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For Fans Of... Thee Sacred Souls, Joey Quinones, Durand Jones & The Indications, Thee Midniters, The Altons, Trish Toledo, Sunny & The Sunliners.To say that The Sinseers play oldies would be a misnomer. Fronted by bandleader and son of East Los Angeles Joey Quiniones, the group has quietly chipped away at the sounds of R&B and soul for the last half-decade. Quinones and his crew have continuously created a distinctive vibe that explores all aspects of a timeless genre, bringing together their interpretation of music through an unmistakable modern lens. With their most recent effort, the aptly titled Sinseerly Yours (Colemine 2023), the band recorded most of the album live in the studio. With Quinones on vocals and keys, vocalist Adriana Flores, Christopher Manjarrez on bass, Francisco Floreson on guitar, Bryan Ponce on guitar and vocals, Luis Carpio on drums and vocals, saxophonists Eric Johnson and Steve Surman, and Jose Luis Jimenez on trombone, The Sinseers achieves their most fully realized sound to date. All of the album's stunning tracks were recorded in a converted studio space in Rialto, California, known as Second Hand Sounds. The converted studio space, which used to be a dentist's office, allowed the group to experiment with their sound like never before - this time, the group managed to take a series of big swings, only to emerge with a fuller, more pronounced version of themselves. Despite those new strides, the band remains wholly committed to its sonic aesthetic while injecting its brand of vibrant 21st-century cool. Of course, the group has never been the type to shy away from their influences as they expertly toggle between 60s pop vis-à-vie early Beatles records to obscure dancehall Jamaican tunes - all fully extrapolated and reinterpreted through modern Chicano soul sound that the group has built their everlasting repertoire on. Quinones and bandmates have continued to apply what they've learned from their previous releases and their relentless touring schedule throughout the country. It's clear here that the work is paying off, putting to practice their musical chops thoroughly with all members expertly honing their sound. The melting pot of ideas is showcased with incredibly lush orchestrations and arrangements, married with pitch-perfect harmonies, allowing the group to further solidify themselves in the pantheon of the Southern Californian songbook. Also Available From Thee Sinseers: What's His Name 7”, It Was Only A Dream

High Llamas present Hey Panda - a modern pop music/deep listening experience that could only issue forth from their personal quadrant of the galaxy. Hey Panda projects soulfully through an enervating abstract of today"s popular music; the sound of the Llamas" stately melodies and expressive ditties laid open - blissfully shattered - with drums and vocals hitting different, burning sounds and contemporary production twists pulling the ear at every turn. For the past few decades, High Llamas have trafficked in contemporary pop sounds directed toward the avant end of the spectrum as much as not. But here the message was clear. Llamas" composer-in-residence Sean O"Hagan was determined to let go. Hey Panda does just that, with a set of tunes reflecting on multiple levels how definitions change over the course of a lifetime, radiating an optimism derived from the diverse conundrums of today. Eight years since their last release, the pop musical Here Come The Rattling Trees, High Llamas have reinvented themselves again, mixing their peerless harmonic voice with what Sean regards as the "extraordinarily good" production sounds of today on Hey Panda. Choosing not to look backward to former golden ages celebrated in earlier Llamas eras, Sean"s instead found himself opened up by the sounds of music brought into the house by his adult children and the sounds encountered at sessions for which he"s recently written arrangements. In addition to the more traditional contributions he made to The Coral"s Sea of Mirrors album, plus his score for the Safdie brothers" 2022 film production, Funny Pages, Sean"s drawn great inspiration through working with Fryars, Rae Morris, King Krule, Pearl and The Oyster, while also soaking up the work of Tierra Whack and Chicago"s Pivot Gang, and being cheered on from a distance by longtime admirer Tyler The Creator. Thus, Sean"s producer procedural has evolved again, with upgrades first detected in his 2019 solo effort, Radum Calls, Radum Calls. With a cover of Billie Eilish"s "Wish You Were Gay" arranged for Bill Callahan and Bonnie Prince Billy"s Blind Date Party, along with his COVID-era solo single, "The Wild Are Welcome", Sean has leveled up again and again, leading to the delirious revelations of Hey Panda. Hey Panda"s wide reach is aided by two co-writes from Bonnie "Prince" Billy, (who bonded with Sean over a shared love of gospel soul during writing sessions), guest vocals from Rae Morris and Sean"s daughter Livvy, production twists from Fryars and the stalwart, flexible presence of High Llamas. For all of its sense of departure, Hey Panda is a movement in the High Llamas oeuvre that"s been a long time in development. Aspects of soul music were addressed at the time of Can Cladders; similarly, aspects of electronic dance music were in the mix in the late 90s, around the time of Cold and Bouncy. But nothing up to now has refocused the music of High Llamas so completely. Sharing the impulse of late-period Miles Davis and Quincy Jones, with further inspiration from Steve Lacy, SZA, Sault, No Name and Ezra Collective, among many others, Sean O"Hagan and High Llamas are living joyfully in the new and the now, with Hey Panda.

Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album has few parallels. Viewed solely through the lens of sales numbers, Whitney Houston is a watershed statement on par with the most commercially successful and culturally dominant LPs ever released. Having sold more than 14 million copies in the U.S. and upwards of 25 million units worldwide, the 1985 LP became the equivalent of the television show or blockbuster film that everyone collectively experiences and discusses. Nearly four decades later, it’s lost none of its appeal or magnetism — and its artistic significance and historical import have only grown.


Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl LP of Whitney Houston presents the breakthrough in audiophile sound for the first time. The signature traits Houston exhibits on every song — her three-octave range, radiant warmth, personal conviction, impossibly controlled register — come across with exceptional clarity, focus, and presence. Free of artificial ceilings and constricted dynamics, this reissue plays with an openness, airiness, and balance that put the singer’s once-in-a-lifetime instrument and immortal artistry into proper perspective.

It does the same for the songs’ cascading melodies and captivating arrangements. Individually produced by one of four renowned industry veterans — Kashif, Micheal Masser, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden — each composition feels grander, closer, more genuine. A vocal spectacular, Whitney Houston benefits from the high-end characteristics of SuperVinyl, which include a nearly inaudible noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces. This is how an album that changed the direction of popular music — opening previously inaccessible doors for Black artists; bringing smooth-singing vocalists back into the mainstream; kickstarting a movement that soon included several “divas” who would command the charts through the early 21st century — should look and sound.

Though Houston’s seemingly effortless performances suggest otherwise, creating the record Rolling Stone ranks as the 257th Greatest Album of All Time wasn’t easy. Nearly 18 months were required to identify songs suitable for a still-unknown singer who did not fit into the conventional frameworks of the mid ‘80s. Confident, powerful, and prodigiously talented, Houston would forge her own parameters with Whitney Houston. In the process, she obliterated the stubborn lines between R&B and pop, Black and white radio. She dared to reimagine who could be a superstar and then went out and defined the role. Recorded for nearly $400,000 and released on Valentine’s Day, the LP exceeded the wildest expectations of those most closely associated with it — save for Houston and her family.

Having made her first public appearance at the age of 11 singing at a Baptist church, Houston understood pressure and knew her way around, inside, and through a song. The invaluable guidance and support she received from her mother, Cissy, an accomplished gospel vocalist who backed Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, are on display throughout Whitney Houston. They arrive in the types of authoritativeness, discipline, and diction rare for even most seasoned veterans — and unheard-of for a 21-year-old newcomer. Houston brings a soulful elegance, understated glamour, and in-the-moment rapture to every note. Moving up, down, or staying in the middle of the vocal ladder; channelling softness or sweetness; showing restraint or increasing the volume, she is a marvel of emotionalism, a dynamo who can seamlessly transition from one mood to another within a verse.

Though the 10-track LP largely concerns itself with the ballad tradition, Houston covers the bases, getting into an R&B groove on the fleet “Thinking About You,” turning up the heat on the duet “Take Good Care of My Heart,” and investing the contagious dance-pop confection “How Will I Know” with all the anxiety, hope, energy, and enthusiasm its lyrics demand. Featuring her mom on background vocals and Houston’s pitch-perfect tone, uncanny precision, and skyscraper highs (no AutoTune here, friends), the synth-based anthem propelled Whitney Houston into the stratosphere, the vocalist into regular MTV rotation, and the term “crossover” into popular parlance. The double-platinum single reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts — a trifecta that foreshadowed accomplishments that would ultimately crown Houston as the most-awarded female artist of all time.

Whitney Houston became the first album by a Black female performer to top the Billboard charts. It remained there for 14 non-consecutive weeks en route to claiming the title of the best-selling LP of 1986. It stands as the first debut and first album by a solo female artist to spawn three No. Hits, as well as the first album by a Black female artist to top the year-end charts in Australia and Canada. These are just a handful of the accolades — along with four Grammy nominations — that surround a set that also contains the unforgettable ballad “Saving All My Love,” string-accompanied “Greatest Love of All,” and sensual “You Give Good Love.”

As TIME observed in an article written two years after the album took the world by storm: “This is infectious, can't-sit-down music, and her performance dares the listener not to smile right back.” We’re still smiling.

This Is Street Funk” is part of a new series aimed at vinyl buyers who want a genre specific compilation to excite their ears. They will appeal to long-standing, discerning music acolytes and recent converts alike. Two sides of fantastic music, at an affordable price, hand-picked with TLC from Ace and its associated catalogues.

Compiled by Dean Rudland, who also writes the liner notes, “This Is Street Funk” brings you 14 tracks of hard hitting, heavy funk, and sums up the sound of 70s Black America. A combination of fatback drums, syncopated bass, rhythmic guitars and explosive vocals.

The line-up of tracks includes classics from the Fatback Band and Millie Jackson, dancefloor favourites from Billy Garner and Billy Sha-Rae and screaming organ instrumentals from the Fame Gang and Larry & Tommy.

This is fourteen tracks that defy you to start dancing.

Für LORNA SHORE war 2020 nichts weniger als eine Abrechnung - in einer Karriere, die auf Herausforderungen, Veränderungen und einer zielstrebigen Vision aufgebaut war. Für das Quintett aus New Jersey bedeutete 2020 die Pandemie und abgesagte Tourneen. Das darauffolgende Jahr stellte die Band vor eine große kreative Herausforderung in Form des Songs 'To the Hellfire' von ihrer vielbeachteten '...And I Return to Nothingness'-EP. Und doch haben sie mit 'Pain Remains' ihr klangliches Niveau gesteigert, ein Album, das nicht nur alles zusammenfügt, was LORNA SHORE angedeutet haben, sondern es auch übertrifft - brutal und großartig. 'Es fühlt sich an wie eine Wiedergeburt von allem für uns - von der Energie, der Band, der Moral', sagt Schlagzeuger Austin Archey. 'Pain Remains' ist der Sound einer Band, die ihren Klang und ihre Identität verfeinert hat. Von den eröffnenden Chorgesängen und der Orchestrierung (komponiert von Gitarrist Andrew O'Connor) von 'Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer' direkt in das Labyrinth aus musikalischen Wendungen, technischen Details und rohen Emotionen im Kern von Tracks wie 'Sun Eater' oder 'Soulless Existence' und gipfelnd in der 'Pain Remains'-Trilogie, haben LORNA SHORE ein ausuferndes Dokument aus Ehrgeiz, Seele und Können gewoben, das nur Wenige erreichen können. Es ist auch der Sound von LORNA SHORE, der aus jeder Art von Kategorisierung ausbricht und sich selbst als eine großartige Extrem-Metal-Band etabliert. Mit 'Pain Remains' sind LORNA SHORE wirklich angekommen. 'Das war schon seit Jahren die Idee und die Vision für die Band', sagt Adam. 'Wir wollten uns nie einschränken lassen oder die Erwartungen von irgendjemandem erfüllen, was wir zu sein haben.

Taken from from Skinshape’s 8th studio album ‘Craterellus Tubaeformis’. For fans of Khruangbin, El Michels Affair, Madlib, Bonobo. Will Dorey aka Skinshape has proven himself time and again a connoisseur for the cosmopolitan, across a prolific career expertly exploring understated sounds and theatrical textures. Taking his place alongside the likes of Khruangbin, Tame Impala, Bonobo and Madlib, Skinshape’s global kaleidoscopes are loaded with warmth and wisdom created on vintage analogue equipment applying a perfectionist’s touch. As a former member of indie band Palace, he has played everywhere from Glastonbury and BBC Maida Vale to headlining Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Skinshape’s words on the tracks. The Ocean: “This one is dedicated to all the surfers out there. Following the theme of 1960s rock and combining it with subtle elements of 90s beats (that you may not be able to hear).” The Longest Shadow (feat. Andy Platts): “This song takes a more experimental route than some of the more 'psych' tracks on the album. The hot vocals of Mamas Gun frontman Andy Platts lends the track a deep soul vibe, whilst Jon Moody (of the band Franc Moody) lends his piano skills for an electric solo in the latter part of the track.” Support from BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, Jazz FM, Soho Radio, MOJO, Uncut, Shindig etc.

Kendra is excited to release a new 45, featuring a special a bonus track written and recorded during the 'I Am What I'm Waiting For' sessions, as well as a new 45-edit of her instant classic 'Birthday Song.' The A-side 'Fine Right Here,' the bonus cut from Kendra Morris's brand new LP 'I Am What I'm Waiting For' (which has received incredible support from the likes of Rolling Stone France, KCRW, WNYC, Flood Magazine, and countless others), takes a look into the deeply introverted side of Kendra. "This song is about being ok just sitting inside and missing the party," Kendra explains. "It's the antithesis to FOMO." Written to accompany a rainy day, the song feels like you're being enveloped in a hug. Sonically, the track tips its hat to Ethiopian Jazz and soul of the 70s, like Rose Royce and the Delfonics. The warm vibraphone, sturdy bass line, and vocal reverb create a layered tapestry of sound that wraps around your shoulders and drifts into your ears. The new 45-edit of 'Birthday Song' is for the DJs. It's an upbeat and funky jubilant jam that's ready and waiting to take the place of outdated standards. Both tracks were co-written and produced by Torbitt Schwartz (AKA Little Shalimar) of Run the Jewels, 'Fine Right Here' is a welcome departure to the upbeat nature of 'I Am What I'm Waiting For' whereas 'Birthday Song' is set to be a celebratory go-to

'Lost In The Night' is Palace's debut EP originally released in 2014. Now on Lewis Recordings the vinyl has been remastered and the CD comes as a gatefold. Whilst not a blues band in the traditional sense their blend of blues space rock is undeniably British with bluesy and soulful vintage overtones. Leo's sublime voice perfectly complements the dreamy ambient electric guitars creating a timeless sound, drawing comparisons to early Kings of Leon, Foals and past greats like Buffalo Springfield. Now signed to Fiction Records the band released two albums both critically and commercially acclaimed. Bassist William Dorey left Palace after their first album and now records under the name Skinshape. "It's darkly beautiful, with twilight seeming to break through every note." CLASH. // "It's a romance-bloomed introduction of the highest order." DIY // "Londoners Palace riff on Local Natives and Grizzly Bear's spacious, swooning sound."

30 Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung des selbstbetiteln Debütalbums erscheint "Electric Orange" nun endlich auch auf Vinyl gepresst. Die Doppel LP kommt auf 180g schwerem, orange-marbled Vinyl und im Gatefold-Sleeve daher. Dirk Jan Müller interessiert sich seit 1988 für die deutsche Underground-Musik der 70er Jahre, und seine Leidenschaft für Bands wie Amon Düül, Tangerine Dream, Nektar, Neu! und Can führte dazu, dass er Synthesizer, Keyboards, Verstärker und verschiedene Musikgeräte aus den 70er Jahren sammelte. Von seinem Heimstudio aus veröffentlichte er einige Underground-Kassetten mit elektronischer Musik, die im Kassettennetzwerk zu kursieren begannen ("Octopus's Garden" und "Time Signals"), bis 1992 eine britische Firma namens Electronic Dreams "Time Signals" veröffentlichte. In der Zwischenzeit begann Dirk mit der Arbeit am Debütalbum "Electric Orange", zu dem er eine Reihe anderer Musiker und eine Fülle von Instrumenten wie Hammondorgel, Saxophon, Flöte, verschiedene Schlaginstrumente, Samples und E-Gitarren hinzuzog. Im März 1994 veröffentlichte das deutsche Underground-Elektronik-Label "Manikin" das Album auf CD. Es hieß schlicht "Electric Orange" und war eine atemberaubende Mischung aus Krautrock der frühen 70er Jahre und psychedelischem Space Rock, aber mit einem völlig modernen Sound, der das Genre mit neuen Technologien und Produktionswerten aktualisierte. Das Album wurde schnell zu einer begehrten Veröffentlichung, allerdings haperte es am Vertrieb und schien somit zum Kultstatus verdammt zu sein, bis Delerium Records es entdeckte und die Rechte erwarb. Auch 30 später fasziniert der Electric Orange-Sound noch immer und es war überfällig, dieses Juwel endlich auch auf Vinyl zu veröffentlichen.

In 1972, Rick Hall moved distribution of his Fame label from Capitol to United Artists. This was to give his label more heft internationally as well as Stateside. The first single from this new agreement was Candi Staton’s ‘In The Ghetto’ which was released in May 1972. Not only did the single do well, but Staton received a personal note from Elvis Presley telling her how much he had enjoyed her version of the song.

Two more successful singles – ‘Lovin’, You, Lovin’ Me’ and ‘Do It In The Name Of Love’ – followed before her third Fame album – “Candi Staton” – became the first LP to be distributed under the new agreement with United Artists.

Containing all three singles and B-sides such as ‘You Don’t Love Me No More’ and ‘The Thanks I Get For Loving You’ “Candi Staton” is a ten track beauty, a fantastic album and a cornerstone of Southern Soul.

Ace have already reissued Staton’s first two Fame albums – “I’m Just A Prisoner” and “Stand By Your Man” – which received rave reviews and put Staton’s classic music on the turntables of an old and new generation. This is the third card in that three card trick to complete the series.

With liner notes by our own Ian Shirley and fantastic photos from the FAME archive, “Candi Staton” looks as good as it sounds.

‘’Music is a gift and a burden I’ve had since I can remember who I was. I was born into music. The decision was how to make the best use of it.’’
Recorded during a tumultuous period in the 1960s, “Rebellious” is a compilation album that captures Nina Simone at the height of her artistic prowess. Soul, with its roots in gospel and R&B, is an integral part of Nina Simone's musical identity. The album serves as a powerful soundtrack to the civil rights movement, capturing the zeitgeist of the era and inspiring generations to come.

Immerse yourself in the emotive sounds of Manchester's dynamic producer duo, Response & Pliskin.
Experience the exhilarating journey of their latest EP, "Live ur Life," a soul-stirring exploration within the realms of Breakbeat, Jungle & Drum and Bass. Enjoy!

Wiederveröffentlichte 2024er Pressung dieses unglaublichen Garagenrockwerkes! "The Ultimate Gospel Blues Trash experience recorded in 2001 London on the EMI Redd 17 desk (Abbey Road Studios) by Liam Watson this is pure Dirty ,your parents would not like it' Primitive Rock'n'Roll swearing and blood spiting preaching Raw Garage punk mixed up LO-FI Trash out of control Blues Trash at its best" - RBM, VVR Nach der Trennung vom Wrestling Rock'n'Roll Project Lightning Beat-Man musste der Beat-Man ins Krankenhaus und sah mit eigenen Augen den Tod. Jetzt, Jahre später, ist er zurück mit neuen Kumpels und einer neuen Mission: der Gospel Blues & Trash Mission. 1983 begann er als Ein-Mann-Band, für dieses Album heuerte er die Un-Believers an (Gery Mohr und Robert Butler von den Miracle Workers, Janosh von den Monsters und Gringo Starr, der auch bei den Never Heard Of'Ems, Lightning Beat-Mans Backing Band, spielte) und ging zusammen mit Liam Watson (Bristols, Masonics, Headoats_) in Londons berühmtes Toe Rag Studio, um diesen speziellen Swamp-Blues-Sound auf die Platte zu bekommen. Predigtlieder, Lieder über das Töten von Nachbarn, Predigten über das Abschneiden von Fingern, Lieder über den Gang ins Gefängnis, den Gang aus dem Gefängnis und sogar über das Verlieben und den Gang in die Hölle. Mach dich bereit für eine Menge Slide-Gitarren-Action und Mundharmonikagedröhne, Blues im Stil von Howling Wolf und Gun Club-ähnlichen Trash-Rock'n'Roll. Schwarze LP, Insert, Download Code

Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels imprint announces, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, the stunning new album from Oceanvs Orientalis.

Following three superb singles on the label across the past four months, the nine-track LP offers a comprehensive exploration of the Instanbul-based talent’s rich, globally-infused and captivating sound, with the project set for release on 26th April 2024.

Safak Oz Kutle, known as Oceanvs Orientalis, is a producer and live performer based in Istanbul. His musical style intricately weaves together diverse sonic tapestries of wide-spanning genres and cultures, and through his creative fusion of these influences, he crafts an immersive world that takes you far away from the usual club music references. His music serves as a celebration of his musical heritage, and this has never been truer than on his superb new album ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, which again pushes traditional boundaries within the electronic sphere. Set for release on 26th April via Damian Lazarus’ renowned and celebrated Crosstown Rebels imprint, the nine-track LP project features a showcase of solo and collaborative material alongside close friends such as Tooker, Idil Mese and Tilahun Gessesse, delivering a journey into the creative mind of one of
the scene’s most intriguing talents.

The bold and riveting project kicks off with the captivating synthscapes, fluttering strings and plucked bass of the gorgeous ‘Pulse Antique’, before ‘Ministry Of Midnight’ cuts loose on more jumbled rhythms and intricate organic lines warmed with wordless vocals. Next up are two of the lead
singles - the tense and intricate house sonics of ‘Neutrality’ and the haunting atmospheres and ethereal synth lines of ‘IL Lupo’ featuring Tooker, while ‘Conritmo’ continues to bring exotic new string sounds, leftfield melodies and warped bass to this most vibrant exploration of candle-lit house sounds. ‘Soul of Calypso’ blisses out on far-sighted cosmic chords with sonorous bells and late-night spoken word musings that add all-new character to the innovative grooves. Then comes the laid-back, jazz-infused house of ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, a deep and jazzy jungle shuffler
in ‘Mercury’ and the playful horns and lumpy, dub-wise swagger of ‘Lanchi Biye’.

An album project encompassing its title perfectly, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’ is just that - a magnificent snapshot of the unique musical mind of Oceanvs Orientalis.

New edits label from the Deep&Disco crew outta NYC. 2 Killer cuts given a revamp and shine for the dancefloor.

Pressed on heavy weight 180g vinyl limited to 300 pressings hand stamped.
DJ FEEDBACK

Craig Smith (6th Borough Project) - Lovely edits, well produced and expertly put together. Good luck with the label chaps

Guy (Sleazy Beats, Monsieur Monod) - What a delightful debut for your new label. Feel The Rhythm is an irresistable boogie groover. We'll be playing these puppies all over the place! All the best with the release and label.

aliOOFT (OOFT! Music) - Being playing this for ages, good to see it being released. Best of luck with the label - I look forward to more Razor N Tape jams!

Sleazy McQueen (Whisky Disco) - Dig it, man!

Onur Engin (OE Edits) - Nice one! I'll definitely support this.

Jimpster (Freerange) - Nicely done. always a good one to have in the bag. cheers for the good edits.

Trujillo (Apersonal Music) - So Tight is a dope warm disco for the dance floor!, will spin it!

The Glue (Kolour) - Great edits both of them, we will keep an eye out for more stuff from you guys for sure!

Leftside Wobble (Futureboogie) - A pair of filtered boogie beauties.

Alkalino (Much Love) - Like both, but "Feel the Rhythm" is my fav.cheers!

Matthew Bandy (Z Records) - Solid edits here, will be getting support on both from me. Cheers.

Sell by Dave (Bedmo Disco, Juno Plus) - Excellent first release lads - enjoying both tracks. The edits scene needs some fresh cuts/styles, and you've delivered on these. Major props - can see both getting plenty of plays in Bedmo Disco sets this summer x

Daz (Get Down Edits) - So Tight never fails but this is my first time hearing Feel The Rhythm & cant wait to play it out its sounds excellent, have a gig @ Disco Deviance this sat & cant wait to play these at it :)

Mike W (Kolour Recordings) - Been looking forward to RNT001 and it does not disappoint one bit! edits that drip with funk & soul .. just like they should. got a nice batch of gigs in the pipes and these will definitely be seeing their way into my rotation as well as the full gambit of chart support! cheers j. kriv & aaron dae .. got yourselves off to a nice & tidy start .. best of returns to ya!

Nelue (Groove Democracy) - Both sound great!

South West Seven (SWS Music) - Love it!

Kid Color (Dollar Disco) - Slammin' work if I could say so myself!

The Beat Broker (Flexx) - So Tight is exactly that. Killer unstoppable groove. Love it!

Der Dark-Ambient-Pionier, die stygische Drone-Legende und das fast schon mythische Wesen LUSTMORD durchstößt mit "Much Unseen Is Also Here" einmal mehr den Schleier - die neueste Solo-Veröffentlichung des Künstlers in einer beeindruckenden, 40-jährigen kreativen Karriere an der Spitze der Industrial-Musik. Auf Drängen von Cosey Fanni Tutti und Chris Carter von Throbbing Gristle, Musik zu machen, die seine unverwechselbare Aura einfängt, übernahm Brian Williams 1980 Lustmord und begann mit Sounds zu arbeiten, weil die Musik, die er hören wollte, einfach nicht existierte. Lustmord veröffentlichte 1989 sein drittes Album "Heresy", das zu einem Meilenstein in der Industrial-Szene wurde und heute allgemein als Ursprung des Dark-Ambient-Genres gilt. 35 Jahre später führt Much Unseen Is Also Here" das Vermächtnis von Heresy" fort und knüpft an dessen fesselnden Erzählbogen an. "Much Unseen Is Also Here" besteht aus drei verschiedenen Teilen und ist dazu gedacht, in einer einzigen, ununterbrochenen Durchgang angehört zu werden; es entführt den Hörer in eine kompromisslose Parallelwelt, die nur in der Musik existiert, bevor es ihn am Ende für immer verändert wieder hinauswirft. Lustmord, der seit 1994 in L.A. lebt, hat auch als Komponist und Sounddesigner an der Musik für ikonische Film- und Fernsehproduktionen mitgewirkt, darunter "The Crow", "Strange Days", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Underworld" und in jüngerer Zeit die FX-Serien "Fear The Walking Dead" und "First Reformed"von "Taxi Driver"-Autor Paul Schrader aus dem Jahr 2017. Immer noch entschlossen, die Grenzen von Sound, Genre und Medien zu erweitern, hat Lustmord auch zu den Soundlandschaften von Videospielen wie Assassin's Creed, League of Legends und, passenderweise, dem von H.R. Geiger inspirierten Survival-Horror-Spiel Scorn von 2022 beigetragen.

An R&B band formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, in 1961. The members were lead vocalist and guitarist Harvey Scales (b. 1941, Arkansas, USA), Monny Smith, Bill Purtie, Rudy Jacobs, Al Vance, Bill Stonewall and Ray Armstead. Superstar James Brown was sweeping the charts in the late 60s with his new kind of hard soul called ‘funk’, and under his influence, Harvey Scales And The Seven Sounds, like numerous other groups at that time, made their presence felt recording new funk sounds. The group’s one hit, ‘Get Down’ (number 32 R&B, 1967), was recorded on Lenny LeCour’s Magic Touch label. The b-side, ‘Love-itis’, was later recorded by the rock group J. Geils Band. After signing with Chess Records, Scales and his group had a regional hit with the LeCour-produced ‘The Yolk’ in 1969. Later, under the aegis of Detroit producer Don Davis, the group recorded for Stax Records with little success. In 1976, for southern soul hit-maker Johnnie Taylor, Scales co-wrote the massive hit ‘Disco Lady’. That success secured Scales a recording contract with Casablanca, with whom the artist released two albums. Scales was still recording in the early 90s.

"As Bill Orcutt’s most mature and exhilarating LP to date, Music for Four Guitars was a slab of undeniable Apollonian beauty. Its approachability and obvious novelty landed it not only on the year- end lists of every key-pushing codger in the underground in 2022, but also on NPR in the form of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet, an ensemble assembled to perform this music and featuring Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza, and Shane Parish in addition to Orcutt. But while their Tiny Desk Concert gave a whiff of the quartet’s easy intimacy, the sterile confines of the virtual recital medium still left a puzzle unsolved: how might these brutally mannered bricks of minimalist counterpoint sound on a stage in front of actual breathing bodies?" "This was the question foremost in my mind when I first saw the quartet in San Francisco a few months before this double live LP was recorded. I was already familiar with the prowess of Eisenberg and Mendoza, two of the most technically intimidating shredders to blast out of the noise/improv underground, and knew Parish as the mastermind behind the epic translation of Orcutt's quartet recordings into a fully notated score. I was ready to be 'blown away'—and I most assuredly was. The quartet navigated Orcutt's jaggedly spiraling right angles into the shining core of the compositions with joyous ease, faithful to the originals in nearly every way (though their tempos were slightly ramped up, Blakey style, to communicate their breathless rush). The renditions were flawless, stellar and inspiring. I had expected nothing less." "Which leads us to this album, Four Guitars Live, recorded in November of 2023 at Le Guess Who? festival during the quartet’s first European tour. The true essence of this set is not simply in its faithfulness to the source compositions, but in the group's easy familiarity (no doubt the result of weeks on the road) and the generosity of their improvisations, both collective and solo. Orcutt, clearly cognizant of both the caliber of his collaborators and the singularity of their voices, has given everyone room to stretch out, and all have delivered some of their most moving passages to date." "One of this record's great thrills for me is imagining a listener, perhaps unfamiliar with the outer limits of contemporary guitar improvisation (or the Tzadik catalog), slammed into catatonia by Mendoza's liquefying lines on Out of the corner of the eye, then revived and healed by the languid, breathy lines of Parish's unaccompanied, spaced-out breakdown of the track's main theme, finally only to be crushed by Eisenberg’s staggering extended solo on Only at dusk (somehow channeling both Eugene Chadbourne and Buck Dharma)." "There's another peak, which begins at the end of side B, in Orcutt's own languid solo, encapsulating the flowing focus of his recent solo LPs, and serving as an introduction to the next side's ensemble tour de force, the psychic heart of the album, On the horizon: its melodic core passing first to Orcutt, launching into a sublime solo turn by Eisenberg, a duo of Parish and Mendoza, before parachuting back into the ensemble for a smashup rendition of Barely visible and Glimpsed while driving (renamed Barely driving) knitted together with an softly bubbling ensemble improvisation. The transfer is orchestrated yet seamless, its tonal form undeniable even in the presence of obvious dissonance." "The breadth of Four Guitars Live gives lie to the false notion that agile, polytonal improv is necessarily without soul, is necessarily inaccessible. Rather, Four Guitars posits a human avant-garde music that the most conservative will recognize as virtuosic and revel in its classic intervals, boiling counterpoint, and precisely- layered facets. Even the rockers in your life might dig it, so why not pass it on?"—Tom Carter

Everybody's still talking about the good ol' days! A rough and rugged collection of Numero Group classics that have inspired swarms of killer beats. A head nod to the sounds of Shaolin, the thirteen chambers of Shanghai'd Soul have led a generation of lyrical chefs and production geniuses to compose some of their most ominous hip-hop. Bound by heavy drums, moody chords, and haunting melodies, Gods and Earths alike will appreciate the raw funk and smoother-than-a-Lexus soul that come together like Voltron on this special compilation.

Everybody's still talking about the good ol' days! A rough and rugged collection of Numero Group classics that have inspired swarms of killer beats. A head nod to the sounds of Shaolin, the thirteen chambers of Shanghai'd Soul have led a generation of lyrical chefs and production geniuses to compose some of their most ominous hip-hop. Bound by heavy drums, moody chords, and haunting melodies, Gods and Earths alike will appreciate the raw funk and smoother-than-a-Lexus soul that come together like Voltron on this special compilation.

SOYUZ (СОЮЗ) stole our hearts back in 2022 when we released their album Force Of The Wind to critical acclaim. Here we proudly present the predecessor to that LP, the band’s sophomore long player from 2019 that was previously only available digitally. It captures a pivotal evolving period in the band's career, the recordings giving a snapshot of what would become their sound on Force Of The Wind, yet with echoes of avant-psychedelic-pop footprints from yester years.

Produced at a time when band leader Alex Chumak had moved from Minsk to Kyiv, torn between the need to try something new and the homesickness it brought about. Travelling back to Minsk almost weekly, Alex joined fellow band members Mikita Arlou and Stanislav Murashko to lay down II at Studio 42. The album captures these transient feelings, contextualised through the broad scope of influences the band were nourished by. From MPB to Ethio-Jazz and the Italian library soundtracks of Piero Piccioni and Piero Umiliani, the album shines with touches of joy from across the globe.

The opening track 'Verocai' is a tribute to the Brazilian maestro and 'Mirouze', whilst being named after a French favourite of the band, Jean-Pierre Mirouze, pays clear homage to Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges. A ghostly sample and invisible connection to music made miles away in a different era that has influenced and become part of the band’s lives. This is further reinforced in the album's enchanting closer, the aptly titled 'Nascimento', another nod to the great Brazilian musician and singer.

The beginnings of the cinematic, soul-laden jazz SOYUZ are now known for, are on display across the likes of ‘Lyric’ and 'Motive I'. The latter an orchestrated jazz instrumental with sensuous string sections, all of which were recorded on the warmth of a Studer reel-to-reel and waltzing Rhodes keys.

SOYUZ’s wide-ranging palate is further demonstrated in tracks like ‘Business Partners’ with its Krauty, kosmische, new wave production featuring Inturist, and the oh-too-short Anatolian-influenced interlude 'Corrida'. Elsewhere, 'Tezeta' and ‘ES-2 Jazz’ hint at the psychedelic haze of soul-funk, with the former featuring verses from Serbian rapper Petar Martic.

For this new physical and digital release, the whole album was mixed from scratch by Ryan Power before Joker worked his magic on the remaster. More excellence is to come from SOYUZ, but in the meantime, we are thrilled to present this essential recording from the band’s foundational years, mixed to a level that does it the justice it deserves.

Buffalo & Detroit are America’s broken dream. They are once thriving cities, now known for frigid temperatures and violent crime. The cities were birthed in a different era, forged in fire, built of cold steel. It follows that the rawest Hiphop in recent memory has bled from these two regions. No two artists exemplify this hard truth more than legendary Detroit producer Apollo Brown and Buffalo’s maverick emcee Che’ Noir. The two artists came together to create a sound as natural as calm after the storm. The soulful, head-nodding production of Apollo Brown has been a staple called on by some of the greatest to ever do it. From Ghostface Killah to Danny Brown, and from Freddie Gibbs to Chance the Rapper, Apollo Brown’s signature style has become an iconic staple of the culture. Meanwhile, Che’ Noir has stepped onto the scene as smoothly as any double dutch veteran. Having already worked alongside Benny The Butcher, Kool G Rap, and Fred The Godson, she has emerged as one of the most extraordinary New York talents heard in years. The pair’s new album, “As God Intended”, drifts up and down city streets and offers a glimpse behind closed doors, telling the stories of gunshots, missing fathers, & playing the system. The album from Apollo Brown & Che’ Noir features Skyzoo, Blakk Soul, Planet Asia, Ty Farris, and Black Thought. Part of the Mello Music Group 24 for '24 Artist Series featuring limited edition vinyl art by oil painter KipDaFog.

As God Intended by Apollo Brown & Che' Noir, released 22 March 2024, includes the following tracks: "Hustle Don't Give (feat. Black Thought)", "Hours", "Daddy's Girl", "The Apple (feat. Planet Asia)" and more.

This version of As God Intended comes as a 1xLP.

The vinyl is pressed as a brown disc.

The New Mastersounds have been performing live and making funky organic-sounding records for 25 years. Starting out in Leeds, UK, having initially appealed mainly to old-school DJs and vinyl collectors, they managed to build fanbases across the USA, Japan & Europe.

The album comprises ten original instrumental tunes composed and performed at the keyboard player's studio in the heart of the English Peak District during a rainy week in July 2023. The tracks showcase the earthy essence of the band via its signature vocabulary of uncomplicated funk, soul-jazz, classic R&B and reggae-infused grooves.

In the UK selected tracks from the album will be featured on The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on BBC 6Music. An extensive US tour is planned for Spring 2024 in support of this release.

Eddie Roberts - guitar & tambourine

Simon Allen - drums

Pete Shand - bass guitar

Joe Tatton - organ and piano

Embark on a soul-stirring voyage with Oriana Ikomo as she unveils "THE HEALING," an EP that encapsulates the profound metamorphosis she has undergone in recent years. This musical journey is an ode to personal empowerment, and Oriana's resilience echoes through each note and lyric.

The EP unfolds with a powerful, ethereal introduction where the piano and Oriana's soulful voice are in the center. With a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, she passionately repeats the mantra, "Be kind to the mothers, the sisters, the brothers, and the sisters," serving as both an affirmation and an importantmessage to the world.

Oriana's sonic palette is a rich tapestry of genres, seamlessly weaving together R&B, Gospel, Ambient, Jazz, Electronic, and Pop influences. Her sound throughout the EP is affirmed and robust, reflecting the strength she has discovered within herself.

In each track, Oriana showcases her exceptional versatility as an artist. From the heart-wrenching 'MAMA, LET'S GO' to the rhythmically charged 'IMMA PLEASER', she navigates effortlessly through different musical landscapes. The EP becomes a sonic experience, offering you a diverse and immersive experience.

"THE HEALING" is not just an EP; it's a musical expedition that invites you to delve into the depths of Oriana Ikomo's soul. Through her evocative lyrics and dynamic melodies, she invites you to witness the beauty that emerges from personal growth and self-discovery. Join Oriana on this transformative journey as she leaves an indelible mark on the intersection of R&B, Gospel, Ambient, Jazz, Electronic, and Pop, proving that empowerment and artistry go hand in hand.

This new 45 from Karma Chief Records showcases two tracks from Pale Jay's latest LP, Bewilderment. The A side, In Your Corner is an Afrobeat inspired song that addresses a conversation with the self. An uplifting tune at first glance, the lyrics lay bare the internal struggle for self-acceptance. The song explores the push and pull between self-love and self-judgement that can often leave us feeling lost and uncertain. The B side and title track to Pale Jay's latest LP 'Bewilderment' showcases the main elements of his unique sound palette: silky falsetto over soulful harmonies and dusty hip hop beats. 'Bewilderment' tells the story of the disintegration of a family, creating a captivating and soulful musical experience and a journey into self discovery.

BRTHR are a band from Stuttgart. However, their music sounds much more like Memphis, Nashville or
Tulsa. The focus is on the soul brothers Philipp Eißler (guitar, vocals) and Joscha Brettschneider (guitar).
The two write timeless Americana songs that taste of southern soul, but also of cowboy folk - the main
thing is 'laid back'.

Following the success of the "Out Of Luck" single, we're wrapping up the Ghia reworks chapter with "The Other Side" - a dynamic 12" vinyl loaded with three contemporary funk tracks and three instrumental cuts.

The release starts off with the title track on which we can hear another collaboration with vocalist Adriano Prestel. The song is built on the foundation of "Message From The Other Side," a synth-funk instrumental from last year's "Don't Stop" LP. Jim Dunloop has skillfully rebuilt the infectious grooves from scratch, and guitarist Lucy Liebe has contributed to the guitar elements. Interestingly, the 1985 original version contained vocals that were preserved on a demo tape. These original lyrics conveyed the idea that everyone should learn to listen to the other side. Adriano picked up this idea and wrote new verses and a new chorus, beautifully transforming the song into a soulful bliss. In today's world, the message remains relevant: without listening, understanding, and compromise, solutions are elusive.
Next up, DJ Friction takes "Out Of Luck" to new heights with a remix infused with electro-funk. The synth bass replaces the original, a punchier kick and a clap snare give it a classic boogie feel. Additional strings on the chorus and an extended build-up complete the transformation, making it a fantastic tune for any DJ set.

Marian Tone returns to remix "The Other Side" in the '85 rework, blending parts of the original song with replayed instruments from the studio sessions. He adds clav sounds and retains the original marimba keys by Ghia's Lutz Boberg. If you are into the 80s vibes, this rework will be your choice.
The flip side features instrumental versions that, even without vocals, are a special treat for all boogie and funk enthusiasts. Last but not least, the release includes the original mixdown of "Out Of Luck" from when the recording was finalized at Ed Longo's Soundrays studio - offering a different take from the instrumental version on the previously issued 45 single.

The 12" is presented in a full-picture sleeve designed by The Raincoatman, also known as label owner DJ Scientist.

"The Train I’m On was the fifth album by Tony Joe White. It was produced by Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd and recorded in 1972 at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Acoustic textured for much of its length and built on a close, intimate sound overall, The Train I'm On is permeated with the dark side of White's usual swamp rock sound, filled with songs about unsettled loves and lives, and men caught amid insoluble situations. Betraying surprising vulnerability for much of its length, he shows off an emotional complexity that wasn't always obvious on his earlier work. Dark, pensive, soulful bluesy rock, highlighted by some bristling acoustic guitar work. The Train I’m On spawned three singles, including “I’ve Got a Thing About You Baby”, which was notably covered by Elvis Presley. The Train I’m on is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on yellow coloured vinyl.

In Berlin geboren, aber in der Kleinstadt Bad Salzuflen aufgewachsen, pendelt Mina zwischen den Welten und entdeckt in der CD-Sammlung ihrer Tante Schätze wie Joan As Police Woman und Nina Simone. Soul und Blues, die Hip-Hop-Kultur und die Revolte der großen Singer-Songwriterinnen stehen Pate, als sie an ihrer Debüt-EP ,Jaywalker" (2022) arbeitet, mit der sie als beste Newcomerin für den PopNRW Preis nominiert wird. Von ihrem Vater ,aus Versehen" zur Feministin erzogen - wie sie es einmal in einem ,Zeit"-Interview formulierte - bediente sie sich für ihren Künstlerinnennamen beim berühmten Cher-Zitat ,Mom, I am a rich man". Ihr Solidaritäts-Song ,Baba Said" geht während der Revolution im Iran schlagartig viral und verschafft der Sängerin über Nacht auf dem ganzen Globus Aufmerksamkeit. Das Musikalische mit dem Gesellschaftlichen zu verbinden war ihr schon immer ein Anliegen. Mit renommierten Festivalslots bei dem New Fall, Herzberg und Reeperbahn Festival und Supportshows für Maxim, Anna Calvi und Alice Merton zeigt Mina, dass sie ,mit 25 Jahren schon eine ganz schöne Powerfrau ist." (WDR 5, 2022) Mit ihrem Debütalbum ,Grown Up" stellt sich Mina Richman nun dem Erwachsenwerden. Mit schonungsloser Ehrlichkeit kehrt sie in ihre Kindheit zurück und verarbeitet streitende Eltern, kulturelle Entwurzelung und den gesellschaftlichen, wie auch ihren persönlichen Umgang mit ihrem Körper. Ehrlich. Queer. Selbstbestimmt. Auch musikalisch ist Mina gereift und stellt einen Sound mit Einflüssen aus Soul, Folk, Indie und HipHop vor, zeigt dass Amy Winehouse, Ronda oder die Alabama Shakes nicht spurlos an ihr vorbei gegangen sind, beleuchtet die schönen Seiten des Erwachsenwerdens: Mut und liebe Menschen, die einen begleiten. Das Album ,Grown Up" wird am 15. März 2024 über Windig erscheinen und anschließend auf einer großen Release Tournee vorgestellt.

Zuerst war da Howlin 'Wolf, dann Jimi Hendrix, jetzt hat die Welt Lord Bishop!" - und dieser legt mit "Tear Down The Empire" sein bislang bestes Werk vor. Für die Produktion hat sich Lord Bishop Rocks gleich zwei schwergewichtige Stromgitarrenexperten ins Boot geholt: Gemeinsam mit dem Godfather of Grunge Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden u.a.) und dem deutschen Producer-Geheimtipp Andy Schmidt (u.a. Disillusion) ist ein Album entstanden, das den Blues-, Punk- und Hardrock- Spirit der amerikanisch-deutschen Band in einen zeitlosen, rohen und energiegeladenen Sound übersetzt, vor dem Frontmann Lord Bishops sprühendes Charisma so gut zur Geltung kommt, wie noch nie zuvor. In knapp drei Jahrzehnten mit tausenden Performances rund um den Globus ist Lord Bishop Rocks zu einer Institution geworden. In den Adern des 2 Meter Riesen aus der Bronx fließt purer Rock'n'Roll. Genau wie sein Äußeres ist Lord Bishops Auftritt auf der Bühne groß, kraftvoll, unnachahmlich, entschlossen und einfach unvergesslich. "Wow, it was like watching Jimi Hendrix on steroids. Great and powerful live show and a one of kind performer" (Lemmy Kilmister / Motörhead); "Blues is his soul, and I heard the ghosts of Howlin Wolf when he sang. Lord Bishop is an authentic bloke" (Eric Burdon / The Animals);"If James Brown and Jimi Hendrix had a love child, he would be Lord Bishop. Truly outstanding, great songs, cool guitar and funky riffs. It was a pleasure to have him support my tour" (Ian Paice / Schlagzeuger von Deep Purple). Seine Karriere begann Lord Bishop mit einem Umzug ins wilde Nachwende- Ostdeutschland. Straight ahead aus der amerikanischen Heimat ins Ungewisse, das Durchbeißen gegen alle widrigen Umstände war ihm ohnehin buchstäblich in die Wiege gelegt. In Dresden begann er seine musikalische Mission, den handgemachten Rock um die Welt und ins nächste Jahrtausend zu tragen.

Zweimal Gimp Fist! Die Alben "UNIFICATION" und "ISOLATION"! Jeweils 15 Songs auf jedem Album und wie nicht anders zu erwarten, liefert die North-East Oi! Division wie gewohnt Songs der Extraklasse ab! Den klassischen UK Skinhead & Punk Sound mit abwechslungsreichen Mischung aus straight forward Punkrock-Hymnen, druckvollen Singalongs und mitreißenden Oi!-Shoutern beherrschen die drei Engländer bis zur Perfektion! Abgerundet durch das ausgeklügelte Songwriting und treffsichere Lyrics von Sänger Jonny Robson hat sich die Band seit 2005 weltweit eine riesige Fangemeinde erspielt. Nicht umsonst sind Gimp Fist auf dem Rebellion-Festival in Blackpool jedes Jahr einer der Headliner und von Craig Charles in seiner BBC Radio 6-Sendung fast in den Punk-Adel erhoben worden. Limitiertes rotes Vinyl mit blauen Spritzern!

Funkrockfolk mit animierenden Grooves aus Berlin Bis zur Pandemie konnte sich Holler my Dear über jede Menge Resonanz und internationale Bühnenerfolge freuen. Die drei Alben des weit gereisten Berliner Sextetts erhielten auch außerhalb Deutschlands viel Lob. Bei Festivals (u.a. X-Jazz, Reeperbahn, Jazz Open Stuttgart, Jazz & the City Salzburg, Mexico City, Penang, Kairo, Teheran) und in Clubs feierte die Band rauschende Feste. Im Juni 2023 veröffentlichte Holler my Dear die EP Aftermath, deren Songs u.a. mit der (Post)-Coronastimmung abrechnen und die eine elektronischere Soundästhetik ausloten. Nun schlägt Holler my Dear das nächste Kapitel auf. Die Songsammlung An Only Me Is A Lonely You präsentiert einerseits eine Rückbesinnung auf die akustische Grandezza von jazziger Trompete und Akkordeon, neben Winklers extrem variablem Gesang von jeher Markenzeichen der Band. Andererseits wagt das Sextett neuerdings gewitzte Flirts mit rauem Funk, Soul und Rock im Stil der frühen Siebziger oder auch im Geist des unvergessenen Prince. Verglichen mit dem Vorgänger wirkt die neue Produktion etwas heller, teils geradezu uplifting. Dafür sorgen stärkere Grooves von Schlagzeug und E-Bass, prägnante Riffs und eruptive Instrumental-Einsätze sowie mehr Humor in musikalischen und textlichen Details. So unmittelbar wie nie wird die immer wieder hochgelobte Dynamik und Bühnenenergie von Holler my Dear auf Tonträger eingefangen. Die absichtsvoll "schmutzige" Ästhetik sei einerseits aus der Stilistik der Songs erwachsen, sagt Laura Winkler. Andererseits hat Produzent Dennis Rux (Angels Of Libra, Hamburg Spinners, Tetrao Urogallus) einen starken Anteil daran. Der Hamburger ist ausgewiesener Spezialist für hochkarätiges Vintage-Studioequipment, von Mikrophonen über Vorverstärker bis zu Band-Echos und anderen Effektgeräten, die er schon seit Dekaden sammelt. Während der Aufnahmen befand sich die Band größtenteils im selben Raum, was den bekannten Live-Esprit entfachte. Auf nachträgliche Korrekturen oder gar Overdubs wurde weitgehend verzichtet, das verstärkt den direkten Eindruck. Dazu passend erscheint Winklers gravitätische Stimme wendiger denn je. Neben eingängigen und fast hymnischen Melodien setzt sie verstärkt auf rhythmische Phrasierungen bis hin zu Rap-ähnlichen Passagen mit perkussivem Charakter.

With this 12" reissue made for Giancarlo Meo, legendary producer of Easy Going, Vivien Vee, Capricorn, Amin-Peck, Steel Mind, Claudio Simonetti (aka Kasso) and many other artists, Best Record once again offers a great dance music service for those who perhaps don't know to need it. Claudio Casalini, who 40 years ago was not only a record producer, but above all one of the most important club-DJs in Italy, remembers well the cheering crowd of the jet-set in the elegant Roman lounges, with the dance floor full of people vibrating for that fusion of disco, soul and funk sounds that many Italo-Disco songs featured in those early Eighties. The three versions of "Out to Get You" contain all those sounds, but is mainly the version re-edited by the imaginative and passionate Massimo Berardi DJ that brings a portion of musical restoration making it current, and so exciting and modern, absolutely suitable for dancing again in every part of the world.

A 2LP compilation featuring 42 of the world’s most supreme Northern Soul anthems.

An essential collection for any fan of great timeless music, this compilation celebrates the dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the Midlands in the early 1970s. Be transported back to the swinging sounds of Northern Soul, featuring the soulful classics from Gloria Jones, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Dusty Springfield and Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.

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.

My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross, ANOHNI"s sixth studio album, expresses a world view by shape-shifting through a broad range of subject matter. Through a personal lens, ANOHNI addresses loss of loved ones, inequality, alienation, acceptance, cruelty, ecocide, devastation wrought by Abrahamic theologies, Future Feminism, and the possibility that we might yet transform our ways of thinking, our spiritual ideas, our societal structures, and our relationships with the rest of nature. On her first full album since 2016"s HOPELESSNESS, she explains the creative process was painstaking, yet also inspired, joyful, and intimate, a renewal and a renaming of her response to the world as she sees it. "Some of these songs respond to global and environmental concerns first voiced in popular music over 50 years ago." ANOHNI"s approach since her last record has shifted from someone tasked with challenging global denial, to an artist seeking to support others on the front lines. "I learned with HOPELESSNESS that I can provide a soundtrack that might fortify people in their work, in their activism, in their dreaming and decision-making. I can sing of an awareness that makes others feel less alone, people for whom the frank articulation of these frightening times is not a source of discomfort but a cause for identification and relief. On "It Must Change," ANOHNI soulfully describes systems in collapse with a note of compassion for humanity: "The truth is I always thought you were beautiful in your own way // That"s why this is so sad." ANOHNI"s voice is sensual and smoothed, selectively reaching to the edges of what it can contain. "We"re not getting out of here // No one"s getting out of here // This is our world," she murmurs. A portrait of legendary human rights activist Marsha P. Johnson taken by Alvin Baltrop features on the cover, reflecting a 25-year relationship with the memory of Johnson that ANOHNI has held space for in the presentation of her own work. Elsewhere, the album artwork states "IT"S TIME TO FEEL WHAT"S REALLY HAPPENING". In some ways it feels as if she is reaching across her life"s expression, and has found a moment of unique composure, wearing her long exploration of disarming intensity, with the maturity of a painter carefully choosing her colors. "I want the work to be useful, to help others move through these conversations we are now facing, to move with dignity and resilience through this bitter dawning."

This top-notch spiritual jazz album from Argentina will leave fans of Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane astonished. Recorded in 1975 and still surprisingly off the radar, this is one of the deepest jazz albums from South America.

Inspiración is the meeting of two generations united by music: Ara Tokatlian and Guillermo Bordarampé, members of the influential 70s rock band Arco Iris (which Tokatlian cofounded with the now Oscar award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla), join forces with Enrique "Mono" Villegas, an admired jazz pianist who had been active since the 1930s.

Meditative, soothing and serene, Inspiración is music your soul yearns for.

Official reissue with sound off the master tapes, including a reproduction of the original 16-page booklet. With the blessing and support from Ara Tokatlian and Guillermo Bordarampe.

Africamore: The Afro-Funk Side of Italy (1973-1978)

Continuing Four Flies' dedication to delving into lesser-explored periods of Italian music, Africamore takes us on a captivating journey into the intersection of Afro-funk and the Italian soundscape during the six years between 1973 and 1978 - a time when disco was looming on the horizon and the nightclub market was rapidly expanding.

Before reaching Italian shores, the infectious sound originating from African and Afro-Caribbean roots traversed both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, landing on New York dancefloors, where DJ Dave Mancuso discovered "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango. In 1973, from Mancuso's Loft parties, the song's hypnotic groove spread to the rest of the globe, including in Italy, where it sparked a wave of imitations and variations.


Tribal influences thus found their way into Italian soul-funk and early-disco productions released between 1973 and 1978 – from psychedelic-tinged tunes like Jean Paul & Angelique's "Africa Sound" to the Afrobeat-inspired club banger "Kumbayero" by composer/producer Albert Verrecchia (aka Weyman Corporation); and from groundbreaking Afro-cosmic songs like Chrisma's "Amore", co-written by Vangelis and featuring the rhythms of Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band Osibisa, to mind-blowing floor-fillers like Beryl Cunningham's "Why O", a re-write of Nat King Cole's "Calypso Blues" arranged by Paolo Ormi, with percussion breaks that sound pretty much like what would later become known as techno.


Combining feel-good vibes with driving rhythms, world-style percussion, and even synths, all these productions pushed the boundaries of dance music at a time when disco had not yet taken over. In doing so, they sowed many of the seeds of the later Italian cosmic scene and its unique mixture of African elements, disco-funk and electronic music.

This was a brief but nuanced period in Italian music history, one that deserves to be rediscovered, with love.

Africamore is due out on March 22nd and will be available as a gatefold 2LP and digipak CD. Both formats come with stunning artwork by Kathrin Remest and liner notes by Pierpaolo De Sanctis and Elena Miraglia.

Mr Lee Perry who in no uncertain terms defines the words musical genius, recorded some of the most inspiring, soulful, funny and weird / wild reggae music ever put down on tape. Working through all the manifestations of reggae from Ska to Roots and Dub, where his ground breaking 1973 ‘Blackboard Jungle’ LP, set the standards, he was an innovator. If this was not enough his recordings of THE WAILERS, many believe to be their finest work. Born Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover, Jamaica. He began his career at the grand age of 16, working for Clement ‘Coxone’ Dodd’s sound system, rising quickly to the position of record scout and organising recording sessions during his 3 year period 1963-1966. Restlessness and unsatisfied with credit he felt due to him he moved on to work with Producers J.J. Johnson and Clancy Eccles, the later of which would help him set up his ‘Upsetter’ label in 1968,which would see his first of many recordings telling the injustices done to him by previous employees. ‘The Upsetter’ track itself pointed at Mr Dodd but reflected back to Perry when he inherited it as a nick name along side many others during the coarse of his career, including ‘Scratch’, again taken from one of his recordings ‘Chicken Scratch’ recorded in 1965/1966. Perry’s work in 1968 with producer Joe Gibbs was fruitful and resulted in many successfulreleases, but again lack of credit and itchy feet, it was time to move on. But not without leaving his trademark recording summing up his feelings at the time ‘People Funny Boy’ this time aimed at Mr Gibbs. Still not having a studio of his own, Perry recorded at the various Kingston establishments of the time, Randy’s Studio 17 on North Parade, Dynamics on Bell Road and Harry J’s on Roosevelt Avenue where the bulk of the aforementioned recordings with The Wailers were carried out. During this time and the years that followed Perry has built up a vast catalogue of backing tracks / instrumentals, he had cut over a 100 releases on his ‘Upsetter’ label alone. A library of music that he has an uncanny knack of reutilising to work into something new when put against a new song / singer. This collection of rare and unreleased dubs stems from his 1971-1974 period. We can here on tracks like ‘Perry’s Jump Up’ Ska-ish up tempo chopping guitar cuts leading through to organ laden tracks like ‘Roots Rock Dub’. The sound moving to a slowed down rhythm on ‘Perry in Dub’ which would predominate his sound, when in mid 1974 he’d open his own studio at his home in the Washington Gardens district of Kingston. We hope this selection of lost treasures will add to the jigsaw that makes Mr Perry’s output now spanning over 5 decades so remarkable.
RESPECT.... JAH FLOYD.

IZIPHO SOUL are incredibly proud to announce our 100th 7” single!

LAWRENCE BEAMEN - THINKING OF YOU

The unsurpassable bass-baritone voice of LAWRENCE BEAMEN originally recorded THINKING OF YOU in 2008. After years of pleas for a vinyl release; it’s finally here and sounding fresher than ever.

THE 7 REMIX courtesy of Don Turney at DKS Productions has added a magic touch and beefed up this classic even further!

Arranged and produced by Narada Michael Walden and Lawrence Beamen. Music Produced by Narada Michael Walden. Lyrics by Lawrence Beamen.

On the flip is a new recording entitled BEEN A LONG TIME - a banger of a tune, straight outta Oakland, California.

Packaged in a hole backed picture sleeve.