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Maggot Mass, the fifth full-length album by Pharmakon on Sacred Bones Records, marks the project's return after a five-year hiatus. This album signifies a departure from the original rules and structures established by Margaret Chardiet for Pharmakon, evolving into a new form. It retains the project's experimental roots in power electronics and noise while incorporating industrial and punk influences. The album stems from a profound disgust with humanity's dysfunctional relationship with the environment and other life forms. It explores the loneliness resulting from this broken bond and challenges us to acknowledge our personal and systemic responsibility. What peace can we make with privilege when the true cost of our comfort is not measured in dollars but in death? How can we reconcile with death when we impose the same hierarchical structures on it that we do in life? Is life worth living in the isolation of this self-imposed species loneliness? Humans often measure worth by accumulation _ money, assets, objects _ mistaking this for power and influence. Western heritage dictates a hierarchy, placing humans at the top, separate from the natural world. This delusion turns bodies into objects, land into property, and people into expendable tools. If our value were instead determined by our contribution to the ecosystem, who could claim that a human is more valuable than a maggot? Maggots recycle death into life, breaking down matter and nourishing new growth. They transform into flies, pollinating plants and sustaining the Earth's flora. In contrast, humans pollute rather than pollinate, with a select few profiting from exploitation at the expense of biodiversity and the well-being of many. In grappling with grief and loss on both personal and global scales, Margaret sought solace in the idea of rebirth through death, celebrating the beauty of regeneration through decay. However, she had to confront the stark reality of the disconnection from the earth under oppressive systems. Pharmakon is here imagining a path where the final act is to give back what was received from creation, offering our lives and deaths to sustain existence. once I slough off this human skin I will find my home and ancestral kin_ in the coffin-birth of my cadaver's ecosystem

Founded in 1966, The Beachers is a group whose music is inspired by Caribbean rhythms and Panama’s musical tradition. Calypso, salsa and bolero are part of the unique Beachers sound, whose popularity peaked in the 70s during what is known as “The Golden Era of National Combos”. The Beachers have released 13 albums and more than 30 singles to their name, on prestigious Panamanian record labels like Tamayo, Loyola, or Sally Ruth Records, teaming up with other Calypso legends such as Lord Cobra.

The Beachers are still current and relevant, with five of the original members performing constantly through Panama and the world. Their energy and spirit is felt in the joy, rhythm and flavor of their songs.
Lloyd Gallimore, the band’s musical director since its foundation, and renowned producer Billy Herron have been working together on this new album, commemorating the group’s 50-year career.

This recording relives The Beachers’s magical trajectory and features collaborations with popular Panamanian musicians, a work that displays a sonic landscape filled with the history and legacy of Panama’s Calypso. It’s a tropical musical fantasy whose Caribbean influence has transcended time.

We know nothing about the newly emerging Fefe other than the fact that they hail from Down Under and, on this evidence, make classy club tackle. 'Trudd' is a supple, shapeshifting deep techno opener with sub-aquatic pads and churning rhythms. 'Bogged Under' gets more dark and heavy with drum pressure never letting up as spangled synths occupy the mind. 'Diddy's Rug' brings a lighter melodic touch with trippy patterns and hallucinogenic qualities for the afters then 'Fire Warden' is a double-time stepper with dub weight and urgent energy to make for another sophisticated offering from Danza Nativa.

The Vestige is the first fruit of a new intergenerational collaboration between Giuseppe Ielasi, a quietly prolific key contributor to the European experimental music scene for over twenty years, and Jack Sheen, a young composer-conductor-sound artist from Manchester whose recent projects have seen him moving seamlessly from enigmatic chamber music composition and installations to conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. Their materials and working methods differ significantly, with Ielasi having focussed for many years on electro-acoustic techniques alongside his ongoing commitment to the guitar, and Sheen primarily composing for traditional instruments. More important, though, is what they share: a fascination with what Sheen calls “mysterious, liminal musical material,” using irregular repetition and cyclical forms to create structures at once alive with activity and almost static, as well as a rigorous exploration of spatial diffusion and the interaction of sound event and environment. Working individually with a library of acoustic instrument sounds from Sheen’s recent projects and Ielasi’s guitar, the pair eventually met for several days at Ielasi’s home studio in Monza, sculpting the fourteen pieces that make up The Vestige. Like Ielasi and Sheen’s solo works, the record shows an exquisite attention to details of sequencing and pacing, the sound palette and compositional approach consistent throughout while each piece asserts its own identity. The twenty-five seconds of the opening piece serve as an entrée into the record’s distinctive world of sound: repeated chirps fluctuate in volume as they move across the stereo spectrum, woven between strangled snatches of string glissando against a backdrop of percussive ticks, long tones, and white noise. Across the remaining thirteen pieces, Ielasi and Sheen sketch further dimensions of the ambiguous space, where distinctions between pitch and noise, repetition and irregularity, electronic and acoustic remain pointedly unclear. As the record’s title suggests, the origins of the sounds we hear have become remote: while at moments we get flashes of timbres and attacks that could come from wind instruments, bowed strings, or prepared guitar, these remain vestigial traces, glimpsed through a veil of shifting white noise textures. These textures are themselves difficult to trace, suggesting artefacts of the recording process, electronic synthesis, amplified room sound, rubbed instruments or objects. The Vestige shows an unusual degree of attention to frequency range as a compositional tool, something it shares with the hyper-subtle variations of Ielasi’s electroacoustic works and the deliberately ‘unbalanced’ midrange-heavy ensemble of Sheen’s Sub. Here, movement between episodes is as much about adding or removing a frequency band as it is about changes in density, harmonic content, or instrumental texture. Tracks are marked by the sudden appearance of subbass or exaggeration of high frequencies in otherwise similar material, contributing to our sense that these fourteen pieces are like different views on a scene that we can never quite see clearly. While calling up a range of past music, from the early works of Rolf Julius to Simha Arom’s recordings of layered polyrhythms embedded in the background sounds of central African villages to the temporal distortions and layered hiss of DJ Screw, the alluring and disconcerting world of The Vestige is entirely its own.

‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ is the latest collection selected by Mikey Young (Total Control, EddyCurrent Suppression Ring) and Keith Abrahamsson (Founder and Head of A&R at AnthologyRecordings), the mangled minds behind the beloved ‘Follow the Sun’, ‘Sad About the Times’,and ‘…Still Sad’ compilations. The twenty tracks of ‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ make a conscious(and unconscious) detour from its predecessors, sourced entirely from private press releases,spanning new decades and production modes within homespun folk, soft rock and otherwise70s and 80s FM radio adjacent music.  The magic of ‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ is the untold story of the artists behind these songs; thosewho missed the big time, but whose song craft and unrequited care hit the right notes, bothhigh and low.
Where ‘Follow the Sun’ and ‘Sad About the Times’ introduced us to the fame chasing, ambitioncrashing crooners who missed their shot in the mainstream, ‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ delvesdeeper into the isolated wilds - a private world where production quirks, late-night tape hiss andone-man studio dreams were not necessarily a choice but the hand that was dealt.
With the parameters set to ‘private press only’, Young and Abrahamsson follow a circuitous trailof invention and emotion, documenting a spirit that’s more homespun, sometimes lonelier andoften a little weirder. The guitars still strum, but the keyboards’ hum is more prevalent andprecious; wistful harmonies brush up against lo-fi drum machines; a bittersweet fog lingeringover even the brightest melodies.
As with their previous collaborations, Young and Abrahamsson weren’t interested inconstructing a museum or drafting a historical survey. ‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ is a sentimentalmixtape, assembled late at night when the mind wanders and old memories blur with imaginedfutures, those within reach and those far too mysterious to ever encounter. Songs wereunearthed in personal collections, deep YouTube burrows, dilapidated web archives and thedim corners of Discogs, with many selections tied not only to intuition but to personalconnection.  Some tracks arrived via friends - Kelley Stoltz, a frequent guide for Young, tipped him off toboth Peter Kraemer’s lost gem ‘Let the Light Slip’ and Awakening’s revelatory closer - addingan unseen but deeply felt thread of camaraderie to the compilation.
The journey takes in a wide, strange sweep: The Watson Brothers Band’s ‘Just Whistle’ opensthe collection with a sigh and a shrug, a song that feels like it’s been waiting for decades to beheard again. Jim Huxley’s ‘Tessa on a Magazine’, rediscovered after a long and winding searchby Young, shimmers with a distinctly Australian melancholia. The heartbreak of Rick Penta’s‘My Story Changes’ and Twice As Nice’s delicate ‘Thoughts of You’ float easily alongside themore buoyant, radio-dream sheen of Barracuda’s ‘Baby I Love You’ and MAK’s sunshinedappled ‘That’s Life’.
Widening the aperture to the late 1970s and early 1980s allows for a deeper exploration intoevolving production techniques and musical technologies. The Squad’s ‘D.L.M.H.I.M.A.’ andChristoph Spendel Group’s ‘Forever’ crackle with the kind of bedroom synth warmth that couldonly come from the analogue age, while the soulful, yearning undercurrent of Awakening’s‘Gotta Do Somethin / Might As Well Cultivate’ caps the collection with a call for action - ormaybe just acceptance - in an accidental Brian Eno ‘Here Come the Warm Jets’ parroting.
While ‘Maybe I’m Dreaming’ moves away from the ‘sad man with guitar’ archetype that hoveredover its predecessors, it remains tethered to a familiar emotional gravity - a balance of longingand lightness that defines this corner of the musical universe. Each track shuffles gentlybetween resignation and hope, sadness and serenity, as if the artists themselves were chasinga dream just beyond reach, recording not for fame but for the simple act of getting it, thatprimal, creative itch, out into the world.
Available on CD and 2LP, featuring the third eye-opening artwork of Dang Wayne Olsen. Thedouble LP set arrives in an outrageous double-wide spine jacket with printed inners and adream journal entry by Pacific Northwest artifactual authority Josh Lewellen.

**Self-released by Reducer on their RUSS imprint in a continued spiritual association with Bokeh Versions**

REDUCER'S LAST AUTONOMOUS RELEASE • LTD ED 250 WHITE VINYL • RECORDED 1986 & 1987 • PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, UNHEARD & UNREMASTERED • ORIGINAL 12" 45 REGGAE DISCOMIX • THESE ARE THE LAST ARCHIVE QUALITY RECORDINGS WE HAVE- BOTH WERE RECORDED AS "LIVE" AS POSSIBLE SO TO RETAIN THE POWER, ENERGY & SPONTANEITY WHICH IS THE ESSENCE OF REDUCER.

SLENG TING: This discomix version of Sleng Teng was recorded before Rich joined the band & thus has a Snake only vocal, and features a keyboard bass & vocal over dubs - which is the only time overdubs were ever used on a Reducer track.

SENSAROUND: Was recorded during a "break" in recording of other material & was written spontaneously & played just once, as it features only Rich on vocal, it makes a good balance to the Snake only track. It was never performed live.
credits

Reissue of the celebrated Black Panther soundtrack, in which internationally-celebrated Grammy Award–winning global superstar Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine’s Executive of the Year, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, curates and produces Black Panther: The Album. The album features music from and inspired by Marvel Studios’ Black Panther film including the lead single, "All The Stars", featuring Kendrick Lamar and label mate SZA. Black Panther is directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, among others. Now in limited edition Red vinyl.

This 2-LP set brings together both volumes of Fred Steiner and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s recordings of music from the original Star Trek TV series, featuring score cues from classic episodes like The Trouble With Tribbles, By Any Other Name, The Doomsday Machine, and many more. Pressed on Translucent Clear vinyl, the set comes in a gatefold jacket featuring brand-new art from acclaimed illustrator Malachi Ward.

2025 Repress

Laurie Torres is a Canadian musician and composer raised in Montréal, Québec by Haitian parents. Since 2008, she has been a trusted stage and studio performer for Julia Jacklin, Pomme, and Land of Talk, as well as being a founding member of Folly & The Hunter, with whom she recorded four studio albums and toured Canada, Europe and the UK.

In 2023, Laurie shifted focus to work on her own creations, a process of making time - the will and the need becoming omnipresent. Drawing creative inspiration from contemporary artists like Tirzah, Gia Margaret, Valentina Magaletti, Tara Clerkin Trio and ML Buch, 'Après coup' finds Torres intersecting at a pivotal moment where artists whose marginalized identities are at the forefront in creating a beautiful array of "other options".

"Being othered and tokenized as a woman who plays music, as well as a queer and black person, takes a toll, while also positively feeding a strong urge to push and be seen."

Centering around piano, drums and synthesizer with interweaving field recordings, 'Après coup' follows the precursor ep 'Correspondances' in the form of a sprawling 11-track album. Translating directly from French - afterwards, after the event - its title subliminally points at something deeper between the lines. Recorded in 2023 between tours in a small window of time where 'normal' life hadn't quite recommenced, Torres meticulously crafted her debut solo material in view of surrounding nature, all providing the perfect nourishment for long streams of improvisation. Built right up to the edge of a lake, Studio Wild in St-Zénon, Québec offered an unparalleled location and set up for her freeform creativity.

Instrumental music seemed like a natural response and evolution for Torres who had long basked in the world of "pop music" as she elaborates: "I had an urge to use creativity as a sort of resting place, a place where things can unfold slowly and take time to reveal themselves. In other worlds words, I felt the need to make something slower, more elusive"

The immediacy of Torres' recorded takes doubled with minimal overdubs create a fiercely direct, intimate and unpolished lo-fi beauty. 'Après coup' then is self-reflective, open and inclusive with Torres allowing herself to be fully seen. An album to be felt at close distance with unrivalled authenticity. This album stands as a testament to Laurie's artistic evolution and serves as a beacon, inspiring her to continue nurturing her own creative pursuits and finding exhilarating freedom.

Formed by George Thompson, Kyle Martin and Jonathan Nash, Kommune were active between 2014-2015. As close friends living near each other, their musical journeys were intertwined; Nash and Martin had recently completed their debut album as Land Of Light, while Thompson (aka Black Merlin), at that time putting the finishing touches to his debut album ‘Hipnotik Tradisi’, was also working with Martin as part of the duo Spectral Empire. Sharing equipment and ideas, Kommune arose organically, serving as a creative outlet for exploring analogue machine music in an improvisational context.

Sessions in their North London studios led to a handful of gigs at venues including Hamburg’s legendary Golden Pudel and London’s LN-CC. This fleeting chapter of musical history may well have gone entirely undocumented had it not been for the fortuitous decision to meet up for a recording session in October 2014. Filling a car with their machines, they drove to a converted barn in the south of England, proceeded to set up, settle in and hit the record button. Over the course of two days, fuelled by the experiences of recent performances, the trio immersed themselves in the machines, crafting subtly evolving, long-form compositions with an enchanting balance and flow.

Across the four long-form compositions that make up ‘Oast’, the trio summons barely controllable scrapes, acid-like bubbles, and bleeps from their machines, leaning on dub mixing techniques to give the tracks a sense of depth, dynamism and organic ambience. Mastery of the TR-808 drum machine is central, with remarkably nuanced drum programming imparting a hypnotic rhythm to the work, allowing other elements to emerge and unfold at a beautifully measured tempo.

Recorded entirely live and improvised without any overdubs, ‘Oast’ offers a profound journey into minimalist electronic music while serving as a tribute to friendship, curiosity, and the spirit of experimentation.

Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.

BABY BLUE COLOUR VINYL

The Beths occupy a warm, energetic sonic space between joyful hooks, sun-soaked harmonies, and acerbic lyrics. Their debut album Future Me Hates Me, forthcoming on Carpark Records, delivers an astonishment of roadtrip-ready pleasures, each song hitting your ears with an exhilarating endorphin rush like the first time you heard Slanted and Enchanted or 'Cannonball.'

Front and center on these ten infectious tracks is lead singer and primary songwriter Elizabeth Stokes. Stokes has previously worked in other genres within Auckland's rich and varied music scene, recently playing in a folk outfit, but it was in exploring the angst-ridden sounds of her youth that she found her place. 'Fronting this kind of band was a new experience for me,' says Stokes. 'I never thought I had the right voice for it.'

From the irresistible title track to future singles 'Happy Unhappy' and 'You Wouldn't Like Me,' Stokes commands a vocal range that spans from the brash confidence of Joan Jett to the disarming vulnerability of Jenny Lewis. Further honeying Future Me Hates Me's dark lyrics that explore complex topics like being newly alone and the self-defeating anticipation of impending regret, ecstatic vocal harmonies bubble up like in the greatest pop and R+B of the '60s, while inverting the trope of the 'sad dude singer accompanied by a homogenous girl-sound.'

All four members of The Beths studied jazz at university, resulting in a toolkit of deft instrumental chops and tricked-out arrangements that operate on a level rarely found in guitar-pop. Beths guitarist and studio guru Jonathan Pearce (whose other acts as producer include recent Captured Tracks signing Wax Chattels) brings it all home with an approach that's equal parts seasoned perfectionist and D.I.Y.

'There's a lot of sad sincerity in the lyrics,' she continues, 'that relies on the music having a light heart and sense of humor to keep it from being too earnest.' Channeling their stew of personal-canon heroes while drawing inspiration from contemporaries like Alvvays and Courtney Barnett, The Beths serve up deeply emotional lyrics packaged within heavenly sounds that delight in probing the limits of the pop form. 'That's another New Zealand thing,' Stokes concludes with a laugh. 'We're putting our hearts on our sleeves—and then apologizing for it.'

late night drive home have never known a world without Wifi - without access to the endless stream of joy, sorrow, heartbreak, and hope that we all tune in and tune out to on the daily. In many ways, the guys can"t really extricate themselves from that reality - even their band name comes from a random Wikipedia page - but they"re trying to at least grapple with it. "Most of us grew up on the internet with unsupervised access at a very young age," says singer Andre Portillo. "As we started foreseeing all the outcomes - both good and bad - of this kind of access and advancement, we started writing... forming a sound and message that would become our next record." The culmination of that, then, is the buoyant yet ominous as I watch my life online, the band"s debut album. late night drive home was born in El Paso, Texas, and Chaparral, New Mexico, hardworking communities where folks built their houses by hand and collars were mostly blue. Comprising guitarist Juan "Ockz" Vargas, singer Andre Portillo, drummer Brian Dolan, and bassist Freddy Baca, the entirely self-taught quartet released their first digital EP as a full band, 2021"s Am I sinking or Am I swimming?, and blew up with the single "Stress Relief," a blast of early-Aughts indie that racked in tens of millions of streams. After they signed with Epitaph Records in 2023 - and releasing 2024"s grunge-inspired 3 song EP i"ll remember you for the same feeling you gave me as i slept - they found themselves playing stages their indie idols previously shredded: Coachella, Shaky Knees, Austin City Limits, and Kilby Block Party. Since the end of the pandemic, though, the band had been dreaming up as i watch my life online. "I started thinking about the time after the pandemic and how much things were changing," says Vargas. "So the whole album is a critique of social media and the way we use the internet to distance ourselves from each other." The resulting suite of tracks is a series of online vignettes that hammers home the band"s message: the photos on your phone shouldn"t be your identity; your posts aren"t your inner monologue. A bigger life is lived where there"s no service - in your hometown on a late night road with your friends, and on stage, where the band finally found their destination after that long drive.

Last summer, after living across the country from each other for several years, the four members of Anamanaguchi decided to try something new. Their label Polyvinyl had rescued the famed American Football house from potential destruction, so the band took the opportunity to move in and write together. Over the course of a month, Anamanaguchi – pioneers of hyper-melodic 8-bit rock, whose extraordinary ascent has led them to topping charts with virtual pop star Hatsune Miku and scoring Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game and Netflix’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – flipped their typically meticulous digital process on its head. Anyway, the result, is the most personal record of their career. And it's a rock record for the ages.

Recorded straight to tape by Grammy-winning rock producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Sleater-Kinney), Anyway united the members around live instruments and lyrics sung by everybody in the band. As Anamanaguchi has always been an instrumental band, the decision to sing suddenly confronted them with the question of what the band’s voice would ultimately be. They explore this newfound power in every song, making it their most emotionally resonant work yet.

Anyway captures a band creatively and personally energized by the experience of four best friends reviving their connection in a disconnected world. On “Rage (Kitchen Sink),” the band confront loneliness and boredom, two epidemics of the digital age that seem to be humanity’s only common bond. The power-pop ballad “Darcie” finds inspiration in small gestures from a local unsung hero, who brightens their lives and allows unforeseen amounts of fun to happen. Taut and dynamic, “Buckwild” is a rock sing-along that serves as the album’s genesis story: a band making an effort to do something new, while accepting the risks that may bring.

USA, Anamanaguchi’s critically-acclaimed second album and debut for Polyvinyl, anticipated a crucial cultural shift in moving from escapist, nostalgic fantasy to a more introspective exploration of digital identity. Described by Pitchfork as the band’s “most emotionally grounded record,” USA laid the foundation for the openness and honesty that defines Anyway. Where USA made sense of life online, their third album Anywayventures into the world outside the front door.

This work was released in 1988 by guitarist Yuji Toriyama, who continues to work as an arranger, producer, and studio musician.

This is his fifth album overall. This work is a culmination of his specialty, the programmed sounds, and it explodes with solid digital sounds.

Participating musicians: Hiroshi Sato (key), Hideo Yamamoto (drums), Kenji Takamizu (bass), and others.

Sydney artist Natalie Slade's debut album Control, co-written with Hiatus Kaiyote's Simon Mavin, is now followed-up with a second instalment of Australian future soul in Molasses, an album featuring a range of UK and Antipodean artists. Joined by The Dieyoungs on keys and Laneous on guitar, Natalie's songwriting and vocals are brought to the fore with excellent production by key Melbourne scene driver, Brisbane's Sampology and additional production from guest Dan Kye. Staying true to the debut album's style of Australian future soul Molasses has an emphasis on poetic storytelling, Natalie's lyrics and melodies that are heard against a lush bed of string arrangements and the influence of Sampology’s soulful but gritty sensibility. As well as her amazing eponymous releases Natalie has also featured on tracks from artists as important and diverse as Posy, Plutonic Lab, Parker and Rhodes and Dojo Cuts among others. Sampology is an innovative producer who, for the past 15 years or so, has been a driving force behind Australia's Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul and Broken Beat/Jazz explosion and has worked with the likes of Ron Trent, Tiana Khasi and Charlie Hill as well as releasing his own tracks. This collaboration between Natalie and Sampology on Molasses is a real high-water mark of music, song-writing and production. Releasing on digital and double vinyl LP, Molasses further chronicles the rising stars of Australia's burgeoning and increasingly important neo-soul and future soul scenes.

Selected songs from Yu Hayami's album "Delicacy of Love" released in 2016, are now available on vinyl from SLENDERIE RECORD, a music label
led by Takashi Fujii!

Contains two songs "" Tokeruyouni kiss me"" a masterpiece with lyrics by Yu Hayami, music by Takashi Fujii, and arrangement by Ken Tomita, and "Boogie
Boogie Love Train (English Version)" an English cover of Anne Lewis' "Koi no Boogie Woogie Train" which was not included on the album.
Experience the charm of the songs anew with the sound that only an analog record can provide. Limited quantities available, so don't miss out.

Yu Hayami Profile
Made her debut as a singer in 1982 with "Isoide! Hatsukoi".
Has had many hits, including "Natsuiro no Nancy" and "Passion"
Yu Hayami spent her childhood in Guam and Hawaii, and is bilingual, fluent in both English and Japanese.
Graduated from the Department of Japanese Culture, Faculty of Comparative Culture, Sophia University. In 1992, she participated in the Earth Summit held in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is active on a global scale.
She is also a certified wine expert and dance fitness ZUMBA® instructor. She has a diverse range of charms not only in music but also in lifestyle.
In 2022, she will celebrate her 40th anniversary since her debut and release her best album, "Affection ~Yu Hayami 40th Anniversary Collection~".
In the summer of 2024, she released a new song, "DISCO de DISCO" (composition: DJ Night Tempo), which she wrote the lyrics for.
She currently appears regularly on NHK Radio's "Midnight Flight NEXT" and NHK World's "Dining with the Chef". She also hosts BS-TBS's "MUSIC X".
Her annual summer solo concert, "Natsuiro no Nancy Festival 2025" is scheduled to take place at Otemachi Mitsui Hall on July 13th.
In recent years, she has also been working on jazz, pursuing new musical possibilities through the fusion of pop and jazz.

In 1965 in the face of social unrest, legendary Memphis label Stax Records put on two pulsating shows at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles, featuring Rufus Thomas, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, William Bell, Carla Thomas, Wilson Picket and more. 60 years later the recordings, newly mastered by Joe Tarantino, with lacquers cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, have been collected with a bonus set of performances recorded at Club Paradise, Memphis to form Stax Revue – Live In ’65!.

Since the late 1960s, jazz drummer Takeo Moriyama has been a dominant force in the free jazz scene, initially with the Yosuke Yamashita Trio, and more recently, collaborating with the KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET, earning respect from past to present. Recorded in 1980 with his quartet featuring Fumio Itabashi, this album is renowned for being the first to include the emotionally rich Japanese masterpiece "Watarase". Other highlights include the spirited "Exchange" and the beautifully poignant "Goodbye". Each track is a standout, offering a grand-scale performance where tranquility and movement organically intertwine, making it one of the top albums in the history of Japanese jazz.

“The hand knows best,” the painter Margaux Williamson says. “A shape produces itself, where I go toward what is intuitive, rather than logical.” The shapely, intuitive songs that comprise Ada Lea's third album, when i paint my masterpiece, are surprising, imagistic, tactile. They stand before us and we feel their brushstrokes. Alexandra Levy holds her guitar against the backdrop of a sea of her paintings on the album cover and it’s tempting to ask: is painting a metaphor here, for music or life? No! As ever, she resists tidy metaphors. She’s a master of this kind of thorny lowercase title that germinates and grows with time. In a real, profound way, music and painting go hand-in-hand as she unveils a new style of subversion and surrealism inspired by her transdisciplinarity.

Levy is a Renaissance woman, and Ada Lea’s albums have been swelling in scope alongside the evolution of her artistic life. Her recent turn toward pedagogy—teaching a songwriting course at Concordia University and co-facilitating a community-based group called The Songwriting Method—weaves another vivid thread into her multifaceted practice. Her debut LP, what we say in private, blurred the lines between interior and performative worlds. Her sophomore record, one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden, featured vignettes centered on Montreal. On this sprawling and ambitious album, written over three years and whittled down from over 200 songs, she asks: what happens when you… pause? How can a life be held suspended in song? The album is a kaleidoscopic exploration of the transformations art can bring: the vision of an uncompromising artist dancing bravely and freely between registers and across mediums.

The album marks a reset—a quiet revolution. After years of relentless international touring, Levy felt an urgent need for community and renewal. Gruelling road schedules with very little support left her wondering: who am I really doing all this for? The system was uncaring and broken, and so it was that she came to envision a new healthy and healing mode of musical genesis. “For me, that looked like resting, extending my creative reach, going back to school, studying painting and poetry,” she explains. “Taking a step away from music as guided by industry expectations. Simplifying things. Getting a job, starting to teach. Engaging with the process rather than the product.” This need for a more deliberate creative renewal was rejected by her existing systems of support, so she began the search for an alternative.

In 2019, SWEET embarked on the biggest tour of their long career to date with the ‘Still Got The Rock’ tour in Europe and the UK. In between, they even found time to fly to Australia to play as co-headliners on the ‘Rock The Boat Cruise 2019’. The band was fired up and looking forward to the future. But suddenly in 2020, the whole world was in turmoil, triggered by a global pandemic and all wheels came to a standstill overnight. But for Sweet, there had to be a way out, otherwise musical creativity in all its forms would be lost forever. So, in what was a new isolation for everyone, they began to produce a Sweet album with the ‘new’ guys Paul Manzi and Lee Small and the ‘old guard’ Andy Scott and Bruce Bislan. The album was given the title ‘Isolation Boulevard’ to suit the situation. The songs are re-recordings of 12 classics from Sweet's extensive collection. There was little time between the lockdowns in the UK to achieve the desired goal. On top of this, there were numerous technical obstacles that had to be overcome. With this in mind, the overall performance of everyone involved is all the more impressive, from the driving drums and bass to the ‘in your face’ guitars and stratospheric vocals. In the end, it was a pleasure for everyone to record ‘Isolation Boulevard’, despite being under very strict distancing rules. The result speaks for itself. The album will now be released as a Ltd. Edition Neon Yellow Vinyl.

Debuts come and go. Some serve as juvenilia. Others showcase lost promise. Rarely are they cultural touchpoints. Enter This Better be Something Great by Westside Cowboy, an EP rammed with nu-generational indie. It’s been a while since something so era-defining dropped but you get the impression that Westside Cowboy are about to become a reference point. Shorthand for a new movement in guitar music. And when the dust settles, held in similar acclaim reserved for only the most influential of indie bands. With a sound raw as a carpet burn, they ride a thrilling lo-fi boxcar tuned to the melodic precision of Teenage Fanclub and held together with the slacker cool of Pavement. Authentic, fidgety and immediate, the guitars on this record crackle like a twinkling bed of kindling primed to ignite at any given moment and when they do it’s a barn dance of headrush overdrive & blitzkrieg drums leaving listeners raw and fully exposed to each bristling, crackle of magic coming their way. File under: modern classic.

The band has aimed to create music that balances the ethereal and the grounded. Featuring seven tracks, the album explores emotional and musical territories, with melodies and lyrics woven together like chapters in a story. Inspired by artists like Alvvays, Melody's Echo Chamber, Crumb and Radiohead, Gravity Racer blends modern and nostalgic sounds, inviting the listener to explore new sonic horizons.

Released in 1997, Uptown Saturday Night is the acclaimed debut album by Bronx hip-hop duo Camp Lo. Known for its smooth blend of jazz- influenced production and 1970s-inspired flair, the album stands as a standout in East Coast hip- hop. Produced primarily by Ski Beatz, the album features lush, nostalgic beats that complement Camp Lo’s unique slang, stylish delivery, and cinematic storytelling.

The lead single, “Luchini AKA This Is It”, became a cult classic, praised for its infectious groove
and sophisticated wordplay. Other highlights like “Coolie High” and “Black Nostaljack AKA Come On” showcase the duo’s charismatic chemistry and retro vibe.

Uptown Saturday Night received critical acclaim for its originality and timeless aesthetic,
cementing Camp Lo’s place in hip-hop history. Its fusion of golden-era rap and soulful funk makes it a must-listen for fans of classic 90s hip-hop and genre-defying creativity.

Uptown Saturday Night is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on translucent blue coloured vinyl.

Shelter is best known for its founder and frontman, Ray Cappo, who is considered as one of the most prominent representatives of the ‘krishnacore’ scene, which mixes the elements of hardcore
with a strong spiritual message. Formed in the early 90’s, Shelter was Cappo’s second band - previously he was the frontman of Youth of Today.

Originally released in 1997, their second album Beyond Planet Earth finds Shelter moving more in a “Pop-core” direction, with songs averaging 2-3 minutes. Some pretty catchy stuff can be found on this album.

Listen to tracks: “Alone on My Birthday”, “Refusal” and “Time is Ticking Away”.

If you appreciate hardcore’s energy, but feel that the music and lyrics are too one-dimensional for your taste, chances are you’ll find those missing elements in Shelter’s music.

Beyond Planet Earth is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on purple coloured vinyl and contains an insert.

Let There Be Cello finds 2CELLOS exploring a diverse catalogue with their signature boundary- breaking playing style. Co-produced by Šulić and Hauser themselves as well as Filip Vidovic, Let There Be Cello is a showcase of their exceptional talent for reinventing the music of any genre. The collection includes their take on Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, a fan-favorite rendition that has garnered over 39 million views on 2CELLOS’ YouTube alone. Known for bringing their explosive playing style to some of rock’s biggest anthems, they make
no exception on this album, which features favorites “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and The White Stripes’ iconic “Seven Nation Army,”. Taking their classical instrumentation to new heights, 2CELLOS rounded the album with everything from celebrated classics (“Imagine” by John Lennon, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen) to never- before-heard original compositions (“Concept2,” “Cadenza”) for a listening experience unlike any other.

New pressing for this album, in translucent highlighter yellow. Inspired by minimal pop and the pioneers of electronic music, LES MANIÈRES DE TABLE, Annie-Claude Deschênes’ first solo album, is as danceable and melodic as it is disquieting and dystopian, proposing to set the table differently by deconstructing the social codes of politeness imposed on us. Conceived during the lockdown to overcome the surrounding inactivity, the songs that make up LES MANIÈRES DE TABLE were not intended to be released. It was by familiarizing herself with new technologies (drum machines, sequencers) that the conceptual and aesthetic ideas that define the album began to develop organically. Through producing beats composed from samples of utensils, table etiquette became a source of inspiration, a form of conformity that she enjoyed deconstructing. At the same time, a fascination for surveillance cameras and other futuristic-looking, but already obsolete technologies became part of her visual universe. Her experiments gradually evolved into a full-fledged project reminiscent of the works of the pioneers of electronic music. The album is inspired by Steve Reich’s minimalism, Kraftwerk’s synthetic textures, Herbie Hancock’s stylistic diversity and experimental cinema’s non-traditional approach to narration.

Naarm/Melbourne-based rock powerhouse Shepparton Airplane are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their fourth album, Forecast, set for release on August 8th via Wing Sing Records.

The highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2020 LP, Sharks, Forecast marks a compelling evolution for the band, leaning into a more song-oriented approach while still retaining the raw energy their live shows are celebrated for. While previous albums embraced extended jams, Forecast showcases a collection of more traditionally structured songs, with only one instrumental track, the epic slow-burner "Thursday, Simply."

Forecast was written during the endless Melbourne lockdowns, however the music maintains a surprisingly hopeful and, at times, pop-influenced direction.

Lyrically, Forecast delves into the darker facets of the human experience - isolation and introspection - exploring everyday interactions in tracks like "Saw You Coming," "Scribbles and Noises," and "Someone To Blame." These sit alongside apocalyptic observations in songs such as "Forecast," "Septic Dream," and "Hell No," as well as fictional narratives like the tale of a disenfranchised battler in "Angry" and the tragic seafaring love story in "Heaven Will Take Us In." Adding a touch of levity is "Stereo Youth," described by the band as possibly their most feel-good tune to Date.

Forecast promises to impress fans of outsider guitar-driven sounds and followers of the band members' other projects. Ultimately, the album reaffirms that raw, honest, loud rock'n'roll is alive and well in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.

"Enter The Dragon" is a tune I've been playing for a few years that people have been messaging me about non-stop, asking for track IDs, release information & up until now, there was no real likelihood of it coming out since it had been forthcoming on a release scheduled for Lucky Muffin Records (a Green Bay Wax sublabel), which had been on the cards for a long time, but there was no sign of any imminent plan for release.

That was until Percussive P sent me a new tune he'd done recently called "Vibrating Harmony", which I really liked & wanted to put out on the label. This reminded me of "Enter The Dragon" which was still not out by that point, so I approached Kid Lib to ask if he'd be up for letting me release "Enter The Dragon" with "Vibrating Harmony" on Future Retro London. Reluctantly, he did & here we are...

Big thanks to Percussive P on his excellent work on both tunes, to Kid Lib for allowing me to put out "Enter The Dragon" on Future Retro London and to all the people over the years who were curious what this tune was when they heard it on my Mixmag live set, my Resident Advisor podcast & wherever else me or other DJs that had the tune were playing it at.

BABYMETAL feiert ihr 15-jähriges Jubiläum mit ihrem vierten Studioalbum “METAL FORTH”. Nach dem
Erfolg von “METAL GALAXY” (2019) und dem Konzeptalbum “THE OTHER ONE” (2023) knüpfen sie
nun an ihre einzigartige Erfolgsgeschichte an. Das Album enthält 10 brandneue Tracks, die musikalische
Grenzen sprengen. Mit dabei sind einige Kollaborationen, darunter Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) und Electric Callboy. Auch Poppy, Slaughter to Prevail und Sunset Kiss verleihen dem Album ihren
Sound. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die Live-Hits “METALL!” und “TRATATATA”, die bereits jetzt die
Fans begeistern. Das Album vereint gekonnt Metal mit modernen Einflüssen und zeigt die Weiterentwicklung der Band. Außerdem wurde die Gründung von BABYMETAL WORLD LLC in den USA bekannt
gegeben.

BLKG 7 is an essential triple-threat for collectors who go deep into that jazz-funk-psych crate.

Side A features Joe Pass’ haunting “A Time For Us,” lifted from his slept-on Guitar Interludes LP (1970, World Pacific). Heavy w/ cinematic strings, sparse drums & spacious guitar—perfect for blends, loops, or just zoned-out listening. J Dilla thought the same on “Chopped Thoughts”, & for Slum Village’s “Too Much”, but the original stands alone as pure mood.

Side B is a masterclass in moody grooves: “Enchanted Lady” (Milt Jackson & Ray Brown, Much In Common, 1964) is an underrated modal slow-burner w/ a hypnotic swing. Pete Rock & CL Smooth double dipped in “Caramel City” & Escape”, but others were also inspired: Large Professor “Ijuswannachill”, De La Soul“Dinninit”, Rob Swift“Natural Hight”, Knxwledge “3Koins”, among others.

Then comes “Cross Country” by Archie Whitewater—famously Kanye chopped it for Common’s “Drivin’ Me Wild”, but the OG is all groove: head-nod drums, brass stabs & electric piano that goes there.

Kobe Dupree unveils debut album, ‘Voice from the Inside’, arriving 21st May 2025. It lands on fellow Chicagoan DJ Hyperactive’s 4Trk (4 Track Recordings), and features twelve tracks already supported by the likes of Dustin Zahn, Truncate, Korea Town Acid, Amanda Mussi & more, coming out on wax alongside the digital release.

Dupree’s cosmic ambient opener, 'Jacurutu', sinks you into deep, sub-aquatic techno hypnosis before 'Heretics' layers up alien sounds and rolling kick drums. 'Syk' brings edgy, unrelieved loops and muffled spoken words over more mind-melting rhythm. The supple sounds and otherworldly atmospheres continue on 'Forms', which is marbled with static electricity, with 'Interlude of Voice' marking a moment to reset amongst gorgeous celestial synth smears.

The second half of the album takes in the more punchy but still perfectly loopy deep techno of 'Memory Replacement' and psychedelic swirls of 'Tongue of the Unseen'. There is a mystical charm to the harmonic tones of 'Gammu', a moodier vibe pervades the suspensory 'Fogwood', then 'Semuta Music' traps you in tightly coiled drums and hi-hats while a backlit glow soothes the soul. 'One of Many Faces' closes with a heart-aching piano piece that gets deeply emotional.

Kobe Dupree is a techno artist from Chicago with a deep interest in sound design and minimalism. His musical experiments have been released on Trax Research, Double Vision Records and DJ Hyperactive’s 4 Trk, on which he released the ‘Stimulate | Iterate’ EP in 2024. He has a hybrid approach to production, which involves using a modular rig for sound design before moving to a DAW for arrangement and final touches, heard on the sophisticated and cerebral ‘Voice from the Inside’ album.

“BLUE” is a collaborative album between Russian artist Pavel Milyakov and Kyiv-based singer Yana Pavlova. Seven pieces compiled of minimalistic guitar loops, sax (including recordings by Alex Zhang Hungtai), dubby bass guitar and shadowy vocals. Mic noises, clicks and other sonic imperfections are a natural part of these tracks, as they are all composed with the use of random and unpredictable algorithms, purely improvised. Perfect soundtrack for the troubled summer days (and nights).

Old Juniper is a new album from The Down Hill Strugglers, their first in seven years and first to feature all original songs and tunes.

"These guys are a first rate string band! Walker, Jackson and Eli have absorbed the old tradition, and the songs and tunes they wrote for this album are outstanding."
- Tony Garnier
(Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel)

"From the first track “I’m Gettin’ Ready to Go” to the last “Let the Rich Go Bust", this is a wonderful collection of original songs and tunes by The Down Hill Strugglers (Walker Shepard, Jackson Lynch and Eli Smith).

Based in NYC they have been playing and recording together for 15+ years—this is their first in seven years and it’s a doozy. Old and new, evocative, current—all original. And I, as one who’s always had one foot in “old weird America” and the other in new weird America, love this recording.

The Down Hill Strugglers have, as Nathan Salsburg put it in his notes, 'an exquisite sensitivity to the seam where collective tradition and individual artistry meet….' I couldn’t agree more."
- Alice Gerrard

"If it’s possible to be at the forefront of something old, The Down Hill Strugglers are right there with this new recording! Imaginative arrangements of interesting tunes played with soul, all while reaching back to the best of the old mountain sounds."
- Bruce Molsky

"Throughout the record, the musical texture of Old Juniper shifts and blooms. Eli, Jackson, and Walker exchange roles freely— the banjo, fiddle, and guitar change hands almost every track. No matter their instrument, the three fall into place with the tune their guide. As these dynamics build and transform, a sound raw and beautifully sincere appears.

This album of new old-time tunes and songs will surely be a welcome addition to the well loved canon of American traditional music."
- Nora Brown

"How wonderful is it that The Down Hill Strugglers are releasing a new album? I’ve been a fan of theirs from the beginning and will happily spend time with anything they put out!

I see The Down Hill Strugglers as the primary successors of the great and longstanding tradition of urban interpreter-performers of American vernacular string band music - They pick up where the NLCR left off, with Cohen’s considerable creative guidance ever in their hearts and minds. “Old Juniper” is a testament to the vibrancy of this legacy."
- Jake Xerxes Fussell

Simmer Pine, a five-member indie pop band known for its nostalgic, somewhat sad melodies and floating sound, has released their long-awaited first record with "Bubble" featuring a light ska-like rhythm and dreamy guitar.


"Bubble," included on Side A, is a song that draws you into Simmer Pine's unique lyrical worldview, with a light ska-like rhythm and a hazy, dreamy guitar sound that blendstogether comfortably. It evokes the feeling that past seasons and nostalgic scenery suddenly come back to life in the midst of the gently flowing time.

On the other hand, "milkshake" on Side B is a complete contrast, with a refreshing guitar riff in the intro that runs through it, making it a perfect song for the summer atmosphere.

The pop and light finish makes you want to listen to it with the windows open on a sunny afternoon. Simmer Pine's freshness and openness can be felt throughout the song.

This is a must-have album for both those who are experiencing their music for the first time and long-time fans alike, as it will gently accompany you through the seasons.

The warm sound quality that only analog can provide will bring out the delicate expressions of the songs even more

Iridescent Metallic Gold Vinyl. Just before recording their epic disasterpiece, You Are There in late 2005, MONO began collaborating with fellow Tokyo native and modern electronic composer, world's end girlfriend. The result was a five-part suite of neoclassical grace and luminescence that defies easy categorization. As dark as the bottom of the ocean, and nearly as otherworldly, Palmless Prayer / Mass Murder Refrain finds MONO inhabiting an illuminated world previously only hinted at in their most orchestral compositions. Recorded in multiple studios in Japan last year, Palmless Prayer highlighted MONO's increasing obsession with classical music with world's end girlfriend's mastery of subtle dynamic shifts. Forgoing their tendency to erupt into hellish bursts of speaker-destroying noise, MONO instead exhibited remarkable restraint, stretching song lengths up to and beyond the 15-minute mark and turning barely-there crescendoes into earth-shaking events. Less an epiphany and more a reminder of the beauty that already exists all around us, Palmless Prayer was a miniature panoramic view of the sea on an eerily still day, the current swaying at an impossibly laconic pace and the sound of a thousand tiny waves crashing in the distance all at once.

Hamburg-born composer, pianist and producer Niklas Paschburg announces his latest project, 'Mexican Alps' EP due for release on July 11th. 'La Hormiga' is a rhythmic exploration of life in motion. Pulsing beats and textured synths create forward momentum, echoing the journey through the winding paths of Oaxaca's mountainous surroundings, where tradition and nature intertwine. 'Mexican Alps' combines inspirations gathered from the picturesque mountains of southern Mexico and the majestic peaks of the Swiss Alps. The EP is a mesmerizing journey through those landscapes; drawing inspiration from nature's grandeur and the vibrancy of Día de los Muertos, Niklas blends electronic textures, atmospheric samples, and innovative instrumentation to create a soundscape that is both grounding and transcendent. Without relying on his signature piano, this EP explores new creative territories, evoking deep emotional resonance and moments of introspection. -- If his first album, 'Oceanic '(2018), was conceived as an ode to the Baltic Sea, for his next release, 'Svalbard' (2020), produced with Andy Barlow of Lamb, the Hamburg-born musician, now a Berliner by adoption, sought refuge on an island in the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by snow, ice, darkness and breathtaking landscapes. This time, however, the setting is completely different. "It all started with an invitation to play at a festival in Oaxaca," Niklas says. "Since I had never been to Latin America, I began considering how to take advantage of the opportunity to stay for a while and write something there. I started looking for houses, but I quickly realized it was almost impossible to find one with a piano—it's not a common instrument in Mexican culture. I thought, why not try immersing myself in a writing process that doesn't involve one? I was so excited about the idea that I jumped in." 'Mexican Alps' is the result of a challenge in which Paschburg harnessed his collection of synths and effects to create an ambient-electronic record. On the one hand, an evolution of the work primarily carried out in 'Svalbard' and 'Panta Rhei'; on the other hand, an episode in its own right, distinct from its predecessors due to the absence of the piano and the greater role played by improvisation, by coincidence, it became his first work created without his signature instrument. "Not having the opportunity to write chords, harmonies, and everything else on the piano, I improvised more, focusing on the sound. This was the approach I used to record demos in Mexico, which I then brought with me to Switzerland, where I carried on working on the EP. In addition to my usual setup (the OB-6 by Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim and the OP-1 by Teenage Engineering, plus my ever-beloved Hohner accordion, inherited from my grandfather), I was also guided by the purchase of a new Moog Matriarch with a unique delay. All this helped me build the sound I had in mind: a spacious, abstract, 3D sound that is definitely immersive." He expands. It is an emotional landscape that translates into music. In some of the tracks, Paschburg has also included field recordings collected during the Día de los Muertos, a deeply felt Mexican holiday: "A great celebration, a colorful parade of skeletons, skulls, flowers, and decorated altars, so engaging and intoxicating that I felt compelled to use its sounds in my music." It was precisely from this blend of influences that the fourth track, "Oaxaca de Juárez", emerged—a single characterized by a catchy funk procession and enhanced by the guitar work of Tal Arditi, a rising European jazz artist and singer-songwriter based between Basel and Berlin. 'Mexican Alps' is his new calling card, featuring an enveloping sound crafted by Paschburg in collaboration with Gijs van Klooster, who mixed the EP in a studio specifically designed for Atmos music. Mastering was handled by Bo Kondren at Calyx Studio in Berlin.

It’s very difficult to describe someone as prolific as Misha Panfilov. So, I feel the best way to define him is to think of a “Trivial Pursuit Playing Piece,” where each pie piece represents one of the bands he heads up, and each band has its own distinct style and genre. Yet, when looked at all together, create the whole musical persona of Misha. This is the lens I would like to view his latest endeavor, Days As Echoes.

The vibe on this sophomore release channels Krautrock philosophy and Library music, peppered with elements of jazz, Ethiopian, cinema, ambient and bits of everything between. This atmosphere is created from all the instruments Misha uses and the resulting compositions are heard as repetitive patterns that are forged from the multiple layering of melodies. Thus, creating six unique songs with emotional granularity, yet collectively encompass a genuinely positive “feel good” vibe…with a hint of nostalgia.

Moods of the day, moods like echoes say, A future of hope is yours, by following the Sun’s ray.

The opening track, “Days As Echoes,” is a dedication to a much simpler time when the sky was bluer and the snow was whiter…just like how you remember it when you were a child. A time when people honestly cared more about everything as a given, and not as a selfish accolade. A time when optimism seemed within reach. In other words, nostalgia marred by awareness.

…Leading to a path where the skies are not gray. Where dreams of castles in the air are the mainstay.

“In A Dream” has a style that pays homage to both spiritual jazz and ambient music. A simple theme is introduced and leads to the climax of this stormy dream, putting it all in perspective. That pivotal point when one realizes the truth by re-tracing the events, which led to the epiphany of how to find the answer while traveling within this airy soundscape.

…Diurnal or nocturnal, day or night, Traveling the path of truth must be done without fright.

One can’t help but feel a definite traveling vibe that comes from “Moonscape Waltz” To me, it has a dual-characteristic that can be visualized as a train trip, either at sunrise or sunset. Regardless, the time is not of major relevance, but the actual pursuit is. Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with that first step.” This track takes you beyond that initial step into this vast world toward your destination as you search for the truth.

…The unknown is real, but you know the deal. People need people to show which direction you point the wheel.

“Together” is the most peaceful and solo oriented compositions of this album. It shows how one cannot achieve happiness alone, but the importance of having someone special or a group of others to help along the way. Not only to help seek your goal, but also the ability to enjoy the scenery while on your journey

…The end of this tunnel has a light that’s so bright. Illuminating the trodden way, your destination, now in sight.

One is free from the chains of the unknown as you listen to a “Few Layers For Smith”, a dedication to a friend. A song that draws energy from the ECM works of Steve Reich, thats married with a primitive lo-fi basement setting. Its positive force breaks those encumbrances and gives you a glimpse of your prize. But you ruminate on this and come to the conclusion that the path that led you there is equally important as the goal itself. Question is, how do you share your realizations and experiences?

…The route was cast, the trials have passed. The glittering treasure you sought is yours now, at last.

“Ocean Song” meanders from the ritual rhythms of its shoreline to the crashing riptides of unbridled guitar feedback, creating this raging ocean atmosphere. However, its message is quite clear and states that people’s goals and experiences are not just meant for personal growth, but to be shared with
others, so that they too can live vicariously thru your story and somehow utilize it for their own.

…The prize has been won, but the journey is never done. You now have the responsibility to share everything under the Sun.

These six songs, each with its own sound, collectively comprise the vibe of this album. One cannot help but feel a sense of joy and fulfillment when listening to it. Each song has its own unique mood, yet together create an atmosphere of hope and happiness that has no choice but to spill out of the listener. I feel this was the ultimate goal of Misha’s on this record. Quite a challenge for the man who never sleeps, but is always searching for the perfect beat. One may not fully grasp his musical mind, but this album does give you a gateway into the moods and magic of Misha!

- Brent Sawicki

1968’s Doin’ Our Thing is not only their first self-produced album but offers their most varied selection of songs, including tracks previously performed by Bobby Gentry, Ray Charles, The Supremes, and even a wild ride on the theme to the Otto Preminger film, ‘Exodus. Adding to this re-release’s special nature is the fact this will be Doin’ Our Thing’s first U.S. vinyl reissue since its original 1968 release date.

Initially serving as the house band for Stax Records, organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewie Steinberg (later replaced by bass monster Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn), and drummer Al Jackson Jr. were instrumental in creating the “Memphis Sound.’ They recorded the basic tracks for well over a hundred records, including backing some of the greatest artists of all time: Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, and Albert King, all the while breaking barriers as one of the South’s first integrated acts. 1966’s And Now!’ is the first to feature long-term bassist Duck Dunn, who helps create a nightclub feel that alternates between some of their most aggressive recordings and most sultry. No stranger to being in the U.S. and U.K. music charts (in both the Hot 100 & R&B categories), the jazzy first single off the record, “My Sweet Potato,” landed them yet another top 40 placement.

The lovely, longing ‘I Still Think About You’ was a regular highlight of the band’s earliest live sets and was one of the first songs they wrote together. “We wrote it three years ago, before we had released any music,” explains the band’s Ben Easton. “It had a certain youthful optimism that we loved, but after a few road tests we decided to shelve it. However, we knew that there was still something in it, so we brought it back earlier this year and we’re chuffed with the result.” “We wanted to capture the purity of wanting to see someone again, hoping they appear around the corner, or in your local park or pub, without any form of doubt that creeps into one’s mind as we grow older,” adds singer Dottie. “We enjoyed exploring and challenging ourselves to achieve a softer and uplifting narrative – it’s possibly the most joyful thing we’ve ever written.” On the flip side, the ‘No Ordinary Love’ reframes the slick R&B of the original as a dark and delicious dreampop / trip-hop crossover. “The original was pretty much on repeat during our tour late last year and we thought it’d be an interesting thing to try,” explains the band’s Ben Easton of the decision to cover the song. “It’s a good representation of where we’re going, sonically, and it was also our first recording experience with Harry Catchpole on drums and so we particularly focused on what he brings to the table. We experimented with different snares, mics and other effects to create our own kind of drum sample which is something that feels important to the deary sound going forward.”