Topaz Jones is a rapper, producer, and filmmaker from Montclair, NJ. Rooted in an independent ethic, Jones’ oeuvre moves to document and preserve the intimacy and intricacies of Black life. His music builds from a deep investment in community, concerning itself with all measures of time at once; his vantage effortlessly weaves through the (sur)real with generous detail and the sensitivity of one who’s lived many times before. It’s hip-hop for now, as informed by the depths of tradition - funk, soul, jazz - and a grand imagination for what’s to come. To experience Topaz Jones is to be greeted with unseen flavors of a collective familiar performer both decorated and versatile, Topaz Jones is a trailblazer across medium and genre. He shapeshifts with ease, rendering no stage or space unfit for his presence. He’s shared stages with Future, David Bryne, The Roots, and Moses Sumney, and been featured at Bonnaroo, Wireless Festival, and Rolling Loud. Jones’ music has amassed over 50 million streams, earning features in the likes of Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Pitchfork, The FADER, and Okayplayer. In 2021, Jones released his critically- acclaimed second album Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma. The album’s accompanying short film, a collaboration with directorial duo rubberband., received a Short Film Jury Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, and was acquired by The New York Times Op-Docs
As for the music: no sophomore slumping to be
found here. Back then Matador wrote, “With
impossibly huge hooks and an innate
understanding of every pop trick in the book, this
follow-up to 2000’s breakthrough ‘Mass Romantic’
is the most exciting pop record we’ve heard in a
long while.”
For once, tastemakers of the day shared the
label’s enthusiasm: “The New Pornographers mix
the pop purism of the Beach Boys, the power
charge of Cheap Trick and the gentle psychedelia
of Syd Barrett,” wrote the New York Times, who
labelled ‘Electric Version’ “Some of the best pop of
the year.”
The classic quote originally coined at the DMC World DJ Championships and now an eye-catching design that will enhance the features of your decks.Made from the finest but strongest felt material, DMC slipmats are the no.1 choice for djs and vinyl lovers across the World.Dependable & hard wearing, they are also resistant to dust & other particles, so will not scuff, scratch or damage vinyl.Great for your home, studio, club or in competition.DMC's superior slipmats are your turntable and vinyl's best friend.
When South Korean balearic prodigy Mogwaa came to MM Discos with an idea for his rst full-length album, we were a bit surprised.
He said, ‘I want to do an album of bossa tracks with synths, a drum machine and my guitar’. We obviously had to take him up
on that deal.
Fresh from the recent Bandcamp feature on his own brand of danceoor-ready modern boogie, Seungyoung Lee (aka Mogwaa)
arrives back on MM Discos with his - and our - rst full length exercise. With six tracks per side of 80s inuenced synth and bossa
badness, ‘Hazy Dreams’ is an exercise in simplicity, and more proof of the ever-expanding musical horizons of one of the scene’s
most virtuosic instrumentalists.
Pairing a sensitivity to the construction of ambient, funk, bossa and cassette-tape 80s experiments with his own cinematic subtlety,
‘Hazy Dreams’ takes a gentle, minimalistic approach, crafting its own escapist world that oers a welcome diversion from the
steady ow of busy balearica and downtempo.
Opening track ‘Full Bloom’ paints a picture of midsummer at dawn, some clear-skied island where lush vegetation climbs through
hibiscus gardens. ‘Nacimiento’ is an AOR/bossa crossover evoking West Coast yachting in full afternoon, and A3, ‘Soothing’, adds
a touch of wistfulness with reverb-doused guitars over meandering bass motifs.
The easy kick-and-snare combo of ‘Levitation’ sets the scene for a drum machine love aair, unrequited love on the rocks, and
‘Flashback’ plays with short delay trails and o-kilter melodic sequences, where you feel the soft presence of the nebula approaching
at the break of day. Closing out the A-side, ‘Dispatching’ reaches out even further into the imagined cosmos of Mogwaa’s
picture-perfect world, portraying an ambience at dusk, observing, calmy, as pued-up pink clouds melt into the evening canvas.
On the other side, Mogwaa explores quiet corners with ‘Illusions’, a slow meditation on the nature of simple presence, and ‘Echoes
of You’, a stream of subdued brush strokes that crescendo into higher frequencies on gently undulating pads. B3, ‘Moondance’,
ups the tempo and recalls classic Mogwaa with its sideways shue and starry melodic refrain, pivoting through folk-dance
moods and surprising chord changes.
Nearing the end of the album, ‘Footprints’ wades through tall grass in search of altered states, innite and hypnotic, changing
course only to crouch down and study the landscape, and B5, ‘It always comes and goes’, pictures the to-and-fro of jetstreams and
comets in the blinding midday sky. Finally we have the closing credits of ‘Swingin’ that looks o into the horizon, jaunty and exalted,
a guitar-led tribute to an easy-going world, and ultimately mindful of the power of dreams.
We’re humbled to have such a special record for our rst full-length release on the label.
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Es beherrscht ein grauer, stimmungsvoller und dichter Spätherbst-Tag das Geschehen. Viel zu früh hat der Himmel sich verdunkelt. Jetzt plätschert gleichförmig und regelmäßig Regen auf die Straßen, auf die Erde, auf die griesgrämig wirkenden Menschen herab. So stellt man sich die Atmosphäre vor, in welcher das sechste Subsignal-Studioalbum "A Poetry of Rain" entstanden ist.
Fünf endlos wirkende Jahre ließen Subsignal ihre Anhänger auf neue akustische Klang-Abenteuer warten. "Und auch das hatte wieder mit der Pandemie zu tun", offenbart Markus Steffen den Grund für die quälend lange Pause. "Existenzängste schlichen sich ein", reflektiert er. "Im Zuge dessen verließ der langjährige Bassist Ralf Schwager die Band. Mit Martijn Horsten aus Rotterdam war allerdings rasch würdiger Ersatz gefunden. Dennoch schwelgen die zehn Kompositionen vor Sehnsucht und einer gehörigen Portion Wehmut."
Der progressive Mix aus Rock, Metal und Artrock gelingt scheinbar spielerisch. Ausnahme-Drummer Dirk Brand setzt dabei eine fulminante Basis, auf die mal rockige, mal elegante Gitarren-Sounds zusammen mit den Keyboards einmalige Klangwelten zaubern. Darüber schwebt das wunderbare Timbre von Sänger Arno Menses - immer präsent, immer einnehmend, voller Leidenschaft und Kraft. Dazu trägt auch die kristallklare und druckvolle Produktion von Yogi Lang von ihrem Label Gentle Art Of Music bei.
Presse:
Rocks 9/10: "Songs wie ›Impasse‹ oder "Marigold‹ berühren, transportieren Gefühle und packen den Hörer, wie es sonst Marillion, Yes oder Kansas am besten können. Auf welch hohem Niveau die Herren musizieren, wird bei Nummern wie The Art Of Giving Ins oder ›Sliver (The Sheltered Garden)‹ klar, aber Komplexi-lät ist hier nie Mittel zum Zweck."
Deaf Forever 8.5/10: "…meistens die wie immer großartigen Refrains, die einen aufrichten. ….wie gewohnt exzellent gesungene Artrock-Stücke, die von den nach fünf Jahren Wartezeit dürstenden Anhängern nun endlich auch zu Hause genossen werden können."
Rock It - Soundcheck #6/32: "…so steht der Name Subsignal auch auf Album Nummer sechs doch für handgemachte Qualitätsarbeit mit Herz und Seele. Reinhören, eintauchen und mitfühlen!"
Break Out: "Mit "Poetry Of Rain" unterstreichen Subsignal ihre Ausnahmestellung im Rock: Scheibe unbedingt zulegen! Ich bin mir sicher, dass niemand bei diesem Longplayer enttäuscht sein wird, der sich in melodischen Bereichen mit progressiven Parts wohlfühlt."
Gäste:
David Bertok - Keyboards "Embers Part II - Water Wings)
Marek Arnold - Saxophon "The Last of its Kind"
Yogi Lang - Keyboards
Dietmar Waechtler - Pedal Steel "The Art of Giving In"
Iraklis Choraitis - Backing Vocals "Sliver (The Sheltered Garden)"
Andy Taylor - Songwriter, Gitarrist, Sänger und Mitglied der Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, der unter anderem mit Duran Duran, The Power Station, Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, The Almighty, Thunder und The Ting Tings gearbeitet hat, kehrt mit seinem neuen Album Man's A
Wolf To Man" zurück, seiner ersten Solo-Veröffentlichung seit über 30 Jahren.
Der Umstand, dass sich die Veröffentlichung von "Man's A Wolf To Man" durch die Auswirkungen der Pandemie verzögerte, gab Andy die Möglichkeit, das Album zu überarbeiten und neu zu gestalten.
Während dieses kreativen Prozesses wurde er mit der Nachricht
konfrontiert, dass der Prostatakrebs, gegen den er angekämpft hatte, unheilbar war. Das Ergebnis ist jedoch ein Album, dass alles andere als wütend ist: "Influential Blondes" beispielsweise startet mit einem durch und durch mitreißenden, glamourös anmutenden Refrain, "Try To Get Even" - ein Duett mit Tina Arena - ist eine wunderschöne Country-Rock-Ballade, "Reachin' Out To You" steht genau für die Art von funkigem Rock, den die Fans von The Power Station lieben werden. "Gettin' It Home" ist purer, energiegeladener Hardrock, in "This Will Be Ours" oder auch "Gotta Give" erleben wir, wie Andy sich von Skiffle geprägten Grooves in raues, Stones-artiges Stampfen gleiten lässt.
Mit einem Soloalbum, auf das er zu Recht stolz ist und einer speziellen Therapie, die sein Leben retten und nachhaltig verändern wird, spielt Andy Taylor im Jahr 2023 in der ersten Liga mit.
KAU (previously KAU trio.) is an instrumental trio based in Brussels. Representing various European backgrounds, the Belgian capital and melting pot proves to be a never ending source of inspiration for the band. Taking influences from jazz, groove and dance music, their aim is simple but straightforward: to make your heads bob. The formula they use to do so has been the same since their early days: improvisation, never ending jam sessions and an open-mindedness towards various genres and styles. This gives their music an organic and vibrant feel. Furthermore, the three boys' long-lasting friendship is at the heart of it all, always relying on what brings them together: their love for music. The KAU cycle is bound to repeat itself and to birth something new - over and over again.
"The Cycle Repeats" is KAU's debut album, due on September 22 on SDBAN Ultra, the home of ECHT!, Black Flower, Glass Museum, STUFF. and more. It represents a milestone in the band's musical journey: it's their firm decision to present a strong and unified trio playing music that stands out through the combination of 80's synths, acoustic drums and electric bass. Moreover, the album succeeds in capturing the energy of their infectious and legendary live shows.
Highlights are album opener "Kampala", which has a throbbing bassline, jazzy synths and heavily modified arpeggiators at its core. The album's first single "Little Steps" starts with a strong hip hop groove, morphing into Herbie Hancock-style chords. "Amulet" is inspired by breakbeats, fast paced grooves and pentatonic bass lines. Both "Kautokeino" and "Alaska" are an invitation to travel to the utmost remote places of this earth, using intense sequencing and suffocating subbasses into an epic finish, probably demonstrating the trio in its most sincere form.
In short: with André Breidlid on drums, Matteo Genovese on bass and Jan Janzen on synths, KAU are a trio of childhood friends with a pan-European identity, whose music reflects the city they grew up in: unapologetic, richly diverse and with a spontaneous groove underlining it all. With their new album "The Cycle Repeats" they directly aim for your dancing shoes and souls.
Neil Young gilt als Godfather of Grunge Rock. Seine Karriere begann 1966 mit der Band Buffalo Springfield, absolvierte erfolgreich Tourneen mit The Crazy Horse und ist auch als Solo-Künstler ein Weltstar.
Im Jahr 1976 wurde dieses Akustik-Konzert vom US-Radiosender W CM-01 mitgeschnitten und erscheint nun als strikt limitierte, in weißem Vinyl gepresste Schallplatte.
Svart Records proudly presents the reissue of classic debut album by early 80’s Welsh punksters The Partisans! The Partisans, often described as “The Professionals meet The Clash”, were a punk band from Wales that started in '78, when all four members were still in their early teens. Their self titled debut album hit No.5 in the Independent Chart and No.1 in the Punk Chart when first released on (the highly collectable) No Future Records back in 1983. Police Story is an extended edition of their debut album accompanied with additional tracks from the Police Story / Killing Machine 7" (1981) and 17 Years Of Hell EP (1982). "Both consistent and powerful, this debut album by The Partisans contains a bevy of fine composition exploring themes of social protest and youth rebellion. An exciting version of “17 Years of Hell" accompanies new streamrollers like “No U-Turns” and “I Never Needed You”—possibly the best material this band has ever committed to vinyl." -Maximum Rocknroll
Svart Records proudly presents the reissue of classic debut album by early 80’s Welsh punksters The Partisans! The Partisans, often described as “The Professionals meet The Clash”, were a punk band from Wales that started in '78, when all four members were still in their early teens. Their self titled debut album hit No.5 in the Independent Chart and No.1 in the Punk Chart when first released on (the highly collectable) No Future Records back in 1983. Police Story is an extended edition of their debut album accompanied with additional tracks from the Police Story / Killing Machine 7" (1981) and 17 Years Of Hell EP (1982). "Both consistent and powerful, this debut album by The Partisans contains a bevy of fine composition exploring themes of social protest and youth rebellion. An exciting version of “17 Years of Hell" accompanies new streamrollers like “No U-Turns” and “I Never Needed You”—possibly the best material this band has ever committed to vinyl." -Maximum Rocknroll
With drummer Kenny Wollesen (Tom Waits, John Zorn, Norah Jones) and Dave Harrington (of electronic duo Darkside) guitar/bass/electronics, New York-based Swedish/Turkish saxophonist, composer, club-label owner Ilhan Ersahin captures the vibe of impromptu, cross- pollinating, and heavily grooving late- night jam sessions at Nublu, his "East Village Club where everything goes" (New York Times).
The telepathy and intuition that flows between these three musicians is one that has developed over many years of playing together in different combinations, and on a permanent regular basis at NYC's Nublu, searching and creating together in the moment. What they have come up with has evolved steadily over that time and its current form can be heard to brilliant effect on their debut album "Invite Your Eye"
The exploratory instrumental space- jazz these gentlemen purvey has many antecedents and influences but perhaps it's best not to cite names and instead et the music speak for itself. This sound and approach comes as naturally to them as breathing, hence the album title which is also the title of the first single.
They've crafted a swirling, past- future, future- past, sorta- rock, collage- rock, melange borne from the confined anxiety of the pandemic. It's a full- length undeniably of its moment, rich with musical references while radiating a visionary path forward.
To assemble Giddy Skelter, Kinsella and Pulse aggressively culled their tracklist until they had a lean and impactful 11 songs, unlike anything either musician has released before. Opening track "Unblock Obstacles" chugs along on a three-chord riff and dubbed-out drums before venturing into a hypnotic, feedback-filled drone that channels pre- Loveless My Bloody Valentine. "Over and Over" imagines a world where Slowdive or Lush collaborated with Prefuse 73. On "Nena," one minute features loops of classical piano, the next Spacemen 3-style psychedelic drone, and the next contemporary R&B. The majority of songs on Giddy Skelter foreground Pulse's yearning, ethereal vocals, giving the music a distinctly feminine overtone.
Sometimes the thing that makes great rock n' roll is the ineffable and the intangible, something you can only describe as alchemy; other times it's the rigors of process. On Kinsella and Pulse's Giddy Skelter, it's both -- and it sounds unlike anything else you'll hear this year.
After releasing Undefined, Kazufumi Kodama and Babe Roots, the 4th release from a Japanese experimental dub label newdubhall welcomes the ever-evolving pioneer of minimal dub and dub techno Deadbeat, a solo project of Scott Monteith hailing from Canada. Side A 'Things Fall Apart' will feature a beatless dub ambient which shares a perspective of free jazz and 'Adieu Chez Cherie,’ an absolute knockdown four on the floor dub techno on the flip side. Though simple, both sides are layered with complexity, let yourself experience the profundity of newdubhall with this masterpiece.
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Das neue Album, welches auf das 2018 erschienene Debüt "Embody" des dänischen Liedermachers folgt, wurde erneut in Sebbersund in der Nähe von Ross' Elternhaus mit John Wood aufgenommen. Wood, der vor allem für seine Arbeit an der Seite von John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Nico, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd und anderen bekannt ist, bat dieses Mal seinerseits um eine Zusammenarbeit mit Hjalte, nachdem dieser den legendären Produzenten vor seiner ersten Platte um Rat gebeten hatte. Nach der zerbrechlichen und zurückhaltenden Schönheit des Debüts, gibt es nun ein neues Gefühl des Selbstvertrauens, einen zusätzlichen Biss in den Texten, eine zusätzliche Tiefe in dieser besonderen Stimme. "Ich bin ein besserer Songwriter, ein besserer Sänger und ein besserer Gitarrist geworden", betont Hjalte. "Ich habe jedoch die gleiche Absicht wie beim letzten Mal beibehalten und mich darauf fokusiert, ein Album in voller Länge zu machen und mich dabei absolut und gänzlich auf die Musik zu konzentrieren. "Waves of Haste" ist eine subtile und gleichfalls mutige Erweiterung seines Sounds. Das Album besteht aus neun fesselnden Songs und wurde nach der Begegnung in New York mit Daniel Goodwin von diesem gemischt und gemastert, einem Produzenten, der für seine Arbeit mit Künstlern wie Kevin Morby und Whitney und vielen anderen bekannt ist. Diese Paarung bringt das Beste in Hjaltes Songwriting zum Vorschein, hebt die Gegensätze von Norwegen und New York hervor, gelangt dabei zu etwas gemeinsamen Größerem "Waves Of Haste" klingt gleichzeitig modern und elegant alt(modisch), erinnert an den gefühlvollen Sound der 70er Jahre und ist außergewöhnlich grandios. Die LP - gepresst bei Optimal - kommt als klassich schwarzes Vinyl in aufwendig gestaltetem Klappcover inklusive Prägedruck. Das Artwork wurde entworfen vom erfolgreichen dänischen Maler/Bildhauer Kasper Eistrup (auch ehemals von der Band Kaschmir bekannt). Für Liebhaber der Genres Singer/Songwriter, Folk, Independent, für Fans von Nick Drake, Kevin Morby, José Gonzales, Robert Wyatt, John Martyn, Leonard Cohen...
Seit mehr als 35 Jahren sind BONFIRE der Inbegriff von "Hard'n'Heavy made in Germany". Jetzt veröffentlichen sie ihre beliebtesten Alben "POINT BLANK", "FIREWORKS" und "DON'T TOUCH THE LIGHT" als MMXXIII Re-Recording-Versionen mit einem komplett neuen Artwork! Erstmals digital bei allen Streaming-Anbietern, als farbig limitierte und nicht limitierte Vinyl und als CD-Digipack verfügbar. In ihrer Karriere sammelten Bonfire mehrere Millionen Streams und Plays und erreichten mit einer ihrer letzten Veröffentlichungen "Fistful Of Fire" Platz 35 in den deutschen Albumcharts und stiegen auch in der Schweiz auf Platz 43 ein.
Seit mehr als 35 Jahren sind BONFIRE der Inbegriff von "Hard'n'Heavy made in Germany". Jetzt veröffentlichen sie ihre beliebtesten Alben "POINT BLANK", "FIREWORKS" und "DON'T TOUCH THE LIGHT" als MMXXIII Re-Recording-Versionen mit einem komplett neuen Artwork! Erstmals digital bei allen Streaming-Anbietern, als farbig limitierte und nicht limitierte Vinyl und als CD-Digipack verfügbar. In ihrer Karriere sammelten Bonfire mehrere Millionen Streams und Plays und erreichten mit einer ihrer letzten Veröffentlichungen "Fistful Of Fire" Platz 35 in den deutschen Albumcharts und stiegen auch in der Schweiz auf Platz 43 ein.
Seit mehr als 35 Jahren sind BONFIRE der Inbegriff von "Hard'n'Heavy made in Germany". Jetzt veröffentlichen sie ihre beliebtesten Alben "POINT BLANK", "FIREWORKS" und "DON'T TOUCH THE LIGHT" als MMXXIII Re-Recording-Versionen mit einem komplett neuen Artwork! Erstmals digital bei allen Streaming-Anbietern, als farbig limitierte und nicht limitierte Vinyl und als CD-Digipack verfügbar. In ihrer Karriere sammelten Bonfire mehrere Millionen Streams und Plays und erreichten mit einer ihrer letzten Veröffentlichungen "Fistful Of Fire" Platz 35 in den deutschen Albumcharts und stiegen auch in der Schweiz auf Platz 43 ein.
Seit mehr als 35 Jahren sind BONFIRE der Inbegriff von "Hard'n'Heavy made in Germany". Jetzt veröffentlichen sie ihre beliebtesten Alben "POINT BLANK", "FIREWORKS" und "DON'T TOUCH THE LIGHT" als MMXXIII Re-Recording-Versionen mit einem komplett neuen Artwork! Erstmals digital bei allen Streaming-Anbietern, als farbig limitierte und nicht limitierte Vinyl und als CD-Digipack verfügbar. In ihrer Karriere sammelten Bonfire mehrere Millionen Streams und Plays und erreichten mit einer ihrer letzten Veröffentlichungen "Fistful Of Fire" Platz 35 in den deutschen Albumcharts und stiegen auch in der Schweiz auf Platz 43 ein.
Es beherrscht ein grauer, stimmungsvoller und dichter Spätherbst-Tag das Geschehen. Viel zu früh hat der Himmel sich verdunkelt. Jetzt plätschert gleichförmig und regelmäßig Regen auf die Straßen, auf die Erde, auf die griesgrämig wirkenden Menschen herab. So stellt man sich die Atmosphäre vor, in welcher das sechste Subsignal-Studioalbum "A Poetry of Rain" entstanden ist.
Fünf endlos wirkende Jahre ließen Subsignal ihre Anhänger auf neue akustische Klang-Abenteuer warten. "Und auch das hatte wieder mit der Pandemie zu tun", offenbart Markus Steffen den Grund für die quälend lange Pause. "Existenzängste schlichen sich ein", reflektiert er. "Im Zuge dessen verließ der langjährige Bassist Ralf Schwager die Band. Mit Martijn Horsten aus Rotterdam war allerdings rasch würdiger Ersatz gefunden. Dennoch schwelgen die zehn Kompositionen vor Sehnsucht und einer gehörigen Portion Wehmut."
Der progressive Mix aus Rock, Metal und Artrock gelingt scheinbar spielerisch. Ausnahme-Drummer Dirk Brand setzt dabei eine fulminante Basis, auf die mal rockige, mal elegante Gitarren-Sounds zusammen mit den Keyboards einmalige Klangwelten zaubern. Darüber schwebt das wunderbare Timbre von Sänger Arno Menses - immer präsent, immer einnehmend, voller Leidenschaft und Kraft. Dazu trägt auch die kristallklare und druckvolle Produktion von Yogi Lang von ihrem Label Gentle Art Of Music bei.
Presse:
Rocks 9/10: "Songs wie ›Impasse‹ oder "Marigold‹ berühren, transportieren Gefühle und packen den Hörer, wie es sonst Marillion, Yes oder Kansas am besten können. Auf welch hohem Niveau die Herren musizieren, wird bei Nummern wie The Art Of Giving Ins oder ›Sliver (The Sheltered Garden)‹ klar, aber Komplexi-lät ist hier nie Mittel zum Zweck."
Deaf Forever 8.5/10: "…meistens die wie immer großartigen Refrains, die einen aufrichten. ….wie gewohnt exzellent gesungene Artrock-Stücke, die von den nach fünf Jahren Wartezeit dürstenden Anhängern nun endlich auch zu Hause genossen werden können."
Rock It - Soundcheck #6/32: "…so steht der Name Subsignal auch auf Album Nummer sechs doch für handgemachte Qualitätsarbeit mit Herz und Seele. Reinhören, eintauchen und mitfühlen!"
Break Out: "Mit "Poetry Of Rain" unterstreichen Subsignal ihre Ausnahmestellung im Rock: Scheibe unbedingt zulegen! Ich bin mir sicher, dass niemand bei diesem Longplayer enttäuscht sein wird, der sich in melodischen Bereichen mit progressiven Parts wohlfühlt."
Gäste:
David Bertok - Keyboards "Embers Part II - Water Wings)
Marek Arnold - Saxophon "The Last of its Kind"
Yogi Lang - Keyboards
Dietmar Waechtler - Pedal Steel "The Art of Giving In"
Iraklis Choraitis - Backing Vocals "Sliver (The Sheltered Garden)"
Teenage Fanclubs elftes Studioalbum 'Nothing Lasts Forever' ist wunderbar reichhaltig und melodisch - der Klang des Endes einer Jahreszeit, der letzten warmen Tage des Jahres, während die Nächte hereinbrechen und die Gedanken nachdenklich und melancholisch werden. Diese herbstliche Reflexion ist auf dem Album allgegenwärtig. Eines der wiederkehrenden Themen in den neuen Songs ist das Licht, als Metapher für Hoffnung und als ultimatives Ziel des Weges. Aufgenommen Ende August während einer intensiven zehntägigen Phase in der walisischen Landschaft, kann man die Wirkung dieser Umgebung auf der Platte hören - sie ist voller sanfter Brisen, weitem Himmel, Schönheit und Raum. Einer der eindrucksvollsten Texte des Albums findet sich im finalen Track 'I Will Love You'. Das wunderschöne siebenminütige, fast kosmisch-akustische Tagtraumstück blickt jenseits der Wut und Polarisierung unseres modernen Diskurses auf eine Zeit, in der 'the bigots are gone/after they apologise/for all the harm that they've done'. Die Suche nach dem Positiven angesichts der düsteren Realitäten des 21. Jahrhunderts fühlt sich sehr nach Teenage Fanclub an - einer Band, die seit über drei Jahrzehnten eine Kraft des Guten ist und Melancholie mühelos in glorreich klingende Harmonien verwandeln kann.
Teenage Fanclubs elftes Studioalbum 'Nothing Lasts Forever' ist wunderbar reichhaltig und melodisch - der Klang des Endes einer Jahreszeit, der letzten warmen Tage des Jahres, während die Nächte hereinbrechen und die Gedanken nachdenklich und melancholisch werden. Diese herbstliche Reflexion ist auf dem Album allgegenwärtig. Eines der wiederkehrenden Themen in den neuen Songs ist das Licht, als Metapher für Hoffnung und als ultimatives Ziel des Weges. Aufgenommen Ende August während einer intensiven zehntägigen Phase in der walisischen Landschaft, kann man die Wirkung dieser Umgebung auf der Platte hören - sie ist voller sanfter Brisen, weitem Himmel, Schönheit und Raum. Einer der eindrucksvollsten Texte des Albums findet sich im finalen Track 'I Will Love You'. Das wunderschöne siebenminütige, fast kosmisch-akustische Tagtraumstück blickt jenseits der Wut und Polarisierung unseres modernen Diskurses auf eine Zeit, in der 'the bigots are gone/after they apologise/for all the harm that they've done'. Die Suche nach dem Positiven angesichts der düsteren Realitäten des 21. Jahrhunderts fühlt sich sehr nach Teenage Fanclub an - einer Band, die seit über drei Jahrzehnten eine Kraft des Guten ist und Melancholie mühelos in glorreich klingende Harmonien verwandeln kann.
Teenage Fanclubs elftes Studioalbum 'Nothing Lasts Forever' ist wunderbar reichhaltig und melodisch - der Klang des Endes einer Jahreszeit, der letzten warmen Tage des Jahres, während die Nächte hereinbrechen und die Gedanken nachdenklich und melancholisch werden. Diese herbstliche Reflexion ist auf dem Album allgegenwärtig. Eines der wiederkehrenden Themen in den neuen Songs ist das Licht, als Metapher für Hoffnung und als ultimatives Ziel des Weges. Aufgenommen Ende August während einer intensiven zehntägigen Phase in der walisischen Landschaft, kann man die Wirkung dieser Umgebung auf der Platte hören - sie ist voller sanfter Brisen, weitem Himmel, Schönheit und Raum. Einer der eindrucksvollsten Texte des Albums findet sich im finalen Track 'I Will Love You'. Das wunderschöne siebenminütige, fast kosmisch-akustische Tagtraumstück blickt jenseits der Wut und Polarisierung unseres modernen Diskurses auf eine Zeit, in der 'the bigots are gone/after they apologise/for all the harm that they've done'. Die Suche nach dem Positiven angesichts der düsteren Realitäten des 21. Jahrhunderts fühlt sich sehr nach Teenage Fanclub an - einer Band, die seit über drei Jahrzehnten eine Kraft des Guten ist und Melancholie mühelos in glorreich klingende Harmonien verwandeln kann.
Four years after they went all the way to Antarctica, Flat Worms are back in gen pop with the rest of us - but, as intoned on the album opener "Sigalert," "back again like I never was." Is this a nod to the way time passes over our sorely vexed synapses? Or are we to believe that there"s hope to be found in this broken world? Kick back with Witness Marks and see what other traces Flat Worms have left us in the dust. The album title alone leaves a foreboding impression. But look closer - "witness marks" aren"t something out of a forensic analysis - they"re actually practical; scratches placed in old clocks designed to aid continued maintenance further in time. Sure, there"s big questions and more on the board; primarily if we"re at all distinct from the absurdity coming down around us, or just another character in the mirror? Flat Worms are looking inward this time, outlining personal space in relation to themselves and others - sometimes even people they barely know. Among the slabs of slategrey outrage, the flowers of compassion are blooming, and the simmering power of their trio grows exponentially. Working once again with Ty Segall, Flat Worms continue to find new answers by digging into themselves and playing their kind of rock: hard and flat, bass and drums thrusting stalwartly forward with conviction, guitar twisting and spinning in outrage, deadpan vocals decrying a dire set of circumstances. The democracy of working together, so often messy and frustrating, was found to be a powerful release for Justin, Tim and Will. Acting as one, Flat Worms navigated challenging times by coming together, finding release in the clockwork repetitions of practice and the shared creative space they occupied together against the encroaching world. In the short century of their existence, Flat Worms have agitated against the status quo with a disquieting lyric bent, to emphasize the psychosis of the times. These are positions taken within songs, sung out to individuals in the world. As evidenced by the lyrics, "But I know I can always see you at the show Even though it"s only temporary and it"s time to go." . . .Witness Marks surveys an evolving sense of community. Flat Worms are dedicated to persevering and using the power of their collective. Come witness!
Four years after they went all the way to Antarctica, Flat Worms are back in gen pop with the rest of us - but, as intoned on the album opener "Sigalert," "back again like I never was." Is this a nod to the way time passes over our sorely vexed synapses? Or are we to believe that there"s hope to be found in this broken world? Kick back with Witness Marks and see what other traces Flat Worms have left us in the dust. The album title alone leaves a foreboding impression. But look closer - "witness marks" aren"t something out of a forensic analysis - they"re actually practical; scratches placed in old clocks designed to aid continued maintenance further in time. Sure, there"s big questions and more on the board; primarily if we"re at all distinct from the absurdity coming down around us, or just another character in the mirror? Flat Worms are looking inward this time, outlining personal space in relation to themselves and others - sometimes even people they barely know. Among the slabs of slategrey outrage, the flowers of compassion are blooming, and the simmering power of their trio grows exponentially. Working once again with Ty Segall, Flat Worms continue to find new answers by digging into themselves and playing their kind of rock: hard and flat, bass and drums thrusting stalwartly forward with conviction, guitar twisting and spinning in outrage, deadpan vocals decrying a dire set of circumstances. The democracy of working together, so often messy and frustrating, was found to be a powerful release for Justin, Tim and Will. Acting as one, Flat Worms navigated challenging times by coming together, finding release in the clockwork repetitions of practice and the shared creative space they occupied together against the encroaching world. In the short century of their existence, Flat Worms have agitated against the status quo with a disquieting lyric bent, to emphasize the psychosis of the times. These are positions taken within songs, sung out to individuals in the world. As evidenced by the lyrics, "But I know I can always see you at the show Even though it"s only temporary and it"s time to go." . . .Witness Marks surveys an evolving sense of community. Flat Worms are dedicated to persevering and using the power of their collective. Come witness!
Zur Feier des 40-jährigen Jubiläums des belgischen Labels PIAS erscheint exklusive Auswahl an 12“-EPs mit Musik von einigen der wichtigsten und erfolgreichsten Wegbegleiter. Der kanadische Remixer und DJ Tiga ist seit über zwei Jahrzehnten ein fester Bestandteil der internationalen EDM-Szene. Angefangen hat er in seiner Heimatstadt Montreal, wo er neben zahlreichen Raves auch an der Gründung des SONA Clubs beteiligt war. Sein 2006er Album 'Sexor' mit dem Hit 'You Gonna Want Me' wurde schnell zu einem der einflussreichsten Alben der EDM-Szene.
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Richmond's INTER ARMA, reigning masters of the slow build, continue to trace a distinctly ambitious trajectory through modern metal. Their impulses tend toward the epic, but never bloat; they meld several styles — doom, sludge, and hard psych — without coming off like dilettantes. This newest full-length, Sulphur English, finds them mining deeper in the proggy organic doom fields that made both Paradise Gallows and Sky Burial so thrilling while expanding further the on the psych-folk strain that made those albums' peaks seem so lofty. Few metal bands have ever made such effective use of acoustic instruments in truly heavy environments as INTER ARMA do; the acoustic guitar that stitches "Stillness" together is as effective as any overdriven bass; a two-minute gloomy piano-and-feedback piece titled "Observances of the Path" rolls out the carpet for "The Atavist's Meridian," an album highlight that rides a gigantic, roomy drum sound into realms akin to a murkier Paradise Lost, a more aggressive Om, and a dreamier, more stoned Kylesa all playing together at once. Few bands make music as engrossing as INTER ARMA; their lengthy, almost meditative songs rumble patiently forward until you're ready to get thrown off a bridge — and then they throw you, with great force. - Words by John Darnielle
If the Corona pandemic and the accompanying concert bans have at least one good thing going for them, it's the extra time musicians have to write songs and live out their creativity. This circumstance was also the driving force for the SAMURAI PIZZA CATS, who come from the Electric Callboy environment. Frontman Sebastian Fischer was behind the microphone in their predecessor band Her Smile In Grief, whose line-up also included Daniel "Danskimo" Haniß, who is now celebrating success as guitarist, songwriter and producer of Electric Callboy. The contact between the two never broke off and so Daniel also produced Sebastian's later band Fall Of Gaia in recent years, whose former drummer and multi-instrumentalist Stefan Buchwald is also involved in this new project - family business from downtown Castrop Rauxel! So while Stefan contributes the music, Sebastian writes the lyrics and Daniel, as a creatively involved producer, ensures a well-rounded overall result. Okay, before we try your patience any further, let's talk about the elephant in the room: the band name. The SAMURAI PIZZA CATS have named themselves after a Japanese anime series from the early nineties. Why? Stupid question! Of course, because they are fearless warriors on their instruments, love to eat pizza and like cats! And maybe a little bit because they have soft spots for anime and silly band names - but only maybe. Rumour also has it that "Banzai! Smack! Meow!" is an onomatopoeic description of the band's sound.
Philadelphia's DEVIL MASTER stake their claim as one of the most venomous, twisted entities in the underground with their hellish debut, Satan Spits on Children of Light. The album, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Arthur Rizk (POWER TRIP, MAMMOTH GRINDER, OUTER HEAVEN, and more,) rattles the very gates of hell with a vile dose of black metal-infused punk mayhem. Commanding the steel of VENOM, the fury of BATHORY's earliest years, and the raw, uncompromising nature of the notorious GISM, Satan Spits on Children of Light sees DEVIL MASTER emerge from the grave and reach new blasphemous heights. Give in to the Satanic panic and obey your DEVIL MASTER!
FINAL GASP unleash their debut album Mourning Moon! A harrowing journey through all things Hardcore, Metal, and Goth, Mourning Moon drags the listener through the dark in 12 thrilling tracks, and drives a stake right into the heart of 2023's most compelling releases. Opener "Climax Infinity" sets the tone for what's to come: the undeniable hardcore swagger of the Boston-based band is immediate as drums and guitars stomp and riff against one another, while FINAL GASP vocalist Jake Murphy howls - "watch as the way it falls, your loss of control, from whispered incantations, burnt down for your invocation!" Mourning Moon showcases expert songwriting and lyrical crafting, snarling and barking through the harsher, heavier punked out moments in "Blood and Sulfur" and "Frozen Glare" while flexing arena chops on the tremendous "Temptation" and utterly despairing "The Vanishing". Elsewhere, the hook-laden title track explodes out of the underground and aims straight for the moon. Lead single "Mourning Moon'' is downright catchy and showcases FINAL GASP's knack for excellent songwriting. A song professing eternal love through a lens clad in black and morbid as ever, "Mourning Moon" proves to be one of the most inventive journeys this side of the genre in recent times, recalling a prime period for luminaries Killing Joke and Danzig. With Mourning Moon, FINAL GASP emerge from the shadows, and step into the forefront of extreme music's new guard.
Candlebox is gearing up for an unforgettable finale as the legendary Seattle rock band prepares to retire at the end of the year. The group’s Long Goodbye Tour is currently underway, and its final album, The Long Goodbye, will be released later this month. Today, Rhino announces it will spotlight Candlebox’s early years with a 7-LP vinyl boxed set featuring all three studio albums the group released on Maverick, plus more than a dozen previously unreleased recordings that are only available in the collection.
THE MAVERICK YEARS will be available exclusively on vinyl on September 22. The set introduces newly remastered versions of Candlebox (1993), Lucy (1995), and Happy Pills (1998) as double LPs, along with a single album of unreleased outtakes, demos, and more. Candlebox and Lucy will make their North American vinyl debut, while Happy Pills will be available on vinyl for the first time anywhere.
The Maverick Years chronicles the band’s dramatic ascent, starting with its eponymous debut, a quadruple-platinum smash celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The album spent more than 100 weeks on the charts, peaking at #7 with hits like “Far Behind,” “You,” and “Cover Me.” The original album has been expanded on the new vinyl version with two unreleased bonus tracks, “Sorry I Let You Down” and a demo for “10,000 Horses.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with Rambler Sparkling Water, introduce ‘Texas Wild’, a standout album featuring Texas musicians as they pay tribute to classic Texas tunes showcasing that untamed spirit found only in Texas music.
Produced by Texas singer songwriter Walker Lukens (The Song Confessional, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Darkbird, Coco Zandi), ‘Texas Wild’ is a standout album that blends the sounds of traditional Texas genres like blues, cumbia, and country with modern sounds like hip-hop, R&B and electronica, sure to please old school country fans
and new listeners alike.
Block print album art created by Texas artist, Mishka Westell.
Featuring covers of classic Texas songs by Texas musicians including Toadies, Fat Tony, Shaky Graves and Sir Woman.
Sales from the album will benefit Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.
For fans of Sass Jordan, Alanis Morrisette, Foo Fighters and Classic Rock! Sass Jordan's breakthrough album, Racine, was released in 1992 and yielded the Canadian hit singles "Make You a Believer," "I Want to Believe"--both ranked on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock chart. In 1994, Jordan released Rats, which yielded her first song on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Sun's Gonna Rise," and also featured “High Road Easy.” In 1992, Jordan recorded the duet "Trust in Me" with Joe Cocker for the motion picture The Bodyguard. Jordan is now releasing Live in New York Ninety-Four. The show was recorded at the South Street Seaport in NYC during the 1994 Rats tour. The band at that time, along with Jordan, consisted of Tony Reyes (bass, vocals), Taylor Hawkins (drums, vocals), Nick Lashley (guitar), and Stevie Salas (guitar). The album features killer versions of classics like “Make You a Believer”, “High Road Easy” and “You Don’t Have To Remind Me” and included never before seen photos from the 1994 Rats tour taken from Jordan’s personal collection. Jordan shares, this is a celebration of the early days in the career of Hawkins, future Foo Fighters drummer. Jordan says, "As we hit the milestone that marks one year since Taylor left us, I wanted to do something to honour his memory--a recognition and appreciation for his glorious, big, beautiful energy--which lives on through this recording and in all of our hearts.”
Majid Jordan is presented in a blue vinyl pressing. Majid Jordan was featured on and co-produced Drake’s triple-platinum #1 hit "Hold On, We’re Going Home" from Nothing Was The Same. Their next collaboration with the hip-hop superstar was "Mine" for Beyonce’s self-titled fifth offering. Solidifying their sound and identity, 2014’s EP A Place Like This would see them construct the framework for this, their self-titled full-length debut original issued in 2016. Majid Jordan features the single ""Something About You"" and the critically acclaimed track "My Love" featuring Drake.
Now Available In A Limited Edition Red Vinyl Pressing. Ayalew Mesfin stands aside the likes of Mulatu Astake, Mahmoud Ahmed, Hailu Mergia and Alemayehu Eshete as a legend of 1970s Ethiopia. Mesfin’s music is some of the funkiest to arise from this unconquerable East African nation. Mesfin’s recording career, captured in nearly two dozen 7” singles and numerous reel-to-reel tapes, shows the strata of the most fertile decade in Ethiopia’s 20th century recording industry, when records were pressed constantly by both independent upstarts and corporate behemoths, even if they were only distributed within the confines of this East African nation. Though Mesfin was forced underground by the Derg regime that took control of Ethiopia in 1974, he has returned almost 50 years later with this triumphant set albums – the first time that his music has been presented in this form. These albums give us a chance to discover a rare and beautiful moment in music history, in anthologies built from Mesfin’s uber-rare 7” single releases and from previously unreleased recordings taken from master tapes. Mot Aykerim gives us a chance to discover a rare & beautiful moment in music history, in an anthology built from his uber-rare 7” single releases. Contains an oversized 11” x 11” 16 page book that tells the story of modern Ethiopian music and Mesfin’s role within it.
The latest EP from Drab Majesty marks the start of a stirring new chapter in the band's majestic legacy. Written during a 2021 retreat to the remote coastal Oregon town of Yachats, Deb Demure leaned into the neo- psychedelic resonance of a uniquely bowl - shaped 12 -string Ovation acoustic/electric guitar. After early morning hikes in the rain, Deb would record ambient guitar experiments the rest of the day, tapping into "flow states," letting the sound lead the way. These sessions were then refined or recreated, and later elevated further with key collaborations by Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), Justin Meldal Johnson (Beck, M83, Air), and Ben Greenberg (Uniform, Circular Ruin Studio). An Object In Motion is true to its title, capturing the chrysalis moment of an artist evolving, reborn and untet hered, silhouetted against an open horizon. "Cape Perpetua" kicks off the collection's divergent palette: sparkling acoustic fingerpicking refracted through delay, equal parts raga and reverie. Melodies and moods congeal and dissipate, at the threshold of rustic American primitivism, brooding neo-folk, and pastoral melancholia. "The Skin And The Glove" deploys jangle to different effect baggy, soaring, grey skied kaleidoscopic pop in the spirit of Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and The Glove. Rachel Goswell lends her iconic freefall voice to The Cure - esque ballad, "Vanity," infusing poetic gravity to the doomed refrain: "If the valve breaks / then the earth quakes / and history finds a way / to put you in your place." "Yield To Force", the closing track of the EP, may be the most anomalous offering of the set. A 15 minute instrumental odyssey of cyclical strings, ominous slide guitar, and simmering synthesizer, the piece sways and spirals like a long zoom into distant storm clouds. Demure finesses the guitar with a restless but regal grandeur, unfolding a panorama of peaks, shadows, and plateaus. It's music both intuitive and prophetic, tracing the slow swing of pendulums across an endless plain. Taken as a whole, An Object In Motion presents a showcase of potential futures from Drab's evolving domain, their sound poised to bloom at the precipice of transformation.
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Sara Dobbs and Jenny Shore used to work summer stock theater in St. Louis, Missouri. They'd do the hand jive with TV stars past and future; they'd get coldly corrected by the ancient, legendary choreographer Gemze de Lappe. Sara went on to Broadway, including a run as Anybodys in West Side Story. Jenny went on to choreograph in the independent dance scene of early 2000s Chicago. Julie Shore is Jenny's sister. She's always made music_playing Chopin, writing songs, making bands with her friends. She's had the archetypal Millennial journey of entering adulthood in the '08 financial crisis and figuring out what stupid series of jobs you have to take to pay rent while keeping an artistic life alive. Miles Francis grew up in New York City with Backstreet Boys posters covering their walls. An extraordinary drummer since youth, Miles thrives in collaboration_ whether producing artists in their West Village studio, performing with artists like Angelique Kidjo, or powering protests with a big marching drum. These four_Miles, Julie, Jenny, and Sara_are Sister Squares. What made them a musical unit was working with Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Will Butler. They've all just finished a new record together: Will Butler + Sister Squares. "After Generations, I considered making a weird solo record. Me alone in the basement, etc., etc. Mostly I realized that what I wanted was the opposite," says Will. He increasingly turned to the band for feedback on lyrics and song structures. He asked Miles if they'd produce the record. The band played a run of shows in August 2022, airing out studio ideas in live rooms. After coming home, the band regrouped at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn. "I had quit my band Arcade Fire very recently, after 20 years_maybe the most complex decision of my life. I had spent the preceding two years at home with my three children. I was 39 years old. I was waking up every morning and reading Emily Dickinson, until I had read every Emily Dickinson poem. I was listening to Morrissey, to Shostakovich, to the Spotify top 50. I had unformed questions with inchoate answers," says Will. "But, honestly, I was feeling great about the record." The album projects widescreen emotional landscapes. Lead-off single "Long Grass" is like a Harry Styles song with 20 more years of life behind it. Standout track "Saturday Night" has a beat, according to Miles, "with that robot-alien-dancing-at-a-haunted- dive-bar feeling that we were going for." The back half of the album is a danceable, weird choral record with harmonies both beautiful and dissonant. Closing song "The Window" is the comedown after the party_Julie playing a Chopin Nocturne on a three-years-out-of-tune piano, slowed to half-speed on tape with Will singing over it in a voice exactly as tired as he was. It's a record with a warm, humane soul.
Sara Dobbs and Jenny Shore used to work summer stock theater in St. Louis, Missouri. They'd do the hand jive with TV stars past and future; they'd get coldly corrected by the ancient, legendary choreographer Gemze de Lappe. Sara went on to Broadway, including a run as Anybodys in West Side Story. Jenny went on to choreograph in the independent dance scene of early 2000s Chicago. Julie Shore is Jenny's sister. She's always made music_playing Chopin, writing songs, making bands with her friends. She's had the archetypal Millennial journey of entering adulthood in the '08 financial crisis and figuring out what stupid series of jobs you have to take to pay rent while keeping an artistic life alive. Miles Francis grew up in New York City with Backstreet Boys posters covering their walls. An extraordinary drummer since youth, Miles thrives in collaboration_ whether producing artists in their West Village studio, performing with artists like Angelique Kidjo, or powering protests with a big marching drum. These four_Miles, Julie, Jenny, and Sara_are Sister Squares. What made them a musical unit was working with Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Will Butler. They've all just finished a new record together: Will Butler + Sister Squares. "After Generations, I considered making a weird solo record. Me alone in the basement, etc., etc. Mostly I realized that what I wanted was the opposite," says Will. He increasingly turned to the band for feedback on lyrics and song structures. He asked Miles if they'd produce the record. The band played a run of shows in August 2022, airing out studio ideas in live rooms. After coming home, the band regrouped at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn. "I had quit my band Arcade Fire very recently, after 20 years_maybe the most complex decision of my life. I had spent the preceding two years at home with my three children. I was 39 years old. I was waking up every morning and reading Emily Dickinson, until I had read every Emily Dickinson poem. I was listening to Morrissey, to Shostakovich, to the Spotify top 50. I had unformed questions with inchoate answers," says Will. "But, honestly, I was feeling great about the record." The album projects widescreen emotional landscapes. Lead-off single "Long Grass" is like a Harry Styles song with 20 more years of life behind it. Standout track "Saturday Night" has a beat, according to Miles, "with that robot-alien-dancing-at-a-haunted- dive-bar feeling that we were going for." The back half of the album is a danceable, weird choral record with harmonies both beautiful and dissonant. Closing song "The Window" is the comedown after the party_Julie playing a Chopin Nocturne on a three-years-out-of-tune piano, slowed to half-speed on tape with Will singing over it in a voice exactly as tired as he was. It's a record with a warm, humane soul.
Bobby Caldwell's second album, Cat In The Hat, from 1980, is one of his greatest moments and another masterwork of soulful sophistication. Featuring the eternal "Open Your Eyes", brilliantly sampled by J Dilla for Common's "The Light", it's about as essential as records get. Like its eponymous predecessor, it's been out of print for far too long. To finally release the hugely-anticipated reissue is one of our sincerely proudest moments.
Whilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as "Mr California", native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been "Mr AOR" to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted.
Right from the off, it's easy to tell that Cat In The Hat is a deeply special record. It's fantastically produced and incredibly well-rounded, carving its own lane with deep soul, warm jazz and a stunning vocal delivery that really helped Bobby reach out to some big new audiences at the time. Goosebumps at the ready for the rolling power-piano funk of "Coming Down From Love", opening up the album with a track as good as anything Steely Dan or The Doobies ever crafted, with a vocal performance from the heavens. Pumping AOR wonder "Wrong Or Right" is up there with the slick, classy rhythms of prime Ned Doheny whilst the cool, skipping soul of guitar-drenched "To Know What You've Got" is a funky ballad par excellence, with elemental traces of "What A Fool Believes". No bad thing. Closing out Side A, the folk-funk of "You Promised Me" is a bright, soulful strut with a wonderful vocal coda that just builds. Sensational.
The delicate bounce and falsetto self-harmonising of "It's Over" offers a truly delightful introduction to Side B, and serves as a great precursor to what follows. Bobby's dynamite "Open Your Eyes" is likely the reason you're all here. As if he needed it, the eternal J Dilla further immortalised Caldwell in the hip-hop canon with his production of Common’s epochal “The Light,” which heavily samples the magical “Open Your Eyes.” On a post paying tribute to Bobby in March 2023, Questlove claimed that he "got word Brother Bobby loved it". Bobby's original has seen new life even more recently from the likes of Dwele and Kendrick Lamar and deservingly so, as its insistent drums and staccato piano created a modern-soul classic. You'd think that would be hard to follow, wouldn't you? Not so, when you're Bobby Caldwell. Indeed, the horn-drenched stepper "Mother Of Creation" is absolutely ace, and, whisper it, possibly the album's finest track, all funky piano and guitars with horn lines to die for. Exquisite ballad "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" rounds out the album beautifully.
Bobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of Cat In The Hat will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans of his incomparable talent - and soul music enthusiasts worldwide - can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. 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.
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Louis' Yowie , laying down their first new music since the release of
"Synchromysticism".
This deluxe Gatefold Double Vinyl edition includes three sides of music, with side four silk-screened with exclusive new artwork by Gumballhead the Cat cartoonist Rob Syers and SKiN GRAFT Records' Mark Fischer. Resting inside the gatefold sit two uncut sheets of 18 collectible Lobby Cards. Each card casts a spotlight on one of the album's performers with a band photo and trivia on the flipside. The
entire package is topped off with a collectible "Footlong" OBI, featuring selling points and review snippets for retail display - and the final product is wrapped in a crystal clear resealable sleeve.
The music is heartfelt but blunt, primitive yet refined and multi faceted, naïve yet occasionally black- minded. Music to disappear into just like you did in the TV series' slow but nervous storytelling that didn't lead to the end... think they dared Marcimain and Bärjed... to deliberately do something that doesn't really lead to the end. Like a thin thread that is stretched and stretched but does not break.
Beautiful, anxious, nervous and incomplete like life itself.
