quête:re con

Reissue. Violet vinyl, limited to 350 copies. This is MEPHISTOFELES at their druggiest best - you can practically hear the sizzle of something brown cooking on its grooves - and thankfully, they've kept their doom locked in the garage. Mephistofeles continue to maximize the ROCK aspect of their sound over the doom here, with their swagger truly something to behold as those solos just soar downward into the abyss and the rhythm section push and pull right behind. If anything, Violent Theatre is a sterling example of true ensemble playing. Mephistofeles are nothing if not dependable, but just check out the 14-minute epic "Communion of the Vile" for the band really going for it. No other words needed: MEPHISTOFELES are cult for a reason, and Violent Theatre simply proves it further.

Zwei Monate bevor Jackie McLean sein bahnbrechendes Meisterwerk “One Step Beyond” einspielte, hatte
der Altsaxofonist im Studio von Rudy Van Gelder ein dynamisches Quintett für eine Aufnahmesession versammelt. Trotz der hochkarätigen Besetzung mit dem Trompeter Donald Byrd sowie dem Pianisten Herbie
Hancock und dem Schlagzeuger Tony Williams - die kurz danach Mitglieder des zweiten großen Quintetts
werden sollten - legte Produzent Alfred Lion die Aufnahmen erst einmal auf Eis. Sie wurden erst 1980
als Teil der “Connoisseur”-Reihe unter dem Titel “Vertigo” veröffentlicht. Das Quintett präsentierte eine
schwindelerregende Vielfalt an Stilen - von energiegeladenem Post-Bop über raffnierten Funk bis hin zu
langsamem Blues. Gekoppelt wurden das Material auf dem Album mit einer klassischen Hard-Bop-Nummer
aus dem Jahr 1959, die McLean mit einem anderen exzellenten Quintett ursprünglich für das Album “New
Soil” aufgenommen hatte. Auf diesem Album war sie aber wegen Platzmangels nicht erschienen.

In December 2025, I performed alongside Asmus Tietchens and Jetzmann at the final Hörbar Ausklang Festival. This cassette was produced for that occasion. It contains preliminary studies for my live modular synthesiser performance.

The tape wasn't sold on the night, and its release ended up being postponed until now. At one point I had almost forgotten that I had even produced it. Now it's finally here—but what does that change?

Side A features a 24-minute piece titled Aber Was Ändert Das? (What Does That Change?)
Aber Was ändert Das? – Two oscillators coupled via a comparator and routed through a filter bank form the foundation of this piece. Eight filters within the bank are modulated by a synchronised octal triangle wave. Over time, the modulation gradually unfolds like an abanico (fan), shifting into different patterns. The impulses slowly dissolve into noise. A looping voice tape is added to the texture, and the piece concludes with a melody of comb-filtered sine tones.

Side B presents several variations and adjustments of a self-generative patch.

Quantitative Unbestimmbarkeit I-V (Quantitative Indeterminacy I–IV) – At the core of these pieces is a source of uncertainty and three function generators programmed in mutual feedback. The tonal material is derived from a wave-folded sine wave, a noise source, and a pinged state-variable filter. This type of self-generative patch is commonly known as a Krell patch.

The edition is limited to 50 copies. Release day will be the August 7th, 2026.

The title Miszellen Band is derived from the term Miszelle (plural: Miszellen), which refers to a short informative text or brief scholarly essay, often published in academic journals or collected volumes under a "Miscellanea" section. The word originates from the Latin miscella, meaning "mixed things". Such texts typically explore highly specific subjects without the scope or depth of a full-length study. They often consist of etymological notes, addenda to previously published work, concise discussions, or small discoveries from archives.

A new collaborative project between Neil Jones (lead singer of Stone Foundation) and Nick Corbin (founder of New Street Adventure), bringing together two of the UK soul scene’s most distinctive voices and songwriters. The project also features legendary keyboardist Mick Talbot (The Style Council) and bassist Ernie McKone (Galliano / The Brand New Heavies), creating a band rooted deeply in British soul tradition while pushing the sound somewhere fresh.

The seeds of the collaboration were sown during the Covid-19 lockdown, when Jones and Corbin joined forces for a marathon live-stream performance that quickly gathered momentum online. The result is Silent Stream — an album steeped in soulful songwriting, rich musicianship and understated groove. The lead single captures that spirit perfectly: warm, reflective and melodic, built around classic soul textures, Hammond organ, and a rhythm section that breathes with the ease of seasoned players. For fans of contemporary British soul with classic influences, the track sits comfortably alongside artists like Paul Weller, Michael Kiwanuka and the wider Acid Jazz / modern soul movement.

It’s a meeting of kindred musical spirits — born in lockdown, but very much built for the long road ahead.

ROSE KEELER-SCHAFFELER

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Magic Hollow (MH002)

Before we learn language, we learn the voice.

Universal Language is the second release on Magic Hollow and an exploration of the voice before song and before speech. Written and recorded during pregnancy and early motherhood, Rose Keeler-Schaffeler's album draws inspiration from the earliest forms of human communication: coos, cries, sighs and instinctive vocalisations that precede language yet already contain the seeds of music.

Best known as Keel Her, the cult DIY songwriter, producer and NTS Radio DJ whose fiercely independent body of work helped define a generation of bedroom pop, Rose reveals a strikingly different side of her musical practice here. Produced by Daniel O'Sullivan, Universal Language places the human voice at its centre, treating it not as a vehicle for lyrics but as the raw material from which music, language and relationships emerge.

With the exception of a handful of bass vocal parts performed by O'Sullivan, every voice heard on the album is Rose's own.

Across twelve meticulously composed pieces, layered vocal arrangements intertwine with subtle electronics, tape manipulation, synthesizers and understated drum machines. At times the music evokes the luminous purity of medieval sacred music; elsewhere voices dissolve into hazy ambient textures or unfold through hypnotic loops that blur the distinction between singer, choir and atmosphere.

The album was recorded during the first year of her son’s life. Many of its melodic contours and vocal gestures were inspired directly by his earliest sounds. His pre-linguistic attempts at communication became compositional material, guiding Rose towards a deeper exploration of the voice at its point of origin.

Deeply personal yet reaching towards something universal, Universal Language is a meditation on the human voice: our first instrument, our first language and our first experience of belonging.

Continuing the primordial descent that kicked off in earnest with their 2023 debut album, Pulsations From the Black Orb, ASTRIFEROUS return with their second full-length, Atavistic Unraveling. Much like that celebrated debut, the Costa Ricans’ sophomore album is perfectly titled: truly, the sensations one finds spread across this dread landscape are an Atavistic Unraveling. Thankfully, ASTRIFEROUS’ foundation has changed little – the swarming morbidity of early ’90s Finnish death metal fused with classic South American madness – but there are (dread) developments that prove the band are just now hitting their stride.

Despite its title, Atavistic Unraveling shows ASTRIFEROUS at their tightest and sharpest, with chops and execution meeting at a nexus of impossibly horrific proportions. Duly armed, the quartet take their songwriting to strange, skronking lengths, rendering their angularity both an unsettling and utterly attacking thing. Likewise, the slight cleaning-up of production has paid dividends, allowing these malformed ruminations to fully seep into the listener’s psyche – mangling the mind, wracking the body – whilst emerging with just enough linear propulsion to land the record on the right side of art rather than riff salad.

Collectively, these changes have made ASTRIFEROUS even more world-eating than before, further cementing their homeland’s death metal scene as one of the most potent around. Atavistic Unraveling awaits those who dare…

Spectral death metal conjurations will grasp you with their doom-tinged tendrils from the onset of this record. The gritty, booming riffs open a chasm of darkness for the punishing drums to cast skulls into. Met by otherworldly vocals, this is certain to grip any fan of sepulchral music with its enchanting and intense abyssal atmosphere. Do not be fooled by the slower lumbering moments into thinking this will be an easy listen. Stampeding ferocity and wild madness soon erupt from the charnel openings to give a burst of frantic psychopathy to the experience. Churning doomed violence and convulsive bestial onslaughts entwine around each other to project forth arcane death metal violence with huge dynamics and an utterly savage feeling to every second. With a natural, organic production to convey the filthy nature of the music perfectly; this is not a record that will hold your hand rather drop you into a void of souls with malicious intentions.

From the devastating drum work and monstrous riffing to the wickedly contorting bass lines; each instrument complements the others in this storm of triumphant vitriol while the commanding vocals spew malice to superb effect. The low end murmurings and rusted blades of the leads are an idyllic balance of inhospitable sounds that will surely satisfy any real underground lunatic seeking dark music. These five pieces clock in at 35 minutes and the sheer intensity is upheld for every second. Crypt-lurking doomed despair and utter ferocity become companions while the groove of the more mid tempo sections tie everything together. There is certainly nothing missing for an impactful and memorable experience. Allowing itself to decay and reform throughout; you will see, hear, feel, smell and maybe even taste the stages of cranial decay and the anguish of the brain matter breaking down into nothingness. This is a record which doesn’t follow predictable patterns nor rules but wildly possesses you with the malignant spirits from death metal’s darkest corners…

Vor 24 Jahren veröffentlichte Jane Weaver ihr Solo-Debütalbum. Nun erscheint es erstmals wieder als Neuauflage! Das ursprünglich 2002 veröffentlichte *Like An Aspen Leaf* ist ein atemberaubendes, atmosphärisches Folk-Werk, durchzogen von einer Sehnsucht, die an Americana erinnert. Mit der Unterstützung von Mitgliedern von Elbow, Voice Of The Seven Woods und Andy Votel entstanden, entfaltet sich das Album wie aus einer Welt des Barock-Pop: untermalt von Liedern voller Wehmut, durchdrungen von eindringlichen Melodien und üppigen Harmonien sowie verfeinert durch klagende Cello-Klänge und ein sich sanft schlängelndes Klavier, das hinter Janes Moll-Akkorden lauert. Das nun für die heutige Zeit remasterte *Like An Aspen Leaf* ist eine betörende Sammlung von sieben Songs, erfüllt von tiefer Melancholie. "These are urban poems, reflecting frailties in urban landscapes and finding great passions hiding between the lines of everyday conversation" The Guardian ****

Within the broad church of metal and its many offshoots – rock, doom, stoner and all the rest – it remains a minor thrill to stumble across a group who seem to exist at a slight tangent to everything else. Crumbling Ghost is one such anomaly. Crumbling Ghost are not newcomers. They've been operating for some time, releasing records sporadically, Four' is in fact their fourth release. Along the way they've accumulated a fervent coterie of followers, not to mention the occasional nod of approval from tastemakers such as Stuart Maconie, Stewart Lee and Tom Ravenscroft. And though they've appeared at Roadburn, shared stages with Hawkwind and even Damo Suzuki, they remain (possibly by design) curiously under the radar.
The group's core idea is deceptively simple: traditional folk material refracted through the haze and heft of heavy, fuzzy stoner rock with a chunk of psyche and a smattering of doom. But crucially, this is done without the costumery and theatrical tics that often accompany such collisions. No mock pagan pageantry, no graveyard cosplay, no cartoon Satanism.
What Crumbling Ghost latch onto is not folk as a museum piece, but as a lived experience, the dramas rooted in the culture, stories, and daily lives of ordinary people, the folklore, the tales of love and death, murder and adultery, freedom and oppression. Singer Katie Harnett says. "Doting mothers, possessive, violent partners, vulnerable women, seasonal workers and Royal scandals this album is our representation of the trials and tribulations of human existence and universal experiences that still feel relevant today.

Guitarist John adds. "Themes of murder, betrayal, loss, jealousy, and love are found across the record. In particular, the songs of Martin Carthy have been a particular source of inspiration".
The result is a set of murder ballads, supernatural reckonings and cautionary tales, all wrapped in slabs of heavy, thumping fuzz and atmospheric sonics. Harnett's voice sits at the centre: unmistakably folk rooted, but shorn of prettification, melodic yet capable of real bite.

The album opener 'Bows Of London' is a murder ballad of sisterly hatred and grim sibling rivalry, centred on a haunted fiddle fashioned from a dead sister's bones. The loping relentless, hypnotic backing chillingly and perfectly accompanies the narrative. Of course, the story doesn't end well. 'Bill Norrie' follows, a hooky melody propelled by an insistent bassline and a haunting psych tinged haze punctured with sheets of noise.. The story of young Bill Norrie who sends a token to a married woman, whose jealous husband beheads him, without knowing he was his wife's son from an earlier affair. An instrumental palate cleanser arrives in the shape of 'Valtz Efter Tor Lohne' a Norwegian traditional the band jokingly describe as a "banger".
Then we have 'Lovely Joan' which offers a rare note of sly triumph: a quick witted woman outmanoeuvres a predatory nobleman, escaping with his ring and his horse. Muscular riffs give this tale of empowerment a welcome sense of teeth. 'Gower Wassail' is a traditional Welsh folk tune that captures the raucous spirit of communal ritual, noise making and drink fuelled hope for a good harvest. Captured perfectly here by CG complete with wah wah guitar and a drunken groove catching the song's celebratory chaos. Then we have a little gem in 'Last Of All Sleep' , an original band composition and a genuine highlight: a heavy lidded, shoegaze tinged folk reverie, equal parts distortion and delicacy. It's a drop-dead gorgeous shoegaze-tastic psychedelic grunge mini epic. The album closer 'The Unquiet Grave' is a very apt place to finish. It's about a young man whose constant grief at the death of his true love disturbs her eternal sleep so she cannot rest. Even though the playout on this track, complete with a demonic repeated riff and feedback feels suitably bleak, even this song allows a glimmer of release ... we think.
And there we have it, 7 songs, 7 worlds, all honed to perfection by producer Wayne Adams (Green Lung/Big Lad) that will reward every repeated listen.

Folk and metal/heavy rock do have a connection of course, just look at Green Lung and their 'folk horror' infused musical universe, but Crumbling Ghost are a very different beast.
'Four' amply and beautifully demonstrates that when it comes to 'folk horror' there's nothing quite as horrible as folk ... Here, the horror such as it is, and it must be said, the moments of light, comes not from theatrics, but from the songs themselves – which, after all, is where it's always lived.
Crumbling Ghost are John Mosley – Guitar / Donny Hopkins – Guitar / Ruth O’Loughlin – Bass / Katie Harnett – Vocals / Matthew Atkins- Drums.

A new chapter unfolds on Cécille Records as Naples-based duo Shokë step forward with their first full solo EP for the label.

Following a string of standout appearances on Cécille, Shokë now deliver the “Chiamami EP” – their most complete statement on the label to date.

Now firmly part of both the Cécille Records and Cécille Events roster, this EP feels long overdue. After consistently delivering every time, Shokë have more than earned their own full release on the label. Leading the EP is “After You”, a warm and uplifting house record with all the ingredients of a true Ibiza summer anthem. Built around an infectious groove and feel-good atmosphere, it’s one of those tracks that instantly creates memories of sunsets, terraces and open-air dancefloors. The rest of the EP follows suit, packed with the timeless house grooves and understated musicality that have become a trademark of the Shokë sound.

A strong release from two artists who continue to establish themselves as an important part of the ever-growing Cécille family.

Recorded April 17 and 18, 1993, at the Union Grove Baptist Church, Ozark, Alabama.

The Wiregrass Singers' Dewey Williams began learning the shape-note tradition in his childhood. He studied under Judge Jackson, who authored the landmark 1934 hymnbook The Colored Sacred Harp. In 1971, Williams formally organized The Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers to preserve the music full-time. This unified troupe began touring nationally and leading workshops, which ultimately launched them onto stages at the Smithsonian and Newport folk festivals up until Williams' passing in 1995 when the group disbanded. The African-American Sacred Harp tradition in the Wiregrass region has steeply declined since the start of the 21st century, due to an aging generation of singers, and today it is largely sustained through archival preservation and occasional multi-book singing meetups.

This raw recording, made at the Union Grove Baptist Church, Ozark in mid-April 1993 finds the group singing from B. F. White’s The Sacred Harp (1844), which together with his brother-in-law William Walker’s Southern Harmony (1835) formed the musical backbone of generations of Southern music and Southern musical styles.

"On almost any Sunday between the months of March and October, the season most conducive to travel and outdoor dinner-on-the- grounds, Sacred Harp devotés join with fellow songsters at the County Line Church in Slocomb, or the Mount Sinai Church in Henry County, or the Union Grove Baptist Church in Dale County, or at any one of a dozen or so churches in the southeast Alabama counties of Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Houston and Pike, to form the square and sing fa-sol-la. Approximately fifteen African-American Sacred Harp singings occur annually in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama. A singing tradition characteristically associated with white culture in the Deep South, southeast Alabama has enjoyed a vibrant African-American Sacred Harp tradition for well over a century.

On a day of a typical African-American Sacred Harp Singing, the participants arrive casually in the late morning, seat themselves in the square according to voice part, and begin to sing. A dinner break occurs in the early afternoon, and the singers enjoy a covered-dish "dinner-on-the-grounds" (or in the church basement) prepared by the women. The most intense and emotional singing typically occurs after the dinner break. Each singer takes a turn leading the song of his choice. He walks to the middle of the square, calls out the song's page number and waits for the designated tuner to key the song. Singers are discouraged by the other singers from repeating a song that has already been sung, or "used." This proscription is often dispensed with, however, if the singer is particularly young, particularly old, or if the song has special significance to the individual song leader (perhaps the favorite song of a recently deceased relative).

Every singer is given an opportunity to lead a song. Often, older or more infirm singers will request younger singers to lead their songs for them. The motions of the song leaders are highly stylistic and often emotional. Young children are taught in singing school to mark time with their right arm while holding the book in their left. Typically, a singer will stand in place at the center of the square while leading the singing of the notes. When he begins to lead the lyrics portion of the song, he will often begin to "walk time," rhythmically pacing from one side of the square to the other, being careful never to turn his back on the tenor section. This "walking time" is unique to the African-American tradition. As a singer grows more confident he develops his own distinctive leading style. During fuguing songs in particular, he may gesture to each section of the square as its part joins in. Skilled song leaders often elicit applause or other emotional responses from the group. Occasionally a singer may fall into a state of spiritual ecstasy and "get happy." The episode might include a personal testimonial followed by a repeat of the last verse or refrain from the previous song. The singings break up around 5 P.M."
—Henry Willett, 1997 credits

Anne has a passion for writing in alternative open tunings and her eclectic musical influences span blues, jazz, folk and country. Her new album Cigarettes and Smokescreens showcases her talent for storytelling. When not playing sold- out stages across the UK, you can find Anne in a field in the middle of nowhere with her two retired horses. This special album is now available as a vinyl LP pressed at Seabass Vinyl in Scotland, following an initial CD only release.

Anne Gair has toured extensively across the UK. She has played iconic venues including The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, King Tuts Wah Wah, The 100 Club and The Voodoo Rooms. She has played festivals including Belladrum and Celtic Connections. "Anne has got the most stunning voice, It's very Joni Mitchell- esque. (Her music) is beautiful storytelling and gorgeous melodies." -- Anna Foster - BBC Radio "A voice that just soothes your soul" - Rambling Folk "(Anne's) voice is beautiful, just gorgeous" - Nerina Pallot

Katatonia released their seismic opus, ‘The Fall Of Hearts’, in 2016 to chart & media success; reaching #1 in the USA Heatseekers & #5 in the USA Hard Rock charts, #2 in Sweden's Hard Rock chart, #3 in Canada's Hard Rock chart, #4 in the UK's Rock & Metal chart, #6 in Finland, #11 in Germany & saw success in Australia with their first ever chart entry.

Katatonia had worked tirelessly touring the world since 2012's ‘Dead End Kings’, as well as expanding their fanbase through two albums on Kscope, Peaceville's sister label. 2013 saw the release of ‘Dethroned & Uncrowned’, which exploded the core of the songs on ‘Dead End Kings’ creating new moods & textures. Both releases illustrated the band’s journey toward ‘The Fall Of Hearts’, which featured a more progressive sound, a sound which provoked The Guardian to refer to the band as "bridging of the gap between metal & modern prog."

‘The Fall Of Hearts’ was the first record to feature new drummer Daniel ’Mojjo’ Moilanen with the addition of their then recently recruited guitarist Roger Öjersson (Blindead 23, ex-Tiamat), who sprinkled some blistering solos on the album. With this release, Katatonia continued to push their musical boundaries beyond the metal scene whilst drawing in new fans from across the musical spectrum, putting them on par with peers such as Opeth & Anathema, cementing their place as one of the most revered & cherished bands in modern heavy music.

This special & limited tenth anniversary pressing of 'The Fall Of Hearts' is presented on double pearl dawn vinyl, & includes gatefold sleeve.

In a year which marks the 40th anniversary since the initial formation - under the moniker of Black Death - of what would subsequently grow into influential genre legends, 2026 marks the return of the imperishable Norwegian duo of Fenriz & Nocturno Culto for their new opus of high calibre old metal, under the banner of 'PreHistoric Metal'. As Fenriz himself proclaims of the title's symbolic origin, "Prehistoric is a loose term.

I just figure it's our VIBE, our take on things & it's more a statement that we use old style to create something new". 'Pre- Historic Metal' contains eight tracks of primal epics & gargantuan riffs with organic sound & the ever- present permeating spirit of the 70s & 80s, for a new continuation of the mastery witnessed on 2024's 'It Beckons Us All'. This next chapter in Darkthrone's extensive & ongoing catalogue presents a vast odyssey through the sonic landscapes of Thrash, Black, Heavy & Doom Metal &, adorned with a punishing & "in your face" guitar presence, Darkthrone stirs the cauldron of savage creativity with a nod to the writing methods which were indicative of their earlier works of the late 80s, but with a more refined craft.

Fij makes a vibrant return with his new single "Don't Bring Me Sunshine," a bittersweet, high-speed ode to independence and renewal. Described by Fij as an "anti-love song," "Don't Bring Me Sunshine" flips the script on romance. Its sardonic, bah-humbug lyrics are set against a rush of euphoric energy - inspired by the simple thrill of driving fast with the windows down, music blaring, and summer stretching endlessly ahead. As Fij puts it: "Who needs love when you've got a full tank of petrol... and the whole of Summer lying ahead on the heat-hazed open road?" The track is the latest preview of his long- awaited debut solo album, due this September via Tip Top Records. It signals a clear shift in tone and tempo. After years marked by introspection - shaped by personal upheaval, frontline work during the pandemic, and his role as a funeral celebrant - Fij has hit reset.

Re- embracing the electric guitar, raising the BPMs, and rediscovering joy, his new material blends the fuzzed edges of dream-pop with elements of pop and electronica, all delivered with his signature wit and melodic finesse. Fij first emerged in the early 90s with Adorable, whose debut album Against Perfection (Creation Records) became a cult favourite, earning multiple NME accolades and topping the Indie charts. The band's legacy continues to resonate, with artists citing their influence and figures like Noel Gallagher famously calling their label's decision to drop them a major mistake. Following Adorable, Fij explored new sonic territory with Polak and later collaborated with Terry Bickers of The House of Love, producing critically acclaimed releases that reaffirmed his reputation as one of Britain's most distinctive voices. His baritone - often compared to Lee Hazlewood, Lou Reed, and Richard Hawley - remains as rich and compelling as ever, now carrying a renewed urgency.

As We Once Were is the third studio album from twice Welsh Music Prize nominated artist and producer The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies) - This new record is the long-awaited follow-up to the UK Top 40 album The Art Of Losing and features an all-star cast of guest vocalist, including Mercury Music Prize nominees Hannah Peel and Welsh-Cornish musician Gwenno, long-time collaborator James Dean Bradfield from Manic Street Preachers also contributes vocals and electric guitar on 'Throw Over Your Man' - a song inspired by the love letters between literary legends Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville West - and newcomer Eaves Wilder (Secretly Canadian) duets on 'Damsels' The Art Of Losing received wall-to-wall critical plaudits upon its release in 2021 and scooped up a raft of Album of The Year nods from The Sunday Times, to Prog, to the Mail on Sunday. With Sir Elton John naming it "one of my favourite records of the year" and Caitlin Moran calling it "the inadvertent, beautiful and truthful soundtrack to this moment", it went on to sell over 10,000 physical copies via the power of word of mouth.

As We Once Were is the third studio album from twice Welsh Music Prize nominated artist and producer The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies) - This new record is the long-awaited follow-up to the UK Top 40 album The Art Of Losing and features an all-star cast of guest vocalist, including Mercury Music Prize nominees Hannah Peel and Welsh-Cornish musician Gwenno, long-time collaborator James Dean Bradfield from Manic Street Preachers also contributes vocals and electric guitar on 'Throw Over Your Man' - a song inspired by the love letters between literary legends Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville West - and newcomer Eaves Wilder (Secretly Canadian) duets on 'Damsels' The Art Of Losing received wall-to-wall critical plaudits upon its release in 2021 and scooped up a raft of Album of The Year nods from The Sunday Times, to Prog, to the Mail on Sunday. With Sir Elton John naming it "one of my favourite records of the year" and Caitlin Moran calling it "the inadvertent, beautiful and truthful soundtrack to this moment", it went on to sell over 10,000 physical copies via the power of word of mouth.

As We Once Were is the third studio album from twice Welsh Music Prize nominated artist and producer The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies) - This new record is the long-awaited follow-up to the UK Top 40 album The Art Of Losing and features an all-star cast of guest vocalist, including Mercury Music Prize nominees Hannah Peel and Welsh-Cornish musician Gwenno, long-time collaborator James Dean Bradfield from Manic Street Preachers also contributes vocals and electric guitar on 'Throw Over Your Man' - a song inspired by the love letters between literary legends Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville West - and newcomer Eaves Wilder (Secretly Canadian) duets on 'Damsels' The Art Of Losing received wall-to-wall critical plaudits upon its release in 2021 and scooped up a raft of Album of The Year nods from The Sunday Times, to Prog, to the Mail on Sunday. With Sir Elton John naming it "one of my favourite records of the year" and Caitlin Moran calling it "the inadvertent, beautiful and truthful soundtrack to this moment", it went on to sell over 10,000 physical copies via the power of word of mouth.

ionnalee | iamamiwhoami – BLUE IN CONCERT (live versions) is a limited edition double LP documenting the 2026 anniversary tour celebrating ten years of the audiovisual album BLUE. The release presents newly produced live studio versions of the complete concert set, capturing the atmosphere and emotional intensity of the performances while reinterpreting the original material in a more immediate and organic form.

Originally released in 2014 as the third audiovisual chapter in the iamamiwhoami series, BLUE became one of the project’s most defining works — merging electronic pop, Nordic melancholy, and immersive visual storytelling into a singular world. A decade later, BLUE IN CONCERT revisits the album through expanded arrangements, live instrumentation, and the raw energy developed on stage throughout the anniversary tour.

The BLUE IN CONCERT tour was performed in:
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, New York, Mexico City, Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Berlin, Warsaw, and Stockholm.

Pressed as a deluxe double LP in a strictly limited edition of 500 copies, BLUE IN CONCERT (live versions) stands as both a commemorative release and a reimagining of one of ionnalee and iamamiwhoami’s most celebrated works, bridging past and present through performance, reinvention, and physical format.

A heartfelt band from Small Town, Texas, with a penchant for pop melodies and medieval harmonies, Tele Novella write songs the old-fashioned way and perform them in a minimal style filled with delicate arrangements. Influences include Connie Converse, Lee Hazlewood, Pentangle, Marty Robbins, The Magnetic Fields, and PRAM. Merlyn Belle is a homespun creative bricolage that pulls from influences as diverse as cowboy troubadours and folk baroque to tell stories that are at once cinematic and deeply personal. Painstakingly assembled using a blend of hi-fi and lo-fi recording gear, Tele Novella have crafted a cohesive pop record that feels equal parts mysterious, evocative, heartfelt, and sincere.

Beefheart & McQuinn is the new project from UK artist Moby Beefheart aka William Murray (formerly of UK outfit Fur) and Melbourne / Naarm musician Winter McQuinn (Sunfruits, jade imagine). Coming together after a chanced coffee meetup, the musical connection between the two artists is palpable. Sharing a love for the folk and rock sounds of yesteryear without pastiche obsession, Beefheart & McQuinn make contemporary psychedelic folk / soft rock, a rich sonic tapestry of vocal harmony blends and deft musicianship / production.

Midtown Downtime is a debut album which explores the tensions of time and productivity in late-stage capitalism. The album is a collection of 10 songs that explore the genres of contemporary psychedelic folk / soft rock, with stacked harmonies over syncopated guitars and occasional synth / drum outbursts.

The album has a sound that is familiar yet unique, harkening to both Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and Luke Temple/Carol King. Lyrically the album covers a lot of ground with songs about the squeeze of capitalism coupled with the feeling of isolation and anxiety that the modern world’s political landscape can engender, alongside songs of love, friendship and nostalgia.

There’s a high energy feeling that runs through the 27-minute album's core, an energy that goes hand in hand with the modern era's ever-changing focus & diminishing attention spans, the record asks you to sit down and listen to it all in one go.

Exxûl emerges as a massive, brooding monument to the tradition of high-stakes Epic Doom. Founded by Phil Tougas (Zeicrydeus, Chthe’ilist, Atramentus), the project serves as a vital expansion of his established conceptual multiverse, carrying forward the intricate lore of his previous works into a new realm of tragedy and weight. However, Exxûl is a formidable collective in its own right, featuring a lineup of elite musicians from across the extreme metal spectrum. Their debut album, 'Sealed Into None', eschews the frantic pace of the modern world for a deliberate, regal march toward oblivion. Their debut album is a regal march, drawing inspiration from the technical majesty of early Fates Warning, the thundering conviction of Manowar, and the frost-bitten heroics of Scald and Solitude Aeturnus. It is an uncompromising work of architectural doom, serving as the definitive companion to the Zeicrydeus mythos and a new pillar in a vast, dark narrative.

For fans of: Solitude Aeturnus, Fates Warning (Early), Scald, Manowar, and Zeicrydeus.

Nat King Cole remains one of the most iconic and cherished voices in popular music, celebrated for his warmth, sophistication, and effortlessly smooth delivery that helped define a generation. Compiled here is a stellar array of his most memorable recordings, spanning romantic ballads such as "Unforgettable," "Mona Lisa," and "When I Fall in Love," as well as lively favourites like "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "Ramblin' Rose.

Ayo lands on Kumquat with four cuts of distinct minimal flavor. Punchy kicks and crisp rhythms intertwine with intricately crafted squelches on Hint Please. Pressures Inside takes a lighter turn for early mornings, subtly balancing bouncy optimism with introspective vibes.

Bizness energy returns on the B side — Late Euphoria glides eerie vocal samples over razor-sharp snares that'll have dancers raising their arms in unison. The EP closes with a groovy chugger whose infectious bassline is certain to make sun-drenched dancefloors wiggle. Essential tunes from a rising Marseillais star whose sets consistently turn heads.

Skyjack — the borderless five piece band spread across South Africa and Switzerland — announce their fourth studio album, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet, out 3rd July.

Recorded in December 2025 at a secluded studio outside Stellenbosch, South Africa, the album captures the vibrant live energy of the band at its most expansive — drawing together free improvisation, South African jazz traditions, chamber music, kinetic groove, and ecstatic collective interplay into a singular body of work.

“This record is a very articulate representation of our sound, having grown deep roots into the earth with high branches reaching upward and outward”, says bassist Shane Cooper. “My desire is always to create sonic universes that can envelope the listener.”

The album’s title comes from a line in a poem by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, reflecting the music’s balance between groundedness and transcendence. Here, Skyjack move fluidly between meditative improvisation and lush orchestration across twelve tracks of free-spirited, cosmic journeying. Inspired both by the cultural traditions and natural environments of South Africa, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet is a testament to the band’s intuitive connection and innate musical curiosity.

It arrives just over a year after Light Cycle (2024), a short gap that reflects the momentum built on tour. After exchanging sketches remotely across two continents, the band reunited in Johannesburg in late 2025, workshopped the new material onstage across South Africa, and then headed directly into the studio, where much of the album was recorded live in first takes — preserving the looseness and unpredictability central to Skyjack’s sound.

Comprised of Kyle Shepherd (piano), Shane Cooper (bass), Jonno Sweetman (drums), Andreas Tschopp (trombone), and Marc Stucki (saxophones), Skyjack first formed in Cape Town in 2013 during a fertile moment in South African jazz, as a new generation of musicians pushed against rigid genre definitions and opened the music outward toward broader sonic possibilities. Over the past decade, the band has built a singular sound drawing equally on South African groove traditions and European improvisation.

Individually, the members move between jazz, electronic music, film scoring, rock, hip-hop and experimental composition, with collaborations spanning artists including William Parker, Lionel Loueke, Zim Ngqawana, Ben LaMar Gay, Jorge Rossy, Shabaka Hutchings, William Kentridge, Makaya McCraven and Sylvie Courvoisier.

Since their self-titled debut in 2015, followed by The Hunter (2019) and Light Cycle (2024), the group has developed a reputation for immersive live performances and music that continuously reshapes itself in motion — rooted in what they describe as “warm menacing African grooves,” while refusing fixed stylistic borders.

Fresh from dropping a fine collection of reworks by Scruscru, Blur Records welcome back regular contributor Hotmood. He brings with him a belated sequel to his 2023 EP Disco Power. The Mexican begins in fine form via the tease-and-release, disco-funk powered disco-house slammer 'Give It To Me', before opting for a more elastic and rubbery groove on the similarly-minded peak-time bounce of 'Let Me Dance'. Hotmood decides to breathe new life into a string-laden, cowbell-sporting 1970s disco workout on 'That's What You Had', once more exploring effects-laden disco-house dynamics, while closing cut 'Summer Nights' sees him making merry with loops and samples from an old Earth, Wind and Fire favourite and some suitably powerful beats.

Frenchman Franck Roger is as consistent as any of the deep house greats we have all loved and appreciated for many years. He returns to Seasons Limited with another EP of perfectly timeless sounds to back that up. Opening up this latest gem is 'Don't Make Me Wait', which is shimmering and candlelit, with wispy pads and aching vocal cries occasionally bursting out of the mix. 'The Number Track' has a more pronounced groove with lumpy kicks and this time neon chords bubble through nicely for zoned-out late-night hypnosis. 'Fast Lane' closes with a more insular and dark feel that takes you back to the early days of Chicago house with a devastating synth conveying great loneliness

The talented Mr. K continues to build up the most comprehensive collection of DJ essentials to hit the 7-inch format with this latest offering of two beloved classics from the golden era of neo soul. First up is Jill Scott’s self-empowerment anthem ‘Golden’, here the original version stitched together with an unreleased 2005 breakdown remix by London crew Blackbeard. Using sweeping strings from the Blackbeard version, dramatically building to a tambourine acapella & original track makes for a masterful edit, one even more impressive when it’s done as seamlessly as this. The flip side ups the tempo with Mos Def’s ‘Umi Says’, a unique hybrid of broken drums, swirling keyboards (courtesy Weldon Irvine Jr. and Will.I.Am!), a propulsive bassline, and those instantly addictive vocals. Mr. K adds a solid minute of intro, giving the song the room it deserves to breathe, and just lets things simmer without distraction. Another masterclass at the edit board, and another gem to add to our growing treasure trove of work from Mr. Krivit in maximum sonic fidelity both for their first appearance in a 7-inch format.

Chloe Lula Announces Syntax: A Singular Vision Connecting Ambient Meditations and Hypnotic Techno San Francisco-born, Berlin-based artist Chloe Lula announces the launch of Syntax, a record label that codifies her unique position within the electronic music landscape. Arriving as the definitive home for her work as a DJ, producer and cellist, Syntax follows her established residency at Tresor and acclaimed releases on foundational labels including Mord, Blueprint and the highly esteemed experimental imprint Subtext. Her label is the culmination of a decade spent as both a participant in and a defining voice in the scene—a space where Lula’s deep and cohesive vision of electronic music finally converge. The label’s name refers to the arrangement of elements to forge new meaning, a philosophy Lula applies to her singular musical grammar. Whether through her slow-burning, exacting techno or her instrumental compositions, Lula’s work is characterized by a patience that understands nuance and counterpoint. This vision is reflected in the label's structure: releases will arrive in thematic series that bypass traditional genre markers to focus on atmosphere, immersion and hypnotica. The imprint’s debut, SYN-PLS01, marks the beginning of the Pulse series, a collection specifically engineered for the floor. For this inaugural release, Lula took recordings from Swiss electroacoustic composer Alexandra Bellon as a jumping-off point, molding Bellon's architectural sense of space into six tracks of driving techno. Future series will expand the catalog into ambient and instrumental territories, reconciling formal acoustic tradition with the raw functionality of the electronic landscape. With a career spanning editorial leadership at Resident Advisor and her work shaping the dialogue of the culture through her writing and interviews, Lula brings a deep, analytical knowledge to her craft. Syntax is the connective tissue between her work in the booth and her critical contributions to the field—a project that formalizes her distinct perspective as both a curator and a creator. SYN-PLS01 arrives on May 8. Follow @syntax.records for updates.

Next up on Berlin’s Pure Hate Trax PH009 PH EP by NX1 Incl. UVB Remix. For over a decade, the Barcelona-based duo NX1 have forged and continuously refined a unique sonic identity. Their music radiates an awe- inspiring physicality: powerful low-end pressure, meticulously crafted breaks, and tension-driven crescendos that elevate each track without ever resorting to clichés. The duo has consolidated its position with releases on some of the most respected labels in the scene, including Planète Rouge, MORD, Modularz, Semantica, BITE, Earwiggle and their own imprints NX1 and Nexe Records. Their discography reached a pivotal moment with the release of their acclaimed album “What You Should Know About Yourself”, a defining chapter in the evolution of their artistry. On remix this time we are proud to welcome UVB to the label. The French Berlin based artist needs no introduction due to his constant presence on the Techno scene for well over a decade now releasing on such labels as Mord, 47, Monnom Black, Analogue, STOOR and his own imprints SHIV and Body Theory. Mastered by Paul Mac Graphic design by Slave To Society Distributed by Triple Vision Distribution 2026 Pure Hate Trax

The legends of the golden era of Italian soundtracks and library music go by many names, but the backbone of that era’s definitive sonic identity is most often identified as I Marc 4 (also known as Marc 4 or I Marc Quattro). While the moniker might be less familiar to the uninitiated, it is a simple acronym derived from its founding members: Maurizio Majorana (bass), Antonello Vannucchi (organ), Roberto Podio (drums and percussion), and Carlo Pes (guitar). The number "4" serves to highlight the core synergy of these four master musicians. Their journey began in Rome’s vibrant jazz scene of the 1950s and early 1960s, where they honed their craft as members of the RAI national orchestra and collaborated with the most prominent jazz and pop icons of the day. However, it was their pivotal role in defining the Italian cinematic sound of the 1960s and 1970s that secured their legacy. Their unmistakable style was an eclectic fusion of beat, jazz, classical, and Latin influences—textured with early synthesizers, experimental sound effects, and a blend of electronic and baroque instrumentation. Consequently, their initials are etched into the credits of countless landmark recordings by legendary composers such as Nino Rota, Armando Trovajoli, Gianni Ferrio, Alessandro Alessandroni, Piero Umiliani, and Ennio Morricone.

Beyond their work as session luminaries, they produced a vast body of library music under their own name at the legendary Telecinesound Studios in Rome. These recordings were released through prestigious library labels like Sermi, Ricordi, and Fonit Cetra, as well as through their own imprints: Nelson Records, Silver Men, and Silver Music, spanning a definitive series of sixteen albums. Ten of these volumes were issued on Nelson Records during the 1970s, featuring the now-iconic military stencil design. Each release was color-coded: red (G.L.P. 1001), dark blue (G.L.P. 1002), gold (G.L.P. 1003), light green (G.L.P. 1004), brown (G.L.P. 1005), black (G.L.P.1006), light blue (G.L.P. 1007), yellow (G.L.P. 1008), orange (G.L.P.1009), and cool green (G.L.P. 1010). The series was completed by two elusive companion releases: S.M. 2001 on Silver Music and S.M. 2002 on Silver Men, both presented in the same distinctive brown sleeve. Rediscovered in the 1990s and 2000s, these Nelson releases have since achieved cult status among collectors, producers, and DJs worldwide. The final two installments, S.M. 2001 and S.M. 2002, remain the rarest and most enigmatic of the set.

Often overlooked, they contain some of the most profound "hidden gems" in the group’s catalog. The tracklist traverses a wide stylistic spectrum: from the rare groove and proto-hip hop energy of "Trama Nella Metropoli", "Beat Morbido", and "Candy", to the lush cinematic atmospheres featuring the ethereal vocals of Edda Dell'Orso on "Summer In Love", "On The Rain", and "Arcobaleno". The collection is rounded out by sophisticated jazz pieces like "Flauti Ensemble", "Passeggiata", and "Atmosfere Dolci”. Sonor Music Editions has meticulously curated the finest moments from these two rare albums for this first-ever dedicated reissue. Bringing together the best of Silver Music (S.M. 2001) and Silver Men (S.M. 2002), this release retains the iconic stencil artwork but introduces a striking silver finish. This design choice honors the original ten-album sequence while shedding new light on these outstanding recordings—works that remain, in every sense, golden.

In Arc, Yorkshire-born artist Kirk Barley explores alternative tunings and off-grid sequencing to shape fluid rhythmic and melodic systems that unfold into rich harmonic forms. Kirk’s fourth album under his own name and debut for Marionette continues his exploration of just intonation through a sparse but finely detailed palette of organic atmospheres, metallic shimmer and off-kilter rhythms. Across the record, glassy pads, gamelan metallophones, clarinet and guitar dissolve into fluid, dreamlike forms, suggesting vast coastal landscapes, charged air and the stillness that follows turbulence.

Drawing on the feel of sample-based hip-hop, the minimalism of Terry Riley and Jon Hassell, as well as dub techno and post-rock, Kirk brings together a range of influences in a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. After first hearing Terry Riley’s Shri Camel as a teenager, he became captivated by just intonation and microtuning, inspirations that have shaped his work ever since, from his earliest Bambooman releases to the present solo works and as on half of Church Andrews & Matt Davies. Arc is his first record to be fully rooted in alternative tunings from start to finish. Longtime friend and collaborator Matt Davies appears on Ion, Sundry, Ecstatic and Fret (Haar), where his finely detailed, ASMR-like muted percussion deepens the dialogue between tactile acoustic sound and Kirk’s luminous electronic palette.

Leading Danish contemporary jazz label April Records is proud to present Well, actually..., the third album from Polish acoustic jazz quartet O.N.E. Grounded in the spirit of democracy andcollective improvisation, the album offers a tightly woven set of original compositions that blur the lines between modal jazz lyricism and the raw energy of free improvisation.The band name O.N.E. is a clever double entendre: in Polish, "one" (pronounced oh-neh) means "they" in the feminine plural - an apt nod to the all-female lineup. In English, of course, it signifies unity. Both meanings reflect the band"s egalitarian, leaderless approach and cohesive group sound.Almost three years after the recording of their previous release Entoloma(Audio Cave), the group reunited in December 2024 at Studio S4 in Warsaw to record a fresh set of ten compositions. Spread over two sides, the album captures the continued evolution of a band that thrives on interaction, trust, and shared purpose - even in a society fractured by post-pandemic socio-economic uncertainty and political ambiguity. Featuring contributions from all four members - pianist Kateryna Ziabliuk, saxophonist Monia Muc, bassist Kamila Drabek, and drummer Patrycja Wybranczyk - the recordreflects their commitment to artistic democracy. Each voice is given space, yet the music always feels greater than the sum of its parts. Even on the miniature solo track solo form, the other three players remain present, supportive, and responsive. From Ziabliuk"s percussive piano textures and dreamlike voicings on tracks like Osloand Berio, to Muc"s expressive, woody tone on alto and baritone sax, each piece explores dynamic interplay and shifting emotional landscapes. Drabek"s resonant, grounded bass - by turns lyrical and propulsive - provides a central thread, while Wybranczyk"s drumming fizzes with precision and imagination, as heard on Cipherand the angular closer Sneaking Around.Together, these four distinctive creative forces have developed a shared language built on mutual respect, long-term collaboration, and deep listening. Their concerts across Europe (including Jazzahead, B-Jazz, Umea, and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival) haveaffirmed their standing as a boundary-pushing group with something new to say.








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Since The Summoned announced Mama Terra as one of Britain's more intriguing modern jazz propositions, anticipation has only gathered pace, and this latest offering more than answers it, with Marco Cafolla's Glasgow ensemble stretching spiritual jazz into widescreen territory, enriched by Conrad Roberts' evocative narration on the title track and 'Bliss'. Elsewhere, 'Isha' drifts with serene assurance, then 'The Observers' gives way to a far more expansive finale. It's another bold step from a group whose musical vocabulary seems to grow richer with every outing.

In a world currently defined by unrest, uncertainty, and cultural fracture, acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Isaiah Collier returns with Joy, a 5-track EP that reframes one of humanity’s most nuanced emotions both as a devotional grounding and political act.

Collier’s deeply personal compositions present joy as an act that isn’t rooted in escapism or abstraction, but rather, as something hard-won rooted in lived experience, shaped by transformation, and sustained through connection. Throughout the album’s five compositions, Collier positions joy as a guiding light during challenging times, an expression of challenging yourself to utilize your gifts, an affirmation of love and discovery, and as an affirmative source of reassurance.

“We are in a paradoxical time, where so much is being revealed to us,” Collier shares. “Everything feels political from every scope… our collective hearts feel the heaviness in the air. Yet I say to you all—don’t despair. For right now, the most political thing we can do is share joy.”

That ethos is made clear in the opening title track and lead single “Joy.” A pulsing rhythmic motif anchors the melody with a sense of both searching and certainty. Collier conceived the piece around 3 years ago reflecting on a time where many people in his life were experiencing loss of family and friends and experiencing profound life transitions. “Everything just felt like it was falling apart with no aim in sight,” he reflects. “Yet, there is a light at the end of it all.”

As he played the chords with a sense of urgency, he could feel the vibration of yellow in the piece. That initial triplet motif serves as the guiding light on the piano and the only word Collier could hear was Joy. In addition to Collier at the helm singing and playing piano and tenor sax on the track, it features an expansive 11-piece ensemble with a full horn and string section allowing Collier’s propensity for composition and arrangement to shine with an eclectic sonic palette.

“Landscape of Dreams” finds Collier serendipitously leaning into utilizing his gifts as a multi-instrumentalist. While he had a sketch of the piece going into the studio, a traffic delay caused musicians to be late arriving at the studio. Never one to waste time in the studio environment, Collier stepped into new creative territory and took up the challenge of executing playing all instruments himself as an act of trust and experimentation. “I’ve never done this before, and so it was a leap of faith for me,” he asserts. “I always dream of doing stuff like this, and being part of the small percentage of people who can do it like Prince, Steve Lacy, Frank Zappa, and Stevie Wonder. The end result finds Collier immersed in a hypnotic soundscape playing layered flutes, drums, Metatron, Wurlitzer, and auxiliary percussion.

Another layer of joy is revealed in “Where I’m Loved” that serves as a love letter and leaning into the process of stepping into the willingness to explore life and love with a partner. On the intimate meditation of vulnerability and connection, Collier's vocal prowess is on full display, exerting effortless falsetto reminiscent of D’Angelo over soulful Wurlitzer and guitar as he crosses over into more R&B-inspired realms. “I believe everyone deserves this feeling or to honor the memories of it. Furthermore, I believe you should also go where you’re celebrated and not tolerated.”

“When the Dust Settles” captures the electricity of live collaboration and Collier further steps out of being confined to any specific genre. He had just gotten a microKORG keyboard from co-producer Sonny Daze and was exploring the vast array of sounds on the instrument. Collier plays synth bass on the microKORG joined by the electrifying improvisation of Cole Runge on guitar and the combustible rhythm of his brother Jeremiah Collier on drums with additional post-production work from Sonny Daze.

The album’s final track “God’s By Your Side” reflects on perseverance and artistic legacy, directly inspired from the passing of D’Angelo, whose life’s work was a huge part of Collier’s childhood growing up in the late 90s and early 00s. With gospel flavor and direct influence both from D’Angelo’s vocal and instrumental arrangements, the track speaks to resilience and persistence in the face of obstacles—an affirmation of source and reassurance. “And what’s better than having God by your side, right?” asserts Collier.

Joy is a through-and-through expression of the arc of joy in its truest form. Joy transcends fleeting happiness and is conscious gratitude shaped by taking chances, leaning into your gifts, fostering community, and lived experiences.

“Joy is partially happiness,” Collier explains. “But to me it means happily being grateful for family, friends, lovers, teachers, and good times. These are the things that anchor us.”

The release of Joy comes off the heels of significant momentum for Collier, whose work continues to garner accolades and resonate across cultural spheres. He was featured on the cover of DownBeat’s April 2025 issue, where he was named “The Next Sax Giant,” and profiled on NPR’s Jazz Night in America for his ambitious 13-movement interdisciplinary suite The Story of 400 Years, that traces 400 years of Black American History. He released two full-length albums in 2024 with The World Is on Fire highlighted in The New York Times’ Fall Arts Preview and The Almighty named among the publication’s Best Jazz Albums of the year.

Beyond performance and recoding, Collier’s influence is recognized in broader cultural and intellectual spaces as he was the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2025 Up and Coming Artist of the Year Award, the 2024 Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz, and was named a Steve Jobs Archive Fellow joining an elite cohort of the next generation of artistic visionaries through a yearlong program.

In addition to the release of Joy, Collier is touring his “Collier Plays Coltrane” program throughout 2026 in honor of John Coltrane’s centennial. Rather than presenting Coltrane’s expansive catalog as repertory, Collier approaches this music as something living, reshaping it in real-time with a sense of space and improvisational dialog reflecting both reverence to the past and present times.

Sasha takes charge of the 200th release on his influential label, Last Night On Earth.

The two richly detailed cuts balance cinematic emotion, club functionality and meticulous sound design and arrive on vinyl alongside the digital release.

Electronic music titan Sasha launched Last Night On Earth in 2011, and for 15 years, it has been at the forefront of the melodic underground. Breaks, house, techno, ambient and progressive have all been explored by a mix of original pioneers, new school innovators and Sasha himself, either solo or often in collaboration with friends, peers and exciting emerging talents. The label swiftly became a movement, with regularly sold-out showcases around the world and exclusive merch. Enduring tastemaker Sasha remains as busy and innovative as ever in the studio and on the road, and just weeks after his last outing here with Franky Wah, he returns with another standout single.

Majestic opener 'Hollow Sun 25' is a slow-burning seven-minute odyssey with an acid-infused bassline and Sasha's signature celestial touch in the spectral vocal fragments that infuse the mix. The wavy, fl uid grooves provide a constant, gentle uplift to this widescreen, immersive gem. 'Hollow Sun 24' reworks the same cut into something with a more epic and spine-tingling breakdown that douses dancers in classic Ibizan trance synths while the bassline is darker and the groove more heads down.

Terence Fixmer Reimagines Chris Liebing & Luke Slater's 'Double Split' for CLR. Fixmer's remixes of Liebing/Slater's collaboration from the former's 'Evolver' LP release on 31st July.

Terence Fixmer has delivered two remixes of Chris Liebing and Luke Slater's 'Double Split' track, one of a handful of collaborations on Liebing's first-ever solo LP, 'Evolver', which was released in March this year. Having contributed to the LP as a member of The Alte Stuben Modular Ensemble, a super-group featuring Liebing, Daniel Miller, and Pascal Gabriel, Fixmer is a fitting choice to remix 'Double Split'.

Fixmer has been evolving his sound for more than 25 years. From deep and mind-bending to experimental and soulful, he is a visionary who has been hugely prolific, with many standout LPs and EPs on labels such as Mute Records, Novamute, Ostgut Ton, and Planete Rouge Records.

Fixmer's first 'Double Split' remix is inspired by the energy of the original, but focused on dubbier, hypnotic vibes. Strident drums and clattering percussion are stark by design, but smoky vocals and eerie synths hang in the air, bringing a bleak human futurism over all-consuming bass. Then comes the Melting Mind rework, which is boiled down to a handful of key elements, not least the original's penetrating acid line. It's an immersive, late-night dive that locks you in a state of constant motion and unrelenting pressure. The original from Chris Liebing and Luke Slater, a dark and futuristic roller with automated drums and layers of rusty synths encircled by acidic gurgles, completes the package.

First Word Records proudly bring you the sophomore EP from Ruby Wood - ‘No Rain, No Flowers’.

Ruby is a singer / songwriter hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the UK. Her soulful yet distinctive voice has enabled her to front numerous projects over the years; perhaps best known as lead vocalist of the critically acclaimed Submotion Orchestra, since 2009.

Her first solo EP ‘Sincerely’ dropped back in 2023, and received love from the likes of Jamie Cullum, Craig Charles, Jyoty, Huey Morgan, Wordplay & saw Ruby named Mi-Soul Radio's 'One to Watch'.

The follow-up EP ‘No Rain, No Flowers’ is a personal tale of growth through adversity. Reflecting on long-term love, fleeting intimacy, grief, and the relationships that shape us. Rather than offering answers, the 8-track EP sits with life as it is. Imperfect, cyclical and shared. The title speaks to the belief that difficult experiences are not separate from growth, but essential to it.

Musically, the project encompasses contemporary flavours within the realms of r&b, soul and hip hop. It features an impressive collective of vocal collaboraters; Illa J, Devin Tracy, Abnormal Sleepz & PRIDO. Each bring their own distinct perspective, whilst complimenting the EP’s introspective tone; favouring warmth, restraint & lyrical authenticity. All are backed by a smooth sonic backdrop of beautifully rich instrumentation, produced primarily by Rob Mitchell of Abstract Orchestra.

Ruby has performed live shows with Nightmares on Wax & Abstract Orchestra as well as with r&b legend Bryson Tiller at his sell-out UK gigs, including Wembley Arena & Manchester Apollo. This is additionally to touring with Bonobo & Nubiyan Twist, and collaborating with the likes of Krept & Konan, Alfa Mist, GLXY and Roska, to name a few.

The diversity of her career, ranging from the intimate to the large-scale performances, gives Ruby a unique balance of vulnerability and musical depth, prioritising authenticity over spectacle. As a solo artist, her work is rooted in honest lived experiences, leading to a focus on songs that resonate long after first listen.

This EP offers a reflection of where Ruby is at now, informed by where she’s been before. It’s a project that embraces imperfection, recognising that those experiences that challenge us the most, shape us the deepest.