With MEL011, it is Melodies International's immense pleasure to direct their focus towards both Soul and House royalty, selecting and reissuing two of Frankie Knuckles' scarcer remixes of an all-time classic: Womack & Womack - MPB (Missin' Persons Bureau). Now known as Zekkariyas and Zeriiya, partners Cecil and Linda Womack, two eminent members in an extensive lineage of music artistry (i.e. Bobby Womack was Zekkariyas' brother, Zeriiya is Sam Cooke's daughter) engaged in one of music history's most successful and exciting singing and song writing partnerships in the early 1980s. Zeriiya says her process with Zekkariyas flowed like water, their shared complicity and talent led them to write and produce strings of chart topping hits and classic albums as Womack & Womack but also for other renowned artists of the time such as Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass and the O'Jays to only name a few. The original version of Missin' Persons Bureau was first released in 1988 on 'Conscience' (Island Records), a classic album with impeccable instrumentation and thoughtful and relatable narratives that reflect on the nature of life, true friendship, love or in the case of MPB, it's subsequent loss. Following the release of the LP, Island records founder Chris Blackwell introduced the idea of getting Missin' Persons Bureau reworked by House legend Frankie Knuckles and whilst the Womacks weren't originally set on the idea of having their songs remixed by other artists, Blackwell, who Zeriiya describes as a 'record label manager seriously involved in making sure the project is what the creators really want it to be", had earned their trust. With these remixes, Frankie managed to turn a radio hit into underground club classics. The Paradise Ballroom mix conserves the essence of the original, reinterpreting the rhythm section whilst drawing it out over 8 minutes, with expert tension building and release clearly aimed at the dance floor.
Not Long After Recording Her 10th Album, Ruins, Liz Harris Traveled To Wyoming To Work On Art And Record Music. She Found Herself Drawn Towards The Pairing Of Skeletal Piano Phrasing With Spare, Rich Bursts Of Vocal Harmony.
A Series Of Stark Songs Emerged, Minimal And Vulnerable, Woven With Emotive Silences. Inspired By the Idea That Something Is Missing Or Cold,' The Pieces Float And Fade Like Vignettes, Implying As Much As They Reveal. She Describes Them As small Texts Hanging In Space,' Impressions Of Mortality, Melody, And The Unseen - Fleeting Beauty, Interrupted. Grid Of Points Stands As A Concise And Potently Poetic Addition To The Grouper Catalog.
From Liz Harris: Grid Of Points Is A Set Of Songs For Piano And Voice. I Wrote These Songs Over A Week And A Half, They Stopped Abruptly When I Was Interrupted By A High Fever. Though Brief, It Is Complete. The Intimacy And Abbreviation Of This Music Allude To An Essence That The Songs Lyrics Speak More Directly Of. The Space Left After Matter Has Departed, A Stage After The Characters Have Gone, The Hollow Of Some Central Column, Missing.
Combo Lulo is that rare possibility of true magic moments manifested. Embodying the classic sentiment of a New York supergroup with an ensemble of friends and like-minded musicians whose resume is too full of credits and accolades to grasp in one shot, the band is a testament to what can happen when locked together for a two-day session in a Brooklyn studio.
Drawing inspiration and direction from band leader, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Sarason, Combo Lulo moves side to side from effortless Jamaican foundation rhythms into the further reaches of Caribbean influence...incorporating a natural transition between Jamaican classics and the essence of Afro-Latin ritmo. It's a musical match made in heaven and, more importantly, it's carried out with the gentle and deft touch of veteran studio musicians with deep appreciation and nuanced understanding. Together with Names You Can Trust, it's a locked in groove that is a perfect slice of roots, collaboration & present day experimentation that is sure to have any listener feeling nice.
he 30D Records machinery does not stop. A new stylistic adventure has been concretized in the new label's series 'Eyes Have It', which will be conducted by the well-known Sonar and 30D's resident DJ, Angel Molina, as A&R.
The Lucio Fulci's movies iconic scary-eyes synthesizes the series essence perfectly. 'Eyes Have It' builds the fundamentals for the boundless experimentation, lightlessness, cold and mechanical dynamics.
The EP 'Shelter' is the very first result of this new proposal, an incontestable work signed by Isolated Lines. The Swiss artist has a solid background in underground music throughout various projects, in and outside of electronics.
That means a wider creative resources that can be easily noticeable, for instance, in the music harmonies. Avant-garde, solid sound and savoir-faire, that is what defines the Isolated Lines production.
'Shelter' EP stylistic codes are crystal clear, brazen obstinacy of the rhythm base which sets the basis for epic distorted textures, that may become deeply emotional, like in the cases of 'Onshore' and 'Landfall'. Steadfast rhythmic cycles on slamming sound mantras.
Furthermore, the EP includes an industrially nervous revision of 'Onshore' constructed by 30drop.
Isolated Lines' 'Shelter' EP is an utterly flawless starting point for this strongly promising new 30D series. So henceforth, keep always an eye on 'Eyes Have It'!
DJ, producer and Rex Club resident Molly presents the third EP for her RDV Music imprint, drawing on talent from across her native France, featuring fellow Parisian Aleqs Notal (Clek Clek Boom, Sistrum) and 1977, as featured on Syncrophone's For Those Who Know imprint. While each side and artist offer their own distinctive flavour, percussive, classy late-night house music is the main course; ideal for late nights under dim red lights.Aleqs Notal pays tribute to the timeless appeal of spinning analogue wax throughout opening track, 'Sweet Rotation'; a simple hymn to the essence of house music, bubbling gently on bright keys and woozy basslines. 'Hands On' follows, offering a more nocturnal angle on this enduring aesthetic, reducing the energy but enhancing the atmosphere even further, both on-record and across any packed dancefloor.The more Southern sensibility of 1977 brings drumwork to the fore, weaving an exotic, patient tapestry of bubbling, alluring synths and analogue feedback across two confident, percussive jams. While 'Vodoom' indulges in tension and intrigue, EP closer 'Jdlf' is pure, unwinding pleasure, across which each of 1977's influences and instruments are offered freedom to breathe and evolve.With this installment of emminently classy and supremely confident house, RDV Music continues to prove itself as one of the most worthy musical institutions on the contemporary Parisian scene.
Japanese vocal performer Hatis Noit will release her enigmatic EP Illogical Dance via Erased Tapes worldwide on 23rd March 2018.
The arresting 4-track record creates unique song-worlds with transcendent vocal interpretations that at once deconstruct and recombine Western Classical, Japanese folk and nature's own ambience atmosphere. Illogical Dance also features Björk-collaborators Matmos, who were so impressed with Hatis Noit's recordings, they volunteered to edit the lead track Illogical Lullaby.
Hailing from the distant Shiretoko, a small town in Hokkaido, which is the largest island in north Japan, Hatis Noit's accomplished range is astonishingly self-taught, inspired by everything she could find from Gagaku — Japanese classical music — and operatic styles, Bulgarian and Gregorian chanting, to avant-garde and pop vocalists. The sounds she created on Illogical Dance, co-produced by Haruhisa Tanaka and Matmos, bring to mind the experimental vocal patterns of Meredith Monk with the attentive production of Holly Herndon.
It was at the age of 16, during a trek in Nepal to the Buddha's birthplace, when she realised singing was her calling. While staying at a women's temple in Lumbini, one morning on a walk Hatis Noit heard someone singing. On further investigation it was a female monk singing Buddhist chants, alone. The sound moved her so intensely she was instantly aware of the visceral power of the human voice, a primal and instinctive instrument that connects us to the very essence of humanity, nature and our universe.
The name Hatis Noit itself is taken from Japanese folklore, meaning the stem of the lotus flower. The lotus represents the living world, while its root the spirit world, therefore Hatis Noit is what connects the two. For Hatis Noit, music represents the same netherworld with its ability to move and transport us to the other side, the past, a memory, our subconscious. It is the same for Illogical Dance, a set of transformative songs that taps into our most primal instincts.
The human voice is our oldest, most primal yet most powerful instrument. I use it to describe nature's many sounds, a language that isn't logical. Yet it forms a beautiful conversation that isn't restricted to words like the human language is. I want my music to remind us of that.' — Hatis Noit
Wanting to interpret and mimic the sounds Hatis Noit hears in nature, Illogical Dance is as unpredictable, beautiful and mysterious as the world around us. Each track is made up from multi layers of vocals, all improvised and without words, before being carefully pieced together. Astonishingly no samples are used throughout, even the sound of crushing leaves came from Hatis Noit's own vocal chords.
The result is a stunning array of sound sculptures that see her switching between multiple styles with great ease. From the sweet operatics on Illogical Lullaby, the manipulated vocal loops duplicating electronic production on Anagram c.i.y. to the primordial chanting call to arms of Angelus Novus, a 10-minute odyssey that features whispering and leaves crunching, it showcases Hatis Noit's full range and introduces a truly original artist.
Previously only available in Japan, Illogical Dance will receive a worldwide release on 23rd March 2018 including a first edition on 12' vinyl. After participating in a ceremony for memorial and appreciation tailored to the withdrawal of the evacuation area in Fukushima on 31st March 2017, Hatis Noit collaborated with renowned visual artist Nobumichi Asai on a project titled INORI (prayer) which they premiered live as part of an Erased Tapes showcase at Mutek Japan in Tokyo.
Having recently moved to London and performed a first string of UK shows, followed by a special live performance at the Milan Fashion Week and Mutek Japan appearance, Peter Broderick has invited Hatis Noit to support him at the Jazz Cafe on April 15th. She's also been announced as part of this year's Sea Change Festival line-up, and asked to participate in a workshop with the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Orlando Voorn is back on Tarvisium Electronique with 'Secret Society,' a mysterious, obscure and psychedelic EP exuding the essence of Detroit techno. Side A of the vinyl features the title track in which Voorn melts the analogic rhythm with a spectral melodic pattern. Side B features two tracks; 'Playing for keeps,' a techno bolt of lightning bound straight for the dancefloor and 'Rush,' a track characterized by a mechanical, analogic and highly experimental sound.
To conclude the EP the label manager, Steve Lorenz, has composed a remix of 'Secret society' with an avant-garde fusion of minimal, acid and Detroit techno.
Family Affair Records inaugural release steps out of the shadows bearing a quadruplet of vibrant edits by the faceless Yondo.
Re-imaginings of 80's club staples by Mary Jane Girls & Evelyn Champagne King and 90s R&B-sides by SWV & Lucy Pearl breathe new life into some familiar jams while keeping their essence - all updated and re-birthed for 2018. This record is a bow and your ass is the arrow, aimed directly at the dancefloor.
Hand screen-printed and hand-stamped with vibrant fluoro solvent ink. Get it while you can cuz it ain't ever coming back.
Family Affair Records is a record label started by Raj Chaudhuri (Livin' Proof / NTS / Boiler Room). Artwork by Mason London.
Kingswood Drive and Accidental Return were an early teaser of this new set, due in April. Displaying their signature analogue sounds and arpeggios, alongside broken beats and soul, you wouldn't be alone in hearing the influences of Dam Funk, Herbie Hancock or Bugz In The Attic coming through on these two.
Elsewhere more jittery, playful rhythms underpin Croydon Rooftop Café Culture. As well as in the calming and ethereal Prints On The Heath, a subtle tribute to mutual hero Prince, who passed away on the unusually prolific day this and two other, currently unreleased, tracks were written and recorded.Throughout the EP the duo nod at their London home from the "Heath" to Kingswood Drive and more obviously Croydon itself. The sound of South London is threaded throughout this record with pride.
Even down to the mechanical sunset sound of EP finale Thorns, capturing some of the essence of the studio view over London from their high point on the hill in Thornton Heath.
The first EP from Albert's Favourites co-founders and synth-production duo Modified Man focused on throwing out heavy editing, recording music with as few processes as possible and grabbing performances as single takes. Blending warped cassette recordings that touched upon early jazz-funk/brit-funk influences with the energy of broken beat and experimental electronica, won them support from Patrick Forge, Osunlade, Thris Tian, Yam Who and Titeknots to name a few.
Since that release they premiered new track Thorns live on Boiler Room, going on to deliver a full, three-hour live performance and DJ set for the infamous global community.They also provided remixes for Dele Sosimi, Amp Fiddler, Makadem & Behr and Hector Plimmer, meanwhile, busily preparing a series of four, six-track vinyl EPs which will be released over the next 18 months.
Do you like Love songs After spending a lifetime spent avoiding this subject in song, Joel Sarakula finally admits that he does. On his new album "Love Club" Sarakula relives the golden age of Soulful and Romantic Pop music and connects it with a modern aesthetic. While a deeper message of love and peace flows through the record, Joel Sarakula is no old fashioned hippie: ",Love Club' is about connecting to reality and re-framing the idea of romantic love and loss in the present, loveless age ". Featuring eleven songs touching all genres from disco to blues, from soul to soft-rock, Joel Sarakula's "Love Club" is a profound pop statement.
Joel Sarakula has travelled the world in search of his muse, experiencing everything from being a victim of Caribbean carjackings to performing in the remote fishing villages of Norway, via the dive bars of Europe and the US. It was the hodge-podge musical tapestry of England's capital that finally drew him to a settling point, in the wake of seemingly never ending run of shows. With personal tastes that span from the more avant-garde to soul and pop greats like Sly Stone, Todd Rundgren and Hall & Oates, there are clear nods to contemporaries like Unkown Mortal Orchestra, Erlend Oye and Toro Y Moi in terms of ambition and style.
With his last two albums "The Golden Age" and "The Imposter" collecting strong radio plays at BBC Radio 2, BBC 6, BBC London, XFM Joel Sarakula has been play-listed nationally in Europe including Flux FM, WDR 5, Radioeins, Bayern 2, Deutschlandfunk and Deutschland Kultur Radio in Germany as well as in Benelux and Italy and Spain. He is a regular fixture on the live festival and club circuit in the UK, Europe and internationally including appearances at SXSW, Primavera Sound, Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Scala London, Tallinn Music Week, V-ROX (Vladivostok) and Reeperbahnfestival Hamburg.
"Love Club" is Sarakula's bold and unashamedly emotional next step. In essence the album is a homage to the soulful singer & songwriter artistry of the Seventies filtered through a darker contemporary lens - fitting for these uncertain times. "I always shied away from generic love songs," the Sydney, Australia born songwriter admits, "but on this record I embraced the subject wholeheartedly... and intellectually, looking at themes of love, lust, loneliness and everything in-between." Take the first single "In Trouble", co-written with Michele Stodart of The Magic Numbers, as the best example for Joel Sarakula's unique, and honest approach to making music. "We Used To Connect" questions the changing nature of relationships in our social-media addicted world: 'We used to connect in the real world too, now the touch of your hand is a digital cue'.
"Coldharbour Man", on the other hand, examines the identity of the song's narrator and the artist vs. fan dynamic all wrapped up in a disco love song: "There's a lot going on in this particular track. I feel my writing has grown emotionally...", explains Joel Sarakula. "Just best to listen yourself and make up your own interpretation!: 'We met in a song come to life like some fantasy cliché, though I'm known for my moves in the dark you flooded sunshine on my day'. Then there's "Baltic Jam", capturing romantic love and loss in authentic 70s confessional singer & songwriter style and of course "Dead Heat", a song about how there is struggle in the most perfect relationship pairings as the match is so even: "I recall an ex-girlfriend of mine... when we first met, we thought we hated each other but we eventually flipped that emotion and realised we had a deep passion and love for each other, there just was a lot of underlying sexual tension!" : 'It's a battle we could only win, if we lose. We'd be stronger if these lonely ones became two'.
More than a year in the making, Joel Sarakula recorded "Love Club" in various studios around London and Berlin capturing soulful performances from his many musical comrades on vintage analogue equipment. "This record has truly been a labour of love. Recording and privately sharing these performances amongst my collaborators started to feel like a bit like a club - I guess that lead to the album title! I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed the 'love-making process' and I look so much forward to playing these new songs on stage with my band." We can't wait, Joel Sarakula.
* The Strike Team EP is the second in the trilogy of releases introducing the world to the sound of the STRIPPER.
The title track is a rare hybrid of modern day production and timeless influences transformed through the prism of 1990's hardcore, jungle, and broken beat. You and your favorite DJ like to close your sets with classic jungle tracks Well, the STRIPPER is here with a monster for the middle of your set, pacing at a cool 128 BPM. Following it is the hidden gem of the record, Culture Vulture: an impossible to pinpoint breakbeat laced melodic odyssey. Similar to "Consciousness Proliferation" (Back 2 93 Mix) from SLEEVE-01, Culture Vulture takes you on a journey inspired by the irresistible grit and beauty of the early 1990's sound from the city of Coventry and producers like Skanna and Essence of Aura. Flipping the record to Side 2, the STRIPPER gives you an absolute burner of a techno track intended for the heaviest and sweatiest of social settings. The atmospheric pads are pointing to the producer's undeniable rave influences and love for illegal parties around the world. The final track of the record is the STRIPPER tying back the European influences with his unquestionable debt to the American Midwest: melodic, deep, and irresistible.
A melt of acid tribe and industrial techno with a bit of old school acid techno... This Ep out from the Dune Records sery offers a Collab spirit for a mode open minded scene.
Seven years ago, Unbalance created his own label as a base for his musical ideas; a platform to play around with the conception of what "techno" is and would be alongside his own creative progression. Come to present day and the label is now at its ninth release, reaching a point where the line of accumulated experiences must be drawn in the sand — and the experiences of previous projects and releases lead to venerable conclusion.
Enter Ten, an album of internalized strife that was created during a period of big changes in the artist's life. Between enduring personal experiences, his creative output veering between his straightforward club eccentricities and subdural sensibilities; Unbalance cultivates a symbiotic link between sounds played and sounds portrayed — whilst paying tribute to the essence of groove, vibration and the hypnotic unknown that exists to balance the scales. This album will be the final point in the label's journey into the depths of multifaceted techno music.
This superbly crafted recording features the versatile Japanese jazz/fusion keyboardist Jun Fukamachi as a veritable one-man band in a lively album that captures the essence of the original Beatles' tunes throughout. The innovative arramngements of the artist, tailored to get the maximum benefit from a surrounding instrument array, produce one of the best technical efforts. Synthesizer effects provide special flavor,' particularly at the close of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' on side one, and in the evocative opening of She's Leaving Home' on side two. Fukamachi blends a concert grand electric piano, Arp synthesizer, glockenspiel, bass drum, tambourine and other electronic instruments with results that indicate a group, not a solo, with ample display of each. Recorded ten years after the original, in 1977, this recording still sounds exciting, and an eye-catching cover with a mirror image of the famous photo shoot remains one of the most creative reworks of this 50 years old masterpiece' (Billboard)
Omar Di Bongo is an audio-visual project that melts video feedback from Hugo Saugier with two figures of french underground techno scene, Somaticae (In Paradisum, Tanzprocesz...) known for his dark cutting edge techno, and C_C (Small But Hard, Kvitnu...) master of no input mixer feedbacks, and savage analog industrial beats. Their music merges industrial music with tribal polyrythms, and makes us dive into a certain kind of psychedelia between hallucination and dementia. Reduced to the essence, their productions bring back techno to its core, the trance dimension, often fogotten in many modern musics of this genre.
Hailing from Mali, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia first met as children at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind—both lost their vision at an early age. It was here that they started performing in the institute's Eclipse Orchestra, eventually marrying and began recording together in the '80s.
Over the span of three decades Amadou (guitar and vocals) and Mariam (vocals) developed an international following having recorded eight full-length albums and toured around the world. Their album Welcome To Mali (2008) was nominated for the Best Contemporary World Music Album' at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Tour highlights for the duo include supporting U2 on their U2 360 Tour, performing at the 2010 World Cup for FIFA's Kick-Off Celebration and performing alongside major acts across multiple genres such including Blur, Coldplay and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour.
The album also includes the hit single Bofou Safou,' which Stereogum calls the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk.' The band discussed La Confusion and performed new music on a recent stop at KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic' during their recent sold out North American seventeen city headline tour — watch HERE. The band played major markets including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Montreal.
Amadou & Mariam recently released the Bofou Safou EP via Because Music. The EP includes the first two La Confusion singles, Bofou Safou' and Filaou Bessame,' alongside remixes of the EP's title track by Fatima Yamaha, Africaine 808, Henrik Schwarz and more. The term bofou safou' is a Bambara (the Malian national language) nickname given to nonchalant young men who would rather dance than work. Of the new EP, the group notes, We really like the remixes that were made for the EP. You get to hear our music in a different form, which is great. All five remixes manage to catch the essence of our song while really pushing those enticing afro pop and electronic vibes further.'
Visible Cloaks' Lex proposes a utopian dream language and its accompanying sound, a limitless, delicate space developed by fluid musical techniques and subconscious voices. The six pieces comprising Lex simulate a more peaceful future, their mysteries telling a new tale in an unknown but imaginable melodic language. Visible Cloaks are the Portland-based musicians Spencer Doran and Ryan Carlile. Utilizing software-based composition rooted in randomization, MIDI-translation and chance operations, the duo has established an improbable humanist mode of music from esoteric processes. Following their self-titled debut album, Visible Cloaks offered Reassemblage, an album simultaneously honoring the post-Yellow Magic Orchestra school of avant musical adventure and diverging from it. Veering from the paths cleared by Japanese and Italian electronic pop and ambient artists of the mid-80s / early-90s, Reassemblage established Visible Cloaks' own camp in a forest of deep sound canopied by trees grown from synthetic seeds.The sound represented on Lex is webbed with sculptural arrangements and interpolated by the sounds of alien speech. These strange and serene utterances were created by Doran feeding a chain of multiple dialects and accents through a language translation software to create an auditory poetry of an evolved place and time.
Lex features both the final version of this process and earlier, simplified experiments with it ( Keys'). The idea - building on 'fourth world' or 'global village' type concepts - was to create a projected language that was a fusion of many,' Doran explains. The result was a very disorienting form of non-language that amplifies the lapses in meaning that occur with the inaccuracy of auto-translation software.'
Permutate Lex, a companion short film to Lex made by Visible Cloaks in collaboration with artist Brenna Murphy (who also created the artwork for Reassemblage and several virtualist videos for the album), is an integral counterpart, both visualizing an aesthetic alive with human form and guiding the sonic experience of the first five pieces: Wheel,' Frame,' Transient,' Keys,' and title track Lex.' World,' the longest piece presented on Lex, is redrawn from a generative composition originally produced for an installation Doran made with Murphy.
The original work incorporates LFOs and randomized MIDI-information, and was intended to variate indefinitely. In this 'fixed' version, World' provides a more conclusive view into the impossible musical environments Visible Cloaks make real. Longer than any track on
Reassemblage, World' expresses the deepening, patient intimations suggested by Lex.
Doran says the Lex attempts to communicate the essence of a world distant enough that it can't be captured or comprehended from the present, appearing only surreal and inscrutable.' The statement reveals a broader musical philosophy fueling this new moment, an awakened voice woven through complex melodic shapes and phrases establishes communication between listeners and the unknown, here presented by Visible Cloaks as sounds coloring the very edge of the envisionable.
Estetika 001 introduces the first release of the new imprint of Jason Patrick and Pat King. The label's objective is to release a signature style of timeless Techno. Berlin-based artist Mekas (originally from Buenos Aires) delivers the first 3 track record, Nodata. A1 starts off the release with 'Lebreton' featuring Qik. Thick kick and bass anchor a beautifully warm hypnotic synth riff that filters meticulously throughout the track working hand in hand with a subtle atmospheric pad and spacious reverb touches to create a uniquely huge engulfing sound. B1 is the second track titled 'Marshfield,' a heavy tune for peak time. Its kick, toms, and bassline form a rugged groove for its dark synth, which along with the mysterious pad capture the essence of the track while ride cymbals glisten and automate throughout. B2 is the third and final track, 'Nothing,' which continues the dark and mysterious vibe of the release. An acidy mid-range synth part works along with an ominous pad and well programmed hi-hats, claps, and rides with just the right reverb treatment to provide space and depth to the track.
For the label's 50th release, Emotional Rescue returns to the music of Woo to close a trilogy of reissue collaboration albums, in A La Luna. Following Whichever Way You Are Going (1982) and Into The Heart Of Love (1990), their opus A La Luna (1991) was the last of the bands song based albums and represents a wonderful way to close this association.
Reworked, re-ordered and remastered especially for this first time vinyl release, brothers Mark and Clive Ives again present their unique, ground-breaking and at the time, heart-wrenchingly overlooked music, that seems to fit the folk-new age-electronics of today as well, if not better, than when first released.
Across 20 plus songs Mark's guitar, clarinet and vocals are as ever drenched in Clive's mixing desk mastery. Echo and reverb shimmer as the short pieces rise and fall like the wind blowing across nighttime trees. With no song going much beyond three minutes, A La Luna flows as one piece. The unmistaken sound of Woo wraps itself around you in an essence, warmth and glow that is addictive, meditative and uplifting.
Featuring the original vocal performance of Mark's love ode, Magic In The Dark stands as a centerpiece where, as with all their albums, vocals appear at a minimum, as part of the musical journey.
The underlying somber nature of the album comes as the band ended more than a decade of recording with little critical or commercial success. The fact they did not release a full album again and moved towards a more meditation outlook was a loss, however, their recent rediscovery and the excellent releases by Drag City and Palto Flats included, has finally given the Ive's brothers not just a place in appreciation, but has shown that there really is no one like Woo. Enjoy the magic.
Following on from the impressive opening statement from Modern Manners, the second installment from the hitherto unknown outfit sees the sonic remit reaching out to other influences while retaining that poised lounge attitude that made the first record so instantly endearing. "Research" is a dub track in essence, sporting ample space in the mix, the odd conga roll and sparse chords calling out into a field of reverb and delay. "Can Maneras" is a more shuffling kind of smooth jazz that aligns with the classy licks of St Germain and the like. "Serate Cosmiche" finishes the EP off on a melancholic tip that puts the synths at the front of the mix for the first time.
***Strictly Ltd Edition (500) 12' Blue Colour-In-Colour Vinyl & Limited Edition Matt Sewell Phenakistiscope Print With Initial Copies***
Matt Sewell's A Crushing Glow' was a great success upon release in spring 2014. A Compilation album like no other it was lovingly curated & designed by Matt. A most carefully crafted & truly genre-blending collection, it was valued & appreciated by many including Lauren Laverne on BBC6 Music. Recognising the magic within Matt's unique design package, she awarded the
collection her coveted compilation of the week.
Sequentially, last year followed the 50 minutes of The Gayatari Mantra on a golden 12'. Performed by Bollywood playback singer Anuradha Paudwal & her daughter Kavita Paudwal, this holy mantra drew plaudits & acclaim including BBC6 Music plays from Jarvis Cocker & Soho Radio & love from tastemakers Test Pressing & Vinyl Factory.
Now, CTR is proud to offer a brand new A Crushing Glow collaboration with esteemed London based producer DrumTalk, whose output has graced labels such as Tru-Thoughts, Soundway & Huntley & Palmers. Matt has curated this release & created, once again, very lush sleeve artwork.
Speaking of the 12' Matt suggests that Commissioning DrumTalk to make some new music for A Crushing Glow Presents was a crystal clear choice to make. He continues: Those that are down
with his house trax will be aware of a depth that runs through his music. I've known DrumTalk for years and I know that current runs deep. Surfing on synth waves of endless barrels of cosmic
vibrations, DT takes us on a journey from the blackness into the blue and beyond.
DrumTalk himself describes A Crushing Glow imprint as: A series that has been continuously loved by many. Variously described as 'cosmic', 'spiritual', 'joyful', and indeed 'transcendental'.
This latest release in the series, we suggest, is no exception...
DrumTalk aimed to craft a 12' that would unravel gently & then encapsulate the very unique essence of A Crushing Glow. Decide for yourself if you consider this done.
Caroline True Records are very proud to present this deep and lovely work - housed in lush artwork conceived & produced by Matt especially for this release.
Selwa Abd (originally from Morocco, currently residing in Brooklyn) uses the fictional character Bergsonist, from Brooklyn, Slovakia, as her musical guise. Derived from Deleuze's Bergsonism, Bergsonist uses intuition as a method to deliver her/his instinctive psychoanalytic theories.
A blend of different audio sources and samples are used as a way to capture the essence of the 'present' moment, manipulating found sounds along with self-concocted digital fragments to combine in in the span of a set, given time. Bergsonist allows inspiration to come from anywhere, yet she/he limits themselves by the gear/tools that are used. The approach consists of inhaling all the energy of the city - influenced by trips to museums, galleries, shows, talking to people. and sensing nature - and exhaling it sonically. Bergsonist reacts to this energy and inspiration without any specific rules, styles, or genres - extending the array of possibilities by always pushing preconceived uses of the tools.
Following a slew of cassette-only releases from labels across the global map and a split 12" with Isabella on Borft Records last year, Selwa shares her most twisted and considered compositions to date with Mutation. Four fire-stoking tracks of electro convulsions sparked from indecipherable depths inflame new terrains for an artist whose output is inextinguishable - prolific barely covers the rapidity with which Bergsonist shares new jams to a lucky few - proffering Mutation as an indelible moment in Selwa's blossoming career. Mutation features a ripped / thrashed remix from in-the-cut edit wizard, Murray CY. Mutation will be available in a limited vinyl edition of 200 with artwork designed and conceived by Selwa and Benoit Canaud Studio.
Alternatively titled: 'Homoswavesailors', Jack Cccoy's 1984 film about the birth of windsurfing details, through the gaze of the sport as a pre-historic ancient ritual, the exploits of a few of the sports originators. Backing up the clear 80's blue visuals of waves white washed wind blasted FX, is a variety of original pop and synth music made by the films' composer, Chris Eggleton. There are no song titles, rather each track is spiced-up with wind and wave sound fx, which were originally meant to act as sound accents for wave sail action in the film. The pop songs are beach-spiked hits, sounding like New Zealand's flying nun rock, or blasted out prince chorus funk, but with added film sound fx, the essence of the silver screen begins to creep into the medium of audio disc! The synth music on Tradewinds sounds as if Tangerine Dream made inspirational beach movie tracks during the height of their 'Firestarter' period. The mix is arranged by Pacific City, so that the summer doesn't crash and burn. For the first time in history, Pacific City Sound Visions presents: the original motion picture soundtrack to 'Tradewinds' on vinyl LP. Break down..... shake down..... ya busted......
Veteran producer Gensu Dean comes back with his first compilation since 'Lo Fi Fingahz'. The new project is as rugged as the name implies and features artists like Diamond D, Homeboy Sandman, Roc Marciano and more.
Gensu Dean embodies the essence of true, honest Hip-Hop, while his music personifies the art of beat diggin' with sheer creativity. With this approach, Gensu has produced masterpieces for the likes of David Banner, Old Dirty Bastard, Royal Flush, Planet Asia, and Lord Jamar (Brand Nubian) to name a few.
DRIVETRAIN (Detroit, USA) - 'Dirty Work (ft. Goddess Stephanie)'...Derrick Thompson's organically deep tribal rhythm is the bedrock for melodious chords and the cunning decrees spawned by Goddess Stephanie. MOTOMITSU (Paris, FRANCE) - 'November' ...a dark and haunting symphony, built on an infrastructure rich in keyboards, chorusing under syncopated jabs and hypnotic pulsating motion. JESUS GONSEV (Ciudad Real, SPAIN) - 'Countdown' ...an intelligent auditory marriage integrating the essence of an ante meridiem atmosphere with fathomless claviature and precision percussive penetration.
OSCAR HOLGADO (Seville, SPAIN) - 'The Wonderman'
...a sonic pilgrimage initiated with harmonic pad structure, advancing through walls of piercing string architecture, closing with a euphoric groove refrain.
Lucretio´s first solo release on Memento, the 'System Pressure E.P.' is a piece of carefully handcrafted nightclub music.
The late-hours anthem 'Addict to the dancefloor' combines the early 90s heart-felt grooves with the state of the art of contemporary electronic production.
'2bpad1' is a relentless ride of voltage controlled oscillators and hexadecimal quirks over hefty bare drums processed with a juicy analogue filter.
Finally 'Love don't leave' bring back together House and Techno, melting their rhythm and blues essence into an absolute peak-time conjunction.
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INNA DE YARD bring to life the unique and original passion of singing with acoustic reggae music.
Several iconic figures from Bob Marley's island and spirited young musicians are gathered on the terrace of a house, in the hills of Kingston, to bring the essence of their musical culture back to life. United in the same place, and united in time, because they have recorded an original album in just four days.
They are Ken Boothe, Cedric Myton from the Congos, Lloyd Parks, Derajah, Var, Kiddus I, Steve Newland, Bo Pee, Kush & Winston McAnuff.
You've never heard a Jamaican sound like this before.
Since the release of his 2 first albums on Favorite Recordings, Lucas Arruda has quickly established himself as one of the most talented young artist and composer from Brazil. His music is filled with fusion style, mixing influences and elements from his Latin musical background, with his genuine admiration for Jazz, Soul and Funk music.
In spring 2015, it was also not surprising to find Lucas Arruda back with a new LP called SOLAR, receiving great supports and feedbacks from international media and tastemakers. One of the highlight of the album was the song 'Melt the Night', on which Lucas asked legendary producer Leon Ware for his help, reminding his collaborations in the 80s with Marcos Valle, when they perfectly merged together the sophisticated Boogie and AOR touch from California, with the blazing sense of rhythm from Brazil.
Today, Lucas Arruda and Favorite Recordings proudly present a brand new single, announcing the release of Lucas' third efforts later this year. This new opus is pursuing the music direction set with SOLAR, mixing touch of Blue-Eyed-Soul, Pop, Soul and Brazilian styles together, and influenced by the path of legendary Brazilian producer Lincoln Olivetti, who recorded some of the biggest stars of Brazilian music (Marcos Valle, Jorge Ben, Tim Maia...).
In Lucas words: 'These two tracks represent the whole spirit of the new album. In this record I really wanted to honor Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti. They are the main influence on this record. We recorded the basic tracks for the album in the same studio that Lincoln Olivetti did his last works. So, this was very important to capture the true essence of Brazilian Funk/AOR tradition. Hope you guys enjoy it!'
(Locked Groove, Nuno De Satos remixes) Something Happening Somewhere and Mary Go Wild combine their forces for a very special record, containing two cuts by Presk and remixes by Locked Groove and label honcho Nuno dos Santos.
Something Happening Somewhere and Mary Go Wild combine their forces for a very special record, containing two cuts by Presk and remixes by Locked Groove and label honcho Nuno dos Santos. The original A1 side has already been released on SoHaSo last summer on their SOMEWHERE compilation, but has now found a place on delicious black gold and is further enriched with a fresh B-side and aforementioned remixers delivering quality reworks.
2BXPRZD is an ode to the celebration of night life and the diverse spectrum of people that move within it. The club has always been a place where people from every background, religion and gender imaginable can meet and express their being through Dancing. It doesn't matter in what way you move, only that it's authentic and respecting towards the fellow dancers around you. Presk provides all the necessary ingredients: the funkiness in the drums melting with the dark and sinister bassline and pitched vocal perfectly assemble the conditions for such an interaction to take place.
Locked Groove takes this celebratory dance and turns it into an even darker and hypnotizing affair. Stripping the original to its bare essence with a pounding kickdrum to lead the way. Pulsing atmospheres and emotive pads swirl around and behind, granulated in a way that they almost fall apart. This is further reinforced by the stream of voices that are processed to sound like a field recording from beyond the iron curtain in Soviet times, anticipating the unavoidable collapse that follows.
The B sides provides a little more uplifting environment with Starets, unsettling melodies and dissonant atmospheres propel forward before restraining the whole thing and letting broken chord stabs seep through the system. Again reworking the original material into a more skeletal structure, Nuno dos Santos adds a poignant arp melody that is typical for his melancholic style. Driving yet breathing with emotion, it's the perfect accompaniment for a night drive while floating through clear skies. This records proves a delightful combination, containing something imperative for every soul feeling the need to express themselves in a unique way.
HPLS 002 sees the concept unfold a little bit more by showcasing six of the different collaborations featured on the forthcoming releases. The highlight would be indeed the collaboration with all time favourite ,and Fabric DA , Craig Richards.
The result captured perfectly the mind bending essence that you usually encounter in his early morning or after party sets .Tracks with Volkan Akin , Josh Tweek and Jesse Morrison will fit perfectly in more conventional narratives , when the live saxophone from Yonatan Yudkovitz compliment a more down tempo and experimental exercise.
Progression..., like a spark shooting through fiber optic cable or a bullet train churning through the next tunnel, the acid-techno arrangements of Detroit-based DJ/producer Rebecca Goldberg have a velocity to them that's spurred by reverence for the roots of electronic and techno music conceived in her hometown, from the Belleville Three to 'the Godmother of House Music,' DJ Stacey 'Hotwaxx' Hale.
Palpable in the pulse of Goldberg's latest EP 313 Acid Queen is an urgent and inspired, cool and confident sense of picking up a proverbial torch, of propulsion along with preservation, of continuation as well as re-invention. Born vigorously forth upon the blooms and grooves of her synth scores for these five songs is the sharpest demonstration, yet, of her signature sound and vision.
313 Acid Queen reaches to and re-enlivens the traditions of Detroit techno with Roland's contemporary iterations of the 808, 909 and 303 drum machines, quintessential sonic characters utilized by the region & genre's seminal producers. The title refers, also, to the Detroit area's predominant telephone area-code, as she audibly reaches out to touch the essence of her city's distinct and dynamic neighborhoods and landscapes, most evidently with the field recordings from city streets and the animal populace inhabitants in the majestic Belle Isle Aquarium.
These kinetic, contemplative and coolly exhilarating tracks were conceived to carry on the tradition of Detroit acid techno in the contemporary world. Fittingly, Goldberg's first vinyl release comes on March 13t h (3/13), distributed internationally through Detroit Underground, a multidisciplinary arts collective & record label. Goldberg's fellow Detroit producer Ryan McCray has a deep sound and keen sensibility for acid techno all his own; he fell in love with the 313 Acid Queen track 'Aquarium' and remixed it to be an exclusive bonus track for the vinyl release.
By his debut album "Alcatraz" in January 2015, ARAS label head André Galluzzi thrilled with a concept album inspired by occult sounds and psychedelic vocals. "Alcatraz" as a whole is a captivating piece of art, its the essence of a club night. Now after received a wave of icredible feedback from "Alcatraz", the bird returns to ARAS with a bunch of remixes of the hypnotic track "Mathilda". Time to welcome Mike Shannon and Jacek Sienkiewicz to the ARAS family. This remixes will be a blast at the club by its very deep and reduced, futuristic interpretations. Mike, as head A&R of Cynosure and formerly Revolver Canada Recordings over 10 years, has shown an uncanny ability to select and produce tracks which have become go-to fixtures in the sets of the industry's best DJs. Far from pursuing the next one hit wonder or sound of the season, his steadfast curatorial vision and passion for the music have earned him the trust of discerning music connoisseurs the world over. Alongside DeWalta, Mike impressed lately with his album "Residual" on Cynosure/ meander back in March 2016. Jacek Sienkiewicz lives in Warsaw and he is a key figure in Polish electronic music scene. He holds Recognition since 1999, one famous label based in Berlin. With one foot deep in classic Detroit and Chicago dance scene, and the other in modern jazz and classical music, Jacek's tracks for the past ten years always try to find a right balance between the avant-garde and dancefloor, between primal emotions and highly sophisticated sonic wizardry. His latest album "Hideland" has been released in August 2016 on Recognition.
Spanish techno master Reeko makes his mark on Detroit Underground with a release exploring the darker facets of humanity in mesmerizing fashion, with rhythm and drone taking equal importance. "Lovers and Bandits" sets side A off with a brutal broken march, hard kicks building slowly into caverns of sonic noise. "BDSM" twists the sounds of pleasure and pain into an endless dark delay, leading you to the edge and right into "Hard Sex Club", roiling with indecipherable voices and a hovering synth build that teases but never quite strikes.
Side B straightens the beat with "Slaughter", a searing background noise underpinning an evolving rotation of menace that pushes the beats forward into a pit of noise and sludge. "Sex With God" is a fierce techno rhythm, wet, crunchy, and percussive without the ubiquitous kick drum, building to a crescendo of heat and buzz. Finally, "Submissive Behavior" is a massive paranoid drone, prickly with hunger and menace. On "We Are Bandits", Reeko strips down his explorations of sound and texture to the barest essences, making for an unsettling and intriguing listen. Graphic design from The Designers Republic. This is the first release in a collaboration with tDR called DU-TDR/GRD with a grid font designed for 2016 - 2017 DU releases.
Since more than ten years close friends and metal heads Phillip Tielsch (von Spar) and Mario Katz (Cologne Tape) met for guitar sessions, trying to " nd the essence of their favourite metal records* and digest in their own sound". Quite ambitious but without any release plans so far... Magazines Jens-Uwe Beyer found out about their project and pushed them to produce an uncompromising condensate of their raw material. Beyer cut here and there, contributed some additional production and also got John Stanier (Battles) in the boat for the drums.
So ZON became a band and "Palace" became the most intense and sharp edged instrumental metal set you probably heard in years!
Crato's B-side counterpart, a 27min drone ambient interpretation of the ZON material, completes this literally thrilling album and makes it - wrapped up by John Harten's unique artwork series - another MAGAZINE release at its best.
Mastered by Matt Karmil. - 45 min playtime
- Endless loop on side A; B-side cut inside out
*
Death - Spiritual Healing
Entombed - Morning Star
Ministry - Psalm 96
Earth - Hex, Or Printing In The Infernal Method Autopsy - Mental Funeral
Napalm Death - Words From The Exit Wound Terrorizer - World Downfall
Misery Index - The Killing Gods
Morbid Angel - Domination
Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
Figure SPC inevitably arrives at the alphabet's last letter and therefore the end of what has been a most prosperous runtime and success story. Already accountable for its first release 'A' seven years ago, Jeroen Search has proven essential to the sublabel's course with his many cornerstone contributions. This final, special extended release grants him the ample scope to tell the closing chapter in all proper detail. Spread across two fully packed 12s the Dutch veteran producer wastes no time but lets his ever evolving array of machines do the talking. They speak in many tones - be it snappy or propelling, vivid or restrained, stomping or intricate - yet they all retain Search's consistently singular voice. Each of the nine tracks was composed as a live take, with elements being reduced to the utmost minimum but always carrying the kinetic energy onto the next bar. Thus this ultimate catalogue number SPC Z not only bears witness to an artist's impressive ability to reliably distill the pure essence of a groove. It is also the grand conclusion to an esteemed series that has become a staple in many DJ's bags, brought forth plenty of future classics and left its unmistakable mark on techno. Crafty, refined and irresistibly moving, this record is sure to be stirring up dancers around the globe.
Gari Romalis and Lello Di Franco - Dreamin For the uninitiated, our man Gary Romalis is the unsung master of Detroit's house and techno scene. Having DJed across the motor city's top venues for the last three decades, Gary is somewhat of a seminal figure for many of Detroit's DJs currently at the forefront. Following a slew of high quality releases on various labels over the past few years, Gary now unleashes that special flavour on us for SKYLAX 142! He is not alone though. With him, he brings all round Italian partymaker, and top selector in his own right, Lello Di Franco. Let me tell you, this duo's collaboration is something to behold. Throughout all 3 tracks on the record, Gary and Lello maintain the essence of what the Detroit underground is all about; stripped back tracks with soul that never feel like they go 'big' for the sake of it. While Dreamin (Wanda Mix) may be packing a big kick and power clap combo, it's the elegantly filtered, jazzy sample that will leave you wishing that the track lasted forever. The vibe takes a dip right into the deep in Detroit Underground (Beat Dat Mix). Spacious pad synths alongside a mesmeric vocal carry us through. Taking a step back up, Afrobeat rounds off the EP, made with a solid toolkit of afro-centric samples.
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Savor always like to pay tribute to the roots. So for this eleventh release, the one and only Motor City master, Gari Romalis, delivered us an amazing fourth-tracker charged with the true essence of the Chicago and Detroit house sound. Classic but absolutely fresh, enjoy the flavours!
The Links EP is Blackhall & Bookless' latest outing for their increasingly renowned Jaunt> Records imprint. A highly personal release, the EP is a homely affair, celebrating the boys' upbringing in Whitley Bay with a gusto that's indicative of the area's unique charm.A A "Links" serves up a dreamy, atmospheric landscape - and one that reflects the location around which the EP is titled. Don Williams' interpretation goes down the rabbit hole further still, teasing the listener thanks to a range of slashing echo chords and clever sub bass techniques. The duo's second original is "Vision", aAdark techno jam that manifests into a stunning tribal hypnodrome.AClosing out the EP is "Cognition", another highly atmospheric track that keeps the listener locked thanks to its many dexterous capabilities. The striking artwork, meanwhile, showcases a black and white image of where the pair would hang out as teenagers. In that essence, the image echoes their production style, with the two sides of the links joining at the bridge and working together in unison.A JR004Ais dedicated in loving memory to Ian Blackhall.A
Chicago based 'Chris Gray' has appeared on multiple releases throughout the 90s and the new millennium. While some of his most appreciated works have been published through his own imprint Deep4Life, for the next PULP release, Chris gets deep and melodious with some funked out synths whilst maintaining that lush deep atmosphere that has proven to be his signature mode.
FF-Fear is the emotive opener for the 12inch. A vast amount of cosmic goodness can be found throughout. PULP usual suspect 'DaRand Land' offers a spellbinding remix which takes one into deep territories through it's repetitive and lush composition.
FF-Freedom is the flipside opener, and another Chris Gray original. Again, a melodic trip to places unknown is offered.
FF-Fantasia is a more firm approach to the Chris Gray sound. Interesting key changes which show the compositional capabilities of the artist appear throughout. A very interesting break takes one back to the very essence of house music.
Deep Purple are Proud to announce the reissue of their 1970 classic album 'Deep Purple in Rock', which sees all tracks fully remastered by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham and released on a 1LP vinyl. The Album is the first in which every song is credited to the five Deep Purple band members, whilst it is still to this day credited as the prime essence of deep rock music. The title includes singles such as 'Child in Time' and notably the full length version of 'Speed King'. This album has been cut at half speed by Barry Grint at Alchemy, please be aware this is a key point over the other available editions