2x12"
Artificial Intelligence are back with another installment of their latest project ‘The Series’; Season’s 3 & 4 will come formatted as a full vinyl LP, available across all formats. Packed with eight individually intimate episodes of deeply soulful, futuristic jams, and special appearances from longtime label mates DRS & Steo.
Belgian artist Philippe Petit joins Radio Slave’s imprint with four analogue techno cuts on his Rekids debut. The Chamonix based DJ and producer Philippe Petit is widely respected amongst the techno community for his plethora of rumbling releases such as ‘Venus’ on EarToGround and ‘Scrape’ on his own imprint Decision Making Theory as well as releasing on Involve and Figure SPC to name a few. With a wealth of experience playing at the likes of Tresor, Suicide Circus, La Graviere, Batofar, Weetamix, Corsica Studios, and Berghain, the sophisticated production he showcases was a natural fit for the Rekids’ Special Projects series. ‘Anger’ rolls in with force and bumping sub frequencies, rattling percussion and jarring keys, then ‘Crystal Clear’ keeps things murky with evolving pads, fleeting highs and rolling low-end. On the flip, ‘When We Meet’ jumps in with climbing stabs, tight hi-hats and galloping kicks, when finally, ‘La Floria’ cuts through with chopped highs, washing chords, snappy cymbals and dreamy harp-esque patterns.
A mainstay of the independent funk, soul and blues scene - Dr Rubberfunk's home-grown, honestly composed, and intricately produced recordings, combined with a hands-on approach both in front of and behind the mixing desk, have earned him a well-deserved reputation for being a name synonymous with quality.
That quality just keeps coming as he carries his successful 'My Life At 45' singles series into a third instalment. With two sell out runs of limited edition 45's having won praise from the likes of BBC6 Music, driven mixes on Mixcloud to the top of their charts, and garnered support across the blogosphere, it made sense to continue the good work and get to work on number three.
Extending his fruitful relationship producing fellow Jalapeno Records artist and soul gospel specialist Izo FitzRoy, the lead track sees them team up for some timeless songwriting in the shape of 'A Matter Of Time'.
Izo is on a real hot streak at the moment having featured on Pt.2 of this 7" series before going on to work with Shawn Lee (BBE Records) and Dimitri From Paris (Glitterbox) on singles that tore up radio charts worldwide. And she delivers on this track once again, with the catchiest melody you'll hear this year over Rubberfunk's tasteful, upbeat and lively production.
Backing it up is the bluesy 'Slim's Mood' which allows the Rubberfunk band to stretch their legs over a driving soul jazz arrangement that's a must for fans of 'Boogaloo Joe' Jones and Grant Green. ... As before, it's likely to be another sell out run, so move quickly before they disappear!
Regular 12"[13,15 €]
Limited edition version record with printed circuit board with artwork done by Delta aka Boris Tellegen! The label's return hasn't been taken lightly. The artwork for 'Research' is created through a series of photos of custom printed circuit boards made specifically for this release in collaboration with Delta. 100 of this special edition are available and they wont be available forever!!
Words from the label:
Our imprint marks its five years anniversary this year and to celebrate it’s offering up five special various artist packages across 2019 limited to 250 copies each, featuring material from the likes of Vid, The Mole, Cinthie, Shinichiro Yokota, San Proper, Akiko Kiyama, Com Sin aka Cosmin TRG, Subb-an and more..
Kicking off the third instalment of the series is San Proper’s ‘Your Call’, a robust yet dream house workout fuelled by choppy bass hits, fluttering synth licks and a shuffled analogue drum groove. Barcelona based trio Triad follow with ‘Room N’, a hypnotic house cut fuelled by ethereal chord swells, modulating percussion and vacillating bass tones.
Tokyo’s Iori Wakasa then rounds out the release with ‘Rave In A Village’, as the name would suggest embracing a classic house feel via a winding piano chord, twinkling piano melodies, crunchy drums and mesmeric pads throughout.
This project also sees a new design concept for the imprint from London’s David Surman’s painting installation project ‘Paintings For The Cat Dimension’ which ‘’explores the motif of the cat as emblematic of internet aesthetics, a place where all painting styles and modes now exist non-hierarchically as pure information.’’
* The original sister label to Ram Records from the old Ram HQ studio in Essex, Liftin Spirit Records now celebrates it’s 25th year with a special ‘RELOADED’ limited vinyl series of remastered classics, alongside rare and previously unreleased tracks since the beginning in1992.
* DATs from artists such as Andy C, Ant Miles, Shimon, Joint Venture, Flatliner, Interrogator and Red One have been located in the archives. Also from the Ram & Liftin HQ came tracks for the Deep Seven label in 1993 and all these rare DAT masters have been located and now re-cut by Simon, the original Ram & Liftin vinyl masterer at ‘The Exchange’. Initially, Deep Seven remasters will present on a printed white label and unreleased tracks will have a black label.
* The year is 1994 and the awesome combination of Flatliner & Ant Miles gave life to the infamous tracks ‘The Big Bang’ / ‘No Boundaries’. Release no 9 on RAM records tore up sound systems at every Rave in the country. A follow up was on the cards and ‘Flatline’ was born. Put to one side to make way for the Big Bang/No Boundaries remixes, somehow it never resurfaced again... until now!
* A similar story evolved for the A side ‘Just Stop’. A track made in the latter part of 1995, Flatliner comes with yet another amen monster, but this time taking things on more of a rolling Drum & Bass vibe. A golden nugget to own on vinyl for any true Jungle/Drum & Bass fan.
This year, First Word Records celebrates its fifteenth year in the game. The year commenced triumphantly with First Word being named "record label of the year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards 2019. Over the past six months, we've seen new music from 14KT, Souleance, Myele Manzanza, Teotima, Don Leisure, Children of Zeus and a range of artists across Europe, on the 'Music! Musik! Musique!' compilation.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary, First Word has a series of releases in the works for the second half of the year which see collaborations by artists from the label's current roster. To kick off, we have this special double-AA sided 7" single featuring Darkhouse Family, Kaidi Tatham & Tyler Daley.
Darkhouse Family consists of two Cardiff beatmakers & musicians, Earl Jeffers - founder of Melange Records and producer of 'A Library Excursion' from 2018, and Don Leisure, who recently provided us with 'Halal Cool J', the beat-tape sequel to 2017's 'Shaboo'. Over the years they've had releases, solo & individually, on Fat City, Metalheadz & Earnest Endeavors to name a few, bridging the gaps between various strains of dance music, beats and hip hop, with the organics of jazz and funk. Recently making noise across the UK with their new live band, and production work for the likes of Kamaal Williams, this is their first new release since their highly-acclaimed 2017 debut album 'The Offering' & subsequent remix project which also featured DJ Spinna, and one Kaidi Tatham.
Kaidi Tatham is one of the most revered multi-instrumentalists in the game. His endless contributions have included Bugz In The Attic, Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Moonchild, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler and loads more. Dubbed by Benji B last year as "the UK's Herbie Hancock", his versatility as a musician is actually more akin to Prince. He can play most things, and play them well. Providing flute duties on this track, he also graces the flipside with a full "flutestrumental" version. Aside from numerous other projects, Kaidi released three EPs on First Word to date, 'Changing Times', 'Hard Times' and 'Serious Times', and an album last year, entitled 'It's A World Before You', which featured daddy of 2000 Black, Dego, son of Jazzy Jeff, Uhmeer and Children of Zeus, Konny Kon & Tyler Daley.
Tyler Daley hails from Manchester, alongside son of Zeus, MC / DJ / beatmaker, Konny Kon. Somewhat of a veteran in the game, Tyler is currently one of the most-recognisable talents in the British soul scene, also lending his talents to dance music royalty along the way, including the likes of Goldie, Zed Bias, DJ Marky & Lenzman. With Children of Zeus, the duo have had a whirlwind 12 months since the release of their debut album 'Travel Light', performing shows across the globe & gaining new fans daily. The record was named "album of the year" by Complex magazine and BBC 6 Music's Huey Morgan, amongst a number of other notable tastemakers & selectors. Hot on the heels of the 'Excess Baggage' EP, Tyler laces this one with his inimitable brand of bars and soul.
A veritable super-group amongst the First Word stable, this low-slung slinky joint sees the guys work up a unique blend of jazz, soul, beats and hip hop - guaranteed to go 'All The Way'…
'All The Way' is released on First Word Records on July 26th 2019, limited 7" vinyl & digital.
Produced & mixed by Darkhouse Family
Vocals by Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus)
b B1. All the Way (Flutestrumental) [feat. Tyler Daley & Kaidi Tatham]
[b] B1 | All the Way (Flutestrumental) [feat. Tyler Daley & Kaidi Tatham]
[b] B1 | All the Way (Flutestrumental) [feat. Tyler Daley & Kaidi Tatham]
Reed Records presents the fifth single from Mohawkestra ‘Mo Heavy’ b/w ‘Buffalo Bill’ available on 7” vinyl
Mo Heavy is the first Mohawkestra single to feature one of their original compositions as the A Side and it’s a belter! Replete with the signature Mohawkestra heavy organ working alongside driving guitar chops and the percussion gets plenty of time to shine.
As the a-side is a Mohawkestra original on this one the B-Side is ‘Buffalo Bill’ which is a rather unique funk fuelled take of ‘The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill’ from The Beatles’ White Album. The hint of the title and the melody are the only similarities though as Mohawkestra take the groove far out into the Funk spectrum and stripped back to raw elements.
Available on 7” vinyl
The fifth and final Mohawkestra 45 in this series for Reed, and for this final donut they have gone into the realms of soundtracks vibes, a lost 70s cop show theme immediately comes to mind. This is a wide open joint, a spaced-out arrangement with super tough drums n' bongo breaks that keeps building into a killer jerkin' funk burner, just needs a cop car's siren wailing at the end! Special mention to Joe Wilkins for the raw as **** guitar riffs, heavy stuff. All in all a wicked and furious 45 for B-Boys & B-Girls.
Beginning a new series of Remix Packs, in which favorite artists and label affiliates are remixing tracks from different Malka Tuti back-catalogue releases. The first one includes Toulouse Low Trax and Die Orangen remixing Xen & Yovav’s critically acclaimed 7” release from 2018, as well as 2 remixes of the Tel Aviv duo Plazmot by Benedikt Frey & Borusiade. All Tracks were mixed by Gordon Pohl. This record will also be the first to present Malka Tuti’s brand new specially designed generic record sleeves.
SECTION ROOTS SERIE #02
Psychoskunk are back with the second chapter of Section Roots series by Error Etica. This chapter included a original track of the label's owner Victor Martinez (Error Etica) and 3 special remixes by the Japan techno artist Hironori Takahashi (Informa-Granulart-Stroboscopic Artefacts) and Pelacha owner of Redsonja Records and founder of Stelar Booking and the famous parties in Madrid Techno Cracks ,
As a special mention the masterful reinterpretation of English techno legend Nick Dunton /65D Mavericks (Surface Records / Inceptive / Poverty is Violence/Blueprint) of the original track: Schematic Diagram thats included only in digital live version that Victor interpreted in mythical club in Barcelona "Moog".
As with the first SchleiBen series, Emotional Response follows the success of the second set of split releases with a stand-alone album by one of the highlights, in Neil Tolliday.
Recorded over a 17-year period, the ambient, drone and noise pieces collected here offer a glimpse in to the depth of a supremely talented, thoughtful and at times, troubled musical mind.
As his love for house music and the success of his Nail moniker grew and waned during the ascent 90s boom, there followed his somewhat surprising success as one half of Balearic-pop combo Bent, propelling Tolliday in to a world of indie-charts and endless touring. The eventual unhappiness of this 'music career' and increasing need for personal escapism led him start experiment new musical forms of expression.
A thinker and oft-over drinker, success was viewed with a deep suspicion and introspection, drug use and later, depression. As his other music projects slowly imploded, this new, personal music was for many years, made purely for Tolliday's own absorption and comedowns.
Taken from an initial 4 track recording in Nottingham in 2000, more pieces were subsequently recorded around the globe on numerous devices - old portable cassette recorders, hand held digital stereos and even mobile phones. These heavily manipulated samples were slowed down, reversed, smudged and stretched before analog and modular patching, Mellotron, editing, programming and post production were added to the melting pot.
With hundreds of tracks collated, in the last few years Tolliday began putting them out via Bandcamp using different aliases, on made up record labels, with no press or mention to anyone. This would happen every 6-9 months - a new label was created with logo, band/artist names and a few albums worth of music, leaving it there for a few weeks before then deleting the lot.
Here then is a snapshot of those recordings, chosen to represent the depth of music, while trying not to think too much about in to the emotions that were used in making them. With special hand painted artwork by Sam Purcell, commissioned from the artist's own photographs taken from a adjournment at Homerton hospital, the hope is to do justice to such wonderful music and present Neil Tolliday, finally an artist, shorn of pseudonyms, in a broader light.
Berlin based trio Keller Crackers collective likes to shape haunting esoteric sounds, in which self-built instruments dance with ritualistic synthesised rhythms, field recordings, psychoacoustic drones and poetical spoken silhouettes.
After a self-released MC and a mesmerising tune called “Anem” out in February 2019 on the custom-made Kashual Plastik 007 double-vinyl compilation, now they give birth to their own debut record “KC”, a four track EP resulting from various improvisational studio sessions, a bag full of spontaneous visionary DIY sound fashion that melts meandering serialism, foggy ‘Chris & Cosey’-ness, exoticism and freely expressed emotions. Some pieces are given time to evolve, being dragged through long arrangements and slow transitions, while others are playful and short. To close up the magic circle, the release includes a tripping Tolouse Low Trax signature remix.
The opening tune “Specialised” swings on a trance-like hypnotic bass line, while a self-made kalimba played through a tape delay and overtones from a DIY circuit bended device inject dynamics and colour to the composition. Out of the sonic depth, the spoken words of Sylvana Wickman emerge enchanting and unreal, naming a series of technical terms, assembling a deep notion on the specialised society we live in.
“Cow Tongue” follows, a fleeting composition of crackling electronic clicks jumping off a micro-modular device. They got overdubbed again by Sylvana’s voice, delightfully reciting phrases from a recipe of regional delicacies.
The A side of KC`s first strike finishes with a spaced-out synth bass and the lo-fi beats of a Yamaha RX15 drum machine. They are the gripping foundation of “Aithouses Anamonis“, which means “Waiting Rooms”. It describes the scene of a man sitting in a waiting room observing the consumerist behaviour by the folks around him.
The B-side opens with a Tolouse Low Trax remix of “Specialised”, elevating the original with the bass line of “Aithouses Anamonis“, while melting the all into a dark nebulous Tolouse Low Trax signature stripped down funk for endless nights in neon lights.
For their final track “Colours”, Keller Crackers invited a steady free member of their live shows to record with them: free jazz musician Robert Würz. He tuned his flute enthralling over a suspenseful bass line formed in a whirlwind of synth-sounds. The whole frenzy gets divine through sliding chords that rise from a self-built guitar.
A musical bouquet for open spirits, that value charming minimal wave zones, undefinable post-industrial psychedelics and hallucinogenic poetry reflections on the current state of our mechanical times.
Volume Three in the Mr Bongo Record club series. Another showcase of recent vinyl finds and favourites from our DJ sets and radio shows. This is an extra special one however, as it lands in 2019, the year that we celebrate 30 years since it all began way back in 1989.
Compiled by David Buttle and Gareth Stephens, assisted by Graham Luckhurst and Gary Johnson.
After S3A's 'Deep Love' contribution last year we are stoked to present you this great collection of music! Coming from the French underground S3A aka Max Fader is absolutely no stranger to the scene. With releases on Local Talk, Quartet Series and his own 'Sampling As An Art records' he is deeply rooted in House, Hip Hop, Disco, Soul and Funk serving residencies at Paris clubs 'Concrete' and 'REX' he has become a local favourite as well with his DJ and Live sets. We are more than excited to release this special debut album that showcases some older and recent work, with live acoustic songs from early 2017 recorded at the Paris 'Red Bull Music' studios to new sample based House and Disco infused tracks in the signature 'S3A' style we got to love so much in recent years. 'Fever", 'Friends, 'Joint No. 5 and 'Greed' are all funk fuelled jams composed by Max, re-played and recorded again in several live jams with fellow musicians Nicolas Taite, Raphael Vallade and Pierre Vadon and edited in the studio by S3A afterwards, they breath this special Soul and Funk love Max got into by listening to 'Masters at Work' and old Disco jams. The latter 'Greed' has a special story, it is a cover of an early 'Laurent Garnier' track that got reworked by 'Avril' in the early 00's, here Max wanted to present his own Jazz and Funk perspective on that same track. The club stompers 'First Day With Lucien", 'Lockwood", 'Clarence J. Boddicker' and 'Leaving 19th' are the true party business on this album and range from Deep House to more classic edit style Disco tracks with live improvisations played on top of them.
Born from Music of Life archive tapes (previously believed lost) which were uncovered by Robin Allinson in a Publishers warehouse in 2012.
The source material for this special record is" 1989 Hustlers Convention Live" (SPOCK1) ".
A Live Hip Hop Album, famously sampled by The Prodigy for the 'Everybody In The Place' vocal. The tapes of the night were multi tracks with 6 channels of audio recorded, Decks (Mono), 2 Mics (Mono) and the Room (Stereo). Being so old the tapes were first 'baked' and then transferred from a Studer machine in to Pro Tools via Prism Sound A/D converters at FX Rentals / FX Copyroom, Acton, London.
Notable performances by Artists on the Night came from MC Duke & Merlin; Mark The 45 King; Demon Boyz; Daddy Freddy. DJ's on the night were Westwood and Cut master Swift. Sections of their sets between Artists was captured. What did not make the Album was the Battle instigated by Overlord X coming on stage and stopping proceedings to battle MC Duke. As Duke once told me "X stuttered on the Mic".
Listening back, it's gold and puts Queen Latifa popping up in context. While restoring the Album as a multi track mixdown Robin started a series of new music projects plundering the MOL tapes and formed Stay On Target records to release them. Recordings were sent to: Sonars Ghost (SOT000), Stormski, 6Blocc, Bay B Kane and the last instalment was by Robbee Darkhalf.
As part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations, Strut present the first new volume in their pioneering 'Nigeria 70' series for over 8 years, bringing together rare highlife, Afro-funk and juju from the '70s and early '80s. Compiled by collector and DJ Duncan Brooker, this new selection of tracks is receiving its first international release outside of Nigeria.
The compilation returns to a fertile heyday in Nigerian music when established styles like highlife and juju became infused with elements of Western jazz, soul and funk and musicians brought a proud new message post-independence. Brooker places the spotlight particularly on some of the incredible Ukwuani musicians from the Delta State region as guitarist Rogana Ottah and Steady Arobby's International Brothers Band forged their own fluid brand of highlife and soulman Don Bruce drew on the US R&B greats for a series of great albums and explosive stage shows at his residency at Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Elsewhere, the album explores the close connection between Nigeria and Benin's music, most famously through Sir Victor Uwaifo, appearing here with a killer mid'80s ekassa jam, as well as highlife hitmaker Osayamore Joseph on 'Obonogbozu' (Joseph made headlines in Nigeria for very different reasons in 2017, surviving a one month kidnapping ordeal).
Other tracks include 'Sickness' a 1979 lament on how all countries share troubles by Prince Nico Mbarga, the Nigerian / Camerounian star behind the smash hit 'Sweet Mother'; reggae singer Felixson Ngasia switches to funk and disco for a heavy workout with potent lyrics around black identity; another major highlife great Etubom Rex Williams unleashes a punchy psych funk gem with 'Psychedelic Shoes' and Africa 70 member Pax Nicholas vocals a simmering Afrobeat groove from Jacob Lee's Saxon Lee & The Shadows International Band.
'Nigeria 70: No Wahala' iis released on 29th March 2019 on CD, 2LP and digital. All tracks have been restored by See Why Audio and mastered by The Carvery. The package features comprehensive sleeve notes including exclusive interviews with some of the original artists.
FLOAT proudly welcomes their second artist into the fold. UK electronic artistand Szun Waves band member Luke Abbott, presents a special 10-track album tocelebrate Piano Day 2019 - an international event series initiated by NilsFrahm which acts as a platform for piano-related projects. 'Music From The Edge Of An Island' sees Abbott divert from his typicallyexperimental electronic style to explore a more compositional approach centredaround VST instruments. Rather than the usual themes of synthesis andimprovisation, the album is lead by piano motifs, structured around emotivemelodies and sparkling arrangements. The record began as a part of asoundtrack commission by producer / actor Jessica Hynes for her film 'TheFight' and ultimately became a fully-realised album. The film script had acoastal setting that created the record's thematic idea: "I had this ideaabout being on the edge of England, almost ready to fall off a cliff into thesea but keeping your balance on the edge." The idea of writing for the piano had been ruminating for some months asAbbott found himself spending an increasing amount of time playing on theinstrument. Without a piano of his own though, he found a strangely enchantingway to fulfil his creative impulse. "I used to have an upright piano, but I'dgiven it away when I last moved house, so I ended up using a piano VST in thecomputer, which I actually really enjoyed. Writing the music became a bit of aweird fantasy process, I was in an odd headspace for a few days." The writing process was remarkably quick, resulting in simple yet inspiredpieces that subtly blur the lines between MIDI computer music and liveperformance. 'Music From The Edge Of An Island' can be seen as a collection ofgentle reveries that sway between the twilight hours, marked by moments ofsoft, contemplative ballads and more active and expansive motions. Openingtrack 'Sea' begins with a mysterious piano waltz before unnerving synth dronestake over. 'Island continues with piano triplet figures plus addedorchestration of cello strokes and airy glass pads, before heading into themelancholic 'Tree', bringing in more strings and added pathos heard in therestless piano motif. Quieter passages are contrasted with the Gamelan-esque'Moments' and the uplifting 'On Rope', whilst more lyrical moments on thealbum can be found in tracks such as 'Adjustment' and closing track 'ADifferent Tree'.
Originally released in 2014, Matt Berry's 'Music For
Insomniacs' was an exploration into Matt's love of
the classic electronic experimentation of the
1970s, typified by the recordings of both Jean
Michel Jarre and Mike Oldfield.
With the original vinyl issue being limited to 500
units and never being repressed, Acid Jazz Records
are making a special blue vinyl reissue available.
On release, 'Music For Insomniacs' was critically
acclaimed, receiving four star reviews in Mojo, The
Times and The Sunday Times and the following
acclamations from the NME - 'much too good to
fall asleep to' and Shindig - 'quite brilliant'.
Intrigued by the work, Jean Michel Jarre asked
Matt to work with him on a track and also involved
Matt in his career retrospective podcast.
This reissue comes on the back of the widespread
success of Matt's latest album 'TV Themes', which
charted in the UK Top 40 and was almost
universally acclaimed by Will Hodgkinson in The
Times to David Holmes and The Orb. A BAFTA
Award-winning actor, Matt is currently filming two
new TV series but will be back in the studio during
2019.
