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Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra's sophomore album Rising builds on the success of her

breakthrough album Horizons to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz's rising stars. Produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Greg Freeman (Hania Rani, Matthew Halsall, Portico Quartet), Rising delivers a confident and vibrant follow up that joins the musical dots between Myra’s influences Kenny Wheeler, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings while delivering something unique, beautiful and profound.

Rising is also the sound of a composer and performer growing in stature and adding extra layers of confidence and poise to both her playing and composing. Aided and abetted by Matthew Halsall who once again lends his production skills, Rising is fuller, richer and deeper as Myra develops her uniquely uplifting sound.



Much like my first album, Rising is a reflection of a period of my life. It is a continuation from Horizons, which was all about my experience during lockdown, and entailed overcoming my struggles with mental health. Following on from that experience, I set out to continue building my self-confidence. This album has an uplifting and spiritual sound, drawing influence from artists such as Makaya McCraven, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings.



Rising features the same core of musicians as Myra’s debut album Horizons (Gondwana records GOND052): guitarist Ben Haskins, drummer George Hall pianist Jasper Green, harpist Alice Roberts (who both also perform with Matthew Halsall) and bassist Sam Quintana who collectively bring a deft understating of the subtle textures of Myra’s music and perform with a collective empathy and drive that really pushes the music on a radiant journey. And a string quartet add gently elevating textures to Still Waters, Knowingness, From Embers and How Tall The Mountains.

Mit Sowas von Egal Vol. 3 setzt das Hamburger DJ-Kollektiv Damaged Goods seine gefeierte Compilation-Reihe auf Bureau B fort - und richtet den Fokus erneut auf die subversiven Untergrundszenen im deutschsprachigen Raum der frühen 1980er Jahre. Abseits der kommerziellen NDW entstand eine kreative Parallelwelt: Bands zwischen Post-Punk, New Wave, Synth-Pop und Avantgarde veröffentlichten ihre Musik in kleinsten Auflagen oder im DIY-Kontext - roh, kantig und radikal eigenständig. Die hier versammelten Tracks spiegeln eine Zeit zwischen Aufbruch und Unsicherheit wider, geprägt von "No Future"-Attitüde, politischem Druck und künstlerischer Freiheit. Tanzbar, direkt und oft überraschend eingängig: Sowas von Egal Vol. 3 macht vergessene Schätze wieder hörbar - und holt sie zurück auf den Dancefloor.

Taylor Hollingsworth aus Birmingham, Alabama, hat sich schon immer einer einfachen Einstufung widersetzt. Als er gebeten wurde, seine Musik zu beschreiben, tat er sich schwer - ein bisschen Folk, ein Hauch von Blues, eine Prise Rock 'n' Roll, aber nicht wirklich in eine einzige Schublade zu stecken. Schließlich prägte er den Begriff ,Folk n' Roll", um seinen Sound zu beschreiben. Jetzt bekennt er sich stolz zu diesem Sound mit seinem neuesten Album, das treffend den Titel ,Folk n' Roll" trägt. Fans von JJ Cale, Mississippi John Hurt, Chuck Berry, Richard Thompson, Jonathan Richman und John Prine werden große Freude an Hollingsworths Mischung aus zeitlosen Einflüssen haben. In den frühen 2000er Jahren tourte Hollingsworth ausgiebig mit seiner punkigen Rockband (stell dir eine Mischung aus Ramones, Chuck Berry und ZZ Top vor) und arbeitete als Session-Musiker, der auf Tour mit verschiedenen Künstlern Gitarre spielte (vor allem mit Conor Oberst und der Mystic Valley Band). Doch nach der Geburt seiner Tochter legte er eine Tourpause ein, um sich ganz seiner Familie zu widmen und sein Handwerk als Vollzeit-Musiker vor Ort in Birmingham, Alabama, zu verfeinern. In dieser Zeit perfektionierte er seine fesselnde Ein-Mann-Show, die er nun ,Folk n' Roll" nennt. Seine Auftritte sind ein unvergessliches Erlebnis - fingergepickte E-Gitarre, ein mit Mikrofonen ausgestattetes Fußstampfer-Pedal, das den rhythmischen Rückgrat bildet, und gelegentlich ein Looper-Pedal, um Gitarrensoli einzuflechten, während er seine charakteristischen erzählerischen Texte vorträgt - Texte, die von zahlreichen Künstlern gecovert wurden, vor allem von Conor Oberst und Phoebe Bridgers bei Better Oblivion Community Center. ,Folk `N Roll" ist sein zweites Album für das beliebte Indie-Label Dial Back Sound, nach dem von Kritikern gefeierten und geliebten ,Yahola" aus dem Jahr 2025.

Über die neun Songs des Albums hinweg erschafft Elanor Moss mit feinsinnigem Psych Folk ein eindringliches Wechselspiel aus Freude und Schmerz. Ihre düster-verträumten Momentaufnahmen bieten dabei weniger Katharsis als vielmehr ein Verständnis für die Komplexität des Wegs dorthin - Heilung nicht als Zustand, sondern als Prozess. Der Weg hin zu ihrem Debütalbum "The Knife, The Needle" war für Elanor Mos selbst eine komplexe Reise. Zeitweise fühlte sie sich von ihrer eigenen Musik entfremdet und suchte nach einem neuen Sound, anstatt den Raum zu besetzen, den sie sich bereits geschaffen hatte. "Nichts fühlte sich richtig an", erinnert sie sich, "also nahm ich den Druck heraus und versuchte, meine Beziehung zum Songwriting und zur Musik neu zu kalibrieren." Die drei Jahre, in denen die Songs für "The Knife, The Needle" entstanden, führten sie letztendlich zurück zu ihren Wurzeln und ihrer Liebe zu, wie sie es ausdrückt, "der Musik, die mich wirklich etwas fühlen ließ; der Musik, die ich schreiben wollte." "Das waren Folk- und zeitgenössische Folk-Songwriter", fährt sie fort. "Ich habe viel Zeit damit verbracht, Gitarre zu spielen", fährt sie fort. "Ich habe mir ein Vierspur Tape Gerät geliehen und darauf Demos aufgenommen. Ich habe mich intensiv mit Kurzgeschichten beschäftigt. Die schlichte, direkte Wahrhaftigkeit von Autor*innen wie Raymond Carver hat mich sehr angesprochen und inspiriert, während ich darauf wartete, dass meine Lust am Schreiben zurückkehrt. Ich habe außerdem wieder eine Therapie begonnen, in der ich anfing zu verstehen, woher ich komme, wie sich meine Familiengeschichte in meinem Handeln widerspiegelt und wie ich liebe und Liebe annehme. Aus der Langsamkeit und Stille dieser Rhythmen sind diese Songs entstanden." ,Sarah Waiting in the Car" gibt den Ton an, mit Moss' zartem, nachdenklichem Gitarrenspiel und den Pinselstrichen von Matthew Herds Ensemble - Marcus Hamblett (Horn), Jool Owen (Horn), Andrew Stuart-Buttle (Violine), Reid Jenkins (Violine), Linus Fenton (Kontrabass) und Herd (Saxophon) - die ihre Texte mit herzzerreißender Ernsthaftigkeit untermalen, während sich die Erzählung, die aus Moss herausfließt, von einem Treffen in der Bar zu den Nachwirkungen einer missbräuchlichen Beziehung wandelt, wobei Sanftheit in Gewalt umschlägt. In ,Fixer" ringt Moss mit der Tatsache, dass Liebe jemanden ebenso verletzen kann, wie sie ihn heilen kann. Ihr Album ,The Knife, The Needle" beschäftigt sich damit, wie Beziehungen durch die Liebe verändert, verkompliziert und erschüttert werden. Es ist ein erschütterndes Werk, zugleich geduldig und verletzlich, opulent umgesetzt und tief empfunden. Beide Objekte, die im Albumtitel genannt werden, können Blut vergießen, doch durch ihre Stimme und Gitarre erhellt, ist das, was aus den Wunden fließt, die sie hier teilt, nichts Geringeres als Poesie.

In 1986, legendary vocalist Paul Di'Anno who was the unmistakable original voice behind Iron Maiden's formative years launched a bold new chapter with the release of Fighting Back, the explosive debut album from Battlezone. Following his departure from Iron Maiden, Di'Anno refused to look backward. Instead, he forged ahead, assembling Battlezone to deliver a fresh assault of raw British heavy metal power. Originally released through Raw Power Records in the UK, Fighting Back captured Di'Anno's unmistakable grit and intensity while showcasing a revitalized creative fire that reaffirmed his status as one of metal's most commanding frontmen. Featuring standout tracks including "Welcome to the Battlezone," "Warchild" "Running Blind," and the title anthem "(Forever) Fighting Back," the album fused aggressive riffs, streetwise energy, and melodic power into a statement of resilience and reinvention. Recorded in East London and produced by Ian Richardson alongside the band, the record introduced a formidable lineup featuring guitarists John Hurley and John Wiggins, bassist Pete West , and drummer Bob Falck. Four decades later, Fighting Back remains an essential document of 1980s heavy metal and to celebrate this 40th Anniversary Deko Entertainment has remastered and repackaged this landmark release from the former Iron Maiden frontman. It will be available on 180G vinyl and contains the Bonus Track "Rising Star". For fans of classic heavy metal, collectors of NWOBHM history, and those who continue to celebrate the enduring legacy of Paul Di'Anno, Fighting Back stands as a powerful reminder of an artist who never stopped fighting.

In 1986, legendary vocalist Paul Di'Anno who was the unmistakable original voice behind Iron Maiden's formative years launched a bold new chapter with the release of Fighting Back, the explosive debut album from Battlezone. Following his departure from Iron Maiden, Di'Anno refused to look backward. Instead, he forged ahead, assembling Battlezone to deliver a fresh assault of raw British heavy metal power. Originally released through Raw Power Records in the UK, Fighting Back captured Di'Anno's unmistakable grit and intensity while showcasing a revitalized creative fire that reaffirmed his status as one of metal's most commanding frontmen. Featuring standout tracks including "Welcome to the Battlezone," "Warchild" "Running Blind," and the title anthem "(Forever) Fighting Back," the album fused aggressive riffs, streetwise energy, and melodic power into a statement of resilience and reinvention. Recorded in East London and produced by Ian Richardson alongside the band, the record introduced a formidable lineup featuring guitarists John Hurley and John Wiggins, bassist Pete West , and drummer Bob Falck. Four decades later, Fighting Back remains an essential document of 1980s heavy metal and to celebrate this 40th Anniversary Deko Entertainment has remastered and repackaged this landmark release from the former Iron Maiden frontman. It will be available on 180G vinyl and contains the Bonus Track "Rising Star". For fans of classic heavy metal, collectors of NWOBHM history, and those who continue to celebrate the enduring legacy of Paul Di'Anno, Fighting Back stands as a powerful reminder of an artist who never stopped fighting.

Back on vinyl, We're Already There is Mazarin's cult-favorite 2005 masterpiece. Pressed on rusty red vinyl and housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, this essential reissue brings renewed attention to one of the most overlooked and rewarding psychedelic indie albums of the 2000s. Originally released in 2005, We're Already There is the acclaimed second album by Mazarin, the project led by Quentin Stoltzfus. Blending lush psychedelic textures, melodic indie rock, and intricate studio craftsmanship, the album occupies a unique space between dream pop, chamber pop, and neo-psychedelia, earning a devoted following among fans of adventurous independent music. Widely regarded as the band's defining statement, We're Already There showcases richly layered arrangements, warm analog production, and timeless songwriting that continues to resonate two decades after its original release. Long sought after on vinyl, the album remains a hidden gem of the mid-2000s indie landscape. This reissue is presented on rusty red vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve, offering the definitive vinyl edition of a modern cult favorite. Combining strong collector appeal with enduring musical relevance, We're Already There is an essential catalogue title for retailers serving indie, psychedelic, and alternative music audiences.

Geometrik Records is delighted to once again play a part in the exclusive recovery of Marcelo Expósito's previously unpublished work, which had been lost since its original creation in the 1980s. Marcelo Expósito is one of Spain's most internationally renowned contemporary artists, whose work is regularly exhibited across Europe and Latin America. He began his career at a very young age during the era of sound experimentation that flourished in the wake of so-called industrial culture, which found particularly fertile ground in Spain. As co-editor of legendary publications such as the fanzine Experiencias (1983) and, above all, the cassette-fanzine publisher Necronomicón (1983-1987), which operated on an international scale, Marcelo Expósito has, in recent years, been reconstructing those of his sound experiments that had been lost for decades. The album we are now presenting brings together material previously released on cassettes as EGK023 in a very limited edition. These tracks have now been remastered and expanded to complete this record, which noise musician Mattin has described as "secret recordings that constitute a gem from the rich Spanish underground of the 1980s". In the words of Luis Alvarado, editor of the Peruvian label Buh Records, this album allows us to appreciate how "Expósito developed a style of his own that understood sound as a malleable material open to chance. The recordings gathered on The Lost Tapes reveal an artist who moves as much through territories of unsettling textures and atmospheres as through zones of abstraction and radical noise". Influenced by the early work of figures such as Maurizio Bianchi, Nurse With Wound, and La Otra Cara de un Jardín, the release of this album provides a key piece in reconstructing the genealogical puzzle of Spanish experimental music. This carefully curated edition-in Spanish and English-includes a lengthy essay by Marcelo Expósito on the creative processes behind his work and the historical context of the industrial culture of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as extensive liner notes contributed by Vittore Baroni, editor of the legendary Italian label Trax; Francisco Felipe, co-founder of the Ars Sonora programme on Radio Clásica (Radio Nacional de España) and one of the most active names on the Spanish experimental scene of the 1980s; Mattin and Susana López (Susan Drone), key figures in the sound experimentation of the generation that emerged in the 2000s; as well as the aforementioned Luis Alvarado.

Die auf orangefarbenem Vinyl erhältliche LP von Marcus 5 dokumentiert erstmals offiziell remasterte Archivaufnahmen einer slowenischen Band, deren Ursprung in den frühen Achtzigern liegt. Die LP versammelt neun Stücke, die zwischen 1982 und 1985 aufgenommen wurden und nun in 24-bit/48kHz-Downloads sowie als physische Pressung vorliegen. Die Veröffentlichung bringt frühe Demos und seltene Studioaufnahmen in eine kohärente Edition und richtet sich an Sammler und Freunde der regionalen Alternativszene. Musikalisch verbindet Marcus 5 alternative Funkelemente mit einem ausgeprägten Rhythmusfundament, zugleich sind Anklänge an New-Romantic- und Coldwave-Ästhetik spürbar. Charakteristisch für die Gruppe waren prägnante Basslinien, synkopierte Gitarren und eine ausgeprägte Bühnenpräsenz, die der Band in Ljubljana schnell lokale Aufmerksamkeit brachte. Diese stilistische Mischung sowie die knappen, melodisch orientierten Arrangements zeichnen den Sound aus und geben dem Material eine eigenständige Spur in der damaligen Szene. Die Credits nennen Vinci Vogue AnPlovar als Sänger, Borut KrPisnik und Zvone Kukec an den Gitarren, Jani Hace am Bass sowie Friderik Vargazon an Schlagzeug und Xylophon; sämtliche Stücke entstanden unter dem Bandnamen Marcus 5. Für die Neuauflage zeichnet Mastering-Ingenieur Simon Pensek (Studio Siska, 2025) verantwortlich; das Artwork stammt von Zvone Kukec, Fotografie von JoPe Suhadolnik. Die Edition erschien auf Matrix Music Arhiv und präsentiert damit ein wichtiges Dokument der slowenischen Alternativmusik aus den frühen Achtzigern. Orangen farbige Vinyl LP

Following the cult success of the first 2 EPs, Common Saints presents the debut album "Cinema 3000", the theme continues, blending soul, funk, and psychedelic influences with the organic sound and rich instrumentation that Common Saints has become known for Conceived in 2020 by writer / producer Charlie J Perry the production approach for Commons Saints consists of him playing and recording real instruments in his London home studio. One mike for the drums, his beloved piano and amps up loud! The album encapsulates the old school recording approach and musicianship the discerning ear craves but with a more modern punch - a true sonic bath for all the connoisseurs out there. Think, UK"s equivalent to Tame Impala and Khruangbin.

Atlantic was the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison. Following a successful ghost-writing career and his bands Stranger, Simon wanted to make an album in his favoured AOR/Melodic Rock genre. Heavily influenced by bands like Whitesnake, Journey, Bad English, FM, Heartland and Dare he set about writing the songs that became the first album entitled ‘Power’.
"Power" was first released as a CD back in 1994 on the Music For Nations label and subsequently re-released in 2008 on Escape Music (ESM176). Atlantic raised many eyebrows with this release which can be ranked alongside bands such as “Heartland” "Dare" and "Shy" (Tony Mills also guests on the album!).
Band members include Simon Harrison on guitar and keyboards and the great Phil Bates (Trickster/Quill) on lead vocals, guitars and keyboards. The album had so much potential at the time it is a shame that it did not receive the recognition it richly deserved. The band came back with a killer brand new album in 2024 title “Another World” also on Escape Music ESM388
A true British Classic!

A live recording of “Las Canciones”; a visceral celebration of the persistence of popular anonymous song based on the work of legendary socialist poet Federico García Lorca, a Granada born literary pioneer. Featuring songs from his 1931 collection of mysteriously beautiful flamenco tunes. A poetically rich collection created by Foster and Herrero for their acoustic band, formed while living in the Grenadine Sierra. “Foster’s vocals, met by husband Herrero’s frantic and raw gypsy-band orchestration, demonstrates the sense of urgency in the music’s message well and carries ‘Anda Jaleo’ to an elevated state.” The Line Of Best Fit... “The alt-folk fixture returns to more traditional material.” Pitchfork.

Robag Wruhme is the solo alias of Gabor Schablitzki, a quietly singular voice in minimal and house music since the early 2000s. His sound is built on precision without ever feeling rigid. Instead of chasing big moments, he lets tracks unfold through subtle movement and carefully balanced tension, always evolving but never rushing.

That same approach runs through this EP. It's about letting momentum emerge naturally, allowing each element to settle into place while the energy continues to build.

Across four tracks, Robag creates a world where rhythm and atmosphere constantly shape one another. The arrangements are rich with detail, yet nothing competes for attention. Even in the densest passages, every sound feels deliberate.

OLAHNI opens patiently, with ghostly textures and hypnotic vocal fragments setting the tone before the bassline slowly comes into focus. The arrangement keeps evolving, with subtle details drifting in and out as the groove steadily deepens.
IFTHAH takes things into darker territory, driven by a heavy rolling bassline and a looping motif that never quite loosens its grip, adding weight without disrupting the flow.

On FUMAXOHN, the groove remains tight while the mood shifts. A warm harmonic layer gradually emerges as the vocals dissolve into texture, drawing the track towards something more melancholic.
PENTHO closes the EP in its most direct form. Stripped back and driving, it lands with quiet confidence, bringing the journey to a close while holding onto the hypnotic tension that defines the record.

It's been a pleasure bringing this EP together, and we're excited to finally share it with you. We hope these four tracks draw you into Robag's world as much as they have us.

Celebrate a decade of a modern masterpiece. Originally released to critical acclaim, DJ Shadow’s The Mountain Will Fall gets a definitive reissue for its 10th Anniversary. Featuring the explosive, Gold-certified hit "Nobody Speak" featuring Run The Jewels, this album remains a towering achievement in instrumental hip-hop and experimental electronic production. This special anniversary edition is pressed on 2 x 140g classic black vinyl, delivering the rich, warm analog sound the album deserves. The release is housed in a stunning gatefold jacket showcasing brand-new artwork by the renowned artist Paul Insect, complete with premium spot gloss hits that make the visual design pop.

On his latest four-track EP, Marco Cassanelli presents a masterclass in deep, atmospheric dub techno. Rich in warmth, texture and groove, the release finds the Italian producer at his most refined, effortlessly balancing hypnotic rhythms with expansive chord work and immersive sound design that resonates equally on the dancefloor and in more introspective home listening settings.

For more than two decades, Marco Cassanelli has been quietly refining a sound rooted in the deepest traditions of dub techno. Emerging from Rome’s underground electronic scene, he has built a body of work defined by patience, restraint, and a profound understanding of space and atmosphere.

Each track unfolds with patience and purpose, drawing listeners into a world of drifting echoes, subtle movement and finely crafted detail. Rooted firmly in the traditions of dub techno while retaining a distinctive character of its own, the EP is both deeply engaging and beautifully understated—equally suited to late-night club systems and home listening.

The final track introduces an unexpected vocal performance, adding a fresh dimension to the release and bringing the journey to a memorable close.Elegant, timeless and richly textured, this EP is a testament to Cassanelli’s enduring craftsmanship and his ability to create dub techno of the highest calibre.

"Black & 'Pearlescent Transcendent Future'"-farbiges Vinyl. Light in the Attic präsentiert die lang erwartete Neuauflage von ,Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat", dem revolutionären Album von 1982 vom Komponisten und Musiker Charanjit Singh. Er hat klassische indische Ragas mit den damals modernsten Roland-Synthesizern und Drumcomputern kombiniert und so ein elektronisches Meisterwerk geschaffen, das seiner Zeit weit voraus war. Bei den Live-Aufnahmen in den HMV-Studios in Mumbai verband Singh die Vergangenheit mit der Zukunft - er mischte die alte indische Tradition der Ragas (ein melodisches Gerüst, ähnlich einer Tonleiter, aus dem Musiker improvisieren oder komponieren können) mit pulsierenden elektronischen Dance-Beats. Das Album wurde ohne großes Aufsehen veröffentlicht, geriet in Vergessenheit und Singh zog sich aus dem Musikgeschäft zurück, um sich auf private Konzerte zu konzentrieren, aber damit fängt die Geschichte erst richtig an...

Light in the Attic präsentiert die lang erwartete Neuauflage von ,Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat", dem revolutionären Album von 1982 vom Komponisten und Musiker Charanjit Singh. Er hat klassische indische Ragas mit den damals modernsten Roland-Synthesizern und Drumcomputern kombiniert und so ein elektronisches Meisterwerk geschaffen, das seiner Zeit weit voraus war. Bei den Live-Aufnahmen in den HMV-Studios in Mumbai verband Singh die Vergangenheit mit der Zukunft - er mischte die alte indische Tradition der Ragas (ein melodisches Gerüst, ähnlich einer Tonleiter, aus dem Musiker improvisieren oder komponieren können) mit pulsierenden elektronischen Dance-Beats. Das Album wurde ohne großes Aufsehen veröffentlicht, geriet in Vergessenheit und Singh zog sich aus dem Musikgeschäft zurück, um sich auf private Konzerte zu konzentrieren, aber damit fängt die Geschichte erst richtig an...

2026 Repress

For Fuse's fifth release, Brussels' Altinbas returns for a whirlwind of meditative and harmonious techno. Solidifying his identity of focused yet vibrant club music, the Fuse resident and label co-curator offers his second contribution 'Sustain' as a dancefloor-enveloping take on modern techno. Known for rich chords, whipping pads, and dry percussion, Altinbas proves once again that his touch as a producer revolves around balance and calculated effect.

'Trail of' kick starts the EP with flourishing synthwork and a taste of dub as has become the Belgian artist's signature. Dotting toms as rhythmic accents and a low to the ground shaker make for a swaying introduction with an infectious groove. Breaking things up in the second track, 'Life Force' presents Detroit style chord stabs and playful rhythmic work. With a mental synth at the foundation, the track presents 909 drums to reinvigorate atmospheric synths that make 'Life Force' a subtle hybrid of classic club genres. With a wink at Fuse's heritage and a peak into its future, Altinbas' focus on enduring music can be felt throughout 'Sustain' and truly understood in the Brussels club. As a fitting follow up, 'Purpose' opens the B-side with illuminating chords and rounded sound design and a pulsating low-end. With almost a lighthearted tone, the record fits across genres and rooms, claiming movement instead of mood as its sole medium. The title track 'Sustain' proves just that - a melodic sequence and progressive arrangement make for an intensely euphoric closing. Evolving melodies, opening filters, and big but calculated buildups sum up Altinbas's work for Fuse's fifth release on the new label. The record brims with warmth and yet it finds its way on darker dance floors with ease, providing a refined style of music that belongs only to him across the international scene.

Following their eponymous 2023 debut, Chestnut People once again emerge from the Wood to deliver Volume 2, a lichen-scented batch of blissed IDM and crackling tech. While retaining the filtering step of its predecessor, Volume 2 plunges deeper into the honey pot with rich melodic density, recalling the gentle pluckings and starry-eyed glitch of 00s Icelandic electronica. The music unfurls in programmatic detail like a misted forest dream–winged creatures buzzing as brush collapses under our feet.

2026 Repress

It is a real testament to the enduring quality of the early tech house blueprint laid down by Eddie Richards that whether he drops reissues of his early classics or more recent sounds, they always sell out. This EP arrived last summer and soon flew off the shelves os it is back once again on purple vinyl this time and sounding as fearsome as ever. 'Destiny' is roomy, with swung drums bringing a pendulous groove as twanging modulations and freaky vocals linger in the spaces. 'The Soul' is quicker and fleshes out with broad synth stokes and a bubbly low end. It's pure dancing tackle with a moody soul.

Sofía Viola and Chancha Vía Circuito unite on Oro en Ti, a deeply spiritual collaboration shaped by their shared roots in the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires. Blending Latin American folk traditions with hypnotic percussion, ambient textures, and Eastern influences, the album explores themes of nature, faith, humanity, and inner connection through a warm, meditative lens. Chancha Vía Circuito brings significant international profile to the project, built through years of globally acclaimed DJ sets, nearly 200 million cumulative streams across DSPs, and strong physical sales over the past decade. His work has been championed by outlets including Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Billboard, The Guardian, NPR, and The Fader.

Since emerging from the Buenos Aires underground,Sofía Viola has built a strong reputation across Latin America and Europe through her singular songwriting and live performances, earning selections to major international showcase festivals including IMESUR, Circulart, FIMPRO, BIME Pro, and MAPAS. Oro en Ti captures the chemistry between both artists through devotional songwriting and richly textured production, offering an emotionally resonant and transportive listening experience that feels both timeless and deeply connected to the present moment.

Melaina Kol, das Pseudonym des in Nashville lebenden Musikers Logan Hornyak, ist ein Projekt, das sich ständig wandelt. Es ist heute nicht mehr wiederzuerkennen im Vergleich zu dem, was es beispielsweise 2018 war, als er das Lo-Fi-Twee-Pop-Album ,Bird Kill Worm" veröffentlichte, und es hat sich auch von den Folktronica-Songs auf dem 2021 erschienenen Album ,AMOSAT" weiterentwickelt. Hornyak mag es nicht, sich auf eine Sache festzulegen; jedes Album soll anders sein als das vorherige. ,Ich greife gerne Motive oder Ideen auf, so wie ein Thema, und ich ändere gerne jedes Mal die Art und Weise, wie ich aufnehme", sagt er. Für sein neues Album ,Okay that's a great idea because if I do that then" hat Hornyak beschlossen, fast ganz auf Gitarre und Elektronik zu verzichten. Stattdessen brachte er sich selbst Cello und Harfe bei und kehrte zu seinem Klavierunterricht aus Kindertagen zurück. Er wollte seine langjährige Liebe zur klassischen Musik mit seinem Interesse an Ambient- und House-Musik verschmelzen, mit der Idee, ein Album zu schaffen, das den Ansatz der elektronischen Musik mit organischen Klängen verbindet. Klassische Instrumente werden zerhackt, geloopt und um einen rhythmischen Puls herum geschichtet. Der Effekt kann verwirrend und aus dem Gleichgewicht bringend sein, ist aber gleichzeitig entwaffnend schön. Hornyak nahm das Album zwischen seinem Zuhause in Tennessee und einem nahegelegenen Studio auf. Es war das erste Mal, dass er für Melaina-Kol-Songs ein richtiges Studio nutzen konnte, und er wollte, dass der Sound hochauflösend ist. Bei all seiner rastlosen kreativen Energie repräsentiert ,Okay that's a great idea because if I do that then " Hornyak in einer ruhigeren Lebensphase. ,Es ist viel ruhiger als die letzten beiden Alben. Ich habe all diese Alben in meinen frühen 20ern gemacht, als ich manische Phasen durchlebte und mit Drogen und so anfing", sagt er. ,Aber ich würde sagen, dieses Album ist sozusagen das andere Ende davon - das Herauskommen aus dieser Phase, würde ich sagen. In meinem Leben fühle ich mich viel friedlicher, und ich habe das Gefühl, dass das Album das widerspiegelt."

Originally released in June 2009, The Ecstatic stands as a defining artistic statement from Mos Def (now known as yasiin bey) — a richly textured return to form that reaffirmed his status as one of hip-hop’s most adventurous and intellectually engaged voices. Arriving a decade after his celebrated debut Black on Both Sides, the album was widely regarded as his strongest work in years, earning near-universal praise for its lyrical breadth, eclectic production, and thematic ambition.

Musically, The Ecstatic weaves a global sonic tapestry shaped by an array of forward-thinking producers including Madlib, J Dilla, Oh No, Preservation, Mr. Flash, Chad Hugo (of The Neptunes), and Georgia Anne Muldrow. The resulting soundscape is both rooted in hip-hop tradition and unbound by genre, integrating elements of jazz, soul, Middle-Eastern inflection, and experimental sample work. Tracks like “Supermagic” and “Twilite Speedball” establish a vibrant, restless energy that mirrors the album’s expansive creative scope.

Lyrically, yasiin bey traverses personal, political, and philosophical terrain with characteristic incisiveness, confronting social inequality, Western imperialism, and questions of cultural identity with poetic urgency. Embracing risk and complexity rather than nostalgia, The Ecstatic remains a mature, deeply felt body of work whose ambition, depth, and enduring resonance have solidified its place as a standout entry in Mos Def’s catalog and in modern hip-hop history.

Their music draws from the rich traditions of classic guitar pop while maintaining a distinctly contemporary voice. Packed with sharp hooks, jangling guitars, and the melodic urgency that has long defined the band's sound, 'Box' delivers a fresh collection of songs that balance classic power pop craftsmanship with restless modern energy. Across the album's running time, The Jacks channel the spirit of late-70s radio gold and underground college rock while sounding unmistakably like themselves. Recorded with an ear for immediacy and emotional punch, 'Box' moves confidently between driving anthems, bittersweet harmonies, and punchy guitar-pop excursions. The result is an album that feels both timeless and alive -- a record built equally for longtime devotees of the genre and new listeners discovering The Jacks for the first time.

Klaus Kotai, a Viennese who had made Berlin his home, found a receptive audience in Cologne as early as the mid-90s with his records on Elektro Music Department. This club and label conglomerate, run with co-producer and DJ Mo Loschelder and the artist Daniel Pflumm, was working towards a radical streamlining of techno. A certain kinship with the pre-Kompakt sound of Cologne could not be denied. They exchanged greetings from afar.

Then came the 2000s, an exciting era for club music, rich in innovation and characterised above all by the burgeoning genres of minimal and electro clash. In 2002, Kotai’s ‘Sucker DJ’ was released, featuring the brilliant remix by Marcin “Highfish” Kozlowski, on WMF Records – the label belonging to the eponymous cult Berlin club. A true hit that struck a perfect balance between both worlds and was played across genres by virtually every DJ.

Exactly 20 years after the last re-release on Elektro Music Department (also distributed by Kompakt at the time), it’s now time for ‘Sucker DJ’ to make a comeback. Judging by Marco Cariolaa’s ‘Cringe Vibes’, it’s needed more urgently than ever.

Remastered, with new artwork by Daniel Pflumm, and still “fucking up your place”.
Der Wiener Wahlberliner Klaus Kotai stiess in Köln schon Mitte der 90er Jahre mit seinen Platten auf Elektro Music Department auf offene Ohren. Dieses mit Co-Produzentin & DJ Mo Loschelder sowie dem Künstler Daniel Pflumm betriebene Club-/Label-Konglomerat arbeitete sich an einer radikalen Entschlackung des Techno ab. Eine gewisse Seelenverwandtschaft zum Kölner Prä-Kompakt-Sound war nicht von der Hand zu weisen. Man grüßte sich aus der Ferne.

Dann kamen die 2000er, eine aufregende, an Innovationen nicht arme Ära für Clubmusik, die vor allem von den aufblühenden Genres Minimal und Electro Clash geprägt war. Im Jahr 20 02 kam dann Kotais ‘Sucker DJ’ mit dem kongenialen Marcin “Highfish” Kozlowski Remix auf dem zum gleichnamigen Berliner Kult-Club gehörenden Label WMF Rec ords heraus. Ein echter Konsenshit, der äußerst komfortabel zwischen beiden Welten saß und genreübergreifend von nahezu allen DJs gespielt wurde.

Genau 20 Jahre nach der letzten Wiederveröffentlichung auf Elektro Music Department (damals ebenfalls im Kompakt Vertrieb) ist es nun an der Zeit, dass der ‘Sucker DJ’ zurückkommt. Wenn man sich Marco Cariolaa’s Cringe Vibes so anschaut, wird er dringender gebraucht denn je.

Neu gemastert, mit neuem Artwork von Daniel Pflumm und immer noch “fucking up your place”.

BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018. This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden dig ever deeper into their respective record collections to reveal tracks that encompass myriad styles including white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda (Eastern Legacy) and Mikio Masuda (Sonic Barrier), super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Christal Zone - their one-off 45 promo release from 1971, Rai Rai, a deconstructed and abstract jazz classic by Yasuhiro Kohno with his solo piano rendition of My Favourite Things, and Mile and Half’s skin-tearing, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album.

A track that is so relentless, it leaves the listener in need of oxygen and a Valium. These hand-picked selections sit alongside other specially chosen numbers that embrace hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura’s Judy’s Samba), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada’s World Line), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101’s Fervor), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akira Miyazawa’s Nijimasu), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino’s Olive Step), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa’s On the Trade Wind) and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Masahiko Sato’s Garandoh’s Africa to Africa). Most of the tracks on this collection are being reissued for the first time, many of them only available previously on extremely limited and mega-rare private press or independent releases. J Jazz volume 5 is a fitting end to a compilation series that helped create a new audience and appreciation of Japanese jazz Some of the albums the tracks are drawn from are featured in the large format book J Jazz: Modern and Free Jazz from Japan 1954-1988, by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, published by BBE Music in 2024. With almost 7000 words of extensive sleeve notes, J Jazz volume 5 comes in a triple 180g vinyl set inside a deluxe gatefold sleeve with obi strip, and comes with a 4-page insert, with photographs from the renowned Tokyo Jazz Joints project. It is also available as a double CD and digital download. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery Studio by Frank Merritt, this latest collection is a worthy successor to the preceding four volumes that set the bar so high. The J Jazz series is curated for BBE Music by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden.

In the early 1960s, beat groups from the Dutch Randstad dominated the national charts. Yet far from the big cities, in the clubs of Drenthe, one band was already being billed as “Beatgroup Number One”: Cuby + Blizzards. But frontman Harry Muskee never embraced that label. Raised on broadcasts from The Voice of America, he possessed a deeper understanding of the blues than most of his contemporaries. Muskee didn’t want to sing ‘songs,’ as he called them, he wanted to sing the blues, raw and unfiltered, in the tradition of Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Their debut single “Stumble & Fall” was recorded in the Bavohuis, a simple gym hall in Amsterdam, with Addy Kleingeld as producer. But the debut album Desolation marked a turning point, recorded at the Phonogram Studios in Hilversum with renowned blues producer Tony Vos, it captured the band exactly as Muskee intended.

The resulting album became a jewel of Dutch music history. Never before had the Netherlands heard a blues singer who poured his emotions into a recording with such conviction and authenticity. Muskee even outshone his British peers. Eric Burdon (The Animals), Paul Jones (Manfred Mann), Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones) and Van Morrison (Them).

At the 1968 Grand Gala du Disque (the Dutch equivalent of the Grammys), Muskee received an Edison Award for Desolation, handed to him by cabaret artist Wim Sonneveld, whose lukewarm speech couldn’t diminish the significance of the moment.

Sixty years later, the legacy of this groundbreaking album still resonates, an essential document of European blues and a defining moment in the story of Cuby + Blizzards.

This 60th anniversary edition of Desolation is now available as an expanded 2LP-set including the original 1966 album plus fifteen bonus tracks. The gatefold version features songs “Things I Remember”, “Stumble & Fall”, “L.S.D. (Got A Million Dollars)”, is a limited edition on blue vinyl and includes new liner notes by Dutch Blues authority Johan Derksen.

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.

There’s something quietly defiant about Melody Boy. Written and recorded in a tiny beach hut studio on the English coast, and notably know for his previous work with Paul Weller and The Moons, Andy Crofts’ debut solo album arrives without compromise or concession to trend. It’s a record built on melody above all else, songs that feel unearthed rather than manufactured, guided by instinct, memory, and a lifelong obsession with the craft of songwriting.

Crofts, long established as a songwriter and musician, steps forward here with a voice that feels both seasoned and strangely elusive. There’s no rush to explain, no attempt to overstate. Instead, Melody Boy unfolds with a natural confidence, hook laden, harmonically rich, and emotionally direct without ever losing its sense of mystery.
Drawing from a lineage of classic songwriting while remaining firmly his own, the album leans into warmth, analogue textures, and a sense of timelessness that resists the churn of the modern music cycle. It’s not chasing a moment, it’s creating its own space.
Lead single “Blue” introduced that world: melodic, reflective, quietly anthemic. Across the album, that same thread runs deep, songs that reveal themselves slowly, rewarding repeat listens rather than demanding immediate attention.
There’s a deliberate sense of distance in Melody Boy. Not coldness, but clarity. A refusal to overexplain. The result is a body of work that feels personal without being confessional, detailed without being crowded.

In a landscape built on constant output and fleeting attention, Andy Crofts offers something else entirely: a record that trusts the listener to meet it halfway.
"Blue is another song that I can't get enough of at the moment" - Gary Crowley (BBC London)

There’s something quietly defiant about Melody Boy. Written and recorded in a tiny beach hut studio on the English coast, and notably know for his previous work with Paul Weller and The Moons, Andy Crofts’ debut solo album arrives without compromise or concession to trend. It’s a record built on melody above all else, songs that feel unearthed rather than manufactured, guided by instinct, memory, and a lifelong obsession with the craft of songwriting.

Crofts, long established as a songwriter and musician, steps forward here with a voice that feels both seasoned and strangely elusive. There’s no rush to explain, no attempt to overstate. Instead, Melody Boy unfolds with a natural confidence, hook laden, harmonically rich, and emotionally direct without ever losing its sense of mystery.
Drawing from a lineage of classic songwriting while remaining firmly his own, the album leans into warmth, analogue textures, and a sense of timelessness that resists the churn of the modern music cycle. It’s not chasing a moment, it’s creating its own space.
Lead single “Blue” introduced that world: melodic, reflective, quietly anthemic. Across the album, that same thread runs deep, songs that reveal themselves slowly, rewarding repeat listens rather than demanding immediate attention.
There’s a deliberate sense of distance in Melody Boy. Not coldness, but clarity. A refusal to overexplain. The result is a body of work that feels personal without being confessional, detailed without being crowded.

In a landscape built on constant output and fleeting attention, Andy Crofts offers something else entirely: a record that trusts the listener to meet it halfway.
"Blue is another song that I can't get enough of at the moment" - Gary Crowley (BBC London)

‘THE GREATEST ROCKSTEADY ALBUM OF THE MILLENNIUM’ NARC - MAY 2022
4/5 REVIEW IN MOJO: “ONE OF THE MOST THRILLING ROCKSTEADY ALBUMS TO HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THE GENRE EMERGED IN THE LATE 60's”

8/10 REVIEW IN UNCUT + TRACK ON COVERMOUNT: “A STUDIO-ONE INDEBTED, VINTAGE-SOUNDING STUNNER.”

The Frightnrs escort Daptone into the world of long-playing reggae with both the sweetest and the roughest record of the decade. This record will long be treasured by lovers of reggae, lovers of soul and lovers of love...

Crafted under the meticulous eye of black-belt reggae mastermind/producer Victor Axelrod (AKA Ticklah), Nothing More to Say is a rocksteady masterpiece the likes of which has not reared it’s head since the golden era of Studio One. However, you’ll find no imitation here - none of the faux-jamaican cliches of lesser reggae bands. Like all things Daptone, this record is above all soulful and honest.

With the exception of two soul covers (both from the Daptone catalog: Bob & Gene’s "Gotta Find a Way” and Saun and Starr’s “Gonna Make Time”,) the record is populated by original compositions of the highest order.

They are simply great songs, and though their treatment here is masterful, each one of them has the melodic and lyrical substance to hold it’s own in any genre. “Till Then” invokes the coquettish hyper-rhymes of top-form Smokey Robinson, while “Hey Brother” sounds like it fell off the desk of Gamble and Huff, and “Purple” defies any comparison at all.

From the first cracking snares of “All My Tears” through the final pulsing echoes of “Dispute,” the murderous rhythms of Rich Terrana (drums,) and brothers Preet and Chuck Patel (bass and piano, respectively) can be heard chunking mercilessly towards oblivion as Dan Klein pours his endearing poetry over the top like some
otherworldy falsetto potion.

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.

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.

2026 Repress

Although he's released on numerous labels since debuting almost a decade ago, Eduardo Barbi aka Gledd returns to his own reliable imprint Saint Wax. On his fourth vinyl missive for the imprint, My Church Is On Fire, the Italian producer delivers a quartet of cuts that happily boast samples from vintage gospel cuts. It's a simple idea, brilliantly executed, as proved by the righteous, spiritual, organ-rich stomp of opener 'Let It Shine', featuring guest lead vocals from Steve Salmaso. Elsewhere, 'Mama Don't Preach' is a whirlwind of sampled gospel soul vocals, expansive piano solos and chunky deep house beats, 'Be Real' is a heavily electronic slab of gospel-house deepness, and 'Back on My Stay' is a locked-in, late-night delight with an effortlessly soulful finish.

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.

Nach seiner ersten Netflix-Hauptrolle meldet sich Fatoni mit neuer Musik zurück. „Drama endet nie“ geht den Weg weiter, den das Vorgängeralbum „Wunderbare Welt“ (2023) schon eingeschlagen hatte: eingängige Melodien, ohne in eine unangenehme Seichtheit abzudriften, Produktionen, die auf der Höhe der Zeit sind, ohne sich ihr anzubiedern, und immer der Spagat zwischen Tiefsinn und Leichtigkeit, den keiner so gut beherrscht wie Fatoni. Es geht um Trennungen, es geht um Neuanfänge, es geht um den Versuch, im alltäglichen Wahnsinn nicht zu verzweifeln. Um Vespas und Hollywood, Algorithmen und Raubüberfälle. Wie immer ohne Netz, aber mit doppeltem Boden. PS: Eat the rich!

Jorge Ben’s 1963 debut, Samba Esquema Novo, introduced his infectious blend of bossa nova and samba, propelled by the timeless Mas Que Nada and Chove Chuva. While his later sound leaned more into rock and Afro-Brazilian rhythms, this album bursts with swirling melodies, rich harmonies, and big-band energy, all anchored by Ben’s distinctive, minor-key guitar work. A vibrant, era-defining classic.

There's a tendency in metal to mistake aggression for honesty, volume for depth. To confuse the performance of darkness with its actual weight. Hidden Fires Burn Hottest, the new album from San Francisco-based post-black metal band Bosse-de-Nage, sidesteps this entirely. It’s the group’s most fully realized work yet, precisely because it refuses to be pinned down.

Bosse-de-Nage have been working with The Flenser for over fifteen years. They were one of the first bands the label ever partnered with and have the longest active relationship in the label's history. But unlike most bands who build momentum through constant touring and visibility, Bosse-de-Nage has largely existed apart from the music world's usual machinery. They've evolved on their own terms, in relative isolation, allowing the work to develop without outside pressure or influence. What began rooted in black metal anonymity has mutated into something that actively defies categorization. The aggression is still there, but it's no longer the point. Hidden Fires Burn Hottest finds the band treating emotions like physical objects, feelings with spatial properties. “No Such Place"" describes a space that can't exist but does anyway, somewhere between thought and location. ""Immortality Project"" examines infinite possibility not as promise but as problem, endless options collapsing under their own weight. These songs don't use metaphor to describe emotion. They make emotion into something you could theoretically touch.
Tracked by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Oathbreaker) at Atomic Garden East and mixed and mastered by Richard Chowenhill of Agriculture, Hidden Fires Burn Hottest was years in development, with some tracks beginning in 2018.

The long writing process offered time that most records don't get. Time to live with ideas, revise endlessly, to let structures settle. For the first time, lyricist Bryan Manning wrote everything in advance, creating a surplus to pull from rather than working under deadline pressure. The difference shows.
Coming off Further Still, an album built on constraint and economy, Bosse-de-Nage sought the opposite: sprawl, strangeness, fewer rules. Space for ideas to develop without rushing them. Dynamics that move through quiet as much as noise. Presence earned through atmosphere instead of volume. The record even includes ""Mementos,"" which might be considered the first love song the band has ever written.

Nothing here coheres into a theme. These are pieces pulled from low moments and private feelings made public through sound. The band has never been interested in positivity, in music that resolves cleanly or offers comfort. But bleakness doesn't mean humorlessness. There's something darkly funny running through much of it, even when it shouldn't be.
Hidden Fires Burn Hottest doesn't explain itself. It just insists: what you feel is as real as what you can see."

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.