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To celebrate a decade and a half of excavating the hidden treasures of the Polish underground, The Very Polish Cut Outs presents a definitive anniversary compilation featuring 15, mostly unreleased, tracks from the years 2008-2025.
Since its inception, the label has been instrumental in bridging the gap between Poland's rich musical heritage and the modern dancefloor, and this release serves as a comprehensive time capsule of that journey. From early, legendary edits that defined the label to brand-new, forward-thinking productions, the collection showcases the evolution of a label that turned crate-digging into a national cultural phenomenon.
The compilation brings together a heavy-hitting roster of the label's most influential contributors, featuring essential tracks and rarities from artists such as Pejza?, Ptaki, Holiday 80, Skalpel, Etnobotanika and the label boss Zambon. The sonic palette is vast, moving seamlessly from sun-drenched Balearic and dusty disco-funk to the grittier realms of house and breakbeat. It is a celebration of the label's unique ability to transform forgotten melodies from the 70s and 80s into timeless club anthems, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of contemporary Polish electronic music.
In keeping with the label's deep-rooted commitment to physical culture, this milestone release is a strictly limited, vinyl-only pressing. The amazing artwork is as always, the work of Bartosz Szymkiewicz.

Modal Analysis returns in 2026 with a new 12'' EP from Greek artist Fragedis. Marking the Athens label's revival, Linear Sequence EP delivers four electro-leaning techno cuts, equally suited to the dance floor and late-night listening. Mastering by Alden Tyrell Artwork by Achileas Gerokostopoulos

Lilly Palmer ist eine Vorreiterin in der Welt der elektronischen Musik, bekannt für ihren einzigartigen Sound, der energiegeladenen Techno mit grenzen sprengenden Elementen verbindet. Mit ihrem langerwartenden Debüt Album „Bigger Than Techno“ geht sie den nächsten Schritt Richtung Techno Olymp!
Die in Deutschland geborene Lilly ist schnell zu weltweiter Bekanntheit aufgestiegen, gilt als eine der einflussreichsten und innovativsten Künstlerinnen ihrer Generation und würde jüngst vom renommierten DJ Mag auf #57 der besten DJs weltweit gewählt.

-Boxset mit vier Alben featuring Drummer Neudi (u.a. Manilla Road, Trance, Griffin, Savage Grace…)

- Limited Edition mit handsignierter Autogrammkarte

Schon mit 8 Jahren entdeckte Andreas Neuderth, der seit Mitte der Achtziger nur noch den Spitzname NEUDI benutzt, sein Talent für das Schlagzeug. Sogar bereits schon etwas früher wurde er zum Fan harter
Rockklänge, die üblichen Verdächtigen wie Kiss, Status Quo und Rush. Mit 15 Jahren, im Jahr 1986, taucht sein Drumming erstmals auf einem Tape der Band SUDDEN DARKNESS auf, was 2026 zu einem Jubiläumsjahr für
den heute in Rheinhessen lebenden Musiker darstellt. Seine bekanntesten Stationen sind neben MANILLA ROAD (2011 bis zum Tod von Mark Shelton im Jahr 2018) und SAVAGE GRACE (2009/2010) aktuell TRANCE,
ROXXCALIBUR, ANGEL OF DAMNATION, IRONSWORD, JAMESON RAID und die Manilla Road-Nachfolgeband SENTRY. Das 1994er ECONOMIST Album „New Built Ghetto Status“ bezeichnet Neudi trotz all diesen genannten Namen als „eines der drei besten Alben, auf denen ich zu hören bin“. In der Tat darf man getrost sagen, dass es den Stil von ECONOMIST wohl nur einmal gibt. 1995 wurde die CD von Massacre/Intercord lizensiert, doch
mit dem progressiven Stil war man seiner Zeit einfach zu weit voraus.

Als Reissue, erstmals als Doppel LP mit dem unveröffentlichten zweiten Album „Mind Movies“ erschienen, erntete man nun endlich die verdient euphorischen Kritiken. VIRON (2004/2006 und 2008) war nach einer Zeit
der Experimente Neudis Rückkehr zum traditionellen Metal, den er als Fan auch zuvor nie verlassen hat. Die zwei hochgelobten Alben waren indirekt der Vorgänger der erfolgreicheren Band ROXXCALIBUR. SCROLLKEEPER
ist eine Band aus Texas, die für ihre EP „Wetico“ als Manilla Road-Fans mit Neudi zusammenarbeiten wollten. Neudi ist bekannt für sein „busy drumming“. Beeinflusst von Neil Peart (Rush), Randy Foxe (Manilla Road) oder Ian Paice (Deep Purple) bietet er nicht nur die genreübliche Rhythmusarbeit „im Hintergrund“, sondern bringt das Instrument teils auffällig in den Vordergrund. (Infotext von Michael Gresner, Januar 2026)

Rolando’s back in the game with Syncrophone Remixes Vol.2—flipping DJ Qu’s “Undescribed3,” Detect Audio’s “Synchronize,” and Anthony Shake Shakir’s “Arise.” Three exclusive remixes, pure underground techno for real heads. Detroit spirit, cop this 12” before it disappears!

DJ Feedbacks :


Honey Dijon : DJ Qu is the one for me. Will def support!
Raresh (ar:pi:ar) : super! thanks
Truncate : Thanks!
The Advent : Smooth bgrooves on here.. 3 - Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - Arise (Rolando Remix)
Anika Kunst (Symbolism / RSPX) : Cool release. Arise rmx is beautiful. Thanks!!
Harvey Sutherland (MCDE / PPU / Voltaire Records) : DJ Qu flip for me, thanks!
Scott Grooves : The Shake is the one
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Wooow hot hot hot
Roman Fluegel (Roman Fluegel, Dial, Cocoon, Playhouse, Robert Johnson) : The Remix for Shake is the one for me.
Erol Alkan (Phantasy Sound) : Downloading Thanks!
Enrica Falqui (ERIS, Plexus 4) : I like it!
Daniel Avery (Phantasy / Fabric) : Awesome
Laurent Garnier : cool release
Elisa Bee : Only love for Rolando, thanks x
Slam (Soma) : Brilliant - thanx
San Proper (Perlon / Rush Hour / Proper's Cult) : Totally what i needed to hear, Rolando remixing Shake & Q, my heroes lined up. I will enjoy playing all 3 mixes. One Love.
Axel Boman (Studio Barnhus) : killer remixes!
Terry Farley : DJ Qu mix my fave - heads down LETS GURN
D'Julz (Bass Culture) : great work !
gilbr (Dj Gilb'R / Chateau Flight (Versatile)) : Like the Shakir remix thanks for sending
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Lea Lisa (Phonica Records / Folklor Club) : mental, really good one
Dj Deep (Deeply Rooted) : Super nice package! Dj Qu's Undescribed3 remix for me here! Thank you
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Rrrrreeeeemix!! Thx
Efdemin (Dial) : Wonderful remix package!
Inland (Inland) : Hellooo. These are great. Qu and Shake versions both killer! Thanks
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : DJ QU remix bangin
Uncertain (RSPX, WRKTRX, Suara) : remix 1 for me
Harri (Sub Club) : very nice all three will play and support
Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free) : Thank you!
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Richie Hawtin (M_Nus) : downloaded for r hawtin
Luke Solomon (Classic / Freaks / Music For Freaks) : all killer
Luke Slater : Thanks Ro!
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Felix Dickinson (Futureboogie, Rush Hour, Cynic) : I like this
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Alienata (about blank) : Very nice remixes, all of them, thx!
Nat Wendell (Depth of My Soul, Courtesy of Balance, Love & Loops) : Dope remixes!
Dave Clarke (white noise radio) : Not my sound, but please keep them coming !

The Mountain is Gorillaz’ ninth studio album, a collection of 15 new tracks featuring a stellar list of artists and collaborators. Jamie Hewlett’s album artwork captures the four much-loved animated band members - Murdoc, Noodle, Russel and 2D – in a series of beautifully intricate, hand-drawn illustrations.

The Mountain is Gorillaz 9th studio album. The album is a collection of 15 new tracks featuring artists and collaborators including: Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Puthli, Bizarrap, Black Thought, Gruff Rhys, Idles, Jalen Ngonda, Johnny Marr, Kara Jackson, Omar Souleyman, Paul Simonon, Sparks, Trueno and Yasiin Bey; as well as the voices of Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Dennis Hopper, Mark E. Smith, Proof and Tony Allen. Produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, Remi Kabaka Jr. and Bizarrap (Orange County), The Mountain was recorded in London, Devon, Miami, Jaipur, Mumbai, New Delhi and Rishikesh; and features artists performing in five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba. The artwork for The Mountain sees Jamie Hewlett’s distinct, yet ever-evolving, style illustrate the world of Gorillaz with an ever more detailed and beautiful intricacy across a series of hand-drawn illustrations. Circumstances find Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, 2D and Noodle in India, where our heroes are immersed in the rhythms of mystical music-making as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.

Fronted by Rainie Lassiter's sultry, soulful vocal and produced by Blaze, the track glides between sensuality and euphoria, capturing the exact moment house music went from underground NYC basements to global dance floors. The Deep Dish remix turned it into a worldwide anthem, topping charts in Italy and breaking into the UK Top 10, while still holding down credibility with DJs and crate- diggers alike. Its hypnotic groove, lush chords, and emotional pull have made it a staple in countless sets, and it's been sampled by artists like Four Tet & Champion who recognized its timeless pulse. Three decades later, "Hideaway" still sounds as smooth and vital asthe night it first hit the decks. This 12" features the Radio Edit, Deep Dish Remix & the Acapella.

Italo Deviance aka Marcello Giordani returns with the captivating "Purple Galaxy", a standout Electro/Cosmic gem crafted exclusively with warm analog synths, delivering an impeccable blend of vintage futurism and hypnotic groove. On the flip side, the previously unreleased "Weightless" makes its vinyl debut: a sleek Acid/Disco cut pulsing with raw 303 lines, funky basslines otherworldly atmospheres perfect for late night dancefloors and collectors alike. A must have 12" that bridges classic influences with timeless dancefloor energy.

Since 2020, 12 Inch Lovers have been releasing new samplers every year, eagerly anticipated by collectors. These samplers have now become a staple and are easily added to vinyl collections across Europe. They offer timeless classics and rare tracks that are often hard to find elsewhere.

With Samplers 11 & 12, they surprise again with a mix of modern classics and tracks that have never been released on vinyl or are difficult to find. By adding unique and exclusive tracks, the 12 Inch Lovers samplers remain innovative and high-quality. They are a must-have for DJs, collectors, and fans of contemporary classics!

SAMPLER 11

A1) Paul Kalkbrenner - No Goodbye (2019)

Berlin techno producer Paul Kalkbrenner became world-famous with his 2008 hit Sky & Sand. Since then, he has released one record after another and performed all over the world in the biggest venues and at the most renowned festivals. No Goodbye is one of his more recent hits, released in the summer of 2019.

The track was created using an a cappella he received on a demo tape while on tour. He was immediately inspired by the vocal and built his own sound and production around it. Interestingly, Kalkbrenner rarely uses vocals, but for No Goodbye he collaborated with Australian singer Chiara Hunter, giving the track a unique and instantly recognisable character. The result is a stylish, dance-floor-friendly track with a rolling house groove that quickly became a modern classic on dance floors worldwide.

A2) Water World - Give Me Love (2000)

This trance classic by Water World appeared in 2000 on the French label Adequat Records and is the perfect tune for a sunny summer evening. Warm melodies and pulsing beats instantly create that beach feeling, as if you were dancing with your feet in the sand. The record recalls Beachball by Nalin & Kane, sharing the same dreamy, sun-drenched vibe.

Behind Water World were producers Laurent David and Frédéric De Backer-names well known to many trance fans. In the nineties De Backer was active with projects such as Global Trance Mission (Dream Mission) and Y-Traxx, the trio that released the 1997 classic Mystery Land.

Give Me Love clearly bears their combined signature: euphoric, warm and melodic, with a timeless build that perfectly balances emotion and energy. The track was released on vinyl as part of Trance E.P. Vol. 01 and remains a fixture in retro-trance sets to this day.

B1) Panoramic - Colors (1996)

Colors by Panoramic is a Belgian trance classic released in 1996 on the legendary label XTC Records, a sub-label of Bonzai Records. Panoramic was a collaboration between Belgian techno icon Marco Bailey and Mauro Mirisola. The duo, also known under playful aliases such as The Coke Man & Sniff, released an EP featuring two powerful trance tracks.

We chose Colors, a tune with pure Belgian trance DNA: driving rhythm, dreamy synths and a catchy female vocal. The combination of Bailey's production expertise and Mirisola's creative touch resulted in a timeless track that still appears in many classic playlists.

B2) Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine (StoneBridge Club Remix) (2008)

British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield released the album Pocketful of Sunshine in 2008, featuring the title track as a single. The original pop version became a major hit in North America, reaching the Top 5 in the US. Swedish DJ and producer StoneBridge (Sten Hallström) reworked the song into a groovy house version, released in the summer of 2008.

StoneBridge gave the upbeat pop tune a club-ready beat and an infectious piano riff that made it shine on dance floors worldwide. It was not his first time transforming pop into house gold-he had already achieved global fame with his remix of Robin S - Show Me Love (1992), one of the greatest house anthems of all time. He also remixed Sia - The Girl You Lost to Cocaine in 2008, another club favourite.

The StoneBridge Club Remix of Pocketful of Sunshine appeared on a special remix EP in July 2008 and was played endlessly in clubs-by us too, in the venues where we performed. The result is a timeless, sun-soaked house classic thatmakes sitting still impossible.

C1) Y-Traxx - Mystery Land (Fred Baker vs Mr Sam's Magical Mystery Dub Mix) (original release 1995)

Y-Traxx was a nineties trance project by DJs Laurent David and Fred Baker. This trance classic first appeared in 1995 as a B-side but gained real attention when it featured on a Paul Oakenfold mix album. Thanks to that success it received an official re-release in 1998 on the respected French label FFRR (Full Frequency Range Recordings).

In 2003 an excellent remix by Mr. Sam & Fred Baker followed on the Nebula label. That version is highly sought after on vinyl by trance collectors, and we are proud to feature it on our new sampler.

C2) Weiss - Feel My Needs (2018)

Feel My Needs by British producer Weiss (alias Richard Dinsdale) is the tune with that unmistakable old-school piano and catchy vocal that instantly pulls you onto the dance floor. Released in May 2018on the UK label Toolroom Records, the track is pure feel-good house with a modern touch. From the very first piano riff, hands go up in the air.

Toolroom even called it a "future anthem" for the summer of 2018, and indeed Feel My Needs became a huge floor-filler. The record charted high on global dance lists and gained massive popularity at festivals and clubs that year. With its warm piano chords, tight beat and soulful vocal, this is a modern house classic that will stay in the collective club memory for a long time.

D1) The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) (2005)

American band The Killers formed in 2001 and scored a massive hit a few years later with Mr Brightside. Taken from their debut album Hot Fuss (2004), it became their biggest and best-known track-a true rock-pop anthem.

In 2005 the song was given an electronic twist when renowned producer and remixer Jacques Lu Cont (the alias of Stuart Price) created an eight-minute dance version titled Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix). This remix replaced the raw rock energy with a more progressive and electronic vibe, driven by a steady beat and long build-up.

The track found a second life in club culture and quickly became a dance-floor favourite. For vinyl collectors it was an instant must-have, and to this day it stands as the perfect party closer. The Killers themselves loved it so much that they often used the remix live as an outro, followed by the original version. A remix that perfectly bridged rock and club culture-and has since become a genuine classic.

D2) Sia - Drink To Get Drunk (Different Gear Remix) (2001)

The legendary ice-cube sleeve says it all: Drink to Get Drunk was a huge club hit in the early 2000s. Released in 2001 on the UK label INCredible, a sub-label of Sony Music, it was a collaboration between British DJ duo DifferentGear (Gino Scaletti & Quinn Whalley) and singer Sia.

The producers took Sia's original song Drink to Get Drunk from her album Healing Is Difficult and gave it a complete transformation, keeping her distinctive vocal and placing it over a hypnotic progressive-house groove.

The combination of Sia's unmistakable voice and the deep, driving production hit hard: the track became hugely popular in Belgian clubs and turned into an anthem of its time. In Belgium it even reached number one in the dance chart in early 2001, and it also performed strongly in the UK and the Netherlands.

To this day it remains a nostalgic crowd-pleaser that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the early 2000s.

A compilation of rare and unique songs that blend rock and soul grooves with pop songs sung in the traditional scales of Okinawa, a southern island of Japan. It includes 14 tropical groove tracks from notable artists such as the iconic Yara Families, the pioneer of Okinawan folk rock Shokichi Kina, and Mitsuko Sawamura, who transitioned from Okinawa to American musical films.

This is the debut release on Superflux — a label out of New York run by DJ Brisket and Tamahori. It’s a dubby, pad-driven, deep house EP from four artists who all lived in the Midwest before landing in Brooklyn.

A1 – “Slow String (original mix)” is a straight-ahead deep house groover from Daniel Chavez, who has releases on Deep Club, Muted Noise, and Sole Aspect. Floaty pads, intricate drums and smart bass programming make for a warm and chunky tune. For fans of Brawther, Alton Miller, Ron Trent

A2 – “Slow String (Adam Raphael Dub)” is a remix from Chavez’s longtime friend and collaborator, Adam Raphael. He injects a heavy dose of West Coast tech-house into the original, like a combination of Bluem, Grayhound, and Tweekin’ for a 2025 audience

B1 – “The Blue Line (fleet.dreams remix)” is from the Mansions resident who also helms his own vinyl label, Vinezza. He takes a really driving and lush focus on this remix which evokes styles of Dana Kelley, Eddie Richards and Terry Francis Jr. He secured the coveted Hardwax “tip” on his solo EP last year, and delivers that level of discerning taste and skill here.

B2 – “The Blue Line (original mix)” is the track from IT-XPO that has anchored the release since day one. A thoughtful way to start the night, or for a soft landing in the morning sun. Heavy Shinichi Atobe and DJ Sprinkles influence here.

Vom Wall Street Journal als "eine der faszinierendsten Sängerinnen der modernen Musik" beschrieben, hat die in New York geborene und in Tamil Nadu aufgewachsene Sängerin und Multi-Instrumentalistin GANAVYA Details zu ihrem neuen Album "Daughter of a Temple" veröffentlicht, das am 15. November 2024 erscheinen soll. Das Album folgt auf ihren Auftritt bei SAULTs umjubeltem Live-Debüt 2023 in London, bei dem, laut The Guardian, ihre "Stimme eine zarte emotionale Kraft hatte, die selbst Stoiker zu weinenden Wracks machen konnte." Für "Daughter of a Temple" lud ganavya über 30 Künstler*innen verschiedener Disziplinen zu einer rituellen Zusammenkunft nach Houston ein. Dementsprechend sind auf dem entstandenen Album zahlreiche Mitwirkende zu hören, darunter renommierte Musiker*innen wie esperanza spalding, Vijay Iyer, Shabaka Hutchings, Immanuel Wilkins und Peter Sellars. Die Ergebnisse, eine innovative und zutiefst bewegende Mischung aus spirituellem Jazz und südasiatischer geistlicher Musik, wurden zunächst von Ryan Renteria aufgenommen und dann 2024 von Nils Frahm im LEITER Studio in Berlin weiter bearbeitet und abgemischt. ganavya ist die Autorin und Sängerin des ersten tamilischen Textes, der mit einem Latin Grammy ausgezeichnet wurde, sie war Sängerin in Vijay Iyers Ritual Quartet und Solosängerin auf dem von Quincy Jones produzierten "Tocororo", das Platz 1 der Jazz-Charts erreichte. Ihr letztes Album, "like the sky I"ve been too quiet", hat sie mit Shabaka Hutchings aufgenommen und versammelt Gäste wie Floating Points, Tom Herbert, Carlos Niño und Leafcutter John.

BBE Music presents J Jazz volume 3, the latest in its definitive compilation series exploring the finest modern jazz from Japan. Since the first volume in February 2018, the J Jazz compilation series has showcased some of the most creative, inspired and sought-after jazz recorded in Japan during a golden period spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. Illustrating the richness and versatility of the composers and musicians on this collection, the music spans a wide yet coherent range of styles: samba, funk fusion, modal, spiritual, post-bop and bossa all combine to present an aural portrait of a jazz scene that was constantly moving and shifting its multiple musical centres of gravity. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery studio in London, many of the tracks featured are reissued for the first time, including mega-rare private press cuts from the Yasuhiro Kohno Trio, Masaru Imada Trio, and Hideyasu Terakawa Quartet. There’s heavy post modal bop by J Jazz legends Kohsuke Mine and Koichi Matsukaze; samba heat from Tatsuya Nakamura, Hideo Shiraki and Seiichi Nakamura; and funky dance floor energy by Hiroshi Murakami, Ryojiro Furusawa Quartet and Shigeharu Mukai. Selected albums from which the tracks are drawn will be reissued in full as part of the acclaimed BBE Music J Jazz Masterclass Series. Released as a deluxe, heavyweight x3 vinyl set in a gatefold sleeve with obi strip and insert, the collection comes with extensive artist biographies and track information. J Jazz volume 3 is also available in a x2 CD set with three bonus tracks, and selected tracks are available across digital platforms for download and streaming. J Jazz is conceived, compiled and annotated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden for BBE Music.

Mikro Records returns from its interstellar travels with a new discovery, a release long waiting to be found. This time the team brings back a standout EP from talented Mexican producer Louie Fresco, delivering four impeccable minimal techhouse bangers. Each track is packed with energy, precision and that unmistakable Fresco touch, driving grooves, sick production and a sound built for late nights and peak time moments. A confident, powerful second chapter for Mikro Records, now landing in a limited vinyl edition. Volume II incoming.

Outer packaging like a book with a hardcover 321x321 mm glossy coated
Inside 2 cardboard printed inner sleeves glued to the inside of the packaging
On the left, the inner sleeve will contain the vinyl
On the right, 4 out of 15 lobby cards (250 gr) will be inserted randomly (like pic of a movie)
A16 pages printed booklet will be included and glued inside in the center of the packaging
Limited edition numbered

For our first split, we’re thrilled to welcome Alicante-born, Berlin-based producer Hurtado.

Hurtado headlines our seventh Prophecy with two powerful tracks featuring his signature Birmingham sound, plus a noise/ambient track to complete the A-side.

The samples on “Choose Your Fighter” will transport you to a 90s arcade as you gallop through its distorted percussion.

“Avoiding You” feels like stepping into a terrifying tunnel from a horror movie, while the most primal rhythms resonate in your head.

Hurtado finishes his contribution with “Catacombs of Niagara,” a fantastic noise tool for starting or ending sets.

Side B is handled, as expected, by Elías the Prophet, with two more techno bangers and a short ambient track.

“Resurrection” is a dark track with a melancholic melody fused with powerful beats—Elías’s signature recipe—while “Underdog” is a strong tool ready to be mixed with anything.

To close the album, we have “Good or Evil,” an ambient track divided into two parts: one celestial and the other more tenebrous, ideal for opening sets.

All of this makes up Split Grooves EP, a complete, fully equipped release, just the way we like it.

Emerging from a shared love of long-form storytelling and hypnotic groove, Techfui presents a stunning double album from Ada Kaleh and Wareika, a cross-continental dialogue between two singular visions of deep and micro house.
Romanian composer and sound alchemist Ada Kaleh channels his signature world of organic textures, dub-soaked spaces and slowly evolving rhythms, known from his forward-thinking work on R&S, Apollo and his own Ada Kaleh Romania imprint. His part of the productions unfolds like a ritual: subtle, detailed and endlessly spiralling, built for dancers who like to disappear inside the groove.
On the other side, trio Wareika bring their unique blend of live jazz sensibility, meditative dub and electronic body music, honed over years of improvisation and boundary-blurring club performances. Their contributions lean into fluid polyrhythms, elastic basslines and shimmering harmonies, tracks that feel alive, breathing and in constant motion.
The journey is expanded by a heavyweight remix cast: minimal house icon Thomas Melchior, Techfui founder and Bahrain mainstay Salah Sadeq, whose deep house productions are crafted to move both heart and floor, and the elusive studio force DUST. Each rework dials the hypnosis in further, stretching time and space without ever losing the warmth of the original material.
True to Techfuis ethos of bringing family, friends and fresh talent together to create honest, unconventional art, this double album is not just a collection of tracks, but a deep, carefully produced listening experience, timeless deep house and micro house for late nights, early mornings and every hazy moment in between.

Jack Smooth is back with a brand new 4 tracker - Featuring 2 collaborations with Greekboy this one has to be heard to be believed. Drum & Bass at it's diverse best. Genre bending title track Future Abstraction sets the scene for adventures into deep dnb territory and the pace never drops.

Monomoods Records proudly presents Thunder Skull, the new EP from Doctr, previously featured on Rimini Moods. For this release, he teams up with A.M. Sam on Highrider and Seppl on the title track Thunder Skull, delivering a collection that expands his sonic universe into darker, more cinematic territories, like a road trip through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Spanning four distinct tracks, the EP moves between Indie Dance, Italo-Disco, and Hi-NRG, each painting its own scene within this dystopian landscape. ‘’Highrider’’ bursts forward with euphoric Eurodance energy; ‘’The Boys’’ unfolds as an epic, heroic tale rising from the ashes; ‘’The Last Waterfountain’’ combines intensity and emotion with an almost survivalist tension; and finally, ‘’Thunder Skull’’ stands as a true Italo anthem for the wastelands — a soundtrack for the last dance under a burning sky. Fusing raw power with hypnotic rhythm, Thunder Skull is a soundtrack for late-night journeys and fevered dancefloors, meticulously crafted with attention to detail, atmosphere, and a bold cinematic spirit.

"The Barras" brings two heavyweight cuts for the floor. On the A-side, "The Barras" drives with deep hypnotic rhythms and acid-soaked lines. The flip, "Pharmacy Keys", dives into raw Chicago Acid territory — weird, twisted and unstoppable in the late-night zone.

Straight from Honolulu, Bombye is a newly found Hawaiian soul trio led by Nick Kurosawa, one of Hawaii’s most captivating voices. Known for his rich,
velvet tone and vintage-inspired phrasing, Nick and his band channel the essence of 1970s soul, funk, and R&B into a deeply organic soundscape that feels both nostalgic and new.
The EP features four tracks that showcase the band’s musicianship and emotional depth.
Mixing by Andrew Garma and mastering by Wax Alchemy deliver exceptional clarity and analog warmth, while Shiro Ishihara (SNEA) provides the minimalist yet evocative artwork
that perfectly complements the record’s soulful aesthetics. This limited-edition vinyl includes a bonus “Bombye” sticker exclusive to CONNECT RECORDS. Each copy is pressed with
care for collectors, DJs, and analog enthusiasts seeking authentic, heartfelt soul music with timeless groove and depth.

A blend of Metal Indus and Bass Music, VIOLENCE is an ambitious and atypical project produced by Niveau Zero, one of the pioneers of French Bass Music. Composed of Fabio Meschini (Guitar / Ex: As They Burn) , Morgan Sansous (Drums), John Kazadi (Lead Vocal) and Frédéric Garcia aka Niveau Zero ( Machines and Vocal ).

OPUS I', their 1st album (2021), composed in collaboration with choice guests such as Billy Graziadei (Biohazard, Powerflo), Bastien Hennaut (HORSKH) and Code: Pandorum... has frankly succeeded in arousing the enthusiasm of both Metal and Bass Music audiences.

On stage, the band has not been outdone, offering a crescendo of increasingly furious performances over the last year alongside bands like Biohazard, Mass Hysteria, Ten 56, Horskh, Shaargot, Novelist, Revnoir, King Yosef.

repressed !

Dae Han is the unsung backbone behind progressive Honolulu acts and international artists. He’s the go-to drummer whenever Japanese rapper Shing02 tours the US and Asia with a full band. In 2019, Takuya Kuroda tapped Dae to organize a band to support the Brooklyn-based trumpeter’s gig at Blue Note Hawaii. Dae also recently teamed up with guitarist Gilbert Batangan and bassist Mark Tanouye to open for Khruangbin. And every year he organizes an always impressive jazz-forward tribute to the late J Dilla.

On the drums, Dae’s swift, technical style compliments every situation, from jazz and funk to R&B, reggae, and hip hop. Much the same, Dae has approached the compositions and arrangements for his debut with craft and purpose.

BLUE, coming in February 2020, came to fruition over the past 12 months with the help of Nelson Cho, the musician and recording engineer behind Lightworks Recordings in Wahiawa, Oahu. Together, the two spent countless hours honing a sound that travels across hip hop, jazz, and house.

The resulting songs act as a diary of the artist’s fateful journey from Washington D.C. through New York to Honolulu, where he resides today. Reflecting on joyful highs and the lowest lows, Dae creates a collage for the listener to hear, appreciate, and understand the path he’s traveled thus far.

4XLP box set, 4 Coloured discs: translucent violet, ice, blue, and orange vinyl

Hardcover slipcase box
Celebrate twenty-five years of Ape Escape and thirty years of PlayStation with Ape Escape 3 Originape Soundtracks in a Box!

Ｓａｒｕ　Ｇｅｔ　Ｙｏｕ　３

As with the Ape Escape Originape Soundtrack, composer Soichi Terada has meticulously re-recorded and reconstructed all tracks from the Ape Escape 3 Original soundtrack. Previously only available on CD, this is the complete soundtrack's first time on vinyl. This box set was produced in partnership with Mr. Terada and Far East Recording, and is an officially licensed Sony Interactive Entertainment product.

This release contains eighty tracks, spanning four individually sleeved records, housed in a hardcover box. It is similar in construction to the Ape Escape Originape Soundtracks in a Box release (2024), and the two will look quite nicely next to one another on your shelf!

We are happy to announce that this box set features a definitive edition of the Ape Escape 3 Originape tracklist. This also includes "Swanlake," a track previously unavailable on the CD release. At its core, the Ape Escape 3 soundtrack features much of Soichi Terada's signature sound: lush electronic, jungle, silky smooth synthesizer, humor, and charm.

Ape Escape 3 was originally released in 2005 (Japan), and its moviemaking pipos were unleashed across the rest of the globe in 2006. The game features two new protagonists (Kei and Yumi) who battle the Freaky Monkey Five, underlings of the nefarious Dr. Tomoki and the evil monkey Specter.

Complimenting the game's journey through the TV-verse, the Ape Escape 3 soundtrack also features twists on themes from Wild West Showdowns, Kung-Fu movies, and space operas. Fans of the Ape Escape Originape Soundtrack, as well as newer work like Asakusa Light, will certainly enjoy all elements of Soichi Terada's music present in Ape Escape 3.

The music on this box set was mastered by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering, who also mastered the original Ape Escape Originape Soundtracks box set (2024). Using Mr. Terada's premastered source files, the music was completely and specifically mastered for vinyl. The box set also features original Ape Escape 3 character renders and key art. All of the design elements have been put together with careful thought, referencing the original Japanese guidebook for inspiration and visual cohesiveness.

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate Soichi Terada's music and the Ape Escape franchise with this four-disc release!

Original key art and renders from the サルゲッチュ team


Officially licensed © Sony Interactive Entertainment
©2025 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. “PlayStation”, ”プレイステーション”, “Ape Escape” and ”サルゲッチュ” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Second Sinystria brings again a major acid dancefloor experience.
A meeting of Italian and Nederland artists... Travelling around :)

ENJOY !

Die Indie-Folk-Ikone Sam Beam, auch bekannt als Iron And Wine, bringt ein neues Studioalbum raus, das voll mit wunderschöner, natürlicher Americana ist, darunter zwei Kollaborationen mit dem weiblichen Folk-Trio I'm With Her. „Ich wollte schon immer diesen Titel verwenden", sagt Sam Beam über „Hen's Teeth“, sein achtes Album in voller Länge und sein sechstes für Sub Pop Records. „Ich liebe ihn einfach. Für mich steht er für das Unmögliche. Hühnerzähne gibt's nicht. Und genau so fühlt sich dieses Album an: wie ein Geschenk, das es eigentlich nicht geben dürfte, aber doch da ist. Eine unmögliche Sache, aber sie ist real."



„Hen's Teeth“ und sein vorheriges Album „Light Verse“ sind so was wie Geschwister. Sie wurden während derselben Sessions nach einer einjährigen Pause mit derselben Band im Waystation Studio in Laurel Canyon aufgenommen. „Wenn ich gerade richtig in Schreiblaune bin und die Band mich dort abholt, wo ich gerade stehe, treiben sie mich zu etwas, das ich mir nicht hätte vorstellen können. Ich bin an einem Punkt in meinem Leben, an dem Spontaneität für mich viel wichtiger ist. Ich muss nicht mehr so viel beweisen wie früher. Ich bin viel freier und liebe es mehr denn je, Musik zu machen. Es gibt keine richtigen oder falschen Antworten. Man betet einfach um Glück und gibt sein Bestes." In diesem Fall wurden die Gebete erhört und das Glück schlug voll zu. Die Musiker fanden so schnell zueinander und inspirierten sich gegenseitig so sehr, dass sie Songs oft in nur wenigen Takes aufnahmen, manchmal zwei oder drei pro Tag. Die beiden Alben können daher als zweieiige Zwillinge betrachtet werden: Sie teilen sich die DNA und ergänzen sich, haben aber unterschiedliche Identitäten und zeichnen sich ebenso durch ihre Unterschiede wie durch ihre Gemeinsamkeiten aus. Die Welt von „Hen's Teeth“ ist erdiger, dunkler, robuster und greifbarer als die von „Light Verse“. Die Songs haben Titel wie “Roses", “Robin's Egg", “Dates and Dead People" und “Singing Saw". “Run into the one you love forever / Laugh into each other's empty mouth", singt Beam in “Roses", dem ersten Titel des Albums. Es ist einer von mehreren Songs, in denen Liebende so tief miteinander verbunden sind, dass sie physisch verschmelzen. “Paper and Stone" erinnert daran: “But for the time we fell in two / You'd be me and I'd be you / One crust of bread could fit in our mouths / You'd breathe in and I'd let it out." Und in “In Your Ocean" finden wir Beam betend: “Praying for dry ground / Though I only want to drown / When I find myself swimming in your ocean".

Mit The Mirror legt Buck Meek, Gitarrist von Big Thief, sein viertes Soloalbum vor - ein feinfühliges Werk über Sprache, Identität und das ständige Sich-Verändern. Freunde und Weggefährt:innen wie Adrianne Lenker, Jolie Holland oder Tucker Zimmerman wirken mit und hinterlassen ihre Spuren nicht nur musikalisch, sondern auch in den Texten. Meek begreift Songwriting als gemeinschaftlichen Prozess und nutzt den Spiegel als zentrales Bild: nicht zur Selbstbespiegelung, sondern als Gegenüber, das Fragen stellt. Aufgewachsen in einer kunst- und literaturgeprägten Familie in Texas, sammelte Meek früh vielfältige musikalische Erfahrungen - von Blues über Jazz bis Folk. Diese Offenheit prägt auch The Mirror. Gemeinsam mit Produzent James Krivchenia verbindet er die Live-Energie einer Band mit subtilen elektronischen Texturen. Die Aufnahmen entstanden in einem experimentellen, offenen Setting, das Spontaneität über Perfektion stellt. In seinen Songs geht es um Nähe, Verletzlichkeit und die Brüchigkeit von Erinnerung. Wortspiele, Spiegelungen und innere Dialoge machen Sprache selbst zum Thema. Angst und Zweifel erscheinen dabei nicht als Gegenspieler, sondern als Begleiter. The Mirror erklärt nicht - es hört zu, tastet sich vor und lädt dazu ein, dem Unbekannten mit Neugier zu begegnen.
Sicherhe

Als Nachfolger von ,High Art Lite" ist ,Ruins" ein Album, das von Trauer, Reflexion und Transformation geprägt ist; eine Platte, die sowohl die Schwere des Verlusts als auch die seltsame Schönheit, die damit einhergeht, einfängt. Geschrieben nach einer selbst auferlegten Pause vom Songwriting, repräsentiert es eine Veränderung im Fokus und in der Perspektive von Joseph Oxley aka TVAM. ,Ich wollte mich von dem entfernen, was ich dachte, dass ich machen sollte", erklärt er. ,Der schlechteste Rat, den man geben kann, ist: ,Was nicht kaputt ist, muss man nicht reparieren.` Es ist immer kaputt. Es muss immer repariert werden." Im Kern beschäftigt sich ,Ruins" mit Verlust nicht als Leere, sondern als Präsenz, als etwas, das die Welt um einen herum neu gestaltet. Auf dem Album ringt Oxley mit den Dualitäten der menschlichen Erfahrung: der Spannung zwischen Gesagtem und Ungesagtem, zwischen Humanismus und Nihilismus, Öffentlichkeit und Privatsphäre, Verzweiflung und Akzeptanz. ,Hoffnung und Verzweiflung heben sich nicht gegenseitig auf", sagt er. ,Sie können nebeneinander existieren - das macht es real." Irgendwo inmitten eines Lebens voller Wiederholungen, Wiederaufführungen und Neustarts lebt TVAM und schafft Werke, die unsere Erinnerungen berühren und gleichzeitig mit unseren Ängsten spielen, und schafft eine Welt, in der Rundfunk zu Performance wird. Seit seinem Debütalbum ,Psychic Data", das aus einem kleinen Schlafzimmerstudio in Wigan hervorgegangen ist, hat TVAM den Sound und das Spektakel der Nostalgie im modernen Leben definiert, vom Slogan ,Porsche Majeure" bis zum Wahlkampf ,Semantics". Seine Musik wurde in die Tagesplaylist von BBC 6 Music aufgenommen und in Fernsehsendungen wie der bahnbrechenden Serie ,Succession" vorgestellt. Musikalisch ist ,Ruins" expansiv und immersiv. Dunkel, aber magisch, ist es voller hallgetränkter Synthesizer, zerbrochener Texturen und hämmernder Snares. Gitarren verweben sich mit neu entdeckter Zurückhaltung durch den Mix und schaffen Raum für Atmosphäre und Emotionen, die im Mittelpunkt stehen. ,Broken Reality"-Texturen kollidieren mit treibenden Rhythmen und erinnern an den cineastischen Puls von The Sisters of Mercy aus der ,Floodland"-Ära und die melodische Melancholie von The Cure aus der ,Disintegration"-Ära. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das Schönheit in Dissonanzen und Licht in Trümmern findet.

Night Punch sind fünf Musiker aus Hamburg, die einen einzigartigen, apokalyptischen Sound zwischen Hardcore Punk, Dark Punk und kalten Synth-Elementen formen. Mit ihrem 2023 erschienenen Album "Where Sins Bloom (So Does Death)" lieferten sie eine gnadenlose, 32-minütige Klangattacke aus druckvollen Schlagzeug- und Bass-Teppichen, sägend verzerrten E-Gitarren, eisigen Synth-Flächen und wütenden Vocals, roh, kompromisslos und tief in einer düsteren Klangästhetik verankert. Seit ihrer Gründung hat sich um Night Punch, deren Identität stets in Masken zerfällt, eine treue Szene gebildet; sie veröffentlichen limitierte Tapes und Vinyls, spielen auf Festivals wie dem Get Lost! Fest und überzeugen mit intensiven, energiegeladenen Live-Shows, die den DIY-Ethos der Band unmittelbar spürbar machen. 2026 setzen sie diesen Weg mit dem Album "godisnowhere" fort: noch härter, direkter und aggressiver als der Vorgänger, ohne den eigenen Klangkern aufzugeben. Die Songs wirken dichter, kantiger und unerbittlicher, behalten aber die vertraute Mischung aus massiver Rhythmik, apokalyptischer Stimmung und nihilistischer Wucht bei. Eine weitere Eskalationsstufe im kompromisslosen Kosmos von Night Punch

World Of Echo announces the reissue of two remastered albums by Japanese guitarist and songwriter Naoki Zushi, 1988’s Paradise, and 2005’s III. Two classics of Japanese psychedelia, both Paradise and III were originally released on Org Records, the imprint of Shinji Shibayama of acid-folk group Nagisa Ni Te, with whom Zushi has guested on second guitar for decades. Both intimate and expansive, rich with revelatory songwriting and blasted, sky-scouring guitar, these reissues return these albums to print for the first time since the 2000s. It’s the first time III has been officially released on vinyl, with an extra, previously unreleased track, “Under The June Moonlight.”

Recorded in Kyoto’s Townhouse Studios in mid 1987 and released in limited-to-500 vinyl pressing in 1988, Paradise emerged from a scene in Kansai, Japan that was embracing the idiosyncracies of 1970s singer-songwriters, the soaring solos of early seventies psychedelia, and the DIY impulse of 1980s post-punk. While Zushi’s musical history stretched back to the early eighties – he was a founding member of Jojo Hiroshige’s noise outfit Hijokaidan – he found his feet with groups like Hallelujahs, whose dream-pop collection Niku O Kuraite Chikai Wo Tateyo was recently reissued by Black Editions, and Idiot O’Clock.

Paradise appeared two years after that Hallelujahs album and share much the same membership – Zushi’s backing band on several of the songs includes Shibayama on drums and Ken-Ichi Takayama (aka Idiot) on electric guitar, though just as often, Zushi plays all the instruments himself. The coordinates here are wide-reaching – you can hear the volume and intensity of Neil Young & Crazy Horse (on “Hallelujah: Left Side” and “Paradise: Midday”), the slow-motion magic of Galaxie 500, the idiosyncratic spirit of The Only Ones, all mixed up with tender guitar miniatures and stumbling garage-psych-pop moves.

Seven years later, after the transitional album Phenomenal Luciferin, Zushi released III. Perhaps his masterpiece, it’s already been bootlegged on vinyl, but this reissue is the real deal. The album was recorded at Studio Nemu over seven years, and sees Zushi backed by Shibayama (bass) and Masako Takeda (drums), his erstwhile bandmates in Nagisa Ni Te. By this stage, Zushi had started to really stretch out, and many of the songs on III swoon languorously, taking their sweet time to say what they need to say. It’s rich with lovely, melancholy songs, in a similar realm to bandmates Nagisa Ni Te, of course, but you can also hear traces of everything from Syd Barrett’s The Madcap Laughs, through seventies private press loner folk, to the slow-burn meanderings of the likes of early Low or Damon & Naomi.

When interviewed by Shibayama in the mid-nineties, Zushi said of Paradise, “it was a sort of collection of songs that had meant something to me up to that point… it was my paradise. I wanted to create paradise.” That’s something Zushi achieves on both of these albums – visionary Japanese psychedelia, en route to paradise. - Jon Dale

Uw energieboost in plaatvorm: zo klinkt de nieuwe Admiral Freebee. Geboren uit een oerdrive om samen met zijn vrienden slash helden muziek te maken en de studio in te duiken. Openingstrack Seeking A Friend zet meteen de toon: drums zwellen aan, een snedige riff valt in en Tom Van Laere giet er een rauw ‘Armageddooon’ over uit. De wereld staat in brand en Admiral Freebee is er niet blind voor, maar het spelplezier staat voorop. Uptempo, groovy, dansbaar zelfs, met synths en welgemikte opzwepende HEY’s: negen songs lang spatten good times uit de muziek, van eerste single Q&A With Myself over knallers als Future Fathers Of Utopia en The Hunger. Zoals we van Admiral Freebee gewend zijn, is er ook ruimte voor humor en een introspectieve blik. Maar vergis je niet, een schoothondje is hij niet (No One’s Puppy). In slottrack Dog That Never Dies gaat de voet van het gaspedaal en legt het enige ingetogen nummer het album neer, als een synthese van alle thema’s die aan bod komen. En we mogen gerust zijn: met Admiral Freebee gaat het goed, en zowel hij als zijn muziek lopen over van het plezier. Even alle zorgen vergeten en genieten van pure fun.

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Your energy boost in record form: that’s how the new Admiral Freebee album sounds. Born from a primal desire to make music with his friends aka heroes and dive into the studio. Opening track Seeking A Friend sets the tone: drums swell, a sharp riff takes centre stage and Van Laere lets out a raw ‘Armageddooon’. The world is on fire and Admiral Freebee does not turn a blind eye, but first we have some fun. Uptempo, groovy, danceable even, with funky synths and a bunch of infectious HEYs: for nine songs good times are all over the place, from first single Q&A With Myself to bangers like Future Fathers Of Utopia and The Hunger. As always with Admiral Freebee, there’s also room for humor and he doesn’t shy away from introspection either. And make no mistake: Tom Van Laere is no lapdog (No One’s Puppy). Closing track Dog That Never Dies is the only intimate song on the album and sounds like a synthesis of all the album’s themes. And rest assured: Admiral Freebee is doing fine, and both him and his music are bursting with joy. So leave your worries behind for a moment and have some raw fun.

Picture by Ed Templeton/ Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery

Artwork by Jelle Jespers

Admiral Freebee is Tom Van Laere – Tim Coene, Senne Guns en Laurens Billiet. Recorded in summer 2025.

Pioen is the second album by Elisabeth Klinck & Nils Vermeulen, released on blickwinkel. It was recorded in a small chapel of a monastery in the city center of Ghent. A chapel by nature is a place of contemplation and meditation, which automatically had influence on the music. Movements slow down, attention is sharpened and the overwhelming silence of the space becomes part of the music. Sound and silence are meticulously woven into each other. Even when the music grows at times dense and heavy, there is an ever-present sense of closeness and intimacy. This is reinforced by the use of the voice, which naturally appears throughout the album, not as a separate layer but as an extension of the instruments.

The pieces – this time more curated than on their previous album Pair, Paire – arose from hours-long improvisations where sound became space and space became sound. Bringing together violin, double bass and voice, Pioen unfolds as a serene and honest journey, inviting the listener into a state of contemplation.

Elisabeth Klinck is a contemporary violinist, composer and performer based in Brussels, known or her timeless, deep-listening sound worlds. Her album Picture a Frame (2023) and Chronotopia - selected by The Quietus as one of the best albums of 2025 - were released on the Swiss label Hallow Ground. A big part of her work revolves around tactility, fragility, and a very physical approaches to sound.

Nils Vermeulen is a Belgian double bass player active in all varieties of adventurous music. He has played with Paul Lytton, Martin Küchen, Seppe Gebruers, William Parker, John Dikeman, Luis Vicente, among others. He works across many scenes, from free improv to jazz to contemporary classical music, and in many distinct constellations, such as his own groups Kabas and Jukwaa, a Norwegian free jazz trio with Tollef Østvang and Heidi Kvelvane, a string duo with Elisabeth Klinck, and as the double bassplayer of Nemo ensemble. In 2023, he released his debut solo album on Aspen Edities.

Uw energieboost in plaatvorm: zo klinkt de nieuwe Admiral Freebee. Geboren uit een oerdrive om samen met zijn vrienden slash helden muziek te maken en de studio in te duiken. Openingstrack Seeking A Friend zet meteen de toon: drums zwellen aan, een snedige riff valt in en Tom Van Laere giet er een rauw ‘Armageddooon’ over uit. De wereld staat in brand en Admiral Freebee is er niet blind voor, maar het spelplezier staat voorop. Uptempo, groovy, dansbaar zelfs, met synths en welgemikte opzwepende HEY’s: negen songs lang spatten good times uit de muziek, van eerste single Q&A With Myself over knallers als Future Fathers Of Utopia en The Hunger. Zoals we van Admiral Freebee gewend zijn, is er ook ruimte voor humor en een introspectieve blik. Maar vergis je niet, een schoothondje is hij niet (No One’s Puppy). In slottrack Dog That Never Dies gaat de voet van het gaspedaal en legt het enige ingetogen nummer het album neer, als een synthese van alle thema’s die aan bod komen. En we mogen gerust zijn: met Admiral Freebee gaat het goed, en zowel hij als zijn muziek lopen over van het plezier. Even alle zorgen vergeten en genieten van pure fun.

——————————————————

Your energy boost in record form: that’s how the new Admiral Freebee album sounds. Born from a primal desire to make music with his friends aka heroes and dive into the studio. Opening track Seeking A Friend sets the tone: drums swell, a sharp riff takes centre stage and Van Laere lets out a raw ‘Armageddooon’. The world is on fire and Admiral Freebee does not turn a blind eye, but first we have some fun. Uptempo, groovy, danceable even, with funky synths and a bunch of infectious HEYs: for nine songs good times are all over the place, from first single Q&A With Myself to bangers like Future Fathers Of Utopia and The Hunger. As always with Admiral Freebee, there’s also room for humor and he doesn’t shy away from introspection either. And make no mistake: Tom Van Laere is no lapdog (No One’s Puppy). Closing track Dog That Never Dies is the only intimate song on the album and sounds like a synthesis of all the album’s themes. And rest assured: Admiral Freebee is doing fine, and both him and his music are bursting with joy. So leave your worries behind for a moment and have some raw fun.

Picture by Ed Templeton/ Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery

Artwork by Jelle Jespers

Admiral Freebee is Tom Van Laere – Tim Coene, Senne Guns en Laurens Billiet. Recorded in summer 2025.

Das vierte Album und Sub Pop-Debüt von Lala Lala, alias Lillie West, ist ein kraftvoller, warmer und mit Ohrwürmern gespickter Indie-Pop-Kracher für Fans von Jay Som, Porches, Dehd, Angel Olsen und Alex G. Lillie West hat ihre Musik immer aus dem Bedürfnis heraus gemacht, ständig in Bewegung zu sein. Als sie aber kürzlich den Wunsch verspürte, sich niederzulassen, hat sie gemerkt, dass Beständigkeit Kreativität fördern kann. Diese Entwicklung ist der Antrieb für einen Großteil ihres neuen Albums "Heaven 2". Viele Jahre lang lebte West in Chicago, wo sie Lala Lala als Teil der Indie-Szene der Stadt etablierte und mehrere Alben auf Hardly Art veröffentlichte. Diese Alben, "The Lamb" und "I Want the Door to Open", waren kraftvolle Statements einer neugierigen Künstlerin: eingängige Gitarren-Pop-Songs über das Feststecken in den Höhen und Tiefen des Lebens, den Kampf, nüchtern zu bleiben, die Stadt zu verlassen, sein Leben in die Luft zu jagen. West verließ Chicago, um nach mehr zu suchen, und schrieb dabei ihr neues Album "Heaven 2". Auf ihrer Reise landete sie in New Mexico, wo sie in Taos fernab der Zivilisation lebte. "Es war sehr herausfordernd, eiskalt und voller giftiger Tiere. Aber es ist immer noch der schönste und magischste Ort, an dem ich je gewesen bin, und ich träume ständig davon", sagt West. Anschließend zog sie nach Island, wo sie zwei Jahre lang mit Unterbrechungen lebte, wobei sie die Unterbrechungen in London verbrachte, wo sie aufgewachsen war. Schließlich kam sie nach Reykjavik, wo sie sich in der Musikszene einlebte und ein Instrumentalalbum ("If I Were A Real Man I Would Be Able To Break The Neck Of A Suffering Bird") veröffentlichte, bevor sie nach Los Angeles ging, wo sie sich verliebte und sich niederließ. L.A. ist ein guter Ort zum Leben, schon allein deshalb, weil, wie West sagt: "Wo auch immer du hingehst, dort bist du. Ich wünschte, es gäbe eine coolere Art, das auszudrücken." Zum Glück gibt es die: Dieses Thema, überall Schönheit und Erfüllung zu finden, zieht sich durch "Heaven 2". In ,Even Mountains Erode" singt West: , "There are symbols and signs, you're missing your life". West ermutigt sich selbst und uns, langsamer zu werden. Innezuhalten und den Duft der Blumen zu genießen. West hat das Album zusammen mit Melina Duterte von Jay Som produziert, die mit ihrer kraftvollen Stimme einen starken Kontrast zu Wests warmem, rundem Gesang bildet. Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden war telepathisch, und das Ergebnis ist ein mutiges und selbstbewusstes Album. Duterte und West spielten fast alle Instrumente des Albums selbst, mit ein paar wichtigen Gästen wie Sen Morimoto am Saxophon im Eröffnungstrack "Car Anymore" und einer Bridge, die Aaron Maine von Porches für den Titeltrack ,Heaven 2" geschrieben hat. Bei "Catharsis" geht es nicht nur um den Schmerz, sondern auch um die Befreiung, die man erlebt, wenn man sich davon befreit. Und so gibt es auch Momente kühner Freude auf dem Album. "Arrow", das Samples der französischen Electro-Pop-Band La Femme enthält, ist schnell, und seine Schnelligkeit und Freude fühlen sich an, als würde man auf etwas zulaufen und nicht davonlaufen. "None of this was supposed to happen", singt West. Aber es ist passiert. "Es ist so eine grundlegende spirituelle Sache", sagt West, ,Widerstand ist die Wurzel allen Leidens, und ich dachte, ich könnte den Verlauf meines Lebens bestimmen." Natürlich konnte sie das, wie alle anderen auch, nicht. Wohin man auch geht, man ist immer da.

Nachdem Ásgeir jahrelang mit Übersetzern wie John Grant zusammengearbeitet und die Poesie seines Vaters, Einar Georg Einarsson, vertont hat, betritt er nun neues Terrain: Zum ersten Mal in seiner langen und gefeierten Karriere hat er die Texte komplett selbst verfasst.

Ásgeir wird seit Langem für seinen detailreichen Folk-Pop, die opulente Produktion und sein sehnsüchtiges, gefühlvolles Falsett gefeiert. „Julia“ markiert eine Wende – nicht nur hin zu lyrischer Eigenständigkeit, sondern auch zu kathartischer Direktheit, mit Songs, die nicht nur meisterhaft vorgetragen, sondern auch durchlebt wirken. „Das war irgendwie das erste Mal, dass ich die Texte völlig allein geschrieben habe“, erzählt er. „Es war beängstigend. Ich versuche immer noch, mich darin zu finden. Aber ich habe versucht, mich zu öffnen, und habe in diesem Prozess viel gelernt. Es war auf jeden Fall therapeutisch für mich.“

Dieses neue Gefühl der Verletzlichkeit zieht sich durch die zehn Stücke des Albums, die über einen Zeitraum von fast zwei Jahren geschrieben und aufgenommen wurden. Viele der Songs entstanden zunächst auf der Gitarre, wobei Ásgeir auf Schlichtheit setzte und Melodie, Klarheit und Bedeutung in den Vordergrund stellte. Die Produktion, gemeinsam mit seinem langjährigen Weggefährten Guðm. „Kiddi“ Kristinn Jónsson entwickelt, bleibt organisch und zurückhaltend – und gibt so Ásgeirs Stimme, und vor allem seiner Stimme als Songwriter, den nötigen Raum.

Der aus Nashville stammende Cellist Nathaniel Smith, den Ásgeir als „Zauberer“ beschreibt, steuert hier und im gesamten Album atmosphärische Klangteppiche bei. Mit improvisierten Melodien verleiht er den Stücken Leben und Tiefe – auf eine Weise, die Ásgeir sich zuvor nicht vorgestellt hatte.

The analog LP reissue of the original soundtrack album from the anime Mr. Ajikko, which aired in 1987. The original LP catalog number is K28G-7379, and the original
CD catalog number is K32X-7125, released on June 21, 1988 (the tracklist differs from the CD released in 2004, which included eight newly added tracks).
The original manga, created by Daisuke Terasawa, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine from autumn 1986 to the end of 1989, and was adapted into an anime
series that aired on TV Tokyo from October 1987 to September 1989.

This is the only soundtrack album for the anime series. It features the opening theme “Renaissance Jounetsu” and the ending theme “Kokoro no Photograph”, both
composed and sung by singer songwriter Wataru Kuniyasu, who is also known for composing Akina Nakamori’s “Gypsy Queen”. Lyrics were written by Ikki Matsumoto,
and arrangements were done by Tatsumi Yano.

The album includes image songs, eyecatch music, and preview tracks, with contributions from renowned comedy song artists Masayuki Yamamoto (Side A tracks 4 and 6)
and Tatsuo Kamon (Side B tracks 1 and 7). The album was structured, scripted, and directed by the anime’s director Yasuhiro Imagawa, making it a variety style album.
The main background music (BGM) was composed and arranged by Daito Fujita (Side A tracks 1, 3, 5, 7; Side B tracks 3, 5). The original manga author Daisuke
Terasawa also contributed lyrics for two songs (Side B tracks 3 and 5). Voice actor Tomohiro Nishimura participated both as a singer (Side A track 8; Side B track 7)
and as an arranger (Side B track 7).

Voice actors Minami Takayama, Yoko Kawanami, Miki Narahashi, Hirotaka Suzuoki, and Kenyu Horiuchi also participated in min dramas and chorus segments.
This album, which comically and dramatically portrays cooking battles, is a “Bravo!” anime soundtrack that closes out the Showa era in style. After 37 years, it is finally
being reissued as an analog LP a long-awaited release for anime connoisseurs!