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The second instalment of the remixes from J:Kenzo's 'Taygeta Code' sees two absolute heavyweight producers from the world of Drum & Bass collide on this 2 track EP.

Kid Drama brings through dub techno funk and soul in his remix of 'Guilty' encompassing the beautiful drifting groove matched with dirty filtered mids.

On the flip the legend DJ Trace drops a harder sinister edge to the tribal stepper 'Token Image' keeping the dubbed out licks and hypnotic percussion whilst adding nasty gritty synth lines harking back to his signature sound.

Hyldon, Brazil’s highly revered vocalist, musician and producer, has partnered with Adrian Younge to create a new psychedelic soul album, HYLDON JID023. The duo, highly inspired by Hyldon’s seminal work in the ‘60s and ‘70s, revisits’ the spirit of this epoch while creating a modern-day classic. Hyldon’s unique voice and lyrical depth, combined with Younge’s innovative analogue production, ensures this album will not be forgotten. JID023 is one of the last recordings featuring Hyldon’s long-time collaborator and friend, the late drummer Ivan “Mamao” Conti of Azymuth.

Hyldon, a musical pioneer and early contributor to the “Black Rio” movement is a genius in synthesizing the sounds of MPB, Tropicália and Black American R&B. His unique voice, coupled with his rich arrangements and laid-back grooves set him apart from the contemporaries of the time. In ’75, his remarkable debut album, Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda changed the sound of Brazil forever. Hyldon’s earnest and experimental approach in creating that album served as the inspiration for Younge’s production on the new JID023.

Months before Mamão's untimely passing, Adrian Younge and Hyldon invited the legendary drummer to join them at Younge’s Linear Labs studio in Los Angeles. Mamão and Hyldon shared a rich musical history — Azymuth, Mamão’s group, served as the rhythm section for much of Hyldon’s work, including his iconic 1975 LP, Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda. Their goal was ambitious: to craft an album that would stand alongside Hyldon’s finest achievements, one that would captivate fans who love his unique blend of psychedelic and soulful “Música Brasileira.” The result is nothing short of remarkable.

“Producing a Hyldon album was a dream come true. I’ve studied his catalogue for so many years and highly respect the way he mixed the sound of The Beatles, with that of Marvin Gaye and Tim Maia. I’m still enamored by the fact that he is even a better singer now than he was, in what many deem, his prime. Also, we greatly miss our dear friend and contributor Mamão, the late drummer of Azymuth. We dedicated this album to his memory, and we wish he could have had the chance to hear the finished album.” – Adrian Younge

Songs such as “Olhos Castanhos” evoke the ethereal nature of The Beatles “Strawberry Fields” as the mellotron flutes and Hyldon’s vulnerable performance captivates our hearts. Mamão’s gritty and funky drumming on “Nhanderuvucu (The Creator of God)” showcase what made him a leading pioneer in Brazil’s samba funk scene. Apart from the remarkable drumming, multi-instrumentalist Younge accomplishes the unthinkable by playing every other instrument on JID023. The experimental fusion of horns, analog synthesizers and acoustic instrumentation on songs like “Viajante de Planeta Azul” take listeners on a funky journey to the blue planet; a fictional space that Hyldon lyrically describes with passion and conviction.

Hyldon JID023 is an unexpected, yet remarkable addition to the canon of Brazilian Music. Hyldon’s emotional resonance, coupled with Younge’s sophisticated production and Mamao’s outstanding drumming make this a standout album within the deep catalogue of Jazz Is Dead.

Die Herzschmerz-Verkäufer Nature TV verkaufen von Tür zu Tür ein Elixier aus Jangle-Indie und melancholischem Yacht-Rock. Ihr Debütalbum "Unlucky For Some" ist eine Sammlung von 7 EPs, die ewig liebeskranken Dream-Pop mit klassischer Soundinnendekoration und kompositorischen Wendungen paaren. Die reichhaltigen Songs setzen das Thema Liebeskummer in High-Fidelity fort. Das Ergebnis ist eine LP, die mit akribischer Liebe zum Detail summt und sich dennoch so benommen anfühlt wie die Einnahme von Beruhigungsmitteln im Whirlpool. Eine Indie-Jangle-Partyband auf dem Höhepunkt ihres Könnens, nur dass die Party vorbei ist und sie mit dem Soundtrack für das Aufräumen beauftragt wurden. Jemand liegt bewusstlos im Gartenstuhl, Zigarettenstummel stecken in leeren Dosen, eine Tür ist aus den Angeln gerissen, der Pool ist halb versickert, Regen strömt an den Fenstern herunter und alle müssen morgen früh arbeiten. FFO-Immobilien, Ducktails, Glitzerparty.

- "Verträumt schöner Indie-Pop mit einem subtilen Hauch von Introvertiertheit." - CLASH

- "Ein Song für die Heimreise am späten Freitagabend, wenn Ihre Hoffnungen zerstört wurden und Sie etwas Zuneigung brauchen." - Line Of Best Fit

- "Indies neuste strahlende Sterne." - DIY

Chilean-born, Bristol-based DJ, producer, and vocalist Shanti Celeste is back with her highly anticipated second album, Romance, set for release on May 16 via the label head’s own Peach Discs, in collaboration with Method 808. Marking her debut LP on the cult London-based label, Romance sees Celeste fully embracing her artistic evolution, delivering a lush and deeply personal exploration of love, longing and self-discovery across its nine tracks. The album’s bubbling lead single, ‘Thinking About You’, is out now - an emotional and dancefloor-facing glimpse into Celeste’s new era with her voice at the fore.

Shanti Celeste has long been revered for her radiant and infectious sound in a vibrant blend of house and techno. Romance takes this signature style to new heights, exploring the depth of romantic and platonic relationships that permeates the record with a pop-infused sheen. With her vocals placed front and center for the first time, Celeste weaves a sonic tapestry that is as introspective as it is euphoric; it’s a love letter to romance, but also an ode to the transformative power of opening your heart.

For all of Romance's soft focus, it still functions for the dance floor - lead single ‘Thinking About You’ is poignant and heartfelt, driven by a shimmering groove and Celeste’s ethereal falsetto. Inspired by memories of a late friend, the song is a tribute to the enduring nature of love and loss. “He was my first boyfriend but also a really good friend,” Celeste shares. “He was a really important person in my life.” —a beautiful, danceable meditation on the power of remembrance.

The majority of Romance was crafted between Celeste’s home of Bristol and London, featuring collaborations with longtime friend and esteemed producer Batu on ‘Note to Self’, ‘Light as a Feather’ and ‘Softie’. The album also sees Celeste teaming up with Austrian-Ethiopian harpist Miriam Adefris, whose delicate instrumentation adds a celestial edge to tracks like ‘Butterflies’ and ‘Medicine’. It follows her previous smash hit ‘Ice Cream Dream Boy’ last summer, which was named a track of the year by both Mixmag and DJ Mag. Earlier this month, Shanti celebrated the release of the vinyl version with a packed-out in-store set at Phonica Records in Soho.

Shanti will be taking her Club Celeste event series to The Cause for the third year running on May 17, in celebration of the album release. The day & night party will feature sets from Shanti as well as Daisy Moon, Gabrielle Kwarteng, Lishy, Peach and Ryan Elliot b2b Ogazón. Tickets are available here: https://ra.co/events/2062135

With Romance, Celeste steps into her full potential, creating an album that is as deeply personal as it is universally resonant. The album arrives this summer via Method 808. Stream ‘Thinking About You’ now.

Canadian bowed guitarist and multi-instrumentalist C. Diab announces his fifth album Imerro, out February 16th, and presents the trip-infused lead single 'Lunar Barge'.

(Real name) Caton Diab creates soundscapes that evoke the spectacular wilderness of his childhood home in northern Vancouver Island. Incorporating experimental textures, folk overtones and tape manipulations, C. Diab uniquely finds the unseen spaces in-between, and fittingly dubs his creations "post-classical grunge". Imerro explores new sonic realms and is the culmination of a sound world that Diab has built up since the critically acclaimed 'No Perfect Wave' (2016, Injazero) and subsequent releases 'Exit Rumination' (2018), 'White Whale' (2020) and 'In Love & Fracture' (2021). The Wire calls it "ambient music in the best sense - music for living, which can be both non-invasive and immersive...epic"

Imerro was recorded in late July and August of 2021 at Risque Disque Studio in Cedar, BC, during the summer's unprecedented second "heat dome", which saw temperatures soaring to over 40 degrees. Recorded with regular collaborator and engineer Jonathan Paul Stewart, the pair journeyed by boat to the studio to a place with minimal distraction with a plan of "simple ecstatic improvisation." Diab explains: "I wanted to place myself in a space for creation with little thematic pretence, with the belief that music 'shows its face' as you move along. I would pick up an instrument, whether I had experience playing it or not, and make a sound. If it wanted to be played, it would play."

On their debut album Seven Dances to Embrace the Hollow, Zurich-based artists Magda Drozd and Nicola Genovese, as Sopraterra, offer exactly what’s announced: seven compositions which, as they unhurriedly flow into each other, mark potential entry points to discover what might be lying underneath. By choosing Sopraterra, which translates to “above the earth” in Italian, as their shared project’s name, Drozd and Genovese indicate their own position in this archeological-looking endeavor, hinting at the potential for sonic explorations to produce deeply submerged discoveries.
Sopraterra’s object of inquiry isn’t easily grasped, traversing histories and blending influences alike. In a time-line-bending manner, musical signifiers from the past, along with specific tonal scales lifted from baroque and medieval music, get digitally synthesized. As sonic matter, the result is distinctly of today: a collection of electro-acoustic compositions that remain experimental at their core, referencing genres like post-rock, shoegaze, or psychedelic, while evoking aural memories of ancient times. Seven Dances to Embrace the Hollow pulls backward and pushes forward alike. Without ever forcing a didactic listening experience, musical motifs and archetypes are thoroughly investigated. But there is no scientific ambition at play here. Rather, the harmonies of late medieval Ars Nova or the transcendent elegance of Baroque chamber music lend their emotional qualities to perceived ideas of old times.
Oscillating between ambient and drone, the album’s seven brooding compositions bring primal connections to a universally shared past to the surface. In its multi-directional positioning, Seven Dances to Embrace the Hollow makes the case for embracing the confusion of warped time and paying attention to all that’s rather felt than seen.

Classic RootsReggae is the definitive influence on the music of Vibronics .. so it has been a true labour of love to bring together the powerful voice of Jospeh Lalibela, the intricate playing of the Mafia & Fluxy Band and the deep production skills of Vibronics to make this homage to classic Jamaican Roots Dub Reggae music.
The LP is a fine body of work with full production featuring live bass, drums, horns, guitars & flutes as well as up to the minute studio trickery to produce an album that is rooted in reggae history but sounds relevant right now.
5 vocals and 5 dubs - this album is original showcase style !
Vibronics is one of the most established names in UK Dub/Reggae music achieving millions of views on YouTube, millions of Spotify streams and many tens of thousands of vinyl record sales. Collaborators include Michael prophet, Macka B, Iration Steppas, Soom T, Aba-Shanti and more.
Joseph Lalibela is a Birmingham born UK vocalist who found fame through his work with OBF & King Earthquake
Mafia & Fluxy are the UK’s leading Reggae riddim section and recording artists working with Eek-A-Mouse, Jah Shaka, Luciano and the cream of worldwide Reggae artists.

With French Lessons, Jeff The Fool delivers a dazzling display of musical diversity, exploring a myriad of styles and influences. From the melancholic rain of Paris to the warm rays of the Californian sun, each track showcases remarkable technical precision and infectious energy.


Set for release in 2025, this album stands out with its array of international guest artists such as Fleur de Mur, Oden & Fatzo, Mangabey, and Phat Kat. It brings together singers and rappers from Lagos, Detroit, and Atlanta, infusing the work with a unique cosmopolitan dimension. On compositions imbued with French accents, these artists lend their voices to traverse house, hip-hop, jungle, trap, and afro-soul. French Lessons is a true ode to innovation, illustrating Jeff The Fool’s determination to push genre boundaries and reinvent himself alongside talented collaborators. This album pays tribute to the electronic music scene while asserting his unique artistic identity.


Here, Jeff The Fool continues his creative journey, marked by a subtle blend of underground house sounds and more accessible grooves. Since his notable debut with the Pay Your House EP in 2018, he has consistently expanded the horizons of house music, skillfully combining soulful samples and deep rhythms, crafting tracks designed for the dance floor.
Building on the success of his 2022 album Russian Dolls, released under Nowadays Records and amassing millions of streams, Jeff The Fool continues to captivate house music purists while drawing in a broader audience. His live performances, intense and eclectic, blending house, techno, disco, and electro, have taken him to international stages, showcasing the breadth and richness of his talent.

Teal’s debut LP, Original Watercolour, is an album that feels like a canvas come to life. A sonic blend of street-soul, digi-dub, and downtempo. Original Watercolour explores the complexities of love, oneness, and intuition — themes that resonate deeply within the context of the history women have shared with what was once known as the “ladies’ medium.”

The bi-coastal family trio—Ashleigh and Melissa Ball, better known as the Ball Sisters, alongside producer N1_SOUND—bring a fresh, genre-defying sound to the table with their latest 6-track album. Running just under 30 minutes, this immersive collection weaves together skipping beats, addictive bass lines, three-dimensional flute textures & emotional vocal melodies. This musical portrait is as ethereal as it is powerful, inviting the listener to get lost in its depths while celebrating the beauty of self-expression.

The opening track, “Original Watercolour,” takes you on a psychedelic trip-hop journey. From the first reverberous snare hit, you’re whisked away to a sonic wetland — lush and euphoric. The soft yet poignant soundscapes set the tone for the album, inviting us into a world where the boundaries between earth and music, reality and imagination, automatically seem to blur.

“Locked In 2 Love” offers a boogie-fueled bassline that pushes Teal into dance-floor territory with soaring flutes and rhythmic intricacies that make it impossible not to move — it’s a track that exemplifies the magic of Teal’s ability to craft both intimate and expansive musical landscapes. And then, there’s the hypnotic flow of “One In The Same,” where stacked vocal harmonies and mantra-esque lyrics transport you to a place that could easily be mistaken for a lost Soulquarians demo. It’s gentle yet unrelenting in its depth.

The second side of the album opens with “Sleep on It,” a track that immediately grabs attention with its dancehall-driven rhythm. Ashleigh Ball's vocals set the stage for a song that’s both introspective and emotionally charged, yet unmistakably rooted in groove. The phased-out bassline creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere. Pulling the listener into a mood of contemplation—matching the restless, sleepless night that Ball describes. As the song progresses, this groove builds in intensity, culminating in an explosive ending that mirrors the emotional release of a long-held frustration.

Original Watercolour is more than just an album — it’s a meditation on the interconnectedness of life and art. “Frog Kingdom,” the longest and only instrumental track creates a contemplative space that builds upon the themes introduced earlier. It feels like a sequel to their earlier work, Frog Legacy from their debut Bluish Green 2024 12”, expanding on the familiar sound with even more complex layers.

Yet the real emotional power of the record lies in its closing track, “Can’t Shake the Feeling.” Simple in structure but profound in impact, this song captures a deep yearning and understanding — that everything, from the ecosystems we inhabit to the relationships we nurture and the art we create, is fundamentally interconnected. As the track crescendos in a falsetto peak, it becomes clear that the album is a reflection of both the world around us and the personal journey each member of the band has embarked upon to get to this point.

Just as the medium of watercolor has been traditionally linked to women artists, Teal carries this legacy into the modern musical landscape, blending the richness of history with a unique forward-thinking perspective. The album feels like both a celebration of the past and a bold declaration of a path forward — one that welcomes anyone ready to join in and shape the future of the art form.

The beauty of Teal’s work is that it feels familiar, while simultaneously offering something new and refreshing. Original Watercolour doesn’t just push musical boundaries; it redefines them, offering a lush and textured soundtrack for those willing to listen closely.

In a world that often feels over-saturated, Original Watercolour stands as a reminder of the power of simplicity, intuition, and connection. Teal’s debut album invites you to experience something both deeply personal and universally understood. The landscapes they create are vivid, yet soft, grounding yet expansive. With each track, Teal’s music reflects the interconnectedness of all things — a truly unique piece of work in the world of experimental soul and dub adjacent electronic music.

Rising and falling. We all live in the same pond. Peace to all.

Liebe existiert nicht isoliert - sie verweilt, verändert sich und taucht auf eine Weise auf, die wir nicht immer erwarten. So auch der 27-jährige Sänger, Songwriter und Multiinstrumentalist Brandon, der all das und mehr auf seinem Debütalbum „Before You Go“ erforscht, das am 9. Mai bei Secretly Canadian erscheint. „Before You Go“ ist eine grenzenlose Sammlung von Soul- und R&B-beeinflussten Alternative-Pop-Gitarrensongs. Heute stellt Brandon auch die Leadsingle „Right Back“ vor, ein gitarrengetriebener Alt-R&B-Song mit warmem Gesang und synkopierten Beats.

Brandon Joseph - einfach Brandon genannt - ist aus der reichhaltigen kreativen Landschaft Südkaliforniens mit einem Sound hervorgegangen, der eine Mischung aus unaufdringlicher Verletzlichkeit und genreübergreifendem Ehrgeiz darstellt. Brandon hat seine Stimme durch Ausprobieren, Beharrlichkeit und Visionen gefunden, und seine Songs tragen die Spuren seines Einfallsreichtums: Brandon hat sich das Gitarrenspiel selbst beigebracht, er spielt jedes Instrument auf praktisch jedem Track, und er hat sein Debüt nicht nur selbst produziert, sondern auch jeden Song selbst gemischt und die Harmonie in ihren unzähligen Schichten gefunden. Nach dem Erfolg der zwei EPs „Coming Clean“ und „Blush“ ist Brandons Debütalbum bei Secretly Canadian sowohl sehr persönlich als auch klanglich anspruchsvoll. Einige der Songs auf „Before You Go“, die er komplett in seinem Heimstudio geschrieben und aufgenommen hat, brüteten jahrelang vor sich hin, während Brandons Talent und Ressourcen den Visionen in seinem Kopf entsprachen. Eine erste Reise in die Heimat seiner Familie in Trinidad erwies sich ebenfalls als prägend. Dort wurde Brandons Weltanschauung entspannter und friedlicher, und seine Musik folgte ihm. „Ich habe gelernt, mir Zeit zu nehmen“, erklärt er, „das Leben anders zu betrachten und die Menschen nicht mehr nur aus dem Blickwinkel der Transaktion zu sehen“. Das Ergebnis ist eine Sammlung von Songs, die sich nicht davor scheuen, selbstbewusst und zurückhaltend zu sein. Die Leadsingle „Right Back“ verkörpert dies mit einer hellen, minimalen Akustikgitarre unter Brandons warmem, romantischem Gesang. Der Song beginnt als Kreuzung aus Folk und R&B (man denke an den frühen Frank Ocean oder Steve Lacy), aber er öffnet sich zu etwas Größerem - ein nach unten gerichteter, in Dur-Tonarten gehaltener Floater mit wehmütigem Text, einem federleichten, synkopierten Beat und einem unwiderstehlichen, hymnischen Gefühl. Brandon ist bekannt für seine magnetischen Auftritte an der Seite von Omar Apollo und Mac Ayres und seine gefühlvolle Stimme zementiert seinen Platz als einer der fesselndsten neuen Singer-Songwriter, die in den letzten Jahren aufgetaucht sind.

Neon Pink Vinyl. For their tenth LP in a career spanning more than two decades, Tulsa's Unwed Sailor deliver their heaviest riffs, loudest squalls, and most deeply textured arrangements yet. Cruel Entertainment is a catalogue of contrasts - dissonance and harmony, hardcore crunch and post-rock grandeur, complexity and catchiness - that adds a vibrant new dimension to the second phase of their discography, spanning thus far from 2019's landmark Heavy Age up to the "vivid, starry-eyed psychedelia" (AllMusic) of 2024's Underwater Over There. Opener and lead single, "Rock Candy", roars in with a gale of feedback, pounding drums, and nimble bass, until a latticework of howling guitars ushers us into a more goth-tinged space. It's a characteristically intricate, energetic composition that flows with remarkable ease between its parts, and wastes not a moment of its three minutes. "Monster Collecting" brings a rare combination of melancholic and driving energy, reminiscent of avowed heroes New Order, but ups the ante with a tight, fastpaced rhythm section and litany of guitar lines, until opening up into a cascade of reverberating textures and tenuous sweetness. According to Ford, the title Cruel Entertainment refers to "the hardships of being an artist and musician in the crowded, imbalanced world of social media and streaming," where the completion of a new work demands that the creator also be a promoter, content strategist, and agent, among many other intensifying challenges. Pointedly drawing inspiration from noisier, rowdier bands - including Fugazi, Quicksand, and Cherubs - here they seek a much-needed catharsis in the ongoing fight to keep the creative soul intact. Second side standout, "Monty Donahue", typifies this form of release, as massive, mid-tempo percussion leads a fluid low end theme - inspired by the dual bass assault of Dianogah - and Swatzell's chords burst into shimmering nebulas across a labyrinthine arrangement that's equally loud and beautiful. Title track, "Cruel Entertainment", is a mosaic of sound for which Ford's bass provides the mortar: taut drums list between the channels, washes of guitar stretch to the horizon, and metallic heaviness punctuates the drift. There is a confident immensity here, proving that, although Unwed Sailor have witnessed a wild amount of changes in the music industry, their knack for creating complex, vital, and masterfully produced work remains untouched.

Five Five is the second studio album from the Miami-born underground rap pioneer, Pouya. Marking a slight transition into a more mature sound, Five Five showcases Pouya’s evolution as an artist while maintaining the raw authenticity that has endeared him to his fans. With tracks like "Suicidal Thoughts in the Back of the Cadillac Pt. 2" and "Handshakes," Pouya delves into themes of struggle, resilience, and personal growth, offering listeners a glimpse into his journey. In what became truly a solo effort, Five Five is limited to one feature in Night Lovell, with production primarily handled by Mikey The Magician (Track 4 produced by Chevali). The album draws from elements of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, yet remains uniquely rooted in Pouya’s own style. Over the years, Pouya has developed a long lasting core fanbase, first bubbling up in Miami alongside artists such as Denzel Curry, and then becoming a nationally celebrated artist. Back in print for the first time since originally released in 2018. Pressed on Wire Wheel Picture Disc Vinyl and cut at 45 RPM.

Der britische Jazz-Produzent Daylight Robbery kehrt mit seinem neuen Album Third Island Suite (auch bekannt als Third Eye Land) zurück, das über Melting Pot Music auf LP und digital veröffentlicht wird. Eine fesselnde Fusion aus Spiritual Jazz, Fusion und Hip-Hop, die in Zusammenarbeit mit dem renommierten New Yorker Pianisten Nick Marks entstand.

Als Nachfolger seines Debütalbums Moons of Jupiter aus dem Jahr 2022 lässt sich Third Island Suite von John Fowles’ metafiktionalem Klassiker The Magus inspirieren und erkundet klanglich eine Welt psychologischer Illusionen und meisterhafter Täuschungen. Das Artwork hat der Kölner Illustrator Jens Roth entworfen.

Die Liverpooler RATS sind knallhart der Wahrheit und den Beats verpflichtet. Furchtlos, gelegentlich wild und häufig zärtlich kommt dieser mitreissende Pöbel auf der Debüt-LP "Rule The World" zusammen, nachdem die Single "Patsy Decline" (2021) ein neugieriges Publikum zu ihren lebhaften Liveshows lockte. Der direkte und optimistische Mix der Band aus unerschrockener lyrischer Ehrlichkeit und Crossover-Rock, R&B und Ska ist der Soundtrack des modernen innerstädtischen Grossbritanniens. Frontmann/Texter Joe Maddocks wird mit Mike Skinner (Jamie T, The Streets) verglichen, und die Band ergatterte einen frühen Supportslot für Liam Gallagher bei seinem Auftritt in der Royal Albert Hall 2022. Der gewundene Weg zu einem vollständigen Album wurde geduldig beschritten, RATS brauchten über zwei Jahre, um den Spass und die Wut ihrer prickelnden Liveshows auf Band zu bannen. "Es ist eine Mischung aus unseren individuellen Charakteren, die zusammenkommen", sagt Drummer Alan Phillips. "Da sind Lowells Dub und Ska, Joes scharfe, fast schon Hip-Hop-artige Texte, und dann sind da noch Mikey und Chris mit ihren mitreissenden Indie-Gitarrenriffs. Es ist eine Mischung aus den unterschiedlichsten Melodien in uns."

Nach einigen Jahren Stille sind MORAST mit ihrem dritten Album FENTANYL zurück. Getragen von Trauer, Verlust und dem Abgrund des emotionalen Schmerzes, haben sie es geschafft, diese Energie in eine feierliche Auferstehung zu verwandeln. Ihr Drang, eine düstere und unheimliche Atmosphäre zu schaffen, ist immer noch vorhanden, aber dieses Mal scheint ihr Ansatz aggressiver, ekstatischer und roher zu sein. Eine sechs Songs umfassende Reise in die düstersten Ecken der menschlichen Existenz. Ein Monolith aus Abscheu und Dreck.

"FURIE" ist Musik. Freude. Gegenwart und Avantgarde. Im Mai 2025 löst Alicia Edelweiss mit ihren zweiten Studio-Album "FURIE" das Versprechen ein, das ihr sechs Jahre zuvor erschienenes Debut-Album gab: der Pop-Landschaft etwas tatsächlich Neues und ehrlich Interessantes hinzufügen. "FURIE" enthält 8 Songs von heute sehr selten gewordener Länge. Sie haben ausreichend Raum und Zeit, um ihre eigenen kleinen Panoramen zu entfalten - die Künstlerin selber vergleicht sie mit Kurzfilmen, auf deren Handlungswendungen und Plot Twists man achten muss. Es sei gar nicht ihre Entscheidung, die Songs so lang zu machen, erzählt sie, sondern sie nicht zu kürzen. Für deren Länge und Konsequenz nutzt die Künstlerin das Wort Integrität. Was für ein wunderschöner Anspruch an die eigene Musik. Daher ist "FURIE" auch ein Album im fast altmodischen, im engsten, Sinne: Was einem heute wirklich sehr selten begegnet und was es zu einer echten Ausnahme macht, ist, dass wir tatsächlich vor gleichberechtigten und gleichermaßen qualitätvollen Songs stehen. Diese Stücke sind, da darf man das Wort Pop nicht falsch verstehen, nie vorhersehbar, niemals nur geschrieben - sie sind erdichtet, erdacht und komponiert. Zuweilen erkämpft. Das freilich, merkt man ihnen nicht an. Die Musikerin hat das Heavy Lifting übernommen - wir bekommen den Schwebezustand. Dieser gestaltet sich vor allem über Klang, Sound und Melodie, die als vielschichtige, komplexe Stimmungsträger funktionieren. Instrumentiert ist "FURIE" ungewöhnlich reich - mit Gitarre, Drums, Klavier, Akkordeon, vor allem mit Streichern, mit Tierstimmen, Geräuschen, Synthesizern, Glocken, Trompeten... für ein Lied ist der eigene Gesang unter Wasser aufgenommen worden. Es ist ein groß dekoriertes Album geworden. Es ist Verletzlichkeit und Maximalismus; im Ergebnis komplexer als das vorangegangene Debut. FURIE strebt nach Exzellenz. Gerade dort, wo das Schöne in dem Risiko liegt, nicht perfekt zu sein, sondern richtig.

Originally released on Ben Chasny's own Pavilion imprint in 2011.

"I was invited by the Incubate Festival and the city of Tilburg to participate in an artist residency where I would explore the region’s unique chapels built for the Virgin Mary. After writing the music for about six months by drawing on memories of the encounters with the chapels and using techniques inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s Poetics Of Reverie, I flew back to Tilburg to perform the music at the Incubate Festival. We recorded the evening and I released the result on my Pavilion label. Each cover was hand painted white on white in the old Pavilion style. I created a stencil and used graphite powder to make the design that is inspired by the sun imagery in Athanasius Kircher diagrams."

Roadside chapels express the identity of the inhabitants of North Brabant, a Dutch province, bordering on Belgium. Roman Catholicism has been the dominant religion in this southern part of the Netherlands since the eighth century. For about a century and a half this religion was strongly suppressed. Only when the French revolutionaries preached freedom of belief around 1800 could the people of North Brabant exercise their faith again. This was the start of a very strong emancipatory development from which a special form of the Roman Catholic faith arose that fully determined everyday life of the people here. This faith was the determining factor in life and the measure of all things. After the second Vatican Council (1962-1965) the reins of the catholic faith in Brabant were loosened as well. This was the start of a revolutionary process of secularisation. Within a decade hardly anything was left of the almighty influence of the Roman Catholic Church and this situation has lasted up to the present day.

In spite of the almightiness of the official, Vatican ruled, Roman Catholic faith, North Brabant has always and perhaps notoriously fostered an undercurrent of popular belief as well. This is a kind of belief in which elements of the official faith and age-old pre-Christian traditions are combined. Worshipping relics, holding pilgrimages and processions, the use of water from holy wells, popular art, recitations and songs, festivals, rituals, folk traditions, superstition and the like are all examples of popular devotion. These matters have strongly influenced and formed the identity of the present-day population of North Brabant. It is part of their immaterial heritage.

An obvious and still very much visible form of popular devotion are the roadside chapels. In Brabant some 400 can be found, most of which have been devoted to Mary. Chapels are small buildings in which Mary or other saints are worshipped. They can be found within villages or towns or in natural surroundings. Always at the finest spots! The beauty of the environment adds a primary religious or mystical feeling to the visitor. Local people attach great value to their chapels. In spite of the overall secularisation in society they are still at the centre of cultural and social life. Where people in North Brabant can hardly be found in the churches nowadays, this doesn’t mean at all they are no longer religious. On the contrary, religious feelings are perhaps stronger than ever, but now people have to find their own expression of them. That’s why they fall back on the age-old popular belief in which chapels play an important role. We can even witness new forms of popular belief with chapels as their focal point. An example of this is the scattering of ashes of people who have been cremated. Chapels clearly also play a role in the lives of young people. On an average five new chapels are added every year.

I have studied the popular culture and belief and the identity of the inhabitants of North Brabant for over thirty years. I have published over forty books on these subjects. In 2010 I was approached by the organisation of the Incubate Festival in the North Brabant town of Tilburg. Their request was for me to lead the American composer and guitarist Ben Chasny around a number of chapels in the province devoted to Mary. He had been invited to North Brabant to write some new compositions. Ben Chasny then chose to be inspired by these chapels and that’s how we met. I was especially curious how an American would react to something as specific and small as a roadside chapel in North Brabant, since we tend to think here of (people in) America in terms of ‘big-bigger-biggest’. Would an inhabitant of this enormous country with this prevailing culture be able to grasp and respect the identity of some 2.5 million people in North Brabant with their chapels? The answer to this question lies hidden in the compositions he made and that can be listened to on this album. Yes, Ben Chasny has been able to convert the phenomenon of a simple chapel devoted to Mary into music. The physical and the spiritual have found each other. What a beautiful world…just listen! - Paul Spapens

CADAVER, one of Norway's first and most influential death metal bands, has carved a distinctive path through the annals of extreme music. Formed in 1988 in Fredrikstad by Anders Odden (guitar/vocals) and Ole Bjerkebakke (drums/vocals), the band emerged from the ashes of their earlier black metal project, Baphomet. Their vision blended thrash and death metal with progressive influences from bands like Voivod and the chaotic insanity of Napalm Death, forging a sound that defied conventions. In 2024, Anders Odden delved deep into CADAVER 's history, unearthing unreleased material that offers a fascinating glimpse into the band's formative years. Before signing with Earache Records in 1992, CADAVER had worked on what would eventually become their second album, ...In Pains. During this period, they recorded raw and unpolished versions of many tracks in the same studio where Hallucinating Anxiety was born. These early recordings featured working titles that were later changed, and among them was a song titled "Maltreated Mind Makes Man Manic," which was never completed at the time. Anders revisited these hidden gems at Studio Tomb, located in Råde, Norway—the very place where CADAVER was first formed. With the old lineup reunited for this session, they finished the additional recordings necessary to bring their original vision to life. The result is Hymns of Misanthropy, a newly completed album from 1991 that will finally see the light of day through Listenable Records in April 2025. This release showcases CADAVER's unique approach to extreme music and highlights their previously underappreciated influence on the early Norwegian black metal scene. With Hymns of Misanthropy, listeners can experience a raw and powerful chapter of CADAVER's history, demonstrating once again that they were never just a typical death metal band. Instead, they remain an ever-evolving force that consistently pushes the envelope of what extreme music can achieve.

Extending the melodious and mad, three-decade story of Super Furry Animals projects by adding another bombastic and beautiful chapter, Huw Bunford, Cian Ciarán, Daf Ieuan and Guto Pryce reconvene to announce the release of their second album, Pando.

Meeting every pummelling motorway mile with the beat of their psychedelic-soul-house blend since the release of their debut, Official UK Breakers Album Chart No.1 album, DK.01, in late 2023, Das Koolies’ energetic return to festival fields, intimate venues and service station shopping has affected no distraction from their mission. Committing to more time on the road at the same time as sharing rich spoils from the studio, Das Koolies include Newport, Nottingham, London and Manchester in their live plans. Determinedly exploring capability and ambition, the band’s continued, restorative return to wired and wonderful, man-and-machine-based music, following years of psych-folk-rock experimentation as four Furries, hasn’t meant forgetting the past. Som Bom Magnífico’s tour story, combining wistful and weary memory, rests the band’s case.

Taking on the lead lyrical and vocal role, Daf Ieuan, says: “Hindsight and rose-tinted glasses. It’s a song about a time when it was normal to order a veggie breakfast in hotels as a concession to a healthier life style, then following up by requesting to see the ‘Breakfast Wine Menu’. As Lou Reed sang: "Wine in the morning!".
Everyone should live like that for a while. Could be for a couple of days or a couple of decades. We’ve never laughed so much, but never again.”