Search:the early years

'Channel Zero is a new release produced by the London-based Brazilian artist Protocol. It is made up of 4 unprocessed live jam recordings of heavy, stripped-down techno. Composed over a period of 2 years, the artist focuses on experimenting on the far edges of techno, inspired by early avant-garde music, drone, and Musique Concrete. It comes in a hand-numbered limited edition of 180g black labels, in a 3mm inside-out cover with a black inner-sleeve.
'The work is a confirmation that techno still thinks forwardly, but pays homage to its mostly overlooked origins. The titles come from one of the early Cybernetic Culture Research Unit essays, also named Channel Zero.
'Lost Signal (Noise) opens up the EP with reverberated static noise, followed up by a deep bass with more layers of percussion and atmospheric noise patterns, slowly evolving into unexpected rhythms. The second track, Blind Belief, is composed of a deconstructed kick sequence, with machinic-like sound structures in the background and a hi-hat that morphs with various envelopes, together with a nostalgic 909 rim-shot. Turning to the B side, Electromagnetic Shadow is an atmospheric four-to-the-floor techno track, where deep kick drums and polyrhythmic noise soundscapes move into industrial noise pattern. Closing Protocol's debut EP, Black Snow Cult brings together the EP's sound palette into aggressive patterns of Birmingham-esque industrial percussions, where synthetic sounds are put together in primitive sounding sequences together with high pitched frequencies.'

Callisto celebrates 20 years of Noir with a vinyl reissue out in September Finnish post-metal outift Callisto are celebrating the critically acclaimed 2006 album Noir with its 20th anniversary vinyl reissue released by Svart Records in September. Founded in Kokkola in 2001, but already established in Turku early on, Callisto has been laying low in recent years. However, the band's versatile and nuanced metal achieved international popularity in the early 2000s. Their second full-length album, Noir, released in 2006, is a significant cornerstone of Callisto's career. – Noir is the album we have probably received the most feedback about over the years, the band admits. – People make and send covers of Noir songs to us and the album is usually the first thing that comes up in conversation when you come across people who have some experience, memory or opinion about Callisto's active years. Noir's production and recording process was also difficult in its own way, so it's already a reason to celebrate that it ultimately became an album that strongly defined the band's early years, the band continues. Noir has the menace and progressive edge of doom metal; the album is lively, looks forward darkly, moves from whispers to screams and ends with massive, powerful energy.

celebrating the critically acclaimed 2006 album Noir with its 20th anniversary vinyl reissue released by Svart Records in September. Founded in Kokkola in 2001, but already established in Turku early on, Callisto has been laying low in recent years. However, the band's versatile and nuanced metal achieved international popularity in the early 2000s. Their second full-length album, Noir, released in 2006, is a significant cornerstone of Callisto's career. – Noir is the album we have probably received the most feedback about over the years, the band admits. – People make and send covers of Noir songs to us and the album is usually the first thing that comes up in conversation when you come across people who have some experience, memory or opinion about Callisto's active years. Noir's production and recording process was also difficult in its own way, so it's already a reason to celebrate that it ultimately became an album that strongly defined the band's early years, the band continues. Noir has the menace and progressive edge of doom metal; the album is lively, looks forward darkly, moves from whispers to screams and ends with massive, powerful energy.

After a career spanning over thirty five years, from UK underground upstarts and outliers, to major success on the international stage - including tours with UK icons Iron Maiden and genre legends Dio - My Dying Bride have themselves become a firmly established pillar of metal history with a refined and influential brand of Death/Doom metal. With enduring popularity across subsequent decades, My Dying Bride remains a productive and captivating vessel for tragedy and despair, with their studio output spanning fourteen full-length albums to date.

As part of the “Peaceville Three”, along with fellow countrymen Paradise Lost and Anathema, My Dying Bride truly became a primary force in highlighting Britain as an epicentre of this Doom revolution of the time, creating a highly distinguishable sound assisted by the inclusion of violin & a more poetic approach to the delivery of morbid and salacious topics, lending an additional air of eccentricity and eloquence to the darkness.

Anthology of Sombre Reflections is an expansive and comprehensive collection of the early and much-celebrated works of the Doom Gods, from the formative deathly rawness of the revered Towards the Sinister demo, ‘God is Alone’ 7” tracks and subsequent debut album, As the Flower Withers, through to the gothic-tinged funereal seductive delights of 1996’s highlight, Like Gods of the Sun.

With the addition of all-time genre classic opuses Turn Loose the Swans, and The Angel and the Dark River also representing My Dying Bride’s much-loved early to 90’s period, the band’s three cult EPs are also featured in this deluxe eight-vinyl boxset, with each record presented on 180gm heavyweight black vinyl. The four studio albums themselves have also been treated to new half-speed masters courtesy of Air Studios.

Accompanying the audio is a 48-page book featuring photographs and artwork, plus new interviews with Andrew Craighan and Aaron Stainthorpe exploring some of the influences and thought-processes behind the creation of such cherished works of the 90s, as well as reflections of their output over this period.

Anthology of Sombre Reflections also contains 2 large posters depicting the Turn Loose the Swans CD artwork image, plus the original poster included in As the Flower Withers. A selection of photo prints of the band from this era are also included.

Louisiana Red's "Anti-Nuclear Blues" is considered a classic among acoustic blues albums and comes out on CD (w/bonus tracks) and LP in random coloured vinyl , limited to 500 copies worldwide - for fans of Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Sonny Terry, Lightnin' Hopkins Louisiana Red was born in Alabama in March 1932 and died in Hanover almost exactly 80 years later. The early life of Iverson Minter, also known as Louisiana Red, was marked by suffering.

His mother died of pneumonia a week after he was born. When he was five years old, his father was executed by the Ku Klux Klan. After that, he lived in orphanages until he was able to spend the rest of his childhood with his grandmother. As a teenager, he was sentenced to hard labor for burglary and subsequently sent by Uncle Sam to the Korean War. Iverson had wanted to become a blues musician ever since he had met Muddy Waters. In the late 1950s, he played in John Lee Hooker's band. In the mid-1970s, he moved to Europe, where he gained recognition among a wider audience through appearances at the WDR Rockpalast and the Montreux Jazz Festival. In the 1980s, Fritz Rau signed Louisiana Red for his successful festival series, the "American Folk Blues Festival." In 1983, he released his acclaimed album "Anti- Nuclear Blues," whose content and message are more relevant today than ever. The original vinyl edition has since become a sought-after rarity. Now, the album is being released for the first time on CD, featuring six bonus tracks from the 1981 "American Folk Blues Festival," as well as a reissue on vinyl with a fresh sound.

Led by the lightning-fast guitar work of Alvin Lee, the band had quickly evolved from a traditional blues outfit into one of the most exciting and commercially viable acts of the late '60s British rock scene. This album reflects that transition, combining their Chicago blues roots with heavier rock, boogie rhythms, and early progressive influences. Recorded at a time when studio experimentation was becoming central to rock music, Cricklewood Green shows the band expanding beyond their live reputation into more layered and exploratory territory. The hit single "Love Like a Man" became a defining track of the era, earning chart success and cementing the group's reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. Newly remastered at Air Mastering, this reissue restores the album's original power and nuance. In addition to the album is a newly mixed performance by Charlie Russell of their second set at the Fillmore East on Friday 27th February 1970 on disc two, the sheer power of the band is on full display. On the CD are a selection of rarities with the standout being a newly discovered "Cricklewood Jam" demo, recorded during the album's sessions and never heard until now..

Neon Electronics presents “Liberation”, the final chapter of the project born as the successor to The Neon Judgement—an essential vehicle for Dirk Da Davo, an artist who helped lay the foundations of EBM and post-punk. As co-founder of The Neon Judgement, he forged a sonic language that continues to resonate across generations. With “Liberation”, he brings Neon Electronics to a close, marking the end of this era with clarity and intent.

Joined by longtime collaborators Glenn Keteleer (Radical G) and Pieter-Jan Theunis, this release captures the essence of his most vital years. It distills the spirit of the ’80s and early ’90s into a sequence of tracks that unfold like a collection of undeniable hits—direct, timeless, and uncompromising.

The record reaches its final form with remixes by Ancient Methods, a leading force in industrial techno, and Patrick Codenys of Front 242—one of the few acts whose legacy stands alongside Dirk’s own.

For the label, presenting this final work is both a privilege and a responsibility: a closing statement from one of the true architects of the sound itself, and the definitive work of Neon Electronics as a project.

Completes the vinyl collection of Los Mockers, alongside the reissue of their original 1966 LP, this two handful of tracks, previously unreleased or out of print, traces the journey of five teenagers who, clinging to rock & roll, became legends. Blending the raw energy of 1960s rock & roll with rhythm & blues roots and later-day musical maturity, Los Mockers left a lasting mark on the Río de la Plata scene f rom their explosive beginnings to their 21st-century comeback. REWIND brings together rare recordings spanning nearly sixty years: from mid-1960s demos and singles to reunion sessions recorded between 2006 and 2012, i ncluding deleted material and an unreleased live track. Side A captures the band's early fire, opening with a 1965 demo of "I Just Want to Make Love to You," recorded under their original name, Los Encadenados, at Radio Ariel in Montevideo. It also includes their first original singles, "I Wanna Go" and "My Baby," plus the unreleased "Girl You Won't Succeed" and a fast, distinctly Uruguayan take on "Paint It Black." Side B focuses on the reunion era recordings made in Valencia, Spain, where the band revisited their legacy with renewed strength and craftsmanship. Tracks like " Need Some Time," "40 Years Ago," and "The Chain" show a seasoned group still driven by authentic rock & roll spirit, while "25 Watts" pays tribute to filmmaker Juan Pablo Rebella. The album closes with a powerful 2012 live version of "Tell Me Something New."

Matrix Music Arhiv (MMA) are proud to announce a re-issue of the highly sought-after album 'Resistance' by the seminal Yugoslavian electronic rock band Borghesia, originally released in 1989 on Play It Again Sam/PIAS (Europe), Wax Trax (USA) and Jugoton (former Yugoslavia). Available on 2Lp, 2CD & 1MC (MC original album only). The re-issue features a carefully remastered edition along with the exclusive bonus live album "Dal Vivo A El Paso", recorded in December 1988 during their performance in Torino, Italy, on one of their European tours. This recording features very different, raw and at times 'dubbed up' versions of their early tracks such as 'Naked, Uniformed, Dead', Am I? and Him (On). The historical perfectly captures the atmosphere and energy of their live appearances at the time. Borghesia (Italian for 'bourgeoisie'), who were formed in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 1982, had always considered its art to be far broader than just sonic. Borghesia's transgressive, transdisciplinary alloy of film expression, distinctively physical performative practices, usage of new technology and conveniently abrasive EBM (electronic body music) musical production hasn't only been ground-breaking in terms of the holistic, visual/sonic presence of an art collective, but had a rather decisive influence on the general aesthetics of the immensely important Yugoslav subcultural landscape of the 1980s. Borghesia was one of the first bands from the East of the Iron Curtain who used the VHS video medium to distribute their art and was also one of few projects from socialist Yugoslavia to successfully penetrate the curtain itself, reaching international audiences. A series of their releases in the fruitful period between the years 1987 and 1991, including the Resistance album itself, was released by the legendary Belgian label Play It Again Sam (PIAS). The band dissolved in the mid-1990s and then continued their work in 2014. In line with Borghesia's unique social engagement, progressiveness and political criticism, Resistance is one of their most powerful statements. It's the ultimate fight the power manifesto, which makes punk and hip-hop albums of the time sound like children's songs. This is not music for nodding your head to; it's tactical broadcast for the nocturnal resistance to this very day. Borghesia didn't address control only - they sampled the political top, the secret police and explicitly connected authority with dominance. The production of the album isn't clean or polished. On the contrary - Resistance sounds like it was created in a bunker, using stolen military equipment and synthesisers. Borghesia's genius lies in their understanding that the relentless, mechanical EBM beat was the sound of the State - and by hijacking it, turning the system's own rhythm against itself they created the most powerful form of sonic insurgency. And since history repeats itself while the little man learns slowly, the re-release of 'Resistance' comes at the right time. The dark clouds of violence are already looming over Europe, they've never really left the Middle East, and the levers of power and capital ever so louder, not even covertly at all incite: war, war, war! In these times the only appropriate answer is: revolt, rebel, Resistance!

Matrix Music Arhiv (MMA) are proud to announce a re-issue of the highly sought-after album 'Resistance' by the seminal Yugoslavian electronic rock band Borghesia, originally released in 1989 on Play It Again Sam/PIAS (Europe), Wax Trax (USA) and Jugoton (former Yugoslavia). Available on 2Lp, 2CD & 1MC (MC original album only). The re-issue features a carefully remastered edition along with the exclusive bonus live album "Dal Vivo A El Paso", recorded in December 1988 during their performance in Torino, Italy, on one of their European tours. This recording features very different, raw and at times 'dubbed up' versions of their early tracks such as 'Naked, Uniformed, Dead', Am I? and Him (On). The historical perfectly captures the atmosphere and energy of their live appearances at the time. Borghesia (Italian for 'bourgeoisie'), who were formed in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 1982, had always considered its art to be far broader than just sonic. Borghesia's transgressive, transdisciplinary alloy of film expression, distinctively physical performative practices, usage of new technology and conveniently abrasive EBM (electronic body music) musical production hasn't only been ground-breaking in terms of the holistic, visual/sonic presence of an art collective, but had a rather decisive influence on the general aesthetics of the immensely important Yugoslav subcultural landscape of the 1980s. Borghesia was one of the first bands from the East of the Iron Curtain who used the VHS video medium to distribute their art and was also one of few projects from socialist Yugoslavia to successfully penetrate the curtain itself, reaching international audiences. A series of their releases in the fruitful period between the years 1987 and 1991, including the Resistance album itself, was released by the legendary Belgian label Play It Again Sam (PIAS). The band dissolved in the mid-1990s and then continued their work in 2014. In line with Borghesia's unique social engagement, progressiveness and political criticism, Resistance is one of their most powerful statements. It's the ultimate fight the power manifesto, which makes punk and hip-hop albums of the time sound like children's songs. This is not music for nodding your head to; it's tactical broadcast for the nocturnal resistance to this very day. Borghesia didn't address control only - they sampled the political top, the secret police and explicitly connected authority with dominance. The production of the album isn't clean or polished. On the contrary - Resistance sounds like it was created in a bunker, using stolen military equipment and synthesisers. Borghesia's genius lies in their understanding that the relentless, mechanical EBM beat was the sound of the State - and by hijacking it, turning the system's own rhythm against itself they created the most powerful form of sonic insurgency. And since history repeats itself while the little man learns slowly, the re-release of 'Resistance' comes at the right time. The dark clouds of violence are already looming over Europe, they've never really left the Middle East, and the levers of power and capital ever so louder, not even covertly at all incite: war, war, war! In these times the only appropriate answer is: revolt, rebel, Resistance!

Matrix Music Arhiv (MMA) are proud to announce a re-issue of the highly sought-after album 'Resistance' by the seminal Yugoslavian electronic rock band Borghesia, originally released in 1989 on Play It Again Sam/PIAS (Europe), Wax Trax (USA) and Jugoton (former Yugoslavia). Available on 2Lp, 2CD & 1MC (MC original album only). The re-issue features a carefully remastered edition along with the exclusive bonus live album "Dal Vivo A El Paso", recorded in December 1988 during their performance in Torino, Italy, on one of their European tours. This recording features very different, raw and at times 'dubbed up' versions of their early tracks such as 'Naked, Uniformed, Dead', Am I? and Him (On). The historical perfectly captures the atmosphere and energy of their live appearances at the time. Borghesia (Italian for 'bourgeoisie'), who were formed in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 1982, had always considered its art to be far broader than just sonic. Borghesia's transgressive, transdisciplinary alloy of film expression, distinctively physical performative practices, usage of new technology and conveniently abrasive EBM (electronic body music) musical production hasn't only been ground-breaking in terms of the holistic, visual/sonic presence of an art collective, but had a rather decisive influence on the general aesthetics of the immensely important Yugoslav subcultural landscape of the 1980s. Borghesia was one of the first bands from the East of the Iron Curtain who used the VHS video medium to distribute their art and was also one of few projects from socialist Yugoslavia to successfully penetrate the curtain itself, reaching international audiences. A series of their releases in the fruitful period between the years 1987 and 1991, including the Resistance album itself, was released by the legendary Belgian label Play It Again Sam (PIAS). The band dissolved in the mid-1990s and then continued their work in 2014. In line with Borghesia's unique social engagement, progressiveness and political criticism, Resistance is one of their most powerful statements. It's the ultimate fight the power manifesto, which makes punk and hip-hop albums of the time sound like children's songs. This is not music for nodding your head to; it's tactical broadcast for the nocturnal resistance to this very day. Borghesia didn't address control only - they sampled the political top, the secret police and explicitly connected authority with dominance. The production of the album isn't clean or polished. On the contrary - Resistance sounds like it was created in a bunker, using stolen military equipment and synthesisers. Borghesia's genius lies in their understanding that the relentless, mechanical EBM beat was the sound of the State - and by hijacking it, turning the system's own rhythm against itself they created the most powerful form of sonic insurgency. And since history repeats itself while the little man learns slowly, the re-release of 'Resistance' comes at the right time. The dark clouds of violence are already looming over Europe, they've never really left the Middle East, and the levers of power and capital ever so louder, not even covertly at all incite: war, war, war! In these times the only appropriate answer is: revolt, rebel, Resistance!

Geometrik Records is delighted to once again play a part in the exclusive recovery of Marcelo Expósito's previously unpublished work, which had been lost since its original creation in the 1980s. Marcelo Expósito is one of Spain's most internationally renowned contemporary artists, whose work is regularly exhibited across Europe and Latin America. He began his career at a very young age during the era of sound experimentation that flourished in the wake of so-called industrial culture, which found particularly fertile ground in Spain. As co-editor of legendary publications such as the fanzine Experiencias (1983) and, above all, the cassette-fanzine publisher Necronomicón (1983-1987), which operated on an international scale, Marcelo Expósito has, in recent years, been reconstructing those of his sound experiments that had been lost for decades. The album we are now presenting brings together material previously released on cassettes as EGK023 in a very limited edition. These tracks have now been remastered and expanded to complete this record, which noise musician Mattin has described as "secret recordings that constitute a gem from the rich Spanish underground of the 1980s". In the words of Luis Alvarado, editor of the Peruvian label Buh Records, this album allows us to appreciate how "Expósito developed a style of his own that understood sound as a malleable material open to chance. The recordings gathered on The Lost Tapes reveal an artist who moves as much through territories of unsettling textures and atmospheres as through zones of abstraction and radical noise". Influenced by the early work of figures such as Maurizio Bianchi, Nurse With Wound, and La Otra Cara de un Jardín, the release of this album provides a key piece in reconstructing the genealogical puzzle of Spanish experimental music. This carefully curated edition-in Spanish and English-includes a lengthy essay by Marcelo Expósito on the creative processes behind his work and the historical context of the industrial culture of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as extensive liner notes contributed by Vittore Baroni, editor of the legendary Italian label Trax; Francisco Felipe, co-founder of the Ars Sonora programme on Radio Clásica (Radio Nacional de España) and one of the most active names on the Spanish experimental scene of the 1980s; Mattin and Susana López (Susan Drone), key figures in the sound experimentation of the generation that emerged in the 2000s; as well as the aforementioned Luis Alvarado.

"Nido de Espinas" is the fourteenth studio album by Buitres. Uruguayan Punk Rock band formed in 1989, heirs to the legacy of the iconic Post Punk band "Los Estómagos" It began to be composed in 2022 and was recorded in early 2024. The texts are inspired by the Diary of a Desperate Heart, an arbitrary overflow of feelings written disorderedly with an improvised rein, which demanded exhaustive work from the band to reach maximum expression in each track. Artistic production was handled by Ale Vázquez (Spinetta, Intoxicados and more) and Sebastián Teysera (La Vela Puerca), who landed the runaway chariot set on fire. buitres formed in late 1989, following the dissolution of the group Los Estómagos, a band that sparked a new era of Uruguayan rock in 1983. José "Pepe" Rambao, a close friend since childhood, joined the Parodi-Peluffo duo. Buitres has toured extensively throughout the entire Uruguayan territory and has participated in massive international shows both in Uruguay and abroad. Additionally, they have completed six tours across Spain, where the album En la Vuelta (CD and DVD) was released. Their discography features 14 studio albums. They have released three live albums, two documentary DVDs, and three live DVDs. Three books have been published about the band. The band has received numerous acolytes and awards, but most importantly, after more than thirty years, they continue to maintain a close and emotional relationship with their audience - one that has endured throughout their history and grows over time. For this reason, the band dedicates their absolute best effort to every new work and every performance. "Nido de Espinas" is their new Studio album. These are wild and excessive times. Perhaps this statement applies to our life history just as it did to ordinary people in bygone eras. However, we assimilate the changes, adapt, and move forward. Nothing new under the sun. We grew up assuming static realities without trying to understand that they were newborn and would not last forever. The "forever" was declining into premature obsolescence. Every accessory is fleeting in the dizzying change of language.

Blue vinyl. Hailing from Wiltshire, forming in 1982, Tokyo Blade was initially considered part of the NWOBHM scene but quickly outgrew the tag, enduring over the course of 14 studio albums and five EPs. Producing genuine early classics such as their self-titled debut and follow-up 'Night Of The Blade', the band went through multiple line-up changes over the years, yet continued to enjoy the support of the metal community and die-hard fans across the globe.

One original mix, never before released on vinyl, alongside three brand new remixes from Claptrap Allstars.

Francisco D’Argento may not have been a pioneer of the Italo Disco movement that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but his sun-soaked, refined approach captured the spirit of the era with unmistakable charm.

While D’Argento received critical attention from local press and music journals, his work unfortunately never connected with a wider audience. In later years, his output gradually slowed, and his early recordings slipped into obscurity.

With the support of the D’Argento estate, this forgotten gem has been lovingly restored and remastered from the original ½-inch tape, bringing new life to an overlooked piece of Italian electronic music history.

This release presents the original version, an uptempo, high nrg direct italo cut featuring D’Argento’s own vocals, alongside the voice of his second wife, actress and model Eleanora D’Argento.

Donald Dust delivers a powerful and thumping rework for the A2 the “Squish Mix”, a stretched-out, dubbed-out interpretation built for those late-night, hot and heavy dancefloors.

Dr Valentine takes things into the cosmos with the “Nello Spazio Mix”, slowing the tempo and drifting into hypnotic space.

Closing out the EP, Vanity Project presents a darker Robotalo Remix, stripping away the original’s outer layer and revealing a shadowy, dark-disco driven version.

Buon ascolto!

Archaic Vaults is proud to present »Ley Lines«, the debut album by St Circul.

Concise collection of folkloric grime instrumentals to rise from a new moniker taken on by the elusive First Circle. A breadcrumb trail of effortlessly crafted early 2000s-era grime, trap and drill instrumentals can be found on a fairly sparse Soundcloud account and numerous NTS shows spanning the last ten years, on which he is known to play almost entirely his own material. Now a different energy takes hold on »Ley Lines«: ten tracks by the enigmatic producer to be released both on a label and in physical format for the first time.

»Ley Lines« was born from a meandering quest through South London’s more leafy dwellings. These cherished regions became a place of refuge in which to ruminate on the hopes that love and community can outlast the dwindling state of Britain’s social and political climate. Photo documentation was made which would later form the genesis for each track, and a return to the studio resulted in something which could not be fitted into the existing First Circle discography.

Harpsichord and brass samples (»A Plan Is Formed«, »Hilly Fields«) are underpinned by murky bass loops and tight militaristic percussion – motifs recognisable amongst white label grime’s most influential producers (Wiley, Skepta, Lewi White etc.) that push the formula into far more rapturous territories than any of FC’s previous productions. The more introspective moments of the album (»Wares at the Ivy House«, »Blythe Vision«) put local field recordings and devotional reverberant ambience to the forefront, alluding to St Circul’s proto-dungeon synth influences and giving the whole album a unique world all its own.

Archaic Vaults is proud to host an album which shares intrinsic roots with the label’s own South London birthplace. »Ley Lines«’ ten tracks of psychogeographic drifting are available in digital and limited cassette format via Archaic Vaults.

Mastered by Owen Pratt Design by Severin Black Artwork image by St Circul

After the wild Afro-jazz fusion of Trancedance (reissued as BT118) and the meditative solo Christer Bothén Donso n’goni (BT133), legendary Swedish multi-instrumentalist Christer Bothén returns to Black Truffle as part of a dream quartet completed by the three members of Ghosted: Oren Ambarchi (guitar), Johan Berthling (bass) and Andreas Werliin (drums). Recorded at a rustic studio built by Werliin and Hans Fredriksson in the sylvan surrounds of Hamburgsund, Sweden across a few days in September 2023, Serpentine offers up four generous slices of hypnotic repetition and shimmering resonance, cut through with wild bursts of Bothén’s bass clarinet.

The depth and ease of the quartet’s rapport is evident from the first moments of the opening title-track. Berthling’s resonant upright bass locks into a head-nodding ostinato that makes sensitive use of a prominent end-of-phrase rest, opening spaces through which Werliin’s continually shifting statements of the pulse shine through. Having worked together in various groups for many years, Berthling and Werliin are masters at playing subtle games of difference and repetition, creating a driving rhythmic flow animated by perpetually changing details: here, you can never step in the same groove twice. Weaving through it all is Ambarchi’s now-signature Leslie-cabinet guitar tone, sounding out long chords at times strikingly close to a Hammond, while also creating intricate cross-rhythms through the play of his tremolo modulations against the bass and drums. When Bothén enters five minutes in, the growl of his bass clarinet at first works deep in the collective brew, carving off brief staccato phrases and twisting them into fragmented melodies. As he moves into the instrument’s higher registers, Bothén’s playing becomes wilder, twinning with Ambarchi’s guitar in shimmering arcs like a 21st century update of the Garbarek-Rypdal pairing immortalised on Sart.

Each of the four pieces explore different possibilities of a shared language. On ‘Antigorite’, another hypnotic bass riff emerges gradually from an atmospheric haze, eventually developing into a frenetic rhythmic workout propelled by Werliin’s cowbell. Berthling sits out for ‘Lizardite’, while Bothén moves from bass clarinet to the Donso n’goni, the sacred Wassoulou hunter’s harp he has studied for half a century; the resulting performance streamlines the approach heard on other tracks into pure modal propulsion, sparkling with harp-like arpeggios from Ambarchi’s guitar. On the closing ‘Chrysotile’, the bottom drops out, leaving a swampy, churning mass of wavering organ-like chords, roaming bass runs, and distant toms, over which Bothén floats bass clarinet figures by turns bluesy and abstract, the whole thing landing somewhere between classic ECM and the most blasted freeform moments of early Amon Düül II. Bearing a delicate calligraphic abstraction by Bothén on its cover and beautiful documentation of the recording sessions on its inner sleeve, Serpentine is a powerful reminder of the magic that can happen when inventive musicians just get together and play.

There is an ecstatic melancholy in Dent May’s music. The bedroom pop auteur’s songs are both bittersweet and exuberant, breaking your heart while you can’t help but sing along.

Over six albums, May has built a wildly diverse discography spanning 17 years. He has typically worked alone, assembling perfect pop gems on his laptop, playing nearly every instrument himself. But when he began preparations for his new album, May’s tried and true process suddenly felt stale.

The Big One brings together both the scrappy DIY ethos of Elephant 6 Collective and early The Magnetic Fields with May’s lifelong affinity for the great ’70s singer-songwriters like Harry Nilsson and Ram-era Paul McCartney. The songs balance a clear-eyed view of the world with a cautious optimism, looking at the everyday experiences of disappointment and heartbreak with a sense of possibility for the good that may still come. Things might seem bleak, May tells us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be thankful for our brief time here on Planet Earth.

The title track is the beating heart of the record. Over a steady drumbeat, piano, and accordion, a melancholy May sings, “The big one’s coming, the big one’s on its way,” promising disaster. But May won’t wallow in the misery: “Thank the Lord for all my friends/We can make it ’til the end/No we can’t stop now/Who knows? Tomorrow it all could turn around.” For May, hope comes in the form of others.

It’s with this joyful melancholy Dent May draws in the world. Everything might be ending, the planet could be careening off into chaos, but tonight there’s a party down the block and you’re invited. Be sure and bring your friends.

Originally released in 1989 as an early milestone for the label, this landmark session teams the legendary alto saxophonist - then at the absolute peak of his powers at age 57 - with the incomparable Tommy Flanagan Trio . A titan of the genre for over 60 years, Woods masterfully combined a lush, beautiful tone with a complete command of the bebop vocabulary. Backed by veteran pianist Tommy Flanagan, former Oscar Peterson Trio bassist George Mraz, and a young, up-and-coming Kenny Washington on drums, the quartet delivers a timeless set of acoustic jazz that sounds as vital and vibrant today as it did nearly four decades ago.

In the early 1960s, beat groups from the Dutch Randstad dominated the national charts. Yet far from the big cities, in the clubs of Drenthe, one band was already being billed as “Beatgroup Number One”: Cuby + Blizzards. But frontman Harry Muskee never embraced that label. Raised on broadcasts from The Voice of America, he possessed a deeper understanding of the blues than most of his contemporaries. Muskee didn’t want to sing ‘songs,’ as he called them, he wanted to sing the blues, raw and unfiltered, in the tradition of Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Their debut single “Stumble & Fall” was recorded in the Bavohuis, a simple gym hall in Amsterdam, with Addy Kleingeld as producer. But the debut album Desolation marked a turning point, recorded at the Phonogram Studios in Hilversum with renowned blues producer Tony Vos, it captured the band exactly as Muskee intended.

The resulting album became a jewel of Dutch music history. Never before had the Netherlands heard a blues singer who poured his emotions into a recording with such conviction and authenticity. Muskee even outshone his British peers. Eric Burdon (The Animals), Paul Jones (Manfred Mann), Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones) and Van Morrison (Them).

At the 1968 Grand Gala du Disque (the Dutch equivalent of the Grammys), Muskee received an Edison Award for Desolation, handed to him by cabaret artist Wim Sonneveld, whose lukewarm speech couldn’t diminish the significance of the moment.

Sixty years later, the legacy of this groundbreaking album still resonates, an essential document of European blues and a defining moment in the story of Cuby + Blizzards.

This 60th anniversary edition of Desolation is now available as an expanded 2LP-set including the original 1966 album plus fifteen bonus tracks. The gatefold version features songs “Things I Remember”, “Stumble & Fall”, “L.S.D. (Got A Million Dollars)”, is a limited edition on blue vinyl and includes new liner notes by Dutch Blues authority Johan Derksen.

Fij makes a vibrant return with his new single "Don't Bring Me Sunshine," a bittersweet, high-speed ode to independence and renewal. Described by Fij as an "anti-love song," "Don't Bring Me Sunshine" flips the script on romance. Its sardonic, bah-humbug lyrics are set against a rush of euphoric energy - inspired by the simple thrill of driving fast with the windows down, music blaring, and summer stretching endlessly ahead. As Fij puts it: "Who needs love when you've got a full tank of petrol... and the whole of Summer lying ahead on the heat-hazed open road?" The track is the latest preview of his long- awaited debut solo album, due this September via Tip Top Records. It signals a clear shift in tone and tempo. After years marked by introspection - shaped by personal upheaval, frontline work during the pandemic, and his role as a funeral celebrant - Fij has hit reset.

Re- embracing the electric guitar, raising the BPMs, and rediscovering joy, his new material blends the fuzzed edges of dream-pop with elements of pop and electronica, all delivered with his signature wit and melodic finesse. Fij first emerged in the early 90s with Adorable, whose debut album Against Perfection (Creation Records) became a cult favourite, earning multiple NME accolades and topping the Indie charts. The band's legacy continues to resonate, with artists citing their influence and figures like Noel Gallagher famously calling their label's decision to drop them a major mistake. Following Adorable, Fij explored new sonic territory with Polak and later collaborated with Terry Bickers of The House of Love, producing critically acclaimed releases that reaffirmed his reputation as one of Britain's most distinctive voices. His baritone - often compared to Lee Hazlewood, Lou Reed, and Richard Hawley - remains as rich and compelling as ever, now carrying a renewed urgency.

Big strides from COZi, the dancer-turned-producer caught in perpetual motion. Movement’s been in the blood from minute one and the influence is undeniable.

Sydney-raised and Austria-based, the Energy In Motion boss steps to X-Kalay with some of the sultriest gear we’ve released. Sexy, groove-first stuff channelling tech and prog house of the '90s and early 2000s: equal parts Danny Howells inkiness, 'Heaven Scent'-era Bedrock and Saeed & Palash at their most potent.

Constructions plunge fathoms-deep into the nether-realm before darting synths and widescreen pads open the floodgates for a full-blown prog ascension. Old school sensibilities at the forefront but zero nostalgia trip.

Caught in a flow state front to back and the dancing years shine through on every groove.

The fifth installment in the acclaimed Killed By Hardcore series dives deep into the global underground of early hardcore punk, collecting 35 raw and obscure tracks from 1981-1988. Featuring rare cuts from legendary and cult bands across North America, South America and Europe, Killed By Hardcore Vol. 5 captures the speed, aggression and DIY spirit that defined hardcore's formative years. From the chaotic attack of Confuse (Japan) and the pioneering hardcore of Olho Seco (Brazil) to forgotten gems from Belgium, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Norway and the USA, this volume shines a light on some of the most uncompromising records ever committed to vinyl.

Frenchman Franck Roger is as consistent as any of the deep house greats we have all loved and appreciated for many years. He returns to Seasons Limited with another EP of perfectly timeless sounds to back that up. Opening up this latest gem is 'Don't Make Me Wait', which is shimmering and candlelit, with wispy pads and aching vocal cries occasionally bursting out of the mix. 'The Number Track' has a more pronounced groove with lumpy kicks and this time neon chords bubble through nicely for zoned-out late-night hypnosis. 'Fast Lane' closes with a more insular and dark feel that takes you back to the early days of Chicago house with a devastating synth conveying great loneliness

In a world currently defined by unrest, uncertainty, and cultural fracture, acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Isaiah Collier returns with Joy, a 5-track EP that reframes one of humanity’s most nuanced emotions both as a devotional grounding and political act.

Collier’s deeply personal compositions present joy as an act that isn’t rooted in escapism or abstraction, but rather, as something hard-won rooted in lived experience, shaped by transformation, and sustained through connection. Throughout the album’s five compositions, Collier positions joy as a guiding light during challenging times, an expression of challenging yourself to utilize your gifts, an affirmation of love and discovery, and as an affirmative source of reassurance.

“We are in a paradoxical time, where so much is being revealed to us,” Collier shares. “Everything feels political from every scope… our collective hearts feel the heaviness in the air. Yet I say to you all—don’t despair. For right now, the most political thing we can do is share joy.”

That ethos is made clear in the opening title track and lead single “Joy.” A pulsing rhythmic motif anchors the melody with a sense of both searching and certainty. Collier conceived the piece around 3 years ago reflecting on a time where many people in his life were experiencing loss of family and friends and experiencing profound life transitions. “Everything just felt like it was falling apart with no aim in sight,” he reflects. “Yet, there is a light at the end of it all.”

As he played the chords with a sense of urgency, he could feel the vibration of yellow in the piece. That initial triplet motif serves as the guiding light on the piano and the only word Collier could hear was Joy. In addition to Collier at the helm singing and playing piano and tenor sax on the track, it features an expansive 11-piece ensemble with a full horn and string section allowing Collier’s propensity for composition and arrangement to shine with an eclectic sonic palette.

“Landscape of Dreams” finds Collier serendipitously leaning into utilizing his gifts as a multi-instrumentalist. While he had a sketch of the piece going into the studio, a traffic delay caused musicians to be late arriving at the studio. Never one to waste time in the studio environment, Collier stepped into new creative territory and took up the challenge of executing playing all instruments himself as an act of trust and experimentation. “I’ve never done this before, and so it was a leap of faith for me,” he asserts. “I always dream of doing stuff like this, and being part of the small percentage of people who can do it like Prince, Steve Lacy, Frank Zappa, and Stevie Wonder. The end result finds Collier immersed in a hypnotic soundscape playing layered flutes, drums, Metatron, Wurlitzer, and auxiliary percussion.

Another layer of joy is revealed in “Where I’m Loved” that serves as a love letter and leaning into the process of stepping into the willingness to explore life and love with a partner. On the intimate meditation of vulnerability and connection, Collier's vocal prowess is on full display, exerting effortless falsetto reminiscent of D’Angelo over soulful Wurlitzer and guitar as he crosses over into more R&B-inspired realms. “I believe everyone deserves this feeling or to honor the memories of it. Furthermore, I believe you should also go where you’re celebrated and not tolerated.”

“When the Dust Settles” captures the electricity of live collaboration and Collier further steps out of being confined to any specific genre. He had just gotten a microKORG keyboard from co-producer Sonny Daze and was exploring the vast array of sounds on the instrument. Collier plays synth bass on the microKORG joined by the electrifying improvisation of Cole Runge on guitar and the combustible rhythm of his brother Jeremiah Collier on drums with additional post-production work from Sonny Daze.

The album’s final track “God’s By Your Side” reflects on perseverance and artistic legacy, directly inspired from the passing of D’Angelo, whose life’s work was a huge part of Collier’s childhood growing up in the late 90s and early 00s. With gospel flavor and direct influence both from D’Angelo’s vocal and instrumental arrangements, the track speaks to resilience and persistence in the face of obstacles—an affirmation of source and reassurance. “And what’s better than having God by your side, right?” asserts Collier.

Joy is a through-and-through expression of the arc of joy in its truest form. Joy transcends fleeting happiness and is conscious gratitude shaped by taking chances, leaning into your gifts, fostering community, and lived experiences.

“Joy is partially happiness,” Collier explains. “But to me it means happily being grateful for family, friends, lovers, teachers, and good times. These are the things that anchor us.”

The release of Joy comes off the heels of significant momentum for Collier, whose work continues to garner accolades and resonate across cultural spheres. He was featured on the cover of DownBeat’s April 2025 issue, where he was named “The Next Sax Giant,” and profiled on NPR’s Jazz Night in America for his ambitious 13-movement interdisciplinary suite The Story of 400 Years, that traces 400 years of Black American History. He released two full-length albums in 2024 with The World Is on Fire highlighted in The New York Times’ Fall Arts Preview and The Almighty named among the publication’s Best Jazz Albums of the year.

Beyond performance and recoding, Collier’s influence is recognized in broader cultural and intellectual spaces as he was the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2025 Up and Coming Artist of the Year Award, the 2024 Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz, and was named a Steve Jobs Archive Fellow joining an elite cohort of the next generation of artistic visionaries through a yearlong program.

In addition to the release of Joy, Collier is touring his “Collier Plays Coltrane” program throughout 2026 in honor of John Coltrane’s centennial. Rather than presenting Coltrane’s expansive catalog as repertory, Collier approaches this music as something living, reshaping it in real-time with a sense of space and improvisational dialog reflecting both reverence to the past and present times.

About From Resuscitation to Reincarnation - The Early Years: "From Resuscitation to Reincarnation - The Early Years" presents Convulse's transformation from the straightforward death metal band to the more diverse death & rock band. It includes CONVULSE's first demotape "Resuscitation of Evilness" (1990) and the "Lost Equilibrium" EP (1992). ABOUT CONVULSE REISSUES 2026: Finland's CONVULSE present the official 2026 Remastered, Reissues of their classic titles "World Without God", "Reflections" & the new demo compilation "From Resuscitation to Reincarnation - The Early Years" All three remastered titles are streaming now & pre-orders are out July 31, 2026 on LP/CD/CS formats. Convulse original member Rami Jämsä comments on the reissues: "I am very grateful for the Relapse Records from all these three classy Convulse reissues. "World without God" (1991) is our best known debut album with full of rotten old school death metal notes. But don't miss our hidden gem "Reflections" (1994), which is our second album and will be released first time ever on vinyl format. Death 'n roll album "Reflections" comes to home on Relapse Records after 30 years with a brand new layout and a brilliant remastered sound. Third release will be "From Resuscitation to Reincarnation" which presents Convulse's transformation from the straightforward death metal band to more diverse death&rock band. It includes our first demotape "Resuscitation of Evilness" (1990) and "Lost Equilibrium" EP (1992)." All 3 Convulse titles were Remastered by Jaakko Viitalähde/Virtalähde Mastering (Oranssi Pazuzu, Havukruunu).

ABOUT WORLD WITHOUT GOD: Alongside the band's early '90's counterparts 'World Without God', Convulse's first proper full-length, helped pave the way for a new generation of death-metal extremity. ABOUT CONVULSE REISSUES 2026: Finland's CONVULSE present the official 2026 Remastered, Reissues of their classic titles "World Without God", "Reflections" & the new demo compilation "From Resuscitation to Reincarnation - The Early Years" All three remastered titles are streaming now & pre-orders are out July 31, 2026 on LP/CD/CS formats. Convulse original member Rami Jämsä comments on the reissues: "I am very grateful for the Relapse Records from all these three classy Convulse reissues. "World without God" (1991) is our best known debut album with full of rotten old school death metal notes. But don't miss our hidden gem "Reflections" (1994), which is our second album and will be released first time ever on vinyl format. Death 'n roll album "Reflections" comes to home on Relapse Records after 30 years with a brand new layout and a brilliant remastered sound. Third release will be "From Resuscitation to Reincarnation" which presents Convulse's transformation from the straightforward death metal band to more diverse death&rock band. It includes our first demotape "Resuscitation of Evilness" (1990) and "Lost Equilibrium" EP (1992)." All 3 Convulse titles were Remastered by Jaakko Viitalähde/Virtalähde Mastering (Oranssi Pazuzu, Havukruunu).

Futurismo are proud to present the iconic 1982 debut album, Only Theatre of Pain, by gothic legends CHRISTIAN DEATH. Available on deluxe 2xLP, CD digipak.

Hailed as a masterpiece of it’s genre, and considered by many as ground zero for Deathrock, Only Theatre of Pain is a seminal work of unholy power and pitch black emotion. Whilst this record may have it’s roots in punk - the origins of this true original version of Christian Death took place in Southern California during the early 80’s hardcore explosion - it cannot be overstated how important this record was in shaping the subsequent landscape. Emerging like an adrenaline shot into the heart of darkness, this unrestrained and mysterious recording still remains unclassifiable.

Featuring the late visionary Rozz Williams (then only in his teens) alongside punk luminary Rikk Agnew (guiding light in the Adolescents), James McGearty and George Belanger, Only Theatre of Pain’s musical exploration is adorned with psychosexual lyricism and an innate struggle with faith. Rozz’s vocals creep and possess, demonic and haunting, against the captivating, unmistakable guitar work of trailblazer Agnew. It’s a performance, but also a truth, perhaps Only Theatre of Pain is an art show, as much as it is an era defining record.
Aside from their spellbinding sound, it may have also been the lore of Christian Death that set them apart from other LA goth bands of the time. A near-nude Rozz Williams nailed to a cross at the Whiskey a Go Go may have played a part, but what it is apparent when you listen to the unhallowed musical stages on Only Theatre Of Pain is a depth of vision and orchestration that goes beyond the simple stance of brooding many of their contemporaries emulated, delving into the realms of pure unadulterated catharsis. The result is an eradefining statement that remains as unsettling, innovative, and resonant today as it was over four decades ago.

Only Theatre Of Pain is presented here in a new remastered deluxe pressing with a second disk containing early demo’s and rare material, further demonstrating why Christian Death stood alone in their sound and approach. This journey of religious depravity, recorded by the legendary producer Thom Wilson in a matter of days, harnesses the huge concepts of band projecting older than their years. Ahead of the curve in sonic artistry and visual aesthetics, this slab of sacrilegious American punk is nothing short of essential listening for the gothic inclined. A must for fans of The Misfits, Bauhaus and The Cramps.

This classic LP comes in deluxe super limited edition ‘California Hell’ coloured vinyl and contains a second disk of bonus material. It is packaged in a gloss laminated sleeve with metallic ink, containing printed inner sleeves, a large fold out poster, redux artwork featuring the photography of Edward Colver, and liner notes by Lisa Fancher of Frontier. Also available as CD digipak

Soul Music legend Candi Staton returns to her down-home Alabama roots on her 32nd album, Back to My Roots. The twelve-track Americana set features an array of Staton-penned originals and some well-chosen covers.

"These songs represent my roots," Staton adds as she reflects on her many trials and triumphs. "Even the new songs on some level represent something I've experienced and that's what real soul music is about." Back to My Roots was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks. “Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”

Staton received the Americana Music Association UK’s highest honour, the International Lifetime Achievement Award, at the UK Americana Music Awards ceremony at Hackney Church in London last year for her southern soul work that stretches from her 1969 Muscle Shoals hits to her more recent collaborations with the likes of Americana kings Jason Isbell and John Paul White.
The album opens with a mid-tempo Bonnie Raitt-styled contemporary blues “I Missed the Target Again” that finds Harry Connick Jr.’s longtime guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. (aka the Prophesying Guitarist) showing off his skills that set the tone for the song and the album.

Staton’s older sister, Maggie Staton Peebles (who alongside Staton was a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s), joins her for two duets. The first, “It’s Gonna Rain,” features just a drum, steel guitar and vocals. “My mother used to sing that song to us all the time when I was a child,” Staton recalls. “It’s a really soulful kind of song I wanted to revisit.” They then take turns leading Thomas Dorsey 1939 gem “There Will Be Peace in the Valley” that Elvis Presley popularized in the 1950s.

“Hang on in There” is a new, mid-tempo song that has an old school gospel flavour and features vocals from veteran bluesman, Larry McCray.
While in Europe in 2023 for her farewell concert tour that took her to the Glastonbury Festival and Love Supreme, Staton and her British band, PUSH, went into a London studio to record a new version of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 gem, “Shine A Light.” “I love the way that came out,” Staton says. “We put a big choir on it and put our own twist on it.”
From there, Staton revives another Thomas Dorsey classic, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow,” with a bluesy vibe. When Al Green started recording gospel in the early 1980s, he re-introduced this song into the culture.

“God’s Gonna Use Me Anyway” is a new mid-tempo blues with subtle Caribbean influences.

The mood takes a turn on “1963.” It’s a poignant, spoken-word reflection on September 15, 1963, when four black girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. “I was in the city that day and I remember the chaos and horror after the bombing,” Staton recalls. “Just thinking of how racism and hatred caused those men to kill those girls was so emotional for me that I could only do it in one take.”

It's a perfect segue into "Reach Down and Touch Heaven," a haunting, plea for divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. "That's straight Baptist," she says. "I used to be a church pianist back in the 1960s. I've never played piano on one of my records before so that's a unique song for me because I’m finally playing on one of my records. The message of that song is about the homeless. It came to me when a homeless person on the street asked me for $5. When God touches your heart to help somebody else that’s heaven to God’s hears. So, when we reach into our purse or wallet to help someone, we’re touching heaven."

Staton offers love as an antidote to hate on the bouncy, Motown-styled, “Love Breakthrough.”

Her publicist brought Aaron Frazer & the Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY’s 2017 cut “My God Has a Telephone” to Staton’s attention. She shifts the track from a retro 1960s groove to more of a 1980s Malaco Records arrangement, a subtle but distinct variation. Staton brought in her longtime friend and STAX Records legend, William Bell (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Trying to Love Two”), to add raspy seasoning to the track.

The album closes with the wistful, “In God’s Hands We Rest Untroubled,” that was originally written and recorded by the late country star, Lari White, who died in 2017 at the age of 52. “Lari sent me that song to consider at least ten years ago and I always loved it,” Staton says. “The record label didn’t want it on the album or something, so I just held it.”
Staton says, “I grew up hearing a lot of these old songs when they were new songs. I toured with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and we got to know people like Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and others who sang these types of songs. So, I’m sort of paying tribute to them and the influence they had on me by refreshing these songs and making new songs in the old style.”’

“Released on Joe Boyd’s Hannibal label here was a band rooted in Thompson/Swarbrick Fairport but also a snatch of the Velvet Underground and a sprig of The Byrds. The Eighteenth Day Of May evoked a legendary era, and now they are a justifiably legendary band too.” – KLOF Mag

Beginning life as a trio in London, 2003, the original line-up consisted of Allison Brice (vocals, flute), Richard Olson (acoustic guitar) and Ben Phillipson (guitar, mandolin) before expanding the following year to include the rhythm section of Mark Nicholas (bass) and Karl Sabino (drums, autoharp) and finally Alison Cotton (viola).
This being the mid zeros, the independent music scene in the UK was reluctant to embrace a sun-dazed folk band but this, their sole album, has gradually feathered a bed of affection amongst international folk fans. Twenty years on, the album is now rightfully seen as a trailblazer for the myriad alternative/psych folk bands that emerged in its wake.
Andy Childs who signed the band originally takes up the story. “I first heard their music on a cover mounted CD with the much missed Comes With A Smile magazine and as far as I could tell no-one was making music like this anymore, certainly not with such panache and confidence. To my jaded ears it all sounded so uninhibited - old weird folk songs, Americana, original psych-folk, minimalist drones. Great melodies and all six of them could sing! A joyous, unfettered sound that could in one moment conjure up flashes of The Byrds and then effortlessly the spirit of Velvet Underground would drift through. They even covered a Spacemen 3 song. I loved the fact that they had the aplomb to tackle traditional folk songs like Lady Margaret and Flowers In The Forest and not be afraid to stamp their own identity on them.
Signing them to the Hannibal label was straightforward. If anything the album somehow sounds fresh and undated, even better than it did in the day when perhaps eclecticism was out of synch with the times; its subtleties have become more apparent.”
“Their rendition of Lady Margaret builds to a headswirling crescendo that challenges anyone who claims Shirley Collins, Buffy Sainte-Marie or Trees have recorded the definitive version and the hallucinatory The Waterman’s Song To His Daughter raises an already brilliant album to an unholy level” - IT’S PSYCHEDELIC, BABY Magazine

Music From Memory presents 'Mood Programs – Extended Play', a two-track release by LA MARR, a new project conceived by Ron Trent. Representing the first in an ongoing series of releases on Music From Memory, ‘Mood Programs - Extended Play’ opens a new chapter within Trent’s deep and continually evolving body of work, rooted in mood-driven composition, spatial depth and the emotional resonance of sound within physical space.

Influenced by ambient and environmental music, New Age, dub traditions, New Wave, Krautrock and HiFi sound system culture, LA MARR reflects many of the formative ideas that informed Trent’s evolving approach to sound and sonic architecture from the early 1980s onward. Rather than revisiting these influences nostalgically, the project recontextualises them through a contemporary production language, balancing analog warmth with precision and spatial depth.

Developed through years of sonic experimentation and research into the physical and psychological qualities of sound, LA MARR extends Ron Trent’s long-standing interest in the relationship between rhythm, acoustics and human connection. Built through a combination of analog processes and contemporary computer-assisted production, the project explores warmth, resonance, depth and sonic clarity through carefully sculpted environments of tone and texture.

Gently unfolding within a spacious, ambient-leaning framework, 'Mood Programs – Extended Play' moves beyond passive background listening toward something more intentional and immersive. Across both tracks, ‘Good Magic’ and ‘Clear’, layers of hypnotic synthesizer arpeggios and gently floating pads gradually unfold alongside organic percussion and subtle low-end movement, creating compositions that feel simultaneously meditative, physical and emotionally responsive. Sound is treated not simply as musical information, but as an environmental force capable of shaping perception, mood and awareness within a room.

'Mood Programs – Extended Play' will be released digitally and on vinyl through Music From Memory on July 15th. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.

'As I Slip Into the Sky reflects a particularly small sliver of time compared to Where the Smoke Goes, with recordings taking place in early 2025, while Johnny was bed-bound in an assisted living facility with multiple sclerosis. Alabama born, Portland based artist Joel Nelson helms the nearly entirely electronic backdrop, posing a new canvas for Johnny, with Buchla Music Easel bubbling up between Johnny’s lines. This album captures Johnny in a remarkably tender and emotive form. Love and all its permutations. The tangled, but caring nature of familial love, (“But you and me, we can talk on the phone every day. I would never leave you behind”), to the anguish and euphoria of romantic connection. Johnny has a remarkable ability to pose questions, ("What is real love like?), and provide answers that reflect the truest of realities, absent cliche ("I don't know. His curly hair, short on his head, his smile, his smile, his smile...that is what real love is like").
'Joel Nelson's nimble work across a small array of analog synthesizers creates a flowing backdrop to Johnny's stream of consciousness. At times, Broadcast's fuzzed out ballads come to mind, while at others, early Oneohtrix Point Never's gauzy, distant drones anchor beneath Johnny's slippery syntax.
'Johnny recorded his poems while confined to a hospital bed, through an iPhone laid gently on his chest. Assisted by the caring presence of friends John Albea and Lauren Jones, we can hear through these recordings Johnny immersed in his world of words, taking in the world of sounds Joel had provided for him. We hear his breath, at times we hear the harsh sibilance captured by the iPhone microphone, but more than anything, we hear the tenderness and poetic resolve of his caring soul. He was incredibly grateful for the past years of connecting with the small cohort of Birmingham-affiliated musicians and artists who upheld him as the unofficial poet laureate of "The Magic City", Birmingham, AL. Perhaps most appropriately, Johnny closes the album out in a state of gratitude:'

"My funeral was perfect
I was buried wearing a very charming jacket
A very charming jacket I just happened to have on when i died
He was always the lucky one, Mary-Ellen said
I've been looking for a nice casual jacket like that I could wear to casual little outdoor parties and to my funeral all my life
But Johnny just had one
Probably someone left it in his car
He was so lucky
It doesn't even make sense
But its true
He really was that lucky"

UK Balearic boss Pete Herbert has been dropping sounds inspired by his worldly travels for years and now gems from the last 20 years all make it on to this essential long player. These are all sounds for sunny spots, watery retreats and beach bliss-outs with Pete's signature touch everywhere. 'Back To Bahia' is a bubbly and loose house sound, 'Later That Night' has an edge that makes is suited to sundown dancing and 'South Seas' is a horizontal escape, while 'Legzira Sunrise' is dubby downtempo with tender chords that sink you in deep. This is the sort of record that elevates your collection with magical tunes for many different moments.

FLO are leading the modern revival of the British girl group — and doing so at a scale not seen in over two decades. With over half a billion global streams, the trio have delivered the highest-selling tour by a British girl group in more than 20 years, becoming the first since the Spice Girls to reach that milestone. They are also the first British girl group to receive a Grammy nomination in two decades, alongside three MOBO nominations in 2026, cementing their status as both a commercial and cultural force. Rather than simply revisiting the past, FLO are reshaping the possibilities for what a contemporary girl group can be.

Comprised of Renée Downer, Stella Quaresma and Jorja Douglas, FLO’s story is one of intention, craft and deep-rooted connection. The trio had long been aware of one another through theatre school circles, social media and shared creative worlds before coming together as a group in 2019. That early familiarity quickly grew into a sisterhood, shaped behind the scenes through years of studio work, vocal development and trust. Raised by strong single mothers and immersed in performance from a young age, each member brings resilience, emotional intelligence and discipline into the group — qualities that underpin both their sound and their dynamic.

Individually, FLO’s balance comes from contrast. Renée is the group’s compass: composed, business-minded and creatively precise, grounding the trio with clarity and vision. Stella is the spark and the glue — sociable, emotionally intuitive and collaborative — shaped by a childhood between England and Mozambique where music was communal, expressive and felt. Jorja is the fire: outspoken, instinctive and vocally commanding, with a natural ear for harmony and arrangement. Their roles shift and evolve, but together they form a unit built on mutual respect, honesty and shared authorship.

That chemistry is central to FLO’s music. Drawing from classic R&B and soul while pushing it forward through modern production, their sound centres vocal harmony, emotional nuance and storytelling that reflects the realities of young womanhood. FLO reject the idea that strength requires emotional distance; instead, they explore power through vulnerability, confidence and control. From independence and self-worth to intimacy and desire, their writing is direct and unapologetically theirs. As Jorja puts it, FLO are “the brains, the heart and the soul” behind everything they do.

The success of their debut album marked a defining moment — not only for FLO, but for British pop more broadly. It confirmed the appetite for harmony-led, female-fronted groups operating with creative agency, and propelled FLO onto global stages, from sold-out headline tours to major festivals and international television. Along the way they have earned respect from R&B legends and peers alike, performing during Grammy Week for icons including Mariah Carey, Brandy and Chaka Khan, and showcasing their vocal chemistry on NPR’s Tiny Desk — a moment that further underlined the trio’s technical precision and emotional depth.

With their next chapter, Therapy At The Club, FLO expand this emotional honesty into a fully realised creative universe. The concept reimagines the club not just as a place of nightlife, but as a site of release, confession and self-possession — encompassing the moments before, during and after the night out. From mirror affirmations and pre-game chaos, to late-night Uber conversations, dance-floor catharsis and the clarity of the morning after, Therapy At The Club captures how women process desire, heartbreak, confidence and healing in real time, together. It is both fantasy and reality: cinematic, fashion-led and emotionally raw, grounded in sisterhood as a form of survival.

Sonically, the new music leans into dark, euphoric R&B and pop with sharper edges, built on vocal mastery and diaristic storytelling. Lead single “Leak It” sets the tone for the era — playful, charged and unapologetically self-aware — exploring what happens when desire spills over, secrets surface and control is reclaimed. Across the new songs, FLO move fluidly between intimacy and euphoria, turning the club into a space where vulnerability is power and feeling everything is the point.

As a trio built on discipline, joy and deep creative trust, FLO represent a new model for the British girl group: one rooted in authorship, harmony and cultural impact. Balancing softness with strength and ambition with authenticity, they are shaping the future of R&B and pop on their own terms. FLO are not looking backwards — they are setting the standard for what comes next.

DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present the highly anticipated debut album of Poland’s TORPOR, Ɖungeon Ɖescent, on CD and vinyl LP formats. TORPOR were formed in Warsaw by three school friends and music fans under the huge influence of Bathory. While recording their first release, Burning Realms / Behold the Spell of Black Fortress, in dusk of 2017, the band were laying their music foundations inspired by the epic side of black and the haunted / melancholic side of early ‘80s heavy metal. Since their last release – 2021’s The Ancient Tales EP, which was actually recorded in 2019 – TORPOR parted ways with their drummer, who alongside Mike Magister I.V. and Franciszek Archont, was a founding member of the trio. Upon the arrival of a new drummer and long-time friend, Bloodhammer, they recorded their debut album. It marks the result of their work and path undertaken. "We knew it was our direction to follow and polish, so now, after some time, we can happily present our debut album, Ɖungeon Ɖescent,” the band state. “It is our first real record that pictures our vision exactly how we liked to. After years of wandering around basement rehearsal rooms and two self-released demos, we are finally coming out of our lairs with this LP under the banners of DYING VICTIMS." Their past connections with fellow labelmates ARMAGH and FUKKIN’ VENGEANCE somewhat explains TORPOR’s link to the idiosyncratic side of ancient heavy metal, which has taken far more prominence on Ɖungeon Ɖescent over the first-wave black metal side – but that’s only part of the picture. Some might call it “cleaning up,” others might liken it to a harnessing of feral energies, but TORPOR’s emphatic-yet-stoic strut conveys equal amounts of energy and mystery, finesse and fine-tuning. Of course, the power-trio can kick into high gear when they want to, be it heroic gallop or even hypnotic blast, but their sense of movement from one moody segment to the next imparts a narrative flow that’s part and parcel of their lyrical imagery. Or, perhaps it’s true swords & sorcery metal without belaboring the point – no “COOL IMAGERY DUDE” without the music & atmosphere to back it up, more specifically – that harkens to a glorious, sadly bygone era. However you approach this Ɖungeon Ɖescent, TORPOR have surely delivered a cult classic in the making. Passion, authenticity, the reverberating ring of truth…ancient powers arise from time immemorial

Consolidated, the political dance/industrial music band from the early 90ties joined again for a studio session in San Francisco last summer, resulting in a new album. 'We're Already There'. The first release on Consolidated's own label 'The End Of Records'. What else to expect, the new recordings are an innovating mix of industrial, to hip-hop, to rock and funk with mixtures of live instruments and electronics. Topped with left political activism and politically radical lyrics address issues such as America, Covid and ecocide with song The Flood, demand *'Free Music, Stop America'* with Musica Sin Frontieras & welcome guest vocalist GRETA THUNBERG on the track The 'ol Mass Extinction Blues. The album starts in 'traditional Consolidatedgroove' with the song 'Capitalism A.F.', a mix of beats, industrial sounds and hiphop. Followed by funkypop songs, danceable industrial jams, techno beats, reggae and blues influences plus a remarkable noise track. Main musicians are Adam Sherburne (guitar/vocals) and Mark Pistel (synths/beats) backed by Lynn Farmer (Meat Beat Manifesto) on drums, who replaces the original drummer Phil Steir. The complete album is recorded, mixed and mastered by Mark Pistel at 'Room 5' in San Francisco. The cover shows art paintings from Ayelet Hay (front) and William Kendall (back). On 'We're Already There' Consolidated plays more music than ever. "I have zero interest in being in a band, especially my own_" "I had to develop a different way to be involved with music for aesthetic and mental health reasons_" "FREE MUSIC! is not to the detriment of artists, it's literally the end of artists-as anyone perceives them in the last 500 years" -Adam Sherburne - Consolidated are known for their live performances, in which a microphone is passed among audience members to discuss, rebut, argue or elaborate on song topics. Consolidated: Adam Sherburne & Mark Pistel.

Downtown Boys have pushed relentlessly forward as an artistic and political project since their founding. Singer Victoria Marie and guitarist/singer Joey La Neve DeFrancesco first met at union meetings while working together at a hotel in Providence, RI, writing many of the band's early songs about labor organizing and exploitative workplaces. The quintet is completed by Joe DeGeorge (sax/synth), Mary Jane Regalado (bass), and Joey Doubek (drums). Over years of touring, and three acclaimed albums, Downtown Boys have continued to grow as artists, musicians, and organizers. Now, the band has arrived with Public Luxury, an enthralling album that keeps politics front and center while summoning the band's most urgent and powerful sound to date. The definition of Public Luxury falls very much in line with that of the title of the second Downtown Boys LP, Full Communism. Straight up, Public Luxury means, "everything for everyone." It's the stubborn insistence that a better world is possible, while fully recognizing the horrors we witness daily, and the individual and collective responsibility to resist the nihilism and hopelessness we all feel. Sentiments like "everything for everyone," and "we will have it all" perfectly represent the cathartic, communal live experience this cadre of multi-instrumentalists create. These sentiments also encapsulate the inclusive, joyful sonic fusion that defines the album: anthemic punk and indie rock mix with Latin traditions, drum machines blend with acoustic drums, saxophones punctuate riffs, and layers of synths add flourishes from new-wave to industrial. The amount of ground covered on Public Luxury can't be overstated, and yet the album feels totally vital and cohesive. Public Luxury is a revisitation of the band's past for the sake of their future. It was co-produced by DeFrancesco with recording engineer and longtime Downtown Boys supporter Seth Manchester (Lambrini Girls, Lightning Bolt, Model/Actriz) at the Pawtucket, RI studio and arts space Machines With Magnets, not far from the band's first home of Providence, RI. Victoria Marie's grandmother-a monumental figure for the band throughout their existence-passed away in May of 2025, and her influence looms large over the album; the songs "No Me Jodas" and "Sirena" are crystallized representations of the love between a woman and her ancestor. Beyond the loss, rage and frustration of the present, Public Luxury points boldly towards a vibrant, open-hearted vision of both music and the world: "Our music is simply for anyone and everyone who believes in the new future we can make together," Victoria Marie declares. "A world that will be awkward, inconsistent, yet truly free when it comes to all that matters."

From 1993, a hallmark UK Dub album returns to the light. Originally pressed in a small run and extremely hard to find, this record was produced at Earthquake Studio by TNT Roots and Winston Dread.

Together, they provided a raw contribution to the early UK Dub scene using a basic setup: a Siel DK-80 synth, a Yamaha home keyboard, a Casio RZ-1 drum machine, and an Atari 1040 computer running Cubase V2.0. The tracks were shaped through an old Dynamix 8-channel mixer and captured on a Casio portable DAT machine.

TNT Roots provided the drum, bass, and chord patterns, while Winston Dread added the lead lines and performed the mixing duties. This raw, undiluted music reflects the evolution of Dub and contains the seeds of all their future work. Their dubplates were staples for legendary UK sound systems like Aba Shanti-I and Iration Steppas, becoming sought-after anthems that defined the "heavyweight" digital roots sound.

These are heavy sounds that stand the test of time. Back on the streets after 30 years, the album has been fully restored and remastered to honor the dubplate masters of UK Sound System culture

After spending the last few years relentlessly touring across Europe and the UK, building a fiercely loyal fanbase through sold-out shows and unforgettable live performances, LEAP have built unstoppable momentum with their recent album, ENTROPY. First released digitally in late 2025, the album didn"t just connect-it exploded, racking up 21 million global streams and catching the ear of Epitaph Records, who quickly brought the band into the fold. There"s a magnetic push-and-pull at the heart of ENTROPY: big, anthemic alt-rock hooks wrapped around lyrics that don"t shy away from life"s messier moments. Frontman Jacky Scott leads the charge with a voice that can pivot from raw confession to fist-in-the-air release, turning heavy themes into something unexpectedly uplifting. It"s that balance-dark edges with a bright, communal core-that"s earned early praise from Rolling Stone and Kerrang! alike. And the fans are already all in. Following a sold-out European run, tickets for LEAP"s first U.S. shows in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles vanished months in advance-proof that their emotionally charged, high-energy sound translates far beyond the studio. At its core, ENTROPY feels like a shared experience: songs built for singalongs, for release, for connection. LEAP aren"t just channeling chaos-they"re turning it into something unifying, loud, and impossible to ignore.