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The first edition of Era Specific Noise is both an ode to the early 2000s and the debut of a new alias by label founder Richardson. Having spent the better part of his recent memory scouring record stores and consuming more VG+ dance music than is medically recommended, this 12-inch marks a personal shift towards character-filled production without limitation.

Armed with a growing appreciation for the originality and love poured into old-school techno, ESPN001 is the first glimpse into Richardson's fast-growing stockpile of musical weaponry.

We kick things off with "Introductions", the first of two upbeat, vocal-laden pieces of DJ-friendly dance music that make up the A side. A new hardware-focused approach produces whirling, stabbing chords and a groovy baseline to meet the eponymous sample of this track. Up next, "Coming In Hot" which does just that - presenting a cohesion of warm, groovy techno littered with dubby synths and a throwback feel.

On the flip side is a pair of fresh takes reminiscent of the more functional sound of the era - the timeless, loopy techno that powers dancefloors worldwide. There’s nothing quite like finding a hidden gem on the B side! Robotic vocal loopings and a galloping low-end form “Notch”, a warehouse tune completed by a warmer feeling send-off littered with floating pads and a classic Reese bass. Closing out the release is “Synthetic Scream”, a synthesiser in anguish showcasing an almost mournful interpretation of the 909 era, complete with fast, driving percussion and classic break hits.

Welcome to Era Specific Noise - New school old school.

"Raise a glass to the latest entry in Bloodshot’s Barrel Select Series!

Barrel Select exists to highlight the best of Bloodshot’s cask-strength catalog. Robbie Fulks has made some of the finest records we can claim as our own, but if there’s only room for one on that sacred shelf at the top, it’s Gone Away Backward.

“At a time when modern country feels like bloated spandex-and-Aquanetted pop-metal, Fulks defiantly embraces an unflinching traditionalism.” Paste’s words, not ours, but we’re not gonna argue the point they made when Gone Away Backward hit their doorstep 11 years back. They also called this “a tour du force of bluegrass-derived spare country,” which we’ll also let stand. Magnet said it was “the best album Fulks has ever made, period,” and out of respect for the wonderful work Robbie has done in the past decade, we’ll simply point out that this too is an 11-year-old review.

With Steve Albini at the board, Robbie was able to break his songs down to their core and fire his characters, his chops, his band, and his amazing voice directly at listener’s souls. “We recorded it pretty fast, in a couple of days. People are always bragging that they did it without overdubs, but that’s the way we did it.” The results are everything we ever wanted from Robbie and a high-water mark of folk or bluegrass or alt-country or whatever genre bucket you want to pour his gifts into.

Recorded by Steve Albini

10th Anniversary Barrel Select edition on Bloodshot Red vinyl

“Stunning” —Saving Country Music

“a work of great, accomplished craft . . . vivid and moving” —Ken Tucker, NPR

“The level of artistry is so complete that it suggests a world in which Fulks isn’t a household name is somehow upside down.” —Wall Street Journal"

Medusa Outdoor's first double-vinyl album consisting of 2 vinyls and 12 quality techno-tracks selected with passion by Medusa Outdoor residents Michael Forzza and Jochen Robberecht.
It's a limited and hand-numbered gatefold double vinyl-album with tracks from Blawan, Planetary Assault Systems, Spiros Kaloumenos, Roberto and many others. Michael Forzza and Jochen Robberecht both dedicated one new track exclusively for this vinyl-album.

Forgive Yourself. Learn to live with yourself. Don't hurt yourself. This is the mantra of the new album Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears from Samora Pinderhughes. Made over 8 years with loving detail by Pinderhughes and his longtime producer Jack DeBoe, it is a deeply personal exploration & reflection of mental health in the modern age. It tells a non-linear story about a relationship that didn't last, and the lessons learned through it. How can love exist when grief is in the way? Musically it's intentionally tough to pin down. Although Pinderhughes is Juilliard-trained, Venus is an open-genre exploration of musicmaking with wide-ranging production and a cinematic landscape of feeling and spirit. From quiet, contemplative piano pieces to hard-hitting and soulful full band jams, to expansive and fullthroated choir celebrations, Venus is a fitting accompaniment to a multitude of daily human experiences. It also features artists from Pinderhughes's tight-knit NYC community, representing a wave of new artists who thread the ethics of honesty & vulnerability into their work. Says Pinderhughes of the album, "Mental health isn't solitary; it's about how our feelings, fears, traumas, and conceptions of self meet the world around us. Like so many, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and isolation within a complicated matrix of identities. I wanted to make a project that would be brutally and lovingly honest about what it feels like to try to sift through the debris of time. A project that really engages with what it means to love, in the midst of a society that teaches us all the wrong lessons. Our modern world wants us to get over things quickly and easily. That's where shame enters the picture, because when you struggle with deep cyclical feelings, the process of engaging with these elements in your life is never linear. It is always two steps forward, one step back. Kindness and honesty are required in equal measure in this life. Hopefully through the prism of these songs, you can feel something that resonates with you in your own life and experience." Pinderhughes is known for striking intimacy and carefully crafted, radically honest lyrics alongside high-level musicianship, and for using his music to examine sociopolitical issues and fight for change. His work delves into the things our society tries to hide - its history, its structures, and the things we all experience but don't know how to talk about. It is an invitation to feel and think deeply about how we live and a commitment to making art that is useful for everyday life. The New York Times described Pinderhughes' 2022 album GRIEF as a "visionary" work from "one of the most affecting singer-songwriters today, in any genre." Pinderhughes - a collaborator across boundaries with artists including Herbie Hancock, Glenn Ligon, Sara Bareilles, Common, Robert Glasper - is the creator and director of The Healing Project, a project that examines trauma & healing from incarceration, detention, and structural violence. Pinderhughes was the first-ever Art for Justice + Soros Justice Fellow and a recipient of Chamber Music America's 2020 Visionary Award. He is also a United States Artist Fellow, Creative Capital awardee, and Sundance Composers Lab fellow.

Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2016 haben die Londoner High Vis ihre Palette an progressivem Hardcore mit Nuancen von Post-Punk, Brit-Pop, Neopsychedelia und sogar Madchester-Groove verfeinert und einen Mittelweg zwischen Hooks und Wut, Melodien und Moshpits gefunden. Sänger Graham Sayle beschreibt ihr drittes Album Guided Tour als eine Achse der konkurrierenden Kräfte: "Es versucht, eine hoffnungsvolle Platte zu sein, während es gleichzeitig wütend macht." Die Band, die von Schlagzeuger Edward 'Ski' Harper, Bassist Jack Muncaster und den Gitarristen Martin MacNamara und Rob Hammaren komplettiert wird, ist tief in der britischen und irischen DIY-Hardcore-Szene verwurzelt und wird von Rastlosigkeit und rechtschaffener Wut gleichermaßen inspiriert. Sayle sagt: "Jeder kratzt sich, jeder arbeitet die ganze Zeit, und die Vorstellung von Entspannung ist es, sich zu ficken und der Realität zu entgehen. Dieses Album ist eine Flucht vor dieser Realität." Von den ersten Sekunden an, in denen eine Kabinentür zuschlägt, ein Auto aufheult und ein sackartiger Rhythmus zum Leben erweckt wird, klingt Guided Tour wie eine Band, die nach neuen Höhen strebt und vor Energie strotzt. Das Ergebnis der mehrwöchigen Aufnahmen in den Holy Mountain Studios in London mit Produzent Jonah Falco und Tontechniker Stanley Gravett fühlt sich dynamisch und einstudiert an, wie Hymnen, die sich durch Schweiß und Wiederholung in das Gedächtnis der Sinne eingebrannt haben. Harper bringt es auf den Punkt: "Wir hatten eine klare Idee, jeder Moment wurde genutzt. Wenn wir 60 sind, können wir uns vielleicht hinsetzen und einen Schlagzeugsound hinbekommen, aber im Moment geht es darum, die Dinge zu erledigen." Die 11 Songs des Albums umfassen das gesamte Spektrum zeitgenössischer Gitarrenmusik, die durch Erfahrung, Kameradschaft und gesellschaftliche Frustrationen geschärft wurde. Von schwungvollem Streetpunk ("Drop Me Out", "Mob DLA") über schrillen Indie-Spott ("Worth The Wait", "Deserve It") bis hin zu Heavy Alt ("Feeling Bless", "Fill The Gap") und shoegazeartigem Spoken Word ("Untethered") - die Chemie der Gruppe verwandelt jeden Stil in ihre einzigartige Intensität. Sayle setzt sich für diese sich entwickelnde Verschmelzung ein: "Jahrelang hatten wir, die wir aus dem Hardcore kamen, ziemlich klare Grenzen - andere Szenen waren getrennte Welten. Jetzt vermischen sich die Dinge immer mehr, wir schöpfen aus verschiedenen Quellen."

"Adult Swing" is the first full album as KCT (aka Karel Cuelenaere from Black Flower, John Ghost and Ping O.D and is immediately one that will put the trio firmly on the map.



Karel Cuelenaere, in the wake of Black Flower, John Ghost and Ping O.D. has gained numerous compliments from the international press. Louder Than War (UK) talks about his "incredible keyboard virtuosity" and OOR (NL) labels him as a "descendant of Keith Emerson". The Standaard (Belgium praises his "decisive contribution to the sound" of the aforementioned bands.
While Karel is now mainly perceived as a keyboardist within the prog-, rock- and hybrid jazz scene, with KCT - abbreviation of Karel Cuelenaere Trio - he resolutely opts for the grand piano. He is assisted by double bass and drums, respectively performed by Cyrille Obermüller and Gert-Jan Dreessen, both highly respected musicians in the Belgian jazz scene.
The trio is stylistically anchored in the Belgian jazz tradition, building on the work of Aka Moon, Octurn and Jozef Dumoulin, among others, and incorporates the atmosphere of 'saudade', a kind of melancholy that Karel got to know on a tour in Brazil and recognizes in the recordings of pianist Keith Jarrett during the 60s.

"Adult Swing" is the first full album as KCT and is immediately one that will put the trio firmly on the map.

1974 erscheint Georg Danzers Konzeptalbum "Der Tätowierer und die Mondprinzessin", begleitet von einem Buch mit Texten und Illustrationen von Georg Danzer. Die zehn darauf enthaltenen tiefsinnigen Lieder, die unter anderem unter der Mitwirkung von Willi Resetarits und seinen "Schmetterlingen" sowie Robert Ponger, Christian Kolonovits und "Supermax" Kurt Hauenstein entstanden, haben bis heute Relevanz. Georg Danzers Manager und guter Freund, Franz Christian "Blacky" Schwarz, initiierte und leitete die Wiederveröffentlichung dieses künstlerischen Schatzes.Für die Neuauflage wurden die Original-Mischbänder aus dem Jahr 1974 verwendet und von Othmar Eichinger von TON Eichinger, Wien aufwändig restauriert, digitalisiert und gemastert. Die Reihenfolge der Lieder stimmt nicht mit der Original-LP überein, sondern wurde dem Ablauf der Geschichte angepasst. Die Liedtexte wurden auf die tatsächlich gesungenen Versionen umgeschrieben. Die Geschichte selbst ist die Originalversion. Franz Christian Schwarz über die Entstehung des Albums:Es war 1974, es war Februar und es war kalt. In Peter Müllers Tonstudio herrschte reger Betrieb. Georg Danzer saß auf einem Sessel und klimperte auf der Gitarre und sang leise den Text dazu. Vor sich auf einem schon in die Jahre gekommen Tisch lagen einige mit Maschine beschriebene Blätter. Ab und zu hielt er beim Spielen inne und korrigierte den zur Melodie passenden Text. Zwischendurch machte er auch kleine Zeichnungen mit Wachskreide, die das gleichnamige Buch illustrieren sollten. Nach und nach waren die Musiker wie vereinbart mit ihren Instrumenten gekommen. Es herrschte eine fast familiäre Stimmung. Es wurde Kaffee getrunken, geplaudert, gescherzt und gelacht. Peter mahnte zu Disziplin und wies den Herren - denn die Schmetterlinge, der Chor mit Dame, waren erst für den nächsten Tag eingeplant - ihre Plätze zu. Das Klavier hatte seinen fixen Platz und rundherum wurde nun postiert. Peter hatte einen genauen Plan, wer wo stehen sollte und aus tontechnischen Gründen auch musste. Das Schlagzeug kam in ein abgeschirmtes Kammerl mit einem Glasfenster, der Bass mit Verstärker kam nach links hinten, gegenüber wurde das Gitarren-Set ebenfalls mit Verstärker aufgebaut. Die Orgel musste auch noch Platz finden und die Percussion wurde hinter einem halbhohen Paravent platziert, damit der Musiker Sichtkontakt mit den Kollegen und dem Tontechniker halten konnte. Jetzt noch Mikrofone aufstellen, verkabeln, justieren und dann Tonproben. Nun war alles bereit. So in etwa hat Georg gerne vom ersten Studiotag zu den Aufnahmen für die nun in einer Spezialversion zum 50 Jahre-Jubiläum vorliegenden Vinyl-Schallplatte erzählt. Und er war sehr stolz auf sein erstes Konzeptalbum.Georg Danzer - "Der Tätowierer und die Mondprinzessin"Ab 18.10. als LP im Gatefold mit 12seitigem Booklet

Masterminded by the prolific collaborators The Fattoruso Brothers, Airto Moreira, and Hermeto Pascoal, Opa’s Goldenwings a latin-jazz-fusion extravaganza that weaves a sonic world that lives at the intersection of lush three-part vocal harmonies, tender flute solos, pulsating percussions, and robust synth textures. Reissued on vinyl for the first time in 50 years as part of Jazz Dispensary’s Top Shelf series, the album was cut from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a gatefold tip-on jacket.

Eine unveröffentlichte, feurige Latin-Session des unvergessenen, 2018 verstorbenen Trompeters!
Kaum ein anderer Jazzmusiker beherrschte in den 1990er Jahren so sehr die Schlagzeilen wie der Trompeter
Roy Hargrove. Die New York Times bezeichnete ihn einmal als “einflussreichsten Trompeter seiner Generation”. Seine stilistische Vielfalt beeinflusste Musiker wie Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, D’Angelo,
Erykah Badu und andere.
1997 gründete er das Ensemble Roy Hargrove’s Crisol, das für sein Debütalbum “Habana” mit einem
Grammy ausgezeichnet wurde. Nur zwei Monate später ging Hargrove mit Crisol erneut in ein Studio auf
der Karibikinsel Guadeloupe, um ein Nachfolgealbum aufzunehmen, das dann aber nicht das Licht der Welt
erblickte.
Erst jetzt, sechs Jahre nach dem überraschenden Tod des Trompeters und zwei Tage nach seinem 55.
Geburtstag, erscheinen diese Aufnahmen bei Hargroves altem Label Verve unter dem Titel “Grande-Terre”.
Das Album zeigt Hargrove - der damals noch keine 30 Jahre alt war - im Zenit seines Könnens. Mal explodiert er auf seiner Trompete förmlich vor Energie und Feuer, dann wieder intoniert er auf dem Flügelhorn
schmachtende Boleros und Rumbas.

Emerging Greek artist ANNE is back with her latest EP, Chicago 1980, a four-track techno record to be released on CROWD, the forward-thinking Berlin-based label by FJAAK. Known for her deeply-rooted influences from Detroit and 90s-00s techno, ANNE delivers a masterclass in driving, hypnotic beats and emotional depth with this new release. The Chicago 1980 EP features the title track, a pulsating homage to the raw energy of the Chicago scene, blending crisp percussion with hypnotic grooves and dreamy chords, reminiscent of Robert Hood's classics. 'Propeller' keeps the intensity, pushing boundaries with its high-energy rhythms, industrial sounds and relentless bassline. 'Storyteller' pulls listeners into deeper territory, combining intricate layers of sound with a mesmerizing build and dystopian dissonant glimpses. 'Red Bones' rounds up the EP, delivering a dark, atmospheric finish, showcasing ANNE's talent for balancing groovy rhythms with a heavy, dancefloor-ready sound. To celebrate the fifth release of the label, ANNE will be performing together with label heads FJAAK at Rotterdam's Perron on October 4th, bringing her signature energy to the dancefloor in what promises to be a night to remember. Don't miss out on this electrifying release from ANNE on CROWD!

I Want Blood is the new solo album from Alice In Chains guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell. Co-produced by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age), the album has an energy that rivals any of Cantrell’s previous work – powerful, nuanced, and electric. It features Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES), Robert Trujillo (METALLICA), Gil Sharone (TEAM SLEEP, STOLEN BABIES), Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE) and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (BETTER LOVERS, ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). Available on CD, LP

Die britische Sängerin, Songwriterin, Multi-Instrumentalistin und Produzentin Fabiana Palladino veröffentlicht am 5. April 2024 ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum bei Paul Institute / XL Recordings. Das Album entstand nach dem Ende einer langen Beziehung und setzt sich mit komplexen Fragen zu Liebe und Einsamkeit in Beziehungen auseinander. Das Ergebnis sind 10 Songs, die sich von den großen R&B-, Soul-, Pop- und Disco-Studioproduktionen der 80er und 90er Jahre inspirieren lassen, gefiltert durch einen modernen Blinkwinkel. Es ist eine intime Platte, die die Toughness und Weiblichkeit von Janet Jackson auf ihrem 1986er Album "Control" und Annie Lennox" bei "DIVA" ausstrahlt, das klassische Songwriting von Kate Bush und Joni Mitchell aufgreift und die romantischen Motown-Duette von Marvin Gaye und Tammi Terrell unterläuft, um die Normativität in Beziehungen zu hinterfragen. Das von Palladino selbst geschriebene und eigenproduzierte Album enthält Beiträge von renommierten Musikern und engen Freunden, darunter vom Mitbegründer des Paul Institute, Jai Paul, dem legendären Session-Bassist Pino Palladino (Fabianas Vater), ihrem Bruder und Yussef Dayes-Bassisten Rocco Palladino, dem bekannten Schlagzeuger Steve Ferrone sowie Streichern von Rob Moose. Fabiana Palladino hat in den letzten Jahren als gefragte Session-Musikerin für Acts wie Jessie Ware, Sampha, SBTRKT oder Laura Groves gearbeitet, während sie in ihrer eigenen Musik intensiv nach Pop-Perfektion strebt. Im vergangenen Jahr war sie Teil von Jai Pauls Band für sein lang erwartetes Live-Debüt, sowie Support-Act der gefeierten Shows.

Regrooved Records proudly present the ultimate reissue of Axiom Funk's legendary album, Funkcronomicon! This psychedelic and funkalicious masterpiece continues to amaze listeners with its eclectic variety, thanks to the impressive roster of artists under the name Axiom Funk.

At the heart of this project is legendary producer and bassist Bill Laswell, whose artistic vision and skills seamlessly unite the album. Funkcronomicon features appearances by many (former) members of Parliament-Funkadelic, making Funkcronomicon a de facto release of this legendary band. Among the featured musicians are the p-funk legends George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and Jerome “Bigfoot” Brailey, and it features the last studio recordings from guitarist extraordinaire Eddie Hazel. Nex to that it also features contributions from icons such as Sly Stone, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Bobby Byrd, the dynamic duo Sly & Robbie and Herbie Hancock and many, many others.

Funkcronomicon masterfully combines funk with the mythical Necronomicon by H.P. Lovecraft Lovecraft's cosmic horror stories, which radiate liveliness despite the ominous title. The cover art by the legendary Pedro Bell, this was one of his last projects before his vision was tragically lost, adds to the album's enigmatic allure and is reminiscent of Lovecraftian rituals.

Now it's time for a high-quality vinyl reissue of this cultural phenomenon. Remastered and pressed onto three discs, this new batch of Funkcronomicon now comes with extensive artwork and now offers you the ultimate listening experience for this classic album. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of funk history. Get your funk on with this must-have reissue!

'We're excited to be able to bring you the latest wonderful album from Chester's boycalledcrow, after a series of superb releases for labels such as Mortality Tables, Waxing Crescent Records and Subexotic Records, including the wonderful Kullu from earlier this year.

Knott's music doesn't sit easily in any pre-existing genres, being at once strange and experimental, yet melodic and somehow comforting. His music is intimate and evocative, deeply personal, and manages to be both bucolic and yet totally 21st century, like Kraftwerk's robots dreaming of sheep.

The songs and sounds on “eyetrees” are inspired by a rich family life and the wonderful times spent with his wife and kids, both at home and out in nature.'

Knott said of the album and its inspirations:
“We enjoy spending time in the woods with our young children, creating stories about the "eye tree”. This tree, with thousands of eyes, watches over us and cares for us like family. We make fox medicine and cherish these blissful moments. The music reflects these times, seen through the colors of an old, fuzzy reel—orange, red, and yellow with blurred edges, like an old photo scorched by the sun.

I feel a deep spiritual connection to the countryside; the hands of Arcadia cradle me when I feel sad. Some of the album was created during times of sadness when I felt death was close and the lines between worlds were blurred. This feeling—that anything can happen and that life is delicate and can be taken away in a flash—permeates the music.

The song titles are stories and memories of my family, filled with hazy pinks, yellows, reds, and oranges.

Wonky acoustic guitar, broken electronics, and a warm, otherworldly space."

Dublin based label Awareness Systems returns with their Combination 2 EP which is a split EP between label boss Pineal Navigation and the prolific Stanislav Tolkachev. After great support for Combination 1 EP from Marcel Dettman, Dave Clarke, Kaiser and Charlton to name a few, the second release continues it’s progress with four analogue live cuts furthering the label’s aim to heighten the energetic state through cerebral techno music.
With a track a piece on each side the record moves from the hypnotic machine rhythms of Stanislav Tolkachev’s A1 track "Battleground" which paints an apocalyptic landscape
with relentless bass heavy drum programming, into two tracks by Pineal Navigation which are both trippy and moody with heavy mo-town vibes. Lover's of Rob Hood and early Underground Resistance take note. The EP is rounded out by Tolkachev on B2 who delivers a relentless driving track of acidic machine funk.

SWIMS returns with their third release since last summer’s romance with London’s Kit Records which spawned two beautiful albums by Romeo Poirier and Electric Capablanca.

Leaving behind the soothing natural landscapes of the previous releases, Finomehanika is an intricate 42-minute machinist journey combining the frayed melancholia of Vladislav Delay’s recently reissued Multila, with the strangely real-sounding yet otherworldly mechanics of Autechre in their Confield era. However, Finomehanika sounds thoroughly unique. It makes heavy use of the piano and field recordings for depth and ambience. The line between synthesized sound and manipulated recordings blur to a point where one becomes the other. The often subtle use of field recordings prevents us from drifting too far into the abstract, keeping us grounded in a fragmented, confusing but familiar environment.

Finomehanika is Robert’s first solo release in 20 years since 2000’s Albumski on Phthalo. The sleeve was designed by Michael Tan known for his previous work with artists such as Blanck Mass and Dopplereffekt. The album features on piano Robert’s brother Miro, better known for his releases as Qwerty. The brothers also recently collaborated on 2019 album Na Vrućem Krovu by Robert’s art-pop band Marinada.

Repress.

DARK VEKTOR is the new signing for the Madrid label INDUSTRIAS MEKANIKAS, a very consolidated artist within the Spanish ELECTRO scene and very well known internationally.

SIEGA LAS CADENAS, is the name with which the Catalan artist, presents this new work, a title that undoubtedly carries a very direct message about the times of repression and bias of freedoms that we came today.

This new work presents 6 tracks, three original tracks of DARK VEKTOR, along with three remixes, of the hand of some of giants of the international ELECTRO scene.

ASSEMBLER CODE, COSMIC FORCE and CESTRIAN, are in charge of finishing off this incredible reference, full of pure power in each beat, demolishing bass, and hypnotic sequences and above all a message of vindication that is the common thread of the whole EP.

2021. Italoconnection, the partnership of Fred Ventura and Paolo Gozetti, released Midnight Confessions Vol 1. Three years on, the awaited second volume has arrived. All of the analogue emotion that characterised the first collection is present from the outset, warm throbs of bass coupled with clean melodies in “The Wait”. Smoky lyrics permeate the nine track album, the unmistakable timbre of Ventura’s voice recanting tales of optimistic encounters and lost love. As with the 2021 release, collaborations with fellow italo romantics are peppered throughout. Francesca Gastaldi returns to work with Italoconnection once again. Having featured on their Humanize EP, Gastaldi’s vibrant voice shines through the smouldering synthlines and robust beats of “Live Forever”. Jaia Sowden takes centre stage for “Just Like Water”. A story of discontent and disconnect is sang over bittersweet keys as eastern undercurrents flow. Contemporary commentary is intertwined with undulating melodies and distant lyrics in “Cold War Lovers”, a cold wave edge cutting through the sounds and words of “Systematic” .The dancefloor surfaces throughout the record. Bodies are pulled tight by the bold and bright bars of “Why” before drifting apart in the lovelorn lamentations of “Lover 2 Lover”. “Europa” pays homage to the machine music of the continent as a litany of influences are drawn upon . The title piece closes. A fragile drum pattern is bolstered by cascading chords, piano notes sailing alongside words by Gastaldi and Ventura. Welcome confessions from musicians who live and breath the synthesizer traditions of Italy.

Verve Forecast announces the first in a trilogy of Spoken Word EPs from three-time Grammy nominated artist Tank and the Bangas. ‘The Heart’ is an EP that features Jill Scott and is produced by The Roots' James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Common). Subsequent EP installments feature Yaya Bey, Aja Monet, Samara Joy, J Ivy. Second EP will be ‘The Mind’ and is produced by Iman Omari (Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller). ‘The Soul’ will be the final installment and is produced by Robert Glasper (H.E.R. Brandee Younger). Following the August 30th album release with all three parts, there will be a fall co-headline tour with Jamila Woods and a Blue Note NYC residency (third year in a row)!

Co-founder and ever-present member of The Chesterfields, Simon Chesterfield's first solo album "Simon Chesterfield" features the results of a year long project re-imagining six of his own compositons as an orchestral performance. Co-produced by Ben Scott Turner, Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey) and Simon Chesterfield, the album was orchestrated by Charles Harrison. An imaginative video of lead track "Something" available on Youtube will accompany this release.

An ensemble of Wessex musicians were gathered together for this project, several of whom have now signed up for some Simon Chesterfield live adventures, including a launch party for the album on Friday 11th October at the wonderful Lyric Theatre in Bridport, Dorset. The players are: Joe Atkinson, Matt Barge, Jenny Bliss, Simon Chesterfield, Rob Ellis, Charles Harrison, Emma Kingston, Seiko Nemoto, Nick Squires, Helen Stickland, James Thornton, and Ben Scott Turner.