Buscar:the clash

KOKOROKO return with this exclusive Double A Side vinyl of 'Baba Ayoola' and 'Carry Me Home' released via Brownswood Recordings on 25th June 2021. Both singles achieved huge support upon digital release by BBC Radio, BBC 6 Music, 1Xtra, Afropunk, Clash, Rolling Stone France & NPR. 'Baba Ayoola' was written as a tribute to the grandfather of the band's alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi and is 'an invitation to celebrate life'. Whilst 'Carry Me Home' was inspired by conversations with the masterful Dele Sosimi, whose technical ability in bridging the gap between the West African afrobeat sound of his roots, and the London energy of his upbringing, has directly informed the ever-impressive capabilities demonstrated by London's eight-piece collective, KOKOROKO.

Repress

Dakar, Senegal. From this hostile land Midnight Menace is the latest KAOS assigned and one of its kind. You all with your support to the label via bandcamp fixed his computer so he can deliver this first one as an introduction. His Schranz/hard techno beat dives into a trance-mission direct to your brain in order to make your body shake.

Moving on to France JKS is half of Jawbreakers his techno rave music is really influenced by iconic figures from the 90's rave culture (Dave the Drummer/ Stay up Forever) name track is a retrotesque beat with a powerful bass-line moving between trance, body music and electro clash. With a ton of class.

Next one on the list delivering one of those weirdo tracks that from time to time we love to showcase on our compilations. DJDJ debuts with a darkroom alike anthem. Job Sifre and DJ Dorien punishing with a high intensity Body music song, taste their Bloody Mary.

Closing this record P.E.A.R.L goes pure HEARTCORE, with his already known Spanish primitivism, a gabber kick and a dismounted amen break dissolves into a mood melody to chill a floor at the peak ready for the next explosion.

This are HEARTCORE ESSENTIALS pls use them responsibly.
#oftenplusneverminus8

Jamaica Suk’s 17-track, quadruple-volume ‘Uncertain Landscapes’ series continues with its second part, bringing five tracks of uncompromising cutting-edge techno.

NovaMute artist Nicolas Bougaïeff kicks off with the rasping sounds of ‘Nocturne 1’, a tense juggernaut of a track. Sheet metal textures clash up against eerie FX the most throbbing of kick drums, with a twisted, distorted feel to the breakdown.

Keith Carnal’s ‘Infringement’ injects rhythmic bleep patterns into its chattering percussion, creating an almost dubby feel that’s contrasted with an urgent energy. Well-timed filtering adds to the tension.

The warped wiggle of Helrad’s ‘Groove Addicts’ comes next, with intense machine energy filtering up from the depths. A manic cacophony of detuned bleeping creates a heavy, relentless feel over the succinct beat.

Insolate’s ‘Sanchin’ rocks a pulsating bass chug that underpins washed-out textures and synth delays, with rasping metallic sounds washing over the track in the second half while the shuffling percussion keeps ticking away.

Manuel Di Martino channels some classic Detroit vibes in the chattering clap & snare patterns and rolling groove of ‘Runout’. Resonant tones blip, loop and pitch-shift in hip-shaking fashion to give the feel of a classic Jeff Mills set in action.

This vinyl includes a free downloadcode were customers get the
whole digital release for free via Facebook !!
Rough, flickering and a bit unwashed - Ronan Dec sends out a piece of tremendous tough - minded music with his new - Whisper' EP.
Understood, that this steamroller - funk could only be cut into vinyl. With a proper share of chutzpa Felix Bernhardt picks out the bassline and adds all ingredients up to a grooving piece of prime time techno. The whole thing is finalized by the Blaues Licht remix which cuts the serious machine-funk and turns Ronan Dec´s saw tooth orgy into screaming sirens for a sweaty track of techno. - Tanaka' strums dirty and loud on the platform of the electro-clash desired sound for the closing. - Whisper' is a
shameless tray and kindly asks for maximum volume.
Rough, klirrend und irgendwie ein bisschen ungewaschen - Ronan Dec liefert mit seiner - Whisper' EP ein krachendes Stück kompromissloser Ohrengewalt. Nur, um gleich klarzumachen, dass dieser Dampfwalzenfunk eigentlich nur in Vinyl geschnitten werden kann. Felix Bernhardt greift für seinen Remix von - Whisper' mit einer gehörigen Portion Chuzpe die
Schrabbel - Bassline auf und faltet aus allen Zutaten ein groovendes Stück Techno für die Prime Time. Der Blaues Licht - Remix macht dann Schluss mit dem ernsten Maschinenfunk und schraubt aus Ronan Dec´s
Sägezahnorgien schreiende Sirenen für ein verschwitztes Stück Elektro.
- Tanaka' schrammt zum Abschluss dreckig und laut am Unterbau der
Klangästhetik von Elektroclash entlang, ohne sich dabei auch nur einen
Fußbreit von der Tanzfläche zu bewegen. - Whisper' ist ein schamloses Brett
und gehört gefälligst laut aufgedreht.

* Edition of 500 colored vinyl (transparent purple)
* Artwork developed in collaboration with Paris-based visual artist Caroline Ventura
* Including download code

i got a song, it’s gonna make us millions is the highly anticipated new album by Sirens Of Lesbos, led by sisters Jasmina and Nabyla Serag. The dynamic release is a vibrant showcase of the group's expansive musical range, blending R’n’B/Soul, Afrobeats, electronic music, and lo-fi indie pop into a rich, genre-defying experience. With its eclectic sound and captivating melodies, the album solidifies Sirens Of Lesbos as a standout force in modern music.

Featuring on the album are the singles “Room 333” feat. Kendrick-Lamar-collaborator Zacari, a futuristic R’n’B song with progressive club beats; the epic “Call Me Back” (feat. Drake-co-signed rapper SadBoi and the Kabusa Oriental Choir); and dub-infused reggae song “Let It Hurt”, plus new song “My Moon”, which draws inspiration from artists like Bruce Hornsby, Justin Vernon, and Jai Paul. Sirens Of Lesbos have earned widespread acclaim from outlets like CLASH, COLORS, Dork, Tsugi and Earmilk, with BBC 1Xtra’s CassKidd calling the collective “magical.”

As Black women living in the diaspora, Jasmina and Nabyla navigate the intersection of their parents’ collectivist North-East African culture and the Western emphasis on individuality. Questions of identity have always been central to their journey. While society often demands clear-cut definitions, the sisters have come to embrace their multifaceted identities: “We have always been many things.”

Both artists are deeply rooted in the technical and philosophical dimensions of sound. Jasmina recently completed her Sound Arts degree, and Nabyla is now finishing hers. Their academic pursuits have included creating abstract sound installations in exhibition spaces. However, their focus for the foreseeable future is on elevating the Sirens Of Lesbos project, writing and producing standout indie pop tracks, performing live, and delivering unforgettable experiences for their audiences.

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The vinyl version of i got a song, it’s gonna make us millions is published by Präsens Editionen, a Switzerland-based publishing house and music label. Founded in 2011 in the process of launching zweikommasieben Magazin, Präsens Editionen has since released music on vinyl, cassette, CD, and digital formats—alongside magazines, books, and other printed matter. Recent audio releases include works by Martina Lussi, spalarnia, Magda Drozd, Anom Vitruv, Belia Winnewisser, and Red On, among others.

Spanning dance and indie movements since their formation in Liverpool at the end of the last millennium, Ladytron have earned a unique position by carving out new sonic and conceptual space, and refusing to abide by formula or trend. In the early 2000s, the fiercely individual group were placed at the forefront of the so-called electro-clash scene (which now enjoys another revival), but with time, they came to appreciate the pop cultural moment that they had reluctantly become part of. The new album follows a period of renewed cultural presence for the band. Their 2002 single "Seventeen" unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, introducing Ladytron's sound to a new generation and amassing hundreds of thousands of fan- made clips. Their legacy was further acknowledged recently with "Destroy Everything You Touch," one of their most celebrated tracks, featured in the GRAMMY- nominated original Motion Picture Soundtrack of cult movie Saltburn, reaffirming Ladytron's enduring appeal

Preceded, in November 2018, by the monster hit ‘Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’ featuring Miley Cyrus, Mark’s fifth studio album dropped in June 2019 to widespread acclaim as a carefully crafted, cohesive and intimate experience. Outfitted with one of the finest aggregations of so-called ‘sad bangers’ to be found anywhere in pop, including four further singles featuring stellar female vocal performances, Ronson described it as “definitely the best thing” he has produced (as well as the record that he worked hardest on) and it is difficult to disagree. As Clash Music concluded: “Ronson’s ability to tap into each artist’s strengths and dig out their particular prowess allows each voice to shine through and own each individual track. This is what elevates the record to a guaranteed award winner and a truly empowering listen.”

Two sides, each lasting 8 minutes and 50 seconds. A clash that resonates in friction, united by the materiality of vinyl - if only for a time. Or at best, a rapprochement, like in cinema. On side A, a MIDI composition by Xavier Robel for synthesized piano, based on La Monte Young's tuning system for The Well-Tuned Piano. Mouse clicks, boxing gloves, vibrancy, and mischief. On side B, a positively insistent On-U Sound-flavored rhythmic investigation, produced by Androo in response to Xavier Robel's composition (one he hadn't asked for). From sparse elements, a kaleidoscopic pulse unfolds - as dub seeps within a fog of electroacoustic fluctuations.

Siren Selector launches its mixtape series with a companion release to Remy Solar’s - ‘Heavy Terrain’ cassette.

“Jamaican music grows in rings like an old tree. From a core of early riddims, the genius of Studio One, versions of original basslines and melodies evolve over time New releases of the same tune follow each other through the 70s, 80s, 90s, into this millennium. Generations of the same family. And then there’s the unreleased versions, the frontier dubs built strictly for sound systems, held close by those who got them and only gradually circulated into the wider audience of selectors and collectors. These are the ones where the bass is heavier, the echoes more mind- bending, the effects wilder and the drums harder. Older sound followers tell stories of how these dubs defined dances, flattened opponents in clashes, inspired a dozen rewinds. Younger followers remember these tales and pass them down. These dubs are folklore.

Who knows how many such versions there are in the vast worldwide archives of Jamaican music? Not me. But as a little taster of a lifetime’s musical journey you can open your ears right now to a few moments: Lacksley’s Castell’s “Unkind”, transported from the sprightly riddim which underpinned it on his Princess Lady album and reengineered into a thunderous version of Ras Michael’s None A Jah Jah Children; “Deceivers” by the Heptones, stripped back into something simultaneously ethereal and bathyspheric; Keith Hudson’s “I’m No Fool” emerging from a pressure cooker of bass and drum; Jah Lloyd’s “Black Moses”, busting down walls with its epic echo and siren opening.

I started collecting these dubs in the late 90s. We were going to Shaka at the Rocket, Aba Shanti in the Arches, then Imperial Gardens. Entebbe somewhere off Mare Street. Iration Steppas in Kingsland Road, Jah Tubby’s in the Rec. We were doing our own parties at the time in east London, Bohemia Place, then Trenz, Dungeons, the old social services office by London Fields. Building up a sound, taking it on the road, crew sitting on the speaker boxes in the back of a Mercedes 508. Under the stars or in warehouses with sweat dripping from the ceiling, lugging crates and amps across fields or up flights of stairs, stringing up boxes under bridges, in car parks or on roundabouts. Waiting for the moment to drop the dubs.

This tape is dedicated to my crew and all the music providers and anyone who also knew or wants to know these moments.“

Fifty Physical Copies - 60 mins - No digital

The Damned schrieben Geschichte, als sie am 22. Oktober 1976 als erste britische Punkband ihre Single
„New Rose“ veröffentlichten. Kurz darauf folgte das allererste britische Punkalbum, ihr legendäres Debütalbum „Damned Damned Damned“, das am 18. Februar 1977 von Stiff Records herausgebracht wurde. Das
Album erreichte bei seiner Veröffentlichung Platz 36 der britischen Charts und hat sich in den 45 Jahren
seit seinem Erscheinen zu einer Legende entwickelt. Mit nur einer halben Stunde Spielzeit ist „Damned
Damned Damned“ ein absoluter Klassiker des Rock ’n’ Roll. Zusammen mit der kompromisslosen Ästhetik
der Band überließen The Damned Rhetorik den Theoretikern und politisches Gehabe The Clash. Die vier
Musiker wollten einfach nur rocken. Die Originalbesetzung mit Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Brian James
und Rat Scabies hat sich letztes Jahr wiedervereint und wird das Album im kommenden November auf
einer einmaligen Tournee komplett live spielen.

One of the UK’s most singular voices, Murkage Dave has spent the last decade crafting a body of work that refuses to fit neatly into any genre box. His music, loosely pop but informed by indie, outsider art, and an instinct for storytelling, is built on honesty, empathy, and fearless social commentary. Across his career, he has earned a cult following and praise from Pharrel Williams, Iggy Pop, BBC Radio 6 Music, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Clash, Complex, Highsnobiety, and Vogue. His debut album Murkage Dave Changed My Life (2018) amassed over 12 million Spotify streams, while follow-up The City Needs A Hero (2022) reached #10 on the UK iTunes Chart and #15 on the UK Independent Chart.

Grace Inspace Garner hat schon immer ein nomadisches Leben geführt. Geboren in LA und aufgewachsen in London, wuchs sie mit ihren umherziehenden Künstlereltern an verschiedenen Orten auf. Getreu ihrem Wanderlust-Geist entsteht ein Großteil ihrer Texte in einem Airstream-Wohnwagen am Ufer des Jedediah Smith Redwoods in Nordkalifornien, wo sie einst Jahre unter Marihuana-Bauern, Förstern und Schwarzbären verbrachte. Der Titelsong von Graces letzter EP „Sunshine Kid” wurde in einer weltweiten Kampagne von Celine verwendet, und ihre Musik wurde von führenden Medien wie Clash, The Fader und Coup De Main vorgestellt.


Ihre neue EP „Heavy Hair“ ist ihr bisher persönlichstes Werk. Der Titel stammt von einem Selbstporträt aus ihrer Kindheit, auf dem sie ein Mädchen zeichnete, das unter dem Gewicht ihrer eigenen Haare zusammengebrochen war. „Ich sagte meiner Mutter, ich hätte es gezeichnet, weil sich meine Haare mit all meinen Gedanken und Gefühlen zu schwer anfühlten“, erinnert sich Grace. Jeder Song auf dem Album deckt eine Seite von ihr auf, die vergraben oder vergessen war, und bildet eine introspektive Reise, die sowohl von Schmerz als auch von Freude geprägt ist. Jeder Song auf dem Album bringt eine Seite von ihr zum Vorschein, die vergraben oder vergessen war, und bildet eine introspektive Reise, die sowohl von Schmerz als auch von Freude geprägt ist.

Macclesfield 3-piece Cassia make their extremely welcome return with the announcement of their most ambitious release yet in new studio album everyone, outside - out April 11th.

The album marks a bold new chapter, and recently served up a tropical-tinged first offering in ‘heat’ - with today serving a superb Round Two with the stomping, insatiable, hook-laden new single ‘friends’.

everyone, outside takes Cassia’s sound to new heights. Written fresh off the back of two years of relentless touring, the band channelled every ounce of their renowned live energy into the album, returning to a studio they built themselves in Macclesfield, after creating their previous album in Berlin. The journey provided an added twist, recording the majority of tracks live on TikTok, giving fans a unique, inclusive experience to be part of the process.

The album’s title is a metaphor for embracing your truest self and reflection of a band who are at their happiest outside. It’s a message that speaks to the idea of reconnecting with nature and Britain’s finest summers. As frontman Rob explains, “That title, ‘everyone, outside’ started as a song about how weird it is that we stay inside all the time when being out in nature always makes us feel better. Over time, it came to mean more than that - like a metaphor for being your truest, most natural self, unburdened, like when no one’s watching.”

Drawing influences from a host of genres and cultures, everyone, outside reveals Cassia’s venn diagram of global sounds and intimate storytelling. A trip to Mexico during the writing process injected the record with a new energy, while their time spent in their new space back home gave the band a freedom to try new instruments, new sounds, acquire new tools to hone their production skills - and to simply have fun and explore. “The time we spent in Berlin taught us so much, but coming back home to Macclesfield allowed us to really focus on making something that felt like it came from us. No distractions, just pure creativity,” says drummer Jacob Leff.

Cassia’s rise has been impressive. From their early days busking the streets of Cornwall to playing major festivals, touring the world and receiving critical acclaim from BBC Radio 1, Radio X, The Independent, Rolling Stone UK, Clash & many more, the band has carved out a unique niche. Their sound, influenced by the African music Rob’s father introduced him to, combined with the indie heritage of nearby Manchester, combines the positivity of bands like Foals and Vampire Weekend, with the jazz-tinged afrobeats of Fela Kuti and Ebo Taylor.

After signing to Distiller Records in 2018, the band gave up their full-time jobs and ventured to Bath to record their debut album, Replica. Tracks such as ‘Right There’, ‘Drifting’ & ‘100 Times Over’ have amassed millions of streams, seeing the band sell out multiple headline Tours both in the UK and Europe. Playing to a homecoming capacity crowd at Manchester’s O2 Ritz, as well as sold out headline shows at London’s KOKO & The Garage, the band have accrued a huge, loyal following and their live shows earned them a nomination for Best Live Act at the AIM Awards alongside Idles and DMA’s, as well as making them the winners of Reeperbahn’s Anchor Award in 2022.

Cassia will tour the UK in May 2025, playing songs from the new album and some of their biggest tracks - headlining Leeds, Bristol, a newly added night in Southampton, a special Manchester homecoming, Glasgow, Birmingham, & a huge show at London’s HERE @ Outernet - dates below & Tickets Here. The band will also take things Stateside this year for their first ever run of headline shows in the US & Mexico.

Macclesfield 3-piece Cassia make their extremely welcome return with the announcement of their most ambitious release yet in new studio album everyone, outside - out April 11th.

The album marks a bold new chapter, and recently served up a tropical-tinged first offering in ‘heat’ - with today serving a superb Round Two with the stomping, insatiable, hook-laden new single ‘friends’.

everyone, outside takes Cassia’s sound to new heights. Written fresh off the back of two years of relentless touring, the band channelled every ounce of their renowned live energy into the album, returning to a studio they built themselves in Macclesfield, after creating their previous album in Berlin. The journey provided an added twist, recording the majority of tracks live on TikTok, giving fans a unique, inclusive experience to be part of the process.

The album’s title is a metaphor for embracing your truest self and reflection of a band who are at their happiest outside. It’s a message that speaks to the idea of reconnecting with nature and Britain’s finest summers. As frontman Rob explains, “That title, ‘everyone, outside’ started as a song about how weird it is that we stay inside all the time when being out in nature always makes us feel better. Over time, it came to mean more than that - like a metaphor for being your truest, most natural self, unburdened, like when no one’s watching.”

Drawing influences from a host of genres and cultures, everyone, outside reveals Cassia’s venn diagram of global sounds and intimate storytelling. A trip to Mexico during the writing process injected the record with a new energy, while their time spent in their new space back home gave the band a freedom to try new instruments, new sounds, acquire new tools to hone their production skills - and to simply have fun and explore. “The time we spent in Berlin taught us so much, but coming back home to Macclesfield allowed us to really focus on making something that felt like it came from us. No distractions, just pure creativity,” says drummer Jacob Leff.

Cassia’s rise has been impressive. From their early days busking the streets of Cornwall to playing major festivals, touring the world and receiving critical acclaim from BBC Radio 1, Radio X, The Independent, Rolling Stone UK, Clash & many more, the band has carved out a unique niche. Their sound, influenced by the African music Rob’s father introduced him to, combined with the indie heritage of nearby Manchester, combines the positivity of bands like Foals and Vampire Weekend, with the jazz-tinged afrobeats of Fela Kuti and Ebo Taylor.

After signing to Distiller Records in 2018, the band gave up their full-time jobs and ventured to Bath to record their debut album, Replica. Tracks such as ‘Right There’, ‘Drifting’ & ‘100 Times Over’ have amassed millions of streams, seeing the band sell out multiple headline Tours both in the UK and Europe. Playing to a homecoming capacity crowd at Manchester’s O2 Ritz, as well as sold out headline shows at London’s KOKO & The Garage, the band have accrued a huge, loyal following and their live shows earned them a nomination for Best Live Act at the AIM Awards alongside Idles and DMA’s, as well as making them the winners of Reeperbahn’s Anchor Award in 2022.

Cassia will tour the UK in May 2025, playing songs from the new album and some of their biggest tracks - headlining Leeds, Bristol, a newly added night in Southampton, a special Manchester homecoming, Glasgow, Birmingham, & a huge show at London’s HERE @ Outernet - dates below & Tickets Here. The band will also take things Stateside this year for their first ever run of headline shows in the US & Mexico.

Don Leisure has cemented his name as one of the most forward-thinking and experimental beatmakers & producers within the current musical ecosystem. As well as being 50% of Darkhouse Family (alongside Earl Jeffers) he has collaborated with the likes of Angel Bat Dawid, Gruff Rhys, DJ Spinna and First Word label-mates Amanda Whiting & Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus). Garnering serious support from Lauren Laverne, Tom Ravenscroft, Huw Stephens, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, The Vinyl Factory, Clash, Uncut and many more. Following the release of ‘Cynnau Tân (feat. Carywyn Ellis)’ (which gained support across BBC Radio from Tom Ravenscroft, Zakia & Huw Stephens) Welsh beatmaker Don Leisure announces the release of a new album ‘Tyrchu Sain’) as he returns with a new single ‘Tyrchu’ due for release on 22nd January 2025. ‘Tyrchu’ features the soft-spoken vocal stylings of Gruff Rhys over a gently rolling, tape saturated and expertly chopped instrumental, creating (in Gruff’s own words) ‘Shiny new beat-treasures with ghostly reflections of Welsh pop’s past - skillfully dug from Sain Records’ deepest veins’

A dedicated student of music, over the years, Don has amassed a vast encyclopaedic knowledge of music genres and subcultures, including a fascination with Welsh psychedelic folk music from the mid-20th century. This introduction was made by respected musician, producer & selector Andy Votel’s 2005 two-part compilation series ‘Welsh Rare Beat’ (in collaboration with Gruff Rhys and Don Thomas), comprising twenty-five tracks from Sain Records’ back catalogue. Now the oldest independent record label in Wales, Sain is a wildly influential bastion of home-grown Welsh talent, co-founded by Welsh-language folk singer Dafydd Iwan, whose music has seen a cultural resurgence in recent years with his 1983 song Yma o Hyd (We’re Still Here) becoming a huge anthem for Wales football fans. Set up in the Welsh capital, many of Sain’s early releases were recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, but in the early 1970s the record company moved to the Caernarfon area and opened their first recording studio in 1974 near Llandwrog. Announcing a huge digitisation project throughout 2024, Sain Records took on the mammoth task of painstakingly digitising their entire back catalogue spanning 55 years, working in partnership with the National Library of Wales the resulting archive then be submitted for to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, preserving them for future generations to enjoy. Taking this period of rediscovery as an opportunity to reimagine their impressive inventory, Sain invited Don Leisure to dig into their musical treasure chest, creating a sprawling sonic tapestry from the dusty gems within. On this exhilarating excursion, Sain Records founder Dafydd Iwan explains: ‘Imagine someone gave you access to over 50 years of Welsh popular music – almost all of it unknown to you before. It would be a strange experience of discovery, an unknown territory which could baffle and excite. This happened to Jamal (Don Leisure) – and he was captivated by a world of music he barely knew existed, and when he was asked to distill the experience into one album, he immediately warmed to the idea. And this is the result – a kaleidoscope of sounds to encapsulate a half century of Welsh music. To call it unique would be superfluous: no-one could ever recreate this album. Listen, and enjoy.’.

The resulting product is ‘Tyrchu Sain' (translating to ‘Digging Sain’), a fearless and exploratory album, which sees Don put his signature unparalleled and unpredictable skills to work, weaving together moments of forgotten beauty into celestial and otherworldly compositions. The record features appearances by artists from Wales who have a similar obsession as Don Leisure in these classic Welsh rarities including Gruff Rhys, Carwyn Ellis, Earl Jeffers Amanda Whiting and Boy Azooga. A shimmering patchwork quilt of sound, ‘Tychru Sain’ traverses a shifting landscape of acid folk, eerie vocal melodies and interstellar soundscapes, propelled forth by crisp, head nod-inducing drums and grainy textures. Breathing new life into compositions lost to time, and paving a path for new listeners to discover the magic that lies within.

Hotel Lux announce their second album 'The Bitter Cup', which will be released October 31st. News of the album comes alongside the outlining of an extensive UK winter tour and new single, Costermonger. The band's 2023 debut album Hands Across The Creek won an abundance of press support, from the likes of: Dork, The Guardian, Mojo, Uncut, DIY L&Q, Clash, So Young, NME. BBC 6 Music playlists were also achieved. Recent single Another One Gone marked the start of new chapter for the band, after talking time to rediscover their identities, both as musicians and as a bunch of mates heading into their late twenties.

On new single, Hotel Lux say: "Costermonger is a musical translation of a BBC documentary detailing the rise and the fall of Deptford Market, High Street and the surrounding housing. The title itself refers to a Cockney word for a market trader. Sadly, the subject matter of the lyrics are as relevant now as they would’ve been back in ‘67 when Lewisham council first started pulling down the council housing.

On ‘The Bitter Cup’, Hotel Lux took it upon themselves to self-produce. “Something that felt completely natural, but also entirely necessary” Recorded at Big Jelly Studios, the band had enough confidence to lead on carving their own sound for this new record. Written completely collaboratively, and recorded live to replicate the emotional intensity of their live shows, this new record finds the band at their most vulnerable, while, also, at their most confident.

"Askew indie rock thrills, bubbling, synth-flecked and sitting at a perpendicular to the mundanity of the everyday" - Clash

London-based French chanteuse, multi-instrumentalist & composer Clémentine March shares her new single of entrancing avant-pop ‘After The Solstice’, from her upcoming new album ‘Powder Keg’.

Enriched by influences from jazz, folk and Brazilian music, ‘After The Solstice’ was initially inspired by a time spent touring the UK with acclaimed folk singer Naima Bock. For Clémentine, the song explores “the theme of memory and reminiscence” and employs an absorbing sense of cyclical repetition; a musical device used “to evoke the deja vu sensations we all experience in life”.

Out of life on the road, everyday recurrence and contemplative retrospection, Clémentine creates a profoundly hypnotic anthem on ‘After The Solstice’, both mellow and fervent. Evoking the likes of Stereolab, The Raincoats and Cate Le Bon, it’s a mesmeric singalong of graceful vocal lilts and poised musicianship, with every element moving in beautiful unison.

Recorded & arranged with Ollie Chapman (bass) & Sophie Lowe (drums), and featuring vocal contributions from Naima Bock, Sophie Jamieson, Katy J Pearson, MF Tomlinson, Marika Tyler-Clark, Robyn's Rocket and Alabaster DePlume, ‘After The Solstice’ is the first glimpse of Clémentine’s third album ‘Powder Keg’, following the rich international eclecticism of her debut album ‘Le Continent’, and the beguiling intimacies of her second LP ‘Songs of Resilience’.

Juegos Nocturnos is the new project from two essential musicians of the '80s Spanish scene, coming from iconic bands like Décima Víctima and P.V.P. In this new musical venture, they deliver nine guitar-centered, refined pop-rock songs that reflect influences developed over 40+ years, recorded between 2020 and 2022. Jesús Amodia (guitar, vocals, programming, and keyboards) was a founding member of the punk-rock group P.V.P., a band often compared to The Clash and other British acts of the era thanks to their blend of punk energy with Jamaican influenced sounds. The project also features Per Mertanen (bass), member of cult band Décima Víctima, known for crafting a very distinctive sound with echoes of Joy Division, The Cure, and other British post-punk groups. Now united in this new musical adventure called Juegos Nocturnos, they present nine guitar-driven, sophisticated pop rock tracks that showcase influences shaped over more than four decades of musical career, recorded between 2020 and 2022.

Das 2020 erschienene Album ,I Feel Alive" markiert das fulminante Comeback der Indie-Pop-Band TOPS aus Montreal, die ihren charakteristischen weichen Synthesizer-Sound, ihre hellen Gitarrenriffs und Jane Pennys emotional direkten Gesang zu ihrem bisher lebhaftesten Werk verschmelzen. Das Album schafft eine Balance zwischen glänzender Pop-Wärme und introspektiver Lyrik und beschäftigt sich mit Themen wie Sehnsucht, Verwandlung und Selbstverwirklichung. Mit einem Sound, der sowohl nostalgisch als auch erfrischend modern wirkt, zeigt ,I Feel Alive" die Band auf einem neuen kreativen Höhepunkt - üppig, intim und mühelos cool, was TOPS erneut als eine der überzeugendsten Stimmen des zeitgenössischen Dream-Pop bestätigt. ,Die Melodien sind durchweg so sanft und wunderschön wie die Traumschiffe, denen Penny zuzwinkert oder über deren Polaroids sie weint. TOPS sind jetzt zusammen mit Phoenix die Meister des modernen Softrocks." - The Guardian ,TOPS haben mit ihrem bisher klarsten Album ihre Berufung gefunden. Vollgepackt mit glitzernden Melodien, blitzsauberem Vintage-Pop und sehnsüchtigen Texten hält sich das Quartett aus Montreal nicht zurück." - Clash

Allowing yourself to find meaning or beauty in the mundane is an act of generosity, Whether it’s seeing a smiling face in an electrical outlet socket, or discerning cosmic design amidst the forest floor detritus, it comes from a place of kindness to yourself and senses – and openness to hidden spirit of the world. These tracks came together during a period of intense personal change for adaa, rooted in a fruitful reflection on the connections between spirit and body, “feeling my flesh so I can feel and understand my spirit,” as adaa puts it. The sense of a crossover and clash of multiple connected realities – on-screens, on-line, on-earth, off-world, after-life – unites adaa’s multifaceted productions.

Ostensibly an assemblage of found sounds. scribbled thoughts and poems from diaries, and musial snippets, the album's scattered production reflects adaa’s own many mirror worlds. Field recording sit behind most tracks, alongside VST synths, guitars, and a variety of voices, from adaa’s own mangled vox to EVP samples taken from YouTube (recorded sounds believed to be spirits or paranormal activity), all processed to varying degrees.

While the music was mostly produced either in adaa’s studio in Providence, Rhode Island, or in bed, the field recordings bring the outside world in. The result of walks in the woods, hum of roads and highways, hiss of beaches, warmth of walks with friends and past lovers “around the East Coast”. It sits behind tracks like ‘sight’ where a lilting piano lin bobs atop a pond of rustling and distant whistles. Is that birdsong? Or ghosts? Saccharine hyperpop arpeggiation crossfades sharply into noise guitar squall. Angelic demon voices yawn into a hefty crescendo. Pure drones duet with gales of undefinable field sounds.

“Sometimes I feel like a seed in frosted soil,” says adaa. “If i choose to be optimistic.”

Originally released in 1985, the debut EP by The Mice still stands as one of the finer song-oriented rock records of that era. Drawing inspiration from both mid 1960s British Invasion groups and the energy of punk, For Almost Ever is about as scorching as an essentially pop record can be. Although vocalist / guitarist Bill Fox would go on to release several much-loved mostly acoustic solo records, here he is joined by his younger brother Tommy, a veritable monster on the drum kit, bashing away with both finesse and the manic energy of a high school kid. And let’s talk about the song “Not Proud of the USA.” Conceived as an answer to The Clash’s “I’m So Bored with the USA,” this track is packed with such overwhelming hooks, righteousness, and adrenaline that it’s irresistible. During the war in Iraq, it took on a new life on college radio and online when it was reissued on CD. And with this vinyl reissue, it would seem the timing is sadly spot-on once again. Mastered by John Golden, this new pressing crackles with The Mice’s spirit, reproduced in big 45 rpm sound for deeper low end and greater definition than the original, which has been commanding a steep price for quite a while now. We’ve also been able to restore the colors of the handcolored cover photograph to their original vibrancy.

Gnawa Electro project from Dj Click with some well known oldschool figures like Jahbass... Fatal Style ! Featuting a little skip proof at the end of the EP :) Printed Sleeve

Backyard Babies wurde 1987 in Nässjö gegründet und kann mit Fug und Recht als Schwedens einflussreichste Glam-Punk-Band bezeichnet werden. Zwischen 1994 und 2019 veröffentlichten sie acht Studioalben, darunter 2001 das Album "Making Enemies Is Good".

2001 kannten sich die Backyard Babies bereits mit Verstärkern und Mikrofonen aus, aber so richtig in Fahrt kamen sie erst mit der Veröffentlichung von "Making Enemies Is Good". Mit "Brand New Hate", "Heaven 2.9" und "The Clash" gewann das Album der einflussreichen schwedischen Glam-Punk-Hardrocker ihren ersten schwedischen Grammy. Zur Unterstützung des Albums gingen sie mit Motörhead auf Tour, was angesichts der Energie absolut perfekt passte.

The musical legacy of a night that will live on for years - Fermin Muguruza's 40th anniversary roar! Under the title "Akelarre Antifascista" (which literal translation would be "Anti-Fascist Witches' Coven", but loosely translated as Anti-Fascist Celebration), in a reference to the legendary Akelarre, a wild gathering of Basque witches, this album distils all the intensity, sweat and collective excitement of a night when thousands of voices joined together to celebrate not just a career, but a way of seeing art as resistance. On 15th February 2025, Madrid saw more than just a concert: it was a collective ritual, an anti-fascist demonstration in which thousands of voices came together as one to emphasize the tenacity of a voice that never surrendered. Four decades after lighting the fuse of combative rock in Euskal Herria, the Basque Country, Fermin Muguruza chose the capital of Spain, a city that closed its doors to him so many times and that he has described as "the heart of the beast", to make the definitive record of his 40th anniversary tour. The result is "Akelarre Antifascista", a live album that distils the history of a musical and political resistance that has spanned generations, languages and frontiers. The concert, sold out with 15,000 people, was an explosion of energy, memory and future. Right from the first chord, the Sports Palace of Madrid became an open setting, a free territory where bodies, rhythms, languages and flags mixed freely. Triple 180gr vinyl LP in trifold sleeve.

Adventure Rock pioneers Hällas deliver their most ambitious album yet with "Panorama”, released on 2026-01-30. The album both consolidates and expands the image of what the band is, but also what rock can be. This time different perspectives in a scenario are explored regarding whether humanity is capable of understanding a viewpoint other than their own. It reflects our time but is, in typical Hällas fashion, staged in a fictional, distant world.

Hällas' cult following in modern prog and hard rock will find "Panorama" familiar in a way: an imaginative hybrid of progressive 70s rock and heavy metal with echoes of both folk and psychedelia, along with conceptual content. In another sense, you have not quite heard a record like this from Hällas before. The self-confidence has never been as evident. Influences from different directions collide, and sometimes clash, contributing to the feeling that the expected instead culiminates in wonder at what it is you’re hearing.

First Word Records are proud to bring you 'Penny Ballads', a 5-track EP from Royce Wood Junior. Royce Wood Junior is a Grammy & Mercury Award-nominated musician, songwriter and record producer from London, currently based in Brighton. As a multi-instrumentalist, he's collaborated with a litany of brilliant artists over the years, such as Jamie Woon, Nao, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jamie Lidell and Jordan Rakei, additionally to touring with the likes of the legendary Thomas Dolby. He's released two acclaimed solo albums to date ('The Ashen Tang' in 2015, and 'No Two Blue Ticks' in 2021). 'Penny Ballads' demonstrates RWJ's varied talents, with a collection of alternative soul compositions, each one as unique as the next. It includes the first two singles, the Poplife-Prince era flavoured 'Go Get Your Money', and the double-time future funk adrenaline shot, 'Clean Up', along with three previously-unreleased tracks. 'Beretta' is low-slung soul funk, beginning with quirky squelchy synths, before the soulful lead vocal of feature artist Lucey Way breezes in to melt everyone's hearts. 'Things' sweeps in next, an infectiously soulful midtempo heavy soul bop, with an instant earwork of a hook, like a modern-day Steely Dan / Doobie Brothers, complete with a head-nodding string section to end the track. The collection concludes on a more melancholy downtempo tip with 'Rolling'; an almost-folktronic anthem, with a key refrain that wouldn't be out of place on a 70's Stevie piece. RWJ (aka Jim Wood) says of this project… "Back in the 17 and 1800's Troubadours and minstrels would go from Tavern to Tavern selling Penny Ballads, single sheets of music and lyrics written quickly and frivolously to make a quick buck.. It strikes me that we're in a similar phase in the way we value music in 2025. An old Penny Ballad was cheap and dog-eared, ink-smudged, sung aloud by firelight, Now songs live in the digital ether, dissolved in the air, a ghostly breath paid in micro cents. The new era of Penny Balladry is here, and weird. This EP is a snapshot of my writing over a two year period. Focussed on minimal recording styles, one mic on the drums, generally first or second takes on parts and vocals, I wanted the music to feel like small moments with lyrics that talk about the weird nuances of being alive as a latter stage human on the cusp of the Ai revolution. Culturally so evolved, but physiologically still just a bunch of mammals walking about with primitive fears and needs. Just trying to reconcile it all moment to moment…" Previous support for Royce's music has included Radio 1's Future Sounds, BBC 6 Music's New Music Fix, Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Zane Lowe and MistaJam. There have been sessions previously for the likes of Red Bull and press from Huck, Line of Best Fit, Clash, Aesthetica & DIY magazine. Entirely self-written and self-produced, this EP gives a solid taste of RWJ's talents. A deeply funky diverse set of music from an immensely talented individual. 'Penny Ballads' is due to be released on vinyl & digital, 24th October 2025. The vinyl version also includes an exclusive additional mix of the first single 'Go Get Your Money'. TRACKLIST: 01: Clean Up (EP Mix) 02: Go Get Your Money 03: Beretta (feat. Lucey Way) 04: Things 05: Rolling 06: Go Get Your Money (B-Sharp Mix) Deconstructed Mixes

Co-produced with Blaine Harrison of Mystery Jets, the album is a bold and moving leap forward, shaped by the wide-open spaces of Grace's adopted California and the intimate venues of his hometown of London. Moving to California at 21, Grace played his first shows in small coffee houses and clubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco. There he was introduced to the music of artists like Bon Iver and Ray Lamontagne who helped shape his early writing and the songs that would later appear on his 2022 debut album 'Alive In America' . Since returning home to London, his music has been championed by the likes of Clash, Under The Radar, Wonderland, Songwriting Magazine, Americana UK, Absolute Radio, BBC Introducing and Mahogany.

‘Pilot’ is the debut album from London quintet Miniseries. Channelling the epic sweep of TV themes and movie soundtracks into resplendent space rock they explore themes of youth and ageing, heartbreak and paranoia, euphoria and existential dread.

Songwriter Doug Morch (Longview) had been working on largely acoustic folk songs when he met Angela Gannon (The Magic Numbers) at Glastonbury 2017. Romance and musical collaboration ensued. The band coalesced in the hallowed environs of Farringdon's The Betsey Trotwood pub – a musical nexus where burgeoning indie and Americana scenes collide – where they met fellow songwriter and guitarist Dermot Watson (from Brighton's The Dials) and drummer Danny Abbasi and were joined by Doug's former bandmate Aidan Banks on bass. When they came together, their indie folk mutated into motorik art rock, with their first single being an eight-minute jam called "Road".

When it came to capturing their sound, the band reached for maverick musician and producer Sean Read. They recorded tracks at Read's Famous Times studio in Clapton, London, as well as at Edwyn Collins' Clashnarrow in Helmsdale, Scotland – one of the world's most breathtaking and idiosyncratic studio locations, adding unquantifiable magic to the proceedings.

For the closing track "May You Always", they headed to another studio imbued with tangible inspiration: Blueprint Studio in Salford with producer Craig Potter (Elbow) at the helm. For the song, Dermot drew cinematic inspiration from the Withnail & I line "I'll never play The Dane", the song is about realising that the things you aspired to in youth will never come to pass and being at peace with that realisation.

The recurring themes of youth and ageing are apparent in the resplendent lead track ‘You're Gold’ – a heartfelt call for young people to reject materialism and exploitative influencer culture in search of life's deeper meaning, with stylistic nods to The Pixies and early Stereolab.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, "Sepia" explores old age and fading memories through dementia, where the ending descends into chaos like a fragmenting mind. Elements of "Sepia" are foreshadowed in the album's opening track, the instrumental "Pilot Theme", which pays homage to TV theme music, invoking spy thrillers or perhaps something otherworldly from science fiction.

“Offcumdens” is a Calder Valley, Yorkshire term for people who live in the area but come from somewhere else. Hailing from Bury, Lancashire, Morch wrote the song while living in Hebden Bridge (and watching too much Happy Valley) and found himself being an offcumden. It’s a pop at the kind of local nativism which breeds intolerance and an illustration of the sinister rise of wider political populism.

Miniseries' Pilot is just the beginning of the story. Enthralling and atmospheric, the London quintet have created something familiar yet timeless. As singer Doug Morch says, "It's the Miniseries Pilot episode. Like the TV episode a studio makes to test whether it's viable.” In the age of streaming and box-sets, this is an album to truly binge on. We can’t wait to hear what happens next.

London based experimental producer and composer "Leifur James" announces his return with news of a six date EU tour and the release ‘Wise Old Man’. The first single taken from his highly anticipated second album ‘Angel in Disguise’, which is due for release on the
24th April 2020 via "Night Time Stories" - Sister label to the coveted ‘LateNightTales’.

Driving, melancholic electronica, ‘Wise Old Man’ is a nod to what can be expected of James’ second album, Angel In Disguise, showcasing a more experimental side to his production. Traversing through musicality, progressive synths and introspection, this first single unveils the producer’s distinct sound with disorientated vocals; speaking of the interplay between reason and emotion, the lyrics repeat “Wise old man in my brain, soul bursting through my veins”, opening the gates to this captivating electronically steered opus.

This news comes after an incredible few years for the artist. In 2018 saw James release his esteemed debut album A Louder Silence on Night Time Stories and follow up remix EP that championed upcoming electronic talent including Bruce, FaltyDL and Whities producer, Coby Sey, on rework duties; projects which captured the attention of key tastemakers including Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Mixmag, Electronic Sound and Future Music UK.

An aesthetically driven artist dedicated to marrying powerful visual backdrops with sonic explorations, James teamed up with Hungarian director, Balázs Simon; producing the critically acclaimed, ‘Wurlitzer’ project which saw widespread support from the likes of Boiler Room, CLASH, Directors’ Notes, Motionographer, the UK and Berlin Music Video Awards, the London Short Film Festival, Dublin International Film Festival and more.

Angel In Disguise promises to explore the themes of love and loss through a masterful blend of harmonic vocals from James himself, nuanced electronic soundscapes and vibrant percussion -
punctuated by bespoke visuals, directed by Balázs Simon.

This exciting project is expected to make waves and see James
step up, exhibiting his discerning ear and painstakingly honed production craft on aseminal label.

KEG announce new EP Girders set for release September 2nd on Alcopop! Records/BMG. The band also share the frenzied and whip-smart new single Kids. The band, who have been hotly tipped across the board for 2022, will also play their debut UK headline tour plus festivals which include Green Man, End Of The Road, Latitude and more. Kids strides into the deep lineage of British art-punk songwriting that is both self-referencing and outward-facing - while being consistently innovative. Few singles manage to take aim at both the restaurant chain Itsu and the comedian Michael McIntyre, but KEG somehow pull it off.

Following a widely successful debut single release Heyshaw in the summer of 2021, KEG saw major support from publications such as NME, DIY, Dork, So Young, Clash etc. Leading into their debut EP Assembly, released October 2021, KEG toured with contemporaries such as Squid and Talk Show.

KEG are a seven piece. Albert (vocals), Joel (bass) & Will (synth) grew up together around the seaside Yorkshire town of Bridlington; and like many artists growing up in removed quarters of the country, they shared a yearning to leave. Spreading to different parts of the country after leaving school, they found their bandmates in their respective cities and found one another once again on the southern shores of Brighton.
Frank (guitar), whose background resides mostly in hip-hop, afforded a unique pulse with a guitar sound which is manic, discordant but firm. Jules (guitar) whose songwriting sensibilities come from a love of cadence and craft of beautiful soul ballads, imbued the band with his structured sense of composition. Both Charlie (trombone & shell) and Johnny (drums) come from classically trained Jazz backgrounds.
The announcement will receive digital marketing support and will launch with new tour dates announced (below) with pre-order for presale access available.

Adrian Younge Presents: Twelve Reasons To Die II inhabits the grimy streets of mid-1970s, NYC. Younge's cinematic, psychedelic soul returns to set the stage for a clash between crime syndicates and the vengeful spirit of Tony Starks (Ghostface Killah). This gripping sequel features special guest appearances from Wu Tang alumni Rza and Raekwon, who personifies the criminal mastermind, Lester Kane. A Wu-Tang saga unfolds in this thrilling sequel to the acclaimed original. Recorded and mixed by Adrian Younge at Linear Labs, the preeminent analog studio of Los Angeles, CA.

Geboren aus den rauen, ohrenbetäubenden Sounds von Keller-Jams und wilden House-Shows, strebt die vierköpfige Band Fuzz Lightyear aus Leeds danach, die lauteste und schnellste Band ihrer Umgebung zu sein. Getreu ihrem DIY-Ethos konzentrieren sie sich auf nachhaltiges Experimentieren, Gemeinschaft und ungehemmten Rock'n'Roll. Die Singles "My Body" und "Visual Effect" (auf Nice Swan) und ihre unermüdlichen Live-Shows zeugen von einer chaotischen und beeindruckenden Mischung aus Shoegaze, Industrial Noise-Rock und rasantem Punk, irgendwo zwischen Sonic Youth und Show Me The Body. Mit Gigs zusammen mit English Teacher, Adult DVD, Lambrini Girls und weiteren Ikonen des neuen und alten Punk haben sich Fuzz Lightyear eine Kult-Anhängerschaft erarbeitet.

- "Ein erdbebenartiger Live-Sound, der der Intensität von IDLES oder sogar der Gilla Band in nichts nachsteht. Fuzz Lightyears Musik zeichnet sich zudem durch Witz und lyrische Offenheit aus." - Clash
- "Schlammige Gitarren treffen auf dröhnende Drums, die wiederum mit Lärmfluten konkurrieren." - Far Out (Von English Teacher zur aufregendsten Band aus Leeds gewählt.)

In the summer of 2021, Brighton-based, Scottish-Thai songwriter Helen Ganya's grandmother passed away

The grief hit the artist hard, not only because it marked the loss of her last remaining grandparent, but also because it felt like her links to being half- Thai were disintegrating, roots quaking and shifting in uncharted territories. Ganya grew up in Singapore, but spent her summers in the northeast of Thailand where her mum's side of the family is from, visiting her grandmother. Where would all those memories go now that the person at the centre of them was gone? What was her relationship to this place without that glue? And so, in an attempt to process it all, Ganya began to write. "I got my diary and wrote every single memory of my time as a child in Thailand, spending time with her, my grandad, my aunts and cousins and everything," she explains, "I had these snapshots of memories that I just wrote down because I just suddenly panicked: it was like, who am I, then?" It was for this reason that, while Helen Ganya was waiting for her acclaimed 2022 album, polish the machine, to come out, she was already working on what would become her arresting new record, Share Your Care. Ganya has been releasing music since 2015 (formerly under the moniker Dog in the Snow). In the records she's put out over the years, she's shown a proclivity towards dark and artful rock and off- kilter sounds, garnering praise from the likes of the Sunday Times, Uncut, Clash, Loud & Quiet and more. But Share Your Caremarks a new era, building on Ganya's past sonic worlds and interspersing them with traditional Thai instrumentation, resulting in a plush, luminous, psych-tinged affair that is full of feeling. The result is a triumphant, abundant record, teeming with heart and cinematic warmth.

There’s no mystery to this one, it’s another phat Krash Slaughta 45 remix – in this case of a Wu-Tang Clan classic to follow recent cheeky versions of Guru and MF DOOM on 7″. You may remember the original Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ as an archetypal RZA production characterised by clashing sword samples and a skeletal piano motif with the grit coming from the ‘Clan’s vox and the crunch of the boom-bap drums. KS’s remix is utterly different – as we’ve come to expect – and sees him provide a beat that matches the energy of the original vocals rather than provide a counterpoint to them. Out go (most of) the swords and keys and in come guitars and furious scratching. Side B’s the radio edit, the A’s the ‘Full Phat’ version, cop it in black or yellow wax and remember – in the front, in the back, Killa Beez on attack!

Produziert vom kreativen Kopf der The Clash, Mick Jones, und mit einem Gesangsbeitrag von Kate Moss, fängt Down In Albion die Atmosphäre seiner Ära ein - die Gerüche, die Stimmungen, den Zeitgeist - und blickt zugleich nach vorn. Das Ergebnis ist ein zeitloses Werk, das die menschliche Erfahrung sowohl dokumentiert als auch tröstet. Neben den ursprünglichen 16 Songs enthält die Jubiläumsausgabe fünf ausgewählte Stücke aus dem Archiv der Band, von denen einige - trotz ihrer Bootleg-Bekanntheit unter Fans - hier erstmals offiziell veröffentlicht werden. "Gang Of Gin" und "352 Days" entstanden in derselben Phase wie das Album und waren ursprünglich als mögliche B-Seiten gedacht, wurden jedoch nie veröffentlicht. "Why Did You Break My Heart/Piracy" erschien damals auf der B-Seite der Single Albion. Die Songs "Do You Know Me" und "My Darling Clementine" stammen aus der von Fans geliebten BBC Radio 1 Session mit Zane Lowe vom Oktober 2004, die den kreativen Grundstein für Down In Albion legte. Babyshambles wurde 2003 gegründet, als Pete Doherty vorübergehend aus The Libertines ausgeschlossen war. Schnell entwickelte sich das Projekt zu einem alternativen kreativen Ventil, das ihm erlaubte, neue Themen in einer spontanen, offenen musikalischen Umgebung zu erforschen. In Zusammenarbeit mit Bassist Drew McConnell, Drummer Adam Ficek und Gitarrist Patrick Walden gelang es der Band, die elektrische Energie einer Gruppe einzufangen, die immer am Limit segelte - künstlerisch, kulturell und persönlich. Down In Albion ist erfüllt von klarem, zeitlosem Songwriting, das zwischen intensiven Emotionen und lebendigen Erzählungen wechselt. Diese Jubiläumsausgabe würdigt nicht nur die rohe Mischung aus persönlichen Erfahrungen und gesellschaftlichen Beobachtungen, sondern ehrt auch Patrick Walden, der Anfang des Jahres verstorben ist. Sein unverkennbares Gitarrenspiel prägt das Album tief - und sein Porträt, fotografiert von Hedi Slimane, wurde in das neue Cover mit einem speziellen UV-Glanzdruck integriert. Von dem scheinbar nihilistischen, in Wahrheit aber hoffnungsvollen "Fuck Forever", über die chaotische Energie von "Pipedown" und "8 Dead Boys", den Witz von "What Katie Did Next", die Romantik von "In Love With A Feeling", bis hin zur melancholischen Hymne "Albion" - das Debüt von Babyshambles bleibt ein mitreißendes, emotionales und kreatives Meisterwerk.