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Analog Africa follows up its Dur-Dur Band Volume 1 & 2 reissue with the next two volumes and they again capture the Mogadishu group at their creative peak. Formed by drummer Adan Handal and Isse Dahir Qassim after their military band days, Dur-Dur became a house band at the legendary Jubba Hotel where they fused Somali melodies with funk, disco, reggae and soul into colourful new fusions. This music was recorded amid personal tragedy, including Qassim's death and key members' departures, and pushed further into electronic percussion. It's a unique window into Mogadishu's golden era, presented as ever in excellent style with photos and liner notes.

Feelin’ Love returns to Soulfuric Deep with a fresh remix package built around one of house music’s most recognisable vocal anthems, bringing new energy to a timeless dancefloor favourite.

Originally released by Soulsearcher, the track has remained a staple across house and disco sets for decades, celebrated for its uplifting vocal, infectious groove and enduring crossover appeal.

This new edition pairs the original Soulsearcher Club Mix with a selection of contemporary reinterpretations, including brand-new remixes from RUZE & Chesster and Dr Packer, alongside the Ian Carey Main Mix, offering a versatile package for both modern and classic house DJs.

Blending soulful vocals, groove-led rhythms and contemporary production touches, the release bridges generations of house music while retaining the feel-good energy that made the original such a lasting success.

Back on fresh 12" vinyl, Feelin’ Love continues to resonate with both long-time collectors and a new wave of DJs, making it a strong addition to any house-focused record selection.

A highly recognisable and DJ-friendly release for stores supporting house, deep house and soulful dancefloor sounds.

Dub album full of sound system explosives by expert riddim tinkerer Prince Riser – hard rocking, spaced out Kawai synth digi bangers, hitting that sweet spot between analog and digital Reggae while drawing vibes from the legacy of Dread & Fred, Exterminator and Jammy.

Aside from the thunderous Dub epic “Through The Storm” Prince Riser’s debut LP is also featuring the killer vocal cuts “Poverty Ina Russia” by Sammy Gold – a super heavy depth charge of Sly & Robbie proportions – the soulful Wackie’s flavoured anthem “Keep On Trodding” by Madi Simmons (who sadly passed away in 2024) and the plonky digi stepper “Travelling Gal” by Prince Riser himself, each accompanied by a murderous Dub version.

With extra cosmic dust added by disrupt at the Jahtari home studio, "Through The Storm" is crucial gear for any sound system vinyl crate.

Cover art: Robbie Reiser

The acclaimed compilation series returns with volume 4! Fourteen tracks showcasing the most exciting emerging voices in Belgian jazz, ready to claim a permanent spot on your turntable.

The latest instalment in the celebrated compilation series once again shines a spotlight on the most adventurous and forward-thinking artists emerging from Belgium's jazz scene. Curated by Belgian tastemaker, DJ and broadcaster Lefto Early Bird, the collection continues a tradition of uncovering hidden gems and introducing them to a wider audience of dedicated diggers.

Over the years, the Jazz Cats series has become a trusted barometer of Belgium's ever-evolving jazz landscape. Long before many artists gained international recognition, they first appeared on these compilations, making the series both a discovery platform and a snapshot of one of Europe's most exciting musical ecosystems.

Jazz Cats Volume 4 captures a scene bursting with creativity, diversity and ambition. Across fourteen carefully selected tracks, the compilation explores the many directions contemporary Belgian jazz is taking today. Jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, afrobeat, spiritual jazz and experimental sounds coexist effortlessly throughout the collection.

The opening stretch of the compilation, led by Brussels-based Irreversible Entanglements band member Aquiles Navarro, Ola Tunji and HelenaCasella, offers an early glimpse into a scene that rarely stands still. Their music moves freely between traditions and contemporary influences, reflecting less concern with preserving genres than expanding them. Artists such as Lupo Spaccaro and Kunde, joined here by the raw soul voice of Fred Gata, draw inspiration from hip-hop and contemporary beat culture, yet neither approaches these influences in a conventional way. Instead, they reveal how naturally these sounds have become part of the vocabulary of a new generation of jazz musicians.

Experimentation emerges as another defining thread. KVR and BREAD FOR PIGEONS embrace unpredictability through unexpected textures, shifting atmospheres and confident compositional choices, creating music that constantly challenges expectations. Elsewhere, artists like Gaiko and VLIEGWERK favor immersive soundscapes that reward repeated listening. Whether there's a connection between musical adventurousness and a preference for capital letters remains a question for future research.

At the heart of the compilation lies a strong sense of movement and groove. Ragini Trio and Foutloos approach that rhythm from different angles, yet both build their music around powerful, pulsating foundations. Their tracks need close attention, revealing layers of detail and low-end richness that practically demand to be experienced on a proper sound system.

By the time it reaches its closing chapter, Lucid Lucia, SLAGADER and Kuna Maze bring the focus back to forward motion. Jazz and funk-infused grooves provide a fitting finale, reminding us that however far these artists push the jazz genre, they never lose sight of its ability to connect, uplift and move people.

The result is a body of work that feels remarkably cohesive despite its diversity: a portrait of a scene that continues to evolve through curiosity, collaborationand constant reinvention.

Mit "DECADE ON PARADE" feiern The Feelgood McLouds ihr zehnjähriges Bandjubiläum - und liefern ihr bislang kraftvollstes Statement im Bereich Celtic Punk Rock. Die siebenköpfige Band aus Saarbrücken verbindet seit über einem Jahrzehnt ruppigen Punkrock mit traditionellen keltischen Instrumenten wie Dudelsack, Geige, Flöte und Akkordeon. Das Ergebnis: Songs, die nach Freiheit, Bier, Straßenromantik und langen Nächten klingen. Über 250 Konzerte im In- und Ausland haben die McLouds zu einer explosiven Live-Maschine geformt, deren Shows für kollektive Singalongs und unbremsbare Energie stehen. 2025 folgt ein besonderer Höhepunkt mit dem Auftritt beim Wacken Open Air, der ihren Stellenwert auch jenseits der Szene unterstreicht. Zusätzlichen Rückenwind bringt der internationale Einsatz ihres Songs "Saints And Sinners" in der Netflix-Serie House of Guinness. "DECADE ON PARADE" zeigt die Band gereift, lauter und entschlossener als je zuvor - ein Album voller Hymnen für Außenseiter, Nachtschwärmer und alle, die sich zwischen Tradition und Rebellion zuhause fühlen.

Alemayehu Eshete, die "Goldene Stimme Äthiopiens", hat sich seit seiner ersten Hitsingle "Seul" 1961 zu einer der prägenden Figuren der äthiopischen Soulmusik entwickelt, der wie kein anderer äthiopischer Musiker die aktuellen Trends der amerikanischen Soul-Szene so konsequent aufgegriffen und adaptiert hat. Diese neue 7" vereint zwei Höhepunkte der Zusammenarbeit zwischen ihm und Jimi Tenors Philophon-Label - remastered. Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Alemayehu Eshete und Philophon wurde von Listros e.V. Berlin mit Unterstützung der Kulturstiftung des Bundes initiiert.

Brixton Heights Records proudly presents the brand new single “Sweet Things”, a radiant lovers reggae release that blends classic roots, soulful warmth and contemporary finesse into a timeless feel‑good anthem.

Fronted by the legendary Keith Coley from The Silvertones, this masterfully crafted track features a heavyweight lineup of musicians and producers: Mafia & Fluxy on drums and bass, The Ital Horns on brass, Gavin Tate-Lovery on Saxophone and Gaudi on Piano and backing vocals, co-production and mixing. The track delivers a smooth, romantic groove rooted in classic Jamaican sound while feeling fresh and modern, making it equally at home on sound systems, radio playlists and summer sessions.

The Silvertones’ vocals remain rich, melodic and instantly recognisable, carrying the emotional warmth that has long defined their sound. The arrangement is layered with a bubbling organ, deep bass and tasteful percussions, guitars and keyboard, making The Brixton Heights Orchestra come together to create an irresistible groove.

Mixed and co‑produced by Gaudi at Metatron Studio in London (UK) and mastered at Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, “Sweet Things” is a celebration of romance, rhythm and authenticity.

In the B‑side the Brixton Heights Orchestra shines through in a full instrumental version of “Sweet Things”. The brass section takes centre stage throughout, weaving into the fabric of the song soaring trumpet lines, expressive saxophone melodies and rich trombone passages.

With the vocal removed, Gaudi shifts the focus on brass work, rhythm section and layered instrumentation, creating a continuum of different phrases, solos and riffs, carefully carved together into a reggae-jazz theme that executes in a cohesive and coherent way.

GEMINI, a new band formed around Shigetoshi Otake (cro-magnon), creates a unique instrumental jazz-funk sound that fuses diverse musical elements such as 70s jazz and soul, the beat/groove sensibility of hip-hop and beyond, the dynamism of South American music, the essence of smoky reggae/dub, and the thrill of improvisation/jam sessions. Their 1st full album "zed" is being released as a limited edition vinyl by Jazzy Sport.

A new masterpiece has been born, imbued with an exquisite, evergreen, and freshly exciting contemporary jazz-funk sound, created through the interplay of a dynamic rhythm section that incorporates improvisation while centering on a post-hip-hop beat/groove sensibility, and rich performances featuring solos on electric piano, saxophone/flute, and guitar.

Casual's latest self-produced release, Black Magic featuring Del The Funky Homosapien, Tajai of Souls of Mischief and Thirstin Howl.

While the sterile “professionalism” of some heavy bands can be like a clinical drone strike, Texas-based Judiciary feels personal. Like close combat with a knife. And it’s all in their chemistry. Judiciary is an amalgamation of four guys raised in the intersection of metal and hardcore—all devoted to pushing their craft further. Across two esteemed LPs, the band has proven their worth as a crucial entity in the crowded heavy music scene by evolving their sound further and further with each release. And now with the band’s latest Stalagmite Angels, due on September 4th via the venerable Closed Casket Activities, Judiciary can further showcase their status as a crucial, one-of-a-kind part of the evolution of hardcore in 2026. Life changes can bring about chaos and seismic shifts, but if Stalagmite Angels is any indication, then it’s all for the better. In the wake of the release of Judiciary’s second LP Flesh + Blood, the band called upon Juan Vazquez to pick up guitar duties, thereby changing the internal framework of the band for good, and unknowingly for the better. It’s this pivot in personnel that resulted in the band’s latest EP. “The goal with this EP was a hard reset, but we also wanted to chill the f— out a bit, have fun, and do something that felt true to the four of us,” recalls drummer Austin Looney. “We wanted time to reconfigure things and let the music come naturally–temper this new mindset that we've adopted post-Flesh + Blood.” Judiciary’s greatest strength lies in their musical singularity. Though Stalagmite Angels represents the collision of influences from across well-worn territories like metallic hardcore, death metal, black metal, d-beat and more, it’s the Lubbock-born band’s approach that makes it distinctly their own. Stalagmite Angels is a wholly new document that resembles a horde of bands ranging from Hatebreed to Carcass to Slayer to Iron Age, yet never aping any single band nor even revealing any single influence. It’s all familiar but none of it is specific. “90s hardcore and hardcore in general is always gonna be our natural inclination, but it manifests with different elements not only from song to song but within each song,” says vocalist Jake Collinson emphatically, who learned guitar specifically to help with writing new material. “Whether that’s Dying Breed or Cannibal Corpse or Crowbar or Machine Head or any number of other influences that any one of us may have, it all manifests in our work, and through our individual and collective lenses. With this EP, we transformed those ideas into the Judiciary approach.” Stalagmite Angels is an EP about anger at the world, belief in yourself, and how harnessing both in the pursuit of growth is necessary to achieve. But furthermore, it’s a concept record that envisions a subterranean world in both a literal and metaphorical sense—where hidden beauty lurks in the shadows (and in the eye of the beholder) and where triumph manifests in the ability to rise from the depths and into the world above.

“The first three are innocent in a way, because we didn’t have an audience when we were making them,” Oberst says. “But from Lifted on, I was definitely aware of an audience. Lifted was well-received right away, and then everything happened with Wide Awake and Digital Ash.” Those two albums came out simultaneously. And their lead singles – “Take It Easy (Love Nothing),” from the austere, remote Digital Ash, and “Lua,” from the warm, folky Wide Awake – debuted in the top two slots on the Billboard Hot 100. “First Day of My Life,” also from Wide Awake, would later be voted the Number One love song of all time by NPR Music’s reader’s poll. Bright Eyes had officially broken through. It was a heady, exciting time, but also fraught and tense, both because of the band’s careening new fame, and because of the state of the world. When Bright Eyes made their Tonight Show debut in 2006, they chose to perform none of their shiny new hits, instead delivering a searing, harrowing rendition of their caustic anti-Bush anthem, “When The President Talks To God.” These days, Oberst is still amusing himself by messing with the extremes Bright Eyes baked into this era’s releases, extremes that reflected the polar, with-us-or-against-us, fractious feel of the times. The reworked Digital Ash tracks, originally so clean and elegant, are, on the companion EP, full of “harmonica and mandolins – folky vibes,” Oberst says. While the analogue sweetness of the Wide Awake songs have been put through a detached nihilism filter.

Ecology Division is a new compilation from Bastard Jazz that brings together a network of producers and musicians working across jazz, soul, electronic, and beat-driven styles. Featuring artists from Brooklyn, Chicago, Montreal, London, Lisbon, Melbourne, and Ludhiana, the release highlights a core group of collaborators and peers connected to the label’s extended orbit. The project is presented with cohesive visual direction inspired by vintage field guides and naturalist illustration, with each track paired to a distinct animal. This framing positions Ecology Division as a curated snapshot of an active, evolving creative community rather than a traditional compilation.

The release features contributions from Simon Mavin (of Hiatus Kaiyote), Sholto & David Bardon, Danny Scott Lane, Rachel Kitchlew & DOUGH, Lapgan, Korovo, Birocratic, Kartik, Nick Marks, and Pimenta Caseira. Collectively, these artists have released music on respected independent labels including Ninja Tune, Brainfeeder, Mr. Bongo, Melting Pot Music, WRWTFWW Records, and Moon Glyph, among others—underscoring the compilation’s reach across established global scenes.

When one thinks of the terms “mass” and “massive” in music, especially contemporary music, perhaps certain aural images come to mind: generic metal heaviness; dynamics-bereft noise; ear-battering dance floor madness; the multitudinous forms of drone darkness. All of these are massive in their own fashion. However, this newstudio album from 7FO (pronounced “nana f o”), a composer-performer based in northern Osaka, investigates and inhabits a different aspect of the massive. A glorious combination: dense low frequencies; sculpturally condensed blocks of sound, subtly swinging gravitational fields ― and a surprising sense of rolling and rollicking joyfulness and play. “Massive” doesn’t have to mean “dark” ― consider the sun. This is the third 7FO release on EM Records, following the well-received Ryu no Nukegara (Dragon's Husk) (2018). On these 2024-25 recordings, 7FO focuses his drum machines, synths and musical vision into eight compact structures which were partially inspired by the intense essence of American pre-war blues and the shining soul of traditional Ethiopian music, especially the works related to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. While not obviously evident, the glowing core of these musics has been captured and condensed here; another inspiration is the massive sculptural 1980s works of Yoshi Wada ― although there are obvious differences, there is a similar material tangibility to the vibration of the air. The final piece, “Shirohebi”, is an update of the b-side of 7FO's 7-inch single "Healing Sword" (2023), featured on Henry Rollins’ radio program. We invite you to experience and enjoy these eight massive blocks of sound, imbued with 7FO’s heartfelt warmth and humour, dense but not dark; shifting, rolling, appearing and disappearing: 7FO once picked up a roadside stone, which split as it sat in his palm. This experience, referenced in the release’s title, hints at the metaphysical magic of music, a realm beyond mere coincidence: even the massive density of stone can split, and reveal the magic within. Available on CD, LP and digital download.

2026 Repress

Good Life sees Detroit icons Inner City return on KMS with one of the most celebrated house records of all time, presented here on fresh 12” vinyl.
A defining track of the late 80s and early house movement, Good Life remains a timeless anthem, driven by uplifting melodies, soulful vocals and unmistakable Detroit energy.
This edition features a remastered version of the original alongside an Inner City edit of the Carl Craig remix, plus a Dub Mix, offering both classic playback and updated DJ functionality.
As a cornerstone release from the KMS catalogue, the record continues to resonate across generations of DJs and listeners, maintaining its place as an essential dancefloor staple.
Back on fresh 12" vinyl, this repress offers strong appeal for both collectors and DJs looking to stock a truly iconic house record.
An essential catalogue piece for stores supporting classic house and Detroit heritage releases.

2026 Repress

Kerri Chandler begins a brand-new chapter with the launch of his self-titled label, Kerri Chandler, and its debut release; the Downtown EP Pt. 1.

The release includes four tracks reconnecting with the spirit of Kerri’s iconic Downtown Records era while offering something fresh for the next generation of listeners. 3 of the tracks come straight from that timeless catalogue and firm favourites among Kerri’s community, now beautifully presented on vinyl once again.

Part 1 also features one brand-new, exclusive track, giving fans something truly special: a glimpse of Kerri’s sound, and an invitation to join him on a journey through his remarkable catalogue. This release marks the start of an ongoing celebration of Kerri’s music, his evolution, and the sound that continues to inspire house music lovers around the world. Every detail, from the sleek new sleeve design to the thoughtful presentation, reflects Kerri’s care and respect for his music and the people who’ve supported it. It marks the beginning of something bigger; it’s a series of reworks, reissues, and rediscoveries that will guide listeners through the depth of Kerri’s catalogue and his lifelong love for house music. For long-time followers and new listeners alike, Downtown EP Pt. 1 captures everything Kerri Chandler represents, soulful, honest, and made with nothing but heart.

Ghetto House music is one of Chicago’s most unapologetic cultural exports. Born from the city’s underground party scenes in the late ’80s and ’90s, it carried a different kind of energy than traditional house music. While Chicago house was known globally for soulful grooves and club elegance, Ghetto House came from the basements, the neighborhood parties, the dance circles, and the DJs who pushed the tempo and the attitude. The sound was simple but powerful—heavy drums, bold chants, and rhythms designed to move bodies instantly. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about impact. The music reflected the creativity and resilience of young people across Chicago who turned turntables, drum machines, and neighborhood culture into a movement. With “Ghetto House Music 3,” DJ Slugo continues that legacy, reminding listeners that this sound isn’t just history—it’s still alive, evolving, and moving the culture forward. credits released April 24, 2026 license all rights reserved

For close to a decade, B’licious has been best known as the voice ofThe Heliocentrics, the London psych jazz and funk collective whose collaborators include Madlib, Mulatu Astatke, DJ Shadow, Gaslamp Killer and Lloyd Miller, with stages taking her to Glastonbury, Roskilde and Worldwide festivals alongside artists including Marshall Allen and Bilal. Her appearance on Strut Records’‘Nuclear War’, a tribute to Sun Ra also featuring Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott and Bilal, is the latest marker of a body of work built over years on some of the most respected stages in UK jazz and soul. Following her 2022 solo EPSurrender, ‘Apple’ is the lead single from her debut full-length album,Serpent Dreams.

‘Apple’ was co-produced byDan Smith of The Noisettesand engineered bySie Medway-Smith, whose credits include Björk, Depeche Mode, Gang of Four and Massive Attack. On the flip side,SLICKnBOBBY— known for chest-rattling basslines and immersive, dubbed-out rhythms — deliver a live reworking that shows off their skills perfectly, drawing on a background that includes performing alongside Wally Badarou and frequent collaborations with Liam Bailey and Greentea Peng.

Multi-award-winning singer and songwriter Jorja Smith announces her new album, What Are The Odds featuring sole production from P2J and collaborations with Afrobeat star Wizkid and Grime icon Devlin.

With her third album What Are The Odds, Jorja continues to build on her legacy with a euphoric offering rooted firmly in dance music. Confidently channelling UKG, Grime, 2Step, Funky House, Soulful House and Afro House, this thrilling, pulsating record rarely dips below 140 BPM.

This is music to make you move says Jorja. I want people to hear it on the dancefloor, where the sun is shining, in the car and in their headphones on the night bus home. This is a record for driving and vibing.

Tape

When Leon Michels and El Michels Affair released their rst record, Sounding Out The City, in 2005, it was hard to guess what was next for Michels and his then-introduced, now-patented "cinematic soul" sound. Now, four EMA studio albums and scores of tribute and remix projects later - all while producing for some of the biggest names in the industry - Michels has trademarked his sound, with each project taking audiences somewhere new and pushing the boundaries of what he is known for. The man is a river, not a lake and this time he takes his golden touch into the realm of hip-hop laying down a musical bed for one of the greatest to ever rhyme into a microphone: Black Thought of The Roots crew. Releasing on Big Crown Records, the LP is called Glorious Game and it is a remarkable debut partnership in more ways than one. Michels provides his bottom-heavy, soul-tinged production for Black Thought who gives us some of the more personal and transparent verses we've ever heard from him. Michels and Black Thought have been in each other's orbit for a while now. The two first met in the 2000s when Thought was first getting familiar with the contemporary soul scene. "Out of that whole world, Menahan Street Band was probably my favorite," recalling the funk and soul group Michels was a founding member of back in 2007. Fast forward a few years and musicians from that collective - Dave Guy on trumpet and Ian Hendrickson-Smith on sax - are now full time players with The Roots. This connection eventually led Leon and Thought to doing a few fundraising events around NYC and Philly together. "Before long, Black Thought was coming around the studio and would jam with us from time to time," Michels explains. "Then, fast forward to 2020 and COVID lockdowns, he just hit me up out of the blue, wanting me to send him stuff to write to. We both were looking to stay busy" Being that Black Thought is the co-founder and emcee for, hands down, the best live-band group in hip-hop. Michels took a decidedly different approach to this project and instead of sending recorded tracks of live compositions, he pulled out the sampler and sampled himself and some records from his collection. "I'm a big fan of soul music," as if Michels has to remind us. "And part of hip-hop's appeal to me has always been the sample-based production" For Glorious Game, Michels would make wholly composed and recorded soul songs in his studio, sample himself, then chop and/or loop up his sounds and create instrumentals for Black Thought. On some tracks he took a more traditional hip-hop approach, starting from samples of other people's music but then adding live instrumentation on top. But for the most part, it's him reinterpreting his own compositions into something new. The result is an organic feel of loop-based tracks that breathe and uctuate enough for Black Thought to ex on. "What I write about is determined by the equation of the producer's energy and my energy," Black Thought says. "It's about where we meet." So armed with Michels sampled and re-sampled soul cinematics, Black Thought rhymes through personal memories.

Fresh off of their 2020 offering Adult Themes, El Michels Affair is back with a new full-length release. Titled Yeti Season, this newest album has everything we've come to expect from EMA's patented cinematic style of instrumental soul music. Where Adult Themes inspired a soundtrack to an imaginary film, Yeti Season brings us to a different place in time_with new inspirations. Taken with Turkish-styled funk and an almost Mumbai-esque take on soul, El Michels Affair offers us a different kind of drama and imagination with Yeti Season. If you've been following along, this shouldn't be viewed as too far a departure for El Michels Affair. The first single off of Yeti Season showed their hand back in 2018. A double-sided banger, that release brought the musical textures to the fore that dominate this record. The first song, titled "Unathi," is fully realized with the beautifully haunting-yet-hopeful vocals of Piya Malik, formally of 79.5_another Big Crown artist. Singing in Hindi, Piya's ethereal voice is telling us to work and strive together toward progress. Even if you don't understand her language, you can still hear the urgency of purpose, creating a lasting vibe that sits on top of it all. Leon Michels explains that Piya had a vital influence on this record: "When Piya started singing in Hindi, she had a different voice, a different tone. I knew we had to do something together." And so Piya appears on three other songs on Yeti Season: "Zaharila," "Murkit Gem," and "Dhuaan." Each providing particular signatures to the album. "Zaharila" is a building and changing love song punctuated by blaring trumpets, driving drums, and Piya's pleading lyrics. While the more upbeat "Murkit Gem" opens with a fuzzed out, Wu-Tang-esque baseline that buoys Piya's stylings. The psychedelic guitar and Piya's changing tones and textures singing about an all-consuming love are what pushed "Dhuaan" on to the second single from Yeti Season. There is also a vocal appearance from Shannon Wise of The Shacks, yet another Big Crown artist. Her song called "Sha Na Na," lies more in the familiar EMA vein: melodic, hypnotic, soulfully visual. But between Shannon's airy singing, the jumpy baseline, moody vibes, the active drum lines, it sounds like a pensive walk home after a strangely dramatic night. So what is Yeti Season? It could be more of a feeling than an actual place or time of year. It's a heavy album_as evidenced by the signature musicianship and dramatic vocal expressions. But it's also a hopeful record, with phrasings, textures, and chord changes that hint at something better_or fuller_coming our way. You hear it in songs like "Ala Vida," with its stabby, pulsing chords laying a bedrock for EMA's bright, atmospheric horn lines. Or even in "Fazed Out," which leaves you with a feeling of determination, a striving for resolution even though the driving, march-like song structure should accompany some conquering army. This persistence has to come from the fact that Leon Michels and company finished this record during the lockdown. It was a tough and troublesome time. But look at what has come of it: Yeti Season_a record of high and heavy drama, but also one of hope and promise. It may take a year like 2020 behind us to find hope in a winter big footed creature like a Yeti, but that's where we are.

Nein, neu im Geschäft ist El Michels Affair nicht. El Michels hat hart gearbeitet, in unzähligen mitternächtlichen Studiosessions und auf einer Welttournee für den Wu-Tang Clan. Und eins ist klar: Die Band ist dabei auf eine gute Art gealtert. Nachdem es 2005 wie aus dem Nichts mit dem Instrumentalalbum "Sounding Out The City" aufschlug, hat sich das Studio-konzentrierte Kollektiv, angeführt vom Multiinstrumentalisten und Komponisten Leon Michels, Fans auf allen Kontinenten erspielt. Die Gruppe ist für ihre schwelgerischen Soul-Instrumentals bekannt, aber auch für ihre Wu-Tang-Covers, wie die explosive Reaktion auf ihre zwei Alben "Enter The 37th Chamber" (2009) und "Return To The 37th Chamber" (2019 beweist. Das alles ist aber längst Geschichte, denn das rundeste und reifste Album der Band mit dem passenden Titel "Adult Themes" beweist, welche neuen instrumentalen Höhen sie erklommen hat. Das Album, das Michels als "Soundtrack für einen imaginären Film" beschreibt, ist eine Sammlung von opulenten, abgründigen, komplexen und oft sehr funkigen Stücken, die die Ohren zum Schwingen und die Köpfe zum Nicken bringen.

If It Aint Jazz, is about quality over quantity, inviting world class musicians and producers to bring a modern edge to jazz and soul roots...

Back for Volume 5 of their vinyl only series, this time they invite young Australian artists Close Counters. The duo effortless blends jazz, disco and soul with house and broken vibes for yet another killer 12".

On the A side, 'Sunshine' flips a classic gospel cut into a euphoric anthem with a raw shuffling groove that will work for the house heads and broken beat and garage fans.
'Soul to Soul' features a catchy bassline, vocal chops and added synth parts that build into a peak time disco weapon.

On the flip side, 'House of Lucien' and 'Bruk of Lucien' gives us two electric grooves that have already been setting dancefloors on fire !

A Chicago soul legend meets the West Coast's most reliable modern funk architects on this red-hot 7". Doug Shorts' story stretches back to 1971 and his band Master Plan Inc., and his career has earned him releases on Daptone, Cherries and Jazzman as well as a reputation for songwriting and vocals that go straight to the heart. Here he joins Cosmic Slide for something that bridges generations like a boss. Both cuts are modern funk grooves laid down with craft, rooted in soul but with a new school swag. Shorts' deep, restrained voice remains as expressive and lived-in as ever over the duo's tight, ass-wiggling production. Pure vibes.

Detroit's mythic architect Walt J surfaces on Lost Control 2097 with three cuts steeped in deep emotional drama and late-night intensity. 'Resonance' lands with razor-sharp drums and weightless, ethereal chords, elevated by Prince of Hydro's poetic vocal transmissions that feel like signals from another realm. 'Love Petals' resurfaces from Walt's vault, a reworked version of an already transcendent classic, refined, deeper, and glowing with subterranean energy. 'Origin' channels the spirit of Larry Heard-style melodies while anchoring itself firmly in the grit and gravity of the Motor City. Prince of Hydro closes it out by activating full ultra-sonar mode, delivering a remix that drags you into crushing ocean depths where the pressure builds and something immense is about to break through.

Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell returns to the Spring Revisited project, and he delivers another jazz-infused house mix of a classic funk track by the iconic Fatback Band. Spring Revisited is collaborative project between Ace Records and Acid Jazz, inviting influential house music producers to reinterpret classic tracks from seminal New York label Spring Records, a pioneer in funk, soul and disco. After a series of sell-out and chart-topping 12” and 7” releases, as well as a 2LP compilation, the project continues with these two new mixes of the Fatback Band’s ‘(Do The) Spanish Hustle)’. Claussell combines the original classic funk elements with Latino percussion and samba-styled trumpets.

First up is his 'Sacred Rhythm Version’, which lifts the tempo and loops a section of the original's percussion. Keeping the trumpets, and soulful vocal phrases, he adds a DJ-friendly kick drum and shows off his improvisation skills with a vibrant synth line. On the flip, he strips back some of the drums and horns and focuses on the bassline with the 'Spanish Harlem Dub,' which is a moody rework utilising some funk-infused organ chords. On the original track Joe says: "I can vividly recall the very first time I heard Spanish Hustle blasting through my brother Jackie’s stereo system. Not long afterward, I experienced its energy again on the dance floor at a discotheque known as The Inferno, where it was masterfully delivered by the legendary René Hewitt. The record left an imprint on my spirit that never faded.’ A spectacular continuation of the series, presented in the nowsignature Spring Revisited housebag, resembling an original worn-in promotional 12”, pressed in a strictly limited run!

The fourth instalment on Daniel Poli's, Suspect Package released in 2002 produced
by Leonora Epremian aka Autonomy. A three-track EP with soulful techno-inspired
textures and rolling, UK groove. The A side features a collaborative project between
Leonora and Daniel Poli.

Der finnische Sänger Bobby Oroza veröffentlicht sein Debütalbum This Love bei Big Crown Records. Das Label aus New York City ist bereits Heimat von Bands wie Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Shacks und El Michels Affair. Bobby ist in Helsinki geboren und in einer Musiker- und Künstlerfamilie aufgewachsen. Zu Bobbys Glück hatten seine Eltern eine große Plattensammlung mit frühem Jazz, Blues, Motown-Hits, Gospelchören und Doo-Wop-Gruppen wie The Drifters und The Clovers, aber auch Alben aus Brasilien und Afrika, Folksongs aus Nord- und Südamerika von Bobbys Mutter und Salsa-Musik aus New York. All diese Einflüsse sind heute in Bobbys Musik hör- und spürbar. Auf Kuba studierte er monatelang intensiv Schlagzeug und Gesang. Mit Cold Diamond & Mink, der Hausband von Timmion Records, bestehend aus Bandleader Jukka Sarapää, Sami Kantelinen und Gitarrist/Komponist Seppo Salmi, bildet er ein brillantes Quartett, mit dem er seine Vision in Musik umsetzt. CD&M liefern mit ihren LoFi-Instrumentals die perfekte Untermalung für Bobbys verrauchte Tenorstimme, die Herzen brechen und schmelzen lässt. Der bereits 2016 als 7" Single veröffentlichte Titelsong "This Love" ist längst zum Hit in Lowrider-Kreisen geworden und wurde auf "Hat Trick" von Odd Future Rapper Earl Sweatshirt gesamplet. Der Song ist mit seinen harten Drums, den wilden Riffs, dem vergrabenen Bass und Bobbys verhaltenem, aber intensivem Gesang ein Muss für Soul-Sammler und hat sich als 7? mehr als 3.000 Mal verkauft. Der Song "Your Love Is Too Cold" ist ein Stomper, der Soul-Grooves früher Motown-Stücke mit Gitarrenriffs aus einem Funk-Soundtrack von James Brown mischt und schon jetzt weltweit auf allen Soul-Partys schwer angesagt ist. Bobby hat einiges für die Tänzer im Publikum in petto: Stücke wie "Lonely Girl" und "Falling in Love" sind Verneigungen vor dem Northern Soul, "Keep On Believing" liefert Jazz-Funk wie aus den Siebzigern. Aber "This Love" wendet sich vor allem an die Balladenliebhaber, die voller Sehnsucht in die Nacht schauen. Mit Songs wie "Alone Again", "Down On My Knees" und "Deja Vu" beschwört er eine intensive, leicht abgründige Sinnlichkeit. Eine einzigartige Spielart von Soul, made in Finland.

Big Crown Records ist stolz darauf, "Perak", das Debütalbum von Thee Marloes, zu präsentieren. Wenn man Thee Marloes zum ersten Mal hört, mag einem ihr spezieller Soul-Sound vertraut vorkommen. Da sind die wuchtigen Trommeln, eine sanfte Gitarre und eine schöne Stimme, die über unerwiderte Liebe und die Komplikationen in Herzensangelegenheiten singt. Aber dann ist da etwas unbestreitbar anderes an Thee Marloes und ihrer Musik, etwas Neues und Unverwechselbares. Die meisten, die mit Soulmusik vertraut sind, haben wahrscheinlich noch nie etwas aus Surabaya, Indonesien, gehört - dem Ort, den Thee Marloes ihre Heimat nennen. Thee Marloes, das sind Natassya Sianturi (Gesang und Keyboard), Tommy Satwick (Schlagzeug) und Sinatrya ("Raka") Dharaka (Gitarre und Produktion). Ihr Sound hat die universelle Anziehungskraft von Soul, Jazz und Pop, aber mit einem ganz eigenen Ansatz, der auf ihre lokale Kultur und ihren globalen Einfluss zurückzuführen ist. Die erste Auskopplung von "Perak" ist "Midnight Hotline", die heiße A-Seite ihrer Debüt-7" auf Big Crown. Eine druckvolle Dancefloor-Nummer mit einem ansteckenden Refrain, vibrierendem Piano und jazzigen Gitarrenlicks. Die B-Seite "Beri Cinta Waktu" ist auch auf dem Album und hat alles, was eine beliebte Soul-Ballade ausmacht, aber der Text ist auf Indonesisch. Unabhängig von der Sprachbarriere ist das Gefühl in ihrer Musik spürbar, was dazu beiträgt, dass ihre Songs nachvollziehbar sind und ans Herz gehen. "I Know" ist ein Mid-Tempo-Song, der davon handelt, wie man den Schleier der Lügen von einer Liebesaffäre, die auf Falschheit beruht, wegzieht. "Not Today" gehört zu den groovigsten Wohlfühlsongs, die man an einem Sonntagmorgen spielen kann. Natassya erinnert uns daran, uns selbst Raum zu geben, ganz gleich, was das Leben uns vor die Füße wirft. "Mungkin Saja" zieht das Tempo mit einem weiteren Dancefloor-Smoker wieder an, während Thee Marloes mit "True Love" in die gefühlvolle Seite des Jazz eintauchen, mit einer Beat-Ballade, die eine Tarantino-Tanzszene untermalen könnte. "Over" beginnt mit einem schweren Drum-Break und entwickelt sich zu einem epischen Arrangement, das in Schichten wunderschöner Melodien getränkt ist und das Chaos einer Liebesaffäre, die abrupt endet, perfekt einfängt. "Perak" ist eine Reise aus dem Herzen Surabayas in den Geist des Soul-Sounds. Es geht darum, einen Raum zu schaffen, wo keiner war, und es zu tun, weil man es liebt. Man spürt den Spaß, den Thee Marloes haben, ihre Musik zu machen, vom Songwriting und Aufnehmen bis hin zu den Auftritten vor Publikum. "Wir wollen das, was wir leben, mit anderen teilen", sagt Natassya. Egal, welche Sprache man spricht oder aus welcher Kultur man kommt, die Musik und die Energie von Thee Marloes sind so charmant, dass wir sie alle noch jahrelang in der Nähe des Plattenspielers haben werden.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut full length offering from Les Imprimés, Rêverie. The stirring and ethereal sounds of Les Imprimés have been making fans of anyone who hears them since their first 7" single hit the speakers. Morten Martens is the man behind the band. Born, raised, and working in Kristiansand, Norway, he keeps a low prole while making his heart felt, highly infectious, and unique music. This album is a long time coming for Martens and it is sure to make him a name to be reckoned with. The first thing you notice listening to Les Imprimés is the high level of musician-ship. Martens plays nearly every instrument on the recordings and handles the production and arranging. He has been making records for decades, winning a Spellemann Award (aka, the Norwegian Grammy) in 2006 for producing a HipHop album as well as getting nominations across three other genres. While awards and accolades speak to the level of his talent, this new album really shows who he is an artist on his own terms. Moving away from being a hired gun on the touring scene naturally led him to start doing more studio work. Slowly collecting gear and getting more experi-ence behind the boards he built his own studio on the island of Odderoya and was making a living playing with and recording other people's music. As the story goes, after those sessions would end he would work on his own project into the wee hours of the night. From these late night sessions, Les Imprimés was born and Rêverie began to take shape. However, "it wasn't until COVID, when things locked down, that I was really able to nd the time to focus on Les Imprimés" Morten says about creating and leading his own solo project. "It was a scary time. But I knew I had to do something with it." He took the sum of his inuences, combined them with his own vibe and got busy writing the music, playing the instruments, and singing the songs. "It's soul music, but I don't exactly have the soul voice," Morten explains humbly. "But I do it my own way, in a way that's mine. "It is his sound, his fingerprint, his sensibility, that makes his music hard to put in a box. The album showcases both Martens' range and his ability to make a cohesive album. The lead single "Falling Away" starts with a raw drum break and turns into a lushly arranged tune that paints the picture of love when it slips away. On "Still Here" he professes his resilience through life's twists and turns over a thundering track that puts a new spin on the B side ballad genre. Songs like "You" and "Our Love" mix tones from 60s and 70s Soul with arrangement nods to Doo Wop records while Martens' lyrics and delivery leave you singing the melodies long after they finish. "Love & Flowers" finds Martens in a moment of clarity with a song that ts the niche sub genre of happy break up tunes, the four on the floor track will move the dancefloor or while the message will resonate with anyone who put too much effort into the wrong situation in their lives. However, it is songs like "Muse" and "Chess" that really encapsulate the uniqueness of Les Imprimés as they push the boundaries of genre, one a profession of love for music and the other a cover of an electronic record respectively. Martens' lyrics, emotion, and delivery truly make the whole thing come together and stand out from any of his peers. There's an infectiousness and a pop sensibility in the writing that is done with the utmost class and taste giving Les Imprimés the rare quality of immediate attraction that only deepens the more you listen.

Independent Belgian artist of Congolese descent MAHINA explores an eclectic voice where soul, Afrocentric melodies, R&B, reggae , and both acoustic and electronic sounds intertwine, carried by percussion. ZAZA is MAHINA's long-awaited debut EP.

Moving between deep introspection, spiritual messages, and enchanting harmonies, Mahina embodies a new voice - both innovative and singular. Her ambition is clear: to make listeners feel, heal, resonate, and find a space where music becomes a language of truth and elevation.

Alongside her music, Mahina has performed in the critically acclaimed theater production Dear Winnie (KVS & NNT) and appeared on screen in the short film Le retour des femmes colibris by visual artist Patricia Kaersenhout.

Zaza is much more then just an EP, it is an inner quest, a journey through love, faith, vulnarability and resilience. Through an eclectic sound palette : soul, Afro-rhythmic, R&B, reggae, acoustic and electronic. Mahina offers a unique identity, both intimate and universal.

This adventure is conceived as a breath, a space where emotions and spirituality meet. Balancing fragility and strength, softness and intensity, Mahina unfolds a sincere and captivating voice that seeks to make listeners feel, heal and resonate.

Piece of Me, das zweite Album von Lady Wray, ist so etwas wie eine Heimkehr für Nicole. Während ihr Solo-Debüt Queen Alone aus dem Jahr 2016 mehr in Richtung Soul und R&B mit einem Hauch von HipHop tendierte, ändert sich dies bei diesem Album. Es ist immer noch R&B mit den Texturen von analogem Soul, doch zeichnet sich ein starker HipHop-Einfluss ab, der Nicoles Schaffen für die Zukunft definieren wird. Boom-Bap-Drums und deepe Basslines stehen im Vordergrund und bilden den perfekten Hintergrund für Lady Wray, die sich auf ihrer bisher persönlichsten Sammlung von Songs mit dem Guten, dem Schlechten, dem Schwierigen und dem Freudvollen auseinandersetzt. Der Titelsong Piece of Me, der seit seiner Veröffentlichung 2019 bereits zum Klassiker geworden ist, handelt von den Menschen in deinem Leben, die mehr brauchen, als du zu geben bereit bist. Dieses Stück und die B-Seite der 7" Come On In waren die ersten Songs, die für dieses Album aufgenommen wurden - als Nicole im achten Monat schwanger mit ihrer Tochter war. Ihre Stimme ist so kraftvoll, so rau bei diesen ersten Songs, erstaunlich, wenn man sich vor Augen führt, wie sie aufgenommen wurden. Und noch verrückter ist es, zu wissen, dass sie sie alle in einem einzigen Take aufgenommen hat. Ihr langjährige Mitstreiter und Produzent Leon Michels entwirft das musikalische Fundament gekonnt zurückhaltend, um Lady Wray ausreichend Raum zu geben. Während die energiegeladenen Songs Under The Sun und Through It All mit Sicherheit zu Hits werden, die Lady Wray wieder mit ihrer R&B-Fangemeinde aus den 90ern connecten, zeigt Where Were You, wie ihre Jugendjahre wirklich waren. in dem poetischen und kraftvollen Beauty In The Fire setzt sich Nicole mit den Spannungen zwischen den Ethnien in Amerika auseinander und lässt sich im Showstopper Thank You stark von ihrem Glauben und ihrempfindet und in Joy & Pain feiert sie die Höhen und Tiefen des Lebens. Im Jahr 2021 ist es eher selten, ein eklektisches und doch zusammenhängendes Album ohne ,Ausreißer" zu hören - aber genau das ist Piece Of Me. Die bewährte Chemie zwischen Lady Wray und Leon Michels hat unbestreitbar das nächste Level erreicht, dieses Album ist ein Zeugnis ihrer Entschlossenheit und Hingabe.

Am 15. Februar 2026 feierte Posaunist und Sänger Nils Landgren seinen 70. Geburtstag – wie es sich für einen der erfolgreichsten europäischen Musiker seines Fachs gehört mit einem oppulenten Orchesteralbum »Love of My Life« und einer Tour durch die großen Konzerthäuser.

ACT-Gründer, Förderer und Freund Siggi Loch machte Nils Landgren ein besonderes Geschenk: Einen Abend in der von ihm kuratierten Reihe »Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic« im großen Saal der Berliner Philharmonie. Im ersten Teil des Konzertes spielten Mitglieder der ACT Family für »Mr. Red Horn«.

Nach der Pause betrat Nils Landgren unter großem Jubel selbst die Bühne – mit einem exklusiven Programm, dass seinem großen Idol und Weggefährten Joe Sample gewidmet war. Mit dabei: Michael Wollny, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner, China Moses und Mitglieder der Berliner Philharmoniker mit Arrangements von Magnus Lindgren.

Es wurde eine Soul-Jazz-Party im Klassiktempel, bei der am Ende der ganze Saal tanzte – jetzt nachzuhören auf »Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic – Nils Landgren 70«

In Walter Benjamin’s seminal essay “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, he posits that the aura of art objects is destroyed by the ability to photographically reproduce them. When you had to make a pilgrimage to a work it remained elusive, charged, ever distant; but when you can easily see a reproduction, such aura dissipates. What Benjamin did not anticipate is that in the age of AI and the frictionless fount of digital content, we have imbued mechanical and analog means of media production with aura. Film cameras from the last 100 years are in high demand (the point and shoot Olympus Mju I featured in Wim Wenders film Perfect Days still sells for $200), vinyl sales continue to grow year by year, 35mm and 70mm film screenings have become aura-drenched events people travel across country for, and as to the world of vintage and analog synthesizers, when a friend asked for the price on the Yamaha CS-80 synth used on Toto’s “Africa”, the answer was a cool $60,000.

Despite the ability to simulate almost any synthesizer on a computer, the original physical units retain their mystique. Perhaps this lies in the physical process, many of these synths are temperamental and difficult to fully utilize, and the effort and ingenuity can be felt in ways that will always be absent from easy digital simulacra. Perhaps there is an aura in their imperfection, as Brian Eno wrote: “Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature. CD distortion, the jitteriness of digital video, the crap sound of 8-bit - all of these will be cherished and emulated as soon as they can be avoided.” Some may call this nostalgia, but such sonic imperfections are the sounds of humans interacting with the physical world, and it is understandable to feel a pang of emotion and attachment in a time of exponential alienation.

Marche 22 was recorded over a week at the Museo Del Synth Marchigiano in Macerata, Italy. The museum is filled with rare and obscure synths (especially CRB, GEM & Elka) as well as salvaged materials from a nearby shuttered Farfisa organ factory, including MARS, an unfinished realtime audio processing application developed by IRIS - similar to the now well known MAX/MSP. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein play a suite of pieces that encompasses the last sixty years of synthesizer music—there are nods to Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, and Morton Subotnick. Dixon and Stein are like jazz masters playing the American songbook with their own riffs and quotations. What shines through in these varied works that are sometimes rhythmic, sometimes melancholic, and sometimes both, is a soul, a spirit, an emotion vibrating through the tones like the charge of coming rain or the thrum of a distant train on the tracks. - Neil Fauerso

In 2021, Golden Earring announced their parting after more than 60-years as a group. This meant that their last live show, held at the Rotterdam Ahoy on 16th November 2019, was also their final performance as a band. With this knowledge, the excellent audio recordings of this tremendous concert were unshelved in close cooperation with the band and John Sonneveld – the band’s long-time technical assistant and producer. The result: You Know We Love You!

It's the ultimate goodbye of this legendary Dutch rock band and available as a limited edition of 500 individually numbered copies on transparent vinyl. This 3LP is packlaged in a deluxe trifold sleeve featuring a collage of photos that fans of Golden Earring submitted, plus a 4-page booklet including a replica of the original concert poster.

Mit Woodstock Experience kehrt der Spirit einer ganzen Generation zurück - eingefangen auf einer außergewöhnlichen Picture Disc Vinyl. Diese sorgfältig kuratierte Compilation versammelt ikonische Künstler, die den Sound der späten 60er und frühen 70er geprägt haben. Von Folk und Psychedelia bis hin zu Blues und ersten Rock-Explosionen entsteht ein authentisches Klangbild der Woodstock-Ära. Mit remasterten Originalaufnahmen von u. a. Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Santana und Lee Hazlewood bietet diese Veröffentlichung eine musikalische Zeitreise voller Atmosphäre und kultureller Bedeutung. Ein visuell und klanglich starkes Sammlerstück, das den Geist von Freiheit, Aufbruch und musikalischer Vielfalt perfekt widerspiegelt.

Andy Bell, Erasure-Frontmann und Electro-Pop-Legende, veröffentlicht mit "Extended Blue" sein Solo-Debütalbum "Electric Blue" (2005) als limitierte Deluxe-Edition auf dreifarbig-blauem Vinyl neu. "Electric Blue" - samt den Duetten mit Claudia Brücken (xPropaganda) und Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) - wurde gemeinsam mit Manhattan Clique geschrieben und produziert, einem Duo, das zwei Jahrzehnte lang die Welt der Pop-Dance-Club-Remixe dominierte und mit Weltstars (Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, OneRepublic, Moby) und wegweisenden Electronic-Acts (The Human League, Soft Cell, OMD, The B-52s und natürlich Erasure) zusammenarbeitete.

Die Deluxe-3LP enthält zudem sämtliche Bonustracks & B-Seiten der "Electric Blue"-Sessions erstmals auf Vinyl. Das Deluxe-Booklet kommt mit ausführlichen Liner Notes des Classic Pop-Autors John Earls samt Interviews mit Andy Bell und den Manhatten Clique-Produzenten Philip Larsen & Chris Smith, sowie unveröffentlichten Fotos aus der 2005er Session mit dem renommierten britischen Fotografen Tim Flach. Bei Erasure- und Electro-Pop-Fans zählt "Electric Blue" weithin als 'verlorenes Juwel', da kurz nach Veröffentlichung das damalige Label Sanctuary Records zusammenbrach und dieses herausragende Album sein Potential nicht vollständig ausschöpfen konnte.

Eine streng limitierte Erstauflage der 3LP enthält zusätzlich die CD "Extended Blue" mit dem identischen Tracklisting des Vinylformats.beitete.

What is Buck? Buck is a state of mind, a way of life, a demeanor that gets you through the good times and the bad. If you ask Brainstory, It is also the energy that permeates their debut album. Kevin, Tony, and Eric are a trio of brothers bounded by blood, fate, and a small town with nothing to do. Their story begins in the long lost lands of the San Bernardino Valley, in the twilight zone known as Rialto, California: An arid wasteland of boredom and empty lots. Through punk rock and skateboarding they found temporary liberation from the local monotony. However, it wouldn't be long before a hunger for more led them to explore musical realms beyond that of the hardcore punk they admired. After stints at music school and steady disappointment trying to navigate their local jazz scene they moved to Los Angeles and Brainstory was born. Through a introduction from Chicano Batman's bassist, Brainstory caught the ears of Big Crown head honchos Danny Akalepse and Leon Michels. Shortly thereafter they were on their way to Queens, to record at The Legendary Diamond Mine with Michels at the helm. An instant chemistry yielded 10 songs in 10 days and now Brainstory has gifted the world with one hell of an introduction to all things Buck. Highlights include the sublime slow burner, "Dead End" which was the A-side to their first 45 on Big Crown that sold out in a matter of days. With Kevin's sublime falsetto floating atop Tony and Eric's unflappable and unmistakable backbeat, this tune has become a favorite with the ballad heads, the low-riders, and the slowie collectors. "Breathe" showcases another side of their sound taking a page out of the Shuggie Otis playbook and flipping the script with some stoned out west coast swag. Kev and Tony's father, Big Tone, an accomplished performer himself, steps in on "Peter Pan" to sing lead vocals over a chorus of friends and family. Bassist extraordinaire, Tony, takes over lead vocal duties on "Sorry", a smoked out, G Funk groove that is just waiting to be sampled. These guys have come a long way from their self released EPs and opening tours with Chicano Batman. Their musical growth is undeniable, and taking their California sunshine vibes and mixing them with Michels' NYC aesthetic has proven to be an amazing combination. It's a debut record that pulls influences from so many genres seamlessly it's hard to nail down. Call it Funk, call it Rock, call it Soul, but over here at Big Crown HQ, we've decided to call it BUCK.

Son Volt’s latest album, Sound Signal Serenades, will be released as a Record Store Day exclusive. Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance. The songs move fluidly between stripped-down intimacy and full-band drive, blending folk-rock, country, and electric grit with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are. There’s a sense of forward motion throughout the album—never nostalgic for its own sake, but deeply aware of where it’s been. Lyrically, Farrar explores themes of connection, resilience, and place, finding meaning in both the ordinary and the unsettled. This album stands as another chapter in Son Volt’s enduring catalog: honest, grounded, and quietly powerful, reaffirming their role as one of America’s most consistent and thoughtful rock bands.

I Must Be Dreaming ist das erste neue Album von Alabama Shakes seit mehr als einem Jahrzehnt. Das
Album knüpft an die ungezügelte Erkundungslust des 2015 erschienenen Albums Sound & Color an und
erweitert sie, wobei es sich einer viszeral aufgeladenen Form des psychedelischen Soul zuwendet.
Produziert wurde das Album von Alabama Shakes gemeinsam mit ihrem langjährigen Kollaborateur Shawn
Everett. Es entstand in Nashvilles Sound Emporium Studios und im Blackbird Studio. Während das Album die für die Band charakteristische Intensität bewahrt, bewegen sich seine Songs häufig in üppigere und
entrücktere Klanglandschaften hinein und offenbaren dabei eine präzisere Beherrschung von Atmosphäre
und Raum.