quête:pro t o n

Two lost Disco classics appearing for the first time on a single 12” featuring soul legend Leon Ware and Jo Ann Harris, a little known backing singer for Bob Dylan throughout the 80s.

Both songs originally appeared on the ‘20 Minute Workout’ Video and LP released in 1983 by Canadian label Ronco, ‘What Does It Take’ providing an uptempo crescendo to the third part of the workout and ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ the final warm down track. Licensed from producer Ira Newborn, Hollywood soundtrack royalty who composed the scores for an incredible run of films including The Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Naked Gun trilogy, Weird Science, Ace Ventura and Uncle Buck. Ira’s lawyer persuaded him to get involved in the project for Ronco and it was Ira who hand picked Leon Ware and Jo Ann Harris to add vocals to two tracks to aid the commercial potential of the album.

There are two original versions backed with extended instrumentals sourced from a rare Lazer Disc Version of the album. It feels right to shine a light on one of Leon Ware’s lesser known performances, whilst the Jo Ann Harris cut has a distinct Balearic air featuring sultry keys and sax at a tempo of 98 BPM.

Erstes Soloalbum des Queenryche Sängers Todd La Torre. Die durch die Pandemie verschobene Queenryche Tour bot Todd La Torre die Gelegenheit,das lang geplante Soloalbum zu verwirklichen. Todd tat sich mit seinem langjährigen Freund Craig Blackwell zusammen. Wie bei Queensrÿche's The Verdict spielte La Torre Schlagzeug und übernahm die Vocals, Blackwell spielte Gitarre, Bass und Keyboards. La Torre und Blackwell produzierten das Album selbst, zogen jedoch Queensrÿche- Produzent Zeuss hinzu. Gastauftritte von Jordan Ziff (Age Of Evil, Metalhead, Ratt) und Al Nunn. Insgesamt zeigt sich der Solo-Output vielseitig, ohne die progressive Basis von Queensryche zu vernachlässigen. Die Grundlagen sind allerdings mehr im klassischen Metal verortet und werden mit verschiedenen Einflüssen kombiniert. . Der Opener "Dogmata" oder "Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall" kommen mit mächtig Speed um die Ecke und mixen Heavy mit Speed und Thrash. "Pretender" erhält einen leichten epischen Touch und La Torre bewegt sich stimmlich in überraschende Höhen. Metallisch klassisch wird es mit "Hellbound And Down", dem starken "Vexed" und "Rejoice In The Suffering". Der progressive Part kommt bei "Darkened Majesty", "Apology" oder "Critical Cynic" zum Tragen. Die Balladenfreunde hören in "Crossroad To Insanity" rein.Zum Schluss gibt es mächtig dunkle Töne zu entdecken - "One By One . Craig Blackwells Gitarrenspiel setzt den Gesang von La Torre musikalisch perfekt in Szene. Todd findet sogar Vocals, die noch nie zuvor von ihm gehört wurden, wie auf dem Titeltrack und dem bestechenden "Vanguards of the Dawn Wall" zu hören ist. 2021 nur in den USA veröffentlicht, macht ROAR dieses Juwel nun endlich auch in Europa erhältlich, zusätzlich in 2 luxuriösen Vinyl Versionen. "Rejoice The Sufffering"ist ein herausragendes Opus von einem spät berufenen Sänger, der völlig losgelöst beweist, wie man eine wuchtig-moderne und vitale Metal Scheibe schreibt, arrangiert und produziert Für alle Queensryche Fans und Liebhaber des klassischen Metal.

Label head and founder of Kvalia Records, Linny Hex, welcomes back Blazej Malinowski for his second release on the label. Perception of Tomorrow contains three melancholic, dance floor oriented tracks characterized by the hypnotic soundscapes significant to Malinowskis productions.

Opeth wurde von den Kritikern für ihre Kombination aus progressiven Einflüssen und vernichtendem schwedischem Death Metal gelobt. Diese farbigen 140g Re-Issues sind ein Muss für Fans und Sammler, denn sie wurden von keinem Geringeren als Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Amorphis, Sepultura) mit Unterstützung von Mikael Åkerfeldt ein liebevoll remastert. Die Aufnahmen wurden mit halber Geschwindigkeit in den berüchtigten Abbey Rd von Miles Showell (ABBA, Beatles) geschnitten, und das gesamte Artwork wurde von Dan Capp sorgfältig restauriert und so gestaltet, wie es die Band ursprünglich beabsichtigt hatte.

Es gibt nur wenige Bands, die es mit den Schweden von Opeth aufnehmen können oder wollen. Seit ihrer Gründung 1990 in dem kleinen Stockholmer Vorort Bandhagen haben die Schweden alle Konventionen über den Haufen geworfen, sich trotzig gegen alle Widrigkeiten durchgesetzt und - was am wichtigsten ist -12 atemberaubend schöne und intensive Alben geschaffen und sich damit zu einer der besten Bands der Welt entwickelt.

Streng limitierte Stückzahlen!

After spending countless days and weeks in the studio tysher is coming up with another 3 track ep on his own imprint. All tracks are accentuating his signature sound which you would define as melodic, moody, vibey & forward pushing melodic techno.

This EP is showing up Tysher’s progress of developing his productions constantly. 3 tracks with different moods to be played in the right moment. Create a memorable atmosphere on the dancefloors worldwide with Tysher 02.

A certified maestro of his time, king of Cool Jazz with a penchant for unusual time signatures, Dave Brubeck is as prolific as they come. For their third release, Major Keys lovingly remaster and reissue three of his key pieces as The Dave Brubeck Quartet including the instantly recognisable ‘Take Five’ on 180g vinyl in a Major Keys sleeve.

On the A side one of the most famous jazz pieces of all time. Released in 1959 as part of the Quartet’s Time Out LP, which become the first jazz album to sell more than a million copies with the ‘Take Five’ single also taking that that coveted spot whilst going on to become the best-selling jazz single of all time. Accolades aside, it’s an intricate, absorbing and elating piece of jazz history, with one of the most recognisable melodies ever to be written. Timeless genius written by the quartet’s saxophonist Paul Desmond and performed by Dave Brubeck, Paul, Joe Morello and Eugene Wright, reissued for a new generation of listeners.

The B side sees ever more experimentation from the quartet, with the time signatures Dave heard on the streets of Istanbul providing the inspiration that gave birth to the lead track from Time Out - ‘Blue Rondo a la Turk’. As cool and complex as they get, stirring up those meters like a slick Manhattan. Rounding off the package, American jazz singer Carmen McRae’s 1962 vocal version of ‘Take Five’ gives an extra dose of sophistication to proceedings. All in all, a must have for any discerning music lover.

represssed !

Monstrous mid-tempo Disco groovings on this one, giving the Avergae White Band a run for their money.... Doc Severinsen, the renowned Jazz hornsman dropping some tight ass Funk on this rare as hens teeth Epic white label promo. This is a fully legit reissue borne out of an Above Board / Sony music collaboration, repressed from the official sources. The original 1976 promo 12" had the same track on both sides as promos often did back then so we've decided to include a special version on the flip, a lovingly tweaked re-edit from the cult leader himself - DJ Harvey. Harv's edit has been around for a minute, but this version backing the OG 76 Disco mix makes this 12" a bonafide 'must grab' for all Disco enthusiasts! Do not snooze. This one's a winner!

TAKAHIRO MUKAI is a Japanese electronic music composer who has about 60 official releases to his name. This is 8 pieces of brooding, modular electronic, rhythmic hypnosis from a contemporary maestro of the experimental electronics tape circuit underground.

We’re honored to publish another chapter of his ever-evolving communique with machines. Early DJ support by DJ Voices. Inorganically mesmerizing, full of shadows, plumbing the depths of modular telekinesis…perhaps “Out Of Place” for some, right in time for the deep listeners….

Limited edition of 100 professionally dubbed and manufactured C50 cassettes.

Mastered by Dietrich Schoenemann.
Design by Nick Owen.
Distributed by One Eye Witness.

REPRESS!

The afrobeat-inspired eight-piece drop their hotly-anticipated debut.
A horn-fuelled, soul-shaking introduction to the young collective.
Their first solo release after featuring on london jazz primer we out here.

Kokoroko are part of the thriving scene that's grown out of london's young, jazz-influenced musical circles. Led by bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey, their self-titled ep is the group's first solo release, following their early 2018 debut with 'Abusey Junction', a track that has gone on to accrue over 15 million plays on youtube and 2.6 million on spotify. Across the E.P's four tracks, the eight-piece deliver on the promise of that memorable introduction, offering a bigger vision of their afrobeat-influenced, soulfully-imbued sound, west african roots shaded with inner London hues.

'Abusey Junction' was first featured on we out here, the 2018 Brownswood compilation documenting London's bright-burning, jazz-influenced musical underground, picked by Rough Trade as compilation of the year 2018, and praised by the Wire, Monocle and the New York Times. Writing and performing as a group since 2014, Kokoroko have played at iconic venues from ronnie scott's, performed at the festival, Afropunk, and toured in Brazil, Colombia and France. Inspired by Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Tony Allen and the great sounds that come out of West Africa, Kokoroko put on a performance to honour the masters that taught them.

Emotive sweetness from the one they call Gratts, coming correct via those ever-reliable purveyors of all things house, WOLF Music. Two dream-state gems from the Belgian-born, Australia-based DJ and producer, complete with a signature, deep and delectable remix from one of Dublin’s finest exports Glenn Davis.

On the A, ‘Pretty Lights’ is a bittersweet saunter beachside, sun setting in the distance, bass striding beside as keys dance across the horizon. A melancholic narrative over a blissful groove, Brandon Markell Holmes’ heavenly vocals add an undeniable elegance to proceedings, combined with Leïto’s deft touch on the keys. Subtle house music with soul from a producer that’s been toiling away for nearly 25 years.

Flip it to find ‘Polaroids’, a late-night trip across the underground with Tee Amara leading the way. Her sublime vocals are laid over a bumping, piano-laden beat, bit-crushed synths and all. A track that keeps that distinct soulful thread, yet laces it with a club-ready dose of the good stuff.

Glenn Davis then rounds off the package laying down a remix of ‘Polaroids’ that hits in all the right spots. A deeper journey, that sees Davis reworking the drums, dousing it in ethereal pads and dreamy synthwork, elevating Amara’s vocals to stratospheric heights. One for the dancers and romancers.

Josh Milan has been recording music professionally for over 30 years.He's played every role from artist to engineer in the studio.This project, Honeysweet, focuses on his production and musicianship.Utilizing only one musician on sax, Josh plays every instrument and sings every note on this project. His songs are packed with soulful dance floor grooves inspired by iconic, soulful groups like Brian Auger, Cymande, Pleasure, Africano, Santana and others.

"I wanted to do music that made me and my family feel good when I was growing up. It's the kind of music that families dance to at gatherings with a record player and no DJ”, says Josh. “Intros, Accents, Breakdowns, Bridges, and endings were all part of the music.” This music will transport Josh's audience to a place of musical freedom. This is music with, seemingly, no rules.

Josh Milan describes each track on the Honeysweet EP “Exodus” in his own words :

"Last Night Changed It All featuring Lawrence Clark on sax is the kind of groove that keeps its dance floor value while holding up the banner of true musicianship. This song was written after hearing a DJ set,where the DJ didn’t seem to be concern about staying within a musical box. He played all sorts of music in one set. I knew then that I’d branch out musically when recording.Rhodes, picked bass guitar, rhythm guitar and drum kit is all that's needed on this one.”

"Exodus the manipulation of major and minor chords in this groove make it complex and interesting. The listener is lead by the organ solo featured here. The song is a mental escape. A mental exodus complete with bongo section.”"Being Free is a message that captures the point of this entire project. Musical freedom and expression is where this project gets its
fuel. Horns, are included on this production. A true expression of soulful music. Being free should be all the time I'm your mind all the time.”

“Cranberries and Cream is my tribute to funk grooves as they were featured on records in 70’s. I’m a fan of that sound and I like to play by own funk grooves when I’m alone. This is one of the tracks on the ep I prefer to rock.”

“And So She Waits has eerie sounding pads in the background. They linger throughout the track. Popping in and out, as though they’re waiting for something. You will hear the change in mood once she is no longer waiting. The groove returns to it’s original state. Only she is no longer waiting, he is.”

“Crazy is me bringing the funk to dirty house music. Complete with house piano in the mix. The chords are unsettling. They are, in fact,Crazy. I though adding a horn arrangement to a house track like this would sound interesting and different.”Honeysweet “Exodus” out at all digital outlets and double pack vinyl set.

After the first Freedom Dance release “Earth on Faya/Is This The Future” already sold-out, we are glad to present the new Gigi Testa tracks taken from his unreleased materials and produced during this pandemic period.

Atlantis on A side is a raw house track created with only two elements: one drum machine and one synthesizer, this composition will take you deep exploring the underwater world;

Agua Fluida on B side is a bouncing gem including myriad of melodic
elements drums and sound efx creating a fluid percussive flow.