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Twice Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning artist Arlo Parks announces her new album, Ambiguous Desire, due April 3rd via Transgressive Records.



Ambiguous Desire is Parks at her most confident and experimental, supplanting live band sessions for modular synths, ableton plugins and samplers that channel the frenetic, vibrant spaces she was immersed in, all while spotlighting the acclaimed poetry and lyricism she’s beloved for.



Reflecting on the making of the record, Parks shares, "I danced more than ever as I made this record, I made more friends than ever too, found myself in the weird underbelly of New York juke nights, unleashed, laughed and laughed and laughed. This record has desire at its centre. Desire is a life force, it’s a wanting, a yearning, a momentum - we are all alive because there is something or someone we want - desire is an engine. But it is also mysterious, tangled, random, enlightening and HUMAN."



Parks crafted the album with producer Baird (Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract). Their process unfolded between NYC’s vibrant, community-rooted nightlife and long, introspective days spent in Baird’s downtown loft. The result is Parks’ most vulnerable, self-affirming, and euphoric work to date.

Die zweifach Grammy-nominierte, mit dem Mercury Prize und BRIT Award ausgezeichnete Künstlerin Arlo Parks kündigt ihr neues Album „Ambiguous Desire“ an, das am 3. April über Transgressive Records erscheinen wird.



„Ambiguous Desire“ zeigt Parks von ihrer selbstbewusstesten und experimentellsten Seite. Live-Band-Sessions wurden durch modulare Synthesizer, Ableton-Plugins und Sampler ersetzt, die die frenetischen, pulsierenden Räume widerspiegeln, in denen sie sich bewegte, während gleichzeitig ihre gefeierte Poesie und Lyrik, für die sie so geliebt wird, im Vordergrund stehen.



Über die Entstehung des Albums sagt Parks: „Ich habe während der Arbeit an diesem Album mehr getanzt als je zuvor, ich habe mehr Freunde gefunden als je zuvor, ich habe mich in den seltsamen Untergrund der New Yorker Juke-Nächte begeben, mich gehen lassen, gelacht und gelacht und gelacht. Dieses Album dreht sich um das Thema Begehren. Sehnsucht ist eine Lebenskraft, sie ist ein Verlangen, eine Dynamik – wir alle leben, weil es etwas oder jemanden gibt, den wir wollen – Sehnsucht ist ein Motor. Aber sie ist auch geheimnisvoll, verworren, zufällig, erleuchtend und MENSCHLICH.“



Parks hat das Album zusammen mit dem Produzenten Baird (Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract) produziert. Der Entstehungsprozess fand zwischen dem pulsierenden, gemeinschaftsorientierten Nachtleben von NYC und langen, introspektiven Tagen in Bairds Loft in der Innenstadt statt. Das Ergebnis ist Parks' bisher verletzlichstes, selbstbewusstestes und euphorischstes Werk.

A GOOD FUN record, the new album from Lipphead – aka the collaborative NYC duo consisting of the producer Tony Simon (Blockhead) and Eliot Lipp – will be the group’s 3rd official full- length, having released the first two records via Detroit’s Young Heavy Soul label.

Lipphead’s music occupies the sweet spot between Blockhead’s groovy, sample-based hip- hop and Eliot Lipp’s upbeat electronic funk. The duo have performed live at select festivals throughout North America and are booked to tour this album, 17 dates in the US starting right after release, April 3rd. European/UK festivals are confirmed in the summer and are waiting to be announced.

The internationally renowned NYC producer Tony Simon—aka Blockhead—has released 15 albums over the past 15 years, including four acclaimed records for Ninja Tune and numerous production jobs including notable works with Aesop Rock. He is regarded as one of the modern masters of instrumental hip-hop and has more recently been releasing music on other platforms like Future Archive Recordings and Backwoodz Studios.

Eliot Lipp is an electronic musician based in Brooklyn, New York. His work was picked up by Scott Herren of Prefuse 73 (Warp Records) after Herren heard him working the club circuit. In 2004, Lipp released his first studio album, S/T, with Eastern Developments Music, a label owned by Warp Records. Lipp has also released music with Pretty Lights Music and his own label Old Tacoma Records.

“Our process for this album was very much "Take this, and add to it" . We both made beats and sent them to the other to add things to. Eliot would generally start the arrangement process and then I'd come in and give my two cents. Gotta say, these Lipphead albums generally come together seamlessly . We definitely have a simple flow and method as to how we create things together, even though the "together" part comes at the end.” - Blockhead

“This is definitely the goofiest record so far. I imagine Lipphead did a little too much doomscrolling between ‘From The Back’ and this one, based on all the meme samples sprinkled throughout.

One difference this time around was that we made way more music than what ended up coming out. It was tough to figure out how to fit it all on one LP, we’ll definitely have some leftovers to drop later on.” - Eliot Lipp

Scorsese Sounds - A Tribute To Martin Scorsese - The Finest Selection of Martin Scorsese"s Soundtracks Martin Scorsese ist nicht nur ein Meister des Films, sondern auch ein Virtuose der Musikauswahl. Mit "Scorsese Sounds" erleben Sie die unverwechselbare Klangwelt seiner größten Werke - von epischen Gangster-Sagas bis hin zu psychologischen Dramen und zeitlosen Klassikern. Diese exklusive Doppel-Vinyl vereint die Essenz der Soundtracks, die Scorseses Filme zu Kult gemacht haben. Jeder Track ist sorgfältig ausgewählt, um die Atmosphäre und Emotionen der legendären Szenen einzufangen - von der rauen Energie des New Yorker Untergrunds bis zur eleganten Nostalgie vergangener Zeiten. Ein Muss für Cineasten, Vinyl-Liebhaber und alle, die die Magie von Bild und Ton schätzen. Tauchen Sie ein in die musikalische DNA eines der größten Regisseure unserer Zeit.

Twice Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning artist Arlo Parks announces her new album, Ambiguous Desire, due April 3rd via Transgressive Records.



Ambiguous Desire is Parks at her most confident and experimental, supplanting live band sessions for modular synths, ableton plugins and samplers that channel the frenetic, vibrant spaces she was immersed in, all while spotlighting the acclaimed poetry and lyricism she’s beloved for.



Reflecting on the making of the record, Parks shares, "I danced more than ever as I made this record, I made more friends than ever too, found myself in the weird underbelly of New York juke nights, unleashed, laughed and laughed and laughed. This record has desire at its centre. Desire is a life force, it’s a wanting, a yearning, a momentum - we are all alive because there is something or someone we want - desire is an engine. But it is also mysterious, tangled, random, enlightening and HUMAN."



Parks crafted the album with producer Baird (Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract). Their process unfolded between NYC’s vibrant, community-rooted nightlife and long, introspective days spent in Baird’s downtown loft. The result is Parks’ most vulnerable, self-affirming, and euphoric work to date.

Die zweifach Grammy-nominierte, mit dem Mercury Prize und BRIT Award ausgezeichnete Künstlerin Arlo Parks kündigt ihr neues Album „Ambiguous Desire“ an, das am 3. April über Transgressive Records erscheinen wird.



„Ambiguous Desire“ zeigt Parks von ihrer selbstbewusstesten und experimentellsten Seite. Live-Band-Sessions wurden durch modulare Synthesizer, Ableton-Plugins und Sampler ersetzt, die die frenetischen, pulsierenden Räume widerspiegeln, in denen sie sich bewegte, während gleichzeitig ihre gefeierte Poesie und Lyrik, für die sie so geliebt wird, im Vordergrund stehen.



Über die Entstehung des Albums sagt Parks: „Ich habe während der Arbeit an diesem Album mehr getanzt als je zuvor, ich habe mehr Freunde gefunden als je zuvor, ich habe mich in den seltsamen Untergrund der New Yorker Juke-Nächte begeben, mich gehen lassen, gelacht und gelacht und gelacht. Dieses Album dreht sich um das Thema Begehren. Sehnsucht ist eine Lebenskraft, sie ist ein Verlangen, eine Dynamik – wir alle leben, weil es etwas oder jemanden gibt, den wir wollen – Sehnsucht ist ein Motor. Aber sie ist auch geheimnisvoll, verworren, zufällig, erleuchtend und MENSCHLICH.“



Parks hat das Album zusammen mit dem Produzenten Baird (Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract) produziert. Der Entstehungsprozess fand zwischen dem pulsierenden, gemeinschaftsorientierten Nachtleben von NYC und langen, introspektiven Tagen in Bairds Loft in der Innenstadt statt. Das Ergebnis ist Parks' bisher verletzlichstes, selbstbewusstestes und euphorischstes Werk.

1 Umbrella represents a watershed moment for modern Bay Area hip-hop, effectively serving as the region’s "Avengers" assembly designed to consolidate the Northern California sound. For years, the local scene has been bisected by the distinct "mob music" bounce of Oakland and the melodic, trauma-drenched "pain music" of San Francisco; this collective is the first major commercial force to deliberately fuse these competing energies into a single, dominant infrastructure. The roster is a calculated cross-Bay alliance that balances opposing sonic weights: Lil Bean and Lil Yee anchor the group with the emotive, auto-tune-heavy melodies that define the current SF landscape, while Zaybang cuts through that introspection with his signature high-octane aggression.

Balancing the scales are ALLBLACK and 22nd Jim, who inject the classic East Bay attitude—ALLBLACK delivering the motivational, sports-heavy "player" lineage of the region, contrasted against Jim’s nonchalant, rhythmic flow. Backed by the powerhouse infrastructure of EMPIRE and united under tracks like "Baller Blockin" and the unification anthem "The Blueprint," the group is attempting to solve the fragmentation that has historically plagued the Bay’s independent market. By synchronizing their movement with the arrival of Super Bowl LX, 1 Umbrella is positioning itself not merely as a rap group, but as the official cultural ambassadors for the region, betting that a unified front can finally command the national spotlight that often eludes the West Coast’s independent giants.

A GOOD FUN record, the new album from Lipphead – aka the collaborative NYC duo consisting of the producer Tony Simon (Blockhead) and Eliot Lipp – will be the group’s 3rd official full- length, having released the first two records via Detroit’s Young Heavy Soul label.

Lipphead’s music occupies the sweet spot between Blockhead’s groovy, sample-based hip- hop and Eliot Lipp’s upbeat electronic funk. The duo have performed live at select festivals throughout North America and are booked to tour this album, 17 dates in the US starting right after release, April 3rd. European/UK festivals are confirmed in the summer and are waiting to be announced.

The internationally renowned NYC producer Tony Simon—aka Blockhead—has released 15 albums over the past 15 years, including four acclaimed records for Ninja Tune and numerous production jobs including notable works with Aesop Rock. He is regarded as one of the modern masters of instrumental hip-hop and has more recently been releasing music on other platforms like Future Archive Recordings and Backwoodz Studios.

Eliot Lipp is an electronic musician based in Brooklyn, New York. His work was picked up by Scott Herren of Prefuse 73 (Warp Records) after Herren heard him working the club circuit. In 2004, Lipp released his first studio album, S/T, with Eastern Developments Music, a label owned by Warp Records. Lipp has also released music with Pretty Lights Music and his own label Old Tacoma Records.

“Our process for this album was very much "Take this, and add to it" . We both made beats and sent them to the other to add things to. Eliot would generally start the arrangement process and then I'd come in and give my two cents. Gotta say, these Lipphead albums generally come together seamlessly . We definitely have a simple flow and method as to how we create things together, even though the "together" part comes at the end.” - Blockhead

“This is definitely the goofiest record so far. I imagine Lipphead did a little too much doomscrolling between ‘From The Back’ and this one, based on all the meme samples sprinkled throughout.

One difference this time around was that we made way more music than what ended up coming out. It was tough to figure out how to fit it all on one LP, we’ll definitely have some leftovers to drop later on.” - Eliot Lipp

A collection of fourteen digital reggae, deep roots and dub rarities from the Nigerian underground, spotlighting a time when Jamaican reggae entwined with Nigerian styles, politics and consciousness, creating a bridge between Lagos and Kingston. Fight the Fire is a companion piece to Soundway"s seminal "Doing it in Lagos" and "Nigeria Special" compilations, celebrating the innovation and musical experimentation of Nigeria in the 80s. Features rare tracks from key figures of the time including Oby Onyioha (with a crucial Burning Spear cover) and Orits Williki.

“I wanted to explore how a big band can cry — not only through sorrow, but through joy, tenderness, and release. Music can hold grief and celebration at the same time, and Paid To Cry lives in that space.”
Nils Berg has been a cornerstone of the Swedish jazz scene since the turn of the millennium. Known internationally as an innovative bandleader and collaborator, this release places the spotlight — for the first time — on Berg’s work as a composer for large ensemble.
Paid To Cry is the result of an intensive collaboration with the Norrbotten Big Band, one of Scandinavia’s most acclaimed jazz orchestras. Drawing melodic clarity and emotional directness from composers such as Burt Bacharach and Kurt Weill, while embracing the raw courage of Björk and Sun Ra, and the pulsating minimalism of Steve Reich, the music forms a sound world that feels both familiar and entirely its own.
This is contemporary big band music without nostalgia: physical, vulnerable, and expansive. Written with deep trust in the individual voices of the ensemble, the compositions allow space for both collective force and intimate expression. And what an ensemble to breathe life — and tears — into this music.
With fifteen musicians moving as one organism, Paid To Cry carries enough air, rhythm, and resonance to lift the listener far beyond genre boundaries. It is music that dares to be emotional without explanation, and powerful without grandstanding — inviting the listener to feel first, and understand later.

Night Rider EP hits that sweet spot between late-night cruise control and rooftop party heat, with Zopelar sliding from lush synth funk to deep, bumpin’ house while Felipe Gordon flips the title track into a proper floor weapon.

Pariah’s cult album re-issued! “Blaze of Obscurity” brings you pure Thrash Metal fury! Satan changed their name to Pariah in 1988-1989. There’s Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, the list seems almost endless. Sub-genres are important in metal and bands are quickly classified and labeled. Pariah (the last re-incarnation of Satan) is one of few bands that are difficult if not impossible to classify. Is it Heavy metal? NWOBHM? Thrash Metal? Pariah did not make it easy to describe their sound. It might be too sophisticated to simply label it Heavy Metal, which in its infancy was a rather simple affair.

They don’t sound like any Metal band out there, perhaps discounting some of the more aggressive and technical ones, and then the signature NWOBHM sound is added. The guitar playing by Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey is undeniably what defines Pariah as well as Satan in the past. Undeniably, Satan has gone a long way; from humble NWOBHM beginnings, to Experimental/Melodic Mettal (in Blind Fury) and something that could be described as a NWOBHM/Thrash Metal hybrid (“The Kindred”). It’s as if they’ve been experimenting trying to find their identity, and theyfinally found it. Stylistically, “Blaze of Obscurity” could be seen a step back to “Suspended Sentence”, but this time around they got everything right, down to the last note. Those who have heard Satan know what to expect: great guitar playing.

And sure enough, “Blaze of Obscurity” is a demonstration of guitar mastery and is overall a very guitar-driven album, with plenty of mind-boggling riffs and solos are all over the place, but more importantly, it’s a demonstration of some amazing songwriting as well. This is easily Pariah/Satan’s creative peak and one of the most consistent albums I’ve ever heard, featuring eight great and conceptually perfect songs with lyrics that come across as sophisticated and thought-provoking. It is not fair to put the entire spotlight on Tippins and Ramsey though since the drumming and bass work from Sean Taylor and Graham English really shines. The rhythm is fast and tight, keeping it focused, aggressive and intense till the end. Vocalist Michael Jackson (yes, that’s his name) has to be commended too as this is easily his careers best performance.

The verdict: “Blaze of Obscurity”: the level of musical genius expressed here, along with near flawless songwriting, is more than enough to skyrocket it to heights reserved only for classics. Probably not your choice for some light listening those quiet Sunday evenings, but those who take a more serious, intellectual approach when selecting their music will find very much to appreciate here.
Tracklisting

Boutique-pressed 7" vinyls A-side: "Wonderin'" / B-side: "Dream"

Drawing influence from the likes of CAN, Faust, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and David Vorkhaus, Shakti Soundsystem traverses the borderlands of psychedelic rock, Krautrock, jazz fusion, and ritual improvisation. But this isn't a retro trip—this is future folklore.

Each track is a trance in motion, built on hypnotic basslines, spiraling melodies, and moments of ecstatic dissonance. The instrumentation is as unconventional as the process: Bulbul Tarang, modular synths, guitars, drums, and vocals that oscillate between invocation and surrender.



Their first singles have already made waves across tastemaker blogs and listener-curated Spotify playlists, includingNeo-Psychedelia, Psych Rock Melting Pot, Rock for when 26 King Gizzard albums aren't enoug and Psychedelic & Space Rock.

"Wonderin',"described by Analogue Trash (UK) as "an absorbing, psychedelic jam that thrives on hypnotic repetition and a raw, live energy,"introduced their trance-infused sound to a wider audience.
"Silver," hailed by RMAS (Mexico) as"a hypnotic journey between Krautrock and spoken word... a sonic delirium that recalls CAN and the free spirit of the European underground," cements their place in the modern psych scene.

Djo, the musical project of Joe Keery, returns with his fourth studio album, The Crux Deluxe—an expansive, 12-track companion album to The Crux, written, recorded and produced by Keery and his collaborator Adam Thein. Following the massive success of his single “End of Beginning,” which topped both the US and Global Spotify charts and amassed over 2 billion streams worldwide, the deluxe record is full of songs that were written at the same time as The Crux album sessions and recorded at Electric Lady Studios in NYC.

Tim Maia’s self-titled 1973 album is one of those records that hits you from the very first groove and doesn’t let go. Originally released on Polydor Brazil, this was the fourth in a series of Tim’s self-titled albums and many fans and critics still consider it the crown jewel. Packed with irresistible hooks, lush arrangements, and that unmistakable Tim Maia swagger, the album captures the singer at the peak of his creative powers.If you’re new to Tim Maia, here’s the quick story: born in Rio de Janeiro, Tim was a larger-than-life icon whose music married American soul and funk with Brazilian samba and pop long before “fusion” was a buzzword. A true musical polymath, he absorbed everything from Curtis Mayfield to Motown and translated it into a sound entirely his own, gritty, passionate, and full of groove.



He didn’t just introduce soul to Brazil; he made it Brazilian.On this 1973 release, Tim pushes everything up a notch. The arrangements are bigger, slicker, and surprisingly majestic, without losing the raw spirit that earned him a devoted following. From the moment ‘Réu Confesso’ opens the album, you know you’re in for something special—smooth, funky, and heartfelt in all the right ways. The bittersweet ‘Gostava Tanto de Você’ remains one of his most beloved classics, while ‘O Balanço’ bursts with Brazilian flavor that practically dares you not to move. And with tracks like ‘Do Your Thing, Behave Yourself’ and ‘Over Again,’ Tim shows just how naturally the soul idiom fit him, even when he switched to English.This record has everything: deep grooves, soaring strings, magnetic vocals, and that unmistakable sense of joy that Tim Maia carried into every session. It’s a front-to-back winner—one of those albums that deserves a spot not just in Brazilian music history, but in any collection that celebrates great soul, funk, and timeless grooves.If you’re a longtime fan, it’s a reminder of why Tim Maia is legendary. If you’re discovering him for the first time, this is the perfect place to start. Either way: press play, turn it up, and let Tim do his thing.

LUKE COMBS ist einzigartig - eine seltene Kombination aus Nahbarkeit und außergewöhnlicher Kunstfertigkeit. Bodenständig, authentisch und mühelos echt, ist er ein Künstler, der einem vom ersten Moment an vertraut erscheint, dessen Stimme, Vision und Erfolge jedoch unverkennbar einzigartig sind.

Mit nur 35 Jahren hat Combs bereits die Rekordbücher neu geschrieben: 20 aufeinanderfolgende Nr. 1-Singles, der erste Country-Künstler, der mehrere Nächte im Wembley-Stadion headlined - alle drei Termine sind ausverkauft und aufeinanderfolgend- der erste Country-Künstler, der sowohl beim Bonnaroo als auch beim Lollapalooza headlined, und der erste, der zwei Songs mit über einer Milliarde Streams auf Spotify und vier RIAA-Diamond-zertifizierte Singles vorweisen kann. Selbst inmitten solcher Meilensteine behält Combs sein seltenes Talent, Vertrautes neu erscheinen zu lassen - mit Songs, die mit überraschender Klarheit und emotionaler Ehrlichkeit überzeugen.

The Way I Am, das am 20. März via Sony Nashville erscheint, ist eine Sammlung von 22 Songs, die alles zeigt, was Combs so unverwechselbar macht: von seiner rauen, resonanten Stimme und seiner meisterhaften Erzählkunst bis hin zu Songs, die herzliche Verletzlichkeit mit hymnischer Energie verbinden. Das Album taucht tiefer denn je in das Leben hinter den Kulissen ein und erkundet die Herausforderungen der Vaterschaft und die Balance zwischen Familie und Karriere, Selbstvertrauen, die stillen Kämpfe um die psychische Gesundheit und die Klarheit, die entsteht, wenn man sich daran erinnert, was wirklich wichtig ist. "The Way I Am" zeigt Luke Combs als ein Generationstalent auf dem Höhepunkt seines Schaffens und als eine globale musikalische Kraft, wie sie nur einmal im Leben vorkommt.

Rom Com is the debut album from Disco In Sochi; a Liverpoolborn duo injecting full-throttle glam rock theatrics into modern pop. Built on strutting guitars, neon synths, & unapologetically huge hooks, their sound is loud, glossy, and engineered for the spotlight. Drawing from the lineage of glam’s excess and pop’s instinct for spectacle, Disco in Sochi trade subtlety for swagger. Their songs are designed to hit hard and fast — all attitude, amplification, and choruses made to be yelled back from the front row. It’s music that treats the stage like a catwalk. Disco in Sochi make pop music for outsiders who dress loud, move louder, and don’t believe in playing it cool. Equal parts flash and force, they arrive with the confidence of a band ready to turn volume into a statement.

New album by SABA ALIZADEH, a groundbreaking voice in contemporary Iranian music who blends classical Persian traditions with avantgarde experimentation.

Born in Tehran in 1983 as son of the world renowned tar and setar virtuoso HOSSEIN ALIZADEH, SABA ALIZADEH established himself not only as a true master on the Iranian spike fiddle kamancheh but one of the groundbreaking voices in contemporary Iranian music, blending classical Persian traditions with avantgarde experimentation. His music, praised by THE WIRE as "a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary", turns sound and image into powerful narratives of memory and resistance. Over the past years, ALIZADEH (who relocated to the Netherlands a few years ago) has appeared at key festivals and venues such as Reeperbahn Festival, CTM, Flow Festival, Philharmonie Berlin, Kölner Philharmonie, solidifying his reputation as a singular live performer.
After the critically acclaimed releases "Scattered Memories" (his international debut, released on Karlrecords in 2019), "I May Never See You Again" (2021) and last year's "Temple of Hope", his new album fascinates again with a unique artistic voice, weaving together centuries-old sonic heritage and the urgency of the present through deeply immersive, meditative landscapes in two epic pieces. "Rituals Of The Last Dawn" may feel like a sad or resigned title (compared to the positively fierce "Temple Of Hope"), but at the same time the highly meditative music provides a good lot of contemplative strength. Appealing to an open-minded "world music" audience as well as fans of current streams of ambient or drone in its most subtle forms, ALIZADEH's latest work is a strongly needed soul food in bitter times. Created on the spot with his musical partners PIETRO CARAMELLI (guitar and electronics on "First Ritual") and LIEW NIYOMKARN (lap steel and electronics on "Last Ritual"), "Rituals Of The Last Dawn" is a pure, unfiltered emotional expression from one of contemporary Iranian music's leading artists.

Black Vinyl Repress


Das Berliner Indie-/Electro-Wave-Trio Dina Summer meldet sich mit einer ordentlichen Portion Synthpop auf ihrem zweiten Album ‘’Girls Gang’ zurück!

Dina Summer ist ein kollaboratives Projekt, das aus Kalipo, einer Hälfte der legendären Electro-Punk-Band Frittenbude, und dem griechisch-deutschem DJ & Produzenten Duo Local Suicide besteht, die das Label Iptamenos Discos betreiben. Ihre bisherigen Werke umfassen das von Kritikern gefeierte Album „Rimini“ aus dem Jahr 2022, das einen nostalgischen Einblick in Retro-Disco-Vibes bietet, sowie die EPs „Who Am I“ (2021) und „Hide & Seek“ (2024). Seit der Gründung der Band vor fünf Jahren hat Dina Summers Musik mit Millionen von Streams, weltweitem Radio-Airplay und zahlreichen Spotify- und Apple Music-Editorial-Playlists für Aufsehen gesorgt und wurde von DJs wie Charlotte De Witte, The Hacker, Âme, Dixon, Joris Voorn, DJ Hell, Joyce Muniz und Dubfire gespielt. Das neue Album umfasst 11 Songs die sich mit Themen wie Empowerment („No More Tears“ & „Girls Gang“), Außenseitertum („Alien“ & „Zombie“), Vergänglichkeit („Promise Me feat, Curses & Joshua Murphy“), Nostalgie („Halkidiki“) und Beziehungen („Nothing To Hide“ & „Hypnotized“) auseinandersetzen. Legte ihr Debütalbum seinen Fokus eher auf den Club zwischen Italo-Disco und 90ies Elektro, erkundet die neue Veröffentlichung eine größere Sound-Palette, die von New Wave & Post-Punk zu Electroclash und Synth- & Indie-Pop reicht. „Girls Gang“ ist ein gutes Stück songorientierter als das Debütalbum, die Band erweitert ihr Repertoire auf einigen Songs unter anderem um echte (!) Bässe und Gitarren, vorallem aber setzt Frontfrau Dina neben ihrem Markenzeichen - Spoken Word - immer öfter auf ihre Gesangsstimme. Trotzdem knüpft das Album nahtlos an das Erstlingswerk an, man hört wieder jene poppige Melodien und Hooks mit denen sich Dina Summer zuvor schon einen Namen gemacht hat, ausgebreitet auf einem Bett aus Indiepop-Hymnen und Club-Brechern.

Shoreline’s new album Is This The Low Point Or The Moment After? is built around an unanswerable question: when you hit rock bottom, can you tell where things begin to turn? Meant to be heard front to back, the record starts in a subdued, reflective place, grows progressively heavier, and ultimately lands on a more hopeful note. Drawing from the current wave of emo and hardcore while reflecting the collision of Germany’s alternative scenes, the album shows a band with a clear musical vision focused on big melodies, heavy riffs, and an honest DIY punk foundation.

Barsuk Records is pleased to release Death Cab for Cutie's beloved debut LP Something About Airplanes on attractively-priced standard weight vinyl. This black vinyl pressing is packaged with the original spot-color printed die-cut jacket design, with a new boat-and-water-ripples lyrics insert.

The 7:45s are a soul collective from Manchester, UK – the brainchild of songwriter and bassist Sam Flynn. Inspired by the house bands of labels from Motown to Big Crown, the young collective spotlights guest vocalists on each tune. Named after 7-inch vinyl, The 7:45s write snappy singles that blend the vintage feel of rare groove with the songcraft of perfect pop. BBC Radio 6 Music has played seven songs by The 7:45s this year.

Clocking in at under three minutes, 'I'll Be Fine' is a short and snappy soul sensation. The guitar hooks your ear, the rhythm reels you in, and the arrangement keeps you on your toes – adding exuberant horns, break downs and build ups. Featured vocalist Yemi Bolatiwa shines through the song's bittersweet theme, that it's better to have loved and lost… 'I'll Be Fine' has been played on BBC Radio 6 Music. Craig Charles called it "Proper up-tempo soul of the highest order".

A mix of metallic doomgaze, epic gothic soundscapes and post punk attitude. Loud and crushing, yet sharp enough to stick in your head for days. There are two kinds of heavy bands: the ones that make a lot of noise and the ones that drag you somewhere you didn't know you needed to go. Cwfen (pronounced 'Coven') are the latter, and Sorrows is a record that doesn't just crush - it haunts long after the final note. The allure of Cwfen's sound lies in contrasts: the glacial ferocity of Amenra, with the velvet-and-razor vocals of King Woman, and the rotting grandeur of Type O Negative. It's as hypnotic as it is harrowing, but somehow even better than the sum of those parts. Since emerging from Glasgow's underground just 18 months ago, Cwfen's reputation is growing, selling out shows and pulling growing audiences into their doom-laden fever dream. Released in October, the band's debut single 'Reliks' was a hit with fans and critics, landing a spot on Kerrang!'s release of the week playlist. And rightly so. Their sound devours and delights in equal measure. "Cwfen have emerged from the darkest depths of the Caledonian underground with a beguiling blend of doom metal and gothic post-punk for those who like to live deliciously." Kerrang! Sorrows lives in the space around doom where the weight of the riffs is matched by the weight in your chest, where the lyrics and the songwriting are as important as the music itself. Loud and crushing, yet sharp enough to stick in your head for days. It builds, burns, collapses, resurrects. Big on riffs, bigger on feeling. The kind of songs you carry with you. Singer and rhythm guitarist Agnes Alder bears her claws one minute, then whispers the next, as the band follows like a storm front, rising, breaking, drowning you in the weight of it. From the guttural Penance to the lush Whispers, to the feral Wolfsbane and the insurrectionist Rite. It includes a long reworking of Embers and Bodies, the two self-recorded demos that launched them into the scene with a bang and their growing legion of fans already adore. Intricate vocal arrangements, heavy and harsh guitars, a mix of atmosphere and heft, it undoubtedly punches above its weight for a debut. As Agnes says: "When we stopped trying to fit into any one space, what came out was this beautiful mix of dark and light. Something visceral and cathartic." This is a band that sits right in the boundaries between the heavy genres, pulling in everyone from the young goths and to the die-hard metalheads alike and 'Sorrows' truly does deliver in spades. Make no mistake, Cwfen are set to be one of the names to watch in 2025. FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Zetra, King Woman, Type O Negative, Alcest, Faetooth, Liturgy. Limited vinyl pressing, 500 copies in transparent red vinyl. Full colour Gatefold outer sleeve, with a full colour printed inner sleeve, Full download included as well.

Stay True Sounds presents a vinyl-focused celebration of a modern dance music classic.

Jazzanova need no introduction. For over two decades, the Berlin collective has shaped the sound of soulful electronic music — timeless, refined, and rooted in pure musicality. Their collaboration with the ever-smooth Vikter Duplaix produced That Night, a track that has since lived many lives on dancefloors across the world.

Central to its legacy is the Wahoo Remix by Dixon and Georg Levin — a cult favourite that continues to resonate from Berlin to Johannesburg. This vinyl release brings together key reinterpretations of that remix, spotlighting South African artists who have added new dimensions to an already iconic recording.

REVNOIR is one of the most exciting new forces to emerge in the rock and metal world. Officially unveiled in September 2023, the project has been quietly evolving behind the scenes for nearly two years, led by the talented trio Maxime Rodriguez-Medallo, Julien Ho-Tong, and Kaz Nakazawa. Blending elements of modern rock, crushing metal, and dark electro, REVNOIR crafts a powerful, melodic sound that resonates with both emotional depth and cinematic intensity. Since their formation, the band has made impressive waves—already surpassing 1 million Spotify streams across their four latest singles and building a loyal listenership with over 70,000 unique monthly listeners on the platform.

Their explosive live energy was on full display when they joined Future Palace on a European tour and later proved their rising star status with a sold-out headline show at La Maroquinerie in Paris (550 capacity) in April 2025. Now signed to Arising Empire, REVNOIR are gearing up for their next big chapter: supporting Coldrain on their massive UK/EU headline tour this winter. Spanning 17 dates across 10 countries, including major stops in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, and more, the tour marks Coldrain’s first European run in over four years and is set to draw thousands of fans each night. As main support on every date, REVNOIR will be performing in some of the biggest venues of their career so far—introducing their sound to a whole new wave of international listeners and firmly cementing their place among the most promising heavy acts of this new generation.

"¡Qué ardiente!" combines the best of Los Roger's limited discography, one of the most influential Amazonian cumbia bands from Iquitos, Peru.Their discography dives deep into Cuban-influenced sounds, where the guitar shares the spotlight with powerful percussion and-with tracks like 'Descarga Roger's'-with the vocals as well. A thorough look into one of the most essential Psychedelic cumbia bands in Peru. Iquitos, one of Peru's most remote cities and the capital of its Amazon region, was the epicenter of the psychedelic cumbia movement. Countless bands emerged from this place, each with a different fate in their musical journeys. Some rose to become international stars and flag bearers of cumbia, while others remained local legends, their fame never traveling far beyond the Amazon jungle. Los Roger's achieved great success in Iquitos and served as the foundation and inspiration for many local bands that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. "¡Qué ardiente!" combines the best of the band's limited discography. The recordings come from their first 45 RPM single and their two mini Long Plays for the FTA label, as well as their only elusive LP from 1971, "¡Qué ardiente!", ("How Burning!") recorded for the prestigious IEMPSA label. Los Roger's came to an abrupt end just one year after the release of their LP, at the peak of their career, due to their disappointments with the music industry.

YonYon's commemorative 1st album ‘Grace’ shines with new brilliance through analog sound－the long-awaited LP release!
This album features 14 tracks in total, including 7 popular songs from the album “Grace”, plus 7 remixes.
Guest artists include KIRINJI, SIRUP, South Korea's leading R&B singer-songwriter/producer SUMIN, PEAVIS, and other artists resonating across generations
and styles. Sound production features top-tier creators active globally, including ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo), Chaki Zulu, grooveman Spot, and South Korea's
rising producer Slom. The album effortlessly crosses genre and language boundaries, weaving diverse musical elements into a rich soundscape.

After traveling through Mexico, Miami, the Bahamas, and New Orleans, Nishioka recorded his fourth album South American Journey in Los Angeles,
released in 1979. From this album, two of his most celebrated tracks—“GYPSY SONG”, a fan favorite with numerous cover versions, and “NEVER LAND”,
featuring the distinctive sound of steel pans and a Japanese reggae vibe are now being pressed on 7-inch vinyl for the first time in a limited edition!

The recording features members of the So What Review band, including Junshi Yamagishi (guitar) and Osamu Ishida (guitar), along with renowned steel pan
player Robert Greenidge, known for collaborations with Van Dyke Parks and Taj Mahal.
(FLATT THE LAIDBACK)

Kyozo Nishioka Profile
(Born May 7, 1948 – Died April 3, 1999)
Singer songwriter from the Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture, affectionately nicknamed “Zo-san”.
After enrolling at Kinki University and moving to Osaka, Nishioka became a regular at the folk cafe Dylan in Namba, opened in August 1969 by Masaji Otsuka
and Yoko Ishimura. Dylan was a gathering spot for folk music enthusiasts from all over Japan.
Nishioka formed the folk group The Dylan with Masaji Otsuka and You Nagai, performing at folk camps and the Nakatsugawa Folk Jamboree. In 1971, Nishioka
left the group, and Otsuka and Nagai continued as The Dylan II. Nishioka wrote and composed the song “Puka Puka” under the pen name Zokyozo, which became
one of his signature works. The song was first released in July 1971 as the B-side of The Dylan II’s single “Otoko rashii tte Wakarukai” on URC Records.
Nishioka began his solo career, releasing his debut album “Dylan nite” in July 1972, produced by Kinji Yoshino on Bellwood Records, which included his own
version of “Puka Puka”. In September 1973, he appeared at the farewell concert of Happy End titled CITY – LAST TIME AROUND at Bunkyo Public Hall in Tokyo.
His 1974 album “Machiyuki Murayuki” was produced by Haruomi Hosono, and his 1975 album “Rokka My Baby” featured support from Shigeru Suzuki’s band
HUCKLE BACK. Nishioka recorded three albums under Hosono’s production, deepening their friendship.
Together with his wife and lyricist KURO, Nishioka wrote songs for artists such as Eikichi Yazawa. The couple traveled the world, recording overseas albums such
as “Nanbei Ryoko” (1977), “Yoh-Sollo” (1979), and “New York to Jamaica” (1981), incorporating reggae, calypso, and other global sounds. In the 1980s, he released
works under the duo name KYOZO & BUN with Yoshifumi Okajima, and in the 1990s returned to solo projects with albums like “START” (1993) and “Farewell
Song” (1997).
After KURO’s passing in 1997, Nishioka continued his musical activities until his own death in 1999 at the age of 50. His music transcended the boundaries of folk,
blending jazz and tropical elements to create a unique world view, leaving an indelible mark on Japanese music history.

One of the UK’s most singular voices, Murkage Dave has spent the last decade crafting a body of work that refuses to fit neatly into any genre box. His music, loosely pop but informed by indie, outsider art, and an instinct for storytelling, is built on honesty, empathy, and fearless social commentary. Across his career, he has earned a cult following and praise from Pharrel Williams, Iggy Pop, BBC Radio 6 Music, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Clash, Complex, Highsnobiety, and Vogue. His debut album Murkage Dave Changed My Life (2018) amassed over 12 million Spotify streams, while follow-up The City Needs A Hero (2022) reached #10 on the UK iTunes Chart and #15 on the UK Independent Chart.

I don't wanna die (Pt. 1 & 2) is John Wells raw portrait of two years caught between a stalled music deal, broken trust, and the fight to stay alive. Set against fog and grit in Baltimore, the EP blends soul-baring lyricism with shifting, dreamlike production — confronting self-doubt, past mistakes, and the stubborn will to survive.

Out of Baltimore, Maryland comes The S.E.T. who are crafting 100% unapologetic hardcore music. Formed between bassist Che (founder of Flatspot Records), guitarist Brady (formerly of Turnstile), and drummer Ryan (formerly of End It), the band started through jam sessions in early 2024. Before they knew it, they had instrumentals for seven songs written and were ready to put lyrics to the tracks, and the search for a vocalist began. Che spotted Tim hopping on stage and grabbing the microphone at Disturbin’ The Peace Festival, invited him to try out for vocalist, and The S.E.T. was then complete.
The S.E.T. will release their debut Self Evident Truth EP, on February 27th through Flatspot Records. It’s 15 minutes of fury and groove, taking cues from Baltimore acts such as Gut Instinct (whose Sebastian Gorgone features on “White Lies”) and Stout and the crossover sounds of New York like Leeway and Judge. Recorded and mixed by Justin Day at New Noise Recording and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, the tracks roar with thick bass lines, fast-paced drums, and rage fueled vocals. Lyrics come from a place of candor, expressing the basis of equal rights and defying the propaganda the current administration is spewing.
As The S.E.T. comes into fruition, the band wants to exist as a place to put words to action and come together as a community through both their music and live shows

Out of Baltimore, Maryland comes The S.E.T. who are crafting 100% unapologetic hardcore music. Formed between bassist Che (founder of Flatspot Records), guitarist Brady (formerly of Turnstile), and drummer Ryan (formerly of End It), the band started through jam sessions in early 2024. Before they knew it, they had instrumentals for seven songs written and were ready to put lyrics to the tracks, and the search for a vocalist began. Che spotted Tim hopping on stage and grabbing the microphone at Disturbin’ The Peace Festival, invited him to try out for vocalist, and The S.E.T. was then complete.
The S.E.T. will release their debut Self Evident Truth EP, on February 27th through Flatspot Records. It’s 15 minutes of fury and groove, taking cues from Baltimore acts such as Gut Instinct (whose Sebastian Gorgone features on “White Lies”) and Stout and the crossover sounds of New York like Leeway and Judge. Recorded and mixed by Justin Day at New Noise Recording and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, the tracks roar with thick bass lines, fast-paced drums, and rage fueled vocals. Lyrics come from a place of candor, expressing the basis of equal rights and defying the propaganda the current administration is spewing.
As The S.E.T. comes into fruition, the band wants to exist as a place to put words to action and come together as a community through both their music and live shows

One of the industry’s rising stars, Ariane V is known for her widespread knowledge of music and an ability to weave together different subgenres of House in her DJ sets. Her “Safe Travels” EP represents a sampling of the tracks on her forthcoming compilation on Nervous Records, and spotlights a crew of highly talented producers who are part of the community who are keeping the House Music genre fresh and current.

The Romantic, the new album from Bruno Mars. The fourth studio album from the global superstar and 16 time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist marks Mars' first solo album release since 2017's 24k Magic and follows chart topping collaborations with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic, as well as smash hits with Lady Gaga and ROSÉ.

Available for pre-order on the 9th January at 5AM GMT and set for release on the 27th February 2026.

Sixteen-time GRAMMY® Award winner and thirty-three-time GRAMMY® Award nominee Bruno Mars is a celebrated singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who is one of the best-selling artists of all time and now continuously the number-one most listened-to artist on Spotify. With recent hits like “APT.” with ROSÉ and “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga—the latter earning him two nominations for “Song Of The Year” and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards—Mars has celebrated another extraordinary year in music. Among his robust list of accolades, some of which include “Album of the Year” for 24K Magic at the 60th Annual GRAMMY® Awards and “Record of The Year” for Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” at the 64th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, Mars has held the number one global song for more weeks than any artist in 2024 with both “APT.” and “Die With A Smile.”

Our Mirage have carved out a distinct voice in the heavier music scene with emotionally charged lyrics, atmospheric textures, and searing intensity. Formed in 2017, the band quickly gained momentum through an ever-growing fanbase and a string of compelling releases. Their 2022 studio album Eclipse has amassed over 15 million streams on Spotify, cementing their reputation as one of Germany’s most exciting new metalcore exports. Now, the band is gearing up for their most ambitious release yet: Fractured Minds, due out on January 30th, 2026. The record promises to be even more explosive, expanding on their signature mix of crushing heaviness and emotional depth. The momentum is already undeniable —with five singles released from Fractured Minds to date, the band has accumulated over 5.5 million Spotify streams on those tracks alone. Meanwhile, Our Mirage currently count more than 260,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, underlining their ever-growing international presence. Beyond streaming success, Our Mirage have proven themselves a formidable live act, playing major festival stages such as Summer Breeze Open Air and delivering powerful, emotionally raw performances night after night. In January and February 2026, the band will embark on a co-headline tour, bringing Fractured Minds directly to fans across Europe.

CATCHING FLIES ANNOUNCES BEATS & PIECES II - A Bold, Dancefloor-Driven Follow-Up to Acclaimed Mixtape

The Limited Edition Orange Vinyl releases a month before the digital release, and contains exclusive Vinyl versions of some of the tracks, which will not be available anywhere else. Following a run of celebrated releases on Cercle Records and Anjunadeep, alongside a widely praised BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, London-based producer Catching Flies returns with Beats & Pieces II — a dynamic, dancefloor-focused counterpart to his previous mixtape, Beats & Pieces. Described as its "uptempo sister," the new project signals a confident shift in energy while preserving the organic textures and emotive detail that define his distinctive sound. Beats & Pieces II has already notched up a series of notable milestones.

• The track "Iajo" has been featured on the EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack (FIFA).• Catching Flies will deliver a BBC Radio 1 Chill Mix during the album's release week.• He has been named the cover artist for Spotify's Altar playlist.• Tracks from Beats & Pieces II have received support and praise from artists including Bonobo, Diplo, Solomun, and MJ Cole.• This summer, Catching Flies will perform live at festivals across Europe.• He will join melodic house artist Monolink on a North American tour coinciding with the album's release.• Catching Flies will perform at Anjunadeep's London Open Air event at the iconic Naval College in Greenwich this summer.

Mute welcomes German synthesizer and producer duo Felsmann + Tiley to the roster with the release of their new album Protomensch. Out February 13, 2026 on limited edition black vinyl packaged in a special gatefold sleeve featuring a mirror foil lamination on the inner panel revealing a ‘self-portrait of the protomensch.’

On Protomensch (German for “proto-human”), Felsmann + Tiley blend shimmering synthwave, pounding trance, and introspective IDM with synth-pop-infused tracks featuring guest vocalists including London’s Pet Deaths and Australian artists The Kite String Tangle, Woodes, and Laius.

This juxtaposition between sentient beings and machines permeates the whole album – right from the duo’s manifesto introducing us the highly intelligent yet irrevocably shortsighted and downright tragic character of Protomensch – the cover artwork featuring turtleneck wearing chimpanzee, futuristic music videos, and stark social media aesthetics to seated, next-level live-shows involving collaboration with dozens of visual artists.

Despite their online ubiquity, sparked in part by their viral reinterpretation of label-mate M83’s “Solitude,” which has been used over 1 million times on TikTok and high-profile syncs on shows including Young Royals (season two), the BAFTA-winning crime thriller Top Boy (season three), and Amazon’s The Better Sister, Felsmann + Tiley have lingered largely on the periphery, their origins cloaked in quiet anonymity, until now. With the release of Protomensch, Felsmann + Tiley present their fully realized artistic vision and step into the spotlight.

Built on the solid, classic rock foundation of three-part harmonies and dual guitar leads, Canada's Juno Award-winning and multi-platinum selling - the Sheepdogs blend Southern boogie rock, groove-based psychedelia, and bluesy barroom swagger into a modern rock & roll revival. Hailing from the small prairie city of Saskatoon, The Sheepdogs are one of Canada’s most successful bands amassing a legion of fans worldwide with their rich harmonies, rounded guitar tones and classic rock-influenced sound. The band has achieved thirteen top 20 hits on Canadian Rock radio, with ten reaching the top 5 and three claiming the #1 spot. Most recently, their single "Take Me For a Ride" cracked the top 5 and spent over eight months in the top 20. This success followed their 2022 run of  90 cumulative weeks with at least one song in the top 20 at Canadian Rock radio. Hit singles “I Don’t Know” and “Feeling Good” both reached Platinum certification, with “The Way It Is” achieving Gold sales. Additionally, the albums Learn & Burn and The Sheepdogs both achieved Platinum status, and to date the band has been nominated for 11 JUNO awards, including 2022’s “Outta Sight” and winning four awards.

The most popular acoustic folk music group of the 1960s, Peter, Paul and Mary mixed great songs with political and social activism. They brought folk music to a new prominence in the post-McCarthy era, putting lyrics about politics and morality on the radio amid the syrupy boy-girl love tunes that dominated the airwaves. Presented here is the trio's debut album, originally issued in 1962, the splendid selftitled Peter, Paul and Mary. It features some of their most popular compositions such as 'Early in the Morning' and 'Cruel War', and great renditions of Hedy West's '500 Miles' and Pete Seeger's 'If I Had a Hammer'.

The bonus tracks were recorded live in San Francisco and Long Beach, California, late 1962: 'One Kind Favor', 'The Times They Are A' Changin', and 'If I Had My Way'. "The debut album by Peter, Paul & Mary is still one of the best albums to come out of the 1960s folk music revival. It's a beautifully harmonized collection of the best songs that the group knew, stirring in its sensibilities and its haunting melodies as it crosses between folk, children's songs, and even gospel. Peter, Paul & Mary, which hit the top spot on the album charts as part of a 185-week run, is the purest of the trio's albums, laced with innocent good spirits and an optimism that remains infectious"






f 6 ONE KIND FAVOR [Live version]






[m] 13 THE TIMES THEY ARE A' CHANGIN' [Live version]
[n] 14 IF I HAD MY WAY [Live version]






[f] 6 ONE KIND FAVOR [Live version]






[m] 13 THE TIMES THEY ARE A' CHANGIN' [Live version]
[n] 14 IF I HAD MY WAY [Live version]

After being fired by Miles Davis and traveling to Philadelphia to combat his drug addiction in 1957, John Coltrane accepted an invitation from Thelonious Monk to join his quartet. They famously played at New York's Five Spot Cafe and despite the exquisite quality of the band's music, it yielded few recordings and Coltrane's tenure with Monk only lasted six months. Produced by Orrin Keepnews for his label Milestones, the album is compiled from sessions recorded during April, June, and July of 1957. It wasn't released until 1961 though, four years after the sessions took place, and after Coltrane had become a leader and jazz star in his own right.



[c] OFF MINOR [tk 4]


[f] EPISTROPHY [alt tk]
[g] FUNCTIONAL [alt tk]
[h] OFF MINOR [master]

Rick James Blends Brazen Attitude, Fearless Sexuality, and Shrewd Charisma on Street Songs:

Punk-Funk Album Aims for the Hips and Head, Includes the Timeless Hit “Super Freak”
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes and Strictly Limited to 4,000 Numbered Copies:

Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP Set Presents 1981 Smash in Audiophile Sound for the First Time
1/4” / 30 IPS analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe


“Punk funk” was a relatively unknown concept before 1981. But once Street Songs took the charts by storm that year, the world soon knew about what became Rick James’ signature style. And how. True to its name, Street Songs blends outspoken sexuality, brazen attitude, and edgy commentary amid contagious R&B-fueled arrangements that simultaneously aim for the hips, head, and various nether regions. And it’s never sounded better.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents James’ platinum-certified effort in audiophile quality for the first time. Playing with crisp dynamics, lively textures, airy headroom, and revealing clarity, this collectible edition of the record that stayed at the No. 1 spot on the R&B Album Charts for 20 weeks invites you to get closer to music that beckons you to turn your space into a private dance floor.

Then again, you’ll likely be so taken by how the taut bass lines, snappy rhythms, and four-on-the-floor beats — all rendered in stunning detail and with full-bodied architecture — come across with such accuracy and presence, you might stay pinned to your seat. On this pressing, the soundstaging, imaging, and lit-fuse energy of Street Songs reach new heights. Everything from the rubbery feel of the guitar lines to the depth of James’ temperature-raising vocals to the scale of the horn charts emerges as if James and his ace session crew set up in your room.

The Buffalo native and his ensemble waste no time getting their message across. On the album-opening “Give It to Me Baby,” James and company lay down a mix of sleek funk and pulsing disco that practically activates the bright lights of a discotheque and stimulates the libido of anyone within earshot. Having reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul charts, the song is pure sex — and just one of the carnal delights on a record that embraces the subject as fearlessly as James does his identity.

Of course, the most famous of James’ erotic excursions — the timeless “Super Freak” — hit No. 1 on Hot Dance Club Play charts, No. 16 on the Hot 100, and, later, No. 153 on Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 500 Songs of All Time. Bolstered by a quavering keyboard theme and electro riffs, the much-sampled track worms itself inside your muscles with smile-inducing subject matter, gliding vocals, nimble movements, a hot tenor-saxophone solo, and backing vocals by the Temptations.

The iconic Motown group isn’t the only celebrated guest artist on the Grammy-nominated Street Songs. James’ then-labelmate, Stevie Wonder, lends harmonica to the frank sociopolitical narrative on “Mr. Policeman,” a protest tune that also manages to stroll ’n’ strut via simmering organ, staggering brass accents, and James’ gritty vocal performance. In addition to contributing backing vocals on several cuts, Teena Marie turns in one of the album’s signature moments on “Fire and Desire,” a romantic old-school duet with James that impresses with smoothness, sensitivity, and smokiness.

High-profile colleagues aside, James remains the undisputed star, a figure whose leather-and-latex attire, braided hair, and natural swagger made him misunderstood by some in the mainstream and embraced by everyone in the know as a true original. As a testament to his magnetism and skills, his charisma and rawness seemingly seep through every note, whether on the balladic sweep of the risqué “Make Love to Me” or strident, poke-and-prod persuasion of the moonwalking “Call Me Up.”

On the closing “Below the Funk (Pass the J),” an uptempo autobiographical tale that addresses the visionary musician’s second-favorite love, the singer acknowledges his upbringing and inseparable connection with his roots — an homage to where he began and a toast to where he’s gone.

Rick James, keepin’ it real on Street Songs, still as real as it gets.

"deathcrash’s third album, Somersaults, glimmers with an everyday euphoria. The London-based slowcore/ post-rock quartet has always had an affinity for building worlds only to crush them. From their breakout EP, People thought my windows were stars (2021), through two critically acclaimed studio albums, Return (2022) and Less (2023), they have been both the architects and the destroyers, the creationists and the ones manning the flood barrier. But, recorded between Black Box Studio in the Loire Valley and Haggerston’s Holy Mountain, Somersaults is almost joyful.

Its ten tracks are more vocal heavy than any of the band’s catalogue – think Mark Linkous via The Kinks – but lyrically, Somersaults resists revelation. For all its abrasion, phrases appear half-swallowed, broken off at the edge of meaning, consumed by the smaller textures of living. “Thirty, no career, it fucking worries me / And doing the band doesn’t help,” Banks sings in ‘NYC’. But, “This life is the best life,” he finishes in ‘CMC’ on top of the ambient white noise of an office printer, thankful that the band is still there, “still making noise in the doorway.”

Their role as caretakers of Duster, Low and Codeine’s slowcore lineage is all across Somersaults – songs scud to a narcotic crawl, sound monolithic and inwards before spotlighting a crystalline nothing. Cathartic builds are muddied with tenderness, the bass a heavy grounding, the drums an exhausted heartbeat grasping for air. But more so than ever, even the silence feels collaborative – a gesture of communal trust – friends celebrating the room they’ve made for each other’s ghosts, and some of the biggest, brightest songs they’ve made to date."