Born from their shared love for heavy music and 20 years of experience in playing together, THE GORGE consists of four jazz musicians who use the project as a creative outlet besides their day jobs as session musicians and music educators. Triangulating the chaotic yet groovy energy and the guitar masterclass of Botch with the riffage of Mastodon and the nimble instrumental intricacy of Animals as Leaders or Intronaut, Mechanical Fiction is an immensely ear-pleasing collection of tasty riffs and complex compositions that are nonetheless free-flowing like a river smoothly carving its winding path through a rugged landscape. With their third full-length album, THE GORGE take you on a giant voyage of discovery from which an incredible amount of joy can be experienced. Besides being wizards at their instruments, the quartet from St. Louis also prove to be incredible composers who know when to shine and when to take a step back, which is a rare feat in progressive music these days. The final track «Wraith» offers a sublime moment in which the band's compositional skill and emotional lyrics come together to offer one last opportunity for respite and consideration. Among the giant synthesizers, slow syncopated riffing and dying screams we are all laid to rest with our faces towards the sunset. Having come to the end of a life's journey, THE GORGE ofer us the thing that we have all longed for: release from the bonds of our Mechanical Fiction. Ltd Orange Red Marble (Beneath The Crust Ed.) Vinyl!
Nach 42 Jahren im Metal-Business kommt Grave Diggers Front-Ikone Chris Boltendahl mit seinem ersten Soloalbum - "Reborn In Flames". Unter dem Banner von Chris Boltendahls STEELHAMMER konnte Chris eine illustre Zunft erstklassiger Musiker für dieses Werk gewinnen. An der Gitarre ist kein Geringerer als der Ex-Orden Ogan-Gitarrenzauberer Tobias Kersting zu finden. Mit ihm hat Chris alle 10 Tracks auf "Reborn in Flames" geschrieben. Komplettiert wird das Line-Up durch Lars Schneider am Bass (ex Orden Ogan) und Patrick Klose am Schlagzeug (Iron Savior). "Reborn in Flames" strotzt nur so vor klassischen Power-Metal-Riffs- eine glühende Mischung aus "Grave Digger meets Metal Church. Von Heavy-Metal-Steamern à la "Reborn in Flames", "Fire Angel" oder "Beyond the Black Soul" bis hin zu den Groove-Monstern "Gods of Steel, Out of the Ruins oder The Hammer that kills" hört man auf dem Album alles, was das Metalherz begehrt. Das Album endet mit der Coverversion des Klassikers "Beds are burning" von Midnight Oil. Tobias Kersting veredelt das Album mit filigranen Power-Metal-Riffs und Weltklasse-Soli, während Lars Schneider und Patrick Klose dem Duo Kersting/Boltendahl die nötige Basis liefern. Die unverkennbare Stimme der Totengräber-Legende regiert... "Reborn in Flames" ist ein Feuerwerk an Metal für jeden Headbanger, der klassischen Metal liebt... Mit "Reborn in Flames" schaffen die vier Musiker ein eigenständiges, frisches und hochklassiges Power-Metal-Debütalbum. Wie Ozzy sagte: "Let the madness begin"
Nach 42 Jahren im Metal-Business kommt Grave Diggers Front-Ikone Chris Boltendahl mit seinem ersten Soloalbum - "Reborn In Flames". Unter dem Banner von Chris Boltendahls STEELHAMMER konnte Chris eine illustre Zunft erstklassiger Musiker für dieses Werk gewinnen. An der Gitarre ist kein Geringerer als der Ex-Orden Ogan-Gitarrenzauberer Tobias Kersting zu finden. Mit ihm hat Chris alle 10 Tracks auf "Reborn in Flames" geschrieben. Komplettiert wird das Line-Up durch Lars Schneider am Bass (ex Orden Ogan) und Patrick Klose am Schlagzeug (Iron Savior). "Reborn in Flames" strotzt nur so vor klassischen Power-Metal-Riffs- eine glühende Mischung aus "Grave Digger meets Metal Church. Von Heavy-Metal-Steamern à la "Reborn in Flames", "Fire Angel" oder "Beyond the Black Soul" bis hin zu den Groove-Monstern "Gods of Steel, Out of the Ruins oder The Hammer that kills" hört man auf dem Album alles, was das Metalherz begehrt. Das Album endet mit der Coverversion des Klassikers "Beds are burning" von Midnight Oil. Tobias Kersting veredelt das Album mit filigranen Power-Metal-Riffs und Weltklasse-Soli, während Lars Schneider und Patrick Klose dem Duo Kersting/Boltendahl die nötige Basis liefern. Die unverkennbare Stimme der Totengräber-Legende regiert... "Reborn in Flames" ist ein Feuerwerk an Metal für jeden Headbanger, der klassischen Metal liebt... Mit "Reborn in Flames" schaffen die vier Musiker ein eigenständiges, frisches und hochklassiges Power-Metal-Debütalbum. Wie Ozzy sagte: "Let the madness begin"
Nach 42 Jahren im Metal-Business kommt Grave Diggers Front-Ikone Chris Boltendahl mit seinem ersten Soloalbum - "Reborn In Flames". Unter dem Banner von Chris Boltendahls STEELHAMMER konnte Chris eine illustre Zunft erstklassiger Musiker für dieses Werk gewinnen. An der Gitarre ist kein Geringerer als der Ex-Orden Ogan-Gitarrenzauberer Tobias Kersting zu finden. Mit ihm hat Chris alle 10 Tracks auf "Reborn in Flames" geschrieben. Komplettiert wird das Line-Up durch Lars Schneider am Bass (ex Orden Ogan) und Patrick Klose am Schlagzeug (Iron Savior). "Reborn in Flames" strotzt nur so vor klassischen Power-Metal-Riffs- eine glühende Mischung aus "Grave Digger meets Metal Church. Von Heavy-Metal-Steamern à la "Reborn in Flames", "Fire Angel" oder "Beyond the Black Soul" bis hin zu den Groove-Monstern "Gods of Steel, Out of the Ruins oder The Hammer that kills" hört man auf dem Album alles, was das Metalherz begehrt. Das Album endet mit der Coverversion des Klassikers "Beds are burning" von Midnight Oil. Tobias Kersting veredelt das Album mit filigranen Power-Metal-Riffs und Weltklasse-Soli, während Lars Schneider und Patrick Klose dem Duo Kersting/Boltendahl die nötige Basis liefern. Die unverkennbare Stimme der Totengräber-Legende regiert... "Reborn in Flames" ist ein Feuerwerk an Metal für jeden Headbanger, der klassischen Metal liebt... Mit "Reborn in Flames" schaffen die vier Musiker ein eigenständiges, frisches und hochklassiges Power-Metal-Debütalbum. Wie Ozzy sagte: "Let the madness begin"
Nach 42 Jahren im Metal-Business kommt Grave Diggers Front-Ikone Chris Boltendahl mit seinem ersten Soloalbum - "Reborn In Flames". Unter dem Banner von Chris Boltendahls STEELHAMMER konnte Chris eine illustre Zunft erstklassiger Musiker für dieses Werk gewinnen. An der Gitarre ist kein Geringerer als der Ex-Orden Ogan-Gitarrenzauberer Tobias Kersting zu finden. Mit ihm hat Chris alle 10 Tracks auf "Reborn in Flames" geschrieben. Komplettiert wird das Line-Up durch Lars Schneider am Bass (ex Orden Ogan) und Patrick Klose am Schlagzeug (Iron Savior). "Reborn in Flames" strotzt nur so vor klassischen Power-Metal-Riffs- eine glühende Mischung aus "Grave Digger meets Metal Church. Von Heavy-Metal-Steamern à la "Reborn in Flames", "Fire Angel" oder "Beyond the Black Soul" bis hin zu den Groove-Monstern "Gods of Steel, Out of the Ruins oder The Hammer that kills" hört man auf dem Album alles, was das Metalherz begehrt. Das Album endet mit der Coverversion des Klassikers "Beds are burning" von Midnight Oil. Tobias Kersting veredelt das Album mit filigranen Power-Metal-Riffs und Weltklasse-Soli, während Lars Schneider und Patrick Klose dem Duo Kersting/Boltendahl die nötige Basis liefern. Die unverkennbare Stimme der Totengräber-Legende regiert... "Reborn in Flames" ist ein Feuerwerk an Metal für jeden Headbanger, der klassischen Metal liebt... Mit "Reborn in Flames" schaffen die vier Musiker ein eigenständiges, frisches und hochklassiges Power-Metal-Debütalbum. Wie Ozzy sagte: "Let the madness begin"
Besucher:innen des Newport Folk Festivals wurden im vergangenen Sommer Zeugen eines ganz besonderen Momentes: Joni Mitchell kehrte am 24. Juli 2023 nach 20 Jahren auf die Bühne zurück und spielte ein eindringliches Set, das einige ihrer großartigsten Songs
beinhaltete.
Es war das triumphale Bühnen-Comeback der Frau, die nicht wenige für die größte Singer-Songwriterin aller Zeiten halten.
Erhältlich ab 28. Juli als CD-, 2-LP, außerdem gibt es eine Version in durchsichtigem Vinyl im Indie-Handel ++ Produziert von Brandi Carlile und Joni Mitchell (mit Linernotes von Cameron Crowe )
Gym Class Heroes
2005-11 Studioalben werden auf Vinyl neu aufgelegt. LOS ANGELES - Diesen Sommer veröffentlicht Rhino Vinyl-Versionen aller vier Studioalben Gym Class Heroes, die zwischen 2005 und 2011 aufgenommen wurden, sowie McCoys Solodebüt Lazarus. As Cruel as School Children (2006), Lazarus (2010) und The Papercut Chronicles II (2011) werden als Einzel-LPs für jeweils erhältlich sein. The Papercut Chronicles (2005) und The Quilt (2008) werden als Doppel-LPs veröffentlicht. Alle fünf Alben können ab sofort vorbestellt werden.
Für Gym Class Heroes braut sich dieses Jahr etwas zusammen. Die Band wird beim When We Were Young Fest zum ersten Mal seit 2018 wieder auf der Bühne stehen.
"Ich könnte nicht enthusiastischer sein für dieses nächste Kapitel im Buch der Gym Class Heroes. Wenn ihr uns so sehr vermisst habt wie wir euch, dann könnt ihr euch auf eine gute Lektüre freuen, ruhig in der Bibliothek, aber verdammt wild in der Gym Class" - Travie McCoy.
An hypnotic synth parts and disco vibes carry us away. Homies tried and upping the tempo and delivering an awesome bomb. Please feel free to play these at whatever tempo or speed you see fit. Summer pleasure!
out of Stock
Last delivered 18 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
First impressions matter. Especially on a debut album. Time and attention-strapped listeners size up an artist within a song or two, then move on or delve in further. Fortunately, it only takes Margo Price about twenty-eight seconds to convince you that you’re hearing the arrival of a singular new talent. “Hands of Time,” the opener on Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, is an invitation, a mission statement and a starkly poetic summary of the 32-year old singer’s life, all in one knockout, self-penned punch. Easing in over a groove of sidestick, bass and atmospheric guitar, Price sings, “When I rolled out of town on the unpaved road, I was fifty-seven dollars from bein’ broke . . .” It has the feel of the first line of a great novel or opening scene in a classic film. There’s an expectancy, a brewing excitement. And as the song builds, strings rising around her, Price recalls hardships and heartaches – the loss of her family’s farm, the death of her child, problems with men and the bottle. There is no self-pity or over-emoting. Her voice has that alluring mix of vulnerability and resilience that was once the province of Loretta and Dolly. It is a tour-de-force performance that is vivid, deeply moving and all true. From the honky tonk comeuppance of “About To Find Out,” to the rockabilly-charged “This Town Gets Around” to the weekend twang of “Hurtin’ (On The Bottle)”, Price adds fresh twists to classic Nashville country, with a sound that could’ve made hits in any decade. Meanwhile, the hard-hitting blues grooves of “Four Years of Chances” and “Tennessee Song” push the boundaries further west to Memphis (the album was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio). • Hometown: Nashville • Recorded at Sun Studios
Brazilia Maravilha... A real wonder of selected Brazilian tunes.
You will feel the mood and breeze like you were over there!
28 songs including some great classics as "Lamento" by Nelson Riddle, "Mas Que Nada" by Elza Soares, "Groovy Samba" by Cannonball Adderley and "So Nice (Samba De Verao) by Sérgio Mendes as well as more unique ones.
Kindly remastered tracks from master tapes to keep the dusty roots of the original sound. Double vinyl in a balanced mix of vocals, instrumentals, bossa nova and some jazzy beats tunes.
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Limited edition classic LP, reissued on 180g vinyl, audiophile pressing
One of the best albums by the ill-fated trio of Bill Evans with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian.
Penguin Guide To Jazz review:
"All the Vanguard music is informed by an extra sense of discovery, as ifthe musicians were suddenly aware of what they were on to and werecelebrating the achievement.
This is music which continues to provokemarvel and endless
study." - Richard Cook & Brian Morton
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Originally released on Island Records in September 1998, the soundtrack to the box-office smash film, written and directed by Guy Ritchie, quickly became a must-own album, and is frequently cited as one of the best movie soundtracks of all time.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels redefined the British gangster film and established Guy Ritchie as one of the greatest directing and writing talents of his generation. Using a frenetic mixture of filmic styles, humour, violence, breakdown of the fourth wall, narration, and vast amounts of swearing, it is hard to imagine a time when this film and its influence was not around. It made a star of the-then unknown Jason Statham, and, amazingly, hard man footballer Vinnie Jones, who as Big Chris, had several scene-stealing moments. Taking his cue from Quentin Tarantino, who had been meticulously curating his film soundtracks since the early 90s, Ritchie made the music to his film tell its own story, complete with memorable snatches of dialogue between many of the tracks.
It offers a beautifully eclectic selection of songs from the preceding three decades, plus then-current artists providing some of their best material, such as Hundred Mile High City by Ocean Colour Scene or E-Z Rollers' drum'n'bass masterpiece Walk This Land. Of the heritage tracks, Dusty Springfield sings her sultry take on Spooky; James Brown appears twice with The Boss and The Payback; The Stooges with I Wanna Be Your Dog, and two versions of Pete Wingfield's masterful one-hit-wonder 18 With A Bullet; in its 1975 original and a contemporary cover by Lewis Taylor and Carleen Anderson. And this is only half of it.
out of Stock
Last delivered 5 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
The Eighteen Minute Gap lets you embark on a mysterious journey into a world of ethereal ambient music, where beautiful and soothing listening experiences await. Using field recordings and manipulating textures and sounds, Sonmi451 creates minimal yet tantalizing soundscapes, filled with intimate whispering voices.
Since 2005 Bernard Zwijzen is creating his own blend of minimal, soundscape-laden atmospheric electronics under the moniker Sonmi451 (a character from David Mitchell's novel "Cloud Atlas"), based in Hasselt, Belgium. He has been previously released on labels such as : U-Cover, Slaapwel Records, Time Released Sounds, Eilean Rec. and this is his second album on LAAPS. "The Eighteen Minute Gap" is his thirteenth releases.
Sonmi451 uses various soft- and hardware synths and samplers to create a truly unique and immersive audio experience where one is captivated by mystery and intrigue and immersed in a world of mysterious sounds where boundaries between reality and imagination begin to blur.
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Joe Cleen is back with another slab of Disco Heaters! The Berlin native has had a handful of classic releases on SB that never leave DJs' record bags and we're treated to yet another collection that'll be just as essential.
As ever with Joe this knockout selection of tracks blurs the lines between edits and full reworks. A globetrotting affair with tracks from Korea, US & Canada... Mr Cleen is not holding back on the D.I.S.C.O factor with this vital 12”.
out of Stock
Last delivered 16 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Bosq & Kaleta return for the second single off their forthcoming full length album. Uplifiting Afro Disco & Funk are the name of the game on this beautiful release with artwork by Amanda Lobos from Brasil.
It's not possible to pick an A & B side between these two quality cuts, recorded between Bosq's Medellin Studio, NYC & Cotonou, Benin (one of Kelata's hometowns).
Sonayon is a midtempo summertime Afro Disco burner that almost doesn't need a translation from it's Gun (A language native to Benin and some parts of Southern Nigeria) lyrics for you to understand that it speaks of overcoming hardship & brighter days ahead.
Meji Meji, loosely meaning something akin to "two heads are better than one" in Yoruba takes a similarly positive stance, with Kaleta singing about unity over division on a heavy Disco Funk groove with blistering horns and heavy percussion.
Both sides already getting heavy support on dancefloors worldwide.
out of Stock
Last delivered 2 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Heels & Souls Recordings step back to 1988 for their sixth reissue, relicensing and remastering Flair's anthemic soul number 'Chasin' The Rain.' For the uninitiated, strap yourself in for six blissful minutes of heavy bass licks, soaring vocals, and infectious synth lines.
Consisting of Janet Rose (aka UK Soul queen JB Rose), Joe Matz, Peter Bielig, and Peter Shindler, Flair was a predominantly German affair, with Rose being the only UK band member and Bieling living in London during the late '80s. This is a curious detail considering 'Chasin' The Rain' is often lauded today as a UK Soul classic - partially due to its release on the prolific UK label Champion. However, it's squeaky-clean production values, and the fact it was mixed and mastered at the famous Jankowski studio in Stuttgart by three Germans, reveals a somewhat different story.
The track has that UK street soul heavy low-end, but with a synth-pop flavour sprinkled in the mix - swinging synth lines and gated snares aplenty. Yet from chatting to Peter Bielig, who's been instrumental in getting this record reissued, the sounds sweeping across the Atlantic from the likes of Jam and Lewis, who blended R&B, funk, soul and pop, were clearly a big influence too.
Those were heady days for four young twenty-something musicians, with Peter recalling cherished memories these tracks bring back, telling of his and JB's PA sessions at London's Gulliver's nightclub. However, while 'Chasin' The Rain' had all the hallmarks of a chart-breaking hit, Champion prioritised other projects and the record never broke. Sadly the group disbanded after only two releases, and this musical gem was consigned to the crates of those in the know. Soon after, Peter Bielig went to Jamaica to work at Tough Gong Studios, working on albums for Rita Marley Music. He now lives in Brazil, producing local artists in his studio in Salvador.
Unfortunately, the master tapes were nowhere to be found, so we had the maestro, Sean P, rip and restore a mint copy of the record, with award-winning mastering engineer Cicely Balston working her studio magic for that added punch.
out of Stock
Last delivered 21 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Get ready, get set because here comes the latest Try Unity breakbeat hardcore explosion. After 2 years since their last solo album, Try Unity are back with the Galactica EP. Fuelled with powerful breaks and stompy kick drums, this EP fills all the boxes for the true ‘92/93 hardcore rave fanatics. Try Unity have this unique way of creating tracks that sound raw and genuine whilst using modern day production qaulity techniques.
‘Cosmic Warrior’ on the A Side sends a message of breakbeat heaven, mad stabs and hoover noises a plenty with incredible build ups and drops to make you go nuts !
‘Galactica’ on the B side lends it’s self to more of the 4/4 jungle techno inspired breakbeat rave, with sinister drops and bass that gets everyone’s 909 kick drum love pumping proper hardcore.
Buy this EP, you’ll want to mix it again and again and again in your sets that’s for sure. Plus don’t you just LOVE a LOUD 45RPM pressing !
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
The latest by Canadian composer Tim Hecker serves as a beacon of unease against the deluge of false positive corporate ambient currently in vogue.
Whether taken as warning or promise, No Highs delivers – this is music of austerity and ambiguity, purgatorial and seasick. A jagged anti-relaxant for our medicated age, rough-hewn and undefined.
Morse code pulse programming flickers like distress signals while a gathering storm of strings, noise, and low-end looms in the distance. Processed electronics shiver and shudder against pitch-shifting assemblages of crackling voltage, mantric horns (including exquisite modal sax by Colin Stetson), and cathedral keys.
Throughout, the pieces both accrue and avoid drama, more attuned to undertow than crescendo. Hecker mentions “negation” as a muse of sorts – the sense of tumult without bombast, tethered ecstasies, an escape from escapism. His is an antagonism both brusque and beguiling, devoid of resolution, beckoning the listener ever deeper into its greyscale alchemies of magisterial disquiet.
out of Stock
Last delivered 7 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
WNCL Recordings is back with a series of 2-track 10” vinyl battle weapons for your record box.
Hooverian Blur finally graces the WNCL hall of fame! You know what to expect by now – two heavy hitters drawing on the freshest sounds from yesterday, today and tomorrow …
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Irish DJ and producer, Ben Prophet, has caught the attention of some of the electronic scene’s most influential names in recent years. Currently residing in the underground music hub of Newcastle, his dark and exhilarating tracks have proven to captivate dancefloors. Now the artist is set to embark on his most monumental release to date, with the four track EP ‘From Dusk’. Staying distinctly true to himself, the EP channels Prophet’s love for bassline, electronica, and techno, whilst placing a key focus on mechanical vocals that add a mind-bending element that listeners can get lost in. ‘From Dusk’ will be released to the world via HAAi and Alice Pelly’s Radical New Theory label, a proven base for projecting emerging talent.
‘From Dusk’ is an EP that serves as a bold declaration. Prophet was determined to take listeners on a journey across the four tracks. Never resting on his laurels, the artist ventured into many corners of the dance world, whilst maintaining a core signature sound. Opener ‘Telepathy’ Sees Prophet build an emphatic, heavy hitting techno track, centring around a manipulated spoken-word vocal. It’s a sound that holds nothing back and is showcased again on ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’. Equally dark in its design, Prophet once more places distorted vocals at the forefront, this time displaying an industrial take on breakbeat. On the flip side, we see ‘Ocarina’ and title track ‘From Dusk’ turn the dark energy on its head with a distinctly melodic approach which adds a touch of psychedelia and high emotion to the EP. What’s clear is there’s something on ‘From Dusk’ for anyone that loves club music.
Speaking on the release, Prophet states:“HAAi has been one of the biggest inspirations for my sound, so to have become friends and to release my music on her label Radical New Theory is a massive moment for me. I’ve taken a different approach on each track, but each has my signature sound and is ready for the dance floor.”
HAAi also offers an insight into why she wanted to release ‘From Dusk’ on Radical New Theory: “Ben Prophet’s tracks have such a driving force and a dark energy to them, which is so powerful in the club. I’m extremely excited to get this record out in the world.”
Prophet’s previous releases ‘Hyper Funk EP’ and ‘King Of Rock’ on Chapeau music and Happy Wax Records respectively reached dancefloors across the world with regular plays from the likes of Mall Grab, Skream and VTSS. His gritty and energetic productions are born for the peak-time dance floor where its power creates intoxicating effects. No longer a hidden gem of the North East, the artist's music has gathered serious momentum and ‘From Dusk’ might well be the record that makes Ben Prophet a household name.
‘From Dusk’ is the third release on Radical New Theory, a label created in 2020 by HAAi and Alice Pelly which aims to shine a light on unique emerging talent, and the inevitable stars of tomorrow. Last year the label released LUXE’s debut ‘Belonging EP’ which was championed by MaryAnn Hobbs on BBC 6Music, and the artist has since gone on to tour across Europe. Whilst Ozzy, who released the labels first record ‘Een’, has since released on Barnt’s Schalen imprint. Radical New Theory was born out of a love for the craft of dance music and the careful consideration of what they release ensures the highest standards. A safe space for emerging talent, be sure to keep your eyes out for what comes next from the label
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Sound Metaphors gives they keys of the label's catalogue vaults to Aggelos Baltas aka Anatolian Weapons and this is the result. 5 tracks previously released on our labels now submitted to the studio prowess of the Greek machine. Dubbed out, tripped out, slowed down, sped up, mind blown. Aggelos brings his distinctive flavor to the table and re-constructs some of our dacefloor oriented favorites from the early 90's. From California's Exist Dance label to Italian underground tracks and even a Disciples' number, Aggelos cherry picks his weapons for the most spaced out of dance floors, sounding big and effective, can't go wrong.
out of Stock
Last delivered 23 months ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is often referred to as "the godmother of rock and roll" for her pioneering guitar technique, use of distortion/reverb, and a 1963 UK tour with Muddy Waters that has been cited as a huge influence by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Jeff Beck. Though she reached more widespread notoriety across the world in the '50s and '60s thanks to the folk/blues revival and her beloved status among UK blues and rock musicians, it's her early recordings from the late '30s and early-mid '40s that are the most brilliant, visceral, and emotional of her career. This excellent collection compiles 18 of those amazing gospel and R&B sides into one place. Essential.
Recorded in 1977, James Taylor's first album JT for Columbia Records made a huge impact on the hit charts. The album itself peaked at number 4 of the Billboard 200, and the singles “Handy Man” and “Your Smiling Face” hit high on the charts as well. JT meant a new direction for the folk pop singer as he shows a newly found positive approach to his songwriting material. Gone were his 'rainy day man' sensitive croons, in comes this mainstream, sunny easy listening vibe. Taylor mixes his patented acoustic guitar-based folk sound with elements of rock, blues, and country to great effect.
Just like the original European pressings, the album is packed in a gatefold sleeve and contains a lyric sheet. JT is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on red coloured vinyl.
Western Massachusetts band Landowner play abrasively clean minimalist-punk. Singer Dan Shaw began Landowner in 2016, writing and recording Impressive Almanac with a practice amp and a laptop drum machine. Those available tools would inform the band’s unapologetic sound—clean, confrontational, and absurdly stark. With a stated goal to sound like “Antelope playing Discharge”, Landowner’s diamond hard structures, repetitious instrumentals and caricatured hardcore make space for lyrics that reflect on the global systems our lives are tangled in and the dark absurdities we take for granted.
Landowner’s fourth Born Yesterday full length Escape the Compound focuses on the powerful grips manipulators and reality-deniers have on their victims, examining the social, political and interpersonal damage of cult-like influence and control. “A lot of the lyrics focus on cult manipulators and narcissists: falling victim to their toxic dynamics, and the difficulty of escaping their grip” says Shaw. From climate change deniers and conspiracy theorists to deceptive narcissists and actual cult leaders, Landowner explores the ubiquity of modern unreality through evocative imagery and a keen sense of awareness. The band’s plain instrumentation sheds and subverts hardcore punk’s noisy veil in favor of a direct, unswerving examination of these themes.
Written and recorded following the release of 2020’s Consultant, Escape the Compound finds Landowner leaning into the studio through deeper experimentation with a wider palette of sounds. The group’s lineup of Josh Owsley (bass), Elliot Hughes (guitar), Jeff Gilmartin (guitar), Josh Daniel (drums) and Dan Shaw played often since coming together in 2017. But with pandemic restrictions in place, the making of Escape the Compound became a much more insular pursuit, one where the mixing and mastering process helped turn the band’s most varied batch of material into a cohesive, thematic collection of songs.
Album opener “Witch Museum” is a collage of dark Massachusetts historical imagery. The song evokes a kind of cult dynamic travelling like a shadow through time, where dark absurdities are taken for granted, toxic behaviours are excused, and normalcy begins to shift. The line “Gail's behaviour has changed” casts fictional “Gail” as the dark manipulator, whose whim we’re at the mercy of. She sheds her toxic behaviour and the crisis finally ends - “and peace returns to the Commonwealth”- an absurdity, given that cult leaders and narcissists rarely seem to change.
By considering the past, Landowner sheds light on the present. The band challenges egomaniacs reluctant to accept an uncomfortable reality with both cynicism and concern. The literal landowner described in “Heat Stroke” collapses in exhaustion, cooked by a suffocating bass line and sizzling hi-hats. “You'd rather die of heat stroke than to let anybody see you change your mind,” Shaw gasps, later pleading with the character in “Floodwatch” to “please reconsider” their brazen stubbornness as they plunge through the rising waters of a flooded road.
The character in “Swimmer of Note” refuses to admit their miscalculations, instead doubling down on an ever-growing and increasingly-unsteady tower of lies. The sneering “Damning Evidence” sets a scene all too familiar: a smoking gun scenario with zero consequences. Shaw’s exaggerated vocal refrains and sarcastic inflections mock false hope: “how will they be expected to keep their minds intact, at the shock of simply hearing such damning evidence?”
“Beyond the Darkened Library” creaks open a secret passageway into a dimly lit, endless labyrinth of conspiracy theories, in which the character becomes hopelessly lost. “Aftermath” sounds the alarms: “stare so long that you start getting used to it; one glance says you should never get used to it.” The pair of “Tactics” tracks express what Shaw calls “an interpersonal microcosm of the album’s themes.”
Perhaps the most ambitious arc on Escape the Compound loosely begins with the title track. The subject in “Escape the Compound” gradually recognizes their own victimhood and plans a calculated flight from the “captivating shepherd” – hop the fence, flee, and regain autonomy. As the narrator escapes their stifling and abusive cult microcosm, a much grander existential timeline begins to appear. “Thousands of Years in Fast Forward” narrates a psychedelic surrender to the shared human experience through space and time, an ego-death adjacent to our ancestry, our own existence, and the before and after. “At the site of the crater, molecular hands unclasp molecular hands as you lose conditioning,” Shaw sings on the title track, “Your grandmother's garden. Your grandmother's kitchen. Your grandmother's primordial ocean.” It’s a profound actualizing glimpse into a true, forgotten reality and a startling reconnection with the self.
Western Massachusetts band Landowner play abrasively clean minimalist-punk. Singer Dan Shaw began Landowner in 2016, writing and recording Impressive Almanac with a practice amp and a laptop drum machine. Those available tools would inform the band’s unapologetic sound—clean, confrontational, and absurdly stark. With a stated goal to sound like “Antelope playing Discharge”, Landowner’s diamond hard structures, repetitious instrumentals and caricatured hardcore make space for lyrics that reflect on the global systems our lives are tangled in and the dark absurdities we take for granted.
Landowner’s fourth Born Yesterday full length Escape the Compound focuses on the powerful grips manipulators and reality-deniers have on their victims, examining the social, political and interpersonal damage of cult-like influence and control. “A lot of the lyrics focus on cult manipulators and narcissists: falling victim to their toxic dynamics, and the difficulty of escaping their grip” says Shaw. From climate change deniers and conspiracy theorists to deceptive narcissists and actual cult leaders, Landowner explores the ubiquity of modern unreality through evocative imagery and a keen sense of awareness. The band’s plain instrumentation sheds and subverts hardcore punk’s noisy veil in favor of a direct, unswerving examination of these themes.
Written and recorded following the release of 2020’s Consultant, Escape the Compound finds Landowner leaning into the studio through deeper experimentation with a wider palette of sounds. The group’s lineup of Josh Owsley (bass), Elliot Hughes (guitar), Jeff Gilmartin (guitar), Josh Daniel (drums) and Dan Shaw played often since coming together in 2017. But with pandemic restrictions in place, the making of Escape the Compound became a much more insular pursuit, one where the mixing and mastering process helped turn the band’s most varied batch of material into a cohesive, thematic collection of songs.
Album opener “Witch Museum” is a collage of dark Massachusetts historical imagery. The song evokes a kind of cult dynamic traveling like a shadow through time, where dark absurdities are taken for granted, toxic behaviors are excused, and normalcy begins to shift. The line “Gail's behavior has changed” casts fictional “Gail” as the dark manipulator, whose whim we’re at the mercy of. She sheds her toxic behavior and the crisis finally ends - “and peace returns to the Commonwealth”- an absurdity, given that cult leaders and narcissists rarely seem to change.
By considering the past, Landowner sheds light on the present. The band challenges egomaniacs reluctant to accept an uncomfortable reality with both cynicism and concern. The literal landowner described in “Heat Stroke” collapses in exhaustion, cooked by a suffocating bass line and sizzling hi-hats. “You'd rather die of heat stroke than to let anybody see you change your mind,” Shaw gasps, later pleading with the character in “Floodwatch” to “please reconsider” their brazen stubbornness as they plunge through the rising waters of a flooded road.
The character in “Swimmer of Note” refuses to admit their miscalculations, instead doubling down on an ever-growing and increasingly-unsteady tower of lies. The sneering “Damning Evidence” sets a scene all too familiar: a smoking gun scenario with zero consequences. Shaw’s exaggerated vocal refrains and sarcastic inflections mock false hope: “how will they be expected to keep their minds intact, at the shock of simply hearing such damning evidence?”
“Beyond the Darkened Library” creaks open a secret passageway into a dimly lit, endless labyrinth of conspiracy theories, in which the character becomes hopelessly lost. “Aftermath” sounds the alarms: “stare so long that you start getting used to it; one glance says you should never get used to it.” The pair of “Tactics” tracks express what Shaw calls “an interpersonal microcosm of the album’s themes.”
Perhaps the most ambitious arc on Escape the Compound loosely begins with the title track. The subject in “Escape the Compound” gradually recognizes their own victimhood and plans a calculated flight from the “captivating shepherd” – hop the fence, flee, and regain autonomy. As the narrator escapes their stifling and abusive cult microcosm, a much grander existential timeline begins to appear. “Thousands of Years in Fast Forward” narrates a psychedelic surrender to the shared human experience through space and time, an ego-death adjacent to our ancestry, our own existence, and the before and after. “At the site of the crater, molecular hands unclasp molecular hands as you lose conditioning,” Shaw sings on the title track, “Your grandmother's garden. Your grandmother's kitchen. Your grandmother's primordial ocean.” It’s a profound actualizing glimpse into a true, forgotten reality and a startling reconnection with the self.
Obwohl der Begriff "soul" schon während der Dreißigerjahre in der US-amerikanischen Populärmusik auftauchte, entstand Soul als eigenständiges Genre erst in den 1950ern aus Gospel und Rhythm"n"Blues sowie je einer Prise Blues und Jazz. Schon bald darauf sollte Soul zum Inbegriff "schwarzer Popmusik" werden. Kennzeichnend für die afroamerikanisch geprägte Unterhaltungsmusik sind emotional gefärbte Sangeskünste. Sich mit ganzer Seele und herzergreifendem Gesang den Vibes, dem Groove und der Message hinzugeben, das macht Soul aus. Sängerinnen wie Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Tina Turner, Lavern Baker, Marlena Shaw oder Diana Ross beherrschten dieses Metier meisterhaft. Sie finden sich neben Dionne Warwick, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Irma Thomas, Amy Winehouse, Ibeyi und vielen anderen Künstlerinnen auf der geschmackvoll kompilierten Doppel-LP "Soul Women".
The Newport Jazz Festival had always brought the best out in Nina Simone. When she took to that famous stage on July 2, 1966, the audience was treated to the full range of her artistry—from the opener, a breathtaking version of “You’ve Got To Learn” to an electrifying performance of her signature protest anthem “Mississippi Goddam”. Unwilling to let her leave the stage, and after sustained applause, her fans were rewarded with the show-stopping encore, “Music For Lovers”. This previously-unknown and unreleased recording showcasing Nina’s exceptional performance makes it clear why hearing Nina Simone in concert was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Liner notes are by Shana L. Redmond, scholar and author.
Throughout 2022, The Wedding Present’s ‘24 Songs’ series saw the legendary indie band release two new tracks a month as double A sided 7”s, ultimately creating a much-sought-after box set. David Gedge has now re-curated full-length versions of all twenty-four tracks for a new compilation album that will also comprise five bonus recordings including one featuring The Wedding Present’s first guitarist, Peter Solowka.
‘24 Songs’ was a doff of the cap to The Wedding Present’s ‘Hit Parade’ project of 30 years previous. That series proved to be a real milestone for the band with them becoming only the second-ever artist to achieve twelve Official UK Top 40 hits in a calendar year – at the time something that only Elvis had achieved!
David Gedge says: “When it came to compiling the ‘24 Songs’ album, I decided not to sequence the tracks in chronological order. With six sides of vinyl, you have six ‘beginnings’ and six ‘ends’ to play with, and I felt that the opportunity to build some kind of a musical journey was too good to miss! Listening back to this collection, I have to say that I genuinely believe that, for this project, The Wedding Present have recorded some of the best tracks in our history. I loved releasing the singles, but it’s satisfying to have them all rounded up together.”
“The idea of releasing another collection of twenty-four tracks did initially seem quite daunting,” admits David Gedge in the deluxe-CD sleeve notes but, with Jon Stewart (also of Sleeper) having joined the band at the end of 2019 and their subsequent writing partnership flourishing, he began to feel confident that they would be able to produce a year’s worth of music. And, with one of the UK’s most influential independent record labels by their side in Clue, a key partner to EMI North who will be distributing the record - there was no looking back.
[xa] 27. Jump In, The Water’s Fine [Japanese Edit]
[xb] 28. We All Came From The Sea [Utah Saints Remix]
The Newport Jazz Festival had always brought the best out in Nina Simone. When she took to that famous stage on July 2, 1966, the audience was treated to the full range of her artistry—from the opener, a breathtaking version of “You’ve Got To Learn” to an electrifying performance of her signature protest anthem “Mississippi Goddam”. Unwilling to let her leave the stage, and after sustained applause, her fans were rewarded with the show-stopping encore, “Music For Lovers”. This previously-unknown and unreleased recording showcasing Nina’s exceptional performance makes it clear why hearing Nina Simone in concert was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Liner notes are by Shana L. Redmond, scholar and author.
Futurismo are proud to present a first time reissue of the killer 1985 album: Just A Million Dreams by the uncompromising Alan Vega.
The remastered version of this LP comes with two unreleased bonus tracks produced by Liz Lamere and Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots. It is packaged in a gloss laminated sleeve with a huge fold-out poster and contains new liner notes by Henry Rollins.
Presented in a remastered deluxe vinyl package, Just A Million Dreams, produced by Ric Ocasek and Chris Lord-Alge, takes Vega on an expedition into new territory. As an artist Vega had a crucial drive, but having a hit record was never a motive, neither was pandering to expectations, which is why Just a Million Dreams is perhaps a perfect statement for that moment, bettering the then bastions of MTV rock without even trying, an exercise in subversion that still has Vega’s unique artistry at its core. Would you expect anything less from one half of NYC legends Suicide? Perhaps not, but the hows and whys to Vega landing himself in such a mainstream position are perhaps just as fascinating as the record itself.
Here Alan Vega’s vocals sound better than ever, full of emotion and brooding honesty. Lyrics painting images of dystopian love might be a sideways move away from the intense nihilism of his past, but it’s still the real deal. Alan Vega could not be anything else. Listen to tracks like ‘Creation’ and you still get that raw emotion he spent his career honing. Set against the grandeur of mid 80’s production: big processed drums, runaway guitar solos, we get a rare peak into what Vega would sound like if he was allowed to be a rock star drenched in the sonic excesses of the era. It was a brave and unfairly misunderstood move, but the components come together to form an incredible anti-commercial, commercial album. Just A Million Dreams is the sound of Alan Vega taking on the 1980’s and winning.
With help of the official Vega Vault, two never before heard tracks have been unearthed from the 1985 JAMD recording sessions and brought to life by long time collaborator Liz Lamere and Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots, adding a new insight to the recordings. Henry Rollins also lends a new written perspective, making this release a vital addition to the collections of Alan Vega and Suicide fans. It has been said that Alan Vega is forever, his unwavering artistic approach can be witnessed throughout his career, whether as part of Suicide or as a solo songwriter, poet or sculptor. Just a Million Dreams is just another example
High Roller Records, black vinyl, ltd 150, 4 page insert, A5 photo card, poster, bonus
CD Bonus CD: 14. The Joke´S On You (Studio 2011) 15. No House (Studio 2015) 16. World War Nine (Live 2012) 17. Gremlin´S Night (Live 2012) 18. Hard Target (Live 2012) 19. Streets Of Doc-Town (Live 2012)
High Roller Records, blue w/ white & mustard splatter vinyl, ltd 200, 4 page insert, A5 photo card, poster, bonus CD
CD Bonus CD: 14. The Joke´S On You (Studio 2011) 15. No House (Studio 2015) 16. World War Nine (Live 2012) 17. Gremlin´S Night (Live 2012) 18. Hard Target (Live 2012) 19. Streets Of Doc-Town (Live 2012)
Wenn es ein einziges Wort gibt, um Saint Agnes zu beschreiben, dann ist es " Hingabe". Die vierköpfige Band aus dem Vereinigten Königreich steht für ehrliche Texte, raue Gesangsdarbietungen (von Frontfrau Kitty A. Austen) und wutentbrannte Musik, die denjenigen eine Stimme geben soll, die eher am Rande als in der Mitte stehen. Mehr Gang als Band, wollen Saint Agnes (römische Märtyrerin, Schutzpatronin für eine Reihe von Dingen, darunter auch Mädchen) diejenigen ermutigen, die geschlagen und verletzt wurden, sich aber weigern, sich niederzulegen, und das ist ein roter Faden, der sich durch "Bloodsuckers" zieht - das zweite Studioalbum von SA und ihr erstes für Spinefarm. Anfangend mit dem Titeltrack, ist dies ein genreübergreifendes Werk, das Elemente aus Metal, Punk, Industrial und Grunge aufnimmt, ohne an einen bestimmten Stil gebunden zu sein; die 11 Tracks kommen direkt von der Quelle, größtenteils selbst produziert und abgemischt (NIN-Kollaborateur Sean Bevan leiht seine Mixing-Fähigkeiten der zukünftigen Single / Video, 'Follow You'), und dieser in sich geschlossene Ansatz sorgt für ein zusätzliches emotionales Gewicht, mit Kerrang!-Coverstar Mimi Barks, die das Chaos auf dem kurzen, scharfen Schock, der 'Body Bag' ist, weiter anheizt.
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Wenn es ein einziges Wort gibt, um Saint Agnes zu beschreiben, dann ist es " Hingabe". Die vierköpfige Band aus dem Vereinigten Königreich steht für ehrliche Texte, raue Gesangsdarbietungen (von Frontfrau Kitty A. Austen) und wutentbrannte Musik, die denjenigen eine Stimme geben soll, die eher am Rande als in der Mitte stehen. Mehr Gang als Band, wollen Saint Agnes (römische Märtyrerin, Schutzpatronin für eine Reihe von Dingen, darunter auch Mädchen) diejenigen ermutigen, die geschlagen und verletzt wurden, sich aber weigern, sich niederzulegen, und das ist ein roter Faden, der sich durch "Bloodsuckers" zieht - das zweite Studioalbum von SA und ihr erstes für Spinefarm. Anfangend mit dem Titeltrack, ist dies ein genreübergreifendes Werk, das Elemente aus Metal, Punk, Industrial und Grunge aufnimmt, ohne an einen bestimmten Stil gebunden zu sein; die 11 Tracks kommen direkt von der Quelle, größtenteils selbst produziert und abgemischt (NIN-Kollaborateur Sean Bevan leiht seine Mixing-Fähigkeiten der zukünftigen Single / Video, 'Follow You'), und dieser in sich geschlossene Ansatz sorgt für ein zusätzliches emotionales Gewicht, mit Kerrang!-Coverstar Mimi Barks, die das Chaos auf dem kurzen, scharfen Schock, der 'Body Bag' ist, weiter anheizt.
out of Stock
Last delivered 3 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
An incredible 45 of Latin disco – recorded in Peru during the late 70s by funk pioneers Black Sugar, and right up there with the best from New York and LA of that era! It’s taken over four decades 'Baila' to become a winner spin at international events in the soul and disco scenes, a sought-after collector's item and, above all, the dancefloor hit that should have always been. First time reissue. Black Sugar is a Peruvian band, considered a pioneer group in Latin America in mixing funk influences with rock and Latin rhythms. In 1976, following their gig at Coliseo Amauta in Lima, opening the night for the legendary Spanish band Barrabás, they started to show a growing interest in disco music, resulting in some line up changes with members leaving the project due to their lack of interest in the new sound and new ones joining in. Word is that Sono Radio, home to a bunch of local Tamla MoTown releases for the Peruvian market, thought that Black Sugar's prestige, and their credibility in the new orientation towards disco sound, would benefit from seeing their new single pressed with the labels of the famous record company from Detroit. And so it was. Under certain lights and shadows, ‘Baila’ was finally released in Peru only in 1978, sporting the same look as the releases of the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Commodores or Thelma Houston. A clever marketing ploy that however failed in boosting the sales of the single…Only a few original copies have survived to this day, of either the first and the second edition from 1979 released on the US label Libra, and reached the collectors market. It’s now, over four decades later, when the interest on this recording has gone stronger and ‘Baila’ is getting regular spins at international soul/disco scene events, having become a very sought-after collectors item and, on top of that, the dance floor anthem that should have always been. The stunning piano arrangements of the intro, the outstanding brass sections —faithfully copied from the disco recordings coming from the States—, a very catchy chorus… ‘Baila’ has all the necessary ingredients to become an addictive invitation to join the dance floor. On the B side, a cover version of Barry White’s hit ‘Sha La La (Means I Love You)’ —as appeared on the original issue of this record— shows what the interest of the band was at the time. First time reissue. TRACKLIST Side A Baila Side B Sha La La (Means I Love You)
out of Stock
Last delivered 2 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
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. Good Aderegechegn 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.
Covet is fronted by Yvette Young who is revered by guitarists around the world for her mastery of the innovative two-handed tapping technique. Yvette says of the album - "I'd like to be honest - this album process was one of the most challenging ever, and none of the reasons for that was related to the actual music. There was a moment where it felt like it might not come out ever...but I think having patience and faith does pay off. I named this record "catharsis" because the word to me feels like a triumphant exodus. No matter the dire circumstances, music is one of those things that I’ve always needed to create to survive (in all senses of the word), and time and time again, I turn to guitar and songwriting as my outlet to uplift and feel like I have control over something in this chaotic universe. The overall theme of the album is escapism and fantasy, which also feels fitting because in a lot of ways, we use music and art to escape our anxiety, our pain, and our sometimes oppressive realities...to travel to universes that we so badly wished existed. Music is so powerful for this reason because it can be so transformative- it uplifts and empathizes with you without needing to say a single word. With this music, I wanted to tell a concise but dense story that goes many places- not necessarily all joyful. I have been working on it down to the last minute, and in less than 30 minutes, I'd like to take you to all the magical places I’ve been and show you all the highs and lows that I've had the privilege of experiencing during the last 2 years of creating this body of work."
Can't Touch Us Now ist das elfte und jüngste Studioalbum der britischen Ska-Pop-Legenden Madness.
Ursprünglich im Oktober 2016 veröffentlicht, markiert es die Rückkehr von Gründungsmitglied Mark Bedford und ist das letzte ihrer Alben, auf dem die gesamte Originalbesetzung vertreten ist. Das Album kam bei Fans und Kritikern gleichermaßen gut an und beinhaltete die Klassiker-Single "Mr Apples", die ein fester Bestandteil des Live-Sets der Band geworden ist. Für diese spezielle Neuauflage wurde das Album auf schwerem Doppelvinyl gepresst, in einer Gatefold-Verpackung präsentiert und enthält brandneue exklusive Liner Notes mit Interviews mit den Bandmitgliedern Suggs, Mike Barson, Chrissyboy Foreman und Lee Thompson.
Canadian crooner star Calvin Love’s long sold out debut album ‘New Radar’ now as a repress for its 10th year anniversary on blue vinyl.
New Radar’, Love's debut album, blends memories of the late '80s cassette/analog era, '90s cable-TV generation, and 'aughts social media confessionalism into a satisfying collage of evocative and moody yet familiar and comforting music.
From the simple synths of "Magic Hearts", which bemoans love gone wrong, to the frustrating relationship detailed in "Waiting On You", Love's music is both catchy and emotionally resonant. In "Treasure Hunters", a flirty yet laid-back bubblegum rock and roller, Calvin Love invites us to share our secrets. while in "Missions", snarky, wailing guitars duet with Love's vocals in a noisy wash of exchanged frequencies. Throughout, Love relies on throwback synths and jangly guitar sounds to pick out unorthodox melodies, driven by a dutifully clicking drum machine. The overall effect of New Radar is a uniquely nostalgic yet forward-looking sound, at once evocative and comforting.
Calvin Love's music is distinctively characterized by its sparse yet focused arrangements, featuring thin guitars, electronic drums, and vintage synthesizers that impart a warm and wooly electronic texture. The lo-fi, cassette, 4-track recording quality creates an ambiance that feels both retro and futuristic, as if transmitted from an intimate and isolated space. Despite the arena-rock hooks, Love's use of primitive home-recording gear lends his music a folksy quality indebted to artists ranging from Ariel Pink to Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
About Calvin Love: