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Having worked together on his 2024 album Colours & Light, Project Gemini aka Paul Osborne joins forces once again with Wendy Martinez, French singer and composer, and also part of renowned psych-girl group Gloria on a new collaborative EP. Landing on Mr Bongo, ‘Time Stands Still / Le temps s'arrête’ is a sonic exploration that shows a shared love of the progressive music emanating out of France in the ‘60s and ‘70s and the celebrated film soundtrack composers of the time. A more melodic and romantic excursion than Paul’s previous recordings, this EP marries his richly textured, cinematic psych rock with Martinez’s captivating vocal presence.

A body of work born during the period Paul was finishing up his last LP Colours & Light, he penned an album’s worth of instrumental library-style music and had the idea of having Wendy add vocals and lyrics to a selection of them. The instrumental record got scrapped, but thankfully ‘Time Stands Still’ grew out of it.

Paul was a fan of Wendy’s work as both a solo artist and in the band Gloria, and her inclusion on the Project Gemini tracks ‘Entre chien et loup’ & ‘Extra Nuit’ showed a clear synergy to their musical approaches and sounds. For ‘Time Stands Still’ he sent over instrumental tracks one by one, with Wendy taking time to find melodies and French poetry she was happy with and returning her ideas from her home just outside of Lyon.

Drawing inspiration from French soundtrack composers such as François de Roubaix, Frances Lai and Michel Colombier, as well as French female artists including Léonie and Laurence Vanay, these productions are a contemporary love letter to this sound, not a homage. Mixing psych, folk, chanson, and French new wave, it’s music that pulls you in deeper, with groove, grit and passion at its core.

'Je n'ai plus peur' kicks things off with a sultry energy. It’s a psych-funk production drenched in attitude, swagger, and edge, which nods to the left-field side of Serge Gainsbourg’s music. Elsewhere, 'Âme contre âme' feels like the opener from a forgotten new-wave film, managing to be at both beautiful yet sinister and longing. 'The Crawler' could be incidental music from the same film, with Wendy using her voice as an instrument layering the backing track as Paul's bass takes centre stage. The ghostly spoken word of 'Ce qui est intact' echoes a funky version of what the Théâtre du Chêne Noir d'Avignon may have recorded.

A transportive journey ‘Time Stands Still’ is nostalgic yet new in the same smoke-filled breath. Fuzzed-up guitars and driving basslines meld with folk-leaning organs and mellotron vibrations to give that eerie, otherworldly edge. All of which are seasoned by the sensuous, layered vocal tones of Wendy Martinez, alongside crisp drums from Tony Coote and considered percussive touches by Paul Elliot.

Sean Roman is a Toronto-based producer who has worked with Toronto Hustle before on an EP for Wolf Music. Here he serves up a club-ready crowd pleaser that shows his love for original UKG sounds. 'Did It For Love' on Selections rides on low-slung and well-swung drums with some nice tender vocals up top. The percussion is crisp and the groove drips with cool. Flip over this limited 12" and you will find a Toronto Hustle Late Night dub that pairs things back to some meaty drums and grittier textures, with the vocals more turned down and sparking synth motifs looping to bring some colour. Useful stuff.

Platipus Records proudly announces the highly anticipated release of the 6th vinyl installment in the Platipus 30 Years series, featuring four iconic tracks that epitomize the label's storied sound.

After much anticipation, the sixth installment of the Platipus 30 Years 12” vinyl series has arrived, celebrating three decades of iconic electronic music. Volume 6 delivers another timeless selection from the label’s legendary catalog, featuring Robert Miles’ era-defining anthem Children, the early trance masterpiece Cambodia by Art of Trance, the hypnotic and modern Pukwudgie by Simon Berry & Luke Brancaccio, and the rediscovered gem Bluebottle by POB featuring DJ Patrick Reid. This collector’s edition is a must-have tribute to the rich legacy of Platipus Records.

2025 Repress

The second EP of Global Pulse is brought to you by young Dutch prodigy JSPRV35. Riding a constant flow of creative energy, he originates the Kyoto EP: a solid collection of tracks that explore the full spectrum of pure and unpolluted Techno. On this record, Jasper brings it back to the essentials by mixing a minimalistic sound selection with a fast-forwarding rhythm palette, making The Kyoto EP an essential contemporary masterpiece!

Lithuanian electro flagship 5ZYL follows up his debut album with a dynamic remix EP, featuring a handpicked selection of top-tier artists from across Europe. Romphea, Calagad 13, Q100, Ement, John Patter, and Cport Cistema deliver diverse and electrifying reinterpretations, each adding a unique twist to the original tracks. From deep and driving grooves to high-energy bangers, this release is set to spice up dancefloors everywhere.

Spanish producer Larsson delivers a deep and hypnotic 4-tracker for Fuxbau Records, marking his vinyl debut on the label. Written in the rural village where Larsson grew up, the EP carries a sense of groundedness and clarity. Created in his parents' home, surrounded by nature and far from urban distraction, the tracks reflect a setting where ideas unfold organically. The result is a tightly cut selection of groovy, rolling techno - stripped back, hypnotic, and full of tension. That contrast between calm surroundings and high-impact club energy runs through all four tracks: stripped-back yet detailed, functional yet full of soul.

FJAAK return with a powerful remix package, delivering fresh takes on a selection of tracks from their unforgettable 2024 album 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM'. Welcoming three standout remixes from some of techno's most respected names, 'REMIX02' sees offerings from Robert Hood, Shed and West Code, as well as some surprise Bandcamp digital only remixes selected from the participants of FJAAK's latest remix competition. Kicking off the main remix package release, Detroit legend Robert Hood brings his unmistakable raw, relentless and pioneering sound to the table as he reimagines FJAAK's 'Breathe Underwater'. The genre-defining godfather serves up an undeniably signature cut flooded with euphoric energy, thumping grooves, rippling musicality and spaced-out vocal injections, carving out an authentic Floorplan-esque peak-time jam. Berlin-based artist Shed (one of the many monikers of established electronic stalwart Ren? Pawlowitz) is next to feature, delivering another impressive spin on FJAAK's work, this time exploring his vision on 'Micro Expressions'. An impressive blend of hypnotism and electricity, this bold remix echoes FJAAK's preference for cultivating huge dancefloor heaters that thrive on live instrumentalism and limitless energy. It's racy, groovy and raw, building around rolling rhythms, warping layers of analogue sound and intricate breaks throughout. Argentinian talent West Code was the winner of the 'Redemption' remix competition and rounds off the main package with a huge interpretation of FJAAK's original mix. Almost bordering into tribal techno in places, its emphasis on groove and subtle South American influences create a unique remix, overflowing with boomy low-end drive, piercing percussive drive and mind-bending melodics - a real gem for the height of the party and irresistibly sinister from start to finish. The remix competition of 'Redemption' drew an overwhelming response from producers worldwide, which made it very difficult to choose a winner. Even though West Code's interpretation was the chosen remix, four other interpretations were so good that FJAAK decided to showcase the talent of Helsmoortel, Genex, Ay Din and Your friend daao by including their reworks on an exclusive Bandcamp-only EP, highlighting the duo's ongoing commitment to to the underground.

Since our first contact with NYC based producer Thavius Beck in 2018, he sent us over 100 unreleased tracks, or beats, as he calls them. 25 of them have been selected for releases on U-TRAX, good for over 2 hours of music, across this album and the Lovesick EP.

Growing up in LA, Thavius Beck entered the hip-hop scene as member of Global Phlowtations, and released several solo albums under the Adlib moniker. In later years, he released five albums under his own name on labels like Mush, Big Dada and Plug Research, and also produced albums for artists like Saul Williams and K‑the‑I???, and did some remixing for amongst others Nine Inch Nails.
Nowadays he combines making music with a career as a succesful certified Ableton and Bitwig trainer and as a music teacher at Berklee NYC.

The tracks vary in style a lot, but what they have in common is that they either are moody – in U-TRAX lingo: deep - or they are drum heavy. The common denominator would probably be 'experimental/instrumental hip-hop', reminiscent of producers like Flying Lotus. People have tried all sorts of comparisons to pinpoint Thavius' sound, ranging from 'between DJ Shadow and Orbital' and 'a mix of Massive Attack and The Orb'. None of these are spot on, yet quite a few of these tracks feel like a happy marriage between hip-hop beats and techno sounds.

Despite the fact that some tracks are 20 years old and have been made with widely different gear (one track was even made on a PlayStation 2), this selection sounds remarkably balanced, yet diverse.

From the irresistible single 'Lovesick/Still Sick' to the dark and massive 'Birdsong' (that echoes the sound of his popular song 'Atmos'), and from the head-nodding 'Work!' to the soothing 'Reunited With The All' - if this collection showcases anything, it's Thavius' brilliant production and composing skills, as well as his wizard-level sampling techniques. The result is a luscious electronic music album with a broad appeal.

Available on double 180 grams colored vinyl vinyl, comes in gatefold picture sleeve.

We welcome back Tubbs & Burns on Public Possession offering yet another highly danceable selection of tunes.
The main title on this EP features Paula Tape and has it all: seductive vocals, a mesmerizing acid baseline and the classic hypnotic Tubbs & Burns touch.
It comes in three versions incl. an epic Todd Modes remix. Cheeky Bonus and potentially a secret Deejays favorite is Colter Carsons remix of the previously released „Where were you in 92“ turning it up a few gears, ready for some festival MainStage plays

Hitomi Toi's famous cover album "YOUR TIME Route #1", released in 2012, is being reissued on a colored LP for the first time in 13 years.

Produced by Kunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei) as a sister album to the summer classic "CITY DIVE", it covers a number of famous Japanese pop songs, mainly from the early 1980s.


Included are Yuming's "Tenohira no Tokyo Tower" from the 1981 classic "Sakuya Oimasho", Takeuchi Mariya's "Natsu no Koibito" with lyrics and music by Yamashita Tatsuro,
Miyamoto Noriko's "SILVER RAIN", and the radio song "Black Moon" by Kisugi Etsuko and Minami Yoshitaka.
The selection of songs is also amazing, capturing the atmosphere of that era, including EPO's "Saturday Night Paradise," the ending theme of "Oretachi Hyokinzoku" and Akemi Ishii's "CHA CHA CHA" the theme song of "Nanjou ni Natsu Monogatari"

The music that sparkled in the streets back then is revived.

“Rob wanted the world of The Northman to feel harsh and uncomfortable, and for everything to feel like it was caked in mud and dry blood, so it was crucial for the score to mirror that.” Composers Robin Carolan (Tri-Angle Records) and Sebastian Gainsborough (Vessel) were given a task of epic proportions when director Rob Eggers (The VVitch, The Lighthouse) asked them to create the score for his ambitious and highly anticipated new film The Northman, releasing on April 22nd. They needed to make a score that both honored the immense research that had gone into the authenticity of this Viking era period piece and complimented the cinematic maximalism of the film for a modern audience. The artists stretched themselves to the depths of their creativity and the resulting album is a gorgeous sonic tableaux that places the listener right in the center of the film.

While arranging the score the composers consulted musician and ethnographer Poul Høxbro for inspiration and insight into the history of Viking music. Having backgrounds in left field electronic music, Robin and Sebastian felt liberated by the constraint of using a small selection of musical tools for this piece. “Electronic music has almost limitless potential when it comes to making sounds and that’s obviously an incredible thing, but you can also go down the wormhole and get lost in it sometimes. There’s no risk of that happening when you only have a few primary instruments to draw upon.” Robin remarked.

They utilized traditional instruments such as the tagelharpa, langspil, kravik lyre, and säckpip to build the cinematic world of The Northman but they also took creative freedoms in adding instruments likes drums, which some academics believe wouldn’t have played a big part in Viking musical culture, simply due to the lack of archaeological evidence of actual drums. “One of the pieces we wrote was intended to emulate the sound of a bullroarer; an ancient instrument used in sacred rituals or in battle to intimidate enemies. It makes a really disorienting roaring vibrato sound and low frequencies capable of traveling insane distances.” Robin says when asked about one of the more unique aspects of the score. Everyone involved put so much effort into both their research and their creativity and this richness is evident in every track. The album as a whole is a cinematic masterpiece of sound and ambiance, both gorgeous and disturbing, like the film it so beautifully accompanies.

Journeys are never just about distance. They stretch time, reshape perception, and demand transformation. With its latest vinyl split EP, Standard Deviation presents four tracks by Nastya Vogan and Phase Fatale that serves as a vessel for tracing displacement, memory, and the liminality of return. These melancholic yet powerful techno cuts serve both the concrete dance floor and moments of intimate self-reflection. Two artists--Nastya Vogan and Phase Fatale--approach Kyiv from different trajectories, but they both keep returning to the city. Vogan, a Ukrainian musician and resident DJ of Kyiv, and Phase Fatale (Hayden Payne), Berlin-based producer, Berghain and Khidi resident and founder of BITE Records, share a longstanding musical friendship. They've played B2B sets at K41 and Vogan, appeared on BITE's ''Shedding Skin'' compilation in 2023, and they share a vision for music selection, from aesthetics to philosophy. Vogan's 'Transitioning Territory' and 'This Is Not a Love Song' unravel the psycho-geography of transition. The first track captures the 24-hour journey to Kyiv as a rite of passage where 'time seems to fold; you are profoundly present yet paradoxically far from the world you left.' In this suspended state, memories surface and ordinary life recedes as the train's rhythm becomes its own meditation. Her second track explores Lacanian limerence--consciously falling for something not fully known, filling absences with personal projections as a way to discover what lies within oneself. Phase Fatale's contributions capture movement and distance with mechanical precision. 'Kekkai,' takes its name from the Japanese word for boundary, echoing 'respect my borders' ethos while reflecting on crossing into wartime Ukraine. The term also suggests a protective force field in Buddhist thought--much like Kyiv's current aura of resistance. 'Neosyazhna Rosa' (Unreachable Rose) honors Payne's Ukrainian grandmother Rose, weaving family history into his present connection with Ukraine. Both pieces balance melancholy with light, their sound palette of lush pads and rhythmic breaks crafted with K41's dance floor in mind.

"The nineteenth entry in the Altered Circuits catalog comes courtesy of Alex Neri with a selection of 4 tracks that distill an equal amount of decades in the studio. They are undeniably straightforward yet difficult to pigeonhole. It is clear Neri is aware of current trends and, at times, might even throw them a little nod - but overall, his music escapes easy temporal classification. On the "Club Voyage EP", he aims at the brash and brazen yet keeps the pace lighthearted. When the results come buttressed with the type of technical prowess at hand, it is hard not to get sucked into the adventure. "Teller Mood", charged with a fierce bassline, boisterous drums and jittery arps, is a slab of electroshock production. The track comes complete with extra motivational vocals to drive the point home, and when it arrives at its most stripped parts, instead of toning down, an alarm-like lead emerges. "Schelter's Sounds" features an FM bass and gently modulated, slow-attack synth embellishments. It is a set-up that allows for catching a breath until a grandiosely introduced portamento-heavy patch cranks things up a notch again. On the other side, the delayed and flanged percussion of "Tenax Roots" forms the ideal conditions for ominous synth work and robotized vocals; a theme that could have been lifted from a giallo flick completes its suspenseful, hypnotic ambience. "Move Tokyo Inputs" starts with another salvo of invigorating percussion. Amidst subtly evolving formant basslines and several risers, the tune directs a tweaked deadpan vocal sample to take center stage, showcasing how, in the right hands, the sparsest source material can be turned into a showstopper."

DJ support - Alix Perez, Fracture, Lenzman, Kyle Hall, Doc Scott.

Introducing a new remix EP series from Rosebay Music aiming to connect the dots between soulful D&B and more disparate styles, tempos and scenes - with remixes coming in from a carefully selected group of artists reinterpreting tunes from the catalogue in fresh and unexpected ways.

Detroit’s Kyle Hall has been 1 of the cities main ambassadors of soulful, gritty house & techno over the last 15 years. Here he’s joined by instrumentalist Ian Fink to deliver a classic slice of deep and raw Detroit house music in his remix of Submorphics - Blastoff. This unforeseen linkup between Kyle Hall and Submorphics represents a rare joining of forces between 2 Detroit-born artists who have both repped their hometown’s aesthetic quite heavily in their respective scenes.

Noodles142 is the new alias of D&B star Satl - making fresh bangers fusing UKG, techno, dubstep and bass music in a classic-yet-futuristic way. Here he flips Submorphics - Hey Baby into deep, dark and dubby 140 territory paying homage to middle-of-the-night Detroit grittyness.

Primitive Instinct has quickly become one of the hottest upcoming names in D&B, repping Bristol with ultra-modern production, swinging drums, gorgeous synth work and amazing vocal sample manipulation. His stellar EP on The North Quarter convinced Rosebay to get him to remix Submorphics - Cinerama; and the result is a truly infectious dancefloor weapon.

The final remix comes from one of the current stars of 1985 Music: Trail. Repping the Toulouse D&B scene over the last few years, Trail has a unique knack for melody, harmony and groove that sets him apart from other modern liquid artists. Here he flips Submorphics, Zar & aya dia’s modern classic “Another Level Of Love” into a trippy and experimental heater. A diverse and eclectic selection of remixes from some very intriguing artists each existing in their own lane. Enjoy the ride!

The Island Festival presents its first vinyl sampler — a celebration of groove and unity
Born from the spirit of one of northern France’s most beloved electronic gatherings, The Island Festival unveils its very first vinyl sampler on its freshly launched label, The Island.
Held annually on the stunning Île des Saules, The Island has become a beacon for house and electronic music lovers. This limited-edition record captures that magic with four carefully selected tracks, bridging international talent and local energy.

The sampler features:

• A standout cut by Italian duo The Deepshakerz (Great Stuff, Defected, Toolroom, Crosstown Rebels), bringing their trademark blend of funky, percussive house.
• A feel-good track from Etienne & Eddsax, offering sun-soaked grooves and uplifting vibes.
• A deep and dreamy voyage by The Sandman, blurring the lines between groove and introspection.
• And the iconic “Midnight in New York” by Michael Sanctorum.

This release is a sonic snapshot of the festival’s soul. From open-air euphoria to late-night intimacy, The Island Sampler EP 1 is both a collector’s item and a dancefloor weapon.


Français

The Island Festival dévoile son premier vinyle sampler — une célébration du groove et de l’unité
Né de l’esprit de l’un des festivals électroniques les plus emblématiques du nord de la France, The Island Festival présente son tout premier vinyle sampler, lancé sur son propre label : The Island.
Organisé chaque année sur la magnifique Île des Saules, The Island est devenu un rendez-vous incontournable pour les amoureux de house et de musique électronique. Cette édition limitée en vinyle capture l’essence du festival à travers quatre titres soigneusement sélectionnés, mêlant talents internationaux et énergie locale.

Ce sampler réunit :

• Un titre percutant du duo italien The Deepshakerz (Great Stuff, Defected, Toolroom, Crosstown Rebels), fidèles à leur style house percussif et groovy.
• Un morceau feel-good signé Etienne & Eddsax, aux accents ensoleillés et aux rythmes entraînants.
• Une plongée onirique et profonde avec The Sandman, à la frontière entre groove hypnotique et ambiance introspective.
• Et le classique intemporel “Midnight in New York” de Michael Sanctorum.

Cette sortie est un instantané sonore de l’âme du festival. De l’euphorie en plein air à l’intimité des sets nocturnes, The Island Sampler EP 1 s’impose comme un objet de collection autant qu’une arme pour le dancefloor.

Transitioning from the successful 2 Years EP (O Sótão Records, 2023), Tiago Fonseca became an up and coming Producer and DJ based between Lisbon and Porto. On the back of gigs at some of the best clubs in the country, he also transitions from Tiago A.F. to TGZ (sounding Tigz) as his moniker for what’s to come ahead. Long Shape, his latest project, is O Sótão’s first vinyl release, and the first to be delivered with higher standards of professionalism. Learning the trade, the processes, the timeframes, the costs, and having just completed 10 years of existence. A good time to go a bit deeper.

In the summer, Tiago sent me a golden playlist of unfinished projects for a second opinion. The idea for a new record started there, and from the bunch we handpicked a selection that ended up making really a lot of sense for us. We were looking for wet deepness and eternal warm ups, pulling up the fader slowly. An invitation to leave our mental capsules and divert attention towards a seductive bassline cliff-hanging a dream. Progressiveness and jazz. Long shapes and melodies in the last frontier between nostalgia and hope.

To help, we invited Miguel Tenreiro (a.k.a. Gazpa) to master the tracks, with him adding a smooth-extra-delicious pump on the beautiful original elements. Miguel also picked up the title-track for a remix treatment, breaking up the tempo with a hip-hop-electronica finale, sprinkled by a guitar solo from Zé Nuno - another great musician stemming from Mr. Bean’s bar, where we held a residency for the past year.

Long Shape will drop on March 21st. Vinyls might be only available a bit later. It will be a landmark moment for us, being Tiago’s most complete work to date, and a better representation of his rich musical influences, expanding it, as we speak, to another level. It’s also been 10 years for O Sótão, so there’s that too. To sum up, I’m just very glad that Long Shape sounds exactly where we would like to be after all this time, with a quick image of a nite-lit skyscraper cutting into a couple of rocks being dropped in the coolest whiskey glass, and the people warming up to a dream.

Edition of 100 Vinyl 12’’, Cover 3mm spine

Released in 2018, the Original Blunted Breaks Vol.1 compilation was a landmark release in the future jungle revival, collating the sounds of the rapidly emerging underground in long player format and extending the reach of the modern productions beyond the clubs and hardcore vinyl enthusiasts, to the likes of BBC Radio 6, with guest Dead Man’s Chest mix and album feature on Tom Ravenscroft’s show.

In the ensuing years, contemporary jungle music has continued to gain in popularity with a rapidly expanding global influence and reaching younger audiences who’ve adopted it as the sound of now.

In 2025, Western Lore continues its role as a modern tastemaker in both jungle music and the wider electronica scene with Blunted Breaks Vol.3, a 12 track long player featuring a selection of deep and textural future jungle workouts from the freshest rising talent & now established stalwarts of jungle music.

Released on triple heavyweight (180g) black vinyl, shrink-wrapped in full art sleeves & digital.

Bulbous Monocle focuses its lens further into the legacy and archives of the Thinking Fellers Union Local 282. These Things Remain Unassigned—a phrase coined by Brian Hageman, one of the band’s musical snake appendages emanating from its Medusa crown—is presented as a double LP (gatefold jacket with a twelve page libretto). It gathers together the band’s singles, compilation tracks, outtakes and never before released gems encompassing the arc of TFUL’s musical corpus. Every track has been surgically remastered by Mark Gergis (Porest / Sublime Frequencies / Mono Pause) with his signature craftsman approach. This collection is an auditory and visual feast. The extensive booklet included features band ephemera, concert flyers, photographs, and commentary about each track from Mark Davies. Beyond the rare singles and unreleased tracks from the TFUL archives, are cover versions from such disparate artists and composers as Ennio Morricone, Krzysztof Komeda, The Residents, The Shaggs, Caroliner Rainbow and Pérez Prado. “…In addition to these compilation one-offs, there were also a few studio recordings that were never quite completed or released. Throw in an alternate mix or two and the handful of singles that came out on various labels over the years, and you end up with what I feel works well as its own body of work, a bunch of adopted oddballs that somehow fit together as a family. I hope youʼll agree with me that these things are now no longer unassigned, but part of a somewhat cohesive whole, stitched together into something mysterious and glistening.” —Mark Davies (2023)

The Funeral Pudding originally came out as a CD-only release on the Dutch label Brinkman to promote Thinking Fellers Union Local 282’s 1994 European tour. For the domestic release, the band chose Chicago’s Ajax Records—which had already released two TFUL282 singles in 1990—to press a 12-inch mini-LP. Comprising a selection of songs masterfully recorded and produced by Greg Freeman right after the sessions that yielded 1993’s Admonishing The Bishops EP, The Funeral Pudding could be thought of as a sister release to that EP; indeed, the band originally considered combining tracks from both sessions into a single album. Had it been released, that record would’ve followed the pattern of the previous album in which the band’s pop and avant-garde leanings are yoked together cheek by jowl. Instead, Admonishing showcases the band at its most accessible while The Funeral Pudding flaunts their more expansive, abrasive and absurdist side without forfeiting the earlier EP’s miraculously high standards for songwriting and sonic clarity. What makes The Funeral Pudding a unique feather in the Fellers’ cap is that most of the tracks are sung by bassist Anne Eickelberg and guitarist Hugh Swarts—a notable departure from the Davies / Hageman vocal dominance on most of the other albums. With Eickelberg’s soaring vocals leading the proceedings, tracks like “Waited Too Long” and “Heavy Head” are some of the most beloved in the band’s discography. And “23 Kings Crossing” is a whiplashinducing psych / prog stunner that adds another metric ton to the burden of proof demonstrating that TFUL282 was creating some of the most thrilling, enduring and sonically autonomous music of its era.

Santana Bridges the Divide Between Live and Studio Material on Moonflower: 1977 Double Album Features Extraordinary Performances, Soulful Vibes, and Dynamic Mix of Latin, Rock, Funk, and Blues
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes and Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies: Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 33RPM 2LP Set Plays with Audiophile-Quality Detail, Balance, and Imaging
1/4” / 15 IPS original analogue non-Dolby master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe



Though it may seem strange now, Moonflower stood for nearly 15 years as Santana’s first and only live record released in the United States. This despite the fact that roughly half of the double album consists of new studio songs, including a zesty cover of the Zombies classic “She’s Not There” that reached the Top 30 of the singles charts.

However unconventional, the “split” strategy went over like gangbusters. Moonflower reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and achieved double-platinum status — feats the group would not again replicate for 22 years. These, and the beautiful quality of the program itself, are among the reasons why the 1977 effort remains viewed by critics and fans alike as must-have Santana.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, housed in a Stoughton jacket, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 33RPM 2LP set of Moonflower presents the record in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic reissue. Part of the MoFi’s Santana catalog restoration series, this collectible version features quiet surfaces and black backgrounds that expose the critical details, liquid tones, and dynamic interplay central to Santana’s music.

The enhanced sonics extend not only to Carlos Santana’s six-string wizardry, but to the rhythmic, melodic, and vocal elements that course throughout both the studio and live cuts on Moonflower. The grip and depth of the bass lines; the wash of the organ; the scope and carry of the vocals; the extension and weight of the low-end frequencies; the rich textures of the guitars, percussive devices, and keyboards: all appear amid wide, balanced soundstages and image with right-sized dimensionality.

Significantly rooted in the styles and approaches that inform the group’s first three records, Moonflower captures the final appearances of iconic percussionist Jose “Chepito” Areas and go-to keyboardist Tom Coster on a Santana album. As he did during the preceding five-year stretch, Coster inhabits a large role here, sharing songwriting credits on a majority of the new cuts and helping steer the arrangements toward spiritually minded albeit concise directions that encompass vibrant Latin, rock, and blues themes that began to escape the ensemble shortly after his departure.

Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on the R&B-kissed “I’ll Be Waiting,” anchored by Carlos Santana’s gliding fretwork and Greg Walker’s creamy vocals. Enter the cosmic universe of “Zulu,” on which Coster’s nimble phrasing opens the gate to polyrhythmic beats, knotty grooves, and interlocking funk. Grab the album cover and drift off to paradise amid the equally evocative “Flor d’Luna (Moonflower),” a romantic slow dance that Carlos Santana ensures tiptoes en route to its blissful destination. Channeling a different spirit animal, the guitarist later lets loose on the hard-hitting “El Morocco,” on which he seemingly engages in a shootout with himself and wades into the rippling psychedelia that elevated the band’s early material.

Speaking of the past, Moonflower triumphs on that level as well. In more ways than one, the live selections — and the caliber of the performances — chosen for inclusion represent an abbreviated greatest-hits survey of the band up to that point. And, at the very least, a convincing argument about why Santana had progressed into one of the most formidable bands you could hope to see on a stage in the mid ‘70s.

Simultaneously representative and illustrative of the group’s breadth, tracks stem from the collective’s eponymous debut, Abraxas, and Santana III as well as the then-more recent Amigos and Festival. Whether you fall for the sidewinding spell of a spicy rendition of “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen,” lose your head to the positively epic momentum of “Soul Sacrifice/Head, Hands & Feet,” or keep dropping the needle on the savory grace of the brilliant reading of “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile),” this pressing of Moonflower puts you — and Santana’s first-chapter legacy — in good hands.