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Cellaa Music are very happy to welcome our great friend Marc Faenger and Label Head Sven Jaeger back to the fold. This one - obviously called B2B Volume 1 features two artists, two universes, two different ways to approach the music theory to form a B2B Cellaa relationship.

Young, skilled and supremely talented, Marc Faenger, is an artist set for great things on the international scene. Marc´s - Nip' contains an infectious groove an elegant labyrinth of percussive dub textures and sinusoidal tones and fast shuffling hats. Deep, fresh and seductively satisfying, this tune was designed for the discerning dancefloor.

Sven Jaeger returns to Cellaa Music with his second release for his label. - Get The Fuck' is a track that immediately commands attention with it's rolling, rich bassline surrounded by punchy, organic drums that delivers a soothing atmosphere. The track is really powerful and works really well on all dance-floors. People love it!'

The first of the remixes comes from the in form, Reelow. His releases have been huge hits, ruling the DJ charts. Here he strips the oringinal of Marc Faenger to it's essential parts. The super dry kickdrum and percussion in combination with the deep subs together create Reelow´s own techno vision.

Next we have Dan Noel providing a soulful tech house surrogate to the original of Mr. Jaeger. His remix has a deeper twist with glittering sounds and a concrete percussive arrangement to convey a fantastic Remix.

A dynamic DJ and producer, the Galway-born, Berlin-based artist is driven by mood not genre, gleefully scribbling outside the lines to craft rhythmic, high-vibration dancefloor cuts that make them a delicious match for the Chunkers. Just reference their pin-sharp releases on Radiant, Punctuality, Planet Euphorique and their own World of Worlds imprint. While anyone who’s caught their throwdowns at Draaimolen’s legendary forest stage, Horst Festival or London’s infamous queer party Club Are already knows what’s up.

Their contribution to the BSC catalogue is bang on. Lead cut ‘Track Like’ is a straight-up Chunker. Beginning life as an instrumental, it’s a pumping house cut marked by a grooving bassline, tight drums and a contained ravey energy, before Eoin DJ added that vocal that took the production into peak-time party territory.

A producer who requires no introduction – Jennifer Loveless join the Chunkers fold with a full-bodied remix of ‘Track Like’. Lock in for a funky maximal re-rub with the attitude turned up to 11. Back in Eoin DJ’s corner, the crisp ‘n’ punchy ‘Pure U’ is driven by fat kick drums, euphoric chords and a chunky rolling bassline. Exquisite stuff. A tight Dub version is included in the pack. The EP rounds out with the perky ‘Feel Deeper’, which channels ‘90s New York house and circuit sounds and is built around a hooky vocal line and rhythmic drums.

Eoin DJ follows BELLA, Eliza Rose, Papa Nugs, Paperkraft and remixes Peach and CARISTA in joining the Big Saldo’s Chunkers family as Sally C delights in growing the label via a carefully curated roster of artists.

“I loved the label already, so I was super stoked when Sally asked me to do a release. Chunkers is always

so on-point and consistent with its output. All of the releases are certified party starters – fat basslines, catchy vocals, full of energy and tuned to perfection to hit on the soundsystem. I used that as a jumping off point when making the EP. You could say it’s Chunkers – Eoin DJ style.” – Eoin DJ

“I was hooked on Eoin’s sound since they released ‘Ode to Beachball’ in 2024 on Punctuality Records. I love their ability to weave emotion and groove so seamlessly. It’s been a pleasure working on this EP – I’ve been endlessly rinsing all of the tracks. Such a great producer!” – Sally C

Mega hypnotic minimalism and micro house! TTM003 on Taka Taka Label brings together Kolhida and Cezar Lazar for Break And Escape EP, a razor-focused 12" built for late hours and locked-in floors. Rooted in micro house and minimal, the release balances hypnotic momentum, crisp percussion, and deep, rolling basslines with an understated, heady elegance.

SOULFUL03 brings another deep and beautifully understated chapter from Soulful Dubs straight out of Finland with a special collaboration between Tm Shuffle, Monoder, and Tapani Rinne. warm, organic, and timeless. The record carries a quiet emotional depth, balancing hypnotic groove structures with spacious textures and subtle melodic detail. There’s a strong sense of atmosphere throughout, but always with enough movement and rhythm to keep the floor engaged. The collaboration feels natural and refined: you can hear the musical sensitivity in every layer, from the gently rolling low-end to the airy, dubwise treatment and the beautifully restrained arrangement style.

This record is built upon a desire to rave. To let out and absorb energy from the sounds and people around you. When the rave climate is on point you can meet curious characters, trippy minds floating around with an aura of good energy. We like to cherish them as Good Energy Trippers aka G.E.T.‘s. This EP is a tribute to those ravers who like to share good energy and understand that a party is made together, the better the mix of characters the better the party. EP consists of 4 tracks that blend tech-house rolling with more ravey energy!

The super rework magician Scruscru has been cooking up more goodness for Volume two of Blur's ReWax EP, and it's packed with disco-meets-jazz house class. First up, he tackles Sweet Fruity Brunch's 'Red Parrot' and makes it into a rolling jam with lush pads. Elsewhere, 'Rhythm Roulette' has punchy drums but plenty of piano euphoria, 'Matine' becomes a coy and funky number and 'Gift Of Love' is a romantic heart 'WalkToWalkIN' is a shuffling and jazzy vibe and 'Empyrean Jazz' closes with some spiritual percussion and gentle horns that will always seduce once the lights go low.

Sven Wegner and Reiner Von Vielen debut on Blur Records with a lush, analogue-driven EP here, which fuses live instrumentation, vintage textures and deep dancefloor spirit. The German producers' opener 'Got To Believe' glows with soulful vocals, dusty drum machines and warm synths, while 'Let's Do It' locks into a funk-fuelled, hypnotic groove. The title track then brings some heartfelt emotion with smooth, silky keys and rolling basslines. Next comes a DJ Popinjay remix, which is flipped into a bumping house workout. Closer 'Reboot Me' brings evocative atmospheres to what is an EP steeped in meaningful human feels.

Groovy, functional and elegantly reduced Micro House. AFRV008 brings Dubfound for a tight, late-night or early mroning leaning 12" on Aforisme. Freak Love EP moves with that signature micro-house precision: crisp drums, warm low-end pressure and hypnotic groove shifts that keep the floor locked without ever overdoing it. On the A-side, “Freak Love” sets the tone with elastic rhythms and a stripped-back, forward-driving pulse. Flip to “Hold Me Up” for a deeper, more rolling mood, minimal elements arranged with maximum impact. Maher Daniel closes it out with his remix, adding extra swing and a refined, spacious touch that feels made for long blends and after-hours moments.

Interstellar Echoes is a deep, hypnotic blend of Dub Techno and Dub House swing, built for late-night systems and long transitions. WM002 on Watermellow Music brings Benjamin Shock into full orbit mode: Warm chords drift through cavernous delays, low-end pulses stay locked and steady, and each track unfolds like a slow-moving spacecraft patient, spacious, and heavy with atmosphere. From the rolling drive of “Analog Odyssey” and the expansive glide of “Space & Time” to the tougher push of “Thunder Jam” and the weightless swirl of “Orbital Resonance,” this 12” is pure cosmic dubbing subtle, immersive, and endlessly repeatable.

Tour-Maubourg returns with a new 6-track EP, Dreams, further cementing his place as a key figure in today’s electronic music scene. Known for blending soulful house with rich jazz influences, the French-Belgian producer showcases both his DJ sensibility and refined production skills on this long-awaited release for French deep house label Noire & Blanche.



Nearly four years after Floating on Silence - his acclaimed EP for the label that quickly became a staple in DJs’ sets and underground all-night club sessions - Dreams follows the same inspired path while raising the bar even higher. Joined by a carefully selected group of collaborators, including American producer Kareem Ali (praised by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Boiler Room), pop/R&B soul singer Nic Hanson, and Lithuanian producer and musician Cyan Lu, Tour-Maubourg blurs the lines between jazz and house. The result is a deeply musical, immersive EP that reinforces a sound signature now unmistakably his own, designed for both intimate listening and late-night dancefloors.
crédits

The ‘Haris – Fourtrack EP’ marks the debut release from Shimmy, a new reissue label with a sharp ear for overlooked gems. Originally released 25 years ago and long coveted on Discogs, this sought-after EP finally returns to the shelves, breathing new life into a classic of the tech house underground.

Haris made his mark in the late ’90s and early 2000s with releases on iconic labels like Oblong and his own imprint, Laus Records, collaborating with scene heavyweight, Terry Francis. Renowned for his mastery of rolling, groove-led tech house, Haris crafted a sound that remains timeless and endlessly playable.

Each of the four tracks delivers a distinct flavour for different dancefloor moments, offering real depth and versatility across the EP. Expect snappy tribal percussion, eerie synths, haunting vocals and deep, driving basslines - all the essential ingredients for a late-night shimmy.

Originally released in 1993 on Full Motion Records, Tranvision by Optical Phase is a cult Italian progressive house / trance record from the early ’90s underground.

Produced during the golden era of Italian progressive, the track captures the hypnotic and melodic sound that defined many European dancefloors of the time, driven by atmospheric pads, rolling rhythms and uplifting synth progressions.

Long sought-after by DJs and collectors, the record has become increasingly hard to find in its original pressing.

Now finally back on vinyl, making this early ’90s Italian progressive gem available again for a new generation of DJs and collectors.

Igor Tamerlan is a stranger in his own land. Born in 1954 the Hague and spent most formative years in Paris, Igor suddenly had the urge to relocate to Bali in 1986. “I want to settle in Indonesia and marry a local girl,” he told his sister shortly before flying out.

His next journey would be as audacious as his time in the Fifth Republic. Born from a prominent Indonesian expatriate family in Paris with ties to Indonesia’s first prime minister Sutan Sjahrir, Igor earned a degree in architecture at Ecole nationale supe´rieure d’architecture de Paris-La Villette.

He could have been a brilliant architect or a political scientist (he was accepted to Sciences Po), but his passion for music distracted him from his academic works. He was after all named after Russian composer Igor Stravinsky.

During his brief stint at Sciences Po, Igor spent most of times hanging out at recording studios and rub shoulders with the likes of singer-songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michel Polnaref. He had a brief encounter with The Rolling Stones at the Cha^teau de Thoiry studio in the early 1970s.

But Igor’s musical education and his occidental eyes appeared to be ill-suited for Indonesia. His first record, titled Langkah Pertama (First Step) on the mainstream label Musica was met with a shrug and was a commercial dud. An experimental record blending the influence of Spanish motifs, Francophile production and a whiff of hip hop and ska was seen by critics as being too alien. His sarcasm-laden lyrics and his biting critique of excessive materialism among the upper tier of Indonesia’s nouveau riche in the album was met with confusion from the audience. He was just too far ahead of his time.

He left the label Musica – or may had been dropped – soon after Langkah Pertama and decided to go independent. He then relocated to Bali and set up a state-of-the-art recording studio in Sanur, across the street from Southeast Asia’s first boutique hotel where luminaries like Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Sting, Yoko Ono and Ringo Starr stayed for their holiday.

From the studio, Igor recording everything from the sounds waterfalls, geckos, minibuses to motorized rickshaw and mix them with hip hop, jazz, electronica, dub and Balinese gamelan. A visionary, Igor was the first musician to use MIDI, which started to be available globally in the early 1980s.

On paper, songs like “Bali Vanilli” should not work, a mish mash of disparate elements mentioned above, sung in three languages, Balinese, English and Bahasa Indonesia while tackling the subject of overtourism. The song was also the first to introduce rap to an unsuspecting audience. But for some strange reason “Bali Vanilli” became a sensation and overnight Igor became household name. And in 1987, long before overtourism was an issue, Igor broached the subject to a national audience in Indonesia on the possible destruction of nature and culture from tourism.

Ever an iconoclast, Igor decided to step out of the limelight following the success of “Bali Vanilli” and in early 1990s he relocated to Indonesia’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta. Here, he worked on some more experimental music while juggling as music video director. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 64.

The 10 songs in this compilation, Bali Vanilli: Experimental Pop from Paradise Island (1987-1991), are some of Igor’s best works, music that would have gone into obscurity had it not been for the diligent work of film director Alfred Pasifico Ginting, who managed to track down some of the master tapes while researching on a documentary on the musician.

These recordings have never before been released outside of Indonesia. Igor would have been proud with this reissue project.

'winterswell' threads together raw emotion, playful rhythms, and analog warmth. Following singles on Tresor and Intercept Records, Kat pulls no punches with her first EP. "Manavgat" hurtles you down a dirt road at dusk, brooding and atmospheric, while "Baby I Know What You Want" threads vocals through rolling percussion and a driving bass as the club thrives in unison. Remixes extend the EP's landscape: Mr. G reshapes the material into grainy, coded dub house textures, while Ben Kaczor emphasizes low-end depth and taut, hypnotic tension. 'winterswell' is a vinyl release where intimacy, texture, and rhythm converge with confidence and nuance.

Kalipo kündigt sein fünftes Solo-Album mit Titelsong ‚Alles' auf Iptamenos Discos an!

Der in Berlin-ansässige Multinstrumentalist Jakob Häglsperger ist seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten einer der umtriebigsten deutschen Produzenten. Neben unzähligen Hits, sechs Alben mit seiner Band Frittenbude und vier von der Presse gefeierten Solo-Alben als Kalipo gründete er nebenbei 2020 - gemeinsam mit Local Suicide - die Band Dina Summer, ein weiteres Nebenprojekt welches seit dem international Wellen macht.

Mit über 30 Millionen Streams und weltweitem Radio-Airplay, verbindet sein Soloprojekt elektronische Intensität mit emotionaler Tiefe irgendwo zwischen Clubkultur und Indie-Ästhetik. Geradlinige, treibende, im Krautrock verwurzelte Beats treffen auf markante, von Electroclash, House und Techno der 2000er und 2010er Jahre inspirierte Melodien.

Mit fünf Soloalben und einem breiten Katalog von Remixen und Singles auf renommierten Labels wie Ki Records, Get Physical, Audiolith Records, Iptamenos Discos und Heimlich hat sich Kalipo einen festen Platz in der Szene erarbeitet. Seine Veröffentlichungen wurden unter anderem von Medien wie TAZ, Spiegel Online, Rolling Stone, Musikexpress, DJ Mag, Mixmag, Tsugi und Resident Advisor gelobt.

Das neue Album kommt mit einer ordentlichen Portion Darkness, schwebenden Gitarren und einem stampfenden Beat daher. Darüber singt Kalipo mal auf deutsch mal auf englisch lässig über das Loslassen von inneren Ängsten, Beziehungen und alltägliche Lasten. Ohne seine Fans zu verschrecken schafft er auch auf ‚Alles' wieder einen stimmigen Spagat zwischen Clubmusik und klassischen Songstrukturen.

ORANGE BLACK SPLIT VERSION! With no compromises on sound quality and an exclusive pressing designed for true vinyl enthusiasts, KRONERT002 is more than just a record—it's a collectible statement of artistry and innovation. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of this journey.
Pushing sonic exploration even further, KRONERT002 embodies the raw essence of underground house music, capturing its energy, groove, and timeless appeal. This limited Coloured Splatter/Split vinyl is more than just a record—it’s a statement, a collector’s piece for those who live and breathe the rhythm.
Kronert crafts a hypnotic blend of rolling basslines, shuffled drum patterns, and atmospheric pads, seamlessly fusing classic house elements with a forward-thinking approach. The EP’s warm textures and intricate grooves ensure its versatility—whether igniting peak-time dance floors or setting the tone for deep, late-night sessions.

Mathias Kaden returns to Rekids with ‘Fyutr’, featuring Zoë Xenia and a remix from Dennis Ferrer. The single is a preview of Kaden’s upcoming album. Mathias Kaden returns to Rekids with ‘Fyutr’, following his previous four releases on the label and once again linking up with DJ, producer, and vocalist Zoë Xenia, who also featured on his 2022 ‘Blackbird’ EP on the label. Set for release on 27th February 2026, the single offers an early glimpse into Kaden’s forthcoming album on Radio Slave’s flagship imprint, and comes with a remix from New York House legend, Dennis Ferrer.

A slow-burner with real progression, Mathias Kaden’s ‘Fyutr’ unfolds as a mind-melting journey. Dub chords creep in gently before stretching and mutating, while Zoë Xenia’s spoken-word vocal drifts through the mix, and sweeping strings give it a deep, timeless feel. The single is complemented by a remix from Dennis Ferrer, who flips the original into a beefy, pared-back House cut, warping Xenia’s vocals and locking into a rolling groove before resolving in lush chord work.

Active since the mid-90s, Kaden first appeared on Rekids in 2019 and has since built a wide-ranging catalogue across labels such as Cocoon and Vakant, alongside remix work for DJ Koze, KiNK, Monika Kruse, and Trentemøller. ‘Fyutr’ marks his fifth release on the label, following last year’s ‘Freedom’ remix EP, which received support from Ben Sims, Anja Schneider, Kölsch, Honey Dijon, and more.

Since 2020, 12 Inch Lovers have been releasing new samplers every year, eagerly anticipated by collectors. These samplers have now become a staple and are easily added to vinyl collections across Europe. They offer timeless classics and rare tracks that are often hard to find elsewhere.

With Samplers 11 & 12, they surprise again with a mix of modern classics and tracks that have never been released on vinyl or are difficult to find. By adding unique and exclusive tracks, the 12 Inch Lovers samplers remain innovative and high-quality. They are a must-have for DJs, collectors, and fans of contemporary classics!

SAMPLER 11

A1) Paul Kalkbrenner - No Goodbye (2019)

Berlin techno producer Paul Kalkbrenner became world-famous with his 2008 hit Sky & Sand. Since then, he has released one record after another and performed all over the world in the biggest venues and at the most renowned festivals. No Goodbye is one of his more recent hits, released in the summer of 2019.

The track was created using an a cappella he received on a demo tape while on tour. He was immediately inspired by the vocal and built his own sound and production around it. Interestingly, Kalkbrenner rarely uses vocals, but for No Goodbye he collaborated with Australian singer Chiara Hunter, giving the track a unique and instantly recognisable character. The result is a stylish, dance-floor-friendly track with a rolling house groove that quickly became a modern classic on dance floors worldwide.

A2) Water World - Give Me Love (2000)

This trance classic by Water World appeared in 2000 on the French label Adequat Records and is the perfect tune for a sunny summer evening. Warm melodies and pulsing beats instantly create that beach feeling, as if you were dancing with your feet in the sand. The record recalls Beachball by Nalin & Kane, sharing the same dreamy, sun-drenched vibe.

Behind Water World were producers Laurent David and Frédéric De Backer-names well known to many trance fans. In the nineties De Backer was active with projects such as Global Trance Mission (Dream Mission) and Y-Traxx, the trio that released the 1997 classic Mystery Land.

Give Me Love clearly bears their combined signature: euphoric, warm and melodic, with a timeless build that perfectly balances emotion and energy. The track was released on vinyl as part of Trance E.P. Vol. 01 and remains a fixture in retro-trance sets to this day.

B1) Panoramic - Colors (1996)

Colors by Panoramic is a Belgian trance classic released in 1996 on the legendary label XTC Records, a sub-label of Bonzai Records. Panoramic was a collaboration between Belgian techno icon Marco Bailey and Mauro Mirisola. The duo, also known under playful aliases such as The Coke Man & Sniff, released an EP featuring two powerful trance tracks.

We chose Colors, a tune with pure Belgian trance DNA: driving rhythm, dreamy synths and a catchy female vocal. The combination of Bailey's production expertise and Mirisola's creative touch resulted in a timeless track that still appears in many classic playlists.

B2) Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine (StoneBridge Club Remix) (2008)

British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield released the album Pocketful of Sunshine in 2008, featuring the title track as a single. The original pop version became a major hit in North America, reaching the Top 5 in the US. Swedish DJ and producer StoneBridge (Sten Hallström) reworked the song into a groovy house version, released in the summer of 2008.

StoneBridge gave the upbeat pop tune a club-ready beat and an infectious piano riff that made it shine on dance floors worldwide. It was not his first time transforming pop into house gold-he had already achieved global fame with his remix of Robin S - Show Me Love (1992), one of the greatest house anthems of all time. He also remixed Sia - The Girl You Lost to Cocaine in 2008, another club favourite.

The StoneBridge Club Remix of Pocketful of Sunshine appeared on a special remix EP in July 2008 and was played endlessly in clubs-by us too, in the venues where we performed. The result is a timeless, sun-soaked house classic thatmakes sitting still impossible.

C1) Y-Traxx - Mystery Land (Fred Baker vs Mr Sam's Magical Mystery Dub Mix) (original release 1995)

Y-Traxx was a nineties trance project by DJs Laurent David and Fred Baker. This trance classic first appeared in 1995 as a B-side but gained real attention when it featured on a Paul Oakenfold mix album. Thanks to that success it received an official re-release in 1998 on the respected French label FFRR (Full Frequency Range Recordings).

In 2003 an excellent remix by Mr. Sam & Fred Baker followed on the Nebula label. That version is highly sought after on vinyl by trance collectors, and we are proud to feature it on our new sampler.

C2) Weiss - Feel My Needs (2018)

Feel My Needs by British producer Weiss (alias Richard Dinsdale) is the tune with that unmistakable old-school piano and catchy vocal that instantly pulls you onto the dance floor. Released in May 2018on the UK label Toolroom Records, the track is pure feel-good house with a modern touch. From the very first piano riff, hands go up in the air.

Toolroom even called it a "future anthem" for the summer of 2018, and indeed Feel My Needs became a huge floor-filler. The record charted high on global dance lists and gained massive popularity at festivals and clubs that year. With its warm piano chords, tight beat and soulful vocal, this is a modern house classic that will stay in the collective club memory for a long time.

D1) The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) (2005)

American band The Killers formed in 2001 and scored a massive hit a few years later with Mr Brightside. Taken from their debut album Hot Fuss (2004), it became their biggest and best-known track-a true rock-pop anthem.

In 2005 the song was given an electronic twist when renowned producer and remixer Jacques Lu Cont (the alias of Stuart Price) created an eight-minute dance version titled Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix). This remix replaced the raw rock energy with a more progressive and electronic vibe, driven by a steady beat and long build-up.

The track found a second life in club culture and quickly became a dance-floor favourite. For vinyl collectors it was an instant must-have, and to this day it stands as the perfect party closer. The Killers themselves loved it so much that they often used the remix live as an outro, followed by the original version. A remix that perfectly bridged rock and club culture-and has since become a genuine classic.

D2) Sia - Drink To Get Drunk (Different Gear Remix) (2001)

The legendary ice-cube sleeve says it all: Drink to Get Drunk was a huge club hit in the early 2000s. Released in 2001 on the UK label INCredible, a sub-label of Sony Music, it was a collaboration between British DJ duo DifferentGear (Gino Scaletti & Quinn Whalley) and singer Sia.

The producers took Sia's original song Drink to Get Drunk from her album Healing Is Difficult and gave it a complete transformation, keeping her distinctive vocal and placing it over a hypnotic progressive-house groove.

The combination of Sia's unmistakable voice and the deep, driving production hit hard: the track became hugely popular in Belgian clubs and turned into an anthem of its time. In Belgium it even reached number one in the dance chart in early 2001, and it also performed strongly in the UK and the Netherlands.

To this day it remains a nostalgic crowd-pleaser that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the early 2000s.

Mia Zapata was the greatest rock singer of her time. She may have likely been the greatest blues singer in punk rock history, the woman who married the 78 and the '78. Tragedy did not make this true. Mia Zapata made this true, and the ferocious, spring-loaded shrapnel frame that was built around her by Andy Kessler (guitar: metronomic and furious), Matt Dresdner (bass: fluid, punching, beat-addicted and melodic), and Steve Moriarty (drums: martial and explosive) - who, with Mia, combined to form The Gits - made it true. The Gits were formed at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio in mid-1986, grabbing and swapping pieces of art, thrash, noise, punk rock, classic rock, and all the sorts of magical silly and bookish jingle bells that an old-school liberal arts education handed you; for the next few years they worked on turning it all into something tough, sensitive, both brutal and kind. Andy, Matt, Mia, and Steve moved to Seattle in middish 1989, landing in a house on Capitol Hill where they (and fellow travelers) wood-shedded and rehearsed for the next few years. The Gits put out three EPs in 1990 and '91 before signing with C/Z Records and releasing their first full-length album, Frenching the Bully. Seattle quickly claimed the quartet as their own and embraced the Gits blend of ferocious fangs and soft heart, the slug/slap of the guitars, and the gorgeous, soft underbelly of the poetic emotions. These qualities not only fit in with the doe-eyed/sharp-clawed grunge ethos but earned the Gits the respect of their peers, including Nirvana, who tapped them to open a major local show in 1990. Then other stuff happened, and their frantic, confessional barbed-heart snowball began rolling up hill very, very fast; the Gits "quickly" (hah! After half a decade learning to implode and explode hearts and stomping their boots on manifold beer-softened, Marlboro-weeded wood stages!) inspired rapture, awe, and the levitation that happened when peak emotion meets peak grindage in front of amps spitting out something that sounded like the mad marriage of Bolan swagger and Dischord tension_ all fronted by a genuinely incomparable woman who held her heart in her mouth and shared it, in all its celebration and fear, without hesitation. The Gits were an angry, inflamed slinky fully in tune with and tuned by the Bessie Patti Smith of her time, truly the only singer who could summon Joplin, Poly Styrene, Sam Cooke, Iggy Pop and Ian MacKaye all in the same goddamn song. In 1993, less than four weeks after accepting an offer from Atlantic Records, Mia died. I leave it at that, because this is not about death; it's about an extraordinary life. I do not say, "You should have been there," I say, "We are lucky so many of us were, and I am so glad we have this extraordinary evidence of the power and gifts of Mia and the Gits that you now can hold in your hands." And I note that Frenching the Bully, this extraordinary testament to the soul, shock, fury and feeling of the Gits, has been long out of print on vinyl and CD, and this new edition - remastered by legendary Seattle engineer Jack Endino - joyfully rectifies that. -Tim Sommer

Rick James Blends Brazen Attitude, Fearless Sexuality, and Shrewd Charisma on Street Songs:

Punk-Funk Album Aims for the Hips and Head, Includes the Timeless Hit “Super Freak”
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes and Strictly Limited to 4,000 Numbered Copies:

Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP Set Presents 1981 Smash in Audiophile Sound for the First Time
1/4” / 30 IPS analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe


“Punk funk” was a relatively unknown concept before 1981. But once Street Songs took the charts by storm that year, the world soon knew about what became Rick James’ signature style. And how. True to its name, Street Songs blends outspoken sexuality, brazen attitude, and edgy commentary amid contagious R&B-fueled arrangements that simultaneously aim for the hips, head, and various nether regions. And it’s never sounded better.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents James’ platinum-certified effort in audiophile quality for the first time. Playing with crisp dynamics, lively textures, airy headroom, and revealing clarity, this collectible edition of the record that stayed at the No. 1 spot on the R&B Album Charts for 20 weeks invites you to get closer to music that beckons you to turn your space into a private dance floor.

Then again, you’ll likely be so taken by how the taut bass lines, snappy rhythms, and four-on-the-floor beats — all rendered in stunning detail and with full-bodied architecture — come across with such accuracy and presence, you might stay pinned to your seat. On this pressing, the soundstaging, imaging, and lit-fuse energy of Street Songs reach new heights. Everything from the rubbery feel of the guitar lines to the depth of James’ temperature-raising vocals to the scale of the horn charts emerges as if James and his ace session crew set up in your room.

The Buffalo native and his ensemble waste no time getting their message across. On the album-opening “Give It to Me Baby,” James and company lay down a mix of sleek funk and pulsing disco that practically activates the bright lights of a discotheque and stimulates the libido of anyone within earshot. Having reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul charts, the song is pure sex — and just one of the carnal delights on a record that embraces the subject as fearlessly as James does his identity.

Of course, the most famous of James’ erotic excursions — the timeless “Super Freak” — hit No. 1 on Hot Dance Club Play charts, No. 16 on the Hot 100, and, later, No. 153 on Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 500 Songs of All Time. Bolstered by a quavering keyboard theme and electro riffs, the much-sampled track worms itself inside your muscles with smile-inducing subject matter, gliding vocals, nimble movements, a hot tenor-saxophone solo, and backing vocals by the Temptations.

The iconic Motown group isn’t the only celebrated guest artist on the Grammy-nominated Street Songs. James’ then-labelmate, Stevie Wonder, lends harmonica to the frank sociopolitical narrative on “Mr. Policeman,” a protest tune that also manages to stroll ’n’ strut via simmering organ, staggering brass accents, and James’ gritty vocal performance. In addition to contributing backing vocals on several cuts, Teena Marie turns in one of the album’s signature moments on “Fire and Desire,” a romantic old-school duet with James that impresses with smoothness, sensitivity, and smokiness.

High-profile colleagues aside, James remains the undisputed star, a figure whose leather-and-latex attire, braided hair, and natural swagger made him misunderstood by some in the mainstream and embraced by everyone in the know as a true original. As a testament to his magnetism and skills, his charisma and rawness seemingly seep through every note, whether on the balladic sweep of the risqué “Make Love to Me” or strident, poke-and-prod persuasion of the moonwalking “Call Me Up.”

On the closing “Below the Funk (Pass the J),” an uptempo autobiographical tale that addresses the visionary musician’s second-favorite love, the singer acknowledges his upbringing and inseparable connection with his roots — an homage to where he began and a toast to where he’s gone.

Rick James, keepin’ it real on Street Songs, still as real as it gets.