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DJ Support: Enzo Siragusa, Traumer, Laidlaw, Voigtmann, Janeret and many more

Mateo Dufour and Cosenza return to Key Records as part of the label’s family, this time joining our second vinyl release with Sweat, representing the Rio de la Plata sound on the dancefloor.

The A-side is led by ‘Sweat’, a high-impact, peak-time track driven by a penetrating vocal and a distinct vintage character. Road-tested over the past months, it has become a true secret weapon in sets by artists such as Traumer and Enzo Siragusa. Following that, ‘Girl (I Want To)’ lowers the intensity, moving into a more groove-driven and sensual territory, creating a natural contrast within the side.

The B-side shifts into a more playful and character-driven territory, suited for transitional moments, whether at sunrise or during deeper phases of the night — perfectly fitting summer settings. ‘Why So Freak?’ stands out for its distinctive synth line and catchy vocal, giving it a strong and recognisable identity. Closing the EP, Dan Ghenacia delivers a deep and refined remix, adding an elegant layer to the release.

From peak time to early morning, just drop it and let it speak.

A record that balances impact and subtlety, reinforcing the connection between the artists and the Key Records universe.

Sophisticated Boom Boom is the 1984 debut album by the pop group Dead or Alive. As one of the first synth-goth bands they created a new landmark with this record. Pete Burns' outrageous appearances and his dramatic singing style were characteristic for this new band.

Synthpop and dance elements were integrated in their songs. The album contains the band’s first single hit, a cover version of KC & the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)". The music has monotonous grunting and groaning and some decent dance rhythms can be found on this record. The other single hit from the record is "Misty Circles".

Dead or Alive gained success in the mid-1980s and sold over 50 million records worldwide. Founder and vocalist Pete Burns passed away in 2016 and since the band discontinued.

Sophisticated Boom Boom is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on purple vinyl, and comes in a deluxe sleeve with leather laminate finish.

Irgendwann um das Jahr 2024 tauchte Vorhex Angel scheinbar aus dem Nichts auf: keine Social-Media-Präsenz, keine Identitäten, lediglich ihr Name tauchte hier und da auf einem Flyer in Nashville oder New Orleans auf. Wer neugierig genug war, um ihre Live-Show zu besuchen, konnte mit einer Vielzahl unerwarteter Dinge konfrontiert werden, die die Sinne anregten: aufwendige Bühnenbilder, Stroboskoplichter (oder alternativ völlige Dunkelheit), brennende Gegenstände, vor dem Auftritt eingenommene Rauschmittel. Die Musik bei diesen Auftritten passte zu dem Mysterium. Sie war laut, unberechenbar und verdammt viszeral. Wenn die beiden Live-Veröffentlichungen der Gruppe und ihr Debüt ,Heavenly" tatsächlich viszeral sind (Raven Sings the Blues nannte sie ja ,Erben des Strudels von High Rise"), dann ist der Nachfolger ,Drain" sicherlich ihr intellektuelles Werk. Seine sieben Tracks führen den Hörer vom Morgen bis zur Nacht, ein weitläufiges experimentelles Doppelalbum mit überlebensgroßen Gitarrensoli, spacigen Drone-Exkursionen und Momenten von kraftvoller Intensität durch das gesamte Werk. Zum ersten Mal sehen wir, wie Vorhex Angel ihren hämmernden Klangangriff gegen stimmungsvolle und dramatischere Gefilde eintauschen. Die Band - bestehend aus den Brüdern Jake und Jamin Orrall von JEFF the Brotherhood und Kunal Prakash von Silver Synthetic - erweitert die Grenzen des Vorhex-Angel-Konzepts, lädt neue Musiker in ihren Kreis ein, geht mehr Risiken ein und erntet dafür umso mehr. ,Drain ist keine Musik, die man im Hintergrund beim Kochen laufen lässt", warnt Kunal, bevor er zwinkert: ,Vielleicht ist sie etwas für besonders abenteuerlustige Köche." Vorhex Angel verspricht, dass noch mehr kommen wird. Mehr Jams, mehr unerwartete Wendungen - allein in diesem Jahr können wir mindestens eine Tour und mindestens zwei (!) weitere Alben erwarten. Vorerst gibt es ,Drain" zu feiern, sich damit auseinanderzusetzen, damit der Hörer wie die Musik selbst ein- und ausatmen kann, mit reichlich Raum für gedankliche Kontemplation. SPA Sometime around 2024, Vorhex Angel emerged seemingly out of the ether: no social media presence, no identities, simply their name popping up in Nashville or New Orleans on a flyer here and there. Those with enough curiosity to attend their live show could be met with any number of unexpected things to spike the senses: elaborate stage dressing, strobe lights (alternatively, complete darkness), burning things, pre-performance ingestibles. The music at those functions matched the mystery. They were loud, unhinged, and visceral as all hell. If the group's two live releases and debut Heavenly are indeed visceral (Raven Sings the Blues did name them "heirs to the maelstrom of High Rise"), then followup Drain is surely their cerebral offering. Its seven tracks guide the listener from morning to night, a sprawling experimental double album with larger than life guitar solos, spaced-out drone excursions, and moments of potent intensity throughout. For the first time, we see Vorhex Angel trade their pummeling sonic onslaught for moody and more dramatic pastures. The band-revealed to be brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall of JEFF the Brotherhood and Silver Synthetic's Kunal Prakash-push the parameters of the Vorhex Angel concept outward, inviting new players into their circle, adding more risk and generating more reward. "Drain is not in-the-background cooking-type music," warns Kunal, before winking: "Maybe it is for particularly adventurous chefs." Vorhex Angel promises there will be more. More jams, more left turns-just this year, we can expect at least one tour and at least two (!) more albums. For now, there is Drain to celebrate, to sit and chew on, to allow the listener to breathe out and in like the music does, with ample room for cerebral contemplation.

Originally released by Time Capsule in 2021 and long out of print, Stories From Another Time 1982-1988 returns in an upgraded edition following years of demand and rising collector prices on the secondhand market. Widely regarded as a modern cult classic, Mário Rui Silva’s visionary recordings blend acoustic folk, cinematic soul, spiritual jazz and saudade-filled Lusophone rhythm into a deeply timeless and universal work that transcends genre and geography.

This new edition features half-speed mastering cut at Metropolis alongside an expanded 4-page insert with a tribute essay and unseen photographs following Silva’s passing in 2024.

Double LP + 4-page insert

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The roots of Angolan popular music explored in the meticulous guitar studies of Mário Rui Silva. For fans of Naná Vasconcelos, John Hassell’s Fourth World ambient, Eduardo Mateo’s psychedelic folk and Cameroonian electronic music visionary Francis Bebey.

Whether on mesmerising acoustic ballads or hypnotic groove-led tracks, the music of Angolan guitarist, researcher and intellectual Mário Rui Silva has a beguiling, melancholy quality, woven into the dynamics of his deft guitar playing.Rhythmically complex yet supremely effortless, the music collected here stems from three albums Mário released in Luanda in the 1980s that reflect his diverse range of influences, from traditional Angolan and West African rhythms to European jazz and classical instrumentation. It is united by a sense of low-key beauty, whether on the chugging opener ‘Kazum-zum-zum’, the jazz-funk keys of ‘Lembrança Dum Velho’, or the twinkling, late-night poly-rhythms of ‘Kizomba Kya Kisanji’.

Born in Luanda, Angola in 1953, Mário dedicated his life to Angolan popular music. His fifty-year career has seen him live between Angola and Europe, rub shoulders with Cameroonian musicians Francis Bebey and Ewanjé, record the seminal album Angola ’72 with fellow Angolan musician Bonga, and draw influence from Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell.

It was the teaching of Angolan legend and Ngola Ritmos co-founder Liceu Vieira Dias that Mário gained a technical, political and spiritual understanding of Angolan musical culture. In the hands of Liceu, the traditional Angolan semba and kazukuta rhythms of the 1940s and ‘50s helped create an emancipatory sense of national pride and collective agency that awakened its listeners to the racism and tyranny of colonial rule, underpinning the country’s push for independence in the process.

What might sound like the intonations of Brazilian influence are what Mário attributes to the “African rhythms taken by the slaves which gave rise to other musical cultures” around the globe. Instead, this music emerged from a collective instinct to assert a cosmopolitan Angolan identity free from the patronising falsehoods of Lusotropicalism.

“There was a need within me to contribute in doing new things,” Mário describes. “In the sense of solidifying the music of Angola that was the result of the meeting of two cultures, and wanting to value the Angolan part whenever possible.”A selection from Mário’s three 1980s albums, Sung’Ali (1982), Tunapenda Afrika (1985) and Koizas dum Outru Tempu (1988) have been compiled here as a 2xLP release by Time Capsule’s Sam Jacob and Kay Suzuki. Together, they provide a snapshot of one man’s journey to the core of his nation’s music, charged with the search for a culture uprooted by colonialism

“Passion” is back! The new track from producer/DJ Beltran and The Flirts (including some “Native Love” by Divine) has quickly become a fan favorite in his sets and online, with 500k+ views already. Now available as a special 12″ vinyl release, featuring an exclusive Ben Liebrand 12″ vinyl version made especially for this edition and only available on the 12″.

The release is shaping up to be Beltran’s biggest since his breakout club hit “Smack Yo’”, supported by Michael Bibi, Mochakk, John Summit, Pete Tong, Dom Dolla and more, and now boasting 100M+ streams. It follows a huge year for Beltran, including tours across the US, UK, Europe, Australia and South America, with standout appearances at Coachella, CircoLoco Ibiza and KOKO London. Expected shipping: 2nd week July.

For the last three years, Pomplamoose has shared the making of ‘Photogénique’, a lush and groovy French bossa-pop album produced by Jeremy Most (Emily King), Jack Conte and Philip Etherington (Lizzy McAlpine)

It’s a romantic, playful and deeply nostalgic coming-of-age story steeped in Dawn’s childhood memories of France and Belgium. Collaborations include legendary jazz organist Larry Goldings and French singer songwriter Laura Cahen.

From Detroit’s techno resistance to Berlin’s elastic minimalism, Lusaka’s ancestral futurism to Chicago’s house communion, When There Is No Sun is a recording project, uniting visionary electronic music producers to reimagine the universe of Sun Ra. One of the most radical musical pioneers of the 20th century, Sun Ra used jazz, electronics, poetry, and performance to expand the possibilities of sound, identity, and imagination. Commissioned by Omni Sound and curated by Ricardo Villalobos, the series brings together Underground Resistance, Chez Damier & Ben Vedren, Calibre, A Guy Called Gerald, She Spells Doom, Barış K, and Ricardo Villalobos himself. Drawing from Omni Sound’s recordings of Living Sky by the Sun Ra Arkestra and My Words Are Music of Sun Ra’s poetry, the producers pull fragments of sound and text into their own creative orbits, passing through the portal that Sun Ra opened into a realm where the impossible is possible. Saul Williams, Tunde Adebimpe, Mahogany L. Browne, Abiodun Oyewole, Anthony Joseph and Tara Middleton are the featured voices that turn rhyme into rhythm and revelation into resistance Rooted in deep reverence for Sun Ra’s legacy, yet reaching forward as a living, generative force, When There Is No Sun is not a tribute but a continuum, balancing the pulse of electronic music with the spirit of experimentation, embodying Sun Ra’s promise that ‘there are other worlds’ if you are willing to see them.

¡NO PASARAN! is the extension to Extrawelt's DYSTORTION, from brooding tension to playful relief, the album took listeners on a six-year-crafted exploration. Their next EP picks up where this epic chapter left off and is clearly related. It's a hypnotic dive into shadow and dream, darkness and melancholy with subtle flashes of light.
The title track of the EP, already known from the album (D1 - Extrawelt - ¡No Pasaran!) carries a commanding presence, pulses with a rolling, insistent bassline that anchors shifting rhythmic currents and evolving sonic layers. Between tension and release, shadows and melody, it's a track that moves like a living entity.
Arctic Dead Run hits like a surge of raw energy. Acid lines roll relentlessly, building tension that feels alive. Then a melody sneaks in - soft, almost fragile - cutting through the intensity, until hi-hats erupt and the groove snaps into full focus. Maximal yet controlled, every element finds its place.
Clipping Me Softly dissolves the pressure with a dark, playful groove. Precise rhythms meet spacious pads, opening into a dreamlike state where night slowly gives way to warmth and light.
A focused and uncompromising continuation of Extrawelt's sonic language: Dense grooves, acid pressure, and dreamlike relief collide in a release built for deep listening and late-night floors.

Phil Berg is back on the label, with his highly anticipated return. Four tracks that
continue to pave the way he laid in 2023 with his Raid EP.

Titled Iso, the EP is a study in reduction and discipline. Phil builds each track around a single guiding tension, rhythmic loops that breathe and shift injecting different emotions as each sound passes.

Phil Berg first appeared on SK11 in late 2023 with Raid, one of his biggest and most accomplished releases to date, an EP that made an immediate impression across techno fans worldwide. Iso's four productions here, each with their own identity, each showcasing the same commitment to craft and precision that defined his introduction to the label.

The EP is a statement of intent for Phil in 2026 and one of SK11's strongest releases of the year.

Returning to Winthorpe after a five-year hiatus, Irish electro producer DeFeKT delivers a heavyweight 12-inch packed with four cuts of his unmistakable electro-techno hybrid sound, reaffirming his status as a true underground craftsman. Opening with the low-slung bass bounce of "It's Down", before sliding into the Detroit-influenced groove of "Your Body Will Learn", from there DeFeKT turns up the tension with the twisted, menacing pulse of Overcome before closing the release in epic fashion with the widescreen synth swagger of "Always"! A confident, statement from an artist firmly back in his element.

Afro Funk Grooves by Afro Dub is a unique experience that challenges genre conventions, bringing together the present and the past in a captivating blend of Afro Funk Soul sounds. Sound Exhibitions Records continues to be the bridge between historical roots and contemporary innovations, making this vinyl a precious addition to any music collection.

DJ Support: Phil Mison (Cantoma/Ambala), Charlie Bones (Do!You!!!), Frank Booker, Trujillo, Alice Palace, CIAN, DJ Aficionado, No Plastic, Jad & The, Leon D, Moe, Sadeedo, Longboss (Strangelove), Tom Kutsche, Marian Tone, Andy Pye (Balearic Social), Soft Rocks, Wrekin Havoc, Alfresco Disco, Manuel Darquart, Tom Bolas, Danny Russell, Craig Christon (Passport to/Beyond Paradise)
Many Hands - Basement Versionz #2, continuing from #1 with further excursions into Basement Balearica. From Bunker to Beach: Wiggy Dread Italo, Rebel Disco Reggae, Thai Boogie Funk and freshly creased 80s Steppers to help clever selectors get out of, or into trouble.

"Morning Star" zeigt Kekht Aräkh auf dem Weg zu einer authentischeren, verfeinerten Version seiner selbst. Das Album wurde in Berlin und Stockholm aufgenommen und entstand in einer Phase intensiven persönlichen und künstlerischen Wachstums. Es verbindet aggressive Black-Metal-Passagen mit immersiven, strukturierten Klanglandschaften, die sowohl intim als auch weitläufig wirken. Seit seinen Anfängen in Mykolajiw, Ukraine, hat Dmitry (alias Crying Orc), der alleinige Kopf hinter dem Projekt, einen unverwechselbaren Weg innerhalb des Black Metal gesucht. Diese Vision entfaltete sich durch sein Debütalbum "Through the Branches to Eternity EP" (2018) und die Alben "Night & Love" (2018) und "Pale Swordsman" (2021), die eine charakteristische Spannung zwischen wildem, viszeralem Black Metal und zarten, introspektiven Balladen etablierten. Auf "Morning Star" erreicht diese Dynamik eine neue Tiefe. Das Album entstand in einer Phase künstlerischer Klarheit und erkundet eine rauere, persönlichere Gefühlspalette, geprägt von Stress, Angst und langen Phasen der Schreibblockade, was ihm eine seltene Unmittelbarkeit und Verletzlichkeit verleiht. Dmitry nahm fast alle Instrumente selbst auf, das Schlagzeug stammt von Jonathan (Spira Me, Vanskapth, Olycka). Bladee steuerte den Gesang bei und war Co-Autor der Texte zu "Eternal Martyr", eine unerwartete Zusammenarbeit, die eine intuitive Chemie offenbart. VS--55 und Varg2Ö fügen abstrakte Samples und subtile Texturdesigns hinzu, die "Morning Star" seine unverwechselbare Körnigkeit und analoge Wärme verleihen, während James Ginzburg (Emptyset, Osmium) sich um das finale Mastering kümmerte und die dynamische Tiefe und atmosphärische Fülle verstärkte. Mehrere Tracks greifen früheres Material mit neuen Perspektiven wieder auf. ,Wänderer" und ,Drömsang" wurden teilweise neu aufgenommen oder komplett neu interpretiert. Intensive, treibende Passagen kollidieren mit spärlichen, kontemplativen Zwischenspielen und erzeugen eine Landschaft, die sowohl viszeral als auch eindringlich ist. Themen wie Isolation und Wanderschaft tauchen in "Wänderer" auf, traumhafte Melancholie in ,Drömsang", existenzielle Kämpfe in "Angest" und Reflexionen über Zeit und Transformation in "Three winters away". Mit "Morning Star" verbindet Kekht Aräkh vergangene Erkundungen mit neuer kollaborativer Energie und produziert ein Album, das die Black-Metal-Tradition der 90er Jahre würdigt und gleichzeitig Lo-Fi-Wärme, melancholische Melodien, klangliche Experimente und emotionale Offenheit umfasst. Das Ergebnis ist ein zutiefst persönliches Statement - ein Album, das sowohl eine Ankunft als auch eine Fortsetzung seiner künstlerischen Reise darstellt.

The Fuga compilation returns to Token with its seventh installment by a fresh batch of artists emphasizing the cryptic sound of the Belgian record label. The V/A displays urgency as its focal point, expanding and contracting its acoustic space throughout to channel instability. With eight contributions, Fuga VII sifts through nail biting arpeggios, frenzied percussion, and obscure ambiance to recalibrate techno's current soundscape.

Opening the compilation is contemporary techno mainstay Rene Wise with his debut contribution to the record label 'Rough Rider'. In this A1, Wise plays to his strengths by blending deep techno influences with hyper-focused rhythmic work. With a hint of tribalism, he conjures up synthwork from far off to whip motion into heavy drum patterns. Following this first track, STIPP and Sandrien take control in presenting 'Corrie', a sequence-forward groover that slides through drum programing to streamline rhythm. A shrill pad comes in at the halfway mark, completely lifting the energy of 'Corrie' to strain the track's obscurity with an ethereal counterweight. The brief passage of these kinds of elements provides a lot of dynamic to what would otherwise be a powerfully straightforward piece. Diving deeper, Red Rooms unveils 'Limited Sensory' as the next chapter of the compilation. Always swift and exact, the German artist continues to push into the ultra immersive with a web of elements that whiz by for a peaktime lock in. Cold in attitude, Red Rooms tunnels through 'Limited Sensory' with quick drumsand far-off percussive hits that rumble through the track. Stepping up afterwards is Lindsey Herbert with 'Oscillations in Space' - an appropriately named recording that experiments with mania as a tool for the dancefloor. Fast and spiraling, Herbert keeps her hands on the arpeggio's filter to contain tension through thunderous reverb transitions, balancing panic with pace. AgainstMe then stretches out the followup with the commanding 'Phase Shift' to double down on weight. Textural intimidation and stomping percussion is given the space it needs to perform on heavy weight sound systems, making it an austere middle point for Fuga. MAL HOMBRE then guides the listener to more elastic sound design in 'Critical Velocity', in a most appropriate Token fashion. Snowballing in intensity halfway through, MAL HOMBRE pushes the cutoff of his melody and programs snare rolls for vintage craze through the second section. Bells clash with ringing hats to fly the track along its course without looking back or letting go. Conor Wall takes control with 'The Strategy' that focuses on pace rather than melody, weaponizing metallic texture for a deep dancefloor experience. The ambiance does a lot of story telling here, marking breaks and riding through drops to provide grit to an already substantial record. This leads us to the final contribution in Fuga VII - 'Ad Libitum'. Here, Porteix emphasizes the conclusion of the compilation with mystery. The synths slither around pulsating rhythm, creating uninterrupted motion throughout the track's entirety. Porteix draws the curtains on an inquisitive note, keeping the suspense high until the next Fuga compilation comes around.

Originally released in 1981 on the New Jersey-based Debbie Label, Sweet Magic is the one and only album by Lee McDonald. Produced by Ron Foster -
best known as a member of Ecstasy, Passion & Pain—the album is widely regarded as a standout modern soul classic, covering everything from uplifting
Philly-style dancers to sweet and mellow slow jams.

The album also features superb arrangements that update well-known classics into vibrant Philly soul, including The Carpenters’ smash hit “We’ve Only Just
Begun” and Ecstasy, Passion & Pain’s “I’ll Do Anything For You.” This reissue is pressed on limited yellow-colored vinyl inspired by the album’s iconic
illustrated sleeve, long cherished by rare groove collectors.

ProleteR returns with a warm and playful blend of swing and nu jazz.
The first single, “Things of the Past,” introduces the album with a smooth fusion of neo-soul and sampling, enhanced by subtle swing elements. “Do It” (focus track) leans into a more vibrant electro-swing energy, featuring Lyre le Temps, a major figure in the global electro-swing scene.
The worldwide tour kicks off in the US this May and August, before heading to Europe in September (20 shows) alongside Blockhead and Arms & Sleepers.

Best known as one half of KIASMOS alongside Ólafur Arnalds, the Faroe Islands born, Reykjavik based producer Janus Rasmussen has consistently refined an elegant sound that marries sonic precision with emotional depth. Over the past decade, he has built a wide-ranging body of work through collaborations across multiple genres as a producer, songwriter, musician, and mix engineer.

As a solo artist, Janus has crafted compositions that balance immersive sound design, subtle melodic shifts and rhythmic drive, drawing on his diverse musical appreciation and studio experimentation. These experiences have shaped a creative identity that now comes into sharp focus on his most ambitious solo project to date - Inert.

The album marks a bold step forward, thematically exploring the act of breaking free from inertia through embracing creative freedom. With his new work, Janus incorporates his own vocals more than ever, weaving them seamlessly around intricate electronics as he expands his sound into new territory, while retaining the subtle restraint that has defined his output. Drawing inspiration from the dance music spectrum, Inert reflects a renewed sense of momentum, vulnerability and adventurousness in his sound.

Black vinyl with Starlight Sparkle effect. Barry "Epoch" Topping returns with the long-awaited soundtrack to BIRDCAGE. The widely celebrated game is the debut release of POLYGON BIRD Games. BIRDCAGE is a fast-paced, vertical scrolling shoot 'em up that blends the explosive action of 90s arcade classics, with modern gameplay and storytelling. What is the value of a bullet, when you wield a sword? While players have been praising BIRDCAGE for transferring retro aesthetics into modern times, the incomparable soundtrack is always pointed out for the same reasons. Entering Barry Topping, who gained recognition for the famous Paradise Killer game soundtrack and lately continued to spread those funky city pop vibes with his very own project The Needs. But for BIRDCAGE it was time to stray from his "trademark sound" and explore a different sonic space he had always been passionate for as well.





[e] 5RAPTOR [FLEDGLING]



[i] 9RAPTOR [MOTHER]

Dave Wallace is one third of Aquasky, as well as a founding member of Mad Dog and Fugitive. He also released his own EP’s on Moving Shadow and R&S in the 90’s and more recently an EP on TeeBee’s Subtitles label as well as a return to the rave with various Fugitive tracks and remixes on Vinyl Fanatiks over the past few years.

But one track has always alluded a release, there was always something that prevented it from being released. Originally written in 1995, it wasn’t until 1996 that he sent it to LTJ Bukem who went nuts for it, advising Dave to speed it up from its original 156bpm so he could play it. Upon doing so, it was also sent to Fabio and the pair of them played it on Kiss, Radio 1 and various gigs and festivals across the world. Dave was just in discussions to release it when Dillinja made a Bladerunner track using the same samples. In light of that and how the hierarchy worked in the 90’s drum and bass scene, Dave decided to pull the release and the track went back into the DAT draw… for 26 years!

This track has been requested by many to be pressed since Vinyl Fanatiks started as it had such a huge fanbase, so many people loved the track after hearing it either back in the day or on copies of mixes uploaded in recent years to the internet. An extremely desired track! But there was never a B-side to it… until Dave stepped into his Fugitive guise and brought the track up to date with one of the baddest basslines we have released on the label.

Join us as we take you on a ride from the smooth to the ruff!


Its all an expression!

Vor zehn Jahren gründeten drei Mitarbeiter von JI's Market and Cafe die Band Styrofoam Winos. Lou Turner, Trevor Nikrant und Joe Kenkel fanden zueinander durch ihre gemeinsame Begeisterung für Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen und Country-Platten aus dem Schnäppchenkorb. Sie beflügelten sich gegenseitig in ihrer Begeisterung und waren total aus dem Häuschen bei jedem neuen Song, den sie entdeckten. Nachdem ein Freund weggezogen war und ein Schlagzeug zurückgelassen hatte, lernten alle drei Winos, Schlagzeug zu spielen. Die ersten Versuche im gemeinsamen Songwriting entstanden aus Jam-Sessions und Erasure Poetry, bei der man Wörter in alten Büchern schwärzte, um neue Gedichte zu schaffen. Sie sangen alle mal die Leadstimme und tauschten regelmäßig die Instrumente. Michael Hurley zum ersten Mal zu sehen, hinterließ einen bleibenden Eindruck und gab der Band einen ihrer kreativen Leitsterne. Jahre später gab Snock den Winos selbst seinen Segen, ihre Kassette mit Coverversionen seiner Songs zu veröffentlichen. Die Styrofoam Winos sind immer mit dem Strom geschwommen, was ,Any River" zu einem passenden Titel für ihr neues Album macht, dem Nachfolger von ,Real Time" aus dem Jahr 2024. Ihre spielerische Herangehensweise wird durch das Können erfahrener Musiker untermauert, die bereits viele hundert Konzerte gespielt haben - sowohl gemeinsam als auch als Tourmitglieder von Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, MJ Lenderman and the Wind und als Solokünstler. Das ist eine ihrer größten Stärken, die man gar nicht hoch genug einschätzen kann: Sie sind extrem gute Musiker! Wenn drei talentierte Menschen eine so tiefe Chemie entwickeln, ist das Ergebnis einfach grandios. Jeder Song auf ,Any River" entstand aus Jam-Sessions in Turners und Nikrants Heimstudio, und schon bald folgte ein gemeinsames Google-Dokument mit den Texten. Sie nahmen in Louisville auf - ihr erstes Album außerhalb von Nashville - zusammen mit Roadhouse-Bandkollege und Equipment Pointed Ankh-Mastermind Jim Marlowe. Marlowes zurückhaltende Produktion brachte die einzigartige Synergie der Band voll zur Geltung. Das führt zu einem weiteren wesentlichen Punkt dieser Band. Es gelingt ihnen, eine perfekte Balance zwischen Ehrfurcht und Respektlosigkeit gegenüber den musikalischen Traditionen zu finden, in denen sie arbeiten. Ihr Wissen über den Kanon ist gelehrt, aber diesem Wissen folgt immer ein Augenzwinkern. Kein Moment auf der Platte verkörpert dies besser als das Trompetensolo in ,New Friend". Es ist eine geschickte Darbietung, aber die Art und Weise, wie Kenkel unter die Tonika absinkt, bevor er die letzten Noten des Solos auflöst, ist urkomisch. Bei Live-Auftritten spielt er das Solo Note für Note auf einer Kazoo, während er gleichzeitig Schlagzeug spielt. Diese Musik stammt von erfahrenen Verwandlungskünstlern, die sich einer einfachen Kategorisierung entziehen und dennoch sofort wiedererkennbar bleiben.