One of the most innovative and ambitious albums ever made, Genioh Yamashirogumi’s Ecophony Rinne is a sonic masterpiece featuring over 200 musicians that expanded the limits of what music and sound could do.
Before Akira there was Ecophony Rinne. Originally released in 1986, Ecophony Rinne is a four-part symphony of “ecological music” by Geinoh Yamashirogumi that married ancient tradition with technological innovation, and changed the way we listen to music in the process.
Half-speed mastered at Abbey Road by Miles Showell, Time Capsule’s high-tech analogue reissue is the first to reproduce composer Ōhashi’s ground-breaking “Hypersonic Effect” theory on vinyl, cutting frequencies beyond the realm of human hearing into wax to capture the full spectrum emotional impact of this extraordinary work.
Founded by genius polymath Tsutomu Ōhashi aka Shoji Yamashiro, Geinoh Yamashirogumi is a shapeshifting collective of over a hundred members from across disciplines. Rejecting professional musicianship, Ōhashi cultivated an ethos where neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors, journalists, engineers and students could critique society through artistic expression and pursue their research in ethnomusicological performances that spanned global traditions, Eastern spirituality and Western classical form.
Ecophony Rinne represents the pinnacle of this vision - an expansive orchestral suite made with over 200 musicians that channeled Ōhashi’s thinking about mankind’s relationship with nature, and fundamental questions of life, death and rebirth.
Here pipe organ synths made from sampled Tibetan horns sit alongside field recordings from Central African forests, Buddhist mantras circle dummy head microphones, Javanese Jegog percussion ensembles pulse like verdant ecosystems, and the acoustics of temples, caves and landscapes are conveyed in the mix. Weaving together culture, nature and technology, it is a record that vibrates with the polyphony of life on Earth.
But Ecophony Rinne was not only musically innovative. Noticing the difference between vinyl and CD versions of the album where digital reproduction limited the sound, Ōhashi developed a theory of “Hypersonic Effect”, determining that ultra-high frequencies above 20khz can impact human perception even if they are inaudible. At once a physical and a psychological experience, to listen to Ecophony Rinne is to feel music differently.
The rest is history. After its release, Ōhashi was approached by director Katsuhiro Ōtomo to produce the soundtrack for Akira, the work for which Geinoh Yamashirogumi is best known. Emerging from the shadows at last, Ecophony Rinne was its transcendental blueprint, reissued in its most complete hypersonic form on vinyl for the first time.
Rather than describe nature, Ecophony Rinne embodied it. Rather than reflect culture, Ecophony Rinne defined it. Rather than explore technology, Ecophony Rinne changed it. As a work of art, it is more relevant than ever. You won’t have heard anything like it.
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Those not familiar with Jones' style will listen slack-jawed at the sheer anticipatory nature of his sound collage. The five extended tracks are based on hypnotic and somewhat menacing grooves: a repetitive dub bass beat, waves of Middle Eastern strings and voices, layers of building hand percussion. The washes of sound and percussion come and go, often creating a sense of motion and change. All of the tracks are similar and even share elements. Mid-East tension is so accurately captured through the use of the region's instrumentation (especially percussion), sinister electronics, samples of men chanting, women crying, sounds culled from the horrors of war, and occasional angry distortion that the listener will be transported to the belly of the beast.
»Mullah Said« displays two aspects of the work of Muslimgauze. Firstly, musically, it is in the delightful drifting ambient vein. The percussion is mainly acoustic hand drums - providing a rhythm of aural features - the trademark shimmering string sound heard on a number of releases is much in evidence, rhythms are generally slower, there are lots of samples of people speaking in conversation, markets wherever. 'Mullah said' opens the disc with the lovely mix of these sounds. »Every Grain of Palestine Sand« continues the mood, with a slightly faster tempo, and more emphasis on the beat. But it soon locks into a mesmeric lassitude as various effects echo or smear the sounds, drums come in for short moments, different string sounds enjoin the play. »Muslims Die India« follows the mood though the voices seem darker, sadder, and then comes »Every Grain of Palestinian Sand« followed by »Muslims Die India«. Yes - not a typo, these tracks are repeated. Muslimgauze trend – to remix himself. Prime Muslimgauze middle eastern ambience - if you like that side you will love this album. The final track is short and different, a crackling ground over which a singer chants a song interrupted by machine-gun percussive bursts - »An End«.
Cream Vinyl[18,07 €]
Stank In Here
Have no fear, the stank is here! Temu & Mofak are bringing it with their new single “Stank In Here”. Serving as a long-awaited follow-up to their first collaboration back in 2015, “On the Come Up”, the duo returns with an even smoother, soulful yet futuristic dance smash meticulously composed by Mofak for people of all ages to enjoy. Meanwhile, Temu addresses the listeners directly with a message of love and togetherness while echoing back to the era of EWF, Kool & The Gang, Zapp & Roger, and The Gap Band.
Heralds of the Stank
Temu is back on the scene with his new solo single “Heralds Of The Stank”. Temu recalls the first moments when the stank hit him personally and credits the ones who introduced him as its heralds — his parents — in an infectious funky tribute song. (Ever heard something so good it made you frown and pucker your lips while nodding your head? That’s the stank face!) Standing ten toes firm on his Funk roots, Temu both lyrically and musically draws inspiration from George Clinton, Sly & the Family Stone, Jackson 5, Prince, and James Brown. Be on the lookout for his upcoming album titled “HERALDS”.
ZENA, the contemporary ethio-jazz duo from London comprised of producer, keyboardist
and synth player Yohan Kebede and bassist/producer Menelik, have announced the forthcoming release of their debut EP ‘TEMESGEN’; is a six-track aural odyssey that balances uncompromising experimentation with a deep sense of home, comfort, and exploration. In accordance with the duo’s mission, the project is seeking to redefine and reimagine Ethiopian music for a new generation.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the EP’s title, Yohan said: “‘TEMESGEN’ means “Thank God” in Amharic, and for me, I never heard my mother receive good news without saying it aloud. After the first couple gigs we did as ZENA, we saw how people reacted to our music and how it resonated with them. It spurred in us a feeling of overwhelming gratitude, after which the EP kind of named itself”
Born out of a mutual love and respect for the music of their shared Ethiopian heritage, ZENA are charting a new endeavour where Ethiopian musical traditions meet the future. Building upon the roots and foundations laid by legendary Ethiopian musicians Haliu Mergia, Alemayehu Eshete and Mulatu Astatke, ZENA fuses the haunting spirituality and earthiness of the ethio-jazz tradition with a modernity, sensuality and sense of disruption that is distinctly London.
Following three sold-out London headline shows, plus appearances at We Out Here Festival and on NTS Radio, ZENA arrive on Brownswood Recordings with a bold debut that’s equally at home across jazz-minded selectors and leftfield crate-diggers. The duo’s momentum is fuelled by Yohan Kebede’s landmark year with Kokoroko; from the release of Tuff Times Never Last to an NPR Tiny Desk, a North American tour, and their biggest headline show yet at O2 Academy Brixton, alongside Menelik’s quietly formidable reputation in London’s inner circle, shaped by time on the road and in the studio with Muva Of Earth and Bill Laurance.
d B1 IT'S YOU (ANTE NEH) ft. Meron T
d B1 IT'S YOU (ANTE NEH) [ft. Meron T]
[d] B1 IT'S YOU (ANTE NEH) [ft. Meron T]
Walter Thomas’s “Chicago Knights” LP features a retrospective of songs written and released between 1987 and 2009, primarily with the Roland 1824 and the Fostex 8 track reel to reel. Channeling the spirit of underground soul and dance music specifically rooted within the greater area of Chicago, Illinois–a city known for its deep and healthy soul and r&b roots–this compilation features 8 of its 9 tracks on vinyl for the very first time.
The intro track “I Wanna Get Witcha” dates back to 1987, holds a proven track record of kicking off many a dance floor, rocking clubs worldwide in a blur of boogie-funk, disco, and soul. “Immaturity” and both versions of “Fed Up” echo the emotional differences and tensions between lovers in a spat. “Magic City” served as the anthem and homage to its namesake roller skating rink in 90s-era Waukegan, IL. While “Chicago Knights” is a relentless mid-tempo groove inspired by the aggressive motorists that dominate Chicago roadways, “2nd Chance” drops the tempo to a slow r&b roll, preaching the ethos of love, peace, and forgiveness.
Last but certainly not least, “E&J’s” was a real commercial jingle used for a once legendary BBQ joint “E&J’s” in Illinois: a short bonus track to close out the LP. These 9 tracks are just a touch of Walter’s expansive body of work, and we’re stoked to bring them to you on wax.
Walter Thomas is a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and composer from North Chicago, IL known for his soulfully smooth arrangements and vocals. Walter has toured internationally with quintessential soul groups like the Temptations and Friends of Distinction, as well as opening for performers including the Floaters, Bette Wright, The Emotions, and The Drifters. His decades of touring with nightclub and concert performances have honed this gifted artist into a seasoned and refined live act.
Back by popular demand, the limited-edition repress of one of Joe Claussell's most cherished compositions has returned. Originally released in 1999 and created in collaboration with Afro-dance innovator Jephte Guillaume and the late music legend Boyd Jarvis, Agora É Seu Tempo first appeared on the Trip do Brazil compilation in France. It was later issued as a highly sought-after promotional 12" on Spiritual Life Music-quickly becoming a defining release in the rise of Brazilian-influenced dance music from the late '90s onward.
In 2018, Joe Claussell revisited the piece, crafting two entirely new versions inspired by the musical spirit of New York City's barrios. Released as a limited 7", these remixes sold out within weeks. Now, answering the overwhelming demand, we're pleased to announce a new limited repress of this timeless and deeply soulful classic. Warm music for the heart and soul.
Mental baile future-funk.
Impossibly, round two ratchets through higher gears than round one. The cutting and scratching skills are brutally imperious, by turn eviscerating in split seconds a trembling flock of far-flung musical prey. Out of the wreckage looms the apotheosis of apocalyptic Techno Scratch terror; the ebulliently vengeful prophesy of forebears like Grand Wizzard Theodore and the Knights of the Turntable.
Blisteringly hot.
'A sequel. An escalation. Pressure spikes from bar one: future facing, low-latency. A firmware update for the body.
'Cuts bite into cuts. Fragments swarm, collide, die out. Drums stumble untile they speak; samples crop up without names and leave without warning. Momentum is the one and only rule. Unpredictable, gridless, post-genre.
'From Tik-Tok feed to vinyl: born digital, cut for the floor. The glitch grows a body, develops a nervous system.
'Match it or get out of the way. Damned be the ones that are stuck on tradition.'
- Fire Back About Your New Baby's Sex
- The Peter Criss Jazz
- Haven't Lived
- Afro Pop
- You Drink A Lot Of Coffee For A Teenager
- Ones All Over The Place
- I Never Liked You
- Details On How To Get Iceman On Your License Plate
- A Lot Of People Tell Me I Have A Fake British Accent
- Lets Face It Pal, You Didn't Need That Eye Surgery
- Fire Back About Your New Baby's Sex
- Haven't Lived
- Afro Pop
- The Peter Criss Jazz
- Ones All Over The Place
- I Never Liked You
- Details On How To Get Iceman On Your License Plate
- Let's Face It Pal, You Didn't Need That Eye Surgery
Maui Blue & Orchid Vinyl. Nachdem wir American Don mit (Steve) Albini fertiggestellt hatten, waren wir kurz davor, dass die Spannungen zwischen uns so groß wurden, dass wir uns trennen mussten. Ich (Eric) war überzeugt, dass wir bei den Aufnahmen die wahre Essenz der Songs verloren hatten. Es war keine einstimmige Entscheidung, mit Steve aufzunehmen. Wir haben das Album komplett mit Gitarrenloops geschrieben, und Team Storm & Stress wollte im Studio mit Pro Tools weitermachen, was sowohl zu dem passte, was wir machten, als auch zu dem, was wir erreichen wollten. Steve hatte gerade den großartigen A-Raum bei Electrical fertiggestellt, und Damon bestand darauf, dass wir dort die Drums aufnehmen würden. Er gab in dieser Frage nicht nach. Sobald wir dort ankamen, wurde uns klar, dass alle Songs, die wir mit unseren Pedalen in mehreren Overdubs geschrieben hatten, nur Mono-Gitarrenaufnahmen zuließen. Wir haben das Problem gelöst, indem wir die Songs zu einem einzigen Loop gespielt und alle Gitarren später überlagert haben, sodass ein volles Stereofeld entstand, das zu den grandiosen Drum-Aufnahmen von Steve passte. Dieser Ansatz hat unsere Spielweise total verändert. Das hat zwar magische Momente der Improvisation ermöglicht (Peter Criss Intro), aber als das Album fertig war, klang es aufgebläht und die Darbietungen waren träge. Ich war mir immer sicherer, dass der Sound des Akai Headrush und die Tempi, die er für Damon vorgab, das Herzstück dieser Songs waren. Ian stimmte mir zu. In einem gewagten letzten Versuch hatte ich die Idee, Greg Norman (der für Steve arbeitete!) anzurufen und ihn zu fragen, ob wir nach unseren nächsten Shows heimlich in sein Studio in S. Chicago kommen und das Album LIVE neu aufnehmen könnten. Es war ein riesiger Schritt, der niemals hätte funktionieren können, aber wie durch ein Wunder waren alle einverstanden, und wir versuchten es. Greg hat uns persönlich und professionell in unserer heißesten Phase eingefangen. Die Tempi sind schneller, und niemand hält sich zurück. Diese echten Live-Bänder zeigen die Songs genau so, wie wir sie auf Tour gespielt haben, wo sie zwischen Juni 1999 und Juli 2000 entstanden sind. Jetzt, 25 Jahre später, wurden die Greg-Norman-Aufnahmen entstaubt und digitalisiert. Mit Hilfe moderner Restaurierungswerkzeuge und dem Fachwissen von Sir Bob Weston konnten wir diese Aufnahmen zum ersten Mal neu abmischen und mastern. - Eric Emm, Bassist
- A1: Chairman Of The Board - Life And Death In G&A (Part 2)
- A2: Curtis Mayfield - (Don't Worry) If There Is A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go
- A3: The Temptations - Psychedelic Shack
- A4: The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today - Single Version
- A5: Brutal Force - The Number For Groove
- B1: Isaac Hayes – Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic **
- B2: Bobby Womack - California Dreamin
- B3: The Five Stairsteps - Dear Prudence
- B4: Ebony Rhythm Band - Drugs Ain't Cool
- B5: Doris - You Never Come Closer
- C1: Terry Callier -You Goin' Miss Your Candyman
- C2: Rodriguez - Sugar Man
- C3: Patti Drew - Hard To Handle
- C4: Marlena Shaw - Liberation Conversation
- C5: El Michels Affair - Murkit Gem
- C6: Janko Nilovic - Drug Song
- D1: Kylie Auldist - Nothin' Else To Beat Me **
- D2: Khruangbin - Maria También
- D3: Christian Madden & The Enemy Chorus - Twice As Thick
- D4: Gabriels - Love And Hate In A Different Time
- D5: Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man In A White World
- D6: Mrcy – Purple Canyon
‘Soul Psychédélique’, released on Two-Piers, takes you on a journey into the world of Psychedelic Soul & Funk, from its early beginnings in the 1960s and 1970s to the current crop of artists championing the more Psychedelic, Trippy end of the Soul sound today.
‘Soul Psychédélique’ brings together legends of the Soul Psych scene, such as Curtis Mayfield, The Chambers Brothers, Marlena Shaw, The Temptations, and the brilliant ‘Sugar Man’ by Rodriguez. Place alongside Soul Titans like Isaac Hayes, Bobby Womack, Chairman of the Board, Terry Callier all delivering stunning Psychedelic Nuggets for your Listening pleasure. Throw in some covers like ‘Dear Prudence’ by The Five Stairsteps, ‘Hard to Handle’ by Patti Drew and ‘California Dreamin’’ Bobby Womack and finish with some brilliant modern-day exponents of the scene like Khruangbin, Gabriels and Michael Kiwanuka. The result is a crazy ride through the world of Psychedelic Soul and Funk. If you ain’t dancing and smiling by the end - what the hell is wrong with you!
‘Soul Psychédélique (The Best of Lounge & Exotica 1954-2022)’ is the fourth instalment in the ‘Psychédélique’ Compilation series on Two-Piers, following the critically acclaimed ‘Pop Psychédélique (The Best of French Psychedelic Pop 1964-2019)’, ‘Garage Psychédélique (The Best of Garage Psych and Pzyk Rock 1965-2019)’ and ‘Lounge Psychédélique (The Best of Lounge & Exotica 1954-2022)’ and is available on 2LP Coloured Vinyl
- 01: Ces Gens La
- 02: Aujourd&Apos;Hui C&Apos;Est La Fête Chez L&Apos;Apprenti Sorcier
- 03: Bivouac (1Ère Partie)
- 04: L&Apos;Espionne Lesbienne
- 05: Bivouac (Final)
- 06: De Temps En Temps
- 07: La Route Aux Cyprès
- 08: Le Cimetière Des Arlequins
Ange (lit. 'Angel') is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar and keyboards).
Since its inception the band's music has been inspired by medieval texts, fantasy and the music of Procol Harum and King Crimson. Their music was quite theatrical and poetic.
Rave-o-lution - Teknology EP (HDK-3)is a manifesto disguised in project.
Forged in the raw energy of the underground, Rave-o-lution - Teknology EP explores the connection between machine, movement and collective consciousness. This is not nostalgia, it’s forward motion. Teknology as a tool, rave as a language, evolution as a necessity.
Across four different versions, the same core signal mutates and adapts, shifting pressure, tempo and density while staying locked to its original frequency. Each version is built for a different moment on the floor, from deep hypnosis to pure mechanical drive.
Sometimes a pad emerges in the break, a moment of suspension where emotion cuts through the structure. A brief opening. A breath inside the system. Proof that even the hardest teknology carries feeling beneath the steel.
HDK-3 is made for soundsystems at full power, bodies in sync, and minds ready to disconnect from the surface and dive deeper.
No compromise.
No decoration.
Just rave — evolved.
Messiah Infernal Thrashing Records, black vinyl, ltd 250, double sided poster, mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony
High-quality FERRO cassette tapes, printed on 160g premium paper.
Release info
New SEQMENTS release includes an amazing remix by Dante Archipiélago, also known as Mwamwa. As the first remix to arrive, it immediately set the tone for the series. Based in Mexico, Dante is a very talented producer with releases on labels such as Secuencias Temporal, Circular Limited, and Sygnth. His sound is very modern, with playful breakbeats and rich rhythmic tribal elements, carefully crafted into one beautiful cohesive whole.
- 1: Aries
- 2: B E Elzebub S Tales R E Vise D
- 3: The Forge: Rebellowed
- 4: Analog Ue: Sc A L E D
- 5: Resurrection Of Yarak
- 1: K.k. Maximus
- 2: Yarak: R Eforged
- 3: Elster W E Rda N O Cturno
- 4: Sun Lick Revisited
- 5: Bovist
- 6: Fux
Here comes the first appearance on vinyl of Elf Bagatellen, a 1990 FMP classic from the legendary Schlippenbach Trio where the group achieved fever-dream beauty through self-imposed temporal limitations. The trio deliberately shaped the music, opting for more concise pieces rather than concert-length performances that had become standard practice. Those durational limitations clearly inspired them, bringing a jewel-like, compositional flow to many of the works, although even when the trio seems to be playing a tune in a piece like "Analogue: Scaled" the performance moves so rapidly into the next event any such notion is banished. And yet some of Schlippenbach's older themes resurface in abstracted ways, whether it's Pakistani Pomade's "Sun-Luck Night-Rain" appearing as quicksilver line in "Sun-Luck: Revisited" or Globe Unity's "The Forge" sneaking into "The Forge: Rebellowed." The concision of shorter pieces, including several solo works, arrive as a kind of fever dream in the usual context of free jazz. Schlippenbach Trio soon snapped back into its working methodology on its follow up album, Physics, in 1993, which further elevates the singularity of Elf Bagatellen. The album captured a different side of the trio and helped inform the modern classical tilt in European improvised music. Cien Fuegos is delighted to reissue this undeniable classic, making it available on vinyl for the first time ever, freshly remastered by Martin Siewert. Evan Parker - soprano & tenor saxophone - Alexander von Schlippenbach - piano - Paul Lovens - selected drums and cymbals This album was released as a cd on FMP 1990, remastering for vinyl by Martin Siewert 2025
- 1: Live From Mumbai 00:36
- 2: No Other Than 04:03
- 3: Powerman & Iron Fist (Fighting Without Fighting Version) 0:00
- 4: Sure Shot! 03:32
- 5: Fresh Like Dougie 04:42
- 6: How To Cut & Paste (Lesson 1) 04:54
- 7: Audobahn 03:56
- 8: All Out War 03:46
- 9: Break Down 03:24
- 10: Golden Crown (Feat. Oxygen) 04:52
- 11: Fashion Plate 04:13
- 12: Sister Of Phyllis Diller 04:01
- 13: Heroes Of The East (Feat. Paten Locke) 04:21
- 14: The Pack Up (Part 3) 02:44
Cassette Box Set[38,87 €]
AE Productions in association with Sure Shot Recordings and In Effect Recordings are pleased to announce a 10 Year Anniversary Edition of the critically acclaimed Phill Most Chill and Paul Nice album as the Fabreeze Brothers.
The hugely successful first edition which was pressed on colour vinyl and supplied in double fold out sleeve sold out in only 2 weeks from release date and then the 2nd pressing black vinyl edition sold out a little while later but has for years been out of print but is increasingly requested by shops, via email, social media, AE Productions website back in stock requests, etc…
As it has been 10 years since original release back in 2015 at the time of proceeding with manufacturing, it was the perfect opportunity to do a 3rd pressing to mark the anniversary but we had to pull out all the stops for a 3rd run of this incredible album and also make it subtly different again in packaging design from the 1st and 2nd pressings so that each has it’s own particular feel and quality.
With help from the original designer and all-round vinyl artwork supremo Mr Krum we have found some nice adjustments for the gatefold sleeve where the detail from the insert sheet found in the original issues is incorporated into the inside panels of the sleeve. We have also tweaked the hype sticker to mark the 10th Anniversary Edition and updated the vinyl labels so as to work better with the new Splatter vinyl which follows the original red and yellow vinyl but each splattered with the opposite colour.
For something a little extra we have compiled a Limited Expanded Edition Double Cassette Box Set that includes the original album and also a ‘Bonus Tape’ which features all of the remixes, alternate versions, Original Versions of album cuts and bonus tracks found on B-sides of the array of singles and we included for good measure 2 tracks that only appeared on the promotional only LP sampler that ended up being different on the final release. This is limited to cassette just for the non-vinyl heads as all of these tracks already appear on vinyl. The outer box is A5 card in black with gold foil Fabreeze Brothers logo and comes with discography booklet.
‘The Bonus Tape’ from the box set is also available as a standalone cassette release with alternate j-card art work so that it has it’s own flavour and so that anyone that purchased one of the original run of cassettes that sold out before we could even ship any copies, did not need to purchase the main album again unnecessarily and to make it noticeable from the Expanded Edition Box Set version.
This version also has an alternate shell design in keeping with the clear shell with dark liner that was commonplace back in the 90’s and the cassette geeks may note the red text on the spine as was also a common design back then – giving this a pseudonym of ‘the 90’s tape’ during the design process.
We couldn’t stop there so we also have an extremely low quantity Limited Edition Mini Disc version which is the main album plus 8 of the bonus tracks from The Bonus Tape – only missing the 2 least significant alternate versions but clocking in at just a few seconds under 80 minutes – the absolute maximum for the format! Mini Disc???!!! You’re probably asking – yes!
While looking into the cassette duplication options we realised that the duplicator also offers Mini Disc production so we thought that it may be worth doing a very small run just because not only are professionally manufactured Mini Disc’s rare in Hip Hop, they are rare within the entire music industry as they never really took off as a medium to purchase music but ended up as the choice for home recorded Walkman and car use. Indeed, AE boss Mr Fantastic still has his main machine, portable and old discs. Amazingly also, the sleeve artwork transferred brilliantly to the Mini Disc template. They are manufactured using high quality Sony discs using ATRAC 4.5 codec.
All releases are supplied with unique free download codes on cards that are included inside the packaging but also with the Expanded Edition cassette and Mini Disc having 2 cards – 1 for the main album and a 2nd card for ‘The Bonus Tape’. The free downloads are supplied direct from Phill Most Chill’s Bandcamp page keeping it independent.
- 1: Live From Mumbai 00:36
- 2: No Other Than 04:03
- 3: Powerman & Iron Fist (Fighting Without Fighting Version) 0:00
- 4: Sure Shot! 03:32
- 5: Fresh Like Dougie 04:42
- 6: How To Cut & Paste (Lesson 1) 04:54
- 7: Audobahn 03:56
- 8: All Out War 03:46
- 9: Break Down 03:24
- 10: Golden Crown (Feat. Oxygen) 04:52
- 11: Fashion Plate 04:13
- 12: Sister Of Phyllis Diller 04:01
- 13: Heroes Of The East (Feat. Paten Locke) 04:21
- 14: The Pack Up (Part 3) 02:44
RED & YELLOW SPLATTER Vinyl[29,20 €]
Expanded Edition Double Cassette Box Set including main album and Bonus Cassette with unique download cards
AE Productions in association with Sure Shot Recordings and In Effect Recordings are pleased to announce a 10 Year Anniversary Edition of the critically acclaimed Phill Most Chill and Paul Nice album as the Fabreeze Brothers.
The hugely successful first edition which was pressed on colour vinyl and supplied in double fold out sleeve sold out in only 2 weeks from release date and then the 2nd pressing black vinyl edition sold out a little while later but has for years been out of print but is increasingly requested by shops, via email, social media, AE Productions website back in stock requests, etc…
As it has been 10 years since original release back in 2015 at the time of proceeding with manufacturing, it was the perfect opportunity to do a 3rd pressing to mark the anniversary but we had to pull out all the stops for a 3rd run of this incredible album and also make it subtly different again in packaging design from the 1st and 2nd pressings so that each has it’s own particular feel and quality.
With help from the original designer and all-round vinyl artwork supremo Mr Krum we have found some nice adjustments for the gatefold sleeve where the detail from the insert sheet found in the original issues is incorporated into the inside panels of the sleeve. We have also tweaked the hype sticker to mark the 10th Anniversary Edition and updated the vinyl labels so as to work better with the new Splatter vinyl which follows the original red and yellow vinyl but each splattered with the opposite colour.
For something a little extra we have compiled a Limited Expanded Edition Double Cassette Box Set that includes the original album and also a ‘Bonus Tape’ which features all of the remixes, alternate versions, Original Versions of album cuts and bonus tracks found on B-sides of the array of singles and we included for good measure 2 tracks that only appeared on the promotional only LP sampler that ended up being different on the final release. This is limited to cassette just for the non-vinyl heads as all of these tracks already appear on vinyl. The outer box is A5 card in black with gold foil Fabreeze Brothers logo and comes with discography booklet.
‘The Bonus Tape’ from the box set is also available as a standalone cassette release with alternate j-card art work so that it has it’s own flavour and so that anyone that purchased one of the original run of cassettes that sold out before we could even ship any copies, did not need to purchase the main album again unnecessarily and to make it noticeable from the Expanded Edition Box Set version.
This version also has an alternate shell design in keeping with the clear shell with dark liner that was commonplace back in the 90’s and the cassette geeks may note the red text on the spine as was also a common design back then – giving this a pseudonym of ‘the 90’s tape’ during the design process.
We couldn’t stop there so we also have an extremely low quantity Limited Edition Mini Disc version which is the main album plus 8 of the bonus tracks from The Bonus Tape – only missing the 2 least significant alternate versions but clocking in at just a few seconds under 80 minutes – the absolute maximum for the format! Mini Disc???!!! You’re probably asking – yes!
While looking into the cassette duplication options we realised that the duplicator also offers Mini Disc production so we thought that it may be worth doing a very small run just because not only are professionally manufactured Mini Disc’s rare in Hip Hop, they are rare within the entire music industry as they never really took off as a medium to purchase music but ended up as the choice for home recorded Walkman and car use. Indeed, AE boss Mr Fantastic still has his main machine, portable and old discs. Amazingly also, the sleeve artwork transferred brilliantly to the Mini Disc template. They are manufactured using high quality Sony discs using ATRAC 4.5 codec.
All releases are supplied with unique free download codes on cards that are included inside the packaging but also with the Expanded Edition cassette and Mini Disc having 2 cards – 1 for the main album and a 2nd card for ‘The Bonus Tape’. The free downloads are supplied direct from Phill Most Chill’s Bandcamp page keeping it independent.
High Roller Records, deluxe plastic bag, cardboard insert, handnumbered, ltd 500, mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony
- A1: Theme Of Laura Ii
- A2: White Noise (Actual Noise)
- A3: What Lurks In The Forest
- A4: The Girl Behind The Gate
- A5: Ordinary Vanity’s Solitude
- A6: Arcane Disconsolation
- A7: Wistful Refrain
- B1: Promise Of The Forgotten
- B2: Beneath The Null Moon
- B3: Lament Of Heavens Night
- B4: Shadows Of The Lover’s Tree
- B5: Veil Of Forgotten Dreams
- C1: Angel’s Thanatos & Celestial Peaper
- C2: Phantasmagoria
- C3: The Cry Of The Nurse
- C4: Shadow Of My Past
- C5: The Day Of Night Shadows
- C6: Magdalene’s Elusive Lament
- C7: Lady Of The Door Finding Key
- C8: Echoes Of Silence
- C9: Cryptic Echoes
- C10: Nocturnal Reverie
- D1: The Infinite Heartbeat
- D2: Ethereal Dichotomy
- D5: Arcane Confinement
- D6: Cinderella Music Box
- D7: Eldritch Enchantment
- D8: Theme Of Laura (Repetition)
- D9: Overdose Delusion (Existence & Truth)
- E1: Anam Cara
- E2: Eddie’s Sweet Sorrow
- E3: Ephemeral Despondence
- E4: After Daddy
- E5: Desolate Reverberations
- E6: The Moment Our Paths Entwined
- E7: Manic Delirium
- E8: Savage Requiem
- E9: Transcendental Bonds
- E10: Transitory Melancholy
- F1: Obfuscate
- F2: Lake Of Enchantment
- F3: Savage Crusade
- F4: Abyssal Cell
- F5: Nocturnal Epiphany
- F6: Anathema Of Temporal Veils
- F7: Abstract Daddy Appear
- F8: Twin Pyramid
- F9: Unhinged Betrayal
- G1: Chthonic Symphony
- G2: The Enchanted Abyss
- D3: Madcap Descent
- G3: The Enchanted Abyss Part Ii
- G4: Delirium’s Embrace
- G5: Serendipity
- G6: The Reverse Will (Unseen Paths)
- G7: Surreptitious Whispers
- H1: Ontological Quandary
- H2: Socratic Ignorance
- H3: Ephemeral Solipsism
- H4: Ethereal Alleyways
- H5: Chimeric Obfuscation
- H6: Serpentine Shadows
- H7: Promise (Pragma Version)
- I1: Love Psalm Of Eternal Devotion
- I2: Laura Plays The Piano (2024)
- I3: Umbra Vel
- I4: Esoteric Woe
- I5: Tenebrous Anguish
- J1: Metaphysical Inquiry
- J2: Sepulchral Solitude
- J3: Enigmatic Despondency
- J4: Colossal Despair
- J5: Veiled Melancholia
- J6: True (2024)
- J7: James Find Eddie In Prison
- J8: Unhinged Realms
- K1: The Haunting Mirage
- D4: Desolate Heart
- K2: Nocturnal Mirage
- K3: Days Gone By
- K4: Eclipsed Affliction
- K5: Abstract Torment
- K6: Veiled Perdition
- K7: Ethereal Melancholia
- L1: Glimmering Void
- L2: Murmurs In The Gloom
- L3: Inscrutable Lamentation
- L4: Ineffable Lament
- L5: The Monolithic Doors Start To Awaken
- L6: Betrayal’s Reverie
- L7: Tenebrous Enigma
- L8: Tears Of Magdalene
- L9: Theme Of Laura (Laura’s Emotions)
LP 2x12"[42,82 €]
Konami Digital Entertainment und Laced Records tauchen in den Nebel, um den fesselnden und eindringlichen Soundtrack von SILENT HILL 2 (2024) auf Vinyl zu bringen.
Diese 6-LP-Box enthält den kompletten Soundtrack, der vom langjährigen Komponisten der Serie, Akira Yamaoka, komponiert und sorgfältig arrangiert wurde. Besonderes Augenmerk wurde auch auf die Verpackung gelegt, die Gedanken des Komponisten in einem Buch mit Linernotes enthält.
Yamaoka hat den Soundtrack für das von der Kritik gefeierte Remake von Bloober Team komplett überarbeitet. Brandneue, neu eingespielte Cues für SILENT HILL 2 aus dem Jahr 2024 fangen die unheimliche Atmosphäre der titelgebenden Stadt perfekt ein, indem sie Elemente von Trip-Hop und Industrial Rock mit düsterer Atmosphäre und Musique Concrète verbinden. Für Fans der beliebten Survival-Horror-Serie ist der neue Soundtrack vertraut und neu zugleich.
Der Score führt Yamaokas unnachahmliches Sounddesign und seine ätherischen Arrangements zu neuen Höhen und zeigt seine kreative Entwicklung seit der Veröffentlichung des Originalspiels im Jahr 2001. Die Musik geht über die funktionale Rolle eines Videospiel-Scores hinaus und ist sowohl ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Atmosphäre der SILENT HILL-Spiele als auch ein eigenständiges Werk, das eine Reise durch die dunklen Tiefen der menschlichen Psyche unternimmt.
When a Russian missile struck the ground not far from my studio in Kyiv, I vividly remember how my body reacted to the explosion, milliseconds before my mind did. That traumatic explosion reduced my essence to a primal state. There existed nothing but dread—the kind that, in scripture, accompanies the appearance of angels announcing, ’Be not afraid’.
The visions of Abbess, composer and mystic Hildegard von Bingen were preceded by bright, excruciating flashes of light. Modern medicine reduces them to cluster migraines, one symptom of which is the retinal aura, often accompanied by blurred vision and blind spots. Hildegard’s music can place great demands on the bodies of its performers, emphasizing uncomfortable intervals and the wide distance between the lowest and highest pitch. In comparison, Gregorian chant, the liturgical standard of the time, represents a tempered attempt to grasp God intellectually; indeed, Hildegard’s music was once described as a stick of dynamite thrown into a Gregorian chant.
This album is not a historically informed performance. Hildegard’s persona and music are a starting point—a distant mirror, akin to the shield of Perseus, used to reflect Medusa. It allows us to reflect, comprehend, externalise, and transcend traumatic wartime experience, reinstating the embodied origins of Christianity, which contained suffering but also offered the promise of transcendence. Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko emphasises this physical aspect of Hildegard’s music by drawing on authentic Ukrainian folk singing, a form that survived despite efforts by the Soviet occupation to replace it with a simulacrum that is naive, harmless, and devoid of contradictions—an attempt to ‘civilise’ the body by disembodying it.
The musical approach is also informed by my ongoing practice of reimagining early music in modular synthesis. I accompany Andriana-Yaroslava’s fiery singing with drones—extended sounds that also occurred in medieval music. The drones alternate with improvisations, one taking its starting point in medieval polyphony, the other working with the concept of the interchangeability of sound and light, referring both to Hildegard’s visions and the space in which we recorded the album: the Cistercian abbey of Sylvanès in Occitania, known for contemporary stained glass windows whose patterns reference the dispersion of acoustic waves inside the church.
The album features two compositions by Hildegard von Bingen: O Ignis Spiritus Paracliti (O Fire of the Spirit and Defender), dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and O Tu Suavissima Virga (O Sweetest Branch), in honour of the Virgin Mary. Both pieces are performed radically slower than usual, expanding in time and space. On vinyl, the compositions are designed to reflect one another and can be listened to in either order. In the digital edition, there is a bonus track titled Zelenaia Dubrovonka (The Green Oak Grove). Based on a Ukrainian folk song from the Polissia region, Andriana Yaroslava adapted the lyrics to reflect our contemporary reality. The green oak grove does not rustle with the wind; instead, it resonates with a different sound—perhaps the missile that struck near my Kyiv studio.
Two jewels in the crown of the soulful electronic music scene in NYC unite for a spellbinding EP on Rhythm Section International. ”Full Circle” is a brand new body of work from Musclecars & Toribio.
To call this 12” simply epic would almost be doing it a disservice. The breadth of musicality and execution of ideas contained across 3 compositions is nothing short of miraculous. I use the word composition intentionally: these are not merely tracks - these are 3 movements making up a concerto - with a dub thrown in for good measure!
The record kicks off with a soulful house behemoth, “ That’s My Story” featuring NJ legend Roland Clark on vocals giving sweet sweet testimony. In many ways, this track feels like a coming together of the trios influences. The lyrics contextualise it, giving it this intimate, confessional feel. The latin drums shuffling amidst the 909 kick drive it forward and the organ swimming freely amongst it all takes us to church. It’s a timeless track - paying homage to the various New York traditions laid down by Louis Vega, Timmy Regisford, Joaquin Claussell , Ron Trent et al - all heroes and collaborators of the composers who - with this effort - have surely now earned their place in the pantheon of American Soul Music.
‘
Be Honest’ maintains the confessional tone with the lyrics but takes things right back down in terms of tempo. Is it a love song, an ultimatum or a cry for help? Whichever way you interpret it, this track is Toribio’s time to shine as a lead vocalist and he hits all the notes, leaving not a dry eye in the house. This is a delicate tour de force, delivered with such raw emotion and vulnerability it allows the instrumentation takes a back seat - just a gentle groove, swelling strings and some unresolved chords are all that’s required to transform us to the main character of this story. We’re left hanging, and it’s oh so relatable.
Agua De Florida serves as an uplifting, fast paced finale to the concerto and this one’s all about the trumpet - masterfully performed by Melbourne born, London based virtuoso Audrey Powne. If Herb Alpert was making house music - I imagine this is what it would sound like. Throbbing bass and noodling synths join the melee and crank the joy up to 11. If the EP is a story arc over 3 tracks, then we’re definitely not left hanging with this one. All is resolved, things are moving onwards and upwards and the circle is complete.
pdqb is an entity without a fixed form, moving through multiple timelines at once, performing in all of them simultaneously.
Every tone on this record was sampled somewhere else: in collapsed futures, unfinished pasts, and inside stress loops that never resolved. The tracks are not composed - they are retrieved, stitched together from moments that already happened and moments that haven't happened yet.
The music is unstable, dependent on who listens, and in which dimension, the tracks re-arrange themselves, revealing different harmonics, different fears, different exits. No two listeners hear the same, even if they play it at the same time.
The überskilled Detroit remixers provide a solution for Earthbound listeners - those unable to time-travel or shapeshift: By filtering pdqb's multidimensional signal through machine discipline, they force a temporary alignment - a version of a track that sounds the same to most listeners. Only then does collective rhythm become possible, a shared timeline where bodies on a dancefloor move to the same future at once.
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Dr. Paul Dominic Quentin Bernard defines Future Traumatic Stress Disorder as a cognitive condition marked by a reversal of mnemonic orientation. Memory, in this model, no longer operates retrospectively but functions prospectively, encoding anticipated survival outcomes rather than past experience. Affected subjects do not recall what has been lived through; instead, they retain anticipatory memory structures of what will be survived. Bernard notes that this temporal inversion produces sustained psychological stress and warrants further empirical investigation.
Continuum - Vol. 16.219, Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal
Some tracks are just too good to only feature on a compilation, even if it is a significant and celebratory set like Leng’s 15 Year anniversary album from late last year. That’s certainly the case with Payfone’s brilliantly atmospheric ‘Dime Algo’, a seductive slab of slow-motion Balearic disco featuring ‘I Feel You’ vocalist Kyd Nereida, along with Sofi Hardoy and Ludmila Rodriguez.
For this single release Black Science Orchestra, one of Britain’s most storied production collectives, deliver some truly exceptional remixes. Initially making their name with a series of sensational house jams on Junior Boy’s Own across the 1990s, BSO became renowned for the quality of their remixes as well as an ever-evolving trademark sound that put soul, organic instrumentation and references to dance music’s rich and varied past front and centre.
Comprised of Rob Mello, Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris, Black Science Orchestra work has been rare in recent years but here they deliver some magical takes on ‘Dime Algo’, blending Payfone’s original instrumentation with their own low-tempo magic. The Vocal Mix begins with sparse drums, Kraftwerkian bleeps and heavy sub-bass, building the action in waves with 303 lines, electro synths, warm chords and Nereida’s superb lead vocals combining to re-frame ‘Dime Algo’ as a deep, far-sighted slice of chugging 21st century acid-disco. The Dub Mix stretches things out with effects-laden instrumentation, acid lines and vocal snippets. Deeper and woozier, with more prominent use of the trio’s 303 trickery and Payfone’s superb original elements, it’s a heady, intoxicating and loved-up interpretation that subtly gains intensity throughout its seven-minute duration.
"Nachpressung als limitiertes gelbes Vinyl! Das in Australien gegründete und in LA ansässige Duo VOWWS meldet sich mit „I'll Fill Your House With an Army“ zurück, ihrem bisher ehrgeizigsten und am besten umgesetzten Album.
„I'll Fill Your House With an Army“ (2025) ist der Höhepunkt der kühnsten Ideen der Band und zeigt, wie VOWWS, bestehend aus Rizz und Matt James, ihre charakteristische „Death-Pop“-Ästhetik vertiefen: eine genreübergreifende Mischung aus industrieller Elektronik, alternativem Rock, cineastischer Nostalgie und melancholischer Pop-Sensibilität. Co-produziert von Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle) und mit Gastauftritten von Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, NIN, Devo) und James „Munky“ Shaffer (KORN), ist das Album eine Reise durch Sehnsucht, Entfremdung und die surreale Schönheit des Chaos.
Dieses Album zeigt perfekt die dynamische Bandbreite des Duos: von verzerrter Intimität bis hin zu gewaltigen Klangattacken reflektieren VOWWS ein zerbrochenes Spiegelbild des modernen Zustands - romantisch, aber desillusioniert, viszeral und doch seltsam erhebend.
Nachdem sie sich durch Touren mit den Deftones, Twin Temple und Poppy bereits eine kultige Fangemeinde erspielt haben und gerade einen bahnbrechenden Live-Auftritt im Golden Gate Park neben System of a Down und The Mars Volta absolviert haben, sind VOWWS bereit, ihr Vermächtnis mit dieser Veröffentlichung zu zementieren. Ihr künstlerisches Ethos, unbeugsam in einer Ära der Wegwerfbarkeit, hat sie auch in die Welt der High Fashion geführt, wo sie mit Comme des Garçons, Givenchy und Byredo zusammenarbeiten.
- 1: Brand New Heartache
- 2: Long Ride
- 3: The Lie
- 4: Barroom Feather (Radio Edit)
- 5: Blind
- 6: Nothing New
- 7: One To One Another
- 8: Always Almost
- 9: Barroom Feather
Good As True (2026), the 12th studio album from Yonder Mountain String Band, leans into a warm, expressive sound — bluegrass shaped with an indie edge, rock undertones, and a hint of country. Recorded live in the studio, its eight original tracks trace romantic, personal, and societal relationships and the work it takes to stay connected. The lead single “Brand New Heartache” pairs rock-driven verses with a bluegrass-lifted chorus as it follows the fallout of a breakup and the uneasy hope of starting again, while “Blind” opens with a striking instrumental riff that lingers long after the song ends, while its lyrics confront regret, mental health struggles, and the pull to become something better. “Long Ride” delivers a sharp, sarcastic look at life in a touring band; “Nothing New” and “The Lie” confront political rigidity and division; “One to One Another” and “Always Almost” pull toward quieter emotional corners; and “Barroom Feather” drifts into indie-folk terrain with one of the album’s most atmospheric jams. Across Good As True, Yonder moves between high-tempo runs, layered harmonies, and moments that breathe — a reminder that nearly three decades in, they’re still charting new ground.
- 1: Intro
- 2: Concrete Hell
- 3: Rotting On A Golden Throne
- 4: Pigs Will Be Pigs
- 5: Tin God
- 6: Deception Of The Weak
- 7: Mental Vacation
- 8: Killing Taste
- 9: No Alibi
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present ZERRE’s highly anticipated second album, Rotting on a Golden Throne, on CD and vinyl LP formats. From the cellars of Würzburg, Germany, ZERRE have been keeping the torch of old-school thrash metal burning while carving their own vicious path. Their sound draws on the razor-sharp aggression of classic Metallica and Exodus and the stomping groove of early Faith No More: no frills, no mercy. Their third full-length, 2024’s Scorched Souls, tore through the scene and earned critical acclaim for its searing riffs and unflinching energy. Now, ZERRE take a decisive step forward with Rotting on a Golden Throne. Darker, more overtly political, and more aggressive than its predecessor, this fourth full-length dives headfirst into the rot of power, corruption, and human decay – a brutal soundtrack for a world teetering on the edge. Onstage, ZERRE embody the chaos of their music: riff-driven assaults, breakneck tempos, and a raw intensity that leaves no room to breathe. On record, while those influences still remain, but the DNA has been splintered into something more unique and definitely more powerful: thrashing, yes, but within a crossover framework that feels titanic. The production is razor-sharp, but with ominous atmosphere to spare; the execution is even sharper, as the drumming especially pulses like a dread locomotive; and vocals spit forth venom, raging against a machine fatted by suffering. As the throne collapses, ZERRE deliver the anthem of its fall. Keep on Rotting on a Golden Throne!
Traversing wormholes and flexing versatility, Nicola Cruz gets back on his club-ready biz.
No proper introductions needed here. Sometimes you just have to sit back and appreciate someone at the top of their game. The third portal thing, done masterfully. Hats off.
Time-honoured templates that provide the foundations for his hybrid mutations. Three mescaline-strength techno incursions backed up with a vivid projection of fractal electro.
Big on murk. Properly steeped in introspection, expanding consciousness and horizons. The vision quest endures for the duration.
New levels of insectoid detail and lysergic flourish revealed with every close listen, but he’s always keeping it robust. Giving it chest with some serious dancefloor dramatics until the final unfurling.
CLEAR VINYL[27,94 €]
Anfang 1996 veröffentlichte The Wedding Present "Mini" über Cooking Vinyl Records, eine EP mit sechs Titeln, deren Songs alle einen Bezug zum motorisierten Fahren hatten. Fast dreißig Jahre später hat David Gedge dieses Konzept wieder aufgegriffen! "Maxi" enthält sechs weitere Stücke, deren Titel/Inhalte sich alle auf diese Thema beziehen. Maxi erscheint über Clue Records und folgt kurz nach der Veröffentlichung von 40 - der Zusammenstellung, die den komplexen und faszinierenden Katalog von The Wedding Present in einem Box-Set mit vier Vinyl- und/oder vier CDs widerspiegelt. Der letzte Titel der Compilation ist "Hot Wheels" - ein Song, der nun auch auf Maxi zu finden ist, zusammen mit fünf weiteren Stücken. Obwohl Maxi dem gleichen Konzept wie Mini (1996) folgt, klingt The Wedding Present 2025 deutlich größer. Dies ist wirklich eine Band in ihrer kreativsten Phase, die sowohl die Grenzen ihres eigenen Stils/Sounds als auch die Erwartungen der Zuhörer erweitert, während die Texte auf provokative Weise Bilder zeichnen, wie es nur David Gedge kann. "Wie ich in meinen Sleeve Notes zu 40 gesagt habe, wurden die Songs, die wir für Maxi aufgenommen haben, relativ schnell geschrieben, weil ich mich besonders inspiriert fühlte, sowohl textlich - durch Situationen in meinem Leben - als auch musikalisch - durch das Schreiben mit der damals neu hinzugekommenen Rachael. Die daraus resultierenden Tracks wirken größer angelegt und stimmungsvoller als alles, was wir seit langem gemacht haben ... und sie sind dank der neuen Rockqueen von The Wedding Present und ihrem Arsenal an Gitarren und Pedalen auf jeden Fall temperamentvoller!" (David Gedge). Transparente Vinyl-10" oder CD im Digipak.
Welcome ALL to another amazing modern soul release by Louise Marshall & Geoff Gascoyne – after the hits soul release from last year “Happy on my own” & Stop look and Listen” both these tracks had lots of radio spread around the world.
Two superb vibes A side - “And I was like….” a mid-tempo eyeworm soul vibe with a funky cheeky message with its. On the double AA side is the uplifting “Where’s the Party?” this has a strong dance groove and feel, superb top like vocals which you just can’t help to sing along
- 1: Paints A Picture
- 2: Clipping
- 3: Isolation
- 4: Theoretical
- 5: Breakfast
- 6: Mold
- 7: Nothing
- 8: Unwound
- 9: Mustard
- 10: Village
- 11: Sanctuary
- 12: Ooo
Special Friend have become the masters of weaving elegant and sophisticated pop musical webs while staying true to their low-fi indiepop roots. The French/American duo (Guillaume on guitar and vocals, Erica on drums and vocals) manage to create a sound like no other band. When they play live, audiences marvel at the huge, intricate structures the band construct, while falling in love with the crystal-clear vocal melodies that are threaded in between the shards of guitar and the rattle of the drums. How can a duo achieve so much? UK audiences will be able to ponder this question in March: Special Friend are coming over from France to do a substantial tour of the UK. These shows are highly recommended!
The new album is more diverse that the last, with the high-tempo indiepop of first single ‘Breakfast’, the majestic, Yo La Tengo-like dreampop of ‘Clipping’ and the country-ish, gentle, homesick melancholy of ‘Isolation’. Final track ‘OOO’ is a bold piece of Krautrock-inspired experimentation; ‘Mold’ is a beautiful slice of slowcore and opener ‘Paint A Picture’ is modern pop at its catchiest and most direct.
‘Clipping’, the album title, refers to the discipline of pruning growth back, removing dead wood to create a perfectly shaped tree with abundant blossoms: an accurate description of the album, and of the songs that hang from its elegant branches. The album artwork is by Erica: Special Friend are in control of every aspect of this elegant artefact.
‘Clipping’ was recorded in 2025 at Studio Claudio by Alexis Fugain and Margaux Bouchaudon. Set in an isolated rural environment conducive to immersion, the band had seven days in the studio—significantly more than for previous records—allowing for greater care in the recording process, particularly for vocals and arrangements. Several tracks feature synthesizers and organs, acoustic guitar, and even an electric bass on “Sanctuary,” a first for Special Friend. Overall, the record benefits from a more developed and detailed production while preserving the band’s direct approach and spontaneity.
The album was mixed by Syd Kemp, who has worked with artists such as Thurston Moore, Ulrika Spacek, Caroline, Crack Cloud, and Vanishing Twin.
Special Friend’s previous album on Skep Wax, ‘Wait Until The Flames Come Rushing In’ was an underground hit, with a significant amount of airplay in the UK and in the US.
‘Clipping’ is a co-release with Howlin Banana Records and Hidden Bay Records (both in France). Skep Wax is proud to present the album in the UK and in North America.
- 1: The Cross
- 2: Whips-A-Swinging
- 3: Savage Gods
- 4: Sword Of Iron
- 5: Crystal Skull
- 6: Warlords
- 7: Black Talon
- 8: Titan's Awakening
- 9: Haneda
While many have tried to emulate the ancient German (black)thrash sound, CRUEL FORCE brimmed with an authenticity that could not be denied, as well as songwriting that added to that noble tradition rather than lazily picking at its corpse. Their two successive albums, 2010's The Rise of Satanic Might and 2011's Under the Sign of the Moon, made CRUEL FORCE a certifiably CULT name in the international metal underground. Sadly, the band fell into a hiatus following that second album, but returned reinvigorated with the comeback 7" EP Across the Styx in 2022 and, a year later, the glorious full- length Dawn of the Axe at the hands of new label home SHADOW KINGDOM. Continuing to make up for lost time, CRUEL FORCE storm back with swords gleaming high on their fourth full- length, Haneda.
Where a line could be drawn between the band's "first era" of The Rise of Satanic Might / Under the Sign of the Moon, so continues this Second Era that began with Dawn of the Axe - one that harkens to the "Jurassic period" of heavy metal, when everything was rawer, less polished, and more energetic and powerful. As displayed by that pivotal predecessor, Haneda further proves that CRUEL FORCE are more so an old-style speed metal band, largely bereft of that blackened edge during their First Era. The tradeoff is that there's a prominent mysticism coursing through that speed, and the blue-collared aspect of Dawn of the Axe is now spit-shined to a lethal slickness that makes Haneda hit that much harder.
However, it must be stressed that, while it follows logically from Dawn of the Axe, Haneda is very much its own headspace, its own continuation of a still-vital aesthetic. At times more epic, exuding both more and different atmospheres, CRUEL FORCE here take the listener on a journey from old temples to desert planes, from deep jungles to mountain tops, and other mysterious locales beyond; indeed, the whole record is like a journey through mystical realms. Although no concept album, Haneda is very conceptual in its aesthetics, even down to its production: BIG and naturaltoned, from the guitars to especially the drums, everything here is as '80s and authentic as possible, underlining
Black Vinyl[27,27 €]
High Roller Records, reissue 2022, black vinyl, ltd 500, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, lyric sheet, poster, mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel/ Temple of Disharmony
POD & Edward Richards return with their second release on Kinetic Vision, the ‘Polar Phase’ EP, following their much lauded ‘SQZR’ EP. A landmark release for the label, ‘Polar Phase’ marks the first of a series of records to come. Set at a tempo of 100 BPM, the duo mix minimalism, broken beats, world music percussion and psychedelic synths to weave a tapestry of darkness, albeit more zen than melancholy.
The opening track ‘Mind Machine’ is propelled by a broken beat and flurry of hard hitting snares. A swirl of synths abound while a tribal incantation is whispered in the dark. The title track ‘Polar Phase’ takes us on a pulsing journey of techno hypnotism, with icy synths threatening deep underwater immersion. The B side ‘Flux Growth’ elicits an obscure playfulness with its punctuated kick and slowly building chaos. Finally the Sub Basics remix of ‘ Polar Phase’ lifts the tempo and we find ourselves in a bliss of pure dancefloor hedonism.
POD & Edward Richards have crafted a rich textural sound with slow paced hypnotic grooves, creating deep absorption for both DJ and listener alike.
We present an EP from two house masters Artem Stan & Matpri on Analog Concept records.
This record was born like in the classic 90s from jam sessions in the studio, when musicians caught the groove and connected their deep universes, showing true love for house music. Everything is combined here - the sound of drum machines 909 and not only, atmospheric acid impulses of 303, classic pads that paint these paintings bright and filled with deep meaning, as well as much more. Amazing two sides and four compositions, each with its own story.
The Midnight Seduction track opens the telling of these stories on side A. From the first seconds, immersing in the atmosphere of synthesizer temptation, the analog bass line combined with the default drum section and elements of bright metal claps quickly gain the necessary energy and immerse in the images of a closed nightclub with long corridors and hidden dance floors. The light plume of the classic M1 organ and the accentuating Acid lead maintain balance. Secret nocturnal seduction, light ecstasy and an atmosphere of love.
French Kiss - everything is great here, as soon as you listen to the harmony of accordion-like synthesizers and deeply addictive pads, you are instantly transported to the image of Parisian streets. Elements of bells, a rhythm section filled with unpredictable percussion, acid inclusions and an unexpected immersion into a broken beat in the middle of the composition, a real deep French kiss.
Matpri is known for its sophisticated approach to music and is rightfully the guru of micro and minimal house. Having created the maximum sound quality of the rhythm section and the deep bass that was addictive from the first seconds, mixing old-school vibe, while not losing touch with his minimalistic sound image, he filled the House Template track with the smallest details and percussion, which is confidently based on the B-side.
Four certainly high-quality compositions were created in the studio of Artem Stan in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana and one of the tracks on the B-side - "Nasha Polyana" - is dedicated to this location, it conveys a certain playful atmosphere of a mountain village with a vibe of complete freedom and daily carefree. A complete release with decent house music.
- A1: Againstme - Snowfall
- A2: Anfs - Omnia
- A3: Alexander Kowalski - Falling Forward
- B1: Temudo - Lifted
- B2: Metapattern - La Galerie Des Glaces
- B3: Oliver Rosemann - Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
- C1: Electric Rescue - S2I0L2K5Y
- C2: Sera J - Hypoxia
- C3: Annē - Soundscapes
- D1: Kerrie - Kontrapuntal
- D2: Endlec - Vitriolic
- D3: Nases Morur - Dancefloor 4Am
RENEGADE METHODZ presents ENACT
5 YEARS RM - MUSIC WITH THE FORCE OF FUTURE
Celebrating five years deep in the trenches of techno resistance, the Greek label presents ENACT, a Various Artists compilation that captures the ethos of Renegade Methodz in its purest form and collects together a carefully selected group of music that embodies the Renegade Methodz philosophy.
Three years after the release of Volume 1, Innershades returns to home turf with a second entry in his Heritage series. The New Beat territory that its predecessor tackled serves as the starting point for the A-side of Volume 2 as well. The glistening arpeggios and choir patches on "Mind State", alongside the unyielding kicks, alarm-like synth lines and plodding tempo of "System Breakdown," reaffirm how the genre's hallmarks smoothly align with the artist's own inclinations. The B-side draws from the broad spectrum of styles that emerged a bit later, in the beginning of the nineties, when it seemed the dance floor would move unimpeded between and bridge genres, its boundaries often not as firmly established. "Fuse Memory" nudges the pace forward, driven by the 909 and a staple hypnotic lead. When the drums come to a halt, a 303 emerges to flesh out the break. "Rhythm Composer" continues in a similar early techno vein, but pulls the track into outer space via its formant-heavy leads and Detroit-tinged sci-fi sweeps. On ALT023 Innershades appears in fine fettle, providing another batch of up-front club tracks that approach history as motion rather than memory, translating the past into forward momentum.
Fausto returns to the Carpet family, this time with three tweaked out jams perfect for the Circuits series. Spread across the A-side, the 9-minute ‘Moonland’ evokes its title with driving acid and cosmic Detroit atmospherics. On the B, ‘Nacho’ is a classic mood builder, tempering its own acid lead with expansive bass and a rolling groove. The EP closes with the stepping ‘Nirvana’, perfect for closed-eyes reverie at the afters.







































