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Dirty Heads have built a career out of soundtracking the best moments of people's lives, and with '7 Seas' they're not slowing down. The RIAA Platinum Certified Southern California outfit returns with their much-anticipated ninth full-length album, building on their signature balance of carefree energy and reflective songwriting while inviting fans into their next chapter of freedom, positivity and forward motion. From sun-soaked, laid-back anthems made for a day at the beach to hard-hitting late-night bangers, the album moves fluidly across moods without ever losing the infectious Dirty Heads energy fans have come to love. With over 3 billion career streams worldwide and multiple #1 singles on alternative and rock radio, Dirty Heads have built a dedicated global following by seamlessly fusing reggae, hip-hop, alternative rock and pop.

Mission of Mercy, the fourth full length album from celebrated guitarist and songwriter Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac) and his band The Dirty Knobs, is due June 12 via Soundly Music/Thirty Tigers. The album features appearances from the B-52s’ Kate Pierson and Morgane Stapleton alongside the Dirty Knobs’ Chris Holt (guitars, keys), Lance Morrison (bass) and Campbell’s fellow Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone (drums, percussion). Mission of Mercy displays Campbell’s full songwriting range, with tracks ranging from the unbridled rock & roll of “I Remember” to the Americana ballad “More Than Gold” and even the Brian Wilson-inspired psychedelia of the title track. Campbell states that “Mission Of Mercy is an action-packed collection of tunes that continue the vibe we established as well as some new directions in the songwriting. It’s full-throttle Knobs from start to finish and we look forward to playing these live this year.” Last year saw the release of Campbell’s New York Times Best Selling memoir Heartbreaker, which Rolling Stone hailed as “essential…a vividly told new autobiography,” while the Los Angeles Times praised its “tale of endurance and patience rewarded” and No Depression proclaimed it “does what the best music memoirs do: encourage readers to listen once again, or for the first time, to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and to Campbell’s solo works.” The Dirty Knobs (named after tech slang for a broken amp dial) were founded in 2000 by Campbell as a writing and club-date project outside the Heartbreakers. The group finally got on record with 2020's Wreckless Abandon and 2022's External Combustion. Those LPs, Campbell says, were the Knobs “trying to find our way as a rock & roll band.” “Now it’s down to great songs,” adds Campbell, “the depth in the lyrics and chords.” He recalls something Petty once told him: “Tom said, ‘I love the English language. There’s so much you can do with it.’ I'm discovering that, too. Looking for rhyme schemes, the right word. At first it was a struggle. Now that door has opened,” Campbell says. “I’ve turned a corner.” The Dirty Knobs are “still a rock band but growing into different feels.”

Die ikonische Alternative-Rock-Band Sleeping With Sirens veröffentlicht ihre neue Album *An Ending In
Itself*. Produziert von Will Yip (Turnstile, Circa Survive, Movements), stellt das achte Studioalbum der
Band sowohl eine Heimkehr als auch einen Neuanfang dar: Sie lassen den rastlosen Geist ihres klassischen
Sounds wiederaufleben und verbinden ihn dabei mit der nuancierten Erfahrung der vergangenen Jahre. Das
Album wird als gleichermaßen krönender Abschluss und Fortsetzung beschrieben; es vollendet den jüngsten
emotionalen Themenbogen der Alben *How It Feels To Be Lost* und *Complete Collapse* und knüpft
zugleich wieder an jenen Geist an, der die Band einst vorantrieb. Die Band – bestehend aus Kellin Quinn
(Gesang), Nick Martin (Gitarre), Justin Hills (Bass), Matty Best (Schlagzeug) und dem Neuzugang Tony
Pizzuti (Gitarre) – feilt weiterhin an ihrem unverwechselbaren Signature-Sound, während sie sich mutig auf
die Erkundung neuer kreativer Horizonte begibt. Diese zukunftsorientierte Perspektive, gepaart mit einer
tiefen Verbundenheit zu ihren Hörern, hat Sleeping With Sirens zu einem festen Begriff in der Musikszene
gemacht – und relevanter denn je.

„Immer noch hier“ singen die Sportfreunde Stiller gleich zu Beginn von „Happy Birthday!“, ihrem Album
zum 30-jährigen Band-Geburtstag. Ein pragmatischer, ein geradezu logischer und deshalb auch ein höchst
gelungener Einstieg. Nicht, dass man explizit darauf hätte hinweisen müssen, denn für viele von uns waren
die Songs von Peter, Rüde und Flo ja immer irgendwie gegenwärtig, schaut mal in eure Playlisten, CDund Plattenregale. Dabei klingen sie 2026 frisch und unverbraucht wie zu seligen „Thonträger“-Zeiten,
gleichzeitig aber auch erfahren, mit allen Wassern gewaschen und bei aller Nostalgie auch zeitgemäß. Rockmusik wie sie sein muss, punkig anmutendes Uptempo-Schlagzeug und zuweilen wohl temperierte, ruppige
E-Gitarren inklusive.
Hinzu kommt ihr untrügliches Gespür für unvergessliche Pop-Melodien und ein gewisses Faible für flächige,
manchmal an die 80er Jahre erinnernde Synthies. Auch textlich geht „Happy Birthday!“ - in stürmischen
Zeiten - in die richtige Richtung: Dem Leben zugewandt, ab und an auch nachdenklich, grundsätzlich aber
alle Menschen verbindend. Die Sportfreunde Stiller sind also immer noch hier - und das ist nicht nur gut
so, sondern womöglich besser denn je!

I’ll Play the Blues For You“ ist das 1972 erschienene Album des legendären Gitarristen, Sängers und Songwriters Albert King.
King überzeugt mit warmem Gesang und eindrucksvollen Gitarrensoli, eingebettet in perfekt arrangierte
Songs. Der Titeltrack wurde 2017 in die Blues Hall of Fame aufgenommen und zählt bis heute zu seinen
bekanntesten Stücken. In Zusammenarbeit mit Acoustic Sounds wurde das Album (AAA) von den Originalbändern remastered – verantwortlich dafür war Matthew Lutthans im The Mastering Lab – und auf
180-Gramm-Vinyl gepresst. Eine hochwertige Tip-on-Coverhülle rundet das Gesamtpaket ab.

Holen Sie sich das bahnbrechende Album „Wheels Of Fire“ – so wie Sie es noch nie gehört haben! Entdecken
Sie die verschollenen Aufnahmen und die neu zusammengestellten Raritäten-Sammlungen. Erhältlich als
3-LP-„In The Studio Expanded Edition“ mit 26 unveröffentlichten Aufnahmen und als 5-CD-„Super Deluxe
Edition“ mit 37 unveröffentlichten Aufnahmen sowie einem 24-seitigen Hardcover-Buch.
Die „WHEELS OF FIRE 5CD SUPER DELUXE EDITION“ dokumentiert die gesamte Entstehungsgeschichte
und die Fertigstellung von Creams bahnbrechendem dritten Album.
Das Set enthält eine spezielle, neu remastered Stereo-Version des neunten Titels umfassenden Studio-Teils
von „Wheels Of Fire“. Ursprünglich 1968 unter Verwendung von CSG-bearbeiteten Aufnahmen veröffentlicht wurde, diese remastered Version präsentiert, von CSG befreite Version das Album nun phasenkorrigiert und liefert die Aufnahmen mit größerer Detailtreue und einem klaren Klangbild.
Ebenfalls enthalten ist eine neu zusammengestellte Raritäten-Sammlung mit 15 seltenen Aufnahmen, von
denen neun Tracks bisher unveröffentlicht sind. Diese Sammlung umfasst frühe Versionen, alternative
Mixe und Single-Versionen. Zu den Highlights zählen „WHITE ROOM (EARLY VERSION MONO MIX)“,
„DESERTED CITIES OF THE HEART (MONO ROUGH MIX / NO STRINGS)“ und „CROSSROADS
(MONO SINGLE VERSION)“ sowie sieben weitere alternative Stereo- und Mono-Mixe, drei Single Versionen und zwei seltene Live-Aufnahmen.
Abgerundet wird das Set durch ein Hardcover-Buch mit Begleittexten von Jim Faber und Fotos von Cream
aus dieser Zeit. Die fünf CDs befinden sich in einer Gatefold-Hülle und sind zusammen mit dem Buch in
einem stabilen Schuber mit silberner Laminierung untergebracht.
Creams bahnbrechendes drittes Album wird in dieser speziellen 3LP-Erweiterungsausgabe von WHEELS
OF FIRE: IN THE STUDIO dokumentiert.
Das 3LP-Set enthält eine neu remastered Stereoversion des neun Titel umfassenden Studioanteils von
Wheels Of Fire. Ursprünglich 1968 unter Verwendung von CSG-bearbeiteten Aufnahmen veröffentlicht,
präsentiert diese neu remastered, von CSG befreite Version das Album nun phasenkorrigiert und liefert die
Aufnahmen mit größerer Detailtreue und einem klaren Klangbild.
Ebenfalls enthalten ist eine neu remastered Mono-Version des Studioalbums. Diese Mono-Version, die aus
den persönlichen Referenzbändern des verstorbenen Cream-Produzenten Felix Pappalardi stammt, wurde
noch nie zuvor veröffentlicht.
Das Set enthält außerdem eine neu zusammengestellte Raritäten-Sammlung mit 11 seltenen Aufnahmen,
von denen acht bisher unveröffentlicht sind. Dazu gehören frühe Versionen, alternative Mixe und Single-Versionen. Zu den Höhepunkten dieser Sammlung zählen WHITE ROOM (EARLY VERSION MONO MIX)
und DESERTED CITIES OF THE HEART (MONO ROUGH MIX / NO STRINGS) sowie sechs weitere
alternative Stereo- und Mono-Mixe.
Diese Veröffentlichung auf 180 g schwerem schwarzem Vinyl wird in einem Gatefold-Cover mit metallischem
Pantone-Finish präsentiert

Roland Kirk was an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist, who lost his sight at a very early age, and played unconventional jazz, which was not entirely free but in which melodic and very beautiful phases alternated with moments of complete dissonance and conjured up his urban background, especially reflecting his view of the world as a handicapped man. Kirk was not only famous for his unique sound achieved through his playing several instruments simultaneously and his innovative approach to music but also for his dynamic live performances.

In November 1967 Kirk left EmArcy for Atlantic Records, leading his quartet through a highly introspective, somewhat melancholy programme, which was based in the blues and groove traditions of the mid-60s. Kirk himself played flutes, the stritch, manzello and tenor saxophones, the whistle, clarinet and more – precisely those instruments that had created his unique sound, particularly when some of these instruments were played simultaneously by him. Jazz critics who had previously criticised Kirk’s sound now praised him once they had heard the restrained and elegantly layered "Black And Crazy Blues", the breathtakingly executed Creole "Love Call", the razor-sharp soul in "The Inflated Tear" and the gyrating lyricism of the winds in "Fly By Night" – and quite rightly so.

Roland Kirk convinced his listenership anyway and sold over 10,000 copies of the present LP in the very first year of its release. This is Roland Kirk in his most competent and visionary form; his reading of jazz harmony and capricious sonances is virtually incomparable.

Words have never been my strongest point. I have many ideas in my head, often too many. I can talk a lot about them, but putting them on paper is not really me. I rather just work on my ideas. ‘cause whatever your thoughts are, as soon as it is out there and people start to listen it becomes theirs. What I might have thought up before, and have as concept behind the music, might not be how someone else listens to it. And that’s okay.
If we keep in mind that my music is time focused, and I love it when it isn’t polished too much, so small errors become part of it, the music should speak enough for itself.
“Continuation” is my first studio album since “En de stilstaande tijd” (2019), and shows a rougher sound staying closer to my live sound. I see this as a continuation of my live performances, though this time with various multi-track recordings brought together as a whole, all done in my home studio “Studio De Baviaan” over the course of 8 months.
--- Sietse van Erve / Orphax, Janauary 2026

Dieser junge Herr kommt aus Alicante/Barcelona im Süden Spaniens und ist wohl die schrägste, tollste und wildeste Flamenco-Trash-One-Man-Band seit Menschengedenken. Geboren 1993 in eine musizierende Fernfahrerfamilie, kam er schon früh mit englischen und holländischen Touristen in Kontakt und brachte deren Musik mit nach Hause. Dort kreierte er diese kuriose Mischung aus Flamenco und Trash und erschuf sein eigenes Ein-Mann-Orchester.Er tourte fleißig durch ganz Spanien und Europa, unter anderem als Gastmusiker von Suicide Generation. Er steckt tief im Sumpf des wilden Trash-Rock'n'Roll und ist definitiv die spanische Wiederauferstehung von Hasil Adkins, dem Gott aller One-Man-Bands. Seine Liebe zur Flamenco-Musik erbte er von seinen Eltern, sein Zwillingssohn hingegen musste einen ,richtigen" Beruf erlernen. Doch Nestter blieb das schwarze Schaf der Familie.Auf der Bühne ist er am Ende des Konzerts meistens nackt und ausgeschwitzt, spielt mit seinen Genitalien die Maracas und quält seine Flamenco-Trash-Gitarre wie kein anderer. Er ist ein primitiver Wilder, der auf ein jungfräuliches Prinzessinnenpublikum trifft, und der einzige Donut, der sich Nestter nennen darf.Bitte heißen Sie ihn willkommen - Spaniens nuttiest one around - und lassen Sie sich von Nestter Donuts in die Welt des wilden, wilden Rock'n'Roll-Flamenco-Trash verführen.

Few artists arrive as compellingly yet elusively as did Stuart Moxham upon the startling debut of Young Marble Giant's sole studio album, Colossal Youth. Initial excitement was thrust upon the young Alison Statton, who sang songs written by Stuart with a couple of exceptions. The unaffected tone of her voice was in steep contrast to the typical goings-on in that still quite punky time, but it was what she sang that fully sold it. Moxham's lyrics were both intensely personal and woefully oblique. There seemed to be a sort of story in there. Confusingly, that story often felt like it was Alison's rather than the fellow who'd penned it. The unexpected miracle a deal with Rough Trade and the album's subsequent success had the band stymied for a second act and it wasn't long before the group disintegrated, although circumstances often brought members and a few of their peers - among them Debbie Pritchard, Spike Williams, and a third Moxham brother, Drew. - Phil Moxham was the band's bassist - together in odd combinations and pairings. None of the three YMG members have been especially prolific, but it's Stuart's career that has seemed the least straightforward, as if he'd wondered, "What to do when your debut is a nearly perfect artefact?" In the case of his first "solo" full-length in thirty years, Stuart took the unusual step of entering an alien studio with American producer Dave Trumfio (who's also the leader of Pulsars and bassist for Mekons) and allowing him to decide what tracks (of a large number submitted by Stuart) to record, and how they'd be orchestrated. Or not. In this case - save for the writing and composing - it's really Dave's album as much as Stuart's. The tracks went with Dave back to LA, where they were mixed, a few parts added (including subtle backing vocals from the incredible Linda Smith) . . . then later unmixed and reworked by John Henderson and Roni Ayala back in Valencia. Both versions will be made available, and both have a compelling cohesion missing from some of Stuart's work since YMG. Stuart's minimalism is quite intact, the range of emotions quite wide. There are few artists operating today like Stuart Moxham, a composer of the upper echelon of innate talent who combines avant-garde ideas with deceptively forthright personal lyrics, solid hooks, ambience and vaguely off-centre instrumentation which defies the casual marketplace as confoundingly as it ever did to the underground, whatever that is these days. His songs have been admired and / covered by everyone from Lush to Kurt Cobain, adaptations in Japanese and even a French-language hit by Etienne Daho, adaptations by Hole, Galaxie 500, Magnetic Fields, Belle And Sebastian and many others - but a new Stuart Moxham album is a special kind of joy.

Ltd. silver vinyl. Migja ta Mohh Mignun ("Journey of a Mad Mind") is a concept prose, chronicling the descent and transformation of a man consumed by insatiable thirst for forbidden knowledge. Abandoning wealth and comfort, he pursues ancient secrets hidden in scrolls, caves, and lost maps, ultimately crossing the boundary between life and death. Along the way, he defies the Inquisition, boasts of powers older than God, and embraces the role of a sorcerer and a possible Antichrist. His journey is filled with occult rites, supernatural encounters, resurrection, and even visions of an underworld queen who grants him unmatched wisdom. In the end, his quest leaves him both cursed and exalted; a figure suspended between madness, immortality, and damnation. This concept is based on a Maltese legend formally penned by Agostino Levanzin, which in turn is rooted in actual events from the 16th century. The music is written to accompany the story and is paced in an average medium-paced but intense wall of sound, along with Sa??ar's particularly unique vocals, all in the exotic and arcane Maltese tongue.

Migja ta Mohh Mignun ("Journey of a Mad Mind") is a concept prose, chronicling the descent and transformation of a man consumed by insatiable thirst for forbidden knowledge. Abandoning wealth and comfort, he pursues ancient secrets hidden in scrolls, caves, and lost maps, ultimately crossing the boundary between life and death. Along the way, he defies the Inquisition, boasts of powers older than God, and embraces the role of a sorcerer and a possible Antichrist. His journey is filled with occult rites, supernatural encounters, resurrection, and even visions of an underworld queen who grants him unmatched wisdom. In the end, his quest leaves him both cursed and exalted; a figure suspended between madness, immortality, and damnation. This concept is based on a Maltese legend formally penned by Agostino Levanzin, which in turn is rooted in actual events from the 16th century. The music is written to accompany the story and is paced in an average medium-paced but intense wall of sound, along with Sa??ar's particularly unique vocals, all in the exotic and arcane Maltese tongue.

This album, recorded in 1988 at Elkar Studios in Lasarte, is a happy accident, like much of La Polla Records' early output, by Jean Phocas (who also worked with other bands of the genre such as Cicatriz) and César Ibarretxe. It was lovingly designed, with a medieval atmosphere for the cover (by Txefo, Joseba Olalde and Txarly) featuring a huge scroll containing five tarot cards, a back cover in the same style with heraldic figures, and a meticulous presentation of the lyrics with separate spellings for each song, on a double sheet with photos of piglets suckling from their mother on one side and various images on the other. With animals as the common thread for the songs, it represents the confirmation that the concept album had arrived on the national punk scene. Perhaps a work of maturity, the band's traditional objectives disappear from the lyrics, and although there is still room for specific protests and chronicles of nights of alcohol and violence (such as those of La Rata), the emphasis is on revelling in the description of all kinds of personal, psychotic and hallucinatory hells. Evaristo confessed to being influenced by Umberto Eco's book The Name of the Rose (1980) in the making of this work. Far from indicating any departure from the foundations laid in previous works, it shows that the spectrum of the anti-establishment struggle the group was committed to was broad. A very complete album.

According to the court ruling in the lawsuit brought against the band, allegedly by a former technician, this album should have been released under a different name for the group. Perhaps as a provocative nod, the individual who appears on the cover wearing a nut as an oppressive turban is struck on the back cover by the hammers of Justice and the Law. However, the group ignores this and continues to sign as it has been doing since 1983. The musical arrangements are more powerful, with the guitars taking precedence over the rest much more than before. The drums are also more present. The soundscape takes centre stage, even over the lyrics. The opening track, 'Monopoly', is representative of this, with its fast-paced rhythm provided by galloping guitars. Originally released in 1994, it is surprising how, almost ten years after their debut, La Polla Records were still capable of making albums of such intensity.

As a follow-up to our previous work reissuing the recordings of Pau Riba, key figure in Catalonia's counter-culture and music scene, we now present "Juguetes de época y cajas de cerillas - Singles y rarezas. Primera época (1967-1969)," compiling songs drawn from rare releases in his catalog as well as his singles from this period. It includes previously unreleased material sourced from the artist's own tapes, along with an extensive booklet featuring notes and photographs of the artist. This collection brings together songs taken from rare releases in his discography-such as the album recorded at one of the concerts performed by Grup de Folk during its brief existence, "Folk 2" (1968)-as well as from his singles: "Taxista!" (1967), "Noia de porcellana" (1969), "Miniatura" (1969), "L'home estàtic" (1967), "Pau i Jordi" (1968), and "El Nadal no té 20 anys" (1967). Alongside these tracks, this compilation also releases for the first time part of the previously unheard material found on magnetic tapes discovered in the artist's studio after his passing. Among these tapes were the instrumental recordings of "Taxista!"-versions with slight differences from those issued on the original single, possibly prepared for television playbacks. These recordings provide further insight into the making of Riba's first release, particularly regarding the mixing process and the later addition of subtle details.

In 2019, La Volte released Les Furtifs, the latest novel by science fiction writer Alain Damasio. At that time, to mark the publication, Damasio invited the band Palo Alto to join him on stage in response to an invitation from the literary festival Oh les beaux jours !, held at La Criée – Théâtre national de Marseille. What was initially intended as a one-off performance led to a multi-date tour across France. The show performed at La Maroquinerie was filmed and recorded in multitrack and will be release on the 12th of June 2026 on Hublotone (HUBLO006CD).

At the same time, to join this release, Palo Alto invited eight artists to remix the pieces composed for the show: Ptôse, Pacific 231, Judith Juillerat, Herb Duncan, Norscq, Thierry Zaboitzeff, Lefdup & Lefdup, and Electronicat.

Bringing together the best of the French underground music scene, these tracks echo avant-garde artists such as Coil and Tuxedomoon, blending electronic music with string instruments, instrumental compositions with acid club influences. They will be available on vinyl in a gatefold sleeve featuring artwork by Kiki Picasso (ex-Bazooka). Inside the gatefold, an exclusive text by Alain Damasio introduces the project.

Palo Alto is a French band formed in Paris in the late 1980s. They have recorded a dozen albums and developed several projects featuring guest musicians such as Scanner, Simon Fisher Turner, Ramuntcho Matta, J. G. Thirlwell / Foetus, Richard Pinhas and the New York trumpeter Rhys Chatham. They contributed to a tribute album to John Balance / Coil and asked a dozen artists to reinterpret "Half-Mute", Tuxedomoon’s debut album, featuring the original members of the American band (Steven Brown, Blaine L. Reininger and Peter Principle). In 2018, they were selected by the Californian band The Residents to take part in a cover album released on Cherry Red Records. Their latest album, dedicated to the philosopher Gilles Deleuze, was released on the Belgian label Sub Rosa in 2020.

a A1 - The Stealthy Ones remix By Ptôse
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]

[a] A1 - The Stealthy Ones [remix By Ptôse]
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]

On his new album, Micha Acher rearranged compositions for bands such as Tied & Tickled Trio and Ms. John Soda from previous years.

Why are we interested in ghosts? What fascinates us about the eerie? According to cultural theorist Mark Fisher, the allure that the eerie possesses is not captured by the idea that we „enjoy what scares us“. It has, rather, to do with a fascination for the outside. For that which lies beyond standard perception, cognition or experience, as he writes in his book „The Weird and the Eerie“.

In fact, also none of the 15 pieces from Henry and the Ghost is really scary. On the contrary, they all feel strangely familiar. Like revenants or doppelgängers, which in fact they are. They have all been released before. But in a different form. In different line-ups. With different band projects such as Tied & Tickled Trio, The Notwist or the Alien Ensemble.

With the „Songbook“, Micha Acher's aim was, as he says, to find out how the familiar pieces sound in a chamber music instrumentation. Therefore he met with Theresa Loibl (bass clarinet, piano), Timm Kornelius (bassoon), Markus Rom (guitar, banjo, electronics) and Simon Popp (drums, percussion) in his living room for a musical séance in the summer of 2022. The séance lasted two days. Afterwards, Markus Rom (Oh No Noh), added some haunting electronical ideas.

The mood of most of the pieces is melancholic. There are surprising twists and siren-like melodies. Just as ghost stories should be. However, most of the songs sound very light-footed. With their feet in pop, folk, jazz and classical music. Pieces such as „Johanna“ with its wheezing harmonium and spooky piano, or the dreamy „Modest Farewell“ on the other hand have a cinematic flair. Immediately faces and scenes arise in the mind. But at the beginning, there is „Hamlet“. It starts with ghostly electronics and merges into a calm, almost classical guitar piece. Could it be that the ghost of Hamlet's father is hiding between the strings?

„34E“ begins with a banjo. Then the deep humming of Micha Achers sousaphone and the other brass instruments kick in. In the slow, solemn „Aelita“, the sousaphone starts a dialogue with a children's piano. With the banjo and the other wind instruments acting as mediators. The title of „All Tomorrow's Past“ brings Velvet Undergrounds „All Tomorrow's Parties“ to mind. Another ghost from the past. What connects the two pieces is free-floating percussion, which accompanies the sumptuous melodies.

„Arc“ takes us on an exhilarating voyage at sea, with the sousaphone providing powerful propulsion. Towards the end, things get quite turbulent. With the clarinet stirring up the water, before the sea calms down again. „Henry and the Ghost“ is characterised by a ghostly mood change between major and minor. In „Radio Four“ the banjo with its stoic chords keeps the lively brass section in check. „Solid Ground“ is imbued with melancholy. „Space Minor“ takes us into outer space, with the power of sousaphone and percussion.

„Tomorrows“ is filled with cautious optimism. And the concluding „Nordlead“ turns out to be a revenant of the instrumental „N.L.“ from The Notwist's legendary album „Shrink“ from 1998. In the new version, the piece sounds like a distant echo. One that also brings to mind how Micha Acher's music has evolved. Which new worlds he explored and opened up since the nineties. And yet Acher's signature is recognisable in every single note of this fascinating „Songbook“.

Ricardo Villalobos runs wild on Mohammad Reza Mortazavi’s Persian tombak hand drum actions, expanding a 4 min kernel of inspiration into 24 minutes of mesmerising polyrhythmic traction. From an original ‘Swamp’’ piece that practically recalls Ricardo’s style of slinky minimal techno sorcery to begin with, the Chilean-German maverick derives a more driving tract of rough hewn rhythmic grit bound to hypnotise ‘floors for the duration. Accentuating the undulating bass and dialling up the volume whilst retaining the frictional grind of the original, Villalobos gets right inside the groove with typically obsessive tekkerz, plucking out additional string
motifs and tempering the flow with signature, taut but sinuous, loosey goosey flex that cross-pollinates cultures and gets right under the skin of the thing.

Ricardo Villalobos (b. 1970, Chile) is a pioneering figure in minimal techno, celebrated for his hypnotic and groovy approach to rhythm. Raised in Germany after his family fled Pinochet’s regime, Villalobos was drawn early to percussion - he began playing congas and bongos at eleven, developing a tactile relationship to rhythm that would later inform his distinctive production style. Immersed in both Latin American folk traditions and the emerging house and techno scenes of late-80s Europe, he began DJing and producing in the early 1990s, quickly achieving cult status within global club culture. Mohammad Reza Mortazavi (b. 1979, Iran) is a virtuoso percussionist known for his groundbreaking work with the tombak and daf, traditional Persian drums that he has radically redefined through new playing techniques. Mortazavi began playing the tombak at the age of six. By nine, he had already outpaced his teacher and won Iran’s national tombak competition - a distinction he would earn six more times. By his early twenties, he was widely regarded as one of the foremost players of the instruments. Since then, his music has continued to evolve, embracing new forms beyond tradition.

Highscore is one of the newest-and quite sensational-discoveries in funk of the 1980s out of Germany. Two tracks Breakin' Out and Girls So Fine, both recorded about 40 years ago and shelved ever since, are finally receiving a long-overdue 12" release.

Label founder DJ Scientist tells the story of how the tracks were uncovered:

"Several years ago, while researching the Crea label-after we had already licensed 'You're Not The One For Me' by Peter Patzer-I also wanted to find out more about another band on the label: Nuages, who had released the stunning jazz-funk/fusion album Cumulus.

Interestingly, a Discogs user had uploaded a hand written promo letter from one of the band members along with the LP. In it, drummer Mike Bach mentioned plans for a second album, as well as a single featuring a 'coloured singer'-which caught my attention. (A note on language: the original letter from 1985 uses the term 'coloured.' We've chosen to quote it directly as a historical document, but want to be clear that this reflects the terminology of the era and not language we would use today.)

Digging deeper, more information was found on Bach's own website, where a project called 'High Score' was mentioned. I immediately got in touch and asked if the recordings from that project still existed. Unfortunately, Bach couldn't locate any of the material at the time.

Years passed before we reconnected, when we featured 'Strange Weekend' by Nuages on our recent yacht rock compilation. I still had the Highscore project in mind and asked again. Once more, Mike had to deny-but he made another effort and reached out to former collaborators. A few weeks later, guitarist and composer Hermann Behrens discovered cassette tapes containing tracks from the Highscore project. I couldn't wait to hear them…"

To go back a bit: Nuages were a jazz-rock band from Bremerhaven, originally formed by guitarist Joachim "Fussy" Fuß in 1982. The lineup included Mike Bach (drums and percussion), Klaus Hinners (bass), and Frank Fischer (keyboards). In 1984, John Dillard, a U.S. GI stationed in Germany, joined Nuages for several live performances as a soul singer.
Around 1985/1986, Dillard and Bach then teamed up with Hermann Behrens with a new focus on electro funk and disco: Highscore was born.

When the three demo recordings were finally sent to us, they immediately blew us away. Breakin' Out stood out as an incredible electro-funk boogie gem-exactly what we had been looking for. What's more, it didn't sound like a rough demo at all, Breakin Out was a well-arranged and almost perfectly recorded track, driven by fresh, vibrant synths, drum machines and guitar. The cassette mix wasn't entirely final, but the remaining details could be refined during mastering.

The B-side, Girl So Fine, impressed just as much-equally strong and just as captivating as the A-side. Our reaction was immediate: this had to be released without delay!

Most importantly, there are a few more recordings from Highscore. However, these only exist as multi-track studio reels, which currently cannot be transferred. In the best case, more material from the band may surface soon-hopefully without another long wait.

The 12" release Breakin' Out / Girl So Fine" comes with a newly designed picture sleeve, featuring an original photo of the band members, including background singer Ruben Hopkins who does not appear on these two recordings.

The vinyl edition is limited to 400 copies.

Mary Mundy born in 1944 is an underground soul and disco singer best known for her rare 1980 album Mother Nature.

Often referred to as "Dr. Mary Mundy," she is a cult figure among record collectors and DJs due to the scarcity and high quality of her work which blends heavy disco-soul grooves with powerful, soulful vocals.

Llewellyn "Lew" Hanson (1925–1984)

was a Jamaican-born writer, producer, and performer primarily active in Hartford, Connecticut. After serving in the Royal Air Force during the 1940s, he moved to the USA and established himself as a versatile figure in the Caribbean and soul music scenes.

Musical Career and Production

Hanson transitioned from performing traditional calypso with local bands to writing and producing more mainstream sounds in the 1960s.

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The Islanders: In 1974, he released the LP Just For You... From Home And Abroad with his group, Lew Hanson and The Islanders. The album featured a mix of styles, including the flute-funk track "Soul Safari".

Record Labels: He founded Insurance City Records and Big Street Records to release his productions.

Key Collaborations:

Mary Mundy: Hanson worked closely with Mundy throughout the 1970s and 80s, producing her singles and her LP Mother Nature.