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We adore Big Star and Alex Chilton more than words can express. Being able to present two of Alex’s staggeringly beautiful demos on vinyl for the first time (on a cute picture sleeve 7", no less) is an absolute honour for us at Be With.

“It Isn’t Always That Easy” and “If You Would Marry Me” both sound like templates for some of Alex’s best-known Big Star numbers. These demos come from the transitional recording sessions he made with Terry Manning at the Ardent studio in 1969, but were missing from the vinyl version of the wonderful Free Again compilation that was released in 2012.

Caught between the end of the Box Tops and the birth of Big Star Alex’s song-craft was already remarkable - as these demos prove - and this release represents a fascinating, exploratory period in the career of one of pop’s most enigmatic talents.

“It Isn’t Always That Easy” is the real knockout. A tender, acoustic ballad that, stylistically, could have appeared Big Star’s “#1 Record”. Yes, it really is that good. A deeply affecting, ruminative lament that explores the ravages of Alex’s short career to date, it is also one of the sweetest and most delicate melodies he ever wrote. A song this stunning shouldn’t just be kept for the Big Star completists.

Over on the flip, “If You Would Marry Me” finds Alex in earnestly romantic mode. It’s just him and a piano, albeit one that is played in a poppy, uplifting fashion to complement the optimistic mood: “I could make you feel so glad inside and so alive” he confidently declares. It’s quite the gem. It really should be mandatory for this to be played at every wedding.

Unfortunately there seem to be no photographs of Alex from around the time he was making these recordings. But luckily we were put in touch with Pat Rainer who was photographing the Memphis music scene that Alex was still part of a few years later.

Happy to be described as “a friend with a camera who was hanging around”, Pat’s candid pictures of Alex included one of him asleep on the floor of the Ardent studio. Even though the photograph was taken 9 years after the demos were recorded, we think this intimate portrait makes a fitting cover for these equally intimate songs.

Keith & Tex's 1967 take on the The Spanishtonians original, making it - with the help of producer Derrick Harriot - one of the most popular Rocksteady cuts of all time !

Repress

All that jelly and no toast' - like when you find a bomb tune that's unavailable on 12'. The new sublabel of 'Smile for a while' is exactly about this. Clubby House Music by well-established producers as well as from lesser-known guys.

French guy Alex Agore opens the EP with the Lowtone remix of 'What Did I Do' - cut-up Garage House to the maxx.
Max Chapman from London / UK delivers another belter. A bassline-driven organ House tune with a minimalistic but very effective set-up. Oleg Poliakov aka SKAT is one of the guys behind 'Circus Company.' He comes up with a sublime but powerful Tech House tune, in the original sense of the genre name. 'Jazzve' is a tune by Russian producer Mutenoise. It's maybe the most original, innovative tune on this EP. Full of surprises and cutting-edge elements - hard to compare to anything else around these days.

A little mystery goes a long way, but it's fair to say the appetite for unearthing those secret tunes and lost classics has rarely been stronger...

A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES give us a peek inside their formidable archive with three wonderful pieces of coveted music, in very short supply in their original form

One super limited, clear vinyl pressing.

"In 2013, the For Those That Knoe imprint burst into record shops with a release from one of the UK's unsung heroes, Jaime Read under his LHAS alias. 5 years later, we're proud to present a reissue of a selection of Jaime's music from his 1997 album ""The End of the Beginning"".

Jaime's take on futuristic chi-town influenced house is present across the selections. Written 21 years ago, the music is more relevant that ever. Serene galactic themes and time travel optimism permeate the collection: the music tells tales of optimism rather than the bleak images carved by other similar compositions of the time. Originally pressed in finite numbers, this is an opportunity to get a copy of the key material on vinyl again, split across two 180g 12"" EPs with a free digitial download code.
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This EP is an excerpt from one of my live sessions performed with modular synthesizer and samples provided by Field Recordings. I'm focusing my attention to the sound design and mixing, evolving tracks structure.
'Instead that Obscene' is the second vinyl release on Syncretism, this includes three massive original tracks inspired by post-apocalyptic and sci-fi environments, experimenting brilliant frequencies and psychedelic melodies with a remix distinguished from break drums and shocking scenarios. Special thanks to Simon for his contribution.
Nemrac shows his elettronic music concept in a way that goes beyond the categorization of genre, leaving the listener free to perceive the essence of the EP.

'Listen To The Music' is the fourth star-studded 'Songs Around The World' album and video series from the world-renowned Playing For Change organization. It features audio recordings of hit rock and world-beat songs, along with a compelling series of performance videos in which Playing For Change's unique recording process is documented to great effect. each song is multi-track recorded and videotaped in multiple picturesque locations around the world by visionary producer and hilanthropist Mark Johnson. The full 12 song project features more than 200 Artists and was recorded in 25 different countries. Featured stars include The Doobie Brothers, Ellis Hall, Jack Johnson, Dr. John, Warren Haynes, Cyril and Ivan Neville, John Cruz, Preservation Hall Jazz Band (New Orleans), TP OK Jazz Band from Congo
(Kinshasa), John Densmore, Bombino, Buddy Guy, Waddy Wachtel, Roots Gospel Voices of Mississippi, James Gadson, Reggie McBride, Karl Denson,Roberto Carcasses, Mamadou Diabate, Lee Oskar,Anders Osborne and Pancho Amat.
Now available on vinyl.

"In 2013, the For Those That Knoe imprint burst into record shops with a release from one of the UK's unsung heroes, Jaime Read under his LHAS alias. 5 years later, we're proud to present a reissue of a selection of Jaime's music from his 1997 album ""The End of the Beginning"".

Jaime's take on futuristic chi-town influenced house is present across the selections. Written 21 years ago, the music is more relevant that ever. Serene galactic themes and time travel optimism permeate the collection: the music tells tales of optimism rather than the bleak images carved by other similar compositions of the time. Originally pressed in finite numbers, this is an opportunity to get a copy of the key material on vinyl again, split across two 180g 12"" EPs with a free digitial download code."

The blues roots grow surprisingly deep in the Finnish music scene. From this fertile ground rises singer Emilia Sisco, who debuts on Timmion with her phenomenal single "Don't Believe You Like That". With her strong background in fusing blues, r&b and jazz, Emilia apparently slips also nicely into the dark soulful grooves of Cold Diamond & Mink.

In "Don't Believe You Like That" Emilia sets herself into the role of a mistreated lover, who still tries to see a speck of hope in the doomed relationship. By dubbing herself, and accompanying the lyric with graceful harmonies, she succeeds in building a powerful beat ballad, that should appeal to the darker end of the dance floor.

There's a special lane in history for soul music this understated. It's cool and intimate at the same time, like there's something dangerous lurking under the surface. So roll up something nice, if that's your thing, and hop along for the ride.

RAWAX welcomes Shift Imprint label boss, Angelo Santos aka Audiopath to the Family!
We will present you this talented producer from Lisbon on our ten inch HOUSEWAX - series
with a fantastic 2 - tracker called "Gimme That Sweet". Worth to check!

It is with great honour that Emotional Rescue comes back to the music of Jaki Whitren & John Cartwright for a special 7" of two previously unreleased songs on to vinyl for the first time in That Will Be That and This Time. Originally part of the International Times reissue project (ERC004) in 2013, the songs have previously only been available on CD and digital formats as 'out-takes'. However, all that time the plan was to release the songs as a stand-alone vinyl release at some point.
Discussion with John continued over the years and the plan was for a release as part of the label's fifth anniversary, until sadly the project was put on hold due to the untimely loss of both Jaki and John in late 2016. The recent repress of their masterpiece that is their privately pressed album, International Times, led to these songs being revisited for the first time since and so here at last are both available together, as much in homage to these two wonderful musicians. More than studio-plus recordings, That Will Be That actually appeared in rerecorded form on the couple's Rhythm Hymn album of 1983. Here though is the original (and superior) version, with all the hallmarks of classic Whitren and Cartwright song writing craft, musicianship and production skill. Again remastered by their son (and at the time, teenage drummer) Joby Baker, the song drips with a confidence of masters of their instruments, full heartfelt, righteous and as relevant today as then lyrics, all backed with some deep white funk and enough soul to move mountains. This is accompanied by one of their greatest compositions in the spine-tingling This Time. Only ever known on this live recording from Glastonbury Hall, Jaki's vocals and light accompaniment from John's keys let the song shine. If the sheer power of her voice and words don't move you, then something is missing in life. A pure, sad, joyous way to thank and remember this wonderful music and people.

Replaced That Bass is a collaboration for a heavy rotation on 180g vinyl only! David and Marcus pleased to get Jaw from DOP kissing their track Replaced with his unique voice, get crowned by the timeless Norman Weber's Back To The Roots Mix. The other side is draped by That Bass from youANDme feat. Gjaezon which was released on Rejected (digital), yet. Enliven got the chance to decorate it with their special remix. So catch your copy because it is limited!

Look! Ultra rare and super dope Disco-Boogie reissue alert!

That's right, Distinction's 1982 jammer 'That's the way I like it' is back! Fully licensed in conjunction with the rights holders and remastered for 2018 by Above Board distribution. This one's long been at the top of the wants lists of DJ's and dancers for ages, a masterclass in UK Boogie flavour brought to you by the production and writing prowess of Roy Carter who was a member of the UK's legendary Soul and Funk legends Heatwave and who worked extensively with Central Line, Junior Giscombe, Dee C. Lee and many many more throughout his long career. Pretty much all of Distinction's output is tough to find with the majority appearing on tiny labels, and second hand prices for these gems are always on the high side with this particular 12" being one of the most sought after. This is a proper and full reproduction of the original Hansa 12" from 1982 with the added bonus of the 7" mixes being included of both 'That's the way I like it' and b-side winner 'Looking for love'. This one has been booted before with severely lacking quality control, but we are proud to say this reissue has been fully licensed and made using the original tapes with all remastering handled lovingly by Optimum Mastering, Bristol, UK. This is an unmissable reissue if you dig this sound, don't miss out! Pure fire.

Malke is a drummer... All that you hear you can see ! Crazy Live sets really ! With one side Crossbreed to industrial hardcore and one side more Shrantzy in the ISR style (Stormtrooper)... Cut @ The Exchange and mastered by Lenny Dee ! Badass !

As Longitude is the Berlin based duo Eva Geist and Ondula, which started to make its place on the new electronic scene after brillant release last year on Knekelhuis and apparence on Ein Welt...
On this EP we fall in their psychedelic madness, mixing hypnotic sounds, voices and Saxo, in a very punkish way, to come back to our bestial primitive instincts, when we were still close from animals.

SHIRLEY WAHLS had a remarkably short lived solo recording career for someone with such a strong, emotive, deep soul voice. However, her debut single for King Records has to be regarded as one of the greatest double-header Northern Soul 45s of all time. When Shirley's voice kicks in at around 15 seconds you know, in that spine-tingling instant, that you're listening to something very special. At the hands of producer Bill 'Bunky' Sheppard Shirley delivers an incredibly emotional performance straight out of the church where she was somewhat of a star working with the likes of the Argo and Ward Singers. And the B-side is equally stunning!

A collabo you couldn't make up. Ice-T & Charlie Funk team up with Hamburg's Mighty Mocambos for a funked up version of their single "Bounce That Ass", blending old school west coast vibes with raw funk recorded live to tape, guaranteed to get every dancefloor busy.

Ice-T & Afrika Islam aka Charlie Funk wrote history together. They made countless platinum LPs, won grammys and oscars and shaped rap music as we know it today with albums like "Rhyme Pays" and "Power". Here they reunite for the fun(k) of it, celebrating the motion of hips like only they could and the Mighty Mocambos once again leave no doubt about their status as absolute funk heavyweights and 45 champions.

Exclusive release on vinyl.