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ARR049 Brizman - Tomorrow Is A New Day Craving for that perfect serving of benchmark minimal house with a flavor of psy-chill and euromantic? The Kyiv based vinyl label Artreform Records is ready to treat you to a tasty new EP by the long-established chef Roy Brizman. His new release, Tomorrow Is A New Day, looks well-prepped for repeating the success of Midnight Tales, the previous Artreform offering by Brizman from 2021. Brizman is a star of the Israeli electronic scene. Roy is also known as Gel Abril in Tel Aviv and far beyond. He has been in great creative form lately, releasing many new tracks and remixes his latest twist on Depeche Modes Policy of Truth" is just one example. Roy offers three new tracks in one sitting this time-a triad united by an overarching mood and atmosphere. It's the perfect soundtrack for diving deep into your feelings and thoughts right on the dance floor. The producers signature micro-house groove is so clear and transparent that you can hear the distant echoes of past electronic music-from New Age to Balearic. The release concludes with the lead track remixed by the ro-minimal star Floog. This gifted producer is alternatively known as George G-a member of the Premiesku project, which also includes Livio and Roby.

Kevin Godley and Lol Creme worked together for several decades, were part of many different bands and wrote hit after hit. Two highly successful multi-instrumentalists, singers and producers who became world renowned video producers as well. Godley & Creme's Collected album features inventive, eclectic music blending pop, rock, and art influences, showcasing their unique, avant-garde style. This 2LP features the duo's biggest hits, including ""An Englishman In New York"", ""Freeze Frame"", the top hit ""Cry"" (which showcased their amazing video), ""Wide Boy"", and ""A Little Peace Of Heaven"" among others. The 2LP Godley & Crème Collected is housed in a gatefold sleeve with liner notes.

Much Afraid is the second studio album by American Christian rock band Jars of Clay and was released in 1997. Following the charting success of the band's debut album, Much Afraid earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum. The album features the multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells, who went on to produce OneRepublic, Katy Perry, Pink, and Rufus Wainwright, playing drums and bass guitar on almost every song; he also co-wrote ""Tea And Sympathy"" and the single ""Crazy Times"". The tracks ""Fade to Grey"" and ""Frail"" were both from the group's 1994 demo recording Frail. All other tracks from that demo appeared on the debut album Jars Of Clay in 1995. Much Afraid is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl.

From 2006-2010 Shane Bunting aka Madchild was on a kamikaze run with the drug oxycontin that
pushed him to the brink of oblivion. Hitting rock bottom, his addiction spiraled out of control and
destroyed everything the successful emcee had worked so hard to build with is platinum selling hip-hop
group Swollen Members

Blue Matter are extremely proud to be releasing a brand-new album by the great English eccentric, Paul Roland. ‘Morbid Beauty’ will make its’ appearance in mid 2024 and is a fantastic example of Paul’s trademark mixture of gothic rock and psychedelia, if perhaps a little more rock flavoured than usual. To Blue Matters’ surprise and delight the album features our old friend Mick Crossley (Flyte Reaction) on guitar throughout. Paul Roland is from Kent and has been making music since the late 70s. He has issued countless albums on a variety of labels and has been cited as a ‘psych legend’, a ‘true cult hero’ and a ‘great innovator’. Frank Zappa is quoted as saying somewhat amusingly ‘Paul Roland writes nice music, but it’s too complicated for me!’ Paul’s musical reputation is probably somewhat greater in Europe than in the UK, which seems strange as he has been so influential to many British acts. Paul is also a celebrated music journalist and successful author having written books on cinema, history and music. For us, to be able to release a new album, and a fantastic album at that, by an artist of his calibre is a long and handsome peacocks’ feather in Blue Matters’ Edwardian top hat

Welcome to the fascinating musical universe of EXOTIC ROOSTERS! It emerges as a burst of freshness and originality, blending an eclectic variety of musical influences to create a truly unique and exciting auditory experience. Comprised of experienced and virtuosic musicians on their respective instruments, the group captivates audiences of all ages with its energy and unmistakable style. Exploring the intersection between tradition and modernity, EXOTIC ROOSTERS combines the rich soundscapes of marimba, vibraphone, double bass, percussion, and drums to create an expansive and nuanced musical landscape. From frenetic rhythms that invite dancing to captivating melodies that transport the listener on an emotional journey, each performance aims to be a celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression.

In the relentless musical era of the late 90s, two passionate souls, Eugeni Camacho and Rafa Navarro, embarked on a unique sonic odyssey by blending the melodious marimba with the pulsating drums. Together, they successfully created STAMINA PERCUSSIO in their concerts. However, life composed its own score, separating Rafa, who was abducted by the Canary Islands, and Eugeni, who was drawn to vibrant New York. Upon their return, after years of musical exploration in different projects with the Oscars (Oscar Cuchillo and Oscar Rocher), their hearts aligned with a new melody. In the loom of destiny, they discovered the emerging talent of Bernat Cucarella. A prodigy with drumsticks and a 4.0 brain. By uniting Rafa's island experiences, Eugeni's resonant jazz from the Brooklyn alleys, and the rich musical diversity harvested in life's journeys by each of the members, they gave birth to a magical musical tale: EXOTIC ROOSTERS

Hidden Notes Records (Spindle Ensemble, Fran & Flora, Josh Semans) and Tardigrade Records (Cosmo Sheldrake, Howl) are excited to announce a unique collaboration to release ‘Selected Worlds’, the monumental and ambitious debut triple album by composer and pianist Daniel Inzani. Over the past 2 decades you might have seen Inzani performing with dozens of bands from Bristol’s underground alternative and avant-garde scene, blending classical, jazz, contemporary, improvisation, unusual harmony and rhythms as a band leader and collaborator. He’s released an avant-garde collaborative album with Alabaster dePlume, is the musical director and arranger for Cosmo Sheldrake’s 19 piece live band, leads his own critically acclaimed modern chamber quartet Spindle Ensemble and (the now disbanded) 8 piece Ethiopian Jazz meets Frank Zappa group Tezeta, He has toured worldwide as a keys player, collaborated with Canadian ensembles Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan and London Symphonia and co-founded Bristol’s experimental collective Bloom, leading to tours and releases with UK rocksteady favourites Count Bobo, the psychedelic space doo-wop of Dubi Dolzcek and many more. After years of recording, touring and eclectic composing he has gathered a trusted set of musicians who are both skilled improvisers and virtuoso players to record an instrumental triple album for release under his own name. The 3 vinyl discs act as albums in their own right, each with different sets of musicians, instrumentations, genres and intentions. The 3 discs were recorded live over 3 day periods in quick succession, with Daniel’s regular collaborator Cosmo Sheldrake engineering the recording sessions. It’s quite possibly the only album you’ll ever hear that starts with a neo-impressionist string quartet, goes on to merge avant-garde symphonic arrangements with group improvisation and ends with an 8 piece cosmic jazz band wigging out, yet Inzani’s voice is clear throughout making for a cohesive 2 hour odyssey from the mind of a composer whose idiosyncratic style thrives through variety Listeners will hear influences from the aforementioned composers including Mingus, Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Ravel and Moondog in Inzani’s music but might also find the soundtracks of Morricone and Jonny Greenwood nestled alongside the loose freeform leanings of Alabaster dePlume, the contemporary jazz of Kamasi Washington and the unique collaboration by Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders (minus the electronics perhaps.) Daniel will be performing a special preview of the album with an 11 piece band at WOMAD Festival (27.07) and a launch concert at this year’s Hidden Notes Festival in Stroud (21.09), with further tour dates to be announced

Denzel Curry's forthcoming King Of The Mischievous South Volume 2 finds him presenting a sequel to the project, and bringing back the sound, that helped launch his career. While the first installment of King Of The Mischievous South was performed from the perspective of his Raven Miyagi persona, a name bestowed upon him by Raider Klan founder SpaceGhostPurrp, Volume 2 finds Curry operating under his Big Ultra persona -- an elevated version of Raven Miyagi that is bragadocious and revels in the success that Curry has seen over the last decade of his career. Creating King Of The Mischievous South Volume 2 has been a goal of Curry's for some time, though his earliest attempts to do so ultimately morphed into other projects, namely his 2016 album Imperial and 2020's 13LOOD 1N + 13LOOD OUT. It wasn't until he stopped overly attempting to create Volume 2 that its songs started to emerge naturally. 

Given the project's sound, which pays homage to the great musical heritages of the South -- from Memphis to Houston and Curry's own South Florida -- its features include the region's greats, both old and new, as well as others whose style is indebted to the South's musical legacy. Features include fellow former Raider Klan member Key Nyata, Memphis stalwarts Juicy J and Project Pat, Texas' Maxo Kream, That Mexican OT and Mike Dimes, North Carolina’s TiaCorine, Atlanta's 2 Chainz and Kenny Mason and South Florida's Ski Mask The Slump God and PlayThatBoiZay, as well as ASAP Ferg and ASAP Rocky, among others. The project more broadly and the intentional inclusion of Rocky and Ferg is Curry's attempt to show what could have been had relationships not soured with SpaceGhostPurrp, fulfilling the promise that existed at the rise of their respective careers in the early 2010s.  

With all of the otherworldly adventures Denzel has taken listeners on over the course of his last few conceptually-driven albums, this project serves as a showcase for the fun, spontaneity and technical mastery that has made him one of rap's most in-demand talents over the course of the last decade. 

Absolutely electrifying and timeless, the 1973 Philly disco anthem is back! Now fully licensed and repressed for 2024 on a premium 12" single, "The Love I Lost" shines brighter than ever. This all-time classic showcases the extraordinary vocals of a young Teddy Pendergrass, who was on the cusp of becoming one of the era's most successful male performers. This full-length LP version, generously spread across an entire side of the 12" single, is an essential addition to any collection. It's one of those formative tracks that laid the foundation for the disco explosion—pure perfection!

Flip the record, and you'll find another landmark tune: "Wake Up Everybody." This 1975 mellow dancer carries a powerful, heartfelt message and stands as another monumental hit in the Blue Notes' impressive catalog. With socially conscious lyrics that resonate even today, this track has solidified its status as a timeless classic, exuding depth and soul. The entire B-side is dedicated to this one track, providing ample room for its message to resonate and ensuring top-quality sonic playback for DJs and dancers alike. If you appreciate soulful sounds, this record is a must-have—peerless and unforgettable!

Previously unissued from 1978 this is the follow up release to the very successful "Those Passing Words" single The Ellis Hall Group.

"Music, Sweet Music" sounds like a perfect little song with lovely summer vibes, a bit of vocal scatting and lovely organ licks from the multi talented Ellis Hall.

We love the feel of this one that sounds like The Crusaders/Blackbyrds, and Stevie Wonder rolled into 2:38 of soulful pleasure.

Flip it over and "Forward Motion" kicks off with some pretty generic 70's horn play, boom, rasping drums and melodies kick in with some fun interplay between Ellis , Patty Unitas and Pat Thomas on the background vox.

The full line up from these recordings are:

Ellis Hall Jr (Keyboards/Vocals)

Patty Unitas (Vocals)

Pat Thomas (Vocals)

David Fuller (Drums/Vocals)

Michael Thompson (Guitar)

Stanley Benders (Percussion)

Norwegian talent Meera makes her Crosstown Rebelsdebut with the atmospheric ‘Stikk’. Landing on 30th August, the EP sees the young artist flex her production prowess with remixes from Dennis Cruz and Tripolism.

Riding the success of her debut single ‘Music For Humans’ in 2023, Norway’s Meera was swiftly recruited by Damian Lazarus, joining him at his Hï Ibiza residency before heading to Rebellion for the release of the resonant ‘Teflon’. The sought-after artist has shown no signs of slowing, releasing a series of remixes this year amongst European shows, festival appearances, and Ibiza
pit stops. Continuing this momentum, she now makes her label debut on Lazarus’ renowned Crosstown Rebels with ‘Stikk’, with imprint regular Dennis Cruz joining on remix duties alongside melodic Danish trio and former collaborators Tripolism, who also make their first outing on Crosstown.

Landing in realms of afro-house, Meera’s production is cool, confident, and creative. With eclectic influences audible throughout her standout sound, her ‘Stikk’ EP proves why she first garnered the attention of artists such as Jimi Jules and John Digweed. The title track leads with minimal climbing percussion, introspective piano melodies and delicate, dreamlike vocals. In contrast, Tripolism’s remix turns up the intensity to a biting crescendo, adding sharp synths for a more dancefloor-focused feeling. ‘Sykkelkurv’ reaches for higher planes of emotion with its atmospheric soundscape, moody chords and driving drums, toeing the line between light and dark. Next, Dennis Cruz’s interpretation drives the track off the line and into deeper rhythms with chunky low-ends, picking up the pace for peak time. Digital purchasers are treated to a bonus track titled ‘Stikk Reprise’, a pulsating trip back into the lead single, with a heightened focus on the song's hypnotic vocals and raw emotive energy.

This summer is all about the Toxic Funk jams over at Breaknbeat Paradise Recordings and for the 15th installment of the Toxic Funk series we have welcomed back the Suckaside team to produce 2 timeless funky joints.

Suckaside aka DJ B-Side and Sucka Timmy is always on point when putting their tasty funky mashups together and this time around they're keeping it fresh with some soulful funky twists on some catchy RnB jams.

This is the second time Suckaside is dropping a toxic funk 7"inch after their highly successful Vol. 7 from 2021.

Starting things off with the catchy Sometimes Bootyful that featuring some smooth RnB vocals on a funky organ riff with a steady rocking breakbeat.

On the b-side the smoothness continues on the highly addictive Sugar Face, that's take a big slow-rockin' groove and mashes it with some catchy RnB vocals that will leave you asking for more every time it's played.

Another timeless 45 that will be going quick so get it while you can and look out for more Toxic Funk coming very soon…

Harde Smart is back again! With the new Harde Smart 7" Sampler, you get a taste of the upcoming Harde Smart Volume 2: Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's, the successor to the acclaimed original Harde Smart compilation that showcased the best of the Dutch-linguistic territory back in the '70s. Even in the decade that followed, a whole host of gems were made that were remarkably danceable, catchy and playful, as proven by the two tracks on this sampler. Joost Belinfante puts it nicely on the B-side: 'nothing to prove, nothing to claim, it is as it is.' Harde Smart never disappoints.

Harde Smart Volume 2: Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's

Harde Smart is on it with the sophomore compilation effort Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's. Vinyl aficionado's No Sleep Richy and Micha Marva teamed up with Sjefke De Kok (one of Holland's illest to rack those crates!) to continue their journey. While raking deep in the dusty bins with Dutch and Flemish records, they once again discovered an exquisite selection of tracks. Too weird to play, too rare to throw away. From butt-shaking boogie to weird disco adventures on wax, this album is sounding like all the good stuff the eighties had to offer: both smooth and sexy as well as dark and wavy. Get ready for an atypical introduction into the Dutch lyric-driven music from the 1980's.

The Harde Smart 7" Sampler will be released on Friday 15 March 2024 via Sdban. Harde Smart volume 2: Flemish & Dutch Grooves From the 80's will be released soon via Sdban

The impact, influence, and importance of Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut – the album that invented hardcore hip-hop and bridged rap, rock, and funk in then-unparalleled ways – cannot be measured. The first full-length record released by Profile Records, the 1984 set permanently changed the sound of music, broadcast streetwise wisdom to every corner of the country, and made the notion of a one-man band a distinct reality. Bolstered by an incendiary blend of staccato deliveries, stark beats, aggressive exchanges, evocative hooks, and socially conscious messages, Run-D.M.C. still hits listeners in the jaw with the same intensity it did nearly 40 years ago when it could be heard booming from ghetto blasters carried around city blocks nationwide.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl 33RPM LP is the definitive-sounding version of the groundbreaking work cited by Rolling Stone as the 378th Greatest Album of All Time. This reissue also represents the first time this gold-certified effort has been presented in audiophile quality. Benefitting from the ultra-low noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces of SuperVinyl, Run-D.M.C. now plays with a clarity, immediacy, punchiness, and directness worthy of the artistry, urgency, and intellect of the trio's material.

The brilliance of Russell Simmons and Larry Smith's production comes into view as if the music is being broadcast on a giant system in a small club — only more focused, lively, and unlimited. Free of dynamic constraints and fatiguing harshness, this LP invites you to turn up the volume and experience the raw, rough, invigorating songs that changed the look, sound, and feel of hip-hop overnight. Think the trio’s sparse framework of drum machines, tag-team rhymes, keyboard accents, and turntable scratches is stuck in the mid-80s? Spin MoFi’s SuperVinyl LP and gain new appreciation for the music, messages, and production on display on Run-D.M.C.

Recorded in the wake of two successful and pioneering singles, both included on the album, Run-D.M.C. effectively took a sheet of coarse-grit sandpaper to the polish, sheen, and linear presentation of all the hip-hop that preceded it. Stripped to bare-bones foundations, the songs grab your attention and shake you by the collar with a combination of industrial-leaning rhythms, staggered deliveries, dance drama, and hard, minimalist percussion. Then there are the lyrics.

The LP broadcasts a smart mix of boots-on-the-ground reports, uplifting advice, and then-nascent b-boy culture. In one fell swoop, its narratives and music rendered the scene’s proclivity toward glamor and softness passé. Run-D.M.C.’s tough, cool-minded fashion sense showed the trio walked its talk and gave fans — particularly those living in long-ignored urban areas — heroes which with they could identify. Kangol hats, black jeans, leather jackets, Adidas sneaks, and gold chains were the new currency.

In every regard, Run-D.M.C. signifies the birth of modern hip-hop. Never more obviously than on the groundbreaking “Rock Box,” where rap and rock were first fused. As the first hip-hop video to receive regular rotation on MTV, the track eviscerated racial and social boundaries, awakened musicians and listeners to new possibilities, and redefined both popular music and, ultimately, popular culture. As the Roots’ Questlove has stated, it “ knocked down many obstacles, enabling hip-hop to become the new gospel."

Such teaching includes the real-world scripture of “Hard Times,” utopian hopefulness of “Wake Up,” and observational truths of “It’s Like That.” Released as the group’s debut single well before its eponymous album, the latter tune established themes and outlooks Run-D.M.C. would embrace during its career. Namely, the keen awareness of various prejudices, economic ills, and disruptive violence as well as the knowledge that education, self-motivation, and hard work were the ways to escape disadvantages and disillusionment.

Inspired and inspirational, the song reflects the spirit and shrewdness that courses throughout Run-D.M.C. That includes a detailed account of the trio’s not-so secret weapon (“Jam-Master Jay”), purpose statement (“Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)”), and a revolutionary hybrid autobiographical narrative-dis track (“Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1)”) widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop songs ever created. The same can be said for every moment on Run-D.M.C.

MoFi SuperVinyl
Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analog lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are virtually indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.

Purple, the second studio album released in 1994 by the Stone Temple Pilots, stands as a monumental achievement in the band's career and a defining moment in the grunge and alternative rock music scene of the 1990s. With a potent blend of raw energy, introspective lyrics and masterful musicianship, Purple not only catapulted Stone Temple Pilots to superstardom, but it also marked a significant evolution in the band's sound.

The album, building on the foundations laid by the band's debut album Core, was a huge success for the band, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and quickly achieving multi-platinum status, worldwide.

Its chart-topping single, "Interstate Love Song," became an anthem for a generation, and the album as a whole showcased the band's artistic prowess.

Lyrically, "Purple" also revealed a more introspective and mature side of Stone Temple Pilots. Scott Weiland's songwriting delved into personal struggles and emotions, addressing themes of addiction, love, and self-discovery. This depth added a layer of authenticity to the album, allowing listeners to connect with the band on a profound level.

Purple also demonstrated that Stone Temple Pilots were more than just another grunge act; they were a force to be reckoned with, capable of delivering powerful and emotionally resonant music. Purple remains a crucial chapter in the band's history and an essential listen for any fan of rock music.

Analogue Productions has given the showstopping Purple the full reissue treatment: Mastered directly from the original master tape by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in a tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jacket by Stoughton Printing.

Following a run of successful digital releases, eloelo records presents its debut vinyl release, a multifaceted 4-track EP, featuring three original tracks by label head ELODIE and a remix from coveted producer Michael James.

The A side is headed by the title track, ‘Bohemian’. Consistently well-received, especially by those lucky enough to have heard it on a heavy-duty sound system, the track creates an immersive, euphoric atmosphere that oozes warmth and vibrant energy. Coupled with one-off hits and delightful ear candy meticulously sprinkled throughout, ‘Bohemian’ offers a feast for the senses making it impossible not to move to. Your ears and your feet won’t be able to get enough. Michael James' remix of ‘Bohemian’ transforms it into a peak-time anthem that ignites the dancefloor. His rendition adds a layer of intensity and excitement, characterised by his trademark percs and a thrilling breakdown that leads to an explosive drop, leaving revelers ecstatic every time it is unleashed. A proper ‘bomb’.

The B side takes a more emotive turn with two more original tracks from ELODIE. ‘Like To Dream’, envelops listeners in a dreamy, sense of deep introspection via complex soundscapes which have been expertly woven to create a mesmerising depth of sound. Its seamless blend of pads and synths create a profound journey, inviting listeners to lose themselves in this moving, mature track inspired by the Rominimal sound.

‘Pineapple Ice’ rounds off the EP with a mood that is both tranquil and experimental. The track’s minimalistic yet intricate composition offers a soothing yet intriguing auditory experience, balancing calmness with a touch of playful unpredictability. A dubby techno number which perfectly balances out the EP. ELODIE has stayed true to the production style that she is carving out for herself with an EP that stands to advance the label’s dedication to delivering unconventional releases that cultivate a distinctive and timeless minimal sound.

UNSURPASSED SPACIOUSNESS, IMAGING, AND TRANSPARENCY: MASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES, MUSIC EMERGES WITH NEW DETAILS AND TONES
1/2" / 30 IPS analogue master - Plangent Processed - to DXD to analogue console to lathe

Love Over Gold is all about contrast, tension, and crafty composition. Dire Straits' fourth album finds the band continuing to evolve by welcoming increasingly bold arrangements and exploring moody variations. Parts edgy and sharp, and part seductive and relaxed, the five lengthy songs on Love Over Gold sprawl out like a long, winding road cutting through a pastoral landscape. The addition of a new rhythm guitarist, Hal Lindes, encourages deeper atmospheric interplay while the presence of engineer Neil Dorfsman – his first appearance in what would be a long string of collaborations with Mark Knopfler – ensures stunning sonic properties that now come to life like never before.

Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed at RTI, Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM 2LP version of Love Over Gold teems with superb balances, front-to-back soundstages, and crystalline purity. The dead-quiet surfaces and extra-wide grooves bring forward previously obscured details, extra information, and mastering-studio-quality transients. The distinctive textures of a host of instruments – marimbas, acoustic and electric guitars, vibes, synthesizers – further enhance the ambitiousness of the 1982 album.

On this audiophile pressing, everything Knopfler does seemingly turn to gold. Gearheads will hear the unique characteristics afforded by his use of a Mesa Boogie Mark II guitar amplifier (soon again employed on Brothers in Arms) and carefully chosen selection of Schecter Stratocasters, 1937 National steel guitar, and Ovation six- and twelve-string models. Reference-level separation and lifelike imaging place Knopfler and company in your room, while tube-like warmth, spaciousness, and airiness causes the music to breathe anew. This LP will be in your rotation for months.

It doesn't take long to realize Love Over Gold is like no other Dire Straits album – and a staunch proclamation of independence from a band that continued to take longer creative strides with each successive project. Fearlessly extending over metaphoric hills, valleys, and plains for nearly 14-and-a-half minutes, the opening "Telegraph Road" is a guitar hero's dream and exhilarating showcase for Lindes' give-and-take capabilities. In tandem with keyboardist Alan Clark, Lindes provides the ideal foil for not only Knopfler but the long-time rhythm section of bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers.

Taking its time to arrive at destinations, the quintet paints evocative musical and lyrical portraits steeped in patience, drama, and, often times, sadness. Desolate emotions colour the sweeping "Telegraph Road" and barren "Private Investigations," which finds Knopfler in the role of a tired private eye contemplating the emptiness and scars of his profession. Vocally, the Dire Straits leader remains in top form throughout, his whiskey-coated rasp conveying romantic ache, ongoing frustration, and what Rolling Stone beautifully deemed "wracking schizophrenia between the heart and the heartless, the loving and the pain."

Called Dire Straits' prog-rock statement, Love Over Gold is a classic that defies labelling and avoids ageing.

Before Shotgun Willie, Willie Nelson had struggled to gain widespread recognition as a solo artist, despite having written many successful songs for other artists. Nelson's big break came when he signed with Atlantic Records in 1973. The pivotal moment in his career came after Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler, known for his work with artists like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, took an interest in Nelson's music. Wexler saw potential in Nelson's unique approach to country music and signed him to the label. With the creative freedom offered by Atlantic Records, Nelson was able to record Shotgun Willie with the artistic freedom he had long desired. The album's unconventional sound and honest lyrics resonated with both critics and fans.

Shotgun Willie marked a new beginning for Willie Nelson's career, and it set the stage for his subsequent albums and his emergence as one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of country music. The recording was one of the first albums of outlaw country — a new subgenre of country music and an alternative to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound, the dominant style in the genre at the time

The album — the first to feature Nelson with long hair and a beard on the cover — gained him the interest of younger audiences. It peaked at No. 41 on Billboard's Top Country Albums and the songs "Shotgun Willie" and "Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)" peaked at Nos. 60 and 22 on Hot Country Songs respectively.

We are so pleased to bring you this deluxe 180-gram 45 RPM 2LP Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) reissue of the timeless Willie Nelson classic, Shotgun Willie. Cue it up and prepare to be transported!

Critically acclaimed series We Are Lady Parts follows the highs and lows of the band – Lady Parts – as

seen through the eyes of Amina Hussain – a geeky microbiology PhD student, who’s on the lookout for love and is recruited to be their unlikely lead guitarist.

The second season, which launched on Channel 4 (UK) and Peacock (US) on May 30th, sees the band return

with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first UK tour, only to find a rival band threatening their delicate status quo.



But as the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embarks on recording their first album,

juggling personal ambitions and questioning whether ‘making it big’ is really what they want.



This vinyl release features original songs and surprising cover tracks from season 1 and 2!!

The Slovak trio Berlin Manson was formed as a so-called apartment band in the dark days of Corona lockdowns. The founders Patrik Nagy and Adam Dragun compensated for the lack of cultural activities by creating new and original music, where Patrik provided D.I.Y. made electronic beats with live guitar playing and Adam provided his lyrics full of irony and criticism of the scene and society.

After the first successful concerts and singles, the cloud around the name Berlin Manson is steadily growing. It wasn't until a track and music video titled I'm not dancing I'm nodding my head that catapulted them into the limelight of the alternative scene, heralding their debut EP Life Ends When You're Thirteen (2022). Later, the original duo were joined by drummer Tomáš Tabiš, who is also in the band 52 Hertz Whale, whose album was also released under the Weltschmerzen label. Their concert performances have gained more momentum and their drive has made them one of the most popular club and festival line-ups in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

After a successful collaboration on the 2023 single Hotel Kyjev with Pisht Kralovic a.k.a. FVLCRVM, the band is releasing their first full-length album Poor but Sexy, with which they are moving under the Weltschmerzen roof. The fusion with roots in electronica, punk, pustpunk, rave and HC is once again complemented by Adam Dragun's great lyrics, which alternate social engagement with sarcasm, irony and cynicism, or nostalgia and sadness. On the current release we can also hear collaborations with guests such as Katarzia, Edúv Syn, Fvck Kvlt, Temný Rudo, Dušan Vlk or Paris.

"WINDSWEPT is yet another creative vehicle for the esteemed Roman Saenko, known worldwide for his pioneering work in Drudkh, Precambrian and Hate Forest among others. While most of his musical creations stem from black metal, thankfully, WINDSWEPT is consistent in this regard and unapologetically restrictive, retaining Saenko's characteristically hypnotic riffing coasting atop a wintry atmosphere.

Now, after a couple albums with Season of Mist, WINDSWEPT join forces with PRIMITIVE REACTION, who released the debut album of his PRECAMBRIAN project in 2020, with the brand-new mini-album "Der eine, wahre König". Uniquely, this four-song / 28-minute recording features two equally esteemed vocalists - Winterherr of Paysage D' Hiver, and Meilenwald of Ruins of Beverast - with both men splitting duties evenly.

Indeed, with such a structure, "Der eine, wahre König" is a portrait of evenness: unwavering, unflinching, immovable, engrossing. Movement manifests in subtlety, as is Saenko's stock in trade; further and deeper listens reveal a wealth of nuance even if it's not always apparent. All four tracks comprising the record feature all-German lyrics, evoking a different-yet-related sense of austerity from the mainman's proudly Ukrainian ruminations, and both vocalists rise to the challenge of pushing their respective throats to the limit whilst remaining rooted to WINDSWEPT's core consistency. That "Der eine, wahre König" attacks from the very first second and successively expands, concluding with the near-11-minute "Jedes Todes Lohn", and retains its a stute balance of urgency and epicness speaks to Saenko's never-faltering mastery.

"The Modulations released their album It's Rough Out Here in 1975. This album featured the singles ""Rough Out Here”, “I Can’t Fight Your Love”, and the title track, along with other soulful tracks that explored similar themes of struggle and resilience. The singles received considerable airplay and managed to chart on Billboard’s R&B single Chart. While the group never achieved great mainstream commercial success, they garnered a dedicated following among soul music enthusiasts for their emotive vocals and heartfelt lyrics. The Modulations recorded extensively with MFSB, the house band of the famed record label Philadelphia International. These sessions yielded to this album It's Rough Out Here, which is considered a gem of 1970s soul music, showcasing The Modulations' talent and ability to capture the essence of everyday life through their music. The group reached the pinnacle of its career with an appearance on Don Cornelius’ popular TV show Soul Train in 1976. It’s Rough Out Here is being reissued for the first time in almost 50 years and is available as a limited edition of 500 copies on yellow coloured vinyl. "

Necrodeath is one of the most important and outrageous names in extreme metal; formed back in 1984, it is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Dark Angel, Possessed, Venom, Kreator, Bathory, Celtic Frost and Sodom. The band is also renowned for its live performances and notably for their "wall of sound". The band released a cult-demo tape titled 'The Shining Pentagram' and obtained an incredible success in the underground, which is still considered a real "piece of thrash/black history". Tons of tributes in major magazines, fanzines and other underground outlets highlighted the release of the first two legendary albums 'Into The Macabre' (1987) and 'Fragments Of Insanity' (1989). And today after dozens of full lengths, EPs and side projects the long voyage to hell is not over yet. New Necrodeath album, anticipated by the single on vinyl and video "Transformer Treatment", is the confirmation of a trade-mark consolidated in almost forty years, where the old school of extreme metal is present throughout the album. "Singin 'in the pain" is a concept based on the movie "A Clockwork Orange" by Stanley Kubrick, where the band takes us on a one-way black/thrash journey, represented by immorality and violence, and back to a vain attempt at redemption and normality.

"Hannes Aitman, the 20-year-old country debutante, continues to release singles ahead of his debut album "Weak Point"
which will be released on August 23. "Looking Back, Looking out" will be released on 5/24 and is a song about reflection,
hope, love and longing A perfect introduction to Hannes' debut album. Together with the album, Hannes will go on a
summer tour through Sweden and will also be a support act for Ludwig Hart this fall. The album will also be available on
vinyl. Hannes is now recording a YouTube documentary where we will be able to follow his journey as one of the fastest
climbing debutants we have in Sweden. He will follow up this success with a headline tour in 2025."

"Hannes Aitman, the 20-year-old country debutante, continues to release singles ahead of his debut album "Weak Point"
which will be released on August 23. "Looking Back, Looking out" will be released on 5/24 and is a song about reflection,
hope, love and longing A perfect introduction to Hannes' debut album. Together with the album, Hannes will go on a
summer tour through Sweden and will also be a support act for Ludwig Hart this fall. The album will also be available on
vinyl. Hannes is now recording a YouTube documentary where we will be able to follow his journey as one of the fastest
climbing debutants we have in Sweden. He will follow up this success with a headline tour in 2025."

David Gray's tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his phenomenally
successful 'White Ladder' album proved to be a life-affirming celebration
of a record that forever changed his future and which has soundtracked
fans' lives ever since
The rapturously received tour was comprised of 54 shows across four continents
- and after playing to a total of 130,000 people just during the tour's initial UK /
Ireland arena run, it's evident that 'White Ladder' still means so much to so many
people. This unforgettable tour is documented with the release of 'White Ladder
Live' out on November 24 as a double gatefold vinyl package. As with the rest of
the tour, the show features the original 'White Ladder' band line-up.
A roar of approval greets 'Please Forgive Me' as David performs 'White Ladder' in
the original album's running order, taking in its many other hits ('Babylon', 'This
Year's Love', 'Sail Away') and fan favourite deeper cuts ('My Oh My', 'Silver Lining')
before closing the main set with his emotionally charged take on the Soft Cell
classic 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye'. The encore is full of surprises: a performance
of 'Tainted Love' which is closer in spirit to Gloria Jones' original, and a climactic
reprise of 'Please Forgive Me' which builds dramatically to bring the curtain down
in style. It also includes a spoken word piece 'Bowie, Babylon, Glastonbury 2000'
in which David shares the stranger- than- fiction story of his experience at
Glastonbury.

Kompakt is proud to announce, finally, a reissue of the first, self-titled GAS album. Originally released on electronica imprint Mille Plateaux back in 1996, it’s been unavailable in its original form ever since – the version of GAS included in 2008’s Nah Und Fern box featured several different tracks. Here, however, GAS is restored in all its glory, the debut full-length from Wolfgang Voigt’s most enigmatic, quixotic project.

There had, of course, been signs of what was to come. Back in 1995, Voigt essayed the first GAS release, a slender, yet remarkable four-track EP, Modern. Its centre label featured a reduced symbol – an overhead or lamp light, switched on, its glow radiating outwards in four bold black lines – a perfect representation of the tight, stylised ambient electronic pop contained on that 12”. A few curious compilation tracks were floating around, too, for Mille Plateaux’s Modulation & Transformation and Electric Ladyland series. If you were attentive enough, you could tell something was up.

But nothing quite prepared us for the languorous, effervescing loops and regular-like-clockwork beats that Voigt folded together on GAS. Its six long tracks, all untitled, neither begin nor end but hazily fade into earshot, vibrate majestically in your cochlea for fifteen-or-so minutes – some a bit shorter, some longer – and then meander away, reading the mise-en-scène for the next example of Voigt’s drift and dream logic to unfold. The material is referential in the most distant way, and you can sense only the most evanescent of ghostly presences, haunting these six compositions.

GAS feels, also, like a more pliable hint at what’s to come, as the GAS concept really solidified on its successor, 1997’s Zauberberg, and reach its apotheosis on Königsforst and Pop. Those three albums share a very similar palette – blurred, hazy samples, often of classical music, stacked and cross-thatched across a muted 4/4 thud. GAS, then, is an outlier of sorts: it’s more expansive in its remit, lighter in its mood, perhaps more fleet of foot. This, of course, is part of its charm.

In clearing space for Voigt, by preparing the terrain, GAS sits both at the edge of the forest, and at the verge of an expansive, wide-eyed future; one where GAS would become truly eternal.

Text by Jonathan Dale

Kompakt ist stolz, endlich eine Neuauflage des ersten, selbstbetitelten GAS-Albums ankündigen zu können. Ursprünglich im Jahr 1996 auf dem Electronica-Label Mille Plateaux veröffentlicht, ist es seitdem nicht mehr in seiner ursprünglichen Form erhältlich – die gleichnamige Version von GAS, die 2008 in der Nah Und Fern Box enthalten war, enthielt verschiedene andere Titel. Nun liegt das 3er Album in seinem naturbelassenen Originalzustand wieder vor.

Bereits 1995 zeichnete sich mit der Maxi GAS - Modern auf Profan, sowie einigen Kompilation-Beiträgen auf Modulation & Transformation und Electric Ladyland auf Mille Plateaux dieser frühe, weltentrückte, rätselhafte GAS Sound ab, der sich erst in den sechs scheinbar endlosen, majestätisch-sprudelnden Tracks des Albums voll entfaltete. Die Musik ist von ätherischer Leichtigkeit, in der wie aus einer anderen Sphäre abstrakte Referenzen aus weiter Ferne nur andeutungsweise herüberzuwehen scheinen.

Dieser frühe, eher sphärisch-leichte, gleich einer sonnendurchfluteten (Wald-)Lichtung anmutende GAS Sound, stellt gewissermaßen den Ausgangspunkt der audiovisuellen „Welt“-Reise in den düster-romantischen Acid-Wald dar, in den sich GAS ab 1997 mit den Alben Zauberberg, Königsforst, Oktember und ab 2000 mit Pop an anderer Stelle wieder hinaus und in seine ganz eigene Ewigkeit begeben hat.

American English is the second studio album by British new wave band Wax, which consisted of Andrew Gold and 10cc band member Graham Gouldman. The two got together after 10cc split up in 1983 and released a total of three studio albums, including the 1987 American English. The album grew into their most successful effort, largely due to the hit single “Bridge To Your Heart”, which charted in the top 10 in many European countries and remains their biggest hit to-date. The album spawned two more singles; “American English” and “In Some Other World”. The album’s front cover was designed by Storm Thorgerson, who is best known for closely working with Pink Floyd, in addition to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Def Leppard among others. American English is available as a limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on pink & purple marbled vinyl and includes an insert.

"Magdalena Bay, the Los Angeles-based duo of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, create magical pop music that floats in the ether of our collective social cosmos. While they call California home, their essence lies in the clouds, emitting unique yet familiar frequencies of synthesized nostalgia, kitschy catchiness, and warped neo-hooks. Suited for the times, Magdalena Bay blends the known and felt with innovative sonic landscapes.

Tenenbaum and Lewin met as teenagers in a Miami high school music program. Tenenbaum, who moved from Buenos Aires to Florida at age one, and Lewin, a guitar shredder influenced by his dad’s prog and concept rock records, quickly recognized their kindred spirits. They formed a prog band called Tabula Rasa and began a romance. Both were skilled musicians; Tenenbaum a pianist and singer, and Lewin self-taught in production and music theory. Despite attending different colleges, they maintained their band, traveling hours to rehearse before realizing two things: their relationship was undeniable, and prog rock wasn’t resonating with young audiences.

Shifting their focus to pop, they explored its craft, leading to the creation of Magdalena Bay. They learned the complexities of pop writing and production, striving to create something interesting within the genre. Describing their music broadly as ""pop,"" they released several EPs and singles before debuting their album, ""Mercurial World,"" in 2021. Praised for its melodic hooks and meticulous production, it was often labeled as ""synth-pop.""

Their success is reflected in streaming numbers, social media followers, and festival appearances. Magdalena Bay's stylized online aesthetic complements their music, creating a cohesive artistic vision. Tenenbaum says, “We love extending the world of our music past sound into videos or graphics.” Lewin adds, “We’re trying to create an atmosphere or an emotional quality with it.” This integrated approach, termed ""world-building,"" is central to their artistry."

Ungod is the debut album by industrial rock band Stabbing Westward, released in 1994. The album blends aggressive guitar riffs with dark, brooding electronic elements, capturing the angst and intensity of the early 90s alternative scene. Produced by John Fryer, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode, Ungod features standout tracks like ""Violent Mood Swings"" and ""Nothing,"" showcasing Christopher Hall's raw, emotive vocals and the band's gritty, atmospheric sound. Although it didn't achieve mainstream success, Ungod gained a cult following, establishing Stabbing Westward as a significant force in the industrial rock genre. The album's dark, introspective themes and innovative production remain influential in the industrial rock landscape. Ungod is being reissued for the first time since its original release and is available as a 30th anniversary edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on translucent red & black marbled vinyl. The vinyl package includes an insert.

Pinwheel Dewdrop / Blue Vinyl, limited to 200 copies. BANE's legendary album "Don't Wait Up" is getting the deluxe treatment from End Hits Records for its 10th anniversary! Released in the spring of 2014 as End Hits No. 10, it marked the beginning of the end for the iconic hardcore band. Initially, the band intended to record a final 7" to support a two-year-long farewell tour around the globe. However, they were eventually convinced by the label to record and release a full album instead. Upon release, "Don't Wait Up" was an instant success among supporters and critics alike. BANE embarked on a successful final tour and then called it quits. "Don't Wait Up" became a holy grail for vinyl collectors in the meantime. But the stars aligned, and much to the delight of hardcore enthusiasts around the world, the band came back together to tour again. To celebrate this landmark release and the return of BANE as a live band, End Hits Records is releasing an extraordinarily packed re-release of this classic album. The packaging features a deluxe gatefold sleeve with die cuts and is enhanced with layers of glow-in-the-dark lacquer. The ultra-limited anniversary reissue is available now from End Hits Records.

Renowned New Zealand musician Nathan Haines announces his eleventh studio album and first solo album since 2014. Nathan’s vibrant career has solidified his status as a leading figure in contemporary jazz and electronic music, and throughout his career he has distinguished himself as a masterful saxophonist, flautist, and composer, celebrated for his innovative fusion of jazz with elements of soul, funk, and dance music. Notes maintains the jazz sound he is famed for, whilst also seeing the artist embrace the electronic/house and disco scene.

A labour of love, work on the album started several years ago alongside the now deceased UK producer Phil Asher who had produced Nathan’s two most successful albums Sound Travels and Squire For Hire. Regarded as one of the finest DJ’s and producers to emerge from the UK, playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between 4/4 and broken beat, this was the first time Nathan and Phil had worked together in over eighteen years. Phil passed away during the recording of the album, but he appears on a number of tracks, and his spirit and influence can be felt throughout the entire release.

The album features a number of guest vocalists, including UK soul-diva Vanessa Freeman (Bugz In The Attic, 4 Hero, Kaidi Tatham, Kyoto Jazz Massive), and exciting young talent Ajuna Oakes, Ruby Cesan, La Coco and EO (NZ). Alongside Nathan’s own musicianship, the album also features bass from Razor-N-Tape label founder Jkriv and electronic jazz pioneer Mark de Clive-Lowe, with both bringing a wealth of collaboration and musicality to the project. Long time collaborator and much respected UK based producer Marc Mac (one half the highly influential and respected duo 4Hero) provides beats for a number alongside Nathan’s father Kevin on acoustic bass.

Highly respected DJ and producer Frank Booker (Razor and Tape) drops his signature beats on three tracks which fits nicely alongside Asher’s drum work. The album’s one cover see’s Nathan teaming up with vocalist Rachel Clarke on their version of Storm by US 80’s vocal group Rare Silk - this track is entirely acoustic and is one of the album’s special moments both artistically and musically.

The past years have seen Haines continuing to establish himself as one of NZ's best DJs and live performers, working on releases and remixes with the likes of Chaos in the CBD, Frank Booker, JKriv, Ray Mang and many others. He has also just released a solo album on Goldie's Metalheadz label under his Sci-clone alias co-produced with DJ A-Sides to excellent reviews and featuring a wealth of talent and musicianship.

Plush, the 1982 studio album by the Eighties synth-boogie band Plush, is a standout in the genre. The band, consisting of Siedah Garrett, Tony Phillips, and Ambrose Price, was known for their smooth blend of R&B, funk, and synth-driven melodies. Garrett, who later gained fame as a solo artist and songwriter, brought a distinctive vocal presence to the band. Not long after the band broke up, she was discovered by Michael Jackson, for who she later provided backing vocals and co-wrote ""Man In The Mirror"" with. The album was produced by Bobby Watson, René Moore and Angela Winbush. It features catchy tracks like ""Free and Easy"" and ""We’ve Got the Love,"" showcasing their polished production and soulful harmonies. Despite not achieving major commercial success, Plush has garnered a cult following for its authentic early Eighties sound. It's a significant work within the disco boogie genre, reflecting the transitional period of early Eighties music and is one of the rare and sought-after albums from that era. Plush is available on coloured vinyl for the first time as a limited edition of 500 copies on red coloured vinyl and includes an insert.

blue repress !

Axodry was founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1983 , the founding members were Talla 2XLC and RaHen aka Ralf Henrich.

The first release Feel It Right was a success (see also Sound of Frankfurt ). RaHen and Talla 2XLC composed and programmed
the debut song in RaHen's home studio . The Westside label made the final production possible in Axel Henninger's Dynaton Studio.

There RaHen later produced the songs Surrender and The Time Is Right as well as many other songs and bands for Westside with Axel Henninger .

At times Kurt Ader and Alexander Maurus were part of the band. The Music Hall concert in Frankfurt am Main took place in this line-up.

2024 Reiseue

In late October 2019, following a successful UK tour ending in a sold-out concert at the mythical Roundhouse in London, SUNN O))) entered studio 4 of the BBC Maida Vale. On invitation to record a live session for Mary Anne Hobbs to be broadcast on Samhain via her excellent radio show on BBC6. To enter the legendary John Peel studios was to enter a temple of music and experimentation, liberty in ideas and sound. The band was nearing the end of a long touring year around the Life Metal and Pyroclast albums. SUNN O))) had developed the compositions extensively, embracing the formative concepts of the Life Metal album conceptually and emotionally, but actualised and evolved into vast, open and bright hypersaturated arrangements. Particularly the pieces the band chose to perform on this recording: Troubled Air and Pyroclasts. The former enriched into a total aspect of the band's ethos and form in many ways, and Pyroclasts had evolved to become all-inclusive radiation of O))). The radiation embraces collaboration and freedom of interpretation by each player, within a structural format of the massive monuments of sound and distortion which define SUNN O))). Anna Von Hausswolf and her band had accompanied SUNN O))) on the UK leg, and Anna joined SUNN O))) in the studio on synths and with her tremendous voice on the Pyroclasts pieces.

Repress

Songs ’94-’98 is a smart selection of material from The Cat’s Miaow, an Australian indie-pop group that gifted their decade with some of its finest songs. Released on World Of Echo, the album draws from the group’s string of excellent seven-inch singles, a small clutch of compilation contributions, and features one previously unreleased song, “I Take It That We’re Through”, recorded in 1998. Part of the burgeoning international pop underground of the nineties, The Cat’s Miaow’s legend has only built over subsequent decades, as more people discover this most quixotic and curious of groups: a recent appearance on A Colourful Storm’s compilation of Australian indie-pop, I Won’t Have To Think About You, is testament to their enduring influence. In part emulating the selection of tracks on the 1997 CD-only compilation, Songs For Girls To Sing, Songs ’94-’98 is also the group’s first ever full-length 12” vinyl collection. The Cat’s Miaow started out in 1992 as a home-recording duo, Bart Cummings (guitar, bass, vocals) and Andrew Withycombe (bass, guitar) taking time out from duties with Girl Of The World and The Ampersands (respectively), knocking out songs on Withycombe’s four-track. Soon joined by Kerrie Bolton (vocals) and Cam Smith (drums), the quartet spent the next five years quietly, slowly working away in the suburbs of Melbourne, recording gem after gem of independent pop. Like many of their Australian precursors or peers – The Particles, Even As We Speak, The Cannanes – The Cat’s Miaow were more successful overseas, a sadly typical phenomenon within the Australian musical landscape. The Cat’s Miaow were always worldly and stylish, anyway, each seven-inch single a refined artifact, each song a peaceable jewel. You could hear some relationships with other music – someone (if not everyone) in The Cat’s Miaow was a Galaxie 500 fan; there’s a minimalism to the playing and melodies that recalls Young Marble Giants, Marine Girls, Beat Happening – but the spirit in these songs is endearingly individualised, the result of a hermetic vision, an ideal of what a simple, unadorned pop song could be. They had a winning way with simplicity, songs like “Autumn”, “Crying” and “I Can’t Sleep Thinking You Hate Me” passing by in the blink of a moistened eye, and when they stretched out, as on “Firefly”, you can hear hints of the drifting ambience they’d perfect in their other band, Hydroplane. It’s not much of a surprise that The Cat’s Miaow found a receptive audience, and no small amount of support, from the networked communities of indie-pop labels and fanatics that developed in the nineties – they released records on imprints like Drive-In, Darla, Bus Stop and Quiddity, shared a flexi-disc with Stereolab, and appeared on countless compilations over the years. But they also understood the importance of the local: their first few cassettes reached the world’s mail routes via Wayne Davidson’s legendary Melbourne tape label, Toytown; they turned up on a split single with Davidson’s group, Stinky Fire Engine; they appeared on a tribute cassette for one of Australia’s finest, The Sugargliders, and indeed that’s Josh Meadows of said group playing wah guitar on “Stay”. The Cat’s Miaow also rarely played live – one launch gig, for the Munch video compilation, and a few parties – which is a great way to maintain mystique. Cosmopolitan yet homely, dedicated to their craft, The Cat’s Miaow always felt a little like a group moving in slow motion, using that pace and focus fully to embrace the art of the perfectly stated pop song – every element in place, no flash and no fuss, no excess, just the core of the thing. Few managed to tease such fierce poetry from such understated, elegant means. From Australia or anywhere.

The second part in Shan’s warehouse series delivers more of the same – but that’s definitely a great thing, if the dish has a great taste. Like it’s successful predecessor, the tracks don’t re-invent the wheel, but cater to all the nameless spaces and places that made raving in defiant and derelict places fun. There is house that sounds like techno (Elevate) and vice versa. Seasoned with break beats (89 Swing or the Future Sound of London-esque Euphony) or breaks for love (Uplift My Spirit) and even dub sirens, it is almost impossible not to find something to suit the customer’s environment. The main focus of attention might be the jack of all trades called Phantazia. Wouldn’t have sounded out of place at the entertainment series of the same name, it melts proto hardcore harmonics with Soul II Soul type of strings and immediate call for „the action“. And as we all know, that always speaks louder than words.

Kannon is an album which was composed in the aftershadow of SUNN O)))’s most recent successes in immersive collaboration (the group worked with Scott Walker on Soused, Ulver on Terrestrials in 2013 and 2014) and also from the broad and influential wake of their epitimous Monolith’s & Dimensions . Kannon emerged both independently as a conceptual entity and with roots in the legacies of those projects, yet was fully realised years later, in 2015. The album is 36 minutes in length and consists of three pieces of a triadic whole : Kannon 1, 2 and 3.

The album celebrates many SUNN O))) traditions ; Kannon was recorded and mixed with SUNN O)))’s close colleague and coproducer Randall Dunn in Seattle, in Studio Litho, Aleph and Avast! ; and the LP includes performances by long term allies and collaborators Attila Csihar, Oren Ambarchi, Rex Ritter, Steve Moore and others. And at the core the composition centers around the dynamic and intense guitar and bass interplay of SUNN O)))’s founders : Stephen O’Malley & Greg Anderson.

It’s possibly the most figurative album SUNN O))) has created, which is unusual as they usually dwell in layers of abstraction and subjectivity. On the other hand the album is the most outright “metal” in years, drawing personal associations and memories of cherished albums like Panzerfaust and Twilight of the Gods again to the forefront of consciousness. At the third time it is very close to the cyclical character of mantra which the band has evolved into as a living creature, the enormity of intense sensate detail and manifestation of the live in concert face of SUNN O))), the organism that has flourished, metamorphosed and transcended tremendously over the past ten years.

The literal representation of Kannon is as an aspect of Buddha : specifically “goddess of mercy” or “Perceiving the Sounds (or Cries) of the World”. She is also sometimes commonly known as the Guanyin Bodhisattva (Chinese: 觀音菩薩) amongst a plurality of other forms. There is a rich lineage behind this idea tracing back through many asian belief systems, with as many names and cultural personifications of the idea .

SUNN O))) commissioned critical theorist Aliza Shvartz to write a text / liner notes around these ideas and topics. She also explores the relations and perceptions to their approach to these ideas via the metonym of music and SUNN O)))’s place/approach within the framework of music and metal overall.

SUNN O))) also commissioned Swiss designer/artist Angela LaFont Bollinger to create the cover artwork, an abstracted sculpture of vision of Kannon, and the French photographer Estelle Hanania to capture portraits of the core trio (Csihar, Anderson, O’Malley) in the impressive and obscurant Emanuel Vingeland mausoleum in Oslo.

The LP is packaged in immaculate tip on gatefold sleeve by our long time comrades Stoughton Printing, and pressed at Cascade in Portland, Oregon. CD, download and coloured vinyl versions are also available

Legendary Canadian EDM / Freestyle artists In-Dex return after their huge success with their sold out 2021 Brazilian only 12" vinyl "No Science for Love" with a very limited white vinyl 12", a brand new track "I'll Never Walk Away"

4 tracks, 3 exclusive to this record, including a special dub mix of "No Science for Love" and a special mix of their 1988 hit "Give Me a Sign".

Produced by Brazil's Decho Wanlu, fans of early Depeche Mode will love this. In-Dex were formed in 1987 & had three hits between '89 & '91 and reformed in 2021. Lead vocalist & songwriter Rupert Gayle is a 1994 Juno award winner for best R&B album recorded in Canada. By 2008 he had written four #1 songs in Canada for other artists. In 1993 he founded Beat Factory Productions & signed Dream Warriors to Island Records in the UK.

This limited edition, collectable 12" is much sought- after in Germany, Finland, Canada, USA & Brazil where the radio version has had many streams on the internet. The other 3 tracks will not be available to stream or download.

Tracks: I'll Never Walk Away (Radio Version) / I'll Never Walk Away (Dub Mix) / Give Me a Sign (Special Mix) / No Science for Love (Dub Mix)