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Merzbild Schwet, the second album opus released in 1980, is considered one of Nurse With Wound's major releases, and is part of the famous "Silver Edition" on Rotorelief Records, with a luxurious chrome-plated cover in double Gatefold sleeves, and sumptuous 200g vinyl discs issued in 300 copies on silver and black vinyl, and 700 copies on black vinyl.

The first track, Futurismo, begins with clanking rhythms, record skip clicks, and horn riffs before veering off into a crazed quilt of women singing, laughing, and talking in French. About halfway through, wild screeches of distortion disrupt the piece, and then more bizarre sounds take over before the piece ends with a collage of over modulated electronic hum and rambling piano. The other cut, Dada X, goes further into weirdness with lots of silences, creepy creaking noises, tones that build up and collapse, and scattered spoken word in French and English from Eve Libertine from the political punk band Crass, and the piece certainly lives up to the Dada of its title.

Logical Absurd is very proud to present the 20th Anniversary of the album "She And Me Fall Together In Free Death" by Nurse With Wound. "She and Me Fall Together in Free Death" is probably the most approachable, largely "musical" album that NWW has released since Rock N' Roll Station. It's also one of his strangest concepts, a marriage of trance inducing Krautrock grooves with a traditional jazz standard and some jarringly atonal musique concrete. Side A is the 20- minute title track: a slow-motion jam reminiscent of of one of Can's sidelong tracks on Tago Mago or the more avant-garde grooves of Tony Conrad and Faust's Outside the Dream Syndicate.

The propulsive Jaki Liebezeit drumbeat is the foundation for a long jam session with what sounds like a dijderidoo and layers of guitar feedback. It's a massive, heavy sound, the kind that Julian Cope would devote a whole chapter to in his "Kratrocksampler". Side B is one long piece with three distinct movements. Beginning with those familiar, World Serpent-trademark windchimes, the listener is quickly ushered into Staple- ton's singing debut (!) in a rendition of the oft-covered traditional jazz ballad "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" This was a favorite of the recently deceased Nina Simone, and also of the avant-jazz screamer Patty Waters. Nurse With Wound's version is backed by cello drones, repetitive guitar strums and tambourine, sounding very much like The Velvet Un- derground's "Venus in Furs".

It's such a treat to hear Steven Stapleton's multitracked vocals cover this classic song, and this eerie version rates as one of my favorites. This song and the title track prove to the naysayers that Nurse With Wound is equally adept at rock n' roll songcraft as he is at demented sound collages. The creepy jazz cover seques into "Chicken Con- cret (For Missy E)", a truly warped tape-edit job that juxtaposes chicken squawks and sythesized birdcalls with random bleeps, speaker hiccups and gongs.

Islaja presents her new album ”Angel Tape”, her debut release on the new Helsinki-based label Other Power. Drawing inspiration from childhood epiphanies while listening to an alleged recording of angels singing, Islaja has crafted an album that stands out as a major work in her expansive and celebrated catalogue, which includes previous releases on labels such as Ecstatic Peace!, Fonal and Svart.


Islaja, aka Finnish artist Merja Kokkonen, describes her new album as a “counterwork” to her most recent albums, where the mode of composing was more song-based. This time around, she goes more in the direction of vast fields of sound where the human voice is a key ingredient of music that breaks free of strict stylistic guidelines and traditional song forms. Rough around the edges, atonal and otherworldly, "Angel Tape” is the result of a lifetime of inspiration from something beyond the immediate realm of our experience, an attempt to catch the elusive essence of musical otherness.


”As a child, I listened to the ’angel tape’ my mother played, and I never thought that the human voices I heard on it were angels singing. Instead, all the aural debris lying just beneath the surface caught my attention as I thought it was mysterious and something from a different world than ours, and so that was probably what was referred to as the ’angels’ so miraculously caught on tape”, Kokkonen explains. ”I think this was one thing that led me on this lifelong quest to find new sounds and forms in music.”



The tape she is referring to, a mid-80s church recording, was passed around in religious circles. Each time the tape was copied, it became slightly more distorted. It was believed that this recording of religious music had accidentally captured for the first time the voices of actual angels singing. The tape was rumoured to have originated in Kansas City and to have made its way to Finland.


Whereas Islaja has often thought of albums as being collections of recent songs presented together, ”Angel Tape” has a strong sense of conceptual coherence. The music comes from a place. That doesn’t mean that one must take a single path from one place to the next, as close listenings of the album reveal layers upon layers of not only sound but also of mood and meaning. From the human voice in its barest form, to the rising dense walls of sound moving and reshaping, ”Angel Tape” is a captivating album that unveils new contours with each repeated listening.

We Jazz Records kicks off their new series of archival 7" releases with Esa Pethman "In Belgium 1967" released 23 September 2022. The two-tracker is licensed from the Belgian VRT radio archives and both of the pieces are previously unreleased. Finnish jazz legend Pethman, heard here on alto flute and tenor sax, joins forces with European jazz greats such as Heinz Bigler, Uffe Karskov and Jean Fanis. This is a small but valuable piece of unheard European jazz history from the early heyday of modern jazz. The physical release is a quality "inside-out"-styled EP with 3mm spine and small center hole on the 45rpm vinyl.

An excerpt from the liner notes by Mikko Mattlar:

"Esa Pethman (b. 1938) was one of the key figures of modern Finnish jazz in the 1960s. His album The Modern Sound Of Finland was the first Finnish modern jazz album and his composition "The Flame" a true modern Fenno-jazz evergreen.

Pethman was born in Kuusankoski, 135 kilometres from Helsinki in the Kymenlaakso area. The jazz scene was active even though it was an area of rural landscapes and paper mills. Pethman discovered jazz when he heard a Charlie Parker record being played at a local music shop in the late 1940s. Following Parker, bebop became his favourite style of jazz.

Young Pethman played flute and saxophone in local bands who accompanied schlager singers. They played tangos and waltzes for dancers, but usually started a typical dance event with an hour of jazz. In 1959 Pethman moved to Helsinki to study music at the Sibelius Academy. Back then it was a strictly classical music academy, but Pethman later described the studies as crucial for his development and career. He quickly made his way to studio sessions and into the best orchestras in Helsinki.

As a student of composition, Pethman also began writing his own music. "The Flame" was a melody he just got on his mind one night, and he decided to write it down. The catchy composition was released as a 7" single in 1964, a year before Pethman's debut album. Both records stand as benchmarks for modern Finnish jazz. The album consisted entirely of Pethman's compositions, not versions of jazz standards like a lot of the Finnish jazz released until then.

In the mid 1960s, Finnish jazz was also taking its first international steps. Pethman's quintet took part in the first Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in June 1967. At the Montreux jazz band competition, the quintet came in fourth of the twelve contestants. Despite not winning the competition, the band got an honourable mention, and Pethman was now recognized outside Finland.

In December 1967 Pethman travelled to Brussels. His visit was organised by the national Finnish broadcasting company Yleisradio and their jazz program producer Matti Konttinen. Konttinen was supposed to go to Brussels with Pethman, but the musician ended up traveling alone.

In the Decca recording studios Pethman played two songs. He recorded a version of his most famous composition "The Flame", where he played the alto flute and was accompanied by Belgian musicians. On Swiss saxophonist Heinz Bigler's composition "Like Steel", Pethman played the tenor saxophone. The band was now more international, consisting of Bigler, the Italian Francesco Santucci, the Dane Uffe Karskov, a Belgian rhythm section and Pethman. After 55 years, Pethman still remembers Bigler's remarkable skills as a saxophonist.

The two-day visit included the recording session, a dinner and a concert. Pethman and the other non-Belgian musicians came to Brussels mainly to play at a jazz concert organised by the European Broadcasting Union EBU. They played at the studio first, and the concert was held the following day. Pethman and all the other soloists played as members of an international big band. The studio and live session were produced by the Belgian Radio and Television jazz section leader Elias Gistelinck."

Drummer/producer Teppo Mäkynen's 3TM returns with a new album, "Lake", on 29 November on Helsinki's We Jazz Records. The album is the much awaited follow up to 2017's successful 3TM debut "Form", which was awarded as the "Jazz Album of the Year" in Mäkynen's native Finland. "Lake" was preceded by the ambient electronic album "Abyss" in August, which set the mood for what's to come next: A compact yet far-reaching body of work bringing together the trio's acoustic jazz sound and ideas rooted in abstract electronic music in a remarkably boundless way.

"Lake" is a collection of 9 Mäkynen-penned originals ranging from the looping, hypnotic compositions such as first single "Laws Of Life" to the delicacy of tracks such as "Woods". There is a sense of long form narrative here, evident in glorious, slowly evolving tracks such as "Lake" and "A Pile Of Broken Dreams". The overall sound is swinging, melodic, deep and futuristic. It's acoustic jazz and abstract electronic music understood deeply and used as the base of a new sound, which goes beyond the usual distinctions of "acoustic jazz" or "electronic music". This is music for the present day, moving forward.

3TM's "Lake" will be available as white and black vinyl versions, complete with printed inner sleeve featuring Mäkynen's essay about the theme of the album. On vinyl, "Lake" will also be available as a 2LP bundle with "Abyss", and the CD version includes both discs, "Lake" and "Abyss".

In the 3TM trio formation Mäkynen is joined by sax man Jussi Kannaste and bassist Antti Lötjönen, both Finnish scene mainstays. The band will celebrate their new release at Helsinki's We Jazz Festival on 7 December.

Brooklyn based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson presents his new work "Imagine Giving Up" on Helsinki's We Jazz Records. The album, to be released on 17th January of 2020 sees Parzen-Johnson move into new domains of sound as he uncovers newfound energy and pulse in his music.

In addition to the sonically rich analog synth elements that accompany his earlier solo saxophone work, Jonah has layered heavily sound designed samples of his own saxophone to create truly one of a kind percussive snaps, reverberant basses, and warbling leads. At it's core, the music remains deeply devoted to almost vocal sounding melodic lines and patiently developed compositional ideas.

A compact set of 6 originals, "Imagine Giving Up" is Jonah Parzen-Johnson's most ambitious album yet. While taking a step away from the previous world of "ambient jazz", his new music stems from the use of drone-like sounds for baritone saxophone, a style which is uniquely his own. Electronics are blended in for good measure, creating a coherent vision of abstract jazz with depth. As with all of Parzen-Johnson's releases, the music comes with a deeper narrative which he will continually explore in live performance.

The manifesto for the album reads as follows: "Only a few people can really start over. Everyone else is left to struggle down the path they were assigned. The option to give up, to choose your own path, is power, and, hopefully, a call to action: take a risk to help someone." "Imagine Giving Up" by Jonah Parzen-Johnson, will be available via 'We Jazz Records' on violet and black vinyl versions, CD and digitally.

Koma Saxo, the explosive quintet led by Berlin-based Swedish bassist/producer Petter Eldh, returns on We Jazz Records with their new album, cut live at We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, December 2019. Whereas their lauded debut was a triumph of remapping the goal posts for an acoustic jazz combo for the 2020's, "LIVE" takes you right to the heart of the actual ensemble sound, with 5 musicians tearing the place down, no post production. From the fiery opening sequence kicking off with "Euro Koma", on to the much calmer beauty of "Waltz Me, Waltz Me Baby, All Night Long" and the first single "Fiskeskärsmelodin", the 8-song set is pure fire, never failing to convey the extraordinary intensity of the group: Eldh on bass, Otis Sandsjö (Y-OTIS), Jonas Kullhammar and Mikko Innanen on saxes, and Christian Lillinger on drums.

An excerpt of liner notes by Peter Margasak:

"When I first saw Petter Eldh's quintet Koma Saxo in Berlin in September of 2019 I was floored. The raw, sprinting energy of the band was both infectious and astonishing, but what I most remember was a sense of cognitive dissonance. Was this the same combo that recorded a fantastic eponymous 2019 studio album that represented one of the most convincing, pleasurable, and driving hybrid's of searing post-bop and the production ethos of hip-hop? There have been endless stabs by producers trying to remap the machinations of an organic, all-acoustic jazz band with electronic post-production, but Eldh, channeling a sonic language heavily informed by J Dilla, nailed it in a way I'd never experienced before. Having the trust of his three imaginative, high-octane saxophonists—Jonas Kullhammar, Otis Sandsjö, and Mikko Innanen—he used their grainy sound as raw material, smudging and smearing it like a painter creating new hues on a palette, and then extending, editing, and powering it up within the imperturbable grooves meted out by he and drummer Christian Lillinger. He didn't really alter the essential core of the band's performances. There's no question that a seriously burning quintet had laid the tracks down, even if the performances reflected the kind of concision many jazz groups adapt for a studio endeavor. But the way his jacked-up bass lines and Lillinger's impossibly peripatetic, stuttering rhythms buffeted the massed saxophones elevated Koma Saxo to plane all its own, and I repeatedly returned to that place—half the time trying to figure out what the hell Eldh had done, and the other half lost in giddy ecstasy.

The live show, on the other hand, featured the band without any production tricks. Its soaring, pithy repertoire came alive in a different way, and this excellent live recording from the 2019 We Jazz Festival, has reminded me of how fun and visceral that experience was."

Koma Saxo "LIVE" is released by We Jazz Records on 30 April 2021 on two vinyl editions (silver + black), as a bundle with an unreleased 7" (+ silver vinyl edition), on CD and digitally. The vinyl versions plus the CD come complete with silver embossed lettering. The vinyl is delivered on heavy-duty tip-on sleeve, complete with an insert featuring liner notes by Peter Margasak, Andreas Müller, Matti Nives and Petter Eldh.

a 01: Euro Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
b 02: Puls Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
c 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
[d] 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

Silver Vinyl

Koma Saxo, the explosive quintet led by Berlin-based Swedish bassist/producer Petter Eldh, returns on We Jazz Records with their new album, cut live at We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, December 2019. Whereas their lauded debut was a triumph of remapping the goal posts for an acoustic jazz combo for the 2020's, "LIVE" takes you right to the heart of the actual ensemble sound, with 5 musicians tearing the place down, no post production. From the fiery opening sequence kicking off with "Euro Koma", on to the much calmer beauty of "Waltz Me, Waltz Me Baby, All Night Long" and the first single "Fiskeskärsmelodin", the 8-song set is pure fire, never failing to convey the extraordinary intensity of the group: Eldh on bass, Otis Sandsjö (Y-OTIS), Jonas Kullhammar and Mikko Innanen on saxes, and Christian Lillinger on drums.

An excerpt of liner notes by Peter Margasak:

"When I first saw Petter Eldh's quintet Koma Saxo in Berlin in September of 2019 I was floored. The raw, sprinting energy of the band was both infectious and astonishing, but what I most remember was a sense of cognitive dissonance. Was this the same combo that recorded a fantastic eponymous 2019 studio album that represented one of the most convincing, pleasurable, and driving hybrid's of searing post-bop and the production ethos of hip-hop? There have been endless stabs by producers trying to remap the machinations of an organic, all-acoustic jazz band with electronic post-production, but Eldh, channeling a sonic language heavily informed by J Dilla, nailed it in a way I'd never experienced before. Having the trust of his three imaginative, high-octane saxophonists—Jonas Kullhammar, Otis Sandsjö, and Mikko Innanen—he used their grainy sound as raw material, smudging and smearing it like a painter creating new hues on a palette, and then extending, editing, and powering it up within the imperturbable grooves meted out by he and drummer Christian Lillinger. He didn't really alter the essential core of the band's performances. There's no question that a seriously burning quintet had laid the tracks down, even if the performances reflected the kind of concision many jazz groups adapt for a studio endeavor. But the way his jacked-up bass lines and Lillinger's impossibly peripatetic, stuttering rhythms buffeted the massed saxophones elevated Koma Saxo to plane all its own, and I repeatedly returned to that place—half the time trying to figure out what the hell Eldh had done, and the other half lost in giddy ecstasy.

The live show, on the other hand, featured the band without any production tricks. Its soaring, pithy repertoire came alive in a different way, and this excellent live recording from the 2019 We Jazz Festival, has reminded me of how fun and visceral that experience was."

Koma Saxo "LIVE" is released by We Jazz Records on 30 April 2021 on two vinyl editions (silver + black), as a bundle with an unreleased 7" (+ silver vinyl edition), on CD and digitally. The vinyl versions plus the CD come complete with silver embossed lettering. The vinyl is delivered on heavy-duty tip-on sleeve, complete with an insert featuring liner notes by Peter Margasak, Andreas Müller, Matti Nives and Petter Eldh.

a 01: Euro Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
b 02: Puls Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
c 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
d 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

[a] 01: Euro Koma (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[b] 02: Puls Koma (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[c] 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[d] 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

Helsinki quartet Alder Ego, led by drummer/composer Joonas Leppänen, returns with their new album "III" on 9 April on We Jazz Records. A follow up to their successful 2018 We Jazz album, "III" finds Leppänen and his bandmates extracting more depth and punch out of their tenor sax + trumpet + double bass + drums setup, which echoes the greats in the game, such as Ornette Coleman, yet adds a readily identifiable edge to it all. Leppänen's writing is evolving, becoming more and more of a signature of the band and sounding delightfully angular yet easily flowing. On "III", Alder Ego features Leppänen on drums, Jarno Tikka (of OK:KO) on tenor sax, Tomi Nikku (of Bowman Trio) on trumpet and the new addition Nathan Francis on bass.

Kicking off with a key track introducing the band's deep sound, "Love And Maladies", "III" moves through a sonic landscape which is constantly surprising yet identifiable as Alder Ego guided by Leppänen's musical vision at all times. This is true even during moments when the composer himself steps aside, namely in the Tikka–Nikku duo cut "Impermanence" and Nathan Davis's highly memorable solo outing "Nathan's World".

The album's many highlights include singles "November Ghost" and "I Saw It In a Dream", plus the stunning closing track "Ephemeral", featuring Natalia Castrillon on harp.

Alder Ego "III" is available on We Jazz Records on as orange and black vinyl editions, digitally, plus as a bundle bringing together "III" and the band's 2018 album "II".

The dynamic duo of tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy and drummer Teppo Mäkynen return with a double LP of live recordings captured in 2019 and 2020. The We Jazz Records release "Live Recordings 2019-2020" follows the duo's 2019 LP which was shortlisted for "Jazz Album Of the Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. While the studio album versions were studies in improvisational brevity, the live album lets the long-time collaborators really let loose and build memorable sonic narratives around the compositions. The album is produced and edited by Teppo Mäkynen, also known as a sought-after producer with the knack for looking at the big picture.

From the subtle minimalism of "Fallow" via the ambient of "Aero" to the riff-heavy groove of "Calling James", Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen breathe their music as one unit, building it based on a mutual trust as fellow musicians. Their duo shows have quickly become celebrated examples of what a long history of playing together can enable on stage when paired with the right mindset and a shared musical goal. This live album follows the ethos of both documenting what's happening and expanding on what was captured in the studio earlier.

Double LP gatefold on WHITE or BLACK vinyl.

The dynamic duo of tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy and drummer Teppo Mäkynen return with a double LP of live recordings captured in 2019 and 2020. The We Jazz Records release "Live Recordings 2019-2020" follows the duo's 2019 LP which was shortlisted for "Jazz Album Of the Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. While the studio album versions were studies in improvisational brevity, the live album lets the long-time collaborators really let loose and build memorable sonic narratives around the compositions. The album is produced and edited by Teppo Mäkynen, also known as a sought-after producer with the knack for looking at the big picture.

From the subtle minimalism of "Fallow" via the ambient of "Aero" to the riff-heavy groove of "Calling James", Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen breathe their music as one unit, building it based on a mutual trust as fellow musicians. Their duo shows have quickly become celebrated examples of what a long history of playing together can enable on stage when paired with the right mindset and a shared musical goal. This live album follows the ethos of both documenting what's happening and expanding on what was captured in the studio earlier.

Double LP gatefold on WHITE or BLACK vinyl.

Swiss artist Lukas Traxel releases his powerful debut album One-Eyed Daruma on We Jazz Records, March 10. The trio features Traxel on double bass, Otis Sandsjö on sax and Moritz Baumgärtner on drums. Compact, deep, and organic to the bone, Traxel & co's sound echoes the innovations of rhythmically driven avantgarde jazz while keeping things moving at all times. There's both drive and freedom to this sound.
ONe-Eyed Daruma features eight new compositions by Traxel, who crafted the outline for the album while dealing with the loss of his father. The group came together after an open invitation from the Zurich jazz club Moods to present a new group. The trio of Traxel, Sandsjö and Baumgärtner creates a full, symphonic, and powerful body of sound despite the instrumentation without a harmony instrument. The trio functions as a collective where the boundaries between composition, melody, and accompaniment are in flux, while keeping the common goal of creating new music together in sight at all times. Traxel reports that after playing bass in various groups with guitar and/or piano, he wanted to create a counterpoint of sorts with his new group and specifically go about it with a more sparse setup. As One-Eyed Drama proves, the idea behind the trio dynamic is a strong one and the unit makes use of their extra space in creating evocative, moody, swinging creative jazz with a distinguishable fingerprint of its own.
Lukas Traxel says:

"The process of composing this music while dealing with the loss of a loved one resulted in a writer's block at first. The notes would just not flow out of my pen until I noticed a mysterious-looking figure in the right upper corner of my piano. It was a daruma, an eyeless figure that in the Japanese tradition brings luck and prosperity. According to the myth, the first eye must be drawn onto the figure while expressing a wish. The second eye can be added only if the wish comes true. My daruma is meant to stay one-eyed as my wish, strongly connected and intertwined with my now gone father, is not meant to be fulfilled. The feeling of unfulfillment and imperfection of life serves as a common thread throughout this album, right down to its title. In a similar fashion, a composition remains incomplete until it is interpreted by musicians, and given form as music. That being said, for me playing together with this trio symbolises the upside: the sense of fulfillment in music and life.

Our musical influences include the American composer and singer Caroline Shaw, Swiss pianist Colin Vallon's trio, and composer/singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane. In addition, I have listened a lot to the trio albums of Jimmy Guiffre and Sonny Rollins. Besides that, my musical heroes like Charlie Haden, John Coltrane, and Keith Jarrett always flow into the music. Another very important influence in the music is the work of American visual artist Agnes Martin, in whose works the imperfection of a multiplicity of repetitions results in a lively big whole in the end. (See "Wild Flower")

Live, the trio takes a lot of freedom in interpreting this music, yet we have a deeper, almost pop-like attitude towards the live performance as an experience. For me it's always important to build a strong narrative with the band while on stage."

One-Eyed Daruma by Lukas Traxel is released on 10 March 2023 by We Jazz Records on LP/CD/digitally. The LP edition is shelved in an inside-out sleeve and pressed on white vinyl. The CD is housed in a cardboard digisleeve with UV lacquer finish.

Just as the traditions of great folk-country songwriting come around again to newfound popularity via Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and other practitioners, Barsuk releases a 20th-anniversary pressing of Rocky Votolato’s brilliant and beloved album Makers. Featuring “White Daisy Passing,” “Portland Is Leaving,” “Tinfoil Hats,” “She Was Only In It For The Rain” and 8 more indie classics, the release is packaged in a gatefold jacket with updated artwork, a lyric insert and a beautiful multicolored black & blue with white splatter vinyl pressing. Download code features the full album and 10 bonus tracks: the 3-song End Like This EP plus 7 previously-unreleased tracks including 4 demos, 2 never-before-heard outtakes, and a heartbreaking cover of Jeff Buckley’s “Lover, You Should've Come Over"

It will expand your mind into the depths of psychedelic solitude and the haunting chambers of darkness within. If you so dare, mastermind Astral Shadow will be your guide through the untamed worlds of Black Metal and Darkwave. But beware, for if you choose to travel this path you may lose yourself and forever go mad

As the fifth chapter in the band's discography, " The Neonai" arrived at a critical juncture in Lake of Tears' career, marking both an end and a reluctant new beginning. Released in 2002, three years after the melancholic masterpiece Forever Autumn, the album came to life under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Despite the commercial and critical success of its predecessor (the band's best- selling album to date) Lake of Tears found themselves adrift, unsupported by their label at a time when the world expected them to rise higher than ever. Instead of world tours and deserved recognition, the band withdrew, disillusioned, and made the difficult decision to put all activities on hold. But one last obligation remained: to deliver a final album to Black Mark Productions. What could have been a soulless, contract- bound release turned out to be anything but. "The Neonai" pulses with haunting melodies, infectious refrains, and a deeper embrace of keyboards and electronic textures, without ever losing the emotional gravity and sorrowful beauty that define Lake of Tears.

If this album was truly written "in haste," then let us hope Daniel Brennare continues to compose under pressure, for rarely has urgency sounded so inspired. As with the previous vinyl releases, we do not single out any specific tracks. Each song, like every Lake of Tears album, carries its own unique charm, its own shade of shadow and light. "The Neonai" is not simply a continuation, it is a transformation, an echo from a band caught between endings and new beginnings. Another gem in the band's catalogue, a masterpiece where the doom/ gothic equation tilts gracefully in favor of the latter. A deeply cherished album, long adored by Lake of Tears' devoted followers, who have waited patiently for 23 years to finally see it released on vinyl. After all, every ending is but the beginning of something new. And as we've said before: The end for Lake of Tears has not yet come, and we truly hope it won't come for a long, long time.

As the fifth chapter in the band's discography, " The Neonai" arrived at a critical juncture in Lake of Tears' career, marking both an end and a reluctant new beginning. Released in 2002, three years after the melancholic masterpiece Forever Autumn, the album came to life under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Despite the commercial and critical success of its predecessor (the band's best- selling album to date) Lake of Tears found themselves adrift, unsupported by their label at a time when the world expected them to rise higher than ever. Instead of world tours and deserved recognition, the band withdrew, disillusioned, and made the difficult decision to put all activities on hold. But one last obligation remained: to deliver a final album to Black Mark Productions. What could have been a soulless, contract- bound release turned out to be anything but. "The Neonai" pulses with haunting melodies, infectious refrains, and a deeper embrace of keyboards and electronic textures, without ever losing the emotional gravity and sorrowful beauty that define Lake of Tears.

If this album was truly written "in haste," then let us hope Daniel Brennare continues to compose under pressure, for rarely has urgency sounded so inspired. As with the previous vinyl releases, we do not single out any specific tracks. Each song, like every Lake of Tears album, carries its own unique charm, its own shade of shadow and light. "The Neonai" is not simply a continuation, it is a transformation, an echo from a band caught between endings and new beginnings. Another gem in the band's catalogue, a masterpiece where the doom/ gothic equation tilts gracefully in favor of the latter. A deeply cherished album, long adored by Lake of Tears' devoted followers, who have waited patiently for 23 years to finally see it released on vinyl. After all, every ending is but the beginning of something new. And as we've said before: The end for Lake of Tears has not yet come, and we truly hope it won't come for a long, long time.

As the fifth chapter in the band's discography, " The Neonai" arrived at a critical juncture in Lake of Tears' career, marking both an end and a reluctant new beginning. Released in 2002, three years after the melancholic masterpiece Forever Autumn, the album came to life under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Despite the commercial and critical success of its predecessor (the band's best- selling album to date) Lake of Tears found themselves adrift, unsupported by their label at a time when the world expected them to rise higher than ever. Instead of world tours and deserved recognition, the band withdrew, disillusioned, and made the difficult decision to put all activities on hold. But one last obligation remained: to deliver a final album to Black Mark Productions. What could have been a soulless, contract- bound release turned out to be anything but. "The Neonai" pulses with haunting melodies, infectious refrains, and a deeper embrace of keyboards and electronic textures, without ever losing the emotional gravity and sorrowful beauty that define Lake of Tears.

If this album was truly written "in haste," then let us hope Daniel Brennare continues to compose under pressure, for rarely has urgency sounded so inspired. As with the previous vinyl releases, we do not single out any specific tracks. Each song, like every Lake of Tears album, carries its own unique charm, its own shade of shadow and light. "The Neonai" is not simply a continuation, it is a transformation, an echo from a band caught between endings and new beginnings. Another gem in the band's catalogue, a masterpiece where the doom/ gothic equation tilts gracefully in favor of the latter. A deeply cherished album, long adored by Lake of Tears' devoted followers, who have waited patiently for 23 years to finally see it released on vinyl. After all, every ending is but the beginning of something new. And as we've said before: The end for Lake of Tears has not yet come, and we truly hope it won't come for a long, long time.

As the fifth chapter in the band's discography, " The Neonai" arrived at a critical juncture in Lake of Tears' career, marking both an end and a reluctant new beginning. Released in 2002, three years after the melancholic masterpiece Forever Autumn, the album came to life under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Despite the commercial and critical success of its predecessor (the band's best- selling album to date) Lake of Tears found themselves adrift, unsupported by their label at a time when the world expected them to rise higher than ever. Instead of world tours and deserved recognition, the band withdrew, disillusioned, and made the difficult decision to put all activities on hold. But one last obligation remained: to deliver a final album to Black Mark Productions. What could have been a soulless, contract- bound release turned out to be anything but. "The Neonai" pulses with haunting melodies, infectious refrains, and a deeper embrace of keyboards and electronic textures, without ever losing the emotional gravity and sorrowful beauty that define Lake of Tears.

If this album was truly written "in haste," then let us hope Daniel Brennare continues to compose under pressure, for rarely has urgency sounded so inspired. As with the previous vinyl releases, we do not single out any specific tracks. Each song, like every Lake of Tears album, carries its own unique charm, its own shade of shadow and light. "The Neonai" is not simply a continuation, it is a transformation, an echo from a band caught between endings and new beginnings. Another gem in the band's catalogue, a masterpiece where the doom/ gothic equation tilts gracefully in favor of the latter. A deeply cherished album, long adored by Lake of Tears' devoted followers, who have waited patiently for 23 years to finally see it released on vinyl. After all, every ending is but the beginning of something new. And as we've said before: The end for Lake of Tears has not yet come, and we truly hope it won't come for a long, long time.

Known for their rich storytelling, witty lyricism and nostalgia, The Grief Brothers have been creating music together for decades. Telling tales from the Swansea valleys via a mix of indie, folk and country, this album has only previously been released on CD. The long-awaited vinyl edition is pressed on Steel Grey vinyl.

In 2008, accompanied solely by her husband, bassist Stephan Crump , and saxophonist Chris Cheek, she created reVisions in which she reimagined a collection of Stevie Wonder songs to offer social commentary on Barack Obama's historic rise to power. As much a testament to Chapin's unique artistic sensibility as a celebration of the enduring appeal and relevance of Wonder's songs, ReVisions, which also includes sensibility as a celebration of the enduring appeal and relevance of Wonder's songs, ReVisions, which also includes two self- penned numbers, puts a new spin on Wonder classics like 'Masterblaster (Jammin'),' 'You Haven't Done Nothin',' 'Higher Ground' and 'Village Ghetto Land.' Bolstered with new liner notes featuring a recent interview with Jen Chapin, ReVisions: The Songs Of Stevie Wonder is reissued in 2026 as part of the Chesky Original Masters series on 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP and Hybrid Stereo SACD

This Joe Meek release taken from his legendary Tea Chest Tapes contains instrumental tracks with a Cult TV or Movie Soundtrack feel.

The sunshine of Andalucía has come to the Bordello. The musical magpie that is Daniel Monaco arrives with just a hint of a Spanish accent and a daring record under his arm. Known for finding the intersections of boogie, disco, italo and house, Monaco is going that bit further with Manuel Rodriguez for the Flamenca EP. Melting the percussive drive of his machines with the spirit of Southern Spain, the four tracks on offer are a journey into a sound and style that is inspiringly original. Ruffled hi-hats and smooth basslines are the foundation for the title piece. The soul of the Sierra Nevada and the warmth of Granada pour forth through Rodriguez’s unparalleled performance. The claps of Chicago are reimagined as an interplay of melody and rhythm awakens; the traditions of Flamenco married with a modern groove. Talent and technique are coupled with pure passion in the intense instrumentation of “Fantasia” before the flip shifts with “Sìnteme.” The culture of Italy and Spain combine, taut string plucks peppered in handclaps before the Only Bee’s vocals descend. Ardent, the lyrics tell of our shared humanity through the dialect of Ischitella from the southern tip of Italy. The homes of our musicians are the inspiration for the finale. Blending the decadent splendour of Napoli with the old-world romance of Granada, Rodriguez’s guitar is the focus of “Granapoli.” Bitter-sweet, blissful and sorrowful, a lone beat wandering through the winding melody that twins these great cities. From Italy and Andalucía to Amsterdam, a 12” like few others.

Sluta Leta first emerged in the mid-1990s with a series of EPs on legendary labels such as Mego (Fan Club, 1995), Uptight (Space Is The Place, 1996), Cheap Records (Lisa 94, 1998) and Chocolate Industries (…If You Like Champagne On Ice?, 1999). After the release of Sluta Leta's debut album “Semi Peterson” on Mego in 2003, the group somehow got lost in Second Life. Having missed a good decade and a half but not a beat, Sluta Leta unexpectedly reappeared in 2020 with a new album – “Entrée Contrôle” produced by Andi Pieper and Ramon Bauer with a little help from Gerhard Potuznik – released on famersmanual’s generate and test label.
Almost 30 years after their first release on Cheap Records (Lisa 94 in 1998), Sluta Leta returns to the Viennese cult label with their new album “Drift Dekoder”. Andi Pieper and Ramon Bauer have once again teamed up with Gerhard Potuznik to produce some crispy new songs that are bound to set the tone for the second half of the 2020s and beyond. On “Drift Dekoder”, the inherently artificial and somewhat otherworldly atmosphere of Sluta Leta’s songs is enhanced by the participation of several brilliant collaborators: vocals by Gerhard Potuznik on “Moment Eternal” and a duet with Luise Nehl on “Past In Reverse”, drums by ddKern (Past in Reverse, Björn i Fårkläder and Rymdpatrul), keys by Philipp Quehenberger (Björn i Fårkläder) as well as vocal contributions from various previous band members – Jonas Bergkvist (Tidsflayer), Bengt Liljstad (First Order) and Yngwie Moskowich (Driftstopp). A particularly noteworthy highlight of the album is the mix of “Tidsflayer” by Finlay Shakespeare.
Stop looking, start grooving! Written and produced by Andi Pieper and Ramon Bauer.
Lyrics and vocals on “Past In Reverse” and “Moment Eternal” by Gerhard Potuznik. “Tidsflayer (Finlay Shakespeare Mix)” mixed and produced by Finlay Shakespeare.

LP, Luxe letterpressed covers

The first live LP from the legendary June of 44, dating back to their first "reunion" tour. Recorded live at a 2023 Tokyo date, the set covers their expanded catalog and hits all periods of the band's studio work. A delightful recording housed in a luxe and gorgeous letterpress jacket (assembled and printed by Jeff Mueller of the band - keeping it close!), this is a delightful addition to the collection of the fans of June of 44 (and Rodan, Shipping News, Saint, etc.) that folks figured would never happen. Always fun with that sort of stuff happens, right?

Bluegrass band Big Richard makes music for the 21st century’s twisted cultural unease. Their Signature Sounds debut Pet, is a fierce, provocative, rejoinder to what troubles them and the world right now, and was recorded live to tape in order to capture the fervor of their live shows.

“Big Richard is so much about our energetic delivery, and so I think it's been really important for us as a group to figure out how to do that for a record,” says mandolin and guitar player Bonnie Sims. And figure it out they did. Pet delivers, successfully translating the supergroup’s live kinetic harmonies and string virtuosity. Unapologetically outrageous and provocative, the band’s name is a wink to the ‘big dick’ energy Big Richard is reclaiming from male bluegrass bands. Since exploding onto the Colorado scene in 2021, the four women have been on a wild ride, slapping as hard as possible on the festival circuit, working up their stamina on nationwide headlining tours, and leaving a wake of die-hard Big Richard Heads across the country swooning for their honest songwriting, chilling vocals, and fiddle-driven barn-burners.

“Our live performances are so raw and so gritty, and I think that our sound never really flourished in that digital landscape.” GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning cellist Joy Adams says. “Recording live to tape we were all in the same room together, very close together, with a lot of mic bleed, etc. And the energy was insane. It felt so good to record this way. Even on the first day, we were like ‘wow, this sounds like our band.’ And to do something that's very real and gritty and has little mistakes in it just feels alive and human.”

350 copies Hand Stamped. First release from Takeovers Music run label Mama Said No! featuring two edits and one unreleased track.

Groovy stuff that will make your hips Rock and your feet sore. Comfortable dancing shoes are strongly recommended!

DJ Normal 4 appears first time on the label with 10” record consisting different flavored genre tracks for the ears of the curious listeners, and die-hard music lovers. Tim has been creating electronic music for a long time and has appeared in some of the key music events around the globe. With a high level of skill and accuracy this artist is able to tackle music of many styles which also can be witnessed on this record. This is the second ten inch record the label has welcomed to its catalogue so you can imagine the level of excitement in the air. From the A side going into the electro approach right to the trance infused B side, this disc is guaranteed to feel absolutely correct in the record bag if these are the genres of music that resonates with you.

Originally released in 2005, this standout EP returns as part of the much-anticipated reissue campaign from cult New York imprint Drugsex — a label that quickly became a treasured name among heads who lived and breathed the underground. Born from the creative partnership between UK producers Rob Pearson and Simon Copleston, Drugsex carved out its own raw, hypnotic corner of the international tech house movement.

For the second instalment in the reissue series, label head Rob Pearson teams up with Daniel Poli under their Distant Strangers moniker — a project that, even back then, was whispered about among selectors for its deep, rolling grooves and stripped-back intensity. Both artists had already made their mark with releases on some of the most respected labels of the era — from Rekids and Swag Records to Evasive Records, Rescue Recordings, and beyond.

The pair’s first collaboration, the Lost Souls EP, became a highly limited, in-demand underground gem, pressed in small quantities and played by those in the know. This follow-up, crafted at Online Studios in Croydon, took their sound to the next level — two original tracks built for dancefloors that like things hypnotic, physical and uncompromising.

On the A-side, Virtual Morality is a slick and driving slice of tech house pressure. Crisp percussion, rolling low-end and a subtle but addictive hook make it a peak-time weapon that never goes out of style. Flip it over for Take Us In Deeper — a track that lives up to its name with a shadowy groove, atmospheric layers and a perfectly balanced push and pull that draws dancers further into the late-night haze.

Adding even more weight to the release, Adam Collins — known for his work with Omni AM and Euphoria Records — steps in with a remix of Virtual Morality on B2. His version injects an unmistakable acid edge, elevating the original into a tripped-out, floor-focused burner that fits as comfortably in a basement sweatbox as it does on a sunrise terrace.

Nearly two decades later, these tracks still carry the same raw power and effortless groove that made them cult favourites in the first place. This reissue isn’t just a nod to the past — it’s a reminder of why this sound endures.

Pure feel-good club energy from Italian producer Niccolo Turini, landing on 4lux with a killer slice of classic-inspired house magic! Think warm MPC grooves, rolling basslines, dusty chords and that unmistakable 90s US vibe -- deep, soulful and built for sweaty late-night floors. Essential material for true house lovers!

Bangkok Impact - alias of Finnish producer Sami Liuski - helped define the early-2000s Italo-disco and electro revival. Missionary On Mars became an underground club hit across Europe with its spacey synths and retro-futuristic vibe, earning cult status among DJs. With Caro and La Musche his reputation for sleek, hypnotic grooves that bridged classic Italo influences with techno energy got cemented. Remastered repress for a new generation.

Special Characters, the acclaimed deep house project hailing from New York, comes to uswith "Subsurface Incantations"-a sonic journey that pays heartfelt tribute to the classicgrooves and textures that defined house music's golden eras. This latest record is astatement piece for the Based Faith imprint, and features a captivating remix from Berlin'sIron Curtis, a favorite among DJs and collectors for his deep, analog-driven interpretations.Blending evocative pads, intricate drum programming, and his signature in transforming abassline, Iron Curtis's take on the B-side seamlessly bridges the timeless with the modern,making this EP an essential addition to any discerning selector's crate.
Committed to the art of vinyl culture, "Subsurface Incantations" will be pressed strictly as avinyl-only release, with no represses planned.

A selection of the main sountracks of Naruto - one of the best known Anime in the world. Including the opening theme "Haruka Kanata".

In the village of Konoha lives Naruto, a young boy who is hated and feared by the villagers because he has Kyuubi (Nine-tailed fox demon) of incredible strength inside him, which has killed many people. The most powerful ninja of Konoha at that time, the fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, managed to seal this demon in Naruto's body.

Gatzara Records presents its second vinyl single.

This record is a tribute to Jackie Mittoo, a key figure in the development of reggae, ska, and rocksteady. Known for his work at Studio One and his role as keyboardist for The Skatalites, Mittoo left a profound mark on Jamaican music with his melodic style and rhythmic approach to the keyboards.

The track is built on a classic reggae foundation produced by Sergio Caño, with a restrained rhythm and simple structure. The focus is on the organ, played by Joan Sobrevals, who carries the main line with a sober, respectful sound clearly influenced by Mittoo's school. Without seeking to imitate, the performance takes characteristic elements of his style — melodic phrasing, spaced chords, marked beats — to shape a coherent piece that remains faithful to the style.

The production maintains a minimalist aesthetic, without overloading, leaving space for each instrument to breathe and fulfil its function. The result is a serene, mid-tempo piece that invites you to listen carefully, without virtuosity, but with a clear intention: to pay tribute to a great musician who defined a sound, an era, a style.

Thank you, Jackie!

Loaded with tension and anchored by bold textural and stylistic contrasts, Sam Slater’s third solo full-length finds the British sound artist, composer, and engineer grappling with his creative contradictions head-on.

Having spent a life time in bands and producing records, Sam transitioned somewhat by accident through his work with Johan Johansson into working as a composer on high profile projects such as his collaboration with Hildur Guðnadóttir on the Grammy Award-winning Joker and Chernobyl, and with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov on the soundtrack to the lauded 2000 Meters to Andriivka. Having a vast set of interests and influences is an asset when helping realise a directors vision for a soundtrack, but one's own musical voice can end up being constrained. In Lunng, Slater has gone back to his wildly divergent range of influences and rather than shy away from the extremes, he's used them to create a singular vision.

Take the opening track “Heatsick”: Slater imagines an extravagant fusion of 2000s drone metal and vintage British brass, welding ear-splitting overdriven drones and blown-out choral vocals to stirring trombone swells from veteran player Hilary Jeffery. On paper, it’s hard to imagine—but Slater’s intentionality conducts these polarizing elements into a surreal blur of sonic extremes, with the guitars’ relative harshness softened by Jeffery’s eerily nostalgic colliery echoes.

His last solo album, I do not wish to be known as a Vandal (Bedroom Community, 2022), showcased this breadth by assembling a team of collaborators including Sam Dunscombe and Yair Elazar Glotman. On this record he’s linking up with acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Maria W. Horn, idiosyncratic sax virtuoso Bendik Giske, versatile percussionist Adam Betts, and the aforementioned Jeffery, Slater ushers these players toward a lattice of calculated confutations.

Working to explore the tension between the divergent practices of his collaborators—Lunng was meant to be challenging. On “Praya”, Giske’s familiar overblown horn phrases are almost vaporized, vanishing among Slater’s weightless synths and Horn’s chillingly hoarse vocals. There are traces of Horn’s Funeral Folk project, but Slater shifts the emphasis, letting her voice brush past the other elements like a hallucination.

Slater’s use of extremes isn’t just in the micro; dynamics drive the album’s overall flow. “Praya” sets the stage for the record’s heaviest, most prickly moment: “Passengers”. Here, Horn’s voice cracks, rasps, and gurgles over serrated synths and Betts’ ritualistic drums. Slater turns an industrial symphony into a folk opera—dark, dramatic, and strangely beautiful—etched with Giske’s fluttering phrases.

But the mood soon shifts. Slater careens toward chaos, unleashing double-time rhythms and piercing textures familiar to anyone with a soft spot for classic black metal. These grotesque incongruities are deliberate; Slater surveys years of musical conflict and leans in, using dissent as fuel to build kinetic energy.

The weight of sentimentality bears down on “Black Metal Rewind (Night Drive Astra, 2006)”, melting teenage memories into hypnagogic ambience—shoegaze dreams whirled with angelic choral delusions. On “Death by Nostalgia, 1688”, he ventures further into polarizing territory, distorting AutoTuned voices with cryptic strings and medieval tonalities, unsettling any stable sense of past or present.

In this record Slater focuses on pure energy, color, and mood. Lunng distills years of listening into a bracing brew—boiling each sound down to its essence, then serving it with unflinching intent.

John Twells, 2025

Reissued 1974 album. The Birmingham Metal gods' debut LP, originally released in 1974 by Guil Records, now has the addition of the 'Diamonds And Rust' single as a bonus track to give a total of 11 cuts that show the early years of this internationally successful five piece.

This album is the game soundtrack of Absolum, a fully hand-drawn world and unique lore by the team behind Streets of Rage 4, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge... Known for Ori and the Blind Forest and Halo Infinite, the main composer Gareth Coker brings his signature emotional depth, blending dark fantasy orchestration with medieval-inspired themes and brooding atmospheres.


From orchestral soundscapes to thrilling boss fight themes, this soundtrack features guest tracks by Mick Gordon (DOOM 2016, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Atomic Heart...), Yuka Kitamura (Elden Ring, Dark Souls III, Dark Souls II), Motoi Sakuraba (the Dark Souls Series, Mario Golf, Star Ocean), and Rachel Hardy (Stray Gods, Eternal Strands), setting the tone for the events taking place in this cute but twisted fantasy world. Magic may be forbidden in these lands, but the music is still truly enchanting!

Following the overwhelming response to the Warner remix series produced by Joe Claussell, with copies disappearing in hours-another Stella remix package steps forward. This is not part of the Edits & Overdubs series. No loops. No shortcuts. Like the previous release, Ashford & Simpson’s “Stay Free” was rebuilt straight from the original 48-track 2-inch multitrack tapes, resulting in two fully realized remix versions designed for the floor. The A-side delivers a 14+ minute deep, extended journey-patient, evolving, and powerful, injecting new life while honoring the soul of the original. The B-side flips the script with an Alternate Instrumental, stripped back and ready for late-night moments. Cut, tested, and refined on dance floors worldwide over several years, these versions have already proven their weight in real club settings. Pressed on green vinyl, housed in a heavy Japanese-style cardboard sleeve, and accompanied by a Warner-style disco promo one-sheet and bumper sticker-a nod to the golden era of 12” promos.

Limited to 300 copies. Similar to the Deodato Whistle Bump 12” - No repress. No extras.

When I first started Future Retro London, primarily as a club night, the first event was meant to take place in April 2020, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the date got pushed to June 2020 in the hopes that venues in the UK would have re-opened by that time. They very much were not re-opened by then and navigating the various lockdown periods that occurred meant the first event didn't actually happen until December 2021.

Dead Man's Chest was part of the original lineup intended for the first event but by the time it was actually able to happen, he had temporarily relocated to Portugal & it meant he wasn't able to make it for it. Various attempts were made afterwards to try & include him in events I was doing but nothing came together until I finally had him play the 2nd joint event I did with Distant Planet in December 2024.

He runs a label called Western Lore which I've featured on previously, with 2 different remixes I did of Plastic Face by Response & Pliskin, as well as a track featured on the first Blunted Breaks compilation. It only made sense to eventually work on a joint label project as his label is a key figure in the current wave of jungle music, plus I hadn't put any music from him on Future Retro London yet so now I can finally tick him off the list!

Big up to Dead Man's Chest for his work on the collaborations & for his involvement in making this release a reality.

One more year and a new edition of our ANAØH INVITES vinyl series.

As is tradition, in this third volume, Dig-It and Fixon, hosts of the label, invite two artists to join them and release four original tracks on a special edition 12′ vinyl.

For this new edition, we have two artists whom we truly love and respect.

On one hand, until a few months ago, the mysterious BLK_BETTY an artist with few appearances but undoubtedly a powerful and forward-thinking producer, a true representative of that jacking and energetic sound.

On the other hand, we are honored to welcome the legendary The Advent, a living icon of pure Techno, who has delivered a track that gives us goosebumps and brings back the essence of his early 2000s sound, the most aggressive and powerful The Advent.

We are honored to celebrate 9 years of work with this 12′ vinyl edition alongside artists we deeply admire, and we hope you love it as much as we do.

From México with Love. Fixon & Dig-It

Following his acclaimed releases on Violent Cases 006 VC006 and “Arriving In Nebula” VC10.2, as well as the magnificent launch of the sublabel Mysteries with his track “Ether” on Mysteries #1 [MSTR1], Austrian producer Van Der Wiese returns to Violent Cases with a new chapter in his sonic explorations. “Vestiges” unfolds as a deeply atmospheric EP with four tracks that balance melancholic introspection with subtle euphoria.
Each track feels like a fragment of a memory - traces of rhythm and emotion woven together in a delicate balance. Layered sound textures, immersive basslines, and shimmering harmonies create a mood that is both physical and reflective, inviting the listener to float between pulse and perception.
The release is designed - once again very impressively - by Darkam, who was inspired by the track “Haniwa.”
Her illustration captures the mysterious and organic spirit of the EP and offers a visual counterpart to its haunting emotional depth.
With “Vestiges,” Van Der Wiese defines his unique position within the contemporary Tekno scene - precise yet emotional, restrained yet resonant.
A release that lingers long after the last note has faded away.
And above all, this is because Pozek, as mastering engineer, has succeeded in delivering a very balanced EP.
A must-have for all good collections.
Each EP comes with 2 posters, a digital download code, and 2 artwork stickers.

2025 Repress

Sterns Edits returns after the sell-out success of its debut edition with another two catalogue reworks from Ben Gomori. This time he turns his attention to Burkina Faso's much-loved taxi-driver- turned-singer, Amadou Balake´.

Balake´ ('porcupine' in Mandinka) is Burkina Faso's proudest musical export, and in 2013 he recorded his final album before passing away: 'In Conclusion'. The record saw him revisit some of his most popular tracks from his remarkable 50-year career, backed by an eight-piece Burkinabe´ band who took the country's traditional sounds and brought them into a contemporary light.

Gomori retains the essence of the original recordings - which were mostly captured in one take - and marries them to vigorous afro-house stylings. 'Bar Konon Mousso (Musicien C'est Pas Quelqu'un)', in which Balake´ tells of a bar lady being unimpressed by his profession, gets a gentle push towards the modern dancefloor, its wonderful sax lines resplendent. 'Massa Kamba' is taken for a drive down the more traditional route, with commanding drums bolstering the original grooves and a marvelous triple harmony brass section at its core. Balake´'s freewheeling style suits the hypnotic feel of the edits to a tee.

Sterns Edits is an official collaboration between African music stalwarts Sterns Music and London's Ben Gomori.

Repress!

4 To The Floor are committed to delivering seminal house music to wax, making sought after heritage tracks readily available on vinyl for crate diggers to add to their collections. On Volume 1’s A-Side you’ll find a track with one of the most famous lyrics from house music history MD X-Spress’ ‘God Made Me Phunky’, the record has inspired countless producers to sample and remix it, but this 90’s gem still sounds amazing in its original glory. On the flip are two mixes of a Three Kings classic, ‘Shake Dat Booty’. The A Pal Joey Interpretation matches looped vocals with harmonious keys that perfectly complement each other, while the Wahoo Main Mix utilises energetic drums and techy synths to up the ante.

With an ever-growing horde of rappers clamoring for attention, manifesting a successful long-term career in hip-hop has become an almost supernatural achievement, reserved for artists with near-mystical talents. Atlanta emcee Tha God Fahim embraces this role, positioning himself as a divine warrior with lyrical powers transcending this earthly realm, battling dark forces with tactical ingenuity and relentless dedication. This artistic vision has become even more vivid in recent years, culminating in the wildly creative series Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap with acclaimed producer Nicholas Craven. Inspired by the anime phenomenon Dragon Ball and its conception of a dimension unconstrained by the rules of time, Fahim and Craven just concluded the ambitious endeavor with a staggering fifteen volumes released in only eight months. Taken collectively, Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap forms a vital entry in Tha God Fahim's catalog, blending gritty narratives of hustle and hardship with intergalactic rhyme wizardry. Fahim's stratospheric ambitions are elevated by exquisite production from Nicholas Craven, known for his work with Roc Marciano, Mach-Hommy, Westside Gunn, Conway, Boldy James, Pink Siifu, and more. This first ever vinyl pressing of volume 3 contains

2xLP gatefold jacket (recorded in Side A, B, C, and no music recorded in back side of Side D)

Soundtracks including the scores used in the film, including the main theme “The Promise of the World” sung by Chieko Baisho who is a voice actress of the main character, Sophie.

Big Sigh brings together the best of Marika's previous works as an indie musician and adds a new layer of epic sounds and full-bodied production. Big Sigh is the "hardest record" Marika has ever made. As the title suggests, it is a relief of sorts - of sadness, of stress and lust, but mostly relief. Co-produced with Sam Petts Davies (Frank Ocean, Radiohead, Red Hot Chilli Peppers) & Charlie Andrew (Alt J, Wolf Alice, London Grammar). Lyrically there's always romance a longside grief, with elements of vulnerability and feeling trapped. "This album took a long time I got to the end of it I was quiet. I wanted to be away from it and let it sit in its own space. Now the dust has settled and I've got to re-enter the world of big sigh, and I'm excited." Stepping into a new world, moving forward, chipping away. Breath in, breath out. Big sigh."

We have sourced a whole bunch of original stock from Charles Webster's very tidy Miso label. This is one of them from 20 years ago, but the sounds still have a future edge. It's deep, dubby, minimal, but with meaningful and intricately crafted melodies that bring astral energies. Lo Rise's 'Life Goes On' is the source material for a quartet of tasty remixes. Charles Webster & Martin Iveson mix it into a fleshy, techy dub with a jazzy vocal, Dean DeCosta brings more bump to the drum and glitch to the texture, and Markus Enochson strides into classic 00s tech house. Jimpster shuts down with a sparkling and jazz-inflected dub.

Repress!

Maceo Plex teams up with Gabriel Ananda to deliver the momentous 'Solitary Daze'. An awe-inspiring piece of music; Maceo and Gabriel have pulled out all the stops in creating this anthemic masterpiece. A sure fire dancefloor destroyer! The original is also deftly remixed by Barnt and by North Lake.

The A Side features North Lake's infectious deeper remix whilst the flip features Barnt's epic revision of the original. Both of which create fantastic versions of the original version, taking it off into new stratospheres. Another great single from Ellum, who seem to be going from strength to strength.

M-Plant's 2026 schedule starts as it means to go on with a blistering, adrenaline-charged Techno EP from the minimal master, Robert Hood.

Robert Hood's minimalist approach helped define Techno's evolution in the early 1990s, as he's continued to push a stripped-down, hypnotic sound. His solo work, marked by precise drum programming and deep grooves, has become hugely influential across modern Techno. While he continues to innovate through projects like Floorplan (with daughter, Lyric) here he returns to his roots on the "Soul Sonic Force EP".

From A-side opener "Insurrection" that blends a tough peak-time Techno sound with sweeping strings, to the reverberating tonal "Black Ops". Then flip to the AA-side for the relentless pared down groove of "Soul Protector", before "Warfare" with its layered precision. This is classic Hood in action; unparalleled.

Shep is a new project from respected UK veteran Jay Shepheard, and it has already made a good start with some solid tracks and an even better title with the 'Higher States Of Nonchalance' EP back in December. This third outing on his People Pleasers label opens with the sleek synth warmth and curious melodies of 'Home Again'. 'A Box Ticker' has a darker vibe with daubs of synth, warped bass and jumbled percussion and flip side cuts 'Mongolian Samba Diaries' and 'The Lime Deck' up the energy first with some nice trippy motifs and then with a grittier, more heads down tech cut. Superb sound design makes this another standout 12".

In conjunction with the 2025 re-pressing of the Nora Guthrie "Emily's Illness/Home Before Dark" 7-inch single, we have here, in the same format, a lovely cover of the latter tune, performed by Eddie Marcon, a band based in Himeji, Japan. The band's vocalist Eddie Corman and musician/producer Shintaro Sakamoto wrote the Japanese lyrics for this gorgeous version, recorded in 2024 and originally unintended for public release; however, this slice of sweetness, delivered by the full band comprising guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion and wistful winds is now available to the lucky listener. The flipside, recorded in 2025, is an intriguingly ghostly recomposed version for cello and flute by TORSO, a Tokyo instrumental duo, who used the basic tracks from the Eddie Marcon version of "Home Before Dark" as a 'guide' before finally deleting the basic tracks.

180 Gramm schweres, schwarzes 3-fach-Vinyl im Klappcover mit 20-seitigem Booklet und Download-Karte

Girl group greatness, courtesy of the Chicago-based Hutchinson Sisters (with Theresa Davis on this record) and co-producers Isaac Hayes, David Porter and Ronnie Williams! Recording at Muscle Shoals and Stax studios seems to have added a little grit to The Emotions' sound, too; this 1971 classic on the Volt label offers the perfect blend of sweet and sassy. ''Show Me How'' was the hit, but it's ''Blind Alley'' that made Untouched one of the most collectible albums of its kind: that track's one of the most sampled in all of pop and hip hop, most notably by Big Daddy Kane (''Ain't No Half-Steppin''') and Mariah Carey (''Dreamlover''). Pressed in black and clearwater blue vinyl editions, and cut ALL-ANALOG from the original two-track master!
A1. Take Me Back A2. Nothing Seems Impossible A3. Boss Love Maker A4. It's Been Fun A5. Love Ain't Easy Onesided B1. Blind Alley B2. Show Me How B3. If You Think It (You May as Well Do It) B4. Love Is the Hardest Thing to Find B5. Tricks Are Made for Kids B6. Boy. I Need You

This is the sound of Innershades... next part of the Homage to the sound of Belgian clubs in the late 80's, early 90's. Inspired by records from iconic labels and stores as R&S, Music Man, USA Import and Antler Subway. Music that didn't stop at the border but also got picked by the resident dj's of the underground clubs in Rotterdam.

Powerfull nice grooves from a series that might be beer named: "Acid folk renaissance " – as most of the work here come from the 70s, and a lot from those great years of the UK and US scene where it also seemed like there was plenty of folk in the music as well! A few of these cuts are downright acid , and all are filled with great instrumenta&on – in an approach that's a nice change from some of the more familiar Brit and US manners of the same genera&on. The &tles include, among the others: Nirvana’s Nova Sketch , Fi.y Foot Hose’s Rose, Pyranha ‘s Clepsydre , Kaleidoscope’s Keep your mind open, and more .

Infinite Salutations is a game of two halves from Coflo and Emmaculate, where free wheeling jazzy expression meet club ready grooves. Salutations feat. QVLN is a guitar led winner with sweet vocal touches and layered percussion. Infinite is more of a dancefloor bumper with cool keys, bass delving and barbed synths. The Bay Area's Coflo is a mainstay on the label, having chalked up a range of hits from the deeper If It Goes to his magical cover of Love's Masquerade. Illinois' Emmaculate touches down on Cataleya for the first time, fresh from his release on G.A.M.M. with DJ Spen, production work for Ten City and remixes for the likes of Incognito. With Infinite Salutations, Coflo and Emmaculate provide a fantastic start to 2026 for Cataleya.

Hot Creations latest Vinyl Sampler featuring four of the Hottest recent release on Hot Creations.

Fresh off his Paradise debut with ‘Way U Move’ alongside Jamie G, Manchester’s Goosey steps up solo on Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations with ‘Funky Shit’ featuring Dope Earth Alien, with wobbly subbass
pulses and Dope Earth Alien’s catchy vocals, sweeping you into a full-body groove!

Murphy’s Law return to Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations, joined by label debutant Sam Curran and Harry Unsworth,on the collaborative banger, ‘Proper Whopper’. ‘Proper Whopper’ brings booming low-end that demand attention while soaring sirens and charismatic vocals build the track’s energy and pave the way for a thundering bassline to command dancefloors.

London-based DJ/producer Sidney Charles is back on Hot Creations with ‘Disco Bumping,’ a slick House cut that blends Aleya Mae’s lush vocals with Sidney’s warping sonic textures and immersive synth work.

Brazilian nocapz delivers the huge anthem ‘Getting Heard’, driving forward with quick, bouncy
beats and heavy synths that build a wave of intensity to the dancefloor.

Repress!

Rhythm On The Loose “Break Of Dawn” is quite simply one of House Music’s all time classics.

Producer Geoff Hibbert was inspired by seeing dawn break on an Italian coast line to
draw inspiration from Moby’s anthemic “Go” and disco gem “Let No Man Put Asunder” by First Choice to create his loving homage to the UK Rave scene.

Network set up a label “The One After D” to release a limited edition press of the instant classic to create demand.

One of the first copies was picked up by Kevin Saunderson and his relentless playing of the track helped fuel interest in the USA.

The first release on Network in 1991 established the track as iconic. That original mix is here and still sounds as fresh as ever. Perfect in fact.

The 12” also contains remastered versions of the 1995 remixes by Rhythm On The Loose, Strike and Stonebridge.

Taken from Network’s extensive back catalogue and a re-issue of a timely classic that is always in-demand.

2026 Repress

Dam Swindle's new 'Backyard Galaxy' EP is an ode to house music and the classic Swindle sound.

It's only been a few months since Dam Swindle released their highly acclaimed album "Open" and already the boys are back on Heist with a new release that takes you right back to the dancefloor. Where they've spent the better part of the last 3 years writing their album with all its sonic explorations and collabs, this new EP sees the duo return to their roots of club-ready house music. The 'Backyard Galaxy' EP comes with 4 high-energy house tracks made in their Amsterdam studio that have been road-tested all summer.

EP opener "Feel it much?" has all the ingredients of a classic Swindle heater, with warm pads, rich organic percussion and tons of soul. There's a simple and effective vocal running throughout the track that blends nicely with the classic house elements and electronic textures that are layered throughout the track. There's an effortless flow to this track and it comes as no surprise that it has been a highlight in their sets this summer.

The EP title track 'Backyard Galaxy' is an up-tempo Latin-themed jam with a hint of old school techno. The synth stabs hit you just right and the modulated vocal chops are a lovely boost for the build ups and add a touch of swing to a track that already has a tight groove. Add to that a huge breakdown and drum roll and you've got yourself a track that'll light up any dancefloor.

On the flip, we're moving into garage territory with the shuffling vibes of 'Rhythm Baby'. The current popularity of the genre is not missed on Dam Swindle, but when you look closely, you'll see this track is full of elements that the duo have built their legacy on. The vocal chops, transposed key samples and swing are all on point and work just as well below, as above 130 bpm if speed is your thing.

The EP closes with the NY-style house cut 'What you give', which reminds us of Dam Swindle's remix of Cinthie's Heist hit 'Won't U take me' with its lush organs and moody keys. It's perhaps the most classic house track they've made in a long time and you can hear they had a great time recording this. It's playful, vibey and catchy. Just the way we like it.

Dam Swindle might have delivered one of the standout cross-over albums of 2025, but on this EP the message is clear: Once a househead, always a househead.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Much love,
Heist HQ

Killer Groove Records proudly presents the debut 45 by Italian cinematic funk trio Atabasca. A syncopated journey where funk, psychedelia, and cinematic groove merge into a timeless narrative suspended between rhythm and vision.


"Cacopoulos" and "Kundela Mawedi" mark the birth of Atabasca's sonic universe: the first two singles from the upcoming self-titled debut album,which will be released on March 27 in limited-edition LP, CD digipack, and digital formats.

On the A-side, "Cacopoulos" is an impetuous, visionary ride that fuses the power of instrumental groove with the evocative imagery of library music and Italian golden-age soundtracks. From the first beat, listeners are drawn into a dry, dusty landscape driven by a primal drum groove and the acid twang of a guitar that evokes the spirit of classic Westerns. Indeed, "Cacopoulos" pays homage to I Quattro dell'Ave Maria (Ace High) and to the legendary Eli Wallach, the sly outlaw who turns deception into revenge, a subtle yet powerful nod that ties the trio's sound to imagery steeped in dust, dreams, and redemption.


On the flip side, the sound of an old lap steel guitar evokes the gentle waves of the sea, opening the doors to "Kundela Mawedi", a dreamy track with exotic tones and heavenly atmospheres. The sonic journey unfolds through hypnotic rhythms and echoes of ancient cultures, where ethereal voices and warm, entrancing bass lines intertwine with psychedelic riffs and evocative guitar melodies, merging into a soundscape rich in warmth and mystery. The chorus, with its unexpected choral chant, adds a spark of magic. An elegant twist that gently stirs the dreamlike mood and transports the listener into a new sonic dimension, steeped in mysticism and tribal vibrations. "Kundela Mawedi" is more than just a song: it's a sensory experience, a musical ritual where tradition meets psychedelia, sand meets sea, and the soul dances upon the waves of time.


Recorded in a single take, the session captures the raw energy and natural atmosphere of the performance. Artistic production was handled by the trio alongside Andrea Fabrizii (digger, musician, producer, and catalogue curator for CAM Sugar), while Riccardo Ricci mastered the tracks at Velvet Room Mastering Studio in Brighton.


A killer double-sider, blending psychedelic and funk moods with percussive, jazzy textures. A must-have gem for every groove-loving DJ.


Like a desert blooming within the evergreen forests of the planet's far north, a unique, alien, disruptive environment: this is the vision behind Atabasca, the project of Luca Mongia (guitars, lap steel, keyboards, vocals), Paolo Mazziotti (bass, keyboards, vocals), and Valerio Pompei (drums, percussion, vocals). Individually active for over twenty years on both national and international scenes, the three musicians came together in 2023 to create a project that merges experience, experimentation, and creative freedom. Their music is imaginative and at times dreamlike, blending the classic concept of the instrumental trio with the worlds of film scoring and sound design.


Atabasca's sound moves through jazz-funk, world, and cinematic territories, weaving together afrobeat, desert, and psychedelic influences into a personal and timeless language. Each piece is a scene; each sound, a fragment of a world, a journey between reality and imagination where groove, texture, and organic timbre merge into a singular sonic ecosystem: a perpetually shifting balance that generates new inner landscapes.


Fans of Khruangbin, Surprise Chef, and instrumental psych-funk, take note!

Blu:sh back in Kalahari orbit for a third bite of the cherry.

This one’s dark and dank, with sultriness off the scales. The antithesis of the Frenchman’s output as Terra Utopia, it’s everything we’ve come to love from the project in 6 deadly traxxx.

Moody but never unruly. Taught, tough and rendered in the same seductive, turbulent vortex that’s defined all the Blush material to date.

Strapping earworm grooves set pace, as is tradition with these records. Not sparing on the menace either. Some of it sounds like Blu:sh on a villain arc. Whether you’re a cut-throat stalking the backstreets or looking for a mean streak of pure sci-fi dystopia, we got you covered.

Proper late nite hedonism. Oscillating between sensuous clubland fantasy and a volatile astral kinda flex, the sense of impending danger is unabating.

Junun is the debut collaborative album by composer Shye Ben Tzur, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and the Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express. Originally released in November 2015, the album was recorded in a makeshift studio within the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India. Radiohead's longtime producer Nigel Godrich worked on the album, creating a 2LP/CD release. World Circuit is set to reissue Junun on 16th January 2026, marking the album's 10th anniversary. This special edition will be available as a 2LP Gatefold Yellow & Orange Marble vinyl and a CD digisleeve. The album features Ben Tzur's compositions, which incorporate devotional Sufi qawwal musicians singing in Urdu and Hebrew. Greenwood contributed guitar, bass, keyboards, ondes Martenot, and programming, aiming to use chords sparingly and instead focusing on North Indian ragas. The recording process sought to capture the ""roughness"" of Indian music, avoiding the high fidelity often found in world music recordings. The making of Junun was also documented by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, offering an intimate look at the creative process and vibrant daily life during the album’s production. His film, also titled Junun, debuted at the New York Film Festival in October 2015. Junun (an alternate spelling of ""junoon,"" meaning ""mania"" or ""the madness of love"") received widespread critical acclaim—including Album of the Year honors from The Sunday Times, who called it “one of the most inspired releases of the year” and “intriguing, sinuous, and essential listening”. The group also supported Radiohead's 2018 Moon Shaped Pool tour, performing under the name Junun.