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Following his feature on We Miss The Crowd EP - the last addition to our Killer Cuts series - Romeo Louisa returns to the Shall Not Fade catalog with a blissful solo EP.

Rarified Terms sees the emerging French producer come into his powers with three soulful deep house tracks which reflect his musical background in jazz, and see reworks from the likes of Shall Not Fade family members and fellow collaborators, THEOS and Denyl Brook, and London duo, Funk Cartel.

The EP starts as it means to go on. A skippy house beat, jazz-like piano chords and diva-esque vocal phrases lend "Desires" a driving propulsion, equally suited to the dancefloor as it is to a more laid-back listening environment. Next up, the stripped-back melody on the title track makes way for a focus on percussion, paying tribute to Romeo's brief residence in London with a half broken garage beat. "The House of Jazz" sees the EP at its classiest with soulful piano chords and a bouncing deep house rhythm, at times punctuated by drum accents which reference the sporadic nature of jazz improvisation.

Next up, enter Silver Steps Records boss, Denyl Brook, and fraternal duo, Funk Cartel, who offer their take on the title track before French producer THEOS rethinks "The House of Jazz", teasing out the lower ends so that the track is led by a funk-infused bassline.

In 2002 well-known for his albums by the progressive rock project Ayreon, Star One “Space Metal” is an exciting project from one of rock's great visionaries, Arjen Lucassen. With its stellar musicianship, visionary production and a simple yet far-reaching concept, Star One “Space Metal” shines bright as a giant sun in the galaxy of rock. “Space Metal” isn't a continuous story or a rock opera like the Ayreon albums. Yet it is still very much a concept album and a journey through Arjen's mind and memory. He takes the listener on a trip where they relive those great science fiction space films that made such an impact on him. Without a doubt Arjen Lucassen set a trend with his Ayreon albums. Especially after the highly successful release of “Into the Electric Castle” many musicians and producers have followed in his footsteps and new rock operas with multiple singers are surfacing all over the world. To ensure to keep the involved voices diverse he used very different sounding singers appearing in the same songs -- different singers for different moods. Dan Swano (ex-Edge of Sanity, Nightingale) sings the low parts, Russell Allen (Symphony X and more) sings the powerful rough parts, Damian Wilson (ex-Threshold, Headspace) sings the high clear parts, and to top it off, Floor Jansen (Nightwish) sings the really high choruses. Robert Soeterboek (Ayreon) sang the backing vocals with his huge smoky voice. Of course Ed Warby played the powerful drums, and Erik Norlander once again added his huge analog synth leads. Arjen also managed to get Jens Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Stratovarius) who played some incredibly fast synth leads as well. Arjen even succeeded in getting Hawkwind's Dave Brock to make a guest vocal appearance, something no one has ever managed to do before. “Space Metal (Re-issue 2022)” is available as: Ltd. 2CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP+2CD & LP-Booklet and Digital album (2CD).

Drunk Uncle hail from Austin, TX, but their namesakes are probably drawn from someone you know. Think about your last family gettogether- Uncle Bill is halfway through a six-pack when the alien conspiracy theories start pouring out of his mouth. He starts chaotic and loud, then gets quiet and sad as he keeps drinking. His mood will swing wildly in-between emotions. His speech is raw and his vulnerability is beautiful. Bottle that energy up into music form and you have Drunk Uncle. Drunk Uncle's debut album "Look Up" draws on catharsis. Picture yourself in a grimy basement surrounded by your best friends, watching a band as music washes over you and you feel like everything is in the right place. You smile as frantic guitars fill the room and gruff vocals push out every emotion you could possibly feel. Drums and bass slow down and speed back up as the music moves from anger to regret to hope. You feel it all- every note, every hit, every strain. It feels good to feel. You open your eyes and you are in your room alone. You flip the record back over and you are back in the basement. All is right.

Drawing inspiration from Buddhist teachings and the hopeful attitude of frontman Johnny Quinn, Liverpool-based four-piece Spinn return with news of their second album Outside Of The Blue – via Modern Sky UK.

Outside Of The Blue acts as a lynchpin sonically and thematically. Written in the immediate aftermath of a panic attack, following a drive down to Birmingham to work on material for the album, the lyrics poured out in just half an hour. Instead of embodying that place of anguish it’s filled with light and an appreciation of unconditional love.

Alex Cameron has always been a great storyteller,
finding his ways into the depths of the places where not
many others are looking, and ‘Oxy Music’ continues on
that trajectory. It’s filled with stories of people who fall
outside the system and exist in the grey areas of life.
 And much like 2017’s ‘Forced Witness’, ‘Oxy Music’ is a
work of fiction. In its design - its music, lyrics and
tracklist - lies the journey a person can take, if the
circumstances present themselves - down the road of
heavy drug and alcohol abuse. Initially inspired by Nico
Walker’s ‘Cherry’, Cameron was spurred into yet another
commentary on American Life, this time about the opioid
crisis that has taken over the country.
 Alex says about ‘Oxy Music’: “The album is a story, a
work of fiction, mostly from the perspective of a man.
Starved of meaningful purpose, confused about the state
of the world, and in dire need of a reason to live - a
person can, and according to the latest statistics,
increasingly will, turn to opioids. This is one of those
people.”
 While ‘Oxy Music’ could be dark, it’s instead brighter and
more buoyant than much of Cameron’s previous work, a
shift in mood first seen across 2019’s ‘Miami Memory’.
It’s told from a place of optimism and through the lens of
Cameron, in the way that only he can tell it.
 Co-mixed by Mount Kimbie’s Kai Campos.
 Past collaborators include Angel Olsen, Brandon
Flowers (The Killers), Jason Williamson (Sleaford
Mods), Kirin J Callinan and Roan Yellowthorn.

Nach ihrem gefeierten Debüt Album Puritan Masochism, das mit Veröffentlichung im Jahr 2020 die gesamte Doom- und Heavy- Metal Szene im Sturm eroberte, steht die dänische Blackened Death- und Doom Metal Macht KONVENT nun mit ihrem 2. Longplayer in den Startlöchern, auf welchem sich die Band mit ihren Songwriting Qualitäten und brutalem Sound selber übertrifft!

Die musikalische Entwicklung von KONVENT ist im Laufe von nur zwei Jahren auf Call Down The Sun unüberhörbar und überrascht an jeder Ecke mit neuen Elementen. Zweifellos inspiriert von den jüngsten und dunklen Zeiten der anhaltenden Pandemie und Absagen diverser Live Auftritte, kommt das neue Album der Kopenhagener Band deutlich böser, schwerer, angepisster und pechschwarz daher.

Aufgenommen und gemischt wurde das neue KONVENT Album von Lasse Ballade in den Ballade Studios in Schweden, für das Mastering zeichnet sich Brad Boatright der Audiosiege Studios verantwortlich. Call Down The Sun ist eine Apokalypse von Sound, dem man sich nicht entziehen kann. KONVENT haben hier ein unfassbar erfrischendes und lebendiges Album geschaffen, welches sich mit Leichtigkeit nicht nur auf die Top-Album-Listen des Jahres 2022 einreihen, sondern sich möglicherweise als eine der besten Deathund Blackened Doom Metal Scheiben der Neuzeit etablieren wird!

The Shires are the biggest selling UK country music act having sold over 400,000 albums. Formed in 2013, they are the first country act to score a Top 10 album with their debut release ‘Brave’ in 2015 and its follow up ‘My Universe’ becoming the fastest-selling British country album of all time following its release in 2016.

Paving the way for British country artists, Crissie and Ben were the first UK act to have received a highly coveted award from the American Country Music Association. Their last album ‘Good Years’ was recorded in Nashville and hit #3 in the UK charts in March 2020. Having been awarded the CMA for International Country Broadcaster in 2020, Ben now has his own radio show on Absolute Country, and the band also co-present a coveted Apple Music Country Radio show, the only UK act to do so. As they move into their 10th year the band now release their fifth album 10 Year Plan.

Thomas Headon was born in London and raised in Melbourne but dreamt of moving back to the city to pursue music. Thomas’ mum told him he had a year to get a “proper job” otherwise he would have to return home. Arriving in London just before the pandemic hit, Thomas started to build a community online - blowing up on TikTok with 14.7M likes and over 400K followers to date - with his off-kilter live sessions, tongue-in-cheek charm and remarkable song writing ability. Learning to write and produce on his own in his late teens, Thomas has already released a self-written and self-produced debut EP, ‘The Greatest Hits,’ and dropped The Goodbye EP last year, amassing 50M streams world-wide. All before his 21st birthday.

On November 5th, Thomas will announce his brand-new EP, Victoria, due 11th March 2022 and available to pre-order from the announcement. Alongside the announcement, he drops new single ‘Strawberry Kisses’ a few days prior, kicking off the road to the EP officially.
Building an incredibly loyal fanbase over lockdown and amassing 100K followers on Instagram, Thomas’ blend of playful alternative pop that speaks to the Gen-Z experience, has been compared to the likes of the 1975’s Matty Healy, and critically praised by Triple J, naming him a “seriously impressive force in pop music”. Already performing a charmingly energetic live session on Jack Saunders’ BBC Radio 1 show, Thomas has just sold out two nights at London’s Heaven on a 17-date tour in November, following the “Living Room Shows” tour, where he played an intimate acoustic series to thousands of fans across the UK. One of the first artists to curate Spotify’s Our Generation playlist, the 21-year-old has also collaborated with American singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine on his single 'Bored’ and gained over 50M global streams.
Thomas will also be supporting Sigrid next year on her European Arena Tour.

Rapper and producer duo ​Verbz & ​Mr Slipz announce their latest album ‘Radio Waves’ ​due out ​13th November 2020​. Released on the acclaimed Hip-Hop label ​High Focus Records​, the 22-track project sits perfectly between present-day greatness and unrivalled nostalgia welcoming us into their unique rap landscape. The cover, designed by ​Matt Littler​, captures the essence of the album perfectly.

Born and raised in Croydon, rapper ​Verbz has proven himself time after time with his innovative rhyming style and distinct flow. The creative partnership wouldn’t be complete without Brighton based producer Mr Slipz who marries ​Verbz’ form with his laid back jazzy sound as well as unmistakable attention to detail. The pair started making music together in 2017 when they released their debut collaboration ‘Lessons Of Adolescence’. This was followed by extensive tours and studio sessions where their musical alliance was cemented and their bond has been untouchable ever since.

Kicking off the album with humour and personality, '​2202 FM​’ is a full-bodied track which sees ​Verbz spit tales of admiration for his city whilst at the same time striving to escape. With London on the brain,

‘Summer In The Bits’ ​is an introspective analysis of a summer's day in the capital full of tense trials and tribulations. Moving throughout the album, ​‘Kno The Status’ welcomes three potent guest verses from Alex Holy​, ​Datkid & ​Upfront ​paired with an unrivaled ​arrangement and instrumentation magnifying Mr Slipz’ craft. Once again his incomparable production delivers on ​‘Weekend Blues’ ​which see’s ​Verbz regretfully address craving more from his weekend to then be greeted by numbness on a Monday morning. ​High Focus linchpin Fliptrix delivers some captivating combinations on ​‘My Wonders’ ​honing n on the current state of the world from his point of view. Up next is one of the lead singles

‘The Feeling’, which is a refreshing and rare representation of the classic Boom Bap sound. Before signing out, ​Verbz’ ​impressive storytelling shines through on ​‘In My Mind’ offering insight into his artistry as he allows access to his inner thoughts via vivid storytelling lyrics. Sandwiched amongst the project are evocative radio skits placed to perfection, offering angles of comedy including a mini-interview acting as the final pieces to the puzzle.

This record is the culmination of two years of hard work packed with skill and finesse, as we have all come to expect. With their unrivalled chemistry, the dynamic duo have proven themselves to be some the most exciting artists on the scene, and '​Radio Waves' is going to cement their position at the top of the ranks.

High Focus ​Records linchpin ​Fliptrix announces his 8th solo album ​‘Light Work’. The 16-track project is a complete representation of ​Fliptrix as both an artist as well as reflecting the person behind the artistry. The album tackles deep rooted issues within society, the current state of the world as well as portraying an overarching message of peace, openness and optimism.

“Light Work is the culmination of years of experience, emotion, research and love. Crafted to heal, fulfil my desire to create and further raise vibrations.”

The London born, Brighton based lyricist’ creative CV has become one of legends. His long-standing trade as a solo artist is paired with him being one-quarter of the acclaimed collective ​The Four Owls (Big Owl)​, adding in Founder and Director of ​High Focus Records and not to forget becoming a first-time dad earlier this year. Operating at this level has been achieved by years of self-development and his mission is to pay it all forward.

Both Fliptrix and High Focus Records have been irreplaceable cogs in the UK HipHop machine for well over a decade. He and the label have been there for the hard times and the glory days but have never sought out fame or verification. Albums such as ​‘The Road To The Interdimensional Piff Highway’ and ​‘Patterns Of Escapism’ ​were pioneering amongst peers and resulted in multiple global tours and a dedicated fanbase across the world.

Kicking off the album is the title track ​‘Light Work’ which starts with faded, eerie laughter whilst Fliptrix unleashes a barrage of flows ending with “DMT be elevating my consciousness​”​. An introspective cut,

‘Light Work’ expresses his undeniable passion for his craft whilst tackling personal demons and overcoming them through altered states of consciousness. ‘​Multicolour’ paints a raw psychedelic picture and encourages us to think outside the box and not take everything for face value. His vivid storytelling continues throughout with feelings of being burnt out expressed in ‘​Broken Glass​’ whilst ​‘Powerizm’ ​switches up the tempo and he conveys his daily grind whilst paying homage to his fallen friend and legendary London graffiti artist ‘POW’ as well as his recently born first child. Tracks ‘​Problem, Reaction, Solution & ​The Realisation Part 2​, tackle the world's current situation head-on with a no holds barred viewpoint. Coming full circle, ​Fliptrix closes the project with ‘​Vibes’​ which is full of positivity and hope.

No stranger to talking openly about his mind-altering experiences, spirituality, quest for knowledge and dedication to the exploration of consciousness, Fliptrix’s raw flow and intricate lyricism perfectly portray the albums hard hitting narratives and set him apart from the rest of the scene. Self-reflection, personal improvement, determination and revolution are at the core of ​‘Light Work’ and they come together harmoniously under one roof.

Robert Hampson, the indefatigable visionary behind inspirational sonic architects Loop, whose eagerly anticipated fourth LP Sonancy (Latin for “to create noise”) is the perfect document for these strange times. Dynamic, dystopian, righteously angry and unashamedly Loop-ian, it’s an album that marks a vital re-emergence for Hampson and co. Formed in South London in the mid-1980s, Loop blazed a trail with their potent mix of motorik beats and heavy guitar riffs, recording a trio of brilliant albums that set the indie charts alight before imploding in 1990 after the release of album number three, A Gilded Eternity. As critics enthused at the time, Loop were the sound of Suicide jamming with the Stooges aboard a spaceship built by Hawkwind and piloted by CAN. They were post-psychedelic, pre-shoegaze figureheads in a world of anodyne pop jangle and baggy rhythms, and even their closest contemporaries like Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine didn’t plough such a distinctive furrow as theirs. Today, Loop stand as innovators in a musical world that has embraced and followed their defiantly individual sound – there are hundreds of contemporary neo-psych artists out there who arguably would not exist without Loop’s pioneering music, music that continues to evolve and grow in the most startling of ways on Sonancy.

Robert Hampson, the indefatigable visionary behind inspirational sonic architects Loop, whose eagerly anticipated fourth LP Sonancy (Latin for “to create noise”) is the perfect document for these strange times. Dynamic, dystopian, righteously angry and unashamedly Loop-ian, it’s an album that marks a vital re-emergence for Hampson and co. Formed in South London in the mid-1980s, Loop blazed a trail with their potent mix of motorik beats and heavy guitar riffs, recording a trio of brilliant albums that set the indie charts alight before imploding in 1990 after the release of album number three, A Gilded Eternity. As critics enthused at the time, Loop were the sound of Suicide jamming with the Stooges aboard a spaceship built by Hawkwind and piloted by CAN. They were post-psychedelic, pre-shoegaze figureheads in a world of anodyne pop jangle and baggy rhythms, and even their closest contemporaries like Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine didn’t plough such a distinctive furrow as theirs. Today, Loop stand as innovators in a musical world that has embraced and followed their defiantly individual sound – there are hundreds of contemporary neo-psych artists out there who arguably would not exist without Loop’s pioneering music, music that continues to evolve and grow in the most startling of ways on Sonancy.

Following the demise of emo band Mineral in 1997, singer/guitarist Chris Simpson (Mineral/ Zookeeper/ Mountain Time) and bassist Jeremy Gomez reunited to form The Gloria Record. Taking an acoustic and more organic approach than their previous work, The Gloria Record (with the addition of guitarist Brian Hubbard, drummer Matt Hammon, later replaced by Brian Malone and Ben Houtman on the keys, organs and synthesisers) were unarguably the logical progression from Mineral’s emo throes - quieter, delicate and fervently impassioned. Heralded as a “band with big visions and bombastic sounds”, the quintet fostered their admiration for artists with similar arena sized visions ( Radiohead, REM, U2) to produce a sound that was reminiscent of their British contemporaries and American indies. In 1998 the band released their self-titled EP, followed by the intricate offering of 2000’s A Lull In Traffic and 2002’s full length effort Start Here, before disbanding after extensive US tours in 2004.

Recorded at Channel One studio with the Roots Radics Band, this very rare early dancehall LP is now back via Radiation Roots.

If this word "music" is sacred and reserved for eighteenth and nineteenth century instruments, we can substitute a more meaningful term: organization of sound.
- John Cage

Kista returns from a long hiatus with his first ever all instrumental LP.

Songs From The Seas Edge takes us on a journey into the mind of producer and Graffiti Writer Kista.

It's an album where all his early influences or things that intrigued him, all come together, his love for Sc-Fi Movies, Hip Hop, 80's Arcade Games, John Carpenter Soundtracks and Films (you will notice a few vocal samples from his films nestled away among the songs) and many other things that influenced him growing up as a kid.

In a world now dominated by Playlists and the digital age, Kista took a step back to try and make an album that all fitted together, a concept album based around living on the coast as a kid in the 80's.
“ I started going through samples i put aside years ago and started to go back to them, to try and make them all fit and blend together to form an instrumental album”.

“It's kind of hard to explain where Songs From The Sea's Edge fits to my previous work” explains Kista
“ I wanted to make something for myself that I could then share, a journey, something to listen to from start to finish,with certain samples making an apperance in more than just one track.

Songs From The Sea's Edge has an hypnotic and haunting synergy to it, it's atmospheric, melodic but is still firmly rooted in Kista's love for Hip Hop.

Press play and enjoy.

Emily Wells, die New Yorker Multiinstrumentalistin mit einem klassischen Geigen-Background, denkt beim Komponieren oft an ein Ensemble. Als klassisch ausgebildete Violinistin, Sängerin, Komponistin, Produzentin und Videokünstlerin wurde die Musik von Wells als "visionary" (NPR) und "quietly transfixing" (The New York Times) beschrieben. "Regards To The End" wurde 2020-21 aufgenommen und ist von Künstlern der AIDS-Krise inspiriert. Es handelt von der Art und Weise, wie ihr Aktivismus unsere eigene Herangehensweise an den Klimaschutz beeinflussen kann, und von Wells eigenen Erfahrungen als queerer Musikerin. Zusammen mit einer Reihe von Mitwirkenden baute sie die zehn Songs auf "Regards To The End" aus bewussten Schichten von Gesang, Synthesizern, Schlagzeug, Klavier, Streichinstrumenten (Geige, Cello, Bass) und Blasinstrumenten (Klarinette, Flöte, Waldhorn) auf. Ihre Musik ist u.a. deshalb so anziehend, weil das Hörerlebnis bei Emily Wells ein sehr körperliches ist. Der Gesang und die Bläser, die auf dem Album stark vertreten sind, stellen den Atem in den Vordergrund. Das Leben schwillt in jeder Note an, während das Schlagzeug uns sowohl an den Puls unseres Herzschlags bindet als auch erdet. Inhaltlich knüpft "Regards To The End" an das Leben und die Arbeit von Choreograph*innen und bildenden Künstler*innen an, die insbesondere mit der AIDS-Krise in Verbindung stehen.

U. Srinivas is to Indian classical music what Yehudi Menuhin is to Western classical music. Like Menuhin, U. Srinivas was a child prodigy. He started to play the mandolin, a little-known instrument in India, when he was only six years old. At the time, the mandolin was an alien instrument in South Indian classical music, but Srinivas learned to play Carnatic ragas on the mandolin with so much ease and dexterity that his name was synonymous in India with the mandolin and he became popularly known as ‘Mandolin Srinivas’. Even Europeans are surprised that such magical music can originate from an instrument which is normally a rather inconspicuous member of a Western orchestra. Like fellow Indian musician Shiv Kumar with the santoor, Srinivas has revived and raised an unknown instrument and given it a respectable status in classical music. It was in August 1992, while on tour with WOMAD, that Srinivas recorded this album of traditional music during the second Real World Recording Week in a candlelit studio. U Srinivas passed away in September 2014.

Slow Astro is a new mix series by Fracture which revisits the rich Astrophonica back catalogue and presents it in a new light. Starting with Volumes 1 & 2 featuring music from Sully, Client_03, Philip D Kick & DJ Earl.

re-release Find the Greatest Movie Scores selected by CINEZIK in an new Wagram Vinyl Collection!

The Equations Collective is an experimental sound project formed by a multi-disciplinary group of artists, active in the fields of music, photography, sound design & software development.

In 2018, the collective set up a temporary outdoor recording studio, 1130 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Helicon in Greece, with the ambition of recording their work in a natural environment. A 'mobile and modular' construction, fully powered by solar panels, the design of the studio showcases the possibilities of a progressive, environmentally sustainable future through renewable energy.

Embodying ecological incentives, and representing an immersive engagement with the landscape, the 'Helicon Sessions' document this extraordinary residency, capturing a profound dialogue with the eponymous mountain region.

Situated in Boeotia, Central Greece, Mount Helicon has a prominent archaic significance. A historic location where stories of sacred springs and the epic origins of the Muses and Narcissus converge. Steeped in the heritage of ancient narratives, Helicon is seen as a principal symbol of poetic inspiration.

On the 'Helicon Sessions' the collective draw upon the inspiring topography and fabled mythological resonances of the area, unfurling an expansive, hypnotic suite of abstract electronics. Liberated by an open-ended, improvisational dynamic, the collective move through a mysterious, elemental cycle that mirrors the imposing scale and dramatic atmospheres of the setting.

Across an entrancing, fluid sequence of five designated 'cuts', the collective traverse the borderlands of drone, techno, dub, and acid, amplifying the acoustic traces of Helicon by integrating field recordings collected at the site into this arresting body of work. With these recordings, the collective delineate an odyssey of subverted 303s, sputtering drum machines and formidable, oscillating low end that drifts and coalesces like an amorphous mirage; a spellbinding sound world of clarity and shadow.

The 'Helicon Sessions' signify a symbiosis (between the terrestrial and the engineered, between wildlife and futurism, between the intrinsic and the synthetic, between the innate and the manmade) And with their conception of a portable, eco-friendly studio The Equations Collective focalize valuable ideas centred on ingenuity and evolution. The outcome of this project illustrates a unique collaborative exchange which acknowledges the deep nuances of environment and the enduring echoes of history.

The Equations Collective is a collaboration between Artefakt, Aroma Pitch, Aphelion and Sphera De Noumenon across Berlin, Amsterdam, Cologne and Hamburg. Together they have established an all night long live event in Berlin, starting at Sameheads and Acud Macht Neu, which eventually lead to their residency at OHM (Tresor).

For this format they have collaborated with the following artists: Alex The Fairy, Anna Z, D-IX, Eliad Wagner, Jón Friđgeir Sigurđsson, Orson Wells, Phillip Jondo, Philipp Matalla, PRSMC, Rabih Beaini, Sabrina Gricourt, Sébastien Robert, and Vida Vojić.

The respective members of The Equations Collective have released a range of output on the likes of Field Records, Delsin, Semantica Records, De Stijl, & Soul People Music.

Since 2018 their visual identity has been shaped by Elias Hanzer.

The 'Helicon Sessions' is their debut release.

In February of 1976 Eddie Carmichael left the group “The Voshays” after catching the bandleader/manager stealing from the band. Derry Shepherd and Duncan Bethel left at that time also. About a week later I asked Derry if he would be interested in starting another band and he said sure. At that point Duncan Bethel agreed to participate and he recruited his friend Flynn Emanuel to play trombone. Derry was the manager of the cafeteria at Sears Department Stores in The Pompano Fashion Square Mall and he met Sandy Ficca who was the manager at Chess King Men’s Clothing Store in the same mall. Sandy also agreed to join the group and we auditioned bass players and chose Dave Segal and only one keyboard player auditioned and that was Bob Groszer. We now had all of the personnel for the group and we commenced rehearsing in the recreation center in Pompano Beach, FL at Westside Park. We did a few “Chitlin’ Circuit“ gigs to fine tune the band and music and then moved over to the beach circuit. While there we would perform spring and summer months at “The Ocean Mist” on the Strip in Fort Lauderdale, FL and for the fall and winter months the Big Daddy’s 8600 Club on Miami Beach. After 18 months of constant gigging I suggested that the band go into the studio and record some original music. Now all we needed was some serious financial support and songs. I met a man by the name of Jerry Bullard and convinced him to back the project. We formed our own independent label “Get Off Records” and publishing company “Situated Music”. At that point Dave Segal and Sandy Ficca left the group and Bruce Saddler who was the drummer for The Voshays joined us on the drums for the first two recordings. Sandy Ficca returned as drummer and brought in his old friend and bandmate Daryl Walker to play Bass on five of the six remaining songs. We recorded the entire album in five days at SRS Studios and Triad Studios both in Fort Lauderdale, FL in August of 1977. The first single “Give It Up (Let Yo Funk Fly Free) was a winner released only in the New York tri state area where in two weeks it reached number 16 in the top 100 and was poised to go number one nationwide on the R&B charts in the next two weeks. Henry Stone, owner of TK Records in Hialeah, FL wanted to sign the group as did many other major record labels including Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. But the usual problems of the music business reared its ugly head and the record was pulled from all radio airplay and the group who became disenfranchised with the business of the industry decided to call it quits. Derry Shephard went into Gospel Music production, Sandy Ficca went on to become the drummer for the Pop/Rock recording artists “Firefall”. Daryl Walker is a session player and music teacher, I did studio sessions and played in several cover bands and toured internationally. Bob Groszer toured with Sly Stone and other legendary recording artists. Dave Segal went on to start New York Bass Works in New York. Flynn Manuel became a music teacher in The Broward County School District and Bruce Saddler and Duncan Bethel left the Music industry completely. We were young and not good business people at that time and did not understand the rules of do’s and don’ts of the music industry. But we had three talented songwriters, a great arranger, a killer band and all the financial support that we needed. Looking back if we only had an experienced manager I truly believe Mirror would have gone on to create some great music over the years that followed.
Peace and love all the time,

Vordergrundmusik's head honcho re:deep kicks off the Vertigo remix series with his interpretation of Aural Drift. He gives the track a whole new vibe by adding a lively beat and garnishing it with restrained sounds and beautiful harmonies. An oh so cozy affair!

The second installation is of no other than one of Shitkatapult's labelfounders, T.Raumschmiere.
Keeping the vibe of the original whilst spicing it up with effectful and driving elements. An energetic 135 bpm madness to go wild to!

In between the striking synth jabs and arcane vocals of Back to Life, Rittik Wystup spins a net of sharp, crackly drums and fondle, almost trickling piano tones. His elation to combining electronic and acoustic spaces is mirrored throughout the rework, echoing his own unique sound note by note.

Last but not least, we are very delighted to have the german powerduo Extrawelt on the remix duties. The Cluster Buster version takes the original on a dark and imposing journey of huge 808s, raw synths and celestial widescreen pads. Turning it into a sturdy yet cinematic beast of an electro tune. While the Laser Blazer Remix takes things to a whole new level. Ever since Extrawelt started playing this version in their live sets, people have been going absolutely nuts! As the title already suggests, an absolute highlight and surely one for the books!

Solo acts of Paula Rebellato (RAKTA) and Douglas Leal (DEAFKIDS), members of two of the most thriving and groundbreaking bands coming out of Brazil to the world lately. The fusion of traditional and acoustic instruments with electronic and processed sounds highlights the strong characteristics of both projects, melted into a journey within timeless soundscapes. Buh Records presents "Gnose", the joint full-length by the solo acts of Paula Rebellato (RAKTA) and Douglas Leal (DEAFKIDS), members of two of the most thriving and groundbreaking bands coming out of Brazil to the world lately. Produced between 2019 and 2020 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, some of the compositions were first conceived for a live performance in late 2019 and then expanded into a full-length album, part recorded in studio and part at home during the first months of the pandemic. Inspired by the ritualistic potentials of music, "Gnose" offers a vertical and circular narrative throughout its 7 themes, exploring atmospheres that may contribute to experiences of displacement and inner silence. The fusion of traditional and acoustic instruments with electronic and processed sounds highlights the strong characteristics of both projects, melted into a journey within timeless soundscapes. Paula Rebellato is an artist based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her journey with music and sound started at young age and became a more consistent path when she co-founded the genre-bending group Rakta.

GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana joins the Blue Note Records family with the release of 12 Stars, her debut album as a leader for the legendary label following her appearance on the acclaimed 2020 album by the collective ARTEMIS. The Brooklyn-based tenor player from Santiago, Chile has garnered international recognition for her visionary work as a band leader, as well as her deeply meditative interpretation of language and vocabulary. 12 Stars grapples with concepts of childrearing, familial forgiveness, acceptance, and self-love, and was inspired by her deep interest in tarot. The album was produced by guitarist Lage Lund, who also performs as part of a remarkable quintet with Sullivan Fortner on piano and Fender Rhodes, Kush Abadey on drums, and Pablo Menares on bass.

In 2005 the Californian heavy metal band Static-X released their fourth studio album, titled Start A War. The band’s line- up fluctuated quite a bit over the years and this was the first studio album to feature drummer Nick Oshiro, who also played in Seether and Blue Man Group. The album delivers guttural guitars, unrelenting roars and refreshing live drumming. Several tracks of the album were featured in video games, such as WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2006, Project Gotham Racing 3 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

Kris Barras Band return armed with towering anthems on the heaviest
album to date; 'Death Valley Paradise', available on CD, transparent red
vinyl and digitally
Produced by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow, SiKth) and recorded at
VADA Studios in Alcester, they return heavier, darker, more introspective but
enormous at the same time. Barras decided to remove all shackles and began
collaborating with songwriters, such as the heavyweights; Jonny Andrews (Three
Days Grace, Fozzy), Bob Marlette (Alice Cooper, Airbourne, Rob Zombie), Blair
Daly (Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry) and Zac Maloy (Shinedown, Tyler Bryant).
Death Valley Paradise started life as a song before it was dissected and spread
across the album. Death Valley is a place of extremes, where living things are
said to not be able to survive.
For 18 months the world stood still and the realisation set in that there was no
control of ourselves anymore. For the ex-MMA/cage fighter, there was only one
way out, to re-focus, and started with no preconceived plan for the album.
But now, Death Valley Paradise is ready to be unleashed upon the masses, who
are yearning to rock out, fist pumping in the air.

THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION OF TIM BOWNESS &
GIANCARLO ERRA'S 2011 ALBUM 'WARM WINTER' - NOW ISSUED AS
MEMORIES OF MACHINES
An expanded & remixed 10th Anniversary version of Tim Bowness & Giancarlo
Erra's 2011 album 'Warm Winter' (now issued as 'Memories Of Machines', the
original project name).
Featuring contributions from Robert Fripp, Peter Hammill, Julianne Regan, Jim
Matheos, Colin Edwin, Huxflux Nettermalm, Peter Chilvers, Aleksei Saks &
members of Nosound & Tim Bowness's live bands, the album contains 10
sweeping & majestic songs (culminating in the epic "At The Centre Of It All").
The 2 disc - CD/DVD-A/V version includes hi-res stereo & 5.1 Surround mixes in
addition to two 2020 recordings - an album outtake & a new version of the
Nosound piece "Someone Starts To Fade Away" - created especially for this
release.
Featuring a 2021 remix from the original tapes by Giancarlo Erra, this new edition
emphasises the textural nature of the music & restores the pieces to their original
arrangements & track lengths (resulting in a different listening experience).
The artwork has also been overhauled for this release by Giancarlo Erra &
Caroline Traitler.

Pressed on Eco Vinyl - Glasgow sextet James Edwyn & the Borrowed
Band stumbled on to the scene 2013, their formation the result of a
series of unlikely coincidences - Their music is a mix of alt-country, indie/folk rock and roots orientated Americana.
They have released two critically acclaimed albums, 'The Tower' (2014) and 'High Fences' (2018). Their new studio album 'Highlights of the Low Nights' is out on Last Night From Glasgow early 2022.

It works in clubs. it works at after hours. Also, small bars vibrate meaningful on it: the music of Kuniyuki Takahashi enthralls everywhere and is made for heedful listeners, that love the thrill of little musical nuances, shifting in a deeply composed ocean of sound.

In terms of composition, melodic sensitivity, and subtle progression the music of japanese producer, Sound designer and dj stands out. Ambient, Future-Jazz, Deep House, Leftfield Elec-tronics: since more then 25 years the man from Sapporo expresses his emotions with a wide stylistic range.

As Kuniyuki or under pseudonyms like Koss or Newwave project, he released a body of work consisting of numerous albums and EP’s, that display his deep musical consciousness pro-foundly. Now his home label Mule Musiq drops “Remix Works “, an eighth tune strong compila-tion featuring for the second time since 2013 Kuniyuki Takahashi’s very own virtuosity of re-mixing.

A double vinyl that carries the full pallet of his skills – from yacht rock leaning synth-pop and balearic dreams to sweet wave signals and soulful Pop House.

It all starts with Kuniyuki’s Remix of “Plateau”, a tune by japanese Nu-Jazz / Post‐Rock band mouse on the keys, released in 2013 on the short living japanese retalk label. An epic, almost ten-minute-long house voyage, full of discreet acid shades and enlightening Jazz chords, that play spirited tricks on each other’s manic musical preaching.

"Black Vinyl 2022 edition, gatefold sleeve. Huge star in her native France, Christine and the Queens (partially) rerecorded her radiant debut album in English. The language shift has diluted nothing from the LP’s allure.
“The French sensation taking to the world stage with grace and apparent ease” - Vogue “Owing as much to Weimar cabaret as 1970s-era David Bowie - beguiling” - Sunday Times Culture “Empowering, bold, and vulnerable, and made for dancing” - Pitchfork “Jonathan is an implausibly beautiful ballad” - The Guardian ""The charismatic French pop sensation on the verge of international stardom” - i-D"

Lauren Alaina is in the upper echelon of country music's most authentic voices, beloved personalities, and open hearts. She’s earned a reputation as one of the genre's most compelling storytellers by boldly incorporating her struggles and heartache into her critically acclaimed first two albums. Lauren’s third studio collection, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, is an artful evolution of immaculately penned, unflinching reflections of the mountains and valleys on her journey. Lauren Alaina has earned three No. 1 hit singles in just under three years. Her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Road Less Traveled, landed on multiple “Best Of” lists, including Billboard, Rolling Stone and Amazon, and it became the top-streamed female country album release of 2017. The Georgia native has played on some of the highest-profile stages in the world, including US national television performances on Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, TODAY, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more, including a performance at the White House for President Obama for a PBS special.

Diablo Swing Orchestra is an Swedish eight-piece ensemble known for pairing elements of jazz, swing, classical, progressive rock with just about everything in between. Since the start in 2003 the band has released four studio albums pushing musical boundaries with humor, creativity and a healthy dose of positive aggression. Together they have dug deep into each genre explored on the 13 tracks on the album and worked hard to find the appealing characteristics within that genre and forged it into their own sound. This approach has resulted in a impressive list of guest musicians and some very interesting clashes between sounds which, at least on paper, shouldn’t work. But listeners with an open mind will be rewarded since there are a lot of goodies to be found on the album ranging from the tribal assault that is “War Painted Valentine” to the Zeppelin gospel infused “Snake Oil Baptism”. The band presents new interesting ways of looking upon rock and metal music while managing to stay quite accessible in spite of the fact they’re often described as avant-garde metal.

External Combustion – the second album and first as band leader of the Dirty Knobs – is proof that lightning can strike twice. His first record, Wreckless Abandon, was released in November 2020 to a great reception, gaining attention from Broken Record, Vulture, WTF with Marc Maron podcast, LA Times, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Billboard and many more.

The Dirty Knobs made External Combustion in three weeks over the summer of 2021, and "The band became this spontaneous type of combustion”, Campbell recalled, recounting how the band became more intuitive the longer they played.

Campbell claims he was never offered a solo deal in his four decades with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, despite also writing and producing for artists like Roy Orbison and Don Henley. "I wouldn't have known what to do with it," he adds quickly. "I was Tom's partner. Lyrics and singing – he could always do it much better. But I was writing and recording more music than Tom could deal with. That's when I got the Dirty Knobs, which gave me a chance to try singing. So I started woodshedding. And then when my life changed (with Petty's death in October 2017) it was, 'Time to do this now.'"

With songs that run the gamut from heart-breaking to satirical and a host of unforgettable film scores, Randy Newman has used his many talents to create musical masterpieces widely recognized by generations of audiences. After starting his song writing career as a teenager, Newman launched into recording as a singer and pianist in 1968 with his self-titled album Randy Newman. Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s he released several acclaimed albums: 12 Songs, Sail Away, Good Old Boys, Little Criminals, Born Again, Trouble in Paradise, Land of Dreams, and Bad Love.
Good Old Boys is the fourth studio album by Randy Newman, released September 10, 1974 on Reprise Records. It was Newman’s first album to obtain major commercial success, peaking at #36 on the Billboard 200. Good Old Boys was initially envisioned as a concept album about a character named Johnny Cutler, an everyman of the Deep South. Newman made a demo of these songs on February 1, 1973; they were released as the bonus disc for the 2002 CD reissue, titled Johnny Cutler’s Birthday and are now being included on vinyl for the first time in this Run Out Groove deluxe edition.
In addition to his solo recordings and regular international touring, Newman began composing and scoring for films in the 1980s. The list of movies he has worked on since then includes The Natural, Awakenings, Ragtime, all four Toy Story pictures, Monsters Inc. and Monsters University, Seabiscuit, James and the Giant Peach, A Bug’s Life, and Meyerowitz Stories. Randy Newman’s many honors include 7 Grammys,® 3 Emmys,® and 2 Oscars,® as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013—the same year he was given an Ivor Novello PRS for Music Special International Award. Newman was presented with a PEN New England Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award in 2014.

All-conquering Dutch superstars Kraak & Smaak have taken the electronic music world by storm, sealing their international pedigree with a slew of sought-after tracks, remixes, and killer collaborations (Parcels, Mayer Hawthorne and many more). Their live show has seen them play every festival and club worth a mention from Glastonbury to Coachella and beyond. Before that, the three guys from Leiden released their debut album 'Boogie Angst', which established them in the spotlight and led to the longstanding support they receive from tastemakers worldwide today. This latest 7" release showcases a couple of gems from the era that started it all.

Nach ihrem von Fans & Kritikern gefeierten, 2019-er Meisterwerk Oscillation, stehen die schwedischen Post-Rock Meister von OH HIROSHIMA nun mit ihrem vierten Studioalbum Myriad in den Startlöchern, welches am 4. März 2022 über Napalm Records veröffentlicht wird. Die Zeit der anhaltenden Pandemie hat die Band mehr als kreativ genutzt um hier einen epischen Nachfolger abzuliefern, der zweifelsohne eine Schippe drauflegt und mit absoluter Post-Rock Bravour zu brillieren weiß!

Es ist die Mischung aus Emotionen – von unendlicher Traurigkeit bis hin zu Momenten der Klarheit und herzzerreißenden Melodien, die sich zu einem grollenden Vulkan aus ästhetischem Noise und einer wilden Urkraft zu vermischen scheinen, aber auch ihr einzigartiger Einsatz von Trompeten, Cello und Posaunen im Gegensatz zu den Synthesizern – lässt OH HIROSHIMA in Post-Rock Kreisen und darüber hinaus herausstechen.

Wie bereits der Album Vorgänger, wurde Myriad von niemand Geringerem als CULT OF LUNA‘s Magnus Lindberg gemixt und gemastert, wieder einmal mehr beweisen OH HIROSHIMA herausragendes Können – und liefern ein majestätisches Post-Rock Meisterwerk ab, welches sich ohne Zweifel an die Spitze der Alben
des Jahres 2022 einreihen wird!