expected to be published on 26 Jun
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expected to be published on 26 Jun
Jazz, afrikanische Musik und elektronische Elemente verbinden sich auf dem neuen Album von Nduduzo
Makhathini zu einem dynamischen Ganzen. Der Pianist und Komponist wurde 2020 als erster südafrikanischer Jazzmusiker bei Blue Note Records unter Vertrag genommen, seine Alben gewannen internationale
Preise wie den Edison Jazz Award, den Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik und den Deutschen Jazzpreis. Seine Konzerte sind weltweite Erfolge.
“Seit einiger Zeit beschäftige ich mich mit der Frage, wie verschiedene Gesellschaften ihre Mythen finden
und welche Gemeinsamkeiten sie haben“, sagt Nduduzo Makhathini über sein viertes Blue-Note-Album,
das er zusammen mit seinem achtzehnjährigen Sohn Thingo Makhathini produziert hat. Makhathini selbst
ist an Piano und Keyboards, sowie als Sänger zu hören, neben seinem Trio mit Bassist Dalisu Ndlazi und
Schlagzeuger Lukmil Perez (sowie auf einigen Stücken Ayanda Sikade) sind als Gäste Shabaka Hutchings
(Flöte) und eine Reihe hochkarätiger südafrikanischer Talente zu hören: DJ und Produzent Black Coffee,
Trompeter Robin Fassie, Gitarrist Keenan Ahrends, Sänger Muneyi sowie die Sängerinnen Thando Zide
und Omagugu, Makhathinis Ehefrau und langjährige musikalische Weggefährtin.
expected to be published on 26 Jun
Orange Vinyl[24,16 €]
expected to be published on 26 Jun
Black Vinyl[24,16 €]
expected to be published on 26 Jun
expected to be published on 26 Jun
expected to be published on 26 Jun
Grey Marble Vinyl[27,31 €]
expected to be published on 26 Jun
expected to be published on 26 Jun
PopHeavy-MetalClassicsClassics
Erstauflage inkl. 8-seitigem LP-Booklet & Greyscale-Etching auf Seite F
expected to be published on 26 Jun
expected to be published on 26 Jun
expected to be published on 26 Jun
- A1: YESTERDAY IS GONE (4 11)
- B1: WHAT A DAY (3.45)
Mary Mundy born in 1944 is an underground soul and disco singer best known for her rare 1980 album Mother Nature.
Often referred to as "Dr. Mary Mundy," she is a cult figure among record collectors and DJs due to the scarcity and high quality of her work which blends heavy disco-soul grooves with powerful, soulful vocals.
Llewellyn "Lew" Hanson (1925–1984)
was a Jamaican-born writer, producer, and performer primarily active in Hartford, Connecticut. After serving in the Royal Air Force during the 1940s, he moved to the USA and established himself as a versatile figure in the Caribbean and soul music scenes.
Musical Career and Production
Hanson transitioned from performing traditional calypso with local bands to writing and producing more mainstream sounds in the 1960s.
The Islanders: In 1974, he released the LP Just For You... From Home And Abroad with his group, Lew Hanson and The Islanders. The album featured a mix of styles, including the flute-funk track "Soul Safari".
Record Labels: He founded Insurance City Records and Big Street Records to release his productions.
Key Collaborations:
Mary Mundy: Hanson worked closely with Mundy throughout the 1970s and 80s, producing her singles and her LP Mother Nature.
Last delivered 59 days ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
- 1: Intro
- 2: Bear Hill
- 3: Pomogranite
- 4: Veterans Only Billionaire Rehab (SKIT)
- 5: Wild Corsicans
- 6: 1 Life
- 7: Barber Shop Bullies (SKIT)
- 8: Open Doors
- 9: 600 School
- 10: The Guy That Plans It
- 11: Da Heavies
- 12: Officer Full Beard (SKIT)
- 13: The Omerta
- 14: Get Outta Here
- 15: The Sober Dose Gift (SKIT)
- 16: Debra Night Wine
- 17: Mac & Lobster
Focus Track: Bear Hill Album Description: Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes is a sharp return to form, showcasing the Wu-Tang veteran’s lyrical precision and timeless street wisdom. The album is powerful with equal parts - high-quality bars and carefully sculpted production. Raekwon recruits a stacked lineup of guests, including Nas, Griselda, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Ghostface Killah, injecting the project with gritty energy and legacy chemistry. Marsha Ambrosius and Stacy Barthe provide smooth, soulful hooks, adding emotional layers to the hard-edged verses. Production comes courtesy of Nottz, Swizz Beatz J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and more. The LP is a reminder of Raekwon’s enduring power as a lyricist and curator. A veteran artist showing that mastery doesn’t need excess. The Emperor’s New Clothes is regal, streetwise, and sharply tailored for those who value craft.
expected to be published on 25 Jun
- A1: One Step Forward
- A2: Uptown Babies Don't Cry
- A3: I Chase The Devil
- A4: War Ina Babylon
- A5: Norman
- B1: Stealing In The Name Of Jah
- B2: Tan & See
- B3: Smokey Room
- B4: Smile Out A Style
Widely regarded as Romeo's finest work, the album is a landmark of roots reggae, combining political commentary, Rastafarian themes and Perry's distinctive dub production style. Released on Island Records, the album reflects the social and political turmoil of mid-1970s Jamaica, addressing poverty, violence, and oppression.
The record features nine tracks, including some of Romeo's most enduring songs such as "One Step Forward," "War Ina Babylon," and "Chase the Devil,".
War Ina Babylon is often grouped with other Black Ark productions as part of a celebrated trio of reggae albums from the era, and it remains one of the most acclaimed and influential releases in the genre.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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- A1: I’ll Be There - Jackson 5
- A2: Never Can Say Goodbye - Jackson 5
- A3: Who’s Lovin’ You - Jackson 5
- A4: Medley I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save - The Jacksons
- B1: Ben - The Jacksons
- B2: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
- B3: Beat It – Michael Jackson
- C1: Thriller – Michael Jackson
- C2: Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- C3: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' – Michael Jackson
- D1: Human Nature – Michael Jackson
- D2: Working Day and Night – Michael Jackson
- D3: Bad – Michael Jackson
Black Vinyl LP[26,26 €]
‘Michael: Songs From The Motion Picture’ is the official companion album to the brand new biopic ‘Michael’. This album highlights 13 songs showcased in the film, from The Jackson 5 to The Jacksons to Michael’s chart-topping solo success with “Off The Wall” and “Thriller.” This collection includes smash hits like “Billie Jean,” “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” “Human Nature” and more.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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You Can Believe it ??"
After five years Simone Guerra (aka Relative) returns to the "House of Mikkit" on his own Flexi Cuts imprint. This dancefloor-oriented album is a manifesto of raw obsession and future patterns, crafted for those who’ve stopped chasing trends to find something real.
The record breathes through deep fat analog basslines and hypnotic arpeggios, layered with dreamy synth lines and ghostly vocoder textures.
It’s a gritty, essential dive into the Italian underground—eight tracks where the machine finds its soul.
If you’re feeling down with your things, if you’re always chasing the tail end of the wave and looking back to it saying "wow"… this is a record you might want to listen to.
______________
Packaged in a protective PVC sleeve with a super raw hand-printed cover.
Including a postcard + 8 tracks download code.
******-----**
Produced, composed and mixed by Simone Guerra aka Relative at Studio Noce (Lugo) between dec '24 and sept '25.
Mastered by Francesco Brini
Design by Yari Calanna and Pietro Galeati.
Words by Matteo Garavini
Last delivered 3 months ago
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Fingier Records, released through Acid Jazz Records, has established itself in recent years as a distinctive voice in contemporary soul, drawing from Northern and Rare Soul, 60’s R&B and Raw Funk, Mod Jazz and Boogaloo, conceived by Argentinian producer Kevin Fingier.
‘Nothing Like Be Present’ is a new dancefloor-filler from Jo Ann Hamilton (USA), backed by The Kevin Fingier Collective. A powerful slice of Rare Soul tailor-made for Northern Soul all- nighters. Vibraphone, backing vocals and tight horn arrangements keep the energy locked on the dancefloor, while Hamilton’s voice takes the record to another level.
The instrumental was simply too strong to leave out, so it features on the B-side - a DJ-friendly cut that will feel right at home in many 7” boxes.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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2026 Repress
***
and the color in my eyes
has gone back into the sea.
***
Last delivered 16 days ago
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,Future Development" ist das dritte Album von Del The Funky Homosapien und war nach seinem Weggang vom Major-Label Elektra sein erstes Solo-Album für sein Independent-Label Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings. Ursprünglich 1997 auf Kassette veröffentlicht und später 2002 auf CD und Vinyl neu aufgelegt, stützte sich das Album größtenteils auf Dels eigene Produktion sowie Beiträge von Hiero Crew-Mitgliedern A-Plus, Opio und Toure. Der einzige Gastbeitrag auf dem Album stammt von Crew-Mitglied Casual, der Del auf dem energetischen ,Checking Out The Rivalry" begleitet. Klanglich schlägt ,Future Development" eine Brücke zwischen den funklastigen Stilen von Dels Debüt und den dunkleren, futuristischeren Texturen, die er auf ,No Need for Alarm" erkundete. Textlich verfeinert Del sein rasantes Wortspiel mit einer schärferen thematischen Ausrichtung und beschäftigt sich mit dem Leben in Oakland, gesellschaftlichen Beobachtungen und der Hip-Hop-Kultur - alles mit einer Mischung aus Humor, straßenkluger Einsicht und mehrsilbiger Gewandtheit. Letztendlich fängt das Album einen Schnappschuss seiner Entwicklung vom rohen Talent zu einem konzeptionell gereifteren Songwriter ein. Es bleibt ein bedeutendes und unterschätztes Kapitel in Dels Entwicklung, das die frühen Keime der Kreativität und Unabhängigkeit zeigt, die einen Großteil seiner weiteren Karriere prägen sollten.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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2026 Repress
The first ever full length repress of an all time classic.
Last delivered 14 days ago
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Communique Records USA is re-issuing the next big release from their impressive catalog.
Communique011 by Invisible aka Kevin Whitley from 1995!!! Midwest Acid Techno at it's best!
Recorded from original DAT and re-mastered.
Last delivered 3 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
Following the release of the digital single, Berlin-based groove collective The Ruffcats and Chicago soul singer Doug Shorts return with a strictly limited 7-inch vinyl edition of “I Ain’t Worried” , pairing the original retro-soul cut with an exclusive remix by none other than Erobique. The original version is a timeless slice of analog soul: laid-back yet confident, driven by a deep pocket rhythm section, warm horn arrangements, and Doug Shorts’ unmistakably smooth, Chicago-rooted vocal delivery. Written by The Ruffcats and Doug Shorts, the song carries a quiet message of resilience and inner calm, echoing the spirit of classic late-’60s and early-’70s soul without ever slipping into pastiche. On the flip side, Erobique brings his unmistakable touch to the track: playful, groove-heavy, and full of character. Known for his ability to bridge deep musicality with infectious dancefloor energy, the Hamburg-based producer reimagines “I Ain’t Worried” as a loose, funk-infused roller, retaining the song’s soulful heart while nudging it firmly toward late-night dancefloors and sweaty club rooms.
Originally created in the wider context of the charitable Soul Rabbi – Shine On project, “I Ain’t Worried” has since taken on a life of its own. This 7-inch release celebrates that journey, honoring the song’s roots in community and friendship while expanding its reach through a fresh, club-ready reinterpretation. Pressed on classic 7-inch vinyl, this release is aimed squarely at soul lovers, DJs, and collectors alike: a record that feels just as at home in a crate next to vintage originals as it does in a contemporary DJ set.
Last delivered 77 days ago
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The Hacker teams up with Rein for ‘We Come Alive’ on Rekids. French producer The Hacker joins forces with vocalist, songwriter, and producer Rein for ‘We Come Alive’ on Rekids, arriving 19th June 2026. A longstanding figure within the underground, The Hacker helped shape the early electroclash movement through his analogue-heavy sound and influential releases on labels including Turbo Recordings and Dark Entries, while Rein has built an international reputation through a darkwave-influenced sound that blurs underground and crossover electronics, alongside releases on Boysnoize Records and live appearances with Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb.
Built as a tribute to the dance floor “We Come Alive” explores the feeling of liberation and connection that only exists late at night. Think an Alison Moyet-inspired vocal over stripped-back machine funk somewhere between LFO and Kraftwerk.” - The Hacker & Rein
The Hacker & Rein’s ‘We Come Alive’ pairs sharp, angular rhythms with punishing low-end pressure as acid lines twist through scintillating percussion and jacked-up drums. Amid the machine-heavy intensity, Rein’s vocals cut through the mix with clarity and emotion, lending a euphoric edge to the track’s raw, strobe-lit energy.
Last delivered 17 days ago
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- A1: Dangerous Match One
- A2: Dangerous Match Two
- A3: Dangerous Match Three
- A4: Dangerous Match Four
- A5: Dangerous Match Five
- B1: Dangerous Match Six
- B2: Dangerous Match Seven
- B3: Dangerous Match Eight
- B4: Dangerous Match Nine
- B5: Dangerous Match Ten
- C1: Love Is Universal (Johnny Osbourne)
- C2: Rasta Have The Handle (Hugh Mundell)
- C3: Jacqueline (Hugh Mundell)
- C4: In Your Eyes (Johnny Osbourne)
- C5: Over 31 Under 21 (Johnny Osbourne)
- D1: Never Stop Fighting (Johnny Osbourne)
- D2: Give A Little Love (Johnny Osbourne)
- D3: Red Gold And Green (Hugh Mundell)
- D4: Love In A Mi Heart (Johnny Osbourne)
- D5: Ranny And Lou (Wayne Jarrett)
The official re-issue of the dub classic "Wins The World Cup" available as extended 2LP vinyl-set with 20 tracks and poster. The original album from 1982 has been state-of-the-art remastered and is twinned with a second disc of the original vocal versions. All music recorded at Channel One with the Roots Radics and mixed by Scientist at King Tubby's with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes.
expected to be published on 24 Jun
HouseElectronicaWaveBeatsElectro
REPRESSED !
Patrick Keel is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and performer. The Pool was his solo project, the sum of fifteen years of experience in live bands, studios, and home recording. Patrick was heavily influenced by the radio of the early and mid 1960's in Dallas. The British bands and Black soul of the era gave him a distinct style, and shaped his musical attitude. The New Wave/Punk/D.I.Y. attitudes of the late 1970s inspired him to express himself in a new way. 1980 saw the release of "Pool One," a sixty minute home-produced cassette. "Pool Two" followed in 1981, which received much praise and little distribution. In 1982 he released a 5-song self-titled vinyl EP of tight, skeletal, synthetic dance music.
In 1983, 'Dance It Down/Jamaica Running' 12' EP was released on Moment Productions. Based on response from D.J.'s in New York and the Bronx, Patrick went back in the studio and remixed two songs from the self-titled EP for rapping, scratching and break dancing. "Jamaica Resting" was sped-up, extended, and reconfigured as "Jamaica Running". The whirlpool synth-strut of 'Dance It Down' came out of the studio as 'Dance In Dub', with a heavier kick and extended dub outro. These spacious versions were optimal for DJ play, slotting regularly in sets at hip clubs like Danceteria. For this reissue we've added two bonus European remixes from the 1984 12' of 'Dance It Down/Jamaica Running', released on Nunk records from Belgium. Both songs employ the use of a Boss DR-55, Korg MS-20, Korg PolySix, and a Prophet 5, and were mixed on a 16- track Ampex recorder. The Pool's spartan, self-assured songs are experiments you can dance to.
All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record comes housed in a newly designed jacket by Eloise Leigh, updating the magenta and blue grid and Pool logo of the Moment Productions release. Each copy includes a 12-page booklet with a never seen before photos, press clippings and notes.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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The Diary by Scarface returns to vinyl for the first time since 2014, now expanded to a 2xLP and featuring the never-before-released bonus track “Ease Up Now.” Newly remastered, this definitive edition includes the original 1994 artwork, carefully restored for vinyl by acclaimed designer Mr. Krum. Featuring fan favorites like “No Tears” and “I Seen a Man Die,” this platinum-certified classic is presented with upgraded audio and an expanded format, making it the most comprehensive edition to date.
The Diary by Scarface returns to vinyl for the first time since 2014, now expanded to a 2xLP for the very first time, including a previously unreleased B-Side!
Newly remastered, this definitive edition features the original 1994 artwork, carefully restored for vinyl by acclaimed designer Mr. Krum
Originally released October 18, 1994, The Diary debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking one of Scarface’s most commercially successful releases.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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'Like the sharpshooting carnival contestant who knows that the winning practice isn’t to aim for the red star itself, but rather to shoot out a perimeter around the star and thus remove it, Old Saw have historically dealt with forms by tracing their boundaries rather than going for the target outright. If the first three records hinted at but never touched song-shaped forms, The Wringing Cloth makes at least glancing contact while retaining the layered haze and drawl that threads their sound together.
'Contrary to the often-used ambient tag, Old Saw shows up here in a markedly active and sculpted form — manipulating, unwinding, and pivoting with a strange and warped precision. What has always been uncanny about this music is that it arrives in a state at once familiar and obscured, like a memory weighed down with sensory information but no identifying details to place it.
'The Wringing Cloth walks off further into that geographical dream without time or language until it’s just a speck of light.'
Last delivered 3 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
Last delivered 3 months ago
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- A1: AJ Franklin - Break Your Promise
- A2: Winston Reedy - The System
- A3: Rivah Jordan - I Don't Mind
- A4: Donovan Kingjay - A Quiet Place
- A5: Empress Mirium, Papa 12 & Jah Menenites - Tighten Up
- A6: Empress Sonia & Jah Menenites - Rainy Night In Georgia
- A7: Joseph Cotton & Jah Menenites - Sweet & Dandy
- A8: Mike Brooks - Gypsy Woman
- B1: Captain Ferne Brook & Joseph Cotton - My Heart Is Gone
- B2: Empress Jahrein & Jah Menenites - Baby Love
- B3: Defiant Jess - Mankind
- B4: The Heptones - Rock Steady
- B5: Christine Joy White - My Sweet Lord
- B6: Mad X, Tara & Igibig - Tell Me
- B7: Jonah Little - Green Apples (feat Megahbass & Jalon Keyz)
Last delivered 3 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
Last delivered 3 months ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
- A1: Alan Walker - "Mind Of A Warrior" (2 50)
- A2: Alok - "Fury (Siuuu)" (3 00)
- A3: Steve Aoki - "Hokutomaru" (3 00)
- A4: Rehab - "Running On Empty" (3 06)
- A5: Salvatore - "Berserk" (2 22)
- A6: Rehab - "No Consequence" (2 55)
- A7: Salvatore Ganacci - "Work Hard Not Smart" (2 23)
- B1: Salvatore Ganacci - "Take Me To America" (3 49)
- B2: Alok - "Don't Mess With The Fire" (2 43)
- B3: Steve Aoki - "Legacy" (3 50)
- B4: Rehab - "Rise Or Fall" (2 51)
- B5: Afrojack - "Out Of The Darkness" (3 02)
- B6: Sidny Samson - "Move Yourself" (3 16)
- C1: Solomun - "Don't Give Up" (5 54)
- C2: Butch - "When I Was Young" (7 48)
- C3: Luciano - "Alive" (5 57)
- D1: Artbat - "Galaxy" (5 10)
- D2: Butch - "Murcielago" (7 39)
- D3: Luciano - "Cielo" (5 35)
Last delivered 3 months ago
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- A1: Lovey Dovey (Kenny Dope Remix) (03 50)
- A2: Brighter The Days (DJ Spinna Remix) (03 51)
- A3: Love Is Like (Illa J Remix) (03 35)
- B1: Lovey Dovey (Kenny Dope Remix Instrumental) (03 49)
- B2: Brighter The Days (DJ Spinna Remix Instrumental) (03 51)
- B3: Love Is Like (Illa J Remix Instrumental) (03 35)
- C1: There's Much Love In The World (Joe Claussell Remix) (12 44)
- D1: There's Much Love In The World (Joe Claussell World Afriqua Dub) (10 10)
- D2: I've Been Waiting (Maestro & Supa D Remix) (05 58)
Lovey Dovey (Kenny Dope remix)
Brighter The Day (DJ Spinna remix)
Love Is Like (Illa J remix)
Lovey Dovey (Kenny Dope remix instrumental)
Brighter The Days (DJ Spinna remix instrumental)
Love Is Like (Illa J remix instrumental)
There's Much Love In The World (Joe Claussell remix)
There's Much Love In The Worlda (Joe Claussella World Afriquaa dub)
I've Been Waiting (Maestro & Supa D remix)
Last delivered 70 days ago
available to reorder, subject to availability
Back in 1994 Ellis Dee self-released this mighty 12", a rather sought after release from his incredible backcat. I have wanted to repress this for years now but his discography is so big that its taken blinking years to finally get to this point... but so chuffed we got it sorted.
Last delivered 3 months ago
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暗く湿った夏の夜、小さなボートはあてもなくさまよう。不穏さと美しさが同居するこの海は自分自身のようでもあり遠く離れたどこかのようでもあった。
Shinichi Koboyashi’s music as Bot1500 has such a beautiful signature to it. Using the layers and language of ambient IDM, artfully arranged pads & chords and crisp vectored breaks, he’s been creating a beautiful and highly individual sound.
The Black Sea, His first album since 2022’s Surreal on AD93’s sister label Lith Dolina, spaces things out more and focuses inward with a palette of minimalism and increased emotional resonance. It’s been a focus for Shinichi across his self-published studio work in the last few years.
The album’s tracks feel increasingly rooted in the principles and logic of dub. Utilising more space, more silence, and more focus on the simplicity and elegance of the composition folded into radiant arrangements of melody, snare, shade and echo.
The sea is both an inner landscape and a geographic image that hangs over the record’s mood. A dark humid summer night, like that on Japanese coasts. A small boat sails aimlessly. An eerie tone, but with a glimpse of beauty. The water is melancholic, enveloping, and endless.
Each track is written at 140bpm save for last track “White Flocks” at 120, for the image of heading south to close out.
Last delivered 22 days ago
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- 01: 3/31/23 - Horseshoe Casino, Cleveland, OH
- 02: 6/23/2013 - Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN
- 03: 7/3/2013 - Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, IL
- 04: 1/1/2014 - Greektown Casino, Detroit, MI
- 05: 1/11/2014 - Majestic Star Casino, Gary, IN
- 06: 1/1/2014 - MotorCity Casino, Detroit, MI
"Chance animates the smallest parts of the universe: the scintillation of the stars is its power, a wildflower its incantation."
—Georges Bataille, Le Petit
"Even on my way to the gambling hall, as soon as I hear, two rooms away, the clink of the scattered money I almost go into convulsions." —Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Gambler
Video gambling addicts, academic researchers, and industry professionals alike describe the trancelike state into which problem gamblers suspend themselves with remarkable consistency: they unanimously call it the machine “zone,” a kind of inner experience during which the rhythmic flow of human-machine collusion borders on mysticism. Time is abolished in the act of contemporary video gambling —simulated slot reels roll, virtual poker decks deal, and all worldly concerns are lost—leaving only the aura of total zone immersion in its wake. Sometimes characterized as the crack cocaine of gambling, the intensity of the machine zone is a symptom of casino ergonomics: emotionally manipulative fragrance-saturation, mesmerizing lights, subtly controlling walkways and, as captured here, meticulously engineered sonic environments all play a role in evoking the timeless void of the zone.
Although I was not yet aware of the extent to which casinos tailor their environments for maximum comfort (and, correspondingly, profit), I did know as I crossed the threshold of my first casino floor last year that I would be back for more. Hit by a cornucopia of slot machine tones, triggering aleatorically and coalescing into shimmering masses, I was struck by the need to return and record the sounds that so entranced me. It wouldn't prove to be easy—casino security is intense—and due to the clandestine nature of the operation, my recording techniques were by no means sophisticated. Equipped with nothing but an Olympus LS-11 recorder's internal microphone stashed in a sweaty coat pocket, I allowed the lure of the zone to guide me through a series of ambling recording sessions, the best of which are included here.
I learned a lot about casino sonics in the process: game designers, for example, once tuned all their machines to the key of C major in order to optimize harmonic cohesion (strict adherence to the key is no more but C still dominates the game floor); one team of designers, the story goes, even spent a month perfecting a single 'ding' sound on one machine. In the interest of preserving the true ambient sounds of the casino these recordings are untreated, but lost in the sea of chance I did exert some affirmative control by means of meandering intent and my actual playing of the machines. And by participating in the games myself I got a taste of the financially debilitating consequences that accompany the enchantment of video gambling. The cassette in your hands represents my endeavor to bring you the zone experience without the harsh comedown of its unfortunate reality.
—Adrian Rew
expected to be published on 19 Jun
- 1: Aurora
- 2: Solaris
- 3: Black Hibiscus
- 4: Bluejay
- 5: Radio Bemba
- 6: Catania
- 7: 1420
- 8: And Yet…
- 9: Moonbo
- 10: Odeon
- 11: (The Roaring of a) Silent Sun
- 12: Close Encounter (Bonus Track)
- 13: The Track of a Dull Sun (Bonus Track)
Erased Tapes are proud to re-issue The Red Book by Penguin Cafe, with an expanded vinyl track list which now includes the CD and digital-only “And Yet…” plus two tracks from the limited-edition Umbrella EP. This new edition will be available on limited translucent vinyl and CD, both with updated art from Studio Torsten Posselt utilising the original drawing from renowned British sculptor and Simon Jeffes’ partner Emily Young.
Penguin Cafe was founded by Arthur Jeffes in 2009, bringing together a talented and disparate group of musicians initially to perform his father Simon Jeffes’ legacy of world-renowned Penguin Cafe Orchestra music, ten years after his untimely death in 1997. Following the release of A Matter of Life shortly after founding, The Red Book was released in 2014 to critical and fan acclaim.
“The name The Red Book comes from the book by Karl Jung of the same name. The book is about, among other things, the way our subconscious interacts with and intrudes into our daily lives. I thought this fitted what we were trying to achieve with the second album quite neatly — namely, exploring musical worlds that are at once both familiar and strange. There is another meaning which is that the main mastered disc you end up with, the one from which all other copies will be made, is called the Red Book Master — so somewhere at some point there will be a disc on which will be written “The Red Book — Red Book Master.”
The tracks on the album all fall on some point along a scale going from gently Apollonian at the one end to perhaps a bit more Dionysian at the other. For our purposes this would be the ‘spacey’ end — with tunes like 1420 and Aurora, and the ‘imaginary folk’ end — with tracks like Odeon, Radio Bemba and Black Hibiscus. The tracks between these extremes are, perhaps with Silent Sun in particular, an attempt to blend these two parts.”
expected to be published on 19 Jun
- 1: Can't Fight
- 2: General
- 3: Oppressor
- 4: Culture
- 5: Political
- 6: Political Dub
- 7: Mash Down Babylon (ft. Jackie Mittoo)
- 8: Johnny Too Bad
- 9: Don't Blame The Youth
- 10: Save The Children (ft. Sugar Minott)
- 11: Pass The Kouchie
‘MASH DOWN BIRMINGHAM: THE EARLY RECORDINGS OF MUSICAL YOUTH’ NEWLY UNEARTHED EARLY RECORDINGS BY THE FIRST LINE-UP OF MUSICAL YOUTH Mastered from the original tapes by Guy Davie at Electric Needle Mythology, the label founded by music writer, author and broadcaster Pete Paphides, is thrilled to announce ‘MASH DOWN BIRMINGHAM: THE EARLY RECORDINGS OF MUSICAL YOUTH’ – an album of rare and unheard early recordings by Musical Youth, the Birmingham reggae group propelled to worldwide fame with the release of their chart-topping single PASS THE DUTCHIE. ‘MASH DOWN BIRMINGHAM: THE EARLY RECORDINGS OF MUSICAL YOUTH’ combines songs from Musical Youth’s first John Peel session, recorded in 1981 with newly unearthed recordings taken from quarter-inch reels stored for over 40 years by the group’s mentor and producer Toney Owens. The project was seeded as early as 2020, when Paphides sent a speculative message to Owens, after he saw his producer credit on the group’s independently released 1981 single Generals/Political. Paphides wanted to know if Owens had made more recordings of the group in a similar heavier roots reggae vein to those on their debut single. Happening upon the message by chance three years later, Owens allowed Needle Mythology access to his archive of quarter-inch tapes, dating back as far as 1978. The recordings gathered together on ‘MASH DOWN BIRMINGHAM: THE EARLY RECORDINGS OF MUSICAL YOUTH’ shine a light on the exceptional musicianship inculcated into the group by their first frontman Frederick Waite, formerly singer with revered Jamaican rocksteady group The Techniques. Backing Frederick Waite in the early lineup of Musical Youth (originally billed by Toney as Cultural Musical Workshop Youths, were two pairs of brothers) Patrick and Junior Waite, and Kelvin and Michael Grant.
expected to be published on 19 Jun
Melodies everywhere. Hidden ones, obvious ones, the kind that stick around long after the magic is gone. The Fulmars, Hagen’s lo-fi experimental indie outsiders, return with 13 haunting songs on their first proper full-length album. It’s filled with warm lo-fi guitar hooks, carried by Teacherface’s stripped-back Roland drum machine pulse and Fabian Dietz’s soft, delicate vocals. Modern castaways’ music, truly seeing the light, somewhere between the hazy spirit of The Velvet Underground, the playful weirdness of early Throw That Beat In The Garbagecan!, the tender shadows of Dead Moon, and the hypnotic austerity of Party of One. There is a lot of tragedy, all covered in positive agility. Hypnotic simple charmers compellingly recorded by the illusionists behind the delicate Hüüpnootsche Platen Un Kassetten cassette label. If you listen in a row, you will fall into a calm flow, time is on the go, and you so, in The Fulmars circle, disappearing in melodies, those hidden, obvious, glorious. You will fall for the voice, their “rollie” grooves carry you out there, browsing on irresistible humble guitar vibes. Be ready to watch the blue birds fly, it’s a real streetside surprise, for your pleasure, please don’t call it leisure.
expected to be published on 19 Jun



































