The first-ever vinyl reissue of the classic 1986 debut album from perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.
Touch Me features four hit singles: the international smash ‘Touch Me (I Want Your Body)’ (#3 UK and #4 US), ‘Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)’ (#10 UK), ‘Hold On Tight’ and ‘I’m All You Need’. Immediately establishing Samantha’s signature pop-rock sound, on its original release the album hit #17 in the UK, going silver, before reaching #24 in the US with a gold certification. Pressed on striking black vinyl with white and pink splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics. A strictly limited-edition picture disc is also available. Touch Me is reissued alongside Samantha’s self-titled second album and 1989’s I Wanna Have Some Fun.
Cerca:sam k
Revolutionary DJ and producer Matador presents his exciting debut release for Hot Creations Wildside this July. It features two contrasting tracks that stay true to the ethos of the label synonymous with White Isle hedonism.
Wildside opens with spirited percussion of shakers and snare rolls, reverberating into a fuzzy and infectious bassline groove. The playful sample is looped over crazy effects and bright keys, before dropping into a final crescendo that will have feet stomping in unison. Sweet Release retains a classic deep house sound with dreamy chords and lush synth. The track develops with warm sub-bass, piano, arpeggiation and soulful vocals, resulting in a summertime anthem.
Matador has made his mark on the electronic music world since the very beginning, producing a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, becoming a brand ambassador for MODEL 1 and featuring in Resident Advisor’s ‘Top 20 Live Acts’ for three years in the early part of his career. In 2016 he launched his label RUKUS, releasing music from emerging and established artists alike. Spanning genres and formats he has made music for Sky TV and British Airways, his vinyl-only series Cyclone is firmly rooted in techno, whilst the stream only album Tuesday presents an exquisite take on ambient. His collaboration with Zurich’s Tonhalle Orchestra again highlighted his dexterity as a truly authentic musician. 2020 sees the launch of Matador’s podcast series focusing on studio gear and featuring interviews with touring artists. His new live performance ‘Live 2.0’ is also forthcoming and will feature hotly anticipated new music.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the release of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Boogie Chillen’. Recorded in Detroit in September 1948 by Bernard Besman – who had his own Sensation label – it was licensed to Modern Records in Los Angeles and released on 3rd November. The flip side was ‘Sally May’.
To say that the single caught fire is an understatement. It is believed that ‘Boogie Chillen’’ shifted in the region of a million copies in 1949 placing Hooker on the map as a blues guitarist and singer of the first rank – where he stayed until his death in 2001.
The original was, of course, released as a 78rpm single. In 2020 we issued ‘Boogie Chillen’ with ‘Boogie Chillen’ #2 on the flip as a limited edition of 500 copies that played at 78rpm.
We now present ‘Boogie Chillen’’ and ‘Boogie Chillen’ #2’ as a limited edition 7” single that plays at 45rpm. Despite being 75 years old, this classic recording still sounds so fresh and rhythmically propulsive it is hard to believe that you are listening to one man and his guitar playing live and stomping his feet in a room. Besman caught lightening as it flashed, just like Sam Philips did some years later with Elvis Presley in Sun Studios.
There are classics. There are stone cold classics. And there is ‘Boogie Chillen’’.
SPLIT#4 is the final release for the 10th anniversary year of the Pi project featuring Elements of Joy (a.k.a. UVB) and Stave both returning to the label after their earlier appearances with PI08 and PI07 respectively.
The vinyl release showcases six original tracks--three from each artist--with bonus tracks included in the digital release.
On the A-side Elements of Joy delivers 3 original tracks of New-Beat leaning techno including one song that features vocals by Zanias. The opening track "Prutaneousa (A1)" connects the dots between his previous entry on the label and this one with the use of retro 80s inspired vocal samples but this time on a rather driving beat sequence than an industrial/noise one. "A Master of Distress (A2)" dives deeper into a hypnotic mood while "Vampiric Habits (A3)" takes it even further to an ethereal atmosphere through the input of Australian vocalist Zanias.
On the B-side Chicago producer Stave presents his signature hypnotic broken-beat techno. The side opens with "Weingart (B1)" a characteristically Stave textured track. "900MPH (B2)" combines IDM elements with dynamic broken rhythms while "Capital, Selves (B3)" blends experimental with Grey Area influences.
The digital release includes two more bonus tracks: an energetic EBM techno piece by Elements of Joy and an atmospheric techno by Stave completing this diverse split release.
SPLIT#4 is a fitting close to the project's milestone year celebrating a decade of our Pi vision.
Two sought after artists, Deft and Manni Dee, combine their uniquely eclectic sounds on collaborative EP ‘Swamp Season’ arriving on Hooversound in March 2025.
Deft, a familiar favourite within the Hooversound family having released two EP’s on the label, is no stranger to breaking boundaries when it comes to sonic stereotypes. Enter: Manni Dee. Another equally exciting name on the London circuit who is an advocate for non-conformism. Between them they have released on Exit, 1985 Music, Critical and Fabric Originals - their style has been recognised globally and continues to grow. Both creatives bring something refreshingly new to the table, whether it’s with their amalgam style of music making, their esteemed record platforms (Silk + Steel, B4 Music) or their DJ sets - it makes perfect sense for the duo to unite on their vision.
Their latest offering combines their boundaryless artistic style of forward-thinking atmospheric production on an EP named ‘Swamp Season’. The two producers play with different elements of club music and hip hop by blurring genres and throwing the rule book out of the window. The end result highlights how Deft and Manni Dee have excelled once again across five bass-fuelled tracks which will expand your perspective on electronic music.
On their single, the duo said “‘Charged’ was the last track we wrote for the EP. Rooted in the simplicity of 00's hip hop instrumentals, on steroids, adapted with the wider electronic sphere in mind. Inspired by the past and present, facing the future.”
Deft and Manni Dee also explained how they came to collaborate; “We've always shared the same taste in hip hop and electronic music, and also share a studio together underneath FOLD in Canning Town, so it just made sense for us to make a record together. Our process was creatively free with no preconceptions, having worked together remotely and together across multiple studios around the world. The result has created a new and exciting avenue for us both, opening the floodgates to eliminate boundaries. It's Swamp Season.”
Phonomena are back and this time joined by Haste on a mission to Andromeda with 4 Hardcore Jungle tracks ready to do damage on the dancefloor.
Kicking off with a remix of Paul Renegade’s Multiverse from London based Jungle veteran Haste that has been floating around on dub for a little while. Taking the tempo of the original up a notch this is the perfect track to start the EP with its Mentasm fuelled mayhem.
Rage and Renegade then drop their first track on wax together with Best Served Cold, taking a sample from a 92 classic then twisting it up with some distorted bass before switching things up as the track progresses. This was made over a bunch of Saturday nights late in 2024 and continues the vibes from the first two records.
At the end of side A there’s some scratch samples for DJs to battle with, pitched to the perfect tempo to use with Hardcore and Jungle.
First up on the flip DJ Rage drops a bass heavy breakbeat workout with Ready To Roll. This was made to contrast with Haste’s remix, a bit more laid back at first but slowly building up to a euphoric tear out towards the end.
Paul Renegade closes out the EP with Dark Carnival, a trip to the underworld with haunted samples and effects that drops into some full on bass, no letting up here with more Hardcore pressure to rattle your speakers!
Coming on ice blue translucent vinyl with hand stamped labels, these Kniteforce exclusive versions come with in an Ice Blue (single colour) label or Electric (double colour). These special editions are limited to 30 copies each.
1. Watermelon Man
This track version actually came from an improvisation that Allesandro IIona (Keys) made on a live show at RonnieScott's at the start of the year. I think we were were having some issues with one of the monitors on stage and it juststarted making this beeping sound. Then I remember Alleh just came in with that piano riffat the start and the rest was history. This one of thefirst tracks we recorded for the EP and I'm super pleased with how this one turned out. Afterseeing Herbie Hancock live for thefirst time the year before, this felt like the perfect tribute to him!
2. Mandible
The majority of the writing on this album was done at my studio space in Hither Green, where I am every tuesday! I usethis space to record but mainly a space to develop my art. So this EP all came from a few sessions there. We all haveour own creative things going on so it was really great to collaborate as a band and trash out some ideas we had.Mandible is one of my favourite tracks on the EP. It's very simple but leaves us a lot of space to explore some more freeimprovisation. I think in some of my previous recorded music I was more focused on creating well crafted music withgreat melodies and harmony. Whereas here there's a bit more focus on playing as a group and being more explorative inimprovisation. We also didn't have a melody for this track until a week before the recording! Sometimes it just takes awhile tofind that melody or it might just pop into your head one day.
3. Slum
This is a tune that was actually written by myself in 2017/18. Round about that time, I had been playing at a jam night ata warehouse unit in Limehouse called Unit 31. The night was ran by Pianist Raffy Bushman and Drummer Sam Michnikand was focused on hiphop and Jazz fusion. We would usually play a set of instrumental music before it opened up forvocalists and other instrumentalists to come and jam. It was a great place to try out new ideas, so I wrote this tune for itbut we never recorded it. It was really nice to revisit this tune and get it recorded properly at 'That SoundStudios' (Seven Sisters). This track is all about dynamics and a slow build throughout. Descending to more chaos at theend!
4. Red Pistachio
For thefirst two sessions we wrote with a different bass player to Edmondo Cicchetti who is on the recordings. A greatbass player and friend of mine Tom Driessler. This track started kinda exactly how it starts on the record, with that basshook. I'm very influenced by Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah and his melodic writing. Particularly on his album 'StretchMusic'. So this felt really inspired by that album. The chords don't really move around too much until the solo sectionwhere it becomes more like a blues. Then Allesandro get's a bit more loose at the end with the descending sequence.
5. Jerome arrived Late
Quite simply we started writing this tune before Jerome (Drums) arrived late. In the recording session we were a bitundecided about what to do in the solo section. We tried out a few different options before we eventually landed onfeaturing Gabriele Pribetti on Sax. I'm really into his solo on this as it's rhythmically and dynamically really exciting. As Imixed the record it was also a great solo to mess with and run through lots of different plug-ins. There's some weirddelays and phasing going on that and I added some octaves too in places.
Valerio Vaudano joins the roster of Cinthie’s 803 Crystal Grooves sub-label Collective Cuts with his ‘Lose My Mind’ EP.
Valerio Vaudano ‘: ’I'm a fan of Cinthie and feel honoured to release these tracks on 803 Crystal Grooves! This is the kind of sound I mostly love to play and produce at this time: house sound that blend energy, groove and 90s nostalgic melodies with Detroit, Chicago and Italo flavours. this new EP represents me best and explains better than words. The entire EP was produced using a 90s sampler without using a computer, I'm very proud of
the result! I hope you enjoy it!’’ Title-cut ‘Lose My Mind’ leads, laying down crisp saturated drums, crunchy stab sequences, choppy vocal hooks and bright strings all dynamically evolving throughout for ultimate dance floor impact. ‘Sunday Remedy’ follows with bumpy breaks, a weighty kick
and amalgamation of vocal samples in combination with gritty bass stabs and classic piano chords to perfectly encapsulate the essence of house.
Opening the flip-side is ‘Down The Street’, diving deeper with airy chords, breathy vocal chants and bouncy bass stabs intertwined with a more raw, reduced rhythm section. The aptly titled ‘Smooth As Butter’ then rounds out the release with a nod to the Detroit House sound, fusing shimmering keys with jazzy drums, twinkling chime melodies and lowpitched vocals across its near five minute duration.
Back in stock due to popular demand, the 33rd release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. A spellbinding pairing of Marcio Lott’s rarer than hen’s teeth, sun-soaked groover ‘Tema de Baby’ and the samba-rock fusion flavours of Silvio Cesar ‘A Festa’.
Marcio Lott’s ‘Tema de Baby’ is a REALLY rare one. We spent a long time trying to license this and were delighted to be able to release it as part of this series. Laid back sunshine samba-rock/funk/MPB, laced with Ramsey Lewis-esque piano and wah-wah guitars and lovely vocals top it off. Originally released on 7” by Tapecar in 1974.
Silvio Cesar’s ‘A Festa’ was brought to our attention - like many others in this series - by the almighty duo Brazilian Beats Brooklyn. A firm favourite here with everyone at Mr Bongo it’s a certified stormer from the opening beat. Jazzy, samba-rock fusion that touches on disco when the hi-hats open up. Floating synth lines, tough drums and crowd noise throughout add to the scintillating vibe. Taken from his LP ‘Som E Palavras’ released in 1977, as also featured on our Brazilian Beats Brooklyn compilation.
Toshihiko Mori – a former keyboard player with Riuichi Sakamoto – has made an EP for Biophon Records using the legendary Prophet 5 synthesizer as the main instrument.
Toshihiko Mori was born and lives in Tokyo. He toured with Riuichi Sakamoto all over the World in the 90s as a keyboard player and rhythm arranger. He also did all the drum programming on Sakamoto´s album Smoochy released in 1995.
Jinen is a different affair though. It contains no drums or sequencers, only improvisations on the Prophet 5, plus the occasional vintage Yamaha VSS-30 8-bit sampler, a few granular guitar pedals and some field recordings from Mori´s walks in the Japanese forests and mountains. Jinen is Japanese for Spontaneity.
"I was thinking Japanese culture, hi-tech and nature, Shinkansen, film directors like SABU, Masaki Kobayashi and Akira Kurosawa, and Riuichi Sakamoto´s first solo album B-2 Unit when I heard his music." (Geir Jenssen, aka Biosphere).
New Order are delighted to announce the release of the definitive edition of their 1985 studio album Low-Life. The collection includes an LP (180g), x2CDs, x2DVDs, a book and features unreleased rare material across the different formats and new sleeve designs.
CD 2 contains previously unreleased mixes and alternative versions, including Love Vigilantes and Sub-Culture instrumentals, Sooner Than You Think Full Length Unedited. The two DVDs include an unreleased performance from The Manhattan Club, Belgium and rarely seen footage from Rotterdam Arena (Netherlands), International Centre (Toronto, Canada) and a BBC filmed Whistle Test at The Hacienda, 1985.
The 180g vinyl LP will be wrapped in its original ‘heavyweight tracing paper’, designed by Peter Saville. In addition the CD will also be wrapped in the same way for the first time ever. Also included in the set is a beautifully presented hardback book featuring rare photos and a new interview with all band members.
Marketing to promote the release include:
• National press and radio promo campaign – reviews, features, and interviews TBC.
• Organic and promoted content from the New Order official socials and Warner Music owned socials.
• Promotion of singles pre-release with BBC 6 Music support.
• Far-reaching online advertising campaign.
LP 180g Vinyl
Side one
1. Love Vigilantes
2. The Perfect Kiss
3. This Time of Night
4. Sunrise
Side two
1. Elegia
2. Sooner Than You Think
3. Sub-Culture
4. Face Up CD1
1. Love Vigilantes
2. The Perfect Kiss
3. This Time Of Night
4. Sunrise
5. Elegia
6. Sooner Than You Think
7. Sub-Culture
8. Face Up
CD2: Extras
1. Love Vigilantes - TV Pitch Instrumental Edit (mono)
2. The Perfect Kiss - Writing Session Recording
3. Untitled no. 1 - Writing Session Recording
4. Sunrise - Instrumental Rough Mix **
5. Elegia - Full Length Version *
6. Sooner Than You Think – Album Session Unedited Version
7. Sub-Culture - Album Session Early Instrumental Version
8. Face Up - Writing Session Recording
9. Let's Go – Album Session Instrumental
10. Untitled no. 2 - Writing Session Recording
11. Sunrise - Writing Session Recording
12. Love Vigilantes - Writing Session Recording
13. Sooner Than You Think - Writing Session Recording
14. Skullcrusher – Demo
All tracks previously unreleased except * and ** (previously unreleased on CD and Digital)
DVD1
Live in Tokyo
The Koseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1985
1. Confusion
2. Love Vigilantes
3. We All Stand
4. As It Is When It Was
5. Sub-Culture
6. Face Up
7. Sunrise
8. This Time Of Night
9. Blue Monday
Live in Rotterdam
The Rotterdam Arena, Netherlands 1985
10. As It Is When It Was
11. Everything's Gone Green*
12. Sub-Culture*
13. Ceremony*
14. Let's Go*
15. This Time Of Night*
16. The Village
17. The Perfect Kiss*
18. Age Of Consent*
19. Sunrise
20. Temptation*
21. Face Up*
Live in Manchester
Whistle Test, The Hacienda 1985
22. As It Is When It Was
23. Sunrise
24. Face Up - Restored version using available footage from The Hacienda Dec ‘85 and July ‘85.
DVD2
Live in Leuven
The Manhattan Club, Leuven, Belgium 1985
1. Let's Go*
2. The Perfect Kiss*
3. Age Of Consent*
4. State Of The Nation*
5. As It Is When It Was*
6. The Village*
7. Sub-Culture*
8. Atmosphere*
9. Blue Monday*
Bonus Tracks
10. Thieves Like Us*
11. Temptation*
12. Confusion - Restored version from damaged tape with mixing desk audio.*
Live in Toronto
Filmed by Paul Boyd
The International Centre, Toronto, Canada 1985
13. Elegia*
14. Sub-Culture*
15. The Village*
16. Sunrise*
17. We All Stand
18. As It Is When It Was*
19. Love Vigilantes*
20. 586*
21. Age Of Consent
22. Temptation
23. Ceremony*
24. The Perfect Kiss*
The Perfect Film
Rehearsal Room, Cheetham Hill, Manchester 1985
25. The Perfect Kiss
*unreleased
Beijing-based artist/producer Howie Lee interprets Tibetan Buddhist chants on his new album 'At The Drolma Wesel-Ling Monastery', the follow up to 2021's critically acclaimed 'Birdy Island'.
Recorded over two weeks at Drolma Wesel-Ling Monastery in the mountains of north-eastern Tibet, Beijing-based multi-disciplinary artist/producer, Howie Lee combines Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist singing with Kode9-channeling bass/footwork science, glitched-out hyper-rhythms and sampled Chinese-Tibetan instrumentation for his latest album on Mais Um.
Invited to contribute and interpret chant recordings from the sound archive of monastery founder and master, Tuga Rinpoche's self-built recording studio, Howie Lee connects parallels in electronic music, deep meditation and devotional chanting to present eight reconstructed, IDM-warpedVajrayanamantras, journaling the beginnings of his journey into buddhism, and to continue Lee's career-long threading of ancient, cross-generational practice, modern Chinese history and experimental club-futurism.
DJ Support: Mousse T, Michael Gray, Sam Divine, Black Legend, Sgt Slick, CASSIMM, Grant Nelson, Steve Angello, Mark Knight and Carl Cox
Another 4 tracks from Toolroom’s House imprint; Fool’s Paradise. Includes the number one hits ‘Do It Ya’ll’ from Grant Nelson & Mark Knight alongside Richard Earnshaw’s reimagining of Fonda Rae’s classic ‘Touch Me’
Flaming Star – einer der brilliantesten Trance Klassiker der 90er Jahre von DJ Little Jam, der in 2023 von Talla 2XLC und Para X neu aufgelegt wurde, gibt es jetzt als farbige 12“ Maxi Vinyl.
Auf Seite A liefern Talla 2XLC und Para X ein euphorisches, energiegeladenes und unaufhaltsames Remake, mit einer geheimnisvollen Synthie-Melodie und den Stimmen der amerikanischen Ureinwohner, die man so schnell nicht vergessen wird. Auf Seite B präsentiert Talla 2XLC eine fast 7,30 Minuten lange Version von BLACK HILL.
Hymnischer Uplifting-Trance zum Wohlfühlen, vollgepackt mit ethnischen Stimmen, Sirenen im Hoover-Stil und intensiven Uplifting-Synths. Diese limitierte, farbige Vinyl-Edition ist ein echtes Highlight und Sammlerstück.
- A1: Genji Sawai - Hikobae
- A2: Today's Latin Project - Danza Lucumi
- A3: Shigeru Suzuki - On The Coast
- B1: Air Suspension Club Band - In The Hot City
- B2: Yasunori Soryo&Jim Rocks - So Long America
- B3: Jugando - Twisty
- C1: Kingkong Paradise - Samarkand
- C2: Katsutoshi Morizono With Bird's Eye View - Imagery
- C3: Om - Windmill
- D1: Parachute - Mystery Of Asian Port
- D2: Yuji Toriyama - Bay/Sky Provincetown 1977
- D3: Keiichi Oku - Heat Wave
- D4: Safari - Day Dream At The Bob's Beach
2025 Repress
Midnight In Tokyo 2, the second installment to the compilation series that rounds up hidden gems by Japanese artists that's perfect for listening at night in Tokyo, is here. This time the collection brings together some tasty electric jazz fusion from the '80s , compiled by Dubby, the man behind the online record store Ondas.
The compilation begins with "Hikobae," a dark and slow cosmic jazz by saxophonist Genji Sawai, followed by "Danza Lucumi," an odd Caribbean-style jam by Today's Latin Project, a band fronted by Tadaaki Misago of Tokyo Cuban Boys, with arrangements by Yasuaki Shimizu. "On The Coast" is a soulful and mellow vocal track arranged by Ryuichi Sakamoto, from guitarist Shigeru Suzuki's album White Heat, and fusion boogie cut "In The Hot City" is by Mr. Theodore, which was a one-off project by a mysterious artist.
The melancholic soul jazz number "So Long America" is the title track from the album Yasunori Soryo released in '82, following a stint in America with the band Brown Rice. "Twisty" is a tropical reggae tune from the album Samba Kathy, an underrated classic by Jugando which was released on Trash, a sublabel of one of Japan's finest jazz labels, Trio. "Samarkand" is an electric Latin jazz jam that sounds like something Miles Davis and Santana could have played on, performed by a Latin funk band from Fussa. "Imagery" is a primal African fusion track by Katsutoshi Morizono, a member of the prog rock band Yoninbayashi.
"Windmill" is the most acoustic sounding tune on this compilation, a breezy Brazilian affair with a Hermeto Pascoal feel. "Mystery Of Asian Port" is by the band Parachute, which consisted of Japa-nese fusion giants like Akira Inoue, Tatsuo Hayashi and Masaki Matsubara. The cosmic jazz record sounds like something Daniele Baldelli would play in his sets. "Bay Sky Provincetown 1977" is a classic Japanese fusion tune by guitarist Yuji Toriyama.
The set also features the mellow but danceable "Heatwave" by keyboardist Keiichi Oku, featuring a female vocalist (which some have identified as Rie Ida), and last but not least, closing out the 13 track compilation is "Day Dream At The Bob's Beach," a wonderful urban fusion with a beautiful vibraphone melody, from the Japanese fusion classic album that was a one-off project by studio musicians
Repress!
Every once in a while a record comes along which is a little bit special, a record which stands the test of time, bringing the same reaction to the dancefloor now as it did all those years ago, ‘Don’t You Want My Love’ is one of those records. Four decades after its original release in 1979, the record has become a favourite with the Glitterbox crowds. Following on from the label’s special 12” release of the original, Glitterbox now presents a special vinyl-only remix package that features Joe Claussell’s 1986 Reel To Reel Edit - a disco extravaganza of a mix, and Cratebug’s house-infused and funk-laden More Love Remix.
Repress!
It’s almost hard to believe that a record with anthem status like Pete Heller’s ‘Big Love’ was created out of a happy accident, but that is exactly how it happened. Left to his own devices as his studio partner Terry Farley went to watch a Chelsea game, Pete Heller was playing around with his Akai sampler when he produced what is arguably one of the most recognisable pieces of dance music of the 1990’s. Earlier this summer Urbana Records boss and Spanish powerhouse David Penn took to remixing this enduring classic. Winning over dancefloors in Ibiza and beyond with his signature rolling bassline and infectious groove, the record soaring to both Beatport and Traxsource #1. Now Defected present a special 12” package that features David’s remix, joined on the A-Side by The Dronez Remix, where house masters Erick Morillo, Harry Romero and Jose Nunez lend their classic house capabilities to the track. On the B-Side is Pete Heller’s original, sounding as incredible as ever over twenty years after its original release, once again proving the timelessness of ‘Big Love’.
‘Belgium is too small for pianist Alex Koo’ – De Tijd
‘Stunningly original’ – Downbeat Jazz Magazine
‘Fabulous technique, sounding downright genius at times.’ – London Jazz News
‘When listening, Keith Jarrett’s name came to mind several times. Not because Koo’s playing is similar to that of the American master, but because it is of the same exceptionally high level.’ – Trouw
‘Koo’s compositions and playing are absolutely world class.’ – Written in Music
The son of a Belgian missionary sent to Japan in the seventies and a Japanese peace activist, pianist and composer Alex Koo refuses to be boxed into any traditional category. As the renowned German Jazzthetik magazine put it, "Alex Koo defies categorization."
With ten uniquely personal tracks, Blame It on My Chromosomes is more than a musical statement; it is a form of self-therapy. "The only way not to spiral into depression as a jazz musician nowadays is to vent and lose yourself in the music," Koo shares. "Music needs a purpose beyond self-promotion. For me, it's about accepting who I am and letting go of anything else."
Featuring celebrated trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire on two tracks, Blame It on My Chromosomes highlights Koo's fearless versatility. One of these tracks, "Jonass," is dedicated to Koo's childhood friend who tragically passed away, adding a deeply personal layer to the album. "When we were kids, we would skate and do stupid things with shopping carts, inspired by Jackass," Koo recalls. "That's why we called Jonas 'Jonass'-he had the biggest smile you could imagine, his laugh was contagious, yet he also was the most reckless one among us."
Koo, praised as "stunningly original" (Downbeat Jazz Magazine), is known for creating music that transcends genre boundaries, blending jazz, indie, contemporary classical and film music with innovative freedom. A native of rural West-Flanders, Belgium, he began his musical journey as a classical piano prodigy at the age of five. In his teens, he developed a passion for jazz and improvisation, earning praise from jazz legends such as Kurt Elling, Kenny Werner, and Brad Mehldau. Koo has even been described as "of the same rare high level as Keith Jarrett" (Trouw). His 2019 album, Appleblueseagreen, featuring Mark Turner and Ralph Alessi, was included in Downbeat's Best Albums of the Year.
Alongside Koo, Blame It on My Chromosomes features his longstanding trio, whose fearless interplay brings the album's narrative to life. The trio, with Koo on piano, Dré Pallemaerts on drums, and Lennart Heyndels on bass, represents the very best of the Belgian jazz scene. Their intuitive chemistry and artistry are the driving force behind the album's emotive power, with special guest Ambrose Akinmusire adding a transcendent layer on two standout tracks.




















