ATA Records are proud to announce the new album I Too Am A Stranger from The Sorcerers, following previous album successes The Sorcerers and In Search of The Lost City of The Monkey God, which garnered high praise from Mulatu Astatke Who"s this? The Sorcerers? It"s cool! This is great. Give me the CD man!" and recent Radio 6-listed 7" single Exit Athens, of which Giles Peterson said, "Great Stuff as always".
'moisturizer' ist das mutige zweite Album von Wet Leg, der fünfköpfigen Band von der Isle of Wight, die von Rhian Teasdale und Hester Chambers gegründet wurde. Zusammen mit Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes und Joshua Mobaraki hat Wet Leg die letzten Jahre auf der Straße verbracht und sich zu einer wilden, elektrisierenden Live-Band entwickelt. Das neue Album fängt diese Energie ein und liefert einen Sound, der straffer, mutiger und selbstbewusster ist, aber immer noch vor dem gleichen schnellen Witz und der rohen, ungeschliffenen Energie strotzt.
Isoliert in einem abgelegenen Haus auf dem Lande entstand 'moisturizer' in einem kreativen Rausch, der sich mit Themen wie Besessenheit und alles verzehrender Liebe befasst. Während ihr Debüt aus dem Jahr 2022 mit zwei Grammys ausgezeichnet wurde und die Charts stürmte, bringt 'moisturizer' den nötigen Biss mit: schrille Gitarren, schwere Beats und eine furchtlose Hingabe, alles auf einmal zu fühlen.
Ltd Edition!
'moisturizer' ist das mutige zweite Album von Wet Leg, der fünfköpfigen Band von der Isle of Wight, die von Rhian Teasdale und Hester Chambers gegründet wurde. Zusammen mit Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes und Joshua Mobaraki hat Wet Leg die letzten Jahre auf der Straße verbracht und sich zu einer wilden, elektrisierenden Live-Band entwickelt. Das neue Album fängt diese Energie ein und liefert einen Sound, der straffer, mutiger und selbstbewusster ist, aber immer noch vor dem gleichen schnellen Witz und der rohen, ungeschliffenen Energie strotzt.
Isoliert in einem abgelegenen Haus auf dem Lande entstand 'moisturizer' in einem kreativen Rausch, der sich mit Themen wie Besessenheit und alles verzehrender Liebe befasst. Während ihr Debüt aus dem Jahr 2022 mit zwei Grammys ausgezeichnet wurde und die Charts stürmte, bringt 'moisturizer' den nötigen Biss mit: schrille Gitarren, schwere Beats und eine furchtlose Hingabe, alles auf einmal zu fühlen.
Recorded live in one session at age 18, this album helped launch Tania Maria's career as an acclaimed Brazilian jazz artist, celebrated for her virtuoso combination of piano and vocals. Produced by Romeo Nunes (Meirelles e Os Copa 5, Rio 65 Trio, Elis Regina, Elza Soares), the album features the pioneering Edison Machado, who transformed samba and was instrumental in the development of Bossa Nova through his groundbreaking "samba no prato" (samba on the cymbals) technique. His work helped shape the sounds of Jobim, Getz, and Milton Nascimento. On guitar is the legendary Neco, who played on over 500 albums. Initially self-taught, he later studied under maestros Guerra Peixe and Moacir Santos. He collaborated with icons like Elis Regina and Chico Buarque, and was a member of Os Ipanemas, Os Catedráticos, and Os Gatos. His solo work includes Velvet Bossa Nova (1966), which became an acid jazz favorite. The album features compositions by Caetano Veloso and Marcos Valle,alongside early samba classics.
Blending Brazilian rhythms with elements of samba, bossanova, and jazz fusion,it captures the early development of Tania Maria's signature style. Born in São Luís, Brazil in 1948,Tania Maria began playing piano at age seven. She learned samba, jazz, and chorinho through her father's weekend jam sessions. Leading her own band by age13, she performed across the region while collecting records from influential artists. Though she earned a law degree and started a family,her passion for musicu ltimately won out—she left law to pursue music full-time.
Das Debütalbum von Leroi Conroy, das zu gleichen Teilen von der Sensibilität des goldenen Hip-Hop-Zeitalters und verlorenen Filmszenen aus den 60er und 70er Jahren geprägt ist, wiegt schwer und hat Jahre der Entwicklung hinter sich. Die ersten beiden Tracks des Albums wurden 2017 als 45er veröffentlicht und in den folgenden Jahren von DJ Premier, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Macklemore, Phantogram und vielen anderen gesampelt. Aber nach der Veröffentlichung verbrachte Terry Cole alias Leroi Conroy einen Großteil seiner Zeit damit, sein Indie-Soul-Label Colemine Records zu vergrößern und Platten für andere zu produzieren (Okonski, Parlor Greens, Wesley Bright, BlackMarket Brass, Kendra Morris, Rudy De Anda, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Andrew Gabbard), anstatt seine eigenen zu machen. Jetzt, acht Jahre nachdem viele der Rhythmustracks auf dem bewährten Tascam 388 aufgenommen wurden, erscheint Leroi Conroys Debüt-LP, "A Tiger's Tale". Das Album ist als hypothetischer Soundtrack zu einer alternativen Erzählung von Rudyard Kiplings The Jungle Book konzipiert. Die Erzählung ist das Bestreben des Menschen, die Natur zu zähmen und sie seinem Willen zu unterwerfen... und die Antwort der Natur. Das Album ist eine Mischung aus triumphalen Instrumentalpartituren und absolut düsteren, dunklen und manchmal dissonanten Moodytracks. Das zugrundeliegende Element der Hip-Hop-Sample-Kultur ist durchweg offensichtlich, und es besteht kein Zweifel, dass viele dieser Tracks in den kommenden Jahren geflippt werden. Klanglich reiht sich die Platte nahtlos in die Reihe vieler anderer Colemine Instrumentalisten ein: dreckige Lo-Fi-Drums, schmetternde Bläser, Wah-Gitarre, Hammond-Orgel und jede Menge cineastische Einsprengsel wie Flöte, Nylongitarre und Vibraphon. Das Schlagzeug stammt von Coles langjährigem Mitarbeiter Rob Houk und ist das Rückgrat des Albums. Und mit einigen Beiträgen der Colemine-Künstler Kelly Finnigan und Jimmy James ist die Platte wirklich eine Familienangelegenheit. File Under: To Be Sampled.
A deeply personal journey of an aspiring artist (Solene) navigating the harsh realities of Hollywood. An album that explores the emotional toll of being a hopeless romantic in a city full of predators and narcissists. A raw look at survival — and the trauma that follows. A narrative arc that takes the listener from LA to Las Vegas, only to find the same demons follow: addiction, vices, self-destruction, and the allure of illusion but ultimately setting on a journey of healing: picking oneself up, learning from pain, and choosing hope again and again. A love letter to Jazz, honoring Solene’s roots, with Hip Hop providing the fire and framework, produced by J. Rawls, to create something new: a genre-bending sound that’s soulful, futuristic, and fearless. Midnight Angel is not just an album — it’s a testimony of recovery, and of rebellion.
The Sorcerers' latest long player lands in perfect time for the summer, offering a further progression into their unique take on Ethio-inspired jazz. Other Worlds and Habitats is, of course, released on ATA Records and is blessed with the analogue recording and painstakingly loving production we have come to expect from this boutique studio. This, The Sorcerers eagerly anticipated fourth LP, follows on from the success of I Too Am A Stranger, a record which garnered praise from BBC Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum, “I love this, this is so good!”, Ethio-jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, “I like the grooves, and it is good to see The Sorcerers interpret Ethio jazz in their own unique way”, and Nightmares on Wax, “This sounds great! Love the way it's recorded”.
Never ones to stop moving forward, and ever vigilant to avoid the realm of pastiche, The Sorcerers see the Ethiopique sound as a building block for their natural progression as a group, but a block that sits at the base of a much larger, ever expanding, structure, The addition of keyboardist Johnny Richards, whose use of the Jen 73 piano, Mellotron and Farfisa Compact Duo, alongside the core members of the group, has opened some exciting doors for The Sorcerers, fusing the future looking optimism of the late 60s and 70s (when artists began to experiment with the new electronic technology and synthesisers becoming more readily available) and more traditional sounds. Taking inspiration from Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia and Nigerian musician William Onyeabor, Other Worlds and Habitats, as the name suggests, showcases The Sorcerers' shift to a new, and deeply exciting, musical landscape.
The Sorcerers’ Other Worlds and Habitats is a natural progression in the world they have created for themselves. Richer for shared experiences, and accepting the rise of the machines, they prove that while their journey is always going forward, there are many different paths to take.
Pressed to limited edition other-worldly Zoetrope picture disc, Shui is the new album from Sydney based punk rock five-piece, Fangz, out via Impressed Recordings.
Since their 2019 inception, the band have released three EP’s For Nothing (2019), But No Thanks (2020), Falling Is Pretty Normal (2022), and a slew of singles, which received strong support from the likes of triple j, triple j Unearthed, Triple M, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Metal Hammer (UK), Loudwire (USA), Classic Rock (UK), Metal Injection (USA), Louder Sound (UK), NME, Pilerats, The Guardian, MANIACS and many more.
They’ve traversed the country multiple times selling out headline shows, performing at festivals and sharing stages with the likes of FIDLAR (USA), Pennywise (USA), The Bronx (USA), Cancer Bats (CAN), RedHook, Comeback Kid (CAN) and He Is Legend (USA).
The group have also completed an East Coast in 24 hours, launched their very own line of hot sauce Fang us Some Sauce, an annually curated festival ‘FANGZstock’, and hold the Guinness world record for the most hard-boiled eggs eaten in one sitting by front man Josh Cottreau (143 eggs in three minutes and ten seconds).
Coming into 2025, the quintet have released singles ‘Wasting Time’, ‘Nothing To Lose’, ‘Same Old Story’ and ‘Wide Awake’ from their forthcoming debut album ‘Shui’ (due July 2025), plus have taken FANGZstock on the road, launching the Melbourne and Brisbane contingents.
Punk is the Preacher, Rock`n`Roll is the Teacher! Mäd Lynx ist die deutsch-schwedische Punkcore (Hard) Rock Band um Heicore & Anni, die zwischen Berlin und Stockholm 2020 im Umfeld von The Baboon Show und Mona Reloeaded geboren wurde. Ihr Sound ist beeinflusst von Motörhead, Misfits, und The Runaways, feinster & purer MÄDCORE, wie sie es selbst nennen, eine Mischung aus Hard Rock, Rock und Punkrock. Die Debüt-EP, welche auf dem 2022 Kassettenlabel Tape Or Die erschien, brachte ihnen viel Kritikerlob und eine erste Reihe von Live-Shows ein. Die zweite EP - benannt nach einem Song von der ersten - mit fünf neuen Tracks (auch als Kassette bei Tape or Die) kommt nun als limitiertes, einseitig bespieltes 12"-Vinyl (klassisch schwarz, nummeriert) über Smith & Miller Records.
The album opens with "Hypnagogia," an ode to the space between sleep and wakefulness where we are open to other realms of consciousness. The song slowly builds along a steady pulse provided by bassist Pickle (Nicole Smith) and drummer Rikki Styxx. Tripped out saxophone bleats from guest player Gabe Flores swirl on top of the organ drones laid out by guest keyboardist Gregg Foreman. The band's choral objectives for Under the Spell of Joy are established right off the bat, with Bonnie Bloomgarden's melodic invocations bolstered by a choir, giving the album a rich and vibrant wall-of-sound aesthetic. The song ominously builds on its hypnotic foundation until it opens up into a raucous revelry at the four-minute mark. The portentous simmer of the opening track yields to the ecstatic rocker "Hold My Hand," where verses reminiscent of Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For The Man" explode into big triumphant choruses. From there the band launches into the title track, which marries the griminess of The Stooges with an innocence provided by a children's choir chanting the album's primary mantra "under the spell of joy / under the spell of love." Death Valley Girls have always vacillated between lightness and darkness, and on "Bliss Out" they demonstrate their current exuberant focus with a patina-hued pop song driven by an irrepressibly buoyant organ line laid down by keyboardist The Kid (Laura Kelsey). A similar cosmic euphoria is obtained on "The Universe," where alternating chords on the organ help elevate soaring saxophone and keyboard lines out beyond the stratosphere. If you're looking for transcendental rock music, look no further.
Die queere Singer-Songwriterin jasmine.4.t ist die erste britische Künstlerin, die bei Phoebe Bridgers' Label Saddest Factory unter Vertrag steht. Ihr Debütalbum wurde komplett von Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers und Lucy Dacus, auch bekannt als Boygenius, produziert. Jasmine und ihre Band sind nach L.A gereist, um das Album in den Sound City Studios aufzunehmen und haben das innerhalb von 12 Tagen fertiggestellt. Die Songs des Albums entstanden inmitten persönlicher Umbrüche im Jahr 2021: ""I came out as trans to my nearest and dearest. Some did not accept me, but some did." Trotz der schmerzhaften Erfahrungen, bietet "You Are The Morning" einen persönlichen Einblick auf ihr Liebesleben. Jasmine lernte Gitarre spielen, als ihr Onkel, ihr sein altes Instrument geschenkt hatte. Sie spielte zunächst Songs Ihrer Lieblingsmusiker nach, doch Musik spielen und Texte schreiben gehörte für sie immer schon zusammen. Der Titeltrack paart Jasmines gezupfte Gitarre mit Streichern, die ein Gefühl von Leichtigkeit und Sicherheit vermitteln. Textlich handelt der Song von Zugehörigkeit und Verbundenheit. Auf dem abschließenden Track "Woman" wird sie von dem Trans Chorus of Los Angeles unterstützt. Dieser generationenübergreifende Chor besteht aus Transpersonen, die genau wie Jasmine ihre Stimme als Quelle für Zusammenhalt benutzen. Der Song beginnt mit einer Solonummer, die in eine Gruppenperformance aufblüht und handelt von der inneren Kraft, die daraus entspringt zu wissen, wer man im tiefsten inneren ist: "I am, in my soul, a woman". Für jasmine.4.t sind Aktivismus und Performance eng miteinander verbunden. Mit ihrer Plattform sammelt sie weiterhin Spenden und macht auf die Trans Mutual Aid Manchester aufmerksam, eine Organisation, für die sie sich ehrenamtlich engagiert hat. Sie möchte Gleichgesinnten etwas zurückgeben. Um ihre Geschichte auf "You Are The Morning" zu erzählen, bezieht sie sich immer wieder auf dunkle Aspekte Ihres Lebens. Umgeben von Freunden, war der Aufnahmeprozess jedoch voller Hoffnung. Durch ihre Auftritte, ihren Aktivismus und ihr künstlerisches Schaffen läutet jasmine.4.t eine neue Ära ein.
A Study of Losses", das siebte Studioalbum von Beirut, ist eine Odyssee mit 18 Tracks. Das Projekt entstand im Frühjahr 2023, als Viktoria Dalborg, Direktorin des schwedischen Zirkus Kompani Giraff, Condon fragte, ob er Interesse hätte, die Musik für ihr nächstes Projekt zu liefern, eine Show, die auf einer Adaption eines Romans der deutschen Autorin Judith Schalansky basiert. Die Hauptthemen in Schalanskys Buch "Verzeichnis einiger Verluste" und in der Adaption für die Zirkusshow befassen sich mit dem Konzept des Verlusts und der Vergänglichkeit von allem, was uns bekannt ist: von ausgestorbenen Tierarten, verlorenen architektonischen und literarischen Schätzen bis hin zu abstrakteren Konzepten des Verlusts durch den Prozess des Alterns. "A Study of Losses" reist durch elf Songs und sieben erweiterte instrumentale Themen, die nach den Mondmeeren benannt und von der erschreckenden Geschichte eines Mannes inspiriert sind, der davon besessen ist, alle verlorenen Gedanken und Schöpfungen der Menschheit zu archivieren. Musikalisch jedoch taucht er wieder in Chorgesang, Renaissance und andere Stile ein, die seine frühe Arbeiten inspiriert haben, sowie in Variationen von Klängen und Ideen, die sich auf eine seiner Lieblingsplatten, "69 Love Songs" von The Magnetic Fields, beziehen. Mit einer Länge von fast einer Stunde ist es das bei weitem umfangreichste Album, das Beirut je gemacht hat, und es gehört fraglos zu Condons bisher schönsten Arbeiten. "A Study of Losses" ist das zweite neue Beirut-Album innerhalb von nur zwei Jahren und die Fortsetzung eines weiteren, charakteristisch produktiven Kapitels für Zach Condon. Nach einem halben Jahrzehnt, das er damit verbrachte, sich von hartnäckigen Halsproblemen und einem drohenden mentalen Zusammenbruch zu erholen - was ihn daran zweifeln ließ, ob er jemals wieder vor Publikum auftreten würde - folgt "A Study of Losses" auf "Hadsel", das "einen neuen Anfang für Beirut" markierte, lobte Pitchfork und nannte es "eine aus Verzweiflung und Einsamkeit geborene Platte, die sich dennoch voller Leben anfühlt". Während sich "Hadsel" um eine gewaltige, antike Kirchenorgel drehte, die Condon während eines dunklen arktischen Winters in Nordnorwegen entdeckte, wird "A Study of Losses" durch Streichquartette und Arrangements der Cellistin und "No No No"-Mitarbeiterin Clarice Jensen aufgehellt. Geschrieben und aufgenommen von Zach Condon in Berlin (DE) und Stokmarknes (NO), wobei die Wurzeln des Albums in Schweden und Deutschland liegen, erweitert "A Study of Losses" auch die weite Welt, die er durch die Musik von Beirut aufgebaut hat, seit er das Projekt als neugieriger und umherziehender 14-Jähriger begonnen hat. "Als ich zum ersten Mal angesprochen wurde, einen Soundtrack für einen Zirkus zu schreiben, kam zunächst ein gewisses Trauma der 'Elephant Gun'-Ära hoch", erklärt Condon, als er Ende 2024 ,Caspian Tiger' von "A Study of Losses" vorstellt. "Ich war jahrelang in eine Schublade gesteckt worden, in der ich ein skurriles Zirkuskind war, voller sepiafarbener Bilder von Groschenromanen und vielleicht Löwendompteuren mit Schnurrbärten. Es hätte nicht weiter davon entfernt sein können, wie ich mir die Musik vorstellte, die ich machte. Es ist also eine Ironie, dass ich das Projekt von Kompani Giraff so verlockend fand."
ANNE & SERA J return for the second edition of their Symbiosis series on Mutual Rytm.
ANNE, known for potent techno on the likes of Soma and Hardgroove, and Nechto and Life In Patterns associate Sera J, have had standout years that have seen them put out a stream of essential club tracks. They are partners in both life and music, and the first volume of 'Symbiosis' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint was their first release together. Delivering an honest representation of their innermost feelings, having also contributed to the label's 'Federation Of Rytm III' VA in February, this new six-track EP (plus bonus cuts) presents a 'mature and refined connection between their souls'.
The second instalment of 'Symbiosis' reflects not only their deep personal connection, but also their collaborative synergy as musical peers with the same goals. The EP captures the essence of their mutual artistic journey and showcases the strength of their bond both in life and through their shared creative vision - to create a storyline through sounds coming from their souls and convey a narrative that many listeners may find relatable.
SERA J kicks off with the lithe and melodically elegant techno of 'Your Soul Is Art' which will have both heart and heels dancing. 'Illusions' is a more heavy and dubby cut with paired back grooves and pulsing synths, while 'Glacial Pace' is an urgent deep techno roller with turbocharged stabs and huge icy hi hats locking you into a trance.
ANNE steps up on the B-side with 'Floating Waves' exploring physical, chunky drum funk and raw synth textures. 'Planetary Dust' is a dark and moody astral techno journey to the stars, before 'Sweet Seventeen' brings a more melodic cut with a sense of hope and joy in the bright pads that shimmer above the glitchy grooves.
Both artists also offer two digital bonus cuts with SERA J's 'Syncrosonix' and 'Space Velocity' delivering perfectly reduced minimal techno monsters, while ANNE's 'Gentle Loop' and 'Starburst' are interplanetary trips with widescreen cosmic synths.
A sequel to the 2001 series Blue Planet, it took 4 years to complete this seven part new exploration of the underwater worlds, with 125 expeditions across
39 countries and 6000 hours of underwater filming. The series was broadcast on BBC One on 29 October 2017 with viewing figures exceeding 10m and
its exposure of plastic pollution in our oceans has started a global conversation about reducing plastic waste, now more relevant than ever.
With over 120 soundtracks to his credit which have grossed 24 billion dollars at the box office, Hans Zimmer has been honoured with many accolades:
an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, three Grammys, an American Music Award, a Tony Award and The Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime Achievement.
His Academy Award nomination for Interstellar marked his 10th Oscar nomination.
The composition is completed by Jacob Shea and David Fleming from Emmy and BAFTA nominated Bleeding Fingers Music. Bleeding Fingers has created
original music for productions including the Fox’s The Simpsons, BBC’s Planet Earth II, National Geographic’s Princess Diana In Her Own Words, NBC’s hit
Little Big Shots, Sony’s Snatch (TV), Amazon’s American Playboy, AMC’s The Making Of The Mob, Netflix original Roman Empire and History Channel’s Mountain Men.
Official reissue of this sought-after Canadian psychedelic hard-rock album from 1970.
Formed in Toronto in the late 60s, It’s All Meat (the name was taken from a dog food commercial!) soon caught the attention of influential character Jack London (frontman of pre-Steppenwolf band Jack London and the Sparrows) who managed the band and secured a deal with major label Columbia Records.
After recording their first 45, the proto-punk MC5/Stones sounding “Feel It”, the band started working on their first album with the tandem of Jed MacKay and Rick McKim as main songwriters.
“It’s All Meat” was released in 1970 and offered a powerful mix of garage-rock, psychedelia and early hard- rock, drawing influences from bands like the Stones, Country Joe & The Fish, Doors, Velvet Underground... tracks like “Roll My Own” or the lysergic “Crying Into The Deep Lake” are now considered classics of the genre.
Sadly, the band would split soon after the LP was released.
*Original artwork in gatefold sleeve *Remastered sound in 24-bit domain *Insert with liner notes by Plastic Crimewave and rare photos / memorabilia
*Download card with non-LP singles and rare tracks
RIYL: STONES, MC5, DOORS, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, NEW YORK DOLLS,
“One of the classic Canadian rarities. It’s All Meat deliver ballsy Stones influenced hardrock with some psychedelic west-coast moves” - Patrick Lundborg (Acid Archives)
In 2006, Danger Mouse is King Midas of the music world. He has an uncanny knack for creating jagged, dense, frenzied beats and odd, eerie, vivid soundscapes that never compromise the music's natural flow. Meanwhile, rapper and singer Cee-Lo, a veteran of Atlanta's Dirty South scene, has never been one to be constrained by hip-hop conventions, and is a willing partner in adventure. The result is an intrepid psychedelic blend of pop, hip-hop, soul, and rock that consistently challenges and delights. It's no wonder that "Crazy," with its modest riff, irresistible hook, and disarming opening line ("I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind") became a worldwide Internet sensation a full six months before the official release of St. Elsewhere. But that relatively simple soul-pop gem is the tamest track on this wide-ranging, often dark and introspective collaboration. (In fact, the duo considers Gnarls Barkley to be a wholly new creation, as opposed to a collaboration of existing artists.) "Everybody is somebody, but nobody wants to be themselves," Cee-Lo croons on "Who Cares?" He and Danger Mouse try very hard not to be their old selves as they creatively and confidently break down boundaries, but the brilliant cores of their musical personae Cee-Lo's eccentric spiritual soul man and Danger's bold sonic explorer remain. Marc Greilsamer.
The German steel pan outfit has amassed a collection of 7s on the label that are all essential pieces in DJ boxes around the world.
The A side "Nautilus" is a cover of the Bob James uber classic that has been sampled by hip hop more times than maybe any other record. It is a DJ staple that has soundtracked many a dance floor and breakdance cypher. Bacao's version is a welcome new take on the tried and true original.
The B side is their cover of the Khruangbin cult classic "Maria También" and Bacao give the original version a run for its money. Steel pans ride over chunky drums to great effect and make this another must have for DJs around the globe
On the latest instalment of his VALA series, Finnish techno explorer Kaspiann tunnels into heads-down, mind-warping rhythm tracks of the highest order. Alongside his appearance on respected platforms such as Delsin Mantis and Optic Portal (alongside Spekki Webu), VALA affords Kaspiann the space to explore the depth and breadth of his sound with steely focus. The four tracks on VALA 4 are teeming with tactile textures and intricate detail that feel familiar and abstract all at once, perhaps best described by the titles that indulge in a little Finnish word play. ‘Sammalkämmen’, literally translated as ‘moss palm’, feels like a fitting reflection of the spongy mid-range matter on the opening track, while the humid, dense atmosphere of B1 cut ‘Suohunaja’ could indeed conjure a sense of ‘swamp honey’. From ‘Sienikieli’s tunnelling rhythmic intrigue to the intricately arranged, expressive percussion of ‘Niin Vain’, Kaspiann continues to broaden his vocabulary within the language of deep techno, triggering ineffable sensations from carefully sculpted sonic forms and strapping them to incisive rhythms.
Air Texture proudly announces its latest artist-curated compilation, “Hardwired,” assembled by Berlin-based musician JakoJako. This expansive collection celebrates the implicit connection between hardware-focused electronic producers, featuring contributions from Rødhåd, Acid Pauli, The Field, Neon Chambers, and many more.
“Hardwired” draws its conceptual foundation from synthesizer terminology. As JakoJako explains: “A hardwired synth has connections already soldered into the machine—it comes with certain functions without needing to patch cables externally. As a hardware producer, I feel whenever I meet someone who creates music as I do, we have this immediate connection, like a hardwired synthesizer. There’s no need for small talk—we can speak about gear.”
This metaphor of pre-established connections forms the emotional core of the compilation, celebrating the community of hardware enthusiasts who share an intuitive understanding and appreciation for machine-based music creation.
JakoJako has established herself as one of electronic music’s most intriguing voices, exploring the territory between technical precision and emotional expression. Her artistic approach balances rigorous knowledge with unrestrained intuition, creating works that reach beyond genre boundaries.
A Berghain resident with performances at Dekmantel and Fusion, to the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican, JakoJako has released music on prestigious labels including Tresor, Mute, and Leisure System, and crafted remixes for artists like New Order and Martin Gore. Her deep relationship with analog and modular synthesis, including her ongoing connection to Berlin’s SchneidersLaden, informs her distinctive sound.
Following her recent Mute album “Têt 41,” this curation for Air Texture provides further insight into the musical universe that has shaped JakoJako’s artistic vision.
“Hardwired” showcases 23 tracks for its digital release, with a select 9 tracks pressed to vinyl. The collection spans the spectrum of contemporary electronic music while maintaining cohesive focus on hardware-driven production approaches.
Highlights include collaborative works between JakoJako and fellow producers Mareena and Frank Wiedemann, alongside contributions from established artists like Rødhåd, Acid Pauli, and The Field, plus emerging talents representing the hardware renaissance in electronic music.
Founded by James Parker Healy, Air Texture emerged from New York City’s late ’90s rave scene, carrying forward the fundamental PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) ethos with a collaborative and curatorial focus. Air Texture has evolved from its roots in Manhattan’s club era and Brooklyn’s warehouse scene to embrace a global perspective, working with producers across diverse styles and regions worldwide through the label and its PLace: nonprofit series.
Monde UFO follow the celebrated ‘7171’ album with a trip to the mysterious ‘Flamingo Tower’. In the shadows of the Los Angeles bustling music scene, the enigmatic collective led by visionary Ray Monde create a trance-like fusion of psychedelia and avant jazz, mantra-like evocations, brash moody ambience and passages reminiscent of long-lost library music.
Magnifying Monde UFO’s idea of musical chaos, their early sonic escapades into off-kilter exotica is now elevated with sweeping atmospheric waves of sound inspired by an eclectic brew of Arto Lindsey, Khan Jamal’s ‘Drum Dance To The Motherland’, Keith Hudson, Milford Graves, Marion Brown, Don Cherry and Lennie Tristano.
Cast deep into number theory with occasional quasi-religious touchstones, ‘Flamingo Tower’ bustles with background sounds overlaid with intimate melodies conjuring plenty of suitably strange illusions; a synthetic orchestra plays baroque pop, a guitar is set to auto destruct and Ray Monde’s hushed vocals carry a bracing narrative. It’s an evocative album, one for the heavy music nerds, sprinkled with ear candy and proliferated by mysterious numbers which litter the song titles.
“Monde UFO wander through a humid mist of exotic samba shuffles, shamanic whispers, and reverberating laser beam synthesizers.” New Commute
