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The cinematic opening track Inthenever starts off as a film >> somewhere on a desolate coast, where everything has already ceased. This is going to be an album with a story and depth, a fearless tour of the barren shores of our days // or is it possibly just a mirage conclusion of their razor-sharp sound brutalism? Tittingur's third album, Epiphany, is here, pounding with waves they had not done before.

It seems as though this dyad has disposed of all the genre confines that had locked them in, and have grasped the sound of new subject matters, for which the moniker of experimental techno is finally too narrow. With utter urgency and candid to their emblematic, thunderous sound, Dominik's and Matus's deafening mallets collide in beats which are now, more than ever, drenched in a mass of palpable gloom and anguish. As though we could touch the rising levels of the oceans, and smell the melting of the glaciers themselves.

In one way or another, the music of Tittingur has always been about nature, its fierce essence, and its stark contrast with the post-era that we have found ourselves living in. However, whereas before, it was the sound of old, weather-stained concrete, and the pounding of abandoned, overgrown buildings, now it is, unavoidably, their most direct and honest return to nature landscapes, and to human, age-old traditions, referenced in the Slovak folk motives, recordings and found sounds.

On Epiphany, Tittingur's sound becomes yet more abstract, in a sound world that is ambiguous but also unified, and works on its own. The duality of nature and technology, of inland human folklore and the trenches of deepest oceans, invite us to come closer and observe the volatile obliteration taking place. Can we even attempt to re-assess our position with nature, or is this whole experiment doomed to fail?

Unsurprisingly, in the echoes, all the ingredients of the classic Tittingur sound are still present, distilled into new forms >> the ever-present over-saturation, the exaggerated, maximalist approach and megalomania >> the sound of impending climate change, doom, and near-apocalyptic visions, the scent of borovička mixed with the wild North Sea, the agony of contemporary urban life, and the adventure of wilderness: ferocious synths, monumental beats, aggressive basslines and crumbling noise-scapes built of a found-sound, music concréte-like, collagist approach.

At moments, it seems the means have changed. Just until you realise that the sentences of this story are spoken in a new language. If you dive deep enough, and listen to the essence that the music of Tittingur articulates, it's surprisingly easy to understand >> although the notions and emotions are difficult to put into words. The profound narrative of Epiphany is that of an endless inner struggle of society, anxiety, crises, and ambiguously easy // difficult solutions in the post-modern global chaos. It is the calm before a storm. It is the storm. Is it the calm. It is all of it, in itself. credits

For the past five years, Projekt Ruiny has been rejuvenating abandoned and decaying industrial landmarks by using them for concerts, exhibitions and discussions. This refusal of disuse also defines the character of SILO by Kolektív Ruiny, which disposes of all aspects of such cultural urban exploration besides the two most monumental >> sound and time.

The trio of musicians // sound artists kept returning to sugar and brewery silos in Rimavská Sobota in southern Slovakia for over six months to listen to their sounds and reply with improvisations. The silos' ambience proves that these places in a state of decay are living environments that hear plenty themselves, both from outside and inside, and spread what they hear wholeheartedly.

Kolektív Runy builds on this acoustic generosity with a combination of empathy and boldness. The attitude is most apparent on the few tracks that are musically harsh, but still offer the same discernible respect towards their industrial venues as the most serene pieces on SILO. It is an homage to these places, teeming with attention and care, and the ninth release by the devout label Weltschmerzen.

* This release resurrects the original mixes alongside the iconic remixes from the '90s, encapsulating a significant chapter in the Jungle movement. This landmark release not only signifies a pivotal era in Jungle music but also marks the inaugural release on Philly Blunt Records, setting a high bar for the label right from the outset.

* In the early '90s, the jungle scene was set ablaze with 'Burial', a track crafted in Dillinja's home studio under the collaborative genius of Jumpin Jack Frost, operating under the moniker Leviticus. The original mixes, Madamoselle and Lovers Rock, resonated with rare groove and reggae influences that propelled the track to become an anthem at the Notting Hill Carnival, eventually catching the ear of Pete Tong who facilitated a mainstream release on FFRR the following year.

* The remixes encapsulate the collaborative spirit of the era, with Dillinja, Roni Size, and DJ Krust teaming up for the 'Combination Mix', and Ray Keith lending his touch to the 'Tearing Terrorist Mix'. Released in the '90s post the FFRR signing, these remixes added a fresh narrative to the 'Burial' story.

* Reflecting on the creation of 'Burial', Jumpin Jack Frost recalls, "I went to Dillinja's house with the two records, and that was it. We got a beat running and sampled the Mademoiselle "oooh" part first... it just made itself. I was the producer and Dillinja was the engineer... After hearing it a hundred times while we were making it, I thought it was good but I didn't quite know if it was good enough to start playing to the boys. First of all, I made a dubplate with my name in it so I could test it playing it out; I think I played it at Roast and everyone went nuts."

* Bryan Gee, reflecting on the track's impact, mentions, "If you're talking top ten jungle tracks then 'Burial' has got to be in there. You can play it to anyone outside of the jungle scene and they know it."

* This gold vinyl repress is a journey back to the roots of Jungle, offering a tangible piece of Drum & Bass history for enthusiasts and new listeners alike. The profound impact of 'Burial' transcended the Jungle scene, finding resonance across various music genres and remains a testament to the genre's versatility and broad appeal.

* A nostalgic journey and a tangible piece of Drum & Bass history, pre-order now to secure your copy of this genre defining release

Am 24.02.2022 begann der verabscheuungswürdige Angriff der Russischen Föderation auf die Ukraine. SAMSAS-TRAUM-Mastermind ALEXANDER KASCHTE, der Ukraine seit fast 10 Jahren verbunden, erlebte den bereits seit 2014 im Donbas schwelenden Krieg und die völkerrechtswidrige Annexion der Krim aus der Mitte der ukrainischen Bevölkerung heraus. KASCHTE weiß deshalb, dass das große Maul Russlands in der Region nicht erst seit 2022 ein Problem darstellt. Die Ukraine braucht in ihrem Kampf keine Relativierer, keine gesäuselten Mitleidsballaden und keine Solidaritätsbekundungen - die Ukraine braucht Taten und Unterstützer, welche die Wahrheit offen aussprechen: Der peinliche Imperialismus Russlands muss vom Angesicht der Erde getilgt werden. Diese limitierte, brandgefährliche 7" enthält zwei musikalische Abreibungen, die im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes kein gutes Haar an Moskau lassen, denn: "Niemand braucht dein Gas, wir verbrennen einfach dich!"

Godzilla returns once more to face the combined might of Japan's most extraordinary scientists in the second picture of the Millennium-era: GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS. Looking for new ways to defeat the Big G, the JSDF invent an incredible new weapon called Dimension Tide, which creates a miniature black hole that will transport Godzilla far away from Earth. However, a byproduct of weapon testing leads to thousands of winged insects invading Tokyo and attacking Godzilla. The Big G fights back, but their new queen appears, now kaiju-sized due to Godzilla's atomic breath. A thrilling battle then occurs as Godzilla goes head-to-head with Megaguirus while the JSDF frantically works to disappear both monsters forever.

GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS saw the introduction of composer Michiru Oshima into the franchise with a fantastic score that built on previous Toho musical traditions with a view to the future. While using music composed by the great Akira Ifukube for two sequences, Oshima also unveiled her own theme for Godzilla. First heard in a slow and foreboding mode, it's quickly unleashed in gigantic low tones, as terrifying and inevitable as the Big G himself. Soaring heroic material represents the JSDF and their advanced Griffon aircraft, while powerful brass is used for the threat of Megaguirus. Cementing Oshima's reputation as a great composer, GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS is a classic of kaiju musical mayhem. - Charlie Brigden

Composed by Michiru Oshima
Artwork by Attack Peter
Manufactured in Czech Republic

Disastroid's latest outing, Garden Creatures, is a record about the darkness in the hidden corners of suburban landscapes - sinister overgrown gardens, secret collections kept in basements, the crime just beneath the surface, the pervasive loneliness under a veneer of normalcy. Accordingly, it's a dark and atmospheric record, trading the stripped-down approach of 2020's Mortal Fools for a thicker, heavier, and more layered sound. Legendary producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Neurosis) builds mixes that range from dark and dreamy to a thick, sludgy crunch, slowly puling the listener through a range of sounds and textures, making sure things stay interesting. Singer/guitarist Enver Koneya's vocals are soulful and sometimes haunting, drifting above Disastroid's characteristically off-kilter, grunge-influenced riffs.

Disastroid's latest outing, Garden Creatures, is a record about the darkness in the hidden corners of suburban landscapes - sinister overgrown gardens, secret collections kept in basements, the crime just beneath the surface, the pervasive loneliness under a veneer of normalcy. Accordingly, it's a dark and atmospheric record, trading the stripped-down approach of 2020's Mortal Fools for a thicker, heavier, and more layered sound. Legendary producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Neurosis) builds mixes that range from dark and dreamy to a thick, sludgy crunch, slowly puling the listener through a range of sounds and textures, making sure things stay interesting. Singer/guitarist Enver Koneya's vocals are soulful and sometimes haunting, drifting above Disastroid's characteristically off-kilter, grunge-influenced riffs.

Art School Girlfriend, Aka Polly Mackey, will release second album Soft Landing via Fiction Records on August 4, 2023. The album is self-described as a series of “small euphorias”; it is an album that finds Mackey shifting her sound towards tactile electronics whilst retaining the floating melodies of her debut.

In this Bukky's latest offering, he has assembled some of his favourite DJs and producers including his old comp Rende Gillies Peterson, Orlando Voorn, Lesley Lawrence. His dear friend the godfather of Dub Dennis Bovell. Featuring original material compositions:

OBEDUN (Sweet SOUP) - Mixed by Orlando Voorn Inspired by his cultural background Bukky goes in search of the cuisine traditions of his mother land Nigeria. He sings praises of his favourite traditional African cuisines. Sang in his native dialect Yoruba language.

GENRE JAM – Afrobeat recently became a recognised genre. Whereby the unique percussion driven with soulful guitar hook lines and melodic piano phrases can be incorporated any genre as a version.

UNISEX DILENMA - it's just light-hearted, tongue in cheek commentary on the interplay between men and women and some of the stereotypical ways we see relationships, it's nuanced and that's why it's called Unisex Dilemma. Meaning people shouldn't take the song too literally.

ANNARKEY – Mixed by the Godfather of Dub Dennis Bovell. This a great example 0f Genre Jam whereby Rock or Reggae can be intertwined with Afrobeat. Especially from the Latin Rhythms which are all influenced by Afrobeat.

SUMMER BREEZE – Mixed by Lesley Lawrence is Jazzy instrumental track. It draws from Bukky's past recording and associations with the giants of Jazz i.e. Clifford Jarvis, Bob Ra Kalan Moses, and playing with Tony Allen who is heavily influenced Art Blackey and Max Roach.

a 01: Obedun (Sweet Soup) Orlando Voorn Mix

Psychedelic Anxiety, as a mood, goes something like this: overwhelming, existential, vertigoic, arising when we stare into the void. This metaphysical unease also serves as the title for Brooklyn-based musician Frances Chang’s second album, and as a feeling it’s present throughout, charged by all things occultish. Recorded by Chang and engineer Andrea Schiavelli, featuring a cast of revered NYC DIY players, including Schiavelli (Eyes of Love) and Liza Winter (Birthing Hips), Psychedelic Anxiety relishes in the refining of aesthetic, in the electricity of improvisation, in balancing bleakness with humor. It embodies an idiosyncratic genre Chang calls slacker prog — offbeat, but brimming with spiritual and emotional resonance. The record infuses artifacts of the mundane with otherworldliness— even the love songs live more in the realm of fantasy (or horror) than the romantic. The psychic twin and mirror image of Chang’s 2022 debut full-length Support Your Local Nihilist, Psychedelic Anxiety by comparison is less urgent, leaving space for more nuance and storytelling. Together, these albums represent a new cycle of creativity for Chang, a reset to zero. “Eye Land,” captures Chang on a tour around the Irish and English countryside, in a moment of major life change. “Lying around your spare room,” she sings, “Sky is cloudy here in June.” Around her, guitar sputters and stops. Vocals branch off like vines on the side of an old house. It is a profoundly lovely song, a freaky miniature in the way that a Broadcast song is a freaky miniature. “Darkside” opens up with a particularly memorable narrative moment. “Last night I saw Parasite,” sings Chang, describing how she saw it alone, how regular life that week was acute, weird, intense. How she found comfort in resignation. After all: Psychedelic Anxiety is a serene, bizarre record full of alien sounds and big introspection.

Hailing from Palermo, Italy, Manuold brings his signature sounds to a fresh new outing on Four Framed Music. The underground house maestro has landed on the likes of House Puff Records, We_R House, and many more, always with his own unique take on the genre and standout grooves.

Opening up the EP is the fantastic “The Paradise” with swirling cosmic pads that bring great vibes next to an aching female vocal and timeless US house beats. “Glow” is another one for the purists with its surging chords and hi-tek soul stylings over dusty and deep drums that keep you moving. “Give Me Your Hand” brings smooth drum programming and icy hi-hats with well-placed vocal samples that bring warmth, and last of all is “Grey Sky,” a late-night charmer with deft cosmic pads and super slick house grooves full of class and charm.

Manuold shows his quality on this fine and futuristic four-track offering.

Leute, bildet Gruppen! Und hört diese Musik dabei. Und davor. Und danach. Unbedingt. (Joachim Hentschel) Ja, Panik bestehen 2021 aus Andreas Spechtl, Stefan Pabst (Bass), Laura Landergott (Keyboards & Gitarre) und Sebastian Janata (Schlagzeug). Als Gast ist hier Rabea Erradi dabei, die offiziell nicht zur Besetzung gehört, als Saxophonistin für die neue Musik jedoch eine absolut tragende Rolle spielt. "Die Gruppe", das nach "Libertatia" von 2014 insgesamt sechste Album, ist zudem das erste überhaupt, das Andreas Spechtl ganz ohne fremde Hilfe produziert hat. Es ist ein Album voller Wunder und Schrecken, Rätsel und Leuchtfeuer, Gewebe und Löcher, fließender Geschichten und Slogans, die man sich auf die Stirn stempeln will. Vor allem: ein Werk, wie man es in der an Höhepunkten nun wirklich nicht geizigen Diskografie von Ja, Panik noch nicht gehört hat, nicht ansatzweise.

Leute, bildet Gruppen! Und hört diese Musik dabei. Und davor. Und danach. Unbedingt. (Joachim Hentschel) Ja, Panik bestehen 2021 aus Andreas Spechtl, Stefan Pabst (Bass), Laura Landergott (Keyboards & Gitarre) und Sebastian Janata (Schlagzeug). Als Gast ist hier Rabea Erradi dabei, die offiziell nicht zur Besetzung gehört, als Saxophonistin für die neue Musik jedoch eine absolut tragende Rolle spielt. "Die Gruppe", das nach "Libertatia" von 2014 insgesamt sechste Album, ist zudem das erste überhaupt, das Andreas Spechtl ganz ohne fremde Hilfe produziert hat. Es ist ein Album voller Wunder und Schrecken, Rätsel und Leuchtfeuer, Gewebe und Löcher, fließender Geschichten und Slogans, die man sich auf die Stirn stempeln will. Vor allem: ein Werk, wie man es in der an Höhepunkten nun wirklich nicht geizigen Diskografie von Ja, Panik noch nicht gehört hat, nicht ansatzweise.

Kenyan folk artist Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno and Man Power met while both artists in residence at the esteemed Glasshouse International Centre for Music and offer us something truly original here at M.A.D Records. Music has the power to bring people together and this is a shining example, Kenyan folk and electronic music from the North East of England - what’s not to like. On the flip label bosses Make A Dance offer up two remixes.

Clear Vinyl

Blue Lake is the musical moniker of American born, Copenhagen based multidisciplinary artist and musician Jason Dungan, who signs to the Tonal Union imprint for the release of his new longform album ‘Sun Arcs’. It follows 2022’s release ‘Stikling’, earning a nomination for ‘Album of the Year’ at the Danish Music Awards plus warm praise from The Hum blog and musicians and DJs alike including Jack Rollo (Time is Away/NTS) and Carla dal Forno. A self taught player, Dungan began freely experimenting with self-built multi-string instruments, preferring to build his own hybrid 48-string zither and working in the realms of left-field ambient music, off kilter folk and improvised acoustic minimalism.

The starting point of ‘Sun Arcs’ saw Jason travel for a week alone to Andersabo, a cabin set in the idyllic Swedish woods just outside of Unnaryd, known also as the music project, festival and residency space which has been run by Dungan since 2016, hosting artists like Sofie Birch, Johan Carøe and Ellen Arkbro. Whilst writing 1-2 pieces per day, a conscious decision was made to leave behind everyday distractions and shut out the outside world to instead focus on the natural passage of time as Dungan recalls: “My only sense of time came from these daily walks out in the woods with my dog, and an awareness of the sun’s path as it moved across the sky each day.”

The album’s immersive world unfolds with the opener ‘Dallas’, an ode to his home state and a musical synthesis of these two disparate spaces (Texas and Denmark), the touchstones of Dungan’s life. A folk-esque single acoustic builds to a flowing arrangement of clarinets, organ and cello drones coupled with percussion. ‘Green-Yellow Field’ chimes in as the first of two solo oriented zither recordings twinned with the dreamlike title track ‘Sun Arcs’, both densely rich as cascading and overlapping harmonic tones resound. ‘Bloom’ emerges with a krautrock psyche before an eruption of cello drones, slide guitar and free-ranging zither playing, ushering in the anticipation of spring. With half of the recordings conceived in Andersabo, Jason returned to Copenhagen to form the album's centre piece ‘Rain Cycle’ which features a tempered Roland drum machine alongside shifting zither improvisations. ‘Writing’ explores the shimmering harp-like qualities of sweeping playing figurations with Dungan mapping out adjusted tuning “zones” on the zither for unconventional but creatively liberating effects. ‘Fur’ captures the feeling of openness and the momentum of time, seeing Dungan perform waves of solo clarinet, often in one takes and embellished with textural drones, a zither solo, and layers of guitar. ‘Wavelength’ the album's closer is fondly inspired by the film works of Michael Snow and Don Cherry’s seminal live album ‘Blue Lake’ (1974), as it builds out from a drone-generated zither chord and features an alto recorder solo. Dungan found a deep connection to Cherry’s stripped back performance ethos, focusing on the core beauty of minimal instrumentation creating a genre-less meeting between folk and jazz. A dialogue is formed between the solo and the bandlike performances, interlinked in a geographical duality with all finding a sense of commonplace as musical sketches of visited landscapes. The bountiful instrumentation ebbs and flows as further layers emerge with Dungan constructing his material much like an artist would, recording and reviewing, adding and subtracting.

Musically it portrays a form of double life led by an American-identifying person living in Scandinavia, and a new found presence in Denmark, seeking out underdeveloped marshlands and barren stretches of beach adrift from other rhythms and distractions. Highlighting their individual and potent importance Dungan concludes: “Both places feel like “me”, I think on some level the music is always some kind of self-portrait.” ‘Sun Arcs’ depicts the intricate balance of nature’s cycles and the paths outlined by the seasons, from a winter dormancy to a warm sun drenched scene. The album scales new glorying heights and further defines Dungan’s musical narrative, inhabiting a unique space in left-field, improvised and experimental music, borning his most accomplished compositions to date. A singular and visionary expression, drawing on an array of instruments and sound worlds with a renewed sense of joy and discovery.

The album's rich tapestry was mixed by Jeff Zeigler (Laraaji, Mary Lattimore, Kurt Vile /Steve Gunn) and mastered by Stephan Mathieu (Kali Malone, KMRU, Félicia Atkinson).

Alara Music is releasing the new album of OXY, the new stunning electronic project by Ivan Pavlov (COH) and Sasha Galianov (Shortparis).

OXY is a transient project combining talents of Ivan Pavlov, major electronic artist better known as CoH who has collaborated with Coil, and Sasha Galianov, the main force behind the electronic sound of the avant-garde performance collective Shortparis. The two once met at a festival where they performed a semi-improvised live set. The first performance sparked mutual interest in continuing joint experimentation, which, after a series of concerts, eventually led to this studio recording.

The name of the album is constructed of the two titles presented each on one side of the LP. The first side, AETHER, delivers a powerfully charged contemplative exploration, in which the two seem to carefully study the sound of each other's instruments. The search for balance between the analogue and the digital reveals a murky terrain of focused sonic pressure interwoven with potent silence filled with echoes. Towards the end, AETHER, amorphous in the beginning, gains structure and rhythm, as if preparing the listener to its more agitated sequel, GUST.

Side two, starting with trademark minimalistic patterns of CoH quickly picks up in intensity and wanders into the domains of digital heavy-metal, in which Sasha's menacing guitar riffs are meticulously disjointed in favour of power focus. Then GUST takes the listener through a minor apocalypse, past a few relieving joyful moments of temporal enlightenment, and towards a strange peace found in a disorienting, synth-framed collage of acoustic guitar sounds.

AETHER GUST is a record that requires listener's full attention, offering in return a captivating journey though peculiar landscapes at the intersection of the worlds of two adventurous music explorers, exchanging their sonic beliefs and passions. An intense journey through a landscape of contrasts, between the warmth of analogue sounds and the aridity of demanding electro, both minimalist and abundant. This journey, these intersections, but also this permanent encounter between analogue and digital, are magnified by the physical version of AETHER GUST: it comes as a bundle of both Vinyl + CD versions of the album, all in a 12" vinyl sleeve then nestled in a thick crafted carboard black embossed sheath.

"He’ll always be a man of his people, but Jamie Webster’s message has cut through hearts all over the land since the folk troubadour’s debut album ‘We Get By’ in 2020. The songwriting may have evolved from those defiant early days on the acoustic guitar, but the hard-hitting storytelling that made his name remains as he continues to give a voice to the masses through towering anthems to hold close through uncertain times.
Though born from frustration and adversity, Webster's music has always managed to encapsulate a sense of unity and togetherness through tough times. Take the breakthrough single ‘Weekend In Paradise’ which distills a living for the weekend ideology of the working classes. An anthem just about everyone working nine to five can relate to, the flagship single speaks volumes of the journey so far as it surpasses 20 million streams on Spotify alone. His second album ‘Moments’ charted in the Official UK Album Chart #3, Indie Chart #2, Official Vinyl Chart #2, Scottish Album Chart #2. The scale of public support for the songs of singular, life-as-he-sees-it-singing, aspirational indie voice of Jamie Webster looks set to reach new heights as he announces the release of his third album, 10 For The People, on Fri 2 February 2024 with Modern Sky UK. While working confidently towards his third Top Ten album chart finish early next year, Webster’s Pied Piper-pull is set to draw a previously unimaginable 40,000 fans to one place as he also announces a HUGE outdoor headline show at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Fri 12 July 2024. "

"He’ll always be a man of his people, but Jamie Webster’s message has cut through hearts all over the land since the folk troubadour’s debut album ‘We Get By’ in 2020. The songwriting may have evolved from those defiant early days on the acoustic guitar, but the hard-hitting storytelling that made his name remains as he continues to give a voice to the masses through towering anthems to hold close through uncertain times.
Though born from frustration and adversity, Webster's music has always managed to encapsulate a sense of unity and togetherness through tough times. Take the breakthrough single ‘Weekend In Paradise’ which distills a living for the weekend ideology of the working classes. An anthem just about everyone working nine to five can relate to, the flagship single speaks volumes of the journey so far as it surpasses 20 million streams on Spotify alone. His second album ‘Moments’ charted in the Official UK Album Chart #3, Indie Chart #2, Official Vinyl Chart #2, Scottish Album Chart #2. The scale of public support for the songs of singular, life-as-he-sees-it-singing, aspirational indie voice of Jamie Webster looks set to reach new heights as he announces the release of his third album, 10 For The People, on Fri 2 February 2024 with Modern Sky UK. While working confidently towards his third Top Ten album chart finish early next year, Webster’s Pied Piper-pull is set to draw a previously unimaginable 40,000 fans to one place as he also announces a HUGE outdoor headline show at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Fri 12 July 2024. "

A white convertible drives off into the sunset to the sound of Save you ft. Surahn and its funky, dance-inducing mantra, the first single to herald this road trip to the edge of space. Whether on cathartic beaches (Breath) or a desolate landscape: First Wave, Shades of Black, Who am I, Stars or Ghosts and its conquering lasers, Peter's music transports us into a cinematic world
(Night Road), where the synth-pop of M83 would have fused with the pop-rock of Supertramp and Fleetwood Mac (Burning House ft. Goldilox). A radiant production, wrapped in folk strumming, orchestrated by strings and keyboards with multicoloured diodes. A record that draws on the roots of timeless songwriting, enhanced by a modern, demanding electronic sound. The voice of Surahn (Empire of the Sun) returns to close the album with Open Your Mind and its flower power adlib: the closing credits of this first opus.

Brötzmann arbeitete im Laufe seiner Karriere mit vielen Künstlern zusammen und nahm regelmäßig neue Landsleute hinzu. Der norwegische Schlagzeuger Paal Nilssen-Love wurde zu einem seiner engsten Verbündeten, nachdem der Perkussionist dem Chicago Tentet beigetreten war. Sie arbeiteten in verschiedenen Kontexten zusammen, unter anderem in diesem unerschöpflichen, schlagkräftigen Duo. Die meisten Alben, die sie veröffentlicht haben, waren Live-Auftritte, aber 2015 haben sie diese beeindruckende Studioaufnahme gemacht. Peter hatte sich eine Kontra-Alt-Klarinette zugelegt und war vom Klang dieses Instruments sehr begeistert", so Nilssen-Love in den Liner Notes. Ich hatte auch mehrere koreanische Gongs gekauft, die ich noch nicht benutzt hatte." Im August dieses Jahres trafen sie sich zu einer zweitägigen Session in Antwerpen, und von Anfang an unterscheidet sich das Stück von vielen ihrer Arbeiten. Die Musik ist weniger hektisch und aggressiv als wir es gewohnt sind, da die Musiker ihre Erkundung neuer Instrumente mit einem kontemplativeren Ansatz teilten. Natürlich bringen sowohl Brötzmann als auch Nilssen-Love hier und da die übliche Energie auf, aber es ist eine echte Offenbarung, sie in Echtzeit neue Klänge ertasten zu hören, sei es, dass ersterer die rheumatische Nasalität der Kontra-Alt-Klarinette liebkost oder letzterer in der anhaltenden Resonanz seiner neuen Gongs schwelgt. Doch auch wenn sie neue Instrumente ausprobierten, waren ihre Beziehung und ihr Engagement so stark und tief wie immer. Terminüberschneidungen verhinderten, dass sie die Produktion des Albums jemals abschließen konnten, aber sie begannen bereits während der Pandemie mit den Planungen dafür. Leider blieb es Nilssen-Love überlassen, das Projekt zu Hause zu betreuen, aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Dieses Duo-Album ist ein wichtiges Statement der beiden Musiker. Aber es gibt noch mehr gute Nachrichten: Ein zweiter Teil mit Musik aus derselben Studiosession wird 2024 auf Vinyl erscheinen, zusammen mit einer CD mit Live-Aufnahmen.