben viel von der alten, ungezügelten Intensität, verwoben mit gedämpften Jazz-Melodien und Slowcore-Zurückhaltung. Diese 25-jährige Jubiläumsausgabe von Unsolved entspricht der Originalpressung aus dem Jahr 2000 und enthält auf Seite D die zwei Tracks der "Death Kit" 7" und den Song von der Crownhate Ruin Splitsingle.

AFIN returns to Frank Music with round 3! Alexander Franz is back on the sampler, delivering another fierce pack of tracks for the dancefloor. First up is "Disko Inferno", a peak-time-power-disco-house (PTPDH) banger that lives up to its name, igniting the energy. Next, "The Beloved" brings a groovy vibe, perfect for those with dancing feet and open hearts. Rounding out the release is "Body Rock", a track that gets your body moving, featuring a special vocal announcement that adds extra flavor. Once again, Birbs and Planties delivers solid gold basslines, locking in the rhythm.
Get ready for non-stop movement as AFIN delivers the goods. This one’s vinyl-only, so don’t wait—snag your copy and let’s make this spring real fun.

Full page feature in Wire Magazine (March 2025, Issue 493) 'the freak audio series continues with the lysergic You Didn't Hear It From Me which combines dubbed out sampledelia and metallic beats with ghostly saxophone soaked in an acid bath'

Polonius AKA Egyptian-French artist Seif Gaber, whose works spans a decade of “science fiction archeomiragical time travel" explorations and is an important piece of the healthy electronic/far out mosaic in Milan.

With a considerable number of releases under his name, both self released and through such likeminded labels as Ikuisuus, Goaty Tapes or Sun Araw's Sun Ark, Polonius grand vision encompasses a myriad of languages culled from kosmische travelings, exotica's dreamlands, soundtrack psychedelia, spiritual jazz escape routes and transmuted beat science to convey them into a sonic fiction where all these trails intertwine in a cosmological soundscape filled with wonder and speculation.

Building on last year's more beat-centric excursions of his self-titled vinyl debut on Stoned to Death, Polonius' first entry into the Discrepant extended family via Souk finds him dwelling deeper into rhythmic mystic extrapolations through a series of hallucinatory tracks. Conveying jungle's kinetic energy, dubwise meditations on bass weight, collapsing beats, globetrotting percussion accents and synth-driven night drives, 'You Didn't Hear It From Me' finds Polonius with a strong sense of purpose and direction, reconvening bits and pieces from the netherworld into a more urban scenario, not quite any we can stand or dance on. Just dream of.

Imagine having a song go viral for 17 years - without even knowing it. That's exactly what happened to the German 1980s band FEX. And this isn't just any song - it's The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet, a track that puzzled music detectives for decades before finally being identified in November 2024. Now, it has been officially released - twice.

The Story in Brief:
Sometime around 1984, a song was broadcasted on NDR Radio. The name of the song was Subways Of Your Mind - only found out 40 years later in November 2024. Back then, a listener recorded the NDR show on cassette, a common practice at the time. Decades later, the tape resurfaced, but while most songs from the recording were identified, one remained an enigma. On March 18, 2007, the track was uploaded to the internet in an attempt to uncover its origins. Due to its now-iconic opening lyric, it was tentatively titled Like The Wind. Over time, the mystery deepened, and the song was given a nickname: The Most Mysterious Song - or simply TMMS.

Starting in 2019, a dedicated Reddit group, TheMysteriousSong, now boasting over 63,000 members, took up the search. They meticulously documented every lead, hoping to solve the riddle of the song's origins. Then, in 2024, the breakthrough: Reddit user marjin1412 reached out to musician Michael Hädrich after discovering a reference to his band FEX in an old newspaper article. Hädrich, FEX's keyboardist, provided a recording from an old demo cassette which included an alternative version of the song. On November 4, 2024, the mystery was officially solved: FEX was the band, Subways Of Your Mind was the title.

What Happened Next:
Since then, FEX has released two singles - both featuring Subways Of Your Mind - through the Berlin-based independent label The Outer Edge. First, the demo cassette version was pressed onto vinyl, as the original NDR radio recording remained lost (see EDGE-028). The Remastered Demo Mix single instantly topped Bandcamp's global charts, holding the #1 spot for several days. By then, it was clear: this was more than just an internet curiosity. A real fanbase had formed. Enthusiastic comments on the sales page ranged from "best post-punk song to ever exist" to "FEX themselves (are) perhaps the most underrated musicians of all time."

But the story didn't end there. A higher-quality version of the NDR radio recording was rediscovered in late december, remastered, and now sent for a second vinyl pressing: the TMMS Version. This new vinyl 7" is backed with Talking Hands another great and unissued song that was found on the demo cassette.

Fame Comes with a Price
Suddenly, time isn't standing still for FEX. The band had to come to terms with the fact that they had become Lostwave super stars. A FEX fan club quickly formed on Reddit, fan-hosted FEX parties are popping up, and the internet is demanding more - an album, merchandise, live performances. But how does a band prepare for a comeback after a 40-year hiatus?

For now, FEX is carefully considering their next steps. Their demo cassette contains six songs - and a few other recordings have resurfaced which probably could be restored and compiled. But foremost, a brand new re-recording of Subways Of Your Mind is in progress.

One thing is certain: The Most Mysterious Song will continue its unstoppable journey around the world. Don't miss this (second) chance to own a piece of music history!

Joker Marble Vinyl. Romantic is Mannequin Pussy's standout 2016 album. Mannequin Pussy are a beloved rock band from Philadelphia. Their music feels like a resilient and galvanizing shout that demands to be heard; across four albums, the band has made cathartic tunes about despairing times. Romantic is the band's second full-length album, and it was widely critically acclaimed in NPR, Pitchfork, Stereogum, and many many. Stereogum named the title track, "Romantic" the #14 song of the year in 2016.

Silver Vinyl. SPELLLING, das Projekt der in der Bay Area lebenden kalifornischen Künstlerin Chrystia Cabral, veröffentlicht mit "The Turning Wheel" den Nachfolger von "Mazy Fly" aus dem Jahr 2019. Das neue Album dreht sich um Themen wie menschliche Einheit, die Zukunft, göttliche Liebe und die rätselhaften Höhen und Tiefen des Karnevals namens Leben. Auf "The Turning Wheel" stellt sich SPELLLING der ehrgeizigen Aufgabe, ein Album mit einem 31-köpfigen Ensemble aus Musikern zu orchestrieren und selbst zu produzieren. Das Ergebnis begeistert mit einer großen Bandbreite an akustischen Klängen, die ihre Arbeit in eine neue, lebendige Dimension überführen. Das Album ist in zwei Hälften, Above und Below, aufgeteilt. Der Above-Teil wird von opulenten Streichern, warmen Banjoklängen und dem Fagott dominiert. Im Verlauf kippt die eher jubilierende, verträumte Stimmung ins Schaurige und Gothic-hafte. Diese Entwicklung wird durch SPELLLINGs Gesangsstil verankert, der das theatralische und folkloristische Herz ihres Songwritings betont. Eröffnet wird der Above-Reigen von der Klavier untermalten Lead-Single "Little Deer", die mit bezaubernden Vocals und 17 verschiedenen Akustikinstrumenten aufwartet. Verzerrte Synthesizerklänge geben dem Track eine skurrile Note, der von dem Frida Kahlo-Gemälde Wounded Deer inspiriert wurde, auf dem sich die Künstlerin selbst als Mischwesen aus Tier und Mensch darstellt.

Tony Holiday has been at the center of a Memphis soul blues revival anchored by a contingent of young, savvy, well-schooled musicians who have a "family-like" attitude and a strong belief in one another. Over the past couple of years, Holiday has been touring hard, taking spells in between to write and record with Producer Eric Corne in Memphis and Los Angeles. The result is Keep Your Head Up, an album that demonstrates an impressive command of styles, as Holiday leads his band fluidly through Texas, Chicago and hill country blues with plenty of Memphis soul and even a touch of Afrobeat. It features a nice array of special guests including Eddie 9V, Kevin Burt, Albert Castiglia and Laura Chavez, last year's Blues Music Award winner for 'Guitarist of the Year’ with Holiday shining throughout on vocals and harmonica.

Formed in the same early 2010's scenes that spawned bands such as LVL Up, Ovlov, and Speedy Ortiz, Krill found success doing something completely different. The lyrics on Krill's debut LP "Lucky Leaves" reveal Jonah Furman to be a clear-headed and thoughtful oddball, compulsively considering both sides of every coin. The lyrics are as thought-provoking and endearing as the music is complex and refined. Krill is both a band's band, and a fan's band. Earworms such as 'Theme from Krill' and 'Theme from Krill (Reprise)' get stuck in your head on first listen, and it's no surprise that 2013 showgoers were singing along to these tunes almost immediately after hearing them. Now, with Krill back playing shows as the hilariously named "Krill 2", Exploding in Sound is thrilled to announce that "Lucky Leaves" is back in print! It's a certified EIS classic, and a record close to many people's hearts. Krill forever!

Following the success of last year’s Walks - their first album of completely original compositions - Group Listening release a new 12” vinyl of Tell Everyone Everything via PRAH Recordings.

The title track and artwork are informed by decay, expiration and musical renewal.

“The title comes from a music festival that happened a few years back in Bristol. A really small DIY festival, called Tell Everyone Everything. I really liked the title - so I stole it. The name stuck in my mind as something very open and positive - a radical action. It could be taken as a proposal for progressive change, or a revolutionary art manifesto,” explains Paul Jones.

“The cover art is a photo that I took a long time ago somewhere on a beach in Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire). The colours are all weird because it was taken on a very expired roll of Kodachrome. It’s sort of eerie. The bucket and spade had just been left there. It was one of the last ever rolls of Kodachrome to be processed, I snuck it into the developers on the last month they were still open, just before the very last processing plant was shut down forever.”

The release features remixes by both Ancient Plastix (who the duo toured with in 2024) and Loggsplitter. The band were delighted with the results: “I loved watching Ancient Plastix every night and was thrilled when he agreed to remix our song. It turned out great too”, says Stephen. Of the Loggsplitter remix Paul says: “It’s like a hot blast of compressed air travelling across the downs from a ravers airhorn. Lush”

Neil Young and Reprise Records announce the 18th April release of Coastal: The Soundtrack, featuring 11 live recordings from the tour film of the same name

Coastal is a personal, behind-the-scenes documentary on Neil Young as he cruises the coast on his 2023 solo US tour. The film gives an intimate view of the maverick musician, as he navigates a return to the stage post-Covid. From his everyday observations on the bus to his candid banter with his audience. Coastal is a rare peek behind the curtain of this unguarded iconoclast. The film was shot and directed by Daryl Hannah.
Coastal: The Soundtrack features 11 Neil Young songs including "Song X", "Vampire Blues" "Expecting To Fly", "Throw Your Hatred Down", "I Am A Child", and "Prime of Life". The album is released on black vinyl, limited edition clear vinyl (includes poster), CD and digitally.

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of cultures and musical traditions, C"mon Tigre is a dynamic duo that developsits identity into a collective of musicians and artists from all over the world. Along the years, they have collaborated with musicians such as Colin Stetson, Seun Kuti, Arto Lindsay, Xênia França and artists Gianluigi Toccafondo, Harri Peccinotti, Danijel Zezelj and Paolo Pellegrin to name a few. TEN, which stands for Tenth Edition Newness, is an expanded edition of their iconic Self Titled debutalbum, which was initially publishedin 2015 through Africantape on a limitedvinyl pressing. It sold out quickly, was later repressedby the band and sold out again. Today, it finds its chance to be reissued with the Computer Students_äó treatment. Fans will love this remastered version, which sounds substantially better than the original. The album"s expansion features a slightly altered record cover in addition to a 12-page booklet with a number of writings and images. TEN will be offered on double blackvinyl, audiophile quality pressing 180-gram, inside a gatefold cover. The entire package is housed in a unique heat-sealed aluminum Type-2 foil bag, courtesy of Computer Students_äó.

Carrying on their longstanding dedication to the seminal output of Merzbow, Urashima returns with what is unquestionably their most ambitious release to date: “Collection 001-010”, a deluxe, 10 LP vinyl box set limited to 299 copies, gathering together the entirety of the project’s first ten releases, originally released in 1981. Encountering the band in its early incarnation of the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani, raw, exposed and bristling with energy, foreshadowing numerous trajectories they would follow over the coming years, these astounding full lengths - the majority of which have never been released on vinyl - come housed in a beautifully produced, deluxe wooden box, with each LP in its own individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, and a LP-sized 32-page book containing reproductions of artworls and collages by Masami Akita, an interview conducted by Jim O'Rourke, and liner notes penned by Lasse Marhaug, Thurston Moore, and Akita himself, amounting to what is unquestionably one of the most historically significant releases we’re likely to encounter in 2025.

Deluxe Edition of 299 copies, remastered from the original analog tapes by Masami Akita, each LP comes in its individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, also includes a LP-sized 32-page book. ** Since its founding during the late 2000s, the Italian imprint, Urashima, has become a definitive voice in the landscape of noise. Bringing forth beautiful limited edition releases, they’ve sculpted a singular vision of one of the most vibrant and revolutionary bodies of experimental sound to have graced the globe. Among the many projects that they have supported over the decades, there has been an undeniable dedication to the output of the seminal Japanese noise outfit, Merzbow, making a significant amount of the project’s out of print back catalog available across a range of formats. Now they return with what is arguably their most stunning and ambitious release dedicated to the project to date: “Collection 001-010”, gathering the entirety of Merzbow’s first ten releases, largely privately released by the band on cassette across 1981, in a deluxe, 10 LP vinyl box set. Representing what is effectively ground zero in Japanese noise and collectively amounting to some of the most sought after releases ever produced within that movement, Urashima’s truly beautiful collection comes fully remastered by Masami Akita himself from the original tapes, presenting all but a small number in their first ever vinyl pressings, with each LP housed in its own individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, alongside a LP-sized 32-page book containing reproductions of artworks and collages by Masami Akita, an interview conducted by Jim O'Rourke, and liner notes penned by Lasse Marhaug, Thurston Moore and Akita himself. Towering with energy and groundbreaking creative vision, within the realms of noise and experimental music, releases don’t get more monumental or historically important than this!

Merzbow came roaring onto the Tokyo scene in 1979, and remains, to this day, one of the most prolific and aggressively forward-thinking projects in experimental music. Eventually becoming the solo vehicle for the efforts of Masami Akita, in its earliest incarnation the project was the duo of Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani, taking their name from German artist Kurt Schwitters' pre-war architectural assemblage, The Cathedral of Erotic Misery or Merzbau, and quickly set out to challenge entrenched notions of what music could be. Embracing technology and the machine, even in its earliest iterations, Merzbow pushed toward new territories of the extreme, arriving at a space of pure, unadulterated sonic onslaught that has continued, for over 40 years, to set the pace for the entire genre of noise, and has remained one of the movement’s most important, definitive voices, continuously laying the groundwork for countless artists who have followed in its wake.

When dealing with historical gestures, there’s an invertible aura surrounding original line-ups and early statements, and rightfully so. It is often within a band’s debut that we catch the purest glimpse of the raw energy and creative ferment that made them what they are. This is certainly the case when regarding the coveted early releases of Merzbow, capturing the emergence of the project in its form as the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani as they helped set the blue print from the then emerging movement of Japanese noise. Over the course of its nearly five decades of activity, Merzbow has always been noted for how prolific and ambitious the project is. This was no less the case in the very beginning. While they were active for roughly two years prior, in 1981 alone they issued ten self-released cassettes numerically titled “Collection 001-010”, albums which have both individually and collectively become holy grails in the realms of noise, with only two - “Collection 007” and “Collection 009” - ever receiving vinyl reissues prior to now.

As Lasse Marhaug deftly articulates in the newly commissioned liner notes for “Collection 001-010”, despite having been recorded in different location across a span of time, the sum total of Merzbow’s first ten releases might be best regarded as a single release to be listened to in the same, durational sitting, with the material standing well apart from what most came to expect from Merzbow, while foreshadowing numerous trajectories the project would take over the coming years. Not only do these recordings feature a vast array of instrumentation - tapes, acoustic and electric guitar, violin, drums, voice, recorder, organ, found sounds, clarinet, homemade and prepared instruments, a vast arsenal of effects and electronics, and piano, to only begin to scratch the surface - the majority of which would disappear from the project’s active sources of sound generation over the subsequent years, but there is a slow pacing and raw sense of openness and exposure that reveals strong connections to the avant-garde improvisations of groups like AMM, Musica Elettronica Viva, and Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, the psychedelia of groups like Taj Mahal Travellers and Flower Traveling band (both of whom Akita mentions having seen in youth within his interview with Jim O’Rourke), and rock in general - albeit in fully abstracted forms - unspooling as brittle, pointillistic, textural, raw and abrasive forms, that occasionally flirts with unexpected tonal sensibilities. As Marhaug describes it in his excellent liner notes: «Sonically, “Collection” sounds more sparse and stripped. It’s dry sounding, up-front, no reverb, and there’s less heavy low-end grime and thin on the signature frequency sweeps. Viewed in a 1981 context, musically, it’s more akin to what the LAFMS (Los Angeles Free Music Society) pool of artists were doing at that time than what was happening in industrial music... There’s a strong playfulness throughout, like the sound objects are being explored for the first time, without neither restraint nor hurry. Events are allowed to be fully examined before the music moves on, or simply cuts off. To a large degree, the music on “Collection” feels acoustic in nature, although a Electro-Harmonix ring-modulator features prominently throughout.»

Easily described as a rarely encountered revelation into the original and earlier documented studio sound of Merzbow, “Collection 001-010” collectively amounts to an engrossing sonic journey in its own right, while also allowing for important, often overlooked connections drawn from numerous other creative wellsprings, notably free jazz, underground rock, the output of European and Japanese avant-garde music, as well as Dada, Fluxus, and Mail Art, much of which, beyond the illumination made possible by the sounds, Jim O’Rourke’s fantastic interview with Akita, published in the booklet, further explores, offering great insights into the origins of Merzbow and the thinking behind the project, as well as aspects of the earliest days of Japanese noise.

How does one approach the morning after a party for the end of the world? This is a question which Mamuthones had to ask themselves, in the wake of their last album for Rocket, 2018's Fear On The Corner. Nonetheless, from the aftermath of this uncertain period has risen the still more flourishing realm of From Word To Flesh - a colourful and multi-faceted creation very much befitting the outsider spirit of Rocket's new Black Hole imprint. “I believe that with this album a circle has been closed” reflects Mamuthones mainman Alessio Gastaldello. “We returned to the atmosphere of the first Mamuthones albums with the skills acquired throughout the journey, with new sounds and with new creative processes. I would say that what remains constant – and at the core of our music – is the obsessive rhythms and the search for a sonic rituality: this is for certain our trademark”. This is clear right from the curtain raiser 'Burn From Inside', which beams the emotive approach of the band through the shamanic prism of Coil's Ape Of Naples. From there, hypnotic repetition marries to abstract abrasion and mournful laments with equal finesse, as redolent of the spiritual zest of Popol Vuh and Ash Ra Tempel as the gnostic folk of Six Organs Of Admittance. Elsewhere, 'A Symmetry Of Faith' summons a union of post-punk and psychically charged folk aligned with the recent work of Bristol's Beak. The Sardinian ritual of the Mamuthones – in which sinister masked figures weighed down with cattle bells conduct a ceremonial procession to ward off evil forces - has gone on for some two thousand years, and it may be that these ghoulish avatars are engaged in a celebration of the endless cycles of death and rebirth, fortifying spirits for a new epoch. Amidst the chaos and tumult of the 2020s, the band of this name has undergone just such a change themselves, and ‘From Word To Flesh’ is the fruit of their struggle. As Alessio says “With this album I think the Mamuthones have never been so unmediated, so naked: all masks gone”

Authentic group soul harmony that is guaranteed to appeal to fans of downtempo soul ballads. Accompanied with an instrumental version, where the flute plays the lead vocal melody. A recognizable continuation to the previous collaboration between the singers and the Cold Diamond & Mink band. If there’s a group in this age that faithfully carries the torch of real group soul harmony, it must be these three cats from the US west coast by the name of Thee Baby Cuffs. Currently composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the trio prances on the stage with their new song “There Ain’t Enough Roses”. Produced together with the Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink, these gentlemen lay down pure soulful romantics enough to fill a jacuzzi. Even though they seem to be walking out from the candy and flower shop empty handed to meet their lover, they are equipped with lyrics and falsetto flows that can melt any heart. Continuing with their tried and tested downtempo ballad style, Thee Baby Cuffs deliver a soul boulder just as potent as their previous Timmion releases “My My Baby” and “You’re My Reason”, not to forget the brilliant work that they have put out on the Raza Del Soul label from California. So hop on in the passenger’s seat and let Thee Baby Cuffs serenade you all the way to the sunset. In case you’re more for the instrumentals, flip the single over to reveal the flute-led version that’ll send you to that sweet Steve Parks lowrider territory in no time.

Authentic group soul harmony that is guaranteed to appeal to fans of downtempo soul ballads. Accompanied with an instrumental version, where the flute plays the lead vocal melody. A recognizable continuation to the previous collaboration between the singers and the Cold Diamond & Mink band. If there’s a group in this age that faithfully carries the torch of real group soul harmony, it must be these three cats from the US west coast by the name of Thee Baby Cuffs. Currently composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the trio prances on the stage with their new song “There Ain’t Enough Roses”. Produced together with the Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink, these gentlemen lay down pure soulful romantics enough to fill a jacuzzi. Even though they seem to be walking out from the candy and flower shop empty handed to meet their lover, they are equipped with lyrics and falsetto flows that can melt any heart. Continuing with their tried and tested downtempo ballad style, Thee Baby Cuffs deliver a soul boulder just as potent as their previous Timmion releases “My My Baby” and “You’re My Reason”, not to forget the brilliant work that they have put out on the Raza Del Soul label from California. So hop on in the passenger’s seat and let Thee Baby Cuffs serenade you all the way to the sunset. In case you’re more for the instrumentals, flip the single over to reveal the flute-led version that’ll send you to that sweet Steve Parks lowrider territory in no time.

R&B duo THEY. — songwriter Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — have developed a smooth, future-facing sound for nearly a decade. In the early days, it was simple; two artists aligning on an appreciation for '90s R&B, new jack swing, and the height of soul-sampling hip-hop. Jones making beats and Love on the lines, a basic, balanced, and open-ended setup, free from major label expectations (which they'd feel on their 2017 breakout Nü Religion: Hyena) and high-profile collaborations (explored on 2018's Fireside, 2020's The Amanda Tape, and 2023's Nü Moon). They're proud of every stop along their story, while hindsight and a fresh perspective after signing to Secretly-affiliate label drink sum wtr have afforded them some distance to reflect on where THEY. goes next. The answer is LOVE.JONES. Here the duo exudes a whole new energy by reasserting their artistry in its most potent and pure form, just Love and Jones, making straight-fire, love-making music indebted to the golden neo-soul era that gave us the namesake 1997 film. “Forget the features, forget bringing in the big producers and writers. It's really just a return to our original dynamic," says Jones. Refined and reinvented, THEY. have arrived at their boldest work, a stacked, high-energy collection celebrating Black art, culture, and "the intense feelings of Black love."

Wild ecstatic vocals, distorted electric guitars, rocket bass, and the amphetamine beat! // Unlike anything else, this is THE high life music you've always wanted // Ceremonial music played with abandon and extreme intent, honoring the living and dead alike // Recorded on location in SW Madagascar by Maxime Bobo // “Tsapiky music from Southwest Madagascar features wild ecstatic vocals, distorted electric guitars, rocket bass, and the amphetamine beat! Unlike anything else, this is THE high life music you've always wanted - ceremonial music played with abandon and extreme intent, honoring the living and dead alike. In Toliara and its surrounding region, funerals, weddings, circumcisions and other rites of passage have been celebrated for decades in ceremonies called mandriampototse. During these celebrations – which last between three and seven days – cigarettes, beer and toaky gasy (artisanal rum) are passed around while electric orchestras play on the same dirt floor as the dancing crowds and zebus. The music, tsapiky, defies any classification. This compilation showcases the diversity of contemporary tsapiky music. Locally and even nationally renowned bands played their own songs on makeshift instruments, blaring through patched-up amps and horn speakers hung in tamarind trees, projecting the music kilometers away. Lead guitarists and female lead singers are the central figures of tsapiky. Driven as much by their creative impulses as by the need to stand out in a competitive market, the artists distinguish themselves stylistically through their lyrics, rhythms or guitar riffs. They must also master a wide repertoire of current tsapiky hits, which the families that attend inevitably request before parading in front of the orchestra with their offerings. This work, a constant push and pull between distinction and imitation, is nourished by fertile exchanges between various groups: acoustic and electric, rural and urban, coastal or inland. What results during these ceremonies is a music of astonishing intensity and creativity, played by artists carving out their own path, indifferent to the standards of any other music industry: Malagasy, African or global. Recorded live on location by Maxime Bobo, this vinyl LP includes a 4-page full-color insert with detailed liner notes plus photos of the musicians and surroundings.”

Renowned DJ and selector MURO is a Jedi-level compiler and this new collection of his delves into Victor's extensive archives to spotlight a world of Japanese jazz, fusion and AOR. It take sin plenty of internationally known names like Yasuko Agawa on the sunset sounds of 'L.A. Night', Sadistics who offers the more psyched out guitar leans of 'On the Seashore', Yuji Ohno's neo-Balaeric bliss-out 'The Dawn of Seychells' and Hiroshi Fukumura's soul soothing Ry Ayres-style melodies on 'White Clouds.' These are luxurious sounds and timeless tracks with MURO's signature funky perspective making this a brillaint choice for brighter, warmer days.

Limited first run of 7” Vinyls

The two tracks feature a different sound to most of James’ other solo releases, with production employing a more sample-based approach, rather than the electronic-based productions James is usually heard on.

James Massiah is a well known, and loved poet & musician from South London. He is known for his poetry works over the past ten years, prolifically writing and performing poetry both in London and around the world.

In addition to this he is a member of Dean Blunt’s enigmatic group ‘Babyfather’ (under the name ‘DJ Escrow’) with which James has performed around the world, and been part of many recordings/ albums, such as the seminal ‘"BBF" Hosted By DJ Escrow’, which featured credits from Mica Levi & Arca.

‘Holland Park’ features production by London-based artist/ producer Shimz343 & ‘Hot Winter’ features production by aloisius, founder of life is beautiful records (a london-based gesamtkunstwerk/ label & collective that regularly curate shows at venues such as Cafe OTO & Ormside Projects).

James Massiah was special guest at the first ever show life is beautiful hosted, in early 2023 at Ormside Projects (which was the start of a busy two years of live shows and releases by life is beautiful records, who’ve since hosted shows including: DJ Spanish Fly (UK Debut), Novelist, Lord Tusk, Lolina, Slauson Malone 1, John Glacier, Pretty V & Jadasea.

South Londons’ indomitable Medlar delivers an ambitious new album

The long-time underground favourite has collaborated with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters, Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey and Arnau Obiols on an album that finds him taking his production to new levels.
From roots playing illegal raves in the South West to building up a cultured catalogue that bounces between house and garage, Medlar has long been part of the underground conversation. He has dropped a previous album and many innovative remixes and edits for the likes of Billy Cobham and Shirley Lites, worked in the studio and on stage with Afro legend Dele Sosimi and most recently released an album under his own name that collected myriad different sonic sketches from the past 15 years.

Islands is an altogether different proposition that comes after establishing himself as a mix engineer and producer of other people's music. In that time, Medlar has honed his skills, learnt new tricks and grown more able to express himself in sound. The result is an album that explores a more electronic palette inspired by '80s fusion sounds whilst maintaining a loose, organic flow through his use of live instrumentation. “The idea for the LP was for a collection of music which could sit alone as club tracks, but would work equally well as part of a whole. The name Islands came from this, as there's some connecting ideas but the tracks sit independently in their own little sonic worlds. I took a lot of inspiration from early 80’s electronic music produced during early years of MIDI technology… proto house, jazz fusion, electronic disco and experimental ambient. I wanted to juxtapose some of these methods with more contemporary production and make something that's ultimately quite fun!” says Medlar of the record which could easily soundtrack a summer road trip.

Across 11 tracks, he blends old-school techniques like a fusion of live instruments, FM synthesis and MIDI triggered vocal samples with more contemporary touches such as punchy, club-friendly drums and dub inspired, speaker-wobbling low end. The result is less reliant on samples than his previous works and makes for a perfect blend of retro authenticity and future freshness.

The legendary NYC label Nu Groove commits another pair of releases to wax, this time featuring recent tracks from Swiss producer Deetron and underground house staple Bruise. Inspired by the soulful techno and house birthed in Detroit, Deetron relaunched Nu Groove alongside NYC house legend Jovonn in 2021 before returning with a two-track release in 2023.

The lead, ‘Runnin’’, offers sharp house built from the creative use of loops and noise manipulation, while ‘AM_909’ is noted for its more dreamlike quality. Two tracks from Bruise’s Nu Groove debut ‘Transit EP’ follow, as the Birmingham born producer Christian Campbell delivers ‘Sway’, aptly named for its low-slung beats and ethereal builds, while ‘Getup’ is more reminiscent of gems from the original Nu Groove catalogue.

The Delights formerly unissued recording “Listen To Me Girl” first made it’s vinyl debut during 2017 when released back to back with Tearra’s modern soul anthem “Just Loving You” (SJ1008). Having sold out very quickly this release now commands a price of £60.00 a copy. So, with demand still high we have decided to release “Listen To Me Girl” for a second time with the addition of two recently found unissued master tape tracks, which make their vinyl debut as part of this 3 track EP.

The Delights story began in the early 1960’s while as a children’s group from Chester PA. known as ‘The Twilights’ they began entering local talent shows which culminated in a performance at Philadelphia’s prestigious ‘Uptown Theatre’ during 1963. ‘The Twilights’ made their professional recording debut in 1964 for Weldon McDougal III, Johnny Stiles and Luther Randolph’s Harthon Production’s label with “It’s Been So Long/She Put Me Down” (TW-34). A second Twilights 45 came in 1967 “Shipwreck/For The First Time” (TW-35) which sold sufficiently well to be picked up for national distribution by Cameo Parkway. The group consisted of four male vocalists, brothers Kemp “Toppy” Hill, Ellis “Butch” Hill (the eldest) and Jaime “Peanut” Hill and their friend Raymond, plus lead singer and only female member Brandi ‘Peaches’ Wells (born Marquerite J. Pinder) who was only 9 years old when she sang on the group’s first Harthon 45, (Jaime Hill reputedly never featured on either of the two Harthon 45 recordings).

The Hill Brothers were cousins of Manny Campbell and it’s through this family connection that the group came to Emandolynn Productions initially as backing singers before being persuaded by Manny to drop their former performing name of ‘The Twilights’, to become ‘The Delights’. Under Manny and fellow Philadelphian Charles J. Bowen’s tutelage they recorded the delightful crossover dance track “Listen To Me Girl” during the months of July and August of 1968. Recent unearthed master tape finds from these early sessions have since yielded the featured “Come And Rejoice” an energetic subtle gospel influenced dance track which Manny wrote and produced on them in the hope of giving them a wider body of work and appeal as he shopped their demos around local record companies. The original backing track to “Listen To Me” is also featured on this release.

During the mid-1970’s ‘The Delights’ under the tutelage of respected Philly producer, arranger and songwriter Morris Bailey Jr recorded two 45 releases for the Jamie/Guyden distributed Phil-L.A Of Soul label “It’s As Simple As That/I’ve Got Enough Sense” (PH-374) and “Face The Music/Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” (PH-379). Brandi Wells had left the group prior to the Phil-L.A Of Soul releases to firstly join Major Harris’s backing singers ‘Brown Sugar’ before forming the group ‘Breeze’ who backed fellow WMOT label stable mates Billy Paul, Fat Larry & Philly Cream (a.k.a Ingram). Breeze later evolved into the group Slick who recorded the self-named album which produced the chart hits “Space Bass” and “Sexy Cream”. In 1981 Brandi recorded her first solo debut album ‘Watch Out’ which reached #37 on the Billboard R&B Chart, her second solo album entitled “20TH Century Fox” followed in 1985 for the Omni label. She recorded the Butch Ingram penned “I Love You” 12” single for Butch’s Society Hill records in 1992. Sadly, Brandi Wells passed away in 2003 at the age of 47.