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Mike Ladd. Diejenigen, die ihn kennen, sprechen diesen Namen mit einer gewissen Ehrfurcht aus. Wenn du mir eine unvollkommene Analogie gestattest: Ladd ist der Terrence Malick des Underground-Hip-Hop - ein kompromissloser Autor, dessen frühe Werke sowohl unkonventionell als auch von der Kritik gefeiert waren, bevor er sich abrupt aus der Szene zurückzog, die er mit aufgebaut hatte, und nach Paris abhob, um nie wieder von sich hören zu lassen. Natürlich ist die Realität komplexer als die Legende. Mike Ladd hat nie aufgehört, Musik zu machen; im Laufe der Jahre ist er bei allerlei unerwarteten Kollaborationen aufgetaucht - wer könnte seinen mitreißenden Auftritt auf billy woods' ,Aethiopes" vergessen -, hat den Soundtrack zu einer Netflix-Serie beigesteuert und mit bildenden Künstlern an Orten wie dem Pantheon in Paris zusammengearbeitet. Dabei sind all die Bühnen, auf denen er als Teil verschiedener Tournee-Bands und Live-Acts für Furore sorgte, noch gar nicht mitgezählt. Dennoch liegt Ladds letztes Soloalbum mehr als zehn Jahre zurück, und sein Meisterwerk ,Welcome to the Afterfuture" erschien Anfang 2000. Wenn wir der Analogie folgen wollen, ist ,Nonechosen" Mike Ladds ,The Thin Red Line. Ein unerschütterlicher Beweis dafür, dass sich der Künstler weiterentwickelt und gewachsen ist, dabei aber dieselbe Gravitas bewahrt hat, die seinen Namen zu dem gemacht hat, was er ist. Hier sind wir nun, tief in der ,Afterfuture", und es ist, als hätte Ladd schon immer auf diese Zeit gewartet und auf diesen Moment hingearbeitet. ,Jetzt weißt du, warum ich auf meinem Posten geblieben bin", rappt er auf ,Nonechosen", überzeugt davon, dass sich seine Geduld ausgezahlt hat. ,Nonechosen" ist ein Soloalbum, aber Ladd wird dir als Erster sagen, dass er es nicht allein geschafft hat; er hat schon immer mit alten Freunden zusammengearbeitet. No Surrender und Tom Degeeter haben an jeweiligen Tracks mitgewirkt. Sobald Mike das Album mit seiner eigenen Produktion zu 95 % fertiggestellt hatte, gab er es an Preservation weiter, der das Projekt mit ein paar gut platzierten Feinschliff-Maßnahmen auf ein neues Niveau hob. Backwoodz Studioz fühlt sich geehrt, Teil von Ladds kometenhaftem Comeback zu sein, und freut sich darauf, diesen wegweisenden Künstler einer neuen Generation von Hip-Hop-Fans gebührend vorzustellen, wenn wir schon dabei sind.

Taylor Ashton kehrt mit Charades" zurück, seinem dritten Solo-Album, das am 6. November 2026 bei Birthday Cake Records erscheint. Produziert und mitgeschrieben von Benjamin Lazar Davis (Cuddle Magic, Okkervil River, Maya Hawke), abgemischt von Jacob Blumberg und gemastert von Philip Shaw Bova, bettet das Album Ashtons warmen Bariton und sein einfallsreiches Clawhammer-Banjo in kantigen experimentellen Pop und klassische Harmonien ein: atmosphärische Kurzgeschichten über Treue, Freundschaft, Schicksal und Selbsttäuschung. Die Gästeliste liest sich wie ein Gipfeltreffen der Brooklyn-Folk-Szene: Maya Hawke, Theo Katzman (Vulfpeck), Aoife O'Donovan und Ashtons Frau Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) singen alle auf dem Album mit. "Ich habe Taylor Ashtons Stimme als sehr ehrlich erlebt wie Balsam, ganz ohne Künstlichkeit", sagt Leslie Feist.

Jozef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch’s Bocca di Lupo and Mouth of the Wolf were recorded in July 2025 in Bologna, Italy. The recording sessions took place just after several live dates in New York and Chicago, and a week before they began a short European tour which included Paris, London, Ghent, Porto, and a first date in Bologna.

Below are notes from Jozef and Jim directly.
“With thanks to Gian Luca Farinelli and Rosanna Mordini from the extraordinary Cineteca di Bologna, we were able to secure recording days in the very cool Fonoprint Studios — located on Via Bocca di Lupo in Bologna, hence the titles of these two LPs. (“In bocca al lupo” — in the mouth of the wolf — is the Italian idiom for wishing one good luck; equivalent to “break a leg” in English.)

Bocca di Lupo starts with a new version of our own “Only Lovers Left Alive,” and “Apology” is a new version of a pre-existing piece by Jozef. All other tracks are new originals. We were honored to have guest duet vocals from the iconic Courtney Barnett on “Never Like You Said.” The lyrics of the song arrived spontaneously in a single take in the studio. It’s not directed at a specific person, but more an emotional response to several disingenuous, deceitful people — a closing of the door on their toxic behavior. And a casually recorded conversation (concerning the haunted auras of particular pieces of vintage women’s clothing) between Adriana Coppi and Veronica Mayrr (from Deux Femmes) is woven as a background into the track titled “Pour Deux Femmes.” “Black Roses” is an original poem written in Bologna, and recited from within its own musical setting. All other tracks are instrumentals.

Mouth of the Wolf, the second LP, consists of two longer, darkly ecstatic instrumental studio tracks — “In A” and “Massa Damnata.” Both were created with two electric guitars, and derived from our live performances. We consider it to be a musically separate album, and is therefore presented in its own sleeve and with its own artwork.

Our music has many inspirations — everything from our friends in Sunn O))) and Swans to Terry Riley and Morton Feldman; from Hildegard Von Bingen and WIlliam Lawes to Psychic Ills and Spacemen 3; from Les Rallizes Dénudés and NEU! to Nadja and Glenn Branca; from Ian Svenonius and Dead Skeletons to Son House and Gwenifer Raymond…from sunset to sunrise…full moon to new moon…”

a 01. Only Lovers Left Alive 4:36
b 02. Never Like You Said 5:23
[c] 03. Apology [5:11]
[d] 04. Black Roses [2:44]
[e] 05. On Twofold Nature [9:37]
[f] 06. Pour Deux Femmes [8:09]
[g] 07. In Bocca Al Lupo [5:58]
[h] 01. In A [12:56]
[i] 02. Massa Damnata [17:51]

[a] 01. Only Lovers Left Alive [4:36]
[b] 02. Never Like You Said [5:23]
[c] 03. Apology [5:11]
[d] 04. Black Roses [2:44]
[e] 05. On Twofold Nature [9:37]
[f] 06. Pour Deux Femmes [8:09]
[g] 07. In Bocca Al Lupo [5:58]
[h] 01. In A [12:56]
[i] 02. Massa Damnata [17:51]

[a] 01. Only Lovers Left Alive [4:36]
[b] 02. Never Like You Said [5:23]
[c] 03. Apology [5:11]
[d] 04. Black Roses [2:44]
[e] 05. On Twofold Nature [9:37]
[f] 06. Pour Deux Femmes [8:09]
[g] 07. In Bocca Al Lupo [5:58]
[h] 01. In A [12:56]
[i] 02. Massa Damnata [17:51]

[a] 01. Only Lovers Left Alive [4:36]
[b] 02. Never Like You Said [5:23]
[c] 03. Apology [5:11]
[d] 04. Black Roses [2:44]
[e] 05. On Twofold Nature [9:37]
[f] 06. Pour Deux Femmes [8:09]
[g] 07. In Bocca Al Lupo [5:58]
[h] 01. In A [12:56]
[i] 02. Massa Damnata [17:51]

[a] 01. Only Lovers Left Alive [4:36]
[b] 02. Never Like You Said [5:23]
[c] 03. Apology [5:11]
[d] 04. Black Roses [2:44]
[e] 05. On Twofold Nature [9:37]
[f] 06. Pour Deux Femmes [8:09]
[g] 07. In Bocca Al Lupo [5:58]
[h] 01. In A [12:56]
[i] 02. Massa Damnata [17:51]

DJ HS presents "Booty Shake EP" on Ghoststyle

A legendary figure of the Belgian electronic scene and one of the iconic DJs of the famous Lagoa, DJ HS returns to Ghoststyle with Booty Shake EP, a four-track release showcasing the sound that has made him a favourite among clubbers for decades.

Featuring Booty Shake, Spectrum, Shut Up and Acid Twist, the EP delivers four driving cuts packed with infectious grooves, pounding rhythms and unmistakable acid flavours. Staying true to DJ HS's signature style, each track is built for maximum dancefloor impact while preserving the raw spirit of authentic underground electronic music.

Whether you're looking for energetic peak-time weapons or timeless club grooves, Booty Shake EP is a solid addition to any DJ bag and vinyl collection.

Français

DJ HS présente "Booty Shake EP" sur Ghoststyle

Figure emblématique de la scène électronique belge et DJ incontournable du mythique Lagoa, DJ HS signe son retour sur Ghoststyle avec Booty Shake EP, un EP de quatre titres qui reflète parfaitement le son qui fait vibrer les clubs depuis des décennies.

Composé de Booty Shake, Spectrum, Shut Up et Acid Twist, cet EP rassemble quatre productions percutantes mêlant grooves entraînants, rythmiques puissantes et touches acid irrésistibles. Fidèle à l'univers musical de DJ HS, chaque morceau est pensé pour offrir un impact maximal sur le dancefloor tout en conservant l'esprit brut de la musique électronique underground.

Que ce soit pour les DJs à la recherche d'armes redoutables pour le peak time ou les amateurs de vinyles électroniques authentiques, Booty Shake EP trouvera naturellement sa place dans toute collection.

Celestial Echo Records presents Nathaniel Best – Set Your House In Order, an incredible gospel soul LP from 1986, finally back in circulation.

Originally released on Spirit Records of Nevada, the album is very much of its time in the best way — gospel music with drum machines, warm synths and basslines that push it right into modern soul and boogie territory. Nathaniel Best’s voice carries the whole record with real conviction, joined by group vocals and arrangements that give the album that rich, uplifting 80s gospel soul sound.

For us, the standouts are clear. “Call Him” is the boogie dancer — bright, driving and full of movement, the kind of gospel cut that sits perfectly in a modern soul or boogie set. The title track, “Set Your House In Order”, is something else entirely: a beautiful downtempo soul glider, deep and heartfelt, with that slow-burning quality that makes the whole LP feel so special.

Those two tracks tell the story, but the magic runs through the whole record. Scattered across the album are these amazing slower gospel soul moments, balanced with enough groove and lift to keep it moving. It’s not just a one-tracker, it’s a proper LP with feeling, range and a sound that collectors have been chasing for years.

Best’s musical story runs deep. He grew up around gospel, recorded from a young age, played piano in church, sang with the Love Center Choir under Bishop Walter Hawkins, and later worked with names including The O’Jays and The Fairfield Four.

Original copies have always been hard to come by, and the album has built a serious reputation with gospel, soul and boogie collectors over the years.

Buy or Cry.

Celestial Echo Records presents Nathaniel Best – Set Your House In Order, an incredible gospel soul LP from 1986, finally back in circulation.

Originally released on Spirit Records of Nevada, the album is very much of its time in the best way — gospel music with drum machines, warm synths and basslines that push it right into modern soul and boogie territory. Nathaniel Best’s voice carries the whole record with real conviction, joined by group vocals and arrangements that give the album that rich, uplifting 80s gospel soul sound.

For us, the standouts are clear. “Call Him” is the boogie dancer — bright, driving and full of movement, the kind of gospel cut that sits perfectly in a modern soul or boogie set. The title track, “Set Your House In Order”, is something else entirely: a beautiful downtempo soul glider, deep and heartfelt, with that slow-burning quality that makes the whole LP feel so special.

Those two tracks tell the story, but the magic runs through the whole record. Scattered across the album are these amazing slower gospel soul moments, balanced with enough groove and lift to keep it moving. It’s not just a one-tracker, it’s a proper LP with feeling, range and a sound that collectors have been chasing for years.

Best’s musical story runs deep. He grew up around gospel, recorded from a young age, played piano in church, sang with the Love Center Choir under Bishop Walter Hawkins, and later worked with names including The O’Jays and The Fairfield Four.

Original copies have always been hard to come by, and the album has built a serious reputation with gospel, soul and boogie collectors over the years.

Buy or Cry.

Bristol trio Jabu return with their first release for two years. Following on from their widely acclaimed third LP ‘A Soft and Gatherable Star’, this stand-alone double A-side Disco Mix 12” features four exclusive new tracks, while signposting fresh material currently being written, recorded and mixed for their forthcoming LP, due 2027.


If 2023 LP ‘Boiling Wells’ documented Jabu learning to be a live band, leaning into writing collectively in-the-moment, ‘A Soft and Gatherable Star’ took that record’s ad-hoc/mixtape blueprint, and fleshed out their transformation from an outfit rooted in hiphop and dubstep, to a guitar-based band with a unique take on dream-pop. It saw them described by The Face as “an experiential trio blending the raw edge of industrial dub with dreamy layers of ambient pop and shoegaze", and by The Wire as “like Mazzy Star remixed by The Mad Professor“.


Jabu have continued to grow in the space between releases, touring regularly for the first time, playing festivals such as Rewire and Le Guess Who?, and supporting the likes of Maria Somerville and AR Kane. Their extended live line-up now regularly incorporates those that contributed to ‘A Soft and Gatherable Star’, with new material often further developed as it gets passed back and forth between collaborators. Cellist Josh Horsley (Powders / Nightingale Floor) and multi-instrumentalist Will Yates (aka Memotone) both feature here, under the guiding hand of Birthmark’s mixing.


Titled after the rural, estuarine landscape bordering their Bristol hometown, ‘Severn Flood Plain’ sees the band pivot towards a more jagged and up-tempo, post-punk sound. It runs on a nagging drum machine pulse that feels closer to Joy Division than Sly Stone; while the echo-laced vocals and tremolo guitar phrasing hark back to the ‘50s slapback sound of Lee Hazlewood or Duane Eddy. Written and sung by Jasmine Butt, the lyrics describe a visit to a friend near the mouth of the Severn, and hint towards a darkness that can also be felt across that tidal landscape.


Dropping the pace to a languorous, sensual sprawl, ‘Where You Run To’ is plaintive and yearning, an opiated, ethereal flipside to ‘Severn Flood Plain’s more urgent, anxiety-laced opener. Alex Rendall’s vocals glide over a stripped, metronomic backdrop, eventually entwining with Memotone’s ghostly, processed clarinet.


If the band’s musical reference points appear to have shifted, their process remains indebted to dub and still very much rooted in the multicultural cross-pollination peculiar to their home city of Bristol. Both tracks are extended, with dub versions courtesy of Birthmark. The band sat in on those sessions, completing the circle that began with J’s on-stage mixing of their live sets. The strands provided by Will and Josh provide introspective counterpoint to the sound system leanings.


Jabu’s influences are threaded together as naturally here as on their long-running NTS radio show, ‘Music For Lovers’, which now occasionally guests on the Early Bird show slot. They are due to play World of Echo’s ‘Expected Music 2.0’ at London’s Walthamstow Trades Hall on 21st November with Loopsel, Insides, Giulio Erasmus, Thomas Bush, and Raime amongst others.

Hope & Sorrow turns 20: Wax Tailor announces a limited collector's edition in Orange & Black Marbled double vinyls.


Twenty years ago, Wax Tailor released Hope & Sorrow, his second album. Following the success of Tales of the Forgotten Melodies, this new record confirmed and amplified a trajectory already well underway. Gold record certification, a world tour, an Indie Music Award in the United States, and a nomination at the Victoires de la Musique in the "Best Electronic Artist" category: Hope & Sorrow would firmly establish his singular world, blending trip-hop, finely cut samples, and cinematic arrangements, far beyond French borders.


Two decades later, Hope & Sorrow has lost none of its power. To celebrate this anniversary, Wax Tailor unveils a limited collector's edition on double gatefold vinyl, crafted both for those who have followed the album since its release and for those discovering it today.


An opportunity to revisit a pivotal record in his discography, one that played a major role in establishing Wax Tailor on the international stage.

The 2018 album Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale is the adaptation by Roger Waters (co-founder of Pink Floyd) on the 1918 same-titled theatrical work. Waters recorded this version with members of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church.

The original theatre work is one “to be read, played, and danced” by three actors (the soldier, the devil, and a narrator) and dancers, accompanied by a septet of instruments. The libretto relates the parable of a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil in return for unlimited economic gain. The music is scored for a septet of violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet or trumpet), trombone, and percussion. The libretto is adapted by Roger Waters from the translation by Michael Flanders and Kitty Black, based on the original text by Charles-Ferdinand Ramus.

The Soldier's Tale is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on green vinyl and comes in a gatefold sleeve with linen laminate finish. The vinyl package includes a 4-page booklet with lyrics and pictures.

Herbie Hancock is one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the 20th century. A child prodigy, he played with the greats such as Donald Byrd and Miles Davis. He was one of the first to embrace and master the electric piano, but he always stayed true to the acoustic sound. In fact, he always bounced back and forth between his electronic and acoustic sound, touching upon almost every development in R&B, funk and jazz while retaining an original and distinctive voice.

Sextant from 1973 was recorded just before Headhunters, and can be seen in the same vein, but it’s more than just an introduction to a masterpiece. It features a kind of post-modal, free impressionism while gracing the edges of funk. Three long instrumental tracks explore how far minimalism in jazz can go.

Sextant is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on blue marble vinyl.

The journey continues.

For the seventh edition of the Vega Records 5 Pack Unreleased series, Louie Vega once again opens the vault to reveal a special collection of unreleased recordings, alternate versions, remixes, demos, tribute reworks and deep cuts from the Vega Records musical family.

5 Pack Unreleased VII brings together 15 tracks across five 12-inch records, showcasing the wide musical spectrum that has always been part of the Vega Records story. From soulful house and deep grooves to jazz, soul, Brazilian influences, live instrumentation, Latin influences, powerful vocals, disco-rooted rhythms and the freedom to experiment in the studio, this collection moves through many different sides of the music.

Some of these recordings have been waiting patiently in the vault. Others represent alternate versions of songs that continue to evolve through different interpretations. Together, they create another musical journey through the sounds, collaborations and ideas that have shaped the Vega Records universe.

These final recordings speak to something that has always been important to Louie’s musical journey: respecting the music that came before while finding a way to reinterpret it through his own musical language.

From Loleatta Holloway and Duane Harden to Elements Of Life, 2SoulFusion, Domo Domo, Brutha Louie & Brutha Basil, and the tribute recordings, 5 Pack Unreleased VII brings together different generations, different voices and different musical influences under one roof.

The Elements Of Life sound continues throughout the collection, with “Sunshine (I Can Fly),” “Every Step” and “Dreamer” offering special previews into the musical direction of the forthcoming 2027 Elements Of Life album.

This is the seventh chapter of the series, but the philosophy remains the same:

Open the vault.
Share the music.
Let the DJs discover it.
Let the dancers feel it.
Five records.
Fifteen tracks.

A collection of unreleased music, special versions, studio discoveries, tributes and musical experiments from the world of Vega Records — with plenty more waiting inside the vault.

A soaring new chapter unfolds from the forthcoming Elements Of Life album with the release of “Soar,” an uplifting and deeply moving collaboration featuring the incomparable Lisa Fischer. Written by Josh Milan and Louie Vega and produced by 2SoulFusion—Louie Vega and Josh Milan—the song is a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and the limitless possibilities that emerge when spirit, soul, and music unite.

Built upon a rich tapestry of live musicianship, “Soar” embodies the signature sound that has made Elements Of Life a beloved musical movement around the world. At its core is Lisa Fischer’s breathtaking vocal performance, delivering a message of hope, elevation, and self-discovery with the emotional depth and conviction that have made her one of the most revered voices of her generation.

At the heart of “Soar” is a message of encouragement, resilience, and unconditional support. Through its uplifting lyrics and soaring melody, the song speaks to anyone navigating life's uncertainties while striving to become their fullest self. Lines such as “Clouds hang low, but the sky's still wide” acknowledge the challenges we all face, while the recurring refrain, “I just want you to soar,” serves as a powerful affirmation of faith in another person's journey. Equally moving is the song's central sentiment, “The more you do for you, the better I feel,” expressing a selfless form of love that celebrates growth, healing, and personal fulfillment. Universal in its message yet deeply personal in its spirit, “Soar” reminds us that one of the greatest gifts we can offer is the encouragement to rise, evolve, and embrace our own potential.

The production blends organic instrumentation with sophisticated arrangements, creating a timeless soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. Multi Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride anchors the composition with his masterful upright bass work, while Josh Milan's lush keyboards, piano, organ, clavinet, and atmospheric textures provide the song's harmonic foundation. Live drums from Tony Cintron and vibrant percussion from Luisito Quintero infuse the track with an irresistible pulse, while Ivan Renta's expressive soprano saxophone solo adds another layer of emotional richness, and a tasteful guitar groove by Sherrod Barnes.

The song's message is elevated further through a powerful vocal ensemble featuring background vocals from Lisa Fischer, Dawn Tallman, Ramona Dunlap, and Lea Lorien, creating moments of communion and uplift that echo the song's central theme of hope, growth, and believing in the possibilities that lie ahead. For Louie Vega and Josh Milan, “Soar” represents another defining moment in their longstanding creative partnership. Through Elements Of Life, they have continually blurred the boundaries between house music, soul, jazz, Latin rhythms, gospel, and global influences, creating music that resonates as deeply on the dance floor as it does in the heart. “Soar” continues that tradition, offering listeners a song that inspires movement, reflection, and renewal.

Recorded at Honeycomb Studios in Pennsylvania and Manhattan Center Studios in New York City, and mixed at Daddy's Workshop in New Jersey, the production benefits from the expertise of recording engineers Yas Inoue & Josh Milan, with final mastering by the Maestro of mastering Herb “Pump” Powers for PM Mastering.

As anticipation builds for the forthcoming Elements Of Life album slated for February 2027, “Soar” offers a powerful glimpse into the project's next evolution— a celebration of musical excellence, spiritual connection, and the enduring power of song to lift us higher.

Workers Playtime is the fourth album by Billy Bragg, originally released in September 1988. This long overdue vinyl reissue comes in a gatefold sleeve and was remastered by John Webber at Air Studios using high-resolution transfers made from master tapes in Billy's archives. There will also be a limited edition run of coloured vinyl albums.

Helmed by legendary producer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake, Fairport Convention et al) and his former Riff Raff bandmate Wiggy, Workers Playtime saw Bragg deliver his most tender and empathetic collection. The band featured the legendary Danny Thompson on double bass, BJ Cole on pedal steel, Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) on bass and Micky Waller on drums. Licking his wounds after another victory for Margaret Thatcher at the ’87 general election, he wrote ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’, one of his most enduring songs, while the stunning a capella ‘Tender Comrade’ confronts the ugly prejudice of the moral majority. Melancholy and disillusionment are part and parcel of Bragg’s songwriting, but always with a healthy dash of optimism.

Toronto’s Lammping is a project built on the idea that music can exist across timelines. Founded by Mikhail Galkin and Jay Anderson, the band’s sound draws equally from heavy psych rock, hip-hop, classic songwriting, and experimental collage, creating records that feel both familiar and impossible to place within a single era or genre.

Their latest album, So What, What?, is the clearest expression of that approach. Built from fragments of memory, influence, and lived experience, the record moves seamlessly between sampled textures, personal storytelling, and adventurous songwriting. References to everything from Soviet-era recordings to golden-age hip-hop sit alongside reflections on family, parenthood, and the uncertainty of the present moment. Yet despite its wide-ranging influences, the album remains firmly rooted in songcraft rather than nostalgia.

Long before streaming services, podcasts, or even the compact disc, there was Tellus—a radically ambitious publication that imagined recorded sound as an exhibition space. Founded in 1983 in downtown New York, Tellus transformed the humble audio cassette into a magazine, commissioning and publishing new works by musicians, composers, visual artists, poets, writers, choreographers, and performers who were reshaping the boundaries of contemporary art. Each issue invited listeners into a world where no wave, industrial music, spoken word, Fluxus performance, electroacoustic composition, downtown pop, conceptual art, and avant-garde experimentation could coexist on equal footing. More than forty years later, Earth Libraries proudly presents TELLUS: The Audio Cassette Magazine Anthology Vol. 1, the first comprehensive anthology devoted to the groundbreaking publication. The story of Tellus begins, fittingly, at the Rum Runner Bar on Canal Street. There, in 1983, visual artist Joseph Nechvatal, curator Claudia Gould, and composer Carol Parkinson conceived an entirely new kind of publication. Portable cassette players were transforming how people experienced music, and the trio saw an opportunity to use the cassette itself as a curatorial medium—one capable of circulating work that traditional record labels, galleries, and magazines simply couldn't accommodate. Early recordings by Sonic Youth and Liquid Liquid sit alongside works by James Tenney, George Brecht, Takehisa Kosugi, Carol Parkinson, Y Pants, Live Skull, Shelley Hirsch, Lenny Pickett, Paul Dresher, Gregory Whitehead, and dozens of other artists whose work helped define one of the most fertile creative communities of the era. For Earth Libraries, restoring Tellus represents a continuation of the label's commitment to preserving overlooked musical histories. Working from the original cassette masters, every recording on TELLUS: The Audio Cassette Magazine Anthology Vol. 1 has been carefully restored and newly mast

A hot slice of Latin dance music — produced by the legendary Masters at Work, the house icons and masters of that Nuyorican sound, “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” González — from Los Amigos Invisibles, the Venezuelan band who have spent decades perfecting the art of getting away with everything.

Packed with raunchy songs (of course) that fuse every American genre under the sun — from salsa to acid jazz to disco to funk — this record tore up dance floors twenty years ago.

Three years after the release of their debut album, Do Nothing return with their much anticipated sophomore, 'Friend World'. The Nottingham four piece consisting of Chris Bailey, Kasper Sandstrøm, Charlie Howarth, Andrew Harrison, emerge bolder, self-assured and more energetic than ever.

Lead single 'Stars' gives an insight into the upcoming LP, synth-laden with hypnotic riffs, meandering vocals and bouncing basslines. The single, already a fan favourite, paves the way for listeners to enter the 'Friend World' that Do Nothing have created. At first glance, the album is overflowing with hard hitting guitars, infectious rhythms and frontman Bailey's signature razor-sharp witted lyricism, but dive deeper into tracks such as These People Want Blood and standout track Loner, to find an alternative take on the album, representing a softer and more pensive side of the band's writing.

The chart-topping, multi-Platinum and Ivor Novello-winning Passenger returns with a new album ‘Wild Love’. Passenger - real name Mike Rosenberg - was inspired by recently (and unexpectedly) becoming a husband and father. ‘Wild Love’ captures the whirlwind of emotions as their relationship developed - the excitement, the upheaval, the trepidation and the joy. Passenger says, “Going from a working relationship to a romantic one is scary. The older you get, the more of the spikier sides of love you’ve seen. Things go sour for all sorts of reasons and with someone so close, the stakes are so much higher. ‘Wild Love’ is the title track because it sums up the theme of the album. Do you give in to your doubts and do nothing, or do you face your fears and go for it? I wrote the song as I was realising that the choice was obvious.” While the ‘Wild Love’ album charts the couple’s personal experiences - taking the plunge, cherished early memories together, the realisation that this new love could be one that lasts - the single ‘It Was Gonna Be You’ is an outlier from a previous chapter in his life, a story of discovering that relationships can rapidly unravel. It is set to a classic Passenger sound of bright, buoyant melody coloured with flourishes of piano and Americana-tinged guitar twangs. The uplifting, energised atmosphere of the ‘Wild Love’ album opens with its most direct moment, the infectious ode-to-change of the live favourite ‘Boomerang’. The title track and centrepiece ‘Wild Love’ will also be familiar from shows, a delicate piano-based country song which taps into the elation and fear that came as the couple’s relationship took shape. There are sonic surprises too, such as the way in which the frisky ‘Caution To The Wind’ draws on both ‘70s Elton John and the insistent keys of Bruce Hornsby and the Range’s ‘The Way It Is’, or the ‘80s synth embellishments on ‘Lightning Strikes’. A rare cover is also included with his take on Taylor Swift’s ‘Willow’, the song that soundtracked the couple’s blossoming love.

The chart-topping, multi-Platinum and Ivor Novello-winning Passenger returns with a new album ‘Wild Love’. Passenger - real name Mike Rosenberg - was inspired by recently (and unexpectedly) becoming a husband and father. ‘Wild Love’ captures the whirlwind of emotions as their relationship developed - the excitement, the upheaval, the trepidation and the joy. Passenger says, “Going from a working relationship to a romantic one is scary. The older you get, the more of the spikier sides of love you’ve seen. Things go sour for all sorts of reasons and with someone so close, the stakes are so much higher. ‘Wild Love’ is the title track because it sums up the theme of the album. Do you give in to your doubts and do nothing, or do you face your fears and go for it? I wrote the song as I was realising that the choice was obvious.” While the ‘Wild Love’ album charts the couple’s personal experiences - taking the plunge, cherished early memories together, the realisation that this new love could be one that lasts - the single ‘It Was Gonna Be You’ is an outlier from a previous chapter in his life, a story of discovering that relationships can rapidly unravel. It is set to a classic Passenger sound of bright, buoyant melody coloured with flourishes of piano and Americana-tinged guitar twangs. The uplifting, energised atmosphere of the ‘Wild Love’ album opens with its most direct moment, the infectious ode-to-change of the live favourite ‘Boomerang’. The title track and centrepiece ‘Wild Love’ will also be familiar from shows, a delicate piano-based country song which taps into the elation and fear that came as the couple’s relationship took shape. There are sonic surprises too, such as the way in which the frisky ‘Caution To The Wind’ draws on both ‘70s Elton John and the insistent keys of Bruce Hornsby and the Range’s ‘The Way It Is’, or the ‘80s synth embellishments on ‘Lightning Strikes’. A rare cover is also included with his take on Taylor Swift’s ‘Willow’, the song that soundtracked the couple’s blossoming love.

Physically tethered to this reality, yet creatively unmoored from any earthly restraints, Holy Fawn freely slip in and out of metal, shoegaze, electronic, alternative, and rock as if inhabiting multiple states of sonic existence all at once. Blazing new trails both seen and unseen as well as heard and unheard (but always felt), the Arizona quartet—Ryan Osterman, Evan Phelps, Alexander Rieth, and Austin Reinholz—continue to cover uncharted territory on their second full-length offering, Dimensional Bleed.

The group emerged in 2018 as a critical and fan favorite with their debut LP, Death Spells. Stereogum said the music is “all so beautiful,” while Heavy Blog Is Heavy went as far as to christen it “a landmark.” Thrice and Deafheaven each invited the band on tour, and Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe was effusive in his praise.
In 2020, Holy Fawn shared The Black Moon EP, which the Phoenix New Times hailed as “a ferocious slab of twilight guitar crunch.” In the midst of the Global Pandemic, Holy Fawn carefully assembled what would become Dimensional Bleed. Due to the closure of their practice space and de facto headquarters, the bulk of creation and recording happened remotely. Ryan performed vocals and electronics at home, while Austin and Evan tracked and mixed out of Evan’s studio. This time around, they enlisted Mike Watts The Dillinger Escape Plan, Glassjaw, The Dear Hunter for mixing and additional production and Mike Kalajian for mastering.

“La Conga Vieja” channels the spirit of the Nickodemus, Quantic and Tempo’s evergreen hit “Mi Swing Es Tropical” - a driving 4/4 groove built on Afro-Latin percussion, salsa piano, and punchy horn lines. What started as an improvised moment at a Puerto Rico show playing a borrowed, decades-old conga became the foundation for this uptempo dancefloor cut. Featuring vocals from Puerto Rican poet Flaco Navaja and trumpet from Carlos Sarduy, the track blends classic Latin rhythms with modern club sensibility. Perfect for DJs moving between tropical, house, and global sets. Includes a bonus beat, radio edit, and instrumental.

This release pairs 'In the Heights' standout Flaco Navaja with Grammy Award–winning trumpeter Carlos Sarduy (Chucho Valdés), delivering a globally rooted, crossover-ready sound. The track comes from internationally respected producer/DJ Nickodemus, whose catalog spans five albums and 11 Turntables on the Hudson compilations, backed by strong digital metrics (52k+ followers, 704k+ monthly listeners, 300M+ streams), including “Mi Swing Es Tropical” (63M+) and multiple other high-performing tracks. The release also features Italian percussionist Gabriele Poso, whose catalog has surpassed 10M+ streams. Nickodemus tours globally to consistent demand, with strong listenership across the USA, France, Spain, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, Canada, and Australia. Supported by press in Billboard, Rolling Stone, Complex, The FADER, and Paste, plus global radio (BBC 6, FIP, RFI, KCRW, KEXP).



c 03: La Conga Vieja (Radio Edit) feat. Flaco Navaja & Carlos Sarduy
[d] 04: La Conga Vieja (Rado Edit Instrumental) [feat. Flaco Navaja & Carlos Sarduy]



[c] 03: La Conga Vieja (Radio Edit) [feat. Flaco Navaja & Carlos Sarduy]
[d] 04: La Conga Vieja (Rado Edit Instrumental) [feat. Flaco Navaja & Carlos Sarduy]

When Khalab and Baba Sissoko first recorded together in 2015, they produced something definitive: a record where electronics and griot tradition achieved genuine synthesis rather than polite cohabitation.

Not layered genres maintaining separate identities, but two forms evolving into something singular. "Tata" took Track of the Year at the 2016 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards, found champions in Laurent Garnier, Ben UFO, Matthew Dear, Bonobo, and many others — but more significantly, it established a working method built to last.

Eleven years on, they return with Foli Bah on Hyperjazz Records. Theirs is a relationship built on trust. Khalab constructs structures that don't develop linearly but spiral inward — loops that reveal something new with each rotation, tightening until the listener stops resisting and surrenders. Sonic architectures that don't expand outward but deepen over time, layering toward saturation. Baba Sissoko inhabits these structures with instruments from Malian tradition, not as ornamentation but as load-bearing elements: the tradition becomes structure, not decoration. Electronics and griot practice stop negotiating terms and start speaking the same language.

Seven-piece instrumental group Let Your Hair Down herald their triumphant return with super heavy new 7” Pingu’s Anthem b/w Gronk.

Hailing from the hotbed of Melbourne / Naarm, Australia, Let Your Hair Down step out from the shadows for the first time since their 2021 album‘Waiting Room’. The seven-headed cinematic funk group is a conglomerate of Melbourne’s thriving cinematic soul movement, comprising members of Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, Owelu Dreamhouse and Temporary Blessings. The band’s sound is a sturdy mix of dusty minor key funk, off-kilter conguero psychedelia and horn-heavy boogaloo, represented robustly across both sides of the forthcoming College of Knowledge 45‘Pingu’s Anthem b/w Gronk’.

Side A, ‘Pingu’s Anthem’, pays tribute to the tune’s titular penguin protagonist. Emblematic of Pingu himself, LYHD’s horn section sticks its chest out boisterously atop the rock-solid drum feel of Hudson Whitlock. The tune is laced with a resolute flute solo from saxophonist Will Morrissey.

Side B, ‘Gronk’, is a punishing funk cut; relentless rhythm section careening through the tune, punctuated by the metallic, percussive sound of an empty gas bottle being struck. Razor sharp farfisa and menacing horns reinforce this deadly joint as one to handle with care.

Pingu’s Anthem b/w Gronk is out worldwide on 45RPM 7” vinyl on College of Knowledge Records August 7th 2026.

'Space Between' is the debut album of The Hague based Belgian vocalist/ composer Sam Nera. This experimental indie pop album is characterized by Sam's soft repetitive vocal phrases, shifting layers, and melodic, hypnotic soundscapes that clearly echo her background in jazz.

This compilation album is the result of a unique collaboration between PLAZA and Kunstmuseum Den Haag, inviting listeners on a sonic journey through the museum's hidden collection of instruments, previously unseen by the public . On this special record you can hear a diverse range of musicians from the Hague engaging with this music archive through inspiration, sampling or even playing the fragile instruments themselves.

The intriguingly named Pigeon Steve joins Especial for an EP of trippy, psychedelic electronic dance music that goes far beyond its origin – a thirst for all forms of movement – a struggle filled with all possibility.

Since its inception, the label has sought to take inspiration from a wide range of music genres – new wave and new beat to disco-not-disco, post punk and proto-house – never looking for a trend. This belief system expressed is human; intimate and authentic, dissolving and uniting around shared truths and universal values.

Music as ecstasy, the flux of rhythm and sound, to find and be yourself; no guilt, no competition, no games. It is phenomenon – magick – that short circuits through human (emotional) response.

Relocated to South-East London, Glaswegian DJ and producer, Pigeon Steve aka Adam Low, showcases his talent. A dubby, trippy approach to DJing mirrored in his productions; the recent, well-received EPs on the esteemed Offen Music and Weirdos Inc lead here – an EP of sample heavy cuts, wrapped in echo-laden grooves, the beats dripping in psychedelic, new beat and steppers electronica.

Dialect locates us, through its cadences, inflections and intonations we journey through life. Language allows us to escape the lion in a cage. The moment we forget ourselves, we can reach joy and clarity. To live is to exist, the struggle against controls, fighting for an individual destiny.

Ruffiani returns with its second release: four new tracks built around sampling, edits and reworked musical fragments, bringing different influences together in a raw, contemporary club context.

Released as a limited-edition white label vinyl, the record continues the project’s underground, DJ-focused approach, four tracks made for the dancefloor.

Adepta Editions launches its new FuoriSerie series with catalog number AE/FS-01, a 6-track EP titled Tetsudo by Pauk (Pau Cabruja), a pivotal figure in Barcelona's experimental electronic music and modular synthesizer scene. FuoriSerie is a dedicated series that grants invited artists complete creative freedom, handing over full control of both the musical vision and the visual aesthetic. Within this framework, Adepta Editions operates purely as a platform, empowering artists to build and express their world without constraints. In Tetsudo (Japanese for railway / iron road), Pauk unfolds his signature sonic language through a 6-track journey: a complex architecture built on modular synthesizers, deconstructed glitch rhythms, dense ambient soundscapes, and intricate patterns of friction and inertia. AE/FS-01 stands as an essential release for avant-garde electronic collectors and aficionados of analog-driven, conceptual IDM.

2026 Repress

After the worldwide techno hit that was Darc Marc's "Dirty Rocking Bass" comes the next Cluster X instalment from French legend GANEZ THE TERRIBLE. "The Rave..." is another prime time techno monster from the Acid Techno/Techno underground that is going to cause massive dancefloor mayhem with its cheeky 'The rave, the sound, the people, the party" sample and hard funky beats and 303 stabs. With pounding remixes from D.A.V.E. THE DRUMMER, and new kid-on-the-block SEON, and a kicking bonus track "Elevator" from Ganez himself this gives a nod to all areas of harder techno.

Mit ihrem neuen Album Nine setzt das aus Chicago stammende Post-Metal-Trio Russian Circles seine bedächtige Weiterentwicklung und disziplinierte Verfeinerung fort. Dabei besinnen sie sich auf ihre Stärken und erweitern zugleich die Grenzen ihres Klangspektrums. Dies ist eine Band ohne Radio-Hits. Es gibt keinen Konsens unter Fans darüber, welches ihr bestes Album ist. Was bleibt, ist der Ruf nach Beständigkeit und Qualität - ein Ruf, der sie zu einer der weltweit bedeutendsten Bands im Bereich des instrumentalen Heavy Rock gemacht hat. Auch wenn sie betonen, dass ihre Musik aus einer Vielzahl unterschiedlichster Einflüsse schöpft, lässt sich sagen, dass sich die experimentierfreudige Vielfalt von Russian Circles zu einem unverwechselbaren, einzigartigen Sound entwickelt hat. Obwohl die Mitglieder von Russian Circles mittlerweile über das ganz USA verstreut leben - Gitarrist Mike Sullivan in Los Angeles, Schlagzeuger Dave Turncrantz in Chicago und Bassist/Keyboarder Brian Cook auf Vashon Island bei Seattle -, haben sie für Nine ihre jeweiligen Standorte musikalisch miteinander verwoben. Die sieben gewaltigen, fast seismischen Titel wirken wie Soundtracks zu den Herausforderungen und Tragödien des modernen Lebens. "Unsere Musik ist ein gemeinsamer Prozess der Versöhnung, der Orientierung und der Reflexion über das Älterwerden - sowohl als Individuen als auch als kreative Einheit. Das Leben hat reale räumliche Distanzen zwischen uns geschaffen, doch die Band bildet weiterhin unseren gemeinsamen Mittelpunkt. Diese kreative Zusammenarbeit ermöglicht es uns, den Lauf der Zeit zu erfassen und zugleich voller Zuversicht in die Zukunft zu blicken", erklärt die Band. Während frühere Alben beim Erkunden verschiedener musikalischer Gefilde fast spielerisch wirkten, ist Nine das Zeugnis einer Band, die ihr Terrain genau kennt und ihre Position in dieser vielfältigen Klanglandschaft festigt.

Year 3673. The frequencies have taken hold. What began as scattered transmissions from the underground has become an infection. Across the dead zones, abandoned receivers flicker back to life. Forbidden rhythms bleed through the static. Citizens once numb to the Global Order's neural grip are beginning to move again. But something else has awakened with them. Deep beneath the ruins, an unknown signal has begun answering SHIFT's transmissions. Its origin is untraceable. Its frequency predates the network. Those exposed report visions, lost time and an uncontrollable urge to follow the sound. The Global Order calls it contamination. SHIFT calls it evolution. A new generation has been born into the resistance; raised on distorted circuitry, machine funk and frequencies never meant for human ears. The signal is spreading. Do not adjust your receiver.

Die Rare Groove Collection: Ethiopian Rare Groove beleuchtet einen der faszinierendsten Schmelztiegel moderner Musikgeschichte. In den Clubs und Cabarets des vibrierenden Addis Abeba der 1960er und 1970er Jahre entstand ein einzigartiger Sound, der äthiopische Traditionen mit Soul, Funk, Jazz und Disco verschmolz. Diese Edition versammelt rare und prägende Aufnahmen einer Szene, die bis heute weltweit nachhallt. Künstler wie Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed oder Getatchew Mekurya stehen für eine Musik von hypnotischer Kraft, getragen von polyrhythmischen Grooves, markanten Bläserlinien und unverwechselbaren Melodien. Das Doppel-Vinyl ist mehr als eine Compilation: Es ist ein musikalisches Zeitdokument, das die kreative Energie einer urbanen Hochphase einfängt - rau, elegant und zeitlos zugleich.

Wewantsounds continues its Middle East reissue series with Assa"d Khoury"s 1978 rarity, Electronic Touches Belly Dance. Reissued for the first time in nearly 50 years in partnership with Byblos Records founder Mozart Chahine, the album features Oriental classics reimagined through Khoury"s pioneering electronic keyboards. This definitive edition includes original artwork, remastered audio, a new introduction by Ahmed Khalil (Dikraphone), and an exclusive interview with Chahine, the album"s producer, conducted by Mario Choueiry (IMA)

Diese Doppel-Vinyl-Compilation lädt ein in die warme, entspannte Welt des Lo-Fi-Sounds - eine Musik, die entschleunigt, Atmosphäre schafft und Nähe erzeugt. Versammelt sind prägende Künstler des Genres, die Lo-Fi, Downtempo, Jazz-Einflüsse und elektronische Gelassenheit miteinander verbinden. Mit Beiträgen von FKJ, Darius, Kid Loco, St Germain, The Mighty Bop, DJ Cam, DJ Spinna und weiteren wichtigen Namen entsteht ein vielschichtiges Panorama zwischen organischen Grooves, sanften Beats und subtilen Melodien. Die Auswahl richtet sich gleichermaßen an langjährige Liebhaber wie an neue Hörer, die Lo-Fi als eigenständige, zeitlose Form elektronischer Musik entdecken möchten. Ein stimmiger, sorgfältig kuratierter Sampler für entspannte Hörsituationen, stilbewusste Sets und alle, die elektronische Musik lieber fühlen als konsumieren. ENGThis double-vinyl compilation invites listeners into the warm, comforting world of lo-fi music - a sound defined by relaxed rhythms, organic textures and understated emotion. Featuring leading artists of the genre, the collection blends downtempo beats, jazz influences and laid-back electronic production. With tracks by FKJ, Darius, Kid Loco, St Germain, The Mighty Bop, DJ Cam, DJ Spinna and others, the album offers a broad yet coherent overview of lo-fi aesthetics. It appeals both to seasoned listeners and newcomers seeking a timeless, atmosphere-driven listening experience. A carefully curated selection designed for calm moments, focused listening and stylish musical environments

All tracks have got massive support from Djs like Danny Krivit,Kenny Carpenter,Dave Lee ZR,MicFreak,Alan King,Mijangos,Dj Disciple,Peppe Citarella and many many more.

Der Euro-Disco-Klassiker „Jasmin China Girl“ von Mozzart aus dem Jahr 1988 feiert sein großes Comeback und erscheint jetzt endlich wieder als farbige Maxi-Single auf Vinyl. Der legendäre Dancefloor-Hit zählt bis heute zu den beliebtesten Euro-Disco-Tracks der späten 80er Jahre und begeistert mit seinem eingängigen Refrain, charakteristischen SynthesizerSounds und dem unverwechselbaren Retro-Feeling.

Neben den originalen Maxi-Versionen des Kultsongs dürfen sich Fans und Sammler auf ein besonderes Extra freuen: Auf der B-Seite befinden sich brandneue Remixe, die den klassischen Mozzart-Sound modern interpretieren und gleichzeitig den Charme des Originals bewahren. So trifft nostalgischer 80s-Disco-Sound auf zeitgemäße Club-Elemente und sorgt für frischen Wind auf dem Plattenteller

Power Of Soul is the third record as a bandleader by legendary jazz drummer Idris Muhammad, originally release in 1974. He embarked on his solo career in 1970 after years of work as a sideman for the absolute biggest names in jazz such as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, Ahmad Jamal, Pharoah Sanders, and many, many others.

This record was produced by Creed Taylor, founder of CTI, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. The architect of the Blue Note sound developed a deep relationship with Muhammad and played a big role in finetuning his sound. But, don't forget the rest of the line-up; the recorded features arrangements and compositions by keyboard legend Bob James and smooth jazz founder Grover Washington Jr., supplemented with performances by Randy Brecker, Joe Beck, and Ralph MacDonald. All in all, you can see why Muhammad's works ended up as samples on so many hip-hop records.

Power Of Soul is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on white vinyl.

This release is a homage to the Turbo label.

Turbo was a part of Joe Robinson and Sylvia Robinson’s All-Platinum Records set up in New Jersey which operated from 1967 to 1979. At one stage the fiercely independent and proudly black owned label threatened to become another Motown or Philadelphia International. That never happened, but the Robinson’s dream of worldwide success came later when Sylvia discovered Rap, recorded Rappers Delight by The Sugarhill Gang and Sugar Hill records was born.

Music historian Steve Guarnori describes All Platinum as "probably the most unusual record company there ever was. Dysfunctional, but at the same time wonderful."

The All-Platinum chaos extended to Turbo. But despite anarchy - some superb albums went straight from manufacture to be deleted and sold as cut-outs - sublime music was created. This 10" 6-track release collects together some of the most hallowed Turbo releases which between them have become cherished by collectors.

Brother to Brother "The Bottle" captures the label at its most astute. Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson’s original version was an album only track on Strata-East so Turbo seized the opportunity to quickly make a worthy cover version and rush release it a single which enjoyed success.

"Ton Of Dynamite" by Frankie "Love Man" Crocker was Turbo’s debut release in 1968 (it actually sounds a later recording). At the time Frankie was a DJ on WWRL radio station in New York and the release was essentially a reward for his previous support of All-Platinum releases. The record (a b-side) is actually made Willie & The Mighty Magnificent who went on to re-record it as

"Funky 8 Corners". It took until 1975 for "Ton Of Dynamite" to get recognition when it became an anthem as the UK Northern Soul scene adopted it as part of the movement away from old skool 1960’s Soul. Whatever its’ provenance, "Ton Of Dynamite" is now revered by the Rare Soul and Funk communities.

The Optimistics "Man" from 1971 is another b side single. The group specialised in smooth harmony Soul but "Man" is a funkier affair which won support from Rare Soul aficionados and will cost you £600 plus if you are lucky enough to locate a copy of the hard to find 45.

Willie & West "Attica Massacre", also from 1971, is an even more elusive single. It is a powerful protest against the killing of 29 prisoners, many black, following a riot at a prison - Attica Correctional Facility in New York. The deaths and a subsequently discredited cover up caused outrage. John Lennon was amongst the first musicans to make a recording about the bloodbath, but the most emotional protest is this Willie & West track. Only 300 copies were manufactured of one of the most powerful civil rights recordings ever made. The vocal sounds like anti-War Edwin Starr at his most bristlingly aggressive.

Perhaps the strangeness of All-Platinum is best illustrated by the later success of Lonnie Youngblood "Sweet Sweet Tootie" which is essentially the backing track of "Attica Massacre" plus exquisite sax playing by Lonnie. Despite it selling 100,000 plus copies the label did not see this as a reason to reissue "Attica Massacre". Strange. Or as Marvin asked "What’s Going On"?

The New Sounds "Don’t Take Your Love From Me" was only issued by Turbo as an album track. Despite good music on it the LP was poorly (it at all)/ promoted and flopped. The superb "Don’t Take Your Love From Me" is a long time Northern Soul / X-Over favourite.

Larry Saunders mesmerising "On The Real Side" made no impact when released on Turbo in 1974 but was nevertheless issued in the UK by London Records. The Northern Soul discerning dancers instantly latched on to its combination of uplifting lyrics, heartfelt vocal and clomping beat and since then its’ appeal has extended across the whole of the Soul community. Without doubt an all time classic.

So six treasures from a label that despite frequently advocating cash out of chaos frequently conjured up awesome music.

ANORAX is grateful to have the opportunity to present this very special Soul selection.

Often credited as the father of multi-media theatre, Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) took complete creative control over his productions - including cutting-edge approaches to lighting and costume that transformed human bodies into shifting sculptural shapes, while also composing wildly innovative electro-acoustic and synth-based audio as accompaniment.

After initially experimenting with musique concrète and tape manipulation (as demonstrated on the 1959 LP Choreosonic Music of the New Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais) Nikolais became the first owner of Robert Moog's synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society convention in New York in late 1964. Relying heavily on the Moog and later the Synclavier synth/sampler, these 21 tracks document Nikolais' highly-prescient compositions across the mid 1960s through to the late 1980s - existing not only as extensions of his other-worldly choreographic productions, but standalone pieces of foundational mid-century American electronic and experimental music.

"Born in Southington, Connecticut in 1910, Nikolais’s early years and early career were in acting, music and puppetry. It was not until the late 1930s that he began his work as dancer/choreographer in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was commissioned by the Avery Memorial Theatre, a part of the Wadsworth Atheneum, to create an evening-length work to the music of Ernst Krenek. Previously his work and study as a pianist-organist found him accompanying silent films. This sort of accompaniment required from the musician not only a playing skill but also a versatility in improvisation, matching movement to sound, and evoking mood to situation.

Nik was drawn initially to dance by his involvement with the percussion scores used by the illustrious early twentieth century German dancer Mary Wigman. In trying to learn more about percussion, he was lured into dance class and thus his career began. His development of music and dance occurred simultaneously. His introduction to the twelve-tone technique opened his mind to the expanding areas of atonal music, and his dealing with music as sound per se. In 1948, after being appointed director of the Henry Street Playhouse in New York, Nikolais formed the Playhouse Dance Company, later known as the Nikolais Dance Theater, and began his aesthetic orientation toward dance as a study of motion. By the 1950s, he had ceased creating literal dances and began his explorations and eventual milieu as an abstractionist.

Sound became an important part of his abstract theatre. For his first dances, which involved his new thinking of dance as both a visual and kinetic art, he used live percussion scores in which he directed his dancers to play instruments of all nature. There was a combination of children’s toy instruments as well as harsh and resonant automobile brake drums, and other pitched auto parts which he also used to accompany classes. Once he installed his own tape recording machines, he quickly used the limited range these instruments provided in a new way, slowing and increasing speed and reversing sound. He also made the sounds adhere to the choreographic structure (not the other way around), thereby giving the dance its independence from the musical phrasing. But the real need remained: the search for new sound. Nik made a sound library, recording noises and percussion and vocal sounds, which the French aptly called musique concrète. Needless to say, he became a master at splicing bits and pieces.

From 1956 to 1962 Nikolais composed eleven major scores for his theatre pieces using such techniques. In 1963, James Seawright, who at the time was assisting Nik in his productions and also working at the Columbia-Princeton Center for Electronic Music, recorded a sound bank for the production Imago (1963). With this material, Nikolais created his first synthesizer score. Imago won the Paris Grand Prix in 1968 and launched the Nikolais Dance Theatre towards its national and primarily international acclaim.

During the same period, Seawright came to Nik and told him of a young man who had invented and constructed a simplified synthesizer and insisted that Nik visit the electronic fair currently being held in New York. Nik did so and met Robert Moog. He was completely taken by the new machine and after making some suggestions to Moog, (which Moog made), Nik bought the inventor’s first machine with the aid of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Moog himself was astonished by what his machine could produce for Nik. This machine was later acquired by the Museum of Musical Instruments at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as the first Moog synthesizer. The Synclavier was Nik’s next source of sound and since the mid-1970s remained the major instrument in the Nikolais soundroom.

Alwin Nikolais has been honored and awarded throughout the world. He has received the French Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of the Arts, two Guggenheim Fellowships, as well as Mellon, Ford, and Rockefeller grants. He has been a recipient of NEA grants since 1966, been awarded five honorary doctorates, all for his remarkable achievements in Dance Theater. His genius has influenced several generations of artists."
—Murray Louis