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F*CLR are hugely excited and honoured to present Moscow producer/DJ Mutenoise aka Alexander Bannikov and his masterful 'Midnight' EP - available on digital and limited 12 Inch, the vinyl has the bonus track, 'Northern Lights' is a Vinyl exclusive!

But meanwhile, back to the EP - kicking off with Mutenoise's original version of 'Midnight', rooted in the deep tradition of jazz dancers, has a toughness that crosses over and aligns itself to modern house with a warm, soulful vibe. On the remix tip, Ashley Beedle ramps up the drums with a nod towards the classic sound of 90's New York and MAW releases and along with the 'Stripped Back' + 'Mixers Delight' edits, he adds an extra element of remix goodness for the heads. 'Rules of Monopoly' is proper late night tunage, perfect for those 5am sets, with its crisp handclaps + percussion, rising chords underpinned by an unwavering bassline - house music at it's very best. And just to tease you - 'Northern Lights' (bonus vinyl only track) - another jazz soaked house track with beautiful chords, ephemeral vocal samples - echoes of downtown Moscow after dark....

Originally from far flung Western Siberia, Mutenoise gravitated towards Moscow and became an integral part of the vibrant Russian electronic dance scene rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lay Far and fellow F*CLR artist, Stan Serkin. Mutenoise has released on such labels as Raw Underground Records (UK), Vesna (UA), Underground Sources (TN), Smile for a While (DE).

Fina's next release comes from Mathew Ferness, an exciting and already hotly tipped rising star for just his second ever EP. It features three tracks that showcase his musical house style with a remix from Helsinki's Saine.

Ferness hails from a small town near Montreal in Quebec, where he was an outcast obsessed with music. With no access to record shops, parties or scenes Mathew started taking matters into his own hands DJing in his teens taking inspiration from J Dilla, he soon began producing his own beats on a sampler and drum machine.

An exploration of analogue sounds, DAWS and most recently electronic music have all lead him to the rich sound he has now. His last EP on Beat changers was championed by Rhythm Section International and Radio 1 tastemaker Bradley Zero and this latest EP is likely to prove just as popular.

Pad laced opener 'Escapade' is a summery deep house jam with breezy acoustic guitar and warm, punchy drums of the sort to get any floor cutting loose. 'Solitude' is more paired back, with thoughtful piano keys laid over deep rolling drums. There is a musical romance and beauty to the synths that elevate this one above purely functional fodder, and then 'At First Sight' awakens your senses once more with broad synth smears and perfectly rough-edged drums which create pure deep house soul.

Saine is a producer with a range that goes from hazy hip hop to dusty house on labels like Odd Socks, Andy Hart's Voyage and this one before now. After his 2017 EP Mint, he returns with a remix that is bubbly and laden with colourful melodies and open-air house grooves.
This is EP full of rich house music that is for mind, body and soul.

Matasuna Records has once again unearthed two Latin gems for its latest release: two rare tracks by Argentina-born musician Enrique Lynch. Lynch moved from Argentina to Peru in the 1960s and became artistic director and producer of the Sono Radio label. He released an astonishing amount of albums with his various bands over the span of nearly three decades.

The two songs will be available together on a vinyl single for the first time - and the track from the flipside will also be released on a 7inch for the first time. For this official reissue Matasuna was lucky enough to have access to the original master tapes. The tracks were carefully restored and remastered in Lima (Peru).

African Bump is one of Enrique Lynch's greatest tracks and the original 7inch is much sought after by collectors and DJs alike. The song immediately captivates the listener as the Wah Wah guitar begins to play and enters into perfect harmony with organ and brass. A thrilling disco funk beat, rhythmic percussion elements and a hypnotic hookline spice up the track and show what great musical treasures South America has to offer.

On the flipside there's a great cover version of the Soul and Funk anthem K-Jee by American band The Nite-Liters, which had a hit with this song in 1971 and even entered the billboard charts. Enrique's version adds some extra grooves with killer beats and breaks, a heavy bassline and wild percussion parts. A distinctive horn section meets funky guitar riffs and deep organ sounds. A fantastic funk tune that will set any dance floor on fire!

Wan Chai Records is a Hong Kong based label, specialized in rare Asian records and quality reissues.
For their third release, after a few years of hard diggin and historical researches, they went deeper with HONG KONG SCORE, introspection into the music of the Chinese's Cinema industry. A selection of tracks from Hong-Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, specially produced for movies and illustrations.
The result is a compilation of 12 totally unknown gems sung mostly in Mandarin and Cantonese, from real deep instrumentals, Hip-Hop breaks, Ethio style crazy drums, to heavy Bass in the Alain Goraguer' style. This is an amazing introduction to 60's and 70's Chinese music, an inspiration for beatmakers, a must have for novices or Asian vintage music lovers.

This song has been a long time coming, but finally I am very proud to release this collaboration between myself, the mighty DJ Spinna (BBE, Rawkus), and Manchester's own Neo Soul songstress, Fyza. Originally we recorded it back in 2008, but this song never got released. The masters were lost in a multiple hard drive failure at my studio. Many years went by until recently I found an old drive which contained the original recording session from 2008. I contacted Vincent and Fyza and we decided to release the original version on a 7 inch vinyl, and to add a few new remixes for a digital package. Including one from Fyza's Son, Shontay. I hope you enjoy what we created. One love. Zed Bias

Debut single from the mighty Tim Maia! Released upon his return from the USA in the late 60's. Highly sought after and prized in its original form, we are very proud to reissue this record.
Maia sings in English here - influenced by his time spend travelling and working in the USA. Both songs are very soulful, reminiscent of the great soul singers of 1960's USA, who were clearly a powerful inspiration to him. Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Som Livre.

* 13 tracks featuring the likes of DRS, Serum, Riya, Cleveland Watikiss, Lorna King, L-Side, MC Fats, T.R.A.C and Sofi Mari.and many more.

* Colourful, effervescent, and energetic, the Brazilian drum & bass scene has given us some of the most distinctive production voices in the game. Including São Paulo's Level 2 and DJ Chap or, as they're known collectively, Alibi.

* 'In each of the songs, we expressed our feelings and each song carries a unique message. The album itself talks about life. We all go through times where we fall and get hurt. Then we get up and we recycle. In every single situation: we learn.' - Alibi

* Alibi signed exclusively to V Recordings at the end of 2015, and this LP shares the characteristics held dearly by both the duo and the label. Weaving together threads from the duo's shared funk, soul, reggae, and hip-hop influences with the drum 'n' bass tutelage of shared heroes like S.P.Y., Calibre, D-Bridge and the late Marcus Intalex, this is set to be the most complete statement of their musical vision so far.

* Each track from the album stands as an example of their impeccable production, starting with 'Debris' which is filled with cinematic textures and a sub-low reese typical to their sound. The album plays home to a handful of other lighter atmospheric pieces, including 'Recycle', 'Destiny', and 3 other tracks with Riya, Cleveland Watkiss and Lorna King, all gracing the booth with their vocals. The duo can effortlessly skip between sub-genres, shown by the tracks on the LP that would be more suited in a dark club at 5am, such as 'Smash Through The City' with Serum, L-Side & T.R.A.C., as well as the floor shaking 'Scuffed' - there's a style to cater to everybody.

* With V Recordings celebrating their 25th anniversary, there really is no better time for Alibi to cement themselves as one of the crown jewels of the label and the scene as a whole.

Limited edition release of 500 in a black sleeve, each with a unique, experimental numbered screen print, 30 cm x 60 cm, in collaboration with Studio Heretic.

In support of the release Daniel Avery will be playing Drone's take over of Tresor on December the 1st, joined by Richard Fearless, Errorbeauty and Drowned performing live.

PSSU are Richard Fearless and Daniel Avery. Long time friends, they first formed their relationship whilst working out of Andrew Weatherall's legendary 'Rotters Golf Club' where Fearless made 'Trans-Love Energies' and Avery did a lot of Drone Logic. The two are now studio neighbours in Leamouth on the River Thames. They were drawn to the collaboration by a mutual appreciation of the other's music.

'307309' is pure electro soul and, with 'Fabricated from Steel', PSSU deliver a techno monster. Both tracks were forged at the Metal Box, Drone's studio in East London

Dutch duo Abstract Division (aka Paul Boex and Dave Miller) present 'Aftermath EP', a four track package due *release date* on the eponymous imprint from Milan based collective Just This. Featured in the release are remixes from Peter Van Hoesen and VRIL. Title track is a subtle dancefloor killer with funky cyclic rhythms and peculiar harmonies, followed by 'Isolated', a subdued yet dizzying dose of syncopated drums and crystalline melodic inflections. For his interpretation of 'Isolated', VRIL mutates the stripped back hypnotism of the original into a maximal, angular workout, whilst Peter Van Hoesen focuses on the dizzying loops of the original, repurposing them into an immersive spiral of funk driven techno. 'Aftermath EP' fuses elements of ambient and soulful techno for an understated but powerful package.

inner Sea' Is A Journey Inwards, Delving Into The Hidden Ocean Of Unconscious Dreams And Memories. Melodies Tell Stories Of Key Moments, Anchoring Certain Points In One's Life And The Experiences And Sensations They Reflect. Giving Them Sounds To Breathe And Mirroring The Soul In Unseen Depths, These Memories Are Stored Eternally In A Shelter Floating Within This Inner World.

all These Memories Lay In The Depths Of My Inner Sea. It's Surface Reflects Pictures Of All The Worlds That I Want To Dive Back Into, Over And Over Again.' - Takeleave Nicolas De Araújo Peixoto

'inner Sea' Comes Out Worldwide On Limited Double Blue Vinyl (including Download Code)

It is with great honour that Emotional Rescue comes back to the music of Jaki Whitren & John Cartwright for a special 7" of two previously unreleased songs on to vinyl for the first time in That Will Be That and This Time. Originally part of the International Times reissue project (ERC004) in 2013, the songs have previously only been available on CD and digital formats as 'out-takes'. However, all that time the plan was to release the songs as a stand-alone vinyl release at some point.
Discussion with John continued over the years and the plan was for a release as part of the label's fifth anniversary, until sadly the project was put on hold due to the untimely loss of both Jaki and John in late 2016. The recent repress of their masterpiece that is their privately pressed album, International Times, led to these songs being revisited for the first time since and so here at last are both available together, as much in homage to these two wonderful musicians. More than studio-plus recordings, That Will Be That actually appeared in rerecorded form on the couple's Rhythm Hymn album of 1983. Here though is the original (and superior) version, with all the hallmarks of classic Whitren and Cartwright song writing craft, musicianship and production skill. Again remastered by their son (and at the time, teenage drummer) Joby Baker, the song drips with a confidence of masters of their instruments, full heartfelt, righteous and as relevant today as then lyrics, all backed with some deep white funk and enough soul to move mountains. This is accompanied by one of their greatest compositions in the spine-tingling This Time. Only ever known on this live recording from Glastonbury Hall, Jaki's vocals and light accompaniment from John's keys let the song shine. If the sheer power of her voice and words don't move you, then something is missing in life. A pure, sad, joyous way to thank and remember this wonderful music and people.

Returning for his second full-length LP of 2018, DJ Bone steps up once more to his own Subject Detroit imprint to present 'Beyond', a full-length and physical rumination on his own emotive and psychedelic contribution to contemporary techno. Loaded with the dynamics, charisma and widescreen appeal of his finest work, 'Beyond' sees Bone enter a musical state that reflects it's ambitious title, celebrating underground ideals in a style that could only be his own.

The second in a trilogy of albums to be completed in early 2019, 'Beyond' is culled from a sequence of no less than fifty tracks completed by the esteemed Detroit DJ and producer upon returning to his home city in 2017. With it being "unfathomable" to release an LP of that length, Bone has nonetheless captured this wave of creativity and a reconnection with his home city, along with the cathartic sense of soul and energy at the heart of his attitude to dance music.

Across 'Beyond' listeners can sink into an unrelenting sequence of tracks that speak from his experimental, musical and always unexpected mind. LP opener 'Dreamers 7' reaffirms his taste for offbeat electronics shot through with rigid dance floor dynamism; a theme reaffirmed quite literally on the forceful centrepiece, 'With A Vengeance'. Elsewhere, Bone delights in blurring the lines between exotic, futurist ambience on tracks such as 'Techno Aint Techno' and 'Ahhh Life', while further cementing his reputation as master of sheer, unrelenting rhythm on 'True Definition' and 'Rosedale Park'.

Our final physical release of 2018 at First Word comes courtesy of Souleance, aka the DJ producer duo consisting of Soulist and Fulgeance, with a double A sided single, and a glimpse into one of our forthcoming 2019 releases, 'French Cassette' which follows on from Souleance's acclaimed 'La Beat Tape' release from 2013, and again delves into crates of samples with a distinct French flavour.

'François' is a track dedicated to the one and only François de Roubaix, legendary film score composer, jazz aficionado and one of the duo's biggest French influences. A delectable slice of 100 bpm instrumental boom bap, built around a seriously infectious jazz-funk groove, and chopped-up vocals.

'Sète' heads to the south of France, to the beautiful Mediterranean city where Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival takes place. A region that the duo have had love and appreciation of, for many years. This one touches up the tempo a little, with some sun-glazed boogie riding beneath ethereal vocals, samples and sizzling synths.


With a decades worth of collaboration between them, and persistent party rocking across Europe, Souleance continue to create tried & tested nuggets of magic for the dancefloor. This double-sided 7" is no exception, and should give you an idea of what to expect from the full beat tape next year. Meanwhile, here's another essential one for the record bags.

Eglo Records are proud to present the second official solo album by the forward facing producer and vocalist Steve Spacek. The album, entitled 'Natural Sci-Fi' originally began production in 2005, shortly after the release of the now classic 'Spaceshift' album (which included the J-Dilla collaboration 'Dollar'), but was never completed. Over the last few years Steve has added a some tweaks and changes - including a new song and guests vocalists Oddisee and Natalie Slade - eventually finalising the project and readying it for its release in 2018. The album continues the post Spaceshift vibration of Steve's signature production style and effortless vocal delivery. Swinging spaciuosly from past to present, packed with soul, sounding as fresh and relevant today as it did when it began back in 2005.
Since the albums inception Steve has released projects with Mark Pritchard as one half of Africa Hitech on Warp, an instrumental LP as Black Pocket for his brother D-Bridge's Exit Records and a concept LP as Beat Spacek for Ninja Tune. Following a string of EP releases for Eglo over the last two years we are thrilled to finally be able to bring to you a full length release from one of the UK's most unique and talented artists.

It has been a good year for Idle Hands. The label reached its 50th release with a release from Livity Sound's Pev and November saw the release of Parris' latest 12' featuring a KMOS remix.
For the labels final vinyl release of 2018 it is the turn of Stockholm's Pistol Pete. Idle Hands boss Chris Farrell has long been a fan of this artists work. He may not have put much out over the years but each release has found a welcome home at the Bristol record shop from which the label operates.
On this release we find three club focused House tracks, each exuding a warmth one would hope for in these cold winter monts. 'Orphan' opens the set with crunchy, swinging drums and the deft use of a sample. 'Lundagatan' continues things apace with some concentrated drum programming and a chopped up soul sample. 'Esqpads' rounds things off with a warm Deep House feel and grooving bassline.

The Second Vinyl Release Of Mdm39 Is A Various Artist Ep Where The Label Stays True To Themselves And Their Pledge To - "support Your Local Talents". For The D.f.ü. Ep, Four Promising Artists Come Together, Each With A Unique Style But All With One Thing In Common - A Relationship With The Magdeburg Scene. With Florian's "rush" The A-side Starts Fast. Straight And Uncompromising, The 909 Percussion & Deep Melodies Make The Dancefloor Dream. The A2 Track Is A Considered 7:46 Min Slow Burner With Deep Dub Echoes. Meditation Stuff Here From Tommes. Renard's Trippy Deep-house Tune,"visit Your Mother" Creates Spherical Atmospheres And Pumping Lines Invading From His Soul To Your Feet. The B2 Delivers Eros Miguel. His "tribute" Is An Authentic Deep Bass Line Monster, Rounding Off This Versatile Ep.

The name Hugo Mari might not ring a bell just yet, but we've got a feeling this is about to change real soon. He's released a handful of EP's under his former alias Books on Omena and XVI including his own edit series on the latter label (check out his killer track 'in the groove or his jazzy deep house collaboration with Zodiac called 'Feel it in my Bones'). Considering he's also remixed well known artists like afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi and grime master Trim, you might share our view of this amazingly talented and versatile producer. His 'Change ur ways' EP for Heist is soulful, jazzy, deep and energetic with three varied originals and a classic soulful house remix by man of the moment, NDATL label head Kai Alcé.

'Get Loose' features the silky-smooth vocals of Zodiac, some lovely solo work on the Rhodes and a 'free jazz' vibe on the horns. There's a constant funk bassline looping throughout the track to keep the energy going while the loose arrangement as well as the drum programming give the track that care-free feeling of a never-ending live jam. With that, 'Get Loose' is a great club track that crosses the boundaries between funk, jazz and house.

The title track still has that jazzy feeling but moves towards a quirkier territory with some 'Frits Wentink' style harmonization, detuned piano's and loosely chopped samples. There's a definite gospel feel to the track, thanks to the choice in vocal chops, which is complemented perfectly by a filtered disco bassline. The percussion layer and rhythmic elements are full of energy without ever crossing the line where of subtlety that makes this track so catchy.

On the flip, there's 'Feel ur senses', the most straightforward deep house track of the release, that gets its mood from an ongoing tremolo on the Rhodes pads. Space bleeps, bells, a hidden arp and 'reverbed-out' hits give the track an almost balaeric sound that will certainly put a smile on your face.

The B side is complemented with a vocal and instrumental remix of 'Get Loose' by Kai Alcé, who has been throwing out one killer tune after the other, remixing Volcov's Isoul8 project (one of our favorites of the year), as well as kicking out releases on his own NDATL label. Kai goes for a full-on soulful house vibe, giving his own chord progression center stage along with a set of rimshots. He chooses to leave the horns out, and instead work the vocal, Rhodes, and cowbells from the original to great effect, adding a little solo work of his own on a bell-like piano where he freestyles happily throughout the track and copies the vocal for added harmonies.
The instrumental version is perfect for those moments where you're done with all the vocals and just want a tight soulful groove.

We couldn't be happier with this release so play it loud and get loose!

Yours Sincerely,

Maarten & Lars

Exactly one year after Lorenz's debut EP on Dirt Crew he is back with a super funky follow up. With the recent
'Marakuja' track on our 'Deep Love 2018' compilation he already set the tone to a much more fluid and organic live approach to his sound recording.

The opening title track 'Belair' is a heavy 'wurly' organ jam he developed mainly by playing live and afterwards finalizing it in his Cologne studio. After his recent tour and shows as part of the Detroit Swindle live outfit he really got into improvising and composing his tunes on the fly. The Funk is all over this one and it is a great uplifting 'sunny' jam to play out. Following this one is the slower and deeper 'Jubilee' that's adding even more soul to the 'Rhode' funk with an irresistible bass line and melody and when the clavinet break sets in it's nothing but Good Times on the dance floor! A certain rewind for us and favorite track off this new EP.

On the flip we added two remixes from his previous high in demand tracks 'On Top' and 'And I Said'. Lorenz has been working a lot on various projects with his good friends Strip Steve and Tensnake and both had their go on these tracks from last year. Strip Steve took the parts of 'On Top' and turned them into a deep Detroit flavored House Jam with stabby beats and beautiful strings added. Last but not least Tensnake fires up a high octane remix of 'And I Said' that leans much towards old school New York house rhythms and the additional 'Sax' topping gives it a groovy 90s feel to it. For sure bringing back that great happy and funky flow of the original.

We hope you dig this funk and soul laden EP by Lorenz Rhode as much as we do! Enjoy!

Look! Ultra rare and super dope Disco-Boogie reissue alert!

That's right, Distinction's 1982 jammer 'That's the way I like it' is back! Fully licensed in conjunction with the rights holders and remastered for 2018 by Above Board distribution. This one's long been at the top of the wants lists of DJ's and dancers for ages, a masterclass in UK Boogie flavour brought to you by the production and writing prowess of Roy Carter who was a member of the UK's legendary Soul and Funk legends Heatwave and who worked extensively with Central Line, Junior Giscombe, Dee C. Lee and many many more throughout his long career. Pretty much all of Distinction's output is tough to find with the majority appearing on tiny labels, and second hand prices for these gems are always on the high side with this particular 12" being one of the most sought after. This is a proper and full reproduction of the original Hansa 12" from 1982 with the added bonus of the 7" mixes being included of both 'That's the way I like it' and b-side winner 'Looking for love'. This one has been booted before with severely lacking quality control, but we are proud to say this reissue has been fully licensed and made using the original tapes with all remastering handled lovingly by Optimum Mastering, Bristol, UK. This is an unmissable reissue if you dig this sound, don't miss out! Pure fire.

While perfectly fitting the deep house cabinet, this EP taps on various styles within this genre. Jayson Wynters, well known for his releases on Mr G's Phoenix G Label and Don't Be Afraid, sets the pace with Sherella's Kiss; a powerful groove and beautiful chord pads embedded in an upbuilding percussive atmosphere. This is a very personal track from Jayson and this dedication to 'Sherella' is testimony to the immortality that can be found in the power of a soulmate. Italian artist Duccio, who previously released on the label Greta Cottage Workshop delivers a melodic track with mediative vocals while Ukraine's Kiddmisha gets his well deserved second appearance on Batti Batti with an immersive electro cut . Hailing from Chicago, the artist Weakmassive makes his debut to the label with a smooth acidic track which could be a perfect opening or an encore to a long night out !

Bitter End continue to forge a path that's entirely their own, with another in the limited pre-release series...

'Dimension Extension' on side A, cooks up a sumptuously throbbing, cockle-warming Disco stew from the meagre ingredients of a sprouted wah wah guitar potato, brass carrots and a bouquet garni of dizzying strings. Yum
On the flip 'Be There Again' takes as inspiration a swirling Funk-Soul nugget from '77, augmented with some 21st century sonic sorcery and most welcome synth noodle in the 3rd act

Once again Bitter End rips up the rule book, and crafts a whole set of new, better ones in which freedom reigns

Light years ahead !

Last February, We Had The Delightful Surprise To See Dominique Dalcan On The Victoires De La Musique Stage (main French Musical Award). The Elegant Singer Received The Award For The Best Electronic Album For His Project Temperance, An Album In English Full Of Reliefs, Dense And Splendid. We Are Delighted To See Today That Dominique Publishes A Second Volume Of Temperance. The First Albums Of Dominique Dalcan Came Out In The Early 90's, Especially On The Belgian Label Crammed Discs. He Is Considered One Of The Ambassadors Of The New French Pop, Combining Electronic And Orchestral Arrangements. At The Same Time, Under The Name Of Snooze, He Immerses Himself In Electronic Music And Creates Soundtracks For Cinema And Contemporary Art. In 2013, He Switched To The English Language And Adopted A New Artistic Identity: Temperance.

The Project Moves Away Freely From The Format Of The Song To Dive Into A Vast Electronic Palette. In Temperance 2, We Hear Contemporary R & B Ballads Full Of Artificial Strings, Collisions Of Textures, Even Balinese Sounds But Nothing That Never Steals The Show With Dominique's Voice And Lyrics. The Temperance Repertoire Addresses The Confusion Of The Human World And A Wild Nature. There Is Also A Question Of Fusional Love With Pop And Soul Songs. This Gives An Album That Rushes Against Each Other Joy, Fury, Despair, Desire Or Pleasure, Without Them Ever Contradicting Each Other, And That Moderates With Art And Temperance, In Short.

Budabeats Records celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2018, on this occasion label bosses Dj Gandharva & Von Yodi picked 11 previously unheard tracks from artists of the Budabeats family and created a compilation that perfectly represents the imprint's musical approach: no restrictions in terms of genre or style, the only thing that matters is the quality of the music.

Shades Of Budabeats features African- influenced jazz and funk (Dokkerman & the Turkeying Fellaz, The Mabon Dawud Republic), head-nodding hip-hop beats (Abase, Tom Caruana), straight dancefloor friendly pieces (BeTe aka Suhov, Umoja, M.W.D, Chilum Trio & Auto Reverse) and also, laidback grooves (Freakin' Disco & Crookram).

All kinds of good vibes that will feed your soul and make your body move !

Major Keys is a brand-new audiophile label focusing on fully licensed reissues of jazz classics, pressed on 12' for a fuller, louder version compared to the original album cut. What better way to kick of the series than housing Herbie Hancock's imitable 'Chameleon' and 'Watermelon Man', loud and proud on either side of a 12' - remastered and cut by the engineer of the original Head Hunters LP from 1973.
They don't get much more iconic than 'Chameleon'. Nestled on the incredible 1973 'Head Hunters' album it's a 16-minute exploration of legendary jazz funk - having all the sensibilities and solos of a jazz record, yet grounding its rhythms in funk, soul and R&B. Even, as its title suggests, morphing from a low slung slow jam into a full-on, fast paced spiritual gem. Lock in for one of the most iconic basslines around courtesy of Paul Jackson, alongside some of the sweetest synth and Rhodes playing you're likely to hear from Herbie, all tied together with Harvey Mason's mythical drumming. Sampled the world over by the biggest and the best this is a truly timeless and hugely influential piece of music.

On the B side, the equally intriguing 'Watermelon Man'. This version, again taken from the Head Hunters LP, differs from the Blue Note bop '62 original, with Hancock developing it into a jazz fusion expedition. Bill Summers top and tails the track with a style of beer bottle blowing imitating a type of whistle playing found in Central African Pygmy music, giving a unique flavour to Hancock's jazz funk stylings that focus on the rhythmic interplay between each instrument. From Dilla to Digable Planets, Madonna to Massive Attack it's a classic that's sampled time and time again for good reason.

Africa Seven's next installment returns to Cameroon with a special edition version of Momo Joseph's in-demand LP, "War For Ground", with three extra tracks. Momo may be better known for his work as an actor, having featured in such titles as "La Haine" (1995) and "The African" (1983), but his small foray into music is definitely memorable as he lays it out in true Afro-Boogie style. Apart from two singles, "War For Ground" represents Momo's only other body of work, and only studio album which was self-released in 1983. With this "Edition Speciale" reissue we provide you all the originals from "War For Ground" remastered alongside his party-time classic "Cameroon Airline", "Love Africa Soul" and his lesser known tack "Oh Momo".

The A-side starts with "Africain", which also featured on our compilation "Africa Airways Four". Glistening synth lines work it out over the top of romantic guitars, while the continual and hypnotic vocal chant of "Africa" tells you exactly where this music is coming from and what it means. The tempo creeps up a bit with "N'Gon Le Bek" which again takes advantage of driving guitar lines, this time facing off with the horn section. The last cut on the A-Side is "Out Side No Fine", which flows great after the previous two, keeping up the same aesthetic with a bit more of a tropical feel to it.

The B-side kicks off with the title track "War For Ground". In this one Momo starts off rather melancholic before things end more triumphantly with the backing vocals and horn section again providing much of the driving force. The final two tracks on this record make up the "Edition Speciale" element of this reissue. "Love Africa Soul", taken from Momo's 1980 single of the same name, at first seems to be one of the more straight forward disco led tracks on this release until an ecstatic synth line breaks things up in a forward thinking break down before a trademark Momo groove kicks back in. The other track featured on that single was"Cameroun Airlines", a bonafied afro-disco classic. Next we delved into the vault and unearthed a recording session for "Oh Momo", this never released version of the track reflects a slightly different side of the signer, with a more afrobeat feel.

This "Edition Speciale" version of "War For Ground" offers a thorough observation of Momo Joseph's work as a musician and looks to help shine a light on Momo's career and musical genius.

Strut announce the signing of one of the best of the UK's new generation of soulful genre-fluid artists, Nubiyan Twist, with a superb new single, 'Tell It To Me Slowly', released on 16th November. Voiced by the band's saxophonist Nick Richards, the song is an instant soul-jazz winner, with lyrics speaking about inner turmoil and a search for the truth. On the flip, 'Sugar Cane' features the unmistakeable vocals of Nubiya Brandon singing of harsh life lessons over an increasingly chaotic groove. The tracks are taken from the band's forthcoming album, 'Jungle Run' which effortlessly weaves together elements of jazz, soul, hip hop, African styles, Latin, dub, hip hop and electronics in a flow of thought-provoking and life-affirming music. The single and album mark another important chapter for a band that has been consistently developing and evolving their sound since their formation in 2015 at Leeds College Of Music. Nubiyan Twist's 'Tell It To Me Slowly' b/w 'Sugar Cane' is released on 7' single, digital and streaming on 16th November. The band also head out for a series of European dates from next month:

Many know Luther Davis from his more familiar and previously reissued disco floater 'You Can Be A Star', not so many people outside the collector's world know the disco-funk 45 'Keep on Dancin' as its about 4x as rare and slightly more out there musically (which is a good thing). The horn and guitar led disco funk hook float's almost precisely between Modern Soul and Deepfunk (The scene that played it first) and for a change i love the guitar solo, used almost like a synth effect. On the flip is an admittedly formulaic deep soul joint that just works due to the dope backing vocals and crispy drumming.

'Sublunar', comes from a lovely and spontaneous collaboration between some of the guys who mostly contributed to the growth of Suburban Avenue, since its beginning: Asymptote & Z.I.P.P.O

The whole Ep, is quite far from the style they are used to propose in their singolar projects; it's rather an infusion of their nearest influences, that you can listen especially in their eclectic dj set: from electro, to acid house, ambient and reverberating stuff from their Soul.

A1, 'Sublunar' is a Dystopic, with Drexciyan reminisces Electro track; A2 'Green Line' is an emotional and 707 dreamy stuff, the perfect bridge which prepare to the A3, 'Alienata': an intense and expertly executed ambient trip.

The entire B side is a Fabulous, Acidic and party-guaranteed package, ready for the heated dancefloors.

A true love never ends.

Russian born and very gifted musician Aleceo is a new addition to the ongoing rooster of Copenhagen's prolific Music For Dreams label - Aleceo came to attention of label boss Kenneth Bager with the brilliant first Ep 'Clouds' - (all tracks included here.).
Aleceo has his own musical voice, he produces and composes music that is rich in harmonies and melodies - he sits somewhere between Balearic and Deep House - combining the past and moving forward and this double vinyl 'Teletrip' is an excellent taster of his many talents and a real body of work.

'Liebe Tanzen' is a sunny mood full of vintage Roland vocoders, imagine yourself in a Zeppelin watching the earth from the skies and hearing handclaps, acidic noodling and beautiful rhodes combined with a high-pitched soulful voice repeating 'Take My Love' and you have the mood of a modern soul track supported by the balearic brigade. 'Dipping Into You' is a deep house mood featuring the beautiful voice of Jelila- sounding like a late 80 ties Boy's Own track played in a barn just when the Sunrise appears.
One of the outstanding killer tunes and a real grower on the debut album by Aleceo is the single 'Whisper To the Wind' a track recorded with Canadian singer Wulf SoulFire - ten minutes of powerful Roland 909 drums, talking verses and a sublime chorus.
'Nevesomost' - a cinematic, melancholic acidic journey that was inspired by the old USSR Sci Fi movie 'Moscow - Cassiopeya' where a group of children was sent to Mars. 'Monotone' recorded in Bali and sung by guest singer Masha Verymaryland - a french song about a girl who loves to dance and sing with arpeggios, Xylophones that sets the mood for a dreamy French Riviera. 'Clouds' is first class ambience feat the Siberian multi-instrumentalist Sergi

Kampanella playing the Mandolla. The title track 'Teletrip' is tv samples mixed with 80 ties new wave drum machines. 'Priceless' is a downtempo documentary live recording Aleceo did with his American native friend Kita. 'Dome' full of accordions, balalaika, handclaps and melancholic keys tells the story of Dome of God - the place of peace and happiness and makes you wanna sit by the seaside.

'Know Him' is inspired by gospel from the Mississippi church. 'Mzi' wouldn't sound out of place in a Leo Mas warm up tape from Amnesia in Ibiza - middle 80ties with its obscure breakdown full of 30/40ties voices.

Bonus is the inclusion of Kenneth Bager's reprise of 'Dome'.

The album 'Teletrip' by Aleceo feels like a forgotten balearic album with a modern twist suddenly washed upon the shores on the White Isle.

LP,180g, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART

Veteran library musician Alan Parker recorded with session vocalist Madeline Bell for his Themes International Music label and the result was 1976's The Voice of Soul.
The sensational uptempo dancer 'That's What Friends Are For' is probably the most well known track on the record, and is a big hit on the rare groove scene, but it is by no means an anomaly. The Voice of Soul is essentially a perfect, sophisticated soul album with heaps of swagger and sass from beginning to end.
Its once generic-sounding title is now deservedly defnitive.
And the whole LP oozes sex. It oozes sex so much that it could have soundtracked a period porn flm. Indeed, parts of it did. 'Love Is All' and 'You've Got What It Takes' both featured on the infamously banned Pretty Peaches from the same year.
As is usual with library records, The Voice of Soul was hard to get even when it was frst released. It's next to impossible now. So here's your opportunity to own what is in our opinion one of the fnest rare soul LPs of the late 70s, and a superb example of Madeline Bell's superlative vocal talents.
But that's not the whole story. As well as pitching the record as 'a varied selection of modern female vocal features which are equally suitable for background or radio programme usage', the original release notes go on to explain that 'the corresponding backing tracks are issued on TIM 1022 The Sound of Soul. Therefore it is possible to edit from vocal to instrumental version and vica versa where commentary or scene changes occur.'
So yes, all of the backing tracks from The Voice of Soul were released as The Sound of Soul, and we couldn't re-issue one without re-issuing the other.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for The Voice of Soul comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.

Recorded already in 1983/84, these soulful songs still show a relation to 1970s soul pop with lush
arrangements that work with real instruments and have a vibrant atmosphere. An all in all memorable songwriting
and the incredible vocals of Mavis Staples from The Staple Singers make the album stand the test of time, even 35
years after the initial recording sessions and 25 years past its first CD/MC release. Licensed by legendary BRIAN
HOLLAND and for the first time on vinyl now by EVERLAND!

Mavis Staples has come to fame and fortune as member of the family vocal group THE STAPLES
SINGERS from the late 50s onward to the mid 80s and she has released a fair amount of solo albums as well,
many of them in recent years. - Love gone bad' is a solo effort from 1993, originally titled - Mavis Staples' and only
released on CD and cassette back in the days. So EVERLAND have now done the right thing and put out the first
ever vinyl of this gem. And a real gem can be found here. Soul music in a down tempo with a slick production and
lush arrangements that still have this vivid expression making it real music by real musicians. The songs contained
on this album all date back to the early 80s, from a session not released until 1993. The melodies and the way the
compositions flow go back to a mid to late 70s soul pop style that incorporates elements of funk and dance music
but in a moderate pace. You can easily float upon the dancefloor and drift away in silky dreams. Some tunes have
a synthesized beat with a typical 80s sound, but these are compositions that stand the test of time and 25 years
after their initial release and 35 years after these recording sessions they shine on as diamonds of black soul pop
and R'n'B music (not to be confused with Rhythm & Blues). Mavis sings like a grand lady of soul with a timeless
quality that makes her stand out from the crowd of similar crooners. Even in the most gentle moments here the
tunes have an irresistible groove that moves the listener. But you can also sit and listen and explore piece by piece
digging deeper into the arrangements to unearth great bass and guitar lines. You will sing these vocal melodies
over and over again in the days to come until you throw this onto your turntable once again. I wonder why this did
not see a regular release back in the 80s as it would have led Mavis Staples to the top positions of the charts, Pop,
Black Music and Billboard. She was meant to make an impact and although she was already in her mid 40s when
she recorded this collection of soul nuggets, she brought a lightfooted youthful spirit in, which gives so much life to
her songs. A must have for all aficionados of female fronted soul pop.

This is a long overdue reissue of a fantastic album! Here we find a pure disco classic from the US scene of the late 70s. The original copies retail at plus $300, that's only if you can find one at all! So those who love to spin good music, but are unwilling or unable to lay down too much money can now lend an ear to this fine vinyl! The opening track is 6.5 minutes long and consists of ongoing grooves with a hint of rock thanks to the melodic lead guitar. The driving rhythms are irresistible with soulful and strong female lead vocals that capture you right away. This reminds me strongly of the lengthy Donna summer dance classic, released during the same period 'Better than walking out' which became a dance floor sweeper. There is nothing complicated here, just sheer groove interwoven with catchy melodies. 'Lovin' you is so easy' follows and is a mid-paced soul anthem that comes as clean, slick and close to pop music a tune can come, but the melody of the chorus will stick to your mind. The arrangements are tight revealing several layers of instrumentation on second take. The lead singer's expressive voice matches with the best of its genre. A grand dame of soul familiar to a wide audience. While we ruminate about the different stylistic ingredients of this album we reach ''Woman', an entire instrumental with a straight groovy beat paired by cool funky rhythm guitar that lies beneath a soundscape made by the electric piano. Both seem to interact tightly and communicate with another. This tune just moves you physically with ease. Lushly orchestrated ''Our love is special' turns out to be a wonderful soul pop anthem of the kind that stays with you when you have only enjoyed it once. I'm almost certain that most fans of the late 70's soulful dance and pop will spin this record over and over again. This is what the DISCO LADIES are made for. Their music has this certain disco feeling but the classic 60s Motown Soul roots are so obvious and keep the whole collection of songs so grounded, that the music will go straight to the heart, nestling there for a long time. ''I second that emotion' is again a mid-paced groover that has this fluttering beat with great instrumental figures build upon this footing. One might hear elements of reggae, gospel and funk melting into an utterly joyful soul pop tune that eventually would become an evergreen in the clubs. Last but not least we are treated to ''Woman', again the arrangements of lead and backing vocals are amazing! These are footed by equally amazing strings and horns. These melodies, soulful, expressive, intense and full of joy! The last tune is a vocal version of 'Woman'. Definitely being the highlight of the entire album and a worthy finale for a record that sticks out of the masses of disco music productions of it's era! All this makes a wonderful and delightful reissue ! worthy of joining every black music aficionado of the 1970s.

Since 2015 Tiger Stripes has been an invaluable contributor to Drumcode's 'little brother' Truesoul.
As recent as March he released 'Sound of the Bettest' in collaboration with Riva Starr, their fresh ragga influenced take on techno entrenched as a 2018 highlight for the label.
Drawing from a wide palette of sounds to craft his groovy, personality-laden take on techno, the Swede has produced arguably his finest work yet with the 'Insanity' EP.
'Baby' is a melting pot of three decades worth of influences, from James Brown, to Northern Soul and indie pop of Ariel Pink.
The result is a stunning kaleidoscopic techno treat, that brims with rave, garage and funky house spirit. 'Insane' is a dynamic feast for the eardrums as trippy arpeggios, a persistent vocal and lush synth leads cascade throughout the seven-minute track.
'Too Deep (to Bear) follows, an exhilarating slice of late-night techno before the EP concludes with 'Dying Planet', mixing up a potent environmental message with tough dancefloor functionalism.

The infamously velvet tones of Jon Lucien get a much welcomed official remastered, reissue - with the original 'Rashida' 7' e.p., that contained four of Lucien's tracks, now split into two 7's for a louder, more refined pressing of each song.

First up, 'Lady Love', with it's bossa nova inspired style, drawing every last drop of emotion from Lucien's infamously voluptuous voice. Once dubbed by Herbie Hancock as 'the man with the golden throat', it's easy to see why - Lucien's rich baritone evoking dreams of summer sunsets, glistening blue seas whilst wrapping you up in a blanket of warmth and tenderness that few can rival.

On the B side - 'Love Everlasting', another of Jon Lucien's bossa nova leaning tracks, swells with jazz flutes, plucked acoustic guitars and a soul drenched string section to compliment Lucien's beautifully calming tones.

With the original Rashida 7' exchanging hands for over £150 on Discogs, here's a chance to get Jon Lucien's golden-throated voice in the collection without raiding the savings.

Foul & Sunk is proud to present 'Morello', a cathartic EP from upcoming producer star D.Y.A. As an university educated jazz drummer the concept of improvisation and aspiration for that one special musical moment is surely no secret to D.Y.A. So both tracks 'Morello' and 'Cosy' are melodic groovers with the extra portion of soul. Beside this there are Johannes Albert and Shan on remixing duties. Albert is taking it to a deeper level, while Shan delivers a 9 min. monster remix with his emotional melodies and deep grooves.

About D.Y.A
City: Berlin (DE)
Labels: SOLIDE / Foul & Sunk
Growing up in a family where D.Y.A was surrounded by all kinds of different music led
to the mindset of appreciating each genre as equally important and eventually got him
to draw inspiration from all kinds of music. As an university educated jazz drummer the
concept of improvisation and aspiration for that one special musical moment is surely no
secret to D.Y.A.

While being Berlin based and a founding member of - SOLIDE', a label and collective he
runs along with fellow producers Kalyma and MYNY, translating these rather complex
concepts from jazz into house music, wether we are talking about production or DJ Sets,
has been one of D.Y.A´s main goals. Looking back to a relatively young discography, this
summers forthcoming EP´s on Solide and Foul & Sunk, with remix guests like Johannes
Albert, Panthera Krause or Shan, will fall in nicely to showcase D.Y.A's influences and his
quest for a special musical moment.

Another sure shot double sider out the Now-Again catalogue, until now both tracks were album only and both pure club killers. I smashed these back in the day; I remember listening to it from Jazzman Geralds collection and was blown away. I went right out and found the LPs which took a little time even then when there were fewer people after them. A couple of years after that 'Kashmere' was dropped on funky 16 corners comp Egon put together, and the cat was out the bag. Anyway back to the music, for those who don't know, Conrad O. Johnson of Kashmere High School, Houston Texas, created the Kashmere Stage Band turning it into one of the most fierce unbeatable high school bands in the national championships, the recordings here are my two favorites out of many. Don't miss out on the 2011 Documentary Thunder Soul which reunites the band with Conrad O. Johnson over 30 years down the line.

The Missing ink between her Barry and Columbia singles, 'I Can't Stant It' b/w 'Only Yesterday' is Thelma Jones with her back against ther wall of an empty and indifferent Holidsay Inn lounge and nothing to lose.Washed out of thde recording business by the age of 30., Jones and her then-husband/manager James Hazley relocated to Tampa to work the hotel circuit and figure out what- if anything- was next. Following a cvhance encounter with Blair Mooney, Jones was invited to workshop a few stray originals at his studio 70 compound in 1972. 'He seemed to believe in me more than I did at the time, 'Jones remembered of the Tampa Studiop impresario. Jones signed with Columbia a few years later and hightailed it out to The Big Guava, leaving two sides of country-politican soul on the shelp to be forgotten about. This Eccentric Soul 45 is a first time issue, carrying the banner of Mooney's Gimp label and mastered directly from the original analog tapes.

Alex Zuiev hails from the coastal Ukraine city of Mariupol. His crisp drums and layered synths complement beautiful and obscure samples on his first EP for Whiskey Disco.

From the party vibes of 'Trenitalia' to the psychedelic flourishes of 'Flying Objects' and the booty-shaking groove of 'Soul Fire', while this is first EP, we really hope it's not the last!

Lance Ferguson's Raregroove Spectrum is a collection of newly recorded versions of classic funk, soul, jazz and latin vinyl rarities, which features some of Melbourne's finest musicians across the album, including past and present members of The Bamboos, The Putbacks and Hiatus Kaiyote.

This 2 track single provides just a hint of what delights the full Raregroove Spectrum album contains - Lance explains that much of the inspiration for the re-works comes from his experience as a DJ; "Some of these versions can almost be looked at as DJ re-edits, sometimes we're extending what may be a really short track into something longer, or teasing out the elements in a song that really make it work on a dance-floor. It's essentially what someone does with a club re-edit, except we went the extra step and re-recorded the whole thing with a live band".

First up is a reinterpretation of a super obscure deep funk acetate 45 released by Keb Darge, Egg Roll - the follow on track is Lance's take on The Soul Vibrations The Dump.
The forthcoming album reaches further - and includes James Mason's 'Sweet Power, Your Embrace' as a sun-drenched Samba, or Anderson Paak's sure shot tune 'Am I Wrong' given an 1980's style Boogie/Jazz Funk makeover to the epic, widescreen Jazz-Funk of Pleasure's 'Joyous' - Rare Groove Spectrum provides new perspectives on the obscure to the well-loved, from old-school to new sounds - this is rare grooves re-grooved... beautifully.

We head into the final quarter of the year with a very
welcome return to First Word from London producer,
musician, engineer and DJ, Eric Lau. Following on
from his acclaimed early 2017 album, 'Examples',
we proudly present the second volume - another
delectable 28-track beats opus.
'Examples Volume Two' is Eric's fourth
instrumental album, and ably continues where he
left off with an assortment of sonics, ranging through
hip hop, jazz, funk, soul & Brazilian beats. An
elaborate sketchpad of ideas and grooves, this again
gives a taste of the genius production skills of 'The
Commissioner', Mr. Lau.
A mixdown perfectionist, his services have been
drafted into service on a number of albums over the
past few years, including Yussef Kamaal's 'Black
Focus', Mansur Brown's 'Shiroi', The Playlist's
'Chasing Goosebumps', DJ Jazzy Jeff's 'M3',
Masego's 'Lady Lady', and Kaidi Tatham's 'It's A
World Before You', released on First Word recently.
It's through these recent collaborations that we have
a few unique ingredients peppered through this
project, the track 'Jeff's Piano' is based on a sample
taken from Eric's iPhone, capturing a moment when
Kaidi was teaching Masego a few chords at Jeff's
studio. Both integral players to the Playlist Retreat,
Eric and Kaidi have also provided remix duties for
Moonchild, Omar and Leon Ware, and Kaidi Kat also
lends his key playing talents to a few tracks here.
Eric has also worked as a producer for artists like
Oddisee, Guilty Simpson, Dego, Tawiah, Rahel and
Fatima, whilst his DJ skills have seen him tour the
globe with luminaries such as Erykah Badu, Robert
Glasper and Questlove. He's received props over the
years from tastemakers across the world, including
Rich Medina, 9th Wonder, Bobbito, Dam Funk, Phonte, Gilles Peterson, James Poyser (The Roots) and Ali Shaheed
Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest).

Freamon is a denizen of the modern world, allegedly hailing from NY, according to some, not relevant, says he. What matters is the music - finely honed and carefully crafted dancefloor gems, served up with love the way they used to be, the way they ought to be.

The Hot Damn! EP is his second release on the mysterious Turbocapitalism label, after 2016's Black Grid EP. This time, he has decided to shine a spine-tingling light on our souls. He wants you to raise your hands and put them together in an overdose of holy joy on this unashamedly celebratory slab of sweet gospel grooving. Can you feel the spirit One listen to 'No More Crying' will settle any doubts on the subject. It's gospel-funk. Or gospel-not-gospel, which is like a million samples taken from every soul record you never heard, seamlessly stitched together as if created fresh today, with one idea - to meld together into one big explosion of spine-tingling dance floor joy!

The title track takes things down a notch with a heavy kick drum shuffle - stripped back analogue house, making for an intoxicating, dense brew of sounds, feelings and ideas. Fierce, pulsating free jazz sounds, snaking around that deliciously tense, bustling bottom end, creating an infectious groove that is fresh, different and most of all, impossible to resist.

Meanwhile, Madrid's DJF and Damian Schwartz do what they do best: they take that thing straight to the centre of Detroit, let it adjust to the new environment and then freely cruise the boulevards at night.

Hospital Records proudly presents the debut long-player from the illusive and ingenious Mitekiss. Flirting with an array of drum & bass styles, 'Crate Six Seven' inhabits the deeper realms of liquid-jazz, soul and ambient jungle across 14 tracks.

The Eskapist with his second statement of personality, handing in a seasonal Ep ranging from a seriously immersive Opener to the shuffling full-force rhythms of 'Islet Observer', gently flowing tides on 'Brittle' and finally some soulful electrifying alien techno, as 'Voluptuous Brittle' takes us home. This is where the Eskapist dwells, here we find freedom.

November 5th, 2018 would have been Charles Bradley's 70th birthday. In celebration of his extraordinary life, Daptone imprint Dunham Records is proud to announce the release of his fourth and final album, Black Velvet. Black Velvet is a celebration of Charles Bradley, lovingly assembled by his friends and family at Dunham/Daptone Records. Though chronologically the material spans Charles' entire career, this is no anthology, greatest hits or other shallow rehashing of the songs that already made him famous. Rather, this album is a profound exploration through the less-travelled corners of the soulful universe that Charles and his longtime producer, co-writer and friend Tommy "TNT" Brenneck created in the studio together over their decade-long partnership.
It features new songs recorded during the sessions from each of his three albums, heard here for the very first time in all their scorching glory: "Can't Fight the Feeling," "Fly Little Girl" and the heart-wrenching single "I Feel a Change"; hard core rarities like his funk-bomb duet with LaRose Jackson, "Luv Jones," the psychedelic groover, "(I Hope You Find) The Good Life" and the ever-illusive alternate full band electric version of "Victim of Love"; sought-after covers of Nirvana's "Stay Away," Neal Young's "Heart of Gold" and Rodriguez's "Slip Away"; and the title track "Black Velvet," a stirring Menahan Street Band instrumental to which Charles was never able to cut a vocal.


Charles was truly a transcendent singer who led a remarkable life, overcoming unimaginable adversity to achieve great success and international acclaim very late in his life. What was really special about him and made him different from everybody else in the world was how he understood his pain as a cry for universal love and humanity. He felt that if he loved enough—if we all loved each other enough—we could take away the world's pain and sadness. That is why he jumped off the stage and literally tried to hug everybody he could. It's why he took such great care of a mother that had abandoned him. It's why he sang and danced like a lunatic. It's why he screamed like an eagle. And that's why we love him.


Black Velvet is a celebration of his life, and is destined to join Charles' first three albums alongside the cannon of essential soul records for the ages.

Tracks from Aural Imbalance's Propagation Of Light album versioned and rendered for wax.

Just Breathe gets spotlighted on the A-side with two remixes. First up, Maps Of Hyperspace grafts his brand of dubby ambience to Simon's instrumentation for trippy chill house goodness. Off Land strips back the beats and ups the ambient bandwidth on his version to close out the side.

The B-side kicks off with Soul Solution, one of Mr. Huxtable's trademark lusicous atmospheric house tracks. Adriano Mirabile brings his techy production stylest o the desk on Fall Of Stars to wrap things.

Dusty archives, the backrooms of record stores, private reel to reel stashes, master tapes - these are the environs of the Dynamic Range experience.

Dynamic Range is a new label focused on unearthing deep Soul, Funk and Disco jams that continue to resonate with todays dancers and DJ's. Time spent scouring the bowels of the majors and independents has unsurprisingly resulted in numerous gems being added to the DR wants list. High quality, fully licensed reissues are the order of the day, always taken from the correct master source and re-presented to hungry record heads the world over. To repeat, this is a fully legit operation - Avoid the sharks at all costs!

Hot on the heels of DR's maiden release we are pleased to present the evergreen Blue Magic and their anthemic 'Welcome To The Club', apparently a firm fave with Ron Hardy would routinely begin his DJ sets with this wondrous Philly beauty. The record has always been a big influence on the house scene with it finding new fans over and over, and it's easy to see why - brilliant arrangements, musicianship and of course - those voices! Disco bliss. On the flip side is the mighty Tom Moulton's mix of the Blue's 1979 smasher 'Look Me Up', another premium slice of incredible disco soul for the dancers and the lovers. These are the full length versions, pressed across one side each, as it's meant to be, nicely remastered and presented in their entirety.

Symphonical Records has the peasure to announce it's 5th release & first time working with a contemporary group to promote the new 'Modern Soul' movement. E Da Boss (Myron & E/Pendletons) & Ishtar team up as 'Lucid Paradise' for their second release, produced by non other than Russia's finest, 'The Soul Surfers'. 'Tonight' us the accunzkatuib of two Bay Area sizk aficianados coming together to create a smooth & crisp, timeless yet modern cut. Written alongside UK's pioneering soul singer Gizelle Smith, 'tonight' epitomises the talent of contemporary soul acts worldwide. Following on from their fist release in 2015, a 4-track boogie EP with London producer 'The Whole Truth', 'Lucid Paradise' return to formly set their standing as a duo to watch out for.

Format: 180g vinyl, mastered at half speed, heavy cardboard old Stoughton tip-on sleeve, obi, sticker, liner notes - First ever reissue of important Swiss jazz album Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion by Stuff Combe available on 180g vinyl mastered at half speed, with liner notes by Alain Morisod. - For fans of jazz, soul jazz, funk, sci-fi, bossa nova, spaced out sounds, jazz ensembles, collective wizardry, deep solos, Swiss magic, Francy Boland, Benny Bailey, Geneva Tracklisting A1 Space Trip A2 Boss Turquoise B1 Eastern Blue B2 St-Thomas Info We Release Jazz is very happy to present its fourth release (following Ryo Fukui's Scenery and Mellow Dream and Le Cercle Rouge's soundtrack by Eric Demarsan), the official reissue of 1974's Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion, a hard to find soul jazz jewel from a cast of illustrious jazzmen led by glorious Swiss drummer Stuff Combe. The limited edition 180g vinyl LP is mastered at half speed, cut at Emil Berliner Studios, housed in a black and silver Stoughton tip-on sleeve, and comes with liner notes. Recorded in Geneva, Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion finds Stuff Combe conducting an all-star ensemble consisting of Bob Jacquillard on bass, Francy Boland (The Chet Baker Quintet, arranger for Count Basie, Benny Goodman and the list goes on) on piano and electric piano, bebop and hard-bop legend Benny Bailey on trumpet, and Tony D'Adario on saxophone. The sessions ooze with funk, spaced out sounds, breathtaking solos, and moments of absolute collective wizardry. It's soul jazz at its best with sci-fi and bossa excursions! Born in Bern in 1924, Etienne Stephen Jean Gustave 'Stuff' Combe had a wonderfully prolific career, playing all over Europe and the US and working with Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman, Stan Getz, Kenny Clarke, Oscar Pettiford , Art Taylor, Dizzy Reece, and Lucky Thompson just to name a few.

Fantastic 80s pop music with a soul and funk touch and an outstanding singer. A must have for fans
of Billy Ocean, Barry White and similar artists. Perfect playing, perfect production, perfect songwriting.

On the edge of the lightfooted disco movement there was sophisticated funk music and one of the often
overlooked protagonists oft he scene was Mr. Sterling Harrison, born in 1941, passed in 2005. His legacy contains
two solo albums from the early 80s and this, dear friends of funk music, is his second from 1981. Copies in good
shape fetch prices up to 800 Dollars so we should give this current reissue on EVERLAND warm welcomes. Is it all
worth the enthusiasm Oh, you can bet it is. Sterling Harrison had left behind the 70s and was ready for the 80s.
The sound is up to date, clear, clean and powerful. The music still shows the fire of the earlier funk records but the
synthesizer passages, the whole production proves that we are now entering a new age. 80s Synthie Pop is part of
the mix, despite the main ingredients are soul, funk and a bit of disco here and there. The vocals are overwhelming,
sung with great emotions and a feeling for the freaky edge of soul. The tunes here come as diverse as they can be,
each one with his very own face, but they all have the same spirit courtesy of Sterling Harrison. Each one should
have had a spot on the top ten pop charts in 1981 but in this case this album would probably be legendary in
another way. This music will drive every 80s black pop enthusiast wild. When after all these powerfully driving pop
and dance tunes, with a more relaxed reggae groover in between, your feet ask for a break, just go for a sweet soul
ballad in the best Barry White style. Smooth and slick, yet still performed with depth and spirit, such a song might
calm you down until the next dancefloor sweeper will hit your ears. The overall atmosphere of this record is truly
happy and enlightened. Good vibrations pour from every note, played here by a team of highest order musicians. A
perfect record for 80s black pop aficionados who admire Billy Ocean's 80s albums for example. This record is a
typical example of the contemporary pop music of its era, but this is what makes it even more charming. And the
songs will definitely stick to your mind after just a few spins without losing their fascination. A true gem for true
music lovers.

Serbia's Soul Print Recordings returns after a year away, this time with Englishman Mark Hand at the helm. Four pieces of beautiful and emotive deep house from Mark, fresh from his Cobwebs EP on Uzuri earlier this year. The record kicks off with Midnight, a beautiful track with it's floaty pads and gently rippling bass tones, coupled with the great soulful voice of Greg Blackman. False Leads is a percussive number, drenched in machine soul, with on the flip, Sio's voice sits effortlessly above a downtempo beat, while Mark adds his late father's saxophone to the mix on the final jazz enfused Mountains. Complementing the wonderful music is the design, with the label art handled once again by the talented Bratislav Milenkovic, and vinyl coming in a beautiful light pink colour, making a Soul Print Recordings release both an aural and visual thing of beauty.

eedwant welcome Bristol born, Berlin based Geoff Wright aka Kemback (Omena/Futureboogie) to the label.

By day, Kemback teaches music production classes to students in Berlin, with such a musical background behind him, his latest EP Moving Through Clouds is every bit exquisite as you'd think. Opening with the luscious 'I Need You', hi-hat, bongos and sumptuous strings are just some of the elements that blend together seamlessly, a touch of modern jazz-house. The experimental combinations continue on 'Stepping Back', a heavy breaks track coupled with harps and saxophones. Whilst the hazy pads of 'Moving Through Clouds' goes down a more atmospheric route. The EP includes remixes from Soulphiction and Kim Brown (Needwant).

Over the past ten years the Needwant mantra has been to push the very best in new talent, hav-ing provided the platform for the likes of Kiwi, The Mekanism, Maxxi Soundsystem, The Revenge and many more.

Keni Burke's signature hit 'Risin' To The Top' gets an official remastered, reissue alongside the 12 inch mix of his '81 killer jam 'You're The Best'.

'Risin' To The Top' quickly became a clear favourite of the soul crowd back in the '80s, with Keni's sensuous vocals, a timeless bassline of epic proportions and those dreamy, sunshine chords proving a winning combination. Since then countless producers, from the likes of Doug E Fresh and Slum Village, to LL Cool J and Mary J Blige, have utilised 'Risin' To The Top' as a choice sample for their own productions. A quick glance at this seemingly endless list, just goes to show how much of an impact this record ended up having.

On the flip, 'You're The Best', takes a more boogie paved path, filled with an undeniably groove laden bass synth, cosmic keys and Keni's infectiously soulful vocals. It's early eighties synth boogie at it's best, placing the electronic elements at the forefront whilst holding onto that unquestionable funk at its core.

Two Keni Burke classics for soul heads, sample spotters and anyone with a keen ear for a gem.

Love Not Sex is the second Stubb 12" from Paper Recordings' Ben Davis.

The original is a melancholic slice of sunshine that draws inspiration from MOR and blue-eyed soul with a hefty dose of Balearica.
Acoustic guitars, Rhodes, live drums and strings plus Crazy P's Tim Davis on bass provide the perfect cinematic backdrop for the plaintive vocals of Huw Costin (Torn Sail) and Rachel Foster.

Japanese edit hero Mori Ra delivers his first ever remix and its a doozy. Keeping the bones of the original track, he takes it in to dark psychedelic waters with the help of former_airline's tripped out guitar.
A spoken vocal tips it in to full balearic wonkiness that will have the likes of DJ Harvey and Bjorn Torske getting hot under their disco beards.

Bergen's Leca employs his trademark stripped back crisp production for a warm, dreamy remix. Steel guitar, clicks, whirrs and a Nordic playfulness make for a cosmic journey in to the Northern Lights.
The 12's will be a limited run of 300, screen printed in West Yorkshire by The Egg Factory with artwork by artist Rachel Johns in a project that celebrates community and collectivism.

The Afro National Band Was Formed In Freetown, Sierra Leone In 1972. Their Inspirational Leader, Sulay Abu Bakarr Accompanied By His Wife Patricia And Ayo Roy Macauley Split From The Sabanoh Jazz Band To Form Their New Group. They Skillfully Merged Highlife And Jazz Sounds With A Deep Knowledge Of West African Sounds. Growing To Become One Of The Premiere Bands To Emerge From Sierra Leone They Not Only Defined The Sound Of The Country For A Generation But Also Crafted Some Of The Country's Most Popular And Memorable Songs (for Example Sonjo Which Is Included On This Collection).

The Band Toured Extensively Throughout Africa And Europe In The 70s (working With The Giant Of Sierra Leone Music Akie Deen In The Process). Towards The End Of The 70s The Band Departed Sierra Leone, Sulay And His Wife Moving To Maryland In The Us And Other Members Moving To London.

Our Collection Focuses On Possibly Not The Best Known Songs Of The Band But The Tracks Which Have The Rhythms To Move The Dance Floor. We Open With The Foot Tapping "jokenge" And Its Driving Shuffle Beat, Swirling Organ And Percussive Guitar Lines. "push Am Forward" Takes A Afro-psychadelic Turn With Its Hypnotic Rhythms And Driving Distorted Guitar. "mr Who You Be" Is A Cover Of The Fela Kuti Track, Doing It Fine Justice. "gowa" Highlights The Vocal Prowess Of The Band, As Dose The Ever Popular "sonjo" (the Version Featured Here Is A Rare Alternate Recording).

"money Palava" Opens Up Side Two With Its Infectious Highlife Beat And Hooky Vocals. "money Nor Bataya" Highlights The Bands First Use Of Synthesizers. "mother In Law" Sweeps Up Back To Free Town 1973 With Its Clever Vocal. "set My Soul On Fire" Is A Bonus Track Which Brings In The International Flavour Of The Band.

The Afro National Band Continues In Various Guises To This Day, With Sulay And Patricia Acting As The Proud And Talismanic Figures For A Whole Generation Of Sierra Leonean Music.

Harlem's legendary Disco label Queen Constance has long been a cult favourite among fans of underground dance music for decades.

One of many labels operating under the equally legendary P&P family of imprints Queen Constance was operated by one Peter Brown, a truly colossal figure in NYC's music scene, it's catalogue still fascinates music lovers to this day. Covering a wide range of styles including Gospel, early Rap and Disco the label's output continually finds it way into the playlists of respected DJ's and selectors across the globe. Wayne Forde's super heavyweight 'Dance To The Music Freakout' is the second reissue from the label for 2018!

Yet again, not much is known about Wayne Forde, or his band 'Stereo'. Could it be another Peter and Patrick studio project Another selection of local, neighbourhood players and singers Who knows What we do know, however, is that this record is a TOTAL disco bomb. All of what you want from a Queen Constance record is here, it's dripping in funk, raw and soulful. Essential stuff for anyone with even a passing interest in disco or anything funky. These jams are super long, percussive dance-floor melters that will do damage! Super rare, too. You won't find one of these nestled in the racks in your local chazzer, which is exactly why these (legit) represses should be in your cart. Essential.

This is a 100% legit reissue, made in conjunction with Above Board distribution and the Demon Music group, lovingly remastered with love by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK.

Standard Edition, Mastered at half speed, 140g vinyl, Sticker We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records' new sister-label) is thrilled to present the official reissue of criminally overlooked Japanese jazz gem Mellow Dream (1977) by Hokkaido pianist wunderkind Ryo Fukui, released in conjunction with the its legendary predecessor Scenery, sourced from the original masters and mastered at half speed. Firmly standing on the foundation he laid down with Scenery, Ryo Fukui continues his exploration of modal, bop and cool jazz sounds with meticulous grace and absolute mastery. As its title suggests, Mellow Dream ventures into slightly mellower, more soulful, and sometimes more contemplative territories (the Bill Evans-reminiscent 'Mellow Dream' and 'My Foolish Heart") while still packing the commanding punch Fukui's work is loved for, as heard on the amazingly bombastic 'Baron Potato Blues' or the gigantic McCoy Tyner/John Coltrane-influenced 'Horizon' which sees each member of the trio (Satoshi Denpo is on bass and Yoshinori Fukui is on drums) demonstrating their virtuosity for 9 exhilarating minutes. With his sophomore album, Ryo Fukui swings from melancholy to vibrant joy with ease, reminding us that jazz is best served with a pinch of blues, and displays an immensely rare combination of pure talent, unique personal approach and focused discipline. The man undeniably deserves a spot in the pantheon of all-time great jazz pianists. After releasing the outstanding Scenery and Mellow Dream back to back, Ryo Fukui worked on developing his live skills, often performing at Sapporo's Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui), and even releasing 2 live albums. He sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that all jazz lovers should explore.

To put it simply, 'True Meanings', the fourteenth Paul Weller solo album, the twenty sixth studio album of his entire career, is a record unlike any he has ever made before.

'True Meanings', is released on September 14th and is an album characterised by grandiose-yet-delicate, lush orchestration: an aesthetic to which Paul's better-than-ever voice, singing some of his most nakedly honest words, is perfectly suited. A dreamy, peaceful, pastoral set of songs to get lost in, it is both an album that a lot of his faithful audience have been wanting him to make for a long time, and an album that many new people outside of that audience will relate to.

On the 25th May this year, Paul Weller turned 60: a milestone that has unquestionably had an impact on the feel, both lyrically and musically, of 'True Meanings' which comes across being the most singer-songwriter-style album he has ever made. However, it is also the most collaborative: with more guests than any record he's been involved in before.

As well as all the members of Weller's band, Rod Argent of the Zombies provides Hammond organ on 'The Soul Searchers' and piano and Mellotron on 'White Horses'; folk legends Martin Carthy and Danny Thompson add picked guitar and double bass respectively to 'Come Along'; Little Barrie plays lead guitar on 'Old Castles'; Lucy Rose sings backup on 'Books'; and 'Movin On' is the result of a 'scratchy demo'on Paul's phone that was sent to Tom Doyle of the White Label project. Even Noel Gallagher makes a sneaky appearance.

Perhaps most surprisingly of all, especially given how personal and introspective 'True Meanings' feels, lyrics for four of the fourteen songs here were written, to Weller's melodies, by others. Connor O'Brien from Villagers came up with the words to opener 'The Soul Searchers', while 'Bowie', 'Wishing Well' and the closing 'White Horses' are all the work, lyrically, of Erland Cooper from Erland & The Carnival.

'True Meanings' was produced by Paul Weller except 'The Soul Searchers', which was co-produced by Paul and Conor O'Brien and 'Movin On' which was co-produced by Weller and White Label. The album was engineered and recorded by Charles Rees and mixed by Jan Stan Kybert.

The album was recorded in just over 3 weeks at Paul's own Black Barn Studio, with the aforementioned, revolving cast of characters dropping in for a day here and there. The orchestration was added soon after, and that was that. It is always a good sign when the recording of an album is swift, and here you can just hear that the man at the centre of these songs is as focused and inspired - more inspired, even - than he has ever been.

From a golden period of Philly soul comes one of the most classic 'two step' and 'rare groove' releases from the PIR label's group The Futures. 'Ain't No Time Fa Something' (also released in error as 'Ain't Got Time Fa Nuthin'') remains a timeless spin for DJs, and became rare on 7' since the growth in popularity of the revived format. The track has also been sampled sevent times, first by Jamiroquai in 1994 in 'Morning Glory', and most recently Flamingos is in 'Cruise Control'. The flip of this 7' release 'Party Time Man' came from the same period and is both the group's biggest commercial hits and has become a significant revival itself over the last ten years, equally rare on original 7' single.

RCA Records release this beautiful 13 track album from East London singer/songwriter NAO. A blend of nu soul/funk and R&B. Follow up to the critically acclaimed debut album "For All We Know" (2016), which was a Brit Award nomination. Includes the current single "Make It Out Alive" which has received plays across R1, R2, ILR, Capital and regional specialists. Collaborators include SiR, Kwabs and Mura Masa. Video plays across MTV and Vevo. Online/social media activity. Ads, features, interviews and reviews across all press. UK tour dates in early 2019. Poster campaign and database mailout.

Here we see San Proper and The Mole make a welcome return to the imprint following solo EP's, this time they join forces with Hreno for a three track EP from the powerhouse trio.
Leading on the package is 'Friendly Tears' which features yet another leading figure in the house scene, Dekmantel regular Tom Trago, as you'd expect from such an impressive array of artists we're treated so soul drenched house driven by swinging organic drums, infectious funk licks and hooky synth lines before the 'Chunkless Mix' strips things back a little, laying focus solely on the 80's tinged synth work, delayed vocal murmurs and
minimalistic percussion.'On The Floor' then rounds out the package, retaining a similar aesthetic with choppy guitar melodies, penetrating bass stabs, crunchy rhythms and resonant arpeggio synths ebbing and flowing dynamically throughout.

Two all-time George Duke greats, 'I Want You for Myself' & 'Brazilian Love Affair', get the official remastered, reissue treatment.

First up, 'I Want You For Myself' Duke's 1979 jazz funk, R&B tinged gem has got all the ingredients of classic from his illustrious catalogue. A funked up guitar and exuberant percussion, compliment Lynn Davis' fabulously soulful vocals perfectly to make this a love song that's sweeter than most. A Duke classic wouldn't be complete without a killer, keys solo and 'I Want You For Myself' shows off his talents in abundance. The infamous Tom Moulton takes on edit duties splicing it into a 10-minute exploration of this fusion powerhouse, extending and enhancing elements in the mix, alongside adding an epic breakdown in a way that only he knows how.

On the B side, the stone-cold killer 'Brazilian Love Affair' is a Latin American, jazz funk classic. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Duke drafted in a host of greats to guest on the track, each bringing something unique to the table. From Airto Moreira's expert latin drumming, to Byron Miller's heavyweight bass and Roland Bautista's overdriven guitar. Duke supplements this to a tee with his blissful vocals and an otherworldly Rhodes solo. Much sampled, much loved, this is a masterpiece that needs a place in the collection.

Body Music (Bosq and The Rapture's Vito Roccoforte) return with another dose of 21st century mutant-disco and nocturnal New York swagger. Following up on their lauded Just One EP (Razor 'n Tape), the new two-track 12" delivers on the epic stomp and punch of that debut with two instant classics.

A-side 'Don't Think Twice' is a tightly modern and muscular re-imagining of some long-lost Paradise Garage-era gem, replete with head-snapping claps, an expansive sonic palette and full strut groove.

While, low-slung flip-side 'Give My Love a Try' rolls on a flirtatious arpeggiated bass-line and gasps of steamy synths that make it the perfect vibe to open or close a party. Lending soulful and sultry vocals across both cuts is Christian Holiday.

Holiday darts in an off the slick synth stabs and bouncy live-drums of Don't Think Twice and reaches a yearning falsetto that draws out the romantic swoon of Give My Love a Try, helping elevate the scope and craft of both tracks.

Hooky and virulent, it's a venerated sound that fits seamlessly into sets of Arthur Russell, ESG and Liquid Liquid classics with a crisp and deep production that remains infectiously of the moment.

At parties from Brooklyn to Ibiza, this 12" will no doubt be a go-to slice of wax coaxing dancers to move a little closer all summer long.

- Upward Bound' is a long lost, incredibly rare and very expensive classic disco era album! It combines soul, funk with and slick pop appeal into a great cocktail of grooves and melodies! This will drive you to the dancefloor and make you sing along at the same time! The lush arrangements, tight grooves and powerful soul vocals with catchy harmonies make this album an instant evergreen. I'm least surprised that the arrangements should pose a challenge to every rhythm section and that the catchy melodies instantly stick to the listener. The flashing horn arrangements are amazing! The funky bass grooves and guitar riffs weave a cocoon of sound around your soul. The sound is certainly clean but also vivid and the music feels grounded despite it's larger than life expression. The swirling backing vocals in combination with the lead singer are the icing on the cake that already consists of catchy and outstanding songs. This is more funk and soul than simple disco music. There is depth in the arrangements with awesome details as you delve deeper into each single track. You can of course groove along and just enjoy the songs as they are, but be sure to at least be on the lookout for the beautiful ornaments in each song. This music will surely move you, it makes it impossible sit still . In this album you'll find a wide range of funky music, from Slow groovers to fast paced tunes, you will get them all. Some with a deep atmosphere, some energetic, all of them memorable with arrangements that keep your attention going even with the 50th spin on your turntable. To my opinion this album is an unmissable gem of the disco era at it's peak! The original album retails at $ 400 going up, rarely a decent copy could surfaces on the market once a year. So here's a chance for you to grab an affordable copy of this well-deserved and long overdue reissue on vinyl and be enchanted!

RTRN II JUNGLE , the forthcoming album from UK DnB heavyweight trio, Chase and Status, is a cultural movement - inspired by British music and fashion of the golden years of Jungle music from the mid-late 90's. The two opening singles speak volumes on the project's ethos - with the hard hitting 'Retreat' ft. Cutty Ranks echoing in your ears long after hearing and the euphoric 'Heater' taking on the role of a single that already has the makings of a classic - with additional vocal support from General Levy.



The sound, project and accompanying documentary and installation, will draw on Jungle music whilst also transporting it into the present day, and re-vamping the genre for the modern day music fan. 'We will be representing DnB at it's most soulful, raw, and uncut level' (Will Kennard)

The news comes with a brand new documentary from the trio, filmed in Jamaica earlier this year, which has just been premiered by Redbull.

Leifur James will release his debut album in October through Late Night Tales' artist label Night Time Stories.
A Louder Silence is the London-based producer and multi-instrumentalist's first proper release; his two earlier singles feature on the record, after gaining support from Gilles Peterson's Worldwide FM with a live airing and interview in 2017, plus continued backing from XLR8R, Stamp the Wax, and BBC Radio 6 Music DJ's.
The album is both spacious and thought-provoking, energetic yet restrained, brimming with nuanced electronic instrumentals, dubby synths, and jazz breaks — creating an array of rich textures, complemented occasionally by James' own soulful vocals.
While James' early unreleased work was singularly electronic, A Louder Silence focuses on analog synths and warm acoustic instruments, all played by his own hand. It's the product of a two-year spell in James' home studio, with additional live drums recorded with Jim Macrae at London's Old Paradise Audio.
James' rich musical influences are laced through the release. Encouraged by his mother, a classically trained pianist, he learned to play the cello and developed adeep understanding of rhythm and melody that informs his approach to writing electronic music. James playsthe piano he grew up listening to in 'Mumma Don't Tell' and samples an indefinable percussive element to drive forward 'Suns Of Gold.' 'Night and Day' sees cello plucks and long melodic strokes interlink with a grooving synth line. He also field records the atmospheric Moroccan sea in 'Red Sea.' Inspiration stems from the experimentation of modern day electronic producers, fused with the Jazz, Classical, Blues, and Soul music that soundtracked his youth.
Central to the album is the idea of space. James recalls the early advice of his uncle, a jazz guitarist, who features on 'Uncle Blue': 'I remember him saying to me: "What goes in comes out' James says. 'Every detail should be a worthy detail; sometimes nothing is better than something.' Moments of blissful, structured intensity are juxtaposed with stillness and near silence — dark and light; loud and quiet. This also forms the foundation for the album title: A Louder Silence reflects the dichotomy of finding pockets of stillness in a noisy world.
The result is 10 distinct tracks delivered as one coherent and well-structured long-player debut, set for release on LP, CD, and digital, on 5th October 2018.
Live dates follow a debut live show earlier this year at the Jazz Café with Yazz Ahmed, including an album launch at London's Ghost Notes in October.

Warehouse Find!

Helsinki-based producer Saine makes his Delusions debut following amazing output on such revered labels as Voyage Recordings, Odd Socks, Omena and Fina. A producer who can flit from hazy instrumental hip hop through to raw, dusty house at the flick of a switch, Saine has built a solid following amongst lovers of left field leanings we've come to expect from the likes of Max Graef, Glenn Astro, Henry Wu and Leon Vynhall.

On lead track Act Natural we find Saine in perhaps his heaviest mood to date, delivering a crunchy uptempo house jam which retains his unique sound despite being aimed firmly at the dancefloor. A speaker wobbling eighth note bassline locks down the groove whilst familiar, much-loved frag- ments from the rave days punctuate the crackling beats. Add to this some simple syncopated chords and you have a winning formula for a timeless track which looks to the future whilst respectfully doffing it's cap to the past.

Jus Right continues in a deeper, more musical fashion with Saine getting busy on his synths, building up layers of warm pads and soloing Moog lines. A prominent vocal brings a soulful touch whilst the minimal, almost hihat-less groove adds an original and fresh feel to this blissful track.
Flipping over we have Low Key, a shuffling deep house number loaded with sliced Rhodes samples, echoing vocal hits, clipped percussion and sublime bass. As the atmosphere thickens, everything falls away to silence before rebuilding, creating some nice tension in the arrangement.

Finally we have Pontchartrain offering up an excellent remix of Jus Right. The Detroit native responsible for some mighty fine releases for the likes of Rocksteady Disco, Lovedancing, Soul Clap, Kolour LTD and Whiskey Disco takes things in a more straight-up house direction with heavier beats, 909 hats pushed to the fore and a distinctively old school feel to the mix.

Marti Caine's infamous Point Of View is a groovy blend of slow-mo funk, dark disco and precise pop. Originally released on BBC Records in 1981, it has attracted a considerable cult following this century. The odd charity shop score aside, it has been impossible to find a copy for less than eye-watering sums (often selling for over £200) and, as such, it's an honour to present the first officially licensed vinyl reissue of this sublime record. Featuring expert liner notes written by Bill Brewster - perhaps the record's most notable champion - this lovingly curated release is limited to just 500 copies.

Marti Caine was a popular UK TV entertainer in the late 1970s onwards and Point Of View presented her with an opportunity to proceed in a hip direction by working with British R&B heavyweight Barry Blue. His legendary reputation was secured with a string of great records, among them the first three Heatwave albums, the Balearic hit "Afro Dizzi Act" by Cry Cisco and the cult smash "Breakin' In" by Javaroo. However, despite the array of talent working on the album, Point Of View sank without trace at the time. It's something that Blue attributes to the bizarre way BBC Records worked, and he entertainingly expands upon this within the liner notes.

Musically, the highlights are many and memorable. Its most notorious track is the sublime soul stepper "Love The Way You Love Me", the reason most people covet this album so profoundly. However, from the dark dubby disco of "Snowbird City" to the moody ballad "Love Is Running Through Me", the lesser heralded tracks are nothing short of exquisite. Indeed, the chugging elegance of sleazy disco opener "Can I Speak To The World Please" showcases a string-drenched strutting-funk that would've been enviable the world over. It's that good.

The outlandish artwork - presenting a striking, green-eyed Marti treating a tiger to a headlock - has been faithfully restored and is arguably worth the price of admission alone. With access to the original tape transfers, Simon Francis' sensitive mastering elevates the sound throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g. Sadly, Marti died of lymphatic cancer at the tragically early age of 50 in 1995, so is not here to experience what we hope will be a long overdue reappraisal of the hitherto underheard genius of Marti Caine, the singer

London producer-duo, Wayward, are back after blowing us away with their marvelous "Good Afternoon Mr Magpie" EP. Wayward have a knack for bridging the gap between the dancefloor and the more soulful side of electronic music, with support across the radio airwaves from the likes of Giles Peterson on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, KCRW, Beats In Space and Rinse FM.
Wayward's most recent release, the "Green Lanes" EP is another milestone for the rising duo. The EP opener 'Green Lanes' (co-written with London producer Books) is a dance floor ready tune with a hypnotic bassline and the perfect amount of cowbell. 'Maxi Love' brings the disco heat with an edit of a timeless classic, reinterpreted for late night escapades. On the B side, 'Time and Again' is a breezy house banger and the closing track 'Silver' is reminiscent of Wayward's signature sound, blending samples in seamlessly with warm percussive elements.

Studio One Freedom Sounds Is The New Collection From Soul Jazz/studio One Focussing On The Intense Period In The Second Half Of The 1960s When Studio One's Vast And Unbeatable Output Of Ska, Soul, Rock Steady And Reggae Made It Literally One Of The Hottest Musical Empires In The World.
During This Highly Successful Period, Clement 'sir Coxsone' Dodd Released Hundreds And Hundreds Of Superlative Singles Seemingly On An Almost Daily Basis, In The Process Making Huge Stars Out Of Jamaican Singers Such As Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, The Wailers, Slim Smith, Jackie Opel And Many More.
Powered By The Finest In-house Musicians Working In Jamaica, Whether It Was The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo's Soul Brothers, The Sounds Dimension Or The Soul Vendors, Studio One Functioned As Hit Factory On The Scale Of Motown In The Usa, Shaping And Defining Reggae Music For Decades To Come.
Singlehandedly Studio One's Founder Clement Dodd Was Able To Create The Most Successful Vertically-integrated Record Company That Jamaica Had Ever Known With Pressing Plant, Printers, Studio, Shops, And Sound Systems All Running At Once, With Over 50 Employees And Hundreds Of Artists Working With Studio One During This Time.
Studio One Freedom Sounds Tells The Story Of Studio One In The 1960s With A Stunning Set Of Ska, Soul, Rock Steady And Reggae Killer Tunes As Well As Informative Sleevenotes And Track-by-track Info By Noel Hawks. The Album Is Released As Heavyweight Double Vinyl (+ Free Download Code), Deluxe Cd And Digital Album.

Fast-moving Times, In Which Popularity And Quality Are Often Equated Or Commonly Confused With One Another, Aids And Abets This Imitation Game Some Call Conformity, Others Professionalism. In The End, Both Paths Will End Up In Predictability. Here's Where Stathis Kalatzis, Aka Mr. Statik, Comes To Play. The Resident At Athens' Multi-purpose Cultural Space Six D.o.g.s Has Not Only Been One Of The Scene's Pivotal Figures, But Since He Started To Release His First Solo Releases In The Mid-00s, The Now Berlin-based Greek Dj Has Earned A Reputation For Being A Trend-ignoring, Unconventional Producer.

Whether His Output For Bpitch Control, Rotary Cocktail, Or Even Last Year's Debut Ep "rogue
Cherub" For Away - Mr. Statik Enjoys Thinking Outside The Box By Crossing His Diverse Pop-cultural Interests And Pulling In Expertise And Perspective From Beyond The Usual Functional Formulas. After A Decade Of Not Staying In One Comfort Zone Or Sticking To One Musical Direction, He Finds Himself More Comfortable In His Producer Shoes Presenting His Debut Album "metamorphose". Housing A Few Film References In This For Mr. Statik Typical Nebulous Fashion, The Ten Tracks Not Only Carrying The Narrative Potential Of An Imaginary Score, But Primarily Exploring A Versatile Array Of Influences, Themes, And Contradictions (which Mr. Statik As An Illustrator Also United On The Albums' Artwork). Ranging From The Sci-fi Infused Album Opener "insomnia", The First Non-dancefloor Piece He Ever Produced Around 7 Years Ago, Over "atastrophe", An Homage To Ancient Greek Theater, To Collaborate With Others Such As Beatrice Ballabile, Jan Niklas Jansen (locas In Love), And Rbma Alumnus Claude Speeed, Who Contributed Synth Work On "soulfur".

"metamorphose" Succeeds In Constantly Changing Its Tones, While Maintaining An Emotional
Frame, In Which Mr. Statik's Melancholic, Introvert, At Times Hopeful And Euphoric, Bottom End
Inclined Electronic Music Can Elaborate.

Mr. Statik On His Album Debut:

"i Have Always Tried To Approach Producing As Storytelling Exercises. This Allowed Me To
Experiment Finding Myself In Uncharted Territories, More Specifically In Music That Doesn't
Necessarily Fit To A Dance Floor - Unless It's A Very Adventurous One. 'metamorphose'' Is Loyal To That Mindset. I Usually Draw Inspiration From Cinema And Comic Books And Have Always Been Fascinated With Sci-fi, South Asian Culture, Surrealism And The Dreamworld. Initially The Album Was Supposed To Be A Collage Of The Various Influences That Had Shaped My Life, But Ended Up Being Something Very Different. During The Conceptualization And Recording Process A Lot Of Things Around Us Have Changed, Primarily For The Worse. I Became More And More Sensitive And Susceptible To Pessimism And Trendy Visions Of 'dystopian Futurism', So That The Lp Emerged Being An Exercise In Positivity: 'metamorphose' Is A Verb Describing The Act Of
Conversion, But In Greeklish It Is Describes The Urge Towards Others To Start Transforming Their
Environment, In This Case For The Better."

The Stunning And Ground-breaking Album From The Composer And Saxophonist Chris Bowden.

'this Is The Album That Connected It All.' Gilles Peterson 2018

Chris Bowden's Debut Album Time Capsule Was First Released On Soul Jazz Records In 1992 To Universal And Widespread Critical Acclaim. Now 20 Years On A New Wave Of Current Jazz Artists Led By The Likes Of Kamasi Washington In The Usa And A Host Of British Artists - Shabaka Hutchings /sons Of Kemet, The Ezra Collective, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Fourtet, Yussef Kamaal, Tenderlonious, Binker & Moses - Have Brought This Original Ground-breaking Album Into The Limelight Once More As A Pivotal Starting Point, Sharing Many Of The Aesthetics Of These Current Artists At Work Today.

Musically All Are Inspired By The Spiritual Jazz Of John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry Et Al Paired With A Modern Electronic Music Sensibility. Chris Bowden's Time Capsule Has Stood The Test Of Time Like Few Other Albums (as The Title Of The Album Suggested), And Remains A Pivotal, Wholly-successful And Original Experimental Musical Collage, A Radical Inspiration And Forebearer To Many Of The Best Progressive Jazz And Electronic Artists Working Today.

The Album Has Been Fully Hi-spec Re-mastered And Is Available As A Limited-edition Heavyweight Double-vinyl Release With Gatefold Sleeve (+ Free Download Code), Slipcase Cd And Digital Album.

Mastered at half speed, 140g vinyl,

Sticker We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records' new sister-label) is proud to present its first release, the official reissue of Ryo Fukui's highly sought-after masterpiece Scenery (1976), sourced from the original masters and available on limited edition 180g vinyl mastered at half speed for audiophile sound and on digipack CD. Unquestionably one of the most important Japanese jazz albums ever recorded, Scenery reveals Ryo Fukui as a miraculously brilliant self-taught pianist fusing modal, bop, and cool jazz influences for a very personal, dexterous and game-changing take on classic standards made famous by Bing Crosby and John Coltrane among others. From 'It Could Happen To You' and its serene and calm intro which magically flows into a jubilant and upbeat piece, to the out-of-this-world piano solo of 'Early Summer", or the incredible teamwork of 'Autumn Leaves' where Fukui leads Satoshi Denpo (bass) and Yoshinori Fukui (drums) into groove heaven, every single note on the album oozes precision, confidence and flair and every single section slides seamlessly into one another, creating a supreme and elegant blend of jazz. Often compared to McCoy Tyner or Bill Evans, Ryo Fukui was a genius in his own right, a true master of his craft whose perfectionism gave birth to some of the greatest music ever recorded. Scenery is his magnum opus and an absolute must-have. The Hokkaido wizard-pianist followed Scenery with the soulful gem Mellow Dream (also available on We Release Jazz) in 1977. He then focused on improving his live skills, often performing at Sapporo's Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui) and releasing 2 live albums. Ryo Fukui sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that is sure to captivate jazz lovers for generations to come.

Forever cursed with 'deep-' and 'tech-house' labels by the press due to decisions taken 10 years ago before he had any idea how this industry worked, Avatism returns mildly angrier than ever before with 'Ate-Up', an EP the producer actually started writing during an MDMA-induced lucid dream after Vakant label boss spiked his drinks in 2011. To give his poor soul some credibility, we've enlisted AQXDM (Aquarian & Deapmash, fresh from their storming debut on Bedouin Records) and the mysterious Maenad Veyl (Veyl, Pinkman, Death & Leisure) on remix duties.

Quest, transit, chaos, mutation, transfiguration, ascension and illumination. These are some of the steps followed in the journey of life that are embodied on each track of the album Adonai. The solo debut of the multi-instrumentalist composer Marco Paul condenses a career of more than ten years, in which, the search for the truth of oneself and authentic sound has traveled and nurtured from different genres and cultures. Adonai is an odyssey that combines sounds and images of the earthly and oneiric worlds: an audiovisual work that opens several windows to the different perceptions of the facts that make up the life of the human being.

After 9 years of constant international touring, 6 albums and more than 400 live performances with the bands Sour Soul, Ratbot and Funk My Jesus, as well as the conception and musicalization of the award-winning short films "Undermine" and "24K All You Need Is Gold", Marco Paul decided to retire to an island in the Caribbean, where he found and refined his sound. Thus, between 2014 and 2016 he created the music for Adonai, a work produced by Aitor Etxebarria under the label of Forbidden Colours.

The recording includes guest musicians from different countries such as Aitor Etxebarria (synthesizer, electronic magic) and Hibai Etxebarria (double bass) from the Basque Country; Michael Alan Hams (drums and percussion) and Joe D'Etienne (trumpet) from the United States; and Fatima Gozlan from Hungary (Ney and Derbake).

The consummation of the work is a mid length film created in 2018. It consists of 5 chapters directed by 5 different directors.

The audiovisual journey begins with the conception of the philosophical "Filius", an alchemical symbol that represents the inner child, which transforms the experiences of life into the soul's gold. Later, in "Sylvian" (title that refers to the brain fissure that contains the auditory cortex), by listening to the subtle message that surrounds us, our consciousness and perception expand. Then, in "Tiamat", the pristine chaos that gave birth to the gods, embodies chaos, the confusion generated by the multiple voices: on one hand the moral and imposed precepts, on the other hand, the inner voice that seeks the liberation of the infinite possibilities. In "Hawa", through the recognition of the power of solitude and introspection self-reflective awareness is reached. Finally "Adonai" is the ascension to enlightenment: the further connection with the absolute. As an encore (only available in vinyl) "Teurári" is a gift: a tiny flower where all the points of the universe merge.

righteous expensive: motohiko hamase's 1986 album "reminiscence" scores a decent prize at online vinyl selling platforms and it is worth each coin!

it's a perfect "refuge from nasty reality", as the glorious british 20jazzfunkgreats blog once said. and it comes from a man that knows his trade: bass play - an artisan on which he also already wrote many theoretical books in his more than four decades long career.

in the 1970's hamase was no stranger to tokyo's vibrant jazz scene. together with jazz pianist tsuyoshi yamamoto and jazz-rock guitar-ist kazumi watanabe he played in the isao suzuki sextet and was part of their classic landmark jazz-funk album "ako's dream" from 1976.

in the following years he also participated on records like mikio masuda's latin-funk-jazz gem "moon stone" or japanese female jazz singer, actress, and essayist minami yasuda's last album "moritato". in the early 1980ees his work shifted from pure jazz to electronic and ambient spheres and he started to compose his own music around his deeply emotional bass play.

from 1985 to 1993, hamase released five solo albums. just recently studio mule dropped his first one, "intaglio", in a new recording that sounds as stunning as the original release from 1986.

now the previously mentioned "reminiscence", his second work for the celebrated defunct japanese new age record label shi zen, follows in a fresh shape on studio mule.

as the original, it features deeply touching moments of sheer pristine perfection and distributes hamase's inner emotional landscape with a bewitching bass performance. a soothingly beauty of an album, that reflects hamase's search for spaces of melancholy.

a rhizome of soundscapes that capture, settle and sound elusive while simultaneously being awe-inspiring. as for "intaglio", the 66-years old artist gathered again some befriended musicians, rented a studio, staged his gear and recorded most of the original "reminis-cence" material new, while keeping the moving musical story arc of the original album alive in a fresh wrapping.

the result is a dazzling, blue mood seething, strongly hypnotic longplayer, full of personality and hybrid ambient electronic jazz spheres that open doors to unheard sound universes and that perfectly work for all those stress-relieved souls that love the disclosure of the mind and seek for a "refuge from nasty reality".

*Continuing to hone his unqiue production talents, our resident wonderkid SATL is back in full force. His latest EP, Integral 048 comprises five fresh cuts that showcase his evergrowing, vast and intricate production talents. Featuring two independent collaborations with New Zealand's finest vocal talents, Lips and Tali, this package of supermusic has all the vibes covered, from soulful anthems to futuristic flavours of breakbeat heaven with plenty of deep rumbling bass in between!

Make sure you reserve your limited vinyl copy now to avoid disappointment!

Since 2008 Düsseldorf based producer and live wizard Stefan Schwander deeply concentrates on his always evolving electronic venture named Harmonious Thelonious. It besprinkles the world with fractional musical structures in the spirits of American minimal music, in order to immingle them with African rhythm patterns. Exceptional hypnotic opiates, enlarged with twisted harmonies and tricky rhythm archetypes. All heavy danceable!

After five magnetic albums for labels like Emotional Response and his old home base Italic as well as a highly acclaimed string of EPs for in-demand platforms like Asafa, Diskant, Disk, Kontra-Muzik, Meakusma, The Trilogy Tapes or Versatile Records, he now produced a heavy arresting 'Petrolia' LP for Marmo Music - a label that is not new to Harmonious Thelonious. Already on the label's second release Tru West: 'The DOWC part 2' his 'Sunset Liturgy' fingerprints are audible with a moving remix. Now he delivers six epic tunes that only partly dance the familiar Harmonious Thelonious dance. There are deeply traces from Africa and Arabia. There is the polyrhythmic witchery that makes his music special. But in contrast his new tunes are more mental then his former ones. They have a menacing industrial feel but yet continue to be enlarged with the enchanting spirits of the land of the Sahara. Furthermore, there is a slight manic touch arising from nervous electronic and foremost organic melodies. The live played jittery is coming from the Berlin based experimental musician Ghazi Barakat, also known under monikers like Pharoah Chromium or Crème de Hassan for mind shredding ambient, drone, experimental, noise, industrial, free jazz and free improvisation music from beyond. For Harmonious Thelonious Barakat, who also produced together with Marmo Music artist Günther Schickert the collaboration album 'OXTLR' in 2014, tuned his wind instruments Rauschpfeife and Kangling elflock-stricken the Master Musicians of Jajouka way. And instead of giving them a prominent lead position, Schwander deeply implements his tones into his propulsive creations to evoke a modern rhythmic meltdown of Occident versus Orient spheres that exhale a deeply absorbing soul.

A record, who's psychedelic energy fits perfect into the Marmo Music cosmos - a world where the progressiveness of the 70ties continues to live in the current to disband all white bread musical norms for the energy of music without classes. Dancers of the world, unite!

The Next Installment In Cold Diamond & Mink's Soul Investigations Introduces A Three Part Harmony Group From California. "my My My Baby" Is A Smoking Hot Group Harmony Groover That Should Drop A Few Jaws At Your Next Dj Set.

Thee Baby Cuffs Was Born Out Of Love For Soul Music And Chicano Culture. Their First 45 "where Did Our Pride Go", Came Out In 2017 On The Raza Del Soul Label, Covering An Unsung Early 70's Larry Saunders Production. "my My My Baby" Continues On The Same Lane Of Midtempo Soul Over Funky Drums And Soulful Horn Lines. The Lyric Is Your Middle Of The Road Love Song Material, But The Group Harmony Lifts It Right Off The Ground Like It's Meant To Happen In This Kind Of Music.

Get A Few Copies And Rock The Instrumental On The B-side Before Dropping The Vocal, If You Feel Like It. Soul Music That's This Potent Is Better Enjoyed In Excess.

Produced By Cold Diamond & Mink

Guapapasea! is the first album by Gecko Turner, a unique creator from southern Spain. Born and bred in Extremadura, near Portugal, Gecko has an original and tasteful Latin personality, and during the 90s he was responsible for some locally quite successful bands like Perroflauta, and The Reverendoes.

Acclaimed by Spanish critics as the best debut album upon its original release in 2003, Guapapasea! is a musical journey blurring the boundaries in Latin music. It's a nice blend of different styles - from soul and Brazilian-flavoured songs like the free and easy (and all-time underground hit) "Un Limón en La Cabeza"; Afrobeat-driven tracks like "45.000$ (Guapa Pasea)"; and the flamenco-reggae of his rendition of Bob Marley's "Rainbow Country", to the infectious Latin rhythms of "Did You Black Up Today"; Monk tribute "Monka Mongas"; the original adaptation of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues"; and the radio-friendly, straightforward reggae track "Te Estás Equivocando".

Guapapasea! features contributions by some of the greatest musicians active at the time on the Spanish Afro-Cuban jazz scene, such as Rubem Dantas (Paco de Lucía's percussionist and regular member of Chick Corea's band), Rodney Dássiff, and Brazilian trumpeter Irapoam Freire. The album was licensed to Quango in the US.

It's been 15 years since its original release, and to celebrate this, Lovemonk's reissuing the album on double 12" vinyl for the first time, alongside Gecko's second album, Chandalismo Ilustrado, and the CD compilation Soniquete: The Sensational Sound Of Gecko Turner. The CD version features bonus remixes by Quantic, Mexican Institute Of Sound and Watch TV.

The arrival of fresh material from Visions co-owner Stephane Attias is a nice welcome return .These two tracks from Swiss based dj and producer are aimed to simply heat the dance floors . These two pure Deep House tracks are full of musicality and rich deepness that will keep the dancers happy.On the A side « Body fusion is a melodious number with deep drums , lush pads over deep synth and bass , rhodes chords, piano solo and organic percussions The B side is a soulful melodious and organic jazz house track with fender rhodes , sub bass and summer vibe to keep a smile on your face. A solid release not to be missed !

"Perlman's got beats and it ain't no secret." - The Beastie Boys

This lyric might have slid right by you while you were listening to Ill Communication, but the Beastie Boys were not playing when they said that. Robert Perlman, a native New Yorker, was way ahead of the curve and would stockpile an arsenal of heavy duty vinyl way before the 45 record craze took over. This compilation of over a dozen tracks represents a taste of the fruits of his hard work uncovering these often overlooked gems.

Including some personal notes from the artists you can find on this compilation.

To be released on World Mental Health Day, part of the album's proceeds will be donated to a UK-based mental health charity. 'I often wonder how sadness moves through people,' Emika says, 'through time, through stories and history, and if it's something that becomes us rather than coming from us.'
% of album sales will be donated to charity Help Musicians UK
emikarecords. com Invites fans to anonymously share their experiences of depression and create a waterfall of comments inspired by the song Wash It All Away
Studio video promoting the album via Soundcloud, Autumn
Live / DJ video, promoting the album with Beatport, Autumn
Live streaming of the album from Emika's studio via FB, Insta, YT, September.
Bookings by Christopher at Melt Bookings. Team chose to give fans time to listen to the album first, shows starting early 2019, special album show with live band and dome visuals planned in the Berlin Planetarium Feb 2019. A few promo shows summer / fall 2018.
Boiler Room live show as part of Open Dance Floor series tbc
* Given its years of manifestation behind the scenes of other projects, Falling In Love With Sadness reflects a renewed understanding of Emika's own genealogy, kindred lineage and its connection to modernity. Marking a drastic departure from the menacing, stripped-down qualities of albums past, Dva and Drei, Emika has surfaced with a new upwelling of sound gracing the bittersweet, melancholic and sanguine.

* With the interplay of myriad genres both rhythmically and melodically intertwining between spacey, dub tinged Promises, lush synth pop hooks on Escape and the title track's soulful electro, a full spectrum of musicology remains primary to the ever-evolving chroma of Emika's umbrous sound.

* Further characterised by the breathy sibilance and sultry tones of Emika's noirish, vocal aesthetic, the album navigates through the morose and trappings of misanthropy by illuminating a narrative of emotional resilience and recovery.

* Co-produced with Robert Witschakowski of The Exaltics, and continuing her collaboration with guitarist Chris Lockington (as heard on Drei and Dva), Falling In Love With Sadness provides a fifth solo album for Emika, but moreover, defines itself as an overture for her future works.