Uzed is the fourth album by Belgian band Univers Zero. It was released three years after 'Ceux du Dehors', due to a change in line-up and a new repertoire, although the EP 'Crawling Wind' had been released in the meantime.
The album marked a turning point for the band. Univers Zero explored new electric colors, giving it a more rock feel with the addition of new musicians such as Jean-Luc Plouvier, who introduced the synthesizer, guitarist Michel Delory, who played a memorable solo in 'Célesta (For Chantal)', and André Mergen on electric cello and alto saxophone, who enriched the orchestral texture. Dirk Descheemaeker on clarinet and soprano saxophone, the return of Christian Genet on bass, this evolution can also be explained by the arrival of new musicians. UZED'is entirely composed and arranged by Daniel Denis
The recording and mixing were done at Daylight Studio in Brussels in 1984, but to bring out UZED, the sound had to be improved by giving it more dynamic range, which was done at ICP Studios in 2024.
Detroit-born and Toronto-based, Honoré returns to Soul Jones Records with another slice of ‘70s super-soul with a cool twist. Ain’t No Substitute is an elegant, full-bodied dancer built on rich orchestration and a velvet groove, her five-octave range gliding from an intimate hush to full soul euphoria. Producers Pirahnahead and Thomas McKay frame her performance in shimmering strings, rolling rhythm and a touch of brass, with The Detroit Lovers and the 18-piece Detroit Soulchestra once again bringing that unmistakable analogue warmth.
Oslo based house pushers ́badabing diskos ́ follow up their hyped first release with a four tracker covering a fine specter of modern house vibes. A solo jacking house trip from label honcho Vinny Villbass, followed up by mexican/norwegian percussive collaboration of Picotropico and Vinny give you a full summer club journey The secret alias Smalltownboy ejaculates an eminent homage to sweaty dance floor flirts, while house orchestra LAFT shows off club muscles with a minimal studio escapade.
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Musician and visual artist by day, bat researcher by night: Mathilde Nobel brings both worlds together on her new album Guadirikiri on Nous'klaer Audio. Unlike the first album, Guadirikiri features (almost) no vocals. Instead, its compositions took shape through Mathilde's deep fascination for bats. Creatures that, much like her, navigate and make sense of the world through sound. By night, Mathilde travels across the Netherlands to study their calls, movements, and patterns. Using ultrasonic detectors and thermal cameras, she's been gathering and archiving recordings and visuals, gradually building what she calls an orchestra of bats - shaping and inspiring what became Guadirikiri.
This album is a compilation of hard-to-find 7" singles released in Kenya by the Audio Productions stable in the first half of the 1980s and most have never been released outside of East Africa.
Amongst others, it features artists such as Super Wanyika, led by the legendary vocalist Issa Juma, originally from Tanzania, who played a pivotal role in the Kenyan club scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Also featured is Orchestra Shika Shika, a Congolese band based in Nairobi, who recorded more than 70 singles for a host of labels. Their track included here, " Diana" is one of their very best and was the title track of their album released in 1983; featuring the sublime vocals of Jimmy Monimambo and Lovy Longomba.
We hope you enjoy this deep dive into these lost sounds from Kenya's rumba and benga scene!
(The LP also comes with a free CD featuring additional material)
„Happy Christmas… Again!“ – die erweiterte ReEdition
++ Aufgenommen mit dem Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & dem City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
++
++ Mit fünf zusätzlichen Weihnachtstiteln & vier persönlichen Audiomessages von Howard ++
Erweitert um neue Musik – und persönliche Botschaften zum Jahresausklang: Die kommende ReEdition „Happy Christmas… Again!“ von Howard Carpendale sorgt pünktlich zum ersten Adventswochenende
für besinnliche Momente und wunderschön orchestriertes Weihnachtsfeeling. Unter anderem auch als karriereübergreifende Deluxe-Edition (inkl. dem ersten Weihnachtsalbum von 2001!) erhältlich, erscheint die
ReEdition in etlichen Konfigurationen und Bundles.
It has been said of Hiroshi Suzuki, one of Japan's leading trombonists, "If you want to sound good, you need to have him as a member of your group”. Suzuki moved to the U.S. in 1971 when he was invited to play with the Buddy Rich Orchestra, and had been living in Las Vegas ever since. The album Cat was recorded when he returned to Japan for the first time in about four years, and released on Nippon Columbia in 1976. The musicians are the same as in Freedom Unity, the group Suzuki had been a member of until his 1971 departure – consisting of pianist Hiromasa Suzuki, drummer Akira Ishikawa, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, and saxophonist Takeru Muraoka.
Cat is a kind of second chance for that group, which once had a promising future but came to a premature demise. Based on the synergy that they had cultivated together in the past, the players brought their individual technical and musical growth to the album and collectively refined their efforts even further. Each of them had been active on the front lines of the jazz scene, and the quality of their compositions, arrangements, and performances here are extremely high. Cat is one of the most revered albums in the extraordinary Japanese Jazz discography and an essential piece of any music collection.
(Text by Yusuke Ogawa - Universounds)
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YMO’s first overseas performances took place as special guests at The Tubes’ concerts held over three days—August 2, 3, and 4, 1979—at the outdoor Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, USA. “YMO LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE 08/04/1979” features the complete 7-song set from the final night, August 4.
Supervised by Haruomi Hosono, the recording was mixed and mastered from the original multi-track tapes by world-renowned engineer Goh Hotoda. The vinyl cutting was handled by Shinya Matsushita of “Piccolo Audio Works”, ensuring top-quality audio.
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With the grace of an ancient oracle speaking through a veil of mist, the album unfurls in movements both haunting and divine, carrying the listener into a realm where sorrow and splendor waltz as one. Orchestrated with exquisite precision and opulent depth, the ensemble breathes life into every measure. Strings sweep like celestial tides, choirs rise like prayers from cloistered ruins, and woodwinds whisper secrets from lost mythologies. The multimember orchestra does not merely accompany the compositions, it becomes the very vessel through which Autumn Tears channels their clairvoyant vision.
Rooted in the neoclassical tradition yet unbound by its walls, the album weaves baroque intricacies with cinematic grandeur, crafting soundscapes that feel both sacred and boundless. Every track is a portal: to forgotten dreams, to veiled futures, to the silent poetry that lingers in the spaces between. Crown of the Clairvoyant will be available as a digital download,a limited Leather CD Box, a limited CD jewel case package with a CD exclusive bonus track as well as a limited vinyl package with a 12 page illustrated lyric book and vinyl exclusive bonus track.
Nora is back! This is a brand-new 2025 EM Records re-pressing of Nora Guthrie's ultra-rare "Emily's Illness", a lost gem of songcraft originally released in 1967, in the same 7-inch vinyl format (b/w "Home Before Dark") as the original. Featuring the radiant vocals of the then-17-year-old daughter of Woody Guthrie, "Emily's Illness" was written by Eric Eisner (The Strangers) and impeccably arranged by Artie Schroeck. A romantic amalgam of psychedelia, pop, and acid-folk, informed by the harmonic and rhythmic subtleties of João Gilberto and jazz. Both songs here are wistfully melodic gems, framed by lovely orchestration.
Auf dem 2025 erscheinenden Album spielt / erfindet Pabst den Hyper-Rock. Da crashen die Drums, da stottert die Gitarre vor sich hin, da schwirren Synths von links nach rechts, da überdreht der Bass vollkommen. So etwas kann nur aus einer der wichtigsten deutschen Rockbands ihrer Generation herauskommen! Unterstützung gibt’s erstmals in Form von Features mit den australischen Garage-Legenden DZ Deathrays, der Leipziger Indie-Poetin Blush Always und den britischen Grunge-Punks Snake Eyes.
Zum 100. Geburtstag von Peter Thomas erscheint erstmals eine umfassende Sammlung seiner Musik zur ZDF-Krimiserie DER KOMMISSAR (1969-1976). Die Serie gilt als Meilenstein deutscher Fernsehgeschichte - gesellschaftlich relevant, stilbildend und musikalisch überraschend. Thomas steuerte zu 22 Folgen Musik bei, die von klassischer Filmmusik über Beat und Soul bis hin zu experimentellen Soundcollagen reicht. Die LP/CD enthält erstmals veröffentlichte Titel, darunter Highlights wie "Du lebst in deiner Welt" (Daisy Door), das 1971 die Charts stürmte. Besonders spannend sind die Stücke aus den experimentellen Folgen unter Regie von Zbynek Brynych, in denen Thomas Volksmusik mit Pop und Rock kombinierte. Die Aufnahmen entstanden mit renommierten Studiomusikern wie Jan Hammer, Jiggs Whigham und Olaf Kübler.
Mit den Soundtracks zu La Boum (1980) und La Boum 2 (1982) schuf Vladimir Cosma zwei der ikonischsten Filmmusiken des französischen Kinos. Die Coming-of-Age-Filme mit Sophie Marceau prägten eine ganze Generation und wurden europaweit zu Kultklassikern. Ihre Mischung aus jugendlicher Leichtigkeit, emotionaler Tiefe und popkulturellem Zeitgeist spiegelt sich auch in der Musik wider. Cosmas Kompositionen - darunter unvergessliche Titel wie "Reality" oder "Your Eyes" - verbinden orchestrale Eleganz mit eingängigen Popmelodien. Die Soundtracks wurden millionenfach verkauft und mehrfach ausgezeichnet. Dieses exklusive Boxset vereint beide Alben auf zwei Picture Vinyls und bietet ein visuelles wie klangliches Sammlerstück für Fans von Filmmusik, 80s-Pop und französischem Kino.
Around the end of the 1980s and the first years of the 1990s bands like PUNGENT STENCH, DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, DISASTROUS MURMUR or MIASMA made a name for themselves by putting out some classic albums. "Been Caught Buttering", "Changes" or "Expositionsprophylaxe" were records spawned by Austrian hordes which were globally hailed by devotees of Death Metal. As fertile a soil Austria once seemed to be, throughout the last 30 years not one single Death Metal album was put out that would match the quality of the pioneers.
Apparently, it took Brenton, an Australian settling in Vienna, to eventually put Austria on the map again. After having founded FESSUS with 3 other members in 2023, the quartet put out their first demo "Pilgrims of Morbidity" in the same year.
Now, two years after the very promising demo, FESSUS return with their first full-length. Cryptically entitled "Subcutaneous Tomb" the album's six lengthy songs stylistically continue where the demo left off. Whereas other bands focus on hyper-speed, over-technicality and brutality, FESSUS' brand of Death Metal is mostly played in moderate tempi with outbursts of speed and aggression scattered throughout the album. The songs are foremost characterized by memorable compositions and groove. Every song literally oozes with morbidity and conjures a dense macabre atmosphere. Brenton's vocals which are partly reminiscent of NECROPHAGIA's Killjoy are one of the highlights of the album. With his performance being equal parts versatile and deranged, Brenton spews vile bile and brimstone like not many lunatics before him. Although there are hints of other bands like AUTOPSY or PURTENANCE found on the album, FESSUS actually managed to come up with a sound that’s distinctly their own.
"Subcutaneous Tomb" is a perfectly produced album that those worshipping at the altar of morbid, rotten Death Metal can't afford to miss out on.
Recording, mixing, mastering: Thomas Taube (Five Lakes Studio)
Ella Fitzgerald und Weihnachten sind eine traumhafte Musikkombination. 1967, einige Jahre nach ihrem
fröhlichen “Swinging Christmas”-Album auf Verve, nahm Ella ein weiteres Weihnachtsmeisterwerk in ganz
anderer Stimmung auf: seelenvoll und feierlich, von ihrer faszinierenden, einmaligen Stimme getragen.
Auf „Ella Fitzgerald’s Christmas“ erklingen große Weihnachtsklassiker und Hymnen in Arrangements von
Robert Black und Grace Price, von Ella mit dem von Ralph Carmichael geleiteten Chor und Orchester
erhebend interpretiert. Neu remastert, 180g-LP, Single-Sleeve mit Original-Artwork.
Dieses spezielle Vinyl-Boxset enthält den kompletten Original-Soundtrack des Spiels sowie die DLC-Musik für Stir of Dawn und Wounds of Eventide. Der 4LP-Schuber in limitierter Auflage ist mit einem maßgeschneiderten Coverartwork von Diego Minguez sowie bedruckten Innenhüllen mit Artwork von Jesús Campos „Nerkin“ verziert.
Blasphemous präsentiert eine alptraumhafte Variante des mystischen Katholizismus und der gotischen Architektur der Heimatstadt von The Game Kitchen, Sevilla. Das angesehene Metroidvania-Spiel ist voll von verdrehter religiöser Ikonografie und esoterischer Symbolik. Die eindringliche Musik des Komponisten Carlos Viola ist untrennbar mit der einzigartigen Atmosphäre des Spiels verbunden. Er übersetzt Themen wie Leid, Schuld und Einsamkeit in eine tief emotionale Musik, die von der Tragödie zur Transzendenz drängt.
Der Soundtrack beschwört ein spezifisches Gefühl von Ort und Zeit herauf und schöpft aus den Traditionen der spanischen Folkgitarre, mittelalterlichen Chorälen und orchestralen Verzierungen, um eine Art okkulte Kammermusik zu schaffen. Geschmeidige Streicher und schwebender Gesang kreuzen Wellen kolossaler Drones, bevor sie wieder im Morast versinken. Hypnagogische Passagen pulsieren mit übernatürlicher Kraft, während klagende, beunruhigende Klavierstücke für Momente des Alleinseins inmitten des Gemetzels sorgen. Violas prächtige Kompositionen werden durch Beiträge der Instrumentalisten Sergio Carmona (Bass) und Manuel Soto "Noly" (Gitarre) sowie durch die mitreißenden Gesangseinlagen von Nadia Torres und Dolores Berg unterstützt.
Wie das Spiel selbst ist auch die Musik von Blasphemous beunruhigend und von Leid durchdrungen, aber dennoch seltsam schön und fesselnd. Schnappen Sie sich Ihr Schwert und Ihren Rosenkranz, bevor Sie eintauchen - Sie werden beides gebrauchen können.
Hania Rani ist eine mehrfach preisgekrönte Komponistin und Pianistin, die mühelos zwischen der Welt der
klassischen und der experimentellen Musik wechselt.
Aufgenommen in den Abbey Road Studios mit einem 45-köpfigen Orchester, markiert „Non Fiction“ einen
neuen Abschnitt in Ranis Karriere, da sie von den elektronischen Klängen ihres gefeierten Albums „Ghosts“
in den symphonischen Bereich übergeht und eine Brücke zwischen ihrem eleganten Experimentalismus und
ihrer klassischen Ausbildung schlägt.
Non Fiction ist Ranis erstes Klavierkonzert und symphonisches Werk. Es ist auch eine Reaktion auf die Entdeckung der Kompositionen des jungen Musikwunderkindes, Josima Feldschuh, die während der Schrecken
des Zweiten Weltkriegs im Warschauer Ghetto entstanden sind. Bewegt von der Geschichte des jungen
Mädchens, beschloss Rani, sie durch die Linse der aktuellen Schreckenssituationen in der Ukraine und im
Gazastreifen zu betrachten und zu untersuchen, wie wir diese durch moderne Medien wahrnehmen. Dabei
erforscht Rani die ständige Koexistenz von Harmonie und Unordnung, schafft eine klangliche Metapher
für das Überleben des menschlichen Geistes angesichts von Gewalt und nutzt den emotionalen Wert von
Klängen, um diese irgendwie fernen Konflikte für uns auf menschlicher Ebene nachvollziehbarer zu machen.
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Side A takes us across the pond for a British funk-rock classic: “Give It To You” from UPP’s 1975 self-titled LP. Already sacred in sample lore, its breakbeat (written by drummer Jimmy Copley) has fueled Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, Jeru, Del, DJ Shadow & more. This edit amplifies the raw pocket — drums, fills, transitions — pushing them forward w/o losing grit. Produced by Jeff Beck, UPP’s LP fused funk, fusion & rock, giving the break shimmer & weight beyond pure drum programming. For DJs, this is precision-built: roomy enough to drop hats, scratches, or vocals, yet solid enough to ride raw.
On the flip, the S.S.O. Orchestra’s 1977 gem “Faded Lady.” Lush, cinematic textures — strings, vocals, bass, pads — laced in funk/soul arrangements. Sample lineage runs deep: Diamond D (“I Went for Mine”), Busta Rhymes’ “New York Shit,” Nas’ “Something Foul.” This edit doesn’t destroy or over-chop — it finds the sweet spots, letting the horns, pads & mood breathe. Not a break tune but a vibe: atmosphere & weight for DJs to lean into.
Together, these 2 sides deliver a powerful juxtaposition:
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On the occasion of their 50th anniversary, the Australian Chamber Orchestra presents a landmark new album that celebrates the orchestra’s remarkable legacy while also honouring Artistic Director Richard Tognetti’s extraordinary 35 years of leadership: the violin concertos of Beethoven and Brahms, with Tognetti himself as soloist. These works, now pillars of the repertoire, were once radical and new; this recording invites us to reconnect with that sense of first hearing – to imagine being present at the premiere, when the ink was still fresh and the ideas still raw.
Sonetos del Amor Oscuro is an ode performed by four enchanted souls who have intertwined their hearts and conjured harmonies and rhythms that wander endlessly among the spellbinding words of a poet from Granada... Federico García Lorca;
He wrung, pushed and vibrated words like tectonic plates, transforming plains into poetic mountain landscapes. He then covered them with a Moorish carpet of snow crystals and had them reflected by the dark locks of hair of a gypsy girl from Albaicín who, with a voice forged in gold and silver, sings her little sister to sleep with a soothing lullaby.
Helena Casella – vocals
Myrddin De Cauter – flamenco guitar
Stijn Kuppens – cello
Stefan Bracaval – flute, bass flute
Helena Casella, the Belgian-Brazilian vocalist with a deep, soft and warm voice, translates her multicultural background and personal thoughts into music in a passionate, soulful and refined way. With her roots in an exceptionally musical family, her music exudes this unique heritage. She effortlessly interweaves genres such as R&B, soul, hip hop and modern jazz, while remaining true to the vibrant sounds of Brazil, an essential part of her roots.
Her debut album was released earlier this year on W.E.R.F. records.
Myrddin De Cauter's music is deeply moving, complex, passionately rhythmic and deeply emotional. He has mastered the compás of flamenco, which gives him the freedom to converse with elements from jazz or classical music. His speed sometimes seems otherworldly, but those who take the time to listen closely to his music will quickly discover an immense world of pure emotion, beauty and tranquillity. After six albums and countless concerts, Myrddin proves that great virtuosos do not necessarily have to come from Spain. At the tender age of eleven, his father taught him to play the clarinet in jazz and gypsy swing style; he became part of the family orchestra and gained his first experiences on stage. A classical melody composed on the guitar prompted him to ask his father to teach him the basics of flamenco guitar. Soon after, Myrddin seemed ready for the real thing and went to Andalusia to learn from Manolo Sanlucar and Gerardo Núñez. This inspired him to compose in his own unique language, deeply rooted in the pure flamenco tradition but enriched by boundless creativity.
Stijn Kuppens is a cellist, composer and producer. In his own genre, which he describes as non-classical cello, he uses the cello in his own unique way. His profound knowledge of the complex history and techniques of the style is clearly audible: Kuppens' mastery of classical music is evident in every note he plays, whether he is performing solo or collaborating with other musicians. His skill as a musician and ambition to explore the boundaries of conventional classical music is evident in his ability to seamlessly blend different genres.
Stefan Bracaval is a classically trained flutist who graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. His fascination with the expressive potential of improvisation led him to jazz, where he became a self-taught jazz flutist. Bracaval has collaborated on projects with prominent jazz figures such as Charles Loos, Bert Joris and the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. In addition, he worked as a soloist and arranger with the VRT Radio Choir in 2016. Bracaval leads the Stefan Bracaval QU4RTET, which emphasises the flute as a central jazz instrument and brings new repertoire rooted in jazz traditions.
Vanbur – artist duo consisting of composers Jessica Jones & Tim Morrish – are releasing their debut album release this autumn. The album scoops up Earthing and my dove, to sleep, made famous by the Netflix show ONE DAY, alongside previous material from their debut EP ‘Human’ including In Cold Light which had a huge TikTok moment around the show’s release. Written over several years, ‘Of Becoming’ reflects a maturing of Vanbur’s sound as they themselves have gone through major life changes and transitions, which are addressed both lyrically and sonically in this impressive body of work. There’s a dreamlike quality to the album, representing the sometimes disorientating dichotomy found in immense change of wistful nostalgia and strength found in adaptation. Recorded at Church Studios with a 12-piece ensemble, the album weaves between lush orchestral heights such as Of Becoming and Friends of Mine and edgier alt-pop bangers such as Strange Kind Of Creature. Jess’ vocals are at times ethereal and textured, and at times lean further into her song-writing sensibilities with their most personal lyrics yet. With the pair’s range and skillset across production and composition fully explored, the album is a triumph of song-writing. The band have worked with filmmaker and Creative Director Matt Houghton on a strong visual aesthetic, from key artwork to narrative promotional films shot on 35mm. With graphic design by Torsten Posselt, the vinyl will have a tactile and natural quality tying in with the analogue feel of the campaign. Vanbur’s debut EP, Human, was released in 2018 and received press coverage in Clash, Ear Milk, Higher Plain etc and was played across BBC 6Music shows. The had their debut performance at the 100 Club and plan to bring a scaled up version to stages in 2026. The follow up remix EP included remixes by Mogwai and Katie Gately, and their music has been placed in hit-shows including One Day (Netflix), The Rising (Sky), Hanna (Prime) and Queens (Nat Geo).
Rufus Wainwright's I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Wainwright Does Weill is a compelling tribute album that delves into the rich and complex songbook of German-American composer Kurt Weill. Known for his theatrical flair and vocal prowess, Wainwright brings a unique interpretation to Weill's compositions, which are celebrated for their fusion of classical, cabaret, and jazz elements. Premiering in May 2023 at New York City's Café Carlyle, "Wainwright Does Weill" marked Wainwright's first extensive exploration of Weill's repertoire. Rufus Wainwright’s fascination with Kurt Weill’s music goes back for decades — in his early twenties he wore out the vinyl grooves of Teresa Stratas’ famous Weill album. While Weill‘s musical influence can be heard in Wainwright‘s own songs, he had never dedicated an entire evening to singing the German musician’s songs, until now. With the Pacific Jazz Orchestra under the baton of Chris Walden, he has expanded the orchestral palette for his approach to Kurt Weill.
Interstitial Spaces is Martin Brandlmayr’s debut release on Faitiche. In this award-winning radio collage, the well-known drummer and composer (Radian, Polwechsel) explores the quiet moments in music and film recordings.
The last notes of a piece of music fade out in the space. The pianist and the violinist remain frozen in place, holding their breath. The sound engineer sits silently at the desk. Once he has switched off his tape machine, the dull drone of a ship’s horn is heard in the distance. Otherwise, not a sound. Or was there something else hidden in the white noise?
Interstitial Spaces is based on short excerpts from music recordings, films, TV adverts and field recordings. Brandlmayr takes these quiet scenes, intervals in which nothing seems to happen, and brings them into the foreground, subjecting them to a microscopic spotlight. Moments in which one hears only the space itself, or the subtle presence of someone in the space: faint breathing, footsteps and the soft creak of a chair. We also hear preparations for an orchestra rehearsal: the musicians are all busy tuning their instruments, talking to each other, the concert has not yet begun.
This leads to a shift in perception: incidental details hidden in the hubbub of voices or in the silence suddenly take on a leading role. In the empty spaces, we discover various shades of noise, sharpening our awareness of sonic peculiarities. In a gentle rhythm, Brandlmayr’s radio collage offers a sequence of strange, not immediately identifiable sounds that are woven in the second part into a dense structure. At the end, the carefully captured sounds are released back into the empty space. Interstitial Spaces is a bold spectacle that celebrates the eventful uneventfulness.
Brixton Heights Records is releasing a new original One Drop track, which is a collaborative effort of the Brixton Heights Crew, Kieko De Stefanis and Gaudi. The riddim is composed by Italian producer Kieko De Stefanis.
The lyrics are a re-adaptation of an old Italian reggae song by the Genoese band Sensasciou, voiced by the legendary Peter Hunnigale.
The track features drum and bass by Mafia and Fluxi, piano by Gaudi, brass by Ital Horns and a set of arches by N. Gatti at the Violin and R. Rassi at the Viola. On Side A you will find the sweet voice of the original Mr Honey Vibes, Peter Hunnigale, one of the most formidable contemporary British Reggae artists who is responsible for the rise and fame of Lovers Reggae in Britain in the 80s and 90s, with his chart-topping tunes and award-winning albums.
On Side B the track Caruggi Jazz is an homage to the Italian alleys of Genoa, where the sound of live musical instruments fuses with the perfume of lovers who exchange effusions protected by the shadows of old buildings, in a seductive harmony which mixes unconditional feelings, warm memories and affectionate hopes for the future.
The tracks were mixed by Gaudi and mastered at Anchor Studios by Augustus "Gussie" Clarke. The final result is a unique production that blends vintage vibes with modern sounds.
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Damit eins gleich klar ist: Auf FARIN URLAUBs zweitem Album ist erst mal Schluss mit lustig.
Es dauert ganze vier Verse, und ein unmissverständliches „Feuer frei“ legt einem nahe, den Kopf für den
Rest des Albums lieber unten zu halten … und besser isses, denn es wird fortan konsequent mit der Gitarre
niedergemäht, was nicht in geduckter Haltung hinterm umgekippten Esstisch kauert*. Sogar die SkaAnleihen klingen nach Ska-ta-ta-ta-ta.
Und Pustekuchen für jeden, der glaubt, sich am wohlvertrauten Sound durch das hangeln zu können, was
da auf einen niederhagelt.
Da kommt einer eigenständig – aber diesmal nicht allein. FARIN URLAUB schart erstmals Teile seines
„Orchester voll Dynamit“ um sich, das ihn fortan live begleitet: Zwar spielt er – Bläser ausgenommen –
wieder alle Instrumente selbst ein, doch die Damen vom RACING TEAM leihen ihm diesmal ihre Stimmen.
Kein Wunder also, dass AM ENDE DER SONNE schnurstracks auf die 1 ging.
URLAUB hat ein fieses Album in eine fiese Welt geworfen. Eine Welt, über der ein teilnahmsloser Lichtball
prangt, um irdisches Elend unbarmherzig auszuleuchten („Sonne“). Eine Welt, in der man’s nicht einmal
mehr schafft, das Meer romantisch zu verklären („Unter Wasser“), weil man vom eigenen Haushalt mit
Anlauf aufs Maul kriegt („Dusche“), während einer mit dem Schraubenschlüssel rhythmisch auf die Heizung
hämmert.
Die 180-Gramm-Vinyl-Wiederveröffentlichung von AM ENDE DER SONNE erscheint am 21.11.2025 mit
Downloadcode.
*) Das Album ist nicht nur gewaltig, es ist auch großzügig, denn eventuell gibt’s einen Hidden-Track.
EPICA’s seventh full-length studio effort “The Holographic Principle” signified a significant upping of the musical ante for this most adventurous of modern bands. Recorded once with esteemed producer Joost van den Broek at the controls, “The Holographic Principle” represents the most impressive and powerful expression of EPICA’s boldly inventive sound yet. One listen to thunderous songs like ‘Edge Of The Blade’ and ‘Universal Death Squad’ will confirm that “The Holographic Principle” is EPICA’s heaviest album to date. Meanwhile, the shimmering soundscapes and multi-layered melodrama of ‘Once Upon A Nightmare’ and the towering 11-minute title track confirm that “The Holographic Principle” is also the band’s most musically extravagant and daring release so far. With lashings of sumptuous orchestration and a never-ending stream of ingenious but brutal metal riffs and propulsive rhythms underpinning the whole explosive enterprise, this is an album that raises the bar for the entire symphonic metal genre.
First Word Records are very proud to bring you 'Ghouls', the 6th studio album from Bastien Keb.
Through the reflective and introspective multi-mood journey of its 19-tracks, this album spans psychedelic-chamber-funk, warped anti-ballads, cinematic instrumentals, Ethio-jazz & ethereal ambience.
Part soundtrack, part beat-tape, part memoir, this is a dreamlike soundscape sewn together from half-forgotten memories & late night breakdowns.
Entirely sample-free, this album is full to the brim with musical experimentation, with Keb's compulsion to make all the individual pieces of music independently; combining strings, harps, saxophones, theremins, clarinets, flutes and trumpets.
He signals to the fuzzy, nostalgic nebulous of mid '90s skate videos, as well as harking back to the scores & moods of movies like The French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Warriors and La Haine. There are whispers of sounds in the air from jazz clubs, street preachers & Turkish restaurants.
Keb describes the sonic experience of this album simply as this… "You're half awake, and half asleep, but you're warm…"
For this 19-track opus, Keb is joined extensively by Malik Ameer Crumpler; a poet, composer, editor and professor based in Paris, who's been involved in numerous albums while writing for various forms of experimental media.
A multi-instrumentalist originally from the Midlands, Bastien Keb (aka Sebastian Jones) previously released his highly-acclaimed album '22.02.85' on First Word back in 2017; this new album being a very welcome return to the Worldwide Award-winning UK independent label.
His music has been widely supported across BBC Radio in the past by DJs including Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Huw Stephens, Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbs, Nemone and Tom Ravenscroft. This is in addition to glowing press reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and The Line Of Best Fit.
He's built up a steady fanbase through his extensive catalogue over the years, with material for labels like Def Pressé, Gearbox, One-Handed Music and most recently for Shabaka Hutchings' Native Rebel Recordings imprint, on a collaborative project with South London's Confucius MC (Speakers Corner Quartet).
Keb concludes "this record is for anyone feeling lost in a world that seems to have lost itself without knowing it. It's for the people who know that the world is missing the beauty of the lights in the distance, whilst being distracted by new shoes and flashy phones..."
'Ghouls' is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, November 14th 2025.
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A new release from Fox & His Friends Records, Chapters (Screen & Stage Dancefloor Jazz from Yugoslavia 1971-1984) by Ozren Depolo brings to light a trove of previously unreleased music spanning more than a decade of his work in film, theater and television. This gatefold audiophile 180g LP, including a 12-page booklet with archival photos and detailed liner notes, offers for the first time a full album composed exclusively of Depolo's own authorship, drawn from master tapes held in private and institutional archives. Mastering and cutting was done by Frank Merritt from The Carvery Ozren Depolo rarely pursued opportunities to record original material, in part due to a general lack of interest among local publishers in jazz discography. Yet he was more than a gifted composer: he was also an accomplished saxophonist, clarinettist, flutist, pianist, arranger and occasionally, a jazz journalist who contributed articles to specialized programs on Radio Zagreb. Depolo also played in international big bands alongside jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson and Gerry Mulligan, as well as in formations led by Bosko Petrovic, including the Nonconvertible All Stars and the B.P. Convention Big Band. He was a member of ensembles including The Alfi Kabiljo Orchestra, The Dragutin Diklic Ensemble, Jugoslovenska Pop Selekcija, The Stipica Kalogjera Octet, Vaclav Zahradnik & His East All Stars Band and the Zagreb Jazz Quintet. As both composer and arranger, he produced a significant body of work for large jazz orchestras and small ensembles. He was deeply engaged in jazz improvisation and avant-garde classical music, recording numerous chamber pieces for saxophone. A long-standing member of Acezantez, Zagreb's renowned contemporary music ensemble, he also collaborated with international figures such as Ted Curson, John Lewis, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Leo Wright, Art Taylor, Slide Hampton and Lucky Thompson. This selection also includes his collaboration with Igor Savin and jazz vocalist Zdenka Kovacicek who were played on Karl Lagerfeld's fashion shows. The release demonstrates how Depolo was able to shift fluidly between idioms: from driving big-band passages to intimate chamber-like arrangements, from funk-tinged motifs to lyrical, impressionistic soundscapes. This stylistic breadth, always anchored in his deep jazz and funk sensibility, gave his music an adaptability perfectly suited to the hybrid world of stage and screen. The LP highlights that versatility while also presenting the coherence of his artistic voice, one that had gone unrecognized precisely because it was dispersed across so many contexts.
Hailing from the southwest of France, The Deweys is a flexible trio, evolving through encounters and invitations. Influenced by American folk, blues, and country music, the group has built its own identity and etched the names of its heroes, from Johnny Cash to Nick Cave, from Calexico to R.L. Burnside. On Windwalker, The Deweys have expanded the cinematic side of their universe by inviting a string quartet and a percussionist to form a temporary orchestra, The Black Cat Orchestra, dedicated entirely to the album"s songs. The result is a unique atmosphere, with an opening that pays homage to Ennio Morricone (El Camino Del Rey) and a conclusion that feels like something straight out of a musical (the duet The Gaslamp Memories). In between, you"ll find minimalist folk, psychedelic, Floydian blues, or a heartbreaking ballad... If you needed a soundtrack for a journey, inner or otherwise, Windwalker would be the right companion.
After establishing himself as one of Europe's most distinctive voices in instrumental hip-hop, Mr. Käfer is ready to tell a different story. His third solo album, A Past Sense, arriving via Melting Pot Music on 11th November, shows a bold creative evolution from his signature lo-fi aesthetic into lush, collaborative territory that spans continents and genres.
His sixth project for Melting Pot Music marks a creative leap from the mood-driven, jazz-tinged instrumentals that built his reputation on releases like Lost Reflections (2019), Orientation (2020), and Now/Again I and II (2021, 2023). Now he's orchestrating a 14-track journey that weaves together hip-hop, soul, jazz, and North African rhythms through collaborations with carefully selected artists including Novine (GER), J-Tek (US), Kenji (US) and Cloudhead (AT).
Thematically, the album explores how memory reshapes identity, questioning the gap between who we were and who we've become. The visual side comes courtesy of acclaimed photographer and art director Robert Winter, capturing this nostalgic-yet-progressive spirit. A Past Sense will also be released on LP.
With A Past Sense, Mr. Käfer steps out from behind the boards and into the spotlight—trading lo-fi playlist comfort and algorithm-driven streams for something deeper. A past sense, maybe. But definitely a future sound.
Infotext DE
Europas instrumentaler Hip-Hop bekommt einen neuen Sound. Mit seinem dritten Soloalbum „A Past Sense“ verabschiedet sich Mr. Käfer von seiner lo-fi-geprägten Vergangenheit und erschafft ein Werk, das über Genres und Kontinente hinausgeht.
Wo frühere Veröffentlichungen wie „Orientation“ (2020) und die „Now/Again“-Serie (2021/2023) durch intime, jazzgetränkte Instrumentals bestachen, öffnet sich „A Past Sense" neuen Horizonten. Auf 14 Tracks verschmelzen Hip-Hop-Fundamentals mit Soul-Harmonien, Jazz-Improvisationen und nordafrikanischen Rhythmus-Patterns.
Die Kollaborationen mit Novine (Deutschland), J-Tek und Kenji (beide USA) sowie Cloudhead (Österreich) sind dabei keine Gastauftritte, sondern organische Begegnungen, die Mr. Käfers Musik in unerwartete Richtungen lenken. Er bricht bewusst aus der Blase algorithmusgetriebener Lo-Fi-Playlists aus und setzt auf echte musikalische wie menschliche Verbindungen.
Thematisch kreist „A Past Sense" um die Macht der Erinnerung und die Frage, wie Vergangenheit unsere Gegenwart formt. Diese konzeptionelle Tiefe spiegelt sich auch in der visuellen Umsetzung wider: Fotograf und Art Director Robert Winter entwickelte eine Bildsprache, die Nostalgie und Zukunftsvision in perfekter Balance hält.
Mit „A Past Sense" positioniert sich Mr. Käfer neu im internationalen Beat-Kosmos. Das Album erscheint am 11. November über Melting Pot Music – digital und auf Vinyl.
"Viva Marina" celebrates the 100th release of Marina Records. The label was founded in Hamburg in 1993 by Stefan Kassel and Frank Lähnemann. Over the years the label released many outstanding albums by artists like The Pearlfishers, Shack, Brent Cash, The Bathers, James Kirk, The Free Design, Malcolm Ross, Ashby, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group, Der Plan, and many many more - incl. the best-selling Beach Boys/ Brian Wilson tribute album "Caroline Now!". "Viva Marina" is the 4th of the label"s acclaimed compilations - following in the footsteps of "In Bed With Marina", "Ave Marina" and "Goosebumps". These compilations have all been elaborate classy affairs with lots of attention to detail (packaging / design / liner notes / photography / mastering). Artefacts of beautifully curated Pop Art. The new compilation continues in that tradition. It features 21 tracks from the Marina roster and kindred spirits like Van Dyke Parks, The Kingfishers, Frank Schmiechen and Michel van Dyke. Featuring many exclusive and previously unissued contributions. Enjoy 21 tracks / 75 minutes of pure aural pop pleasure. Viva Marina!
